The Corsair Spring 2024 - Issue 3

The Corsair Staff

Editor-in-Chief | Cebelihle Hlatshwayo

Managing Editor | Reneé Bartlett-Webber

Photo Editor | Danilo Perez

Design Editor | Alejandro Contreras

Copy Editor | Taylor Smith

Arts & Entertainment Editor | Ava Cyr

Culture Editor | Carolina Romero

News Editor | Sohrab Pourjavady

Multimedia Editor | Amber Guerrero

Assistant Multimedia Editor | Gio Sosa

Opinion Editor | Brianna Johnson

Social Media Editor | Megan Meadows

Assistant Social Media Editor | MyDari Baker

Sports Editor | Ryan Abazari

Faculty Advisors

Sharyn Obsatz | Journalism Adviser

Gerard Burkhart | Photo Adviser

Samantha Nuñez | Social Media Adviser

Corsair Staff

Alexey Nosov | Blake Harris | Brianna Johnson | Bunker King | Caylo Seals | Chrissy Washington |

Danilo Peréz | Genesis Avila | Hazel Reyes | Jamael

Shotomide | Jeffrey Berrios | Jeremy Wolf | Karuna

Namala| Karen Lopez | Laurel Rahn | Libna Florêncio

| Makaela Fujimoto | Maya Dondonyan |Ryan Abazari |Sara Mendez | | Saiya Williams | Sofie Song |

Contact

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

Front & Back Pages

Grace Smith-Director of Public Information (top LR), Janet Robinson Faculty Leader for Transfer (top MR), Dallas Turner- student worker (top RR), Sherri Bradford -Black Collegians Programs Leader (2nd RL), Maria Martinez- Adelante Program Leader (2nd MLR), Rosa Martinez -Adelante Counselor (2nd MRR), Leisha Smith-Student Worker (2nd RR), Jocelyn Winn - Student Services Specialist (3rd LR), Patti Del Valle - Adelante Counselor (3rd LMR), Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins - Interim Associate Dean at the Media and Design at SMC (3rd MRR), Dr. Kenji Jones (3rd RR), Dr. Margaret Quinones

Perez - Board of Trustees Chair (4th LR), Sharyn ObsatzJournalism Adviser (4th LMR), Linda Davis - Counselor (4th MRR), Janet Tercero - Student Services Specialist (4th RR), Aaliyah - Student worker( 5th LR), Nahomy Rivas - student worker (5th MR), Dr. Nancy Greenstein - Board of Trustees Vice Chair (5th RR). SMC Staff and

Tuesday March 19, 2024

student worker Group photo,

.

This Page

Student workers from the Black Collegians programLeisha Smith (ltop), Dallas Turner (middle),Aaliyah(bottom), Tuesday March 19, 2024

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Thank you.

When thinking of ideas for this issue, I admit this was one of the most daunting challenges, as I had expectations for what I wanted this issue to be. I wanted it to be celebrated and impactful, but not cliché; anything but cliché. Everything that came to mind about how I wanted to showcase the power of female pres,ence and the impact of that presence felt like it was not enough.

I wanted non-believers of women to experience the same awe I feel when reading about the incredible women from my birth country. Since August 9th, 1956, South African women have chanted "Wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo" (You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock) as their battle cry to fight for their rights. Similarly, the Women's March on Washington, hailed as the largest single-day protest in U.S. history, a movement that united women from across the country, advocating not just for their own rights but for a shared vision of the future.

My ideas fell short of displaying the feeling that I wanted so many people to be struck by when they saw this cover: that women are incredible, that women are power personified, grace amplified, and more than enough.

Asking myself what I wanted to accomplish for this issue made me realize that, instead of showcasing the exemplary power of women and the evidence of that power within the women of Santa Monica College, I was trying to prove or convince readers what I believe they should already know.

It then dawned on me that doing so would be a disservice not only to the women in this issue and myself but also

communicates that I see all of you tenacious women and that I am touched by your existence. If that seems cliché, then so be it, but for me, gratitude can never be overdone, and it does not need originality, just sincerity.

So to all the women, thank you for confronting your demons every day, thank you for showing up for yourselves when it felt impossible, thank you for facing the naysayers and telling

Their sole existence and presence are and always have been more than enough

to what I now believe Women's History Month should be all about. Women's Month is a moment to reflect on the incredible feats of the women who have helped shape the present and the women who are currently shaping the future and say thank you. Their accomplishments are extraordinary, but these women are more than what they have achieved and done for others; their sole existence and presence are and always have been more than enough.

