ONE FREE COPY
FEB/MARCH 2016
OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER
VOL. III ISSUE I
BY DEVIN ALMOND ALMOND BY DEVIN BY SERENA STEELE
Photo by Ted Groves
On March 4, 2015, the first traceable inklings of MSJC’s gender neutral bathrooms were leaked. Minutes from an afternoon Student Equity meeting were found online, in Section 4, sub letter (a) of the Academic Senate Gender Equity Committee Report. The last sentence of the report reads, “Julie [Venable] informed committee that restrooms that can be converted to gender neutral/family bathrooms have already been identified on each campus.” Karin Marriott, MSJC College Spokeswoman, stated that, “Mt. San Jacinto College is committed [to] maintaining an accessible and inclusive learning environment for
all of its students, employees, and visitors.” This statement from Marriott could not be more applicable. Community colleges around the nation are home to some of the most diverse hubs, and gender and sexual identity minorities are some of those demographics. In fact, a question on my MSJC application was “Are you a transgendered student?” and the visibility that casts on a community is phenomenal for self-esteem, inclusion, psychic health, and an overall exemplary chance at an outstanding education. Continued on page 2 >>
On Tuesday, Jan. 26, over 300 students, faculty, and local community members packed into MSJC’s San Jacinto campus theater to welcome guest speaker Terrence Roberts, one of the nine black students from Little Rock, Arkansas to challenge racism within America’s education system in the 1950’s. In September of 1957, Melba Pattillo, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Minnijean Brown, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls, Jefferson Thomas, Gloria Ray, and Thelma Mothershed enrolled at Central High School, previously an all-white institute in Little Rock, Arkansas. On the first day of classes at Central High, Arkansas’ Governor, Orval Faubus, called in the state’s National Guard to thwart the students’ access into the school. President Eisenhower then sent in federal troops to escort the “Little Rock Nine” into the school later that month, where they finally began their first full day of classes. The “Little Rock Nine” have been widely acknowledged for their Continued on page 7 >>
SPORTS 4 | 8th ANNUAL FOUNDATION GALA 8 | DEADPOOL MOVIE REVIEW 12
FRONT PAGE CONT. | 2
Gender neutral bathroom located at MVC in exterior restrooms of building 500.
“The new gender neutral bathrooms are required under California Assembly Bill 1266 and are a part of the district’s ongoing effort to accommodate our diverse populations,” Mariott continued. “MSJC’s Gender Equity Committee brought the topic to the attention of then Academic Senate President Lorraine Slattery-Farrell. She placed the item on the Academic Senate agenda during the Spring 2015 semester.” Assembly Bill 1266 Chapter 85 reads, “Existing law prohibits public schools from discriminating on the basis of specified characteristics, including gender, gender identity, and gender expression, and specifies various statements of legislative intent and the policies of the state in that regard. Existing law requires that participation in a particular physical education activity or sport, if required of pupils of one sex, be available to pupils of each sex. This bill would require that a pupil be permitted to participate in sexsegregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.” (leginfo. legislature.ca.gov) Speaking to Brian, an MSJC Student, on the matter, “It’s not really that radical of an idea, but if it makes people comfortable, that’s great.” And this
kind of response is what seems to have been the campus consensus, I would never have known that this gender neutral safe haven existed on the Menifee Valley Campus if a peer had not told me; however, my disappointment in the absence of a grand unveiling is vastly overshadowed by my appreciation that equal facilities are available for all. Marriott continued to explain the process of erecting the gender neutral restrooms on the two campuses, “Maintenance and Operations Director Brian Twitty attended those [Student Equity] meetings and conducted a feasibility study to determine the cost and identified which restrooms would be ideal to change. Once the proposal to create the gender neutral bathrooms was approved by Executive Cabinet, it took two to three weeks to complete the project, which was done during the summer. The cost was between $700 and $1,000 per bathroom. This included new signage, interior door locks and new door hardware. Still to come are changing tables and shelving.” To put in perspective the cost of $1,400-$2,000 bathroom renovations, the following are some figures from the Board of Trustees meeting, explaining the money allotted to the Student Equity Plans. Taken from a PowerPoint presentation at the Board of Trustees Meeting January 22, 2015, (found on msjc.edu): • “The Governor proposes an increase of $200 million for student success programs: - $100 million for the Student Success and Support Program - $100 million for student equity plans. • Other community college State Budget proposals include: - $39.6 million for Prop 39 energy efficiency program grants - $25 million (instead of the current year’s $50 million) to fund Awards for Innovation in Higher Education” “Mt. San Jacinto College currently serves nearly 20,000 students a year district-wide. As the communities in the district continue to grow, so will the needs for higher education in the region. This will require new facilities and upgrades to existing locations.” (Annual Report 2013-2014) Not only does MSJC serve a large student body, but a diverse one. And for action to be taken swiftly to keep MSJC in line with Education Bills could make all the difference for a student’s comfort and safety, and this gesture is an example of how both are made a school district priority in favor of the Trans* community. The new gender neutral bathrooms are located in the exterior restrooms of building 500 (Nursing) on the Menifee Valley Campus and the interior restrooms in the 1100 (Cafeteria) on the San Jacinto Campus.
