Wednesday September 25, 2019
Serving the Rio Hondo Community
Volume 59 Issue 1
The new norm. ILLUSTRATION BY ESTEVAN MACIAS / EPM SAMUEL GARCIA News Editor
samuel.garcia8465@my.riohondo.edu
Thursday September 19, Rosemead High School and San Gabriel High School were put on lockdown after law enforcement received calls about potential gunman on campus. A man claimed to be heading to Rosemead High School
armed with an AR-15 rifle. This was after a man called authorities and claimed to have shot his mother. When police responded to the call about the man shooting his mother, they found no shooter, just a confused resident who had no knowledge of the call. As for the Rosemead High call, police swarmed the school and searched the campus for
the alleged shooter. Yesenia Zepeda, a resident of Rosemead, was headed to Encinita Elementary School to pick up her nieces when her sister called her about the situation. “She called me because she got a call from the school saying [Rosemead High] was on lockdown and no one was allowed in or out,” she said. The elementary school is located adjacent to
the high school, so the commotion was visible for all to see. “From the park, I could see police officers with tactical weapons walking around the campus, but the only thing I could hear was the helicopter above. No gunshots, no screaming,” Zepeda added. Some time later, another call was made, claiming that
there was a student armed with a rifle in a San Gabriel High School bathroom. By 3 p.m., all three of the situations were deemed as “swatting”, or in other words prank calls. According to a Senate bill by Congressman Ted Lieu, swatters can be fined as much as $10,000.
NEWS
2
Rio Hondo College Welcomes New Superintendent Dr. Arturo Reyes
Bob Archuleta and New Rio Hondo Superintendent Dr. Arturo Reyes presenting the 10th Rio Hondo President Certificate.
All PHOTOS BY BRAYAN ALTAMARINO/ EPM
Dr. Arturo Reyes with his father and family at the ceremony.
Members of South El Monte commemerating Dr.Arturo Reyes
Rio Hondo Student President welcoming new Superintendent
OPINION
3
3
You Should Become A Rams Fan, Here’s Why: SAMUEL GARCIA News Editor
samuel.garcia8465@my.riohondo.edu
Football season is upon us. The NFL kicked off the third week of the season September 19 with a Thursday Night Football matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans. Now, you may be asking yourself what this has to do with anything, so I will tell you in the next paragraph. The football season is young, so there’s plenty of time for folks to hop on different bandwagons. There are 16 weeks in the regular season, so bandwagons usually take shape around weeks 10 or 11 as the playoffs approach. These are the true bandwagon fans; the fans who are jeered and snickered at. These types of fans usually fall into two brackets: fans whose teams aren’t doing so hot and jump ship, and the average Joe’s who don’t follow football but want to revel in a team’s success. For the latter, I hope to sway you to commit to this team I’m proposing, and for the former, cast aside your previous allegiances and be born-again fans. Here is why you should become fans of the Los Angeles Rams, and what you should know to ease your transition with established fans. Their success has only
SAMUEL GARCIA/EPM The Rams havem had great succsess in the small time they have been in Los Angeles with even a Super Bowl appreance.
come in recent years. The Sean McVay Era in Los Angeles has resulted in two playoff berths and a Super Bowl appearance in the last two years. But things weren’t always sunny in Tinsel Town. Between 2004 and 2016, we’ll call this period B.S.M (before Sean McVay), the Rams had never won more than eight games in a season. In fact, they had five seasons where they only won four or less games, including their 4-12 2016 season - their first season back in LA in over 20 years. Now, becoming a fan now may be a bad look - especially for the fans
who endured those years of hardship - but if you educate yourself on the team’s history, you should be okay. Not to mention, we’re not too far removed from those tough seasons, so jump on the bandwagon while it is still fresh! Eric Dickerson is the Greatest Runningback in NFL History. As long as you say this to a Rams fan, or agree with a Rams fan who tells you this, you should be alright. Dickerson played with the Rams from 1983 to 1987 before being traded to the Colts during the ‘87 season. But man was
he good - great, sorry. He rushed for over 6,000 yards during that time, and was famous for his upright running style. Seriously, go on YouTube and search up Eric Dickerson highlights. The man was incredible. The fan base is not obnoxious. I admit, this point is a little biased on my end, but this is an opinion piece! Of course it’s biased! Anyway, as a season ticket holder, I’ve gotten a pretty good look at the fan base and how they behave at the Los Angeles Coliseum. There’s usually one or two fights a game, but
for the most part, everyone behaves themselves. Alcohol and sports don’t mix very well, and that’s typically the driving force behind those fights. The Greatest Show on Turf. Any Rams fan worth his/ her salt will know about the Greatest Show on Turf. From 1999 - 2001, the GST, led by Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, and Isaac Bruce, tore up opposing NFL defenses. They led the league in total offense twice during that span, and averaged 12 wins per season. I never even mentioned Aaron Donald, the two time reigning Defensive Player of the Year, who is unarguably the best player in the league, or even the infamous “Let’s Ram It!” video from the 80’s - look it up, you will not be disappointed. There is a lot more that I could have told you about what makes the Rams fan base so great or what a great franchise this team has been, but alas, our word count is almost at an end. Sports have brought people together for generations. There are fans who have grown up in a fan base without a choice because of family members devotion to a team. Football is a fun and easy sport to easily connect with people on. Especially if you bandwagon on to a team with such a die - hard fanbase. Hopefully this was enough to convert you to Ram-ism.
