The Union
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1946
Mirrorless restrooms cause frustration
Students would like to see the basic feature installed across campus
By Nick Miller
Tracy
Ikegwu once walked into an El Camino College restroom and couldn’t see her reflection.
“I remember going to the restroom one time to fix my hair, I saw that there were no mirrors and I was so shocked,” the 18-year-old biology major said. “I don’t even see the point of going to the restrooms here anymore.”
Across campus, most men’sand women’s restrooms lack mirrors — a basic feature
necessary for hygiene, cleanliness and self-confidence.
A recent survey by The Union found only eight out of the college’s 42 student restrooms were equipped with mirrors.
Like Ikegwu, other students also shared concerns about the college’s lack of mirrors.
Roland Hammork, 20, said he has yet to find a restroom mirror at ECC, but believes they could be helpful for many students.
“To be honest, I haven’t seen any mirrors in any of the bathrooms so I think there
should be,” the radio technology major said. “I think it could help out a lot of people and benefit a lot of people in different ways, especially just making sure your identity is good, you look fine, presentable for anybody.”
Andres Osorio, the director of student services for the Associated Students Organization, has been looking to get restroom mirrors installed. He said there was no clear answer for the college’s lack of mirrors, but believes it’s
a way to save money.
Osorio said he is attempting to get a proposal to install more restroom mirrors approved by the ASO’s finance and senate committee.
“We are hoping and advocating that it passes,” the student services director said.
“We can then start advocating for it on the college level.”
EL CAMINO COLLEGE
SEE BATHROOMS PAGE 5 →
Fondling cases see an increase at El Camino College
Eight cases were reported in 2023, compared to one reported in 2022
By Camila Jimenez
El Camino College saw an increase in sexual fondling in 2023 compared to the previous year, according the college’s annual security report.
In 2023, there were eight reported cases of sexual fondling at El Camino,
compared to just one in 2022.
Fondling is described as, the touching of private body parts of another for the purpose of sexual gratification without the victims consent.
In comparison, Santa Monica and Pierce College each only had one reported case of sexual
fondling in 2023 according the both colleges annually released security report.
Stalkings at the college saw a decrease with 10 reported cases in 2022, while there were seven cases in 2023.
While stalkings at El Camino did decline in 2023, they remain
high when compared to Santa Monica and Pierce Colleges Both colleges had zero reported stalking cases in 2023.
El Camino most recent stalking case was reported on Oct. 16, and occured in the Library on Sept 24.
SEE CLERY PAGE 4→
Runners take home conference honors
By Nick Miller
Nearing the end of his coaching career, Dean Lofgren is continuing success with two of his runners achieving allconference honors.
Competing at the crosscountry South Coast Conference Championships at Heartwell Park in Long Beach on Oct. 25, sophomores Aaron Cohen and Alan Canales were named “All-South Coast Conference First Team” and “All-South Coast Conference Second Team,” respectively. Lofgren said it is rewarding to see Cohen and Canales excel in competition.
“It’s always nice to have dedicated people, and when they are able to accomplish their goals, it’s always nice to see,” Lofgren said. “As I get ready to step aside for my career, to see this continued success with the programs, both men and women, it’s just nice to see things through.”
Cohen reflected on his progress throughout this season.
“It’s been a long progression, starting all the way from the summer,” Cohen said. “I kinda started off just building the base, starting from 30 miles, just building all the way until now, where I’m at 70 miles a week looking to carry that all the way until the state meet,” Cohen said.
He said the driving force behind his success has been the work ethic he applies to conditioning and training throughout the year.
“I think that’s been something I take pride in throughout my whole entire career no matter what, I know that I will work hard,” Cohen said.
Located on the first floor of the Humanities Building at El Camino College, the men’s restrooms have been lacking mirrors for many years. A survey by The Union discovered that only eight out of El Camino’s 42 student restrooms have mirrors. Photo by Greg Fontanilla
By Union Editorial Board
The El Camino College Board of Trustees have approved $83,812,838.32 in the month of October alone.
In the past five months, $149,834,200.99 was approved and spent on a variety of miscellaneous Consent Calendar items within the BOT meeting agendas.
The Board has expressed on multiple occasions that they lack important details for all Consent Calendar items both involving and not involving money.
