The Corsair Fall 2023 - Issue 2

CONTENT

News | pg. 4-7

Photo Story | pg. 8-9

Sports | pg. 10-13

Review Collumn | pg. 14

EDITORIAL STAFF

Victor Chambers | Editor-in-Chief

Conor Heeley | Managing Editor

Caylo Seals | Photo Editor

Mikey Duro | Lead Copy Editor

Renee Barlett-Webber | News Editor

Nicholas McCall | Sports Editor

Taylor Smith | Arts & Entertainment Editor

Bunker King | Arts & Entertainment Editor

Samayia Kirby | Culture Editor

Blake Harris | Opinion Editor

Amber Guerrero | Multimedia Editor

Desiree Ihde | Digital Editor

Danniel Sumarkho | Design Editor

Akemi Rico | Social Media Editor

CORSAIR STAFF

Nik Venet | Tracy Saysay | Cebelihle Hlatshwayo

| Lucas Weiss | Anais Mann | Danilo Perez | Nube

Gamer | Desiree Fabian | Callie Yiu | Marcela Ira-

heta | Andrew Kynaston | Webber Bartlett | Itaza

Towner | Jorge Devotto | Antoineé Jones | Sophia

Motameni | Maria Lebedev | Brooklyn Lassiter | Kai

Magalhaes | Fotue Mbiele | Justin Chia | Josephine

Fischer | Trevor Jackson | Ouka Toyoda | Josh Hogan | Rebecca Hogan | Julia Lentz

FACULTY ADVISORS

Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins | Journalism Adviser

Gerard Burkhart | Photo Adviser

Samantha Nuñez | Social Media Adviser

CONTACT

Editor-inChief | corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com

FRONT PAGE

Santa Monica College Corsair forward Philip Hephzibah (left) and midfielder Roey Kivity (right) hugging after Kivity scored a goal during their match against Norco College Mustangs on Sept. 12 at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

PAGE 2

Cathedral City High School dancer performing live at the East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Parade in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2023. (Akemi Rico | The Corsair)

After starting the fall semester at The Corsair with an issue focused on the larger events that took place while we were away, we are ready to bring it home. As an editor, I want to ensure our newspaper is one made by and for the SMC community. Therefore, we are happy to share some highlights about our already exciting sports season, an interview with the college’s president, Dr. Jeffery, and the reopening of the Corsair Gym.

As I enter my third and final year at SMC, I have become more reflective about my time at SMC. Endings are inevitably melancholic and they often help with putting life experiences into perspective. But, every starting point is also a finishing line. Mentoring firstyear students in the SMC Peer Navigator program constantly reminds me of that.

It never escapes me how beginnings often rest on the promise of a safe tomorrow. But how certain is that tomorrow, our future?

Students across the U.S. entering college are sure to face a few immediate challenges. The American education system hasn’t been updated to the 21st century. While an inextricable part of our everyday life, technology is still

What Am I Doing Here?

perceived as an annoyance rather than a tool on campuses around the country. And most college curriculums fail to reflect the rapid pace of transformation in contemporary society. In my experience, I have found them to be fundamentally Eurocentric and outdated.

At the individual level, our parents’ assurance of achieving financial security and stability through the pursuit of higher education is no longer true. In our time, whole industries could change in the period between choosing a major and graduating.

So much uncertainty might lead students to question their life decisions regularly. One can’t help but think, “What am I doing here?”

What am I doing here indebting myself for life to get a degree I might not use, while 24-year-olds can now become millionaires off of social media, if they’re telling me nature will collapse and the world will burn, and when I could be working and helping my parents?

The truth is, that whatever the question is, there is no one answer or path in life. The definitions of success and happiness are currently being entirely redefined by the new generations. All we can do is keep charging ahead, fearlessly.

After all, there is so much beauty to be found in one’s academic journey. When the power of knowledge is appropriately explored, the results can be transformative. We all have heard stories about teachers changing the course of their students’ lives. I have been lucky to have experienced what some version of that feels like.

From my years in middle school, I will always remember my history teacher Cleyse Arruda who made the subject come alive through animated reenactments of historical events, sparking an interest in the subject that has stayed with me to this day. More recently, I was deeply touched by meeting SMC Academic Counselor Patti Del Valle. Although it was her last week of work before retirement, she made sure to connect me with a department chairperson at Cal State LA.

