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PAGE 4 Read more to find out the details about Rio Hondo Women’s Volleyball victory against El Camino on Wednesday, November 8th. Thursday
FOLLOW US! @elpaisanomedia Vol. 67 Issue 5
November 16, 2023
GUARDIAN SCHOLARS IS HERE TO HELP
SIERRA URIBE @s3erra
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hen Rio Hondo says they care, they really do. Rio Hondo offers plenty of resources along with opportunities to their students. One that deserves to be highlighted is the Guardian Scholars Next Up program. The program supports both current and former foster care students. Beginning in 2015, the program has progressed and continues to. The school board approved the expansion of the Guardian Scholars program which is the addition of Next up. Next up brings more resources along with funds to youth. “Ever since the inception, our goal has been to support foster youth,” said Program Specialist Deborah Lopez. With Next Up funding, the list of resources available to roadrunners has grown. “We are a one stop center that supports students from A-Z. Students have access to weekly resilience and
Sierra Uribe
Matthew Lujan (Left), Deborah Lopez, Dominique Romero, Helen Li and Zoe Lozano (Right) in room SS307 on Wednesday, November 8th ready to provide the help for any roadrunner in need.
support groups along with tutoring exclusively for foster students. “This year we were able to provide students with a free macbook,” said Lopez. As a result of additional funding for the program, the organization is also allowed to expand their horizons
when it comes to bringing the best staff to support their students. “We just hired a student services assistant which is something we have never done before,” said Lopez. Prior to being the program’s specialist, Deborah Lopez was a senior financial
aid advisor for the financial aid office. Her dedication to the school has not gone unnoticed as she has been working at Rio Hondo for ten years. “I have been very blessed, I enjoy being here as our program is growing,” said Lopez. Her work experience and educational
background has allowed her to bring more than enough to the table for foster youth. “It is such a full circle moment for me, now I not only advocate for foster youth on a bigger level, but also for parenting students” said Lopez. Any student that has ever experienced being in the foster care system can join. Applications are open year round. Students that are older than 26 years old do not qualify to be a part of Next Up but do qualify for Guardian Scholars. “We currently have around 150 foster youth students but we know there are more out there,” said Lopez. Located in SS307, the majority of roadrunners do not know that they are on campus to help. “Give us a chance to support your journey, we want to make sure you achieve your academic and personal goals” said Lopez. For any student interested in what this program has to offer, visit the Rio Hondo website or visit room SS307 to gain more information.
THE VETERANS SERVICE CENTER CELEBRATES VETERANS DAY AT RIO HONDO SIERRA URIBE @s3erra
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n honor of Veterans Day and all of those who have or are serving in the military, the Veterans Service Center at Rio Hondo hosted a Veterans Day celebration. From November 7th until November 9th room SS150 was the place to be.
Not only did the center provide the sweets and treats for all, but veterans along with the Rio Hondo community were welcomed to join and learn about the students and staff on campus who have served in the military. The open house allowed the community to become aware of the support services
Sierra Uribe
RHC Veteran, Students, Staff and Faculty were honored outside of the RHC Veterans Service Center on Wednesday, November 8 for the community to view at the Veterans Day Celebration event.
that the center has to offer. During this event, students had the opportunity to meet student veterans. Second year Rio Hondo student, Gilberto
Sierra Uribe
Jessica Barrios (Left), Raedine Ramirez and Alicia Kruizenga (Right) working together in the Veterans Service Center during the Veterans Celebration event on Wednesday, November 8.
Tapia served in the military from the year 2009 until the year 2011. “I shot canons that were 95 pounds, the bullets were about knee high,” said Tapia. He deployed to Iraq from in 2011 and went back to school beginning in the year 2012 for automotive but is now in school to become a firefighter. “My whole life was guns and cars, I am trying to switch it up, growing up I was always into playing with water guns and I was always into cars” said Tapia. If school doesn’t feel like the right option, there are other options out there such as the military. “They told me I was going to work at Mcdonalds because I did not graduate,” said Tapia. The military helps veterans pay for their rent and school supplies.
The benefits are endless as a result of the GI bill and post 911. “The military gives you a leg up by helping you get in front of the person that is going to give you a job, ” said Tapia. For veterans studying at Rio Hondo, all of their benefits are being obtained. “We provide computer labs as well as one on one counseling exclusively for veterans,” said Counselor Coordinator Arely Castaneda. Veteran student success is the number one priority in room SS150 and the staff strives to work as closely as they can with veteran students. “I have been working here for 13 years as a certified official for veterans,” said Castaneda. The Veterans Center is truly a stepping stone for all veterans at Rio Hondo.
