Saddleback College Lariat Vol. 51 No. 4

Lariat The student voice of Saddleback College since 1968

Wednesday, April 17, 2019 • vol. 51, no. 4

NEWS STREAM

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LARIATNEWS.COM

HIKING 2,650 MILES

ISABELLA COLBY/LARIAT

Vera’s Sanctuary is a new community for victims of human trafficking.

Volunteers spruce up trafficking community

Volunteers garden, paint, and remodel homes in the new Trabuco Canyon community.

They will also teach the residents math, reading, writing, and cooking when they move in. 12

Athletics: Football stadium ‘in limbo’

The construction was set to be completed in time for the fall homecoming game but that deadline can no longer be met due to the rainy winter season. 2

Sinkhole possible on campus

Areas with loose rock or sand foundations, like Saddleback College, are susceptible to sinkholes, especially after heavy rain. 5

ARIYAN MALEKPOURSHIRAZI/LARIAT

Vera’s Sanctuary is a new community for victims of human trafficking.

Cigars, tacos and Laguna Beach

A Sunday afternoon spent wandering Pacific Coast Highway reveal niche cigar and taco shops. 10

Health Center

With a recent grant, many services are now available 11

WILLIAM HAVRILO/COURTESY

WESTERN SCENERY: A view of the Idyllwild hills from the Pacific Coast Trail that can take a traveler from south San Diego County to the Canadian city of Manning Park. Arash Zelli started the journey by himself, has joined groups of hikers along the way, and he eventually plans to hike the world. See Page 8.

OC ICE detainees set for 2020 transfer

Values Act, took effect Jan. 1 in response to the immigration stance of President Donald Trump. With this The Orange County Sheriff’s de- bill, California became a sanctuary partment announced Wednesday they state for those who entered without will no longer hold inmates for the legal permission.

Immigrations and Customs EnforceSB-54 faced opposition from the ment in their jails, ending their long California State Sheriff’s Association, standing agreement. The contract and the California Police Chiefs Aswith ICE is up in 2020 sociation began looking for and will not be renewed. loopholes.

OC Sheriff Don Barnes According to a report said in a news release that by the San Francisco based action was being taken in Asian American Advancing order to free up space for Justice - Asian Law Cauimproved treatment of cus, 68 of 169 local law mentally ill patients. enforcement agencies were “Since 2015, we have not complying with SB-54.

BARNESFORSHERIFF seen a 40% increase in Further findings on the open mental health casreport revealed that San es in our jails,” Barnes said. “The Diego Sheriff department deputies are number of mental health cases now still asking detainees their status. reach almost 1,800 on any given day.

Stanislaus Sheriff’s department Consequently, we must focus on en- still allows detainees to be held for hancing our mental health services ICE and San Jose PD still allow and expanding the number of beds space. Meanwhile, LA, Orange, San available for individuals with mental Bernardino and Riverside counties are health needs.” “exploiting an exception” by posting Approximately 30% of the jail inmate release dates, allowing ICE to population needs numerous levels of come pick them up for federal custody mental health services and that num- instantly after they are let out. ber is growing exponentially.

“I have made the decision to make Mental health services in prison two significant changes to our jail opare considered counseling, discharge erations,” Barnes said. “These deciplanning, acute psychiatric inpatient sions are intended to mitigate the risk care, intensive outpatient care, emer- of litigation from the state, while, at gency psychiatric medications and the same time, minimize costs to Ormedication management. ange County taxpayers.”

To keep up with these demands, A news release from the OC SherOCSD will upgrade three housing iff’s department says, “The decision modules at the Intake Release Center to end the ICE agreement will not imwith the addition of ADA compliant pact public safety.” cells and restrooms. Upon completion Yet the individuals housed on betheir will be 500 behavioral health half of ICE will be relocated out of beds available. There will also be an state, separating them from family. increase in staff.

Senate Bill 54, or the California ISABELLA COLBY HEALTH EDITOR

WILLIAM HAVRILO/COURTESY

LIFE BY THE TRACKS: A group of homeless people gather at the train tracks near North Beach in San Clemente.

San Clemente homeless feeling the pressure Tensions within city have resulted in a class action lawsuit regarding anti-camping ordinances J.A. BATES

PHOTO EDITOR

Several homeless individuals have opened a class-action lawsuit against five south Orange County cities— San Clemente, Dana Point, Irvine, Aliso Viejo, and San Juan Capistrano.

They argue that anti-camping ordinances are being enforced without providing homeless individuals a place to go, being that there is only one nearby shelter in Laguna Beach which provides only 45 beds.

Their basis is the 9th Circuit Court

ruling Martin V. Boise. In this lawsuit a group of homeless individuals from Boise, Idaho alleged that anti-camping ordinances were being enforced without providing them a place to go— this is a violation of the eighth amendment’s cruel and unusual punishments clause. The court ruled in favor of the homeless, saying that law enforcement cannot criminalize people for being homeless and sleeping in the streets.

Last year, a large encampent the Santa Ana riverbed was cleared because of concerns about cleanliness and the spread of disease amongst its inhabitants.

As a result, they were forced to move elsewhere— some were put on busses and given vouchers for motels in San Clemente. This led to the notion that encampments like the one at North Beach consist mostly of transplants from the riverbed who went there after their stay at the motels

MORE ON PAGE 4

2 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | News

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New stadium ‘in limbo,’ not likely for Homecoming 2019 Athletics director says he is hopeful for a January 2020 grand opening of the 8,000-capacity stadium ZACHARY KEARNS NEWS EDITOR

The football stadium could be completed in time for the fall homecoming game this year, said Daniel Claus, Saddleback College athletic director. But the rainy winter this season, makes this deadline unlikely.

“It’s in limbo right now,” he said. “We asked the contractor to complete but due to all the rain that happened it doesn’t look like their able to make that day.

Athletic administrators and staff on campus have had general discussions that’s for several years now. The previous Saddleback president, Tod Burnett, and the board of trustees said “the current stadium that we had at the time was an overflowing capacity, it was old and even the restrooms weren’t in the stadium.”

“This new stadium will bring new revenues to the Saddleback campus and addition to the revenues,” he said. “It can benefit students and other programs outside the campus and not just Saddleback athletics.”

Lariat

“Saddleback’s student-run newspaper since 1968” Editor-in-Chief Ariyan Malekpourshirazi Editors Kristen Huntley Zachary Kearns J.A. Bates Griffin Walkey Sarah Gordon Isabella Colby Emily Tonnessen Faculty Advisers Tim Posada Instructional Assistant Ali Dorri Contact Us

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ZACHARY KEARNS STADIUM DELAY: The new football stadium is currently under construction where the old driving range used to be.

In addition to these events, he said they will also be including practice facilities for people coming internationally who are competing in the 2020 Los Angeles Olympics.

In addition to the new stadium being built, they will also be a new practice sport field where the old driving range use to be.

The new practice stadium is going to be

moved to where the Saddleback driving range use to be. It will include two new practice football stadiums a soccer field, and a throws park for track and field.

“It will be a practice field to prepare for games and meets,” he said.

Clauss said these new private event rooms will have team meeting rooms for both home

and visiting and there will be locker rooms for the officials.

“It’s a place where they host meetings,” he said. “ [It] overlooks the stadium with a nice view.” “It will also be used for potential rentals for outside communities who want to rent the press box while an event is happening in potential to additional revenues to the college.”

The new stadium will have 8,000 seats available, which will be significantly more than the old stadium. It will contain artificial turf which prevents injuries, Clauss said.

An extra ninth lane will be added to the Track, which will be the same grade as the Olympics, and what makes it very unique is the throws areas like the discus and the javelin which most colleges don’t have, which gives a better opportunity for people to rent the facility, he said.

In addition to high quality development, it can be useful for summer camps, clinics, high school graduations such as Capistrano Valley and San Juan Hills High School ceremonies.

Clauss said he believes the stadium can benefit the college and the community, the excitement from revenues and sponsorships will bring the community together and a long with that it will enhance the Saddleback College athletic programs because they will be a lot more student athletes recruited due to the nice and new facilities that Saddleback provides.

IN BRIEF

Facilities to repair damage caused by storms before the start of May ZACH KEARNS NEWS EDITOR

Students study on the 3rd floor of the LRC building as plans are being made to fix the leaks right next to student work stations and in other places throughout the LRC building brought about by rain on Feb. 14.

On Thursday, Feb. 14 classes in the LRC were canceled due to some power outages caused by leaks. According to Jim Rogers, the manager of the facilities and maintenance at Saddleback College, no buildings actually flooded. Facilities and Maintenance recognized some “water that got into an electrical room that came into an abandoned conduit that was not sealed during reconstruction for the building in 2010, so the conduit was something that was missed by the general contractor,” Rogers said.

“The water level rose outside due to the downpour and the water came into the conduit that was above the fire alarm panel which shorted out the fluid that was inside the panel,” he said.

Facilities easily turned off the conduit, which had been out of use for many years. Rogers said Facilities staff “are still in the process of trying to get two roofing contractors who are going to come on campus and repair all of the leaks we had on the roofs, the challenge for the Gauchos is we can’t repair the leaks during the rainy season because it is hard to open the roof up, and opening the roof will create a bigger issue.”

By the middle of April, contractors are scheduled to fix portions of roofs throughout the campus.

“This will be a 45-day project because there weren’t that many buildings that got affected during the process, but they did have multiple leaks that they have to deal with which was caused by a variety of issues,” Rog-

ZACHARY KEARNS BEYOND THE SOUND: Students Study while problems persist on the 3rd floor of the LRC.

ZACHARY KEARNS BEYOND THE SOUND: Equipment was stolen from a computer lab and sound room in Village 5, Saddleback Police reported Jan. 24.

(Zachary Kearns) ers said.Most classrooms remained unaffected during the downpour on Valentine’s Day. While all classes in the LRC were canceled, those in the Math and Science building were relocated during leak repairs.The 70-year-old Science and Math building roof “is very sound,” Rogers said, with most leaks originating from groundwater near the building.

According to Rogers, all leaks should be fixed before the end of April.

Electronics stolen from Village, Fine Arts, end of Jan.

A thief or thieves stole equipment from three buildings, campus police announced in a timely warning dated Jan. 24. The Saddleback College police department is investigating the alleged theft in the Science, Fine Arts and Village 5 areas. The campus po-

lice suggested that all staff lock their classrooms and workplaces when required.

On Monday Jan. 28, police discovered the theft of a 9(x2) Lacie Rugged USB3 in Village 5 HP Elite, in the art building, an LCD projector along with an HP Elite Display and a Yamaha Digital Mixer, Police Technical Services Specialist Andrew Craven confirmed in an email. Lastly, a document scanner in the Science building was also stolen.

Police have not identified any suspects but are still investigating. Here is the full statement from the timely warning: “Campus Police has recently received information that there have been three reported burglaries/thefts in campus classrooms where there was a loss of electronic equipment.

The reported burglaries/thefts occurred in the Science, Fine Arts, and Village 5 buildings on campus. The investigation into these incidents is still ongoing. If you have any information in regards to these thefts contact Campus Police at 949- 5824585.”

News | vol. 51, no. 4

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3

How to get to Hawaii in under 50 ... dollars?

JON CAMPISANO STAFF WRITER

WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

UNREST: Feb. 4, a crowded street filled with protesters. One of the many protests in Caracas (capital of Venezuela) against Maduro and his regime.

Rocky stalemate in Venezuela Guaido, Maduro face off in election of the popular will, no real resolution in sight JON CAMPISANO STAFF WRITER

Protest, civil unrest, and violence are still at the center of Venezuela this week, as the leadership of the country has yet to be resolved.

Now, it appears long-awaited foreign military intervention has started to transpire.

As early as March 24, Russian planes have reportedly carried “approximately 100 military personnel and about 35 tons of their equipment” into Caracas, Venezuela. Although the Kremlin has stated this deployment to be a “routine training mission,” U.S. intelligence advisors have described this as a “rapid deployment force” which is likely to enforce Maduro’s weakened regime.

The Organization of American States has also said that approximately 15,000 Cuban military personnel are in Venezuela now as well.

This is the first foreign military deployment in Venezuela since the crisis of Venezuela’s unofficial dictatorship reach a boiling point in January, as the presidential election was seen by many to be rigged.

