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el Don / SANTA ANA COLLEGE / eldonnews.org
APRIL 15, 2013 / Vol. 90 / No.8
ON THE DOWN LOW SANTA ANA’S LOWRIDING CULTURE IS CURBED AS POLICE CRACK DOWN ON CRUISERS / NEWS 8
INSIDE:
SPORTS / BASEBALL / 13 • VIEWS / GAY RIGHTS / 16 • STYLE / FASHION / 20
LIZ MONROY / el Don
Ronny Trejo’s ‘51 Chevy was passed down from his dad, along with a love for a local tradition.
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
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CAMPUS, LOCAL & STATE
NEWS YOU CAN USE
el Don STAFF
EDITOR IN CHIEF Marissa Adams marissa-adams@eldonnews.org NEWS EDITOR C. Harold Pierce harold-pierce@eldonnews.org COMMUNITY EDITOR Teree Saldivar teree-saldivar@eldonnews.org SPORTS EDITOR Eric Lomeli eric-lomeli@eldonnews.org STYLE EDITOR Shane Collins shane-collins@eldonnews.org
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
STYLE EDITOR Alessandra Gonzalez ale-gonzalez@eldonnews.org
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VIEWS EDITOR Joseph O’ Brien joey-obrien@eldonnews.org PHOTO EDITOR Erick Soria erick-soria@eldonnews.org WEB EDITOR Josephine Gan web@eldonnews.org FACULTY ADVISER Professor C.W. Little Jr. little_charles@sac.edu
How to contact us
el Don encourages the expression of all views. Letters should be about 150 words, signed, and include your major and e-mailed to eldoneditor@ sac.edu or mailed to SAC el Don, 17th at Bristol St., Santa Ana, CA 92706. El Don reserves the right to refuse advertising and does not necessarily subscribe to the views of the advertisers.
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NATURE TUNES
CRAFT EVENT
STYLE COUNCIL
Musicians and nature lovers get together to play and listen to music on the fourth Friday of every month. The non-profit group Naturalist For You hosts Mountain Music Jams at Black Star Canyon in Silverado, Calif. from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their acoustic instruments including guitars, fiddles, harmonicas and hand drums. For information on how to prepare, visit www.naturalist-for-you. org and call (714) 6499084 a day before to attend an event.
The Gospel Swamp History Festival revives traditions of 20th century crafters and culture on Saturday, April 27. The Heritage Museum of Orange County will offer work stations for weavers, spinners and blacksmiths. From costumed Native Americans to traditional vacqueros, presentations will fill the park. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with tickets priced at $3 for children and $5 for adults. The museum is located at 3101 West Harvard St., Santa Ana 92704.
The Fashion Design and Merchandising Department is calling for homemade outfits on Instagram, and is giving away gift bags to the best submissions. Take a photo of your personal stylized outfit and upload it on Instagram along with a note on what inspired your creation. Post it with the hashtag #sacfashioncontest and @sacfashion. The gifts contain clothing from local apparel companies. Find out if you’re one of the five winners at their fashion show on May 19 at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana.
-Teree Saldivar
-Ben Burkhardt
JOB HUNTING More than 30 different employers will attend a Summer Youth Job Fair on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dress to impress and bring your résumé for on-thespot interviews with employers. They seek workers of all ages, but are targeting those aged 16- to-25 years old. The fair will take place at 1000 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana 92701.
ORIGINAL SCRIPT Chris and Dominick Gallardo moved from acting to writing and directing Catalepsy. The comedic adventure is about a janitor working under the haze of sleeping pills. The show will take place in SAC’s Black Box Theatre, P105. The play opens April 26 with a second performance April 27. Showtime is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for general admission. -Teree Saldivar
-Teree Saldivar
-Teree Saldivar
HARVESTING CROPS
CALLING ALL MODELS
The Jerome Park Community Garden grows more than 200 different edible and ornamental plants. Those interested in helping out can stop by daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jerome Park, 2115 West McFadden Street, Santa Ana 92704.
Students from the Fashion Design and Merchandising Department will direct two casting calls: one today from 1-4 p.m. and also April 22 from 1-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. in room T-201. Those interested can call Andrea Flores at (714) 574-0653.
-Teree Saldivar
-Vinh Nguyen
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
NEWS
CAMPUS
SAC VETERANS UPWARD BOUND
C. Aluka Berry / MCT Campus
LOCAL
ARTISTS MAY LOSE THEIR GALLERY
Erick Soria / el Don
Art students might have to find a new gallery space. The Santora Arts Building, which has housed college gallery space for more than 15 years, is up for sale at $6.75 million. If sold, SAC’s gallery might not be there by next spring. “The new owner will have to honor our contract, which is over next year, but we hope that we can negotiate a new lease contract and keep our space,” Gallery Coordinator Caroline McCabe said, adding that gallery officials will look for other venues in the Artist’s Village if SAC loses the contract. —Carolina Tovar
LABOR ALTERNATIVES / Publicly funded projects backed by Measure Q, a bond to fund new construction at Santa Ana College, will require crews to follow union standards. The board made the decision April 1, despite public protest. / Shane Collins / el Don
UNIONS WILL GET $198 MILLION OF MEASURE Q MONEY
TRUSTEES BACK ORGANIZED LABOR
BY C.HAROLD PIERCE / el Don
I
n a 5-2 vote April 1, the Board of Trustees moved to award a series of construction projects worth $198 million to union-only workers. Project Labor Agreements exclude non-union construction companies from bidding on projects unless they conform to union requirements. The dissenting trustees, Phillip Yarbrough and Arianna Barrios, say that limiting the agreement to unions only will lead to fewer bids, fewer local workers and a cost increase as much as $30 million against Measure Q funds. “My concern is that it limits us from going out and getting the best from either side. It’s your jobs and your livelihood,” Barrios said, addressing labor representatives who came to comment on the decision. “But we are here to do the best thing for our students and those who are paying taxes.” While non-union bids have been lower in the past, some trustees question the quality of work and high number of change-orders when a PLA is not negotiated.