This issue, for me, and hopefully for all of you, should be more than another piece of evidence to prove that women are capable. It is a tangible message of gratitude to all the women of Santa Monica College and all the women who will read it. It

them "I can and I will," thank you for choosing yourselves even when it felt selfish, thank you for speaking up even when it meant losing favor in the spaces you were breaking barriers in, thank you for failing, thank you for winning, thank you for seeing the generations after you and nurturing them until they believed in tomorrow. Thank you for being the first, thank you for being the only, and thank you for accepting the pain, the joy, the fear, and the confidence that comes with life. Thank you for the love you pour into us daily in your unique ways.

Thank you to all the women at Santa Monica College who have touched my life by opening doors I didn't ever think could be opened and shutting the ones you

worked hard for myself and many Santa Monica College students to never have to go through. To the female bus drivers who wish me good morning and good night as they drop me off safely to my destination every day, to the incredible women at the Corsair, to Sherri Bradford, to Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, to Sharyn Obsatz, to my managing editor Renée Bartlett-Webber.

Thank you my cousins, aunts, and grandmothers, to my friends Febe, Gabby, Alice, Mireya, to my best friends, Naledi Mthembu, Buhle Dlulane, Ntokozo Khawula, Katlego Mokua, to my big sister Tshiamo, Lwazi, to my bonus moms Mama Happy, Mama Dudu, Mama Nomonde, Mama Lydia, Mama Maletsatsi to my princesses Nqubeko and Qinisa: Thank you for being the light at the end of the tunnel. Finally, to my first love, my first and forever best friend, Thembeni Badanile Nyundu-Hlatshwayo, Mama. Ndlovukazi yami, ngiyakuthanda ngenhlinziyo yami yonke. Ngiyabonga. Happy Women's History Month to you all.

Cebelihle Hlatshwayo Editor-in-Chief

The Beginners Guide to the Month of Madness

Ryan Abazari | Sports Editor

With March, Americans not only get the start of spring and warmer weather but, more importantly, the start of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament, more commonly known as March Madness. This piece will serve as a guide for anyone looking to learn more about this month-long tournament that will narrow the field down from 68 teams to one champion.

The men's tournament began in 1939, and the first iteration of the tournament only had eight collegiate teams, while the women's tournament began in 1982 with only 32 teams. However, the tournament that viewers know and love today began later. In 1985, the NCAA expanded the tournament in order to include more teams, therefore building their fanbase and bringing in more profit. The same change was made on the women’s side in 1994. This new tournament pits the best 68 teams of the previous collegiate season in a one-game win-orgo-home tournament-style bracket. Given that there are over 350 Division One college basketball teams, this tournament is notoriously large, and there is a selection committee that whittles them down.

The First Four is an interesting wrinkle that's been added to the tournament as of 2011. This is slightly confusing for the new fan, so to simplify it, eight teams com-

pete in play-in games, with the four winners going into the main tournament.

Qualification for the tournament has two paths. The first and most straightforward way is for a team to win its conference tournament. A conference is essentially a grouping of 8 to 16 teams that are usually in one local area. For example, there is a conference called the West Coast Conference (WCC), which, as its name suggests, is populated mainly by teams on the West Coast. There are 32 of these conferences, and the teams in them play their regular-season games against each other in preparation for the tournament. Each conference tournament has its own variations for qualification from its member teams, but they all serve the same purpose: to determine one sole winner who will automatically be qualified for March Madness to represent the conference as its champion.

"It's hard to win in March. Those teams are really good, too. But you have to get a little luck and get the right matchups and have to be playing your best.”

– San Diego State Head Coach Brian Dutcher

second path to qualify for March Madness is what is called an at-large bid. Essentially, a committee that is composed of various college athletic directors and conference commissioners was created solely to adjudicate and judge teams, ranking what they see as the 36 best teams in the country that did not win their conference tournament. So, while the selection process doesn’t have any set criteria, the important things a team needs are a good record in the regular season, wins over teams that are also very good, and avoiding losses against bad teams. This isn’t to say the committee always picks these teams perfectly, as every year there is a ton of controversy over the picks. Once the committee selects the 36 teams, the field is set, and the madness can begin.

and the national championship. The alliterative names have become a fun component in the naming of the tournament. The beauty of the tournament lies in the one-game win-or-go-home style that allows for anything to happen. For example, in 2022, 15-seed Saint Peters was able to make it all the way to the elite eight teams. While some would assume the final four to be the four one-seeds constantly, that's only ever happened once in the history of the tournament, showcasing its unpredictability.

"It's hard to win in March. Those teams are really good, too, but you have to get a little luck and get the right matchups and have to be playing your best,” said San Diego State University Head Coach Brian Dutcher in his postgame press conference after his team's National Championship loss last year against the University of Connecticut.

