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FLASH MOBS & SOCIAL MEDIA
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HEALTHY BRAINS
WEDNESDAY SEPT 7TH, 2011 VOLUME D ISSUE 1
Santa Monica College dodges proposed budget cuts By Janae’ Franklin Staff Writer
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State budget cuts to higher education have been largely avoided at Santa Monica College, due to a surplus of $2.1 million. Back in January 2011, California’s newly appointed governor Jerry Brown proposed three scenarios of budget cuts for California community colleges: Scenarios A, B, and D. Scenario A consisted of a $5.57 million cut to the community college system for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Additionally, Scenario B would have been a 9 percent cut, and Scenario D at 15 percent. Despite last semester’s grim outlook, SMC is doing well compared to other local community colleges because of a surplus of $2.1 million, money that has largely accumulated from a variety of revenuesaving initiatives at Santa Monica College. According to a recent Board of Trustees’ meeting agenda, “The District closed the year with a 2.100,851 operating surplus based on a comparison of ongoing revenues and expenditures.” “Although SMC received a 6.2
percent budget cut, which feels in between Scenario A and B, our school during the 2010-2011 school year was able to tighten up its belt and save this nowsurplus money,” said Robert Isomoto, Vice President of Business and Administration at SMC. ESL Professor Janet Harclerode, the current Academic Senate President gave examples of the kind of revenue savings ideas implemented on campus: “SMC was able to raise its nonresident fees, which is something that we have wanted to do for a while. Our sustainability practices on campus, such as automatic lights in offices saved energy which then saved money. The school also decided to cut some of its advertising methods from the past.” Because of these money saving practices, many special programs on campus, which are utilized by many students, were able to continue serving those in need. The Black Collegians Program, which assists students of African descent in succeeding at SMC, was in jeopardy of losing some
COMMUNITY COLLEGES CSU SCHOOLS 2009:Q3
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[See Budget, page 3]
Reynal Guillen Corsair
New chairs of excellence New changes at SMC
By Regan Dyl Staff Writer
On August 25, the Santa Monica College Foundation awarded four professors as the Chairs of Excellence winners of 2011. Each professor will receive a $15,000 grant to be used for special projects in business, earth science, healthcare, and music. The Chair of Excellence Grant created by the SMC Foundation is an opportunity for faculty to “try new, innovative avenues.” Endowments of this type are most commonly found at major research universities. “SMC is proud to offer these Chair of Excellence awards to outstanding professors who have developed projects that will enhance their teaching and enrich the academic experience for our students,” said SMC President and Superintendent Dr. Chui L. Tsang in a campus press release. This year’s winners will receive the grants in increments of $5,000 a year over the next three years to forward their proposed projects. Chair of Earth Science winner, Professor
By Tarrin Andrews Vicki Drake, will further her research on Staff Writer
the impact of chaparral vegetation on soil and landslide potential in fire areas using satellite imagery. Students will also be able to analyze geospatial data and have the opportunity to come on as paid research assistants. Professor Yulia Kozlova, the Chair of Music winner, is creating a lecture and concert series that will make classical music more accessible to students with the aid of “visual arts, poetry, and literature.” The focus will be on bringing the music of well established Russian and Lithuanian composers to her students, and give them the benefit of experiencing current, living composers. Chair of Business winner Professor Sal Veas’ project will create a social media marketing class. His plan will also incorporate student internships, guest speakers, and conferences, in the hope of guiding students from “simply being consumers of social media, to becoming producers within a marketing communications program.” Professor Eva Adler of the nursing program is the winner St. John’s Health
This semester is seeing a number of changes at Santa Monica College. One of the most notable changes is the new SMC website (www.smc.edu). The goal of the new website is to be more aesthetically pleasing and easier to use. Rolled out by SectorPoint, a web design and development company, the website uses a “recycled” layout, a marked improvement over the “1990s Internet Explorer style” of the previous one. Another notable change is the swipe system on the back of SMC student ID cards. The swipe system’s primary function is for the Big Blue Bus, which SMC students are entitled to ride for free. The swipe system was incorporated to ease certain administrative activities on campus and for the Big Blue Bus to have more accurate readings of SMC ridership. With the swipe cards, the Big Blue Bus will be able to determine exact numbers on how many students are riding, their particular routes, and what time they’re riding. This information will be used in the hope
Michael Yanow Corsair Corsairs captains Karl Buchanan, Alexandru Ceachir, Bilal Muhammad and Hushun Smith of the Santa Monica College Corsairs preparing for coin toss.
