A N AT I O N A L PA C E M A K E R AWA R D N E W S PA P E R
Volume 60, Issue 4
theswcsun.com
Winter Edition 2016 - 17
Board names Dr. Kindred Murillo new president By Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar and Alejandro Muñoz Anguiano Staff Writers
Murillo
SWC students struggle with homelessness
Dr. Kindred Murillo, the president of Lake Tahoe Community College, was selected as superintendent/president of Southwestern College by a 5-0 vote of the governing board. Board members are scheduled to discuss her contract and conduct a final vote to officially appoint her to the position at their Dec. 14 meeting. Murillo earned a doctorate in
Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University in 2010 and has 20 years experience in community colleges. She became the first female president of Lake Tahoe Community College in 2011. Her biography says that during her five years there she advocated for transparent budgeting and financial stability, and led the college when the community approved a $55 million general obligation bond. Murillo said she was ready to leave Lake Tahoe because she built a capable and ethical team that would lead the college into a sustainable future.
Southwestern’s Governing Board chose Murillo over Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Angelica Suarez and Dr. Reagan Romali, president of Harry S. Truman College in Chicago. Board President Nora Vargas said Murillo’s record at LTCC influenced the board’s decision. “The board was impressed with Dr. Murillo’s steady leadership at Lake Tahoe, her passion for improving educational opportunity for all students, and her commitment to equity and equality,” she said.
‘Love has no borders’
please see Homeless pg. A3
A former Southwestern College student pleaded guilty to three counts of battery and was placed on three years probation after a six-month stint in county jail.
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Deal extends DE training deadlines
“I put my headphones in and that’s when he started brushing on me,” she said. “I began to feel really uncomfortable and it was very scary.” She moved to a different chair to get away from Balancar, but he followed her
Problems with distance education have hit close to home. When Southwestern College was tagged with 15 sanctions by its accreditation agency, one that stood out was the college’s non-compliant distance education program, more commonly known to students as online classes. Professor Angelina Stuart, cochair of the college’s Accreditation Oversight Committee, was Academic Senate President in 2011 when she and former Interim President Denise Whittaker helped SWC off probation and back into good standing with the college’s accreditation agency, ACCJC. Stuart said she has some “grave concerns” about the current accreditation situation, but said distance education is going in a better direction thanks to DE Faculty Coordinator Tracy Schaelen. Some DE concerns have been partially resolved by faculty. Distance Education Faculty Training (DEFT) launched in June 2016 and is led by Schaelen. It is a five-week, 40-hour online course that provides training, resources, guided application and evaluation of course concepts. Faculty were originally supposed to complete distance education training in December when about 140 faculty would have been DEFT certified. Faculty leaders complained that the deadline was unrealistic. Faculty leaders were able to negotiate on a deadline extension. Three 2017 tentative dates for DEFT are being offered in Feb. 12 to Mar. 18, April 3 to May 6 and July 3 to Aug. 5. Schaelen said that was a wise decision. “Due to faculty requests, we are offering one and possibly two sections of DEFT in the winter intersection,” she said. “By the time the spring 2017 semester begins, (more than) 150 instructors will be DEFT certified. Our facilitation team for DEFT is committed to running multiple sections of DEFT throughout the academic year to accommodate the needs and schedules of our colleagues.” Academic Senate President Andrew Rempt said it would have been difficult for faculty to balance teaching classes with taking 40 hours of distance education training. “There was sort of an unspoken agreement that we would have two years to accomplish this,” he said. “I
please see Balancar pg. A3
please see D.E.F.T. pg. A2
Natalie Mosqueda/Staff
Six lucky families had a three-minute reunion when the U.S. Border Patrol opened the massive gate at Friendship Park at the U.S.-Mexico border. Story on page 20
Former student receives parole after sexual battery case By Alejandro Muñoz Anguiano and Josh Navarro Staff Writers
please see President pg. A2
By Josh Navarro Assistant News Editor
By Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar News Editor
Georgia really wanted to earn a good grade in a class she loved. So she turned on the overhead light and spread her books across the dashboard of her car. It was cold, her mother was asleep and they were parked near the Chula Vista Marina. Georgia was homeless, but loved being a college student. Georgia (a pseudonym) is a 19-yearold nursing student and one of the 32 percent of California college students experiencing housing insecurity. A recent study by the College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), a research lab under the Interwork Institute at San Diego State University, found that homeless students across California are silently facing a grim struggle to survive. Southwestern College is no stranger to the problem. Georgia recalled the brutal year she spent as a hungry homeless student with her family of six sleeping in two cars. “It wasn’t easy for me,” she said. “Every morning I was waking up at six and going to the park and rinsing off in the sink water. It was the coldest time of the year.” When she was 17 her family moved to Southern California and she started at SWC. They were living with a relative until problems arose and the family suddenly found itself with nowhere to go. “We were just like, ‘This happened, what do we do now?’” she said. Fearing custody loss of Georgia’s baby cousin, her mother reached out to government resources that helped the family find a safe parking zone in Chula Vista. They spent most of their time there before it was closed down. Georgia and her family started parking in a lot between J Street and
Newly-elected trustee Roberto Alcantar was sworn in shortly before the presidential vote. He said Murillo’s experience with accreditation was key reason for her selection. “She is someone who has helped colleges turn around from situations much worse than the one Southwestern College is in,” he said. “(She) talks a lot about not just fixing the accreditation problem we have now, but also setting up systems and procedures that are followed every
Glenn Balancar was charged with 10 misdemeanor counts, including sexual battery, at SWC and SDSU in September 2015. Balancar is required to undergo psychological evaluation and has a restraining order for all 10 victims as well as the SDSU and SWC campuses. Details
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of his mental health treatment were not disclosed. Last fall Balancar allegedly harassed three SWC coeds and was sent to the South Bay Detention Facility. A student harassed by Balancar last September said he inappropriately touched her inner thigh at the library.
ARTS A18 Murdered Americans honored during a moving Trans Day of Remembrance.
VIEWPOINTS A5 Provocative narrative dance concert moves in the right direction.
SPORTS A8 Our diverse borderlands college needs to reboot MexicanAmerican studies.
Berkeleyeducated SODA recepient is an international wrestling queen.
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Winter Edition 2016-17 — Vol. 60, Issue 4
Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar, editor
NEWS
Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: news@theswcsun.com
“I want to be your champion. I want to show what this college can do.”
Thomas Contant/Staff
New president promises long stay at SWC with renewed focus on accreditation, collaboration, transparency, civility President: Kindred Murillo assumes presidency in January Continued from pg. A1
single year to avoid accreditation issues.” Murillo detailed her success in dealing with the accreditation process at Copper Mountain College and LTCC, which faced five accreditation sanctions. She said her first priority at SWC is to tackle the college’s 15 sanctions. The college has until March to convince the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) that the sanctions have been dealt with and that it should be taken off warning status. Failure to do so could result in SWC being placed on probation or worse. Southwestern was on probation from 2009-11 for 10 sanctions, all administrative. During a public forum for the three superintendent/president finalists, Murillo said she wants to help SWC realize its full potential. “I want to be your champion,” she said. “I want to be somebody that helps you really, really show what this college can do.” Murillo said her number one strength is inclusivity. “I really believe in my heart of hearts that we make better decisions together,” she said. “It’s better when you’ve got more
minds than when you’ve got less.” Murillo spoke at the forum about her 11 years of experience in college finance. “What you try to do is balance what’s good for the student in the classroom, for the faculty member in the classroom, and (make) sure that you can afford to do what you’re going to do,” she said. When asked about her experience with Black Lives Matter, Murillo said that she did not have any experience with the movement at mostly-white LTCC. Demographics from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office show that only 92 of the 5,507 students enrolled at LTCC in 2013-14 were black. She said, however, that diversity is important to her and that she had experience with diverse populations in the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles County colleges. Murillo said it is important for Latino students to succeed to close achievement gaps between groups of varying socioeconomic status. “I believe that the only way we can say we are succeeding with our students, and I believe this profoundly, is if we close the achievement gap,” she said. “The majority of California is going to be Hispanic. If we can’t close the Hispanic-White, AsianHispanic achievement gaps, we (are going to) have an economic and social problem.” Earlier this year Murillo was a finalist for leadership positions at Santa Barbara City College and the Contra Costa Community College District. She said she
Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar/Staff
THREE QUALIFIED FINALISTS —Dr. Kindred Murillo (top) was unanimously selected by the governing board as the new superintendent/president. (above, l) Dr. Reagan Romali, president of Harry S. Truman College in Chicago and (above, r) Dr. Angelica Suarez, SWC Vice President for Student Affairs.
is prepared to dedicate at least five years to any position she applies for. Alcantar said he sees Murillo as someone who will provide stability for the college. “We need stability and leadership that is going to be willing to stay here and work with us while we’re trying to do the best for our students,” he said. “She gives off the confidence that she sees this as something that is going to be a very long-term project
for her.” Interim President Dr. Robert Deegan said the board made a wise decision. “Dr. Murillo is an experienced college president who brings a wealth of experience to Southwestern College,” he said. “I have complete confidence that she’ll do an excellent job here for students, faculty and staff.” Deegan said he would be in touch
Help for students fighting addictions By Jesse Garibay Staff Writer
Ivett Aguilera confessed that binge drinking causes more than just really bad hangovers. It can also cause really bad grades. “Last week I went out at night,” said Aguilera, a dental assistant student. “I had class the next day, but I didn’t go. The next class I went to I was clueless about the topic.” Aguilera said she staggered home at 5 a.m. She said she is done with the destructive behavior. Tens of thousands of other college students, however, have severe problems with alcohol, drugs and other addictions. Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the United States, according to a report by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency. About one in 12 adults suffer from alcohol abuse, including legions of college students. Dr. Joseph Davis, a child development instructor at the San Ysidro campus, hosted a recent workshop about addictions. “A lot of our students are first-generation students,” he said. “The pressures to be successful are working, having a social
life, keeping in shape, crossing the border every day and not getting enough sleep.” SWC’s proximity to Mexico can fuel temptation, he said, because underage students can buy alcohol, cigarettes and drugs in Tijuana. A well-stocked liquor store and 7/11 are just across the street from the main campus. Jorge Soltero, 19, a business major, said he smokes frequently to release stress from classwork. “I smoke tobacco every day, around five cigarettes, but only when I am really stressed,” he said. “It is hard to study, work and have a relationship at the same time.” Davis said addiction takes many forms and has many causes. “Addiction can be defined as a dependency of a substance, activity or relationship,” he said. “They control the thoughts and judgment of a person. These habit patterns are characterized by immediate gratification, often followed by delayed harmful effects on the body.” Addiction causes increases in consumption, Davis said, which creates a nasty cycle and makes quitting very difficult. Lidia Arias, a nursing student, said she
Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar/Staff
during the period of transition, though he said Murillo will not need any help. “I don’t need to give her advice,” he said. “She’ll be able to hit the ground running here at Southwestern.” Vargas said Murillo will assume office in time for spring 2017 semester, which for students begins Jan. 30. Other specifics, including terms of her contract, have not yet been finalized.
D.E.F.T.: Academic Senate, SCEA agree to new deadlines Continued from pg. A1
Thomas Contant/Staff
AN OFFER OF HELP —Dr. Joseph Davis tells students that addictions to alcohol, drugs and cigarettes can be affected by college life. SWC’s Wellness Center is a resource for students who need support.
feared she suffered from addictions. “The workshop made me realize that I might have some addictions, not substances but other type of problems,”
she said. SWC students can get free help at the Student Wellness Center with addiction and other personal problems, said Davis.
worked with my Senate Executive Committee and (faculty union president) Rob Shaffer worked with his committee and together we crafted a statement that said this (December deadline) is not going to work for us. We then met with Vice Andrew Rempt President Kathy Tyner and negotiated an extended deadline. The matter is resolved as far as we are concerned.” Stuart said the college is committed to keeping accreditation on track. “I am very satisfied with the work done by faculty on these key DE recommendations and feel that their narrative in SWC’s Follow Up Report to the ACCJC will fully resolve their concerns,” she said.
NEWS
The Southwestern College Sun
Winter Edition 2016-17 — Vol. 60, Issue 4
College is modernizing its website
Homeless : A third of college students face housing insecurity Continued from pg. A1
Marina Parkway because “that’s where all the other homeless people were at,” she said. They found a place to live last October, but Georgia said the obstacles she faced as a homeless student were taxing. “There were plenty of times that we didn’t eat,” she said. “Like, ‘Oh we don’t have (food) today, oh well. What are we going to do?’ I thought about begging for money.” Georgia said she decided to study at SWC instead of Grossmont College on recommendation of her former high school counselor. SWC became an escape from her problems when she was homeless, she said. “We had each other, but we were living in our (two) cars and it was really cold,” she said. “I always felt depressed, but when I came to school it was always like Southwestern had this environment. It’s so cheerful and I don’t know how to describe it. It was my getaway. I would stay here for long hours and I still do because I like being here.” A n Engli s h pro fessor Geor gia confided in was quick to point her to people who could help her. “I wrote a paper in English class and my professor said to see her after class and then she asked me about (being homeless) and I told her,” she said. “She did her best to help me and continues to do so. It was my first year in college and I didn’t know anybody.” Her situation was not unique. ASO Senator-at-Large Roy Castillo is the Region X representative for the Student Senate of California Community Colleges. He said he has made it a priority to help students who face housing insecurity, including more than 30 this year. “Seeing the devotion, motivation and determination in these students really encouraged me even more to be a student advocate for them,” he said. One of the students he recently helped reminded him of the importance of actively reaching out, said Castillo. “It was quite clear to me that this individual had said to her professor that she was homeless,” he said. “The reason why the student wasn’t able to feel comfortable to chime in and talk was because she hadn’t eaten for four days. Due to her situation, because she didn’t have any proper support, she wasn’t able to do the basic necessity of just showering. When she stated to her professor that it was her fourth day, I literally broke down in tears. This broke my heart due to the fact that no student should ever have to deal with such a hard situation by themselves.” Dean of Student Services Dr. Malia Flood said the college is aware there is a problem with students facing housing and food insecurity. College officials are developing strategies to provide
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By Elibeth Esquivel Staff Writer
Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar/Staff
HOME IS WHERE THE CAR IS — Georgia (pseudonym) used to live with her family in two cars parked at the J Street and Marina Parkway area where other homeless frequently park to sleep. She described her time as cold, scary and uncertain.
necessary resources she said. “We’re on the right track,” she said. “I was looking at the recommendations for practice on the CCEAL report and I thought we’re (already) doing a lot of this, so it’s good. Of course there’s always more to do, but we’re doing a lot of this.” Flood said students who seek help with housing or food insecurity often report anxiety and stress, which can affect their concentration and retention. Her findings are in line with the CCEAL report, which found that “students with food insecurity are significantly less likely to feel confident in their academic abilities (or) feel a sense of control in academic matters.” Flood said it is hard to estimate the number of homeless students at SWC because the college does not ask that question when students are filling out applications. She said the school is mostly dependent on students selfreporting their situation when they seek out services. California has the largest homeless population in the United States at 118,142, according to an annual report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. San Diego County was the county with the fourth largest homeless population in the country and the second largest homeless veteran population. Flood said the campus food pantry opened earlier this semester is busy and is an indication of the challenges faced by many students.
