Issue 7, vol 70

EL CAMINO COLLEGE

Sports Photo Essay P. 3

MAY 5, 2016

THE UNION eccunion.com

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1946-2016

70th

Anniversary TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA

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Former student accused of threatening to kill professor due in court May 13 Dashiell Porter is being charged on seven counts of criminal threats Phil Sidavong Managing Editor @ECCUnionPhil

Jorge Villa/ Union Sophomore Brooke Russell dives for a ball against Golden West College in the No. 3 pairs match. The beach volleyball team lost to the Rustlers 3-2 in sets and did not advance to the state team tournament. The Warriors did beat San Diego Mesa College and claimed second place at the SoCal Regionals on Tuesday.

No rings for the team Beach volleyball team fails to reach state team tournament Phil Sidavong Managing Editor @ECCUnionPhil Frustration set in for the Warriors.

One set in the El Camino beach volleyball team’s No. 2 and 3 pairs’ matches was all that EC needed to take a win against the visiting No. 2 seed from the Orange Empire Conference, Golden West College.

That one set would not go in the favor of the Warriors and the Rustlers tied the match.

It all landed in the No. 1 pairs match and sophomores Laynie Thompson and Sadie Fraker.

“I wasn’t playing very well, it’s just hard when you want to win, but (you’re down),” Fraker said.

The top pair from El Camino dropped the match that would have earned the Warriors a ticket to the state team’s tournament at Grossmont on Friday.

Golden West eventually took a 3-2 win over El Camino, and then a 4-1 win over San Diego Mesa, while El Camino lost to GWC and then beat Mesa 4-1.

The Warriors are out of team playoffs and there will be no

chance for a ring.

“I think everyone is disappointed at the performance today,” coach Le Valley Pattison said. “I think our (No. 1, 2 and 3 pairs) aren’t used to all losing.”

Earlier in the season, Golden West visited EC in a 3-2 loss and made up for it today by beating the Warriors.

“I mean, obviously, it feels pretty amazing,” Golden West No. 1 pair player Jasmine Hogan said. “I feel like we all worked hard and it was well earned by all of us.”

Jewel Yandall and Brooklyn Rubio, El Camino’s No. 5 pair, continued their dominance over other No. 5 team’s and has yet to lose a match to community college opponents, apart from Thompson and Fraker.

“Today’s performance was excellent,” Yandall said. “It’s important that we keep performing the way that we do going into state, because we do want to stay there Saturday and Sunday (to advance deep into the playoff rounds).”

But it’s not over for the El Camino beach volleyball team.

Four Warrior pairs have qualified for the individual pair’s tournament along with 28 other pairs from around the state.

Isabel Miller, who is part of San

The possibilities are endless for rising illustrator, P. 6

Diego Mesa’s team, and her partner Daniella Suarez advanced to the state tournament as a quarterfinalist in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.

“I think we really (have to) focus on teamwork,” she said. “We started off the season really strong, and even though this tournament was rough for us, we’re going to take it and come back even stronger.”

The No. 1 pair from Golden West College, Jasmine Hogan and Jilianne Pineda advanced as the No. 2 pair from the Orange Empire and their focus is going to be on another aspect.

“We’re going to have a lot of rest, just kind of relaxing our bodies,” Hogan said. “(We) have to mentally and physically prepare our bodies for the weekend.”

EC pairs playing at state • Jewel Yandall and Brooklyn Rubio.

• Sadie Fraker and Laynie Thompson.

• Brooke Russell and Taylor Brydon.

• Nickeisha Williams and Michelle Shimamoto win the WSC.

Jo Rankin/ Union Sophomore Laynie thompson attacks the ball against the Golden West College Rustlers’ No. 1 beach volleyball pair. Thompson and her partner, Sadie Fraker, lost their match in two sets on Tuesday.

‘Crispy’s photos’ wants audiences to look at his work, P. 6

A Torrance judge gave the defense attorney, of the former student who allegedly threatened to kill his professor, time to submit a psychologist’s report in court on May 2, Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott said.

Dashiell Porter, 28, former theater major, is due back in court on May 13, after judge T.K. Herman delayed the ruling on Porter’s case.

“We have a pretty strong case against him,” Bott said. “This should be over by the end of summer.”

Porter is being charged with seven counts of criminal threats, based on threatening to kill English professor Cynthia Somin.

“We have him admitting to the charges in a recording,” Bott said.

Porter was in Somin’s English 1A class, and after receiving a grade, he sent his first threat on Jan. 6, 2015, according to the temporary restraining order (TRO) filed against him on Dec. 30, 2015.

“You (expletive) (expletive) (expletive)” Porter messaged Somin at 10:17 a.m., according to the TRO. According to the TRO, Porter sent 13 more messages with the same threatening standpoint.

“I’m coming to kill you tomorrow!!!! (Gun’s loaded),” Porter’s final message said on Dec. 8, 2015.

On Jan. 20, Torrance judge Carol Boas Goodson denied to give El Camino a permanent-restraining order against Porter.

Following the January court date, Porter was released on $350,000 bail and was due in court March 15, where his attorney asked the court for more time to prepare the defense’s case.

