Vol. LXVIV - Issue No.3
Los Angeles Harbor College – Wilmington, CA, USA
November, 1, 2018
The two major resources that voters can access leading up to the election, the Text of Proposed Laws and Official Voter Information Guide can be found in multiple languages. -Photo by Ian Sloan
Midterm general elections. Is Harbor paying attention? By Ian Sloan; Staff Writer
The midterm general elections coming on November 6 have the attention of people and organizations all over the nation. Students on campus at Los Angeles Harbor College are a mixed bag however, ranging from focussing on them to not knowing they were happening at all. When it comes to voting some students like Alexis Reyes, 20, General Engineering, intend to vote but have not paid much attention. “I haven’t seen much about them and haven’t seen much in the way of resources either,” Reyes said. This does not mean
that all students do not pay
“The only way
to vote is by truly researching everything ... I intend to vote because it’s our future and it’s in our hands.” - Zury Barahona attention. Jazzmin Rodriguez, 19, Nursing showed enthusiasm about the elections. “This is our chance to give change another definition,” Rodriguez said. The Harbor Tides also conducted a survey about whether or not students pay
attention to the elections, and if they plan on voting. Out of 24 answers, results were a 50/50 split with reasonings for paying attention advocating change and reasoning for not doing so ranging from being too busy to outright disinterest. Resources about the upcoming elections are plentiful and can be found primarily online. The official voter information guide and text of proposed laws can be found at voterguide. sos.ca.gov in multiple languages and is printable. Physical copies can also be found at the LLRC on campus. Voter awareness is crucial and should be practiced by all who intend
to vote. Students voters like Zury Barahona, 19, Nursing, make sure they are educated before casting their ballot. “The only way to vote is by truly researching everything,” Barahona said,
“This is our
chance to give change another definition.” - Jazzmin Rodriguez “... I intend to vote because it’s our future and it’s in our hands.” Included in the previously mentioned voter information guide are examples of what each proposition aims to accomplish,
arguments for and against each proposition, and representatives that voters can contact with any questions regarding the stance being taken on an issue. The past two years have been a tumultuous time for the political climate. Change can be made but it does require effort be made to vote and learn about current events. “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting” - Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd U.S. President
Associated Student Organization halloween festival By Sabrina Johnson; Staff Writer
ASO sponsored a Halloween Festival/ Pep Rally on October 30 on quad and on the field in front of the North East Academic building. There was basketball, football, bungie run, jousting, photo booth, dunk tank and a variety of carni-
val games. Mandy Ponce, President of ASO gave a brief tour of the event and said “They sponsored this event to generally improve student life on campus, as well as to help students distress from midterms and other issues going on in their lives”. At the carnival games there were chances
to win tickets to then take to the prize booth to claim a prize, get cotton candy, or popcorn. Ruben Bagarino from LAHC Cheer and Dance Club was working one of the carnival games in the quad and said “The event is fun and gets more people involved; people are actually stopping by
to play games instead of focusing on getting to their next class.” Many students were enjoying the bungie run while their fellow classmates stood on the side laughing and cheering them on. Brandon Viveros, Biology major, 21 said “this is going amazing, fun, all around enjoying my time
here.” The Halloween Festival brought together a lot of students from different backgrounds and majors to have fun and enjoy their time at school with fellow classmates.
