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Cerritos College’s first online Student Art Exhibit goes live this week

Daniel Suarez Jr., Staff Writer May 19, 2020

Cerritos College student artists have submitted over 130 works to the campus’ Art Department in lieu of the first online Student Art Exhibition scheduled to take place at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22, via the gallery’s online bookstore at www.blurb.com.

Using ASCC funds, the exhibition is expected to distribute over $4,000 in awards to participants in seven different categories, from ceramics and 3D design to graphic design and digital illustration.

Each category will award first through fourth place prizes, “including a monetary component ranging from $25 to $200,” Art Gallery Director/Curator James MacDevitt said. “We then invite a professional artist to jury a group of media-specific awards.”

A portrait submitted by student artist Phyllis Chumley Martinez depicts a chilling scene of a young child in a red dress attempting to free her father from the overbearing grip of a winged phantom in “Fighting Daddy’s Demons.”

Martinez is just one of the scores of student artists to be featured in the 2020 online exhibition catalog.

Students from each department are nominated by faculty members both full and part-time.

There are additional awards given to specific fields including the Demott awards for the studio program and the Cassidy awards for graphic design.

In the weeks leading up to the event, the Cerritos Art Gallery has previewed dozens of submissions through social media posts on Facebook and Instagram.

The works in this year’s exhibition are “literally the very best our students are producing in any one year cycle,” MacDevitt said.

The catalog will feature works from the nominated student artists including painter Jazmin Flores and digital artist Samuel Roque.

According to the gallery’s social media posts, the online-only exhibition format is “pretty much the only thing that’s really changed.”

That being said, there are several limitations that affect how the art is experienced, as MacDevitt pointed out.

“Many artworks like painting and ceramics have a physicality and materiality that does not translate perfectly to screen-based imagery,” he said.

Film and graphic design type mediums are ideal for Zoom conferences but physical art is potentially inhibited by the student’s inability to provide the juror a dynamic and up-close perspective.

Additionally, MacDevitt noted that another disadvantage is a lost sense of community.

“Zoom meetings are well and good, but there is nothing like seeing the vast crowd of friends and family that come out to support the student artists during our regular award reception,” MacDevitt said.

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Soprano saxophone-euphonium recital delights audiences

Daniel Suarez Jr., Staff Writer March 23, 2020

Silvia Ibara and Mya Sanchez performed on March 4 inside the Burnight Center as part of the Applied Music Program of Cerritos College.

Ibarra took the stage first, and was joined by accompanist Kyoungee Kim on the piano. Ibarra’s main instrument is the alto sax but on that day her instrument of choice was the soprano, famously used by jazz saxophonist, Kenny G.

The songs in her selection were all written by American composer Steve Cohen. The Sonata for Soprano saxophone includes three movements: “Allegro Assai,” “Blues” and “Allegro Giocoso.”

According to Ibarra, Steve Cohen decided to write the Sonata for Soprano because there aren’t many non-classical composers that do. She said, “Most modern sax compositions are written for the alto and the tenor, when the soprano doesn’t really get anything new.”

She mentioned this sonata was deliberately chosen by her because she wanted to demonstrate her proficiency with the soprano sax.

“I wanted to learn the soprano because I study classical music, and lot of classical saxophonists, like Harvey Patel and Christopher Creviston, say learning the soprano sax is mandatory,” Ibarra said.

It is Ibarra’s last semester at Cerritos, and the applied music program requires that exiting students have an eight-minute recital instead of the typical five.

The second performance was Mya Sanchez. She played a large brass horn called a Euphonium and was accompanied by Nadia Aponte on piano.

Sanchez played the song “A Walk in the Woods” written by Jiro Censhu.

The program cites a quote in Censhu’s notes regarding the song: “In our minds, each of us has our own peaceful forest… In that oasis, calmness reigns as our mind contemplates the good times that have passed.”

The purpose of these recitals is to prepare students for the 10-30 minute live auditions required to apply to music school. All performances are video and audio recorded so that the students may playback and mix their own recordings. Its also used to critique by the instructor.

Ibarra has already auditioned to Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State.

Bassist, Aaron Robinson Almanzan said he thought the performance was “beautiful.”

Dr. Christine Lopez, Director of the Applied Music Program, announced after the recital that they are opening sign-ups for the Student Showcase concert. This show features students within the Applied Music Program and is set for Saturday, Apr. 4 in the Burnight Center Theater. They have to audition to be selected.

Several students were passing around a clipboard to sign up after the performance.

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Jazz recital kicks off the spring season

Daniel Suarez Jr., Staff Writer March 6, 2020

From inside the dimly lit room, an all too familiar tune emanated from the stringed instruments. They played a rendition of “Pure Imagination” originally written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

Students gathered into a studio of the Burnight Center on Feb. 26, preparing to hear from jazz guitarist George Loulakis, and bassist Aaron Robinson Almanzan, whom are both part of the Cerritos College Applied Music Program.

The concert was the second of 13 recitals announced for the Spring 2020 season. Loulakis and Robinson each chose three songs for the set-list, starting with the classic from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

“What’s a piece that everyone would know and love and can trigger something emotional?,” says Loulakis, “I thought, ‘I really love that song from Willy Wonka’ and it was decided.”

His following two selections were “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” by Burt Bachrach and “There Will Never Be Another You” by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon.

The two musicians played unassisted for the first half, with Loulakis switching between acoustic and electric guitar. Aaron Robinson Almanzan played on an electric bass.

After a brief intermission, the performers returned with more assistance from pianist Nadia Aponte and flutist Manuel Martinez. Together, this ensemble played Robinson Almanzan’s selections, starting with “Boplicity” by legendary jazz trumpeter and composer, Miles Davis.

“I remember hearing ‘Boplicity’ for the first time and I liked it so much I tried learning the melody.” said Robinson Almanzan.

His other selections were Joy Spring by Clifford Brown and Inutil Paisagem from Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Aaron Robinson Almanzan started his musical career playing piano and clarinet in middle school, before picking up the base guitar in high school and into college.