Cristina Maxwell Corsair Erika Udagawa is an international student from Japan is one of many Santa Monica College students who has to commute to school using the metro system in Santa Monica, California and her SMC id to get a free ride.
rideshare program called Zimride has been recently implemented as well. Spearheaded by the new Associated Students President
[See Changes, page 3]
[See Chair Winners, page 3] PAGE
of optimizing the bus schedule in Santa Monica. For students who do not frequent the public transportation system, a new
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OFF TO A
TWILIGHT
STRONG START
DANCE SERIES
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Chris Alves Corsair Caleb Savage (Bass) & Dehaven Carrington (Drums),two-thirds th of Olio at the 27 Annual Twlight Dance Series at the pier.
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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 ¡ SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Four professors from SMC named Chairs of Excellence winners [Chair Winners, from page 1] Center Chair of Excellence. She will take the relationship she has built with a nursing school in Thailand and turn it into a crosscultural experience in which students “can conduct community assessments to identify needs of their respective communities and develop interventions that can be implemented in both.� The hope is that this ambitious project will lead to a study abroad program in which nursing students can gain hands-on experience in an international setting.
From L to R: Dr. Viki Drake, Sal Breas, Eve Adler, and Yulia Kozlova. The four recepients of the Chairs of Excellence awards in Earth Sciene, Business, Nursing, and Music. Each faculty member will receive a monetary sum to improve their respective programs at Santa Monica College. Amanda Bojorquez & Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair
Budget cuts dodged New semester changes [Budget, from page 1] of their services to their students. “With this additional money we were able to keep the services that we provided for students in the fall of 2011,� said Program Leader Sherri Bradford.
“Trigger cuts can happen if the state doesn’t get the $4 billion revenue from California State taxes,� said Isomoto. “Worst case scenario, if only $1.5 million is made in state tax revenue, SMC will have to cut $2.5 million or 3 percent in order to make up the loss� As of now,
SMC is doing well compared to other local community colleges because of a surplus of $2.1 million Apart from the benefit of sustained counseling hours and more full time staff, an array of student services have been innovated, including two computer labs on campus which were updated with technical upgrades, and funding for additional tutoring. The current school year is in the clear, but there may be a threat for 2012-2013.
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the states report of the last couple of month’s state tax revenue will come out in December. That will determine whether SMC will be making more cuts to its budget. “SMC is fiscally cautious,� says, Professor Harclerode. “Unlike other schools, we save money for situations like this, and are not quick to spend.�
[Changes, from page 1] Harrison Wills and Inter-Club Council Chairman David Stavis, Zimride provides a unique means of commuting to school. Users of the website post their travel schedule onto a social networking platform much like Facebook, and connect with other SMC students in their area to make up a carpool. Other new things the AS is working on is a book limit. Most students have had teachers that assigned at least four different mandatory books for their course, which often leads to students spending a great deal at the student book store. By limiting the amount of books any one professor can assign as mandatory reading, the AS hopes to save students money. Every year brings changes, and this year is no different. Still, there is a feeling of more dramatic changes taking place on campus this year. The financial crisis in recent
years has forced SMC into some serious self-reflection. The Associated Students and the Board of Trustees of SMC are now looking inward to reduce costs and improve functionality. In other words, the changes returning students see may very well just be the beginning of an overhaul of campus life.
Cristina Maxwell Corsair Ned Hagoski is one of many Santa Monica College students who have to commute to school using the metro system in Santa Monica and his SMC ID to get a free ride.
