Volume 105 Issue 07

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Sports pg. 5

Opinion pg. 4

volume 105 issue 7 • april 3, 2013 • santa monica college

news PG. 3

CORSAIR

2 contents

volume 105 issue 7 • april 3, 2013 • santa monica college

E D I T O R I A L S TA F F Amber Antonopoulos···· Editor-in-Chief c o rs a i r. e d i t o r i n c h i e f @ g m a i l . c o m Muna Cosic··············Managing Editor c o rs a i r. m a n a g i n g @ g m a i l . c o m Elizabeth Moss··············· News Editor c o rs a i r. n e w s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Molly Philbin··············Opinion Editor c o rs a i r. o p i n i o n p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Merissa Weiland······· Health & Lifestyle c o rs a i r. l i f e s t y l e p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Alex Vejar·········· Arts & Entertainment c o rs a i r. c a l e n d a r p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m David Yapkowitz············ Sports Editor c o rs a i r. s p o r t s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Daniella Palm·········Multimedia Editor c o rs a i r. m u l t i m e d i a @ g m a i l . c o m Paul Alvarez Jr.···············Photo Editor Mark Popovich···············Photo Editor c o rs a i r p h o t o e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o m Jhosef Hern······················ Illustrator c o rs a i r. c a r t o o n @ g m a i l . c o m Allie Silvas····················· Web Editor c o rs a i r. w e b e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o m Henry Crumblish··········· Design Team Mikaela Osterlund·········· Design Team Cocoa Dixon················ Design Team Gimlet Rivera··············· Design Team c o rs a i r. d e s i g n t e a m @ g m a i l . c o m c o r s a i r s ta f f Ray Alvarado, Trevor Angone, Luis Arias, Fernando Baltazar, Vanessa Barajas, Lorentious Barry, Scott Bixler, Raul Cervantes, Sara Cheshm Mishi, James Coster, Jeff Cote, Jenna Crowley, Erika Cruz, Tina Eady, Skya Eiland, Djon Ellams, Rachael Garcia, Amy Gaskin, Marine Gaste, Manon Genevier, Felipe Gouveia, Linda Harrell, David Hawkins, Sam Herron, Jasmin Huynh, Simon Luca Manili, Daniel McCarty, Asha McClendon, Rona Navales, Jerome Newton, Sarah Neyhart, Andrew Nguyen, Jimmy Rodriguez, Myriam Santiago, Kandace Santillana, Chanell Scott, HaJung Shin, Ryan Sindon, Niklas Thim, Eva Underwood, Heran Yirgu

Mark Popovich Corsair Heather Tikman (left) and Tekoah Flory (right) sit inside Camille Robinson’s 3-D design sculpture in the Santa Monica College quad.

FA C U LT Y A D V I S e R S S a u l Ru b i n & Gerard Burkhart A d I n q uiries : c o rsa i r. admana g e r@g m ai l . co m (3 1 0 ) 4 3 4 - 4 0 3 3

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news 3

volume 105 issue 7 • April 3, 2013 • santa monica college

Enrollment priority to change

Amber Antonopoulos Editor-in-Chief Systemwide changes that will affect student enrollment are set to take place at all California Community Colleges beginning in the fall of 2014.

The new regulations will give priority enrollment to students who make progress toward specific goals such as attaining a degree, transferring to a four-year institution, or training for a job, according to a press release from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.

The policy will encourage educational and career planning by giving enrollment priority to new students who use student support services, according to Linda Michalowski, vice chancellor for student services to the CCC. "We've been doing a disservice to a lot of students by not giving them enough guidance to be able to plan their education pathway and the support to achieve it," Michalowski said in a media briefing Wednesday.

Students exceeding 100 units of degreeapplicable coursework — not including basic skills classes such as English, math or English as a second language — will lose priority enrollment under the new policy, according to the CCCCO press release.

Community college students usually need 60 units to transfer to a four-year institution or attain an associate degree.

"We're not saying that these students can no longer be served by the colleges," Michalowski said. "We're only saying that the priorities have to go to students who are coming in for a purpose, and who are willing to stay on track and make progress toward achieving that purpose, and then moving on and making space for other students."

Students on academic probation or progress probation for two subsequent semesters will also lose priority enrollment.

"In the past, we've always said anyone can come to community college, you can stay

as long as you want, and you can come and go," Michalowski said. "We have not had any limits like this in most cases, but that's a bygone era, I'm afraid. The state of California is no longer willing to pay for students to do that."

Michalowski said that the new system, approved by the CCC Board of Governors in September, seeks to improve student success in response to statewide budget woes that have prevented community colleges from accommodating student demand over the past few years.

Across CCC campuses, class offerings have been reduced by 24 percent, and almost 500,000 students have been shut out of classes since 2008 due to budget cuts, according to the CCCCO press release.

"I think that while there's somewhat of a shift in the mission of community colleges, given the limited resources of the state, it's still allowing students to go through the process of attaining a degree," said Teresita Rodriguez, vice president for enrollment development at Santa Monica College.

It is hoped by CCCCO leaders that the new implementations will improve student success rates by ensuring that on-track students will have classes available to meet their needs, Michalowski said.

"I do feel that it takes time for most community college students to develop educational and career goals," said Robert G. Isomoto, vice president for business and administration at SMC. But Isomoto said that SMC students are given sufficient support to help plan their paths accordingly with the changes in priority enrollment.

"SMC provides a tremendous student services program for its students," Isomoto said. "SMC students definitely have greater opportunities to get the appropriate help, if they want to take advantage of them, than other community college students."

Some of these resources offered to SMC

Jose Luis Balderas Corsair Santa Monica College students use the counseling office on March 26 to see counselors for assistance with obtaining associate degrees and transferring to four-year institutions.

students, according to Isomoto, include counseling, supplemental instruction and tutoring, and student support services targeted toward specific groups, including Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, Disabled Students Programs and Services, the Veterans Resource Center, Latino Center, Black Collegians, and Scholars Program.

Rodriguez said that more resources will become available to assist SMC students with the transition in accordance with Title 5 education code regulations, such as notifications for students who are in danger of losing enrollment priority.