“I actually started playing rock and roll and I started getting into more theory as I got older and started to appreciate jazz more,” says Almanzan.

His selections were a some of his favorite to listen to, which is says is why he really wanted to play them.

“There’s always room to grow in Jazz. I feel like I can spend the rest of my life playing it,” said Loulakis.

Jazz, as defined by Oxford Dictionary, is a type of music of black-American origin, making its explosive rise to popularity in the early 20th century. Jazz musicians typically use instruments of the brass and woodwind groups (i.e. trombone, saxophone).

It was a shared passion for Jazz that drew them to studying the genre in college.

Loulakis is instructed by guitarist Michael Higgins, and Robinson Almazan is instructed by Martin Torres.

There are two more concerts in the month of March. The Piano Ensemble Concert is on Monday, Mar. 9 at 9:30 a.m. in BC-51, and the Jazz Exchange Concert is on Wednesday, Mar. 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the student center stage on campus.

Admission to both shows is free.

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Bellflower hosts BRAVO awards starring keynote speaker, Danny Trejo

Daniel Suarez Jr., Staff Writer February 20, 2020

The city of Bellflower hosted the 25th annual BRAVO awards on Feb. 7 at the William & Jane Bristol Civic Auditorium. Award winners consisted of firefighters, sheriff deputies, neighborhood watch captains and local residents.

Despite the 11 a.m. start the auditorium was near capacity with many excited to hear from keynote speaker, Danny Trejo.

BRAVO stands for “Bellflower Recognizes Acts of Valor and Outstanding service.”

As the name suggests, it is where city officials and chief law enforcement honor recipients for demonstrating positive community action.

Attendees first heard from Bellflower Mayor Juan Garza, who praised the efforts and achievements made over the year, namely a historic low in reported crime and reductions to both homicides and burglaries.

Guest speakers included LA County Sheriff, Alex Villanueva, and Fire Department Chief, Daryl Osby. Both took the opportunity to recognize the work done by their departments, “It’s important that (recipients) are recognized for their gifts, and how they share these gifts with their community,” said Chief Osby.

Danny Trejo is a Mexican-American actor, activist and business owner from Los Angeles. He received a warm welcome from the audience, coming out in a charcoal-grey suit and his usual black homburg hat.

Trejo spoke about his life experiences and attributed much of his own success to the kindness of others. “Everything good that’s happened to me happened as a direct result of helping someone else,” is a main idea that Trejo reiterated several times.

In one anecdote, Trejo described being type-casted during his early acting career. “In every movie I came out in, the credits would say ‘Danny Trejo (as) inmate #1’,” he said.

He said that receiving help as a young actor allowed the movie star and entrepreneur to elevate his career. He congratulated the BRAVO award recipients and said that the positive impact they had made on their communities is immeasurable.

Honorees were each invited on stage to receive their awards and take pictures with the presenters. Officers recognized were Sheriff Asad Megally, Deputy Eric Saavedra and Deputy Ayub Manjra for outstanding service; Deputy Brent Parriott and Deputy Steven Saldivar received awards for Valor.

Firefighters Adam Domiguez, Ronald Kusumi, Jeffrey Poster, Jason Young and Captain Daniel Murchison were also awarded for outstanding service.

Three other recipients included 911 operator, Patricia Bateman for distinguished service, Neighborhood watch captain Gregory Delahoussaye for Captain of the Year, and Milt Gilman for outstanding citizen.

The BRAVO awards also recognized two high school students based on their community-improvement essay submissions. Seniors, Andrew Ferrer of Mayfair High School and Fernando Ruiz of Bellflower High School, both had excerpts of their writing read aloud to the cheers of fellow classmates in the audience.

Ruiz’s essay made a compelling argument about using beautification to promote a better environment and safer communities. The students were each awarded $500 in scholarships.

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“Beyond Measure” shines a light on extraordinary black men

Daniel Suarez Jr., Staff Writer February 26, 2020

Filmmaker, business owner and professor, Ryan Hoyle, premiered his film “Beyond Measure” in the telecommunications center of Cerritos College on Thursday Feb. 20th. In attendance were dozens of students and faculty, including Director of Public Affairs Maya Walker, Vice President of Academic Affairs Rick Miranda, and President/Superintendent Jose Fierro.

The 2019 documentary short-film, “Beyond Measure” highlights varieties of black male success and achievement, expanding far beyond the pro athletes and entertainers that typically receive the most exposure.

The film features five men of color, whom each go into detail describing their background and the mindset that prepared them for the many obstacles they had to overcome. Cerritos College English professor Damon Cagnolatti and CC alumni Antoine “AJ” Girard were two of the five featured.

From postgraduate college students to local business owners, audiences were able to hear from a diverse group of successful black men which is all according to Hoyle’s mission. “In academia, we don’t really see representation of black people. We want to bring that (exposure) to the community, let students see and hear from people that are where they’re trying to get.”

After the film, Hoyle, AJ, and Professor Cagnolatti held an open Q&A that lasted nearly two hours. The community dialogue bounced from topics both related and unrelated from the film, while the three men willingly shared their perspectives on all questions.

Ryan Hoyle is a self taught film-maker who has been practicing for about 10 years. He started by documenting his own travels and creating film recaps for events before also becoming a producer of other short films.

He first premiered Beyond Measure on Feb. 21, 2019 at the Harkins Theater in Cerritos.

Hoyle is also the cofounder/co-owner of Play Nice LBC, located in Long Beach. What first started as a vintage retail store transitioned into a full service marketing and event production company, “We rent out the space for events, along with hosting our own open-mic nights and community conversations,” he said.

AJ is a black artist originally from Los Angeles. He studied art history and performing arts at the prestigious Howard University in Washington D.C. In the film, AJ discusses what identity means to him, and how he directed a passion for art into service for his community. One way, he finds, is sharing successful men in art like Basquiat

“I feel like oftentimes we try to fit ourselves into a narrative that wasn’t designed for us to fit into,” says AJ, “Your ability to imagine a possibility is helped by familiarity, seeing someone that looks like you occupying the space you want.”