What Bott said should happen, considering the strength of his case against Porter, is that the defense will most likely settle and the district attorney’s office will dismiss certain charges so that Porter pleads guilty to at least one charge.

Now the defense will try to submit a psychologist’s report for the May 13 hearing.

For more on Porter’s case, his earlier hearings and the threats, check out eccunion.com

Pitcher wants to take his game to the next level, P. 8

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 2

POLICE BEAT By: John Fordiani Staff Writer @ECCUnionJohn

Wanted man April 29, 11:57 p.m. An officer stopped a vehicle in the 15600 block of Crenshaw Boulevard. The driver, who is not a student, had a $60,000 warrant for selling liquor to a minor. The man also was driving with a suspended license. The officer issued the man a citation and impounded his vehicle.

This is school, not a bar April 29, 2:08 p.m. An officer responded to the south side of the Life Science Building for a man that was drinking alcohol. Officers made contact with the man, who is not a student, and issued him a citation.

Rude students April 28, 12:45 a.m. An instructor went to the police station to report a student who was being confrontational with him.

The instructor told the officer that he observed a group of students smoking cigarettes near the CAT Building. He approached them to advise them that there is no smoking on campus. The student started yelling profanities at the instructor. Another staff member told the instructor the student’s name. The student was referred to the the Director of Student Development.

Key’d up car April 27, 10:55 a.m. Two students who witnessed another student key a vehicle in Lot H called the police department. The students told the officer that the student drove away. The owner of the vehicle was located and she confirmed that the damage was not on her vehicle before she left it in the parking lot.

NEWS FEATURE

MAY 5, 2016

Tutor shows fellow students the right path

Nanea Dominguez is doing what comes right to her

I

Reyn Goya Special to the Union

t all started in junior year of high school almost four years ago.

A fellow classmate in her precalculus class noticed she was doing well and asked for her help, even offering to pay her.

She not only agreed to do it, but she did so well tutoring that her classmate recommended her to some friends.

Then one day while tutoring in a Torrance library, a man noticed her and offered her a job at his tutoring business.

She accepted and has been tutoring for four years and with her tutoring experience, she decided to use her skills to help out college students at El Camino.

Nanea Dominguez, 20, neurobiology major, is now a supplemental instruction coach (SI coach).

The Supplemental Instruction Program aims to help students with their enrolled classes.

“I want to be a biology professor because I want to make students interested in learning again, add fun facts and inspire curiosity,” Dominguez said .

She applied before the fall 2015 semester and was accepted to be a math coach.

“SI coaches attend class sessions and run their own sessions twice a week before or after class,” Dominguez said. “We help students prepare (for the material) and offer more resources.”

Her dedication to supplemental instruction has helped students like Henry Beltran, a 34-yearold counseling major, attending sessions.

“I think she does a good job,” he said. “The math concepts are difficult to understand because they are new. Coming to SI has helped me understand them better.

At the beginning of the semester I had a D now I have a B.” Dominguez’s ability to help others understand concepts better is the reason Joseph Tillotson, 39, owner and agent of South Bay Tutors hired Dominguez.

SBT is a tutor agency based in the South Bay. Tillotson said when he first saw Dominguez, that she was friendly, good at explaining, patient and articulate.

“She was very shy when I first met her,” Tillotson said. “She speaks a lot more now. She’s a lot more outgoing and better at communicating.”

With her experience as a private tutor and now almost one year as an SI coach she hopes to continue helping students.

“I plan on being an SI coach every semester and (helping) students become more confident and sure of themselves in all their subjects,” Dominguez said. “I hope it prepares me for what being a professor would be like.”

Elena Perez / Union Nanea Dominguez, 20, biology major, stands next to her desk on April 26. Dominguez is a Supplemental Instruction (SI) coach. and has been tutoring others for almost 4 years.

Student government approves filtered water stations; awaiting approval from facilities waiting on the facilities News Editor department. @ECCUnionRoy The Associated Student Organization (ASO) has The student government been talking about adding aims to install filtered water the hyrdation stations at its stations across campus, but last two meetings. incoming president Eman Hydration stations are not Dalili says the project is water fountains, but rather Roy Garza

Congrats Grads

The Union would like to congratulate all of the 2016 El Camino graduates.

Graduation is May 13.

We would also like to congratulate friends of The Union, Matthew Cruz (below) and Emilia Khalifeh (right).

Cruz will be attending UCLA in the fall and Khalifeh will be attending Cal State Dominguez Hills.

machines used to fill up bottles of water exclusively.

The project was presented to Tom Brown, director of facilities, who Dalili said has to find different companies that provide these machines, and then go through a final approval process.

Director of Purchasing, Rocky Bonura, was contacted but said via email that he did not have an update on the bidding process of the stations.

During a recent ASO meeting, Dalili said the process could take weeks or

up to months, however he didn't say specifically how long it would take.

EC isn't the first school to adopt the stations, both Rio Hondo and Cerritos college have installed hydration stations on their campuses during the last year.

