Union issue 7 by El Camino College The Union

EL CAMINO COLLEGE

Union T h e

Class 136 Fire Academy graduation...Page 3

eccunion.com

November 7, 2013

Torrance, California

Stress 2 + √anxiety = math workshop Students nervous about math can overcome their fears at a Math Anxiety Workshop tomorrow Evelyn Avila Staff Writer

NEWS LINE

Many students get sweaty and shaky before a math test. Ways to handle this can be learned at the Math Anxiety Workshop presented by Nancilyn Burruss in Humanities 206 at 3 p.m. tomorrow. “I am doing this workshop for future teachers as part of the CTETP (Career and Technical Education Teacher Pipeline),” Burruss said. “However, because there is such a great demand for understanding why students, and even some teachers, have a fear of math we thought it would be best to open it up to the campus.” Burruss has presented this workshop on campus a couple of times before, but this is the first time it’s open to the entire campus. There also used to be an Academic Strategies 40 course, which was called Math Anxiety Workshop. It was an eight-week, two unit class but it was cut a few years ago with the first round of budget cuts. “It was a great class to teach. I had students come into class in tears and at the end of eight weeks leaving empowered to tackle the challenges of math,” Burruss said. “ I even had one student who, within a year, was accepted to UCLA. The only thing holding her back was math and when she realized she could be successful in this subject, she was able to move forward with her goals.” Burruss and John Weitzel, Career and Technical Education Teacher Pipeline coordinator, are certain the workshop may help students overcome their trepidations. “There are a lot of students who can succeed in math and science if they just overcome their irrational fear of it,” Weitzel said. “We are conditioned to be afraid of things we do not understand right away.” One EC student says this workshop will help her reduce the anxiety that math classes give her. “Math gives me anxiety because there’s a lot of little mistakes you can make and it’s hard to double check,” Micah Castrillo, 18, film major, said. “And there’s just a lot of pressure.” Students struggling in math are encouraged to attend the Math Anxiety Workshop to help them overcome their fear of math, but students should come in willing to learn. “I believe that the information given in these workshops helps students learn what they can do to overcome their fear of math and gives them a boost of confidence to move forward and face that fear,” Burruss said. The workshop scheduled for Friday is a one-time event this semseter, with room for about 30-35 participants in the classroom and students can reserve a spot with Weitzel at 310-660-3593, ext. 3609.

By Sam Tedla

John Ruiz/ Union

Team Brobot, from St. Francis High School, celebrates as they defeat Team Titan Robotics, from Nipomo High School, at the VEX Robotics Regional Competition in the Student Activities Center Nov. 2.

Lorenzo Gutierrez Staff Writer

John Ruiz/ Union

A member of Team Brobot scores with his robot against Team Titan Robotics during the VEX Robotics Regional Competition Nov. 2.

riginal design, enjoyment, and teamwork were the factors that led to success at the VEX Robotics Regional Competition in the Student Activities Center Nov. 2. The competition is for “publicity, publicity for our club, making a little bit of money for fundraising. It’s also to get our footprint into the VEX Robotics Competition; this is our second year doing it, so we might do this in the future again if the club stays healthy,” Harold (Ed) Hofmann, robotics club adviser, said. “Right now, it takes a lot of manpower to put these things on and, if the club is in good size, we can do this every year. But it takes a lot of hours.” Middle and high school students participated in the VEX Robotics Competition, Hofmann said. The main purpose of the event was for middle and high school teams to qualify to advance to the state championship in Santa Clara in March. From there, they would have the chance to go on to the world championship in Anaheim in April, where the EC robotics club can attend too, Brandon Marshall, 29, president of the robotics club and music major, said. The event was sponsored by EC clubs including Women in Technology, the Robotics Club, the Industry and Technology Division, Society of

Women Engineers, and Society of Manufactory Engineers. “We sponsor the robotics event to entice more students to register in our program here at El Camino,” Lorena Montes, member of WIT and volunteer coordinator of the VEX Competition, said. “I’m having a great time. I just love to see all of these young students. I know they are going to be our future students.” Stephanie Rodriguez, dean of industry and technology, participated as a judge. They judged the designs of the robots and they have different awards including the design award, the excellence award, and the judges award, she said. The teams from across souther California spent most of the day battling to qualify to the next round. The team Rolling Robots from Rolling Hills Estates won the design award and the judges award. The excellence award went to NerdherdB from California Academy of Mathematics & Science from Carson, according to robotevents.com. Brent Dixon, 24, computer science major, said the biggest benefit of the event is that the middle and high school students can grow and develop in a situation where they have to fix their robot or tend to other problems. “I think it’s amazing. We have, I believe, 48 high schools and we have some middle schools that are working with the high schools to build these robots,” Rodriguez said. “It’s amazing to see so many young people being creative and really energized.”

CSU Application Workshop

Assertive Skills Workshop

UCLA TAP Tour

‘Six Characters in Search UC Application Workshop of an Author’

The CSU Application Workshop shows applicants how to fill out fee waivers, EOP applications, and what college courses to take. The workshop is today in MBA 103 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 310-660-3593, ext. 3408.

Jan Schaeffer will host a workshop discussing being aggresive, bold, and confident in an effort to improve personal and social skills. The workshop will be today from 1:05 to 2 p.m. in the Decathlon Room, located above the Bookstore. For more information, call 310-660-3295.

UCLA’s TAP (Transfer Alliance Program) Tour gives students counseling about transferring as well as different ways to became a competitive applicant. The tour will be tomorrow at UCLA. For more information, call 310-6603593, ext. 3408.

“Six Characters in Search of an Author” is a play about six characters who want an author to help develop their roles. The play will be performed tomorrow and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Campus Theatre. For more information, call 310-3295345.

Filling out personal statements, getting fee waivers for applications, receiving residency, and taking college courses will be discussed at the UC Application Workshop Tuesday in MBA 103 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 310-660-3593, ext. 3408.

news

2 El Camino College Union

November 7, 2013

POLICE BEAT By Chris Guzman

Student’s wallet taken from locker room Oct. 31, 1:45 p.m.—A male student said that he had put his belongings on a wooden shelf that was unsecured in one of the cabinets in the P.E. North Building. Upon his return, the student discovered his wallet was missing.

