The Union Vol. 77, No. 5

Campus lacks electric vehicle chargers

having more

Nation sees increase in mass shootings

Anthony Lipari @eccunionAnthoL

Colleges and universities around Southern California have more electric vehicle chargers on their campuses compared to El Camino

College; and so far, officials say there are no plans to add more. This comes as a new law banning the manufacturing of gas-powered vehicles in California by 2035 and semitrucks by 2040.

Campus security and access

technician Mitchell Kekauoha said there are no “official” plans to add more electric vehicle chargers.

“There has not been any talk about it,” Kekauoha said. “It has been a thought of mine recently; realizing how many people kind

of depend on it right now.”

Senior Sales Representative at Scott Robinson Honda Randy Lee said there will be a lot more electric vehicles by 2035, but believes California won’t be able to supply the energy needed. SEE VEHICLE PAGE 9 →

Nursing students, employees dissatisfied with program

It was a late fall night when Alicia Chaires received a news alert about an active shooter in Redondo Beach.

Chaires’ thoughts immediately went to her sister, a police officer, who was on duty that night.

Her stomach dropped.

“[I] had this realization about what could have happened,” the former El Camino student said. “You go through this flood of thoughts because you’re happy that your family member is safe, but you’re also absolutely conflicted with the possible scenarios.”

In this situation, Chaires’ sister came out safe and was able to return home to her family.

However, tens of thousands of Americans are not able to come out unscathed from mass shootings.

Since the start of 2022, the U.S. alone has gone through 620 mass shootings and an overall 41,234 deaths from gun violence, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Gun violence occurs daily with the highest rates being suicides followed by homicides, according to Gun Violence Archive.

Astudent

strides through the audience at the Board of Trustees meeting and steps behind the podium with poise and confidence.

She brushes her hair out of her face and takes a deep breath before speaking.

“Hello, I’m Emily Angiolini and I’m here on behalf of the fourth-semester cohort,” she said. “I am here to discuss issues that we’ve had with the seminewly appointed director of the

[nursing] program Dr. Joy.

Angiolini looks across the room, giving direct eye contact with each trustee member and compares the current state of the nursing program to that of a living horror.

“She [Dr. Jeny Joy] has been in office as of two semesters and since that time, it has been an absolute nightmare for us as students working under her,” Angiolini said.

Although focused on the challenges

that she and her graduating class have faced, Angiolini said many students and faculty members in the program are faced with numerous issues as well.

Angiolini is one of at least 30 nursing students and employees who have reported disorganization and negligence issues with the nursing program in addition to issues with its current director.

From L-R: Stacy Estabillo, Somer Boyd, Emily Angiolini, and Juliana Alba before the fall 2022 nursing cohort’s Pinning Ceremony at El Camino College on Dec. 5. Greg Fontanilla | The Union

Khoury Williams @williamskhoury

@itsecohen

Ethan Cohen

Francisco Esqueda presents an AR-15 rifle at a weapons expo on Friday, Nov. 18 held inside of the North Gym. Ethan Cohen | The Union

@itsecohen Ethan Cohen

Electrical vehicles are the future

Chancellor’s Office Datamart.

C

ompared to other colleges and universities in Southern California, El Camino College has less electric vehicle chargers on campus.

However, El Camino should consider adding more chargers on campus because as more affordable electric vehicles get introduced into the market, it is more likely that people will need to charge on campus.

According to their website, El Camino has 10 electric vehicle chargers located in parking Lot C and are available for anyone with an electric vehicle.

This current number of chargers at El Camino seems insufficient when considering that 28,604 students were enrolled in the 2021-2022 school year, according to the California Community College

The Datamart is a database where the public can search for community college data about students, faculty, and compare them to other colleges.

This doesn’t include the employees who may own an electric vehicle.

As of October 2022, electric vehicles total 17.7% of new car sales in California, according to the Office of the Governor of California.

This rate is expected to go up as California plans to only sell new zero-emission vehicles in the future.

On August 25, 2022, the California Air Resources Board voted to ban the sale of new gaspowered cars in California by 2035.

The policy was put into place as a step toward the state’s efforts to meet their goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2045.

In order to help that

transition, there will need to be more installations of charging stations in various places across California.

PlugShare is a website where people can search for charging stations in their area.

At a higher enrollment than El Camino, Long Beach City College had 34,365 students in 2021-2022, according to the Datamart, and have 91 chargers among their two campuses.

With fewer students than El Camino, Riverside City College had 27,084 students in 20212022 and have 26 chargers, according to PlugShare.

Parking problems for students and employees has been prevalent at El Camino and the recent on-campus construction process may have pushed back any plans to add more chargers.

El Camino campus security and access technician Mitchell Kekauoha said there are no official plans to add more

electric vehicle chargers.

Implementing more charging stations can be costly due to the installation and equipment fees.

Currently, those who can afford to purchase new electric vehicles are willing to do so to save money in the future by not paying for anymore gas.

Since it appears California has enforced plans to introduce only new electric vehicles in the future, El Camino should prepare to be able to accommodate more electric vehicles that may stop by on campus.

Editorials are unsigned and are written and voted upon by the editorial board.

“I am looking forward to be spending time with my family during the break.”

“I will be spending time with my family. We'll go to a fair to dance, play games, go on rides.”

“Since my family is coming to California from Peru, they have a lot to explore and I am going to enjoy showing them what California is like in terms of food, places, and what the people are like.”