In a previous meeting on Oct. 21, BOT President Trisha Murakawa said the Board members lean on recommendations from staff when deciding whether or not to approve a consent item due to staff doing all the research.
The Union editorial board has concerns on how informed Board members are to make important decisions that affect the ECC community as a whole.
“We don’t get involved, our role is to do the governing part so in most instances we only know the same stuff that you do,” Murakawa said. “We don’t know all the details really deep down.”
During an interview on Oct. 30, BOT Secretary Brett Roberts corroborated information Murakawa had stated beforehand regarding their lack of information.
“We can strive to get more but we get what’s in the agenda,” Roberts said. “We generally get just enough to make an informed decision.”
The Union editorial board is apprehensive about Board members stating they received the same amount of details listed in the agenda when each item’s description is very brief.
BOT members do not need any prior training nor do they receive any mandatory training processes to make sure they understand their position.
“There are training programs that are offered by third-party institutions that we’re affiliated with, but there’s not a ‘okay you’re enrolled here’s the trustee 101 and you got to do that for a semester’ type of training,” Roberts said.
On their own time, Board members can attend training workshops that include governing and institution, budgeting, protocols and how to work with other members.
Some Board members have attended Association of Community College Trustees workshops and retreats to receive training and knowledge for their role as Board members, but are not mandatory.
It is listed in Board Policy 2725 that regular members are paid $400 per month for attending all Board meetings while student members get paid $200 a month. If they do not attend all meetings, they only get paid for the meetings they do attend.
According to the ECC website and Board Policy 2730, the college provides a diverse insured benefit program for staff members’ medical, dental, vision and life insurance, which would include BOT members.
The Union believes it is important for the community to know exactly how qualified the people holding such high power positions are, especially when they govern large amounts of funding.
The Board seems to be informing the students and college community they don’t know much, let alone important details before they approve financial decisions.
However, they are provided no mandatory training or required to have education on how to be a Board member before starting in their position, which should be required.
Ultimately, there should be proper training processes that are required for the Board to take, not just to give them more work but to ensure they understand what they are doing, in addition to making financial decisions.
The Board should also be provided far more information when approving items rather than taking the advice of the unnamed staff they keep referring to and relying so much on.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND SPORTS EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
ARTS & FEATURES EDITOR
OPINION EDITOR
COPY EDITOR
Greg Fontanilla
Angel Pasillas
Katie Volk
Isabelle Ibarra
Rhiannon Ellis
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR AND ASSISSTANT SPORTS EDITOR Kinzie Malony
Staff Writers
Renzo Arnazzi
Nick Miller Elliott Bullock II Camila Jimenez
Elsa Rosales
Anisa Arnazzi Illustrators
Eric Delgado
Joseph Figueroa
Mia Gutierrez
Lynn Kim
Ivan E. Mendez De Leon
Julissa Celis
Eddy Cermeno
Miliana Cienfuegos
Justin Coleman
Hong Dang
Teresa Galvez
Katie Gronenthal
Erica Lee
Taheem Lewis
Philip Mawamba
Bailey Meacham
Kayla Mitchell
Angela Osorio
Seph Peters
Susana Reyes
Cameron Sample
Argentina Talley
Mario Trejos
Rosemarie Turay
Jamila Zaki
Stefanie Frith sfrith@elcamino.edu
STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS
PHOTO ADVISER Nguyet Thomas nthomas@elcamino.edu
INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS
CORRECTION
EDITORIALS:
LETTERS
Kate McLaughlin kmclaughlin@elcamino.edu
ADVERTISING MANAGER Jack Mulkey elcounionads000@yahoo.com
Gerard Burkhart
gburkhart@elcamino.edu
Joseph Difazio
jdifazio@elcamino.edu
Jessica Martinez
Photographers jemartinez@elcamino.edu
Doug Morino
dmorino@elcamino.edu
and
good taste. Publication or rejection of any column is at the sole discretion of the editorial board.
Illustration by Ivan E. Mendez De Leon
World violence should have
no
place in politics
Political unrest has been ever-present for years: now it must come to an end
By Teresa Galvez
Somehow, in 2024 we are still dealing with war, along with political and societal violence.
