MARCH 12, 2025 | Volume 128 SPRING Issue 1 | Santa Monica College
Orianthi, guitarist for Alice Cooper, kicks off the evening with supergroup Kings of Chaos at the "Rock for Responders" concert at the USS Iowa in San Pedro, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. "Rock for Responders" was held to raise funds through the Pacific Battleship Center to support disaster efforts across Los Angeles and to honor first responders.
(Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)
Corsair Editors
Editor-in-Chief
Adriana Brady
Managing Editor
Jenna Tibby
Photo Editor
Jake Crandall
Design Editor
Akemi Rico
Co-Design Editor
Mollie Bishop
Copy Editors
Cassidy Diaz, Jacqueline Martin, Genesis Avila
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Katie Easterson
Culture Editor
Bruce (Yichi) Zhang
News Editor
Phoebe Huss
Multimedia Editor
Jared Blair, Isaiah Stacy-Sutton
Opinion Editor
Jeffrey Berrios
Social Media Editor
MyDari Baker, Andrea Castillo
Sports Editor
Marvin Ramirez
Digital Editors
Mary Funsten, Tom Rosholt
Corsair Liaison
Bei AchiriMofor
Staff Writers
Andre’a Brown, Jordan Brown, Kyla Downey, Klara Černe, Brenda Francisco, Phillip Friedlander, Alli Hyun, Audrey Keener, Rafael Lopez, Kayjel J. Mairena, Brandon D. Moore, Brandon Quinonez, Jasmin Rogers, Zachary Sanchez, Jordi Garcia Sosa, Yasmina Tyrnakova, Jasmine Villanueva, David Willis, Vahid Zibae
Staff Photographers
Elizabeth Bacher, Charles Barber, Katy Santa Cruz, Silke Eichholz, Fai
Fong, Nathan Hanson, Gregory Hawthorne, Caroline Monte, Masie Najafi, Leovijildo Sandoval, Christopher Schroeder, Ana Sanchez Venegas, Lisa Whitmore, Jiale Xian
Freya Garner holds a sign above her head that says, “Save the Sea! Love our Beaches!” at the March to Save the Sea held at the Santa Monica City Hall in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Freya’s mother Sara Mancuso states, “She is in the ocean almost every day, she loves it, she doesn’t mind the cold.” (Akemi Rico | The Corsair)
Victoria Cue, Priyanka Gupta, Crystal Gutierrez, Toni Guzzo, Keala Hadaya, Lindsay Kaplan, Alondra Lemus, Brianna Minor, Samiyah Williams, Ryan Ross
Faculty Advisors
Sharyn Obsatz | Journalism Advisor
Gerard Burkhart | Photo Advisor
Samantha Nuñez | Social Media Advisor
Staff Social Media
A Spring Into Action LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Spring has sprung, and with that symbolizes the growth of new beginnings. Today marks officially the first publication of the Corsair for the spring 2025 semester and as I begin this letter, it is an understatement to say that I am truly excited for what is to “bloom” with the seeds the Corsair has planted.
While this is my second semester being a part of the Corsair, it is my first serving as Editor-In-Chief. Taking on this role has been quite the learning experience, but it has also been one that I am truly grateful for. With this position, I am proud to say that the Corsair is truly blessed with an incredibly talented staff this semester across all sections: our writers, photographers, and social media team.
The Corsair is coming off an incredibly successful weekend at the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) National College Media conference that was held in Long Beach. Our staff earned over 30 awards across the JACC, ACP and CCMA competitions, affirming the Corsair’s award-winning status and that the talent of our team is present and abundant.
As we continue into this semester, the emphasis on collaboration is of utmost importance. With a filled newsroom, the Corsair has been able to publish a variety of content for all sections within the first few weeks. We are gifted with a staff that is not only willing and excited to create story ideas, but also to go out and cover the stories. This print edition would not be possible without the dedication and collaborative efforts of all of our writers, photographers, editors and social media team, along with the guidance of our gifted advisers.
With the staff behind me, I am proud to serve the SMC community and create a publication that highlights campus accomplishments and holds those in power accountable. I am looking forward to the successes, as well as the challenges, that are to come.
Top: Adriana Brady holds 2025 Online Pacemaker Corsair Staff Award, considered the Pulitizer Prize for college journalism.
Bottom: Numerous awards presented to Corsair staff members.
Gerard Burkhart | Corsair Photo Advisor
Adriana Brady Editor-in-Chief
Jake Crandall | Photo Editor
R o ck in’ o ut w ith first re sp on d e rs
Battleship USS IOWA held a Rock For Responders concert to honor Los Angeles first responders for putting their lives on the line every day.
Kyla Downey | Staff Writer
On Thursday, Feb. 27, rock group Kings of Chaos banded together at the Battleship USS IOWA located at the Port of Los Angeles to put on a performance for Los Angeles first responders. Even with flashing lights and guitar shredding, it was apparent that everyone there had one mission: to remind the community that first responders put their lives on the line each and every day.
U.S. Air Force veteran and master of ceremonies BJ Lange got the energy flowing by inviting first responders up on stage to shred some air guitar to “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by rock band Guns N’ Roses and then by introducing the guitarist for Billy Idol, Steve Stevens. Stevens took the stage as the sun was setting and performed the Grammy-winning “Top Gun Anthem,” all while a flyover was conducted above the grounds. The crowd lifted from their chairs, fixating their eyes on the sky and spinning in circles as they watched the planes twist and turn up above.
The flyover was followed by a performance from the Changels, a choir group from the Adopt The Arts Foundation, founded by Matt
Robin Zander, singer of Cheap Trick, honors Los Angeles Fire Department Captain II Tammy Chick upon her retirement after 32 years of service with LAFD at the “Rock for Responders” concert at the USS Iowa in San Pedro, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. “Rock for Responders” was held to raise funds through the Pacific Battleship Center to support disaster efforts across Los Angeles and to honor first responders. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)
Robin Zander of Cheap Trick performs with supergroup Kings of Chaos at the “Rock for Responders” concert at the USS Iowa in San Pedro, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. “Rock for Responders” was held to raise funds through the Pacific Battleship Center to support disaster efforts across Los Angeles and to honor first responders. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)
Sorum who rocked heavily in bands such as Guns N’ Rose, Velvet, Revolver, and the Cult.
Jonathan Williams, the CEO of Battleship IOWA, National Museum of the Surface Navy and L.A. Fleet Week, had the idea to put on Rock for Responders back in the second week of January. When he received a call from friends in Iowa, they said to Willaims, “Hey, I want to do something to support the first responders.” Williams jumped aboard the idea and contacted his friends from L.A. Fleet Week to talk further about a concert honoring and supporting said responders.
“We called some other friends and we put it together!” Williams said. Williams is unsure if the concert will be the first of many as he usually goes with the flow. He proudly says his whole team is similar. “It may turn out to be something worthwhile,” he said. Williams put together the L.A. Disaster Recovery and Resilience Collective (LADRRC), which is where all the donations from Rock for Responders will be headed.
After the short conversation with Williams, the crowd moved towards the barricades to prepare for Kings of Chaos to start. Individual artists each had their moment to shine while being backed by Sorum on drums and Carmine Rojas, who played bass for David Bowie. Orianthi, guitarist for Alice Cooper and formerly Michael Jackson, dominated the stage, as she stood front and center to play “Pride and Joy”, originally performed by Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Orianthi set the mood for the whole night with her stage presence and performance. Once she departed the red and blue flashing lights of the stage, her vibrancy left the crowd with smiles on their faces.
Following Orianthi’s performance, Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple was joined by Stevens; Phil X, guitarist for Bon Jovi; and Paul Trudeau, keyboardist and guitarist for Billy Idol. The crowd erupted upon hearing the riff from “Smoke on the Water.” Robin Zander, vocalist of Cheap Trick, soon took the stage to perform “Surrender” and “Dream Police,” continuing to amp up the crowd’s excitement by encouraging the crowd to sing and shout along with him. Kevin Cronin, vocalist of REO Speedwagon, took over the stage
after Zander’s performance ended. Cronin beamed back at his bandmates while saying how excited he was to share the stage with the other musicians.
