Vol. 74 Issue 4 Nov. 1

EL CAMINO COLLEGE NOV. 1, 2018 Follow us at @ECCUnion

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restraining El Camino football ECorderrenews for student who win vs Palomar in made threat in 2014 football game on Saturday, ...See Oct. 27 Sports Fernando Haro Staff Writer

@ECCUnionFernand

Running back Taz Tauaese (No. 4) dives into the end zone after a 44yard run in the third quarter of the EC vs Palomar football game at Murdock Stadium, on Saturday, Oct. 27. The Warriors won 42-35.

Jack Kan/ Union

on page 7

Crime statistics show increase in drug abuse, weapon violations

El Camino College Chief of Police says methamphetamine is popular drug found on campus Fernando Haro Staff Writer

@ECCUnionFernand

The yearly El Camino College District Crime Statistics, released by the ECC Police Department in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Act, revealed a rise in drug abuse and weapon violation arrests.

Drug abuse arrests on campus increased from 10 to 23 while weapon violations, rose to 8: there were 0 weapon violations in 2015 and 2016, according to the EC Crime Statistics.

El Camino College Chief of Police Michael Trevis said

he believes the rising statistics is largely due to the homeless encampment in the Dominguez Channel because EC is a community open to the public.

“It’s non-students, people that don’t go to school here but they’re walking through our campus at all hours of the day or night,” Trevis said. “Homeless people from the channel coming over here, our officers are stopping them and they’re finding drugs and/or knives; nobody had guns.”

Trevis added that 19 of the drug abuse violations on campus arrests were non-students while 4 were students.

Trevis said that many of the arrests happen when the campus is closed, making it easier to identify suspicious activity.

But that does not mean most of the crime is happening at night.

“So, 7 of them were arrested from midnight to 6 in the morning, 13 were arrested from 6 in the morning to 9 at night, that means they’re around here during the day when the sun is out,” Trevis said.

Trevis said that the drugs they have found have been mainly in small quantities.

“It’s a small quantity, it’s user stuff, none of these guys are selling, they’re users,” Trevis said.

While the homeless encampment is not selling or distributing, Trevis said that the popular drug being found is methamphetamine.

“It’s been going on for a long, long time. In my day, it was LSD, it was a big popular thing. Today it’s meth, but worst than meth, in my opinion, and meth is bad, it’s real bad and we haven’t encountered it yet, I hope we never do, is this fentanyl, that is bad, bad stuff,” Trevis said.

As for the weapons, Trevis said that the homeless encampment is also responsible for the increase in violations on campus.

“It’s them, they’re homeless and

I can’t blame them, they’re trying to protect themselves, but you can’t carry a knife on a college campus,” Trevis said. “These people, in my opinion, are giving our institution a bad rep because people look at this stuff.”

Despite the rise in drug abuse and weapon violations, Trevis said the statistics are not always a fair depiction of EC, emphasizing that students at EC are “law-abiding citizens.”.

“They know their behavior reflects the institution’s reputation,” Trevis said. “It’s these non-students that are doing these kinds of stuff.”

See crime statistics on page 4

The restraining order against the former El Camino College student that threatened to create a massacre on campus in 2014 has recently been renewed.

EC was granted two permanent restraining orders in 2014, against James Lemus, for the explicit threats he made towards the EC community.

EC Chief of Police Michael Trevis said the criteria for deciding to renew the restraining order was if people at EC were still afraid of Lemus and “there are some people here on campus that are still afraid.”

Trevis said that because Lemus did not appear in court, the judge ruled in favor of EC. Trevis added that Lemus has not tried to contact anyone at EC and has not been on campus.

“He has moved on with his life, I can tell you that and from what I’ve been told, he’s doing very well, he’s just moved on,” Trevis said.

To report any suspicious behavior, contact the El Camino Police Department at 310-660-3100

The homeless paradox at El Camino College Encampment in Dominguez Channel ‘last place we can go,’ homeless say Jay Tran fixes a bicycle tire in the Dominguez Channel on Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Ruben Hernandez reads an issue of The Union in the Dominguez Channel on Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Kevin Caparoso/ Union

Kevin Caparoso/ Union

Justin Bell Staff Writer

@ECCUnionJustin

Recent efforts made by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department to clean out a homeless encampment in the portion of the Dominguez Channel that runs under El

Camino College, Lot F, have been met with open arms by a frustrated community, and opposition from encampment residents.

Despite two cleanups in the month of October, homeless campers such as Jay Tran have repeatedly descended back into the shady canal that separates EC from

Alondra Park.

“Out of sight, out of mind,” Tran said when asked about why he lives in the Dominguez Channel. “This is the last place we could go. The police keep throwing us out of everywhere. I have been down here two and a half years.”

Tran has been able to live in

Also in this issue...

Young voters, Reciting Dora El Camino stulet your voices the Explorer is dents share their part of my day- perspectives on be heard

voting The coming election to-day life sparks a new Life growing up with Coming election prompts students to comment on an autistic sibling discussion on voting voting

See Op/Ed on See Op/Ed on See News page 2 page 3 on page 4

the channel drama-free, up until recently.

