El Camino College The Union, Vol 71, Issue 1

EL CAMINO COLLEGE

Bringing stories to life with ink on the body, P. 6

THE UNION eccunion.com

MARCH 2, 2017 Follow us at /ECCUnion

Like us at /ElCaminoUnion

El Camino is back to school with more reports of peeping and theft

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English instructor files restraining order against former student Phil Sidavong and Keith Francis

Editor-in-chief and Assistant News Editor @ECCUnionPhil @ECCUnionKeith

A male student was served a trespassing warning after attempting to add a class with a female English instructor on Feb. 14, according to the police beat.

El Camino Police Chief Michael Trevis confirmed that the faculty member is English instructor Briita Halonen in a phone interview on Feb. 21.

The student was served his warning due to Halonen having a restraining order against him.

It was reported that the student had been emailing Halonen (contents are currently unknown) repeatedly.

EC Administration issued a “no contact directive” on behalf of the faculty member against the student who sent her the email.

Trevis added that he cannot disclose any more information due to the investigation being an ongoing case.

“As of now we are working with the district attorney’s office (on the investigation),” Trevis said.

Halonen said in an email that she does support student journalism, but she is unable to comment on the case at this time.

Restraining order was not available

Phil Sidavong

S

Editor-in-chief @ECCUnionPhil

easons change, but news and crime are always happening, especially at El Camino.

From theft to altercations to vehicle damage and even restraining orders against students, there are a multitude of things that can happen.

This semester has already given light to what has been a recent pattern: big stories happen at, or near, El Camino.

Most recently a student was served a trespassing warning for trying to add a class, with an English teacher.

That English instructor has a restraining order against him, as of Feb. 14.

Santa Monica, L.A. Pierce and L.A. Southwest colleges had 110 total reported crimes, while El Camino had 120 total, according to each college’s annual crime report from 2016.

El Camino has had more reported crimes than three neighboring community colleges and it doesn’t stop there.

This semester, there has already been several incidents like the potential peeping tom who was found in the women’s locker room and the theft in the men’s locker room while a student was showering.

History repeats itself:

Last fall:

UPCOMING

TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA

Send us an email at /eccunion@gmail.com

Just another crime story

During the fall 2016 semester (which is not yet included in the annual crime reports) there were five reported armed robberies, as reported first on ECCUnion.com.

All five were reported to have happened somewhere on Manhattan Beach Boulevard, between Lemoli Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard (one of which was on campus).

The first two of those cases happened within an hour of each other, and the result is that there is now constant police presence on that street.

At almost any given time a patrol car can be seen on the street parked on the south side of Manhattan Beach Boulevard.

Daniel Morales, 18, business administration major, said that he did hear about the iPhone robbery,

Cassius Hamm takes the mound for baseball team, P. 8

Crime Map illustration depicting crime reports on campus for February 2017 and November 2016. but he didn’t think the campus was dangerous.

“The information doesn’t get to me so it makes it feel like it’s not important,” Morales said. “I don’t feel safe on campus.”

Going further back to the end of the spring 2016 semester, two students were on campus shooting a replica air soft gun.

Campus advisories went out and the students were detained and questioned, but no one was harmed.

In January 2015, Peyton Dingman called the Campus Police station via one of the blue telephone poles in Lot F. Dingman said that he had a hostage at gunpoint, in which

ECPD responded to the area and a gunfight broke out.

Dingman was shot in the upper torso and spent time in the hospital and it was later confirmed that his gun was actually a pellet gun, as first reported on ECCUnion.com.

Off-campus, but close to home: Ryan Murray, 18, undecided major, said that he heard about the student who got shot by the Baskin Robbins down Crenshaw Boulevard.

“I did think about my safety before coming here, but recently nothing has come to my attention,” Murray said.

The former student who was shot to death at Baskin Robbins was Kody Ryan Cook.

His killer was sentenced to prison this past summer.

Former El Camino student Tommy Cheatham was stabbed in his backyard just last year.

Former El Camino basketball player Wendell Lee was shot and killed two years ago.

There may not be a specific pattern to the plentiful crime reports at El Camino, but the campus continues to have more than other schools.

“I try to keep myself updated,” Murray said. “But I don’t really know where to look.”

Phil Sidavong

For more news and crime stories, check out

eccunion.com Follow us on Twitter @ECCUnion for social media updates

Dash Porter sent a total of 13 messages via Facebook to formerEnglish professor Cynthia Somin due to receiving a failing grade.

He sent those messages throughout 2015 and Somin read the messages and told police before the restraining order against Porter was set in 2016.

Porter allegedly threatened to kill Somin with a gun and has had multiple court appearances since being expelled from school.

“I’m coming to kill you tomorrow!!!! (Gun’s loaded),” Porter’s final message said on Dec. 8, 2015, according to the temporary restraining order.

There was also an instance where a faculty member received threatening voice mails on his phone on March 11, 2016.

Somin also left her position at El Camino in May 2016.

“If a student or anyone is emailing you to the point it becomes annoying, contact (Student Development Director Greg) Toya or (myself),” Trevis said.