That is how 32 of the 68 teams are decided, however, deciding the other 36 is where it gets difficult. The

The committee will seed teams from 1 to 16 spread out over four regional areas: East, South, West, and Midwest. A one seed will play a 16 seed, a two seed will play a 15 seed, and so on. Teams will compete in a round of 64, a round of 32, a sweet 16, an elite eight, the final four,

So, each team has the same opportunity and the same goal: win six straight games and become national champions, which is easier said than done. Despite all the chaos that happens in this tournament, the one constant is that madness will ensue over the next month. Cinderella stories will be told, giants will be slain, game winners will be made, and one team will cement itself in the history books as national champions.

MORE MADNESS

A collection of slam dunk facts and ballin' stories.

Ryan Abazari | Sports Editor

The Story of Little Dog that Could 2024: The Year of Perfection?

While March is full of upsets and unpredictability, there has always remained one constant: one-seeds beating 16-seeds. In fact, as of 2018, 16-seeds were 0-135 all-time in the tournament against one-seeds. The 2018 bracket was revealed, and the one-seed Virginia Cavaliers were slated to play the 16-seed University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers. Going into their matchup, Virginia was favored to win this game by 20.5 points, was the overall one-seed in the tournament, had only lost two games all year, and was the second betting favorite to win the tournament. UMBC ended up shocking the world by beating Virginia by 20 points and, in turn, becoming the first ever 16-seed to beat a oneseed. The streak was broken, and despite losing in the next round, the Retrievers would go down in history with the biggest upset in college basketball history.

As of now, March 26, there are currently four women's brackets that have correctly selected the winners of the first 48 games of the tournament. They collectively currently hold the women's record and are only 2 games away from breaking the overall record of 49. They are 15 games away from becoming the first-ever bracket, male or female, to achieve perfection.

Odds are:

1 in 9,

223,372, 036,854, 775,808

The actual odds of predicting all 63 games correct are 1 in 9.2 quintillion. For reference there are 7.5 quintillion

The "Almost" Perfect Bracket

There are 63 total games in March Madness. Predicting the outcomes of these games has become a bigger deal for some than the actual tournament, and every year people constantly predict dozens of these games incorrectly. In 2019, Gregg Nigl filled out one of the millions of brackets with dumb hope. However, his bracket was different from the others. Nigl’s bracket would correctly predict the first 49 games of the tournament, shattering the previous record of 39. Some might assume he was a college basketball messiah, but Nigl was just an average fan who randomly made this bracket an hour before the tournament while delirious on cold medicine. Nigl’s story is the perfect example of the randomness of March Madness and how anything can happen with a little dumb luck.

Volta Collective featured at SMC

On March 14, Volta Collective created a space in the Santa Monica College’s Core Performance Center (CPC), where Mamie Green and Megan Paradowski led students in connecting with one another through dance. Volta Collective focussed on demonstrating and teaching students how to balance personal and partner weight in unconventional movements.

According to VoltaCollective.com, “Volta fuses physicality, theatricality and multidisciplinary approaches to performance.” Volta

has been highlighted by the LA Times and has presented their works throughout the US and even internationally.

The dance series at SMC will be held again on May 2 at CPC 310 on the main campus at 10:15 AM. This session will be directed by Ray Basa, presenting “House Dance”; house dance exercises.

Alexey Nosov | Staff Photographer

Above: Megan Paradowski (left) and Mamie Green (right) of Volta Collective showing attendants a dance move involving balancing and transferring partner’s weight as part of ‘Volta Collective: Colliding Bodies’ event at Santa Monica College (SMC), Santa Monica, Calif., on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Below: Megan Paradowski (supporting) and Mamie Green (supported) of Volta Collective showing attendants a dance move involving balancing and transferring partner’s weight as part of ‘Volta Collective: Colliding Bodies’ event at Santa Monica College (SMC), Santa Monica, Calif., on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Photos by Alexey Nosov

Santa Monica College (SMC) Dance Program students performing a newly learned move as part of ‘Volta Collective: Colliding Bodies’ event at SMC, Santa Monica, Calif., on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Attendees of various age, background and level of preparation practice a newly learned move as part of ‘Volta Collective: Colliding Bodies’ event at Santa Monica College (SMC), Santa Monica, Calif., on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

A Salute to Black Women in Business

Sohrab Pourjavady | News Editor

The Black Business Association hosted their 21st annual celebration "To Salute Black Women” on Saturday at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel, with this year’s theme of “Celebrating Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” This came about after Black History Month last month and during Women's History Month this month.

Among the members who spoke was Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. She was unable to receive her award last year but the Association made sure she received her recognition as the first female and the second African American Mayor of Los Angeles.

