Fall 2013 Issue 2

Vibrant art ignites Downtown LA Pg. 15 Mt. San Antonio College, October 8, 2013

mountiewire.com

Volume 81 Issue 2

WHAT OBAMACARE MEANS

TO YOU

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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

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News

Fathers pay child support or face fines, jail

ERICK GAONA A&E EDITOR

Laws in California require that paternal fathers pay child support or be penalized, regardless of the father’s decision to have the child or not. The father ultimately has little to= no say in the mother’s final decision for delivering the child and the payments that follow if she so desires to file for child support.

The pregnancy being accidental or not has no sway toward the court decision.

Often, when it comes to the decision of whether or not to keep a child, the decision is left to the mother.

“It’s unfair,” Helen Suh, 22, psychology major, said. “I see this a lot.”

Suh said that she has heard people say that if the other parent does not want the child, they should leave them out of the decision.

“It’s sexist, and a double standard,” Suh said. “You never hear people say ‘woman up.’ The guy is always going to lose this fight.”

Adam Valenzuela, 29, anthropology major, who pays child support, said this has affected him, “If I had forced her to get an abortion, or been unsupportive, then I knew people would talk shit about me. I didn’t want to embarrass my family, so that was the main force that kept me sticking around,” Valenzuela said.

Once paternity has been confirmed through DNA testing, the father is bound legally to provide financial support until the child has reached adulthood.

California has multiple laws that enforce payment and or support from the father. California Penal

Code 270 states: “If a parent of a minor child willfully omits, without lawful excuse, to furnish necessary clothing, food, shelter or medical attendance, or other remedial care for his or her child, he or she is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.”

In addition, in 1998 President Bill Clinton signed a bill known as the Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act. This bill punishes any person who fails to pay by years in prison or fines, or both.

Students have mixed feelings about the forced penalties from state law if the biological father did not want to proceed with the childbirth.

Michelle Simmons, 22, film major, said that fathers should have to pay.

“Here’s the thing; if you help make that thing you have to pay it whether you like it or not, because in reality, you shouldn’t have sex or you should be safe about it, that’s the consequence,” Simmons said.

Carissa Spathias, 19, criminal justice major, said that more laws should protect those who become accidental fathers.

“I do think there should be laws protecting the accidental dads who have no say in the child’s birth,” Spathias said. “I have a friend whose girlfriend was pregnant, but she didn’t tell him she was until after three months, so she couldn’t get an abortion.”

Spathias said this decision was life changing. “He was accepted into a UC with scholarships for baseball, he gave that up to work at a factory to pay the child support.”

Sterling Knight/MOUNTAINEER Michael Linger, 29, communications Major with his daughter Dylan.

Mt. San Antonio College Mountaineer

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

News

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Mountaineer Mountaineer STAFF Editor in Chief

Albertin Serna Editor Chief Editor in Chief mountiewire, News Editor Albert Serna Adolfo Tigerino Mountiewire EIC Managing Editor, Opinion Editor SashaTigerino Chavez Adolfo Art Copyeditor Director Vanessa Solis Beatrice Alcala Features Editor Jose DeEditor Castro News A&E Editors Adolfo Tigerino Erick Gaona, Vanessa Osio Features Editor Sports Editor Michael Rich Chavez Yap Multicultural Editor Multiculture Editor Brigette Villesenor Brigette College Villasenor Life Editor Christina Artmanni Opinion Editor Vanessa Solis Photo Editor College LifeHacha Editor Stephanie Cartoonists Cooper McHatton Adam Valenzuela Sports Editor Karla Mejia Adolfo Tigerino Layout and Design Editor Harmon Huynh Design Editor Designers Harmon Valerie de laHuynh Puente Cynthia Schroeder Cartoonists Albert Serna Adam Valenzuela Samantha Hernandez MOUNTAINEER/MOUNTIEWIRE Writers Reporters Staffand Writers Rich Yap, Vanessa Solis, Dolores Alvarez-Zuniga, Manny Flores Abby Ambriz Monica Garcia, Damion Julien-Rohman, Julian Muhr, Christina Artmanni Gina Vanstratten, Lauren Walden, Vanessa Osio, Gorge Castaneda Tamika Adams, Sasha Chavez, Michael Chavez, Justin Agoncillo, NicholeCenteno Aguilar, Jessica Arreola, Jessica Lorena Flores, Monserrath Flores, Adolfo Tigerino, Sasha Chavez Albert Serna, Jose de Castro, Christina Artmanni, Michael Chavez Brigette Villesenor, Layla Jasco, April Kersh, Brittney Morales, Tracey Munniks Angelica Rachel ErezOlivares, Deanna Pena, Austin Postovoit, Gabriel Ramirez Reyna Espinal David Ritter, Jamie Rocha, Stephanie Sanchez, Erick Gaona Michael Saucedo, Cynthia Schroeder, -RDQQD 6HUDĂ€Q $QD 6LOYD 0DULD 9DOGH] 7LIIDQ\ Monica Garcia Jeffrey, Amanda Recio, Selena Montes

Gustavo Gyotoku Misael Hernandez Photographers Hugo Avina, Jose De CastroErika Fion Ho Saavedra, Layla Jasco, Adolfo Tigerino, Alex Urquidez, Julian Muhr Jessica Herrera, Sterling Knight, Beatrice Alcala, StephanieLemus Hacha, Bobby Hazel Rodriguez, Albert Serna, Rich Yap Matthey Macias Fabian Rojano MULTIMEDIA Anthony Ruybalid News Editor Esther Solis Monica Garcia Marc Wan Features Kathryn Banks, Lauren Walton

Photo Editor Beatrice Alcala Sports

Layla Jasco, Jacqueline Yu, Lynette Gill, Kat Naseiro

Photographers

A&E Jamie Rocha, Valerie de la Puente Donald Cudahy, Christopher Beatrice AlcalaFailla Cornelia Richardson, Albert Serna

Sterling Knight Adolfo Tigerino Tech/Gaming Julian Muhr,Rich Damien Julien-Rohman Yap Jose Bloggers De Castro Stephanie Hacha Tamika Adams, Elizabeth Hernandez PUBLIC RELATIONS Public RelationsTeam Alex Mundo, Michael Saucedo, Cynthia Schroeder, Brittney Morales, Julian Muhr, Anthony Ruybalid, Samantha Romero, Sucheta Harjai Desarae Gomez, Vanessa Perez, Monica Garcia Esperanza Quezeda, Mariana Rojas

Rachel Erez AdvertisingArtmanni Director Christina Veronica Grant Gustavo Gyotoku Assistant the Adviser EricktoGaona Rich Yap

Advertising AdviserDirector Toni Albertson Veronica Grant Cover Photo Illustration of President Barack Obama Adviser

by Beatrice Alcala.

Toni Albertson

The Mountaineer is a college newspaper published by the students in journalism classes at Mt. San Antonio College.

The views expressed in this newspaper do not reflect the views of the adviser, administration, or the Board of Trustees of the Mt. SAC District. The Mountaineer and mountiewire.com are First Amendment Publications. Phone: 909-594-5611 Ext. 6123 FAX: 909-468-4106 Bldg. 26D, 3220 B Cover Photo Illustration of Casey Collins by Beatrice Alcala.

Photo courtesy of LaDawna Howard/Flickr A 2012 rally in support of the Affordable Care Act in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington D.C.

Obamacare goes into e≠ect SASHA CHAVEZ MANAGING EDITOR Mercedes Torner is well aware that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is going to impact her life in a large way; she’s just not sure how. Torner, a 38-yearold veterinary science major and mother of three, is worried that health insurance is a luxury she simply cannot afford. “The little bit of money I do have needs to be used on my family,�

Torner said. “Paying for insurance for my entire family basically uses up my entire paycheck.�

Torner attributes her anxiety to a lack of information. “Nothing is sufficient,� Torner said. “If you don’t go out there and actually try to get the information, nobody’s going give it to you.�

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act launched into effect Oct. 1. Although the law has been the center of a multitude of heated conversations amongst the masses, many Americans, including students on the Mt. SAC campus, still find themselves lost when trying to navigate their way through the bill itself. In a health tracking poll conducted by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 51 percent of the general public said that they do not have enough information about the law to determine how it works, how it will affect them, and how to get coverage. “There’s a heap of information everywhere,� Torner said. “You go here, you go there, you go look at this, and you look at that. I think I’ve gone, at least today, to so many different places searching for information.�

With three people depending on her for shelter, food, and basic living necessities, Torner, like many other Mt. SAC students, is

scrambling for the information that she desperately needs. And with new health care marketplaces open for business on Oct. 1 and closing in March, time is running out for the lost and confused.

Clearing the Confusion For individuals who are already insured on their own, through their parents or through their employers, the new law will not impose too much change. The law will only add new protections and benefits to your already existing plan.

For those without health insurance, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or ACA, seeks to create a brand new health care system that provides more Americans with affordable, quality health insurance.

The Establishment of Online Marketplaces Brian Butler, 24, CIS technology major, understands that there will be a fine charged to all individuals who do not enroll for health insurance now that the law is in effect. However, he said he is not aware of new marketplaces or exchanges opened for business on Oct. 1. “I wish I knew more,� Butler said.

Marketplaces will allow millions of uninsured Americans to shop for the best deal on health insurance online. This new setup will require health insurance providers to compete for consumers’ business.

Plans bought through these means will become effective as soon as Jan. 1. Open enrollment through the marketplaces closes on March 31.

All-new insurance policies sold in 2014 will be classified into four categories: bronze, silver, gold, or platinum. Consumers will pay less for a bronze or silver plan up front, but will pay more out of pocket when they need coverage. Buyers who opt for the gold or platinum plans will pay more up front, but

pay less when they need coverage.

There will also be a catastrophic plan set up for individuals under the age of 30 who can provide evidence that they are without affordable coverage or experiencing hardship. Individuals will have to give proof that they are unable to find affordable health insurance that will cost them less than eight percent of their income.

Furthermore, Medicaid, a health care program for low-income American families, has also been expanded to include all individuals who fall 133 percent below the federal poverty level, which equates to about $15,000 for a single individual or $31,000 for a family of four.

Similarly, individuals and families whose income falls between 133 and 400 percent of the federal poverty line are qualified to receive tax credits, which will assist them in paying their monthly premiums.

Individuals and families can apply for tax credits through online marketplaces, by mail or in person.

Applicants will be required to provide information such as their income, the number of people living in their home, how they file taxes, and whether they are offered insurance through their employer.

Applicants awarded tax credits can choose to receive them in advance to help pay for upfront costs, at which point the IRS will disperse payments directly to your health provider. Tax credits will vary based upon income of an individual or family, and can be used towards bronze, silver, gold, or platinum plans, but are not applicable towards catastrophic plans. An in-depth explanation of how tax credits work and what they will amount to for individuals earning different incomes is provided by the “Health Reform Subsidy Calculator,� provided by the See Obamacare

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Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

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News

Financial aid delays cause students stress

Michael Chavez Sports Editor Six weeks into the 2013 fall semester at Mt. SAC, a number of students are still waiting on delayed financial aid disbursements.

“It sucks not being able to get your financial aid money on time when you need it most, but on the bright side, better late than never,” said Jhovaan Woods, 23, kinesiology major.

Students who depend on financial aid to pay for classes, books, housing, computers or even monthly bills currently have to go without the extra money provided by financial aid.

Students like Jennifer Guzman, a 19-year-old psychology major, were affected by the delays.

“Yes, it was beyond delayed, and for the first time they wanted extra paperwork,” Guzman said.