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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Corsairs Cruise to Victory in Season Opener, 24-0 By Wayne Neal Staff Writer
The Santa Monica College Corsairs were clearly the better team this past Saturday afternoon, as they dominated The Compton College Tartars in a 24-0 rout. Head Coach Gifford Lindheim, who is going into his second year, said that his team had a very competitive pre-season camp. “Obviously, we will be judged by our wins and losses,” Coach Lindheim said. “I expect us to get out of the gates fast.” They certainly did, as the defense pitched a shutout victory, and they were able to force 3 turnovers, menacing Compton’s quarterbacks all game. The defense recorded a key sack and a forced fumble, which lead to a Corsair touchdown. From the first half the Corsairs looked like the better team, marching the ball downfield, scoring early in the first quarter on a six-yard run by freshman Myles Johnson. He would also score on a 20 yard pass completion in the second quarter from freshman quarterback Alfonso Medina to end the half. The Corsair running game was very productive against a lackluster front seven from the Tartar defense. Corsairs used not three, but a rare four-running-back rotation, which turned out to be successful as they powered the offense and helped win the time-management battle. “We were able to hang our hat on the run game today,” Coach Lindheim said. “We knew we had to establish a run game early on; we wanted to keep possession of the ball to keep the defense fresh and they definitely responded today.” In the second half, the pace of the game was more of the same as the Corsairs marched downfield and scored on an eight yard run by sophomore running back
Michael Yanow Corsair SMC wide receiver Bilal Muhammad hauls in the catch against Twin Fernandes of Compton, however the play is called back after a holding penalty in the second quarter.
Daniel Pipkin on their opening drive. From then on the game was completely in the Corsairs’ corner as they kicked a late field goal to seal the win. The Tartars were unable to move the ball offensively and could not stop the run defensively. Compton looked flat out tired as the Corsairs were able to control the ball most of the first half, leaving Compton’s
defense on the field. “We are better than what we looked like today,” head coach Sean Fernandes of Compton said “Depth is our main concern, we have some players who need to improve and we will get that fixed for the next game.” The Corsairs were guided by running back Alonzo Fredrick, who lead the team
in rushing with 72 yards on 16 carries. Also contributing was Alfonso Medina, who finished the game with one touchdown and 105 yards on 12 for 17 passing. The Corsairs’ next game is against East Los Angeles Community College, where last season the Corsairs beat East LA 6-3. The game will be at East LA stadium at 6:00 p.m.
By Morgan Doyle Staff Writer
Throughout the entire 90 minutes of play, the Corsairs had over five offside calls against them. The Corsairs also had almost ten corner kicks in their favor, yet were unable to score. “We did not execute the corner kick plays we had gone over in practice,” said Benditson. “Credit to the goalie. She’s an amazing goalie and had numerous great saves.” Corsairs’ goalie, Alisha Sheldon, did not see much action until the 30-minute mark of the second half. Riverside had a corner kick, where Sheldon was able to tap it over the goal post in order to prevent the first goal of the game. The next corner kick provided a great defensive play by Ally Bustos to push the ball in the Corsairs offensive favor.Although the Corsair’s defense, led by Bustos, played extremely strong, Benditson continually
shouted, “don’t over-pursue”, especially throughout the first half. With 19 minutes remaining in the first half, Garcia and Pierce nearly had a breakaway goal, but Riverside’s goalie was able to deflect the shot. With seven minutes to go in the second half,Patterson took a hard shot on goal, only to be stopped again by the Riverside goalie. Patterson had one last shot on goal at the ten-second mark, but was not successful. Coach Benditson said, “We will work on finishing in front of the goal,” in regards to future practices. He also mentioned, “taking the opportunities given and executing them to create good plays and to score.” “We won’t win too many soccer games if we can‘t finish in front of the goal,” added Benditson. The next game will be at East LA, Friday September 9, at 6:00 p.m.
Women’s Soccer Falls Short
Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair Gabby Rodriguez (blue) battles with a Long Beach player for the battle at Santa Monica College on August 30th, 2011.
