NetTutor: 27 subjects available 24 hours a day Rocky Rivera
Staff Writer @ECCUnionRocky
It’s 1 a.m. the night before your midterm. Through the haze of hormones begging you for sleep, you can’t remember yesterday’s lecture from last week’s. Before, students might have looked around futilely before calling it quits. Now, they can turn toward EC’s online tutoring platform, NetTutor, a free service covering 27 different subjects, according to a Learning Resources Center announcement. “Students, it seems, are very busy and it’s not always possible to come on campus to meet face to face with tutors,” Sheryl Kunisaki, assistant director of the Learning Resources Center, said. “This is an opportunity to get help at 10 o’clock at night when the library, or the math and writing centers, might be closed.” According to the service’s website, students can register by visiting nettutor.com/ecc and using their school email to create an account. The site will run on desktops with the latest java update and on mobile devices as well. “So far, it’s been really convenient,” Todd Pye, 24, music major, said. “If the hours don’t work with my work or school schedule, I can log on and see a tutor right from my couch.” The service emphasizes learning instead of being a cheat sheet for homework. “You can ask specific questions but they’ll never give you just an answer. The purpose of the service is to make students become independent learners, so they will guide you through the process,” Kunisaki said. While the service boasts many benefits and conveniences to students, one drawback is the lack of personalization offered by a live tutor. “Sometimes if the student doesn’t quite know what they’re having problems with, you might have to spend some time going back and forth so the tutor gets a better understanding of your needs, which I think is easier face to face,” Kunisaki said. “You see my expressions, my tone of voice, we have paper that we’re both working on.”
Health science info session
Considering a career in health science? The counseling department will host a health science information session on March 17 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Distance Education Center. For more information, contact the counseling department at 310-660-3595, ext. 3458.
2 El Camino College Union POLICE BEAT A lesson in language Feb. 28, 11:30 a.m.—The station received a possible criminal threats report. A male language instructor stated that he dropped a male student from his class because of excessive absences. The instructor stated that the student reacted by yelling profanities at the instructor until the instructor felt threatened by the student’s actions. The student will be referred to the director of student development regarding his actions.
Student’s buzz busted March 3, 10:11 a.m.—Officers responded to the inner campus regarding a male subject drinking beer. The reporting party stated he observed this subject walking west-bound from Cafe Camino and drinking a beer. Officers located the subject by the MBB Modules. The subject, a student, was drinking a 24-ounce can of beer that was inside a brown paper bag. The subject was issued a citation for possessing alcohol on school grounds and was released in the field. The subject will also be referred to the director of student development regarding his actions.
Treadmill thief runs off with cellphone March 3, 2:20 p.m.—The station received a theft report. A female student stated someone stole her cell phone from PE 30. The student stated she placed her phone on a treadmill in order to charge it. She left it unattended and later discovered it was stolen.
Backseat bandit boosts backpack March 6, 9 a.m.—A male student stated that he parked his car on the south side of Lot H and went to class. When he returned to his vehicle, he discovered someone had stolen his backpack and its contents from the back seat. The student said he did not think he locked his vehicle. There were no signs of forced entry into the vehicle.
What happens in Vegas never stays in Vegas
news
March 13, 2014
Space day totally out of this world Lorilynn Lomeli
Staff Writer @ECCUnionLorilyn
Classes titled “Egg Drop Construction”, “Dude, Where’s My Air?”, and an up-close lecture by NASA astronaut Col. Douglas Wheelock might sound like itinerary items for a fictional, Hogwartian summer camp. In reality, they were scheduled events March 8 at Space Science Day, an annual event commemorating Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka who died aboard the Challenger shuttle when it tragically exploded on January 28, 1986. “Ellison always wanted to instill upon the students that no matter how high your goal is it can be accomplished,” Allen Murakoshi, president of the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka memorial board, said. “Even if you try and [are] not able to get there, the very fact that you tried makes the world a better place.” The annual event has taken place at EC since 1999, and has since been open to grade-school students. This year, there were
Amira Petrus/ Union Thomas Martin, 7, attends California Virtual Academies, Martin is in the process of building a robotic car at the Space Science Day.
approximately 1,016 attendees to this campus tradition. Wheelock’s lecture, peppered with humor and wit, easily captivated the attending students.
“The astronauts are so engaged with the students. The morning presentations [were] amazing, for lack of a better word. I’ve heard these speeches and presentations
EC unions at impasse over salary negotiations Eric Hsieh
News Editor @ECCUnionEric
Two of EC’s three employee unions, the El Camino Classified Employees (ECCE) and the El Camino College Federation of Teachers (ECCFT), are now at “impasse” with the district over salary renegotiations, Linda Beam, vice president of human resources, said. The groups have been at the table since last fall, where contention has continually centered around pay raises. “We’ve had a couple weeks now where no one changed their position,” Luukia Smith, president of EC’s classified employee union, said. “A state mediator
[will come] in to help the two parties come closer and work towards a solution.” Should the district’s proposal be adopted, it would result in a 5 percent raise spread over three years. “Their [proposal] has stayed the same: a 1.5, 1.7, then 1.8 percent increase each year,” Smith said. Both labor unions, however, have proposed raises with more significant increases that ramp up faster than the district’s threeyear plan. “[Our members] voted for a 5 percent per year raise for three years,” Nina Velasquez, executive director of the ECCFT, said, “and that number is symbolic of many things. The president is receiving
a 5 percent increase per year.” Leadership within the ECCE also echoed wishes for a larger and more immediate raise than the one proposed by the district. “Back in November we went to our constituents,” Smith said, “and overwhelmingly that room said ‘Hold fast for 6 percent over one year.’” Impetus for the union proposals comes from the fact that neither group has received a raise in the past six years. “We have not had a salary increase since 2008,” Velasquez said. “And that is no one on campus with the exception of the president. Faculty have waited a great deal of time for an increase. In the meantime, everyday goods grow more expensive.”
