Vol 72 I4, Nov 16 2017

EL CAMINO COLLEGE NOVEMBER 16, 2017 Follow us at /ECCUnion

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Stickers and fliers cover northern side of campus

EC becomes one of many colleges in the nation that became target of vandalism Emma DiMaggio, Joseph Sanker, Samuel Hill Staff Writer @ECCUnionEmma @ECCUnionJoseph @ECCUnionSamuel

Approximately 100 stickers and fliers donning the statement “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE” were found around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, spanning the northern side of campus, according to the director of facilities.

Security footage shows three male suspects pasting the fliers and stickers on walls and elevators at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, Police Chief Michael Trevis said.

El Camino College has become one of many colleges across the country that has been subject to this form of vandalism.

Similar instances have occurred on a national and international level. As early as Tuesday, Oct. 31, of this year, flyers reading “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE” were found extending in an area extending 4,000 miles, from University of Alberta in Alberta, Canada, to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Speculation of the origin of this statement began on the forum site 4chan, where a now archived thread in the “Politically Incorrect” subsection was named “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE,” according to a Washington Post article dated Nov. 3.

Along with EC, the posters

and stickers have been spotted in Rocky River, Ohio; at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn.; at Tulane University in New Orleans; at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Md.; around college-campus rich Cambridge, Mass., including the Harvard Yard and at the University of Alberta in Canada.

At El Camino, the stickers and fliers were posted down Manhattan Beach Boulevard, starting at the Facilities Building and ending at the Industry and Technology Building, according to Thomas Brown, director of facilities, who has worked at El Camino for 16 years.

Campus police notified the facilities department of the flyers today, Monday, Nov. 6, around 6:30 a.m., Brown said.

Brown said a team of between four and six college employees were assigned to remove the fliers and stickers. Amongst them were painters, policemen, and police cadets.

The suspects traveled on foot, according to the police footage accessed by Trevis. As the case is still under investigation, Trevis said he could not provide screenshots or footage to The

Union.

Trevis said that the EC Police Department intends on continuing with the investigation, and that it may move up to the district attorney level as the case unfolds. For now, his priority is identifying the suspects.

“Right now, what we’re trying to do is enhance the images,” Trevis said. “Let’s identify you.

I want to put a name to you.”

Similar instances of vandalsm have occurred on the EC campus in the past. Months ago, stickers picturing a single black sheep surrounded by white sheep were found across campus, Brown said.

In both cases, the vandalism was approached with similar protocol.

“Let me say this, one sticker is one too many. No no no, not even one. None.

Not (permissible),” Trevis said. “It’s against the law and it’s unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable.”

Report of vandalism filed as a case of misdemeanor malicious mischief Emma DiMaggio

Arts and News Editor @ECCUnionEmma

Emma DiMaggio

Arts and News Editor @ECCUnionEmma

The Associated Student Organization on campus was approached in October by Disneyland to participate in a series of leadership workshops that will be offered on the theme park’s grounds.

The leadership workshops were created specifically for community college student governments, Anam Khan, 19, student ambassador and director of student and community advancement in ASO, said.

According to the Disney Institute website, the park offers a variety of professional development courses for private and public sectors.

This will be added to the list of regular trips that ASO takes each year for advocacy of the EC student government.

“We have trips to go to Washington, D.C. where we do spend money, but it’s to advocate on behalf of all California community college senators. Helping you guys,” Khan said. “It’s not like we’re just doing it for fun.”

Though final dates have not yet been decided, the trip will likely take place sometime in February

Music Library offers archival works and study space, P. 2

before the spring semester begins, Khan said.

All ASO members who choose to attend the event will be responsible for paying $40 out of pocket for their ticket, since only half of the Disneyland trip will involve workshops.

“Half of the day is workshops and half of the day is park, so it’s only fair that ASO only pays for the workshops and we pay for the park,” Khan said.

The funds for this trip come from their advocacy account, and do not affect other sectors or budgets regarding campus enrichment.

Academic Senate discusses potential interface upgrades

Students may be offered new learning resources in future semesters Staff Writer @ECCUnionSam

Vandalism report gets sent to District Attorney’s office for further investigation

The Anaheim theme park approached student government to participate in the event

G

Samuel Hill

Joseph Sanker/ Union One of the many stickers found on the northern side of campus on the morning of Monday, Nov. 6 after being vandalized by three unknown supsects.

ASO to attend leadership workshops at Disneyland

TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA

The case file for the “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE” sticker and flier vandalism was sent to the District Attorney’s office for further investigation.

A district attorney is a prosecutor that represents the state or federal government in court within a district.

A campus advisory note sent to campus faculty and staff on Monday, Nov. 6, stated that the vandalism was filed as a misdemeanor malicious mischief report.

This variety of vandalism

violates California Penal Code 594, which states that most vandalism cases with less than $400 worth of damage, the crime is considered a misdemeanor.

According to the campus advisory note, “action may be taken against any person who engages in behavior defined as misconduct” in accordance with Administrative Procedure 5500 in the El Camino College Standards of Student Misconduct.

The case is still under investigation. The suspects of the crime have not been located, and the EC Police Department is still attempting to use facial enhancement in order to locate them.

There have been nine reported cases of vandalism in EC parking lots in 2017.

Library gallery becomes home to multimedia works, P. 4

Pete Marcoux, who is vice president of Academic Technology, explained how a program called Google for Education can help students and faculty on campus.

“Being apart of Google for Education, it allows us to access features that wouldn’t be accessible by others not in the program,” Marcoux said during the meeting.

“There are a lot of tools that are accessible if we are apart of this Google for Education.”

One of those tools introduced through Google for Education was OneDrive, a Microsoft cloud storage service that lets you store your personal files in one place, share them with others, and get to them from any device connected to the Internet.

The possible use of this program seemed to excite students.

“I think using OneDrive would definitely help the school,” Michael Donatucci, 21, psychology major, said. “It would help students be more organized.”

The action to recommend to enroll in Google for Education was approved by the Senate.

Another program discussed to help students was the Online Education Initiative (OEI), which was approved to apply to the Consortium. Vice President of Educational Policies Chris Gold explained what the OEI is trying to accomplish.

“The whole point of the Online Initiative is what it really should be about, students,” Gold said during the meeting. “It’s about helping students complete their educational goals. We want to give them access to the courses they need.”

Gold continued to say that the OEI was “looking to improve online courses” through online course websites such as Canvas and Colleague.

The Senate is looking at spring 2019 as a possible start for the course exchange program introduced in the OEI. Following the OEI presentation there was a call for elections, where the only members nominated were the existing president and secretary for their respected positions.

Nominations will continue to take place into the next senate meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Another topic of interest discussed in the meeting was the explanation of the new ECC website redesign, presented by Publications Supervisor Heather Parnock.

“The No. 1 goal for the website redesign was to make it mobile friendly,” Parnock said during the meeting. “The old website did not re-size based on your device you were using, so making the website mobile friendly was our main priority.”

Football player, P. 3 Female weightlifter competing to represent the United States , P. 9

NEWS

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 2

POLICE BEAT Joseph Sanker

Staff Writer @ECCUnionLydia

According to police logs

Female reports

student

ex-boyfriend

stalking her on campus Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 2:11 p.m.