AJ spoke in support of a community center called The Underground Museum in Los Angeles. He stresses the importance of these black-owned spaces as providers of activities and services for specific communities.

“Public and city-owned community centers don’t see themselves as culturally significant spaces. We believe the specifics are the most essential parts.”

The event also had a buffet for visitors that consisted of meatloaf and cornbread. The documentary is available for viewing anytime on YouTube.com (“Beyond Measure- Cerritos College BHM).

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Biomythography: ‘Making Visible’ featured in Cerritos College art gallery

Daniel Suarez Jr., Staff Writer March 2, 2020

Two exhibitions are now featured in the first floor gallery of the Fine Arts Building. Cerritos College hosted the reception of Biomythography: Making Visible which features the work of Caz Azevedo, Logan Dandridge, Chuck Feesago, Thinh Nyugen and Marton Robinson on Feb. 10.

“Biomythography” is a focus on the perceived representations, both mythic and historical, that impact the identity of a culture.

The artist’s work expands on this concept by offering different perspectives and “making visible” both the minority groups themselves and the oppression they face.

Chuck Feesago is an artist as well as an instructor at the University of La Verne.

His latest installation centers on the lost history of Blackbirding, a practice that sprouted after the abolishment of slavery in the United States and continued throughout the 19th and 20th century.

It was a method of wide-scale oppression that targeted Pacific Islanders, coercing and kidnapping them to work on plantations.

The installment includes reprints of early photographs surrounding a larger system of photographic paper held together with rods strings.

Feesago draws awareness to their suffering by highlighting the devious campaign of propaganda that was used to deceive indigenous people into captive servitude.

He said that awareness of these horrific practices puts into perspective the contemporary identity of Pacific Islanders and how the destruction of their past affects their culture today.

“Deadnaming” is an installation and social performance by Vietnamese artist, Thinh Nguyen. The piece is a collection of traditional prayer candles encircling a black Buddha statue, each depicting a name along with the date and cause of death.

Nguyen invited visitors to participate in the performance by repeating the names of each victim three times. The purpose is to shed light on the prevalence of transphobia and the violence it still motivates.

Before concluding his performance, Nguyen asked for a moment of silence for those unnamed and said, “When we live in a society that constantly tries to erase you, who we are and what we are is a revolution.”

Nguyen studies the relationships between different cultures because they believe that commonality is a better foundation for unity. In “Deadnaming,” Nguyen uses faith and spirituality to mourn and remember the victims of 2019.

History shows that most religions are often at odds with the LGBT+ community. Even in contemporary society, religious beliefs can determine support or opposition to legislation threatening the civil rights of LGBT+ peoples.

On Jan. 24, Tennessee governor Bill Lee, signed a bill (HB836) allowing state and federal foster care agencies to discriminate against gay couples. This attributing to the belief that a “natural” marriage is between one man and one woman.

Nguyen hopes that by placing these two entities together, they can begin to bridge the divide.

“Religion allows us to feel comfortable and mourn for those we lost.”

Rather than using religion to create a greater wedge between these communities, Nguyen chooses to utilize its healing factor.

The exhibit is curated by Christ Christion and Jessica Wimbley and will remain in the art gallery through March 13.

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Cerritos College Art Gallery presents: SOME FORM OR OTHER by Caroline Clerc

Daniel Suarez Jr., Staff Writer March 23, 2020

The fine arts building unveiled SOME FORM OR OTHER, a new sculpture in the gallery window. The featured artist is professional photographer and USC instructor, Caroline Clerc. She attended the gallery’s 5 p.m. reception on March 9 to speak to a class of students about her work.

According to Clerc, her sculpture is composed of objects she picks up while taking her daily walk, including materials like rocks, sticks and styrofoam. The objects are stacked precariously without the use of wires or screws.

The installation combines trash with discarded test prints that Clerc paints and draws over with what she calls an “80’s color pallet.” The test prints resemble glossy black sheets of paper with bright streaks of color.

Her work makes a statement on climate change and western consumerism over decades. She described how partisan politics have split the original consensus about climate change along party lines.

“In the 1980’s we started to see more partisan politics and the conservative backlash against the notions of climate change had risen,” says Clerc, “It was also a decade of a lot of consumption. So I think (my work) harkins back to a decade where we understood what to do about this issue.”

Clerc uses the juxtaposition of old with new, using raw natural materials like branches, to hold up cardboard and paper products. There’s also the vibrant pink and yellow colors of the trashed images that ironically allude to bright packaging on a new product.

The physical design of the structures was finalized by Clerc after she selected her materials.

Clerc said, “Since I am gathering trash from the streets, I don’t know what I’m going to get, so my work evolves in the process of doing it. You have to respond to the trash that you see.”

The installation resonated with Joanna Et, a nursing major. She said, “I feel anxiety about my trash all the time. I like the way she reuses waste and plastic as if to say it still holds value.”

Clerc is based in Downtown Los Angeles where she teaches and works in her home studio. She has been creating and sharing her art in galleries for more than 20 years.

She also has an online portfolio containing a select few bodies of work as a photographer. Her 2018 project, “From things that came before” explores the products that adorn our home, while recognizing the deforestation and habitat loss that occurs as a result.

The window dressing is scheduled to remain in the gallery through March 20. The reception provided complimentary pizza, snacks and beverages for attendees.

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Falcons secure 5-3 win over Roadrunners

Dan Suarez Jr.

MARCH 3. 2020

The Falcons bounced back from a two-game losing streak by defeating the Rio Hondo Roadrunners 5-3.

This is the softball team’s second conference victory after defeating the Compton College Spartans on Feb. 13.

The game took place at 3 p.m. at Nancy Kelly Field on Feb. 27.

Taking the mound in the first inning for the Falcons was sophomore pitcher, Skyler Swearingen. The first Roadrunner batter Swearingen faced was walked, and the second at-bat put the lead-off in scoring position with a base hit to right field.

