The Union, Volume 72, Issue 5

EL CAMINO COLLEGE

Fall Advanced Dance Concert, P. 7

DECEMBER 7, 2017 Follow us at /ECCUnion

THE UNION eccunion.com

Like us at /ElCaminoUnion

Instructor continues to inspire students 52 years later, P. 10

TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA

Send us an email at /eccunion@gmail.com

G

a

SEAT at the LUNCH TABLE Jorge Villa/ Union Some of the different food options available on campus. “We don’t know what’s going to happen,” Brian Fahnestock, vice president of Administrative Services, said in regards to future changes in vending on campus.

Faith Petrie

Opinion Editor @ECCUnionFaith

During her first year at El Camino, Samsara Read, 19, communications major, would often frequent the various food locations available on campus.

When she realized her vegetarian diet needs could no longer be met

eating on campus she began to bring food from home.

“It’s hard for me to find great filling meals here on campus,” Read said.

She, like many other students on campus, wishes the menu options on campus were more diverse and inclusive towards people with different eating habits.

This hunger for new food options has the possibility of being met

during the spring semester.

According to El Camino College District’s Final Budget plan, El Camino’s food services are all under the vendor Campus Food Services, Inc. who provides $50,000 to vend on campus.

EC’s contract with this vendor ends on June 30 and as of now the future of food services for EC is unclear, according to Vice President of Administrative

Services Brian Fahnestock.

“Everything’s on the table. We could continue with what we have or it could be completely different at any point,” Fahnestock said.

Fahnestock noted that the budget is decided by Campus Food Services, Inc. “(The $50,000 is) based off of their total sales and that estimate is pretty much close to what they do every year,” Fahnestock said. “The

Shots Fired Emma DiMaggio Faith Petrie

Editors @ECCUnionEmma @ECCUnionFaith

Jeremy Taylor/ Union One of the bullet holes in the window of Life Sciences Room 105, which shattered the window on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Two bullet holes were found on the Crenshaw Boulevard side of Life Sciences Room 105 on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

The holes were later found by a lab technician on Thursday, Nov. 30. The bullet holes partially shattered the upper side of one of the windows of the classroom.

The bullets also noticeably ripped up the fabric used to shade the

Faculty Art Show features multimedia work form 25 different artists, P.6

$50,000 is to be here, so it’s the revenue that the college gets out of the whole thing.”

Fahnestock also explained how El Camino is allocated this money throughout the year. “$50,000 is the minimum so they make the calculation through the year (and) they pay us (monthly),” Fahnestock said.

In the 2016 to 2017 academic year, “unaudited revenue” brought

in by the Campus Food Services Commission was $65,169.

“Every month they give us an amount and at the end of the year it adds up to at least $50,000 and usually a little bit more,” Fahnestock said.

Recently, El Camino added a new addition to the food service dynamic on campus: the Atomic Cafe mobile truck.

—Story continued on Page 2.

Two bullet holes found in the windows of Life Sciences Room 105, surveillance footage shows no suspects

classroom.

“I saw the damage,” Teresa Palos, biology professor, said.

The night duty dean on the night of Wednesday, Nov. 29, Walter Cox, associate dean of the fine arts department, had not been informed of the shots until The Union asked him about the incident.

“I wasn’t even informed of it,” Cox said. “(This is) the first I’ve heard of it.”

He also said that associate dean Berkeley Price hadn’t heard of the incident when he spoke to Price about it.

Around 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov.

30, students could be seen exiting their classroom to take a look at the bullet holes. They said that their professor had told them of the incident.

Palos said that the damage “did not interfere” and that her class at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30 started on time.

According to an email from police chief Michael Trevis, “A vandalism incident was reported in the early morning hours of Nov. 22 when campus was closed.

A window in the Life Science Building was found to have damage – two holes that appear to be from a pellet gun.”

It appeared that professors of the classroom had just learned about the incident.

Amy Grant, dean of the life sciences division, said, “We don’t have any information,” in regards to the bullet holes.

Teresa Coulter, administrative assistant in the facilities department, also said she hadn’t heard of the incident.

“Why are we always the last ones to know?” Coulter said.

Trevis also stated in the email that security footage did not reveal the location of the perpetrator, as he could’ve been off campus when the shots were fired.

NEWS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 2

DECEMBER 7, 2017

POLICE BEAT Jeremy Taylor

Staff Writer @ECCUnionJeremyT

According to campus police

Female takes a tumble on scooter Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 12:10 p.m.

A female student was riding a scooter on the walkway between the Social Sciences and Art Buildings. The student lost control and fell down to the ground, she complained of pain in her in both her left knee and leg. Paramedics were notified but the student refused medical transport to a local hospital. An officer advised the student that riding a scooter, skateboard, or bicycle on campus was against ECC rules. Report was taken.

Student has a panic attack in Social Sciences Building Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 12:15 p.m. A male student began to experience a panic attack in Rm. 210 of the Social Sciences building.

Paramedics were notified but student declined to be transported to a local hospital and stated a his friend would take him to see his primary care physician.

Report was taken.

Nonstudent found with drug paraphernalia Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 12:10 p.m.

A female non-student was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. The driver stopped for expired registration on the 16400 block of Crenshaw Boulevard, was in possession of heroin, methamphetamine and a glass cylindrical pipe. She was taken to Torrance PD for booking and her vehicle was impounded.

Report was taken.

Faith Petrie/ Union Natalie Rojas, 19, biology major, has worked at Cafe Camino for two years as a cashier. “I like meeting brand new faces every day and making new friends,” Rojas said.

A Seat at the Lunch Table Continued from Page 1

According to Rocky Bonura, director of Purchasing and Business Services, El Camino recruited the truck in an effort to quell faculty’s and staff’s request for specialty coffee.

“We have an exclusive beverage contract with Coca Cola but as you know they don’t do fresh brewed coffee so we were free to solicit from vendors,” Bonura said.

Bonura added that there was not a large interest regarding being a vendor on campus until the Atomic

Cafe contacted EC. “There wasn’t much response to tell you the truth, not a lot of people do this on a temporary basis,” Bonura said.

“We were able to talk with Atomic Cafe and they had what we seemed to have needed,” Bonura said.

Outside vendors like Atomic Cafe are not a foreign concept to El Camino College according to Bonura.

El Camino once houses a Taco Bell Express, Subway, and Pizza Hut as food locations for students and faculty.

Bonura said the companies found that the businesses were not profitable when the academic year was not in session.

Fahnestock agreed that the companies were not bringing in enough revenue by adding, “some things work out, some things don’t.”

While El Camino may no longer provide contracts with vendors like it has in the past, neighboring community colleges such as Santa Monica College (SMC) do.

SMC has three food locations and numerous food trucks on its campus.

According to Mitchell Heskel, dean of Education Enterprise at Santa Monica College, in 20162017, $160,000 was provided for food services and $170,000 was made in revenue.

Although SMC’s revenue is larger than El Camino’s, the number of food locations and student population play a role in how much money is made.

SMC students including Jamie Collins, 19, undeclared major, enjoy the numerous options provided by the food services on campus.

“I just enjoy the variety that the campus has and the unique foods,”

Collins said.

At EC, Cafe Camino student worker, Natalie Rojas, 19, biology major enjoys the environment in which she works to provide food to students.

“I like meeting brand new faces every day and making new friends,” Rojas said.

Read hopes that the future of El Camino’s food includes more options for those who practice vegetarianism.

“If El Camino had fresh vegetarian meals without meat as well, that would be great,” Read said.

SHOW ME THE MONEY How do El Camino prices compare to Santa Monica College and nearby burger joints?

Cell phone stolen in Natural Sciences Building Friday, Dec. 1 at 11:26 a.m. A female student left her cell phone in the women’s restroom in the Natural Sciences Building. She stated she returned to retrieve the cellphone 45 minutes later and it was no longer there. Report was taken.

Vehicle collision in Lot L leave cars with significant damage Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 1:02 p.m.

Two vehicles were involved a traffic collision located at 164 St. and Lot L. The vehicles sustained significant damage but neither driver was injured. Report was taken.

Student has a seizure in the ITEC Building Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 1:42 p.m. A female student began to experience a seizure in Room 151 of the ITEC building.

Paramedics were notified but the student refused to transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The student stated her sister would take her to her primary care physician. Report was taken.

Corrections In the Nov. 16 issue, the story “Writing Center acts as a longstanding resource for struggling students,” the byline credited the incorrect author. The story was written by Tanya Silerio.

The Union regrets these errors.

All information derived from the El Camino College’s Cafe Camino menu, Santa Monica College’s Eat St. and TCBY menu, Supreme Burger Grill’s Menu, and McDonald’s menu.

Faith Petrie/ Union

“Everything’s on the table.

We could continue with what we have or it could be completely different at any point.”

