Volume106issue12

the corsair • thecorsaironline.com • 1900 pico blvd. santa monica, ca 90405 •(310) 434-4340

volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college FIRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25C

CORSAIR

Arlene KArno Corsair

Rude awakeningthieves target sleeping students in librarynews pg. 4 Opinion pg. 12

For more stories and videos, visit www.thecorsaironline.com

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com • @the_c orsair • /thecorsairnews • /thecorsaironline

volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college 2 contents

SMC community!if you have photos, feelings or opinions on what we publish, we want to hear from you! email, tweet, or facebook us. [email protected]

E D I T O R I A L S T A F FAmber Antonopoulos ··· Editor-in-Chief

c o rs a i r. e d i t o r i n ch i e f@gma i l . c omMuna Cosic ·············Managing Editor

c o rs a i r.mana g i n g@gma i l . c omVanessa Barajas ······· Health & Lifestyle

c o rs a i r. l i f e s t y l e p a g e@gma i l . c omElizabeth Moss ·············· News Editor

c o rs a i r. n e w spa g e@gma i l . c omJasmin Huynh ···· Arts & Entertainment

c o rs a i r. c a l e n da r pa g e@gma i l . c omHenry Crumblish ········Opinion Editor

c o rs a i r. o p i n i o n pa g e@gma i l . c omDavid Yapkowitz ··········· Sports Editor

c o rs a i r. s p o r t s p a g e@gma i l . c omAlbert Andrade ·······Multimedia Editor

c o rs a i r.mu l t im e d i a@gma i l . c omSam Herron ·················Photo EditorDavid J. Hawkins ············Photo Editor

c o rs a i r p h o t o e d i t o r@gma i l . c omJhosef Hern ····················· Illustrator

c o rs a i r c a r t o o n@gma i l . c om Cocoa Dixon ··············· Design TeamMikaela Osterlund ········· Design Team

c o rs a i r. d e s i g n t e am@gma i l . c om

c o r s a i r s t a f fRubens Almeida Jr., Paul Alvarez Jr., Trev Angone, Fabian Avellaneda, Nathan Berookhim, Crislin Christian, Tina Eady, Paulina Eriksson, Lorena Garcia, Vanessa Oliveira Gomes, Jimmy Janszen, Ludwig Jonsson, Arlene Karno, Michelle Kreel, Michael Lee, Josefin Lindstrom, Jose Lopez, Sumaya Malin, Simon Luca Manili, Reyna Mares, Lauren Narvaez, Rachel Porter, Jonathan Ramos, Alci Rengifo, Cassandra Rubio, Emilio Sedeno, Dion To, Gintare Urbutyte, Lyan Wong

F A C U L T Y A D V I S e R SS a u l R u b i n &

G e r a r d B u r k h a r t

A D I N Q U I R I E S :co rsa i r.adconsu l tan t@gmai l . c om

(310) 434 - 4033

oN THE CoVEr: “Sobby” Singh, 18, a Santa Monica College first-semester business administration major from Reseda, Calif., kicks back for a short snooze after taking a test on Tuesday. SMC students are often found sleeping in the library, which has become a target for thefts.

Jimmy JAnszen Corsair

The Santa Monica College jazz band performs at The Broad Stage on Sunday. The band performed songs from composers such as Vernon Duke, Ned Washington and Mulgrew Miller.

CorrECTioNs:In the article “SMC students showcase their own short films” in Issue 11, it was incorrectly stated that Frank Dawson is the media chair. Nancy Grass Hemmert is the chair of the communication and media studies department, and Dawson is the former chair.


3volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college

L arge swathes of the Philippines are in ruins after the historic, devastating Typhoon Haiyan made landfall last Friday with winds reaching up to 195

mph. Cities such as Tacloban have literally been reduced to rubble.In response to this tragedy, Santa Monica

College’s Filipino community is beginning to mobilize efforts to create awareness and gather aid. The campus’ Filipino club, Kapisanang Pilipino, held a special meeting on Thursday to discuss ideas on how to help.“My entire family is in the Philippines,” said

club member Nailah Barcelona. “They are very active on Facebook. As soon as the typhoon hit, I contacted them online because the phones there don’t work. My mom’s home in the province was destroyed. We’re collecting money from each family member to help restore it.The latest figures reported by the National

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of the Philippines are of 3,982 dead. Although this is a vast reduction from the original reported figures of more than 10,000 dead, the numbers could still grow as bodies wash ashore and others are found buried beneath debris and rubble.“My cousin lives in the zone where it happened,

and luckily her home was well structured, and her children are fine,” Barcelona said. “But 90 percent of the homes are shacks over there, and they were destroyed.”The club decided during its meeting to begin

posting information on their official Facebook page, also named “Kapisanang Pilipino,” asking anyone and everyone to donate what they can. A particular focus will be put on rice, which is the Philippines’ most basic and accessible source of food.Carmina Dimaano, the club’s president, has

family still living in the Philippines.“I have an aunt who lives there,” she said,

“She still has her home, but her land is gone. Everything in the Philippines right now is literally trash. Everything that was up is not there anymore, and since the Philippines is such a flat land, that just made it worse.”On how relatives and others are coping,

Dimaano said it is difficult.“Right now, they are trying to get as much help

and supplies as they need,” she said. “Granted, they are getting help from other countries, but it’s not enough. According to my aunt, it will take time because everything was wiped out completely.”SMC geography professor William Selby said

that Haiyan was a major weather event but also part of a rare, possibly once-in-a-lifetime event humans have faced for centuries. “That storm could have happened 100 years

ago, or 2,000 years ago,” said Selby, “It may be the most powerful storm that has ever made landfall in the history of the world, very impressive. These storms are events people have had to cope with for centuries.”Selby pointed out that not every major storm

can or should be blamed on climate change,

but with sea temperatures growing warmer and producing more constant water evaporation, which in turn releases more warm water into the air, the data shows these kinds of storms are becoming more powerful.“You warm up the oceans, you warm up the

atmosphere, we would expect that these storms would be more powerful,” Selby said. “What we could assume, all based on scientific theory, that these storms would become more powerful. It seems like that’s happening.”The size of the storm applied to California

would cover territory from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border, Selby said.“The winds that storm had could wipe anything

off the map, and that’s what it did,” Selby said. “Once you have winds sustained at 195 mph anything goes.”

news

Filipino students gather goods in typhoon’s wakeFor one Santa Monica College Filipino student, "My mom's home in the

province was destroyed." alci rengifo

Staff Writer

Kapisanang Pilipino will have a box available during its regular meetings, which are every Thursday from 11:15 a.m. to 12:35 p.m., in which anyone on campus can drop off clothing, canned foods or money donations.

To donate online, visit redcross.org.

Volunteer work engages SMCThe new volunteer search program is designed to facilitate volunteer

opportunities to SMC students.

U ntil recently, Santa Monica College students seeking volunteer opportunities had to look on their own. However, with the Associated

Students leading the search, volunteer work is now accessible on campus.The Civic Engagement Program, led by AS

Vice President Alex Vandertol, provides students with a platform to find volunteer opportunities."It is meant to broaden the volunteering

opportunities of SMC students," Vandertol says, who also mentions that students not involved in clubs, such as Alpha Gamma Sigma, Phi Theta Kappa, the math club, and others, have weaker leverage in finding volunteer opportunities."This will give opportunities to students who

are not directly involved with specific clubs," he says.Vandertol says that the addition of a volunteer

booth within SMC's job fair is beneficial to both local and international students. Local students benefit from the job fair, but for

international students who usually cannot work in this country, it helps to have volunteer work available to them, he says.The CEP table during the job fair brought in

around 50 applications, which Vandertol says is an excellent start.Although he has taken the program's reigns,

the motivation for the CEP comes from Van Tran, the primary commissioner for the AS vice president."I really wanted us to connect more to the

different organizations to get students more engaged," Tran says. "I really am hoping that this program is going to somehow try to get students more active on campus — not just go to school and go home, but reach out to the community and see who they can help."Tran, who sports a long history of volunteering,

says she has not had any terrible experiences when searching for volunteer opportunities, but instead feels that volunteering has been beneficial for her."I've always found volunteering important,

especially because I'm an international student," she says. "We can't work, so it's also a way for us to gain some work experience."Tran says the CEP is an effective outlet for

students not only to volunteer, but to help out with something they feel strongly about."I'm very passionate about human trafficking,

so I volunteered at [the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking], where they help human trafficking victims," she says.Tran feels that not knowing what to look for,

who to call, or what applications to fill out can be intimidating for a student seeking volunteer work."This program would already establish the ties

with an organization so that it's easier for the student to just go volunteer," she says.One organization set in the CEP's sights is