Finally, rocker Sammy Hagar strode onto the stage where the sea of people roared as they all stood from their seats. The stage lights revealed the crowd, which was filled with people dancing and singing along to Hagar’s set.
Rock for Responders pulled in a crowd of people in support of L.A.’s first responders, while also enjoying the Kings of Chaos. The Battleship USS IOWA is beloved by its community and a respectable venue for people to show their appreciation for first responders and enjoy a night jam packed with rock n’ roll.
“You just realize how powerful it is to have something like this in our community,” said Bruce D.D. MacRae, Chairman of the President’s Advisory Board for the Battleship IOWA, reflecting on the ship and its importance to veterans.
In reference to the concert, MacRae said that the thousands of people who showed up to Rock For Responders were there to donate their time. “This isn’t something that we have to pay. That’s all going back. It’s a good thing,” MacRae said.
Troy High School Color Guard of Fullerton, Calif presents the National Anthem at the “Rock for Responders” concert at the USS Iowa in San Pedro, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. “Rock for Responders” was held to raise funds through the Pacific Battleship Center to support disaster efforts across Los Angeles and to honor first responders. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)
Steve Stevens, guitarist for Billy Idol, performs “Top Gun Anthem” during the air show at the “Rock for Responders” concert at the USS Iowa in San Pedro, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. “Rock for Responders” was held to raise funds through the Pacific Battleship Center to support disaster efforts across Los Angeles and to honor first responders. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)
“Can I let my kids go to the beaches? Can I go to the beach and feel safe about it?”
March to Save the
Sea: ‘Save the sea, save ourselves’
Protesters rally at Santa Monica City Hall to demand efficiency and transparency in the clean up process in the wake of the Palisades fire.
Kayjel J. Mairena | Staff Writer
A small crowd of protesters gathered in the morning on March 8 at Santa Monica City Hall. As they waited for people to arrive, signs were made on the pavement, children ran around and cupcakes were handed from a pop-up table.
“We’re concerned about the quality of our beaches, the air, water, and sand, as it relates to the runoff from the rain and fires. We’re urging the government to do something about it,” said Harris Baum, a Santa Monica resident.
They were there to protest what they called a lack of transparency in the gov-
ernment actions taken in the aftermath of the Palisades fire.
In January 2025, a historic fire exacerbated by a nine-month drought and high-speed Santa Ana winds ravaged the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and surrounding communities. Black soot now sits on what used to be lively and small mom-andpop shops; homes passed down from generation to generation have become gray ashes; and the skies that were decorated by vibrant palm trees are now empty.
Two months removed from the Palisades fire, there is still debris, hazardous material and toxic waste sitting alongside the coastline. According to an article from the Guardian, “the EPA has planned to clean up hazardous materials in just a month – a timeframe it announced in later January, after Donald Trump visited the area. The size of the disaster makes the timeframe challenging – after the devastating fires in Lahaina, Maui, it took the EPA more than three months to remove hazardous materials from just 1,448 properties that burned.”
The article continues, “On a precious segment of California coastline, there are few places where the debris can be sorted. Right now, the
Elizabeth Baum, lead organizer of the March to Save the Sea event, delivers a speech in front of Santa Monica City Hall polluting the ocean in the aftermath of the Palisades fire. According to Chris Meyers, a battery tech specialist for the approximately 500 tons of lithium-ion batteries from over 1,000 properties in the Pacific Palisades area alone, much
Surfer and Santa Monica native Cory poses in front of Santa Monica City Hall in Santa Monica, Calif., on March 9, 2025. (Katy Santa Cruz | The Corsair)
entrance, holding a surfboard that has the words, “Save Our Sea!” painted on it. He is from Santa Monica and is currently attending Santa Monica College, “trying to get into the nursing program, hopefully by next year.” He states, “I’m from here, from Santa Monica, so I just have to support my community and stand up for what’s right.” (Akemi Rico | The Corsair)
it led to low water pressure that hindered firefighters, while event organizers defend Park and her efforts. (Nathan Hanson | The Corsair)
Palisades cleanup is focusing on phase 1: the removal of hazardous material. For that, the EPA has deployed more than 1,000 people to remove, sort, consolidate and truck away any hazardous items. Officials say the staging sites need to be at least five acres large, and preferably paved, so that trucks can enter and exit, and they can lay down large plastic sheets and fencing to contain dust.”
Due to proximity, logistics and environmental risk, the Willis State Beach parking lot has been designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the best area to begin phase one of the clean-up process. This decision was met with backlash and apprehension from local communities.
Annelisa Moe, associate director of science and policy and water quality scientist at the non-profit organization Heal The Bay in Santa Monica, told the Guardian, “In a situation like this, unfortunately, there are no good answers, and there isn’t really a ‘better place’. There’s just the least worst option.”
“FEMA was asked to do the phase one and phase two clean up simultaneously so that the Palisades could rebuild more quickly, but I’ve stood with Palisadians whose homes are in the burn area and their chant was ‘sort the debris in the burn area, in their backyard, to protect our oceans,’ said Dr. Debra Rivera, CEO of Journey
Metrics and associate professor at Eindhoven University of Technology.
As the early morning turned late, protesters in blue and black clothing and ocean-themed
“Be the change you wish to sea.”
costumes began to fill the crowd and line the streets waving signs that read “Save the ocean, Save ourselves.”
March to Save the Sea was
organized by concerned community members from Santa Monica and Venice.
“I was watching the news online and I was losing my mind with the inaction, the feeling of powerlessness. After watching this disaster happen all around us I told (boyfriend) Justin, ‘Babe, do you want to do a donation hub in our yard? Maybe some friends can drop off water bottles or something. We can take them to the firefighters.’ Three weeks later we had activated a huge community of volunteers; a 100% volunteer-driven organization that for weeks helped deliver supplies, helped people, and made space for victims and evacuees of the fire,” said Veronica Velasquez,
Hall on Sunday, March 9, 2025, to raise awareness about toxic waste Environmental Protection Agency, officials estimate they will collect of which could seep into the ocean. (Nathan Hanson | The Corsair)
Stanley Becker, a counter-protester, argues with Elizabeth Baum over Los Angeles City Council Member Traci Park. Becker blames Park for failing to repair a torn reservoir cover in the San Ynez Reservoir in the Pacific Palisades weeks before the fires, claiming
Shakur Forrest stands under the landmark Santa Monica Pier
co-organizer of March to Save the Sea, who donned a lionfish costume during her speech.
She then said, “I think a lot of people have the misconception that the debris on the beach is just burned wood and that’s wrong. The debris on the beach is batteries, construction materials, housing insulation. It’s supermarkets that burned down. The Clorox wipes run off. The soaps, the polyester fabrics in our closets. All of these things are now burnt on the beach. When charred material gets wet, it releases toxins into the water.”
According to a statement released by the EPA, phase one of the clean-up was completed by Feb. 26, 2025.
In a statement, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said, “President Trump set an extreme-
ly ambitious deadline for EPA to clean up all hazardous materials in the wake of the deadly California wildfires. Thanks to his leadership and the hard work of countless personnel in the field, we got it done in record time. There is still a long road ahead for thousands of residents who lost everything just a few weeks ago, but EPA is proud to do our part in the recovery process.”
But some residents say there’s still work to be done.
“I don’t know, and I can’t say if I’m sure, that they have done anything. Part of the problem is that if they are doing anything, they’re not doing a good job about making the public aware. It’s just causing a sense of general uncertainty, a lack of answers as to the status of things. Any risk we might be exposed to.
Generally speaking, I’m not sure if there has been anything done and if there is, it hasn’t had any
“I’m sure you all agree that safeguarding our beaches, which is our most important natural
“We expect honesty from our government. We want transparency, we do not want a cover-up.”
impact,” said Baum.
