The Union
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1946
Assemblymember hired to teach Inspiring students in and out of the classroom
By Elliott Bullock II
Al Muratsuchi, an Assemblymember of California’s 66th Assembly District, has been hired to teach political science at El Camino College.
Muratsuchi’s political science class emphasizes functionalities, concepts and theories of the political system in California and in the US.
Before settling in the South Bay, Muratsuchi attended the University of California Berkeley and received a Juris Doctor degree at UCLA.
He has served as an educator, civil rights lawyer, and deputy attorney general.
In addition, Muratsuchi served the California Legislature, Torrance Unified School District Board of Education, as well as the SoCal Regional Occupational Center Board of Trustees.
This upcoming 2024 Election, the assemblymember is the leading author of Proposition 2, a $10 billion statewide school bond that will help renovate and build
California public schools and community colleges.
His work has received recognition by many organizations.
In 2019, Muratsuchi received the Legislator of the Year
teach here in El Camino, I appreciate how they made it happen,” Muratsuchi said.
He said both a State Representative and a college professor is difficult.
“Teaching is hard work and
“I wanted to share my knowledge and experience about the American government with El Camino students.”
award from the California School Boards Association and the Friend of Education Award by the Association of California School Administrators in 2023.
Prior to teaching at ECC, he taught at UCLA, but expressed the desire to pass along knowledge at the college.
“To seek an opportunity to
I’m gaining more and more respect for educators with every class I conduct,” he said.
“Spending a lot of evenings and weekends preparing for my classes as well grading papers.”
This semester, Muratsuchi has enjoyed teaching his students political science and appreciates how diverse they are.
Olympic medalist to coach beach volleyball
By Greg Fontanilla
Three-time Olympic medalist and professional beach volleyball player April Ross has been hired to coach El Camino’s beach volleyball program this season.
Ross will succeed LeValley Pattison who stepped down from coaching the beach team after eight seasons at the helm.
“I’m excited to continue to grow this program,” Ross said. “Not just compete, but guide the athletes here in their lives and help them succeed.”
She will become the second coach in the program’s eightyear history.
Ross represented the United States at the Summer Olympic Games in 2012, 2016 and 2020.
“I appreciate the students, community colleges are the people’s college,” he said. “I’m learning a lot from my students and their diverse life experiences.”
Muratsuchi’s goal this semester is to have his students make politics relevant to their lives and connect the dots between what happens in politics and how it affects their lives in the end.
“One of my first assignments was for my students to watch the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump,” Muratsuchi said.
“Write a short essay on what they thought about the debate and more importantly it’s relevant to their lives.”
Another goal the assemblymember has is to have his students translate concepts into their daily lives.
He hopes to convey the idea that politics at the local, state or national level have an impact on his pupils.
“It’s important for the students to make a difference by getting involved with politics,” Muratsuchi said.
At the 2020 Tokyo Games, Ross paired with Alix Klineman to defeat Australia in two sets to secure a gold medal.
Prior to those games, Ross and Jennifer Kessy wrapped up the London Games in 2012 with a silver medal after falling to Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings.
Four years later at the Rio de Janeiro Games, Ross was paired with Walsh-Jennings to take home a bronze medal after defeating Brazil
Ross will retire in November after playing her final season for the AVP League.
ECC athletic director Jeff Miera expressed excitement with hiring Ross.
“I’m really excited about this opportunity for our studentathletes,” Miera said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for them to play and be coached by a three-time Olympic medalist.”
Al Muratsuchi, an Assemblymember of California’s 66th Assembly District, has been hired to teach at El Camino College. Photo by Elliott Bullock II
Organizations on campus are on the rise and in the spotlight
By Union Editorial Board
Since El Camino College reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic, campus culture has been making a comeback.
The Union editorial board would like to acknowledge the rise in support and visibility for various programs that encourage campus culture, as it’s a great way for students to get involved on campus outside of classes, as well as connecting students who share similar interests.
Throughout the first few weeks of the semester, there have been new and emerging facets of campus life at ECC that promotes this new found atmosphere.
For example, a new event that gets students involved in campus culture is the Maker’s Fair, an event that encourages students to sell their creations, from crochet blankets to ceramics.