Chris Lee
March 10, 3:45 p.m.—Officers responded to a call of a suspicious subject inside the men’s restroom inside of the Life Sciences Building. The reporting party stated that the subject was wearing a medical mask, smelled of feces and was acting erratically. Officers contacted the subject inside of the restroom. The subject, a non-student was a transient and was shaving at one of the sinks. A small amount of marijuana was discovered on his person. The subject was issued a citation for the marijuana and escorted off campus.
“Keep in mind that a lot of the monies that the community colleges receive are based on Prop 30, which starts to sunset [in the upcoming years,]” she said. “The tide is turning and we’re trying to add classes back, but it’s not a windfall.” The unions, however, believe that the district has the means to sustain their asked-for proposals, and are thus far unmoved toward a lower rate. “Our mantra is ‘What are we worth?’ and that’s what we’re worth,” Smith said. “That’s what we feel like is fair, because technically we feel like we’re worth more, but we have a vested interest in making sure this institution stays fiscally sound.”
lieve how generous [Ford] is. If I didn’t have this scholarship, I have no idea how I would be able to get through school,” Bradley said. While some scholarships are Need extra cash for school? The EC Foundation has your back. given specifically for academic Awarding over $1 million in merit, others are awarded based scholarships annually, the Foun- on need, Gleason said. “Sometimes donors will focus dation has hit high gear and is in the busiest part of its selection on an area of study or GPA, but process, Executive Director Katie other times they want to fund students who need help financially,” Gleason said. The EC Foundation, a tax- she said. “Even students who have completed their charitable organieducation at El zation, links EC Camino, but are students with dotransferring, can nors who want to “If I didn’t have receive a scholarhelp students get ship,” she said. through college this scholarship, I With such a and achieve their have no idea how broad range availgoals, she said. able “there is a The Founda- I would be able scholarship for altion awards over to get through most any student,” 400 different she added. scholarship agree- school.” —Shelby Bradley, The Foundaments, which can each have up to scholarship recipient tion receives 840 applications each 50 recipients desyear, with apignated by the doproximately 600 nors, she said. One such scholarship is the students awarded, “around 75 perFrancis Ford Scholarship for cent of applicants. The goal is to Nursing, which has been awarded get that number to 100 percent,” to Shelby Bradley, 22, nursing ma- Gleason said. Beyond the money, many jor. Bradley received the $1,000 Foundation donors and students award after writing about why she have had the chance to connect on was pursuing her major and field. a personal and emotional level. “[Ford] is a really sweet womWhen she was 17 years old, Bradley decided to become a nurse af- an. She wants to know how I’m ter she helped her cousin through doing. We write to each other her child’s birth in Puerto Rico, back and forth and try to keep in contact during the holidays,” she said. Bradley, who also qualifies for Bradley said. “The connection with students the award because of her GPA, has been selected to receive the award really means a lot to the donors,” until she finishes the nursing pro- Gleason said. “The connection with the students is really critigram. “It’s a real blessing. I can’t be- cal.” Staff Writer @ECCUnionChris
Teacher finally stands up for missing chair
Sh*t, shave, smoke
However, the district has remained opposed to both union proposals, citing the lack of increases in state funding necessary to sustain such raises. “Keep in mind that 2013-14 is the first time we’ve received any increase in apportionment,” Beam said. “The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) provided by the state is 1.56 percent. They’re looking at a 0.8 percent COLA for 2014-15. We’re not getting 6 percent, not 10 percent. That’s our reality.” Beam also expressed the district’s desire to use its funds conservatively in the next few years, as Prop. 30, a voter-approved sales and income tax increase that generated revenue for higher education, is set to expire.
A strong foundation for your education
March 9, 4:50 p.m.—Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle after the plate returned that the vehicle, a rental was listed as embezzled out of Las Vegas. The location of the stop was Redondo Beach Boulevard, just west of the campus. None of the occupants knew that the vehicle was reported stolen and the person who rented it was not present. The vehicle was towed and the rental company was notified. None of the occupants were ECC students.