MAY 5, 2016

PHOTO ESSAY

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 3

Gabriela Better/ Union Center Fielder Raelani Camez has scored 43 runs and stolen 17 bases this season, to go along with a .496 batting average, 25 RBIs and 4 home runs. She was named to the 2016 CCCFCA All-State team last week.

Stand Outs Here are some of the top freshman athletes from the 20152016 season, some are making a name for themselves early, some are recommended by their coaches.

These athletes stood out, showcasing their talent and are the rising stars in their sports. Look to see them represent El Camino on the playing field next season.

Jorge Villa/ Union Forward Da’Koda Lacey [left] was the leading scorer for the Warriors at 9.6 points per game, while shooting 53 percent from the field and 51.4 percent from the free throw line in 24 games this season.

Forward Kourtney Noa [right] grabbed 7.8 rebounds per game, and scored 8.5 points per game while shooting 30.5 percent from the field in 26 games played.

Jo Rankin/ Union Forward Kayln Kaemerie [left] scored 3 goals on 30 shots in 9 games started this season for the women’s soccer team. Forward Marcos Ambriz [right] scored 3 goals on 42 shots, and had 2 assists in 17 games started for the men’s soccer team this season.

Gabriela Better/ Union Center Fielder Noah Barba is batting .340 this season, with 27 RBIs, 3 home runs and 5 stolen bases. The baseball team earned the 14 seed in the CCCAA playoffs, beginning Friday afternoon against Cypress College.

EDITORIAL

4 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

Warrior Pulse:

MAY 5, 2016

Summer vacation?

The Union asked 410 students what their plans for summer are.

• The majority of students plan to attend summer school at 41 percent.

• The second highest selected choice was work 39 percent.

• The least selected by the students was vacation at 19 percent.

• With these numbers it shows the majority of students at El Camino don’t even have a real vacation anymore.

THE UNION Jed Fernandez/ Union

Good friends are hard to come by, so hold on to them when you find them Throughout life you meet people that make a significant impact on your life for better or for worse. If you are lucky enough, you will find people that will make you a better person and when you do find them, try hard to hold on to them because they are very hard to come by.

I have been blessed to have a great support system in my group of friends. I have childhood friends that are practically like family to me. I like to keep my circle small, but it wasn’t always like that.

I came from a private middle school so all my friends were all going to a private high school as well. I wasn’t, however. My parents told me I was going to a public high school and when I heard the news I started to freak out, worrying that I wouldn’t know anyone at the new school.

In high school I was a very sociable guy and to this day I still am. I’m very easy to talk to, I get along very well with a lot of people and I thought I had a lot of friends in high school. I also played sports, so that’s where I made my first friends in high school.

I was a young, naive kid who thought all these people I met would have my back no matter what. I was wrong.

My junior year of high school I had a freak accident that hurt my neck and I was hospitalized for about four months.

I couldn’t walk and was left with no feeling in my lower extremities.

Editors’ thoughts Jed Fernandez Opinion Editor @ECCUnionJed

During my time in the hospital only a handful people checked up on me, whether it was through a phone call, text or Facebook message. I even had less people come visit me in the hospital.

I knew then and there that the people who claimed to be my “friends,” weren’t actually my friends but just aquaintances. It was a wakeup call to me. I realized that you need to know the people that truly care about you. When you do, life will get better. Because let’s face it, life is tough.

Throughout life I learned you will encounter a handful of individuals that will change your perspective on life. My best friend Will, I’ve known since we were in diapers, was there almost everyday when I was in the hospital. He has truly been a blessing in my life.

I only have a handful of friends that I am still close to from high school, even though some of them now live out of state we try hard to stay in contact through group chats.

Right now in my life, I have put in three semesters at The Union. This is my final semester here. I have made a few friendships here that I know will last a lifetime. They have also have been there to support me through good and bad.

Real friends are hard to come by. I don’t even consider these people friends but rather, they’re my family.

THE UNION

Vol. 70, No. 7 May 5, 2016

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

For more from The Union, visit eccunion.com.

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Send us an email at eccunion@gmail.com

Editor-in-Chief ����������������������������������������������������������������������������Sydnie Mills Managing Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������ Phil Sidavong News Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Roy Garza Opinion/Editorial Editor ���������������������������������������������������������� Jed Fernandez Arts Editor................................................................................... Grant Hermanns Sports Editor ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������Eric Ramos Photo Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Jo Rankin Features Editor ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Brenda Soriano Advertising Manager ������������������������������������������������������������������� Jack Mulkey Adviser ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������Kate McLaughlin Adviser ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Stefanie Frith Photo Adviser...................................................................................Gary Kohatsu

We like that summer is almost here!

We dislike that is very difficult to schedule a counseling appointment. Students must week normally at least a week before they can see their counselor.

Illustration by Eugene Chang

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.

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OPINION

MAY 5, 2016

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 5

CAMPUS VIEWPOINTS By: Selvin Rodas @ECCUnionSelvin

Should the legal drinking age be changed to 18?

