The Union Vol. 80, Issue 9

The Union

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EL CAMINO COLLEGE

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1946 May 14, 2026

ASO election results

“Ideology bubbles”

Sit and see

Sparks light up ECC

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ARTS

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OPINION

News

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ECCUNION.COM

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SPORTS

@ECCUNION

Sketching the blueprints to future careers Longtime architecture professor instills love of the art to a new generation.

See Architecture page 7

Studio One architecture students created different design ideas for collaborative areas that should be made around campus. Photo by Madison Moody

Women’s tennis team reinstated amid federal investigation

By Eleni Klostrakis

W

hen El Camino College cut its women’s tennis program in the spring of 2025, 19-year-old data science major R o b y n Wo n g s a i d s h e understood the decision, even if it meant losing the sport that brought her to ECC. “I came to El Camino to play tennis since there aren’t a lot of women’s tennis teams in the area…But it also made sense [the cut], in terms of the record, the team’s record wasn’t good. I think we lost to every school we played,” Wong said.

Now, almost a year later, El Camino College is reinstating the program.

“We thought that it was a good idea to bring it back, with enough interest in the program to warrant interest to come back, we moved some funds

around to ensure that we can make it happen,” Interim Dean of Kinesiology, Athletics, and Public Safety Jeffrey Baumunk said.

At the same time, ECC is currently under a Title IX investigation by the Federal Office of Civil Rights over not adapting to women’s athletic abilities and interests.

David Levin, former ECC badminton coach for the women’s and men’s teams, believes the program’s comeback is directly related to the investigation.

“They say we support w o m e n ’s s p o r t s , t h e continuation of adding opportunities for women, all of this kind of stuff. All of that, in my opinion, is a direct contradiction of the dozens and

dozens of emails telling me why they canceled the program for budgetary reasons,” he said.

Baumunk and Athletic Director Abigail Francisco declined to comment regarding the Title IX investigation.

Former tennis coach of the ECC men’s and women’s tennis teams Sergiu Boerica said he cannot comment at this time, but that ECC has reached out with interest in hiring him again.

However, ECC is not alone in the decision to cut the tennis team; around the nation, other colleges have cut the programs in the past year, according to AP News and Sports Illustrated.

The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, a Division I school, cut its men’s and women’s tennis program this past April, citing the changing

“Tennis is under an attack on a national basis” - David Levin, former ECC badminton coach landscape of college sports and their inability to “provide the level of support necessary” in order to keep the sport active.

Two Division II schools, William Jewell College in Missouri and Colorado State University Pueblo, have also cut their tennis programs that same month.

“Tennis is under an attack on a national basis,” Levin said.

At the California community

college level, Francisco said the program has generally seen a shrinkage over the years.

“I think amongst community colleges, at least in California, it’s definitely a shrinking program…I know they’re having problems with retaining the programs in our conference,” Francisco said.

Erica Lee contributed to this story.

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May 14, 2026

EDITORIAL

The Union

The Union SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1946

Vol. 80, No. 9 May 14, 2026

EDITORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Erica Lee

NEWS EDITOR

Eleni Klostrakis

FEATURES EDITOR

Oriana de Quay

OPINION EDITOR

Madison Moody

STAFF

Staff Writers Ana Gamez

Illustration by Ivan Mendez

Mid-semester is not the time to give up

I

t is now past the middle of the spring semester, and class drops keep rolling in as we approach the final day to receive a “W” on transcripts this Saturday, May 16.

“When you have all these other things going on, it’s like, I got to take one thing off my plate and it might be a class,” Director of Tutoring and Academic Support Sheryl Kunisaki said.

The cost of living crisis in California is a tale as old as time.

A third of California residents do not make enough to support their basic needs.

Students add to their abundant plates of coursework by working part-time or full-time jobs or assisting family needs to help cover those basic needs and to pay for college.

It is proven to affect a student’s likelihood of completing their certification within six years.

As a result, it is easier to drop out for the semester or even indefinitely.

