The Corsair- Volume 123 - Issue 1 (Spring 2022)

Russia's War in Ukraine

March 9, 2022

2 CONTENT News | pg. 3 Photo Story | pg. 4-5 Culture | pg 6 Arts & Entertainment | pg. 7 Opinion | pg. 8 Sports | pg. 9

EDITORIAL STAFF Katheryne Menendez | Editor-in-Chief Gavin Quinton | Managing Editor Jackson Tammariello | News Editor Carmen Gonzalez | Culture Editor Leonard Richardson-King | Opinion Editor Maxim Elramsisy | Photo Editor Celso Robles | Sports Editor Ashley Cox | Arts & Entertainment Editor Juliette Marquis | Multimedia Editor Andrea Marcy | Design Editor Aaron Schuchman | Design Editor Marlene Herrera | Social Media Editor Sarah Namichson | Copy Editor Conor Heeley | Copy Editor Sophia Elidrissi | Digital Editor

CORSAIR STAFF Jorge Devotto Ordoñez | Anna Sophia Moltke | Nick McCall | Danilo Perez | Blake Thorton | Marc Federici | Karen Vartanian | Forrest Flanders | Jon Putman | Brandon Espelta | Drew Andersen | Guadalupe Perez | Rebecca Hogan | Kajsa Broman | Shahrzad Ghazizadeh | Samara Critney | Anthony Hernandez | Claire Hollingsworth | Zipporah Pruitt | Kyle Penix | Ashley Chinchilla | Dylan Smith | Sydney Adams-Smith | Brittney Ornelas | Keith Mowatt | Josh Hogan | Leo Gilad | Stacey Htet | Roxana Blacksea | Rafaella Ramaciote | Emily Miedema | Jason Osorio | Alexandra Barrett | Aja Marshall |

FACULTY ADVISORS Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins | Journalism Adviser Gerard Burkhart | Photo Adviser Sharyn Obsatz | Social Media Adviser

CONTACT Editor-in-Chief | corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR In the early morning of Feb. 24, Russia invaded Ukraine. The world watched in horror as Russian imperialism once again threatened the freedom of many.

The evening prior, I was working on schoolwork until I got a notification on Discord. The notification was a comment by a staff member regarding Russia’s initial attacks on Ukraine. I felt the tension in our team escalate as staff got increasingly anxious about the situation. I decided to mute Discord’s notifications. Though I tell myself the decision was practical, as I had work to get done, deep down I wanted to shut the news out.

DING! Notification after notification, I was getting more and more anxious and irritated. I have been desensitized by tragedy after tragedy that has marked my short lifetime, as well as the knowledge that plagues anyone who is consistently reading up on news about a divided and chaotic world. I didn’t know to take the news as seriously as I should have at first. We as a species have been subjugated to endless violent conflicts. “This exact thing happened in 2014 when Russia invaded Ukraine, so what is so different about this time?,” I thought to myself.

War is not something that goes away after you close a tab or turn off the TV. Despite the difficulties me or my family have faced as minorities, I live a relatively comfortable life compared to others. When the situation gets tough, it's easy for me to resort to shutting the news out. But that luxury is not afforded to the people of Ukraine.

Juliette Marquis, The Corsair’s Multimedia Editor, is a Ukranian-American who spent her childhood in Ukraine. She has had to watch her home country be ravaged by the cruel realities of war. But she has not stayed silent, and has instead spent her time writing pieces informing others about what is happening to her home country. Other staff members have also contributed to The Corsair’s coverage regarding Ukraine, from writing to photography.

School newspapers such as The Corsair play an integral part in the mobilization of the student body towards documenting important issues and giving a voice to the voiceless. As a group that tends to be patronized and infantilized, students can find comfort and solidarity by sharing and advocating for what they are passionate about. Even though reporting such news can often be draining, I am proud of how my team has been able to use the fear that has been present since the fateful day of the invasion to be an instrument of change.

SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter | the_corsair Instagram | corsairnews Facebook | thecorsairnews YouTube | thecorsaironline

WEBSITE

Katheryne Menendez Editor-in-Chief

www.thecorsaironline.com

FRONT COVER Maryna Omelchenko holding a sign that says "Shelter Our Sky" at the "Support Ukraine" protest on Feb. 26, at 11111 Santa Monica Blvd located in Los Angeles (Forrest Flanders | The Corsair)

Illustration by Katheryne Menendez

NEWS

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Changing the Face of War Gavin Quinton | Managing Editor On March 5, in a Saturday address sent out on his official Telegram channel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the nation had "withstood the blow" of the Russian advance. He once again called for citizens to take up arms and push back against Russian forces.

Meanwhile, private citizens in the U.S. and Poland are organizing the strategic supply of combat gear and medical supplies for the Ukrainian resistance. A retired Air Force Colonel, experienced in national security affairs and supply line logistics, is aiding with the real-time coordination of these supplies. He has also arranged the successful evacuation of vulnerable civilians from the region. Colonel Jim, who has asked to keep his last name anonymous for his own safety, described the

evolving war effort.

“Because of things like social media and other platforms, we're able to communicate, we're able to coordinate, we're able to synchronize things that could never happen before,” Colonel Jim said. Using encrypted messaging and the fast transaction speed of cryptocurrency, the Colonel said he was able to coordinate a deal for 2,000 pieces of armor to be sent to Ukraine in less than five minutes, and he “was able to coordinate funding just as fast.”

Colonel Jim sent out the materials in a partnership with a supplier called Zavod. In an open letter sent on March 7, Zavod urged for the private supply of body armor, tactical helmets and medical kits to a Ukrainian civilian militia called The Teroborona, which translates to civil defense.

Zavod directly addressed its network of veterans, ex-police officers,

special ops forces and enthusiasts.

“Please do your part in defending democracy and liberating Ukraine from this unprecedented aggression,” they wrote in the letter.

Citizens throughout Ukraine are contributing to the war effort in search and rescue, dispersal of humanitarian supplies and in combat, AP reported.

One Ukrainian, Xena Solo, provides real-time information via her live TikTok stream, a practice which Colonel Jim says is a revolutionary advancement.

“Everybody becomes a potential sensor or an intelligence asset,” he said.

“Getting raw, real intelligence from any person on the planet that's holding a cell phone that can record a geocached video changes the whole face of war.”

Though civilian casualties are common, and the Russian military is having some success in the southern regions of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Army and its

citizens are putting forth an effective resistance according to AP. “They're creating asymmetric weapons like catapults to fire Molotov cocktails. They’re being very creative and really taking the fight to the Russians,” Colonel Jim said. “And it's everyday people. From offices, from bakeries, you name it. It's just people defending the homeland.”

Colonel Jim explained the advantage of providing resources directly to the Teroborona militias. They, in turn, do not need to request supplies from the government that are otherwise intended for the Army. The civilian militias can continue to supply themselves, and be impactful, without becoming a burden to the army which is trying to fight the bigger war.

SMC Campus Copes with COVID-19

Social distancing and other COVID-19 restriction explanations remain posted in the hallway of Santa Monica College's Bundy Campus in Los Angeles on Feb 22. (Marc Federici | The Corsair)

Sydney Adams-Smith | Staff Writer Dylan Smith | Staff Writer On March 13, 2020, COVID-19 prompted the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to close down the schools. Due to the pandemic, schools such as Santa Monica College (SMC) adapted to remote learning

in 2020-21.

According to the CDC, as of March 8, 65.1 percent of the United States population is fully vaccinated which includes 75.1 percent of Americans 18 years of age or older. On Feb. 7, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California will be lifting the mask mandate.

Following this, L.A. County chose to lift their own indoor mask mandate on March 4.

Following this announcement, on March 12, Newson declared that he will end the mask mandate for schools in California. Prior to that recent change, SMC had already begun to resume its on-ground courses, although in limited capacity. According to the school’s Public Information Officer Grace Smith, 15 percent of students returned to on-ground classes in the Fall 2021 semester. Those on campus over that period were required to wear masks indoors, and send proof of their vaccination to the school’s health center, “I was super excited when I first heard that SMC was allowing onground classes, so I was really happy when I was able to enroll,” SMC sophomore Emily Sabinas said.

To guarantee the safety of both students and staff members, SMC requires all on-ground personnel to adhere to three main protocols to attend classes on campus. "The three big things are washing your hands, social distancing and masking," said SMC Police Department Chief Johnnie Adams.