—Brian

Fahnestock, vice president of Administrative Services

Jorge Villa/ Union Vice president of Administrative Services Bryan Fahenstock (left) and director of Purchasing and Business, Rocky Bonura are unsure of the future of food services at El Camino College. “We don’t know what’s going to happen,” Fahenstock said.

DECEMBER 7, 2017

Success in the

SRC

NEWS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 3

EC’s Special Resource Center program continues to grow despite the recent drop in student enrollment last year Alissa Lemus

A

Staff Writer

@ECCUnionAlissa

journey that seemed too difficult in the b eg i n n i ng, with many sleepless nights and frustration, became something worthwhile for a student who has struggled to succeed his whole life.

With his braces on his legs, his earphones always in and his blue Jansport backpack around his shoulder, he rushes to get to his classes and tutoring on time so he can do his work.

Alvaro Montero, 26, sociology major, was born with mild cerebral palsy, which has greatly affected his body physically since the day he was born.

Montero has been at El Camino for almost three years now, and has been registered in the Special Resource Center ever since.

The SRC has greatly helped Montero find success here at El Camino, and even though he has struggled to pass his classes, he said he has been provided the resources needed to assist him and what he may need at school.

Montero said he is able to borrow wheelchairs or scooters to assist him in walking, and testing accommodations.

“For students that normally get an hour on tests, I would get about two extra hours to complete that test,” Montero said. “They help me really understand what the questions are asking.”

El Camino has many resources on campus, but a popular one that has been assisting students for years is the Special Resource Center.

The SRC has specifically been assisting students with disabilities since 1972 and its main goal is to help students perform equally with non-disabled students.

With the many resources available to students with disabilities, students are able to get the specific help they need on campus.

EC has found success in its SRC program, which has not only focused on students with

disabilities, but has also merged the program with other resources on campus to reach all students at EC. Julie Land, learning disabilities specialist at the SRC has found the SRC to be uccessful for students with disabilities.

“Here at the SRC we encourage students to go out and get involved as any ot her student would,” Land said.

“We do not want them to hide in the SRC or get too comfortable here.”

The SRC for the past five years has had over 1,600 students enrolled in its program. With the numbers being consistent and similar from 2012 to 2016, the only difference occurred this past 2016 to 2017 academic year.

In the 2015 to 2016 academic year, the SRC had a total of 1,914 students enrolled in the program.

However, this number decreased the following academic year to 1,682 students.

Land said that there are many reasons as to why the enrollment amount dropped by 232 students for the 2016 to 2017 academic school year.

“Some students move on from El Camino to other schools, and this affects enrollment at the college including all programs, just like the SRC,” Land said With many students having different disabilities, there are a variety of different resources these students need.

A common resource that students with disabilities need are extra help in their classes, especially with tests. When registered as a student in the SRC, the right documentation stating your disability can grant you this extra help.

Although El Camino offers a lot of services for students with disabilities, other community colleges also provide services to these students that have been helpful to the s as well.

Santa Monica College also has a program similar to EC’s. However, at most community colleges in California, these programs are called the Disabled Student Program and Services.

SMC has averaged a total of 44,000 to 45,000 students per year, which is significantly greater than

Disbaled Students Program and Services enrollment per year

the total enrollment count at EC. However at their DSPS center they have a lot less students enrolled in their program. from 2012 to 2016 they averaged about 1,400 per year, but in the recent 2016 to 2017 school year, their enrollment in DSPS went up to 1,799 students.

This is a 369 increase from the previous year and the 2016 to 2017 school year enrollment in DSPS has not been seen at SMC within the past five years.

Another school that has a similar enrollment count as EC, is Cerritos College. Cerritos College averages about 29,900 to 31,000 students per year.

Although their enrollment count is similar to EC, their enrollment in their DSPS program is less than EC and SMC’s.

Cerritos experienced a growth up to the 2014 to 2015 academic year, but that has decreased since.

Cassie Velazquez, 19, Business Major, has been at Cerritos College for a year and a half, and is currently a player on the women’s soccer team at Cerritos.

As a soccer player, she explained how it is very common for athletes to get injured. She explained this because during her first season with the soccer team, she sprained her ankle and was on crutches for a few weeks.

During these few weeks, the DSPS program at Cerritos helped her immensely with getting to her classes on campus.

“I was offered a wheelchair and (a) scooter to help me get around campus,” Velazquez said. “I am not enrolled in the DSPS program but they did help me so much.”

DSPS programs at all colleges across California are very helpful and reach out to students who are either disabled, or just need help on a daily basis.

The DSPS has helped students for years and encourages success in everyday life on and off of campus.

For students like Montero, the SRC has had a big impact on him and will continue to be part of his journey at EC. “The SRC has helped me so much,” Montero said. “I will always be grateful for all they have done to help me here at El Camino.”

Alissa Lemus / Union

Alvaro Montero sitting in front of the SRC before heading to tutoring. “I thank the SRC for helping me along my journey at El Camino,” Montero said.

Accomodations available for students in SRC • Testing accomodations (ex. extra time, braille interpreters, etc.)

• Note-taking assistance • Adaptive computer technology • Transcriber/writer • Reader • Interpreter • Learning facilitator • Equipment (ex. digital recorder, CCTV, scooter, wheelchair, etc.)

• Reduced course load Information courtesy of the SRC’s website on elcamino.edu

SRC employee focuses on the success of her students

Julie Land continues her journey focusing on her students and helping them succeed beyond EC Alissa Lemus Staff Writer

H

@ECCUnionAlissa

Information found on the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Data Mart on the DSPS programs.

er charismatic tone and joyous smile invites anyone in to the SRC with open arms and her years of experience keeps her journey going.

Julie Land, learning disabilities and physical/visual disabilities specialist has been woking a El Camino for 12 years in the Special Resource Center along with teaching Educational Development courses.

With teaching the Educational Development courses, Land focuses on making sure her students are provided with the resources needed to succeed at EC and beyond.

In the photo, Land is holding the 2017 Exemplary Program Award that the SRC received an honorable mention in the summer of 2017. Land and the SRC take a lot of pride in this honorable mention for their hardworking throughout the years.

Land emphasized on how important it is for students registered in the SRC to branch out and make sure they are involved in campus wide activities.

“We want to gently push our students out of here and into the campus to participate fully,” Land said. “Of course we want the student to come back here for his or her accommodations but not use the SRC as a place to retreat.”

Although the SRC as plenty of services available for students with disabilities, Land expreses how important it is for students to branch out and play an active role in the EC community.

Land is very appreciative of the SRC and shows an immense amount of care and support for her students.

With her years of great experiences, and her love for her students, it is evident to any one who talks to Land that she is passionate about her job.

“We really do an effective job of empowering students,” Land said.

“The SRC is my pride and joy.

Alissa Lemus / Union

Julie Land holding up the honorable mention award El Camino received over the summer. Land is very proud and happy to work for the SRC.

NEWS

4 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

DECEMBER 7, 2017

EC garners environment for female leaders to prosper Role models Dena Maloney and Kristie DanielDiGregorio pave the way for ambitious women

Emma DiMaggio

Arts and News Editor @ECCUnionEmma

When she first began her career, she began working under a man who, by her account, was charming, political, and had a very forceful personality. He held a master’s degree, and had been appointed as a dean. Under his command, it first dawned on her that she could make an example of herself, to level the playing field and pave the way for other women in her shoes.

The woman was Kristie Daniel-DiGregorio, the now acting president of the Academic Senate and professor of human development at El Camino College.

El Camino has soared above neighboring colleges in regards to appointing females into leadership positions. With a female president, a female academic senate president, and a predominately female administrative team, EC has embodied its value of gender equity on campus.

“I think we need to be able to see someone that looks like us at that next level to be able to envision ourselves at that level,” DanielDiGregorio said. “Sometimes it’s conscious, ‘Oh, she does it so I can do it,’ but often it’s really unconscious.”

Daniel-DiGregorio, who has worked at EC for almost 16 years, precedes a list of other female Academic Senate presidents, including Claudia Striepe, Chris Jeffries, Chris Gold, and Suzy Deavors.

Just last semester, in the spring of 2016, the college appointed its first ever female president, Dena Maloney, whose own father attended EC in the 1940s.

Unlike Daniel-DiGregorio, Maloney has been preceded by solely male presidents. From a sample of information obtained from the California Chancellor’s Office website, seven out of 11 presidents of neighboring community colleges are male, while four out of 11 are female.

Amongst the community colleges with female presidents are Santa Monica College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles City College, and Los

Angeles Valley College.

Maloney believes that the EC community fosters opportunity for female leaders on campus.

“It’s a welcoming system for leaders, and for women leaders in particular, that have the ability to persist and set high goals for themselves and to achieve those goals,” Maloney said.

While Maloney may be an example of this, she is one of many female leaders on campus, the list of which includes deans, administrators, and committee heads.

Within the California Community College system, colleges, on average, have 54 percent female educational administrators, according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Report on Staffing for Fall 2016. At El Camino College, 68 percent of educational administrators are female, which exceeds the state average by 14 percent.