“I think there’s a lot of need on campus,” she said. “(The food pantry) confirms that need.” Flood said she is forming a student housing insecurity committee in the spring semester. It will include student representatives as well as Angel Salazar, the financial aid liaison for homeless students. Dean of Athletics Jim Spillers is a key member, Flood said, because he will help make shower facilities available to homeless students as required by Assembly Bill 1995. Castillo said the legislation was a crucial step to create a more welcoming environment and that SWC has been out front on this issue. “AB 1995 is creating a stepping stone to start recognizing that homeless students are individuals just like you and me,” he said. “I feel Southwestern College is going to make a revolutionary impact by helping those students that need the most help.” Student feedback is also important, Castillo said. “ M a n y ( s t u d e n t s ) d o n’t f e e l comfortable to speak up on that particular topic due to the fact that it’s so taboo,” he said. “We, as a modern society, have to address food shortages. There’s always room for that discussion.” Georgia said societal stigmas related to homelessness blunt discussion. “It can happen to anybody,” she said. “I know people stereotype all kinds of homeless people (as) drug addicts… it’s not like that. We had a five year old with us and she didn’t need to go through
that, but we were all going through it and it’s not because we were drug addicts. It’s just financial issues and we couldn’t live with the person (we were living with) anymore.” The nursing student said resources like the food pantry and AB 1955 would have been helpful to her, though she also said counselors should take a larger role in identifying the problem. “Every student here has to go to the counselor at one point and time,” she said. “I feel like the job of the counselor is to ask them personal questions also… that’s their duty. I feel like counselors now are more focused on (finishing) your educational plan and get out. You have to seek them, they’re not seeking you. It’s kind of hard.” She said her rough patch made her want to become a tutor at SWC. She now works at the Academic S u c c e s s C e n t e r a s a m e n t o r. “Every day you hear somebody at work, in the streets or school saying ‘Oh damn I didn’t do my homework.’ I look at them and wish I could tell them my story. I had to stay up late at night, I’d beg a lady from church to let me stay at her house for a little while just so I could do my homework. Then I hear people having all these excuses. Things happen, but people make an excuse for everything. I just want to tell people excuses are not valid. I just want to change the mentality of people.”
A complete redesign of Southwestern College’s website is in the works. The district website’s current servers are about six years old, so with the integration of new high resolution photos and simpler navigation areas, the new website will provide an improved illustrative design and friendlier user experience. Chief Public Information Officer Lilian Leopold said the website is the number one recruitment tool for students. “Whether or not students are website savvy or maybe just coming to school as adult learners and have been out of school for a while, my goal is for the website to be more accessible and easier to navigate for students as well as anybody else who uses our website,” she said. Focus groups between students and staff in the various departments have been in effect since the Spring, doing research to get the student perspective on what they would like to see updated for the new and improved website. Sofia Guerrero, 23, telemedia major, participated in a focus group regarding the redesign. “I think it’s really cool that they got students involved in the process when it comes to choosing what new features and things that we as a whole would like to see improved on our school website,” she said. “Because I really do think that it is important.” Greg Harris, web and marketing content strategist is the main designer involved with the back end of the website, such as insuring that the programs are compatible with servers and that the new complete redesign insures continuity and uniformity throughout. Each individual department is in charge of their own area. The new website will give each department more control over the content on their individual pages, which would help with making sure to keep things current, as there are more than 6,000 pages of information available to be imputed onto the website. A work group of people from all over the district and with all different backgrounds got together to look for what will be the best fit for the website as a whole, but no specifics were clearly defined. “Although we don’t have specific details on most of the new features being renovated, the main focus from a technical standpoint is new, current, fresh technology,” Harris said. A formal request for proposal, or RFP, must be submitted and has to go through the finance office until the most suitable vendor is chosen. The RFP for the website will be submitted until either December or January, and the website will most likely launch Fall 2017. “Going through development and training is a long process but it is an important thing that we want to get right so that is why we are taking all these proper steps but I think it will definitely be worth it in the end,” Harris said.
Balancar: Former SWC student tried for harassing 10 women Continued from pg. A1
Thomas Contant/Staff
BATTLE AGAINST HUNGER —Director of Child Development Patricia Bartow supervises the campus food pantry, which contains items ready for consumption as well as items students can take home to make entire meals with. Opened earlier this fall, the food pantry is one of the measures the college is taking to combat food and housing insecurity on campus.
and used chairs to block her from escaping. Campus Police Chief Michael Cash said that Balancar did not commit sexual assault. “One of the biggest misnomers is what happened with Balancar,” he said. “What he did (at SWC) was battery, what he did at SDSU was a sexual battery. Battery is if someone is touching you and it’s against your will. Sexual battery, you have to touch an intimate part of a women’s body, anything that would be considered a sexual place. We have to go by the penal code definition.” Chief Deputy City Attorney Nicole Crosby said if Balancar were to violate his probation he would face a year and a half of jail time. “He’s already done six months in jail,” she said. “He has to do a psychiatric evaluation, he has to stay away from all the victims, Southwestern College and San Diego State.” Crosby said Balancar has a Fourth Waiver, meaning his person, home or vehicle can be searched at any time.
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Winter Edition 2016-17 — Vol. 60, Issue 4
Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar, editor
NEWS
Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: news@theswcsun.com
Trump election fallout hastens calls for an LGBTQ Center By Victoria Gonzalez Assistant Sports Editor
In the week following a tense election for many Americans, members of SWC’s LGBT community called for the creation of an LGBT center on campus. As envisioned, the center would create a permanent safe space for members of the LGBT community. At a meeting hosted by the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), members of the ASO and representatives of the Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Club (SAGA) argued that an LGBT center is a necessity. EDI Director Dr. Guadalupe Corona said the college is committed to creating a more positive, inclusive environment on campus and that she would take the idea to the governing board. Members of the ASO immediately supported the proposal. C a m p u s s a f e t y f o r t h e LG BT community arose during one of a series of talks hosted by EDI called “Creating Safe Spaces for Campus Dialogues for All.” SAGA representatives voiced concerns about problems in the relationship among staff, campus police and the LGBT community, saying they sometimes felt police turned a blind eye to them. ASO Senator Roy Castillo said this perception could be addressed with more training for officers on safe zones and diversity. SAGA Secretary Romina Serrano, 21, a psychology major, said there was sometimes a negative atmosphere surrounding the club’s cubicle in the Student Center. “Something we have noticed in the club is anti-safe space sentiment,” she said. “We understand that everybody is entitled to their opinion, we’re not trying to say otherwise, but some
sensitivity would go a long way.” ASO Social Vice President Yassmen Obeid urged SAGA members to speak out and express concerns to ASO leaders. “Whenever this happens, please come to us,” she said. “Come to me. We’re here next to you to protect you guys. Don’t stay silent because if you stay silent, nothing is going to change.” Corona asked students to vocalize specific things at Southwestern that needed to be changed. “I hear you loud and clear,” she said. SAGA advisor Shannon Pagano, a psychology instructor, said one pressing problem was the lack of a place where members of the LGBT community could meet. Sometimes the meeting rooms are overbooked and people came in and disrupt club meetings, she said. SAGA President Dan Cordero, 22, an LGBT studies major, said the double bookings were a significant problem. “Our meetings are important and emotional and shouldn’t be interrupted,” he said. Pagano said the club had tried to meet outdoors, but some members felt unsafe. “We, as adults on campus, need to make this a huge priority right now,” she said. “They need to be protected.” Obeid agreed. “This is not safe for anyone,” she said. Cordero said the college needs a stronger police presence at night and more reliable police escorts. Some students at the meeting said they were not aware an escort service was available. ASO President Mona Dibas said she wanted to start working actively with SAGA. “I am not a member of the community, but I want to be an ally,” she said. Dibas said the pursuit of a safe
Dr. Virginia Hansen remembered as a student champion By Jaime Pronoble Production Manager
Former Dean of Student Support Services Dr. Virginia Hansen died on October 11 from a stroke. She was 77. Hansen worked at Southwestern College for 34 years. She retired in 2005. She served the college in many positions, including director of instructional support services, director of transfer center/student activities, director of E.O.P.S. and dean of student support services. Governing board member Norma Hernandez said Hansen was a great role model for employees and students. “Virginia’s legacy at Southwestern was that she loved working at the college and helping students,” she said. “She was known for her exemplary work ethic and her willingness to roll up her sleeves and make sure the job was done.” Hansen started at SWC in 1971. Hernandez said she got to know her in 1992 when she started working in Student Services. “We shared many joyful times together, but also times when we both experienced loss and hurdles in our personal and professional lives,” she said. Hansen and Hernandez worked together to organize a statewide Latina Leaders in Community Colleges conference hosted by SWC. Hernandez said Hansen received an award years later for her strong advocacy for Latinas in community colleges. Hansen is also responsible for many innovative student programs such as the Student of Distinction Award (SODA), the EOPS Book Loan Program and tutoring for EOPS students. “She was also instrumental in offering our first Summer Readiness Program for incoming students from local high schools,” Hernandez said. Before Hansen’s death, Hernandez said they arranged to have lunch together with another of their “amigas,” Georgia Copeland, the former director of admissions. “(They) had just come back from separate trips and we were excited to get together and hear about the adventures,” Hernandez said. Hernandez said her daughter called two days later to tell her Hansen was at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. “I went to the hospital to say goodbye to my friend just before she was taken off life support.” Hernandez said she was honored to speak at Hansen’s services and share some of their memorable times together. “Virginia was a mentor and a role model to many employees and students, always encouraging them to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams,” she said. “She believed education had transformed her life and given her a very fulfilling career at the college. Her perseverance and motivation was something she passed on to others.”
Natalie Mosqueda/Staff
SILENT NO MORE —Dan Cordero, president of the Sexual and Gender Acceptance (SAGA) Club, calls for creation of an LGBTQ center on campus at a forum held by the Office of Equity, Diversion and Inclusion. EDI Director Dr. Guadalupe Corona said she was committed to creating a safe space on campus.
space for all was also going to take shape in the form of an upcoming mediation room, where anyone would be welcome. Dibas said the ASO has started a movement to create a supportive
atmosphere on campus. It will be represented by a teal colored pin symbolizing prosperity and peace with the word “unify” on it, she said, and would start next semester. Representatives from the ASO and
EDI said they would aid SAGA in their upcoming projects with the hope of increasing transgender awareness, including a Transgender Remembrance ceremony and a clothing drive for nongender conforming people.
Winter Edition 2016-17 — Volume 60, Issue 4
VIEWPOINTS
The Southwestern College Sun
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Editorials, Opinions and Letters to the Editor
The mission of the Southwestern College Sun is to serve its campuses and their communities by providing information, insights and stimulating discussions of news, activities and topics relevant to our readers. The staff strives to produce a newspaper that is timely, accurate, fair, interesting, visual and accessible to readers. Though the “Sun” is a student publication, staff members ascribe to the ethical and moral guidelines of professional journalists.
ALYSSA PAJARILLO
Small-scale racism does large-scale damage
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mirella Lopez PRODUCTION MANAGER
Jaime Pronoble NEWS
Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar, editor Josh Navarro, assistant Brelio Lozano, assistant Alejandro Muñoz Anguiano, assistant CAMPUS
Domonique Scott, editor Carolina Rubio Ruiz, assistant Veronica Cruz, assistant VIEWPOINTS
Alyssa Pajarillo, editor Katy Stegall, assistant ARTS
Jeanette Sandoval, editor Chelsea Pelayo, assistant SPORTS
Victoria Gonzalez, editor Michael McDonald, editor ONLINE
Stephanie Garrido/staff
Chariti Niccole, editor Darcy Aguayo, assistant PHOTOGRAPHY
Natalie Mosqueda, editor Thomas Contant, assistant SENIOR STAFF
Nicholas Baltz Andrew Dyer COPY EDITOR
Brian del Carmen STAFF WRITERS
JoseLuis Baylon
Terry Lancaster
Tayler Costello
Martin Loftin
Sergio Esparza
Maya May
Elibeth Esquivel
Maryana Meza
Elizabeth Farin
Armando Sanchez
Jesse Garibay
Netzai Sanchez
Elena Hernandez
Thomas Solis
PHOTOGRAPHERS
CARTOONISTS
William Bird
Dan Cordero
Renee Conly
Stephanie Garrido
Viandy Gonzalez
Martin Loftin
Maria Joaquin
Michelle Phillips
Nanzi Muro
Victor Santander
Maribel Salcido ADVISOR
Dr. Max Branscomb
AWARDS/HONORS College Media Association National College Newspaper of the Year, 2016 Student Press Law Center National College Press Freedom Award, 2011 National Newspaper Association National College Newspaper of the Year, 2004-16 Associated Collegiate Press National College Newspaper of the Year National Newspaper Pacemaker Award, 2003-06, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012-2015 General Excellence Awards, 2001-16 Best of Show Awards, 2003-16 Columbia University Scholastic Press Association Gold Medal for Journalism Excellence, 2001-16 California Newspaper Publishers Assoc. California College Newspaper of the Year, 2013, 2015 Student Newspaper General Excellence, 2002-16
San Diego County Multicultural Heritage Award Society of Professional Journalists National Mark of Excellence, 2001-16 First Amendment Award, 2002, 2005 San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards 1999-2016 Directors Award for Defense of Free Speech, 2012 Journalism Association of Community Colleges Pacesetter Award 2001-16 General Excellence Awards, 2000-16 American Scholastic Press Association Community College Newspaper of the Year San Diego County Fair Media Competition Best of Show 2001-03, 20052016
The Issue: Southwestern College has allowed its Mexican-American studies program to atrophy.
editorial
Our Position: America’s Border College needs to hire faculty to rebuild its M.A.S. program.
Disgraceful that America’s border college lacks Mexican-American studies National Hispanic Heritage Month is supposed to be a time of pride for MexicanAmerican students. Then, sadly, comes the realization that Southwestern College leadership does not seem to take the same pride in Latino culture many of us do. SWC–America’s border college– ought to have America’s best community college Mexican-American Studies program, but instead has been whittling away its classes and its staff. SWC’s anemic M.A.S. program is comprised of Mexican-American History I and II, Latin American Literature, Chicano Literature, Cultures of Mexico and one foreign language class, totaling 21-25 units. “To govern is to populate,” Juan Bautista famously said. Latinos make up at least half of Southwestern College students, according to the 2016 annual college report. Our international student make-up is mostly Mexican and they bring in an annual $25,685, versus $13,544 for in-state students. There are 13 available Mexican-American History classes offered this semester, six at the Chula Vista campus. Four are taught online, limiting face-to-face interactions between follow Latinos. Four satellite campuses split a measly three classes between them, two in San Ysidro and one in National City– two heavilyLatino communities. Five of the courses are Mexican-American History II. Courses have dribbled away and so have faculty. Ten years ago there were four full-time professors. Today there is one. Liliana Chacon, 19, a journalism major, is the vice president of MEChA club. She said she drives down from Mission Valley to attend her SWC Mexican-American History class. “It’s our culture,” she said. “It’s our heritage. It’s important to get it out there. But it’s not as important to administration.” Online Comments Policy
College leaders need to put as much energy and funding to our history as it does to the mathematics, science and engineering and program. SWC’s website boasts of its “$13 million Higher Education Center at National City [with] cutting-edge equipment and laboratories,” yet makes no mention of any other program, let alone the M.A.S. program in a community that is 80 percent Latino. It was irresponsible of past administrators to not replace three full-time MexicanAmerican history professors after they retired. We have spent far too much bond money on athletic facilities and a potential MSE building considering that this college has a dismal record training professional athletes and professional scientists. We are one of America’s top 10 Latino serving institutions of higher education with no M.A.S. program. Irony abounds. Learning the culture and history of the citizens of the country is critical at a time division is plaguing the country. Ignorance is the enemy. In Trump Nation we are rapists, criminals and drug dealers. Let us educate our students with our inspiring culture, our history and fill them with pride. Continuing to ignore the Mexican-American Studies program would further the erosion of Latino culture in America and perpetuate the lack of visibility of Latinos in American history books, entertainment media and elective office. We call on SWC’s new administrators to correct this unfortunate drift of events. Please take pride in the history and people that make up this country. Revive the M.A.S. program and make your students proud to stand for their heritage. We call on all SWC students to get involved and make your voices heard. Stand for your culture and support your Latino brothers and sisters. Stand for your history. Stand for your past so you will not fall in the future.