"That communication will be added at every college," Rodriguez said. "Additionally, it's required that districts will come up with an appeal process. Most colleges, including SMC, do not have that yet."

CCC campuses will have to adhere to the new statewide enrollment regulations, but there will be differences in local

implementation, according to the CCCCO press release.

"Within the Title 5, there is a lot of local discretion for decisions to be made locally at the district level," Rodriguez said.

Priority enrollment at SMC is currently determined according to unit accumulation, with continuing students having a higher priority than new students, according to SMC's admissions website.

An SMC task force is still determining exactly how the current system will change at the college to comply with the new regulations, Rodriguez said.

California law mandates that certain groups will retain top enrollment priority, including active-duty military, veterans, and current and former foster youths, followed by students served by EOPS and DSPS, according to Michalowski.

"We are seeing a refocusing of the state's emphasis on student success in our colleges," Michalowski said.

AS election underway following debate

HaJung Shin Corsair Associated Students presidential candidate for United Students, Taynara Moura, (center) speaks about unsatisfactory advertisement for the AS election debate in the quad Thursday. Running mate Jon Kent Ethridge II, (left) student trustee candidate, and Yacob Zuriaw, (right) current director of student advocacy, look on.

henry crumblish Staff Writer About 100 students gathered on the quad Thursday to witness Santa Monica College’s Associated Students election debate.

Although it was advertised as a debate, the format was a question-and-answer press conference. Arya Shirani, the moderator, said candidates were allowed time for argument and rebuttal.

However, no candidate made any attempt to do so.

Shirani, an unofficial commissioner to Yacob Zuriaw, AS director of financial support and student advocacy, helped Zuriaw write questions for the candidates. Time limits for questions ranged from 30 seconds to two

minutes in length.

The debate served as a medium for candidates from every slate, including independent candidates, to publicize themselves to the student body and communicate their intentions in office.

Presidential candidate Chioma Ojini, accompanied by her running mate Alexander Mody on the Synergy Motivation Co-Creation slate, said at the debate that she plans to “redesign the SMC website and make it more mobile-accessible."

The Corsairs Connected slate voiced aims to utilize social media, including a Twitter and blog for the campus, that would keep students informed.

Ryan Downer, running for director of publicity on the slate, emphasized improving the appearance of the campus.

“I will gladly go in there and clean up 10 of the bathrooms myself,” Downer said.

Presidential candidate and leader of Corsairs Connected Alex Abramoff did not lose his temper, despite being interrupted during his time speaking.

“Why can’t we separate student government from regular politics?” Abramoff said after the debate.

Also on Abramoff ’s slate is Brandon Arrevillaga, who is running for student trustee. Arrevillaga is the current commissioner, as well as the boyfriend of current student trustee Michelle Olivarez.

“I’ve been to meetings, I’ve seen Michelle talk, I went to Sacramento for the March in March,” he said. “The AS should have informed you. That’s the point in Corsairs Connected, to spread the word on campus [using] emails, Facebook, and social media.”

The Voice We Need, the Change We Deserve slate has eight candidates on the ballot. Srishty Armarnani running for AS vice president was the only representative present at the debate. Presidential candidate Noke Taumalolo said he was absent from the debate due to a midterm.

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Armarnani, a recent commissioner to the AS board of directors, said she would like to preserve the experience of student government for future generations.

“The board was very welcoming; I’d love to continue doing that,” she said. “Some miscommunications going on, I’d like to minimize. I think everyone should be working as a whole.”

The United Students, perhaps the most vocal of all the slates, vocalized one clear message in their campaign.

“I think the publicity is very inefficient at the moment,” said Taynara Moura, presidential candidate and leader of the United Students. “Not many people know about this event or the elections. We were expecting a bigger crowd, but it’s OK." Her running mate Michael Greenberg, who is running for director of publicity, echoed the same notion.

“I think it’s really important that we outreach information and knowledge of AS events and SMC events to the students,” said Greenberg. “Not a lot of students know about AS. The overwhelming majority of students aren’t even aware voting is going on.”

Independent Student Outreach candidate Araceli Carrera agreed, and said that after surveying the student body for a week, approximately half of the students she spoke to were not aware of benefits available through AS. “We need an outreach program to show the students we care and that we’re here,” she said.

Not every presidential candidate was present, not every candidate stayed from start to finish, and less than five percent of the student body attended the debate.

“I wish we could have debated each other and the issues,” said Jon Kent Ethridge II, United Students' student trustee candidate. “Politics doesn’t move unless the people are behind them.”

The final day to vote in the election is Thursday, April 4. In the event of a tie, there will be a runoff election on April 23-24. /thecorsairnews •

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4 opinion

volume 105 issue 7 • april 3, 2013 • santa monica college

Manon Genevier Staff Writer

S

pring break for Santa Monica College students is just around the corner.

For some, this break is a treasured chance to rest, catch up with friends, or put down the textbooks. But for many college students, spring break is synonymous with parties and drinking.

Although spring break is meant to be enjoyed, students should be cautious of potential dangers associated with impaired actions.

On March 19, Samuel Levine, a University of Southern California junior, died of severe head trauma while vacationing in Mexico. He fell six stories after climbing onto an air-conditioning unit outside of his hotel room, according to a USC bulletin.

Many were affected by his death, including USC’s Sigma Chi fraternity, to which Levine belonged. His fraternity brothers held a candlelight vigil for him last Monday.

Students need to be aware what actions are in their best interest to avoid catastrophic fates such as in Levine’s case.

Consumption of alcohol is important to consider during spring break.

“The thing to stay safe is that you should know your limits, especially toward alcohol intake,” SMC student Anthony Ozorio said. “You need to know your limits before you drink too much and lose control of yourself.”

Kimbra Bell, an internal medicine physician with Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group, said that students should be cautious while on spring break, according to a press release by Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Bell said in the press release that no matter the circumstances, never leave a

drink unattended. Drink spiking is linked to crimes such as sexual assault and robbery, primarily associated with college students at parties, according to the Australian Drug Association.