“It’s one thing to go out and clean, have a beach clean-up. But it’s too much, all the particles. It’s just too much to be done with our hands,” said Shakur Forrest, a Santa Monica College student.
Aside from debris and toxic runoff residents are also angered by the lack of transparency from the EPA and government authorities.
resource, is the most important thing that the government can spend its money on. So, we don’t want any cover-ups, we want transparency. That’s not a lot to ask for, right, for the people to demand that the government is transparent. We know it’s not good and they should not be afraid to let the public know how bad it really is. We expect honesty from our government. We want
A large group of protesters gathers in front of the Santa Monica Pier entrance during the March to Save the Sea event on Sunday, March 9, 2025 in Santa Monica, Calif. The demonstration aims to raise awareness among community members and tourists about the massive amounts of toxic waste from Pacific Palisades properties, which have been flushing debris into the ocean following the Palisades Fire. (Nathan Hanson | The Corsair)
“I think it’s important to know the economic impact of having dirty beaches on our community, on the local businesses. This isn’t just surfers wanting to get in the water and we can’t— boo-hoo us. It’s, if people don’t come to the beach in the summer our local economy suffers. So, it’s not just a health risk, it has an economic impact on our entire community,” said Velasquez.
The protesters came to a halt in front of the Santa Monica Pier and continued chanting. As the chants grew louder, pier-goers began to stop and stare, some took pictures and others joined the march. After a few minutes of protesting, they began to march back to City Hall.
In one last demonstration, protesters lined both sides of the sidewalk and displayed their signs to incoming traffic. Occasionally a driver would roll down a window and yell in solidarity or give a fist pump while honking as they drove by the busy street.
Phase one of the clean-up initiative was the removal of hazardous materials: propane tanks, lithium-ion batteries, solvents, paints, and more. Phase two is going to be debris removal.
According to a press release from the office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, phase two began in early February 2025 and will be “led by the U.S Army
In a statement issued by the governor’s office, Gov. Gavin Newsom said, “The speed of this cleanup is unprecedented, and it’s a testament to local, state, and federal government’s commitment to getting families back on their feet as quickly as possible.”
He then said, “We’re cutting through the red tape and working with our partners to ensure that recovery moves at a record pace, helping communities rebuild stronger and more resilient.”
March To Save the Sea came to be after an initial grassroots movement that was focused on helping those affected by the Palisades fire. Two months later, those same activists are demanding transparency from the government in their clean-up process and sample findings.
“The next part of our campaign is going to be the letter-writing campaign and meeting with elected officials,” said Ashley Oelsen, founder of the Coastal Alliance and co-organizer of the March to Save the Sea.
According to an article from the New York Post, “Government red tape means it could take up to 18 months to clear the ash and debris from the charred remains of homes that were burned in the Los Angeles Wildfire.”
As the city expedites the
“The debris on the beach is batteries, construction materials, housing insulation. It’s supermarkets that burned down. The Clorox wipes run off. The soaps, the polyester fabrics in our closets. All of these things are now burnt on the beach.”
transparency, we do not want a cover-up,” said Oscar De La Torre, a former member of the Santa Monica City Council, during his speech.
“ Can I let my kids go to the beaches? Can I go to the beach and feel safe about it? I think that would put people at ease. People who have resources, to test and understand what’s going on, or tell us about what’s going on,” said Sarah Kampa, a Marina Del Rey resident.
After the speech, protesters began to march to the Santa Monica Pier to the beat of a drum being played by Rivera. As traffic stopped, while the protestors disappeared into the park, supporters in their cars began to cheer and honk. Velasquez led the march chanting from a bullhorn, “Be the change you wish to sea.”
Dirty beaches do more than hurt marine wildlife and contribute to the acceleration of climate change; they affect the local economy.
Corps of Engineers and can begin on individual properties following a federal EPA’s sign-off that their work is complete on the property. Property owners must also choose to accept U.S. Army Corps debris removal or to hire their own contractor.”
The deadline for residents with property affected by the fires to submit a Right of Entry form for debris removal is March 31, 2025. The debris removal form can be found on the L.A. County Recovers website.
clean-up process, preparing the city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it’s become pertinent to residents that it will not come at the cost of the Pacific Ocean and the public health of surrounding communities.
For the time being, March to Save the Sea organizers will continue writing letters, meeting with officials and trying different methods to ensure clean beaches, transparency and better public safety.
Oscar de la Torre, former City of Santa Monica Council member, speaks at the March to Save the Sea protest sponsored by the Coastal Alliance, calling on state and local government for action and transparency about pollution caused by runoff from the Palisades Fire into the ocean, on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Santa Monica City Hall, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)
It’s time to run for office!
Interested in learning how Santa Monica College funds clubs, campus events and other programs that support student life? Now is the time to register to run for student government.
Akemi Rico | Design Editor
Ever wondered about those extra fees listed when registering for classes at Santa Monica College (SMC)? If students pay the optional Associated Students (A.S.) Resource fee of $10, they become a member of the A.S. organization. Benefits of being a member include free printing and access to the A.S. computer lab, free scantrons and blue books, campus events, student clubs, and discounts to campus performances and some restaurants.
Another benefit of being a member of the A.S. is the access to run for student leadership positions, like becoming an elected official on the A.S. Board of Directors. If a student decides to run, they’ll have to get elected in order to serve on the board.
David Duncan, current A.S. President, recommends talking to as many people as possible to let them know that you are running, and to remind them to vote. Jordan Davis, A.S. Director of Budget Management, mentioned how important it is to choose student campaign workers that can work well with you and your campaign.
Campaign workers must be verified prior to campaigning, as they are representing the candidate, and their behavior may disqualify the candidate if they don’t adhere to campaign guidelines. On the other hand, their work can be crucial to the success of a campaign as, according to the campaign guidelines, they can speak on the candidates’ behalf in virtual venues or classrooms, as long as they are approved by the candidate they represent. This can effectively increase outreach and improve visibility to voters.
Davis emphasized the importance of sticking to the promises made during the campaign. “I think it’s important to communicate your intention to the students and show how you can be there for them as an elected official.”
When asked about his experience so far, Davis said, “I had a lot of expectations and a lot of pressure for what the role was and what responsibilities I would (have). I think once I got used to the pace around the office and how things are completed, and what my role in the government was, I think things were a lot easier and manageable, and my stress kind of went down.”
If interested in running for a seat on the A.S. Board of Directors for the 2025-26 academic year, the deadline to apply for candidacy is Tuesday, March 18, 2025 by 5 p.m.
All positions are up for re-election, including: President, Vice President, Secretary, Director of Budget Management, Director of Activities, Director of Outreach, Director of Equity and Diversity, Director of External Affairs, Director of Basic Needs, Director of Instructional Support, Director of Publicity, and Director of Sustainability.
Be aware that there are several Mandatory Candidates Meetings coming up, and you must attend at least one to be eligible to run for an A.S. position. The dates for the Mandatory Candidates Meetings are: Wednesday, March 12 at 3 p.m., Thursday, March 13 at 11:15 a.m. and Tuesday, March 18 at 12 p.m. All meetings are held in person at the Cayton Computer Lab on the second floor of the Cayton Center on the main campus. For more information about what running for a Director position entails, please refer to the A.S. election website.
Members of the Associated Students gather for a meeting at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif., on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
“Judith is the Math Lab”: students revolt against Math Lab food ban, coordinator demotion
The contentious ban on food in the Math Lab is compounded with the demotion of tutoring coordinator Judith Eckstein. Phoebe
Huss | News Editor
Jake Crandall | Photo Editor
On Wednesday, March 5, Judith Eckstein was demoted from her position as Math Lab tutoring coordinator at Santa Monica College (SMC) after over 15 years of employment in the Math Department. The demotion arrived after a weeklong student-led movement against the College administration’s recent crackdown on the no-food policy in the Math Lab.
In the Lab on Thursday, both visitors and student workers, including tutors and clerks, expressed outrage at Eckstein’s demotion, calling it wrongful and plotting methods of pressuring the administration to reinstate her position. A meeting of concerned Math Lab workers, professors and students was held at midday. The congregates discussed potential responses, but also took time to profess their sorrow in a group setting.