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Interracial dating may sound like old news now. America, after all, has gone a few steps from where it was in the 1960s when interracial marriage was finally legalized. An overwhelming 87 percent of Americans approve of interracial marriage, according to a Gallup Poll. That does not mean racism is gone, witness the 13 percent that does not approve. Racism is still alive and well in the dating scene. It just comes in less visible, bite-sized pieces. On the dating scene men and women are both guilty of fetishizing race. Terms like “yellow fever” or “jungle fever” are terms commonly thrown around to describe dating or sexual preferences. These terms are problematic, because they essentially say race is a prerequisite rather than the individual. Yellow fever, for instance, is when someone is strictly or mainly attracted to someone of Asian decent. People who claim to have yellow fever are often attracted to the stereotype Asians shown in Hollywood and pornography, such as the role of the submissive woman, sexual geisha or sweet schoolgirl. These racial stereotypes often lead to racial micro aggressions within potential dating pairs. Columbia professor Derald Sue defined micro aggressions as “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color.” In short, micro aggressions are passive-aggressive statements that are prejudiced or racist, whether intended or not. Micro aggressions toward people who are Asian include speaking to them in an Asian dialect, regardless of if they actually speak the language, or if it is of their actual decent. As a mixed individual, I have experienced many micro aggressions focused on my Asian ethnicity. I have had boyfriends ask if I could read Chinese or Japanese lettering or speak Chinese or Japanese. I have had boyfriends ask if I knew how to do Chinese acrobatics. I am Filipino. No. I don’t know how to do any of those things. Asian men also face dating prejudice. They are seen as weak and are often emasculated. Discrimination exists in the heterosexual world and the LGBTQ communities. Grinder profiles often read, “No fats, no femmes, and no Asians.” Drag superstar Kim Chi of RuPaul’s DragRace shone a light on the dating bias in the gay dating scene. “Shady gays believe in no fats, no femmes and no Asians,” she said. “As someone who is all of the above, I understand your pain.” The plus-size Korean drag star used her platform during the season finale when she debuted her song “Fat, Femme and Asian.” She took back the slurs which she embodies and used them to empower herself, and others. This racism is not exclusive to Asians. All types of ethnicities face dating micro aggression from those who are supposed to love them most. It is okay to have a type, but we must think hard about where your preferences bubble up from. Sometimes it is not a good place.
Alyssa may be reached at sexandthesun@theswcsun.com
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Alyssa Pajarillo, editor
VIEWPOINTS
Winter Edition 2016-17 — Vol. 60, Issue 4
Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: viewpoints@theswcsun.com
Trump a threat to free speech By JoseLuis Baylon A perspective
Victor Santander/staff
COSTA MESA — Donald Trump and his crew do not seem to think much of the Southwestern College Sun. When we applied for press credentials to attend some of Trump’s Southern California rallies during his 2016 campaign, his staff denied the request and said they “needed to give priority to (national and local) professional journalists.” Ouch. We had already been given credentials to cover Senator Bernie Sanders, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Bill Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden at separate events, along with our colleagues at NBC, BBC, ABC, CBS, the New York Times and many other professional news organizations. At least we were in good company. Trump’s gang also denied the Washington Post, Univision, PBS and other highly-regarded news organizations from covering his events. Trump’s actions went against the U.S. Constitution which protects free speech. Journalism is the only profession specifically afforded Constitutional protection. So how can Trump tell journalists to “fuck off”? (his words). Robust journalism is essential to our freedom, one of the four cornerstones of democracy. Transparency is a vision of the Founding Fathers. Journalism provides a connection between governments and citizens. Thomas Jefferson had it right. Cherry picking journalists skews coverage. Trump picks his press so he can manipulate the views of citizens.
Trump’s disdain for student journalists who learn on the first day of class at SWC that there should be no divide between college and professional journalists since we all abide by the same code of ethics, strict rules for accurate reporting and a professional behavioral set. We have the same rights and the same responsibilities as the New York Times, San Diego UnionTribune or CBS. It is essential for any presidential candidate to be clear in his/her intentions, to be able to explain positions and demonstrate the ability to handle difficult situations with courage, wisdom and aplomb. Trump failed miserably on all fronts. If Trump bends the Constitution now, what about later? He is currently suing comedian Bill Maher, host of Real Time on HBO, because Maher wants Trump to prove that he is not the son of an orangutan. Maher was riffing on Trump’s racist claim that President Obama could not prove he was an American citizen. Trump’s notorious thin skin was never thinner. Maher was being silly on a satirical comedy show, which is his right under the First Amendment. Trump’s lawsuit makes him look sillier than an orangutan. Maher will win the case, but once again it shows that Trump is clueless about the U.S. Constitution and laws that protect journalists and satirists. He should not be suing comedy shows because he does not like the comments from the host. That is not anywhere close to presidential behavior. Trump previewed authoritarian tendencies by denying journalists entry to his public events or having them forcefully removed. His role models appear to be Russia, China, North Korea, Mexico, Venezuela, Uganda and other repressive autocracies that have pounded down their news media. Donald Trump says he wants to be a president for all Americans. He should. It is his job. Part of that job is to communicate to all Americans. That includes those of us here at Southwestern College that he blew off and flipped off this summer. It appears to us that it is Mr. Trump who needs some schooling in professional behavior.
Trump’s exclusionary rhetoric has severely damaged our America By Katy Stegall A perspective
Protests are not going to dismantle Trump Nation, but they will let the president-elect know he cannot dismantle us without a fight. Peaceful protests, as well as one riot, have been breaking out since the eve of Nov. 8. Signs with “NOT MY PRESIDENT” flash on the television as one half of the nation fights back against the president-elect. Screams and tears are a staple for those who do not support Trump. Their rage is justified. Southwestern College organized a march against Trump on Nov. 17. About 300 students came to express their disgruntlement with a system they find lethal fault in. Their voices were heard. They were peaceful. After two hours and a few arguments prompted by a handful of pro-Trump agitators, the rally ran its course. The leader of the proTrump counter protesters later admitted he was mad at Abigail Flores, the woman who organized the antiTrump rally, a classmate he had a previous disagreement with. Protestors are angered and march to demand change. Then they go home and complain about the alt-right, or neo-Nazi, agenda over the dinner table. Protests are a great step to collect likeminded people and find a source of power. But this cannot be the only step to effect change. Protest organizer Flores said she plans to continue the movement at SWC. “My main goal was to stop (Trump),” she said. “Obviously one protest can’t do that, but its to bring awareness that there are people fighting against him and his administration. The first step isn’t going to do much, but I’m going to continue. I’m going to give that guy hell.” Where do the people with fire in their veins go from here? As people march and the crowds grow, what are they marching toward? What is supposed to happen next? Organization and strategic planning are what make a successful movement. We are encouraging our more moderate and progressive elected officials to stay true because millions of us are watching. Let these protests against America’s new bleach-white government unite people under one cause: to not let The Donald
and his comic book supervillain posse Pence and Bannon take over the world… At least America. Even if this trio and their allegiance of white nationalist goons do not have superpowers like Hydra, the fictional terrorist organization in Marvel Comics, their soldiers are very real. Neo-Nazism is back. Swastikas and Nazi salutes are slithering out from under rocks and logs. People are no longer afraid to hide their grotesque racism. Yet right-wingers say with straight faces there is no reason for minorities to fear a Trump presidency. “There is rarely victory for nonviolent movements without a strategic plan,” according to “Canvas Core Curriculum: A Guide to Effective Nonviolent
Victor Santander/staff
Struggle.” Protestors need to see a bright future America and defend the light. Then they must determine how to get there. Education is important on both sides, which means being able to properly articulate the importance of this movement to a racist family member as well as a misguided Trump supporter who can be salvaged. Few people respond well to being called a bigot. Most people, excluding organized hate groups, do not like being called out on their prejudices. They really do not like hearing from liberals that the right-wingers like Dallas News Opinion Columnist Jonah Goldberg call “weeping delicate
flowers.” Goldberg blames America’s election of a racist president on liberals who keep calling people racist. “Here’s some free advice for all the liberals insisting that Trump was elected by racists: The more you say that, the more you help Trump… There are a lot more white people out there who are not racist and therefore do not like being called racist or being berated about how their country is racist.” Princeton University Professor Omar Wasow agreed. “Protests, particularly by stigmatized subgroups, risk alienating members of an often hostile majority,” wrote Wasow in “Do Protest Tactics Matter?” Wasow’s findings also show that violent re t a l i a t i o n f r o m minority groups is more likely to steer the white vote towards the whitepower Trump Nation we see emerging today. “The earlier period of the nonviolent Civil Rights Movement appears t o have influenced public opinion and tipped persuadable whites towards the Democratic or “transformative egalitarian” coalition. Violent protests of the latter period were also associated with dramatic changes in public opinion and caused a politically meaningful subset of whites to switch away from the Democratic party to the ethnocratic or white supremacist coalition.” This election ignited right-wingers around the planet. Let’s hope that they have humanity left within them and can be redeemed as Luke Skywalker redeemed Darth Vader. Yelling is not going to work. Violence is not going to work. Education is paramount. Ignorance must be vanquished. We must not accept Trump’s description of African-Americans (“violent folks who live in Hell”), Latinos (“rapists,” “criminals”), women (“pieces of ass”), Muslims (“terrorists”), POWs (“losers who got captured”), military personnel (“stupid,” “incompetent”) and children (“my future date”). We need to let Trump Nation know who we are and that we will push back. Otherwise, we will get Trumped.
Martin Loftin/staff
Ethical journalism is under attack by Trump and his crew By Martin Loftin A perspective
It is rare to see a real journalist on television. They are being arrested for doing journalism. Instead you see pundits, anchors, TV personalities and public relations professionals. Panels of so-called experts share their opinions and argue rather than discuss the real issues that are important to the American people. A journalist covers stories and presents the facts, but a pundit just talks. In 2016 real journalists like Amy Goodman have been arrested for covering real stories like the police assault on protestors at Standing Rock, North Dakota who want to prevent the construction of a pipeline through Native American land. While major news networks ignore the plight of journalists and protestors in favor of more entertaining and easier-to-reach stories, they reveal how little they care about people and the truth. Even before President-elect Donald Trump waged war against the media, calling news networks “dishonest” for covering the many controversies that surround him, honest journalists were crippled by corporate interests. Corporate media had a huge influence on this election and enabled a once-fringe candidate to rise to power. Long before the presidential primaries had sealed the fate of the election, the fix was in. Emails released by WikiLeaks showed that the Democratic National Committee had decided Hillary Clinton was going to be the Democratic nominee. The DNC worked with MSNBC, CNN and others in the media to ensure that she would be the face of the Democratic Party. During the primaries and presidential election the majority of stories about Clinton may have been negative, but at least they reminded the American public that she existed. Name recognition goes a long way. During a Town Hall meeting on MSNBC, Chris Matthews said he felt that that Clinton was ready to be president long before the primaries were decided. Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders was practically ignored and treated like a third-party candidate. News outlets worked to stick a hatchet in his back and buried Sander’s populist message beneath Trump’s populist message. Trump received $4.96 billion of free media compared to Hillary Clinton’s $3.24 billion according to data collected by the data tracking firm mediaQuant. Cable news networks were so intoxicated by the ratings Trump pulled in for them it allowed him to outshine the horde of other Republican nominees. In return for the free airtime, Trump helped boost ratings. CNN saw aggregate primetime viewership increase by 50 percent, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Despite the fact that Time Warner, CNN’s parent company, invested nearly $1 million dollars into Clinton over the years, helping Trump throughout the election cycle with free advertising backfired. With real journalism, all sides of issues must be covered fairly and accurately. During elections journalists must not show favoritism to any of the candidates. The Society of Professional Journalists has a code of ethics that states, “Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy,” and there are four principles that are the foundation of ethical journalism: “Seek Truth and Report It, Minimize Harm, Act Independently and Be Accountable and Transparent.” But when media outlets chase ratings they sacrifice journalistic integrity. The media created Trump and refuse to accept responsibility. A leaked opposition research dossier from 2015 showed that the DNC and Clinton campaign thought that Trump was the only Republican candidate Clinton was capable of beating. Multiple polls by RealClearPolitics showed Clinton losing to most of the other establishment Republicans running in the primaries, and elevating Trump would give Clinton a candidate she could actually beat.
They were wrong. Corporate media is already trying to curry favor with the Trump administration by ignoring the $25 million settlement of Trump University with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and others from California by focusing on the latest Trump Twitter tantrum. While establishment media worked hard to make Trump implode before the election, they failed to see the rising populist tide coming to swallow the corporatists in Washington D.C. Now that Trump has won, the media sought the same chummy relationship they had with President Obama. Media moguls and TV personalities like Wolf Blitzer, Lester Holt and George Stephanopoulos met with the president-elect at a private meeting at Trump Tower expecting to discuss how they can work with the Trump administration and maintain their current level of access. Trump used the meeting to berate them for being deceitful and lying about the awful things Trump has said. “We’re in a room of liars,” Trump told a room full of television anchors. “The deceitful dishonest media who got it all wrong.” Nazi strategist Joseph Gobbels described how propaganda works: if people hear something enough times, they will start to believe it. “If you tell a lie loud enough and long enough it becomes the truth in the minds of the people.” Trump is taking a page out of Adolf Hitler’s playbook. As he rose to power, Hitler denounced the newspapers as lügenpresse, a German word meaning “lying press” used by Nazi’s to discredit the media. American neo-Nazis that prefer the more politically correct name “alt-right” have revived the term to describe modern media. Trump will find “journalists” who will rollover for him and report only what his administration approves. During his campaign, Trump gained the support of the “alt-right” website Breitbart News, known for it’s racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic views. Steve Bannon was the executive chair of Breitbart and was chief-executive officer of the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump. Now that he is chief strategist and Senior Counselor to Trump. Bannon has Trump’s ear and his toxic views will poison the rest of the Republic. During his campaign Trump has said that he wants to “strengthen” libel and slander laws in order to jail journalists that speak out against him and report the truth instead of Trump’s version of it. Libel and slander laws are supposed to protect people from having their lives being ruined by misinformation and allow them to sue for grievances. The truth is supposed to be protected by the law. Establishment media cannot be trusted to expose President Trump’s sins to the public and will roll over when it becomes unpopular or unprofitable to stand against him. Racists across the nation are emboldened by Trump’s victory and are sure to continue their violent revelry when he is inaugurated on Jan 20, 2017. Republicans have been whittling away at the rights and protections many Americans hold dear, including the 1965 Voters Rights Act, only occasionally repelled by the Supreme Court or vetoed by President Obama. Under the Trump Administration, Republicans will attack reproductive rights and disenfranchise minorities with renewed vigor. As Trump’s power grows, many people will fall in line and look the other way just like many Germans did when the Nazis rose to prominence. America is quickly becoming the Fourth Reich. American journalists cannot allow Trump to corrupt the country more than he already has and must risk their lives and livelihoods to save the United States from an orange-colored tyrant. People must abandon media outlets that refuse to oppose Trump and embrace those that tell him “Not on our watch.” Americans must use their right to protest and most importantly, vote for candidates that will not allow America to slip into totalitarianism.