In her speech, Mayor Bass reminded attendees of the privilege of living in a place such as Los Angeles as she said, “Yes, we have to fight for it. We have to never forget to fight for it. But in other states, diversity, equity, and inclusion is being made illegal.” She further explained that “there are people in our country that want to talk about the good stories and don’t want to talk about the challenges that we face in this country,” referring to Republican states like Florida that have actively been passing laws such as the “Stop WOKE Act,'' which has drawn a lot of critics, especially from the left.

The Black Business As-

sociation is one of the oldest active ethnic business support organizations in California, originally founded by Earl "Skip" Cooper II in 1970, until his retirement in which Sarrah R. Harris took the mantle. The foundation’s overall incentive is to promote Black business so there would be “a firm economic base that supports the self-determination and prosperity of Black and urban communities locally and nationally.”

“Yes, we have to fight for it. We have to never forget to fight for it. But in other states, diversity, equity, and inclusion is being made illegal.”

– Los Angeles Mayor

Karen Bass

The event featured a section full of vendors representing Black businesses and partners of the association.The majority of the vendors were small businesses, like that of Seita Hill, the owner of Milk and Melts BBT. “My business caters to women of color, specifically Black women,” Hill said, “because we need to be represented in our community, so I create products that have representation of Black women because we don’t see that a lot.”

However, small businesses were not the only types of vendors present; county government agencies such as the Los Angeles Metro and the Department of Water and Power were among some of the sponsors, in addition to companies such as Morgan Stanley. Florence Enueme, a wealth manager and representative of Morgan Stanley, said, “The world is ever-evolving. I think it is time for people, not just men but also women, specifically women of color, to see that there are possibilities and space for them in this industry.”

After attendees finished exploring the vendor fair and walking the gold carpet, the luncheon and conference began, during which influential Black women were honored for their achievements. One of those figures being recognized was Ventris C. Gibson, the current director of the United States Mint. President Joe Biden nominated Gibson in 2021 and in 2022 after being confirmed by the senate, and she officially became the first Black woman to hold that position.

The event ended with raffling winners and an additional award ceremony for individuals who, by breaking the norms, have paved the way for other black women in business.

(Left) Attendees of the Black Business Association event pose for photos on the red carpet.

(Far Left) Seita Hill chats with her customers at her Milk & Melts product booth.

(Above) Mayor Karen Bass gives a speech at the Black Business Association event in Inglewood, Calif., on March 23, 2024.

Photo by Luca Martinez

Rocío Camargo, film studies student at Santa Monica College, Culver City, Calif., on March 24, 2024. (Alexey Nosov | The Corsair)

In Conversation with Rocío Camargo

How Rocío Camargo plans to make her mark in Hollywood.

Hazel Reyes | Staff Writer

Like Edward Scissorhands, he tries to fit in with his pastel suburban neighborhood, Rocío Camargo has big plans to make her mark in the film industry made of Hollywood bigwigs.

Many film students have that one movie that made them realize they can pursue this as a career; a film that had a gravitational pull on their lives.

of working in the film industry. At only 19 years of age, she has her mind set on what she wants to do.

"This is how far someone’s imagination can go."

- Rocío Camargo

For Camargo, that film was Edward Scissorhands. “I think I was 10 years old. That’s the movie that told me that I could do this,” she said.“This is how far someone’s imagination can go; I was obsessed with it and how weird it was.” She marveled at Tim Burton’s unique storytelling, and to this day, it is one of her alltime favorite films.

Camargo was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. At such a young age, Camargo felt a deep affinity for movies and shared how her parents were also big cinephiles.

She moved to San Diego at the age of 15 during the gruesome pandemic. After having to endure her junior and senior years of high school fully online, she moved to Los Angeles to attend Santa Monica College (SMC) to pursue her dreams

For Camargo, she doesn’t have a preference for what role she would like to take on in the future “as long as I’m in the room.” Beyond her acting pursuits, she emphasized how she has also grown an affinity with screenwriting. On

a windy day at SMCSanta Monica College, Rocío Camargo finished her advanced screenwriting class and had a moment to sit down before going to her next class.; In a silent moment, she contemplated if she ever saw herself taking on the role of a writer, director, an actress, or if she ever felt discouraged by the lack of Latin representation. “Yeah, I think so, but it was more because I was a woman, to be behind the camera.”

She saidthen delved it is into how rare it was to see a female director or writer at awards shows, more specifically, Latina women. “I think that’s why I wanted to be an actress, because it seemed easier.” Out of the 95 Academy Awards ceremonies only 2 women have won the Best Director award. In more re-

cent years, the Academy has nominated female directors such as Greta Gerwig, Chloé Zhao, who had a historic win, and more recently in 2024, Justine Triet.

