The Union, Vol. 73, Issue 3 by El Camino College The Union

EL CAMINO COLLEGE APRIL 19, 2018 Follow us at @ECCUnion

THE UNION eccunion.com

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TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA

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A LOOK INSIDE THE EL CAMINO ART GALLERY p. 6

SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS p. 8

EL CAMINO CELEBRATES 18TH ANNUAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL p. 4 Mari Inagaki/ Union

NEWS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 2

POLICE BEAT Jeremy Taylor Staff Writer

@ECCUnionJeremyT

Suspect found in possession of illegal knife Thursday, April 12 officers observed a subject who wasn’t a student near the Facilities building and Alondra Park. The subject had been arrested numerous times by campus police for various crimes against the district and students. The subject was found to be in possession of an illegal knife. The subject was arrested and booked by Torrance Police Department. They were told to stay away from campus, again.

Detective locates and-run suspect

hit-

Monday, April 9 at 8:20 a.m. a detective was able to locate a suspect from a hit-and-run that occurred on campus the previous week. The detective contacted the victim to confirm if they were desirous of prosecution: the victim was no longer desirous and just wanted the suspect’s insurance information.

Traffic violation on Crenshaw Boulevard Thursday, April 12 at 9:26 p.m. officers observed a vehicle commit a violation on Crenshaw Boulevard at Lot L. During the stop it was discovered the driver, who was not a student had a warrant for their arrest. The driver was given a citation for their warrant with a new court date.

APRIL 19, 2018

Homeless man arrested on campus

Suspect charged on suspicion of trespassing in Humanities Building

Quinn Buffandeau Special to The Union

@ECCUnionQuinn

A homeless man was arrested on campus Friday, March 16 on suspicion of trespassing multiple times since February. He was released on Sunday and later provoked a restraining order request by El Camino College, campus police say. “This is the first homeless individual that I’m aware of since I’ve been chief here that has caused us to take this route,” El Camino College Chief of Police Michael Trevis said. Trevis elaborated on the situation, stating that the man had been allegedly storing personal belongings in the third floor office area of the Humanities Building. He was often found eating in the third floor office area of the Humanities Building. “It was believed that he was a student, so they’re trying to accommodate him,” Trevis said. According to the man in question, Marquis Irons, 39, he was a student enrolled in a swimming class. “(Police) are failing to recognize me as a student even though (they) know I’m a student and it’s just (their) computer system,” Irons said. “(The system) automatically presumes that every homeless student is an out-of-state resident because we don’t have a physical address to enter where it says residence that is part of California.” Trevis, however, had a differ-

ent side to this story. “He had partially enrolled but had not completed the enrollment process, so I guess somehow during that enrollment, a student ID number came up,” Trevis said, stating that Irons had allegedly used the number to pose as a student in one of the swimming classes. According to Trevis, when campus police had been called, it was discovered that the man was not a student. Despite being asked to leave each day, he allegedly returned and left his things until he received a notice telling him not to trespass. When he allegedly trespassed again, campus police arrested him, though he was released two days later due to the Torrance Police Department’s inability to meet the needs of his vegan diet. “The jail at Torrance could not accommodate the vegan diet. Jails are monitored by the state board of prisons, they oversee all jails and if a prisoner has some kind of special issue or dietary need that they can’t accommodate then one of two things has to happen,” Trevis said. “Either A, transport him to another facility that can or B, if the person was held on a misdemeanor, which was this case, they have the option of citing the person out on a citation, and that’s what they did.” According to Trevis, Irons’s body language, “was starting to bother some of the faculty and staff” in the Humanities building. Trevis added that, “(Irons) was starting to be bothersome and in this day and age people are worried about that.”

Zach Hatakeyama/ Union The homeless man, identified as Marquis Irons, was allegedly storing personal belongings in the Humanities Building third floor, according to police chief Michael Trevis. One faculty member was Evelyn Uyemura, an English as a second language (ESL) teacher who had spoken to Irons on a few occasions. “He seemed very friendly. He seemed very educated the way he spoke and people were really nice to him,” Uyemura said. “People were saying good morning, he was saying good morning, but I started to get kind of a bad feeling about him because one day I walked by, and he said ‘Oh, you didn’t say good morning to me’ and I’m like ‘okay, good morning’ and then I felt like he was being a little ag-

gressive,” Uyemura said. Trevis expressed that he did not believe students were in any kind of danger due to Irons. “He has not exhibited any violent threats (or) made any threats of any sort to anyone here at El Camino College,” Trevis said. “(Because of) his non verbal communication and his style of talking to people, I can fully understand why folks are concerned, so, I would say to the readers just be aware of your surroundings, be cautious and if (you) see him, the picture has been circulated, please call us because he’s not supposed to be here.”

