041526

Community

full story on page 3

California’s summer crisis

April 15, 2026

Arts

full story on page 4

Cosmic bond prevails

Opinion

full story on page 6

The war is making us broke

Celebrating 70 years of utilizing the First Amendment

ASCC election votes are in

Sports

full story on page 7

Brocato: Birds’ superfan

Volume 70 | Issue 7

Talon Marks’ decision to stay neutral Explaining why unbiased reporting matters more than ever at Cerritos College.

Karina Soriano Editor in Chief

KARINA SORIANO/TM

Pictured left to right is the new ASCC vice president Leon Francisco Basilio Mateo, President Julio Adam Sosa-Diaz, and student trustee Carmela Fabian Paul Repreza Staff Writer

The Spring 2026 election results are in, ushering in a new student leadership focused on protecting immigrant families and enhancing campus safety.

With a staggering 170 verified votes, Julio Adam Sosa-Diaz and Leon Francisco Basilio Mateo won the election race for ASCC President and Vice President.

Carmela Fabian won the race for Student Trustee race with 146 verified votes.

The Spring 2026 election was opened from April 7 and officially concluded on April 8 at 11:55 p.m. on the college’s app FalConnect.

Now as ASCC President, Vice President and Student Trustee their goals is to build a Cerritos College where student safety comes first, especially as immigrant students and families face growing threats from ICE, the Trump administration and harassment on and off campus.

“I want to immediately set up an ICE alert network that is ran by students than can keep them safe even outside ond campus,” SosaDiaz expresses.

The runner-ups for President and Vice President were Weston Milligan and Pryce Phungraksakiat with 132 verified votes, and Alessandro Corona and Adrian Oscar Ayub with 24

verified votes.

For Student Trustees, the runner-ups were Amelie Claudia Ruiz with 123 verified votes, Maryjane Castro with 38 verified votes and Aryan Moshin with 14 write-in votes.

Now as ASCC President, Vice President and Student Trustee, the newly elected board have a goal to build a Cerritos College where student safety comes first, especially as immigrant students and families face growing threats from ICE, the Trump administration and harassment on and off campus.

The Associated Students of Cerritos College (ASCC) is the official student government and

a representative for students in all District decision-making.

The ASCC is consisted of three branches: the cabinet, court, and the senate.

It holds an election twice a year and in the Fall, elections are open for students who are interested running for one of the 26 available seats within the Senate. In the Spring, elections are held for those who would like to run for ASCC President, Vice President or Cerritos College Student Trustee.

With the Spring 2026 ASCC election coming to a conclusion, the school’s future awaits for these three newly elected student officials.

Cerritos College protest sparks standoff Keahno Siqueiros Staff Writer

What was a peaceful and normal day for Cerritos College turned into a heated debate on April 8.

Students protested the appearance of anti-abortion activist Kristian Hawkins, who was invited by the Cerritos College Turning Point chapter.

This protest was a long time coming, as previous events held

by Turning Point have sparked growing tension.

The protest aligned with Hawkins’ tabling tour at other colleges called “Change My Mind,”

a common outreach format used

by Republican activists to engage students in debate.

The event took place adjacent to Falcon Square, which later led to a speech by Hawkins in LC 155.

Students from all backgrounds debated Hawkins on her beliefs, creating an emotionally charged atmosphere.

The atmosphere grew tense as Hawkins engaged in several heated debates with students.

During these exchanges, she became visibly frustrated after being challenged by a student and following a mention of her friend and the late Turning Point President, Charlie Kirk.

For Benji, a community member, the protest reflected tensions that have been building over time.

“I came because my friend introduced me to what’s been happening on campus through her interaction with YouTuber Def Noodles during the first tabling TPUSA did,” Benji said.

“There should be permits for these events because students inviting hateful speakers shouldn’t be something they decide alone. It should be handled by administrators who can condone or condemn it.”

Read more on Talonmarks.com

talonmarks.com

KEAHNO SIQUEIROS

Multiple students are pictured with their home-made signs protesting against Kristian Hawkins.

As the Associated Students of Cerritos College (ASCC) elections unfolded, Talon Marks faced a difficult but necessary decision: to remain neutral in our coverage.

This choice, was though as well as challenging, but it was made with the integrity of our newsroom in mind and the responsibility we owe to our readers.

Staying impartial was not easy. Our staff, like many on campus, held strong opinions about the candidates and the issues shaping Cerritos College’s future. The political climate is charged, and the stakes are high for students, faculty, and the community.

Yet, as journalists, our primary duty is to report facts, not to influence outcomes.

By refraining from endorsements or editorializing, we ensured that our coverage remained fair, accurate, and accessible to all.

We believe that neutrality fosters trust and empowers our audience to make informed decisions based on the information presented, not the opinions of the newsroom.

Our commitment to neutrality does not mean we are indifferent to what happens at Cerritos College.

We recognize the importance of the ASCC elections and the impact they have. However, our role is to inform, not to sway.

Upholding journalistic standards, even when it’s difficult, is what ensures Talon Marks continues to serve as a reliable source for the campus community.

2 NEWS

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

From ages zero to five Student parents find support and care at the Child Development Center.

Crystal Maeng Staff Writer

For many parents trying to earn a college degree, the challenge is not just finishing assignments or studying for exams; it is finding a safe and reliable place for their children during the school day.

At Cerritos College, the Child Development Center helps make that balance possible.

Located just steps away from campus classrooms, the center provides early childhood education and care for families in the Cerritos College community, including many low-income households.

The program also serves as a laboratory school where students studying early childhood education gain hands-on experience working with young children.

New director Elisa Coburn said the center is designed to create a nurturing environment where children feel supported while learning through exploration.

“We provide high-quality care inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. We serve students,

professors, and the surrounding community. The idea of this center being a laboratory school makes this program so unique,” Coburn said.