"Tree People," an organization that encourages people to plant and care for trees in different locations throughout Los Angeles.On Sunday, the AS took a number of students

up to the Santa Monica mountains in an attempt to restore an area plagued by fires and drought.Although only a total of 15 people made the first

trip, Vandertol hopes to increase the number of volunteers for each event as the program grows."In the future, we will have larger events," he

says. "We're hoping to have relationships with volunteering organizations so that students who want to continuously volunteer at any given length of time can do that."Vandertol hopes to organize a fundraiser for

the victims of Typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines almost two weeks ago.Vandertol says his ultimate goal for the program

is for it to grow. "I really want this program to be focused on

bringing people together and helping the local community, and maybe in a couple of years, go even further," he says.To access the CEP, go to the AS website via the

student services link on the SMC website. Once on the page, click the "Civic Engagement" link, and follow the instructions on the page.

jonathan ramosStaff Writer


volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college 4 news

Amy GAsKin Corsair

Library visitors sleep in the library on the campus of Santa Monica College on Thursday, Sept. 12.

S tudents crowd in front of the Santa Monica College library before it opens, rush to desks to study and do homework, and occasionally take a nap. But in the flurry of it all, they are caught by thieving opportunists.

Although laptops, smartphones and textbooks have been targeted and stolen by thieves at the same rate as in previous semesters, methods of theft have become surprisingly direct, according to the SMC police department."Theft is the biggest issue at the college," Sgt. Jere

Romano said. "The library is no different than other areas of the college."Romano estimated that out of the 900 reports the

police department receives each year, 300 are theft cases.In the last week alone, five thefts have occurred in

the SMC library. Some students leaving their items unattended have become victims of theft.However, Mona Martin, dean of the library,

explained that the long-standing issue of theft has been exacerbated by costly technologies in her 20-plus-year tenure so far.“When I started working here, we did not have

laptops being stolen because we didn’t have laptops,” Martin said. "So the items being stolen now are more expensive."SMCPD cadets patrol the library often, especially

in the aftermath of the shooting that took place there in June, and they are instructed to guard any unattended items they see."A lot of people, for some reason, appear to be

very naive," Romano said. "I just think they're very trusting. They'll walk off and look for a book."Romano said that some students will charge their

cellphones on the public outlets around campus and come back after an hour to find them missing.Items that are lost or stolen are reported to the

library staff, who immediately notify the campus police."I don't think [theft is] increasing; I think year over

year we're pretty much stable," Romano said.About half of the thefts that occur on campus are

committed by non-students, while the other half are by current SMC students, he said.Romano said that thieves work in cycles, and may

hit University of California, Los Angeles, West Los Angeles College, other colleges in the area, and SMC. The SMCPD keeps close contact with other colleges to look for these trends in theft.SMC student Erik Galeana argued that students

should take some personal responsibility. “People just get too comfortable and think that

because it’s a school it’s supposed to be safe, but it’s not the school’s job to protect you,” he said.Thieves have targeted students either sleeping or

studying, and in several cases have stolen Apple Macbooks, iPads and iPhones right under the students sleeping on top of their gear.But Romano assured that SMC is not dangerous."People don't need to be paranoid," Romano said.

"This is a safe campus."

The amount of theft may be the same, but the way it is conducted is changing in interesting ways, targeting sleeping students.

Library theft takes new shape

Albert AndradeMultiMedia editor

Tuesday, Nov. 12A 2009 Toyota Corolla in Parking Structure 3

was defaced at around 6:30 p.m. after a number of yellow Post-It notes were left on the Toyota driver’s windshield insulting her parking ability. The suspect also smeared some form of jelly or jam on the left side of the driver’s window and door handle.A Samsung Galaxy Note cellphone was stolen

from the men’s restroom on the first floor of the Science Building around 1:20 p.m. after a male student left it unattended for approximately five minutes. The student saw an African American male student entering the Science Building lecture hall with what he thought was a similar device in the subject’s back pocket.

A white leather wallet belonging to a female was stolen from the library at 1 p.m. after it was left unattended. The length of time the item was left unattended was unspecified. A follow-up report is pending.At 12:45 p.m. a 14-inch white HP Pavilion laptop,

a Samsung Galaxy S3 phone and $4 were stolen from a secured locker in the school’s gym. It was possible the padlock remained unlocked since there were no signs of forced entry. No witnesses have come forward.

Wednesday, Nov. 13A medium-size brown handbag was stolen after

being left unattended in the library for two minutes at 11:15 a.m. while the owner of the bag searched for her book. The case is currently pending.An Apple iPhone 4S cellphone was stolen from

a desk at 12:35 on the second floor in the west side of the library. The student victim saw the suspect — who wore dark-colored clothes — pick up the cellphone off the desk and walk away. The victim attempted to follow the suspect but could not identify the male.Around 12:40 p.m., a gold Apple iPhone was

stolen from the second floor of the library after a student fell asleep with it next to his head, and an unidentified suspect took the cellphone. A suspect was seen taking the device, but not known to be a student. The case is currently pending.

Sticky car situations, library theft continuesVanessa Barajas

HealtH+ lifeStyle editor

illustrAtions by Jhosef hern & VAnessA bArAJAs Corsair


5volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college

A coyote, thought to be a part of a migrating pack, was seen on Ocean Avenue and 25th Street in Santa Monica last

week, several blocks from Santa Monica College.The coyote sighting occurred after

several other reports of coyotes near the Santa Monica Municipal Airport and the golf course, said Sgt. Jay Moroso of the Santa Monica Police Department.The family of coyotes appears to have

decided to migrate to the Santa Monica area, Moroso said."It does appear that it's a family of a

male, a female and two young adults," he said. "It's a family. It's not like there's 30 of these things running around the city."The sightings have been so frequent

that the SMPD felt the necessity to issue a public information bulletin on Nov. 8, detailing what to do if residents encounter a coyote."As far as we know, we've had reports

secondhand of sightings throughout Sunset Park area, the Santa Monica Airport area, and I believe one or two on the north side of the city," Moroso said.Santa Monica resident Sonny Lettig

regularly goes out for late night walks at Clover Park, which is located right behind the airport. About a month ago, he said he witnessed a coyote dash across the park’s large, open center field. “At first I thought it was a cat, but I

realized it was much bigger,” Lettig said. “It moved underneath the light.” Lettig suspected that the coyotes were

drawn to the park’s large dumpsters, where locals leave leftovers from picnics. “I know they’re here,” he said. “They’re

probably trying to get food the way bears do.”

While it is hard to determine exactly why a family of coyotes would descend into Santa Monica, or where they are even coming from, the SMPD agreed that the most likely cause is food.“Most of these animals are all food-

driven, so they are coming down for a food source,” Moroso said.He emphasized that it appears the

coyote family has been living specifically

around the airport in the brush area."We are looking in that area and have

traps set up," he said.Once the coyotes are safely captured,

the police will contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine the best course of action, which could include letting them loose into the wild.The public information bulletin states

that "urban sprawl" can cause animals such as coyotes to leave their natural

habitat because of a creeping human presence or activities such as construction.After looking at a map, Moroso said he

suspects the coyotes might be coming from the Will Rogers Park, which is at the mountain base, and stands a mile from Santa Monica's north-side city limits.Moroso said there have also been

reports of pets and other small animals

being snatched by the coyotes."We have anecdotally gotten

information secondhand that cats, dogs and in one case a rabbit were attacked by a coyote," he said. "But we at the police department have no direct knowledge that has happened."Santa Monica College Police

Department Officer Summer Samano said that if a coyote were to make its way onto campus, the SMCPD would call Animal Control."We would deal with the situation as

best as possible until they arrive," she said. "If it's just one coyote, it's probably more afraid of you than you of it. But if it's a pack of four, then it's an issue."SMC student Paul Martinez was not

too fazed by the idea of seeing a coyote nearby, but does know from experience the tense surprise of encountering one."Where I live in Eagle Rock, I've seen

a few coyotes," he said. "I was walking my dog and saw a coyote across the street staring at us. I just slowly walked away with my dog, and luckily, it went away."Moroso recommended that any residents

who encounter one of the coyotes should call 911. If the situation is not serious or life-threatening, residents should call the police department's Animal Control unit.To avoid encounters, the SMPD

recommends that residents who suspect the coyotes are near their area to keep small pets indoors, secure garbage cans with secure lids, and to not leave food bowls for pets outside during the night.If you find yourself facing a coyote,

recommended techniques are to wave your arms, shout in a low, loud tone, or make yourself look as big as possible, including opening your jacket like a cape.