March 10, 12:15 p.m.—An officer responded to Technical Arts, Room 207 regarding a burglary report. A male faculty member had his personal “executive” chair stolen from his office. He last saw the chair on Feb. 27, but he waited until now to report it because he hoped it would turn up. There were no signs of forced entry to his office.
now 14 to 15 times, and it never gets old,” Robin Dreizler, director of outreach and school relations, said. Wheelock’s lecture, although
largely focused on space and his expeditions, sometimes wavered into philosophy. He asked the students to define words such as “impossible” and to examine concepts like fear. “Equip yourself with the knowledge you need to just master that fear,” he said. “Control it, and let it walk beside you, and encourage you, and inspire you until you get beyond that fear.” Many of the attendees had been to Space Science Day before. Seventh grade student, Aashritha Srirambhatla, said, “I like it ‘cause you get to do a lot of different classes that you don’t get to do in normal school days.” Eighth grade student, Hiwet Mersiehazen, said, “There is a lot of information that they give you, and the more they talk about it, the more you get interested.” Wheelock encouraged students to pursue dreams regardless of the obstacles. “Whatever profession you’re choosing, there are going to be obstacles, and it doesn’t matter what you choose,” he said. “We all have fears. Master the fear.”
Deirdra Boykin/ Union
Rafeed Kahn, 19, psychology major, squeezes a stress ball as a phlebotomist draws blood from his arm as part of EC’s 2014 Blood Drive in the Activities Center March 11.
Do your part, starve a vampire Lorilynn Lomeli
Staff Writer @ECCUnionLorilyn
For most, blood donations aren’t a priority until they need it. EC’s blood drive, hosted by the Inter-Club Council (ICC) in conjunction with Cedars-Sinai, concludes today in the Student Activity Center, East Lounge. “I like to think of it as giving back” Joy Mo, 18, who chairs the event, said. “A lot of people say [that] they want to do something good for other people. This is such a convenient way.” Organizers of the blood drive hope to surpass last semester’s milestone turnout. “Last semester we saw 517 potential donors and collected 449 pints, which I understand is
a record for El Camino,” Cheryl Berlow, blood coordinator at Cedars-Sinai, said. “[We’d like] to either match that this semester or go beyond.” In order to recruit more donors, the ICC has set up a table on the library lawn. Volunteers answer questions students have concerning the blood drive. “You get to save lives,” Berlow said. “There is no substitute for blood. If you’re in any kind of auto accident, or if someone in your family has cancer, there has to be blood in the community blood supply.” Past attendees are chiming in, advertising the benefits of donating blood and allaying people’s fears. “It’s a good experience. You can save up to 3 lives,” Daylyn
Love, 19, biology major, said. “People say you might feel dizzy. As long as you eat and drink water you’ll be fine.” Organizers advise potential donors to follow a few precautions. “[Student should] eat a good breakfast, get some sleep, and stay hydrated,” Mo said. Additionally, all donors must be 110 pounds and in good health to participate, Berlow said. Registration is online at www.givesblood.org, but “we will take walkins happily,” she added. Although the primary focus is helping others by donating, donors indirectly help themselves by evoking positivity within. “[You] get this really feel good vibe,” Mo said. “It’s a domino effect.”
features
March 13, 2014
5,018 EC parking by the numbers
El Camino College Union 3
we asked 30 students...
the number of parking spots on campus
do you think parking has improved over the years?
14 said yes 16 said no
the number of students at EC in fall 2013
23,671
Parking problems: a thing of the (soon to be) past Lorenzo Gutierrez Staff Writer @ECCUnionLorenzo
I
John Fordiani/ Union
The two-story Lot F was built in 1968 and will be one of the lots renovated in the near future. It’ll cost $28 million to bring the lot up to code according to the American Disability Act.
$33
million
the total cost of the demolition and construction of Lot C
the number of estimated parking spots that will be added to Lot C
1400-1500
the cost to bring Lot F up to code, according to the American Disability Act
$28 million
f students are tired of getting to school and circling several parking lots looking for a spot - EC is working on an answer. “Currently, it (parking) hasn’t actually improved. It’s getting ready to improve,” Tom Brown, director of facilities, said. “We haven’t added any more parking stalls. We are getting ready to with a couple of projects that are coming up. We will be opening more spaces but currently we have the same amount of spaces as we have had the last couple of years.” According to the most updated count, EC has 5,018 parking spots, but they’re not all in use because the new construction projects are occupying them. “We are going to add Lot C and we just got that in the design phase so we haven’t identified how many new parking stalls we will have there, but we estimate between 1,400 and 1,500 stalls,” Brown said. The expected date for the Lot C renovation to begin is unknown. The new expansion of Lot C will be built where the Technical Arts Building is located, Brown said. The cost of the demolition and construction of Lot C is estimated to be $33 million, he added. Rod McMillan, systems supervisor, said another big improvement is the construction of a parking structure; it will be built where shops (auto) is and it will be a three-story building. Brown also said that the biggest improvement is Lot H (the five-story parking structure) because it holds 1,100 parking spots and they were added from 2006 to 2008. Lot F will be another lot that gets renovated. It was built in 1968, so it will be up to code in accordance with the American Disability Act. This renovation will cost $28 million, Brown said. New additions in parking lots include ADA parking in the front of the lots that the college didn’t have 10 years ago, Brown said. “Also, when we do the renovation to Lot F, we will be adding more stalls to it,” Brown said. “It’s going to stay the same size but it will be more efficient and I believe we will be adding 80 stalls. It’s in the design phase right now.” Michael Blada, services supervisor, said that Facilities is working to improve the parking spots without over building and wasting money. “This will benefit the college very well because all of our parking is at the very south part or at the very west portion,” Brown said, “so by having Lot C up here, it’s closer to instruction. This will serve the students and staff very well and be more centrally located to a lot of the upper programs.”
