Spring 2014 Issue 2

April 23, 2014 l Vol 85 Issue 2

A student run newspaper of the Mt. SAC Journalism Program l mountiewire.com

SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL AREFORWETHE READY P.2

56th annual relays returns to SAC P.8

BIG ONE?

Crash from the past P.14

Coachella: Art, music, fashion in Indio P.12

Students in drag P.10

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Mountaineer

2

Mt. San Antonio College

News

Students battle it out for parking spaces Esther Solis Staff Writer Unspoken rules, vandalizing, and reckless driving. When parking battle lines are crossed, students take matters into their own hands.

Congestion in the parking lots affects students daily.

In March, Skyler Rendon, 21, film production major, returned to her parking spot to find the right rear tire of her green Honda Civic slashed.

Rendon arrives one hour and 30 minutes early to park on the side of the aisle and wait for an available parking spot to open. She was waiting in parking lot D the day her vehicle was vandalized. As she began to back up for a student who was leaving their parking spot, another vehicle tried to surpass her. “They kept honking at me and kept trying to cut me off. They were close to hitting my car,” Rendon said. The white vehicle trying to forcibly take Rendon’s parking spot ultimately had to back up to allow room for the car leaving. Rendon was able to take the spot she had been waiting for.

“After that I went to class and I thought that was the end of it,” said Rendon. She found a flat tire upon her return. The rubber had a clean slit like one that you get when using a box cutter according

to Rendon.“This person had cut my tire up and given me a flat. I was very very very mad,” said Rendon.

Rendon called campus police but was only able to identify the car but not the license plate. They filed a vandalism report. The officer told Rendon that they could not do anything about this incident if she did not have the license plate number of the other car because there are no cameras in the Mt. SAC parking lot. Mt. SAC Public Safety was unavailable to comment.

Rendon is not the only student that has been affected by the parking struggle. Some students would rather not sit in their car and wait for parking spots to open.

Matt Estrada, 20, communication major, takes initiative. He waits for students to walk out of Building 26 and asks if he can take their parking spot. Estrada said this does not prevent parking altercations.

Some students have tried to cut him off as well. “Obviously, If you’re driving behind somebody, or take a person back to their car, that’s kind of your spot. Especially if you ask the person and they gave you permission,” said Estrada.

Other students said they believe in survival of the fittest. Accidents can occur with car weaving, a maneuver by which someone forcibly steals a parking spot that

another student had been waiting for. The person that was hoping to get that parking spot has to keep on looking or wait for another spot to open. “Or people just curse you out and say, ‘I’m going to fucking kill you’,” said Sequeria.

There are no written rules about who should take a parking spot in such situations.

“If you’re waiting in the back and I just go ahead in front of you that’s my spot,” said Chris Wang, 23, business administration major.

Richard Sequeria, 22, computer science and nuclear engineering major, is not keen about having to be 45 minutes early to find parking.

“Mt. SAC should give provisional parking spots and let us use [the] staff lot. At least at the beginning of each semester,” Sequeria said.

For Cassandra Davidson, a 24, behavioral science major, finding parking during rush hour is not just stressful, it is dangerous. “A lot of people do not want to wait for parking [to be available],” said Davidson. This semester was not the first time that Davidson’s life was threatened by a reckless parking lot driver. “I’ve almost gotten ran over,” Davidson said.

Johanna Ruiz, 20, political science major, said she has not driven recklessly through the parking lot, but has felt like she

was stuck inside of parking lot H. “You could be held up at that stop for the longest time because pedestrians rush to cross the street before you get a chance to go,” said Ruiz. During rush hour students are either walking to their classrooms or going to their cars.

For Desiree Vargas, 21, theater major, parking is a gamble. “If you’re driving in the right spot and someone is leaving, then you got lucky,” Vargas said.

Some Mt. SAC students have turned to public transportation to evade parking troubles. “That’s why none of us wanted the Foothill Transit to go away. That was the best thing that happened,” said Peter Pineda, 24, political science major.

Student count surpasses parking by a 1:10 ratio. The number of students enrolled in credit, community service fee, and continuing education classes add up to approximately 79,000 students according to the college’s 2012-13 annual report.

Two or more cars can be found parked on the aisles waiting for a chance to score parking. “I wish Mt. SAC would put in cameras or add more parking to help students out.

My case is only one of the many that have happened in the parking lots,” Rendon said.

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Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

News

STAFF Editor-in-Chief Albert Serna Mountiewire Editor-in-Chief Adolfo Tigerino Managing Editor Sasha Chavez Art Director Cynthia Schroeder News Editor Adolfo Tigerino Opinion Editor Sasha Chavez Features Editor Christina Artmanni A&E Editors Jamie Rocha, Monica Garcia Tech Editor Damion Julien-Rohman College Life Editor Julian Muhr Multiculture Editor Manny Flores Sports Editor Michael Chavez Assistant Sports Editor Layla Jasco Photo Editor Stephanie Hacha Social Media Director Vanessa Osio Copyeditor Ebony Hardiman Staff Reporters Analisse Deleon, Jose De Castro, Monserrath Flores, Adrian Islas, Brittney Morales, Angelica Olivares, Amanda Recio, Samantha Romero, Cynthia Schroeder, Ana Silva, Esther Solis Staff Writers Joseph Anchondo, Rachelle Araghi, Christopher Ayala, Portia Blankson, Yunuen Bonaparte, Daney Casas, Darell Coleman, Fantashia Francis, Rolcan Garcia, Ernest Gonzales, Ebony Hardiman, Sabrina Hernandez, Michelle Jensen, April Jimenez, Angelica Loera, James Lommer, Valerie Roxas Amanda Rubio, Jennifer Sandy, Donna Solis, Sylvia Villanueva, Robert de Anda, Michael Tarronas, Nicole Taylor, Jillian Copeland, Zohair Yusufali Photographers Beatrice Alcala, Pablo Unzueta, Alex Aimaq, Stephanie Hacha, Jose De Castro, Adolfo Tigerino, Hugo Avina, Alex Urquidez

3 Earthquakes rattle concerns on campus Jamie Rocha A&E Editor It’s 8 a.m. and you’re in class on the third floor of the tallest building on campus. You’re half asleep when you feel a rumbling against the soles of your feet. All of a sudden you are woken up by a violent shaking that throws you off of your chair.

You hide under the table to cover yourself from the falling debris from the ceiling, while flashes of sparks fall like rain from the light bulbs breaking above from the extreme jolting. As you hear your classmates yell in fear, you wonder: “What do I do next?”

When an earthquake occurs in California, the media sensationalizes the need to be ready for the “big one,” with the importance of being prepared at home. But what happens if the big one strikes when you are on campus? Is Mt. SAC prepared for a disaster like “the big one”?