According to the Mt. SAC financial aid website, the mission of the financial aid office is “to assure that the delivery of the student aid funds is conducted accurately, expediently, and with integrity, while demonstrating respect, competency, and accountability, using the highest quality standards of the process and approaches established to serve our students.”

Forbes.com reported that the average student attending a twoyear public community college has $7,000 in debt by the time they move on. If students intend to move on to a four-year university, it is more than likely students will need to further rely on financial aid to

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pay for schooling.

Financial Aid Director Chau Dao said the delaying of funds could be the result of students not checking their Mt. SAC portals to see if they have any incomplete requirements or do not check their Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students may have holds stemming from unpaid fees, academic delinquency or a failure to meet certain academic requirements.

“We have a group of students who are not used to checking portal

to see if they have any incompletes,” said Dao. “We did hold a lab for students to teach them how to use portal during the summer.”

Students who did not check their portals during the summer are attempting to find a solution to their problem by making appointments or walking into the financial aid office.

“What we are experiencing now is a higher volume of students looking to obtain financial aid because we are early in the

semester,” said Dao. That level makes it difficult for the financial aid office to assess and rectify any issues students may have in obtaining their financial aid. The large number of students looking to solve their problems creates a logjam of students that the financial aid office must sort out.

“They say the office is behind, and I was told by one of the ladies they haven’t even touched people’s paperwork since July,” Guzman said.

It isn’t just students who have not logged into their portals who are facing struggles with financial aid, but those who have taken too many credits while at Mt. SAC will be cut off from financial aid.

According to Fastweb.com, a financial aid-orientated website dedicated to answering frequently asked questions by students and the parents of students, “the student must be on track to graduate within the maximum timeframe for the degree program … such as six years for a four-year degree and three years for a two-year degree.”

Another possible culprit of funds being delayed is that students are not activating their Higher One debit cards. Higher one is a third party company which partnered with Mt. SAC in 2012 to facilitate a much more efficient distribution method. The debit cards replaced checks which were signed out to students. Students are advised to look to their portals should they need instruction in activating a Higher One card or can go to any of the six ATMs on campus to activate their cards.

Crime down across campus Damion Julien-Rohman Staff Writer

THIS MOMENT BEGAN WITH A CHOICE.

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He chose to make a difference. Chose to get a degree.

To learn new skills. And it was all made possible by the National Guard.

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Contact Staff Sergeant Angel Alvarez at 626.369.0738

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Thefts and burglaries on campus have fallen in recent years.

According to statistics released by the Mt. SAC Public Safety Department, crime specifically related to property stolen on campus has dropped. Burglaries from 2009 to 2011 have fallen from 14 to six, while burglaries from motor vehicles have decreased from 27 to 11 in the same time span. Additionally, reports of motor vehicle thefts, or grand theft auto, have also fallen from 12 to five.

Thefts from on campus vehicles have increased from 16 to 24 in the years of 2010, from 2011, but are still lower than the 45 reported in 2009.

General thefts are the only statistic to see large increase, reaching 67 reports in 2010 from 57 in the year prior. However, that number was lowered to 62 in the year 2012, despite reports of theft in building 26 which prompted the locks of the rooms to be changed.

Kristina Allende, an English teacher and department chair, said that among the items stolen in building 26 were a bag for books, food items from a refrigerator, and wallet and cell phone that were taken from an office. She added that the thefts were the result of keys that were either lost or taken, prompting the changing of the locks.

Sergeant Anthony Kelly, Supervisor of Public Safety, said that part of the decline came from

campus security reaching out to students about stolen property, through the mass notification system flyers and brochures that have been handed out. Additionally, security has increased policing of the campus, and has also integrated training from the local sheriff ’s office.

Public Safety Director Mark DiMaggio said that to guard themselves from a theft or burglary, students should keep their belongings with them at all times.

“Always secure cell phones, tablets, cameras when moving,” he said. “Even if you’re going a short distance and coming back, take it with you.” Electronics are among the most reported items stolen on campus.

Tabria Brown, a nursing major, believe that thefts have a lot to do with the people you’re around. “It depends on who you hang out with,” she said. “You have to be careful with you leave your stuff with.”

Some students are not concerned about theft on the school grounds.

“I’ve heard of cars stolen and stuff being taken from cars, but that’s it,” biochemistry major Omar Alwan said. “I don’t think it’s a big problem.” He also said that he receives the alerts and memos sent out by security about campus thefts.

Kristy Sanchez, a child development major, said that campus security is doing well.

“I think they’re doing a good job,” Sanchez said. “I don’t really see thefts happening here, and I think it’s because of them.”

Mt. San Antonio College Mountaineer

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

News

5

Campus odor mystifies students, faculty

ADOLFO TIGERINO NEWS EDITOR A foul stench permeates through the drains between the Student Life Center, SLC, and Student Services Center. The drains emitting the funk are appalling to the students who spend their free time in front of the SLC or pass through.

“It smells nasty and moldy,” said Jose Gonzalez, 19, welding major. “It smells like someone left wet clothes out for days.”

The smell comes from the drains down below the SLC, Building 9C, and Student Services Center, Building 9B, and caused by particles that remain lodged in the drains.

These storm drains are not to be confused with a sewage drain.

Sewage drains collect wastewater from toilets, sinks, and other indoor plumbing that deals with the collection, treatment and discarding of sewage water. Storm drains strictly transport water for flood control.

“The smell is not actually sewage,” said Assistant Director of Facilities Planning and Management Bill Asher. “The smell comes from sediment that gets left in the drain line from leaves, grass clippings and other such debris.”

The smell does not penetrate into the adjacent buildings, but remains isolated on the pathway between buildings 9B and 9C. Most of the drains lead into the main drain line on Temple Avenue, which

Adolfo Tigerino/MOUNTAINEER One of the drains where the stench is emitted from in between the Student Life Center and Student Services Center.

causes the backup of sediment.

“There is no smell in the building [Student Services Center],” said Lizeth Montiel, 20, a student assistant at the Assessment Center and a Chicano and Chicana studies major. “The smell is there every day. Sometimes students come in to complain about it.”

“It stinks like a restroom,” Montiel added. “Do you know what people do in there? It smells that bad.”

Students have noticed that the odor is worse on some days than others. The intensity of the stench varies depending on the season.

“This smell is worse during the warm summer months due to lack of flow through the drain,” Asher said.

He added that the smell lightens during the winter, because during the rainy season it helps flush the drains.

Students who experience the stench on a daily basis said they are concerned about the smell.

“Are they planning to fix the problem?” Gonzalez said.

Maintenance is aware of the situation and is working on flushing the line more often.

“To help with the situation, we have increased our preventive maintenance schedule for flushing the line to every other week,” Asher said.

However, there has been no formal notification to the faculty or staff that are near the drains.

Barbara Leon, student program

specialist, who works in Building 9C, said she has received no contact about the stench that smells like “garbage.”

Nevertheless, the issue with the stench has been a topic of discussion for Facilities Planning and Management.

“The situation has been discussed with various staff and faculty when they encounter the problem,” Asher said.

There are no known health risks for inhaling the stench from the sediment in the drains.

Nurse practitioner at Student Health Services Marti Whitford said she had not received any cases about side effects from inhaling the stench, and to her knowledge, there are no adverse effects.

Multiple earthquakes rattle the San Gabriel Valley

Sterling Knight/MOUNTAINEER Mt. SAC’s evacuation plan outside 26B with details on what to do in case of an emergency.

Christina Artmanni Staff Writer The residents of La Verne and Pomona were shaken by a 3.7-magnitude earthquake that hit at approximately 4:43 a.m. early Thursday morning, Sept. 19, according to the United States Geological Survey. The aftershock that quickly followed 20 minutes later was even larger than the first tremble and was recorded to be a 3.8-magnitude quake.

The USGS website reported that the initial 3.7-magnitude quake was felt from as far as North Hollywood, while the second quake of a 3.8-magitude was reported to have been felt from residents as far as 90 miles south into La Jolla.

“My roommates and I felt the first earthquake, but it was the

aftershock that made us a bit nervous,” said Pomona resident Michael Palmer, 28. “It felt way stronger. With all the earthquakes that have been going on, it has me wondering about the supposed ‘big one.’”

According to geologists from the University of California, Irvine and the University of Arizona, the San Andreas Fault line, where both the North American and Pacific tectonic plates touch, has been long overdue for “the big one” for over 150 years. In 2008, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake centered in Chino Hills struck San Bernardino County, before Mt. SAC constructed its newer buildings to modern safety standards.

Construction coordinator at Mt. SAC Gary Nellesen said the newer and modernized buildings

on campus that replaced the older buildings first built in the 1960s are earthquake safe as deemed by state officials.

Speech professor Jeff Archibald said that he is not too sure what to do should a major earthquake hit the area.

“To my understanding we’re supposed to walk over to the parking lot as a class, where I would then take inventory of the students,” he said. He added that he was aware that public safety is supposed to do an evacuation process where all classrooms would be checked.

In event of “the big one” violently striking Mt. SAC campus, Sergeant Anthony Kelly of Mt. SAC Public Safety said that he and other officers have an organized earthquake evacuation plan.

“Each building has an evacuation plan with an assembly plan that follows,” he said. “In that case, we [Public Safety] do what the sheriff ’s department would do.”

According to Kelly, after a mass notification is sent out, the earthquake evacuation plan starts with major damage assessment that involves a windshield survey which requires all officers to drive around the campus checking to find out if any gas lines are broken, if any fires have formed or if any major buildings have collapsed.

“Then we’re going to start checking all of the elevators to make sure that people are out of the them,” Kelly said.

If any buildings were to collapse, Kelly said that those buildings would be isolated, with an

emergency notification immediately being sent out to get everyone off of campus as quickly and safely as possible.

According to Department of Conservation scientists, knowing how to prepare for and survive a major earthquake is more imperative now than ever.

Before coming face to face with “the big one” Mt. SAC students and staff should all be aware of precautionary steps to take in a worst-case scenario, to ensure better safety if an earthquake takes place during school hours.

The evacuation plan for any major emergency is also available to all students and staff in the lower left hand corner of the Mt. SAC student portal. The plan advises students what to do in the case of an earthquake.

The first thing advised is to immediately take cover under a table, desk, or any piece of sturdy furniture that provides a shelter.

Drop, cover, and hold on. When it’s safe to do so, evacuate the building, helping any disabled or injured persons out. Proceed to the nearest evacuation areas, which are identified on the Mt. SAC campus map and on plastic plaques posted on the outside of every building; generally, these areas are clear large open spaces, such as the student parking lots.

According to ShakeOut.org, the Great ShakeOut is an earthquake preparedness event that registered Californians can participate in where they are taught to practice different safety tips during a big earthquake.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

6

News

California to issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants

GINA VAN STRATTEN STAFF WRITER California would become the latest state to allow immigrants who are in the country illegally to obtain a driver’s license under a bill supported by Gov. Jerry Brown that passed through the state Legislature.

On Sept. 12, the California Senate passed the bill on a 28-8 vote, and hours later the state assembly approved the bill on a 5519 vote. Shortly after this approval, Gov. Brown issued a statement indicating that he supports the bill and would sign it into law.

The approval of the bill AB60 came on the last day of this year’s legislative session.

Democratic Assemblyman Luis Alejo of Watsonville, the author of AB60, was preparing to put his bill on hold until next year’s legislative session. The bill was first objected by immigration-rights groups arguing that special markings on the driver’s licenses would lead to profiling and discrimination by drivers and law enforcement alike.

The special marking stamped onto the license provides a disclaimer making it clear that the driver’s licenses are good for driving privileges only—not for employment, opening bank accounts or obtaining any other public benefits.