“The outcome was, really there is nothing much to do right now, because we don’t know… what happened, we don’t know why she received the notice,” said an anonymous clerk of the Math Lab. “But it was nice to come as one and just… share our emotions and what we feel right now.”
Another clerk expanded on what the common sentiment is. “The Math Lab isn't the Math Lab anymore. Without Judith, it isn’t the Math Lab, it’s just a place.”
Both clerks requested anonymity to protect their job security.
SMC Superintendent and President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery did not immediately respond to the Corsair’s request for comment on this story.
The College’s Math Lab offers free in-person and online tutoring over five days a week, and is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, a rare late-night fixture of the College. After the opening of the Math and Science Building (MSB) at the start of the spring semester, the Lab packed up from the low-tech Math Complex trailer park and set up shop in MS107 and 108.
For years, the Lab was a known spot among students to procure meals, beverages and snacks for free. Numerous Lab regulars alleged that the foodstuffs were supplied by Eckstein and other professors through out-of-pocket contributions, which Eckstein confirmed openly.
“I grew up like the kind of kid who doesn’t have (much) to eat… I remember just being in the late afternoon, and how hungry I would get,” said Eckstein, an SMC alum. “I don't
have to spend this much money of my own money to feed kids, but I do it because I think it reminds me of myself.”
“Most of the kids that sit in here, they’re like my kids,” she said.
A breadth of students told the Corsair that they or someone they know have been dependent on the free food in the Math Lab for one or more of their daily meals. These dependents include tutors, math students, and the wider student body, including a sizable population of homeless students.
In years past, among others, Mark Sasaki was a student experiencing homelessness and was directed to the Math Lab. He was sent by his friend Sohei Okamoto, who knew about Eckstein’s open-door policy and no-questions-asked provisions.
The difference was massive. “That was where he got food every day,” said Okamoto. “So that’s how he lived.”
All polled students attested the food supply in the Lab was a needed sanctum for under-resourced students, busy students and tutors working long hours, and students without the time or availability to find sustenance elsewhere.
Within a week of establishment, the new Math Lab was up and running, described by several Lab scholars as their only source of community on campus: it’s “something that we
all need, we need a community, and she created our community,” said the first anonymous clerk. Members of the Lab were quick to revive the food-sharing process in the new location, lined with hardwood floors, which was recommended by Eckstein at an MSB design meeting.
“I think the biggest thing for the Math Lab is the community,” said Samuel Fisher, calculus tutor and applied mathematics major. “It's just like this great environment where it's productive but social. I know of so many people that have come here and just been able to not only be vulnerable, but also make friends.”
“But ultimately, it's like a place that should be respected,” Fisher said.
According to accounts from both Math Lab regulars and SMC Public Information Officer Grace Smith, the administration was alerted by Maintenance and Operations about food remnants and overstuffed trash cans in the Lab. These problems, Smith said, “are creating a hazardous situation with the potential to attract pests and vermin.”
On Feb. 24, Eckstein received an email from Sasha King, Dean of Academic Affairs. The message informed her of the new policy, banning all consumption of food and beverages in the Lab, with the exception of water. The public distribution process came to a crashing halt.
On Feb. 25, at the Facilities Planning
Judith Eckstein, tutoring coordinator for the math department at Santa Monica College (SMC), in Santa Monica, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. Eckstein and other math department faculty have been providing students with free food while they study for years inside the old Math Lab, but inside the new Lab, in the recently opened Math and Science Building, the SMC administration passed new rules only allowing water. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Subcommittee meeting, King was attending as a representative of the administration and Eckstein as a representative of California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 36, the SMC labor union. King referred to the Math Department’s transition from the trailer park to the new building as “smooth.” The word “smooth” caused Eckstein to snap and she said “I hate you!” at King.
“The move was not smooth, and it has also not been assessed by the district, and my own supervisor has not even been into the Lab or checked in with me to ask how things are going,” said Eckstein. “So to say that it’s smooth on the same day that they take away the food, I found that very, very triggering.”
As of March 6, Eckstein resigned from her position as CSEA secretary.
After her public blows with King, Eckstein immediately felt her job was at risk. She returned to the Lab and told the present students she believed she would be fired.
“I told everybody, what I just did today is the most horrible thing you can ever do,” she said. “ It was the wrong thing that I did and I want students to learn from it. And that's what I told them… Don't do what I did.”
Within 24 hours, the food ban sparked dissidence among students. The most concrete act of criticism was a petition created by Fisher titled “Bring Back Food in the Math Lab.” For a week, a flyer with a QR code linking the petition was pinned to the Math Lab whiteboard, surrounded by bright red arrows and the marker messages “SIGN THIS” and “BECOME UNGOVERNABLE.”
““Most of the kids that sit in here, they’re like my kids... I don’t have to spend this much money of my own money to feed kids, but I do it because I think it reminds me of myself.”
Other copies of the flyer were posted around the MSB or shared electronically. As of March 7, the petition has over 200 signatures.
In simpler fashions, other students rebelled by continuing to eat and drink in the Lab, and continuing to pillage from the monstrous assortment of ramen containers stored in the math staff room. A nearby drinking fountain shows evidence of the culture, with a sign warning
“Don’t Dump Ramen in the Fountain.”
But during that first week of implementation, many students weren’t willing to break the new rule, and according to Fisher, it showed: “Since the policy change, I’ve noticed students struggling to stay motivated and focused due to hunger.”
“We eat food to live, to study,” said Megan Reidenbaugh, a sophomore studying film production who is in the Lab almost every day to visit friends. “Imagine you're going into your calculus class, and you have not eaten the entire day, and your stomach is growling. What grade do you think you're going to get on that exam? A zero. A fail.”
The next day, on March 5, Eckstein was approached in her office by members of Human Resources (HR) and SMC Police Department (SMCPD) officers, and presented with a demotion notice.
According to Sergeant Sonya Patterson of SMCPD “the police were standing by, but the police didn’t say anything to her.”
Sherri Lee-Lewis, Vice President of Human Resources, declined to comment on this story.
Once HR and SMCPD left, Eckstein gathered her belongings, then took the Lab clerks aside individually for parting salutations.
“She said she fucked up and that she was sorry,” said the second anonymous clerk. “She said she’s still part of the Math Lab but she won’t be our
supervisor anymore.”
The Lab employs both student and professional tutors, and the clerks theorize Eckstein will be able to return as a tutor. Already, however, her absence is admonished.
“Everybody needs a leader and we feel like, okay, our leader is gone right now. We don't have a leader, we don't know what to do,” said the first anonymous clerk.
On Thursday afternoon, following the lunch meeting, documents labeled “In Defense of Math Tutoring Coordinator Judith Eckstein” were distributed in the Math Lab, where Eckstein’s glass-paned office remained dark and vacant. Imploring students to put pressure on the administration, the document instructs Eckstein supporters to write out arguments for her reinstating and listed senior staffers to contact.
Among attendees of Thursday’s meeting was Jae Sung Hwang, math student and president of the Math Integration Club, who is recoiling from the loss. “Her presence is imperative,” he said.
“This building is beautiful, I understand why they’re keeping the space as clean as possible,” he said. “The thing is, (it would be) helpful to address issues of deterioration as they’re ongoing.”
Instead, he said, the administration waited until the trash cans were overstuffed and the custodial department overworked, leading to an immediate and unenforceable sanction. A more proactive solution, he said, would be “more trash cans, more tools and resources for students to throw their food away.”
“Allowing food can serve as an incentive for students to visit the Math Lab more frequently, increasing its accessibility and effectiveness as an academic resource,” said Fisher.
The SMC marketing team has attempted to capitalize on this incentive. On March 5, around the time of Eckstein’s demotion, a video posted to the College’s official Instagram account following a day in the life of a College student featured a stop in the Math Lab for what the narrator described as “free snacks” and “free drinks… everything I need to do to perfectly study.”
