Mountaineer Print Edition

Samantha Romero

Editorial Assistant

Team of Students Taking A New Direction has been elected as the new executive board of the Associated Students.

After two weeks of campaigning, the nine-membered team will be focusing on its’ three mains goals - campus involvement, awareness, and everyone working together.

“We want to prepare students so they know exactly where they’re going,” said May Ochoa, 20, psychology major and president-elect. “We want them to be able to say I want to be a psychology major to do this and that with psychology.”

To achieve this goal the team intends to create a panel of instructors to advise students on what they can do for different majors.

Team STAND also wants to increase aware-ness of student concerns in general.

It hopes to sponsor Chat with the Represen-tatives, where the A.S. president and student trustee will sit down with students to listen and/or address any issues that students may have.

STAND wants to promote more collabora-tion between students and staff.

Ochoa also has a personal agenda.

“One of the things

I really want to do is truly establish an active relationship between faculty and students,” said Ochoa. “ [I] feel like there is a disconnection between administration and students.”

In order to achieve these goals Ochoa sought to recruit determined individuals.

“Before elections started, we wanted people that had experience,” Ochoa said. “Not only how many positions they held, but what have they done in student govern-ment.”

It was her friend, Vice President of Activi-ties Dunia Valladares, 20, psychology, who helped Ochoa in creating the cur-rent team. Networking and observation played a key role in the process.

Valladares will be advocating events such as chat-ins with representa-tives of A.S. and others.

“I feel that it is my duty to create events that are more beneficial to stu-dents,” said Valladares.

Student trustee-elect Karina Maureira, 20, com-munications, is expected to play a key role in creat-ing the connection. She will be representing the student body’s’ interests on policy issues that are presented to Mt. SAC’s governing board.

Vice President of Business Kenny Schmitt, 19, chemistry, will be responsible for oversee-ing the financial aspect of

A.S. Among his duties will be the creation budget workshops for senators.

“On top of this I would like to expand the Mountie discount pro-gram and establish a fair in which students get publicity and assistance for the entrepreneurial ideas,” Schmitt said.

Dennis Balmaceda, 19, English and phi-losophy, will serve as the senate chair alongside Jocelyn Ang, 19, nutrition and immunology.

Balmaceda said it is his responsibility to represent and defend the voices and opinions dis-cussed in the senate and presented to the execu-tive board.

He said one of his concerns was the lack of communication with the student body.

“I want to make sure students actually talk to us,” said Balmaceda.

Involved in previous organizations such as Alpha Sigma Kappa and Phi Theta Kappa, Ang is responsible for making sure that meetings are efficient.

“As senate chair specifically, I’d like to make sure we increase awareness about A.S. so that we continue to get a good, proactive group of senators each semester that are all eager to speak during our meetings,” said Ang.

See STAND Pg. 11

Wednesday, May 8, 2013 Walnut, CA Volume 79 Issue 6

A First Amendment Newspaper of the Mt. San Antonio College Journalism Program

www.Mountiewire.com ountaineer

A.S: Students Taking a New Direction has the winning ticket

College puts brakes on skaters

Philip Nugent, 19, kinesiology skates to class recently.Jose De Castro/Mountaineer

Adolfo Tigerino

Editor-in-Chief

Skateboarding ban is now being enforced. The board of trustees passed a motion to strictly enforce board policy section 6750, which has had a slight lan-guage change, on April 24.

“We allowed skate-boarding, as long as they didn’t damage property,” Sergeant Anthony Kelly said.

However, the code is going to be enforced be-cause of safety issues.

“There has been an array of injuries,” Director of Safety and Risk Man-agement Karen Saldana

said. “Anything from cuts and scrapes to hitting the asphalt head first. There were a few incidents where students hit rocks and lost control of the board.”

Health services was unavailable to comment on injury reports. The ban has been around for years and it’s in the board policy sec-tion 6750.

“The ban is nothing new, there are signs posted all around campus,” Saldan added.

Under traffic and park-ing regulations it emphasiz-es the ‘use of skateboard, scooters, and roller skates on college ground are pro-hibited.’ It also adds that

warnings will be given to first time offenders and fur-ther violations will lead to a citation, student discipline or a trespassing notice.

Bicycles are not affect-ed by this policy. Students are allowed to ride bicycles around campus.

Director of Public Safety Mark DiMaggio said, “Skateboarders nearly hit faculty, students, and mov-ing vehicles.”

DiMaggio was the person who proposed a language change amend-ment on the skateboarding ban.

See Skaters Pg. 11

Members of Students Taking a New Direction pose after winning Associate Students elections.Photo Courtesy of STAND

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News - Pages 2,3 Features - Pages 4,5 Sports - Pages 6,7,8,12 Opinion - Page 9

2

Adolfo TigerinoEditor-in-Chief

Three departments are embroiled in the middle of a turf war over the grad-ing sheet revisions of the assessment of English placement (AWE).

The English department and Ameri-can Language (AmLa) are for revising the grading sheet to make it easier for the grader to understand what to look for. But for the Learning Assistance Services (LERN) it sees it as moving too fast.

Mt. SAC has the lowest rate of placing students into English 1A at three percent, while statewide the rate is 26 percent. The closest college in the region that compares to the college’s placement is Cypress College with 17 percent.

Director of matriculation and assess-ment James Ocampo said that he got the data from Sonia Ortiz, dean of matricula-tion at the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) and the local colleges it was those who responded to him.

Although percentages are low, a lot of it has to do with Mt. SAC being one of the few community colleges in California that has a written exam for their placement tests. This is to ensure better placement according to all three departments.

However, LERN is worried it will

increase the placement of students and improperly place them.

“If too many changes at once, you’re

not going to know what worked and what didn’t,” said Barbara Gonzales senator-at-large of the Academic Senate and LERN

instructor. “We have to be real careful to not be experimenting on students on something that may or may not work. Un-less you take the steps to ensure its the best you can do.”