This level of female visibility

“Representation is instrumental when servicing such a diverse study body.

Female deans and directors could provide a different approach that could perhaps benefit more people.”

—Jenebrith Pastran, 20, sociology major, said.

on campus can be essential to a comprehensive view of leadership, for students and faculty alike.

“It’s very effective in helping us see leadership more broadly,” Daniel-DiGregorio said.

“Sometimes we think that the person who is standing out front doing the most talking is the leader, when any organization relies on the person taking the notes, the person calling people who missed the meeting, the person making

sure the website is updated, all that behind the scenes, thankless work.”

According to the EC Annual Factbook from 2016, which is created by EC Institutional Research, 55 percent of all faculty members at EC are female. This percentage has risen since the 2011-2012 school year, but only by one percent.

Daniel-DiGregorio believes that, by acting as a leader in a community college atmosphere, she is able to participate in the dialogue of gender equality in a greater way.

“My form of political activism is the work that I do, because by empowering (students) to empower (their) communities, that’s how we change things,” Daniel-DiGregorio said. “I’ve always believed in equity but here you get to be part of the solution. It’s very powerful.”

Some believe female leaders are able to offer a unique perspective within the campus environment.

“Representation is instrumental when servicing such a diverse student body. Female deans and directors could provide a different approach that could perhaps benefit more people,” Jenebrith Pastran, 20, sociology major and student ambassador on campus, said.

Some students find sanctuary in seeing female faculty members rising up in their positions.

Relating to campus leaders is one way that they’re able to envision themselves achieving success at the same level.

“When I see female faculty, I see women who have worked hard to achieve a level of success I strive to reach myself,” Pastran said. “The insight they possess could engender real change that could perhaps remove certain barriers or make students and faculty more aware of how to best succeed regardless of their circumstance.”

Daniel-DiGregorio shares this sentiment. “(It’s important to be) able to see if somebody else can juggle family and career, and how are they able to do it,” Daniel-DiGregorio said.

“Can a women walk into a room full of men and be a decider and a decision maker and a leader and be respected? Seeing it is very important.”

Employee demographic by gender at EC by percentage

Alissa Lemus/ Union Kristie Daniel-DiGregorio, academic senate president and professor of human development, sits in her office as she explains her struggle to be taken seriously as a female in her position.

“I think we need to be able to see someone that looks like us at that next level to be able to envision ourselves at that level.”

—Kristie Daniel-DiGregorio, president of Academic Senate and human development professor

Female Deans on Campus: • Gloria Miranda, Behavioral and Social Sciences •Virginia Rapp, Business •Debra Breckheimer, Humanities •Stephanie Rodriguez, Industry and Technology •Claudia Striepe, Learning Resources •Jacquelyn Sims, Mathematical Sciences •Amy Grant, Natural Sciences

Gender distribution of educational administrators at EC

Emma DiMaggio/ Union A chart detailing the percentage deviations between male and female faculty members on the El Camino College campus. Information obtained from the 2016 EC Annual Factbook.

Campuses with Female Presidents: •Santa Monica College, Kathryn Jeffery •Denise Noldon, Los Angeles Southwest College •Renee Martinez, Los Angeles City College •Erika Endrijonas, Los Angeles Valley College

Emma DiMaggio/ Union A pie chart displaying the percentage of male and female administrators who work at El Camino College. Information obtained from the California Chancellor’s Office Annual Report.

OPINION/EDITORIAL

DECEMBER 7, 2017

Letter to the Editor

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 5

Editorial:

In regards to the Up for Debate, ‘What (should) the United States do about gun control’ in issue Vol. 72, No. 4, published on Thursday, Nov. 16.

To the Editor: Your article, “What (should) the United States do about gun control?” is missing a few points.

First, let’s discuss the most recent shooting in Texas. Did you know that the murderer was stopped by a good guy with a gun?

That’s right! Stephen Willeford is a former NRA instructor. His heroism and his gun brought down the shooter.

Moreover, the Texas gunman was never allowed to have a gun.

He was discharged from the Air Force on bad terms because he assaulted his toddler. Sadly, the Air Force made a mistake, never putting on his record that he shouldn’t be allowed to have guns.

As well, we have the Second Amendment. To change that would require a constitutional amendment. (And, believe me, that would be more difficult than trying to ace a final exam when you begin studying the night before.)

If, somehow, America banned every… single… gun… there would still be gun violence!

That’s because criminals always find a way to smuggle guns in. That’s why they’re called criminals: they break the law.

Just look at Chicago: some of the strictest gun control in the country, yet they have had over 600+ homicides just this year alone.

— Hannah Shafiroff, 19, graphic design major, and Student Ambassador for PragerU

Letters to the editor can be sent to The Union’s email at eccunion@gmail.com with the subject “Letter to the editor.”

Allow outside food vendors to operate on campus

How does it feel to be recognized on the Women of El Camino wall in the library?

Jorge Villa, Photo Editor,

Emma Dimaggio/ Union

@ECCUnionJorge

Lori Suekawa, articulation officer

“Being honored was a true honor and it was unexpected because my colleague had put my name in and wrote a very nice excerpt about me. I was so taken aback that I was being recognized for the work that goes unnoticed by some people”

A variety of food options should be available for students looking for alternatives With the end of our current food service contract on June 30 according to Vice President of Administrative Services, Brian Fahnestock, uncertainty looms over students as the college will have to decide to continue or steer in a different direction with the future of food on campus.

While this may seem like a two-way street by which the needs of students are met but with a wide array of food options in retrospect, the vendor’s system is the best suitable.

Streamlining the process from consumer to producer

equalizes the prices for students with lower-income to prompt for a healthy yet accessible dietary treatment on campus.

El Camino’s new addition, the Atomic Cafe mobile truck is a step in the right direction, although upon review is shorthanded with coffee drinkers as their target clientele, the pressure for more inclusive food options seems imminent.

As mobile trucks rise in popularity among locals, the regulatory hurdles can be challenging but with neighboring colleges like Santa Monica College can be a model for inspiration.

Blatant rejection of any outside businesses may discourage student engagement.

Some food options are profitable while still offering affordable food options.

Health conscious meals are not the answer to end all be all but rather a start by using a survey with the right implications as a building block to draw plausible conclusions.

For many students, diversity is a notion that includes an array of multicultural food which encompasses our ability to be liberal and tolerant to cater different backgrounds.

By implementing vegetarian

cuisine options, the students might be prone to practice a healthier lifestyle and prove higher student success.

While food trucks like Kogi BBQ and The Grilled Cheese Truck in LA have a large following, EC can contract independent local business like these for sure-fire buyership and with the rise of social media students are in-tune with foods that appease to their taste.

In turn, we hope to see more inclusive food options on campus that improves student success.

Column:

A semester apart: my experience being on The Union staff

How I learned to take away from my past mistakes to better my future as a writer and student

Mattie Eskridge, former assistant to vice president of Student and Community Advancement

“You really don’t know how to think about it because you don’t really look for it but when it happens to you, you’re happy about it and you’re thankful for the one that made the recommendation for you to be nominated for the award. It was great.”

Susan Stolovy, astronomy and physics professor

Reyna Torres Staff Writer @ECCUnionReyna

Read more columns and opinion stories online at eccunion.com

“I was very honored and flattered and happy to hear that I have been nominated. I felt humbled as well because I know that their are many other deserving women here on campus.”

THE UNION Vol. 72, No. 5 December 7, 2017 Email: eccunion@gmail.com Newsroom: (310) 660-3328 Advertising: (310) 660-3329

Editor-in-Chief ������������������������������������������������������������������������ Dmitri Hansen News Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������� Emma DiMaggio Opinion/Editorial Editor ���������������������������������������������������������������Faith Petrie Arts Editor.................................................................................. Emma DiMaggio Sports Editor ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� Dmitri Hansen Photo Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Jorge Villa Features Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������� Zach Hatakeyama Social Media Manager...................................................................Dmitri Hansen Advertising Manager ������������������������������������������������������������������� Jack Mulkey Adviser ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Stefanie Frith Photo Adviser...................................................................................Gary Kohatsu

In spring 2017 I decided to take a full-load of classes and I just started a new job.

I enrolled in anthropology, math, journalism and joined the school’s newspaper, The Union, as a staff writer.

My mentality before entering the semester was to pass all of my courses and get them over with.

I was going to school Monday through Thursday and working evening shifts Thursday through Sunday.

Despite my effort and enthusiasm, my tedious schedule soaked up my energy and I had to withdraw from two classes in May. I found myself smothered from everything around me and I felt that it was best for me to just walk away from the newspaper and my other journalism class, which resulted in me failing them.

After a long summer of contemplating what I could do to better myself as a student, I realized that I overloaded myself during the semester because I wanted to rush myself to get out of El Camino sooner to transfer.

Out of my six semesters at EC, I have never failed an entire semester. Spring 2017, will always be in the back of my mind if I ever think about dropping a course or give up on my studies.

