The Union
EL CAMINO COLLEGE
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1946
@eccunion
May 19, 2022
eccunion.com
Mother mourns loss of El Camino student Court in session for those accused in the death of engineering student found in the desert @Kim McGillLA
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because Peng suspected him of stealing marijuana and money. Astaphan was the manager at V.I.P. Collective and Peng was the shop’s owner. Daniel Romero testified that he and Hernandez worked at the dispensary as “budtenders.” Balian showed Romero two photos taken after 11 p.m. on Sept. 22 that were recovered from the dispensary’s digital video recorder. In the photos, Romero identified Hernandez lying face down on the dispensary floor. Romero also said that Astaphan was lying on top of Hernandez with his right arm wrapped around Hernandez’ neck. In the second photo, standing to the left of Astaphan and Hernandez, is a man that Romero could not identify. Heng began sobbing when Balian showed her the photo of the security footage. She identified everyone in the picture, corroborating Romero’s earlier testimony as to Astaphan and Hernandez, but adding that the third
Formerly incarcerated students supported in El Camino (page 4) →
man in the photo, bending over toward Hernandez’ head, was Peng. Heng also said Peng, her then boyfriend, was known to her and others as “James” or “J.” Her testimony continued for more than a day. Heng testified that Peng sold cocaine and ketamine outside of the marijuana business conducted at the dispensary. She also testified that Peng kept a vial of ketamine in a blue box in the kitchen cupboard, and that she knew it to be a tranquilizer. Heng said that about a month before Hernandez’ disappearance, Peng began to complain that as much as $20,000 from the dispensary was missing. On the night of Sept. 22, 2020, Heng said that Astaphan came to their apartment in Alhambra and was talking in the living room to Peng. “I heard James say he’s going to get rid of Juan,” Heng said. She also said that she saw Peng holding the blue box that she recognized
SPORTS
Campus jobs available to students (page 2) →
Yajaira Hernandez holds a photo of her son, El Camino College student Juan Hernandez, 21, at the #SurvivorsSpeak rally in Sacramento on Tuesday, April 26. On Tuesday, May 3, 2022, Hernandez went to Clara Shortridge Foltz Courthouse for a hearing in the case of The People of Calif. vs. Sonita Heng. Heng, 22, has accepted a plea deal for her role in the killing of Hernandez’ son. (Kim McGill | The Union)
FEATURES
EDITORIAL
n Sept. 22, 2020, Juan Carlos Hernandez, a 21-year-old El Camino College student, left his home in South Central Los Angeles to go to work at the unlicensed V.I.P. Collective marijuana dispensary. He never came home. Nearly two months after Hernandez’ disappearance, on Nov. 15, 2020, the LAPD and San Bernardino County Sheriff ’s deputies found his body in the Mojave Desert. Two people were detained and charged for their role in Hernandez’ death. Ethan Kedar Astaphan, 28, was charged with one count of first degree murder and is facing a maximum sentence of 25 years to life. Several weeks after Hernandez’ death, 22-year-old Sonita Heng and a third person, Weijai Peng, fled to Turkey. Heng returned after about a month and was arrested on November 19, 2020. She was originally charged with felony accessory after the fact, and faced a state prison sentence of 16 months to three years. As part of a plea deal with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, Heng is a cooperating witness for the prosecution in exchange for 112 days in jail and two years’ probation. She served 56 days in jail when first detained, which counted as time served with half-time credit. Peng was eventually detained in Turkey, and is fighting extradition to Los Angeles. Los Angeles County Assistant District Attorney Habib Balian presented much of the prosecution’s case from Monday, Feb. 28 to Wednesday, March 2, 2022, during a preliminary hearing for the People of California vs. Ethan Kedar Astaphan at Clara Shortridge Foltz courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Judge Michael E. Pastor presided over the hearing in Department 41. The prosecution argued that Astaphan and Peng killed Hernandez and hid his body in the desert with Heng’s assistance, through testimony presented during the preliminary hearing by several witnesses, as well as surveillance, phone and forensic evidence. Balian further argued that Astaphan and Peng conspired to kill Hernandez
Beach Volleyball falls in State Championship (page 8) →
as containing ketamine. Heng said the three of them left the apartment and got into Astaphan’s black Mercedes SUV. When they got to V.I.P. Collective at approximately 11 p.m., Heng parked in the alley behind the shop while Peng and Astpahan went inside. Heng said that a short while afterward, she was asked to leave the SUV and they backed the car up to the shop’s back door. After returning to the driver’s seat, Heng heard a sound behind her and saw Peng and Astaphan dragging Hernandez out of the shop and into the backseat. Heng then said that Peng told Heng to drive toward Las Vegas. On the way, she said Astaphan cracked Hernandez’ phone and threw it out the window. At some point, Heng said that Peng handed Astaphan a vial that she identified as ketamine and a syringe. She further testified that Astaphan injected Hernandez at least twice. Heng estimated that they drove for about two hours when Peng told her to exit. “It was pitch dark,” Heng said. Heng said that it was then, off a dirt road in a remote section of the Mojave Desert, where Peng and Astaphan took Hernandez from the car and disappeared from view, returning to the SUV alone. Heng said the three of them drove back to the dispensary, cleaned the area where Hernandez had appeared to be choked, removed evidence including Hernandez’ glasses, returned the DVR from the SUV to the office, and drove Hernandez’ car away from the shop. Heng said the next day they drove to Bolsa Chica in Orange County and burned Hernandez’ possessions on the beach. Jennifer Hammer, an LAPD detective in the Robbery-Homicide Division, said that cell phone tower data was used to track Peng’s, Astaphan’s and Heng’s phones on the night of the killing, showing the phones travel from Alhambra, to the vicinity of the dispensary, to the Mojave Desert and back to the dispensary area. The LAPD and San Bernardino County Sheriff ’s Department were able to find Hernandez’ body with this mapping. Hammer testified that she also obtained a search warrant to access the records from Astaphan’s phone recovered at his arrest on Nov. 19, 2020.