LERN is worried about students be-ing improperly placed, and how that will ultimately affect them scholastically. It has brought up satisfaction survey research to the faculty and senate and said that students are content where they placed.

All the faculty and staff are looking for the best interest of the students.

LERN instructor Sun Ezzell said, “I think they’re trying to do the best job for the students they have coming into their classes, but that’s what we’re all trying to do.”

The written exam was first introduced to Mt. SAC in 1997 when it was proposed to the CCCCO.

While this was a proposal to test students with a written exam, it said in the section on cut scores and scoring rubric, “It must be noted that despite having worked on the rubric for two years, it is actually a document which must con-stantly evolve.”

See CLASH Pg. 11

NEWS 2WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013


Earth week was hosted by the Environmental Action Group for a Livable Earth (E.A.G.L.E.) last month raising awareness on environmental issues and reconnects students with nature.

The week was filled with speakers, film, and nature events for students.

“All students are suffering from a condition called Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD),” said biology instructor Craig Petersen who has been hosting Earth week since 1978. “Kids don’t go outside any more, it’s real sad thing.”

The survival education teacher Christopher Nyerges presented students with a variety of plants and tools that they

could apply for everyday life. Nyerges has been coming to Mt. SAC for the past 20 years.

“Most of the students I see think it’s a novelty,” Nyerges said. “Hope someone picks up on it and realize it’s a lost art that can be practiced. It holds the keys to people’s survival and you never know what’s going to happen. But to be able to have survival skills seems to be very essential.”

Nyerges taught students how to start a fire, find edible plants such as cacti, and how to make shampoo out of plants.

The events also had environmental activist Sabina Virgo give a speech on why students should be aware on what’s going on in the environment. Following the speech students created a model

of the Keystone XL Pipeline, oil pipeline which transports oil from Canada to the United States. This pipeline has been under fire by environmental activists because of the tar sands created. It has poisoned several communities.

An organizer with Tar Sands Blockade, Kim Huynh told Slate,”We have sought to elevate the voices and perspectives of the individuals and communities most impacted by tar sands - communities being poisoned like the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation at the point of tar sands extraction and like the primarily Latino neighborhoods in Houston at the point of tar sands refining.”

See Earth Pg. 11

Survival education teacher Christopher Nyerges teaches students how to make a fire. Adolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer

Earth Week teaches students about environment

Campus departments clash over placement testing

One of many charts use in prestentaion about english placement test

3

NEWS3 WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

ountaineerStaff

Adolfo Tigerino Editor-in-ChiefRandy Vazquez Sports/Managing Editor

Jose De Castro Photo EditorKathryn Banks Features Editor

Jamie Rocha A&E Editor Anthony Ruybalid College Life Editor

Brittany Murrietta Opinion EditorSamantha Romero Editorial Assistant

PhotographersAdolfo Tigerino

John LeeTyler Johnson

Jacqueline BonillaJose De Castro

Oscar LinJuan NaranjoPaul Pinedo

Edward ValenciaClarence Williams

WritersKevin Flores

Sean GallagherDesar Gomez

Josh L’HeureuxStephanie Lim Jessica Wang

Diamond Cruikshank

ArtistSean Hughes

DesignersBryan On

Michelle Fonseca

Advertising Director Ariel Carmona

AdviserPaul McLeod

Correction: In the April 10th edition The story Student Debuts New Hip Hop Album was written by Sean Gallagher. The story Instructors Frickert, Fisher Chosen For Federal Grant was written by Desarae Gomez.

The Mountaineer is a First Amendment publica-tion produced by students in journalism classes at Mt. San Antonio College. The views expressed in this newspaper do not reflect the views of the adviser, administration or Mt. SAC board of trustees.

Phone 909-594-5611 ext. 6123FAX: 909-274-2993Email: [email protected] 26-D, Room 3220 We welcome letters to the editor, but reserve the right to edit them for content and space.

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Sweaty palms, muttering um, and worried about peo-ple’s reactions are common symptoms of public speaking said studies from University of Rochester, New York, but what happens when it turns to a competition? The fright of it all dissipates for the Mt. SAC forensics team as they brought home gold by winning the eighth national title last month.

They won the Phi Rho Pi National Championship tournament at Woodland Hills. The competition had over 60 community colleges. Mt. SAC dominated the other col-leges by earning more points than any other school by winning first place Overall Sweepstakes; the highest award possible,the first place Individual Events Sweepstakes and the third place Debate Sweepstakes.

“We are incredibly proud of each speaker and team as a whole,” communications instructor and forensics coach

Jeff Archibald told Mt. SAC.The college has been a

powerhouse in this field for the past few years. This win adds to their victories in 1994, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2013.

How can a powerhouse not have more consecutive wins… well in the other years the forensics team decided to compete at university-level na-tional tournaments and placed in the top 10 in 1999, 2002, 2004, and 2007.

“We were the only com-munity college to place in the top 10 at those competitions,” Archibald said. “The highest we’ve placed is fourth.”

Which is not an easy accomplishment competing against universities across the nation. They proved they were the top contenders at the national championship by having all 14 Mt. SAC students placing top three; six golds, three silvers and 10 bronze.

Awais Spall, 20, phi-losophy, who has been in the program for two years won gold for both Impromptu and

Informative. Impromptu speaking is on

the spot type of speech. They give the competitors a quote, then the competitor have to prepare a speech based on it within a certain time incre-ment.

Spall said he reads a lot to try to have as much informa-tion as possible.

“I read a lot of philosophy and lot of other things too,” Spall said. “I make a notebook to help me get ideas for things, but somethings you just can’t explain, there is no way to have anything prepared. You have to learn to think critically and to think of jokes.”

The duo of Barett Tate, 20, communications and political science major, and Brandon Orewyler, 21, political science major, won gold for Parliamen-tary Debate. They were the only group who won all eight rounds at the debate competi-tion.

The duo have been in the program for one year. They find it interesting to work to-gether, because it encourages

to hear other people’s point of view.