Editorial P.2
Dia de los Muertos P.3
An ASO Halloween P.4
Whose Column is this anyway? P.4
Fire at Harbor P.5
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Editorial: November 6th Midterm Elections: Harbor Tides edition As you may all know we are fast approaching the midterm elections, mail in voting as well as early voting has already started, and the state is well into election season. If you go online or watch any television you might be aware of how we are being bombarded by ads attempting to sway our vote one way or another. These midterm elections the Harbor Tides has decided to join into the conversation and attempt to clear up the mist of what it is you are voting for and who it will help or harm. Below are our brief opinions on the propositions currently up for election in this coming midterm. Use this to help in your research in figuring out what it is you exactly want to vote for. Proposition 1: It allows the State of California to use $4 billion dollars in bonds in order to fund projects related to housing, it includes assistance for veterans to buy homes totaling to $1 billion The decision among the Harbor Tides staff was split. On one hand this proposition has the potential to help those who are having issues finding housing, on the other, allowing the state to potentially use $4 billion for anything is a hard pill to swallow for those who want less government influence. Proposition 2: This proposition will allow the State of California to spend $2 billion in bonds on homelessness prevention. It will include housing and mental illness programs. The decision among the Harbor Tides staff was almost unanimous on this. The vast majority staff voted yes on this proposition as the Tides staff understands there is a need for homelessness prevention and support due to the recent increase in homelessness. Proposition 3: Proposition 3, or the Water Projects Bond, will allow the State of California to spend 8.877 billion to protect fish, wetlands, wildlife, and other water infrastructure projects. The decision among
the Harbor Tides staff was split. On one hand the proposition will help the environment as well as the infrastructure that would help prevent or push back on another drought, on the other, it means interest repaid on the bonds by the state will cause it to loose a lot of money. It also does not directly produce usable water. Proposition 4: Proposition 4 will authorize $1.5 billion in bonds to be used for the construction, expansion, and renovation for children’s hospitals. As with many of the other bond funded initiatives, this was also a split decision between the Tides staff. On one hand you have the expansion, renovation, and construction for children’s hospitals, on the other you’re authorizing the state to further in-debt itself in the billions through bonds. Proposition 5: Proposition 5 will allow those who are over 55 years of age to take a portion of their lower property tax base with them when they sell their existing home to buy a new one. Proposition 5 supporters contend that in allowing seniors to take a portion of their lower property tax with them when they buy a new home, more seniors will buy new houses, freeing smaller starter homes for other residents, and in
turn, helping the homelessness crisis. Opponents emphasis that the state will lose around $150 million a year in revenue in cities and counties that may need it the most. The Tides staff is mainly comprised of millennials who will likely never own a home. We personally do not believe in proposition 5. Proposition 6: Proposition 6 will lower gasoline tax prices by 12 cents a gallon, in doing so taking away money from road infrastructure. The Harbor Tides staff believes this one is relatively simple, it all comes down to this: Do you want to keep paying an extra 12 cents a gallon when you fill up your tank at the expense of roads that might not be improved? We unanimously voted no. Proposition 7: Proposition 7 will set daylights savings time year round in the State of California. The Harbor Tides staff believes that this is the best solution for the issues that changes with daylights savings time can create, however, the final say of the matter will be up to the government. As such this proposition is more akin to the citizens of the state yelling at the large void that is government hoping they will listen.
Proposition 8: Proposition 8 places regulations and limits on dialysis clinics, potentially limiting their profit. The tides staff almost unanimously choose to side with a no. In voting for proposition 8 dialysis clinics may close and patients may loose out on dialysis care. On the opposite side however, dialysis clinics are known to be owned by few companies who have routinely been sued due various issues surrounding their patient care and abuse of the ‘universal health care’ that kidneys seem to have in the United States. Proposition 9: While not officially on the ballot anymore we at the Tides decided it would be fun to tell you what it was and why it no longer is: Proposition 9 was placed on the ballot after signature collecting and it was meant to have Californians decide whether or not they wanted to cut the state up into three states; The states of North California, Central California, and Southern California. The supreme court decided to take it off the ballot. It is obvious political jerrymandering and a very stupid idea. Vote: What the heck were they thinking when they wrote this?
prevents rent control from occurring on a local level. The Tides staff was split on proposition 10. On one hand it will allow, at a local level, for cities to decide if they want to adopt rent control measures, on the other, it will also allow them to not do anything and potentially cause rents to rise if no new vote on rent control laws are passed. Proposition 11: Proposition 11 will require ambulance workers to no longer not be on call when taking scheduled breaks. The Tides unanimously voted yes on this proposition. Firefighters and law enforcement are on call even during scheduled breaks, why are ambulance workers also not held to the same expectations. Proposition 12: Proposition 12 will expand the living conditions of specific livestock, though only by a specified amount The Tides voted unanimously yes on this proposition. Although opponents say that the amount of extra living space added to livestock animals will not be enough to even be considered ‘living conditions’ the Tides believes that any progress is progress.
