Employees go head-to-head in Olympics Pages 6 and 7
May 14, 2015
Volume 88, Issue 15
Published Since 1927
Resources limited for homeless students School has no formal system in place to address housing insecurity issues. By Sylvana Uribe Staff Writer Homelessness does not have one particular face as it affects people of all ages. Whether spending nights in shelters, cars or on the couches of friends and family, a lack of safety or stability in living conditions categorizes a person as homeless. While cities have implemented ways to track the number of homeless people, Stacey Toda, LBCC’s associate director of public relations and marketing, said, “LBCC does not collect information on homeless students in order to protect the confidentiality of their living situation.” According to an article released by The Los Angeles Times on Monday, May 11, homelessness has risen 12 percent since 2013 in the city and county of Los Angeles. As of January 2015, more than 44,000 homeless people were accounted for across the county by the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority. Numbers suggest the prevalence of issues like low wages, high unemployment rates and lack of affordable housing. Every two years, the Long Beach Health Department gathers similar statistics by conducting a citywide street count of the homeless population.
The 2015 data has not yet been released, but services will be adjusted based on results and permit the city to understand changes in the homeless community. Janice Coquia, 27, a nursing major, is a student worker with Extended Opportunity Programs and Services and said she has often been approached about services at the college for homeless people and would like to see more resources on campus. “I know there are a few outside services, but even then you have to be already on the streets. There’s no prevention of that here,” Coquia said. Anita Gibbins, the director of Student Health Services and Student Life, said, “Services are currently very limited. Essentially, I refer (homeless students) to the Sylvana Uribe/Viking Long Beach Multi-Service Center. A HELPING HAND: Financial Aid specialist Angela Fowlkes helps Sean Manlapaz, 19, a kinesiology They house the numerous agenmajor and non-homeless student, as he seeks assistance in the Financial Aid office at the PCC on cies in Long Beach that provide Tuesday, May 12. services. As a college, currently we don’t really have anything ex- aid specialist at the PCC, said nancial Aid Department in No- two, it’s so many.” Fowlkes said it would be helpcept to provide them with refer- homelessness is an issue she re- vember 2014, and said she loves lates closely to as she experienced her job and helping students. She ful to have a center in the college rals.” Located in the industrial homelessness when she was un- has encountered students ask- that served as a direct connection area of West Long Beach, the employed. After nine years with ing for financial assistance who to homeless services, rather than sometimes cannot pro- send students on a chase for reMulti-Service Center a mailing address. sources. offers basic amenities “I actually went home and I was honestly vide In some cases, students “They’re here to obtain their like showers, transportation, medical care, trying to process, ‘How can I help the stu- were living in their cars educational goals so that would mental-health services dents?’ Because it’s so many, it’s not like or were at risk of losing give them sustainability and gaintheir home. ful employment. I think if we and links homeless peo“After a while, you could have something like that ple with housing options it’s just one or two, it’s so many.” through referrals to shel-Angela Fowlkes just don’t see them any- in place for our students that are homeless, just something to give ters. Financial Aid specialist more because they are not able to sustain them- them hope and move them forIts collaborative partselves while they go to ward, I think that would be wonners include organizations that teach financial literacy the college, Fowlkes was laid off in school,” Fowlkes said. “I actually derful.” More information about the and work with homeless veterans 2009 and relied on her parents to went home and I was honestas well as families at risk of being make ends meet as a single moth- ly trying to process, ‘How can I Multi-Service Center may be ober of five daughters. help the students?’ Because it’s so tained by calling (562) 570-4500. homeless. Fowlkes was hired in the Fi- many, it’s not like it’s just one or Angela Fowlkes, a financial
Spring Sing will bring music videos to life
By Sylvana Uribe Staff Writer
As the semester comes to a close, throwbacks to music video favorites will come to life onstage with the 64th annual Spring Sing on Friday, May 22, at 7 p.m. Every Spring, the college and Associated Student Body organize a fundraiser by giving students and employees the opportunity to perform in front of their peers. Performances range from dances and poetry as well as theatrical and comedy acts alluding to the theme, which is music videos this year. Money raised contributes to the LBCC Foundation’s scholarship fund.
ASB Rep. of Communications dents will be on a stage meant for tine, but also “study for finals so Brittany Lieberman, 25, a com- performances. we’re scrambling to make sure munications major, said, “It’s a Robertson said, “We’re look- that we’re getting everything done fun event for everyone, there are ing forward to the good perform- and not fall behind in school.” lots of laughs and you get to see ers, acts the clubs are working on, ASB Cultural Affairs chair at another side of your classmates and individual acts, so it’s going to the LAC Alberto Moreno, 23, a that you wouldn’t normally get to be another great Spring Sing.” Spanish literature major, said he see on campus.” has never attended Spring This year’s performances “I think the music video theme is Sing before but is looking forwill be in the LAC Auditori- very creative.” ward to it. um as opposed to the gym, “I think the music video -Alberto Moreno theme is very creative,” Morewhich has hosted the compeASB Cultural Affairs chair tition for the past two years. no said. “I don’t know what Using costumes and custom to expect, I know a lot of stuset designs, performers will have George Felix, 20, a biomedical dents are going to participate and a maximum of seven minutes to engineer major, said he is starting expose their talents to the stuimpress judges with their acts. to feel the pressure as his group dent body so I’m very excited to Student Life coordinator Teila prepares to represent their club, see what they’re going to bring to Robertson said she was excited Aztlan, in the competition. Spring Sing.” the competition was moved back Felix said the group is workAwards in the clubs and open to the Auditorium and glad stu- ing hard to learn its dance rou- division include first place for the
lbccviking.com • facebook.com/lbccvikingnews
•
@lbccvikingnews/twitter
•
men and women’s social service clubs as well as recognitions in categories like best choreography, dramatic performance, costume design and ticket sales champion for groups who sell the most presale tickets. In the independent division, which refers to soloists and groups of seven or less, performers will compete for titles of best vocals as well as best instrumental and dance. Presale tickets can be purchased from Spring Sing participants for $5 or for $7 at the door. More information about the event may be obtained by contacting Robertson at (562) 938-4978 or trobertson@lbcc.edu.
@lbccvikingnews/instagram