Issue 8, Nov.10, 2011

El Camino College

Serving the campus community since 1946

Union

Thursday Nov. 10, 2011

Non-payments result in dropped courses Matt Simon Staff Writer

It’s two days before the start of the semester and most students log onto their MyECC accounts to print out their schedule for the semester.

About one thousand students, including Jason Williams, 23, history major, logged in to find that they had been dropped from all of their classes and now had to scramble to get into new classes or into their old classes.

Another problem students are running into is that when they enroll in a class and are put on the wait list, they pay for the classes they got into right away, but end up getting dropped from everything because they don’t pay when they get added to the roster from the waitlisted classes.

“It was terrible, I was enrolled into four classes that I needed to transfer and I was dropped from all of them,” Williams said. “I had to rush to try to get back into my classes, only to find that all of them were already full and I had lost my spot.

I wish I had more warning for the deadlines.”

EC has had an established payment deadline for the last three semesters.

“We have two payments to clear spots for new students that are coming in after continuing students should have taken advantage of their priority registration,” Jeanie Nishime vice president of student and community advancement, said.

“The second deadline is used to make room for more students that come to campus who want to take classes.”

To help reduce the number of students that are being dropped, Nishime suggested students download the MOX application which is used to show students notifications, schedules and display campus news.

“The app is a great way to stay connected to the school,” Nishime

said. “It’s also easy. You can type in your username and have automatic access to anything from notifications to emails or even the campus map.”

For students who have fee waivers, these drops from payment deadlines are no problem for them.

“I’m on fee waivers, so I never have to worry about how my classes are going to be paid for,” Cody Stephenson, 20, philosophy major, said. “I have friends who are always panicking to pay for classes because their registration date is so close to the deadline.”

However, some students didn’t have any problems due to paying as they registered for their classes.

“I think if you just pay soon as you can, get your classes, you’ll be fine,” Kenneth Johnson, 18, art major, said. “It’s what I do, and I have no problems when it comes to the deadline dates.”

Along with downloading the MOX application, Nishime believes students need to use their myECC to utilize their college email more to prepare themselves.

“When students transfer they will be given a school email,” Nishime said. “Most colleges use it to communicate with their students and send out information on events and things going on on campus.”

“Students need to begin to pay more attention to their email. We’ve had a lot of intances where students pay for all of the classes only to get dropped when they don’t pay for the classes they get into after being on the wait list,” Nishime added.

In order to reduce the number of students being dropped, students need to start to going onto the college website more and become proactive in terms of knowing when they add classes and when those classes need to be paid for, Nishime said.

“I ran into this problem last semester and ever since I downloaded the MOX app I have been fine,” Ryan Howard, 22, English major, said.

‘Death of a Salesman’ debuts in Campus Theatre Page 6

Torrance, Calif.

Student rebuilds classic

Vanessa Adams/Union Victor Berschansky stands next to a 1959 Wartburg made in Germany. It is one of only 469 built and one of only nine that were sold in the USA. Victor is restoring the vehicle in hopes that he will be able to show it in Pebble Beach next year.

Veterans gain a helping hand Andrew Lim News Editor

The Veterans Center is set to have a grand opening celebration 1 p.m. next Tuesday in the Student Services Center, after officially being open for about half a year “The Veterans Center is going to be a place where veteran students can meet other veteran students,” Esperanza Nieto, assistant director of Admissions and Records, said.

“They can also submit their paperwork for the Veterans Affair benefits,” she added.

During the grand opening celebration, the program will include some remarks from a student veteran Scott Hookey and a keynote speech by Lt. Col. Robert Friend who was one of the original Tuskegee Airmen.

The services at the new center includes

access to computers, study area, workshops and on different Veterans Affair and medical benefits by Veterans Administration, Martha Angel, Veterans Certifying Official, said.

Angel added that it is designed to have different veterans around campus connect with one another.

The Veterans Center will also host a tour and will unveil the paintings that have been donated by the South Bay Folk Artist.

Sherman Watson, 29, political science major, is one of the veterans to utilize the new Veterans Center and he also said that his past experiences of serving in the military has helped him.

“I use my skills from (the Marine Corps) to stay on top of things and be more organized,” Watson said. “Every one follows the rules in the Marine Corps but here you’re dealing with a lot of different people.”

Board of Trustees Election Results Area 1 Kenneth Brown, incumbent 20,167 votes / 100% Area 2 Mary Combs, incumbent 19,776 votes / 100% Area 3 Bill Beverly, incumbent 12,400 votes / 55.28% Wendy Doeh 10,033 votes / 44.72% —L.A. County Registrar-Recorder

Cancellation of winter session would lead to longer time at EC Andrew Lim News Editor

One second, winter session is back and the next second, it might be out once again.

Recently, the administration has been going back-and-forth whether winter session should be included in the calendar.

A year ago, after the winter session was canceled, students and faculty voiced their opinions about wanting to have them through public forums and petitions “We need to develop a calendar for the 2012-2013 school year,” Jeanie Nishime, vice president of Student and Community Advancement, said. “Two calendars are being proposed, one that has winter, and the other one that has no winter with back-to-back summer sessions.”

With various reasons as to why winter session is up for debate once again, Nishime said she could not go into too much specifics as the negotiation process has just started.

“Part of it are budget reductions forcing us to cut more classes,” Nishime

NEWS LINE –Jorge Camarillo

Overall success rate and retention rate for 2010

said. “That’s why majority of the cuts proposed are coming to winter and spring.”

Two weeks ago, the Calendar Committee met again after going back and forth the last year about making changes to winter session.

Christina Gold, Academic Senate president, said that the administrators have changed their reasons as to why they want to make changes to the calendar.

“When (the administration) initially introduced it, the administrators said the winter session disrupted things,” she said. “When we asked if it was budget, the administration said no and that it was cost-neutral.”

According to the overall success rates and retention rates for 2010, winter was the most successful session at an 84.3 percent success rate and a 92.2 percent retention rate. Spring session has been the most unsuccessful at a 67.2 percent success rate and an 81.2% retention rate.

Gold said that although the administration said that not having winter saves money, she has not seen how the money would be saved.

She added that the reserve fund which has been in question by the students and faculty, have been steadily increasing over the years and that the fund should be used to create more sections.

According to a report by the Academic Senate, the reserve fund was a little over $5 million in 2005. As of this year, the reserve fund is now about $23 million.

Nishime said due to EC being frugal in its spendings, the reserve fund has been on a rise.

“It really started rising when the partnership with Compton College began,” Nishime said. “We make $4 million a year from Compton. We do have plans to spend (the reserve fund) in the near future.”

Students, including Nick La Croix, 35, music major, are already scrambling for classes due to the recent number of budget cuts which have impacted the number of sections offered.

