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volume 106 issue 6 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college FIRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25C

CORSAIR

InsIde smc’s dIverse dance department

prop. 30: where’s the money? pg.4

college reacts to

two-tiered education

bill pg.3

sm airport slated to become a park pg. 3

see photostory pg. 6-7

For more stories and videos, visit www.thecorsaironline.com Arlene KArno Corsair

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

volume 106 issue 6 • october 9, 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, Jon Falcone, 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, Christophor McGovern Lauren Narvaez, Mark Popovich, Rachel Porter, Jonathan Ramos, Alci Rengifo, Cassandra Rubio, Emilio Sedeno, Dion To, Gintare Urbutyte, Mark

Williams, David Lloyd Wilson, 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 - 4033oN THE CoVEr: Megan Wood, on her 25th birthday, hangs out at her favorite tree on the Santa Monica College campus just outside the library on Sept. 27. “I dance anywhere and everywhere,” she says. “Santa Monica College gave me a whole new life — new friends, new direction, and a renewed passion for dance.”

GET THEM FROM THE A.S. OFFICE IN THE CAYTON CENTER

For A.S. Members

Here to Help Michael Greenberg, Director of Publicity

[email protected] (310) 434-4965

PAul AlvArez Jr. Corsair

University of California, Santa Cruz graduate Christine Loi, 23, (right) is an aide for 22-year-old Santa Monica College sociology major Blaire Webb. Both watched the television screens in the SMC cafeteria early Tuesday afternoon as President Barack Obama spoke about the government shutdown. Loi said, “It’s stressful to watch” and that she was “freaking out on behalf of the president.”


3volume 106 issue 5 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college news

With a moment of silence for the victims of Sunday night’s plane crash at Santa Monica Municipal Airport, Airport2park, an organization in support of the conversion of SMO to a park, began their community meeting on Thursday night at Mt. Olive Church on Ocean Park Boulevard.There was little talk of the plane crash

after the moment of silence, and the only item on the agenda was talk about converting the airport into a park, which is to begin transformation in 2015 – at least for almost half of the airport.“It’s such a rare opportunity,” said Mark

Rios, a designer who worked on Grand Park in Los Angeles.Rios gave a presentation at the start of

the meeting on parks around the world that were converted from post-industrial complexes and landfills.“[The airport] has such a large piece of

land,” Rios said.As it stands, more than 1,000 feet of

the west end of runway will be reclaimed by the city in 2015, where a park will be resurrected in its place. The east end of the runway will remain intact, but will restrict planes that can land to small jets and prop planes.The city’s agreement with the Federal

Aviation Administration is set to expire on July 1, 2015, according to Airport2Park’s website.“Also on July 1, 2015, all leases to aviation

tenants terminate, and in a very short time the airport might have a much shorter runway and no aviation services,” states the

site. “Then it may be possible to close the entire airport and turn the whole runway and adjacent areas into parkland.”During the meeting, attendees broke into

groups to produce ideas for the park. On large aerial view maps of the runway and surrounding neighborhoods, city residents drew what park amenities they would like to see, including a center for dance and music, and even a gutted prop plane for children to play inside.Among the meeting attendees were David

Goddard and Pete Donald, chair and vice-chair of the city’s Airport Commission, a body that advises the City Council on the airport.Goddard said the commission has not

met with the city since the fiery crash, but that they “gave them advice to reduce operations before the crash.”To Goddard, the crash reinforces the need

to convert the airport into a park.Airport2park was created from the

Community Against Santa Monica Airport Traffic. One of CASMAT’s founding members, John Fairweather, an analyst and physicist, said that the damage of the crash would have been much worse without the hangars there to stop the plane.“It would have slid into the houses,” he

said.Excess from airplanes affects not only

Santa Monica residents under the flight path, but members of the Venice

community as well.Laura Silagi, cochair of the Airport

Neighborhood Committee for Venice, attended Thursday night’s meeting for her home a mile and a half from the airport.“It’s been a blight on the Venice

community and Los Angeles,” she said.Sigali said that residents experience noise

and are worried about the lead pollution from planes.Despite these problems, those at the head

of the discussion are not too concerned about building a park at the end of a runway.“It’s like going to the Grand Canyon,”

Rios said, of what the park could become. “There’s that sense of awe.”

SaMo residents discuss turning airport to park post crash

elizabeth MossNews editor

DAviD J. HAwKins Corsair

Families visit the DC-3 Memorial Park across the street from the Santa Monica Municipal Airport on Airport Avenue at the Santa Monica Airport Open House on Sept. 21.

Santa Monica Airport is slated to become a park in 2015.

State bill could reintroduce two-tiered education

California Community College constituents are balking at an impending state bill that could create a two-tiered pilot program at select colleges across the state, reminiscent of the prospect of contract education rejected by protesters met with pepper spray at Santa Monica College last year.Assembly Bill 955 approves an extension

program during a college’s winter and summer sessions. Once the trial period ends on Jan. 1, 2018, colleges across the state could choose to implement the program or not.From the colleges to the chancellor’s

office, the resistance to AB 955 has been felt statewide.“I don’t know that it really does anything

for students,” said Vincent Stewart, vice-chancellor of government relations for the CCC Chancellor’s Office.Stewart said that the CCC Board of

Governors was consulted in the early stages of the bill, but as the board expressed opposition to the program, they were no longer considered.The bill states that the extension program

would be maintained without the approval of the CCC BOG.The bill lists six colleges eligible to

participate in the new program if they choose to do so from 2014 to 2018. After

the four-year trial period, the rest of the California community colleges can decide whether or not to implement the extension program.But two of the colleges listed did not end

up meeting eligibility requirements, and two other colleges have said they are not interested.Long Beach City College, one of the

six eligible colleges, is the only one who has expressed interest in bringing the program to their school. However, just last week, students of the college protested in opposition of AB 955.None of the eligible colleges have yet

confirmed implementing of the extension program.The SMC Faculty Association showed

their disapproval of AB 955 when earlier this year, they gave money to the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges to hire a lobbyist to fight the bill.AB 955 would not influence SMC

immediately until after four-year trial period.“Our biggest fear right now is in the

future,” said Associated Students President Ty Moura.At a recent AS board meeting, directors

voted against supporting the bill. A letter was sent to the Capitol by Moura on behalf of the AS, urging Gov. Jerry Brown to veto the bill.Student Trustee Jesse Ramirez also sent a

letter on behalf of the AS.

“We are opposed because this legislation goes against the philosophy of the community college mission of open, equal access for all,” wrote Ramirez in the letter.“This is a community college,” Moura

said. “This is the place for those who cannot afford. Those who can afford have so many opportunities.”Similar thoughts guided protesters at

SMC last year, when the SMC Board of Trustees proposed contract education, and escalating protests were met with pepper spray by police outside the doors of a BOT meeting.“The administration in general, they

learned with what happened, and they just don’t want that same confusion happening on campus again,” Moura said, referring to the pepper-spray incident.