Dizzy faculty member transported Oct. 31, 11:45 a.m.—Officers responded to a medical aid call. A female faculty member was experiencing dizziness from high blood pressure. She was transported to an area hospital for further treatment.

Student with expired registration, drug warrant Oct. 30, 1:30 p.m.—A male subject had his car impounded on campus in Lot A when expired registration triggered officers to run his name and they discovered a drug warrant out of Hermosa Beach. The Hermosa P.D. requested that the officers issue him a citation and he was released by El Camino police officers.

Subject with $26,000 warrant Oct. 30, 11:40 a.m.—Officers responded to the basement of the library regarding a disruptive subject that refused to leave when asked by cadets. When they ran his name, they found he had a $26,000 warrant out of Redondo P.D. He was held at the police station until Redondo P.D. came to get him.

Suspicious male in Lot F Oct. 29, 10:30 p.m.—A female reported that a male subject looked suspicious looking into cars in Lot F. When officers arrived, the suspect matched the description from a locker room incident a couple of days ago. As he was exiting Lot F, the man realized he was being followed by police so he ran and jumped a fence into Alondra Park on Manhattan Beach Boulevard. He was arrested for obstructing an officer, violating a court order, burglary, and being inside a women’s restroom. He was booked at L.A. County Jail.

Previous convicted subject on campus, runs away Oct. 29, 8:25 a.m.—Female students saw the same man from a previous incident the day before and officers were called to the scene. He was seen on the second floor stairwell by the Art Building. When the man was approached by officers, they realized he had been court ordered to stay away from campus along with his twin brother from a previous conviction. The man ran from the Art Building and was unattainable.

Theft in P.E. Building Oct. 28, 1:10 p.m.—Officers responded to the station regarding a locker theft report. A male student had secured his laptop in a locker by the P.E. North Building. When he returned an hour later, the lock had been pried open and his belongings were gone.

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Rene Paramore/ Union

Intermediate and advanced swimming teacher Traci Granger broke national and international swimming records this summer in her age division in the 50-yard butterfly and 50-meter butterfly respectively after undergoing hip surgery last year.

A hip (world-record) trip for instructor Chris Guzman Staff Writer

Swimming and CPR instructor Traci Granger broke the national record for the fifty yard butterfly and the world record of the fifty meter butterfly this summer just months after recovering from hip surgery. Teaching swimming lessons since she was 15, Granger is no stranger to the sport as she gave kids swimming lessons over the years and has coached about 20 swim teams, she said. “My parents had a pool when I was young, so that’s where I started practicing,” Granger said. “Three to five mornings a week for about an hour and a half is necessary to get better.” Years later, she finds herself as a faculty member at El Camino doing something she loves more than swimming and breaking records, teaching it. “I came to El Camino in 1988, and first started teaching aerobics and weight training part time,” Granger said. “Now that I’m

teaching swimming, I really enjoy my students.” Granger added she especially appreciates watching students that were initially unsure of swimming develop their skills. She said there was a time when she wasn’t swimming and eventually went back to it. “I was teaching step and circuit training and I pretty much burned myself out with constant pressure to do more,” Granger said. “I got a serious foot injury and some years after that, I started swimming again.” Granger pushed herself to continue swimming and was eventually ready to take part in competitions. “After swimming again after a long lay off, I found my passion again in it and wanted to see if I can do it in a competition and see where it goes,” Granger said. “I was tired of giving myself excuses every time I didn’t feel like practicing, so I wanted to compete.” Granger broke her first record when she was 50 years old, just five years prior to the

Economics of the ‘Green Rush’ Rigo Bonilla

Managing Editor

Marijuana generates massive amounts of money, but its legal status could decide who is actually profiting from it. “To be able to tax it would be an advantage. Taxing it would generate a lot of money for the state and federal government,” Tanja Carter, economics professor, said about making marijuana legal. “There’s pros and cons to consider. There would also probably be cost savings in police services.” On the other hand, keeping it illegal would result in a different situation. “Keeping it illegal encourages the underground economy,” Carter added. “There’s a lot of people getting rich by selling it illegally.” Local marijuana dealers who are unaffiliated with medical dispensaries are part of that underground economy. While they would be in no longer be in danger from the law after legalization, their business could take a big hit. “It will definitely hurt my business if it gets legalized,” a local pot dealer who chose to remain anonymous said. “People will just go to dispensaries instead.” Although it is still currently illegal to sell marijuana to unprescribed users, it’s a way for some to make a living with some freedom. “I get to create my own hours and be my own boss. I make more money doing this than working minimum wage,” the marijuana dealer said. “Those are the only jobs that are available right now. There’s good money in it, if you can build clientele, and now, social media helps too.” It’s a business that’s growing daily. “It’s California’s number one cash crop,” the dealer said. “I call it the ‘Green Rush’ because a lot of people are moving to California strictly just

to grow weed. It’s like the ‘49ers coming for Gold.” It’s hard for anyone to predict what the green scene might look like if marijuana’s legalized, but the consensus is that things will be different. “Legalization would reshape the entire industry,” Dominick La, an employee of a local medical dispensary, said. “It’s hard to say exactly what it would do, but with legalization, it would leave it open for people to start a more corporate style industry, where now, it’s more of a momand-pop type of industry.” Although it would create an opportunity for corporations to profit, La is still skeptical that the corporate world would approve. “You have to realize that the biggest lobbyists in Washington D.C. are the pharmaceutical industry and the prison industry. The pharmaceutical industry has a monopoly on prescription drugs, and marijuana can heal up to 60 diseases at once,” La added. “With the prison industry, most prisons are privatized businesses, so they would lose a lot of money if they couldn’t house all of the marijuana offenders anymore.” Up north, Washington is still finding out what it means to have weed legalized. California could be a few steps behind if a legalization bill is passed next November. “The Liquor Control Board (LCB) is still finalizing the regulations,” Si Fisher, a Seattle marijuana dispensary employee, said. “In November, they’re (LCB) going to start accepting applications. The middle of next year is when we’ll start seeing recreational cannabis shops open and affecting the whole industry, including the medical side.” Editor’s note: This is the third and final article of a series about the legalization of marijuana.

