The Sun Vol. 60 Issue 3

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 3

theswcsun.com

November 17, 2016

$400 million construction bond passes

By Brelio Lozano Assistant News Editor

South Bay voters put their faith in Southwestern College by approving Pr o p o s i t i o n Z , a $ 4 0 0 m i l l i o n construction bond, with 68.8 percent of the vote.

Money from the bond will be used to upgrade the college’s infrastructure and security, build new classrooms

Trump’s win sparks protests

and complete a per forming ar ts complex promised in an earlier bond.

Proposition R, passed in 2016, was a $389 million bond partially consumed by corruption by previous college officials since convicted and removed from office.

Trustee Humberto Peraza said he was happy that the community passed the bond.

“We decided to put it on the ballot at

the last second thinking the community would support it and we were right,” he said. “(This) bond is just what the college needs to rebuild itself and to put modern facilities in place.”

Roberto Alcantar, elected to replace Peraza in December, agreed.

“What we can see definitely happening getting a lot more money for our school to build the classrooms that we need and the facilities that

we need to really make it the jewel of South Bay that we deserve,” he said.

St e v e Pa d i l l a , C h u l a Vi s t a Councilman-elect, said the bond was necessary. “(Southwestern) has come a long way in that it rebuilt the trust with the community,” he said. “It’s delivered on some of its more recent bond proceeds and capital projects, and you can see it with what’s under construction at the aquatic facility. It’s

Alcantar wins board seat #3

going to be beautiful I think.”

Padilla said SWC has been central in his life.

“I grew up across the street from Southwestern College,” he said. “I grew up there at a time when there was no 805, there was no Eastlake, there was no East H Street. It was just Southwestern College and some houses please see Prop. Z pg. A2

Proposition 55 passes, SWC in line for $12m

By Alejandro Muñoz Anguiano Staff Writer

California voters chose to keep funding education and healthcare by passing Proposition 55, which extends a 2012 income tax on high income earners until 2030.

Single-filers earning more $263,000 and joint-filers earning more than $526,000 will continue to pay tax rates increased by 1-3 percent by Proposition 30. Tax rate increases only apply to the portion of income earned within that tax bracket.

Total state revenues from the tax are estimated to be $4-9 billion annually from 2019-2030.

About 89 percent of funds will go into California’s K-12 schools and the other 11 percent will go to community colleges.

Schools are not permitted to use the money for administrative costs.

SWC could receive $12.6 million in Proposition 30 funds for the 2016-17 academic year, according to estimates by Tim Flood, Vice President of Business and

Sergio Esparza/Staff

please see Prop. 55 pg. A3

TRUMP THE HATE—Southwestern College students join a march in downtown San Diego to demonstrate against the election of Donald Trump. Protests continued through the week and more are scheduled.

Defacement of Sun issues continues

By Josh Navarro and Sergio Esparza Staff Writers

SAN DIEGO – Protests erupted in downtown San Diego the day after Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, leading to 18 arrests by police in riot gear. There were no reports of violence by any of the hundreds of protestors or police. SWC ASO leaders said they are planning a campus rally on Nov. 17 at 4:30 p.m.

Protesters chanted “Power to the people,” “Not my president,” and “Fuck Donald Trump” as they gathered around Horton Plaza and made their way toward Fifth Ave. San Diego Police officers trailed and attempted to disperse the protesters at 11th Ave. and C St., where the first altercations between protesters and officers occurred.

Southwestern College students, faculty and administrators have expressed shock and anxiety over the election of Trump. Trustee Humberto Peraza said at Golden Hall on election night that this was an awful presidential election year full of mean-spirited, hateful rhetoric, threats of violence and pandering to base instincts.

“I’m shocked and horrified,” he said.

“I’m a little scared for the future of my please see Protests pg. A2

Follow and like us at: TheSWCSun

By Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar News Editor

being in that seat before me, but you know I see Humberto as a mentor, as someone who’s helped me come in there and do a really good job at the campus.”

Peraza endorsed Alcantar early in the race, calling him “a younger version” of himself. He said Alcantar had the talent to make a good board member.

“I think he’s going to do a great job,” said Peraza. “He comes in with so

Copies of The Southwestern College Sun newspaper and El Sol Magazine have been defaced with racist messages and calls to vote for Donald Trump.

Chula Vista Police and the SWCPD investigated, but neither agency or the college plan to press charges. Interim President Robert Deegan condemned the action and said the college would monitor the situation.

An issue of The Sun was defaced in October when a man wrote “Fuck Blacks” across the front page photograph of an African-American man demonstrating in El Cajon following the controversial shooting of an unarmed African immigrant. In June several issues of The Sun were vandalized when someone wrote “Trump 2016” across the face of ASO President Mona Dibas, a Muslim woman photographed in a hijab headscarf.

In July nearly $3,000 worth of copies of El Sol Magazine with Dibas on the cover were vandalized or stolen from a Sun/ El Sol distribution rack at 7/11 and other

please see Alcantar pg. A3

please see Defaced pg. A3

Thomas Contant/Staff

THE WINNER IS DAD — SWC Trustee-elect Roberto Alcantar with his daughter Claire on election night awaiting results at Savoie Eatery in Chula Vista. Alcantar takes office in December.

By Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar News Editor

Roberto Alcantar was elected to Southwestern College governing board seat #3 with 37 percent of the vote.

After Humberto Peraza announced last November that he would not seek re-election, a five-candidate race to replace him began. Alcantar had an 11 percent lead over the second place candidate William McLeroy,

CAMPUS A12

an Army veteran and retired firefighter, who received 26 percent of the vote.

Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka was in third with 20 percent. Attorney LeiChala Wilson received 10 percent and returning student Lander Iriarte pulled in just under 6 percent.

Alcantar said he was looking forward to his term.

“I’m beyond thrilled and excited to be the next governing board member,” he said. “I know I definitely have some big shoes to fill with Humberto Peraza

ARTS A17 SWC celebrates Filipino and Mexican Heritage Month.

VIEWPOINTS A6 SWC music star B.J. Robinson hosts KPBS series “Spectrum.”

SPORTS A14 An open letter to presidentelect from our Editorial Board.

Jaguars head to American Division Championship Bowl after a brilliant 9-1 season.

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Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar, editor

NEWS

Nov. 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: news@theswcsun.com

Equity Week urges fairness for adjuncts

By Alejandro Muñoz Anguiano Staff Writer

Turnout was low at this semester’s Equity Week, a series of daily discussions and lectures advocating social equity.

Equity Week’s final event was empty while students gathered for the nearby Disability Awareness Celebration in front of the Student Center.

Thomas Contant/Staff

BIG VOICE, SMALL TURNOUT — Geoffrey Johnson speaks about progess made in support of adjuncts, but he insists part-time staff are still grossly underpaid and marginalized.

Organizers said they were not surprised.

Equity Week organizer Geoffrey Johnson, an English adjunct instructor, urged the remaining students to vote “yes” on Proposition 55 as staff signaled for him to wrap up his speech.

Johnson said he wanted this year’s Equity Week to cover equity issues, including income inequality, mental health and homelessness.

Trustee Humberto Peraza voiced his strong support. Adjunct instructors deserve to be called professors, he said, the same as full-time tenured faculty, because of the amount of work they do.

“They work the same amount as a professor or more, and yet they do not get paid a living wage,” he said. “Before last year (adjunct) professors weren’t getting paid for the office hours that they did just like every other professor on this campus.”

Peraza praised SWC adjuncts for the hard work they do and said many put in hours they are not paid for.

“They were doing (office hours) for free,” he said. “Why? Because they care about the students on this campus and want to make sure that you get a good education.”

Peraza said it is wrong to consider adjuncts as expendable.

“They are taken advantage of for their cheap labor,” he said. “It’s time that we actually stood up for them and (ask) our (state) legislators to help us out.”

Peraza said California’s legislators need to take seriously the issues faced by adjuncts.

“At our college alone we have 700 part-timers,” he said. “We only have 200

full-timers. We are supposed to be one of the most progressive states in the nation.

We are the ones that actually fight for workers, we fight for living wages and you see that all the time out of our legislators.

These people work from night to day, traveling from one college to the next just to be able to make a living. Our state needs to recognize that these workers are not just employees of one college, but employees of the state of California, and therefore deserve a living wage. How can our legislators stand up and ridicule corporations and businesses for not paying a living wage when they don’t even pay their own employees a living wage?

It’s time for us to ask our leaders these questions and demand that the people that educate our future get paid a living wage.”

ASO President Mona Dibas said minority students also face inequalities.

“As the first Muslim ASO President, (I’m) always under that form of attack of ‘She probably doesn’t know what she’s doing, she comes from a third world country, she has no idea what’s going on in life,’” she said. “People (speak) to me in slower English because they don’t think I understand.”

Dibas said students should not have to worry about discrimination so that they can focus on their education.

Governing Board President Nora Vargas said Latinas still face discrimination.

“English is not my first language,” she said. “So I am very sensitive to when people say things like ‘I don’t really understand what you’re saying,’ or ‘Oh my God, you’re so articulate’ when I have

a graduate degree.”

Part-time instructor Carol Stuardo discussed the nation’s recent social and political climate.

“What’s been revealed as of late is that we do not live an equitable society where everyone is treated equally and it needs to change,” she said.

Stuardo described one of her early fights for equity.

“I was four years old and they were trying to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and watching women on TV who wanted equal treatment,” she said. “I decided to get a group of girls together and walk down the street with our shirts off. Boys didn’t have to wear shirts, so why should we?”

CSEA President Andre Harris said black professionals often face double standards.

“I have to be fair to everybody,” he said. “If I’m not fair and (if ) I voice my displeasure, I’m the angry black man in the room.”

Harris said college employees must to work together regardless of their job or constituency group.

“My predecessor refused to talk to a board member or even speak to SCEA, but we are all in the same group,” he said. “I think we have a long way to go with our hourlies and our adjuncts, but it’s a process we have to follow. It’s not going to change any time soon, but if we have these discussions maybe things will start to turn.”

Student email addresses move SWC closer to new portal

By Victoria Gonzalez Staff Writer

Southwestern College students now have the opportunity to join university and college students across the United States who have campus emails. Though SWC is about a decade late to the game, many administrators and students indicated they are excited about the new @swccd.edu email addresses.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Kathy Tyner said some students change their e-mail addresses frequently, making it difficult for faculty and the college to communicate with them. New college addresses will be consistent and professional, she said.

“It just really simplifies our ability to communicate,” she said.

Student emails are the last step in the process of creating a new student portal, a customizable online dashboard that will provide access to relevant information and tools.

It will be rolled out Spring 2017.

Daniel Borges, chief information systems officer, said the college email addresses allow the elimination of personal email addresses from college files.

Step one occurred last semester, when SWC connected with Google to establish the base for the student emails. To activate their email addresses, students were asked to set up a MySWC Login account.

Everett Garnick, systems and programming supervisor, said to gain

Protests: Anti-Trump protests fill San Diego, Chula Vista streets Continued from pg. A1

kids and me. There are a lot of concerns over where our democracy

BENEFITS COME WITH A STUDENT EMAIL

access to their accounts, students are required to set up a new password to go along with the .edu email.

Tyner said about 90 students went online to activate their new .edu emails in the first hour the system was up and running. About 5,156 students have not activated their student emails, said Suzanne Woods, admissions and records supervisor.

Tyner said a WebAdvisor Debrief Team (WADT) was formed two years ago to improve SWC’s wobbly WebAdvisor, but it soon took on the creation of the new student portal. It includes representatives from faculty, the Associated Student Organization, admissions, academic affairs, student services and institutional technology.

“Everybody has input,” Woods said.

After logging in to the portal, Garnick said, students will be able to access their @swccd.edu Gmail, WebAdvisor and a host of other information and services all in one place.

“Everything involved with WebAdvisor will be on there,” he said. “There will be a place for people to create their own links to other services that they have on the web that are personal to them, that are not necessarily part of the college’s supplied services.”

Borges said students and faculty will be able to use tools like Google Docs and Google Sheets through the portal to work collaboratively and submit assignments.

Garnick said there are student workers who test out the new features to find

glitches and make the portal user friendly.

Borges said the creation of college emails for students was not undertaken sooner because of the enormity of the task.

“The reason that some colleges don’t do it is because of the complexities and difficulty in doing this,” he said. “You figure what we set up were 30,000 accounts.”

Borges said emails were also sent out to 550,000 former students, instructing them to change their WebAdvisor passwords so they would have continued access to their transcripts.

Woods said current SWC students will be able to keep their @swccd. edu emails even after graduating, as long as Google continues the service.

is. I’m disappointed, to say the least.”

California Assembly Member Dr. Shirley Weber said it is important for millennials to get their voice heard by voting in larger numbers.

“This is their future,” she said. “I’m at an age where Trump’s administration may have some direct impact on my life, but it will set the tone for millennials for generations to come. Millennials

need to think very carefully about their role in voting. My generation fought to get to vote. My parents fought to get to vote. We treasure the vote. I want millennials to feel the same way and understand just how significant voting is for their generation.”

ASO President Mona Dibas said she and other SWC Muslim students are afraid of what Trump’s administration

will bring forward. “(The day after the election) was a really hard day for myself and for several of my friends,” she said. “I couldn’t sit in a class and pretend that everything was going to be normal. I couldn’t look at people and continue to smile, knowing that our president is a bigot.”

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Delgado wins a new term unopposed

By Josh Navarro Assistant News Editor

Numbers rose and fell as candidates across the nation lost or won their elections.

For trustee Griselda Delgado, the odds were not terrifying. She ran unopposed.

Delgado i s t h e principal of Hilltop Mi d d l e S c h o o l who ran in 2014 on a platform of “s t u d e n t s first.” She has spoken out about campus Delgado safety and sexual assault at SWC. Retiring trustee Humberto Peraza said he expects Delgado to continue to be a great governing board member.

“I think she is going to keep doing what she is doing,” he said. “She’s going to keep being consistent from where she has been.”

Student Trustee Freda Hernandez said Delgado’s experience in secondary education helps to make her an excellent trustee.

“Her heart is in the right place,” she said. “She’s a middle school principal, so she obviously has a lot of experience in education. I think that is imperative for a board member to have. I look forward to all board members, including Griselda, to actively listen to student concerns and to really put students first when they make decisions.”

Delgado said retaining her governing board seat brought a surge of bittersweet emotions as she kept her eyes glued to the nail-biting presidential election.

“I’ve been trying to help other people that are running,” she said. “They’re doing really well, Roberto (Alcantar) is doing really well. I’m doing good, but with other results (Clinton-Trump), I’m not so sure.”

Delgado said Alcantar, the winner of a five-way race for Seat #3, would be a welcome addition to the board.

“I have no concern and I do not think he is new to serving a board or any type of political committee or organization,” she said. “We will get to know him as an educator. I don’t know how much he knows about community college, but I’m sure he can come with a lot of the experience that he had from his previous job. I think he’s going to be a good asset. We were looking for someone who compliments the rest of our board, I think he’s going to be good.

I also understood he’s really good friends with Humberto, so I’m sure Humberto’s going to center him so he can step right in and catch him up with what we’re doing.”

Delgado said the passage of the $400 million Proposition Z construction bond is enormously important.

“We are moving our district forward and looking into what we should do now that we are extending (the campus) and we continue with our city’s master plan,” she said. “I really hope to see it completed at least in the next four years that I’m here. I’m going to make that happen because I think our students and our community deserve an updated state-of-the-art community college, so I’m very excited about that.”

Prop Z: General obligation bond approved by voters Continued from pg. A1

Sergio Esparza/Staff

SPEAKING OUT AGAINST HATE — Hundreds of protesters, including dozens of SWC students, filled downtown San Diego streets to express concerns about the president-elect Donald Trump.

across the street. I’m very familiar with Southwestern. I went to Southwestern myself and I think that (bond) is a good thing for the district.”

Other Proposition Z projects will include a new student union complex and multi-level structures at the Higher Education Centers in San Ysidro and Otay Mesa.

A performing arts and cultural center is currently in design phase and will be the first project in place under the new bond, according to SWC officials.

NEWS

The Southwestern College Sun

Nov. 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

Alcantar: Alcantar to follow Peraza on governing board Continued from pg. A1

much experience already. It’s something that we looked at early on and we’re really proud of what he’s accomplished with his campaign and look forward to what he’s going to do for our community and for the college. I’m expecting really big things from him. I think the only advice I would give him is to stand up for what you believe and be courageous. That’s the main thing.”