An officer responded to the police department lobby regarding a female student that stated that her ex-boyfriend had been stalking her on campus. The two students were in a dating relationship for approximately one month. The female student stated that she’s seen her ex-boyfriend around campus. She said that he’s never approached her or spoken to her. The officer contacted the exboyfriend who denied stalking his ex-girlfriend. The officer told him to make sure that he doesn’t have any contact with her. The elements of a stalking crime were not present in this incident.

Male almost hits female’s vehicle, female follows him in car, exits vehicle, and punches him in the face three times Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7:54 a.m. A male student stated that a female student struck him in his face with a closed fist approximately three times. The victim stated that he and the female student almost collided as they drove onto campus from Stadium Way and Redondo Beach Boulevard. He further stated that she followed him into Lot H as he parked. She then got out of her vehicle, approached him, and punched him in the face approximately three times. The victim sustained minor abrasions to his face but he did not require medical attention. During the investigative process, the female suspect was identified and came to the station to be interviewed.

The victim is desirous of criminal prosecution. This case will be forwarded to the district attorney’s office for their review.

The female student will also be referred to the director of student development.deadly weapon.

She transported to Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center for booking.

Corrections In the Nov. 2 issue, Alba Mejia’s last name was spelled incorrectly.

She was also attributed as a staff writer for The Union instead of features editor.

The Union regrets these errors.

Jorge Villa/ Union Adriann Smith, 25 a student worker who works as a librarian, reaching for musical notes in the back storage catalog of the Music Library. Smith is a pianist and often finds herself looking at her favorite musical composers work, Sergei Prokofiev, who is also a pianist and conductor as inspiration.

Music Library offers music archives and practice space A wide variety of genre-specific works as well as music databases available to students for use Joseph Sanker

Staff Writer @ECCUnionJoseph

Music is a vast, all encompassing subject that often times requires specific materials from those studying it. The music library at EC can help in providing those materials to students.

The music library, which is located in Room 126 in the

Music and Fine Arts Building, is a resource on campus where all EC students, staff and faculty can check out and utilize music specific tools and materials.

Bruce Russell, the librarian in the Music Library, describes what the music library is and how it’s used.

“It’s a nice collection of music scores and sound recordings, and textbooks, we have lots of music textbooks, and reference books on music,” Russell said.

The Music Library is useful for more than just book checkouts.

“The students come and use it quite heavily to check out all of the above, and to check out keys to the practice rooms that we have for them to practice their instruments or their voice,” Russell said.

The difference between the books in the Music Library and the books from the Schauerman Library are

that the books in the Music Library are more specialized towards music majors.

Adriann Smith, a library desk student worker at the Music Library, described some of the wide variety of music-specific literature that is available to students for checking out.

“We have world music, we have classical, we have gospels, we have hymnals, we have African, we have some Latin books, like we have a giant book of Latin music, we have all kind of cultural music,” Smith said.

Along with a large assortment of musical genres, the library also holds books on a variety of different music-related topics.

“We also have the books that are (related to) jazz and for teaching improv, and teaching scales and technique for guitar, we have

books for every instrument,” Smith said. “Though there are books in the main library like on Mozart, Beethoven they’re (biographical.)

They might have a few sheets of music, but this is purely sheet music or biography, or it’ll tell me about the piece that I’m looking for.”

The space also acts as a music study center for students. Complete with music tutors and computers, the Music Library fulfills various roles at one time, and Russell would agree.

“It has multiple functions. There (are) tutors that use the tables to tutor students in music, just like tutors tutor in math,” Russell said.

“We have machines for burning CDs and photocopying, and computers, quite a few computers for students to do research on music and do database searching.”

Alex Pensamiento, 19, music

major, uses the Music Library everyday because he is currently apart of a music program and thinks it’s crucial to have the Music Library.

“I’m in the applied music program so this is where we rent the practice rooms to practice,” Pensamiento said. “It’s pretty important I think to the program that I’m in (because) without it we wouldn’t be able to practice.”

Pat Thomas, a library information science technician at the Music Library, thinks the Music Library is important because it allows students to socialize over music and she encourages all EC students to utilize it.

“It allows the students to fellowship about music,” Thomas said. “Anybody that’s interested in music or has an appreciation to music can come in here.”

Writing Center acts as longstanding resource for struggling students

Tutors available to assist students with everything from essay-writing to accurate punctuation Jorge Villa

Photo Editor @ECCUnionJorge

With finals week approaching soon, students may be looking for all the help they can get and what better place to visit than the Writing Center.

It’s a place that can help you with all of your writing needs, from grammar to punctuation.

“We offer grammar conferences, pre-writing conferences which means as soon as you get your assignment sheet from a professor,” Terry Right, Writing Center employee, said. “Before you start writing it you can bring

that assignment sheet and help you understand what the professor wants.”

At the Writing Center, it doesn’t matter what the subject you need help in is they are happy to help you out.

“It doesn’t have to be for an English assignment,” Right said.

“Any written assignment you can bring in to us, and we are here to support you through the steps of writing it.”

It’s helped people like Emily Vargas pass her midterms with more confidence and ease.

“It was my first time coming here,” Emily Vargas, 20, child development major, said. “I’m glad

I did. I feel like I’ll actually have a chance of getting a good grade on my midterm papers now.”

The Writing Center has been apart of EC for some time now.

“They established the writing center about 25 years ago,” Barbara Budrovich, Writing Center coordinator, said. “The department wanted support for the writing classes.”

Students can get help in any writing assignment they may need, whether it’s for school or something more personal.

“We had a student come back and thank us personally for helping them write their transfer application essay,” Right said.

It can be intimidating walking into a room filled with tutors or professors and ask for help on something, as Leslie Cisneros describes.

“It’s my first time coming here,” Leslie Cisneros, 21, anthropology major, said. “I don’t like asking for help or anything in class. I get shy.

I know I have to do things like this to actually get what I’m supposed to do in class.”

Writing Center workers can help with both small, big, or confusing problems that students may face.

“A lot of times I just have students personally say to me ‘Oh, I was confused about this assignment and now I understand

what I’m supposed to do,’” Right said. “There (are) little lightbulb moments that we really like to help students reach.”

It may be hard, but both students and professors recommend students stop by.

“I liked it,” Cisneros said. “My essay makes sense now. I feel like I get what I’m writing about.”

Right, who is also a professor at EC, recommends students to give the Writing Center a chance.

“I try to give students an idea of all the resources that are available to them,” Right said. “I think it’s so important for professors to really push these resources for their students.”

NEWS

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 3

A SIGN OF THE

TIMES

EC bookstore struggling as a result of online retailers Jorge Villa/ Union The El Camino college bookstore has lost over $1.4 million in revenue since 2010 and many believe online retailers are to blame. “It’s very easy to lower the costs of textbooks when you don’t have to have a store with people available to help the customers and inventory. It’s very easy to cherry pick,” bookstore manager Julie Bourlier said.