In August, some of the campers migrated from the canal and out onto Manhattan Beach Blvd.

That caught the attention of local residents who decided to take action.

The L.A. County Sheriffs Dept.,

was contacted and the cleanups were commenced.

“The first time they did a cleanup, they posted signs, so we were able to move a lot of our stuff,” Tran said. “The second time, no notice, no nothing, they just came and took everything.”

The cleanups have done little to

away Smoke and Life from work Mirrors

Kevin Caparoso/ Union

See Arts on page 5

Jack Kan/ Union

See Features on page 6

stop the campers from returning, however, causing one local resident, Joyce Ortiz, to suggest a unique idea.

“We should just give them portable toilets and garbage cans,” Ortiz said. “They’re currently throwing their trash and other things into the channel.”

See Homeless paradox on page 4.

A defensive specialist and an offensive leader

Jack Kan/ Union

See Sports on page 7

2 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

EDITORIAL

Nov. 1, 2018

Illustration by Jose Tobar/ Union

Young voters, let your voices be heard It’s time to choose who you want to represent our country.

n a time where millennial’s have been excising their power, and the ability to influence others, especially I through the use of social media, young voters must realize

That’s why teachers, firefighters, health care workers, seniors, housing and homelessness advocates, local governments and middle- class taxpayers all say vote NO on Prop 5. that, yes, your vote does matter.

The 2018 General Election are taking place on Tuesday, If you are registered to vote, bravo. You are probably Nov. 6 and, despite the fact that the 2016 elections were responsible and politically motivated. If you have not yet hacked by Russians, it is still important that you register and registered to vote, don’t fret. You still can. vote next month.

Unfortunately, if you haven’t already registered, you will And its even more important that you educate yourself on not be eligible to vote in the General Election this year, but what exactly you will be voting on. you can and still should register nonetheless.

If you are having trouble motivating yourself to get to the For students and faculty of El Camino College, if you polls, consider this: think about what people of color, lower log into your MyECC portal, you will find that there is an class citizens, and women, went through in order to have the option to register to vote. right to vote in this country.

EC has also created a page on their website with a Voting is our luxury now but it wasn’t for everyone not so message from California Governor Jerry Brown, encouraging long ago. Take advantage of this opportunity, because again, all college students to vote. yes, your vote does matter.

In the message from Gov. Brown, he explains that in Choose who you want in office. Decide what you do and this upcoming election, California voters will decide issues do not agree with and vote on it. affecting education funding and college tuition, the state Do your research, read your ballots, and take the time to budget process, punishment for crimes, and food labeling figure out how you feel, if and how you will be affected, rules. and find your voice so that you can use it.

These decisions will directly affect students in public There is so much power in having an opinion and being schools, including students at El Camino. able to cast a ballot based on your beliefs, wants, and needs In the midterm elections in November, one of the as students and American’s. propositions voted on will be Proposition 5.

People of El Camino, let your voices be heard and cast According to the California Federation of Teachers your vote on Nov. 6. website, cft.org, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst says Editorials are unsigned and are written and voted upon by under Prop 5, “Schools and local governments each would the editorial board. lose over $100 million in annual property taxes early on, growing over time to about $1 billion per year (in today’s dollars).”

Want to submit a letter to the editor? Letters to the editor can be sent to The Union’s e-mail at eccunion@ gmail.com with the subject “Letter to the editor”.

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THE UNION Vol. 74, No. 4 Nov. 1, 2018

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

Editor-in-Chief, Arts Editor........................................................Ernesto Sanchez News Editor, Managing Editor.................................................Quinn Buffandeau Sports Editor................................................................................Melanie Chacon Opinion Editor..............................................................................Giselle Morales Assistant Editor...............................................................................Justin Traylor Staff Writer....................................................................................Fernando Haro Staff Writer...............................................................................Roseana Martinez Staff Writer.................................................................................Alexa Kinoshita Staff Writer.................................................................................Kevin Caparoso Staff Writer.................................................................................Esteban Mendez Staff Writer...........................................................................................Justin BellStaff Writer......................................................................................Brenda Lopez Photographer...........................................................................................Jack Kan Photographer.....................................................................................Mari Inagaki Photographer................................................................................Analucia Lopez Photographer...................................................................................Jeremy Taylor Advertising Manager.........................................................................Jack Mulkey Adviser.............................................................................................Stefanie Frith Photo Adviser.......................................................................................Luis Sinco

The Union is published on designated Thursdays

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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.

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EDITORIAL

Nov. 1, 2018

Column

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 3

CAMPUS VIEWPOINTS: FAVORITE SONG/ARTIST By: Kevin Caparoso and Roseana Martinez

CAMPUS VIEWPOINTS: THANSGIVING PLANS By: Fernando Haro @ECCUnionFernand

@ECCUnionKC @ECCUnionRoseana

Fernando Haro

Staff Writer @ECCUnionFernand

Don’t hesitate to vote

Register and cast your ballots in time for the elections.