Among the reasons why: Nearly all of President Maduro’s political opponents had disappeared or been arrested; state food handouts had been exploited for votes amidst food shortages, and the national election board had been entirely loyal to Maduro, along with the Judicial Committee.

Juan Guaido, president of the National Assembly (the national legislature of Venezuela), claims to be president in the aftermath of an “unfair and corrupt” election won

by Nicolas Maduro, the former president who still commands the

loyalty of the armed forces. Guaido’s claim has been recognized as legitimate by the UN, the EU, the United States and other countries as well -- but Maduro has rejected his claim, and clung to power despite waves of popular protest.

Among the few supporters of Maduro’s actions are Russia and Cuba.

After months of stalemate, the dispute has deteriorated into a shouting match between the rival

protestors against crowd-control police, it is lined with hungry families waiting for bread from the few markets still carrying food.

According to sources inside the country, amidst the chaos of collapse Venezuela has seemingly gone to war with itself. CNN’s correspondent Walsh noted that “With some poor nearing starvation, the people demand change” -even if change means violence or the threat of being killed.

Venezuelans’ most severe problem isn’t the lack of food, but rather the skyrocketing price of it. According to Forbes, the annual inflation rate has reached 1,000,000% -- meaning that the price of a cup of Venezuelan coffee doubles every week. This inflation rate has been declared the worst since the Zimbabwe’s recent currency collapse, and also compared to Germany’s in the 1920s.

Economists view Venezuela’s recent history as a tragedy, given that the country once seemed destined to be a South American superpower. Venezuela continues to have the largest oil reserves in the world, but the country has been unable to improve its worsening condition with the resources it has. Forbes describes Venezuela’s predicament as “a tale of corruption, social unrest, self-serving politics, capital controls, price-fixing, and a global commodity bust.”

Juan Guaido is leading a large share of the Venezuelan population in his opposition to Maduro, as a busted economy has caused 90% of that population to be living in poverty. But even though Guaido promises a change away from Maduro’s alleged corruption and socialist policies, the loyal-

AFTER MONTHS OF STALEMATE, THE DISPUTE HAS DETERIORATED INTO A SHOUTING MATCH BETWEEN THE RIVAL CLAIMS, AND A NON-STOP STREET-BRAWL BETWEEN RIVAL POPULAR FACTIONS THAT CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO NOT PICK A SIDE. claimants, and a non-stop streetbrawl between rival popular factions that can no longer afford to not pick a side. Maduro has retorted to his critics that the state of Venezuelan democracy is “impeccable.”

But the view from the streets of Venezuela is far from impeccable.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN’s Senior International Correspondent, said Venezuela’s decay is palpable “as you drive into the capital.” As he entered, he immediately saw a truck stopped “for mere seconds before it was looted.” An epidemic of food shortages has reached so far that if a street is not lined with

ty of the armed forces to Maduro makes it almost impossible to overthrow him. While civilian gun possession is outlawed in Venezuela, pro-Maduro forces have been armed by the state. Now Cuban and Russian intervention will likely add to this disadvantage.

So far, the Venezuelan people have protested without pause or fear, despite harsh reprisals by Maduro’s forces. At first it was tear gas and rubber bullets -- now it is live ammunition. More than 40 Venezuelans have been killed in recent weeks -- perhaps even more, if some UN estimates are accurate.

Millions of Venezuelans have already fled the country -- and for some who have stayed, their only refuge from illness or starvation now lies in the foreign aid that Maduro is attempting to block. On Feb. 20, Maduro blocked Venezuela’s Brazilian border, and soon thereafter the Colombian border as well. The only aid that was able to get through was from the Colombian border, where around 60 Venezuelan troops deserted and fled to Colombia. Supplies came through, but they were reportedly all burnt.

Though Guaido has been internationally recognized as Venezuela’s legitimate president until a fair election can be held, Cuban and Russian intervention puts Maduro in a much stronger position than he was before. Some Venezuelan refugees now native to Los Angeles say this is nothing surprising coming from the “communist dictatorship” they fled.

Until now, the U.S. has opted not to apply direct pressure to the situation. Instead of military intervention, the Trump administration has decided to handle this diplomatically by rallying international support for Guido, imposing sanctions on the Maduro regime for as long as it continues and making sure Venezuela’s neighbors - Columbia and Brazil - follow suit. This strategy is subject to change now that Maduro’s regime may not fall anytime soon, with the new support of its allies.

Southwest Airlines has recently changed the wall of expenses that has restricted flying to Hawaii, and forcing the surrounding market to change as they enter the Pacific for the first time.

Last month, Southwest Airlines decided to underbid the entire Hawaiian flight market, by “inaugurating” their first flights on March 17 from California to Hawaii with $98 round-trips.

Although these sales were at first limited to certain locations in northern California, sources at ABC News stated that Southwest is planning on taking these deals down to southern California as well.

These initial deals were part of a limited two-day sale starting March 4 for flights from San Jose or Oakland, but those offers disappeared in hours. Southwest also abruptly announced another sale on March 17 - the same $98 round-trips - to the same reception.

Southwest Airlines representatives have said they cannot immediately talk about any future pricing, especially when they will move towards Orange County. However, Southwest did say in its own press release that San Jose and Oakland were to be their “initial mainland gateways” from California, and outlets such as ABC News have already reported that Southwest “intends to fly to Hawaii from Sacramento and San Diego.”

Southwest is a Dallas-based airline, so it only recently started flying from California to Hawaii because of a green light by the FAA for pacific coast air travel.

Since its approval this past Feb., Southwest has concluded its “initial plan” of servicing from San Jose and Oakland to Hawaii, and is now preparing to service from other Californian locations too - including Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Ontario.

Although Southwest hasn’t done anymore $98 sales since March 17, this competitive “Wanna Get Away” sales strategy by the airline has proved incredibly successful, and has even created a large impact on the airfare market of Hawaii - a service that has been steadily increasing in cost for years.

Travelers have been paying even upwards of $500 recently for their round-trip ticket just to and from Hawaii. On top of that, any interisland flights average just above $100 per ticket, estimating from Hawaiian Airlines.

On April 6, ABC News claimed that “at this time last year you could expect to pay about $500 for a round-trip ticket in coach. This year the average price is $412.”

Vacation goers can expect the price interisland flight to decline as well, as Southwest has underbid those prices - making them as low as $29.

Southwest will announce its newest non-stop Hawaii service locations by the end of April, and any substantial “Wanna Get Away” deals that will likely come with those new service routes.

Until then, Hawaii is getting closer to anyone’s vacation.

4 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | News

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Homeless feel San Clemente and some residents want them out

because but affordable housing is nonexistent in San Clemente. Other homeless people who stay at North Beach share similar stories. Maura Mikulec said at least 9 of the estimated 29 homeless people at North Beach are certified disabled at the aforementioned City Council meeting that took place on March 19th.

This is a commonality among homeless across the country. The National Alliance to End Homelessness states that 50 percent of the homeless people in America are disabled and unable to work.

There still isn’t a widely accepted solution to the situation in San Clemente. Homeless advocates have supported the idea that shelters should be provided so that the homeless would have a place to go.

The Orange County Sheriff’s department said they do not have the power to solve the problem of homelessness on their own and that the question of shelter is one that would have to be posed to the city.

The City would not respond to any requests for comment on the situation.

FROM PAGE 1

was up.

An article published by Maura Mikulec, a social worker associated with the homeless at North Beach dispels this myth, “the truth is, there were only ever 30 people here from the riverbed, and none of the people living on the streets in San Clemente now are known to be people who were brought here from the riverbed.”

Residents of San Clemente have used the Facebook group San Clemente Life as a platform for them to voice their dissatisfaction with the homeless; the area around North Beach is the subject of a lot of these complaints.

One post likens North Beach to skid row, and another complains of feces on the sidewalks. At a city council meeting on March 19th, 2019, Maura Mikulec was yelled at, told to sit down as she took the stand to speak.

Acts of antagonism from citizens are a daily occurrence for the homeless at North Beach.

A source who requested to remain anonymous said a person had come to the homeless camp in early March and spilled someone’s belongings all over the hill overlooking North Beach, which was where some of them had initially set up tents.

The Ole Hanson Beach Club, a swimming complex owned by the city that neighbors the same hill allegedly installed a loudspeaker pointed at the homeless camping there which played the same song on a loop for 24 hours straight.

Several days after the incident with the loudspeaker, the camp on the hill was cleared due to a city landscaping project.

“I believe that the community as

J.A. BATES/PHOTO EDITOR

ON THE SCENE: One of the estimated 26 homeless at North Beach seen wearing an ANTI-HATERS CLUB t-shirt as a statement against the antagonism he’s encountered from citizens. far as the city government and a small minority of the community have had a really loud voice in trying to push out the homeless,” said William Joseph Brown Jr., who is one of the homeless individuals that frequent North Beach. “One thing I want is for the city to leave the bathroom open during beach hours, from 4 am to

midnight, instead of it being locked at sometimes 8 o’clock at night and not being open until 7 or 8 in the morning.”

Brown suffers from a rare hereditary eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa, which has caused his vision to worsen as he has aged; he is now legally blind. He became homeless

PHOTO BY RUSLAN ALEKSO/PEXELS

UNEVEN COMPROMISE: (Top) An e-cig user blows what is known as a “cloud.” (Right) Juul products

and those like them have come under sharp criticism by many for allegedly marketing benign products with unsuspecting shape, bright colors and candy flavored pod options to children.

Vaping can be of help

Some experts say vaping is a less dangerous alternative to cigarettes, yet the possibilty of early addiction remains KRISTEN HUNTLEY OPINION EDITOR

This trend in varying modifications, juices and nicotine levels has led to speculation about using nicotine vapor to help people quit the use of nicotine products such as cigarettes.

CNN went as far as to publish an article stating that vaping works bet-

ter at helping people quit than patches and other nicotine quitting products.

The New England Journal of Medicine recently decided to develop more evidence regarding whether electronic cigarettes are a better alternative to other smoking-cessation devices.

The study consisted of over 800 people that wanted to quit smoking.

They had 886 total participants in

the study, randomly quit using either e-cigarettes and or gum, and patches.

The end of the study showed that 18 percent abstinence from e-cigarette users, while the patches only had 9.9 percent success rate.

“I have seen it work for some people,” said Bryce, a saddleback student, on using e-cigarettes to quit smoking. “My brother and his wife actually used vaping to quit smoking.

around 3 and a half years ago when his landlord kicked him out of the apartment he was living in because of issues with his roommate.

Initially, homelessness was a choice for him, because he decided to spend a year on the street trying to assist the homeless population. Now, he has no choice but to be homeless,

They kind of just weaned off of the nicotine milligrams.”

Other sites, including the Center on Addiction, do have growing concerns. This is because many vape companies seem to target younger kids with products such as Juul, which supports cartridges that are candy flavored.

A growing concern is early addiction. Use of the products with zero nicotine is a possibility but also a rarity.

Even with zero nicotine levels, the addiction to the device still exists.

“A growing body of evidence indicates that vaping products may be dangerous,” said Center on Addiction. “Despite early optimism when these products first came on the market in the late 2000’s, health advocates now recommend caution in using them in light of growing evidence suggesting that their risks, especially to young people, outweigh their benefits.”

“I believe that the community as far as the city government and a small minority of the community have had a really loud voice in trying to push out the homeless,” -William Joseph Brown Jr.

There has been some speculation on the benefits of vaping.

Vaping can be expensive upfront, because users are buying the new mod and different juices. However, the cost of buying a pack of cigarettes weekly, and even daily for some people, can add up just as fast.

“According to NerdWallet, disposable e-cigarettes will mug you an average of $1,387 per year if you’re a pack-a-day smoker—considerably less than the $2,569 equivalent yearly cost of the real thing,” said Ethan Wolff-Mann on Money.

Wolff-Mann goes on to write that e-cigarettes are known to be up to 95 percent healthier than the real deal.

The article insinuates that there is no evidence connecting vaping and smoking.

It also reiterates that vaping along with being a less harmful alternative can help people quit smoking.

A benefit to vaping is that the juices have levels. This means that if you are attempting to quit smoking through the use of vaping, you can in fact lower the amount of nicotine your body is taking in.

Think of this process like weaning your body off of its addiction.