recent record she broke this past summer. It was the 50-yard butterfly and, a few months later, she broke a world record for the 50-meter short course butterfly along with a national record of the 50-yard freestyle swim. In August, Granger “competed in five events, took first place in four, second in one, and broke the world record in the 50-meter butterfly, with a time of 30.97,” according to a press release. Proud of her recent accomplishments through hard work and dedication, the unexpected happened last year when Granger felt something wrong with her hip. “I realized something in my hip tore when I was doing squats one day in the gym in the spring of 2012,” she said. “It was pretty bad; the head of my femur, on one side of it was sort of flat instead of rounded. Years of athletics scuffed down hip layer of the joint and tore it.” Granger had hip surgery last August and couldn’t do anything up until November. Even then she could only do minor move-

ments like freestyle and backstroke. Everything else was prohibited, she said. “After three months of physical therapy, I wanted to get some help from one of the kinesiology instructors here at El Camino,” Granger said. Granger reached out to Kim Jones, fitness coordinator, to help her return to swimming. “I asked her to customize some of my workouts sitting down,” Granger said. “I really thought getting a different perspective from a specialist would be important to see crucial improvement.” Jones specializes in strength and conditioning students on and off season at EC. Finding the right exercise was imminent if we wanted her to get back to the way she wanted, Jones said. “I took her through a strength and power phase and tapered her off reps lifting exercises,” Jones said. “We really focused on the weight training for the hips, range of motion and getting her stronger on a base level.”

November 7, 2013

Features

El Camino College Union 3

Instructor Tim Dennis, firefighter and paramedic for the Redondo Beach Fire Department, teaches students enrolled in the Fire Academy and EMT programs. Here he is seen standing outlined by a controlled fire at a demonstration last Friday.

Out of the fire, into the work force Thirty-one recruits from EC Fire Academy class 136 graduated November 1, and demonstrated fire rescue techniques ranging from rappeling down burning buildings to cutting open cars as part of the ceremony. Photos by John Fordiani, Union Photographer

Here, several graduates work together to put out an auto fire

Mid-left a members of graduating Class 136 repels from the Inglewood Tower at the graduation last friday. Bottom left, Salvador Menzo IV demonstrates auto extrication techniques with a circular saw on a demonstration car.

The graduates of class 136 cool down in style

EDITORIAL

4 El Camino College Union

November 7, 2013

Subtract stress by adding help Anyone who has ever struggled in one of their classes has likely heard the same advice, echoed throughout campus with emphatic encouragement: “Go to your professor’s office hours! It’s part of your tuition. You’re paying for it anyways!” Rightly so, visiting professors and seeking one-on-one time can be an invaluable experience, but those aren’t the sole means to get individualized help at EC. Oddly enough, students rarely pass along similar wisdom when it comes to the slew of lesser-known (but just as valuable) services and workshops offered on campus. Informative sessions such as the Math Anxiety Workshop, scheduled for tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Humanities 206, offer incredibly relevant and insightful recommendations on how to deal with common student issues. It’s regrettable, almost tragic, then, that events such as these pass by without warranting the attention of much of its intended audience. A huge number of classes at EC require writing, whether it be research papers, presentations, or essays. Students have few to no excuses for vacancies in the Writing Center’s schedule. It exists, virtually free of charge, only for our benefit.

The Issue • While trying to juggle a job, a social life, and school work, many students can run into problems.

Our Stand • There are services available to students, many of which the cost has all ready been included in student tuition, which students can turn to when in need.

While getting technical help with schoolwork is important, studies have also demonstrated that emotional health is just as crucial to a student’s success. Campuses nationwide offer classes on responding to stress in a healthy manner and EC comes as no exception. The Student Health Center offers workshops with topics ranging from “managing anxiety” and “anger management” to “the science of feeling good.” On top of caring for your psyche, the Health Center also boasts an array of medical ser-

Illustration by Eugene Chang vices such as individual psychological counseling, STD testing, and even chiropractic services. All students are required to

pay the fee that funds the Health Center as part of their tuition. Students’ motivations for seeking help there should be as simple as

making use of a prepaid service. In addition to services that care for your present well-being and education, many exist to help you

plan your future and make it a reality. The Transfer Center constantly hosts workshops to help students polish their UC and CSU applications. They also host campus tours to allow prospective transfer students the opportunity to see popular schools firsthand. Meanwhile, the Career Center regularly schedules sessions to teach universal career skills, such as resume writing and “Being Interconnected,” as well as to answer specific inquiries like “Why a STEM career?” or “Having a Job vs. Being an Entrepreneur.” Students should proactively seek to be self-interested, sometimes even self-serving about their education. It’s easy to become desensitized to the amount of resources organized before us and take for granted that they’re meant for us. All the aforementioned services and information sessions are regularly published with time and place in our recurring section “Newsline” located on the bottom of Page 1. If ever you feel overwhelmed, remember that help already exists in a dizzying array of forms here on campus. The minuscule last step is for you to reach out and grab it. See related article on Page 1

Community college with a college community In an editorial the Union published in the October 10 issue, some of the drawbacks and hazards of an open campus like EC were discussed. The potential for thieves and other law breakers to enter the campus is a real concern, but those criminal elements only make up a tiny fraction of the visitors EC receives daily. More than just a college campus, EC is in fact a major part of the community

that surrounds it. The VEX Robotics Regional Competition held on campus last Saturday is a perfect example. Yes, the event was sponsored by several different EC club organizations, but it was the students from almost 50 different high schools throughout the area competing against each other that were the stars of the event. Hopefully, some of those high school students will

become EC students in their own right in time, but even if they never return, they contributed to an event that brought our community just a little bit closer together. Take a look around the campus, and you’re bound to find countless other examples of the role EC plays in our community. Marsee auditorium is often used as a venue for non-student performers, and since staff, faculty, and stu-

dents with current ASB stickers get a 25% discount on tickets, why not check out a performance when you have the time? Many times, EC’s art gallery hosts works of art from local artists as well, and it’s free, so it’s always worth popping your head in for a minute. While the army of people who enter campus each day to hand out fliers, pass around petitions, and ask for donations might seem like

a nuisance, try taking the time to look at them with unbiased eyes, instead of as just obstacles on your way to class. Often, college students develop a frighteningly myopic view of the world, concerned only with the next assignment, the next grade, the next date with that cute guy/girl in math class. Fight that urge to tune everything out and just try listening to at least one of the solicitors on campus.