The Santa Monica College women’s soccer team lost a tough first match this past Friday night against Riverside College, 1-0. The score was tied 0-0 until the last five minutes of the match, when Riverside midfielder Caitlin Crouse scored on a penalty kick. Midfielder Brittany Garcia, forward Meg Pierce, and forward Olivia Patterson had over five shots on goal together in the first half, and another six close shots in the second half. Overall, Coach Aaron Benditson is “very proud of [his players’] effort and energy.” He gives “credit to Riversides’ goalie. She made it difficult for us to finish in front of the goal.”
Cross country teams venture begins in Ventura By Eva Boguslawsk Staff Writer Cross-country season officially started for SMC this past Friday, September 2, with the Ventura Invitational, which took place at Arroyo Verde Park. Freshman Nick Alvarez was the standout runner finishing in 40th place with an average mile of 5:54 and a time of 23:37.83, receiving a score of 34. Alvarez was able to improve his prior time at this race by almost a minute. On the women’s team, the best finisher was Sophomore Jamillet Maldonado who
placed in 16th position with an average mile of 6:47 and a time of 21:06.23, received a score of 15. Overall, both teams finished in 8th place. Eric Barron, the head coach who has been coaching the women’s team for the past 12 years and the men’s for past two years, is very confident about the upcoming season. Training occurs all year round with the competitive season taking place during the fall. “We had a good summer of training, and on the men’s side, we have good depth,” he said. wMost of the training for both teams is carried out off campus with the main grounds being the grass median located on
San Vicente Boulevard, Will Rogers State Park, and the hill on 21st Street, south of campus. Last year, the women’s team qualified for the Southern California Regional Championship. Barron is looking forward to the next race on September 17, which will take place at the Orange Coast Invitational, mentioning that there were several key athletes who were unable to participate in the first race. “By our second race, we should have full squads and be able to improve our teams’ positions,” he said. “Our goal for both teams is to have them qualify for the Regional Championship.”
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MENS 9/17/2011 9:45am Orange Coast Invitational @OCC 9/23/2011 3:00pm Golden West Invitational @Golden West WOMEN 9/17/2011 9:45am Orange Coast Invitational @OCC 9/23/2011 3:00pm Golden West Invitational @Golden West
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 路 SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Griffin Goldsmith on drums.
|PHOTOSTORY|5
Jojo Cheung Corsair
Chris Alves Corsair The crowd patiently waits for the 27th Annual Twlight Dance Series to start in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sept 1 2011.
Jackson Browne surprised the crowd as a guest performer with Dawes.
Jojo Cheung Corsair
Jojo Cheung Corsair Taylor Goldsmith, Wylie Gelber and Blake Mills rocking out during the show at the Santa Monica Pier on Sept. 1, 2011. Dawes jamming on a few numbers with Blake Mills. The Twilight Dance Series will conclude tomorrow night Sept. 8.v
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6|OPINION|
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
The rise of social flash mobs Flash Mobs can entertain, infor m, and surprise By Alyson Feldman Staff Writer Just like a herd of gazelle majestically galloping to the same beat, a flash mob incorporates the passion and free expression of a group of individuals. Walking through a public place, the experience of unexpected dancing routines or movements by a flash mob can surprise and enlighten you. Imagine seeing a group of people performing for the public when you least expect to witness such an expression of sudden gathering. Coming from a personal level, a flash mob is one of the most exciting things I have ever come across. The first flash mob I witnessed was at the The Grove in Los Angeles, where a group of people danced in sync to Deadmau5 music. It left me wondering why these flash mobs don’t occur on a daily basis, since it looked really awesome, A flash mob is a group of people who suddenly assemble in a public place and perform a dance routine or just chant in unison to get people’s attention. They perform an unusual and sometimes pointless act, but they tend to attract many onlookers. Most flash mobs are meant to distract people in an interesting and comedic way, using outbursts of sudden moves or chanting. Still, some rare cases are used violently, similar to riots. Most flash mobs are constructed through
Facebook, Twitter, and other social media tools. Recently, flash mobs have become more violent and have been used for committing crimes around the U.S. and other parts of the world. According to a Los Angeles Times article, “Flash mobs, riots prompt debate about social media crackdown,” “socialmedia-fueled riots in England and flashmob violence in several American cities,
including Philadelphia and Cleveland.” Police and officials have a hard time figuring out how they can legally crack down flash mobs, which gathered via social media. It is impossible to stop anyone from using social media to communicate with others, no matter what their intent. With
so much new technology being introduced to society, social media has defined how we interact with one another. Even celebrities are using social media to create a flash mob. Rapper The Game tweeted to his 580,000 followers “that if they wanted an internship with him, they should call a phone number, which turned out to be the number for the sheriff ’s Compton station,” according to a Los