The problem?

Just because people are able to lower the levels of nicotine, does not mean their body will not develop a new addiction just puffing away throughout the day.

Like everything there are pros and cons.

Take a look at the facts, do the research and decide for yourself if this is how you want to try to decide to quit smoking.

News | vol. 51, no. 4

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5

First sinkhole might arrive After recent sinkhole activity in south Orange County, one may open on campus, here’s what students should look out for EMILY TONNESSON LIFE EDITOR

According to the United States Geological Survey, a sinkhole is defined as “a depression in the ground that has no natural external surface drainage. Basically, this means that when it rains, all of the water stays inside the sinkhole and typically drains into the subsurface.”

Recently, two sinkholes have opened up in southern Orange County. One in La Habra and one in Dana Point. Also, Capistrano Beach is at risk of erosion damage due to the recent rainy weather.

According to Orange County Water Quality and Water Resources, in 2018 Orange County received 2.79 inches of rain in the first three months of the year, but this year we are already at over 11.81 inches and March is not even halfway over.

Saddleback College’s buildings were built on hills and in valleys and after the rainiest winter California has had in years, Saddleback has many flooded drains and leaks. The LRC has already been closed because of issues involving the rain this semester.

This campus is susceptible to sink-

KEN KAUSLER/LARIAT INTERN

ON THE SCENE: Pothole seen on campus which could potentially become a sinkhole this year. holes. Sinkholes can be caused three different ways. The most common way, which caused both the sinkholes in La Habra and Dana Point can possibly happen at Saddleback.

After heavy rains, especially in areas with loose rock or sand foundations, like Saddleback College’s

campus. Water pipes are filled with way more water than usual and they can collapse, causing a sinkhole. This is the type of sinkhole wthat threatens the college campus due to the water main already having issues late last year.

The second way is trauma to the

floor from massive amounts of water or weight which caused the Dana Point sinkhole. This is common when a large rush of water flows downhill at rapid speeds during a rainstorm.

The third way a sinkhole can occur is by rapid erosion to a certain area which is currently happening at Cap-

istrano Beach in Dana Point.

Recent flash flood warnings in our area have sparked the conversation about what to do in a situation if a sinkhole is opening. It is possible to be prepared if a sinkhole begins to open, but that situation protocol is not taught in local schools because California has not gotten enough rain to cause a sinkhole, until this year.

Sinkholes are especially common near coasts. Saddleback is less than seven miles from the beach where sinkholes have already begun opening due to the abundance of precipitation.

The forecast says it will rain on and off in the next few weeks. Because the LRC already experiencing flooding issues, Saddleback’s attendees should be worried about the possibility of a sinkhole. The increase in rain has already begun overfilling the drain pipes around campus.

It is expected to rain in southern California at least twice a week until April. This is why students should be alert and prepared if a sinkhole opens on campus.

According to ABC News, signs of a sinkhole include: “Fresh cracks in the foundations of houses and buildings, cracks in interior walls, cracks in the ground outside, depressions in the ground, trees or fence posts that tilt or fall, doors or windows become difficult to open or close, and the rapid appearance of a hole in the ground.”

If you spot any of these warning signs, it is best to warn others around you and move to a safer location away from any buildings.

This winter’s rainy weather not only provides southern Californians with a reason to actually wear a sweatshirt in March like the rest of the country, but to look out for sinkholes for the first time in their lives.

New private, maternal care booth

OC NEWSTEAM

FIRST TIMERS: OC Newsteam members Brandon Drey and Sabina Kelly anchored the first episode of OC Now.

OC Now’s first 2019 show GRIFFIN WALKEY SPORTS EDITOR

RUSLAN ALEKSO/PEXELS

PRIVACY FOR MOTHERS: Saddleback College recently installed a private lactation booth that students can use to breastfeed in privacy. The facility cost $23,000 to install and students can access it using smart access via the free Mamava app. The facility was installed because of a law the state legislature passed (AB 2785) requiring California Community Colleges to provide a private breastfeeding and pumping station for student mothers.

Over the weekend, OC Now aired their first episode of the Spring Semester. The episode aired on Cox Channel 39 and will continue to air for a while.

Starting this semester, OC Now moved into the newly renovated LRC news room— this episode being the first broadcast from it.

In addition to the remodeled news room, OC Now debuted their new logo in the background during the show.

Hosted by Brandon Drey and Sabina Kelly, and staffed by video journalism students, the show covered a wide range of subjects.

For their feature first story, Jacob Bates reported on the rising issue of homelessness in San Clemente and the community response to rising levels of the indigent population.

Christian Michael reported the next story, focused on the coastal erosion facing many of the beaches in South Orange County. The report highlighted the steps cities are taking to prevent the damage, from placing boulders and sandbags along the coastline to slow the loss of sand to the replacement of lost sand with imported sand.

The final story of the show, reported by Courtney Hoshour, covered the struggle of students at Saddleback to find parking due to the limited space available on campus.

6 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | Opinion

lariatnews.com

Harris’ OC jailhouse snitch scandal Kamala Harris is vying for the the democratic presidential nomination, but her history in OC could prohibit her ISABELLA COLBY HEALTH EDITOR

Promises to crack down on crime and reform the justice system are a politicians niche. Attorney general and aspiring democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is no different. Harris began her climb up the political ladder in the 1990s as an assistant prosecutor in San Francisco. In 2004 she was elected as district attorney of San Francisco and in 2011 she became the California state attorney general.

An advocate of the left, she prosecuted the undercover videographers who divulged videos allegedly revealing Planned Parenthood executives conversing about the marketing of body parts of aborted fetuses and forced multiple conservative non-profits to turn over their private donor list.

With the announcement of her desire to be the democratic presidential nominee, Harris has come under harsh criticism for her involvement in the Orange County jailhouse snitch scandal. The Orange County district attorney’s office used illegally obtained confessions from jailhouse informants to convict criminals. A superior court judge made a motion to remove the DA from trying cases impacted by jailhouse snitches. Harris sided with

MICHAEL ROZMAN/WARNER BROS.

Kamala Harris, left, dances with Ellen during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on April 5, 2018, at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California.

KAMALA HARRIS HAS PROVED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT SHE IS NOT CONCERNED WITH JUSTICE.

the OCDA’s office in the opposition of the motion. In an interview with The New York Times, Harris said she knew about the corruption and it was being “handled on a local level.” Yet, no prosecutor or anyone with the sheriff’s department has faced any charges.

Harris has described herself as a “progressive prosecutor” and a “champion of justice” since she announced she will join the presidential race. These claims received immediate backlash because of her

history in the criminal justice system, demonstrating the complete opposite. Harris has a long record of fighting to uphold wrongful convictions due to evidence tampering, false testimony and information suppression by prosecutors.

Harris vouched for state legislation that prosecuted parents for having chronically truant children, ignoring worries that low-income minorities would be disproportionately affected. Upon the ruling to abolish the death penalty in Orange

County, Harris fought back again. In 2014 she spoke out against reducing marijuana charges to misdemeanors, yet in 2018 when public opinion shifted, so did hers.

Kamala Harris has proved time and time again that she is not concerned with justice. Low income citizens and minorities are not important to her and getting a conviction is all that matters. Harris ignores proper legal proceedings and corruption, as shown by the OC jailhouse snitch scandal.

Is it time to eliminate college debt for students?

When free college actually isn’t free, options are far more dire

DEBT BY

THE NUMBERS

69 The percent of student who took out loans.

29,800 The average dollar amount students owe after college.

1.56 The trillions of dollars Americans collective owe in college debt.

11.5 The percent of delinquent loans 90 days past due.

42.9 The millions of loan borrowers in 2018.

KRISTEN HUNTLEY OPINION EDITOR

Free is one of the best words in the English language. Free is also most definitely a college students go to. Free food? Count them in.

Free entertainment, movie, concerts and so on? They are on their way.

So why would free college be any different?

As a college student, college at no cost sounds like exactly what we want. Not only is that extra cash in my pockets, but less stress and anxiety and no panicky sweats as I look into four-year universities and student loans putting me in debt before I leave my parents house.

How inexpensive is free really?

According to Bernie Sanders proposal, tuition would be costless.

Only tuition for some colleges is really the cheapest part of the experience. So therefore, free college could end up costing students anywhere around $10,000.

“But at some colleges, it’s room and board that hits your wallet the hardest,” says CNN Money article,

Source: Student Loan Hero

“6 things to know about tuition-free college” written in 2016.

The article also mentions that the $4,000 that would be covered by the proposal would be in the hands of the U.S. and state governments.

Basically, higher taxes. Taxes would be the new cost of college. The other $10,000 is still a looming number over students’ heads.

College without tuition costs has already started for some students.

Specifically, community colleges in New Jersey. For the state, 13,000 students are on their way to being tuition free says New Jersey 101.5’s article, “For 13,000 in NJ, tuition-free Community College starts this week.”

“Community College Opportunity Grant program pays for whatever tuition and approved educational fees aren’t covered by federal and state need-based aid and merit schol-

arships,” New Jersey 101.5.

The program in New Jersey helps the handful of students paying out of pocket or dealing with loans. This is the target because of the large number of students already going essentially for no cost after the grant money FAFSA gave them.

Other institution seemingly thriving is University of Michigan. This 2018-2019 school year, Michigan has reported applications from low

income students in larger numbers than normal.

The campaign starting the change is, High Achieving Involved Leader and promises students four years of no cost tuition and other college fees. The perk behind this campaign is that the students are guaranteed acceptance instead of only a chance.

“In some cases, the students enrolling at Michigan wouldn’t have gone to college at all had they not had been contacted,” wrote The Atlantic in the article, “A Guarantee of Tuition-Free College Can Have Life-Changing Effects.”

The mysteries behind essentially complimentary college seem to be who is paying and well, who is going to benefit from it. At the end of the day, students who apply for FAFSA do receive aid and grants. Some receive so much they are already going to school for free.

The rest of the students might be drowning in debt and multiple jobs just trying to cover in rapidly increasing interest rates. Maybe taxes increase a little bit, but the extra option given to students figuring out their lives is worth it.

With this proposal, college still will not be completely free and not every student will be accepted in the beginning. They will still have to make decisions on living accomodations and for the most part that is one of the biggest challenges being faced today.

Opinion | vol. 51, no. 4

@lariatnews

BOTOX parties near me JOHN CAMPISANO STAFF WRITER

Tracy Mcconnell, Staff, Program Technician ments. Often the med spa provides discounts on product so that they can get new patients in the door. Often alcohol is served. These are highly social events that mix pleasure with aesthetics, which makes the idea of getting injected with a needle a little more palatable.”

With the tide of the botox market changing, the reality is this: botox products are about to be more accessible - monetarily and geographically - than they have ever been before.

Botox’s other medical treatments will also become more accessible alternatives to mainstream drugs that treat the same ailments.

With advertising of botox now an opening market thanks to competition between Allergan and Evolus, innovative means of bringing in more patients such as botox parties will be highly effective, as well as profitable for doctors. Without new regulations designed towards a greater population using this very dangerous drug, the incentive for unprofessional yet profitable abuse of the drug by doctors is thus greater than it has ever been.

Dear Larry, I am starting to realize I hate my major, but I do not want to start all over. What do I do? -S.B. Go with your gut. You will not be starting over, even if it seems like you are. Many classes at the community college level fit in to the general education credits, so do not be scared to see a counselor to talk this out. If you put off addressing this problem, then you will be wasting time and money taking classes you are no longer interested in.

Dear Larry, What is a good way to meet new people around campus?

K.A. Step 1: stop walking around campus with your head down and eyes glued to your phone. Instead, be more aware of your surroundings. Make eye contact with your peers and smile at those who look at you. A good strategy for picking friends is to look for cues that indicate the individual you are walking by is into the same things as you.

For example, T-shirts, stickers, sweaters, hats, etc. with recognizable logos, bands, movies, fanbases you like and spark a conversation about that common interest.

There you go, instant new bestie.

Dear Larry, How do I motivate myself to improve my attendance?

A.R. Two words: treat yo’self! When I find myself stuck in a cycle of skipping classes, I get myself to go by rewarding myself. Whether it be a coffee for attending my morning lecture or a snack for going to my afternoon class; it helps to keep your motivation up when you reward yourself for doing things you get bored of, like actually going to class.