At around 7 p.m. on March 6, Demorst entered the Math Lab and addressed student workers. Sources disagree on what happened next. According to Demorst, she spoke to the students about their payroll, which was formerly handled by Eckstein, and she was not questioned about Eckstein’s return.
At around 7 p.m. on March 6, Demorst entered the Math Lab and addressed student workers. Sources disagree on what happened next. According to Demorst, she spoke to the students about their payroll, which was formerly handled by Eckstein, and she was not questioned about Eckstein’s return.
According to other students, Demorst said that Eckstein would return after a week and remain in the role of tutoring coordinator for at least a month. Demorst denies this.
The students, rallied under the moniker “Bring Back Judith,” are in the midst of deciding and agreeing upon a retaliatory measure. In the workshopping stage, some students are concerned the current method might be counterproductive.
“We still don’t know if sending a bunch of emails is the best way of going about it, because that could just upset them,” said tutor Nick Quiles. “The last thing we want to do is also piss off the upper levels… So we’re trying to find alternative ways.”
The food ban and demotion are items on an expanding list of qualms that math and science students have reported in the new building. Several students have noticed glass panes falling off the windows, confirmed in a Public Information email to the Corsair. Furthermore, student clubs aren’t allowed to hold meetings in MSB.
“They want to keep it clean and pristine in whatever way possible, but they’re putting the corporate mindset over the student life,” said Quiles. “All this drama for a building.”
The “Bring Back Judith” bunch is vehement, and in their planning, they’re utilizing memories of both personal and professional camaraderie with Eckstein to formulate their rhetoric.
“I don’t know if anybody else can provide that same care for students that she did provide,” said Quiles. “I would just really hate to see the math lab just go into the hands of someone who’s more corporate and business oriented instead of student oriented because that was what this was doing.”
“She has always been so generous, and giving, and so compassionate to everyone in the Math Lab, whether or not they’re actually a math major, whether or not they’re just taking a little class on the side,” said Reidenbaugh.
The anonymous clerks were anxious to assure that Judith will be dearly missed. “Judith was the Math Lab. I don’t think they can find someone else,” said the second. “Judith’s just the Math Lab, that’s it.”
“Whatever happens, I just hope that Judith would know how much she was loved by many,” said the first. “And I hope that gives her a light for, you know, to just keep it up and keep being her.”
“The Math Lab isn’t the Math Lab anymore. Without Judith, it isn’t the Math Lab, it’s just a place.”
Stacks of Top Ramen, now being stored in the math staff room, outside the Math Lab in the recently opened Math and Science Building at Santa Monica College (SMC), in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, after SMC administration passed new rules only allowing water in the Lab. Judith Eckstein and other math department faculty have been providing students with free food while they study for years inside the old Math Lab, but now are prohibited from doing so. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
A student petition to allow food back inside the math lab at Santa Monica College (SMC), in Santa Monica, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. Judith Eckstein, tutoring coordinator for the math department, and other math department faculty have been providing students with free food while they study for years inside the old Math Lab, but inside the new Lab, in the recently opened Math and Science Building, SMC administration passed new rules only allowing water. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
A student walks through the Math Lab in the recently opened Math and Science Building at Santa Monica College, in Santa Monica, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Women’s Tennis serves a sweep to the Vaqueros
The Corsair tennis team beat Glendale Community College on Thursday, March 6, on home turf.
Mollie Bishop | Design Editor
On Thursday, March 6, the Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs (4-5) defeated the Glendale Community College (GCC) Vaqueros (0-12), 5-1 at Ocean Park View tennis courts. The Corsairs went on to sweep the Vaqueros in all double sets, with Corsairs’ Sophie de Muelenaere and Sydney Belanger scoring 9 to the Vaqueros’ Yeva Sirakanyan and Angela Lee with a set score of 7.
The set score of Corsairs’ Mara LaForte and Chandler Nelson versus Vaqueros’ Sofiya Rusina and Melanie Canuto was 8-1. The score for Corsairs’ Anaya Ayanbadejo and Yesugen Ganbaatar against Vaqueros’ Gabriela Marquez and Michaela Marquez was also 8-1.
Rain began to fall as doubles finished and continued throughout single sets, which led to an early finish due to safety concerns.
Nelson triumphed over Rusina in single sets, winning 6-0 in the first round and 6-1 in the second. Ayanbadejo scored similarly against Michaela Marquez, triumphing 6-1 in the first set and closing 6-0. Belanger scored a 6-4 in the first set against Gabriela Marquez and 1-0 in the last set.
Only one set was played between Muelenaere and Lee and between Hutchison and Canuto, as the weather cut the game short. Muelenaere won 6-2 and Hutchison scored 2-6 against Canuto.
Although rain could be to blame for the lack of fans at Thursday’s match, players
said that games don’t pull many spectators, ranking fifth in the Western State Conference-South. Neither practices nor tennis matches are held on SMC’s main campus, with their home games taking place at the Ocean View Park tennis courts.
“Going so far from school to get to the courts is tough sometimes,” Nelson said. “I would like more people to come.”
Courts are in the process of being added to SMC’s airport campus, according to Corsair Coach Richard Goldenson. “We’ll have our own home base. A little bit more of a campus feel, which will be nice,” he said.
The Corsairs played their next game at home on March 11 against the Los Angeles Mission College Eagles at 1 p.m.
Sophie de Muelenaere (left), team captain for Santa Monica College Women’s Tennis team, the Corsairs, supports her teammate, Sydney Belanger(right), who returns a ball during their No.2 doubles against Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Ocean View Park in Santa Monica, Calif., before winning their match 9-7. The match was declared a victory for the Corsairs with a final score of 5-1 after the remaining matches were called off early due to rain, resulting in safety concerns. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)
The Santa Monica College Women’s Tennis team, the Corsairs, cheer before their match against the Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Ocean View Park in Santa Monica, Calif. The match was declared a victory for the Corsairs with a final score of 5-1 after the remaining matches were called off early due to rain, resulting in safety concerns. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)
Chandler Nelson, a player for the Corsairs, serves during her No.5 single against Glendale Community College Vaquero Sofiya Rusina on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Ocean View Park in Santa Monica, Calif. Chandler Nelson won the match in two sets 6-0, and 6-1, leading the Corsairs to a 5-1 victory. The remaining matches were called off early due to rain, resulting in safety concerns. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)
A Vaqueros player of Glendale Community College tennis team (left) waits for a volley by Anaya Ayanbadejo (right), team captain for the Santa Monica College Women’s Tennis team, the Corsairs, during the No.1 doubles on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Ocean View Park in Santa Monica, Calif. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)
The continuous downfall of the Third Street Promenade
A look into the recent developments centering around Santa Monica’s historic landmark.
Zachary Sanchez | Staff Writer
Residents of Santa Monica are no longer taken aback by the crippling state of the Third Street Promenade – for some it is a normalcy they have always known, and for others, it is a fall from grace they have come to accept.
Nevertheless, this decline has been evident through nearly half a decade, and as of 2025, it shows no signs of halting. Household establishments including H&M, which opened in 2008; Lemonade, in 2016; and the AMC 4, whose building has housed various cinema corporations for over 90 years, have all recently closed.
These are just another string of losses that further distance the Promenade from its past familiar prowess. According to the latest data and research reort done by the City of Santa Monica in November 2024, the Promenade’s total vacancy for ground-level commercial spaces reached 17%. Such a percentage may seem small at first. But, when you consider the Promenade’s close proximity to renowned attractions like the beach and the pier it becomes strange as to why real estate isn’t in greater demand.
Though with further research it becomes clear; provided in the same report is a chart which quantifies the foot traffic that the Promenade received from 2017-2024. In the street’s history, within the scope of the table, the pinnacle of foot traffic can be seen prior to 2020, with a foot count of 875,172 in July 2017.
Post 2020, the toll of the pandemic is undeniably prevalent. The height of foot traffic in July 2023 dropped to a mere 524,304. It didn’t stop there – in July 2024 the foot count was recorded at 438,811; another decrease of 100,000 pedestrians within one year. All in all, these findings outline the lowering tides of business and consumerism that have formed a meager confluence of output, which is barely enough to sustain the Promenade.