Alcantar said this election was meaningful to him.

“For me it’s about ser ving my community and being able to give back to an institution of higher education

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that did so much for my family,” he said. “That’s really what helped change my life and my family, continuing to have that kind of opportunity for us as a family to really move forward. So I’m really excited about being able to give back through public service and really start advocating for our students and our faculty.”

One of his top priorities will be accreditation, he said.

“We need to protect our college,” he said. “(Accreditation) is something I’ll be taking very seriously and I’m ready to hit the ground running.”

SWC was issued 15 sanctions by the Accreditation Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) last fall and must submit a follow-up report in March after being placed on warning. Alcantar will also be presiding over the selection of a new superintendent/president. His four-year term begins in December.

BIG SHOES TO FILL—Newly-elected Trustee Roberto Alcantar attends retiring trustee Humberto Peraza’s farewell party. Alcantar will be sworn into the governing board in December.

Sergio Esparza/Staff

Defaced: Hundreds of copies stolen, defaced with Trump messages Continued from pg. A1

businesses across Otay Lakes Road from the college. Sun staff photographer William Bird said he was walking into the 7/11 across from the college early one morning when he saw a group of construction workers.

“One of them had our newspaper in his hand so I thought, Oh that’s nice, he’s probably going to read it at lunch or something,” Bird said. “When I walked out, I glanced over at the newsstand and on the top I saw someone had defaced one of our (newspapers) and it said ‘fuck blacks.’

So I turned back around and I see the guy who had the newspaper. He doesn’t have the newspaper in his hand anymore, but he had a black marker.”

Bird said he grabbed his camera phone and took a picture of the copy on the newsstand just as the man had left it. Then he approached the man who was with five or six other workers. “I grabbed (the newspaper) and took it over to them,” he said. “I said ‘Hey did you do this?’ He said ‘yeah’ in a very sure-of-himself way.”

Bird said the man agreed to be photographed holding the defaced newspaper and told him why he had written the message.“He said, ‘Blacks need to take responsibility for their actions,’” said Bird. “He gave me back the paper and just continued on a lot of ‘vote Trump’ (rhetoric) and when he started saying ‘vote Trump’ I definitely believed he was playing around.

I thought he was joking because it was so farfetched.”

SWCPD Chief Michael Cash said there was no crime, but Deegan sent a campus-

wide email condemning the vandalism.

“This action was bold and disturbing and one that we condemn,” wrote Deegan.

“This behavior has no place here and reminds us that we all must continue to remain vigilant against any form of hate speech.”

Deegan also visited the Campus Newspaper Production class to assure students that he supported student publications and would direct campus police to be vigilant against attacks on publications and minority students. Dibas said when she first heard of the incident over the summer it did not affect her because she had been dealing with anti-Muslim sentiment her entire life and she did not anticipate a Trump presidency. Instead, she said she wanted to focus on educating people who shared that sentiment.

“As someone who has grown up with things like this, it doesn’t bother me anymore,” she said. “At that time Trump wasn’t the president-(elect). It was like a joke. I was like, congratulations, you scribbled on my face. That doesn’t affect me anyway. You did it on a piece of paper.

You were too much of a coward to come say something to my face, (but) you have to ruin a newspaper that had other important issues on it.”

Dibas said Trump’s election raises new fears for her and her loved ones that she can no longer ignore. She said some of her Muslim friends avoid student leadership positions “out of fear” that Trump’s election, following two years of a campaign marked by racist and demeaning rhetoric, will encourage racists in the U.S. to act out. “(He) is now the ruler of our country,” she said. “Everything that he believes in (becomes) okay (to his supporters). Because if our president can do it, why can’t they?

Why can’t they grab somebody by the pussy, degrade women, call Latinos rapists, call Muslims terrorists?”

Dibas said education is the path away from hateful behavior.

Sergio Esparza/Staff Cristofer Garica/Staff

TRUMP’S AMERICA — The Sun and El Sol Magazine have been targets of vandalism by supporters of Donald Trump. (above) ASO President Mona Dibas’ face was covered by a Trump message. (right) A Trump supporter holds up a copy of The Sun he defaced.

“People who are ignorant, it’s very hard to change them and influence them,” she said.

“I will never stop trying. I will always try to educate people but when it’s such a root core for people to be ignorant and arrogant at the same time, it becomes harder to educate them. But it’s not impossible.”

Bird’s photograph of the man who vandalized The Sun helped law enforcement determine where and for whom he worked.

Deegan told journalism students the man was not a college employee or an employee of any of the construction subcontractors currently working on the Chula Vista campus. Deegan said if he had discovered that the man worked on campus, he would

William Bird/Staff

have had him dismissed.

Cash said the defacing was regrettable, but that no crime was committed.

“It was later determined that no crime had occurred and the issue was more a First Amendment right to freedom of speech and expression,” said Cash. “The original copy is in police custody. The newspaper will remain with College Police to utilize if any other similar incidents occur to use as a comparison of any similar incidents.”

Copies of El Sol were pulled from distribution points during much of the summer to prevent further thefts and vandalism. Dozens of copies had the cover

ITT Tech shutdown causes student frenzy

By Tayler Costello Staff Writer

A shutdown of 136 ITT Technical Institute campuses across the country has left about 40,000 students out of school and almost 8,000 employees out of jobs.

Southwestern College may get some ITT refugees.

More than 100 students went to the SWC National City Higher Education Center for a workshop with counselors for financial aid and course evaluations.

ITT had a National City campus.

Shannon Stuard was a student at ITT Tech studying electrical engineering.

“I received an email at four in the morning from ITT stating it was shutting its doors,” he said. “I did not go to the school that day and received texts from classmates saying that the doors are shut. None of the emails mentioned what to do next with our credits or loans.”

I T T s h u t d ow n a n d f i l e d f o r bankruptcy following years of investigating by the U.S. Department of Education. DOE had recently banned ITT Tech from receiving federal student aid funds.

St u d e n t s t h a t d ro p p e d o u t o r graduated from ITT Tech within 120 days of closure have the option to

file for closed school loan forgiveness and will receive 100 percent back if eligible. The students will have to contact their loan servicer or complete a Closed School Loan Discharge Application.

Many students like Stuard had just a few courses remaining to complete their degrees, he said.

He also said he is exploring legal options.

Some students may have the option to apply to have some credits transferred over to a public college, according to SWC Public Information Officer, Lillian Leopold, although transferring credits from a for profit school can be difficult.

One option is to take a challenge Cristofer Garcia/Staff exam at SWC for $46 per unit. If the student passes, the credit will be put on their SWC transcript. A student WELCOME TO SWC—Vice President of Student Affairs Angelica Suarez speaks to a who fails has the option to retake the former ITT Tech student at a workshop at SWC’s Higher Education Center at National City.

About 40,000 students were out of school as a result of the ITT Tech shutdown. test, but no refund.

Some former ITT Tech students may also be eligible to have student loans forgiven. Students on G.I Bills spoke at a workshop to help former Counselor Ed Cosio said students will not receive the money back, but ITT students. “Southwestern does need to carefully weigh options. will be able to transfer remaining provide similar programs you were “We are not here selling you guys to money to another school. Students following at ITT and hopefully you come to Southwestern,” he said. “Our with Cal Grants will be able to use the will transfer and start working within goal is to have our students graduate remainder of their funding, but will our programs,” she said. “We will not and if you are not a match for us, not receive refunds from ITT Tech. be able to give you course-for-course we will help set you up in a different SWC Counselor Adriana Garibay equivalency.” path.”

with Dibas’ photo torn off. El Sol has been successfully circulated on and off campus this fall.

In October El Sol was named America’s best-two-year college magazine by the College Media Association at its annual convention in Atlanta. El Sol also won an international Best of Show Award at the Associated Collegiate Press National Media Convention in Washington D.C. and a General Excellence award from the Journalism Association of Community Colleges at its conference in Cerritos. El Sol also earned an award for the cover photo of Dibas holding an American flag.

Prop 55: Prop 30 extension means $12m boost for SWC Continued from pg. A1

Financial Affairs.

“The one thing we know is that we’re not going to lose that $12 million in funds,” he said. “The biggest fear was that once Prop. 30 expired the state would take those funds away and then we would be struggling.”

Trustee Humberto Peraza said he was proud of voters for approving the extension. “(Prop. 30) helped (SWC) so much,” he said. “Now renewing it is going to continue to emphasize education.”

When Prop. 30 passed in 2012, SWC had just gone through budget and class cuts due to the Great Recession. Prop. 30 helped the college recover from the cuts.

Chula Vista City Councilman-elect Steve Padilla said was happy that voters studied up on the ballot measures passed Prop. 55.

“It’s a little bit of a relief for me,” he said. “There’s always a chance you lose voters because they get confused (by a long ballot).”

Roberto Alcantar, newly elected to succeed Peraza, agreed that Prop. 55 is important.

“We need (Prop. 55),” he said. “It’s essential. We can’t go back to the cuts we’ve had in the past. We need to make sure that we keep our schools funded.”

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Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar, editor

NEWS

Nov. 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: news@theswcsun.com

Protesters rally against rhetoric of President-elect Donald Trump

Natalie Mosqueda/Staff

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Thomas Contant/Staff

“This is a great opportunity to tell whomever is in the White House the direction we think the country should go. The voice of the people is what the president should follow.”

—Assistant professor Gary Bulkin

By Cristofer Garcia-Saldivar News Editor

bout 300 students, faculty and community members railed against racism, misogyny and homophobia in a march on the Southwestern College campus in protest of president-elect Donald Trump and his supporters. Protesters gathered on the steps of Mayan Hall, then marched twice around the college’s perimeter road. It was a peaceful event, despite the presence of 12 Trump supporters.

Rally organizer Abigail Flores and ASO President Mona Dibas were at the front of the march calling on the crowd to cheer and chant for peace, respect and freedom. Dibas thanked those gathered and declared that SWC was made up primarily of students and staff who are diverse, progressive and peaceful.

ACLU Organizer Gerrlyn Gacao distributed rights awareness pamphlets as she addressed the crowd.

“I want to let you know that we support you,” she said. “We validate your right to be here on campus expressing what you believe in because that is your right and you are protected in that.”

Protesters followed the main road that wraps around campus, sometimes chanting “Out of the classrooms, into the streets,” as they passed open classrooms.

Dr. Guadalupe Corona, director of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, marched with the students.

“I joined to support our Southwestern community to have a peaceful demonstration about how they feel about the election,” she said. “I am personally concerned about the future of many students’ safety. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there has been a spike in hate crimes. Part of my role and my commitment as being the director of diversity and inclusion is to work towards making sure that all our students feel safe and welcomed on our campus. I felt I needed to be here to show the students that they’re not alone.

As a campus community we want to send the message out that this is a safe environment for all of our community and if at any point anyone feels targeted or attacked to let us know right away. This is not the campus that’s going to tolerate that.”

Governing board member-elect Roberto Alcantar also marched.

“I want to show my solidarity with the

students that are frustrated with our political system that are right now scared because of the rhetoric that has been brought forth by our president-elect,” he said. “I want to make sure that students know that they have a governing board member in me that’s going to stand with them and make sure that they feel comfortable and safe on this campus.”

Alcantar said he would work for policies that affect change at SWC. “This is just the beginning of starting to think of new policies and new ways to bring protections to students on campus,” he said.

“That is something that we will actively be doing, along with the rest of the governing board members who are very concerned about the safety of students and making sure they feel welcomed and that they don’t worry about whatever is happening with the presidentelect.”

Public Information Officer Lillian Leopold said students had organized the event and Brett Robertson, director of student activities, signed a permit presented to him hours before the protests.

“We’re just happy that students are exercising their First Amendment, right to free speech, free assembly, and that everyone is being peaceful and even the students who are pro-Trump were treated with respect,” said Leopold.

SWC Police Officer David Felix said all SWCPD personnel were patrolling the rally backed by some Chula Vista PD officers and officers from other agencies. SWC officers Adam Cato and T.C. Carrington rode bicycles alongside the marchers. Cato said the protesters were well behaved.

Assistant professor Gary Bulkin marched as he carried a sign that called for unity against racism.

“I’m supporting the students and their right to assemble and have free speech,” he said. “It’s not so much what any individual says or does.

We’re interested in the policies of America. This is a great opportunity to tell whomever is in the White House the direction we think the country should go in. The voice of the people is what the president should follow. So if all the people are united and tell the president, whomever he or she may be, how the country should be run, that president will obey them because that’s who they serve. I think this is a rehearsal for the students to learn how to protest and articulate their voices, and maybe they’ll do it again next Thursday and the week after that. So far it’s been a pretty fun night.

I don’t think this is about being against the president. This is about trying to help the president form an agenda and a policy.”

The Southwestern College Sun

NEWS

Nov. 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

William Bird/Staff

William Bird/Staff

PUSHING BACK AGAINST HATE SPEECH—About 300 students, staff and community members rallied and marched on the Chula Vista campus against the rhetoric of President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters. (facing page, top) SAGA Club President Dan Cordero and ASO President Mona Dibas lead the march down Jaguar Walk through the heart of campus. (facing page, below) About 12 pro-Trump counter-demonstrators said the march was futile. (this page, top) Dibas leads the march around the perimeter road. (above) Governing Board Member-elect Roberto Alcantar and Professor of Philosophy Alejandro Orozco were among the college officials and faculty that participated in the march. (r) Ryan Stray helped organize the event. (below) A phalanx of demonstrators circles the perimeter road encouraging students going to or from class to join in. SWCPD sent most of its staff to the event, joined by police from other agencies, but the rally was peaceful and free of incident.

Natalie Mosqueda/Staff

Thomas Contant/Staff

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The Southwestern College Sun

November 17, 2016— Volume 60, Issue 3

VIEWPOINTS 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.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ALYSSA PAJARILLO

Mirella Lopez PRODUCTION MANAGER

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Domonique Scott, editor Carolina Rubio Ruiz, assistant Veronica Cruz, assistant VIEWPOINTS

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Chariti Niccole, editor ONLINE

Chariti Niccole, editor Darcy Aguayo, assistant PHOTOGRAPHY

Natalie Mosqueda, editor Thomas Contant, assistant SENIOR STAFF

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STAFF WRITERS

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Marty Loftin

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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: President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign disparaged Latinos, LGBT people and our borderlands home.

Our Position: We urge Mr. Trump to be open-minded, learn about our remarkable region and to treat us fairly.

A message to president-elect Donald Trump and a call for fair treatment

An Open Letter to President-Elect Donald Trump: Congratulations on your victory in this

week’s presidential election. Students here in the borderlands of San Diego County wish you wisdom and the best of luck as you prepare to lead our diverse nation. Our Southwestern College community would like nothing more than to see you succeed as a leader of your supporters as well as Americans who supported other candidates.

Our college is six miles from the international border with Mexico. There is already a wall, but our border crossing is the busiest on the planet. That is a healthy thing and a benefit to the economy of the United States as well as our third largest trading partner, Mexico.

We would love to have you visit so we could show you around our special international home. We would like for you to see that Mexico does send many of its best people and has since the 1840s. Many of us are Latinos and we love this country as much as anyone else who ended up here taking a different route. We fight and die for America. We live and work here. We have a talent for creating wealth, opportunity and jobs in imaginative new ways. We brought many elements of our rich and beautiful culture here that have been adopted by people who came from other lands.

We build community.

If you liked the Trump Tower taco bowl you would love the Mexican food at Lolita’s, Murrieta’s and El Rancho. You have got to try the Pacific Island-Mexican-American fusion food at MJ’s. Like your hometown of New York, we have international creations no one else has.

We are a diverse community of Anglos, Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, Chaldeans, African-Americans and Pacific Islanders. We are Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and scores of other belief systems, including atheists. And we all get along very well. We are good people.

You are our president now. We are worried about many of the things you said during the campaign. It concerns us that hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, Minuteman Project and American Nazi Party support you because they certainly do not support us. We hope you will repudiate racism, hatred and intolerance in a nation built by immigrants from the world over. We need assurance that people of color, Online Comments Policy

our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, and people who practice religions other than Christianity (or no religion) have a place in your vision of America.

You have said you are a man who believes in the Constitution and our Founding Fathers’ clarion call for Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. We share those values. We love life and liberty. We want to pursue happiness. We hope you will support our American pursuits of family, education, career, achievement, community, spirituality and peace.

Many of us are Latinos, African-Americans and Middle Eastern. We do not live in ghettos.