Carmago explored the idea of cultural and racial stereotypes being harmful to those watching and those who are being represented. “Culture is attached to the identity of the individual –the stereotypes can be unnecessary if it doesn't help the character grow,” Carmago said. “It has [been] better with ethnicities, body types –step by step but we still need some work.” She laughed at this statement.

Camargo spoke about the lack of connections she has in the industry because she moved to the United States recently, so it is harder for her to break into Hollywood. “I was really scared when I [chose] this major,” she said after mentioning how male-dominated film is.

cause I'm a woman, I'm Latina, English is not my first language.” Camargo wants to tell stories about people like her. “I never saw myself in a story on the screen,” she said, and she intends to change that.

Here at SMC, Camargo agreed that it is much more diverse than the entirety of Los Angeles. When asked if she feels if there is a space for her voice in her film classes, Camargo said yes. “I was surprised by the fact that I felt like I belonged. I feel included. SMC does a great job of including all ethnicities – I can freely talk about my identity and even include it in my scripts in screenwriting,” Camargo said.

"I feel included. SMC does a great job of including all ethnicities – I can freely talk about my identity."

- Rocío Camargo

Considering she only began speaking English five years ago when moving to San Diego, “I felt scared because of my accent – Be-

Voices like Rocío Camargo’s can change the film industry in terms of storytelling and showcasing her creativity. Her experiences will be impactful to bring onto the silver screen, and through Carmago’s own success, those with similar upbringings will be able to see themselves on the screen and feel seen. Everyone should look forward to searching for her name in

Beyond Directing: Dr. Harrop’s Lasting Influence

Ava Cyr | Arts & Entertainment Editor

After 45 years of directing, SMC theater professor and director Dr. Adrianne Harrop’s influence and encouragement continue to inspire student actors. Her newest production of Ken Ludwig’s “Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood” falls nothing short of excellence.

Harrop chose this fun-loving, heartfelt comedy for Santa Monica College’s (SMC) spring semester. She has brought to life a magical story that is sure to uplift and generate laughs from the crowds.

Born in the South and raised on the East Coast, Harrop has been on stage from a very young age. “Well, in my office is a photograph of a little five-year-old girl dressed up as Snow White in the kindergarten show “Snow White,” so I guess I’ve been acting since I was five years old,” she said.

As Harrop emerged into adulthood, she attended the University of Iowa for Theater and obtained her master’s degree in Fine Arts at Stanford. She also completed her doctoral degree in Theater at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and received an MBA at Pepperdine.

After acting for most of her adolescence and early adulthood, Harrop transitioned into directing. “It’s just a natural thing to go into directing. You’ve done that part of it [acting], so you kinda want to be in charge instead of being the one that’s being moved around,” she said.

In addition to earning multiple degrees, Harrop has also taught and directed internationally and visited over 80 countries.

Since directing over 200 hundred productions at SMC, Harrop’s main drive for continuing her craft is those she has the pleasure of working with.

“I’m really picky when choosing my cast,” Harrop said. Not only do they have to have talent, but they also have to be team players in the ensemble, and this is a blessed cast. All of my casts have been blessed casts.”

Along with cultivating a productive, creative space,

Harrop also places the utmost importance on supporting and encouraging her actors throughout the production process. Collectively, all of the actors conveyed fond feelings about their time with Harrop.

“When she wants you to be a part of something and invites you to it, she has a warm and welcoming way of doing that, and she very much feels supportive and like a family,” said Scotty Cullen, an SMC Theater Arts major who plays Friar Tuck, the narrator.

Dereck J. Gallardo, an SMC Film major who plays Little John, Robin’s friend,

said, “I still don't even consider myself an actor. I’m more of a film person. Without her, I wouldn’t be here. She’s such a tremendous teacher.”

For other castmates, Harrop’s influence stemmed further than their academic endeavors. Marin Halbert, SMC Theater Arts major playing Deorwynn Miller, shared her experience with a previous theater company in which she was told she was “worthless” and “would never amount to much.” When Halbert met Harrop, she was shocked by the support.“The first time I ever did anything for her, I performed a mono-

Professor and Director of "Ken Ludwig's Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood", Doctor Adrienne Harrop talks about her career and the production at the Main Stage at Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday.

logue, and she was sobbing after it,” said Halbert, feeling greatly respected after that experience.

Harrop’s ability to foster uplifting and nurturing relationships with her actors and students has impacted many individuals’ lives. Many today have Harrop to thank for aiding their personal development.

“I designed this theater, I dreamed of this theater, I helped raise the money for this theater-” Harrop said. “Getting the bond issue passed. I worked with architects. Interestingly enough, the architects ended up being from Stanford, and I kinda knew them.”

