el Don - November 16, 2009 by el Don

el Don

OPiniOn: The massacre at Fort

Hood left many wondering how this could have happened, especially in our armed forces. Is political correctness to blame? 12 sPORts: Defensive lineman Sahr Hemmur goes from surviving Sierra Leone’s civil war to sacking quarterbacks with a smile. 16

SANTA ANA COLLEGE

stYle: Looking to learn more about records? Here’s a quick lesson on collecting vinyl and a three-step guide to the popular hobby. 6

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009 • VOLUME 87, ISSUE 4

Former players guilty of rape leGal: Three defendants plead guilty to avoid trial, resulting in a 6-year sentence for each man involved in a videotaped sexual assault By Kathie Espinoza el Don Editor in Chief Two former Dons football players and a high school friend have each been sentenced to six years in state prison after pleading guilty to eight felony counts, stemming from a videotaped rape that occurred last year. Michael Clemmons of Tustin, Luster Lewis of Irvine, and John Paul Foster of Seaside all plead guilty to four felony counts of rape of a person unable to resist due to an intoxicating substance, one felony count of sexual penetration and three felony counts of oral

copulation of a person unable to resist. Clemmons and Lewis were on the Santa Ana College football team at the time of the assault in July of 2008. The three were arrested earlier this year after Tustin police received a video of the men raping an unconscious female. The incident occurred at the Key Inn located in Tustin. Police said the woman had been unaware that the sexual assault had taken place until authorities notified her. The 21-minute tape was turned over to

Please see FelOns, Page 3

THREE CONVICTED ON EIGHT FELONY COUNTS

Luster Lewis Former Dons wide receiver 2007-08

Michael Clemmons Former Dons running back 2007-08

John Paul Foster Graduated from Tustin High School in 2007

Courtesy of Tustin Police Department

Board moves forward with hiring plan

INTERNATIONAL DELIGHT

distRict: Trustees approve funding for search firm to find replacement for retiring Chancellor Eddie Hernandez

andReY MiRanda el Don

Belly dancers representing the country of Egypt show off the spirit of their heritage in the amphitheater.

Please refer to Page 5

By Michelle Wiebach el Don News Editor Despite protest from students and faculty, district officials are preparing to move forward with hiring a recruiting firm to replace retiring chancellor Eddie Hernandez. Hernandez, who will end his 13-year tenure as the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s chief executive, announced his retirement last July. However, many district employees want the board of trustees to hold off on searching for Hernandez’s successor until California’s economic downturn eases. “We’ve received a lot of support from faculty in not immediately replacing the chancellor,” Academic “We’ve Senate President John Zarske said. received a Several reasons for not acting lot of supon immediate replacement for the port from chancellor would be to save money faculty in not on the cost of a search firm, as well immediately as the chancellor’s salary of about $315,000, and the district and board replacing the chancellor.” would have more time to decide what qualities they want in the John Zarske next chancellor. Academic Senate Concerns have arisen among stuPresident dents as to whether or not funds for finding a new chancellor could be used for other academic purposes such as classes, equipment, programs and student services. In an e-mail response to el Don, Executive Vice

Please see FUndinG, Page 4

NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

COMMUNITY PROFILE

OFF the shelves

Thanks to a grant, reading library e-books just got easier

Resources, said, “The fact that in these serious economic times the ASG would select the library as the recipient of this award speaks loudly to the effect we A congratulatory e-mail recently have on student aspirations.” notified librarians that Nealley Library received a grant for $4,335 that will Online books are accessible at any time from any computer. By visiting the SAC expand the e-book selection. Nealley Library home page, you can conThe Associated Student Government awarded the money as part of the Leave- nect from home and search the database, which includes print books available in a-Legacy Program, which will subsidize the purchase of more than 2,700 e-books. the library, various articles, newspaper articles, as well as e-books. Every year the ASG awards the grant As opposed to traditional books that to a campus group. The program aims, as its name states, to leave a legacy that eventually deteriorate from normal wear and tear, online books are convenient will profit students for generations to and can be viewed in 10 different lancome, said ASG President Alex Flores. guages, right from your home. The library staff expressed its appreThe proposed list of titles appeals to ciation. “I am so proud of the students for realizing what an important role a broad spectrum of interests ranging from self-actualization to soil biology. the library plays in their educational It includes Mastering Your Fears and pursuits, so much that they would use their own money to subsidize it,” said Phobias, Careers in Marketing, American Electrician’s Handbook, Dialogue and Collection Development Librarian Rhetoric and Microbial Root Endophytes. Barbara Palmer. Whether specific to one field or more The executive members of the ASG general, the selection gives students the unanimously voted to allocate the funds to the library. Maria R. Sugrañes, associ- opportunity to study and do research from home. ate dean of Information and Learning

By Dawn McDougall el Don Staff Writer

blanca valdivia el Don

Students can connect from computers and laptops to access online books.

