Top Banner
THE CORSAIR · THECORSAIRONLINE.COM · 1900 PICO BLVD. SANTA MONICA, CA 90405 · (310) 434-4340 THE CORSAIR · THECORSAIRONLINE.COM · 1900 PICO BLVD. SANTA MONICA, CA 90405 · (310) 434-4340 VOLUME 103 ISSUE 6 MARCH 28, 2012 PHOTO BY MICHAEL PRICE VOLUME 103 ISSUE 6 MARCH 28, 2012 VOLUME 103 ISSUE 6 MARCH 28, 2012 Young author Young author preaches preaches definition of definition of freedom. freedom. Pg. 9 Pg. 9
12
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: Volume 103 Issue 06

THE CORSAIR · THECORSAIRONLINE.COM · 1900 PICO BLVD. SANTA MONICA, CA 90405 · (310) 434-4340THE CORSAIR · THECORSAIRONLINE.COM · 1900 PICO BLVD. SANTA MONICA, CA 90405 · (310) 434-4340

VOLUME 103 ISSUE 6 MARCH 28, 2012

PHOTO BY MICHAEL PRICE

VOLUME 103 ISSUE 6 MARCH 28, 2012VOLUME 103 ISSUE 6 MARCH 28, 2012

Young author Young author preaches preaches

defi nition of defi nition of freedom. freedom.

Pg. 9Pg. 9

Page 2: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 2|CONTENTS

E D I T O R I A L S T A F FNathan Gawronsky ··············Editor-in-Chief

c o r s a i r . e d i t o r i n c h i e f @ g m a i l . c o mNathalyd Meza ·················· Managing Editor

c o r s a i r . m a n a g i n g @ g m a i l . c o mFatou Samb ······························· News Editor

c o r s a i r . n e w s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o mAmber Antonopoulos ··Health + Life Editor

c o r s a i r . l i f e s t y l e p a g e @ g m a i l . c o mJacob Blackoff ·························· A & E Editor

c o r s a i r . c a l e n d a r p a g e @ g m a i l . c o mMia Shilpi ······························ Opinion Editor

c o r s a i r . o p i n i o n p a g e @ g m a i l . c o mRoger Morante ························Sports Editor

c o r s a i r . s p o r t s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o mPaul Alvarez ···················· Multimedia Editor

c o r s a i r . m u l t i m e d i a @ g m a i l . c o mMichael Yanow ·························Photo EditorAnisa El-Khouri ······················· Photo Editor

c o r s a i r p h o t o e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o mDavid J. Hawkins ························Web Editor

c o r s a i r . w e b e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o mNathalyd Meza ······················· Design EditorAlfredo Avila ····························· Design Staff Elham Sagharchi ·······················Design Staff

c o r s a i r . d e s i g n t e a m @ g m a i l . c o mJhosef Hern ·································Illustration

c o r s a i r c a r t o o n @ g m a i l . c o mS T A F F W R I T E R S

Yair Avila, Vanessa Barajas, Jay Be Brookman, Romero Campbell, Christian Carrillo, Peter

Cheng, Chelsea Cobbs, Faye Crosswhite, Henry Crumblish, Freddie Diaz, Sarkis Ekmekian, Melina Flores, Dylan Futrell, Chavi Gourarie, Erica Gunn,

Robert Gutierrez, Justin Hinton, Tea Jovanovic, Luana Kasahara, Brigette Martinez, Zoryana Melesh, Devan Patel, Samantha Perez, Andrew Riesmeyer,

Mai Sims, Isabel Spiegel, Susanna Svensson, Christinia Sziatinszsky, Cinthia Vera, Israel Villacota,

Sophia Villegas, Nadine Weiland, Talia WilsonP H O T O G R A P H E R S

Angelica Aakesson, Joseph Adamo, Daniela Barhanna, Jose Balderas, Daniela Berzuini, Fabian

Cooke, Jeff Cote, Sydney Forneret, Marine Gaste, Adrian Galicia, Amy Gutierrez, Carrie Jesenovec, Ian-Thomas Kagihara, Asta Karalis, Linda Konde,

Guy Mokia, Michael Price, Lisa WeingartenF A C U L T Y A D V I S O R S

S a u l R u b i nG e r a r d B u r k h a r t

A D I N Q U I R I E S( 3 1 0 ) 4 3 4 - 4 0 3 3

c o r s a i r . a d c o n s u l t a n t @ g m a i l . c o m

The Santa Monica College photography department’s spring camping trip was held last weekend in Big Sur, California. A stream in Lime Kiln State Park is pictured.

Guy Mokia Corsair

FIRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE. EACH ADDITIONAL COPY IS 50C

Page 3: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE NEWS|3

The two-tier tuition system approved by SMC’s governing board earlier this month seems to be on shaky legal grounds, according to Paul Feist, spokesperson for California Community Colleges chancellor, Jack Scott.Scott requested the state Attorney

General’s Offi ce to check the legitimacy of the SMC two-tiered tuition system last Thursday, according to scpr.org. Feist has expressed his concern over the

plan’s legality, according to the LA Times. Feist believes the plan may not comply with the education codes, as the state does not allow students to be charged differential fees for the types of courses SMC offers during summer and winter sessions. “The chancellor’s offi ce in the past has

opined that the two-tiered fee structure is not permitted by education codes,” said Feist in an email sent to the Corsair. “The chancellor’s offi ce is concerned about the effect such an arrangement would have on low-income students.”

Feist also noted that the chancellor’s offi ce does not want SMC to go through with the plan, and is currently exploring a range of legal options.Louise Jaffe, SMC Board of Trustees

member who voted in favor of the plan, believes that the proposal is not only legal, but is the cheapest option students have to take classes they need at a community college that faces budget cuts. “Students need classes!” said Jaffe. “Why

else come to SMC? They need to move forward with their education, whether it’s transferring or getting an AA degree.” Jaffe further stated that the tragedy stems from the state’s inability to fulfi ll its responsibility to the people, the students, and the community. Since 2008, SMC has cancelled more

than 1,000 class sections, according to the SMC’s Public Information Offi ce. In 2012, $11 million were cut off public higher education funding. If the November tax initiative proposed by Gov. Brown fails, community colleges risk another $5 million

budget cut in 2012-13. Jaffe said that

the state’s failure to appropriately subsidize public education for the past four years has compelled SMC to cut classes. Students have to opt for other options to get classes if they cannot afford to wait another semester. According to Jaffe,

the other options available for students are far more expensive

than the two-tier plan of $200 per unit. Students can currently take classes at UCLA extension or other private colleges which are at least $800 per unit, said Jaffe.Jaffe also addressed students concern that

this measure will become a permanent solution instead of a temporary measure. “That’s at the heart of the concern,” Jaffe said. “The state has already largely stopped its funding. Making California Community Colleges inaccessible to students won’t solve anything.”Jaffe stated that international students

are the reasons why SMC, unlike other community colleges, is still able to offer summer and winter sessions. International students pay $275 per unit

as opposed to the $46 per unit paid by in-state students. “We know that having students pay different fees will not be a problem because we are already doing it

now,” says Jaffe. As to whether the proposal is illegal,

Jaffe says that the education codes pertaining to the differential fee option is neither explicitly permissive nor explicitly forbidden.The main problem is at a national and

state level, not the SMC Board of Trustees, according to Jaffe. If the college does not receive the funding it should, the Trustees are not to blame.“The real tragedy is that higher education

in California has been cut so severely that access is being curtailed,” said Feist. “California must come to terms with

the consequences of this disinvestment, and support solutions that will allow all students to achieve their educational goals on time.”