When I was a little girl living in Peru in 1963, we attended private school and would get picked up by the bus to get there. As we arrived to campus, the bus driver got off the bus and approached me, screaming that the U.S. president at the time was shot and killed.
I was in a state of shock after hearing what he said, and even though I did not know who the president was at the time, I still began to cry.
Later, I learned it was John F. Kennedy. When I came down to visit the U.S., I attended church with my granny, where she requested a mass for him.
While I was at mass, I began
to think, “How sad is it that when someone gets angry or confused, they decide to kill innocent people?”
When I also found out Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, my granny had requested a mass for his soul.
I admired how my granny offered help to others through prayer, even if she didn’t know them personally.
For me, it was a great remedy when I reflected on how my granny applied her spirituality as comfort for past experiences.
During that time, I learned a total of four U.S. presidents were assassinated throughout history: Abraham Lincoln in 1865, James Garfield in 1881, William McKinley in 1901 and Kennedy in 1963.
Some time after, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in June of 1968.
Recently, my friend and I watched the Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania on TV, where we witnessed another assassination attempt.
Trump was speaking to a crowd when he suddenly grabbed his ear after being shot and ducked down with the Secret Service surrounding him at the podium.
As I watched, I went down myself and started to cry. After a few moments, we saw him stand up, lifting his fist toward the sky.
Upon seeing his fist pumped toward the sky, I interpreted it as an inspiratinal symbol expressing “Life is power.”
I thought, “Enough is enough, there should be no more violence in America or anywhere else around the world.”
As Mother Teresa said, “I do not mix work with politics. The
Discovering the wonders of writing
The Reading and Writing Center
By Bailey Meacham
Through an assignment for a n English class I was taking, I stumbled across the Reading and Writing Center, an incredible resource offered to students which has helped to improve my skills as a writer.
Even though writing has always been a challenge for me, it is something I wanted to improve on because it can give me the confidence to pursue a career that involves writing.
I struggled with some basic writing fundamentals including grammar, punctuations and vagueness in
is beneficial
my writing. Knowing my struggles, my main goal was to improve.
While taking an English class, the first essay assigned left me feeling stuck and overwhelmed since I was already questioning my ability to follow the prompt.
The writing center helped me understand the criteria and add more character to enhance my pieces. Expanding on my creativity helped improve the outcome of my essay.
I used the Reading and Writing Center frequently to get a second opinion and to improve my work.
After speaking with Trisha
to students
Majaba, a receptionist at the center, I learned the center also helped with her grades.
There are usually two to three tutors available, as well as tutors in the conversation corner of the center to help students who are still learning English.
The Reading and Writing Center was beneficial for improving my skills and my grade.
After getting assistance at the center, I was able to elevate my grade in my English class from a “C” on my initial essay outline to an “A” on my paper.
Using my “A” paper as reference when I needed some
fruit of politics is war. If I support one political party, I would not love the other.” She wanted to show love to all people.
While I am not Mother Teresa, I still agree with her.
In Peru, one president was assassinated on April 30, 1933: Luis Miguel Sanchez Cerro. The murderer was Abelardo Mendoza Leyva.
There were other instances of political violence in the Peruvian government. Alan Garcia, a former president of Peru, committed suicide prior to his arrest on April 17, 2019.
Recently, the government impeached President Pedro Castillo three times before removing him from his position for “permanent moral incapacity” on Dec. 7, 2022.
As of now, Peru does not have an official president.
However, the Vice President
of Peru, Dina Boluarte, is currently filling that position. The next election won’t be for another two years.
In the Dominican Republic, there was yet another assassination, that of Rafael Trujillo. Losing support from the army, he was murdered by Gen. J.T. Diaz.
In Israel, there was the assassination of the fifth prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, in Nov. 4, 1995. He was killed after an anti-violence rally supporting the Oslo Peace Process. The perpetrator was Yigal Amir, who opposed the signing of the Oslo Accords. We need governments that support a pro-peace, propeople, pro-women and prolove society, loving people who want to preserve people’s lives without getting into any kind of war, because everything has a peaceful solution.
guidance, the papers I wrote improved throughout the semester.
The Reading and Writing Center helps improve the academic engagement of students who come in.