“It would upset me a little bit,” La Croix said. “I want to hurry it up and make it happen. No one wants to wait another semester. Potentially, a third of our time can be wasted due to budget cuts.”

Homecoming Dance to take place Saturday

UC Personal Statement Workshop to take place

UCLA tour is available for interested students

The last day to drop with a ‘W’ is next Friday

Homecoming Dance, sponsored by the Inter-Club Council, will take place 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the Student Activities Center.

Tickets cost $2 with the ASB sticker and $5 without it.

There will be a UC Personal Statement Workshop from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Alondra Room. It is hosted by the Transfer Center and will help students who are filling out UC applications.

There will be a UCLA tour next Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students must pay a $5 refundable deposit and have a current class schedule. For more information, call the Transfer Center, 310-660-3593, ext. 3408.

The last day to drop with a ‘W’ is next Friday. After that day, if students have not dropped certain classes, they will get grades that show on the permanent record. To drop, log on to the myECC website.

Success rate is based on the percent of students who passed with a C or better and the retention rate is based on the percent of students who completed the course without dropping.

2

NEWS POLICE Bike thefts are on a rise on campus BEAT

November 10, 2011 / El Camino College Union

DeAnna Calloway Staff Writer

Female student leaves the scene of an incident Nov. 4, 8:45 a.m.—Female student was backing out of a stall in the second floor of Parking Lot H. She stepped on the gas hard which caused her to hit a vehicle and that vehicle hit another vehicle.

She left the scene of the accident. However, officers found her, contacted her and gave her a citation for leaving the scene of an incident.

Officers find male lying down in Parking Lot H Nov. 3, 8:10 a.m.—Offices responded to Parking Lot L. A suspicious male non-student, who was not wearing shoes, was looking into cars.

The officers found out that there was a $50,00 warrant on him for domestic violence. He was transported to the Police Department.

Male injuries himself while riding a scooter Oct. 31, 7:20 p.m.—A male non-student was riding a gas-powered scooter and was passing by the police station.

He hit a bump on the road which caused him to fall and he dislocated his shoulder.

Paramedics arrived at the scene.

—Andrew Lim

The economy is still in a plunge and students are looking for ways to save all the money that they can.

Riding a bike to school and not wasting money on gas seem to be a perfect idea.

However, there has been an increase in bike thefts on campus and the Campus Police is advising students to take greater measures to protect their bikes.

“There’s a lot of contributing factors as to why more bikes are getting stolen,” Sgt. Dal Toruno of the Police Department, said.

“There are more bikes on campus due to the economy. Another

issue is because some bikes are very expensive, but the thieves are targeting both expensive and inexpensive bikes.”

Toruno added that some students don’t use locks or they’ll only wrap the lock around the tires and handlebars, making them more vulnerable to get their property stolen.

“We have various bikes racks throughout campus,” Toruno said. (However, some students) use light posts making them more vulnerable.”

Leilani Ikahihifo, 18, humanities and dance major, who rides a bike to school, was a victim to a bike thief.

“I use my bike to go to school, church, my bank, fam-

ily member’s houses,” Ikahihifo said. “It’s like my car. It hurt because the people that steal, don’t think that people use their bikes for everything.”

Ikahihifo said that he went to the police, filled out a report and gave the police a picture of the bike. He added that the officers and cadets were helpful.

“Between a Tuesday and Thursday we had nine bikes stolen all over campus,” Toruno said. “We caught three bike thieves in a total of three weeks.

We already have surveillance all around campus and we are in the process of setting up more surveillance.”

Toruno added that not only are students stealing bikes, but

non-students are stealing them as well.

“We caught one thief; he wasn’t a student here and he was a juvenile,” Toruno said.

“We also caught people working in pairs and they were students here.”

With a variety of thieves roaming around campus, students who ride bikes need to stay on high alert, Toruno said.

“What students can do to help prevent bike theft is use the designated bike racks,” Toruno said. “If you have an expensive bike, you should invest in a quality lock. We recommend that students use kryptonite locks and we also encourage students to write down the serial numbers.”

Survivor encouranges many Diane Vay Staff Writer

A holocaust survivor. Hilda Fogelson, 85, came to campus last Friday to share with the History Club and students on campus of her experiences and memories as a Holocaust survivor.

Students sat down on chairs in the classroom and wrote down what they have learned and their opinions after listening to her life experiences as a Holocaust survivor.

“We have so many people denying the Holocaust,” Fogelson said. “And people still wonder how Hitler came to power.”

Fogelson said because the Germans had power through literary and musical works, Hilter took that to his advantage and became a powerful leader.

“Germany lost a lot of territory and then came Hitler who promised them a better life,” Fogelson said.

“The very moment he came to power, he placed laws against the

Jews, who were the scapegoats, and blamed them for the depression in Germany,” she added.

Like the thousands of Jewish children who were sent to England under the Holocaust Kindertransport, Fogelson was sent to live with her sponsor. Unlike many of the other children, Fogel-

“I think that when you survive, you become stronger.”

—Russell Levine, president of the History Club son said that she was able to stay near family because her sponsor was her uncle.

Fogelson said that only 15 percent of the children saved by the Holocaust Kindertransport ever saw their parents again.

“Although parents believed they would see their children soon, they were gone forever,”

Fogelson said. “The parents were sent to different locations because Hilter did not want people to see what was really going on.”

Fogelson said she was fortunate to have an uncle in England, who later sent her to boarding school. After spending a year and a half in England, Fogelson was reunited with her family and moved to Los Angeles.

“She is a Holocaust Survivor with an amazing experience,” Florence Baker, history professor, said. “She was saved by the Holocaust Kindertransport which was created to help the Jews.”

Having heard Fogelson’s story as a Holocaust Survivor, Students including Russell Levine, 18, president of the History Club, can only be encouraged by her life experiences.

“I would encourage many people to reach out, hear and learn from these stories while they are around,” Russell Levine, 18, president of the history club, said. “I think that when you survive, you become stronger.”

Tips on keeping the bike secure Use a steel U-shaped lock and cable.

Position the lock so that it will be kept off the ground to avoid giving the thief leverage to break the lock.

Position the keyhole of the lock so it is facing the ground.

Take the bike seat with you if it’s easily removable.

Homecoming to be hosted by ASO Nicholette Raecke Staff Writer

The Homecoming dance’s theme is “Blast from the Past.” Associated Students Organization (ASO) and Inter-Club Council (ICC) are teaming together for the first time. The dance will take place 9 p.m. Saturday after the football game.

The Homecoming activities will be open to all students this year, unlike the previous years.

Tickets will be sold through this week at the library lawn, until they are sold out. The event will take place after the football game, when the team will be playing Ventura College at 6 p.m.