The 5.1 earthquake in the neighboring city of La Habra on March 29, 2014 was followed by hundreds of aftershocks including a significant 4.1 shaking in Rowland Heights, according to the U.S. Geological survey. But not only was the earthquake followed by aftershocks, but an outpour of social media reactions on Facebook and Twitter as people post about their fear of the possibility that the earthquake was an indication of the “big one.”

A major concern on some students and faculty’s mind is building safety. While Mt. SAC has constructed, and continues to plan for, new state-of-the-art buildings, the biggest and most used buildings are some of the oldest.

“If a major earthquake hits, it would probably knock some of these buildings out,” Jesse Torres, 18, history major, said.

Amanda Schoggins, 20, liberal arts major, who has a class in the lower ground level of Building 26D, said she is not in the best place if an earthquake strikes.

“It is scary because you don’t know what to do if it happens,

especially if we are in the lower floor,” Schoggins said. “You just don’t know.”

The concern of Mt. SAC’s level of preparedness to handle an earthquake is growing with students, but also with faculty.

“I don’t think we are ready,” English professor Margie Whalen said. “I think we have a real basic sense of what we should do as faculty[...] but in terms of first aid, getting supplies, and what we do with our minors, because we have students who are 17 or younger, there are no real clear instructions as far as I know on what our obligations are for taking care of minors.”

Karen Saldana, director of Safety, Health Benefits, and Risk Management, said that Mt. SAC has protocol to respond to an emergency, like the Marshal Program - where faculty are assigned to safety leader positions in each building to insure the safety of the students in case of an emergency.

“There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that the students probably don’t know about,” Saldana said.

“There’s radio communication going on between the departments and divisions, and the Incident Command Post on campus. They are relaying information back and forth and letting them know that the buildings are clear, everyone is accounted for, or if somebody go missing.”

Director of Facilities, Planning, and Management Gary Nellesen said that in regards to building safety that the students are in some of the best buildings they can be in.

“In terms of the facilities we have, the buildings that we built, the infrastructure that we built, it’s all very well built,” Nellesen said.

“It’s built to the highest standards, probably in the world. That’s because of the laws that apply to public schools in California. It’s called the Field Act, which is found in the Education Code. And it raises the standards for the buildings. The structural criteria, that we build our

buildings, to is well above the typical office building or hotel or retail store that you find in southern California. So our buildings are designed to withstand a significant earthquake and be left in the condition that people can safely exit from the building.”

“

It is scary because you don’t know what to do if it happens, especially if we are in the lower floor,” - Amanda Schoggins, 20,

liberal arts major Nellesen said that Mt. SAC is always continuing to better their preparedness in case of an emergency including the almostcompleted construction of the new emergency operations center, which will be used to manage emergency response at the highest level possible. But even though there is a lot going on in planning, Saldana said the issue that may be causing concern among students and faculty is communication.

Saldana acknowledges that information needs to reach students through the faculty, although there is an emergency notification system is in place where text messages are sent during an urgent situation, which is available for sign up in Mt. SAC’s student portal, “Even though I may be doing planning up here and the public safety director may be doing planning, and the director of facilities may be doing planning, but how do we get that information out to you to the students?” Saldana said. “The only way we can do that is to pass that information through the faculty and hope that they are also educating you.”

Multimedia Neil Andersen, Freddy Carlos, Madeline Ealba, Ebony Hardiman, Batool Jaffer, Mariela Marquez, Stephanie Salomon, Sebastian Santiago, Abrielle Simpson, Jonathan Surrey, Rebeca Villasenor, Winter Lighthouse, Ruben Olmedo Advertising Director Veronica Grant Adviser Toni Albertson

Earthquake graphic on cover by Beatrice Alcala The Mountaineer is a college newspaper published by the students in the 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 1100 N. Grand Ave. Walnut, CA Bldg. 26D, 3220B

Graphic by Beatrice Alcala

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Mountaineer

Mt. San Antonio College

Opinion

4

Editorial: Public safety blocks student voice

Adam Valenzuela ʻ14

SHOOTER ON CAMPUS? CALL MARKETING.

The Mt. SAC Public Safety Department has stopped direct communication to the student media (The Mountaineer, mountiewire.com, Substance Magazine) and now refer all inquiries from student journalists to the Mt. SAC Marketing Department. According to Director of Parking Services Michael Montoya, public safety officers are not allowed to speak to any media.

By not speaking directly to student reporters and forcing student journalists to contact the Mt. SAC marketing department, Public Safety not only prevents staff writers and reporters from doing their job, but also violates the First Amendment Rights of the officers.

There are many reasons why it is important for students to know what is happening on campus, whether or not they seek out the information on their own.

Information needs to be available to the student media.

The communication flow between the Mountaineer staff and Mt. SAC Public Safety has, for the past couple of years, been difficult.

Between denying photographers access to scenes in public spaces citing the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act HIPPA and threatening staff reporters with disciplinary action for inquiring about any specific incident, the department has thus limited the information we are able to present to the campus community.

First, let’s examine Mt. SAC Public Safety officer’s claims that photographing students, faculty and

staff on campus in the event of a medical emergency, stabbing, accident, etc. is a violation of their HIPAA rights. This is untrue.

Director of Public Safety Mark DiMaggio has admitted on several occasions that he is aware that HIPAA laws do not apply. He has also admitted that his officers were wrong on several occasions in citing HIPPA yet this has not stopped these officers from continuing to block access, withhold information, and threatening to remove student reporters from the scene while citing an invasion of HIPAA laws as the reason.

“

Police do not understand there is an absolute right to film, record, and photograph them in a public space. There is nothing private about having an emergency in a public space.”

- Frank LeMonte

Student Press Law Center HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, a law intended to make it easier for people to keep their health insurance when they change

jobs. The law set standards for the electronic exchange of patient information, including protecting the privacy of such records. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the Privacy Rule to implement that aspect of the law, and its Office of Civil Rights is in charge of enforcing it.

For example, hospitals will no longer give out the names and conditions of accident victims unless the reporters know each victim’s name, and then only general information will be provided. Covered entities are health plans (including health insurance companies and employer sponsored health plans), health care clearinghouses, and health care providers that engage in defined electronic standard transactions, which generally relate to insurance reimbursement.

To clarify, HIPPA does not bar student journalists from interviewing people or photographing individuals. So why is Mt. SAC Public Safety so uninformed?

Recently, a medical emergency in the new design building, Bldg.

13, occurred. I responded, as I always do, when sirens are heard on campus by running to the building with a photographer to investigate.

Upon arriving, there was a fire truck, paramedic, ambulance and a Mt. SAC Public Safety vehicle. I entered the building wearing my Mountaineer press pass and was told by Mt. SAC Public Safety Officer Alejandro Villegas that I was not allowed to be on the scene and that I was violating HIPAA law.

He went on to block the door and said the student was a minor thus I had no right to be on the scene. He allowed the student’s professor in, but blocked me out. He threatened to write me up for a disciplinary action and stood in front of the photographer who was there to take photos.