At CSU Channel Islands working side-by-side with professors, industry experts and professionals is an opportunity for every student. They bring theory into practice. They learn how problems can be solved. These are more than field trips or internships to put on resumes. These are the lessons on which to build careers.

TOGETHER WE INNOVATE joinus.csuci.edu/cor

CSU Channel Islands - We Start As StudentsSanta Monica City College - The Corsair Insertions: November 13, 20, 27; December 4, 2013

BW 4.875” x 7.5” em: [email protected] Due: November 6, 2013

Christen Huff -’12 BS Nursing Registered Nurse II, Same Day Surgery, Community Memorial Hospital; Gabriel Guillen -’11 BS Nursing Community Health Education & Faith Community Nurse Network Supervisor CHAMP® Program Coordinator, Dignity Health – St. John’s Hospitals

news

Coyotes on the prowl in Santa MonicaRecent sightings near the airport and on Ocean Avenue could be due to urban sprawl.

nicK KoVAlenKo Corsair

Coyote witness Sonny Lettig points at open garbage cans in Clover Park’s BBQ and picnic area on Sunday night. Lettig suggests that coyotes are driven from the Santa Monica mountains by easy available food sources.

Alci RengifoStaff Writer


volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college 6 health + Lifestyle

As the curtain closes on Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, Santa Monica's Virgina Avenue Park Center is busy preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Located on Virginia Avenue, only two blocks from Santa Monica College, the center takes care of dozens of children within its Thelma Terry Building, as well as teenagers within its Teen Center.The center provides several activities, such as arts and

crafts, homework assistance, and music playing and recording in a studio setting for its elementary-level children. The center has different specialist instructors or volunteers for each activity.The Teen Center provides teenagers from middle school

to college with areas of study, as well as rooms to relax and interact, including a lounge with sofas, a television, and wall space for teens to paint.The center encourages teens to stay active and provides

a fitness room with instructors to guide them through a variety of workouts and exercises.Moira McCormack, supervisor of the elementary

program and academic assistance program of the Teen Center, says the center provides all of these services free of charge to its members.The center is funded through the city of Santa Monica,

and it is given a budget each year, which the administration then uses to decide what to spend money on, she says.As far as budgets go, McCormack says the center has been

very fortunate, as it did not have to cut much of anything."I think we have had to basically be fiscally responsible,"

McCormack says, adding that they must take note of the areas of the program that would be more expendable than others if severe budget cuts were to take place.McCormack also spoke of several grants that the center

has applied for, but has not yet heard whether it will receive them or not.With all of these free services already at hand, the center

is able to hold several events that allow the community to come together to celebrate any given holiday. One upcoming event for the center is its annual Harvest

Dinner on Nov. 22."It's basically like our version of Thanksgiving," says

Kelly Mehrvaj, a program specialist. She says the center invites families within the community

to go and enjoy music from a DJ, as well as possible live music from the children.

La Posada is another event hosted by the center for its Christmas tradition. For this event, Mehrvaj says members walk through the community holding candles, and perform plays for the community."It's really a cool cultural event, especially if you've never

done Posada," she says.One of the biggest events of the year for the center is the

Cinco de Mayo festival."During that event, we have a lot of performers come,"

Mehrvaj says. "We have arts and crafts activities, and it is open to the entire public." For this event, different cultures speak about their history

and what the holiday means to them. Other performers include Mariachi bands, who are known for their energetic Mexican style of music.Additional holidays, celebrated by the center, include

Mardi Gras, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Juneteenth, a holiday which celebrates the emancipation of African Americans.Mehrvaj feels it is important to recognize and embrace

the cultures of each child, parent, staff member and any other member of the community, in order to grow as individuals."Basically, what we like to do here is if we have something,

we share our own culture," she says. "The more cultures you can immerse yourself into, the more you have an identity to your community."Although construction around the buildings prevented

the center from holding some of their events this year, McCormack says the center's celebrations will be back on track in 2014."We just want to make sure that the participants are

educated on the different celebrations that occur," she says.McCormack says her ultimate goal is to provide services

to the community that they otherwise might not have access to."It's really based on what they want," she says. "It's the

input we receive from parents and from residents about the programs they would like to have here."

The Virginia Avenue Park Center is a community and family-oriented place where children and teens can go to for help, guidance, friendship, and holiday celebrations.

Virginia Avenue Park gives back

Jonathan ramosStaff Writer

PAul AlVArez Jr. Corsair

The Virginia Avenue Park Teen Center’s enclosed outdoor patio area displays artwork created by students and teens of the community on large-scale canvases. This area is also used for holiday gatherings such as the Halloween event Dia de los Muertos held last month.

effrey Wasserstrom, professor of history at University of California, Irvine, is a specialist in modern Chinese history, author and blogger, who gave

a lecture at Santa Monica College on Thursday on the history of U.S. relations with China, as well as the future ahead.A Santa Monica native, Wasserstrom

first visited China in 1981, where he spent a full year and has continually visited the country ever since. He said there is an ever-present need to understand the global giant that China has become in the last century.The country is always in the world's

spotlight, but Wasserstrom said there are conflicting impressions about what the U.S. thinks of China, and vice versa.Within a single generation, China has

evolved into a state of large economic and

political power."The ways in which Americans feel

about China tend to be intense one way or another," Wasserstrom said. "China has rarely been a country that we've felt neutral to. We've spun wildly between admiring China and fearing China."At the same time, America is not viewed

by China in a neutral sense either, Wasserstrom said. For the longest time, the U.S. has waited and expected China to converge into an American-esque culture, something that he said are American "positive fantasies" about China.In many ways China has converged, but it

has also stayed the same. Rather than any one image of one social group, ethnicity or gender, Wasserstrom said it is impossible to generalize what China really is.Wasserstrom showed a series of

past images of magazine covers and propaganda, that illustrated how American views toward China have fluctuated the

"positive and negative fantasies" over the years.The photographs that Wasserstrom

showed consisted of Chinese tanks from a 1989 Time magazine cover to another from a book titled "Death by China" with the image of a Samurai sword piercing the U.S. with the phrase, "One lost job at a time." This conveyed a sense of hostility and anxiety with the country.Another image was of basketball player

Yao Ming with Ronald McDonald, the face of McDonald’s and a clear American symbol. Wasserstrom said it seems that in the American imagination, China is either seen in a positive or negative way."September 11 switched our attention of

fearing China for some time, but it's slowly coming back," Wasserstrom said, who spoke of "dream periods" and "nightmare periods" characterizing the relationship between the U.S. and China. Wasserstrom said that China is not alone

in its involvement in the "seesaw" of emotions, like Japan, but that the U.S. has historically fluctuated with feelings toward them as well.Taking globalization into consideration,

and the flow of the American way of doing business, Wasserstrom pointed out that there is a concern that China may someday become too much like the U.S. and eventually surpass it."China is both an economic worry and

a geopolitical partner," Wasserstrom said, after posing the question of how the cycle can be broken. He stressed to keep in mind the

multiplicity of China because the worst of the writings about China make it easy to forget its diversity.Wasserstrom said that it is important

to remember that America has more in common with China than is often thought, which may go unnoticed in these turbulent, political times.

Instead of fluctuating between fear and admiration, the United States may have more in common with China than once thought.

Peaceful periods, turbulent times

fabian avellanedaStaff Writer

J


7volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college Health & Lifestyle

scott bixler Corsair

Santa Monica College Career Services Center student worker Farah Hashim (left) helps SMC student Roberto Marquez (right) begin the process of writing a resume and looking for an internship at SMC’s Career Services Center on Tuesday.

Attainable internships offered on campusNow students can experience what it would be like to work as an engineer, a public relations

consultant or a marketing representative, and sometimes for pay.lorena garcia

Staff Writer

E ver wanted to gain experience working in the career of your dreams while still attending school?