Proposition 10: Proposition 10 will repeal the Costa Hawkins that
Los Angeles Harbor College – Wilmington, CA Student Newspaper
The Harbor Tides is the student newspaper of Los Angeles Harbor College, one of nine campuses in the Los Angeles Community College District. The Harbor Tides is an independent, First Amendment, student-run public forum that covers events of interest to its readership under California Education Code Section 48907. One copy of the Harbor Tides is free. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 at the Harbor Tides newsroom, which is located in Northeast Academic Hall 213. Letters to the editor are welcome. Please limit letters to 200 words or less and include a name, valid email address, phone number and signature. All letters are subject to editing by the editorial board. Send letters to: harbortides@gmail.com . You may also drop off the letter at the newsroom in NEA 213 during regularly scheduled class times, or at the Communications Division, office 267 cc: Paul McLeod, journalism adviser. Unsigned editorials in the Harbor Tides represent the views of the editorial board and do not represent the views of Harbor College, its administration, faculty or of the LACCD. Student journalists of the Harbor Tides publish regularly at https://harbortides.wordpress.com/ and on various social media such as Facebook (@lahcharbortides), Instagram (lahc.harbortides) and individually via Twitter. If you have comments or suggestions, or if you would like to inquire about advertising in the Harbor Tides, email staff at harbortides@gmail.com or call 310-233-4897.
Harbor Tides Staff, Spring 2018 Co-Editor-in-Chief/Layout: Steven Guzman Co-Editor-in-Chief/Layout: Ian Sloan Staff Writer/Crossword Creator: Melanie Morales Staff Writer/Website Manager: Victor Valladares Staff Writer/Social Media: Timothy Rosales Staff Writer: Sabrina Johnson Faculty Adviser: Paul McLeod Special thanks to: Communications Division, co-chairs Ann Warren and John Corbally
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November, 1,
Una festividad indigena para los muertos: Dia de los Muertos, a modern tradition By; Steven Guzman Staff Writer
well as the genetic mixing of different ethnic groups,
‘el fuego y el camino de las almas,’ the fire and the
A woman places flowers and lights a candle for those who have died. Taken in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma
The tradition that we know as Day of the Dead has become increasingly important in the United States and within California it may even have become as important as Halloween, but what exactly does it’s symbolism mean and where did it originate? Originally distributed throughout the year, dia’s de los muertos occurred often in the pre-hispanic cultures surrounding modern day Mexico. Traditionally, monthly rituals for the dead were held throughout the year to honor those who had died; on one month there would be held a ritual for women who died during childbirth, there would also be rituals held in different months for those who had died in accidents and those who died through natural causes. Likely, the tradition we now know as Dia de Los Muertos, which occurs November 1st and 2nd, began from the Prehispanic death ritual held in the month of September dedicated to the death of adults. As a result of these Prehispanic rituals, indigenous people were in constant contact with festivities dedicated to the dead. After the conquest of Latin America by European expeditionary forces, Catholicism was brought into the regions where indigenous people’s, who already had well established their customs of celebrating the dead, lived. Through the mixing of Catholicism and indigenous beliefs/rituals as
the tradition of Dia de Los path for souls, as well as Muertos was born. The an indigenous love story fusion of prehispanic rituals where two young lovers are and catholic festivities per- reunited after one dies in mitted the fusion of two worlds, one long held by indigenous people and one imported by Europeans. However, The festivities indigenous people dedicated to their dead is fundamentally a part of the Original printing of La Catrina by Jose Guadalupe Posada cultural lives of the indigewar. nous people of Mexico. Pan de Muerto, or bread In modern times, Dia de of the dead, has traditionallos Muertos is usually reply been baked as an offering resented through various for the dead. The cross on symbols such as Ofrendas top of the bread represents (alters), Cempasuchil flow- bones. ers (Mexican Marigold), Ofrendas, are alters built Pan de Muerto (Bread of inside homes or in cemethe Dead), and Calaveras teries. Contrary to what the (skulls). These symbols are word alter might imply, the used to represent various Ofrenda is not for worship different aspects of past and is more of an offering indigenous rituals as well meant to welcome the spiras modern concepts introits of the deceased into the duced to the festivities. home of the living. OfrenCempasuchil flowers, das are often adorned with otherwise known as the the foods and objects that Mexican Marigold, is a family members believed bright orange flower used the spirits of their dead to adorn the tombs of the needed upon returning, as deceased as well as the alwell as simply to bring joy ters dedicated to them. In a to those who have returned. cultural context, this bright Often around these alters orange flower represents you might smell copal various things. It represents incense being burned to
purify the area around the alter.