“When you can’t put a roof on a maintenance building properly, you have a real problem. A couple of the projects [at Santiago Canyon College] were 100 percent over budget, and so we actually ended up paying more,” Trustee Larry Labrado said, adding that the library at SCC was built with union labor and was finished on time. But anti-union representatives argue that the board’s decision is a gift to unions, and bars open-shop apprentices from public works projects.
“Don’t run this through to placate union special interests,” urged Eric Christen, executive director of the Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction. But apprentices trained at SCC will be hired for the projects, placing an emphasis on a student workforce, Trustee John Hanna said. Still, Yarbrough says that because more than 80 percent of construction workers are not unionized, it will decrease supply and increase costs. “It’s a fine objective to have local hires … but as a taxpayer and someone who has been frugal, we can have these requirements without having a PLA,” Yarbrough said. Projects funded by Measure Q will follow suit with Measure E, a $337 million bond passed in 2002 that included a PLA in the negotiations. “There’s bad apples everywhere,” Trustee Claudia Alvarez said. “But I’m confident we’ll have a successful work agreement with whoever gets the contract.”
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
Santa Ana College has received a $250,000 grant from the Department of Education to start Veterans Upward Bound, which aims to assist veterans enrolling in college. SAC is one of two colleges to receive the grant in California and among 51 nationally. Veterans Upward Bound provides academic counseling services, and helps veterans prepare for college placement tests and re-enter civilian life, Student Programs Specialist Abel Arredondo said. —Michael Sanchez
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el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
NEWS
STUDENTS HUNG UP ON TECHNOLOGY Millennials are connected to the digital world. They can’t help it — they’re wired in.
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
Photo courtesy of Cisco
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BY KIMBERLY MARTINEZ / el Don
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s Ruben Martinez, 21, walks from his car to the school’s entrance, he pulls out his phone, throws on his headphones and begins texting. With his eyes on his phone, headphones in his ears and his mind on his conversation, he just misses being hit by a car reversing out of its stall. “I won’t make that mistake again,” Martinez said as he put his phone in his pocket. But moments later, he’s back at it. Martinez is one of a growing number of students addicted to technology. He can’t help it — he’s wired in. About 70 percent of college students perform school work with the help of technological devices, and about 40 percent cannot go more than 10 minutes without reaching for a screen, according to an Edudemic.com survey. “If you were an alien and you were watching, you would think that this [cell phone] is part of the human body. It has to be connected,” joked Sandra Wood, department chair of sociology and anthropology. The technology we’re hooked into affects the addiction centers of the
brain, Wood said. Technology addiction has become so prevalent that California deemed April to be Distracted Driving Awareness Month, stepping up enforcement against texting motorists. Drivers under 20 years old get into more distraction-related crashes than any other age group, said Santa Ana Police Department Cpl. Anthony Bertagna in a press statement. But social skills are affected, too. “I don’t remember the last time all my family sat at the dinner table,” said Sara Lewis, an El Modena high school student. Family dinners help ease stress and
improve social skills, said Gary Small, a UCLA psychiatrist. Still, when families do eat together, cell phones are close by. “It’s hard for someone like me at my age to see that interacting with a machine is better than interacting with other human beings,” Wood said. The average person checks their phone at least 34 times a day at 10 minute intervals, not out of necessity but out of habit, according to a study in the journal Personal and Ubiquitous Computing. “I think [cell phones] become an unconscious drain on your time and energy,” Wood said, addressing student concerns about time management. With a smartphone in his pocket and a laptop in his bag, Martinez sees no end in sight. “I look around more to make sure I don’t get hit but I’m still wrapped up,” Martinez said. “I doubt it’ll ever change. I love having the world at my fingertips.”
TECH OBSESSED A wealth of online data has created a new obsession compulsion in which people are searching and collecting data.
ADDICTED About 1 percent of psychology textbooks and college courses address Internet and tech addiction.
PHONED-IN On average, most check their cell phones 34 times a day. Check-ins often last less than 30 seconds and are within 10 minute intervals. Source: Center for Internet Addiction.
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
NEWS
WIRED ON CAMPUS A small budget stands in the way of technological upgrades
“I am very excited to have something like a SMARTboard ... which means I won’t have to carry so much with me.” Ilona Missakian, English Instructor
Photo courtesy of iphone.my-walls.net
When it comes to upgrading technology, campus officials face a dilemma: follow the highcost, fast-paced trends, or wait and see which technology has staying power. “Because we have such limited money, I don’t want to be on the bleeding edge of technology,” Santa Ana College President Erlinda Martinez said. The Santa Ana College Technology Advisory Committee could spend about $20 to $40 million throughout the next two years on additional wireless hotspots, instructional computers, and various hardware and software throughout campus. The project is long overdue, said Brian Schroeder, former co-chair for SAC TAC. In summer of 2014, Dunlap Hall will have new projectors and SMARTboards in every classroom. The interactive whiteboard systems cost about $3,000 to $5,000 each when bought in bulk, including hardware and software, according to CCS Presentation Systems Incorporated’s website. “I am very excited to have something like a SMARTboard or better projectors, which means I won’t have to carry so much with me,” English Instructor Ilona Missakian said. Along with new hardware, in 2012 the district began using SharePoint, a cloud storage where students and faculty can access files. Only a handful of instructors have begun using it, but it is expected to become a district standard within the year, Martinez said. Some faculty members have taken it upon themselves to make classes more tech friendly. Pierre Nguyen, a biology instructor at SAC, offers an interactive PDF for his students to use on their tablets, laptops and smart phones. Nguyen says that since so many students bring their laptops to class, he might as well use them. In addition to interactive PDFs, Nguyen provides his students with an electronic version of the textbook. “In science, where the topics can be new and quickly changing, it helps to be able to obtain immediate and up-to-date info,” Nguyen said. The last time the district upgraded hardware and software was in 2011, replacing the administrative computers in the Digital Media Center. Martinez expects the latest technological changes to start within the next 18 months. “We don’t have the money to do it all, but we are going to,” said Martinez. “We have to.”
