Vol. 68 Issue 12 Oct. 23, 2014

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THE UNION October 23, 2014 Torrance, California NEWS LINE Blood drive takes place in Student Activities Center Inter-Club Council will be hosting the blood drive today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the East Lounge of the Student Activities Center. Each person who donates will receive a T-shirt or a coupon for a free pint of Baskin Robbins ice cream. To sign up, go to www.donateblood- cedars.org. or call 310-945-6137. Writing a personal statement Students who are planning on transferring to a UC are required to have a personal statement. On Nov. 3 from 1 to 2 p.m., there will be a workshop in Room 113 in the Social Sciences Building on how to write that statement. For more information, call 310-660-3593 ext. 3408. Resume Writing Workshop available for students For students who are looking for a job, the Career Center will host a Resume Writing Work- shop Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. in Room 118 in the MBA Building. Students will learn what employ- ees look for on a resume. For more information, call 310-660- 3593, ext. 6137. Scholarship applications open on MyECC Scholarship applications are due by Dec. 5. To be eligible, you must have a 2.0 GPA and at least 6 units of college coursework completed. A faculty letter of recommenda- tion, a student personal statement, and a financial need statement are needed. For more information on how to apply, call 310-660-6541. EL CAMINO COLLEGE eccunion.com /ElCaminoUnion /ECCUnion /ECCUnion G /ECCUnion [email protected] WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM WINS 3-0 AGAINST HARBOR, P. 8 LOCALIZING THE CALIFORNIA DROUGHT TO EC, P. 3 HISTORY PROFESSOR TO RETIRE AFTER 40 YEARS, P. 6 FEATURES ARTS SPORTS STUDENT THREATENED MASSACRE 10:45 a.m. Sept. 30: James Lemus voices threats to Miriam Jauregui 6 p.m. Sept. 30: Lemus attends evening class in the Humanities Building 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1: EC Police Chief Michael Trevis tells an ECPD officer about the threats that were made Oct. 1: Two ECPD officers go to address on Lemus’ school records and driver’s license. There’s no answer at the residence Oct. 1: Lemus is taken to a local hospital on a 72-hour mental evaluation Oct. 2: VP of Academic Affairs Francisco Arce tells Trevis he is aware of the threats made against his life, says he is in fear of his safety and the safety of his staff Oct. 3: Temporary restraining order granted to protect Arce. Lemus must stay at least 100 yards away from Arce, his workplace, home, and vehicle 10:30 a.m. Oct. 7: Trevis tells the Union an EC student made “inappropriate comments” and is being held at a facility in Los Angeles. Trevis says no one has been alerted because there is no credible threat Oct. 10: California Public Records Act requests are made to Ann Garten, director of community relations, and Trevis An EC student told a Veterans Center employee that he will kill a teacher, administrators, parents and students, staging a ‘massacre’ on the Library Lawn Jessica Martinez Co-editor-in-chief @ECCUnionJessica The 35-year-old student who threatened to kill a teacher, ad- ministrators, parents, and children planning to “make it look like (the) Santa Barbara shooting” on the Library Lawn had his first hearing Tuesday, where he pled not guilty. James Gustavo Lemus’ bail was increased to $1.2 million and the distance in which he must stay away from EC was increased from 100 yards to 1,000 yards. Lemus’ bail was originally set at $152,000, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Information Center. Lemus told Veterans Center employee Miriam Jauregui Sept. 30 “he was going to kill the Administrators of El Camino Col- lege, and named Dr (Francisco) Arce (Vice President of Aca- demic Affairs) as one of them; he was going to create a massacre at the schools library lawn like the Santa Barbara shooting; and he was going to kill the parents of the children walking around on the campus, tie them up to pole’s or a wall and rip them to pieces (sic),” according to Officer Jeffrey Lewis’ police report in the first of two temporary restraining orders (TROs). The first TRO protects Arce. The second TRO protects Eng- lish instructor Leeanne Bergeron and “all employees of the El Camino Community College District,” according to the TRO. Arce was the only person named by Lemus, but Arce said he found out about the threats “probably two days after the state- ment was made.” He added he didn’t know why there was a de- lay in notifying him about the threats. EC Police Chief Michael Trevis said at a Humanities Divi- sion faculty meeting last week that a search was done of Le- mus’ home and no weapons were found for him to carry out his threats. “We are going to do a lot more with the campus to raise the bar,” Arce said at Tuesday’s Academic Senate meeting. “The best we can do is be aware and be vigilant.” English professor Mary Ann Leiby who had Lemus in a class in the past, said at the faculty meeting Lemus often referred to the other students in the class as “children” because he was older than most of them. Lemus told Jauregui Sept. 30 he “was raped at six years old and nobody did nothing to protect him” and that he has “been told that (he) need(s) to kill the parents of these children walk- ing on campus, because they don’t know how to protect them,” according to Jauregui’s report in the TRO. During his conversation with Jauregui, Lemus pointed to the Student Services Building and said “all the administrators that won’t take the time to understand I am right. I will let them know and kill them. I will make them feel like I feel,” according to Jauregui’s report. Hours before he made the threats, Lemus wrote on his Face- book page, “Public violence in recent months, including the UCSB murders, and after three decades influence via the de- structive programming, the objective of diverting negligence by public and professionals, parents and businesses in the surround- ing community, continue their mistakes in hopes of concealing their association and contributions with the crimes. Now, ask my why your opinion matters (sic).” On Oct. 1, after talking to Lemus’ mother, Lewis was able to talk to Lemus on the phone. Lemus told Lewis he was “afraid” and “began screaming over the phone at me and told me he couldn’t talk to me,” according to Lewis’ report. When Lewis and his partner found Lemus outside a nearby home, Lemus initially listened to the officers’ orders, but began to pull away. Lemus “placed his foot into a metal fence to act as an anchor” and ripped Lewis’ shirt during the process, accord- ing to Lewis’ report. Lemus’ mother walked outside and told the officers her son had been diagnosed as bipolar. She said his behavior “was some- what manageable until he started using Methamphetamine a few years ago” but said he no longer uses it. During the process of taking Lemus into custody, a mini-torch was seen in his hand, according to the report. After Lemus was taken into custody by ECPD, he was booked at a local hospital for a 72-hour mental evaluation. There, he told a doctor in the psychiatric ward he began “receiving messages” when he was 12 years old from the TV during breaks in pro- gramming, according to Lewis’ report. Bill Mulrooney, director of admissions and records and Jau- regui’s supervisor, reported the threats to ECPD 29 hours after Lemus made them. Mulrooney declined to comment. Jauregui referred the Union to Espe Nieto, director of — See Death threats, Page 2 Photo courtesy of the El Camino Police Department James Lemus, 35, pled not guilty at Torrance Courthouse Tuesday, three weeks after he threatened to kill a teacher, administrators, parents, and children. 11:15 a.m. Sept. 30: Lemus attends morning class in the Music Building Timeline continues on Page 2 Oct. 7: Temporary restraining order filed to protect English instructor Leeanne Bergeron and “all employees of the El Camino Community College District”

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Here is the Union's fifth issue of the semester

Transcript of Vol. 68 Issue 12 Oct. 23, 2014

THE UNIONOctober 23, 2014 Torrance, California

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Blood drive takes place in Student Activities Center

Inter-Club Council will be hosting the blood drive today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the East Lounge of the Student Activities Center. Each person who donates will receive a T-shirt or a coupon for a free pint of Baskin Robbins ice cream. To sign up, go to www.donateblood-cedars.org. or call 310-945-6137.

Writing a personal statement

Students who are planning on transferring to a UC are required to have a personal statement. On Nov. 3 from 1 to 2 p.m., there will be a workshop in Room 113 in the Social Sciences Building on how to write that statement. For more information, call 310-660-3593 ext. 3408.