“Those parties are good to experience, but you should be smart and safe,” Ozorio said.

Bell also suggested not to travel alone.

Sticking together is the most important precaution, but do not assume that fellow spring breakers will look out for your best interests.

Students should also be easily reachable and have a cellphone with them in order to stay in touch with the people in their group in case of emergencies, according to Bell.

Another spring break danger is drunk driving, which statistically increases over the holidays. Many of the fatalities among college students are associated with drunk driving, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s website.

More than half of underage students said they drove after drinking, and 20 percent said they drove while drunk. Among 20-year-olds, 43 percent said they had ridden with a drunk driver, according to a study by the University of Maryland in 2010.

“You can enjoy yourself and a few indulgences while still keeping your health a priority in the midst of spring break travel,” Bell stated in the press release.

Spring break is the occasion of the season where students should have fun, but for your personal safety and the sake of your loved ones, recall this advice before heading off on a spring break adventure.

The point of spring break is to take a rest from the college hassles. It is only a week-long break, so there is no reason to put yourself in troublesome or regretful situations.

Visit Safe Spring Break’s website for additional guidelines on how to stay safe during your week off from school.

Illustration by Jhosef Hern Corsair

Beware spring breakers

STAFF EDITORIAL It’s not surprising that voters could not care less about the Los Angeles mayoral elections, especially when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is more associated with tabloids than with effective governance.

The recent elections, held on March 5, had less of a voter turnout than elections in typically apathetic cities, Chicago and New York. Maybe voters were more focused on the photos of Villaraigosa surrounded by alcohol, women, porn stars and Charlie Sheen, according to a press released distributed by the PR News Channel.

Of the six running, no candidate received a majority of the primary votes to be elected outright. Top hopefuls, Democrats Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel, have advanced to a runoff vote on May 21.

According to preliminary numbers, only 16 percent of LA residents went to the polls or mailed in ballots. That is an awfully small group of residents deciding the leadership of our cities and schools.

Blowing off an election is just plain lazy.

On the other hand, we have not seen a real dedication to campaigning from the candidates — there are relatively few campaign signs and political ads, not much in the way of door-to-door campaigns, and no letters or calls about the candidates to the Los Angeles Times, the newspaper reports.

But the roots of apathy stem from schools, and are present at Santa Monica College as the Associated Students campaign this week.

The on-campus polling locations were desolate Tuesday, despite signs that read “free cookie if you vote.” Even when asked to vote by candidate Alex Abramoff, many passing students responded with indifference.

According to Sharon Smith, a private consultant manning the polling location in the cafeteria, no more than 20 people have voted in the cafeteria as of Tuesday afternoon.

The AS should not have to bribe voters with treats. These are our elected students representatives who appropriate our funds. Elections should matter to us.

Council opposes smoking evictions Tina Eady Staff Writer

S

moking is hazardous to our health. It is hazardous to our children’s health, our friends’ health and our sometimesirritating neighbors’ health.

Research determined that secondhand smoke contains 4,000 chemicals, 250 of which are known to be harmful, and at least 50 of which are known to cause cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthy Homes Program.

But smoking is a personal decision, and no laws should determine what one can and cannot do in the privacy of their own home. Any ban or law enacted to deter people from smoking in their own apartment is to make any cigarette smoker a criminal.

The Santa Monica City Council recently struck down a proposed bill to criminalize smoking indoors, proposed by assemblyman Marc Levine.

Under current state law, a landlord cannot evict a tenant of multiunit housing

for smoking. However, in Levine’s bill, landlords would have the power to evict a tenant for smoking in apartments and condos that have two or more units and share walls, floors, ceilings or ventilation systems.

The main objective of Levine’s bill, Assembly Bill 746, is to require that people go outside and away from buildings to smoke. According to the bill, the designated smoking area has to be 20 feet away from the unit or an enclosed area, and 100 feet from an unenclosed area in some apartment buildings.

Only one other councilman, Bob Holbrook, thought that the bill should be passed, explaining there is very little difference between the risk of dying from smoking or dying from secondhand smoke.

Although the council rightfully refused to go as far as criminalizing the act, new smoking laws enacted in November designate all newly occupied apartments and condos in Santa Monica as nonsmoking.

So, what exactly is the difference?

Currently, if a resident moves from one apartment to another, the apartment left is automatically designated a nonsmoking apartment if the landlord so chooses to

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have a lease reflect eviction as a violation for smoking.

Over the past few months, apartment owners have been surveying tenants in previously occupied apartments to determine which apartments would be designated for smoking and which would not.

If a tenant signed a survey to designate their apartment as “smoking” they could continue to smoke. If a tenant chooses not to sign, their unit remains “undesignated,” and that means that smoking is still allowed in that unit.

However, within these apartments, all new tenants are not allowed to smoke within the vicinity. Tenants signing onto new leases agree to those terms, more so, agreeing to eviction if those terms are broken.

George Macon, who lives in Santa Monica, said that he doesn’t appreciate being told where to smoke. Macon has to either smoke in his garage or on the street outside.

“I understand that people don’t smoke, but just don’t impeded on my right to smoke,” Macon said. “Smoking is just as harmful as standing outside with the fumes from cars and trucks.”

Adults should make their own decisions @t h e _ c o r s a i r •

Illustration by Jhosef Hern Corsair

about whether to smoke in their apartments, and about the proximity of their children and nonsmokers while smoking.

Although the City Council approved new smoking laws in 2012, they are not willing to go as far as evicting someone who has previously been allowed to smoke in their apartment, according to the opposition.

Smoking is an issue that should be addressed, but the City Council clearly prioritized keeping people in their homes over slightly cleaner air, which should always be the priority no matter the situation.

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sports 5

volume 105 issue 7 • April 3, 2013 • santa monica college

A winning attitude tina eady Staff Writer She turned down a full scholarship for dance to Dixie State University.

She chose to leave the familiar cold of Utah for the distant and foreign Los Angeles.

Pursuing a passion, Carmel Peterson is finishing her freshman year at Santa Monica College, and has emerged as a force on the tennis court.

