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e l .va q u e r o . g c c e lva q . g c c Friday, November 1, 2019 Glendale Community College Student Newspaper
‘M’ is for Mona
Volume 114 | Issue 4
Anahit Sydney Staff Illustrator
GCC’s Mona Field sat down with El Vaquero for an exclusive interview By A. Heimer Staff Writer Mona Field, Glendale College’s beloved Political Science professor emeritus and prolific textbook author, spoke with El Vaquero about her career at GCC, as a board member and as president of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), and her current activities which include her work as co-president of the League of Women Voters (LWV). She is co-author of the textbook used in many California schools, “California Government and Politics Today,” and is a frequent speaker on local and state politics. A native Angeleno, Field will soon celebrate her 50th high school reunion at Hollywood High School. She has been a lifelong advocate of the community college system saying, “I loved the whole idea, first two years, skills, open to everybody and free! I knew from the age of 15 that my goal in life was to teach at a community college.” When she realized that goal in 1983, “I was in heaven,” she recalled. “My first office was a broom closet, literally.” Field
told El Vaquero that she worked very hard to get ready for her tenure interview and was so over-prepared that the chair of the department told her that someone had complained that she must have been given the answers in advance. “I just really prepped,” she said. She retired after teaching Political Science and Sociology at GCC for 25 years and said that her only regret is “I was too busy with classes, faculty Guild meetings and political activism to sponsor a student club, which I would have loved to do.” Her deep understanding of politics and involvement with the dynamics of Guild meetings led to Field successfully running for a position on the board of the LACCD. She served on the board for 16 years, twice as president and now works at the LWV, a non-partisan organization which helps to inform people about issues, candidates and elections. El Vaquero got Field’s unique overview on some issues of interest to students: Asked why the school bookstore, cafeteria, and coffee shops are privatized, she explained that they once had been run by the school and in the case of the bookstore, the student government, but the cost of the school paying the wages, insurance and benefits was too much for GCC’s budget and that the cafeteria, for example, had
been losing money. It was ultimately decided to privatize those businesses, freeing the school from responsibility and liability. As the co-author of the textbook on California politics used in Political Science 101, one of the more reasonably-priced textbooks required at GCC, Field is very aware of the perennial student’s complaints about ridiculously over-inflated textbook prices. She explained that there is a law in Calif. that supports open resources and a movement for teachers to use open source, copyright-free material. She also pointed out that used books, e-books and rentals are often available through the bookstore, Amazon or other services online. While Field agreed there haven’t been enough major advancements in algebra from one year to the next to justify requiring a new math textbook, she said political textbooks do need to be periodically updated, and in the case of her textbook, she has no say regarding when that happens. Her publisher decides when to update based on their economic criteria, has the book prepared in India and then printed in the U.S. Explaining that political changes take place every two or three years, she said, “I beg the publisher, please let me update, but it’s not up to me. I’m a slave to a multinational corporation.” El Vaquero asked Field why the word
socialism has such a bad connotation in the U.S., while it is such a common concept in many European countries. Field said “the demonization of the word is nothing new and has been going on for a hundred years,” recalling the “Red Scare” and the historic Sacco and Vanzetti case from the 1920s. “American capitalism is very defensive about its role,” she said. She also pointed out that Bernie Sanders is a Democratic Socialist. When asked how to better inform voters about unknown candidates for the lesser understood positions most people don’t pay attention to on the ballot, like judges,she said that one of the functions of the LWV is to provide information about the issues and candidates for all elections, which is available before the elections take place at: http://bit.ly/LWVWebsite [“Mona” is continued on page 2]
In This Issue News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Features .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Entertainment . . . . . . . . . 6-8
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Friday, November 1, 2019
[“Mona,” from Page 1] El Vaquero asked her opinion of the idea of lifetime judgeships, as in the Supreme Court, Field said that California haa one of the best judicial systems, though it has some drawbacks. She explained that the longest a judge can serve in Calif. is on the State Supreme Court, which is by gubernatorial appointment, with a term limit of 12 years before having to face a review. However, she pointed out that the Judicial review committee is only three people and said, “if they get two out of three, they’re a State Supreme Court judge, and you might say, whoa, at least for the U.S. Supreme Court they have to pass the whole Senate.” Field discussed with El Vaquero how young people can become more aware of and be more involved in politics and she suggested some of the ideas that came up when she had her classes brainstorm on the subject: sign or start petitions, participate in postcard parties, join an organization, find like-minded people and talk, join or start a school club, and getting news from reputable news sources instead of social media. She said that even people that are not citizens can participate in protests and mentioned that the multi-cultural center at GCC was also a great resource. Regarding young women who aspire to politics, Field said that there are various organizations such as Ignite (experienceignite. com), which help women to prepare for a political career. She pointed out that “politics is not a family-oriented thing” and that childcare is an issue with many female politicians, especially those who must travel regularly to Sacramento or Washington D.C. She recalled that while on the LACCD board she was lucky to only have to travel to downtown LA and that when faced with the childcare issue with her daughter, had help from her own mother and family. She mentioned another female politician whose
husband took care of their children and house work, enabling her to devote herself to a political career. El Vaquero asked Field for her take on the idea that women are going to decide the 2020 election. While she said it was still too early to opine, she added that in the 2016 election there had been many passive women who had not voted and that now she sees “a lot of energy coming from groups official and unofficial” to mobilize women for the 2020 election. Field explained that while California was a democratic state, the next election would probably be decided in four key states: Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Florida. She said that Arizona and Nevada will also be important and that people interested in political activism could go to those states and volunteer to help the candidates they support. When El Vaquero asked Field if she would run again for political office she said, “no, I’m done”, but spoke about her hopes as an applicant to become a member of the California Redistricting Committee. She explained the extremely complicated procedure which involves weeding the applicants down to 120, selecting 60 for interviews in Sacramento, having them pass a blackball option given to various officials in Sacramento and, after all that, selecting the final names from a hat. Meanwhile, Field continues writing, speaking and working at the LWV, which claims a “99-year legacy defending democracy.” A statement from the LWV’s website reads, “The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.” A. Heimer can be reached at aheimer570@student.glendale.edu.
STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEFS Alin Pasokhian Afroditi Kontos SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGERS Eduardo Carreño Anahit Sydney MANAGING EDITOR Michael Dumansky ASSOCIATE EDITOR Yesenia Thomson ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Elone Safaryan
NEWS
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Unpaid Student Fees Have Consequences By A. Heimer Staff Writer $10 million in unpaid student fees have accumulated at GCC over a period of ten years, provoking many questions including the impact on funding, collections and faculty salaries. “It never was a secret,” Drew Sugars, GCC’s Director of Communications and Community Relations told El Vaquero regarding the recent buzz about the huge number. He explained that the conversation about the $10 million of uncollected fees has come up again now because of the Chancellor’s Office’s new Student Centered Funding Formula. The new formula means a change to the previous roughly $5,000 per “full-time equivalent student” (which means a full-time unit load) flat fee to a more complex funding formula that will take into consideration how the school is reaching out to minority students, how many graduate, how many are full-time equivalent students, and various other factors. Schools are unclear how this will affect their funding and are being given until 2022, when the new funding formula goes into effect, to “figure it out.” According to Sugars, models were run which indicate that by following the new formula, GCC would receive about $3 million a year less than it does now. In order to be fiscally responsible GCC must plan many years ahead and the huge student debt has become a significant factor. “Now with the uncertainty of a changing funding formula, it’s more important to address this,” Sugars said. GCC has striven to be a welcoming environment, using the “Honor System” regarding student fees and has not pursued deadbeats. California Community Colleges have traditionally been free, or low-cost, to be as accessible as possible and though a new law in California provides
STAFF WRITERS Dahlia Alrayes Genesis Ruiz Jenilee Borek Natalie Casey Anthony Gharib Eian Gil A. Heimer Jay Marshall Akane “Annie” Otsuka Tatiana Pak Gabriel Ponce Gurgen Sahakyan Anahit Sydney STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jenilee Borek PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Tatiana Pak SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS Eduardo Carreño Anahit Sydney
Anahit Sydney Staff Illustrator
ROWDY CROWD?: Some students haven’t paid their bills, causing GCC to accumulate $10 million in unpaid fees.
for free tuition for the first two years for full-time students and many students qualify for financial aid, grants and scholarships, student debt at GCC has grown to $10 million. “It seems that as an institution, we stopped demanding that all fees be paid within 5-7 days of a student’s enrollment at a moment when enrollment itself was declining. The idea was that if we removed the financial pressure to pay for their education, more students would seek one,” wrote Academic Senate President Piper Rooney in Chaparral, which is written for GCC employees. The complex system of statistical number-crunching that will be used to determine the new Student Centered Funding Formula may affect how aggressively GCC will pursue student debt. Several motions passed at the Academic Senate meeting on Oct. 3, including the recommendation that a task force be formed from members of the Senate, Financial Aid, Admissions and Records, the Student Tuition and Fees Committee
and the Office of Fiscal Services to come up with a plan regarding student debt repayment. Other motions involved sending collection notices and a “twoyear pilot of debt recovery from students in order to learn what percentage of students and what demographics of students do not repay their fee,” according to Academic Senate minutes. What the demographics will reveal, and how that information will be used, remains to be seen. Executive Vice President of Administrative Affairs Dr. Culpepper told the Academic Senate that “between $4.2 and $4.4 million are owed by currently enrolled students. About 60% of those fees are owed by International Students,” according to Chaparral. Regarding how the massive student debt might potentially affect faculty raises, Sugars stated frankly, “I don’t know. The reality is that there is only so much money available and we can have that discussion as a collective and decide what are our priorities.” A. Heimer can be reached at aheimer570@student.glendale.edu.
FACULTY ADVISER Rory Cohen rcohen@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000 ext. 5214
Letters to the Editors El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. Send an idea or article to the editor at elvaquero@glendale.edu or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 3211.
Letters may be reproduced in full or in part and represent only the point of view of the writer, not the opinion of El Vaquero or Glendale Community College and its district.
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Friday, November 1, 2019 3 FEATURES
S c h o o l V i o l e n c e a n d t h e M e n ta l H e a lt h C o n u n d r u m What if we addressed school shootings and bullying in a different way? By Jenilee Borek Staff Writer
A young boy opens his school locker to show off his new backpack, a young girl shows off her colorful binders, another boy sits in the library with his high tech headphones, and a different boy runs down the hall in his fresh sneakers. Then, screams can be heard and the chilling sound of “pop, pop, pop” echoes out. As chaos ensues, children continue to show off their new back-toschool items as they flee from a school shooter. Finally, a young girl crouched in a dark bathroom with her feet on the toilet, tears rolling down her cheeks, texts, “I love you mom” on her cell phone and says, “I finally got my own phone to stay in touch with my mom.” The last image is a black screen with the words, “It’s back to school time and you know what that means. School shootings are preventable when you know the signs.” The message is a public service announcement video that Sandy Hook Promise released, a non-profit organization founded and led by family members who lost loved ones in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Dec. 14, 2012 in Newtown, Conn. It’s graphic, disturbing, and meant to stir up your emotions to get a message across. We live in a time in America that school shootings have become an alarming reality, and something needs to be done. Why do these shootings happen and what can we possibly do to stop them is what most of us ask ourselves. The conversation then often turns to the topic of gun control and the problem that we have in this country with firearms. What if we also turned the conversation to the problem with bullying and mental health education? The tragic reality of school shootings is one that we have recently been forced
to relive over and over again. According to CNN.com, within only 21 weeks of school in 2018, the United States had experienced 23 school shootings that resulted in either injury, loss of life, or both. It would be ignorant and irresponsible to blame all of these shootings on the effects that bullying can have, but it is definitely a huge reason as to why these shootings can happen. Author Marcel Lebrun writes, “Youths who have been bullied, isolated, harassed, threatened, and made to feel secondary have been the majority of the shooters,” in his book “Books, Blackboards, and Bullets: School Shootings and Violence in America.” Bullying is a relatively new topic being studied, but the information out there paints a grim picture. The book “Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Digital Age” by Robin M. Kowalski provides us with some statistical insight. Starting with age, most studies have found that more children are bullied during elementary grades than higher grades. It’s also found that, “boys are more likely than girls to bully, and a recent meta-analysis of 153 studies since 1970 concluded that boys were more likely than girls to be ‘bullies’ and ‘bully victims’ […].” Kowalski found that “boys are more likely to be physically bullied by their peers and girls are more likely to be bullied through rumor-spreading or through sexual comments or gestures.” As for socioeconomic factors, it’s typically thought that bullying is more of a problem in urban schools, but there isn’t research supporting this view. “In fact, bullying has been documented in diverse communities across the U.S. (and around the world),” Kowalski writes. If we want to truly attempt to change some of the results that stem from bullying, addressing mental health education is a good place to start. In