“We’re celebrating the whole of the twentieth century,” Waheed said. “We hope that students will come

dressed in their favorite decade. There will be props from these decades, and forms to take picture in, and music to celebrate these decades also.”

“During halftime there will be a parade, showcasing the Homecoming Court, in classic cars,” Waheed added.

Lily Kurosaki, ICC vice president, said that ICC wanted to make the event more inclusive so that everyone can take part in the various events.

“We’re expecting to sell 200 tickets for the event,” Kurosaki said. “Food and drinks will be covered by the entrance fees. It is strongly advised that students bring their student IDs.” Tickets will be $2 for ASB members, $5 without.

Food and drinks will be covered by the entrance fees.

November 10, 2011 / El Camino College Union

ADVERTISMENT 3

4 EDITORIALS

November 10, 2011 / El Camino College Union

Students are left to guess about winter session Winter session is back! Wait, no it isn’t.

Is it?

Maybe...

After what seems like an endless dispute between the administration about whether or not winter session will be here to stay, students are finding themselves frustrated and confused more than ever.

First, it was reported that winter session 2013 was to be canceled.

This news probably enraged, saddened and left some students with no hope for finishing their education here at EC sooner rather than later.

Then, it was reported that winter session 2013 would return, leaving most students on campus ecstatic with the good news.

There was hope among students once again.

Now, it is back to the same old story.

Is winter session back?

When will students know?

What classes will be available?

While it might be sometime before students or anyone knows whether or not winter session 2013 will be a part of the academic calendar, the truth is that some students really depend on winter session to take required classes.

Classes during winter session are more demanding compared to those of spring and fall but the time frame for them is much shorter.

Enrolling in classes is hard enough during spring and fall.

While there are not enough seats for ev-

The issue:

It is not yet clear whether winter session is canceled or not.

Our stand:

Students are confused and need to know if winter session is to stay or be canceled.

ery student who tries to add into a class, sessions like winter and summer help those students get the classes needed out of the way.

With one less session for students, there will be that much more hoping and waiting to add classes during the spring semester.

When it all comes down to it, classes and or winter session is eliminated because of budget cuts.

Enough with people saying that education is important and that in order to be successful in life a college degree is required.

Students at EC are aware of that, but how are they supposed to obtain a degree when classes that are needed are being cut, but winter session is also being considered for elimination.

If winter session 2013 is going to be canceled, students need to know now so then they can properly prepare for it and possibly attend a different college during that time.

—See related article on Page 1

Illustration by Viridiana Vaca-Rios

Classes are dropped due to changes in schedules With three of her four classes paid for and added to her schedule and one class added to the waitlist, she logs off of the computer and goes on about her day.

A few days later, she returns to check the status of the waitlisted class only to find that all of her classes have been dropped.

As she attempts to enroll in the classes that she was dropped from, it is too late as all the spots have been filled.

This is just one of the many scenarios that students experienced this past semester when enrolling in classes, all due to the fee deadlines which state that if a student doesn’t pay all the total amount fees, they will be dropped from all classes.

If all the classes that were initially enrolled and active were paid for, then those classes should have never been dropped.

Getting into classes that one needs is not that easy nowa-

days, there needs to be a system that will prevent things like this from happening.

If classes are dropped it can mean that a student will have another added semester to their time here on campus and some students apply for transfer or their degree and it can possibly push that back from happening.

Now, some will say that it is a students responsibility to continuously stay updated and check on the status of a waitlisted class.

However, many students on campus don’t check their EC email due to a variety of reasons.

Some students don’t have access to computers at home, making it difficult to check on a waitlisted class.

Usually, when a student enrolls in classes or is waitlisted, they don’t check their email or class schedules right away because they are on vacation.

Most fee deadlines are sometime during winter or sum-

mer breaks.

Some students go on vacation and dealing with classes and or EC websites is the last thing on anyones mind, especially if all of the classes that were active, were paid for in full.

As to how this can be fixed, some possible solutions would be that if a class is added to a schedule, they will have a specific time to pay for the class.

Maybe students can be alerted via text message that there has been a change to their class schedule. With most students carrying cellphones during the day, a quick text message could avoid any unnecessary dropping.

Another reasonable solution could be that if that class, that was waitlisted isn’t paid for, then it gets dropped alone.

Leaving the paid for schedule alone.

—See related article on Page 1

Handling stress positively is crucial Protesting shouldn’t leave one homeless Having a job while attending college and studying for required classes is not uncommon for a college student. However, being able to balance all responsibilities can get difficult and extremely stressful.

The added pressure to get good grades in order to transfer out of a community college and into a four-year university, while making enough money to be able to pay and afford personal expenses can be extremely overwhelming. As a student at EC with a job, I often find myself in this same situation.

After having a difficult spring semester, I decided to lighten up my work load this fall by taking one less class and working fewer hours.

The cliché saying, “time management is key” has actually helped in my efforts to be less stressed and accomplish all of my tasks to my satisfaction. I have limited myself to working no more than 24 hours a week in order to have sufficient time to get my schoolwork and studying done.

By only taking three classes, I do not feel as if I have too many tests and assignments piling up to the point that I cannot complete them.

This was not an easy thing to figure out, as trial and error played a large role in finding a schedule that worked for me.

Many students believe that being a fulltime student while working and having a social life is possible and while for some it is, a majority of people simply can’t handle having a job and attending college.

I have learned through experience that I

CAMPUS INSIGHT

am one of those people that simply cannot handle a heavy load.

Yet by accepting this fact, I feel less pressured and can actually take the time to relax.

The best part of finding a schedule that worked for me is being Jennifer Santos able to have a social life criminal justice major without feeling guilty about not spending as much time on schoolwork as I felt was needed.

This semester I have not felt as stressed as I have in the past and can honestly say I have been handling my classes and work with ease.

A student can do many things to handle stress in a way that best suits them, but if only a student knows what he or she is capable of handling, then stress won’t be something to worry about.

The views expressed in Campus Insight are those of the authors.

They do not represent the views or opinions of the Union, its staff, editorial board or adviser.

This column is available to students and faculty. All articles may be submitted to Eccunion@gmail.com.

Please note that articles may be edited for content and length.

Hundreds of tents align the lawns near City Hall, as hundreds of protesters fill the streets, trying to make a difference with the Occupy L.A. Movement.

According to an L.A. Times article, the group of demonstrators which is “against economic policies that benefit corporations and the wealthiest Americans” has been camped out for several weeks now and has said to possibly camp out in tents until christmas.

However, is camping outside in protest of the Occupy L.A. Movement anything but in sanitary conditions really worth it?

According to an L.A. Times article, people camping out and protesting can lose the city $58 million.

