Volume104Issue3

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CORSAIRvolume 104 issue 3 • september 19, 2012 • santa monica college FiRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25C

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Ground Man Sergio Cardenas works at Santa Monica College for 1 year. Sergio is one of the employees at Santa Monica College who might be affected by the cutting of jobs in the winter session.

Photos By Livia WiPPich Corsair Garden Equipment Operator Julian Martin has being working at Santa Monica College more than 30 years. Julian is one of the employees at Santa Monica College who might be affected by the cutting of jobs in the winter session.Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif.

Parking Enforcement Andrey Steele has being working at Santa Monica College for 11 years. Andrey is one of the employees at Santa Monica College who might be affected by the cutting of jobs in the winter session.

DaviD J. haWkins Corsair Fireman Wenger enters Drescher Hall with gas metering equipment as students wait outside the building.

Julian Martin started working as a groundskeeper at Santa Monica College more than 30 years ago. In 1982, the gas he put in his hedge trimmer cost $1.25 per gallon, there was no Bundy campus and Ronald Reagan was the President.Thirty years later, Martin, who has

been tending to plants at the school longer than most of its students have been alive, still arrives on campus early and stays late. Martin is but one of hundreds of

employees who perform the non-teaching and non-administrative functions of the school. From building technicians, to office

staff, to parking attendants, together they are the “classified employees.”But their livelihoods could soon be in

jeopardy, as the college predicts furloughs and layoffs for classified employees if Proposition 30, a tax-initiative set to increase funding to California schools, fails in November.“It’s unfortunate that the timing is

what it is. We are all waiting on pins and needles for Prop 30,” says Bruce Smith, SMC public information officer, adding that no decisions would be made until then. Building technician Kevin McAllister,

55, says a reduced classified work force at the school could have a big impact on the already stressed staff. “We have one certified plumber, one

carpenter, two electricians and three HVAC technicians [who] are responsible for the maintenance of the over nine

million square feet covered by 27 buildings,” McAllister says.“[SMC] is my home. I feel confident

that they can’t let the groundskeepers go,” he says. “But if Prop 30 fails right now, things are different, I’ve been doing this work for over 32 years and it would be very challenging to find a new job.” Fred Zimmerman, 70, who has has

been an electrician at SMC for over 17 years, claims that attempts toward the privatization of the school system actually began in the 1970s. “It’s wealthy corporations who wanted

to make public sector employees villains by saying that we are lazy and don’t do our jobs,” Zimmerman says. “We are going to keep fighting!” Even with a bleak future, some

employees are still optimistic. Audrey Steele, an 11-year SMC parking enforcement officer says, “I’m not going

to cry ‘doomsday’ yet. I am going to be positive.”For 11-year custodian Pam Carter, 53,

the future is dependent upon Proposition 30. “If it doesn’t pass, I’m losing a few

months out of the year, and it will be hard on my family,” Carter says. “That is why I am going to vote for Prop 30.” Though classified employee Sergio

Cardenas has worked at SMC for only a year, his sentiments are the same. “The way I feel is there is always a way

and a solution,” says Cardenas. “We need to mediate things. This is my livelihood and I hope we can

sit down at the table.” The college is set to begin talks with the union in the next few weeks, according to Smith.The Classified Employees Union could

not be reached despite several calls from The Corsair.

andy riesmeyer & ruth mavangiraNews editor & staff writer

henry crumblishstaff writer

Classified employees prepare for cuts

SMC evacuates buildings alongside Pico after suspected gas leak

Students, faculty, and campus visitors were evacuated from the premises of Santa Monica College on Monday after the odor of natural gas permeated throughout the school.The odor allegedly stemmed from a

teaspoon of mercaptan that was spilled by the Big Blue Bus company in the afternoon. Mercaptan, which is known for its

putrid stench, is often added to natural gas for safety reasons, such as making gas leaks easier to detect.Big Blue Bus announced that the

chemicals were released into the air at their Bus Facilities at Lincoln Street and Broadway Street, and that wind currents wafted the unpleasant smell to the school.Simultaneously occurring with the

chemical spill was a power outage, which left Drescher Hall and the business building without power.The outage caused Drescher Hall, the

business building, the administrative building and Admissions Complex to be evacuated.The buildings were evacuated for

approximately 10 to 20 minutes. Back-up generators were activated in roughly the same amount of time.

However, classrooms as far as the science building were affected, as students could be seen covering their faces with jackets and t-shirts attempting to escape the rancid smell.At 1 p.m., bookstore employee Elease

Juarez called for an evacuation of the building over the P.A. system after being advised to do so by campus police.“They told us if you feel it’s unsafe to

be in the store then go ahead and leave,” said Juarez. “We were told to go where the gas was least prevalent, so we waited in front of the library.”John Rogers, who works in the

cosmetology department, was unfazed by the abrupt commotion.“Students always escalate things,” said

Rogers, who believes students in the business building may have exploited the apparent danger to get out of class early.“Students always want it to be a terrorist

attack or something spectacular—it was a hot Monday afternoon and young people want to go home,” said Rogers. Rogers didn’t feel the abundant

additive odor was ever an immediate threat to faculty or student safety. The incident illustrated SMC’s current

or apparent lack of preparation in the event of an actual gas leak.

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

volume 104 issue 3 • september 19, 2012 • santa monica college 2

MichaeL yanoW Corsair

An unnamed girl plays in the water fountain on Sunday, Sept. 16 at Douglas Park in Santa Monica, Calif. High temperatures resulted from high pressure hovering over the Southern California and air from the Nevada desert flowing west blocking cooler from the Pacific Ocean. Santa Monica pier set a new record with 87 degrees on Saturday.

contents

E D I T O R I A L S T A F FNathan Gawronsky ····· 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 omAmber Antonopoulos ··Managing Editor

c o rs a i r.mana g i n g@gma i l . c omAmber Antonopoulos · 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 omAndy Riesmeyer ············· News Editor

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

c o rs a i r. c a l e n da r pa g e@gma i l . c omMuna Cosic ···············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 omIan Kagihara ·········Multimedia Editor

c o rs a i r.mu l t im e d i a@gma i l . c omPaul Alvarez ·················Photo EditorMarine Gaste ··············· Photo Editor

c o rs a i r p h o t o e d i t o r@gma i l . c omNathalyd Meza ·············Design Editor

