The Corsair - Issue 2 (Fall 2021) by Santa Monica College

CONTENT

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

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

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

WEBSITE www.thecorsaironline.com

Illustration by Carolyn Burt

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR When I joined The Corsair as a Staff Writer, I never thought that I would be sitting here, writing to you, talking about the years past, and making the decisions of an Editor. It goes to show that life, while it can look bleak, takes twists and turns that no one could foresee. With the first day of fall behind us and October breezing in, the concept of this week’s PDF came to me in the middle of the night. Friday Night Rights is on the forefront of my mind this week. How can I implement them? Bring them to light? The picturesque Friday Night Lights have suddenly turned into Friday Night Rights — so much more than a simple Autumn football game, that makes you reminiscent of the “before times”. The fall semester for SMC is partially on ground, with classes still being held primarily over Zoom and on Canvas. Watching these students spend most of their days fighting Zoom fatigue made me realize how the editors of The Corsair are lucky, as we get to be in the newsroom on production days. The “new normal” that COVID has brought has certainly taken away the usual excitement that Back to School brings. Pre-COVID we didn’t have to do the three pocket ‘Keys… Wallet… Mask’ check before leaving the house. And to make things even more complicated, heated debates have erupted all over the U.S. about women’s abortion rights. California is in the midst of a housing crisis, and 38 million Americans are wondering where to find their next meal. As a woman in this world, direct access to healthcare, and having a choice when it comes to my own body should be a basic right. As a human, food should be the same. We shouldn’t have to endure the fear and insecurity that COVID has brought on us all. Yet — I still have hope for the U.S. For women’s rights, and for the new administration to provide care for the masses. So we still have to do the three pocket check, and masks have to be worn at all times. I am present enough to recognize that being in the newsroom is a gift that I never thought would be possible, even with the world’s problems swirling through my head. I don’t always have the perfect words, and tend to make mistakes here and there, (Me? Mistake? The Editor?) The days that I spend at the CMD building are bustling with life and excitement for the future. Being in this room laying out the stories and photos that will be gracing your screens is like no other for me. The Corsair newsroom is electric when we’re all in it as a team. We are dynamic and rich in witty conversation and spirited debate, and I believe that much of this country is the same. When we come together as a team, the rights that we all hope for seem tangible. I can’t truly speak for the entire country, but I can recognize what I would want it to look like. My goal as a leader is to be efficient and transparent in all that I do, and shine light on the topics that truly deserve it.

FRONT COVER A student walks down the parking garage stairs at Santa Monica College on Sept. 16, 2021. Neil O'Loughlin | The Corsair Editor-In-Chief Ashley Cox

SEPT. 29, 2021

NEWS

CMD Campus a Food Desert Once Again Roxana Blacksea | Staff Writer

s Santa Monica College (SMC) resumed on-ground classes, students at the Center for Media and Design (CMD) have returned to find that the popular EveryTable fridges, which boasted healthy food options at affordable prices, have been removed. According to Santa Monica College’s Vice President of Business and Administration, Chris Bonvenuto, "As of now, EveryTable has declined to provide the refrigerators with so few people to use it." "The District is continuing to look for solutions that provide affordable food options. However, to date, we have been unsuccessful because of the small number of people, students, staff and faculty presently at CMD." Bonvenuto said. Santa Monica College Foundation President and SMC Dean of Institutional Advancement, Lizzy Moore, spoke to The Corsair about the EveryTable Partnership at CMD. “The campus Center for Media and Design is really what one might call a ‘food desert.’ There is no place to walk to for anyone to grab something to eat,” Moore said. Moore further explained that the food trucks serving students at CMD are expensive, whereas EveryTable offered "A snack for two dollars, a meal for five dollars and just very affordable healthy choices." At least one food truck serving CMD students lists entrees on their menu for no less than $13 and as high as $19. In order to address the scarcity of affordable food at CMD, the Santa Monica College Foundation designated a space at the CMD campus and enlisted the help of SMC students to design a lounge. EveryTable partnered with the Santa Monica College Foundation to provide snacks and meals for students, ranging $2.00 to $5.00 dollars, via the lounge, and opened on February 25th 2020. “Then covid hit. And everything got shut down," Moore said. The partnership between EveryTable and the SMC Foundation has been ongoing in order to provide free meals for food insecure students via the Project EveryTable meal service, which is a part of SMC Foundation's Meal Project program. "It's important for students to know that if they are in need of assistance for food security that there are many programs and services that are available right now to support them," Moore said. Students facing food insecurity are encouraged to get in touch with the Santa Monica College Foundation Meal Project/ EveryTable via email at foodsecurity@ smc.edu. Students can visit Pop-Up food pantry Bodega every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cayton Center Complex.