Zach Hatakeyama Features Editor

@ECCUnionZach

With the rise in popularity of online commerce, it has become harder for brick and mortar storefronts to stay afloat in 2017— including the El Camino bookstore.

According to EC’s fiscal budget, the bookstore’s sales have decreased by approximately 20 percent, resulting in more than $1.4 million in lost revenue. Bookstore manager Julie Bourlier, believes this is due to students relying on online retailers such as Amazon and Chegg for their textbooks.

“The entire college bookstore industry has been affected by online retailers,” Bourlier said.

“It’s very easy to lower the costs of textbooks when you don’t have to have a store with people available to help the customers and inventory. It’s very easy to cherry pick.”

Beenish Siddiqui, 19, business major, admits to searching online for inexpensive textbooks since both options are convenient.

“There is definitely a huge difference between the two. When the book orders for the semester open, I always try to get my books from Amazon. For the books I can’t find for a cheaper price, I turn to the El Camino bookstore.

But Amazon is a great option for

BOOKSTORE VS. AMAZON PRICES Sources: El Camino bookstore, Amazon

people, like me, who can’t afford books,” Siddiqui said.

Paula Knickrehm, 19, prenursing major, believes that nursing majors in particular have a difficult time affording textbooks.

“I think nursing is harder from a short term financial point because we have more material to cover in a shorter amount of time and we have clinics that we have to complete during that time too,” Knickrehm said.

According to Knickrehem, she spends close to $750 per semester on textbooks and believes that colleges could make it easier for students to afford them.

“The bookstore should buy a class set for each science class that way we can use them for free,” Knickrehm said. “If I can, I rent them from Amazon or the bookstore, whatever the cheapest option is.”

Faryha Salim, assistant professor of communication studies, believes that students should not be required to purchase new editions of textbooks.

“Textbooks are way overpriced nowadays,” Salim said. “As far as our field of communications is concerned, the difference between the first edition and the twenty-first edition as far as core content is concerned is absolutely nothing.”

Salim believes that online retailers such as Amazon or Chegg are helpful resources for students

who want to save money on textbooks.

“As far as online retailers are affecting (the bookstore), yes, students find a cheaper alternative and will use that route,” they said.

“I believe that our bookstore, in

order to be competitive, needs to reach an agreement in which they can offer older versions of textbooks.”

EC is not the only community college that has been affected by the online commerce trend.

Jorge Villa/ Union Paula Knickrehm, 19, nursing major, spends nearly $750 on textbooks per semester. “Its ridiculous,” she said.

According to their respective fiscal budgets, Los Angeles Community College District, which includes nine schools in its district, saw an increase of nearly $4 million between the years of 2015 and 2017, while Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California saw a 10.5 percent drop in sales between 2010 and 2011.

Brittanye Bruland, 18, business major at Santa Monica College, believes that the decline in sales is due to students buying from Amazon.

“Everyone I know gets their books online,” Bruland said. “I usually get supplies like lab goggles and Scantrons at the bookstore but for books, I don’t even check the bookstore since I know that I’ll be able to find it cheaper online somewhere.”

Four-year universities have also felt the effects of online retailers.

Bourlier recalls that Amazon has put mailbox lockers on campuses for their textbook deliveries.

“University bookstores are really greedy,” Katrina Rili, 19, business and entrepreneurship major at University of San Francisco said.

“I don’t feel bad buying books from Amazon because colleges already have all of our money from tuition. I just find whatever is cheaper, which is usually online.”

EC’s bookstore has implemented a rental program for textbooks in order to drive the prices down for

BOOKSTORE REVENUE Source: El Camino College Budget

students, according to Bourlier.

“We have a very robust rental program to try and reduce the cost of textbooks and students have to return them at the end of the semester,” Bourlier said.

“Chegg was one of the first rental companies to get into the business of renting textbooks and then Barnes and Noble and Amazon followed in the rental process.”

Students have responded strongly to rental programs.

“I like to rent my textbooks a lot because it’s so much cheaper and I rarely need to read the textbook when the class is over,” Siddiqui said.

According to Bourlier, EC has other plans in the future to bridge the gap between retailers and students through digital delivery, which gives students a temporary access code for the digital textbook on the first day of classes.

“You would have your digital textbook available to you on the first day of classes and it would be a matter of opting out two week into the semester and you would get charged for the textbook,” Bourlier said.

Bourlier believes that the EC bookstore brings a customer service component that online retailers do not.

“We’re here. We provide information. We stand behind what we sell and we’re here to help the students,” Bourlier said.

ARTS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 4

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Library becomes the new home to Woodworkings, Weavings, and Photography Jorge Villa

Photo Editor @ECCUnionJorge

The Library has nurtured a myriad of art throughout the semester and in this exhibition is no different as it represents the diversity through paintings, woodwork, and photography.

The El Camino Schauerman Library exhibits a triad of work including colored pencil drawings, acrylic painting and quilt stitching from the Studio 2 Street club.

The club had booked to exhibit their work for the Library in advance but did not intend to have a theme surrounding it and as a result depended on each member’s “energy” as a source of inspiration, Edwin Perez, 21, graphic design major, president of the Studio 2 Street club said.

“We all have different styles, and it worked out like it was planned but not intentionally. We all brought our pieces in and it all flowed together.

Our energy was fire, man,” Perez said.

Along with the pop-art paintings on display, which is heavily influenced by the boastful saturated colors of graffiti street art, is traditional colored pencil drawings

Zig Zag Vessel Floating Bottom Various Species John Drum

Ring Holders Various Species Curtis Thompson

of indigenous people.

“The variety of students in our club shows we come from different cultural backgrounds and it shows that in the artwork, you can see the different personalities that we bring,” William Cato, 23, studio art major, said.

Additional work includes quilts and pinata-esque figures inside the glass case near the west side of the library entrance.

Sitting adjacent is the glass case on display with wood work from Jack Selphs woodturning students along with members of the Woodturners Guild.

“The reason why we put it on display was to show off the El Camino woodworking program and put some attention on the woodturning guild which we have as a community outreach,” Selph said.

The pieces are made from various types of trees including oak that was once home to the urban forest, which are grown in local city landscapes and as a result may contract a disease due to a range of soil conditions.

Works include: vases, tools like spoons and an array of assorted wood based bowls.

Some of the work is on sale for

one day on Friday, Dec. 8 and prices range from $10 to $250. All of the money from each sold item is given to its original creator.

Some students passing by the Library may have missed the photography from Christopher Baker hosted by Donna Factor, Spanish professor tucked in the corner of the study room.

Christopher Baker is a writer and photographer with works published in National Geographic along with awards like Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism of the Year in 2008.

Factor met Baker though a mutual friend, which led her to ask permission to display his photos of classic cars lost in time and the

people that reside in Cuba.

The blue hue of the oceanic port of Cuba reflect the tone of the sky as depicted in photos along with street photography of people captured a moment in time.

“I hope that they have their interest peak and in going to Cuba and understand some of the relationship between Cuba and the U.S. We have strong ties even though through history we’ve had an antagonistic relationship with each other. It’s kind of a love and hate relationship on so many levels,” Factor said.