The Falcons, however, were unphased and kept their composure, with frosh catcher Dominique Jimenez beating the runner at second base for the first out. The Roadrunners were unable to score, leaving one runner stranded on third base.

First to bat against Rio Hondo was sophomore outfielder Itzel Soto. She was walked and then advanced to second from a base hit by CF Haley Davis.

Both runners were advanced to scoring position after a sacrifice hit by Brianna Spoolstra.

Sophomore Kayla Aros scored Soto with a shallow hit to right field.

From first base, Aros made a break to second but was caught by Roadrunner catcher, Azucena Enriquez. Aros, in pain, was slow to get up before walking off the field, but promptly made her reappearance in the second inning.

Cerritos would continue to score another run in the first due to a RBI single from freshman Aliya Velasquez. The Falcons earned an early 2-0 lead over the Roadrunners.

The excitement continued into the third inning with an RBI single from Brianna Spoolstra, allowing Davis to cross the plate for the second time that afternoon.

Rio Hondo then responded to the 3-0 deficit with some hits of their own starting with a two RBI double by Roadrunner pitcher Grace Acero in the fourth inning. Then in the fifth shortstop Kelly Monroy hit a line-drive over the left field wall for a solo home run.

Swearingen stayed on the mound for the remainder of the game, allowing some hits, but she and the Falcons’ defense prevented any more Roadrunners from reaching home plate.

Cerritos would go on to score two more runs in the fifth and sixth inning with a solo home run by freshman Chasity Martinez and a sacrifice fly ball from Davis, allowing Soto to tag up and score their fifth run.

Skyler Swearingen totaled four strikeouts that game, allowing only three runs in the fourth and fifth inning. She demonstrated her endurance, pitching through the whole game and shutting down the Roadrunner’s momentum.

“I’ve learned along the years to take the mind with an ‘I don’t care’ mentality and I know I can hit my spots and do the job,” says Swearingen, “I also have an amazing catcher (Dom Jimenez) who sets me up perfectly.”

Cerritos was shut out by Rio Hondo 6-0 in January, after winning the second confrontation. Head Coach Kodee Murray said it was not so much about getting back at the Roadrunners.

“I think what today was about was more coming together and figuring out a way to win. We have a good team here, we just have been in a weird funk,” Coach Murray said.

She also commended her team’s pitching and catching performance in this game, along with giving a shout out to the softball field’s groundskeeper, Bill Griffith.

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NFL Draft: round 3

To kick off the third round of the 2020 NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals have selected inside linebacker Logan Wilson of Wyoming. Wilson, a three-time team captain, will join North Carolina State linebacker Germaine Pratt in the next season. 

Wilson’s speed and athleticism enables him to make open field tackles against better runners and effectively read quarterbacks in the pocket. In 2019, he demonstrated his ability to consistently stuff the run in the backfield adding testament to his knowledge of the game and the offences he faces. 

This was Cincinnati’s first defensive pick in the 2020 virtual draft, after picking LSU quarterback prospect Joe Burrow followed by 6’4” WR Tee Higgans, who averaged 18 yards per carry while at Clemson. This was a clear pick to expand the arsenal at the rookie quarterback’s disposal.

Picking second was the Washington Redskins, who decided on WR Antonio Gibson from Memphis University. Gibson would have been a versatile addition to any team being the running back and slot receiver hybrid we saw in 2019. This was only the second player selected by Washington after exchanging their 2nd round pick with Indianapolis.

When Gibson got the call from Washington Redskins spokesperson Larry Mitchell, he excitedly stated, “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.” In that conversation, Gibson also revealed that he’s originally from Washington DC and will be joining his mother and sister at home. “Wherever (Redskins) decide to put me, I’m gonna dominate,” he said.

Detroit was also looking to strengthen their defense with outside linebacker Julian Okwara from Notre Dame. The Lions are seemingly attracted by Okwara’s potential as an edge rusher and DE, making him a great selection for the 67th overall pick. Detroit also drafted Okwara’s brother, Romeo, who was drafted by the organization in 2018.

A video posted on Roc Nation Sports’ Twitter shows Julian talking to the Lions organization as he’s drafted. After he puts the phone down, Julian turns to his brother behind the camera and says “We bout to be roommates bro!”

There was definitely a spike of defensive picks in the 3rd round, several of which were linebacker picks such as Zack Baun from Wisconsin, who was picked up by the New Orleans Saints and Alabama linebacker Terrel Lewis drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. 

One of the noteworthy offensive picks was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafting Clemson RB Ke’Shawn Vaugn, yet another potential weapon in the new Buc offense led by Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. The possibility of Vaugn competing with current Tampa Bay running back Ronald Jones II, is causing some excitement among fans and commentators alike.

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Meditation for Healing and Resilience

On Wednesday morning, a Zoom meeting of about a dozen participants was guided  through an iRest meditation facilitated by certified yoga therapist and Cerritos College instructor Laurie Angress. The roughly 45-minute session was one of several events scheduled for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and this one focused on promoting inner healing and resilience through deep relaxation and meditation.

    iRest meditation, founded by clinical psychologist Richard C. Miller, is generally practiced laying down or sitting comfortably. This modern adaptation of the ancient Hindu meditation practice of Yoga Nidra has been adopted by veterans with PTSD and recovering addicts citing reduced stress and better sleep according to Yoga Journal. 

“I believe that all of the practices of yoga, because there’s many beyond just stretching, are tools for nervous system regulation and getting to know ourselves on a deeper level,” says Angress, who is currently in her fourth year teaching at Cerritos. 

In addition to her private practice as a yoga therapist, Angress is a certified iRest teacher as of 2017, where she began incorporating these newer methods with her students and clients. She also hosts free meditations over Zoom every Thursday night at 7. 

In the workshop, Angress breaks down the human body to five sheaths or layers, similar to those Russian nesting dolls. These layers are known as the five Koshas of our existence (including Awareness, Intellect, Thoughts, Life Force and the Physical Body) and are the central dogma of iRest meditation. 