Even if you don’t need assistance with your
assignment, it’s a great environment to do homework, study and get a second opinion on your writing.
To read more opinion stories, visit eccunion.com.
Illustration by Lynn Kim
Illustration by Mia Gutierrez
Journalism program takes home national awards
Accolades include first and second place finishes in newspaper, magazine reporting
By Isabelle Ibarra
ElCamino College’s journalism program received multiple awards from the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association at the Fall National Media Convention in New Orleans.
The Union and Warrior Life Magazine received eight firstplace awards from the CMA, including Best General News Email Newsletter and Best College Media Group for twoyear colleges.
El Camino’s journalism program in total took home 40 awards at the convention.
Delfino Camacho, who served as editor-in-chief of The Union in fall 2023, won first place alongside Monroe Morrow, Kim McGill and The Union’s former editor-in-chief and Warrior Life’s current social media editor, Ma. Gisela Ordenes for Best Special Section after writing “Unlicensed and unbothered”, a semester-long project in spring of 2024.
The story revolved around the marijuana dispensaries that were licensed and unlicensed in the South Bay.
Camacho also earned two separate second-place awards for Best Photo Illustration for “Unlicensed and Unbothered” and Best Feature Story for Warrior Life magazine after writing about Sharonda
Barksdale, ECC’s Basic Needs coordinator.
“Getting some kind of recognition and getting people to read the story feels really really good,” Camacho said.
Former Union staffers who took home awards and moved on from the journalism program included Khoury Williams, Ethan Cohen, Johan Van Wier, Maddie Selack and Olivia Sullivent.
In addition, Dylan Elliot and Greg Fontanilla, The Union’s current editor-in-chief were awarded First Place in Magazine Cover Design for their work with Warrior Life.
Honorable Mentions were given in the category of Best Feature Photo and Best Sports Feature photo to Morrow, and Fontanilla, respectively.
For Erica Lee, a former copy editor for The Union and writer for Warrior Life, being able to discover her passion and getting recognition for her work can make it all worthwhile. Lee said being recognized for her writing and earning awards is proof she is heading in the right direction in life.
“Blood, sweat and tears, emphasis on many tears,” Lee said. “It tells me that ‘Erica, you made the right choice - you are on the right track.’”
She took first place for Best Profile for her feature on Carl Turano, an ECC warehouse stock clerk, as well as two
second-place awards for Best Arts and Entertainment Story for ‘All that Glitters’ and Best Multimedia Feature Story about the South Bay’s top breweries. Stories that are timely, impactful and informative go through a detailed evaluation process by The Union’s business manager, Jack Mulkey. Mulkey confers with journalism professor Stefanie Frith before submitting stories, photos and illustrations on
behalf of The Union and Warrior Life to any journalism conventions they enter.
“We [advisors] are very happy that El Camino students won so many awards,” Mulkey said. “ That they [students] have the background and training to do that [win awards].”
• First place, Best College Media Group of the Year
• First Place, General News Email Newsletter
• Third Place, Feature Magazine of the Year (Warrior Life)
• Honorable Mention, Newspaper Website of the Year (The Union)
Stalkings see a decrease but remain high in 2023
Students have a variety of alternatives when they encounter such misconduct.
Police may be notified, ask the Title IX office for information and references, and possibly file a complaint against the accused individual.
Concerns over campus safety have been raised by several students on campus, due to an increase in these incidents, particularly in isolated areas where police presence is less visible.
“You never really see them near the parking garages and outer edges of the campus, where there’s not a lot of people around,” Christiana Frazier, 19
Police Beat
By Seph Peters
sociology and elementary teacher education double major said.
Luna Martinez, 18, film major, feels more can be done to ensure stronger security on campus.
“I feel like they [law enforcement] need to increase the police presence because I did notice when I waited for my ride by the music building, they arrive late to patrol the area.”
The Union made multiple attempts to reach Ruben Lopez, ECCPD’s interim police chief for comment, but could not be reached.
If students wish to file a crime, such as sexual assault or stalking, which are both Cleryreported crimes, falling under
the Title IX office, the Clery coordinator will receive the crime statistic, but no personal information will be given.
Jaynie Ishikawa, who serves as the director of the Title IX office emphasizes in certain situations, specific information must be provided to campus entities in order to ensure campus safety.