S

pecial elections for President and Vice-President for the Associated Student Organization (ASO) took place at El Camino College (EC) the week of Oct. 15, demonstrating that exercising the right to vote is crucial in any level of politics.

In 2016, the U.S. experienced division and racial tension partly due to the election of Donald Trump as the 45th president.

The 2016 election showed that Trump had 27.20 percent of votes and Clinton had 28.43 percent, meaning 44.37 percent (102,731,399) of eligible voters failed to vote, according to Brilliant Maps.

EC is all too familiar with political issues as well, mostly within the ASO. Back in 2016, EC students voted to elect Eman Dalili as ASO President.

With that election came reports that Dalili was not a leader and failed to attend some ASO meetings.

After a failed attempt to impeach Dalili, several members of the ASO resigned.

EC shares eerie similarities with the president and his ever-changing cabinet; members chose to resign when they realized that the candidate they chose to endorse had a different vision than originally thought.

Voting is vital given that political figures represent a country or institution but in the likeness of Trump, he misrepresented the U.S. by endorsing policies that create racial, xenophobic and damaging practices such as detention centers created during the Obama administration and attacking the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which expanded Medicaid to millions of lowincome families.

This is only Trump’s first term; he has demonstrated he is incompetent and this can easily turn into a second term if people do not go and vote.

With the midterm elections on Nov. 6, it is time to vote.

These midterm elections will ultimately decide who gains control of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate—the two divisions of Congress.

If a majority Democratic Congress—both Senate and House— were to be elected, they would most likely launch investigations into the Trump administration, an action Republicans have been hesitant to pursue.

Voting is the epitome of change.

“But in 2016, only 24 million young adults between the ages of 18-29 cast their ballots — only half of the eligible voters according to NBC News.

And although online voter registration has passed, it is not too late to register.

There is a 15-day voter registration deadline, in most elections, you may conditionally register to vote and cast a provisional ballot by visiting your county elections office or voting center location during the period of 14 days prior to, and including Election Day, according to the California Secretary of State website.

So, when choosing a candidate, it is important to become informed of their policies and past work while having the country’s best interest at heart, not yours.

It has never been easier to vote, become informed or compare candidates due to the excess of resources found online.

For the full story, see eccunion.com

Moises Cerrato, 37, digital arts major “Mainly ‘80s music because it has a certain tone to it that’s kind of like quirky or whatever. And recently I’ve been watching a couple ‘80s movies and it makes sense I’m like aye it’s kind of hip.”

Christopher Vargas, 20, biology major “Logic did catch my attention. I like that when he raps he beats a story, he uses a variety of words and pulls up a message into every song. He definitely puts a lot of time into his music, a lot of thought.”

Anthony Delira Carrion, 21, music major “I really like the Arctic Monkeys, but I really just listen to electronic music. It just makes you move, even if you don’t like the way it sounds, it makes you move.

Everything about it, I just love it.”

Samahi Juvera, 18, sociology major “I appreciate rhyme schemes like the rhyme schemes MF Doom uses, I really think that’s cool.

And in artists like Father John Misty he has a very satirical approach to everything and so that’s what I appreciate too.”

Andrea Juarez, 20, business major “I like everything. I have banda, Amy Winehouse, Adam Levine, Fergie, Rihanna. I think whatever you listen to when you’re younger, is usually what you end up listening to when you’re older.”

Traci Grant, 37, Writing Center tutor “I am addicted to K-pop, Korean pop music. I have liked K-pop since before it was cool, I have been a K-pop fan since like 2007.”

Irvin Marana, 19, nursing major “I like to look around at nonfamous artists. I usually go through Spotify and just look at what is intersting to me. What makes me listen to [K.A.A.N] is mainly what they have to say.”

Alan Morales, 18, physics major “Current artist, for now, I’ve been listening to a lot of Sam Smith.

A lot of female artists, Ariana Grande, Adele, and recently I’ve been listening to The Beatles too.”

Fred Navarro, 21, music major “I got [classical music] from a young age, like my parents would listen to that kind of music. Then like during middle school I started playing instruments so it was like really influential to me.”

Veronica Villacorta, 23, biology major “I will be spending time with my immediate family. We usually cook chicken, rice and beans. Its very laid back.”

Christopher Lindsay, 23, English major “I’ll probably go to my cousin’s house; we eat dinner, talk and play board games. Each family member brings their own dish. My favorite dish is my mom’s mac and cheese casserole.”

Faheema Ahmed, 17, environmental technology major “[I’m] going to my aunt’s house.

We don’t follow the traditional Thanksgiving--we have several dishes like Biriyani--a rice dish that usually has chicken--there are always mixed vegetable dishes but in my culture, we put more spices in there.”

Reciting ‘Dora the Explorer’ is apart of my day to day life Growing up with an autistic sibling has shown the importance for programs that assist adults with special needs and help them become successful

Giselle Morales

Opinion Editor @ECCUnionGiselle

Youtube crashes, all of a sudden my mom and I look at each other in a panic. As she waits for YouTube to get up and running again, I sit with my brother and recite “Dora the Explorer” as many times as he wants.