With the fall semester com ing to an end.The Union took to campus to ask students what their holiday plans are. MISSION:

Ashley Han | The Union

Diego Flores-Perez, 24 Engineering

Madelyne Jimenez, 18 Undecided

Sara Cardenas, 19 Politicals Science & Communications

Free parking comes at a hefty price

Brittany Parris @eccunionbparris

semester.

Compton College offered a $20 parking permit with a daily fee of $3.

M

echanical engineering major Minh Dao, 27, commutes to El Camino in his minivan, spending $100 per month to fill up his gas tank.

For Dao, paying for parking would have a fiscal when he is taking one class for the semester.

With classes being $46 per unit, paying he says an additional $35 parking fee would not be worth it.

“I don’t take a lot of classes on campus. So, it’s a waste to pay for the whole semester,” Dao said.

With enrollment decreasing and students acclimating to a post-COVID campus, one perk has been the free parking and no citations as long as people park in designated areas at El Camino College.

However, while popular with students, El Camino College has depended on financial assistance to compensate for the lost revenue from parking and other school-related funds.

Revenue losses have been experienced at local colleges from parking, food services, facility rental, and other programs.

In the 2019-2020 academic year, the parking permit machines at El Camino brought in $196,393.

In the following year, the parking permit machines brought in $2,607–a 98% decrease.

On Feb. 9, 2022, El Camino’s Office of Marketing announced via an email that parking permits and daily passes were no longer necessary for spring 2022.

El Camino College, Compton, West LA, LA Southwest, and Santa Monica have waived their parking fees for the current fall

WestLosAngelesCollegeoffered$27 preferred parking and $20 regular parking.

Los Angeles Southwest College charged $20 and a $2 daily fee.

Meanwhile, Santa Monica College has an $85 parking fee for parking on the main campus.

According to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office Datamart, which provides information about students, courses, faculty, staff, etc., El Camino College enrolled 24,354 students in the fall of 2017.

In 2017-2018, El Camino College brought in $1,169,179 in parking passes.

In 2019-2020, those earnings dropped to $513, 370 – a 56% decrease.

As of now, free parking will most likely remain through spring 2023 and could potentially stay that way for a while, El Camino College Business Manager Jeffrey Hinshaw said.

“If the state [Chancellors Office] doesn’t come back and dig and direct the district to start charging for parking again, then it’s the district's discretion whether or not they want to do it independently,” Hinshaw said.

The goal was to relieve students’ financial burdens and increase enrollment by encouraging student involvement on campus.

Other initiatives included a tuition relief program, halting parking citations, providing more laptops and encouraging professors to embrace zero-cost textbooks.

However, across the state and close to home, enrollment at many community colleges plunged during the coronavirus

pandemic.

Statewide, more than 326,315 fewer students enrolled in fall 2021 than in fall 2017.

Many students have yet to reenroll because they prioritize work and taking care of family or their dependents and others struggle with keeping up with their classes.

According to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, much of the California

Finance Standards and Accountability Lorena Romero said the Federal Government provided Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) funds that could be used to cover lost revenues.

“As long as HEER funds are available, the loss of those revenues may not impact the districts if they use the federal funds to cover the losses,” Romero said.

a parking pass is $3, with a $20 fee for cars per summer or winter session, and for motorcycles, $20 per semester or session.

A $35 fee per semester may not be a financial burden for some, but it adds to other student fees.

Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) counselor Maria Garcia said the extra fee could negatively impact the students she mentors. Many of these students are minorities, low-income, or first-generation and have been struck by the pandemic’s effects, Garcia said.

Community College’s (CCC) remaining budget comes from student enrollment fees, other student fees (nonresident tuition, parking fees and health services) and various local sources.

The pandemic had a notable fiscal implication for CCCs and students. This is primarily due to the college’s shift to remote learning, which resulted in some costs.

These costs for colleges come from acquiring laptops for students and employees, providing training for transitioning classes to online and purchasing protective equipment for staff remaining on campus.

The Chancellor’s Office estimates the costs totaled about $350 million through 2020-2021.

An estimated $58 million was provided to CCCs for enrollment and other refunds to students whose classes were canceled in the spring of 2020.

State Chancellor’s Office Interim Director of Fiscal

Hinsaw estimates around $50 million was used out of the $84 million provided by the CARES Act to help make up for lost revenue.

This includes transitioning to more distance learning, specifically more technology infrastructure to support more servers needed for an online learning environment.

However, there is still revenue from the staff parking provided on campus.

Unlike students, some El Camino College staff have continued to pay for parking, costing $120 per year.

About 72 spots around campus are reserved explicitly for staff (this is only for the special paid spots), while the rest are free for employees, and an average of 60 get rented annually, bringing in about $7,200.

Before the pandemic, a $35 parking fee was required for student vehicles at El Camino College each fall or spring semester. The daily fee without

“Although it might not seem like a lot to someone like me or another student, for our students, it can impact, definitely,” Garcia said. “I can only imagine getting a break for a year and then having to shell out $35 for a permit or $3 daily.”

Nursing student Yesenia Alvarado agrees after having to commute from San Pedro to El Camino.

“It saves me money, and I’m not stressed over parking,” Alvarado said. “It’s easy access.”

As the semester wears on and parking remains free, Director of Public Information and Government Relations Kerri Webb reiterates the goal is to encourage student involvement.