BY THE NUMBERS
1
Semester until SharePoint, a cloud database, becomes a campus standard for faculty and students
14 Months before Dunlap Hall is renovated and technological upgrades are completed
40 Million dollars, Santa Ana College plans to spend on technology over the next two years
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
BY SHANE COLLINS / el Don
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el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
NEWS
SAMESEX MARRIAGE NO LONGER TABOO NEWS ANALYSIS: National focus increases tolerance
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
BY JP CHABOT / el Don
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Proposition 8, the measure to prevent same-sex marriage, was voted into law by Californians in 2008, and it is up for review by the Supreme Court with a decision coming this June. When el Don reporters gathered opinions about this event, interviews of students revealed a pattern: only about half were willing to speak about the topic—the ones supporting samesex marriage. The others were hesitant to respond, and almost uniformly declined to have their names or photographs taken. When asked directly if he supported same-sex marriage, one student (who declined to be named) said, “Naw, dude, that’s gay!” only to be whapped on the head by his girlfriend. It is now less socially acceptable to be caught disliking gays. This does not mean that the majority opinion has changed since 2008; Prop 8 could very well remain law for the next few years. However, anyone willing to support it is less willing to talk about it. Even in larger political circles, it’s becoming considered political poison to not show some form of tolerance for the LGBT community, while it’s becoming easier and easier to show acceptance. The list of U.S. Senators supporting
ACCEPTED / Couple Sandy Soukhaseum and Dina Nguyen have no problem showing affection. / Liz Monroy / el Don same-sex marriage is growing and includes Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and even former Vice President Dick Cheney, who expressed his support and has an openly gay daughter. At SAC, student leaders are pushing to include more gender-neutral terms in the student handbook to be more equitable to all categories of people including LGBT. “I’m for it!” said student Briana Boyle, of same-sex marriage. “It’s their decision. It’s not ours. It’s not my life.
They can do whatever they want to be happy. It doesn’t just have to be boy and girl.” Other interviewees showing support for same-sex marriage were less enthusiastic simply because they felt that the issue was so obvious it should have already been resolved; they’d long ago hit acceptance and moved on. “I feel like it should be a no-brainer,” said SAC Librarian Stacy Russo, adding that while it’s great that the topic is being discussed, it’s ridiculous that it still needs to be discussed.
SAC Counselor Dr. Nissa Chantana of the Health & Wellness Center mentioned that in 2010, the department became part of the Safe Zone movement dedicated to providing “allies” and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual students, increasing overall awareness and tolerance in the community in the process. “We don’t have any hard data, it’s all opinions,” Chantana said, “but there may be a connection between this and what [el Don’s] interviews found,” she said.
SPEAKING OUT ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE
Vontre Stubblefield They should be allowed to get married. I mean, why not? Free will. You can’t tell somebody not to do something if it’s not doing anyone any harm.
Gabriella Martinez Being bisexual and all, I feel that it’s all right to be married to the same sex, regardless of people’s religion. If they’re happy together, who are we to say they can’t be together?
Oscar Bannon I don’t have anything personally against [LGBTs], but I’m traditional. I think it should stay between a guy and a girl. Not to be mean or anything, but I’m not for it.
Eduardo Catalan In reality, it makes no sense to worry about it. It’s a free country and people should do whatever they want. It doesn’t really affect me much.
Shanel Demyers Some people are like, ‘they shouldn’t because it’s against God’s will,’ but for people who don’t eat meat, you don’t see them persecuting everyone else. Just let them live their own life.
Stacy Russo I’m glad that it’s being discussed, but I also think it’s ridiculous that people’s civil rights even need to be discussed. It seems like a no-brainer to me. I was not in support of Prop 8 and I never voted for it.
Jorge Sandoval It’s nobody’s business who is marrying whom. If these people have put in the time and effort to live together, get to know each other, they should have the right to get married.
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
NEWS
DREAM JOB DELAYED
More are overeducated and underemployed BY TEREE SALDIVAR / el Don
Roberto Sanchez Returning SAC student
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el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
“I’m 36 years old right now and I still haven’t achieved what I’m dreaming.”
away,” said Sanchez, adding wo advanced degrees and 14 years of study- “if you get into the money you’re not going to fall ing later, Roberto Sanchez found a career in love with what you do every day. Yes, the money he loves – the problem is, even with all his education, is good, but you’re going to be hating it.” he’s not qualified for it. Sanchez first snagged Though Sanchez earned a job in graphic design a master’s in psychology, a in 2002, which didn’t last bachelor’s in multimedia because constant technoand an associate degree in graphic design, he is far logical upgrades rendered his degree obsolete. from his field of study as a Even high school legal assistant. kids know how to use He is now studying Photoshop, Sanchez said. to become a lawyer at Western State University After getting his master’s in 2007, he landed a job as while also taking classes a corporate job counselor. part-time at Santa Ana College. The recession and his limited experience got him fired. “I have degrees but a lot Although the unemployof people need to rememment rate for young grads ber that just because you have degrees, doesn’t mean has been declining, it you’ll make money right Please see JOBS, page 10
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el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
NEWS
ICE CUBE/ Joe Perez’s 1964 Impala is a family car. His granddaughters’ names are inscribed on the dashboard and his son takes it cruising.
LAYIN’ LOW el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
A heavy police presence and disinterested youth leaves Santa Ana lowrider culture adrift.
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STORY BY C.HAROLD PIERCE • PHOTOS BY LIZ MONROY
BLUE / Joe Perez Jr.inside his dad’s 1964 Impala near Bristol, inheriting a 40-year old family tradition.
BUMP / The hydraulics in Victor Mendez’s 1966 Impala, The Omen, are the heartbeat to his hoppin’ lowrider.