Body image blogger to speak on campus

El Camino hosts prospective transfer workshops

Don Perez/ Union

Sierra Robles/ Union

Loving your body and other plus-size social topics will be the subjects of the night on March 9 at Marsee Auditorium when Jes Baker takes the stage.

The College of Business of Administration will be holding a Prospective Transfer Admission Workshop Friday, March 3 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB), according to a flier in the student services building.

Describing herself as a “fat chick, speaker, author, fatshion fan, self-love enthusiast and trouble maker” on her blog site, themilitantbaker.com, Baker spearheaded the “Attractive and Fat” movement against Abercrombie and Fitch, and worked with other clothing companies and stores on plus-size image and clothing with other companies.

The author of the book “Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls,” Baker flavors her language like her coffee -- strong -- but believes every person in this world deserves respect, regardless of shape, sex, color, ability or age.

The event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $24. For more information, visit the Center for the Arts’ website.

This is great opportunity for students who are interested in enrolling at CSULB, according to a flier in the student services building, but El Camino will not be providing any sort of transportation to this workshop, according to a flier in the student services building.

Students will be responsible for registering for this event, and commuting to this event, according to a flier in the student services building.

For more information regarding this workshop, visit this link: http://web.csulb.edu/colleges/cba/prospective-students/register.html

2 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

POLICE BEAT

By Keith Francis

Police stop wrong man for bike theft, find he has warrant Thursday, Feb. 23 at 2:07 p.m. A male, non-student, was stopped by an officer on suspicion of stealing one or both of the bicycles he had with him.

The stop occurred in the 15400 Block of Crenshaw Boulevard.

The officer detained the male and began investigating to make sure the bicycles were not stolen.

He ran the serial numbers on the bicycles and checked the cable locks to make sure they were not tampered with. Both bicycles and locks were approved, but the male had a $10,000 warrant issued out of Long Beach Police Department for a municipal code violation. The officer then issued him a citation for the warrant and released him.

Student feels dizzy, but declines transport to hospital Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 2:55 p.m.

A male student started feeling dizzy while sitting in his class which was located in Room 348 of the Arts and Behavioral Science Building. The instructor asked the student if he needed any medical assistance, the student replied and said yes. The instructor then notified ECPD. The paramedics were notified, but the student declined to be transported to a hospital, because he began to feel better, and said he will make an appointment with his personal medical doctor.

For more police beats, check out eccunion.com

NEWS

MARCH 2, 2017

Special Resources Center aims to help students Students with disabilities can get help with school at the the SRC Selvin Rodas

T

Staff Writer @ECCUnionSelvin

he Special Resource Center provides services to disabled students from counselors to note takes in order for students to success and graduate from EC, the director of the program said.

“I use the computers (when) I can’t finish my homework at home.

They let us finish it in the High Tech Center,” Shaveiatay Demmerelle, 31, child development major said.

Demmerelle who has been part of the Special Resource Center for five years and has a cerebral palsy disability said that the program has helped her a lot because she has the services that she needs to pass all her classes.

For example, she uses a software that reads to her because she has a hearing loss and with that she is able to listen and understand her assignments better.

“Everyone is different. Everyone is unique,” Gary Greco, director of the SRC said. “So understanding and be able to meet their challenges and their educational barriers in the classes or in the campus are very, very important.”

SRC provides services to disabled students from counselors to note takers in order for students to success and graduate from El Camino, the director of the program said.

“My greatest joy working here (at SRC) is seeing our diverse students satisfied and happy with the accessibility and the equality that they have here on campus,”

Shontel Leake/ Union The members of the Society of Music club are raising funds during the Fund Fair on the week Greco said.

Greco said some of the challenges that come with the job are understanding the educational barriers that some of the students with disabilities have.

In order to meet those challenges students first talks to a counselor to see what classes they need to take and what services they will need to use to success in their classes.

Others services that students have at their disposal are the Testing Accommodations Room and the High Tech Center.

The Testing Room is for students to finish their homework or test with enough time, so they won’t frustrate themselves. The room has security cameras that keep students from cheating on their assignments, Greco said.

“Professors need to send the test in an envelope or by email, so the students can finish it in the room,” Greco said.

Students use the High Tech Center to do their school assignments and it helps them with softwares that are design for them depending on what their disabilities are.

Adjunct Instructor and Success Coach, Tisa Casas, who has a physical disability has been working for 17 years at EC. “We teach students how to use all kinds of adapting software.

Those softwares help students with learning disabilities, visual impairments, and physical disabilities,” Casas said. “I even use the softwares myself.”

Casas said that she uses Dragon Naturally Speaking software,

which is a program that she can talk to the computer and it types, so she doesn’t need to use their hands.

Other students with different needs have the same treatment like Kris Carillo, 21, film/video major.

“I’ve been in EC over a year,” Carillo said. “(SRC) has helped me with setting things with classes and by letting my teachers know about my disabilities and my accommodations.”

Carrillo said that he gets extra time for things because he “usually takes (his) time to finish (his) assignments.”