The Maker’s Fair supports students by earning money from their work, and allows people to enjoy their creations.
Club Rush is a great, stereotypical example of life on campus. Fifty clubs were represented at this semester’s Club Rush, but ECC has other diverse options.
While campus culture was demonstrated at this fall semester’s Club Rush, there is more campus connectivity than just what that event had offered, where there was free food and music.
Upcoming events on campus are promoted by flyers, which are posted around campus to inform students of various clubs and helpful workshops.
Additionally, even the sharing of these flyers on social media platforms help with club publicity, by making them accessible to students who are off campus.
In athletics, sports have garnered attention through the postings on ECC’s various social media accounts on different online platforms. Additionally, the success of teams have been widely praised by the college.
Social media has been especially helpful with showcasing the highlights of campus culture, from a slice of life on campus to a sports team winning against an opposing school.
The Union’s editorial board believes the college’s increase in sharing social media posts from lesser-known clubs on campus is helping in the recruitment of more members.
To add, the college has an increased presence of food trucks where campus events are happening in order to serve culturally diverse food options.
Clubs and athletics are the most prominent organizations at El Camino. However, they are not the only agencies on campus that the college showcases to its students.
There are multiple workshops available for student use. For example Self-Care Wednesday, ADHD Unlocked: Understanding Signs & Symptoms, and MOCAN: Dr. Parrish Geary’s Barbershop Talks.
The Art Gallery is also a great way to get involved in campus culture. It hosts several events throughout the year, from months-long exhibitions showcasing a number of works created by students, to workshops for various art-related skills such as embroidery and collage.
Ultimately, ECC’s campus culture has successfully generated community involvement among students, as it creates an environment of unity for students from all walks of life.
EDITORS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
NEWS EDITOR
SPORTS EDITOR
ARTS & FEATURES EDITOR
OPINION EDITOR
COPY EDITOR
Greg Fontanilla
Angel Pasillas
Renzo Arnazzi
Katie Volk
Isabelle Ibarra
Rhiannon Ellis
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Kinzie Malony
STAFF
Staff Writers
Photographers Interns
Camila Jimenez
Elliott Bullock II
Nick Miller
Elsa Rosales
Illastrators Eric Delgado
Lynn Kiim
Angela Osorio
Bailey Meachan
Eddy Cermeno
Erica Lee
Eric Wang
Hong Dang
Jamila Zaki
Julissa Celis Argentina Talley
Justin Coleman
Katie Gronenthal
Kayla Mitchell
Miliana Cienfuegos
Seph Peters
Taheem Lewis
ADVISERS
STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Stefanie Frith sfrith@elcamino.edu
Kate McLaughlin kmclaughlin@elcamino.edu
PHOTO ADVISER Nguyet Thomas nthomas@elcamino.edu
ADVERTISING MANAGER Jack Mulkey elcounionads000@yahoo.com
INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT
Jessica Martinez jemartinez@elcamino.edu
Doug Marino dmorino@elcamino.edu
Gerard Burkhart gburkhart@elcamino.edu
Joseph Difazio jdifazio@elcamino.edu
EDITORIALS:
LETTERS
libel and in good taste. Publication or rejection of any column is at the sole discretion of the editorial board.
Illustration by Lynn Kim
Campus Viewpoints
Students share their opinion on the presidential election
Matthew Gutierrez Economics major
“I’m not a registered voter yet because I don’t know too much about what’s going on politically, but I do have an idea who I’ll vote for once I register as an Independent.”
Issa El Assal
Communications major
“I’m going to pick Trump only because I don’t like what Biden is kinda doing.”
Janice Jefferis
Faculty member Behavioral and Social Sciences
“Kamala Harris, because she aligns more with my values and my life experiences. I just resonate with her more.”
Ashley Jacobo Kinesiology major
“I’m a Democrat and voting for Kamala Harris because my views align with her. Even even with abortion rights as a woman, they should not be told what to do with their body.”
Frank Davis Paralegal studies major
“I was a Green Party but now vote Democrat and I’m going for Kamala Harris because she stands up for diversity, equity and inclusion which are important to me.”
Zayden Flores
Business major
“Trump, I think he’s a better leader. We’ve seen what Kamala can do, we’ve seen what Trump can do. I think Trump had economy in a better running.”