When a student was stabbed on Miracle Mile on Sept. 12, I arrived to find a student who was stabbed holding his alleged attacker. I began to photograph the scene and was told that I was violating HIPAA. Knowing my rights, I continued to photograph and began interviewing students. A Mt. SAC public safety officer then told me that I could not interview students. This is an absolute violation of my First Amendment Rights, as well as those of the officer’s prohibited from speaking.

Numerous Mountaineer photographers and writers have been told that taking photos or recording during a medical emergency is violating the victims right to privacy.

Here are the facts. The Student Press Law Center Executive Director Frank LeMonte said that some officers do not understand journalist’s rights when they are reporting.

“Police do not understand there is an absolute right to film, record, and photograph them in a public

space,” said Le Monte. “There is nothing private about having an emergency in a public space.”

LeMonte said that journalists are entitled to the same access as the general public.

“To single out a journalist violates their First Amendment Rights.”

LeMonte added that it is not the responsibility of officers to peruse privacy claims, that is a civil matter.

“Invasion of privacy is a civil claim brought by the person, who can then file a civil suit.”

LaMonte also said that student journalists having to go through marketing is an unnecessary bureaucracy that hinders the flow of information.

“Spokespeople don’t work 24-7 and crime and news doesn’t wait,” LaMonte said.

Clarence Brown, Director of Marketing and Communication, confirmed that all media relations for Public Safety were to be handled through marketing.

I also spoke with Director of Parking Services Michael Montoya who said if a major event like a shooting occurs, student journalists should contact marketing. He also cited HIPAA again as reason for officers not speaking to the student media, once again stating misinformation.

“

Spokespeople don’t work 24-7 and crime and news doesn’t wait.”

- Frank LeMonte

Student Press Law Center Another major issue in the release of public information is the distribution of the Public Safety Crime Log. Student journalists have to arrange via email with the secretary at Public Safety to get a copy printed of the previous month.

It is a federal regulation that the crime log must be up to date within 48 hours. LaMonte said that if the crime log is not up to date, then Public Safety is not keeping up with requirements outlined in the Clery Act. LaMonte said that the student media has every right to pick up the current crime log, weekly, monthly or even daily, if requested. This is not the case with Mt. SAC Public Safety.

We at the Mountaineer will continue to serve our student body and report the news despite any and all setbacks placed in our way by the Mt. SAC Public Safety. Help continue the fight for transparency and stand with the student media in order that we may continue to report the facts, expose the falsehoods, and all that is inbetween.

-

Albert Serna for The Mountaineer

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Opinion

5 Screwed I think I have an STI, now what?

Cynthia Schroeder Art Director

Cartoon: Karla Mejia

Women STILL worth less than men Why America keeps low-balling women Sasha Chavez Managing Editor

Gender inequality will continue so long as women feel the need to ask men to be seen as their equals instead of demanding equal treatment and pay in the workplace.

Employers are paying women less because they have breasts and a vagina. It has nothing to do with low quality production or inadequate credentials. I am not surprised that the Senate did not pass the Paycheck Fairness Act on April 9. If it had passed, the bill would have required employers to report wage data to the Department of Labor, and require that any differences in salary are proven to be based off something other than race or gender.

Despite President Obama’s efforts to back the bill with supporters, Senate Democrats did not have the 60 votes they needed to avoid a Republican filibuster.

In short women are still going to be paid less than men for the same job. Although there is no amount of money that can buy us respect and equal treatment, this bill would have been a noble step in the right direction.

Times are changing. Yale University’s online news site, YaleGlobal, reported in 2014 that women are outnumbering men in colleges globally, 100 to 93.

Women are wearing multiple hats; playing both the mother and the breadwinner and account for 47 percent of the U.S. workforce.

The rising rate of women in the workforce frees them from dependency on men for cash flow in the household. There are now women in elected government positions and women who are CEO’s of their own companies. For the first time since the Paycheck Fairness Act debuted in 1938, women are giving men a run for their money. Still, women are paid a measly 77 cents in comparison to the dollar men make for the same work. In one year, that 23 cent difference can leave working women in America $11,000 short of change.

The fact of the matter is women will perpetually be seen as moms, housewives, and sex objects; but when you put a woman in a suit, societal norms are shattered and gentle sensibilities take offense.

Somehow, society came to the conclusion that women are not multifaceted; that we are not capable of working and nurturing.

Some women who oppose the bill say it is because they feel like the Democratic party is using this issue to push their own agenda.

“Many ladies I know feel like they are being used as pawns, and find it condescending [that] Democrats are trying to use this issue as a political distraction from the failures of their economic policy,” said Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), the GOP conference’s vice chair, at a press conference held April 8.

Senator Jenkins should know better than to criticize the Democratic party for bringing attention to a serious problem in society. Regardless of the reasons, an effort was made to even the playing field. Jenkins’ assertion that women feel like pawns is victimizing instead of empowering, especially during such an important moment in history.

As women inch closer and closer to equal treatment and pay in the workplace, it is imperative that we stayed focused with our eyes on the prize; and please do not misunderstand, the prize is not money. For women, the prize is to be seen as whole entities that are just as capable and intelligent as men.

It is not about the money, it is the principle of the thing. It is degrading to treat anyone as a performing monkey in heels, and it is time for it to stop. Paychecks are not the issue here, equality is.

This is the third time this bill has reached the Senate and it still has not passed. Pushing a piece of paper will not get us the equal treatment we deserve. We need to stop asking for the permission of those who are at the top to be their equal and just take what is ours.

Our grandmothers fought for the right to vote, and the right to work.

Now it is our turn to continue to fight for full equality, in and out of the workplace. It is time to continue the legacy set before us, to fight the patriarchy and show that we are more than worthy of equality.

A few months ago I was in the shower; particularly, I was in the shower making my lady parts so fresh and so clean when suddenly, I dropped my loofah and shrieked in horror. I felt something that felt like a pimple on my outer labia.

Then I felt another one, and again a few more. I quickly rinsed off and grabbed my compact mirror and did a mini self-examination. They were small, clear, flesh colored bumps and there appeared to be about 10 or so. I did a search of my symptoms and diagnosed myself, with the help of my WebMD app of course, with what was my worst fear – vaginal herpes.

The next morning I went to the doctor and after examining me, she did a few tests and told me the results would take two to three days. She also said that it was her gut feeling that I did indeed have vaginal herpes. I took my boyfriend along for the ride, because I figured if I had it, then he probably did too and even worse, I had probably contracted it from him. I remember being so furious at him. He had been the only person that I had been with in the last 8 months so did he cheat on me? Did I have to stay with him for life because nobody would want to sleep with me? What if the love of my life rejected me because of this life long “disease” that I carried? I was so mean to him about it. Finally, I had a moment of clarity and realized that the only reason I was so mad was because society deems those with STIs as extremely sexually promiscuous, which we all know means, “dirty”, right? It really is as messed up as it sounds. It turns out what I had was a rare outbreak of hives and not vaginal herpes but even if I had vaginal herpes, that is nothing to be ashamed of.