The Southwestern College Sun
SPORTS
Winter Edition 2016-17 — Volume 60, Issue 4
Brilliant season, bitter ending
Jaguars fall just short in American Division Championship Bowl
Photos by Armando Sanchez
By Michael McDonald Sports Co-Editor
The Jaguars fought literally to the last second of their football season. With one second left and 99 yards to go, a Hail Mary pass attempt was batted down at the 40-yard line and fluttered to the field, along with their hopes of another championship. After winning it twice since 2012, the Jags lost the American Division Championship Bowl to Los Angeles Valley College, 24-16. Quarterback Michael Glass III praised his team’s effort after the game. “We always had hope,” he said. “We’re never going to just give up, and just let somebody beat us. No, that’s not in us. I am proud of our guys.” Going in, the Jaguars were decided underdogs against the undefeated LA Valley Monarchs. After giving up a 52yard touchdown to bowl MVP Ahkil Crumpton on their second defensive play, the Jags quickly found themselves down by seven. The Monarchs added a field goal early in the second quarter to make it 10-0. Though the Jags offense sputtered out of the gates, it
gained some footing when Isaiah Strayhorn broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run. The Jags continued to claw their way into the game as defensive back J.J. Dallas pulled in an interception just before halftime. “I feel the interception definitively gave us momentum,” he said. “We got great field position and we were able to get some points out of it.” The Jags capitalized on the turnover, scoring another touchdown with 24 seconds on the clock, taking a 13-10 lead into halftime. SWC was able to build on its lead early in the second half, stopping the Monarchs on their first two possessions and adding a field goal to make it 16-10. But momentum is fickle. After the Jaguar field goal, the game shifted when Crumpton struck again, returning the kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, making it 16-17. This was the defining moment of the game as it broke the Jags’ momentum. They were never able to regain the lead. Coach Ed Carberry said special teams was a focus going into the game. “We talked about it at the end of last week,” he said. “That the team that wins the special teams is going to win
the game and that’s what happened.” LA Valley added another touchdown with about four minutes to go, putting the game out of reach. For the Monarchs it was the first time in their school history to go 11-0. For the Jaguars it was a fight to the finish that left questions of what could have been. They had opportunities, but were unable to coral two key interception chances, and the offense struggled to connect on deep pass plays. Receiver Davin Reynolds said mistakes hurt their chances. “We came out here ready to go,” he said. “I just think we made too many mistakes in the long run.” Glass said he was proud of how far his team made it this year. “We play as a family and when you play as a family you’re going to stick it out to the end,” he said. “We came this far. Last year we were 4-6, then to go 9-2, that’s a big come up.” Dallas agreed. “We accomplished a lot this season,” he said. “We left some plays on the field and came up a little bit short. I’m still proud of my boys. Proud to be a Jag.”
DOWN TO THE FINAL SECOND — (top) SWC scores in the second quarter to take a 13-10 lead into halftime against heavily-favored LA Valley College. (left) Defensive back Jay Hartley bats a pass away while going for an interception in the second quarter. (above) Ricardo Luna consoles fellow offensive linemen Angel Muro and Francisco Dominguez after the tough loss.
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Victoria Gonzalez and Michael McDonald, co-editors
SPORTS
Winter Edition 2016-17 —Vol. 60, Issue 4
Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: sports@theswcsun.com
Former ASO rep now wrestling queen By Maya May Staff Writer
When the bell rings, Thunder Rosa Kobra Moon is a badass professional wrestler who causes mayhem in the ring and has fans on three continents. Outside the ropes SWC alumna Mel Cervantes is still the kind young woman who served in the Associated Student Organization and earned a SODA award for service to the community. Berkeley educated and bilingual, Cervantes is a big-time professional wrestler currently under contract with Lucha Underground Company and the Stardom Wrestling Company, one of the biggest female wrestling companies in Japan. Cervantes was raised in Tijuana until her father received a visa and the family dropped everything to enter the United States. “There was a struggle to transition into the U.S,” she said. “Although Tijuana is close, people don’t always understand how different the culture is. Everything is different.” Cervantes said fitting in at high school in the U.S was almost overwhelming due to her language and cultural barriers. She said she had to fight for herself because of the racism and hatred she experienced. “It is crazy,” she said. “(Other students) would gang up and want to jump me.” SWC was a much better experience, she said. Cervantes participated in college clubs and the ASO, which helped her to see how her voice made a
difference for her community. “I wanted people to know how to speak up for what’s right,” she said. “I was helping in any way I could. I liked the rush of helping people.” EOPS counselor Arlie Ricasa nominated Cervantes for the college’s h i g h e s t h o n o r, t h e St u d e n t o f Distinction Award, in 2008. “It was not an easy road for her,” Ricasa said. “She got involved with student leadership and student government and that’s where I saw her flourish.” Cervantes transferred to UC Berkeley and earned a degree in sociology. Following graduation she said she was ready for a new challenge, so her husband, Brian Cervantes, convinced her to attend a wrestling match. He said he knew she would be a great wrestler, if she wanted to be. “She’s a very passionate person and has always been a hard worker,” he said. “I love that she follows her dreams.” Because her parents were not huge sports fans, Cervantes said wrestling was something she was not allowed to do. She said she was hooked after watching her first match. She began volunteering for wresting companies by selling tickets and setting up the rings. In 2014 Cervantes took part in her first wrestling match, working with the Professional Championship Wrestling Company in Chico. “My friends pushed me to go for it,” she said. “ I guess they just saw I had potential. I was horrible, but I really enjoyed it. It is another language. I had to learn a new body language.” C e r va n t e s b e g a n p ro f e s s i o n a l wrestling at 27. During the early years
of her career, she said her work was really hard and involved doing a lot of free shows and training. “A lot of my training time was learning techniques from wresting veterans like Matt Carlos, Dylan Drake and Rik Luxury,” she said. “It’s really important to always practice your craft.” As a 5’4”, 127-pound woman, Cervantes said, she is often underestimated. “People tell you you’re not good enough,” she said. “There’s always someone doubting you and it was even harder being a woman because when I started there were not many of us.” Cervantes said her wrestling name is Thunder Rosa Kobra Moon because every part of a stage name should have meaning. Thunder was created because when Cervantes first started training she was working at a rehabilitation center called Thunder Road. Rosa (“rose”) is a significant flower in her Mexican-Azteca culture and a popular symbol in the Latino community. Cervantes said the name Kobra Moon is a character created to be the queen of a snake tribe. Cervantes said wrestling is tough due to wear and tear on the body and constant traveling. Her wrestling has led her to the Stardom Competition in Japan, where she is competing in the High Speed Championships of Stardom and Goddesses of Stardom Tag Team Competition. “You can’t be afraid to make a change,” she said. “Sometimes we focus on success and titles. My success comes with the fact that my fans see my hard work and that I have never stopped helping people.”
Courtesy Photo
KOBRA MOON OVER JAPAN — UC Berkeley graduate and SWC alumna Mel Cervantes in character as the fierce wrestler Thunder Rosa Kobra Moon.
Two Jaguars run in the state finals
Courtesy Photo
TRAIL BLAZER— Cross-country captain Agustin Barreto competed in the California Championships in Fresno. By Darcy Aguayo Assistant Online Editor
Legends of the fall can be awfully hard to replace. In one stroke the cross-country team lost its legendary coach, Dr. Duro Agbede, and its greatest-ever champion,
Aminat Olowara. Even so, a pair of new runners made the state finals and the new coach is a bit of a legend himself. David Flores and Agustin Barreto finished 24th and 127th in the California Community College Cross-Country Championships in Fresno. Lady Jaguar Leticia Barcenas qualified, but did not compete, ending the women’s 14-year
period of dominance that included 12 conference championships and one state title. Olowara won the last two women’s championships, including a record-breaking 16:59 last year — making her the first woman runner at a California community college to break the 17-minute barrier. New head coach Tonie Campbell, an Olympic medalist in the 110m hurdles, said he felt optimistic about the future. “My philosophy is to gradually increase the mileage, intensity and give them the proper training to do the best they can in each race,” he said. “An athlete is not just a physical being, it is a mental being and you must put as much effort into the mental athlete as you do the physical athlete.” Stocked with a team of mostly new athletes, Campbell did things a little differently this season. “The captains were chosen for their leadership skills and not necessarily for being able to lead in races,” he said. “Mary York is our women’s captain for her leadership ability. She is a mature and inspirational person.” Barcenas and Melissa Valderrama are assistant captains, Campbell said. “Valderrama is a hard worker,” he said. “She is very accommodating and nurturing.” Barreto was the men’s captain, Campbell said, because he has a positive outlook and trains hard. Barreto said his team was tightly knit. “We inspired each other as a team and made it to state,” he said. “Coach thought that we could make it all the way to state. We put some faith in him.” Campbell said he chose Barreto instead of Flores, a natural runner. “David Flores is probably our top runner, unfortunately he needs the most encouragement half the time,” Campbell said. “He has so much talent and he relies on his talent, but he has to realize there are other people working harder.” Flores agreed. “I feel like I’m pushing my teammates to follow me, leading the races, but I don’t really try during practice,” he said. At the Palomar Invitational it was Barcenas and Flores who led the Jags. Barcenas (21:50) ran the 5k and placed 30th out of a field of 98. Flores (22:16) ran the 4 mile and placed 26th out of 138. York said Campbell inspired both teams throughout the season. Campbell, the warrior-philosopher, was quick with wisdom. “The determination of having won or lost is if you gave 100 percent effort, 100 percent of the time,” he said. “If you did, it does not matter where you crossed the finish line.”
William Bird/Staff
LUCKY 13 — A full roster has led to more competitive practices and more wins for the Lady Jags. Last year’s team had only six players.
Lady Jags have a real bench to power a rebound season By Maya May Staff Writer
One thing is for sure this topsyturvy fall – the women’s basketball team is a lot bigger and a lot better. Just one month into the season, the Lady Jaguars have surpassed last season’s win total. Better still, they actually have a full team. A 4-4 November equaled last season’s win total and a December victory pushed it to five. Last year the team had only six players and played the entire season exhausted. This year’s team has a full compliment of 13 players. Assistant coach Lance Hickman credits early recruiting for the team’s growth. “We used a whole year to recruit and bring in more players,” he said. Edward Winslow, a forward on the men’s team, said he was not surprised by the ladies’ success. “Day in and day out, the girls’ team fights together, win or lose,” he said.
“After every game, you know each player gave her all.” Head coach Janet Eleazar said players have been connecting with one another since the spring, gathering off the court at least once a month. Captain Tayla Webb, one of two returners from last season, said the team felt like a family. “We bonded way more than we did last year,” she said. “It is really tight compared to other teams.” Eleazar said the coaches are still working to understand each player’s skills. She said the team is playing very well, so deciding on a set lineup is difficult. “The biggest challenges are trying to figure out the substitutions and knowing who’s good at what,” she said. “When it comes to a game it’s really about getting to know them on the court.” The Lady Jags are scheduled to play in the Coast Classic at Mira Costa College on Dec. 15.
SPORTS
The Southwestern College Sun
Winter Edition 2016-17 — Vol. 60, Issue 4
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Captain leads quest of exploration By Jeanette Sandoval Arts Editor
“You’re a horse and horses don’t stop,” declared Mary York, the cheerful captain of the cross-country team. York, 25, a Spanish major, is the captain, a full-time student and works three jobs. She is a high school English and Spanish teacher at Covenant Christian School, sports reporter for the East County Californian and founder of “San Diego Pivot,” a sports website and soon-to-be print magazine. York said each job is an extension of her passions and all tie into her love of sports. “I used to think whatever you were in high school, you are in life, and I was a nerd,” she said. “I never did anything sports related.” From K-12 York was homeschooled through Heritage Christian School. “Our mascot was a tree,” she said. Out of seven children, York was the only one of her siblings who did not play sports, but she did not let this limit her interaction with other studentathletes. As a straight A student, she wondered why more athletes were not also getting As. “I used to look down on athletes, honestly” said York. “I couldn’t understand why they were struggling to get Cs in class. Joining the crosscountry team this season, I finally appreciate just what a student-athlete
is. I’m studying just to get Bs.” York stressed her personal struggle and spoke of her exhaustion after attending three-hour cross-country practices, getting homework done and attending evening classes, as well as juggling her three jobs. “ It i s t a k i n g e v e r y o u n c e o f concentration and effort I have to pull good grades this semester,” she said. Even so, York earned the title of cross-country captain. “People tell me I’m wasting my time,” she said, “but we need more people to understand the value of teamwork.” After sustaining four injuries this season, York said she had to learn to motivate her teammates from the sidelines. “Wanting to be a leader and being one of the slowest members on the team was the worst,” she said. During meets, the women race first, cheered on by the male runners. Afterwards, Lady Jags cheer for the guys. “I’ve never experienced anything like it,” York said. “If you don’t love your teammates, the team suffers. Nobody wins.” York said she discovered her love of sports during her time writing for The Sun. She earned the baseball beat, which required her to learn the game and its lingo. “I just fell in love with it,” she said. “I went to all the games. I found a glossary
of baseball terms and learned them.” It was that experience that led to her decision to join the cross-country team. “Just because I’m a nerd, doesn’t mean I can’t be an athlete,” she said. “If I can report about sports, then I can do them.” York furthered her career in sports journalism when she accepted a parttime position at the East County Californian in El Cajon. Combining her passions led her to the creation of San Diego Pivot, a media platform covering high school athletics. “Pivot is the manifestation of my growth. I love to tell stories that make a difference. We need to know that heroes can come from our neighborhoods.” Her aspiration for Pivot is for it to become a platform for high school students that will create internships, she said, allowing students to report on their own schools. “I want parents to buy the magazine because their kid is in there,” she said. “I know there’s a possibility this magazine might fail, but I’m doing it because life is made up of attempts. Follow the glimmer of possibility.” She said sports are a fundamental factor in the development of young adults and have the capacity to change communities. “People need to start acting like a team,” she said. “Our success as a nation is defined by our ability to work as a team.”
Natalie Mosqueda/Staff
IN HER ELEMENT — Mary York is captain of the cross-country team, editor-in-chief of Pivot magazine, full-time student and teacher.
Hoopsters looking to rebound By Armando Sanchez Staff Writer
Tayler Costello/Staff
THE ENTER NET IS DOWN— Maria Tello switched positions to become the Lady Jaguars’ goalie. She and Karina Reynoso make a stop against Miramar College player Hannah Fries.
New pool brings new hope after a difficult season By Tayler Costello Staff Writer
It was a season of disappointment for the women’s water polo team, but the athletes managed to keep their heads above water despite finishing last in the Pacific Coast Conference with a 0-9 conference record and an overall mark of 1-23. Coach Jennifer Harper said it was tough not having a pool on campus and becoming a vagabond squad. Southwestern’s pool was demolished in June due to the construction of the new math, science and engineering building. A new aquatic complex is scheduled to open in 2017. “It was pretty difficult to relocate every day,” said Harper. Team captain Karina Reynoso said the facilities issue impacted recruiting. “At first there were a lot of girls that didn’t want to join because it was off campus and inconvenient, but it worked
out a lot better than we thought it would,” she said. The Lady Jags carpooled to practice at Las Palmas Pool in National City. Elizabeth Rozow was a daily chauffeur. “It was hard in the beginning of the season,” she said. The Lady Jags could not find their rhythm all season. Their first and only victory came against East Los Angeles College, 15-9. Even so, Reynoso said there were inspiring moments, like when Maria Tello decided to step up for her team and play goalie. Reynoso said she was proud of Tello. “She worked as hard as she could and really impressed all of us,” she said. Inexperience was another challenge for the young team. Rozow, an experienced swimmer but first-year water polo player, said mastery came slowly. “We had to learn the sport this offseason and it took time,” she said.
Reynoso said the patience of Harper and assistant coach Andrea Alexander was appreciated by the team. “They are the exact coaches that any athlete would ask for,” she said. “They supported us through everything.” Harper said the team has a word in Portuguese they learned from the Olympics that fits their current situation – gambiarra. “It means doing the best with what you’ve got,” she said. Harper said her goals were to motivate her athletes in the pool and provide life skills. Most of the team plans to return next year and will train at a new aquatics center with two Olympic-sized pools. “It will mean so much!” Rozow said. “It will be a lot easier for the girls to all be there and work on our skills.” Harper said she is enthusiastic about the construction project. “It’s the pool I’ve always dreamed of,” she said.
