Renting Your Text

Triathlon Competitors Don Venice Streets Pages 4 & 5 Cross-Country hits the Fields Page 6 Maps Reinvented in Santa Monica Page 8 Volume XCIV, Issue 2 Online at http://corsair.smc.edu Informing Since 1929 Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Renting Your Text By Katia Semerciyan Corsair Staff Writer With no end in sight to this semester’s expenses, finally there is a site that can help ease the burden of dishing out your cash. BookRenter.com is the first website to offer online book rentals, saving students an average of 50 percent off the cost of textbooks. Based out of San Jose, Calif., BookRenter.com was founded by a student who experienced the same financial woes as everyone else. Colin Barceloux, CEO and Founder of BookRenter.com had the idea of the site when he was a student at Santa Clara University. According to the Government Accountability Office, the price of textbooks has risen at twice the rate of inflation in the last two decades. And with students paying an average of $900 for textbooks in 2006, book renting is no longer becoming an option, but a necessary tool for students to utilize, in order to save money. Although Santa Monica College does have a book renting program in development by the Associated Students, there is no exact date as to when the program will begin. With insufficient funding, the A.S. book renting program will only feature books for rent through the math department, until funding will allow the program to expand into all the subject ranges of SMC. Until books are available for rent at our home base SMC, BookRenter.com is an easy and convenient way to save money on the semester’s essentials. “By providing new or used textbooks, flexible rental periods and simple return process, students can rent books at lower costs without having to purchase them at exorbitant prices,” said Barceloux. The website allows students to register for free and browse and search millions of textbooks hosted by the site. Students can search by author, title and/or ISBN. There is no limit to how many books one can rent at a time, allowing students to stock up on all their required texts. Rental periods range from 30 to 125 days, with no monthly fees. Students can choose from three methods of shipping: ground, two day, and next day. After selecting the text and shipping method, the textbooks are shipped out free of charge. All of the books rented out are shipped out new or “like-new,” so you’re guaranteed to a get book with all its pages and necessary CD-Rom. After renting the texts, students have the option of returning them in a pre-paid envelope, or keeping them by simply paying the difference between the purchase price and rental cost. “Had I known about this website, I probably wouldn’t have stood in line for two hours to buy all of my books the first week of school,” said SMC student Rachel Snyders. And with the population being more concerned their lifestyles are conscious of the environment, BookRenter.com is a great way to ensure living more eco-friendly. The company expects to reduce waste and save paper by reusing books numerous times that would otherwise be thrown away or sit unused. By renting out books to students looking to save some trees, BookRenter.com is doing its best by using less trees. NEAR THE ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11, SANTA MONICA STILL REMEMBERS Christine Ingenthron Corsair Volunteers of Veterans for Peace set up the Arlington West Memorial near the Santa Monica Pier. Rows of red and white crosses and carried caskets covered in the American flag represent the American soldiers who have been killed or wounded since the U.S. invaded Iraq 4-1/2 years ago. Every Sunday from sunrise to sunset since February 15, 2004, the temporary memorial is erected in the sand to acknowledge the cost of war and to provide a place to grieve. Students: Beware of those Carrying Clipboards and Bearing Free Gifts By Jacqueline Chouljik Corsair Staff Writer Returning Santa Monica College students are used to those people who crowd the front of the library clutching clipboards with petitions or the hypersalesman trying to sell their three professional Beverly Hills haircuts for 50 bucks. But new students must be asking themselves “who are these people and aren't there rules against this type of thing?” Well yes, there are rules. However, SMC is a public institution and therefore anyone can come on campus to distribute flyers or recruit students for political causes and jobs in places like the U.S. army or the L.A. Sheriff’s department. But SMC and other community colleges alike draw the line on solicitors aiming to get money from the students. “We do not allow any commercial companies to collect money or student information on campus,” said Charlie Yen, SMC staff member in charge of campus events. But try to remember that solicitors can’t always go everywhere they want. There are special areas on campus referred to as “free speech zones” which are reserved for commercial and political solicitors. Between