#ClimateStrike KIANA ARVIZU Opinion Editior
kiana.arvizu6791@my.riohondo.edu
Friday September 20, 2019, hundreds and thousands of people everywhere began to gather in over 150 major cities around the world to protest climate change. Protests were held all weekend leading up to the United Nations Climate Summit that was held on Monday, September 23rd. In recent months, awareness for climate change has become more prevalent. The media continues to report that we have about two years to reverse the damage we have caused. Our world as we know it, is in serious trouble and everyone, including celebrities and activists are getting vocal about this global issue. It was remarkable to see climate strike protests held by youth world-wide, in major cities in every continent. It was remarkable to see so many people practicing their right to protests. However, not everyone feels that way, so let’s talk about it. I have seen and heard so many different negative opin-
KIANA ARVIZU, VINCENT FRANCO/EPM Stopping climate change starts with the people who inhabit this planet wanting to make a change ions, that I can not help but address. So many people have the mentality that nothing can truly be done to save the planet at this point. There are also older folks who have the mentality that climate change and strikes have always been a thing, and yet here we are. To a certain extent, they are right; if you want to have that negative mentality. However, ignorance and lack of action is compliance to the real issue. If you do not
want to take part in making the world a more sustainable place for all of us to enjoy, maybe just show verbal support for those who are taking the time out of their day to take a stand. I have seen older generations take to twitter and say how children should be in school rather than wasting their time protesting, or calling them privileged lefties, brainwashed, and more. I think what older generations fail to see is how con-
nected social media has made us. Everyday we are reminded about how climate change is negatively impacting ecosystems everywhere and how our time to act is very limited. I believe peaceful protesting at this magnitude, is inspiring and the right way to raise awareness for climate change. Youth getting involved in major cities everywhere brings media attention to something positive, as well as forces governments everywhere to see that their
people are demanding serious change. Global effort is needed for change, that is why 16-year old Sweedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg, damned the UN saying,“I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school... People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction. And all you (world leaders) can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!” Thunberg exemplifies the fear most young people, including myself feel, for the future of our planet. I think what older generations need to do is support our youth, after all, they depend on us for the future, they should support our efforts in trying to ensure a sustainable Earth. Rather than having an “it’s too late mentality”, help our efforts so that your future children’s children have a sustainable Earth to live in. There are so many ways we can all help, rather than tear each other down, we can all make small changes and support each other in demanding change.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
4
A Ticket to Scare: Behind the Scenes of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights with Creative Director John Murdy
JESUS MANRIQUEZ / EPM Creative Director John Murdy makes a pit stop behind the desk of Janine Melnitz, a fictional character from the movie “Ghostbusters.” The maze will be one of ten featured during Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights. MEGAN DE LARA A&E Editor
megan.delara9233@my.riohondo.edu
It’s September and the HorrorDay season is upon us! That means the return of Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights is near. The event happens annually and features hair-raising mazes that are a must for lovers of all things spooky. Creative Director John Murdy took El Paisano behind the scenes of two mazes featured this year, Ghostbusters and Us. “I kind of started doing this when I was 10 years old,” Murdy explains. “I started building haunted houses in my parents’ garage. Then I kept doing them and they kept getting more and more elaborate.” Fast forward to the present where Murdy stands in front of the Ghostbusters maze. In the daylight, it looks like the bustling set of a movie. There are workers talking, the sound of tools falling, black plastic and wood here and there. Also, it is hot – extremely hot; no darkness from the night to cool the senses. Parked outside of the maze is a taxi cab, which will provide a photo opportunity with the “taxi cab ghost” for attendees while they wait in line.
Inspiration stems mainly from the original 1984 film, but expect “easter eggs” from Ghostbusters 2 and Ghostbusters 2016 to make their appearance. One highlight worth mentioning is the Containment Chamber’s Spirit Realm, which maze-goers will get to walk through. “In the original screenplay, there was the idea that they can look inside the Containment Chamber and they could see what was going on,” Murdy explains while standing next to a replica of the film’s Containment Unit. “We liked that idea, so I took it to the director of Ghostbusters and I said, ‘If I was a fan, I would want to go inside the Containment Chamber, I wouldn’t just want to see it,’ So that’s what we’re doing.” The movie, unlike the others the attractions are based on, is “a comedy with horror elements,” as Murdy described. This made deciding what scenes to feature in the maze difficult. To evoke terror, Murdy and his team had to find the balance between iconic, memorable and funny scenes with those that scare at the same time. After re-watching and thoroughly dissecting the films, the mission was accomplished. “When you break Ghostbusters down, there are so many characters, especially
when you bring them in from all three films in the franchise… We thought it had the opportunity to be both true to Ghostbusters and a fun, scary experience.” Many of the scares are successful due to their practicality. Old illusions like the Pepper Ghost trick, puppeteers, LED lights and fluorescent paints, are highly effective. Even Slimer, also featured in the maze, will come to life through optical illusions similar to those used in the Ghostbusters film. So Ray Stantz’s Proton Pack will seem like a real device and not a prop – don’t cross the streams! When it came to creating the Us maze, based on Jordan Peele’s 2019 film, extreme detail was the key to scare-success. The attraction looks like it was pulled directly from the screen and placed onto Universal’s lot. Peele’s company, Monkeypaw Productions, worked closely with Murdy and his team to ensure perfection. “[Us is] primarily a psychological horror. It’s a challenging property to translate into a live experience because there’s so many layers to it. Every time you go back and watch [the film], you see different stuff.” At one point, Murdy went through 40,000 pictures from the movie to gather ref-
erence for costumes, the set and characters. “This is pretty darn spot-on to the movie,” Murdy says. “Our props and dressing team…they had to go out and find all this stuff. We have a massive warehouse off-site that’s kind of like a big prop department.” One of the areas haunt-goers will walk through is the Tyler Family’s home. In the film, the family ends up murdered and sprawled out on the floor. The way the prop bodies are placed in the maze, particularly the twins, is identical to the actors in the film. “Lots of things in Jordan’s movie are referencing other horror movies,” Murdy states. “This particular scene he’s referencing The Shining, it’s the twins from [the film]. They’re actually posed identical to the twins in The Shining. So that was really important to Jordan, we had to make sure they were posed exactly the same.” The prop twin faces are also sculpted to match the real-life actors. In addition, the team also choreographed scenes so their scare-actors match the movements of the actors in the film. While this year’s Horror Night fun is just about to begin, Murdy is already in the early stages of planning for next year.