Photos by Michael Price CorsairStudents gather support in overturning the Board of Trustees edict to implement contract education, increase fees and create two-tier educational system at this community college. The Student Orga-nizing Commuttee and AS leadership are trying to gather support to overturn the Board of Trustees implementing of contract education, stop fee increases and creation of a two tiered educational system at SMC.

Two-t ier b lowbackZoryana MeleshStaff Writer

Check our website for course information and enrollment.

See uclaextension.edu/SMC12 or call (310) 825-7093

UCLA Extension’s degree-credit courses:

Degree-credit courses in:

Shut out of classes?

STUDENT LIFE IS BETTER AT HAWAI‘I PACIFIC UNIVERSITY. CALL 1-866-225-5478 TO LEARN MORE.

JUST TRANSFERRED.

WWW.HPU.EDU/TRANSFER

Smaller classrooms. Individualized attention. More than 50 undergraduate programs in a dynamic setting. There’s a reason why 1 in 3 of our students are transfers. Hawai‘i Pacific University offers the flexibility and convenience of transferring any number of credits – up to the first two years of your Bachelor’s degree – to keep your education right on track.

HPU admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status and disability.

> Transfer Completed Credits

(No Minimum to Transfer)

> No Associate’s Degree Required

> California Transfer Agreements

Honored

> Associate Degrees Credited

for General Education Courses

> Transfer Scholarships Available

Students gather on the library steps to hear speakers from the Student Organizing Committee and Associated Student leadership last Thursday.

Page 4: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 4|NEWS

Santa Monica College student Frank Gauthier, 22, died March 12 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle street racing accident last month at the intersection of Pico Boulevard and 20th Street in Santa Monica.

Sgt. Richard Lewis of the Santa Monica Police Department said that according to statements made by witnesses, Gauthier and a friend, also an SMC student, were splitting lanes at upwards of 50 mph along Pico Boulevard. Gauthier’s bike then slammed into a Ford Expedition that was making a left hand turn at 20th Street at around 12:20 p.m.

Gauthier’s friend, an international student from Morocco, was uninjured. His name has been withheld pending the outcome of the investigation. According to Lewis, the district attorney is proposing manslaughter charges as a result of the incident.

Gauthier, an international student from France, studied business and worked at the SMC bookstore for the past two years. According to bookstore operations manager, Elease Juarez, Gauthier was a respectful employee. “He was quiet, but he had a lot of friends,” she said.

News of Gauthier’s condition reached the student body shortly after the incident on Feb. 22. “When we found out who it was people were very upset. People were crying in the hallways,” Juarez said. “Everyone was hoping he would pull through.”

Juarez stated that Gauthier was involved in a motorcycle accident last July but still attended work that day. “A car had cut him off . I told him to go to the doctor and get checked out,” Juarez said. “He was nervous about worrying his mother, so he waited until he had recovered to tell her about it.”

His mother, who was unavailable for comment, attended a memorial at the Cayton Student Center on March 16 organized by bookstore employees and friends in honor of Gauthier.

Police said that alcohol was not a factor in the crash and that the driver of the SUV was not injured.

Gauthier’s is the fi rst death of an SMC student since April of 2011 when James Henrey Freimann was killed in a traffi c accident on the way to a friend’s house.

After hearing of Santa Monica College’s new summer and winter class price hikes, Los Angeles resident Daniel Greenberg, chairman and chief executive of Electro Rent Corp., and his wife Susan Steinhauser, an attorney and civic activist, gave a $250,000 subsidy to SMC earlier this month. The scholarship is aimed to help alleviate

some of the fi nancial burden the two-tier tuition plan places on students.Dr. Chui L. Tsang, SMC Superintendent

and President, said to the Corsair that the allocation of Greenberg and Steinhauser’s donation has yet to be specifi ed with the donors. Tsang has discussed with his Board of

Trustees counterparts some ideas they will be submitting to the donors in regards to the criteria for the scholarship.As far as the yet-to-be set standards for the

scholarship, students—under the proposed criteria—would need to meet both a fi nancial and scholastic merit. Students would be expected to meet the Board of Governors Fee Waiver, be in good academic standing, have a minimum 2.5 GPA, and at least be part-time students.With regards to the application process,

Tsang said it would be “as simple as possible.” Students will be able to “register through a link” on SMC’s website.The big question is how many students

will the $250,000 donation help fi nance?“The scholarships will be in the $300

range,” said Tsang. “There would be around 300 scholarships for the summer and an equal amount in the fall.”Dr. Tsang reiterated that there was no

confi rmation yet on these numbers, but he is hopeful that this is how the funds will be allocated.Aside from Greenberg and Steinhauser’s

subsidy, other donators have also been contributing to SMC’s funding. According to Tsang, SMC Associates, a support group for the college, recently donated $5,000.With regards to the new price increase

taking effect this coming summer, Tsang said that the contract education is an “attractive choice” for students in a state that has held back on providing funds to community colleges. “We created a new program that is self-

funded in addition to the state-funded program,” Dr. Tsang said.The two-tier system would allow students

to take the harder-to-get-into classes, such as English and Math courses, during summer and winter sessions. The plan has gained nationwide attention

and has raised more than a few eyebrows among students. According to SMC’s Public Information

Offi ce, “since 2008, [the] state has cut funding to community colleges by 23 percent.” Budget cuts have caused SMC to lose some 1,100 class sections over the last four years.Tsang said that times are tough for the

California Community Colleges, which are suffering major cutbacks as the state’s defi cit reaches a critical junction. Santa Monica College, one of

California’s leading community colleges—not to mention a home for some 30,000 students—is feeling the brunt of these cutbacks in a major way.Tsang said that donations such as the

Greenberg and Steinhauser’s $250,000 subvention will provide some form of fi nancial relief to SMC students who are in need of fi nancial support to pursue higher education.