“Theteamlearned a Portuguese word from the Olympics – gambiarra. It means doing the best with what you’ve got.” — Head Coach Jennifer Harper
A slow start has left the SWC men’s basketball team searching for answers. After back-to-back winning seasons, the team is off to a grim 2-9 start. Hope for a rebound abounds. Conference play begins in January. Co-captain Richard Grove said the slow start has been caused by the team’s struggle to find its chemistry. “We’re a young team,” he said. “I’m the only sophomore on the team, so the guys are just learning how to get together and learn their roles.” Co-captain Edward Winslow said the team’s success needs to start with the captains. “As co-captain, I have to lead by example because most of the things I do, the team follows,” he said. “I have to bring more energy to the table and set the tone.” Head Coach John Cosentino said the team needs to work on communication and execution. “As a team, we have to execute plays both ways on the court,” he said. “We need to value each possession that we have.” The Jags are shooting 43 percent from the field, but they are averaging 11 turnovers a game and are getting consistently outrebounded. Winslow said the team is handling the ball well and taking good shots, but efficiency is an issue. “They’re just not falling in,” he said. “Our defense needs to improve. That starts with trusting one another and communicating throughout the game.” Despite the disappointing start, both co-captains said they believe the Jags will be able to persevere and turn the page. “We move on to the next play,” said Winslow. “If we mess up we don’t dwell on it. We look for what’s next and we make up for it, regardless of what side of the ball it’s on.” Grove said he has faith in his team. “We have a lot of guys on this team who play their hearts out,” he said. “We just have to keep pushing and fighting and the success will come.” Grove said that team cohesiveness is key to their future and is looking forward to the rest of the season. “Our team chemistry is building stronger every time we step foot on the court together,” said Grove. “Once that chemistry is there, our whole season is going to turn around.” The Jaguars won their first game in the Palomar Tournament against Los Angeles Trade Tech, before being eliminated. The Jaguars have two more December tournaments, in Cypress and Compton.
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VIEWP
Winter Edition 2016-17 —Vol. 60, Issue 4
Hate speech from presidentelect has community on edge By Brelio Lozano Assistant News Editor
Students at Southwestern College will be facing a reality few foresaw when, on January 20, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Members of the SWC community have reacted with concern about the next fours years under a Trump presidency. During his campaign Trump repeatedly promised to build a wall between the United States and Mexico, ban Muslims from entering the country and repeal the Affordable Care Act. He claimed climate change is a Chinese hoax and proposed tax reform where the top 0.1 percent would receive more tax relief than the bottom 60 percent of taxpayers combined. Interim Superintendent Robert Deegan issued a campuswide statement about the election. “The results of the presidential election have created uncertainty and concern among our student population and members of our college community. To that end, we want to express our unequivocal and resolute support for each and every one of our students.” Following the election, college leadership, staff and the ASO scheduled events to promote dialogue. “Lets Talk About It: Election Expression,” moderated by ASO President Mona Dibas, was a forum where students, faculty and administrators were able to speak freely about the election results. Issues raised by students included possible deportation and diminished LGBTQ rights. Consensus among participants was that everyone who wants change must be involved in their communities. “We must work together, be an activist and an active member in your community,” Dibas said. “If we do that, watch it have a ripple effect across the nation.” Dibas and other members of the ASO created a pin that represents growth and unity called “UNITED.” Dibas said she hopes this will become a “symbol for students at SWC that encourages unity rather than division among students.” On Nov. 17, about 300 students, faculty and community members marched on campus against racism, misogyny and homophobia expressed by Trump and his supporters during the campaign. SWC student Abigail Flores and Dibas organized the peaceful protest with the aim of promoting peace, respect and freedom. About 12 Trump supporters, including Juan Carlos Hernández, 22, a communications major, were in attendance to “protest the protest.” Holding a sign reading “01.20.17 He Will Be,” Hernández said students should not protest because it will not change
anything. “I believe that Abigail Flores and her band of misfits have decided to get together and try to put on a façade that looks like change but really isn’t,” he said. “The matter of fact is that they can’t change anything, because the electoral college has put up their prospective votes that will make Donald Trump win the presidency and they’re trying to say ‘#notmypresident.’” During his campaign, Trump said that he would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program created in 2012 through an executive order by President Obama, allowing qualified people who came to United States as children to remain in the country, free from threat of deportation. Most DACA recipients are military, students or college graduates with jobs and no criminal record. Some college students under the DACA program have raised concerns of possible deportation under the new Trump administration. A National Immigration Law Center statement said, if Trump follows through on his promise, students are urged not to apply or renew. “Anyone deciding whether or not to apply for DACA has had to weigh the benefits and risks of applying,” the statement read. “When you provide information about
“All I can do is just hope, but I’m terrified.”
-Luis Hernandez-Bautista
yourself to immigration authorities by submitting the DACA application, you are taking a risk.” A campus forum hosted by immigration attorneys reiterated an uncertainty if the program will remain under the Trump administration. Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom has been a vocal opponent to Trump’s immigration stances. He called for a “moral wall” in a letter to all 58 superintendents of education in California. “My wife and I have struggled with how to explain the hateful rhetoric spewed during the campaign to our four young children,” Newsom wrote. “Like so many parents across the nation, we reinforced the values of empathy, compassion and kindness. Now, more than ever, it is
Hate, racism rear up in San Diego County While San Diego is very diverse, it has not avoided the racism that plagues our nation. In the days after the election of Donald Trump, hate crimes skyrocketed locally and across America.
incumbent upon us to translate those values into concrete action to protect California’s children. We must establish a zero-tolerance policy for hate in our schools.” Newsom urged the state’s university and community college systems to review protocols that would shield the personal data of undocumented students from potential abuse by the federal government. Since the election of Trump there has been a spike in racially-tinged campus incidents throughout the nation, according to reports in The Chronicle of Higher Education. “Organizations that track hate crimes have seen a rise in reports since the presidential election,” read an article by Nadia Dreid and Shannon Najmabadi. “There have been at least 30 instances of reported hate speech or violence against minorities on U.S. campuses or involving college students since Nov. 8, many of which involved references to President-Elect Donald J. Trump.” SWC can be added to that list. Copies of The Sun and El Sol Magazine have been defaced with racist messages and calls to vote for Trump. More than $3,000 dollars worth of copies of El Sol Magazine featuring Dibas wearing a Muslim hijab on the cover were destroyed or stolen. Chula Vista Police and SWCPD investigated the incidents, but no charges were filed. College trustees expressed strong support for migrant students. Resolution 1984 passed by the governing board, states “the board stands united in support of an immigrantfriendly environment for all immigrants who choose to better their lives through education. Southwestern College is and will continue to be a safe environment for all students, staff, faculty and administrators.” SWC’s staff of developmental office hosted “Faculty Think Tank—Empowering Student Voices” to “engage faculty in coming up with creative solutions to cultivate student voices. Similar meetings are planned for the spring semester. When the Spring 2017 semester begins on Jan 30, Trump will have been president for 10 days. He pledged to begin the deportation of about 11 million undocumented immigrants during the first hour of his administration. Trump has said, without evidence, that 3 million of the migrants are “criminals.” DACA recipient Luis Hernandez-Bautista, 25, recently hugged his father for the first time in five years when the human rights organization Border Angels negotiated with the U.S. Border Patrol to briefly open the border gates at Friendship Park. He said he did not expect Trump to win the election. “I’m terrified,” he said. “(DACA) is one of the things he said he would take away. All I can do is just hope, but I’m terrified.”
Rise in percentage of hate crimes against Muslims in America in 2015
67
Hate crimes reported in California 10 days after election
99 300
Calls to suicide line Lifeline on election night
U.S. Daily Hate Incident Count following the election of Donald Trump
Source: Southern Poverty Law Center, Lifeline and FBI
Design by Mirella Lopez
POINTS
Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: viewpoints@theswcsun.com
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What effect do you think the election of Donald Trump will have on you or your community? “As a Christian, I am happy that my values will be protected. Especially with Mike Pence behind him. It’s more important then the economy because without values everything goes down the drain.” Andres Wong, 57, Music
“I don’t think that Donald Trump himself can really do anything to us. It’s his supporters. They think they can get away with more now, because they have a president who will support them and support their (disgusting) behavior.” Sabrin Abukar, 19, Nursing
“He’s going to affect my reproductive rights, what people think of me and my safety.” Jazmin Vega, 21, French
“We are not represented. When Donald Trump says ‘Filipinos are terrorists,’ that’s the only thing people have in their mind and that’s the kind of view people will have for Filipinos.” Kimberly Ruelos, 21, Nursing
“Have no fear because he’s not going to do any of those things he said. He wanted to appeal to a certain group of people to get elected. Donald Trump is a businessman, he’s only going to do what is in the best interest of himself.” Khalil Adisa, 20, Criminal Justice
“It’s causing a lot of protests and hate towards white people. I think the hatred towards white people is a little ignorant and absurd, because a lot of them are saying ‘all white people are racist and homophobic’ and we’re not.” Hanna Garritson, 20, Kinesiology
“We don’t really know, we can just see how the dice rolls. Personally, I don’t necessarily see (his election) as a big impact. We can get through four years. With all the laws he’s trying to put in place hopefully checks and balances will work out.” Arielle Russell, 20, Cultural Anthropology
“I hope that things don’t get too crazy. I hope that for undocumented students that they are still able to pursue their dreams. I hope that everyone is still encouraged to move forward and hopefully we can get someone better in four years.” Melissa Lozano Morales, 19, Nursing
“As an American, I think he is going to make some very positive changes to America. I see he has great potential, assuming he sticks to what he promised to. I think that a lot of the fear of what Trump’s going to do in regards to immigration and those changes is really overblown.” Dr. David Hecht, 50, Chemistry Professor
“I would say it’s terrifying. I’ve always said it’s not just him, himself. It’s his supporters, and the people in his cabinet. We’ve already seen a dramatic increase in hate crimes since he was elected and he hasn’t even been inaugurated yet.” Shannon Pagano, Psychology Instructor
“This community is in good shape, as is California. This is a Latino community and I know I’m a Caucasian. I come from Switzerland. I have a good and safe job. I’m not worried about me. I do worry about immigration policies and deportation threats.” Dr. Lukas Buehler, 57, Biology Professor
“There could be some negative effects because I think there are some people that are still living in the past with white supremacy and white power.” Marco Nunez, 26, Biology
“I think it would bring my community closer. We can’t focus on the hate, we become one voice.” Jessica Enriquez, 24, Animal Science
“The LGBTQ+ community is scared, that’s for sure. But we refuse to surrender. We are, and have always been, a resilient community. It’s been necessary to get us this far and we’re not stopping now.” Dan Cordero, 22, LGBT studies
“I think it will bring to light the racism that already exists within our country. Even before he was elected there was still some divide and racism, but with him being elected, I feel as though people will be more open about it.” Christian Meeks, 19, Mechanical Engineering
“Since we are a more Democratic state, I don’t think there is going to be that much of a change. Maybe in other parts like Texas or Arizona there are going to be more problems like racism and white supremacy and everything they are thinking.” Luis Hernandez, 20, Criminal Justice
“You’re starting to see a lot more unity, especially in the black community. We can’t change (Trump becoming president elect) now. I believe that in the next four years, possibly eight, everyone will start thriving in their own communities and as a whole together.” Leah Richie, 25, Psychology
“I think (his policies) are too extreme. He wants Muslims to wear tags to show they are Muslim (like) Jewish people had to (in Nazi Germany). His Planned Parenthood policies are not okay. Some people use Planned Parenthood because they can’t afford doctors.” Aisha Yusuf, 19, Nursing
“I’m worried about Roe v. Wade being overturned and Trump picking Supreme Court justices. His term is only four years, but judges will stick around for years.” Lilyana Millan, 19, Nursing
“I am an Asian-Pacific Islander, so I have friends who are starting movements, including people in ASO. In the past it’s mostly older generations who are into politics, but younger people are being moved by it, so it’s great.” Kennelyn Ruelos, 21, Nursing
“I think Donald Trump is going to be good for the veteran community. He’s going to shake things up with the political leadership in charge of the VA. He’s talked about appointing effective leaders like Sarah Palin or Mitt Romney to oversee the VA community.” Todd Voeller, 34, Small Business
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The Southwestern College Sun
Winter Edition 2016-17 — Volume 60, Issue 4
CAMPUS
Thousands of Haitians gather in Tijuana in bid for refugee status JoseLuis Baylon
Decaying U.S. infrastructure is a health risk
Renee Conly/Staff
COME BACK TOMORROW— After being told by Immigration Custom Enforcement officials that there would be no more applications for the day, Haitian men who have stood for hours in line to apply for political asylum contemplate where they will stay the night. Thousands of Haitians have fled to Mexico hoping to gain political asylum in the U.S. to escape corruption, religious oppression and environmental catastrophes on their home island. Thousands now live in San Diego County.
By Domonique Scott Campus Editor
Hundreds of black faces behind the fences wait for an appointment that may never come. It was long way from Haiti to Brazil. There were long bus rides through Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. There were long train rides from Chiapas to Tijuana. Many were raped, beaten or killed. It is a short walk to the U.S.-Mexico border, but the 100 yards from where they stood in Tijuana to the Land of the Free may turn out to be the longest and toughest part of the odyssey. Kensia (a pseudonym) is a young Haitian woman who accompanied her male cousin to Brazil where he found construction work prior to the Rio de Janiero Olympic Games. When the Olympics were over, so was his work. Brazil’s economy tumbled into recession and the once-sought after Haitian workers were all unemployed and no longer welcome. Kensia and her group traveled by bus and car over the Equator into Columbia and all the way to the lawless borderlands of Nicaragua and Honduras, where they were dumped. She walked for days
over the humid terrain, looking over her shoulder the entire way. She had no food, no water and was surrounded by leering strangers, with only her cousin to protect her. They were hiding from police who have free passes to shoot Haitians on sight. One man in the group died in Nicaragua. They were forced to leave his unattended body behind. The journey seemed endless. Kensia had nothing but the salty sweat from her own body to moisten her mouth. Haitian refugees told this story and others like it to Pastor Bill Jenkins of the Christ United Methodist Ministry Center in Normal Heights. Since May the center has served more than 4,000 Haitian refugees, Jenkins said. “We got involved because we had a Haitian minister here,” he said. “Little did we know it was going to be as massive as it has become. We became a refugee camp right here in the heart of San Diego.” Jean Elise Durandisse came to San Diego in 2009 with a group of 20 other Haitians that were part of a gospel music group. When they arrived, he said, they requested religious asylum for fear of Haitian gangs. “I met (Durandisse and his group) here at the church,” Jenkins said.
“Immediately we connected. They said they were looking for a home and I said you can have a spiritual home here at this church. We helped them become a part of our family. We gave them food, clothing and connected them with immigration attorneys.” Jenkins said an earthquake in 2010 displaced more than 1.5 million Haitians. San Diego County already had an established Haitian congregation
“They were not sneaking. They were not illegal. They were presenting themselves under humanitarian parole.” - Pastor Bill Jenkins with Durandisse as its leader. “We became the hub of Haitian relief efforts here in San Diego,” said Jenkins. After the 2016 Olympics, Brazil exploded in economic crisis and nationalist tensions rose, forcing Haitians out of the country. “We heard word of Haitians massing
across the border,” Jenkins said. “So you have 600 to 800 Haitians sleeping on the street, lining up getting ready to come across. They were not sneaking. They were not illegal. They were presenting themselves under humanitarian parole.” In 2014, the Obama administration established the Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program. It allows U.S. citizens and permanent residents to apply for green cards on behalf of relatives in Haiti. Department of Homeland Security regulations say Haitians may qualify for Temporary Protected Status in the case of armed conflict (such as civil war), environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane) or an epidemic of extraordinary conditions. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regulations require foreigners who arrive without documents at ports of entry to be interviewed by Customs and Border Protection to confirm their identity and immigration status. Those considered flight risks could be detained, while others be required to wear electronic ankle bracelets with a tracker that allows ICE to monitor their movements and ensure they show up for appointments. please see Refugees pg. A15
SAGA Club commemorates trans victims By Alyssa Pajarillo Viewpoints Editor
America’s most brutalized population was jolted by the election of Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Transgender people who are already victimized by hatred and violence now have a vice president who insists they are deviates in need of conversion therapy — or worse. “For us, breathing is an act of resistance,” said Dan Cordero, president of Southwestern College’s Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA) Club. SAGA rallied together on campus during the Transgender Remembrance Day in honor of transgender individuals who lost their lives last year from murder or suicide. “Today is a difficult day simply because as a part of the transgender community, I know the reality and fear of not knowing if where you are going that day is safe,” Cordero told the crowd. “Every day we have siblings from the community that fight for their existence simply by walking out the door.” Cordero’s stood in front of a board displaying the name, age and hometown of more transgender individuals who had died. “No single experience or single walk is the reality or upmost truth when it comes to being a transgender individual in the USA,”
please see SAGA pg. A13
Maria Joaquin/Staff
BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED — SAGA Club President Dan Cordero leads a group of SAGA members and human rights supporters who sign a poster in remembrance of LGBTQ murder and hate crime victims. Cordero displayed photos of transgender murder victims and called for an LGBTQ center on the Southwestern College campus.