Sabinas thought that the school’s public health protocols were adequate.

“I actually think the school's requirements to regulate Covid is pretty good," said Sabinas. She believes that if SMC enforces masks and vaccination requirements, cases in the area will continue to decrease.

SMC sophomore Anna Arutyunyan had a different opinion when it came to SMC’s regulations for students on campus. “I mean, requirements are ok, but it’s weird for me if there will no longer be a mandate in L.A. County to wear masks," she said.

Over the semesters of online learning, Sabinas has become familiar with its remote infrastructure. “The only fear I had was wondering if I was going to fail my classes because it’s not online anymore. Everything will have to be in person like the exams and the quizzes and the speeches,” she said.

After almost a year and a half of virtual learning, it became difficult for Sabinas to get situated in a classroom setting.

As more students begin to enroll on-ground, SMC is scheduling more activities on campus. “We are now planning a college transfer fair on the twenty eighth," said Chief Adams.

Chief Adams shared that representatives from over 200 colleges will attend the fair on March 28, and SMC will enforce strict masking guidelines.

According to Chief Adams, SMC "plans to have a discussion" on moving forward with the school’s COVID-19 mask mandate. The school has implemented new public health measures for the Spring 2022 semester, requiring all students to submit proof that they received a COVID-19 booster vaccination.

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Angelenos Take to the Streets for Uk

Above, a woman crossing the street yells to lead others surrounding her in a Ukrainian chant at the Rally for Ukraine in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Feb. 26. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Leo Gilad | Staff Writer

"Russia is trying to destroy Ukranians as a nation, as an ethnic group...These days I don't cry, no, I have no tears. Now my anger is burning like an awakened volcano..."

Maryna Volk

Above, Ukrainian Ivanna Huz holds a on Tuesday, Feb 22 in Los Angeles. (K

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kraine

a sign in front of the Federal Building Karen Vartanian | The Corsair)

“Half of my friends are Russian, half of them are Ukrainian. And everyone stands against the war.”

Maria Y. Above, Liisa Jokinen holds up two feathers in Los Angeles on Feb. 26. Visiting Los Angeles from Finland, she found these feathers while looking for blue and yellow things she could use to show her support for Ukraine. She fears that if Russia is successful in this war, they might move forward to the Baltic States, and Finland. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

To the left, Anna Shvygar (right), has family in Ukraine that she says “are not sleeping all night. Shaking, hearing the missiles and airplanes flying over their houses, and not knowing what to say to their kids.” Liza Svietna (left) said, “I have been shaking for 30 hours now. I haven’t gotten any sleep, and I don’t want to. I am afraid of waking up and receiving other messages that I don’t want to see.” Rally for Ukraine, Ventura Boulevard in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Feb. 24. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

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March 9, 2022

Watching War on Social Media Andrea Marcy | Design Editor On Feb. 24, Russia began to invade Ukraine. All major news outlets have devoted ample coverage to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has developed into a story that has reached all corners of the world through social media platforms. A Pew Research Center survey in 2020 found that 48 percent of U.S adults ages 18 to 29 often receive their news from social media. Of the students interviewed at Santa Monica College (SMC), most had online platforms where they followed news outlets.

Aaron Kim, a SMC student, has noticed an increase in his daily screen time since the invasion of Ukraine. Kim found that the news of a big country such as Russia carrying out an invasion was impossible to escape online. “If you're playing video games, someone will be talking about it on a voice chat,” he said. “It is everywhere you go.”

Another student from SMC, Evelyn Gomez, found that her screen time has gone down since the invasion of Ukraine. “I prefer not to see all the news that pops up, because it is sad to see how people are harming others,” she

said.

Julia Doogan advised other students who felt overwhelmed with news to, "get off of social media." She believes that social media is a powerful tool to inform the public but should be taken in moderation. “Once I have the information that I need I kind of try to take a step back a little bit,” she said.

When asked how war news on social media impacted her mental health, student Asli Finci shared that she’s been feeling overwhelmed. She even had a nightmare that she had to go to war with her family. “I feel so bad for everyone going through this,” she said.

The students interviewed all felt anxiety seeing the news surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine all over social media.