which he famously drew a female Calavera which he
Photo Curtesy of Flickr user RamaVia Creative Commons
The Calavera, or skull, is a very important part of the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos, however it’s importance and origin within Mexican society is interesting. While usually correlated with the dead, the Calavera, or skull, within the context of Dia de los Muertos does not explicitly Public Doman stem from indigenous culture as much as it is an artistic representation of the people of Mexico. Originally the introduction of the Calavera into Dia de los Muertos can be traced back to a prominent Mexican political cartoonist and lithographer named Jose Guadalupe Posada. During the early part of the 20th Century, Posada drew various political cartoons with Calaveras which he used to represent the people of Mexico. Posada famously said the phrase “Todos somos calaveras.” (“We are all skeletons”) La Catrina, death represented as a woman, has its origins with Posada. The famous Calavera face paintings have their origin from the original political cartoon Posada drew in
used to represent the rich elites in Mexico. This drawing was an attempt to draw attention and make a statement about those better off in Mexican society and their tendancies to belittle Mexican heritage through the appropriation of European culture. He called this Calavera Catrina and those who acted in that way ‘Garbanceras.’ From here the tradition of representing the people of Mexico as Calaveras, and from there the dead as well, began. As of today, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated not only in Mexico, but in various Latin American cultures with Prehispanic origins. Here in the U.S the festivities have found their way through immigration and it’s proximity to Mexico. Dia de los Muertos has always had a specific purpose for each of the cultures that celebrates it, within the U.S it has become a celebration of not only the dead, but also of the culture of those who are represented by it. It is a representation of the culture and beliefs of millions of individuals who live in a society that at times pushes back on their existence, for them it is a way to express their existence, their culture, and a way to invite those who are interested in them to learn more about them.
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November, 1, 2018
Whose column is it anyway? Lazy dogs edition
ASO Halloween Party By: Ian Sloan Staff Writer
campus, as well as to help students destress from midterms and other issues goThe Associated Student ing on in their lives,” Ponce Organization sponsored said. At the carnival games a Halloween Festival/ Pep there were chances to win Rally on October 30 on tickets participants can take the quad and on the field to the prize booth to claim in front of the North East a prize, get cotton candy, or Academic building. There popcorn. Ruben Bagarino was basketball, football, from Los Angeles Harbor bungie run, jousting, photo College Cheer and Dance booth, dunk tank and a Club was working one of variety of carnival games. the carnival games. “The Mandy Ponce, President event is fun and gets more of ASO gave a brief tour of people involved; people are the event. “They sponsored actually stopping by to play this event to generally games instead of focusing improve student life on on getting to their next
class,” Bagarino said. Many students were enjoying the bungee run while their fellow classmates stood on the side laughing and cheering them on. “This is going amazing, fun, all around enjoying my time here,” Brandon Viveros, Biology, 21 said. The Halloween Festival brought together a lot of students from different backgrounds and majors to have fun and enjoy their time at school with fellow classmates.