At the start of the 2023-2024 term, 43.1 million individuals were nationally reported to have enrolled in college and left without receiving certificates or degrees, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Nevertheless, retention rates at El Camino College remain consistent, averaging around 84% for fall and spring terms dating back to 2017, according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Data Mart and that includes an outlying 99% retention for the spring 2020 semester.

Santa Monica College shares similar retention rates averaging 87% retention, including various semesters with 90% or more retention during the pandemic, which is a result of colleges fighting to retain enrollment during the lockdown.

Isaac Ramirez Michelle Claire Pentreath Osvin Suazo Photographers Donovan Harris

By Union Editorial Board Psychology professor Julio Farias said he felt he needed to pass students along during that time because there were so many individual hardships he needed to navigate.

Some professors would agree that the lack of communication and human interaction could be the cause that’s affecting the learning experience, class success and retention rates.

Computer informations systems professor Richard Perkins has worked full-time at ECC for over a decade who said he notices when his students don’t communicate with him or the peers in class.

“They don’t ask for notes between each other, or network amongst each other and they don’t ask as many questions during lectures,” Perkins said, describing the social academic changes.

In many ways, the pandemic has reshaped learning environments through hybridized classrooms and student interactions.

Even with in-person classes, students are still expected to reference online learning modules, videos, quizzes and more, all through their digital devices such as phones and computers.

Today, there limited reasons to build human to human interaction.

Most students The Union interviewed shared the sentiment that external responsibilities such as keeping up with their jobs on top of school is what affects their decisions to drop or has caused them to fail classes in the past.

But, with over half of the semester completed, it would be a waste of time, energy and money to give up now.

Students need to work with their professors, talk to their counselors, and utilize the tutoring centers to stay on top of their work because it is never too late to make a comeback.

Union staff thoughts: Thumbs up, thumbs down Thumbs down to prices rising on groceries, gas and essentials.

Thumbs up to The Addams Family play being inclusive by incoorporating multi-faceted creative departments.

Thumbs down to the lack of political engagment and awarness in young adults.

Thumbs up to womens’ tennis returing to ECC.

Editor’s note: The April 30 issue did not acknowledge Union interns Alexandra Quintana, Cassie Medina and Zaire Miranda in the masthead. Nikki Yunker contributed to the Torrance tutor story and Juan Carlos Cardoso contributed to the graduation day change story.

Juan Carlos Cardoso

Ryan Hirabayashi

Interns Kaitlyn Estrada

Alexandra Quintana Brande Mathews

Lincoln Stock

Cassie Medina

Matthew Beck

Diocelina Ordonez

Maya Ochoa

Evelyn Wimberly

Mun Leong

Frances Que

Patrick Martinez

Gael Gallardo

Riley Abrams

Grant Blizzard

Tulsi Ananda

Jesse Jennewein

Zaire Miranda

Illustrators Brad Hess

Ivan Mendez

Celeste Munoz

Moon Khalfani

Christol Nguyen

Zuri Godwin

ADVISERS STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER Stefanie Frith sfrith@elcamino.edu

PHOTO ADVISER

Nguyet Thomas nthomas@elcamino.edu

ADVERTISING MANAGER Jack Mulkey elcounionads000@yahoo.com

JOURNALISM PROFESSOR Kate McLaughlin kmclaughlin@elcamino.edu

INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS Gerard Burkhart gburkhart@elcamino.edu Joseph Difazio jdifazio@elcamino.edu Jessica Martinez jemartinez@elcamino.edu

CORRECTION POLICY:

The Union takes corrections and clarifications very seriously. If a correction is needed, email The Union at eccunion@gmail.com for all corrections and inquiries pertaining to a story.

EDITORIALS: Editorials represent the views of the The Union’s editorial board. Columns

represent the views of the writer. Neither are representations of what the newspaper staff, other students, our advisers, faculty or the administration think.

LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMN POLICY:

No more than two guest columns from the same person will be considered for publication or online use in the same semester, and 60 days must elapse before a second column is published. Guest columns should generally run 300-450 words. Letters to the editor should generally run no longer than 200 words.