Online course student struggles
Virtual counceling should be made simpler
By Nick Miller
One of the main reasons someone attends a community college is to transfer to a four-year university and obtain their bachelor’s degree.
From my experience, I have learned that El Camino College makes it very difficult to understand the requirements that are needed to make an easy transfer possible.
I enrolled at ECC at the worst possible time - the tail end of 2020.
With the pandemic in full effect, all classes were strictly online and those attending had no choice but to use the MyECC website.
Since the beginning of my time here, taking the courses I need to transfer has always been a guessing game.
Part of this is because I never felt like I had proper guidance, especially with navigating through the school website.
I had no clue how to navigate MyECC, when and how to get access to a counselor.
I felt unsure whether or not the counselor I met with would know the specific requirements for my major.
When I go onto MyECC and click on “Education Plan,” the website directs me to what classes I need.
Once I was finally able to get in touch with a counselor fit for my major, she told me the classes recommended were not accurate.
Not only is it hard to comprehend what the
required classes are on the education plan, but also inaccurate.
Since then, I have returned to ECC and attending inperson courses to improve my chances of getting my education plan situated and setting my future for success.
This has given me the opportunity to be educated by reliable professors who have led me to a great
“Since the beginning of my time here, taking the courses I need to transfer has always been a guessing game.”
counselor.
I understand not everyone has the opportunity or luxury to be in-person and get the answers they need right away.
Many students at ECC don’t have time to spend navigating a website or being placed in a waiting room for hours to get in contact with a counselor.
If there is difficulty finding an opportunity to come in person to campus, students should try setting up virtual appointments with as many counselors as possible.
Professors and counselors can lead you to the help that you need.
The school website can be
overwhelming and confusing. This can discourage a student from searching for the necessary help and answers they may need.
I recommend the school website have links that students can click on the homepage of MyECC that takes them straight to the courses based on their major needed for the following semesters.
In case a student still needs help, counselors should be present to assist for specific majors. This should be one click away from the homepage.
A student should not search through three to four webpages just to find a way to get in contact with a counselor, especially if he or she may not be able to provide them with the information that they need. This is a frustrating process and can lead to a student giving up before getting an answer.
There is too much buried information on the MyECC homepage that leads to confusion for students and professors.
It takes too many clicks to get to the important information.
The poor organization of links and excessive text that are not very important take away from the chance to provide more counseling options and information for required classes on the home page.
Navigating should not be a mystery.
Illustration by Lynn Kim
Elliott Bullock II, Bailey Meacham and Nick Miller contributed to this story
Faculty members split about October shakeout drill
While participation is mandatory, some find the event disruptive to learning environment
By Nick Miller
During an Academic Senate meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1, the ShakeOut earthquake drill became a topic of importance, but raised a concern about faculty and staff members.
While drill participation is mandatory for students, faculty and staff members, one of concern was about how the drill affects class meeting times during middle of the semester.
Leo Barrera, the director of
workplace safety and risk management, explained the rules and guidelines of the drill.
The drill is scheduled to take place on Oct. 17 from 10:17 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Barrera said due to past feedback, the safety and risk management office will be reducing the length of the drill from two hours to just one. He added participation is mandatory for professors and students alike.
“This is required annually, this is something that we have
to do every single year,” Barrera said.
Erica Brenes, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion said the earthquake drill on Oct. 17 will disrupt her class time.
“If I miss the hour in my 90-minute class, I will not see those students for two weeks of learning time,” Brenes said.
Some El Camino College staff members don’t feel earthquake drills change the school schedule.
Equity counselor Robert
Williams explained the process of the drill.
“We have to come back and complete the ed plan for the counseling appointment. But other than that, it really doesn’t have any negative effects on students. I think it’s pretty smooth because I buy into it,” Williams said.
He believes that a positive approach can help people participate in the drill with very little trouble.
“I think it’s how you present it to students. I think that it
makes it easier for them to understand the importance of it. And then afterward, if you still take the time with the students, to be able to give them the attention that they need, give them the help that they need, I mean, I think the school is doing a good job,” Williams said.
Carlos Lopez, the vice president of academic affairs, said the drill can be an effective way to test the systems at ECC.