I will certainly never forget sociology professor Amy Andrada, whose mentoring vastly expanded my understanding of the Latino community in the U.S. She once spent two hours discussing my research paper topic with me, suggesting documentaries and books that she thought I would enjoy. This experience helped me decide on the major and career path that I was struggling to find. I am now working towards transferring

to CSU Northridge, with a double major in Journalism and Chicano Studies. Whatever the answers one finds to the questions presented above, there is one thing that we can control. The decisions we make for ourselves. Our lives are no less than a reflection of the choices and actions we take. While the destination might remain unknown, one must have conviction in the direction they’re going. Hopefully, everything else will then, fall into place.

Victor Chambers Editor-in-Chief

Illustration by Victor Chambers

Santa Monica College (SMC) Superintendent/President Katheryn E. Jeffery poses for a picture in the SMC District Office in Santa Monica, Calif., on Friday. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

President Jeffery Approaches Hurdles with Optimism

In her office at 2714 Pico Blvd., Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery reflects on the last few years of hardships and accomplishments as she kicks off her eighth academic year at Santa Monica College. Students, staff, faculty, and administration return to onground classes for the first full semester since the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency amidst budgetary constraints. “This is an unprecedented time in the life of higher education – This is an unprecedented time in the world,” she said.

Jeffery has led three colleges as president and has been a counselor, administrator and leader. “I’ve been doing this for 50 years – I shouldn’t say that – but I’ve been in this business for a long time and I still get jazzed about it.” She originally studied piano and voice, “but I never had the personality to be on stage, but as a counselor, you have to be a good listener,” she said. “I took great pride in making sure I gave students accurate information based on what they shared with me about their goals and aspirations.”

As more students return to in-person classes, Jeffery expresses delight at the energy on campus. “I’m ecstatic that we have more people on-ground this fall,” she said. “It’s the kind of thing you don’t even know you miss that much until you come back together.” Last semester was the first full in-person graduation since the pandemic and more students have continued to come on campus this semester. “I know we’ll just continue to grow.”

Despite the renewed influx of students attending classes in-person, only 55% of students have returned to faceto-face classes this semester, compared to 80% before the pandemic began. Jeffery says she hopes to increase this percentage but doesn’t expect to reach the same 80/20 split. “I want to make sure that we have a good balance of courses on ground and online…Because if we offer more things on ground, but students don't enroll in the classes, then we have to pull the classes.”

Challenges filling classes is a new reality in many community colleges in California. During the pandemic, SMC saw a decrease of 16%, following the statewide trend. The college has recovered 3.32% of students this year, according to Dr. Jeffery. To continue this trajectory, the adminis-

tration plans to strengthen the dual enrollment program, build partnerships with new high schools and increase awareness of career training opportunities.

A glaring obstacle facing SMC this year is a large budget deficit. The 2022-2023 academic year ended with an almost $10 million deficit as illustrated in this year’s proposed budget. As a result, the Board of Trustees has taken 10 actions to reduce budgets including cuts to class offerings, supplies, employee overtime and hiring freezes. “It does create a financial hardship on the college to offer classes with low numbers of enrollment,” Jeffery said. Classes will be added back to the schedule based on student demand, she added. There were an additional 322 teaching hours (4%) added to the schedule this fall semester.

Despite class cuts, there are still new curricula on the horizon. SMC’s second baccalaureate offering in cloud computing could be available as early as the spring. It awaits two more approvals to ensure there are no conflicts with existing Bachelor degree programs at four-year universities. Additionally, “Aquacultural Revolution” is a new program coming soon that is intended to open opportunities in sustainability and ocean-related careers.

Community colleges are the most affordable and accessible higher education institutions in the country, making them the top choice for many low-income students. With Santa Monica’s median gross rent at $2,055, the question of student housing has been a long-standing concern. In 2021, the Higher Education Student Housing Grant was established to help fund developments for districts with a demonstrated need. SMC has applied and qualified, but there has been more demand than funds available. “We might have to look at different ways to try to fund it if the state is unable to include us in their next rounds of applications,” Jeffery said. SMC does, however, offer a food security program to all enrolled students. The “Bodega” food pantry offers fresh produce, meats, canned food, clothing and even supplies for infants.