Sure, they may end up trying to sell you a suspicious looking copy of the Dali Lama’s “latest book”, but there’s just as good a chance that they could be advocating for a cause you might actually support. In the end, while most students are drawn to EC by the academic aspects of the school, it’s important not to forget the “community” in community college.

CAMPUS INSIGHT

COMMENTARY

Getting lost without guidance

Kevlar is the new black Jessica Martinez News Editor

Andrew McLean 24, journalism major

As adolescents graduate from high school and begin their next chapter as college students, confusion, anxiety, and lack of proper direction becomes a problem. At many universities, as well as community colleges, a guidance counselor would be an answer to these students problems, but here at EC attaining an informative appointment with one’s counselor has proven to be nearly impossible. Due to the volume of students here at El Camino, to schedule an appointment with one’s counselor students must attempt to make an, appointment online at 5 p.m. on Fridays, something I tried on numerous occasions with no avail. It seems that many students attempt to make a counseling appointment at the allotted time, so though I was logged in exactly at 5 p.m. and attempted to make an appointment, I was told there were no more available. It became so difficult to attain an counseling appointment that I

went over three semesters without being given the proper educational direction. This lead me to take three classes I didn’t need, which in turn wasted time, and money. However, for those student with simple questions, they have access to express counseling, something I tried and found to be of little help. Though I’m sure the express counselors mean the best, when a student’s academic livelihood is at stake, I believe a professional with experience in their field should be the one giving said student guidance. After over a year without the proper counseling, I scheduled an appointment only by sitting by Sabra Sabio’s door, waiting for her current appointment to conclude, then asking her when she’d be able to see me. Once I did get a chance to speak to my counselor, the academic road I was traveling on became clear. Sabio paved a road with classes, college choices and informed me about the AA-T

U N NIO EL CAMINO COLLEGE

Vol. 67, No. 7 November 7, 2013

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

program to which I used to gain acceptance to Cal State Fullerton as well as Cal State Northridge. I believe hiring more counselors at El Camino can lead to a higher possibility of academic success and once given the proper direction, can motivate a student to pursue their goal and not waste excess years at El Camino.

The views expressed in Campus Insight are those of the authors. They do not represent the views or opinions of the Union, its staff, editorial board or advisers. This column is available to students and faculty. All articles may be submitted to eccunion@gmail.com. Please note that articles may be edited for content and length

Editor-in-Chief �� Thomas Schmit Managing Editor ��Rigo Bonilla News Editor ��Jessica Martinez Opinion Editor ��Rigo Bonilla Features Editor �� Thomas Schmit Arts Editor �� Eric Hsieh Sports Editor ��Matthew Simon Social Media Editor ��Rigo Bonilla Photo Editor ��Amira Petrus Advertising Manager ��Kimberly Brandes Adviser ��Kate McLaughlin Photo Adviser...................................................................................Gary Kohatsu Technical Support �� Don Treat

As difficult as it is to admit, mass shootings in the U.S. have become normal. And they’ve become even more so in the past 16 months, starting with the Aurora, Colorado, movie theater shooting. So, the shooting at LAX on Friday morning shouldn’t have been completely shocking, right? Wrong. For many reasons, it hit closer to home than other mass shootings. EC students, faculty, and staff surely know someone that works at LAX, or know someone that was there just trying to get out of town. For me, it was personal. I heard the news early Friday morning and immediately grabbed my phone. Thankfully, the person I was worried about had already left me a message saying she was OK. But when will these shootings end? According to the Huffington Post, there have been a multitude

of mass shootings since the “Dark Knight” movie theater shooting in Aurora, in July of 2012. There, 12 people were killed. Two and a half weeks later, seven people were killed in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The month after, seven people were killed in Minneapolis. That December, 27 people were killed at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. It was the second deadliest school shooting in the country’s history. In response to the Newtown shooting, President Obama said, “We’re going to have to come together to meaningful action on this, regardless of the politics.” In March of this year, five were killed in Herkimer County, New York. The next month, five were killed in Federal Way, Washington. Days later, five more were killed in Manchester, IL. In June, six were killed at and around Santa Monica College. In July, seven were killed in Hialeah, Florida. Less than two

The Union is published Thursdays by Journalism 11 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.

months ago, 12 were killed in Washington, D.C. On Friday, according to the L.A. Times, seven people were hurt in the shooting at LAX and six were taken to local hospitals. It was the first time a TSA agent was killed in the line of duty in the agency’s 12-year history. When are these shootings going to be enough? They’re slowly becoming more and more common and little is being done to stop them. But these shootings do matter and do need to come to an end. Because the next shooting could very well hit closer to home than the last.

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El Camino College Union 5

November 7, 2013

UP FOR DEBATE

Is it the US’ job to police the world by spying? Trent Ledford Staff writer

Phone tapping could help the US in the future

To keep the people in United States safe from the other countries, our watchdog, the National Security Agency (NSA) must do the same thing they’re doing to us, such as tapping phones of other countries. They should also tap whatever else they can to keep us safe. Don’t blame the government for spying on other counties because they’re also spying on us. NSA and CIA tracked Angela Merkel’s phone since 2002 with very high-tech service. If Germany recently noticed that we were tapping their leader’s phone, then the NSA did a very great job with keeping it hidden and probably gained a lot of key information from the communications she made on her phone. If we are able to do it, why not do it? Until other leaders find a way to stop us from collecting communication, then keep on doing it. The United States must be a global force at all times because, whether the president approves or not, we are the leaders of the world. “The National Security system has one purpose and that to make sure Americans are safe,” Barack Obama said to a CNN journalist. Tapping into other countries leader’s phone, hacking into their computers, even bombing other countries are still part of the process of keeping us (the people in the U.S.) safe. Eavesdropping isn’t a crime at all, because we do it all the time as human beings. We love eavesdropping to listen in on people’s conversation. Things would get out of hand if we didn’t mass spy on other countries. We caught Osama Bin Laden by doing a little spying. If the United States wasn’t there to be a global force, we would be in a major crisis. To understand other countries is a good thing. President Obama did apologize, telling the German leader that he would have

stopped it if he knew. I think it’s a good thing that the NSA kept it hidden from Obama because the information we received from the communications on Merkel’s phone could be very significant for the future of the U.S.