Signifi cant Donation Hopes to Lessen Blow of Class Price Hikes

Justin HintonStaff Writer

Malibu residents taking classes at SMC will soon be able to save the drive all the way to Santa Monica. After more than 30 years, SMC will open its doors in Malibu with a 25,000-square-foot campus. The $25 million project will begin to operate by the end of 2014, according to SMC offi cials.“The objective is not to take students

from the main campus to Malibu,” said Katharine Muller, chair of the Academy of Entertainment & Technology department at SMC, and a part of the team planning the new campus. “The objective is to serve the residents of Malibu, so that they don’t have to come all the way to the main campus.” The new facility, to be located in Malibu’s

Civic Center, will have computer-equipped classrooms, a 100-seat lecture hall that can be used for events, two general education classrooms, and a small interpretive center. A parking structure holding 194 spaces will be constructed inside the campus. SMC has been offering a few

evening classes in Malibu for the last two years at Webster Elementary School in the subjects of art, music, geology, and photography. Those classes will be moved

to the new campus. Students will also be able to take several other classes during the day. “We are not planning for this to be a full-

service site where students can get every course that they need to get their degree,“ said Muller. Muller adds that research has been done

on what classes students from Malibu are taking at SMC and what seems to be a good fi t given the environment of the new campus. The Legacy Park near the campus

construction site, which is used as an outdoor living and learning center to reduce pollution impact and improve water quality, will be available to SMC students as an educational facility. School offi cials are still in the planning

process, but classes such as marine and environmental science, geography, geology, art, music, fi lm, and other general education classes are under consideration. According to Muller, students will still

have to take classes in Santa Monica in order to fi nish their degree and earn the credits they need to transfer. “We know that we want to have very high-

value classrooms,“ said Donald Girard, vice president of the marketing department responsible for the government relations of the project. “What that means is that we

want to have a good science lab, we want to have a good art lab, and so forth.”The planning of the project began in

2004 when Measure S, a bond for specifi ed school improvements, was approved at the District’s election, according to the facility planning of the Board of Trustees . Measure S will fund $25 million for the building of the new campus. The facility will have a 25-year contract

lease with several fi ve-year options to renew; the lease will cost an estimated of $4.4 million in total. According to Girard, the new campus

will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, a Green Building Rating system, to guarantee minimum negative environmental impacts. In 2008, the SMC Board of Trustees

authorized to provide $2.5 million of bond funds to the City of Malibu for the construction of a wastewater facility. The campus is planned to be

environmentally friendly. The project will be going through the process of the California Environmental Quality Act, a statewide policy of environmental protection. According to Girard, once the act passes

the actual building of the facility will start in around ten months.

$25 million SMC campus to open in Malibu

Student dies of injuries from motorcycle street racing accident

Nadine WeilandStaff Writer

Jeff Coté CorsairStudent Frank Gauthier, 22, died March 12 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle street racing accident.Andy RiesmeyerStaff Writer

Page 5: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE OPINION|5

When someone started abruptly knocking at her front door, Yvonne Camacho jolted out of her bed and ran through two rooms to answer. It was her neighbor, yelling “Call 911!” As Camacho walked forward, she could

see part of her neighbor’s home in fl ames. Soon, her cell phone was in her hand, and an emergency service was on the line. As Camacho gave the dispatcher her address, the dispatcher needed more directions. “Cross streets weren’t enough for her,” Camacho said. “I was in a panic, I couldn’t think straight enough to sit there and give her step-by-step directions to my home. We were talking for nearly fi ve minutes when all I could think of is ‘don’t you have some sort of navigation or tracking device—why aren’t you here yet?’ I was extremely frustrated.” It was 15 minutes before the fi refi ghters fi nally arrived. The fi re was partially extinguished, but by then the fi re had begun to spread towards the second half of the house.What was wrong with the dispatch system?

Why did they need such precise directions? And could they have been quicker on the scene? If they had arrived sooner, much less of the home would have been lost. Camacho made this call on March 4,

25 miles east of Santa Monica. However, similar incidents seem to be popping up all over Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Times, just

a few days later on March 7, a woman waited nearly 45 minutes for Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics to arrive after a machine had sliced off her fi nger and mangled the rest of her hand. Firefi ghters said the alarms never rang

at the fi rehouse just a mile away from the injured woman. In the end, so much time was lost that the woman’s fi nger could not be reattached.Offi cials claim that aging equipment is to

blame for frequent technical and dispatch failures. But they don’t seem to be doing much about it. These so-called routine repairs can take months to fi x because of a smaller maintenance crew, downsized due to the budget cuts. Because there are fewer fi re fi ghters now, they are forced to travel miles across cities to respond to emergencies. This delays critical help, and produces more fatigued fi refi ghters.There seems to be more than just one issue.

It’s not just the dispatch system, the lack of fi re fi ghters, the lack of a maintenance crew, or even the huge budget cuts carrying all the blame. The delayed response time seems to be the ultimate result of all of those issues combined, causing a disastrous effect on the city of Los Angeles and all of its surrounding communities.Los Angeles cannot afford LAFD budget

cuts. Angelenos are the ones who suffer with every delayed reaction. And if a massive fi re were to strike Los

Angeles County without a capable fi re department to control it, where would the city be then?

`LA fi refi ghters slowing down due to budget cuts

Lissette GomezStaff Writer

Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly after the atrocities of World War II, states that, “everyone has the right to education.”It is wrong to deny a student an education

that offers a successful future. Yet, the system governing Santa Monica College has been forcing students into the life-stalling decision to not attend school.“I have had a number of students tell me

that they just cannot afford these classes anymore, and are no longer going to attend school because of the prices,” says Jeremy Newman, a student support clerk for the SMC’s fi nancial aid offi ce.In recent years, SMC has undergone

a number of enrollment fee increases, causing students to struggle to afford a higher education that was meant to be “equally accessible.” Classes at SMC were $26 per unit in 2007, and have since increased to the current $36 per unit.Those $10 might not seem like much

to some people, but to students taking multiple-unit classes, the numbers add up. Students pay additional fees to receive support services such as the student ID card, Associated Students membership, and health services, which can add up to nearly $50.This is not including the parking decal

required to have access to on-campus parking, which costs $85 during spring and fall semesters, and $45 during winter and summer sessions.

Newman confi rmed SMC’s plans to begin the new contract education plan. Effective this upcoming summer and winter sessions, SMC will be charging $200 per unit on classes with mandatory credits which most students need to transfer or graduate. This could make a single class cost anything from $200 to $1,600, depending on the number of units it has.“Regular classes will remain

at $36 per unit [for the time being], but these high demand requirement classes, whichever ones are decided upon, will cost students those $200 per unit,” says Newman.International students, who

pay $235 to $275 per semester unit to begin with, are not likely to stay quiet on the subject.SMC international student Xiaoting Lin

isn’t taking the new proposal to increase class prices well.“I am not happy about this,” says Lin.