Our normal day-to-day life consists of my mom and I eating dinner at the table as my brother eats comfortably on his beanbag in his room. It’s not asking my brother, “how was your day,” because that’s not something he understands.

Instead, it’s reciting some of his favorite cartoons a thousand times in a row as he giggles uncontrollably. Since he is nonverbal, our communication with him consists of him pointing for me to sit next to him or nodding his head when he wants more juice.

Having grown up with a younger brother that has special needs, I’ve seen the immense importance for programs that assist adults with special needs.

My younger brother was diagnosed with autism in 2009 at the age of two and immediately after his diagnosis, my parents began researching every program under the sun that might help my brother progress in all aspects including his behavioral and motor skills.

According to National Institute of Mental Health’s website, autism is “a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior.” Generally, most people may notice symptoms within the first two years of life.

Often, when people hear about autism they hear words like “high-functioning” or “on the spectrum.” Children and adults who are declared to be “high-functioning” according Healthline’s website, “[can] read, write, speak, and manage life skills without much assistance.”

Depending on the severity, some children and/or adults may need more hands-on assistance or therapy than others.

Luckily, there are a variety of options for children, for example my brother currently receives

behavioral therapy five times a week at our home. However, once I started college I began to think about what will happen to him once he’s an adult.

My parents and I have researched and found that there are a number of programs that help special needs adults with learning disabilities make that transition. There are programs that will help them find jobs and make them apart of society.

Once I came to El Camino, I wondered if they had programs that assist special needs adults because according to the 201617 El Camino College Factbook, nine percent of students are on the autism spectrum.

El Camino College does offer a number of programs that assist students with special needs including those that are physically disabled, visually impaired, have learning or psychological disabilities.

Director of the Special Resources Center, Gary Greco said that they offer 15 educational development courses along with success strategy coaching. In addition, they are also community partners with the Department of Rehabilitation Services and regional centers.

It’s important that we assist

these adults because once they age out of the system, sometimes it can be difficult to get them the proper assistance that they need to be successful, and not make them feel like they’re being forced into a world that they’re not prepared for.

For my brother, he will age out at 21 with the company that he’s currently with. As his big sister, it’s worrisome for me because I’ve often discussed with my parents about what will happen when they’re gone. It’s important that I have a career of my own but it’s also important that my brother gets the assistance that he needs in the future.

Approximately 1 in 59 children will be diagnosed with autism.

• 1 in 37 boys will be diagnosed with autism.

• Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.

• 1 in 151 girls will be diagnosed with autism.

All facts came from Autism Speaks’ website.

Kevin Degnan, Associate Professor of English “My wife, daughter, and I will be going to Boston. We will be having dinner at my uncle’s house.”

•

Christian Moreno, 19, business management major “I’ll be eating, chilling and staying at home with my family. I am looking forward to the turkey. I might be working “Black Friday” at UNIQLO--a clothing store inside Del Amo Mall.”

NEWS

4 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

POLICE BEAT

By Fernando Haro Monday, Oct. 22, at 11:08 a.m. A student in the Math Business Allied Health Building fainted after feeling nauseous and light-headed They were transported to the Memorial Hospital of Gardena.

Monday, Oct. 22, at 11:25 a.m. A student was placed on psychological hold by local police after sending a text to another student regarding suicidal feelings.

Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 8:56 a.m. A call was placed regarding a student having a seizure but when officers arrived, the student said it was just a headache. The student was given a cold compress but refused further treatment.

Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 12:07 p.m. A student in the Natural Sciences Building refused to be transported to the Health Center after admitting being depressed and using illegal substances to treat their depression. The student said they have no intentions of harming themselves or others.

Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 8:49 p.m. A motorcyclist in Parking Lot K was treated for abrasions after a driver made an unsafe maneuver, causing the student on the motorcycle to broadside the vehicle.

Thursday, Oct. 25, at 7:04 a.m. An employee, with a history of health issues, agreed to have a coworker take them to urgent care after having trouble breathing and feeling light-headed.

Thursday, Oct. 25, at 9:50 a.m. A “lethargic” student in the Humanities Building requested to be transported to the Health Center after developing flu-like symptoms.

Thursday, Oct. 25, at 11:04 a.m. A student at the Health Center was taken to a mental facility and placed on psychological hold after claiming to have lost their mind and admitting to hitting their partner in an off-campus incident.

Thursday, Oct. 25, at 5:38 p.m. A nonstudent near the Industry Technology Education Center, who was already given a “14-day-stay-away” from campus, was arrested by campus police for possession of methamphetamine.

Friday, Oct. 26, at 10:54 a.m. An impaired non-student in the Library was taken to a mental facility and placed on a psychiatric hold after being slow to respond and acting strangely.

Friday, Oct. 26, at 12:21 p.m. An employee at the Athletic Field was transported to Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance after they said to have had a “mini-stroke” the day before.

The homeless paradox at El Camino Continued from page 1.

While the cleanliness issue was very prominent among local residents, the main issue seemed to be that of violence.