Phil Sidavong

Managing Editor @ECCUnionPhil

What I learned... as a functioning alcoholic My best friend to this day, once asked me to drink with him when we were 16. I told him it was about time I stopped drinking because we were young and most importantly: I started drinking alcohol at the age of 14.

I had the means and the opportunities that allowed me to get involved with alcohol. I would go to parties every weekend, twice a weekend sometimes and just get hammered.

At some point during my Junior year in high school, I used to bring a backpack full of beer or bottles and half the people I knew, would expect to show up with it filled to the brim.

It’s definitely a bad thing that I started out so young, and over the years, I’ve always been called the “alcoholic” of my group of friends, no matter how I denied it.

• I love beer, I like drinking it and I prefer to have a beer or two every now and then.

• But drinking to get messed up and constantly drinking isn’t good for my wallet, my body or my life.

• If you don’t know me, here’s a little bit about the man named Kinnakone Phil Sidavong: • I’m a 22-year-old English major and I attend El Camino.

• I’m the current Managing Editor for both Warrior Life (general-interest magazine) and The Union (student-run newspaper).

• I used to drink beer four to five times a week. Sometimes I’d throw in shots or mixed drinks.

• I just started working at an ice cream place called “Smitten” at The Point in El Segundo.

I’ve never been in a fight drunk, I’ve never been arrested for drinking (or in general) and I’ve never been at the point where I couldn’t do any job or task because of alcohol.

So there was never a reason for me to think of myself as one, nor was there a reason for me to tell people about myself in general.

At some point, I got tired of all these people talking about it like a joke and I did research to see if I really was an alcoholic.

According to the alcoholics.about. com website, “For the functional alcoholic, the denial runs deep, because they have yet to encounter outward negative consequences. They go to work every day. They haven’t suffered financially. They have never been arrested. They don’t have a problem!”

Unfortunately this describes me perfectly, because for about five years until I turned 21, I denied, denied, denied any mention of me being an alcoholic. I never got into fights, I always went to work or school the next day and I was never getting “blasted” every night, so it didn’t occur to me that I really was one.

On the alcoholics.about.com website, I took a short test to screen what kind of alcoholic I am.

Results: I’m 35 percent alcoholic, and I don’t care.

I know I had a problem, I don’t deny it, but I kept my problem in check; and what I’ve learned through my journey of alcoholism is that it’s a terrible thing.

I currently enjoy a beer or two once a week or so, and I am as of now not an “alcoholic,” and I’ve never been.

But what I’ve learned as a “functioning alcoholic” is that if you don’t have the ability to control what you do and when you do it, you need to stop doing it, no matter what it is.

If you need help or know someone who needs help controlling themselves, you can contact any of these organizations or numbers: http://www.aa.org/Alcoholics Anonymous website https://addictiontosobriety.com Addiction To Sobriety website (877) 630-8282 - Addiction To Sobriety number

Fatima Maldonado, 25, psychology major “I think the age should not drop because it limits us in a amount of young adults to drink and it also prohibits car accidents, it’s prohibiting deaths, so if they drop it to 18 the numbers are going to increase and it’s going increase the deaths of young adults.”

Nicholas Herron, 20, communication major “It should not be dropped because when it comes to young adults some of them are very immature and they misuse alcohol and they hurt other people, while doing things like drinking and driving.”

Illustration by Eugene Chang/ Union

UP FOR DEBATE

Should the legal drinking age be changed to 18?

The drinking age shouldn’t be changed

You’re at a party, the music is vibing at an uncontrollable level. You just finished your second semester at El Camino, and it was the hardest one yet.

You hear Kendrick Lamar over the stereo telling you to “Pour Up. DRANK. Sit Down DRANK.” All you see is everyone drinking at the party. You don’t know how it got there because everyone in the party is under 21.

Sebastian Spencer But you need to make a decision.

Staff Writer Do you grab a drink or wait a couple of @ECCUnionSpencer years?

Underage drinking is the key to all things bad happening while under the influence of alcohol.

Being 21-year-old is the standard age to have a drink in the United States and honestly I think it should stay that way.

If you’re under 21 waiting ever so patiently to grab your first alcoholic beverage, relax you won’t be missing out on anything.

The limit of having to be 21 years of age to drink or purchase alcohol makes a lot of sense. When you’re 21 years old you have some experience with adulthood and you know what to expect from most situations.

When you’re 18-years-old you’re legally an adult, but most people still view you as a child. You haven’t even fully developed yet.

According to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (niaaa.nih.gov) consuming alcohol while under age interferes with brain development. The website statement says that young people’s brain keep developing into their 20’s and alcohol can alter this development, potentially affecting both brain structure and function.

If your brain is still progressively getting better as you get older in your 20’s you’re clearly stunting its growth if you’re drinking alcohol before that time.

The reason why drinking is such an adult thing to do is because it really takes a level of maturity to handle and drink alcohol responsibly.

But there are people who are over the age of 21 who still haven’t even figured that out.

Lowering the drinking age will make it harder for bars to succeed.

Men and women sometimes after work go to their local bar and have a few drinks with their buddies.

They discuss work, marriage, and just life in general. They have nothing in common with a place that serves kids practically, and it takes the adultness factor away.