“I heard about coach Richard,” said Peterson, of the SMC tennis head coach Richard Goldenson. “He’s very motivating and his team has won the state championship. He wanted to get to know my playing style. He asked me to take his tennis class so I took it last fall.”

Peterson arrived in LA back in July and it has been a positive experience for her.

“I never liked the snow,” said Peterson.

Peterson first took up tennis at the age of 11, after initially being interested in ballet.

“My dad used to play and he really enjoyed it,” said Peterson. “I thought I’d try it since no one else in the family wanted to.”

Even at a young age, Peterson had a fierce competitive spirit.

“At that time, I wanted to win, like most kids that age,” said Peterson. “I wanted to shine and show them who is best. I wanted to impress others.”

After her first tennis victory, there was no stopping her.

“I remember my first win of the match,” Peterson said. “I was looking into the eye of the tiger. It was so relieving and so motivating at the same time. I thought no one could stop me. I was excited and wanted to play more.”

Her talents did not go unnoticed, and by the age of 16, Peterson was ranked sixth overall in the Intermountain Region of the United States Tennis Association.

Goldenson has been very impressed with her dedication to the sport.

“Carmel is a fierce competitor, and very motivated,” said Goldenson. “She’s got it all inside. She won’t quit, and she runs down every single ball. If she loses a point it’s never because of lack of effort, it’s because her opponent outplayed her. She never loses the point for not trying.”

Peterson is constantly looking to improve, especially after losing a match.

“As a teammate, you want to look at someone on the same team and see them giving everything they have,” said Goldenson. “When she loses, she comes to me and wants to know how to turn that around, what she can do.”

Peterson gave her mother credit for being a strong influence in terms of putting in the required work to succeed.

“When I was young, my mom would make me run a mile every day, even when I didn’t want to,” said Peterson.

Aside from being a standout talent, Peterson has developed into a strong team leader.

“I really appreciate that she takes her time with someone who is inexperienced like me,” said teammate Elin Hedberg.

“She gives invaluable advice.”

“She’s very supportive,” said teammate Juliana Nelkin, “She loses a match, and she’ll still come to yours and cheer for you.”

“The minute I saw her working out with the other girls, her attitude was so positive,” said assistant coach Michael O’Hara. “The drills, running back and forth, she gives it everything she’s got.”

Mark Popovich Corsair Carmel Peterson is the number-one singles player for the women’s tennis team.

As a freshman, Peterson still has another year of eligibility left, much to the delight of the coaching staff.

“She’s got a winning attitude; that’s what she’s got,” O’Hara said.

Corsairs vanquished by El Camino in exciting match Trevor Angone Staff Writer

Sam Herron Corsair Santa Monica College men’s volleyball player Tanner Peach (left) spikes the ball over two defenders during the Corsairs’ match against the El Camino College Warriors on Friday.

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The Santa Monica College men’s volleyball team suffered a disappointing defeat, their 11th in a row, on Friday night at the hands of the El Camino College Warriors.

Despite a thrilling end-to-end match and an impressive team effort, it was not enough for the Corsairs to prevail.

The loss drops the Corsairs to 3-12 on the year, 0-8 in conference play, placing them at the bottom of the standings with only two games remaining.

“They don’t give up any free points,” said SMC assistant coach Dhiraj Coats. “They take care of the ball and really make you earn it.”

Though the Warriors won in three straight sets, the game was a little closer than the statistic sheet showed.

The Warriors squeaked by SMC in the first and third sets, 26-24 and 25-22 respectively.

However, the Corsairs would not go quietly as it took everything the Warriors had to stymie the valiant comeback attempt, led

by outside hitter Zack Brown and middle blocker Jason Mallek.

“We didn’t get the win, which is upsetting, but it’s hard to be upset when you play like we did,” Brown said. “Everyone played great.”

Making things more difficult for the squad was the absence of star player and team leader, Charlie Schmittdiel, who was not available to play due to a missed practice the day before.

“We practiced some things, and he didn’t know what we were doing, really,” said Coats.

Though the Corsairs have had a rough go at it this season, their exciting play and dedication in the losses is something on which they are hoping to build.

“They fought well and played for each other as a team; that was huge tonight,” said Coats.

With half of the team being freshmen, the coaching staff is hoping they can come back next season with the same approach displayed by this year’s sophomore leaders, giving them a leg up on their competition.

The Corsairs will play their final home game of the season on Wednesday, April 10 at 6 p.m.

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Please email your resume: Flor@pacificspecialists.com

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6 Photostory

volume 105 issue 7 • April 3, 2013 • santa monica college

John Cullen holds on to the starting block as he prepares for the start of the 200-yard backstroke.

Just keep swimming David Yapkowitz Sports Editor

David J. Hawkins Corsair Fatimeh Mohseni, the first-place finisher in the one-meter competition, rotates from the diving board.

On Friday, Santa Monica College was the host of the fourth Western State Conference Quad Meet of this season. Both the men’s and women’s swim teams participated in the meet, which also included Cuesta College, College of the Canyons, and Los Angeles Pierce College. The men’s team outscored Pierce, 117-63, defeated Canyons, 11850, but fell to Cuesta, 109-75. The women fell to Pierce, Canyons and Cuesta, 122-52, 98-69 and 83-72, respectively. According to assistant coach Jennifer Bullock, points are assigned to swimmers individually based on their performances. The points are all added up to reach a final score.

Madison Hishineff contorts h

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volume 105 issue 7 • april 3, 2013 • santa monica college

photostory 7

Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair Children from a local day camp were at the pool swimming when they discovered the swim meet. They stopped to enjoy the action.

Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair

Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair Erika Crispin cheers on her teammate Karen Duenas as she competes in the 200-yard individual medley.

Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair her body in one of her various dives.

Mark Popovich Corsair Swimmers dive from the starting block in the women’s 200-yard freestyle.

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+ Lifestyle 8 Health

volume 105 issue 7 • april 3, 2013 • santa monica college

Chill out from midterm burnout Rona navales Staff Writer It is a common sight in the Santa Monica College library to see students taking up any available table, lying on the floor, or turning chairs into makeshift beds so that they can rest either before, after or between classes.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, burnout is described as “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.”