As far as preventative measures to keep incidents like this from occurring in the future, Trevis said “we’ve applied for a restraining order, we put additional officers in and around the building there, we will constantly try to keep a watch and make sure he does not violate the restraining order.” As of Thursday, March 22, Irons was arrested again, this time for allegedly violating his restraining order. Irons is scheduled for a court date on Friday, April 20 at the Torrance Superior Court.

Threat made to away baseball game 44-year-old man charged with making terrorist threats, police say

Quinn Buffandeau Special to The Union

@ECCUnionQuinn

The March 26 baseball game at Cerritos College between Cerritos and El Camino Colleges was threatened by a man who allegedly said that he would bring his “AK” to the game, the man was later arrested, authorities said. The man was identified as 44-year-old Daniel Pelaez, who was found to not be a student of El Camino or Cerritos, but had been attending games for “something like 15 (or) 16 years,” and was charged with a misdemeanor for

allegedly making terrorist threats, El Camino Chief of Police Michael Trevis said. “There was no weapon in the vehicle, we checked him and there (were) no weapons we could find, the suspect openly admitted that he said it, said he didn’t mean it but he said it, and that’s pretty much it, we got him pretty quick,” Trevis said. The coach Pelaez had threatened was Ken Gaylord, a Cerritos coach who had apparently waited two days to report the threat to police, Trevis said. While Pelaez was found to not have any weapons, the campus bulletin that warned both students and teachers of this threat was sent

out to students over an hour later than it was to teachers, when asked about this delay, Trevis said that he was not aware of the delay at all. “This is the first I’ve heard of it, I will follow up on it because it needs to go out at the same time,” Trevis said. Trevis added that police were seeking a restraining order against Pelaez to keep him from returning to the campus. Trevis also had a statement to students and faculty. “I appreciate everybody’s understanding because I know these are tough times, bad things are happening all over the world, and it is my job as your chief of police to keep everybody safe,” Trevis said.

El Camino publications recognized at national journalism competitions Current and former staff of The Union and Warrior Life receive awards Ryan Guitare Sports and Photo Editor @ECCUnionRyan

Staff members of EC’s newspaper The Union and magazine Warrior Life took home awards at national journalism conferences and competitions, including, Associated Collegiate Press and California College Media Association. The awards are as followed: Journalism Association of Community College State Competition • The Union won General Excellence for its online content • The Union Editor-In-Chief Zach Hatakeyama received honorable mention for an infographic of Amazon and bookstore prices and News Story. He also received fourth place for Best Inside Page Layout. • Warrior Life Editor-In-Chief Sarah Desmond received fourth place for Best News Story.

• • •

Former Staff Writer Oshari Arnett received third place for Column Writing. Former Photo Editor Jorge Villa received an honorable mention for Feature Photo. Former Staff Photographer John Lopez received fourth place for Feature Photo.

Associated Collegiate Press • The Union received Sixth Place for Best of Show among two-year colleges. • Warrior Life was ranked eighth nationally. California College Media Association • The Union recieved thirdplace awards in its category for best overall newspaper design and won honorable mention for overall newspaper excellence. • Former Staff Writer Karla Henry received first place in the community college division for best news video with her “Girls in the Garage”

•

presentation. Former Staff Writer Don Perez received a second place award in the non-news video category for his work on the “Librarian of Horror” piece and won third place award for his feature story on the same topic. Jorge Villa was awarded second place for Best Magazine Photo for his centerpiece photo accompanying the story “Amor y Tragedia.” in Warrior Life Magazine. Villa also received an honorable mention for his “A Seat at the Table” photo illustration. Zach Hatakeyama won Third Place for Best Infographic for his chart comparing bookstore and Amazon prices. Hatakeyama also received Third Place for Best Inside Page Spread with his “Lord Roka” page design. Staff Writer Emma DiMaggio won third place for Best News Photo for her image of kneeling football players.