“Transitioning into stillness, settle into this moment and feel,” says Angress as she rings a handheld chime, “Open all the senses, feel the touch of air on the skin.” The guided meditation encouraged participants to invoke blissful memories like a particular beach, sharing company with friends or listening to nature sounds. One participant said that her “peace” was talking with her grandmother.

“Feel my words as if they’re your own,” says Angress, “let the tension drip down the arm to the left palm, let it rest in its own weight.” Her steady and rhythmic voice commands assessed the human body piece by piece, instructing the class to feel both tension and comfort, heaviness and lightness. When Angress rings the chime a second time, she informs the Zoom meeting that “the practice of iRest is now complete.” 

Free online yoga sessions are currently broadcasting on a number of social media platforms including Instagram and Facebook Live, where Yoga teachers frequently post recordings and live webinars of guided sessions. 

Since Governor Newsom enacted the Mar. 19 Stay-at-Home order to limit the spread of Covid-19 in California, community colleges and universities have closed their doors and converted fully to online instruction. As thousands of Cerritos College students and faculty adapt to the new normal, Angress advises her yoga students to “practice daily mindfulness and to limit time spent on social media,” all in order to cope with the daily stressors of working—or not working—at home.

Throughout Wednesday’s meeting, Angress repeated this Yoga Nidra mantra: “Your essential nature is an unchanging quality of being and wholeness.” According to the Cerritos College online calendar, there will be another Zoom meeting led by Yoga instructor Cindy Zackney on Apr. 28 at 11 AM.

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Opinion: voters’ rights infringed during primary elections

Daniel Suarez Jr. April 18, 2020

The Wisconsin primary was an egregious display of voter suppression that victimized Americans forced out of the political process by COVID-19.

We have to trust absentee ballots not only by preserving the well-being of the public, but by protecting their voting rights, too.

The worsening outbreak of Coronavirus in the United States has resulted in more than 17 million Americans filing for unemployment and 20,000 COVID-19 deaths nationwide.

Total deaths in the U.S. also surpassed that of Italy, which held the highest death toll for weeks.

With many adhering to strict social distancing guidelines, businesses and political processes have been halted or postponed, including the primary elections in 16 states.

Wisconsin, however, was not allowed to postpone.

More than 1 million voters had requested an absentee ballot due to Coronavirus concerns. When the requests overflowed the elections office, Wisconsinites realized that their ballot would not come until days after election day.

In Milwaukee, they consolidated the polling centers from 180 to just five.

The surge of mail-in requests caused a backup that resulted in some voters receiving their ballot days after the election day.

Gov. Tony Evers (D) tried to postpone the state’s primary election via executive order on April 6 to prevent in-person voting and allow mail-in ballots up to April 13.

That is, until the Republican-controlled state legislature blocked his order which was then upheld by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote.

This means that Wisconsinites had to choose between protecting themselves from a fatal virus or risking it all for their civic duty.

With polling centers closing and as social distancing guidelines remain in place, voting via absentee ballot allows people to cast their vote without risking their health, so why does the president criticize it?

According to President Trump, “Mail ballots are very dangerous for this country because of cheaters. They go collect them. They are fraudulent in many cases. They have to vote. They should have voter ID, by the way.”

Here is a quick look at the facts surrounding absentee ballots:

Is there a problem with mail-in ballots and voter fraud?

Five states already vote entirely by mail: Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington along with active military overseas and Americans living in other countries.

Elderly citizens and disabled citizens may also vote via absentee ballot if they are unable to attend a polling center.

President Trump has made several unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud since the campaign trail and, after his election, Trump and his administration created the voting integrity commission which in 2018 reported that they found no evidence of wide-spread voter fraud.

In spite of the findings of his now-disbanded agency, Trump continues to criticize absentee voting. “Mail in ballots substantially increases the risk of crime and VOTER FRAUD!” he tweeted.

New York Times national correspondent Michael Wines reports, “In an election in which more than 137.7 million Americans cast ballots, election and law enforcement officials in 26 states and the District of Columbia — Democratic-leaning, Republican-leaning and in-between — said that so far they knew of no credible allegations of fraudulent voting. Officials in another eight states said they knew of only one allegation.”

In other words, credible instances of voter fraud are scarce. The most recent incident was in 2018 where North Carolina congressman Mark Harris [R] was charged with election fraud.

How will this affect the remaining primary elections?

Leading infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony S. Fauci announced that he hopes for a “real degree of normality” by November.

In the meantime, states will have to find ways to distribute the millions of mail-in ballot requests as polling centers continue to close and communities still advise residents to self quarantine.

Mail-in ballots usually have to be requested ahead of time by the voter. After it is filled out, the ballot is mailed back to the elections office where it is verified by matching the signature with the one on file. Some states allow voters to request mail ballots and then drop them off in person.

If voters receive their mail-in ballots after the election day, as was the case in Wisconsin, then more people will be forced to wait for hours at a crowded polling center just for their vote to count.

Absentee ballots are not a threat to our democracy, but voter suppression certainly is. At this unprecedented crisis, accommodations must be made to ensure that all citizens can vote and protect themselves too.

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$1200 checks will not alleviate the worst job loss since the Great Depression

Jazmin Aguayo and Daniel Suarez April 19, 2020

Unemployment is skyrocketing as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the United States, causing the most devastating job loss since the Great Depression.

The federal government’s response to this unprecedented crisis is a $1,200 stimulus check for qualifying taxpayers. That is not enough to stave off an impending economic collapse!

Since the United States first declared the Coronavirus pandemic a national emergency, more than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment aid.

The consequences of an economic crisis of this magnitude are predicted by some experts to last up to five years after the country’s eventual reopening.

California Governor Gavin Newsom called the economic downturn a “pandemic-induced recession.” A Los Angeles Times article reports that less than half of the residents in LA county still have a job.

The millions of new applicants have overwhelmed unemployment agencies across the country, causing a number of backups and delays that only worsen the situation in struggling households.

As several governors begin to unveil their plans to reopen their state’s economy, qualifying Americans are receiving the first distributed stimulus payments since President Trump originally signed the $2 trillion stimulus.