1,100
the number of parking spots added in Lot H from 2006-2008
Statistics from Facilities and Institutional Research. Car image courtesy of olovedog/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
EC parking by the numbers
EDITORIAL
4 El Camino College Union
March 13, 2014
Letter to the Editor
MAY WE HAVE SOME MORE?
S
ince 2008, faculty and classified employees at EC have not received any raises to adjust for the steady climb of inflation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in this same six-year period, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of change in the prices paid by urban consumers for a “basket” of goods and services, increased by 10.9 percent. Translation? EC employees effectivelwy earn 10 percent less (relative to the things they want and need to buy) compared to their 2008 selves. For an institution filled with so many talented educators and tireless workers, that reality is both tragic and in dire need of remedy. The EC District is currently proposing a raise spaced across three years to its employees: 1.5, 1.7, and 1.8 percent respectively per year. Such a proposal would offer a long-overdue raise, but one incapable of restoring the purchasing power of EC’s employees for even half of what they’ve lost these past six years. Meanwhile, such a deal also carves out another three-year block where their salaries are locked in, regardless of changes in real-world circumstances, and to their disadvantage when their full contract is up for renegotiation in 2015. The District’s motivation for tabling such numbers is associated with the Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) it expects to see from the state of California. Dispensing raises leashed to this metric, however, is damaging to the financial situation of EC’s faculty and classified employees. There is no direct correlation between increases in the Consumer Price Index (which measures changes in actual market prices) and the state’s COLA allowances. From 1985 to 1991, California actually offered COLAs at higher rates than the increase in CPI (29.4 percent and 27.6 percent respectively). Any benefits workers might have garnered from this, however, would have been outweighed the following four years when the state offered no COLA increase despite an 8.6 percent rise in prices. Additionally, this sort of lag between what employees need and what
they make may very well be a disservice to their performance as well. The impact of financial stresses upon a student’s performance in the classroom is well documented by social scientists across the nation. Can you fairly expect a student who constantly worries about their bank account to outperform one unfettered by such concerns? How about a teacher? Arguments linking financial security and achievement are gaining traction, perhaps most notably, from studying successful companies in the private sector. According to a recent article published in the Harvard Business Review titled “A Minimum-Wage Hike Could Help Employers, Too,” companies that invested heavily in their workers were often “growing and coming out on top in very competitive industries.” On the other hand, jobs with subpar wages, “were not just rotten for the employees but were hurting the companies.” While EC isn’t tied to profits like private companies are, the same principles behind motivating workers and assuaging their financial worries (in return for markedly better performance) apply. The District has demonstrated that it’s not wholly opposed to significant raises despite tough economic times: EC’s board of trustees offered President Fallo a $40,000 raise last year. According to a Daily Breeze article titled “El Camino College expected to offer Thomas Fallo raise to stay as president” from January of last year, the move “boost[ed] Fallo’s base pay from the current $277,000 to $313,000,” as well as providing him with a “5 percent increase for each of the next three years, ultimately bringing Fallo’s salary to $362,000 by February 2016.” While someone like Fallo is objectively crucial to EC’s ability to function, aren’t its faculty and classified employees? The district’s willingness to offer the former a 5 percent raise, repeated across three years, while remaining resistant to even a singular, 6 percent raise for employees that have been making less and less since 2008, reeks of iniquity.
Free money, no problems In many cases, your education can pay for itself if you look in the right places and ask the right people. Financial aid is typically the first place students go to when looking for a way to pay for their education, but there are better alternatives. Scholarships are an option for students looking for free financial aid to pay for their education with no strings attached. But not enough students apply for the free
U N NIO EL CAMINO COLLEGE
Vol. 68, No. 4 March 13, 2014
E -mail: eccunion@gmail.com Newsroom: (310) 660-3328 Advertising: (310) 660-3329
money that is right in front of them - especially community college students. The EC foundation, a tax charitable organization, only receives about 800 applicants and 600 are granted scholarships. These scholarships are categorized by majors, which is why not every student receives a scholarship, but a lot of money is left on the table. What makes the EC Foundation’s scholarship different is that it doesn’t entirely rely on
Editor-in-Chief �����������������������������������������������������������������������Matthew Simon News Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Eric Hsieh Opinion Co-Editor ���������������������������������������������������������������������Russell Lewis Editorial Editor....................................................................................Angela Yim Features Editor ����������������������������������������������������������������������Jessica Martinez Arts Editor ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Nadia Basich Sports Editor ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� Marquis Parker Photo Editor ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������Amira Petrus Distribution Manager ������������������������������������������������������������� Marquis Parker Advertising Manager �����������������������������������������������������������������Liliana Lopez Adviser ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������Kate McLaughlin Photo Adviser...................................................................................Gary Kohatsu
your GPA. Write a strong personal statement that will bring your story to life, and there will be a donor for you. The EC Foundation isn’t the end all, be all of scholarships. The El Camino Financial Aid Office has plenty to offer to all EC students, but the catch is to ask for it. There is nothing else, no detailed description to try and trick you or give you false hope. Just free money, lots of it.