“Being able to hear a different argument from an-other person helps so much in debate specifically,” Tate said. “You’re expanding your thought.”

They practice at least 20 hours a week to have a good rhythm for speeches or debates.

“It is the most fun, exhila-rating, and stressful experi-ence that I would recommend anyone do,” Orewyler said.

Being in the team provides students the ability to over-come stressful situations.

“Honestly, the hard-est thing I’ve ever done. I’ve never been put into that much stress,” Spall said. “ I was almost hit by a car once and it wasn’t that stressful. But it is really worthwhile, it teaches you so much. Now I’m never stressed in the most dramatic situations.”

Forensics team takes gold in Nationals

Forensics team takes a group photo after winning gold in National competition in New York recently.Photo courtesy of Mt. SAC Marketing Department

Sarah AlumbaughJ.101

When the winner of the Next Genera-tion Jazz Festival at the Monterey Confer-ence Center was announced last month, a huge cheer went up from Mt. SAC’s Singcopation group.

“I cried because it meant so much,” said 20-year-old soprano singer Cassie Alura. “We came last year and got second, so I was so determined to come back and get first.”

Singcopation’s director, Bruce Rogers, was proud his students’ accomplish-ments.

“Mt. SAC is known as a college of

champions,” He said. “This was a won-derful opportunity to keep it strong. I’m very proud of all of my students.”

The jazz vocalists had been training for months.

“An overwhelming sense of relief from

knowing all the months of hard work and even some discouraging parts were all worth it,” said 22-year-old bass singer Isaac Estrada.

Since Singcopation received first place in the Next Generation Jazz Fes-tival they get to go back to Monterey in September to perform in the 56th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, where jazz leg-ends like Bobby McFerrin and Diana Krall will also be performing.

“It will be a wonderful educational experience for the students,” Rogers said.

Singcopation Jazz group comes home with a win

“This was a wonderful opportunity to keep it strong. I’m very proud of all of my students.”

Bruce RogersSingcopation’s Director

4

FEATURES 4

Got an opinion? Tell us what it is.Letter to the editor: [email protected]

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013


Student trustee Erin Marin reflects on where she got to where she is now, and what lies ahead after Mt. SAC.

Looking outside the senate office win-dows in building 9C, 23-year-old student trustee Elisa Marin reminisces on how Mt. SAC has helped her as students walk past the courtyard by Founder’s Hall.

“Coming to Mt. SAC was actually a blessing,” Marin said. “It took me a little bit longer than I wanted to, but through that time I got to experience and know what I really wanted to do with my life.”

She was not always an active mem-ber in student government throughout her academic career, but her interest in politics stems from having many political figures in her family.

“I was always interested in govern-ment ever since I was growing up,” Marin said. “My family has always been in the business of helping people.”

Her mother, Elisa K. Jimenez, is involved in the nonprofit organization Cali-fornia Mental Health Connection where Marin has worked. CMHC helps victims of crime and mentally ill individuals. Their goal is to ‘alleviate emotional pain and recover from trauma and victimization.’

Marin did not find this particular job enjoyable.

“It’s very emotionally draining, emo-tionally damaging, and you hear these stories all the time about people that go through terrible experiences, “ Marin said. “Little children, women, you hear it all and it really hits home. Wow. People really have gone through these things and are still going, while its impressive and inspir-

ing it’s not something I can personally listen to everyday.”

Although its not her forté, she did enjoy watching the improvement of people going through the program. Marin helps out her mother by doing a lot of the administration work, translates a little bit, but not often due to most clients being spanish speakers. She aids her mother without getting emotionally involved with the case.

“It gets real bad, I don’t know how these people do it,” Marin added. “From a little girl getting raped to someone watch-ing their mother jump in front of a bus.”

Nonetheless there is an inner fire to help people without getting emotionally drained.

“I would like to change the world,” she said. “I like helping people. I can do that through politics. I think gathering leaders and ideas could make a huge dif-ference; if you gather the right people.”

Her life has been a roller coaster from childhood.

She grew up in Mexico until she was 11, then moved to the United States.

“My family was humble, you can say we were poor,” Marin said.

Before moving to the United States her parents were no longer able to pay for her education. Being held back clouded her with emotional turmoil.

“There’s nothing wrong with getting held back, but it was not a good feeling,” She said. “It was like I was being left out.”

In her adolescent and teen years she spent a lot of time moving from one city to the next. She went from Michigan to California.

“It was rough moving from place to place, always having to leave your friends behind,” She added.

As she moved from one school to the next, the transition was not always wel-coming. When she first moved to Michi-gan, since there was a lot of Mexican farmers, kids would associate her with the farmers.

“I was targeted as that poor kid, and the other kids would go ‘work at the farm instead of coming to school,’” Marin said.

Although kids can be rough, she did not let it bring her down. She knew her mother was well educated with having two doctorates (one in Mexico and an-other in United States) in psychology, and it would only be a matter of time before her mother would find a job.

“If you honestly, truly work hard you are bound to end up somewhere,” Marin said.

However, Marin did not finish high school. It was a mixed of a variety of fac-tors that contributed to her not graduat-ing.

She looked outside, contemplated,

and said. “ I was going through my own thing psychologically.”

She added, “I didn’t have the drive and motivation to continue school. There were a lot of family problems, mother lost job, there was a rough separation. “

She did not confide her problems with anyone.

“She did not tell me at the time, she is independent and is not one to tell the world about her problems,” said Angie He, 23, child-adolescent development major at Cal State Fullerton and friend of Marin since eighth grade.

Marin ended up transferring to an alternative school her senior year of high school in West Covina.

A counselor told her she was messing up and she needed to sort her educa-tional goals to graduate.

However, the counselor told her mother that her daughter was not meant for school and she should drop out.

“I was like you serious?” Marin said. “I was upset.”

She finished her adult education at Mt. SAC, then began taking college Wclasses.