“[Community college] is the most accessible education in the world and I’m glad to be part of it.” Jeffery said. “I hope that everyone who comes to SMC, that we’re able to make a huge difference for them. For the better.”

“[Community college] is the most accessible education in the world and I’m glad to be part of it.”

– Kathryn Jeffery

Renee Barlett-Webber | News Editor

Trustees Discuss Community Events in the Midst of Budget Cuts

At the Santa Monica College (SMC) Board of Trustees meeting in the Business Building on Tuesday, the Board largely sidelined budgetary issues that led to class and faculty cuts in favor of discussing community outreach events.

The meeting began with a discussion about SMC Start-Up Day, the annual club and resource fair held by Community & Academic Relations. A presentation from the organizers about the success of both this event, as well as the VIP day earlier in the semester, was met with positivity from the board.

Updates about accreditation and enrollment then followed. Although SMC’s enrollment is lower than the Administration hoped for, it has increased by 5% from the previous semester, an upward trajectory the Board hopes to see continue.

Discussions of upcoming events for Latinx Heritage Month made way for the Public Comments section, an hour & forty-eight minutes into the meeting.

The lone public comment came from Ren Klein, a Photography student at SMC. Klein’s focus was on a topic that hadn’t been mentioned yet: the

budget deficit that is causing massive cuts to classes and faculty, impacting nearly every corner of SMC’s class offerings.

Klein voiced frustration about the faculty cuts that has led to multiple beloved and accomplished professors being let go from the SMC staff. After listing the credentials of several professors, Klein plainly stated that “These budget cuts will, in effect, cause all of these amazing adjunct [professors] to be fired.” Klein feels that whatever operating costs may come from these cuts, they are simply not worth it for the good of the student body.

After her two minutes were up and she left the Zoom call, Peter Morse, the President of the Faculty Association, gave comments on behalf of the association. Morse echoed many of the concerns that Klein had brought up, expanding on the ways that the ad-

ministration’s approach to managing the budget was harming instructors, whether they be full-time, part-time or emeritus.

Once Morse’s time was over, the Board returned to discussing plans for Latinx Heritage Month, including a screening of “We Were All Here,” a documentary about the Pico neighborhood, a uniquely diverse area in Santa Monica.

As the meeting rounded its third hour, Chris Bonvenuto, the Vice President of Business and Administration, began a budget presentation. It outlined several key points of interest that explained the logic behind the cuts that Klein and Morse had spoken on.

Bonvenuto says the district is subject to a series of issues outside its control, the largest being the looming threat of the Student-Centered Funding Formula. The formula was adopted in 2018, and it is how the state of Cal-

ifornia decides what districts get what share of funding. The more students that are enrolled, the more those students are graduating or transferring, and the greater the percentage of those students are on financial aid, the more money that district will receive.

SMC is currently under a “Hold Harmless” provision that keeps funds based on 2017 enrollment numbers, a provision that will expire at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year. In the meantime, costs have only gone up as enrollment declined 16% during the Pandemic.

SMC initially forecasted a budget deficit of $15 million for the 2022-2023 school year, but Bonvenuto happily reported that the shortfall has decreased to $10 million. He also presented the proposed 2023-2024 budget, which is projected to end with a $7 million deficit. This means the college is still losing money, which has led to cuts in every department.

The Board voted unanimously to accept the adopted budget plan. The next Board meeting is on Tuesday, October 3rd, at 5 PM.

Santa Monica College (SMC) Board of Trustees members at a public meeting at the SMC main campus, Santa Monica, Calif. on Sept. 12, 2023.

Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair

"These budget cuts will, in effect, cause all of these amazing adjunct [professors] to be fired."

– Ren Klein

Bunker King | Arts & Entertainment

Editor

Construction disrupts season start for SMC’s sports teams

Blake Harris | Opinion Editor

After being closed for over two weeks, the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica College’s (SMC) main campus has reopened with a fresh coat of paint while construction on the facility progresses. Along its walls, the Gym’s colors have been changed to a deeper, more vibrant blue to go with the Corsairs’ updated jersey color scheme rolling out this semester. The paint job is the newest initiative from SMC to update the gym this year. While roofing continues above, the gym has reopened for teams to practice and compete.