Anahit Sydney Staff Illustrator
the book “Promoting Mental, Emotional, and Social Health: A Whole School Approach,” author Katherine Weare points out a big flaw in our education system. “In education, for example, work on mental, emotional and social health issues has mostly been focused on pupils of lower abilities, or those seen as troublesome or troubled, rather than being seen as of relevance to the whole school community, to ‘normal’ pupils or to teachers,” Weare writes. Students already have classes like psychology and sociology once they get into high school and college, but aren’t really taught things about mental health before that. Even though grasping those subjects would be too difficult for younger students, we can teach them about common mental illnesses. Therapist Bree Callaham gave El Vaquero insight into what a class like this might entail when she was interviewed. She sug-
gestedsed teaching them what these illnesses look like and teaching them what the warning signs are for depression and suicidality. Other things she said a class like this could teach is: what you do if you or a friend has a panic attack, what it is like to go to therapy, and inform them whether or not their parents would have to sign off for therapy. Some states, like California, don’t need a parental signature for kids who are 12 and over if they say that they have a reason to not tell their parents they are going to therapy. A handbook given out could arm them with resources to give them information like a suicide hotline, names of low-fee clinics, names of private therapists, and places they could go to take part in support groups. Teaching some basic history of mental health would also be valuable so that students could be more informed about the subject overall. Some education could start at the elementary level. Part of what this would incorporate is teaching emotional intelligence and somatic awareness. Therapist Bree Callaham spoke to El Vaquero about the wheel of emotions saying, “If we could teach that to kids. That it’s possible that you are feeling a combination of all of these things right now, or [ask] can you name what you’re feeling right now?” She described teaching somatic awareness as, “teaching awareness of sensation in the body.” An example of this would be a child being able to communicate that their stomach is clenching up because they are stressed out about their test later. This type of focus would also teach kids how to communicate their emotional world more accurately. Schools could also implement a listening hour where kids can come in and just be listened to. They would know that someone is there for them and that they are truly being heard. This
would be a good opportunity to teach kids how to listen to each other as well, and teach them how to really hear each other. It’s one thing to listen, but it’s another thing to actively listen. It may sound absurd to have the idea to teach this, but most adults can’t even actively listen for very long. It would also allow kids to practice communicating how they feel so that it becomes natural and easy. A good template to start with would be something like: “When someone does (blank), I feel (blank),” or “Right now I feel (blank) because of (blank),” says Callaham. “When you start practicing it [communicating your feelings], you start actually paying attention to what the feelings are that are coming up instead of suppressing them,” she said. Empathy could be a focus of the class as well as it doesn’t come inherently to every child, especially if it’s not modeled in the home. The Sandy Hook tragedy still haunts us today, and now many more school and mass shootings have been added to the evergrowing list. While the public service announcement put out by Sandy Hook Promise forces us to focus on the severity of the problem that we face as a society, the real question is, how are we going to take action to prevent these heinous acts? It may be unrealistic to think that we can stop every shooting, but we can start with an entirely new system of educating our youth. The hope is that we can create generations that are mentally healthier than any generation that came before, and that we won’t have to keep sending our children to school with back-to-school gear that would help them to survive a school shooting.
Jenilee Borek can be reached at jborek028@student.glendale.edu.
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Friday, November 1, 2019
Bernie Sanders Shows Why He’s Still a Favorite By Natalie Casey Staff Writer The topic of President Donald Trump’s impeachment was dominating the line of questioning 20 minutes into the debate. Questions were directed at former Vice President Joe Biden about the Ukraine scandal, and Trump’s baseless accusations of corruption towards the Bidens. As Biden was gathering thoughts, offcamera viewers heard a voice, “Anderson ... Anderson?” The voice belonged to Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, trying to get the attention of the debate moderator Anderson Cooper. Sanders waited for Biden to answer, with an explanation about his son and Ukraine, then stated, “I think that it is absolutely imperative we go forward with impeachment. I hope that he is impeached … what we have got to do is end this corruption, set a precedent for future history that says presidents like this cannot behave this way. But we cannot and must not turn our backs on the pain of the working class of this country.” Sen. Sanders has the American people at the forefront of his mind. His secondbest quality is that he is always ahead of his peers, in terms of policy and integrity. Other powerful political figures have their skeletons; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his blackface scandal, Hillary Clinton not supporting gay marriage until 2013, or the leaked 2005 recordings of Trump saying, “I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.” The list could go
OPINION
on and on for people in powerful positions doing awful things. With Sanders, voters don’t have to worry about scandals or drastic changes in his values. Sanders ran for governor of Vermont in 1972 and his letter to a local newspaper about his platform read like it was written for a modern-day campaign. “Let us abolish all laws which attempt to impose a particular brand of morality or ‘right’ on people. Let’s abolish all laws dealing with abortion, drugs, sexual behavior (adultery, homosexuality, etc.).” Even in 1970, Sanders had the foresight that the war on drugs, restrictions on women’s bodies, and upholding laws against gay behavior, was unconstitutional. The values of his previous campaign came before Roe v. Wade (1973), Lawrence v. Texas (2003), and certainly before the nation’s progressing attitude of rehabilitation over criminalization towards drug use. His 1970s views are more progressive than current candidates for the 2020 election. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), a woman running for the Democratic nomination in 2020, stated at the debate “abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.” The word “rare” has a sting to it, and brings a stigma of shame and judgment to people who seek the procedure for non-life-threatening reasons. Progressive voters are sick of democratic candidates pandering to anti-choice voters by hiding behind the word “rare.” People should have freedom over their bodies with no strings or stigma attached. Sanders and his policies have always been looked at as radical, but I prefer the term “ahead of the curve.” His proposals are no more radical than Beto O’Rouke’s mandatory buy-back of assault weapons. Unlike O’Rourke, Sander’s policies have realistic outcomes that don’t involve police showing up to the doors of American people forcefully taking their weapons. One of the most intense moments of the debate came when Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren argued over the suspension of Trump’s Twitter account.
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Troy Page / Truthout.org
FAN FAVORITE: Bernie Sanders of Vermont poses in this Truthout.org photo.