Resume Writing Workshop available for students For students who are looking for a job, the Career Center will host a Resume Writing Work-shop Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. in Room 118 in the MBA Building. Students will learn what employ-ees look for on a resume. For more information, call 310-660-3593, ext. 6137.

Scholarship applications open on MyECC

Scholarship applications are due by Dec. 5. To be eligible, you must have a 2.0 GPA and at least 6 units of college coursework completed. A faculty letter of recommenda-tion, a student personal statement, and a financial need statement are needed. For more information on how to apply, call 310-660-6541.

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[email protected]

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM WINS 3-0 AGAINST HARBOR, P. 8

LOCALIZING THE CALIFORNIA DROUGHT TO EC, P. 3

HISTORY PROFESSOR TO RETIRE AFTER 40 YEARS, P. 6

FEATURES ARTS SPORTS

STUDENT THREATENED MASSACRE

10:45 a.m. Sept. 30: James Lemus voices threats to Miriam Jauregui

6 p.m. Sept. 30: Lemus attends evening class in the Humanities Building

3:30 p.m. Oct. 1: EC Police Chief Michael Trevis tells an ECPD officer about the threats that were made

Oct. 1: Two ECPD officers go to address on Lemus’ school records and driver’s license. There’s no answer at the residence

Oct. 1: Lemus is taken to a local hospital on a 72-hour mental evaluation

Oct. 2: VP of Academic Affairs Francisco Arce tells Trevis he is aware of the threats made against his life, says he is in fear of his safety and the safety of his staff

Oct. 3: Temporary restraining order granted to protect Arce. Lemus must stay at least 100 yards away from Arce, his workplace, home, and vehicle

10:30 a.m. Oct. 7: Trevis tells the Union an EC student made “inappropriate comments” and is being held at a facility in Los Angeles. Trevis says no one has been alerted because there is no credible threat

Oct. 10: California Public Records Act requests are made to Ann Garten, director of community relations, and Trevis

An EC student told a Veterans Center employee that he will kill a teacher, administrators, parents and students, staging a ‘massacre’ on the Library Lawn

Jessica MartinezCo-editor-in-chief @ECCUnionJessica

The 35-year-old student who threatened to kill a teacher, ad-ministrators, parents, and children planning to “make it look like (the) Santa Barbara shooting” on the Library Lawn had his first hearing Tuesday, where he pled not guilty.

James Gustavo Lemus’ bail was increased to $1.2 million and the distance in which he must stay away from EC was increased from 100 yards to 1,000 yards. Lemus’ bail was originally set at $152,000, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Information Center.

Lemus told Veterans Center employee Miriam Jauregui Sept. 30 “he was going to kill the Administrators of El Camino Col-lege, and named Dr (Francisco) Arce (Vice President of Aca-demic Affairs) as one of them; he was going to create a massacre at the schools library lawn like the Santa Barbara shooting; and he was going to kill the parents of the children walking around on the campus, tie them up to pole’s or a wall and rip them to pieces (sic),” according to Officer Jeffrey Lewis’ police report in the first of two temporary restraining orders (TROs).

The first TRO protects Arce. The second TRO protects Eng-lish instructor Leeanne Bergeron and “all employees of the El Camino Community College District,” according to the TRO.

Arce was the only person named by Lemus, but Arce said he found out about the threats “probably two days after the state-ment was made.” He added he didn’t know why there was a de-

lay in notifying him about the threats.EC Police Chief Michael Trevis said at a Humanities Divi-

sion faculty meeting last week that a search was done of Le-mus’ home and no weapons were found for him to carry out his threats.

“We are going to do a lot more with the campus to raise the bar,” Arce said at Tuesday’s Academic Senate meeting. “The best we can do is be aware and be vigilant.”

English professor Mary Ann Leiby who had Lemus in a class in the past, said at the faculty meeting Lemus often referred to the other students in the class as “children” because he was older than most of them.

Lemus told Jauregui Sept. 30 he “was raped at six years old and nobody did nothing to protect him” and that he has “been told that (he) need(s) to kill the parents of these children walk-ing on campus, because they don’t know how to protect them,” according to Jauregui’s report in the TRO.

During his conversation with Jauregui, Lemus pointed to the Student Services Building and said “all the administrators that won’t take the time to understand I am right. I will let them know and kill them. I will make them feel like I feel,” according to Jauregui’s report.

Hours before he made the threats, Lemus wrote on his Face-book page, “Public violence in recent months, including the UCSB murders, and after three decades influence via the de-structive programming, the objective of diverting negligence by public and professionals, parents and businesses in the surround-ing community, continue their mistakes in hopes of concealing

their association and contributions with the crimes. Now, ask my why your opinion matters (sic).”

On Oct. 1, after talking to Lemus’ mother, Lewis was able to talk to Lemus on the phone. Lemus told Lewis he was “afraid” and “began screaming over the phone at me and told me he couldn’t talk to me,” according to Lewis’ report.

When Lewis and his partner found Lemus outside a nearby home, Lemus initially listened to the officers’ orders, but began to pull away. Lemus “placed his foot into a metal fence to act as an anchor” and ripped Lewis’ shirt during the process, accord-ing to Lewis’ report.

Lemus’ mother walked outside and told the officers her son had been diagnosed as bipolar. She said his behavior “was some-what manageable until he started using Methamphetamine a few years ago” but said he no longer uses it. During the process of taking Lemus into custody, a mini-torch was seen in his hand, according to the report.

After Lemus was taken into custody by ECPD, he was booked at a local hospital for a 72-hour mental evaluation. There, he told a doctor in the psychiatric ward he began “receiving messages” when he was 12 years old from the TV during breaks in pro-gramming, according to Lewis’ report.

Bill Mulrooney, director of admissions and records and Jau-regui’s supervisor, reported the threats to ECPD 29 hours after Lemus made them. Mulrooney declined to comment.

Jauregui referred the Union to Espe Nieto, director of

— See Death threats, Page 2

Photo courtesy of the El Camino Police DepartmentJames Lemus, 35, pled not guilty at Torrance Courthouse Tuesday, three weeks after he threatened to kill a teacher, administrators, parents, and children.

11:15 a.m. Sept. 30: Lemus attends morning class in the Music Building

Timeline continues on Page 2

Oct. 7: Temporary restraining order filed to protect English instructor Leeanne Bergeron and “all employees of the El Camino Community College District”

2 El Camino College Union October 23, 2014newsPOLICE BEATBy Jay Bamba

Inebriated male student arrested for disorderly conduct

Oct. 20, 3:35 p.m.—Officers responded to the library regarding a male student who was possibly drinking alcohol and bothering other female students. Officers contacted and located him and discovered the student was carrying a thermos with alcohol in it. The student was inebriated and uncooperative with officers, resulting in an arrest for disorderly conduct. He was transported to Torrance PD where he was booked. He will be charged for disorderly conduct and possessing alcohol on school grounds.

Dizzy student collapses in hallway

Oct. 17, 10:25 a.m.—Officers responded to the P.E. Building regarding a medical aid call. A female student in a health class was feeling dizzy. The instructor and another student attempted to walk the student to the Health Center but the patient collapsed in a hallway. Paramedics arrived and the student was transported to an area hospital for further treatment.

Two cars collide in Lot KOct. 16, 2:15 p.m.—Officers

responded to Lot K regarding a traffic collision report. There were no injuries. Two vehicles were involved. One was a student and the other is unknown. The drivers exchanged information.

Man with $26,000 warrant out of Compton walks into EC station

Oct. 15, 9:20 a.m.—Officers responded to the Police Department lobby regarding a male subject with a warrant. The non-student subject was inquiring about live scan fingerprinting service. The man had a $26,000 traffic warrant issued out of the Compton Courthouse. The subject was issued a citation for the warrant and released.