However, it does not look like talk of two-tiered education is coming back to SMC anytime soon.“It is not necessarily beneficial because

students are getting classes now,” said Bob Isomoto, vice president of business and administration at SMC. “We’re providing enough classes to students.”Isomoto said the cost of these classes

would equal that of international student fees, which is $315 per unit.“It is a massive fee hike for students,” said

Stewart.A BOG fee waiver would not exempt

students from payment, but money made from the extension classes would help reduce costs for students with the waiver.“This is just a bad, bad policy,” said

Moura.

Elizabeth mossNews editor

scott Bixler Corsair

Santa Monica College Associated Students President Ty Moura talks to other AS student board members and students about Assembly Bill 955 in the SMC Cayton Center on Monday, Sept. 30.

A bill on the governor’s desk would provide higher-priced classes during summer and winter intersessions.


volume 106 issue 6 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college 4

Nearly a year after it was approved by voters, Proposition 30, also known as the “Temporary Taxes to Fund Education” bill, is already helping keep California state schools with stable budgets.While states like Illinois and Texas are slashing school

budgets, Prop. 30 is already serving as an example of how Californians are willing to give a little extra in terms of taxes to keep an institution like Santa Monica College offering a full crop of high-quality classes.As a result of the proposition being passed, a net

worth of $1 million was approved for SMC.“Prop. 30 does not give us any new moneys, it just

changed the pot from where we got the money from,” says Robert G. Isomoto, vice president of business and administration for SMC.

State funds would usually come in through a system known as general apportionment, which just means money for schools coming directly from state coffers. Prop. 30 added a slight revision to the California tax code, raising taxes so there would be enough money to keep current school budgets unchanged.“It’s a quarter-cent tax on the dollar,” says Isomoto.

“It stabilizes a source of money for us.”When the Great Recession hit in 2008, SMC was not

immune to the aftershocks of the market collapse.“We are still below the funding that we received in

2008,” says Isomoto. “We haven’t recovered 100 percent from 2008.”It might be hard to fathom, but before the Prop. 30

vote in November of 2012, SMC — like most public colleges — was literally on the brink of catastrophe, Isomoto says.“We would have had 30 percent fewer classes and

instructors and everything,” he says.“We do have less classes, not a great deal less, but we

do have a few less classes,” Isomoto says about the side effects of the economic meltdown, which is still being felt worldwide.

In the current climate, seeing Prop. 30 passed was a task due to opposition from certain sectors.“Those against Prop. 30 were business people because

of the tax,” Isomoto says. “It also included a progressive tax on the wealthy, those making over $250,000. They were dead set against it also. There are always two opposing sides and that’s the way it’s always going be.”Nancy Grass Hemmert, chair of SMC’s

communication studies department, agrees that the passage of Prop. 30 has been positive for the school.“I am very relieved that it was passed,” Hemmert

says. “It has made a really good difference for all of us. Concurrent with 30 passing, the fiscal crisis in the state might finally be getting behind us.”For the next four years, funding for community

colleges will remain stabilized.However, Isomoto warns that Prop. 30 will only stand

for that specific amount of time before it expires. If the economic situation has not found renewed balance by then, possibly new battles will loom on the horizon.“We’re lucky we live in a democratic state where they

fund education and different entitlement programs,” Isomoto says.

news

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Prop. 30 funds keep SMC afloat

alci rengifostaff writer

State funds are already stabilizing SMC’s budget.

Students applying to colleges might wonder if there is anyone who knows exactly what it takes to be accepted into a college.Zorrane Abdeali, who was an undergraduate business

administration student at University of California, Riverside, had the same question in mind when his younger brother, Komail, a political science major at Saddleback College, took his first steps transferring to the University of California, Los Angeles.“During his transfer process, I noticed some gaps in

resources that were available to him,” Abdeali said. “It took a little extra effort for the student to find information that was unbiased — in other words, not from universities.”

The biggest difficulty in applying was finding transfer students who made the jump from community colleges to universities. Realizing that they might not be the only ones struggling to find this information, the Abdeali brothers started a transfer student website, collegeshuffle.com, which helps connect pre-transfer and post-transfer students.“That is where the whole idea derived from,” said

Abdeali. “Getting other students who have done it successfully to get in touch with those students that are new to the process of transferring.”Abdeali said he strongly believes that it is better to

learn from someone who has already gone through the process of transferring than “a university flier.”The website allows students to create a profile to

connect with other transferring or already transferred students, Abdeali said. Students who have already transferred give advice through articles about finding basic housing to finding the cheapest books for classes. Prospective students can filter their search by GPA, major, transfer year and college rating.“We want students to really interact with each other,”

said Abdeali.Even though the website has over 1,000 students,

Abdeali's goal is to bring more on board and measure the site's helpfulness to students. He is not sure if the amount of students registered is a big enough sample size, knowing that there are thousands of transfer students out there.Abdeali said he has California State Universities and

private universities in mind, but that it takes time. Right now, the priority is to get the word out.“Without the students' feedback and insight it will

really not work,” he said. “We are trying to get it straight out of the students’ mouth. The hardest part is to get a diverse group of students to give a lot of information.”The website was fully launched last year, but still needs

help from students who are proficient with computers and smartphone apps, which would help to fulfill one of their dreams, launching a collegeshuffle.com app. Those interested in volunteering are welcome to join their team, Abdeali said.For those interested specifically in transferring to

UCLA, the Abdeali brothers created an e-book, “The Transfer Roadmap – UCLA Edition.” The book discusses three key transfer aspects, life before, during, and after UCLA.

New website to ease transfer process

gintare urbutyte

staff writer

Collegeshuffle.com seeks to link prospective community college transfers with university students.


5volume 106 issue 5 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college

Philosophy major at Santa Monica College, David J., who asked that his full name not be disclosed, joined his friends for a study session when five of them each took a pill and popped it into their mouths. According to them, this pill would aid them in their concentration, and they called it Adderall.“I didn't believe what I saw,” he exclaimed.His experience is relatively common.

A 2011 study called "Monitoring The Future" revealed that one in every 10 college students has taken prescription stimulants in the past year without a professional diagnosis.Adderall is one of these stimulant drugs,

which is prescribed to people diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD.Prescription stimulant abuse has

dramatically increased over the past 10 years, according to "Adderall Abuse on College Campuses: A Comprehensive Literature Review," published in 2012 on PubMed.According to Mayo Clinic,

psychostimulant drugs, or stimulants, are the most commonly prescribed medications for this disorder, which help improve symptoms of unfocused attention and hyperactivity.“If a person genuinely has ADHD,

then they probably should take their medication," says David Shirinyan, a physiological psychology professor at SMC. "But if they don't, and they are taking it for fun, or to study, then the cost benefit doesn't make sense."Stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin do

not actually make a person smarter, but

they give a person an inflated sense of intelligence and productivity, according to an article featured on Time's website called "Adderall may not make you smarter, but it makes you think you are."This drug unleashes a neurotransmitter

called dopamine in the brain, which activates its reward system, and gives the user a sense of euphoria. As a result, it might make studying more pleasurable, but it does not improve a person's cognitive abilities, according to the same article.

