THE
CORSAIR OCTOBER 19, 2017 | VOLUME 114 ISSUE 03 | SANTA MONICA COLLEGE FIRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25
NOV, 16 2016 | VOLUME 112 ISSUE 05 | SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
FIRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25
PICO BLOCK PARTY ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, & MORE:
$60K POOLED FOR DACA APPS (P.3) FOOTBALL COACH TURNOVER (P.10) VET'S TALE ON KNEELING CONTROVERSY (P.10) THE CORSAIR • THECORSAIRONLINE.COM • 1660 STEWART ST. SANTA MONICA, CA 90404 • (310) 434-4340
2
NEWS CONTENT
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 03 •OCTOBER 19,, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
EDITORIAL STAFF MARISA VASQUEZ........................... Editor-in-Chief
corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com
RYANNE MENA............................. Managing Editor
corsair.managing@gmail.com
DANIEL BOWYER.......................... Managing Editor
corsair.managing@gmail.com
ROSANGELICA VIZCARRA............. Co-Photo Editor
corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com
JAZZ SHADEMAN.......................... Co-Photo Editor
corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com
ZANE MEYER-THORNTON........ Social Media Editor
thecorsair.socialnetwork@gmail.com
EMELINE MOQUILLLON.................... Digital Editor
corsair.designteam@gmail.com
MICHELLE AYALA....................... Multimedia Editor
multimedia.corsair@gmail.com
LAUREN LABEL................................ Design Editor
corsair.designteam@gmail.com
EDWARD LEE...................................... News Editor
corsair.newspage@gmail.com
TREVOR SCHOCK..................... A&E/Culture Editor
corsair.culture@gmail.com
DANIEL FARR.................................... Sports Editor
corsair.sportsppage@gmail.com
OSKAR ZINNEMAN...........................Opinion Editor
corsair.opinionpage@gmail.com
CORSAIR STAFF Daniel Farr, Nicolas Johnson, Andrew Khanian, Jessica Uhler, Harry Phillips, Lauren Label, Emeline Moquillon, Julia Connolly, Jos Cashon, Christopher A. Floyd, Crystal Miller, Ingrid Martinez, Viana Kalily, Diana Para Garda, Ethan Lauren, Zane Meyer-Thornton, Ripsime-Avetisyan, Oskar Zinnemann, Willow Sando-McCall, and Jayrol San Jose
FACULTY ADVISORS ASHANTI BLAIZE-HOPKINS
...... Journalism Advisor
gerard burkhart.........................Photo Advisor
AD INQUIRIES: corsair.admanager@gmail.com (310) 434-4033
FRONT COVER Leilani Cifuentes performs a traditional Hispanic dance as part of the Pico Block Party which took place on October 14, 2017. Photo by:
Zane Meyer-Thornton
Illustration By: Viana Kalily
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Marisa Vasquez Editor-in-Chief Dear Readers,
This week has been one for the books. Over the past weekend, The Corsair was invited to the Journalism Association of Community Colleges where Community Colleges from all over Southern California came to meet with seasoned professionals, congregate with other community colleges within our region, and attend an award ceremony for our previous work. The Corsair walked away from the conference with fourteen JACC awards, including First Place in Online Photo Story/Essay and Meritorious in Enterprise News Story/Series. As last semester ’s Co-Photo Editor and this semester ’s Editor-in-Chief, I am honored to be a part of this talented and capable group of students. After an eventful weekend our news team took on this week with heads held high and creativity on our minds, until the unexpected happened. The computers in our newsroom were wiped clean of our files late into the night of our production schedule. All our hard work that goes into formatting a print edition: gone. Regardless, my hardworking team of student journalists and I have come together to present to you this delayed edition of The Corsair Newspaper.
FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
@THE_CORSAIR •
One of the articles we have in this issue explains how the Santa MonicaMalibu Unified School District, the City of Santa Monica, and the Santa Monica College Foundation came together to fund DACA applications within the educational district of Santa Monica and Malibu. As of Sept. 27, 2017, $60,000 became available for DACA students to utilize for the renewal of their applications, giving the students of the SMMUSD and SMC an unexpected wave of support within our educational community. Another article to look out for in this issue is an opinion piece on the kneeling protests occurring within the National Football League from a veteran’s perspective. The author, Justin Wood takes on the topic of protesting the National Anthem from his own experiences as an Army veteran. Wood gives a refreshing view of how to honor the men and women who have fought for our country when addressing this specific sensitive subject. Even with the setbacks that The Corsair faced this week, I am proud to say that we, as a team, did not allow the loss of production to derail us from our goal of providing the students of Santa Monica with daily coverage of the issues and happenings in and around the SMC campus. Do not forget to check us out online for day to day updates of our SMC community. /THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE
NEWS
VOLUME 114 ISSUE ISSUE 03 • OCTOBER 19, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
3
Santa Monica College Waives DACA Fees Goodbye INGRID MARTINEZ STAFF WRITER
The White House's announcement of repealing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program on Tuesday, September 5, 2017, left many Santa Monica College students worried about their future and of their fellow colleagues. Not only did SMC students immediately stand against the elimination of DACA with community-building workshops and protests, faculty members also showed support by pooling $16,000 in financial aid for students to renew their DACA applications. Institutional support officially arrived on Sunday, September 27, 2017, when the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, the City of Santa Monica, and SMC Foundation announced that they will contribute $60,000 to waive DACA application fees for students. The SMC Foundation and SMMUSD contributed $35,000, while Santa Monica City Council provided $25,000. Manuel Portugal, a secondyear Journalism major, who has done around nine internships, currently interning at Power 106 while working on a documentary for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, weighs in on the fundraising campaign as a DACA recipient. “I think it’s great," Portugal said. "Any small amount that will help students, especially students of low-income, it really helps out.” The SMC Foundation’s “Dreamer Scholarship” consisted of contributions from SMC alumni, students, faculty, and Santa Monica residents, with $200 being the average amount donated and $2,000 as the largest contribution donated by a supporter. President and Dean of SMC Foundation, Lizzy Moore, explained how the staff and faculty quickly mobilized to help financially aid students before the October 5th dead-