Vandalism found on parking permit machine

Oct. 12, 3:35 p.m.—Officers responded to a vandalism report in Lot E and found an unknown individual used a black marker to write graffiti on a parking permit machine.

Female talks about dead bodies, is taken for 72-hour mental evaluation

Oct. 11, 11:20 p.m.—Officers responded to the south side of the police station regarding a non-student female gaining entry to a parked vehicle. The female was uncooperative with officers and made statements about dead bodies concealed behind locked doors. The subject was placed in protective custody and transported to a local hospital for a 72-hour mental evaluation.

The El Camino Police Department’s phone number is 310-660-3100.

Corrections

In our Oct. 9 issue of the Union, an article about reinstating the study abroad program said the program would return in summer 2015. The program has been given the OK to start in 2016.

In the same article, it was reported Pete Marcoux, English professor, teaches English 1C on trips to Costa Rica through his program, Global Service Learners. Marcoux only teaches English 1C during EC study abroad programs.

Also in the same article, it was said Marcoux’s Global Service Learners trip to Costa Rica is expensive without any attribution.

The Union regrets these errors.

sLeePInG PILLs DO MORe BAD THAn GOODAryn HicksStaff Writer @ECCUnionAryn

Many people use sleeping pills as a way to cope with sleep depri-vation. What they don’t know or fail to realize is that these drugs can have dangerous side effects.

Researchers have found that long term use of sleeping pills can lead to dependence and other is-sues.

“A lot of the things that can help you fall asleep faster end up having some kind of negative con-sequence,” Amy Himsel, psychol-ogy professor, said.

Sleeping pills can seem like

a reasonable option for students who find it hard to go to sleep. For a full-time student taking 12 units a week, assuming all their classes are three units taking two classes a day, they have about 16 hours of dedicated free time per day.

Some side effects of using sleeping pills include headaches, dizziness, and drowsiness. Ac-cording to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), caffeine can be used in both prescription and over-the-counter medicines to treat tiredness and drowsiness brought on by the pills.

Sleeping pills can become ad-dictive and this can affect how someone sleeps at night.

“I think people have a tendency to abuse caffeine and stimulants whether prescriptive or from Star-bucks to kind of push through and it takes a toll cumulatively over time,” Julie Poepoe, nurse practi-tioner, said.

Other concerns about taking prescription and over-the-counter drugs to sleep are that people can become physically and psycholog-ically dependent on them.

Another concern is that over a period of time, a person taking the pills may build up a tolerance to them making them take more at a higher dosage and deepening their dependency.

“They can be harmful and later

on lead to an illness,” Wynonna Leilua, 20, nursing major, said.

Sleeping pills and alcohol can also affect Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, the fourth stage in the sleep cycle. REM sleep occurs 90 minutes into a sleep cycle and it’s when the deepest sleep occurs. Without REM sleep, the brain does not get to repair itself and this can lead to drowsiness during the day.

“Both those things — sleeping pills and alcohol — reduce your REM sleep,” Himsel said. “ They can help you fall asleep but they don’t help you have great sleep.”

Some ways that can help stu-dents depend less on caffeine

and sleeping pills is having better sleep hygiene. This means taking steps to insure someone has a bet-ter night’s sleep.

In order to reach REM, sleep experts suggest doing relaxing things that can quiet the brain like yoga, pleasure reading, and turn-ing off all electronics close to bed-time.

“If we don’t get enough REM sleep are memory suffers greatly,” Himsel said. “Our brain needs that period of refurbishment (and) rejuvenation every night.”

Editor’s note: This is the last arti-cle of a three-part series on sleep deprivation and its effects.

THe UnIOn AnD wARRIOR LIFe wIn AT COnFeRenCeLorilynn LomeliStaff Writer @ECCUnionLorilyn

White pages stained with red ink, post-its scattered on desks and a newsroom buzzing with activity; this is a usual sight for a journalist on the Union. The progression of the EC newspaper was recently tested at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) Conference Oct. 17 and 18 at Cal State Fullerton.

At JACC, students both attended informative journalism workshops and competed for awards. The Union won General Excellence in all three categories: magazine, newspaper, and online.

It has been several years since the Union won General Excellence in the three categories, Kate McLaughlin, journalism associate professor and co-adviser of the Union, said.

“(The co-editors-in-chief) really wanted to attain that goal and win all three,” Kate McLaughlin said. “They worked doggedly over the last two years, I think, to make it happen and they did and I was so pleased.”

Matthew Simon, 25, journalism major and co-editor-in-chief, put winning the General Excellence awards as his foremost goal.

“I really hold it as what I am always going to remember,” Simon said.

Jessica Martinez, 20,

journalism major and co-editor-in-chief, reaped the most awards of all the Union members. She placed in four categories, including Opinion Writing and Magazine Cover Design.

“With the Opinion Writing, I was nervous with how that was going to go but that was the category I placed in,” Martinez said.

Thomas Schmit, 24, journalism major and opinion and editorial editor, placed first in News Writing.

“Last semester, I didn’t actually place in any events and it was kind of a low point for me,” Schmit said. “Finally getting the first place that I have been trying to get for all these years is really an amazing feeling.”

The photography competitions at JACC were challenging, John Fordiani, 21, administration of justice major and photo editor, said.

“I’d love to keep trying,” Fordiani said. “There is a lot pressure on people to get the perfect shot.”

Regardless of the challenging nature of JACC, members of The Union placed in several categories.

“People should get used to seeing people from the Union winning awards,” Simon said. “It’s what we should be known for.”

The Union, Union Online, and Warrior Life, won a total of 11 awards last weekend in Fullerton.

DeATH THReATs

admissions and records, who said she had no comment on the incident but added proper protocol for similar situations is notifying police immediately.

Jauregui later said she had “no explanation” for the delay in the reporting of the threats, adding she’s not the one involved in re-porting to police. “I have nothing to share,” she said.

Jan Schaeffer, EC psychiatrist who had contact with Lemus in the past and has described him as “actively psychotic” according to the TRO, said in an email, “I am not available to discuss anything regarding the incident in question at this time.”

Trevis said on Oct. 7, seven days after the man made the threats, the campus hadn’t been alerted because there was no “credible threat.” According to the first restraining order filed Oct. 3 by EC’s attorney Michael Travis, the threat was credible.

Arce said the campus was safe because Lemus was being held at a facility and “everyone knew” where Lemus was after he made the threats.

Trevis attended the faculty meeting Oct. 14 to talk to instruc-tors about the situation.

Most who spoke at the meeting were concerned ECPD had waited two weeks since the threats were made before addressing faculty.

“It is confusing to me that our faculty didn’t know about this,” Rachel Williams, English associ-ate professor, said. “Faculty need-ed clearer information sooner than

we had it.”At the meeting, Trevis said an

alert wasn’t set out through Nixle, the opt-in text message system that sends out alerts or advisories, because it is used for ongoing in-cidents or situations only. The day after the meeting, a Nixle alert went out about the incident, one that Trevis said was not ongoing because Lemus was being held at a facility.

On the same day the Nixle alert went out, 15 days after the threats were made, a campus advisory was sent out via email to faculty and students from ECPD about Lemus with his photo.

“There is no doubt we could do better to get information out to the college community. ” Arce said.

Connor Hedde, 18, fire science major, said he thinks the college handled the situation “poorly.”

“If it happened that long ago and we’re just hearing about it now – that’s probably a big part on El Camino,” Hedde said. “They need to get it out there quicker and faster. That needs to be a lot sooner if it happened on Septem-ber 30th.”

One focus to arise from this incident is safety concerns. At the faculty meeting, faculty members voiced their support for PA sys-tems should an incident like an active shooter occur on campus.

The same faculty members also suggested new locks on classroom doors that allow locking doors from the inside, rather than put-ting themselves in harm’s way by locking the door from the hallway.

Williams added something more concerning than this specific incident is the clear lack of plans

or ideas of what to do if an emer-gency were to occur on campus.