All columns and letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and style. They must be free of libel and in good taste. Publication or rejection of any column is at the sole discretion of the editorial board.

The Union is an award-winning, nationally recognized publication that prints on designated Thursdays by Journalism 11 and 14 students at El Camino College, Humanities 113, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506, and is free to the student body and staff. The Union publishes daily online at eccunion.com.

Opinion

May 14, 2026

The Union

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Ideology bubbles limit debate, even on open campuses Sometimes the

journey feels endless: Keep moving forward, warriors

By Juan Carlos-Cardoso

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any students claim to feel safe sharing their opinions on institutional grounds, but outside the context of studies conducted, the reality looks different.

The most recent Student Campus Climate Survey, released by El Camino College in 2024, found that many students reported feeling respected on campus and believed the college supports diverse perspectives.

The report highlighted generally positive perceptions regarding the campus climate.

But the survey also identified areas requiring improvement in communication.

When invited to speak about ideology, what it means and whether students feel comfortable discussing it, most people I approached declined to be interviewed.

Some said they were busy, others hesitated and then chose not to answer.

After finding only one person who agreed to speak, this discrepancy raised a question: Is the campus truly open to discussion, or are students confined in their own circles?

By Donald Jones

Illustration by Zuri Godwin

Beverly Burgess, a senior manager in prevention and assistance at ECC began defining the word itself.

“I think ideology is a belief system that helps you understand the world,” Burgess said, “An opinion is just an opinion. It’s not a fact; therefore, we all have the right to have one,” she said.

She then paused when reflecting on real-life.

“In some situations yes,”

Burgess said when asked if she had ever remained silent out of fear of being judged.

“Sometimes, I feel that it might not be appropriate to share my opinion. I simply don’t want to have to deal with conflict.” Burgess said.

However, studies revealed that many college students across the United States repress their opinions, especially regarding political or controversial topics,

according to a report conducted in 2024 by the Knight Foundation in partnership with Ipsos.

Students describe college as a place of learning.

However, when conversations are restricted to groups of like-minded people, that growth can be limited.

To read more on this story, visit the website at eccunion. com

Time is of the essence when pressure expands

By Isaac Ramirez

Through an unreachable door that is near enough to see and feel, but not yet close enough to live in reality, makes me feel like I can never turn the knob.

Tick…tock…tick…tock, the sound I hear as time passes and the clock strikes at an unreasonable hour.

The clock glaring at me from above, staring at me, convincing me that time is beginning to waste away.

Merriam-Webster showed that Essence is defined as “the most fundamental nature of something.”

Time is of the essence, but is essence made up of time?

To hold such importance to the concept of time, Isaac Ramirez is currently 23 years old, still in college.

He’s a young adult with no wrinkles and no back pain, but is still struck down with immense pressure that he is slowly running out of time.

A feeling of being stuck, that through an unforeseeable future is the answer.

The answer that teaches you how to move past one’s feelings of dread and prevail through their self-doubts.

Illustration by Celeste Munoz

As of early 2026, the life expectancy in the United States of America reached 79.0 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So to be blunt, Isaac has 56 years

until the U.S. predicts his timely demise and time will have officially run out.

Sometimes I think that I don’t have what it takes to the point where I imagine if someone were to investigate

inside my four-chambered muscular organs, they’d discover that it’s filled with thoughts from others.

And also find that deep down inside my heart is filled with nothing.

My idealization of morals and beliefs causes me to wonder if maybe somebody else wanted that for me instead, that Isaac has been influenced and no longer has an original thought.

That same want coming from someone or something is lacking within me.

I want to be better, I want to achieve greatness, but still , I find myself stuck.

I want dream partnerships with fashion brands and make a living off of doing the things I love to do.

It’s necessary to understand the parts of me that may need help. That feeling exactly when the hour hand has reached its final destination and the clock has struck its last strike, telling me to decide my fate.

I don’t want to let time win, I don’t want to give in and let my negative ideas of myself consume me whole.

I started community college back in 2014 as a part-time student, unsure of what I wanted to do.