There are risks in having sex.

We know this going into it, pun intended, and yet shame others who reap the consequences of having sex. I could have two partners or 20 partners and still contract any STI. The important thing is to first get checked and try to have tests done after each new partner.

The Mt. SAC Student Health Center provides a multitude of sexual health services such as: routine gynecological and testicular examination, sexually transmitted infections screening and pregnancy

tests. Second, if you test positive, you should tell any current partners or recent partners.

Lastly, don’t be ashamed!

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Mountaineer

Mt. San Antonio College

Features

6

Fitting the mold An inside look at body shaming Samantha Romero Staff Writer

S

Top: Emily Servin, 19, business administration major, said she was a victim of body shaming in high school and did not feel she was good enough.

Center: Rodrigo Martir, 21, psychobiology major, diagrees with the media’s definition of beauty. “It’s morally demeaning, wrong and inappropriate.”

Bottom Left: Jessica Anne Dammasch, 29, clerical assistant at DSP&S, who admits to body shaming says that society needs to be aware that beauty does not fit a certain mold. “It’s really about accepting all shapes and sizes.

Bottom right: Blanca Lopez, 19, nursing major, didn’t relize the harmful effects of body shaming until she was a vitim herself. “It’s a way of bullying when you’re making someone feel bad about themselves.”

All photos by Pablo Unzueta/MOUNTAINEER

tudents from a high school ceramics class announced they needed a model for their project, and a young Emily Servin expressed interest in modeling. Nevertheless, this would lead to an emotional and dramatic moment in her life. Servin was left humiliated, embarrassed, and bullied when several girls told her she wasn’t good enough or pretty enough.

Servin, 19, business administration major, has been a victim of body shaming, the act of criticizing another person or themselves for their physical appearance, numerous times. As a result, Servin said that her lack of self-esteem caused her to place personal goals aside.

“I was in band, I was in sports and all of that, and girls being the way they were, very rude and very mean - I dropped out of band, swim and softball,” Servin said. “I didn’t feel I was good enough the way they made me feel.”

In a random sample of 53 people, 91 percent said that body shaming is an issue that has affected many students.

Nursing major Blanca Lopez, 20, noticed the difference in her personality after her co-workers and family members began making comments about her personal appearance.

“I realized my confidence level has taken a toll because I consider myself outgoing and outspoken,” Lopez said. “But when I started seeing how people were looking at me and how I was feeling, I was more quiet and more introverted which is not really how I usually am.”

More than half of the participants of the survey admitted to participating in body shaming.

Jessica Anne Dammasch, 29, clerical assistant at DSP&S, Disabled Student Programs and Services, said she still struggles with the emotional damage of body shaming.

“I feel like I did a lot of body shaming and I still kind of do,”

Dammasch said. “I will break myself down like maybe I’m not thin enough or I’m not toned enough.”

For Lopez, criticizing another individual’s physical appearance seemed like a way to express her own opinion until she realized its harmful effects after she was a victim herself.

“It’s a way of bullying because you’re making someone feel bad about themselves,” Lopez said.

Dammasch said that media has played a defining role in what beauty is.

“I felt from a really young age, a lot of women do a lot body shaming,” Dammasch said.

“Because we read a lot of teen and beauty magazines that tell us to look a certain way and I’m really tired of that.”

Rodrigo Martir, 21, psychobiology major, disagrees with the media’s definition of beauty.

“It’s morally demeaning, wrong and inappropriate,” Martir said.

Some people believe a new wave of body shaming has been introduced through fit inspiration Instagram pages, although these are meant to inspire people to work out.

“It’s kind of shaming your own body that you’re not as tight and toned as the other women,” Dammasch said. “It’s really about accepting all shapes and sizes.”

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 91 percent of women surveyed on a college campus resort to dieting because they are unhappy with their weight.

Dammasch said society needs to be aware that beauty does not fit a certain mold.

“We really need to be aware that the beauty standards of people need to be broader because not everybody is going to fit that beauty standard,” Dammasch said.

“I feel like there is more people who shame themselves because they don’t look a certain way. They’re really hard on themselves and it’s really psychologically damaging. It could lead to eating disorders and health problems.”

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Features

7

Caught between

two worlds

Student finds balance between traditional and modern cultures Cynthia Schroeder Staff Writer

T

The moment she turned 21, Thenushiya Vigneswaran, sociology major, knew she would be faced with disappointing her parents. There was no way she would agree to an arranged marriage because she is a lesbian—something unheard of in Sri Lankan culture.

“When they approached me the first time with the arranged marriage, I was a little hurt realizing how real it was that they had no idea that I loved women and not men.

They were blind.”

According to Vigneswaran, now 24, getting an arranged marriage is a rite of passage and a means to preserve Sri Lankan culture both in Sri Lanka and in the U.S. “They’ve offered to have a man to take care of me and give me everything I want. For some people, that is freedom but to me, it is not.” Even though she will never get an arranged marriage, she still considers her Sri Lankan culture to be very rich and present in her life and said she takes pieces from both her Sri Lankan and American culture to make up who she is as a person. She embraces the core values of what it is to be a Sri Lankan living in the United States; respecting others, finding a career to support the culture and teaching her future kids the same. Yet, she cannot fully be herself.

“Because of some of the choices I make in life, it kind of clashes. In some ways, you have to stop yourself from being who you are [to fit in with Sri Lankan culture],” she said.

Vigneswaran self identifes as a “stud”—a lesbian who dresses more stereotypically masculine than feminine.

When she first started dressing more masculine, she would use the fact that she was a basketball player as an excuse so that her traditional parents did not question her. Her parents still did not understand why she did not appear to be more feminine like her younger sister, Priyanka, even outside the court. “They didn’t understand how my sister couldn’t help dressing up while I wouldn’t wear makeup or tight clothing,” she said. “They even offered spending money on clothes and makeup to make me look more ‘presentable.’”

While Vigneswaran dresses like a stud on a day-to-day basis, she dresses in traditional Sri Lankan clothing to attend community events in an effort to not embarrass her parents.

“At the end of the day, I am a woman and I can use clothing to give myself the ‘straight’ look because I know that is what will

make my parents happy,” she said. “I feel like it would be awkward if I showed up wearing a stud outfit. To [the Sri Lankan community], it looks like I’m a little gangster or a drug dealer or something extreme like that. They don’t know any better.” Vigneswaran’s sister, Priyanka, 21, a former Mt. SAC student, agreed. “[She would] definitely get a lot of looks, there would be a lot of gossiping going on, people would probably stay away and not be sure how to act,” Priyanka said. “Others would probably talk negatively.” Priyanka said that regardless of the people making negative comments, there are people who are supportive of Thenushiya and her choice to be openly gay. “It’s hard for me to accept someone treating her badly for her sexuality but [Thenushiya] being open has showed us people’s true colors.