“In the time I’ve been here, we’ve never had a situation like this,” Williams said. “What I’m seeing is we don’t have a plan.”

Williams added she’s heard of committees being formed to put safety plans in place, but she thinks “there should be some sense of urgency.”

Another concern from this sit-uation, faculty said, is providing help for the mentally ill. During the summer, Leiby went before the board of trustees to share her thoughts on the Health Center being closed during that time, a time she said she taught students who needed it. Then, she said she didn’t know what to tell her stu-dents who needed help.

Leiby said the college needs to be devoting more resources and those resources need to be readily available to students.

Arce also said he wants the col-lege to focus on getting help for these students.

Leiby was one of the faculty members who supported the new locks on the doors at the meeting. “I’m very concerned about safety measures at the college,” Leiby said. “We should have steel doors. We should have windows that open.”

Leiby added that we usually see in emergency situations at col-leges people taking safety mea-sures and being notified of the situation quickly.

“The faculty are justifiably up-set,” Leiby said. “This situation brings up (discussion about) what the administration should be do-ing.”

— Continued from Student threatened massacre, Page 1

PUenTe PROJeCT ReVIsITeD AT BOARD OF TRUsTee MeeTInGBrenda SorianoStaff Writer @ECCUnionBrenda

At the Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, there was a presentation on Community Advancement - Economic and Workforce Advancement, a visit from Puente Project co-coordinator Margaret Quinones-Perez about the program and an update from EC Police Chief Michael Trevis on recent death threats.

There was a presentation given by Dean of the Business Training Center Jose Anaya that consisted of businesses like Northrop Grumman that have given jobs to former EC students who go

through training with the program.When the board of trustees

met a month ago, Quinones-Perez was told that there would be an update as to why the Puente Project has gone into hiatus but President Thomas Fallo informed the audience that there will be an update next meeting.

“Nothing is different, it’s still the same question. Why is the Puente Project on hiatus?” Quinones said.

Trevis told those at the meeting James Lemus, the student who made death threats recently, had his court date set for Tuesday.

The next board of trustee meeting is Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. in the Board Room in the Administration Building.

John Fordiani/ UnionThe Union staff members at the Journalism Association Of Community Colleges Southern California Regional Conference awards ceremony on Oct. 18 at California State University, Fullerton. The Union staff competed in on-the-spot competitions and attended workshops.

John Fordiani/ UnionFrancisco Arce, vice president of academic affairs, spoke at Tuesday’s Academic Senate meeting about campus safety awareness.

12:30 p.m. Oct. 15: A campus-wide advisory is sent out with Lemus’ name and photo

4 p.m. Oct. 17: A campus-wide advisory is sent out about Lemus being booked at L.A. County Jail and his court date

Oct. 17: According to the Sheriff’s Inmate Locator update, Lemus’ bail is set at $152,000 and his court date is Oct. 21 at Torrance Courthouse

11 a.m. Oct. 21: At Lemus’ hearing, his bail is increased to $1.2 million and the distance in which he must stay away from eC is updated from 100 yards to 1,000 yards

8:30 a.m. nov. 4: Lemus’ preliminary hearing will be at Torrance Courthouse

Timeline continued from Page 1

1 p.m. Oct. 14: Trevis addresses faculty about Lemus at the Humanities Division faculty meeting

October 23, 2014 El Camino College Union 3Features

CaLIFOrNIa DrOuGHt DrIes

uP CaMPus

the drought affects eC. the Horticulture and environmental Club is implementing a workshop to address the issues of the drought, informing students.

Rain has been a rare sight for Californians during this drought. It is

common to see summer clothing and crowded beaches because of the dry, arid weather. The downside to a yearlong summer: We are currently in the driest and hottest year in California’s recorded history, according to the California Department of Water Resources’ website.

Workshops and public messages have been implemented to help offset the severity of the drought. At EC, the Horticulture and Environmental Club will be showcasing a drought workshop on Oct. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m.

“The workshop will primarily focus on landscape since we are a Horticulture Club but (also) giving the students extra tools for conservation,” Reginald Fagan, coordinator of the drought workshop, said.

The Horticulture and Environmental Club aims to provide students with tips to decrease water usage.

Examples include pouring leftover water onto plants, not letting the faucet run needlessly, and washing laundry in big loads rather than small loads, Fagan said.

EC has also modified its water

usage habits to help with the drought. About five years ago, EC started using reclaimed water for greenery on campus.

Reclaimed water is used water that has been cleaned for reuse. This cuts down on the clean water used, which helps with the drought.

Besides reclaimed water, EC also invested in drought-tolerant

plants and artificial turfs.Additionally, there have

been several renovations to the restrooms to decrease water usage.

Even though reclaimed water is being used, it is still expensive to upkeep the campus.

“Water has gone up (and) labor has gone up. In fact, more modern technology is more expensive to run,” Thomas Brown, director of

facilities, said. “Case in point is our sprinkler systems. We have gotten more sophisticated where everything works on a time clock.”

The sprinkler system saves water; however, it is a more costly system to use than the traditional manual system.

“When you look at the dollars you may not be saving the money, but it is the right thing to do,”

Brown said.Students also observed the

importance of lowering water usage during this drought.

“I’ve been trying to help by keeping my showers down to like five to six minutes, turning off the water when washing my hands, and other things like not watering my lawn everyday,” Larry Guevara, 19, biochemistry

major, said.Anthony Rhone, a member

of the Horticulture and Environmental club, 20, English major, is also in charge of the drought workshop.

“Students should be more economic with their water usage,” Rhone said. “Just only taking what you need instead of just taking it for granted.”

Photo Illustration by Lorilynn Lomeli/ UnionInformation found on the United States Monitor’s website. Graph represents the percent areas and severity of drought.

e C W e L C O M e s N e W F u L L - t I M e F a C u L t Y

Amira Petrus/ UnionArgelia Andrade passes out a quiz to her students after collecting homework.

Argelia Andrade, Spanish instructor

Andrew PhillipsStaff Writer@ECCUnionAndrew D 4:exc e p t ion a l drought

•Severe crop losses•Water emergencies•Extensive water shortages

D2:severe drought•Crop loss is probable•Water restrictions are imposed•Water shortages are common

D0:abnormally dry•Slow plant growth due to dryness•Going into drought•Somewaterdeficits

Information found on the United States Monitor’s website

Brenda SorianoStaff Writer@ECCUnionBrenda

Q: Why did you choose to continue your teaching career at EC?

A: “I think EC has been a really critical staple in the workforce development in the South Bay as well as an academic stepping stone. That’s very important. Specially, if you look at the way the economy has been, for students to be able to get to improve their economic opportunity at a reasonable cost is really important and EC has a reputation for having strong academics.”

Q: What is your focus in teaching?

A: “I think it’s important for me to let students know that they can achieve their goals and I think they really need to have that confidence in themselves. But also importantly, (make sure) they understand that they have to take the initiative to pursue academic excellence. We’re a resource for them, but they need to be able to reach down inside themselves and find where their connection is in academia.”

Q: What made you choose EC?

A: “This is home. I’m from here. I grew up in the city of Gardena. My dream was always to come work here. It was just a matter of time.”

Q: What is your focus in teaching?

A: “I would like my students to be aware of how much control they have over their education. They have more control than they think.”

Q: You are the founder of Nuestras Raices, can you tell me a little bit about that?

A: “In 1996, the summer before I went to UCLA as an undergrad, I started teaching Mexican folklore to 10 girls as a hobby, because I’ve been dancing folklore my whole life. It was just a hobby and super fun, and before we knew it, it grew into a huge organization. I had a lot of community support and now we have 217 students.”

Amira Petrus/ UnionAndre Lee lectures during his class.

Andre Lee, computer instructor

22 new faculty members were hired before the fall semester began. Below are two Q’s and A’s with some of the new faculty members.