The age limit of 21 assures a little bit of responsibility, which is why everyone uses the term “legal” when discussing the fact of turning 21.

The age should be lowered

An 18-year-old can get a tattoo, join the military, buy a home, get married and purchase cigarettes, yet they still can’t buy a drink.

If 18 is considered an adult in the eyes of the law and an 18-year-old is allowed to take on adult responsibility then they should be able to have a drink.

According to drinkingage.procon.org out of 190 countries the U.S. is one of 11 Sydnie Mills countries where the legal drinking age is 21.

Editor-in-Chief That means that 179 countries drinking age @ECCUnionSydnie limit is 18 and under and some don’t have a limit at all. So what is America waiting for?

The drinking age should be lowered to 18 instead of 21 for multiple reasons.

First, to show people what they’re not missing. A major reason why underage drinking occurs is because of the thrill factor. When someone is told that they can’t do something it makes them want to do it even more and that’s when accidents happen.

So, take the mystery away and educate young people on the do’s and dont’s of drinking. In order to get a drivers license one has to learn the rules of the road and the same should go for drinking.

If a 16-year-old can be trusted to drive a car responsibly then an 18-year-old should be allowed to drink. The solution to the problem of underage drinking is simple: educate, educate, educate.

“Drink responsibly” is a phrase that is used all the time, but what does that really mean?

There are 21 year olds who haven’t figured that out. Instead they go out and get wasted because they don’t understand the effects of alcohol, mainly because they were never educated. In the beginning drinking is mainly experimenting, so people can see what drinks they like. Because of that young people should be prepared to enter into the drinking scene.

Just someone is shown a video of the driving under the influence doesn’t teach people how to consume alcohol.

Furthermore, the drinking age should be lowered because the law considers an 18-year-old to be an adult and being an adult means people are free to make their own decisions. A three year age difference doesn’t mean that people are more responsible.

Nothing is stopping people from doing what they want to do, so seeing as it’s adults who make the laws a decision should be made that protects young people by educating them on the do’s and dont’s of drinking.

Adriana Araque, 24, business major “I think if they drink at an early age they will be more responsible.

When you’re 21 you just want get crazy and get drunk, so I think if they start early they should be more responsible with the drinking.”

Carlos Caceves, 19. political science major “I think it should stay the same as it is right now because at 18 you are still a teenager and you are careless to make those decisions. It was already legal (to drink at the of 18) but they moved it to 21 because of the many consequences that they had.”

Rosalinda Baires, 19, political science major “I don’t think it should be drop because I feel like people should be able to handle their alcohol, so 21 is already like a party age.”

ARTS

6 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

MAY 5, 2016

Several strokes lead to intriguing illustrations

Daisy Magredano and Grant Hermanns Special to “The Union” and Arts Editor @daisy_magredano and @ECCUnionGrantH

Illustrations don’t call for immediate attention; they invoke a deeper meaning and add personality.

More than a simple sketch or basic object, an illustration takes time.

The illustration speaks in many ways the voice cannot.

Joshua Campbell is a 20-year-old illustration and communications major, currently in his third year at El Camino. Campbell’s dream is to one-day work for Disney or a major video-game company.

He is often seen smiling—flashing his braces. His style consists of graphic tees and preppy sweaters. When Campbell is not around friends he is seen with his headphones on listening to DNCE, while shaking his leg along the vibrant rhythm.

Campbell began to draw at the age of 13, when he wanted to try and draw his favorite anime characters.

He has since then sharpened his pencils and tossed a few papers here and there, because “to create, one has to be open for improvement,” Campbell said.

Ezequiel Paez, a friend since high school, believes that Campbell “has a lot of dedication to what he does and the luxury of making his drawings the best he can.”

Campbell’s competitive side came out to further his drawing career, when he found out that his favorite comic book publisher was hosting a contest; the winning prize was a guitar.

Campbell incorporated a character from one of the publisher’s comics and added the character holding the prize guitar.

“Sadly,” Campbell didn’t win the contest, but he remembers that moment fondly, the adrenaline as he waited to see if he could be the winner was well worth it.

Campbell takes a lot of inspiration from anime video game franchises, including the “Final Fantasy” and the “Kingdom Hearts” franchises, with the latter being more important to him.

Elements of Disney were mixed in the KH franchise, which was very appealing to Campbell. Terra the protagonist wore a shiny armor suit.

After watching a cutscene from the game, Campbell had to draw Terra, with the armor suit drawing him in.

“It was definitely my most challenging piece of art to date, taking about two days to finish,” Campbell said.

Campbell received a lot of positive feedback from family and friends for the Terra drawing, making it even more of a treasure to him.

Though Campbell is not currently taking any art classes, instead focusing on his general education courses, he previously took an illustrations class taught by Richard Ewing here on campus.

Being that it was a more introductory course, Ewing still thinks Campbell is heading in the right direction with his work.

“He’s got a lot of really good ideas,” Ewing said. “Overall, he’s a creative person and I could certainly see him going into it (art career).”