Yet, despite recent performances, the future of the Third Street Promenade does not appear to be wholly negative. There have been evident attempts to combat vacancy percentages and attract audiences again, namely with the opening of various interactive establishments.
For example, the Two Bit Circus is described on its website as being a high-tech venue that provides virtual reality along with a plethora of arcade games. Also, the newly inducted Holey Moley is a miniature golf course and bar. Even Barnes & Noble has returned to the Promenade after being gone for almost six years.
Pedestrians waiting for the crosswalk near the entrance of the 3rd Street Promenade shopping mall in Santa Monica, Calif. on Friday Feb. 28, 2025. The outdoor shopping mall has recently experienced multiple store closures in the past few months inluding popular clothing store H&M and an AMC Theater. (Katy Santa Cruz | The Corsair)
These are establishments that have the potential to entice both the young and the mature. If the Promenade is in need of anything right now it is audiences of all kinds.
To shed another glimmer of optimism, Tati Simonian, the public information officer for the City of Santa Monica, made it apparent when speaking to The Corsair that Santa Monica officials are not going to let the Promenade fall by the wayside after the recent attempts to bring back traction were commented on. “Yes! You’re right, we’re seeing innovation brought on with help from policy work being done on a local level,” he said. Simonian’s comment is a remark of reassurance directed at the people of Santa Monica.
Simonian also mentioned that the city has streamlined the process of getting permission to use existing land. Other convenience measures have allowed for fewer zoning restrictions, more entrances within the Promenade that lead to upper floors, and fewer requirements for restaurants to serve on-site alcoholic beverages. These are thus supposed to make it easier for businesses to operate and flourish.
The Third Street Promenade is a relic that is near and dear to the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. In fact, it is arguably the heart of Downtown Santa Monica itself. There is no doubt that the Promenade cultivates long lasting memories for tourists and locals alike. If we wish to see the 65-year-old shopping center continue on, we must take notice of its continuous decline and offer our support as a community.
Street performer Jaden Royce, age 18, performs in front of a vacant retail space at the 3rd Street Promenade shopping mall in Santa Monica, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Royce has noticed a decrease in activity at the outdoor shopping mall. (Katy Santa Cruz | The Corsair)
Pedestrians walk past the Google Store near the entrance of the 3rd Street Promenade shopping mall in Santa Monica, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. The Google Store is set to open in March of 2025 despite being surrounded by multiple store closures in the outdoor shopping area. (Katy Santa Cruz | The Corsair)
A DJ plays to an almost empty crowd at Santa Monica Place shopping mall in Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2025. The shopping mall resides across the street from the 3rd Street Promenade, an outdoor shopping area that has seen many store closures in the past few months. (Katy Santa Cruz | The Corsair)
Fowler Museum hosts “Femicide: Death, Gender, and the Border” panel examining violence against women through art
Alma López and Judithe Hernández discuss their advocacy artwork for victims of the “femicidio” wave in Ciudad Juárez on Wednesday.
Mollie Bishop| Design Editor
Alicia Gaspar de Alba, professor of Chicano/a Studies at UCLA, said that “femicidio” is “more than just a translation of femicide.” The Spanish term was interchangeably used with English during “Femicide: Death, Gender and the Border,” a panel hosted by the Fowler Museum, to describe countless murders, kidnappings and sexual assaults of young women that have occurred in Ciudad Juárez.
These ongoing crimes were initially brought to light in 2001 after eight bodies were found in the Juárez Valley desert. “Juárez is now known as the femicide capital of North America,” said Gaspar de Alba, who was moderating the panel. Moved by the lack of dialogue surrounding the femicidio, she based her novel “Desert Blood” on the violence against women near the border.
Panelist and artist Judithe Hernández acknowledged this
“I’m so honored that these (artworks) have been thought of as a sign of protest.”
Rony Armas (center), artist, photographer and graphic designer, asks a question to panelists, Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Alma Lopez, and Judithe Hernández during the panel “Femicide: Death, Gender, and the Border” at the Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. Armas stated, “The responsibility and obligation of an artist is to stand up and do something... we are not making money off of our art... but what do we do then, as artists, when we’re beat down on the daily, right with media and it’s power and its money, that we just can’t match at the moment, right? What can we do?” (Ana Sanchez Venegas | The Corsair)
topic being swept under the rug. Many of Hernández’s artworks, such as “The Weight of Silence #12,” portray red handprints covering a woman’s face, a symbol that would later be used in women’s rights protests as advocacy for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement.
“I don’t know if I had anything to do with it. Maybe I did,” said Hernández. “If that’s the case I’m so honored that these (artworks) have been thought of… as a sign of protest.”
Describing her portrait “La Llorona Desperately Seeking Coyolxauhqui,” panelist Alma López said, “I wanted to allude to this idea that sometimes we’re raised to be good girls and not scream, not yell, not protest. It can be really harmful if you don’t speak out… If you allow something to happen.”
In the portrait, a serpent gags a young lady in pain who is surrounded by roses and shadowed by the Virgin Mary. Lopez refers to moon goddess Coyolxauhqui in her title, who was dismembered by her own brother in Aztec mythology. She is symbolized in pieces by both López and Hernández—representing the gruesome deaths many women in Ciudad Juárez experienced.
Audience members had the chance to ask panelists questions, mostly in regard to artists’ power towards social change. “Art leaves a legacy of the best of what we are,” López said. “It requires being involved in taking a risk. You have to be brave.”
Gaspar de Alba concluded the panel with a reminder. “The one power is the power to create… Power in Spanish is poder. What does that mean? We can.”
Alicia Gaspar de Alba (right), professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), looks at Alma López (left), her wife, visual artist and UCLA lecturer, as she answers questions during the “Femicide: Death, Gender, and the Border” panel at the Fowler beside Museum at UCLA on Wednesday March 5, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Ana Sanchez Venegas | The Corsair)
Three years into a “three-day war”
Stand With Ukraine held their annual patriotic rally in Santa Monica
Rallygoers surround the entrance of the Santa Monica City Hall waving Ukrainian flags, as others line the streets waving their signs. Indistinct chatter can be heard from various groups of people draped in Ukrainian flags, while the sounds of cars honking in solidarity fills the background. The DJ cuts the music, and with a tap of a microphone silence befalls the previously energetic crowd.
“As the world fell into complacency, Russia started their aggressive war against Ukraine. A cowardly invasion: missile strikes, families torn apart, an entire nation forced to fight for its existence,” said Iryna Vasylkova, co-founder and vice president of the Stand
With Ukraine (SWU) Foundation.
Eight years after the annexation of Crimea, Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine. “I was in Ukraine; they were bombing schools, orphanages, and hospitals. Shrapnel wiped out hundreds of people. You can see a lot in 10 days. It was intense,” said Robert Zirgulis, a volunteer with Blue and Yellow, a non-government organization dedicated to providing aid to Ukraine.
The SWU Foundation hosted a march from the Santa Monica City Hall to the Santa Monica Pier in solidarity with Ukraine on the three-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine
invasion. The event, titled “Ukraine’s Resilience: A Life in Defense of Freedom,” brought together supporters with solidarity intentions, including Americans of Ukrainian descent and allies from Los Angeles.
On Dec. 5, 1994, the United States, Ukraine, Russia, and the United Kingdom entered the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurance. This diplomatic assurance guaranteed Ukraine’s sovereignty and promised U.S and U.K protection from Russian aggression; in return, Ukraine agreed to nuclear disarmament. Since the signing of the Budapest Memorandum, according to the U.S. State Department, Russia now occupies “Crimea,
Ukrainian supporters hold up signs, banners, and a 100-foot-long Ukrainian flag at the Remembrance Rally, hosted by Stand with Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the Santa Monica Pier, in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Feb.23, 2025. The rally was held to highlight the ongoing occupation of Ukraine. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
parts of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk, Mykolayiv, and Zaporizhzhya Oblasts.”