Jon Putman | The Corsair The Santa Monica College Cafeteria, located on the main campus in Santa Monica, Calif., remains closed to students on September 16, 2021. Though the campus has opened up to those students who have been vaccinated, some areas remain closed, like the cafeteria, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Marc Federici | The Corsair Chairs within the Santa Monica College Center for Media and Design C-building lie empty and folded up onto tables in Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. While some in-person class meetings have resumed across all of Santa Monica College, some areas of the satellite campuses remain largely desolate.

P H OTO S TO R Y

Samantha Chinchilla, a Santa Monica College student, works on her computer on campus after SMC re-opens its doors for vaccinated students for the Fall Semester on September 2, 2021, in Santa Monica, Calif.

Jon Putman | The Corsair Santa Monica College fashion students coordinate and assemble their designs as classes resume on September 2, 2021 in Santa Monica, Calif. For the fall semester SMC lets students return to on campus learning, as long as students provide proof of vaccination before the semester begins.

Campus Reopens After COVID Maxim Elramsisy | Photo Editor

fter eighteen months, students were welcomed back to Santa Monica College on August 31, 2021. In the time since students last inhabited the campus, classrooms and public spaces have been fitted with plastic shields and sanitizer dispensers. Vaccine-checkers sit as gatekeepers to the library and notices of mask-wearing and social distancing etiquette welcome students and staff at every entrance. Though only 10% of the course catalogue was offered on-ground, vaccines

were mandated for students after many had already registered, forcing some classes to be canceled for lack of enrollment. Still, on-campus activities resuming is a sight for sore eyes. Fashion students measuring mannequins, music students calling and responding, and athletes taking to the field — the college once again offers in-person campus experiences that could not be replicated online. Yet, many are opting for online classes, leaving campus bare, but not empty — a shell of what it once was.

SEPT. 29, 2021

P H OTO S TO R Y

SEPT. 29, 2021

Jon Putman | The Corsair

A Santa Monica College student purchases books and supplies from the campus bookstore on September 2, 2021, in Santa Monica, Calif.

Neil O'Loughlin | The Corsair Santa Monica College students (L-R) Adama Camara who is studying Psychology, Yoona Kim who is studying Nursing, Esperanza Luna who is studying Wildlife conservation, and Emily Aguilar Sanchez who is studying interior architectural design, working a booth to answer students' questions.

Santa Monica College students Tiril Norberg and Abhimanyu Singh(L-R), have a socially distanced conversation between classes just outside of the Humanities and Social Science Building on the main campus on September 2, 2021. Neil O'Loughlin | The Corsair

A R TS & C U LT U R E

SEPT. 29, 2021

Safe Space for LGBTQIA+ Students Leonard Richardson-King | Culture Editor Gavin Quinton | News Editor

or the LGBTQ+ community, homophobia, transphobia and queer-phobia can often be a cause of distress. Santa Monica College's Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), now in its 12th year, provides a safe haven and resources for LGBTQ+ students. “I believe that everyone, specifically marginalized groups, should have a safe place where they can talk to one another with people who have similar experiences. A place where we can have solidarity for one another and fight for one another. A no-judgment zone where we can listen to each other is very important,” said Zhena Omojola, GSA Vice President. GSA meetings vary in content including topic-based discussions around intersectionality, expert-led workshops, activism, community building, social gatherings and games. Despite the abrupt transition to online meetings last year, the club has remained successful, according to Dr. Yamisette Westerband, GSA faculty advisor and SMC professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and LGBTQ+ Studies. “Very quickly they [GSA] got organized and publicized the meetings and got pretty good turnout. I was impressed by how resilient they were,” said Dr. Westerband. Although some students may find it challenging to meet because of compromising environments at home, for example, others can still join and participate off-camera for their comfort. When asked about how the club has improved her time at SMC, GSA President

Ethan Lauren | The Corsair Yamissette Westerband, a women’s studies professor at Santa Monica College speaks on her experience on the LGBTQ+ community in academia during the school’s Pride Week on Wednesday, May 16 in Santa Monica, California.