A lot of inspiration behind Campbell’s illustrations also come from some of his favorite cartoon series, including the characters SpongeBob SquarePants and Ichigo, from the anime series “Bleach.”

Campbell also cites his favorite American comic publisher is Marvel, while his favorite Japan-based publisher is Shonen Jump.

Campbell added that the same way he processes and figures out which sunglasses look best on him, he applies that to his art. He might draw a face numerous ways just to find the right fit.

“I just put the pencil to paper and draw until I feel satisfied,” he said.

(Above): Josh Campbell, 20, art major, uses graphite to draw some of his favorite characters. He’s also a fan of charcoal, markers, and prisma color pencils.

(Left): Campbell is often inspired by famous illustrators including Tetsuya Nomura, Hayao Miyazaki, Sakimichan, and the infamous Walt Disney.

Photos by Alisa Banks/ Union

Aspiring student photographer finds love for art at late age Caleb Okoye

Staff Writer @ECCUnionCalebO

Sue Hong/ Union Chris Peterson, 39, photography major, takes landscape photos during his day off from school on April 29. Some of Peterson’s work is currently featured as part of the “Student Show 2016” in the Arts Gallery. Other work by Peterson can be found on his website, CrispyPhotos.com.

Summer Calendar

Duo Piano Recital The Campus Theatre will be hosting the second duo piano recital of 2016 on June 8 with “Music for Two Pianos.” The recital will feature ECC faculty member, Valerie Stern, as well as guest pianists Karen Spurney and Susan Kim-Pedroza. The performance starts at 8 p.m., tickets cost $15.

Soprano returns to El Camino ECC faculty member and acclaimed soprano, Erin Wood, will be performing in the Campus Theatre on Wednesday, June 22 at 8 p.m. in the Campus Theatre. The recital will feature a variety of songs, including art, arias and theater songs. Tickets cost $15.

It doesn’t matter if the subjects he is seeing are beautiful, artistically stunning, or mesmerizing, Chris Peterson just wants to take photos that are interesting.

Peterson, 39, found his love doing photography at the late age of 37. Although his love for taking photos began later in his life, Peterson always was into digital art as well as used Photoshop a while back. Peterson always had an interest in photography before giving it a shot later on in his life.

“I’ve always wanted to do something creative”, Peterson said. “I had wanted to get into (photography) for a long time, but just didn’t commit the time or more money to invest for a digital single-lens reflex camera.”

His first ever digital camera was back in 1998, which was a point and shoot camera, and at the time was two megapixels. Later on he eventually bought his first digital single-lens reflex camera and started looking up YouTube videos, and other helpful sources to learn more about photography.

“I watched hundreds of YouTube videos, and any useful video I

Karin Jensen and Mandala DanceWorks An Evening of Middle Eastern Dance Karin Jensen and Mandala DanceWorks will return to El Camino on Saturday, July 9 at 8 p.m. The show will feature an experience of a variety of ethnic dance forms ranging from the traditional to the avant garde. The performance will be held in the Marsee Auditorium at 8 p.m., tickets cost $18.

could find on the internet on everything from posing to lighting to retouching in Photoshop,” Peterson said. “The more I learned the more I really started to love doing it.”

Soon after gaining knowledge from the internet, he decided to gather more information from college. He took Photography 101 at El Camino College with professor Mike Quinn.

When it comes to styles in photography, Peterson would shoot anything that seems interesting to him. Styles such as landscapes, concert photography, and car photography are some that are interesting to Peterson. But the one he loves doing the most is artistic portraits.

“I like the creative process,” Peterson said. “It’s the costumes, the look, the lighting, and the post-processing. It’s just a really creative process.”

One of Peterson’s biggest accomplishments was even featured as the Photo of the Day on Sony’s digital camera website titled: Bixby Creek Bridge.

“The photos they feature are so awesome. I was super stoked to be featured,” Peterson said.

Although he’s been self taught, photographers such as Zack Arias, Jay Maisel, and Joe McNally are

all inspirations to Peterson, and are great sources of learning material.

Crystal Vaitkus assists Peterson on shoots at certain events and weddings. She talked about working with Peterson, and sees a great future for the photographer.

“Chris is inspiring to work with, I will say. He respects an honest opinion and that I admire,” Vaitkus said. “If he continues to hone his craft and keep his stellar work ethic, he will accomplish amazing things.”

Peterson is currently taking Professor Darilyn Rowan’s intermediate level Photography class. Rowan spoke highly of Peterson and his photographs.

“Chris is an excellent student; producing photographs that are technically accomplished and visually striking and poignant,” Rowan said.

Peterson will have his image of a Jellyfish up in the Photography Department Annual Student Photography Exhibit called: “Water” in the college library through the end of May. “I want people as they are looking through countless images, to stop at mine and spend a few more seconds looking at them,” Peterson said.

Tickets for performances can be purchased at El Camino’s Center for the Arts website, or by calling 310-329-5345.