line. “The order came down so last minute and it was such a significant amount of money for a student to come up with so the foundation agreed to commit $15,000 to the cause. We reached our goal within eight days”, says Moore. The goal was quickly met and exceeded past expectations. While faculty members have yet to hold a meeting regarding the plans on what to do and the outcome of the remaining funds, around 102 students/alumni were assisted to renew their applications. Approximately 70 students completed their renewal because of SMC. Moore assures students that “If money is an issue let’s not make it an issue. We will not stop fighting.” Portugal goes on to talk about the reaction he saw from the SMC community on Sept. 5, 2017. “I saw that there was a march a day after, I saw professors crying and it’s a troubling time right now but I feel like a lot of professors and students are really trying to help other people navigate through these difficult times,” Portugal said. President and Superintendent of SMC, Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, expressed her stance on DACA being rescinded. “We remain committed to helping them fulfill their life’s dreams and aspirations…this college will continue to be a safe environment for all students and personnel.” As tough as the past months under Trump's administration might have been for DACA students, some at SMC have taken the opportunity to revitalize the way they think about the shared community they live in and how to offer more resources. Workshops like Culturally R e s p o n s i v e P e d a g o g y, created by the Center for Teaching Excellence, are designed for faculty members to refine their teaching abilities to be more resourceful for student success. The most recent workshop held on October 5, 2017, implement-
FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
Illustration By: Diana Parra Garcia
ed a 3-hour long training session, with a goal to have teachers leave as experts on DACA. The Undocumented Ally workshop objectives include creating a network of visible allies that help provide information and support for undocumented students. Hosted by Director of Special Programs Nick Mata and faculty advisor for the I.D.E.A.S. Club Dr. Marisol Moreno, the workshop emphasizes the need to remind professors at SMC to encourage students to apply for such scholarships. “I feel like it’s a very safe area. From what I’ve seen, everyone is very attentive to what students need”, Portugal said. “In other schools, it may not be that way but in here…it helps out a lot, because I was raised in Inglewood, coming here - it was culture shock.” Portugal did not apply for the scholarship himself, since he made sure to re-apply before the Oct. 5th deadline. However, he took up the issue on the college campus communication with students about the subsidy they were providing for DACA students. “I don’t want to give an excuse but I feel like there should be more awareness to that scholarship. Two emails are fine but sometimes they go to the spam folder and for a lot of students they might not see it. There should be more psychical outreach, during @THE_CORSAIR •
activity hour,” Portugal said. Psychology major Ruth Colato, also felt public announcements have more of an impact than emails on informing students. “The only reason I knew was because they sent me an email... but an actual event like right there [at the SMC Quad] ... will extremely help anyone who will pass by,” Colato said. “That will definitely grab more attention than any email.” While SMC remains proud of the donations raised for assistance, some are left wondering how long the attention will last or if there are other solutions. “We should be finding ways to make them legitimate citizens," SMC student Kastilla White said. "If they lived here their whole lives they’re doing great things, and they’re contributing to society I don’t see why they can’t earn a citizenship” Portugal believes that issues like these need to continue being covered. “I think it’s a good start but it’s not the complete finish. A lot of news come and go, it shouldn’t be that way," Portugal said. "Like what happened in Puerto Rico, a lot of people only care for like two weeks, they donate and make it a one-time thing. It’s not really relevant to people's thought process, so this should really be in the forefront."
/THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE
4
NEWS NEWS
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 03 •OCTOBER 19, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
First-ever Job Fair Prep Event At SMC CHRISTOPHER A. FLOYD STAFF WRITER
CRYSTAL MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On Thursday, Oct. 12, Santa Monica College’s Career Services Center joined forces with the Fashion Club, Goodwill, and the up-andcoming Career Closet, to host the campus’s first-ever Job Fair Prep Event. The brainchild of Career Services Advisor Ann-Marie Leahy and Fashion Department head Lorrie Ivas, this prep event presented students with the opportunity to meet department counselors, review their resumes, and discuss how to succeed in interviews and presentations. The college's Fashion Club provided fashion advice for students and managed to create a “pop-up clothing store” that made low-cost, but highquality professional attire available for SMC students. Students from the Fashion Club who want to become stylists were able to work hands-on with students, gaining valuable experience while they dressed up their fellow Corsairs. Ivas stressed that the attire they sold were "really quality pieces of merchandise.” Stephanie Medina, Director of Community Relations for Southern
JESSICA UHLER STAFF WRITER
California Goodwill, mentioned how important dress attire was to make a positive first impression on potential employers. “Students have to understand that sometimes they gotta step into a place they may not be a hundred percent comfortable," Medina said. "[They] have to be open to that." Leahy said that in imageconscious Southern California, both your wardrobe and resume matters, as it allows students to go into a job fair with confidence. Leahy continued, saying that making a resume and dressing the part are things that aren't common sense to most students. According to organizers, the Job Fair prep event addressed these concerns, and helped them to stand out to potential employers. "It can be kind of overwhelming to have 60 employers at your fingertips," Leahy said. "How do you tackle that, how do you approach that?" Leahy added that the Job Fair helps students determine their target careers, set their goals for the event, and find out how they can land the
Jessica Uhler AnnMarie Leahy who organized the Job Fair Prep Event sponsored by the Career Services Center, the Fashion Club, and EOPS on Santa Monica College's main campus on Thursday October 12, 2017 speaking to students about the upcoming Job Fair Event on Oct. 24.