It’s the Saturday after Easter at about 9 a.m. and there isn’t a cop in sight. Victor Mendez turns on the ignition of his deep blue 1966 Chevrolet Impala named “The Omen.” It rumbles and quakes. The interior reveals ominous tidings: The Omen isn’t equipped with seatbelts. Or airbags. “Let’s put on some real lowrider music,” he says as he punches the stereo and hits the hydraulic switches that make the car go bump. The bass booms and the Impala jolts to life as Mendez cruises south on Bristol, the same Santa Ana street that gave birth to Orange County’s lowrider culture. Thousands of lowriders flocked here for more than 30 years before law enforcement started squeezing them out. Mendez cruises through a forbidden stretch of road he traveled as a lowrider with his wife and high school sweetheart, Elsa, the same street where they hoped to pass on this local tradition to their children. When Victor hits several switches and drops the rear bumper, it scrapes the asphalt, drowning out the music playing in the car while lighting up the street with sparks. “This grabs a lot of attention,” he says just before pulling a U-turn, whipping around and hitting the three-wheel motion on Edinger. The Omen is built like a boat, so without power steering, he has to turn the wheel four times, barely missing a light pole.
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
NEWS
Thousands of Southern California lowriders flock to Bristol Street every Easter, parading their souped up, tricked out, detailed lowriders and pick-up trucks. Easter cruising was Santa Ana’s twisted spin on traditional Easter parades with balloon floats replaced by shiny chrome, loud exhausts and hopping hydraulics. Yet Santa Ana police are determined to stem a decades-old custom. This Easter, they scattered orange cones and set up road blocks on major streets and minor nooks leading up to Bristol’s center stage, handing out tickets at the slightest swoosh, the tell-tale sound of a hydraulic system. The number of Easter cruisers has declined the past three years. Heightened police presence and the possibility of expensive fines for code violations ranging from unsafe suspension tickets to illegal tint has many cruisers garaging their cars, except for car shows or special occasions. “For a lowrider, everything on your car is illegal,” said Adan Olivares, sales manager at Bristol Sound, a local electronics warehouse that services lowriders. “Getting pulled over is going to
cost $1000, and on Easter night, you’re going to get a ticket. Just by your front wheels hitting public streets, you broke the law because that car is modified.” Olivares adds, “But that’s part of the game,” hinting at his and other riders’ determination at keeping the 30-year old tradition alive. Easter enforcement increased about four years ago, according to Santa Ana Police Information Officer Anthony Bertagna, who said that fewer arrests have been made and violence and criminal behavior on Easter night has declined ever since. “I’m an O.C. lowrider, and I spent my whole day in L.A. because there’s nothing here,” Olivares said, adding that the ramped up enforcement has shut down a local tradition that was larger than Lowrider Magazine’s super show in Las Vegas. “We don’t tell people that they can’t come, but if you’re going to come to our city, you’re going to behave and follow the laws,” said Cpl. Bertagna, pointing out that the biggest problem with cruising in the past was the interaction between drivers and pedestrians. “There would be girls hanging out
of cars and boys being juvenile trying to talk with them, and that takes away from what you’re supposed to be doing which is driving,” Bertagna said. The chilling effect of the police presence seems to be working. “We’re afraid to be out on the streets. A lot of people think, ‘why take my car out if they’re going to harass me?’” said Elsa Mendez as she sat in her baby pink 1966 Chevrolet Caprice named Sweeter than Candy. The consensus among the lowrider community is that the only way to keep the culture going is to keep passing the tradition down each generation. At the lowrider meet, a teenager with headphones strapped around his neck walks by, scoping out the cars. “How much does it cost to build?” he asks as he runs his fingers across the front quarter panel of The Omen. Victor closes the hood and eases into the driver’s seat—his throne. “Blood, sweat and tears,” he says and then cruises off.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
SPOKELINE April 28: Sunday Afternoon Cruising at El Rancho Restaurant 9 a.m. May 26: Memorial Day Car Show at Willmore Elementary from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 2: Roosevelt Elementary Car Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For video, pictures and full coverage of cruising culture, visit eldonnews.org
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
LOWRIDER ROOTS / Once used for uprooting tree stumps and hauling dirt, Ronny Trejo’s 1951 Chevrolet Pickup that he inherited from his father now scrapes the pavement. The father-son team began the lowrider project together in the early 1980s before Ronnie’s father died a few years later. / Liz Monroy / el Don
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el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
NEWS
JOBS: FEW FOR GRADUATES is still below the state average, according to a report from the Economic Policy Institute. The underemployment rate, measuring those who want to work full-time, but have settled for part-time work, was 19.8 percent in 2010 and 19.1 percent in 2012, according to the study. About 68 percent of students believe they will find a job in their field of study within a year after finishing school, according to an informal el Don poll. But Sanchez knows that this is not a realistic goal. “I’m 36 years old right now and I still feel that I haven’t achieved what I’m dreaming,” Sanchez said.
BY THE NUMBERS
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
Source: Informal el Don Poll / Economic Policy Instute
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Still, the career center on campus tries to stem unemployment, listing about 20 new jobs every month. Eureka, a California career information system is continuously updated with information about universities and majors for students curious about career options. “We try to show different kinds of careers and what majors are suited best for them,” said Tanya Higuera, who supervises monthly résumé workshops for undeclared majors. Sanchez thought he left SAC far behind when he graduated in 1999, but he has since returned for parttime night classes while juggling a 40-hour work week. “I think I’ll never stop going to school,” he said.
68 53 42
Percent of SAC students who think they will find a job right out of college.
Percent of new graduates under 25 that are jobless.
Percent of 24-35 year olds in the U.S. who have college degrees.