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 fFernando Baltazar, Nathan Berookhim, Kristine Bettencourt, Tiffany Bingham, Peter Cheng, Kou Collins, Samantha Conn, Henry Crumblish, Natalie Delfino, William Duggan, Rachel Duron, Tina Eady, Skya Eiland, Alberto Fernandez, Harrison Garcia, Amy Gaskin, Graham Gilmore, Ryonn Gloster, Jennifer Gomez, Esteban Gonzalez, Deandre Hamilton, David J. Hawkins, Sam Herron, Annjelicia Houston, Zach Johnson, Eugene Jones, Richard Lewis, David Madrid, Juan C. Martinez, Ariana Masters, Ruth Mavangira, Raphael Mawrence, LeAura McClain, Manuel Mejia, Elizabeth Moss, Wayne Neal, Mikaela Oesterlund, Daniella Palm, Molly Philbin, Syney Pitcher, Shawnee Potts, Scott Roush, Allie Silvas, Rachel Spurr, Alex Vejar, Anilec Vita, Merissa Weiland, Livia Wippich, Michael

Yanow, Arezou Zakaria

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

G e r a r d B u r k h a r tA D I n q U I R I E S :

co rsa i r.admanage r@gmai l . c om(310) 434 - 4033

SMC community!if you have photos, feelings or opinions on what we publish, we want to hear from you! e-mail, tweet, or

facebook us. [email protected]

The A.S. Fee & What It Does for YouWhen you enroll in your classes at SMC, there is an A.S. Fee of $19.50 on your receipt.This fee is used to finance those services and events that the Associated Studentsnegotiate and organize for you. Because you pay the A.S. fee, you can:

+ Ride all lines of the Big Blue Bus for free

+ Join a Club at SMC and get Funding for your Club

++ Buy Discount AMC Movie Tickets for $6.50 instead of $10+

+ Use $15 worth of Free Printing in the AS Computer Lab

and many more benefits that exceed $19.50 by far!

Campus Committee Positions Available

You represent the student body when making decisions on various committes that include: Curriculum, Budget Planning, Facilities Planning, Technology Planning etc. Come to the A.S. Office to submit an application!

As the Associated Students of Santa Monica College, it is our job to make your campus life richer, easier and more memorable. We are a Student Government comprised of students just like you that are dedicated to help their fellow students. There are still challenging positions available: Make a change and stop by at our office - you could soon be working in the A.S. too!

WE are here to serve YOU.

This is a notification from the Associated Students of Santa Monica College - Your Student Government.

You can find us, the Associated Students , in the Cayton Center, 2nd floor. Call Us: 310-434-4250

join

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Associated Students Boardof Directors now acceptingapplications for the followingthree vacancies:

1. A.S. Director of Activities2. A.S. Director of Sustainability3.3. A.S. Secretary

Application Deadline Tues. Sept. 18, 2012 @ 6:30 PMVisit us online @ www.smc.edu/associated_studentsFor instructions on how to submit your application.The A.S./ Student Life office is located on2nd fl. of the cafeteria next to the CaytonCenter. For more information related to Student Life opportunities feel free tocontact our A.S. Director of Publicity,Jesse A. Ramirez at (310) 434-4965


volume 104 issue 3 • september 19, 2012 • santa monica college 3news

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Campus Happenings.

WORLD PREMIER of “Caesar’s Messiah: The Roman Conspiracy to

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Friday September 28, 2012 through October 4th.

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Executive vice president of Santa Monica College Randal Lawson appeared before leaders of the Associated Students Monday to discuss possible solutions to the budget crisis and the elimination of winter session.Lawson said that the administration

understands and sympathizes with students whose progress has been affected. “I think we’re all sad and disappointed that any classes had to be cut at anytime,” Lawson said.Lawson also emphasized that although

winter session was originally designed to accommodate extra demand after removal of caps on enrollment, there are simply not enough resources to continue the program without jeopardizing spring, summer and fall sessions.Former AS president, Harrison Wills,

attended the meeting and spoke during the public comments section. Later, he sat behind the board and spoke directly to Lawson as he addressed the officials.Wills, who is roommate to the current

AS president, Parker Jean, has pledged to remain an active member in championing causes he from his administration. The former AS president challenged Mr.

Lawson’s contention that the college did not have the funds to pay for the winter session. “We have extra money for a rainy day and

it’s hailing out,” Wills said in an interview. Wills proposed using up to $3 million from

both the college and AS reserve funds to pay for the shortened class sessions. SMC used reserves to pay for winter session last year.The exchange between Lawson and Wills

recalled tensions that mounted between administrators and students over Contract Education. The program, which was designed to offer more classes at cost rather than at state-subsidized rates, led to student protests. Jean does not regret the opposition the

program faced because he believes that it was a “step in the wrong direction” for the long term.“If they implemented the program it

would have been terrible,” Jean said. “If students are paying it themselves, then the

government’s not going to.”Jean said that it’s a “shame” that the

decision was made to cut winter session, but he believes that it reflects state budget and that there needs to be a collective focus on the future budget.At the meeting, Lawson pointed out that

the college is running an operating deficit of $4 million, and only a set number of SMC classes are funded by the state. If the administration had kept winter semester, sessions from fall and spring would have offered fewer classes. London Tran, AS director of academic

support and shared governance, believes that SMC could handle their budget better, alluding to salary raises among the faculty.“I just want a solution to be found that

will better students and get rid of this downward spiral,” Tran said. Students, faculty and administrators are

awaiting the outcome of Proposition 30, which would increase the state sales tax and income tax on the wealthy to fund public safety and education. The newly adopted budget is staked on the passage of the proposition, and should it fail to pass, deep cuts could take effect.If Prop 30 does pass, Lawson said that

winter sessions could be restored relatively quickly, within two to three years.Beyond the cuts themselves, the AS leaders

voiced their suspicion that most students on campus don’t really understand why winter session was cut, and that some simply don’t care. Without understanding the budget

crisis, students eligible to vote may not fully grasp future consequences within the college if this Prop 30 is rejected.“I don’t really feel like it matters to me

because I don’t take winter classes anyway,” student Steven Mayorga said. “Do I think it’s fair? No. But I think people can transfer without winter.”The AS has yet to propose any solutions

to the cutting of winter session, but all are disappointed. Tran said that SMC is the most fortunate community college in California, but understands the school’s decision. “I’m disappointed that the opportunities

are not there, but we can’t have everything all the time,” Tran said.

molly philbin &william duggan

staff writer

AS, VP debate financial solutions

aMy Gaskin Corsair

Associated Students president, Parker Jean (right), listens to Executive Vice President Randal Lawson. Lawson addressed the AS Board to explain the history of the winter session at Santa Monica College and the decision to cut it this year on Monday.