Dear Larry, What are some fun classes Saddleback has to offer? N.B. Surprisingly, speaking from my own experience, I have had the most fun in classes that were unlike anything I had ever taken. It is a good idea to take advantage of your time in community college because you can explore courses outside of your major for a cheaper cost and you may fall in love with the subjects you never thought to take.

Dear Larry, I am worried about the transfer process, do you have any advice about applying to universities? F.I. My time at Saddleback is coming to an end after this semester and to be honest, my transfer process has been stressful. You can learn from a few of my mistakes in order to lessen the stress on your shoulders.

First and foremost, do not leave your applications until the deadline because they will take much longer to process.

Secondly, research the curriculum of the major you are transferring in to because some schools may not focus on what you want to learn.

Do not pick a school just because it is cool or popular because that equals higher costs and more people

to compete with for admission. Just take it slow, but not too slow, and you can always ask a counselor for help.

Dear Larry, Do you recommend participating in extracurricular activities in college or are they a waste of time? D.T. Yes and no. It is a good idea to spend time participating in extracurricular activities if they will help you prepare for your future career.

They can be ways to have fun and make friends on campus. However, it is not a good idea to spend all of your time and energy on extracurriculars and let your grades slip, especially if the club or organization is completely unrelated to your educational goals.

Dear Larry, How do you regain your will to live after midterms?

M.B. Take lots of naps and eat lots of comfort food because midterms can creep up on you and shoot you down, but do not let them slow your progress through the semester. Do well and reward yourself after they are over. Although the mental toll may never fade, you can physically get yourself back in shape by relaxing after they are over.

Renee barenbaum, Day Custodian

competition with each other, and competitive branding campaigns between Evolus and Allergan already starting, these medical treatments involving botox might even become alternatives to their mainstream counterparts relatively soon.

The botox demographic may also become a huge source of the drug’s abuse, as the underlying problem with botox is the social pressure around it. “The pressure is tremendous,” said Mrs. Heinrich, an Orange County mother who is active in her church community. “You go to Bible study and nearly everyone has it. I’m not told I should do it, but it’s treated like a standard in order to be presentable.” Her and others may not be told to take the injection, but what they are asked to is this: Botox parties.

For those who are unfamiliar with the concept, according to the American Med Spa Association, “These are events hosted by a med spa or a provider, either at the med spa or another location, where people get together to socialize, learn about treatments, and try new treat-

“I think its a good idea for students and staff, because they dont have to worry about going to their cars or trying to hide. It gives them the availability, and they have the mamova to use.”

Ari Kermani, Project specialist BGS Building

doctor’s cut for administering the deadly drug), botox has been linked to affluent areas and suburbs, such as in Orange County.

An important reason why botox is at risk for abuse is that it’s becoming more and more unregulated. In recent years, botulinum treatments have entered a whole new field of unregulated, off-label uses. According to the FDA, the drug is approved for nine separate medical uses, but that isn’t stopping doctors from pushing the boundaries even further.

Min Dong, Ph.D at Harvard Medical School who researches botulinum toxins, said in 2017 that “It’s the doctors at the front line who start using Botox off-label, and then we see the treatment of things we never expected the toxin to work for. I meet with physicians who are using the toxin everywhere - for diseases you would never know about.”

Doctors now believe botox can treat anything from overactive bladders to crossed eyes, cerebral palsy, excessive sweating, migraines or even depression. With prices of botox treatments set to go down in

“I am for it, because I think that it’s an opportunity for students who are new moms, and give moms the opporotunity to pump between classes. It is conveniant.”

“I don’t mind it. It doesn’t really concern me but I dont think the placement is great. It could have been more private with less traffic.”

Patti Nutting, Senior Administrative Assistant

OCEANVIEWMEDSPA/FLICKR

THIS EXISTS: A BOTOX party held in Frisco, Texas, and hosted by the Big Rich, because that’s apparently a thing.

Advice guru answers your school-related dilemmas

Dear Larry, Is it a good idea to work while going to school full-time?

M.V. Tricky question. It all depends on your desired career path. If your current job is what you want to do forever than dedicate more time to it.

However, if it is not your ultimate career goal then do not prioritize a temporary job over your education.

How do you feel about providing the option of private breast-feeding on campus?

Recently, Saddleback college placed a Mamova breast-feeding pod in the BGS building. Staff gave their thoughts.

Dear Larry, Dear Larry, How do you balance having a social life, working out and keeping good grades? A.S. It is all about time management.

Keeping a detailed schedule usually works for people. Also, staying organized and ahead with school work will facilitate having more time for friendships and exercise.

taff Scomments

“I think it is a great idea to accommodate nursing mothers to allow them their personal space during their needed privacy.”

Leah England, Senior Administrative Assistant

Last month, Evolus - a competitor to pharmaceutical giant Allergan’s botox market - was FDA approved for its version of the face-lifting drug, Jeuveau, which some experts claim to be a “better” botox. Allergan, owner of BOTOX Cosmetic, has seen its stock dip since Evolus’ approval, and some say this will serve to bolster the growth of the botox cosmetic market by providing cheaper alternative treatments.

But Evolus has just done far more than undercutting Allergan’s market.

It’s broken Allergan’s monopoly.

Now because botox is a competitive market, it may lead to the greatest explosion of its use, ever, along with an enormous potential for abuse.

And the reasons why doesn’t start with face-lifting.

Botox - or Botulinum Toxin Type A - is a drug commonly known for its facial wrinkle smoothing. It’s also uncommonly known to be an extremely deadly toxin that can treat a variety of other ailments.

One could say it’s the world’s best alternative to the fountain of youth, while others have called it unethical.

Regardless, underneath the most acutely lethal toxin known to man - even deadlier anthrax or smallpox - is a $2.8 billion dollar niche of the cosmetic industry. That number is expected to rise above four billion by 2020, according to Allergan’s own estimates. But with Evolus in the picture, now that market is getting bigger.

Up until now, Allergan has had a tight monopoly over the botox drug, and they have even restricted its commercial advertisement since they lacked any viable competition.

Despite that, the number of cosmetic botox patients reported by The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is as high as seven million now. With this tri-annual treatment being regularly around $600 dollars a pop (not including the

7

“I think it’s a good start, I am proud of Saddleback Colleges community efforts to be inclusive and eliminate as many academic barriers as possible for our diverse student population”

8 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | Feature

lariatnews.com

Pacific Crest Trail On the

Arash Zelli, currently in Idyllwild over 200 miles into the Pacific Crest Trail, speaks on his experiences and plans he has for the future

BY ARIYAN MALEKPOURSHIRAZI

A

rash Zelli, a former local Orange County college student is currently attempting a hike from Mexico to Canada using the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Which spans up through America and many of its beautiful deserts, forests and mountain regions. Before all this, Zelli was an Irvine Valley College student, starting back in 2015, and says to have been “bouncing around between different schools and majors.”

A new path was needed - or in his words, “something that I could pave for myself.” So Zelli decided to take up the PCT, trying to prove that a career can be made from anything, “with or without an education” he said. “But this is not about the PCT, however something bigger. The P.C.T is nothing but training for bigger things to come.”

Bigger things are to come, as Zelli plans to become the first person to connect all major continents by foot.

This will put him through harsh and extreme tests of his versatility, not to mention his current situation is already putting him through dangerous obstacles, such as slipping and falling downhill on ice.

“Approaching 5000 feet, there were dead trees everywhere. I had to bushwack around, sometimes up to 20 feet on extremely steep hillsides,”

he said of his ascent up Mt. San Jacinto.

However, on his decent down of the mountain, Zelli wanted to challenge himself. So he decided to leave at 1:00 in the afternoon, following this year’s cold winter transitioning to a warm spring. This made the snow-covered icy trails especially slippery from the melting ice.

“As I’m descending down the mountainside, my foot slips and I slide down 100 feet,” he said. “I did what I knew to do, which was to flip over and catch myself with an ice axe.”

With quick instinct and well applied knowledge from prior research, Zelli was able to kick his feet back while swinging his axe down into the ice, and in doing so was able to stop his fall. Luckily, he fell in the direction of the trail he was on - although a fall prior proved to be more dangerous.

“I fell 20 feet down near South Peak,” he said. “I had to climb back up the trail. This was certainly more scary because it was my first time. I was extremely fortunate to have borrowed an axe from another hiker.”

The other hiker, whom he called Sandy, decided to skip that portion of the trail, but was kind enough lend her axe. For food, Zelli claims to carry mostly nuts, bars and jerky.

For water, he filters streams or melts

G many challenges. There is no land mass, only freely floating blocks of ice. This means I must cross in a single winter, navigating using the stars.

Temperatures may reach in excess of -60°F, and I must carry all of my food because there are no wild edibles.”

Swimming in dangerously cold waters between floating ice blocks, Zelli will use a dry suit to keep himself from freezing. While he looks up to the stars to navigate himself, Zelli will have to look down to watch out for ice blocks moving in the wrong direction.

From Russia, Zelli will hike to-

wards the “easternmost” part of Asia.

In his case, this will be Cape Dezhnev. Although from Russia he will then need to decide his route through Asia, whether it’ll be passing through the eastern or southern coast. Both will challenge him with the obstacle of traveling through North Korea.

“Being Iranian, it may make things move smoother. Being American too, this could be a big problem diplomatically.” he says, “I would do this even if I had to have somebody hold my hand and walk me through the beautiful country of North Korea with a blindfold and earplugs on.”

After traversing North Korea, Zelli will make his way to Bangladesh, where he’ll head towards Nepal and traverse his way through the Himalayas, where he will also attempt summit Mt. Everest along the way. From there, he’ll head towards the middle east - crossing first through Tajikistan and into Afghanistan from where he will “proudly” travel through Iran, then through the Elburz mountains, while keeping to the northern part of the country. Zelli plans on stopping in Tehran and Tabriz for his own personal reasons.

Zelli plans to next go into Azer-

Feature | vol. 51, no. 4

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C

A

B

D

“I’d rather travel than have a masters degree. With meticulous planning and a willingness to learn from my mistakes, I know I can accomplish anything. The PCT is just a section hike to me. Those ice cliffs are pussy shit to me.” baijan and from there into Turkey, although he faces a complication here. Zelli said that “Turkey presents a problem as there is no land mass to cross into Europe. This is a problem I have yet to solve. The alternate route is to cross from Azerbaijan into Russia. From there, I will make my way across Europe.”

Once in Europe, Zelli will traverse again this time through the Pyrenees Alps into Spain, and make his way along the coast into Cabo da Roca, Portugal. His route then takes him to Lisbon, where he’ll take the Camino de Santiago up to France.

“I will then follow the southern coast of the Mediterranean through France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece and back to Asia through Turkey.” He says “I will then follow the Coast through Lebanon, Syria, Israel, through Gaza and into Africa through Egypt.”

After Egypt, Zelli will cross the Suez Canal, and head west across the entire Sahara Desert, then the coast towards the Congo River, where he says, “I will follow along the Congo River until I find a suitable place to cross. If I cannot cross the Congo River, I will follow it until the end. I will head from there through the Kalahari Desert. I will terminate in Cape Agulhas, South Africa.”

Hungry for more, Zelli will have to decide to whether or not he should end there or continue on to Antarctica, and sail back across the strait of Magellan into Ushuaia or Argentina.

“I guess we’ll see what happens!” he says, “I plan to begin this journey within the next half decade. For me, it’s a matter of “I’d rather travel than have a masters degree. With meticulous planning and a willingness to

learn from my mistakes, I know I can accomplish anything. The PCT is just a section hike to me. Those ice cliffs are pussy shit to me,” he says. “Danger is meaningless when compared to my dreams. This is what allows me to continue along the PCT and commit to a future like this.”

In preparation for his trip, Zelli is currently learning Spanish, and planning on also learning the basic levels of spanish, portuguese Russian, Turkish, Chinese, Korean, Arabic and French.

“Life is what you make of it … do not waste even a minute doing something that doesn’t bring fulfillment to your life! Be your own person.”