Rebecca Guzman, 21 communications major, said her parents are undocumented immigrants, and she has seen firsthand their constant fear of driving.

“I have no problem with the special disclaimer, because I remember after I graduated high school, my parents got pulled over and our car was impounded for driving without a license,” said Guzman. “If Governor Brown signs this bill, it will help out the millions of families in California that are just struggling to get to and from work to support their kids, and the thousands of California’s college

Adolfo Tigerino/MOUNTAINEER California driver licenses. There will be special markings on the licenses that provides a disclaimer that the license is only valid for driving.

students who are driving to school to gain an education and improve the overall future for California.”

AB60 will not only grant driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants in California; it will also allow undocumented immigrants to obtain liability insurance that will protect them and other drivers in automobile accidents.

Supporters of AB60 argue that California roads will be safer because undocumented immigrants would now have to pass the written and driving tests, and be eligible to obtain insurance in order to legally drive in California.

“Most of these undocumented immigrants are already driving on California’s roads,” said former Los

Angeles City Councilman Edward Reyes, 54. “These drivers will no longer have to drive without a license; they can get training and driver’s education, which will in turn make California’s roads safer.”

Currently, nine other states and the District of Columbia issue licenses to undocumented immigrants. New Mexico and Washington issue them without the disclaimer.

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, California is the state with the largest percentage of undocumented immigrants. Over 2 million undocumented immigrants in California would be able to obtain a driver’s license and liability

insurance.

These new legal drivers would be held to the same standards as all other drivers, and have to pay the required fees for the testing and the driver’s license itself; fees that are much smaller than that of the fine for driving without a license, or repair costs after an accident.

“There would be fewer hit and run accidents, probably even fewer accidents in general, because the undocumented immigrant drivers would now be educated about the rules and regulations of the roads,” Reyes said.

California, and its millions of undocumented immigrants, are now waiting on Gov. Brown to sign the bill into law.

Safe Surrender an option for desperate parents Manny Flores Staff Writer Across the nation, there are women who are faced with an unwanted pregnancy. Perhaps they have considered terminating the pregnancy, or maybe they have kept their pregnancy a secret until it is too late to have an abortion. This has resulted in some women killing their infant children or abandoning them and leaving them for dead.

In response to this nationwide crisis, former Gov. Gray Davis signed the Safely Surrendered Baby Law in Sept. 2000. The law went into effect in Jan. 1, 2001. It was permanently signed into state law in Jan. 2006.

The law specifically states: “No parent or other person who has lawful custody of a minor child 72 hours old or younger may be prosecuted for child abandonment if he or she voluntarily surrenders physical custody of the child to a designated employee at a public or private hospital emergency room or other location designated by the county board of supervisors.”

According to the California

Department of Social Services website, the law allows the parent or surrendering person to safely and confidentially surrender a baby within three days of birth. Names are not required. This further protects the parent or surrendering person from prosecution for child abandonment. If the parent or surrendering person has second thoughts, they have at least 14 days to reclaim the baby.

The website also states that the parent or surrendering person must give the baby to an on-duty employee of a safe surrender site. Safe surrender sites include hospitals, fire stations and other locations designated by the board of supervisors in each county. A safe surrender site will display a blue and white logo of a baby being cradled on an arm.

The website further states that as of Jan. 1, 2001 to July 30, 2013 there have been 518 newborns surrendered in California.

Additionally, as of July 31, 2013, there have been 83 newborns surrendered in this year.

Statistics reported on babysafela. org show that since 2001, safe

surrenders now outweigh abandonments in Los Angeles County.

Mike Saldana, fire fighter with the Los Angeles County Fire Station #26 in La Puente, said that although babies are rarely surrendered there, the law has been a success.

“If one baby’s life has been saved, the program is a success,” Saldana said.

Rosa Leslie who worked for the Department of Children and Family Services from 2000 to 2007, said she informed her clients about the law when it came into effect. She is currently a teacher through the Cal State Los Angeles Department of Social Work program.

“It’s a positive in our community,” Leslie said. “It’s absolutely something that media or education needs to remind people as an option to reduce the rates of child abuse, death, and to maintain family community and partnership.”

Jamie Campos, 21, management and human resources major, said she was never aware of the law.

“I thought it was just either have an abortion, or own up to what

your situation is,” Campos said.

She added that people should be informed about the law, especially at abortion clinics.

“If I would have known, I would have told my friends who did not have much of a choice,” said Campos. “My friends that have kids struggle a lot.”

Angeline Morales, 19, psychology major, understands what it’s like to deal with uncertainty because of an unplanned pregnancy at a young age.

“I didn’t know about graduating high school or financially supporting my child,” said Morales.

“A lot of questions went through my mind because I was young.”

Morales said she did not have the support of her baby’s father during her pregnancy. However, she did have her family’s support.

Their support encouraged her to not allow her struggles overwhelm her.

She added that if she were expecting another child under unfavorable circumstances with no possibility of changing her situation, she would “at least use the safe surrender option.”

Mt. San Antonio College Mountaineer

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Opinion 7 Vape pens drag kids in Adolfo Tigerino News Editor Electronic cigarette companies are doing a disservice to the nation by providing unregulated and untested products to children.

Vaporizers entice children by purporting to be healthier than regular cigarettes, with a multitude of flavors, no smoke scent, and a good aftertaste. With the added freedom of no government regulations, e-cigarettes are a perfect product for advertisers to market to children.

The smoke from e-cigarettes is water vapor from the two main ingredients, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. The cigarette heats liquid nicotine in a disposable cartridge and produces vapor that can be inhaled. The cartridges come in a variety of flavors.

Vaporizers are another string of products created by the tobacco industry that are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. These e-cigarettes advertise heavily to appear to be “hip” and “in,” which lures children as well as adults.

There are various hip spots where people go to “vape” such as the Vapor Spot in Los Angeles. LA Times writer Amber Dance wrote in a recent article that “the place was a cross between a swanky bar and a pharmacy … The aroma inside is mildly sweet—not what you might expect from a store full of people indulging in a nicotine habit.”

E-cigarettes would normally have an official ban by the FDA to prevent ads from targeting children, but vaporizer ads continue to spread like wildfire. Advertisements for Blu e-cigarettes have actors saying that they are not guilty smoking these cigarettes because it’s only vapor and not tobacco, which is highly misleading. Nicotine is still being distributed, just in a different format. It’s like watching television shows through Netflix, instead of a television. The show is still the same; only the delivery

system has changed. Consumers are still inhaling nicotine, which is proven to be addictive.

According to a 2012 article by Tobacco Prevention and Education Program Manager Karen Girard, the Oregon Department of Justice settled a case that it filed in Marion County Court against Florida-based e-cigarette company, Smoking Everywhere, for making false health claims and targeting children.

In the same article, Girard added that the “FDA opposes the products stating e-cigarettes ‘may contain ingredients that are known to be toxic to humans.’” The FDA conducted a study in 2009 on two different kinds of e-cigarettes that found the presence of small levels of toxins in the cartridges.

It is highly problematic when the FDA does not restrict e-cigarettes and continues to have no age or advertisement restrictions, especially considering that it is unclear what the possible side effects could be from “vaping” these products.

“Unlike traditional tobacco products, there are no federal age restrictions that would prevent children from obtaining e-cigarettes, nor are there any advertising restrictions,” Ohio Atty. Gen. Mike DeWine said in a statement to the LA Times on FDA restrictions.

Supporters of e-cigarettes have said that the flavors are not there for children, and that adults can also like strawberry and cotton candy flavors. This is absurd.

Children will be enticed into smoking these vaporizers because of the sweet scent and taste each one has.

However, the major problem still lies on the health and safety risks. There are a variety of ingredients for each e-cigarette. It varies between brands, but most brands contain at least 10 common ingredients, out of hundreds: propylene glycol, glycerin, vanilla extract, tabanone (tobacco flavor), linalool, ethanol, ethyls, coriander,

Illustration Adam Valenzuela nicotine from tobacco leaf and fragrance.

That’s an immense amount of ingredients, and their health risk factors could be dire. “Vapors” often argue that the emissions from the ingredients of a vaporizer are cleaner than that of a cigarette. But the fact remains these products are not tested, and the side effects are still unknown.

Unlike cigarettes, vaping is allowed in public places. With carefully placed ads, and the sweet scent, it will definitely attract children. Tobacco companies are looking into changing from cigarettes to e-cigarettes to increase profitability. Altria Group Inc., owner of Marlboro

brand cigarettes, created its first e-cigarette earlier this year after sales had plummeted.

The only way to have children not be attracted to these vaporizers is to start pushing for the FDA to put restrictions and limitations on them.

On Sept. 24, 40 state attorney generals sent a letter to the FDA asking them to regulate e-cigarettes. According to the LA Times, the FDA has set a deadline of Oct. 31 “to issue proposals to regulate the devices.” However, the FDA has previously delayed any action. In the meantime, education is the only way to prevent these potentially dangerous products from reaching the hands of our youth.

In defense of millennials, stop bashing my generation Vanessa Solis Copy Editor Are you a lazy, entitled pseudoadult with a short attention span?

According to a new study, which surveyed members of Generation Y between the ages of 22 and 29, employers probably think you are.

Speaking as a millennial myself, this is yet another obstacle Gen Y faces in entering—and ultimately succeeding in—the workforce. And it’s not fair, damn it.

The irony is palpable: here is another Gen Y kid who feels “entitled” to a just world. I’m not the first one to whine about being part of the so-called “lost generation,” the generation of young millennials who perceive themselves to have been, in short, screwed. And it’s true; we didn’t make this world we are inheriting; we were not old enough to make the decisions that put us here. And for employers, or the world at large, to continue to malign millennials for the way we have turned out is

just insulting.

Gen Y grew up listening to Barney’s “You Are Special,” repeatedly told that we could be anything we wanted to be, and that life would just fall into place when we got there. We entered school with the expectation that a bachelor’s degree is just as mandatory for a living-wage job as a high school diploma was for our parents. We now enter the workforce saddled with $1 trillion in collective debt during a bum economy. And in the latest slight to Gen Y, our employers find us hard to understand? It’s just too much.

The study, “Gen Y Workplace Expectations,” conducted by Gen Y consulting firm Millennial Branding and American Express, surveyed 1,000 Gen Y workers and 1,000 managers nationwide. The results are grim: Nearly half of the bosses surveyed said that their Gen Y workers had “unrealistic compensation expectations,” a poor work ethic, and were easily distracted. And this study is just

the latest in a slew that paints millennials as narcissistic whiners who just don’t know their place.

Generational differences have always made for an uneasy relationship between bosses and a new wave of workers. What makes this generation different? Perhaps it is because of the overexposed nature of Gen Y that the world (and apparently scientists) cannot resist the temptation to gather all that data and jump to nasty conclusions.

So what did millennials say about their employers? Shockingly, the results are overwhelmingly positive. The study shows that Gen Y employees think their bosses are sources of wisdom and experience.

And therein lies the pain: millennials idolize their employers, or at least recognize the potential to learn from them. Despite all of this, despite the world we have inherited, we still hold the older generation in high regard. And as a millennial, I hope we are able to maintain that respect despite it

being a one-way road so far.

The only way to solve this newest generational gap is to have an honest conversation about it, using statistics as a tool, not a means for further trashing young people in general. The millennial is stereotyped as a plugged-in social media guru who shuns face-to-face contact and has both the greed and attention span of a flea. Maybe there’s some truth in that—maybe Gen Y was given too much. Maybe we need to focus more, and lower our expectations for what a budding career can give us. But the older generation needs to work with us to understand that we are justified in our criticisms of the status quo.