In fall 2017, I decided to retake journalism 11 (Newspaper Publication) and a fitness class. I also decreased my work schedule to two days, in order to meet the demands of both school and work equally.

My second experience as a staff writer allowed me stay focus on all my requirements thanks to my free time and because I changed my attitude to a positive one.

Right after class I would go home and get straight to my stories.

I learned to do what is important first: my homework.

I liked going out around campus interviewing and meeting students, professors, and staff members for stories.

I enjoyed the aspect of storytelling that came from my sources about their struggles and thoughts on life. That experience allowed me to develop my feature

The Union is published Thursdays by Journalism 11 and 14 students at El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506, and is free to the student body and staff.

Unsigned editorials and cartoons are the opinion of the editorial board and do not reflect the views of the student body, staff or administration. Letters to the editor must be signed and must be received one week prior to publication in the Union office, Humanities Building Room 113.

Letters are subject to editing for space, libel, obscenity and disruption of the educational process. Single copies of the Union are free; multiple copies can be requested through the Union.

writing skills.

Each day I craved for more.

I faced anxiety every night when I couldn’t come with a lead to start my stories. My heart-rate was going at a speed 80 of miles per hour. Sometimes I would wake up literally at 3 a.m. to write my stories or leave it for the next day.

I couldn’t give up because I had deadlines to meet and the words of my father saying “Echale ganas,” (put in the effort) would motivate me to push through.

If it wasn’t for all the iced caramel macchiato coffees, I don’t think I would have made it this far.

I feel content with the changes I made this semester being on staff.

I learned how to listen to what a person is telling me whether it was interviewing or asking for help.

I grew as an adult from my educational experiences.

I want to thank my classmates for making The Union fall 2017 happen. Their support allowed me to step out of my comfort zone to cover El Camino.

College Media Association Newspaper of the Year Award 2015, 2016 (2nd) Associated Collegiate Press Regional Pacemaker Award 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012 California Newspaper Publishers Association General Excellence Award 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 Journalism Association of Community Colleges General Excellence Award 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014

NEWS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 6

DECEMBER 7, 2017

Annual Faculty Art Show Including multimedia work from 25 faculty artists

Tanya Silerio

Staff Writer @ECCUnionTanya

On Monday, Nov. 20, the Art Gallery debuted its third art show of the semester, only this time it was filled with work done by fellow EC professors.

The annual event features 25 artists with pieces that vary from drawings to photographs.

“It’s an open invitation to the artists among the faculty in the art department and the photography department to show what they are currently working on,” Susanna Meiers, Art Gallery director and curator, said.

The pieces are all different from one another, and they all carry a different meaning, Pam Huth said in explanation of her piece.

“I chose something that would be very relatable,” Pam Huth, art professor, said.

“That people would look at, and they would go ‘Oh, I understand.’”

Her piece involves a book, a dragon, and a well known character from a show with a cult following.

“My piece is called Visual Literacy,” Huth said. “The Game of Thrones is very popular

with the student body. I had read the books when they first came out. We talk a lot about visual literacy when you’re creating an artwork. I decided to put my money where my mouth is and I thought I would use my imagination to show visual literacy in this form.”

Huth’s piece is made with materials like tweezers and a magnifying glass. It took her two months to create.

Huth participates in the Faculty Art Show every year and she encourages other professors to participate as well.

“I think its very important that as professors (that) we show students what we do. It shows them the direction that they might go,” Huth said.

Other faculty members like Katherine Sheehan, art professor, were inspired by recent political events for their works. Her piece “Folly” was created through a colored screen print.

“I don’t normally make political work or work that addresses current events, but I felt that given the state of affairs in the world right now and what is going on in the United States, I wanted to make a work that addresses what I’m seeing happening,” Sheehan said.

Another of her pieces, “The Fallen,” is meant to be interpreted freely in anyway the viewer chooses to see it.

“I wanted to make a comment on what I see happening, but I didn’t want it to be specifically about any one person or any one political party, but a more openended comment on what I see happening,” Sheehan said.

Sheehan says that the EC gallery is a great way to get students to see great artwork for free, all on campus.

“We have an amazing gallery it’s an amazing institution. Students can pop in there whenever they’re open and can see work not only from the faculty but from really great contemporary artists,” Sheehan said.

Faculty Art Show Dates:

Monday, Nov. 20 to Wednesday, Dec. 13

Gallery Hours:

Emma DiMaggio/ Union (From left to right), “Submerged Red” by Bihn Ngo, “Protea” by Linda Busch, and “Birds” by Linda Busch. These pieces are just a small handful of the many works on display in the Faculty Art Show.

Monday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday: 12 to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: 12 to 7:30 p.m.

Friday: Closed

Former high school B-Boy uses break dancing to express himself Cyril Boysen

Special to The Union @ECCUnionCyril

When the video starts, the scene is blurry, save for the words “Hot Line Bling Dathan Remix -Franklin Yu” superimposed in pink. The first notes of this cover version of the popular Drake song ring out, and as the scene slides into focus, the viewer is presented with the sight of a slender young man swaying to the music in the middle of an empty studio. The beat drops, and the man snaps into motion, gyrating, sliding, and contorting his limbs in a manner that is both remarkably fluid and jarringly snappy. His movements are unnatural yet relatable, disarming yet inviting. About a minute into the video, he throws his arm into the air in a sort of bow, and walks over to the camera. The scene slides back out of focus, and the viewer is presented with the words “Thanks for Watching” in cursive script.

This dance video is one of the more recent posted by 20-year-old film major Matthew Oh on his self-

“To

me, dancing is louder than words.”

—Matthew Oh, 20, film major

named YouTube channel.

“What I love about dance is that it’s expression without a voice,” he said. “I think that a lot of people think that dance is limited, because it doesn’t have a voice. But I think a lot of people have it backwards.

To me, dancing is louder than words.”

If you look back nearly seven years into the past, you can find shaky, low-resolution videos of a young Matthew backflipping and twirling about, honing his dancing skills back in middle school.

“I started b-boying in seventh grade, because my friends were doing it,” Oh said. “The first move I learned was the windmill, which is the stereotypical b-boy move, you know, where you start spinning and swinging your legs around.”

He may have started his

Cyril Boysen/ Union Matthew Oh does one of his breakdancing moves on the EC soccer field. “Dancing is just the best way to express myself,” Oh said.

dancing career in a b-boy crew, breakdancing to hip hop, but since then his musical horizons have broadened. You’ll just as likely find him dancing to Alabama Shakes as any Drake single.

“I just listen to the music I like, and just move, do what’s comfortable,” he said. “I don’t know how many moves I know, or anything, dancing is just the best way to express myself.”

It’s apparent when talking to Oh that he means what he says.

There’s a sort of tense, rhythmic quality to his every motion. When he turns, he does so with a spring in his step, and when he laughs, it’s often accompanied by a dip or a twist.

To Oh, “motion is a large part of communication.”

“I went to Thailand this past summer, and I don’t speak the language. But I was able to communicate with some of the local boys through dance. We couldn’t talk, you know, but I’d

show them some moves, and we immediately connected without having to say anything.”

But .

Oh is a budding videographer, having begun posting to his Youtube channel, and hopes to continue studying film after he transfers in fall 2018.

“My dream school is UCLA; I’d love to go to the film school, because it’s so good,” he said.

Though he hopes to find a career in film, he’s interested in joining any dance teams or clubs at The

University of California Los Angeles, if such opportunities present themselves.

“I think that dance is about self-expression, and film is about storytelling,” Oh said. “I think that they can go hand in hand.”

“I’m a pretty awkward guy. Well, maybe not that awkward!” Oh said with a laugh. But I’m definitely more introverted. For me, it’s more comfortable to express myself through dance than through a 500 page essay!”

DECEMBER 7, 2017

PHOTO ESSAY

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 7

DANCE, DANCE

REVOLUTION

1

Story and photos by Jorge Villa Photo Editor @ECCUnionJorge Shrouded in darkness, murmuring can be heard as it bubbles onto the surface while in the distance a cold fluorescent light shimmers on stage revealing extended arms and legs from dancers as the sounds of rhythmic plucking strings pulls the audience’s attention.

As the progression increases, the dancers short breath movements dictated by each subsequent foot step forward and back is a piece of the larger picture to showcase the ability of the fall advance dance class.

The show played consecutively starting on Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 at the Campus Theatre for $10 a ticket of admission.

The concert was to encompass the integration of dance and technology using saturated colors, visual media and a range of styles such as contemporary dance, which are movements resembling classical ballet, according to Jonathan Bryant, choreographer and dance professor said.

Each piece delves into 15 to 30 minutes of abstract and thematic pieces.

“It was productive, it kept us busy a lot of times we don’t get enough food and sleep in our system but we keep on going. We keep on pressing forward to keep you guys entertain,” Jhaza Tanner, 23, dance major said.