SEE NEWS PAGE 6 →
SCAN ME
Kim McGill
2 The Union
Editorial
May 19, 2022
Campus Viewpoints: Student worker wage Khallid Mushin
@KM_elcamino23
With the ability to earn money while working on different parts of campus, The Union reached out to current student workers to get their thoughts on their jobs and responsibilities.
Kelly Gordin, 24 Business Major The Writing Center
"The main thing I’ve gained from this job is a peace of mind, because if I were to get a job off campus, I’d be working a lot longer with many hours as well as me being away from my studies.”
Luisa Paredes | Special to The Union
Campus jobs available to students
Allows students to earn money without choosing their job over education Union Editorial Board
@eccunion
E
Guadalupe Martinez, 19 Cosmotology & Business Major Schauerman Library
"I thought I would be a librarian, but the boss gives me more positions to do, such as working with with students by checking them in for tutoring, printing out some papers, but I learned many things from this job.”
Andrea Villata, 20 Nursing Major El Camino Bookstore
“I have time for work and my homework, because I was able to adjust my schedule. This job is easy, because I previously worked as an associate with sales."
EL CAMINO COLLEGE
The Union
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1946
Vol. 76, No. 2 May 19, 2022
Contact: eccunion@gmail.com Newsroom: (310) 660-3328 Advertising: (310) 660-3329
l Camino College is a school with a diverse community of students and faculty. This includes students from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. The school has various accommodations and opportunities for students who find themselves in need of additional financial support, including employment. The El Camino College Union Editorial Board encourages more students to look at employment opportunities on campus, such as Federal Work study. El Camino offers a variety of employment opportunities for students at locations across the campus from working as a tutor to working in the bookstore. While working, students gain the benefits that each job provides their student workers. These student workers are paid minimum wage. According to document disclosing “Temporary Non-Classified and Student Workers Schedules,” as of Dec. 20, 2021, the pay rate for student workers is labeled $15 for “rate A” and $15.50 for “rate B.” Surrounding businesses do pay more in the positions that students might Editor-in-Chief Khoury Williams News Editor Elizabeth Basile Features and Arts Editor Maureen Linzaga Sports and Opinion Editor Nicholas Broadhead Photo Editor Vitor Fernandez Assistant Social Media Editor Ethan Cohen Assistant Social Media Editor Delfino Camacho Senior Staff Writer Safia Ahmed Staff Writer Khallid Muhsin Staff Writer Katie O’Brien Staff Writer Margarita Sipaque Intern Sebastian Lipstein Senior Photographer Greg Fontanilla Photographer Charlie Chen Photographer Naoki Gima Photographer Alexis Ponce Photographer Elsa Rosales Photographer Sharlisa Shabazz Photo Adviser Gerard Burkhart Advertising Manager Jack Mulkey Adviser Stefanie Frith
be more likely to take. For instance, Indeed, an informational job searching website, shows under “Popular Roles” that Starbucks Baristas are paid $15.71 per hour and Store Managers are paid $16.61 per hour. However two “retail” roles on the site, cashier and customer service associate, make less than $14 per hour. But students should work on campus since programs provided on campus accommodate class schedules and require no travel to any other location. Student Worker Kelly Gordin, a receptionist for the Writing Center, told The Union that she was looking for a job, “but didn’t want to work outside of the school,” because of the possibility of interference with her education. She said that is when she was told about the Federal Work Study Program. “I was able to apply, get it approved and get a job here in the Writing Center for about...15 hours a week, and I was able to get all my schoolwork done I was able to be in a place that… is able to help me with my schoolwork,” Gordin said. The various student worker positions have also equipped students with skills that they take into their future careers. The cadets for the El Camino Police Department have students enter their
programs, with the end result of going into law enforcement. El Camino College Police Chief Micheal Trevis said that when cadets graduate from El Camino, many of the cadets go onto learning at a four-year university, while others have been hired by local law enforcement agencies, such as the Torrance, Gardena and Hawthorne Police Departments. "We have a lot of former cadets that this program helped to… accelerate their careers,” Trevis said. Before COVID, Trevis said that the cadet program had between 1520 cadets. But at this time, there are around 8 cadets and would like to get the number back up. The cadets also make $15 an hour as student workers, which Trevis says is the median among cadet programs. The Federal Work Study program at El Camino College is a great resource, offering with flexible hours, reduces travel time between school and work and even facilitates skill growth for future employment. There are jobs waiting and students should take advantage of these opportunities.