“My office can’t guarantee confidentiality, depending on the circumstances,” Ishikawa said.
Confidential options are available to students, such as Student Health Services, which includes counselors or nurses who, depending on the circumstances, are not required to immediately report incidents
to the Title IX office or the police department, allowing students to seek assistance if they do not want to officially file a complaint.
The most recent training on sexual violence, which is required by AB 2683 to be provided to students and employees at California Community Colleges, is one of several ongoing training programs that have been put in place for staff, faculty and students.
“We try to be as straightforward as possible, so that students have as much information and can understand what the process looks like and what they can expect,” Ishikawa said.
Ma. Gisela Ordenes, left, boasts a second-place award issued by the College Media Assocation, while Erica Lee holds magazines she won awards for. Lee was awarded first-place in Best Profile for the reporting category and second-place in Best Multimedia Feature Story. Ordenes took home several awards that included second-place in Best Editorial and third place in Best Investigative Story. Photo by Angel Pasillas
→SEE CLERY PAGE 4
School facilities bond approved Proposition 2 approval results have been released
By Camila Jimenez
California Measure 2 was passed, allowing public schools and community colleges to borrow $10 billion in bonds to fund the construction and modernization of public education facilities.
Proposition 2 will provide $8.5 billion to K-12 schools and $1.5 billion to community colleges throughout California.
El Camino College could use the funds to repair and potentially replace the campus’s hydronic system, which uses pipes to pump water throughout the campus to heat and cool buildings.
The hydronic system would cost about $8 million to repair, the district would provide about $2 million while the state would contribute $6 million if Proposition 2 is approved.
Due to a hydronic malfunction last year, the Administration Building and Schauerman Library were closed from Nov. 16 to 18. The buildings’ temperature dropped, resulting in cold indoor temperatures.
“It affected our operations
for that day or two,” Director of Public Information and Government Relations Kerri Webb said. “If we get the money from Proposition 2, if it passes, we’re going to completely overhaul that whole hydronic system.”
Webb said infrastructure issues at ECC are due to aging facilities.
“The college is like 78 years old,” Webb said.
Voters rejected Proposition 13, a $15 billion bond measure proposed in March 2020 to finance and improve construction projects for K–12 schools and higher education institutions, including California community colleges, California State University, and University of California systems.
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is in opposition to Proposition 2, arguing that the bond would only increase California’s debt.
“We are already in a budget emergency, and it’s not a good time to add these extra expenses to the annual when we are in a budget emergency,” Susan Shelley, the vice president of communications of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association said.
In alternative to the bonds, Shelley said California can use state budget dollars to help fix low-income schools that require significant maintenance upgrades.
He acknowledges students are asking for mirrors and feels this is a necessity for the campus, adding that older buildings have mirrors, but newer buildings are left without them.
He believes ASO can work with the college to make this possible, adding that mirrors would not incur additional installation charges. Citing internal estimates, Osorio said installing mirrors across campus would likely be less than $10,000.
“They would follow a timeline under facilities through the college, so they would be at no additional cost or labor to the home mirror and cause an injury to someone,” Strohl said.
The student activities director said college officials are looking to be strategic with placement of the mirrors to be cost-effective.
“We have to go through an industrial provider, so one of the ones the district partners with is Grainger,” Strohl said..
MIRRORS FROM PAGE 1 Lack of bathroom mirrors could put students in embarassing situations To read the full story, visit the website at eccunion.com.
A hand-drawn sign on a white board declares the early closure of the Schauerman Library in the Tutoring Center on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Photo by Raphael Richardson
Elco Alive
By Katie Volk
With fall semester in full swing at El Camino College, the campus is bustling with activity. The Union sent out 12 photographers on Nov. 4 at 1:40 p.m. to capture what one would typically see happening at ECC. Music can be heard from all corners of the campus, whether it be melodies from a guitar or sounds from a trombone. Additionally, the Warrior Esports Center is crowded with students enjoying video games. The Social Justice Center is open to all members of the campus to indulge in down time while also serving as an environment committed to campus inclusivity and social justice. The college serves as an place for all members of the community to express their interests and creative sides while fostering student success.