“We’ve already kind of figured out our slate for next year,” he says. Do we get a little taste of what to expect? “No,” Murdy says in true scare-actor fashion, “I’d have to kill you.” Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights officially opens September thirteenth and runs until November 3.
“I kind of started doing this when I was 10 years old... I started building haunted houses in my parents’ garage. Then I kept doing them and they kept getting more and more elaborate.” -John Murdy
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Rocker Peter Murphy Makes Full Recovery After Heart Attack
ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN DE LARA / EPM Peter Murphy on stage during his Dust tour in 2002. The musician has had a string of health problems in the past, including issues with his vocal cords.
MEGAN DE LARA A&E Editor
megan.delara9233@my.riohondo.edu
Legendary “godfather of goth” Peter Murphy, 62, has made a full recovery after suffering from a heart attack on August 13. The singer experienced shortness of breath prior to a performance and was rushed to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Once there, Murphy was treated by cardiologist Dr. Jason Song. “Mr. Murphy was admitted for treatment of a myocardial infarction,” Dr. Song said in a statement. “He had two stents placed in his right coronary artery and was started on medications to manage his heart condition,” Song continued. Much to the relief of fans, Murphy stated that he has made a full recovery. In a message released to the public, Murphy said, “Following my recent episode in New York City with my heart attack and being admitted into Lenox Hill Hospital and seeing myself go through
5 the rigors of intensive care, I am very happy to say that I have made a full recovery. Thanks to the superb team of doctors, specialists, nurses and care staff. I am so glad to say I am up and running again.” The musician continued, “My tour manager Brian Lowe and my assistant Chantal Thomas were directly instrumental in saving my life and to whom I cannot thank enough. I also want to thank every single friend and fan who has been supporting me throughout this ordeal. I remain grateful especially to my Bauhaus band mates.” Murphy was near the end of his residency at (Le) Poisson Rouge, a popular art and music venue in New York. Due to his recent health scare, his remaining show dates will be rescheduled. From 1978-1983, Murphy fronted influential post-punk band Bauhaus. He, along with bandmates Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins, and David J, recorded classic tracks such as “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” and “She’s in Parties.”
Thrilling Highlights from 2019’s Halloween Horror Nights MEGAN DE LARA A&E Editor
megan.delara9233@my.riohondo.edu
Universal Studios kicked off its scare season on September 13, officially opening the gates to Halloween Horror Nights. The chilling event will be opened on select nights until November 3. Attendees will have a variety of cult and classic horror experiences to choose from. This year the park has a full lineup of spookiness. The haunt is complete with 10 mazes, 5 “Scare Zones” and the popular show Jabbawockeez. The lower lot pays tribute to the 80s with mazes based on films Creepshow, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Netflix’s Stranger Things (set in the early 80s), and Ghostbusters. The upper lot is home to original mazes The Curse of Pandora’s Box and Holidayz in Hell. Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses and Jordan Peele’s Us are also located in the upper lot. In addition, Universal’s ode to black and white classics returns with Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man. Veteran Horror Nights visitors know the lines are a nightmare of their own and without an Express or a multi-night pass, the chances
of getting through all mazes in one night is low. Here are some highlights to help create your must-see list: Definitely two of the more detailed mazes, Ghostbusters and Us should not be missed. Based on the 1984 classic film, the Ghostbusters is an illuminating experience. Even those unfamiliar with the franchise will enjoy the effects that go into making the maze successful. Janine Melnitz makes an appearance with her usual telephone banter, and you get to see a “real” Ecto Containment Unit up close and personal. Slimer serves up some scares in his fluorescent green glory. And the Proton Pack streams seen during the Stay Puft battle look so real, they mesmerize you like a porch lamp to a moth. Though the movie is mostly a comedy, there are enough jump scares and Terror Dog-pop ups to keep you freaked. Us is less flashy in the light department, but the eerie-feeling still comes in heavy. From the forest to the Wilson’s living room, The Tethered follow you from beginning to end. The blood is there, but at a minimum, so most of the scares come from quiet, unexpected surprises. Instead of the usual pop-
JESUS MANRIQUEZ / EPM Outside the soundstage where the Stranger Things maze is located at Universal Studios, Hollywood. outta-nowhere-and-scream spooks, a lot of the actors stand in plain sight. They are so still, though, they blend in with the rest of the props. Without any safe spots in the maze (because admit it, we all hope for those small areas of relief), the anxiety runs deep. It’s a real treat. While slasher films may not be the main theme for this year’s haunt, House of 1,000 Corpses still keeps the gore at a level 10. The maze, based on Zombie’s 2003 cult classic, is probably the most bloody out of the bunch – and rightly so. There are dismembered body parts scattered from beginning to end, and Captain Spaulding is your creepy host for most of the adventure. The maze is not dimly lit, but this is necessary to see the detail of the horror. While there are jump scares, the set induces fear mainly through its visual aspects. And, do not fear, the maze is Rob Zombie fan approved. “It’s a good maze,”
Horror Nights attendee Kory Davis said. “I’m very happy about this maze in particular…I’m a huge Rob Zombie fan.” Another maze that does not leave much in the dark is Killer Klowns from Outer Space, but it is definitely worth a walkthrough. Even though everything is pretty bright, the alien clowns are enough to stir up discomfort. Much like the tricks in Ghostbusters, there is a lot of fluorescents in the maze, but it works perfectly to bring the bizarre atmosphere seen in the movie to life. There are plenty memorable scenes played out realistically, including an area dedicated to those deadly pink cotton candy cocoons. This year, Universal brings the highly successful Netflix show to life yet again. Located inside one of the lot’s sound stages, Stranger Things goes through seasons 2 and 3 of the current series. We get an immense glimpse