“It’s been a real problem, especially since last year, and especially at night. There are lots of arguments and fights every night,” resident Peyton Cross said.

“We keep calling the police, and the homeless keep returning after being asked to leave.”

Even some of the campers would seem to agree with the residents assertions about the encampment.

“There’s nothing good down here, this place is going downhill fast,” camper Tim Warren said.

“There’s nothing but fights, stabbings, and arguments.”

In the past year, El Camino reported 31 combined drug and

weapon violations on campus.

Police Chief, Michael Trevis, told The Union in an article published on Oct. 22 those arrests are due in part to the encampment.

“Homeless people from the channel coming over here, our officers are stopping them and they’re finding drugs and/or knives; nobody had guns,” Trevis said.

While the residents may rightfully want to see a permanent disbandment of the camp, it seems unlikely due to the shortage of safe and clean spots for homeless in the area.

“I don’t want to be a nuisance to El Camino,” Tran said. “I used to be a student (at EC) for massage therapy and I would love to go back and study Art one day. Its just simply that I have nowhere else to go.”

Alexa Kinoshita/ Union Ruben Hernandez(left) and Jay Tran(right) sitting together in the Dominguez channel on Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Crime statistics show increase in drug abuse, weapon violations Continued from page 1.

EC Director of Public Information and Government Relations Marc Stevens said that this policy “acts in terms of stewardship for people in this institution.”

“Given that it thinks in terms of people, not the campus,” Stevens added.

Trevis said the Clery Act was created in the late 80’s, early 90’s after Jeanne Clery was sexually assaulted and murdered by another student at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.

“During the civil litigation

of that thing, the family found out that there had been other crimes occurring at that college and it wasn’t publicized, nobody knew,” Trevis said.

Trevis said that Clery’s parents thought that if these crimes would have been publicized before, then they would not have let their daughter attend that college and none of those crimes committed against her would have occurred.

In 2018, the Clery Act continues to be updated to improve safety and awareness on college campuses.

“We put a booklet out on

crime prevention, things to do, timely warnings…dating violence, stalking, just a lot of different things that it talks about and not just stats,” Trevis said.

Trevis said that the statistics must be submitted every year to the Department of Education.

“If the Department of Education finds that a college withheld information on purpose, they can fine that college up to something like $45,000 per violation,” Trevis said.

To report any suspicious behavior, contact the El Camino Police Department at 310-660-3100

Stress Support Group Tackles Issue of Mental Health on EC Campus

Students meet weekly to discuss personal experiences with clinical psychologist, trauma specialist Omar Rashad Staff Writer

@ECCUnionOmar

A group of no more than four on average sit inside Student Services Center Room 206 discussing their personal life as of the previous week. One student may talk about stress from academic work, another may bring up their concerns

regarding social interactions with others, but everyone takes notes on what they hear, including the doctor in the room.

With mental health becoming a topic more widely discussed in the mainstream, a stress support group on the El Camino campus looks to provide a space for individuals seeking help in managing their well-being. De-Stress for Survival Group meets every Wednesday

Friday, Oct. 26, at 5:45 p.m. An altercation between players and parents at a soccer game ended in both parties going their separate ways.

Corrections

In the Thursday, Oct. 18 issue of the Union, the recyling news story stated that El Camino was not doing anything to recycle on campus, this was incorrect, in reality trash and recycling are sorted off-campus.

The Union regrets this error.

Oct. 18, 2018

Omar Rashad/ Union La Faune Gordon, the licensed clinical psychologist who organizes the De-Stress for Survival Group, gets ready to head home in the evening on Oct. 29.

at noon, offering an opportunity for individuals to share their own personal experiences and stresses with licensed clinical psychologist and certified clinical trauma specialist, Dr. La Faune Gordon.

“I think it’s helpful because it gives you a place where you can speak about whatever is bothering you,” said Miriam Howard, an EC student who has attended the group for two weeks now. “It’s kind of comfortable knowing that you can talk to La Faune and she comes up with different ideas to help you and how to get better at your stresses.”

Howard is currently taking a personal finance class to fulfill the requirements of an Office Applications Specialist certificate program. Because of her homework’s difficulty and her own procrastination, Howard feels stressed when completing schoolwork, she said.

“Sometimes when you keep everything inside its harder to deal with than when you share it with somebody,” Howard said. “I think

it benefits me in the fact that I look at things a little better when I see what other people are doing.”

Howard’s stress falls in line with what El Camino Assistant Professor of Sociology, Dr. Kassia Wosick, noted to be prominent in today’s students at the high school and college level.

“I think sometimes as a culture, we think negatively of mental health in favor of other kinds of health,” Wosick said. “We think mental health is a private issue and (for) people who struggle—there’s something wrong with them.”

Anxiety, depression, feelings of inadequacy and inferiority complex are a couple examples of mental health issues prevalent among today’s youth, she said.

“There is help, there is assistance and it’s okay to ask for it,” Wosick said. “It’s okay to rely on it and it’s okay to work with people as they kind of work through mental health concerns.”