Pro-marijuana advocates are rushing to collect signatures to legalize marijuana by placing it on the ballot for Nov. 2014. Supporters of pot want marijuana to be as legal as drinking a Coors Light. Medical marijuana has been a stepping stone to outright legalization in all 50 states. The short and long-term consequences of legalization haven’t been throroughly considered. In states like Colorado, where it has been legalized, there are still prisoners being held on marijuana violations. The conflict lies in what to do with felons convicted of doing something that is no longer illegal. If the marijuana initiative becomes legal in California, and no longer an offense punishable by law, then wouldn’t it be unconstitutional to continue incarcerating others who are still behind bars serving prison sentences? If so, then the U.S. justice system cannot claim the mantra of freedom and justice for all. And what about those states who have already legalized marijuana? How can they legally justify the ongoing incarceration of drug offenders for a law that is no longer a felony on the books? Isn’t this unconstitutional? If drug related crimes is the result of an illness, shouldn’t drug felons be released for rehab? The legalization of marijuana raises more questions than answers.

“Big Brother,” the fictional enigmatic dictator in George Orwell’s “Nineteen EightyFour” has become more real over the years than ever since the book’s publishing back in 1949. The infamous saying, “Big Brother is watching you.” has not only been proven true

Erin Logan Staff writer

for everyday Americans with the National Security Agency (NSA) watching everyday internet activity, but now the NSA has been found to be tapping into the phone of Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, for over the past 10 years. While it’s logical for the United States government, as well as the American people, to worry about other countries and their motives towards us, is it really fair to be tapping into their cellphones? No. The story isn’t entirely clear, but apparently President Barack Obama was not aware of the cellphone tapping up until recently. “General [Keith] Alexander did not discuss with President Obama in 2010 an alleged foreign intelligence operation involving German Chancellor Merkel, nor has he ever discussed alleged operations involving Chancellor Merkel. News reports claiming otherwise are not true.” NSA spokeswomen, Vanee Vines said to USA Today. The fact that our government tapped into German Chancellor Merkel’s phone is only proof that our government is not trustworthy. The common American people are being shut out of what’s going on while they are also being spied on and documented through their internet activity and also their own phones. The United States government has been imposing fear on its citizens, as well as the other countries and world leaders they associate with by letting this information out, let alone by letting this phone tapping to happen in the first place. Regardless, if President Obama knew about it happening or not, the United States has risked, if not already lost its trust, with everyone who has gotten wind of this information. There is no way to know whats true or not. The United States government seems to advocate protection and privacy, but they sure have a funny way of showing it.

By Trent Ledford Photos by Gilberto Castro

Sheena Pascascio, 43, business

“I believe it’s wrong. It’s good to keep us safe, but if other countries were tapping into our phones, we wouldn’t like it.”

Andrea Rodruigez, 17, music

“It’s okay, but it depends what type of information they’re collecting.”

Illustration by Eugene Chang

Prisoners of a legal crime

Lowe Barry Staff writer

Spying on countries is out of bounds

Campus viewpoints

The U.S. industrial prison complex is a for-profit institution that incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world. Over 2 million people are in jail or prison. Nearly 25 percent or 500,000 of those people behind bars have been convicted of a drug-related offense, according to sentencingproject.org. The abnormal growth of the prison complex is largely driven by the incarceration due to drug possession. On another note, more minorities serve time for drug possession in proportion to their white counterparts. Many books have been written by black intellectuals labeling the U.S prison system the modern day slave plantation system. If the criminal justice system overturns the convictions of imprison drug offenders, the consequences could be dire. Over 500,000 ex-felons will flood the streets of cities thru out the nation. Many of these exfelons will need rehab, housing and jobs in a jobless economy. If these offenders cannot survive in the real world, they will more than likely return to prison through the revolving door. Groups advocating the legalization of marijuana clearly have not thought out the logical consequences of their legislation. Prisoners can’t just be released, even if they are being held for the wrong reasons. It’s a mess that needs to be addressed. Perhaps rehab is the answer instead of prsion in the first place. • What do you think about marijuana legalization? Is it a good or bad direction for California. • Tweet me @lowebarry1 with your thoughts. • Read more about marijuana legalization in the news section