job they want. The actual SMC Job Fair will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 24, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Quad on the main campus. For more information, contact
Ann Marie Leahy at (310)-4344337, or visit www.smc.edu/ careercenter. For the SMC Career Closet, call (310)-434-4295 and ask for Peter Murray regarding donations and student services.
Golden State Now Sanctuary State
CALIFORNIA BECOMING A SANCTUARY STATE DEFIES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S WARNINGS JULIA CONNOLLY STAFF WRITER
On Thursday, Oct. 5, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Values Act, marking openly defiant action against President Donald Trump and his immigration policy. The bill officially designates California to be a "sanctuary state," forbidding state and local law enforcement agencies from holding, questioning, or sharing information about individuals per the request of federal immigration authorities. The bill also stops law enforcement in California from asking about people's immigration statuses. Before this legislation, the label of "sanctuary city" has mainly been symbolic—a message of political support for immigrants. But cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles have recently put those messages into action, cutting ties with federal immigration officers and increasing efforts to build up social services for undocumented immigrants. Many Santa Monica College students have seen Governor Brown's decision as a positive development. "I think it’s important to protect people who are coming here to escape really harsh realities in other countries where they're coming from,” saidAllegra FallucaRuiz, a business student at SMC. “To be protected in California, its
great, in my personal opinion, because not everybody can be protected.” SMC Early Childhood/Education Major Katharina Reines also agrees with the decision, believing California has an obligation to help its undocumented immigrants. "I think it’s really brave, it’s a smart move, the states have to think about their own issues and the needs of their people,” she said. “States are so different, they should be able to control their own immigration.” More importantly for Reines, the bill will send a message that "shows to people living here that the state knows their fears, and they are going to address them.” Reines also noted the precedence of California's decisions influencing the rest of the country. “I think this will have a good impact; it could open the doors for other states to address the needs of their immigration population,” Reines said. “Other states might be feeling the same way; less influential states might become more compelled to do the same, knowing they're not alone and they'd be doing it with someone bigger like California.” The bill is set to take effect in January of 2018. Governor Brown signed The California Values Act, also known as Senate Bill 54, under threat of retaliation by the Trump Administration. President Trump previously created an executive order on immigration, ordering the
FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
Illustration By: Andrew Khanian
.
Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department to stop cities who do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement from receiving federal funds, but Judge H. Orrick ruled that the executive order was unconstitutional on April 25th earlier this year. Previous ruling in courts have determined that, based upon the Tenth Amendment, the federal government can’t compel local authorities to enforce their laws. But acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Enforcement Thomas Homan denounced California's decision, saying his @THE_CORSAIR •
agency “would have no choice but to conduct at-large arrests in local neighborhoods and at work sites.” Reines did not believe there was too much reason to be concerned, saying that by making threats, "it shows they’re being pushed into a corner." As the country awaits the Trump Administration's immigration plan that is expected to be released this week, White House Press Secretary SarahHuckabeeSanderscondemned Brown’s decision, stating, “I hope California will push back on their governor’s, I think, irresponsible decision going forward.”
/THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE
NEWS
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 03 • OCTOBER 19, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
5
A.S. Prepares for Smoother Turnover
After a difficult time transitioning, this year's A.S. plans to improve the process for future A.S. Board JOS CASHON STAFF WRITER
Every Fall semester, a newlyelected Board of Directors commandeer the Associated Students of Santa Monica College and a fresh vision takes root, giving a new voice to the student body with the goal of enhancing campus life. This year however, the incoming A.S. directors mentioned that they had a difficult time transitioning into their new positions. As a result, the Fall 2017 A.S. board hoped to increase student body engagement with their government and to make transitioning easier for future A.S. boards by sharing more on what they do online. Preceding directors, such as former President Terrence Ware Jr., have previously criticized the current AS board because its members did not sufficiently communicate with the outgoing board members on their roles. “If I was someone running for President of the United States, I would still go talk to Trump, because I need to know what's happening and what his
student government. This experience left Gurung feeling more prepared than some other candidates, she said. “Before taking the position, I was definitely ready. I prepared myself for it and I knew what was coming up, although it was kind of hard sometimes,” Gurung said. “Because trying to balance between my studies and AS is quite challenging.” However, others like Director of Sustainability Alexa Benavente, felt unprepared. "As students, we don't really get trained to be a director,” Benavente said. “We do have a retreat, but that doesn't really train you to be a director or fill out proposals, [etc]. It's still quite a hustle right now for me trying to figure out the budgets and what the students want, and I'm trying to actually do what I promised to the students." The AS retreat, an annual threeday affair that runs for 11-hours a day, is meant to introduce the new board to their supporting faculty, advisors, counsellors, and professors. It also provides the board the opportunity to meet the school’s President, Vice President,
Ethan Lauren Maggie Lo,(center) the Director of Community Relations for the Associated Students of Santa Monica College talks with the board about her plans for International Education Week on October 9, 2017 . The A.S. hold weekly board meetings at 3 p.m. at the Cayton Center in Santa Monica, Calif.orina.