We do not live in crime-ridden black holes. We do not live in Hell. We live along the ocean, the bay, in foothills and along the riverbed together, all mixed up in a wondrous gumbo.

Shakespeare never met us, but he understood that despite our different outward appearances, we are all human. “Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer…If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?”

We are concerned that our next president seems cavalier about our disabled friends, environmental destruction, war and nuclear weapons. We would like to know if that was merely expedient political rhetoric or if that is how you really feel. We would like to know if you were serious about repealing elements of the First Amendment and cracking down on journalists, because we do not share those values.

We need assurances that your remarks about sexual assault were just some extreme form of locker room talk and not how you really feel about women and girls.

Come visit us. We would love to show you around. Come get to know us. We think you will like us once you do. That is all we can hope for right now after that rough campaign and what was said about so many of us. We need a bit of hope. We need to know that you will be our president, too.

We are Americans who believe in a peaceful transition of power and the rule of law. We are willing to give you a fair chance. We wish you wisdom, patience, vision and compassion as you lead our richly-diverse and wholly unique nation.

The Editorial Board of the Southwestern College Sun

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Donald Trump stirs much fear and loathing nationwide As results of the election became clear on Tuesday night, so did the terrifying reality of what a Trump presidency would mean for millions Americans. No segment of America has more to fear than the queer community.

Trump’s victory is so much more than who becomes president. His intolerance of marginalized groups also won, and so many of us lost.

Trump normalized hate and erased the sacred American value that all people are created equal. In the eyes of millions of Trump supporters, some of us are less-than-equal.

Many people in the queer communities are afraid of Trump and his uberhomophobic vice-president Mike Pence. I am too. We are afraid we will be hit with even more hate speech, an intolerant government and violence.

On election night the number of calls to LGBTQ help and suicide prevention lines skyrocketed. Trans Lifeline, in particular, received a record-breaking volume of calls, more than 300 on the night of the election.

Pain and fear felt by queer people in America is real.

Since Trump’s ascension to president-elect, I have directly seen how it has affected my queer friends, students on campus and myself.

The SWC Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Club (SAGA) held a support and healing meeting the day after the election. Members of the club said they were worried about safety, whom they could trust, and the well-being of their queer friends and family living in less-liberal states.

Their fear is valid and the danger is quantifiable.

FBI reports conclude that LGBTQ people are twice as likely as AfricanAmericans to be targets of violence. FBI researchers also concluded that the number of LGBT hate crimes is vastly underreported.

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NACVP) reported that murders of LGBTQ have been on the rise since 2007.

NACVP studies show that at least 25 percent of gay and lesbian people will experience a hate crime in their lifetime.

Great violence plagues the transgender community, with NACVP reporting that 72 percent of LGBTQ killings were transgender women.

Now that hate is normalized, these human rights organizations fear those numbers will rise.

I felt fear the night of the election. It was time for my best friend to go to class and he asked me to walk with him. I agreed, a bit confused, before the reality set in.

My best friend is an openly transgender man and it was dark on campus. Hate had been normalized and he was afraid.

I was too.

Alyssa may be reached at sexandthesun@theswcsun.com

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Alyssa Pajarillo, editor

VIEWPOINTS

Nov 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: viewpoints@theswcsun.com

Athletes have the right to speak out

By Chariti Niccole A perspective

“I ain’t got no quarrel with those Vietcong,” said Mohammed Ali in 1967 when he refused to be drafted into the armed forces. “No Vietcong ever called me a nigger. Lots of Americans have.”

Athletes are normal people with some superior abilities. In the U.S., athletes are often looked at as idols because of their abilities and are held up as role models. Some deserve to be, some do not.

Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers quarterback is a role model and a hero. His protest of the ongoing police brutality that minorities endure is noble and powerful.

“We have a lot of issues in this country that we need to deal with,” he said. “There are issues that need to be talked about and need to be brought to life. We need to fix those issues.”

Kaepernick has been accused of being antiAmerican and is being targeted by racial slurs.

Videos of angered Americans burning his jersey flooded social media, but those same people were not burning the jerseys of Ray Rice when he brutally knocked out his girlfriend in an elevator or Ben Roethlisberger when he was accused of rape.

Kaepernick is not the first African-American athlete to stand up for the rights of others.

Baseball legend Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier then became a leader of the Civil Rights Movement.

“I cannot stand and sing the anthem,” Robinson said. “I cannot salute the flag. I know that I am a black man in a white world.”

Kaepernick agreed.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he said.

Robinson endured terrible hatred and Kaepernick is feeling similar wrath. Both overcame hatred with courage.

Robinson and Kaepernick are role models for me, an African-American student athlete at Southwestern College. I have decided to join them in standing up by kneeling down. I encourage other SWC athletes to join us.

There may be blow back. During the Summer Olympics, African-American gold medal gymnast Gabby Douglas did not put her hand over her heart during the national anthem.

“I’m so overwhelmed at what our team accomplished today and overjoyed that we were able to bring home another gold for our county,” said Douglas who insisted that she was not

protesting.

Regardless of what she said, some people praised her for standing up on the two-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown, while others spewed hatred at the 19 year old for not being patriotic enough.

In 1968, Olympic sprint medalist Tommie Smith and John Carlos took a fusillade of hate when they raised their fist in conjunction with the Black Power Movement that was sweeping the U.S. Smith was on the podium for a gold medal, Carlos a bronze. Both were sent home blacklisted by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

“We are just human beings who see a need to bring attention to Stephanie Garrido/staff the inequality in our country,” said Smith in an HBO documentary on the Mexico City Olympics.

Kaepernick has been called un-patriotic because he refuses to follow an unwritten custom and place his right hand over his heart during the national anthem, or in other words practicing his First Amendment rights.

Kaepernick has influenced athletes across the nation to stand, or sit down, for what they believe in. Professional athletes are free to voice their opinion on important topics, and should. Student athletes too.

I think most rational people of all races see the same problems with the mistreatment of African-Americans that I do. Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”

Trump’s hateful rhetoric has opened Pandora’s Box

?

Thinking Out

Loud

How is President Trump going to affect your life?

“Trump is going to affect my life in every aspect. I’m Latino, gay and a resident. I feel very fragile. I don’t know what will happen to my community.”

Arturo Gongora, 22, Business

“I want him to do good. I didn’t want him to win, but I want him to prove everyone wrong. Here in California I don’t think he will have much of an impact.”

Daniel Maldonado, 20, Hospitality

“What if people can’t have an abortion or get help?

Who knows what is going to happen? He’s going to make this country more corrupt.”

Hailey Coty, 21, Psychology

“Since he was elected I’ve experienced racism on my commute from TJ. I feel like I’m being pushed at. I’ve had people brushing me off since I’m not white.”

Nick Munguia, 21, Graphic Design

Stephanie Garrido/staff

By Katy Stegall A perspective

Donald Trump has poisoned our national discourse, scapegoated Latinos and degenerated women.

No matter, Americans still made him president. Seems no one was listening.

In the final debate Trump reiterated his racist screed that migrants are rapists and drug dealers. He will likely continue to say whatever racially incendiary slur comes to mind in order to keep the redneck favor throughout his presidency.

Our nation has become divided by talk of Trump’s infamous wall, a tiresome drumbeat heard whenever he is in a right-wing rally. His racist rhetoric has plagued Southwestern College, too, as South Bay racists now feel empowered to show their hatred of Latinos, Muslims and African-Americans.

Copies of The SWC Sun and El Sol magazine have been defaced with racial slurs several times since the Republican Convention in June. Malicious words against African-Americans and Muslims were scribbled across the covers in bold black ink. Magazine covers featuring our talented Muslim ASO President were torn off. These hate crimes all

have Trump in common as the vandals wrote his name across the faces of Mona Dibas and an African-American man photographed at an El Cajon rally.

“Vote for Trump” the assailant said to a witness after he was photographed holding the newspaper with a Black Lives Matter cover that he had written on.

“Blacks need to take responsibility for their actions,” he said to the witness, as he tried to not take responsibility for his actions. He also said that were he not on company time, he would show why it is essential that society take over and reform the Republican Party, which he said is too liberal.

Copies of El Sol magazine have been vandalized with pro-Trump propaganda or stolen. Nearly $3,000 worth of our ambitious and expensive July publication of El Sol were stolen at the same time others were destroyed or vandalized.

Brian Levin, a professor of criminal justice at CSU San Bernardino, wrote that hate crimes against Muslims have increased 78 percent within the last year.

“Additional data also revealed a severe increase in hate crime homicides in 2015, a level not seen in well over a decade, as fatal armed attacks by lonewolf extremists become more deadly,”

he wrote. “What all these offenders share is a reliance on a ‘printed circuit of stereotypes’ that label certain groups as inferior, violent, morally deficient, or a threat.”

He also said that the frequency of anti-Muslim violence appears to have increased immediately following racist Trump comments. Racism from one old man is conquerable, but Trump’s racially-inflaming behavior has yoked together a right-wing army of wing nuts who scapegoat everyone outside of their Anglo-Evangelical communities and threatened a fascist revolution if Secretary Hillary Clinton had won the presidency.

This disease is spreading to children.

“The Trump Effect” is a phenomenon recently coined by The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance Project, an association which works to remove prejudice from schools. Ethnic tensions have increased. Bullying has become more frequent.

“It’s producing an alarming level of fear and anxiety among children of color,” said Maureen Costello of the Teaching Tolerance Project. “Many students worry about being deported.”

Children of color are living in fear

because of Donald Trump. This is a man who is going to preside over America for four years.

Transgender hate crimes have increased 40 percent within the last 12 months, which adds another faction of discrimination alongside ethnicity and religion. Trump said he supports HB2, a North Carolina House bill that discriminates against the LGBTQ community.

Conservatives, Trump supporters included, railed about transgenderfriendly bathrooms by saying they were afraid women would be assaulted. When the Trump tapes were released, the same posse ironically brushed off the actual sexual assault he boasted of. Sexual assault was downgraded to “locker-room talk” by the The Donald and his minions.

Trump supporters say that his sexism, racism and xenophobia are “just words.”

But words matter. They are the result of thought and the precursors of action.

Trump has given voice to the cowardly, the hateful and the racists. His team of deplorables will not fit in any basket.

Trump has crisscrossed America turning over every rock and log he could find.

May God help us all, because our president is not going to.

“I’m not so much afraid of Trump, but the culture he’s created. They don’t think my life matters.”

Dan Cordero, 22, LGBT Studies

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Low voter turnout cripples the power of a democracy

By Martin Loftin A perspective

V

ote Early. Vote Often.

If so few people vote, can America really call itself a democracy?

When turnout is low and voters become apathetic, control of the country falls into the hands of career politicians who favor donors over constituents.

Southwestern College also suffers from low voter turnout. In the spring ASO elections only 2 percent of students voted (362 of 20,000).

Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, 60.1 million to 59.8 million, but Donald Trump won the presidency thanks to the Electoral College (279 to 228 votes). Clinton received 6.8 million less votes than Obama in 2012 and Trump received 1.9 million less votes than Romney.

How backwards it must seem that the candidate that got the most votes lost since she did not win the right states. Clinton now knows how Al Gore feels.

Some think the United States is the world’s most democratic country, but among the 35 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. ranks 31st for voter turnout. Belgium tops the list with 87.2 percent voter turnout, thanks to laws that make registration automatic and voting compulsory.

In the U.S. there are a number of obstacles that lower voter turnout. Eligible voters have to register and sometimes are required to comply with onerous voter ID laws. In the not-toodistant past “literacy” tests prevented minorities from registering. A typical “literacy” question was “How many bubbles are in a bar of soap?”

In 1965 the Voting Rights Act forbade discriminatory practices and authorized federal oversight of regions that depressed voting.

Voter turnout is still being stifled in states like Ohio and Texas by the reduction of voting locations that cause long lines. Millions of Americans waited hours in the 2012 presidential election to cast their vote. Ohio shuttered its precincts at 8 p.m. while hundreds of thousands of willing voters (mostly African-Americans) waited. They never got to vote.

During the 2016 primaries one in three polling places in Rhode Island were closed and closures in Arizona meant people had to wait five hours to vote.

At least 868 polling stations were closed in Southern states that had previously been protected by the Voting Rights Act in the 2016 presidential election. This might have helped Trump eke by in states like North Carolina.

The U.S. is home to 324 million people, but 103 million are ineligible to vote due to age, citizenship or felony convictions. About

88 million eligible adults are not registered to vote. Almost 73 million potential voters did not vote in the primaries. More than 90 million voters avoided the presidential election.

Of the 60 million who voted in the primaries, Democrats and Republicans each got about 30 million votes.

Half of the primary voters chose other candidates.

Only 14 percent of eligible voters, or nine percent of the country, voted for Clinton or Trump.

Between the two most unpopular candidates in recent history, Trump managed to win this country’s largest unpopularity contest.

It seems likely that many people will feel disaffected and might not vote at all.

An article published in Perspectives on Politics titled “Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens,” concluded that 90 percent of income earners in the U.S. had a statistically insignificant impact on public policy. Powerful interest groups and economic elites who can afford to hire lobbyists and make donations to politicians are shaping American policy.

Established politicians, particularly conservatives, benefit the most from low voter turnout. A study titled “Regular Voters, Marginal Voters and the Electoral Effects of Turnout” by University of Chicago professor Anthony Fowler found that the majority of registered voters who end up skipping election day lean liberal and would have supported a Democratic candidate.

Ha d m o re p e o p l e vo t e d i n t h e 2 0 0 0 election, the Supreme Court would not have had the chance award Bush the presidency.

The 2014-midterm elections experienced a sharp decline in voter turnout that allowed Republicans to make sweeping gains in the Senate and as well as state and local races. If voters had turned out in numbers similar to the 2012 election, Republicans would not have taken over the country.

A study called “Estimating the Electoral Effects of Voter Turnout” by Thomas G. Hansford and Brad T. Gomez concluded that low voter turnout greatly favors incumbent

MARTIN LOFTIN/staff

politicians so that even established Democrats are disinclined to enable policies that would increase voter turnout.

Career politicians have been allowed to take advantage of low voter turnout and focus on pleasing their donors more than their actual constituents. They are working against the American people by gerrymandering districts that give established politicians an electoral advantage that makes it harder for outsiders to get elected.

It is possible to reverse this trend, but it requires a concerted effort to unify the many different voting blocks without being distracted by political smoke screens and propaganda.

There are many different routes to restoring power to the American public. One of the most promising groups is Wolf PAC. Its members are working to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision which ruled that a corporation has the same rights to free speech as an actual human and that monetary donations count as free speech. Wolf PAC is working to overturn that decision by passing an Amendment through a Constitutional Convention in order to circumvent the Congress and Senate that benefit from Citizens United.

California voters passed Proposition 59, an advisory measure that asks state lawmakers to help overturn Citizens United and get big money out of politics.

There are so many problems affecting the U.S., including perpetual warfare, the prison-

industrial complex, climate change and immigration reform, but the 113th Congress has been one of the least effective and many are up for reelection. Now that Republicans have taken the House and Senate until at least 2018, whatever progress was made in the last eight years is likely to grind backwards.

This country needs a clean slate and should vote out all the incumbents who have failed to do their jobs for years if not decades.

Democrats had bet it all on Clinton and ignored the populist movement against the political elite and it cost them.

Many career politicians take advantage of name recognition they do not deserve in order to stay in office. Republicans riding Trump’s coattails managed to keep control of the House and Senate, while also replacing Democratic representatives in Missouri, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin and North Carolina.

Just like taxes, voting should be mandatory.

Instead of closing down voting locations, more polling stations should be available.

Instead of voter registration being opt-in, more states should follow Oregon’s lead by making registration automatic at age 18 and requiring people to opt-out. America should have a voting holiday on Election Day that incentivizes people to participate in the political process.

Instead of only voting every four years, Americans must vote at every opportunity in order to make America a healthy democracy again.

Prop Z will fund theater, business labs, satellite campuses

By Victoria Gonzalez A perspective

T h e re i s c h a n g e i n t h e a i r a t Southwestern College, not to mention a whole lot of dust.

Proposition R, the $389 million bond measure passed in 2008, enabled the construction of athletic facilities on the main campus and an expansion of the National City Higher Education Center.

Proposition Z, a $400 million bond passed this week, will bring about another round of modernization.

Our long-cursed corner lot at East H Street and Otay Lakes Road is a shapeshifting proto-mountain of dirt that will eventually become two Olympicsized pools and a public gym complex.