Dr. Steph Anderson, a professor of psychology at SMC, commented on the toll of news on social media. “The more we mindlessly scroll, the greater the negative effects on our mental health,” she said. “Taking action is often a very useful way to combat feelings of helplessness that we can experience with such devastating news.”

Most SMC students were not aware

David Belman (left) and Saba Asgari (right) at the Santa Monica College main campus awaiting classes by passing time on their phones. (Andrea Marcy | The Corsair)

of any on-campus resources. Only one interviewee, Gabriel Lodato, knew that those enrolled at SMC could seek help from the Center of Wellness and Wellbeing. “When I was in my second year here at SMC, I took advantage of that resource. They have psychologists and counselors you can talk to, and if your professor is friendly then talk to them,’ Lodato said.

The Center of Wellness and Wellbeing provides mental health services for students at SMC. If long-term services are needed appropriate referrals can be made. You can email them at cww@ smc.edu or leave a voicemail at 310434-4503. Visit the Center for Wellness and Wellbeing Website online through SMC’s official page.

Frozen Food for Thought Zipporah Pruitt | Staff Writer

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attooed Chef is a new line of frozen meals all consisting of plant based foods served as ready made frozen meals available to purchase at various grocery stores. The company aims to help busy people have access to eating healthy and affordable meal options to conveniently incorporate a plant based diet in their lifestyles.

Tattooed Chef is founded by Sarah Galletti, who serves as the Creative Director of the brand. Galletti’s goal is to revolutionize the frozen food industry by offering frozen plant based meals and snacks as healthier alternatives to meat, butter and carbs.

Ms. Galletti was inspired to launch Tattooed Chef after reflecting on her time in Italy while employed as a pizza and pastry chef at several eateries as she discusses on the company’s website. “I connected with my Italian roots and started working at a pasticceria, making pizza. Throughout my travels, I was surrounded by amazing, creative people and experienced such camaraderie. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be in the culinary world,” Galletti said.

She later realized that there was an insufficient amount of high-quality plant based choices available in the U.S. and she dreamt about what came out to become Tattooed Chef. Galletti partnered with Ittela Parent in 2014 to curate Tattooed Chef, in order to successfully achieve her goal of providing consumers with fresh, healthy, and tasty plant based meals alongside other additional food products that focus on being “better for the planet.”

On Nov. 30, 2021, Tattooed Chef announced that Illustration by Naomi Ruiz Gaspare “Gasper” Guarrasi, former Director of Operations, was appointed as the brand’s new Chief Operating Officer. Guarrasi’s role of COO will involve being responsible for the company’s global operations and production. In a

press release statement. Sam Galletti, who is the President and CEO of Tattooed Chef, said, “I am very pleased to promote Gasper to Chief Operating Officer. During his time at Tattooed Chef, Gasper has proven to be a seasoned leader with a deep understanding of our business and the inherent complexities of scaling and operating a high growth business.”

Mr. Guarrsi joined Tattooed Chef in August 2021 and has extensive experience and knowledge of working in operations, manufacturing and supply chain management.

Tattooed Chef utilizes sustainably sourced ingredients to produce quality and delicious plant based meal selections. “Our approach is hands-on and allows us to be more conscientious of what goes into our food and how it’s

being processed,” the company said on their website.

Tattooed Chef’s current lineup meals of instant meals consist of mainly classic meals that usually aren’t cooked as plant based, such as cauliflower burgers, cauliflower crust cheese pizza, enchilada bowl with riced cauliflower, cauliflower mac and cheese bowl, and more. Also including fruit dishes such as bowls and raspberry kombucha.

Many Americans struggle with finding healthy and affordable food options, and search for options that aren’t costly, harder to access, or time consuming to make. Tattooed Chef understands consumers' needs and researches what foods and meals people love to eat, and they plan to add new meals to their roster soon.

Recently Tattooed Chef was featured in Pop Punk artist Machine Gun Kelly's music video for his latest single, ''Emo Girl'' featuring WILLOW. In the video, Machine Gun Kelly is seen holding a box and eating a slice of the brand's Plant Based Pepperoni Pizza.

Tattooed Chef meals are available wherever frozen meals are sold, with specific locations listed on their website, tattooedchef.com

A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T

March 9, 2022

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The Prouds are Proud to be Back Aaron Schuchman | Design Editor Feb. 23 was a special day for many Proud Family fans as “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” premiered on Disney+.