E A: Arash Zelli taking off outerlayer of clothing while hiking up Idyllwild mountains-Ariyan Malekpourshirazi B: Hiker traverses up the icy trails going up the mountains by Idyllwild-Ariyan Malekpourshirazi C: Veiw of the Mountain wilderness of the Idyllwild region-Ariyan Malekpourshirazi D: Mountain veiw down towards the Idyllwild town-Ariyan Malekpourshirazi E: “packed like sardines in a ski hut right now” San Jacinto -courtesy of Arash Zelli F: Camp site of Arash Zelli and accompaning hiking group-Ariyan Malekpourshirazi G: First interveiw with Arash Zelli in Idyllwild-Ariyan Malekpourshirazi

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10 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | Life

lariatnews.com

Cigars, tacos and Laguna Beach A firsthand story of cruising down Laguna Beach for smokes, food and conversation ARIYAN MALEKPOURSHIRAZI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It was a Sunday afternoon and I was driving down Pacific Coast Highway, somewhere in Laguna Beach. My deadline was the next day and once again with most things, I waited until the last moment to get started. The weather was cloudy, yet it wasn’t raining, so I was able to listen to my ‘80s Japanese pop with the windows down and the sunroof open.

I was in desperate need of some sort of tobacco. The cravings intensified, so I decided to make an essential stop at Cubanas Cigars, a subtle little shop on PCH. I found it important to introduce myself to the shopkeeper. It’s always good to open yourself up to conversation; you never know what you might learn. He was a middle-aged man named Reza, and I quickly became aware that this man was Persian, like me. I spoke to him in Farsi and gathered information about the shop, which had been around for 17 years.

Lately, it had become an asylum for locals trying to escape Laguna’s anti-smoking laws. A place where you can seek refuge and have yourself a fine cigar with brandy on the side, where you can sit on a leather chair and converse with your fellow customers.

Now I’m not one for cigars, but more into inhaling the smoke, without a sense of throwing up. So I got myself a pack of Al Capone filtered cigarillos (cognac dipped). A smooth, tasty drag which one could find themselves quickly hooked on. I took a seat while Reza helped another customer.

“So my friend, how long have you been in America.” He asked after finishing up with the customer.

“Oh no…I’ve always been here, I was born here.” I replied while sparking another one of my smokes.

An hour had passed, one after the other however, I found myself feeling a little sick. Perhaps I smoked too many on an empty stomach, or perhaps I was getting bored. Anyhow, I was hungry and had gotten my fix. I bid farewell to Reza and left.

Back on PCH again, this time heading north towards the wellknown Taco Loco of Laguna Beach.

The man whom I suspected to be the

ARIYAN MALEKPOURSHIRAZI/LARIAT

A NIGHT ON THE TOWN: Taco Loco owner Gonzalo Rebollar receives a flower necklace from a patron Thursday night on the Pacific Coast Highway area.. owner stood behind the counter with his colorful bandana and scarf, and his many necklaces and bracelets.

You can tell he was a man of culture.

I acknowledged Locos vibes. He smiled and said, “thank you.” I asked his name and who the owner was: “me” he responded, pointing to himself, smiling again. He then handed me a business card with his name on it, Gonzalo Rebollar, “or Gonzo for short” he said.

Meanwhile, I ordered two of the calamari tacos he recommended. The more we began to talk the more obvious it was how much of a joyous, loving and accepting character he is.

I tried to match his energy by ditching my juvenile lingo. However, I could tell this man understood me on a deeper level, and there was no need.

With their posters that promoted Magic Thursdays, a big neon mushroom and a sign to Amsterdam pointing east. It was made obvious the strong energy of the mystical, spiritual and peaceful vibes of a once prospering hippie culture.

Soon my tacos were ready, the calamari was served with guacamole and hot sauce. A delightful combination of flavor served on a flour tortilla. Gonzo was 60 years old and had a lot of wisdom to discuss, based on his many life experiences.

The conversation made a quick turn towards the hippie culture and psychedelics, when I asked about the related paraphernalia all over the store. We talked about the drug exposure that started around 60s and the dangers of how some, being led by ignorant susceptibility, would find themselves addicted to the wrong types of drugs or worse: fried beyond repair. While others, who took careful steps were able to enrich their lives and reach the spiritual experiences and higher consciousness that they were searching for.

He recommended a book for those who are interested in the mystics of psychedelics entitled “The Tibetan Book of the Dead.” This Nyingma piece of literature from the 14th century was designed to guide one’s con-

sciousness after death in the realm called “bardo,” used to describe the realm of after death but before rebirth. Gonzo told me of its important guidance towards psychedelic or meditative ‘out of body’ experiences.

I was becoming more and more curious with every new topic. I asked him his personal opinion on the best way to have a psychedelic experience.

“In October, on a full moon, when the moon will be the closest to the earth.” He said. “You will need to prepare for it, fast prior, drink alkaline water and keep acidic foods/ drinks out of your diet.”

We went one talking about astrology and quantum physics. he told me about “The Alcubierre Drive,” a theory that you can bend space to be able to reach faster-than-light travel.

I asked Gonzo how long he’d been in Laguna Beach and what it was like when he first came.

“Around 1987, it was an affordable place to live, anyone who wanted to could live here. There was more

fun back then, more… hippies” He said “Yes…Laguna is not as fun as it used to be, the yuppies came and ruined it… the yuppies follow the hippies and the millionaires follow the yuppies. Because they have no culture of their own of course.” I was confused, “what the hell is a yuppie?”

I asked. “It’s what they call the middle class of the baby boomer generation.” He said.

I looked outside and down the street and oddly enough I could see someone pulled over in the rain, by the strict police force of this town. On any night, if you find yourself driving down here after 9 P.M. you will almost always see somebody pulled over.

The once free spiritual Laguna Beach has turned to a tourist playground, where property is only available to the rich and where an honest man can get ticketed for smoking a cigarette in their streets. And once again America has taken a culture and raped it into submission for its financial gain.

Tripping into to ‘The Twilight Zone’ without Rod Serling PORTER AYDELOTTE CONTRIBUTOR

IN THE ZONE: Kumail Nanjiani stars in the pilot of the “Twilight Zone” reboot.

CBS

Nostalgia is the key to selling a series in this decade, as “Stranger Things” and “Cobra Kai” exploit. But nostalgia cannot save a series, so they use nostalgia alongside a well-crafted story.

With Jordan Peele’s revival of the classic series “The Twilight Zone,” it tries to use both of these aspects in its first episode. At the start, is able to connect on both levels, but falls flat by the end.

The first episode of the revival is titled “The Comedian.” The story depicts Samir Wassan (Kumail Nan-

jiani) as a failing comedian. After another flopped routine, Samir receives advice from a mysterious individual: In order to gain success, the audience needs something personal to relate to. Samir takes this advice to heart, successfully getting the audience to laugh. However, as the episode progresses, Samir learns that his actions carry large consequences.

While the actors in the revival are entertaining, Kumail is incredible. He nails the fact that Samir is comedian that easily becomes influenced by the prospects of fame and fortune, resulting in a flawed character that makes his story even more interesting. However, the pilot comes with two par-

ticular weaknesses: episode and the predictable twist.

It’s too long, spending an hour focused on a single character.

TV series based on nostalgia tend to feature multiple leads and subplots allowing more effective flow. With Peele’s revival, it gets boring by the end. At a trimmed 30 to 45 minutes, it would avoid feeling bloated. That said, the conclusion does more damage than the length.

By the halfway point, that final twist is easy to spot. Therein lies the problem: a predictable outcome too familiar to fantasy and horror fans. It lacks the infamous twists the original contributed every episode, a highlight

of the Rod Serling’s masterpiece. The old endings left audiences surprised or questioning the reality. Not so for the revival.

Peele’s “Twilight Zone” takes away the very spirit of the original, but this problem can be remedied in the next five planned episodes. It’s too early to say if this series will continue to suffer the same problems.

And other than those faults, it is actually enjoyable and sets off in the right direction for a revival of one of the greatest science fiction-fantasy horror series. It’s not perfect a start by any means, but it could have been far worse.

Life | vol. 51, no. 4

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Health Center provides more than free Band-Aids EMILY TONNESSEN

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Saddleback College’s health center offers many useful, affordable services that you may not know about.

Saddleback College’s student health center is located in the Student Services Center on the first floor in room 177. At the end of every semester registration, you may have noticed that it includes a $15-$20 fee that helps fund the health center. However, most students never step foot in SSC 177 during their time at Saddleback for various reasons. Whether it is because of lack of need, already insured, or embarrassed, it is a good idea to pop in at least once to explore their services.

135 students around campus were asked the question: Have you ever used the health center for something other than a free band-aid or sanitary product? Only 12 students said they had scheduled an appointment to see a doctor. That is a mere 9 percent of those polled.

There are currently over 60,000 students enrolled in the South Orange County Community College District.

Let’s do some quick maths: 60,000 x $20 = $1.2 million + the $350,000 grant from February 2018 = $1.55 million total. That is quite a lot of money being saved up and unused.

Some services they provide every day for students and faculty include free physical exams, help with addiction, domestic violence services, housing and food resources, LGBTQ+ support, STD treatment, mental health therapy, among many other services. From physical to sexual to psychological to therapeutic issues, the health center staff are trained to help all students and fac-

EMILY TONNESSEN/LARIAT

HEALTH AND WELLNESS: The Health Center is located on the first floor of the Student Services Center building.

ulty with any problem they may be facing.

Another service they provide which is not talked about much is their health question hotline. They have 12 medical professionals including medical doctors who will answer any question students may have over the phone. The health hotline phone number is (949) 582-4606.

The health center also provides aid to the community in several ways.

They fund and help at the food bank,

run out of Fine Arts throughout each month and they assist in providing homeless students emergency housing. Another notable service that has impacted thousands of students since 1976 is DSPS. The health center staff also work together with campus police for more serious issues. Their website is packed full of information about common medical problems and links to websites that can help students is well kept. For those that are embar-

rassed, it is best to check website first but for physical problems go in they will be happy to help you.

Last February the South Orange County Community College District received a grant of $350,000 dedicated to improving the mental health services on the community college campuses. In our modernizing society, where mental health is taken care of a lot more than the past, it may seem respectable that that large amount of money was donated to help students

Local storefront, web based employers hiring in south OC SARAH GORDON LIFE EDITOR

With a new semester starting, now if the perfect time for students to look for jobs and many businesses and apps in the area are hiring. If you are a student in need of a full or part-time job, here are some businesses hiring around Saddleback College.

Mission Viejo Saddleback College Tutoring: Now accepting applications for new tutors. Qualified Saddleback students can apply online.

The Cheesecake Factory: Accepting applications for various jobs including host, cashier and busser, interested individuals can apply online.

Target: Positions available include, Guest Service Team Member – Cart Attendant, Starbucks Team Member and Target protection specialist are available, applications are online.

Irvine Embassy Suites: Locations now hiring in Irvine for Front Desk Agent, Dishwasher and Room Attendant/Housekeeper, you can apply on their website.

Paw Sweet Paw: This business is now hiring for the following positions: Dog Daycare Attendant and Dog Groomer, apply online.

Michaels: Locations are now hiring in Irvine and surrounding cities, positions available include, Custom Art Framer, Support Specialist and Cashier/Sales team member, interested students can apply online.

Aliso Viejo PetSmart: Locations in Aliso Viejo and surrounding cities are now hiring for available positions including Pet Hotel Associate, Early Morning Stocker, and Pet Hotel Night Pet Care Specialist, applications available online.

CVS Health: Locations are now accepting applications for positions including Retail Store Associate and Beauty Consultant, apply online.

If you’re a full-time student and may not have time to commit to a full-time job, you can work anywhere, any time and make your own schedule with these apps.

struggling with mental health issues.

However, it is most likely not all being used for that.

A memo was sent to the faculty on campus shortly after the grant was given to the health center, promising prizes to any faculty that would decide to utilize the health center. It seems sort of suspicious that suddenly the health center, that seemed to struggle with bringing in patients, has now used the money they were given to help students, to instead reward faculty.

This issue is being ignored due to the fact that barely any students utilize the office they are funding during registration.

The center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. and until 3 P.M. on Fridays. The 12 medical professionals on staff are there to help any student or faculty with anything they need. Even if it is just a medical question or to take a look at a bruise on your arm, the center is there at your disposal.

If you or anyone you know is interested in an appointment at the health center they accept walk ins and appointments. It is best to show up 10 minutes before you would like to be seen because of the few pages of paperwork first-time patients have to fill out.