“If you have the patience, and you are really looking for what you want to do, you will find it,” She said. “If you are here just to mess around you probably won’t.”

Coming to Mt. SAC is where she re-ally started to value education.

“I think education can take people very far places, “ Marin said.

She began to work hard and strive for success.

“She bounced back up,” He said. “ She is very conscious-minded and is will-ing to try new things.”

She has been active in student gov-ernment for the past year and half at Mt. SAC.

“I really wanted to make a difference in the campus that helped me kind of apply myself back to school. Get into that motion you’re in school to finish school, not just to mess around,” she said.

She was the senate chair and political senator in Associated Students before becoming a student trustee.

She smiled and enthusiastically raised her hand while clenching it into a fist and said, “Let’s vote, let’s see democracy guys. I’m all into that.”

She dealt with Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC), organization that represents students in the California community colleges. She was a delegate for Mt. SAC.

She currently is the student trustee, and to the surprise of the board she pre-sented a resolution dealing with Prop 30.

“All insecurities came out, you’re sitting there with lawyers, businessmen and the president of the school,” she said

about presenting the resolution.Her board colleagues are appeased

by her hard work and initiative.“It was certainly the most important

student resolution to come before the board in my 17 years of service on the board of trustees,” said Governing Board Member David Hall.

Marin is a strong driving force in student government and is a name that will be remembered at Mt. SAC for years to come.

“I sincerely hope that the next trustee will be as successful, and outstanding as Elisa,” Hall said. “Elisa has set a very high bar for Mt. SAC student trustee perfor-mance.”

Marin finds herself privileged to be working alongside the board members.

“They have different ideas. That’s what they’re there for, to make tough de-cisions,” she said.”I grew a deep respect for them because of that, the president is amazingly smart. All of them are intelligent people. I’ve taken traits from each one of them to be a good leader.”

She attributes her success and knowl-edge by observing past student trustees.

“I molded myself into what I saw that some of the trustees lacked, and saw what I could do better,” Marin said.

Her peers and friends have a deep respect for her.

“She is hardworking, enthusiastic and professional,” said Karina Maureira, 20, communications major and AS student relations senator. “She is the one person I look up to the most. She has set a good path for me to follow. She is pretty much my mentor.”

Marin plans to transfer to UC San Diego. She is majoring in international relations and diplomacy.

“I love international relations, being Mexican-Japanese you see a lot of differ-ences and a lot of similarities,” she said.” I think its those similarities that can help people make ties between nations and countries. That’s what I want to do.”

After she gets her bachelors she in-tends to go to law school for international law. She intends to continue her relation-ships with schools and continue her advo-cacy for education.

“It needs to be more accessible,” she said. “I don’t think we can generalize education for everyone by saying ‘Here’s a standardized test ace it or else you’re not going to go to a university.’”

When Marin is not working in student government or advocating education she likes to go latin dancing or rock climb-ing. She enjoys intellectual conversations between peers, friends and colleagues where they ‘present different forms of thinking.’

“I actually like sitting in a coffee house and talking about books like a nerd,” she said.

Student trustee enjoys her break in between classes outside Founder’s Hall.

Adolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer

Blessing for Student Trustee

“I really wanted to make a difference in the campus that helped me kind of apply myself back to school. Get into that motion you’re in school to finish school, not just to mess around.”

-Student trustee Erin Marin

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16 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA


Jose De CastroPhoto Editor

Passionate students find ways to fulfill their goals to com-plete aviation program.

For the students in the aviation program, sacrifice is a way of life if they want to fly through the clouds.

Among other things, it takes a lot of time and money to learn to fly.

“If it’s something you love, and something you want to do, it’s totally worth the price,” said Evelyn Marquez, 23, com-mercial flight.

Over time, an aver-age Mt. SAC student flies 65 hours to get a pilot certificate and cost some-where between $7,000 to $10,000.

Becoming a pilot is very expensive, as a stu-dent must pay for aircraft rental and a flight instruc-tor.

“A typical Mt. SAC stu-dent who’s going to school and working will fly two to three days a week,” said Robert Rogus, aeronautics co-chair. “Each lesson is going to be around $100 dollars out of their pocket.”

Rogus said a student can get a pilots certificate in 6-to-10 months by spending $200 to $300 a week.

When Duane Delfierro, 24, aviation science, heard about the prices to fly, he thought that it was very expensive.

“I think it’s a lot of money,” said Delfierro. “But when you get past the mental barrier of the price and you start thinking of the longer term projec-tions, it’s actually not that bad.”

Delfierro said that tak-ing the flight classes are like little investments.

“You’re putting this money into something but in the future your getting the money back tenfold because of the knowledge and skills you will pos-sess,” said Delfierro.

As for Nelson Contre-ras, 18, commercial flight, he was very happy with the price.

“ Compared to other flight schools, their [Mt. SAC] price is really low,” said Contreras.

Scholarships such as the Clay Lacy Scholar-ship, Charles Conrad, Jr., Scholarship, and the San Fernando Valley 99s Career Scholarships that award $500 to $5000 to students are a big help when it comes to flying.

Students like Benny Shu, 28 aviation science and commercial flight, can’t benefit from the scholarships and have to rely on the Free Applica-tion for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that the school provides.

“I’m 28 and it’s really hard for me to apply for a scholarship because a lot of people offer scholar-ships for young people and i’m in the middle so its really hard to apply for

scholarships,” said Shu.Students such as Nel-

son and Josh Gordon, 20, commercial flight who won scholarship money take advantage of it.

“Scholarships really help you out,” said Nelson. “The more you apply, the more chances you have of getting more scholarship money.”

A track and field athlete, Gordon uses his track and field mentality of “you’re going to do every-thing you can to win.”

“When I first started flying last spring, I took a good look at how much it was going to cost me and I was like ‘ oh my God, that’s way more than I have’,” said Gordon. “I sort of got to a place where I don’t have any other op-tion but to win as much scholarship money as I could.”