“Prices have already been high before and I will protest. I won’t pay that.”Superintendent and president of

SMC,,Dr. Chui L. Tsang says on SMC’s online college governance page, “Our campus boasts one of the largest international student populations of any community college in the nation—2,800-plus from more than 100 countries. They enrich our campus and give our American students fi rsthand knowledge of the culture,

Vanessa BarajasStaff Writer

Education becoming an elite privilege

Illustr

ation

by J

hose

f Her

n

politics and art of the world.”If Tsang is interested keeping the campus

“enriched” with the diversity of the world, he should not allow the international students to face such a fi nancial hardship. He should also realize that this would likely steer a segment of that demographic of students away from SMC.In addition to the fee increases, students

that are currently part of the Board of Governors fee waiver, the Pell Grant, and other such forms of fi nancial aid, will not be able to use any of these methods to pay for the affected classes. The $200 per unit classes will need to be paid in full from each student’s pocket.This unfair new proposal has caused

opponents, mainly students, to speak out against this injustice.The Santa Monica College Student

Organization Team has gathered a group of student supporters to protest against the new prices, planning on making their voices heard to the Board of Trustees.“I came out of high school thinking of

going to a community college to save money because universities are so expensive,” says SMC student Kayleigh Wade, a member of the student organization team. “Now, there isn’t going to be a difference. I should have just gone to Cal State Long Beach. It’s like education is now for the elite.”Tsang also goes on to say on SMC’s

online college governance page, “Santa Monica College is committed to global responsibility and awareness—educationally, environmentally, and economically.”So it is the student’s responsibility to

become aware of the economic injustices that are being made against them, and stand up for their rights to an equally available opportunity of education for all, not only for those who can afford it.Tsang should be able to understand the

importance of community college to a student, having attended a community college before transferring to Stanford University, according to his SMC online profi le. As president, he should be defending students in this battle, not voting for a budget that requires students to pay something they cannot afford.The Board of Trustees meeting to decide

the new proposal will be held on April 3, at 7 p.m. in the business building.

Illustr

ation

by J

hose

f Her

n

Page 6: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 6|PHOTOSTORY

GRAND PR

Joe Thorpe, a trainer of forty-fi ve years, measures the height of the jumps before Albrecq and Uncle Jack start training on the practice course.

Ribbons hang all throughout the Sovereign Place Barn, where Albrecq and Uncle Jack train out of.

Brittany Albrecq stands with Union Jack outside the stables. Albrecq has been training with Union Jack since the fall of 2011.

Brittany Albrecq jum

Union Jack has a snack of carrots.

Page 7: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE PHOTOSTORY|7

Grand Prix show jumper Brittany Albrecq, 18, focuses on a jump barrier she’s swiftly approaching. Through piercing blue eyes, she sizes up the distance and counts the steps until she’ll need to signal her horse, a 1,500 pound warmblood named Union Jack, to leap. Seconds before a would be impact, the command is given with a kick of a heel and the rider and massive horse soar over the barrier, clearing it by inches.“It feels like you’re fl ying,” Albrecq says of show jumping. “It’s an amazing

feeling when you go around clear, it’s probably one of the best.” She trains Union Jack at the LA Equestrian Center in Burbank, where he lives with over 800 other horses in a 72 acre complex behind the Hollywood Hills.Both Albrecq and Union Jack made the transition into Grand Prix level

competition in the fall of 2011. “You’re competing at the top level of show jumping, against professionals who have been in the saddle for 40 years,” she says. Riders who participate in this type of show jumping can clear barriers as high as 5’3”. “There’s a lot more pressure, and it’s much more expensive.” According to Albrecq, Union Jack is classifi ed as a warmblooded horse because

he’s a mix between a heavy draft horse and a thoroughbred. He spent most of his life in Belgium before coming to America with the help of the Albrecq family last year. An assistant trainer at the center said that horses like Union Jack can sell for up to $65,000 on international markets.Albrecq and Union Jack train on a course six days out of the week where they

practice on a course constructed by her trainers that includes jumps of varying heights. “When I can’t ride for multiple days, I get really restless,” she says. “I just want to be out here; I need to ride.”Though he’s unable to speak, Union Jack’s unique personality is obvious while

they’re training. Sometimes he gives Albrecq a friendly push with his nose when they’re walking in the stable together, almost teasingly. “He knocks me around sometimes–it’s an abusive relationship,” she says, jokingly. “But I love him.” Albrecq and her horse share a special bond. “I talk to him all the time,” she

says. “On good days I tell him how cute he is, and when I’m having a bad day I talk to him about what’s been going on with me. He’s like my therapist,” she adds.

IX: WHERE NEW BLOOD MEETS WARMBLOOD

STORY BY ANDY RIESMEYER & NATHAN GAWRONSKYPHOTOS BY PAUL ALVAREZ JR.

mps with Union Jack during a training exercise at Los Angeles Equestrian Center last Friday in Burbank, Calif. Albrecq describes jumping as “like you’re fl ying.”

Page 8: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

In a crowded 100-seat screening at the Santa Monica YWCA last Wednesday night, a visibly angry Suzanne Wayman Harris stood and shouted, “In my experience the U.S. is the most sexist country in the world—I’ve lived here six years and I’m constantly thinking ‘I can’t believe I just heard that!’” Harris, born in England, explained that she has lived in the Far East and Europe, and is deeply disappointed by the U.S. She has great concerns about raising her daughter here. Harris was not alone in her sentiment, as many of her mostly female audience members

seemed both enlightened and disturbed by the facts presented in the documentary. The YWCA presented the fi lm in conjunction with the online radio program “Broad Topics” and The Commission on the Status of Women.Jennifer Siebel Newsom wrote and directed the feature-length documentary “Miss

Representation” with the intention of shedding new light on an old problem: The consistently unfair representation of women and girls in U.S. media. In a pre-written statement, read by event co-host and Director of Youth Development Veronica Castro Sabaghi at the YWCA last week on Wednesday, Newsom said: “I made this fi lm to inspire us all to be agents for change.”Many Americans accept that sexism, like racism, is deeply rooted in our culture and

politics, but may not realize the extent to which it exists today. Newsom used commentary from celebrities like Rosario Dawson and political fi gures Nancy Pelosi, as well as ordinary people, to modernize and personalize the issues discussed.“Miss Representation” began on a silent black screen with a quote from author Alice

Walker displayed in bold white letters: “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” The fi lm played out as a series of commentaries

by celebrities and people explaining their experiences and opinions on sexism. The commentaries were broken up by short vignettes of provocative images and statistics fl ashing under the narration of Newsom. Many of the documentary’s clips and statistics focused on how poorly women, who

make up 51 percent of the U.S. population, are represented in government. This lack of representation was portrayed to be both a cause and effect of the lack of

positive role models and benefi cial policies for women.One of the most eye-opening comments in the fi lm came from ninth grader Urenna,

when she explained how she started worrying about her weight in the fi fth grade and is still doing so now. National news anchor Katie Couric follwed up by saying that many people have become conditioned to a point that those of average size are affl icted by “Body Dysmorphic Disorder,” defi ned by the Mayo Clinic as “a type of chronic mental illness in which you can’t stop thinking about a fl aw with your appearance—a fl aw that is either minor or imagined.”One segment of the fi lm showed how a magazine ad of a model is digitally enhanced,

step-by-step, removing all blemishes and creating and unrealistically thin and sculpted body. Newsome expressed that media consumers are constantly bombarded by these distorted images. “Miss Representation” did an effi cient job of presenting a wealth of information without

ever coming across as dry or preachy. The controversial subject matter and star-studded cast of commenters, spliced in with

images of sex and violence, did not hurt the movie’s appeal. Since it’s premier at the Sundance Film Festival last year, the fi lm has been aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network and is currently being screened at select locations throughout North America.

8| ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

“The Hunger Games” phenomenon hit theaters this weekend, raking in $155 million in domestic theaters. If you have followed the hype surrounding the fi lm however, its success should come as no surprise. The novel of the same name, by Suzanne

Collins, was a best-seller, and has developed a culture of devoted fans who pre-ordered tickets a month in advance, selling out dozens of midnight shows across the country.Directed and co-written by Gary Ross,

the fi lm’s adaptation stars the beautiful and talented Jennifer Lawrence, Josh

Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. These young actors have developed strong acting resumes, and their fi lms have garnered the attention of fans and critics alike.“The Hunger Games” is set in a future

era where the Capitol controls the 12 Districts of Panem. Every year the Capitol

chooses a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district, for a total of 24 tributes, and throws them into a battle to the death—24 go in, but only one comes out alive.At the heart of the story

is District 12’s Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence), who volunteers for the games in place of her sister. The District’s male contribution is Peeta

Mellark (Hutcherson), who has kept his

love for Katniss a secret ever since they were kids; that is, until the Games.There is no need to be a fan of the books

in order to enjoy the movie. “The Hunger Games” is emotional, suspenseful, and

immensely exciting. Through stunning visual effects

and art direction the audience is transported to the majestic Capitol of Panem.

C a r e f u l l y choreographed battle scenes keep the guys interested, while the

romance between Katniss and Peeta keeps

female viewers swooning.Thanks to casting director

Debra Zane, “The Hunger Games’” ensemble serves justice to its printed precursor. Fans of the novel have been vocal about how well each actor brings these literary characters to life.

Jennifer Lawrence is true to the role of Katniss, hardly ever smiling but always asserting her strength. The role is physically demanding, and Lawrence takes every hit with grace, never backing down from the challenge.Josh Hutcherson brings unbelievable

likability to his character Peeta—reminding the audience that they are watching innocent children, despite the barbarity of the Games. Though Gale (Hemsworth) is rarely seen during the fi lm, he delivers his role well, and we can expect to see more of him throughout the trilogy. Enthusiasts can relax in knowing that the

script follows the book as closely as possible. Writers Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, and Billy Ray keep the book’s essential details intact on the screen.“The Hunger Games” makes for a great

movie experience and seeing as the hype isn’t going to die down anytime soon, it’s better to hop on the bandwagon now before you’re three movies too late.

Samantha PerezStaff Writer

“The Hunger Games” victorious at the box offi ce

Tickets Offered

Professional Services

Tutoring Offered

Career Opportunities

Child Care Wanted

Help Wanted

Research Subjects

addresswebsite

phone

office hours

rates deadlines

payment

refund policy

advertising informationadvertising information

Peter S. ChengStaff Writer

“Miss Representation” exposes sexism inby celebrities and people explaining their experiences and opinions on sexism The

American media and politics

Page 9: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Michael Price CorsairPeykar recently had his book of short stories, entitled “Freedom in Cage;” published entirely in his native language, Farsi.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT |9

Santa Monica College student Parsa Peykar is like a modern day renaissance man, wise and mature well beyond his 20 years of age. Peykar, the son of a former professional soccer player, has achieved success as an author after releasing a children’s book late last year. Growing up fairly wealthy in his native city of Tehran, Iran, Peykar explained that his aspirations were to follow in his father’s footsteps, and that writing was actually not his fi rst career choice. First choice or not, on Thursday, March 29, from 11

a.m. to 12 p.m., Peykar will be signing copies of his book “Freedom in Cage,” on the SMC quad as part of the Nowruz (Persian New Year) celebration. The book signing marks the second debut of his literary calling. The fi rst press of “Freedom In Cage” was completely self-fi nanced, and Peykar sold all 100 copies at the offi cial release on Nov. 20, 2011. All profi ts were donated to the “Child Foundation,” a non-profi t international charity based out of Portland, Ore. Peykar remembers writing trivial poetry at the young

age of 12, but the diffi culties of immigrating to the U.S. inspired him to take his craft more seriously. At the age of 14, Peykar arrived in America with minimal knowledge of English, and began working in order to help his family with all the things he once took for granted.According to Parsa’s 22 year-old brother Pouya, poetry

and literature have always been popular in the Peykar family. Pouya fi rst noticed Parsa’s writing when Parsa was in high school. “I was amazed by his words, he’s mature for his age,” Pouya says. Even though he is the older brother, Pouya says he is always learning from Parsa. Pouya went on to explain how Parsa was just like any other kid back in Iran, but changed after emigrating.

“Freedom in Cage” is a collection of 20 short stories written in Farsi. Each entry contains its own moral message. Peykar says the overall theme of his book is “the defi nition of freedom,” and warns of the dangers of being overly complacent. Even though he feels free, the young author realizes that “all humans are somehow not free,” and that there is always more progress to be made.One of Peykar’s favorite entries is “Guilty Person,” a

story of an innocent man on trial. In the story, a judge asks a man to present himself to the court. “I am human,” the man replies. When the judge asks who birthed him he replies, “the soil.” When asked what his crime is, he simply states, “honesty, purity, respect for women,” and this questioning goes on until fi nally the accused is asked if he has any fi nal requests. The man’s only request is freedom, which the judge thinks deeply about before sending him to prison. Like the title of the book itself, Peykar likes to use this type of paradoxal writing to express emotions that can be hard to describe in literal terms.Each story in “Freedom in Cage” is accompanied by a

basic graphic provided by 20-year-old Hirad Sabaghian, also from Tehran. When Sabaghian read the book, he appreciated its simplicity and moral clarity, which is what he tried to portray with his images. Sabaghian said that he tried to keep his illustrations “unifi ed and simple; that allows the viewer to concentrate on the value of the stories and not get caught up in too many details.” Peykar plans to translate his book to English this

summer. He thinks the message has a universal appeal and will make just as much sense in English, though some of the cultural references will have to change. Peykar is also working on turning the story “Guilty Person” into a short fi lm, and has already completed his second book of short stories, “The Scream of Silence,” which should come out later this year on the fi rst anniversary of “Freedom in Cage.”

Peter S. ChengStaff Writer

S t u d e n t B o o k S i g n i n g : “Freedom in Cage”

READY FOR YOUR NEXT STEP?

Complete your Bachelor of Arts Degreeat Marymount College

BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS in Business, Media Studies,Psychology, and Liberal Arts with emphases in

American Studies, Biomedical Science and Global Studies.