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SPORTS
SOFTBALL
DONS WIN FIVE INAROW AGAIN
Eric Lomeli / el Don
SMARTPHONE
FREE SPORTS APP NOW AVAILABLE
Eric Lomeli / el Don
The Santa Ana College Athletics app is simple and effective. Users can view all the current scores with expanded box scores and more detailed stats. The app offers the most up-to-date coverage for each sport, from baseball to track and field. The Dons app comes loaded with a full calendar for users to keep up with future games and meets. You can download it on sacdons.com from any smartphone for free. —Shane Collins
POWERSHOT / Sophomore Devon Rodriguez, on-deck, watches as teammate freshman firstbaseman Sabrina Perez ties her single season homerun record. The pair has eight apiece since April 8. Shelley Tait set the mark in 2011. / Eric Lomeli / el Don
SETTING NEW STANDARDS
TWO DONS TIE HOME RUN RECORD
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BY VINH NGUYEN / el Don
ith one swing, freshman first baseman Sabrina Perez broke one thing and tied another. Her three-run, go-ahead shot April 8 capped a quick come-from-behind victory against visiting Golden West College, 7-4. Her eighth home run also tied a school record, a feat her teammate achieved over the weekend. Sophomore starting pitcher Devon Rodriguez’s three-run home run Friday finished off a three-inning explosion that allowed the Dons to cruise vs. Saddleback College, 10-0. Perez was nonchalant over her achievement, and was more relieved to salvage what appeared to be a lost game. “We got the win, and this afternoon we showed that we don’t give up,” Perez said. The Dons trailed 4-0 in the first inning after Rodriguez allowed the Rustlers’ first six batters to reach base. Determined to extend a five-game win streak, freshman Heather Robertson sliced Golden West’s lead in half with a two-run home run that
also scored sophomore utility fielder Becky Poirer in the second inning. In the bottom of the third, outfielder Genna Main reached on a single, but was called out after utility fielder Alexandra Perkins grounded into a fielder’s choice. Catcher Karina Rosas reached on a fielder’s choice, but Perkins was called safe at second after a throwing error. Perez, who grounded into a double play in the first inning, stepped to
the plate, watched as starting pitcher Kiley Eskridge threw a wild pitch that advanced Perkins to third, and then sent the next offering to left-center that put the Dons ahead for good, 5-4. Shelly Tait had owned sole possession of the record since 2011. “You always have to expect to see a homerun,” Co-Head Coach Jessica Rapoza said. GWC freshman Kiley Eskridge (4-10) pitched four innings while allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits. She walked two, struck out two, and gave up two home runs. Rodriguez recovered after the first inning shelling, and finished the game while holding the Rustlers scoreless. She allowed seven hits, while walking four and striking out one. Perkins added a pair of runs with a double that scored Robertson and outfielder Eryn Martinez. The Dons continue Orange Empire Conference play Tuesday against Fullerton College on the road. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
A power outburst by the Dons led to a recent five-game win streak. “We finally figured out how to play as a team,” sophomore Alexandra Perkins said. The Dons’ potent offense has invoked the mercy rule in two of the five wins, ending both in five innings. Sophomore Devon Rodriguez and freshman Sabrina Perez knocked in 13 runs combined. Perkins, Perez and Rodriguez scored a combined total of 16 runs. During the streak the team outscored their opponents 37-9. “I think it’s a combination of our defense and our offense feeding off of each other,” Rodriguez said. —Vinh Nguyen
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el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org STARTING PITCHER MATT BLANCHARD RETURNS FROM SHOULDER INJURY
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
“It was brutal. There were times I wanted to give up,” sophomore Blanchard said.
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BACK IN THE SADDLE
STORY AND PHOTOS BY ERIC LOMELI / el Don Blanchard underwent surgery to att Blanchard’s dream repair the tear on March 4, 2010. almost ended before he finished high school. As He missed his entire senior season at Mater Dei and red-shirted his a junior at Mater Dei he first year at Santa Ana College. tore the shoulder labrum in his “It was brutal. There were lots of right arm. times when I wanted to give up. ” “It was scary to see life without baseball,” Blanchard said. Blanchard said. He credits part of his comeback A torn labrum is the new, dreadto teammate and close friend, ed baseball injury, replacing torn sophomore pitcher Ryan Chapman. elbow ligaments as the bogeyman “When I first met Matt, it was lurking in the shadows of every painful for him to throw 60 feet,” pitcher’s mind. Chapman said. “Now he is throwThe labrum is a ring of fibrous ing over 400 feet during long toss.” cartilage that surrounds the end The two have been workout of the shoulder blade and holds partners for three years. Blanchard the head of the arm bone in the and Chapman go through rigorous shoulder socket to act as a flexible anaerobic exercises such as sprints, ball-and-socket joint. Athletic Trainer Gary Kinney has pull-ups on gymnastics rings and weight lifting in order to increase seen fewer than 10 torn shoulder muscle explosiveness and strength. labrums in his 30 years as a SAC During the summer months when Athletic Trainer. Blanchard is one of the few to return to the mound, school, and the season is out, the two can be found in the Dons’ bullthrowing about 92 mph on his pen strengthening their arms. four-seam fastball.
M
“During the off-season we work in the ‘pen about 20 hours a week for eight weeks,” Blanchard said. Blanchard has specific pre-andpost-game routines, Kinney said. Instead of icing the throwing arm after an outing, like other Dons pitchers, Blanchard chooses to go with a deep tissue massage. In his first season pitching for SAC, Blanchard compiled a 1.20 earned run average, while recording five saves in 30 innings as the Dons’ closer. He only had to pitch one-to-two innings at a time. Three years removed from surgery, Blanchard is the ace for Head Coach Don Sneddon, leading the team with six wins and two complete games, while throwing 60 and two-thirds innings, twice as many as the 2012 season. “Now that I am back on the mound I know all the hard work and time spent were worth it,” Blanchard said.
ROCK AND FIRE
MARCH 2010: Blanchard undergoes shoulder surgery. FEBRUARY 2012: Blanchard throws in a game for the first time since operation. FEBRUARY 2013: Blanchard is the opening day starter for the Dons.