"Because it is this powerful stimulant, if you are not wired to acquire it, then it is really like abusing any street drug,” says Shirinyan.So does Adderall affect abusers and

people who suffer from ADHD differently?Shirinyan warns that people who don't

need Adderall will just experience a generic amphetamine effect, characterized by high energy, jitteriness and euphoria. Prescribed users who take the drug as prescribed for ADHD on a regular basis experience it

differently than those who take it to party or to study, he says.Shirinyan emphasizes that there are

differences dependent on the user. He states that the non-prescribed user may take a high dose of the drug, while the prescribed user is more likely to take the drug in doses as prescribed so the body has time to accommodate to the changes."People who really need it will experience

greater focus, more attentiveness, and they can concentrate on what is in front of them, rather than being distracted,” Shirinyan says.Manuel Lee, who asked The Corsair to

use a different name, is a Santa Monica College student whose sister suffers from ADHD. Lee agrees that Adderall is a viable treatment for ADHD, and says that his sister was able to concentrate in class after she started taking the medication.“It balances the chemicals in the brain to

actually let [ADHD sufferers] focus, and to do what their brain should be doing on a regular basis,” says Lee.Student Houtan Shokri, who was

diagnosed with ADHD, claims that he did not have good experiences with Adderall and other stimulant medications.“I really don't believe in the use of it

because it messes with your head," says Shokri. "I got really sick. When I took it, I would get all depressed, and I would be very angry, and I would always be getting into fights with my friends.”But Shokri says that taking Adderall in

the past has allowed him to learn how to condition his mind to be more focused.“I realized that after you take it a few

times, your body would learn what your teacher wants you to do, or what you should be doing," says Shokri. "Thus you can teach yourself how to stay focused and your mentality just completely changes.

Countless products from numerous companies are available to consumers to help with dry skin during the fall season. Although many include popular name brands, there are also simple, natural solutions.Dry skin can be common in the fall, and some may

struggle more than others, especially those with skin conditions."I have had dry skin for the last four years," says Santa

Monica College student Anna Jones. "I've tried every moisturizer and cleanser possible, but nothing seems to work."Some may think dry skin is a problem that can be cured

by using a thicker moisturizer or a gentler cleanser, but this is not always the case.Susan James, cosmetology professor at SMC, says that a

common misconception is that using creamier lotions on the skin will hydrate it. However, dry skin can also be a problem within the body. Lack of nutrients, water and oils can be a contributing factor."When there are fine lines, this is a lack of water, and

when there are flakes, this is a lack of oil," says James.Normal skin has a pH — a measure of acidity or basicity

— of 5, while slightly dry skin has a pH of 4.5, which is slightly more acidic, James says. With very dry skin, the pH level can fall even below 4. "The sweat gland that is attached to the hair follicle

provides moisture, and this combination, oil and sweat, creates the skin’s acid mantle," she says. Mayo Clinic's website recommends eating a healthy diet

rich in vitamin C, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins, and avoiding unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates. Proper nutrition may promote younger-looking skin, as some research suggests.“There is a lack of research showing that drinking water

has any impact on skin hydration or appearance,” Mayo Clinic’s dermatologist Lawrence E. Gibson states on the site.The skin is made up of three layers including

the epidermis, or outer layer, the dermis, or underlying skin, and the subcutaneous fat tissue. If the outermost layer of the epidermis does not contain enough water, then skin will loose elasticity and feel rough, Gibson says.Gibson recommends avoiding contact with hot

or chlorinated water and using skincare products containing alcohol. He also recommends moisturizing right after bathing or showering and as needed throughout the day.Drugstore products, such as Eucerin and

Cetaphil, are popular with people who have dry skin. They are both lightweight and contain ingredients that help soothe the skin of those who suffer from both dry skin and eczema, or skin with itching and redness. Cetaphil also has a line specific for eczema that consists of body washes and lotions."The molecular structure of the moisturizing product

also needs to be evaluated," says James. "It needs to be lightweight because the pores on dry skin are very small."James also says that since dry skin needs both moisture

and oil, the base emulsion needs to be a water-in-oil emulsion, and the type of oil is essential."Grape seed oils are excellent for mature skin, while a

liquid shea butter or other light vegetable oils [work] for younger types," she says.There are natural alternatives that may be just as effective

to combat dry skin. Sibu is a facial and body-care line that is made from sea buckthorn oil. Acure is a facial-care line made from argan oil, which has several other organic oils that help soothe and protect the skin. Shea Moisture is a line of products, from shampoos to body lotions, consisting

of moisturizing oils including shea butter."Mineral oils that are light are acceptable for clients with

allergies because it usually doesn’t cause itchy skin," James says. "When a product causes the skin to itch or burn, it is usually because of an allergy to an ingredient, so be careful of nut-based oils and other known allergens."Mayo Clinic offers some tips to keep skin looking and

feeling healthy. Hot water and long showers strip the natural oils from the skin, so limit bath time and use warm water. Also, read labeling on soaps and body washes because stronger soaps also remove the necessary oils from the skin.For both men and women, shaving after adding gel, lotion

or shaving cream to the designated area helps protect it, as well as shaving in the direction that the hair grows. Lastly, do not rub the skin, but pat or blot dry.

health + lifestyle

Health & Beauty Weekly: Moisturize this fall, prevent dry skin

Adderall abuse still increasing, still illegalLyan Wongstaff writer

ADriAne HAle Corsair

Concentration enhancing drugs have been available for many years. Some college students use them recreationally, or to help focus when studying, and others are prescribed Adderall and Ritalin for treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

"People who really need it will experience greater focus, more attentiveness, and they can concentrate on what is in front of them, rather than being distracted.” — Professor David Shirinyan.

Lauren Narvaezstaff writer

crislin cHristiAn Corsair

Santa Monica College skin care specialist Mayra Dionicio performs a facial on a client through SMC’s cosmetology department on Friday.


volume 106 issue 6 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college 6 Photostory

“You will never become a dancer in the classroom alone.” —SMC dance instructor Karen McDonald

Arlene KArno Corsair

Megan Wood, 25, reads dance books in the Santa Monica College library on her birthday, Sept. 27. Due to a foot injury in August, Megan will not participate in dance performances this year, but still takes dance classes at SMC.