CAMPUS, LOCAL & STATE

News You Can Use Recognition

Give Back

Star Party

Dancewatch

The City of Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteers to assist at Senior Centers. Help is needed in packaging food items, serving food, and introducing seniors to the different activities and programs in the centers. This could be an opportunity to give back to the community. For more information call 714-571-4237.

Enjoy an evening under the bright stars at Santa Ana College. Come to the Open House/Star Party on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. and see a 15-minute sneak preview of the Tessman Planetarium’s new show America in Space. The first scheduled show is Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. Call 714-564-6356 for more details.

SAC’s talented dance department faculty and guest artists will perform new choreographic works in folklorico, modern, ballet, jazz, hip-hop and flamenco at the Phillips Hall Theatre. Show times and dates are Friday, Nov. 20 and Saturday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students. Call 714-564-5641 for more details.

-Lourdes Serrano

Two SAC students, Aurea Gandarilla and Liliana Ramirez, received the presidential award for volunteerism. Gandarilla and Ramirez devoted over 100 hours in the college Service Learning Center. “We were told the award was available when we registered so we decided to go for it,” Ramirez said. No ceremony took place due to budget cuts. -Kathie Espinoza

Holiday Art This is a yearly opportunity to purchase the fine art produced by students, faculty and alumni of the art department. The art sale will include glass, ceramics, crafts, drawings, paintings, jewelry and more. Studio Night This free event will take place in the SAC Art The SAC dance departGallery in the Fine Arts ment is warming up for Building on Tuesday, its end of the semester Dec. 1 from 10:30 a.m. celebration, an informal to 4 p.m. showing of class projects, individual compositions -Lourdes Serrano and improvisations. The celebration takes place in dance studio, G-108. It is free and a good way to enjoy a fun evening of dance. -Lourdes Serrano

-Lourdes Serrano

From left: Aurea Gandarilla and Liliana Ramirez

Big Band

If you are a continuing student, Dec. 1 is the starting date to register for Spring 2010. Register online at sac.edu early and save yourself a headache. Classes are limited and fill up quickly.

The big band and jazz singers join forces to present an evening of music. Come to Phillips Hall Fri, Dec. 4. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6 for students.

-Lourdes Serrano

NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Felons: victim said she was emotionally scarred Continued from page 1

Authorities said it is unclear if anyone else was present in the room during the filming of the assault. In a victim impact statement read before sentencing, the victim told the court she had been emotionally scarred and had lost her ability to trust others. The victim said she felt humiliated after the incident because friends refused to believe she had been raped. The morning after, her assailants refused to drive her home, instead forcing her to take the bus, according to court records. The victim’s mother also spoke at the sentencing, denouncing the acts of the three men as “sadistic.” Although the men have each been sentenced to six years, legal experts say they will likely not serve their full sentences. Clemmons, Foster and Lewis will also have to register as sex offenders upon their release from prison. Santa Ana College officials declined requests for comment on the sentencing.

Tustin authorities on Dec. 28, 2008. It was described as extremely graphic by the Orange County District Attorney’s office. The men were first arraigned on 12 counts and six charges on Jan. 30. Additional charges were filed by the Orange County District Attorney. Throughout the video, according to the DA’s office, the felons are seen slapping the victim in the face and holding her nose closed in order to suffocate her. One defendant is seen ejaculating on the unconscious victim’s face. Foster is seen handing off a video camera to someone else in order to urinate on the victim and rub his penis on her. The woman remained unconscious throughout the video due to intoxication. Clemmons and Lewis were accused of moving the victim from the bed to the floor and rearranging her body into different positions while repeatedly raping her.

N A T I o N A l

The assault took place in July 2008 at Tustin’s Key Inn and Suites.

andRea PinedO el Don

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NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Funding: ASG flier overstates district spending Continued from page 1 Chancellor of Human Resources and Educational Services John Didion said, “The district receives categorical funds from the state chancellor’s office each year that are designated for employee recruitment and selection activities. These funds are restricted for that use and cannot be used for general purposes such as classroom instruction.” Some district employees have suggested that the board hire an interim chancellor for a year. But assigning an interim for the position would not save the district much money because the employee would still have a chancellor’s salary. ASG President Alex Flores has been posting fliers and talking to classes about how they can voice their opinion about board spending. However, the distributed flier is incomplete. The flier states that the district wants to spend about $57,000 to find a new employee. The flier also encourages students to attend the board meeting today at the RSCCD district office at 4:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public. What the flier does not include is that the $57,000 figure is the price of a single search firm bid to conduct the chancellor search. There is a process involved with hiring new executives for the district. “The Board of Trustees solicited proposals from a number of executive search firms to assist in the recruitment and selection process for a new chancellor. Ultimately five firms responded to the proposal,” Didion said. “Although the proposed costs ranged from a high of $57,000 to a low of $28,000, there was never a

andReY MiRanda el Don

Chancellor Eddie Hernandez greets the women’s softball team at the dedication of the new baseball field. recommendation from the staff or any member of the board to spend $57,000 on a search.” Didion will recommend that the district go with the lowest bid of $28,000, which was from Community College Search Services. This firm has also conducted searches when Chancellor Hernandez was hired, and when SAC President Erlinda Martinez and SCC President Juan

Vazquez were selected. When told that the flier contained inaccurate information Flores said, “It is our job to be students, not to know how it works. We need to focus on our education, that is our priority.” Flores continued, “The meaning of the flier is to make sure students know what is going on and to make sure [the district] is making the right calls.”