Gordon, who organizes the weekly stress support group and

is one of five licensed clinical psychologists who work at the El Camino Health Center, also recognizes the value of mental health. While De-Stress for Survival is not meant for every single mental health issue, the group can be beneficial to students who are looking to receive group support, Gordon said.

“Having our mental health is just important as breathing,” Gordon said. “For many it’s the difference of life and death and we don’t always give it that attention.”

Although the group currently has an average of four individuals every week, Gordon wants the group to grow to a consistent six to eight people every week, she said.

“My hope is that they feel like they have an avenue to actually be able to express something,” Gordon said, “to feel comfortable enough in a safe environment to express some of their concerns, emotionally, that are impacting them in some way.”

El Camino students share their perspectives on voting

Quinn Buffandeau Staff Writer

@ECCUnionQuinn

The Union recently interviewed students about their opinions on voting in the upcoming election.

Christian Garcia

Christian Garcia is a 19-year-old Philosophy major who has been going to El Camino for three years.

Garcia said that he registered to vote through vote.gov, an online service which enables people to register to vote online, he plans to vote in the election.

“Yeah, I think it’s important to vote because it’s literally the only way to voice your opinion. Even though it’s a slim chance, you should still participate. Just like how people play the lotto, it isn’t likely to win but that slim chance

of it actually happening is worth it,” Garcia said.

Kristi Uyema

19-year-old Asian studies major Kristi Uyema is in her second year at EC. Uyema registered to vote when she turned 18, and plans to vote in this coming election.

Uyema said that she believes that voting is important because “it affects us.”

Gavin Higa

Gavin Higa is a 19-year-old Theater major, he registered to vote through vote.gov.

“I think it’s good to vote because people have the right to voice their opinions, and when they don’t and complain about their current situations, they’re part of the problem. Also it doesn’t take a lot

of people to get an idea across, so every vote matters,” Higa said.

Holly Ackley

19-year-old undecided major Holly Ackley is in her second year at EC and is not registered to vote, but did say that she would like to.

“I never got around to register.

I think it’s more important to vote, especially in young people,

because we should have a voice on how our future will turn out,” Ackley said.

Leenah Hashmi

Leenah Hashmi is a 19-yearold cognitive science major in her second year at EC. Hashmi used the MyEcc portal to register to vote and plans on voting in the election.

“I do plan on voting cause it plays a crucial role in our futures.

I registered through myecc last year because I wanted to take part in this year’s midterm elections,” Hashmi said.

Marleyna Martin

Marleyna Martin is an 18-yearold, nursing major in her second

year at EC, she is not registered to vote and does not plan on voting.

“Although I don’t plan to vote, I do think it is important because, like they say, every voice matters.

The reason I choose not to is because I don’t understand it. The system is too complicated and I don’t personally care for politics,” Martin said.

To register to vote online, go to vote.gov, or log onto your MyEcc account and click the box on the homepage

ARTS

NOV. 1, 2018

“I

Smoke and Mirrors

really like

photographing

the things that

The Magic of Digital Photography

may make people like

squirm

little bit.”

a

Kevin Caparoso

Staff Wrtier @EccUnionKevin

P

hotography is the act of capturing a moment in a single frame. The moment that is being taken may reside in reality but an artist can convey this image in whichever way they choose.

Kevin Caparoso/ Union “I like the more darker stuff the macabre stuff, like something you see in a Tim Burton or Guillermo Del Toro film,” Bethany Caitlin Nicole, 27, film major.

The potential of artistry in a picture rely on the sheer power of one’s creativity.

It is kind of like magic to photographer Bethany Caitlin Nicole,27, film major.

“The photos I put out are very intricate in detail and the original image rarely looks like the final image,” Nicole said. “There’s a lot of digital painting and editing and everything that goes into it and in that respect it’s like a magic trick.”

Nicole credits her father for all of her creativity as he was a magician and she would assist his shows at the Pike Place Market in Seatle Washington.

Her love of art, music, and oddities all come from him.

“If anyone has to question why I am the way I am and they don’t like it,” Nicole said. “It’s my dad’s fault.”

Other influences of hers include filmmakers Tim Burton and Guillermo Del Toro and she considers her photography style “dark conceptual gothic.”

“Most of my work is self portrait photography and a lot of the elements I have in those portraits are skulls and snakes,” Nicole said.

Nicole’s photography has been showcased in art shows like Fresh Meat at The Dark Arts Emporium in Long Beach on Apr. 7, 2018.

Her first art show was at the library in EC. “El Camino pretty much got me started in all that and helped me realize that I can get my work in places where people would want to see it,” Nicole said.

Nicole was encouraged by her photography professor to apply for a exhibit in the library.

“Bethany has participated in our exhibitions and her work is so

ARTS EVENTS CALENDAR

NOV.

12 On Assignment Antarctica

Out Town Musical Campus Theatre | Times variey

18

3, 4 5

The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldier Chorus Marsee Auditorium | 8 p.m.

8, 9, 10

Out Town Musical Campus Theatre | Times variey

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 5

Marsee Auditorium | 3 p.m.