Guaranteed admission makes it easy to transfer

Complete your degree on time with non-impacted programs

Phi Theta Kappa and Transfer Scholarships available to qualified students

Convenient locations in San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes

Accepting Fall 2012applications through May. Apply Now!

For more information, visit:www.marymountpv.edu/transfer-students

Contact us:Tel: 310-303-7311

Email: [email protected]

P

N AT I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y®

An Affi liate of The National University System

- A nonprofi t, WASC-accredited university

- Online and on-campus associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs

- Talk with an advisor and create the right education plan to meet your goals

- Experience the fl exibility of an online class

- Learn about fi nancial aid options and transfer scholarships

Del Amo Fashion Center on level two near Macy’s South21712 Hawthorne Boulevard, Suite 271310.662.2170

www.nu.edu

Visit www.nu.edu for a complete list of convenient Southern California locations.

Learn more at the

National University Online Information Center in Torrance

SET YOUR GOALS AND ACHIEVE THEM

Page 10: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 10|HEALTH + LIFESTYLE

Last week’s announcement by the United States Department of Agriculture, that schools would have alternative options for lean fi nely textured beef, set off a media frenzy that prompted scores of grocery chains to stop selling the beef.Businesses such as Kroger, which operates

Ralphs and Food4Less, Safeway, which operates Vons, and Target, have all said they would stop selling the chemically-treated beef.“Pink slime” refers to lean fi nely textured

beef that has been treated with ammonium hydroxide, which supposedly gives it a pink hue and foamy texture. The USDA claims that lean fi nely textured beef is safe, but consumer concern is driving supermarket chains to pull the product from their shelves.Critics claim that eating the treated beef

is unsafe, while others do not see any health concerns.“It’s just ammonia and water,” said Jim

Oltjen, specialist in the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis. “It helps kill bugs and bacteria. It’s no more exciting than what we do on a carcass routinely when we spray it with organic acids. It’s a really weak vinegar solution, so that’s been done for years. Nobody ever seemed to get excited about a little vinegar sprayed on it.”Ammonium hydroxide is a naturally

occurring compound in all plant and animal life. According to the International Food Information Council Foundation’s website, the FDA approved ammonium hydroxide as a “generally recognized as safe” food additive in 1974. It is a common ingredient in many processed foods, and has also been approved for use in other countries. “There is no evidence in the available

information on ammonium hydroxide that demonstrates or suggests reasonable grounds to suspect a hazard to the public when [it is] used at levels that are now current, or that might reasonably be expected in the near future,” according to the Select Committee on GRAS Substances.Aside from the ammonia issue, critics

claim that lean fi nely textured beef is unsafe because it contains fi llers, which may include parts of the cow like connective tissue. Critics also allege that ammonium hydroxide is added because these other parts are more susceptible to pathogens.Chains such as Whole Foods claim

that their beef has always been free of ammonium hydroxide. “We don’t use it in our meat, and

we haven’t ever,” said Beth Krauss, a spokesperson for Whole Foods. “Our quality standards require no artifi cial colors, fl avors, preservatives. Ammonia [is] the main ingredient that’s not acceptable, according to those quality standards.” Almost all of Whole Foods’ meat

production is done inside the stores, according to Krauss. “The vast majority of ground beef that

we sell is ground in-house from whole muscle meat, Krauss said. “We grind it several times a day to maximize freshness, and anything that is ground outside of the store is tested for ammonia before it comes to us.”“Pink slime is a misnomer,” said Oltjen.

“[There has been] a lot of excitement over naming some ground beef trimmings as slime.”

Alfredo DiazStaff Writer

“Pink Slime” backlash prompts

responseThousands of years ago, shepherds and farmers made a mistake. In order to transport their drinking milk, they stored it in sacks made from the stomachs of sheep. After being stored for some time, it was found that the resulting concoction was no longer milk, but had instead separated into solids and liquid, or curds and whey. It was with this mistake that the

use of animal rennet in cheese production entered the collective stream of consciousness, and grew to become the practice still routinely used today. “Rennet, or rennin, contains

protein-digesting enzymes, [or] chemical catalysts that speed up metabolic reactions,” says Santa Monica College biology professor Thomas Chen in an e-mail. All infantile mammals are born

with this enzyme, as it is most effective as a milk coagulant, and allows animals to properly digest their mothers’ milk.“[Rennet] is found throughout life’s major

domains and kingdoms, from bacteria to mammals, because all living things must be able to digest proteins,” says Chen.In traditional cheese production, farmers

extract rennet from the stomachs of calves and lambs, and use the enzyme to coagulate milk from which various cheeses can be made. Though this process may sound slightly

barbaric, young mammals are reportedly not slaughtered solely for this purpose.Animal rennet is used in most cheeses,

but for strict vegetarians opposed to its consumption, certain cheeses contain non-animal sources of rennet.Thistle, for example, is a popular source

of rennet that is frequently used in the production of Mediterranean cheeses. When the enzyme is derived from a plant like thistle, the resulting taste of the cheese is often very light and fl oral.

Employees at Andrew’s Cheese Shop in Santa Monica say that while a select few of their cheeses are made with plant-based rennet, the majority of their products contain animal rennet because, “it makes a better product.” Andrew’s products are boutique European

and American cheeses, and are often made from very low-production farms. “We know the cows and sheep that produce

the milk for our cheese,” says Colleen, an Andrew’s Cheese Shop employee who declined to provide her last name. “We know the cheese-makers, and they never slaughter animals specifi cally to extract rennet for the cheese. It’s always a byproduct.”Despite the regular use of animal rennet

in gourmet cheeses, in recent years, the world has taken a turn toward genetically engineered rennet, as the process is often far less expensive and time-consuming than extracting the enzyme from plants and animals. According to an article from the European

Commission of Health and Consumer

Protection, the production of genetically engineered rennet began over 100 years ago. “In 1874, a Danish chemist, Christian

Hansen, founded a laboratory in Copenhagen and commenced the fi rst commercial production of rennet from calf and adult cattle stomach,” according to the article.As time passed and the process was

perfected, more cheese producers began to use artifi cially-created rennet. Though it may be slightly unnerving to

realize that the production of cheese relies on an enzyme traditionally found in bovine and lamb stomachs, there are alternatives available for the discerning eater. Vegetable and plant-based cheeses like

Humboldt Fog, La Serena and Brazos Select are entirely vegetarian, and often use raw milk as opposed to that which has been altered for cheese production.

Faye CrosswhiteStaff Writer

Rennet:The bovine enzyme cheese-eaters eat every day

Daniela Berzuini CorsairOwner Andrew Steiner of Andrew’s Cheese Shop.

Daniela Berzuini CorsairRennet, a complex of enzymes produced in mammalian stomachs for milk digestion, is often used in cheese production.