And now that we’re old enough to take action, I know we will.

I know the world is not just, but it’s not too much to ask for the older generation to understand the nuances of my generation before judging us, and to take responsibility for leaving us with a world in worse shape than when they took the helm.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

8

Features

Sign Language bridges gap for professor

Jose De Castro Features Editor For most students, completing a master’s degree is a time of joy and accomplishment. For Bob Stuard, professor and co-chair of the sign language program, getting a master’s in business administration left him depressed.

“I couldn’t understand why,” said Stuard.

For 27 years, Stuard has been interpreting and teaching sign language.

“It’s because I didn’t want to leave education, I didn’t want to leave working with the deaf or interpreting or teaching American Sign Language,” said Stuard.

“It really became my career, my passion.”

Stuard, the youngest of three siblings, began learning sign language at age 17, but was introduced to deaf culture because his sister, Nina, was deaf.

“Although she was deaf, she grew up oral without sign language because that was the prevalent philosophy at that time to not teach your kid sign language,” said Stuard. “When she went to community college, it was really frustrating for her, and some of her friends had gone to Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., which is the world’s only liberal arts college for the deaf.”

As his sister emerged into the deaf community, learning sign language and eventually marrying a deaf man, Stuard decided to learn sign language.

“I skipped my senior year [of high school] because I had enough units,” said Stuard. “ I started a little bit early in my community college down in San Diego Mesa College and took my first sign language class.”

It was beneficial for both Nina and Stuard because it was difficult at the time to communicate with each other.

“I thought it would be a great idea for him to take up sign language and it made it much easier to communicate between him and I along with my husband who is also deaf,” said his sister, Nina Coyer.

It was difficult for Coyer to under stand everything by only lipreading.

“He and our sister, Karen, had to go through with me while growing up making sure I understand what is going on and making sure I was not left out,” said Coyer At that time, Stuard’s motivation for learning sign language was his sister. “Growing up, she could read lips to a certain degree and I felt like we got along fine,” said Stuard.

“In reality, we didn’t have a really long in-depth conversations, not ever, but seldom.”

Stuard didn’t see it as an issue at the time, seeing as how his brother-in-law and father got along fine and his father never learned to sign. Learning sign language strengthened the relationship with his sister and brought them closer together.

“What it really did was deepen my relationship with my sister because I could talk freely with her about anything,” said Stuard.

He added that he was destined to teach it from the moment he

started to learn sign language.

“I think I developed a real appreciation and passion for languages by majoring in linguistics at University of California, San Diego,” said Stuard.

Taking courses and experimenting with languages has given him a real passion and appreciation for the complexity of languages.

“The fact that there’s something uniquely human and one aspect of our lives that really allows you to self express and self identify, that’s with any language that I’ve studied but especially the language that I am most fluent in, which is American Sign Language.”

Stuard started as an interpreter for community colleges and was a freelance interpreter in San Diego County and in 1978 started his first ASL 1 course at Palomar College.

He also taught in Mira Costa College and San Diego Community College. Stuart first decided to become an interpreter after finding out that it paid more than his job as a janitor.

“I could make twice the minimal wage, when I needed something full-time, it was easier to do something that you have been doing and so that kind of fell into place,” said Stuard. “When I went back to school I got a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics at UCSD but when I went back to school again, I kind of resented moving out of the San Diego area and my field at that time was limited. “ Living in L.A. County, Stuard decided to get his master’s degree in business administration at California State University, Dominguez Hills after realizing that if he got a business degree, he could live anywhere, but never used the degree.

“I went back to school and I got an M.B.A., but I never used it, “said Stuard. “I decided that I wanted to stay in education and teach interpreting after I got my M.B.A. and applied to a couple of jobs in business and decided that was not what I wanted to do.”

After having a child, Stuard went out to look for a full-time job.

“I had a half time position interpreting at San Diego Community College, but I eventually ended up in El Camino College as their supervisor interpreter for their interpreting staff for about six years before coming to Mt. SAC full-time in 1986,” said Stuard.

Stuard has guided many students in the direction of success in the program.

“Bob sat with me for an hour in his office explaining every step I would need to make in order to complete the interpreter training program,” said Chase Rebensdorf, 26, interpreting major. “That meeting in his office was almost four years ago, and because he didn’t brush me off and took the time to talk with me and motivate me, I’ve been hired as an intern interpreter at Mt. SAC.” Stuard enjoys teaching his students new things and seeing his students motivated to learn.

“He was excellent in keeping us all on task because sometimes when you get into those small groups and you’re all friends with each other, it’s really easy to get distracted,”

Layla Jasco/MOUNTAINEER Stuard is the only hearing full-time sign language professor at Mt. SAC.

said Casey Lyons, 25, interpreting major. “He was really good at getting us focused and is really understanding, caring and gave really quality feedback about all of our work.”

As for Stuard, he will always

teach in an environment where people are motivated to learn.

“It’s great to be in an environment where people are coming into their own careers and deciding what they want to do,” said Stuard.

Cal Poly Pomona FARM STORE at Kellogg Ranch Corner of Temple and South Campus Drive

Fresh off the farm CPP produce Watermelon

Corn on the cob

$4 ea for red, $5 ea for yellow and orange flesh

3 for 99¢

We also have snacks, sodas, pre-made meals, gift baskets, fresh fruit gift packs, plants and more!

Save the Date for the Th e 21 S T An n ua l

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

October 19 & 20, 2013 8am-5pm

Lots of things to do: | | | | | | |

Pumpkin Patch | Horse Rides | Corn Maze Petting Zoo | Craft Booths Food Vendors Farmer’s Market | Carnival Games Pancake Breakfast 8am-11am Live Music and Entertainment Farm Store Shopping

Don’t miss the Insect Fair at the Bronco Student Center 9am-5pm Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch Open Daily 10am-6pm 4102 S. University Drive Pomona, CA 91768

Join our email list! Just visit:

www.csupomona.edu/farmstore

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

College Life

9

Exorcise your demons

ERICK GAONA A&E EDITOR October is here! Candy, costumes, and horror are in the fall breeze, and exploring haunted locations can satisfy the desire to make one’s stomach turn and blood run cold from the excitement of fear. So grab your flashlights, a friend, and an extra pair of underwear, here is a list of a few places near Mt. SAC that are perfect for the paranormal seeker in you who is looking to get a cheap thrill.

Galster Park, West Covina Located close to everyday suburbia, Galster Park is home to many horrific events that draw ghost hunters by the truckload. Legend has it, although unproven, of a man preying on children who wandered alone, raping and then beating them to death. The same man can allegedly be seen at 10 p.m. trying to invite hikers into the shack found in the park that was once his home.

A child can be seen at one of the entrances mimicking his murderer, inviting guests into the park after sunset. The most common supernatural experience is hearing children screaming within the park at night.

In June of this year, Galster Park added a new story to its body count:

Erick Gaona/Mountaineer Thompson Creek Woods in Claremont

The San Gabriel Tribune reported a 32-year-old man’s suicide within the park. “A passerby discovered the body hanging from a tree Sunday afternoon in Galster Park,” wrote Brian Day. Thompson Creek Woods, Claremont Located just north of Indian Hill, Thompson Creek Woods legend makes it a perfectly eerie addition to the list.

Rumor has it that hikers who visit the trail and woods after hours are known to experience many things out of the ordinary. Hideous visions of violence and unknown levitating people who follow hikers until they leave the park grounds

A Taste of Germany for America

Albert Serna/Mountaineer A glass of Pomona Queen amber lager at Dale Brothers Brewery in Upland, Calif

are some examples. There have been unproven reports of an appearance of shadowy figures lurking behind trees and bushes, scratching away loudly.

Suicide Bridge, Pasadena Visitors cannot help but be drawn to the majestic architecture and charming view of the Colorado Bridge. Some, however, visit to see a more monstrous side of the bridge.

Mark Kellam reported for the Pasadena Sun that, “more than 100 people have ended their lives by jumping from the Colorado Street Bridge.” Multiple suicides and attempts have taken place within the last year alone.

Although not proven, the legend

MICHAEL CHAVEZ SPORTS EDITOR If you ask most college age students what they know about Oktoberfest, the majority of them will respond with, “beer, beer, food and more beer.”

“All I think of is delicious German beer,” said Steven Valdivia, 23, accounting major.

While beer is a big part of what makes Oktoberfest appealing to most adults, there is much more to this 16-day celebration. The fair began in Munich, Bavaria, Germany in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Prince Ludwig I to Princess Therese. All of the citizens of Munich were invited to join the festivities, which included traditional Bavarian food, beer, music and dancing.

The biggest event to be held on that day was horse races, and when the horse races returned the following year, the annual festival Oktoberfest was born.

Some of the traditional Bavarian food items being served at the festival include: roast pork, grilled ham hocks, pretzels, sausages, bread or potato dumplings, chicken and potato pancakes. While the food is a large part of the festivities, the major focal point, at least for non-Germans, is the beer.

The style of beer served during Oktoberfest is Märzen. This style of beer is brewed in March and allowed to ferment through the summer months until it is ready to be consumed in late September.

During the festival, only six different breweries are allowed to produce beer to be served. While it would seem like having six breweries produce beer would lead to many variations in the style, there are strict laws dictating how the beer must be brewed and the ingredients that can be used.

Mt. SAC students who are looking to celebrate their own version of Oktoberfest can easily head to their local grocery store

is that dozens of ghosts haunt the bridge and the pavement underneath.

One of the alleged ghosts is that of a man who fell off and landed in wet cement during the construction of the bridge. The man was left for dead and buried within the cement, he now allegedly roams the area, inviting those with troubled lives to take the jump.

Precautions should be taken whenever visiting such places, especially at nightfall. If so inclined to visit one of these allegedly haunted locations, ask for permission beforehand. It is advised to never visit these or other rumored haunted locations alone.

and load up on Bratwurst, a German version of sausage, or pick up a pork to roast.

Luckily for students 21 and over, many craft breweries and even some larger breweries produce Oktoberfest-style beers during these early fall months.

Samuel Adams produces Oktoberfest, while Hangar 24 also produces a fall beer named Oktoberfest. Gordon Biersch bottles a Märzen, which should be easily available at most grocery and liquor stores.

Even luckier for those same students, there are a number of local events where those wishing to indulge in the spirit of Oktoberfest can do so without a passport.

Oktoberfest at the Pomona Fairplex runs from Oct. 10-27, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight. With an entrance fee of $15, $10 of which is used for parking, this event is an inexpensive way for students on a budget looking to experience food, beer and music native to Germany.

Visit Fairplex.com for more information.

Local brewery Dale Bros., famous for their flagship beer, Pomona Queen, is holding their annual Oktoberfiesta on Saturday, Oct. 19. The event is held at the Dale Bros. Brewery in Upland and entrance is $5. Their Oktoberfest beer is aptly named the “Oktoberfiesta.”

“Our Oktoberfiesta has some roasted barely thrown into it and the story behind that is when German immigrants came here to the states, the water wasn’t the same so they adjusted the alkalinity of the water with the roasted barely,” said Andrew Johnson, 23, taproom manager at Dale Bros.

Brewery.

With all of the options available to Mt. SAC students, it should be easy for any group of friends to enjoy a German themed night out at one of the local breweries or to host an Oktoberfest in the comfort of their own home.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

10

Features

Freedom lies in the mind of the beholder One student’s journey to achieve happiness, success

ALBERT SERNA EDITOR IN CHIEF Homecoming night at any high school is packed with energy and life; students cheer on their football teams in hopes of a victory, while the athletes aggressively fight to bring home the gold. For one student, what was supposed to be a routine bike ride home turned into a tragedy that forever changed his life and cost him the use of his body.