They have a program called CARE which is an online service that students can utilize to submit a report concerning them or a friend. This is used by anyone that is unsure if they should seek medical attention, which will in turn save lives.

It is best to be proactive and catch things early and the student health center can help you while you wait for an appointment with your primary doctor or if you do not have health insurance at all.

5 cheap activities for students to take advantage of this spring SARAH GORDON LIFE EDITOR

REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

EARNING YOUR CASH: Students hoping for extra income can now earn money in person and online.

Apps Wag!: If you have a love for animals and the outdoors, this dog walking service might be the side job for you. You can work all over south Orange County and work when you want walking peoples dogs. Download the Wag! App today to get started.

DoorDash: This food delivery service app will allow you to deliver food in cities across south Orange County. This is an easy way for busy college students to make money on the side. Download the Dasher app today to get started.

College students know; the cheaper the better, and going out in south Orange County can get expensive. But there are many amazing deals waiting for students on a budget if you look in the right places. With that said, here is a list of some of the best deals and activities that will save you money this semester.

AMC $5 Tuesdays: If you love movies but hate paying $20 for a luxury experience, this is something you should know about. You can see the latest movies playing every Tuesday for just $5 at all participating AMC theatres, you heard it, $5. Download the AMC app or click here to for more information.

Bowlmor Lanes $2.22 Tuesdays: Before or after your $5 movie catch a deal on food, bowling and games with $2.22 Tuesdays. Located at The District at Tustin Legacy this is a convenient stop for students to stretch their dollar. They will be offering $2.22 Games, Tacos, Long Island Iced Teas and Tall Boys.

Their arcade cards are typically $5, but tonight grab them for only $2. Great Park Balloon Ride: This bright orange hot air balloon can be seen flying high in the center of Irvine. Bring family and friends and get a birds-eye view of the city for just $10 a person, and enjoy free entry for children with a paid adult ticket.

Click here for more information on prices and ride times.

The Observatory: Visit this concert venue located in Santa Ana to see a variety of artists for ticket prices as low as $10. Discover new artists and experience shows happening every week.

The Observatory also offers early entry reservations for drinks and food up to an hour before the show. Click here for more information on upcoming artists.

Santa Ana Art Walk: Experience multiple art galleries, discover local artists and live music for free on the first Saturday of every month in Downtown Santa Ana. Stroll through galleries and support local artists during this ongoing event, or grab a bite to eat at one of the many vendors that line the streets.

12 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | Life

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Red, blue and white Different ways tostay safe on campus KRISTEN HUNTLEY OPINION EDITOR

Growing up, the words “be safe” is repeated constantly. Safety is key to society. So much so, that their are careers dedicated to staying safe.

An important factor of safety is how to execute it alone.

Common ways to practice safety while alone are walking to cars with keys between knuckles and checking the backseat before driving.

An article written by Albuquerque Public Schools suggests several different safety tips for students. The articles includes knowing the schools safety plans, letting parents know the planned whereabouts of students and always be aware of one’s surroundings.

Letting parents or close friends know where the student will be can help others stay safe.

This is because if they go missing or get hurt, others can use their whereabouts and information given by people that were in the area to find out what happened.

Staying aware of surroundings is an important safety tip as well. It is smart to stay aware of strange people, hiding spots or even items seemingly out of place. Knowing what is around can also help someone being followed stand out a little more, by noticing something unusual or maybe a bush that keeps moving.

Schools have different safety plans depending on the situation at hand. Knowing the various plans can help decide what to do in the event of an emergency. After an event happens it is good to know who to call first and what

KRISTEN HUNTELY/ LARIAT

the correct extension is to reach them.

A few Saddleback students had opinions about their safety on campus.

“Stop having classes late at night,” Marla Aranda said.

“That’s literally giving some rapist the opportunity to rape me if I’m in the parking lot at 10 p.m.”

Later at night, Saddleback does offer courses but they are not widely selected. This leaves the parking lot dark and empty.

According to Aranda, it can lead to some scary situations.

“Look both ways when crossing the street is my number one go to for safety,” Another College student, Bayleigh Duarte said.

Safety can be easy to accomplish. At a young age children are taught to wear their seatbelts and look both ways before crossing a street. These precautions may seem innate but they are just as important as steps learned later on.

“I carry a knife,” said Julia Carpenter, a second year Saddleback student. “I’m here really late and it’s a security thing for me.

Carrying a knife helps keep my sanity. I feel safe and at ease.”

Being safe on campus can be done without weapons but for some that extra level of protection may be needed. However, on Saddleback’s code of conduct it does state the use of a dangerous weapon is punishable. Knowing when or how to use a weapon is important and can save the lives of many.

If carrying a weapon, always be responsible.

Moeez Zafar, a Saddlebac student, had a very different reac-

tion. He expressed that he does feel safe at school and if he ended up having an issue, he would move off campus before attempting to talk it out with the person or handle it differently.

Remembering to be safe at any location is crucial. It is crucial to understand the safety regulations enforced in the area as well. People practice safety differently and that is okay, however they choose to stay safe is there choice. Safety is an important everyday practice.

Volunteers help trafficking victims Community plays host to special sanctuary ISABELLA COLBY LIFE EDITOR

If you have lived in Orange County long, then you are probably familiar with BoysTown, which was an 80-acre communityfor troubled kids in Trabuco Canyon.

After Boys Town was shut down in the summer of 2017, Stone Building Corporation coughed up the money (the price tag was $7 million but the price he paid is unknown) and took control of the land. President Gregg Stone set apart twelve of the eighty acres and allowed 28 charities to place bids on the land.

Colette’s Children’s Home and Grandma’s House of Hope were just some of the philanthropies to bid, but on Tuesday, Dec. 4 it was revealed that

Lauri Burns, the founder of The Teen Project, had won.

“I was a foster kid myself and now I am a foster mom,” says Burns. “When I found out how many kids are living in foster care and have been victims of human trafficking right here in Orange County I knew I had to help.”

Burns ran from multiple grouphomes and sold her body for heroin on the streets. After a night of nearly being beaten to death, she turned her life around and devoted it to helping girls who’s young lives mirror that of her own.

The land will be renamed to Vera’s Sanctuary. Who is Vera? Vera died of cancer and left her son millions. He was the mystery donor who ended up wiring $1 million to Burns which she used to secure the property.

“We have been out here every Saturday doing whatever odd jobs Lauri has for us,” says Ellie Schofield, a 16 year old volunteer. “We come, check the list, and get to work.”

Once The Teen Project secured the

land, OC citizens rushed to help out.

Bob’s discount furniture donated bedroom sets for all thirty bedrooms for the fifteen to twenty-one year old girls who will be moving in. Living Space donated sofas, couches, and chairs while Dunn Edwards contributed eighty gallons of paint. Citizens have painted, pulled weeds, planted and even tiled roofs. One day a water pipe burst and a volunteer spent the entire day fixing it. Carpets have been ripped out, boxes have been hoisted and now the project is almost complete.

“We are hopeful that in the next two weeks the girls will be moving in,” says Burns. “We are just waiting on the fire inspection.”

Just because the work is almost done does not mean the volunteer opportunities are.

“We need volunteers to teach the girls sewing, budgeting, and cooking,” says Burns. “A lot of them do not know math. We need tutors to help them with their schoolwork. I will be overseeing the community and I need extra hands.”

ISABELLA COLBY / LARIAT

ONWARD: Volunteers look at the former Boys Town in Trabuco Canyon.

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Lucky Charlie ARIYAN SHIRAZI EDITOR IN CHIEF

For the benefit of whoever cares to read this, allow me to glorify a homeless man or in this case, a man who seems freer than any of us in this moment of our lives. I’ll call this man Charlie, around 50 years stands at about 5-feet-4 inches, has a jolly white beard, long 70s hippie hair and the kind of smile that would make you want to give everything up for a wild week of parties and drugs.

Now I’ve known Charlie since I first started coming of age back in December of 2016, around the time I noticed my generation turning to shit.

Ironically also a year that I’ve seen many of us consider to be a good one.

Included was this rise of glorified self-destructive drug use, perpetuated by music and idols that a lot of us seem to still look up to. Stories of overdoses and kids frying their brains into psychosis or severe memory loss were rising.

I was 17 at the time and wasn’t even conscious when I first came across Charlie. I foolishly had combined benzos, opioids, marijuana and liquor to chase some idiotic dream that putting myself in such a state meant something, that I was fitting in. Maybe I was just trying to make the music we were listening too more relatable, whatever the case it was stupidly irresponsible and depraved. However, that’s how Charlie found me. Passed out with a head that was slumped down hanging lower than my knees and apparently not breathing. He woke me up and lectured me on how I was stupidly choking myself. He laid me down on my back and left.

I had no recollection, in fact the only memories I had of that night was being awkwardly asked for cocaine

by Hispanic dishwashers who barely spoke any English, in the alley behind a restaurant and later being stuck in an uncontrollable nightmare of nausea with nothing to do but throw up off the side of a bench as my head felt like it was in a spin cycle for hours.

I would never have known until my friend who was with me that night pointed him out one day, while we were skating through Aliso Viejo Town Center. He told me the story while pointing at him. I walked over to thank him but he was too modest, saying he’s had friends die in similar situations and was only doing what any other decent human being would do. All I could do to express my gratefulness was smoke my weed with him, at least every time I came across him as so would he with me.

Now he has shown me a lot and opened my eyes in many ways. His spot or his area, for a time, was the Aliso Viejo Town Center. I know for fact he loved his area because of how proudly he would tell me about the respect he has from the store owners and all the locals who come and say hi and hang out with him. Especially when he’d get a little too deep into the bottle.

Althoug Charlie is homeless it doesn’t mean he can’t be social, he holds a very lovable personality and everybody loves to help him out, or more accurately, to share, including me, whether it’d be food, alcohol, weed, cigarettes, money or even some good old LSD. Although in his words he’d always say “today’s acid will never be as good as it was in my day.”

Despite receiving all these handouts don’t you go for a second thinking of Charlie as a beggar? In my

Life | vol. 51, no. 4

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What big companies are looking for in potential employees I asked hiring companies what they are looking for in potential candidates so you don’t have to EMILY TONNESSEN LIFE EDITOR

LOCAL HANG: Aliso Viejo Town Center is a common location Charlie could be found. years of knowing him he has never asked for handouts or for anybody’s pity, but he sure as hell would ask for a hit of a joint if you’re smoking one near him. And I think a lot of us would as well, or at least those of us who aren’t shaking in our shoes with some sort of crippling social anxiety too scared to be the first to even say hello. No, you see people like Charlie are from a different a time, back before these toys we call cell phones that so easily allow us to escape our uncomfortable situations, back when you were forced to deal with it, and got used to dealing with it.

It’s not my business to ask and not that I give a damn, but I know Charlie has his ways to get the money he needs. cause, you see, the man always has the money he needs, and when he finds it necessary a pack of his favorite smokes, a nice bottle of his favorite liquor, and never any dried up weed, no, only the freshest for my man Charlie.

Compared to the other homeless people around Charlie seems better off he lives a peaceful free lifestyle of his own not that of a hippie and not that of your average bum, and amazingly seems to, at his age have girlfriends who take care of him at times.

Now his spot to hang out was by the water fountain of this center, right in between the bars, restaurants and park. We all know to find him here even the cops. They know not to mess with him and he knows not to cause trouble. And with every interaction I’ve witnessed between these forces of good and evil (you decide) I could understand that there was a sense of mutual respect, both ways.

It goes without saying this spot as nice, especially if you can picture this town center of privilege down here in southern orange county. It allowed him with his witty humor to meet and befriend many of the common patrons and people of the community, not to mention the other homeless folks. His politeness and good humor invited the respect of those around him.

Well, I have yet to hear him complain to me about anything in his life, and I know what some of you weirdos and sickos out there might be thinking, yes … Charlie fucks, and

for some of you younger readers out there he probably has fucked one of your moms. At least from what I can put together, ‘cause you see, while he isn’t one to complain, he’s certainly one to boast, and boast he has about these unfulfilled uptight housewives married to, in his words, “closet homosexuals too busy to fuck,” and they’re all browsing the web looking for a discreet horse of a man like Charlie, and Charlie gets lucky … He gets lucky a lot, always being picked up and taken to nice hotels for a night of fun with somebody’s mom.