the 1960s and 1970s, colleges and universities across America began establishing “free speech zones” due to the large numbers of student they want to help charities and donate protests at the time. money how are they suppose to know Free speech zones are zones on which solicitors to trust. campus where students and solicitors “If some dude comes up to me with can protest, hand out fliers and recruit fliers with some baby pictures on others for their them and says he cause. works for some We do not allow any Our S M C commercial companies to charity but has no free speech zone official signatures i s d e s i g n a t e d collect money or student to prove it, how between the library information on campus. am I suppose to and the Letters and Charlie Yen know he's legit?” SMC Staff Member says Erwin Sebal, Science building. Students agree science major and that solicitor can be second year SMC very obnoxious and that’s why when we student. “For all I know he's putting all encounter them most of us pretend to be that money in his pocket.” on the phone or late for class. Students at other colleges agree that Others say the line between soliciting solicitors often have a double agenda. and harassment is thin and although “The first few weeks of school you don't see any solicitors around. They start appearing towards the middle of the semester. “Because by that time some people are failing their classes and wondering what to do with their lives, so then this guy comes up to you and wants you to join the Army. “That's when they get you hooked,” says drama major and secnd year student at Los Angeles Valley College, David Silvester. Often the solicitors try to lure students in with the promise of free stuff. Subway, across the street from campus on Pico and 17th Street, does a promotion every semester where they offer free lunches to those who sign up for an American Express credit card. Students need to distinguish the good solicitors and the bad ones and always be cautious before handing out information. In rare cases solicitors offer to sell products that are both financially and materially beneficial to students, easily said anti rip-offs. Then they may obtain a special permit from SMC’s entertainment office wich will enable them to sell on our campus, that is once they prove the legitimacy of their product. Charlie Yen urges students to always “verify that the solicitor has a permit before buying anything of him.” The SMC police department agrees: “We advise all students to never give out personal information,” says SMC Police Chief Gary Gallinot, “and remember there's no such thing as a free lunch.” College Police More Prepared for Threats and More Visible to Students Police trade in their blue and white cars for shotguns and squad cars. By Beverlee Cooke Corsair Staff Writer Thomas Wright Corsair New Chief of Police Gary Gallinot beside a new black and white squad car. Weapon violations at Santa Monica College are few, but that doesn’t keep the SMC police department from taking steps to prevent tragedies like the ones that struck Virginia Tech, April 16, 2007 and Columbine, April 20, 1999. The college is fortunate to have only had one incident of a person carrying a weapon onto campus in the past year. The SMC Police Department reports on its website that between the years 2000 to 2004, SMC has only had a total of six weapon violations. “Possessions of firearms or replicas, ammunition, explosives, knives/blades longer than 21/2 inches, other weapons or fireworks are against the law in the college community or at college also prohibit the possession of firearms (including pellet and BB guns),” according to the website, http://www. smc.edu/college_police/ SMC’s new chief of police, Gary Gallinot, said that since the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings, the police response system has changed to another level. “It takes about a ½ hour or more to get a S.W.A.T. team to arrive,” said Gallinot. That’s why the Santa Monica College Police Department will be able to go and take care of the problem quickly and effectively without waiting for a S.W.A.T. team to appear on the scene. In past years, police officers on campus only carried mace and handguns. However, due to the increase of crime around the world and on other campuses, SMC’s police department will now be carrying shotguns and rifles as well. “The department felt that it was “It takes about a 1⁄2 hour or more to get a S.W.A.T. team to arrive.” Gary Gallinot Chief of Police at SMC necessary to incorporate shotguns and rifles as a tool to deal with similar situations like Virginia Tech and Columbine, to ensure safety to those who come to SMC,” said Gallinot. Police officer Russell D. Ruetz agreed with Gallinot: “It’s a necessity! It’s a tool for the tool box to protect somebody in case something happens,” he said. The SMC police have also traded in their white and blue vehicles for black and white ones. “They are more visible to the eye,” said Gallinot. Also many international students can recognize