A single conversation with Paul Chiou, however, would reveal that despite this tragedy, he does his best to keep a positive outlook on all that life throws his way.

Chiou, 28, computer science major, said that he was struck by a car while riding his bike home on homecoming, breaking his cervical spinal cord and leaving him paralyzed from the shoulders down.

Despite being paralyzed, Chiou said he rarely thinks about it because he always had the support of his grandmother.

“I didn’t think about it that much because when I got home, of course my grandma has been by my side all the time, basically she’s the foundation of my life,” said Chiou. “ He added that he is luckier than those who may not have this kind of support.

“She really takes good care of me so I don’t really feel the pain, even though I’m in this situation.

Most people in a similar situation are doing a lot worse because they don’t have such a loving grandma,” he said.

“People like me, sometimes they just end up in a nursing home and they will just be there all day, they can’t even live a regular life,” Chiou added that even though other people in a similar situation may have a loving family willing to care for them, but end up in a facility and are forgotten, unable to lead a normal life within society.

“People like me, sometimes they just end up in a nursing home and they will just be there all day, they can’t even live a regular life,” said Chiou. “I’m just happy I have my grandma, even if I can’t move I still can live at home instead of living in a facility, I can still go to school even though I’m taking it really slow.”

After his accident, Chiou spent the next seven months in the hospital recovering and going through rehabilitation. When he began his junior year, Chiou said that it was a different experience from his previous two years of high school. “[Coming back] was a big deal because the whole school heard about it, because I got injured on homecoming night right by the high school,” said Chiou. “Everybody was welcoming, all friendly, but I felt the difference because I couldn’t

interact with people like I used to.”

Chiou added that people would give him special treatment, presumably because they felt sympathy for him.

“They treated me really nice or they just felt sorry…but I didn’t want that to happen,” said Chiou.

He continued with his education but at times would remove himself from the general academic population because he had difficulties coping with the accident.

“The rest of my high school years I just sat in the teachers lounge watching people play basketball outside,” Chiou said. “At first I guess I didn’t know how to deal with it so I didn’t want to be outside. If right now I were to go back to high school I would be out there chilling with people … that’s the only time I felt different.”

Chiou said that because of his time missed after the accident there was a likelihood that he would not graduate with his class, but he was insistent on leaving high school with his friends, and completed the minimum course work to do so.

“I did graduate with my friends because I insisted, I could have gone a year later but I didn’t want that,” said Chiou. “I couldn’t stay the whole time so I took the minimal required to graduate.”

As he prepared to leave high school, the Department of Rehabilitation met with Chiou to set a plan for his future, whether it was to join in the work force or continue with college. Chiou said that for him, there was never

another option but to continue into college.

“It’s just automatic, and because my grandma is on my butt all the time, I never thought of not continuing, so of course it is college, it is automatic,” said Chiou. “I didn’t take the SATs so Mt. SAC was my only option, but department of rehab was going to send me to Mt. SAC anyway because it’s close and good.”

Though it was clear that he needed to continue his education, at 17 Chiou was still unsure what he wanted to do with his life.

Because he was gifted in art it was suggested that he major in graphic design, and because he was confined to a wheelchair his DOR counselor suggested something to do with computers.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, even if I did not have the accident I still would not know what I wanted to do,” Chiou said. “[I was told to be] with computers because that was all I could do, I cannot do anything physically. Ever since I was little everyone said I was talented in the arts, in drawing and designing, they were thinking maybe graphic design or if you like computers you can do computer science.”

Graphic design seemed like something he was not interested in from the beginning, but because he had difficulties in math, Chiou decided that computer science wasn’t for him and began Mt. SAC with the intention of completing his general education.

It was apparent however, after

Mt. San Antonio College

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Features

11 “I love to be on the computer where I’m free, I can do everything by myself,” said Chiou.

taking a curse in computer Paul cont’d on pg. 11 Paul cont’d from pg. 10 information science, CIS, that he was talented and decided to major in the program.

“I gave a shot at the programming class and I loved it, I immediately fell in love with programming, then I discovered this course is already in the business division,” Chiou said. “It is still dealing with computers, but it’s in the business aspect of it, like you are an IT person of the company or whatever. That doesn’t require a lot of math, and I was like ‘this is my thing I want to go for that.’”

Before he began to work on his bachelor’s, Chiou found out Mt. SAC offered 13 CIS certificates and drove full force into the program. “I wanted to get all 13,” said Chiou.

Because he was only able to take two courses a semester, Chiou paced himself.

“I worked myself little by little because you know only two classes per semester,” said Chiou. “I thought, ‘you know what, let me just get my bachelor’s.’ So from 2005 to 2010 I finished all my general education and was going toward transferring and majoring in business administration but the sub major is CIS.” Going through his CIS courses he began to draw the attention of various professors who complimented his work. It was in 2010, with the encouragement of his grandmother, that Chiou went to his counselor at DSPS and switched direction.

“In 2010 I said the hell with it, I changed my major to computer science because I got confident,” said Chiou. “I went to my counselor at DSPS and he thought I was out of my mind because I’ve been dealing with him so long and he saw how little by little I worked my way up. We had an education plan

“It’s easy to tell normal people, ‘look if I can do it you can do it,’ but people in my situation, how could I tell them it’s easy when it’s not?” for two classes per semester, and it was three pages … when I got down to one page, finally it seemed like I’m going somewhere.”

Chiou’s counselor was shocked at his decision to change majors, but to appease him, Chiou only asked what classes he what need if he were to switch majors, but he could not hide that he was taking courses for a new direction.

“It didn’t look too good, add another two pages to my education plan, so I kind of didn’t go back there,” said Chiou. “The next time I went Robertson, [my counselor,] he’s prepared, every time I meet with him he reviews it before he meets with me, he knew what I’ve been doing so I couldn’t hide it from him.”

Chiou added that it was then that he changed majors, but in doing so had to start math all over again. Because it had been several years since he had taken a math course, Chiou said it was a little difficult going back, but he was determined.

“I kind of push myself to the max, I don’t do anything besides school work,” said Chiou. “Of course I take the summer off; that is when I play, but you know it’s hard to finish all that stuff, so that’s where I’m at now.”

Because of the difficulties associated with being paralyzed,

Chiou said that it can be difficult to go out and enjoy activities that he enjoys, such as going to the beach or the movies. The limitations do not stop him however, as he does like to go on outing with his friends, family, and people from DSPS. Megan Mahan, 22, communications and horse ranch management, works in the DSPS department and has known Chiou since 2011, said she is a close friend of his. Mahan said that Chiou always has a great outlook on life, despite his situation.

“He’s always happy, he comes in and he’s always smiling,” said Mahan. “He’s a good friend to everyone, I have never seen him upset or anything.”

Chiou said that his caretaker has also become a good friend of his, and spends time with him even when he is off duty.

“Usually me and my bro, he was my nurse and we are so tight because we’ve been together for like 10 years, we go places when he’s not even on duty,” said Chiou.

“We used to go to the movies a lot, but I haven’t gone lately because first school is too busy, second, we haven’t been finding any good deals, but I like going to movies because that’s one of the few things I can do.”

One of his favorite things to do is to eat junk food, especially the McDonalds french-fries, which Chiou jokingly said are almost like an addiction.

“I like to go eat junk food, like McDonalds french-fries at WalMart,” he said. “They are so good, I always tell them I want them freshly fried so she can fry them right away. They are so good [they are like crack.] That’s the evidence why that they’re so good.”

Chiou also enjoys going out with people from DSPS. He and his friends recently went on an outing to the Los Angeles County Fair.

“Everyone here, we’re all friends with him, whenever the people here would go to hang out we would usually invite him he has a lot of friends here,” said Mahan. “I would say we’re pretty good friends, we mostly just hang out when it’s like a DSPS group.”

Mahan described Chiou and not only an inspiration to her, but to all those in DSPS. “[He is] and inspirational, I don’t know some people especially in situations like that, are always negative or maybe feeling bad about themselves, or even people who don’t have things that bad, they don’t have that great of an outlook on life, but he does. He doesn’t let anything like that affect him, he always seems to be positive no matter what. It makes me want to be more like that.”

Chiou added that because he is unable to go out all the time, the cost of gas to fuel his van prevents a lot of outside activities; he uses the internet as his wings of freedom.

“I love to be on the computer

where I’m free, I can do everything by myself,” said Chiou. “When I’m not on the computer I need a scratch on my face, I need a drink of water, I need to go here and there, everything I need to do involves other people, so just being on the computer alone it’s like I feel free where I can do everything by myself, plus now the internet is involved it’s like it opened a window to the world.”

After his accident, Chiou said he still remained heavily involved in his church, but after a while began to feel constrained by the doctrine that was being preached.

“I think everyone has their freedom to do what they want I guess, I’m not the kind of person who likes to be constrained by the church,” said Chiou. “Even though I was a Christian freak, when I stopped going my mind became open.” Chiou added that despite his newfound openness, he is still a Christian and that he still retains friendships from his congregation because it is what makes him happy.

Finding those simple pleasures like fries, movies and art combine to create a better situation for Chiou, but when he thinks about it, it is hard for him to conceive what makes him truly happy. The reason, Chiou said, is because he has a onetrack mind.

“I guess I have a one-track mind, when I set my mind on something I just execute that thing all the way, but what’s my ultimate happiness?” he said. “I guess by getting good grades I can make my grandma proud. I can’t repay her; she sacrificed so much for me, the only thing I can do is get my stuff together. Does that mean I’m not a happy person, I don’t know because I’ve never thought about it.”

After over 10 years without the use of his full body, Chiou said he understands that people who find themselves in a similar situation can be prone to depression or a lack of will to continue on. Chiou said he would advise them to do all they could to find meaning and happiness in their lives.

“I’m blessed because I have my grandma, who knows that might change in the future because grandma is getting older, but I would suggest to them just be happy, find something they want to do in life,” said Chiou. “Just live happy and try to do something constructive at least.”

Chiou said he understands that there are obstacles to face when someone is in his similar situation, but that should not keep them from achieving their goals in life.

“It’s easy to tell normal people, ‘look if I can do it you can do it,’ but people in my situation, how could I tell them it’s easy when it’s not?” said Chiou. “Don’t feel sorry about yourself, or feel like you can’t do something even if it’s hard, I’m not trying to underestimate your hardships, but you know you can still do what you want to do.”

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

12

A&E

Murder music: dirty, sexy, rock and roll

Erick Gaona A&E Editor Space 15 Twenty, Hollywood, 9.p.m. The tight alleyway is filled to the brim with people who came to see Washing Machines on Sept. 26.

A wallpaper of advertisements and garments from nearby stores reflects the lightning-in-a-bottle excitement of the crowd.

The band’s songs exhibit a kaleidoscope of emotions in the short 20-minute set, ranging from anger to lament. Each song is organized chaos packed inside illegally smuggled narcotics as the four destroy the stage.

Lucas Parvaz, 21, lead guitar and vocals, runs rampant behind the microphone, thrashing his instrument this way and that, as if fighting off some invisible horde telling him “rock and roll’s dead.”

Le’lani Lan’caster, 21, adds an unusual voice with her distorted mandolin that definitely defines the band’s sound.

If Kurt Cobain left Nirvana, kicked out Thurston Moore and took over Sonic Youth, it would be the Washing Machines. The sound is something reminiscent of 90s grunge, with a heavy dose of psychedelics and a tinge of garage rock, blending then and today in a

Erick Gaona/Mountaineer Washing Machines performed on Saturday September 28 at Space 15 Twenty in Hollywood.

perfect unison.