The performers dressed in minimal attire that stripped down to just leotards or a piece of cloth.

At the end, the dancers all stepped out for one last bow by which met with critical acclaim from the audience.

“It can be nerve wracking, there is a large amount of learning that happens when you’re performing no matter what we do. The lessons don’t hit until you get on stage and think about it afterwards,” Bryant said.

2

4 1. Dancers form in unison as tumbling drums roar all around the theatre. The Campus Theatre held the fall advanced dance class on Dec. 2.

2. As her back gradually decends, a slight cold breeze from the propellers spreads to the audience. This is was part of Act 1 inside the Campus Theatre on Dec. 2.

3. Dancers illuminate in warm gold line up and proceed to fall on all fours as a seperate blue light shines down with ambient music plays. The fall dance concert started at 8 p.m.

3

4. Dancer performs a solo ballet piece. The concert played for four consecutive days starting on Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 8

FEATURES

DECEMBER 7, 2017

EC student reflects on her story of growing up with a mother struggling with schizophrenia Faith Petrie Opinion Editor

@ECCUnionFaith

The darkness of her mother’s room engulfed Naisha Ross. The only source of light came from the glare of the butcher knife clutched in her mother’s hand and she used this light to avoid the piercing stab of its sharp edge.

Her mother’s knees dug into her forearms as she laid on her back, restraining her from breaking free from the sudden ambush.

Ross could hear the sounds of her sister attempting to get into the room she was being held in and suddenly she was free.

“I immediately ran into the bathroom and I looked at myself (in the mirror),” Ross said.

Who she saw staring back at her was an unfamiliar entity.

“I had patches of hair missing, I had knife marks where (the knife) cut me all around my neck,” Ross said.

She recalled crying and screaming in frustration at what had just occurred. “(I was frustrated) because I’d already been dealing with this for years,” Ross said.

‘This’ being her mother’s schizophrenia.

“Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder which means that the person has a different version of reality playing in their mind that feels just as real as true reality does to the rest of us,” professor of psychology, Amy Himsel, said. “The way that this comes out is through delusions and hallucinations, primarily.”

Ross could recall her mother’s episodes as early as the age of 14.

At 32, she still feels the effects of her mother’s disorder on her life.

To Ross, schizophrenia has detrimental effects on the ones that

may be inflicted with the disorder in addition to those around them.

“Can you imagine living your entire life, 24/7 (having) someone in your ear telling you you should kill yourself how much you’re a bitch, you’re a whore?” Ross said. “You kind of take that anger and frustration out on others around you especially the ones that you love the most and that’s what I experienced predominantly, all the time.”

Ross’s home life was impacted along with her school and social life due to her mother’s disorder.

“My mom brought a lot of (her) schizophrenia to my high school,” Ross said.

According to Ross, her mother would often take her out of school due to the belief that she was in she was in danger.

“She came to my high school a few times to just check me out, out of the blue,” Ross said. “(She would say) someone was coming up there to kill me. It destroyed my social life.”

As an adult, Ross still struggles to understand how she came to be in the familial situation she was given.

“I recently went to a medium and the medium had told me we pick the family we want to be born into,” Ross said.“I can’t imagine picking this shit.”

Until the age of 32, Ross remained in with her mother despite her siblings removing themselves out of their mother’s life.

“I don’t know maybe it’s my heart, I don’t understand how easy it is for people to just walk away,” Ross said. “My sister did it, my brother did it, I didn’t.”

Per her therapist’s advice to ‘create boundaries’ between herself and her mother, Naisha decided to act on counseling.

“I’ve wanted to show her how I’m progressing in life but I couldn’t

bring myself to do it because I know what that includes. It (includes) heartache,” Ross said.

As an adult, Ross hopes to find peace as time progresses.

“I feel like ultimately I’m going to be healed when I remove myself from everything,” Ross said.

One of the only people that Ross confides in is her husband, Charles. Ross and Charles have been married for 17 years and knew one another when Ross was 14, and Charles was 15.

“She’s a real strong woman you know, there’s a lot of things she’s been through in life especially the things she went through with her mother,” Charles said.

In the future, Ross hopes to use her experiences to impact the lives of other people by writing a book and eventually becoming a family advocate.

Ross would also like to set a good example for her son by continuing to progress in school.

“I’m just going to keep on going and I want him to see that in me and I want him to keep on going,” Ross said.

Ross hopes that her story can inspire children in similar situations to speak up about what may be occurring in their home due to a caregiver having schizophrenia.

“I want to tell kids that it’s okay. You may not like the change immediately but I swear it may be better than the situation you’re in,“ Ross said.

According to Clerical Assistant Christine Maekawa, students who may be struggling with their mental health can create an appointment with a clinical psychologist on campus at the Student Health Center and are designated up to six counseling sessions per school year.

Jorge Villa/ Union Naisha Ross’s upbringing was strongly affected by her mother’s disorder. “You kind of take that anger and frustration out on others around you especially the ones that you love the most and that’s what I experienced predominantly, all the time,” she said.

DECEMBER 7, 2017

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 9

FEATURES

Long term dean retires Reyna Torres Staff Writer

A

@ECCUnionReyna

fter many years of hard work and dedication to serve the people in and around the campus, a dean has decided to retire. But, her legacy will continue to live in the lives of her colleagues and students.

“I’m the longest serving dean right now but that will come to an end in December,” Gloria Miranda said.

Gloria Miranda is a dean for the department of behavioral and social sciences at EC and will be retiring this semester after serving the campus for over 24 years.

Miranda is retiring because she believes it is time for her to continue a different chapter in life.

“It’s time to transition to something new in life,” Miranda said. “It’s time to find new avenues of myself. I’ll like to return to my scholarship, to write, to publish, and enjoy family as well” Miranda’s duty as a dean consists of many responsibilities to provide for the department.

Her position calls for scheduling classes, planning projects, budgeting, providing services for the committee, interacting with faculty members to support them with developing programs like student equity, making sure the faculties are helping students succeed, creating new courses that are transferable to a four-year university and creating cultural events.

Miranda enjoys seeing how much the campus has grown over the years through its diversity and how it has enhanced the quality of

education.

“I like the sense of community.

It is a very diverse community,” Miranda said. “It’s changed when I came here. Our minorities were the majority of the population and now they are the majority of the student body.”

Before becoming a dean, Miranda was a history professor at Los Angeles Valley College teaching Chicano Studies in 1993. Her goal was to make sure her students were grasping the knowledge about their culture and history, but also to focus on what they are learning.

Miranda’s advice for students is to be mindful that instructors are also willing to mentor and assist students with resources when they are facing challenges and to also take courses such as human development that provide all the strategies a student needs to succeed.

“Sometimes there is only one person that makes a difference in your life because they care about you and they can be so motivating to uplift someone when they are down,” Miranda said.

Miranda’s message to her colleagues is to not give up on their goals and dreams to stay focus and be persistent.

“Always remember why we are here in the educational setting,” Miranda said. “We are here to guide young minds, encourage them on (and) remember that we are here to support others, not ourselves.”

Beverly Knapp, the administrative assistant of Miranda since 2008, said Miranda and her professionalism as a dean will be missed. She impacted the department growth while

providing perseverance to others and allowing students to have the best service in classes.

“She’s not replaceable, it is just so hard,” Knapp said. “She encouraged me when I never thought I would end up being an (administrative) assistant.”

Joshua Casper is an adjunct professor of political science.

He was a student at EC and is currently a professor on campus and credits Miranda for his success in teaching. “(Miranda) was the one who gave me first shot and I will not be here today if it wasn’t for her mentorship,” Casper said. “I’m truly grateful that she’s been the one to guide me through my academics all the way up to my professorship.”

Miranda also created an impact in a professor to have him go back to college and pursue a second masters degree. Jose Arrieta, professor of history, respects Miranda’s accomplishments as a dean with mentoring people and providing new programs such as ethnic studies courses that brought diversity in campus. “(Miranda) has always been the person that is very inclusive to everybody as a whole,” Arrieta said. “I hope that whoever (takes her position) understands the significant role she played in this department and be that person who is willing to help out students.”

Miranda has gained a phenomenal connection and has made an impact in many lives.

“It has been a life of service and that’s what I thought my purpose of life has been to serve others,” Miranda said. “That’s rewarding itself to see the fruits of that when someone succeeds.”

Jorge Villa/ Union Dean of behavioral and social sciences Gloria Miranda is retiring after 24 years. “I’ll like to return to my scholarship, to write, to publish, and enjoy family as well,” she said.

Officer embraces community Reyna Torres Staff Writer

@ECCUnionReyna

A tall armed man steps out of the station and quickly puts on his black shades. The reflection of the sun is hitting his ECC police badge as he steps into his vehicle. Once he hears the ignition sound go on, he knows that his duties for the day begin.

A black Ford Explorer truck, comes cruising around the parking lot, he makes his way into the campus patrolling, while looking side to side, ensuring the safety of all.