The reopening of the gym and its facilities follows a disruptive start for SMC’s sports teams. According to Maya Stokes, a freshman on the women’s basketball team, the Corsair gym was closed for almost three weeks, leaving them unable to practice. Fortunately, the team is currently in its off-season,

so the lack of regular practice “doesn’t really matter,” said Stokes.

Not all of SMC’s teams are so lucky, however. “It was very problematic,” said Christian Cammayo, head coach of the women's volleyball team. Without a stable location to organize or hold their gear, the team was forced to find alternative locations, leading to scheduling conflicts and shorter practices at the start of the season. “Still, we were very lucky to find a good nearby location,” said Cammayo.

Lack of access to the gym was only the beginning of problems for the women's volleyball team. Following their return, construction continued on

the gym roof. Upon regaining access to their storage room, Cammayo noticed the absence of ventilation grids on the vents, which caused dust to come in unfiltered from the work being done above. The result was equipment, such as balls and nets, being coated in a thick layer of grime every time they retrieved it. “It felt a little unsafe, to be honest. It doesn’t feel good to come home to find it all dirty,” Cammayo said.

During one of their first matches back, dust began sprinkling down from the roof, and the gym’s lights began flickering, delaying the day’s game. According to Theresa Tang, Administrative Assistant for the SMC Athletics Department, the admin-

istration has since coordinated with the construction crew to ensure that roofing work is stopped during games in order to avoid further disruptions.

“We’re extremely grateful to be back,” said Cammayo. “We’re always just trying to get better, with adversity we can get over anything.”

Although construction on the roof continues, athletes will not have to worry for much longer. According to Greg Williams, member of the National Roofing Contractors Association and worker on the project, construction is in full swing and should wrap up soon. “We’ll be outta here in two weeks,” he said. Following completion, SMC’s teams are expected to return to their regular practices and scheduled home games for the rest of the semester.

“It felt a little unsafe, to be honest. It doesn’t feel good to come home to find it all dirty”Christian Cammayo

Josephine Fischer | The Corsair

Newly painted gym at the main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Sept. 7

A Colorful Show of Mexican Pride

On Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, East Los Angeles was infused with vibrant sights and sounds traditional to Mexico, creating an atmosphere rich with cultural resonance. Trumpeting mariachi bands, Aztec drumming, the clip-clopping of horses hooves, revving car engines and thousands of people enjoying the spectacle could be heard all along Cesar Chavez Blvd., from Belvedere Park to Gage Ave.

The East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival has been held yearly since 1946 as a way to commemorate Mexican history and the people of Mexican heritage that live in Los Angeles. In its 77th iteration, this year's theme was "Empowering Latina Women In Our Community."

To display the diverse array of cultures in the country, representatives from many of Mexico’s 32 states presented costumes, music and dances specific to

their region. Local businesses, public organizations and schools from Los Angeles participated, providing features such as marching bands, cheerleaders, vintage cars, bicycles and a skate ramp.

The result was a colorful cacophony of Mexican pride, culminating in a festival complete with a stage and a variety of retail booths and food vendors. Mother Diluvina Ramirez and daughter Jaylene Ramirez were browsing the vendors at the festival after the parade. “We just came out to see what was going on. We heard that the street was closed,” said the younger Ramirez.

“We wanted to get a little bit of the different heritage that comes from different parts of Mexico,” Jaylene added. “And you got a lot of community information as well. We got a shirt for my grandma, since our family is from Oaxaca. It was nice to get something like that here.”

Akemi Rico | Social Media Editor

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass waving a Mexican flag.

Chinelos, a traditional costumed dancer that is popular in the Mexican state of Morelos, at the annual East Los Angeles

Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2023. The costume developed as a result of blending indigenous and Catholic traditions, the masks being a mockery of European customs.

Photos by Akemi Rico

“We wanted to get a little bit of the different heritage that comes from different parts of Mexico.”

– Jaylene Ramirez

Reina Fiestas Patrias (“Queen of Patriotic Holidays”) Frida Megia's reflection is seen in a hand mirror as she browses jewelry at venHazel Rios' booth, "Curios Mirabelle."