Some college students do not wait until they graduate and receive their degree to begin working in the professional field of their choice.These students obtain internships

that usually deal with their major. College-level internships can last for a few months, and summer and winter internships last for a few weeks. Students who seek an internship can do so for college credit.A student must first find an internship

from a list of companies that offer Santa Monica College students internships in the Career Services Center. There are many participating companies, from 93.1 Jack FM to the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

In order to apply for the internships, SMC students must set up an account on SMC's Jobs4u website, collegecentral.com/smc, and register using their student identification cards. The website has the job or internship

listings exclusively for SMC. Students can build and upload their resumes on the website, and they can be searched by employers. The Career Service Center also

has business booklets regarding the different businesses that offer internships.Once a student has found an

internship, he or she must attend an internship orientation held on campus, and is then given a month to attend one of the orientation classes. The classes offer more information regarding internships, as well as assistance in building a resume and a cover letter.SMC internship coordinator Judith

White says that the Jobs4u website is updated continuously for students. White says that there is no definite way to know if all of the companies listed are legitimate, but 99 percent of the time they are."We look over each one, but there is

no way to be 100 percent," she says.White also says that the most

popular majors for internships are for entertainment, fashion, communications and business. A few internships can be paid internships, but most are not. Depending on whether the student is being paid or not determines the hours per week that must be fulfilled.For a one-unit class that is paid, a

student must work for five hours each week, while an unpaid class requires four hours per week. For a two-unit paid class, a student must complete 15 hours each week, and for an unpaid

two-unit class, a student must only complete eight hours a week.SMC communications major Tatiana

Cansino, who wants to work in the fashion industry, had a paid internship with a clothing company in the summer. She says the experience was valuable, and she liked the flexible schedule she was given."I was involved in various aspects of

the clothing production process," she says.Students are often encouraged to

obtain an internship to gain experience in their career field. Some internships can also lead to a job when nearing the end.SMC holds an internship fair every

spring in May. Students in attendance can speak with business representatives about the internships offered, so students can be placed into an internship that is right for them.

SMC Career Services internship steps from College CentralRegister with College Central Network.

Build a resume with Resume Builder, or upload a resume.

Review your job history and report offers.

Receive emails about programs, services and job-related topics.

Access announcements, upcoming events, career advice documents, career advice videos and podcasts.

Search for jobs exclusively for SMC.

Build an online portfolio in Career Portfolio Central to demonstrate your work.

*

*

*

*

*

* *

collegecentral.com/smc


volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college 8 Photostory

Santa Monica College student-intern Michelle Nguyen (left) prepares news anchor Rochelle LeBlanc (right) for a live broadcast at the CityTV Santa Monica station on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Santa Monica College student-interns prepare the set for a live production at CityTV Santa Monica. Santa Monica College student-intern Mateo Monje sets up a camera with his mentor Ken Hinegardner in preparation for a live television broadcast at Santa Monica CityTV on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Santa Monica College television production students Brenda Cruz (left) and Andrea Dalfino (right) operate audio and visual controls on Thursday, Nov. 7.

Camera

Ready!Photos by Rachel Porter

Text by Jonathan Ramos

Students interested in learning through hands-on experience of television and broadcasting production should look no further than the communication and media studies program at Santa Monica College.Gail Fetzer, professor of

television production at SMC, says her goal is for students to gain in-depth knowledge on the technical aspects of television production,

such as setting up cameras, lights, cables and other technicalities. “We’ve been doing this for three years now,” she

says, elaborating on her own time teaching the class. “We do the main stage plays and we do the studio stage plays as well.”Although her students shoot and edit projects in the

classroom, Fetzer says the exciting part of shooting an actual theater production is that students do not have the chance to redo shots if they make mistakes, but must shoot the whole production in one take.


volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college 9photostory

Santa Monica College student-intern Mateo Monje sets up a camera with his mentor Ken Hinegardner in preparation for a live television broadcast at Santa Monica CityTV on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Santa Monica College television production students receive a hands-on experience while learning the basics of studio production.

“We have got to do it right then and there, and they really have something at stake,” she says. “They’ve really got one shot to get it right.”SMC student Nick Powell says the hands-on

experience of the program has helped him learn at a faster rate than by just sitting in a classroom.“I’m gaining a lot of literacy in technical aspects of

production that were previously unknown to me,” Powell says. Prior to joining the program, Powell already had

some screenwriting experience, which he learned from his father, who is a professional screenwriter.SMC student Frank Vidrio already had 25 years of

production experience before returning to school and joining the program. He says his reason for returning to school was to refresh himself on the ever-changing technology of production.“Every camera is different,” Vidrio says. “Every

switcher is different. Every piece of equipment is different, so you have to re-teach yourself all the time.”Other than having experience on the SMC

campus, for the past three years, students have been

participating in internships provided by CityTV Santa Monica. Robin Gee, cable television and public information

manager at CityTV, says the internship program was offered as a partnership with Fetzer’s class in particular. The internship has become a routine part of the class, as students need to complete 30 hours in order to pass the course. Gee says that students who intern make up the entire

production crew for the station. “Here, they are learning the basics of studio

production,” he says. “So they are hands-on learning camera and audio, and they can work their way up to directing, depending on how they do, how the shows are, and how the season goes.”The internship is also available for community

members of the city who wish to volunteer. While the program has been around for more than

a decade, Brad Lemonds, the broadcast laboratory technician at SMC, who also runs the media lab, says the program really took off in the past three years.“We started with one DV [digital video] camera and

my tripod,” Lemonds says, explaining that resources

for the program have greatly progressed. “We have come a long way and hope to expand more and more.”He says the goal for the program is to obtain a

production truck to cover events, such as sporting events and more theatrical events.Whether students are new to the class or have prior

production experience, Fetzer says that the improvements shown are substantial.“I’ve seen throughout

the semester; they’re getting better at it and more confident,” she says. “They help each other. One student will learn something. Then they pass their knowledge on to somebody else.”Rachel Porter contributed

to this report.


volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college 10 Arts + Entertainment

P hotography as physical endurance and dangerous adventure illuminated The Broad Stage on Thursday night when Paul Nicklen,

one of National Geographic’s most respected photographers, presented his work, a collection of memories gathered for 14 years in the polar region.Nicklen has traveled to the farthest,

coldest regions of the earth and captured through his lens the enrapturing vistas and wildlife.The special presentation was titled “Polar

Obsession: Photography from the Ends of the Earth,” which treated the audience to an hour of stories and images, some of which are still unpublished by National Geographic.Nicklen specializes in working in the

polar region. During the talk, he described himself as a photojournalist, “who dives under the ice and gets borderline hypothermic.”Among the pictures of vast landscapes

covered in ice or lush forests, some photos

revealed the physical endurance of shooting in the wild. In one shot, Nicklen, in full scuba gear, rose from underneath a sheet of ice, his lips swollen from the cold.“I have the early onset of hypothermia

here,” Nicklen said. “I’m so cold, I look up at my assistant Jeff, and I was signaling him to get me out of the water, and he thought I wanted him to take my picture.”Another photo showed Nicklen’s regular

polar base — a tent sitting in the middle of a vast sea of snow.“This is home for three months at a

time,” Nicklen said. “I don’t let any heat in because if you trap heat in there, you won’t want to come out and work.”Nicklen discussed his passion for living in

cold weather and exploring nature, which began at the age of 4 when his parents moved the family from Canada to a small island community near Greenland.“I learned the survival skills I would need

for what I now do,” he said.National Geographic reaches about 40

million people with one story, which drives his passion, Nicklen said.Other photos from the polar regions

told stories about animal life that were as personal as any human experiences. In one shot, a female polar bear is pushing away a

male that persistently follows her.“I sat out there for 24 hours observing

these two thinking they would mate,” Nicklen said. “But she kept pushing him away, and he would follow her around and around, howling because he really wanted to mate with her so badly.”The photos Nicklen shared ranged from

adorable to ferocious. In one shot, a small leopard seal looks at the camera from under a sheet of ice. In another photo, a polar bear snarls with a gash on his face from a fight for the right to mate with a female.Nicklen described the perils of coming so

close to the animals he photographed. As an example, he presented some footage in which a bear’s nuzzle is touching the lens. The same bear then proceeds to tear apart the camera and gear with its claws.“I love having to put together the pieces

of broken equipment and then ship them off to National Geographic,” Nicklen said. “It shows them that we are working hard out there.”In one photo, a 50-foot-long bowhead

whale passes by Nicklen’s camera. So large was the beast in the photo that it created a huge space of clear water around itself just by ascending upward from the depths of the ocean.Among Nicklen’s most famous works is

his documentation of the life of emperor penguins.For his reporting, he won the 2012 World