Students can find this work on display until the end of the second week of December.

Untitled Photography Christopher P. Baker

Untitled Multimedia Unmarked

Untitled Photography Christopher P. Baker

Tangential Bowl Floating Bottom Walnut and Maple Spline John Drum

Faculty Art Show gives professors opportunity to showcase artwork and inspire students Tanya Silerio

Staff Writer @ECCUnionTanya

Starting Monday, Nov. 20 to Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. the art department will host its annual faculty art show.

The faculty exhibit will feature artwork from both professors in the art and photography department.

“It’s an opportunity for students and the public, but especially students to view their teachers in another level,” Susanna Meiers, Art

Gallery director and curator, said.

“To see what they are working on creativity in their own studio.”

The exhibit will showcase a variety of artworks like drawings, sculptures, and photography.

“We do this every year,” Meiers said. “There are 25 artists.”

It’s a chance for faculty members to show off their work to both the EC campus and the general public.

“It’s an open invitation to the artists among the faculty in the art department and the photography department to show what they are

currently working on,” Meiers said.

It gives students a chance to see what their professors are like outside of class in a unique way.

“I’m interested. I might be able to see some of my professors work,” Delimi Rios, 18, art major, said.

“I’ve seen some of it before but it’ll be different to see it in person at an art show.”

The exhibit is open to students and anyone who wishes to see what their art professors are currently working on.

“I’ve never heard of anything like

that happening before,” Michelle Delozo, 18, engineering major said.

“But I have gone to the Art Gallery before. I might stop by and see this too.”

It’s not only a chance for the professors to show their art but hopefully a chance to inspire others.

“In an arts situation that’s really helpful to students,” Meiers said. “If theirs something that their teacher is doing that is fascinating to them they might be inclined to take their class.”

Reception: Monday, Nov. 30 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Artist’s Talk: Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m.

OPINION/EDITORIAL

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 5

Editorial:

Emma Dimaggio/ Union

Lack of remedial classes won’t benefit students

Cutting remedial classes may obstruct classroom success if bill is passed in California If passed, California Assembly Bill No. 705 would “prohibit a community college district or college from requiring students to enroll in remedial English or mathematics coursework that lengthens their time to complete a degree unless placement research that includes consideration of high school grade point average and coursework shows that those students are highly unlikely to succeed in transfer-

Letter to the Editor In regards to the story ‘Players kneel to raise awareness for racial injustice’ and the column ‘A sit down with my son regarding taking a knee during the national anthem,’ in issue Vol. 72, No. 2, published on Thursday, Oct. 17.

To the editors: I wanted to write to express my appreciation for the great work the writers and editors of The Union are doing. I teach English as a Second Language, and I like to bring meaningful and appropriate materials into class for my students, and what could be more appropriate than the campus newspaper?

But it is only because the quality of the writing is so strong that I feel comfortable doing so. This week, my intermediate-level students are reading and responding to two recent articles: a news article about ECC football players “taking a knee’ and an opinion piece related to the same topic from a father’s viewpoint. I was able to point out to them the balance that the news article provides, with quotes from players, the coach, and reactions from fans, as well as the opportunity for the opposing coach to respond.

And I had them note the difference between a news article and an opinion piece.

Keep up the good work, and know that a class of 42 students is excited to read what you write!

—Evelyn Uyemura, Professor, Humanities Division, ESL and English

Letters to the editor can be sent to The Union’s email at eccunion@gmail. com with the subject “Letter to the editor.”

THE UNION Vol. 72, No. 4 November 16, 2017 Email: eccunion@gmail.com Newsroom: (310) 660-3328 Advertising: (310) 660-3329

level coursework in English and mathematics.”

In other words, community colleges would be required to enroll students into college level courses regardless of placement test scores in order to minimize the time it takes for them to earn their degree.

While this may seem like a positive to students who struggle with test taking, many students require remedial classes in order to

be successful in future courses.

This legislation could result in a higher percentage of F’s and W’s in college level courses due to the fact that students would be entering them without the sufficient preparation they would have received in remedial and prerequisite classes. This would lead to a student repeating a course one or more times before earning the course credit and ultimately delaying the time it would take

for them to earn their degree, thus fueling the initial problem this bill is trying to solve.

If California implements this, it would be imperative to move funds toward refined and accessible resources on community college campuses in order to guarantee students are successful in their classes, such as tutoring, workshops and peer mentorship initiatives.

The pressure would be on public high schools to ensure that

students are prepared for college level classes, which in turn would require more funding, specialty teachers and classroom space— facets that many California public high schools do not have the money or room to incorporate, especially in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Since both California public high schools and California community colleges are funded from the same pool of reserve, it would save more money and time for the current

remedial class system to remain in place.

While there is always room for improvement, there must be, however, a more efficient, costsaving alternative to cutting a majority of remedial classes all together.

Let’s not try to fix what isn’t broken, California. Let’s focus on improving on what we already have.

Campus programs can improve the discussion of mental health Mental illness can set back performance in class rooms and work settings when left overlooked

Lydia Lopez Staff Writer @ECCUnionLydia

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) more than 75 percent of all mental health conditions begin before the age of 24.

Mental health is a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional wellbeing. College students can be prone to mental illnesses because of the many demands throughout the school year from classwork , work, and outside factors.

More than 25 percent of college students have been diagnosed or treated by a professional for a

mental health condition within the past year according to NAMI. El Camino’s campus provides a Health Center for college students who need mental or physical help. The campus is aware of the student’s health and are available to the help students throughout the week.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness also states that mental illness can include anxiety and panic disorders, bipolar disorders, depression, and eating disorders.

According to Healthline Networks, 44 percent of American

college students report having symptoms of depression.

An inability to sleep is one of the highest symptoms of depression.

Many college students are affected by this key sign of clinical depression. A lack of sleep can also negatively affect performances of students in class.

The El Camino Health Center’s website states that, “when the stress gets to be too much for [students] to handle, and [students] become overwhelmed with anxiety and/ or depression, [students] are more vulnerable to becoming physically

ill.”

A variety of college students do become physically ill due to mental behaviors that their body takes a toll on them.

The services that El Camino Health Center provides for the students can be extremely useful because many students do get overwhelmed throughout the school year from large work loads.

It’s important that college students address the issue of their mental health at an early stage before it worsens.

Campus Viewpoints

Where are El Camino student’s favorite places to study on campus?

By: Reyna Torres, Staff Writer @ECCUnionReyna

Crystal Fuentes, 21, nursing major

Aryam Sanyai, 18, computer science major

Jenna Wilson, 19, nursing major

“The math building (is my favorite place to study) because it’s quiet and I can concentrate. I work on my math homework and my reading homework.”

“MESA (computer lab) for sure, because it really helps me out with all the tutoring I need for my STEM classes.

I can go and work with other students who are doing the same things and also I’m able to use resources.”

“Probably the North Wing in the library. It’s super quiet, (there are) a lot of tables, and (there are) barriers (around the tables) so I’m not in everyone’s business and I feel like I can get my work done more effectively.”