The familiar long lines outside the Financial Aid Office at Santa Monica College have grown longer in recent years, partly due to an unexpected jump in applicants greater than the rest of the nation, according to numbers released by the school and the federal government.From 2007 to 2012, applications

nationwide have increased by 80 percent, but at Santa Monica College, they have more than doubled, according to the college. Financial Aid and Scholarships will provide more than $45 million to SMC this year, according to a report presented at a Sept. 6 Board of Trustees meeting.Many of the students applying for

financial aid at SMC often stand in line for over an hour to turn in required paperwork or meet with advisers. In the first week of school, Kristi Leong

was no stranger to the line outside the Financial Aid Office. She stood in several times and said she left the office feeling unsatisfied, knowing that she would have to rejoin the line again the next day. Even after a student has met all the

requirements set by the Department of Financial Aid, it takes six to eight weeks for their file to be reviewed, according to the office. Students seeking Federal Work Study have to wait up to eight weeks for their official letter before they begin work. Although it seems that the gradual increase

of FAFSA applicants would not come as a surprise to the SMC Financial Aid Office,

this year’s spike in students was unexpected according to Teresita Rodriguez, vice president of enrollment development. Applicants for FAFSA have been increasing

at an average annual rate of 4.7 percent from 1997-98 to 2008-09, according to the financial aid website. However, in 2011-12, the number increased 13.8 percent. The increase in applicants at the SMC

Financial Aid Office caused the office to

close its doors to the public for several days in order to make a dent in the paperwork. On the state level, the California Student

Aid Commission reported that $1.5 billion of grants were awarded in 2011-12. The grant funds have been divided among 341,925 recipients.Not only are more students seeking financial

assistance, there are also more people pursuing higher education. In October 2011,

68.3 percent of students who graduated high school earlier that year were enrolled in a college or university, just below the record high of 70.1 percent in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the National Center for

Education Statistics, in 2007-08, 47 percent of students were receiving federal aid, and an additional 18 percent were receiving another form of financial assistance.

Amid the ongoing talk of budget cuts and fewer class offerings, the lure of online education with virtual classrooms could offer a respite to vanishing seats in the physical world.But is it really saving academia money? Are the rumors

that the school is turning to online classes to deal with the budget cuts true?A resounding no, according to numbers released by the

state and Santa Monica College.In a report from the Board of Trustees, reduced

availability in distance education at SMC mirrors the same trend of reducing courses and sections, yet the demand for online classes remains high.The college offered 725 online classes in the 2011 to 2012

school year, a drop from 779 the previous year. The drop is attributed to hybrid classes, where students take most of their classes online but still attend some class meetings. However, SMC’s distance education enrollment clocks in a little higher than the state at 12 percent of students attending classes on the Internet, said a report from the SMC Office of Institutional Research.According to the school, online classes provide more

flexibility for students’ schedules, reduce traffic and parking volume at peak hours, and free up spaces in traditional classrooms. But the research also indicates a gap in the retention

rates between students in distance learning and students in face-to-face classes, with many of the faculty and students skeptical about the value and legitimacy of the delivery method. “I took a music course online; I couldn’t really understand

some of it,” said SMC student Brian Lee. “I don’t think that was a good class to take online, and I had to

spend over 50 bucks on a CD that I haven’t listened to since.”However, some students like Alexa Buiton, who took

history, business, and counseling courses, enjoy the online option. “It’s more straightforward and less work for me, and you can communicate with the teacher better,” she said. “The classes are taught more direct and to the point.”

According to the California Community College Chancellor‘s Office, distance education courses made up only 0.63 percent of all course sessions in 1995-96, with the trend jumping to 9.6 percent today.The state Legislative Analyst’s Office, which makes

recommendations to the legislature on fiscal policy, found that students who complete distance education courses learn as much as those taking the same courses in person. Almost 19,000 online classes are available to California

students at four-year, community college and technical college levels. At SMC, all but four departments offer online education: Theatre Arts, Cosmetology, Dance and Math.Although maintenance costs are reduced by the lack of

physical classrooms, technology costs, according to the college, make up for the difference. “It is not the solution to the budget, because we’re funded by the state, and online classes comes out of that same budget,” said Trustee Louise Jaffe.School administrators say that teachers are paid an

additional fee to set up the online delivery of the course.The budget crisis compels colleges to reduce expenses and

online education allows instructors to carry more students by either increasing class size or the number of sections, or swap out more expensive teachers with less expensive ones, a report from the Chancellors Office said.. The report from the Chancellor’s Office suggests that

the schools implement a fee for students who take online courses that would be used by the schools to conduct studies aimed at finding how to raise retention rates.The Legislative Analyst’s Office report indicates that

instructional costs for distance education and on-site courses are similar, but that campuses can’t deliver the same quality of support services to online students as they do for students on campus, and that colleges need more uniformity to ensure academic integrity.

news

allie silvasstaff writer

tina eadystaff writer

Financial Aid

increases

aMy Gaskin Corsair

Joanna Anderson and Darius Fennell, both in their first semesters at SMC, wait in the long line at the Financial Aid Office on the Santa Monica College campus on Tuesday. At approximately 12:15 p.m., there were over 110 students waiting in line.

Does online education deal with budget cuts?

iLLustration By DaviD MaDriD



Completing a required course at Santa Monica College with a desired grade is like hitting a home run for any student. The blissful feeling of completing a course is always a welcoming one, but if the course is not completed satisfactorily the first time, then that’s one strike against the student. If it’s not completed the second time, that’s another unwanted strike and a third strike will set the student far back with their educational goals.

All 112 California community colleges are mandated to comply with the newly developed course repeat policy, states the SMC website report. The new policy mandates that California community colleges no longer allow more than three attempts at taking a class. Even getting a third attempt will be tougher than before because it will require a counselor’s approval.“At a time when we are having such difficulty in providing

enough courses for students, we just don’t feel it’s right to have somebody repeat a course four, five, six times, and

then individuals who are seeking it for the first time can’t get in,” said Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott to the California Watch.After failing to complete a course on

the second attempt, the student will have to see a counselor and ask for special consideration in order to take a course a third time before things get really difficult. Depending on the students’ circumstances, permission can be given or denied. If permission is denied, then students

will need to take an equivalent course at another community college in order to complete the needed course. No one wants to find himself or herself in that position, so it is vital to complete a course in the first three given chances.Community college regulations

generally allow students to retake academic or vocational classes up to two times in an effort to make up for bad grades or withdrawals, according

to the Legislative Analyst Office 2011-12 budget report, “In such cases, districts receive apportionment payments (general-purpose monies) all three times from the state. For “activity classes,” however, regulations allow districts to receive apportionment funding for up to four times (the initial enrollment plus three repeats) regardless of a student’s grade.”California Community Colleges Board of Governors