Catherine Lee said, “GSA has opened up a number of avenues for me including leadership experience as a board member, activism via close collaboration with SMC’s Student Equity Center: Pride Center, embodying my journey of discovery with identity, and forming new relationships

with some of the kindest, brightest, and epic people I have ever met. The SMC Pride Center is run by Dr. Westerband alongside her co-advisor and Pride Center Lead, Dr. Steph Anderson, Assistant Professor of Psychology. The center is a platform for political activism

and provides services for LGBTQ+ students including scholarships, counseling, therapy, social services, housing and legal assistance, and more. Dr. Westerband hopes to see further development of the center and encourages conversations on gender and sexuality amongst faculty. She advocates for more open, informative approaches to providing access to LGBTQ+ resources and safe spaces, the Student Equity Center and gender studies courses. SMC is taking measures to provide resources for its LGBTQ+ population. There are currently two all-gender restrooms with discussions around adding more. Additionally, SMC students are able to update their name and gender on school documents and class rosters. This especially benefits people of trans experience and gender-nonconforming students who may be misgendered or called by their former name, colloquially known as “dead-naming.” When asked about the GSA’s plans for the year ahead, Omojola said “hopefully [working] on some volunteer opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth.” These plans include a number of projects such as Safe Zone Initiative training and CCC LGBTQ+ Summit conferences. Omojola goes on to say “I am very interested in speaking to my fellow board members about new ways we can get students involved as well.” Students can get involved with the GSA by emailing smcgendersexualityalliance@gmail.com and joining the meetings every Thursday at 11:15 a.m.

Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi, Box Office Hero

Josh Hogan | Staff Writer

“

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” is not only an epic Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installment, it is also a historical box office hit. North American movie theatres are trying to recover from revenue losses due to COVID-19 shutdowns and restric-

tions. On Labor Day weekend, Disney and Marvel Studios launched the theatrical-only release of their first live action feature to star an Asian superhero as the lead. The result was a record-breaking $94.6 million opening weekend. According to Forbes.com, the film then brought in $38.5 million during its second weekend, making it the third biggest second-weekend box office earner for a September release. In July 2021, Disney and Marvel Studios had another big opening weekend with “Black Widow,” earning $80 million at U.S. box offices. Disney simultaneously released the film on their Disney+ service, allowing subscribers to stream the film for an additional $30 charge, rather than going to a movie theatre. Those streaming fees earned “Black Widow'' an additional $60 million during its opening weekend, but the film’s earnings drastically crashed by 69 percent the second weekend. Theatre owners and “Black Widow”

lead actress, Scarlett Johansson, blamed Disney for the huge loss in box office earnings. According to Johannsson's attorneys, Disney's choice to begin streaming the film on the theatrical release date not only bypassed the theatrical-only release agreement that Marvel Studios made with Johansson, but also provided audiences with the option to view the film repeatedly for a one time fee, rather than adding to box office earnings. The “Black Widow” stream option on Disney+ brought additional subscribers to the service, but cut into Johansson’s earnings. Johansson is suing Disney for breach of contract. As a result, beginning with “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” MCU films will now be 45-day exclusive theatrical releases. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” is the 25th film in the MCU. It is part of the MCU’s Post-Infinity Saga Phase Four, along with 12 television series, a holiday special, and 11 big screen films, which include “Black Widow,” the

soon-to-be-released “Eternals,” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” “Shang-Chi” was a highly anticipated film as Disney and Marvel Studios’ first theatrical-only release since 2019. It’s the first MCU film to feature a predominantly Asian cast, with many A-list Asian actors in lead roles, including Awkwafina, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fala Chen. The film’s namesake superhero, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), is a young adult of Chinese descent keeping a low-profile in San Francisco until he must reconcile with his identity as a Kung-Fu master, his dark past, and his role in the legacy of an entire culture. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is currently in theatres only, and will begin streaming Oct. 17, on Disney+ . Now in its fourth week of release, ShangChi continues to be number one at the top box office and the top earner of 2021.

Illustration by Naomi Ruiz | The Corsair

SEPT. 29, 2021

O P INIO N

Can Governor Gavin Newsom Beat Housing Crisis Like He Beat the Recall? Sarah Nachimson | Arts & Entertainment Editor

n Sept. 14, 2021, Californians sent a message, they wanted Newsom to stay Governor for a full term. Now, he must back the constituents who let him keep his position and fix the state's housing crisis. California's eviction moratorium is set to expire on Sept. 30. This means thousands across the state who cannot afford their rent prices will face eviction and homelessness in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Santa Monica Daily Press reported that within Santa Monica alone, 1,806 households were unable to pay rent, and made use of $28.6 million in public rent relief funds. "This legislation is the single most