Stuart J. Melvin, 48, was a transfer police officer from Compton College. Melvin has been at the EC police department for 9 years now.

Melvin’s duties are just about the same a regular outside officer will have, but he is serving at a college. His day consists of going into the station, sitting through roll call, meeting with the supervisors to hear information about the previous shifts.

After that is done, officers will normally be sent out to do extra patrolling, prepare their cars and equipment when they get a call to go out to scenes, and patrol around the parking lots to protect the students’ vehicle’s property.

Melvin found an interest in the field when he was 8 years old, due to the fact that he grew up watching and admiring the job his father did. He remembers hearing stories that his father and older brother encountered while being on duty.

“Wow that really happened?

You walked in the building with a flashlight and you caught the bad guy and took him to jail? Wow,

that’s Batman stuff, I wanna do that,” Melvin said.

Melvin’s profession has helped him grow along the way and has given him an opportunity to be able to interact with people from different backgrounds.

Melvin’s most memorable experience as a police officer was when he graduated from the Los Angeles Police Academy in 1996.

“It was liberating because the police academy for us back then was seven months and it was a hard seven months too. At the end of those seven months if you made it through in one piece, you got the job and made it through all the trials of tribulation,” Melvin said.

Throughout his career in the law enforcement it has been difficult for him to have to go through the process of attending a police funeral.

Melvin’s advice for safety awareness for students is to be aware of their surroundings, if it’s late walk in groups, park in visible lighting areas, and if someone is alone walk up to a blue poll or dial the police station number (310) 660- 3100 and a campus cadet will assist anyone to a shuttle ride to their vehicles.

“Be cognitive of your surroundings on what you’re doing, where you’re going, and maintain visual possession of your belongings,” Melvin said.

When Melvin is off duty from the police force he likes to spend time with his family, catch a movie with his wife, participate in his church, hang out at home and do some gardening work.

In the next five years, Melvin plans on retiring to dedicate his time with family, his church, and his health.

“You start to think about your longevity on when you can retire and when you do retire you want to make sure that everything on your body is still working. “For me over long period of time hearing sirens, I (want to) make sure I can still hear when I leave the department,” Melvin said.

Melvin’s colleague respects the fact that Melvin has been fulfilling his duties at the department and appreciates his work ethic.

“He’s been extremely proactive which is what we want,” sargent Jeffrey Lewis said. “We like two forces of proactive which is student oriented and we like to do proactive enforcement’s on violations that we see so that we can protect the students and staff here. He does both which is really good and has a nice balance.”

Another colleague of his admires the fact that Melvin is able to can handle situations in a calm matter when they are out in the field and be able to recognize it. He also respects Melvin’s concentration in his job.

“When you’re a little older in a job you can kind of see issues, you have more tools in your tool bag to be able to take care of a problem,” detective Marcus Thompson said.

“He brings that knowledge in trying to find a peaceful solution to a problem.”

Melvin’s message to students is to push through in their academics, and to take full action in their decisions.

“You already made the right decision to come to school, the important things is to see your dreams go all the way through,” Melvin said. “Don’t give up on your dreams, (but) be patient, it will happen.”

Jorge Villa/ Union Stuart Melvin has been on the El Camino College police force for nine years. “Be cognitive of your surroundings on what you’re doing,” Melvin advises students on campus.

SPORTS

10 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

DECEMBER 7, 2017

Jorge Villa / Union

Mits Yamashita tells his students that if are interested in a career in boxing, that they must be dedicated and serious. “In boxing, if you’re in the middle of a fight, you can’t give up and say I’ll come back to it tomorrow and finish, you can’t,” Yamashita said. “You have to set up a mindset that once you start fighting your goal is to win. Don’t give up.”

The eye of the tiger

P.E. instructor Mits Yamashita has taught the art of boxing and inspired his pupils at El Camino for 52 years Reyna Torres

Staff Writer @ECCUnionReyna

He walks across a blue wrestling mat, he has a curvy pushed forward posture, his wrists are pressed together behind his back.

His vision is focused on the safety of his student’s surroundings.

He continues to walk around the class making sure that all of his students are performing their techniques on others correctly. He watches each individual’s rhythm, stance, and every punch, he then stops in each sections to address the mistakes and advises them on.

Mits Yamashita is a 75-year-old part-time instructor at El Camino, he has been teaching boxing and self-defense courses at EC since 1965. His students and his passion to teach are what keeps him standing strong.

Yamashita teaches two classes every Monday and Wednesday.

He begins his classes with warm ups, covers all the basics and procedures in boxing, learn how to move, go over punches, jab, cross, hook, and defenses in punching.

Before practicing the techniques on others, he makes sure that his students are trained. In the eight week, his students are able to punch with a partner.

Yamashita’s journey at EC began when a former self-defense instructor, Vrig Crank, asked Yamashita if he could teach his class for one semester, since he got drafted into the army. Crank stayed in the army and Yamashita has been teaching at EC ever since.

Before learning and teaching boxing, Yamashita’s first martial arts was jiu-jitsu. Most of the people he was running up against were boxers. He realized that in order to perform and go against a boxer, he had to study the arts of boxing. At that time his instructor was Chuck Norris and he was getting into boxing and told everyone who was there to study boxing. Yamashita took his word on it.

“My objective set in boxing was not to become a world champion (but) I wanted to be able to teach boxing,” Yamashita said. “My goal and joy of boxing was to be able to teach the beauty of it.”

Yamashita was able to train with Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee

before they became famous in their field. Yamashita was able to see their passion and knew they were going to get far in life.

“They were mentally very strong of what they wanted to do and the determination of what they were doing it persistence to get better and better,” Yamashita said.

“It was just the impression I got that they were (going to) be very successful.”

Yamashita’s passion for the arts has earned him to receive four black belts in karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and in the art of Akihito. Yamashita has maintained his shaped well all these years because of his everyday training with his students. His students motivated him to train and work harder each day.

Through 52 years at EC, Yamashita has become aware of how students have lacked focus in his class today versus how it was in his early teaching years. “(Students) seemed to be more focused in the 70s, 80s, (because) they didn’t have the gadgets that we have now,” Yamashita said. “So when they were in class they were focus on what they were doing.”

Yamashita liked hearing about

how students back then took in an interest in being a police officer, doctor, or accountant and did it. He believes that in this time students tend to choose majors that are unsure if they want to pursue it. Yamashita likes to encourage them to be open minded, to try out other classes to find their interest . Also to take advantage of all the sources EC can provide for them to succeed.

Yamashita’s best teaching era is today’s because it has allowed him to grow and to stop worrying.

“Oh boy, I can honestly say it’s now, I am (much more free). I was really uptight when I was teaching in the early days because I was worried all the time about the students and if I was going to get fired. I come and I just have fun now,” Yamashita said.

Yamashita’s philosophy on life is to stop worrying, enjoy life and bring joy to all his students.

“The way of getting rid of worry is getting rid of bad habits,” Yamashita said.

While teaching students the arts of boxing he likes to mentor them to believe in themselves. He enjoys being a part of their lives when he

comes into work.

One of Yamashita’s best moments at EC was when he received an award for his recognition and excellence in teaching, seven years ago.

Many of Yamashita’s students admire and respect him as an instructor and his profession, along with his colleague.

“He has good styles and good defense,” Jonathan Ramiro, 22, P.E. teacher said. “He teaches really well and he’s the reason why we are good at boxing. He inspired me to box.”

Another students sees the potential in an instructor who wants to see others achieve.

“He has been teaching here for a long time and he just loves what he does. “he’s like this isn’t work for me, its the greatest job you can have. I admire how committed he is to it,” Jonathan Moore, 18, administration of justice major, said.

A student enjoys the energy that Yamashita presents in class.

“He gives you words to pump you up, it’s not just a class it’s more like a motivating (kind of) class. “He’s

very caring about what you’re doing. He’s a guy to respect,” Luz Ortiz, 21, psychology major, said.

His colleague was also one of his students in the early years. He stills sees that his passion is the same.

“He has a continuity of purpose.

He has a very strong caring personality with the students, He wants (students) to succeed and a lot of teachers don’t have that same passion,” Tom Hazell, professor of health sciences and athletics, said.

Yamashita’s advice to students who are interested in pursing a career in boxing they have to be dedicated and serious. It requires a lot of dedication, but to keep in mind to do it for fun and to enjoy the ride.

“In boxing if you’re in the middle of a fight you can’t give up and say I’ll come back to it tomorrow and finish, you can’t,” Yamashita said.

“You have to set up a mindset that once you start fighting your goal is to win. The degree is your opponent, that’s striking at you and you have to defeat it. Don’t give up.”

Walking away from where he started

Men’s soccer coach will retire, but will stay solely as the women’s soccer and badminton coach Alissa Lemus

Staff Writer @ECCUnionAlissa

Jorge Villa / Union

John Britton has coached at El Camino for 24 years and is retiring from being the head coach of the men’s soccer team. “ECC men’s soccer has been a huge part of my life and I will certainly miss it.”