However, that wasn’t the interesting part. Harris used minutes of her valuable speaking time urging Warren to support her in calling for Twitter to take down Trump’s account. Harris’ urgings produced nothing more than Warren saying, “If we’re going to talk seriously about breaking up big tech, then we should ask if people are taking money from the big tech executives.” This whole topic seems like a desperate attempt from a candidate who is losing momentum and grasping at straws to stay relevant, and the easiest way to do that is shining a light on Trump’s twitter account and attacking a front-runner. As a woman, I am often met with surprised looks when I say I’ve supported Senator Sanders since his 2016 run. I’ve supported him over Hillary Clinton, and I will continue to support him over Elizabeth Warren during the primaries. People think his base is made of ‘Bernie bros,’ young white sexist males, but according to recent polls by The Economist, Sanders polls top three in all demographic categories except people who have an income over $100k.
Sanders is a candidate who understands the American people and what we need. Americans are desperately trying to have their voices heard, we learned this with the 2016 election. The election results showed that 46% of Americans felt that Trump heard them and would help them. A trust-fund kid from New York, whose net worth surpasses $3 billion, was able to convince working-class Americans that he understood them. I have met so many Trump supporters who tell me that if the 2016 election was between Sanders and Trump, their vote would have gone to Sanders. Polling by Emerson College shows that the only candidate who beats Trump in Iowa is Bernie Sanders. A swing state, Iowa is a very important state to win in the presidential election. If what’s most important to Democrats is defeating Trump, our best shot is Bernie Sanders. He is a trustworthy candidate with consistent views, and unbreakable integrity. Natalie Casey may be reached at ncasey379@student.glendale.edu
Boyant Slat: A Legacy Worth Noting Meet the teenager who invented the world’s first ocean cleanup system
Screenshot
SLIGHTING BOYAN SLAT: In his TEDX Talk in 2012, Slat shares his ideas.
By Gurgen Sahakyan Staff Writer Discontinuing his studies in aerospace engineering, Boyan Slat set out to pursue his vision of cleaning up the ocean, developing and founding the world’s first ocean clean up system at the age of 19. Now at 25, Slat has built himself a true legacy by acting on his ideas of cleaning up the oceans around the world. “When I was 16-years-old,” said Slat,
“I was diving in Greece and suddenly I realized I came across more plastic bags than fish in the ocean.” This Dutchman has worked on engineering projects and built his own creations since the age of two. At age 12, he set a Guinness World Record for launching 213 water rockets simultaneously. With time, he went on to create a concept of how he “thought [they] could feasibly clean the ocean garbage patches.” After completing a high school science
project at 16, he finally developed concepts for a passive system that would use the ocean’s currents to help clean up the trash. In 2012, he shared his ideas at the Delft TEDx Talk. “Every year we produce about 320 million tons of plastic,” Slat stated during his TEDx Talk. “A fraction of that enters rivers, waterways, and eventually the oceans.” “The Ocean Cleanup” became a powerful nonprofit organization, which to date, has raised $31.5 million in funds from people around the world. The organization began testing its technology as of 2016. The current technologically advanced system is estimated to clean up about 50% of the waste in the Great Pacific Garbage patch within five years, beginning in 2020. This patch is located between California and Hawaii and is known to be the largest patch of ocean waste in the world. After fleets of systems are placed in all of the world’s largest patches of garbage, “The Ocean Cleanup” projects to have cleaned 90% of the world’s ocean plastic waste by 2040. In November of 2014, the 25-yearold was awarded the “Champions of the Earth” award from the United Nations Environment Programme. Two years later, he appeared on Forbes’ “Thirty Under Thirty” list and has achieved numerous awards from organizations around the
world. Despite having received these awards from environmental organizations, Slat has yet to get the recognition of mass media and the general public for his work that can potentially save ecosystems all around the world. Greta Thunberg, for example, a Swedish environmental activist who has been in the news frequently of late, has become the face of the climate change movement, having reached all the way to the cover of a recent TIME Magazine issue. A quick google search for Thunberg’s name brings up about 95 million results, as opposed to Slat, with just under 400,000. Unfortunately, Earth-heroes like Slat, who actively work to save and benefit the planet, receive far less attention than environmental activists like Greta Thunberg and even New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who presents us with radical ideas and lots of emotion but have yet to perform on their passion for the environment nor seem like they ever will. Could this be due to the fact that Slat does not fit within the leftist political agenda?
Gurgen Sahakyan may be reached at gurgensahakyan07@gmail.com
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SPORTS
Football Team Wins First Game of the Season
Friday, November 1, 2019
Analysis: GCC’s Sports in Review Columnist Elone Safaryan has a run down of college games and performance from Oct. 14 to Oct. 25 By Elone Safaryan Associate Sports Editor Men’s Football
Jenilee Borek Staff Photographer
IN IT TO WIN: Linebacker Michael Stanford makes an aggresive tackle on Saturday, Oct. 19, in Glendale.
By Jenilee Borek Staff Writer The Vaqueros Football team fought to get their first win of the season on Saturday Oct. 19 against Compton College, impressing on home field with a final score of 41-27. It was exactly the way that they wanted to enter their bye week before they play their last three games in November. Running back Elijah Washington led the Vaq’s potent rushing attack with 120 yards on the ground, averaging 6 yards per carry. Tru Fugate continued to wear Compton’s defense down, rushing for 87 yards and averaging 6.2 yards per carry. In the first half the offense had a hard time getting going after quarterback Nathan Eldridge threw an early pick six, but the Vaq’s defense kept them in it. The score at halftime was 14-10 Compton.
Everything seemed to come together in the third quarter after cornerback Torres Ingraham intercepted a pass from quarterback Jesse Brew III, giving the offense a short field to work with. The offense was able to go down and score, making it 24-21 Vaqs. From then on, the Vaq’s ground game exhausted Compton’s defense, and they continued to score in the fourth quarter. The one weakness that GCC showed was in the passing game, only netting 122 yards through the air and no touchdowns between both quarterback Nathan Eldridge and Jorge Amaya. It was overshadowed by all the production that they were getting on the ground, especially with running back Tru Fugate scoring three touchdowns, Jorge Amaya scoring one, and James Smith scoring one. The defense was led by linebacker Michael Stanford who had eight solo tackles and assisted
with another four. Torres Ingraham’s interception was his first of the season, and you could see the tough mindset that the defense was playing with throughout the game. Head coach John Rome said that the win was “very gratifying” adding: “They’ve never quit. They don’t quit on us. They come and work as hard as they possibly can everyday, and so that’s always encouraging to see that some of the fruits of their labor starts to pay off.” Jenilee Borek can be reached at jborek028@student.glendale.edu.