Press Photo of the Year award. The photos

he showed were comic and sometimes heartbreaking. In one shot, teenage penguins lounge around, bored as they look at Nicklen’s small Cessna plane sitting on the ice. In another, an abandoned baby penguin sits in the cold, soon to die.Nicklen ended the presentation with a call

for preservation of the wildlife, especially in the hemisphere. He spoke about the successful campaign by Greenpeace last month, which moved to block oil tankers from operating in the farthest reaches of British Columbia.

illustrAtion by JAsmin huynh Corsair

E volving technologies like the Internet have created opportunities for people to watch movies on-the-go, or in the

comfort of their home. However, this shift is significantly changing the landscape of movie-going and home-viewing.Going to a theater nearby and paying for

admission is more expensive now than ever before. An average ticket price is $8.05, even when adjusted for inflation, according to Box Office Mojo’s website.However, the movie industry is making

more money now than in the past, primarily because of the various options available to watch films.Movies like “The Avengers” and “Iron

Man 3” were released within the past year, and have made some of the highest worldwide grosses of more than $1 billion, according to Box Office Mojo.With a little more than a year since

their theatrical run, these movies found a new home on Netflix, a service that offers unlimited streaming of movies and television for a monthly payment equal to the average ticket price.But prior to its release on Netflix in June of

this year, “The Avengers” was the highest-pirated film of 2012, according to a study conducted by the TorrentFreak website, which brings the latest news on copyrights and privacy.With the advent of the Internet also

come some of the movie industry’s biggest problems, such as patrons capturing movie footage in theaters and imported bootleg copies of movies.Simultaneously, streaming mediums

like Netflix not only give the artists their fair share over pirates, but also provide a middle ground for viewers who wish to see their films outside of the theater.Professor Salvador Carrasco, the head

of the film production program at Santa Monica College, says that many of his students tend to watch movies on laptops, tablets and smartphones. While acknowledging it as an evolutionary fact, Carrasco also has reservations.“I believe a movie doesn’t quite go in the

same way when you watch it on a screen the size of your palm as when you see it on a big screen,” he states in an email to the Corsair.However, since his own film “The Other

Conquest” also resides on Netflix, he says that in preparing for his new project, he is “making conceptual adjustments already, considering that people will also be watching it on home-movie and computer screens.”“Although my natural tendency is still to

compose for the big screen,” he adds.Like Netflix, another subscription-

based program called MoviePass aims to bring people to theaters with unlimited screenings for a monthly price that ranges from $25 to $40.

However, MoviePass is still very young, with the popularity of subscription-based streaming services still being the dominant subscription model. This has come at the cost of physical media. Just recently, Blockbuster announced in a press release that they are ending all retail and mail DVD distribution in addition to closing the remainder of their stores by early January 2014.Also Patty Polinger and Cathy Tauber, co-

owners of the Santa Monica-based DVD rental store Vidiots, are directly affected by the various options provided by new technologies that enable people to watch movies.“There are so many options now that it

has been really hard for us,” Taubler says. “It has greatly decreased our business because people have less time.”Polinger says that even her own teenage

children like watching movies on smartphones or tablets.“They don’t care as much about watching

something on the big screen or going to a

film like older generations,” she says.However, for some, watching movies

comes down to price.“[Going to the theater] is expensive, and

I’m a college student, and we’re all broke,” says SMC student Blake Guzman. “It’s a lot easier to watch on my computer.”Another new way of movie-watching

was recently introduced by the Disney-owned theater, El-Capitan, with screenings called “Second Screen Experiences,” where young children and their parents are encouraged to use tablets and smartphones to interact with the movie.This functionality has been immigrating

to some physical re-releases of Disney films like “Bambi” or “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” where this interaction is an option.Regardless of the many ways to watch

movies, they will always be accessible, whether it is done illegally or legally, at home or the movie theater. At the end, the quintessential way for watching movies depends on an individual’s preference.

Technology offers new ways of watching movies, making traditional theaters only one of the many options.

A photojournalist, who works in the world’s most remote environments, shared close-up images of hungry polar bears, lonely seal pups and dying penguins.

albert Andrade & Gintare UrbutyteMultiMedia editor & Staff Writer

Changing the way we view movies

National Geographic photographer presents shots from wildlife


scott bixler Corsair

Photographer Paul Nicklen discusses work-ing for National Geographic at a lecture at The Broad Stage Thursday. The background shows one of his shots of a polar bear.


11volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college arts + Entertainment

C ocooned within the intimacy of The Edye Second Space at Santa Monica College’s Broad Stage on Friday night, the audience heard the music of trumpet

master Ron Meza and his jazz band Planet Afrobeat.“We’re going to get dangerous,” Meza

said, as the band set up and prepared to play a selection of jazz classics and one original composition.Meza, who has been playing the trumpet

since he was 8 years old, does not only lead the 11 members of Planet Afrobeat, but is also a film composer and award-winning sound designer, who currently works at the Fox Broadcasting Company.Meza and his band prepared a show

officially themed “A Tribute to the Titans of Trumpet.” The songs selected for the evening came from specific trumpet jazz masters like Donald Berg.The session kicked off with an energetic

number titled “Step Lightly.” Meza introduced himself and the band as audience members streamed in, many of them SMC students who were being afforded extra credit for attending the night’s show.Some Latin jazz was thrown into the mix

when the band played “Recuerdame,” an

old standard that mixes the sounds of the trumpet with keys of the piano, played by Geoff Stradling. Bassist Chris Conner thumped some snapping notes, while drummer Rory McCurdy pulled off a solo.The jazz classic “Star Eyes” was

performed as Meza led the way with a melodic trumpet section.The only original piece that was presented

that night was composed by Stradling, titled “Isn’t it Contagious.” It was a long piece, and Meza warned before starting the session by saying, “Please wish us luck.”After the show, SMC students were left

impressed.“I liked the drumming a lot,” said student

Gary Bernadino. “It has that kind of fusion — jazz fusion like Miles Davis’ album ‘Bitches Brew’ — you know, that kind of rock jazz.”“It was great,” said Arty Han, another

student. “I really liked it.”While watching students surround the

other band members asking questions or showing their admiration, Meza said that he appreciated the young audience.“It’s nice to see people under 30 come

check it out,” he said. “It’s a funny thing because when you listen to popular music these days, they are sampling this old stuff. We’re playing what they’re sampling. It’s coming full circle.”“You guys were well-behaved and very

educated,” he said, when he addressed the SMC audience.Meza, who also lives in France, lamented

that the American and French jazz scenes face some of the same perils.“It’s suffering the same economic

problems,” he said. “There’s less clubs and less money and less venues to play. But there is still a lot of playing and learning. There are a lot of young people playing music, not living off of it, but learning.”Meza complimented SMC jazz professor

Keith Fidmont, who arranged the event.“He runs it with an iron fist like a real jazz

band,” Meza said. “That’s good.”For students barely starting to discover

jazz, Meza had a few recommendations,

including listening to jazz musicians from the 20th century like Chet Baker, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker.But ultimately, it “depends if you want to

stay popular or get into more smooth jazz,” Meza said.For Meza, there is a wider, more culturally

important reason for appreciating jazz.“It’s really the only American music,” he

said. “This is something that came out of our culture. It’s a mix of a lot of things. It started here. It’s ours. We can’t forget we all had a part in it. We’ve got to be proud of it. We have to support it, because without it, we have nothing to sample.”

Award-winning trumpeter and 11-piece jazz band performed a collection of trumpet jazz.

Honoring legendary jazz trumpeters, celebrating American music culture


Santa Monica College students sit in the audience during the performance of Ron Meza and his jazz band Planet Afrobeat on Friday night at The Edye Second Space at Santa Monica College’s Broad Stage.


Ron Meza performs on Friday night at The Edye Second Space at Santa Monica College’s Broad Stage.



volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college 12 opinion

S leeping in the library is not just a bad idea; it is a dangerously bad idea.It is a common sight to see Santa

Monica College students in the library putting aside their daily schoolwork to catch a nap in between classes.