The Talon meets Thursday’s from 11:30AM-1:00PM in room 453(MVC). Join us!
CAMPUS NEWS | 3
Hemet Valley Auxiliary Scholarship Funds Medical Students By Kyle Selby
Photo courtesy of MSJC The Hemet Valley Hospital Auxiliary at the 8th Annual MSJC Foundation Gala. Left to right: Carmie Fox, Cheryl Trumpy, Pat Friend, Edith Hamilton, Kathy Cole, Linda Macosky, Delores Anderson, Elaine Hall, and Foundation President Dr. Richard Giese.
On Dec. 17, 2015, the Hemet Valley Hospital Auxiliary donated $127,190 to the Mt. San Jacinto College Foundation in order to fund scholarship opportunities for students going into the medical practice. Formed in 1956, the Auxiliary was a group of women who volunteered their time at Hemet Valley Hospital. The volunteers gathered together to collect their funds through various activities such as book carts, lobby sales, and managing the hospital gift shop. Some of the Auxiliary’s earliest funds went toward offering student loans. However, the majority of the organization’s funds went toward supplying the hospital with updated equipment. Five years ago, after Hemet Valley Hospital switched from non-profit to for-profit, the Auxiliary was no longer permitted to utilize their earnings for the hospital. The women then turned to the community and increased the amount of scholarships they granted, awarding as many as twelve $2-4,000 scholarships annually. Due to the recent downturn in the economy, the Auxiliary began to experience a decline in their margins, and collectively decided to disband from the organization after 59 years. In doing so, they turned over the rest of their profits to another non-profit organization: The MSJC Foundation. “We voted so that [the Auxiliary] could continue to be scholarships for our community,” said Pat Friend, former two-time President of the Auxiliary, and active volunteer for sixteen years. After collecting the donation, MSJC’s Foundation Scholarship Coordinator, Leisa Navarro, helped set up a
working scholarship opportunity for the ladies of the Auxiliary, and ensured that the funds donated would go exactly where the ladies wanted them to go. College students hoping to prolong their studies into the medical field are the core targets for this particular opportunity. The Auxiliary Scholarship will be granted to as many as five students per year, each to receive $1,000 that can be applied to tuition, books, or other expenses. “It’s for anybody in the healthcare field. We wanted to make it clear that it wasn’t just for our nursing students,” Navarro reassured. This means that students active in any of the Nursing and Allied Health programs offered by the school, such as Alcohol and Drug Studies (ADS), Medical Assistant Program (MA), Emergency Medical Technician Program (EMT), Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS), or Certified Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (CNA/HHA) are all eligible for the grant. Students interested in applying for the scholarship are required to show proof of registration in an active medical program, and must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Applications for the scholarship began on January 11, and students have until February 26 to apply. The MSJC Foundation board members will be responsible for reviewing the applications and selecting the students that will be awarded with the Auxiliary Scholarship. The first scholarships will be distributed in fall of 2016 and spring 2017. For more information, contact Lesia Navarro, Foundation Scholarship Coordinator, at 951-487-3170 or lnavarro@msjc.edu.