The Union is published on designated Thursdays by Journalism 11 and 14 students at El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506, and is free to the student body and staff. Unsigned editorials and cartoons are the opinion of the editorial board and do not necessarily 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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Editorials are unsigned and are written and voted upon by the editorial board.
May 19, 2022
Opinion
The Union 3
The most uncomfortable public bus ride of my life How a bad experience got me to look into the transit system Safia Ahmed
@eccunionSafia
T
he bus doors flew open and I stepped inside, oblivious to what would happen in the next 7 minutes. For the first time during my academic career at El Camino College, I took the bus that stops at El Camino Village. Despite my anxiety and overthinking possible scenarios, I took a deep breath and boarded the bus, sitting in the nearest empty seat. Next thing I knew, my friends who boarded the bus with me were pacing across the bus, muttering words. I asked one of my friends what was going on and what she said caused me a minor panic attack. We had taken the wrong bus. Four girls, riding the bus late at night after a long day at school. Two men kept staring directly at us as we formulated a plan upon arriving at the next stop. One of the men staring looked as if he was hinting at something. Initially, I didn't give it much thought. My friend spoke to her sister in Pashto, their native language, but I could only understand bits and pieces of the conversation as panic was coursing through my ears. We eventually were dropped off at another bus stop. The area appeared familiar, but the dim store lights made it difficult to identify. I then remembered that my house was just down the street from this stop. As I told my friends
Kenya Garcia | Special to The Union
where we were, we all sighed with relief. As we walked, my friends continued to talk about the bus ride. I made an effort to ignore them, but was unable to when one of my friends mentioned that a guy on the bus who was filming us as we were pacing around on the bus. She told us he was filming my friend, who was sitting in front of me on the bus and he was laughing as he recorded. We were devastated to learn that our faces were captured on a phone by a stranger we had never met. Over the current semester, students at El Camino have been advised by the Campus Police to be aware of their surroundings due to recurring suspicious activity on campus.
Throughout the current semester, students at El Camino College have been advised by the campus police department to be aware of their surroundings due to suspicious activity by individuals who may or may not be El Camino students. As an 18-year-old student who studies late and has friends who take evening classes, it's dark by the time we return home. In the Spring 2020-2021 school year, 79% of El Camino College students attended evening classes. 29.7% of students were between the ages of 17 and 19, 52.1% of them being female. Based on these demographics, many student could be potential targets.
Due to rising gas prices, many students may have shifted to taking the bus to save money on gas. However, public transportation allows strangers with sketchy backgrounds to approach students boarding a bus. The incident taught me the importance of public safety. In my defense, I'll never find out what happened to the video the man recorded on the bus, and I'll be left wondering what if. To prevent students from ending up in the same situation as I did, El Camino College should establish a bus system that only serves the El Camino College community and assists students who unintentionally board the wrong bus.
In-person learning is not so easy In-person learning taught me how to manage my time Margarita Sipaque
@eccunionms
Coming out of the pandemic has been hard. As this spring semester started, I didn’t expect life to become even harder. I thought going back to campus for in-person classes would be easy. I was wrong. I felt motivated at the start of the semester, but quickly began feeling overwhelmed. Coming out of the pandemic has been hard. I had this idea that life, in general, would be better once the COVID-era protocols lifted. But life has only become more difficult now that things are getting back to somewhat normal. When the pandemic started, I'd just turned 18 and thought that everything would be easy since transitioning from a teenager to an adult was easy during quarantine. Finishing high school and starting college online was disappointing, but was easy. Professors were understanding and forgiving as students tried to figure out how to navigate the remote learning.