Editor-in-Chief ������������������������������������������������������������������������ Dmitri Hansen News Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������� Emma DiMaggio Opinion/Editorial Editor ���������������������������������������������������������������Faith Petrie Arts Editor.................................................................................. Emma DiMaggio Sports Editor ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� Dmitri Hansen Photo Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Jorge Villa Features Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������� Zach Hatakeyama Social Media Manager...................................................................Dmitri Hansen Advertising Manager ������������������������������������������������������������������� Jack Mulkey Adviser ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Stefanie Frith Photo Adviser...................................................................................Gary Kohatsu

The Union is published Thursdays by Journalism 11 and 14 students at El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506, and is free to the student body and staff.

Unsigned editorials and cartoons are the opinion of the editorial board and do not reflect the views of the student body, staff or administration. Letters to the editor must be signed and must be received one week prior to publication in the Union office, Humanities Building Room 113.

Letters are subject to editing for space, libel, obscenity and disruption of the educational process. Single copies of the Union are free; multiple copies can be requested through the Union.

Alvaro Valenzuela, 22, Japanese major “I like coming (to the music library) because they have access to pianos. In the meantime I just study my Japanese flashcards, because it usually takes like half an hour to wait for piano rooms.”

College Media Association Newspaper of the Year Award 2015, 2016 (2nd) Associated Collegiate Press Regional Pacemaker Award 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012 California Newspaper Publishers Association General Excellence Award 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 Journalism Association of Community Colleges General Excellence Award 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014

OPINION/EDITORIAL

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 6

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

UP FOR DEBATE What the United States do about

GUN

CONTROL

Dmitri Hansen Editor-in-Chief @ECCUnionDmitri

Samuel Hill Staff Writer @ECCUnionSam

The United States needs to ban guns entirely Guns should be restricted, not taken away At what point will a mass shooting be so devastating that the United States will actually do something about gun control?

Many believed it would be when children became the victims of a shooting.

Then, 20 children were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.

According to vox.com at least 1,767 people have been killed in 1,552 mass shootings since Sandy Hook.

Sutherland Springs, Texas is one the latest victim of a mass shooting.

26 people were killed at the First Baptist Church on Sunday, Nov. 5.

Drastic changes need to be made in the United States. It’s time to edit the second amendment.

The second amendment was written in an era where muskets were the best and biggest gun on the market. The muskets rate of fire was two or three rounds per minute.

The gun used in the Texas shooting, an AR-15, shoots 90 rounds per minute.

The founding fathers did not accommodate for such guns. It’d be better in America’s interests to follow Australia and ban all guns.

In 1996, 35 people were killed in Port Arthur, and Australia had enough.

Their Prime Minister at the time created the, ‘National Firearms Programme Implementation Act of 1996’, which restricted the ownership of semi-automatic

rifles, shotguns and pump-action shotguns.

Australia has had no mass shootings since the ban was set.

58 people have died and 546 were injured at a music festival in Las Vegas and 26 died in a Texas church in just over a month.

The time to put a foot down should have been after the 1966 University of Texas tower shooting.

The 1966 University of Texas tower shooting was the first documented mass shooting and 58 people were injured.

Yet here we are in 2017, two months away from 2018.

The least the United States can do is act now. Not when another mass shooting happens.

After yet another violent gun crime, the United States needs to look at how we can improve gun control laws without taking away our right to bear arms.

Due to the recent events of the Sutherland Springs shooting, Americans are again bumping heads with their own arguments of why or why not guns in the United States should be banned.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the gunman that entered the First Baptist Church on Sunday morning in Sutherland Springs was armed with a 5.56-millimeter semiautomatic rifle, which he used to brutally kill 26 people and injure 20 others.

Many people may see an event like this one and say that guns

should be completely banned, but there is more to the story than that.

A nearby resident heard the gunshots, grabbed his locked-away firearm and proceeded to not only land shots on the shooter but chase him out of the church, leading the shooter to flee, according to an article by the Los Angeles Times.

Without our 2nd Amendment rights, there may have been no immediate chance for any of the victims of the shooting to survive, which is why our right to own a weapon is so important.

One way I believe we can stop mass shootings like this one from happening is to put more restrictions on the types of guns we are able to buy and improve the application process when trying to

purchase a firearm.

According to the same article, the suspect involved in the San Antonio shooting was kicked out of the Air Force for domestic violence but somehow was able to buy four guns between 2014-2017 because of a clerical error made by distributors.

How was a man that was courtmartialed for domestic violence able to buy these guns with his past actions? If the distributors of these weapons can figure that out, we should be able to dodge incidents like this one.

To change the outcome of future events, America needs to restrict gun laws while keeping our essential 2nd Amendment rights intact.

COLUMN:

Finding a career is not a realistic decision to be made in high school

Faith Petrie Opinion Editor @ECCUnionFaith

In high school, students are expected to know everything from the college they want to attend, to the career they’d like to pursue all by the end of their senior year.

I barely knew what I would eat for lunch during my final year of high school, so being met with such large decisions caused a lot of unncessary anxiety for me.

I had always had interests but not anything that I felt I could commit my whole life to.

Something that was always a constant in my life was journalism.

From a young age, I loved to read and write about what I had read to the delight and some times annoyance of my parents.

In high school I even did a year on the newspaper and really enjoyed practicing my writing skills and learning new techniques.

Yet, when it was time to begin the dreaded application process I had no idea what to put.

Coming from a lower income home, one of my main goals in life is to have financial freedom when I’m older and not be restricted for monetary reasons.

This factored in with my lack of commitment to my various interests meant I had a big problem when it came to deciding a major.

I remember spending countless

hours on Google searching, “what is the salary for a ___ major?” and comparing several different options.

Who made more a journalist or a forensic scientists (spoiler: it’s the scientist).

In the short amount of time I’ve been in college I’ve changed my major 4 times and each time, the idea of being stuck with it for the rest of my life caused me to change it to something else.

In the summer of 2017 I came to the realization that if I continued switching my major to fit a hypothetical income I had to meet, I would be in school for a long time.

I decided I should go back to what has always been a constant in my life: journalism.

No matter what I changed my major to I always had journalism in the back of my mind.

Joining “The Union” this fall was one of the best decisions I’ve made for myself since attending El Camino.

I’m often met with challenges I would never be introduced to if I didn’t decide to put my fears aside and go with my gut.

It’s okay to not know what you want to do at a young age, trial and error will eventually lead you to where you need to be.

What shows are students and staff currently bingeing or enjoying?

By: Jeremy Taylor, Staff Writer @ECCUnionJeremyT

Jarell Mickens, 17, undecided major “Martin, (is) pretty much it, cause Martin just funny, that’s Martin.”

Camila Jenkin, 28, part-time librarian “Oh it’s an oldie, Arrested Development.”

Olivia Sanchez, 21, psychology major

“Criminal Minds, it’s really interesting. I find it interesting.”

Luis Seche, 18, accounting major

“I’ve been watching “Stranger Things” actually, I find it a really interesting show.”

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 7

FEATURES

Jorge Villa/ Union

Javaria Aziz, 20, geology major, presented a bulk sampling of 30 different fossil beds from a field site in Santa Barbara. “Presenting at the biggest geologist conference in the country was a prestigious honor,” Aziz said.