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org The Lineup 2013 Season Statistics
MANAGER DON SNEDDON 32nd season as Head Coach B-T BA OBP SLG 2B RBI SB K 6
LF JB BRYANT So
S-L .425 .488 .442
2
18
3
12
20
1
9
3B DANIEL MARTINEZ Fr
L-R .325 .406 .410
5
20
1B TYLER MADRID So
L-R .321 .414 .495
8
33
CF RYAN AGUILAR Fr
L-L .339 .409 .388
4
31
3
10
6
17
3
9
DH CODY BERGESON Fr
R-R .240 .356 .320
4
9
3
SS DEREK MEDDINGS Fr
R-R .256 .473 .359
C
4
5
1
5
0
7
19 14
9
CODY BISTLINE Fr
R-R .156 .255 .200
2
2
RF BLAKE WALKER So
R-R .316 .469 .400
6
11
A Modest Proposal
BENCH
C
JULIO GARCIA Fr
L-R .292 .306 .312
1
6
1
2B COLLIN NYENHUIS Fr
R-R .209 .295 .254 ROTATION
1
11
1
7
W ERA WHIP K/9
RH MATT BLANCHARD So 6
2.08
1.10
4
3.33
1.13 10.17
1
4.70
1.82
9.39
3
2.57 1.17
9.00
RH RICHARD DIAZ So RH TYLER SLOAN Fr
LH BRYAN CLOUGH So BULLPEN
1
6.82
SV ERA WHIP K/9
RH TRAVIS HAWLEY So 1
4.50 1.50
1
3.38
LH STEVEN PERKINS Fr
5.79
1.31 10.97
*All through 28 games
The K Meter
Percentage of 2013 plate appearances that ended with a strikeout and conference rank
BY HITTERS
9.8 %
BY PITCHERS 20.7 % WORDS AND PHOTOS BY ERIC LOMELI / el Don
JB Bryant
GOING TWO ROUNDS A QUARTER CENTURY OF DOMINANCE
For 25 years — the span of the current postseason system — the Dons have advanced to the Super Regionals of the California Community College Athletic Association Southern Regional Playoffs, winning three state championships and 16 conference titles along the way. Considering how the Orange Empire Conference standings look – and with five games left – Santa Ana College will be out of the postseason seeding. “We sure made things tough on ourselves,” Head Coach Don Sneddon said, “but we still have a chance.” At the moment, the Dons are in a three-way tie for fifth place in the OEC with Cypress and Golden West. The Dons won the season series against the Rustlers, and 2ND own the tiebreaker. In the last two games of the season the team plays the Chargers, who defeated the Dons 10-2 on Don Sneddon Field March 14, 1ST scoring six runs off right-handed starter S Matt Blanchard. NG DI D E The fate of the team relies on its performance in KM RE E D the remaining games. The Dons continue OEC play Tuesday, hosting Irvine Valley College at 2 p.m.
The Dons are in danger of missing out on a 25-year tradition. As it stands, they are in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Orange Empire Conference with a 6-8 OEC record, possibly ending their quarter century postseason streak. The Dons split its past 10 games, 5-5. Eight of the 10 were OEC contests in which the Dons went 3-5, including back-to-back losses to OEC No. 1 Fullerton and Orange Coast Colleges. The Pirates completed a regular season sweep of the Dons, its first since 1971. Of the seven games left in the season, the Dons are 3-2 combined against the remaining opponents, with the losses coming at the hands of Riverside College and Saddleback College.
All the team can do is win as many games as possible. “We are in the middle of this thing. We may not get to the top,” Head Coach Don Sneddon warned his players at a recent afternoon practice.
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
2B JOSHUA VARGAS Fr
L-R .379 .441 .495
13
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
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SPORTS
LEADERS / (From left) Sophomores Alexandra Perkins, Devon Rodriguez and freshman Sabrina Perez are carving their names into Santa Ana College softball history.
PACE MAKERS
Dons’ trio runs after three school records
STORY AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ERIC LOMELI / el Don
Sophomore Alexandra Perkins is like a female version of Rickey Henderson. She’s the best in the business. “I don’t think any catcher out there can throw me out,” Perkins said. The utility fielder has set a new school record, stealing 28 bases without getting caught. The last time she was thrown out while attempting a stolen base, Josh Hamilton played for the Texas Rangers. Her assault on the record books continues, three away from breaking a 17-year-old wall of 31 stolen bases in a single season. “Stealing bases is the ultimate competitive thing,” Perkins said. A pair of sluggers, sophomore pitcher Devon Rodriguez and freshman first
baseman Sabrina Perez have teamed with Perkins to make a big impact on SAC softball’s all-time totals. So far the stats aren’t empty, as the Dons marched on a five-game winning streak before falling Wednesday on the road against powerhouse Riverside College, 4-2. While Perez and Rodriguez are tied for third in the Orange Empire Conference leader boards, Perkins runs alone. Her 28 total steals leads the OEC and is 11 more than second place outfielder Jordan Diaz of Santiago Canyon College. Rodriguez and Perez, on the other hand, are five home runs away from the conference leaders. RCC infielders Natalie Barrios and Katherine Macias have 13 apiece.
The Dons have relied on power, and on multi-homer games, to carry the team above .500 throughout the season. Perez and Rodriguez have anchored an offense that has hit 28 home runs and driven in 186 runs, while slugging .535. “I am a power hitter,” Rodriguez said. As the team’s leadoff hitter Perkins is frequently on base, posting a .468 OBP. She benefits from the offensive muscle, which has led to her team high of 32 runs scored. Perez, who embodies the humility with which the three have handled their season, also appreciates efficiency: “The best part about hitting a home run is not having to sprint through first base.”
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
VIEWS
STAFF EDITORIAL
POLITICS
GOP HOPELESS WITHOUT CHANGE
Shane Collins / el Don
UNIONS, COLLEGE SUCCEED Cheaper bids from private sector companies may come with hidden costs for future SAC public works projects
T
he RSCCD Board of Trustees’ decision to give nearly $198 million in construction projects exclusively to union workers was the right move. Union labor is the backbone of state education; from faculty to staff, they’re all union protected, and unions set standards for their employees. While some may say this move is a gift to labor organizations, it is for the best interest of the community, students and taxpayers who are footing the bill for Measure Q, which funds the construction. Students trained in the apprenticeship programs throughout the district will still have the opportunity to take part in the public works projects, pumping
money back into the local economy while taking care of the community. Projects performed without union labor at Santiago Canyon College left behind shoddy work that cost the district double what was originally quoted, whereas the union-built library at SCC that was completed on time and up to standards. With typically lower bids, non-union agreements may seem cost effective in the short-term, but Santa Ana College would pay the price in the long-run. The standards set for union employees are higher than those of a local contractor. When it comes down to it, guaranteed quality is better than gambling with tax dollars.