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NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Annual festival highlights diversity and unity CAMPUS: Students share rich traditions with peers

join us!

up of traditional Vietnamese melodies and Western pop beats. Japanese and Brazilian students performed Camilla Kier set up a chair in the middle of a martial arts exhibition, with Japanese karate the quad. Those who sat on it got a warm hug chopping and kicking, while Brazilian repfor free, no strings attached. resentatives shuffled and executed textbook “I give out hugs because we’re happy people,” throwdowns. The exhibitions highlighted Kier said, embracing another student. similarities in style, which is no coincidence Kier is an international student from because Brazilian jiu-jitsu came to Brazil from Denmark, consistently rated the No.1 happiest Japanese farm workers who immigrated to country on earth. South America during the early 20th Century. Along with students from 23 countries, Appropriately enough, the English Language Kier participated in the annual International Academy’s members sang “A Whole New Festival at Santa Ana College Nov. 4. World,” the theme song to the Disney aniThe event displayed the college’s cultural mated movie Aladdin. Students from Middle diversity through food, dance, and tradiCollege High School represented the United tional costumes worn by Japanese, Mexican, States with rock n’ roll and home style apple Vietnamese and Brazilian students. and pumpkin pies. Hundreds lined up to fill their plates with Egyptian belly dancers stole the show with delicacies including Peruvian empanadas, hip-shaking dance moves that brought down Brazilian skewers, Korean dumplings and the house, or at least the quad. They won first Chinese chicken chop suey. Dishes were served prize in the talent show. by men in gi — the favored attire of Brazilian Japan won the President’s, Dean’s and jiu-jitsu practitioners, women wearing cultural Counselor’s Awards. Mexican garb, and men and women dressed in Everyone went home a winner, even Nepal kimonos to celebrate their traditional attire. with one representative, which won for the “Today we are so lucky. Our International smallest group category. Festival may last only three hours, but it’s like By the end of the event, Kier found new real worldwide travel,” said Nancy Wang, presi- friends from a different nation joining her. dent of the International Students Association. Showing that the festival is about unity The program included a talent competition more than diversity, the male students of the that showcased routines from a dozen cultures. Japanese club joined the Danes’ tent and joined The Vietnamese Club of Santa Ana performed in giving out free hugs. a song and dance number, a unique mash- Felipa Penaloza contributed to this story.

By Michelle Wiebach el Don News Editor

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Kathie Espinoza el Don

The Japanese dressed in their traditional kimonos.

STYLE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

HOTLINES

Reviews & other stuff

USE YOUR BRAIN(S) Zombies are back and they’re looking for more members to join their ranks in Left 4 Dead 2. Set a week after the first game’s apocalyptic plague, players must fight through levels as human survivors trying to make their way to safety through swarms of infected attackers. Use everything from guns to baseball bats to get your group to the next safe house. Play against your friends as either survivors or zombies in four different game modes that allow for up to eight players. Left 4 Dead 2 comes out tomorrow for $54.99 for Xbox 360 or $44.99 for PCs. - Allison Lujan

ANALOG

REVOLUTION THE ART OF WAR

Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotion as seven-time Grammy Award winner John Mayer is back with his fourth studio album, Battle Studies. Mayer stays true to the title by sharing advice, stories of life lessons, simple life pleasures and hardships. Songs like Heartbreak Warfare and War of My Life talk love while Who Says and Perfectly Lonely talk the simple life. The album features 11 ballads and can be purchased on iTunes for $10.99 or a deluxe version for $13.99. - Hugo Pacheco

WATCH OUT!

Sick of all those wholesome family movies that come out around the holidays? Try something with a little more blood and revenge. From director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta), Ninja Assassin follows Raizo, a young child who is taken off the streets and trained to become a killer by the deadly and secretive Ozunu Clan. Ninja Assassin will be released nationwide Nov. 25 and is rated R. -Allison Lujan

As the music industry struggles, the sale of vinyl LPs holds steady as long as music lovers cling to the classic format