Eventually, I chose film, something I had loved since I was a kid. But the path forward didn’t get easier.

I was working one full-time and one part-time job just to pay rent.

Taking two or three classes a semester felt like inching toward a finish line that unfortunately felt neverendless.

By 2018, I was finally close. I remember telling myself, after all these years, I actually did it.

Earning my associate’s degree as a part-time student might not seem like much; but to me, it was everything.

However, when it came to statistics, I struggled more than anything else. I failed it twice.

Between work and exhaustion, it felt like I couldn’t get ahead.

By the time fall came around I felt more determined.

But a few days before Thanksgiving 2019, my dad passed away.

Grief has a way of putting everything else into perspective. School didn’t matter at that moment. Deadlines didn’t matter. I had to step away.

Months passed and I came back. I looked for alternative math options, hoping to find ways around statistics.

During that time, I took a magazine class, where I met Professor Stefanie Frith, who encouraged me to explore the journalism program.

For a moment, it felt like things were opening up again. Then COVID hit.

With the loss of my dad, the uncertainty of the future, it all became too much. I had to step away again.

I was back to juggling two jobs again.

When the world slowly started to stabilize, I made the decision to finish.

I returned to El Camino to focus only on what I needed to transfer.

By June, I had my diploma in hand.

Shortly after, I quit my part-time job so I could fully commit to the next step. That fall, I transferred to Cal State Dominguez Hills as a full-time student and working full-time.

Now, two weeks away from graduating, I can finally say I made it. To anyone who feels like the road is too long, or like they’ve fallen behind— there is no “right” timeline. There’s only your timeline.

Donald Jones is an ECC 2024 Alumna who is now preparing to graduate at California State Dominguez Hills University in Film, Television and Media. Students and faculty members are invited to send guest columns and letters to the editor to The Union. To submit a guest column or letter to the editor, please email eccunion@gmail. com. All columns and letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and style.

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SPORTS

May 14, 2026

The Union

National Champion winners reunite Raised GPA acceptance standards and familial coaching creates 80s championship winners

By Michelle Claire Pentreath

I

t was the biggest game of the season. The band and cheerleaders were at full force hyping the crowd. The stands were filled with family and friends eager for the win. El Camino College enters LeBard Stadium at Orange Coast College Saturday, Dec 5, 1987 with a 10-0 record to battle Taft College with a 9-0 record.

Tension had been rising throughout the season with the usual locker room hazing and crowd rile-ups. Taft was ranked No. 1 team in the country, but it wasn’t a close game.

The Warriors dominated and left the field with a score of 24-6, coming out of the game victorious and earning a National Championship title under their belts.

Thirty-nine years after they last stepped foot on the field, former football players Dwight Pickens, Kevin Ray Harris and coach Eugene “Gene” Engle reunited during a Wednesday football practice.

Current Warriors were running sprints and tackling dummies at Murdock Stadium when the former players and their coach walked onto the field. Coaches and players paused when they saw them. An exchange of nostalgic pleasantries followed.

“People said we played ugly,” Engle said.

Their season came shortly after the National Collegiate Athletic Association decided to implement Proposition 48, which required incoming freshmen to maintain a 2.0 grade point average in order to

compete in athletics.

Since the proposition passed, John Featherstone, who was leading the football program, was getting an influx of student athletes who were supposed to be committed to Division I schools around the nation, but their grade average cost them the opportunity.

The team became what some called a “United Nations” because of its diversity.

But it was more than the proposition that landed them in the ECC history books.

“If you messed with one of us, you were messing with all of us.”

- Kevin Ray Harris former football player “Coming into ’87, the biggest difference we had was strong leadership,” Engle said.

Engle coached for 35 years and taught for 40. By 1987, his fifth year coaching, he was serving as part of the staff.

Back then, Featherstone, who passed away in 2021, brought relentless energy and helped create a transformational program with his coaching staff. He held dinners at his home with some of the players and coach Engle held chapel before games. “[Featherstone] was a dynamic and motivational presence,” Engle said.