at Will Byers and The Mind Flayer, and there are plenty of Demogorgons to come at you with a vengeance. In the end, the maze kind of falls short on the scare meter, but it is fun too look at, even for those who are not religious watchers of the show. George A. Romero’s chilling Creepshow also has a maze in Horror Nights this year. The entrance features a giant print of a Creepshow comic, which strikes up the intrigue immediately. Infamous scenes like the Father’s Day cake are featured, and there are roaches, skeletons, and rotting flesh galore. A caveat to those who dare enter: Beware the seemingly innocent movie art hanging on the walls – it just might be the last thing you look at. Overall, attendees this year are sure to have a frightfully fanciful experience. Arrive early, grab a drink from the Día de los Muertos-themed bar and be prepared for terror to strike.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
6
Possible Tank-Girl Reboot from Margot Robbie
Trío Chicontepec Brings Music of Mexico to Rio Hondo MEGAN DE LARA A&E Editor
megan.delara9233@my.riohondo.edu
ILLUSTRATION BY ESTEVAN MACIAS / EPM Robbie’s company, LuckyChap Entertainment, was founded in 2014. EVAN COOKMAN A&E Editor
even.cookman1774@my.riohond.edu
The 1995 film adaptation of the comic book series Tank Girl might be getting a reboot. Margot Robbie, famous for her role as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, is said to be connected to the remake. According to co-creator of Tank Girl, Alan Martin, Robbie’s company LuckyChap Entertainment has obtained rights. “Just heard that Margot Robbie’s company have [sic] optioned rights from MGM to make a new Tank Girl movie,” Martin stated via Twitter. “[They’re] now several months into development.” There hasn’t been any
word as to whether Robbie will star in the film as the title character, though audiences are hopeful. The original creators have not been contacted about this reboot. “We haven’t been contacted by any of the parties involved with the project,” Martin continues. “So not sure if there will be any input from the original creators.”
“Just heard that Margot Robbie’s company have [sic] optioned rights from MGM to make a new Tank Girl movie.” - Alan Martin
Facing Fears: IT Chapter 2 Review
MEGAN DE LARA / EPM IT Chapter Two is longer in length than its 2017 predecessor, and includes more CGI and more Pennywise. ASHLEY SEVILLA Reporter
ashley.sevilla5141@my.riohondo.edu
To get us all into the early Halloween spirit, Warner Bros. released IT Chapter Two on September 6. Director Andres Muschietti and writer Gary Dauberman
have a plethora of reasons to celebrate the film as it was a compelling and intense continuation to 2017’s IT. The Losers Club is back 27 years later after defeating Pennywise in Chapter One with an exceptional cast playing the adults this time around. Bill (James
World-renowned Trío Chicontepec introduced their unique sound and skill to students in the Wray Theater on September 23. The trio (comprised of founder Rolando Hernandez, his son Jorge Hernandez, and Dr. Edgar Hernandez) shared the history and technique of Son Huasteco, a type of Mexican folk music. Dr. Angelia Andrade and her organization, Nuestras Raíces, brought the master class in rhythm to Rio Hondo. “We wanted to…give you the opportunity to talk to these maestros and to get to pick their brain a little bit,” Dr. Andrade said. “They are by far the best known and the most talented of all Huasteco groups, not just nationally, but internationally.” As a native of Chicontepec, Hernandez learned how to play violin in his hometown before making his way to Mexico City. Once there, Hernandez formed Trío Chicontepec in 1952 and has had tremendous success since. In addition to recording and touring, the group has also appeared on television and in films such as Academy Award-winning Roma. “Mexico has a lot to offer, musically speaking,” Professor Xocoyotzin Herrera, who translated for the trio, said. “Sometimes people think it’s just mariachis, it’s just banda, it’s just norteño… McAvoy), Beverly (Jessica Chastain), Ben (Jay Ryan), Richie (Bill Hader), and Eddie (James Ransone) are called back to their childhood town of Derry, Maine after their friend Mike (Isaiah Mustafa) witnesses some disturbing imagery. While everyone else’s memories seem tattered from past trauma, Mike has been keeping tabs on Pennywise the past 27 years. But the Losers’ memories seem to resurface once they all come back to keep to their blood oath on destroying the fearful interdimensional clown. Mike reveals that through some heavy investigating and spiritual awakenings, he has figured out a way to beat Pennywise once and for all. In order to do so, though, the group will have to face things they did not think they would have to face ever again. This movie is not going to be known for its simplistic brevity or for it being more gripping than chapter 1, because it is neither short nor better. But I
but there’s a lot more, including Son Huasteco.” The lineup of instruments needed for Son Huasteco seems simple. There is a violin on which the melody is played, a huapanguera used for rhythm and basslines, and a jarana also used for rhythm. However, while the basic structure only requires 3 instruments, the music focuses on complex rhythms and requires altered tuning for the huapanguera. “They tune half a step lower because the singing is so high pitched,” Professor Herrera explained. “[This] allows the vocalist a lot more comfort…you can sing for hours and hours.” Other characteristics of Son Huasteco style are sliding on the huapanguera’s fretboard, bowing upwards
on the violin (as opposed to downwards, like in classical music), and playing counter rhythm. The most important attribute, though, is the muffling effect. It is the trick that gives the distinctive “dun-dun-ch” sound and without it, the music would not be Son Huasteco. Hernandez emphasized the sound “marks the presence of Huasteco rhythm,” as described in Herrera’s translation. Without the muffling, the music would sound very generic. Students then joined Hernandez and the rest of Trío Chicontepec on stage. The group taught participants how to achieve the muffling effect on their own instruments, noting the importance of playing with the wrist instead of with the arm.