“The practice is critically important, to make sure we test our systems, to make sure we can get students out of our buildings, we can get faculty out of our buildings in an efficient manner,” Lopez said.
Film professor Laura Almo said the drills are important, as she recalled a time when she was a student in class during an earthquake, claiming students were ill-prepared.
“This earthquake happened. And literally everyone just stared at each other. One person went to the archway of the door, everyone else just stared. I was just amazed, I was one of them. After all of the years of dropand-roll, and a big one comes, and we still don’t know what to do,” Almo said.
Campus viewpoints: Students offer transfer application advice
Submitting university transfer application before deadline and meeting with more than one counselor
By Union Staff
The period for filling out applications for fall 2025 transfer to the University of California and California State University schools began on Oct. 1 and ends on Nov. 30.
Some El Camino College students have already sent their applications to CSU schools for the spring 2025 semester. The application period ended on Aug. 30.
The Union asked students which colleges they plan on transferring to, what advice they would give to other students and what difficulties they’ve experienced while filling out applications.
Raymond Miller, 18, a psychology major said he applied to Arizona State
Police Beat
By Seph Peters
University, Sonoma State University and UC Riverside.
“I put a lot of time into figuring out how many classes I needed to take for my transfer requirements,” Miller said.
Miller said the most difficult thing about the application process is submitting them before the deadline.
“Double-check and make sure everything on your applications are complete and take the time to figure out what schools have the best programs and offer transfer for your major,” Miller said.
Grace Huntington, 21, who has a bachelor’s degree in Japanese, applied to transfer to CSU Long Beach and CSU Fullerton in summer 2026.
“The hardest part about the transfer application process was
the transfer credits and GPA average,” Huntington said.
Isabella Quicho, 18, a business administration major said she’s been at El Camino for one year and sent her Transfer Admission Guarantee application to UC Santa Barbara.
Quicho said she sought outside resources for help.
“I would utilize YouTube videos and TikToks explaining the process and other websites for guidance,” Quicho said.
She added with advice to ECC students currently applying to universities.
“I would meet with more than one counselor to get a second opinion on your ed plan, make sure you are secure with your plan and even go over it yourself afterward,” Quicho said.
Friday, Sept. 20, 4:49 p.m. A theft from a motor vehicle occurred on Manhattan Beach Boulevard near parking Lot C at 4:49 p.m. The case was turned over to an outside agency.
Monday, Sept. 23, 11:34 a.m. A battery involving dating violence occured between 11:34 a.m. and 12:07 p.m. near the Behavioral & Social Sciences Building. The suspect was arrested.
Erik Kerner, a business major and an ECC men’s soccer team player applied to UC Irvine to play collegiate soccer.
He said the hardest part was the emotional factor.
Monday, Sept. 23, 3:56 p.m. A grand theft of equipment occurred an an unknown time at the Construction Tech Building. The case is open.
Thursday, Sept. 26, 8:48 a.m. A drug call took place in the Bookstore Cafeteria. A warning was issued and the suspect was released.
“The thought of leaving home and being alone with no family will be a struggle,” Kerner said.
Renzo Arnazzi and Isabelle Ibarra contributed to this story.
Monday, Sept. 30, 4:12 p.m.
A petty theft of miscellaneous items occurred in the PE South Complex at an unknown time. The case is open.
Monday, Sept. 30, 9:02 p.m. A vehicle was vandalized in parking Lot C at an unknown time. The case is open.
Business administration major Isabella Quicho is a first-year student at El Camino College. She has submitted her TAG application to transfer to UC Santa Barbara. Photo by Isabelle Ibarra
Leo Barrera during an Academic Senate meeting on Tuesday. Photo by Taheem Lewis
Alajowan Edwards gives a haircut during Dr. Parrish Geary’s Barbershop Talks hosted by the Men of Color Action Network on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the Student Equity and Achievement Center. “I’ve been a barber for 10 years and it’s my passion,” Edwards said. “So if you have a goal, fight for it.”
Haircut and inspiration
By Elliott Bullock II
Students come together to discuss life while receiving free trims
Men of Color Action Network hosted Dr. Parrish Geary’s Barbershop Talks event at the Student Equity and Achievement Center on Wednesday, Sept. 19.