these cars easier. He said that some people mistook the blue and white police cars for taxis or Edison vehicles. The campus police department has an extensive group of people working with them. SMC police officers can be recognized by their dark blue uniforms. They also have officers walking, on bikes, and in vehicles. The parking enforcement also plays a big role in helping the police department out as they are the “eyes and ears,” said Gallinot. Students, teachers, and visitors should feel safe on our campus, according to campus police. SMC is lucky to have an incredible cooperative effort on campus. “We have had false alarms,” said Gallinot. SMC students called the campus police to report two incidents on campus this semester. On both occasions the police went rapidly to the scene. Only to find out they were both false alarms, according to Gallinot. The officers said you all have to continue doing your part to keep SMC safe. If you see anything out of the ordinary please let the campus police know as soon as possible. If you report a crime or a concern your identity won’t be disclosed to anyone. If you don’t want to go to the police station you can call (310) 434-4300, and you can call on any campus payphone. You may also visit the campus police in person at 1718 Pearl Street. “Feel free to ask questions,” said Gallinot. The police station has a lost and found, jumper cables, new bus schedules, parking information, and other information to help you throughout the semester. Also, if you want more information visit the SMC police department website for great tips. Especially the safety tips, such as where it states, “do not leave valuables unattended.” This page also has pictures of emergency telephones and call boxes located on campus. ( http://www.smc. edu/college_police/safety.htm) All of these efforts are to keep Santa Monica College safe for everyone. The crime rate is down and it needs to remain the same way. Virginia Tech and Columbine were a lesson for all to see, and now we are taking the appropriate steps to ensure it doesn’t happen at SMC. “It’s a testament that we have a low crime rate with lots of students on campus,” said Gallinot. 02 Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College Wednesday, September 12, 2007 This Week Love doesn’t make the world go ‘round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. Franklin P. Jones Renting School Books Soliciting News New Police Measures Financial Aid SMC Awards Dog Park Overseas during 9/11 1 & 2 Opinion Travel on a Budget Political Change of Heart Viewpoints 3 Photo Essay Los Angeles Triathlon 4 & 5 Football Loss Cross-Country Sports SMC Swimmers Men’s Basketball 6 Bar Fly Lifestyle Drive-In Andrew Glennon Corsair 7 Brian Welch Hip-Hop in Delcine Madison Campus Summer Art Job Fair for On-Campus Jobs ~ Thur. 13 in the Library Pathway 10 a.m. Financial Aid Workshop ~ Thur. 13 in the MC 6 11:15 a.m. until 12:35 p.m. “Choosing a Major” ~ Tues. 18 in the MC 8 from 11:15 a.m. until 12:35 p.m. “So You Want to Be A Business Major?” ~ Tues. 18 in LV 160 11:15 until 12:35 p.m. 8 Engineering & Computer Science Fair ~ Tues. 18 in Science Courtyard 10:30 a.m. Arts & Leisure World of Maps Planeterium Getty Photo Exhibit MC Library Tricks and Techniques ~ Wed. 19 in Library 192 5:00 p.m. Calendar of Events MONEY FOR STUDENTS How SMC students can get save their hard earned money. By Martha Drouet Corsair Staff Writer SMC Teacher and Trustee Recieve Awards in Excellence By Krystal Moyal Corsair Staff Writer It’s safe to assume that the majority of college students have born witness to the multiple commercials starring at a baby faced actor shouting about student loans and paying for college. “Get $40,000 cash now!” or even more convincing, “Don’t pay a cent until after you graduate!” These too fantastical to be true, but elusive enough statements, make one consider falling for the scheme (as college, to most, is indeed expensive.) The signs plastered about campus inquiring “Got BOG?” are similar to these such advertisements, but offer a service much more within grasp. The Board of Governors fee waiver may not come in a swollen 10K plus sack of money, but it is a much more reliable and realistic approach at paying for your education. By law, California Community Colleges charge an enrollment fee for all classes. The state’s offered waiver is intended to pay for enrollment and health fees. However, this privilege is only offered to residents of California that have been in the state at least one year and one day, or otherwise determined by Santa Monica College Admissions. As well as this, in order to be eligible for the fee waiver, you must meet one of three requirements – you and your spouse or family are currently receiving TANF/CalWorks, SSI/SSP, or General Assistance; you meet certain income standards (as outlined on their information sheet available in the Welcome Center or online); or you have submitted a FAFSA and deemed as in “financial need.” The application process is quick and available in two forms. You