MEGAN DE LARA / EPM Trío Chicontepec founder and violinist Rolando Hernandez talking about the many musical offerings Mexico has to offer will say that it still captures Stephan King’s essence on what he is depicting when it comes to facing your fears in the same fashion as Chapter One. To me, it felt like it was the perfect amount of time to continue our walk down nostalgic Derry lane while enjoying a gloriously intense, scary, and bloody sunset. There was welcomingly dry and hilariously dark humor cueing in at perfect times to liven up the drearier scenes. IT Chapter Two has the same quality of the strong, constructed character piece that IT had as well. It was willing to spend lots of quality time in cultivating relationships and arcs of the adult cast and I personally appreciated that. The Imax experience was highly enjoyable and very entertaining while still keeping the scary essence of the movie intact. The film did justice on shredding out the most important details from King’s imaginative novel and highlighting the most important details without
removing too much of the magic. Sometimes when we thought we took care of unfinished business and handled our issues, and left them in the sewage drains forever... they come back to haunt us. This reminds us that we always have to face our fears, even when we think they have gone swimming in the sewers away from plain sight or flying up with red balloons.
MEGAN DE LARA / EPM
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
7
Nuestras Raices Celebrates Mexican Culture through Dance and Music
MEGAN DE LARA / EPM The women of Nuestras Raices during one of their dance numbers Friday night in the Wray Theater. In addition to various styles of music played, there were also a variety of costume changes to match. JAZMINE MARTINEZ Reporter
jazmine.martinez7632@my.riohondo.edu
Friday September 20, traditional Mexican dance group, Nuestras Raices, performed with Conjunto Hueyapan and Trío Chicontepec in the Wray Theater at Rio Hondo. The performance was brought to the college for the third year in a row to teach students Mexican culture through music and dance. Dr. Argelia Andrade, the director of Nuestras Raices, led the event by stating her nonprofitable organization provides accessible music classes, mentoring, and other opportunities. Andrade thanked Rio Hondo for allowing Nuestras Raices to come back consistently, as well as providing future workshops and events to the campus. “The college offers a lot to you because the college believes in you and believes... education outside of the classroom is also very important.” Andrade said. The concert consisted of three acts that involved Guerrero y Costa Chica, Son Jarocho, and Son Huasteco music. These types of Mexican music were either performed by Trío Chicontepec or Conjunto Hueyapan, both who have made respectful musical recognition for themselves. Trío Chicontepec formed in 1952 and has had continuous success ever since. One of their most notable appearances was in the
Academy Award-winning film Roma. The family formed band, Conjunto Hueyapan, was established in 1973 and made many performances throughout America and Mexico, including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and the Center for World Music in New York City. Since the event was meant to be an interactive educational experience, towards the end of the performance it became open to the public to ask any questions. A lady who sat in the back asked what regions they were targeting when performing the dances and the music. Fermin Herrera, the founder of Conjunto Hueyapan, gave his intake: “Music is part of culture, it’s a manifestation of culture, a way of life. Language is a manifestation of a way of life. We all speak Spanish, don’t we? But we have different regional varieties of the language. We adapt to different regions, we adapt to our environment, and that produces slightly different variations.” Said Herrera. “That’s true to English as well. For example, we speak what we might call California English, but it’s different from some of the versions spoken in Texas or in New York. The same language but different varieties. And likewise when it comes to, let’s say, other aspects of
culture, in this case music... The huasteca region is really the largest musical region of Mexico and it has different versions of huasteca.”
“Music is part of culture, it’s a manifestation of culture, a way of life. Language is a manifestation of a way of life.” -Fermin Herrera
Another question that was asked towards the musicians and dancers was, now that they have achieved dancing, Son Jarocho, and Son Huasteco - what’s next? “It’s complete. We don’t have to go beyond there. I don’t think we can make it better. I don’t think we can evaluate it. I don’t think if I start playing a different genre, I would be somehow better at all. This is the beginning and the end. The alpha and the omega of it all. Fusion is okay but I don’t think you have to fuse something to make it better.” said Herrera. Nuestras Raices will give Rio Hondo another visit on November 6 for a dance workshop. The class will start at 11:30 a.m. in the Lower Quad and food will be provided to participants.
JESUS MANRIQUEZ / EPM Trío Chicontepec (top) performs while Nuestras Raices founder, Dr. Argelia Andrade, performs with a fellow dancer (bottom).