“At the state level, the chancellor’s office has pretty much directed all superintendents, CEOs, and the Board of Trustees to work with their individual districts and campuses to facilitate strategies to get more students to again, not only come on campus but stay here,” Webb said.

The perk used to help bring back students comes at the expense of the college pockets

Business Manager Jeffrey Hinshaw discusses parking plans overlookingvLot C at El Camino College on Wednesday, Dec 7, 2022. Brittany Parris | The Union

“I can only imagine getting a break for a year and then having to shell out $35 for a permit or $3 daily.”

-Maria Garcia-EOPS Counselor

Student Study Tips

Want to pass your finals? Try this guide

Students and employees highlight methods to study amid upcoming finals week

Muhsin

With finals approaching, students are scrambling to prepare for their upcoming exams.

Everyone knows the feeling of cracking open that textbook or pulling out those flash cards and the stress that comes with finals week.

Karma Sarni, Film and Video Production Major

Proper study techniques are essential in various areas of life, not just for education. Studying is a required asset for growth and advancement and learning plays a role in maintaining a healthy, functional brain as students age.

Here are the best study tips for finals from students and employees at El Camino College.

Sociology major and student worker Rachel Bishop has numerous methods to help her focus. Bishop needs a positive environment around her, mainly silence, so she can completely focus on her schoolwork or upcoming exams. Her preferred place to study is in her kitchen where there are no distractions.

Paredes said.

Lynette Muñoz, 18, who is also undecided, has a set place and time to study when it comes to focusing on her schoolwork. Muñoz‘s top spot to study is the Industry Technology Education Center on campus which is a quiet place where there are no distractions.

Bryan Ventura, 21 Computer Science Major

“To memorize things, I have to read the answers a couple of times or write it down on flashcards,” Bishop said. “I repeat to myself certain keywords and play around with the answers in my head for me to memorize the answers.”

There are various ways for students to put these study habits into practice. However, every learner processes information differently; what works for one student may not always work for another.

Undecided major Pedro Paredes, 19, does not always study before an assignment or quiz is due, but he’s aware of due dates for homework and dates for quizzes and exams.

“The best way I study and memorize things is writing down answers and repeating them to myself constantly so I can remember what to say and how to say it on a quiz or exam,” Muñoz said.

Andy Tran, a tutor at El Camino, helps students with their schoolwork and shows them how to study for exams.

“The best way I study is to highlight my notes and memorize them by reciting them back to myself over and over and studying all over again in the morning to make sure I am prepared,” Tran said.

of [the] information that is on there and study along with lectures that are inperson by putting information in their notes.”

Rosie Vega, 20 Studio Arts Major

Paredes’ best place to study is his room where there is peace and quiet with no interruptions.

“My study pattern is to write the answers down and go back and forth to keep myself memorizing the answers I have already recited to myself,”

Police Beat

He challenges them to write more elaborate notes and quizzes them on questions they could expect on upcoming assessments.

Monday, Nov. 14, between 1:55 - 4 p.m.

A hit and run was reported near Lot H; the case is open and under investigation

Thursday, Nov. 17, at 10:24 p.m.

Campus police recieved a report of public urination occured near the ITECH Building. The case is open and under investigation.

English professor Cindy Tino-Sandoval has recognized a good amount of students have not been studying as much as they should but is open to helping students in any way to get a passing grade.

“All of the sources of information are not going to be handed to students,” TinoSandoval said. “Since modules are on Canvas, students should study most

Monday, Nov. 21, at 1:30 p.m..

A physical threat of violence took place near the stadium. The suspect was referred for discipline.

Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 5:42 p.m.

A hit and run was reported near Lot L; the case is open and under investigation.

The campus has numerous resources to maximize getting in those last-minute study sessions before and during finals week.

The Writing Center is currently hosting “Research Paper Panic Week” in the Humanities Building through Dec. 8 while the Associated Students Organization will be hosting “Finals Madness” in Schauerman Library on Dec. 12-14, from 7 to 11 p.m.

To read more stories from The Union, visit the website at eccunion.com

Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7:28 p.m.

A hit and run was reported near Lot F; the case is open and under investigation.

Thursday, Dec 1, at 2:47 p.m.

A person was arrested in possession of a weapon and under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the Bookstore. The suspect was arrested.

Information courtesy of El Camino College Police Department

The Union publishes police beats online with each newspaper release.

CSU Dominguez Hills student Anne Hill studies inside the Math Building at El Camino College on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Hill is also a former El Camino College student. Ethan Cohen | The Union

@KM_elcamino23

Khallid

Students work collaboratively on the tables and computers in the Study Center in fall 2019. Students can print from computers and rent calculators from the center. Omar Rashad | The Union

“Since modules are on Canvas, students should study most of [the] information that is on there.”

— Cindy Tino-Sandoval, English professor

“Take notes even though you don’t have to, don’t just look at your screen, write down information on paper.”

“There are different learning strategies for everybody… my strategy might not work for everyone.”

“Getting a proper sleep schedule is also important to me.”

Campus remains safe and secure, officials say ECC's Arsenal

What garners the most media attention are mass shootings, which are defined as four or more people injured during an incident, as well as mass murders, classified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as four or more people killed.

“We’ve normalized [mass shootings] and we have become numb,” Chaires said.

In Los Angeles County, there were a total of 3,840 deaths from gun violence between 2016 and 2020, with an average rate of 7.4 deaths per 100,000 people, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a national nonprofit tracking gun violence data.