W

EC student attends national geology conference in Seattle Oshari Arnett • Staff Writer •

@ECCUnionOshari

Photo courtesy of Javaria Aziz

Aziz presenting her research at the Geological Society of America conference.

ith steady movement from the plates in the Himalayan region, it’s predictable that earthquakes and landslides would plague the area. What isn’t quite as predictable is how consistent natural disasters would inspire a third grader to shake things up in a whole new way.

Javaria Aziz, 20, geology major, grew up in Pakistan with mountains and “constant” earthquakes before moving to Los Angeles with her mother at 16 years old.

She recently accomplished something many in her field do not accomplish until they are graduate students.

Aziz was invited to present her research on a bulk sampling of 30 different fossil beds from a field site near Santa Barbara at the Geological Society of America Seattle Conference.

“Presenting at the biggest geologist conference in the country was a prestigious honor,” Aziz said.

As one of the youngest researchers there, the only community college student, and the only western participant, Aziz also received the Paleontological Society Student Ambassador Scholarship, funding her entire trip.

While she is accomplishing the extraordinary, people around Aziz recognize her riveting understanding of the magnitude of her accomplishments.

“We’re happy for her professionally, but we’re also excited for her personally because she’s not taking this for granted,” geology professor Sara Di Fiori said.

According to earth science professor Joe Holliday, what Aziz has already accomplished is considered “unprecedented.”

“She is our most amazing geology major,” Holliday said. “She’s the president of the Science Club (so) she’s already influencing other geologist majors.”

Aziz also works at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles where she was able to build relationships and provide internship opportunities for EC students.

“I try to get people to have the same opportunities as I did,” Aziz said.

Aziz said she is inspired by the fact that she is able to be a woman of color promoting diversity in a field where it is lacking, along with the fact that in her native country, Pakistan, most are steer towards being doctors and engineers.

Because of that, Aziz is on a mission to talk about geology on as many forums as possible.

“I am looking forward to giving a talk (soon) at South Bay Mineral Lapidary Society as an outreach source for getting more people to work in research collections,” Aziz said.

The fire burning inside of Aziz began blazing long ago and she’s now harnessing the flame to begin her journey as an established geologist.

“Geology is my passion. It’s not just a career choice because I am passionate about studying the earth, specifically (doing) field work,” Aziz said.

FEATURES

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 8

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

INTRODUCING...

LORD ROKA

Jorge Villa/ Union Rapper Danny Arana a.k.a. Lord Roka credits El Camino for changing the course of his life. “EC changed my life cause now (I’m focusing) more on how can I survive in the educational world and a world that’s striving to go up instead of going down,” Arana said. Arana’s music video for “Dinosaurs & Robots” is currently streaming on YouTube.

El Camino rapper promotes anti-bullying in music videos Joseph Sanker Staff Writer

@ECCUnionJoseph

D

anny Arana may seem like your average, everyday EC student, but much like Clark Kent, there’s an entirely different persona hidden in plain sight.

That persona is Lord Roka, Danny’s artist name, his superman to his Clark Kent, and as an artist, Danny has a positive message for anyone out there who’s willing to listen.

“Dinosaurs & Robots” is a song that Danny, as Lord Roka, made a music video for as a way of promoting uplifting messages like being yourself and not giving into peer pressure.

“Basically, the dinosaurs are the bullies and the robots are the nerds, and they’re fighting with one another, trying to take over the school,” Arana said.

“And then (in) the music video you have a young child who’s going to school and here he’s deciding on whether he should be part of the dinosaurs and conform to their way of life or just be like the robots and just be proud to be a nerd and don’t let nobody punk you, even if you do get hurt, so, at the end of the music video the child just decides to just be himself, and just be like ‘you know I’m not gonna be part of that world or this world, I’m (going to) just be me.’”

The commitment that Danny has with his artistry, is the same commitment that he has with being a student at EC. “I have the same passion for both education and music, and I love to learn, I love to read books, I’ve been reading books since I was five years old,” Arana said. “They just balance each other out, and that’s how I’m able to come to school and also be active in my passion which is music.”

However, Danny wasn’t always so focused on education like he is now. Prior to coming to EC, Danny lead a more disorderly lifestyle.

“Before ECC, I was just working, and also, I had friends who were active in the gang life in L.A. and I also became a gang member myself,” Arana said. “When you’re in that type of environment (you’re) just thinking survival, (you’re) thinking how the best way to get away with robbing somebody or beating somebody up or defending yourself.”

After coming to EC in spring 2010, Danny began to turn his life around for the better and he credits EC itself for this positive change.

“EC changed my life cause now (I’m focusing) more on how can I survive in the educational world and a world that’s striving to go up instead of going down” Arana said. “Now that I’m at EC, I’m focusing on how to get better grades, how to network with people, how to talk to individuals because you have to be that way in order to survive in this college environment.”

Danny also credits Project Success, a program on campus that works with EC students, for helping him change his mentality for the better as well.

One of Danny’s counselors at Project Success, Brian Mims, notes how the program has assisted Danny into becoming motivated to go after an education.

“Once he came here and joined the program he was able to see students that looked like himself and looked differently, but (were) still pursuing their education,” Mims said. “And (him) finding out that it’s not a bad thing (to) actually do this.”

Danny’s history professor, Daniel Walker, has great sentiments about Danny’s life outside of the classroom, particularly in the realm of music, especially after watching the music video for “Dinosaurs & Robots.”

“It really shows his vision for what art is, when you think of him, he’s an artist, he’s not just like ‘I’m just rapping.’ He gets it,” Walker said. “At the same time, it’s good music, some people, they try too hard to be so conscious and then it’s like ‘but it’s not good anymore’, it’s not that, he’s grooving.”

Catch Danny Arana as Lord Roka, performing “Dinosaurs & Robots” live on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. during the Black Student Union Dinner in the Alondra Room above the bookstore.

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

The champ is here

Ali Ludwig will compete in the 2017 IWF World Weightlifing Championhips for a chance to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 9

Coach’s Corner: Season Wrap Ups Dmitri Hansen

Editor-in-Chief @ECCUnionDmitri

Football, Gifford Lindheim The football team finished the season with a 5-5 record. The team won its first three games of the season but began to lose when they faced higher ranking teams.

The Warriors will face Palomar on Saturday, Nov. 18 in their first bowl game since 2011. “(The bowl game) is something really positive,” EC head coach Lindheim said. “I’m pleased with the direction of our program. We’re clearly improving.”

Men’s Soccer, Darin Dunn The men’s soccer team finished the seaosn with a 6-9-7 record. The team won five more games this season than they did last year.

“We had a pretty tough schedule, out of the 16 teams that were in the playoffs we played 12 of them,” EC assistant coach Darin Dunn said.

“Overall I think the guys did okay,.

We caused problems for whichever team we had to play.”

Ali Ludwig, 25, lifts 220 lbs., or 100 kilograms in Waxman’s Gym in Anaheim, CA. “If (making the U.S. Olympic team) were to happen, I just feel like that would be like the pinnacle of all of this put together.” Ludwig said.