Carrillo, who has a delayed learning disability, agreed with Demmerelle that the program provides the necessary services and that SRC does its best to reach everyone’s goals.

In 2018, SRC will move to a new building which will be located next to the new parking structure that the college is building.

Greco said that he would like to promote a more universally design campus, which can provide classrooms with the technology they have to be accessible for all students.

Casas also said disabled students need to be more self-advocacy and they need to learn to speak up and to let people know they are competent and they have skills to get employment.

“I think (SRC) is a great program because it encourages students to do their best and to achieve their academics success,” Casas said.

“It’s really great to help students mainstream.”

Campus offers ‘safe spaces’ for students of color, religion and orientation This semester El Camino has set up meetings for students to freely speak without inhibition Nohemy Barrera

Staff Writer @ECCUnionNohemy

Students and faculty shared personal thoughts and opinions on how to provide support at El Camino at a safe space meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23 in the Alondra Room.

Before the group activity started, there were a couple “ground rules” set such as, being respectful, letting everyone speak, and keeping

confidentiality.

Soon after, the whole audience turned into five separate groups.

Each group had about five to six members.

The whole room was quiet, but you could still hear murmuring and indistinct voices and conversations.

Each group was focused on their current speaking member and all members seemed to engage in their group’s conversation.

“It’s really inspiring to see staff and students working together,” Cyril Boysen, 24, sociology major, said. “Not necessarily as ‘student and faculty’, but more as peers.”

At the beginning of the dialogue, everyone was provided with

information on how they can make a change in their community, such calling members of congress, attending town hall meetings, and joining advocacy groups or clubs.

Everyone was also given a safety pin that represents, whoever wears it, taking a pledge that supports inclusive and safe environment, respects the diversity of views our campus endorses through core values, respects all members of the campus community, students and employees, and pledging to promote student learning, according to the pin.

“I like that this is a series and students will be able to continue to attend these,” Career and Transfer

Counselor, Lesley Meza said. “It’s a really great space for students to express their concerns and I feel like they did feel comfort and support while being here.”

Toward the end of the dialogue, each group was asked to share their discussions.

“I saw that most if not all of these students have concerns for their family and friends, as well as their communities,” Academic Senate president Kristie Daniel DiGregorio said.

The dialogue series plans to have three more meetings, one in March, April, and May. They will be discussing a specific topic in each meeting such as the Muslim,

black and African American, and LGBTQ+ communities, according to the dialogue schedule.

English professor and dialogue series host, Rachel Williams, says she hopes to see more students come to the next meetings.

“I’m impressed by the risk students took to share they’re thoughts. it was very brave of them to do this,” Williams said.

The next meeting will focus on how to provide a safe space for Muslim students and the Muslim community on our campus. It will be held on Tuesday, March 21, from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Stadium Room.

Upcoming “safe spaces” • Muslim In America on Tuesday, March 21 at 1 2:30 p.m.

• Black In America on Tuesday, April 25 at 1 - 2:30 p.m.

• LGBTQ+ In America on Tuesday, May 23 at 1 - 2:30 p.m.

Get a free copy of The Union at any of the following locations

Northeast side of campus

- First floor of the Humanities Building - Humanities division office - Cafe Camino - Crenshaw door of the Humanities Building - Natural Sciences Courtyard - Library Reading Room - Natural Sciences division office - Switchboard Desk - Outside the front and back doors of the library

South side of campus

- Math division office - Social Sciences division office - Business division office - Campus Deli - Music division office - Student Health Center - Music library - Art and Behavioral Science division office - El Camino Police Department - Marsee Auditorium

Center and northwest side of campus

- Student Activities Center - P.E. Courtyard - Student Services Center - Outside the front doors of the Bookstore - South side of the Technical Arts Building - Technical Arts division office

NEWS

MARCH 2, 2017

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 3

‘FloWater’ gets approval for campus After months of trying to get the money, student government makes plans reality for water stations Nohemy Barrera

Staff Writer @ECCUnionNohemy

El Camino’s student government approved purified water stations have now been installed on campus, according to Associated Student Organization (ASO) president.

“We believe this is a huge win for the campus, ASO, the environment and the students,” Eman Dalili, ASO president, said.

The water stations are located in the Math, Business and Allied Health Building (MBA), Music Building, Student Services Center, Student Activities Center and the Humanities Building.

The funding for this project was from the ASO budget, including money from ASB stickers and

the total cost for the stations was $23,000, Dalili said.

Maintenance for the water stations will be monitored and provided by El Camino’s maintenance Dalili added.

“I’ve never seen something like this,” Zabdiel Ize, 30, business major, said. “This water doesn’t have the chlorine taste the tap water has.”

Some students seemed to see a difference in taste.

“I’ve used it a couple times already and it’s better than the regular one,” Matthew Kurniawan, 17, computer science major, said.

“It definitely tastes better.”

According to the FloWater website, “each FloWater refill station holds seven gallons of purified water at all times. (Which

is the) equivalent of 60+ 20 oz bottles of water.”