Both Pickens and Harris have

Football coach John Featherstone with Warriors football players from 1987. Photo provided by Kevin Ray Harris

their names on a plaque for El Camino College’s 1980s AllDecade Team, where top performing players become part of an ECC “all- star” team.

Pickens originally came to ECC to play baseball. He later pivoted to football, where he became a wide receiver and earned a scholarship to California State University, Fresno after graduation. He was

El Camino Colleg Warriors 1987 football team during halftime in the locker room as coach Featherstone prepares to deliver one of his motivational speeches.

Photo provided by Kevin Ray Harris

later drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1990, then played for the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American Football a year after.

Harris earned a scholarship to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is now the CEO of All-American U, a platform that provides student-athletes with networking resources.

The camaraderie extended

beyond the field. After games, players celebrated in the school’s parking lot, and Saturday nights became a central part of campus life as the band and cheerleaders hyped the crowd. Race was never a factor in the team’s bond.

“If you messed with one of us, you were messing with all of us,” Harris said.

(L-R) Former coach Eugene Engle, alongside former players Kevin Ray Harris and Dwight Pickens reunite on Wednesday, April 29, at the El Camino College Murdock Stadium. The three were part of the 1987 team that won the football State Champinship. Photo by Michelle Claire Pentreath

NEWS

May 14, 2026

The Union

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Canvas is back online, here’s what to know

tudent private data is said to be recovered after a cyberattack stealing billions worth of data was made on global learning educational platform Canvas.

The company that owns Canvas, Infrastructure, reported coming to an agreement with the ShinyHunters, a cyber hacking group that took credit for the attack.

A few groups at El Camino College are exploring conversations of online dependency in the wake of the canvas hack.

“Having this conversation with ITS and members and among the members of the Online and Distance Education Advisory

Committee (ODES ) department...we need to start thinking about redundancy,” Distance Education Faculty Coordinator Moses Wolfenstein said.

Office of Marketing and Communications sent out school-wide emails to students to be cautious of unexpected scam emails and texts.

Nine students The Union spoke to on campus reported no incidents of scam emails in their student inboxes.

Many instead spoke of experiences when the Canvas hack hit.

“I was literally studying for my bio lab practical and just refreshing the tab, and it just went blank for the rest of the day. We couldn’t study, we did the lab practical eventually…I hope it doesn’t happen again... I don’t know what data they are going to leak,” biology major Ran D., 20, said.

Although many institutions were impacted, ECC managed to restore Canvas services on Friday, May 8 in

Police Beat

ECC student government election results

El Camino College shares cybersecurity tips

By Madison Moody & Eleni Klostrakis

S

the afternoon.

Computer science major Daniel Uko, 21 said while he Tips from the ECC Office of was not affected by the shutdown, the situation Marketing and Communications brought up concerns with online saftey.

“I had done a good amount 1. Don’t click on suspicious links or attachments of my assignments, so it claiming to relate to Canvas access or password didn’t really affect me too resets much,” Uko said, adding, “I do have concerns…but as long as I get through the semester without any 2. Continue using strong passwords and multihiccups, I think I’m pretty factor authentication where available good.”

Accounting major Jordan Foster King, 29, said he had trouble turning in 3. Be cautious of unrecognized emails, text assignments over the messages or links requesting account weekend. information or login credentials “I really couldn’t turn in assignments due on that day…and then throughout the weekend until I got the 4. Report suspicious emails or account activity to notification that Canvas was the El Camino College Information Technology good and up and running,” Services [ITS] Desk immediately Foster said.

To reach out to the ITS help desk either call at (310)-660-6571 or email at helpdesk@elcamino. edu

The new student

The Union publishes police beats online with each newspaper release.

represenatives for 2026-27

By Alexandra Quintana

President: Keilani Camargo

Tuesday, May 5, reported at 12:15 p.m.

Petty theft of a cell phone was reported at the Mathematics, Business, and Allied Health building.

The case is closed.

Vice President: Vanessa Leano Student Trustee: Nina Watanabe

Wednesday, May 6, reported at 11:42 a.m.