Dancers execute a barre stretch in Karen McDonald’s advanced modern dance class at Santa Monica College. Pictured left to right is Kristina Furhmann, Camille Woode, Jessica Campbell and Megan Wood.

rAcHel Porter Corsair

Dancers rehearse their routine to Lady Gaga’s “Applause” on Thursday, Sept. 26 at Santa Monica College.


volume 106 issue 6 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college 7photostory

Dance program leaps aheadFor decades, the Santa Monica

College dance department, currently led by department chair Judith Douglas, has helped dancers achieve their dreams.Its mission is to prepare students

for future careers as dancers, choreographers, dance critics, and teachers by offering a comprehensive array of classes designed to cultivate technique, an appreciation for world dances, creativity, and performance skills.Dance instructor Karen

McDonald, who is a professional dancer and award-winning choreographer, has been teaching modern dance at SMC since 2004. She says she has noticed the high quality of students being drawn into the program.“The concept here is that of

nurturing the best," she says. "No different than Julliard. Our well-rounded faculty is highly committed to that nurturance.”Also SMC dance instructor Jae

Young Lee recognizes the quality of the dance instructors and students."We are attracting more advanced

dancers into the program," she says. "Perhaps this is because

dancers themselves are now exposed to a higher level of dance in general."But students, encouraged by the

dance faculty to explore other arenas in dance, are not only given the chance to learn from SMC's dance instructors, but also from guest dancers and choreographers who give lectures on their field of expertise, says Lee.Both the faculty's and the

students' diversity is essential to the dance program, says Lee."It’s crucial that the program

focuses on individualism," she says. "My philosophy is that each person com es from a different background, and that will end up expressing itself in the dance. And we are lucky to have excellent faculty members, all of whom embrace the diverse population here."The dance department has its own

two dance companies, Synapse and Global Motion, which both will be performing on SMC's Broad Stage this November, featuring choreography by students, faculty and guest artists.

Synapse, directed by Lee and SMC dance instructor Roberta Wolin-Tupas, has been SMC's contemporary dance ensemble for more than 40 years. Styles range from modern to postmodern, contemporary ballet to modern jazz and hip hop fusion.SMC's dance instructors Raquel

Ramirez and Sri Susilowati co-direct Global Motion, which performs traditional and contemporary forms of world-ethnic dance.The dance department gives

students the opportunity to earn credits for an associate degree in arts or for the transfer to a four-year university.The dance department offers

lecture classes as well as practical classes in commercial dance like jazz, tap, ballroom, world dance and contemporary dance.Dance students can also enroll in

different technique levels of ballet, choreography, and modern dance.The department is in the process

of creating a dance-teaching certificate for students interested in dance education and the teaching of dance.

writteN by JasmiN HuyNH & arleNe KarNo


Megan Wood, 25, reads dance books in the Santa Monica College library on her birthday, Sept. 27. Due to a foot injury in August, Megan will not participate in dance performances this year, but still takes dance classes at SMC.


In Sean Greene’s classes, there is live music, laugh-ing and hand holding. Greene is one of the SMC dance department’s most sought-after and beloved teachers.


West African drum master Malik leads the rhythm in Karen McDonald’s modern dance class at Santa Monica College on Sept. 29.


Featured faculty choreographer Seda Aybay uses an iPad to record fifth-semester SMC dance major Glenn Rodriguez, 20, during rehearsal for Synapse on Sept. 21.


Sean Greene’s modern dance classes at Santa Monica College are enhanced by live flute and percussion.


volume 106 issue 6 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college 8 opinion

It was Pacquiao versus Marquez. My aunt was drunk and Marquez had just lost. She was claiming that Marquez had gotten robbed, and a friend of our neighbor was telling her to stop complaining.Soon enough, fists were flying and my aunt was being

restrained on the floor. That was just one act of violence between sports fans that I was able to witness firsthand.These days, violence between passionate fans is sadly a

routine occurrence when it comes to sports. These events, which begin as friendly competitions, can

just as quickly escalate into senseless violence. “I think it’s a little bit ridiculous,” said Timothy Pierce,

head coach of the Santa Monica College men’s soccer team. “There is a line that’s being crossed between passion and excessive behavior.”Pierce recalled an incident in which Andres Escobar, a

player for the Colombian soccer team, was shot and killed after he scored on his team’s own goal that led to his team’s elimination from the 1994 World Cup.“That’s not how humans treat each other,” said Pierce.

“It’s inhuman, and it’s not right.”The recent killing of Jonathan Denver in San Francisco,

after a Dodgers-Giants game, is yet another shameful act of violence in which some fans were just too juiced up on their own stupidity that they felt the need to take the life of another man over a rivalry between their favorite teams.“While details are still emerging, we want to be clear that

there is absolutely no place in our community for this type of senseless violence,” according to a Giants statement.If there is even an iota of a chance that the sports team

has knowledge of one of these fans, the team will rapidly disown the possibility. Owners, coaches and managers do not want their franchise to be represented by crazed fans who do not know how to control their temperament.“Unfortunately, it’s kind of a reflection of society and

people in general,’’ said Gifford Lindheim, head coach of SMC’s football team. “Whether it’s mass killings or how people feel about their teams, there is a lot of acting out on these issues.”Yet, these kinds of fans continue to disrupt and corrupt

the meaning of sportsmanship. Anthony Hines, a student at SMC, said he feels that

sports should be all about having fun and that people should control their frustrations no matter how emotional the moment might be. “Maybe at the moment I would want to smack someone

in the face, but the right thing to do is to just walk away and let him have his day,” he said. “You’re trying to go to a game and have fun and something like that just isn’t cool.”Marcos Ordonez, a punter for SMC football, said he feels

that sometimes alcohol and drugs can be involved with the rowdiness of certain fans.“I’ve been in the stands where people start fighting with

each other over one word,” he said. “The smart thing is just keep your mouth shut, and if the guy just keeps talking and running their mouth, then just find a security guard.”These are not gang affiliations. These are sports teams

who work day in and day out to support their families

and their own lives while trying to keep their fans happy. Still, some fans feel the need to show their loyalty to their favorite teams by committing these gruesome acts.Ricardo Hooper, SMC athletic director, said that certain

kinds of people cannot control their impulses, ruining what could be a wonderful experience. “If not sports, they would surely find some other way to

exhibit extreme behavior,” he said. “I think those types should be banned from sports.”Other recent acts of violence include the 2011 beating

of Giants fan ,Brian Stow, who was attacked by Dodger fans in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium, shortly after the game ended. He suffered brain trauma from the beating. To this day, Stow has not fully recovered. As for Jonathan Denver, he may finally be able to watch

the Dodgers in peace.

In just three days, Grand Theft Auto V almost made as much money as it has cost the United States government to shut down for a week.However, GTA V, which is critically acclaimed and an

insanely lucrative game, is simply another piece of garbage entertainment.The wildly popular “cultural phenomenon” raked

in more than $1 billion within the first three days of its launch, according to a press release from Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.“We believe this marks the fastest that any entertainment

property — including video games and feature films — has reached this significant milestone,” states the press release.These astounding sales make the game the fastest-selling

entertainment property in history, breaking all other previously set box office and video game records.In comparison, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, the last

mindless game where you shoot people in the head, took 15 days to reach the $1 billion mark.While I myself have not purchased or played GTA V, I

can personally attest to its popularity, having a deceased friend preorder the game before his passing.However, it’s not just fan-boys clamoring for GTA V,

game reviewers and critics are raving over Rockstar Games’ latest installment.IGN’s official website gave the game a 10 out of 10,

hailing it “preposterously enjoyable, breathtaking in scope and bitingly funny; GTA V is a landmark game.”The only landmark I see is a new low being set for society.

Driving around and shooting people is hardly breathtaking when I have already experienced the same gameplay four times prior.