Now should people have better jobs and better pay?

Yes they should, but is protesting the best way to solve this issue?

Many issues can’t be solved with a protest, if anything what a protest does is that it helps brings attention to a cause.

But is losing the city $58 million a good answer to an economy that is already suffering at this point?

Is camping out really the answer to our problems?

If it’s going make us lose money then there is no point to this.

Why are people quitting their jobs to protest? They are just wasting potential money that can be earned.

After all of this is over, which eventually it will be, the demonstrators are going to have empty pockets and nowhere to live since most have abandoned their homes.

Photos of this movement have surfaced all over the Internet showing everyone around the country what is going on.

For those who have seen these photos, one can see

El Camino College

Union Vol. 65, No. 08 Nov. 10, 2011

E-mail: elcaminounion@ yahoo.com Newsroom: (310) 660-3328 Advertising: (310) 660-3329

Editor-in-Chief...............................................Viridiana Vaca-Rios Managing Editor..................................................Samantha Troisi News Editor................................................ ..............Andrew Lim Co-Opinion Editor.................................................Eman Elshiyab Co-Opinion Editor.........................................Viridiana Vaca-Rios Features Editor.....................................................Samantha Troisi Arts Editor...............................................................Ashley Curtin Sports Editor........................................................Samantha Troisi Photo Editor............................................... Sylwia M. Ozdzynski Co-Online Editor-in-Chief........................................Andrew Lim Co-Online Editor-in-Chief..................................Samantha Troisi Advertising Manager..........................................Stephanie Alcorn Adviser................................................................Lori Medigovich Adviser...............................................................Kate McLaughlin

Technical Support.....................................................Don Treat

COMMENTARY that the environment and surrounding of these camping grounds are anything but clean and sanitary.

An L.A Times article stated that with people trashing parks, Shane Utton urinating and defecating in public Staff Writer places, it’s making places around the city an unsanitary place.

Health officials have asked the protesters to dispose of the wastewater in a drainage system rather than just the ground.

If health officials didn’t step in, would the protesters be living in filth?

There have been no reported diseases, but if this keeps up, it is possible for a disease or sickness to occur and since these people quit there jobs, what money will they have to pay for medicine?

Even if this movement makes a change in society, these people can’t just go back to there regular lives.

Some people have left their homes to live on the streets and join this movement.

Even if this protest makes a difference, the protesters are digging themselves a grave because they have no income and without money you can’t do a whole lot.

The 99 percent campaign isn’t going to help people when all they’re really doing is taking a mini vacation.

If people want something to happen, it has to go through the government, camping outside in tents and what seems like added filth isn’t going to make a difference.

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

November 10, 2011 / El Camino College Union

UP FOR DEBATE

Are online college courses effective?

Online courses allow students to learn on their own.

Online courses can be just as effective as classroom learning. It offers more variety and time, which can be essential for the 21st century learner.

In the traditional classroom setting, a student can sit and never contribute or participate in a discussions and still get an A if he or she passes all tests. In the virtual classroom you can’t blend in, discussions are mandatory and you have to think for yourself. Online courses are more demanding.

The courses require you to be self driven and more critical of your work.

As a working student, it allows one to be more flexible and not have to be tied down to a schedule. The online programs have schedules, but the flexibility of your time allows the student to work, be home for the family and do your day-to- day task.

Traditional classroom classes run at least 3 weeks shorter, but it’s an all-day task. If it weren’t for online courses, going back to school for the working adult would not be an option.

A well-designed online course provides opportunities for student interaction through discussion groups with pre-determined discussions questions and group assignments. Online learning has definite advantages over face to face instruction when it comes to teaching and learning, according to a New Meta analysis released by the U.S. Department of Education in 2009.

The study found that students who took all or part of their instruction online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through face-toface instruction.

The study found that those who took blended courses, a course that combines elements of online learning and face to face instruction, did even better, EC offer these type of courses. They’re called hybrid courses and students who do them seem to do well. Online courses do better not because of technology, but because of time.

Studies proved that learners in the online classes spent more time on tasks than students in the classroom. Online learning

Sheila Broussard Staff Writer

Natalie Sripongkosol Staff Writer

is much more conducive to the expansion of learning time than is face to face instruction, it is also cost effective in school districts and colleges nationwide as proven in studies.

It appears that a student’s concentration level is higher when studying online than in a traditional classroom, so let’s not fight technology and expand our minds online.

Read and respond. Download and reply. Nuanced commands distinguished only by an era of digital advancement.

Both, though, are used in an outdated and oversimplified teaching model.

Students learn best when they actively participate in their learning through diverse activities. In its 2011 instruction handbook, Florida State University describes active learning as the opportunity

Traditional courses are effective for students. for students to meaningfully talk and listen, write, read and reflect on an academic subject.

Online courses just don’t offer this opportunity for active learning.

Students taking online courses are unable to exchange ideas with their peers in a classroom discussion facilitated by a professor. Instead, students get one perspective—the one they’ve formed by skimming over reading materials with limited guidance from their professor, and little motivation to see ideas in another light.

According to the book, Distance Learning in Higher Education, computermediated communication reduces nonverbal cues such as encouraging gestures, and increases miscommunication.

In a classroom, students not understanding any concept have the opportunity to stop and tell their professor that they don’t get it. They get the chance to set their learning pace by asking teachers or classmates questions before moving on to the next concept.

Sure, students can email their professors, but students may not have the writing skills to articulate a complex question that, in a face-to-face discussion, might be more simply and more immediately clarified.

And, in other cases, professors may not provide prompt replies that fully answer students’ questions, or may fail to make students feel that they are accessible at all.

Instructor presence was shown to positively impact students’ effective learning, cognition, and motivation in a 2010 study published by The Journal of Educators Online.

With such variance in teaching offered across online courses, students taking these classes are left with a misunderstanding of subjects that may affect their future development and achievement.

Online courses can’t offer students the opportunity to use knowledge gained in face-to-face interaction to build a realworld understanding of concepts.

Reducing the face-to-face classroom setting to a fully online course is simply a one-dimensional alternative to a complete and quality college experience.

Illustration by Jennifer Oh

Veterans day is a time when we can thank our troops The wars have come and gone. Whether veterans were drafted or enlisted, they went to our duty and served the country we loved. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, those who served in these forces came from all over the country.

Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. Many Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor American military personnel who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained from combat. That’s not quite true. Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor America’s war dead. Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors all American veterans, both living and dead. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for dedicated and loyal service to their country. Nov.11 of each year is the day that we ensure veterans know that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made in the lives to keep our country free.