These individuals take up space that could be used by students who want to finish homework and study for an upcoming test, turning it into a sweet spot for catching up on lost sleep.Mona Martin, dean of the SMC library, says there is

no policy against sleeping in the library.“The reason I say we don’t have a rule against

sleeping in the library is we know that our students — many of them are commuting,” Martin says. ‘’Students come in, start reading, and start getting sleepy.” She explains that commuters who take early morning

classes would rather pass time sleeping in the library than go home just to have to return to school later.“I see students who come in here and just plain

come here to sleep,” Martin says. “While that may not exactly be the intended purpose of the library, we know that sometimes students just need a place to sleep.”Although students who fall asleep while studying

in the library have a much more valid excuse than those who decide to walk in with the sole purpose of sleeping, both sides are at fault for the true danger within the school’s book haven.Students who have left their personal items

unattended while they sleep have woken up to rude and costly awakenings.

Within the last two weeks, there have been at least eight reports of stolen property within the library. Six of the incidents occurred while students fell

asleep with their personal belongings unattended, and four ended up costing students more than $400, according to crime reports provided by the Santa Monica College Police Department.These thefts consist of only those reported, and

combined with the thefts that have gone unnoticed, the total amount of crime committed within the library could be inconceivable.As the campus is filled to the brink with idiotic

individuals with nothing better to do than to rob others of their personal belongings to feed their own juvenile, materialistic pockets, victims of these crimes need to realize that they are just as mindless.Students who sleep in the library are not resting their

brains, but shutting them off completely. They need to understand that there are other individuals, who stalk and lurk within the library, waiting to pounce on any opportunity to steal valuable items.Students should not expect these vultures to suddenly

find it within the kindness of their hearts to wake them up whenever they see something worth taking.These thieves will strike, and they will do it cleverly.

Students can complain all they want about how the school, the library, and the campus police are not doing enough to secure the area for naptime. It is these same students that would whine and

moan if the library were to ever enforce any kind of regulation against their library slumber parties.The library and the school should forbid sleeping in

the library. The school already charges a high price

for food, parking and other fees. A penalty against sleeping would hardly seem like anything new. Let’s say a $10 penalty were given to sleeping students. That would resemble peanuts compared to the cost of several items that are left unattended and stolen every day.A penalty like this would certainly be at the

disapproval of many students, but the school can no longer adhere to what students want. Instead, they must figure out what students need.How many more thefts will it take? How much more

money will it cost?The library has been gracious enough to allow

students to rest inside, but it can no longer just stand by as these crimes continuously damage its credibility.As great as it would be to see the school do more to

prevent thievery in the library, it would be in the best interest of students if they would just pay attention to the signs at the entrance and within the library that warn students of the thefts taking place.Students have to decide if catching up on sleep

is worth the risk of losing hundreds of dollars in personal belongings. Go to sleep early, or take a nap on the grass, but do not subject yourself to crimes which can be easily avoided.The library is for reading, studying, and doing

homework. It is not a place to sleep, and it is not a location to set up a crime ring. But since students cannot seem to understand this, the school needs to take action. Without this, students will continue sleeping in the

library, and continue paying the price for their own mindless negligence.

Jonathan ramosStaff Writer

Students sleeping in the library need to be aware of the cost.

Not just a bad ideaAmy GAsKin Corsair

A library visitor sleeps in the Santa Monica College library on Thursday, Sept. 12.


13volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college opinion

Tattoos are gaining popularity among students and should not be stigmatized.

C her has a butterfly tattooed on her butt cheek as a sign of freedom. Theodore Roosevelt had his family crest inked on his

chest. My uncle, a retired captain, collected tattoos on his body to always remember the places he explored around the world.Personal inscriptions on the skin is a form

of art as old as humanity itself.In 1992, when the remains of a

5,300-year-old Ötzi, “The Iceman,” was found in the Alps, more than 50 tattoos were discovered on his body. Through time, different cultures from

around the globe have used this method of expression, and still tattoos have long since been considered taboo in modern society.The prejudices against tattoos still exist.

Body ink has constantly been associated with a rough, rebellious crowd by older generations, no matter how mainstream tattoos become.It would be fair to say that the popularity

of tattoos have exploded during the last decade. Prejudices or not, it has never been more socially accepted to decorate the body with ink as it is in our day and age.Dan Regan, entrepreneur and owner of

tattoo shop Black Banditz in Hollywood, said that old beliefs have done a complete turnaround.“Attitudes have changes over the years,”

he said. “Tattoos have become more acceptable. At first I would get looks of disapproval, but over time that has shifted.”Regan said he receives satisfaction from

meeting new people with his sleeves rolled down, body modification on full display, just to see their reactions as they find out both his arms are covered in ink.“If they change their view or attitude

toward me, I know they aren’t my kind of open-minded people,” he said.Regan said most people who come into

his shop do it for the same reason that made him do it.“It’s a way to express myself — a piece of

art that I own, that I carry with me, and no

one can take it from me,” he said.Currently non-inked Santa Monica

College student Mogeh Adjoudani said she is in favor of tattoos and their rise in popularity.“It’s a way of expressing yourself or

making a statement, as with any other form of art, except it’s displayed on your body,” she said. Adjoudani’s said she has been wanting a

tattoo for some time, but is too indecisive.“I want to be 100 percent sure before I do

it; once it’s there, it’s there,” she said.Tattoos are a form of artistic expression

and should be considered art.Although it took some time before the first

one was placed on my wrist — a gesture of gratitude and love to both my parents — thoughts about future difficulties like employment did cross my mind.Depending on the choice of future

careers, as with anything in life, different attitudes will apply to different professions.SMC graduate Martina Lund said she

understands why tattoos might be less desirable in some areas.“I don’t think I have to worry about it

where I’m going,” she said. “It might actually be an asset, showing your personality.”However, no matter where you are

going, you should always be smart about your decisions when it comes to tattoos. A workplace — where prejudices and discrimination outweigh personality and skills — simply will not be a workplace of choice.We live in an individualistic time, and

it is becoming increasingly important to create your own identity. This shift in attitude has allowed for a new form of self expression to flourish. People continue to use their bodies to reflect their inner self, personalities, beliefs and political stances.If you can express yourself through

music, a book, fashion, or a canvas, then you can do it on your own body as well.

Josefin LindstromStaff Writer

New thinking on inking

ludwiG Jonsson Corsair

Jessy James (left) and Travis, who declined to provide his last name, show off their tattoos in Venice, Calif. on Tuesday. Travis says he wants to travel the world and get tattoos from the places he visits.

ludwiG Jonsson Corsair

Cinthia, who declined to provide her last name, has a tattoo on her shoulder in memory of her cousin who passed away.


volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college 14 opinion

illustrAtion by Jhosef hern Corsair

Social media is dominating society, for better or worse.

A phenomenon that has emerged in the last 20 years is the increasing dominance and overwhelming presence

of social media in our daily lives.Talking to strangers online, posting

pictures, and spending money to experience the latest features of a website have become common occurrences in our society, since everyone wants to be in on the trend of social media.Sharyn Obsatz, journalism professor

at Santa Monica College, said she is not surprised by the ubiquitous use of social media.“It is in the human nature to be curious,

to gossip and trade stories,” Obsatz said. “Now it is just easier, and you can do it 24/7 with social media.”There is one social media site that has been

around for nearly a decade, and established itself as a dominant force. Facebook, which launched in 2004, was initially created to connect college students, and has since evolved into its own entity, extending beyond universities and connecting more than a billion users worldwide.Facebook is set to be more personal than

other social media forms. Users can make it more personal by creating profiles that reflect their personalities and lifestyles. Also, unlike some other social media sites, Facebook targets a general audience of all ages.But is it still in the same limelight it has

basked in for the past decade, or are the lights slowly turning off for Facebook?Both Obsatz and SMC student Noella

Kembo have expressed the advantages and disadvantages of using Facebook.“As a mother of a young kid, I love taking

pictures of him and sharing it with family and friends, and I get immediate positive response back,” Obsatz said. “On the other hand, by constantly sharing your life online, you may experience both envy and oppression by others.”Kembo said the social media titan is used

by some to craft an image that will appeal to others.“I use Facebook to keep in touch with

friends and business contacts that are living abroad,” she said. “However, many other people use Facebook as a social community where they can portray a more favorable image of themselves.”I began using Facebook four years ago,

but have lost interest in the social media superpower over the years. The site has strayed from its original vision and has morphed into a haven for scammers,

attention-seekers and advertisements.Facebook’s purpose has also been ruined

by those who use it to update their status with unnecessary, pointless events on a daily basis, like getting coffee or standing in line at the grocery store.Some upload twerking videos, which they

will eventually regret in the future, while others use the site to promote themselves as musicians, comedians or dancers by constantly bombarding the public with their videos and posts.But Facebook is beginning to see a

decrease in younger generations using the site.According to an article on CNNMoney’s

website, although Facebook has 1.2 billion active users and 874 million mobile users, the younger audience is losing interest in Facebook.“We did see a decrease in [teenage]

daily users [during the quarter], especially younger teens,” Facebook chief financial

officer David Ebersman said in the article.Still, no matter what the numbers say,

the site’s appeal is deteriorating, since the only real purpose it serves now is keeping in touch with family and friends who reside in other countries.“This obsession with social media has

created a lust for attention, especially for the younger generations,” Kembo said. “I do believe that Facebook will fade away. A new website will probably launch soon, and people will jump on that train.”Social media rising stars like Instagram,