These water stations could help save students money with an unlimited amount of refills on water.

“The water comes from the El Camino tap water [and] the filter will be changed every six months,” Dalili said.

Dalili, who created the idea of bringing the water station on campus, says that he has already begun to see “regulars” and more people walk up to the stations.

“I think it’s very promising, people are bringing their friends and they’re bringing more students,” Dalili said. “In just one week, there have been about two thousand (refilled bottles).”

Locations of water stations • Humanities Building • Math, Business and Allied Health Building • Music Building • Student Services Center • Student Activities Center Shontel Leake/ Union Arisa Hsu, 19, Business Administrative major, says that having the refill stations is good for the school and the water tastes better.

Alba Mejia/ Union A student fills his water bag with the new FloWater purified water refilling stations.

Students help man who has seizure Students take utility cart for ‘joyride’ Man sent to hospital after crash on campus Phil Sidavong

Phil Sidavong

A male student had a seizure and fell to the ground near the Campus Deli on Tuesday, Feb. 21, according to the police beat.

The student fell to the ground and hit the left side of his head on the concrete while walking.

El Camino Police Chief Michael Trevis said that several students helped the fallen student and paramedics were notified immediately, upon arrival the student was transported to a hospital.

Trevis said it was great for those who participated in helping the student while he was experiencing a medical episode.

“Thank you, I appreciate the help, it shows me that students do care to help each other,” he said.

Two students were issued a citation from El Camino police after being caught taking a utility cart for a “joyride,” according to police beat.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 4:55 p.m. a Facilities Department staff member reported that his utility cart had gone missing.

The cart was parked near the Math, Business and Allied Health Building, the staff member said.

After searching the campus, officers located the cart in Lot F occupied by a male and a female student.

The students said that they took the cart for a “joyride.”

The students were issued a citation and were referred to the Director of Student Development.

Editor-in-Chief @ECCUnionPhil

Editor-in-chief @ECCUnionPhil

Keith Francis

Assistant News Editor @ECCUnionKeith

A male non-student was sent to the hospital after crashing into an El Camino College district van on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:55 p.m. in Lot J, according to the police beat.

The male driver seemed to be disoriented and appeared to have been suffering from an unknown medical condition.

It was later determined by a doctor that the male driver was suffering from a low blood sugar insulin reaction, according to the police beat.

There were two people in the EC van, a male track team coach and a female track team member, were not harmed.

Once released from the hospital he was transported to LA County Jail for a No Bail warrant issued out of LAPD for burglary.

Police Chief Michael Trevis was out for the day and could not answer questions about the “No Bail warrant.”

All questions were referred to Community Relations Director Ann Garten by Sgt. Jeffrey Lewis because “he is not authorize to speak to press.”

4 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

PHOTO ESSAY

MARCH 2, 2017

Tattoo Tales Students tell their stories through the ink on their bodies.

John Lopez / Union Samuel Leon, 28, welding major, said “The ‘CUT HERE’ tattoo I got in the mid 2000s when the Arabs were cutting Americans’ heads off and this was sort of a joke to signify the importance of this time.” Leon was a machine gunner for the Marines and has gotten a lot of his tattoos during his time in the military. He is now a veretan student here at EC. The dog on his neck, Leon said, is a symbol of the fact that he didn’t want to be bothered by people. To him a lot of people are intimidated by dogs and that draws them away.

Tattoos have become a trend over years and students at El Camino are covered in them. Some students get them for fun or because they were dared. The Union went out to ask students what the meaning behind their tattoos were and some were deepeer than a dare or than: “Oh I just thought it was pretty.” .Some of these inkings impact on others. We wanted to portray the deeper meaning of why students go out and get a tattoo. Some are military related, others have a life meaning, others gives a sense of hope.

Alba Mejia / Union Eric Scott, 20, engineering major, said: “The tiger and the flower together represents strength and tranquility. It is one of my favorite animals and it represents me as far as going on in life nonstop. It is one of the most feared animals in the jungle. I like having my body covered in art. The tiger relates to me because of football; just to be the best I can be.”

Alba Mejia / Union Analiz Castillo, 21, music major, said, “It’s an anatomical heart with an ocean inside of it. One of my favorite lyrics is: ‘The sea is within me and that’s cause I said so.’ I’ve always felt like I was a lot, like a storm. That’s why that line resonated with me, and that’s why I got this tattoo. The purple cat is just something I got on a Friday the thirteenth.”.

Alba Mejia / Union Analiz Castillo, 21, music major, said: “I was dating my friend at the time and it was Friday the thirteenth. She got a spaceship (and I got the lighthouse). Both of these tattoos represented what we were for each other. I was her first girlfriend and she was mine, and I came out of nowhere. I affectedher in a way she had never been affected before, I was like an alien. She came into my life at a time when I needed some light; she was like a lighthouse to me. Even if we don’t talk anymore and we broke up, this (tattoo) is very symbolic of that time.”