JESUS MANRIQUEZ / EPM
SPORTS
8
Dramatic End At The Banc
Carlos Vela’s late goal from the penalty spot saves Los Angeles Football Club from defeat as
they continue to struggle in the month of September
JESUS MARQUEZ Reporter
jesus.marquez1625@my.riohondo.edu
Los Angeles Football Club grabbed a last minute 1-1 draw against Toronto FC at the Banc of California Stadium on Saturday, September 21. A penalty in the 95th minute allowed Los Angeles to finally find a break against a Toronto defense who until then had done a tremendous job. Toronto began the first half dominant and in control of the ball. The visitors took the lead in the 19th minute of play after a mistake from LAFC midfielder Marc-Anthony Kaye outside his own penalty box. Toronto forward Jozy Altidore set up forward team mateTsubasa Endoh, who would then beat LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller. The Reds had chances to double their lead, but great defensive work from LAFC defender Walker Zimmerman kept The Black and Gold in the game. LAFC began to create chances for themselves right before half time as winger Brain Rodriguez almost scored the equalizer from a shot outside the box, but would be denied by Toronto goalkeeper Quentin Westberg with an incredible save. LAFC did find the back of the net
All PHOTOS BY JESUS MANRIQUEZ/ EPM Forward and captain Carlos Vela attempts to dribble past the Toronto defense in the first half while his tean was down 1-0. Vela would later score a penalty in the final minute to tie the game. in the 32nd minute thanks to forward Diego Rossi, but the Uruguayan was later marked offside. After a struggling first half at the Banc, LAFC turned the tables around completely in the second half. The Black and Gold took full control of the ball, won most of the duels in the attacking third, allowing them to recover the ball high up the pitch, and began pushing Toronto into their defensive third. The home side were
able to create dangerous chances through the feet of forward and captain Carlos Vela as well as midfielder Latif Blessing. Even without the control of the ball Toronto still looked solid throughout the second half. Their compact and strong defensive work made it hard for Los Angeles to find a clear shot on goal. Toronto’s impressive defensive work in the second half was almost perfect until the 92nd minute when
Blessing was knocked down by Toronto defender Chris Mavinga, who in an attempt to kick the ball out, found Blessing’s body instead. Referee Ted Unkel did not see the foul at first and called a corner kick, but after almost five minutes of players from both sides pressuring the referee, Unkel finally took a look of VAR and saw that it was indeed a penalty. Vela stepped up to the spot and notched his 29th goal of the season giving LAFC the
draw. LAFC have yet to win a game in the month of September, and will try to get back on track on Wednesday, September 25th when they receive Houston Dynamo at the Banc. Meanwhile, Toronto have done exceptionally well, remaining unbeaten in their last eight games in the MLS. Next Match: Wed.25 -LAFC vs Houston Dynamo
After the game, defender Chris Mavinga insists to referee Ted Unkel (right) and his assistant linesman (left) that it was not a penalty on Latif Blessing.
Carlos Vela scores from the penalty spot in the last minute of the game to tie the game. It was Vela’s 29th goal of the season.
LAFC and Toronto FC players pressure the referee after he called a penalty checking VAR.
SPORTS Women’s Soccer: Rio Hondo Humbled By Santa Monica JESUS MARQUEZ Reporter
jesus.marquez1625@my.riohondo.edu
Rio Hondo Women’s soccer team lost against Santa Monica 2-1 on Tuesday, September 17, in a close and complicated match. It was Rio Hondo’s first loss in six games of pre-season. A moment of lost concentration early in the second half cost Rio Hondo the game. Santa Monica took the lead early in the first half after forward Ceirra Little scored her first goal of the season. Rio Hondo would equalize the game in the 27th minute as midfielder Zitlali Jimenez notched a superb goal. The Roadrunners could’ve taken the lead in the
first half but Santa Monica goalkeeper Taylor Brown kept the Corsairs in the match thanks to an exceptional save. After an even first half, Santa Monica started the second half strong. The Corsairs would once again in the 50th minute from a free-kick. A moment of lost concentration from Rio Hondo allowed forward Alexi Howard to get the rebound inside the box and tap the ball into the net. After that, the ladies from Santa Monica took control of the game, pressuring Rio Hondo to tie the game. The lady roadrunners had chances to get back in the game, but Brown made sure to make her presence be
felt in the box. Brown saved two one v one duels against Jimenez and forward Vivian Viramontes. Rio Hondo continued to press Santa Monica in the final third but were unable to find a break to tie the game. After the final whistle, Rio Hondo head coach Jennifer Tanaka-Hoshijo spoke out about the match. “We made some errors that can teach us important lessons and we did not capitalize on the good chances we created, “ said Tanaka-Hoshijo, “The game did not go as we wanted, however, we are excited to get ready for our next game.” Rio Hondo will try to get back on track when they receive Chaffey on September 24.
MICHAEL MARTINEZ/EPM Coach Teddi Esko explains her game plan and her concerns during a time out.
Crash of Fowls
SAMUEL GARCIA News Editor
samuel.garcia8465@my.riohondo.edu
In a clash of fowls, the Lady Roadrunners of Rio Hondo College fell to the visiting Lady Eagles of Mt. San Jacinto 3-2 on Friday,
September 20.