SMC’s main stage theater was modeled after UCLA’s

“I’ve grown so much as a person while working with her, not just with acting,”

- Alex Cole

Pauley Pavilion, an indoor arena with steeply raked seating, making it accessible for those to view the attraction from any seat.

“This theater is one of the best around. Because I’m so short, I made sure that every seat in the house had a

perfect view of the stage –there is no seat in this house behind another seat. Every single seat is interspersed, and the architects had a fit,” Harrop said.

As yet another production directed by Harrop comes to a close, her imprint on those

involved in the project will forever be remembered for her influence.

Alex Cole, an SMC Theater Arts major playing Robin Hood, explained that he has grown in all aspects of his life, not only creatively but also in his day-to-day confidence. “I’ve grown so much as a person while working with her, not just with acting,” Cole said.

Harrop’s rendition of “Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood” can be viewed at the SMC Main Stage theater on March 29, 30, and 31 at 7:30 p.m. and March 31 at 2 p.m. Admission is $20 for general admission, $18 for seniors (62+), and $15 for SMC students and staff with proof of ID.

Photos by Libna Florencio\

Students and actors prepare for the dress rehearsal of "Ken Ludwig's Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood" at Santa Monica College (SMC), Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday. The students play premiered on March 22 at the Main Stage at SMC.

Will Beyoncé Lead the Way?

Jeffery Berrios | Staff Writer

On the day of the Super Bowl, the country was left stunned not because of the 49ers and the Chiefs going overtime or Usher’s spectacular halftime show performance, but because immediately after starring in a Superbowl Verizon ad, Beyonce dropped her two lead singles titled “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” for her next country inspired project, “Act II: Carter Cowboy.”

Reactions to the song were divided. Although many Beyonce fans celebrated the artist's transition into the country genre, some country fans expressed confusion and questioned whether the song even qualified as country.

Maydi Brezir, a student at Santa Monica College (SMC) said, “I think it’s interesting. I don’t like it because I’m not a big fan of country, but she makes it work. She’s expanding her audience, and she’s already well known, so I think it’s smart to do because she can always go back to the music she’s used to doing.” When asked about the backlash Beyonce received, Brezir said, “They wouldn’t be mad if Billie Eilish started doing country.”

It only took a few days after the release before controversy struck. A Beyonce fan by the name of Justin Mc-

Gowan took to his X account, formerly known as Twitter, and posted an email exchange with his local country radio station in Oklahoma, KYKC. The email showed Mcgowan requesting they play Beyonce’s new single, and the radio station stating that they do not play Beyonce as they are a “country music station.”

Many Beyonce fans took to X to express their outrage towards the radio station, with McGowan specifically stating, “This station needs to be held accountable for their blatant racism and discrimination against Beyonce.” After KYKC’s emails were flooded with requests and complaints, KYKC general manager Roger Harris released a statement stating, “We just didn’t know about the song … then when we found out about it, we tried to get the song … which we did and we have already played it 3 times on YKC, our country station.”

“This album was born out of an experience I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed.” – Beyoncé

This is not the first time country radio stations have been accused of trying to bury Black artists’ ventures into the industry. In 2019, country radio stations noticeably ignored rapper Lil Nas X's hit song “Old Town Road” which was a country-in- spired song. The song was also controversially removed from the country music charts a week before it was set to debut at #1. Billboard explained its decision to remove the song stating, “The song did not embrace enough elements of today’s country music.” However, once Billy Ray Cyrus hopped on the remix, the song charted #1 on the Hot 100 Charts for 19 weeks straight, making it the longest-running No.1 single of all time.

This is not the

first time Beyonce has found herself at the end of backlash from country music fans. In 2016, Beyonce teased her possible venture into country music when she performed “Daddy Lessons” with the all-female country band The Chicks at the Country Music Awards (CMA). Although this performance received much praise on social media, there was also a lot of backlash from many questioning her presence. In a recent post on Instagram, Beyonce alluded to this album being made in response to her CMA performance. “This album was born out of an experience I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed,” she stated.

The backlash was the catalyst for many debates among Beyonce and country fans on social media, claiming that the hate Beyonce was receiving stemmed from racism. Many Beyonce supporters across all social media platforms brought up the history of Black country artists being overlooked and mistreated, referring to the racist social media attacks Beyonce received since her appearance on the CMA’s.

Many of her fans and news sites believe that “Carter Cowboy” could open the doors for many Black country musicians to be recognized, as well as encourage America to take the first step in recognizing the origins of country music. This would entail giving credit to Black contributors such as Gus Cannon, who served as a mentor to the renowned country music artist Johnny Cash, as well as acknowledging that slaves produced the initial sounds of country music. SMC student Sarah Merha called Beyonce’s daring transition into country music “brave.”