At exactly 11 a.m., on Veterans Day, a color guard,made up of members from each of the military branches, renders honors to America’s war dead during a heart-moving ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. The president or his representative places a wreath at the Tomb and a bugler sounds Taps. The balance of the ceremony, including a “Parade of Flags” by numerous veterans’ service organizations, takes place inside the

Memorial Amphitheater, next to the Tomb.

There have been 11 wars beginning with the American Revolution. In these conflicts from our founding to today’s news reports, a total of 42 million Americans have served in our military. Of this total, 650,000 died in battle.

Another 309,000 died from other causes in the theatres where they Eman Elshiyab served.

Co-Opinion Editor According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (NVA) today we have almost 17.5 million living American veterans of wartime service. Can you believe that’s about 5.5% of our total population?

Thinking about it brings a lot of memories of my eldest brother. I remember, like it was yesterday, when he decided to enlist in the Air Force in 2003. I was only 12 years old when he told my family and being so young the only things that ran through my mind was war, shooting, bloodshed and other bad things. I was mortified to think he wanted to be a part of that.

Soldiers in the military got their training from stern

COLUMN

CAMPUS VIEWPOINTS

men who never smiled. They pushed themselves harder than they ever had previously. And when their physical training was over, they knew things were just beginning.

To them, training was only a first step. They stayed in distant countries with strange names, combat, danger and sometimes long periods of empty days and nights. All they knew was drill and duty.

I used to ask myself, why would anyone want to do this? My brother enlisted in the Air Force twice making that eight years of being a part of the U.S Air Force. He said he knew that it was time to answer our nation’s call and enlist in the military. He told people he joined to fight terrorists, fundamentalist militants and the enemies of America wherever they hide.

He is proud today that he honorably served here and overseas in the name of freedom and justice and furthered our nation’s goal of eliminating those who wish to destroy us for the things that we cherish and believe in. It finally all made sense to me. I cannot be anymore proud of him and the rest of our soldiers.

So if you know someone who has served in any branch of the service, wartime or peacetime, or both, this is the day to shake his or her hand and to say, “Thank you for what you did for us. We are grateful for your devotion to duty and to our country.”

5

CAMPUS CORNER

Joseph Holliday Adviser Honors Transfer Club Joseph Holliday is the adviser of the Honors Transfer Program (HTP) club. With 30 active members, the club meets in the Natural Science Building, every other Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m.

What are your duties as the adviser?

I must attend all meetings and make sure that they are following the rules.

Who is the president of the club?

The president is Kevin Hobbs.

What are the duties of the president?

The president runs the meetings and also makes sure the activities and fundraisers actually happen. He also makes sure that members know about meetings.

What are the requirements to join the club?

They don’t have to be in the honor’s program, but they should be. However, there are no real requirements.

What are the requirements of joining the HTP? Have at least a 3.1 cumulative GPA at time of completion. Complete at least two regular (fall or spring) semesters in the HTP. Successfully complete English 1A the first semester in the program (unless already completed).

Complete at least five honors courses, each with a minimum grade of C. Complete at least four seminars or Alternate Enrichment Activities.

Complete at least two scheduled half-hour counseling appointments How does your club contribute to the campus and the community?

It is an active club that provides support to the Honors Transfer program. We also do fundraising and other charitable work. Last semester we collected clothes for 3 nonprofit organizations.

When was the club founded?

It was founded 5 years ago by Danny Ruiz.

Are there any perks in joining this club?

Students can write about being part of the HTP in their personal statements when they apply to UCs and private schools.

—DeAnna Calloway

Are online college courses effective?

By Diane Vay

Carlos Narez, 20, digital media arts major

Amie Angelich, 21, nursing major

George Gomez, 19, criminal justice major

Nelli Shirzaid, 19, biology major

Daniel Carvalho, 20, business major

Freshta Sidiqi,19, sociology major

“No. From the experience, I realized that I had a less likely chance of getting help. I had to work on my own or make guesses.”

“Yes. Because you learn just as much and online classes tend to be a lot easier to understand and more clear.”

“No. When taking classes online a professor doesn’t teach you.

Instead, you are helping yourself and that is so hard.”

“Yes. Because it’s more demanding than a regular in class course.

Your forced to concentrate and motivate yourself to focus.”

“No. Online courses are difficult because you can get easily distracted and not focused like when you are taking a regular class.”

“Yes. Because it’s on your personal time and you can go to work and complete your desired degree at the same time.”

6 ARTS

November 10, 2011 / El Camino College Union

ON THE SCENE Music

Engelbarts Concert The EC Choral, South Bay Children’s Choir and other musical guests will perform in concert at Marsee Auditorium on Sunday at 7 p.m.

The concert is a celebration of the new organ purchased by the Engelbarts Trust—a fund that provides scholarships to music students and purchases instruments for the music department. Tickets are $15 and all proceeds will benefit music students. For more information, interested persons may call 800-832-ARTS. Film

Travel cinema film Take a trip through Alaska’s wild terrain in the travel film, “Alaska’s Inside Passage.” The film will be shown on Monday at 3 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium. Tickets are $7.

For more information, interested persons may call 800832-ARTS. Art

New exhibit featured in Schauerman Library Portrait photography, woodwork displays and art work featuring recycled materials are now on view in the Schauerman Library lobby.

Featuring the art work of Bejan Amini and construction technology students, the exhibit is free. For additional information, interested persons may call 310-660-3519.

Dion Santos / Union Shane Walker, 24, automotive technology major, looks at the images of historic re-enactments by photographer Bejan Amini on display in the Schauerman Library through November.

Historic photographs in Schauerman Library Diane Vay Staff Writer

Portraits of generals from the Battle of Gettysburg line the walls while scattered images of soldiers from the Seven Days Battle are positioned throughout the lobby of the Schauerman Library.

Providing a glimpse of the American Civil War through portraits, Bejan Amini, photographer, shares his perspective of history through re-enacted still life photos.

“The photos are documenting classical portraiture of people through role-playing,” Amini said. “They are playing the roles of soldiers and others (involved

in) the Civil War who mimic the lifestyle of the people they imitate.”

Amini’s photographs will be featured in a solo exhibit throughout November.

Amini said he first became involved with the college about four years ago when he and a group of photographers from the South Bay Camera Crew were invited as guests to an exhibit in the Schauerman Library. After the exhibit, he said he became interested in showcasing his art work in the same way.

“Two and a half years ago the process of creating my exhibit began,” Amini said. “It’s exciting as well as a heck of a lot of work.”

Rather than randomly choosing just any genre for the exhibit, Amini said he chose historical re-enactments because the photographs offer more of an opportunity for students to learn about history and about the models who role play these characters.

“I think it is really nice to have something that provokes or starts up a conversation about historical time periods beyond Google and books,” Albert Romero, library technician and curator, said.