President Scott Himelstein said in a statement that “budget cuts have forced us to ration education, and we are currently turning away hundreds of thousands of students from our campuses that want to pursue a degree, transfer to a four-year university or get job training so they can get back into the workforce or advance in their current career.”Trying to get a class at SMC is now harder than ever

because of the budget cuts and a plethora of other cut backs. This policy makes it a little easier for those trying to enroll

in a class for the first time to actually attain a class they need. This policy is fair and should be taken very seriously. Students will have to be extremely careful when deciding if they want to drop a class. They will also have to be aware that they cannot retake “activity classes” more than four times due to funding.The worst case scenario would be to take a failed or

uncompleted course at another community college, which is inconvenient. This is the main consequence to keep in mind when selecting classes and making sure to complete the classes first time around.To be safe and avoid the unnecessary stress of retaking

a course or asking for an appeal to retake a course for the third time, it’s best to plan ahead and really be conscious of the classes that must be completed to graduate and transfer.

opinion

In today’s fast-paced world where technology rules, it is no wonder that online classes, otherwise known as Distance Education, has become a prominent part of Santa Monica College’s educational agenda, as a part of a growing technology-based environment.Within the past five years, the demand

for Distance Education has more than doubled, and during the 2011-12 school year, 30 percent of enrolled students had taken an online course throughout the year, according to the Board of Trustees. “With more than 23,000 course enrollment seats, online education represents close to 12 percent of SMC total credit enrollment for 2011-12.” But learning is more potent by sitting in a

classroom, staring at the professor lecturing while students are scribbling notes in their notebooks, rather than staring at a computer screen without the sound of the professor’s voice and pens meeting paper.Distance Education is beneficial to

students because of the freedom it allots those who have multiple obligations such as work, childcare, and other responsibilities that keep them from attending an on-campus class. Distance Education is also a great option for students who have no means of convenient transportation, and therefore choose to stay home and take their courses.Students, who become unsuccessful in

adding an on-campus class, can always take DE courses as a secondary option. “Online classes also provide the District with a nimble solution to adding additional classes if necessary without having to consider the logistics of classroom availability and room conflict databases,” states the BOT agenda.“The majority of my time goes to working.

I’m very rarely on campus,” said Kaili Gregory. Gregory who has taken online classes at Irvine Valley College finds SMC’s distance education more intuitive.

Gregory is currently taking a Music 32 class online. “I prefer to take this class online since I don’t need the professor constantly,” said Gregory. “There are some subjects such as math and English I would never take online.”According to the California Community

College Chancellor’s office report: “In 2009-10, DE sessions increased by 93 percent to represent 9.6 percent of all educational sessions offered.”But, SMC’s best and brightest alumni

forged their successes by attending on-campus classes, and SMC would not be such a successful transfer college if it didn’t offer a wealth of high quality on-campus classes. In fall 2011, SMC DE classes had an

81 percent retention rate compared to an 85 percent retention rate from on-campus classes, according to the BOT statistics. Distance Education courses had a 66 percent success rate compared to a 69 percent success rate for on-campus classes. Melissa Runalfson, a second-year

psychology major, is taking her first online class, while attending SMC. “I like the structure and the way my professor has his classes planned. It’s very interactive,” said Runalfson.“I think it’s more responsibility to take an

online class. You really have to discipline yourself,” said Runalfson. With winter session cancelled, students

will be in a fight for more classes in the remaining semesters, giving DE classes more reason of importance for SMC students. Distance Education classes will enable more students to take courses they need for graduation, and take some burden off of their shoulders, should they be unfortunate to not be able to add on-campus classes.Distance education has come a long way

since its inception, but still faces challenges relating to its constantly changing nature: Identifying student cheating, and calculating online professors’ skills and curriculum are the main points.

“The District continues to work with the Distance Education course management system Pearson (eCollege), to support a growing community of student and faculty users of online education,” states the BOT.While distance education is now a

realistic option for students seeking higher education, it should be reserved for those who need it, and not be sought after by those who can’t be bothered to attend on-campus classes.Distance education is at its highest demand

for SMC students, and with the absence of winter session, more students will

undoubtedly consider the rapidly growing program, making DE courses even more popular in the future. But SMC would be remiss to ever make distance education their primary focus for educating students.If faced with the decision between

choosing an online or on-campus class, it is always recommended for students to take on-campus classes for the whole educational experience, unless certain circumstances and rational reasoning make online classes a better choice for a student.

iLLustration By Jhosef hern

henry crumblishstaff writer

Annjelicia Houstonstaff writer

SMC’s Distance Education goes a long way

Three strikes and you’re out

iLLustration By Jhosef hern


volume 104 issue 3 • september 19, 2012 • santa monica college 6 photostory

Stretching 35,000 square feet, the Zombie Apocalypse obstacle course, commanding the left side of the L.A. Convention Center, stood shrouded in dim light. Reaching the top of the wall, there aren’t many places to go. Flesh-eaten figures in blood-tainted rags staggered across the caged arena in search of civilians trying their luck over camouflage walls and down slides ten feet high. It was survival of the fittest at Stan Lee’s Annual

Comikaze Expo, a pop-culture convention from Sept. 15-16 featuring special appearances by comic book and silver screen celebrities among a sea of booths catering to every comic connoisseur’s taste.The weekend opened with a panel featuring Lee,

also known as Stan Lieber, the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. Panels throughout the day veered from the silly to the psychological with subjects such as “Random Encounters’ Videogame Musicals”

and a discussion of the pros and cons of time travel.Lee, whose namesake is on the title of the event, was

all fun and games when being interviewed on stage. He was all over the place, bouncing in his chair one moment, laying his head on the table to listen to a fellow speaker the next. He spoke in jest, most of the time.“It’s a lot like Comicon, in terms of the people here,”

said Paul Roman Martinez, designer of one of the show’s advertising posters. Martinez refers to cosplay, a term used for folks who dress up as characters from their favorite movies or comic books. Doctor Who, Poison Ivy, Link, and others ran amuck most of the show. On the south side of the floor, Quidditch players from

UCLA and USC feigned left and right in an effort to throw bludgers (dodge balls) through three vertical hoops on either side of the concrete field. The game, based off the sport with the same name from the Harry Potter book series, attracted large crowds.The most interesting people seemed to hang out in

the food court, where a piece of pizza and a small bag of chips cost ten dollars. That was where a convincing Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games Trilogy” and Merida from “Brave” hung out before going back inside to show off their costumes. “Cosplay people never buy anything,” said Kyle

Winters, co-owner of Triptych Books, “They don’t want to ruin their costumes.” Winters is also the co-creator of series Trigger Men, a self-published comic about two best friends who are hit men. Like almost every other artist there, he attends most other comic conventions. “We’ve met a ton of amazing people,” he said.The main floor was jam packed with booths and Kaze-

goers craning their necks while waiting in long lines for $40 signatures. In one instance, a line to see “The Walking Dead” star Norman Reedus wrapped around a whole block of booths.After the last panel concluded, Lee addressed the

crowd and teased, “You know, if everyone’s worthy, maybe we’ll come back next year.”