Twitter, Vine, LinkedIn, and Tumblr — all created for different purposes for users to utilize — have attained a growing success rate.Whether teens may be losing interest in

Facebook or not, the site may still see a domino effect in the future, where a mass of social media fanatics will stop updating their Facebook walls, and turn to newer social media sites.It is a karma effect. What Facebook did

to MySpace will one day slap them back in the face, as a new social media trend will throw it to the corner of the World Wide Web to collect dust bunnies.Obsatz, however, believes Facebook still

has some time remaining before it finds itself replaced.“I think that Facebook is winning over

other social media networks, and the site has several decades left until it fades away.”Still, other social media sites will

eventually outgrow Facebook, which will result in Facebook being replaced by a new social media giant that will storm its way into our lives, leaving Facebook to rest in peace with MySpace.

Sumaya MalinStaff Writer

R.I.P. Facebook

O verpopulation, typhoons rendering entire countries to ash and rubble, and scarcity of resources are issues that require humanity's immediate attention. One of the great inescapable truths about

human progress is that as we advance technologically, we will need to seriously consider the idea of moving out into space. Space travel for the average reader will no doubt evoke

immediate images from cinema. "Star Wars," "Star Trek," and — heaven forbid — "Prometheus" are the vehicles for the popular concepts surrounding journeys into the black beyond. Films like Stanley Kubrick's 1968 "2001: A Space Odyssey" foreshadowed space stations, moon landings and even Skype-esque communication. Back then, as the United States and the Soviet Union

raced against each other for technological supremacy, using space as their arena, the idea of space exploration was exciting and even romantic. Today, space travel is not as romanticized, but it is a

necessity. Tragically, even as space-adventure films like "Gravity" pull in millions at the box office, the U.S., a dominant superpower on the world stage, has scaled back serious space exploration. No longer are we excited about going into the unknown to become the next Marco Polo in the firmament.The online journal "Space" reports that for 2014, the

Obama administration has approved a $265 million cut in funding for planetary science programs. A cut of $50 million is also being applied to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.Compare this to the $682 billion the U.S. sustains for

military operations overseas.

"What drove us to the space race, to the moon, was politics; in all of these things, you need motivation," said Simon P. Balm, a Santa Monica College astronomy professor."We will always want to explore," he said. "That's natural,

but you need to get the public behind it."Indeed, space travel is not just about the heroism of it all.

It is also about basic progress. "If you look at it as a whole, there's a lot of benefit from

it," Balm said.The amount of technologies applicable to our everyday

lives, which are the result of NASA science, is impressive. Among the notable technologies still expanding are infrared ear thermometers, which, according to NASA's official website, "permit rapid temperature measurement of newborn, critically-ill, or incapacitated patients."Other highly useful tools and items being developed

include advanced artificial limbs and heart pumps for patients awaiting heart transplants. All this is cooked up by the brains at NASA as they are trying to figure out how to keep someone mobile and alive in space, and then applying their discoveries to life on earth. Even safety grooves on highways were first developed

by NASA for landing aircraft. Radial tires with stronger, thicker fiber developed by companies such as Goodyear were first developed by NASA."A lot of what drove the Apollo program wasn't just

beating the Russians into space," Balm said. "It was also trying to do some science. So you've got to try and justify on the scientific basis." Now imagine what can be developed and created if the

space program starts focusing on long-term exploration into farther reaches such as Mars. "It's something we're going to be forced to do," Balm said.

"If you think about it, the human population continues to expand. We're running out of resources. We're going to reach a point where the Earth can no longer sustain us."

Earth will become very difficult to inhabit because we have damaged the environment. As civilizations progress, it will be natural for them to move out into space."My sense is that if we do go back to the moon, it would

just be a stepping stone," Balm said. "Our ultimate goal will be to go to Mars. It's a much easier planet for us to adapt to live on. Mars is very Earth-like. If I were in NASA, and I had to choose where the money should go, I would be adventurous and push for Mars."One key point Balm made is that space travel is becoming

a hot commodity for multimillion dollar companies. These corporations sell flights into space for any billionaire with the cash to spend on such a trip. Just flying up there is no longer the sole responsibility of NASA or government funding. Instead, money can now be divested specifically to a Mars mission or similar forms of exploration. Balm warned that there are of course many risks."You even have to think in terms of the psychological,"

he said. "Going to Mars would involve a small group of people stuck in a very small space for a long time together."Although adaptation would be difficult, it is possible. As a

species, this is a reality we will have to become acquainted with in the near future."I think it is our destiny, whether we like it or not," Balm

said. "Either we do it on our own accord, or we will be forced out into space."

illustrAtion by GintAre urbutyte Corsair

The stars are our destiny

alci rengifoStaff Writer

Humanity will eventually have to leave Earth and venture into the cosmos.


15volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college sports opinion

T h e rift between the National Football League's Washington Redskins and several Native American groups has recently raised questions on the offensiveness of some sports mascots.

For as long as sports teams have existed, they have identified themselves by a nickname chosen by owners and organizations. Santa Monica College sports teams are identified as Corsairs for the men and Lady Corsairs for the women. But the claims of racism and insensitivity toward the

Redskins for their use of a nickname that refers to Native American tribes have brought up the question of whether or not sports organizations should be allowed to name themselves after any race, ethnicity or culture.The Redskins are not the only team to utilize a racial

alias. The Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball is another team whose nickname has sparked protest from Native American tribes.Other rather unnoticed teams include the University

of Notre Dame, whose nickname "The Fighting Irish" portrays an angry leprechaun on a mission to fight, and San Diego State University, whose nickname is the Aztecs.The Native American nicknames have been called

offensive, racist, derogatory, and demeaning by groups advocating for a change of name.In order to avoid these kinds of predicaments, new sports

teams should no longer name themselves after anything that comes remotely close to resembling a race, culture, or ethnicity. The backlash is too great, and the controversy is unavoidable.

Whether they are honoring a proud culture and tradition, or whether they are deliberately degrading certain groups, these kinds of names seem to do nothing but cause chaos.However, the battle between Native American groups

and the Redskins organization has become pointless.I am all for people who want to stand up for what they

believe in and defend their cultural values, but this never-ending saga lacks a key ingredient that neither side has — proof that the other side is right.Groups against these kinds of names feel that the names

are a mockery to proud traditions and cultures. The fact that certain sports teams are nicknamed after animals only adds fuel to the fire. Between the NFL, MLB, National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League, 39 teams are nicknamed after a kind of animal. Some of these teams represent animals who are fierce,

savage, blood-thirsty fiends, and when a racial or ethnic group becomes associated with these creatures, it is understandable that it might rub them the wrong way.Others, such as Redskins owner Dan Snyder, feel that

these names bring honor and spirit to such groups.In a letter to Redskins fans, Snyder claims that the

nickname is meant as a "badge of honor" and that it was "never a label."After all is said and done, the matter withstands that there

is no proof on whether either side is telling the truth. Snyder could simply be trying to save his organization’s

image, or his feelings for the nickname could be legitimate.

Groups against the allegedly derogatory nicknames could be correct in their claims of racism, or they could just be wasting their breath on a foundation that might not be anywhere near what it is made out to be.It is, however, hard to sympathize with the offended

groups because although the offense has a basis for doubt, there is no logical reason for why the offense is being voiced 80 years after the team was founded.According to the official website of the Washington

Redskins, the team was founded in 1932 as the Boston Braves and changed its name to the Redskins in 1933, only one year later.Eighty years of being the Redskins, and now groups are

voicing their concerns?The Washington Redskins should absolutely keep their

nickname in place. There is no reason that why, after all this time, the team should suddenly give up its tradition and identity. The Washington organization did not name its team

after a pack of wild dogs, and the name was not decided recently. For eight decades, the name has been associated with warriors who give their blood, sweat and tears.If there is no honor in that, then each group must seriously

take a step back to figure out what they are trying to sell.Until then, groups against the name should take another

route in figuring out just why the nickname is suddenly so wrong.