MARCH 2, 2017

EDITORIAL

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 5

A safe haven for all

With the spewing hate over sexual orientations, skin color, and religion, colleges all over have been implementing areas called, “safe space,” where students can go to, in order to feel safe and educated on the matter.

These workshops are specifically designed to help create a safer place for students due to the blind hate people are spreading all over someone’s preference, religion or skin color.

Safe spaces, however wouldn’t have become a reality if it wasn’t for the amount of hate.

We believe that El Camino has been doing a good job by offering safe spaces for students, as it allows the campus to be more safe and educated on the matter.

The decision of EC implementing its very own “safe space” for the student body is not only a good idea, but a beneficial one as well.

It allows students to have a place to go.

At last, college campuses are being more aware and interactive with their student body and have implemented a place as for these situations.

Colleges throughout California such as University of California, Irvine and Santa Monica College, have implemented these into their campuses for their students to have a place to feel safe.

Now El Camino has followed in their footsteps and has implemented its very own “safe space” for its own student body to use.

Dmitri Hansen

Staff Writer @ECCUnionDmitri

A bad beginning for Trump

Illustration by Kanemura Haruka/Union

It is, however, a bit out of the ordinary to have a “safe space” in order for students to feel safe.

No student should have to walk onto campus and not feel like any other student.

It is an outrageous matter that some students are being shunned from the rest of the group.

This can educate as well as help students be more aware of their surroundings, rather than feel uneducated on the matter, as well as having a center that gives them the support that is deserved from

The issue: Colleges throughout the nation are implementing “safe spaces.”

Our stand: Safe spaces are beneficial for both the student body and faculty

the beginning.

Students shouldn’t be afraid of who or what they are.

They should definitely feel enlightened and accepted into the community.

Editorials are written by the editors for The Union, with the subject being aproved by each editor.

CAMPUS VIEWPOINTS By: Keith Francis @ECCUnionKeith

President Donald Trump’s first month in office has been mocked, praised, and despised because of his cabinet nominations and executive orders.

According to Fox News, President Trump has signed 22 executive orders as of Friday, Feb. 3rd. The most controversial order President Trump issued is the 90-day travel ban on Middle Eastern countries, which is being called a, “Muslim ban” by most of the media.

There are 11 Muslim-centric countries in the Middle East and seven of them are part of the travel ban. No refugees from the countries in President Trump’s travel ban have been involved in terrorist attacks in the United States, according to CNN.com.

You have a better chance of seeing a UFO than you do dying in a terrorist attack from a native of those countries in the United States.

The other four countries are believed to be left off President Trump’s travel ban because of his business ties.

Those countries are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt. Qatar has openly supported the terrorist group ISIS jihadists and Saudi Arabia most of the 9/11 plane hijackers are from.

In all honesty, the travel ban is completely ridiculous. It’s not right to generalize a group

of people based on what others from the same group did.

Just like it’s wrong to say all Christians despise members of the LGBTQ community when some Christians openly support those in the community.

The president’s choice for chief strategist, Steve Bannon, is considered to be the main reason as to why some harmful executive orders have been signed.

While being interviewed in 2013 by Ronald Radosh of The Daily Beast, Bannon said, “(Vladimir) Lenin wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down...”

It should be an easy choice to not hire a person who wants to see everything crash and burn, but I guess it wasn’t enough for President Trump.

On Saturday Night Live, Bannon is portrayed as the Grim Reaper and is best friends with Vladimir Putin.

It’s fun to laugh now, but it could turn into a reality. It’s something we don’t know yet.

President Trump’s decisions so far have been alarming to minorities of this country.

There’s three years left to go in his presidency and we need to hope that his upcoming executive orders affect people in a positive way, not potentially dangerous.

Photos By: Ryan Guitare

Editor’s Thoughts:

Trump’s first month in office

Thumbs up, Thumbs Down We like the idea of safe spaces being implemented on campus.

Cynthia Saavedra, 19, undecided major “I feel like our society failed for allowing him into office. I am scared for our future especially because of the immigration checkpoints around our country.”

THE UNION Vol. 71, No. 1 March 2, 2017

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

Safah Shirzad, 19, undecided major

Alondra Gonzalez, 20, English major

“At first I was indifferent about “I am more concerned with no Trump but now I believe he has more checks and balances. We a lot of negative effects on us, are supposed to live in a democAmerica. Because of him, there’s racy but it doesn’t seem like it now a social split.” anymore.”

Editor-in-Chief �������������������������������������������������������������������������� Phil Sidavong News Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Phil Sidavong Opinion/Editorial Editor ��������������������������������������������������������� Jimmy Nguyen Assistant News Editor......................................................................Keith Francis Arts Editor......................................................................................Jimmy Nguyen Sports Editor ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������Eric Ramos Co-Photo Editor....................................................................................Alba Mejia Co-Photo Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������ Shontel Leake Features Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Alba Mejia Advertising Manager ������������������������������������������������������������������� Jack Mulkey Adviser ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������Kate McLaughlin Adviser ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Stefanie Frith Photo Adviser...................................................................................Gary Kohatsu

Lonnie Ro, 26, industrial design major “I think it’s ironic that he’s doing everything he said he was going to do. We are all kind of used to politicians not doing everything they say they will do.”