Having a 4.0 grade point average and getting involved in school activi-ties, Gordon applied to as many scholarships that he could.

“There are so many scholarships out there not just at Mt. SAC but for the aeronautics program, there is so much money avail-able.”

Flying is a passion for these students as it’s driv-ing them to fly.

“They know what has to be done,” said Rogus. “It’s a passion, it’s some-thing that drives them to the very core.

High-flying aeronautics students make financial sacrificeDuane Delfierro, 24, aviation science, Evelyn Marquez 23, commercial flight, Benny Shu, 28, commercial flight and Nelson Contreras, 18, commercial flight sacrifice time to fly.

Jose De Castro/Mountaineer

6

SPORTS 6

A.

C. D.

B.

Sarah Dunaway of Vista Murrieta leaps over a hurdle during the girls 4x100-meter shuttle hurdle on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium. Jose De Castro/Mountaineer


7

SPORTS7

Runners pace themselves during the women’s 800-meter run at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Friday, April 19, 2013. Tyler Johnson/Mountaineer

A. - Mt. SAC trainer Madeelyn Zaragoza comforts Mounties Bria Edwards after the women’s 400-meter hurdles on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium. John Lee/MountaineerB. - American River College’s Frank Archuleta, Mounties Nicolas Jauregui and Pasadena City College’s Kevin Cano makes a splash during the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium. Clarence Williams/MountaineerC. - Runners sprint to the finish during the men’s 400-meter dash on Friday, April 19, 2013 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium. Tyler Johnson/MountaineerD. - Karlene Lorenz of Minnesota State University Moorhead jumps over a hurdle during the 400-meter hurdles on Friday, April 19, 2013 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium. Tyler Johnson/Mountaineer

Mt. SAC holds its 55th annual relays


8

Randy VazquezManaging & Sports Editor

In the sport of track and field the win-ner is determined by the one who crosses the finish line the fastest. Without doing that there is no medal or no rewards but for Ernest Gregoire the most rewarding part of his time as a coach and a teacher was not the individual awards he received but the people he brought the best out of and the relationships he built with those people.

Amazing, determined, knowledge-able, and a big smile that lights up Hilmer Lodge stadium, all qualities that describe Gregoire. For 45 years Gregoire or “Dr. G” as his athletes know him by has mentored generations of athletes to become win-ners on the track field but also winners in life. Gregoire has helped athletes reach the zenith of the track and field world but despite producing countless world class athletes for Gregoire the one that walks away the biggest winner is himself.

“I have been at this for a long time and I have had the opportunity to touch so many lives but they have also reached back and touched me,” he said. “So who is the big winner here? Come on do the math. I touch one and three thousand touch me.”

Gregoire and the late John Long were Mt. SAC’s first black employees in 1968. The hiring of Greogire and Long was a result of demand by the black student union in the spring of 1968 to hire black coaches, instructors, counselors, and administrators said Gregoire.

“At the time the college wanted someone to fit that bill and they found yours truly,” he said.

Despite being hired during a time of social change Gregoire never felt os-tracized from the community and was instead embraced by his colleges and students at Mt. SAC.

“I was welcomed in with open arms by the people that I worked with,” he said. “That was the important thing and the students were great.”

From his youngest athletes to athletes who have competed at the Olympic stage the one message that Gregoire tries to cement in all of his athletes is “If it is to be it’s up to me” a motto that has been linked to Gregoire and has taught his

athletes to perceiver for their goals. “It means we are responsible for our

lives. We may need some help along the way but we are the ones responsible,” he said.

Current Mt. SAC job developer and former world class hurdler and sprinter Arnita Champion Carter has incorporated Greogire’s saying and applied it to all aspects of her life.

“Athletically he instilled to me to motto ‘If it is to be it’s up to me’ I cannot blame things on my mom, my sisters or brothers, I cannot put that responsibility on anyone else, If it is to be its up me,” Champion said. “If it is to be that I am going to be an Olympian or world class hurdler it’s up to me. That has carried on to my professional life, my financial life, my academia, I got my masters because no one else was going to push me if it was meant to me it’s up to me.”

What propelled Gregoire to one of the most recognized coaches in the world of track and field was his ability to see the potential in his athletes and help them reach it.

“I looked at him and I thought he is so amazing because he made me feel like a Florence Joyner or a Gail Devers. He saw the potential in every one of his athletes and he didn’t want to shine but he wanted us to shine,” said Champion. “That is why he is so great right now because he has a legacy behind him of athletes here today as well as those who have been Olympians.”

Champion has had many memories with Gregoire but one of her fondest memories with him was during the Pan-American games when Champion gave Gregoire her Pan-American medal.

“I gave him my Pan-American medal because it took a lot to get that medal through injuries and setback and phy-cological struggles and once I got the Pan-American medal I put it on his neck because he was the one who got me through and helped me keep that com-petitive edge to get that medal so I gave that to him,” she said.

Some of Gregoires most polished athletes include Larry Myricks a four time Olympian and bronze medalist in Seoul Olympics in 1988. Angela Williams who won the NCAA championships four years in a row and was a part of sev-

eral Olympic teams and holds the high school record for 100 meters. Two local accomplished athletes for Gregorie are two of Mt. SAC’s current faculty. Zelda Bolden who holds records at the com-munity college level in the 100 meters and 200 meters for an American born athlete. Gregoire also coached Champion a Pan-American champion and Olympic trial finalist.

When it comes to coaching Gregoire is as good as it gets, as he helped groom numerous world class athletes with de-manding work outs and deep knowledge of the sport.

“He is the ‘crem d’ la crem’ when it comes to coaching. I rank him up there with Tom Tellez and Bob Kersee,” said Champion. “When everyone wants to train with him you know he has some-thing. The skills but he has that personal touch and I like that and everyone knows that because he produces.”

Bolden agreed. “His work outs were grueling. Very demanding but you knew he had a purpose and you knew once the season was over you were going to be better. He would sometimes put a trash can by the finish line because he knew what was going to happen but you just knew he was going to make you better as an athlete but also a person.”