STYLE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

By Kathie Espinoza el Don Editor in Chief

A certain nostalgia accompanies the vinyl LP. As many collectors will attest, there’s nothing better than the extensive liner notes that you don’t get from the iTunes store. We live in a digital era, but for an outlet as powerful and cathartic as music, you need something tangible. You need to hold the songs in your hand. Once pronounced a dead format like the 8-track or the Betamax, vinyl never went away. It’s been living in thrift shops and specialty stores, bouncing from merch table to merch table at seedy venues and shipped in cardboard boxes around the world to giddy collectors. It’s usually snatched up by connoisseurs with collections worth more than their homes or by wide-eyed teenagers who don’t even own a record player. Thanks to more bands releasing various pressings of albums in multiple colors and packaging, vinyl has seen a recent resurgence in popularity. Though it’s nice to own your favorite LP in every color of the rainbow, it doesn’t come cheap to the bands dishing them out. “A band having a vinyl version of their album is a luxury, but they can’t necessarily afford it. Vinyl is expensive, the overhead is high and the markup is low, so it’s more risky for a label to release an LP,” said Brent Lakes, owner of Broken Circles, a vinyl-only record label. Dedicated fans see the purchase of LPs as supporting their favorite artists, and others see it as a way to justify filesharing. “I could either spend $12 and support the band and its label by buying an LP and having a really cool product, or I could steal it for free on the Internet,” Lakes said. That $12 investment could pay off in the long run. Strapped for cash? Sell your vinyl. Some records fetch hundreds of dollars online, but not all of them are sold by fans with empty wallets. “People have found massive ways to profit from the movement and continue to do so. We call them ‘flippers’ and they take advantage of grabbing up limited

copy pre-orders from in-demand bands and then immediately, upon receiving them, post them on eBay for the quick turn around,” veteran collector Mitch Mauer said. It’s easy for flippers to score multiple pre-orders online, but bands on tour have taken to selling limited quantities at shows, and restricting sales to one per person. Hardcore sextet Set Your Goals sold copies of This Will be the Death of Us at their recent summer tour with only two rules: one per person and none sold until the end of the last song. The blue marble LPs sold out in less than five minutes every night they were available. Vinyl is timeless. It’s like a black and white film, a good red lipstick, a wellfitted suit or a perfectly aged scotch. And, sometimes, the older it is, the better. With kids today taking an interest in anything vaguely retro, and the people who have always been retro continuing their highly addictive habit of collecting vinyl, it seems that the dead format has been resurrected. Maybe it’s not a second coming, but it’s definitely here to spice things up for a while. In the sense of being a common media format, vinyl will never make a comeback. Records are a pain to deal with and it’s easier to load songs onto an MP3 player. Vinyl’s 15 minutes may be up, but it isn’t dead. As long as there are people who feel the way millions of others have felt about music, vinyl’s time in the spotlight isn’t over just yet.

START YOUR OWN COLLECTION 1

Find a good place to shop. Try Black Hole Records in Fullerton, Vinyl Solution in Huntington Beach or old school vinyl mecca, Amoeba Music in Los Angeles. Flea markets also oﬀer steals on classic records in maybenot-mint condition.

Get a record player. Unless you plan to keep your vinyl shrinkwrapped in a dark closet, you have to hear the smoky sound of the needle against the disc. Most record players retail from $50 - $100.

Plan on selling your stuﬀ? Know its value. Sites like deadformat.net and centerfuse.net allow you to connect with other collectors to buy and swap unwanted albums. You can also sell your goods to used record stores.

STYLE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Music teachers shine at recital

Part-time music professor Gary Hung accompanies Manon Robertshaw and other teachers at the faculty music recital.

Instructors go from the classroom to the stage, debuting original compositions By Kathie Espinoza el Don Editor in Chief

MICHELLE WIEBACH el Don

usic department faculty recently showcased the fruits of their talent by performing original tunes at An Evening of New Music. Part-time professor Lou Warde kicked off the program with Zachery’s Smile, a piece composed with the simple intention of eliciting a smile, like the one the composition sparked in his son, Zachery. The piece is jaunty and childlike, carried by the violin and cello. It makes you feel like you’re caught in a freefall of notes and melodies, landing safely at the end. Department chair Brian Kehlenbach unveiled the breakout song of the evening. Combining digital and voice elements, Kehlenbach’s reinterpretation of e.e. cummings’ who(is?are)who allowed soprano Melody Versoza to earn bragging

rights. Kehlenbach and Versoza successfully combined two different elements into one whole anthem without the eerie recording overpowering Versoza or vice versa. Other compositions included Harp Music and Four Sketches for Clarinet and Piano by Jeff Jones, Three Songs on Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke by Brian Kehlenbach and Love Songs from a Dalai Lama by guest Ken Walicki. Every faculty member brought something to the table, each time with enormous talent and dedication. The audience may have been packed with friends, family and students trying to meet class requirements, but everyone got a taste of innovative music and had their eyes opened to a world of eclectic new composers. The next fine arts event is Dancewatch 2009: Landscapes, Nov. 20 and 22.