According to the Washington Post, the checks are primarily going toward gas, bills and food purchases.

Single heads of households are expected to receive a $1,200 payment and married couples will get $2,400.

Parents are granted an extra $500 for children under 17 years old claimed as dependents but college students aren’t allowed to receive this benefit if their parents claim them as dependents on their taxes.

The Coronavirus health crisis is creating an economic crisis and the president’s delayed response for the country as a whole is a disservice to the United States.

COVID-19 put a stop to thousands of businesses and organizations leaving millions of Americans filing for unemployment benefits.

An article by the Washington Post states, “A Treasury spokeswoman noted the IRS processed nearly 80 million payments in less than three weeks.”

There are 150 million payments expected to go out under the Economic Impact Payment program.

Undocumented immigrants are excluded from the federal stimulus package despite contributing billions of taxpayer dollars annually, funding schools, being taxpayers, students and overall contributors to society.

They serve a critical role in providing the food to be distributed to Americans in need, whether it be to food banks, grocery stores or farmer’s markets.

Immigrants are known to work in the crop fields of California and other states that are needed now more than ever.

They are only some of the essential workers of the time and they aren’t receiving the help they desperately need during the pandemic.

Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the release of the Angeleno Card for in-need households in Los Angeles that will provide financial assistance through a no-fee prepaid card provided by Mastercard in amounts ranging from $700-$1500 determined by need.

Applications were open from Tuesday, April 14 through Thursday, April 16 at 4:30 p.m.

Applicants weren’t required to disclose immigration status for the money and in order to be eligible for assistance there were only three requirements: households must be in the city of Los Angeles, total household income fell below poverty level prior to COVID-19 and at least one household member has lost a job or experienced a reduction in income of at least 50%.

We are still under the stay at home order by governor Newsom until May 15. When the order is lifted, we will have to adjust to a “new normal” until it is safe for us to go back to our lives before the pandemic.

Unemployment benefits have been expanded 13 weeks by the federal government until December 2020.

This is how long people are expected to be unemployed until around the end of the year, depending on how people fight to flatten the curve.

In the wake of an unprecedented crisis, Americans should be able to rely on their government to protect them from financial disaster but the rocky distribution of stimulus checks and the states’ inability to process the surge of unemployment claims only reinforces the fact that the United States is far from prepared to handle this recession.

We must continue to ask our elected officials such as our mayors, district representatives and the governor to push for more help from the federal government.

We are in a crisis and if the people in power aren’t helping or acknowledging our needs, we must make them and be loud enough so they can’t ignore us.

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ASCC discusses student support updates in response to COVID-19

Daniel Suarez, Staff Writer April 12, 2020

As the Cerritos College campus remains closed, apps such as Zoom and Skype have become vital to connecting students with their instructors. Virtual meetings such as this have become common practice in schools and workplaces throughout the country.

The meeting lobby opened at 2 p.m. on the afternoon of April 8, hosted by ASCC advisor and Dean of Student Services, Elizabeth Miller.

Vice President Williams delivered his call to order, and, from their homes, the senators followed the motions of approving the agenda and minutes of the previous meeting.

During the public forum portion of the agenda, attendees were joined by Vice President of Student Services Dilcie Perez.

She wanted to inform the student leaders of the Cerritos Cares project, an initiative created by the college in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cerritos Cares offers a “centralized place to connect students to campus resources,” and its link can be found at the top of the college’s website.

The platform provides links to information and any assistance offered by the school, including opportunities for students who lack access to technology, food distributions, financial resources and ways to stay involved in clubs and other campus activities.

“We are trying to help get laptops and hotspots to students who need these resources,” Vice President Perez said. “At this point we have reached capacity but we will continue to take names, so as we continue to find funds we will purchase more laptops for students.”

Another topic of discussion were the elections, which had opened mere hours before the senate meeting.

Before noon on April 9, students had the chance to vote for a new ASCC President and Vice President via Canvas. Senators encouraged participation from all students.

Besides the lack of human contact, the senators were able to adjourn the meeting without any significant obstacles or delays.

Some senators offered a lending hand to one another, like nursing student Adriana La Fuente, who told the attendees that she will be hosting a Zoom meeting of her own for anyone who might be needing someone to talk to or is looking for more general health information.

While the ASCC meeting proceeded without issue, some senators described a different scenario when it came to their classes. In-person lab assignments are replaced by online modules, and some instructors face difficulty providing the proper resources for all their classes and all their students, even across multiple campuses.

“A digital lab makes sense but then again, the emphasis on the [in-person] lab is technique,” Williams said. “Of course, on a digital lab you always hit the right mark as long as you know where to click.”

As of this week, the United States reported more than 464,000 confirmed cases, surpassing any other country worldwide.

With the stay-at-home orders still firmly in place, Zoom meetings will continue to serve as the primary teaching tool for colleges and institutions through the foreseeable future.

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Feel the Bern: Vote Bernie 2020 (endorsement editorial)

Jazmin Aguayo, Daniel Suarez, and Sean Davis February 26, 2020

We, the Editorial Board at Talon Marks newspaper, are proud to endorse Bernie Sanders for President.

Sanders is no stranger to standing up for what he believes is right for the American people, in 1964 Chicago Sanders alongside 159 others were arrested during a series of demonstrations protesting segregation in public schools. As a congressman for the state of Vermont, he consistently stood up for the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community, along with passing/proposing legislation that supports them.

Sanders has been very vocal about how we, young adults, are the future of the United States. One of his most appealing policies is College for All.

Bernie Sanders calls on the country to take immediate action. He seeks to strengthen and empower the individual no matter the demographic.

He sets goals and milestones once perceived as unattainable, but now appear more in reach than ever before. His outstanding leadership is and always has been what sets Bernie apart from other politicians. Rather than use his rhetoric to separate and divide Americans.

College for All: Senator Sanders is adamant about wanting to make college education more accessible and free for all. He is fighting for debt-free education, free public colleges, universities, HBCUs, Minority Serving Institutions and all trade-schools.