Left to right: Music major Francisco De Leon, 17, plays Mexican music for the first time on his guitar next to his friend, architecture major Jesse Olmedo, 18, on Monday. Photo by Argentina Talley
Music major, Julen Esquivelzeta Sohn, 19, practices playing the trombone in a private practice room in the Music Building on Monday. Photo by Katie Gronenthal
Top: Psychology major Damien Staley, 23, reacts to placing third in “Rocket Racing Ranked” at the Warrior Esports Center on Monday. “I’d say I did pretty good because third place is really hard to get, especially in the last minute because everyone is trying to vie for first place,“ Staley said. Photo by Erica Lee
Right: Arts History major, Athens Parducho, 19, relaxes in the Social Justice Center with comic book “Jeffery Lewis Trip to Key West and Back” on Monday. Parducho bought the comic book in an attic of a church during a concert. Photo by Cameron Sample
QA & Gloria Garayua
By Katie Volk
Gloria Garayua got her start in acting when she was just four years old. From spending time on the stage in New York City to performing for the camera in Los Angeles, Garayua has found her way to El Camino College as a part time instructor in the Fine Arts Division where she teaches a Fundamentals of Acting course. Being featured in projects such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Maid” and “Fun with Dick and Jane,” Garayua has firmly established herself as a well experienced actress who has been well acquainted with the sets of television, film and theatre. This is Garayua’s first semester as a part-time instructor where she teaches both beginner and more experienced student actors.
Why did you get into the acting industry?
A:
“I wanted to get into acting because I strongly feel like this is calling. There are some folks that chose to do it, and I know because I am one of those folks who was born with this innate desire to preform. I feel like there is some undeniable thing, that’s why I’m doing it. Obviously, I have found success in it, that’s why I stay in it. I think when someone wants to be an actor, they have to be okay with possibly not making a lot of money. In the beginning of my career, I was okay with that. I just wanted to act.”
What has your acting journey looked like?
A:“I’m originally from New York and now I live here. I’ve been here 20 years. When I was doing it in school it was just to please that side of me, I had no idea I would pursue this as a profession. I always thought I was going to be a doctor. I thought I was surely going to try to go to med school. What ended up happening is that I was good at [acting] and I was aware that I was good at it. People commented that I was good at it, so I just thought that I am going to study it and then get really good at it. I moved here in 2004, and I booked the very first thing I auditioned for, which is unheard of. It was a Jim Carrey movie. It was called, “Fun with Dick and Jane.”
How do you prepare for a role?
A:“What I do immediately, is read the material given to me. By material, I mean the sides, that just means the excerpt of the script that I am going to use for the audition. But if my agent or manager sends me the script, I am going to read the whole script. Now I am diving into the character and developing the character through my body, voice, figure out the characters intentions, how they relate to other people in the scene, what they might wear. Then I do what I call my scene study process. My scene study process doesn’t involve memorization, I eventually get memorized by doing this process. And then when I book a role, my whole heart and soul gets poured into that. When I book a role, I’m researching the world that they live in.”
What are some challenges you have faced during your career?
A:“Some challenges are not working, that’s really hard and finding inspiration to stay in touch with the industry. Usually staying in a workshop or a class will help with that, just not getting rusty. But that’s definitely a struggle, which leads to a struggle with money. So many actors do have side jobs and there is nothing wrong with that, as long as your side job doesn’t impede on what you really want as a career. You find new struggles as you continue to live your life. It’s a part of understanding that you almost have to reinvent yourself and stay active. I belong to all sorts of organizations so I can keep on networking. So the struggle is staying creative and staying involved as you get older.”
ArtsCalendar
Imani McGeeStafford, Athlete & Guest Speaker: “Erasing the Stigma”
⏰ Nov. 7 @ 1:15 p.m.
�� Marsee Auditorium
�� Free for ECC, $10 for non-students, $24 for general public
Fall Advanced Dance Concert
What brought you to El Camino College?
A:“I’ve always had a love for teaching. I feel like in a way, it’s performative as well because you are standing up in front of people and they are listening to you. In my lifespan, I’ve seen bad acting and I want to rid the world of that. So, I thought ‘How could I contribute?’ But, it’s a form of giving back to the community. This is my third college I’m working at. The first two were short, little contracts. When the first one was over, I couldn’t wait to seek the second one. I liked my interview process, too.”