We dislike the travel ban issued by President Trump.

The Union is published Thursdays by Journalism 11 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.

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ARTS

6 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

MARCH 2, 2017

New Dean of Fine Arts feels cofident and welcomed Berkeley Price is passionate about music Victor Liptzin Staff Writer @ECCUnionVictorL As the new semester begins, a new dean comes in and fills the missing void of the fine arts department after El Camino’s old dean retired.

The new Dean of Fine Arts at EC is Berkeley Price, who was originally from Antelope Valley College where his role there was Chair of the Performing Arts.

Before Price came to EC as the new dean, former Dean of Fine Arts Connie Fitzsimons retired and was later replaced with Choral Director Joanna Medawar Nachef as the interim dean.

With all of Price’s past experiences in performing arts at Antelope Valley College, he said he was ready to take on his new role as the Dean of Fine Arts at EC. “I am just getting acquainted with my role for just over a month after I started in January with so many fine programs like music, dance, theater, communication studies, photography and all arts visual and historic,” Price said.

Following his interview with Vice President of Academic Affairs Jean Shankweiler, Price was the only candidate qualified to be the Dean of Fine Arts over several candidates from other colleges.

“When we asked him questions during the interview, his ability to answer the questions made us believe that he would be the best person for the job,” Shankweiler said. “He had the best ability to do the best out of all the people we

interviewed.”

Shankweiler declined to comment on how many people competed to be the new Dean of Fine Arts.

Associate Dean of Fine Arts Walter Cox said Price brings a lot to the table due to his previous job as the department chair at Antelope Valley College.

“I am excited about the new dean because we had a little bit of a transition after our old Dean of Fine Arts left, and we had an interim Dean last fall ,” Cox said.

“Now our new dean is here and he’s able to get the work going and learn his job the way he did things from his previous school.”

Other than being the new Dean of Fine Arts at EC, Price is also a musician who likes playing many instruments such as the clarinet, the saxophone, and the piano.

“I consider myself as far as a performer goes, a clarinetist,” Price said. “That’s probably my favorite because I could do most with it touring all over the world, making records and lots of memories with friends.”

Price said he likes to travel with his mother and wife, as well as perform with many bands all over the world.

“In high school and college I was able to travel to places like the United Kingdom, Japan several times, China, to all over the United States and Canada,” Price said.

“I performed in Australia, New Zealand, Panama, Greece and several trips to England and it has been really fun.”

Shontel Leake/Union Berkeley Price is the new Dean of Fine Arts and is coming from Antelope Valley College. Price enjoys playing the clarinet on his own time.

Music club encourages people to join Society of Music wishes for people with interest to get involved Sierra Robles Staff Writer @ECCUnionSierra

During times where musical artists want to be well known and heard, the El Camino Society of Music gives them a chance to do so.

Shira Basa, president of EC Society of Music, 20 said the club gives students more performance opportunities.

Basa said she first joined this club during the fall 2016 semester and was elected as the vice president. She said that there are almost no restrictions when it comes to the kind of music allowed in the club. ”There has never been any issues with the use of profan ity,” Basa said. “We always encourage the music to be respectful.”

Basa also said that students who are interested in music should check out the club.

Vice President Cesar Ballardo, 23, vocal performance major said he primarily joined the club because he felt that it was not getting enough recognition. ”I noticed it wasn’t getting enough attention,” Ballardo said. “Being part of it and being able to participate helps get the club more exposure.”

Ballardo also said that its member are passionate about music and that they want to encourage more diverse styles as well as make new friends by bonding through music.

Secretary of the club Lorna Katz, 56, music voice major said she shares a high passion for music and wants to use her passion to inspire other people.

“I am passionate in vocal music and I am part of an organization which educates women in acapella music

and teaches important vocal skills which helps a lot,” Katz said.

Other members of the club shared similar experiences and feel the need to get more students involved in music like Berkley Kielhack, 21, music major, treasurer of the Music Club.

“It is a great opportunity to join this club and get involved,” Kielhack said. “I am very passionate in Opera and classical music.”

Kielhack also said that joining this club allowed him to find others who has a similar interest.

“I joined because our goal is to really reach out to people.

It allows them to have opportunities to perform and share their love for music,” Kielhack said.

The EC Society of Music meets every Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Music Building Room 125.

Journey across America film coming soon Sierra Robles Staff Writer @ECCUnionSierra The Marsee Auditorium will be screening a film about a man’s journey across America on Monday, March 6 at 3 p.m.

The film is called “Back Roads and Byway of America” and will be narrated by Don Van Dolen, according to the Center for the Arts.

“Van Dolen will be speaking about his experiences across America,” a worker for the Center for the Arts who only wanted to be identified as Terrie said.

Tickets will be sold for $9 and the showing is open to the public.

For additional information, contact the Center for the Arts at (310)329-5345.