Officials overseeing many areas accessible to the public, including El Camino College, have taken steps toward improving community safety.

Those steps include police reform legislation including Assembly Bill 481, which aims to increase funding transparency and create a public forum for the acquisition of military equipment and weapons by local departments.

“I’ve been in this profession 48 years and it just pains me that we got to do this but the reality of life is this is the world we’re in today,” said El Camino Police Chief Michael Trevis at the Nov. 16, Academic Senate meeting, where the assembly bill was discussed. “It’s not the world I started my profession in [but] I need to keep people informed so they can make informed decisions.”

Detective and firearms instructor Gary Robertson, a 28-year veteran of the El Camino Police Department, spends his time making sure the campus is a safe and secure place so students can focus on learning and educators can focus on teaching.

“For the most part this campus is very safe, I’d have no

problem with my family going here,” Robertson said. “[We] are trying to have a safe environment that’s conducive to learning.”

While El Camino has not faced any immediate threats, it typically sees instances of assault, drug violations and motor vehicle theft. There have been fewer than five weapons violations from 2019 to 2021. There was also a mass shooting threat in 2014 where a student threatened to create a “Santa Barbara-style massacre” on campus.

“The lowest level of crime or potential crime that we deal with is simply disturbances of the peace,” Robertson said.

Robertson said the campus community is El Camino’s eyes and ears, recommending if students and employees see something that concerns them, they can report it through campus police.

Despite the presence of El Camino police, Chaires’ first impression when she walked to her classes a few years ago was the vast number of entrances that led from the outside into

the heart of campus.

“When I first saw that, I was like OK, this is kind of alarming because anybody can walk onto campus,” Chaires said. “If [people] can walk onto campus so willingly, that means they can walk into the buildings the same way.”

Chaires is not alone.

Many people who work or visit public locations worry about their safety. The El Camino College community is no exception and as a result, conducts active shooter training for employees.

In response, a growing number of consulting services are offered to various institutions including Vince Osorio’s safety firm Shield Assets.

“Wherever you go, whether it’s the mall, going to school or anywhere that has a high population, always keep an eye on what’s going on around you, maintain your situational awareness,” Osorio said. “If you feel the need, go out and seek training on how to respond to an active shooter or an emergency situation.”

Osorio, who is also the current captain of operations at the Gardena Police Department, highlights the importance of preparation for the unknown. One of his main teaching methods, which was developed by the FBI, is “run, hide, fight,” which is intended to be a short, simple concept on how to respond to mass shootings.

“We want to give people options so that they have an understanding of how they should respond to these types of situations,” Osorio said.

While fear does exist, students like Chaires feel there is always more that can be done by those in authority to make them feel safer in their environment.

For example, she would like to see El Camino increase the presence of patrols and officers walking around campus to ease the fears of students and employees.

“It kind of gave me a new perspective on the world,” Chaires said. “Because anything can happen at any given moment.”

Ford Expedition Watch Commanders Vehicle (Mobile Command Post)

Heckler & Koch MP5 (Special Rescue Equipment, lethal)

40mm Foam Round Launcer (Lewis Machine & Tool Company, less lethal)

Pepper Ball TAC 700 (Less Lethal Pepper Ball Projectiles)

Colt 6920 AR-15 Patrol Rifles (Special Rescue Equipment, lethal)

Remington 870 12 Gauge Shotgun (Less Lethal Beanbag Rounds)

El Camino College senior rangemaster Francisco Esqueda fires one of the less lethal weapons that the police department has in its arsenal. Esqueda has been with the department since 1996. Ethan Cohen | The Union

The trials and tribulations of the

→ NURSING FROM PAGE 1

During the nursing program’s pinning ceremony on Dec. 5, a historic tradition where the graduating class is honored with a wearable pin, El Camino College’s President Brenda Thames highlighted the issues the students are facing.

“This cohort of students has had to navigate an exceptionally challenging change within the structure and administration of the program…in the midst of this, we have heard the voices of those individuals who so passionately made their concerns known,” Thames said. “We understand that this experience was not the experience that you imagined and it was not the experience [administration] imagined for you.”

El Camino’s nursing program is currently ranked 37th out of 134 total nursing schools in the state of California and ranked 144 out of 1,700 nursing programs nationally.

The program also boasts a 94% passing rate for the National Council Licensure Exam, 10% higher than the national average of 84%.

The National Council

Licensure Exam is a mandatory test given to all nursing students where they must pass in order to be licensed as a registered nurse in the United States and Canada.

After the previous nursing director Wanda Morris retired, Jeny Joy was hired in September 2021, at which point, nursing students and employees have reported numerous issues since the beginning of her tenure. She previously worked at College of the Canyons and West Coast and Stanbridge universities.

“[The nursing department] has been dealing with this for over six months and it’s got to a point… where it’s frankly unlivable for us as students,” Angiolini said.

The most pressing issue that Angiolini and graduating students said they dealt with was a lack of planning and organization with their pinning ceremony.

When the fall semester began on Aug. 29, the fourthsemester nursing students were sent a mass email informing them of Joy’s intention to request one of two venues to reserve for the pinning ceremony on Dec. 12: The Campus Theater, Haag Recital Hall or Marsee

Auditorium.

The venues and dates for the pinning ceremony were also listed in the nursing student handbook which details what students can expect from the ceremony and allows them to plan accordingly.