John Britton began his journey at EC in 1977 and has been involved in many ways since.

With a record of 32 goals and 18 assists playing for the EC men’s soccer team himself, which still stands today, his journey with his soccer career led him to position of teaching and coaching at El Camino.

Britton moved to the United States from his home of Scotland and began his career by playing soccer and badminton. He played on semi-professional teams in Los Angeles and also played for professional teams in Scotland.

Upon his return to Los Angeles, Britton began playing for the El Camino men’s soccer team in 1977.

“I had two years playing for El Camino (men’s soccer team) as well as working towards an American degree,” Britton said.

“I graduated in Scotland but the degree was not accepted here so I had to take more courses for an American degree which allowed me to teach in America.”

After playing for the EC men’s soccer team, Britton began his teaching career. He taught math at Gardena High School up until a

part-time coaching opportunity for the women’s soccer team opened up.

At the time the position opened up, Britton was still at EC as he was a referee for the men’s team frequently.

Soon after showing interest in the women’s coaching position, there was also an opportunity for Britton to coach the men’s team, so he took on both positions.

Britton was then offered a position to teach physical education courses full-time along with coaching both the women and men’s soccer teams.

Britton has been involved with El Camino for 40 years now, and his journey will continue on, however, with just a slight change.

Britton will no longer be the men’s soccer head coach, but will coach the women’s soccer and badminton teams along with teaching.

After losing his leg five years ago, he decided to let a younger staff takeover and start to get accustomed with how it is to coach the teams.

Ever Montoya, de-facto head coach for the men’s team, has been the main voice at the men’s games and practices for the past couple of years however, Britton has been involved in the program.

Britton was waiting for Montoya to receive his masters degree so that he could step back and give him the opportunity to apply for the head coach position for the men’s team.

The position for the men’s head coach will be open to all who would like to apply, however, with Montoya’s experience, Britton strongly believes that he is qualified to take over the men’s team as head coach.

Along with coaching women’s badminton and women’s and men’s soccer, Britton created many memories with the players and coaches along his journey that he will always remember.

Both men and women soccer players have had many positive things to say about Britton. He has certainly impacted players like Nayeli Martin.

“It was awesome having John as a coach,” Martin said. “He’s a real funny guy and always finds a way to make us laugh.”

Along with his humor, Britton was also liked for his coaching and feedback to players like Manuel Flores.

“John is an amazing person, he always makes us laugh and knew when it was time to joke around and when to be serious,” Flores said.

“He always gives players feedback

on our overall performance after games.”

Not only did Britton bond and create memories with the players and coaches, but with fellow teammates and coaches from his soccer career at EC. “I still have contact with some of my former teammates and coaches from 1977 and 1988,” Britton said.

“I’m always running in to former players and their young families all over So Cal (Southern California).”

Although his overall journey has been going on for 40 years now, and his coaching and teaching journey has been going on for 24 years, Britton still has plans for keeping this journey going at EC. Britton explained that he has had a great time at EC and has had a great time with the men’s team.

Although he will no longer be the head coach, he explained that this will not be a huge loss for him, because he will still have that interaction.

The memories he has created, the bond he created with his players and the years of experience is what keeps Britton involved with EC. “I will continue to have a great time coaching the women’s teams and hopefully we keep going forward,” Britton said. “ECC men’s soccer has been a huge part of my life and I will certainly miss it.”

DECEMBER 7, 2017

Going coast to coast

SPORTS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 11

Da’Koda Lacey’s passion for basketball brings him from Georgia to California Reyna Torres

H

Staff Writer @ECCUnionReyna

air tied up and ready to go, his green sneakers start to squeak on the gym floor and begins the fast break.

He crosses the defender to the right and drives to the basket for the slam.

Da’Koda Lacey picks up the ball and dribbles it miles away from home, avoiding every opponent in his way manifesting his moment to play on the West Coast.

Lacey is from Marietta, Georgia, where he experienced gang violence and drug-related crimes.

Despite his life experiences, the support of his family and friends allowed him to step out of his comfort zone to seek a better lifestyle.

“I just had to separate myself to give myself the best opportunity,” Lacey said.

The 20 year old is a sophomore point forward for the men’s basketball team at El Camino College.

In 2015, during his last few months of high school Lacey uploaded on YouTube a highlight video of him playing basketball.

Lacey sent out emails to coaches from different colleges. EC head coach Robert Uphoff received

an email from a recruiting website called Field Level that contained Lacey’s bio and contact information.

Uphoff sent Lacey an email asking him if he was interested in attending and play for EC. Lacey visited the campus over the summer of 2015 and moved to California on his own.

“He’s very athletic,” Uphoff said.

“He’s long and can impact the game in a variety of ways.He’s a guy that can play mostly positions for us and does a great job finishing at the rim.”

Lacey’s passion for the sport has always been a part of him.

He remembers going to the park and seeing everyone at the courts playing basketball, yearning that one day he would be playing too.

“When I used to live in Detroit there (weren’t) a lot of basketball hoops, or if the parks (were) too far we would cut out the bottom of crates, (hang) it up on the buildings and we (would) shoot through the crate,” Lacey said. “Or if there was a tree that resembled a basketball hoop we (would) play basketball on the tree.”

During his high school years, he went to Europe to play basketball.

He went with his teammates and the school’s basketball program paid for the trip, which lasted two weeks. The greatest moment of his trip was playing with people in wheelchairs. Lacey said it was

Jorge Villa / Union Da’Koda Lacey has high hopes going into his last season at EC. “I (want to) leave with a good name, our basketball program doesn’t get that much respect. We put in a lot of work.” Lacey said.

very humbling to see people who could not walk and who were still passionate about the sport.

While Lacey is inside the gym, he gets a feeling of satisfaction once he sees, hears, or touches a ball.

“I get goosebumps,” Lacey said.

“I’m nervous every time I step into the gym. I get eager to touch the basketball ball just to hear it bounce.”

Lacey is a calm and quiet individual who uses basketball as a form of meditation to express himself.

“I’m not an open-ended person, I’m kind of reserved. I use basketball to release some of my emotions, show my passion, and my character. I take (basketball) very serious,” Lacey said.

Over the years, basketball has helped grow and understand life. Lacey said that basketball has taught him how it can bring someone together, trust and learned

how to depend on people.

Dessalina Martin, 21, team manager, admires Lacey’s athleticism.

“He’s a great athlete,” Dessalina Martin, team manager said. “He knows his personnel and isn’t afraid to take risks on the court whether it’s going up for a dunk or taking a charge to earn free throws.”

Lacey’s aspiration in basketball is to do whatever is in his power to overcome every obstacle in his way. In order for him to get better, he practices everyday, and he likes to make sure he is the first one in the gym and the last one to leave. “(I) keep working hard and (to) be the best I can be. I know a lot of people around me kind (of) see me going far in basketball so I (want to) do everything in (my) power and just see where the game takes me,” Lacey said.

One of the things Lacey has experienced during his games is

opponent teams saying that their team is going to win. He likes to prove to them wrong.

“Teams come in here (and say) it’s an easy win. ‘We can play El Camino. I just be like, ‘Alright.’

I don’t do a lot of back and forth talking, when it comes down, I just wanna play.I wanna show you and enforce my will on somebody,” Lacey said.

Lacey’s expectation after the basketball season is to finish with a bang.

“I (want to) have a winning record and win conference games that start in January,” Lacey said.”I (want to) leave with a good name, (because) our basketball program doesn’t get that much respect or attention like the other sports, so I’m just trying to gravitate to focus on our basketball program cause we put in a lot of work.”

EC assistant coach Keith Crenshaw can see Lacey’s potential as a basketball player.

“He’s probably our best and our tallest player that can actually handle the ball and make good decisions,” Crenshaw said. “He’s really dynamic and will play better at the next level because of his size and skill set.”

Lacey’s teammate Isiah Armstead and fellow sophomore enjoys having him on the team and admires his skills.

“Just his aspiration for the game,” Armstead said. “He’s a very competitive player on the court and off the court. He’s a good leader.”

Lacey’s advice to those who aspire a career in basketball is for one to to do their best and give it their all.

“Know what you’re good at, know what you bring to a team, know what you need to do to help your team win,” Lacey said.

“Know your roles, fill your roles, and play your heart out.”

The men’s basketball team record is 2-7 and the women’s basketball team record is 6-2. “We always want to play with more energy than before.” Women’s sophomore forward Kayla Bibb said.

Sam Hill / Union

Going at different paces

Less than 10 games into their respective seasons, the men’s and women’s basketball teams are beginning to discover their identities Sam Hill

Staff Writer @ECCUnionSam

With the fall semester coming to a close, the El Camino men’s and women’s basketball teams are just getting their seasons started.

Both team’s seasons started at the same time but their journeys to this point have taken different turns thus far.