I find myself questioning what makes this game so fabulous in the eyes of reviewers and gamers alike, when there isn’t a single new feature or innovative gameplay to attest to the hype.Considering the fact that GTA V cost Rockstar Games

$260 million to produce, the final product is lackluster. The gaming industry has set a new low for future generations of gamers.No longer are games to be played for enjoyment, or to

complete a hard challenge, or even showcase your skill. They are to be played out in a story mode where the self worth derived from playing lies in identifying with other people who play the game and talking about it.The devotion to GTA V shown by gamers is disturbing.

In our current social climate, what does the popularity of a game where your objectives are to commit felonies say about our society as a whole?GTA V illustrates how quickly most of us are willing to

escape the real world into a digital safe haven. GTA V is not inherently filth, however it panders to the lowest common denominator, with its simplistic entertainment that perpetuates negativity.I am not out to vilify all video games, but unfortunately,

I see no merit in wasting any fragment of time on GTA V, an alleged top contender for the game of the year award.As a gamer and a former World of Warcraft nerd, I

cannot justify logging in to play hundreds of hours of GTA. At the end of the day, all your time spent and virtual achievements earned are meaningless.With so much wonder and beauty present in the real

world, it is saddening to see mankind prefer to live life through crude simulations of life, created for profit by Canadian dorks.If GTA V has taught me anything, it is that sex, guns

and violence are cool, and that consumers are sheep. I will

not be buying GTA V and have no plans to play it in the future.The same recycled gameplay elements from the many

other games in the series, hardly make for a revolutionary experience.If I want to experience anarchy and chaos in the streets, I

will just walk outside, where the government is shut down and killing civilians on Capitol Hill. I guess even Washington, D.C. has been playing too much

GTA V.

Christophor McGovern contributed to this story.

Same $#*@, different gameHenry crumblish

opiNioN editor

It’s just a game jonathan Ramos

staff writer

sAm Herron Corsair

Grand Theft Auto V was released on Sept. 17, 2013. Sales for the first week topped $1 billion.


At Dodger Stadium on Oct. 7, a security guard takes a friendly approach to calm a fan using profanity. The Dodger fan wonders who he could harm from behind the bar, and says he was just “playing.”


9volume 106 issue 5 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college opinion

At CSU Channel Islands students have one-on-one access to all of their professors, and a supportive campus culture that’s perfectly suited for exploring ideas beyond the classroom, learning new subjects and finding future success.

TOGETHER WE INNOVATE joinus.csuci.edu/cor

CSU Channel Islands - We Are Not AloneSanta Monica City College - The Corsair Insertions: October 2013**October 2, 9, 2013**

BW 4.875” x 7.5” em: [email protected] Due: Sept 25, 2013

L to R: Darius Riggins, Admissions & Recruitment; Patrick Tafoya, Facilities Services; Ellie Tayag, John Spoor Broome Library; Jill Leafstedt, Associate Professor of Education; Carmen Gutierrez, ‘13 Early Childhood Studies, future Credential Program student; Monica Rivas, Academic Advising; Ryan Garcia, Academic Technology Services; Lt. Mike Morris, University Police.

TOGETHER WE ARE NOT ALONE.WE START OUR JOURNEY, ASK THE QUESTIONS,QUESTION THE ANSWERS, ENTER NEW TERRITORY AND FIND OURSELVES.TOGETHER WE INNOVATE.

The water was overflowing. There was graffiti on the walls and doors. Trash was spread across the stained floor as an appalling stench overtook the entire room. This is not an abandoned home, nor is it the scene of a horror movie. This is the setting of a bathroom at Santa Monica College.It feels like every year, as society becomes

less involved with the well being of our own environment, public restrooms become more difficult to tolerate. As a student, I’ve had some less then

pleasant experiences going into the school’s restrooms. I once went into a restroom and felt like my feet were stuck to the ground. It was extremely sticky and the stench was awful. The kick here was that it was over by the sink, which makes me question the vile acts that are going on in these bathrooms.“I think the bathrooms are very dirty and

unsanitary,” said SMC student Cooper Ricardo, who said that he once walked into a bathroom where every single toilet was overflowing. “I’m not going to do this; this isn’t

happening,” Ricardo said to himself when deciding whether or not to use the restroom.It is difficult to believe that the act of

flushing a toilet is so daunting that a human being is incapable of doing it. As a society, we seem to be becoming so lazy that we have reached a point where flushing a toilet, or throwing a paper towel in the proper trash can is deemed too difficult of a task to spend a few seconds on.Although the SMC restrooms are not the

cleanest, some are far worse than others. The restrooms in the Math Complex and the Science Building have been praised for being cleaner than others. However, the restrooms in the Business Building, Letters and Science Building, and cafeteria do not have the same fortune.“It’s dirty; like really dirty,” said SMC

student Scarlett Munoz of the restroom in the Business Building. “There was no soap, no paper towels at all, and the trash cans were all filled with trash.”The facilities department is not at fault

for the unkempt bathrooms. Some students and users of these restrooms simply take no action whatsoever to keep these rooms in shape. The custodial operations department is

divided between one day shift, from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and two night shifts, from 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. The latter is split up into three different

parts, according to information received in an email from JC Saunders-Keurjian, chief director of the facilities department.The day shift and the first night shift are

each made up of at least five employees with one lead custodian, Saunders-Keurjian said. However, they are currently without a lead custodian for one of the night shifts. The final night shift is an overall joint

effort of approximately 45 employees, including three lead custodians. However, there are still 13 vacant positions within the custodial operations. Campus maintenance is carried out over

nine different areas that include SMC’s Bundy campus, Performing Arts Center,

and the soon-to-return Academy of Entertainment and Technology campus, Saunders-Keurjian said. She also noted that due to uncontrollable

circumstances, such as vacation time, sicknesses or work injuries, they are rarely fully staffed.That means that, day in and day out,

SMC’s custodial staff has to work twice as hard to keep up with an immense load, while being undersized in their staff.Instead of rambling until they are blue

in the face about how maintenance does not do their jobs, SMC students and other people alike should worry about how they are too apathetic about their own hygiene to simply flush a toilet or put that marker back in their pockets.The custodial department members do

their job, and cannot help if someone is eager to turn the bathrooms into a sewage dump as soon as they are cleaned.The college is doing all it can with the

resources it has at the moment, but it is still not enough. SMC needs to make hiring more custodians a priority.SMC students Stacy Campos and Rebecca

Sepulveda both agreed that maintaining the bathrooms is not a hard task as long as the basic procedures of toilet flushing and throwing trash away are done.Saunders-Keurjian said she hopes that

students will help by respecting their SMC environment, refraining from vandalism, abiding by certain rules such as “no food or drink” where posted, and encouraging others to do the same.She urges students to inform any faculty

or staff member of any concerns that include safety issues, or areas that are in need of custodial support, so that they can be fixed and not left to linger for a long period of time.Unfortunately, from what I’ve seen using

the restrooms at SMC, the custodial staff will never get a rest, and the students will just keep making a mess.

jonathan ramosstaff writer

Flush the toilet: It’s really not that hard

cHristoPHor mcGovern Corsair

Santa Monica College’s Drescher Hall second-floor urinals are shown on Monday, Oct. 7.


volume 106 issue 6 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college 10

In and out of the water, the Santa Monica College men's water polo team sticks together.This year's team is solid with several sophomore

members, many of whom grew up together swimming and competing in pools around Culver City and El Segundo."Our team is like a family," said goalkeeper Oscar Galvan.