Even with the email of intent and a plan of action as highlighted within the student handbook, several weeks passed without any confirmation of the fall 2022 pinning ceremony date.

“The first week of school, our Professor Dr. White said ‘Dr. Joy is going to be figuring out the venue. You should know by next week,’” Angiolini said. “Weeks go by… like two weeks, three weeks, we haven’t heard anything. We’re asking what is happening.”

With help fromCenter of the Arts Director Rick Christophersen, Angiolini herself placed a booking hold on the Campus Theatre for Dec. 5 but according to Angiolini, this posed a problem for Joy.

According to Angiolini, Joy had intentions of booking the Haag Recital Hall for the pinning ceremony on Dec. 12, however, the Haag Recital Hall has a maximum capacity of 125 people and approximately 300 guests were expected to be in attendance.

“This was an issue [Joy] created all because of her own shortcomings and because she didn’t request and book a venue when she was supposed to,” Angiolini said. “This is a bi-annual occurrence and there’s a very specific week and day that they do it, so they could book this in advance and I don’t know why this wasn’t booked annually.”

After several meetings and email sent between the nursing students and college administration and after a public statement made by Angiolini during the Oct. 17 Board of Trustees meeting,

the fourth-semester students did not receive confirmation of a venue booking until Oct. 21, almost two months after the original email was sent on Aug. 29.

During an interview with The Union, Vice President of Academic Affairs Carlos Lopez said that due to the difficulties with scheduling, it took more time than anticipated to find alternative options for the fourthsemester students.

“As Dr. Joy indicated, [administration] had some complications with the schedule and the venues we would traditionally use,” Lopez said. “And that took some time to be able to find and determine and decide the alternate date and the alternate venue that’s suitable for this type of event.”

During the same interview, Joy said the order of precedence in booking venues places Marsee Auditorium first, the Campus Theatre second and the Haag Recital Hall last.

Both Joy and Lopez confirmed there was a scheduling conflict with Marsee Auditorium for Dec. 12.

The pinning ceremony took place on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. where 44 nursing graduates were honored and celebrated.

Although the fourthsemester students prioritized the mishandling of their pinning ceremony, several told The Union they recognize the severity of different issues that the program has endured when concerning the nursing faculty and students outside of the fourth-semester

President and Superintendent Brenda Thames speaks to attendees at a pinning ceremony said the she acknowledges the perserverance of the fall 2022 fourth semester cohort

Emily Angiolini stands by the Campus Theater moments before the pinning ceremony begins on Dec. 5. Raphael Richardson | The Union

“We understand that experience was not that you imagined the experience [administration] imagined for you."

— Brenda Thames, president

fourth semester nursing cohort

that Joy frequently changes the rules and guidelines set for the program without reason.

“[Joy] makes changes not because they’re necessary or because they’re proven to be needed by the Board [of Registered Nurses] or because we’re not meeting requirements,” Angiolini said. “It’s a constant of this is just how [Joy] wants it and she doesn’t want to hear anybody’s opposition to it.”

The Union received the 2022 - 2023 handbook directly from the nursing students.

After speaking with at least 32 students and employees about the dissatisfaction expressed with the state of the nursing program, The Union scheduled an interview with Joy on Dec. 1.

for identifiable data kept within a student’s educational records.

FERPA not only grants students the ability to access their educational records but also protects a student’s record from disclosure to third party sources.

Student Press Law Center’s Senior Legal Counsel Mike Hiestand said he believes El Camino College’s administration is misguided in their approach.

“I think that [the administration] is probably misguided if [the information] hasn’t actually been put into a record. They are misguided in saying that FERPA is the reason they don’t have to provide that information,” Hiestand said. “They don’t have to provide that information simply because they don’t have to provide it.”

Hiestand said that the administration should not have referred to FERPA when discussing issues concerning college employees because the law specifically covers students.

undergone changes since Joy was hired.

The fourth semester cohort reached out to administration, filed grievances and publicly spoke out against Joy and the nursing program on various occasions. Angiolini said that when the nursing students' issues were ignored, they took it upon themselves to book the Campus Theatre in order to accommodate guests at the pinning ceremony.

Angiolini said the main reason she decided to speak out against the nursing program was to help the current and future students and employees of the program.

“Clearly nobody cares, nobody is doing anything. We’ve met with people and no one seems to see this as an issue,” Angiolini said. For us [students], it got to the point where we can’t live like this anymore and we don’t want other students to have to deal with this. We don’t want our professors to quit their jobs. That’s why we’re fighting.”

cohort.

A nursing employee who asked to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns said although the faculty loves their jobs, currently, the department as a whole is not in a good place.

“It’s just a sucky situation

hard to like what we do, it’s just not enjoyable right now.”

The anonymous employee said that a lot of the nursing employees in the department are undecided on whether or not they want to stay and endure the challenges that they have to face in their workplace environment.

Asked if there were any extenuating factors affecting the current state of the program, the anonymous employee said it’s directly due to Joy.

The anonymous employee said the program is constantly changing its guidelines and expectations upon students, creating barriers between the students and accessing their educational needs.

Upon arrival at the interview, The Union expected to meet with Joy and Director of Public Information and Government Relations Kerri Webb, however, The Union’s editors were also joined by Dean of Natural Sciences Amy Grant, Registrar of Admissions & Records Lillian Justice, in addition to Joy, Webb, and Lopez.

The Union provided the administration members in attendance with documents regarding issues with the pinning ceremony issues, the nursing student syllabus and the handbook.