Information found on the United States Monitor’s website. Graph represents the percent areas and severity of drought.

Lacy Westbrook/UnionReclaimed water is used to upkeep greenery on campus.

It is argued that ignorance is bliss, but when that leaves someone’s life in danger, that all goes out the window.

After reports that an EC student claimed he was going to cause a massacre akin to UCSB, the Union staff took every precaution available and stayed away from the newsroom and EC if possible. The administrators of the school were equally aware of the situation, and did not believe that telling students about the threat to be urgent.

If there is one thing that all school shootings have in common, it’s that there are always signs. Rarely are they quite as apparent as what we just experienced.

In advance, we knew who the suspect was, what he looked like, and where he was.

The EC police department took full control of the situation, but did not share any details regarding the threats. Only one small section of the school, the paper’s newsroom, was aware of the situation. All other students and faculty were relying on ECPD’s judgement.

The ECPD has the respect of the Union, but honestly students and faculty should be receiving notification of these sorts of threats from them before we go to print.

Fortunately, the suspect was under 72 hour watch at a psychiatric ward, and there were no incidents.

Regardless, it’s not up to the police department to decide whether a threat that was directed at specific members’ of EC staff was under control and could be kept under wraps, simply because of a restraining order was put into place.

Restraining orders only work when people know who

they are looking out for. No name or photo was given for a long period of time, outside of the police department.

It’s fair to argue that telling all of EC that they were threatened would cause a ruckus that was most likely unnecessary. But most likely is not good enough. The margin for error is zero when lives are at stake. Because of the fact that it was reported, there is still a ruckus on campus. But it is focused

on the failure of the EC administration, rather than the person who threatened the school.

These aren’t rumors which we are dealing with, the psychiatrist believed his threats were credible and that he was a legitimate threat.

El Camino is not alone in suspected school shootings. Pierce College of Woodland Hills recently had a student making threats over social media, and found weapons and ammunition in his house.

Pierce College responded quickly, shutting down the whole campus to protect itself and having a press conference the same day the news was revealed. This is the type of response El Camino should be striving for, not a faculty meeting days after the occurrence.

It was the Union that made this story headline worthy, because the ECPD and Tom Fallo did not consider this such a big deal. No, the threats weren’t immediate, but they deserved to be recognized.

The backlash the ECPD will hopefully lead to better communication between them and the students. But for the time being, young Americans continue to lose trust in the police department.

The Issue• Once again, ECPD has

shown itself to be woefully slow in communicating potential threats to faculty and students.

Our Stand• Pierce College evacuated

it’s entire campus the day a student made threats on social media and immediately held a press conference. EC should be aiming for a similar response time.

EDITORIALCampus Insight

PARCHED FOR CONSERVATION

A VETERAN’S COLLEGE LIFE

Everywhere around us, California is feeling the effects of a drought that has lasted these last three years, without any end in the foreseeable future. Now more than ever, it’s vital that we as a community take steps to conserve water.

Here in Los Angeles, we’re lucky enough to have avoided the worst effects of the drought so far. While huge tracts of farmland lay unplanted, and in more rural areas residents are no longer even able to flush toilets, LA’s access to water reservoirs has allowed it to continue with business as usual.

However, with experts like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting yet another dry winter this year, that could be quickly changing.

Already, water levels in California’s three larg-

est reservoirs are down to around 30 percent ca-pacity, according to an article from CNBC. Experts are warning that next spring and summer will bring with them severe water shortages for the entire state.

With these ominous signs all around us, it’s time to get serious about the drought and conserving water. While some out there might argue Califor-nians are already doing their part, there are plenty of signs that not everybody has gotten the message.

For instance, last September a group of people at-tempted to organize an event featuring a 1000-foot-long slip-n-slide running through the heart of LA. Fortunately the city was aware enough to put a stop to the event before it could happen, but the fact that anyone thought it would be a good idea in the first

place is rather worrisome.Worse yet, the Center for Biological Diversity

released a statement earlier this month that almost three billion gallons of toxic waste and byproducts from fracking have been dumped into aquifers that supply drinking water to central California.

What would normally be considered a horrific ecological disaster is now a major threat to the health and safety of Californians, who have little access to water outside of that now tainted ground water, or water brought in at great expense from outside the state.

Unfortunately, living here amidst the manicured lawns and and decorative trees so common around LA, we as residents have a tendency to forget one simple truth: the majority of California is naturally

a desert.This isn’t meant to be a rant about the folly of

man trying to outsmart nature, or anything like that. Instead, it’s a warning about simple econom-ics, and of supply and demand.

We want water. We don’t have very much water. If we don’t want to go thirsty, or be living in our own version of Frank Herbert’s “Dune”, we need to start taking action now.

The steps to take are easy. EC’s own horticulture club has plenty advice, and you can find more at wateruseitwisely.com.

It’s all stuff we’ve been hearing for years, but there’s just one difference now. Before, these things were good ideas. Now, they could be a matter of survival for a drought stricken California.

4 El Camino College Union October 23, 2014

My life as a military veteran in college has helped me grow as a person.

When I first left the Army it was an extremely hard period in my life. I left everything behind, all my friends who I trained, grew, and fought with were no longer there. The worst part was losing people who had the same experiences of loss and trauma as I had.

When I was in the army I could tell another soldier how that night I woke up looking for my weapon, and the solider would laugh it off with me and tell me “it happens to everyone Doc”.

It made me feel such a sense of normality that I never realized I had PTSD untill I left the Army.

At first I was ashamed to admit it, and I didn’t want to believe it, but the only reason I felt ashamed was the stigma that goes along with PTSD.

I felt that if I told others, it would impact the way I was treated and the way people interact with me. In the past I told people about my experiences and it completely changed the way they saw me.

I felt if I told people I had PTSD they would see me as broken or weak. That’s not true though, people with PTSD are strong because they survived those events that scarred them.

PTSD has a lot of stigmas and since no one has addressed this issues I will. I have come to a point in my life where I feel sharing this will help others.

PTSD does not always have to affect a person’s everyday life. While at school sometimes students’ curiosity gets the best of them and they ask questions like “you are not messed up, right?” Or “What was the most traumatic event for you?”

Asking a veteran this can bring up a lot of emotions. I realize students do not mean it maliciously, they just want to know, but for other veterans who are not as open about it sometimes it can be a painful question.

I talk openly about war because I want people to know about the world and the people who fight for this countr,y but most importantly to care about what is happening.

If a student asked “what were your highlight while you were in the military?” or even just ask about a funny event, I would much rather talk about that. I had some of the best times of my life while I was deployed, and I love sharing those experiences with students, but people only want to hear about the bad or traumatic things you’ve seen and done.

Associated Collegiate Press Regional Pacemaker Award1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012

California Newspaper Publishers’ Association General Excellence Award1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005

Journalism Association of Community Colleges General Excellence Award1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014

The Union is published Thursdays by Journalism 11 students at El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506, and is free to the student body and staff.

Unsigned editorials and cartoons are the opinion of the editorial board and do not reflect the views of the student body, staff or administration. Letters to the edi-tor must be signed and must be received one week prior to publication in the Union office, Humanities Building Room 113.

Letters are subject to editing for space, libel, ob-scenity and disruption of the educational process. Sin-gle copies of the Union are free; multiple copies can be requested through the Union.