Nearly 45 million Americans still face student debt, totaling around $1.6 trillion. As president, Sanders will cancel all student loan debt and place a cap on student loan interest rates going forward at 1.88 percent.

He plans to pay for this plan as part of his Wall Street speculation tax, which according to his campaign website, will generate over $2.4 trillion dollars in just ten years.

He believes that if taxpayers had to bail out the same Wall Street firms that collapsed the housing market in 2008, then Wall Street can pay for a 0.5% tax on all stock trades.

Sanders plans to end equity gaps in higher education attainment and ensure students are able to cover non-tuition costs of attending school by: expanding Pell Grants to cover non-tuition and fee costs, tripling funding for the Work-Study Program, and more.

Another vision that has gained our support is Sanders’ message of “Healthcare as a Human Right” in the form of Medicare For All.

Medicare for All: Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All proposal, which will enact a single-payer national health insurance program will provide health insurance to all Americans including more than 30 million people who still have no insurance. Sanders wants to relinquish the burden of medical costs, which is the number one cause of bankruptcy in the US.

While other Democratic candidates have made their own proposals, like Buttigieg’s “Medicare for all who want it,” Sanders still stands out with his comprehensive national health care plan that promises complete coverage. As someone who “wrote the damn bill,” it’s a good bet that Sanders knows his own policy quite well and can see its implementation through with the support of grassroots organizing and a unified party.

A common concern shared by voters is how Sanders plans to pay for Medicare for All. He first plans to add a tax on Wall Street speculation, removing offshore tax loopholes through the Tax Dodging Prevention Act, and removing the cap on Social Security payroll taxes, generating more income into the program from millionaires and billionaires.

In addition, Sanders cites the fact that the US pays much more per person on prescription drugs than any other major country. This motivated him to construct ways to also lower the price of prescription drug prices by negotiating with drug companies, helping patients buy prescription drugs from other countries and creating a standard median drug price through the Prescription Drug Price Relief Act.

Healthcare matters little as long as human existence is threatened by the ongoing climate crisis.

Green New Deal: Senator Sanders’ policy on combating climate change focuses on moving away from fossil fuels entirely, along with creating 20 million jobs and investing in the conservation and protection of public lands and forests. His arguments are coherent, specific and offer the nation a principled defense against the climate crisis.

Sanders promises to declare climate change a national emergency. He will protect the environment in launching the Green New Deal which seeks to implement 100% renewable energy in the United States by 2030. Under Sanders, the United States will rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, along with reinstating protective agencies de-funded or destroyed by the Trump administration.

President Trump has made it very clear that he has no plan to move away from fossil fuels, no plan to combat rising sea levels, no plan to protect and care for the current and future victims of climate disasters. He has made it very clear that he thinks climate change in general is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, completely ignoring the countless warnings of 97% of the scientific community. For the sake of natural habitats in oceans and wildlife thriving in the US, we cannot subject the country to four more years of lifted protections and deregulated pollution.

In contrast to increasing environmental regulations, Senator Sanders wants to end the long-standing policies of criminalizing black and brown communities through the War on Drugs.

Marijuana Legalization and Decarceration: Since his initial 2016 campaign bid, Sanders has promised to legalize marijuana and use the tax revenue from that market to support the communities hurt most by the war on drugs. In addition to legalization, Sanders will also use his power of office to “Vacate and expunge all past marijuana-related convictions.” He aims to release the thousands of men and women convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.

Senator Sanders is facing widespread attacks from powerful people across the media in subtle and disingenuous ways. We encourage voters to listen to his message and decide for themselves which candidate has a sincere vision of moving the United States forwards in this crucial historical moment.

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Falcons secure 7-1 win at season opener

Daniel Suarez, Staff Writer February 6, 2020

The Cerritos College baseball team won their first game of the 2020 season against the Fullerton College Hornets on Jan. 24.

Freshman David Hays allowed one hit by the Hornets’ lead off batter, only to allow zero more in eight total innings. Hays velocity stumped the opposing line-up, earning a total of 10 strikeouts. Defensively, the Falcons backed up their pitcher by taking advantage of opportunities to make plays, preventing any Hornets from crossing home plate.

The bottom of the 1st was kicked off with lead off hitter, Buck Anderson, firing a line drive leading to a triple. Points were quickly put on the board thanks to a follow-up double from second baseman, Andres Vega. By the end of the first, Cerritos had 2 runs and high energy.

Their momentum persisted throughout the game with the Hornets unable to overcome Hayes’ pitching and the Birds’ continued success at bat. More runs were scored in the 4th, 5th and 7th innings, and Hays was not relieved until after the 8th, where Andy Hurtado closed out the victory.

Fullerton’s defense was challenged with constant pressure from Cerritos bats, earning only two strikeouts by the 5th inning and accumulating three defensive errors. The Hornets interchanged five different pitchers throughout the game, but even that could not make up for their inability to score runs against Hays.

For players and coaches, Friday was the game to make their debut in this Cerritos baseball program.

First-time Head Coach, Vic Buttler was quick to attribute this win to all the hard work done at practice.

“I have a coaching staff full of professionals, I couldn’t do this without them.”

In a recent interview with Talon Marks, Coach Vic explained his instillment of ‘team identity,’ and how it encourages his players to focus in on their own abilities and use those skills to contribute to their team.

For Friday’s game, Coach Vic was happy to see team identity in action. “Each player played their role,” he said. “The camaraderie and the team-togetherness and is what I love to see from this team.”

This is also David Hays’ first win and first game with in a Falcons uniform. David Hays pitched through eight innings which was longer than some spectators expected. After the game, it was revealed that Hays felt like he could give more good innings, and asked his coaches to remain in the game.

“These guys are good hitters, but I thought ‘who wants it more?’” says Hays, “This is my first start and first college game so I said I’m gonna give it my 100%.”

Center fielder, Buck Anderson led the team with three hits and was making his own debut as a Bird since coming from CSUB. “It was a great team win today,” he said , “I think it was a perfect representation of what we want to be and a perfect way to start the season.”