Barbershop Talks was organized by MOCAN Counselors Robert Williams and Christopher Hurd.
Williams said MOCAN seeks to dispel deficit-minded myths about what men of color can accomplish
“We’ve always been told that we’re not good enough and will never accomplish anything,” Williams said at the start of the event.
Named after Dr. Parrish Geary, the former Dean of Student Support Services, the event was for students who are young men of color to offer insight into their backgrounds to inspire each other.
He added that men of color deal with generational trauma. The college gives
support to the students with the help of MOCAN.
During the event, barbers gave students free haircuts.
MOCAN advocates for male students of color at community colleges to inspire one another with their upbringing in their communities to find a way to succeed in life with a higher education.
Associate Dean of Mathematics Gerson Velle and counselor Diego Rodriguez were guest speakers. Velle encouraged students to boost their confidence.
“If you wanna kick some butt, you gotta be smart,” Velle said.
Alajowan Edwards, who participated in the event as a barber said he enjoyed attending the event to showcase his talent of cutting hair.
“It’s a very good environment and it’s nice to come here to show my talent,”
Edwards said. “I’ve been a barber for 10 years and it’s my passion. So if you have a goal, fight for it.”
Jesus Soria, a 19-year-old business administration major, has been a part of MOCAN since Oct. 10, 2023.
“Loved it. It was nice to see some Hispanic people representing the event and seeing everyone in the room giving some great messages,” Soria said.
Soria hopes that young men of color live up to their expectations.
“You gotta go against the norms and fight those stereotypes,” Soria said. “The amount of trust Robert [Williams] has for us helps and it’s about raising expectations.”
MOCAN will host two more Barbershop Talks on Oct. 16 and Nov. 27. at the SEA Center located in the Student Services Building, Room 100.
El Camino College Foundation raises nearly $7 million
Three estate gifts account for the record-breaking amount for the 2023 to 2024 year
By Rhiannon Ellis
The El Camino College Foundation raised nearly $7 million in the 2023 to 2024 academic year, breaking a record for the organization.
The $6.6 million raised by the foundation was nearly double the $3.4 million raised in the 2022 to 2023 year.
Andrea Sala, the executive director of the foundation said the record-breaking numbers came from large estate gifts.
The foundation received $4.5 million from two $2 million estate gifts and one $500,000
estate gift.
Sala said the amount raised varies every year but the amount raised last year came as a surprise to the foundation.
“Usually, it’s more like two and a half to three million dollars, so last year was a really big deal,” Sala said.
The foundation raises money to support scholarships and programs offered by the college, like the South Bay Promise’s free tuition program and academic programs like the STEM initiatives.
Ann O’Brien, the executive director for the Office of
Marketing and Communications said the foundation helps students succeed by providing necessary school supplies.
“They’re meeting out in our community with corporate sponsors that support things like the emergency laptop fund that we were able to initiate during the pandemic, to assist students with whatever their needs may be,” O’Brien said.
Companies including Honda, Kinecta Federal Credit Union and Torrance Memorial Medical Center have donated as well.
“They like to support the college because they’re supporting the future workforce, and they gain outreach and good community feelings,” Sala said.
O’Brien added that missions often align between ECC and corporations which include Torrance Memorial Medical Center donating to support nursing students who graduate from the college.
“It’s a way for us to come together and learn more about each other, and then we can support each other’s needs,” O’Brien said.
According to Kate Choi, a financial officer for the foundation, the foundation had money used for awarding scholarships
“We normally worried that everything is tight, but we have more donations than ever during the pandemic,” Choi said.
O’Brien believes the foundation is a valuable asset in the community because the money helps fund scholarship programs and support students.
“They’re there for our students when they need it the most,” O’Brien said.
Photo by Elliott Bullock II
XICANA! showcases generational Chicana-style pieces
Spectators are drawn to the collection of art that displays the uniquness of the Chicana community
By Teresa Galvez
Presented by the Experimentally Structured Museum of Art in collaboration with the El Camino College Art Gallery, XICANA! is an art exhibition curated by Dulce Stein that displays Chicana-themed art.
The exhibition opened its doors to the public on Sept. 16 at the Art Gallery located in the Art and Behavioral Science Building.