What are some of your favorite projects that you have worked on and why?
A:
“Grey’s Anatomy. I was on that show for three years and that put me on the map in many ways. The name still rings a bell for many people, even the younger folks because of all the reruns and it’s still on the air. There have been other jobs that I’ve had that have been smaller and probably less known that have been more creatively fulfilling.”
What would be some words of advice you would give to any person who is thinking about pursuing acting or someone who is getting their start in acting?
A:“Definitely study. Please take an acting class and please be humble. Allow yourself to grow by listening and learning to your teachers and others. I think, unfourtunatly, that ego is a huge obstacle in people’s growths. Even working actors like me, have to constantly remind ourselves that there is always room to grow. You may think you know it all, but you don’t. When it comes to giving advice, I say be in a class and that’s why I say be humble, because you can still be in a class and be egotistical. Instead, be in a class humbly. Realize you can be good, but you can always learn from everyone.”
How have your acting skills and habits progressed over time?
A:“ I think my preparation has stayed the same partly because it’s so ingrained in me. In my own training and it’s the system I use when I teach, so it’s just my go to. But my level of skills has changed, which is a good thing. The more you do this, the better you should get at it. So I think I am getting better at it. It takes me less time to drop into a character now. Also, I’m better able to have fun on set, whereas before, I was serious on set. But I know I can manage to do my work, and still have a little bit of fun on set at the same time.”
How has acting and the industry changed your prespective on the world and how you conduct your life?
A: “I think that I have to be more aware that there could be a camera at any turn and there could be recongition at any turn. And I don't live my life like that, I just live my life. It's just about being a good person, I think.”
⏰ Nov. 16 @ 8 p.m.
Nov. 17 @ 3 p.m.
�� Marsee Auditorium
�� $15/$10 for students with ID, general admission
Studio Jazz Band
⏰ Nov. 18 @ 8 p.m
�� Marsee Auditorium
�� $10, general admission
ECC Vocal Jazz Ensemble
⏰ Nov. 19 @ 8 p.m
�� Haag Recital Hall
�� $10, general admission
ECC Concert Jazz Band
⏰ Nov. 20 @ 8 p.m
�� Marsee Auditorium
�� $10, general admission
Pride & Prejudice
⏰ Nov. 22 @ 8 p.m
�� Campus Theatre
�� $15/$10 for students with ID general admission
Gloria Garayua stands outside of the Campus Theatre on Nov. 5. After being in the Los Angeles area for 20 years, Garayua has started her third college teaching job at El Camino. Photo by Cameron Sample
Crossing the finish line
Track and cross-country coach gets the ball rolling towards retirement
By Kinzie Malony
Sweat dripped down his forehead, following the curvature of his eyes, dodging the brim of his nose and seeping directly through his lips.
The cold air dried out the back of his throat more and more with each taken breath.
For some people, that might sound like torture.
For Dean Lofgren, cross country and track coach at El Camino College, it’s part of the everyday experience and a taste of victory.
As a former student-athlete in the 1970s at ECC, Lofgren has had a passion for running long before he started coaching, but that was not his first choice for a dream career.
He transferred to California State University Stanislaus to pursue a career marine biology.
The opportunity to study for his ideal career was actually the moment he realized that he had another passion, one far from life under the sea.
“I initially transferred with a marine biology major in mind, that was an area I thought wanted to go into but when I realized I had to go to Moss Landing over on the Monterey Coast for a year and couldn’t compete in track or cross country, it kinda took the wind out of my sails for marine biology,” Lofgren said.
Later, Lofgren started working part-time at ECC as a coach in 1985. In 1989, he became a full-time cross country coach and in 1991 was hired to be a full-time track coach.
In 2016, Lofgren received the first Running Mentor/ Coaching award at the 23rd Annual Village Runner 4th of July 5K event, as well as coaching both ECC’s crosscountry teams - the women in 1990 and men’s team in 1992 to state championships.
He also teaches contemporary health, science, sports nutrition and resistance training.
Lofgren is married to Donna Lofgren and has a son named Nick Lofgren.
His son attempted walking in his fathers shoes, only to find he was meant for a different path, in which Lofgren is fully
Men’s Waterpolo
supportive despite how people might want him to react.