The Talon meets Thursday’s from 11:30AM-1:00PM in room 453(MVC). Join us! Nov 13 Barstow W, 82-52 Nov 14 Citrus W, 81-45 Nov 15 Palomar W, 70-67 Nov 20 vs. Victor Valley W, 72-39 Nov 21 vs. Lassen W, 78-42 Nov 22 vs. Barstow W, 75-53 Dec 4 vs. Oxnard W, 92-45 Dec 5 at Chaffey W, 79-49 Dec 6 vs. LA Trade-Tech W, 85-73 Dec 17 vs. Fullerton W, 79-58 Dec 18 vs. Pasadena City W, 71-54 Dec 19 at Mission W, 94-86 Dec 28 vs. El Camino W, 76-37 Dec 29 vs. Orange Coast W, 75-56 Dec 30 at Ventura W, 82-79 Jan 6 Southwestern W, 101-46 Jan 8 at Imperial Valley W, 70-28 Jan 13 Palomar W, 59-58 Jan 15 at San Diego W, 85-49 Jan 20 Grossmont W, 79-48 Jan 22 at MiraCosta W, 80-27 Jan 27 San Diego Mesa W, 88-37 Jan 29 at Southwestern W, 100-45 Feb 3 Imperial Valley W, 90-59 Feb 5 at Palomar L, 59-48 Feb 10 San Diego W, 96-40 Feb 12 at Grossmont W, 88-50 Feb 17 MiraCosta W, 72-32
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
4 | SPORTS
Photo courtesy of MSJC
W, 93-58 W, 75-68 W, 95-70 L, 63-62 W, 75-22 W, 83-59 W, 90-75 W, 78-65 W, 90-81 W, 83-72 L, 63-59 W, 74-43 L, 70-69 W, 78-71 W, 81-55 L, 62-51 W, 124-85 W, 91-58 W, 108-60 W, 75-49 W, 95-67 W, 68-61 W, 93-75 W, 73-52 W, 82-69 W, 97-54 W, 72-70 Photo courtesy of MSJC W, 80-70
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Nov 13 vs. Reedley Nov 14 vs. Citrus Nov 15 vs. Grossmont Nov 27 vs. Fullerton Nov 28 vs. Barstow Nov 29 vs. Porterville Dec 3 vs. Lassen Dec 4 vs. Yuba Dec 5 Chaffey Dec 8 vs. El Camino Compton Center Dec 9 vs. Chaffey Dec 10 vs. Pasadena City Dec 11 vs. San Bernardino Dec 17 vs. Irvine Valley Dec 18 vs. San Diego Dec 19 at Saddleback Jan 2 Desert Jan 6 San Diego Jan 8 at Imperial Valley Jan 13 at Cuyamaca Jan 15 San Diego Mesa Jan 20 Grossmont Jan 22 Southwestern Jan 27 at Palomar Jan 29 MiraCosta Feb 3 at SD Miramar Feb 5 at Grossmont Feb 12 Palomar
Interested in writing for The Talon? E-mail our Editor at msjctalon@gmail.com
SOFTBALL
“Our MSJC Softball Team Student-Athletes are prepared to compete for February pre-season softball games before we enter our Pacific Coast Athletic Conference games which begin on Feb. 17th at home vs. Palomar College, the reigning State California Junior College Champions,” said Coach Gina Oliver. “Home games are listed on the MSJC college athletics website, and we invite as many fans as possible out to the newly constructed home field to support our players, representing MSJC to contend for the Conference title,” Oliver continued. “The Lady Eagles are currently 3-1 versus local college teams (San Bernardino Valley College and Barstow College) in preseason games. Two of the first 4 preseason games, MSJC has defeated their opponents by an average of 7 runs.” “The forecast for this season is bright. First PCAC Conference game is at home Feb. 17th at 3pm vs. Palomar College,the reigning CA state champions. We have added new local high school recruits to the roster which will bring strength to our team: Samantha Munoz (Heritage HS), Amanda Escalera (San Jacinto Valley Academy) and Amanda Munoa (Great Oaks HS),” Coach Oliver concluded. Returning players include Ashley Brown, Jena Chilson, Alyssa Rayls, Nicole Stressling, Sierra Falcon, Angelina Lopez.