Barack Obama and Donald Trump do not agree on much, but both have said loud and clear that much of America’s infrastructure is in dire need of replacement. Obama’s 2008 campaign pledge to get to work on infrastructure was largely blocked by Republicans in both houses. Perhaps Trump can get Congress off its assets and to work modernizing our nation’s roads, bridges, pipelines, airports and more. Civil engineers face a major problem as 19th century pipes beneath aging cities erode. Flint, Michigan was a spectacular (and sad) example. When the city changed its water source, consultants involved failed to add a corrosion control station for the water distributed by old pipes. Without it, the pipes rapidly corroded due to natural elements in the lake water. For 11 months the citizens of Flint endured leadpoisoned water that was so toxic it damaged the DNA of thousands of Flint residents. More than 8,000 pipes needed replacement. Flint is not an anomaly. Pipe erosion is natural. Metal has to wear out eventually. Flint is but the proverbial canary in a coal mine. An estimated 19,354 cities or unincorporated American communities have outdated pipes — most older even than our living population. Philadelphia has some of the oldest water lines in the United States, dating back to 1895. They are made of cast iron and extend 3,000 miles. Every inch needs replacing. Researchers from Tufts University analyzed 100 million Medicare recipients and identified a rise in plumbing pathogens, disease-causing bacteria that live in drinking water distribution stations and household plumbing. Pipes and fixtures in homes do not receive much state or federal oversight and are disease factories that result in more than 80,000 infection cases requiring hospitalization. Treatment costs exceeded $2 billion a year. Hospitals are also increasingly dangerous. Researchers at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America found hospital faucets are high risks of producing biofilm formations for micro-organisms like Legionella and other Gram-negative bacteria. Biofilms inside water systems allow pathogens to resist disinfectants and become opportunistic causes of gastrointestinal infections. GI has been on the rise in areas where the U.S. public water system uses non-disinfected water from wells or groundwater, causing 1.1 millions cases of per year. Where water comes from matters. Protesters against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota have been clear that their primary concern is protecting the water. Plans to run the pipeline under a drinking water reservoir are dubious. All pipes eventually wear out or burst as we saw with British Petroleum’s accident in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska Pipeline bursts and a century of industrial accidents. There is scientific evidence from Harvard, Yale, Ohio State and the American Chemical Society that living near fracking, drill refineries or wastewater treatment sites substantially raises the chances of cancer because of contamination to water, soils and cropland. Duke University researchers specifically studied the situation in North Dakota. In 2006 large amounts of oil were discovered in North Dakota. At about the same time an unconventional method for drilling oil called fracking was perfected. It includes injecting into the Earth water mixed with other softening chemicals to fissure the fossil fuel from the ground. This creates a wash called wastewater which is the culprit in Duke’s study. “The magnitude of oil drilling in North Dakota is overwhelming,” wrote Avner Vengosh, professor of geochemistry and water quality at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment. “More than 9,700 wells have been drilled there in the past decade. This massive development has led to more than 3,900 spills, mostly coming from faulty pipes built to transport fracked wells’ flowback water from on-site holding containers to nearby injection wells where it will be disposed underground.” Every drilling site has to store this highlycarcinogenic material, usually in wells and packed beneath the ground in containers. please see North Dakota pg. A14
The Southwestern College Sun
College debate team wins over entire nation By Jaime Pronoble Production Manager
There is no debate, Southwestern College’s debate team is one of the best in the country. Currently ranked second in the nation, SWC has won more than 50 debates and makes Ivy League universities quake. Debate coach Jordan Mills said the team had a great semester, winning tournaments at San Francisco State University, Weber State in Utah and the University of Washington. Arantxa Calles, 20, a film production major, trophied at SFSU. “It was wonderful, getting an award after putting in so much hard work in preparation is always very satisfying,” she said. “It’s like all the late nights reading evidence just in case were definitely worth it. Getting to see my partner Francesca Beaird get a speaker award made me feel very proud!” Mills said the team creates thousands of pages of quotations to use “just in case” they hear certain arguments from other teams
Calles said she would practice at least two hours a day in preparation for competitions. “Twice a week there’s practice and I would add an hour of preparation to that,” she said. Jorge del Castillo, 21, a political science major, said he had spent more than 30 hours researching for debate last year leading to a raft of victories. He earned first place at the Cal State Northridge Tournament and the Pacific/State Championship. Though the team’s victories are huge, del Castillo said the venue is not. “A debate, contrary to popular belief does not take place on a stage,” he said. “It’s actually a two versus two and takes place in the class room. Usually when a debate goes on, the only people in the room are both teams and a judge.” Mills said the SWC team mainly debates against universities. “We are usually the only community college,” he said. Del Castillo said he learned to not let that faze him.
CAMPUS
Winter Edition 2016-17 — Volume 60, Issue 4
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Courtesy Photo
GAME FACE — Francesca Baird and Arantxa Calles prepare for their next argument by reading over their evidence.
“It’s actually quite rare to debate another community college, I never see them around.,” he said. “At first, it use to be intimidating going up against universities, however I learned that I am no different than them.” Calles agreed. “It’s interesting because you’ll go into a round and the other team will look surprised at the fact that we’re not from some big school,” she said. “It makes it all the more
satisfying when they see that we’re legitimate contenders that can actually debate well.” Del Castillo said if you end up thinking universities students are smarter or better, you end up turning it into reality. Although they proved able to keep up with four-year universities, del Castillo said being a community college has its disadvantages. “We don’t have the resource, time or the manpower to be as good as the other teams,” he said. “Mainly because our students have to
focus on getting good grades, building resume and saving up money for transferring all at once.” Despite the busy schedules, SWC still comes out as one of the best college debate teams in the country. “I thought I’d focus on film production and transfer somewhere after a while,” said Calles. “Debate really came as a surprise. I’m glad I picked it up well enough to succeed at it and contribute to the team.”
Road warrior teaches in three counties
Nead By Armando Sanchez Staff Writer
From commute to communication, adjunct instructor Rachel Nead is the master of her domain. Actually, several domains. Nead teaches interpersonal communications and public speaking at three community colleges in three different counties. A resident of Long Beach, Nead travels 125 miles each way to teach at Southwestern, further still for classes in San Ysidro. She also teaches at Riverside City College and Santiago Canyon College in Orange. Nead said she is a happy road warrior. “The ride isn’t bad,” she said. “It’s about a two-hour drive each way, but I like teaching at SWC.” Nead said she began her career at CSU Fullerton in 2007 as a teaching assistant. “Often times they won’t count your teaching associate experience, even though I was in charge of the classroom,” she said. “I officially started teaching as an adjunct instructor in 2010.” Nead said adjuncts have a hard time communicating with students, particularly if they are “freeway fliers” racing from college to college. “Personally I give my phone number out to my students so they can call or text me whenever,” she said. “It’s easier because of how many students I have and schools I teach at.” Communications student Alexa Vargas said contacting Nead is easier than most full-time professors at SWC. “Nead responds a whole lot quicker to a text than an email,” she said, “but that’s understandable, knowing that she works at other schools.” Nead said SWC is worth the long drive from Long Beach. “The community at Southwestern College is unique,” she said. “You have a combination of students who are very collectivistic. They look out for each other, they want to care for each other and do what’s best.” Former communications student Elizabeth Melton said she admired Nead’s dedication to teaching. “She has a passion for what she does,” Melton said. “Committing to teach in Chula Vista while living in Long Beach is easier said than done.” SWC students care for Nead. “I love teaching here because I know my students are going to respect me. But more importantly they’re going to respect each other in the class. You can see that the students here are really dedicated to learning, despite some of the hardships that they go through.”
Photos by Maria Joaquin
KILLED FOR BEING DIFFERENT — SWC’s SAGA Club displays photographs of murdered transgender Americans at its Day of Remembrance event on campus. Transgender Americans are persecuted and abused more than any other population. (below) Organizer Dan Cordero (l) embraces a supporter.
SAGA: Murders and suicide are epidemic in transgender community Continued from page A12
Cordero said. He shared the story of Islan Meddows, a New York transgender woman who was catcalled while walking down the street. When the men taunting her realized she was a trans woman, they proceeded to beat her into a coma. Meddows died a few days after the attack. “You have the reality of trans women who don’t report acts of violence against them because of fear of what the police themselves will do, and fear of inaction,” said Cordero before sharing the story of a trans woman who had been shot on three separate occasions. “She had not reported a single one of those incidences due to the fear and knowledge that nothing may get done,” he said. She died last year. Cordero said many trans hate crimes go unreported. Some transgender individuals fear inaction and how police will react to the incidents. Cordero read aloud the names of lost transgender individuals. One after the other, he read the cause of death, and one after the other it was murder. “It’s scary because one of those names could have been me,” said Jo, a transgender individual in the SAGA Club. Murder is not the only plague of the transgender community. A startling 41 percent of transgender individuals reported attempting suicide, according to the National Tr a n s g e n d e r D i s c r i m i n a t o r y
Survey. The general population has a suicide attempt rate of 1.6 percent. Whiletherateisstartling,Corderomadeapoint to say that being trans does not automatically mean a trans person is a suicide threat. “We are not suicidal because we are trans. People in our community become suicidal because of the immense amount
“People in our community become suicidal because of intense discrimination.” - Dan Cordero of discrimination, harassment and assault that we experience on a day-to-day basis.” Trans people feel fear worldwide, Cordero said. He fears for his best friend, a transgender man who lives in Texas. Before he comes to visit, Cordero gets messages about Chris’ anxiety about traveling. “I can expect two weeks of messages,” Cordero said. “Every single day of him sending me messages. ‘Dan, I am scared to death of going through TSA. I am scared to death of traveling. I am scared to death of showing my ID. I am scared to death of being pulled over by a cop.’ And every time I have to reassure him that he’s going to be fine. The reality is, I have to lie to my best friend every time, because I don’t know if it’s going to be okay.” In hope of bringing the community together, the SAGA club had participating students write notes to lost transgender individuals on a banner. Beforeclosing,CorderoreadaMexicanproverb. “They tried to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds.”
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Domonique Scott, editor
CAMPUS
Winter Edition 2016-17 — Vol. 60, Issue 4
Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: campus@theswcsun.com
New horticulture prof knows about Ivy By Elizabeth Farin Staff Writer
Maria Joaquin/Staff
HOW THE GARDEN GROWS — Mark Valen shows students native plants in the South Bay Botanical Garden.
Maribel Salcido/Staff
Color guard champ is raising a red flag (a black one, too) By Thomas Solis Staff Writer
As a Harvard grad, Southwestern’s new horticulturalist knows Ivy. He is pretty solid on other botanic forms, too. Mark Valen, SWC’s new director of the Landscape and Nursery Technology Program (LNT), is known for his green thumb and big heart. Nathan Otter, double majoring in Nursery and Retail Plant Production and Sustainable Landscape Practices, said he was struggling badly to find a place in civilian life after leaving the military with a medical discharge. Valen pushed him to work on a research project comparing compost tea and inoculated soil. Otter said SWC is unique in that it has resources to conduct such an elaborate study. “What really made me jump into it was Mark,” he said. “Talking to him made me want to learn more. This program saved my life.” Valen said he became interested in horticulture during a gardening class at UC Santa Cruz. “After that one experience, I changed my whole career.” he said. “I changed my major. I changed what I was interested in. I’ve been into gardening and the environment ever since.” After earning a Master’s degree at Harvard’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Program, Valen then worked for six years at the Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista while teaching parttime at SWC. “I enjoyed teaching at Southwestern so much that I knew I wanted to be here in a bigger way, as much as I could,” he said. “We teach something that’s very valuable, but not a lot of people are aware of how scientific or how detail-oriented it can be.” Valen said he is proud of the student-run botanical garden. “Students contribute to the aesthetic of what is planted and built,” he said. “Sometimes it might look a bit chaotic. That’s because we want to give the students opportunities to practice, to have hands-on experience and learn.”
North Dakota: Studies show water contains toxic contaminants Continued from page A12
Zenia Orozco was not accepted at SDSU out of high school, but the Southwestern College student became an Aztec anyway. Orozco said she was recruited by the Aztec Color Guard after being spotted during a performance her senior year at Castle Park High School. She has been busy twirling red and black flags ever since. “It is tiring to do both a sport and keep up with schoolwork, especially at a different school,” she said. “It’s really difficult, but I like it. I am doing something I love.” Getting to and from SDSU is a challenge, Orozco said. She takes public transportation to SDSU, a commute that can take two hours.
“You are constantly surrounded by people that love you. Your teammates always bring you up.” - Zenia Orozco She practices until 6 or 7 p.m. each evening. It is worth it, she said, to continue her color guard career. “Most of the kids (in the guard) go to San Diego State, but we do have kids from Mesa College or City College,” she said. “We all kind of blend in with the team. We are all like a big family.” Michele Mignogna, director of the Aztec Color Guard and Winter Guard, said students from other colleges are able to join the SDSU guard because there is no official collegiate color guard league and it is not considered competition. About a third of the team is enrolled in colleges other than SDSU, she said. “Having students from other schools helps us recruit more people for the team,” she said. “There is no difference in team chemistry.” Orozco said she will continue to perform for SDSU color guard after she leaves SWC no matter what. “If everything works out, I continue to SDSU with my major,” she said. Kenya Ramirez said she enjoyed being Orozco’s teammate. “You are constantly surrounded by people that love you,” she said. “Your teammates always bring you
Natalie Mosqueda/Staff
STRETCHED BETWEEN TWO COLLEGES — Zenia Orozco spends her days traveling between Southwestern College and San Diego State where she is a member of the Aztec Color Guard.
up and the performances are always fun.” Orozco also volunteers as a coach for the Castle Park Middle School color gu ard an d s ai d s he w o u l d
like to coach at Castle Park High School someday to pass down the techniques she learned at SDSU. “I have done this for so long that I feel like I would not know who I
was if I stopped doing guard,” she said. “At some point I know I have to stop, but for now performing for SDSU is the thing I can do the best.”