Simultaniously, the crowd went feral as soon as Trevor Doss, 25, started the bass riff of “Gashzilla,” definitely the band’s local hit. The song teases the audience with a loud chorus that explodes as soon as it leaves the soothing bridge, then returns to the musical violence, back and forth.

Doss explained the main angle with the band, the force that takes

it to where it is.

“The underlining theme is anger,” Doss said. “We are not good musicians so we thrive on just the emotion of anger to make the songs work. Anger is the vehicle that drives our music, sometimes it’s just anger and sometimes its blackout anger.”

Anger is definitely in the air at the end of the show as the band begins to strangle the last breaths

of their final song. Lucas mutilates his guitar, scraping it with his hands, slamming it on the floor, violating the inanimate object as its feedback screams for help, but all the audience can do is stand in awe. Some plug their ears from the horrific screeching noise, but nonetheless, remain to watch the band.

Lan’caster described what she usually sees at her shows.

“People in the audience, sometimes they’re just standing in awe [of] what we’re doing,” she said.

“I don’t know if they understand or enjoy it but they’re definitely not leaving.”

She also spoke about the problems a female musician faces today.

“A lot of men in music now are trying to take advantage of girls,” Lan’caster said. “They’re using them only for the aesthetic appearance, not for the girls’ musical talent.” Lan’caster continues, “it is more marketable to be in a band with a girl. I feel people are trying to violate that confidence a girl has.”

“Rock and roll should be fucking dirty, and about not giving a fuck if anyone likes you,” Lan’caster added.

“We plan on murdering people with our music.”

Mt. San Antonio College Mountaineer

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Multiculture

13

Couples cross cultural divide

BRIGETTE VILLASEĂ‘OR MULTICULTURE EDITOR Not all relationships are black and white. Some students have proven this through their interracial relationships, many of which have been met with mixed reactions from not only outsiders, but from friends and family. The Pew Research Center reported in 2012 that interracial marriages “climbed to 4.8 million, a record one in 12â€? couples in the United States. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Census Bureau found that last year, nine percent of unmarried couples living together were of mixed race. With interracial couples climbing in numbers, students have experienced various situations where their diverse relationship was not a problem, while others have been met with opposition. Beatriz Suarez, 32, who received her master’s in sociology from California State University Los Angeles, said that at first sight, she and her partner have never been judged based on their looks.

She is Mexican and her husband is Egyptian. “We have the same skin color,�

Suarez said. “Most people assume I’m Middle Eastern or he’s Latino.�

Viviana Sarrade, 23, a former Mt. SAC student who graduated at Cal State Fullerton as a broadcast journalism major with an emphasis on communications, had a similar experience due to her skin color.

Sarrade is Ecuadoran and her fiancĂŠ is Caucasian. “I don’t think I look white, but some people say I do, so I guess that’s why I rarely ever get looks in an area where the majority of the population is white,â€? she said.

Similarly, Jamil Potts, 27, recording artist, is AfricanAmerican and his wife is Arab. “I don’t think people can really tell that we’re an interracial couple,� Potts said. “We’re both around the same skin complexion, and before we started dating I thought she was AfricanAmerican.�

Not everyone has such an accepting experience. “His family was white and I remember his brother and brother’s girlfriend made a big deal out of us dating,� former Mt. SAC student Tianna Winters, 27, broadcast journalism major attending University of Nevada Las Vegas, said about a former relationship. “They were definitely racists. I typically don’t like to throw that term around but it is what it is. The girlfriend would even send me really hateful emails.�

Though Winters identifies as black, her background is mixed with Japanese, Mexican, and white as well. Winters is currently in a relationship with a Caucasian. She said his family “loved and accepted me right away.�

Some couples receive stares but cannot pinpoint if it is racially driven. Former Mt. SAC student David Murillo, 27, communications major at Cal Poly Pomona, is a Colombian-American in a relationship with his AfricanAmerican boyfriend. “I don’t think we hold hands or give little kisses nearly as much as straight couples do,� he said. “But when we do hold hands it’s usually in a crowded public place or out in

the street in Los Angeles or San Francisco. I do notice that some people give us looks. I really can’t tell what they are thinking, if they are looking because two men are holding hands or because it’s two men from different races.�

Aside from skin color, culture also plays a role in interracial relationships. Suarez said that when she and her husband reveal their backgrounds to others, the questions flood in. “We get comments like, ‘How did you two meet? What do you guys eat?’ Diverse areas, such as our neighborhood have very little reaction. Non-diversified areas are the most curious and ask the most questions, or have more reactions,�

Suarez said.

Sarrade said she is fortunate because her boyfriend has adapted to her culture. “I guess I am lucky because my boyfriend speaks Spanish and loves Ecuadorian and Hispanic culture more than ‘white’ culture, whatever that might be. He loves going to bachata clubs and speaking Spanish more than English even though that is his first language.�

Maintaining religious and family ties has not always been easy for couples of mixed backgrounds. “Some family, due to religion purposes have distanced themselves,� said Suarez, who identifies as a believer in God but practices no specific religion, and whose husband is a practicing Muslim. “I think most people have strong embedded beliefs about Middle Eastern and Muslim people.�

Suarez also said that she thinks people who disassociate themselves are scared. “I believe it’s the unknown that these people are afraid of the willingness to accept something new, or simply the tragic ignorance of human kind,� she said.

Suarez has had to compromise when it came to respecting each other’s beliefs, and it was for the better. “[We celebrate] different holidays: Eid, for me and Christmas for him. No drinking alcohol inside the house, no religious symbols inside the house, and no shoes inside the house. The compromising made each other happy, we have a cleaner house, more activities and holidays and respect in each of our beliefs.�

Compromise, some believe, is essential when in a relationship.

Potts, when he married his Arab wife, had to convert to Islam to be able to wed. “I am not a practicing Muslim and her family understands that, but I had to go through with the ritual,� Potts said. “The ceremony is called Shahada, bearing witness that there is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger.�

Potts said he did not hesitate to convert. “I felt like if that’s what is necessary then I had to do it.�

Murillo said that he questioned his boyfriend when he told him he was not baptized, but also found a middle ground. “Above our cultural background we have so much in common, that’s why we are a couple,� Murillo said. “But there are times when our background comes up. I remember Victor telling me that he wasn’t baptized and my initial reaction was

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‘How could you not be baptized?’ I was raised Catholic so I remember doing my first communion and going to church ‌ My less-than positive reaction caused a little argument. So I had to learn to be respectful and open minded about our religious upbringing.â€?

Winters and her boyfriend did not have to compromise because they are both Christian. “We don’t really have different beliefs,� Winters said. “Ryan and I are on the same page about things like that. I actually think we are lucky. I’ve heard horror stories of how other relationships work when you are a different race or have different beliefs. Ryan and I will probably never come close to any of those.�

Winters also said they focus on less tension-filled issues as a couple. “We have normal issues in a relationship; finding time to hang out between work and school, playing too many video games, shopping too much, things like that,� Winters said.

Some may still be dated in their beliefs of interracial relationships. “There is no better word to describe people who don’t accept

interracial couples but ignorant,�

Serrade said. “They are going to have to deal with it, whether they like it or not. The world is not getting more homogeneous but diverse.�

Potts also said that couples will not be fazed by the rejection of their relationships. “From my experience with interracial dating a lot of the rejection comes privately from family and friends of either party,�

Potts said. “Acceptance of mixed couples has come a long way because there’s nothing anyone can really do to keep people apart.

So whether or not it’s mentally accepted it is socially accepted.�

Murillo has experienced the acceptance while attending a public event with his boyfriend. “One example I can think of was on Halloween in 2010, we were at the West Hollywood Mardi Gras waiting for Robyn to come on,�

Murillo said. “We weren’t dressed up in costumes and someone asked us what we were supposed to be.

Another person interjected and said, ‘Duh they are an interracial couple, they are the future.’ I always remembered that.�

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

14

Features Students Life Center a place to

relax

BRIGETTE VILLASENOR MULTICULTURE EDITOR

Yu-Gi-Oh!, Table tennis, Fight sticks and Scrabble. The student life center at Mt. SAC is full of colorful game consoles, competitive matches, and hip-hop dancing.

Ruben Pastrano, 21, electrical engineer major, said the environment is laid back and entertaining.

“It is just to hang out with friends, and have fun,” said Pastrano.

A group of students sat outside and played scrabble with two pages full of scores, while another group of students inside pounded away at their controllers, also called fight sticks, during a game of Guilty Gear on their laptops.

Manuel Ladao, 20, media arts major, said that aside from their entertainment purposes, they also provide skills applicable to everyday life.

“These games teach us critical thinking, character building, analytical skills, and good sportsmanship,” said Ladao. “They are the tools of the trade.”

Clockwise from top: Foosball tables available for students to use, A group of students gather to play Guilty Gear on the Wii consol, A student chooses letters during a game of Scrabble, Ruben Pastrano prepares to set a card during a Yu-Gu-Oh! match. Sterling Knight/MOUNTAINEER.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

A&E

15

Downtown L.A. is upbeat in the art scene Vanessa Osio A&E Editor In the middle of Downtown Los Angeles, just a few blocks away from Skid Row, you might not expect to see people browsing art galleries, dining or lounging at bars, but Downtown Los Angeles has become a hot spot for people to socialize. On the second Thursday of every month, located on Spring and Main Streets, between Second and Ninth Streets, the Downtown Art Walk takes place and is free to all.

Local food trucks are also parked throughout the route, offering a variety of foods. The Art Walk also hosts the Art Walk Lounge, which features a different artist each month.

Qathryn Brehm, director of operations, has worked with the art walk for three years and said it has grown over the years and now takes place over several city blocks.

“The Art Walk started eight to 10 years ago, and three years ago was the first time they hired a paid staff,” Brehm said. “Originally, there were three to five galleries, and now there are 40, and originally there were 150 people and now there are thousands.”

The lounge is the main gallery where visitors can pick up information about the art walk and view the featured artist’s work on display. There is a disc jockey at the scene who plays music for visitors while many artists show their work in galleries and others display their

pieces outside on the sidewalks.

Robert Vargas, a local artist, displayed his work on the corner of Spring and Sixth Streets in front of a building that displayed a portrait he painted earlier this year called “Our Lady of DTLA.” Vargas said he often incorporates the general public into his work by asking passersby if he can paint them.

“It’s a whole other experience; it’s really a shared experience,” Vargas said.

The Hive Exhibits, one of the many art galleries, features work from artists who have been involved with the Downtown Los Angeles art scene from the beginning. One display, created by artist Greg Gould, is a pair of Mickey and Minnie Mouse lamps that stand about 4 feet tall with gas masks covering their faces.

Gould, who describes himself as a pop surreal artist, has been a part of the exhibit since 2005. He described his Mickey and Minnie piece as “a piece of forgotten collective history of ours.”

The U.S. government and Walt Disney teamed up to make children’s gas masks in the event of an attack during World War II. Gould said he wants to recreate his pieces with every Disney character.

Andrew Garcia, 23, a first-time visitor to the art walk, said he would like to come back every month. “All these galleries and the atmosphere make it a great way to spend a Thursday night,” said Garcia.

Vanessa Osio/MOUNTAINEER From top to bottom: “Minnie and Mickey Mouseketeer” by Greg Gould, “Our Lady of DTLA” by Robert Vargas, and “Titled” by Timothy Robert Smith.

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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

16

Cont. from Obamacare P. 3 Kaiser Family Foundation.

Online marketplaces provide a single application for consumers to apply for insurance, tax credits, and Medicaid. This will ensure that all people searching for health insurance through the marketplaces will be directed to the plan that best suites their needs for the lowest cost.