Before coming to Cerritos College, Coburn spent more than 30 years working for a private nonprofit program in Long Beach. She said she was drawn to the campus program because of its focus on both children and student teachers.

The center follows the Reggio Emilia approach, an educational philosophy that encourages children to learn through exploration, creativity and collaboration. Teachers guide children’s curiosity through hands-on activities and discussions.

“We treat children as capable learners,” Coburn continued.

“The environment is considered the third teacher, and teachers learn alongside the children.”

Teacher Brenda Majano said the approach allows educators to help children discover ideas for themselves.

“My favorite thing about working here is implementing what I know and watching them grow,” Majano said. “I’m able to create experiences that help children explore and come to their own conclusions at a young age.”

KARINA SORIANO

Mars, a child of a student currently at Cerritos, enjoys drawing and playing while at the Child Development Center.

Majano, who has worked at the center for five years as a parttime teacher, holds a bachelor’s degree and is currently working toward her teaching credential.

She said even small lessons can spark meaningful learning.

“Even teaching small things like recycling,” Majano said. “We talk about where paper comes from, how it comes from trees and how recycling can help save them. Children start making those connections themselves.”

For Majano, the work is both challenging and rewarding.

“Even though we get gray hairs sometimes, it’s worth it,” Majano said with a laugh. “The children, the parents and the community make it meaningful.”

The center currently serves 92 children throughout the year and up to 106 children during the summer in its 12-month program.

Because of its reputation for quality care and its location near campus, the program often has a waitlist.

Office Specialist Alicia Rosas helps families navigate enrollment and keeps communication flowing between families and staff. Beyond that, she manages orders and handles the behindthe-scenes details that help the center run smoothly every day.

“For student parents and professors, it’s comforting to know their child is close by and in a secure environment,” Rosas said.

“I help families during enrollment and make sure everything runs smoothly. We want families to feel welcome, safe and comfortable here,” Rosas continued.

Rosas began working at the center in 2012 after starting

as a practicum student while completing her degree. She said the daily work of the teachers continues to inspire her.

“Every day the teachers work so hard to empower these children,” Rosas said.

For her, the importance of early childhood education goes far beyond preschool.

“This is the foundation. From ages zero to five, there is more brain growth than at any other time. This is where it all starts” says Elisa At the Cerritos College Child Development Center, the laughter of children and the dedication of teachers remind families that learning begins long before kindergarten. With the right support, parents can pursue their education knowing their children are in good hands as they grow, explore and thrive.

From campus class to career Settle down with music and prayer

Paul Repreza Staff Writer

Cerritos College held its Spring Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Student Center on April 2. The fair featured over 30 participating employers from South Bay Regional Public Communications, Los Angeles Airport Police, Inspira Behavior, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, Norwalk’s La Mirada Unified School District, and many more.

The goal was to help people find fields they would like to pursue and offer advice on how to strengthen resumes. Upon entering, guests were greeted by Career Services, which assisted with sign-ups and answered questions about the event.

Nelly Carbajal, a recruiter for Cambrian Home Care, has attended for three years. “I am very proud of what I do,” Carbajal said. “I love interacting with everybody and giving them that opportunity to hear us out. It’s

Dayanara Arroyo Staff Writer

PAUL REPREZA

Evangelina De Leon, Daiana Flores, Shannon Estrada. Lucia Alvarado working for Career Services.

definitely a good way to start, even in your first and second year of college.”

Vinny Gálvez, who has worked at Waterworks Aquatics for 13 years, also returned to the fair.

“We are looking for individuals who are open, willing to work with students, and who are looking to make a big difference,” Gálvez expressed. Waterworks is currently hiring swim instructors for its six nearby locations.

Lastly, Katarina Taylor, career counselor for Student Accessibility Services, brought her class to experience the event. “I love working with students with disabilities, access, education, employment and being a productive member of society.”

Many people of all backgrounds attended, making it a successful event. The next free job fair events will happen during the Fall and Spring semesters.

The Christian Club brings communities together to listen, sing prayers and enjoy snacks on picnic blankets.

They meet around every Wednesday, around 12:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.or longer to express their love to the Lord in a circle of praise and enjoy each other’s company underneath the shade from the trees.

“We’re part of the Christian students at Cerritos,” proudly expressed Ruby Li, who is majoring in Marketing, “the longest standing Christian Club here on this campus, over 20 years.”

Anyone who wants to join the circle of music, prayer and Bible verses is welcome with open arms and can even bring their own instrument if they are interested in participating in musical prayer.

Campus Life & Activities Big Feelings Club

April 15 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. @ Student Health Services

LA Regional Food Bank Distribution April 22 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. @ Parking Lot 1

Students Art Exhibit Reception

April 23 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. @ Fine Arts Building talonmarks.com

“Yeah. In the Bible, it says we make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” Li explained, and so did many members chimed in as well.

“We sang about Christ making his home in our hearts, which is from Ephesians 3:18, because Christ actually made us in such a way that we have a human spirit,” Bethany Tay, a business major, said.

Prayer invites good energy into a spiritual meaning.

Dianne R. Hales and Julia Hales’ book, “Personal Stress Management From Surviving To Thriving,” touches on how the power of prayer helps increase morale, lowers agitation and enhances the ability to cope and benefits health, such as a stronger immune system, lowering blood pressure and fewer hospitalizations.

Read more on Talonmarks.com

Follow us on:

Sexual Assault Awareness Month - Self Defense 101 April 30 Noon - 1:30 p.m. @ Living Learning Center

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COMMUNITY 3

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

COMMENTARY

Holifield Park and its $500,000 grant

A warning for CA’s youth

Emily Astudillo Community Editor

A $500,000 federal grant was awarded to the city of Norwalk through the office of Rep. Linda T. Sánchez, who announced the funding during Norwalk’s City Council meeting on April 7 as part of a broader federal effort to support local infrastructure upgrades.