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Jenilee Borek Staff Photographer
VICTORY: Cornerback Torres Ingraham celebrates after a key defensive play on Saturday, Oct. 19, in Glendale.
Athlete Spotlight: Phoebe Forsyth By Alex Leon Sport Information Director The cross country race is long with winding roads. The track barrier is imposing with a hazardous water jump. Welcome to the world of GCC multi-sport athlete Phoebe Forsyth. In her lovely English accent, Phoebe patiently explains what it is like to be a cross country runner in the fall, a returning All-American track athlete in the spring and a young woman humbled and grateful to be the captain of the No. 1 ranked cross country team in the state.
“I think about how fast three years has gone by since I first took up running in high school and I can’t believe how time has passed and where I am now,’’ she said after practice recently. “GCC has a tremendous tradition and reputation for its running program and I want to do everything I can to maintain that and I think we have a great chance to achieve great things this season.’’ The 2019 GCC Women’s Cross Country Season has been a great season indeed. Heading into Saturday’s meet Oct. 19 at the Highlander Invitational U.C. Riverside, the Lady Vaqs are
ranked No. 1 in the state and Southern California and are undefeated in races against other community colleges and finish strong at invitationals against four-year schools. On Oct. 25 in San Luis Obispo, the women will be going after its 15th straight WSC Title before racing in the So. Cal and state championships Nov. 8 in San Diego and Nov. 23 in Fresno. For her part as captain, Phoebe said she loves the team dynamic this year and especially because her sister, Lydia, is part of the team as a freshman. She has a 3.4 GPA and intends on becoming a teacher because she said her instructors and coaches have had such a big impact on her
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losses. With three games remaining and their overall record sitting at 7-11, the team could still turn things around. Winning these next couple games will serve as a challenge as their upcoming opponents all stand higher than Glendale in their conference. Furthermore, if the next three games are victorious for the Lady Vaqs, it would put them at an overall record of 10-11. Only one question remains, can the volleyball team go far with that kind of record? Only time will tell.
After weeks of way below average play, the football team finally did it. They got their first win. In a real barn burner of a game, as Glendale managed to defeat the much less impressive Compton with a score of 41-27. Glendale has already dug themselves a massive hole that they won’t be able to get themselves Women’s Soccer out of. Their next game is on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. where they will be facWhen we last checked in with ing L.A. Valley. So, if you’re in the women’s soccer team, things the area, stop on by and support haven’t looked good to say the the team. least. Inconsistency, lackluster defense, and an anemic offense Men’s Soccer were just a few reasons for their subpar performance. Fast forOnly playing three games ward to now and what’s changed? might not seem like much, but in To put it short and simple, noththose three, the men’s team was ing. Things have gotten… well able to score five goals while al- worst to put it nicely. In their lowing four. They played Ante- past five games they managed to lope Valley which resulted in a lose three, tie one and win one of 1-1 tie which was followed by a those games, putting their current win against Canyons with a score record at 5-10-1. The Lady Vaqs of 2-1. Their third game being were able to put up five goals in against Bakersfield ended in a those five games while somehow 2-2 tie improving their record to allowing 10 goals in those same 9-5-3. They have five games re- five. But I digress, the women’s maining and they’re all within the soccer team is struggling masconference. Having scored five sively. They’ve lost a lot of key goals while allowing four, things players from the past and have are looking very good for the been struggling with injuries men’s team. More praise should throughout the season. However, be given to the men’s soccer team there is a silver lining. They have as they sit on top at first place in six games remaining so there’s their division and second in the still time to improve. Some might conference. say I’m being delusional for thinking they can go far or even Men’s Cross Country turn things around, but I’m optimistic. I believe they can turn Congratulations to the men’s things around. cross-country team on winning their fourth consecutive conferWomen’s Cross Country ence title this past Friday on Oct. 25. The men accumulated 43 Much like the men, the wompoints in total and were led Albert en’s cross-country team came out Serrano, Kevin Keller, and Mar- victorious as they too won the vin Guardado who each finished Western State Conference Title. sixth, seventh, and ninth place The Lady Vaqs scored a total 28 respectively. Five of the men fin- points and captured their 15th ished in the top 14 while seven consecutive conference title. The finished in the top 20. Glendale’s cross-country team was led by next matchup will be a big one as Yajaira Calderon, Phoebe Forthey head to San Diego on Nov syth, and Jamie Levin who all fin8th for the Southern California ished in second, third, and fourth Championships. Good luck boys respectively. The top five runners and congrats. for GCC would finish in the top ten with six finishing in the top Women’s Volleyball 14. They too will be going to San Diego for the Southern California The Lady Vaqs continue to Championships on Nov. 8. struggle as their record and performance has yet to improve. In their past four games, the volElone Safaryan can be reached at leyball team was able to accuesafary181@student.glendale.edu. mulate two wins as well as two life. Speaking of impact, Phoebe laughed when talking about her surprising assent as one of the top steeplechasers in the state last years, a grueling 7 1/2 lap event with multiple barrier jumps including the dreaded water hazard that caused her extreme peril at the 2018 state meet. “I dislike running long, long distances in track so the steeplechase was rather perfect for me with the barrier jumps and everything,’’ said Phoebe who was the WSC and Southern California Champ in the event last year. “So at the state meet, I mistimed the water jump and fell flat on my face in the water early in the race and all I can remember is
getting up with Coach Lopez’s yelling get up, get up and I managed to gather myself to finish second despite all that happened.’’ With three of the biggest meet of the season left and the opportunity for the Lady Vaqs to finish as one of the best teams in school history, head coach Lopez shared a comment that is short and sweet about his top female runner. “Phoebe is an outstanding student/athlete, she is the leader of our cross country team, they have been ranked number one in the state all season long.’’
Alex Leon can be reached at aleon@glendale.edu.