Stein, the senator of Fine Arts and curator of XICANA! was inspired to develop the exhibition by the concept of the Chicana movement and how it was able to give women opportunities to connect with different generations through an artistic medium.
“My mind projected a conversation between the founders of the Chicano movement having a
conversation with the younger generation,” Stein said.
XICANA! features art pieces that span generations to provide a platform for the audience to witness and understand the significance of Chicana art in promoting cultural awareness, challenging stereotypes and empowering communities.
The exhibition contains a wide variety of artwork from over 70 Chicana artists.
In addition, the exhibition has installations featured in the Munzón Gallery in Long Beach and the Telas de la Vida Artist Collective located in East Los Angeles.
Rooted in the sociopolitical movements of the 1960s and 1970s, this type of art has become a dynamic force in both American and LatinAmerican cultures.
The art movement was started by Mexican-American
artists who were motivated to express their history, social issues and cultural dynamics through art.
According to Michael Miller, the director of the Art Gallery and Museum Programming, Betty Sedor, the interim dean of Fine Arts and Carlos Lopez, vice president of Academic Affairs were instrumental in providing access to the Art Gallery in the Art and Behavioral Science Building after being closed for almost one year.
“We were very excited when Dulce came up with the idea to connect us with El Camino College,” Eva Sweeney, the co-founder of ESMoA said. “We want to get more involved with the students and this is the closest college to our museum.”
The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. until Dec. 14, and by appointment.To schedule an appointment, contact dstein@ artlab21.org.
Jazz faculty show highlights various styles of dynamic jazz sounds
Melodies, tunes were performed to showcase staff talent and to musically inspire students
By Katie Volk
El Camino College’s Faculty Jazz Showcase took place at the Campus Theatre on Sept. 28, where faculty members performed dynamic rhythms and tunes for the Center for the Arts fall music ensemble series.
David Moyer, Director of Jazz Studies and Instrumental Music, Jameel Roberts, Larry Steen and Dean Koba, delivered a six-song set, featuring pieces from various jazz musicians.
The performance consisted of the songs “Sweet Honey
Bee” by Duke Pearson, “Back at The Chicken Shack” by Jimmy Smith, “Night Dreamer” by Wayne Shorter, “Let’s Cool One” by Thelonious Monk, “Sooty St. Antoine” and “Squiggly” by Moyer.
“David [Moyer] selected songs that span over different subgenres of jazz,” Roberts, a new faculty member of the Arts Department said. “There were songs that were more pop-ish, stuff that was more blues based and we had some funky tunes.”
The Director of Jazz Studies and Instrumental Music was motivated to assemble a jazz
quartet to display the talent of the faculty and to inspire students.
“Students deserve to know what we have here on campus and music opportunities,” Moyer said. “I hope if they are not into jazz, I hope this inspires them to check out some jazz.”
The quartet incorporated their own personal style and methods of playing to create a unique performance for the audience.
Some moments of the show were completely improvised by the band.
The ending moments of “Back at The Chicken Shack” were impromptu and
unrehearsed.
“We have to be communicating with each other, we have to be really empathetic with each other and towards each other,” Moyer added.
He specifically wanted to feature applied music faculty members of El Camino.
“All of the people on stage teach private lessons and are a part of the applied music program,” Moyer said.
Cole Moore, a music major in his third year, enjoyed the themes the performance portrayed, as well as Moyer’s talking segments in which he expressed the human side of the jazz genre.
“I liked the message that Dr. Moyer talked about the medium, the connectivity through music,” Moore said. “That’s what music is all about and why I’m here.”
Isaiah Williams, a second year music major at El Camino, believes this performance was a great demonstration of what music students can aim towards in terms of professional, talented playing.
“It was a really nice example of how to be professional and how to play with confidence and unity and presence,” Williams said.
13 @ 3 p.m
$10 tickets, general admission
ZOFO -
Piano Concert
⏰ Oct. 15 @ 7:30 p.m.
�� Campus Theatre
�� $24/$10 tickets (Students with valid ID), general admission
Imani McGeeStafford, Athlete & Guest Speaker: “Erasing the Stigma”
⏰ Nov. 7 @ 1:15 p.m.