City officials said the money will be used to construct a new parking lot south of Holifield Park, which has been identified as a priority in ongoing development planning for the site.

The grant follows several other community‑focused allocations Sánchez’s office has helped secure in the region, including funding for park improvements and public‑safety facilities.

According to city staff, the Holifield project aligns with long‑term plans that call for improved circulation routes, updated accessibility features and expanded parking to accommodate the park’s heavy year‑round use.

The need for additional parking became especially visible during Norwalk’s Easter celebration this spring, when families filled every available space and dozens of cars lined nearby residential streets.

With only a limited number of designated spots, visitors often had to park blocks away or circle the neighborhood before finding room, underscoring the strain on the current layout.

While Norwalk has invested in new amenities across several parks in recent years, many neighborhood facilities still rely on infrastructure that predates current accessibility and safety standards.

The Holifield project marks one of the first targeted upgrades aimed specifically at easing congestion and improving access at a high‑traffic site.

The parking‑lot reconstruction comes as part of Holifield Park’s broader development planning, which has evaluated potential improvements to athletic fields, lighting and pedestrian pathways.

City officials say the new grant addresses one of the park’s most persistent challenges: limited and aging parking capacity that no longer reflects the volume of families, athletes and community groups who rely on the space.

No update has been given on when construction is expected to begin but citizens should expect the city to release updates as the project moves forward.

COURTESY OF LAFD

A firefighter from the Los Angeles Fire Department extinguishing a vacant and boarded home in East Hollywood on June 1, 2022.

Ashley Melendez Staff Writer

Extreme heat, wildfire smoke and worsening air quality are reshaping daily life for young people across California.

Researchers warn the state is experiencing its most intense climate‑driven disruptions on record.

Specialists at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability say California is now facing longer, more severe heat waves than at any point in its documented history.

Federal climate reports show the past decade includes eight of the 10 hottest years ever recorded

in the United States.

The National Climate Assessment links exposure to extreme heat with increased anxiety, irritability and difficulty concentrating among teens.

UCLA researchers cite studies showing that high temperatures can worsen symptoms of depression and contribute to rising emergency room visits for mental health crises, particularly among young adults.

In schools, the effects are visible.

Climate researchers say students perform worse on exams administered during heat waves, noting that high temperatures impair cognitive function even in

classrooms with partial cooling.

School sports programs are also adapting. Coaches now monitor heat indexes and air‑quality alerts with the same diligence they apply to game schedules.

Some districts have moved practices to early morning hours or into gyms, while others have canceled entire seasons during severe smoke events.

For young people working outdoors in agriculture, construction or recreation, the risks are immediate.

The psychological toll is harder to quantify but increasingly evident.

A 2024 survey by the APA

found that 59% of people ages 14 to 24 feel persistent worry about climate change, and nearly half say it influences their daily decisions.

Wildfire smoke adds another layer of disruption.

Data from Cal Fire shows California’s fire seasons are growing longer and more destructive, pushing fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 into hazardous ranges for days or weeks at a time.

Experts say these overlapping climate pressures are reshaping how young Californians grow their futures as the environmental realities show no sign of easing with summer growing closer.

Artemis II brings humanity closer to a lunar base around the Moon, that vision is closer than ever.

Artemis marks the most ambitious U.S. space effort since Apollo.

For the first time since 1972, astronauts traveled beyond Earth’s orbit.

The crew of Artemis II, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, became the first humans to leave Earth’s orbit in more than five decades.

During their recent lunar flyby, the crew surpassed the distance record set by Apollo 13, reaching about 252,756 COURTESY OF NASA miles from Earth.

The Artenis II crew: (Clockwise from left) Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Although Artemis Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman and Pilot Victor Glover inside the II did not land, NASA Orion spacecraft on their way home. officials say the mission is critical to the Ashley Melendez toward the Moon this time program’s future.

Staff Writer with the goal of establishing a It serves as the primary permanent presence. test of the Orion spacecraft, As Artemis II completes The agency’s Artemis program its life‑support systems, its journey around the Moon, aims not only to return astronauts communications and NASA advances toward a greater to the lunar surface but to build coordination between the crew goal, returning to stay and long‑term infrastructure that will and Mission Control. transforming space exploration. support science, exploration and The astronauts also conducted More than 50 years after the future missions to Mars. a six‑hour scientific observation final Apollo lunar landing, NASA With Artemis II advancing session, viewing roughly 20% of is once again steering humanity through its historic mission the Moon’s far side illuminated talonmarks.com

by the Sun. They documented craters and basins never before seen with the naked eye, including Orientale and Perazzo data that will help guide Artemis III, the mission slated to land the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface.

Unlike Apollo, Artemis is designed for sustained exploration.

NASA plans to build habitats, power systems, mobility vehicles and facilities capable of extracting resources such as polar ice, which can be converted into drinking water, oxygen or fuel.

The Moon, officials say, will function as a laboratory, a spaceport and a staging ground for missions deeper into the solar system.

Artemis is also a global effort.

More than 30 nations have signed the Artemis Accords, agreeing to cooperate in the peaceful exploration of space.

With Artemis II now home after its historic flyby, NASA is turning its attention to Artemis III and the long‑term goal that defines the program: returning to the Moon with intentions to stay and to use Earth’s nearest neighbor as the launch point for the next giant leap toward Mars.

4 ARTS

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Banned books take on new forms Arts & Entertainment Editor

resonates with one that she

Artist A. Laura Brody’s “BANNED BOOKS AND BANNED PEOPLE,” the purposely-capitalized sculpture collection of life-sized characters from banned books, is Cerritos College’s final window dressing display of the spring semester.

With a strong background in costume design having worked in film, television, opera, dance, and cosplay, Brody’s skills are evident in all her pieces. Her work has been showcased at many places across the U.S., including Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation in Massachusetts, Brea Gallery, Westbeth Center for the Arts in New York and now Cerritos College.