Great day for a white wedding Column

Halloween marked the beginning of main function until the Cupid Shuffle the madness of holiday events heading is in the mix. However, from the time towards us—Thanksgiving, Christmas, you arrived, to the time they finally feed New Years, and everything else in be- you, can be anywhere from two to four hours. So to save yourself from turning tween. However, those of us that are past our into the highlight of the party. Rememteens and well into our twenties have ber to eat or at least snack on the way to another fall time horror to be concerned the ceremony. Gift cards are a lifesaver. All big with: Weddings. events these days sign up Among the four seafor gift registrations, essons, fall weddings are pecially weddings. One the worst to deal with bemay think it’s thoughtcause, well, it falls flat in less but in actuality, it’s the middle of what is althe best option. ready a hectic season. As Think about your if it isn’t painful enough attire. Depending on to decline invitations to whose wedding it is, multiple holiday parties people dress with cerbecause of finals and tain people in mind or whatnots, denying a bride fixate on an image they is asking for a death wish. want to uphold. Let this From personal experibe clear: it is not about ence, it’s not a good idea Angela Yim you. It’s obvious one to piss off a bride, groom, Union Columnist should look their best, or anyone first handedly but attending a wedding involved in the wedding party. Also, no matter how cool it looks is not the same as heading out to the in movies, it is not okay to be ‘that guy’ club – so leave the skimpy dresses and at the reception—you know, that guy hooker heels at home. Above all else, have a good time. that knows the bartenders by first name Weddings suck, people cry, mother-inand closes down the bar. For someone who has been both de- laws get crazy, bad decisions happen, lightful characters, to prevent such care- relatives get drunk and embarrass the less behavior in the future (again), the family, etc. That uncontrollable insanity best way to remind oneself is to prepare is supposed to happen so enjoy yourself beforehand (hopefully it’s not too late and make the most of your night. for you). To my fellow Warriors who are unfortunate enough to get invited to celebrate the union of two loving people • Please connect with me by email at during this season, I feel your pain. In eccunionangela@gmail.com efforts to help ease the burden, here are a few tips before attending such an oc- • Follow me on Twitter @ECCUnionAng casion: Bring a handwritten card. How the • Join the conversation online at art of writing cards has gotten lost in www.eccunion.com translation is beyond me, but know that when attending an event that the host • The views expressed in this column sent you a card fo— you should return are those of the author. They do not the gesture. represent the views or opinions of Eat beforehand. Of course when atthe Union, its staff, editorial board or tending weddings, the open bar is the advisers.

Randy Willis, 35, English

“I think they are completely beyond their scope of power. Just because they could do it, doesn’t mean they should.”

Catherine Romero, 19, undecided

“No, because it’s not right to invade someone else privacy.”

Kelley Joyce, 28, liberal studies

“We don’t know what our government is doing so why should our government know what other countries governments are doing?”

arts

6 El Camino College Union

November 7, 2013

On the scene Erin Logan

Theatre Six Characters in Search of an Author “Luigi Pirandello’s unique assault upon theatre will performed in the Campus Theatre this weekend, Nov. 8-10. It follows a series of revelations so surprising that the first performance of the play caused a riot when it was first shown to the public in 1921. The play will show Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and on Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the box office in Marsee Auditorium or by calling 310-329-5343.

Dance Fall dance concert Daniel Berney, Pam Santelman, and Lisa Hoefner Adamis will be directing EC’s fall dance concert this semester. It will take place Nov. 21 at 1 p.m., Nov. 22 and 23 at 8 p.m., and Nov. 24 at 3 p.m in the Campus Theatre. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Marsee box office or by calling 310-3295343.

Dance band EC’s dance band, directed by David Sills, will perform on Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. in the Robert Haag Recital Hall. Tickets will be sold for $10 and can be purchased at the box office in Marsee Auditorium or by calling 1-800-832-ARTS.

Music “An Immense voice”

Photo Courtesy of William Georges

Madame Pace, The Director, and The Stepdaughter, played by Giovanna Diaz, Marco Garcia-Ballare, and Kelli Anderson respectively, during a tech rehearsal in the Campus Theatre.

Sam Tedla

Staff Writer

hifting in and out of reality, “Six Character in Search of an Author” tells the story of theatrical characters who want an author to bring their roles to life. The play, which opened Nov. 1 and is directed by John DeMita, theater lecturer, will run for three more showings tomorrow and Saturday at 8 p.m. as well as Sunday at 3 p.m. “Basically you leave reality at the beginning of the show with a weird flicker of lights and video,” Katie Villanueva, 18, stage director, said. “As the characters walk in there is a transition, and you never leave that scene until the end of the show.” “Six Characters in Search of an Author” examines the process of bringing something to life. Is a

Characters instead of caricatures

EC drama students play on and around the fourth wall in “Six Characters in Search of an Author” character vitalized when someone acts out their role or should characters be able to dictate their development? “Although the play was confusing, the acting was very entertaining and the combination of video effects and lighting really made the performance that much better,” Norva Tejega, 20, theater major, said. Like any production, the cast and crew faced challenges in bringing their script to life. Often times they gained experience

through trial-and-error. “When we got to tech week it was hard because I was used to 20 queues in high school,” Villanueva said. “Then I got here it was roughly 100 to 120 queues of lights, sounds and four different sources of videos, sometimes calling them all at once.” The actors’ improvisational skills helped smooth the play when mishaps or malfunctions occurred during the performance rehearsals, which made the mistakes look as if they were apart of the

Soprano Erin Wood and pianist Henri Venazi will be performing as guest artists, treating Verdi and Wagner with Wood’s soaring voice. The performance will be in Marsee Auditorium on Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets will be sold for $20 and can be purchased at the box office in Marsee Auditorium or by calling 1-800-832-ARTS.

Movie Review Ender Wiggin saves mankind and a dying book industry

Flute and piano

Pauline Tamale, 23, music major, plays an emotional ballad in one of the music building’s practice rooms.

Concert band

Putting an old scar to whole rest

“Sing-Along” EC’s concert choir and mixed chorus, directed by Joanna Nachef, will perform a Messiah “Sing-Along” on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. in the Campus Theatre. Tickets cost $10 and can be bought by calling 1-800-832-ARTS or by visiting centerforthearts.org