�� Marsee Auditorium
�� Free for ECC Community, $10 for non-students, $24 for general public
Fall Advanced
Dance Concert
⏰ Nov. 16 @ 8 p.m. Nov. 17 @ 3 p.m.
�� Marsee Auditorium
�� $15/$10 (Students with valid ID), general admission
Studio Jazz Band
⏰ Nov. 18 @ 8 p.m
�� Marsee Auditorium
�� $10, general admisson
“The Enchantment,” an oil on wood painting of Echo Park, is one of many pieces by Margaret Garcia on display around the world. Garcia was born in East Los Angeles in 1952. Photo by Philip Mawamba
From left to right: Larry Steen, David Moyer and Dean Koba play their instruments on Sept. 28 in the Campus Theatre. The performace featured a six-song setlist. Photo by Taheem Lewis
No cellphones, no problem
No-phone zone results in raised academic performance and classoom community
By Katie Volk
Let’sjust get curious.
This is the classroom mantra of El Camino College English professor, Rose Ann Cerofeci. For 16 years at ECC, she has lived and taught by this code.
According to Cerofeci, being a professor at a community college was her vocation.
“Being a part of the beginning of their [the students] educational journey is such a blessing,” Cerofeci said. “I feel really honored to work with students at this time of their lives.”
Cerofeci discusses how phone usage has affected students she has taught since the emergence of the mobile phone. She believes the differences between students before and after the phones increase in popularity is striking.
“I told them, ‘You get to come to school, you don’t have to come to school, so why would you want something to take away from those opportunities’,”
— Rose Ann Cerofeci
“I believe they have really put us into a crisis,” Cerofeci said.
According to Cerofeci, the presence of phone’s in the classroom has significantly altered the way a classroom functions in numerous ways.
“What I have noticed the most is the lack of community, a rise of social anxiety and general anxiety, higher levels of depression and less focus,” Cerofeci added.
Additionally, phones are disruptive to the learning environment. The Dean of Humanities at ECC, Edward Rice, said that there is no reason why a student should be on their phone while the professor is lecturing or while a class discussion is taking place.
“As a regular tool in the classroom, I don’t think they are necessary,” Rice said. A problem to solve
So, Cerofeci’s solution to solve the growing issues caused by phones? A phone-free classroom.
This idea came to her even before the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom,
passed the “Phone-Free School Act” on Sept. 23. Cerofeci’s plan for a no-phone class setting began with the anxiety and depression rates increasing in her classes before the COVID-19 pandemic.
She already had concerns with the depleting state of her student’s mental health.
Cerofeci asked herself this question: How can I help this generation of students?
“I was really distressed and felt like it was really important to me as a mentor and teacher of this age group to help with this crisis,” she said.
Last semester, she surveyed her students and asked them the question “Has your mental health impacted your education?”
“In one class, 28 students out of 30 said that it did have an impact on their education,” she said.
Cerofeci and her English 1A students had researched as a collective during the first weeks of school on the negative impacts phone have on students. After learning how harmful and disruptive phones are to the learning environment, the classroom made an unanimous decision.
“I told them, ‘You get to come to school, you don’t have to come to school, so why would you want something to take away from those opportunities’, ” she said. “It was unanimous, there wasn’t even an issue.”
A noticeable change
According to Cerofeci, there was a major shift in the community and social aspect among her students after implementing this phone-free policy in her classrooms.
“Students are talking to each other, and forming friendships,” she added.
One of Cerofeci’s students has noted a shift in the social aspect of the classroom without the usphones. Ethan Aleixo, 18-year-old business major, has been socializing with his peers more now that he is without a phone in class.
“I am able to socialize more and make more friends without the temptation of my phone,” Aleixo said.
The next change she noticed was student engagement.
“There was not a single person absent today,” she said when referring to her English 1A students. “Their submissions of their essays are 100%.”
Andy Potter, an 18-year-old business major, is experiencing
an increase in attention and intrigue in his English 1A class as a result.
“I’m more interested in the class when the phone isn’t in my pocket,” Potter said.
Cerofeci remembers how frustrating it was to teach to a class who were constantly on their phones. She feels more present as a professor, while her phone is also tucked away in the phone cubby.
Additionally, she feels as if she has flourished as an instructor who has built a stronger bond with her students.