From experimenting with black-and-white filmed cameras as a child, Amini said he became a photographer to share his own perspective of the world through various genres of history.

“I found a hidden talent in myself,”Amini said. “I was extremely interested in photography and began to see the world as well as people in a different perspective.”

With portraits that display historical re-enactments, Amini said it gives students an opportunity to connect with American history; from the soldier who fought in the American Civil Wars to the nurses and generals, a connection is made, he said.

“I see drama,” Amini said.

“And through photography, I am able to show the world how I see things in my perspective.”

Amini’s photography can also be seen in cinematic productions as well as through various

images including landscapes.

“He is a very talented photographer and we are very happy to have his exhibit in the library,” Romero said.

“A majority of my photos are taken by coincidence,” Amini said. “In the end, it eventually comes down to the magic between the model and myself.”

Also featured in the Schauerman Library are woodwork displays by construction technology students and various recycled art work and paraphernalia coinciding with National Recycling Week. The Schauerman Library is 8 open a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

—Natalie Sripongkosol

‘Death of a Salesman’ enthralls audience with captivating cast Natalie Sripongkosol Staff Writer

Vanessa Adams / Union Raul Barbosa focuses on learning the technical skills of jewelry fabrication as part of the arts program.

Jewelry class inspires new path for student Sheila Broussard Staff Writer

Staring at the gold links he just molded, he positions the light closer to the shiny object.

Using skinny pliers, he positions the small, blue gem stone in place. He holds it at a distance as the stone shines bright against the light.

Raul Barbosa, arts major, is currently spending his time learning the process of jewelry fabrication.

Recently enrolling in the arts program, Barbosa is not going to school for academic accolades, rather he said he is taking classes here for the experience he gets and the knowledge he obtains.

“I want to learn all I can,” he said.

Barbosa, who said he was first encouraged by his peers to pursue his passion for art, enrolled in EC in the 1970s.

His love for watercolor paintings, life drawings and sculpturing quickly became his main interest, he said.

“I always loved all different art work,” Barbosa said. “So I decided to take some classes after work.”

He continued to do this for many years while working full-

time as an aircraft and engine mechanic for Continental Airlines.

Throughout the years, while going to school and working, he was also constructing a life-size, 450-pound bronze bust of Nefertiti, who was the Queen of Egypt during the 14th century BC. “I was truly inspired by Andrew Fagan, a teacher at the time, to complete the sculpture,” Barbosa said.

He said it took him 13 years

RISING

STAR to sculpt his replica of Nefertiti.

He said it was finally completed in 1976.

Barbosa’s recreation of Nefertiti was, at the time, the largest sculpture ever cast at EC and because of this, he said he continues to receive great recognition.

His replica of Nefertiti appeared in the Daily Breeze and was also featured on the broadcast network, KCAL. Retiring from Continental Airlines in 2003, Barbosa once again became a student, enroll-

ing in jewelry fabrication classes this time around.

“I decided to go back to school again because I wanted to be more productive and do things that I always wanted to do,” Barbosa said.

In his spare time, he continues to sculpt and is currently working on replicating a stage from the Creation of Man—a scene Michelangelo painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

“I like to make art work that you don’t see too often,” he said.

And in doing so, Barbosa said he likes to work with bronze among many different metals including gold and silver during the jewelry fabrication.

Recognized in many ways for his art work, Barbosa is also an inspiration to many students, Irene Mori, art professor, said.

He also lends a helping hand wherever he can, she added.

“Raul is a very dedicated and fascinating artist with a vision,” Mori said.

Barbosa said his art work has become a hobby and he works very hard to put everything he has into it.

And rather than a profession, Barbosa said it is a past time hobby, which keeps him busy while pursuing his dreams.

Shoulders sinking forward beneath the weight of his wellworn brown, three-piece suit and hat, a 63-year-old salesman returns to his little house on an unknown Brooklyn street. As soon as he speaks, his hurried, yet tired cadence earnestly transports the audience back to 1949 and into the brooding head of Willy Loman.

A Pulitzer and Tony Award winning drama, “Death of a Salesman” was written by Arthur Miller and first debuted on Broadway in 1949. Centering around the demise of Willy (Norman Snow), the play depicts a middle-class patriarch with an overwhelming angst for his failed success.

In the theater department’s revival, which opened Nov. 4 in the Campus Theatre, a wellrounded ensemble of professional and student actors wield the story of a common man’s struggle to reach his American Dream. The family dynamic that surrounds him strikes a completely relatable chord with the audience.

The set design and stage management, under the direction of John DeMita, cleverly establishes walls and staircase where none physically exist.

And just as tangible as these walls, which divide the scenes, are Willy’s sporadic thoughts spanning from painful memories of his past to the current reality of his life.

In the first act, Willy’s dialogue sets the mood.

“It’s all right,” Willy responds more dejectedly than matter of fact, “I’ve come back.”

Immediately, Willy reveals that he’s been lying to his family, to the audience and to himself.

But despite Willy’s failures,

Photo Courtesy of EC Center for the Arts Peggy Flood, Norman Snow, Nick Cagle and Clifford Cisneros star in “Death of a Salesman” which made its debut in the Campus Theatre.

“Death of a Salesman” When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday Where: Campus Theatre Tickets: $7.50 to $15 Information: 310-329-5345 or www.centerforthearts.org his doting wife, Linda Loman (Peggy Flood), kneels to remove her husband’s constricting shoes and replaces them with slippers.

Continuing to bolster Willy’s morale with an unfailing loyalty and deep love no matter the condition of their life, Linda proves to be the most complex character in the play and acts with effortless strength.

Through Flood’s perfectly balanced tones, which venture between a girlishly affectionate tone to a wearily matron-like dialogue, she makes believable her love for her husband. As her character strives to keep a family together, she furiously scolds

her grown sons, Biff Loman (Nick Cagle) and Happy Loman (Clifford Cisneros), for the lack of deference toward their father.

“Attention must finally be paid to such a person,” Flood demands of them and the world.

In one of the most powerful scenes of the play, Biff, Willy’s eldest son, ponders his internal turmoil over accepting his true self-worth versus rising to the inflated expectations set by his father.

Adding to the dynamic cast, 20-year-old theater arts major, Cisneros, nails the smooth-talking, womanizing and often ignored little brother, Happy, who is ironically the comedic counterpart to Biff.

Together with supporting cast members, Flood, Cagle and Cisneros move seamlessly across Snow’s character’s realities to help piece together exactly how the American Dream was broken.

Though the title of Miller’s play leaves little suspense as to what becomes of the protagonist, “Death of a Salesman” keeps its audience in suspense as they follow the desperate but understandable paths of Willy Loman.