These containers frequently wear out and spill wastewater. Researchers were shocked to find toxic contaminants related to these sites in streams, where the contamination level surpassed the federal government’s recommendation for safe drinking water. On the ground, soils contained high traces of radioactive material called radium, which can enter the bones through the body’s calcium channels and crumble the spine. Radioactivity can be detected up to four years after the initial spill. Drilling facilities are often located upstream in an attempt to avoid affecting homes. Yet scientists managed to identify radiation highest downstream, where the waste accumulates and sets near drinking water. In 2014, a pipe burst underground and released one million gallons of wastewater into Bear Den Bay near the drinking water source of Lake Sakakawea. “Unlike spilled oil, which starts to break down in soil, these spills consist of inorganic chemicals, metals and salts that are resistant to biodegradation,” said Nancy Lauer, lead author of the Duke University study. “They don’t go away, they stay. This has created a legacy of radioactivity at spill sites.” In 1959 the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) commissioned a nuclear missile site in the Greenland Ice Sheet known as Project Iceworm. It featured a camp encased completely within the ice sheet, where engineers installed an operational nuclear reactor. When the camp closed in 1967, the Army abandoned the reactor’s wastewater because they believed the waste would remain forever entombed in ice. A 2016 study by York University predicted the site will be exposed as the ice sheet melts. No one has accepted responsibility for cleaning the waste. As for the Dakota Pipeline, the USACE originally granted permission for the project to use federal project land and waters in North Dakota after they determined that it would not be injurious to public interest. The project came to a halt on Dec. 4 after it came under public scrutiny. Now, the real analysis begins. Now, the science enters. Now, the entire country needs to demand cleaner water.
JoseLuis may be reached at plutotoplato@theswcsun.com
The Southwestern College Sun
CAMPUS
Winter Edition 2016-17 — Volume 60, Issue 4
Refugees: Temporary Protective Status is no longer being offered Continued from page A12
Jenkins said that after receiving an appointment, many refugees are cast out to the streets until their appointment date which could be weeks or months later. “When they would cross the border they would talk to the immigration courthouse,” he said. “They were given a court date, papers and if they were legally in the United States they were told to show up to their appointment four days, four weeks, four months from now and then it’s like “nice knowing you.’” Jenkins said many refugees did not know where to go. “They did not speak English,” he said. “They had the clothes on their backs. They had no money and knew nothing of San Diego, so they began sleeping and living on the streets in downtown San Diego at Horton Plaza.” Jenkins said Durandisse, who is now himself a Protestant minister, was the savior to the Haitians downtown when he showed up because he knew the culture and Creole dialect. “Someone called our Haitian pastor here and said are you aware that Haitians are downtown,” Jenkins said. “So he NO HOME, NO MONEY, NO NATION — An estimated 4,000 Haitian refugees remain homeless and desperate in Tijuana awaiting a chance to apply for asylum. Nearly 800 find food and some attention at the Padre Chava soup kitchen. The modest facility offers cramped rooms, makeshift shelters or sometimes just blankets for sleeping on the ground. U.S. government officials and an El Cajon pastor estimate that another 4,000 refugees have legally entered the United States and are awaiting word on asylum requests. Haitians on the American side of the border are either detained or equipped with monitoring devices on their ankles.
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Photos by Renee Conly
(Durandisse) took the van that says Haitian Methodist Church on it. When they saw that word, Haitian, they literally ran to him and he spoke to them in Creole. He said “they thought I was Jesus,’ and I said ‘well, at that moment you were.’” Bernard Dogan of the Southwestern College Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society said the campus club has joined Jenkins to help the refugees. “We are focused on taking action towards peace and war,” Dogan said. “We want to help asylum seekers and refugees with their biggest barriers like housing, unemployment, mental and medical issues, and language barriers.” Phi Theta Kappa hosted Refugee Awareness Week and organized a donation drive and cultural performances. Jenkins came to speak to students and staff about his experiences. Not all Haitians are granted asylum and many are being deported. In late September the Department of Homeland Security stopped granting Temporary Protected Status to Haitian refugees, said Katie Tobin, Senior Protection Associate for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Each week two jetliners full of Haitians leave San Diego for deportation flights to Haiti. If the detained Haitians have permanent resident status in Brazil, the U.S. will deport them there, if they wish. Tobin said she was worried what is happening to the repatriated Haitians and if they are being imprisoned. Jenkins and Durandisse worry, too, but are powerless to do anything about it. What they can do right now is try to help the Haitian wave that has washed over the South County.
A16 The Southwestern College Sun
ARTS
Winter Edition 2016-17– Volume 60, Issue 4
REVIEW
Mariachi Garibaldi is in a class by itself By Darcy Aguayo Assistant Multimedia
Mariachi Mania is alive and well, and a pair of sold-out per formances by Mariachi Garibaldi re m ind ed enthusia stic audiences why Southwestern College’s globe-trotting band is considered the world’s best collegiate mariachi. “Mariachi and Friends” fit director Dr. Jeff Nevin’s hermanos y hermanas philosophy that all of the region’s mariachi are family that need support and encouragement — not to mention great role models. Nevin and Co. honored the late Juan “El Divo de Juarez” Gabriel, the g re a t Me x i c a n s i n g e r / songwriter. “Amor Eterno,” a Gabriel classic, received a blazing performance, as did the passionate “Te Vas a Quedar Con Las Ganas.” When Mariachi Garibaldi visits other countries to perform, Nevin said, audiences often associate mariachi with classics like “Cucurrucucú Paloma,” w r i t t e n by i n f l u e n t i a l Mexican singer-songwriter Thomas Mendez, a piece t h e S WC c r e w o w n s . Throughout the night the lively audience reminisced with familiar classics and sang along to favorites such as “Cielito Lindo,” “Son de la Negra” and “El Mariachi Loco.” It was the borderlands version of joining in with Paul McCartney to sing “Hey Jude.” A great mariachi, like any terrific band, does not rest on past achievements. Musicians in Mariachi Garibaldi and Nevin’s training groups learn a new set of songs each semester. Mariachi Garibaldi had four weeks to prepare for this show and it was its first time performing many songs in front of an
audience. Los mariachis rose to the occasion. Rather than play it safe, they performed the challenging “Las Bodas d e Lu i s Al o n s o ” a t a n appropriately blistering tempo, leaving the crowd wide-eyed in awe. Mariachi Garibaldi ended the evening Popurrí style with “Huapangos,” as eight members sang short, impactful solos like the American folk singers of yore who passed the mic around like a bottle of whisky on the trail. Nevin, like a jazz bandleader, would throw a spontaneous solo at unsuspecting but always-ready singers and instrumentalists. Duke El l i n g t o n w o u l d h a v e smiled. Montgomer y High Schools’ Mariachi Azteca was an opening act and gave its first performance of the year. The youthful group has much to learn, but charismatic Mariachi Azteca director Guadalupe Gonzalez seems to have his mariachistas moving in the right direction. Several of the high schoolers expressed their hope of playing someday for Mariachi Garibaldi. Understandable. Nevin announced that Mariachi Garibaldi was recently invited to perform in Belgium next year and the SWC cre w travels well. Trumpet cases and guitar gig bags are already festooned with stickers from Russia, China, France, Mexico and all parts of the U.S.A. Mariachi Garibaldi retains its place as Southwestern College’s best-known global brand and is a defiant multicultural comeback to the alt-right nonsense ushered to the national stage by the Trumpistas. For at least one marvelous evening, trumpets trumped Trump.
Mirella Lopez/Staff
LA ESTRELLA – Mariachi Garibaldi star Elizabeth Rodriguez, electrifies the audience with another passionionate performance.
REVIEW
Much to like about ‘Much Ado’ Jeanette Sandoval Arts Editor
That William Shakespeare was really onto something. It has been more than 400 years since his masterpiece “Much Ado About Nothing” opened at the Globe Theater in London, yet his words and themes ring true in 21st century Chula Vista. “Much Ado About Much Ado About Nothing: Shakespeare and Social Justice,” directed by Assistant Professor Ruff Yeager, reimagined The Bard as a TV-age therapist and commentator. It was as if Shakespeare grew up on the west side of town and rode the trolley to Southwestern. As the title declares, social justice played a major role in the production. Actors performed scenes from “Much Ado,” then staged their own written responses that amplified what happened in the scene. Actors responded to the marginalization of characters and the slings and arrows of sexism, racism, violence, gender roles and more. Olios between scenes allowed actors to respond to the play. This made for an unorthodox but illuminating look into Shakespeare’s rich if antiquated writing. Yeager’s rendition featured a small but worthy cast of 12, including Yeager himself. It was a cozy scenario that allowed seating on stage and intimacy between cast and audience. “Oh, if only I were a man,” moaned Beatrice (Isabella Ruffo) so prophetically in the wake of Sergio Esparza/Staff Hillary Clinton’s stunning loss of the presidency. THERE WAS A STAR DANCED– Jordan Holguin in the ‘Dr.Phil Skit’ interlude Dogberry’s lament seemed like a story about fake of ‘Much Ado About Much Ado About Nothing.’ news on Brietbart ripped from the front page of the New York Times or Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN.
“Marry sir, they have committed false report,” he said. “Moreover, they have spoken untruths. Secondarily, they are slanderers. They have belied a lady, they have said unjust things, and to conclude, they are lying knaves.” Shakespeare, the first feminist, as always was looking for injustices against women. The line “He called me a slut” caused a haunting response by every female cast member, simultaneously reciting stories of women who have been unjustly slut-shamed. Hortensia Garcia and Edgar Rodriquez gave passionate speeches about their experiences with social constructs about woman and manhood, and a sibling rivalry was resolved through a clever Dr.Phil skit. Justice versus vengeance themes were effectively tied to today’s epidemic of police brutality. Yeager’s small cast was both a blessing and a curse. It enabled each actor to get plenty of deserved stage time, but also made the transition of scenes confusing for Shakespearian novices. Yeager, a professional actor, risked overpowering his students, but they held their own. Protagonists Beatrice and Benedick (Daniel Ward) were portrayed as an unlikely pair buffeted in a lovehate relationship, but their natural chemistry gave the play the romance it needed. “I wish my horse had the speed of your tounge!” quipped The Bard, who surely would have wished to shuffle off his mortal coil if he had lived through 2016. “Much Ado About Nothing” is a perfect description of our Twitterati, Facebook age of hyperventilating triviality. Yeager and his cast gave us a refreshing take on a relevant Shakespeare classic and a chance to reflect on the comedy of errors yet to come.
ARTS
The Southwestern College Sun
Winter Edition 2016-17 – Volume 60, Issue 4
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REVIEW
Medieval musicians rock really old school
Natalie Mosqueda/Staff
THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD CHART TOPPERS — Cathe Sobke (l) plays a medieval harp and Kyle Bayquen the treble viol for the Goliards Medieval Ensemble during an impressive campus performance. By Victoria Gonzalez Sports Co-Editor
Bob Dylan would have been a great goliard, scholar-poets who wrote satirical verses in the 12th century. Southwestern’s Goliards Medieval Ensemble would have also fit right in. Led by music instructor Wendy Greene, the ensemble commemorated All Souls Day with the somber beat of hide-covered drums, the twang of a harpsichord and the hurdy-gurdy. They formed a musical bed for the poetic Middle English and Latin lyrics about death, religious figures, animals and love. Old School music is seldom older and rarely better than this talented band of minstrel scholars, which resurrected thousand-year-old tunes with 21st century flair. The Goliards conveyed deep emotion with each song. Their music had a quietly mystical, harmonious quality which, though dark, music instructor Cathe Sobke said it is part of the
foundation of today’s music. “It helps you understand where all of our modern music came from,” she said after playing a number of recorders, the folksy predecessor of the flute. During a rendition of the 14th century Spanish song “Ad Mortem Festinamus” (“We Race Towards Death”), Greene poetically recited appalling facts about the looming presence of death in the Middle Ages, including passages about the bubonic plague, war and poor hygiene, underscored by a light musical accompaniment. “Death in the Medieval era was more common and visible than we are accustomed to,” Greene chanted. “The dance of death, the danse macabre, came out of this.” Greene said she revered the historical value of the songs, most of which are hundreds of years old. “I love the fact that we are playing some of the first music that was written down,” she said.
“The ancient character lends a very unique sound. It can be stark. It is quite different from what we have today.” Greene’s friend, Susan Willis-Powers, a harpsichordist, said some of the music they played was 1,000 years old, including 11th century melodies “O Roma Nobilis” (“Oh, Noble Rome”) and “Sic mea fata” (“By Singing”). Kyle Bayquen, a Jazz studies major, said he got involved with the Goliards through a class he took with Sobke, who has been a Goliard for six years. “She lets everybody know because she is very enthusiastic about early music,” he said. “I fill in wherever I can. I just started singing.” Willis-Powers said the singing of Bayquen and Greene was an effective vehicle for the melodies. “I thought it anchored it beautifully,” she said. Period-accurate instruments fired the authentic sound. Some had odd-sounding names. They included a harpsichord, a custom-
made hurdy-gurdy, a treble viol, a harp and variety of recorders and goatskin-covered drums. Because early music may sound odd to contemporary students, Greene said a good approach was to simply perform it and let the students ask questions afterward. “We have them listen first and see how it resonates or does not resonate with them,” she said. Some students asked about specific songs while another, a music student, asked if the harpsichord’s tune could be applied to jazz. Willis-Powers said that playing with the Goliards has expanded her musical horizons. “In my wildest dreams I never thought I would be playing early music, but it has really been great,” she said. “There’s something that happens when you are playing music. It just cleans your head so much and you are really incredibly stimulated and it’s intellectual and emotional at the same time.”
REVIEW
Strings are kings at spicy Latin Jazz Night By Thomas Solis Staff Writer
Battered and beaten by the semester with the looming stress of finals, Southwestern College was allowed one brief respite thanks to the Latin Jazz Night concert featuring the Latin Jazz Ensemble and Guitar Ensemble. Director Dr. Jorge Pastrana and his stringy artists soothed a strung-out Mayan Hall crowd. An upbeat swankiness paired well with jazz coaxed the audience to tap its feet all the way through a grandiose two hour journey of melody. Generous with the limelight, Pastrana had each member of the Latin Jazz Ensemble play at least one solo, showing off the depth of talent in the group. Singers Carlos De Leon and Emmanuel David lit up crowd favorite “Oye Como Va.” De Leon, growing his confidence as he finishes his first semester in the Latin Jazz Ensemble, showed promise as both a vocalist and a percussionist. “Puerto Rican Medley” first featured violinist Jasmine Park’s chops on the electric violin, then tenor saxophonist Jean Cyprien taking over with a groovy solo, igniting Mayan Hall into cheers and applause. Pastrana’s Guitar Ensemble cut down on the booming bass and percussion and stripped down to a skeletal band of about a dozen acoustic guitars. Performing a mixture of Baroque and modern pieces, the Guitar Ensemble hit a harmonic crescendo in “Malaguena.” Pastrana heightened the intensity with his colorful conducting, his gestures a confident and rhythmic stomp against the hall’s wooden stage, his black boots serving as improvised percussion to the sweet plucking of acoustic strings. A calm before the storm and fury of finals, Latin Jazz Night gave an overdue farewell to the fall semester and a rough 2016. Pastrana and his ensembles proved once more that crumbling Mayan Hall is the cultural center of the South County and that Southwestern College is a collection of creative expression unmatched in this region.
TAKE IT AWAY — Tenor saxophonist Jean Cyprien delivers a sophisticated solo in the “Puerto Rican Medley” at Latin Jazz Night.