Discovery Film Series| 7:30 p.m.

ECC Concert Jazz Band Marsee Auditorium| 3 p.m.

29

Fall Advanced Dance Concert Campus Theatre | 1 p.m.

30

ECC Studio Jazz Band Marsee Auditorium | 8 p.m.

DEC.

1, 2

Fall Advanced Dance Concert Campus Theatre | 8 p.m.

4, 5

ECC Guitar Ensemble Haag Recital Hall| 5 p.m.

6 Choreography Showcase

Campus Theatre| 1 p.m. 7 p.m.

beautiful, so moving, so well done that I did encourage her to apply for an exhibition of her own,” Darilyn Rowan, professor of photography said.

Rowan’s beginning photography class was a requirement for Nicole’s film courses and she took the class during the fall semester of 2016.

“I would say that she is one of the most brilliant and gifted students in my 30 years of teaching here,” Rowan said.

“It was really an honor to be one of her teachers,” Darilyn Rowan said.

Rowan’s encouragement and the experience of seeing her photography displayed in public inspired Nicole to pursue art shows.

“Just getting my stuff up on the wall was like really surreal.”

Nicole said. “To see everything up there I was like wow.”

Nicole mostly does self portraits but a subject she often photographs is her sister Aria Chablis King, 18, undeclared.

Nicole’s “unconventional” style of photography has been challenging at times for her sister to model.

“It hasn’t been the easiest to try to like fulfill some of the requests but the photos always turn out really wonderfully in the end and the hard work is really worth it,” King said.

A photo that was difficult for King to model was one of her floating in the air while pouring a cup of tea. The effect was done practically and she had to physically jump in air with a tea pot.

“It probably took a hundred photos before we got the perfect one and so it was very physically exerting,” King said.

That particular photo was published in the Photographer’s Forum Best of College Photography in 2017 which is an annual international student competition for photography and was featured as an honroable mention.

Rowan said the competition recieves 15,000 to 20,000 photograph entries in color, black and white, and digital each year.

“And they select out of those thousands of entries 100 honorable mentions,” Rowan said.

Nicole considers her conceptual photography “her art” but also enjoys photographing concerts.

She has a deep appreciation for music and said she loves musicians who have a more theatrical approach to their performances.

Nicole will reach out to a musician or a band she’s interested in when they come to Los Angeles during a tour to ask for permission to take photos during their show.

“I haven’t gotten a no yet,” Nicole said.

The first concert Nicole photographed was of the progressive-metal-band Tesseract and the instrumentalist Plini at the Regent Theater on May 3, 2018.

“I was like I want to see if I can do this,” Nicole said. “And I did it.”

Nicole sometimes feels the need to step away from photography every now and then so she could come back to it with a fresh perspective.

“By stepping away from it I am not allowing myself to like you know do it,” Nicole said.

“And usually when you can’t do something is when you start getting all the ideas to want to do it.”

Stepping away from it also helps Nicole balance her artistic endeavors with school.

“It’s definitely taking little steps everyday type of thing,” Nicole said.

“Where you put a little bit of focus everywhere you can everyday and it will get you closer to your goal.”

Photo of the Week:

To buy tickets for per forma nce s and events at El Camino College, you can go to the Ticket Office, located at the south end of the Marsee Auditorium, which is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The Ticket Office is also open one hour before scheduled showtimes.

Or, you can order tickets online at elcaminotickets. universitytickets. com/w/

Jack Kan/Union (Above) Renaissance Austin, Music major, sings with the Green Bus Band on the stage outside the Student Activities Center during the Harvest Festival on Oct. 30.

PHOTO ESSAY

6 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

NOV. 1, 2018

Darwyn Samayoa/ ECC Union El Camino College Student, Michael A.Nicoli, plays his guitar in front of the Art Building at El Camino College on Monday, Oct. 22.

Life Away from Work Taking a break from being in class Ernesto Sanchez

Editor-in-Chief @EccUnionErnesto

P

hotography students at El Camino went out on assignment to capture life on campus.

While some students around campus pass their time with physical activities, others rest and relax.

Jack Kan/Union (Left) Jhaomi Harris, 19, psychology major, enjoys her lunch in the sunshine flooding the Library Lawn on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

There are a number of locations for students to take a moment for themselves and away from class; from slackling on a rope attached to two trees to sitting under the sun on the Library Lawn.

You can visit EccUnion.com to view a slideshow with more photographs of students on campus from this assignment.

Jack Kan/Union (Right) Wendy Fabela, 20, liberal studies major, prepares a Powerpoint presentation on her laptop while sitting on a bench near South Gym, on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

Jack Kan/Union (Above Left) Aidan Blood, 21, undecided major, practices slacklining on the Library Lawn on Thursday, Oct. 25. He has been slacklining for 3 years.

Jack Kan/Union (Above Right) Tameika Pollard, 21, English major, and Rogelio Zacatenco, 25, health major, take a break in the Schauerman Library Tutoring Center on Friday, Oct. 26.