Co-Editor-in-Chief .................................................................Matthew SimonCo-Editor-in-Chief ................................................................Jessica MartinezNews Editor ...........................................................................Jessica MartinezOpinion Editor ........................................................................Thomas SchmitEditorial Editor..............................................................................Thomas SchmitFeatures Editor ..................................................................... Lorilynn LomeliArts Editor .................................................................................Russell LewisSports Editor ...........................................................................Matthew SimonPhoto Editor ............................................................................... John FordianiMultimedia Editor.........................................................................Jean-Paul UdehMultimedia Editor....................................................................Sebastian SpencerSocial Media Editor............................................................................Angela YimDistribution Manager .........................................................Lorenzo GutierrezAdvertising Manager ................................................................... Jack MulkeyAdviser .................................................................................Kate McLaughlinAdviser ....................................................................................... Stefanie FrithPhoto Adviser...................................................................................Gary Kohatsu

Vol. 68, No. 12October 23, 2014

E-mail: [email protected]: (310) 660-3328Advertising: (310) 660-3329

A SPEEDY RESPONSE...WEEKS LATERIllustration by Eugene Chang/ Union

Daniel BernalIntern

THE UNION

Saving water requires everybody to pitch in

Angela YimUnion Columnist@ECCUnionAng

Ebola - the most popular and discussion inducing social issue right now.

As it is known for its deadliness, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been spreading around epidemically around West Africa, including Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The reason for the big fuss about the disease is that the current epidemic of EVD is the most severe case since its discovery in 1976, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There has been more than 4500 deaths confirmed by the

World Health Organization (WHO), as of Oct. 17.Its fatality rate on average is almost 50 to 60 percent,

according to the WHO. One out of two people infected with Ebola will die. In comparison, the Spanish flu in 1918 had a fatality rate of only two-and-a-half percent.

On Oct. 15, the United Nations publicly declared an international health emergency, stating that the world has less than 60 days to completely recover from the epidemic - or humanity would “fail entirely” if not stopped. The fact that the whole world is stated as a victim signifies the seriousness and potential outcome of this issue.

The consequences for this disease make it not only a life and death situation, but also an environment issue. According to an LA times article, a single Ebola patient treated in a U.S. hospital will generate eight 55-gallon barrels of medical waste a day. EVD Medical wastes are recommended to be incinerated. However, as incineration is illegal in California and at least seven other states, storage and disposal will be a major problem.

If EVD ever spread through the U.S., travel advisories, passenger screening, immigration control, and other restrictions would become mandatory. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, these measures will have repercussion for economic trade and businesses. This is why sending humanitarian aid over to West Africa will ultimately save us from the possible nation-wide epidemic here at the U.S.

To sum up these facts, it is critical to understand that people in West Africa do not have the same benefits of medical treatment as people in other countries. Americans should know every single fact about this issue and keep in mind that they might be the next victim.

UP FOR DEBATE

Caroline Kim,19, communications

“I honestly think it’s not as bad as people are making it sound.”

Patrick Unger, 31, English

“Not really. I think there’s just a lot of fear-mongering going on, it’s

like avian flu.”

Cody Alidon,21, administration of justice“It’s something that should be

concerning. I think the situation is pretty well under control, but we

should definitely keep an eye on it.”

CAmPUs viEwPOinTs

Jay BambaStaff Writer

@ECCUnionJay

René Paramour, 24, photography

“Yeah, well, it’ll kill you, so it’s something we really need to know

about. I think we need to go over to Africa and really deal with it there.”

We’re pretty sure you don’t have Ebola

The United States of America has 99 problems but Ebola isn’t one of them.

Compared to areas in Africa where thousands of people have died due to this disease sweeping across its countries, the United States has had one death, according to cnn.com.

Countries such as Sierra Leone have had an increasing rate of deaths that has grown to more than 20 per day.

In the hysteria and fear of the disease Americans have forgotten that this disease has had one

casualty in the United States, in one isolated area where it was quarantined and handled efficiently.

Americans have a higher chance of catching Measles in the United States than catching Ebola, according to an L.A. Times article.

Along with that fact the the disease has only had one death, any symptoms or cases of the disease have been handled swiftly.

For instance, Ashoka Mukpo a freelance cameraman that was working for NBC News contracted the disease while in Liberia was able to be treated and was later to be found with no trace of Ebola in his bloodstream.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made it clear that Americans should be cautious but also shouldn’t fear the disease.

The CDC has made detailed documents for doctors who run into cases where they have a checklist on how to decide whether they are dealing with someone who has contracted Ebola.

These include travel and exposure history of the patients to travel areas over a 21-day-period to areas with Ebola or if they have been exposed to a person with Ebola, according to www.cdc.gov.

If you aren’t sure and you feel symptoms that include a fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, you should seek guidance from your normal physician immediately.

You may have the flu, a cold, a case of allergies, heart disease, or sinusitis, which all have the same symptoms that Ebola does.

So, before you decide to panic about the fever like symptoms you have, educate yourself and realize Ebola probably isn’t your problem.

OPiniOn

As if picture-taking peeping Toms on campus, death threats from the mentally unstable, and midterms aren’t enough, now add the chilling news of a mutated killing virus landing on our soil. It’s been a stressful couple of weeks.

People across the country (and quite possibly the world) are ready to retreat into their bomb shelters due to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and traces of the virus in Texas.

Thanks to the hemorrhagic fever outbreak, now better known as Ebola, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued multiple warning notices for U.S. citizens to avoid nonessential travel to Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

So then how did this virus escape Africa, catch a one-way flight, and make its way over to our continent when the CDC issued warnings were back in July when the outbreak was taking out hundreds of people in West Africa?

It took one Texas man, who went to West Africa for a wedding, came back to Texas infected, and then died. For lack of better words, it’s safe to guess that said Texan did not listen to the CDC.

The World Health Organization sent out a Global Alert and Response regarding the virus disease outbreak taking place in West Africa. By July 27 the cumulative number of cases in the four West African countries came to over a thousand, and more than half of those cases ended in death.

It doesn’t take a scientist to recognize that those numbers are substantial and should be taken seriously – but to what extent? It’s doubtful that the Texan thought he was at serious risk when traveling overseas, but in the end, the results are fatal and as we all know – in his case – literal death.

The CDC has compiled a timeline for reference on the ongoing situation, but how the people are dealing with the current cases of Ebola diagnosed in the United States vary.

In an effort to simply keep to the facts, here’s what we know: there are three cases in the states (concentrated in Dallas, TX), it can only be spread by direct contact with body fluids of infected person, objects contaminated with the virus, and infected animals (the CDC put together a reader friendly PDF document with basic information).

Now what does this mean for us? What are we doing with all of this information? Is this the beginning of the end?

First thing first, don’t be an idiot.

No need to sharpen your machetes just yet.

Reload your weapons? Perhaps, if weapons are a euphemism for knowing your facts – not just what broadcast news is feeding your with – do some research yourself and don’t just take word-of-mouth information as truth. No need to jump to conclusions. But rather do your research, find out for yourself, and be knowledgeable – nobody has your best interest at hand more than yourself.

Bottom line, do yourself a favor don’t be fooled by the media. If you don’t know, find out, don’t look for excuses and find the answers.

Illustration by Eugene Chang/ Union

By: Thomas Schmit@ECCUnionThomas

sELF EDUCATiOn OvER sELF

mEDiCATiOn

The views expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not represent the views or opinions of the Union, its staff, editorial board or advisers.

Matthew Simon Co-Editor-in-Chief@ECCUnionMatt

Is Ebola something Americans should really be concerned with?

Is Ebola something Americans should

be concerned with?

Photos By: John Fordiani@ECCUnionJohn

Cody Nichols22, astrophysics

“No, there’s plenty of things in our society killing us way faster. I don’t think we need to worry about it until

it reaches our state.”

Heading the problem off at the source

Column

October 23, 2014 El Camino College Union 5

arts6 El Camino College Union October 23, 2014

american Harp Quartet at Marsee

Harpists Ellie Choate, Delaine Leonard Fedson, Leslie Stratton Norris and Jacquelyn Venter performing at the Marsee Auditorium on Friday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Marsee Auditorium box office or by calling 310-329–5345.