administration has done," Ware said. "I would still have to have that conversation with him so I can be well informed and make good decisions on behalf of my constituents." With the new board in place, several directors believe that advice from the previous board members was instrumental to their successful transition. Saori Gurung, Director of Activities, did not run for any positions, citing unpreparedness. But this past spring, she worked in the AS as primary commissioner to the Vice President to gain experience in
and Board of Trustees. Workshops at the retreat cover subjects such as Title IX, which prevents sexbased discrimination in education, and the Brown Act, which gives the public a right to attend and participate in meetings. Director of Publicity Stephanie Hernandez also expressed her difficulty in transitioning into her new position. "At first, when I thought about publicity, I thought it was mainly just about social media and fliers, but it's way more than that,” she said. “It's paperwork, it's talking to people, it's getting
FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
Ethan Lauren Diego Johansen (right), President of the Eco-Action Club on campus and Alexa Benavente (left), the Director of Sustainability for the Associated Students of Santa Monica College discuss their plans for the upcoming Sustainability Week on October 9, 2017 at the Cayton Center in Santa Monica, California.
.
informed, it's going to clubs to talk. So I was not prepared." It took her about two months to get up to speed. Hernandez noted that she did not receive much help from the outgoing government. “The previous director of publicity left a letter just saying 'Good luck, everything will be okay, you'll be great', Hernandez said. "So that was really appreciated, but that was it. That's everything we had with the previous board...” AS Vice President Edgar Gonzalez echoed Benavente’s frustrations about the lack of training, even with the retreat. "I just felt like it could have been better if I would have known the details of how to do my job specifically," Gonzalez said. "But I guess we didn't have that amount of time." Gonzalez also corroborated Hernandez’s statements that the notes left by previous directors lacked a lot of details, but said the responsibility does not fall on the previous government to prepare the new team. "They leave you a letter before you leave... but, you know, I felt like it just wasn't proper,” Gonzalez said. “I feel like it's not really their responsibility to train us or show us how to do the job. It's for us to figure out, right?" The process for transitioning between AS directors isn’t set in stone, however; the board is free to improve on the procedures as they see fit. AS Secretary Ryan Ang has a plan to do just that; for him, the issue comes back to the new Board of Directors’ founding principles: efficiency, engagement, and equity. Ang intends to introduce a system of “institutional memory” for the AS, so future AS boards can look back on previous @THE_CORSAIR •
events and see what they can improve on. Like Ang, A.S. President Jennifer Chen also has plans to improve the future A.S. directors—though she prefers to attack the problem from the engagement side rather than through increasing efficiency like the secretary does. Chen mentions the new A.S. YouTube channel as a way to reach students through social media. Chen said an informative video can help people be more interested in understanding their s c h o o l ’s bylaws and communicating more with their government. "So, if we make a video and make everything so clear, if we explain and answer some general questions that people have, I think that is the most effective way to have the new board or students understand what A.S. is doing,” Chen said. Chen hopes the channel can not only show students what A.S. is up to, but also have videos informing potential candidates on the ins and outs of each position. "It's not only for students but for the new directors as well. So maybe before they run for the position they can go on the YouTube channel and get the information, get to know what programs A.S. has," Chen said. Regarding her Directors’ performances though, Chen is optimistic for this semester. “I would say we're actually doing pretty good in the beginning of the semester, even though we have some concerns that A.S. is not doing much this year," Chen said. "The transition is tough in the beginning, but right now we're getting used to it, and each director is getting comfortable with their position and we're starting to do more."
/THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE
6
NEWS PHOTOSTORY
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 03 •OCTOBER 19, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Ripsime Avetisyan Cabeza de Vaca Cultura dancer Sariah Redondo traditionally dressed to perform at the Pico Block Party on 18th St. in Santa Monica, California, October 14, 2017.
Zane Meyer-Thornton Members of Continuum Studios Dance Alive open up the Pico Block Party with a group dance at the Pico Block Party in Santa Monica, Califorina, on October 14, 2017. FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
@THE_CORSAIR •
/THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE
PHOTOSTORY NEWS
VOLUME 114 ISSUE ISSUE 03 • OCTOBER 19, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
7
Emeline Moquillon Nina Nelli (left) from Venice asks Bobby Gordon, (front, right) for a poem during Instant Poetry Workshop at the Pico Block Party on 18th St. in Santa Monica, Califorina, October 14, 2017.
Zane Meyer-Thornton Nalani Castellon performs a traditional Native American dance at the Pico Block Party on October 14, 2017.
Art Party on the Block EMELINE MOQUILLON STAFF WRITER
Hosted by the 18th Street Arts Center, the Pico Block Party gave local community members the chance to not only view local artworks and performances, but also participate in art-making workshops on Saturday, Oct. 14. The event's main attraction was to show that art can be both interactive and instructive at the same time. Stands of workshops, booths of local organizations, vendors, and studios with artists filled the space of the venue. The event included colorful studios that were painted in bright shades, from royal purple to a lime green. The event also
Zane Meyer-Thornton Rylan Boothby (left) gets an arm drawing done by Oriana (right) as part of the Pico Block Party in Santa Monica, California, on October 14, 2017.
FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
included a building where attendees can find food trucks and the 'experimenting quesadilla' workshop with Teresa Flores that allowed the Block Party goers to make a quesadilla with items like marshmallows and gummy worms. At the Melrose Poetry Bureau, poets used typewriters, taking various tales that attendees told them and turning those stories into poems on the spot. The event also featured artists like Luciana Abait from Argentina, who opened her painting studio and hosted a painting and collage workshop for people to ask questions and understand how she works. Abait says it is the perfect opportunity to "see an artist stu@THE_CORSAIR •
dio, the process of art making, the material, be able to talk to an artist and experience what it is like to be an artist.” Sue Bell Yank, the event organizer and Director of Communications and Outreach at the center, talked about bringing the party together, and said the center expects to have more in the future. "The main reason we're starting this event is because we have been doing an oral history project into our local community, the Pico neighborhood of Santa Monica, to preserve history as the neighborhood is rapidly changing," Yank said. "But also to strengthen our connections with our local community and our partners.”
/THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE
8
NEWS CULTURE
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 03 •OCTOBER 19, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Autumn Events to Fall Into JOIN IN THE SEASONAL FESTIVITIES WITH SOME OF THESE AWESOME EVENTS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN LOS ANGELES
LAUREN LABEL STAFF WRITER
Fall is finally upon us, which means it is time for the Halloween decorations, fuzzy socks, spooky movies, and pumpkin everything. Santa Monica College students may be pondering what to do in Los Angeles this fall. You can get an adrenaline rush at LA’s local theme parks which are filled with haunted houses, mazes, and spinechilling attractions. For festive fun, check out some familyfriendly pumpkin patches that provide more than just the purchase of a pumpkin. If you love apples, take part in everything from apple picking to churning apple butter at local orchards. Oktoberfest is held every fall season, so dress up and if you’re of age, enjoy an ice cold beer. For those that appreciate the fresh air, take a stroll through the breathtaking trails in the greater Los Angeles area. Get started here with just a few of the great seasonal activities LA has to offer. 1. Theme Park Halloween Nights Halloween Horror Nights is held every night at Universal Studios from September through November. Stephanie Hawkin, an interactive design major at SMC said, “It was terrifying in the best way!” She comes from South Africa—a country where Halloween is not truly celebrated, but when she heard about Halloween Horror Nights, she had to go. Creeping creatures and zombies with chainsaws hide behind shadows and fog around Universal park, startling patrons at every turn. Hawkins said, "you cannot show fear because if you do, they will target you." Universal brings their most twisted, bloodcurdling ideas to the drawing board to create the most frightening Halloween event in Southern California. This
year’s event consists of eight horrifying experiences based on the most scream-worthy television shows and films. FX’s American Horror Story: Roanoke, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, SAW: The Games of Jigsaw, Ash vs Evil Dead, Insidious: Beyond the Further, Titans of Terror, The Horrors of Blumhouse, and AMC’s The Walking Dead all have attractions at the park this year. The fear goes on with The Titans of Terror Tram hosted by Chucky and a live performance by the Jabbawockeez. For general admission, it will cost up to $95 on a normal night, but planning ahead and purchasing tickets online can save attendees up to $26 off the original price. Knott’s Berry Farm is another theme park that hosts a night time Halloween event. Titled Knott’s Scary Farm, the park transforms itself into a gruesome Halloween celebration with over 13 skincrawling attractions such as haunted mazes, rides, and live shows. This year’s theme is “Nightmares Never End” and with a scary number of creatures, zombies, and evil clowns running about, it’s certainly where nightmares begin. There’s more scare zones then safe zones, so have your eyes wide open because you never know what’s lurking in the corner. Due to the enormous amount of terror, Knott’s Berry Farm requires all visitors to be at least 13 years old or older. This fearful event takes place Sept. 21 through Oct. 31, with admission as low as $42. TIP: Purchase online and you can save up to $33. 2. Pumpkin Patches "Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch in Culver City is your traditional pumpkin patch. It’s a miniature carnival, with games, face painting, a petting zoo, and tarot card readings," says Stephanie Abusten, a film production major
Jayrol San Jose Riley's Orchard offers apple picking of Winesap Apples from trees that are over a 100 years old in Yucaipa, California on October 15th, 2017. FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
at SMC. Open Oct. 6 through Oct. 30, the patch hours are Sundays through Thursdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Mr. Bones puts together it’s spectacular event which brings in visitors from all over the Los Angeles area. All pumpkins are priced according to the size, but they come in a variety of shapes and styles. Mr. Bones is a pet friendly environment as long as each furry pooch is cleaned up after. As far as grub goes, there are food trucks and a concession stand with food and drinks available. For entertainment, there is a live band that plays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Abusten says going to a pumpkin patch is always something she wants to do in the fall, but they’re not typically found in LA. On Wednesday, Oct. 25, Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market holds an All You Can Carry Pumpkin Patch event from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or while supplies last. For just $5 you can walk away with as many pumpkins as you can carry down the 25-foot runway. Unfortunately, this is a solo effort which means no help can come from family, friends, or equipment. 3. Apple Picking Just an hour outside of Los Angeles, in the heart of apple country, Oak Glen welcomes guests to hand-pick apples, enjoy a ride on the horse-drawn wagon through the apple orchards, eat savory baked apple treats at one of the family restaurants, and learn a thing or two at the historical Oak Glen School House Museum. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Oak Glen also hosts an Apple Butter Festival with apple butter making, games, crafts, carriage rides, and music from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 28 through Nov. 30. 4. Oktoberfest One of the oldest, largest, and longest-running Oktoberfest in California takes place every evening Sept. 8 through Oct. 28 in Alpine Village, located in Torrance. Alpine Village's Oktoberfest was voted top ten best Oktoberfest in the U.S by USA Today. People come from all over to take part and dance the night away in the authentic folk festival with customary Oom-Pah-Pah bash bands. Fill your belly with traditional German cuisine and quench your thirst with a refreshing German beer brewed by Warsteiner. Costumes are highly encouraged to add to the ambiance of the evening. You have to be at least 21 years or older to take part in this beer festival of fun, but ages @THE_CORSAIR •
Willow Sando-McCall A large Mr. Bones statue at the Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch in Culver City, California on October 15th, 2017.