In an attempt to curb Russian aggression, the Biden administration teamed with allies to implement sanctions while simultaneously sending their own financial and military aid. According to the U.S. State Department, the United States has provided “$65.9 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its premeditated, unprovoked and brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and approximately $69.2 billion in military assistance since Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014,” but the war was still ongoing by the end of Biden’s presidency.
The current president, Donald J. Trump, has publicly criticized Biden’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine war. In an interview on the Brian Kilmeade show, he referred to the former president as “a very dumb man.” Trump vowed to end the war on day one of his presidency.
The war did not end on day one of his presidency, but peace talks have com-
menced, notably, without Ukrainian representatives. Trump has taken a new approach and shifted toward a more diplomatic relationship, directly communicating with the Russian president.
Some rallygoers voiced their dissent, like Norton Sandler, a member of the Socialist Workers Party. “What Washington is doing is outrageous,” said Sandler, later adding that “U.S troops and nukes should be out of Europe.” Others voiced their concern about negotiating directly with Putin.
“You can’t have peace with a murderer. Putin can pull out (of Ukraine) if he wants peace,” said Zirgulis.
Initial peace negotiations between the U.S and Russia concluded with the agreements that Ukraine would stay out of NATO, Russia would not cede any occupied land, and the U.S would control 50% of Ukraine’s mineral mines in now Russian-occupied land. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy,
in San Francisco and the Mayor of Los Angeles. They emphasize the importance of global support in Ukraine’s struggle for freedom and peace.
At the rally, after initial introductions, a prayer was led by Rev. Myroslav Mykytyuk of St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The crowd went silent as Mykytyuk led a prayer honoring those still on the front lines and those who have become martyrs. He was followed by California State Senator Benjamin Allen, who took the stage to reaffirm his commitment to the Ukrainian cause.
rejected the initial proposal, prompting President Trump to post on Truth Social, “Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left,” later adding at a press conference that Zelenskyy ”should have never started (the war).”
“What Trump is doing is repeating Russian propaganda. He sounds like a Russian agent,” said Anya Narysheva, a Ukraine-born Santa Monica local. “I feel betrayed. At the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine traded their nukes for U.S. security, and the current administration is not standing by that.”
SWU, a Los Angeles-based organization, was a leading resource for information, propaganda and humanitarian activities even before the full-scale invasion. Their mission is to organize many events to raise awareness and provide assistance in various aspects of Ukrainian immigration.
The foundation’s initiatives have been recognized by various government agencies and officials, including the Consulate General of Ukraine
“100,000 Ukrainian-Americans who live throughout (California) are living in fear, but not just fear, deep disappointment that the United States of America, this beacon of freedom, this country that has stood by freedom fighters throughout history, that won the Cold War, is considering changing its position, is realigning itself toward the KGB dictator in Russia,” said Allen. “A president from the party of Ronald Reagan is standing with Vladimir Putin, cutting Ukraine out of the negotiations. It is shameful. It is absolutely shameful… We have to stand up against this.”
State Assembly member Rick Chavez Zbur sent a representative to speak and show support as well.
In a nationwide phenomenon, former president Ronald Reagan is idolized in Ukraine for his role in the Cold War. In 2024,
California state senator Ben Allen speaks at the Remembrance Rally, hosted by Stand with Ukraine at Santa Monica City Hall in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)
Ukrainian supporters hold up signs that read “Putin is a terrorist” and “Ukraine is not for sale,” as well as a 100-footlong Ukrainian flag, at the Remembrance Rally hosted by Stand with Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the Santa Monica Pier, in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. The rally was held to highlight the ongoing occupation of Ukraine. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Ukrainian Parliamentarian Maryan Zablotskyy stated Reagan is “widely credited in Ukraine for being the one who actually made the Soviet Union to collapse because of his policies.” Zablotskyy is plotting to enact a permanent bust of Reagan in Kyiv.
Other speakers voiced admirations and prized quotations of Reagan. “President Ronald Reagan happens to be my favorite president,” said Melory Tsipouria, honorary consulate of Georgia in San Diego. “He famously said that freedom is only one generation away from extinction. Do we want to be that generation who let it slip away?”
Conrad Mazeika, president of the Baltic American Freedom League, doubled down on the embrace of Reagan. Quoting from his 1964 speech ‘A Time for Choosing,’ Mazeika reiterated, “‘you and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on Earth, or we will sentence them to the last step into a thousand years of darkness.’
“The choice is for us again. If we abandon Ukraine,
we do not just abandon a nation. We abandon our principles.”
Outside the line of megaphone fire, Zirgulis unfolded a display of his own photography documenting the summer of 2022 in Ukraine, in the unsettled aftermath of the invasion. Many of the photographs were, upon immediate observation, scenes of nonviolence.
Zirgulis commented on this by providing additional, bloodier contexts for individual photos. One photograph depicted a despairing building; mounds of uncollected corpses were submerged in dust just out of view, the photographer explained. Another showed a young girl sitting at a table and coloring; in one attack of shrapnel, her mother was killed and her fingers were severed. Zirgulis, who attended the nearby Santa Monica High School in the 1960s, confronted onlookers with the weapon itself in an additional display carrying bits of shrapnel.
The rally saw speeches from elected representatives, community leaders
Ukrainian National Guard, spoke to the crowd in Ukrainian. Vasylkova provided an English translation.
“I am very impressed to see you all and thank you for remembering Ukraine. Because today, like never before, Ukraine and the Ukrainian nation requires your help,” he said. “I am also very grateful to the Protez Foundation, owing to which I am able to stand in front of you.”
The Protez Foundation, a nonprofit that provides Ukrainians with prosthetics and related medical care, supplied the lieutenant’s prosthetic leg. “Imagine, in Ukraine we have about 59,000 soldiers that are in need of prosthetics… and that’s only an official number. We think that number is pretty high,” said Ruslan Sychov, digital and IT advisor for Protez, in a speech. “We encourage you to support our army. But please do not forget about veterans.”
and non-profit organizations alike. Members of different consulates from various countries came to show support, including Lithuania, Finland, Georgia, Latvia, Poland, Georgia, Spain, Ireland, Czech Republic, and more. Some came to show solidarity, and others sought to tell the history of their nation’s fight for freedom, which served as reminders of a not-so-distant past.
“For the battle being fought in Ukraine, it’s not just about Ukraine. It’s about all of us. It is about whether we will stand for the values that have defined the free world: liberty, justice, and the right of sovereign nations to determine their own destiny,” said Mazeika. “Whether you yield to the forces of tyranny and barbarism, we stand at the crossroads of peace. Just as the darkest days of the 20th century, when three nations had to choose… peace or confront tyranny, we face that same choice today. And let it be clear, appeasement does not bring peace.”
Illia Chornenkyi, lieutenant of the 15th Operational Brigade, Kara-Dag, of the
Ukrainian acts such as INKA, Sevile, and Maria Marisen came to perform throughout the rally. As each individual delivered their performance, “Slava Ukraini,” meaning “Glory to Ukraine,” and “Heroyam Slava,” translated as “Glory to the heroes,” could be heard throughout the crowd.
Musicians and politicians alike prefaced their performances with an admission of “wholehearted devotion to Ukraine.”
Ukrainian singer Vsiudysvoia opened the festivities with the Star-Spangled Banner; immediately after, singer INKA led the crowd in a rapturous recital of Ukraine’s nation-
A Ukrainian supporter holds up a sign that states, “Return Ukrainian POWs home,” at the Remembrance Rally, hosted by Stand with Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at Santa Monica City Hall in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. The rally was held to highlight the ongoing occupation of Ukraine. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
A group of Ukraine supporters makes their voices heard while peacefully gathering on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 in front of Santa Monica City Hall in Santa Monica, Calif. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)
al anthem. Moreover, the rally was soundtracked by a series of singers, a traveling accordion, and techno pop on a speaker during lulls.
“We fight with music,” Vasylkova told the Corsair. “We’re strong.”