Maxim Elramsisy | The Corsair

important thing Newsom should do [to combat the housing crisis]," said Rohin Ghosh, a fair housing and tenants rights advocate from northern California. "There are a lot of tenants who are still waiting on rent relief to get to them." He believes that those tenants are very vulnerable to homelessness, and that an eviction moratorium is the safety net keeping a roof over their heads. Ghosh is correct when he says that funds will not reach housing insecure renters by the eviction moratorium expiration. According to a report directed to Gavin Newsom from state Auditor Elaine Howle, delays in federal processing raise doubts that the relief funds will reach tenants in time. Newsom's signing of California SB 8, 9, and 10 approved housing projects and

re-designated housing zones across the state. Those steps were important, but they won't nearly be enough. Still, the pro-housing legislation that Newsom approved during his first days since the recall election gives tenant advocates hope. The best way for Newsom to ensure his constituents' safety is by making statewide efforts to keep people housed. California has long struggled with overwhelming homelessness. Over the pandemic, the state saw that unhoused populations were 30% more likely to die from COVID-19. In Los Angeles that is 50% more likely to occur. Obviously, one way they can help the unhoused is by providing vaccinations and healthcare. However, the eviction moratorium is an integral step for both short and long term reassurance. It keeps financially

struggling Californians safe under their own roof. While Newsom beat the 2021 recall effort, the 2022 general gubernatorial election will put him back on the campaign trail for governor. Unlike in 2021, 2022 will pit him against other, highly qualified same-party challengers in a primary. Will Newsom show voters that he can help them avoid homelessness by taking important steps like extending the eviction moratorium? Or will he fail to rise to the same level of success in housing as his "vote no on the recall" campaign did? The answer is for him to show, and for voters to decide when the June 7, 2022 primary and Nov. 8 general election comes.

S P O R TS

SEPT. 29, 2021

Ledwith Leads New Football Season Celso Robles | Sports Editor

ead Coach Kelly Ledwith, 37, has over 15 years of coaching experience under his belt, but the Corsair footballteam is the first team he's served as a head coach. Ledwith has worked with his staff over the last year to turn the possibility of competing in this year’s fall season into reality, as there was no fall season in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While players on the team hope to raise a championship banner in the Corsair Gym by the end of the season, Ledwith has emphasized how much of a joy it has been simply to see the team play. “We were gone for so long that every day on the field is a good day,” said Ledwith. “Even if we’re not making the strides that we wanted to, we’ve made more strides than [we] made last year.” Ledwith grew up in San Jose, Calif. and played various sports up until after high school. Opportunities to play football at local community colleges were present but he decided to attend Fresno State and join the coaching staff as a student-assistant in 2002. This would mark the start of his coaching career. Ledwith's time at Santa Monica began in spring 2017, two years after his five-year run at Western State Colorado University as defensive coordinator. He joined SMC’s coaching staff as a parttime defensive coordinator after seeing a posting for the position online. Ledwith describes his road to becoming the head coach as tricky. He was named interim-head coach during the third week of the fall 2017 season after SMC decided to let go of the previous head coach. Ledwith would remain the interim-head coach through

Jon Putman | The Corsair Santa Monica College Corsairs Kelly Ledwith, the Head Coach, gives a post game interview with corsair staff on September 18, 2021 at Santa Monica College located in Santa Monica Calif.

fall 2018. During this time, he applied to be a full-time faculty instructor and head coach and was officially hired in February 2019. Although the prospect of playing an entire season this fall is thrilling, Ledwith’s goal for the team is for them to get better each day and to take their season one week at a time. Ledwith

Grace Wexler | The Corsair Head Coach Kelly Ledwith of the SMC Corsairs looks out at his players, after a 43-22 loss to Pasadena City College, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, Santa Monica, Calif.

encourages all of SMC to show up on game days to support the program and its players this season. “If you get to know them, you can't help but root for them." said Ledwith when speaking about the players on his team. “My hope is that more people get to see some of these young men and get to meet some of them over time this se-

mester.” The team livestreams its games on twitch for those unable to attend. Their channel name is smccorsairfb. As of publication, SMC’s next game is against West LA College on Saturday Oct. 2 at the Corsair Field at 1 p.m. The rest of the team's schedule can be found on the Corsair Athletic webpage.

Grace Wexler | The Corsair Head Coach Kelly Ledwith of the Santa Monica College Corsairs, at a home game against the Pasadena City College Lancers, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, Santa Monica, Calif.