A science and engineering building will give students modern STEM facilities. National City facilities will get new classrooms, laboratories, a small community clinic, a student center and administrative offices.

These Proposition R facilities are welcomed, but other disciplines were left in the dust.

Proposition Z will fund further modernization. One beneficiary is the enormous School of Business and Technology, which serves students in landscape and nursery technology, architecture, automotive, electronics, environmental technology, web design and others. Business administration is the second most popular major at SWC, right up there with nursing and psychology, according to SWC’s Annual Report.

Dr. Mink Stavenga, dean of the School of Business and Technology, said Proposition Z is essential. It will also change everything.

“We will serve students with better equipment and we could attract more

students,” he said. “We have very large technology programs in this school which have outdated facilities and equipment.”

M a n y buildings on campus are more t h a n 5 0

years o l d , s a i d Tr u s t e e Humber to Peraza, and too many of them are in a sad state.

“There’s lots of things that are stuck in the 1960s or 1970s as far as building space,” he said.

Peraza said Proposition Z will focus on rebuilding the center of

campus, where most classes are actually taught. It will benefit the School of Literature, Language and Humanities, which offers classes that in some cases are

essential to increase transfer rates, a goal Interim President Robert Deegan has highlighted.

It will also benefit the School of Arts, Communication and Social Sciences with a ne w performing arts center to replace crumbling Mayan Hall. Peraza said

the performing arts center will change the face of the college in a positive way.

“It will be placed near the edge of the street so it is more visible,” he said. “Otherwise, there’s no way for the community that is driving by to see anything that is going on here.”

Some opponents of Proposition Z were reluctant to support another b o n d , c o n s i d e r i n g t h e c o l l e g e’s relatively recent grim histor y of corruption.

Peraza said he understood.

“The last bond brought a lot of corruption,” he said. “I get it.”

Peraza said the days of pay-for-play are long dead and buried. Voters can trust the new board and administrators to do things right.

“A lot of the areas that need it are falling apart and need an update,” Peraza said.

Others have noted Proposition Z does not include renovation to the library, but Peraza said that building is relatively new.

Proposition Z lamentably still leaves out the bookstore and the School of Instructional Support and Continuing Education, both of which need renovation.

Much remains to be done, including renovation of the San Ysidro and Otay centers. At the main campus there will be a new Academic Success Center and a new Student Union.

Proposition Z got our well-deserved support. It will help generate revenue to be used in case funding gets cut, as it happened in the past, to preserve student services like library hours and tutors.

Southwestern College is a jewel in our region. It needs some polish. Thank you for voting Yes on Proposition Z.

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Alyssa Pajarillo, editor

VIEWPOINTS

Nov 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

Tel: (619) 482-6368 e-mail: viewpoints@theswcsun.com

Students ignore scholarships

By Alejandro Muñoz Anguiano A perspective

VIC R TO N SA AN DT DE f af st

R/

Legions of college students are walking away from free money.

Eight of 10 Southwestern College students are on financial aid, but most ignore scholarships.

SWC administrators recently extended the scholarship application deadline, giving students even more time to apply.

A report by the Federal Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance said 28 percent of students earning less than $10,000 put in more than 30 hours per week. Students who work long hours risk having their studies suffer.

The College Board found that less than 60 percent of aid-eligible community college students even complete the FAFSA, but students who care to look for scholarships will find opportunities abound, varying from small stipends to five figure sums. Even a $200 scholarship could put a dent in the cost of rent or groceries.

Not every scholarship requires a stellar GPA. The Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship does not even require students to submit a GPA. Financial difficulties can start a vicious cycle. Students who work too may hours may find their GPA dropping below the threshold for larger scholarships. SWC needs to put more effort into advertising scholarships and encouraging

struggling students to apply. Students need to make the effort to apply. It is not too difficult. SWC has done a very good job making scholarship applications painless.

These scholarships do exist, but students are not often aware of them.

And it is not always just about the money. Earning a scholarship may encourage struggling students to focus more on their studies.

SWC’s

AcademicWorks scholarship application system simplifies the process for students to apply for many campus scholarships with just one form, though some may require a few additional questions.

Qualifying students may apply for up to 11 scholarships with this form, though some do require additional questions.

Young community college students new to academia often do not have a network of teachers or employers to write letters of recommendation.

At SWC this problem is made worse by the predominance of part-time instructors. About 80 percent of SWC instructors are adjunct instructors who do not have office space or time to meet with students.

They can be difficult to contact outside of class, which makes it difficult for students to build a working relationship and earn that letter of recommendation.

Still, students should make the effort.

Big money is out there for the taking, such as the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which provides up to $40,000 annually for up to three years to students transferring to four-year institutions.

Winners are also eligible for a $50,000-a-year graduate scholarship once they have earned undergraduate degrees.

Only 2,061 transfer students in the U.S. applied for the 2015 JKCF scholarship.

Eligible students should take more interest. That is seriously life-changing financial support.

SWC students who miss the Fall 2016 round of scholarships should be prepared to apply in the Spring. Unless, of course, they are independently wealthy and do not need the money.

‘Rapist loophole’ finally closed

By Katy Stegall A perspective

Rapists have for years avoided prison sentences on a technicality, only to rape again. Their free ride is over.

A bill to mandate prison sentences for all convicted rapists was introduced by two California legislators after Brock Turner, the Stanford rapist, was sentenced to six months in jail, but only served three.

Assembly Bill 2888 was approved 66-0 by the Assembly and signed by Governor Jerry Brown.

National outrage fired a policy change to close the “rapist loophole” that predators like Turner have slipped through for years.

Prior to AB2888 a sexual assault was not considered rape unless penile penetration occurred.

Turner said he had inserted his fingers inside of the unconscious victim, according to the incident report, but nothing else.

Without judicial discretion, the power a judge has to act on their personal judgment, Turner might have received a prison sentence. Essentially, a trusty sidekick of judge like Aaron Persky could decide to go easy on criminals they favor.

America’s most despised judge is facing recall while his unjust decision still sickens people. Some in the legal community say that Turner’s six-month sentence is an act of misogyny by Persky.

“Judge Persky is biased in favor of privileged athletes convicted of violent crimes against women,” wrote Michele Dauber, a Stanford law professor.

Turner violated the victim as well as a handful of laws, such as Penal Code 261 and PC289.

Both charges against PC261 were dropped, as Turner’s fingers were not legally considered to be sexual intercourse.

By legal accounts, he is not a rapist.

Antiquated laws worked in favor of Turner. Until society’s outdated perceptions about rape move into the 21st century, rapists can use Turner as a twisted role model for how to get away with sexual assault.

Assemblyman Evan Low is one of the authors of AB2888.

Low said a clear statement needs to be made to say that sexual assault is unacceptable.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen agreed.

“This bill is about more than the sentence, it’s about supporting victims and changing the culture on our college campuses to help prevent future crimes,” Rosen said.

It is despicable that Turner’s joke of a jail sentence was the catalyst to policy change in California, but at least some good came out of the evil act.

Prior to AB2888 courts meted out a less severe punishment for unconscious victims than the conscious ones. Victims who do not use defensive force against their attackers decrease their chances of having the rapist charged to the highest degree.

Californians are not the only Americans enraged by the sentencing. Upon Turner’s release, protestors stood outside his parent’s home in Ohio with signs suggesting an “eye for an eye” type of punishment.

Sometimes the apple does not fall far from the tree. Dan Turner, father of the rapist, said his son’s life should not be altered forever over 20 minutes of action.

What his enabling father did not take into accord was what affect those 20 minutes had on the victim. She does not recall the event, but painfully remembers coming to in

Karen Agbuya/staff

the hospital with torn underwear and pine needle-riddled hair.

Our judicial system goes easy on people accused of sexual assault and is hard on his victims. This goes beyond lazy judges such as Persky. Defense attorneys often act as the wolf in a wool suit. Attorneys defending rapists too often smear the victim, and humiliate women on the witness stand.

Shouse Law, a West Coast criminal defense law group, actually tells potential clients how to get out of a sexual assault charge on its website. A short video explaining how to slip the charges is the first “helpful tip” for sexual criminals.

“Rape, like all other California sex crimes, is a charge that is often initiated out of jealousy, revenge, anger, or another emotionally-driven motives,” the website says.

Misogynistic undertones seep through the words. Shouse Law advertising boasts of the firm’s ability to reduce charges and prove the accuser is committing fraud.

Turner is not the only famous rapist of 2016. Bill Cosby, former comedian and sitcom star, has been accused by more than 50 women of sexual misconduct often after drugging them. Due to a statute of limitations, he is only being charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault.

President-elect Donald Trump has also been charged with sexual assault by a growing legion of women.

Democratic Senator Connie Leyva said she introduced SB 813, the Justice for Victims Act, so victims can always have the opportunity to seek justice in court after such a violent act.

Changing society’s rape culture goes beyond enforcing a new law that closes the loophole. In order for a society to embrace the idea that the victim is never at fault for rape, the blame-the-victim mindset needs to be destroyed.

Ambulance-chasing lawyers are not the only ones guilty of blaming the victim. Cops blame the victim when they ask, “What were you wearing?” Victims are also typically asked, “What did you do to provoke them?” as if it were their fault.

Until authorities make an effort to let rapists know they will pay for their crimes, rape culture will continue to

MARTIN LOFTIN/staff

Prop 59 is a message to take corporate greed out of political campaigns

By Martin Loftin A perspective

The United States Supreme Court effectively legalized bribery in 2010. In a 5-4 vote, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decided that the freedom of speech that applied to living Americans now also applied to non-living corporations. This prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures of corporations and unions.

Since Citizens United, politicians have become beholden to the desires of their donors and Congress has become a machine that trades political favors for huge donations. Elected officials need to represent the interests of the constituents and California Proposition 59 is a step in the right direction.

Prop 59 was passed with 52 percent of the vote and Donald Trump has won the presidency, this should signal to lawmakers that it is in their best interest to help get money out of politics.

Democrats put all their money on the corporatist candidate and paid with it in the House and Senate.

Trump initially ran his presidential bid as an outsider crusading against corruption in campaign finance laws who proved that he was different from the political elite from Washington D.C., but that message got muddled among all his other stances on policy.

When the Supreme Courts said, “independent expenditures, including those made by corporations, do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption,” they were purposefully enabling political corruption by making it extremely difficult to prove collusion between PACs, candidates and campaigns.

Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party, might have failed to get the required five percent of the popular vote that would have qualified her party to receive matched federal funding, but had filed a complaint to the Federal Election Committee over Clinton’s and Trump’s illegal coordination with their super-PACs. “Independent expenditures” are defined as money spent by a person to influence voters with no coordination with a candidate or campaign, but in December 2014 former Florida Governor Jeb Bush was able to work directly with his super PAC Right to Rise because he had not officially declared his candidacy.

Since money became equated to free speech, politicians have learned to only listen to the loudest voices.

Super PACs have already spent $64 million on the 2016 presidential race, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, and the total could top $100 million.

California voters have the opportunity to lead the fight against money in politics with

Proposition 59. It would direct California’s elected officials to use all of their constitutional authority – including amending the Constitution – to: •Reverse the effects of Citizens United and related court decisions.

•Allow the regulation and limitation of political campaign spending.

•Ensure individuals are able to express political views.

•Make clear that corporations should not have the same constitutional rights as people.

Prop 59 is an advisory measure, but it declares the people’s will to get dark money out of politics.

California has company. Many states have similar initiatives.

Corporations might enjoy the right of free speech (without being able to speak), but they are not treated like people in the eyes of the law. When a person breaks a law, they are punished according to the crime, but when corporations break the law the punishment is rarely worse than a simple fine.

No human is too big to jail, but corporations are.

Corporate interests chose Clinton and sabotaged Bernie Sanders, who was polled to defeat Trump by 15 points, during the primaries and forced a weak Democratic candidate through.

Corporate interests (re: greed) have stalled the development of the United States. Moneyed special interests damage the country and sand down its competitive edge in return for obscene profits.

Corporations and the 1 percent super-rich of America and other nations have successfully lobbied Congress to lower their taxes and shift the burden onto the rest of the population – including the poor and working class.

America would have an extra $166.7 billion annually to spend on free college, green technology and rebuilding crumbling infrastructure if corporations paid taxes at the same rate they did during the Reagan Administration.

Corporations have made $13.1 trillion in the last seven years, but have only paid $3 trillion in taxes, according to figures by the Commerce Department.

That $10.1 trillion does not trickle down like The Rich would like us to believe. Vast tax savings are hoarded by corporations in foreign bank accounts and invested in buying the next election.

One of the only categories where the United States is still solidly “Number One” is in mass shootings, despite huge public support for more gun control.

Thanks to the National Rifle Association super PAC, which spent $2.5 million lobbying in 2016, it is unlikely that any gun control legislation will ever see the floor of the Congress, especially now that the Republicans have taken the House and Senate.

Money talks, even if corporations do not.

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The Southwestern College Sun

November 17, 2016 — Volume 60, Issue 3

CAMPUS

Prop Z will fund new veterans center

Voice of deaf doctor thunders in the silence

By Thomas Solis Staff Writer

William Bird/Staff

AN EMOTIONAL VETERANS DAY — (above) Logistics and Transportation major Dustin Brungardt, a Marine Corps veteran, lays a wreath for departed veterans. (below) Former college trustee Nick Aguilar (l) leads the 82 Airborne Division Association, San Diego All-Airborne Chapter, in the presentation of colors.

By Veronica Cruz Assistant Campus Editor

A ne w veterans center moved from the wish list to the to do list thanks to the passage of Proposition Z. Interim President Robert Deegan told the gathering a t t h e S W C Ve t e r a n s Day Ceremony that a “comprehensive resource c e n t e r” i s n ow p o s s i b l e thanks to taxpayer support o f t h e b o n d . Ve t e r a n s currently have a small center in a converted classroom.

“Our student veterans personify dedication, country and community,” Deegan announced to the crowd.

“Our veteran population is one of our fastest growing p o p u l a t i o n s . Ve t e r a n s d e s e r ve o u r a s s i s t a n c e .”

Ma r i n e C o r p s ve t e r a n Jonathan D. White is the coordinator of the Veteran’s Resource Center. He said he

is happy a larger facility is in the college’s future.

Veterans deserve it, he said.

“I can tell that after having served in combat in Iraq, it really hits home the importance of the sacrifice of what we do as veterans of the United States of America,” White said.

“You’re not just signing a piece of paper, what you are signing is your dedication to give your life, if need be, to the service of this great nation and democracy a r o u n d t h e w o r l d .”

Vo n n i e A r e l l a n o , a ceremony coordinator, said the event is a longstanding college tradition.

“We do this every year as a celebration on all those who have served,” she said.

“We have a large group of veteran students, so we like to remember all that they and others have done.”

Maria Joaquin/Staff

For Black Alliance support is a matter of degrees

By Elizabeth Farin Staff Writer

Sergio Esparza/Staff

“AME” (READY TO RECEIVE) — Assistant Professor Abdimalik Buul speaks at a Black Lives Matter event. Buul is co-chair to the SWC Black Alliance, a club that promotes academic success for underserved students.

“Ago,” said Abdimalik Buul, welcoming students to the Black Student Orientation in Ghanaian.

“Ame,” the students responded, meaning they were ready to listen.

Buul, assistant professor of Personal Development, serves as a TELA counselor. He co-chairs the Black Alliance with Myesha Jackson, administrative secretary of Instructional Support Services.

Buul said the Black Alliance was established to “bridge the gap for our African-American students” through mentorship, a strong support system and safer atmosphere for Black students at SWC. Jackson said the Black Alliance was part of a mosaic of ethnic groups on campus which coordinate together.

“We are focused on being a section of the body,” she said. “We have a Latino arm, we have an Asian arm, we have a Black leg and we have a White leg. That’s the whole body of Southwestern College.”

Jackson said SWC needs to improve its Black student retention rate.

“We want to ensure that the Black students who enroll in SWC stay in SWC to complete their degree or to transfer,” she said.

Leah Richie, president of the TELA Scholars, said the Black Alliance

provides essential support for AfricanAmerican students.

“TELA is a platform for students to open up,” she said. “It is a place for them to be who they are with no boundaries and the Black Alliance supports that.”

Richie said it is important for students to connect with their campus.

“You only succeed when you want to succeed,” she said. “The Black Alliance has encouraged us to want.”

Dr. Michael Odu, dean of the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering, said the Black Alliance offers encouragement to transferring students.