mobs that have been formed as well. For instance, one of the most popular flash mob gathering occurred in London in 2006 called, “The Silent Disco.” The dancers set a specific time and place to perform their act and, since it attracted a lot of people, it eventually caused the local police to enforce crowd control around the area. Flash mobs should be created purely for entertainment and not to annoy or make people feel uncomfortable. The most memorable flash mob was the “Worldwide Pillow Fight Day,” where more than 5,000 people gathered for a massive pillow fight in New York City and all over the world, breaking the world record of the biggest flash mob in history. On August 29th, the day Michael Jackson would have turned 53 years old, many around the world paid a birthday tribute to the King of Pop. The “Thrill the World Flash Mob,” dressed like Michael Jackson and danced to his biggest hits for the public on Hollywood Boulevard. If you are out in public, going about your daily life, and you David J. Hawkins Corsair find yourself hearing music or seeing a Angeles Times article, “The Game’s group of people gathering and in unison, ‘telephone flash mob’ delayed response to either dancing, chanting or rioting, then robberies.” The Game’s tweet for a flash you have experienced a flash mob. Some mob to form and call the Compton police may be violent, but most are just to attract station brought the station’s phone lines your attention and entertain the public. into a meltdown, thanks to hundreds of Flash mobs are rare to encounter, but they flash mob callers. occur on a daily basis all over the world, There are many fun and friendly flash with positive or negative outcomes.
The reality of MTV is the lack of music By Mai Sims Staff Writer Music Television, aka MTV, was first introduced to the public in August 1981. The purpose of the channel was to air music videos with The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” being the first music video to air on the network. It has been 30 years since the beginning of the pop-culture phenomenon and it’s clear that as time has passed, so has the music from MTV. In fact, we’re barely seeing any music at all on MTV these days. Instead of airing music videos more frequently with VJs hosting music shows, as in the former show TRL, there are now reality shows aired at all times, taking away the purposeful meaning of MTV. Now shows like the infamous “Jersey Shore,” “16 and Pregnant,” “Teen Mom,” “MADE,” “Teen Wolf,” “The Real World,” “Awkward,” and many more new shows have taken over MTV. Where are the music
videos? These shows don’t have anything to do with music and yet are aired on the music television channel. This transition from music videos to the hunt for new “celebrities,” through the insertions of more and more teen-targeting shows, is neither new nor unnoticed by musicians. Within a day of the 2011 VMAs, Maroon 5’s lead singer, Adam Levine tweeted about his disappointment in the fallen music network, saying “the VMAs. One day a year when MTV pretends to still care about music.” A few years before Levine’s outburst, Justin Timberlake, during his acceptance speech at the 2007 VMAs, demanded that MTV “play more damn videos. We don’t want to see the Simpsons on reality television.” He was referring to sisters Jessica and Ashlee Simpson. Both Levine and Timberlake are right to complain against MTV, since it is no longer all about music, as promised to the public
when the channel first aired. Ever since the hunger for reality shows began in the mid-1990s, MTV has been devaluing the importance of music videos, while reality shows have increased by the numbers. Reality shows like “The Osbournes,” which first aired in 2002, followed the everyday life of the pigeon-head-eating rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, and his family. At least Ozzy, a music legend in his own way, made sense to have a reality show based on his life on a music television channel. But from then on, it spurred out of control with pointless reality shows taking over. Dating shows like “Next” and “The X Factor” took up more air time than the original idealism of MTV, which was just music videos. According to an E! online article, “Feud Alert! Adam Levine to MTV: ‘F--k You,’” Levine continued his righteous bashing of MTV, suggesting that the lack of music on the music network is just “sad.” “It’s like seeing Tower Records in LA as a clothing
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store. I was just fed up with the whole thing. It is what it is. It was a very off-the-cuff statement that I definitely stood by.” Levine hits the right spot again. What if Nickelodeon suddenly started airing daytime soap operas, such as “Days of our Lives” or “The Bold and the Beautiful?” That wouldn’t make much sense, just like there’s no sense to MTV’s name anymore. MTV should go through a name change to something more relatable to their aired content, which are reality shows. MTV aired “Total Request Live,” aka “TRL” on their network in November 2008 for the last time, which saddened many MTV viewers. “TRL” was one of the only shows that promoted artists, played music videos and had celebrity guests. The cancellation of “TRL” only proved MTV’s transition to reality-based programming. The excitement MTV brought to viewers, by airing music videos and promoting artists, no longer exists, unless you’re a reality show junkie.