A hit-and-run of a car was reported at Lot D. The case is open.

Director of Finance: Steven Diaz Director of Student Services: Floriane Djeigo

Wednesday, May 6, reported at 1:17 p.m.

Vandalism of three shower heads was reported at the Pool Complex.

The case is closed.

Wednesday, May 6, 5:49 p.m.

Outstanding warrants and a drug law violation were reported at the Marsee Auditorium. The case resulted in warrants being issued.

Thursday, May 7, 8:21 a.m.

Petty theft of electronic components was reported at the Industry Technology Education Center. The case is closed.

Thursday, May 7, reported at 8:43 a.m.

Vandalism, graffiti, was reported at Lot L. The case is closed.

Saturday, May 9, 1:09 p.m.

Vandalism of a car window was reported at Lot L. The case is open.

Saturday, May 9, reported at 1:53 p.m.

Vehicle burglary of cash was reported at Lot L. The case is closed.

Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Rookaya Abdelhamid

Student Trustee-elect Nina Watanabe in the ASO office in the Communications Building Monday, May 11.

One of her goals as trustee is to address the Child Development Center and help student parents on campus. “I feel like the main focus of a student trustee is to aim for long term change that positively impacts the students on campus,” Watanabe said. Photo by Erica Lee

By Erica Lee Keilani Camargo will be leading the Associated Student’s Organization as president for the 2026-27 semester.

ASO released the results following a three-day voting period through email Wednesday, May 6, which saw a higher voter turnout.

Camargo, who currently serves in the El Camino College ASO cabinet as commissioner of finance, won by 92 votes over her opponent Mehra Ziatabari.

Student services director Vanessa Leano was elected vice president with 216 votes.

Nina Watanabe edged out Jacob Rodriguez for student trustee by 20 votes.

Thirteen positions on the ASO Senate were up for election, including Vice President, Student Trustee, as well as for directors and senators.

Voting began Monday, April 27, and ended Friday, May 1, following a month-long campaign, which included two Candidate Q&A sessions.

Watanabe, an 18-year-old pre-engineering major who

Senator of Business, Design & Applied Technology: Megan Replogle Senator of Arts, Media, and Entertainment: Josias Canul-Marchand

participated in one of the Senator of Science, Candidate Q&A forums, found Technology, Engineering & the experience helpful in Mathematics: getting elected because she got Anais Ibanez and Maria Lewis to meet her fellow students and hear their concerns.

Senator of Behavioral & When she found out she won, Social Sciences: she began making plans to meet Ananda Perdroza with her predecessors, including current trustee Senator of Career & Student Charlie Mitchell as well as their Life: predecessor Wesley Marshall. Ram Swati “I feel like the main focus of a student trustee is to aim for long Senator of Library & term change that positively Leaning Resources: impacts the students on Thea Nguyen campus,” Watanabe said.

Senator of Kinesiology, Athletics & Public Safety: Karen Villena

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ARTS

May 14, 2026

The Union

Photography professor Weng San Sit observes the negative film of Teacher’s Assistant Marc Anthony through a magnifier. Sit put together an exhibit in the Schauerman Library lobby that is open for viewing to all. The pieces in the exhibit are from former and current students. Photo by Oriana de Quay

Photo professor chooses passion Photo students under photography professor’s guidance put on exhibit

By Osvin Suazo

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efore becoming an internationally recognized photographer, El Camino College professor Weng San Sit worked the shipyards.

“When I was young, my family would never talk about art,” Weng San‑Sit said during a phone interview with The Union.

Sit earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from the National University of Singapore. While in Singapore, Sit worked chemical maintenance, specializing in stain removal and rust prevention for shipyards.

After a decade of service in the shipyards, she decided to change her life and embrace her personal interests.

“I photographed as much as I could,” she said. “When I submitted the photo, I thought it was as good I could do. When I won, I won $10,000.”

Her first award, after half a decade of self‑study, was the 2008 United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Award in Photography. A year later, she earned her first certificate from the International Center of Photography in Singapore.