SPORTS | 5
Photo by Ted Groves
Photo by Ted Groves
Mt. San Jacinto College’s 2016 Lady Eagles
TENNIS
Last season was a great one for the Eagles. They finished with a team record of 8-10 overall. They also qualified for the State Tournament with a strong performance in the PCAC Tournament. This season they’ll be playing against teams from Southwestern College, Palomar College, and many more. Their Head Coach is David Sallee. Be on the lookout for The MSJC’s Men’s Tennis. The Schedule can be found online at www.msjc.edu/Athletics.
Photo by Ted Groves
Mt. San Jacinto College’s 2016 Men’s Tennis team
6 | CLUB BLURBS
FRONT PAGE CONT. | 7 and I thank Professor [Maria] Lopez for personally inviting him.” During his speech to the crowd of 325 attendees, Roberts elaborated on the events leading up to the nine students’ eventual entrance into Central High, as well as his, at times, violent experiences with his classmates. “I really admired the way he dealt with the bullying while attending the high school in Little CONTINUED Rock,” said Shelley Williams, psychology major at MSJC. “He was resilient and brave, and knew that at a young age, he wanted to make a difference. And he has.” Towards the end of his speech, Roberts welcomed a Q and A session between audience significant role in civil rights history, with each of members and himself. the members being awarded the Congressional Gold When asked about his opinion regarding Medal by President Clinton in 1999. racism and segregation in our nation’s current state, According to his website, Roberts continued Roberts responded with, “It seems like the forces his education at California State University, Los who want to maintain the walls of separation are Angeles, graduating much louder with a Bachelor and much more Photo Courtesy of MSJC of Arts degree committed and in sociology in well-funded 1967, a Master’s in today.” social welfare from “There are too UCLA’s School of many times where Social Welfare in I hear people ask, 1970, and a Ph.D. ‘Where are the in psychology from leaders?,’” Roberts Southern Illinois continued. “We University in 1976. are the leaders. “America We are…The way is still suffering I see it is that effects of strained each one of us in race relations; the universe is bringing eloquent, responsible for well-educated change.” Terrence Roberts recieves the Certificate of Congressional Recognition. speakers to campus Terrence to provide a number Roberts of perspectives and a celebration of diversity is concluded this speech urging his audience to “learn extremely important,” expressed Vanesse Hiten, what on Earth is going on” in the world and was Honors Enrichment student mentor and event awarded the Certificate of Congressional Recognition from the office of Congressman Raul Ruiz. coordinator. Roberts has spoken at Mt. San Jacinto “The event was very well attended…Many College once before in 2001, keeping in contact with people remarked that they really learned something Professor Maria Lopez. from Dr. Roberts,” said Vanesse Hiten. “We were very fortunate to have the support “I can only hope that we will introduce our student body to many more speakers who will of the Diversity Committee, the Honors Enrichment Program, and [MSJC’s] President’s Office to bring offer wisdom and diversity…Some members of our Terrence Roberts to our campus,” said Christina faculty are hard at work making this happen,” Hiten Yamanaka, MSJC professor and event coordinator. concluded. “It was an amazing experience to see someone from our history books here at Mt. San Jacinto College
BY MICHELLE RIVAS
O
n Feb 6th, MSJC hosted its 8th Annual Foundation Gala at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. The event recognized foundation members and faculty who have greatly contributed to our college and community through leadership and dedication, as well as showcasing the talents of MSJC students in the Recycled Arts and Fashion Show. The first event of the night was the Alumni and Friends Ceremony, where Foundation President, Dr. Richard Giese, and members of the MSJC Board gave out awards to outstanding community members and MSJC faculty. Recipients include: Hemet/ San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce for Outstanding Community Member: The Hemet/ Jacinto Chamber of Commerce has been giving back to the community since 1919 and has been growing in membership ever since, with nearly 500 members as of now. The Chamber of Commerce has