Her new collection

designed in 2017 for an event celebrating the seventh season of the popular HBO TV show, Games of Thrones, which is now on display at the Ulster Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

As an artist, she doesn’t just see her costume designs and artwork as beautiful visuals that stop at the surface, but as a form of language share a

Abigail Luna

t o

message.

“I am a huge lover of books… have been all of my life. And any time you’re trying to restrict information and restrict ideas, we have a problem.”

She hopes that her exhibit will renew conversation about banned books and talk about why these voices are being silenced and get people to read them. Her art pieces are based on books published from the 1950s to more recent, showing that the practice of banning books and shutting down voices is a prolonged issue.

A common element seen throughout all her pieces is the use of book pages from discarded Harry Potter books. While her local bookstore saw piles of unwanted J.K. Rowling novels, Brody saw materials that would become the foundation for her new project.

“The Harry Potter books have been banned before. But also, J.K. Rowling has come out and decided to do her entire new series of the Harry Potter franchise and try to do more anti-trans legislation in

England and actively harm a lot of people.”

Her decision to use Harry Potter books as materials didn’t just stem from availability and relevance to the banned book theme, but also represents her stand against the author’s views on transgender individuals.

In terms of her creative process, Brody focuses on creating clothing and accessories that capture the essence of the characters and applies different techniques to each one.

“There’s a woven variety that I did for Fahrenheit 451, which are strips that are woven in and out of each other and then sewn down to a backing and interfacing,” she said.

Her idea was to create a flat, puppet-like cardboard cutout that became the stylized version of the original.

Brody experimented with a range of methods for her other pieces, sewing shredded pieces flared on top of one another for Alex from “A

Clockwork Orange” and using a herringbone pattern on Elphaba’s piece from “Wicked” to give it a textured and crinkly look.

Brody shares that Cerritos College is the exhibit’s first location to be showcased, but she hopes to share her work and message at many more locations after.

“I know that the city of West Hollywood is going to want one for the front of their library.

So I’d like to send these to other libraries, university libraries and municipal libraries, because I really think this is a great way to capture p e o p l e’s attention.”

A .

L a u r a B r o d y ’s installation will be on display at the Fine Arts building at Cerritos College until April 18.

TALON MARKS REVIEWS

The emotional interstellar bond that saved two worlds Kassandra López News Editor

Viewers who typically find science fiction too technical will find “Project Hail Mary” a compelling entry point.

This space adventure combines complex science with a deep story about two beings from two completely different worlds who share the same goal.

The film captivates through its portrayal of a platonic bromance and relationship of necessity between Ryan Gosling’s character, Ryland Grace, a molecular biologist, and Rocky, a rock-like alien engineer, voiced by James Ortiz, two beings trying to save their home planets.

Instead of going with the storyline of an alien invasion, the narrative slowly follows the shared vulnerability of two sole survivors of each of their space crews, holding on to the hope of returning to their saved homes.

This approach shows how Grace grows from a man haunted by his cowardice into

a hero, while Rocky’s total loyalty shows what it really means to give everything for a friend, even your life.

Rocky’s journey shows us what true kindness looks like, even if it comes from a five-legged alien who looks like a giant rock.

As the only one left from his crew, he uses his amazing mechanical skills and musical voice to fight against the astrophage that is trying to destroy the sun.

With Grace being forced on this space mission, his bond with Rocky helped him regain his reason for being, and that his purpose is to keep on living was for his and Rocky’s planets.

The story serves as a serious but sometimes comical survival drama that has its hopeful elements.

The distance between their planets did not matter; it was the bridge they built between their ships, the foundation of their friendship that mattered.

Both experienced loss in space and sacrifice.

In his journey in space, Grace shows that

he is not trying to be a hero for the fame .

Instead, he is trying to do his best for those who have died and make up for past mistakes.

When it came between the struggle of science and friendship, Grace faces the terrifying realization that to save Earth could come at the expense of his only true friend, who knows his heart.

Rocky had his own realization that the two would ultimately be allies and that both of their worlds deserve to be saved.

Their connection becomes stronger from the moments of working side by side, learning each other’s languages and the emotional weight that shapes the whole meaning behind the film.

What truly resonates is how the story refuses to simplify these characters.

Rocky is not just a sidekick, and Grace is not a traditional savior, yet their internal conflict is not something that should be overlooked.

Read more at talonmarks.com

COURTESY OF AMAZON MGM STUDIOS

Movie poster of “Project Hail Mary.”

Book Review: The gripping and complex story of “Wild Dark Shore” Abigail Luna Arts & Entertainment Editor

KEITH HAYES

Book Cover of “Wild Dark Shore.”

Charlotte McConaghy’s “Wild Dark Shore” is a page-turning psychological thriller novel with a big focus on climate change.

It explores the devastating effects of environmental decline and the need to protect the plant and food supply to save humanity.

Additionally, the book beautifully blends a wide range of themes such as loss, sacrifice, and love into an emotional and mystified story about trauma, family and connection.

It’s a book that will leave readers thinking about it for days for its deep attachment to

characters and unpredictable revelations.

The book, which covers some triggering content, is set on a remote subantarctic island called Shearwater, which is home to the Salt Family.

For eight years, Dominic and his three children have lived on the island and looked after the Shearwater Global Seed Vault, the world’s largest seed bank and home to thousands of different plant species, including some that are extinct in the wild.

Right at the start, readers are introduced to multiple character perspectives, starting off with Rowan, primary female protagonist, and followed by Fen, talonmarks.com

Dominic’s only daughter. Through their perspectives, readers learn that Rowan has washed up the shore of Shearwater and is found barely alive with serious injuries

by Fen. While having multiple character perspectives as chapters is common in books, something McConaghy does differently is switch the point of views.

Dominic and Rowan, the two main adults, are written in the first person.