The people that care will be supportive of her.”

Vigneswaran said that she did not feel angry with her parents, but that she recognizes her parents’ upbringing in Sri Lanka had a lot to do with it. “They didn’t know any better because they had never been exposed to anything outside of the gender norm.”

Vigneswaran said she hopes to accomplish bigger things in life and that being gay does not define who she is. “Other than being gay, you can be a writer, you can be a scholar or you can be like me and do music. There are so many things you can do, ‘gay’ doesn’t define you,” she said.

“That’s why I’m working and going to school because as long as my parents see that I’m doing what I need to be doing then hopefully they’re not going to care what I do with my personal life.” Above all, Thenushiya hopes to be an inspiration for others who do not have the courage yet to come out to their families and to be their true selves. “I’m trying to help other people who are caught up with their parents hating the fact that they’re gay and trying to help them see that they can substitute that with something else,” she said. “I’ve gone through having to move out and have gone through enough to know that it’s going to be okay.”

Arnita Champion, job developer in the Career and Transfer Services office, has known Vigneswaran for five years. Champion has seen Vigneswaran during her lowest and highest points but said that Vigneswaran’s positive attitude always remains the same.

“At her low point, her attitude was ‘this too shall pass’ and at her high point her attitude was ‘nothing can stop me and the sky is the limit,” said Champion. “[Vigneswaran’s] positive attitude is what makes her who she is, not how she dresses and not her lifestyle.

It’s the way she thinks and responds to situations.”

Relays at

Mt. SAC Michael Chavez Sports Editor This year marks the 56th year in a row where some of the best runners in the world converged on the city of Walnut to take place in the annual Mt. SAC relays.

The event kicked off April 12 with the community college division competitions and ran through April 19. Community colleges from all over California were drawn to Hilmer Lodge Stadium to partake in events and display their finest athletes. With so many athletes and competitive events taking place, it would be a difficult feat for any one college to stand out in the competitions. Mt. SAC entered the competition intent on taking first in every event they could but plenty of other colleges showed up to Hilmer Lodge Stadium with the same intention.

The Mounties faced tough competition from Saddleback, Cerritos and Riverside but managed to take first in events like the men’s 100 hurdles by Toure McCully, women’s pole jump by Tiziana Ruiz, and the men’s 4x110 meter shuttle hurdle by the combination of Christopher Hollis, Kyree King, Malcolm Ballard and Khalil Corbin. The relays returned to action April 17 with high school, collegiate and elite runners rounding out the events.

Bottom left: Runner Ruby Medina races through the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase at the 56th Mt. SAC Relays in the Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Medina finished the race in ninth place (12:19.95) while her teammate Deborah Dornisch ended in third place (11:42.38).

Adolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer Center left: Justin Castellanos sets up for the men’s 4x110 meter shuttle hurdles at the 56th Mt. SAC Relays in the Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Saturday, April 12, 2014. Castellanos and his team of Toure McCully, Dalton Sherwood, Roy Berry took home first place in the competition. Jose De Castro/ Mountaineer

Pole vaulter Shastee Van Der Wyk vaults over 3.54m at the 56th Mt. SAC Relays in the Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Van Der Wyk came in second place during the competition losing to Mt. SAC’s Tiziana Ruiz. Adolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer

Top left: Runners starts off their first lap for the women’s 1500-meter race for the 56th Mt. SAC Relays in the Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Adolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer Middle left: Darius McCants (6.98m) leaps over the pit during his long jump competition at the 56th Mt. SAC Relays in Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Saturday, April 11, 2014. McCants finished second in the comeptition. Jose De Castro/ Mountaineer Middle right: Runners start off their first lap for the second heat of the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase race for the 56th Mt. SAC Relays in the Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Jose De Castro/Mountaineer

Center right: Pole vaulter Tiziana Ruiz sprints to the pit to beat her previous vault record at the 56th Mt. SAC Relays in the Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Ruiz finished first in the competition with a vault of 3.84m.

Adolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer Bottom right: Sequoias runner Katie Taylor wins first place for the 1500-meter race (4:32.08) at the 56th Mt. SAC Relays in the Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Mt. SAC’s runner Ashli Baddorf came in second place (5:00.60). Adolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Mountaineer

10

Mt. San Antonio College

A&E

For some students,

school is a DRAG Drag queens compete for crown Rich Yap Staff Writer Walking down Miracle Mile you might pass them and not even know you are in the presence of royalty— queens in fact. Drag queens. Several Mt. SAC students are regular drag performers at 340 Restaurant & Nightclub in downtown Pomona on Friday nights as part of Raven’s Raucous Roundup, a 10 to 11 week drag competition hosted by Raven, a drag icon,local queen and first runner up on RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.

Virginia X, the drag persona of Virgilio Doniza, 25, has been taking the stage for the last year and a half.

“This is probably the fifth or sixth series in the competition and I’ve competed each and every time.

I have not made it to the finals—the most I’ve gotten is second place in the preliminaries,” said Doniza.

Winners take home a cash prize of $100 each week, and in the final

week, the winner takes home a grand prize of $1000.

“For me, it’s not all about competition. I do the competition, but I do it more for going out there and having fun,” Doniza said.

“Ultimately I would like to make it to finals but for me it’s more about the performance.”

For Adam Crocfer, 22, dance major who performs as Gracie VonGretta, competing in drag is more about the fun and growth as a performer.

“I’m still new at this and I’ve just got to work at it.”

Crocfer has been dressing in drag since high school but never thought he would perform in drag.

He parallels his drag trajectory to the film Burlesque.

“I actually worked in a bar— it was called Oasis at the time, and I was their marketer,” Crocfer said.

“I would be doing my thing and I would see these girls and one night, the show was going on and it just caught my eye. I literally stopped and I was like, ‘this is neat.’”

Esteban Jarero, 23, a former Mt. SAC student who has been attending these drag shows since

Alex Urquidez/MOUNTAINEER Virginia X, 25 lip sychs to a Goldfrappe song during Ravens Raucous Roundup at 340 Nightclub in Pomona, California on Friday April 11. Her performance is an ode to Raven, who celebrated her birthday that week. X is a regular performer in the local drag scene in the Mt. SAC area.

the club opened in December 2011, thinks that the space that the club and the drag competition creates is important to the community.

“Everybody loves you, you get support from people you don’t even know and people adore you for being who you are and what you can do. You’re an entertainer and you’re entertaining them and they love you for that,” said Jarero.In addition to creating a space for queens who are breaking in their first pair of six-inch stilettos, 340 is also host to more

seasoned queens and many of the contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Bianca Del Rio, a contestant from this season of Drag Race will be performing and co-hosting on May 2 and BenDeLaCreme, also a contestant from this season, will do a meet-and-greet on July 25. To see if any of our Mounties will make it to the finals on June 27 for this series, check out Raven’s Raucous Roundup every Friday at 340 Restaurant & Nightclub. Entry is free for everyone 18 and over before 9 pm.