For many college students, midterms and other projects culminate right before spring break, which can cause stress and burnout.

Dr. Jim Sears from the CBS daytime show “The Doctors” explains some of the symptoms that college students go through when they are burned out.

“When you’re suddenly dreading going into class, you start to be critical of class,” he says. “You’re not feeling much energy.

You feel like you don’t really care, and you [would] rather just not go to class.”

Furthermore, Sears adds that students may lose interest in classes they once cared about when burnt out.

There are different kinds of stress that affect the body. Sears describes short-term stress as the kind of stress felt before giving a speech or speaking in class, which, according to him, is actually a good type of stress.

Sears and Donna Davis-King, a psychology professor at SMC, both claim that excessive long-term stress is not healthy because the body starts to release the stress hormone cortisol.

“It can raise your blood pressure. It’s not good for your heart and it’s not good for your brain,” says Sears. “Your energy will go down and you can’t sleep as well.”

According to Sears, feeling nervous, jittery, grinding teeth, and having a hard time focusing are all symptoms of stress that many college students experience, which can hinder their performance level.

Chronic stress can lead to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, stroke, heart attack and cardiovascular disease. But once relaxation techniques are learned, these

SMC veteran storms the hill Eva Underwood Staff Writer Robert Contreras has had an active part in the Student Veterans’ Association at Santa Monica College. He recently joined Phi Theta Kappa and will graduate with a liberal arts associate degree in social and behavioral science at the end of this semester with hopes to attend the University of California, Los Angeles in the fall.

Contreras also plans to get his master’s degree in either public policy or social work. His passion lies in veterans’ advocacy and he hopes that he can make a career out of it.

Contreras, a US Navy veteran, joined his fellow veterans for Storm The Hill in Washington, D.C. on March 16.

Every year, veterans from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan “storm the hill” to discuss concerns of their communities to the members of Congress, Contreras said.

This marked the seventh year of the leadership development and advocacy program for the nonpartisan, nonprofit group known as Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, according to Contreras.

In total, 46 veterans participated in this event. Twenty-nine of them, known as the “stormers,” attended the meetings

CSULB SUMMER SESSIONS

201 3

cases can be avoided, Sears says.

Sears reminds his own daughter, who is also a college student, to consume omega-3 fatty acids for better brain function, especially when schoolwork adds up and becomes stressful.

In order to avoid sleep deprivation or losing hair from stressing out, Sears recommends daily exercise, even if it is tossing a football or Frisbee or walking across the campus.

SMC yoga instructor Leslie Porter encourages the practice of yoga during stressful times.

“Restorative yoga will help you create a sense of new breath,” she says.

According to Porter, the poses in this type of yoga are scientifically proven to help with sleeping patterns, anxiety and stress.

She noticed that the majority of her students join her yoga class to relieve stress throughout the school semester.

Davis-King is inspired by how motivated SMC students are, but she has still seen some of them quitting school from being burned out because students are not aware of individualized learning techniques.

in person with members of the House and the Senate. The other 17 veterans, called the “swarmers,” were busy sharing their agenda on social media sites, while contacting their local representatives to gain support and create awareness.

“The primary goal of the event this year was to focus on the backlog of healthcare claims from the department of Veterans Affairs,” said Contreras. “As such, we were presenting a petition urging the president to form a commission to identify the source, or sources, of the backlog and come up with solutions so that veterans of the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are not waiting 273 days on average, [or] 619 days in LA, to receive the necessary medical care.”

According to Contreras, the most common injuries resulting from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan have been related to mental health, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries. Veterans are promised five years of health care, but because proving to the VA that these injuries resulted from their service in the military, it is hard to get the full medical care they are promised.

To create awareness, Contreras said he and the other veterans circulated the petition and were able to obtain signatures from 23 members of Congress, and almost 40,000 signatures from U.S. citizens when they presented it to the White House staff.

Contreras mentioned this was his first time being involved with the political aspect of veterans issues, although IAVA has been working on many of these issues since 2004.

Last year, Contreras was elected president of the SVA at SMC, where he works with the Veterans’ Resource Center

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“I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to know how you learn,” she says.

Davis-King says it is important for students to try different methods of studying to find the one that best suits them.

“Students that try to pull all-nighters and are sleep deprived actually have lower GPAs,” she says.

Sears, Davis-King and Porter all agree in the power of positive thinking, forming study groups, and having a good support system.

SMC student Jennifer Guadamuz is taking 12 units, works part time as an assistant manager at Little Caesars, and takes care of her little brother. She does her homework between short breaks at work or when she gets home past midnight.

She describes herself as “really stressed out.”

“I would be the first person in my family to graduate from college,” she says of her motivation behind her hard work.

Guadamuz makes no excuses and will even come to school an hour early if she has to.

“I get it done,” she says.

on issues that impact veterans, such as the availability of academic counselors and institutionalizing the staff to process paperwork.

Contreras originally joined the Navy to receive financial support for his education.

“I served for 10 years where I managed radars, communications and weapons systems,” he said. “I deployed five times, two of which were to Iraq.”

Contreras participated in various missions during his time in service, including anti-terrorist missions, humanitarian missions in Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami, and counternarcotic operations.

“Through the job I had, I held a role where a vast percentage of my time was spent protecting the rest of the U.S. and allied forces by shooting down incoming missiles, rockets and mortars,” he said.

SMC is trying to make the transition from the armed forces to the academic environment a smooth one for veterans, according to Linda Sinclair, faculty leader of the VRC. “We want this to be a place where they can come and feel safe,” Sinclair said. “We want our veterans to know about the services that are available with the Disabled Students Program and Services.”

Contreras said he is grateful for the school’s accommodations for veterans.

“My professors for this semester have been extremely gracious in allowing me to miss class days to attend this opportunity,” he said. “Overall, my education and experiences at SMC have set me on a path that looks bright.”