After defeat in the 2012 presidential election, Republican politics need a transformation if the party ever wants to see another chief in the White House. A political party with a majority of white protestant male members cannot win with those demographics alone. As our country becomes more culturally and racially diverse Americans may identify less with Republican candidates. President Obama beat GOP nominee Mitt Romney among women voters by 11 percentage points in 2012. The continued Republican stance of anti-abortion/pro-life, making a case for legitimate rape and the failure of congress to pass the Violence Against Women Act suggests these numbers aren’t an anomaly. The “right wing” stance on immigration needs to reform, and it contributed to Obama’s victory with his support by Hispanic voters exceeding 70 percent. This comes as a blow to Republicans aiming for the White House, as Hispanics are the quickest growing voter block in the U.S. Black voters overwhelmingly voted democratic in 2012, giving Obama over 90 percent of the votes in that demographic. This is largely because of Republicans’ failure to stand for issues that African-Americans care about such as education and social programs, as well as the GOP’s past stance on civil rights. But as long as they control the legislative branch through gerrymandering, thereby keeping the political process at a standstill, who needs a presidential slot? Republicans will be left behind by America’s changing landscape. —Joseph O’Brien
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
Joseph O’Brien / el Don
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el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonews.org
VIEWS
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
HAPPY / Demonstrators for and against same-sex marriage protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court in March / Olivier Douliery / Molly Riley / MCT
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MARRIAGE CASE COMES TOO SOON
The issue of same-sex marriage comes to the forefront as the Supreme Court hears the case BY JOSEPH O’BRIEN / el Don
The Supreme Court is now in the process of reviewing the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, which in 2008 barred same-sex marriage statewide. While the court’s decision might legalize the practice in California, such an outcome would do little to advance national same-sex marriage. After years of battles over the issue on both sides, same-sex marriage is legal in only 10 states. California’s proponents of same-sex marriage hope their state becomes the 11th to do so. But even if gay marriage is reinstated in California, one of the most liberal states in the union, this will do little to sway the minds of more conservative states and could even launch a strong backlash. Many deem traditional marriage to be a sacred bond between a man and woman, but as the national divorce rate sits at 50 percent with California at 60 percent and Orange County having one of the highest
divorce rates in the state, the stability of this practice in society is called into question. Divorce splits families, traumatizes children and can damage a person’s mental and financial health. On the other hand, to use religion as an argument for denying gay couples to marry breaches the notion of separation of church and state. A major point raised by advocates of same-sex marriage is the biology of men and women. Because same-sex couples cannot reproduce, their unions cannot be called marriage. Yet many traditional married couples are unable to, or choose not to, bear children yet their marriage is as valid as those who do. Same-sex marriage is only denied because of homophobic repulsion hiding behind shaky reasoning. Americans should have the right to marry the person their heart desires. But a Supreme Court decision at this time could be premature. Rather than making a decision on California, Prop 8 advocates would be better off waiting until more national support drives the issue, eventually sealing a decision to legitimize the practice nationwide. It’s not a matter of if same-sex marriage will become legal in the United States, but a matter of when. People are generally progressive by nature, and old guard practices are chipped away over time. If not, then in America unmarried couples would still be arrested for cohabitation, interracial couples would be barred from marrying, women would have no voting rights, children would be working in factories and African Americans would still be enslaved across the nation. Gays in this country are our sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, but most importantly they are Americans. To deny them the rights of every other American is to treat them as second-class citizens. They are not.
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
STYLE
umble away ...
DASHBOARD Scroll through photos, videos and quotes from other Tumblr blogs.
Tumble-blogging has taken over the Net
links and music. From business start-ups to ith the ever grow- cat enthusiasts, Tumblr has let ing number of people and corporations express social media themselves in a way that no other websites, Tumblr social media site can. has set itself With Facebook and Twitter we apart with its can read what everyone is doing short-form blogging concept also even if we don’t care to, but with known as tumble-blogging. this site you show more of yourNew Yorker David Karp self with photos of your favorite launched Tumblr in February movies and bands, or rip apart a 2007, in hopes to change the way sports team for playing poorly. we communicated with each other. What makes it so different is Six years later and at 101.8 million the anonymity provided in the blogs, Tumblr shows no intentions network of blogs. You can say or of stopping. From any device do what you want to express your capable of an Internet connection opinion, or just blatantly rant with you can post text, photos, videos, little to no backlash from anyone.
BY ALE GONZALEZ / el Don
W
Tumblr is a network that can be an extension of who you are. Many have started life-long careers with it that have grown into corporations, and others
enjoy scrolling through their dashboard and seeing what piques their interest. Visit the el Don’s Tumblr at eldonnewspaper.tumblr. com for the latest news on campus.
PLAYFUL PINNING
BLAZING BIKES
SHOW TUNES
Bike Race Top Free Games
Bandsintown Bandsintown Inc.
Pinterest Pinterest Inc.
Bike Race, the popular hit by Top Free Games, takes you through 64 challenging tracks that stretches across eight worlds. The game features a single and multiplayer mode that allows you to compete against your friends and the clock to earn stars. The more stars you earn during a race, the more variety you have to customize your bike. Bike Race is a free app available on any smartphone.
Track tour dates of your favorite bands in town by using the Bandsintown app. Input a city’s name and a list within a 100-mile radius of your location. Catch the latest tour dates and other recommended shows, by bands big and obscure. Updated info on venues and ticket prices makes it a tool of convenience. You can fuse the artists on your Pandora and Last.fm profiles.
Pinterest is a popular website that allows “pinners” to reblog pictures and ideas into their own personal subsections to view later. With little to no words on each image, users can swiftly navigate through plenty of colorful and interesting pins. It can spark ideas on new recipes, DIY projects and even how to plan a wedding. Although fun and easy to use, Pinterest can become time consuming.
Angry Birds: Star Wars is the best game available in all app stores. Ravio Entertainment Ltd., known for the Angry Birds franchise, uses the story and characters of the Star Wars saga to enhance their classic game. Each world offers hours of play with over 25 levels on each world. Ravio recently introduced their seventh world in the game, cloud city. The cost on all app stores is 99 cents.