Once COVID cases were going down, I decided to apply for my first job and it made me realize what it was truly like to grow up. Learning how to balance a job while attending online classes made me realize there were more responsibilities to fulfill. There were days where I would cry because attending in-person school and going to work was a lot, meltdowns at nights because work felt like it was too much to handle and days where I procrastinated due to burnout. Looking back at everything, the pandemic really put everyone in a stressful position. According to Kaiser Family Foundation article on The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health, “COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness.” The article said that "during the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder." Living through the pandemic
Emily Bourassa | Special to The Union
triggered anxiety, something I never stuggled with before. Once the world started getting better, it felt like we had to “relearn” how to live our old lives and everyday routines. It's different working while having online classes versus working while having on-campus learning. Planning my week out is what helped me to get through the semester so far, as well as changing my availability at work, from almost every day to now three days a week. There are times where I want to quit my job to focus on my classes, but it’s hard to make that decision when I need
the money in order to support myself. Reflecting on going through two of the toughest years that the majority of the world has ever faced, I'm shocked that I was able to overcome it. Not only have these been the most challenging years of my life, but they have also been the most eye-opening years of my life. I'm not the same person I was pre-pandemic. Honestly, I'm still in the process of overcoming a lot of personal struggles, one of them being time management. All of this has been life-changing, both good and bad, and these are life lessons I will never forget.
4 The Union
Features
May 19, 2022
Formerly incarcerated students supported in El Camino
FIRST program provides services in re-entry to education Kim McGill
@KimMcGillLA
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duardo Dumbrique grew up in Lawndale and was 15 when he was arrested, transferred into adult court and given a life sentence. Throughout his incarceration, Dumbrique did not have access to formal education, including his 13 years served in solitary confinement where “Prisoners spend 22 ½ to 24 hours every day in a cramped, concrete, windowless cell. They are denied telephone calls, contact visits and vocational, recreational or educational programming,” according to a lawsuit that described the conditions that Dumbrique and others endured. Dumbrique was released from state prison thirteen months ago after serving 24 years. “I got out and enrolled immediately in school,” Dumbrique said. “But, my first semester at [El Camino College], I didn’t really know what I was supposed to do.” Without any guidance, Dumbrique struggled. The last time he was in school, he was in sixth grade, and said he never got to experience choosing courses or having different teachers for each class, nor has he ever used a computer before. “Understanding computers was challenging, not knowing how to use them at all, literally all the buttons.
Staff and members of the El Camino College Formerly Incarcerated Re-Entry Students Thriving (FIRST) Program outside their office located in the Counseling Center on the second floor of the Student Services building on Thursday, April 14. Since its start in 2019, FIRST has supported 56 formerly incarcereted or system impacted students. Kim McGill | The Union
I didn’t know basic things – it’s kind of embarrassing – like how to attach an image to an email. To this day, I still struggle getting into Canvas,” Dumbrique said. At the start of his second semester, Dumbrique found El Camino’s Formerly Incarcerated Re-Entry Students Thriving (FIRST) Program, located in the Student Services building. FIRST success counselors helped him to schedule his classes, develop a plan to graduate and transfer and connect to services and tutoring. FIRST organizes workshops for El Camino staff, faculty and programs to build greater understanding and support on campus such as Warrior Pantry food program and Warrior Closet. “We have gotten a lot of support from El Camino College including space, the ability to apply for funding for the program, and access to campus resources,” FIRST Program Coordinator Ricky Gonzalez said. The vast majority of the program
Ricky Gonzalez, coordinator of the El Camino College Formerly Incarcerated Re-Entry Students Thriving (FIRST) Program reviews data on the project’s outcomes on Thursday, April 14 in his office at the Counseling Center located on the second floor of El Camino’s Student Services building. (Kim McGill | The Union)
staff or their immediate family members have been convicted or incarcerated, which Gonzalez said is key to the program’s success. “The system shaped us and our families,” Gonzalez said. “We want people to know that they are already a success just by stepping onto a college campus.” FIRST student Gerardo Diaz liked elementary and middle school but was quickly trapped in the school-to-jail track where harsh school discipline pushed many students into the streets. He was attending English as a second language (ESL) classes and felt that school was important. “I attempted ditching, following my older brother, but I wasn’t able to jump over the fence,” Diaz said laughing. “How am I going to function in the world without [school]? They are teaching me something that I need.” Diaz was convicted on charges as an adult and served 15 years in state prison, where a prison computer class teacher said Diaz was good student.