OPINION/EDITORIAL

APRIL 19, 2018

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 3

Editorial:

Jose Tobar/ Union

Hungry for more food options Adopting food trucks on campus would benefit students, faculty and El Camino College

Letter to the Editor: In reference to the “Up for debate” ‘Mistakes threaten Snapchat reputation” in Vol. 73, No. 2, published on Thursday, March 22. Dear editor: It’s been said in this paper that “Snapchat is dying and has pushes most of its’s faithful users to Instagram.”(“Mistakes threaten Snapchat reputation” by Kaili Da-

THE UNION Vol. 73, No. 3 April 19, 2018

E -mail: eccunion@gmail.com Newsroom: (310) 660-3328 Advertising: (310) 660-3329

he age of cafeterias is long gone from college campus environments. More and more community colleges are adopting the concept of food trucks during school hours to provide a greater variety of options for students. Neighboring community college Santa Monica College has found great success in utilizing food trucks, and El Camino should follow in their footsteps. Students are busy and often find themselves rushing from class to class without time to go off campus to have something other than the food offered on campus. With food trucks, students would be able to grab something quickly without having to leave campus with a scarce amount of time. In The Union’s story, “A seat at the lunch table” in Vol. 32 No. 5 published on Thursday, Dec. 7, communications major Samsara Read noted how difficult it was to find vegetarian options on campus. “It’s hard for me to find great filling meals here on campus,” Read said. With this in mind, food trucks could be the bridge to providing vegetarian and vegan options to students on campus.

Dietary needs aside, food trucks could also provide diverse cultural options in food for students and faculty. Students and faculty would not be the only ones to benefit from food trucks. El Camino College would gain benefits financially too. Food trucks would have to pay a fee to use the campus as a source of vending, which would not only be an advantage for EC but the businesses as well. Small and local businesses would gain exposure for their operations by being on campus. According to the director of Purchasing and Business Services Rocky Bonura in the story “A seat at the lunch table,” past companies who vended on campus were not profitable when the academic year was not in session but food trucks could be the solution for this problem. Food trucks would only be on campus for a specific amount of time and could move around freely without committing to a long-term contract this would nullify any concerns for a loss of profit. Recently, EC adopted the services of mobile cafe, Atomic Cafe and has found that it is a popular option among students and faculty to get something beside the basic choices offered through EC. Atomic Cafe was a step in the right direction for a food renaissance at El Camino; let’s continue moving forward.

vison, The Union, March 22, 2018, p. 7.). Snapchat’s popularity has slowed down, but there is not concrete proof in this paper that it is dying or pushing its followers to Instagram. All that is being considered to reach this conclusion is the effects of two celebrities’ opinions on the app.

-Jamm Melchiade, 19, undecided major

It surely has caused its stock market to drop, but that alone cannot prove that Snapchat is dying. Also there is absolutely nothing mentioned in this paper that could back up the claim that Snapchat users are shifting their attention to Instagram instead. Further investigation is needed to make such a dramatic claims.

Editor-in-Chief.........................................................................Zach Hatakeyama News Editor..............................................................................Zach Hatakeyama Opinion Editor....................................................................................Faith Petrie Arts Editor..........................................................................................Faith Petrie Sports Editor....................................................................................Ryan Guitare Photo Editor.....................................................................................Ryan Guitare Features Editor..........................................................................Zach Hatakeyama Social Media Manager........................................................................Faith Petrie Advertising Manager.........................................................................Jack Mulkey Adviser.............................................................................................Stefanie Frith Photo Adviser.......................................................................................Luis Sinco

Want to submit a letter to the editor? Letters to the editor can be sent to The Union’s e-mail at eccunion@gmail.com with the subject “Letter to the editor”.

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.

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The Union

@ECCUnion

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 4

APRIL 19, 2018

in bloom EC celebrates former professor at 18th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival

Mari Inagaki/ Union

Jack Kan/ Union

Miyung Kim/ Union

1. Donald Hata, Nadine Hata’s husband, was introduced on stage by President Dena Maloney. “Nadine would have been very, very pleased with the diversity,” Hata said. 2. A line of hungry guests help themselves to some Japanese snacks at the Cherry Blossom Festival on the Library Lawn on Thursday, April 5. 3. Taiko performers pose for a photo on the Library Lawn. “It was pretty cool,” Matthew Rodriguez, 23, undecided major, said.