As they reveal their secrets, trauma, grief and overall individual experiences, reading their perspectives in first person helps build the novel’s suspense and obscure realities.

Fen and Raff, Dominic’s oldest son, are switched to third person.

Having lived almost half their lives away from the mainland, the switch to third-person creates the sense of isolation and vulnerability that they experience.

But as a reader, observing their perspective also helps build their loving and caring personas.

Orly is the youngest of Dominic’s children and the last character perspective.

Through his chapters in the novel, readers learn about the different plants and seeds that he believes to have stories of their own though a monologue format.

Read more at talonmarks.com

AMPED 5

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

UNDER U NDER RATED

the

The global girl group dream is a diversity trap

Coachella 2026 music edition

ra... o n o S 54 Ultra

Heaven Knows 54 Ultra delivered a standout, 70s-inspired Latin soul set, Led by JohnAnthony Rodríguez, the band brought a warm, groovy atmosphere with a “retro soul” sound. He is accompanied by an amazing band who is a must watch as well.

ge... a t s Main Karol G Tropicoqueta Karol G made history as the first Latina to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, delivering an empowering, high-energy set focused on unity, pride, and representation.

COURTESY OF WARMTONED

The girl group Katseye on-stage for Wango Tango May 2025 in Huntington Beach, California.

Kassandra López News Editor

The dream of the global girl group is often sold as a dream of sisterhood and shared success.

But for the women of color within these girl groups, that dream tends to fade away and turn into things of negativity, consisting of isolation and systemic neglect.

Manon Bannerman’s sudden departure from KATSEYE has brought back the troubling conversation about being a woman of color in the pop scene.

Bannerman’s hiatus represents the ongoing problems for women of color in girl groups who many labels see as expendable or not as important to the group’s overall identity.

The Black members of girl groups are under unique pressures and online hate that is usually met with silence by the labels that profit from them.

Robin Murray, editor of Clash, said, “Over-arching racist and misogynistic pressures seep down, and it’s no wonder this talented young artist felt isolated.”

These struggles are not unique to one group or genre but are a continuous issue within the music industry.

Whether molded by K-pop’s

intensive training or the chaos of Americanized reality media, the infrastructure rarely prioritizes the well-being of the diverse talent it recruits.

This industry failure touches every artist who does not fit the traditional mold.

We see it when Asian members are flattened into quiet tropes, and Latina members are pigeonholed into specific musical genres.

With this, labels crave the profit of a multicultural group but refuse the responsibility of defending their stars against global prejudice.

When Leigh-Anne Pinnock of Little Mix spoke out about feeling “invisible” for nine years, she was not just talking about screen time; she was addressing a devastating structural invisibility.

Fans can make issues obsessive by weaponizing the phrase “solo stanning” to harass members who, in their eyes, “do not belong.”

In response to this, the message remains clear for diverse girl group members, “we need to protect each other,” Pinnock told Clash.

KATSEYE is the latest victim of the ‘girl group curse,’ where internal company issues are taken out of context in the online culture.

Some fans weaponize women of color’s “dedication” and “professionalism” for being “lazy” or “difficult” when they may just be struggling.

Management teams usually sit on the sidelines and choose to stay neutral when it comes to the safety of their artists.

But when it comes to blatant racism and targeted harassment, neutrality speaks volumes about unsupportiveness.

“Bannerman’s departure isn’t only indicative of a plight in mainstream groups; instead, it’s yet another consequence of the music industry’s failure to fully see and support Black women in pop,” DeAsia Paige, a freelance music and culture writer, wrote in response to another way the women of color in girl groups are failed in the industry.

It should not be a surprise that the world has primitive biases when introduced to a newly diverse group of young women who are future role models.

Labels that are willing to profit from girl groups’ cultures and images must be willing to do whatever they need to protect them.

The industry wants the “global” look without the “global” work of protecting their stars.

LOCAL COLOR shows • concerts • exhibits • performances • etc.

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Calling all Cerritos College artists, actors, musicians, photographers, performers, etc.

Do you have an upcoming exhibit?

Show? Concert? Album release party?

Get listed on:

aMPeD

CONTACT US Email: editor@talonmarks.com Call: (562) 860-2451 x2618 Visit: Talon Marks Newsroom in the Fine Arts building FA245 (2nd floor)

talonmarks.com

Major Lazer BRUK DOWN The sunset performance at Coachella 2026 was, without question, an unparalleled, high-energy dance party that immediately solidified itself as one of the best sets of the entire weekend.

...

ra Saha

KATSEYE PinkyUp Taking over the Sahara Stage with a very polished performance that cemented their status as rising global pop stars, KATSEYE pefromed their hit single “Pinky Up,” to an excited crowd.

... r o o d Out Los Hermanos Flores Salvadorena Making history as the first Salvadorean group to play the Coachella stage, Los Hermanos Flores have been a staple in Salvadorean households being able to bring their sound to the Coachella stage had many in tears.

Disclosure You & Me Giving one of the best set’s at Coachella 2026, if you are unfamilar with this duo start with their standout track from Disclosure’s 2013 debut album Settle, features Eliza Doolittle’s soulful vocals over a crisp UK house beat.

..

Gobi.

Joyce Manor I Used To Go To This Bar From Torrance,CA to the Coachella stage,Joyce Manor brought their high-energy, pop-punk sound to the Coachella 2026 opening day, highlighting a setlist that bridged fan favorites with tracks from their new album, I Used To Go To This Bar.

Follow us on Spotify to stay updated on all our music picks!

6 OPINION

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

•Editorial•

War drives inflation higher Gas prices surge, and Rates in the future Americans are struggling can increase or decrease to place gas into their cars, depending on which way the choices and decisions are war leans toward, including crucial to everyday life. the safety net with hard According to the NBC, earning tax dollars.