"One guy goes to the bathroom, we all go. It's just like that. We're that tight."This closeness has evolved into a Corsair team that is

competitive, and that aspect was on full display in a fiercely fought defeat, 6-5, against water polo powerhouse, Los Angeles Valley College last Wednesday."We got a really good group of freshman last year,"

said Corsairs' third-year head coach Brian Eskridge. "Everything really changed. We became competitive. It's

brutal. Everything under the water, everything goes — a lot of holding, a lot of kicking. You're constantly moving, constantly swimming."According to the Collegiate Water Polo Association, the

governing body for college water polo, the history of the sport is as brutal as Eskridge described it. The association's website states that when water polo was

first played in the United States in 1888, it was similar to football in the water, and it was not uncommon for players to be dragged from the water unconscious.Aside from the physicality, Eskridge touched upon the

Corsairs' competitiveness this season. Eskridge said that there are several key players with great

skills and tenacious work ethics who have molded this team into one that is fun to watch.One of these standout players is sophomore tri-captain

Evan Peterson, who had two goals against LA Valley.

"Honestly, I like being in the water," said Peterson. "It's something I've gotten to be good at because I've worked at it.""He's a monster," said Eskridge. "He's who we run

everything through. You need a good leftie. Last year he led our conference in scoring." Crowd support has been enthusiastic, even with limited

poolside seating. Linda Perez, the mother of team member Julian Perez, said she believes that the water polo team has helped mold her son."I'm proud of him because he has a lot of commitment

and dedication to water polo," said Perez, of her son. "He has good character, a good heart, I think all of that was developed as part of being in a water polo club where those were important characteristics." "Team cooperation is out there," said starting player

Toby Contarsy. "Everyone knows what everyone's ability is. We're all working together, and it's the best SMC team in years because of it."The Corsairs are back at home in a game against the

Citrus College Owls on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 3 p.m.

sports

Strong fourth quarter leads to Corsair win

Trev Angonestaff writer

A family dedicated to winningDAVID LLOYD WILSON

staff writer

Byanca Barajas: A local girlTrev Angone

staff writer

When the coach calls your number, you have to be ready to perform, and Brandon Hunt did just that. In the biggest surprise of the afternoon, Hunt, a third

string quarterback for the Santa Monica College football team, was called upon by the SMC football coaching staff to relieve current starter Jerry McConnico, who just last week helped lead the Corsairs to victory over West Los Angeles College.Hunt helped steady the Corsairs in a back-and-forth

battle that lasted nearly the entire game, entering the game with SMC trailing 7-6 early on and guiding them

to a 44-28 victory over the Glendale College Vaqueros on Saturday.“After the first half, I felt a little bit calm; some of the

nervousness was gone," said Hunt. "The second half I felt good the whole time.”In his first opportunity to show his skill, Hunt finished

with an impressive stat line, going 25-37 for 327 yards including one touchdown and an interception.“I thought Brad [Hunt] played well," said head coach

Gifford Lindheim. "We have confidence in all three of the guys [quarterbacks] that we play, and I think Brad really stepped up and ran the offense well today. He did a nice job. We just thought it was the right time to see if Brad could do it or not, so I pulled the trigger, and he did it.”The majority of the game saw the Corsairs striking back

and forth with the Vaqueros, and they were unable to create comfortable separation until the fourth quarter.After a 22-yard field goal put the SMC football team up

two points with three minutes to go in the third quarter, the Corsairs lined up and kicked the ball off to the Vaqueros. Glendale botched the catch on the return, and the

Corsairs tracked down the kick returner, knocked the ball loose and scored a much needed insurance touchdown courtesy of freshman defensive back Tyler Hasty.“I saw the returner do a cut back, then I got my hands

on him, spun him and then I think [Dajuan] Perryman came and knocked the ball out," said Hasty. "Then [wide receiver] Jacob [Stowell] tapped it to me. I scooped it up and ran to the end zone.After the fumble recovery, the Corsairs defense found

themselves facing fourth and 2 at midfield. SMC allowed Glendale to score a 47-yard rushing touchdown on the next play that closed the gap back to two points.A rushing touchdown by freshman running back Melvin

Davis put SMC up nine points with twelve minutes left in the game, and the Corsairs faced another huge 4th down.But this time, SMC’s defense would not make the same

mistake twice as they stuffed the Vaqueros in the backfield turning the ball over on downs. On the ensuing drive, Davis would score the game-clinching touchdown, making it his second of the day.Not only did SMC’s defense have great timing on the play,

but they also dominated the line of scrimmage, recording three sacks while the Vaqueros came up empty trying to reach SMC’s quarterbacks all afternoon.“At halftime, I challenged our team," said Lindheim. "I

challenged our defense to be physical and play hard. There were some series there. Three or four drives in a row where that was a championship-caliber defense, and the type of defense we’ve played here in the past.”Although the Corsairs did not cash in on every

opportunity, Saturday’s match was not short of exciting plays. The Corsairs filled up the stat sheet with a blocked punt and an interception in the first half, both leading to touchdowns, one of which was a 33-yard touchdown run thanks to sophomore running back Eric Kyle who finished the day with 117 rushing yards.Despite a strong finish to the game, the win did not come

without its hiccups. The Corsairs were flagged for 13 penalties adding up to 127 yards, lost three of five fumbles, and surrendered an interception.“I’ve been looking for these situations where we can really

grow and perform at a high level," said Lindheim. "Those are the types of situations that really build football teams and test you. I was really happy to see our team rise to the occasion.”“We had some mental mistakes, flags, but our coaches

know what to do," said Hunt. "We’ll watch film, fix it and take advantage of those opportunities. You can’t leave points out on the field.”The Corsairs have the weekend off, and will try to build

on their win streak at Los Angeles Southwest College on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 1 p.m.

Jimmy JAnszen Corsair

Santa Monica College football player James Brock tackles Glendale College wide receiver Brock Kap on Saturday.