donated and supported MSJC immensely, including the AA campaign of 2014. John and Yvonne Branchflower for Outstanding Alumni and Friend: The Branchflowers were former students of MSJC. Mr. Branchflower was a MSJC Board member from 1998 to 2010, where he has committed to supporting and donating to MSJC. Becky Elam for Outstanding Staff Member: Elam has been an active and devoted member for MSJC for 23 years, serving as the Vice President of Business Services for 15 years. She has done much for the Hemet/ San Jacinto Community and for MSJC, including her success in the 2014 Measure AA and her efforts to secure the passing of the $295 million facilities bond measure. Dr. Jeremy Brown for Outstanding Faculty Member: Dr. Brown served as Director
of the Menifee Jazz Ensemble and Chair of Music when he was appointed to Interim Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences in 2015. Brown’s position at MSJC has brought positive exposure to MSJC, its music students, as well as countless opportunities for performance at community events, galas, and festivals. “I’m so proud to be a part of the MSJC community and I feel so honored to have been recognized,” Dr. Jeremy Brown expressed. The Recycled Art & Fashion Show included models and artists that are either current students or alumni of MSJC and their designs. The event showcased outfits and sculptures made with recyclable materials, such as aluminum cans, duct tape, old C.D’s, and pictures. “Everybody is here to help students succeed and the fashion show is not only a way for students to showcase their talent and creativity, but also as a way to work towards their education,” said Jasmine Rubio, San Jacinto District Board Member. JT Cook, Raquel Sanchez, Bill Zimmerman, and Candy Anady were the four judges tasked with the decision to pick three winners at the event. The victorious trio would then go on to win scholarships. Tied for first place included 2 winners: Mary Runde, for her vibrant red and purple headpiece and evening gown, and Dennis Armatis, for his knight uniform & hand-made sword, made out of Budweiser boxes. Second place was awarded to Kyle Nguyen for his black and silver evening gown made of trash bags. “It will be interesting to see where the students go with their creativity because the backstories of all of these amazing creations are truly impressive,” stated Candy Anady, Judge of the Fashion show and interior designer.
CAMPUS NEWS | 9 Philip Figueroa, 3rd place, Recycled Art Contest
“I actually made my dress out of 2 different prom dresses I had lying around, a faux leather coat, and hangers; all of this only took me 3 days to make.” – Mary Runde, 1st place winner of the Recyclable Fashion show and student at MSJC.
Robert Cowan, 2nd place , Recycled Art Contest
Design by Kyle Nguyen, Modeled by Kelsey Gage, 2nd place Recycled Fashion Show
Dennis Armatis, Designer and Model, tied for 1st in Recycled Fashion Show
Jennifer GallegosOrtiz, 1st place, recycled Art Contest
Photos courtesy of MSJC
10 | POLITICS
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BY JAMEE MENEZ
I
n California, the age of 18 is the marker for many traditions and privileges. Some look forward to traditions like buying a pack of cigarettes and throwing them away, just to revel in the feeling that they can prove a store clerk wrong by flashing a birth certificate. Others may use their age to bypass things like Driver’s Ed classes. Although these traditions can be fun or empowering, there is one privilege that not enough people are utilizing when they come of age: The privilege of voting in the Primary Elections.
What is the Primary Election?
Now, in simple terms, the Primary Election chooses the candidate that represents an entire political party. Once the person to represent the party has won, they will then be put on the ballot as that party’s official running candidate for the General Election. Confused yet? Think of it like this: As of now, the top two Democratic candidates are Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. At a Primary Election, those two would run against each other, even though they are in the same party. Whoever is the most liked person out of the two will be put on the ballot for the General Election, officially running for President. Keep in mind that if you don’t vote for your preferred candidate in the Primary Election, they may not make it to the General Election. That being said...
How do you vote in the Primary Election?