Individuals who fail to acquire health insurance, either through their employer or the marketplace, will be subject to a fine. In 2014, this fine is set at $95 or one percent of an individual’s annual income, whichever is higher. Individuals who have an income tax too low to file taxes may qualify for an exemption. Exemption outlines are provided on CoveredCA.com.

Stronger Consumer Protections No matter which plan is chosen, all plans will provide new protections to guard consumers.

These protections encompass women, children and young adults alike. According to a detailed summary of the law provided by the domestic policy council and the senate, the ACA will eliminate lifetime limits on benefits, prohibit unreasonable cancellations of insurance policies, forbid insurance companies from charging women a higher premium, provide preventative services at no outof-pocket cost, extend dependent coverage up to age 26, cap insurance companies non-medical and administrative spending and provide assistance for those who are uninsured because of preexisting conditions.

In other words, health insurance companies are prohibited from putting a dollar amount on how much they are willing to spend on you should you get sick. Similarly, insurers cannot cancel your coverage if you should become sick or make an honest mistake on your application.

With these new protections in full effect, women can now rest assured that they will not be charged more for health insurance.

Furthermore, insurance policies are now required to provide a full range of preventative services, which include mammograms, well-woman visits, breastfeeding support and supplies and gestational diabetes screenings. According to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, this protection grants preventative services to nearly 47 million women at no cost.

The ACA allows young adults up to age 26 to stay on their parent’s health care plan. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, “young adults can join their parents plan even if they do not live in the same state as their parent, are not financially dependent on their parent, or are married.”

Essentially, the protection that caps insurance companies’ nonmedical spending was put in place to give the consumer more bang for their buck. Under this protection, health insurers are required to spend 80 percent of consumer’s premium dollars on health care, rather than advertisements or other expenditures unrelated to the patient’s health. If health insurance companies choose not to follow this regulation, they are required to provide their buyer with a rebate.

Additionally, if insurance companies wish to raise their rates by 10 percent or more, they are now required by law to publicly justify

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

their reasoning.

Last, but certainly not least, the ACA puts an end to pre-existing condition discrimination. The ACA ended discrimination for those with pre-existing conditions under the age of 19 back in 2010. That protection has now been expanded to include all Americans with preexisting conditions, making it illegal for them to be denied coverage based upon their ailment.

Essential Health Benefits Under the ACA, health insurance providers are now required to provide consumers with essential health benefits, which includes ambulatory patient services (blood tests, vaccines, x-rays, etc.), emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse disorder services (including behavioral health treatment), prescription drugs, rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices, laboratory services, preventative and wellness services and chronic disease management and pediatric services (including dental and vision care).

All health care packages must provide these essential health benefits in order to be certified and offered to the general public through the marketplace exchange.

What this means for students In a study conducted in 2011 by Jean Johnson and Jon Rochkind for the public agenda, 69 percent of college students who did not graduate from college said that having health insurance would have helped them “a lot” in completing their degree.

With The Affordable Care Act in full effect as of Oct. 1, students will be granted access to health insurance through their parents, employers or marketplace exchanges. However, many students are still facing financial hardship and question whether or not the Affordable Care Act will, in fact, be affordable.

Zachary Digioia, 19, kinesiology major, said that the Affordable Care Act has affected his finances in ways that he did not anticipate.

“Before that happened, [In-NOut employees] were working an unlimited amount of hours,” he said.

“But now all part-time employees have to work 28 hours or less a week.

“If not we have to apply for a full time position, which entails benefits and stuff but part-time employees don’t get that,” Digioia added.

Although he is covered under his parent’s health insurance, he said he misses the days when he could work as many hours as he could manage.

“Every week is basically the same. I pretty much know what my paycheck will look like and what’s going to happen,” Digioia said.

“Sometimes, you get even less hours because they have to fit so many employees in that small amount of time, so everyone’s hours are getting cut very severely.”

But not all students are in the same boat.

Starbucks employee Tamika Adams, 25, journalism major, said that she has been offered extended benefits and more affordable options for health care through Starbucks even though she is only a part-time employee. This news came just in time, considering she only has a year left on her parent’s insurance plan.

“I actually have to start fielding now and seeing whichever plan

I would like to be able to get, because within a year’s time, I’m actually going to be without health insurance under my parents,” said Adams.

Adams said she had not received any other information concerning the law besides what she acquired on her own and through her employer.

“As an independent person trying to navigate through it all, I feel that it’s really on your shoulders,” said Adams. “It’s up to you to inform yourself.”

While students may be lacking information, faculty received a memo outlining what coverage will be offered to them based upon their employment status.

What this means for faculty Mt. SAC is home to a vast array of employees, full-time, part-time and per diem alike. According to Jose Pena, registered nurse at the Student Health Services Center, the ACA may not affect staff as much as it will affect students, especially if they are already insured.

“There are different employees that are full time, part time and per diem.” Pena said. “So the staff that is full time more than likely has health insurance through Mt. SAC and it would not affect them.”

Benefits specialist Hawk Yao confirmed that only faculty members working a 50 percent or greater position will be offered health insurance through the

News “As an independent person trying to navigate through it all, I feel that it’s really on your shoulders, it’s up to you to inform yourself.”

—Tamika Adams college. All part time and per diem employees will be directed to the marketplace.

The package offered to eligible faculty members will cover dependents up to age 26, and certifiably meets the minimum value standard.

The controversy associated with Obamacare has recieved far more attention than the law itself, and has left many Americans searching for the facts. Whether the law is beneficial for every American has yet to be determined by the mass collective, but the majority of people agree that this law will go down in American history.

“He might be a good president, he might not be,” said Torner.

“Regardless, [Obama] is going to leave a mark.”

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

College Life

Get on my level Grand Theft Auto V Earns $1 Billion in Five Days

DAMION JULIEN ROHMAN STAFF WRITER The Grand Theft Auto series continues its reign as one of the top-selling games in the entertainment industry.

On Sept. 20, Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of the Grand Theft Auto series, said that the latest game in the open-world crime series garnered sales of $1 billion within the first three days of arriving on shelves. The game was initially released on Sep. 17, where it sold $800 million worldwide that day alone.

In a press release, Take-Two said that the three day $1 billion sales mark made it the fastest selling entertainment property, “…including feature films and games.” The release cited the Disney Corporation’s Marvel’s The Avengers and Call of Duty: Black Ops II as examples to the feat. The Avengers is currently known to be the fastest film to reach $1 billion in sales in the U.S., while Black Ops II previously gained its record of “fastest-selling” within 15 days.

The Chairman and CEO of TakeTwo, Strauss Zelnick, provided his

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own statement in the press release, stating that Grand Theft Auto “is a cultural phenomenon.” Zelnick added, “We are incredibly proud of the extraordinary critical and commercial response to Grand Theft Auto V.” Some analysts now predict that the game will make another billion when the online multiplayer portion of the game, GTA Online, is made available. Free with every copy of the game, GTA Online will be playable at the time of print, and developer RockStar Games has said that there are no prerequisites to unlock the multiplayer mode.

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League of Legends Championships; Semi-Finals JULIAN MUHR STAFF WRITER In League of Legends news, the world championships have been underway for the past two weeks seeing the best teams from around the world gathering in the greater Los Angeles area for their chance at winning the coveted Summoner’s cup.

The group stages held at Riot Studios in Santa Barbara went for about a week including many hard-fought victories and crushing defeats. Emerging battle-worn from the group stages were teams Fnatic and Gambit from Europe, Team OMG from China, and team SKT1 from Korea.

In the quarterfinal bracket stage the following weekend, North America’s last team Cloud9, found themselves pitted against Europe’s Fnatic. And after a best of three series Fnatic emerged bloody but victorious, having removed North America from world finals completely.

China’s Royal Club swept OMG, while SKT1 swept South East Asia’s team, Gamania Bears. In a very hard fought series, Korea’s Najin Black Sword was able to take out the European super power in Gambit Gaming.

The semifinals series that took place Friday to Sunday, Sept. 27-29 was held at the Galen Center at USC. With Friday being the best of five matches between Korean teams

SKT1 and Najin Black Sword the weekend started off with a bang.

The series went all five games culminating in all out brawl of a fifth game where SKT1 was able to live up to the hype of its Mid Lane player Faker, the play maker.

Saturday, Oct. 28 saw Europe’s Fnatic vs. China’s Royal club and while Fnatic did not go down easily, their performance left something to be desired of the last remaining European team.

Friday, Oct. 4, the championships moved down the street to the Staples Center for the final match between SKT1 and Royal Club.

Check Mountiewire.com for a complete update on the on the championships.

Slutty side up CHRISTINA ARTMANNI COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR

PROMISE YOURSELF SUCCESS

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With a name like Eggslut, one might not expect the food truck’s breakfast sandwich to be classy.

But Eggslut, the breakfast and lunch food truck that almost always sits outside of Handsome Coffee Roasters in Downtown Los Angeles, delivers gourmet high quality breakfast sandwiches that rival those of some of the best restaurants in town.

Owners and cousins Alvin Cailan and Jeff Vales came up with the name through a text message and said they couldn’t deny that the name was catchy. They also said that they used to get up early to deliver their food in the early hours they referred to as “whore hours.”

“We’d get up and out before the sun rose, sell our product on the streets, and give you the best food experience you’d never forget,” Vales said.

And for people who do not have time for breakfast in the morning and skip straight to lunch, Eggslut is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. including Saturdays and Sundays and serves a variety of breakfast and lunch sandwiches ranging in price from $5-$10.

A popular one is the sausage and egg sandwich that will surely put any of McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches to shame. Patrons can choose between thick bacon slices or a flavorful sausage patty with an over-easy egg stuffed between two warmed brioche buns.

Another favorite is “Thee Slut”

Christina Artmanni/Mountaineer Eggslut parked in Downtown L.A.

that comes with a gently poached egg topped with a bit of coarse salt, chives, and a creamy potato puree served in a small mason jar. For lunch-goers, Eggslut offers “The Avo Burger,” a beef burger with Tillamook cheddar cheese, avocado and an over- easy egg stuffed between brioche buns. So why did the cousins decide on an egg truck?

“Eggs are pretty fundamental in cooking,” Vales said. “Its basic, you can do a ton of stuff with it, and we felt like there was nothing else out there showcasing it.

Conceptualizing the menu helped reinforce the decision for the name.”

Vales said that his restaurant will soon establish permanent residency at their own brick and mortar at Grand Central Market in Downtown L.A. Until then, follow them on Twitter @eggslutla.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

18 Sports Women’s soccer on a scoring streak Adolfo Tigerino News Editor Women’s soccer season is off to a good start, overcoming early season injuries. The Mounties; 4-1-2, have been getting stronger offensively with the increase of communication, passing and crosses.

Seven games in the season, the team already has 30 goals.

“We’re a goal scoring team,” Coach Bowen said.

At the start of the season the Mounties lost captain and midfielder Maricela Santana, who tore her anterior crucial ligament, ACL, and is out for the season.

“We need to fill that hole. Some people are already stepping up,” said Bowen. “Nancy Vega came off the bench today. She gave one of her kidneys today like the rest of the team. We’re really proud of her, she’s player of the game [at Chaffey], Samantha Orodpour as well gave her heart and soul today.”

Interim Coach Kristen Purper Long added after the Southwestern game on Sept. 24, 5-0, that fullback Brittany Batterton established her presence in the field by being vocal and communicating with her teammates which allowed them to form a stronger defense throughout the game.

“We definitely molded together,”

said Purper Long. “We pushed up what we needed to, and filled in the gaps.”