Counselor, teacher, community activist and Santa Monica College alumni; those are some of the words that describe Byanca Barajas. One of SMC's athletic counselors,

Barajas grew up in West Los Angeles and attended Santa Monica High School. After graduating, she continued her academics at SMC where she had a short stint playing soccer for the Lady Corsairs.“I loved it at SMC,” said Barajas. “I

started in '99 and played soccer for a year. The following year, I started working full time and attending school at night, so I wasn’t able to continue playing, but I can relate to the athletes. I think that’s sort of what drives me to help them.”After SMC, Barajas transferred to

California State University, Northridge where she earned a bachelor’s degree and

eventually a master’s degree in counseling. While earning her master’s in counseling at CSUN, Barajas got her first taste of the counseling profession back where she started at SMC, concurrently working as a counseling aide at the SMC Latino Center.“I majored in child development and

interned and worked with high school students at the Pico Youth and Family Center,” she said. “I found I enjoyed working with students who needed help applying for college and financial aid.”Aside from being an athletic counselor,

Barajas also teaches a counseling student success seminar on campus. She also helps to spearhead community service efforts, corresponds with former students, and works part time for a local law firm.“What I’m trying to do right now is

make a difference at SMC in terms of the athletics counseling department,” said Barajas. “I’m working with some students to create a program that goes out and does

community service. Students are actually coming and asking me about it, so we’re going to be working on that soon.”What Barajas does for the student-

athletes at SMC varies, but preparing them academically for the next step in their collegiate careers is her main objective.“My goal is to help each one of the

student-athletes meet their goals,” said Barajas. “I try to focus on their needs. We have students who come from other universities who have played sports and either want to go back, didn’t like it, or didn’t do well academically, but want to get back to that level. I try to make sure they’re academically able to do that.”By being an athletic counselor, Barajas

has unique access to the coaches and administrators of numerous Division I athletic programs.“I have a lot of coaches from universities

that are constantly contacting me,” she said.

When teaching in the classroom, Barajas gives the extra effort and attention to her students. She responds to each student’s weekly journal entries, and hopes to form bonds that may endure through students' college years and beyond.“They have to give me a journal entry

every week and I respond to each student," she said. “I’ve done that since my first semester teaching and I feel I’ve made a lot of connections with students. Even after they leave, they continue to contact me to see how I’m doing and tell me how they’re doing. I really like that.”Now in her fourth year as a counselor,

Barajas has made a name for herself in the community where she grew up. Although she has numerous responsibilities, she hopes to find time to continue her former passion.“I love athletics,” said Barajas. “I used to

play soccer in Hermosa and Manhattan Beach in my spare time, but to be honest, I work a lot. I have been thinking about it lately.”


11volume 106 issue 5 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college arts + entertainment

Bestselling author presents new novelAlci Rengifo

staff writer


Author Victoria Patterson reads a excerpt of her new book, “The Peerless Four,” to a full audience in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building at Santa Monica College on Oct. 1. Patterson’s book goes on sale on Nov. 14.

After longstanding hesitation, Grace Singh Smith decided to try her hand at creative writing and, shortly after, one of her first fictional works was published.Smith currently works at Santa Monica College as the

assistant to Randal Lawson, executive vice president, and to the office of academic affairs. She has a background in journalism, but had not been writing for years and had never thought of herself as a fiction writer.It was not until her colleagues, and in particular SMC film

professor Salvador Carrasco, encouraged her to continue to write, that she enrolled in a creative writing class, taught by SMC professor Jim Krusoe, and soon decided to pursue a career as a fiction author.“Salvador Carrasco asked me, ‘Why don’t you write?’”

Smith said. “I gave him all the typical excuses, and he said, ‘Stop censoring yourself. You just need to write. Don’t allow

anyone to censor you.’ That kind of flipped a switch.”“Once I had given Professor Krusoe my first assignment,

and once he said to me, ‘You have to keep doing this; what have you been doing your whole life?’ there has been no looking back,” she added.In addition to the encouragement of her colleagues, Smith

realized that there was more to her sudden inspiration that had to do with herself and her mindset.“It was something like a mental block,” she said. “I’ve

always wanted to be a writer. I think to be a writer you have to be free in your spirit in a certain sense. And I wasn’t free in my spirit.”Two of her first assignments that she wrote in her class

are now in the process of being turned into a novel.Another short story, “Honor,” that started out as

homework for the class, is now published in this year’s fall issue of the Santa Monica Review, an SMC-sponsored journal that was founded in 1988 by Krusoe and has been nationally distributed semi-annually since then.Andrew Tonkovich, editor for the Santa Monica

Review, who is also responsible for the selection of writings, saw the quality in Smith’s writing style.“The story’s understanding of perspective, and its use

of words and idiom to wrap up the narrator and the reader, is just beautiful — very elegant, and of course dark, angry-making,” he wrote in an email to The Corsair.Smith used her life and experiences in India, and the

stories she heard about its culture and traditions, as inspiration.With her writing, she invites the reader into a world

“that has not been written about in English,” she said.As all of Smith’s work so far, “Honor” is set in rural

India, where she grew up, and deals with the Indian culture, and in particular with women’s position in the Indian marriage tradition.As the basis of her story, Smith used an amusing

anecdote about her mother who complimented an Indian bride for her dowry. However, Smith looked behind the funny surface of the anecdote and discovered a deeper, rather “sad” aspect of it, she said.“The bride is just defined by the things she brought

to the marriage,” she said. “The things are a visual snapshot of who she is, or who she is thought to be. She is basically a nobody, the way I painted her.”Although she said she did not write with an agenda

in mind, after seeing the completed work, she felt it portrays one.“It has an agenda, but I didn’t put it there,” she said.Her intention was not to raise the readers’ sympathy for

women in India, but instead, she hopes that it provokes thoughts and the reflection on one’s own society.“I hope the story causes curiosity about India and Indian

culture and Indian women, but I don’t want them to view it as this poor Indian woman who is identified by objects,” she said. “I would want it to lead to a discussion where the theme becomes universal, where they are forced to look inside themselves and wonder about the women in their own society, their own lives, and how they treat them.”

She came, she wrote, she conqueredJasmin Huynh

a&e editor

New York Times bestselling author Victoria Patterson visited Santa Monica College last Tuesday to discuss her craft and new novel, "The Peerless Four."The packed event, which was sponsored by the

Associated Students and the English department, treated students and instructors to a 90-minute discussion about sports, writing, winning and losing. The event featured Patterson reading an excerpt

from her new book, which tells the story of a female Canadian track team that competed in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, the first ever in which female athletes were allowed to participate.

After stepping in front of the audience, Patterson introduced the excerpt by explaining that she had been inspired to write her new novel after realizing that none of the major sports novels were written by women, or for women.However, the novel's focus is not only on women

and sports, but "a meditation on winning and losing," said Patterson. Unlike Patterson's previous works like "This

Vacant Paradise" and "Drift," the new book marks a sharp swerve away from her usual material about the dark secrets and decadent lives of Newport.The presented excerpt revealed Patterson's clear

and descriptive language that sharply depicted the character's life and inner thoughts. Patterson's style is almost cinematic in the way she vividly describes moments and feelings.After finishing the excerpt, Patterson led a

discussion about the process of writing the novel. "I just allowed my mind to completely wander,

and I went about it like taking a walk in the night," she said. "I researched as much as I could. I thought about sports, and what does it mean to win, and what does it mean to lose."Patterson did not only prepare for the novel by

researching sports, but she also tried to adopt the language of the '30s. "I read books written in that period to avoid

sounding 'modern,'" she said. "I filled myself up until I was brimming and then exploded."Patterson compared the art of writing to the

kind of dedication and drive that could be found in athletes."I think there's a compulsive aspect to writing

similar to sports," she said. "You need to have a sort of endurance." She recommended that aspiring writers read the

classics, especially her favorite, Henry James, and his works such as "The Portrait of a Lady" and "The Turn of the Screw.""If you're a writer, you need to constantly read,

constantly feed," she said.Patterson is now working on what she described

as her "big book," which will focus on a return to the world of Newport Beach.

tom BAKer CoNTribuTor

Grace Singh Smith poses with her dog, Samson, who keeps her company when she writes.