SPORTS

MAY 5, 2016

EL CAMINO COLLEGE 7

Warriors advance to playoffs despite loss in season finale

Softball team dominates in season finale

No. 14 seed baseball team will play at Cypress College in first round of playoffs

Matthew Sandoval

Staff Writer @ECCUnionMatthew

Tayler Dahm

Staff Writer @ECCUnionTayler

T

he baseball game was tied, 1-1, in the eighth inning when Vikings 6-foot-7 250 pound freshman first baseman Vincent Byrd came up with two runners on and crushed a change up for a monster three-run home run to center field giving Long Beach City College a 4-1 lead.

The six-run eighth inning was the difference for Long Beach City College as the Vikings went on to beat El Camino College, 7-4, and clinched first place in the South Coast Conference on Friday.

“When you’re playing a good team and its a close game, it’s a razors edge,” coach Nate Fernley said. “And after the change-up that was up, that ended up being the difference.”

Warriors’ freshman starting pitcher Taylor Rashi was dealing, giving up one run on six hits and striking out nine through seven innings before giving up the home run.

“We were mixing up pitches pretty well, keeping the team off balance,”Rashi said. “ We knew they could hit; we just wanted to make sure to keep balls down and get guys out.”

For the most part pitching dominated the game, starting pitcher for the Vikings Tai Tiedemann held the Warriors to one run on six hits

Elena Perez/Union Pitcher Taylor Rashi, freshman, throws a strike during the top of the first inning against Long Beach City College on April 29. and struck out six batters in eight innings.

“We saw a lot of fastballs and curveballs and we have to do a better job of being on time and hitting the fastballs,” freshman catcher Connor Underwood said. “I think we’re definitely a better offensive team than we’ve showed today and past games.”

The Warriors only scored once going into the ninth but made things interesting scoring three times and bringing up the tying run to the plate in the last inning.

“I liked how we continued to fight and put up runs in the last inning and brought the tying run up to the plate,” Fernley said. “It wasn’t a game where we just gave

in and I think we can take that from (today’s) game.”

Coming into the last game of the regular season, El Camino’s baseball team learned it had a spot in the playoffs and Fernley has confidence in his rotation going forward.

“Our starting pitching has been a strength,” Fernley said. “It’s go-

ing to be tough in a three game series to have any team that matches those three guys, we feel pretty good about that.”

The Warriors will travel to No. 4 seed Cypress College for a bestof-three first round regional series beginning on Friday at 2 p.m.

The El Camino softball team (27-13) ended its regular season on April 26, with a 13-2 victory in five innings at El Camino-Compton center (0-28).

On offense, the Warriors got rolling early as they scored all 13 runs through the first three innings of the game.

Freshman pitcher Cassandra Vasquez (3-0) tossed a complete game in the circle, allowing two earned runs on six hits, while striking out six batters.

“We had a pretty positive game (on both sides) and came out on top,” freshman outfielder Samantha Tedder said. “If we work as hard in these next few practices as we have been the past few weeks, I think we will definitely be ready heading into playoffs.”

The Warriors (15-6) finished the regular season in third place in the South Coast Conference, behind Cerritos (16-5) and Mt. SAC (18-3).

Playoff seedings were annouced on April 30 by the California Community College Athletic Association.

The Warriors were awarded the No.7 seed and will host Fullerton College in a best-of-three series beginning Saturday at 2 p.m.

Freshman outfielder Kattya Calderon said knowing they are hosting the first round of the playoffs gives her confidence in the team.

“Fullerton is a good team so we’re going to have to come out strong,” Calderon said. “Our bats will come but if we’re able to lock down on defense, I believe we have a great shot at making it all the way.”

Freshman third baseman Mia Quintero said the team is prepared going into the playoffs.

“If we come out strong, no one can stop us,” Qunitero said.

International student from Brazil wrestles through college Mahenaz Mahida

Special to The Union

W

alking into the Nino Schembri Brazilian JiuJitsu academy, he greets everyone there, bows down before he steps on the matted floor and moments later, he is on the ground.

As he tries to escape from his sensei’s tight grip, the only noise that can be heard is coming from their bodies hitting the ground.

Mixed martial artist Altair De Souza Alencar, 27, is a full time El Camino College international student from Brazil.

“I had anger issues and I knew I needed it,” Alencar said. “It wasn’t a doctor thing or therapist, it was just me.”

Alencar, economics major, wants to transfer to California State Uni-

versity, Long Beach to pursue his career in MMA and economics at the same time.

Alencar lived in a city called Curitiba in Brazil where he met Antonio Schembri, also known as Nino, his jiu-jitsu master.

“He is a really nice guy and good at jiu-jitsu,” Schembri said. “And he likes to help the other students,” Alencar met Rafael Cordeiro, his MMA coach at Chute Boxe gym.

“I joined the big team that was there at the time, where they had two world champions and that’s how I got to know Nino,” Alencar said. “I’ve known him for 12 years back in Brazil.”

Alencar currently trains for Kings MMA in Huntington Beach.

“My MMA training and striking training is all done at the Kings,” Alencar said. “My jiu-jitsu is done here with Nino and my strength and conditioning is done at Speed of Sport.”

Alencar still remembers his first fight in the “biggest promotion

of South America” called Jungle Fight, which was broadcasted in 65 countries.