Since there is so much content in the film, character development Staff Writer is also particularly thin for the story’s protagonists. Even the main character of this With so many movies these days being remade or adapted film, Ender Wiggin, is portrayed from novels, one wondered if to us as a naive and gentle child “Ender’s Game” could truly set before he transforms into a fierce itself apart as a great movie or leader. But the audience never trusimply end up another failed Hol- ly sees his character make those step-by-step changes. lywood attempt to turn a profit. That said, “Ender’s Game” proAfter viewing “Ender’s Game,” which came out Nov. 1 and is vided an incredible visual display playing in theaters everywhere, of special effects and epic space battles between the verdict is in: humans and The movie is a aliens. It would fantastic science be well worth it fiction film that “It wouldn’t be a and highly recwill be as enjoyhuge surprise if ommended to able for the caaudiences are so see this movie in sual viewer as it IMAX or 3D. will be for fans enthralled with Despite inconof the original ‘Ender’s Game’ that sistent pacing and novel. a lack of characComing into they’re inspired ter development the movie with to pick up a copy being a problem, absolutely no “Ender’s Game” prior knowledge of the novel afterstill has an amazof the novel’s wards.” ing plot that will plot, there was certainly provide no reason to exanyone with two pect more or less than the average Hollywood offer- hours worth of entertainment. Fans will want to catch up on ing. The result, however, was an in- the original story because based credible display of special effects on the way the film ends and barand a content-rich story that left ring a box office flop, all signs the audience applauding when it point to a sequel being in the works. was all over. It may not be the norm to read “Ender’s Game” runs just about two hours, but feels much longer. the book after seeing the movie, It packs as much plot and devel- but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise opment as it can before the credits if audiences are so enthralled roll. While the result is a deep and with “Ender’s Game” that they’re touching narrative, it can feel as if inspired to pick up a copy of the novel afterwards. the story is rushed at points. The film clearly tries to convey a deep theme which is built upon the crushed psyche of youths in order to save humanity, but overall it comes off as melodramatic and the result is not as thought provoking as it aspires to be. Brian Camacho

As part of its Resident Artist Series, EC will feature Kristi Lobitz and Susan Greenburg performing pieces by Beethoven, J.S. Bach, and Poulenc as well as modern masterworks from the piano-flute repertoire. The performance will be on Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 1-800-832-ARTS or at the Marsee box office.

EC’s concert band, which consists of talented musicians ranging in age from high school students to retirees, will be performing pieces by Reed, Still, Holsinger, Strommen, Balmages, Lithgow, Edmondson, and Mancini on Nov. 17 in Marsee Auditorium. Tickets will be sold for $10 and can be purchased online at www.centerforthearts.org or by calling 310329-5343.

play, she added. Among the play’s many unique characters, Madame Pace, played by Giovanna Diaz, is a seamstress and owner of a brothel. “When the actress comes out in this real flamboyant, French dress and she steals the scene, it’s out of control and I really like it,” Dash Porter, 26, theater major, said. “I have to say this play is different from all the other ones I’ve performed in because it’s more intimate and challenging,” Porter said.

Other members of the production enjoyed it for its nuance and intricacies. The complexity of this play’s reality within a reality reminds me of “Inception” in a way, Villanueva said. Some of the cast jumped outside their comfort zones in order to better understand their roles within the play. The challenges they overcame in rehearsing offered a lot of experience. “When I was filling in as a father it was challenging because I’m not used to playing an older guy,” Porter said. “I’m more used to playing characters my age. To play the father was a big step for me.” In the end, the students behind “Six Characters in Search of an Author” are hopeful about its appeal. “It’s really cool,” Villanueva said. “It’s fun to watch as long as you understand it.”

Leala Stephenson/ Union

Angela Yim

Staff Writer

Sitting across a piano in the music building, the hallways filled with harmonious melodies, Pauline Tamale, singer and Tongan native, feels most at home. Empowered by her scars, she lets nothing get in the way. “[Last year] I had a brain aneurysm,” Tamale, 23, music major, said. “The day I got sick, I had a midterm for an opera workshop class.” As her mother tried to calm her down in the ambulance, Tamale said to her, “I finally found something that describes me as a person. I can do other things but at the end of the day, it’s music.” While lying in the ER, surrounded by medical professionals, Tamale only knew of one way to ease her pains. “I ended up singing to the surgery room. I had to do it because the pain was just killing me,” she said. “I sang the hymn ‘It Is Well with My Soul.’ It was such an emotional moment—can’t imagine I went through it and got out.” From the moment her surgery was over, Tamale suffered weak

limbs and memory loss. “People came and visited me, I talked to them like nothing was wrong, but when they left I couldn’t remember what we had talked about,” she said. “There were so many stuffed animals, but I couldn’t remember who gave what.” “When I came back it was so hard for me to sing. The surgery was on this side [of my forehead] and this [other] side was so tight I couldn’t sing,” Tamale added.

Despite these challenges, she was adamant about making a quick recovery. She was determined to finish her four months of rehabilitation and therapy in half the time, and went on to do so. “Music is a healing power,” Joanna Nachef, director of choral activities, said. “I was distraught when I got the phone call from her mother but the speed at which she recovered and got herself back, like she used to be prior to

her aneurysm, is just remarkable to watch.” Dane Teter, director of instrumental music and coordinator of the applied music program, has worked with Tamale for several semesters now and has only positive things to say as well. “She had that little set back, but she didn’t let it keep her down,” Teter said. “She made a full recovery and continues on making wonderful progress; her voice is getting more and more beautiful all the time. She is so well loved by her fellow students.” “Music has done a lot in my life that I can’t [even] explain,” Tamale said. “Last year I was one of the candidates for the master class here on campus. At the time that was the biggest accomplishment I ever did. After I got sick and came back, I got the chance to go to Carnegie Hall in New York and perform there.” Nachef, along with others, joined together to celebrate Tamale’s birthday last Wednesday. “Not her real birthday, but celebrating her one-year mark of returning from the hospital — a year of success,” Nachef said.

sports

November 7, 2013

El Camino College Union 7

Sophomore goalie Tanner Castro blocks by a Mt. Sac player. The men’s team would go on to lose the game, but Castro tied a school record by blocking three penalty shots against Miramar College.

Alycia Presley / Union

Warriors’ defense can’t contain opponents in losses Marquis Parker

Staff Writer

Amira Petrus / Union

Freshman goalie Cambria Serrano dives to block a shot against Mt. SAC.