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health + Lifestyle 9

volume 105 issue 7 • April 3, 2013 • santa monica college

Health Fair informs students

International students cultivate education appreciation sara cheshm mishi Staff Writer

Jeff Cote Corsair Santa Monica College student Jonathan Hur receives a free massage from Dr. Nathaniel Elkins, who ran the World Chiropractic Alliance booth at SMC’s Health Fair on the main campus quad last Tuesday.

jasmin huynh Staff Writer Santa Monica College’s annual Health Fair provided students with information on what to do and where to go to protect their health.

This year’s Health Fair, which was sponsored by the Associated Students and the SMC Health Services, took place last Tuesday on SMC’s main campus and hosted several representatives from health care resources and providers.

Many of the representatives focused on the promotion of sexual health and students’ access to services.

One of the organizations present at the event was the Westside Family Health Center, which informed students about its free or low-cost health care, also available at the SMC Health Services Center.

“Often students don’t know that we are connected to the health office on campus,” said Kimberly Nojima, a community outreach worker at Westside Family Health Center. “They don’t even know about the free sexual health services that we offer.”

The Sexually Transmitted Disease Program of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health displayed pictures of STDs and handed out “love gloves.”

“People get grossed out by the pictures of the diseases but enthusiastically pick up free condoms,” said Philip Phan, a DPH health education assistant.

According to Phan, it is important to promote “smart sex” at colleges since the

infection rates of STDs are the highest among people between ages 15 to 19.

Mental health organizations like Recovery International educated students about the risks of mental problems in students’ daily lives.

“College students are under a lot of pressure and stress,” said Randy Walburgea, a Recovery International representative. “Irritations and stress are picked up quickly and can become a habit, which can result in disturbing thoughts and temper.”

Among others, the American Red Cross, the STD clinic of the DPH, and the Champions for Change from the California Department of Public Health were present at the event.

At most booths, students were offered brochures, promotional products and the chance to ask questions of representatives.

“I haven’t talked to any of them yet, but I think the brochures are awesome,” said SMC student Chandler Lefrancis. “It’s good that they have all the information not available at other educational settings like high schools.”

Students like Shehnaz Virji appreciated the easy access to all the information.

“It’s very helpful, especially for students who don’t know how to take care of themselves,” she said. “It is a good opportunity to learn rather than looking on the Internet where you don’t know where to start.”

Xiaoy Li, a Santa Monica College student from Hong Kong, has an idea of what she wants to do after college.

“My dream is to open a school when I am done with my education,” says Li. “This school will have English and math classes and not focus on elite students, but also those who struggle with these subjects.”

This goal is just one among thousands of international students’ dreams at SMC. According to SMC’s website, there are 3,100 international students at the school.

International students come from more than 100 countries, such as China, Korea and Sweden, which are the top three, according to Denise Kinsella, associate dean of international education.

There are currently 1,027 students enrolled from China, 631 from Korea and 483 students from Sweden, according to Kinsella.

All students, including international students, are required to take both the English and math placement tests. However, Swedish students are not required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language because SMC has noticed that students from Sweden meet the language requirements after completing their high school education, according to Kinsella.

“The TOEFL test measures the ability of non-native English speakers to use and understand the English language as it’s read, written, heard and spoken in the university classroom,” according to the TOEFLs official website.

The majority of the international students at SMC have to pay for their education out of pocket, except Swedish students, who receive funding from both grants and loans from their government. A Swedish student can receive up to $15,230 per semester. The amount is intended to cover tuition, according to the website Centrala Studiestödsnämnden, which provides information regarding financial aid for Swedish students.

International students at SMC are not eligible for American student loans, says Kinsella.

“We do not have any government fundings,” says Hannah Chuang, an international student from China. “There may be funding programs in other states in

China. The laws differ from state to state in China.”

There has been an increase of students from China in the last 10 years after the visa regulations loosened, enabling more students to study in the United States, return and use their education in their home country, says Kinsella.

“I was traveling in California for two months last summer and fell in love with Santa Monica,” says Frida Nilsson, an international student from Sweden.

YongJu Lee and Boseok Seo, students from Korea, both claim that not only did they choose Los Angeles based on the weather, but also because LA has the biggest Koreatown in the country.

However, Kinsella understands it can be difficult to adjust to the local culture.

“Although the culture is westernized in Hong Kong, I am still adjusting,” says Li. “One of the biggest differences is that the mentality is more focused on the individual.

“I was traveling in California for two months last summer and fell in love with Santa Monica.”

- Frida Nilsson

Where I come from, one listens more to what the elders say.”

Another obstacle that some international students may find is having to change their educational goals due to full classes.

“I did not get the classes that I wanted; instead I ended up taking psychology classes,” says Nilsson, who will return to Sweden to complete a degree in psychology.

“Although things turned out differently than I had intended, I know now what I want to do with my life.”

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+ Entertainment 10 Arts

volume 105 issue 7 • april 3, 2013 • santa monica college

Vans Warped Tour rocks on Allie Silvas

The Vans Warped Tour kicked off its 19th tour on Thursday, March 28 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. Some of the artists in the lineup this year that performed Thursday night included New Beat Fund, Juliet Simms and Chiodos.

Prior to the show, artists were upstairs in the VIP room posing for photos and sharing their excitement for the 2013 tour.

Rocktronica band Lost in Atlantis was granted a blessing in disguise when they

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New Beat Fund member Michael “Silky” Johnson. “We’ve all grown up going to the Warped Tour. That was our childhood.”

New Beat Fund will be playing a few weeks of the west coast portion of Warped Tour. The band collectively described the experience of listening to their music as “being on a vibrating waterbed that’s spinning in a room, but the room that you are in is flying through space and it’s hotboxed and the waterbed is actually a giant

“I think once you do it, you have a better idea of what to expect and how to cope with all the heat, and the boys and the smelliness. You’re not scared anymore. You don’t feel like the newbie.” ­— Charlotte Sometimes Alex Vejar Corsair Jessica Charlotte Poland, aka Charlotte Sometimes, performs at the Vans Warped Tour kickoff concert on Thursday at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles.

When Kevin Lyman, founder of Vans Warped Tour, set off the first tour in 1995, he had no idea it would become a summer tradition for millions of music lovers.