12 years and under are welcome on Sundays. Hours are Fridays from 6 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Entrance fees range from $10 to $25, and free for children 12 and under on Sundays. 5. Hiking Los Angeles’ Flint Wash Trail is shaded by sycamore and oak trees, meaning there is an abundance of fallen leaves on the ground that creates the perfect fall atmosphere. Although the hike does not have a wilderness vibe due to the surrounding city of La Cañada Flintridge, the nice shade makes for an enjoyable stroll. If you’re more interested in seeing the colors of fall, Franklin Canyon Park at the center of Los Angeles, between San Fernando Valley and Beverly Hills is for you. It has 605 acres and over five miles of hiking trails with remarkable views along the way. Some of Franklin Canyon Parks popular trails include the Hastain Trail, a 2.3-mile hike round trip, Discovery Trail, a 0.3 mile hike round trip, and Berman Trail, which is only one mile. There is a multicolored display of leaves and an astonishing mountaintop skyline throughout the trails. Many bird-watching and wildlife viewing opportunities will be presented if you keep a good eye out. When in need of a break, there are picnic tables covered by large trees so you can catch your breath, grab a snack, and stay out of the sun. Franklin Canyon Park also includes a large three-acre lake, a good place to stop and feed the fish or just enjoy the view. These are just a select few of the plethora of activities that LA has to offer. Whether it’s running from spooky Halloween creatures in a theme park, participating in pumpkin patch festivities, picking fresh apples, joining in the music and laughter at Oktoberfest, or taking a nice hike through the Los Angeles trails – there’s ton to do here in our city!
/THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE
CULTURE/OPINION NEWS
VOLUME 114 ISSUE ISSUE 03 • OCTOBER 19, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
9
100.3 The Sound of Silence
ANOTHER CLASSIC ROCK STATION BITES THE DUST HARRY PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER
It has been said those that find a job they love will never work a day in their life. Some, such as Dave Beasing, the first and only Program Director of 100.3 The Sound KSWD FM Los Angeles and Orange County, had the opportunity to experience this. Beasing jokes that he has been a Program Director since the age of ten. “It was what I dreamed about as a kid, putting together radio stations with the talent and dreamed up what the news introduction would sound like,” Beasing said. “Eventually somebody started to pay me not very well to do it for real. I am really blessed and lucky that the pieces fell in the right places along the way." As of October 2017, The Sound has been sold and will go off the air by the end of the month after a merger between CBS and Entercom, The Sound's parent company. The Sound will be replaced by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF), which plans to play syndicated contemporary Christian music. The new station will be called K-Love, not to be mistaken for
Univision's 107.5 K-Love FM, a separate station already broadcasting in Los Angeles, California. K-Love joins fellow contemporary Christian station KFSH 95.9 FM in the Los Angeles FM market. The Sound is one of four radio stations in Los Angeles that focuses on classic rock, and has been on the air since 2008. The station has also given back to the community on multiple occasions by raising money for music in schools, for the families of firefighters lost to brush fires, and for the families of those who were killed by renegade police officer Christopher Dorner. “We won a Crystal Award from the National Association of Broadcasters, it is a coveted award that they give out to about 10 stations a year for their community service,” Beasing said. “We really did take community service seriously.” For some of The Sound's DJs, this station has been their favorite gig yet. 'Uncle Joe' Benson has been a DJ on The Sound for five years, having been on the air continuously since October 1968 and in Los Angeles since October 1980. “The Sound has given us the most latitude and
Press Release Photo
my specialty is music, knowing the stories behind it," Benson said. "The Sound has been very great, having a vast library to deal with and playing something that makes sense.” “We care about the music as much as they [the listeners] do,” said Gina Grad, another DJ and co-host of morning show "Andy and Gina." “That is what this station is all about, that’s the main character of the show… This community we’ve created and we’ve fostered all these years is 100 percent because of
the love of this particular music.” The Sound makes a clear effort to prioritize its listeners. “We care, we do. We care about music and we care about them [the listeners],” said Beasing. “It’s been really cool that by having this music in common, we’ve been able to be part of a community and bring people together… As this has been announced that we are leaving, the outpouring of love has really been touching. We will miss all of these people.”