The women’s water polo team (7-15) sunk in its final game of the season against Mt. San Antonio College last Wednesday (9-15). The men’s team (2-18), also lost its four games in a tournament hosted by Saddleback College. The Warriors were defeated by Citrus College 1-9, Miramar College 10-13, Southwestern College, 6-12, and to Chaffey College 5-16. “We weren’t very well prepared this season,” coach Corey

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Stanbury said. “Many of our players became sick during some key games we competed in.” Sophomore goalie Tanner Castro tied El Camino’s record books in their game against Miramar for the most blocked penalty shots in one game with three. Mt. Sac soared over the Warriors women’s defense, scoring five unanswered goals during the first quarter of play. The girls were beginning to score at will during the second half, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Mt. Sac. Although both the men and

women teams won’t compete in playoffs this season, some of their statistics are very notable. Leading scorer Alexis Ivans tallied up four points in their final game, and now has a total of 49 on the season. Lauren Gottschalk also added two scores, which totals 39 points of her own. Evelyn Siquenza put the ball through the net 25 times during their 22 game season, as well as Lynsey Alabab with 20. Ivans also led the women defensively, recording 41 steals during the season, and Gottschalk

followed closely behind totaling 38. Arlene Alvarado and Alabab also assisted in steals recording 37 and 26 for the season. Freshman goalie Cambria Serrano recorded 196 total saves, and stopped Mt. Sac from scoring seven times. The men’s team ended its season 14 game losing streak in a row, with their last win against Miramar (11-10) the beginning of the season. Castro recorded 26 saves during the tournament, and ended the season with 94 total.

Sports

8 El Camino College Union

November 7, 2013

Warriors can’t sustain pressure Brian Camacho

Staff Writer

As the El Camino football team gathered up following a loss to Citrus College, there was a certain look amongst the players. It was the look of a team that had been beaten, but not defeated. The Warriors (5-4) lost to the Cougars (5-3) 42-28 Saturday at Citrus Stadium in a match between two top ten teams in the state. Win, and they're in a bowl game. Lose, and the season is over. “We jumped off to that big lead and if we would have just shut the door, the game may have been over," coach John Featherstone said. The Warriors got off two a fast start and quickly gained a 13-0 lead thanks to a 61-yard pass from freshman quarterback Aaron Shockey to sophomore wide receiver Michael Thompson and a 9-yard run from freshman running back Kendell Sparks. Shockey had his best game of the season, going 11-27 for 235 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. "Every week is a progression," Shockey said. “It's a tough loss but we all did something right but there's a lot of easy things we need to fix." Trailing for the first time at home all year, the Cougars responded by scoring on their next four consecutive drives to take a 29-13 lead. The Warriors refused to go down without a fight as Shockey once again found Thompson for a 51-yard touchdown pass to make it 29-21 following a successful twopoint conversion. The Warriors fought hard but could not close the gap with the Cougars. Every time one team would score, the other would respond with a score of their own. "I told the kids you've got your hands full," Featherstone said.

Sophmore wide receiver runs after catching a pass from freshman quarterback Aaron Shockey. Thompson would go on to score on the pass in a 42-28 loss to Citrus College.

"But they didn't quit and came out and played another two quarters like they're coached to be." The defense, which has performed strong throughout the year, found itself having a difficult time

containing the Cougar offense. Giving up 335 yards through the air as well as 132 on the ground. Although one bright spot on defense was the performance of sophomore linebacker Kristopher

Bass, who broke the EC record for most tackles in a game with 21. "We had some dumb penalties that killed us but the defense played well," Bass said. With this loss, the Warriors are

now forced to win their last game against Mt. SAC if they want any chance of making the postseason. The Warriors will play at Mt. San Antonio this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Gilberto Castro / Union

"We don't have anything to lose so we're just going to give it everything we've got and finish the season with a bang," freshman running back Raphael LawsonGayle said.

Offense sputters in loss Emmanuel Ramirez Staff Writer

Sophomore midfielder Angel Lomeli scans his surroundings while he runs down field looking for an open teammate.

Warriors Schedule Football:

Saturday Nov. 9 at Mt. San Antonio College 6 p.m.

Men’s Soccer: Tomorrow vs Cerritos College 1 p.m.

Women’s Soccer:

Cross Country:

Tomorrow vs Harbor College 3 p.m.

Nov. 9 at South Coast Regional Championships Men’s at Noon Women’s at 11 a.m.

Women’s Volleyball:

Women’s Basketball:

Tomorrow at Mt. San Antonio 6 p.m.

Tomorrow vs Fullerton 6 p.m.

Gilberto Castro / Union

Without leading scorer freshman Kyrian Nwabueze the men's soccer team couldn’t keep up with Cerritos College losing 4-1. "For the first time this season the spine of our team failed to show up," coach John Britton said. The Warriors came into this game very motivated, but an early goal in the eighth minute gave Cerritos the lead. "Whoever scored first was going to win the game and Cerritos got the first goal in," sophomore midfielder Angel Lomeli said. After the first half the score was 1-0 which still gave El Camino a chance to win. "We dropped the intensity once they scored the first goal," freshman forward Andy Nunez said. Everything went downhill after Cerritos College scored two goals putting them up 3-0. "We were affected the most by us quitting on each other when we were down," sophomore midfielder Andredavy Cervantes said. Nunez put his team on the scoreboard with the only goal of the game. "Besides the goal I feel I made some mistakes that really cost the team," Nunez said.

The team’s performance did not seem very pleasing to the coaching staff. "The whole central core of our team from the goalkeeper to center forward did not play at the level they usually perform at,” Britton said. “We didn't deserve to win this game." This game was stalled without the team’s leading scorer, Nwabueze, who didn’t play due to a pulled muscle. "I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to win the game, the team was overall okay but not as aggressive as other games," Cervantes said. Many things went wrong in this game, but the team knows what they can do to make corrections moving forward "I believe it was just a lost of communication and energy all we can do is just pick our heads up and forget about this loss and get ready for our next game," freshman midfielder Branddon Cando said. Clearly the team has to stay focused and not let this loss affect them moving forward. "We are a tough team and we can over come this very easy by coming together and working it out," Cando said.

Warriors Scoreboard Football:

Warriors 28 (5-4), Citrus College 42

Men’s Soccer: Warriors 0 (5-6-7), ECC Compton Center 0

Women’s Soccer: Warriors 2 (1-13-3), EC Compton Center 0

Women’s Volleyball:

Warriors 3 (15-4), Mt. SAC 0

women’s Water Polo:

Warriors 9 (7-15), Mt. SAC 15

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