“I was supposed to do one year and come back to be a school teacher,” Lyman said. “That’s kind of what I’m doing now, always mentoring or disciplining.”

were involved in a bus accident on their first tour. Injuries were minimal, and the band was back on tour in just a few weeks.

Members Ryan Streeter, David Allen and Elisabetha Rosnowski said this dedication is what got them noticed by Lyman.

“If you’re working hard, Kevin will help you,” said Rosnowski, the group’s frontwoman.

Lost in Atlantis will be playing Warped Tour June 20-28.

For many artists, being on the 2013 Warped Tour is surreal.

“It’s definitely a dream come true,” said

lava lamp.”

The LA natives cited some of their eclectic artist influences as the Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, along with inspiration from the punk, ska and hip hop they listened to growing up.

Their live performance reflected their eccentricities and featured Ghosty, a person dressed in white sheets who danced around the stage for the duration of their set.

New Jersey-born singer-songwriter Jessica Charlotte Poland, better known as

Charlotte Sometimes, will be on Warped Tour once again this summer. Her first Warped Tour experience was in 2008.

“I think once you do it, you have a better idea of what to expect and how to cope with all the heat, the boys and the smelliness,” said Poland. “You’re not scared anymore. You don’t feel like the newbie.”

Poland was one of the kickoff performers on Thursday, and brought her personality to the stage by kicking off her heels and dancing throughout her set.

Although Lyman said the same stages have been used for 18 years, the tour is not resistant to change.

For the first time this summer, the tour will feature an electronic stage. With the sphere of electro-pop growing, Lyman said they “couldn’t ignore it.”

Stephān Jacobs, who will be playing the electronic stage on his Warped Tour debut, said it is “quite an honor” to be one of the first.

With bands like Breathe Carolina, who played the Warped Tour in 2012, the tour could be bridging the gap between electronic and rock music.

Lyman has a few tricks up his sleeve for the 20th installment of Warped Tour next summer. In 2014, on August 9-10, Pomona will host the decades weekend, with the first day featuring artists from the first 10 years of the tour and the second day showcasing the second generation of Warped Tour performers.

The 2013 Vans Warped Tour will be in Pomona on August 20-21.

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volume 105 issue 7 • April 3, 2013 • santa monica college

Arts + entertainment 11

SMC students shoot their way to the top ‘Salome’

sets the bar

Niklas Thim Staff Writer Santa Monica College photography students showed their work at the 34th installment of the annual Photography Student Exhibition at the Pete and Susan Barrett Art Gallery and the Photography Gallery in Drescher Hall last Saturday night.

The exhibit gave students a chance to display their best work and compete for awards in several categories against each other.

Of the 700-plus photographs that were submitted for the exhibit, 185 were shown. The selection was made by a jury of 18 SMC faculty members from the photo department.

One winning photograph in each category was selected by a jury of the four full-time photo department faculty members, President and Superintendent Chui Tsang and Vice President of Academic Affairs Jeff Shimizu, said Larry Jones, SMC professor of photography.

Michael Lim won this year’s Best of Show award with his photograph of two windows, with blinds down, on each side of a door dressed with the American flag.

“His photograph is very interesting,” Jones said. “The motive is twodimensional, which usually bores you, but this one draws you in, and it doesn’t let you out.”

Focus, composition and lighting were considered during the selection. However, those were not the only criteria on which photos were judged.

“A photograph can have, for example, horrible composition and still make it, because it is interesting,” Jones said.

The variety of subject matter was wide and included sports, landscapes, mild nudity, food and portraits.

Kandace Santillana Staff Writer

HaJung Shin Corsair Two men have a talk at Santa Monica College 34th annual Student Photography Exhibition in the Santa Monica College Photography Gallery.

Winners in Best of Portrait, Best of Experimental and Best of Show are shown in the Photography Gallery, while Best of Commercial, Best of Photo 1, Best of Video, Best of Color, and Best of Black & White are shown at the Performing Arts Campus gallery.

The 51 photographs shown in the Drescher Hall gallery were for students who had two or more pictures accepted in the exhibit. Previous winners’ work is also displayed at the gallery.

Some of the students who had their work up for viewing also attended the reception.

Einhard Buckheim described his digital photograph of a woman at the Union Station.

“The architecture and lighting at Union Station is wonderful,” he said. “The photograph tells a story.”

Mauricio Abaroa, an attendee, was impressed with the students’ work and emphasized the importance of the

opportunity to have their work showcased.

“They get a chance to compare their work to other students’, and also get it critiqued,” he said. “Their work is incredible.”

Jones, who started the show 34 years ago, is very proud of the overall quality in this year’s exhibit.

“It has really moved up from previous years,” Jones said.

This year’s show was also Jones’ last, as he will pass the photography department torch on to Ford Lowcock.

“It’s time to move on now,” Jones said.

“It feels good.”

The Pete and Susan Barrett Art Gallery is located in the Santa Monica Performing Arts Center at 1310 11th St. The Photography Gallery is located on the second floor of Drescher Hall.

The show will run through March 26 to April 20, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The art of war Ryan Sindon Staff Writer

A solider in his helmet was covered in dirt and grime. His eyes looked like they told a story only another solider would understand, with a cigarette in his mouth, clean and ready to burn.

That scene and others were on display at the opening of the Annenberg Space for Photography’s new exhibit, “War/ Photography: Images of Armed Conflict and Its Aftermath.”

The gallery had paintings and war photographs dating as far back as the late 19th century. The photos went beyond soldiers, dead bodies, guns, and bombs, with the display broken up into twelve different subsections, each portraying an aspect of war.

The subsections were Advent of War, Recruitment, Training and Embarkation, The Wait, Patrol and Troop Movement, The Fight, Aftermath, Death, Refugees, and Civilians.

To the right of the entrance, four pictures depicted the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001 before they fell. The photos of the twin towers were next to a television screen that played clips from World War II. “I had a such strong feeling in the exhibit,” said Ellie Smith, a former photography teacher at Beverly Hills Adult School who attended the opening. “The pictures have a lot to do with the philosophy of the decisive moment.”