Yes sir…..if you ask me the grass is certainly a nice shade of green on Charlie’s side. Well, it’s not all as simple as that because in understanding Charlie it is good to know the fact that he is an alcoholic, but he is a proud alcoholic, one who stands tall and faces his addiction like a battle-hardened soldier thirsty for more.

Charlie is no fool and has no need to lie about his love of the damn thing.

No Charlie understands his position here, all he needs is his bottle, his cigs, his spot and he is content, and it wouldn’t hurt to add somebody’s stay at home mom to keep him company here and there.

Now I know how it might seem but don’t you go thinking that this man is lazy or some sort of dirty bum.

This man has had his share of hard work in his life, he was there working construction when they started building many of the homes in Irvine, Aliso Viejo and other parts of orange county. He has also worked jobs with the military before is work was rendered obsolete by machinery.

During these normal times of his life, he had been married and has raised children of his own and stepchildren. He told me about this part of his past during a rant of when some of Aliso Viejo high school kids where bugging him to buy them cigarettes and alcohol, and after he refused they tried to get the underage girls of the group to flash him in exchange, to witch in anger and disgust he said to me “I told the sick fucks to fuck off, I don’t need that shit, I’ve raised a family before, I’ve had stepchildren.

They look at me and think of me like some dirty bum.”

ARIYAN MALEKPOURSHIRAZI/LARIAT

The next day when I came across him he told me that someone had trashed his hideout and took a “shit” where he lays to sleep. In anger, I told him I’d make things right and get revenge. But he calmed me down and told me there was no point, nothing would come of it and that “rotten kids will always be rotten.”

Knowing about his jobs and responsibilities as a family man is all I know about his past, but I don’t need it, to know he was and is a good man. I think it’s important to add that Charlie claims to have a serious case of vertigo that does not allow him to work and for various other reasons has put him in this lifestyle.

However I remember asking him one day when I was 18 why he enjoys being homeless, he told me somewhere along the lines of “Why wouldn’t I? I have everything I need right here, I sleep up there. I don’t go cold, I don’t go hungry. I have friends like you, and life is good.” But, we need to take into account that Charlie’s current place in society is low, and filled with judgment.

Less than a couple months later I found myself riding around Aliso Viejo in the back of some random girls car. I had this other girl also in search of late-night alcohol driven thrills beside me. Her hand rubbing up and down my thigh as I cuffed her ass cheek with my right hand. Sick thoughts of dominating her over the side of the bed excited a younger me.

We all took turns sipping from a bottle of vodka, chasing it down with Red Bull. I had one of my Persian brothers in the front passenger seat playing the same game with the driver. Until the car came to a screeching stop.

I could see Charlie in the headlights, looking surprised and mad as this Mercedes Benz almost ended his life. The driver panting, said “omg I almost ran over this Homeless dude” the girl beside burst into laughter and said, “OMG! Who cares” laughs some more and says “it’s just a hobo, nobody cares.” In drunken anger I pushed her off me and said “that man is more than you’ll ever be.” disappointed and disgusted I instructed the driver to drop me off down the street, I left and took the bottle with me.

On April 10, Saddleback College held a creer fair with 98 companies in attendance.

Some of these potential employers included big name corporations like AT&T and the FBI. There were representatives from city halls across Orange County. As well as some of the most popular restaurants in our area, like Chick-fil-a and In-N-Out ran booths.

The companies in attendance handed out applications and some even scheduled interviews with students interested in starting their careers immediately. In case you missed the career fair, I went to several booths and asked the employers what they most look for in a potential new hiree.

“Someone who is enthusiastic and positive,” Hsaid Senior Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics, Marlene Adams.

“The most important thing for me and most employers is that the applicant is honest,” said Mr. Kimmel from the US Census.

Julia Maderos from Behavioral Concepts said, “Someone who has a bubbly personality, is outgoing and has a flexible schedule.”

“We look for people who are passionate in their work and are willing to be patient and kind with the people we service,” said Natalie Johnson from Advanced Behavioral Health.

Amber Sutter from Piazza Premiere Staffing Agency said, “Experience in your desired field and an overall positive attitude goes a long way.”

“Depending on the candidate and the position, I am looking for people with similar experience to the position they apply for,” said Kelly Stringham from National Engineering.

Career fairs are a good sourceof information when it comes to preparing yourself for your desired career path. It is best to take the advice from the professionals who were in attendance. Because in the end, an employer may choose you over another applicant because you paid attention to how you presented yourself and what you decided to dedicate your time to throughout your education.

14 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | Sports

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Good morning, gamers Video gaming becomes a legitimate sport KRISTEN HUNTLEY OPINION EDITOR

We have all seen those kids who spend way too much time playing video games. We have also, probably all judged them, silently. Well, now in at least eight different states, competitive video gaming has become a recognized sport.

“It began with Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in the fall of 2018,” wrote CNN. “A few months later, the National Federation of State High School Associations said Alabama, Mississippi and Texas Charter schools have joined the mix.”

The games are not played on couches either. They are played in local arenas and each school has a team of six players, according to Fox 47. CNN also mentions that the game was designed so that everyone can play. The games include League of Legends and popular multiplayer web based games.

This is how “Esports” works according to the NFHS: It will be played in two seasons (Oct-Jan/Feb-May) with different games that have been approved by the participating state association Each season consists of a pre, regular and postseason competitions with a state champion being crowned for each game at the end of the season.

Student teams are matched up with other schools across the states based on skill level.

There is no traveling during the regular season! All matchups will happen within their own school walls with competitions played through the PlayVS online platform.

Fall 2018 Saddleback College athletic honor roll announced JACOB BATES PHOTO EDITOR

EXILEXI/WIKIMEDIA

At the LCS EU summer finals 2017 in AccorHotel Arenas Paris, players from around the world gathered to compete in competition.

Each school can field as many teams as they can for as many games in a season. Schools are required to have a faculty advisor, access to internet and computers.

Students are required to pay a $16 per month participation fee “Just like athletic sports, universities are now offering video game scholarships, with some players going on to professional playing careers,” said Jill Zwarensteyn.

Esports is a growing industry.

CNN puts it at generating around $1 billion in 2019. With its growing

nature, it only makes sense that it is moving to the college level. Colleges have begun handing out partial scholarships to cater to the growing population of Esports. The University of Utah is one of the bigger sports oriented colleges doing so.

More closely to Saddleback students, the University of California, Irvine, has begun giving partial scholarships as well. They have even built a brand new arena for the games to take place in.

“The University of California-Irvine similarly recruits students on

partial video game scholarships and have even built a gaming arena for gamers and its school’s 10-player team,” said Scholarships.com.

Scholarships.com also goes to point out that the sport is co-ed. Although most gamers turn up being men, women are welcome to play as well. Stephens college was the first all women’s college to come on board with Esports scholarships and also have helped host over 31 video game programs.

Calling all gamers, the future is yours!

Saddleback College’s athletic department announced on February 20th that 159 of the college’s 301 student-athletes named to the Athletic Honor roll. These student athletes held at least a 3.0 grade point average while enrolled in 12 or more units throughout the fall season.

In addition to this 8 of the colleges 10 athletic teams held above a 3.00 GPA as a team. Women’s volleyball leads the list with a 3.46, followed by women’s golf with a 3.44. Women’s water polo came in third with a 3.4 GPA. Read the official statement below.

“As an Athletics Director I have worked at two other colleges as well as served on multiple leadership positions within the CCCAA and have been able to evaluate or observe different levels of outcomes. The degree of academic excellence achieved by our Saddleback student-athletes is truly exemplary,” said Saddleback College Athletics Director Randy Totorp.

“The connection with staff in the Learning Resource Center, as well as the on-going work with the Program Assisting Student-Athlete Success (PASS) continue to deliver incredible results. This degree of student success demonstrates a high level of effective collaboration between student-athletes, faculty, coaches, staff and administration. I’m very proud and honored to be a Gaucho!”

Goodbye Gaucho, hello Gaucho Students, faculty, staff vote to change design of sports mascot GRIFFIN WALKEY SPORTS EDITOR

On Jan. 25, the new President of Saddleback College, Elliot Stern, sent an email releasing the results of the student and faculty poll concerning the redesign of Saddleback’s mascot, the Gaucho.

The poll was answered by 6,693 faculty, staff, students and alumni, a relatively high response rate for a school poll. 66.5 percent of students and alumni voted to keep the Gaucho, and 64.4 percent of faculty and staff voted to do the same.

The next step for the school is the formation of a working group, made up of stakeholders on campus, to oversee the development of a new design for the mascot.

“We will form a redesign task force in the near future, ensuring that multiple perspectives are represented in that group.”said Stern in the email.

In addition to changing the Gaucho, there are also plans to redesign the “G” that is currently the primary logo for the school. However, due to budgetary constraints, neither the “G” nor the redesigned Gaucho will be immediately replaced around campus, instead they will be slowly phased in over time.

This is not the first time Saddleback College has addressed the issue of the mascot; in 2014,

SCREENSHOT

Merchandise featuring the discontinued illustration of the Gaucho mascot continues being sold by third party vendors both the Associated Student Government and sign the mascot is not without controversy. Prothe Consultation Council voted to remove the fessor Carmenmara Hernandez-Bravo, head of old, controversial Gaucho mascot from school the foreign language department and the Equity material and buildings under pressure from and Diversity Committee at Saddleback Colstudents and faculty, who threatened to paint lege, raised concerns over the decision to keep over the old mascots spread throughout the the name. campus.

When she explained why she and other Much like the removal of murals featuring members of the Equity and Diversity Committhe Gaucho in 2014, the decision to only rede- tee would like to see the name removed, Her-

nandez-Bravo said that gauchos are “very fantasized in literature but in reality [don’t] have anything to do with us.”

According to excerpts from “Making History, the First Years of Saddleback College” posted to Saddleback’s website, the mascot and school colors were chosen by local high school students. Out of the mascots and colors proposed, “the second-place choices were selected.

They were Cardinal and Gold and “Gaucho.”

The history of the gaucho as a mascot reaffirms Hernandez-Bravo’s argument that the mascot is unrelated to the school.

Normally, when a school is founded, the decision of what mascot is used is left to students who attend the school, they propose potential mascots, which are then voted on by the general student population.

“What I want is Saddleback College students to decide on the name and the design.” said Hernandez-Bravo about a solution.

The decision for a school to redesign their mascot and leave the decision up to current students is not unusual. Currently at Long Beach State University, where the school recently retired their old mascot, Prospector Pete after critics raised concerns that it represented the genocide of indigenous peoples, students are proposing their own ideas for potential new mascots.

CSULB’s decision to rename and redesign their mascot is proof that history and tradition are not overriding factors in keeping controversial names. It is possible for Saddleback to design an inclusive and representative mascot, creating a new tradition for the school.

Sports | vol. 51, no. 4

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Men’s Basketball suspended from postseason SADDLEBACKGAUCHOS.COM

Penalty for violating CCCAA constitution applied to 2019 postseason play GRIFFIN WALKEY SPORTS EDITOR

Saddleback College’s Mens Basketball won the OEC title this year, going 10-2 in conference and beating Fullerton College in the final game of the season to claim a spot as champions of the conference. But celebrations over their victory would be short-lived, despite their accomplishment, the team would not be competing in the postseason.

The basketball team’s suspension went unnoticed last spring when it was first handed down; neither the Lariat or the Saddleback athletics site made mention of it at the time.

The only information publicly available was one sentence on the Saddleback athletics site buried in their announcement of basketball team’s winning of the conference title.

Over the course of reporting on this article, I attempted to contact numerous people within the Saddleback athletics department, the OEC and the CCCAA. Many of these attempts led nowhere; I either received no response, or was told that the details of the suspension were unable to discussed.

The lack of information regarding the suspension begs a few questions.

Why was the basketball team sus-

pended? Why was the information so obscured? And why was everyone hesitant to discuss it?

Saddleback College falls under the California Community College Athletic Association, using its constitution and bylaws to govern its actions. The CCCAA is the California community college equivalent to the NCAA; it is through the CCCAA that rules are determined and suspensions are given out.