Page 11: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE HEALTH + LIFESTYLE|11

As the last attendee stepped into the room, only crumbs were left on the small table once stacked with vegan mini-cupcakes. Those who got there early had the chance to choose between red velvet, vanilla and chocolate. Topped with a generous layer of frosting and decorated with sprinkles, the fl avorful treats left everyone wanting more.Winner of Food Network’s 2010

“Cupcake Wars,” vegan chef Chloe Coscarelli has become an infl uential part of the culinary world. But how does she get her desserts

perfectly moist without using any eggs or dairy?“The answer is vinegar,” Coscarelli

said, of a trick she learned at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York. “I use it in every single one of my cupcake recipes. You add just a little bit of vinegar to the cupcake batter, and it reacts to the baking soda and makes them really moist, and you get these fake eggs.”Currently touring to promote her new

cookbook, “Chloe’s Kitchen: 125 Easy, Delicious Recipes for Making the Food You Love the Vegan Way,” Coscarelli held a free question-and-answer session and book signing at the 3rd Street Promenade Barnes & Noble in Santa Monica last Tuesday.“All events are free to the public,” said

Shane Pangburn, community relations manager at the Santa Monica Barnes & Noble. “Occasionally we require book purchase at the signing, but it’s a local author, and we didn’t want to turn people away that are friends and family.”The seats in the room fi lled quickly,

causing the Barnes & Noble staff to add more chairs.“It’s a big crowd,” Pangburn said. “This

is about as much as we can handle. I have the number to 140.”A whole section in the audience was fi lled with Coscarelli’s old classmates and friends from Santa Monica High School and UC Berkeley. “We came to support,” said Julia

Lembrikova, who has known the chef since junior high school. “There are, like, 15 of us. I remember she cooked in Berkeley for one of the other girl’s birthday. A vegan cake—it was amazing.”The author described the process of

writing her book as “grilling.”

“It took me about two years to write, but there was a lot of cooking involved,” Coscarelli said. “It’s a lot of trial and error. Every single one of the recipes, I tested 20, 30, 40, 50 times.”The event kicked off with a game of

questions about vegan cooking, led by the author. Three volunteers competed for a gift certifi cate to Scarlett Cupcakes, the Pacifi c Palisades bakery that provided the cupcakes for the evening.After a seven-minute question-and-

answer session, the book signing began. Coscarelli greeted her fans with a smile, and took her time to pose for the camera and attempt to speak with each person.“This was defi nitely a big crowd,”

Coscarelli said afterward. “People knew that I was from here. It was teachers, family [and] people from my community.”Also, in attendance at the event were

New York Times bestselling authors Lisa Bloom, who wrote “Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World,” and Rory Freedman, who co-wrote “Skinny Bitch.”“I love both of their books,” Coscarelli

said. “They are good role models for me as authors, and they have both given me a lot of help and guidance.”“Her book is great,” said Bloom. “I

actually did the blurb on the back. I have about 50 vegan cookbooks, but this is one of my tops because it’s easy [and] accessible to everyone.”Marlinda Karo, who has been a vegan

for ten years, attended the event to get her book signed. Brightly colored post-it notes stuck out from the pages of her book. “I’ve tried all the recipes that have post-

its on them,” Karo said. “Most of the ones I’ve tried are quick and easy.”Another fan in attendance was Delphine

Yougurtjian, a fl orist born and raised in Los Angeles. “I watched Chloe win ‘Cupcake

Wars,’” said Yougurtjian. “I fi nd her very inspiring.” For those considering going vegan,

Coscarelli recommends to go easy. “You know every single meal that you

eat vegan is better for your body, better for the planet, and so if you can just take it meal by meal and make choices as you go, that’s a really good way to ease into it,” Coscarelli said. “I wouldn’t think of it like this all-or-nothing scary thing.”

Susanna SvenssonStaff Writer

Vegan chef and author Chloe Coscarelli shares cooking secrets

Michael Price Corsair

Chloe Coscarelli signs a copy of her fi rst book, “Chloe’s Kitchen: 125 Easy, Delicious Recipes for Making the Food You Love the Vegan Way,” at Barnes & Noble on March 20. The vegan chef and author won “Cupcake Wars” on Food Network in 2010.

FOLLOW USON TWITTER

FIND US ONFACEBOOK

California State University, Long BeachCollege of Continuing and Professional Education

No formal admission to CSULB required

Earn units toward your degree

Enroll on a “space available” basis

Two 6 - Week Sessions May 29 – July 6 (S1S)

July 9 – August 17 (S3S)

One 12 - Week Session May 29 – August 17 (SSD)

Call: (800) 963–2250 ext. 60001 for more information. www.ccpe.csulb.edu/summer | email: [email protected]

CSULBSUMMER SESSIONS

2012

Registration begins April 2.

Page 12: Volume 103 Issue 06

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

The Santa Monica College men’s and women’s swim team had their third Western State Conference meet of the season at LA Valley College last Friday, with SMC’s Michelle Liu grabbing fi rst place in the 200-yard individual medley, and anchoring the 200 yard freestyle relay team for another fi rst place.SMC’s Jeff Lum won the 200-yard individual

medley, Ahmed Mathlouthi won the 1000-yard freestyle, and both swimmers led the men’s 400-yard freestyle relay team to fi rst place. Overall, both the men and women’s teams from

SMC came in second place at the quad meet.Ventura College scored 115 total points to come in fi rst place within the women’s division.The Corsair women scored 54 combined points to

come in second place, while College of the Canyons placed third with 26 points, and LA Valley College placed fourth with 19 points.The Ventura men also won fi rst place, with 103 total

points, while the Corsair men scored 68 combined points for second place. College of the Canyons and LA Valley College

tied in the men’s division with 34 total points to take third.SMC swimmer Liu won fi rst place in the 200-yard

individual medley with a time of 2:13.84; she also competed in the 200-yard freestyle relay and 200-yard medley relay. The women’s 200-yard freestyle relay team

comprised of Liu, Katya Shatalova, Tracy Vassallo and Patty Salgado, came in fi rst place with a time of 1:46.19. Meanwhile, the women’s 200-yard medley relay

team, that included Juju Allison, Juli Giner, Liu and Sam Lambour, came in second place at 2:01.29, just behind Ventura College’s team who had a time of 1:58.39. Shatalova and Vassallo came in second and third

place for SMC in the women’s 500-yard freestyle. Shatalova completed the race in 5:31.64, followed by Vassallo at 5:37.15, and Salgado clinching third place in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 57.78 seconds.SMC’s winning men included Mathlouthi, who

swam the 1000-yard freestyle and came in at 10:11.74, and 1:40.16 in the 200-yard freestyle, SMC’s Lum timed in at 1:58.37 in the 200-yard

individual medley to nab fi rst place. Both were part of the men’s 400-yard freestyle

relay team that included Michael Carden, Lum, Aaron Clements and Mathlouthi, who added points with their fi rst-place fi nish at 3:18.77.Clements also got second place in the 200-yard