Similarly to the concerns brought up by the nursing students and employees, The Union was unsuccessful in obtaining information as to why the program has

right now…[instructors] could make a lot more money working as regular nurses within a hospital and we don’t do it,” the anonymous employee said. “We work at El Camino because we love our job, we love what we do and we want to make good nurses, however, it’s really

Students have reported that rules and guidlelines listed within the student handbook are constantly changing.

Unlike the previous academic year, the 2022 - 2023 nursing student handbook has not been made available to the public. Several students told The Union

Whenever The Union provided student and employee testimonies, the college’s administration referred to the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as to why they could not speak on individual cases.

“Per FERPA, [Joy] is not allowed to discuss any specifics in regards to the [student] complaint,” Webb said.

Enacted in 1974, FERPA is a law that provides protection

ceremony for nursing program graduates in the Campus Theatre, on Dec. 5. Thames cohort as they faced several challenges during the semester. Raphael Richardson | The Union

Students walk down the aisle of the Campus Theatre for their pinning ceremony rehersal on Monday, Dec. Ethan Cohen | The Union

To read more, visit The Union website at eccunion.com

president of El Camino College

Waiting for the shoe to drop: sneaker culture

Students and employees show off their footwear that bring comfort and fashion at El Camino College

Khallid Muhsin @KM_elcamino23

A lthough not well known for its sneaker culture, students and employees at El Camino College wear sneakers for fashion and comfort.

Now being back on campus for a year after El Camino switched to online-only instruction, students have shown off a variety of sneakers, such as Jordans, New Balance 550s and Nike Dunks, among many others.

People who wear sneakers that match their outfits show how sneaker culture has grown by a variety of people showing off what they have on their feet.

Most students that The Union surveyed on campus wear High-top sneakers and hardly any students wear Mid- or Lowtop sneakers.

Most of the students surveyed who wear High-top sneakers have high fashion to put behind their sneakers and the rest of

the students who wear Mid- or Low-top sneakers wear casual clothes with their sneakers.

Counselor Christopher Hurd was introduced to sneaker culture by a family member who was given free sneakers when he played basketball in college. Hurd started collecting sneakers toward the end of high school to match his clothes.

“I mainly wear Jordans, but I wear my sneakers for mostly comfort than fashion even though I like to look good,” Hurd said. “There can’t be too many sneakers at a certain point in time, but I have not gotten there yet.”

When Hurd got a job, he started to purchase rare and exotic sneakers. Since high school, Hurd has collected so many sneakers that they touch the ceiling.

Sports entertainment journalist Nick Hamilton was birthed into sneaker culture by his dad when he bought him his first pair of Jordans. Ever since then, he became passionate to

start a collection of his own.

Hamilton mainly wears Jordans, but he often mixes up his style and wears other sneakers including Kobes and LeBrons. People have wondered why Hamilton buys a wide variety of sneakers. Hamilton said he likes the combination of being fashionable and comfortable at the same time.

“Ever since I got my first pair of Jordans, I’ve been in love,” Hamilton said. “I don’t follow trends, I set trends.”

Engineering major Kale Nilsen originally got into sneaker culture because he saw his favorite hip-hop rappers wearing intriguing sneakers, which inspired him to get similar sneakers to look fresh and presentable.

Nilsen wears Jordans, New Balance 550s and Yeezys to be fashionable.

“I’ve been into collecting sneakers for four to five years,” Nilsen said. “Since I’ve been into collecting sneakers, I have more embraced the culture I’m in and have seen how big sneaker culture has blown up in my face.”

Music major Allan Mazariegos has been into sneaker culture for a couple of years and has made a collection. Mazariegos is a former reseller and started buying sneakers for himself.

“I wear sneakers for fashion,” Mazariegos said. “But I also like the comfort because you can’t like something without it being comfortable.”

Sneaker culture is bigger than ever at El Camino, from students previously wearing regular shoes to students and employees accounting for their sneakers when choosing between fashion and comfortability.

Being a Sneakerhead does require a lot of effort, time and money, but it’s a serious passion that has developed since inperson classes have returned to campus.

Not everyone on campus is a sneakerhead, but a selection of students surveyed on campus-and even some employees--are sneaker collectors.

To read more stories from The Union, visit the website at eccunion.com

Sports and entertainment journalist Nick Hamilton poses with his blue sneaker that match his jacket. Hamilton was introduced to the sneaker culture when his father gave him his first pair of Jordans. “I don’t follow trends, I set trends,” Hamilton said.

Khallid Muhsin | The Union

Counselor Christopher Hurd wears orange, white and black sneakers at the Student Services building. He started collecting sneakers towards the end of high school.

Khallid Muhsin | The Union

Music major Allan Mazariegos wears “Fire Red” Jordan 3s that were recently released. Jordan 3s are not only fashionable with white and red outfits, but they also are comfortable. Khallid Muhsin | The Union

El Camino College lacking in electric vehicle chargers

“[The] infrastructure is just not there,” Lee said.

El Camino has 10 electric vehicle chargers in parking Lot C on its campus, according to its website.

El Camino had 28,604 students in the 2021-2022 school year, according to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office Datamart.

The Datamart is a database where the public can search for community college data about students and faculty, for example, and compare them to other colleges.

Southeast of El Camino, Long Beach City College had 34,365 students in 2021-2022, according to the Datamart, a 20% increase compared to El Camino. The college has 91 chargers on its campus.

