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OC gets muddy at Irvine Lake 6
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The student voice of Saddleback College since 1968
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
volume 48, issue 9
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DIVERSITY AT THE MOVIES “Is Hollywood racist? You damn right Hollywood’s racist, but you’ve grown accustomed to it. Hollywood is sorority racist. It’s like, ‘We like you Rhonda, but you’re not a Kappa.’ That’s Hollywood.” 4 twitter.com/lariatnews
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Guest professors share Latino American history
KURTIS RATTAY NEWS EDITOR
Saddleback College hosted the third lecture in the Latino Americans: 500 Years of History documentary series featuring Lisa Alvarez of Irvine Valley College and Dr. Marisela Chavez of CSU Dominguez Hills on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The series has been sharing “an untold chapter of the American Story” since Fall 2015 semester. In the third program titled “Building America, Civil Rights and Diversity,” professors Chavez and Alvarez discussed different aspects of history behind Latino-American activism including the rights of farm workers, high school walkouts and women in the Chicano movement. Although the program was open to the public and shared history behind the empowerment of Mexican-Americans during the Civil Rights period, one student attended. The final program of the documentary series will be May 4 at 7 p.m. in HS 145. An additional program will be held the following day, sharing the history of Cinco de Mayo.
“Activism saved me, kept me in college, gave me life-long friends and often landed me in jail,” Lisa Alvarez said. “At least one time with Cesar Chavez himself. Such experiences and such people taught me not to fear what would happen to me if I became an activist.” The movement began in the 1960s and 1970s when Mexican-American farmworkers, led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, began striking for livable wages and humane living conditions. Agricultural companies were profiting while laborers existed in extreme poverty, said a clip from “Pride and Prejudice,” one of the two documentaries shown at the program. During this time, sitting down to have a meal meant the vegetables and fruit were the product of exploited workers, most of which would die by age 49, the film said. “They are unseen, they are not usually considered American during this particular period,” said Dr. Chavez, chair of Chicano and Chicana studies at CSU Dominguez Hills. “People buy their grapes and buy their lettuce and don’t think about the connection
READING/SIMPSON/FLICKR COMMONS
FARM WORKER ACTIVISTS: 1973 UFW picket line urging
boycott of non-union grapes at Safeway in Langley Park, MD.
between what they are purchasing in the supermarket and where it actually comes from.” Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta moved away from the history of violence surrounding the unionizing of farm workers, and chose a path on non-violent resistance that would gain public support. Strategies included “huelga,” Spanish for “strike,” urging a boycott of California grapes and a 300-
mile pilgrimage from Delano to Sacramento led by Chavez. These tactics led to the United Farm Workers union. Dr. Chavez also discussed the student boycott of Los Angeles schools that began March 6, 1968, during the Civil Rights period. Although there was an estimated 130,000 Latino students, their graduation rate was among the lowest in the country.
While Martin Luther King organized in the South and Cesar Chavez organized workers in California, Lincoln High School social studies teacher Salvador Castro began organizing students in Los Angeles, the film said. Salvador Castro instilled a sense of pride in his students that led to the a two-week-long period of “walkouts.” School administrators began meeting demands of the students, which included Chicano and Latino studies, and Mexican-American administrators. Dr. Chavez also discussed women in the Chicano movement who were at “triple jeopardy” because of race, class and gender. “We have Chicanos shifting the way we think about gender and shifting the way gender roles have been laid out for them,” Chavez said while showing images of female paramilitary Brown Berets in miniskirts and leather boots. The Latino Americans: 500 Years of History was produced by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. Saddleback College is one of three community colleges in the state to receive the
Limbless evangelist preaches at Crossline Church Nick Vujicic, a traveling speaker, shares a message through his ‘Unstoppable Faith’ series AUSTIN WEATHERMAN ONLINE EDITOR
People waited in line outside Crossline Church on Friday, Feb. 26, to hear Nick Vujicic, a limbless evangelist, speak about his life and the Gospel. It would be the second appearance the famous speaker would preach at the church, located in Laguna Hills. Although Vujicic had health complications, he powered through his struggles and spoke twice a day for the whole weekend. “Nick is a one in seven billion kind of guy,” said Kenny Luck, men’s pastor at Crossline. “His story glorifies God in every aspect. He connects to the young and old, anyone lost or hurting, bringing hope to the table like never seen. I’m proud to say he is my friend.” Vujicic, born in 1982 in Melbourne, Australia, was born with-
out limbs. Facing challenges such as school, social acceptance and everyday tasks, Vujicic suffered from severe depression and was on the brink of suicide. Then Vujicic heard the story in the Bible where Jesus had healed a blind man, Vujicic gave his life to Christ and devoted his existence to spread the word of God. “At one high school, just minutes into my story, I could see some of my audience starting to cry,” Vujicic said. “One girl was so touched by how God has used me, she stood up, walked on stage and gave me a hug whispering, ‘No one has ever told me that I am beautiful or loved me.’” Vujicic’s mission is to speak to all 7.125 billion persons living in this world. He has traveled the globe from high stakes teachings to tribes in Africa to visiting schools here in America. He has spoken over 3,000 times, receiving about 100 requests to speak a
walked to the front in celebration of gaining new members to the family of Jesus Christ. From toddlers to the elderly, they followed the prayer of Vujicic, and in Christianity, became “born again”. The crowd proceeded to exit to another building where counselors awaited them, ready to help. Carlos Becerra, just one of the many counselors set to guide the newly saved, was touched by Vujicic’s teachings. AUSTIN WEATHERMAN/LARIAT “I love him,” said Inspirational: Nick Vujicic, born Beccera. “God has giftlimbless, guest speaks at Crossline ed him to do what he Church, Laguna Hills, Feb. 26. does… it is really God working through Nick.” week. Individuals who came and sat During Friday night’s service, with volunteers received a Bible Vujicic held an altar call, which and other materials along with brings forth anyone who wants encouragement to pursue their reto accept Christ into his or her lationship with Christ. hearts. Over 120 individuals rose “You wouldn’t just leave a to the occasion and gathered near baby alone to survive,” Becerthe stage, teary eyed and sobbing. ra said. “As a church, we want The crowd cheered as the persons
to encourage them, love them, and help direct them to a good church.” Among the group, Greese Ramirez, an 8-year-old from Mission Viejo, accepted Christ for her first time that night. Although Ramirez was choked up about the whole experience, she managed to talk. “I live Mr. Nick,” Ramirez said. “I liked the things he said and now I want to love Jesus.” Vujicic heads to Florida to finish his “Unstoppable Faith” series with his family and supporters. ON THE WEB
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