“He told the people in class, ‘Try and be more like Diaz.’ That’s when I decided to continue on a path toward education,” Diaz said. Entering a new generation with new technology was like a whole new dimension, Diaz said. “I don’t know simple terms. People are speaking and I’m like ‘What’s that?’” Diaz said. “It’s like I’m five years old.” Since its start in 2019, the FIRST program has worked with a total of 56 students. Three have graduated with their associate degree and two have transferred to a California State University. This semester, there are 30 students in the program. After being in prison for a long time, Diaz said that feeling alone and having to do things by himself takes a toll on him and formerly incarcerated students. “They’ve been so helpful,” Dumbrique said. “Now, I’m doing well. I’m very grateful.” cont. on page 5
Luis Medina (L), Eduardo Dumbrique (C) and Gerardo Diaz (R) stand outside the office of the El Camino College Formerly Incarcerated Re-Entry Students Thriving (FIRST) Program located in the Counseling Center on the second floor of El Camino’s Student Services building on Thursday, April 14. (Kim McGill | The Union)
May 19, 2022
Features
The Union 5
cont. from page 4 FIRST is part of a growing effort across California to support formerly incarcerated and convicted students to enroll and succeed in college. In addition to FIRST at El Camino, similar projects exist at several community colleges united through the Rising Scholars Network. To support student transfers to pursue a bachelor’s and/or graduate degree, FIRST connects its members to Project Rebound programs that operate at several California State universities and Underground Scholars programs that are located on several University of California campuses. Diaz urged colleges to understand the financial pressures formerly incarcerated students face. They are usually much older, have lost years of income and often have lost connection to family that could support them with housing and other expenses, Diaz said. “Grants are big because a lot of us don’t really have money to survive so we can go to school,” Diaz said. “How can I worry about my tests if I haven’t ate for two days straight?” Dumbrique said that even though he’s much older than many of the students he shares classes in El Camino with, he feels young because he missed all the experiences they have had on the outside. “Maybe it would be nice if we had a prom or some kind of equivalent, like a school dance,” Dumbrique said. “And that’s because I didn’t ever get prom, or school dances or field trips.” The California state legislature recently allocated $10 million over three years to 50 community colleges, covering 31% of the state’s 160 campuses, for programs to support system-impacted and formerly incarcerated students. El Camino’s FIRST program received one of the grants along with programs at Long Beach City College, Compton Community College and East Los Angeles College. FIRST members said the benefits of education for themselves, their families and communities are clear. Luis Medina is attending his first semester at El Camino after serving 23 years in state prison. This semester is his first time attending college outside of prison and he needs one last class to finish his associate degree. With FIRST’s help, Medina registered for the class he needs to finish. “When you are in prison, you write
Ricky Gonzalez, (center L) coordinator of the El Camino College FIRST Program shakes hands with Luis Medina, (R) a new El Camino student, on Thursday, April 14 at the FIRST office located in the Counseling Center on the second floor of the Student Services building. Kim McGill | The Union
down your ‘network,’ the people you are going to reach out to when you encounter problems or triggers on the outside,” Medina said. “The people at FIRST have become part of my network.” Medina was connected to FIRST by a college counselor at Cal State Fullerton who he used to be locked up with, and now he also hopes to become a counselor that helps other people transition from prison to college. “Colleges should know that there is a lot of potential in prison. The nightmare [of prison] deepens because you know that you have this mind that’s working and yet you’re trapped. There are a lot of hungry m i n d s c o m i n g out, eager to learn,” Medina said. Dumbrique is currently studying juvenile law and public speaking at El Camino. He also goes back into Los Angeles County juvenile halls to speak with young people. Inside the prison, worked for over 18 years to study law on his own and helped people file the
courts for improved conditions of confinement and re-sentencing. He hopes to become an attorney to fight for youth and parents’ rights when a child is going through the court system. “I saw what my family went through having me taken from them, and I also know what it’s like for the youth since I have been there,” Dumbrique said. “In America, juvenile rights are not settled. There is no uniform process or sentencing laws across all the states. That’s an area where we can make a difference for the future.” Diaz, on the other hand, is studying to be a psychologist and wants to transfer to the Universit y of Southern California for a master’s or doctorate. Advancements in behavioral science contributed greatly to challenging the harsh sentencing of youth whose cognitive skills are not fully developed until the age of 25, including contributing to the passing of Senate Bill (SB) 9, SB 260, SB 261, and Assembly Bill 1308. These enabled
Diaz and numerous others to earn an earlier release from prison. “I’m intrigued when it comes to the mind, about why people do certain things,” Diaz said. Diaz also said he saw the impacts in the prison system when people didn’t get access to mental health care. “There’s more violence, of course. Depression. When things happened on the outside with their parents, their family or kids, they couldn’t really vent, because in [prison], it’s more about repressing your feelings,” Diaz said. “You don’t express your emotions to anybody because the next person may use it against you. [People at prison] may think you’re weak, so they may try and harm you.” Diaz said he recognizes the lack of mental health and educational support as a significant factor in why he got involved in crime and violence in the first place. He said that receiving support in these areas plays a huge role in changing a person’s perspective. “It’s been the spirit, the energy of FIRST that’s important – ‘Keep going, you could do this.’ That helps me stay more confident within myself because I know in hard times, I’ll have someone to fall back on.” Diaz said.