“The story’s understanding of perspective, and its use of words and idiom to wrap up the narrator and the reader, is just beautiful — very elegant, and of course dark, angry-making.” — Andrew Tonkovich

“I think there’s a compulsive aspect to writing similar to sports. You need to have a sort of endurance.” —Victoria Patterson


volume 106 issue 6 • october 9, 2013 • santa monica college 12 arts + entertainment


Ballet-trained dancer Mikayla Richards tries the breakdance move “helicopter” during the breakdancing workshop on Wednesday.

Interactive breakdance lecture at SMC

Dion Tostaff writer

The Library Foundation of Los Angeles brought a centuries-old literary masterpiece to life when Herman Melville's "My Moby Dick" conquered the Broad Stage on Saturday night.The show, which was mainly a dramatic reading enhanced

with theater props, instrumental and vocal music, and multimedia, celebrated the words of Melville while imagining scenes and characters that planted the story of Moby Dick into modern Southern California. It was a lively, dark, sometimes surreal but effective experience. The show began with a mournful piano piece played by

a hunched musician drenched in shadow. His piano was surrounded by other instruments such as tambourines and drums. Ocean waves serenely moved on a giant screen that served as the prime backdrop for the entire show.Then the novel's main character Ishmael, played by

Michael Arden, appeared onstage behind a podium, dressed like a modern dock worker, and recited the opening passages of Melville's masterpiece.From there, the production went into a series of moments

that were impressive in the way they did not just narrate "Moby Dick" as a novel, but instead they re-imagined the novel's ideas, characters and importance as a timeless work of authentic Americana by combining the narration of the classic tale with modern dress, high tech media, and unique interpretations of the readings. Different actors appeared onstage and read chapters from

"Moby Dick" as musicians played music with prominent sounds of seashells that sounded appropriate for a dark, obsessive sea voyage. The readings always felt alive, and every single actor seemed to be enjoying the experience. Actress Charlayne Woodard was vibrant during her

reading of the chapter when Ishmael first encountered the Polynesian harpooner Queequeg. Actor Stacy Keach, surrounded by mist, delivered a dark,

brooding Captain Ahab, obsessed by his quest to capture the great white whale. Here the text selection was particularly effective,

surprising the audience with a reading in which Captain

Ahab did not, as many may have expected, ramble about the whale, but spoke about his young wife with whom he only lived for one night before setting out to sea again. Keach gave the words a power that was haunting and eloquent.Music was also a driving force in this production. It was

done with real gusto and creative freedom. Two interludes featured the band Garretson & Gorodetsky which played songs with a cabaret feel featuring lyrics directly taken from "Moby Dick."With each reading, there was atmospheric music, and

images were projected to compliment the words being spoken. For example when actress Shohreh Aghdashloo read the chapter "The Pacific," the screen glowed with images of flowing water that seemed to envelope the stage. Featured in between the live readings were filmed

interviews with writers, musicians, critics and actors such as Patton Oswalt, who played among other moves in "Young Adult," and techno artist Moby, all of whom shared hilarious, sometimes sharp memories about reading "Moby Dick," and their understanding of its themes. But the great standout moments came when the

production entered truly creative, even surreal territory.One section featured a scientist who appeared onstage in

a lab coat. He went on to explain a wild military project code named Project Moby Dick, in which the army attempted to create an armada of weaponized whales.A little crazy? Yes, but it also modernized one of the

novel's driving themes that the ultimate predator, man, encroaches into the natural world and unbalances the ecological terrain of a creature like Moby Dick. The most memorable of these scenes came when actor

John Fleck was rolled onto the stage in a shower that represented a boat. With devilish glee and risqué tone, Fleck recited a chapter famous for the way Melville describes in almost metaphysical, hallucinatory prose the feel and warmth of whale semen which will be collected for the production of ointment. Fleck finished the moment by donning angel wings and

singing an aria to roaring applause from the audience. It was a welcome display of how the Library Foundation of Los Angeles is not afraid to be risky.

The Broad sets sail for ‘Moby Dick’Alci Rengifo

staff writer


Pianists Joe Bersrdi and Rinde Eckert perform during “My Moby Dick” at The Broad Stage at Santa Monica College on Saturday.

Multitalented Amy "Catfox" Campion, B-girl, capoeirista, and dance filmmaker, led as many as 50 students in a vigorous and intense breakdancing workshop last Wednesday at Santa Monica College.Campion is the founder and artistic

director of Antics Performance, an LA-based dance company that creates multimedia urban dance performances incorporating various art forms, and offers residencies, workshops and lectures. Although the dance floor at SMC's

gym was limited, attendees persisted and maximized their space while interacting with Campion. While Campion performed breaking

moves and poses that awed both participants and watchers, workshop attendees slipped and slid across the floor as they practiced various moves from corkscrews to butt spins, and front sweeps to the baby freeze.The energy with which students were

willing to dive into the action was raw. Exuding from most of the dancers was the passion, devotion and definitely the perspiration to show it. Campion, who has been dancing

approximately for 20 years, said that she does not need to work out to gain her physical strength, but can rely on practicing breaking along with other dancing techniques to be strong."Part of breaking is that it can be so

physically demanding," she said. The true highlight of the workshop

was the courage of some attendees, who took Campion's advice and followed her dance demonstrations, and with that accomplished new feats as a dancer. Second best to that was the persistence

and perseverance of students who stayed from the beginning to the end despite the

physical demand, which could be seen in red, sweaty faces, huffs, puffs and the slight thump as bodies fell to the floor.Gerardo Morales, SMC dance major, said

he really enjoyed the class."For me, listening to her and getting her

history was that extra little sprinkle on top," he said. Although Morales had taken a number of

dance classes and workshops, he said that he enjoys classes that have a social aspect and are not just straight choreography, and that Campion's workshop surely achieved it with the amount of interaction between her and the students. When the workshop came to a close,

the number of dancers had thinned out significantly, but many still stayed for a special screening of Campion's latest film, "Street Dance Orixas." Campion said that the film has not been

seen by the public yet, and is in the process of being entered for several film festivals. The film focuses on a set of different

dancers, including Campion herself, who showcase their dancing styles and empowering, intense dance moves.Although Campion's capoeira skills

seem the most developed, the Brazilian and Salvadorean dancers have picked up various aspects of her craft. They are shown moving with technical skills in a variety of different places, connecting the ability to dance anywhere and become one with their surroundings.In the end of the film, all individual

dancers are united, and through their moves, they begin to vibe off each other's energies, creating their own dance world.Campion said the inspiration for the

film came from an idea she had for a long time. She wanted to display the connection between American street dance and Afro-Brazilian culture through a combination of breakdancing and capoeira.

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