Voting in the Primary Election is much like voting in the General Election. First and foremost, you need to know the dates and deadlines for registering and voting. The absolute last day to register for the June 7th Primary Election is May 23rd, 2016. There are three ways to register to vote: By mail (which requires you to call the Secretary of State’s hotline and request a ballot), in person at a local polling place, or online at http://registertovote. ca.gov/. If you choose to vote-by-mail, you will receive a ballot right before the election day, mark your preference, and send it in the mail. If you prefer to vote in person, then you would have to find your city’s polling place. Normally, the address is on the back of the sample ballot your county mails to you. If you do not have this book, visit www.voteinfo.net to find the address of your closest polling place. And voila, we’re registered and ready to vote in the Primary Election! With all of this information in mind, your brain may be a little fried. However, if you leave this article with nothing else than two dates, May 23rd, the last day to register, and June 7th, Primary voting day, then that’s still more information than you may have previously had and that’s good enough for me. Just remember: Your vote counts. So make it count.
RIDE THE BUS, SKI FOR FREE! Interested in writing for The Talon? E-mail our Editor at msjctalon@gmail.com
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12 | MOVIE REVIEWT The Talon meets Thursday’s from 11:30AM-1:00PM in room 453(MVC). Join us!
DEAD AND LOVING IT
A FILM REVIEW BY PATRICK ARELLANO In 2009, Fox released X-Men Origins: Wolverine where film audiences were introduced to the comic book character Deadpool. While the casting of Ryan Reynolds was praised, the film committed the cardinal sin of removing the loquacious anti-hero’s biggest asset: his mouth. Fans were absolutely mortified by the film’s mishandling of such a beloved character, and Ryan Reynolds spent the next five years trying to get the studio to make a film that did the Merc with the Mouth justice. For those unfamiliar with the source material, Deadpool is a deranged immortal antihero who was formerly known as a mercenary for hire named Wade Wilson. After proposing to the girl of his dreams, his life spirals downwards when he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. It’s then that a secret organization offers him a cure for his disease in exchange for his aid in experimentation. Predictably, the experiment goes astray and Wade Wilson is mutated in the process. What follows is a quirky revenge tale filled with pop culture references, exaggerated bloodshed, and heavy doses of 4th wall breaking humor. Deadpool provides more snickers than outright laughs, but there was rarely a time I didn’t have a big dumb grin on my face. Deadpool clearly understands the importance of flow in a comedy as every quip and visual gag never overstays their welcome. Seth McFarlane would be wise to take notes. Ryan Reynolds is nothing short of superb with his quick witted deliveries and excellent physical prowess. Other standout performances include T.J. Miller as Wade’s sarcastic and nerdy best friend Weasel and Leslie Uggams as the elderly roommate Blind Al. Deadpool is at its weakest when it succumbs to the typical superhero tropes it claims to be subverting. Plot devices such as the recently mutated hero who can’t face his loved ones, the bad guys kidnapping the hero’s girlfriend, and a big showdown on top of an explosive structure are played perplexingly straight. For a film that relishes
in self-aware jabs, the lack of any twists to these scenes is certainly head scratching. Although Deadpool’s place in the X-Men cinematic universe is safely assured, the specter of uncertainty looms over scenes that take place in Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. While it’s likely that Fox wanted to play it safe in case this turned out to be another Fant4stic, it would have been nice to have seen characters like Wolverine or Professor X make an appearance. Aside from some brief 4th wall breaking shout outs, all the X-Men alumni except for Colossus are conspicuously absent. But these are all easily ignored hitches in the raunchy rollercoaster ride that is Deadpool. Fans of the comic will be pleased to have a film that finally washes the bad taste left by X-Men Origins: Wolverine, while the uninitiated will enjoy this introduction to the beloved “Merc with the Mouth.” Easily recommended to both comic-lovers and film-goers alike. Please know before going in that Deadpool earns its R-Rating with scenes of bloody dismemberment, frequent use of profanity and sex scenes. Parents might want to consider renting Guardians of the Galaxy or AntMan instead of taking children to see this film.