California relies on gasoline Spending money on and diesel alone, up to 30% necessities such as groceries of gas prices surged more is healthy and beneficial this year in the U.S as the rather than spending money war continues on, more than outdoors, splurging on previous years combined. junk food is good once in Gas prices continue to moderation. become worse as passing According to the CNBC, days go by, predicting the “In February, food inflation outcome of the situation sat at 3.1%, down from a high causes stress, keeping a track of 11.2% in September 2022, record of how many miles but still higher than general of gasoline the individual inflation, which clocked in at person per hour drives seems 2.4%.” like a practical decision until If food is limited to further notice. budget, finding local “Go much faster, and programs that are open to the drag can make a sedan take in new people, extra as inefficient as an SUV. COURTESY OF JP VALERY food is always resourceful, And the fuel efficiency of a Money is being saved to then being useless because spending money will never be enough to cover costs and there are people out compact SUV, like the Honda there to help individuals CR-V, can drop by about 5 miles Though many people have housing increasing on the rise, which is why adjusting prices are in times in need such as SNAP, per gallon when driven at 75 mph, thought about E.V. cars may young adults cannot move out a necessity.

CalFresh on campuses such as compared with 55, according to save more money than a typical of their families homes to begin “KB Home Chairman Jeff Cerritos College for Cerritos Consumer Reports.” NPR. car, which isn’t true, focusing on independence.

Mezger on a call with analysts”, College students, and the Los Smooth braking, keeping in battery, tires, and maintenance Mortgage rates had sky rocket “Against this backdrop, and Angeles Regional Food Bank. mind how many miles per hour alone can set a person alone before the war began, before it taking into consideration that With war potentially on the the person uses, and quitting $15.62 of an electric car with fast was 5.99% and now it’s 6.5%. our net orders in the first quarter rise, pockets are draining and premium gasoline for now, charging, which is the cost to Apps like Zillow to home were below the level we needed to work is overbearing, finding unless necessary on the vehicle, drive up to 100 miles. apps have less homes to offer and hold our prior full-year delivery resources in communities and otherwise more money goes Gas and Diesel aren’t the only to sell, in this case fear was the guidance, we are lowering our saving individually is a smart step down the drain. factors to depend solely on, with cause of home apps declining, range for the year.” to saving money.

Increase the police presence in schools Ivan Llata Co-Opinion Editor

There should be more police presence at schools. According to the gun violence prevention organization “Everytown,” there were 181 school shootings in 2022, 158 school shootings in 2023, 229 school shootings in 2024, 163 school shootings in 2025 and 24 school shootings this year already. When will it end?

Parents are afraid to send their kids to school. It has gotten to the point where they would rather homeschool them. Maybe additional police presence will help them change their minds.

For some parents, it’s already too late. It is every parent’s worst nightmare to outlive their child.

Additional police presence

Ye: influence over controversy music production will continue to live on and should not be overshadowed.

Ye, popularly known as Kanye Ye brought a more soulful, West, has always been a big sample style sound to music influence not only in the music with the release of “The College scene but to the fashion scene as Dropout” and “Late Registration,” well. which helped redefine what hipDespite his most recent hop could be by blending samples controversial antisemitic with emotional storytelling. comments in the past couple Many modern artists still years, his legacy on culture and follow the production style and creative risks he pioneered, one of the artists being Travis Scott, who helped co-produce tracks on Ye’s “Yeezus” album. Scott brought Ye’s influential sound into his latest work “Utopia” and drew many comparisons to “Yeezus.”

Beyond the music impact he’s had, Ye also helped reshape the relationship of music with fashion. Through JHOVANI ROJAS/TM collaborations with his Ye live at SoFi Stadium Wednesday, April 1 Yeezy brand and other Jhovani Rojas

Co-Opinion Editor

in schools can help decrease violence by catching the person before such an evil act can occur, or the mere presence of additional police will make the person have second thoughts before committing such an act.

Unfortunately, politicians in the United States, whether Democrat or Republican, are too stuck in their own ways to do something about this issue. You would think that gun control and protecting children would be at the top of their agendas.

Maybe additional police protection in schools will cost more taxpayer money. However, a majority of parents may not mind paying additional taxes if they know those taxes will be used to protect their children.

Will Democrats and Republicans ever come together on this issue and stop brushing it off?

major brands such as Adidas that helped produce the iconic Yeezy Boost 350, as well as being the first non-athlete to have an official shoe collaboration with Nike.

He pushed streetwear into mainstream luxury, which was once considered underground and niche. Ye had a major role in his ex-wife Kim Kardashian brand Skims, serving as a ghost creative director in the early stages of design, helping design the original logo as well as offering creative opinions.

Following his terminated partnerships and dropped products, as of 2026 Skims is one of the brands he benefits financially from, holding a 5% stake that increased in value from $200 million to $250 million since 2023.

Of course, Ye’s career has also been marked by controversy. His public statements and actions have sparked criticism and debates.

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Letters may be edited due to space and clarity. You may send letters by email to editor@talonmarks.com or to Fine Arts & Communications Building - second floor - room FA245 Talon Marks newsroom.

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Other opinions express the view of the author & are not to be considered opinions of the publication’s staff, the Editorial Board, the advisers, the Cerritos College Associated Students, the college administration or the Board of Trustees.

Production & printing of Talon Marks is funded by the Associated Students of Cerritos College (ASCC).

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Spring 2026 Editors Editor in Chief Karina Soriano Managing & Sports Editor Ángel Sánchez News Editor Kassandra López Community Editor Emily Astudillo

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SPORTS 7

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Birds rouse ECC in SCC play Ángel Sánchez Managing & Sports Editor

CJ Berthon’s two-out, tworun home run in the bottom of the fifth propelled the Cerritos College Falcons baseball team to a 7-4 victory over the first place El Camino College Warriors in a crucial conference series matchup.

With the wind blowing from right to left across the baseball field and the Falcons down two runs, Berthon belted and hooked an up and in fastball down the left field line that had both dugouts anticipating the umpire’s call.