Jeremy Taylor

Staff Writer @ECCUnionJeremyT

Two chalk covered hands grasp the barbell. Her hands calloused from hours of repetition.

Her head is in perfect allignment with her shoulders and back, several voices can be heard in the background shouting words of encouragement.

She lifts her head and then the room goes silent, the bar starts to ascend slowly off of the ground unitl it aligns with the middle of her thighs.

Then is a flash of raw power and speed, she throws the bar over her head while descending into a full squat then exploding into a full standing position, holding the bar

overhead, completing the Olympic lift know as the, “snatch.”

“I love snatching in training, but I defnitely feel more comfortable clean and jerking in competition.” she said.

Ali Ludwig, 25, is the first ever National Champion in the 90kg weight class in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting.

Later this month, she will be competing in Anaheim, CA at the 2017 IWF World Weightlifting Championships for an opportunity at potentially earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

Ludwig played volleyball at Penninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates, C.A., and even competed in the Junior Olypmics for volleyball.

In 2012, Ludwig discovered

Crossfit after being, ‘burnt out on volleyball’ and she fell in love with it.

“I liked that you were kind of pushing each other, so it’s kind of that competetive aspect that I was missing in the gym,” Ludwig said.

Fast forward three years and Ludwig was discovered by Sean Waxman after seeing a video of her working out.

“I was impressed with how she moved, her size and how coordinated she was,” Waxman said. “Her work ethic, athletic ability and her focus are not unique but it’s what elite level athletes possess, she has those intangibles.

At El Camino, Ludwig plans to major in Kinesology and Psychology.

“I plan on most likely getting my

Masters in Clincical Psychology, that is if I decide not to pursue Sports Psychology.” Ludwig said.

She plans to increase her workload after the World Championships.

“The semester is ending right around this competition, so I didn’t want to be like bombarded with like, if I were to take (Chemistry) or like Anantomy,” Ludwig said.

Ludwig will be competing in Anaheim, CA at the 2017 IWF World Weightlifting Championships for an opportunity at potentially earning spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

“I mean if that were happen, I just feel like that would be like the pinnacle of all of this put together,” Ludwig said.

Jeremy Taylor / Union

Facts about Ali Ludwig First Ever National Champion in the Women’s 90kg class Competing in the sport since 2014 She is sponsored by GRRRL (A women’s clothing company) She will compete in the 2017 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, CA She’s a double major at El Camino College (Kinesiology and Clinical Psychology) Instagram: @aliannludwig

Men’s Water Polo, Corey Stanbury The men’s water polo team finished the seaosn with a 14-9 record. The team placed third in the SCC Championship tournament, beating Mt. San Antonio College 11-6.

“They had an outstanding season. First winning record we had in a couple years,” EC head coach Corey Stanbury said. “Some of the highlights over the course of the season (were) the season ending game against Mt. SAC, that was awesome. It was a fun ride.”

Women’s Water Polo, Corey Stanbury The women’s water polo team finished the seaosn with a 5-20 record. The team won its last game of the season in the SCC Championships. That 16-5 victory against Rio Hondo College earned the team 7th place in the tournament.

“I thought over the course of the season our play really improved a lot, I was pretty happy with that,” EC head coach Corey Stanbury said. “Overall it was a pretty successful season.”

Women’s Soccer, Darin Dunn The women’s soccer team finished the seaosn with a record of 11-9-1, The team nearly missed the playoffs by one point this season.

“I think we finished off the season 8-4-0, we ended up finishing very strong,” EC assistant coach Darin Dunn said. “We just missed out on the playoffs by .40 points, a very small margin.”

Women’s Volleyball, Liz Hazell Dmitri Hansen / Union

Sophia Loiola (No. 10) and Keily Morimoto (No. 15) yell with passion after getting the 24th point in the fourth set. Aiko Waters (No. 7) was physcially drained after playing all four sets of the game against Long Beach on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Revenge, check. Conference title, check. Next up, State.

Women’s volleyball team win eighth consecutive conference title by winning eight games straight, including pivotal game against Long Beach.

Dmitri Hansen

Editor-in-Chief @ECCUnionDmitri

There was a different vibe in the EC South Gym on Wednesday, Nov. 8 and everyone could tell.

The conference title was on the line for the Warriors, and so was their streak of seven consecutive conference titles.

Audience members in the South Gym were rowdy and anxious for a Warrior victory.

Emotions ran high on both sides in a match that saw the El Camino Warriors beat their rivals, the Long Beach Vikings in four sets.

If the Warriors won, they would won the opporunity to share the conference title with the Vikings with a victory against L.A. Harbor on Tuesday, Nov. 14

If Long Beach won, they would own the conference title and stop a seven-year conference title streak

by EC. During the first set, the Warriors took an early lead due to kills by outside hitters Aiko Waters and Motley.

The Vikings began to rally midway through, but the Warriors got back on track after a timeout.

Kills by Waters and Jerephina Leilua won the set for the Warriors 25-19.

“Aiko stayed in the entire match, never came out,” Motley said. “She kept her energy and I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

The second set was a complete back-and-forth between both teams. Whenever the Vikings took the lead, the Warriors stormed right back. Due to two spurts of

three-point runs, the Warriors ran ahead and won the set 25-19.

Coming out of the break and going into the third set, the Vikings looked like a completely different team, starting the set on a 6-0 run.

The Vikings ended up winning the set by a score of 25-15.

“We (kind of) picked it up in game three,” Long Beach assistant coach Devon Taylor said. “Figured a few things out, subbed some people out, put some new people in.”

In the fourth set, the crowd got loud once more and the Warriors picked up their game.

The Warriors took the late lead due to kills by Waters and blocks at the net by Renee Brydon. The 24th point earned by EC in the fourth set fired up the Warriors and the crowd more than any point had in

the entire game.

Leilua got the kill to end the fourth set that the Warriors won 25-21.

The crowd erupted and P.A. announcer Tom Hazell’s voice cracked as he called, “Point, El Camino.”

Fans rushed onto the court to celebrate with the team. Motley and Waters felt to their knees after the victory while their teammates celebrated with the fans.

“That (game) was everything I thought it’d be,” Motley said after the victory. “I feel amazing. I’m on top of the moon right now and I couldn’t have asked more from my team.”

Despite losing, the Vikings will share the conference title with the Warriors.

“I want to say El Camino played

a really great game,” Taylor said.

“They just did a lot more things than they did the last time, that kind of shook us. Kudos to them.”

The victory against Long Beach meant that El Camino won the opportunity to have eight consecutive conference titles.

“2009 was the last time we didn’t win it last,” EC head coach Liz Hazell said. “Quite the legacy to try to live up to there.”

Motley and Waters led the offense with 13 and 19 kills respectively. Waters’ 19 kills were tied for most in the game with Long Beach freshman Josannah Vazquez.

Last time the Warriors didn’t win their conference:

Obama was President, “Tik Tok” by Kesha was Billboard’s top song and ‘The Hurt Locker’ won Best Picture

The women’s volleyball team finished the season with a 19-4 record, and added to their streak of consecutive conference titles by winning against their rivals Long Beach and L.A. Harbor.