Suspensions for community colleges found to be in violation of the constitution are determined based upon an infractions chart found in Article 7 of the CCCAA constitution.

The infractions chart is divided in to 4 levels of violation: Level I- Lack of institutional control Level II- Violations of Commission Level III- Violations of Omission Level IV- Administrative Violations Each level of violation comes with a specific punishment; for violations of level I, the penalty is a probationary period for a minimum of 2 years, and

the loss of postseason competition for 2 years for the offending program, for level II violations, the penalty is a one year probationary period along with other sanctions deemed appropriate.

When asked about why Saddleback College was suspended from

“I can’t give you details, student FERPA—and also employees too.”

Dan Clauss

Dean of Kinesiology & Athletics

the postseason, Randy Totorp, Saddleback College’s Atheltics Direction and Assistant Dean of Kinesiology and Athletics, said “There was a bylaw 2 violation.”

Bylaw 2 of the CCCAA constitution governs the recruitment of student-athletes and the proper conduct

The 2019 team and coaching staff gather for a group picture after a home victory over the Fullerton College Hornets, 69-65, which clinched the Orange Empire Conference championship. This was their first conference championship since the 2015-16 season. They officially forfeited all of their games in the 20172018 season, and were second in 2016-17.

for a school attempting to recruit those athletes to their programs.

The specific clauses within the bylaw relate to how a school can interact with both in-state and out-of-state recruits as well as prohibits the subsidizing of both potential and current student-athletes by the school.

When asked what level of violation Saddleback was punished under, Dan Clauss, the Dean of Kinesiology and Athletics at Saddleback College, said that Saddleback College fell under a level I infraction.

However, for violating bylaw 2, the Men’s Basketball team received a one year postseason suspension along with a one year probationary period, which is shorter than the required probationary period and postseason suspension laid out in the constitution’s infraction chart.

In addition to their postseason suspension and probationary period, Saddleback was required to forfeit all of their games from the 2017-2018 season.

Baseball takes L against Orange Coast College Saddleback gives up 11 bases on balls in 18-7 loss to Orange Coast College

Saddleback College sports, April 17-24 April 17

• Baseball at Sequois 2 p.m.

• Softball vs Santa Ana 3 p.m

April 18

• Men’s and Women’s Swimming vs OEC Championship 9:30 a.m.

• Baseball at Sequois 12 p.m

ZACH KRUFKA CONTRIBUTOR

Saddleback College lost to Orange Coast College 18-7 Thursday, April 11 at their home field, Doug Fritz Field. Saddleback’s Shortstop, Demitri Colacchio, led the team with his offense. But it wasn’t enough to keep up with OCC. Not only did OCC out score Saddleback, they also out hit them 18 hits to 13 hits.

OCC scored the first run of the game in the 3rd inning, but this wouldn’t be the only run to score.

Nick Lopez recorded the first hit of the game for Saddleback in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Ryan Thibert followed Lopez’s leadoff single with a double down the left field line. Colacchio’s RBI groundout tied up the game and gave Saddleback their first run of the game.

Colacchio had the best offensive performance for Saddleback; he went 2-4 with a single, a double, a walk, a RBI and 2 runs.

He led off the bottom of the 6th inning with a single, which started a rally which resulted in Saddleback scoring 3 runs. One of which was Colacchio’s. Colacchio led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a double, hoping to spark a comeback. He would later come around

When reached out to for comments regarding the suspension, twice through email and twice over the phone, OEC commissioner John Keever did not respond.

As for how the violation came into view of the CCCAA, the violation was self-reported by the Saddleback athletics administration.

When Clauss began his tenure as dean, the entire department was reviewed, and when the basketball program was determined to be in violation of the bylaws, the issue was reported to the CCCAA. When asked for comment on why the athletics administration at Saddleback College was unable to share more information about the details of the bylaw 2 violation, Clauss said “I can’t give you details, student FERPA—and also employees too.”

FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is a federal law that controls the access to educational information and records by public entities, such as employers and educational institutions.

According to the Student Press Law Center, “A clear majority of courts have ruled that reports involving misconduct by school or college employees do not fall within FERPA, even if students are mentioned as victims or as complainants. FERPA covers only records ‘directly related to’ a student, and an investigation of employee misconduct does not “directly” relate to any particular student.

Therefore, even the student names in such records can be disclosed.”

Saddleback’s formal probationary period ends April 28.

April 19

ZACH KRUFKA/LARIAT

Saddleback’s Jacob Bogacz pitching agaisnt Orange Coast’s David Morgan during the 9th inning in Saddleback’s 18-7 loss to Orange Coast College. to score his second run of the day.

“I was pretty comfortable with it being my second game back after getting hit in the face with a baseball,” Colacchio said. “At first I was a little uncomfortable, but now I’m back to where I was before.”

Matt Comnos came into the game in the 4th inning and got himself into an early jam by giving up a leadoff single and then hitting a batter.

He ended up walking in a run but only got 1 out before being taken out by his coach. Ethan Holt replaced Comnos with the bases loaded and 1 out.

Holt had some damage control to do. Holt only need to throw 1 pitch to get himself out of the jam, a ground

ball and an inning ending double play. After the 4th inning Holt started to struggle, giving up 4 hits and 4 runs along with two walks over just 2.2 innings.

“I was trying to get a ground ball up the middle to get a double play and get out of there as quickly as possible,” Holt said on coming in with 1 out and bases loaded in the 4th.

“Walking out there, I tried to stay as relaxed as possible as well.”

Saddleback’s offense wasn’t the thing that was preventing them from winning this game.

Their pitching was the thing that hurt them the most. They did have a few injured pitchers that were not able play in this game. But the best

thing that could have been said was by their assistant coach, Tony Gomes.

“Whenever you have a tough game there are a lot of things that get exposed,” Tony Gomes said, “Well get back on the grind tomorrow at practice and we will work on the mental side of the game and the mistakes we made and fix it and try to do better on Saturday.”

No matter what happens in the game, good or bad, it is always dealt with in the practice the day after.

Repetition will help make them a good athlete; learning from what went wrong in a game and capitalizing from it will make them a better athlete.

• Men’s and Women’s Swimming vs OEC Championsip 9:30 a.m.

• Men’s and Women’s Track vs OEC Prelims 10am • Women’s Beach Volleyball vs Riverside at IVC at 12:30 p.m. and at IVC at 1 p.m.

April 20

• Men’s and Women’s Swimming vs OEC Championship 9:30 a.m.

April 22

• Softball vs Fullerton 3 p.m.

April 23

• Baseball vs IVC 2 p.m.

April 24

• Softball at Riverside 5 p.m.

16 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | The Back

lariatnews.com

Horoscope

(by someone who doesn’t know anything about astrology) Aries (March 21-April 19): pioneer, fearless, trailblazer This month will be full of risk-taking for you, do something crazy. Go skydiving, get a tattoo, do everything that requires a fake ID. YOLO, trailblazer sign.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): persistent, provider, secure The Tauruses among the population will use this month to secure the bag. Get this bread and make a profit this month any way you can.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): versatile, collaborative, unpredictable Gemini’s have a bad reputation, but this April you should use that to your advantage. Join a new group. You will inevitably take over and have some fun being in power. Because we know deep down the power is all you want.

Cancer (June 21-July 22): nurturer, sensitive, involved April will bring an opportunity to the Cancer signs in the field of caregiving. Have an annoying niece that needs babysitting?

Take the risk and take the job because according to Google, you are good at that sort of thing.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): dramatic, bold, ruler Leos, use your strong personality for good this month. April is the beginning of spring which also indicates the beginning of the end of the school year. Use your remaining time left on campus and

assert dominance over your peers and professors in order to secure your A. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): helpful, serving, caring This April, Virgos will use their serving spirit to help those around them. This is the time of year when you realize you have not done any community service in months, so maybe take time out of your day to help the community, at least for an hour.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): peaceful, cooperative, organized The Libra sign is related to positive traits, this month take a trip on the wild side and do exactly the opposite of what Google says you’re supposed to be. Cause a scene in a public place, wear mismatched outfits, go against the norm, basically do what you want for once, Libra.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): focused, dedicated, intense Scorpio’s are definitely the most intense of the signs. You should use this intensity and dedicate it towards something positive, like being more physically active.

Spring has sprung, so we are one step closer to summer, so start working on your beach body instead of bothering people with your craziness.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): adventurous, dreamer, fearless Sounds like April is the month of adventure for Sagittarius. Use

the warming weather as inspiration for going on adventures this month. Apparently, you are fearless, so maybe face your biggest fear this April. Use this horoscope as an excuse to try something scary like snake charming or getting a huge tattoo. Let me know how that goes.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): structured, aware, ambitious I know a few Capricorns and they are definitely not ambitious.

This April, prove me wrong Capricorns, whether it be researching your potential career path or scheduling important appointments you have been putting off; prove me wrong.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): futuristic, innovative, humanitarian April is your time to shine Aquarius. This April is yours to invent something that will benefit humanity. Don’t share your ideas though, some Capricorn might steal it and call it their own.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): compassionate, artistic, imaginative Pisces is the sign associated with fish and the ocean. Since it is getting warmer outside, you can spend more time by the ocean and take your true form as a fish and swim away to a place where your art and ideas are appreciated, even if they are straight garbage.

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Legalize marijuana, cocaine, heroin PRO —It makes political, medical, economic sense ADAM KEEN

FORMER STAFFER

Our economy is all we have heard about lately. We need ways to increase funds that will directly increase the expenditure of our great country. Let’s estimate how many millions of dollars are illegally circulated through drug pushers yearly in this nation. Millions? Try billions. All the “scary” drug commercials are not making the point It’s time to cash in on this huge industry.

The money could then be put to better use, rather than spending more on crime. The money from drug sales could actually be used to stop the sale all together. We should legalize the top three most circulated illegal drugs— marijuana, cocaine and heroine. I am not going to even try denying the fact that drugs kill people. But there are many people who use these drugs for medical purposes. Leukemia patients use small doses of marijuana. Cocaine is already available as a pharmaceutical prescription for those needing aid. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that everyone is using the drugs under proper medical authorities?

Pharmacists could monitor the conditions of the drug manufacture, therefore avoiding laced and badly created drugs. They could also check the levels of harmful ingredients going into the drugs.

People who use drugs lie, cheat, steal and kill for them, and will go to any extreme to get money to buy drugs. If pharmacies became the distributors of these drugs, the cost would be reduced and the crime rate, which is directly proportional to drug traffic, would be reduced. A large problem with the abuse of heroine is the transmit-

ting of diseases through the sharing of needles. With pharmacies, sterile syringes would be given out to avoid more harmful contamination. At least if the problem of drug abuse did not immediately halt, the spread of AIDS and other diseases could be lessened. I do not support drug users, but other tactics are not working. Sometimes when things are not risky, the temptation goes down. The drugs might not be as exciting to people if there is no thrill involved. In a resolution proposed

by Superior Court Judge James Gray, money from drug sales would be recirculated into drug education and rehabilitation. Gray proposed that a dose of marijuana sold on the street for $lO would sell in the pharmacy for $2.50- a reduction of 75 percent that in itself would attract drug users to using the safer alternative. Gray proposes that 75 cents would go to licensed growers and packers; 75 cents to the retailing pharmacy and the remaining $1 to a treatment and prevention program. It would be a lot nicer knowing the money spent on drugs is helping those who use them. I don’t justify drug abuse, but isn’t it our right as Americans to decide what we put into our bodies? Telling us what to use and not use should be a recommendation, not a demand.

As long as people are using them in their own private surroundings and not hurting anyone, what is the problem? If someone intrudes upon the rights of others, we have laws that punish and correct those infractions. Let’s not let drug pushers push their way through society. Let’s take control of the drug problem ourselves. Let’s cash in on drug sales. Nipping the “bud” in the “butt” is the only option we have left.

Keen is a Lariat staff writer.

Originally published in the Lariat, March 24, 1994 issue. For more from the archive visit the UCR California Digital Newspaper Collection.

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Join the OC News Team (attached to JRN 106 Video Journalism), the Lariat newspaper and website (one of four News Media Production courses), or Orange Appeal (JRN 125 Magazine Journalism). Visit OCNewsTeam.com, LariatNews.com, or OrangeAppeal.org. www.orangeappeal.org • 37