BY MICHELLE RIVAS Within the past month, there has been a media frenzy surrounding the 2016 Oscars, but for all the wrong reasons. There is a noticeable lack of diversity within the nomination pool and this year, celebrities aren’t turning a blind eye to it and are leading a movement against the awards ceremony. Almost every person nominated in all of the categories are Caucasian. Many films and actors this year that didn’t make the cut include Will Smith in “Concussion”, Michael B. Jordan in “Creed”, Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E in “Straight Outta Compton, and Benicio Del Toro in “Sicario.” Following up on all the controversy is the bevy of actors and actresses taking a stand against the Oscars and bringing to light the issues to enact some serious change in the academy. Jada Pinkett Smith is not only boycotting the Oscars, but she is also the trailblazer who brought the Oscars issue to the forefront by bringing it to the public’s attention on January 16th on Twitter. Smith expresses her deep concern and disdain at the Oscars’ lack of diversity in her Facebook video saying, “Hi, today is Martin Luther King’s birthday and I can’t help but ask the question, is it time that people of color recognize how much power, influence that we have amassed, that we no longer need to be asked to be invited anywhere?” “The Academy has the right to acknowledge whomever they choose, to invite whomever they choose,” Smith continued. “And now I think that it’s our responsibility now to make the change... Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power and we are a dignified people, and we are powerful. And let’s not forget it. So let’s let the academy do them, with all grace and love, and let’s do us differently.” Smith will be boycotting the Oscars by not attending or watching and many are following her
lead, including her husband Will smith, director Spike Lee, Snoop Dog, Tyrese Gibson, and many others. In a twist of events, Actor and comedian, Chris Rock will be hosting the Oscars. Many have encouraged him to not only drop out of hosting the Oscars, but to join the many people who are boycotting the Academy. Several nominees have spoken out about the Oscars diversity issue; however, some have a more neutral stance on the issue, including Abel Tesfaye from The Weeknd, who was nominated for an Oscar for his hit single “Earned it.” In a statement he made for the L.A Times, Tesfaye said, “You know, music is so diverse. My fans couldn’t even put a face or color or anything to my music. The same with film, it’s such a diverse thing. Every movie you see now is inspired by diversity. So it’s unfortunate.... but I think it’s much deeper than the academy or deeper than the film or music industry. It’s an issue that the nation has been dealing with, and I’m glad this has sparked a conversation ... it needed to happen. And good for the academy for trying to make the new changes.” The Oscars is dealing with a very tough ordeal and it’s going to be interesting to see how everything pans out at the awards ceremony. Will things cool down or will the controversy only worsen once the show airs and the nominees are awarded? We’ll all have to wait and see until the show airs live, February 28th on ABC.
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14 | TIPS AND TRICKS
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Talon Staff JAMES HODGE president ALISSA HARKE vice president | graphic designer RACHEL CAMERON graphic designer SERENA STEELE editor-in-chief | staff writer DEVIN ALMOND secretary | staff writer TED GROVES icc representative | sports writer PATRICK ARELLANO internal pr | assistant editor | staff writer TABITHA HWANG external pr | staff writer CHANCE SUTLIFF historian JAMEE MENEZ staff writer MICHELLE RIVAS staff writer KYLE SELBY staff writer WEEKLY MEETINGS thursdays | rm 453 | 11:30-1:30 | mvc INQUIRIES msjctalon@gmail.com
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Creative Writing
Textbook: Imaginative Writing: The Elements of Craft (4th Edition) Burroway, Janet $45.25, purchase on Amazon! Textbook contains homework assignments. I purchased it because I found it helpful as a writer. No tests, all writing based. Assignments are challenging in a way that puts you outside of your comfort zone, but not so difficult to overcome that it should scare you away from her class. She is a brilliant instructor!
Textbook: Current Issues and Enduring Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking and Argument, with Readings. Barnet, Sylvan 10th ed $20 rental on Amazon! Book is a must, he teaches directly from the readings. His class was essay and discussion based, no online work whatsoever. Never used BlackBoard. He enjoyed speaking about relevant controversial topics, gave great feedback on papers, explained exactly what he was looking for, and taught it that way. Clear and concise and a great learning experience!