Representatives from many of Mexico's 32 states presented costumes, music and dances specific to their individual culture.

Even the horses showed off their dance moves as they marched.

(Left) A member of the Danza Ketzaliztli

Solid Season Start

On Sept. 8, the Santa Monica sunshine threatened to be a formidable opponent, however, neither the blistering rays nor the Los Angeles Harbor College Seahawks were strong enough to stop the Corsairs’ men’s soccer team from securing a landslide 7-1 victory, marking their second win this season.

Facing a critical stage in the season, the Corsairs found themselves in a difficult situation. They had been struggling to score, managing just two goals in their previous three games. Determined to alter the course of their season, the Corsairs stepped onto their home turf with renewed purpose.

With the team facing some early-season struggles, one of the pressing questions going into the game was how the Corsairs would cope. That question was swiftly answered in the first 11 minutes when Philip Hephzibah scored the match’s opening goal. The British Nigerian striker continued to contribute on offense throughout the game, assisting with three of the overall seven goals for the Corsairs.

The Seahawks managed to secure their first and only goal through a free kick from center-forward Mark Zarate late in the first half.

In the second half, the Corsairs were determined to leave their mark by putting the game beyond the Seahawks’ reach with another dazzling goal nine

minutes into the second half from center-forward Denilson Garcia. Thirteen minutes before the final whistle, Corsair defender Marcus Hevesy-Rodriguez pushed against the Seahawks and saved a tame attempt before Logan Marc clinched the Corsair’s seventh and final goal of the match.

“The game was really intense, with the players from LA Harbour constantly on me. But mentally, you can’t let that get to you; you just have to pick yourself up and go again,” said Hephzibah.

Hevesy-Rodriguez agreed with Hephzibah about the intensity of the game. “I felt it was a great showcase of our team’s communication and teamwork for the first time this season. The guys hyping each other up throughout the game boosted morale and, I believe, helped us with our win,” he said.

The following game, on Sept. 12, which was another valiant effort by the Corsairs against the Mustangs of Norco College, ended in a 3-3 draw. Roey Kivity, Corsair midfielder, saved the game with a late goal to leave all scores even. The match was a strong defensive showing as both teams’ goals were constantly under attack.

Their most recent game was Friday against the Chaffey College Panthers. The Corsairs completely shut out the Panthers, winning 6-0.

These battles have left SMC poised for a strong rest of the season.

Cebelihle Hlatshwayo | Staff Writer Brian Dockins | Staff Writer

Forward Jose Urdiano (center) and Chaffey College Panthers' Kaden Smith (left) and Luis Contreras (right) on Friday at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs

Forward Edan Lazarovich (center) kicks the ball away from Los Angeles Harbor College Seahawks' Tommy Murillo (left) and Isaac Niebla (right) on Friday, Sept. 8. The Corsairs won 7-1.

Midfielder Roey Kivity scored two goals against the Chaffey College Panthers on Friday.

Forward Philip Hepzibah scored the first goal against the LA Harbor College Seahawks.

Forward Denilson Garcia on Friday during the game against the Chaffey College Panthers.

Defender Marcus Hevesy-Rodriguez on Friday during the men's soccer match against the Chaffey College Panthers.

All photos on this page by Nicholas McCall

Corsair forward Philip Hephzibah and Norco College defender Liam Tull battle for the ball on Sept. 12, 2023, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif.

Photo by Danilo Perez

Corsair Women's Soccer Holds Strong in Thrilling Stalemate Against the Lancers

Cebelihle Hlatshwayo | Staff Writer

The Corsairs’ women’s soccer team made an emphatic statement in their first home game of the season, facing off against the undefeated Pasadena City College Lancers on Friday afternoon.

Coming back from a tough 3-2 loss to El Camino, SMC not only showed that they should not be underestimated, but also left a not-so-subtle reminder that their home turf is no place for any team to show off.

In the first half, the Lancers showed just why they were undefeated, with their freshman goalie, Natalia Portillo, proving herself to be the backbone of their defense. Despite seven vigorous offensive attempts from Corsair midfielders Breanne Maldonado, Alicia Edberg, and Alanis Rodriguez, the ball found no entry past the determined goalkeeper. Nevertheless, the Corsairs

showed no sign of giving up, with captain Bella Velazco crediting the team’s level-headedness.