“The photo was published in the local newspaper and after that, one thing led to another and I moved to America,” she said.

Her work received international recognition, from the Sundance Institute Uprise Grant and the Korea‑Singapore Exchange Grant in 2022.

Sit’s long‑running series “Routine As Repertoire” documents the everyday gestures women use to navigate

illness, disability, aging and other transitions with long‑exposure photography and trace movements of light.

In 2024, her collaborative exhibition “Timeless Youth,” created with Korean artist Choi Minkyung at Objectifs Centre

“My family would never talk about art.”

- Weng San Sit, professor

(L-R) Nursing major Natalie Herrera, 20, photo major Riley Jackson, 18, and photo major David Munoz work in groups to practice light painting exercises in photography professor Weng San Sit’s Elementary Photography class Friday, April 24, in the Arts Complex Building. Photo by Oriana de Quay

for Photography and Film, examined cultural obsessions with youth, anti‑aging industries and postcolonial histories.

“It’s terrific to have such a highly esteemed photographer conducting the exhibitions,” Dean of Arts, Media and Entertainment Amy Grant said.

Students and alumni have a chance to showcase their work at the Open Frame exhibit in the Schauerman Library which held their reception May 7. “[San] told me to submit works because she saw potential in my photographs.

That really touched me,” student at California State University Northridge Victoria Crudup said.

Photography professor Weng San Sit looks through prints of student photographer submissions for the Open Frame exhibit. The exhibit opened its reception on Thursday, May 7. Photo by Oriana de Quay

May 14, 2026

The Union

ARTS

7

Band performances strum up a crowd

By Cassi Medina

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rummers swap seats, guitarists pass the straps to the next guitarist, and equipment including amplifiers and pedals are passed down to the following performance.

Eight bands rocked out for the Battle of the Bands event Monday, April 27, where students performed covers and original songs from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in front of the El Camino College Art Gallery in competition for a prize.

The Society of Music Club collaborated with the art gallery to host their second Battle of the Bands event which showcased the musical talents and efforts within the club.

The genres ranged from Latin music to heavy metal and electronic rock which attracted a crowd of 30 who showed up for the tunes and in support.

Josias Canul-Marchand, president of the Society of Music Club said it is important to come together and perform.

“We love seeing the arts grow and it’s always special seeing people [at events],” CanulMarchand said, “there’s always someone you can relate to. In between running around hosting the event, Canul-

Los Caminantes band plays latin music in front of the El Camino College Art Gallery Monday, April 27. The event ran from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. hosted by the Society of Music club which is a club that builds on the community of musicians at ECC. Photo by Zaire Miranda

Marchand cheered on his fellow musicians and club members.

For many students, the event was an opportunity to make connections with other writers and singers in the club.

Music major student,

drummer and singer Michael Nicoli said, “it’s an excuse to hang out and play music.” “[Battle of the Bands] is an easy way to break from reality and just hang out,” Brandon, “Bee Lo” Brag, 25, songwriter

and guitarist said. “Making music is only part of it,” Brag added, “it’s self expression and it’s fun to hear what others think about it.”

Some bands included Speaking of Her, perfrom their

new demo single “Ruminate.”

“We’re mostly doing it for fun now, but we also need people to take over for the Fall since most of us [in the Society of Music club] are leaving,” Canul-Marchand said.

Setting foundations for future architect careers Professor shares his passsion of architecture

By Maya Ochoa A student hovers closely as hunched Daniel Richardson reviews the student’s design.

It’s slightly nerve-racking, however, with professor Richardson students don’t feel the pressure they ordinarily would because for him it is more than a chore or a career.

He gives students words of encouragement, and a renewed sense of confidence.

Richardson hopes to instill the passion for architecture he was brought up on. “ I t ’s a l w a y s b e e n architecture,” Richardson said, “since I was nine.”

R i c h a r d s o n ’s g r e a t grandfather was a builder who had built his childhood house.

One summer, Richardson recalled his parents remodeling and expanding their home. As any curious 9-year-old, he’d follow the project along.