The Union is published Thursdays by Journalism 11 students at El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506, and is free to the student body and staff. Unsigned editorials and cartoons are the opinion of the editorial board and do not reflect the views of the student body, staff or administration. Letters to the editor must be signed and must be received one week prior to publication in the Union office, Humanities Building Room 113. Letters are subject to editing for space, libel, obscenity and disruption of the educational process. Single copies of the Union are free; multiple copies can be requested through the Union.
Dear Editor, I am writing this letter in response to the Union editorial, “Actions before Reactions.” El Camino College is committed to ensuring that all students and employees are prepared to respond to any emergency situation. Through emergency and safety training, we offer the resources to provide a safe and secure environment for everyone on campus. The ECC Procedures for Emergencies were recently updated, and are posted throughout the campus. Enhanced training sessions have been implemented for ECC Police; and new safety education programs have been established. El Camino College recently added a specialized unit to the District’s Emergency Operations Plan. The Assessment, Intervention and Management for Safety (AIMS) Team was created to provide early intervention in situations where people are disruptive, harmful, or threatening to the college community. Their webpage is here: http://www. elcamino.edu/administration/vpas/aims/. For many years, ECC has provided emergency notifications via email and reverse 911 calls through Cisco telephones in offices across campus. ECC has for many years also provided emergency updates to the ECC website and email notifications to students and employees. In more recent years, we have included text messaging; Twitter notifications via the college’s twitter feed; Facebook postings on ECC Facebook page; MyECC portal notifications; campus police car loudspeakers; use of walkie talkies with building captains; police officers or cadets that act as runners; and sign language support from the Special Resource Center to communicate in times of emergencies. Messages are also broadcast on loudspeakers in the Library and Social Science Buildings. In addition, ECC is utilizing the Nixle Community Information Service which allows us to create and deliver messages to subscribers instantly via cell phone text message and/or email. It’s free and easy to register at www.nixle.com. Notifications may also be accessed online at www.nixle. com. We count on people who receive emergency texts to tell others about the information they have just received. Campus safety is everyone’s responsibility and it is important that we all work together. This information is continuously shared through various El Camino College publications, the Web, email, and via social media sites. As El Camino College police chief, I am always available to Union reporters. In fact, I regularly share information on a variety of Union stories, including the September 27, 2013 edition that featured a story on the measures the college has in place to ensure safety, as well as strategies to be used in emergency situations. Several off-campus media outlets have praised the college for the multiple methods by which we get the word out during an emergency. The El Camino College Police Department works closely with the Union to regularly report all criminal and unusual incidents that have occurred on campus. We consider our relationship with the student newspaper a real asset to the campus community and an excellent way to keep the campus informed about incidents that have occurred on campus. A story in the November 14, 2013 edition of the Union reported that the efforts of the police working with the college community led to a decrease in crime. Remember: Even with all of these safety measures in place, a truly safe campus will only be achieved through the cooperation of students and employees. If you see or hear something that does not appear quite right, please contact Campus Police at 310-6603100 or 3100 from any office phone on the ECC campus, or you may use any Blue Pole. “See something. Say Something.” You may remain anonymous if you wish. From, Michael Trevis Chief of Police
Associated Collegiate Press Regional Pacemaker Award 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012 California Newspaper Publishers’ Association General Excellence Award 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 Journalism Association of Community Colleges General Excellence Award 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
The Beatles are an image. The Beatles are considered the best musical group of all time, but they are greatly overrated. They were not even the best amongst their contemporaries, and they were late to the psychedelic party and simply served to fill the pop void of the 1960s. Can the Beatles be considered the best group of all time, let alone Rocky Rivera in their own era? We’re talking Staff Writer @ECCUnionRocky about figures such as Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Cream, and Jimi Hendrix. These are giants amongst the rock world, whose music can arguably be considered to be superior. A lot of the Fab Four’s fame is due to their mythical 1966 album, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” The record is a meditation on free love and drug experimentation, very much in the psychedelic mold. Popular groups such as a certain Pink Floyd and the Velvet Underground were the true genesis of psychedelic rock and the forefathers of the punk rock movement of the seventies. In terms of influence, the Beatles are merely the sponsored links of the classic rock genre. The press tends to put aside their predecessors, the bluesmen from The South and the first wave of rock and rollers. Artists such as Blind Willie Johnson, Howlin’ Wolf, Robert Johnson, Bo Didley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and the list goes on. These artists provided the big bang of rock music that would make kids pick up a guitar and start a band. But why are they globally considered the best? Why has their music withstood the test of time? One possibility is generational bias, specifically from the baby boomers. How many times have you heard the older generation talk about how they don’t make music like they used to? While I’m not knocking on older popular music, I simply intend to highlight the point that the Fab Four were the epitome of a generation. This however does not take away from the quality of the Beatles’ music. They consistently cut good music for nearly a decade. Are they a great band? Yes. But in terms of influence, and even quality, they stand as merely the poster boys of the 1960’s.
arts
6 El Camino College Union
March 13, 2014
On The Scene Music Take a Musical Journey at Marsee Auditorium Beach Cities Symphony will present a Musical Journey concert full of different musical talents at the Marsee Auditorium on March 15 at 8:15 p.m. The admission to this show is free.
Luck of no Irish The musical, “A Man of No Importance,” takes place in 1964 Dublin where a man has secrets who he can only share with his imaginary friend with and has to come to terms with who he is when he is confronted. Show dates, times, and tickets can be purchased by calling 424-243-6882 and visiting www.torrancetheatrecompany.com.