Going North, Santa Monica College had 37,694 students in 2021-2022, according to the Datamart, a 30% increase in students compared to El Camino.

Santa Monica has 40 electric vehicle chargers spread out among three of its seven campuses, according to its website–four times more than El Camino.

Santa Monica College Sustainability Project Manager Ferris Kawar said almost onefifth of all parking at the college

will be for electric vehicle charging by 2032.

“In 10 years, we probably need 10 to 20% of our parking inventory to be charger-ready,” Kawar said. “Because that’s going to be the rate of adoption of [electric vehicles], but not everyone needs to charge all the time.”

Kawar said installing more chargers would be costly due to the infrastructure.

“[Southern California] Edison estimated the cost at $14,000 per port [charger],” Kawar said. "The biggest cost comes when you have to upgrade electrical panels, cut concrete… that’s the majority of the cost.”

East of El Camino, Cerritos College has eight chargers, according to PlugShare.

PlugShare is a website where people can search for charging stations in their area.

According to the Datamart, Cerritos had 28,748 students in 2021-2022, a 0.5% increase compared to El Camino.

East of Cerritos, Riverside City College have 26 chargers on its campus, according to plugshare.

According to the Datamart, Riverside City College had 27,084 students in 2021-2022.

With 5% fewer students compared to El Camino, they have 2.5 times the amount of chargers.

At California State University

Long Beach, they enrolled 39,434 students in the fall of 2021, according to the California State University website.

With an approximate 38% increase in students compared to El Camino, they have 46 chargers on its main campus.

Communications Specialist for Parking and Operations Chad Keller said there are 42 clean-air vehicle spaces on campus to provide an incentive for people to buy electric vehicles.

“It's one more thing to consider,” Keller said. “It’s like well, I will get a priority parking space.”

The University of California, Los Angeles had 46,116 students in the fall of 2021, according to the University of California website.

The university has over 300 chargers on its campus, according to its website, 30 times the amount El Camino has.

At the University of Southern California, they had 49,318 students in the fall of 2021, according to its website. With a 72% increase in students compared to El Camino, USC has 237 chargers among its two campuses.

Associate Director for USC Transportation David Donovan said electric vehicle owners can purchase a special permit at a lower price than a regular parking pass.

“This is just more of a reward,” Donovan said. “If you happen to have bought an [electric vehicle], you have an opportunity to buy this… discounted parking pass that

affords you additional perks as well.”

Donovan said there are electric vehicle initiatives from USC’s administration that will be given a higher priority within the next 10 years.

“Things like electrifying our fleet,” Donovan said. “USC has innumerable cars that are used as service vehicles.”

people shouldn’t get one yet because of the infrastructure.

When it comes to long trips, Johnson said it’s those times when he wants to use a gaspowered vehicle.

“It’s just one of those things where it’s so much easier to get gas when you’re low on gas,” Johnson said. “It’s a lot easier still to use gas cars in a lot of situations.”

Lee said he has two vehicles--one electric and one gas-powered-each with its own purpose.

“My [electric vehicle] goes 80 miles," Lee said. I have a second car for long trips.”

Back at El Camino, Corey Johnson, who lives near the college and uses the track, said he likes his electric vehicle because he saves money on gas.

“When I’m in the city, it’s easy to find chargers,” Johnson said. “I just like the fact that–you know gas is going up–I don’t really have to worry about that.”

Johnson said while he likes his electric vehicle, he believes

When it comes to enrollment, Kawar said colleges should make sure there are enough electric vehicle chargers for their students and employees.

“Every campus really needs to see this as a retention issue,” Kawar said. “If people drive an [electric vehicle] and their campus doesn’t have [electric vehicle] charging…, [they] may decide to take classes somewhere else, or work somewhere else.”

Corey Johnson, who comes to El Camino to use the track at Murdock Stadium, charges his electric vehicle in Lot C on Tuesday, Nov. 22. There are 10 chargers available in parking Lot C. Anthony Lipari | The Union

Electric vehicles charge in parking Lot C at El Camino on Nov. 15. Anthony Lipari | The Union

“In

— Ferris Kawar, sustainability project manager at Santa Monica College

Banana Cream Pudding Recipe

Not sure what to bring to your holiday gathering? Try this sweet treat from Senior Clerical Assistant Johanna Fajardo. "My best friends grandma introduced it to me when I was 15-years-old," Fajardo said.

Ingredients:

- 2 Jell-O Banana pudding packs

- 1 can of condensed milk.

- 1 can of evaporated milk

- 35 butter cookies (Chessmen Cookies, Vanilla Waffers, etc.)

Steps:

1. Place the two packs pudding into a large bowl.

2. Next, pour the cans of evaporated and condensed milk into the bowl.

3. Mix together until thickens

4. Serve with cookies of your choice

Photo illustration by Ethan Cohen | The Union

That’s a Wrap! Fall Season in Review

Women’s soccer ended their season at SoCal Regionals after being defeated by Long Beach 2-1. Sophomore Karlee Clark was named as a South Coast Conference, South Division Goalkeeper of the Year. Angelica Taylor, Alexis Perez-Fonseca, and Gabrielle De La Cruz were named as an All-SCC First Team selections.

Women’s cross country team finished 5th overall at the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships. Sequoia Gonzales was named to a 1st Team All-State selection, while Ami Jacobson was honored with a 2nd Team All-State selection.