“I remember rolling the plans out on the floor at home and just looking at them for hours,” Richardson said.

Upon seeing these plans,

However, Richardson isn’t entirely sure about Artificial Intelligence’s capabilities and the impact it may have on architecture.

“I don’t want to think that it can replace people.” Daniel said, “I have some really creative students.”

During his 15 years on an architecture-related advisory committee at ECC, he would steal the best students to help in his office, acknowledging that although a creative element is present, architecture itself has many avenues.

For architecture students Veronica Petts and Jemina Llosa, their journey remains in its early stages, but they’re excited to see where it goes.

Like many new and continuing students, Petts didn’t have a definitive major.

Miniature model made by architecture students at El Camino College reimagines existing spaces on campus.

Petts initially deterred from Photo by Madison Moody properly considering architecture, but a gut feeling Daniel wasn’t entirely sure he attended Cal State Dominguez the orientation to the sun, to the told her to pursue architecture understood what he was Hills to further his studies. seasonal adjustment, to views, and she decided to listen. looking at, but they were Unlike ECC, where his major to wind, to noise, to all the “I was pretty undecided on interesting to him. He went on was architecture, at CSUDH things that go into it.” what to major in. I thought to take a drafting class in junior was Environmental design. For When the importance of about fashion, … political high, which would only further Richardson, the environment in considering the environment science or journalism, so I was solidify his pursuit of which a building was planned wasn’t yet intertwined with the all over the place with it.” Petts architecture. to stand on was something he teachings of ECC’s architecture said, explaining her journey as Coming home each day to would always take into program, he discovered that she searched for a niche. write down what he had learned consideration. while writing his first review of and being able to understand it “Not just create a jewel box, his job as an ECC professor, he all simply amazed Daniel. but create an environment wrote the word “nature” in To read more visit the website After enrolling at ECC in the because it’s not just about the capitals. His philosophy, as he at ECCUnion.com 1 9 6 0 s a n d s t u d y i n g house,” Richardson said. “It’s described it, was strong then architecture, Daniel later about the position of the house, and remains strong now.

8

SPORTS

May 14, 2026

The Union

LA Spark s lights up campus with press event T

he press got a glimpse of authenticity, the growing bond, and the drive to win championships

when the Los Angeles Sparks hosted their annual Press Day at the El Camino College

Gymnasium Thursday, April 30. Twelve of the team’s 15 rostered players attended the event,

which ran from 9 a.m to noon. While they didn’t qualify for the playoffs last year, the Sparks are looking forward to the new season, which officially began Friday, May 8. Their first home game of the season took place two days later, Sunday, May 10, against the Las Vegas Aces.

Story by Michelle Claire Pentreath with photos by Madison Moody Above: Cameron Brink wipes away a tear after realizing how far she’s come as a player during a panel Q&A session. As of the 2026-2027 season, Brink will be entering her third year playing for the LA Sparks.

Top Right: Wing Laura Ziegler smiles while attending the LA Sparks Media Day event. Ziegler, who has played for the Saint Joseph’s Hawks and the Denmark Women’s National Team, recently signed to the Sparks on a training camp contract.

Top Left: (L-R) When asked how she would describe her fellow teammate Emma Cannon’s performance on the court, LA Sparks guard Julie Vanloo had this to say: “If there’s one thing about Emma, she’s consistent.” Cannon’s career has taken her beyong borders by playing for basketball teams in Australia, Russia, Poland, Turkiye and Israel.

Bottom Left: (L-R) Jihyun Park and Sevgi Uzun step off the podium and share a few words to the crowd during their panel at the LA Sparks Media Day. Park, who played on the South Korean women’s basketball team for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, recently signed a training camp contract with the Sparks. Uzun, who is the second Turkish player to sign on to the WNBA, has previously played for the Dallas Wings and the Phoenix Mercury.

Bottom Right: Los Angeles Sparks player Emma Cannon surprises her teammates by acting as a journalist in the crowd and asking her teammates how they stay motivated on the court during their annual preseason Press Day at the El Camino College Gymnasium.