Photojournalist Trishna Patel said that the images are “powerful and leave you speechless.”

“I’m curious to see the Vietnam photos because that is the war I have heard a lot about, but I don’t know so much about it,” attendee Dina Rivas said before walking into the exhibit.

One of the Vietnam photos on display was the image of the “flower child” Jan Rose Kasmir placing a flower in the barrel of a gun held by a United States solider during the October 1967 march on the Pentagon.

In the center of the gallery, there was a short film played called,

Daniel McCarty Corsair A man opens the door for a woman at the entrance to the Annenberg Space for Photography on the opening day of War/ Photography: Images of Armed Conflict and Its Aftermath, showing through June 2.

“The War Photographers,” which is specific to the Los Angeles exhibit, according to the Annenberg’s website.

The documentary features over 500 photographs from six war photographers.

“It opens your eyes to another world,” amateur photographer Nick Filby said of the film. “You never think about the person behind the camera.”

Jason Stabile, an employee for the Annenberg, said he is impacted by the people who come see the exhibit.

“It’s not the pictures that affect us the most,” Stabile said. “The emotional impact of the pictures are there, but it’s the people’s reactions that affect us.”

The photos in the war exhibit are open to the public, but they are not censored.

The Annenberg is located at 2000 Avenue of the Stars in Century City. Admission is free. The space is open Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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Santa Monica College’s first theater production of this semester is a story of lust and greed.

“Salome,” written by Oscar Wilde in 1891, originally in French, comes from a biblical story that uses symbolism to describe it.

The play shows a variety of characters obsessing over one another, starting off with the Young Syrian, played by Brandon Blum, who desires Salome, played by Jenny Gustavsson. The obsession continues with King Herod, who also desires Salome.

But she desires the prophet named Iokanaan, who was imprisoned in a pit for most of the play.

At the beginning of the production, the storyline was a little confusing and hard to follow. The play started off with the dancers and the puzzled expression of the Young Syrian, who only mentioned how beautiful Salome was before she was introduced.

Once Salome walked onstage, the Young Syrian’s words became more clear. From then on, the storyline became easier to follow and more enjoyable.

The death of the Young Syrian came too quickly in the story. He was disappointed that Salome had no interest in him and stabbed himself to death.

Fortunately, the Page of Herodias, played by Mylo Lam, gave this tragic scene comic relief with humorous facial expressions and lines like, “something terrible is about to happen!”

As the play continued, it was apparent that the cast was well-rehearsed and ready for opening night.

Throughout some of the scenes, especially the ones that involved the characters raising their voices at one another, the energy onstage radiated throughout the theater. Their focus toward one another, and the actual volume of their voices, made it feel as if they were yelling at the audience.

One cast member that was worth noting was Clara Sao, the sign language performer, who was in the production to aid deaf attendees.

Throughout the entire play, Sao performed sign language and facial expressions to all of the characters’ lines.

Although she did not have a character name in the play, she acted as if she were one of them. Anticipating how she would react to the scenes became a necessity, even though she never muttered one word.

The message of “Salome” is that when there is power and royalty, greed takes over and people often end up making the wrong decisions, just like poor Salome did.

Overall, “Salome” was a wellperformed play and a must-see for theater-goers.

“Salome” will be playing at SMC’s Main Stage in the Theatre Arts Building through April 7.

To purchase tickets for “Salome” or to find out information about ticket pricing, showtimes and dates, visit smc.edu/ AcademicPrograms/TheatreArts.

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+ Entertainment 12 arts

Lind lights up gallery Rachael Garcia Staff Writer

Fernando Baltazar Corsair Brenda Starr Light takes a closer look at one of Kyle Lind’s pieces at the PYO Gallery LA on March 23.

The air at the downtown Los Angeles PYO Gallery was filled with high energy and excited faces, as guests gathered to examine paintings categorized as “process art” for their thorough detail.

The artist behind it all, whose 50 years of work brought attendees together, is Kyle Lind, who started painting at age 2, and said that his inspiration is “the conscious of life; the process of becoming.”

Lind’s current exhibit, “Freaking Out,” had its opening reception at the PYO Gallery LA last Saturday.

“It’s so beyond the pencil and canvas,” Lind said, as he explained his definition of process art. “It’s connected with God.” An eight by 16-foot mixed media canvas, titled “Cartoon in the Interior of an Atom,” was the centerpiece of the exhibit. The piece took Lind 44 years to complete, and was the only item hung in the gallery that was not for sale.

“Kyle was talking to me about it for 14

volume 105 issue 7 • April 3, 2013 • santa monica college

months,” Aileen Watanabe said of the piece. “I cried when I finally unraveled it.”

Watanabe is the CEO of RMK Services, a staffing and contract management company. She was introduced to Lind by a mutual friend, and after spending the afternoon eating vegan food with him and seeing his work, she not only helped him in setting up the exhibit, but also assembled a crew to do a documentary on him, she said.

“I was drawn to him because I loved that he was like a little kid,” Watanabe said.

Raphael Gomez, an employee of Red Sky Productions, the company filming the documentary on Lind, was overwhelmed by the pieces in the exhibit.

“The closer and closer you look, the more details you see,” said Gomez, who was also photographing the event.

Watanabe shared Gomez’ assessment of Lind’s work.

“I used to have 75 of his pieces in my office, and every single time I’d look at them I’d find something new,” Watanabe said.

Hyun Sang Joo, music director of the Los Angeles Symphony, was also in attendance at the opening reception.

“He’s a very famous artist,” Joo said. “This is fantastic. It’s very atypical painting — a trick for the eye to see.”

Watanabe said she was honored that Lind let her show all of his work.

“Kyle’s never trusted anybody with these many pieces,” she said.

Lind was born in Michigan in 1940, but lived in Hollywood for 25 years. He was a dancer in the 1960s and ‘70s for several bands as a member of Vito’s Dancers, a dance troupe that performed with The Doors, Frank Zappa and others.

Webisodes of the in-process documentary, as well as art by Lind, can be found at kyleaugustlind.com.

The exhibit will continue through Saturday, April 20 at PYO Gallery LA.

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