KAPOW!!! Stan Lee’s Comikaze army takes over L.A.


Contestants participate in NerfWar TurfWar at Stan Lee’s Comikaze at the Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. Comikaze is a comic book, anime, gaming, sci-fi, fantasy and horror expo hosted by the legendary artist. Lee urged fans to “Join the Comikaze army! Earn your rank! Make your mark!”

elizabeth mossstaff writer


volume 104 issue 3 • september 19, 2012 • santa monica college 7photostory

the food court, where a piece of pizza and a small bag of chips cost ten dollars. That was where a convincing Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games Trilogy” and Merida from “Brave” hung out before going back inside to show off their costumes. “Cosplay people never buy anything,” said Kyle

Winters, co-owner of Triptych Books, “They don’t want to ruin their costumes.” Winters is also the co-creator of series Trigger Men, a self-published comic about two best friends who are hit men. Like almost every other artist there, he attends most other comic conventions. “We’ve met a ton of amazing people,” he said.The main floor was jam packed with booths and Kaze-

goers craning their necks while waiting in long lines for $40 signatures. In one instance, a line to see “The Walking Dead” star Norman Reedus wrapped around a whole block of booths.After the last panel concluded, Lee addressed the

crowd and teased, “You know, if everyone’s worthy, maybe we’ll come back next year.”

Stan Lee’s Comikaze army takes over L.A.

A zombie actor waits for humans on the Zombie Apocalypse course at Comikaze on Saturday. Zombie Apocalypse entails humans being chased and terrorized through a large snaking obstacle course by zombies.


Contestants participate in NerfWar TurfWar at Stan Lee’s Comikaze at the Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. Comikaze is a comic book, anime, gaming, sci-fi, fantasy and horror expo hosted by the legendary artist. Lee urged fans to “Join the Comikaze army! Earn your rank! Make your mark!”



A vendor sells comic books on Saturday.

saM herron Corsair

Artist Stan Lee signs autographs for fans at Stan Lee’s Comikaze on Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Lee is known for being the creator wide range of comics which include Iron Man, Spiderman and The Incredible Hulk.



Children arrive at the blue, art-deco style building from all over the region. Some take the bus from miles away. Others are dropped off by their parents from across town. Many walk directly from their nearby schools.These children are eagerly entering the Venice location of

826LA, a non-profit organization that provides a multitude of services to youths ranging from age six to 18-year-old high school seniors.This free program encourages students to tap into their

creative sides. In addition to providing tutoring services, 826LA houses classrooms of students—some even from as far as Arizona—to go on field trips, take screenwriting lessons, and join various creative writing groups such as storytelling and book-making.826LA, originally called 826 Valencia, was created by

author Dave Eggers and educator Ninive Calegari in the Mission District of San Francisco in 2002. Eggers and Calegari became aware of the need for students to receive one-on-one help with homework and creative writing. “There’s writing throughout everything that we do,” says

Lauren Humphrey, a Santa Monica College student involved with volunteer outreach. “[Programs] like this tend to only be available to those who can afford it. But we want everyone to fall in love with creative writing.”Humphrey says that although the program is funded by

grants and private donations, the backbone is the volunteers. “We try to have at least 10 volunteers for every tutoring

session,” says Humphrey. “If we didn’t have volunteers, we couldn’t do any of this.” Kelley Lonergan, a long-time volunteer, describes the

atmosphere as both fun and rewarding. “I see the kids grow both physically and academically,” says

Lonergan. “I get to be kind of like a kid again. It really brightens my day.”The children enjoy coming to 826LA for tutoring as

much as the volunteers enjoy providing it. “I was getting mostly C’s and D’s and no homework

help,” says Kimberly Velasquez, a 14-year-old Venice High School student who began receiving tutoring help three years ago. “Now I’m getting A’s and B’s. I love coming here and expressing myself through writing.” Velasquez’s half sister, nine-year-old Citlali Rodriguez,

agrees that the environment is conducive to learning. “It’s fun to have what I write be put into a book and read aloud

in front of people,” Rodriguez says. “I have made friends with the volunteers here. Lauren [Humphrey] is nice and fun.”Volunteers and students are not the only involved

members of 826LA. Some big names have contributed to the organization. Judd Apatow belongs to the program’s Advisory Board, along with J.J. Abrams and Fiona Apple.Apatow hosted a benefit in June, with all proceeds going to the

program. The benefit included musical and comedy acts such as Paul Reubens, Peter Frampton, Ray Romano, and Bob Newhart. 826LA in Venice is one of two Los Angeles locations,

with another facility in Echo Park. The organization also has locations in six other cities, including Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York City, Seattle, and the original 826 Valencia in San Francisco. With hopes to expand to even more cities, 826LA

recognizes its unique position in promoting positive influences to students from all walks of life.“You’re not just a tutor, or someone who helps with

homework,” says Humphrey. “You’re being a positive example of someone who cares about education. This has affected kids from other cities and states. This is something that’s long lasting.”

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Amazon.com Inc. began charging sales tax Saturday on orders made in California, following legislation pushing the popular online retailer to do so.Along with other online companies, Amazon is now

required to charge sales tax to California residents pursuant to the new law, following on the heels of recent debates regarding the even playing field of e-commerce.Before the tax law went into effect, out-of-state online

retailers were not required to charge tax on purchases made in California. “Retailers are very handicapped by tax,” said Mark Yoon,

owner of A&R Textbooks on Pico Boulevard. “These days, students are going to Amazon in the first place.” Similarly, the Santa Monica College bookstore has felt

the sting of online buying. “We’ve lost a considerable amount of business to

online retailers,” said David Dever, the store’s manager.Dever also noted that he considers the new law

“fair commerce,” and thinks that now, “people might consider the regular, local bookstore.”However, the difference in price is not so large that