NEWS

APRIL 19, 2018

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 5

Jaimie Woods/ Union

Sarah Desmond Special to the Union

@ECCUnionSarahD

eats were filled during the Taiko drumming performance at the annual Nadine Ishitani Hata Memorial Cherry Blossom Festival at El Camino College on the Student Activities Center outdoor stage at 1-2 p.m. on Thursday, April 5. The drummers from the Taiko Center of Los Angeles, dressed in black, created traditional harmonious pounding rhythms and incorporated their use of voice. Many patrons stopped in their tracks to watch the performance. Matthew Rodriguez, 23, undecided major, was on his way to the library from class when he decided to enjoy the show. “It was pretty cool.” Rodriguez said. He respects that they are celebrating Nadine Hata. The festival is held annually to celebrate the life of Nadine Hata, who served as professor and an administrator at El Camino College. She died losing her battle with breast cancer. Donald Hata, Nadine’s husband was introduced onto the stage by President Dena Maloney. He shared his reflections on what Nadine would have thought about the event and the world today. “Nadine would have been very, very pleased with the diversity,” Hata said, “Look around at this crowd. These are the faces of America.” Hata also mentioned that Nadine’s favorite part of the event would be the haiku readings. Students from the creative writing/poetry class taught by Rhea Lewitzki performed original haikus. Samantha Moeder, 19, English major with an emphasis in creative writing and poetry, who was among these students, said she thinks “it’s spectacular” that they choose to honor Hata through this festival and that she is honored she gets to perform. “It’s always a rush (performing). But as an artist of any kind, you want to share your work,” Moeder said. “It was a really cool experience today. I really enjoyed it.” The event came to an end with a few dance numbers. One by Kanna Iwasaki as she imitated the Japanese women in the fields of Japan through her dance moves. Karin Baker from American Honda Motor Co., the company who provides the campus with the cherry blossom trees, said she worked closely with Nadine. “It’s really special for us,” Baker said. “She believed in education. And we believe in education for students in the South Bay. (We would) just like to see her legacy live on.”

Jack Kan/ Union

Mari Inagaki/ Union

4. A musical performance done by Taiko Center of Los Angeles at the 18th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival on Thursday, April 5. 5. Daniel Berney’s Advanced Dance Ensemble students perform on the ECC Library Lawn. 6. A bouquet of cherry blossom flowers displayed at festival. “It was a really cool experience today. I really enjoyed it,” Samantha Moeder, 19, English major.

ARTS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 6

APRIL 19, 2018

Mari Inagaki/ Union

Artist Karen Koblitz during her artist’s talk in the El Camino College Art Gallery on Tuesday, April 3.

CROSS CULTURAL

Art Gallery features work from ceramic artist and American cutural ambassador, Karen Koblitz

Emma DiMaggio

Staff Writer @ECCUnionEmma

“

Cultural Diplomacy” by ceramicist and American ambassador Karen Koblitz is on exhibition in the El Camino College Art Gallery until Thursday, April 26. Koblitz, who spent time as a cultural ambassador for the United States Department of State, has found her muse in foreign cultures. “She’s very scholarly in her approach. She doesn’t just go and absorb it,” Susanna Meiers, director and curator of the Art Gallery, said. “She really looks into it. She learns the language. She’s amazing.” As an ambassador, Koblitz had residencies in places like Moscow, Russia and Baku, Azerbaijan, where she immersed herself into local cultures. “I love traveling,” Koblitz said. “Every time I go somewhere, I really try to get involved. I try to do some reading beforehand to understand a little bit about the culture.” Meiers believes that what makes Koblitz’s work unique is, “the fact that she is traveling all over the world and is embracing the influence of different cultures, and that she does it with such skill and imagination.” The arts and embassies program, which was established in the 1960s by President Lyndon Johnson, was meant to promote cultural exchange. Koblitz’s art was used to decorate the American embassy in Moscow, Russia, as a way of exposing visitors to American

APRIL 21

culture. “I was the first group of artists through the Department of State to be called an ‘art ambassador,’” Koblitz said. “When people would visit (ambassador’s) residence abroad, they would be exposed to American artists, whether they were sculptors, painters, all kinds of art.” Her piece “Cultural Diplomacy,” after which the exhibition was named, references a pivotal point in art’s influence within the political sphere. The piece references the story of a 7th century bronze rhyton, or drinking vessel, that was smuggled into the United States and kept into a depository for safekeeping. When Iran elected its newest representative, someone within the delegation to address the United Nations got the idea of returning the valuable artifact to Iran as a symbol of good will. “In doing that, they opened up the talks (about) their nuclear program with America and Europe,” Koblitz said. Her ceramic rendition of the original artifact contains faux uranium ore, yellow cake, and plutonium, representing a nod to that conversation. The piece “references how art can be so dynamic and important in international relations,” Koblitz said. Students were able to acknowledge the importance of the topic, especially in the current political climate. “The story behind the sculpture is really interesting,” Jessica Hernandez, 20, music major,