Because of his work ethic and ability to compile training regiments Gregoire continues to be one of the most recog-nized coaches in his profession.

“I think because he is very knowl-edgeable about track and field , he understands training and knows how to motivate athletes, he does a great job putting training programs together, he is well connected in the sport,” said Myricks who has known Gregoire since 1979.

Gregorie has been recognized by the United States Track and Field Federation as a master coach and has been recog-nized by the U.S Olympic Committee as developmental coach of the year.

Gregoire has a close bond with his athletes. Not just a coach but as a father figure and mentor for his athletes.

“He in a lot of ways is like a father to me,” said Myricks. “He is not a person you can sum up in a few words because not that many people have his character, for me he is a father figure. That says a lot when you talk about a man who is not your father but can be your father.”

Bolden agreed, “He was a role model, he was educated, articulate, and brilliant and you wanted to be that way as well. We are lucky he chose track and field instead of another sport and we are all better because of that.”

Gregoire began his road to an illustri-ous coaching career when he was teach-ing at a high school but it was coaching his daughter Monique Gregoire Williams that introduced Gregoire to the competi-tive levels of track and field.

“To get into the higher levels of track and field I started with my daughter who was an age group track athlete and her friends started asking me for help and next thing you know I am a coach of an age group team that grew up into a world class team,” he said.

The group Gregoire started working with was the Cheetah International Track Club that was created in the early 1960’s by Gregoires daughters coach at the time. Since 1968 Gregoire has been involved

with the club. Since he started working with the club in 1968 Gregoire has seen a plethora track and field talent come from the area.

“I can’t tell you the number of out-standing athletes from this area that have come out of there,” Gregoire said. “It is a CIF who’s who, it’s an NCAA who’s who, and just great kids come out of that club.”

Eventually Gregoire found his way to Mt. SAC in 1968. Fellow Mt. SAC hall of famer Don Ruh was the one who told Gregoire of the job opening as a track and football coach at Mt. SAC.

Gregoire has seen many changes during his time at Mt. SAC from the construction of new buildings to the exponential growth of the population at Mt. SAC from 10,000 students when he started in 1968 to over 40,000 at the be-ginning of the fall semester. He has also seen the evolution of the Mt. SAC relays.

“I have been involved administra-tively for 45 years and I started bringing athletes here when I was coaching in high school before then so I have long history with it,” Gregoire said. “The number of events has grown exponentially; we serve about 13,000 people from the youth days to the last events on Saturday so it has grown.”

Gregoire was inducted into the Mt. SAC athletics hall of fame earlier this year. An honor that he felt was rewarding but also validation for his hiring over 45 years ago.

“You put 45 years of your life into a place and to see people honor your work is so rewarding,” Gregoire said. “For me it is also validation. You took a chance and you hired this black man because you needed a black face and that experiment lasted 45 years and I have had some good times here at the college and some bad times but I have always felt like an influential part of what went on here.”

Gregorire and his wife Eugenia have been married for 54 years and have three children, Ernest Gregoire the third, Monique, and Angelique Gregoire Butler all who went to and graduated from Mt. SAC. Gregoire’s son Ernest played foot-ball at Mt. SAC and his daughter Monique ran track. Gregoire also has seven grand-children and five great grandchildren.

Gregoire was born in Louisiana and raised in Oakland where he gradu-ated high school. Following high school Gregoire went into the military and then moved to Los Angeles where he attended Los Angeles City College where Gregoire earned an associate’s degree. He later earned a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Los Angeles and a master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University. Gregoire would ultimately earn a doctorate from Nova University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In a sport that puts emphasis on speed and finishing it is unheard of the winner being the person who never fin-ishes. Despite being involved in the sport for over 45 years Gregoire does not plan on finishing the last lap of his coaching career just yet.

“It is a year to year situation,” said Gregoire. “As long as I feel healthy and I feel good I will continue. My health is the only thing that will keep me away.”

SPORTS 8

Got an opinion? Tell us what it is.Letter to the editor: [email protected]

Track Coach Ernie Gregoire is inducted into the hall of fame at the Pacific Palms Conference Resort on Saturday night, March 2.

Adolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer


Gregoire ‘The doctor of track and field,’ brings out the best in athletes everywhere

9

OPINION WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 9

Creating a safe and ac-cident free environment is a necessity on any college campus, but enforcing seemingly arbitrary rules in the name of safety is not the way to do it.

The new smoking ban may have given the Mt. SAC Board of Trustees some bounce in their step about enacting new regula-tions, as they have recently amended section 6750 of board policy.

Originally a section to enforce school vehicle codes, the language has been amended to allow public safety officers the power to not only warn students travelling across campus via skateboard, but to even issue citations and enact student disci-pline procedures against those caught violating the new policy more than once.

Could such a move really have a focus in the safety of students, or is this merely a new way to generate money by enforc-ing an otherwise obscure law?

Before the change in wording, public safety officers had the ability to enforce some measure of safety by asking students

to step off their skate-boards, yet enforcement has been so lax that many skateboarders were not even aware such a rule existed.

In their 2012 annual report, the Public Safety Department reported that crime, including burglary and violence have gone down in recent years, but issues such as theft and vandalism remain signifi-cant issues on campus.

The emphasis on the new skateboarding policy could begin to stretch the limits of meaning-ful enforcement of more pertinent student safety is-sues. It may even become a slippery slope of digging through board policies in an effort to enforce other regulations that have sat in relative obscurity.

After half a semester of ‘enforcing’ the smoking ban, smokers continue to light up in non-designated areas all over campus, if public safety can’t find a way to enforce a smok-ing ban, how will they be effective chasing down and issuing citations to skateboarders?

Such policy may also draw safety officers away from what may be more

significant safety issues taking place around cam-pus in an effort to focus on a policy that takes money from students pockets simply for travelling across campus.