Louder and Prouder is a revival of its original predecessor “The Proud Family'', which aired on Disney Channel from 2001 to 2005 and concluded with “The Proud Family Movie”. Since returning, Louder and Prouder has seen many changes from its 17-year absence, including the introduction of social media, modern technology and LGBTQ+ topics.

Redelia Shaw, an SMC Professor in the Communication and Media Studies Department, had many positive things to say about the revival’s launch.

When asked why she was into Louder and Prouder, Shaw said “diverse casting

and their experiences, as well as people of color in animated storytelling, given that there isn’t too much of that in cartoons” was a big reason why.

Shaw also felt that she could relate to certain characters on the show, such as the mother Trudy Proud, and grandmother Suga Mama, as these are characters that “have a backbone, are sturdy, and come off as hardworking and as strong women.” These personalities were a huge factor in Suga Mama being her favorite character, as Shaw had described Suga Mama being someone who is “powerful and strong but also puts her foot down when necessary.”

Shaw found this strong feminine personality to be different from other characters such as Oscar Proud, who is Trudy’s Husband, Suga Mama’s son and the father for the main character, Penny Proud.

Not only has Louder and Prouder impacted SMC Faculty, but students have also had a chance to share their input on it. Kerrington Dillon, a SMC Media Communications Major, grew up watching the original sitcom, where she could relate to the main character Penny Proud.

“Penny Proud is my favorite character because I’ve seen her grow up since the original,” said Dillion. “To now see her grow into a teenager shows that she’s more understanding than before.”

To Dillion, seeing the show return after a long absence “shows how much of an influence it has with a fun cartoon feel.”

Dillon also went on to talk about some of the strengths and weaknesses from what she’s seen of the show, including what the revival did well. “I think that this show can relate to me through the everyday experiences that

one encounters, and this revival does a good job of implementing real world scenarios that are not so serious,” said Dillion.

Many fans that remember the original theme song may recognize that the theme song in the revival is slightly different, which Dillion saw as a weakness. “[The] change of the theme song is a slower version and doesn’t really go with the intro,” she said.

No matter what one may think about “The Proud Family'', one thing can be agreed on by many fans, which is that Louder and Prouder has seen many changes since its predecessor and those changes are of great value to many of its fans and viewers.

Swamp Dogg Needs a Job Leo Gilad | Staff Writer

It's not often that a singer releases something groundbreaking and eccentric out of their prime, let alone in their 70s. Swamp Dogg, however, is an exception to the rule, creating an album that takes soul tropes and revitalizes them with auto-tune. The result is "I Need a Job... So I Can Buy More Auto-Tune," an album that'll make a listener question the boundaries of soul music.

On title track “I Need a Job…,” Williams takes a traditional approach to songwriting in soul, penning tracks that cover common tropes in the genre—sex, adultery, love, and friendship. The eccentricities of Williams’ voice already make the album a unique ride. Williams' vocals on “Cheating in the Daylight” conjure up harrowing psychological imagery that sticks out as particularly special. He writes “You're watching your rearview mirror, checking left and right from both sides."

On the track “She Got That Fire,” Williams expresses an almost religious love for a woman. “You know she can walk on water,” he sings.

“Ooh, she got that fire.” He later goes on to call her “an angel on Earth.” The sanctified imagery is dense here, as Williams uses heavily religious themes.

Another highlight on the record is “Darlin’ Darlin’ Darlin’,” a song about Williams shedding his adulterous ways and becoming a committed man to his one and only beau. It has a tongue-in-cheek style to it, further illustrating Williams’ playful approach to songwriting. The autotune is unrelenting in the mix. The song includes whimsical harmonicas, making it sound country-esque.

The autotune is even more in-

tense in the following track, “FullTime Woman.” Williams goes fullcroon here, and evokes either deep pain or deep ecstasy. Either way, the vocals are intense, made only more potent by the digital wobble of the autotune.

The album sometimes falls flat with its lack of consistency. The autotune gimmick, while sonically interesting, isn’t strong enough to carry the entire

record on its back.

The real strength is in the instrumental compositions, and when those break down, the songs do as well. Williams’ voice is full of character, but his lyricism on the album isn’t quite enough to leave the strongest impression. Ultimately, the album's biggest weakness is inconsistency.