“People look at me and say, how did you let your son not compete, and you know it’s his choice, it’s not something he wanted to do but he found other good things,” Lofgren said.
Logren is no stranger to winning – it is what he is known for.
Stacks on stacks of gold, silver and bronze, Lofgren has seen it all.
Plaques, trophies and medals have become mere decorations on his walls, yet Lofgren only cares about one thing.
“The awards aren’t the important part, the team is,” Lofgren said. “I remember every single person I have coached throughout the years,”
With sounds of a bunch of pounding feet and a group of students running, the sight of Lofgren is never far behind.
One of his former studentathletes recalled a time when the longtime coach worked out with the team.
“I stopped running in high school for mental health reasons and because cross country can be toxic, but he would actually run with the team,” Torah Noah, 20, said. “He was involved unlike other coaches I’ve seen and experienced.”
He was also known for his supportive connections with
each student on the team.
“Honestly Dean is one of the reasons why I kept running at the next level after transferring and he’s just been kinda like a father to me on the track,” Ami Jacobson, who was on the team from 2021 to 2024 said. “He’s always been there on good and bad days.”
Lofgren’s positive attitude has affected the people around him.
“He taught us a lot of things like staying positive and to keep pushing forward,”
Nov. 8, TBA South Coast Conference Championships @ Mt. San Antonio
Nov. 9, TBA South Coast Conference Championships @ Mt. San Antonio Cross Country
Nov. 8, 8 p.m., 3C2A Southern California Championships @ Chaffey College
Jacobson said. “His energy is always very impactful.”
Lofgren seeks the potential out of anyone and would not stop until they saw it too, even if that meant pushing them farther than any other coach would think to do.
Noah recalled a time when Lofgren gave her that extra push.
“He actually came to my house to wake me up and take me to a race when I didn’t have a ride to make sure I would get to run,” Noah said.
Women’s Basketball
Nov. 8, 6 p.m. Fullerton @ El Camino College
Nov. 13, 7 p.m. @ LA Trade -Tech
Nov. 20, TBA Citrus @ El Camino College
Men’s Soccer
Yet when discussing retirement, Lofgren doesn’t deny how long he has been working and that it would be restful to step back.
“I’m past the average retirement age, so it’s no mystery I’ve been doing this a long time,” Lofgren said. “I still have great ideas for things to do at El Camino but then start thinking about it and I go ‘wow that’s really tiring’ because I know how much work is involved. That’s when I think it’s time to take a step back and let those who have that drive and energy, that I still feel I have but I don’t know if I do, take over so to speak.”
Another former student and teammate of Jacobson, Sequoia Gonzales, said she feels lucky to have had Lofgren as a coach and supporter.
“He encouraged me to give running a try and I think the best thing I did was give it a chance and here I am still running today,” Gonzales said.
After the constant glow of the computer screen and grainy zoom calls during the pandemic, he realized that he enjoyed the restful feeling of a break. He finally gave in four years later, taking a step back for the younger staff to take over.
“I have to be honest, when COVID hit it was the first time that fall of 2020 in decades we weren’t in season. We had an online cross country class but they were training on their own, so I wasn’t going back and forth going to work out, structuring workouts, going to class. [It was the] first time in my professional life that I wasn’t obligated to be in season and it was restful,” Lofgren said.
In the end, the feeling of soft pillows on the couch surrounding him, the breeze of the ocean when walking on the sand, or just some peaceful quality time with his wife and son call Lofgren to a well deserved retirement.
Nevertheless, even though Lofgren has chosen to retire, among the bleachers of people jumping and swinging their hands as they cheer, there will always be a Lofgren-sized spot waiting for him at each race.
Nov. 8, TBA South Coast Conference Tournament
Women’s Volleyball
Nov. 8, 6 p.m. @ LA Harbor
El Camino College track and cross-country coach Dean Lofgren is retiring after coaching and mentoring many students over the years.
Photo by Argentina Talley
Sports Calendar:
Longtime track and field and cross-country coach Dean Lofgren prepares to send long-distance team out for intervals on the track at Murdock Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Lofgren will be calling it a career at El Camino College after almost 40 years of coaching. Photo by Greg Fontanilla