The pattern continued throughout the second half, with the Corsairs struggling to connect passes, hindering their goal output. However, the hosts did not let up in the second half. The Corsairs’ vigorous defense, anchored by Izzy Turner, Velazco, and Roz Tauvaa, foiled all five of the Lancers’ attempts to breach their defensive line. Frustration on the Lancers’ side resulted in two yellow cards during the second half, underscoring the Corsairs’ composed demeanor.

“I expected it to be a challenging game,” said Corsair assistant coach Keola Parades. “We did a scout on them, and they were undefeated coming into the season. They had a couple of very good individual players that, you know,

we were paying attention to. I thought we did a good job of neutralizing those players and making sure they didn’t have too much impact on us.”

The game ended with heightened tension, nevertheless, it served as a testament to the commitment and passion of both teams, making it an enthralling spectacle for avid supporters.

Head Coach Aaron Benditson expressed pride in the girls’ performance, highlighting their first clean sheet of the season and their commendable defensive effort.

Turner reflected, “I felt like this game was really good for me. I’ve been working on the clearances of my balls coming in, and I think I executed that well. I’m also really happy that we got a clean sheet and no goals against.”

Despite ending in a 0-0 draw, the Corsairs left no doubt that they are a

force to be reckoned with this season, showcasing their unwavering spirit and determination. With a newfound focus on maintaining a clean sheet, they have set a strong foundation for the games, leaving their opponents with a clear message – the Corsairs are here to compete at the highest level.

Despite their ongoing struggle with their goal tally following their first home game of the season against Pasadena City College on September 8th, The Corsairs' women's soccer team continues to demonstrate that perseverance is the team's defining trait. As the season has progressed, they faced the Los Angeles Pierce College Brahmas on September 12th, resulting in a 1-1 tie, and the Long Beach City College Vikings, which ended in a 0-0 draw on September 15th.

Pasadena City College Lancers' Bertha Guzman (top) and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alinna Savaterre (bottom) during the women's soccer match on Sept. 8, 2023, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica , Calif. The Corsairs tied 0-0.

Photo by Akemi Rico

The New Corsair Football Jersey

Samaiya Kirby | Culture Editor

Santa Monica College (SMC) is rich in history, especially in the athletic department. Before royal blue, black, and white, the Corsair football team wore orange and black. It wasn't until the 1980s that SMC changed its school colors to blue and white. Ever since that shift over 30 years ago, the team’s uniforms have gone through various hues of royal blues and whites, but never navy blue and white.

On Sept. 1, the Corsairs played the Victor Valley College Rams at their first home game of the season. The players came out wearing a true navy blue Under Armor jersey with a white SMC logo and their numbers displayed on the front in bold block font. This is the first uniform change the football team has had since 2018.

“We knew we needed to do better with the quality of the jersey and we needed to make sure that it fit within the school colors and guidelines,” said Corsairs Football Head Coach Kelly Ledwith.

Typically, coaches are responsible for designing the uniforms. They can select the vendor for quality and

material preferences, as well as the color scheme. Each coach then consults with Athletic Director Reggie Ellis, who approves or rejects the design. Ellis said, “As long as they’re representing the school and representing our city with the school colors, which are supposed to be royal blue, white, we are okay with it.” At home games, players wear the true navy blue jersey and at away games they typically wear the traditional white jersey.

White has become a less favorable color amongst players to wear during games because it can be hard to keep clean. To combat this issue, teams such as basketball and volleyball have incorporated more gray into the uniforms. According to Ellis, the only issue that arises with this is that it's difficult to find the right shade of gray. It needs to be a light enough gray such that it appears white. “White gets dirty really easily and its stains easier than the grays, and shows up darker than the grays, so we try to go with gray whenever possible.” He said that it all depends on the type of gray.

This year, the team purchased their uniforms from Under Armor.

Coach Kelly chose the design because it has a tighter fit and doesn't stretch, discouraging opponents from grabbing excess cloth for a competitive advantage. Typically, players want something that's durable so that it can support their body movements. Under Armor worked within the team's supply budget to provide quality jerseys that will not need to be completely replaced after the season.