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Friday, November 1, 2019 www.elvaq.com OPINION/ENTERTAINMENT
LeBron James is Wrong About China After Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of democracy and Hong Kong protests, one NBA star courts embarrassment with his own response By Anthony Gharib Staff Writer Colin Kaepernick. Muhammed Ali. LeBron James? For decades, athletes have stood up to political injustices and spoken up about problems that affect them directly. From the Vietnam War to police brutality, there has been no shortage of opportunities for household names like Kaepernick and Muhammed Ali. Yet, in the case of LeBron James, he might be trying too hard on this one. In recent weeks, the National Basketball Association has been embroiled in a fiasco after Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of democracy in China. This resulted in pandemonium and a flurry of events being axed at the last second. The rich relationship between China and the NBA covers about 18 years. In 2002, the Houston Rockets drafted Chinese phenom, Yao Ming, with their first pick, resulting in the Rockets instantly becoming the communist country’s favorite sports team. Since then, the relationship between the NBA and China has created an immense cash flow, with many stars touring the country for their sneaker deals. In 2004, the first China games were held, and 15 years later they are now up in the air. The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets were scheduled to play two games in China on Oct. 10 and 12, however posters advertising the game were being quickly torn off within hours before tip-off. It resulted in a frenzy between both teams wondering if the game would even be played. The backlash was quick and harsh. Multiple NBA Cares events were can-
Fall semester’s Dance Club showcase puts incredible talent on display By Gabriel Ponce Staff Writer I have come to a conclusion that Glendale Community College has many hidden gems across campus. This month, the GCC Dance Club held its student talent showcase, PhanatiX, that happens every semester. With a setup of a stage in Sierra Nevada, the students were set to start their performances. Although all of the performances were unique and filled with incredible skill that night, a few of them stood out to me. “Elegy,” performed by Evelina Mnatsakanyan, was one that caught my eye in particular. Her performance was a traditional Armenian dance. As she walked on stage, her stunning bluedress with fluorescent pink flowers immediately drew attention and the crowd reacted with cheering. It is always amazing seeing dance performances from other cultures. I really do believe that the diversity of different ethnicities here at GCC is what makes it beautiful. Danielle Burdick was the dancer filmed in “Reach,” produced by Tina Sinlapasai
CALLS FOR LIBERATION: Protesters march to the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong this Sept. 8 photo.
celed abruptly, as well as players being rushed off the court 30 minutes into their shootaround. Workers then proceeded to tear down sponsors’ advertisements on the hardwood floor because they had all pulled out of support for the games. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, an unknown Lakers player signed a $1 million endorsement deal with a Chinese company prior to the trip. The deal was called off when he arrived in Shanghai. The aftermath was ugly and unfortunate. NBA commissioner Adam Silver immediately defended Daryl Morey’s tweet, stating that it was “freedom of expression.” Interestingly, Silver was also directed by members of the Chinese government to fire Morey, but he quickly mentioned that he would do no such thing. Many Chinese fans hid their faces when NBA officials pointed cameras at them supporting the games between the Nets and Lakers. Fans were even handed Chinese flags upon entering the stadium, and some fans took off their jerseys once the game concluded in fear of cameras exposing themselves to the
and Sami Flores. The video consisted of three different scenes cut throughout the video. The song playing was produced by Tristan Eckerson. A piano starts playing and she begins dancing in a studio that looks like it is situated in a high-rise building. Her first outfit is a yellow tunic-like shirt. The video then shifts into a dark room with rain coming down on her. As it jumps back to the studio she walks past a pillar and then appears in the desert. She dances wearing a lovely white lace coverall. This piece was perfectly choreographed and edited. Kudos to all who worked on it. Team B.U.K., who originated here in Glendale, blew the house down with their “K-Pop Medley.” Created by fellow GCC student Ani Vartanian, the team started off with seven members on stage and, as the music advanced, the team grew to 10 members on stage. One of the coolest parts of the performance was when the whole squad was on stage. They paused, as if their set was over, but then member Aaron Ocasla walked in and carried out a gesture that read, “Hey y’all forgot about me.” Immediately the music started playing again and the show went on. They ended their set with their signature pose of throwing up a hand signal that means “I love you.”
government. Media members were unable to speak to players during the entire trip, leaving LeBron to bottle in some of his thoughts. It was not a good idea. Two weeks ago we finally heard from the NBAs top political correspondent, LeBron James, and his thoughts on the situation. James adamantly mentioned Morey was “[not] educated on the situation at hand, and he spoke.” In what aspect was Morey uneducated on the topic of China? A country where citizens are fighting against the oppression of their hierarchy. Or was James saying Morey was uneducated on the amount of money the NBA could lose because of a broken relationship? Clearly, LeBron lacked knowledge in this situation as his mindset mostly revolves around the dollar sign. China is by far the greatest business partner that the NBA has and with LeBron’s heavy history of Nike trips to the country, he is evidently worried about the financial hardships which would come as a result of a bad re-
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lationship. Silver’s stance also proves evidence of the NBA being too invested in the business side of the game, instead of standing up for what is correct. The comments made by James are also hypocritical. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day last year, he tweeted, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Does this stand true for a country where James unloads thousands of his jerseys and shoes for sale? Nope. In recent history, James has been a political figure in the league. He called President Trump a “bum” on Twitter, organized his fellow Miami Heat teammates wearing hoodies in support of Trayvon Martin, and his support of Colin Kaepernick’s protests. However, on the topic of China, LeBron should have taken the road of what he usually does during clutch moments at the end of the game: let someone else handle the situation. Anthony Gharib can be reached at agharib949@student.glendale.edu.
Gabriel Ponce Staff Photographer
SHOWSTOPPERS: Dancers Tatiana Beverly and Vladimir Petrosyan perform at this semester’s PhanatiX showcase.
As the evening went on, two acts that had me mesmerized were “Pulse” and “Attitude.” These acts were performed by the Glendale College Dance Company. In “Pulse,” the women danced in pointe shoes. They danced to a retro Egyptian Lover beat, a techno DJ from the 1980s, who was based out of Los Angeles. Dancers Tatiana Beverly and Vladimir Petrosyan performed an amazing solo in this. In “Attitude,” the men did handstands on chairs that they each had in their vicinity. It was a really stunning scene when each of the three members were exactly on the dot and landed with the same pose on the handstands. The women came up after and had their solos on the chairs. The part that
made it iconic was when they sat upsidedown in the same chairs and pointed one leg up. It was cherry on the top of an excellent performance. Let’s not forget that none of this was possible without Victor Robles, who is the department chair for the Dance Program and choreographer for most of these performances. “March 14 is our next show,” he said. “Auditions happen on March 6, just check our website.” I’m honestly already looking forward to the spring performance to see the next set of gems.