The team had its first loss against undefeated Chaffey; 9-01, on Sept. 17. However, the loss only made them a stronger team.

The Mounties bounced back with a strong performance against Southwestern; 5-0, and El CaminoCompton Center; 7-0. In both games the team started to shoot more often as soon as the whistle was blown.

“We emphasized pulling the trigger, meaning they need to take more shots on goal,” Purper Long said. “They were afraid to make mistakes. But we said, we just need shots. Don’t be afraid. If you make mistakes, you will get better next time. Putting balls on the back of the net. That’s what we did this week.”

The players said that aggressive aspect added to their game, improved their overall performance.

“We brought a lot more components into the game, a lot more shooting,” said midfielder Rachelle Felix.

Each game their communication has improved allowing the team to pass effectively.

“It’s all about communication, getting each other motivated, and not bringing each other down,” said

Adolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer Forward Stephanie Catone pushes through El Camino-Compton Center offense on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

forward Hailey Havelind.

As long as the Mounties continue to improve as a whole, Mt. SAC will be a driving force in the Southern Coast Conference. The biggest rival in the conference they will face is the undefeated Cerritos; 7-0, on Oct. 22 Most players said as long as

they improve on their speed, ball movement, and keep a strong communication they will continue their strong presence in conference.

“We have to keep our head in the game, keep focused, play with each other, play for each other and we’ll win every game,” midfielder Samantha Orodpour said.

Flawless season still in play Our biggest opponent is ourselves.”

—Coach Juan Sanchez

Stephanie Hacha/Mountaineer Cross country runner Freshman Kevin Medina 20, warms up before practice Tuesday Oct.1

Cross country goes the distance Lauren Walden Staff Writer With both men’s and women’s teams ranked third and second respectively and 12 state championships, the crosscountry team at Mt. SAC is very accomplished. The men’s cross country team, led by head coach Mike Goff and assistant coach Victor Estrada are both very excited for the upcoming season for another reason.

“There is more talent this year and everyone has been working harder than ever,” said Goff. “All of the runners at least run 85 to 100 miles a week which takes extreme discipline and dedication,” said Goff. International German student Christoph Uphues has high hopes for his running career and for this season to begin.

“I’m very excited for this season, and I just want to run fast,” said Uphues. This determination all leads up to what every runner is

working toward, and that is the state championship.

“I’m looking forward to state, we have big goals in Fresno,” said Kevin Mejia. “But, until then we have a lot of workouts.”

This cross-country team has led a great tradition throughout the years at Mt. SAC while even being honored in magazines such as “Runners World Magazine.”

Although, after 18 years of coaching at Mt. SAC and 32 years coaching overall, it will be Mike Goff ’s last year as head coach, though not his last year on the Mt. SAC campus.

Students might be able to see him as a Biology teacher or also volunteering for the cross-country teams.

Teaching will always be in his heart and he will always try to have students pursue their passion.

“It’s important for people to realize that in whatever they do that they just cant give up, if it is something important to them,” said Goff.

Adolfo Tigerino News Editor The four time state championship men’s soccer team continues on an undefeated streak.

The Mounties; 5-0-3, have a larger target on their back this season. The added pressure motivates the team to work harder, Coach Juan Sanchez said.

One of the biggest challenge for the team has been players not expecting the games to be an all out brawl every match.

“Every game is like a final, because everybody wants to beat us,” Sanchez said. “That’s the one challenging thing that these kids didn’t expect that high intensity every single game in and out.”

Sanchez added that the team welcomes the challenge.

“A lot of teams are putting more pressure on us, but that’s the only way you get better as a player,” Sanchez said. “We want those challenges. As long as we’re up for it and we compete, it makes it fun that way.”

The Mounties still have to work on their offense to become a stronger team.

“We need to work on our finishing. We’re building up that possession of the ball, but we’re still

Adolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer Forward Armando Ochoa maintains ball possession against San Bernardino Valley College, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

struggling on finishing,” Sanchez said.

Although the finishing needs adjustment, the Mounties defeated their latest opponent El CaminoCompton Center, 2-0, on Oct. 1.

Players attributed the win to better communication, and increased pressure.

“We continued to keep pressure or else it would be a tie,” said defender Alex Patino on the first goal that he scored against El Camino-Compton Center.

The last four games the Mounties have been working on their cohesion.

“Finding a connection with the team, the chemistry, and being on each other. The longer we play the more it comes to us,” said forward Tyrone Pitter.

No matter what team they face this season the biggest challenge will be overcoming themselves according to Sanchez.

“That’s always a daily challenge, making sure we’re mentally focused or physically ready,” Sanchez said.

“Our biggest opponent is ourselves.”

Mt. San Antonio College Mountaineer

Sports

She’s got the drive

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

19

Mt. SAC football enters a new phase

MICHAEL CHAVEZ SPORTS EDITOR

MICHAEL CHAVEZ SPORTS EDITOR

The winding trails and rolling hills behind Mt. SAC are not unfamiliar to golfer Laura Macias.

Her first stint on the Mt. SAC campus ended early and Macias found herself looking to join the workforce.

“I graduated in ’96 from Charter Oak High School and came over [to Mt. SAC],” said Macias 35, kinesiology major. “I enrolled in 18 units, and kind of bombarded myself. I went to school for a little bit and then decided to join the workforce.”

Her trajectory would take her from coaching travel ball to time in the United States Navy. During her time in the navy, Macias performed duties similar to that of a firefighter.

“I was in damage control so that’s basically firefighting, it’s like engineering and welding,” said Macias.

After being discharged from the navy, Macias began to work her way up in the Home Depot Corporation.

“I oversaw ten stores in Orange County,” said Macias. “But after being let go in 2008 I decided I wanted to go into kinesiology.”

In her drive to become a full time collegiate coach, Macias came into contact with Women’s Golf Head Coach Mike Green.

“I met him … and found out what kind of program he ran,” said Macias. “I liked the vibe and I liked golf so I just hung onto him.”

In just a year under Coach Green, Macias has improved her game by 40 strokes, and just broke 90 strokes in competition. The rate at which she has improved is remarkable for a golfer at any level.

“She’s legit,” said Green.

The Mounties exit the month of September with a record of three wins and a single loss. Those victories would come at a steep price however, as the Mounties would lose their first game, their home opener, and number one ranking to Saddleback. In that loss, Mt. SAC learned valuable lessons despite taking those early lumps.

It learned where the strength of the offense was and it adapted to allowing both Justin Alo and Rocky Moore to rotate in at quarterback.

Alo would come in as a dual threat while Moore proved to be the more polished passer. Jamal Overton returned to his role as the workhorse running back and Kaelin Clay silenced any doubters with his explosive, ankle-breaking, dynamic play both as a return man and as a wide receiver.

“He’s just a great athlete and he’s done it for us all season,” said Head Coach Bob Jastrab about his superstar receiver. “We’re fortunate to have him.”

Even without the loss to Saddleback, the schedule hasn’t been without its ups and downs.

The Mounties have struggled with ball security, turning the ball over 13 times in four games. Those turnovers, however, are also a testament to the strength of the first four opponents.

“The schedule, to have to play those four teams to start off the season is a grind,” said Jastrab.

“We’re fortunate to be where we are and we have to get healthy, we’re banged up.”

Building toward a common goal and improving the entire way is a sentiment echoed not just by the coaching staff but by players who are in leadership roles.

“We just have to keep on our

Stephanie Hacha/Mountaineer Running back Jamal Overton breaks through Saddleback’s defensive line on Saturday, September 7.

Saddleback defeated Mt. SAC, 44-20.

game plan,” said running back Jamal Overton, 20, kinesiology major. “we just got to keep getting better.”

“Our camaraderie, we’re getting there,” said Kaelin Clay, 21, kinesiology major. “We got rid of the people we didn’t need and we did what we needed to do as a team and we had to come together as a team because after the saddleback loss it struck us. We were number one in the nation, we had a target on our backs and they took it off.”

Mt. SAC will get a chance to build as a team when they look to tackle two straight road games and then return home to Hilmer Lodge Stadium to take on LA Harbor who wasn’t as fortunate in the month of September.

Offensively, the Mounties are comfortable using a two quarterback rotation with passer Rocky Moore and dual threat, Justin Alo. Alo brings a load of athleticism to the position and when both he and Overton are

in the game, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will be getting the ball.

Thereis plenty of speed outside for the Mounties, not even including Clay, so Mt. SAC can exploit the secondary of any team they come against.

It won’t be just as simple as holding onto the ball for the Mounties; they’ll also need to tighten up their defense. Mt. SAC ranks in the middle of the central conference in total defense and struggles to bring opposing quarterbacks down. While Citrus ranks at the top of the conference with 20 sacks, Mt. SAC sits four notches below with 11. Those numbers will have to improve as the team moves deeper into the season and vies for a post-season position.

If the team can clean up the turnovers and shore up the defense, especially against mobile quarterbacks, the Mounties could be in for a special season. The building blocks are there; now it’s time to put them all together.

Water polo team will not back down Michael Chavez Sports Editor Water polo is not the easiest sport to understand for the average or new fan. Rules are often subjective to how closely a certain official will call a game. On top of fans, players and coaches having to deal with how tightly officials call games, much of the game is hidden.

“Here is the deal with water polo; you only see 15 percent of the game. You do not see 85 percent of the game because it’s played under water,” said Men’s Water Polo Head Coach Marc Ruh. Even with the rules or some of the action being taken away from fans in the stands, the Mt. SAC men’s water polo team has generated a great deal of action in their first month of season like what Michael Phelps did in the Olympics. This is despite having a young team that has been forced to come together quickly against some of the top fouryear universities during the Naval Academy Tournament in Annapolis, Md. With such a young team it is important to have strong practices.

According members of the young team, this team has the ability to have a special season.

“These practices are some of the best I have had in my life. The

season is bright for us,” said Mark Mullikin, 18, criminal justice major.

Ruh is making sure his players receive the correct coaching during practice to maximize the talent they have but also ensure they have the correct technique and work ethic to compete against any team they face.

All of that coaching is showing up even in defeats.

“Already now I think we are a better team than at the beginning of the year,” said Ruh. “We lost in overtime to Orange Coast. That was kind of a big game for us because Orange Coast was bigger, stronger, faster, smarter, older, and more mature. All of those things rolled into one. But we played a real tough, technically sound game and stayed in the game all the way through ran out of gas at the end of the game and lost in overtime.”

That kind of loss is the proverbial “moral victory.” While a loss is still a loss the players are gaining confidence and buying into the coaching. If they can continue on this upward trend, they should be in a position to compete for postseason honors. With the season ending in November it would appear the time frame to gain ground on the rest of the conference is fleeting. A closer inspection shows the Mounties have 19 games left in the season. That is

Stephanie Hacha/Mountaineer Defender Chad Gamboa brawls with Fullerton for ball control on Saturday, Sept. 21. The game went to double overtime resulting in Mt. SAC losing to Fullerton, 15-14.

more than enough time to tighten up team chemistry and become a legitimate threat in every game they play. A top ten ranking is not out of the question to end the season for Mt. SAC. “We have a great group of guys

that are coming together to put one hell of a season together,” said Nick Estevez, 19, math major.

That kind of statement, from one of the Mountie’s youngest players, gives fans a window into what kind of mindset this team has.

Finding a

parking space

is no longer

a college

requirement

Now Mt. SAC students can ride hassle-free Foothill Transit buses for free! Pick up your new Class Pass at the SacBookRac. For details, visit foothilltransit.org/mtsac.

CLASS PASS M T . Â S A C

Going Good Places