|A & E|7
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Fuzjko Hemming thunders through Broad Stage
Cristina Maxwell Corsair Fuzjko Hemming, world renound pianist, plays a benefit concert for the victims of the March 11 earthquake.
By Jenya Romanovsky Staff Writer Mastering Chopin and playing at Carnegie Hall are like fighting “bosses” in a video game – you get past the first one and no one doubts that you actually play; you get past the second and even your nihilistic relatives think you might be a big deal. Except that once you’ve played the game many times before, your view of those milestones changes – just as your childhood home will feel different to you once you’re older, even if it stays exactly the same.Fuzjko Hemming started her Friday concert with Chopin – that “Ulysses” or “look, ma – no hands!” of classical piano. Transcending the banality of a milestone piece almost didn’t seem to trouble the pianist – rather than rigid and formulaic, her Chopin felt like a well-thought-out monologue on a
therapist’s couch. That is, if the content ever puzzled her, by now she knew what every sound of it meant. The concert continued with Bach, and after an intermission – Mussorgsky and Liszt. Mussorgsky’s violent jolts from mournful and joyfully gentle, thundering through the modernist wood panels of the Broad Stage. Talking to The Corsair, Hemming relates to the composer’s difficult life – his penniless and snowy march to much-belated recognition, his sympathy to pain - both animal and human. Hemming the pianist and Hemming the person are a curious contrast. If the audience resembled a little conference or a very tame block party, the concert itself felt like a small costumed play. Hemming playing is a force of nature – she strikes the keys with vim and verve and nerve uncommon in a person
of her modest stature, but speaking - confidently in Japanese, and more slowly, tentatively in English – the veneer comes off. She bows and smiles gently at the audience “polite, reserved,” she would recall. She tilts her head and leans forward whilst listening – like in many a musician, her hearing falters in one ear. That gentleness and sympathy - to many things - are disarming. When asked what, from her vantage point, would be the greatest challenge to a young musician, she said “Neighbors!” She mimics knocking on the ceiling with a broom. “I love music, but even I – if it’s the same tra-ra-ra, tra-rara,” she dries her eyes and trails off. Fuzjko Hemming was born to a SwedishRussian architect father, who didn’t figure greatly into her life; and a Japanese piano teacher mother, who raised her by herself.
“It wasn’t bad,” she says, reflecting on her early years in the care of her tough disciplinarian mother. “I played piano in an expensive Chinese restaurant. Many people – soldiers, diplomats – came just to see me play. They’d yell, ‘Tchaikovsky! Tchaikovsky!’ and I’d play them Tchaikovsky”. She laughs. We asked Hemming to share with SMC’s young musicians something she knows now that she wished she knew then and she told us a short story. Her mother, a beautiful woman who taught children of well-to-do politicians and diplomats in Japan, didn’t think much of her daughter’s talent.“You aren’t that great”, her mother would say to her. “You should go straight for teaching.” “I had to travel the world, listen to lots of pianists play to see… that I’m pretty great,” says Hemming. “Those who were great went down, and I kept going.”