Staff Writer Melanie Morales sitting with a bulldog in her lap during a park outing Photo by Melanie Morales
By; Melanie Morales Staff Writer
My name is Melanie Morales and I am a first generation Filipino-American who helps my uncle breed English Bulldogs. Growing up I have lived with a variety of dogs at different times. In total we had 13 dogs including: Rottweilers, Bijon frise, Terriers, Pugs, a Ridgeback Pitbull and now English bulldogs. I am here to share my experience raising and breeding Bulldogs. What got us into breeding? The English Bulldog itself fits our lifestyle. They are known to be extremely lazy. They sit on their thrones, farting, drooling & snoring away their days. We do it to keep and maintain quality features and genes for their offsprings. Buyers often want a pure breed because of their character and strong features of being short, stocky, and having an unforgettable face. It is also very enjoyable to watch and play with puppies on a daily basis and is our significant and reliable way of income. Unfortunately, English Bulldogs have mating problems. They are too stubby that they simply cannot have intercourse. Depending on color and qualities of the stud, the sperm could cost from $500 to $1500. If the female does not take, some breeders allow for second
insemination for no additional charge. Artificial Insemination is when one collects the sperm from the stud into a syringe and is inserted into the female. After three to four weeks the female dog will get an ultrasound to confirm if she’s pregnant. The puppies are then born 60-62 days after insemination. A fair price for an registered purebred Bulldog puppy ranges between $1,500 and $3,500. The reason Bulldog puppies are so expensive is because they usually have to be delivered by cesarean section because their heads are too big for the mother to deliver them naturally. Caring for them is a lot of work with a huge responsibility. The first couple weeks, the puppies need to be nursed by the mom every two to three hours. In some cases where the puppy is having a hard time nursing, we would then need to bottle feed. The puppies need a minimum of eight weeks of nurturing until they are ready to be sold. Shots could cost up to $300 to $800 depending on where you go. Both the female and stud need to be registered in order to get papers for the puppies. AKC is most popular site to register and that cost ranges from $200-400. If you want a dog who is friendly, easy going, that seldom barks, with a demeanor of a child and needs little exercise. An
Associated Student Organization Senator Max Brown sitting in as a student volunteer for the dunk tank attraction.
Associated Student Organization Senator Max Brown sitting in as a student volunteer for the dunk tank attraction.
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November, 1, 2018
The second annual Harvest Festival at the Child Development Center
Photos by Timothy Rosales
Harvest Fest Still Going on Its 2nd Year By; Timothy Rosales Staff Writer
Last friday morning, the Child Development Program offered an event for parents and children to come and celebrate Halloween early with staff and a few clubs giving out candy and provide different activities such as face painting, and dancing. It was held at the Child Development Center on October 26, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Harvest festival was started 2 years ago by Gretchen Hayes. She says, “It was normally an event where parents and children walked around the campus and are given treats through specific spots but due to
the construction, we wor-
and has grown as of moving
The children in the Child Development Center line up to get their candy.
ried about their safety so we moved the event to the Child Development Center.” It’s been a huge success
to the center. They are many volunteers who help staff the event like Christian Garcia, 26, Liberal Arts, who had
this to say about the event
Photo by Timothy Rosales
and his time staffing. “Karla Amaya asked around the program and needed staff members so I decided to try it. It was my first year and
it’s a lot of fun. Seeing all the kids happy makes this worth it.” Karla Amaya has been around since the start of Harvest Fest and is happy of the turn out. Clubs, staff, and faculty are welcome to participate for the event and hold their own stand to support the children. Popular clubs like the Honors were out supporting with Student Services and ASO contributed as well.
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November, 1, 2018
The above photos show the narrative of how the Seahawk Center fire was responded to and taken care of.