Sergio Esparza/Staff
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Winter Edition 2016-17 – Volume 60, Issue 4
Jeanette Sandoval, editor
ARTS
Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: arts@theswcsun.com
D REVIEW
elighful aring ance
By Alethze Maryana Meza Staff Writer
P
erforming artists across America have began to weight in on the prospects of a Donald Trump presidency. “Dance, Dance, Dance!” was a kinesthetic kick that showed that demonstrations of democracy do not always require words. “Rock the Vote” featured seven tap dancers who represented the controversial presidential election. Dancers performed behind voting polls with only their racially-d iver se legs show ing. The y portrayed freedom and the strength of
multiculturalism. After the dance, performers got off stage and gave gifts to the audience. It was spontaneous and unexpected, but fit in perfectly. It gave the performance meaning because it showed the freedom Americans should have. “Chiapas” was a great folk dance that highlighted the rich culture of Mexico. Vibrantly-dressed women moved their skirts like waves lapping on a tropical Mexican beach. Dancers chanted joyfully throughout
the performance, inviting the audience to temporarily shed its skin and join in the meso-American mirthfulness. Best of the night was “Diggin’ Sand Man,” a fantastic tap dance duo featuring Professor of Dance Dana Maue and student Alejandra Islas. Professionalism and polish permeated the charismatic pair which inspired members of the audience to get up and dance with them. “Dance, Dance, Dance!” showcased the college’s always-strong program, and imparted important messages about
equality and culture. Maue made the experience interactive, told some jokes and gave a much-needed positive vibe during a stressful weekend. Not bad for a band of artists forced to rehearse in a converted cafeteria this semester. Southwestern’s legacy of dance excellence deserves the new digs promised on the corner lot. This campus and our community are going to need SWC’s performing and visual arts more than ever to help make sense of Trump Nation. Maue and company took some great first steps. Darcy Aguayo/Staff
SVO co-founder Tony the Vet pays it forward By Chelsea Pelayo Assistant Arts Editor
Anthony A. LoBue stared death in the face. Death blinked. Given a second chance, the ebullient and articulate Army paratrooper was reborn as the warrior-artist Tony the Vet. Now he fights for military veterans. LoBue is a Nuclear Age Renaissance man with the wisdom of a sage and the energy of a high school cheerleader. He is a veterans advocate, visual artist, poet, playwright, educator, entrepreneur and practitioner of the healing arts. A disabled combat veteran and former SWC student, LoBue left his mark on the campus by co-founding the Student Veteran Organization in 2008. He is now using his rich background to bring creative arts programs to veterans, active military and their families at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park. “After surviving some deathdefying health issues, (it) gave me an opportunity for great introspection,” LoBue said. “I decided that it was time for me to do what I love and love what I do and to combine all of those things.” As a disabled veteran, he said he has felt the impact artistic expression has on physical and emotional healing. LoBue is the founder of the Arts for Veterans Project (A4V) to “engage, educate, employ and empower veterans in the creative arts.” This currently includes writing workshops, improv lessons and 3-D art.
the Navy and she said she has a deep connection to veterans. “I’ve always wanted to work with veterans,” she said. “So when I met Tony at an art show I was in, I got his card and contacted him.” Doudiet said she recognized as a child she had artistic abilities. Her creative gifts grew up with her. As an adult she realized her passion could be a source of emotional healing. “When my son died it took me about five to eight years to decide how I could express my anger, love, confusion about his death while paying homage to his life,” she said. “All of my art has some sort of pain, humor or anger in it.” Her experiences resonated Chelsea Pelayo/Staff with the efforts of Arts THE ART OF HEALING — Tony “The Vet” LoBue and Nancoise Doudiet set up a session of for Veterans to provide “Arts for All” at the iconic Veteran’s Museum in Balboa Park. workshops to vets. “Art is not only great for “We have veterans who suffer from Veterans Museum on Park Blvd. to veterans, but for anyone visible or invisible wounds,” he said. provide space for artists to participate who has a hard time expressing “Regardless of what the psychiatrists in creative programs throughout themselves,” said Doudiet. do with their meds or what the the week. He is actively seeking LoBue said he is actively spreading doctors do with their scalpels, nothing participants and arts instructors to the word throughout the San Diego provides the veteran, or military share their gifts with the veterans County arts community. His first members, or the spouse, or the kid community. “Creative Arts for All” had a low with the opportunity to engage in art Nancoise Doudiet, an interior turnout, but LoBue and Doudiet said making for whatever the purpose, for designer and SDSU graduate, was the they are hopeful that once people hear pleasure, profit or healing.” art instructor at the first Creative Arts of the program they will participate. LoBue partnered up with the iconic for All workshop. Her father was in LoBue recruited Daniel B. Foster,
a museum director and artist, as a participant at the Arts for Veterans bronze casting workshop. Foster is a multimedia artist and painter who spent 30 years perfecting his craft behind closed doors before finally debuting his art at a pop up gallery in Long Beach earlier this year. He was featured at SWC’s Inside Out art exhibit curated by gallery director Vallo Riberto. His decision to create in total reclusivity and get in tune with an art free of any outside influence has afforded him a unique perspective on the power of art for spiritual revival. “I’ve been weighing the possibility of what I can do with the targeted population of veterans with the power of art to heal, and I actually think it’s a spiritual path,” he said. Foster speaks of healing from experience. “It was a very healing thing for me at the time when I was defining who I was and making sense of the world we are in,” he said. LoBue has extended an invitation to the community to get out and exercise its creative muscles. Anyone willing to volunteer or donate materials or expertise to veterans are encouraged to participate. Interested volunteers can log onto the Veterans Museum website for workshops and activities. “We invite you to come by with that big idea that you’ve been waiting to share with the rest of the world,” he said. “And we’ll see how we can implement it.” http://www.veteranmuseum.org/ about/newsletter
ARTS
The Southwestern College Sun
Winter Edition 2016-17 – Volume 60, Issue 4
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Anatomy instructor puts science into science fiction By Josh Navarro and Chelsea Pelayo Staff Writers
Gregory Brulte writes science fiction. He is also a real scientist. Brulte, an anatomy and physiology instructor, is challenging antiquated beliefs by showing how science can be an artform. He is a former dentist who has published 11 science fiction romance novels, three novellas and three short stories. He wrote his first screenplay in 1994. Brulte said he loves fiction because of its endless possibilities. “With fiction you’re not restrained,” he said. “You can go anywhere you want to go, do anything you want to do.” English professor Francisco Bustos said he sees a place in the literary pantheon for science fiction like Brulte’s. “It’s a kind of literature that opens up our imagination and takes us to new places,” he said. “It invites technology and new kinds of worlds and energies. It’s a way to tell history with a different kind of lens.” In this way many of the worlds in Brulte’s novels deal with the dangers mankind poses to itself and to our planet, such as habitat destruction and extinctions. “Though some of the stories in science fiction deal with worlds far removed from our reality, much of it serves to connect back to universal themes of human experience,” said Bustos. For Brulte, that means presenting hope even in grim settings. His most recent novel on Amazon, “Amphibian Dream,” is the story of an introverted scientist who learned to quantum manipulate DNA and attempts to “morph himself into a hunk of masculinity” to win the heart of his psychiatrist. “It’s always a happy ending,” said Brulte. “It’s not in me to do otherwise. I think people need that, it’s more of an escape.” He said he follows the advice of sci-fi icon Ray Bradbury which is “Just write every day. Just write.” Brulte said he does write every day, which has led to publishing success and a frenetic writing process. Barreling through a story is the only way he knows how to write, he said, so finishing 300 to 500 page stories in three months or less is the norm. “Sometimes the faster you write the better it comes out and I rarely back up and change things,” he said. “Your subconscious just kind of works on it.” Brulte said he embraces an organic progression in his stories. “It’s like golf,” he said. “You hit the ball and then you hit the next shot from wherever you’re at.” Brulte said music is often central to his novels. “A lot of (of my) books have songs and have (a) musician as one of the main characters, so sometimes I throw lyrics in there,” he said. “Eventually what I want to do is link it (to technology so that) reading it on the Kindle is like a book with a soundtrack.” Brulte is the songwriter and vocalist of the band 95% Harald and produces soundtracks for his novels. “(The reader) will be able to play the songs as they read, but we still need to get them produced,” he said. “The stuff we have now is basically a demo.” Brulte said he would like to revamp the Amazon e-book into an interactive experience across media platforms to create a multi-dimensional quality. “If you’re lucky, it’ll have multiple levels to it,” he said. “It’ll have the story but then it’ll have undercurrents. It’s like levels. Someone will get something sociopolitical out of it, or metaphysical, or someone might just say ‘oh, that’s a nice love story.’ I guess you can do it intentionally, but I’ve found that a lot of times it’s unintentional.” Brulte said his novels will teach. “I’m bringing in the science, but making it so non-scientists can understand it,” he said. “With teaching, if you can’t take something complex and explain it simply, then you probably don’t understand it yourself.” Brulte said he tries not to mention his writing career to those who know him. “I hate it when it’s about the author, that’s why I never do interviews (except for this one).”
Alejandro Muñoz Anguiano /Staff
INNER VISION — Erin Denison’s “Day Dreamer” was one of many strong pieces exhibited in the Fall Student Art Show at the Chula Vista Mall.
REVIEW
Touring student art road show packs a punch By Alejandro Muñoz Anguiano Assistant News Editor
Art students brought a much-needed shot of culture to the South Bay by filling a space at the Chula Vista Mall with a splash of wonderful art at the Fall Student Art Show. Students of all levels displayed their work, so, naturally, the strongest artists stole the show. Karen Alleluia was the mightiest of all. A black figure lay vulnerable and unarmed in a sea of red, surrounded by a mob of faceless white men, pistols drawn and pointed at him. “He Looked like a Demon,” Alleluia’s digital art print, captured the increasingly problematic racial divide in the nation’s power structure simply, but effectively.
Alleluia’s other piece completed her one-two punch. “The Fight,” an oil painting on canvas, depicts two boys, one black and the other white, in profile. The white boy, dressed in a white-collar shirt, is pointing a handgun at the hoodie-wearing black boy, who aims back at him with a finger gun gesture. “The Fight” communicates how the problems posed by Alleluia’s other piece are deeply entrenched in society, with children mimicking adults and falling into racially motivated conflicts before they are even capable of realizing the nature of their environment. It also shows who has the power in our society. A white background accentuates the conflict between the two boys. “The Fight” sold for $200 on opening night. Even though the exhibit had many
excellent pieces, it lacked cohesion. A set of digital prints from instructor Angela Jones’ graphic imagery class felt strangely out of place. They seemed strangely like social media profiles, with students listing their hobbies, interests and favorite foods. Accompanying images showed that the students are capable of creating good digital art, but their talents could have been dedicated to a more meaningful project. Even so, there was plenty of notable work to admire. Photographer Eva Turner found a memorable subject for her blackand-white photo, “Great-Grandfather.” At first glance the subject gives the impression of being a typical grumpy old man, but a closer look at the lines in his face reveals the weathered wisdom that can only come with age. The intriguing nature
of the photo makes it a captivating piece. Allis Verduzco, one of the most promising artists in the exhibit, contributed four pieces in four different media, the best of which was a ceramic sculpture in the image of her own hand emerging from the ground, accurate down to her own crooked finger. “The Monument” resonated with every human’s eternal desire to grow into something more than they are. SWC’s Fall Student Art Show was successful in its mission of displaying the impressive student talent in college art programs out in other areas of the community. Gallery Director Silvia Lugo said she hopes to expand the program with an even larger space next semester. Southwestern’s best artists helped the college put its best foot forward.
REVIEW
SWC gospel choir shines a light in the darkness By Thomas Solis Staff Writer
In a time of rapid change and uncertainty, millions of people are looking for something that will assure them that everything is going to be okay. Southwestern’s Gospel Choir was just the elixir. Talented, tight and terrific, the fiery group sparked glimmers of hope in the audience, gathering the flock to say that the future is not so bleak as long as
gospel can light the path. “Soon and Very Soon” started with the choir singing offstage, then slowly walking in their vibrant golden robes. Like the gospel standard “golden slippers,” the golden robes had a heavenly message that resonated throughout the performance. Si n g e r, s o n g w r i t e r a n d c r ow d favorite B.J. Robinson rocked piano his signature tune, “One Small Voice.” It is always a special Mayan moment when Robinson performs this uplifting song, even if this performance was in
the cozier recital room. Co-director Phillip Lenud got real during, “Jesus is Real,” and the singers danced and sang powerfully. channeling the energy that great gospel music generates. “In Christ Alone” and “All My Trials” included lyrics about Jesus Christ and God, but listeners did not need to be devoted to Christianity to enjoy the music and connect to its passion. L e n u d a n d c o - d i r e c t o r Tr a c y Burkland brought down the spirit and the gospel choir burned down the
house. “Your audience deserves the same energy,” said Lenud, “It does not matter if it is Mayan Hall or a smaller audience like in the recital room. It should be the same quality, same energy, same everything.” It was all those things, and more. Even though Trump Nation has members at the SWC African-American, Latino and LGTBQ communities anxious about 1-20-17, the Gospel choir, like the blues, is as cleansing as warm soapy water and a soft face cloth.
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Winter Edition 2016-17 — Vol. 60, Issue 4
Design by Jaime Pronoble Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: news@theswcsun.com
Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar/Staff
LOVE OPENS THE GATES OF HAPPINESS — Luis Hernandez and his father Eduardo Hernandez shared a touching moment as the border gate at Friendship Park was briefly opened.
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hulking steel door on the towering metal fence splitting the United States and Mexico rusts in neglect, seldom opened. There, near where the fence stretches right into the Pacific Ocean, six immigrant families living in the United States, unable to cross into Mexico, able to do what thousands of families only dream of – hug their loved ones living on the other side of the border. It was three minutes of overwhelming sadness and joy. On the eve of International Children’s Day, the Border Angels helped to answer some prayers. For only the fourth time in history, U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened the monolithic gate at the Border Field State Park to allow a few lucky families threeminute reunions. Luis Hernandez-Bautista, 25, of Los Angeles, received a big surprise after his girlfriend applied for him to participate, allowing him to see his father who was deported five years ago. “My girlfriend did it for me as a gift to me because my birthday (was) in a week,” he said. “I talk about my dad all the time. (My girlfriend) asked ‘Hey, if you could hug your dad again would you, even if it’s just for three minutes?’ I said of course and then that’s when she had told me that I was being approved.” Hernandez-Bautista is a recipient of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), a program initiated by the Obama Administration that protects undocumented immigrants from deportation if they meet certain requirements. He said he had strong ties to the U.S. since he has lived here for most of his life. He said he feels like an American in a country that is weeks away from a wrenching debate about immigration. “I was brought here when I was five,” he said. “I’m 25, so I’ve been in this country for 20 years now.” He said that president-elect Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to discontinue DACA makes him fearful about his future. “I did not expect (Trump) to win at all,” he said. “I’m terrified. (DACA) is one of the things he said he would take away. All I can do is just hope, but I am terrified.” As his three minutes ticked away, tears filled Hernandez-Bautista’s eyes. He hugged his father goodbye and made a solemn promise.
“I promised him that it wouldn’t be the last time I hug him,” he said. Border Angels founder Enrique Morones said the theme of the event was “Love Has No Borders.” Its aim was to bring humans together to see the effects of immigration policy. “Only with love can we conquer discrimination,” he said. “This is not a political statement, it’s a love statement.” He said he expects these types of events to continue and that he would keep working to coordinate them. Laura Martinez was part of an alternate family on standby in case a lottery family did not make it. “They told us that we had to wait and that if the other family didn’t show up then we were next,” she said. “So my hopes were still high because we traveled so long.” Martinez said she lives in Los Angeles and her mother traveled from Puebla, almost 1,500 miles away south of the border. Martinez was notified that she would get to see her mother five minutes before the noon start time. Excitement immediately took over, she said. “Words cannot describe how we felt together,” she said. “She’s already 71 and I was worried I wouldn’t get to see her. I told her I miss her face, her eyes, because I’ve always told her she has beautiful eyes. I felt like I was dreaming because it was very magical. Even though people might say three minutes is not enough, those three minutes were a lot to us. It meant a lot. Just to be able to hold her and touch her.” Martinez said she has been living in Los Angeles for 26 years and last saw her mother two decades ago. She said that although she worries about the Trump presidency, she remains hopeful that human rights organizations like Border Angels and the communities that support them will speak up and demand just treatment of immigrants. “It will take (Trump) time to do something different and change immigration laws,” she said. “That time it will take him, our good people will raise their voice and do something about it. I have a lot of faith.”
The gates of mercy shall be open By Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar News Editor
“Only with love can we conquer discrimination. This is not a political statement, it’s a love statement.” -Enrique Morones Border Angels
Natalie Mosqueda/Staff
THREE MINUTES OF TIMELESS LOVE — Laura Avila and Laura Martinez walk away from hugging Martinez’s mother, who they had not seen in 20 years.