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6 The Union
News
May 19, 2022
School’s indoor mask policy to change this Monday El Camino announced implimentation of loosened mask policy on May 16 Delfino Camacho
@eccunionDelfino
T
he mask mandate policy at El Camino College will be reducing its restrictions starting Monday, May 23. Masks will only be required inside classrooms, lecture halls, auditoriums and the Student Health Center per an email sent from the Office of Marketing and Communications on Monday, March 16. The new policy states that apart from the specified spots all other indoor locations on campus will be mask optional. Biology professor and Task Force member Darcie McClelland said the revised mask mandate was finalized by the El Camino College COVID Task Force on Friday, May 13 during a Task Force meeting. The changes are a departure from El Camino Colleges’ former mask mandate which was last updated on March 29. The earlier update kept masks mandatory for all indoor campus locations, with the Library/Learning Resource Center and indoor sporting events as the only two exceptions. Director of Public Information Kerri Webb said that during meetings, some Task Force members themselves asked questions about whether the reduction in COVID-19 cases warranted lessening some of the stricter mandates in keeping with the official L.A. county mask mandate. As of this publication date, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health strongly recommends masks in public schools grades K-12 but does not enforce a mandate. In April, El Camino College sent out a mask protocol survey via email to all students, faculty and staff. “We decided instead of us just making
an overarching decision, let’s ask the kids what they want. So we created that survey, we sent it out and we saw what the people wanted,” Webb said. The survey asked participants to choose between three options, whether the mask mandate should be required, optional or if they do not care. McClelland was one of the Task Force members who vocalized their concern for the lack of student input when it came to masking mandates and therefore followed the survey results closely. The polls for the El Camino College Mask Protocol survey closed on Friday, April 29 at 4 p.m. McClelland shared the survey results (enclosed below) with The Union but also explained that these were recorded a few hours before the deadline. While the exact count might be off, the overall percentages remain consistent: Students surveyed: 1,935 • 60.41% said they wanted masks optional. • 44.11% said they wanted masks required. • 5.4% said they did not care. Faculty surveyed: 341 • 59.24% said they wanted masks optional. • 37.54% said they wanted masks required. • 3.23% said they did not care. Staff surveyed: 678 55.6% said they wanted masks optional. • 41% said they wanted masks required. • 3.54% said they did not care. “It wasn’t even close. Folks want the masks off. So that really was what prompted us to kind of move up the transitional phasing,” Webb said. With only four weeks left in this •
Continued from page 1 Hammer read into the court record WhatsApp messages she saw between Peng’s and Astaphan’s phones detailing Astpahan’s claim that he saw Hernandez stealing marijuana on the shop’s security footage. Dr. Brian Hutchins, Forensic Pathologist with the San Bernardino County Sheriff ’s Department, testified that he, along with other specialists, conducted the autopsy on November 15, 2020. Using mikrosil casting to lift fingerprints, the body was identified as Hernandez. Hutchins also testified that “severe decomposition” and “partial skeletization,” made him unable
Police Beat
Information courtesy of El Camino College Police Department
Monday, May 4, at 11:30 a.m. A report was made of stalking near the Humanities building, time of the incident is unspecified.
to determine cause of death. The LAPD asked Hutchins about possible strangulation. Hutchins said that the state of decomposition made him unable to check for petechial hemorrhaging consistent with strangulation. The toxicology report also came back negative for marijuana, alcohol, cocaine and methamphetamine, the only substances regularly tested for. Hutchins said a retesting of brain tissue revealed a lethal amount of
An El Camino College student walks past a “Face Masks Required” banner hung on the construction fence in front of the Industry Technology Education Center tower on Wednesday, May 18. Starting next week masks will be optional for many indoor locations at school. Ethan Cohen | The Union
semester, Webb says some Task Force members debated changing the policy at all. “But the results of the survey showed that the majority of people were in favor of lifting the masks so we decided to kind of do a bit of a soft transition, to get people to start to feel comfortable not having their masks on,” Webb said. Maria Vicente, a 54-year-old custodian who has been working at El Camino for 17 years, was aware of the survey and voted to keep masks required but said she is fine with the new optional policy as well. “I’m going to keep wearing mine, but if others don’t that’s their right. But they will be at greater risk,” Vicente said. Sisters and students Sofia, 19, and Namira,16, Bentaya prefer to go maskless when walking outside and are happy with the new indoor policy, but also said they would have no issues going back to mask indoors if cases rose again. Nursing student Richard Reyes, 18,
was unaware of the survey but said if he had an option he would have voted to keep masks required. “I mean COVID is not over, so I feel that the masks are still necessary. I mean it’s not like there was an official announcement that the pandemic was over,” Reyes said Tako Okuno, 29, another nursing student, thinks the optional mandate is good and that it should be a personal choice. Okuno considers himself very “green” and said trash from discarded masks was an unforeseen issue. McClelland said she respects the decision made by the Task Force because it was based on data. “I’m just glad that the college took the responsibility to put up a service,” McClelland said. “I think it’s always important when making a decision of this magnitude that affects a lot of people that we make sure that we’re carefully collecting data, then we draw conclusions based on data. So I’m happy with the process.”