Amazon is expected to be reeling.“Buying a book off of Amazon versus buying a book

at the store is still cheaper,” said Rocio Fernandez, a fourth-year SMC student. “For the most part, people will continue [buying from Amazon].” Following suit, Joy Tucker, chairperson of the business

department, said that consumers will likely continue to use online purchasing services.“A lot of people shop at Amazon because of the

convenience,” Tucker said. “I don’t think students will stop.”Part of the deal struck between Amazon and state

officials—which included postponing the advent of the added sales tax date by a year—was that Amazon will set up shop in California, opening two warehouses in Patterson and San Bernardino.“That’s more money coming into the state,” said Tucker,

adding that the new facilities would also create jobs. California is not the first or the last state to be taxed

by Amazon. Seven states including New York and Pennsylvania have already been taxed, and more states are expected to come under taxation in the next few years.However, whether or not California will draw in extra

revenue is difficult to predict. According to The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group centered in Washington, D.C., states that have already adopted the “Amazon” tax have received no extra revenue. Amazon spokesperson Scott Stanzel said that the

new law should allow the company to “expand our investment and job creation in the state.” Stanzel declined to comment when asked about

Amazon sales, but stated that Amazon is “thriving” in the areas where tax is collected. The company has built a reputation among customers

for low prices and fast service. For students like Fernandez, these reasons are enough to

continue shopping with Amazon, even with the new taxes.“I trust Amazon,” Fernandez said.

merissa weilandstaff writer

elizabeth mossstaff writer

826LA promotes creativity in young minds

Amazon now charges sales

tax on California purchases

Photo courtesy of 826LaStudent Kimberly Coro receives homework help from tutor Britt Storrs on June 11 at 826LA in Venice.



The rising popularity of organic food has been fueled by the perception that it is healthier, and that it has greater nutritional value and fewer toxic chemicals than conventionally grown food. Raising controversy by

refuting this widespread notion, a highly publicized Stanford University study has recently stated that organic food is not actually more nutritious, but many supporters still stand by the growing organic industry. According to the U.S.

Department of Agriculture, organic products “have been produced through approved methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.”The Stanford study, published

by the Annals of Internal Medicine, was a systematic review of 237 studies of organic produce compared with conventionally grown food. Although the study concluded

that organic food is not considerably more nutritious than regular food, the study did show that organic produce has a lower level of pesticide residue than conventional produce. The abstract states that the

study was “heterogeneous,” “limited in number,” and that “publication bias may be present.” Consequently, the limitations of

the study have led organic food supporters to question the results. “Personally, I do believe that

there are benefits from eating food that is not treated with pesticides or herbicides,” said Westwood nutritionist Martha Pájaro.According to Pájaro, the

results of the study were inconclusive. “The body of evidence is

small; it only shows seventeen studies with humans, and the

longest one lasted two years,” said Pájaro. “It is irresponsible to insinuate that there are not benefits from eating organic food after reading the study. It will require years of study and observation to really understand the properties of organic products.”For Zhenia Kechina, president

of Club Grow at Santa Monica College, the decision of buying organic is a matter of being healthy. “People need to pick their

food very carefully; food for less does not work,” said Kechina. “If more individuals will stop to think where the food they are eating comes from—how the cows have been slaughtered or the greens have been grown—they will stop chasing cheap food.”Kechina said that people

should plan their budgets carefully so that they may be able to include healthier options in their diets.For other students, like

SMC business major Roman Klein, the price tag makes a difference. “The price difference is too

big,” said Klein. “Why should I spend more for the same product?”Beyond the economic and

health issues, organic food represents a better choice for the environment for students like SMC dance major Megan Wood. “The amount of chemicals

released into the atmosphere is a factor that should be considered when individuals purchase food,” said Wood. “Everything is connected, and we keep sending this trash back to the soil and destroying the planet.” Juan Garcia, a farmer who

sells his organic products each week at the Santa Monica Farmers Market, assures that the quality and the taste of organic food makes the difference.“The hormones and the

chemicals will never be as good as the food that grows naturally,” said Garcia.

The summer heat has set in, there are tomatoes to harvest, and the pole beans are abundant at the Santa Monica College Organic Learning Garden. The garden is in full swing, and so was Club

Grow last Tuesday during their first week in session this fall, as members gathered to introduce themselves and connect with one another through food, knowledge and nature.Club participants hailed from as many diverse

backgrounds as the plants in the garden—some freeform, others tied back and manicured. Bradley Tucker, an SMC student taking general

education classes, said that he arrives on campus early, “to sit in the garden.” “It was the smell of the basil,” Tucker said, that

had always attracted him, and interested him in Club Grow membership.Shirley Smith, who noticed the garden on her

way to yoga class, has worked in India and Africa to present better growing practices, and currently participates in other garden programs throughout Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. Art major Karn Ashimyan, who “couldn’t

get into two different classes,” said that he “was passing by, and decided to do this instead.”Club Grow president Zhenya Kechina, a theater

arts major at SMC, said that she never imagined she would be “interested in gardening and educating people about health and the food industry.” Kechina said that in Kazakhstan, where she grew up,

people tend to have a stronger connection between food and health than she has witnessed in America,

and she is interested in helping others lessen that gap.“I felt that this is how I’m going to contribute to the

world, besides acting,” Kechina said. “I want to help people, open their eyes, [and] wake them up from a deep sleep.”

As the meeting came to order, chairs were overflowing as many new members signed up, and future Club Grow activities and topics were discussed. The club’s agenda included organizing to share knowledge, pumping collected rainwater from the 22,000-gallon cistern in the garden, and having fun while learning about gardening in the coming months. Genevieve Bertone, director of

sustainability at SMC, was present to help coordinate efforts. Missing from the week’s activities was

Dana Morgan, tenured English professor at SMC and adviser to Club Grow, as she was representing SMC and the Organic Learning Garden in Sonoma County at the National Heirloom Exposition, which celebrates “heirloom agriculture,” and “pure food.”As the meeting adjourned, gardeners

moved on to weeding and planting. Some gathered together while others concentrated alone in particular areas of interest. In the small yet bustling 3,200-square-

foot garden space, it is now time for sowing onion seeds and smelling the basil.Visiting hours at the garden are from 8

a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and it is open to anyone. Club Grow meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Health + Lifestyle

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rachel spurrPhotos + text anilec vita

staff writer

Club Grow is growing Organic or conventional?

Club Grow member Ibrahim Khatib gathers onion seeds for fall planting at the Organic Learning Garden at Santa Monica College on Sept. 12.

Matt Van Diepen, Club Grow member, spreads mulch around the onion seeds planted for the fall season.