On a ball that hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity, the umpire finally signaled and called a home run as 33 Falcons, dawning their blue jerseys with “Birds” across the chest, erupted and took a 4-2 lead and eventually taking the series with their win on Friday.

“I saw it going. It started fair and it started hooking. I was like ‘please stay fair, please stay fair.’

I started going down the line, I looked back and the umpire called it fair, so it worked out,” Berthon said.

Entering the matchup on Friday, El Camino sat in first place but now dropped to second with a 14-4 record. Mt. San Antonio College overtook first place with their win against Compton College.

The Birds took the final two games of the three-game set, and in a South Coast conference

where they look to keep pace with Mt. San Antonio and El Camino, improved to 14-7 and sit in third place as the season begins to wind down and the top teams are playing for their seeding in the playoffs.

Falcons designated hitter Brody Cuellar said, “They’re a good team. It’s competitive, but we didn’t give up any at-bats. We did really good with two outs last game and this game. Situational hitting was pretty good for us.”

“Our pitching staff did a really good job this time around and we were hungry,” he added. “That was real playoff baseball, that was Birds ball.”

The home run that gave Cerritos the lead was part of a three-run inning where the Birds broke through El Camino’s starting pitcher Anthony Camarena after scoring one and tying the game in the bottom of the third inning.

Cuellar opened the scoring for Cerritos in the bottom of the third after Tyler Peshke singled to right with two outs then advanced to second on a ball in the dirt. Cuellar muscled a ball in between the third baseman and the shortstop to score Peshke and tied the game at one.

Cuellar added two walks to his day along with his RBI single.

Starting pitcher Logan Hunt pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up six hits, struck out 3, gave up four runs and only one was earned.

Jake Fowler relieved Hunt in the bottom of the seventh to

ANGEL SANCHEZ/TM

Cerritos' CJ Berthon and Brody Cuellar prepare to embrace and celebrate after Berthon's two-out, two-run go-ahead home run in the bottom of the fifth inning against El Camino College at Kincaid Field on Friday, April 10, 2026

record the final out and stop El Camino’s offense that had scored two more runs to cut into the Cerritos lead.

Fowler held the Warriors scoreless in his 2 1/3 innings, gave up one hit, walked three and earned his second save of the season.

“That’s a good [El Camino] team, those guys can swing it pretty good and they’re aggressive in the zone. But overall, it was

definitely gritty today, all that matters is that we won,” he said.

Mateo Heredia had two RBIs. His first of the two tied the game in the bottom of the fifth after reaching on a fielder’s choice.

Falcons shortstop Peshke went 3 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored.

Luke Crowder, scored two runs in the game. “[We’re] starting to play our best baseball right now,” he added.

“Which is when you want to be playing it, middle of April, right before playoffs” Fowler added, “We just knocked off a good [El Camino] team, beat them in the series.

They were first in our conference, so I think this is a huge start for us, it’s only just the beginning and we’re going to go on a run here.”

Cerritos will play Sacramento City College on April 16 at Kincaid Field for a non-conference series.

Meet superfan Billy Brocato Ángel Sánchez Managing & Sports Editor

ANGEL SANCHEZ/TM

Billy Brocato, the Cerritos College baseball team's superfan at Kincaid Field after a matchup between Cerritos and El Camino College on Friday, April 10, 2026.

ANGEL SANCHEZ/TM

Billy Brocato and Daniel Pelaez playfully pose for a picture at Kincaid Field after a matchup between Cerritos and El Camino College on Friday, April 10, 2026.

Billy Brocato, the Cerritos College Falcons baseball team’s superfan, may have been the key behind the Birds’ series victory over the first place El Camino College Warriors last week and is undeniably the key for all of us to win in life.

You would never know the 66-year-old Brocato, or “Bill the superfan”, is currently battling stage four cancer.

The Cerritos superfan stood on his feet all nine innings of the game April 10 on an unusually warm spring day, cheering on the Falcons, taunting opposing players, and reacting to the umpires’ calls and every moment of the game.

“I forget about my cancer when I’m here,” Brocato said. “I just love to watch these guys succeed and win and play. The smile on their faces gives me a smile.”

His energy not only resonated with the players, it exuded into the stands where family members and significant others of the Birds’ players shared in his enthusiasm, laughed and cheered along with him.

“Bill the superfan” surprisingly began his fandom in 2017 when Cerritos head coach Nate Fernley talonmarks.com

was at the helm of El Camino’s baseball team where he had 16 successful seasons.

“He is dedicated to peace. he just loves being around the environment, loves being around the players, he’s passionate about that,” the head coach said.

The enemy in question is “Dan the man, the superfan”, Daniel Pelaez, who follows El Camino College around and has taken over since Brocato joined the Birds fandom.

To put into perspective the passion and personality the two bring to the baseball field, they sat on opposite ends of the stands before the game and engaged in a staring contest and both never let up for the duration of the game.

Pelaez noted the switch Brocato made as they both shared a laugh and said, “I don’t got to worry about looking at him man.

He knows I cheer louder than him and longer than him. He knows that.”

Pelaez has enjoyed taking the reins at El Camino.

Brocato followed Fernley over in 2024 when he took over the head position at Cerritos Brocato unfortunately learned about his diagnosis of his liver and colon in early 2024 and could not support the baseball team like he wished he could.

Taking the time he needed to focus on his cancer and get healthy, the superfan was eager to watch baseball again and made the trip to El Camino to support the Falcons.

The birds took game two and Brocato was right in the middle of it all Friday and rallied the Birds to a 7-4 victory and a series win over his old Warriors team.

It’s all an escape for Brocato.

Living vicariously through the ballplayers and be a part of the team in his own way gives him a reason to keep pushing forward in his own life.