SPORTS

November 10, 2011 / El Camino College Union

ON DECK

Warriors one win away from bowl game Matt Simon Staff Writer

Football Saturday at 6 p.m. vs. Ventura College.

Women’s Volleyball Today at 6 p.m. vs. L.A. Trade Tech College.

Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Mt. San Antonio College.

Women’s Soccer

After a three and a half hour uncomfortable bus-ride to Righetti High School to face the Allan Hancock College, the football team was out to a fast start.

Alondra Johnson sparked the team with a 61-yard touchdown in the first two minutes of the game leading EC to a 38-14 victory.

“It was a new play that we had just installed, a wrinkle from last week that worked pretty well,” Johnson said. “They bit pretty hard on a fake and everybody got into their position to make a block and I went untouched.”

Johnson wasn’t done there, he also had a 30-yard touchdown run for his second score of the game.

“I was really pumped up after that one,” Johnson, who finished with 109 total yards and two touchdowns, said. “The receiver had a great block and I was able to score.”

After going down early in the game, the Warriors began to air it out and quarterback Omar Herrera led the way.

Herrera went 18 for 28 for 372 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half.

Luckner Brady was one of Herrera’s favorite targets, finishing the day with 166 yards on seven receptions.

Along with Herrera, the Warriors’ rushing game was pivotal in taking time off the clock and insuring the win.

Peter Walton rushed for 100 yards on 18 carries, leading the team in rushing yards.

“Our guys played great,” John Featherstone, coach, said. “After that long drive, our guys came out and performed really well. I’m proud of them.”

Along with the offense running on all cylinders, the defense dominated after allowing 14 points in the first quarter.

The defense racked up three sacks, one forced fumble and had one interception while they shutout Allan Hancock in the

last three quarters of the game.

With the win, the Warriors, 8-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, are one victory away from a possible state championship game and national championship.

“Last week was the first week coach (John Featherstone) told us we only have two games left,” Johnson said. “He told us that if we won against Hancock and win our next game, we will give ourselves a really good chance to make something happen for the playoffs.”

The Warriors now turn their eyes to Saturday when Ventura College visits Murdock Stadium at 6 p.m. for the team’s last regular season home game of the year.

Cross-country star shows drive

Today at 3 p.m. vs. Long Beach City College

Men’s Soccer

Tayani Davis Staff Writer

Today at 1 p.m. vs. Long Beach City College.

Men’s Basketball Friday at 7 p.m. vs. West L.A College.

Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Grossmont College.

Women’s Basketball Today at 6 p.m. vs. West L.A College.

Tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Palomar College.

Cross-country Nov. 19 at Woodward Park in Fresno, CA. State Championships time to be announced.

Men’s and women’s water polo The men’s team finished the season 9-12.

The women’s team finished the season 10-11.

—Shane Utton

7

Andrew Lim/Union David Rosales, 18, business marketing major, leads the cross-country team this season to the state finals in hopes of receiving a scholarship.

Running through grass, sand, and back onto concrete, with the crowd yelling from the sidelines, was nothing new for him. But all he could focus on was the person in front of him.

He breathes in and out furiously trying to pass his opponent.

Using a last burst of energy he draws himself closer to the runner ahead of him, trying to take first place.

Over an extended 4 course, cross-country runner, David Rosales placed second, finishing in a time of 21 minutes and 50 seconds.

Coming in as a freshman this year, Rosales has led the crosscountry team to many victories.

“We knew he was good coming right out of high school,” Sean Sheil, assistant coach, said.

In the beginning, Rosales was quiet, kept a smile on his face and stood behind the scenes. The coaches knew there was something about him because of his zeal to run.

“David is a little quiet, but he never complains when I ask him to do anything,” coach Dean Lofgren, said. “Matter of fact, he always has to go the extra mile and he does it with a smile.”

Rosales, 18, business marketing major, began running cross-

country freshmen year at San Pedro High School. Coming from a family of runners, much of Rosales motivation came from his two older brothers.

Pablo Rosales, 19 and Alex Rosales, 23 also started their journey running cross-country at San Pedro High School.

Once Rosales started running his freshman year, he mimicked his 19-year-old brothers every move. He timed every race.

When he saw he was closer to beating his older brothers’ time, he found ways to make himself better.

“The night before a race, I did a lot of ‘carb loading,’ eating pizza, pasta and breads. I also made sure to drink lots of water to stay hydrated during the race,” Rosales said. “My brother does motivate me to run. He gives me tips on what to do better.”

Rosales said even if someone else motivates them, every athlete who is truly into what they do should set their own goals and achievements.

“As an athlete you have to push yourself to achieve your own goal,” Rosales said. “You have to reach your limit and see how far your body can handle the pain and the pressure. It feels good knowing that you achieved that goal.”

Not only does Rosales have

his two older brothers to motivate him to run, he also looks up to last semesters’ cross-country runner, David Cardona.

“He has some similar characteristics of David Cardona,” Sheil said. “He never misses practices and like Cardona he has the drive to exceed,” he added.

Last semesters’ top crosscountry runner David Cardona made an impact in EC’s sports history after breaking the 28-yearold EC record in the 5,000-meter race at the Ben Brown Invitational, March 3.

“My goal is to beat David Cardona’s score,” Rosales said.

“Before I leave EC, I want to be as good as Cardona if not better.

He motivated me to strive to be the best.”

Undecided on what college to transfer to, Rosales just wants to focus on running cross-country and finishing school.

“Hopefully I get a scholarship for cross-country, then I’ll see where we go from there,” Rosales said.

After working with Rosales, Lofgren has high expectations and is confident Rosales will do well in his career.

“People who have a mindset like Cardona usually turn out successful in that field,” Lofgren said. “And he has a clear view on why he is here.”

Loss ends team’s postseason shot Soccer team’s playoffs in jeopardy Jorge Camarillo Staff Writer

After leading 2-1 in the 82nd minute last Friday against Pasadena City College (PCC), the men’s soccer team collapsed.

Midfielder Vahagn Manoyan of PCC tied the game, and two minutes later, off an EC turnover, forward Irving Rosales hit a line drive into the goal to put the Lancers up 3-2.

“They scored with about eight minutes to go and we dropped our heads and lost confidence,” Andrew Britton, assistant coach, said. “They kept attacking and kept scoring.”

The Warriors would allow another goal, losing 4-2 to PCC last Friday.

The players who stood out for the Warriors were Forward Chris Marckstadt and midfielder Magnus Peterson, who each scored a goal.

“Magnus played pretty well and got his first goal for EC,” Britton said. “It was a nice finish.”

Marckstadt changed the momentum of the game for EC, when he tied the game at one.

“It felt good because it was our first goal (of the

game) and we tied it at 1 and it changed the tempo and put us back in the game,” Marckstadt said.