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

A&E

11

Photo courtesy of Steven Ramirez

Cognitive

chords

Local street kid finds his post-punk calling Alex Urquidez/MOUNTAINEER

Musician Leif Silvers throws down during Fury’s set at Munoz Gym in Bakersfield, Calif. on Saturday, Jan. 19.

Psych student thrives in music Amanda Recio Staff Writer

M

usician and Mt. SAC student Leif Jacob Silvers sat in his room trying to drown out the noise of his roommates outside by focusing on his music, playing chord progressions and adding lyrics to his collection of songs in the solitude of his room. Silvers, 26, a psychology major, had an abrupt transition between teenager and adult that dragged along a history of hardships and emotional baggage. Despite his struggles, the power of creating music through song writing and playing guitar changed Silvers’ life for the better.

“It’s important to know what your heart craves, and for me it was music,” said Silvers.

Silvers, who was adopted at birth, said rest of his childhood consisted of changing residency several times with his parents and chasing a premature dream of being a cartoonist. He eventually abandoned that dream because he realized it wasn’t his true calling.

“When I started playing guitar, I realized it was just me wanting to create something,” said Silvers.

“Drawing takes hours and hours before you make something, but a guitar, you can just pick up and start playing.”

Joseph Guillen, 29, Silvers’ friend, said Silvers puts a lot of effort into his music. “[He] leverages his intelligence and creativity for music before all else. When listening to [him], one is listening to care and precision guided by emotion,” Silvers’ life came to a halt at age 13 when his mother was

diagnosed and passed away from lung cancer the same year.

Devastated by the news, Silvers said that because it happened at such a young age, it was difficult for him to recall memories of his mother.

“She was the chain connecting everything, and when she was gone it became scattered memories for me,” he said.

Though Silvers struggled to connect with his father in the aftermath of his mother’s death, he said that his relationship with him has improved.

His journey to becoming a musician has been matched by other struggles as well, such as his father moving to New York and leaving him in California to make a living on his own. “I unintentionally ended up here all alone, and I was all of a sudden stranded. It was hard, I had to learn a lot of lessons the hard way,” he said. From the age of 18, he was forced to make his own living, often struggling to make ends meet. “Not even a month after my dad left, I was fired from my job, and my car was impounded,” said Silvers.

Dealing with the loss of his mother has also affected Silvers’ relationships with other people.

“It’s the fear of losing that comfort from a relationship. Every since my mom left my life, I never wanted that feeling again of losing someone that important to you.”

A love for music is what has propelled Silvers forward. He said that he motivates himself to perform better and improve on his music. “The fact that I’m my own worst enemy in most facets of my life is what motivates me

Local street kid finds his post-punk calling

because when I start learning how to play and write, I only wanted to get better,” said Silvers. “I was constantly dissatisfied, and I think that dissatisfaction is what motivates me.”

Abraham Ben Valenzuela, 26, a friend, agrees. “I admire his passion for wonder. Whether it is wonder about him and what he is capable of, or life, the universe and what it encompasses,” he said.

Silvers’ other passion is psychology, which he is currently starting to pursue at Mt. SAC. Silvers said he hopes to take a full course load in the fall in order to fulfill his academic goals.

“As I’m learning about psychology, I’m starting to understand the way we work, and it makes me want to be able to help people like me who don’t know what’s wrong,” Silvers said.

Silvers now spends his days playing at open mic nights at local coffee shops, and said that he would like to keep music alive in his life, along with becoming a psychologist. “I honestly wouldn’t mind just being a songwriter, even if I’m not seen, but I’d love to be a guitarist or a rhythm vocalist.”

Within the next year, plans for Silver include getting a music group together and advancing in his goal to be a musician.

From a life full of struggle and strife, Silvers has earned a better understanding of himself and how life works. “Understanding yourself is the most important thing that you can do. It helps so much to know where your flaws are and where you need work,” said Silvers. “When I’m down, as long as I’m doing something I love, I’m never out.”

Angelica Olivares Staff Writer The year was 1987 and the movie “La Bamba” was in theaters everywhere. At 5, Henry Lopez, was at the Vineland Drive-In watching the movie “La Bamba” with his parents. A day at the drive-in turned into the start of his love for music.

Lopez remembered while living in El Monte a man who every weekend would walk around his neighborhood selling boxes of cassette tapes. “Everyone would come out and pick tapes,” Lopez said. “I remember picking the La Bamba Soundtrack. That was the first tape I ever owned.”

Lopez’s family was poor and moved all over San Gabriel Valley before finally settling in Baldwin Park, where he resides today and found his love for music.

In junior high, Lopez wanted to be a professional basketball player until he joined the school band.

He originally joined the band for the free trips to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm but quicky realized that music is what he was meant to do. “I [had] never touched an instrument in my life. They gave me my saxophone and it came naturally,” Lopez said.

In 2007, Lopez formed the band Bastidas with drummer Lee De Vega and bass player Sonia Hernandez. The members come from different musical backgrounds which can be heard in their unique brand of music.

“When people ask me what kind of music they play, I just tell them their music is very abstract,” said Desiree Landeros, 25, sociology major.

“It was different for me, growing up in Baldwin Park. I was used to punk beats,” Lopez said.

Lopez introduced De Vega to punk music.

“The way he plays is a hybrid between his style and him trying to play punk,” Lopez said about why Bastidas is not your typical suburban punk band. “It’s post punk. If we were in the 70’s, we would fit in with the bands that were playing then.”

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Mountaineer

12 Coachella sets the stage Christina Artmanni Features Editor Jose De Castro Staff Reporter As you swim through the crowd of people dancing the night away in the warm desert, large art fixtures tower over you, illuminating the night sky. Large white tents provide shelter and a backdrop for the many concerts taking place. People of different origins and backgrounds have come together to celebrate the magic and wonderland of music that is Coachella.

For the last two weekends, people from all over the globe migrated to Indio, Calif. to experience an energetic weekend in the blazing hot desert, filled with an eclectic collection of music artists, pool parties, hippie inspired fashion, and even celebrity sightings.

Starting in 1999, the music and arts festival is best known for its diverse lineup of musical genres, including rock, indie, hip hop and electronic music.

Stan Philips, 42, Santa Barbara, recalls his parents sharing plenty of stories about their own experiences at the legendary Woodstock festival when he was a little boy.

“Coachella is epic just like Woodstock because all kinds of people come together for the music.” Philips said. “My parents

Christina Artmanni/MOUNTAINEER Thalia Mendoza, 23, from Rosemead enjoying Poetic Kinetic’s “Escape Velocity,” one of the art installations at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio,Calif.

experienced one incredible weekend of music. I get to experience multiple weekends of music every year.”

The festival is not only world renowned for its music but also its art. Coachella attendees can always expect to catch the most interesting and eye-catching art installations.