— TEREE SALDIVAR
— ASIRIA RAMIREZ
— SHANE COLLINS
— GUS PADILLA
BIRD BLAST
Angry Birds: Star Wars Ravio Entertainment Ltd.
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
TECHLINE
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el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
STYLE
WOMEN ARE SWITCHING HIGH HEELS FOR SKATES AND GETTING DOWN ON THE TRACKS
A el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
BY TEREE SALDIVAR / el Don
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fter dropping off her teenage son at basketball practice, Angela Darensborug changes out of her “mommy” clothes and into a new persona. Dressed in black from head to toe, her cheeks dabbed in pink rose blush, she joins a cadre of women squatting, balancing and lunging around the center of a wooden track. Cracking jokes, sweating and grunting, Darensborug transforms into the battle-tested roller girl Coocoo 4 Coco. More than 200 women practice in a dingy warehouse on south Main Street in Santa Ana. The facade of brick and stucco belies the intense action, guttural sounds, physical pain and range of emotions going on inside its walls. Outside, a logo stamped on the bumper of a car parked beside St. Andrew Street illustrates a black and white punklike image of a tough woman’s face, surrounded by letters reading OC Roller Girls.
ILLUSTRATION BY ERIC LOMELI / el Don
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
Those interested in joining can email membership@ ocrollergirls.com to find out about the next orientation meeting. Everyone who joins must have personal health insurance and pay an $80 monthly fee. It’s not limited to women, men can join too.
New members must have their own skates and protective gear, but sometimes loaners are available. Costs vary between skate models. Dirty Deborah Harry runs the OC Roller Skates. Check out the merchandise at ocrollerskates.com.
double duty,” said Veyna who also teaches a class on women in U.S. history. “Yes, you can go participate in the roller derby as long as you finish your domestic task before. So sometimes we have an added burden as women that the men don’t get in terms of going into sports.” The sport begins with two teams of five each including the jammer, who is the only scorer that passes opposite blocker members for points. Darensborug plays as one of the four blockers whose objectives are to
stop the jammer from weaving through and scoring. Beginning skaters train through programs by joining their Fresh Meat and Fresh Squeeze teams. “The training program is awesome,” said Tiffany “Stella Stryker” Ortamon. “They take women with all different ability levels and body types.” As a former member of the U.S. Army and a full-time student, Ortamon is tackling her four-page skills assessment given to beginners.
The co-ed team Chorizo and Eggs and men’s team ManArchy, is slowly gaining speed and accepting anyone interested. The OC Roller Juniors accept members ranging from 8 to 17-years-old.
The Crash Bunnies hit the tracks against the Rolling Knockouts. For more information on their upcoming bouts go to ocrollergirls.com.
Photos Courtesy of JM IV Photography
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
Walking in with duffle bags, women of every size, slim and tall assemble, greeting one another in excited voices with only one topic on their minds: roller derby. “If someone gets a good hit on me, my first reaction is ‘I got to get them,’” Darensborug said, with a wide grin across her face. Behind the protection gear accented by nail polish, make-up and a mashup of tattoos and net stockings, you get a direct insight about the real game, which is far from cheating theatrics associated with the movie Whip It! Inside their chilly cement training chambers is a banked track that two of the referees built themselves. Women on four-wheel skates lap around in packs, bumping, inter-locking arms and plummeting onto the floor. When the armor is off, they work day jobs as nurses, engineers, reporters and mothers. “Someone would ask ‘does anyone know how to fix a leaking toilet?’ and it turns out that one of the girls or the girl’s husband is a plumber,” said Catherine “Shaolin Punk” Kozlowski, a referee who works as an attorney outside the rink. Balancing responsibilities is something women have been doing for years, said Professor Angelina Veyna, SAC’s ethnic studies department chair. “Sometimes we have to do
STYLE
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el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013/eldonnews.org
STYLE
HOT DEALS / Designer duds have been hitting the racks at mass retail stores at affordable prices. Photos courtesy of Target, Kohls and H&M
STORY BY VALERIA BAUTISTA, CAROLINA NIETO AND VICTORIA GARCIA
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013 /eldonnews.org
COUTURE ON A BUDGET
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DESIGNERS
REACH
THE MASSES
A
s you flip through magazines and cast your eyes on the newest pieces designers have introduced for the season, you can’t help but imagine yourself wrapped in such glamour.
Your dream of one day owning a runway piece is now coming true thanks to collaborations between highend designers and mass retailers. Stores such as H&M have begun launching lines with Jimmy Choo and Versace. Owning a pair of Jimmy Choo’s used to be a “bond five” fash-
ion aspiration, but H&M made the dream reality in November 2012. Other recent collaborations include Neiman Marcus for Target, which included multiple designers creating items from housewares to menswear, but since prices didn’t meet peoples’ budgets it was a flop. Prabal Gurung for Target, which included an array of women’s clothing and accessories, debuted this past February to astonishing numbers. “It is worth it because it exposes them to the average person that isn’t able to purchase those items,” Diana
High-end fashion is now available for all budgets, thanks to new collaborations A. Flores, a SAC fashion-modeling student, said. For fashion fans this is great chance to express their creativity, by getting favorite brands for a lower price. Some young designers may have feared that selling clothes through a mass retailer would cheapen their nascent brand, but apparently not. “It is a good idea because it gives exposure to the products,” Alan Montes, SAC fashion student said. “You’re bringing your DNA to the market at a lower cost,” designer Gaby Basora said. Basora launched a collec-
tion for Target in 2010 and the retailer was able to advertise for her in a way she could never have afforded. “The exposure isn’t taboo anymore, and the manufacturing process has gotten very sophisticated, so you can get really good quality at a low price,” designer Rogan Gregory said. Some anticipated collaborations are the Lauren Bush Lauren line at Target, coming in June, and Derek Lam with Kohls launching in May. Lauren’s collaboration will benefit her FEED charity, which provides more than 10 million meals to families.