Chronology of student homicide investigation September 22, 2020
November 15, 2020
November 19, 2020
March 16, 2021
ketamine in Hernandez’ brain. Astaphan awaits trial in custody on $10 million bail. Heng will be sentenced once Astaphan’s and, if extradited, Peng’s trial concludes.
February 28- March 2, 2022
May 3, 2022
Wednesday, May 4, at 4:34 p.m. An incident near the Student Services building of disturbance, offensive words, occured, reported at 4:34 p.m.
Tuesday, May 10, unspecified time Petty theft of a bicycle took place near the Humanities building and was reported at 4:17 p.m.
Tuesday, May 10, at 1:58 p.m. There was an incident near Lot K of disturbance by offensive words.
Friday, May 13, at 8:33 p.m. Reckless driving in the area of Lot C occured and was reported at 8:33 p.m.
Sunday, May 15, at 1:10 a.m. An incident under classifications: dating violence and aggravated assault; with car and fist noted as the weapons, “vandalism, challenge to a fight, driving without a license,” in the area of Lot J and the Marsee Auditorium occured. Event reported at 1:13 a.m.
Juan Carlos Hernandez was last seen alive by a coworker who worked with him at a marijuana dispensary in South Los Angeles, VIP Collective LA. Hernadez was last seen at 10 p.m.
Days after finding the Hernandez’ body, Suspects Ethan Kedar Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20 were both arrested and charged in Juan Hernandez’ killing.
The three-day preliminary trial for The People of California vs. Ethan Kedar Astaphan takes place.
Juan Carlos Hernandez’ remains were located in the Mojave Desert by the Los Angeles Police Department, along with the FBI and the San Bernardino County Sheriff, according to an LAPD press release.
Ethan Kedar Astaphan, 28, the first defendant up for arraignment pled not guilty to first-degree murder of the 21-year-old El Camino College student.
The pre-trial of Ethan Kedar Astaphan takes place with the anticipation of a trial set for Sept. 6 or before, according to an article by The Union.
May 19, 2022
Photo Essay
The Union 7
Dancers from El Camino Fine Arts Division perform a coreography dance by Janae Morris during the Spring Advanced Dance Concert at the Marsee Auditorium on on May 5. This event features El Camino College dance students in original works created by faculty members Valerie Cabag, Liz Adamis, Jonathan Bryant and Daniel Berney. Alexis Ponce |The Union
Celebrating the Arts on campus
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l Camino College saw a wide variety of events taking place on campus as many students, staff and faculty members returned for the spring 2022 semester. These events included athletic sporting events, Club Mixer, Black Student Success Week, the Transfer Fair and more. Along with campus events, many creators had the oppurtunity to showcase their artistic abilities through art-specific events, exhibitions, music, dance and more. Spring 2022 saw two theatrical arts plays in the form “Spring Awakening” and “Everybody”, the latter of which is currently being showcased at the Campus Theatre until May 21. Music and dance concerts were also represented with the El Camino College Chorale, Concert Choir and Women’s Chorus, along with the Spring Advanced Dance Concert and numerous band-related concert performances from the El Camino College Band, Jazz Band and guitarists. In addition to Campus theatre events, the Library showcased different art exhibits throughout the semester to highlight things such as Women’s History Month and the history of the land that El Camino College resides on. Students have also had the opportunity to express their creativity through classes and programs such as printmaking, woodworking, sculpting, painting and fashion. Campus events, theatrical plays, concerts, exhibitions and artistic classes have all had part in allowing the El Camino College community to express themselves and showcase their artistic talents on campus. - Khoury Williams Editor-in-chief | The Union The “Madame Curie Cabinet of Curiosity” on display as part of the “Take a Closer Look: A Survey of Work by Laura Stickney” art exhibition at the El Camino College Art Gallery on March 26. The mixed media art piece and the exhibition was on display throughout the months of March and April. Elsa Rosales | The Union
The two photos in the series titled “Diptych in Light” by Marlena Keenan are on display as part of the “Light” photography exhibition at El Camino College Schauerman Library on April 7. The prints were produced using digital printing on metal. Elsa Rosales | The Union
Mujo Dream Flight perform taiko at the Cherry Blossom Festival at El Camino College’s Student Services Plaza on March 31. The taiko group consists of Maxyn Leitner , Yeeman “ManMan” Mui, and Sasen Cain. Charlie Chen | The Union