SPORTS

NOV. 1 2018

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 7

Jack Kan / Union Caitlin (left) and Kelly Donatucci smile with pride after EC defeats Rio Hondo 25-14, 25-17, and 25-13 in the volleyball game played on Wednesday, Oct. 24 in the South Gym.

A defensive specialist and an offensive leader Sisters, Caitlin and Kelly Donatucci, share a passion for volleyball, a competitive spirit, and a birthdate Roseana Martinez

Staff Writer @ECCUnionRoseana

S

tanding on the court alert as they pace side to side, with just one look and one head nod to each other, two sisters stay in position ready for the ball to come over the net as they silently communicate.

This silent language has helped these two sisters understand each other better throughout the games they play as they continue to succeed on the El Camino women’s volleyball team.

Caitlin and Kelly Donatucci, are only one minute apart and have shared much of their lives together on and off the court.

Growing up in Manhattan Beach, they have played volleyball since they were 11-years-old.

The sisters were taught to play the sport by their parents and their two brothers.

For many years they have played volleyball on the same team, helping them become “big contributors” at El Camino College, EC volleyball coach Liz Hazel said.

Though their teammates struggled to identify who was who at the beginning of the season, their positions helped set them apart on the court.

Kelly is libero and a defensive specialist and wears a different color jersey for her position.

Caitlin plays setter, which is the playmaker, as she needs to block, pass, and set for her teammates.

“They are two of our main players, so Kelly plays libero and she kinda leads our defense and is our main passer, so she gets a ton of balls to let us stay in games,” head coach Liz Hazell said. “Caitlin is one of our setters, so she is in charge of distributing the ball to everybody and she decides who gets to hit, so that is a huge responsibility,” Hazell said..“Position-wise, they are totally different, but both of them are super vocal which helps us and they work well together.”

For these two sisters, there are advantages and difficulties in being

on the same team.

They are both very competitive which has affected some plays, as they almost called a game due to their arguing, Kelly said.

“We both are very competitive, we both want to win, so when the other isn’t doing well we get mad,” Caitlin adds.

As for some advantages, they think it is funny when people, like the referees, confuse them, because of how alike they look.

But their favorite thing is supporting one another and having each other on the court.

“Position wise, they are totally different, but both of them are super vocal, which helps us, and, they work well together.”

—Liz Hazell EC women’s volleyball head coach

“It is so weird when she is off the court and I’m on the court,” Caitlin said. “The dynamic is off because we have literally been on the court [together] for nine years.”

An outside hitter for the EC women’s volleyball team and teammate, Phina Leilua, talks about how she enjoys playing with them.

“Playing with them is like a pleasure, I honestly love playing with them,” Leilua said. “They’re both different, but playing with them is really fun.”

They communicate well on the court.

Leilua shared one of their experiences together.

“When I get a kill, Kelly will make a pass and Caitlin will set me, and I’m the hitter, so I’ll get the kill. I will look at them and we do like a funny dance,” Leilua said.

On the court, their goal is to win, as they both are very competitive,

but off the court, they differ in their plans at EC as well as their personalities.

Caitlin, currently a sociology major, plans on switching her major to marketing and she plans to stay in California after EC. Caitlin refers to herself as the “feisty one.”

“I’m pretty feisty. When you first meet us I’m more closed off, more reserved,” Caitlin said.

She doesn’t plan on playing after her two years at EC. “This is it for me,” Caitlin said.

However, in the meantime, she enjoys playing and one of her favorite moments during a game is “having that one play where it just brings everyone together,” she said.

One thing she did want to share with people was that she doesn’t like being called “a twin.”

“I hate being called a twin, I am not a thing or it, I am an individual,” Caitlin said. “I hate when people make you feel like one.”

For her sister, Kelly, she is undecided but she is leaning towards majoring in communications.

Kelly also does not plan on playing after two years at EC because she would like to focus on her education, as her brothers did.

She came to El Camino to aspire to be like her brothers as she noticed “the impact it had on [her] brothers academically and now they are at amazing colleges due to their academics at El Camino,” Kelly said.

As she thrives in her academics, she shared her comment on being a twin.

“I think it is difficult to always be compared too,” Kelly said.

“When you see twins, I don’t think it’s okay to compare us all the time, it isn’t always nice.”

As both, Kelly and Caitlin, continue to succeed on the EC women’s volleyball team, one thing they enjoy is being there for one another.

“It makes me happy seeing her thriving,” Kelly said. “It’s a builtin best friend. You’re always with your best friend playing, it’s nice.”

Jack Kan / Union

(Top Left) Caitlin Donatucci (No. 3)serves to Rio Hondo on Wednesday, Oct. 24 in the South Gym. (Top Right) Kelly Donatucci (No. 1) passes to a teammate during the EC vs Rio Hondo volleyball game on Wednesday, Oct. 24 in the South Gym. (Bottom) Sisters Caitlin (left) and Kelly Donatucci fire up their bench during the EC vs Rio Hondo volleyball game on Wednesday, Oct. 24 in the South Gym.

8 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

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NOV. 1, 2018