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Arts & Entertainment HARMONY IN MOTION: RIO HONDO’S DANCE ALUMNA’S SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE
Miscellaneous PRISCILA: A DIRECTORIAL TRIUMP WEAVING ELEGANCE AND EMOTION VICTORIA ORTIZ victoriaisavirgo
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riscilla is a film by Sofia Coppola following the story of Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. The film is based on Presley’s memoir titled, Elvis and Me. The memoir paints a portrait of the love story between Elvis Presley and Priscilla, written in 1985. The film adaptation was made in true Coppola fashion. I expected to see a lot of dreamy lighting, on point fashion and a lot of pastel pinks and blues. I was not disappointed, the film was visually beautiful. Sofia
CHRIS CASTANON @chriscast3194
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ast week marked the commencement of Rio Hondo’s dance team concert performances, showcasing mesmerizing talent and creativity. Organized by Kristina Urteaga, a member of the dance faculty at Rio Hondo College, the event featured dances choreographed by the performers themselves. As the first dancers graced the aisle, the audience was immersed in a world of rhythm and movement. The concert presented a diverse array of dance styles, each displaying a unique set of movements that, despite their diversity, felt interconnected. Every dance exhibited innovation and expressiveness, conveying distinct stories through their routines. Some dances communicated narratives solely through the emotions expressed. The choice of music mirrored this diversity, ranging from graceful and quiet to loud and aggressive, with each song telling its own story. Jasmine Garcia, a performer, emphasized the individual stories within her performance, stating, “This was about every individual story
sammarin4
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ristina Urteaga is a member of the dance faculty for the KDA department and has been working at Rio Hondo for nine years. In addition to working at Rio Hondo, she also works part time at Montebello High School, and East Los Angeles College. Ever since she was a little girl, Urteaga has always had a passion for dance. It has always been a part of who she is. “Ever since I could remember I loved to move, I loved to dance, every time I heard music there was something that just connected straight to my soul and I had to move,” said Urteaga. While she always had a love for dance, it was not what she planned to pursue as a career. She originally attended university with the intention of becoming an English teacher. Her decision to become a
loneliness and heartbreak while watching this. Spaeny was gorgeous on screen and left no crumbs in her 1960s makeup and wardrobe. Elordi left some feelings to be desired in his portrayal of Elvis. Some may credit his lackluster performance to the fact that he was not familiar with Elvis and supposedly, his only knowledge of The King of Rock and Roll came from the 2002 Disney animated film, Lilo And Stitch. However, Elordi is a great actor and he is also beautiful to look at. I don’t
feel he did the role of Elvis justice, understandably, that is a hard (blue suede) shoe to fill. Overall, I had great expectations going into watching this film and I was not left hanging. The film was quiet and ethereal. It was full of well filmed shots and often felt like watching moving historical pictures.The story was very easy to follow and it was well told. This movie would still be enjoyed even if you are not a fan of Elvis or you are not familiar with his and Priscilla’s love story.
STEELERS PLAYOFF PROBABILITY ARIANNA MORALES @tentwentytw0
Chris Castanon
Dancer Tori Lopez performs front and center amongst the audience at the RHC Dance Concert on Thursday, November 8.
and seeing where we are as a collective.” Every performance had this in mind. To convey a story or feeling through emotionally driven movement. Some performances were brought to the stage by their choreographers’ inspirations. Whether it be by something they love or something that has happened to them. One performer, Jennifer Nieto, spoke for one of her fellow performers, Angela Martinez, who could not make it to this concert. “Growing up, she’s always
had a fondness for Rock n’ Roll,” Nieto said, “Her family always loved rock so it was her reason for choosing this piece for our dance.” Through the things that inspired them and their ability to express themselves, their performances were awe inspiring. A notable aspect of the concert was the collaborative spirit among the dancers, showcasing the strength of teamwork. Their harmonious movements contributed to a collective
brilliance in each routine. Urteaga expressed pride in her dancers, highlighting how their exploration of creativity brought the team closer together. While solo performances allowed individuals to shine, revealing unique styles and personalities, they did not diminish the overall effectiveness of the collective performance. The audience enthusiastically embraced Rio Hondo’s dancers. Captivated by the diverse talent and
creativity on display. From the first entrance to the final bow, the crowd remained engaged and appreciative. “From the beginning to the end, their hard work paid off” Dorene Nieto, one of the members of the audience, said “I have never been more happy and proud” The seamless teamwork and individual brilliance were met with ovation after ovation. This in turn reflected the shared pride and anticipation for future performances from the talented dance group.