140 Characters from the Brink Will America's next war breakout over a tweet?
JESSICA UHLER STAFF WRITER
“I spoke with President Moon of South Korea last night," Donald Trump tweeted, "Asked him how 'Rocket Man' is doing. Long gas lines in North Korea. Too bad!” No, this is not Alec Baldwin’s version of the President from Saturday Night Live, this is the actual elected leader of the free world. The “Rocket Man” he is referring to is Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea -- the same man who has recently been conducting missile tests over the Pacific Ocean. Kim Jong-un is also the same man who threatened retaliation against the United States before the release of the The Interview, a Seth Rogan comedy that viciously mocks the supreme leader and his regime. In a time of widespread anxiety, many people are naturally concerned about the potential consequences from President Trump's name-calling. Belittling someone through namecalling is nothing new. School yard bullies typically use dehumanizing, uncreative nicknames to show their dominance over those they find inferior. Real American leaders, though, do not usually need to use this tactic. They are normally elected because of the eloquence of their words, not the intimidation behind them. This president’s past election is different in
that the people who elected him were not looking for someone with flowery words or diplomacy. They elected Trump because they wanted someone who “spoke the truth,” who would not be so “politically correct,” and who would not
bloody nose and a trip to detention. After Trump publicized his "Rocket Man" gaffe, Jong-un lashed back with some words of his own in a statement released by the North Korean State News Agency. “I’d like to advise Trump to exercise prudence in
Illustration By: Oskar Zinnemann
be afraid to taunt an unhinged dictator obsessed with weapons of mass destruction. The problem is that Trump is not making these tasteless statements in the school yard, he is broadcasting them from the Oval Office. If North Korea were to retaliate, the consequences would be far greater than someone getting a
FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
selecting words and to be considerate of whom he speaks to when making a speech in front of the world,” the dictator said. “I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire.” What kind of a message does it send to regular citizens when the president stoops to such low brow name-calling? It gives credence to cyber bullies, especially @THE_CORSAIR •
internet trolls. Yet the days when sticks and stones were the only thing that could hurt you are over. For the average person, there are consequences for everything we say. Everyone is at the mercy of the internet judges and juries. There are countless stories about people losing their jobs, being ostracized by society, or even getting death threats because of what they say online. Yet even with those consequences, cyber bullying has not diminished. Trump does not seem to acknowledge that his words could have very real consequences, whether on a global level or with his own people on the home front. Is he really so oblivious or is there something else behind the rhetoric? There has been much speculation in the last year about how the president may use his outrageous Twitter messages to distract the public from the more nefarious activities in the White House. Paul Farhi from the Washington Post even called him the "Distractor in Chief" in a November 2016 article. Whether Trump's tweets really will trigger World War III or are all merely a distraction from his legal issues, one thing is certain: some bullies do not learn their lesson until it is too late. Hopefully, the American people will not be the ones to suffer the consequences.
/THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE
10
NEWS OPINION/SPORTS
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 03 •OCTOBER 19, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Take a Knee and Listen Up A VETERAN'S TAKE ON THE RECENT NFL ANTHEM PROTESTS. JUSTIN WOOD STAFF WRITER
We are now almost half way through the National Football League season, which has been plagued by many franchise players already out for the rest of the season due to injuries. However, all of this has been overlooked by the most craziest category; players who kneel during the national anthem. We are talking about professional football players kneeling during the national anthem, made popular last year thanks to Colin Kaepernick, who took a knee during the anthem to protest the racial injustices in the AfricanAmerican community, primarily focused on unarmed black men who had been killed by police officers. Last year, I found myself in some very heated debates and even interviewed by mainstream news media because I supported Kaepernick’s movement. You are probably wondering why it was even worth their time to interview me. It is because I am a proud veteran who served from 2003-2009 in the United States Army. I have heard so many times that I should be offended by what is happening in the National Football League. I heard it as a slap in my face to see millionaire athletes on their knees disrespecting our flag and disrespecting my brothers and sisters in arms who gave the ultimate sacrifice. First things first, who exactly do you think you are to tell me how I should feel and what should and should not offend me? The only thing that
slapped this face is a smile. I am glad this movement is beginning to take off fiercer than ever. In an attempt to shame the African-American community, the president’s words backfired on him and opened up even more people’s eyes. The only upsetting thing to me was that it took this long. My brothers and sisters gave that sacrifice for this country -- one we call the “land of the free.” Freedom of speech is the only thing being practiced by the NFL player, in a peaceful manner at that. We, the veteran community, are now being used by many people, including the president, as puppets on a string in this topic. I can assure you that there are many of us who are standing, or kneeling, for this message and supporting all those who are demonstrating. I can also say I know some veterans who are against the protest, but guess what? That is their American right to believe as they please and I am not going to shun them for it. Just as I am entitled to my left leaning opinions, I have to remember others have the same right. My main argument is this: the president smeared a Gold Star family of a Muslim soldier who gave his life for our country. This man suggested that former Prisoner of War, John McCain, was not a war hero because he was captured. This man has multiple draft deferments. Now, all of a sudden, he wants to tell me what should offend me as a veteran? That, to me, is more offensive than anything any of these football players have done these past couple weeks.
Illustration By: Andrew Khanian
If something offends you, that is fine. Speak out against it, let people know why it offends you. But how dare the president, or anyone, tell any veteran how they should feel or use us as propaganda. We have enough issues going on in the veteran community for us to have to now worry about this. We all need to remember one important thing though, what these protests are about. This is still about the treatment of the African-American community and the undeserved treatment they continue to receive. This is not about the president. He has highjacked this epidemic and made it about him. We need to work harder
as a country to ensure that everyone is treated equally. It starts with us. It starts with just a friendly hello and treating your neighbor with the same love, respect, and kindness that you wish for every day. That right there is more gratifying and rewarding than a “Thank you for your service.” That is a country that we are proud to serve. My drill sergeant always told us in boot camp “Take a knee and listen up,” maybe it’s time we all started doing this. So, when something new begins to trend, let us keep this in mind.