Brocato brings a positivity each and every day that has kept him in good spirits and hopes he gave everyone around him that day more than a ballgame to watch. He hopes that people also learn from his own situation and continue to strive no matter where they may find themselves.

As he continues to fight and try to make the most of his opportunities, words from the superfan were inspiring, “I’m battling right now. The cancer cells are dying, but at stage four, the doctor gave me two to four years to live, but I told him, ‘only God knows the answer to that.

God brought me here. He’ll take me home.’ So, I’m not worried about that anymore.”

8 SPORTS

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

OPINION

WrestleMania 42 will disappoint Ivan Llata Co-Opinion Editor

Fans of the WWE should keep expectations low.

Wrestlemania used to be an exciting time for wrestling fans. The matches, the moments and the social gathering of fans around the world made it special.

I remember watching Wrestlemania Six when Hulk Hogan went one-on-one against the Ultimate Warrior at what was then known as the Skydome in Toronto, Canada.

In recent years, WWE has forgotten what made Wrestlemania special.

Usually, the buildup to Wrestlemania starts the first Monday Night Raw after the Royal Rumble in late January. This year, the buildup for the event took until mid-March. It feels as if WWE still didn’t know what the card was going to be.

Keep in mind, Wrestlemania is supposed to be WWE’s biggest event of the year.

Because of the lack of effort in putting the card together, the matches don’t feel exciting. With the exception of CM Punk vs.

Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship, the rest of the card feels underwhelming.

Sami Zayn will defend the United States Championship against Trick Williams at the event, even though they already wrestled each other multiple times on Smackdown in recent weeks for the same championship.

Wrestling fans don’t like to see a match between the same two wrestlers over and over again, no matter how good the matches are.

A ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship will take place without any story being put into it. Besides the matches, fans want to see a story play out to give them a reason to cheer or jeer the wrestlers.

Another example of this is Gunther vs. Seth Rollins. Seth Rollins was involved in a different storyline, and Gunther has been off TV in recent weeks since defeating AJ Styles in a retirement match. All of a sudden, these two have a match at Wrestlemania?

The Dominik Mysterio storyline started off hot, with Dominik and the rest of his group turning on Finn Balor on an episode of Raw. How did the WWE writing team follow this up the next week? Finn Balor cut a pre-taped promo, and Dominik cut a promo that didn’t even air on TV. It’s difficult for fans to get into a story with such slow progression.

Also, WWE is still stuck with the old school format of the 1980s-90s cowardly heel. Today's would like to see less of that and more of a different approach.

Read more at Talonmarks.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN RAMOS

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN RAMOS

Juan Flores sprints his way to victory as he finishes his record steeplechase at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival held Friday, March 27 at UCLA's Drake Stadium.

Juan Flores lands his water jump during his record breaking steeplechase performance at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival on Friday, March 27, 2026.

Track and field star's athletic journey Marina Gutierrez Staff Writer

At 17 years old, Juan Flores made the pivotal decision to stop playing basketball and to start focusing solely on running, leading him to become Cerritos College track and field’s new steeplechase record holder, and a D1 university prospect.

Flores grew up loving basketball, and began playing at the age of seven.

However he also had an interest in running.

He said he was an energetic kid and when his mom would take him to the park, he spent the majority of his time there running around in circles on the grass.

It wasn’t until his freshman year at St. John

Bosco High School when he realized running was an actual sport. Wanting to focus on basketball he decided not to join cross country due to their overlapping schedules, but joined track and field when basketball season ended.

He continued to switch between basketball and track and field at St. John Bosco throughout his sophomore year.

By his junior year he was unsatisfied with Bosco’s basketball team and decided to transfer to Warren High School in hopes of continuing his basketball career.

Although, his love for running grew.

By his senior year he stopped playing basketball completely and competed in both cross country and track and field, launching his collegiate athletic career.

“I started enjoying running more because

everyone pushes themselves in different ways, and you don't have to rely on a team. It’s all on your own. If you're willing to push yourself and put in the work you're gonna see the results every time. And if you don’t see the results you know you’re doing something wrong but once you find that you’ll be able to improve every time. It’s a pro and con because you always want to improve, but once you improve you still want more. You just always want to get better,” Flores said.

Rhone told him that it’s a good school to not only save money but to develop his skills and improve on his running times. He then knew Cerritos had what he was looking for.

Read more at Talonmarks.com

Juan Flores sets new track record Samantha Thompson Staff Writer

Juan Flores set a new Cerritos College record in the men’s steeplechase with a time of 9:03.24 at the annual Bob Larsen Distance Carnival, held March 27 at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.

Competing against Division I athletes, Flores not only broke the previous program record of 9:15.38 by more than 12 seconds but also achieved a personal best, finishing first in the event.

The record-breaking performance had been highly anticipated by the Cerritos College track and field team after Flores came close to the mark at the Oxy Distance Carnival earlier this season.

At that meet, he clocked a time of 9:17.88, just two seconds shy of the previous record. His steady improvement signaled that a new milestone was within reach.

Flores’ victory at the UCLA meet was a major accomplishment

for both the athlete and Cerritos College, demonstrating the team’s ability to compete against top-tier programs.

Several coaches approached Flores following the race, and expressed interest in recruiting him to their programs.

After the race, Flores reflected on his achievement, sharing his excitement about the result. “I feel pretty good,” he said. “It shows that all the hard work is paying off.” He credited his success to staying focused during the race and maintaining confidence in himself.

Flores offered advice for other athletes striving to achieve their goals. “Stay consistent and trust the process,” he said. “Progress and success come with time and dedication.”

His record-breaking performance stands as a testament to the power of persistence and discipline.

To learn more about track and field and upcoming events, visit the Cerritos Falcons athletics site.. talonmarks.com

SAMANTHA THOMPSON/TM

Juan Flores post record-breaking race at Drake Stadium for the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival. on Friday, March 27, 2026. Flores posted 9:03.24 in steeplechase.