“DANCE IS MY PASSION”: SPOTLIGHT ON KRISTINA URTEAGA SAMANTHA MARIN
Coppola comes from a famous family of filmmakers. It is in her blood as she is the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather). Some of Sofia Coppola’s other credits include Virgin Suicides and the time piece film, Marie Antionette both starring Kirstin Dunst. Priscilla stars Cailee Spaeny (How It Ends) and Jacob Elordi (Euphoria) who portrays Elvis. Spaeny ate this role up. She was able to play a young school girl and also a young but matured woman. I absolutely believed the love and felt the
teacher stemmed from the fact that the community we live in isn’t very accepting of the arts as a career. She studied English at Cal State Long Beach and got her bachelor’s and master’s degree in English education. However, while she was completing her degrees, she was still dancing, It wasn’t until she finished her education that she decided to continue with dance. So, she went back to Cal State Long Beach and got her masters in dance education as well. Urteaga danced preprofessionally for a period of time. She danced with a community college dance group and competed with them across the country. Her group was also chosen to perform for a European tour twice. She was able to explore countries such as Austria, Germany, Venice and many others. However, while she did enjoy dancing
professionally, she was mostly interested in teaching. “Ever since I started dancing in high school and through college, I was always in those leadership positions like captain or assistant,” said Urteaga. “Even at Cal State Long Beach I started assisting the instructors, and so I feel like that was my calling.” One of the biggest struggles Urteaga went through was having to work harder than others in order to get to where she is today. She was born in Armenia and traveled to America when she was about five years old. By the time she was seven, she was a first generation U.S. citizen. Urteaga’s saw her parents struggle a lot due to them working most of the time to provide for their family, yet they still tried to get her as much dance education as they could. It wasn’t until she got to college where she was finally
R
anked 16th in the league as of November 8, 2023. Taking second place in NFC North after overcoming the Titans in game 11. The Steelers, based on their updated odds, have a 41.7% chance of advancing to the postseason. The NFL has never had every team in a division make the playoffs largely because it wasn’t possible for most of the league’s existence, but that changed when the postseason field was expanded to seven teams in each conference
BE THE VOICE FOR ANIMALS
ARIANNA MORALES @tentwentytw0
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cholars claim that the idea that people have the right to utilize nonhuman animals is known as speciesism and is widely held in contemporary society. The animal-industrial complex is said to be influenced by speciesism, according to philosophers and proponents of animal rights. Examples of this include the practices of factory farming, animal slaughter, blood sports (like bullfighting and
Samantha Marin
Rio Hondo Dance instructor Kristina Urteaga giving a dance class to students in the Rio Hondo KDA building on Tuesday, November 14th.
able to get more dance training such as ballet, modern, and jazz. However, even though she felt that she was a great performer, she had to put in a lot more work getting to where most dancers are if they want to dance professionally or teach. “I felt like I was playing a catch up game but I was willing to put in the work and that time because that was what I wanted so I took every opportunity that came up, every scholarship I could apply for, and every teaching job I could get,” said Urteaga. “I feel like those are the moments that have made me who I am today
because I know I worked for that, and it wasn’t given to me.” One of her goals as a teacher is to make sure her students feel accepted and welcome in dance, or in the arts in general. “We are in a community where the arts isn’t idealized as much, it’s not pushed as a career and I feel like I am that bridge for my students no matter where they come from to allow them to have that part of the arts,” said Urteaga. “A lot of my teaching is catered toward making sure that they feel valued, part of the community, and that they have a place in dance.”
Omar Lopez
Drawing of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu by RHC student Omar Lopez.
rodeos), obtaining animal fur and skin, conducting animal experiments, refusing to assist animals that are suffering in the wild because of natural processes, and classifying some animals as invasive and then killing them because of it. Although we adore dogs and cats, agricultural animals like pigs, chickens, and cows are all considered as items to be consumed. One of the mostprevalent types of speciesism is this one. Animals kept on farms for food have miserable lives. They grow up
in dim warehouses that aren’t even quite similar to farms. These animals lack access to clean air, and they are frequently given cheap, harmful food that we eventually consume. Without actually visiting one, it’s difficult to understand how terrible slaughterhouses are. Many of the animals that are killed and disembowell for profit wind up being conscious for the majority of the process. Realizing that every animal has the right to survive without being exploited by humans is the first step toward rejecting speciesism and acting honorably and consistently toward all living things. First, we must acknowledge that all animals have the right to exist without being exploited
in 2020. George Pickens is becoming a superstar wide receiver, George Pickens has looked as good as advertised, just three days into the second training camp of his NFL career, that he is “the best in the world,” The model gives the Steelers a 42.5% shot at the playoffs and 6.9% for the division. Next game coming up Sunday November 12, steelers have a 52% chance of beating Green Bay Packers while only have a 32% chance. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a good spot within the playoff race.
by humans. Only then can we reject speciesism and treat all living things with honesty and consistency. By raising awareness of the suffering of other species and refraining from using disparaging language, adopting a plantbased diet and banning animal products can help fight speciesism. We can choose household and personal care products free of animal testing, donate exclusively to health organizations that do not fund or use animal experimentation, and stay away from both land-based and marine circuses that use animals as living props. Dogs and pigs, both animals feel joy, fear, and pain... So why do we love one but eat the other?