Skateboarding can be dangerous, but not for riders proficient with their boards beyond a begin-ner’s level. Few injuries, usually amounting to a few scrapes and bruises, occur on campus from the relatively few skateboard-ers who travel through the walkways of Mt. SAC, making this seem like a policy simply built to cite otherwise innocuous students heading to class after finding themselves in a distant parking spot or bus stop.

Taken at face value, this policy may be rooted in genuine concerns of public safety, but a more bureaucratic reasoning may sit behind the approv-al of the amendment of policy section 6750. Such precedence, begun by the smoking ban enacted earlier this year, could lead to the regulation of various other campus activities the Mt. SAC Board of Trustees deem ‘unsafe’ at some point in the future.

Editorial: Skateboarding policy a slippery slope

New campus policy will prohibit skaters like Hector Chow from rolling across campus.Jose De Castro/Mountaineer

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We know Superman – a hero of America, a progenitor of its dream. A nigh demigod who shows mercy to even the vilest of enemies time and time again, while maintaining the love of nations worldwide. He’s an icon to many as well as a valuable ally. So what happens when he turns? Decides to rule nations rather than protect them?

Well, the end result is that DC comic’s finest get to beat each other (and them-selves) up.

“Injustice: Gods Among Us” is a well-crafted fighter that’s accessible to casuals, and welcoming to diehard fight-ing fans. The personalities of each DC character are presented well and with respect to their comic origins, and the seamless integration of arena combat makes for a fun romp each time. And the amount of single-player modes and

unlockables could put other fighters on notice, if not for the well-done story mode. While confusing mirror matches a lack of information, and unnerving post battle visuals hold it back a little, there’s a lot to love here for comic fans, and fans of fighters alike.

Despite the praise, there are a couple of glaring faults that I can’t pass up. One big issue is the matter of mirror matches. Whether human or AI, unless someone picks out a different costume altogether, the two characters will look nearly identi-cal. One will have a lighter shade of coloring here and there, but it’s hardly noticeable enough to avoid confusion. On top of this, there’s hardly any direction or information for certain areas of the game. I would have liked a description of what exactly King of the Hill was before I dived in, and I had no idea that I needed to go into the Bonus Features to use Access Cards to unlock costumes and other items.

If you’re running into Injustice solo, have hope – there is a surprising amount of single player content to go around. Battles mode contain a dozen and more scenarios to play through, from mirror matches, to fighting the game’s whole cast on one lifebar. It’s hard to get bored playing through these modes, and the XP awarded after each fight goes to unlock-ing costumes and other items. Online mode is present as well, with ranked and player one-on-one fights, and an interest-ing King of the Hill mode that has you betting XP towards the winner.

There are many similarities to the re-cent “Mortal Kombat” series reboot. The

story mode is done in a parallel fashion to “Mortal Kombat 9 (MK9).” Moves such as Batman’s grappling hook harken back to Scorpion’s classic spear technique, and the boy turned superhero, Shazam, has an attack that echoes Raiden’s own “superman” flight tackle.

On top of this, some attacks deliver a few visceral effects that feel akin to the same brutality: swords through chests and knees to faces, for instance. Post-battle damage on the characters is there too, but it’s kind of unnerving and strange to see missing chunks of flesh and open muscle on a DC character rather than someone fighting for the Outworld.

It’s difficult to call a reformat of a classic a bad thing. Injustice is simple to pick-up-and-play, as it’s relatively easy to grab a controller and do some damage. The right/left arm and leg format of MK9 has been nixed for a simpler light, me-dium and heavy button scheme. Mixing these up will usually produce a combo, as will presses of the same button for some characters. Specials are easy to pull off, as are super moves, which generate a spectacle with each use, no matter the character. I couldn’t get enough of Super-man launching someone into the atmo-sphere, only to send him/her back comet style.

The hardcore crowd will find a lot of depth as well, through frame data and a quick move list reference that can be moved from the pause menu to the game screen.

See Injustice Pg. 11

Picture of “Injustice: Gods Among Us” video game characters.Photo courtesy of Warner Bro’s Entertainment

Game review: ‘Injustice: Gods Among Us’ quirky

11

JUMPS 11

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To learn new skills. And it was all made possible by the

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10BW-04_5x8_Alvarez.indd 1 3/5/13 8:52 AM


if you’re more favored towards Street Fighter-esque motions, you can alternate between the two to fit your playstyle.

Character Powers provide individual abilities that can mix up the game quite nicely, but some of them probably won’t feel too useful to the casual crowd. How-ever, the dedicated could find many ways to use them to their advantage. For ex-ample, The Flash can slow time to extend a combo, while Nightwing can go from an eskrima stance to a full staff, all with a single button press.

The strategies also flow into the stages, which are more than garden variety backgrounds. Gargoyles can be thrown, and data screens can be leapt off of, leaving a bomb. Each area has its own

interactions which can alter strategies at will, which smartly makes stage selection less of a cosmetic affair.

The story mode is divided up between different characters, and the chapters provide an entertaining spotlight for each hero with the right amount of length. The Justice League is thrown into an alternate universe where Superman rules the world with a new government. This universe’s Batman calls on the originals to help him take evil Supes down. Granted, its pure b-movie material, and the cheese and camp can be blatant, but it’s fun enough to watch and keep your attention. That’s of course, provided you can tell the differ-ence between the two Batmen.

Continued Injustice from Pg. 10 Continued STAND from Pg. 1

Inter-Club-Council Chairman and Alpha Gamma Sigma President Carlos Rivera, 21, marine biology, said he intends to oversee communication among the more than 50 campus clubs.

“My position would be to make sure there is a connection between clubs and student government making sure that whatever clubs need that I am there for them,” Rivera said. “And, that is really my purpose and is something that really is my goal to make sure that there is no tensions and no dissatisfaction”.

ICC VIce Chair, Arianna River, 18, art history, will also help maintain an open line of communication. She will be responsible for managing clubs on campus by keep-

ing track of club points as well as keeping up to date with any club events.