This year, a giant astronaut moving sculpture named “Escape Velocity,” created by artist group Poetic Kinetics, dominated the polo fields as it hovered over thousands of fans that stopped to take selfies with it.

“The astronaut is so cool!,” said Thalia Mendoza, 23, from Rosemead.

As the glaring sun slowly dipped

into the horizon and the stars appeared, “Lightweaver,” designed

by Alexis Rochas, provided shade during the day and had completely different looks as they lit up in the night displaying a colorful light show.

Not only were the actual festival grounds decked out in elaborate large-scale art installations, but so were the festival campgrounds located just outside of the front gates displaying its own unique art walk. Stretched across Main Street was “Archetypes”, an 18 piece collection of structures put together by artist Keith Greco, that featured a life size gingerbread house, a house built of popsicle

Mt. San Antonio College

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sticks, a lighthouse, and a rocket ship. Since its commencement 14 years ago, art has become a more defining characteristic of the event. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times on April 11, festival art director Paul Clemente said that the art budget has increased over the last two years. This year marked the first time that the artists were featured on the festival lineup booklet.

“We want to explore ideas that maybe other festivals haven’t gone the distance on,” Clemente said.

“Art will continue to be more of an emphasis as we move forward.”

While music and art do play a pivotal role at the weekend long party, the polo fields also serve as the runway for fashion lovers alike.

“It’s Coachella. I felt like it was appropriate for me to unleash my inner desert animal,” said 24-yearold Jeremey Andrews from Austin, Texas who was sporting yellow rubber lizard-like feet. “I think that people who come [to Coachella know that they can take fashion risks and if you look crazy, no one will give a shit.”

For music lovers, adventure seekers, fashionistas, art and aficionados and crafters alike, Mendoza said Coachella is a tradition in itself.

“The best part of Coachella is looking back and realizing that you were able to be part of something so great and something so huge that will be talked about for years to come,” Mendoza said.

create your

e-Brochure Use e-Brochure to create a packet of the career programs you’d like to explore. Within seconds you’ll get a downloadable, customized pdf document (with your name on it), containing a description of the programs with the degree/ certificate requirements and job/ salary outlook, as well as a listing of support services that can help you reach your goals.

e-Brochure is very user-friendly. Go to

www.mtsac.edu and click on the icon (left) to get started. Follow the prompts and your brochure will be ready instantly to review online, print, and save.

Committed to student success!

Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Multiculture

13

Hard of hearing student overcoming uncertainties Manny Flores Multiculture Editor During high school, a teacher once told 21-year-old Elizabeth Bravo, psychology and public relations major, that she could not attend college or a university because she is undocumented, coupled with the fact that she is hard of hearing. However, she would not let her struggles hinder her goals and aspirations.

When Bravo was 3-years-old, she developed a serious fever that afflicted both of her ears and ultimately left her partially deaf.

Today, Bravo’s younger brother is the only person in her family who knows sign langauge to a certain extent, she finds comfort knowing that he is learning and handling it well. “I started to learn about a year ago in high school,” said Jorge Bravo, 19, architecture major. “Then, I started to learn sign language at a greater level by taking a SIGN 101 course at Mt. SAC, and I’m currently taking a SIGN 102 course.”

Bravo attended public schools and was treated like other children her age. She said that classroom lectures were initially easy, but they later increased in difficulty as she got older.

Although Bravo was treated like her peers, she always felt different or left out: “I was the new kid. I didn’t feel like I fit in. People would always exclude me and at times include me. I didn’t understand why.

Maybe, I wasn’t cool enough, the prettiest, or funniest. I don’t know, but it hurt. But at some point, I thought ‘we are young, there is more ahead.’”

Throughout her junior year, Bravo began feeling uncertain about her future as her high school graduation date approached. “I couldn’t have the benefits that the deaf have to attend college because I am undocumented,” Bravo said.

“I didn’t know what to expect as well because I am hard of hearing, I didn’t know where I would end up, and what career would be suitable for me. There were many doubts and still are.”

This is my Bangladeshi clothing Monserrath Flores Staff Writer Ayesha Mohsin, 19, civil engineering major, and Sufia Jafery, 20, sociology major, are both wearing salwar kameez—a Bangladeshi three piece outfit containing pants, a long top and a dupatta, similar to a long scarf.

Born and raised in California, Mohsin said she still feels connected to her culture when wearing a salwar kameez. “Knowing that I have a part of my culture with me at all times, I feel like I belong even

The previsioulsy mentioned teacher failed to motivate Bravo.

“Instead of giving advice, the teacher told me that I couldn’t go to college or universities,” Bravo said.

She later met Elmer Rodriguez, a High School Outreach Specialist known for helping undocumented students, who educated her about the opportunities available for her at Mt. SAC. When Bravo began attending Mt. SAC, she decided that she wanted to be more involved in school due to her contributions in yearbook and a signing club during her time in high school. She joined the Improving Dreams Equality Access and Success, IDEAS, club where she met Edgar Morelos and Melissa Candell, two students who she looked up to as leaders. Candell caused her to become interested in Associated Students, AS. “I always wanted to be part of something big, to be able to make a difference, to show that I can and that I am not less,” Bravo said. “I like helping people and I have something for making change.”

With an interest in student government, Bravo began her campaign to join AS. Her brother recognizes that his sister is hard working and motivated to succeed. “She tries to get involved in extracurricular activities to gain experience and to show that even though she’s hard of hearing, she is capable of managing big tasks,” Jorge Bravo said.

Bravo began the process by showing the senators that she wanted to be a part of AS. She did so by constantly volunteering.

She said that senators have to evaluate how helpful, motivated, and passionate an individual is. Her efforts paid off as both parties got to know one another well.

“I remember that Elizabeth stood out to me when she first got involved with AS because she kept coming to every meeting and always tried to get informed about the events so that she can help,” said Dunia Valladares, psychology major and vice president of AS. The desired outcome did not come easily for Bravo. “I wasn’t able to make it twice, but I didn’t give

though I’m from LA,” she said. “I feel like I can call myself a Bengali because I’m representing their culture.”

Mohsin said people usually compliment and curiously ask her about her outfit if they aren’t familiar with her culture. She adds that it’s understandable.

A tikli is a cultural headpiece similar to a chain that can be attached to the back of the female’s hair. It is traditionally worn on special occasions especially at weddings. “Brides wear a really fancy one, it’s really pretty,” Mohsin said.

Although some people confuse religion to culture, it is not quite that way for Mohsin. For her, they are two differnt things. “Religion tells me to cover my hair and dress modestly, whereas my culture is just the cultural clothes,” she said.

“My headpiece (hijab) is actually

Jose De Castro/MOUNTAINEER

Elizabeth Bravo, 21, psychology and public relations major, communicates with her translator during her Math 51 course on Tuesday, April 8, 2014. Bravo has been hard of hearing since she was 3-years-old.

up,” she said.