SPORTS

MARCH 2, 2017

EL CAMINO COLLEGE 7

Warriors continue to dominate on the sand Beach volleyball is currently 3-0 on the season with conference play on the horizon Phil Sidavong

Editor-In-Chief @ECCUnionPhil

I

t’s like it’s 2016 all over again and the El Camino beach volleyball team is off to a hot-start, with all five pairs competing in dominating fashion.

The Warriors have begun the 2017 season 3-0 as a team and they host Cypress College and Victor Valley College on Friday.

“We will be ready to play them on Friday and hopefully come out on top,” sophomore Michelle Shimamoto said.

The Warriors came up big in their most recent match-up vs. Golden West College last Friday, when they won 3-2, despite making a change in the line-up.

Sophomores Taylor Brydon and Brooklyn Rubio (who played vs.

Cypress as the No. 1 pair) were moved to the No. 2 pair position, but Brydon said that the move doesn’t matter to her.

“Our goal is to win,” she said.

“Whether that be as (our team’s No. 1 seed) or not, winning is still our focus. Ours ones and twos are both skilled enough to be playing in the (top) spot.”

In 2016 EC lost a team exhibition match to Cal State University Northridge in its third match, while its first official loss came against Santa Barbara City College, in the final match of the regular season.

Seven players in this year’s starting five pairs make their return to the team and while only four of them were starters last year, the team is still looking to be a dominant threat.

The returning sophomores Ru-

Osvaldo Deras/Union

No. 5 pair is made up of sophomores Cassie Montani (43) and Nina Wyer (1). Le Valley Pattison is in her third season coaching in the sand. bio, Brydon, Nina Wyer, Cassie Montani, Michelle Shimamoto, Kiana Takahashi and Victoria Curtice.

Repeating history: The Warriors are in for what seems to be an easy match-up against the Chargers who have yet to take a single game in the three years of play, since beach volley-

ball’s inaugural season in 2015.

March 6, 2015 - El Camino takes down Cypress 5-0, according to the California Community College Athletic Association’s archives.

March 4, 2016 - The Warriors open the season with a 5-0 sweep.

March 30, 2016 - El Camino records its eight sweep in a 5-0 win.

Feb. 15, 2017 - Warriors open

season with another 5-0 win vs.

Cypress.

“I wouldn’t say Cypress is an easy team,” Brydon said. “But I definitely think we’re better and it shows in our record against them.”follow his dreams and set a standard for the kids.”

First four games in 2016: 4-0

W, 5-0 vs. Cypress College

First three games in 2017: 3-0

W, 5-0 vs. Cypress College

W, 5-0 vs. LBCC

W, 5-0 vs. Fullerton College

W, 5-0 vs. Ventura College

W, 3-2 vs. GWC

W, 3-2 vs. GWS

8 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

SPORTS

MARCH 2, 2017

Big league dreams

Cassius Hamm threw a no-hitter against Bakersfield College, striking out 16 batters with only four walks through nine innings Marco Romero

Women’s basketball season ends abruptly despite a share of conference title

Special to the Union

Eric Ramos

efore taking the mound for the first time, 20-year-old Cassius Hamm feels the nerves flowing through his body, similar to butterflies in your stomach while on a first date.

“You don’t know exactly how things will turn out,” Hamm said.

Standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall, the right-handed pitcher is confident in his approach to every batter, focusing to “stay locked in.”

Hamm is currently the starting pitcher on the EC baseball team.

Hamm attended Chico State University straight after high school, but decided to attend EC after one year at Chico because of the baseball opportunities the Warriors had to offer.

That decision has led to Hamm being scouted by Major League Baseball organizations that include the Minnesota Twins, and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Hamm said he’s been playing baseball for as long as he can remember. He plans on transferring after EC but has not decided on what school.

Hamm is 3-1 as a starter this season with a .175 ERA with 40 strikeouts. Hamm tossed a nohitter against Bakersfield College on Feb. 9. and finished with 16 strikeouts.

“The feeling was unreal,” Hamm said.

Hamm’s focus begins one week before every game that he knows he is going to pitch.

“I eat right and get enough sleep,” Hamm said, “I have to be at 100 percent before every start.”

Hamm said he relieves the pressure and at times frustration with training.

“I go to the gym directly after a game, especially if I have a bad outing,” Hamm said.

Hamm’s work ethic on and off the field does not go unnoticed by his peers.

Teammate and starting pitcher Taylor Rashi, finds motivation and inspiration from what Hamm does.

“He’s my teammate, but also my competition,” Rashi said, “Seeing him work hard makes me want to work harder.”

Hamm not only balances life of being a student and a starting pitcher, but also juggles having a part-time job at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

When a team finishes as champions of their conference with only one loss, its more than likely they will be selected to compete in the playoffs.

For the El Camino women’s basketball team, the high of earning a share of the conference title, was brought down to a disappointing low when the Warriors learned they had been left out of the California Community College Athletic Association SoCal Regional playoffs.

CCCAA made the playoff selections on Feb. 20.

Freshman guard Hunter Noa said it was absolutely heartbreaking to find out after practice they did not make it to the playoffs.