Scrappy metal music Worldwide famous percussionists will be performing on March 15 at 8 p.m. at the James Armstrong Theatre. “Scrap Arts Music: The Eco-Pop Percussion Experience,” incorporates non-traditional, scrap metal instruments to put on a high-energy, unique show. Tickets can be purchased at the James Armstrong Theatre box office.
Jazz, swing, and food The Royal Jazz Sexet with Carla Normand will perform on March 16 at the Norris Theatre. This show captures the jazz and swing era with heaps of excitement. The performance is shown with meals, with an 11:30 a.m. brunch show, and a 5:30 p.m. dinner show. Call 310-544-0403 x221 for tickets or visit www.norriscenter.com
Zach Owens/ Union
(R)evolution artist, James Griffith, speaks about his art work. His dislay is current being shown in the Art Gallery until April 3.
Making a connection between art and nature Celine West
H
Staff Writer @ECCUnionCeline
e appeared to be standing next to a group of close friends as they watched the video play on an unusually fragmented screen. Images of a monarch butterfly landing on lush green foliage, followed by more images of a familiar world moving on a continual cycle. As he mingled through the gallery, Los Angeles artist, James Griffith could easily be recognized by his popularity among friends and fans who appeared to be as equally attracted to him as the butterfly was to the foliage. Griffith reveals through his use of natural elements as his primary medium, the implicit connections between art and nature in his portrayal of Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection. “This is about Darwin coming to the scene. Revolution is about how man was center stage and then Darwin put it into a perspective where people and animals were equals,” Susanna Meiers, art gallery director, said. “The revolution is that people didn’t think of that as a possibility. James is talking about his own take on the theory of evolution intuitively, combined with his own sense of it too.” Griffith said that he used to do more traditional work and worked with oils, but 5 years ago, he gave that up.
“Now I use tar, pollen, and ash. It’s more physical and attached to meaning. Tar is primordial goo,” Griffith said. “It’s from La Brea Tar Pits.” Darwin was highly into the idea that nature is self-perpetuating and that Griffith is trying to paint those ideas to convey that poetically. Before Darwin, nature was this thing that popped out, and after that, we were done. But nature is always changing and the work suggests the fluidity of nature. Lei Ann Grace, 19, childJohn Fordiani/ Union hood education major, was very James Griffith’s exhibit that can be seen at the Art Gallery. intrigued by Griffith’s work and thinks that he is “trying to open up duced it.” our senses.” “The ears surrounding that painting are sea shells with Griffith’s hard work was just something small he put ears painted into them,” Grace said. “I think art can edu- together but it will continually grow from here. “Doing the work was a transformational experience. cate people, really just by not talking.” Griffith began working on this project one year ago. Making this show took a lot of time. I started it a year He worked with abstract imagery before doing this and ago, and I’m a different person now,” Griffith said. “I only scratched the surface. This is something that I’m going to had also done large scale paintings. “It’s different for each artist,” Meiers said. “He started be working with for the rest of my life.” one year ago for the show, which is phenomenal. Artists don’t usually do this much for a particular show. He pro-
stars Myriad editor reaches for the Lorilynn Lomeli
Staff Writer @ECCUnionLorilyn
Amira Petrus/ Union Corrine Kosidlak, 19 physics major, one of the editors of the Myriad, holds up a copy of the Myriad 2013 edition.
She clasped onto her notebooks, brimming with meticulous and colorful notes, and her emerald eyes teemed with enthusiasm and determination. As a diligent student, she seemed to be steadfast and fast paced within an academic construct. Corrine Kosidlak, 19, physics major, is both right and left minded, she is passionate about astronomy and creative writing. Her major was originally English, but now she is a physics major and dreams to be an astronomer. “I like the stars a lot, and I want to be able to observe them and… discover new universes…(I have) really high hopes in that area,” Kosidlak said. However, she still maintains that she will never lose her passion for creative writing. “I am a huge fan of poetry and literature and I still write poetry,” Kosidlak said. Last semester, she was president of Page Turners – an EC book club. Now, Kosidlak is enrolled in the Myriad, an EC creative arts journal course. Peter Marcoux, English Professor and Myriad’s faculty advisor, speaks highly of Kosidlak’s work ethic. “I don’t have an official editor, but she
is kind of the unofficial editor… She is a really good student and she really cares about the magazine,” Marcoux said. Marcoux talked about how the course oscillated with demands on the editors, but currently the editors are in the taxing process of rating submissions. “So now we are starting to get sub-
missions turned in and 80 percent of our submissions come within the last 24 hours, so we get slammed,” Marcoux said. Kosidlak has been involved with Myriad both as an editor and as a writer, her literary works were in last year’s edition. Kosidlak encouraged people to join the course, and to submit to the arts journal. “You should probably like English [to join],” kosidlak said. “Just be open to the creativity that comes in… Have fun with it because it’s very fun to be in this class.”