After losing the first set 25-23, the Lady Roadrunners tied the series 1-1 with a comeback from behind to win set two 27-25. In the third set, Rio Hondo fell behind
again, but rallied for a 24-21 win to lead the series 2-1. The lady Roadrunners needed one more set to win the match but the Eagles came back to win the fourth set and forced a fifth one. In the fifth and final
Released.... Again
Antonio Brown is released by The Patriots in the midst of sexual allegations. JAKE LAURELL
Reporter jake.laurell7011@my.riohondo.edu
Antonio Brown, the former star wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, The Oakland Raiders, and now former Patriot, has decided not to play in the NFL anymore. Sunday morning, while his former team was preparing
for their game against the New York Jets, the wide receiver expressed his irritation towards the NFL, the owners, and even went as far as stating he will no longer play in the NFL anymore. “ Will not be playing in the NFL anymore these owners can cancel deals do whatever they want at anytime,’’ said Brown. “ We will see if the NFLPA hold them accountable, sad they
can just void guarantees anytime going on 40m 2 months we’ll see if they pay up.” Brown was only able to play one game for the Patriots in the 43-0 win in Miami last Sunday. Brown caught the ball four times for a total of 56 yards and one touchdown during the game. Last Friday, The Patriots released a statement saying, “The New England Patriots
9
Men’s Soccer:Rio Draws In Epic Battle JESUS MARQUEZ Reporter
jesus.marquez1625@my.riohondo.edu
The Rio Hondo men’s soccer team drew dramatically against Santa Monica 1-1 at home on Tuesday, September 17. Rio Hondo took the lead early in the first half, but a reaction from Santa Monica right before half time was enough to draw things up. The Roadrunners were able to find a break in the 10th minute with a goal from Midfielder Abraham Figueroa. Santa Monica did not sit back, the Corsairs began to pressure Rio Hondo in the back and responded back in the 20th minute as Bradley Gamez almost scored after a good cross from his teammate.Santa Monica continued to cause problems for Rio Hondo and came close to scoring when midfielderRyoto Meada hit the post from a free-kick. After the free kick, Rio Hondo played a quick counter attack and came close to doubling their lead, but a great save from goalkeeper Aydin Kose kept Santa Monica in the game. Six minutes before half time, Santa Monica outplayed The Roadrunners with some quick passes, allowing midfielder Cristian Quintero to score the goal that would level things up for the Corsairs. Just one minute before half time, Santa Monica nearly took the lead, but Rio Hondo defender Brain Martinez cleared the ball out of the line with his chest. Santa Monica set, Mt. San Jacinto took a commanding 10-3 lead, but Rio Hondo refused to go down quietly. The Roadrunners managed to make it a 1410 game, but the Lady Eagles scored the final point in the following play, winning the set 15-10. With the loss, the Lady Roadrunners drop back to
asked for a penalty as they thought Martinez had l made contact with his hand, but the referee continued with the game. During the second half,Rio Hondo tried to play the long ball game, but it did not work very well. Meanwhile, Santa Monica looked extremely exhausted throughout the second period of the match. In the last ten minutes of the game, Rio Hondo looked hungry to score the goal that would give them the win, but the lack of creativity in the midfield made it hard for The Roadrunners to find the back of the net. Santa Monica would have the last chance of the game to grab their second win of pre- season, but goalkeeper Jafet Salgado saved Rio Hondo with an outstanding save. The game would end in a draw, leaving both teams with bitter taste. Rio Hondo head coach Orlando Brenes was not impressed after the game. “Unfortunately, today we just played good enough to tie,” said head coach Orlando Brenes “I don’t think they were better than us, but you know I think we had to play smarter, more physical, I think we had to come out and take the game.” It hasn’t been a great start for Rio Hondo with a record of 2-3-2 in pre-season. The Roadrunners will look for improvement on Friday when Rio Hondo receives College of the Desert. back matches, bringing their record to 6-3 in pre-season. The Roadrunners will begin their South Coast Conference season on Wednesday, 25 when they visit the 9-2 Pasadena City College Lancers. Next Matches:-Wed. 25 @ Pasadena -Fri.27 vs Long Beach
are releasing Antonio Brown. We appreciate the hard work of many people over the past 11 days, but we feel that it is best to move in a different direction at this time. ” The Patriots’ decision was made just one day after Brown allegedly sent threatening text messages in a group chat to one of the women accusing him of sexual assault.
“ Will not be playing in the NFL anymore...” - Antonio Brown via Twitter
ESTEVAN MACIAS/EPM
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
10
Still On Fire? ASHLEY SEVILLA S&T Editor
ashley.sevilla5141@my.riohondo.edu
The Amazon rainforest is one of the most important ecosystems that our planet contains. It produces 20% of our planet’s oxygen, making it the world’s largest rainforest, with it covering over 5.5 million square kilometers. There are around 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 types of fish, 430 mammals, 2.5 million different insects, and around 400-500 indigenous. This very important, expansive, and vast ecosystem has been burning up in flames for around two months now. According to an article on Business Insider, this sets a new record for the most deforestation in the Amazon in a single month. It shrunk by 517 square miles (1,345 square kilometers) in the first month. That’s more than twice the area of Tokyo!
G7 countries offered $20 million to aide, but this isn’t nearly enough to stop the damage that deforestation caused, the practice will still continue. With this being said, people are wondering, why? Why even burn the most important ecosystem that we have? How does this benefit us? It seems like it's doing more harm to the planet than good, but it seems to continue. Well, it’s a continuing practice for multiple reasons: Scientists and environmentalists say the reason the Amazon is burned monthly because farmers are deliberately starting the fires in their efforts to clear land for livestock as well as making room for crops, natural as well as GMO crops. GMO cropping hasn’t been new to the Amazon as well, with it first being found in 2008. According to an article published by The Guardian in 2008, drug cartels started moving into the Amazonia and began their
JOAN LEAT/GETTY IMAGES The state of our rainforest becomes worse as days go by and we choose to ignore it.
PIXUNDERFERTIG/PIXABAY Tribe leaders of indengenous communities are more affected by these fires as food and crops become sparce.
businesses by genetically modifying the cocoa leaves to withstand the humid jungle conditions so that they could produce cocaine at a much faster rate. Since then, it is still a common practice the use GMO’s, especially by farmers currently.
one-third of its 44,500-acre (18,000 hectare) reservation in southwestern Mato Grosso State.
Tribe leaders are saying that in this day of age, they can’t live off of just hunting for food anymore, they live by whatever the farmers grow.”