W h i t e Lights Double Vision Art Show By Valerie Serrano Staff Writer Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be involved in the middle of a crime scene that captivates emotional tension? What about being able to experience the eerie aftermath of a devastating disaster? “White Nights, Double Vision: the Fictive Worlds of Wes Christensen and Marina Moevs” at the Santa Monica College Barrett Art Gallery is featuring a total of 58 paintings that enable the viewer to become involved in completing the story of the “fictive worlds” being presented in the paintings. Christensen has been presenting his work for the last three and a half decades. Ruth Weisberg, artist, author, and professor of fine arts and former dean of the USC Roski School of Fine Arts said, “Wes Christensen’s tightly cropped images make us feel complicit, as if we were watching his protagonists via a hidden camera, or perhaps a keyhole.” With 42 paintings on display, Christensen best explains his work by saying, “In my paintings and drawings, I have tried, using representational methods, to fix moments in time and freeze the suggestive attitudes that figures show to each other. Within these designs I have searched for the storytelling qualities embedded in everyday objects, the memories of meaning that linger in accidental, mundane settings and the atmospheric associations of essential gestures.”
Moevs makes natural disasters, such as storms, hurricanes, fires, and tsunamis, one of her main focuses, suggesting the quiet after a terrible catastrophe. As Moevs said in a released statement, “A natural disaster is the thematic link for many of the paintings, as is the recurring image of a house, either threatened or in various stages of destruction. Nonetheless, like the calm after a storm, stillness and quietude pervade all the depicted scenes.” With a total of 16 large 78”x48” and 50”x32” vertical paintings, Moevs’ art also emphasizes the environmental effects that are caused by climatic changes. In order for the paintings to work as an extension of the viewer’s space, the larger paintings hang close to the floor and the horizon line is always placed at the viewer’s eye level. The Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery is located at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center and entrance to the exhibit is completely free. A special reception will be held on Friday, September 9 at 6p.m. The exhibit will remain available to the public until October 8. Two gallery talks will also be held, one which Moevs will attend on Tuesday, September 20 at 1:30p.m., and one with Wes Christensen on Tuesday, September 27 at 1:30 pm. Both gallery talks will take place in the Barrett Art Gallery, with lectures sponsored by the SMC Associates.
Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair A civilian visits the White Nights Double Vision at the Performance Art Center located on Santa Monica and 11 on September 6th.
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8|HEALTH&LIFE|
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Hungry Brains: The Best Brain-Boosting Foods By Amber Antonopoulos Staff Writer
inflict damage upon neurons in the brain. Research studies have shown that people with higher blood levels of the antioxidants vitamins C and E in particular have fared better on memory tests. Nuts, most notably hazelnuts and almonds, sunflower seeds, and vegetable oils are rich in vitamin E, according to the American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. Citrus fruits, guava, papaya, strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes and broccoli are all excellent sources of vitamin C. The Washington Post hails the blueberry, also rich in vitamin C, as a super-fruit that heightens brain function. Studies have shown that anthocyanins, the phytochemicals in blueberries responsible for their deep blue hue, have significant memory-improving properties. B vitamins also play important roles in cognitive function. Homocysteine is an amino acid associated with clogged arteries, which result in decreased brain blood flow, causing impairment of mental functions. Based on research studies, the B vitamins folate, B6 and B12 seem to assist in lowering homocysteine levels, while B vitamin deficiencies have been linked to high levels of homocysteine. Folate can be found most abundantly in leafy green vegetables, especially spinach, broccoli, beans, orange juice and avocadoes. Vitamin B12 is essential for an astute mind, as a B12 deficiency is associated with cognitive problems such as memory lapses. B12 can only naturally be found in animal products, particularly salmon, beef, shrimp, yogurt, milk and cheese, but it is often fortified in foods such as soy milks and cereals. Vitamin B6, which is found primarily in animal sources like poultry, pork, beef and seafood, and in smaller