Movie Review
No rise in this empire for “300” Devonte Singleton Staff Writer @ECCUnionDevonte
Through extraneous blood gushing in execution scenes, “300: Rise of an Empire” has possibly become one of the most average sequel action films of the decade. If you go see this movie it is almost mandatory that you see it in 3D or IMAX, so that you can get the full experience. The plot takes place in ancient Greece where the Athenians face off against the Persian navy. The Persians were led by a sexy, but lethal commander Artemisia. Commander Artemisia was played wonderfully by Eva Green as she took on a powerful woman’s role. Green’s performance was pretty much the most relevant acting job. Although her performance was stellar, it wasn’t enough to carry the whole show. The movie has clear attempts to one-up the original “300” directed by Zach Synder in 2007. The original “300” gives the crowd more genuine connection to the historical aspect that the movie is trying to convey.
“300: Rise of an Empire” is more for the action than anything. Every battle scene consists of blood spurts, head slicing, and gruesome executions. The graphics were amazing. How you take on the movie depends on what your favorite movie genre is. If you enjoy watching heads being cut off then “300: Rise of an Empire” is definitely something you will want to see. Directed by Noam Murro, the movie uses a lot of different colors during different scenes, in contrast to Snyder’s work. The story line did not have much substance. It really seems like the movie was all action. If you are not really a fan of this type of movie you will definitely squint your face or even look away at times during the battle scenes. The first battle scene of “Saving Private Ryan” has no comparison to this movie and that’s what I used to set my standard for bloody battle scenes. The movie overall was very average, the original “300” was better.
March 13, 2014
Union
El Camino College Union 7
The “It’s Only Another Beer” Black and Tan 8 oz. pilsner lager 8 oz. stout lager 1 frosty mug 1 icy road 1 pick-up truck 1 10-hour day 1 tired worker A few rounds with the guys Mix ingredients. Add 1 totalled vehicle.
Never underestimate ‘just a few.’ Buzzed driving is drunk driving.
Union
8 El Camino College Union
Corrections: Vol. 68 No. 3 Issue March 6, 2014
FRONT PAGE In an article headlined “Stomping Ground,” we incorrectly stated that Chris Street was the 2013 winner of the Shot Put Conference. Street was the 2013 shot put winner of the South Coast Conference.
March 13, 2014
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO
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FEATURES PAGE In an article headlined “Looking back on the life of a warrior” we incorrectly stated that the memorial service was April 1 from 1 to 2 p.m. Snowden’s memorial service is April 1 from noon to 1 p.m. In an article headlined “Looking back on the life of a warrior” we incorrectly gave photo credit to El Camino College Admissions and Records. The photo credit should have been given to Brian Krause. The Union welcomes comments and suggestions, or complaints about errors that warrant correction. Messages on all coverage can be emailed to eccunion@ gmail.com. Readers with comments on converage or procedure may reach the editor-in-chief at eccunion@gmail. com or (310) 660-3328. For newspaper delivery questions: (310) 660-3328 or e-mail us at eccunion@gmail.com
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Sports
March 13, 2014
El Camino College Union
Freshman infielder Fred Smith manages to steal 2nd base after a catcher’s error in the bottom of the 6th inning in last Saturday’s game against Cerritos College. The Warriors would go on to win the game 9-2.
9
Gilberto Castro / Union
Warriors bounce back from loss Brian Camacho Staff Writer @ECCUnionBrian
Conference play began perfectly for the El Camino baseball team as the Warriors offense erupted in a 9-2 rout over Cerritos College this past Saturday at Warrior Field. The Warriors (10-6) won the rubber match with the Falcons (7-7) after splitting the first two games of the series and more importantly, started off conference play with a winning record. “Once we start getting late into conference we’re facing better and better teams,” sophomore second baseman Jack Canady said. “Every win counts and gets us closer to the state championship.” The Warriors saw their fivegame win streak snapped last Thursday to the Falcons but they quickly responded with a dominating performance on both sides of the ball. The bats got going early and were firing on all cylinders as the Warriors combined for 9 runs and 14 hits, knocking the Falcon’s ace pitcher out of the game after only one inning. “Any time we were expecting fastballs, we hit it, coach Nate Fernley said. “This is the best job we’ve done of having a plan and executing it.” The Warriors got on the board quickly by scoring two runs in the
bottom of the first inning, thanks to a pair of singles by freshman shortstop Fred Smith and sophomore first baseman Dylan Hatch. Two more runs would be added in the bottom of the second inning off of a double by Smith which gave the Warriors an early 4-0 lead. Smith had a huge game by going 5-4 at the plate along with 3 RBI and is currently batting .333 with a .452 OBP. “We knew that guy was their ace and that he was going to supply power,” freshman catcher Joey Notch said. “We needed to come back after a bad game on Thursday.” Sophomore designated hitter Austin Watters kept the hit parade going with a 2 RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Warriors a commanding 6-0 lead. The Falcons would tack on a run in the top of the fifth and sixth innings but that would be the only threat of the game as the Warriors quickly ended the comeback by driving in three more runs the following inning. A leadoff single by Smith set up a massive 2-run home run by Hatch which was absolutely crushed over the scoreboard in right-center field to give the Warriors an 8-2 lead. Hatch is on a torrid hitting pace and is now batting .306 to go along with a whopping .490 slugging percentage. “Individually we’re just try-
ing to keep a good head on our shoulders and keep going strong,” Hatch said. “It’s going to be a long season and a dogfight. We just need to keep winning.” Sophomore starting pitcher Andy Burschinger went 6 innings while allowing 3 hits and 1 earned run in his first start since returning from a hamstring injury. “Whenever you get seven runs, you just want to throw strikes,” Burschinger said. “[Hamstring] Feels 100 percent and good to go for the rest of conference.” Freshman closer Josh Norwood shut the door by pitching the last three innings and lowered his ERA to a microscopic 1.77 in 20 innings pitched. “As a closer you have to have the mentality that they’re not going to hit me,” Norwood said. “You have to make yourself believe that.” The Warriors are starting to gain serious momentum and will look to continue improving as they head into their next series with Pasadena City College which will conclude this Saturday at noon in Pasadena. “We’re on the right track and we’re starting to play good baseball,” Fernley said. “I tell the players it’s like a mountain, the higher you get the more difficult it is.” Gilberto Castro / Union
In the top of the 7th inning, freshman outfielder Alex Turner catches the ball after it rebounds off the wall and throws it to 2nd base, preventing the Cerritos batter who hit the ball from advancing any further than 1st base. The Warriors won last Saturday’s game 9-2.