“When you say black lives matter, guess where it starts?” he said. “With you having a goal. Our responsibility is to challenge and empower you and take you to the finish line.”

Khalil Adisa, 19, said he attended the orientation to get involved in SWC’s African-American community.

“What you saw here, is very well put together,” he said. “I used to go to school in San Ysidro and Point Loma.

There are not that many AfricanAmericans over there. Going to a place where you see other people and you are able to connect with them, to know that you guys have each other’s back, have a similar experience, it’s really good.”

Every Monday, Dr. William Clary wakes up at 4 a.m. and descends from the snowy mountains of his Big Bear home and drives down to San Diego to teach American Sign Language.

He teaches Monday through Thursday at Mesa College and works part time at Grossmont College and Southwestern College on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Clary stays in a motel in San Diego during the week and then takes the fivehour journey back to Big Bear to his cabin Clary where he enjoys the serene scenery with his wife and walks his dog through the tranquil woods.

He does all these things in silence.

Clary is deaf.

Born in North Hollywood in 1959, Clary went through school like anybody else. He had always struggled with math, but challenged himself to excel in other subjects.

“I took many difficult classes,” he said through an ASL interpreter. “Our group of students at the Berkley Institute for the Deaf were seen as the gifted students, so we were given difficult courses.”

Clary played varsity football and baseball in high school and junior college. He graduated and was the first deaf man to earn a Ph.D. from USC. Clary said his parents always had high expectations for him.

“I was always a model child,” he said. “When my parents would talk to my friends’ parents they would say ‘Look at Bill, your child can be like Bill.’ That would bother me because everyone is different, no one can be exactly like me.”

Clary said he wants to become involved in politics so he can hopefully change the way deaf education is taught in the United States. One of the problems in U.S. deaf education he said, is the fixation in trying to “fix” deaf people.

“Why do we need cochlear implants?” he said.

“Because they want us to hear? Once you take out the implant you are still deaf. I see many deaf students take out their implants because they do not want to hear anymore. The U.S. thinks that if they fix a deaf person they may have a better quality of life and education, but that is not always guaranteed. I have never had an implant and I have a Ph.D. Did anyone try to fix me?”

Clary said the American education system should adopt the way deaf education is taught in Sweden, where it is more of a collaborative effort for parents and students. The U.S. educational system is more of a “dumping ground,” he said, where parents leave all the responsibility of education to the teachers.

“In Sweden, parents go to work, but they are also responsible for the education of students,” he said. “Sometimes in the U.S. educators that can hear make decisions for what is best for deaf people. You need to have a deaf educators perspective when making decisions like that.”

Clary said he wants to get rid of the stigma whereby deafness is seen as a disability. He said deafness is a communication barrier, not a disability.

“The U.S. thinks that if they fix a deaf person they may have a better quality of life...

I have a Ph.D. Did anyone try to fix me?”

- Dr. William Clary “There is nothing physically wrong with deaf people,” he said. “They just cannot hear.”

Clary said he enjoys teaching sign language despite having to balance between three different colleges. He said his favorite part of teaching is seeing former students achieve success outside of school.

“Maybe it has been 20 or 30 years and I run across former students,” he said. “I have had so many students. I usually have difficulty remembering them, but it usually comes back to me. I always hope that I have made a difference in their education. Many teachers do not give the time of day to students, but I always strive to try to give opportunities to students and fulfill their needs.”

Clary said he enjoys seeing students go forward to become interpreters and interpret for him. please see Deaf pg. A12

CAMPUS

The Southwestern College Sun

November 17, 2016 — Volume 60, Issue 3

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Day of the Dead is a campus celebration of life

Photos by Thomas Contant/Staff

CULTURAL FRAMEWORK— (above, l-r) Spanish Professor Sarah Heras, Samantha González and Georgina Galaviz dress as catrinas to celebrate el Dia de los Muertos at the San Ysidro campus. (r) Staff and students honor the 21 victims of the 1984 McDonald’s massacre.

By Elena Hernandez Staff Writer

It was a true dead man’s party.

Dia de los Muertos at the San Ysidro campus is when those who have gone on are the guests of honor.

Southwestern College’s southern most satellite campus gathered on October 31 for Halloween Karaoke and the next day invited their deceased loved ones back to Earth for a Day of the Dead celebration.

Halloween karaoke was overseen by ASO Senator Roy Castillo. It featured costume and karaoke contests.

“This event is to get people going and in a fun spirit,” he said.

While Halloween is scary, spooky and gauche, Dia de los Muertos was simultaneously spiritual, sad and joyous.

Students played games near altars and representations of loved ones who have gone to the afterlife.

A blend of ancient Aztec religion and Catholicism, Dia de los Muertos welcomes the spirits of ancestors who travel through dark and dangerous mictlan that have returned to the Earth.

Altars prepared with thoughtfulness and love feed the spirits, who, if pleased, look after their families and friends in the coming year.

Spanish instructor Sarah Heras said this was an opportunity to honor the victims of the 1984 McDonald’s massacre. SWC’s San Ysidro campus is on the site of the mass murder where 21 were killed and 22 more injured, some seriously.

“Such a tragedy happened here,” she said. “I started to think that we could honor the victims without showing the blood and the shooting.”

Gilbert Herrera, one of Hera’s students, constructed an altar on the second level of the campus dedicated

to the mass shooting, 21 spaces to represent each of the 21 victims.

“Today is when all the people that have passed come to the Earth and spend the night or day with us,” Heras said. “It’s a way to show that we still care about them and think about them.”

Heras said many students have ancestors from Mexico who have passed they can honor.

“We let them cross today and we spend some time together,” she said.

Brittney Castaneda, a criminal justice major, said the day was filled with the Mexican game Loteria and students enjoyed Mexican treats and making paper flowers.

“Today is really about celebrating death and our loved ones,” she said.

“The tradition itself is nice. I think in the United States we celebrate Halloween, but Dia de los Muetros is about family.”

Activist Aaron Harvey says too many Black men are incarcerated

By Veronica Cruz Assistant Campus Editor

Aaron Har vey was a 26-year-old working as a real estate agent on the day California authorities accused him of murdering nine people.

His life was forever changed.

After sitting for 30 days in jail, Harvey learned he was facing charges for “conspiracy to commit nine shootings.”

California Penal Code 182.5 classifies those believed to be associated with “gang-related activity” as gang members.

Gang-related activity includes spending time in areas known for gang activity and “suggestive” Facebook posts.

Harvey, a black man with a college education and no previous criminal record, could have been sentenced to 56 years in prison. The judge threw out the case.

O t h e r s a r e n o t s o l u c k y. S WC communications professor Dr. Rachel Hastings said statistics show Black men are the most likely to be incarcerated.

“One in three African-American men will see the inside of a prison in the United States in their lifetime,” she said.

“That is an epidemic number that is not being talked about.”

UMOJA is a California organization that focuses on expanding African and African-American curriculum.

Hastings is SWC’s UMOJA advisor.

Abdimalik Buul, a professor of personal development and co-chair for the SWC Black Alliance, said education brings to light important societal issues. Open discussion amongst peers creates a new platform of “porch talks,” he said. “ It ’s i m p o r t a n t a n d c r u c i a l t o understand the societal impacts and how that affects us directly,” he said. “We have to understand how to move what’s happening into a systematic dialogue and discussion to have impact and change. I believe one of the institutions that can do that is our educational system.”

These issues often lead to the stereotyping and marginalizing that Maria Joaquin/Staff affects the Black community. SWC student Darien Petty is one of those A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME — Civil rights activist Aaron Harvey said African-American men are stereotyped as gang affected. members from birth. He said ignorance allows the stereotype to thrive and that students of color must educate themselves to While standing on a public street, Perry understand and protect their civil rights. said men driving past shouted at him he

would “never be anything”.

“We can’t just sweep stuff under the rug,” he said.

Petty, 28, a theatre major whose goal is to transfer to UCLA, advocates for black community issues.

“Take the initiative to do something different,” he said. “We do matter.”

Harvey is now a civil rights activist working with a state auditor to scrutinize the “gang member” list.

“There are about 150,000 people on this list,” Harvey said. “There were 42 one-year-old babies on this list.”

Harvey’s goal is to educate against black stereotypes.

“I embrace my community,” he said.

“I am not going to let them shame me and shame my culture. That’s all it is, it’s just culture.”

Harvey is working with California State Assembly Member Dr. Shirley Weber on Assembly Bill 2298, which would give written notice to any person added onto the gang list. Harvey said this would also allow individuals to petition to be removed from it.

Harvey told students education was their salvation.

“Get your education and bring that information back to the community and educate those that might not have had the the opportunity.”

- Aaron Harvey “I believe every college student should be a mole,” he said. “Get your education and bring that information back to the community and educate those that might not have had the opportunity to receive the enlightenment students receive.

It’s your duty to organize on campus and to bring that connection back to the community. There is a disconnect between individuals who are not on these campuses and those who are.”

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Domonique Scott, editor

CAMPUS

November 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: campus@theswcsun.com

Mexicans and Filipinos team up

By Carolina Rubio Assistant Campus Editor

A pabitin and a piñata hung out together one day.

And it was good.

A pabitin is used during celebrations in the Philippines. Similar to a piñata, it is made of colorful tissue paper and holds cellophane bags tied with vibrant ribbons. Southwestern College brought both cultures together to celebrate a pagkakaisa (unity), using both pabitins and piñatas to commemorate Filipino and Mexican heritage.

Monique Garcia, vice-president of the SWC Pagkakaisa Club, said misrepresentation of her beloved culture is real and Latinos can help.

“Although we are very different we have a lot of similarities with the Mexican culture,” she said. “The most important thing that we want to get out of this whole event is tolerance and inclusion.”

SWC does not have a FilipinoAmerican history course due to low enrollment, said Pagkakaisa Club President Kimberly Ruelos. Cultural representation is too low for a college with a 10 percent Filipino student body, she said.

“Our parents are advocating for our history,” she said. “Why aren’t we in the (history) books? Why aren’t we being acknowledged?”

SWC has also cut Mexican-American studies, said Jair Garcia Carillo, president of the SWC MECHA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán).

“The school leaves a lot to be desired as far as resources,” he said. “Not just books, but teachers, individuals that are here representing our culture.”

SWC’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) organized the weeklong celebration.

Garcia Carrillo said celebrating both cultures would inspire unity.

“We want to promote and celebrate culture,” he said. “We need to celebrate why these two cultures are similar.”

The ASO and the History Club screened “The Delano Manongs,” a film about the nonviolent strike of Mexican and Filipino farm workers in 1965.

ASO President Mona Dibas said the event promoted social awareness.

“Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere,’” said Dibas. “You don’t have to be Filipino to advocate for the Filipino culture.

You don’t have to be from that culture, religion or race to advocate for social change. An event like this might inspire (social change).”

Dibas said Filipinos need to be better represented in American history.

“I hope we can start something as a younger generation,” she said. “As our future generation, that can be our leaders, our doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, senators, presidents. We will not let you guys down. We will continue your legacy.”

Maribel Salcido/Staff

DALE, DALE, DALE (HIT IT!)— (above) Hitting a piñ ata is a traditon celebrated in many Mexican families.

Filipinos have a similar tradition called pabitin. (r) Tinikling is a traditional dance from the Philippines. It involves two people beating, tapping and sliding bamboo poles on the ground with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles.

Paralympic gold medalist stands up for the disabled

By Elizabeth Farin Staff Writer

Natalie Mosqueda/Staff

GOOD AS GOLD— Former U.S. Marine and five-time Paralympic Games gold medalist Oz Sanchez told guests at the Disability Awareness Celebration to believe in themselves and push against the impossible.

Doctors told Oz Sanchez he would never walk again after a terrible motorcycle accident.

After a decade of depression and a suicide attempt, Sanchez can walk.

He can also fly.

Sanchez, a former U.S. Marine and fivetime Paralympic Games gold medalist told a Disability Awareness Celebration audience to choose perseverance over adversity.

“I was my own worst enemy,” he said. “My early adult life all the way up until my accident was one of insecurity and low self-esteem.”

After being discharged Sanchez suffered the motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed.

Doctors told him he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Sanchez paused and moved a few feet where he grabbed a stick and stood up from his wheelchair.

“As it turns out, I can walk,” he revealed.

Physical therapy and determination took his mind out of a “dark place,” he said, and led to his Olympic triumphs.

Sanchez won a gold and bronze medal as a hand cyclist at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. He won two more Paralympic medals in Rio de Janerio. He went on to get a degree in business management with a minor in communications at SDSU. “That was a huge, huge accomplishment because it was something I truly believed I couldn’t do,” he said about earning his degree. “As long as you believe you can’t do something, that will be so. We are the sum total of the thoughts in our head.”

ABLE Club secretary Guadalupe Arreaga told the gathering that disabled students are

often unaware of the resources available to them to help find jobs.

“A lot of our students that do have disabilities, they want to get a job but they don’t know how to go about it,” she said. “We advocate for students with disabilities. A lot of students don’t know their rights as a student with a disability.”

Arreaga said inspiring guest speakers help students realize what they can accomplish.

ABLE Club Co-President, Karina Mendoza, said the college needs to continue advocating for students with disabilities.

She said one day she noticed a student in a wheelchair who needed help opening a restroom door. Three people had walked passed the student before Mendoza arrived to help.

“I feel like most people that can walk and do things don’t really pay attention to that,” she said. “That made me think that there’s other students here that might need help and they don’t get it because a lot of people don’t think about it.”

Mendoza appealed to college administration to update the college bathrooms by installing automatic doors, automatic hand dryers and adjusting the placement of soap dispensers.

She said she is currently working on carving curb cuts around campus after students with wheelchairs addressed the issue to her.

As a student with a learning disability, Mendoza said her goal is to show students with disabilities that they can achieve whatever they choose to do.

“It’s better to move forward than to hold yourself back,” she said. “You are going to have obstacles to go over, but if you can accomplish those, you can get so far.”

Deaf: Professor drives from Big Bear to teach American sign language Continued from page A10

One of his former students, Brenda Jimenez, interpreted the interview.

Jimenez said that she was not originally interested in becoming an interpreter until she took Clary’s deaf culture class.

“Getting to know deaf students is what I enjoy the most,” she said.

“Sometimes you meet deaf people when they are students and the next time you see them they might be getting married or go to the workforce. It is just a great community.”

Clary said he has never let deafness hinder him. Although the journey from Big Bear to San Diego may seem like a hassle, Clary said his love for teaching and desire to help students makes the trek worth it.

“I always hope that I have made a difference in their education. I always strive to try to give opportunities to students and fulfill their needs.”

- Dr. William Clary

November 17, 2016 — Volume 60, Issue 3

CAMPUS

The Southwestern College Sun

Anna Pryor/Staff

WHERE DREAMS COME TO DIE — Alicia Cervantes pays respects to unidentified migrants buried in the paupers graveyard in Holtville.

Holtville: Unidentified migrants buried by the hundreds in secretive graveyard in the Imperial Valley Continued from pg. A20

“We really need to find who’s buried here,” he said.

“This is like an underground morgue full of bodies that no one has claimed. If we could match even one person that would be the world to that one family because they will know my husband didn’t leave me, he didn’t remarry. Mi padre was lost looking for work because he loved us very much.”

America makes extraordinary efforts to identify soldiers, accident victims and murder victims, Morones said, and rightly so. Virtually no effort has been made, however, to identify the souls out back behind the Terrace Park Cemetery “Even in death they are marginalized,” he said.

“You don’t see grass or headstones or their names.

You don’t see anyone trying to find out who they are and I’ve brought government officials here from different countries to see if they could do some DNA studies and they say, ‘well they might not be from our country,’ and I say yes, but they are all human beings.”

Morones called the border wall built after the implementation of Operation Gatekeeper in 1994 “an unmitigated disaster.”

“It is the Berlin Wall of the Americas,” he said.

“It does not really keep people out, it actually keeps people in. Before Gatekeeper there was a seasonal free ranging of migrants who came to the United States to work in agriculture during the summer and fall.

Afterwards, they would return home to Mexico to be with their families.”

Operation Gatekeeper has militarized the border, Morones said, and made it tougher for people to leave the United States and return for the next year’s harvest.

“Rather than risk their lives in the deserts, mountains, rivers and oceans every year, the migrants did not leave,” he said. “Operation Gatekeeper had a lot of unintended consequences, one of which is that it actually made a situation that was not a problem into a problem. More than 11,000 human beings have died crossing the border since Operation Gatekeeper – those are just the ones we can count.”