“I actually ended up submitting him with a tilting choke less than two minutes into the fight,” Alencar said. “I could showcase my skills both standing up, taking him down, dominating on the ground and submitting him,” Lais Oliveria, Alencar’s girlfriend said that even though it is hard, Alencar keeps up his good grades and maintains a high performance in his training.

“At the end of the day, he is tired,” Oliveira said. “There are days where he trains three times a day and then goes to college.”

Alencar’s dream is to fight Irish mixed martial artist, Conor McGregor.

“He is a current featherweight champion of the world,” Alencar said. “I’d like to fight him one day because he is good and he is also arrogant.”

Freshman Nicole Clark finished the season as conference champion in the javelin.

Brandon Park/Union

Athlete of the Week Jed Fernandez

Nicole Clark, Javelin

Opinion Editor @ECCUnionJed

Nicole Clark, 18, fire science major, is a freshman javelin thrower for the women’s track and field team at El Camino College who recently won the South Coast Conference title after throwing a distance of 39.16 meters.

She’s a very outdoorsy-type of woman who likes to workout and do cross-fit as hobbies. She loves to do anything that deals with the outdoors, like dirt biking and skateboarding.

Question: How do you feel about winning the South Coast Conference for women’s javelin?

Answer: I’m really excited that I won because I have never thrown javelin until this year. I threw shot put, discus and did pole vault at North Torrance High.

Q: How was the transition from throwing in high school to college?

A: It was pretty easy for me, but I know I still need to keep working at it.

Q: How confident do you feel going into the last leg of the season before state?

A: I feel pretty confident but I still have to realize these girls are right behind me. I know my competition is gonna work hard and so am I. Mahenaz Mahida/ Special to The Union

Alencar is performing his favorite submission, a rear naked choke on his sensei, Nino.

Q: What motivates you to be great?

A: I just want people to look at me and say “wow that girl works and wants to do something with her life.”

SPORTS

8 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

MAY 5, 2016

Jorge Villa/ Union Sebastian Sanchez, 24, undecided major, warms up every Tuesday and he feels that it gives him the winning edge. Sanchez finished the season with an overall record of 9-2 and will start the first game of the playoffs.

Laid back pitcher is a force on the mound Sophomore Sebastian Sanchez finished the season with five complete games Tayler Dahm

G

Staff Writer @ECCUnionTayler

rowing up with five brothers who played baseball and a sister who played softball, Sebastian Sanchez was always around baseball.

When he was just three years old, Sanchez started playing and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

Last Thursday, the 6-foot-1 175 pound right-hander made his last regular-season start for El Camino’s baseball team, going on the road against Long Beach City College and picking up his team-leading ninth win of the season.

“It’s been one of the best seasons

that I’ve had individually,” Sanchez said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

Freshman catcher Connor Underwood said Sanchez is one of the most interesting teammates he’s ever been around.

“He’s a very laid back and funny guy to be around off of the field and at practice,” Underwood said. “But in the games he’s very competitive and wants to do his very best every time he steps on the mound.”

Growing up, Sanchez rooted for the Chicago Cubs because they were an underdog team to him and he idolized hall-of-fame pitcher Greg Maddox.

Sanchez runs two miles the day before a start but he also likes to stay relaxed before he takes the mound.

“I eat a good breakfast on game day, I usually have a fruit shake, three eggs and some toast,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez attended Bellflower High School where he pitched and played outfield for the baseball

team.

“Sometimes I miss playing everyday (as an outfielder), but pitching is my favorite so I decided to take that more serious,” Sanchez said. “I was good, but I was a way different pitcher than I am right now though.”

The pitcher he is today is standing at a 9-2 record with a 2.71 ERA heading into playoffs and is lined up to pitch the first game of the playoffs for El Camino on Friday at Cypress College.

“When he cares about something he becomes extremely passionate,” coach Nick Jones said.

And pitching seems to be something he cares about, because after El Camino, Sanchez hopes to get a scholarship at a four-year school and is willing to go anywhere that will get him some playing time.

“Winning is my favorite part about pitching,” Sanchez said. “It’s just so fun competing every inning.”

Sebastian Sanchez Season Stats • 54 strikeouts

•

12 games started

•

2.71 Earned Run Average

•

5 strikeouts per game

•

96 innings pitched

•

5 complete games

WARRIORS SCHEDULE M/W SWIM AND DIVE State Championships May 5-7 at East Los Angeles College SOFTBALL Saturday vs Fullerton College 2 p.m.

TRACK AND FIELD SoCal Prelims Saturday at Antelope Valley College TBD BASEBALL Friday at Cypress College 2 p.m.

Follow our sports writers on Twitter: @ECCUnionPhil @ECCUnionMatthew @ECCUnionEricR @ECCUnionTayler

Jorge Villa/ Union Sanchez shows how to throw a two-seam fastball however his favorite pitch is the change-up.

WARRIORS SCOREBOARD

FOR MORE INFORMATION

BASEBALL Warriors 4, Long Beach City College 7

BEACH VOLLEYBALL Warriors 2, Golden West College 3

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