Co-national appreciation was enforced by a banner reading “Freedom for Ukraine = Freedom for USA.” The crowd doubled up on patriotics, but demonstrated their preference in their vocalized affirmation of the Ukrainian anthem.
“Ukraine fights, and Ukraine will win. This is encoded in our national anthem,” said Vasylkova.
In addition, a minute of silence was held in memory of those who died during the conflict.
Shaded with IKEA-branded blue and gold parasols, pro-
testers brandished signs criticizing Trump and Putin, but were discouraged from repeating the same messages aloud.
One man, Eric Rizo, peppered a speech with calls of “Fuck Trump!” and “Fuck Putin!”, while swinging an American flag. A foundation organizer approached, placed his hands on Rizo’s shoulders and whispered in his ear. The calling stopped.
Rizo told the Corsair the organizer said to “stop yelling ‘Fuck Trump,’ because I could offend somebody,” and that he clarified, “just today.” Rizo complied, explaining he wanted “to help (the organizer) out.
Rizo further stated his outcries were trying to assure the rest of the rally that he didn’t vote for Trump. “I’m a big ally,” he said. “I’m just trying to make my voice heard.”
Meanwhile, signs broadcasting the same “Fuck Trump” message were touted without
restriction by SWU affiliates at the edge of the podium.
Attire ranged from casual activewear to orthodox vyshyvanka. Event attendees were demonstrating both their political demands - increasing Congressional funding of the war in Ukraine - and their nationalistic sensibilities.
“I want to express how proud I am to be Ukrainian, how proud I am of my compatriots,” said Vasylkova. “We are not the biggest (army), but we are mentally strongest.”
Woman holds sign at Remembrance Rally hosted by Stand with Ukraine at Santa Monica City Hall on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)
Ukrainian supporters hold up a 100-foot-long Ukrainian flag at the Remembrance Rally, hosted by Stand with Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the Santa Monica Pier, in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. The rally was held to highlight the ongoing occupation of Ukraine. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
“One of the most recent outrageous fabrications is the claim that President Zelenskyy is a dictator,” said George Wyhinny, former vice president of the Ukrainian Culture Center.
When Zelenskyy’s name arose, speakers and event organizers all staunchly defended Ukraine’s suspension of presidential and Parliamentary elections, an active measure since the country entered martial law in 2022. Statistics show that Ukrainian citizens are largely unfazed by the pause on democracy. According to a 2025 poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Zelenskyy’s approval rating is 57%.
While this figure is a decline from the initial 80% at the start of Zelenskyy’s term, it reflects an increase in popular opinion of 5% since last December.
“Ukrainian law, like the laws of many nations at war, suspends elections,” said Wyhinny. “How are citizens to cast their ballot when cities have been obliterated, when their homes have been reduced to rubble, when to step outside of their homes could mean death?”
The largest sign addressing the street read “If Every Country Had a ‘Dictator Zelensky’ We Would All Live In 100% Peace.”
In a pop-up installation
titled “Angels of Memory,” the children in attendance lined up to decal potted trees with paper angels in “a tribute to the Heavenly Hundred,” the civilians killed in the 2014 Euromaidan protest movement.
Finally, the marchers unveiled the monolith, a 100-footlong Ukrainian flag that, once hoisted, formed a tempting parachute for the children. Rallygoers rushed to the flag so they could hold pieces of the fabric. As they begin to mobilize, the chants begin to ring, including “Slava Ukraini,” “Ukraine is free, will always be,” and “Russia kills, Ukraine defends, U.S.A., stand with your friends.”
Once the underside of the flag was cleared, the procession chartered through Tongva Park and set upon the crowd hordes at the Santa Monica Pier.
As they marched through the park, onlookers clapped, took pictures, and yelled in solidarity. There appeared to be a general habit among bystanders that day to cheer instead of protest, but not all bystanders were supportive. Three men appeared to be spitting on the flag from an overhead bridge as the marchers passed, and once the act was over, the counter-protesters scurried from public view.
`Even with the giant flag ob-
A Ukrainian supporter holds up a sign that states, “Kakhovka is Ukraine” at the Remembrance Rally, hosted by Stand with Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at Santa Monica City Hall in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Feb.23, 2025. Kakhovka is a city in Ukraine, home to Ukraine’s largest reservoir, where on June 6, 2023, Russia is suspected of destroying the reservoir’s damn, killing 52 people and forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and depleting drinking water for 700,000 people. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
A Ukrainian supporter holds a Ukrainian flag up at the Remembrance Rally, hosted by Stand with Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at Santa Monica City Hall in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. The rally was held to highlight the ongoing occupation of Ukraine. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Two Ukrainian people hold each other in front of a Ukrainian flag at the Remembrance Rally, hosted by Stand with Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at Santa Monica City Hall in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. The rally was held to highlight the ongoing occupation of Ukraine. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
structing pedestrian walkways, the rallygoers imposed on amusement park wraiths meekly. Descending upon the boardwalk, the marchers, who chanted softly and obeyed the crosswalk signals, were squeezed into a planked passageway on the water. The stuffiness drowned their audio, overtaken by the mechanized symphony of carnival squeaks and springs.
It wasn’t much of an imposition. The flag politely sailed across the boardwalk, crammed between the sea and amusement, past vendors dripping ice cream and fishermen with buckets of sweaty catchall. The storm of the crowd was aurally crushed by the grind of roller coasters and metropolitan yelps. Here, most onlookers showed no signs of attention.
A few exceptions posed solidary contrast. One tip-hungry busker caught wind of the protesters and continued singing with some improv modifications to the lyrics: “You can’t take Ukraine away…. just leave Ukraine alone.”
At close range, another demonstration in miniature by the China Democratic Party, suited in yellow vests and hats, featured literature for distribution and a tableau of protesters in digitus impudicus. “We support you,” called a few SWU protesters, without loosening their grip on the flag.
After circling the Pier, the marchers came upon a swath of open space. With excess room, the procession coiled and merged into a nature-bound Fibonacci spiral. At a standstill, the march climaxed as the soft-bodied chants of “Slava Ukraini” revved into a holler.
A swift and conclusive victory was expected by the Kremlin in 2022, but three years later, the Ukrainian spirit hasn’t wavered. As the 100-foot flag was carried through the park, the sound of children laughing and playing could be heard; it was the sound of the ability to be a child.
“If we fight we will win. Ukraine fights, and Ukraine will win. This is in our national anthem, in all our folklore. Ukraine is a peaceful nation that has never invaded anyone. We are the brave, we are the bread basket to the world. We are the cultural heartbeat of Europe, with our amazing music, cultural heritage, and art. We just want to preserve our national and cultural identity, to be represented with dignity among our beautiful, brotherly nations. You know, like in this mosaic of free willed people. Ukraine is free, and it will always be,” said Vasylkova. “This is a genocidal war. We are fighting for our mere existence. (Putin) will not bring peace. He brings shame. It’s a lifetime fight for freedom. Several genocidal waves. Ukraine fights against barbarism.”
“100,000 Ukrainian-Americans who live throughout (California) are living in fear, but not just fear, deep disappointment that the United States of America, this beacon of freedom, this country that has stood by freedom fighters throughout history, that won the Cold War, is considering changing its position, is realigning itself toward the KGB dictator in Russia... We have to stand up against this.”
Ukrainian supporters hold Ukrainian flags up at the Remembrance Rally, hosted by Stand with Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at Santa Monica City Hall in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. The rally was held to highlight the ongoing occupation of Ukraine. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Chornenkyi, a Ukrainian veteran, speaks at the Remembrance Rally hosted by Stand with Ukraine at Santa
ca City Hall in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
(Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)
Illia
Moni-
She is wearing a unique costume, about which she states, “Today I am a surfer, who’s been in the waves, and I’m covered in debris, and toxic soot, and I lost an ear, and I have a tumor growing, and I’m just the sign of what’s to come if we don’t clean up the beaches.”
Natalja Kent is crossing Ocean Street at Colorado Avenue in front of the entrance to the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