Laslett Gone, Time for A New Game-plan Santa Monica College fires head football coach Bill Laslett after 1-2 start
NICOLAS JOHNSON STAFF WRITER
As the Santa Monica College Corsairs football season continues, the Corsairs are currently mired in a four-game losing streak after winning their season opener. Throughout the team's slump, there were questions about the function of the team, the direction that they were going, and how the team would plan to recover. Among these things, came a decision in regards to the coaching staff. Before the third game of the season against Orange Coast College on September 23, 2017, SMC relieved William "Bill" Laslett of his head coaching duties after a season and three games. Laslett was first hired by SMC 14-months prior after their previous head coach, Gifford Lindheim, departed for El Camino College. In Laslett's first season as the head coach, the football
team went 1-9, the worst record in the division. The Corsairs began this season 1-2 under Laslett, with their lone win against West Los Angeles College. The Corsairs followed that with back-to-back blowout losses at home against Palomar and Mt. San Antonio respectively. After the loss to Mt. SAC, SMC's Athletic Director, Reggie Ellis, decided to fire Laslett as the head coach of the football team. Speculation rose if this was from the team's record. When asked about what led to his decision, Ellis responded on how a lot of things that went into it. "Some of it is district personnel issues that played a part into that," said Ellis. SMC's athletic director continued on and said, "The other part was the program wasn't moving in a direction as far as not in terms of wins/losses, but it was in terms of supporting the student-athletes and developing relationships
FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
with the student-athletes." Ellis replaced Laslett with defensive coordinator, Kelly Ledwith, who was hired by Laslett as part of coaching changes made during the spring. When asked about what it was like the moment he was promoted to interim head coach, Ledwith said, "I can see myself having some thought processes where I might be nervous, but for us it was bang-bang. We had a game on Saturday and three hours to prep for practice. We just hit the ground running, and went to work with it." So far, Ledwith is still searching for his first win of the season as the interim head coach, as the team sits at 0-3 under his tenure. Ledwith's boss, SMC's athletic director, has already noticed improvement in the team's atmosphere. "I do know and I do see that the atmosphere in practice and during the games, it's more positive now than what it was in the past," said Ellis. @THE_CORSAIR •
Josue Martinez Santa Monica College interim head football coach Kelly Ledwith poses for a portrait at the Corsair Field at the Santa Monica College main campus, in Santa Monica California. October 12, 2017.
Bill Laslett leaves Santa Monica College with an overall record of 2-11 as a head coach. Meanwhile, the Corsairs will look to build for the future, and break out of their current slump ahead of their match-up against Ventura College at the Corsair Field on October 21, 2017 in Santa Monica, California.
/THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE
SPORTS NEWS
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 03 • OCTOBER 19, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
11
The Corsair Scores With Filippa Struxsjo GET TO KNOW #17 OF SMC'S WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM DANIEL FARR STAFF WRITER
Moving to a different country can be challenging and confusing. For Filippa Struxsjo, moving to the United States meant she could play soccer. In an exclusive interview with The Corsair, Struxsjo describes soccer as her number one driving force in her education. “Soccer is everything to me,” Struxsjo said. “I have always been planning my life around soccer.” At five years old, Struxsjo started playing soccer in a small town outside of Gothenburg, Sweden where she first discovered her love of soccer. Struxsjo explains that her family is her consistent support system and helped start her love for soccer from a young age. “Everyone is involved with soccer, everyone thinks it’s fun. They always come to support me.” Struxsjo plays midfield and has helped the Santa Monica College Women's team attain an impressive record of 10-3-2. She believes that her team has heaps of potential and controls their own destiny. Struxsjo said, "I think we are a strong team and we have the potential to go
far, we have everything in our own hands and of course I want to help the team as much as I can." With eight goals and 15 points on the season, the freshman said, "I will definitely play soccer after SMC, I don't know where yet, so we'll see where this takes me." Even though Struxsjo has had an incredible season up to this point, she took The Corsair through how she overcomes a bad game, she said "Whenever I have an off game, I go to the gym, watch a movie, and just take my mind off of soccer. I try to not let it get to me, everyone has bad days and you just have to look forward to the next one." SMC's illustrious goalscoring machine has big plans for her future after she scores her college degree. She said, "I take classes in both fashion design and business marketing and my plan is to keep going in that direction." Filippa seems to be a very motivated individual on and off the soccer field. She said, "Although, I've had people doubting me my whole life, honestly there is no better feeling than to prove them wrong." This type
FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
Josue Martinez Santa Monica College Corsair Forwards Filippa Struxsjo poses for a portrait at the Corsair Field in Santa Monica, California on October 13, 2017. Filippa is an international student from Sweden and is currently among the top scorers in the team with 7 goals this season.
of attitude can help propel an individual into success, she said, "There is nothing that can beat the feeling after a really good practice, and it keeps me motivated to keep on going." Filippa moved to America solely to play soccer and focus on her studies, which can be quite intimidating, but she always finds comfort with
@THE_CORSAIR •
the sport she fell in love with. Santa Monica's soccer star said, "If its a small thing or a bigger thing soccer is always there to take your mind off of it, and it makes you feel better, because you love the sport so much it gives me strength to get through all the other stuff, I can't imagine life without playing soccer."
/THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE
12
NEWS ADS
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 03 •OCTOBER 19, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •
@THE_CORSAIR •
/THECORSAIRNEWS •
/THECORSAIRONLINE