For women’s volleyball, Leafa Juarez, Jayden Zabala, and Alex Perryman were bestowed with All-SCC First Team honors. Makaela Wilson and Athina Sarreas were named All-SCC Second Team honors.

The football team ended their season against San Diego Mesa at the Southern California Bowl, coming up short against the Olympians 21-20.

Men’s basketball is currently 7-2, and are 4-1 at home. The women’s team is sitting at 1-7.

Freshman quarterback Corey Graham gets ready to take the snap from center Jonathan Tejada. Greg Fontanilla | The Union

The men’s soccer team gathers for a huddle before a game. Greg Fontanilla | The Union

The women’s volleyball team gets ready to take the court before a game. Greg Fontanilla | The Union

Lux Anne Vargas, a goalie on the women’s water polo team prepares to throw the ball to an open teammate during a game. Vargas recorded 162 saves this season. Greg Fontanilla | The Union

The El Camino Warriors’ fall season for the athletic program has wrapped up each of its respective sports. Most teams qualified for the postseason, while individual athlete honors were bestowed.

— Greg Fontanilla

El Camino’s athletic program boasts success with recruiting efforts

With one of the largest athletic departments of any two-year college in California, El Camino College is home to nearly 400 studentathletes competing in nearly two dozen sports.

The department’s success hinges on funding which, in part, comes from the Associated Students Organization (ASO).

Budget

For the 2022-2023 school year, the athletic department’s budget is $7.9 million, according to records obtained by The Union from the El Camino Community College District Athletic Department.

ASO provided $135,000 to the athletic department, according to ASO president Jana Abulaban. Abulaban added the ASO determines the allocation of funding for athletics, along with other oncampus programs.

A portion of El Camino’s athletic budget is used to pay officials for games and meets, along with athletic equipment, and staffing — all of which have increased in cost. Jeffrey Miera, the Director of Athletics at El Camino College discussed the increase in cost to maintain the athletic program.

“Entry fees have gone up because staffing is more expensive,” Miera said. “Officials fees go up periodically. All of the expenses that we have go up.”

The budget also funds various subdivisions within the overall athletic department.

Roster numbers and recruitment

El Camino’s roster numbers were compared to four other community colleges in the state: Bakersfield College, Pasadena City College, Riverside City College, and City College of San Francisco.

Compared to the other colleges, El Camino enrolls 393 student-athletes competing in 22 sports, including those competing in sports played during the 2022 spring semester.

Riverside has 19 sports with over 400 athletes.

The Union made attempts to reach athletic directors from City College of San Francisco, Pasadena City College, and Bakersfield College, but did not receive a response from the colleges.

Payton Williams, Riverside’s athletic director, told The Union there have been changes within Riverside’s athletics

program in the last 10 years, including the addition of a few sports.

Williams, who has been the athletic director since 2021, has made it a priority to ensure student-athlete success in the classroom. The T.I.G.E.R.S. Program helps students navigate the rigors of academic life.

“We make sure if we see a need, we get it addressed, whether physical, academic, or emotional,” Williams said. Mentorship and guidance are provided through coaches, staff members, and counselors as well.

El Camino has produced many athletes who went on play at the four-year level, some professionally, and some who have gone back to El Camino as a coach. Liz Hazell, the current head coach for the women’s volleyball team is a former student of El Camino, and played volleyball at the college.

Liz Hazell, the current head coach for the women’s volleyball team is a former student of El Camino, and played volleyball at the college.

“It’s tough being a studentathlete,” Hazell said. “It’s hard work.”

As a coach, she preaches the importance of using academic resources to allow success in the classroom.

At El Camino, Lofgren’s teams have been successful, being one of the top teams in Southern California, and in the state, qualifying for numerous championships over the years.

At El Camino, the Triple A program works in conjunction with the campus library in order to ensure student success ,where they can take advantage of academic resources such as tutoring, as well as working on academic assignments.

Dean Lofgren, the coach for the cross country and track and field programs, is aware the South Bay Promise draws students into the college, which waives enrollment fees for fulltime students attending college for first-time high school graduates.

“Students that come from our local high schools that are aware of the South Bay Promise get things going step-by-step counseling, registration,” Lofgren said, who initially began as an assistant coach, and later took the reigns as head coach in 1989. “It’s a great opportunity for them.”

In order to ensure an enrollment increase, Lofgren by reaches out to local high schools. High school seniors discover the campus’ athletic

facilities through tours given by Lofgren, which plays a factor in a student’s decision to enroll at El Camino as a student-athlete.

Sequoia Gonzales, a freshman out of Torrance High School, is a member of El Camino’s cross country team. She was recruited by Lofgren to run at the college.

Part of her decision in wanting to attend El Camino was the available resources the college has for student-athletes.

“Definitely the FYE Program,” said Gonzales, referring to the First Year Experience Program, as well as the on-campus resources that caught her attention. “Of course, the South Bay Promise was very eye catching for me for sure.” The FYE program is a program for first-year college students that provides educational and career guidance. Priority registration is one of the advantages a student can take with the program.

“It’s a great opportunity to get your first few years free,” Hazell said. “That’s for anybody on campus, and not just athletes.”

To read more, visit The Union website at eccunion.com

Sequoia Gonzales, a freshman with El Camino’s cross country team, poses for a photo on the track on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Greg Fontanilla | The Union

@gregfontanilla

Greg Fontanilla Source: El Camino College Community District