Controversy over alleged derogatory sports nicknames sparks debate on name changing.

jonathan ramosStaff Writer

Why now?

illustrAtion by JAsmin huynh Corsair

In a recent football game in Alabama between the McAdory High School Yellowjackets and the Pinson Valley High School Indians, students from

McAdory held up a large banner that read, "Hey Indians, get ready to leave in a Trail of Tears Round 2."This was, of course, a reference to the Indian Removal

Act of 1830. Yes, racism is alive and well in our society, and it is

disgusting that it has made its way into sports. Sports bring people together from all different walks of

life and bond us all together around one common goal — victory.There is no place for racially charged, offensive material

such as that banner in today's day and age. That is why sports teams, such as the Washington Redskins, need to change their names.While Dan Synder, the current owner of the Redskins,

continually insists that they do not mean to offend anyone by the name, one needs to look no further than the past history of the team to discover the name's true intent.George Preston Marshall, the original owner of the team

who gave them their name back in 1932, was a staunch proponent of racial segregation. Before he died, he went as far as to set up a foundation in which he would leave his fortune under the condition that no money would be donated to causes that supported racial integration.When the National Football League finally allowed

African American integration in 1946, Marshall refused to sign or draft any to the Redskins roster, holding out until then Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, along with Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, forced the team to integrate or else lose their government-funded lease on the Redskins stadium.Given this man's history, it is not at all inconceivable to

arrive at the conclusion that he most likely meant harm by the name "Redskins," a term that has been used throughout history to degrade people of Native American descent. It is nothing more than a cop-out and pure ignorance to

suggest that the purpose of the name "Redskins" is to honor and remember a once-proud culture. It is no different than any other racial epithet that has been directed to members of various other racial and ethnic minorities.In a very courageous and powerfully delivered segment

during halftime of a nationally televised game last month between the Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys, legendary sportscaster Bob Costas stated, "Think for a moment about the term 'Redskins' and how it truly differs from all the others. Ask yourself what the equivalent would be if directed toward African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, or members of any other ethnic group. When considered that way, 'Redskins' can’t possibly honor a heritage or a noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. It's an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day intent."Costas argued that other such names like the Cleveland

Indians and Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball, are different in that those terms have never been used to demean Native Americans. I would take it one step further and say those names,

or perhaps their team images, do offend and should also

be looked at because it is ridiculous and insulting for any other group to tell Native American people what is and what is not supposed to honor them. Only Native Americans themselves have the right to

determine what is honor and what is not.In no way do I think that Snyder or members of the

Redskins management are racist, and I believe they are genuine when they say they mean well toward Native Americans.However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to believe

them when they continue to speak out in favor of upholding the name. The team needs to do away with any remaining elements that connect them to Marshall and his racist legacy.Being Jewish himself, I would think Snyder would

understand the meaning of racial and ethnic oppression, and I imagine he would be signing a different tune if a sports team decided to use a swastika or refer to Jews in a derogatory manner.Allowing the Redskins to keep their name, or any other

similarly named sports teams, does nothing but continue to perpetrate racial stereotypes and animosity such as the ignorance of the students of McAdory. These names need to be done away with, since they have

no place in sports.

Get rid of it

David YapkowitzSportS editor

The term “Redskins” is a racial epithet, and similarly named teams have no place in sports.


volume 106 issue 12 • november 20, 2013 • santa monica college 16 sports

Apply to CSUDH today at CSUMentor.com, and join the growing community

of international students choosing to finish their degrees on our campus.

CSUDH welcomes students from around the world with:

• Scholarships for international students

• Convenient campus location in the heart of L.A.

• Dedicated International Student Services office

• Wide selection of quality degree programs

• Easy way to transfer credits toward your CSUDH degree

• Attractive and affordable university housing

Learn more at CSUDH.EDU/International.

I want a school that reflects my world.

(310) 243-3422 • 1000 E. Victoria Street • Carson, CA 90747

CSUDHconnects

T he 2013 season came to a close on Saturday for the Santa Monica College football team as they trounced the

Antelope Valley College Marauders, 57-30. Not only did the win cap off the Corsairs

third straight conference championship, but it also preserved SMC’s conference win streak, which now stands at an unprecedented 20 games. “That’s three straight conference

championships, which has never been done at SMC,” said head coach Gifford Lindheim. “That’s 20 straight conference games. This team really started to gel. We started the season one and two, and then ended up eight and two. We ended up winning seven straight and running the table while growing as individuals and collectively.” The backbone of this team the entire

season has been their stingy defense. “It means a lot to us; we had to come

out and make a statement, not being able to go to a bowl game this year,” said SMC defensive back Nathaniel Allmond. “We had to come out and still show everybody we’re still here. We’re three-time champions now, and we’re trying to get the fourth next year behind another big defense.” With only a few minutes elapsed in the

first quarter, quarterback Brad Hunt connected with wide receiver Anthony Okray for a 64-yard touchdown down the left side, giving SMC an early 7-0 lead. Okray, described by Lindheim as “starting

the season a good receiver and finishing a great receiver,” has especially come into his own the last half of the season and has been a big reason for the Corsairs’ continued success. “It’s very important to put pressure on

the opposing offense,” said Okray. “With that play, it took all their momentum away. They were hyped to come out there. I had

people clapping in my face and telling me we weren’t going to win, but that play just broke them.” After a quick three-and-out, and before

the Marauders even knew what hit them, SMC wide receiver Kendall Tillman fielded a punt off the bounce. After seeing nothing but open field in front of him, he returned the punt down the sidelines and across the field for an impressive touchdown that pushed the Corsairs’ lead to 14-0. With SMC’s flurry of scoring in the

first quarter, Antelope Valley attempted to respond. After a long drive into SMC territory, Marauders’ quarterback Benji Phillipe unleashed a rainbow into the corner of the end zone. But with extra time to track the ball,

Allmond made a leaping interception to preserve the Corsairs’ two-touchdown lead. “It was really important,” said Allmond.

“They were driving; we were backed up against our own end zone, and we just had to make a play. When I saw the QB roll out, I was really hoping he was going to let it go. Once he cocked that arm back, I was just like, I’m ready. Let’s go. Let’s do this. I knew it was mine when it was in the air.” Keeping the Corsairs on pace all day

were Hunt as well as the return of starting quarterback Steven Hamm, who had been out since early in the season with a knee injury. After receiving minimal playing time

in the last few weeks, both players made their impression on the season finale, Hunt throwing for 215 yards and four touchdowns and Hamm throwing for 134 yards and two touchdowns. “It felt good just being back on the field,”

said Hamm. “I wasn’t even expecting to be out there as much as I was, but with Jerry [McConnico] not playing today, I just felt like I did my thing. It was cool.” Despite the Marauders closing the

Corsairs’ lead to 28-21 by halftime, SMC would spend the third quarter on a 22-point run behind Cameron Stevens’ first touchdown catch of the day, a Daveed Carter pick-six, and a Deontay Banks touchdown reception.

As the clock winded down, and the Gatorade showers found their way from coach to coach, the Corsairs did not hold anything back. Celebratory and rowdy, most of the team had to be corralled under the goal posts as Lindheim delivered his final postgame speech of the season. After Lindheim expressed his final

thoughts on the season, he was already focused on a fourth straight conference championship next year. “We have a simple formula; it’s try to

recruit the best players in the area who are good people, and coach them, and care about them,” said Lindheim. “We’ll get started with that soon.”

trev angoneStaff Writer

Corsair coronationThe Corsairs cap off their third straight conference championship with their 20th consecutive conference win.


Sheree Rouzan (middle), mother of Santa Monica College Corsairs defensive lineman Ty Rouzan, as well as family and fans cheer in the stands during the Corsairs’ last game of the season against the Antelope Valley College Marauders on Saturday at SMC.


Santa Monica College running back Eric Kyle breaks a tackle from Justin Powell of the Antelope Valley College Marauders at the last game of the season on Saturday at SMC.

Volume106issue12

Documents

i r s t

d i n q u i r i e s

e d i t o r i n ch

i r p h o t o e d i

o p i n i o n pa g e

r t o o n

t im e d i

d e s i g n t e