breaststroke (2:21.24) and third place in the 200-yard individual medley (2:01.56). Carden, at 49.47 seconds, came in second place in the 100-yard freestyle.According to SMC’s head coach for the swim

teams, Steve Contarsy, the team is a month away from the championship, and needs to train harder. “One of the goals of the program is designed to

have the athletes train hard, and get tired during the training,” said Contarsy. “Then they learn how to race while they are tired. The team had a lot of best times today, and I’m really pleased with that.” The upcoming WSC Championships are scheduled

for April 18-21 at Cuesta College, and the State Championships will be held on April 25-28 at East LA College. “They [East LA College] got two championships

back to back, and they are going to get tired, so they have to learn how to perform while they are tired,” said Contarsy. “And that’s exactly what we are doing, and we’re doing well.”Contarsy also said that even though the men’s 400-

yard freestyle relay team got fi rst place, he is not satisfi ed with all the results. “That was a good relay, not the best time, but it was

a solid relay,” said Contarsy. “That relay is going to compete at the state level.” The Corsairs host their next swimming meet at

home, and it represents the last chance for the swimmers to fi ne-tune their skills before the WSC Championships that will be held at home on Friday, April 6.

-Diving Brief-

SMC’s Noah Nevins won the three-meter diving competition in the men’s division with 220.10 points, and third place in the one-meter diving competition. Nevins, a former gymnast, has been the only diver representing SMC this year. “He just got to work out a little on his gym lines,”

said diving coach Eduard Gorodetsky. “I hope he’s going to make a stay, that’s my goal.”

12|SPORTS

HOW DID YOU GET INTO VOLLEYBALL?

By being around volleyball while growing up around the beach and

playing for leisure. I started playing on the junior varsity team my freshman year in high school.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT VOLLEYBALL?It is a precise game and has

momentum. The best team doesn’t always win, the team that plays the hardest and uses the momentum

does.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST SPORTS MEMORY?

Winning the CIF Southern Section championship for my high school

during my senior year.

WHAT CAME AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?

I went to Grossmont College for a year, and then transferred to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. While out there, I got hit by a drunk guy on a jet ski who was going against traffi c. I was in a wheelchair for a while, and the

doctors were saying I might not be able to play again. Then I moved

back to San Diego to recover. My recovery took about two and a half

years.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL

VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS?Sean Rosenthal is one of the most

inspirational players out there, because he never played on an

organized team, he just played on the beach and became an Olympic

athlete.

WHAT IS ON YOUR MUSIC WORKOUT PLAYLIST?

T.V. on the Radio, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and old school classic

rock.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO DURING YOUR FREE TIME?

I like reading the newspaper and getting news online. I don’t like

watching T.V. as much, but I like watching documentaries; anything

that’s not the Jersey Shore, or reality T.V.

WHAT IS YOUR DAILY ROUTINE LIKE?

I have class in the mornings until about 11 a.m. and then I hit the gym. I try to incorporate more muscles and mix it up by trying new techniques. I do a program called The Ultimate Yogi, which was developed by my assistant coach, Yariv Lerner, and it has

played a huge role in optimizing my ability to perform.

WHAT DO YOU DO BEFORE EVERY MATCH?

I focus on getting a good stretch, and try to focus and mentally

prepare myself.

DO YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW A STRICT DIET TO STAY IN SHAPE FOR

VOLLEYBALL? IF SO, WHAT DOES YOUR DIET

INCLUDE?I try to stay as healthy as I can. I get in veggies and cut down on

sugars.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE TO

SOMEONE WHO HAS JUST STARTED PLAYING

VOLLEYBALL?Remember to have fun with it; don’t treat it too seriously like a

job. Always have fun.

WHAT ARE YOU PLANS AFTER SMC?

I plan to transfer to Loyola Marymount University to pursue

my bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

• • •“I would describe Connor’s

volleyball talent as aggressive—he’s a go-getter,” said head

volleyball coach John Mayer. “He jumps really well, he’s a

strong kid. Volleyball wise, he’s just a talented, athletic guy. And in terms of outside of volleyball, he’s a fi ery competitor, and he’s very aggressive. He’s a natural

leader and he’s very vocal about it. Guys naturally follow him

because he’s not afraid to step up, and I think that’s one of his

best qualities.”

Read the full profi le on Connor at the Corsair Online

The Corsairs women’s softball team lost the fi rst game of the double header 17-2, and though they appeared determined to exact vengeance on the Vaqueros, they fell 15-3 in the second game.Though the Corsairs lost the conference double

header to the Vaqueros, who were ranked #4 in the state, they showed great improvement, and delivered their best effort during the course of both games.In the second game, Samantha Rivera hit a lead

off single for Santa Monica, giving the Corsairs the momentum early in the game.However the Vaqueros quickly snatched it back in

the second when, with two outs in the inning, Brandy Morin hit a triple, batting in three runners to make the Glendale lead 4-0.In the bottom of the third, the Corsairs looked

primed to strike and shift their fortunes. After a walk in favor of the Corsairs that sent Arlene Garcia to fi rst, Rivera continued her trend of strong hitting, and got on base.Following a Vaquero error, the Corsairs then stole a

base that put runners in scoring position on second and third. After the steal, Marissa Machado was walked to fi rst base.With the bases loaded and no outs, it was up to

Jamie Kenyon to keep the rally alive on offense. Kenyon delivered, and hit a single that sent Rivera

home, giving the Corsairs their fi rst run for the day.The Corsairs ended the inning 8-3, eventually

going on to lose the second game 15-3.While the game may have been a loss, the day was

not without a sense of victory. The Corsairs wore new black and pink jerseys designed by Jocelyne Ferrufi no, marking their support for their “Strike out Breast Cancer” event.The Corsairs honored their head coach’s mother

Debbie Bales, a breast cancer survivor of six years, with a gift basket and a ball the entire team had signed. In addition, the Corsairs also raised money for breast cancer research from donations throughout the game.Rivera was three for three batting at the plate.Kenyon pitched a good game, despite not having

substitutes, and having to pitch the entirety of both games in the double header; she was a central part of both the offense and defense. The Corsairs have another conference game at

home next week, where they look to win and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Corsairs lose doubleheader

but remain vigilant to the

endCarrie Jesenovec Corsair

Santa Monica College infi elder Iliana Hernandez (21) attempts to tag out a Glendale College player at second base. SMC lost both games of a double hearder to Glendale 17-2, 15-3.

Henry CrumblishStaff Writer

CORSAIRVOLLEYBALL•TEAM CAPTAIN•

GRADE LEVEL:SOPHOMORE.

HOMETOWN: SAN DIEGO, CA.

MAJOR:BUSINESS MARKETING

POSITION: OUTSIDE HITTER

Lum and Liu Lead SMC Swimmers at Quad MeetLuana KasaharaStaff Writer

BY SARKIS EKMEKIAN • PHOTO BY ASTA KARALIS