John Hernandez, a longtime resident of the Imperial Valley, agreed. He said the immigration situation started to go very bad in 1994, but was exacerbated by September 11, 2001. Race is also a factor, he said.

“We have two borders and more people have actually illegally crossed the northern one,” he said, “but this is the area the government has militarized.

Since September 11, the satellites, sensors, cameras and drones have changed everything. Before that, there were a lot of people that could come back and forth with minimal problems.”

Militarization of the border has been a boon to one set of entrepreneurs, the much-despised coyotes, human traffickers who charge exorbitant fees to migrants to smuggle them into the United States. Morones said American policy fuels coyotes because of its strict restrictions on legal work visas for Mexicans and Central Americans who are not considered economic or political refugees.

“There are 250 million undocumented people in the world,” he said. “The U.S. only has 11 million, so most aren’t coming here. Of that 11 million easily 35 percent did get a visa, they have work. But for today’s migrants there’s no legal way to come. So when they say they should get in line, I say they would love to,

but there is no line. They don’t qualify for a visa and people don’t realize that.”

Morones recounted the tragic story of migrant Lucrecia Dominguez, who wanted to cross to reunite with her family. Her attempts to get a visa were rebuffed, so she spent her life savings to hire a coyote.

“She wanted to cross to be with her family,” he said.

“She contacted a smuggler. The smuggler said I’m crossing a group tomorrow, but don’t bring those two little kids with you, Jesus, her 15-year-old son, and Nora, a 7-year-old girl. If you bring them they are going to slow us down and the Border Patrol might catch us.

“But her whole purpose was family reunification, so of course she brought them. And as they’re crossing, the smuggler got mad and he abandoned them. So Lucrecia is by herself with her two children in the middle of the Arizona desert wilderness. Lucrecia Dominguez literally died in the arms of Jesus, her 15-year-old son Jesus. This is happening every day because of the border wall.”

Hugo Castro is a human rights activist who works with Deported Mothers in Action, Veterans without Borders and Border Angels. He helped start the Dreamer Moms shelter in Tijuana in 2014 and helps at the Deported Mothers in Action shelter. He said many mothers are deported because they encounter emotional and physical abuse from their highlystressed husbands. Once they separated, it is difficult for them to acquire a visa. Most of the deported mothers, he said, do not even know they have the right to apply for a visa.

Deported Mothers in Action has started to

implement job training modeled after Vietnamese refugees who became successful entrepreneurs.

“We are going to start a special course for women that want to study how to make acrylic nails so they can have a job,” he said. “Two months ago 20 women graduated from a special course for hairstyling. They received not only a diploma from the government, but they received kits to cut hair, the machines and scissors. It costs around $3,000 in equipment we provide free of charge to each of the graduates so now they can have an income. The average price is 50 pesos which is like $3 to cut hair.”

Castro said the women also cut hair in the shelter for free. They mainly cut the hair of migrants and the homeless every Friday.

Castro said the women and other migrants are the complete opposite of the lazy, welfare-seeking rapists described by president-elect Donald Trump and his supporters. Morones agreed.

“These are some of Mexico’s best people, not the worst,” she said. “These are hard-working, industrious people who want to support their families.”

Trump and his supporters have it all wrong about immigration, Morones said, and they are scapegoating innocent and honorable people.

“It’s just the wrong message. In the 1980’s President Reagan said in Berlin, ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.’ In the 1990s the United States built its own wall and that wall has led to the deaths of 11,000.”

He sighed and waved his hand out across the dusty graveyard broiling on a 110 degree afternoon in late May. “We are too good a nation for this.”

REMEMBERING THE DEAD, FIGHTING FOR THE LIVING — Enrique Morones leads the way into a paupers cemetery that holds more than 450 unmarked graves of unidentified migrants.

Anna Pryor/Staff

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November 17, 2016 — Volume 60, Issue 3

SPORTS

The Southwestern College Sun

Thomas Contant/Staff

HIGHLIGHT REEL FOR REAL — Jaguars wide receiver Marquis Williams makes a spectacular catch against Mt. San Jacinto College. SWC won 38-14.

9-1 Jaguars roar to berth in American Championship Bowl

P

By Michael McDonald Staff Writer

erfection is hard.

After their hopes for a perfect season ran dry on a trip to College of the Desert, the Jaguars football team responded with a resounding “Yes!” beating Mesa College and finishing the regular season 9-1.

Now they have a chance to win the American Division Championship Bowl.

Head coach Ed Carberry said he was not sure they would get the chance.

“It didn’t look like we were going to be playing in this game,” he said. “We’ve got another shot at our destiny here.”

Carberry said beating Mesa carried extra meaning.

“Everybody wants to beat their neighbor,” he said.

Thomas Contant/Staff “We’re the kings of the county.”

SIX POINT LANDING — Quarterback Michael Glass III scores a touchdown against Pasadena City College.

The Week 9 loss to College of the Desert could have SWC won 58-29. been devastating to the Jags who, at 8-0, were off to their best start under Carberry, in his 10th season. It looked as though the Jags would walk through their league and there.” easily win the title. Instead the loss put them at 3-1 and Receiver Josh Pearman said improvement is nona three-way tie in league play. Carberry said there was a negotiable. grieving process for the team.

“Our coaches really expect the best out of us,” he said.

“It demoralized everyone,” he said. “You might be 40 “They don’t let us be content or settle for what we’ve got. years old, banging on your steering wheel when you think Just keep improving and improving.” about it. You take a day. Come Monday it’s back to work.”

Now it comes to this, The American Division Dean of Athletics Jim Spillers agreed.

Championship. Jaguars will face the 10-0 Los Angeles “It‘s how you come away from a loss that makes Valley Monarchs, an offensive powerhouse. Spillers said all the difference,” he said. “I think for us it was a the matchup between the top two teams in the American refocusing. Now they’re hungry. They’re ready to play Southern division will be a battle. for a championship.”

“They will be an incredibly formidable foe,” he said.

Resilience and focus have been a theme for the team “It should be a whale of a game.” all season.

Spillers said bowl games can bring a sense of pride In Week 6 SWC lost Ryan Stokes, the leading for the entire campus and the 2016 team has done the touchdown receiver, to a torn ACL. In the same game, school proud. defensive lineman Jaquille Bradford broke his foot, “To go 9-1 and be in a championship game is really ending his season. special. It’s special for the program, but it’s also special Both injuries would have brought down a lesser team, for the college and the student body,” he said. “It’s Jaguar Carberry said, but players stepped in and took over. pride.”

Ta’jon Mondy and Davin Reynolds on offense and History may be on SWC’s side when it takes on Andrew Raffe and Alexis Quinones on defense have all the Monarchs. The Jaguars have made it to the bowl excelled and kept the Jags rolling. games three out of the last four years, winning two Carberry said the team has a next-man-up mentality. championships.

“We’re a find-a-way-to-win team,” he said. “A lot of All will be settled on the field. The American Division weird things happen, but it’s our responsibility to win, Championship Bowl takes place 6 p.m. Saturday at LA our responsibility to overcome every obstacle that’s Valley College.

“We’re a find-away-to-win team.

A lot of weird things happen, but it’s our responsibility to win...”

-Ed Carberry Head Coach

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SPORTS

Nov. 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

Chariti Niccole, editor

Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: sports@theswcsun.com

Assistant coach pitches new strategies Jaguar defense are seven wonders

By Brelio Lozano Assistant News Editor

By Michael McDonald Staff Writer

Football coach Ed Carberry may have a second career as a floral arranger. His arrangements are hard to beat, especially if they play defense.

“You never get a dozen roses,” he said. “The coach has to take that group of flowers and make a beautiful bouquet out of it.”

A rose by any other name probably does not open the season 9-1.

Returning a core group of players can be difficult with the revolving door of community college athletics.

Transferring athletes and injuries leave coaches mixing and matching.

That is why expectations are so high for the Jaguars defensive front seven, made up of four defensive linemen and three linebackers. SWC has six returning sophomore players in its magnificent seven. Carberry said he expects his defense to lead the way.

“They better (dominate),” he said.

“It’s their time.”

Two key players missing from last year’s 4-6 team are returning to lead this year’s loaded defense. After suffering a knee injury in 2015, sophomore Rasheed Farha said he is ready to pick up where he left off.

“That was the hardest thing, just trying to get back to where I was,” he said.

Joining Farha this season is sophomore defensive tackle Messai Small, who is returning after redshirting last season. He said it was tough to sit out 2015, but he wanted to make sure he was healthy for this season.

“It was depressing (last year),” he said. “Knowing that (I) could contribute and not being able to.”

Defensive end Shaq Bradford said he is glad to have Small and Farha return.

“There’s challenges you go through each and every day on the field,” he said. “It’s just good to have them back.”

Defensive coordinator Dionicio Monarrez said the front seven has a championship mentality.

“All great teams have a swag where they just believe you can’t beat them,” he said. “I think this team has that.”

Sophomores Bradford, Small, Farha and Hayden Herrington fire up the defensive line. Small said the battle is won in the trenches so the defensive line has to put the defense on its broad shoulders “It really is on us,” he said. “We have to set the tone. If we don’t do our job, no one else on the defense can do theirs.”

Pressuring the quarterback with four down linemen opens things up for the rest of the defense, creating opportunities for turnovers.

Linebackers Matt Secrest, Kevin Gaines and Moli Faalogo will add pressure with blitzes and provide support in coverage against the passing game. Faalogo, a freshman middle linebacker, said defensive play calling can give the linebackers more cushion in pass coverage.

So far the front seven has excelled at forcing opposing offenses to go three and out, and pressuring quarterbacks into bad decisions. The Jaguars defense has held opponents to 22 percent on third down conversions and have 28 turnovers. Carberry said the success of the defense has been giving the Jaguars offense better field position and more minutes on the field.

“The defense has been giving our offense time to find itself,” he said.

Much of the defense’s success can be attributed to its conditioning.

SWC players are determined to out work their opponents, whether sprinting up the stands of Devore Stadium after practice or spending hours in the weight room.

Carberry said strength is key in a system based on overpowering opponents.

“It’s the only way to compete,” he said. “In order to compete at (the university) level they have to get bigger and stronger.”

After a 14-win season and a trip to the playoffs, soccer coach Cem Tont politely accepted congratulations from well-meaning friends, but he was already simmering for 2016.

He could see the stars lining up.

With 10 returning players from the playoff team and a more physical new playing style introduced by a new assistant coach, Tont and Co. are gunning for gold.

Tont hired Chula Vista youth soccer wizard Javier Castorena as his assistant.

Castorena is new to college soccer but not to winning strategies.

Castorena’s previous club, Chula Vista Futbol Club, has participated in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the oldest national soccer competition in the United States.

“Its not as different from what I’ve coached before,” Castorena said. “The only difference is how we build up the play. Tont likes his players to hit balls to the forwards, allowing the midfielders to drop in the middle and pressure the position, while I used to have my buildup play start from the midfielders and finding the through balls to the wingers.”

Tont, in his sixth year coaching the men’s soccer team, said he has high expectations.

“We are the top college program in Natalie Mosqueda/Staff San Diego, and one of the best programs in Southern California,” he said. STRIKING TWELVE — Erick Gonzalez and the soccer team won in a romp over Imperial Valley, 12-1.

“The expectation is to win.”

Tont, who played for the Turkish Youth National team, has dealt with said. “He’s played at an elite level, so Forward Javier Osuna, 20, said Returning defender Edgar Garcia pressure before. to be able to see how he handles this Castorena has a made a meaningful said the team still needs to gel.

“Coaching over the years has taught team is great.” difference in the team.

“We know that we are capable, it’s me not to panic,” he said. “Last year Tont and Castorena have been fusing “He’s helped us a lot,” Osuna said. just that we need to get it out of each we started off brilliantly, but we faded their style of play into the team. Cas- “ He’s a more physical type of a guy other,” he said. “We just need to keep at the end. This year we’ve had a slow torena has had a significant input on to and very involved. The drills he make practicing and work hard.” start.” how the team lines up, the formation, us do are all very different and good.”

Tont agreed.

Castorena spoke highly of Tont. the substitutes and game management.

Tont said he has 10 strong returners “We have a great group of players “I’m able to dig his brain about the “Coach Tont is fairly open in terms from 2015 with good chemistry, but with indifferent mentalities of how to coach of what formations we play, personnel “This is the most returning players consistencies, and that’s what we are and the different struggles that come changes and tactics,” Castorena said. I’ve had in my years of coaching,” he working to improve right now.” with coaching at the college level,” he “Our roles are pretty 50-50.” said.

Volleyball team nets a pair of victories

By Armando Sanchez Staff Writer

chemistry are also issues, said the second-year coach.

“We have a couple of girls Volleyball legend Jennifer coming out of high school which Saleaumua-Taeatafa was hired to creates some chaos at practices,” rebuild the college’s struggling she said. program.

Injuries to key players have Struggles continue, but so does forced Taeatafa to vary her progress. lineup.

SWC picked up its second and “We have a very small team,” third victories of a she said. “With two long, injured-plagued players out we had season by twice to move everybody defeating Cuyamaca around and make College. adjustments to better “It felt good to our team.” finally win again,” Eubanks has been said Taeatafa. “To injury prone following be able to say that a pre-season quad we beat a conference mishap. team twice in what “Over summer we has been a tough were doing sprints, season. I’ll take it.”

Saleaumua-Taeatafa all of a sudden my A matchup against quads were on fire,” G r o s s m o n t , C a l i f o r n i a ’ s she said. “It was my left one #1-ranked team, started well and that continued to hurt throughout had the Lady Jags prowling the summer and still irritates me court thinking upset. It was not now.” to be.

During a match against Imperial “We came out strong, but we Valley College Eubanks injured couldn’t hold our energy,” said her right arm. After the game the assistant coach Anthony Luongo. trainers diagnosed her with bicep Taeatafa said there was a lesson tendonitis. for members of the team.

“I’ve been going to the trainers “All sorts of emotions were every day, icing, stretching and going through them as they were lifting weights to strengthen it,” playing,” she said. “I wanted them she said. to just fight and play their hearts With Eubanks out, the team out. After seeing who the best only has one solid middle blocker. was (Grossmont), they could set “Raven Alano was put in and that standard on their work ethic she’s not a middle blocker, so at practice and how to get better key blocks weren’t there and it’s individually.” just really hard,” said Eubanks.

Youth and inexperience have “I think it’s important that I get hampered the Lady Jags, but healthy and not get injured any injuries have been the biggest more.” spike to the heart. Before the Taeatafa said the team needs Grossmont match-up Taeatafa was to focus. forced to sideline two key players, “The girls now have a better freshman middle blocker Hannah purpose for why they are here William Bird/Staff Eubanks and sophomore outside and why they like to play,” she NET RESULTS — Tionna Jackson and Claudia Gagliano block Los Angeles hitter Jill Alegre. said.

Mission’s Claudia Moreno.

LA Mission won the match 3-0.

“Two days prior to our game “Their mental attitude towards against Grossmont, the trainers each other, towards the team told me that Hannah and Jill were and towards our opponent is not cleared to play,” she said. going to be the difference to our Youthfulness and spotty team improvement.”

SPORTS

The Southwestern College Sun

Nov. 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

A16

A golden Olympic moment

By Nicholas Baltz Senior Staff Writer

From the dilapidated favelas of Sao Paulo where poverty-stricken children battled kites from the windows of their shacks on a hillside, to chants of “Ole!” within Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the 2016 Olympic Games inspired more than just athletes in Brazil.

Fifty journalism students from Muncie, Indiana traveled to Brazil to report on stories that would later be picked up by major media outlets as a part of a class called Ball State at the Games.

Colin Grylls, a state champion sports writer for The Southwestern College Sun and current Sports Editor at Ball State University, was among them.

Grylls opted to take part in a month-long journey that included cultural reporting on food, government, people and customs as well as coverage of the 2016 Olympics. They visited the famed Christ the Redeemer statue, received cultural history lessons and visited impoverished favelas.

Grylls said his visit to the favelas-where over 11 million people live in extreme poverty stayed with him.

“There is exposed wire everywhere, spray paint of ‘fuck the police,’ water bins on top of the houses to catch rain and the power goes in and out,” he said.

“There are a lot of drugs there run by the gangs. We passed by kids a few times who had walkie-talkies and could hear them say ‘there’s 20 gringos coming through.’ I feel like I was the only one who recognized what was happening.”