Illustration by Katheryne Menendez

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OPINION

March 9, 2022

Language as a Weapon Juliette Marquis | Multimedia Editor

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was born and spent the majority of my childhood in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. Lined with giant boulevards, monuments, cathedrals, and parks stitched together by cobblestone streets, the 1,500-year-old city is known as the cradle of Eastern Europe.

The city of Kyiv, the place of my birth, is now under siege by Russian missiles. What led to this warfare? History shows that Russia has used the presence of the Russian language in Ukraine as a pretext for bloodshed.

In the era of the Soviet Union, all fifteen Soviet Republics spoke one tongue, Russian. Russian was my own birth language and the only one I speak from my native country. Although each territory had its own ethnic language, the goal of the communist party was to whitewash all ethnicities by making them all Soviet people. Russian was exclusively used in schools, courts, businesses, and every form of media.

Furthermore, the Soviet Union’s absolutist approach to Russification created a culture of rebellion within its republic, who wanted to hold onto their own unique heritage.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, there was a need for Ukraine to reclaim its national identity. The country abruptly switched to Ukrainian as its official language, enshrined officially in the 1996 Ukrainian constitution, making the Russian community within Ukraine a minority overnight.

Born in the capital of my country, I find myself on the outside by not being able to speak Ukrainian. It appears that language has now been tied to identity as those that chose to speak either Russian or Ukrainian are choosing a political side.

To address the competition between the two languages, in Aug. 2012, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, passed a new law on language policy, the Brookings Institute reported.

The law stated that if 10% of a population’s native tongue is a minority language, notably Russian, it will be made the official language of that region. The Brookings Institute noted that 24% of Ukrainians, mostly living in the east and south of the country, reported Russian as their native language, splitting the country along linguistic lines.

Up until this point, all decisions in regards to culture and national identity were carried out through the constitutional system. Russia was able to influence Ukraine’s leaders in what served the Russian Federation best.

That all changed on Nov. 20, 2013, when tens of thousands of Ukrainians protested against Yanukovych's refusal

to sign a long-negotiated trade agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. The decision revealed that Yanukovych was less concerned with the best future for Ukraine and more of a puppet to the Russian Federation. The demonstrations devolved into deadly violence as Yanukovych’s police force tried to extinguish them.

After three months of fighting, the Maidan movement, which later came to be known as the Revolution of Dignity,

himself as the protector of the Russian-speaking population, Putin overtook Crimea, Ukraine’s southern peninsula on March 18, 2014. Appearing on his state television that evening, Putin stated that, in 1991, ”millions of people went to bed in one country and awoke in different ones, overnight becoming ethnic minorities in former Union republics, while the Russian nation became one of the biggest, if not the biggest ethnic group in the world to be

Starting Feb. 25, Nataly Tzaganok, along with his wife and two children shelter in the basement of their Kyiv apartment building for 11 days while Russian missiles are heard overhead. March 7, the family evacuated to poland. Photograph submitted by Nataly Tzaganok.

ousted the Ukrainian parliament Yanukovych from his presidential position on Feb. 22, 2014 with new elections set for May of that year.

The Revolution of Dignity marked a turning point for Russia to take ownership of the vulnerability in the foundation of Ukraine’s identity. Positioning

divided by borders.”

Crimea is part of the Russian Federation to this day. At the core of their membership is their Russian-speaking majority, a weak link Putin exploited to expand Russia’s Empire.

Less than a month later, in April 2014, Russia-backed separatist rebels

seized government buildings in the majority Russian-speaking Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Proclaiming the region as a “people’s republic,” the separatists voted to become independent from Ukraine and part of Russia.

Without accepting the separatist’s motion, Putin instead supplied weapons and ground support to the majority Russian-speaking Donbas region with what came to be known as “little green men.” These soldiers were not Ukrainians, but they refused to openly identify as Russians, giving Putin plausible deniability that they were acting on behalf of Russia.

On April 24, 2019, Putin signed a decree simplifying procedures for the Russian-speaking residents of the eastern districts of Ukraine to obtain Russian citizenship, which had by this point been embroiled in a six-year Russian-backed military conflict. The decree stated that Russia had “humanitarian goals'' of preserving the “rights and freedoms of a person and citizen.”