“We all felt so cheated,” Noa said.

“We thought we did everything in our power to make the playoffs but because of the mistakes of other people, we had to suffer the consequences.”

Coach Steve Shaw informed his team that L.A. Harbor College had to forfeit all their games due to using ineligible players during the season, according to Noa’s Twitter account.

This took away one loss for Long Beach City College, which gave the Vikings a share of the South Coast Conference-South division title with EC. It also gave the Vikings a higher Ratings Percentage Index, which made them No. 1 in the conference and giving them a birth in the playoffs.

“Being a sophomore, I was pretty hurt knowing my career at EC had come to an end,” sophomore forward Kourtney Noa said. “As a team, we all took it pretty hard.”

EC finished the season 15-10 overall and 9-1 in conference play.

The Warriors averaged 67.8 points per game.

Freshman guard Kasey Takahashi said it was a huge disappointment because everyone worked extremely hard to earn that next part of the season.

“When we all heard the news, it didn’t sink into any of us for a couple minutes,” Takahashi said.

“It was just so shocking.”

B

Sports Editor @ECCUnionEricR

Jorge Villa/ Union

Cassius Hamm is 3-1 on the season with a1.75 ERA. Hamm has 40 strikouts in four game appearences this season.

“Having 6 a.m. weights with homework and having work the night before, everything takes a hit,” Hamm said.

The key for Hamm is discipline.

Learning how to multi-task and making time for things.

“Baseball taught me how to be disciplined and how to deal with

life,” Hamm said.

Having this mentality not only translates to success on the baseball diamond, but also success in the workplace.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Team Sports Leader Andres Ochoa feels pride in having someone like Hamm on his team.

“I like the fact that whenever I ask him to get something done, I’m sure he will do it,” Ochoa said, “He’s one of the few guys I can depend on in my department.”

EC alumni and friend Jefferson Hernandez shares similar sentiment to his friend, the pitcher.

“Cassius is one you can always

lean on to help you with anything,” Hernandez said. “You can trust that guy with your life,” Even on bad days on the mound, Hamm has a process to regain focus and control of the ball game.

“I try to find the balance between overthinking and under-thinking, and just go out and get the next guy,” Hamm said.

Warriors will open conference play on top of the South Coast Conference El Camino has scored 126 runs in 15 games Jonathan Ortiz

Staff Writer @ECCUnionJonO

Heading into conference play, the Warriors have proved through dominant pitching and potent offense, that they are a force to be reckoned with.

El Camino started off the season winning eight games in a row, giving them an overall record of 13-2.

Outscoring its opponents 126-40, scoring 42 of those runs in the last four games.

Pitching has also been a forte for the Warriors, EC pitchers have given up two runs or less in seven games, including a no-hitter from sophomore pitcher Cassius Hamm.

During his no-hitter against Bakersfield College, Hamm struck

out an impressive 16 batters. In result, Hamm was named Southern California’s player of the week by the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association.

Nate Fernley will come into his 11th season as head coach, posting a 271-157 record during his time.

The Warriors will open conference play with a pair of games against the Pasadena City College Lancers (8-4).

“We feel good about the team,”

WARRIORS SCHEDULE MEN’S TENNIS Today at Cerritos College 2 p.m.

WOMEN’S TENNIS Today at Cerritos College 2 p.m.

WOMEN’S BADMINTON Friday vs.

Badminton 2 p.m.

TRACK AND FIELD Friday at Cal State L.A. Invitational

Follow our sports writers on Twitter: @ECCUnionPhil @ECCUnionAlex @ECCUnionEricR @ECCUnionJonO

freshman catcher Dimitre McField said. “We fell like we can dominate.”

In 2016, the Warriors and Lancers met three times in conference play. El Camino won the season series taking two games out of three.

Game one of the two-game series will be in Pasadena on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Game two will be at Warrior field on Saturday at noon.

Player stats: Angel Mora .277 AVG, 17 RBI Trevor Casanova .350 AVG, 13 RBI Ty Conrad .339 AVG, 12 RBI Ryan Eastburn .333 AVG, 10 RBI Cody Wissler .326 ABG, 7 RBI

Track and Field The El Camino men’s and women’s track and field teams will compete in the Cal State L.A. Invitational, beginning on Friday.

The two-day event will be held at Jesse Owens track on the Cal State L.A. campus.

The hammer and discus events will be held at Cerritos College.

EC had several athletes place in last weeks Cerritos Opener and Combined Events.

Sophomore Justin Alexander finished first in the 400M with a time of 49.05 while teammate Alex Castro placed second at 50.94.

Freshman Damien Bernard took second in the javelin with 50.92m.

Bernard is currently ranked third in Southern California.

Sophomore Nicole Clark won the javelin and now leads the state with a record of 143-11. Clark finished seventh in the shot put.

WARRIORS SCOREBOARD SOFTBALL Warriors 1, Mt. SAC 5

BASEBALL Warriors 6, Cypress College 3 BEACH VOLLEYBALL Warriors 3, Golden West College 2

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