can fill out the basic FAFSA and automatically be applicable for ‘BOG’ consideration. This, however, can take anywhere up to four weeks processing time. The alternate is to apply electronically at http://www.smc.edu/financialaid/ The offered opportunity is easily accessible, not to mention easily obtainable. For a realistic approach at paying for your education on someone else’s dollar, look no further than the SMC website and what the financal aid office has to offer. “If our goal at SMC is global citizenship, what better way to practice it than by preparing our students to meet the challenges of sustainability? By greening the curriculum, we can Philosophy professor, Dr. Amber Katherine, has been recognized for the make a huge difference locally as well newly created Santa Monica College as globally,” Katherine said The Chair of Excellence in Philosophy Foundation Chair of Excellence in and Social Science is the eighth chair Philosophy and Social Science. “This award is meaningful to me for established at SMC. “This award is the chance it offers important to me for to make a positive If our goal at SMC is a couple of reasons. c o n t r i b u t i o n t o global citizenship, For one thing, since solving problem of my proposal is climate change,” what better way to practice it than by devoted to the work Katherine said. of “greening” the Katherine will preparing our students curriculum, having receive $5,000 a to meet the challenges of my proposal funded year for each of the gives me the feeling upcoming three years sustainability. Dr. Amber Katherine that the college to be used for her Philosophy Professor, SMC is prioritizing the project. important work of Katherine’s plans building sustainable to use the funds that communities. come with the award “It means the world to me that the on a project to imbue ecological literacy and sustainable education practices into college seems interested in the project of SMC’s curriculum and professional greening student success and modeling global citizenship,” Katherine said. activities. Katherine has won several honors including Outstanding Teacher Award from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin and has been active in academic affairs at SMC, serving on a wide variety of committees which include the Academic Senate Executive, Environmental Affairs and Professional Ethics committee. “In my view as Environmental Politics instructor, we are seeing a “tipping point” in the political sphere on the question of the urgency to respond to the global climate change crisis. “Since Al Gore’s movie came out last year, both Republican and Democrats have called for solutions in the form of sound public policy on carbon emissions,” Katherine said. Katherine received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Michigan State University. “My proposal for the chair of Excellence award is devoted to expanding SMC’s capacity to respond to the crisis. There is an opportunity right now for SMC to develop a green signature,” Katherine said. By Krystal Moyal Corsair Staff Writer Los Angeles City College Associated Student Organization honored Dr. Andrew Walzer, a Santa Monica College trustee, as its “Teacher of the Year” for the 2006-2007 school year. “As teachers, we don’t always feel that we are fully appreciated for the enormous amount of time that we, the teachers put in, so to have this recognition bestowed upon me by the students was a real boost and has helped me to renew my energy and commitment to teaching,” Walzer said. Walzer, a Santa Monica resident, was elected to the SMC Board of Trustees November 2006. He is also a member of the Executive Board of the American Federation of Teachers, Local 1521, and Faculty Association of California Community Colleges. “I’m very happy for Andrew because he’s my choice for professor of the year. He makes his classes so interesting that it makes you aware of what’s going on in the world,” A.S.O President Arsen Mkrtchyan said. Walzer, a humanities professor at LACC, was given the award based on the vote of students the college had in the spring for student government elections. “He is making a difference. I know some students who took his class and changed their major because of him,” Mkrtchyan said. Before coming a full time employee at LACC, Walzer was an adjunct instructor not only at SMC, but Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Dominguez Hills as well. “My teaching style is called ‘collaborative teaching,’ which means that the instructor works to get the students really involved in the learning process through participation in discussions. I have a lot of debates and activities that get students involved, which means they are more awake, engaged, interested, and motivated,” Walzer said. Walzer graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Ph.D. in American Studies and University of California Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Politics. Santa Monica Opens Its Doors to All Dogs New dog park on Mar Vista / Santa Monica border decides not