In a statement by the E.U. leadership, member states declared that Russian passports issued to Ukrainians in Russia-occupied Donbas would not be recognized as they were viewed as “an attack on Ukrainian sovereignty.”

Over the next two years, Russia's Interior Ministry said that more than 527,000 Russian-speaking people from Eastern Ukraine have been granted Russian citizenship. All these historical flashpoints set the stage for the war in Ukraine today.

On Thursday, Feb. 23, Putin delivered a speech on Russian state television officially recognizing the separatist claims of the Donbas region. Citing the need to protect his country’s new citizens, who are all Russian speakers, living in Ukraine. Putin invaded the country with brute force. Sending missiles across the entire region, Putin warned that outside countries should not interfere in the armed assault or risk “consequences you have never seen in history.”

Relegated to just helplessly watch these events unfold from the safety of my Los Angeles home makes me feel ashamed that things were allowed to get this far.

Dismantling a nation’s language, that identity which often unifies a society, bankrupts a nation’s culture and erodes its sense of self determination.

Witnessing Ukraine’s tragic circumstance reminds me just how fragile stability and integrity is of the places we call home. How in the face of brutality, sometimes the only thing left to do is speak up.

March 9, 2022

SPORTS

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Men's Volleyball Team Victorious In Matchup Against Moorpark Celso Robles | Sports Editor

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n Friday, March 4, the Santa Monica College (SMC) Men's Volleyball team defeated the Moorpark College Raiders in The Pavilion located on SMC's main campus. In an intense and thrilling matchup with their inner-conference rival, the Corsairs won 3-1, marking their first home-game win of the season. The recent victory improves the Corsairs' overall record to 3-4.

Friday evening's game had about 50-60 fans in attendance, including member's of SMC's Women's Volleyball team. A handful of the women's team were present to support the men and loudly cheer them on, including Libero Halle Anderson and Defensive Specialist Emily Blower. The two freshmen are majoring in Kinesiology and Psychology respectively. In a pre-game interview, Anderson and Blower shared why attending the game was important to them, as well as their thoughts on the size of the crowd that showed up on

Friday.

"We want to support the [men's] team so then they'll support us too." said Blower.

"We want a good volleyball community at our school," said Anderson.

"They have a lot of people that show up and that are supportive which is really nice."

The loud cheers and energy provided by the home crowd, initiated by Anderson, Blower, and other members of the women's volleyball team, were a key contribution towards SMC's victory, as every Moorpark serve attempt was preceded by loud banging, stomping, and thuds from the bleachers. Each point that SMC scored was met with overwhelming applause. Anderson and Blower encourage students and fans to reciprocate the same support and energy for future women's volleyball games.

SMC won Friday's matchup's first two sets handily with respective scores of 25-19 and 25-20. After losing the third set 15-25, the Corsairs managed Santa Monica College Corsairs Freshman Grant Hall (16) prepares to spike the ball as his teammate, Sophomore Elijah Chambers (19), watches during the game against the Moorpark College Raiders in The Pavilion in Santa Monica, Calif. on March 4. (Ryan Martinez | The Corsair)

to stay composed and won the fourth and final set with a score of 25-23, solidifying their win in nail-biting fashion.

After the game, Liran Zamir, Head Coach of the Corsair Men's Volleyball team, spoke on what the first home victory of the season meant to him and his players.

"It feels amazing," said Zamir. "I feel very happy right now."

Zamir also discussed the incredible effect that the crowd had on Friday's game. In addition, he commended the

Santa Monica College student athletes Sophia Laurence, January Nava, and Kenzie Wolff cheering on the mens' volleyball team during the game against Moorpark College. (Ryan Martinez | The Corsair)

members of the women's volleyball team in attendance for their support.

"The women's volley team, they always always come and it's really great to have their support," said Zamir. "The crowd did a fantastic job."

The next men's volleyball match will take place on Wednesday, March 9 in The Pavilion at 6 p.m., as the Corsairs are scheduled to take on another one of their inner-conference rivals, the Antelope Valley College Marauders.

Santa Monica College Corsairs Head Coach Liran Zamir guiding the players during a timeout huddle in the game against the Moorpark College Raiders in The Pavilion in Santa Monica, Calif. on March 4. (Ryan Martinez | The Corsair)