Interview on eccunion.com

Girls Night: the Musical

It is the “Desperate Housewives meets Mamma Mia” (Applause Magazine) musical about five female friends as they relive their past, present and future in a funny and crazy night out. Located at James Armstrong Theatre in Torrance (3300 Civic Center Dr.) on Saturday Oct. 25 with two showings at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets range from $40-$53, available at www.torrancearts.org.

Bralic and Klapa sing in the U.s. for second timeOne of the most popular Croatian groups comes to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center (1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd) to perform it’s famous a’cappella hits from the 90’s. The concert will be showcased on Saturday Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $55-$62 and can be purchased www.redondo.org.

Combined Jazz One and Jazz two Big Bands

Director David Sills is combing Jazz One and Jazz Two Big Bands at EC’s Haag Recital Hall Monday Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. It’s a showcase of different vocal and instrumental classics from various of works. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 310-329–5345.

On The Scene

sUPErHErO PrOFEssOr HaNGs UP HEr CaPE

For the last 40 years Maria Brown has brought her love of history and Pop

Culture to the EC campus. This is evident in her exhibit “Shadows of American Popular Culture” where she showcases Batman and Superman and their impact on American Pop culture.

“I started doing the exhibit eight years ago and it has grown ever since then,” Brown, history professor, said.

For the first exhibit at EC, Brown and her students brought belongings from their childhood like “Scooby-Doo” and “Lord of the Rings” and showcased them.

Now in its eighth year she presents the world of superheroes and their impact on American society.

“The comic book heroes and I suppose the villains have all those qualities we as individuals wish we had,” Brown said. “There is a little superheroness in all of us.”

Brown with the help of longtime friend Kim Reynolds, Senior production artist at Warner Brothers Consumer products, put the exhibit together every semester. The pieces in the exhibit all come from her collection from visiting various comic book conventions, comic book shops and toy stores.

“I didn’t know they had an exhibit here,” Fernando Ledezma, 18, biology major, said. “I have been influenced by Batman in my childhood.”

Her love of comic books and passion for teaching has kept her in high regards among her students. Some students see her exhibits as eye-opening when they learn the history of superheroes.

“People needed (superheroes) back then.” Ledezma said “They were a slice of security for many people.”

The exhibit also showcases the evolution of the superhero and its influence on what Brown calls American mythology. The exhibit is also done to commemorate the creation or birthday of Superman and Batman, which she celebrates every year.

“People need heroes, that’s why the characters are so popular.” Brown said. “Heroes give them a since of hope (and) accomplishment.

With her retirement on the way, Brown looks forward to new adventures. She plans to keep busy by revisiting old passions that teaching interfered with.

Brown also said she would like to fulfill a childhood dream of visiting Disney World in Florida. She would also like to visit Universal Studios Theme Park to visit the Harry Potter exhibit.

“Ms. Brown isn’t like your typical teacher.” Taylar Hicks, 21, business major said. “She makes learning about history fun and exciting.”

Some of her fondest memories are from going on field trips to the movies, visiting the Long Beach Comic Con and seeing the reaction of the faces of students experiencing the Comic Con for the first time.

Brown will continue with the superhero celebration with her annual Comic Book day that will be held on Oct. 28 where she will celebrate the 78th anniversary of Superman.

“When I can interact with the students and we can laugh, talk and learn something at the same time those experiences are probably the best for me.”

Amira Petrus / UnionMaria Brown stands next to her Wonder Woman Rolling Stones poster in her classroom. In addition to the exhibit in the Schaureman Library Brown has an exhibit in the back of her classroom. On Tuesday Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. there will be Comic Book Day in the Distance Education Room.

EC ORCHESTRA’S SOLO BASS MUSICIAN GETS HIGH PRAISE

From a good student to a good teacher, Armando Wood, 20, music major, is passionate to play bass and share his talent in music by sharing his talent here in the EC symphony as the principal bass solo.

“I guess what inspired me to want to play music was hearing music,” Wood said. “I heard a lot (of artists) that I found really inspirational and that led me to want to play, I remember listening to a band called Jethro Tull.”

After listening to the last song of the album “Aqualung” from the rock band Jethro Tull which featured a bass solo that inspired him to want to play the bass.

During his time in high school Wood wanted to join the Jazz band; he already knew how to play the electric bass; but he needed to learn how to play opera bass before he could get into his high school Jazz band class.

One of his professors told him that he needed to learn classical music first.

Another opportunity that music is bringing to Wood is that the next summer he is going to Europe for an outside school activity thanks to his music professor William E. Doyle.

“He is a really active here as student playing in the orchestra here, the applied music (program),” Doyle said. “He is just an excellent student so that’s one of the reasons I think he is a rising star; he has both the talent as a performer and he also works really hard in his academics.”

Other activities that Wood does outside of the college is being a

teacher at a school in San Pedro where he teaches guitar, piano and bass to children and some adults, and he also plays the bass at weddings.

“He is very dedicated and very hard working,” Robert Amour, 23, music major said. “He has a solid foundation in music; he plays jazz and as well as classical. (He is) very talented in both; he also volunteers for some of our essembles outside of school like Dr. Doyle’s group Supernova.”

Wood’s favorite instrument is the double bass, but he also knows how to play the piano, banjo and the guitar.

Wood hopes to transfer to a university this year and some of the universities that he is planning to apply to UCLA, Cal State Northridge, USC, University of North Texas, but at the moment he is taking lessons with Chris Hanulik, UCLA professor, Wood said.

“Being in music is really hard, especially because in the beginning you don’t realize how much work you have to put doing it,” Wood added. “When you see a musician who is an accomplished performer, it’s an end result and it’s tough, because in the beginning you constantly compare these people to yourself and you are not a finished result.”

MOVIE REVIEWMICHAEL KEatON sOars IN ‘BIRDMAN’

Amira Petrus / UnionArmando Wood, 20, music major, practices the upright bass in the EC Music Building practice room. Wood has been playing for six years and is a part of the EC Symphony Orchestra.

Aryn HicksStaff Writer@ECCUnionAryn

Juan Lorenzo GutierrezStaff Writer@ECCUnionLorenzo

Michael Keaton wears a mask and cape again in his new film poking fun of Hollywood’s obsessions with superhero movies and the actors who want to be taken seriously.

“Birdman” is a dark comedy that takes you on a roller-coaster ride of a hero’s journey through astonishing visual effects, amazing cinematography, and great character development.

This unconventional superhero movie deserves its own genre. It’s a mixture of drama, romance, action and adventure; a real treat to any film enthusiast.

The way director Alejandro González Iñárritu plays with camera techniques makes the majority of the film appear to be a single take. It’s truly a testament to his genius as a filmmaker.

Michael Keaton’s performance as an aging has-been actor (known for his role as a comic book superhero) who tries to make his comeback in a Broadway theater is a role Keaton was destined to play and executed with great skill.

This film is Keaton’s first starring role in nearly a decade; better know for iconic roles such as Batman and Beetlejuice.

Keaton is ideal to play Riggan Thomson, the disturbed actor and father who’s battling inner demons and identity issues while trying to win back his family and career.

The casting of the film itself is perfect; each actor brings a certain level of depth to his or her character.

Edward Norton’s supporting role to Keaton’s character makes them a dynamic duo to watch, whose chemistry made for some intense and incredible scenes.

Emma Stone plays Keaton’s troubled yet charming daughter who eventually comes to see her father for who he truly is in the end.

Zach Galifianakis, who plays Keaton’s producer and friend in the film, displayed a sense of seriousness and range, while not being overbearing in his comedic approach with this role compared to roles he’s better known for.

Each character had his or her obstacle to overcome as a person, but the characters come together in odd ways to help each other grow as individuals.

This makes “Birdman” an inspirational masterpiece for audiences members who need a motivational tale.

Academy award winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, whose work in films such as “Gravity” and “Children of Men” brought a level of skill with dazzling long takes that makes the viewer marvel at his artistry.