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Media Ethics Editorial

Daniel Suarez, Staff Writer February 6, 2020

Every day, the media is battling a fierce competition, a fight that has no rules and no boundaries so long as it circulates hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Internet, TV, radio, social media and print sources are all in constant pursuit of your attention, which is why we should be more mindful of who we pay it to.

Vanessa Bryant lost her husband, Kobe, and 13 year-old daughter, Gianna, in a horrendously tragic helicopter crash early in the morning of Jan. 26. This news was delivered to the Bryant family via a hastily written article by TMZ, whose sources included some of the first responders near the crash site.

This incident quickly became world news receiving coverage on practically every news outlet, headlining the article and displaying TMZ’s watermarked video of the smoking wreckage.

According to a public statement made by L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, the notorious media outlet had published the story before authorities were able to confirm the basketball star’s (or any of the victims’) identity that Sunday morning.

In the the following days, Harvey Levin, a controversial television personality and producer on TMZ, made a series of television appearances to respond to critics saying that his organization acted out of line when publishing the story without official confirmation or alerting the Bryant family.

On Jan. 29, Levin talked on daytime talk show ‘The Real’ where he claimed he did contact the Bryant estate. “We were on the phone with various people from Kobe’s camp for an hour before we posted the story,” he said, “When somebody of that magnitude dies so tragically, this becomes a world-wide, massive story.”

Levin has yet to reveal who exactly he spoke with in ‘Kobe’s camp,’ but Kobe Inc. President Molly Carter released a statement saying “To this point, no one has been authorized to speak on behalf of the family regarding any personal details surrounding Sunday’s tragedy, including stories related to the family’s previous air travel decisions.”

This raises questions on whether or not TMZ’s contact was qualified to confirm sensitive information of that degree. Despite this, the story itself was true, and Levin’s defense suggested that he felt he is being singled out for doing what every media outlet did that Sunday.

That assertion is not exactly warranted, considering that the vast majority of news stations used TMZ’s breaking news coverage for their own stories. TMZ did not have to wait to speak with authorities, or lawyers or any public officials to verify this story because they have never been a reputable source of news in its 16-year history.

This type of sensational journalism is just a side effect of a much bigger issue. Understand that these outlets solely exist to capitalize on our demand for violence, especially when it involves celebrities, regardless of how gorey and graphic the details may be. We possess an intense craving for provocative and shocking news and TMZ satiates that.

Harvey Levin commented that the Kobe crash was the most heavily trafficked article that TMZ has seen, “even bigger than Michael Jackson,” he remarked. Like many sources, they kept reporting on it because it kept receiving views.

TV stations gave the Kobe crash hours of uninterrupted airtime, numbers of casualties fluctuated from 5 to 10 to 9, including one ABC new anchor erroneously reporting that all four of Kobe’s daughters were on the helicopter when it crashed.

It was not long before news outlets resorted to calling and interviewing countless celebrities and journalists to make official comments on the Kobe tragedy. What viewers endured then was the same somber, heart-broken reaction again and again and again.

Many athletes with deep connections to Bryant, such as former teammate Shaq and friend Lebron James, become high value targets for news stations. Their obligatory social media posts became news as well.

The question we must ask ourselves is: how much information is too much?

Kobe Bryant was an important icon to the city of Los Angeles and to basketball fans everywhere, but his celebrity status does not entitle us to each and every detail of his death, or of the current emotional state of his family. The vast majority of people have never been asked to make a public release statement following the death of a loved one.

Thousands of social media posts by fans show them honoring the basketball star by shooting buckets, mourning at the Kobe memorial and preaching his legendary Mamba Mentality, which focuses on the relentless pursuit of self improvement. I think the way we can all truly honor Bryant is by respecting his family’s wishes for privacy, and by remembering this moment in the future, so that we may support the journalists that tell the truth without discarding their decency.

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Falcon students and faculty honored at ASCC awards night

Daniel Suarez, Freelance Writer December 17, 2019

The Associated Students of Cerritos College hosted their annual Fall Awards Banquet in the Bhupesh Parikh Student Hall on Dec. 6, recognizing a number of students for outstanding community service while participating in programs and activities on campus.

This year’s theme was Van Gogh in Wonderland.

Before the start of the ceremony, guests and nominees helped themselves to the wide selection of fruits and sweets after checking in. Students, professors and even administrative faculty were in attendance.

The first awards were announced at 6:15 p.m. for the Bob Epple and Inter-club Council scholarships. Recipients of these scholarships need to be active participants in student government while taking at least five units with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The scholarship was $100 with a certificate.

Several faculty members were also commended for their service on campus, including Stephanie Minami, who acts as an advisor to EOPS and as the current College Foundation Secretary.

Minami was one of the winners of the Outstanding Advisor award.

She stated she felt humbled, and explained she “came because I was so honored to be nominated by my students. Their opinions are what really matters.”

Other awards distributed Friday night included the ASCC Service and Leadership award and the Certificate of Service.

The last category of awards is a Falcon medallion separated by type of medal (bronze, silver and gold being the highest accolade).

Corina Rosas, director of student services and president of the environmental club, received a Gold Falcon award.

In previous years, Rosas accumulated both the Bronze and Silver Falcon as well.

“I feel that if I’m able to help, why wouldn’t I?” she expressed.

Rosas credits her mentality for her desire to make a positive impact at Cerritos College, saying she wants “to leave this school a better place than it was when I first came here.”

Rosas’ generosity is something her fellow award winners have in common. Many nominees participated in several on-campus activities, all hoping to create a better environment for all current students.

After the banquet, ASCC Student Body Vice President Nathan Williams was posing for photos with cabinet members and other organizers. He also received a Golden Falcon medallion and was cheerfully sporting it around his neck.

After having been involved in a number of activities, Williams said he found the student government a great fit for him. “I genuinely think it’s fun helping people,” says Wiliams, “and I think it’s great to see people pursue their interests on campus.”