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LIFE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

LIFELINES

Health & wellness

EAT YOUR VEGGIES Before a night out on the town, grab a few pieces of asparagus so you won’t end up with the hangover blues. A study in the Journal of Food Science reveals that eating asparagus could reduce or even prevent nausea and sweating caused by drinking. Enzymes found in the vegetable help protect the liver against toxins found in alcohol. Either eat some fresh asparagus before going out or have some for breakfast to help slow down the aftereffects. It’s also great for your body as asparagus contains other healthy nutrients like folic acid, potassium, fiber and other vitamins. -Allison Lujan

GIVE BACK

Do you know someone who’s served in the war in the Middle East? Did you know that more than half of all college students have reported feeling depressed or have had emotional problems? Here’s your chance to help with a veteran’s transition back home or get help for yourself. Visit halfofus.com to help a friend in need, and to find out how to spot warning signs of suicide, depression, anxiety and other severe disorders. Get advice, hear others’ stories and learn how to find resources within your community. -Hugo Pacheco

By Meg Faulkner el Don Staff Writer

Holiday HELPINGS

his Thanksgiving three dozen needy students and their families will have more to be grateful for when Adopt-A-Family provides their holiday dinners. The program, an eﬀort spearheaded by the Service Learning Center, has been helping students for more than 10 years. Faculty members identify students who are struggling financially and recommend them as beneficiaries of the program. The Service Learning Center then contacts the families, whose identities are kept conﬁdential, to assess the need and coordinate collection and delivery of the donated food. Marie Ortega, a former clerk in the Service Learning Center, administers the program. Ortega lost her job due to the budget crisis, but returned to work as a volunteer to manage this year’s Adopt-a-Family outreach. She hopes her position will be reinstated next year through the Federal Work Study program, but will work without pay in the meantime to keep the Adopt-a-Family program alive. “It feels good to know that there are people who still want to help others,” Ortega said. “Even when times are

hard, they can still help.” Psychology professor Jeﬀrey Pedroza is one faculty member who wants to help. He has participated in the program since he came to SAC in 2001. Pedroza recalls receiving a food basket at Thanksgiving when he was a child in Detroit. “We were just so grateful,” Pedroza said. That is one of the reasons he chooses to give back today. Pedroza gets his Psychology 100 students involved, too. “Part of our student learning outcome is community service,” he said. “I encourage them to get involved. We talk about how it feels to be altruistic.” Students collect canned food, but also toys and gift cards. “It’s quite amazing how students with any little extra money will give it to other people,” Pedroza said. The groceries and gifts will be delivered Nov. 25, just in time for Thanksgiving. “Some people get really emotional,” Ortega said, referring both to recipients and volunteers. “I like to be involved in the delivery. Even if you can just help for one day, it’s like, I was here. I made a diﬀerence. It’s a good feeling.”

Every November Adopt-A-Family delivers a day to remember for 35 financially struggling families

LOCAL LUXURY

If you want to go green, but aren’t sure how, check out The Road Less Travelled. The Santa Ana store offers green-themed classes on everything from cooking to bicycle repair in its annex at 2204 N. Main St. Holiday offerings include gift-making classes and a holiday makeover class using handmade, all-natural cosmetics. The classroom operates year round. For more information, stop by the store or visit roadlesstravelledstore.com. -Meg Faulkner

MARTHA NGUYEN el Don

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VIEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

el Don SANTA ANA COLLEGE

Editor in Chief Kathie Espinoza eldoneditor@sac.edu

News Editor Michelle Wiebach eldonnews@sac.edu Life Editor Martha Nguyen Sports Editor Jermaine Ruvalcaba eldonsports@sac.edu Views Editor Amy Ellison eldonviews@sac.edu Photo Editor Andrey Miranda Blanca Valdivia Business and Advertising Manager Allene Symons eldonbusiness@sac.edu Adviser C. W. Little Jr. little_charles@sac.edu MAILBOX POLICY

El Don encourages the expression of all views. Letters should be concise, signed, include a contact phone number and may be e-mailed to the appropriate editor, or mailed to SAC el Don, 17th at Bristol St., Santa Ana, CA 92706. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the views of Santa Ana College. Opinions with a byline are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of el Don or SAC. El Don reserves the right to refuse advertising and does not necessarily subscribe to the views of the advertisers. For advertising rates and information contact Allene Symons (714)564-5617. Fax (714)564-0821. e-mail eldonbusiness@sac.edu

Andrea pinedo el don

STAFF EDITORIAL

Finding

rewards in

Giving With everyone in the spirit of holiday cheer, we should consider keeping the good-will-to-all mindset even after the pine trees are dried out

Share. We are taught as children that sharing is the right thing to do. Toys, snacks, space, attention—as soon as you have it, you are expected to share it. As we enter the holiday season, the sharing imperative hits us from every angle. Food drives, toy drives, even blood drives—it seems like everyone wants something. Sharing is still the right thing to do, but in times like these, it is not easy. When you spend most days either chasing a buck or stretching one, carving out a little extra for charity seems just about impossible. As you get older, empathy kicks in, and you learn to identify with want. You know how it feels to want something, and you know how good it feels when someone shares with you. So as you mature, you take pleasure in sharing. Maybe, when money is hard to come by and generosity seems scarce, our problem is that we do not understand what we have. Whether you have a lot or a little, you have something, and you are richer in the act of sharing it. If you can spare a buck, pick up a couple extra canned goods to drop in the Second Harvest barrel. Every time you grocery shop, you have the power to make a difference. If we all did that, all year long, imagine the impact we’d have. What if you are out of work, and even a buck is too much to give? Time is worth sharing, whether you volunteer for charity or give your parents a hand around the house. Spend an hour with a friend who needs to talk. Read someone a story. Play a game with a lonely kid. If you do not have much time, you can still give courtesy, patience or even your full attention to the people with whom you interact. The manner in which you conduct yourself can be a gift to others. When we are broke and busy, a friendly word or display of manners reminds people that this is not a rat race. We are not rats. We are humans, capable of kindness, humor and gratitude. Share your humanity with the people around you. We always have something to give. We have to take inventory of what is ours, recognize our power to share it, and enjoy the pleasure of doing so.

VIEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

The victims of the Fort Hood shooting will never be forgotten, but this tragedy could have been avoided Opinion By Amy Ellison el don Views Editor Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is a Muslim man, devoted to his faith. In the name of his God he opened fire on his fellow United States soldiers, killing 13 and injuring 42. Pulling his two standard issue fi rearms from his jacket, he shouted, “Allahu Akbar,” Arabic for “God is great.” When the lives of soldiers and citizens are put in danger for any reason, it must be addressed. In this case, Hasan was an Islamic extremist with ill will towards America’s involvement in the war on terrorism, and American values in general. Had it not been for “political correctness” in our military, Hasan’s past actions would have been taken more seriously. In some cases, it is OK to racially profi le, and this tragedy is a perfect example. After the shooting, several soldiers came forward with reports of Hasan’s radical and suspicious behavior, but claimed they were afraid to come forward for fear of being labeled intolerant or a racial profi ler. If not for this reluctance, the death of 13 American soldiers may have been prevented. Despite several strong warning signs of

Hasan’s devotion to radical Islam, the FBI deemed it unnecessary to flag him in a terrorist watch list, and disregarded complaints filed against him. The FBI also seized transcripts of Hasan and Anwar al-Awlaki, a known spiritual advisor to two of the hijackers in the 9/11 attacks with a past of being supportive of terrorism, and disregarded it. Hassan was heard saying he was a Muslim before an American, and often spoke of his anti-American feelings. What more do you need? It is quite obvious his loyalties were not to the United States. Has this country become so concerned with “political correctness” that regardless of a clear and present danger, action was not taken for fear of stepping on toes? This is a wake-up call, and serves as a hard-learned lesson for all of us. “It’s diﬃ cult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas,” President Obama said. “It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil.” God bless our armed forces, their families, and the United States of America.

FORT HOOD VICTIMS

Michael Cahill 62

Pfc. Aaron Nemelka 19

Maj. Libardo Caraveo 52

Capt. John Gaﬀaney 55

Spc. Frederick Greene Capt. Russel Seager 29 51

Lt. Col. Juanita Warman Pfc. Michael Pearson Staﬀ Srg. Justin DeCrow 55 22 32

Spc. Jason Hunt 22

Pvt. Francheska Velez 21

Sgt. Amy Krueger 29

Pfc. Kham Xiong 23

Fred MATAMoroS MCT

VIEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

FACE OFF

ALeX Cooper el dON

The big bad meat industry goes up against the harmless vegan lifestyle Opinion By Dawn McDougall

Opinion By Allison Lujan

For breakfast, a fresh fruit smoothie with a side of toast. A light salad with veggies is lunch. A fatty bean and rice burrito makes dinner. Dessert? Mint and chip soy ice cream−two scoops. Though a meat, dairy and egg-free lifestyle isn’t average, an increasing number of people are switching over. I went vegan two years ago when I learned about the large-scale damage the meat industry causes. Because of its size, the industry taps many resources to sustain itself, which takes a toll on the environment. I couldn’t contribute to that, so I stopped eating meat and animal products. The jokes and accusations of being crazy have yet to cease. Vegans don’t decide to abstain from meat because it’s easy. We don’t do it because there are so many great restaurants, or for the sheer thrill of meticulously checking ingredient lists. And despite the temptation of being the butt of cliché jokes, it’s not that either. It’s a choice, not a diet. It’s based on facts and beliefs. One fact, the meat industry globally impacts the environment. One belief, it’s wrong to ignore the facts and do nothing to change them. Being informed isn’t being a freak, and I don’t think I should be alienated or mocked for it. In Asia, people eat sushi. In Russia, fish eggs are a delicacy. In Zombieland, brains are on the menu. Who has the right to judge what people eat? Believe it or not, vegans eat more than tofu. In fact, vegans eat a varied selection from the food pyramid. And, believe it or not, we enjoy it too. As far-fetched as it may seem, food can taste good without meat. Contrary to popular belief, not eating meat isn’t missing out. It’s not the food, rather the social interaction we miss. We can’t eat at restaurants with family or friends. Holiday dinners are never the same. To top it all oﬀ, doubt and disrespect underlie incessant gibes. Keep in mind that a seemingly innocent joke repeated so many times can turn into an insult. It might seem over-sensitive, but after a while, the jokes just aren’t funny.