The film score takes you back to a ’60s happening performance that blurs the boundary between the artwork and its viewer.

In this case, the beat of the drums felt like a giant irregular pulse that everybody in the audience was in sync with.

This film is a must-watch and soon to be cult classic of our time.

Keaton proves in this film what it truly means to play a hero who wears a mask, and how to some people’s eyes, the mask never comes off.

Jean-Paul UdehStaff Writer@ECCUnionJP

Agency: Creative Productions Description: 14GDW141.ECC.H.2.BW.inddContact: Heather Jones

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SPORTS8 El Camino College Union October 23, 2014

WARRIORS SCHEDULE Men’s soccer:

Tomorrow Oct. 24 vs Mt. sAc3 p.m.

WoMen’s soccer:

Tomorrow Oct. 24 vsMt. sAc1 p.m.

WoMen’s VolleybAll:

Tomorrow Oct. 24 at Pasadena city college 6 p.m.

Men’s WAter Polo:tomorrow oct. 24 at santa Monica

college tournament tbD

WoMen’s WAter Polo:

tomorrow oct. 24 at santa Monica college tournament tbD

FootbAll:saturday oct. 25 vs

chaffey college4 p.m.

cross country:Oct. 31 at

south conference conference Invitational

tbD

Men’s soccer: Warriors 1 (7-1-5),cerritos college 1

WoMen’s soccer: Warriors 1 (2-12),cerritos college 11

WoMen’s VolleybAll:

Warriors 3 (13-2),Harbor college 0

Men’s WAter Polo:Warriors 10 (5-8),

long beach city college 15

WoMen’s WAter Polo:

Warriors 14 (5-15),santa Monica college 4

FootbAll:Warriors 7 (2-3),

riverside city college 31

WARRIORS SCOREBOARD

streAK contInues WItH sWeePWomen’s volleyball team keeps winning going with a 3-0 victory against los Angeles Harbor college. Nadia BasichStaff Wwriter@ECCUnionNadia

Brenda Soriano Staff Writer@ECCUnionBrenda

Gilberto Castro / UnionEC midfielder Carlos Rosales fights against Compton defender Cesar Montenegro for control of the ball in Friday’s game. The Warriors won a hard-fought victory with a score of 3-2.

In dominating fashion, the women’s volleyball team played the majority of its players as it swept L.A. Harbor College Friday, 3-0.

The Warriors (13-2, 5-0) are on a five-game winning streak as they dominated the Seahawks 25-8, 25-21 and 25-5.

“I think we started off really strong,” sophomore outside hitter Nicole Echeverri said. “I know in the past our problems tend to be that we don’t start off with enough energy.”

The Warriors dominated the first and third sets of the match.

The team had a more difficult time

in the second game only winning the set by four points.

“I think we had too many hitting errors,” coach Le Valley Pattison said. “In the first game we had zero hitting errors, zero service errors, then we came back and made some personnel changes and that’s something that the people are going into the game have to work on is just limiting unforced errors.”

The Warriors’ dominating performance allowed them to give time to a lot of players that haven’t seen the court very much this season.

“Just from watching on the outside, watching how we put in our other players in I think they just weren’t as prepared,” sophomore outside hitter Darlene Lee said. “I think they were

just getting used to being in the game.”The energy level of the game wasn’t

as strong for the Warriors and that affected the second set coming from the second rotation players.

“Their energy level was kind of low but we’re just trying to help them be more into the game as much as we can,” Lee said. “We’re watching them and making sure they can improve on making less mistakes.”

Echeverri tallied a hitting percentage of .692 of nine kills on 13 total attempts and only played in the first set.

Lee was perfect on her hitting attempts going five for five and totaling five digs.

Sophomore setter Sadie Fraker had a high of 17 assists for the match.

The Warriors were able to put the ball away to get easy points and ball control was pivotal for the team to dominate the match versus the Seahawks.

“We’re trying to take care of the ball on our side and we did that really well the first and third game,” Pattison said. “You can see where no matter what they’re throwing at us we’re just digging it and transitioning back and getting a good quality swing and kill on the play.”

The Warriors still have time until playoffs come to make small adjustments for every match.

“I think we just need to talk more and getting less hitting errors and staying in the positive in our hitting percentage,” Lee said.

Charles Ryder / UnionSophomore outside hitter Laynie Thompson goes for a kill against Los Angeles Harbor College Oct. 10.

Men’s soccer teAM rolls onRocky Rivera Staff Writer@ECCUnionRockyR

For every goal they conceded, the Warriors had a response.

EC men's soccer team won 3-2 against El Camino Compton Center on Friday.

“We came out big like every game knowing it's going to be hard it's going to be a war," freshman defender Edgar Esquivel said. "We just better go out there and fight because they're not going to back down and we're not going to back down so we just have to give it 100 percent."

The Warriors took the lead twice in the first half thanks to double assists from sophomore midfielder Charlie Gonzalez.

"Every time we get scored on it’s something that our coach tells us, is not to let it get to us, to keep our mentality strong, and keep coming at them,” Gonzalez said. “We know we're the better team and we have the confidence in each other. We know we're going to come back score another one."

However, Compton equalized twice going into halftime.

"Defensively we got caught ball watching a few times," assistant coach Ever Morotoya said. "First goal was a counter-attack and great shot from their forward. Second goal (was) us making silly fouls and us not covering each."

EC quickly restored the lead, this time for good when sophomore midfielder Victor Guerrero got past a defender and took a shot from just outside the penalty box which went straight down the bottom left corner of the goal.

"That was extraordinary, his assist and his goal," Guerrero said. “I just saw the guy coming to me fast so I just cut it back took a little touch and shot it."

Possession was a key factor for EC in the final minutes and it helped keep control of the game.

“(We) didn't let them attack too much and when they did, our defense held them," Guerrero said. "The more possession we

kept the more frustrated they got and we took them out of the game."

The Warriors' winning streak stretches to five games and they have won seven of their last eight games.

"Confidence wise it helps

the guys feel confident enough to compete for conference, Morotoya said. "So, as long as we keep on winning and playing some soccer it's going to keep them happy and going forward toward their goal.” The Warriors have one goal in mind for this

season now that they have been playing very well.

“We have this little goal where we want to win conference or at least win conference against Mt. Sac and Cerritos," Morotoya said.

Gonzalez leads the team

in assists with seven in 10 games. EC also went into the game ranked 12th in the 2014 California Community College Athletic Association Men’s Soccer State and Regional Poll which was released last Thursday.

WoMen’s soccer teAM DoMInAtes In 6-1 WIn

Playing their second home game, the women’s soccer team started off on a good note scoring its first goal in the first ten minutes.

The team won 6-1 Friday against El Camino Compton Center.

“We played as a team. Everybody who played, the starters and bench players, all contributed to one of our best performances of the year. We weren’t playing against the strongest team in the conference but we kept the ball and we dominated play” Head Coach, John Britton, said. “We’ve been having trouble scoring goals all season so we can’t complain.”

The Warriors had the first and last goal of the game thanks to sophomore forward Kendall Collard.

“I think we did good. We communicated more in this game than any other game,” Collard said.

Freshman forward Tatiana Granados, stood out as a player to her teammates, who also scored EC’s fifth goal minutes before the first half was over.

“Tona played very well. She’s a play keeper in the middle,” sophomore forward Diana Smith said.

Although Britton admits to not having played the strongest team, some of the players still did find the opposing team as having been a “very physical team.”

“We played well but we definitely could have had more opportunities. We played a very physical team,” Smith said.

“I think it was great. We moved the ball. We kept our point in soft balance and we need to be doing that,” Britton said. “We’ve been in and out of games but it looked like we were focused the entire 90 minutes which is great.”

The next game for the women’s soccer team will be an away game against the Cerritos College Falcons at 2 p.m. tomorrow.