Her perseverance and determination paid off this spring as she is currently the AS historian senator. “I’m a senator now after making so much effort, but I am not done yet,” Bravo said. “It’s just the beginning.”

Jorge Bravo understands that it means a lot to his sister joining AS. “This is something special for her because she overcame the fact that not many hard of hearing or deaf people are given the opportunity to become part of a group like that,” he said. “She has the character to achieve anything she desires.”

Valladares praises the hard work and dedication that Bravo has put into AS. “She has stuck around AS and has made an effort to learn

part of my religion, while the salwar kameez is part of my heritage and Bengali culture. I understand if people may confuse the two sometimes even though they are two differen things.

According to Mohsin, in Bangladesh, even people who don’t follow her religion wear the hijab over themselves becauses it’s part of the culture.

A traditional cultural dress for a Bangladesh is called a saree. A saree is a very long piece of fabric that is gracefully tied around the body. “It looks so pretty but hard to manage if you have never worn one before,” she said.

Mohsin buys her outfits from boutiques or directly from Bangladesh. “I actually own a lot of both salwar kameez and sarees,” she said. “I love my culture and I’m very culturally oriented.”

about the organization and is always trying to help out in some way,” she said. “She truly cares about the organization and is working hard in her position.”

Daniel Algattes, Student Center specialist, said that Bravo has embraced her new role and is doing a good job. “She’s probably one of the best historian senators we’ve ever had, and she makes sure she takes care of all her duties. “ Bravo’s dream since middle school has been to attend UC Berkeley. Although transferring there will be a challenge, she will not let it intimidate her. “I’ll do my very best to do what it takes,” she said. “I am just like any other individual with dreams and a desire to get somewhere.”

Monserrath Flores/Mountaineer Ayesha Mohsin, 19, civil engineer major, and Sufia Jafery, 20, sociology major, are both wearing a salwar kameez on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 during the Culture Fair.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Mountaineer

Mt. San Antonio College

14

Tech

Retrospective Crash Bandicoot: Warped Damion Julien-Rohman Tech Editor Allow me to make you feel a bit old: the first Crash Bandicoot came out in 1996. If you’re aged anywhere around 24, you may not have even been on the cusp of your pre-teens back then. Even if that is not the case, it is a safe bet that you know who Crash Bandicoot is.

While the name may not carry the same weight as say, Mario - if a PlayStation was all you had growing up, then chances were that at least one of the series’ iterations were spinning in your disc tray.

That brings us to number three, Warped. And, long story short, it is still a blast to play 16 years later.

Warped (and the series in general), is very self-aware; it knows that its levels and characters are nothing short of Saturday morning cartoonstyled ridiculousness, and it revels in it.

In one level, you’re sliced clean in half by an evil clone in the medieval times (and yet still living). In the future, a laser beam zaps you to dust in an instant. Heck, there is

even a whistle sound (a la Looney Tunes) to accompany you falling down a pit.

But, that is all part of the fun that stays consistent the whole time you play. The time-travel plot opens the game up considerably, so hardly any levels feel stale or overdone.

New powers, such as the tornado spin, are drip-fed so you’re not too strong or too weak to tackle a new area.

And while deaths can come easy, they hardly feel cheap. Nine times out of ten, it is a badly timed jump or a missed attack. The difficulty is always kept steady throughout the experience.

Even after all that, there is so much to do. The game is packed with secret levels, things to find in said levels, things to find in the normal levels, and so on. Since the last time I played, I’m sitting at 76 percent completion. It puts today’s downloadable content-laden games to shame.

The biggest flaw with the game, though, are the “Ride” levels. While they’re fun, they tend to break up the action a little too much and can

get repetitive. If you’re someone who revels in tornado-spinning some poor clone offscreen, these can get tedious after a while, especially when the sole goal is to grab a crystal at the end. It is one flaw out of a few a near-perfect game,

though.

If you’ve got the means, give Warped a shot if you’ve never played it. If you have, play it again.

There’s a good chance it will keep you enthralled (and laughing) for quite some time.

Cal Poly Pomona

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Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Sports

15

Wrestler pins down gender barriers Adrian Islas Staff Writer At first glance Jessica Toledo does not appear to be your idea of a conventional wrestler. Tall, lean, and blessed with Hollywood-good-looks, most people would never guess she sweats it out twice a week grappling with men on a mat. Toledo, 21, is currently a red-shirt Sophomore and the only woman on the Mt. SAC wrestling team. Although she has yet to compete in sanctioned competitions up to this point, she hopes to get a shot in the 125-pound weight division in the upcoming fall 2014 season.

“People usually never believe me when I tell them I’m a wrestler.

They kind of squint their eyes and say, ‘Come again’,” Toledo said. The public misconception that of being a young college woman would not be interested in wrestling has not deterred her.

“I have like two different personalities; when I am out I am just me, but when I am on the mat, it is like [I am] a whole different person,” said Toledo. “I am very mean. I am just there to wrestle…be one of the guys.”

Toledo’s choice to join the team was easy for her.

“I was an assistant coach for my old high school and I missed being on the mat and missed competing,” Toledo said. “Working unfortunately did not make me happy, so I wanted to come back and compete and see

where I am at.”

Toledo emailed Coach David Rivera asking for an opportunity to try out for the squad. She joined the team’s pre-season open mat practices and immediately made an impression.

“The most rewarding aspect has been just wrestling with the guys and gaining their respect,” Toledo said. “The coaches also are really encouraging, and have made me feel a part of the team. Last season, I was not expecting to get an award since I didn’t actually compete, but I was recognized with a certificate for my efforts.”

Those efforts have her noticed by coaches and players alike.

“I’m very impressed with her. It takes some guts to get out there with the guys. It is not easy,” said Rivera.

Toledo said she deals with dual mindsets when practicing and competing against her male counterparts.

“There are two types of guys.

Some don’t want to partner up with me because they fear that they are going to hurt me,” Toledo said “And then there are the other ones who go twice as hard because they do not want to lose to a girl.”

The challenge in getting her opponent’s best effort while avoiding injury is one she faces every time she suits up.

“It’s different when you step on the mat, you are no longer a woman,” Toledo said. “You are a wrestler and I

Pablo Unzueta/MOUNTAINEER Jessica Toledo does drills to prepare for the upcoming 2014 season where she hopes to wrestle in the 125 divsion. On Wednesday April 16, 2014.

appreciate that respect, it makes me better.”

Toledo does not consider herself special, but does realize the difficulties women face when attempting to compete in a sport dominated by men.

“It is a hell of a ride, it’s tough,” Toledo said “But if you love the sport and you love competing, there’s no reason why you should not be able to compete with men.”

Toledo is not only winning on the mat but winning over teammates as well.

“Jessica is my girl. You do not see too many girls committed to this sport the way she is,” said teammate Anothony Briones, 20.

For now, Toledo’s vision of becoming the best wrestler in her weight class remains as clear as the sweat off her brow after a long grueling match.