Do snitches get burned? Not if they don’t say anything. By; Timothy Rosales Staff Writer
A fire started at the Seahawk Center earlier in the month required the fire department and police officials to rush over to Los Angeles Harbor College and put it out. The fire started October 17, 2018 around 3:44 p.m. with the whole building evacuated, the crew put it out around 4 p.m. The question however was: what started the fire? One of the staff in the Seahawk Center, Keiyanna Chisom, had some information about the incident. Ms. Chisom said, “Around 4 p.m. a cadet came into the
“Around 4 p.m. a
cadet came into the center to ask us to evacuate the building because of the smoke.” - Keiyanna Chisom
center to ask us to evacuate the building because of the smoke.” She went to the balcony and as she saw the black smoke warned the students and they all went outside with the fire department showing up soon after. “I called Dorado afterwards and the center
was closed the day after until Monday in order for the janitors to clean the mess left.” With the sheriffs getting no leads from the arson detectives who investigated the cause maybe students could have known about something? Well sadly, that wasn’t the case as most students didn’t see anything but individuals who have refused to comment due to the term “snitching”. A serious incident at school which could have been disastrous is a big deal and “snitching” is not a crime if it helps a cause. Something caused a fire and students sneak behind the Seahawk
Center balcony to smoke in the past. Could this be related to the issue. As one
“As soon as we got
down, you can see the smoke coming from the back of the building.” - Antonio Solis, 24, Undecided
student, Antonio Solis, 24, Undecided, who was at the Seahawk Center when it was evacuated said, “As soon as we got down, you
The Los Angeles Harbor College football team currently stands at a win:loss rate of 3:4. Are they mighty enough to keep up the pressure the remainer of the season?
Photos by Timothy Rosales
can see the smoke coming from the back of the building. I think it was due to an electric issue from what I heard,” Solis said. With the Seahawk Center closing down after this semester, this event has hurt its reputation due to a possible electric issue. Hearing can only get us so far but without any facts or details. Hopefully no similar events repeat and more security is assigned to prevent further incidents occurring.
Photo by Ian Sloan
Small and mighty, LAHC’s own football team keeps going By: Ian Sloan Staff Writer
The football team of Los Angeles Harbor College is at a win:loss ratio of 3:4 overall as of October 25. Currently they are in their conference at one win and one loss. Despite lower numbers because of injuries and transfers, the team remains hopeful for the remainder of the season. Coach Dean Dowty sets the bar for the team’s confidence. “We are a small,
mighty group. Many of our losses have been close,” Dowty said, “We need to win the next three games and then the conference for the possibility of a bowl game.” Those three games constitute what is left of the regular season. Opponents are in this order: Pierce, Pasadena, and Allan Hancock. Harbor sophomore and player Joel Fahina, 21, Health and Fitness mirrors Dowty’s optimism. “We’re
doing good. Obviously we could be performing better, but we are low on numbers too,” Fahina said, “When it comes to myself I feel that I’m doing good, but there is always room for improvement.” Improvement is an important word to the team, and is a mindset shared by players and coaches alike. Practicing hard is a regime that every athlete adheres to and Tuna Oliva, 19, Kinesiology is no
different. When it comes to practice and the team’s current state his views are shared with Coach Dowty and his fellow teammates. “As long as the team keeps practicing hard, I think we can get into the bowl game,” Oliva said. Oliva is also an advocate of self improvement, “I could do better but it doesn’t change anything, I just gotta keep practicing.” Practice is what the team needs to get through the next three games in hopes
of reaching their goal, the bowl. The next three games are crucial to the team as winning all three gives the team a chance to play in the bowl game. Locations and times for the games are as follows: October 27 vs LA Pierce, 6:00 p.m. at Harbor, November 3 vs Pasadena City, 6:00 p.m. at Harbor, and November 10 vs Allan Hancock, 1:00 p.m. at Allan Hancock College.
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November, 1, 2018
Crossword Puzzle created by Melanie Morales
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November, 1, 2018