It’s 11:11 a.m. You didn’t have time to eat breakfast before spending all morning in class. You shift positions on your unyielding plastic chair and attempt to focus as your professor introduces the chemistry of carbon compounds, but his words are drowned out by your stomach’s unending growl and your incessant thoughts of what’s for lunch. Your mind becomes consumed with anxiety, your limbs grow shaky, and your concentration fades. You look at the clock again only to find that the minute hand has scarcely advanced. It’s 11:13 a.m. Class doesn’t end until noon. You’re never going to make it. Such low blood sugar levels during periods of hunger can wreak havoc on the mind, but eating certain foods before classes or study sessions may actually help enhance memory and promote brainpower. To function properly, the brain relies on glucose, a simple sugar which is most easily broken down from carbohydrates, as its principal source of fuel. Therefore, carbohydrate consumption gives the brain a quick fix and, according to Environmental Nutrition newsletter, may help sharpen memory. Sugary snacks will do the trick quickly but briefly, as sweet treats spike blood glucose rapidly before causing it to crash. The Los Angeles Times reports that complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain breads and pastas, and nutrientdense fruits and vegetables are a better choice of carbohydrate to stabilize blood sugar levels and elevate brain energy. Foods rich in antioxidants may improve memory by fighting against free radicals, which can
Old Habits Die Hard:
amounts in legumes like black beans, leafy green vegetables, nuts and whole grains, is also connected to memory. Studies have revealed that Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining normal cognitive function, have additional advantages in the brain. According to Tufts University’s Health & Nutrition Letter, DHA and EPA, the Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, particularly salmon, albacore tuna, trout and swordfish, are vital for a sharp mind. College students are no strangers to caffeine, of course, which can be beneficial in improving alertness, focus, reasoning and memory when consumed in moderation. However, caffeine in excess can impair concentration by promoting overstimulation and anxiety. So next time you’re on your way to class, grab a bag of almond trail mix and drink a blueberry smoothie, or eat some salmon while studying for your exam. A balanced diet with a variety of healthy brain-boosting foods allows students to focus on learning rather than rumbling stomachs. The journey to an impressive transcript can begin on your Photos by Sequoia Ziff Corsair plate.
The Science of Stress and ways to Conquer it By Zoie Matthew Staff Writer
Photos by Amanda Bojoquez Corsair Santa Monica College Student Omar Luevanos, accompanied by friends, Billy Anand and Rene Flores, finds that exercising between classes helps lower his stress levels
Santa Monica College Student Ernest Gordon displaying dance culture called “The Dutch.”
Santa Monica College student Andy Velasquez finds that sleeping between classes “helps relieve stress and lets the body rest.”
While a college education expands minds, the common stressors that come with an extended education has proven to wreak havoc on the bodies of students. Because a college student’s problems are long term and less physically based, this reaction to stress can have an adverse affect. UCLA Professor Robert Sapolsky recently told the LA Times: “For the vast majority of beasts on this planet, stress is about a short-term crisis, after which it’s either over with or you’re over with. When we sit around and worry about stressful things, we turn on the same physiological responses - but they are potentially a disaster when provoked chronically.” According to a national survey of over 200,000 freshmen conducted last year by the Higher Education Research Institute, the number of incoming students who feel their emotional health is below average is higher than ever. Work, family obligations, and other stressors bog down the modern student. “Working 45plus hours a week can cause a good amount of stress,” said Laine Baker, a former SMC student. “I’ve not studied
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for an exam before, or skipped homework because of projects at work, or shows.” Students are seeing their stress manifest emotionally and physically. Brenda Shea, another former student, had trouble concentrating in class due to her stress reaction. “My anxiety would manifest in this crazy fight or flight thing where I would start twitching in my seat thinking, ‘What am I doing? I wanna go home! I gotta get out of here now.’ I would have to talk myself down inside my own head. This made concentrating on the lecture a challenge.” The American Institute of Stress says that there is no actual cure for stress, and that the methods of reducing it are as varied as its causes. They say a relaxing physical activity such as yoga (which is offered as a class at SMC) can help, as can a change in diet, personal hobbies, and talking with someone who supports you emotionally. The real trick, though, is preventing the stress from happening at all. Sleeping more and drinking less caffeine can be a huge aid in this aspect. Planning ahead as opposed to procrastinating also helps students feel more in control and less overwhelmed by the tasks that are stressing them out. Stress is a part of life, but you don’t have to let it overwhelm you. Just keep calm, stay grounded, and breathe.