Twenty-four hours before Poolside played at the J. Paul Getty Museum, there was a nearby fire that blazed across 70 acres of land. The roads to the Getty were shut down, and trapped visitors were shuttled out to safety.But this was a new day. It was the

perfect Saturday afternoon for the Getty’s summertime concert series, “Saturdays off the 405.” The sun was blazing and people of all ages and ethnicities sat around, waiting for the show to start. The mood was mellow as people lounged on the travertine sitting area, drinking beer and taking in the view.Fans ranging from their mid

twenties to late forties and fifties were excited to see Poolside perform. Jacqueline Landry, a fan since she first heard Poolside on Sound Cloud, was looking forward to the show and was happy to see a good turnout despite the recent fires.In attendance were hipsters,

parents with young children, and carefree teenage couples. Erika

Bischoff, who had never heard of Poolside, enjoyed their sound, loved how the band mixed and sampled music, and particularly liked front man Filip Nikolic’s voice.Jeffery Paradise and Nikolic,

Poolside’s frontmen, have exceptionally down to earth and relaxed personalities, which is reflected in their work. Their music is best described as easy to listen to daytime disco.“When you think of disco you

think Studio 54 style, upbeat with an undertone of darkness,” Paradise explained. “We deal with soulful artists like Bill Withers, as well as the more upbeat part of disco.”As the night went on, the concert

was in full throttle, wherever you looked people were bobbing their heads and swaying to the sweet beat of the music. There was an air of unison in the crowd as everyone danced and just had a good time. As the band played their last

song, the crowd shouted, “Encore, encore, encore!” Poolside obliged them and

played two more songs before they officially bowed out for the night.

arts + entertainment

On a mission to find good food on a tight budget, I came across not one, but two Sushistop restaurants on the same boulevard. Their signs posted along the sidewalk announced, “All items $2.75,” and without any hesitation, curiosity lured me inside.A server welcomed me and asked me to

write my name and the number of people in my party on a piece of paper provided at the entrance. Inside the spacious, single room there is a sushi bar encircling the chefs. There is enough seating for 24 to 28 people around the bar, while more customers can wait inside the dining room or outside, where some chairs are placed along the window.It does not take long to be seated; you

can even take the time to pre-order your food so it will be ready soon after you sit down. Soy sauce, napkins, and chopsticks are placed in front of you, and the servers are ready to bring what you need. Other than eating, you really have nothing

to worry about. At Sushistop you know you’re being taken care of. Your table space is enough for two to three

dishes, and if you order more, servers will continually clear the empty dishes. They also constantly refill your cup of water, so you don’t even have time to get thirsty. Last but not least, the place is pretty quiet. Some music is played in the background but if you don’t pay attention to it, it’s not bothersome. Santa Monica College student and server Hana Paz, 20, informed me it is always an employee’s playlist. “We understand the young generation

lives on a tight budget. Low cost attracts more customers and brings more income,” explains Kazuo Kīshīguchī, a busser at

Sushistop.Thanks to the low fish market prices in

Downtown Los Angeles, the chain can serve top-quality sushi to its customers. “The more you buy, the less expensive it gets,” Kīshīguchī says. The fixed price includes everything from

two pieces of sushi and sashimi, to eight original rolls and four specialty rolls. For those with bigger appetites, there are mini bowls of rice with meat, udon noodles, salads, appetizers, and even desserts. For $1.60 you can buy bottled or canned drinks, miso soup and sodas.“I like the variety of food you’re getting

for the price!” said Rita Lima, a fellow customer who works nearby.If you are not sure what “Aburi Sushi”

is, look on the wall, and a sign will be displayed with a description of the plate. The proximity of the sushi chefs also allows you to ask questions so you do not waste your time wondering if you should take a risk trying something new. That being said, what is there to lose when you get to experience new tastes without emptying your wallet?Two Sushistops are located on Sawtelle

Boulevard, north of Pico Boulevard. One is just before Olympic Boulevard near the mall where Marshalls and Starbucks are, and the other is at the cross street with Mississippi Avenue. The restaurants open at 11:30 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. everyday. Note that it is cash only, but there is an

ATM on site. If you drive to the restaurant, be aware of the street parking, and bring quarters to feed the meter. You can also pay the valet or park your car in a public parking structure. If you go by bus, the Big Blue Bus line seven will take you there in twenty minutes from Santa Monica College.

$10 TuesDAy: Sushistop

Fires can’t touch you Poolside Arezou Zakaria

staff writer

marine gastestaff writer

racheL sPurr Corsair

Poolside duo, Philip Nikolic, on lead vocals and bass guitar, and Jeffrey Paradise, on electronics, perform live at Saturdays Off The 405 for The Getty Museum on Sept. 15.

Marine Gaste Corsair

Lord Mesa, 39, enjoys a quick lunch at Sushistop in Santa Monica, California on a Friday afternoon. He says he’s come here more times than he can remember because he appreciates the affordable price for the quality food Sushistop serves. He also likes how it’s near other social places like Volcano Tea House.



With the fluorescent lights dimmed, purple and blue stage lights illuminated the scene as Steve Lockwood’s band entered the room. High keys hit the piano, a wind chime in the background. The score sounded like a 1950s police drama, very sudden and nerve wracking. Then, without warning, the drums kicked in rigorously. Steve Lockwood dazzled listeners, played the Baldwin piano with his eyes closed, his hands knowing exactly where to go.The Friday Night Jazz Series at the Santa Monica

College Performing Arts Center is a musical ritual. Students come to listen, bands come to play. “I come to these jazz shows for class purposes,” said audience member Amanda Hughes. She said she loved every song, particularly all the different melodies, tunes and volumes. Saxophonist Kim Richmond played smoothly,

articulating all the right notes. Doubling on the sax and the clarinet is no easy feat, but Richmond achieved this with competence, displaying a great level of technical skill in the jazz idiom. On the double-bass was cool guy Mike Merritt, in his

quirky pattern shirt, playing the cello oh-so-smoothly. The strings on the cello made the room reverberate with such intensity that the audience felt every note he hit.According to drummer Dan Schnelle, jazz is very

expressive. “It’s a genre of improvisation, one can really be oneself.” Indeed, the experience of listening to a great jazz combo only confirms the freedom of jazz improvisation.Overall the night was positive and entertaining; the

music was easygoing and engaging. Lockwood’s eclectic style of jazz blends old school sounds with a modern style. The next installment of the Friday Night Jazz Series is

October 12, with two shows at 7 and 9 p.m. The featured artist is Adam Schroeder. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the SMC Theater Arts Box Office.

arts + entertainment

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?