Beyonce’s anticipated country-inspired album “Act 2: Cowboy Carter” drops Aug. 29.

Ilustration by Renée Bar Bartlett-Webber

The Girls On The Bus A New Take on Journalists in Media

Karuna Namala | Staff Writer

Anew HBO series called “The Girls on the Bus,” starring “Supergirl’s” Melissa Benoist, Carla Gugino, Christina Elmore, and Natasha Behnman, released its first two episodes on March 14, with weekly episode drops each Thursday. The hour-long drama covers four political investigative journalists and their journey toward friendship during the presidential election.

Based on Amy Chozicks novel, “Chasing Hillary,” the series is set to unfold how these women on the same campaign trail investigate the candidates. All four women follow the same candidate on press releases, appearances, and more.

The trailer teased sex scandals, queer relationships, drama, and of course, politics. So far, the show lives up to it!

The first episode aimed to hook viewers with Sadie McCarthy, played by Benoist, getting arrested. Sadie is the series’s main protagonist and a reporter at the New York Sentinal who tends to show her bias. Partially narrated by Benoist, the episode led to the events leading up to her character's arrest.

The show is filled with the harsh realities of modern journalism, shown through Sadie’s struggles to regain credibility after her meltdown on the previous campaign trail went viral.

Despite her working to rebuild her reputation as a respected journalist, bitter reunions and burner phones get in the way, leading Sadie into another downward spiral. Investigating a certain relic from her past, she becomes consumed by conspiracies, anxieties, and impulsive behavior.

Grace Gordon Green, played by Gugino, is Sadie’s coworker at the New York Sentinel. Grace is Sadie’s only confidant and friend. Grace herself does not play around and is a hard-hitting journalist unafraid to make her mark.

In episode three, we see Grace waver from professionalism, letting bias

and personal matters interfere with her work.

Lola Rahaii, played by Behnman, is a social media influencer and citizen journalist. The other journalists on the trail dislike Lola as she is a social media reporter, categorizing her as a sellout and a typical millennial.

By episode three, Lola’s seemingly unshakable confidence wavers but returns when she bumps into someone who catches her eye.

While Grace is initially particularly critical of Lola, by episode two, they formed an unlikely bond, teaching each other about their different worlds of journalism. In episode three, Sadie and Lola become quite familiar with each other, with Sadie showing her the ropes of the press.

The show displays the trials faced by modern journalists who embrace social media as an outlet. Lola is excluded from her traditional journalist peers, and Sade, Grace, and Kimberly are the only ones reaching out to guide her.

Finally, Kimberly Kendrick, played by Elmore, is a right-wing journalist and rival of the three more progressive journalists. Freshly engaged and on the trail, she does not waste time with pleasantries towards journalists at competing papers. By the end of episode two, Kimberly shows her more progressive side.

Episode three also starts to push these four women closer together, slowly unveiling their inevitable sisterhood.

The series so far is riveting, with twists and turns in the first episodes, and is most definitely binge-worthy.

However, fans will have to wait for the new episodes to drop on HBO each Thursday until all ten episodes have been released. This week, more will unfold on how these journalists let their personal lives interfere and if Sadie is

due for a scandal.

Illustration

Patti Del Valle - Adelante Counselor, Ee Lin Tsen A.S. Director of Basic Needs, Janet Robinson Faculty Leader for Transfer, Grace Smith-Director of Public Information, Jocelyn Winn - Student Services Specialist, Nahomy Rivas - student worker, Dr. Kenji Jones (top R), Lina F. A.S. Director of Publicity (top MR), Leisha Smith- President of the Black Collegians Club, SMC Adelante Program Faculty Rosa Martinez, Linda Davis - Counselor, Sharyn Obsatz - Journalism Instructor & Advisor for the Corsair, Dallas Turner- student worker, Aaliyah - Student worker, (LLR)Sherri Bradford -Black Collegians Programs Leader, Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins - Interim Associate Dean at the Media and Design at SMC, Dr. Margaret Quinones Perez - Board of Trustees Chair, Dr. Nancy Greenstein - Board of Trustees Vice Chair. SMC Staff and student worker Group photo, Tuesday March 19, 2024 .

Woman of Influence

As Women's History Month draws to a close and is celebrated globally, it’s a time to reflect on the strides made by women in the past, present, and future. On a global scale, but also in our immediate community here at Santa Monica College (SMC), where the impact of women's contributions is seen and felt.

At SMC, the presence and influence of women in faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, and student government is a constant reminder of the societal shift long fought for by women and continues to be. This shift is not just about representation but about breaking barriers and rewriting historical limitations that once hindered women from these positions of influence and power.