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El Paisano Staff Sierra Uribe
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Sports
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NHRA DRAG RACE POMONA FINALS ROBERT JIMENEZ
jimenez__robert
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riday Nov. 10th the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series ended their season at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Raceway. NHRA is the National Hot Rod Association with different classes of racing such as Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, and Pro Mod. Top fuel and Funny cars being the leaders of the whole sport with horsepower of 11,000 and reaching speeds of 335 MPH is definitely an adrenaline rush for fans as well. Also Drag Racing is the only Motorsport where fans are allowed to be in the pits watching the cars get worked on from five to ten feet away. Also very easy to get autographs and meet the drivers. A whole weekend of racing with qualifying rounds all day on Friday and Saturday. Then Elimination Rounds all day on Sunday as well.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: ROADRUNNERS MAKE A HUGE COMEBACK TO DEFEAT EL CAMINO CHRISTOPHER ARAUJO @chris_ jrnlsm
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he Rio Hondo women’s volleyball team defeated El Camino college 3-2 on Wednesday, November 8 at RHC campus. With a good crowd in attendance the roadrunners had one of their toughest games in their past 4 games. Down to the wire RHC took the fifth and final set to get the win. In the first set, El Camino started the set off decently by striking first and getting a point. Number seven Jade Fuentes for RHC helped the home team start off with helping them get some points on the scoreboard. The scoring continued with number 13 Loren Forster helping the roadrunners build a lead. Gaining some momentum the roadrunners dominated the first set and won it 25-16. The Warriors begin the second set by scoring first. Early
in the set both teams began to go back and forth. El Camino would score then RHC would respond back immediately scoring back. With a great spike from Bejines the roadrunners would increase their lead 107. El camino would respond and the set would begin to be a tighter game. With the score eventually being 15-14 in favor of the roadrunners it kept being a back and forth battle as neither team would let up. One team scores and the other one responds. In a very close second set the warriors take the second set 23-25. The third set began just the way the second set ended. Both teams exchanged points. El Camino looked to set the tone in the third set being more aggressive in offense. Despite that RHC would have a solid 8-4 lead early in the set. The warriors would push for the comeback with the score being 12-15. A momentum change
went in favor of El Camino in this set. Things were not looking in favor for the roadrunners as the warriors were pushing to take this set. It had appeared a mountain to climb for RHC as El Camino had begun to extend their lead. The roadrunners did everything they could to stay in the set but lost it to El Camino 19-25. The warriors would lead 2-1. In the fourth set, RHC was in a win or go home situation in this set. They started off strong. El Camino made sure to not let this set slip away. Not a single big lead had become available for either team. The roadrunners began to put their pieces together despite the warriors pushing back to stay in the game. After tying the game 13-13 by a point of number 13 Forster, RHC began to build momentum. The home crowd looked a bit nervous despite the roadrunners being on top. The ending of this
set was the wildest one yet. El Camino would have a 2425 lead for a set point. RHC would tie up the game 25-25. The warriors yet again took the lead 25-26 but then a response by the roadrunners happened with them tying the game 2626. RHC then would go up 2726 but again El Camino tied it 27-27. Neither team gave up at all as the home crowd cheered loudly for the roadrunners. RHC would win this set 29-27 and tie up the set score 2-2. The roadrunners began the fifth and final set down by 2 as the warriors scored first. From there RHC would begin to score and build a strong 5-2 lead. With El Camino looking tired, RHC used that to their
advantage and began to close out the set. The roadrunners kept the momentum going. RHC won the fifth set 157. The final score was 3-2 in favor of the roadrunners. Overcoming some adversities throughout the game RHC still managed to come out on top. “Honestly we know our capability, and we weren’t performing to our full, maximum potential. So we really just had to pick it up for each other and really want to be SCC(Southern Coast Conference) champions. We reminded each other of the goal and then eventually played out,” Number 1 Jaida Zuniga talked about what helped them win this tough game.
Omar Lopez
Women’s Volleyball Middle Hitter, Jayleen Garcia spiking the ball against El Camino during their game on Wednesday, November 8.