The Union 8
Sports
May 19, 2022
El Camino Beach Volleyball player Fayth Rascon (right) motions to avoid a block from opponent Jaclyn Sanchez (left) during a game against Irvine Valley College College at the Irvine Valley College sand courts on Thursday, May 12. Rascon and partner Lauren McCarthy lost two sets, 21-15, 21-18, in the overall match against the Lasers. Naoki Gima | The Union
Beach Volleyball falls in State Championship Cabrillo and Irvine Valley nearly sweep Warriors, shattering 22-match win streak Ethan Cohen
@itsecohen
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espite having a near-perfect season and a hard-fought playoffs bracket, El Camino College’s beach volleyball team will not bring home the 2022 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Team State Championship title. The top five pairs took to the sand against Cabrillo College and Irvine Valley College on Thursday, May 12 at the Irvine Valley College sand courts but ended up falling flat against both teams, snapping El Camino’s nearly season-long win streak of 22 matches. Ahead of Thursday’s matchup, the Warriors posted a staggering 22 wins in a row after losing the first three season opener matches, one of them being the only time the team had faced the Irvine Valley Lasers. Coming in as the No. 3 seed, the Warriors faced No. 1 seed Cabrillo and
No. 2 seed Irvine Valley in Pool B. The Warriors lost nearly every single set against their opponents coming out on top only once against Irvine Valley. Starting the pool playoff against Cabrillo, the Warriors came out strong but were caught flat against the No. 1 seed and lost all five of their matches with a considerable margin. Irvine Valley was slated next against the Warriors who had put up an intense fight but ceded the match to the Lasers with a 4-1 loss, effectively ending their season run toward the title. Coach LeValley Pattison told The Union that coming into the playoffs season with a young team consisting of players who have had little experience playing beach volleyball is a challenge. She said that every team they play against is good at this level. “We have a lot of very young, raw players,” Pattison said. “Hopefully they learned a little bit about how to play consistently at a high level.”
Reflecting on the overall season, Pattison explained the troubles that the Warriors team faced and eventually overcame, leading to a string of victories that gave them the opportunity to compete for the state championship title. “If I would have thought at the beginning of the season when we were 0-3 that we would end up here, I would have thought it to be incredibly optimistic, so I’m proud of us” Pattison said. “I think everybody put in a lot of time and effort and it showed.” For the El Camino beach volleyball team, its season ends just short of the state championship title with an overall record of 22-5. “This was a good finish,” Pattison said. “I can’t complain, I’m proud of them all.” To read more about Beach Volleyball’s season, visit eccunion.com
El Camino Beach Volleyball No. 2 pair Kaila Siu (#2) serves the ball against Cabrillo College at the Irvine Valley College sand courts on Thursday, May 12. Siu and partner Ginia Goods (#8) lost their sets against Cabrillo College 21-10, 21-3. Ethan Cohen | The Union
Baseball team comes up short against Glendale in Super Regionals series; season ends 31-13 El Camino College’s baseball team lost its best of three Super Regionals series to Glendale College in a bid for the California Community College Athletic Association state title on Saturday, May 14. Earning itself the No. 10 seed, the Warriors headed into the postseason first facing off and sweeping No. 8 seed Cuesta College moving them to the next round at Glendale. Game One of the Super Regionals series played on Friday, May 13 where the Warriors found themselves in a 4-0 hole in the second inning scoring
only in the top of the fifth but unable to generate enough steam to topple the Vaqueros, losing 8-3. As Game Two was underway, the Warriors found themselves in a 3-0 deficit in the second inning but ultimately tied the game 4-4 in the sixth inning. The Warriors put up a bitter fight, including a two-run blast by Jonah Story, but the Vaqueros came out on top 8-6, knocking El Camino College out of its chance at the state title. — Ethan Cohen
The Warriors baseball team observes the ongoing game hosted at Warrior Field at El Camino College against Mt. San Antonio on Friday, April 29. The Mounties defeated the Warriors 11-4 in the South Coast Conference game. Alexis Ponce | The Union