The impact of women at SMC cannot be overlooked with the significant representation of women across all levels of the institution. From the classroom to the administrative offices, women are

not merely present but actively engaged, shaping the academic environment and institutional policies.

In lecture halls and laboratories, women educators bring diverse perspectives, and their contributions extend beyond creating and teaching curriculum; they serve as mentors, guiding aspiring minds and nurturing future leaders.

According to the SMC’s Diversity Report, as of Fall 2023, most academic administrators identifying as female represented 64.4% of the total. Additionally, representation of women among full-time faculty at SMC stands at 57.3%, with the sex/ gender breakdown.

The Board of Trustees tasked with overseeing SMC showcases a strong representation of women. Three of the seven seats on the board are held by women, and Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez serves as chair.

Their presence highlights progress in inclusive decision-making and the rec-

ognition of the invaluable insights women bring to the table.

Furthermore, within the student government, women stand tall as advocates for student rights and voices of change. Women hold ten out of the sixteen positions to which they have been elected by their peers.

These female leaders champion initiatives that promote inclusivity, diversity, and student welfare.

SMC's student body is incredibly diverse. Individuals come from various backgrounds and corners of the globe, each facing unique struggles to obtain their education. When asked about whether they believe female representation is important on campus, many students expressed their perspectives:

"For me, personally, I don't think I'd be in college without the support of the female faculty. I've been to other colleges, and it's also mostly women on staff, whether it's counseling, student government, or

professors. I hate to be stereotypical, but women have this nurturing ability, and it's that emotional support that has gotten me through a lot in my college experience," remarked Carlos Castillo, a sophomore at SMC studying social sciences. "Definitely! Sometimes, the male professors can be a lot more intimidating and hard to approach, but I find that with the female professors, I don't have that problem. It’s not always the case. Still, since I've been at the college, that's been my experience," shared Jose Garcia, a junior at SMC.

Yet, as the world celebrates the progress witnessed at SMC and the world, it's important to acknowledge that the work is far from over.

While the overturning of Roe v. Wade impacts women's reproductive rights and access to safe and legal abortion nationwide, women in Iran are fighting for the removal of the mandatory hijab law in Iran, enforced since 1979. The le-

Above: SMC Adelante Program Faculty Rosa Martinez -Adelante Counselor (right), Patti Del Valle - Adelante Counselor (middle right), Maria Martinez- Adelante Program Leader (middle), Janet Tercero - Student Services Specialist (middle left), Adelante program student worker Nahomy Rivas (left). Tuesday March 019, 2024w

Photos by Akejandro Contreras | The Corsair

galization of genital mutilation of women in the Gambia and Femicide is on the rise globally. It is important to recognize the responsibility we all have as women to continue breaking barriers.

However, amidst these challenges, there are voices of inspiration and encouragement. Ashanti Blaise Hopkins, interim associate dean for the Center for Media and Design at SMC and the first Black woman ever elected as president of the Society of Professional Journalists, recently delivered an empowering message at a conference in San Diego. She urged individuals who find themselves in spaces where historically they aren't the majority to "take up space" and use their voices.

"Do not be afraid to be your authentic self, and don't be afraid to be the first," she emphasized. Hopkins acknowledged the daunting nature of being a trailblazer but highlighted its significance in setting examples for others with similar backgrounds and experiences.

The road to gender equality in society is difficult and marked by struggles and victories. However, as the world commemorates Women's Month, remember to celebrate the achievements of the women at SMC and beyond. Their contributions serve as a sign of hope and inspiration towards a more equitable and inclusive future. This important work reaffirms their commitment to supporting women in education and leadership, recognizing that their success is a success for all.

" For me, personally, I don't think I'd be in college without the support of the female faculty - Carlos Castillo

Santa Monica Board of Trustees members Dr. Nancy Greenstein Vice Chair (left), Dr. Margaret Quinones-Perez Chair (right), Tuesday March 18,2024student workers of Black Collegians at SMC. Tuesday March 19, 2024

Above: Jocelyn Winn - Student Services Specialist (left), Sherri Bradford -Black Collegians Programs Leader (2nd left) Leisha Smith - student Worker (3rd left), Dallas Turner- student worker (middle), Aaliyah - Student worker (3rd right), Linda Davis - Counselor (2nd right), are the faculty and student workers of Black Collegians at SMC. Tuesday March 19, 2024

Photos by Akejandro Contreras | The Corsair

Below: Student workers from the Black Collegians and Adelante program Dallas Turner (left), Aaliyah (middle left), Nahomy Rivas (middle right), Black Collegians Leisha Smith (right), Tuesday March 19, 2024