“I feel like they get the best version of me,” she said. “I rely more on them because they are more engaged and participating in rich conversation.”
Being able to connect with her students has given her a new
found sense of energy when teaching and has reminded her why she chose to be a professor in the first place.
“It’s really brought so much of the joy of teaching back for me,” she added.
Cerofeci said that she had been told by other ECC professors that it would be a difficult task to convince her students to sacrifice their phones during class.
“Since I have done it, they’ve been asking ‘Are you going to tell us how you were able to do this?’,” she said. “I keep telling them that I didn’t do it, I just gave my students the information and they made the choice.”
Rice believes Cerofeci’s decision to implement this phone-free practice was a
“I was really distressed and felt like it was really important to me as a mentor and teacher of this age group to help with this crisis.”
— Rose Ann Cerofeci
Tam, 18-years-old, right, places his phone in a special cubby before his English 1A class begins on Sept. 29. The cubby, which holds the phones of his fellow classmates, is part of a “no phones” policy instituted by Professor Rose Ann Cerofeci.
courageous act because many faculty members at ECC may be afraid to participate.
“I commend her for taking a step out there and giving her students the option to do it,” Rice added.
According to the knowledge of both Rice and Cerofeci, she is the only instructor who practices a phone-restricted environment. However, she is hopeful that she will be the first of many professors who soon join this initiative.
“It is our responsibility to be a part of this movement,” she said. “It is unfair to my students when I have the simple ability to give them a different learning experience.”
Rose Ann Cerofeci collects the phones of her English 1A students before the beginning of class on Sept. 30. Cerofeci instituted the “no phones” policy for her classroom to promote a better learning environment.
Photo by Erica Lee
Justin
Photo by Erica Lee
Fall Sports Recap
El Camino athletics highs and lows
Football breaks even 2-2, Women’s Volleyball slides to 2-8 in season and Men’s Soccer strikes again to a seven win, zero loss and two ties as Men’s Water polo advance to 12-4 in
During the course
a total
one
Scott middle blocker jumps high to spike the ball over the net. Warriors come close, end up losing the Women’s Volleyball game in sets of 3-1 at ECC Gymnasium .
Schedule Update
Football -Bakersfield Knights Football vs ECC Football on Oct. 5 at Murdock Stadium. - Canyon Cougars vs ECC Football on Oct. 17. at Cougar Stadium.
Women’s Volleyball
-Los Angeles City Women’s Volleyball vs ECC Women’s Volleyball on Oct. 2 at ECC gymnasium @ 6 p.m. -Cerritos Women’s Volleyball vs ECC Women’s Volleyball on Oct. 4 at ECC Gymnasium @ 6 p.m.
Women’s Soccer -ECC Women’s Soccer vs Compton College on Oct. 8 at Tay Brown Stadium @ 1:30 p.m.
- ECC Women’s Soccer vs LA Harbor College on Oct. 11 at LABC Soccer Field @ 4:00 p.m.
- ECC Women’s Soccer vs Los Angeles City College on Oct. 15 at LACC Soccer Field @ 4:30 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
- ECC Men’s Soccer vs Antelope Valley on Oct. 1 at Brent Carter Maurder Stadium @ 5 p.m.
- ECC Men’s Soccer vs Compton College on Oct. 8 at Tay brown Stadium @ 4 p.m.
ECC Men’s
El Camino forward Marvin Gamez scores a banger against Palomars goalkeeper Amanueal Kidanemariam for the fourth goal of the game at ECC Men’s Soccer Field. Photo by Renzo Arnazzi
El Camino Men’s Water Polo utility player Max Megaw throws his 16th goal of the season.
of the game, Megaw tallied
of
goal, one steal and attempted four shots.
Photo by Elliott Bullock II
Aileron
Photo by Renzo Arnazzi
Riverside City Football running back Devyne Pearson fights for yards while being mid- air in attempt to get to the first down yardage at Murdock Stadium. El Camino Football defensive back Jaylen Romero attempts to tackle Pearso for a stop. Photo by Greg Fontanilla
(Top) Marvin Gamez dashes past defenders in attempt to score a goal and put the Mens warriors S up 4-1 against Palomar. Photo by Renzo Arnazzi