Grylls said what stayed with him was not the poverty, it was the sport they played. Their favorite sport in the favelas was not soccer, it was kite fighting.

“They’re up on the hills where it’s windy so they just hang off their balconies, throw out their kites and try to slice each other’s’ lines or haul them in to take them,” he said. “A couple of younger guys were playing and a bunch of older guys on a roof up above were watching. I don’t speak Portuguese, but I know

what it sounds like when people are making bets. They were cheering, laughing and half of them would cheer or groan because they won or lost their bet. It’s a weird thing to pick up on, but they got so much enjoyment out of it.”

Finally the Olympics were upon them. Ball State journalism students came up with their own story ideas, which would later be picked up by major media outlets to give the writers exposure. Grylls said his favorite event was the rugby gold medal match between Fiji and Great Britain. “Brazilians supporting the underdog Fiji sang an altered version of their country’s chant to ‘Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Fiji, Fiji,’ he said. As Fiji won their first ever gold medal in the country’s history.”

Grylls had his story picked up an NBC station in Fort Wayne, while another one of his classmates had Time Magazine run an article about American swimmer and gold medalist Lilly King.

When Brazil played soccer, Grylls said people crowded around TV’s in the streets, the world was put on pause, Grylls found this out the hard way when he injured his hand there and needed surgery.

“Cultural difference, exchange rate is favorable, you can get a liter of Bacardi for $10,” he said. “School insurance covered his hand, but during a Brazilian soccer match, while waiting to go into surgery he was delayed by doctors watching the game with anxious screams through the hospital.”

Grylls found himself in awkward situation at a Brazilian nightclub as he was the only man in the program and he was asked to carry women’s possessions, one of which was a tampon.

Grylls even posted a blog on the Ball State at the Games website about the run in with security.

“At first I thought he was wondering why a 6-foot3-inch, 275-pound man had a tampon, so I tried to explain. ‘For friend, for friend!’ I blurted out in English before switching to Spanish in hopes that it would be close enough to Portuguese for him to understand. ‘¡Para amiga! ¡Para amiga!’ Nothing.

It wasn’t until he rolled the tampon in his fingers and

Courtesy Photos

JAGUAR HOOSIER IN RIO— Former Sun sports editor Colin Grylls visits Cidade Maravilhosa in Rio de Janeiro during the Summer Olympics. Grylls is now a journalism student at Ball State University.

sniffed it that I realized that he had no clue what he was holding,” he said. “For a split-second, I reveled in the fact that there was at least one man on earth that knew less about women than I, but then I realized I had no way to explain the situation. He didn’t speak English, and I didn’t speak Portuguese.”

The security guard summoned his female coworker who also didn’t recognize the tampon. Grylls’ guide and interpreter came back for him just in time holding back laughter as he explained it all.

Grylls left Rio with a greater sense of appreciation for

Brazilian culture and a plethora of wisdom to propel his personal and professional life forward as he aims towards his bachelor’s degree.

Grylls said he even met with the soccer coach who trained with Neymar and Marta. Grylls has never felt celebrity shock, however he did dish out some advice for young journalists.

“When you go to talk to an olympic athlete, it is the same as when you’re talking to someone from the favela,” he said. “They’re just people and you have to treat them that way.”

New AD likes student-athletes Trainers restore spring in SWC athletes steps

By Terry Lancaster Staff Writer

As a college shot putter, Jim Spillers did a lot of heavy lifting.

Now he said he is ready to lift the Southwestern College athletic department.

Spillers said he wants to raise the standard for student athletes. Instead of the California Community College Athletic Association’s minimum requirements of 12 units and a GPA of 2.0 during each season, Spillers is pushing to hold athletes to 15 units and a 2.5 GPA. Another goal is for student-athletes to leave SWC with a degree, certificate or scholarship.

“I want to see student-athletes complete,” he said. “We don’t just compete, we complete. “Athletics is just a game and for all of us, sooner or later, the game ends. We need our education and training.”

Community colleges provided Spillers his foundation, he said. After earning a track and field scholarship to San Jose State, he dropped out and enrolled at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, located in Los Angeles County.

“Thank goodness that I did,” he said.

“Mount SAC helped me get on the right path, helped me get my academics and athletics where they needed to be.”

At Mt. SAC Spillers was captain of the track team, a conference champion and the school record-holder for shot put at 55’8.”

His record lasted for 20 years.

After earning his Associate’s degree in general education, Spillers transferred to SDSU on a track scholarship.

He earned a Bachelor’s in public administration with an emphasis in human resource management.

After college Spillers coached track at El Capitan High School for a year, then returned to SDSU to join the coaching staff. He spent nine years coaching, he said, but began to climb the ladder of the athletic department.

In 2005 Grossmont College hired

By Jesse Garibay Staff Writer

William Bird/Staff

TEAM PLAYER — Athletic Director Jim Spillers cheers on the Lady Jags at their volleyball match against SDSU’s club team.

Spillers as its dean of athletics.

Highlights, he said, were hiring fulltime faculty head coaches for baseball and women’s volleyball, and keeping all sports alive during the Great Recession.

In 2014 Grossmont won the DeVore Award as the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference’s most successful program.

“You know, you got to give the award to one person, but it took the whole village to make it happen,” he said.

Athletics staff said Spillers has made a smooth transition to SWC. Technician Peggy Ball said it feels as though Spillers has been here for years.

“He comes from another college in our conference, Grossmont, so he was familiar with how the conference works

already,” she said.

Softball coach Yasmin Mossadeghi said Spillers comes out to games.

“All of our athletes know who he is,” she said. ”He’s very present in our program, and very supportive.”

Retired A.D. Terry Davis said Spillers understands the community college system and his knowledge of sports is a plus.

“He’s a very caring person,” said Davis. “He really understands the need of the students and that athletes are students first and athletes second.”

Spillers said he has a vision.

“Now my goal is to win the DeVore Award here,” he said. “I want us to win it as a college.”

Ointment, sweat and sweaty socks are the fragrant ambience of the Athletic Training Center, but care and healing flourish.

Two college trainers and six different student trainers serve almost 500 student athletes who make an estimated 2,400 annual visits. They dispense tubs of ointment, miles of tape and volumes of advice.

Soccer player Edgar Garcia said he is a fan.

“I feel like I can count on the student trainers,” he said. “They are friendly and reliable and even taping that might not be a big deal but it can help you prevent future injuries.”

His teammate Javier Osuna agreed.

“They help by giving exercises to help you recover and they give you therapy that gives you the strength so that you can be closer to the level that you were, before you got injured,” he said.

Trainer Denis Petrucci has worked at SWC for 10 years. He became interested in training when he pulled his hamstring while running track in high school.

“It was like a light bulb went off,” he said. “I was trying to rehabilitate myself, but I realized that if I could not continue with my athletic career, that I wanted to become an athletic trainer.”

Petrucci’s colleague Stacy Struble is a certified athletic trainer with 25 years of experience in sports medicine and outpatient physical therapy. She has worked with athletes from youth sports to the Olympics.

“People are trusting us with their injuries and careers,” she said. “We have to build a relationship with the studentathletes so they understand we are here to take care of them and do whatever we can to keep them safe and to help them return to play if they do get injured.”

Student trainer Frank Foster said the Athletic Training Center is a great place

to learn. “ S WC r e a l l y p r e p a r e s y o u f o r universities,” he said. “We have great facilities and good staff members that teach you what to know before moving forward.”

St u d e n t t r a i n e r E d i t h He r re r a transferred from SWC to SDSU, then returned for a student teaching assignment.

“The first year I was assigned at SDSU and for the second year I got to request (a college) so I picked Southwestern,” she said. “I heard really good things about the whole facility and the students at SWC.” Herrera worked through SWC’s kinesiology program which includes anatomy, physiology and biology classes to prepare for real life situations.

“I took group exercise class, then I also took the prevention of athletic injuries and health classes,” she said. “I got the Associate’s degree in kinesiology and then I transferred to San Diego State.”

Soccer player Stephany Perez said she felt well-taken care of by trainers.

“I had a minor ankle injury during the first games, I got kicked in my ankle and it was swollen,” she said. “I really liked how Stacy and the trainers took care of me. They made me do some stretching and exercises and gave me an ankle boot for support. For the next couple of games they kept wrapping my ankle to make sure it would not get hurt again.”

Former volleyball player Aries Vergara agreed.

“They showed me how to stretch the areas that I could possibly get injured and they told us that our injuries could get worse if we tape them the wrong way,” she said. “They also offer us ice after games and tape us if we get injured.”

Heat and ice are essential to the SWC training room, Petrucci said, something William Shakespeare was on to in the 1500s.

“What wound did ever heal but by degrees?”

November 17, 2016 — Volume 60, Issue 3

ARTS

The Southwestern College Sun

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Talented singers perform like champions

By Josh Navarro Assistant News Editor

NFL football could not match the kick of the annual Pops Concert, a South County tradition that packed more hits than the Chargers’ secondary. Director Dr. Teresa Russell ran up the score with SWC’s Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Chamber Singers, Gospel Choir and Concert Choir.

Kicking off was the Jazz Vocal Ensemble. Soloist Laura Carter shone through a somewhat percussion-heavy arrangement and brought the audience to its feet with a beautiful rendition of “Come Rain or Come Shine.” Carter was just getting started. She was a vocal force throughout the concert.

The Chamber Singers, choreographed by assistant conductor B.J. Robinson, entwined pop with prom to evoke a sentimental fairytale. Robinson’s blend of talent and charisma lit the way for soloist Nicole Arguelles in “Get the Party Started.” Arguelles simmered in the Chamber Singers’ slow and steamy medley of “Earned It” and “Hello.”

A young but powerful Gospel Choir turned the audience toward a more just future while remaining grounded reverently in the past. Special guest director Phillip Lenud summoned the Almighty with a rendition of “Reach Out Your Arms.” Sister Arguelles once again used her gifts to lift up the flock. Still relatively new, the Gospel Choir has elbowed and clapped its way into the SWC choir pantheon, drawing crowds and sending them home inspired.

SWC’s globe-trotting Concert Choir is still the main act.

Election year patriotism informed the choir’s setlist. Russell conducted “The Gettysburg Address,” then Robinson took the baton for “Homeland.” He also led the closing number “One Small Voice,” which featured the combined choirs and soloists Keanu Hill, Pablo Gamino, Michelle Arias and MaryJo Abney.

Russell, Robinson and their team padded the score and finished like the champions they are. Perhaps our college leaders will do right by our talented community of performing artists and finally build a Performing Arts Center worthy of a Vocal Music Department and Mariachi that represent the United States around the world, a theater department that has produced America’s greatest living science fiction writer and California’s most prolific playwright, and a dance department that fills its performances with SRO crowds.

Only then can SWC take its rightful place as the cultural hub of this reigon.

Thomas Contant/Staff

NOTEWORTHY IN EVERY WAY— Nicole Arguelles hits the high notes in the SWC Chamber Singers’ rendition of “Get This Party Started.”

College music star shines on television

By Josh Navarro Assistant News Editor

B.J. Robinson was born to be a conductor.

“There’s family videos of me as an infant with classical music playing on the radio and waving my arms around and smiling and loving it,” he said.

Perhaps he was also born to be a baritone vocalist, dancer, writer, actor, pianist and TV host. More likely, he worked hard to become all those things and more.

Robinson is an SWC staff accompanist and hosts “Spectrum” on KPBS, a television series that celebrates the arts in San Diego County.

A New Jersey native, Robinson said he was drawn to music from day one and his passion only grew as he got older. He moved to San Diego in 2009. He ended up in Chula Vista and joined the SWC concert choir where Dr. Teresa Russell noticed his potential.

Robinson said it was a life-altering meeting.

“After just a couple of weeks of singing with them, Dr. Russell invited me to come stop by during the day to try out chamber singers,” he said. “I joined Chamber (Singers) and (Jazz Ensemble) then just started helping out a little bit more rather than just standing by and singing. I would ask if it was okay if I put a little choreography into one of the songs, or if I could help conduct a song.”

After three semesters, Robinson was offered a job as a staff accompanist and continued to work alongside Russell. “ Wi t h C h a m b e r S i n g e r s , Russell basically mentored me into allowing me to continue to expand my set of abilities in terms of music and performing and directing,” he said. “She also helped me to become a voice

instructor. So that’s another thing I do now, I teach voice lessons.”

Choir student Blanca Burke said she enjoyed working with him.

“He has this charisma that he can project what he wants and how he wants it to be projected,” she said.

“He’s firm, but he’s funny. I think most of us want to work with him.

His personality is always fun.”

Being younger than the average instructor helped Robinson look less intimidating to his students.

“For a while, I felt that being younger was a disadvantage,” he said. “I felt that I would have to try harder for people to take me seriously. But I guess it has turned around over the last four years.

I’m a little more relatable to the students. It became this advantage that I didn’t expect it to be.”

Robinson started teaching for a youth theater company in La Jolla in 2012, when he was contacted by KPBS to host “Spectrum.”

“Last year, a parent from the company (who) works for KPBS approached me (and said) they were looking for musicians to work with for a commercial series all a b o u t arts and music,” he said.

“A small crew came (to SWC).

They filmed us during rehearsal and I did a little interview talking about the arts, that aired last November.”

In March, Robinson got an email from the director of programming at KPBS about hosting “Spectrum.”

“I went through the process of interviewing, screen tests,

shooting a couple of practice episodes,” he said. “Then in April, they called me and offered me the job of hosting the show.”

Robinson said being the host of a television show is surreal.

“I’m still getting used to it and taking it in,” he said. “When people ask me what I do, the last thing I mention is the TV show.

It’s not that I forget about it. I just don’t think of myself as a TV host primarily. I mention the college, the youth theater company, and it’s like ‘oh yeah, I’m also hosting a show on KPBS.’” Robinson said he has a large amount of control over the show and the atmosphere on set is very easy going.

“My producer will pick four stories for an episode and send them to me, then I get to approve them,” he said. “Once that’s done, a team of writers put together the script then send that to me and I get to approve the script. If I want to make any changes to the script, I’m allowed to. Once we get in the studio and we’re on set, it’s a lot

like being (on campus), only I get to be more in the student role. I’m sitting and waiting while people are setting up, people are asking me if I want coffee or water. It’s really relaxed and it’s really fun.

It only takes not even an hour to shoot an episode so we get a lot of work done pretty fast. I’m only in there one day a week, so it works out with all my other running around.”

R u s s e l l m e t R o b i n s o n ’s production staff at his viewing party, who said working with him was amazing.

“They were delighted that he stepped in,” she said. “He has brought a lot of energy and

charisma to the show. That seems to be the consensus most of the time.”

Robinson says the feedback serves as motivation to continue pursuing a career in the arts. He encouraged students to stick with what they love to do.

“Follow your dreams,” he said.

“If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, trust yourself and go for it. You never know what could happen. I never saw myself teaching in a classroom, having a group to choreograph, hosting a TV show. But here I am. It’s all a big dream come true and it’s still going.”

Thomas Contant/Staff

HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES — Multitalented B.J. Robinson is now the host of the KPBS art program “Spectrum.”

ARTS

The Southwestern College Sun

Jazz cafe is a scary good show

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Sergio Esparza/Staff

TAKE IT AWAY!— SWC Jazz Vocal Ensemble guitarist Marco Zuno rocks“Black Magic Woman.”

> REVIEW

Nov.17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

By Alejandro Muñoz Anguiano Staff Writer

Cold was the wind, dark was the night of the Halloween Jazz Café. Dressed in their darkest black, drizzled with red, the SWC Jazz Vocal Ensemble came out from their haunts to fire warmth and light.

A score of singers turned tricky acapella number “Chili con Carne” into a treat. Each singer carried a different part like a delicately layered symphony sans instruments.

Seven ladies brought out the beast during “I’m in Love With a Monster” as the other performers looked on, seated café style with blood red flowers spiking each table. Then came the men, nine altogether, spinning “Theme from Spiderman” and snaring the audience in their web.

Good as these groups were, the solo performances were even better. A line of talented singers allowed their voices to soar like phantoms in the dark sky.

Overcoming a shaky start, charismatic Eduardo Barrientos resurrected Van Morrison’s classic “Moondance” with the flair of a natural showman.

He grabbed audience members with sultry moves that summoned the ghost of Elvis and made Ed Sullivan spin in his grave.

Mario Martinez steamed up a witch’s brew of “Black Coffee” with a bluesy voice strongest when he let it growl like an old singer who drinks the pain away.