“We put ourselves in a good spot to get a good seed and havee some momentum going in playoffs,” EC head coach Liz Hazell said. “I feel like they exceeded (expectations), obviously we want to win conference and it was huge for us.”

Cross Country, Dean Lofgren The men’s and women’s cross country team will finish its season at the State Championships on Saturday, Nov 18. The event will take place in Fresno, CA. The men’s team currently rank No. 3 in the state and the women’s team currently rank No. 7 in the state.

“We’re hoping that everybody puts their best race together on the big day, EC coach Dean Lofgren said.

“Some teams are going to rise up and do really well. We’re hoping we’re one of those.”

SPORTS

10 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Dmitri Hansen / Union

Stephon Robinson (No.4) rushes past two Grossmont defenders in a Warriors victory. “All the boxes for a receiver you check with Stephon but his ability to make big catches in big situations to break the game open, he’s the guy,” EC offensive coordinator Tim Kaub said.

Showing the world heart can’t be measured

EC wide receiver Stephon Robinson was looked down at all his life, now he’s speeding past the doubters Oshari Arnett

Staff Writer @ECCUnionOshari

“We don’t want him, he’s too small.”

El Camino wide receiver Stephon Robinson heard the whispers from coaches around him at an early age.

“I actually didn’t see myself as being that small,” Robinson said.

“I thought I was regular.”

Robinson’s mother, Cheryl Duncan, said he’s anything but regular.

“He’s my miracle child,” Duncan said. “As a child he caught meningitis and there was a 95 percent chance he wouldn’t walk again.”

Robinson has bounced back strong since overcoming the brain and spinal cord infection.

Through nine games at EC, Robinson ranked 11th in receptions (52), second in receiving yards (994), third in yards per game (110.4) and ninth in yards per catch (19.1) according to the California Community College Athletic Association.

Robinson began playing football at six years old when his mom dragged him to the field.

“At first I did not want to play football, I hated it,” Robinson

said. “My mom asked me, ‘Do you wanna play tackle football?’ I was like ‘No,’ I was crying.”

It didn’t take Robinson long to adapt.

His second year playing, he laid a big hit on an opposing player and the rest is history.

“He fumbled and I was like, ‘Ooh I like this,’” Robinson said.

As Robinson got older he stayed small in stature, measuring at 4 feet 9 inches as a freshman at Narbonne High School.

Robinson was often overlooked because of his size.

“I moved myself to receiver because I missed like a day or two, I came back and they said, ‘starting groups’ and I wasn’t on there,” Robinson said.

Robinson was determined to be a starter.

After five games into his freshman season he was moved to the junior varsity team.

What couldn’t be measured was his heart.

After Robinson suffered a broken wrist three games into his junior year playing varsity at Narbonne, he exploded for 65 receptions, 1,300 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior.

“The one advantage Steph has ... is he’s had to work for everything,” Tim Kaub, El Camino offensive coordinator said.

Kaub, who has known Robinson since he was in the seventh grade, believes the only reason Robinson is at a junior college is because he

was plagued by injury his junior year in high school.

“You can’t put a quantifiable number on his playmaking ability because it’s truly an intangible thing,” Kaub said. “All the boxes for a receiver you check with Stephon but his ability to make big catches in big situations to break the game open, he’s the guy.”

Robinson is described as a humble kid, with a big heart and a chip on his shoulder.

Robinson currently holds two scholarship offers: one from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut and another from Middle Tennessee State University.

His hard work and dedication are seemingly beginning to pay off.

Those around him hope he

continues improving so he can perform at the next level.

“I really would like him to finish, put the period on the sentence and just lead by example like he’s been doing all season for us,” Kaub said.”

Robinson has battled through adversity making the most of each opportunity he has had and strives to continue doing so in order to make his dreams come true.

“Really all my life I was like ‘I (want to) go to the NFL,’”, Robinson said. “Finding the right college, that I feel most comfortable at that I believe I can get to the next level and you know just going in there and working hard as I been doing and hopefully it take me to the NFL.”

announced that the Warriors will host Palomar Community College in the “Beach Bowl”.

The Warriors started the 2017 season well with three consecutive victories, including dominant performances against L.A. Southwest and Moorpark.

The season shifted in a different direction once the Warriors traveled to play a highly ranked Saddleback College team.

“For us (the game) is a measuring stick, to see where we are,” EC head coach Gifford Lindheim said before the Saddleback game.

The Warriors lost two straight after winning three to start the year.

The losing streak was broken when the Warriors won on homecoming night against L.A. Harbor College.

The Warriors lost two straight after that game, including their first at home to the second best team in the state, Riverside College.

The Warriors’ opponent for Saturday’s game will be the Palomar Comets, who started the season well with a 4-1 record.

When October began, things went downhill for Palomar. The team lost four consecutive games

but won its season finale against Grossmont College.

“We were feeling pretty good, it’s better than being the alternative, 1-4,” Palomar head coach Joe Early said. “Once we got into conference, we felt like we lost some games we shouldn’t have. That was due to our own mistakes.”

Coach Early expects an El Camino team that, “could be easily 8-2 or 9-1.”

“Palomar and El Camino have a history of really good football games,” Early said. “I know they put up a lot of points on offense,

they have really good athletes.”

The Warriors will get back their lineman, Kingjames Taylor and Jacob Pugh-Scruggs, who were suspended two games before the season ended due to a level three decorum violations.

“It means a lot to us, they’re big, physical guys,” sophomore defensive back De’Edward Cormier said. “We’re happy to have them back because of the energy they bring to the offense and this team overall. Not to mention the experience that they have.”

This will be El Camino’s first

bowl game since 2011, The game will take place at Murdock Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 18. The kick-off will be at 2 p.m.

EC faculty and students will be permitted free entry into the game.

Any students from other colleges will be charged $8 for entry and any adults will be charged $12 for entry.

“It means a lot to be able to bring a bowl game back to (EC) after six years,” sophomore defensive back Nathaniel Vaughn said. “It’s a blessing to extend my career here one more week.”

Somebody grab the chips and salsa, the Warriors are going to a bowl game

The football team will play in its first bowl game since 2011, will face Palomar Dmitri Hansen Editor-in-Chief @ECCUnionDmitri

Despite losing its season finale to Long Beach by a score of 55-48, the Warriors left that game hoping they would be eligible for a bowl game.

On Sunday morning, it was

END OF SEASON RECORDS UPCOMING PLAYOFF GAMES FOOTBALL 5 wins, 5 losses

MEN’S WATER POLO 14 wins and 9 losses

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL 19 wins and 4 losses

MEN’S SOCCER 6 wins, 9 losses and 7 ties

WOMEN’S SOCCER 11 wins, 9 losses and 1 tie

WOMEN’S WATER POLO 5 wins and 20 losses

FOOTBALL vs Palomar “Beach Bowl” Murdock Stadium Saturday, Nov. 18

MEN’S / WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY State Championships Woodward Park.

Fresno, CA Saturday, Nov. 18

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Opponent is TBA Date is TBA