said. “I think it’s cool that she referenced nuclear materials. It’s a really relevant topic.” Despite her focus in ceramics, the exhibition includes a variety of mediums, including embroidery and carpet weavings, which she collaborated on with a disabled weaver in Baku, Azerbaijan. With multimedia work and global travel under her belt, Koblitz keeps her vision looking towards the horizon. “I have a lot of projects. I have more going on than I ever thought I’d be doing,” Koblitz said. “I’m busier than when I was teaching.” As a recent retiree from 23 years as a full-time professor at University of Southern California (USC), Koblitz has her plate stacked with not only creative endeavors, but communityoriented activism as well. “I’m working with a group to purchase a synagogue where my great great grandfather was married. It has fallen into disrepair,” Koblitz said. “(We want to) purchase it and restore it into a museum and also into a community center for a city of 5,000 people in southern Bohemia.” Since the exhibition is a midcareer survey, the exhibition gives Koblitz an opportunity to survey her own growth. “It’s really wonderful to have the opportunity that Susanna Meiers has given me at El Camino, to see 27 years of my work,” Koblitz said. “(To see) certain pieces out of different bodies of work on exhibit. It really is an experience that allows me to look at the changes that I’ve gone through.”

New West Guitar Group | Marsee Auditorium | 8 p.m.

Carnegie Hall Choirs from El Camino College | Marsee Auditorium | 8 p.m.

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MAY

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Jack Kan/ Union

“Cultural Diplomacy” stoneware by Karen Koblitz displayed in the ECC Art Gallery. This griffinshaped chalice replica has its cups filled with simulated uranium, yellow cake, and plutonium (materials used in nuclear weapons) to represent a moment of detente between the U.S. and Iran.

WHAT’S GOING ON?

26-28

Miyung Kim/ Union

Karen Koblitz’s ceramic piece, “Bpak (marriage),” inspired by her time as an ambassador in Moscow.

JUNE

ECC Symphony Orchestra | Marsee Auditorium | 8 p.m.

ECC Chorale | Campus Theatre | 7 p.m.

4-5

Lo Tech, No Tech Dance | Marsee Auditorium -June 4, 2018 @ 7 p.m. -June 5, 2018 @ 7 p.m.

Opera Workshop | Campus Theatre | 8 p.m.

Check out videos about students, campus life, and more online at eccunion.com or on our YouTube page “The Union.”

APRIL 19, 2018

SPORTS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 7

33 for

3 student athletes discuss their future plans for their sports Jeremy Taylor

Staff Writer @ECCUnionJeremyT

Jose Ruiz Jr. at bat for the Warriors vs East Los Angeles College on Tuesday, April 17 at El Camino College.

Jarell Mickens, a wide receiver for the El Camino’s football team. Q: What got you into the sport? A: Well really, I watched my brother growing up, Jaydon Mickens, (NFL Wide Receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars), he just motivates me the whole way. Q: What are your plans in the future with this sport? A: For this sport, just to play against him. Q: What is your favorite part of being involved in the sport? A: The bond, the connection you get with everybody, (we’re) family.

Jazmyn Sancen, an outfielder for El Camino’s softball ball team. Q: Who got you into the sport? A: My dad definitely got me into the sport, he wanted a boy and I couldn’t do baseball, so softball was the next thing. Q: What are your plans in the future with this sport? A: I plan to transfer to a four year and from there get my degree and hopefully do some coaching after that. Q: What is your favorite part of being involved in the sport? A: Honestly my favorite part besides the games, is the people I get to meet and the bonds that (I) make with all the girls on my team.

Mari Inagaki / Union

Allen Xavier, thrower for El Camino’s track and field team. Q: What got you into the sport? A: Mostly friends that were in the program in high school. Q: What are your plans in the future with this sport? A: I have no direct plans for my sport but soon as college is over, I plan on just ending it. Q: What is your favorite part of being involved in the sport? A: I think my favorite part is the team, all the training we do, how strict the training is helps me build as a person as well as an athlete.

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 8

SPORTS PHOTO ESSAY

APRIL 19, 2018

Jack Kan / Union Diamond Lewis at the El Camino College versus Citrus College game on Friday, April 6, 2018.

SPRING SPORTS IN FULL SWING Mari Inagaki / Union

Lina Ito swinging for the ball in the Women’s Tennis v. Rio Hondo on Thursday, March 29, at El Camino College.

Jack Kan / Union Sam Kong returns this shot deep from the back court during the Compton College badminton match held in North Gym on Wednesday, March 28.

From tennis to beach volleyball, El Camino’s spring sports are in action

Adonis Rivera / Union James Ryczanows, Men 400 Meter Hurdles, Finals 57.26 at The Jim Bush Legends Invitational at Drake Stadium at UCLA.

Jack Kan / Union Sophia Loiola and Sophia Owens at the Mt. SAC and Pasadena City Club dual meet in Hermosa Beach on Friday, March 30.