A violin quartet is playing a quiet melody. The room is lit by the soft glow of candles and a few chandeliers. You’re sitting in a five-star restaurant. You pick up your knife. It slides through the food eﬀortlessly. It is a green salad dressed in a light vinaigrette. No, wait a minute. It’s a juicy, bloody, fall oﬀ the bone steak because no one goes to a five-star restaurant to pay for a salad. As a proud meat eater, I am sick of the bad reputation that meat’s gotten and the idea that meat eaters should feel guilty for eating cows, chickens, and piggies. Let’s start with the heavyweight: red meat which includes both beef and pork. It’s received the worst reputation of all, with scientists claiming it can raise your cholesterol, risk of heart disease and cancer. Here is the simple solution to all of those problems: go lean. Red lean meat is just as tasty but with less fat. It’s also packed with protein, as well as enough iron to put Popeye’s spinach to shame. In addition, it gives your body healthy doses of zinc and lowers bad cholesterol while raising the good. Chicken, turkey and fish are well known healthier meats. White, skinless meat is always leaner than dark but here’s a sinful suggestion: try deep fried turkey. It’s what you’ll be most grateful for on Thanksgiving. Friends from under the sea provide tons of protein, omega-3 fatty acids for heart health and anti-inflammatory properties. Another argument the opposition likes to use is if you cannot slaughter it yourself, you shouldn’t eat it. Americans are spoiled. We can drive to a market, buy a pack of meat and never have to worry where it comes from. This is why we industrialized meat production. The idea of slaughtering one’s own meat in the backyard is as antiquated as an 8-track tape. The world is never going to stop eating meat. Nor should it have to. Meat is delicious. Man cannot, and should not, live by vegetable alone, but some veggies do make a nice side to a thick juicy steak.

SPORTS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

SPORTSLINE People & events

Vasquez reaches 100 victories Head Coach Jose Vasquez picked up his hundredth career win after the men’s soccer team defeated Irvine Valley College 3-0. “It’s a big honor just to be here and to pick up on what my mentor and coach [ J.P Frutos] left behind, the tradition of excellence Vasquez and championship here at Santa Ana College,” Vasquez said. With 107 total wins, Vasquez is on pace to pass Frutos, who holds the Santa Ana College record with 346 wins in 21 seasons. It took Frutos eight seasons to reach 100 wins, while Vasquez did it in six seasons as the head coach. Vasquez also coached the Dons to their sixteenth straight Orange Empire Conference title this season. “Personally, it’s huge because it shows that with young student athletes anything is possible here at SAC,” Vasquez said. –Jermaine Ruvalcaba

Martinez takes down Mt. SAC Wrestling continued its undefeated season as the Dons defeated Mt. San Antonio College 33-6 Nov. 11. The win gives Santa Ana College a 12-0 record overall and 4-0 record in the South Coast Conference. Martinez Jaime Martinez gave the Dons an early 5-0 match lead with a solid 18-3 victory over Steve Salinas in the 125-pound weight class. Sophomore Jose Navarro had seven takedowns, easily winning his match against Chris Abeyta with a score of 18-3. In the 165-pound match, sophomore Ted Bristol had a come-from-behind win against Mt. SAC’s Nico Phillips. After Phillips made the score 7-2, Bristol worked hard to tie the match before the end of the first period. Bristol took the lead and won 16-9, pinning Phillips. Next, the Dons face East Los Angeles College, Wednesday at 7 p.m. –Allison Lujan

Timmy Frank (17) added two goals for the Dons in their 18-9 loss, giving him three total goals to end the season.

Dons hopeful despite loss

Alejandro Romero (12) contributed with a goal in the Dons first round game against OCC.

Players remain enthusiastic after their first round departure, losing to OCC 18-9 Story By hugo Pacheco • Photos By Blanca Valdivia Daniel Nagy gathered around with his teammates at poolside after an 18-9 first round loss to Orange Coast College in the Orange Empire Conference Water Polo Championships on Nov. 6, but he wasn’t disappointed. On that Friday morning at the Fullerton College pool, spirits remained high despite knowing that the loss ousted the Dons from the OEC tournament. Nagy and his teammates knew they had given their best effort. Santa Ana bounced back from a slow start behind the Hungarian Nagy’s three first half goals. A late Nelson Goossens goal in the second period made the score 9-5 for OCC at halftime. Nagy continued to be a force scoring within 50 seconds of the opening of the third period to cut the Pirates’ lead to three. Then after his third penalty, Nagy fouled out leaving his team to try to overcome a 10-7 deficit. “It dropped the morale for the team when Nagy fouled out,” sophomore Cody Kemp said. OCC proved to be too much tallying six unanswered goals over a period of eight minutes to give them a commanding 16-7 lead. A late rally saw Kemp and Jon Valdivia each notch goals, but the Pirates defense held up against the Dons to advance them to the second round. The Dons season ends with a 3-23 overall record and 0-5 record in conference play. Like many others, budget cuts have affected the water polo program at SAC. “We need more support from the school,” said Head Coach Joe Billish. “You can’t be a fully competitive collegiate program with two hours a day to train. We train less than a high school freshman team.”