Gabe Ponce can be reached at poncegabriel23@yahoo.com.
www.elvaq.com ENTERTAINMENT
Iranian Artist’s Exhibition Provokes Thought Shirin Neshat gives a relevant look into Islamic culture and our own By Eian Gil Staff Writer Oct. 19 marked the debut of Iranian artist Shirin Neshat’s “I Will Greet the Sun Again.” The exhibit independently originated by The Broad Museum in Los Angeles is currently the largest collection of Neshat’s work to date, encompassing almost 30 years of her work in photography and film. Throughout her career, Neshat has sought to accurately portray the shared humanity between the cultures she’s experienced throughout her life, specifically between Islam and the West. After living in the United States for some years, the artist decided to return to Iran for a while following the Islamic Revolution. What she saw in her return pushed her to create works of art that The Broad’s Museum Curator describes as “an opportunity to consider new viewpoints and ideas as we examine our social, cultural, and political conditions.” Neshat is extremely open with her feminist ideals when describing cultural contrasts in her countless photographs featured in the exhibit, focusing on the exile faced by those who stray from social norms. As you enter the exhibit, powerful images of Islamic women posing with various firearms greet you, Farsi writings covering their faces, eyes, and feet. This was a purposeful decision by Neshat, who choose the most visible features of women in Islamic society as a platform to spread her ideas. Several rooms and hallways in the museum are dedicated to Neshat’s photographs, so rich in detail and political insight that spending hours touring them is more than realistic. What makes “I Will Greet the Sun Again” such a well-rounded experience is the inclusion of Neshat’s works of film, continuously looping in small cinema rooms chronologically placed through the exhibit.
Eian Gil Staff Photographer
NEW PERSPECTIVES: Neshat herself is pictured in the biography section of the exhibit.
The subjects of her films vary, but almost all deal with topics that seem to be labeled as “uncomfortable” in our current political climate. Her unconventional films show violations of social norms through a women’s frenzied madness through city streets, and examine our dreams as a window into our political beliefs and fears through interviews with war veterans. The content Neshat provides in her films are rich in detail and controversy, and fill hallways with conversation we were probably too afraid to bring up before.
Put On Some Glossier An inside of a beauty brand breaking the rules on standards By Tatiana Pak Staff Writer On a Sunday afternoon visit to the Glossier store in Melrose, Los Angeles, the line formed outside made it clear that the brand has a lot to offer. There was order and security even before coming into the store, and all staff workers were constantly offering their help as customers waited. Some clients already had their lists on hand, and the staff brought out the products and completed the purchase without even stepping inside. So for those in the Los Angeles or New York City area that have been eyeing their products online but don’t want to wait for delivery, this is a very efficient and quick way to get them right away.
The store wasn’t as small as it looked on the outside, and everyone was testing out the products and taking pictures with their aesthetically clean, light pink, beautiful decor. The counters were well-organized, and checkout was just as simple as it was for the customers outside. To many makeup lovers, the brand Glossier is no new news. A brand that initially calls attention to the extreme close-up on models, not concealing their facial spots, offers a very interesting take on what makeup usually means to consumers. No perfect-looking skin, no matte colored lips, nor even a smokey eye look on any of their pictures. So how do they carry as a beauty brand if they don’t quite fit into the norms of a flawless makeup look? Glossier came after a beauty blog called Into The Gloss, where
The title of the exhibit was chosen from a poem that was said to have inspired Neshat, who wanted her work to be centered around, “the hope of return to a home that you’ve lost,’’ a home “outside of political circumstances.” The exhibit will be running from October 19, 2019 until February 20, 2020 at The Broad Museum in Los Angeles. Eian Gil can be reached at eianmgil@gmail.com
the brand’s founder and CEO Emily Weiss stated she interviewed hundreds of women and learned about the downsides of the traditional beauty paradigm. She noticed that customers were being told by the industry what to wear and how to look, when in reality it wasn’t up to them to make those calls. Celebrating five years of Glossier, Weiss posted a letter to their website where she mentions the struggle of starting up a company, along with fighting the standards of a regular beauty brand. The letter doesn’t focus on selling their products, instead it calls out the damage from labeling those who wear makeup. “Beauty has taken on an increasingly narrow definition: beauty equals physicality. Vanity. Superficial worship [...] But, what about beauty as a quality of experience? What about the beauty in your journey, in your day, in your friendships, in your risks, in your growth, in your failures?” Weiss wrote. Making products that will poten-
Friday, November 1, 2019
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Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Joker’ Shines By Eduardo Carreño Staff Writer We’ve seen film after film about the protector of Gotham City. From his upbringing to his legendary fight with the man who fears Kryptonite, Batman has been idolized for the last 80 years. It all started with Lewis G. Wilson. His nemesis, however, has slowly gained a fanbase that has marvelled at his cruelty and the reasons for it. First Jack Nicholson and then Heath Ledger. Now Joaquin Phoenix has reinterpreted a character that simply fascinates. The Joker’s first-ever appearance was in the dawn of the golden age of comics in the 1940s. Batman was propelled into the limelight and we got a brief introduction to what became the biggest hero to anti-hero rivalry in history. The concept of the Joker was brought about by Jerry Robinson who really wanted there to be a challenge for the protagonist. Throughout the evolution of comics, the Joker has had various appearances and fights with the winged protector of the night. But it wasn’t until 1988 where we got a deep, inside truth of how “The Clown Prince of Crime” came to be in Alan Moore’s “The Killing Joke.” Joaquin Phoenix has set high standards for future actors and films to be based on the “Jester of Genocide.” The film has set new box office records for the October premiere of the film, with a $96 million dollar debut on its opening weekend. The storyline tells the story of a mentally ill Arthur Fleck who makes a living as a party clown at a children’s hospital and children’s parties, and lives with his sick elderly mother. We learn more about his condition as he follows his passion for stand-up comedy, thanks to his inspiration Murray Franklin, played by Robert De Niro. One fatal moment put him in
tially help with people’s confidence is tricky, as the line on when too little or too much makeup shifts often. This is why according to the Senior Editor at the store, Glossier connects with their audience and hears their concerns and expectations from the brand. In-person they also make sure to know all customers’ needs and allergies so they can find the right product for them, and offer the same help online through customer service. Although not all products are vegan (some contain beeswax for example), they are all cruelty free, and the ingredients’ description are clear on the website as well as on the packaging. The price range is between $9 to $60, and free shipping for over $30 purchase. Three of their best-sellers include the “Boy Brow,” an eyebrow pomade fluffer that fills and sets the brows in place, the “Balm Dot Com,” a hydrating lip balm and skin salve that nourishes dry skin, and the “Milky Jelly Cleanser,” a daily
the spotlight he’s been wanting but had no intention of pursuing. Arthur later comes to find out a very compelling rumor about his life which altered the relationship he had with his mother, and he begins resenting his reason for being. “The Joker” is incredibly produced and recommended for anyone who is a fan of the franchise or interested in learning more. Joaquin Phoenix’s acting is terrific, and there have already been whispers of an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the mad man. If you think Heath Ledger was amazing, Phoenix may blow your expectations out of the water. Without giving too much away, Arthur goes out of his way to figure out why the letters his mom has been sending out to Thomas Wayne have such a significant value to her. He figures the only way to find out is to go out to his home estate on the outskirts of town and ask him for himself. As soon as he arrives, he sees the house: a gorgeous, almost whitehouse look to it with vibrant lights all around, as if it were a billboard promoting the latest and greatest movie of all time. Deep, rich, green plants and grass all around the front lawn and a straight stone path running down the middle of the yard lining up with a gorgeous water fountain right at the front doorstep. Arthur makes his way around the front of the gate and there was a young boy, staring at him with a blank expression and his level of clown expertise, kicks in as he performs simple magic for the boy. When he finishes his act, he tells the boy to walk towards the gate and he asks him for his name. The boy replies, “Bruce.”