Pitching with purpose and a smile Lorenzo Guttierrez Staff Writer
Gilberto Castro / Union
Reina Trejo, EC pitcher, uses the sport she loves to connect with her father and has been playing since she was 4 years old. She plans to play for a four year university when she leaves El Camino.
With a currently held record of 5-1, freshman pitcher Reina Trejo, 18, plays softball with great enthusiasm and always has a big smile on her face about how exciting it is for her to play what she loves, and how the sport has helped develop a great relationship with her father. “Softball is like a safe place for me,” Trejo said. “I come and play, and it’s just where I get away, although i’m at school all the time, but when I’m on the field i’m having fun. “It’s what I like to do and there is no like taking me out of that,” she added. Her dad influenced her love for softball over the years, and when she was 4 years old, her dad got her into playing softball, according to Trejo. “When I started to play softball, I was just shocking, and now I really enjoy it,” Trejo said. “My father has
been my inspiration for everything I have done, and is a huge part of my life.” “We are really close, so he is my coach and taught me everything I know,” Trejo added. “I’m just listening to what say, because he plays a part in my decision making.” Trejo said that softball coach Elaine Martinez recruited her from Torrance High School, and Martinez brought her to El Camino to ask about what she wanted to do after graduating, and at the moment Trejo didn’t know where she wanted to go, but knew that she wanted to play at a community college. Knowing this, Martinez opened the doors here at EC, where she decided to play for the Warriors. “I actually really feel proud of myself,” Trejo said. “I didn’t pitch much in high school, but now that i’ve started back pitching again, I felt it wasn’t going to be as great as I have been doing now,” Trejo
said. Some activities Trejo does during her free time is to sleep or hang out with friends, and she also considers herself an artist, because she likes to draw and take pictures. Before every game, she likes to listen various types of hype music, and one of her favorite songs is Dark Horse by Katy Perry. In the future, Trejo wants to play for a four year university after EC, and she wants to pursue a career to become an athletic trainer. “We consider Trejo as to what we call ‘gold gamers’,” coach Melissa Sanchez said. “Her mentality is that she has to work extra hard in order to go to distance, and she always leads by example, and if we need a leader with strong work ethic, definitely Trejo is that person,” coach Melissa Sanchez said.
Offense explodes in rout Rocky Rivera Staff Writer @ECCUnionRocky
With momentum in the Warriors favor, sophomore third baseman Reina Trejo all but finished off the game with a home run mid-way through the game, which helped EC earn a huge 10-2 victory away at L.A. Mission last Friday. “We came out and played our hardest,” said sophomore pitcher Danielle Bonsky. “Everybody got at least one hit so they really did their job and contributed to the game.” The offense dominated the game, with six different players getting at least one RBI. Coach Elaine Martinez was proud of the amount of hits her team got, and revealed their secret to success this season. “That’s kind of how hitting goes,” Martinez said. “It comes in waves, and you ride that wave up high, then it flattens a little and sometimes you get into crevices, so we’re just trying to find more consistency, which will be the key for us during the rest of the season to determine whether we make playoffs or not.” EC came out hitting as the offense has seen a major improvement lately. They’ve averaged 11 runs over the past two games, and these results are attributed to hard work off the pitch. “I think [our hitting] has definitely improved. I think working on it all the time in practice and keeping up with our drills has helped us a lot,” Trejo said. The win at L.A. Mission marks the end of a long run of seven consecutive away games as the team is happy to be back playing at EC for a change. “It’ll be nice to be back at home,” Martinez said. “We haven’t had one in over a week, so we’re looking to forward to having a home game.” Thirteen of their remaining fifteen fixtures are against Conference opposition, who are direct rivals for playoff spots. With the postseason on the horizon, the Warriors are keeping they’re feet on the ground but are determined to fight for a berth. “We can’t say for sure we will make playoffs, but we’re confident,” Bonsky said. “Anything can happen, but I feel like we’re confident enough and can beat these upper level teams to make the playoffs,” EC took an early 2-0 lead before adding another run in the fourth inning. Seven more runs in the pivotal fifth inning clinched the 10-2 victory away to L.A. Mission. The Warriors’ record stands at 11-8 after this win and they’ll hope to keep the run going away to Pasadena on March 13.