“They’re a good sturdy jersey. I think we’ll be able to get good use out of them, if not maybe replace one or two here and there, but these look like they’ll last us multiple seasons,” Kelly said. The most important outcome of this change, according to Kelly and Ellis, is that the players look and feel good, and can perform well on the field.

Players had a positive reaction to the new jerseys. Wide receiver Myles Parker said, “I like the Under-Armor type of jerseys more because they fit your body pretty well. Last year's jerseys were fine, but they were too long at the shoulders.” Tight end Neeko Wagner added, “I don’t normally have trouble fitting

into my jersey, but these are really comfortable. I love the home jersey because it looks black at night, and the white and royal blue is really beautiful."

On September 8th, the Corsairs played the Los Angeles Harbor College Seahawks and secured a landslide 7-1 victory, which set a great tone for the season. The leading scorer from the game, Philip Hephzibah, who assisted with three goals said, “The game was really intense, with the players from LA Harbour constantly on me. But mentally, you can’t let that get to you; you just have to pick yourself up and go again.” The following game, on September 12th, which was another valiant effort by the Corsairs against the Mustangs of Norco College, ended in a 3-3 draw. Roey Kivity, a Corsair midfielder, saved the game with a late goal to leave all scores even. The match was a strong defensive showing as both teams’ goals were constantly under attack. These battles have left SMC paced for a strong rest of the season.

Photos By Danniel Sumarkho

Santa Monica College (SMC) Football players number 1 Maurice Herrera, left, and number 2 Melvin Hicks, right, holding the new jerseys in the men's locker room in the SMC Core Perfomance Center, Santa Monica, Calif. Sept. 07, 2023.

The Future of R&B is Female

Jaguar II - Victoria Monét | August 25, 2023

Victoria Monét, the singer-songwriter behind hit songs such as “Thank You, Next,” released her album, Jaguar II, on August 25, 2023. The fierce, funky album delivers themes of love, diversity and self-discovery. The seventh track of the album, “On My Mama,” greatly increased interest in Monét's music style. Her experimentation with melodies from 2000’s hip-hop to an early 80’s funk vibe, makes a unique distinction between Monét and other artists. Many of the tracks from the album reflect how multifaceted Monét truly is– her origins, history and personal growth all intersected to flow into a story of life. Songs of the album including “On My Mama,” “Smoke” featuring Lucky Daye, and “Hollywood” featuring Earth, Wind & Fire and Hazel Monét, her daughter, explore her inspirations in music and life while simultaneously expressing growing out and above as an artist and woman. Monét’s songs dig deep in meaning and have beats for the streets. Being a mother and artist are only parts of her identity, and in these tracks is the Real Victoria Monét.

BB/ANG3L - Tinashe | September 8, 2023

Well-known for her hit song, “2 On”, 30-year-old singer-songwriter Tinashe takes complex beats and sounds and molds them to reflect her minimalistic artistry. With the release of her new album BB/ANG3L on Sept. 8, 2023, listeners get to hear the authentic Tinashe with a fresh twist. BB/ANG3L is an album with music ideal for a night out on the town, a house party or a chill night inside. Through this album, Tinashe expresses her development of self-awareness with her sound by catering to her already established fanbase and further exploring her creative freedom. Tinashe, as an independent artist, is focused on her sound and continues to grow in her own self-confidence. From the first track, “Treason,” to the last song, “Tightrope,” she explores themes of love and life with emotional turmoil. BB/ANG3L is a stunningly unfiltered album that gives voice to the adventure of exploring freedom.

Falling or flying - Jorja Smith | August 30, 2023

Greatly influenced by artists such as Amy Winehouse and Alicia Keys, Jorja Smith explores themes such as mental health, relationships, and social issues through various melodies from hip-hop and jazz to rock and soul. The 26-year-old singer-songwriter released her EP “Falling or flying” on August 30, 2023, in anticipation of a full studio album coming on Sept. 29, 2023. The four tracks on the project have exciting mid-tempo beats with inviting lyricism, making it suitable for a party or a night at home. In the title track, Smith expresses a range of emotions from conflict to self-assurance through musically experimenting with melodies from rock music. “Falling or flying” embodies the idea that there are multiple stages to the journey of self-understanding.

Fabian Desiree | Staff Writer

Illustration by Victor Chambers