“Well, here in the city of Santa Cruz, in terms of air quality, has made a huge impact on us.” Marcelo Ostria, resident from Bolivia, told me while I was asking him a couple of questions on the current conditions of the fires. “It’s also very strange that there is not enough international pressure from the government here on what's happening.”
The animals are gone,” according to Chief Joao Ponce, head of the Uirapuro Indigenous community. They recently have allowed local farmers to produce crops on
Not only has the fires affected tribes, but also the people living in the surrounding cities as well.
Elon Musk’s Next Move ASHLEY SEVILLA S&T Editor
ashley.sevilla5141@my.riohondo.edu
Elon Musk is a technology entrepreneur, investor and engineer that has many accomplishments under his belt. With founding SpaceX9 and investing in Tesla Motors, he now how a new idea that could be revolutionary! With the help of Mark Zuckerberg’s funding, Musk wants to create a symbiotic relationship between Artificial Intelligence and human beings with Neuralink. This technology is Bluetooth-enabled implants that are inserted into your brain that help repair motor function in people with injuries using BMI’s (brain-machine interface). Brain-machine
interfaces hold promise for the restoration of sensory and motor function and treatment of neurological disorders. This technology will help combat many disorders and cognitive disabilities. They will be able to help out a wide range of people including: stroke victims, cancer patients, quadriplegics or others with congenital defects as well. These implants will consist of a tiny chip connected to 1,000 wires. The chip itself will feature a USB-C port, the same adapter used by Apple’s Macbooks, and connects to a small computer worn over the ear and to a smartphone. The chip will connect to an Iphone App that the user can control.
Detailed information about this project has been secretive since his tweet about Neuralink in 2017 up until now. New information has been recently released on his white paper on the official website though. “We developed miniaturized custom electronics that allow us to stream full broadband electrophysiology data simultaneously from all these electrodes. We packaged this system for long-term implantation and developed custom online spike detection software that can detect action potentials with IOU Latency. Together this system serves as a state-of-the-art research platform and a first prototype towards a fully implantable BMI.” Musk informed.
ILLUSTRATION BY ESTEVAN MACIAS / EPM The future is really here as Elon Musk has promsied implanted chips to help us comabt disablities and disorders is in the works.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
El Paisano Newspaper
Apple Launching Studies On the Newest Apple Watch Series 5
Editor-in-Chief EST EVA N M ACI AS News Editor SA M U EL GA RCI A Opinion Editor KIANA ARVIZU Lifestyles Editor K AT HERINA O’BRIEN Sports JESUS M A NRIQU EZ Sci.&Tech ASHL EY SEV IL L A A&E Editor MEGA N DE L A R A Photo Editors ASHL EY SEV IL L A K AT HERINA O’BRIEN Advisor W ENDY CA R R ER A
Reporters
Estevan Macias (D)(P) Joe Rodriguez (D) Jesus Manriquez (D)(P) Leo John Villanueva (P) Gilberto España (D) Jake Laurell (D) Ashley Espana (D) Jesus Marquez (P) Samuel Garcia (P) Jaime Aparicio (P) Arline Chaidez (D) Jonathan Flores (D) Brayan Altamirano (D) Lucia Penate (D) Marissa Valezuela (D) Ashley Sevilla (P) Evan Cookman (P) Jazmine Ramiriez (P) Kait Leyva (P) Evelyn Vargas (P) Ryan Rivera (P) 3600 Workman Mill Rd. Whittier CA 90601 (562) 692-0921 EXT. 3345
A Congressionally Recognized Publication
11
JAZMINE MARTINEZ
Reporter jazmine.martinez@my.riohondo. edu
This past week on Tuesday of September 10th, Apple had its annual show where it introduced three new studies to the public in developing its new product, the apple watch series 5, to contribute in the lives of their customers, health-wise. These studies target the apple watch’s new features of tracking heart rates, women’s medical conditions, and an individual’s hearing health. Apple’s previous watch series had made such an impact on customers that Tim Cook presented a video of individuals who led a healthier life or had their life saved by the apple watch. One of them was an older gentleman that suffer a fall and went unconscious. His apple watch was able to notify emergency services
and contact his wife when it detected the abnormality of the man’s heart. Another Apple customer that was featured in the video was a young woman, who was pregnant when the incident occurred. The apple watch notified the woman of her heart rate was too high, alarming her that something was wrong. Arriving at the hospital she found out that she had an infection and her unborn child was at risk. These stories help motive Apple to push forward and do more research on what it can improve on and accomplish, this leads to the three studies. The Apple Hearing Study will monitor an individual exposure to long-duration of loud noise, notifying the person when they are risking their hearing health. The Apple Women’s Health Study strives to track a wom-
an’s menstrual cycle, helping to collect data and inform women who are at risk of infertility and osteoporosis. The Apple Heart and Movement study will work on collecting data on heart rate and physical activity and examine it in connection to hospitalizations, cardiovascular health, and quality of life. During the show, it was mentioned that customers can sign up in these three studies through the Apple Research App that will be available later this year. The Apple Watch Series 5 does provide the same features that the series 4 had which includes an electrical heart sensor, being waterproof, and all the activity and workout features. The Series 5 will come with a few other new features like the always-on display, a built-in compass, and international emergency calling that
is available in 150 countries. The annual show allowed the public to see the plans that the company has in mind, trying to make huge contributions to the medical and health field. As they continue to do research and make discoveries people may start wearing an Apple watch a day so in the future, it will keep the doctor away.
ESTEVAN MACIAS/EPM
Series 5 starts at $299 for sutdents as well as customization in Apple Watch Studio