Pre-law student and former Vice Pres-ident of Business Club, Gabby Kidane, 19, will serve as the new ICC secretary. Her responsibilities include administrative du-ties such as filing and organizational work.

The hard working group of students hopes to accomplish several feats.

“Team STAND is a very approachable team that finds joy everything they do, making it easy to deal with any situation because everyone is willing to contribute and help,” said Schmitt.

Earth week ended with rock painting to have a ‘fun way to get closer to nature and decorate your environment.’

“It’s important to be a part of nature, not apart from it, “ said Sandra Hernandez, secretary of E.A.G.L.E.

By informing students of environmental issues, Hernandez is optimistic and said with students having knowledge they will hopefully be environmentally conscience.

“We’re now in a biological holocaust and what that means, we’re losing so many plants, so many animals, we’ve got to have an ethical response to preserve life in this planet,” Petersen said.

Continued EARTH from Pg. 2

“It was done to allow us [public safety] to enforce the law and cite students,” DiMaggio said. He had been working on the amendment for the past year.Students use skateboarding as a means of transportation to move from one side of campus to the next. “I think it’s trash that they will enforce it,” said Cesar Valdez, 20, architecture major who has been skateboarding for seven years. “I use my board to get to class.”A lot of skateboarders were unaware that there was a ban on campus. Leon Chen, 19, international business major had no idea there was a ban and rides regularly to get to class.

Continued SKATEBORDER from Pg. 1

Amanda ShinnJ.101

Crime rates continue to drop on the Mt. SAC campus – down as much as 20 percent.

The total number of reported incidents has decreased from 205 offenses in 2009 to merely 166 in 2012.

The Mt. SAC public safety department reports crime stats annually.

Included in the annual report is a no-table decrease in motor vehicle thefts on the college campus. Motor vehicle thefts have fallen from 12 in 2009 to only five last year, the last statistics available. In addi-tion, burglaries from motor vehicles have also plunged from 27 reported robberies in 2009 to a total of 11 in 2012.

But drug law violations have shown

a small jump. While there was only two reported drug law violations on campus in 2009, that statistic was 11 violations in 2012.

Yet, the miniscule rise in drug law violations has not appeared to alarm stu-dents on campus.

“Drug violations on campus are seri-ous,” said Mt. SAC student Emily Wong, 19, but they have not affected me at all as a student. So, I don’t worry much about it.”

Bree Hernandez, 21, said she doesn’t consider the campus to be a high-crime area.

“I’ve been attending Mt. SAC for about four years now and I have actually never personally experienced a motor vehicle theft and neither have any of my friends,” she said. I’ve felt relatively safe and satisfied with the campus security.”

Campus crime down 20 percent

Afterwards when it was resubmit-ted for re-approval in 2003, it clearly said ‘Through observation and discussion, fac-ulty readers have been active participants in refining the rubric.

Ocampo said, “I’m not trying to take sides, I am just clarifying some miscon-ceptions. I am neutral in this. All faculty are looking for the best interest of the students.”

Ocampo added the rubric must change overtime to be more effective. English instructor and part of the Assess-ment Team Margaret Whalen said, “We need to reduce a lot of these redundan-cies and make it easier for the grader. By doing this it will help that small percent-age of students that were on the border of placing higher.”The current rubric that the Assessment Team uses is eight to nine pages long, and some pages are repetitive. The new one being proposed by the AmLA and the English department has shrunk down to two pages.“Think of it like music, when we went from analog to digital,” Ocampo said. “The format changed, but the content remained the same.”The rubric revisions has been a lengthy process over the past year. It started in

fall 2012, with the Basic Skills Committee which has representatives from AmLa, English and LERN departments.LERN left after a couple meetings af-ter raising a couple of concerns about revisions, and has not been part of the process since. Ocampo said, “To my knowledge, LERN left a meeting and did not return. Faculty came to me and asked if they could con-tinue, and I said they could.”LERN is looking to find ways to increase their communication.Ezell said, “If we don’t have those shared conversations amongst the departments, on any campus process, how do we have a shared understanding on what it is we’re doing and the research and shared under-standing the best needs of all students.”The concern is placing students, however, Ocampo and Whalen both agree that it will not cause a dramatic increase in place-ment, but rather give the student that was on the edge give the benefit of the doubt and move them to a higher placement. Ocampo said, “The question isn’t about the 80 percent, it’s about the 20 percent who get improperly placed.”The faculty senate will convene tomorrow and have the motion to revise.Stay up-to-date at www.Mountiewire.com

Continued Clash from Pg. 1

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Pitcher Emily Seidel named CCCAA pitcher of the yearAdolfo Tigerino/Mountaineer

Both the Mt. SAC softball team and baseball team hulled in its fair share of post- season awards.

The softball team continues to pile up accolades in their historic season. Pitcher Emily Seidel was named the California Community College Athletics Association pitcher of the year. Seidel was third in the state in earned run average (1.49) and wins with 22. Also coach Ruby Rojas was named CCCAA coach of the year.

Numerous members of the softball team received All-State honors includ-ing slugging leader Alendrina Pichardo, Alexandrea Simmons who is second in the state in batting average (.562), and team homerun leader Vanessa Bracamonte (14).

The South Coast Conference cham-pion baseball team also had many players

honored including Steven Mancilla who was named all conference player of the year. Jerry Flores was named conference pitcher of the year. Coach Stacy Parker was also named conference coach of the year for a second consecutive year.

Four other members of the baseball team earned first team conference hon-ors. Pitcher John Werner, utility Cameron Pongs, third base Adrian Franco, and outfielder Caleb Romo received first team honors.

Two other Mounties received second team all conference honors including, pitcher Derrick Penilla and outfielder Dwight Tardy.

First baseman Caesar Murillo and pitcher Luis Maritnez received all-confer-ence honorable mention.

Baseball, softball stockpile post-season awards

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