Anthony Lopez had seven goals and two assists this year.

SPORTS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Kicks for the Cure

Wife’s cancer diagnosis spurs soccer coach to raise awareness By Jermaine ruvalcaba el Don Sports Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON KEHLER

Amanda Chavez had two shots and an assist contributing to the Dons 6-0 win over Fullerton College in game one of the doubleheader.

The memory is still fresh. One day grandma is doing fine helping out with Thanksgiving dinner or getting the decorations ready for the Christmas tree. The next she is coughing up blood and being diagnosed with cancer. For Head Coach Jose Vasquez his grandmother was the first in his family to be stricken with the disease. “In the last five years I lost my grandma, I lost my uncle to lung cancer, then my cousin died from bone cancer,” said Vasquez. “It was a domino effect.” The next domino fell when his wife went in for a routine checkup. Vasquez and his wife were planning their third child when doctors discovered something wrong and diagnosed her with cancer. “I was in shock when I found out she was diagnosed,” said Vasquez. “I thought about having to be a single father.” His wife, Roxanne, overcame her illness. With the help and support of family and her husband close by her side, she survived. Even with her survival, the thought of the cancer returning is still in the back of Vasquez’s mind. “To this day we haven’t tried for our third child. We are scared that she might have it again next checkup, scared that they will tell her that she might not have that much time to

live,” Vasquez said. In response, the coach started putting together an idea that he had when he was a pro. After talking to SAC Sports Information Coordinator Jason Kehler and Women’s Head Coach Jodi Coffman, the plan was underway for the first Kicks for the Cure doubleheader. With every seat filled and the crowd cheering, both teams put on pink gear in support of cancer awareness. For one player, defender Sidney Corbin, it brought back memories of when his mother battled breast cancer. Corbin slipped on his pink cleats and stepped on the field playing in honor of his mother. “When she had cancer I was scared because I loved her,” Corbin said. His mother survived and is alive today. During the doubleheader the women’s team dominated the Hornets 6-0 while the men shut out Fullerton College 2-0. However, the scoreboard didn’t tell the whole story. After the game, Vasquez went straight to Roxanne and held her close. There is a plan underway for Kicks for the Cure to return next year with the entire Orange Empire Conference participating. Coach Vasquez knew his grandma was watching down on him from heaven. She can smile, proud of her grandson. Vasquez can smile knowing he paid tribute to her and others stricken by cancer.

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SPORTS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

SMILINGTHROUGH Sahr Hemmor survived war in his native Sierra Leone to dominate on the football field Story By Jermaine Ruvalcaba Photo By Blanca Valdivia

A 12-year-old boy watches his country fall apart as villages burn to the ground while he and his family struggle to survive Sierra Leone’s Civil War. Thousands are missing an arm, leg, or both, their limbs amputated by a group of rebels. The boy watches—after a decade the war ends when 17,000 troops from Britain disarm tens of thousands of rebels and militia fighters. Seven years later, Sahr Hemmor is now a Santa Ana College defensive lineman. “I used to live in a war place,” said Hemmor. “It was no good. People would run from the rivers

and stuff so they could survive.” Known for its diamonds, Sierra Leone still struggles with poverty and unemployment, and its people live with the fear of being gunned down. To save her family, Hemmor’s mother moved them to California, where she was living at the time. Right away, Sahr began enjoying life without a war. “It is safe,” said the 5 foot 9, 200 pound Hemmor. “Sometimes I go to the gym at night and I don’t have to worry about getting shot.” With his success playing football at Pacifica High School, Hemmor hopped on a bus to Santa Ana College and went straight to Head Coach Geoff Jones and told him he wanted to play for his team.

“He literally walked off the bus, came up here and said I want to play,” said Jones. “I told him I don’t know what position you are going to play or what role you will have, but you just made this team.” As a freshman, Hemmor made an immediate impact, leading the Dons with 10 sacks through nine games. His biggest performance came in a 13-10 upset over seventh ranked Grossmont College where he had three sacks and recovered two fumbles. “He just shines. He runs faster than anybody and plays harder than everybody,” Jones said. Ups and downs haven’t stopped Sahr from always managing to keep a smile on his face. Coaches

and players say that it is the best thing about him. “I have to smile. There is no way I can’t smile because I have nothing to lose,” Hemmor said. Hemmor plans on continuing his football career by coaching when his time at SAC ends. If coaching doesn’t work out, then he plans on furthering his education in criminal justice. Coach Jones believes that Sahr can play football beyond SAC. “Some coaches are going to say he is not big enough, but he will succeed,” said Jones. “His future is going to be what it is here.” With the war now an afterthought and a bright future ahead of him, Sahr takes the field with a knowing smile.