MaryJo Abney counted in “Moonlight” and her sequin dress shimmered blue in the lights as she swayed like a creaky fence on a windy Halloween night. Her performance was a highlight, her sweet voice drifting over a breezy piano and a joyously frantic bass solo.

“Black Magic Woman” was a nice change of pace as Mario Barragan and Marco Zuno powered up electric guitars and stirred a few drops of Hendrix into the elixir.

Andrew King, tall as Dracula, dressed in a red vest and flamboyantly patterned jacket, sang with a voice that sounded like it was rolling along a lazy river.

His bass voice had an Earthly richness that gave firm footing on a night of higher voices launching skyward.

Director Tracy Burklund saved the best for last — herself. She cleared the underworld with a spirited performance of “Devil May Care,” demonstrating the kind of masterful talent that her students aspire to and SWC audiences have come to expect from its national-caliber vocal ensembles. SWC performing arts groups continue to serve as the public face of the college. On this night of mischief and spookiness, the Jazz Vocal Ensemble hit all the right notes.

Film festival speaks a universal language

By Victoria Gonzalez and Elena Hernandez Staff Writers

Film buffs and language students had the opportunity to watch some of the best films of Europe, Asia and South America at the best price.

Free. Gratis, libre, gratuit, 無料.

Southwestern College’s yearly Culture and Language International Film Festival (CLIFF), which ran from October 17 to November 3, offered students a free trip around the globe without leaving home.

CLIFF originated 16 years ago in the mind of Spanish Professor Dinorah Guadiana-Costa, the former chair of the World Languages Department. After she retired last year, her colleagues decided to continue the tradition.

It featured films in languages taught at SWC such as Tagalog, Spanish, Japanese, French and American Sign Language (ASL), which featured “Audism,” presented by Shannon Engelhart, SWC’s new full-time ASL faculty member.

Professor of Spanish Margarita Andrade said Spanish got a slightly larger allotment.

“We always show three films in Thomas Contant/Staff Spanish because we’re the biggest A GOOD SIGN — American Sign Language assistant professor Shannon program,” she said.

Engelhart plays a popular and completely silent game with her students in her Films sometimes deal ASL class. A “first to press the button” game has students competing to sign with difficult issues like the answer. race, poverty, homelessness,

violence in the home and political corruption.

Spanish Professor Esther Alonso said she wanted students to draw parallels with their own lives because sometimes they believe these issues only exist in the United States.

“We don’t want it to be something so specific to a country that people from the outside would not understand what it is about,” she said.

Alonso said Guadiana-Costa’s principles for selecting films have been honored. Movies must deal with topics that would interest students and they must have universal cultural value.

“By bringing these films to them we are telling them look, these things happen in other places,” she said. “These are issues beyond borders. They learn about other people’s struggles. It builds empathy, understanding and tolerance, so there’s only advantages to having students view movies like that.”

Alonso said the festival eliminates financial and transportation difficulties some students face when trying to go see foreign films.

“It’s a concern for us that they have to pay or drive all the way to Mission Valley or the Hazard Center to watch some of these movies,” she said.

“Students love watching these films that they wouldn’t otherwise see because of lack of funding and transportation or just because they wouldn’t think of watching these films.”

Faculty who act as film curators try to select movies that are not extremely violent or sexually explicit, although Alonso said it should be noted that some international filmmakers have a completely different idea about what is appropriate.

“And there’s almost always nudity and foul vocabulary because the movies show varying degrees of reality,” she said, her lowered voice mingled with laughter.

Because some movies include adult content, the department asked attendees not to bring children.

To provide context, the movie’s host, usually the

faculty member that suggested the movie, gave a short introduction at the start of the screening.

“They give a preview about the director or the topic or anything that is pertinent to viewing a movie,” Alonso said.

CLIFF is funded by SWC’s World Languages Department and the SWC Foundation.

Alonso said finding films for the festival is not an issue because of the wealth of movies being produced.

“We are all connected with the languages we teach,” she said. “We have relatives, we travel, we have friends, so there is always someone recommending a worthwhile movie so we are never short of movies.”

Professor of French Nora Portillo said CLIFF serves many purposes.

Once the movies are purchased, she said, they become part of the language lab’s archives and are available for students anytime.

“One of our goals is to open the perspectives of our students by showing them different cultures and the world,” Portillo said. “That’s why we teach languages. We want you guys to not just speak the language, but to learn that there are other cultures out there with different customs and behaviors.”

Jose Rayle, 20, a business administration major, said he first heard of the festival because it filled a cultural activity requirement and it sounded interesting.

“I heard about it in my French class and it sounded like a really nice opportunity to explore different perspectives,” he said.

Andrade said CLIFF is a good way to bring light to what social issues and norms exist in other cultures.

“Most of our students are used to Hollywoodstyle movies where there’s beautiful people and a happy ending,” she said. “These movies are different.

They’re exposed to a different reality.”

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Choir lifts Chicano Park’s sadness

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Brilliant Mexican print exhibit a borderlands treasure

By Josh Navarro Assistant News Editor

One day after a truck plunged off the Coronado Bridge into a crowd at Chicano Park, the SWC Concert Choir performed a somber but uplifting outdoor concert.

“One Love” was to be a statement about drug violence and dependency, but also served as a tribute to the four people killed by the falling vehicle, which landed nearly on the spot the choir was to perform.

Assistant Director B.J. Robinson said the Concert Choir performance took a more serious tone than its usual ebullient concerts.

“There’s definitely a more personal and emotional reach point with this,” he said. “In a lot of ways I see it as a musical protest, a call to action. Not necessarily to stand up against any specific person or event happening, but to show our support in these times for what’s happening politically and socially with shootings, wrongful arrests, drug-related crimes and deaths. It’s our way in making a difference and making a statement about what’s happening in the world.”

Despite struggling with audio problems, the Concert Choir successfully relocated across the street from Chicano Park’s main stage. A moment of silence in honor of the four victims preceded the concert.

“We were originally supposed to be on the main stage of Chicano Park,” said Robinson, “but because of the terrible accident, we chose to try and move spots so we wouldn’t disrupt anything. We were told we could come to this side of the bridge. We got over here and there was no power. We were scrambling. A park ranger showed up, he was able to turn on the main switches and we were able to bring everything together.”

Gretchen Bergman, executive director of Parents for Addiction Treatment and Healing, said America is still fighting a war on drugs.

“We are here on this spot for a reason,” she said. “We’re embracing all cultures and giving dignity and respect to cultures, so it’s fitting we are in such a historical spot.

We understand the intersection of the drug war, the war on poverty, the war on people, the war on immigrants and we come together to create unity. By gathering our voices together in song, we strive to shine a light of hope and humanity.

Through the universal magic of music, we will demonstrate and amplify the beauty and strength of our diversity as a nation.”

Concert Choir Director Dr. Teresa Russell said she and many of her singers had a personal connection to the effects of drug abuse and addiction.

“My mother suffered from alcoholism for a long time,” she said. “After her recovery, she ran a halfway house for drug addicts and chemically dependent people for 20 years. She helped a lot of people get into residential help. Once they go through therapy there were residential places where they could live and have a support group to get back into the workforce.”

Robinson said he had similar experiences.

“I’ve had several family members who struggled with drug addiction in the past,” he said. “I had an uncle, who I lost as a child, who died from drug overdose. I’ve known a lot of people that have come and gone on different levels of it, some personal friends even. They were all fine in college and then a few just went through a dark period. It’s definitely an issue that is near and dear to our hearts.”

Russell said recovering from addiction is difficult and music helps.

“Our group has been a huge support system,” she said. “There’s that revolving door. Something happens in their life and they go back to taking drugs or drinking, or whatever their demon might be. I think when you have this type of support group, it’s almost like a family. Music can be a great therapy.”

Robinson agreed.

“I think through all of the choirs here we’ve had students suffering with drug issues and addiction,” he said. “We’ve seen many of them come up and down the scale. Most of them have recovered to a point of getting themselves grounded in and focused on their lives and education and health again.”

Shrouded in the Sunday gloom, the choir performed four songs with their combined voices reverberating through the park. As Robinson glided through his solo in the finale “One Small Voice,” a ray of sunlight broke through the overcast clouds, illuminating the gleaming smiles of the crowd and choir.

Nov. 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

By Alethze Maryana Meza Staff Writer

“There must be some kind of way outta here said the joker to the thief.”

--Bob Dylan With respect for women in such short supply on the presidential campaign trail, the first gallery exhibit of the fall was refreshing.

Strong, beautiful, appreciated women were the stars of the Mexican printmaking exhibit “Said the Joker to the Thief: Printmaking from Oaxaca to California.”

There were no Tic Tacs, filthy language or unwelcomed grabbing at the vibrantly colorful, richly-inspiring exhibit.

Gallery Director Perry Vasquez said it was inspired by “All Along the Watchtower,” a classic song by Bob Dylan made famous by Jimi Hendrix.

“This song is about a conversation between the joker and the thief,” he said.

“They seem to be commiserating about the ways of the world. I thought this would be a good metaphor.”

Dylan’s lament “There’s too much confusion here/ I can’t get no relief ” rings true in the age of Trump and Vasquez was right on target with an exhibit that featured the Trump Trod Upon, namely Mexicans, women and the working poor.

“The original idea for the show is that we would have these prints from Taller Tamayo in Oaxaca and then we would put them into dialogue with artist working on printmaking in California,” said Vasquez.

“We added some pieces from our permanent collection and we also have artists here who are teachers, so we have an interesting community of artists brought together for this show.”

“To Have and to Hold” by Michele D’Argent was captivating. It expressed the rich Oaxacan culture and conveyed how men respect and love women. Figures held each other in pure love and tranquility. It is an outstanding artwork that says a lot about how women are treated in Oaxaca’s society.

Courtesy Photo

STILL IN PRINT— SWC Art Gallery showcased stunning printmaking creations such as “To Have and To Hold” by Michele D’Argent.

Women are to be respected, not grabbed by her pussy.

Francisco Eme, a sound and multimedia artist, curated the show.

“The Oaxacan graphics scene is one of the most vibrant in Mexico,” he said. “Oaxacan mysticism and poetics are reflected in this collection of works by the current generation of artist’s from Taller Tamayo which opened 42 years ago.”

“There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke,” lamented Dylan, the 2016 Nobel Laureate for Literature.

Oaxacan artists clearly do not feel that way and treat life as a mystical and precious opportunity. Vibrant colors celebrated the primal joys of life and the rich Oaxacan culture was embedded in the swirling designs.

SWC printmaking instructor Sfona Pelah, said she was impressed by the

exhibit’s variety.

“When you have artwork from all over there are similarities because the technique is the same, but it is a different point of view,” she said. “We are different people.

Inside our emotions are different. The way we see things are different, so it is nice to see the similarities and differences.”

Pelah said printmaking is a very meticulous process. A metal plate is coated on one side with a wax-like coat. Arists then scratch in their designs with a needle to expose the metal, which is next placed in nitric acid, creating groves. Grooves are inked to create the image, which is printed onto wet paper.

“So let us stop talking falsely now/ The hour is getting late,” advised Dylan.

Trump never got this message, but the printmakers are clarions of truthfulness.

The joker and the thief both had much to admire in this splendid exhibit.

> REVIEW

Actors fire sweltering version of classic

By Sergio Esparza Staff Writer

Lecherous older men grabbing younger women who talk about their daughters in sexual terms may sound like something straight out of our ghastly presidential campaign. Director Sandra Cortez may be on to something. Her vibrant staging of the tense classic “Anna in the Tropics” kind of felt like “Trump in the Tropics,” giving an already-compelling piece a weirdly contemporary vibe.

“Anna” is the sorrowful story of a lector hired by a Cuban-American family to read to their factory workers as they spend their days juggling family tensions, infidelity and a fetish for control.

Michael Buckley’s majestic design brought the setting to life, masterfully placing audience members inside the cigar factory of 1929 Ybor City, Florida. Lighting played an illuminating role during scene transitions and developed a range of moods throughout the play. Props were artfully placed, dressing scenes like a skillful tailor.

There were some marvelous performances, the best of which came from critically acclaimed actor, director and writer Bryant Hernandez, who portrayed Che Che, the atrocious uncle.

Hernandez was the cast member who most effectively provoked audiences with his repugnant actions. Heavy drinking and a forced pass on the younger daughter were dramatic putty

Maribel Salcido/Staff

A STEAMY TROPICAL AFFAIR— Lorena Sahagun and Angel Arias as the star-crossed lovers in “Anna in the Tropics,” which received an inspired SWC production.

in the hands of the cagey Hernandez, a shape-shifter who commanded the stage every time he took it. He evoked emotions of indignation in the audience, who may have been feeling déjà vu and political overload.

Paul Araujo and Cynthia Ochoa turned in brilliant performances with their portrayals of mother and father,

setting the foundation for the twisting plots that snaked throughout the play.

Their broken marriage felt organic through their easy chemistry.

Cortez’s stage family lacked some cohesion, though, as Jasmine Rodriguez struggled at times with her portrayal of the family’s younger daughter. What was written in the script as the love of

her life felt more like her crush of the day during her underplayed scenes with the lector. Her reach for a poetic tone at times felt forced.

“Anna in the Tropics” prevailed due to the commitment of its cast and crew. It was a great looking play with a message about disrespect and suspicion that seems so apropos today.

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Design by Mirella Lopez

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November 17, 2016 — Vol. 60, Issue 3

Tel: (619) 482-6368 email: eic@theswcsun.com

Remembering The

Forgotten

Secretive cemetery in Holtville is America’s paupers graveyard Story by Bianca Quilantan Senior Staff Writer

HOLTVILLE, Calif. – Dreams frozen to death or dead from thirst in folks who think they have seen it all. come to die and are forever buried in the Imperial Valley.” the dusty patch of scalding Imperial

Men and women from all walks of life

Morones said the number one cause routinely begin to sob or break into

Valley desert behind the crumpled of death along the U.S.-Mexican tears when they begin to soak in the rusty fence.

Dreamers, too.

border is dehydration. One such enormity of what lies in the ground victim was 5-year-old Marco Antonio below their feet.

At least 450 migrants lie in final rest Villaseñor who crossed with his father

“A lot of people do not realize the

in unmarked graves in the desiccated in the back of a windowless produce impact of all of these people dying, so when they see this they are very moved

patch of ground behind the Terrace Park Cemetery in Holtville, a hardscrabble farming outpost too far from the Interstate 8 for drivers to ever see and so far from the minds of Californians it might as well be in Arizona. It is North America’s largest mass grave and the most massive non-military burial ground of unidentified dead in the

“A lot of people do not realize the impact of all of these people dying, so when they see this they are very moved and there’s something comforting about seeing flowers or crosses or stones on the graves.”

los descamisados of Holtville, but not everyone. Los Angeles de la Frontera – Border Angels – watch over la muerta. Members of the all-volunteer human rights organization defiantly refer to the acre of the unknown as El Pantheon de los No Olvidados, The Cemetery of the Remembered.

“None of these people expected to die when they crossed the border to find work,” said Border Angels founder Enrique Morones. “They thought they would make it. There have been women in dresses who thought that in a few hours they would be safe and sound found dead in the mountains

about seeing flowers or crosses or stones on the graves,” Morones said.

“There was a time when we had them on all of the graves, but the graves are so fragile that if you walk (over the older graves), they’ll collapse.”

Hundreds of more recent dead

-Enrique Morones migrants would have been buried in

United States.

Most of humanity has long forgotten

and there’s something comforting

truck jammed with 18 people.

“Marco was with his dad and as he crosses he became very thirsty,” Morones said. “Marco Antonio asked his dad for some water and his father won’t give him any water. So he asked the next man, and the next man, and the next man. He asked 18 men for water and none of the 18 men would give the little boy water. Why not?

Because they were already dead and the little boy also died.”

Some of the men were never identified and made that lonely final journey to Holtville.

El Pantheon can shock even hardened

Holtville were it not for the fact that the U.S. government decreed that migrant bodies be cremated rather than buried.

Besides making it more difficult for human rights organizations to keep track of the dead, said Morones, cremation is disrespectful to the migrants, who are overwhelmingly Catholic, a religion that discourages the burning of the dead.

Cremation also prevents future DNA testing that could help to identify the victims, Morones said as he kicked at shotgun shells, rusted tin cans, ragged remains of clothes and the ebony embers in improvised fire pits adjacent to the cemetery.

please see Holtville pg. A13