13492.indd 1 6/25/12 7:58 AM

steve Lockwood and friends jam at the edye stageDavid Madrid

staff writer

scott rousch Corsair

The Steve Lockwood Quartet plays Friday, Sept. 12 at the Edye Theater in Santa Monica, Calif.


volume 104 issue 3 • september 19, 2012 • santa monica college 12 sports

“This is how we do, this is what we do. Give us hot, give us cold,” said head coach Gifford Lindheim, after proudly ending a two-year losing streak against San Bernardino Valley College. The Santa Monica College Corsairs got their act together after the second half, and left San Bernardino with their heads held high Saturday night, winning 45-34.The Corsairs had a rough first half, unable

to break the Wolverines offense, which ran the ball 499 yards. They also had a difficult time penetrating through the holes in the Wolverines defensive line. The line didn’t do a good job of protecting their quarterback Alfonso Medina, who was sacked five times, and took a couple hard hits. By the end of the first half, the Corsairs were

looking like they had already lost the game. The high temperatures in the San Bernardino Valley had taken the energy out of the team, as they trailed SBVC 19-14. “Tonight we were on the ropes, and this team

found a way to come back,” said Lindheim, adding that the team did a much better job of running the football in the second half.After halftime, the Corsairs came onto the

field looking reenergized and hungry for a win. They went into the fourth quarter trailing SBVC 34-21, but after Ethan Hillyer caught a 73-yard scoring pass for the Wolverines, the Corsairs responded with three unanswered touchdowns and a field goal. The entire atmosphere changed; the fire had

been put back into the team, and the energy was palpable. Myles Johnson ran the ball 17 yards into the end zone for SMC, and shortly after, kicker Jose Esquivel made a 27-yard field goal, increasing SMC’s lead to 38-34.With 1:39 left, SMC abruptly ended the

Wolverines’ final comeback attempt, when defensive back Aaron Rogers recorded his second interception, returning it for a touchdown with 25 seconds remaining in the game. “As soon as I saw him drop his shoulders, [the

Wolverines’ quarterback] looked right at me,” said Rogers. “I knew where he was going to throw the ball, and it was my job to step up and make a big play, and I did it.” Rogers brought the momentum the team

needed. “Aaron has a high football IQ,” said

Lindheim. “That last interception to close the show was a great way to end the game. I’m very pleased. When you’re up against a wall, how do you respond? Do you fold your tent or do you fight back? We were up against the wall several times, and I thought we responded every time the challenge came.”The Corsairs, as a whole, came out in the

second half confidently, and knew what they needed to do in order to beat SBVC. By blocking more effectively, and working as a team, the holes in the Wolverines’ defensive line opened up, and SMC used that to their advantage. “We didn’t limp out of here—we sprinted,”

said Lindheim. The Corsairs will have to tough through

practices this week to tighten their defensive and offensive strategies before they go up against conference rival West L.A. College this Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Santa Monica College men’s soccer team continued their undefeated streak with back-to-back away games against Oxnard College on Sept. 11 and Moorpark College on Sept. 14, both resulting in 2-2 ties.Even though they have not lost a game,

there were plenty of opportunities for SMC to pull out wins, according to head coach Tim Pierce. “We don’t come out thinking that we’re

in a game until we go down,” Pierce said, about the early giveaway points in both games. “For some reason, the last couple of games, we’ve come out a little flat.” In the opening minutes of the game

against Moorpark, SMC allowed a goal in the fourth minute to Brandon Lara, and another in the sixth minute to Emanuel

Munguia.In both games, the Corsairs found

themselves down 2-0 early , but came back strong, scoring before the end of the first half. “I think we were the aggressor and took

it to them,” Pierce said. “We played with some urgency and forced the game and forced the issue a bit. I think we were the better team the second half.”A key turn-around moment for SMC was

when freshman forward Rafael Silva scored his first goal of the season at the 30 -minute mark. “It was my first goal; I was so happy,” Silva

said. SMC forward Alessandro Canale scored

a goal in the beginning of the second half to tie the game. The Corsairs had enough time to take the lead, but they were not able

to capitalize. Although pleased with the team’s overall

effort and impressed that the team was able to come back from a 2-0 deficit, Pierce was not too excited about the 2-2 tie.“I was a little disappointed that we weren’t

able to win the game,” Pierce said.SMC controlled much of the second

half by being the aggressor. The Corsairs repeatedly could not find the back of the net, but no shot came closer than Canale’s, which bounced off the goal post in extra time.

The Santa Monica College women’s soccer team came out of their match against San Bernardino Valley College with a 0-0 tie, their second of the season.“I was very happy with the team’s performance today,” head

coach Aaron Benditson said. “We went against a battle tested, very highly committed group in San Bernardino. We have nothing to hold our hats on.” The game suffered from inconsistencies from both teams.

SBVC was on the attack early in the game with multiple shots taken against SMC. But the Corsairs maintained strong defense and goalkeeping by Cindy Godina, who prevented San Bernardino from scoring.“I thought we held strong,” Benditson said. “I thought we did

a good job on getting back and defending as a group.”The Corsairs faced a difficult opponent, adding to Benditson’s

pride over the results. Benditson said that SBVC was athletic, fast on the break, and that their transition from defense to offense was flawless.As SBVC continued to be aggressive on offense, SMC was not

able to counter with the same intense play. The Corsairs did not record their first shot on goal until the opening minutes of the second half. “I want to create more opportunities to score goals—as many

as possible,” Benditson said. “I think that’s going to be our biggest challenge throughout the year is finding goals.”Benditson was happy that the Corsairs generated some

opportunities to score goals, even though the team did not display a strong offensive presence.

kou collinsstaff writer

rachel duronstaff writer

eugene jonesstaff writer

Men’s soccer all tied up

Second half surge

propels Corsairs to

victory

Women’s soccer unable to pull away, ends in tie

raPhaeL MaWrence Corsair

Santa Monica College sophomore Rosie Potts (left) and San Bernardino Valley College freshman Braelyn Tirella (right) in action at the Corsair Field.

DaviD J. haWkins Corsair

Santa Monica College forward Mahshar Zargar (left) is dragged down by both defender Diana Hernandez (center) and goalkeeper Sierra Golding. While there was no call made against San Bernardino Valley College, the ball was stopped by the keeper before reaching the goal line, preventing the Corsairs from scoring. SMC and SBVC finished 0-0 after 90 minutes of play on Sept. 14.

Freshman Alessandro Canale continued his stellar play, scoring all four goals in a 4-1 SMC victory over Allan Hancock

College on Tuesday, Sept. 18. Freshman Eric Fakhourian left the game in the

first half with an ankle injury, but is not expected to miss any time. The Corsairs

continue their road swing against Palomar this Friday Sept. 21

Volume104Issue3

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