The women’s team has stormed out to a 6-2 start while the men’s team has struggled to string wins together, currently holding a 2-7 record.

Some players believe the men’s team’s slow start should be attributed to their mentality.

“I think it’s just a lack of focus,” freshman guard Justin Reyes said.

“The way we’ve been practicing and others things off the court don’t help either.”

The Warriors started their season off with three straight loses, but

won two straight games thereafter against LA Trade Tech College and LA Valley College.

Despite those back-to-back victories, the Warriors proceeded to drop their last four games and currently are on the wrong end of a four-game losing streak.

“We need the whole team to buy in to what the coach is telling us,” freshman guard Justin Chambers said. “Teamwork is definitely something we’ve been lacking and has held us back a lot.”

While the men’s team has started off slow, the women’s team has stormed out of the gates with a 6-2 start to their season.

“The strength in this team comes twofold,” women’s head coach Steve Shaw said. “Our depth has helped us go 10 players deep every game with major contributions coming from any of those players in every game we’ve played.”

The Warriors jumped out to a 6-0 start to the season but have lost

two straight games, their losses coming against West L.A. College and Irvine Valley College.

“I think we need to improve on our conditioning so we can come out the second half better,” sophomore forward Kayla Bibb said. “We always want to play with more energy than before.”

With their two losses coming by a combined seven points, Coach Shaw is looking to improve in every aspect of the game.

“At this point of the year, its all about improving in every area,” Shaw said. “We’ve played spurts of really good basketball but if you want to be elite, you have to show a level of consistency throughout the game.”

Despite these last losses, the players are confident they can get back on the right track sooner than later.

“We have lots of talent all around our team,” sophomore guard Hunter Noa said.

SPORTS

12 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION

DECEMBER 7, 2017

Soccer player discovers serenity on pitch EC forward Jason Santana has persevered and toppled his own expectations as an athlete

R

Sam Hill

Staff Writer @ECCUnionSam

unning through defenses with the ball at his feet, El Camino soccer forward Jason Santana isn’t afraid to take a chance on goal, especially on the soccer pitch.

Born and raised in Hawthorne, California, Santana has always stayed close to home, attending nearby York elementary school, Prairie Vista middle school and Hawthorne High School.

His love for soccer even began in the area, with a little help from his family.

“I started playing soccer when I was eight years old,” Santana said.

“One of my uncles convinced my mom to let me join his team. Even with our family being tight on money, my uncle offered to pay for me to play.”

Despite being tight on money, his family was able to keep Santana involved in soccer throughout high school, where he inherited his proudest soccer moment.

“In high school, our team won league champs, which was huge for me,” Santana said. “Being with the team for four or five months while accomplishing that goal was awesome to be a part of.”

Santana’s success from high school carried over, finishing this season tied for third in his

conference for goals (nine), finished third in shots (54) and third in points (22).

“This season Jason brought a sense of determination and motivation to the team,” teammate Daniel Lomeli said. “Since the start of the season, those two principles were established in the team. He motivated the team to keep up the work rate and keep the lead in the games.”

The soccer team finished its season with a record of 6-9-7, but Santana saw the bright side from a seemingly down season.

“We had our rough moments but we were a lot better then last year, that’s for sure,” Santana said with a laugh. “It was just one of those seasons were one simple mistake can mess it up, and that’s what our season was. A great season with a lot of simple mistakes.”

Santana’s play this season garnished attention but his ability to be a teammate, something that can go unseen, was recognized by his peers.

“Jason is an overall great teammate,” teammate Zachary Franco said. “I’ve been playing with him even before (El Camino) and he’s just always trying to make his teammates better and do what he can to help the team.”

With this season behind him and his community college playing eligibility used, Santana is looking to take his talents to a college willing to give him an opportunity.

Sam Hill/ Union

Jason Santana has made an impression on the El Camino soccer team, and his teammates can see. “Jason is an overall great teammate,” teammate Zachary Franco said. “I’ve been playing with him even before (El Camino) and he’s just always trying to make his teammates better and do what he can to help the team.”

“Before El Camino, I was playing at Cal State LA but because of the price of tuition I decided to come here,” Santana said. “I believe my soccer skills are enough to get me

to the next level and get school paid for.”

Santana has a few offers to play soccer from different universities but has yet to make a decision

Showing what he’s made of in elementary school, but really didn’t take it seriously until he was older.

“Middle school was where I (kind of) found out that I was pretty good at it, and thought I could maybe do something with it,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn attended Leuzinger High School, and although he had an extremely successful high school career as a wide receiver, he did not receive any Division 1 offers.

“Because of my low SAT scores, the only offers I got were from some small Division 2 schools,” Vaughn said.

But this didn’t deter him, he was determined to play at a large Division 1 school. He tried out for Washington State’s football team as a walk-on and made the roster.

Vaughn started off strong in the classroom and on the football field, but the distractions of a large university eventually caught up to him.

“I was doing well in the beginning,” Vaughn said. “But as the semester went along, I got distracted by with my school work and I lost focus.”

Vaughn knew he wasn’t going down the right path, so he decided to transfer to El Camino College to regain focus and be closer to home.

Instead of playing wide receiver at El Camino like he had his whole life, Defensive Coordinator Andrew Alvillar decided to move him to the defensive side of the ball, where they saw more potential in him.

“Ever since I started recruiting him in high school, I knew I wanted him on the defensive side of the ball,” Alvillar said. “He’s everything you want in a safety, long, tall, athletic, and moves incredibly well for his size.”

Vaughn credits a lot of his success on the field to the coaches at EC. “The defensive coaches know every aspect of the game, and they let us play freely,” Vaughn said.

“They are always on top of us making sure we are doing the right things and getting our homework done.”

The end goal for Vaughn and many of the players on the EC football team isn’t only to have a successful season, but to transfer to a Division 1 institute for football.

“I currently have three Division 1 offers, from New Mexico State, Montana State, and the University of Nevada,” Vaughn said.

He verbally committed to the University of Nevada in July, just one month after receiving the offer.

WARRIORS SCHEDULE

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Friday, December 8 vs.

Mt. San Antonio College 5 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Thursday, Dec. 7 at Barstow College Tournament 8 p.m.

WARRIORS SCOREBOARD

MEN’S BASKETBALL: WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Warriors 125, Warriors 57, Mira Costa College 135 Irvine Valley College 60 Four game losing streak Two game losing streak

Sophomore defesive back Nathaniel Vaughn began his football career later than usual, but his game doesn’t show it Luke Alex

Special to The Union @ECCUnionLuke

Third down. Covina District Field. The El Camino defense is backed up against their own end zone, and they need a defensive stop.

The ball is snapped. The Mt. San Antonio running back takes the handoff and sprints towards the end zone; it looks like he will score.

Out of nowhere, he is hit by what looks like a missile and is tackled out of bounds.

This tackle was made by Nathaniel James defensive back free safety for the El Camino Warriors football team. This sequence by Vaughn surprises no one, because he’s been making these types of plays all season long.

“He loves to come down the field and hit,” teammate and sociology major Kevin Hicks Jr. said “He likes to get his head in the mix.”

Vaughn started playing football

“They were my first offer and they believed in me and I feel like it’s a great fit,” Vaughn said.

He has interest from other universities also and he added that the recruiting process is still open.

Due to Vaughn’s two successful seasons at El Camino; he is ranked as a three star athlete on a five star scale and is one of the the top 15 defensive backs in California community college football, according to 247 sports, a national recruiting website.

Vaughn claims that it’s not his physical abilities that set him apart him from other players, but rather his mindset.

“It’s all about my desire to take on adversity and not let it affect me,” he said, “ I just let it motivate me.”

Vaughn hopes to be drafted into the NFL one day, a dream he’s had since his senior year of high school.

If that doesn’t work out, he hopes to become a manager for players in a professional industry.

No matter what the future holds for Vaughn, the legacy he leaves is important to him.

“I just want to be remembered as a man who started from the bottom,” he said. “I want to be remembered as someone who worked his way to the top.”

regarding his future stomping grounds.

“All my life I’ve been competitive and soccer has always been a passion,” Santana said. “As soon

as I was on the pitch for the first time, I knew this was the sport for me.”

Jeremy Taylor/ Union

Nathaniel Vaughn has made an impact on the El Camino football team in his two seasons. “He’s everything you want in a safety, long, tall, athletic, and moves incredibly well for his size.” EC defensive coordinator Andrew Alvillar said.

SPRING 2017 SPORTS RECORDS SOFTBALL 37-8 Loss in Super Regionals BEACH VOLLEYBALL 14-6 Loss in State Finals

WOMEN’S BADMINTON 3-6 Missed playoffs

BASEBALL 40-11 Loss in State Championship

GOLF, SWIMMING & MEN’S VOLLEYBALL DIVING, TENNIS AND TRACK 12-8 All events regarding these Loss in State Championship sports are TBA