Peterson would score the other goal of the first half, off an assist from Ben Turnbull, to put the team up 2-1.

“It felt wonderful, but if we lost the game it doesn’t matter, because we didn’t win,”Peterson said. “It’s all about the winning.”

The loss put the Warriors out of playoff contention for the season with a 4-8-6 overall record and 3-6-3 in the South Coast Conference coming into Tuesday’s game.

“It’s difficult because that pretty much put us out of the playoffs,” Britton said. “We can still finish in the top half of our conference, which is our goal for the last two games.”

The Warriors’ last regular season game and home finale is today. They will host Long Beach City College at 1 p.m. at Murdock Stadium.

“We are going to try and finish the season strong,” Britton said. “Defensively, we have been poor and made too many mistakes, especially at the end of games.”

Sergio Reynoso Staff Writer

Even with a 1-0 lead at the half, the women’s soccer team was unable to withstand Pasadena City College, losing 3-2.

“We played really well, and they played really well too,” Vanessa Reid, midfielder, said. “We were winning the first half 1-0, but then in the second half they scored twice, and when we managed to tie it again they scored.”

Yennifer Baca, midfielder, said that over confidence may have led to the Warrior’s defeat.

“Not everyone gave it their all,” Itchel Guzman, forward, said. “We still did pretty good, but if everyone had been in it we probably would have won.”

Once Pasadena was able to score back-to-back goals, the Warriors felt more rushed to

score.

“We weren’t on top of our game which caused mistakes and goals,” Baca said. ‘We wanted to win, but obviously it wasn’t our game.”

Guzman said that the team weakened defensively in the second half, contributing to its loss against Pasadena.

“It seemed like they wanted it more,” Guzman said.

Even with the loss, the Warriors were able to play well.

“We were able to hold them down in the first half, and in the second half were able to tie the game back up after they scored,” Reid said. “We kept pressuring, but lost our focus towards the end.”

With two crucial games left, the Warriors know they have to fix their mistakes in order to

make it to the playoffs.

“We just have to make sure that we score the first five minutes of the game, and also keep playing hard all the time,” Reid said.

Playoffs are around the corner and the team will continue to practice and leave it all on the field.

“We have to play like we did against Cerritos, get to every 50/50 ball, get a lot of shots off, mark up, and don’t dive in just play our game,” Guzman added.

The next game is Tuesday against East L.A College. The game will start at 3 p.m.

“We are a good team and deserve to go to the playoffs,” Baca said. “Now more than anything we must win our last games at home not only for the team, but for the school we represent.”

8 SPORTS Warriors ready to dominate

November 10, 2011/ El Camino College Union

Cross-country advances to championship Matt Simon Staff Writer

A steady downpour and muddy conditions during last Saturday’s Southern California Regional Championships were perfect for David Rosales to make another top five finish.

“The race was great, really great,” David Rosales said. “It was raining and a little overcast. They were the perfect conditions for me.”

Rosales finished third with a time of 20:21.

Rosales’ performance helped the men’s team finish in sixth place in a field that included 28 full teams along with individual participants.

Alex Villaescua and Anthony Lewis were both able to finish near each other in 25th and 27th place.

Freshman Dezhan Bland finished in 50th after improving his time from last month’s race by two minutes finishing with a time of 21:25.

One of the team’s top runners Justin Caracoza fell to the back pack after falling in the first mile of the race.

“It was tough for Justin, after he took that spill, it was hard for him to get back in a rhythm,” Dean

Lofgren, coach, said. “He wasn’t able to get back into it after that, but he finished strong.”

With its finish, the team easily advanced to the state championships which was given to the top 12 teams finishing in the race.

“We’re looking forward to state and we usually always have a strong finish in state, but we will have a strong opportunity to do well,” Lofgren said.

“With the perfect storm we can definitely finish in the top five. If everyone is able to have one of their best races and put everything together at the same time, we are more than capable of finishing in the top five or better at state.”

The men’s team finished the race in sixth with 175 points, 20 points away from fourth place.

Now the men will prepare for the state championship which will take place Nov. 19 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

“We definitely will work hard and make sure our guys are ready,” Lofgren said. “I know David (Rosales) has his own goals, but I definitely believe he can finished in the top ten. If he does what we all know he can, he will do great. For only being a freshman he has done great this season so far.”

Women’s volleyball crushes Cerritos Shane Utton Staff Writer

Brandon Bibbins/Union Adrian Brayboy and Cameron Gray practice against each other to prepare for the basketball teams’ first games. The team got its first win of the season on Tuesday at EC against West Los Angeles College 99-90. Gray, forward, had 23 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and three assists.

On a rainy Friday night, the women’s volleyball team beat Cerritos for its second sweep against the Falcons 25-17, 25-20, and 25-13.

Since losing a non-conference game at Fullerton College, the Warriors have been undefeated in conference play, at 11-0.

“We had a lot of blocks tonight, and a lot of people are improving at the right time,” Coach Le Valley Pattison said. “Also Tarryn is playing well and she doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and Lauren (Edwards) has been taking on quite of load as of late, but we are fun to watch right now.”

The first game started off with both teams coming on strong early. Tied up at 3-3, Lauren Edwards and Tarryn Luafalemana, both middle blockers, started to erupt early showing strong leadership.

From then on it was all EC. With the aggressive play of Luafalemana, the Warriors came out with the win 25-17.

“I had an opportunity to start tonight so I made the best of it,” Luafalemana said. “Our passing was great tonight, it helped us win.”

Game two started off with Cerritos getting some early momentum, going up 3-1. EC then made a huge run of its own going on a 4-0 run to make the game 5-5.

It was a back-and-forth game for a while, including six ties and six lead changes.

Once tied at 15-15, EC got a burst of energy going on a 10-5 run to close the game 25-20. Setter Sarah McFadden and middle blocker Nigeria Owens made a huge impact in the game.

“I have been working on my blocking and it paid off tonight,” Owens said. “We just have to keep playing as a team and pass well.”

Game three was a different story. The Warriors started off well and never looked back.

Keeping its distance throughout the game, the Warriors kept at least a 5 point gap after going 10-5. With the defensive specialist libero Keely Stevenson diving on the floor, the Warriors won big 25-13.

“We passed really well and our hitters didn’t really make any mistakes,” Stevenson said.

Luafalemana had 10 kills and seven digs, Stevenson had 10 digs, McFadden had 31 assists, Owens had seven blocks and five kills, and Lauren Edwards had seven kills, seven digs and three blocks. Also Barnes had 10 kills and two blocks.

With the playoffs coming up soon, the team is more focused than ever to win this year.

“We look really good right now,” Luafalemana said. “Everybody better watch out.”