Eduardo Carreño can be reached at esafary181@student.glendale.edu.
face wash to use on dry skin to melt makeup away, or on wet skin as regular face wash. From the shower to finishing with a perfume spray before heading out the door, Glossier seems to have the step-by-step to getting ready - even in a rush - figured out. They want to bring a healthy glow to the skin first, and then makeup on top is just for fun. “Democratize beauty” is what they live by, and embracing individuality by breaking the norms resulted in building a reputation for Glossier. It’s all about hearing people rather than just following trends. As Weiss also pointed out, they work hard so they can become the choice customers always make. For more information, access the blog Into The Gloss on intothegloss. com, Glossier online store on glossier.com, and follow through social media by searching for @glossier. Tatiana Pak can be reached tatiipak@gmail.com.
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ENTERTAINMENT www.elvaq.com ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, November 1, 2019
WEED DEEP: AN IMMERSIVE HISTORY OF CANNABIS By Alin Pasokhian Editor-in-Chief
The Weedmaps Museum of Weed brings the compelling history of cannabis to life through its interactive exhibits. Covering everything from the plant, potheads, and the activists, each exhibit highlights a historic era in the plant’s long history. The museum includes seven immersive exhibits, all in chronological order, ranging from “Pre-Prohibition” to “Legalization.” The main reason behind having such a museum is to increase awareness of its medicinal properties, as well as destigmatizing the plant, pointed out Madeline Donegan, the museum’s executive director, in an Aug. 2 article for Variety magazine. A Seed of Hope: The History of the Plant Upon entering the museum, you are transported in time. Going back to early America, museum goers see the use of hemp, the fiber of the cannabis plant, as it was used for daily needs. As mentioned in their audio tour (available on http://bit.ly/MuseumofWeed for everyone), it has been rumored that the first American flag, sewn by Betsy Ross, was made from hemp. At the end of the museum, patrons can also study the plant itself. With different strains and a detailed description of each part of the cannabis plant, all horticultural questions are answered in this immersive conclusion of the museum. Stoned Age: A Breakdown of the Pothead What many people may not know before going into the museum, is that alongside alcohol, there was a prohibition on cannabis. During its peak time in history, many industries that are included but not limited to the steel, cotton, and tobacco industries, decided to shift the opinion of the public against cannabis. Movies played a major role in the spread
Alin Pasokhian Staff Photographer
ENTER THE VOID: The neon lights at the entrance of the museum help set the tone of the museum’s psychadelic exhibits.
of misinformation. The film “Reefer Madness” (1936) is known as one of the most prominent pieces of anti-cannabis propaganda at this time. The film, which paints an inaccurate picture of the “stoner,” shows the protagonist of the movie descending into a psychotic episode after being pressured into smoking weed. Journalists were also responsible for the spreading of misinformation about cannabis through exaggerated stories, also known as “yellow journalism.” The word “marijuana” was even coined as a way to make cannabis sound foreign, and add to the anti-immigrant mindset that Americans were experiencing. Flower Power: An Age of Revolution In the late 1940s, the Beat Generation emerged, started by a group of authors. With them came the generation of liberation. With the rejection of many popular social norms like materialism, sexual modesty, and abstinence from drugs and alcohol, the Beat Generation was labeled as a group of “pushers” by the older generation, while the younger revered them. After the Beat Generation came the postwar activism in the late 1950s, focusing on
feminism, environmental issues, and the unnecessary destruction caused by the Vietnam War. Over a decade after the protests, the Nixon administration introduced a set of policies, that are part of an era now known as the “War on Drugs,” which set forth harsh consequences such as decades-long sentences for the possession, consumption, and purchase of cannabis, as well as other drugs that were obtained illegally. It would be decades before the US would provide pardons for such strict sentences. Cannabis Today Though legal in certain states, the plant today is still considered a Schedule I drug on the federal level. Because of this, the sale of marijuana is restricted to cash only purchases, creating a new set of problems such as security for dispensaries. States like California, Alaska, Washington, and Illinois have legalized recreational use of weed, but laws vary on the transportation, consumption, and purchase of marijuana products. Candidates of the 2020 presidential election have been outspoken about the policies they would bring forth to combat this Catch 22. Though some candidates have spoken about moving the plant’s classification down to a Schedule II drug, others have spoken about all around decriminalization of the plant, as well as legalization on a federal level. The importance of having places like the Museum of Weed is to start and keep gaining the momentum of destigmatizing the use of the plant. As of now, even with some states legalizing recreational weed, usage and activism for the plant is still considered taboo. The museum provides a fun and hands-on method of education, which is necessary in order to move forward with what’s next for the plant and its future.
Alin Pasokhian Staff Photographer
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: The fourth exhibit in the museum shows the birth of policies that created the war on drugs, as well as propaganda that drove the mass hysteria as displayed by the televisions.
Alin Pasokhian can be reached at apasokh506@student.glendale.edu.