to limit those who wish to use their facilities. By Sam Mogharabi Corsair Staff Writer Santa Monica has been pushed to change its policy that does not allow non-Santa Monica residents to bring their dogs into the newly built Airport Dog Park which opened in April. The dog park is located directly on the Santa Monica / Mar Vista border which left many who lived directly across the street from the park unable to bring their dogs into the dog-fun-zone. After several public hearings in June and July, in which many Mar Vista residents attended and expressed their feelings towards the seemingly irrational policy, the Community and Cultural Services (CCS) went into negotiations regarding a draft of temporarily allowing non-Santa Monica residents to bring their dogs to enjoy the new, state-of -the-art, dog park. A daughter and father team held signs protesting against the Santa Monica city hall policy on the grand opening day of the park. The park has a capacity of about 45 dogs in the off leash area. According to Barbara Stinchfield, the CCS director for Santa Monica, the park does not even reach half its capacity at the busiest times of the day for the park. This stirred much stress and aggravation to many of the Mar Vista residents who reside directly across the street from the park, forcing them to travel to the Brentwood and Venice dog parks. Although non-residents are allowed to use the park currently, the policy is only temporary. The CCS is assessing the situation and nothing will be permanent until the City Council approves the change at a meeting scheduled for Sept. 11. Residents of the Mar Vista area showed their appreciation and encouraged more residents to do so by posting three signs around the city thanking Santa Monica for their action towards the situation. The residents should be thanking City Council member, Bill Rosendahl, who put the pressure on to form the new policy. Other members of the city council criticized Rosendahl because they felt he should be focusing on bringing a dog park to the Mar Vista area instead of criticizing City Hall for its policies. Rosendahl resported, to the Santa Monica Daily Press, that the Mar Vista Field Deputy, Nicole Vasquez, is looking at two or three locations where a dog park could possibly be opened. Mar Vista resident and Neighborhood Chairman Rob Kadota spent last Sunday at the farmers’ market collecting signatures. His efforts led him to obtaining over 50 signatures, as reported by the Santa Monica Daily Press. Rosendahl was reported in the Santa Monica Daily Press saying, “With all of the issues facing both the cities of Los Angeles and Santa Monica, such as the California incline bridge replacement project, noise and fumes from Santa Monica Airport and Westside gridlock, it’s nice to see that city officials from both sides can come together to address the dog park controversy.” The final word is expected after the Tuesday meeting and with similar support, it seems that dogs from all zip codes could play together in these facilities. Christine Ingenthron Corsair Jeffrey J. and dog Peter entering the Santa Monica Dog Park Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College 03 Opinion Impressions Through the Eyes of an American Living Overseas on 9/11 By Buster Blakeney Corsair Staff Writer The Art Of Travel On A Student’s Andrew Glennon Corsair We had only each other, and our confusion. When I was 14, my parents seemed to think that their failing marriage would be mended by changing countries again. They had been wrong, but we had already bought our plane tickets. When we wound up in Spain, it was a remedy for our weariness, if nothing else. We arrived in Girona, a small town north of Barcelona in the province of Catalonia. I was a bit perturbed to find that the Spanish I’d been speaking since I was 6 months old was useless here; owing to Catalonia’s recent break from a fascist reign they were fiercely proud of their heritage, and as such, spoke nothing but Catalan. I had just been getting settled into this year’s new life when the unthinkable happened. My father’s words will never fade, nor will the location, the time, the look in his eyes. He had called me some minutes before; his distraught voice asking me to meet him on a bridge nearby. I remember thinking that my mother was in some kind of danger, but what he told me on the bridge had far greater consequences for the rest of the world. “Terrorists,” he said, his voice breaking for the first time in my life, “hijacked some planes and crashed them. We don’t know how many, but at least one hit New York.” Back at our temporary apartment, we tried frantically to get the TV working. There was no Internet, so our only means of obtaining information was the crummy 27-inch that had come with the place. We hadn’t bothered furnishing the temporary lodgings, but the furniture didn’t matter at that point — we were all huddled around the TV as I adjusted the antenna. Finally we got a picture, though for all the time it took to get the signal we hadn’t been ready for what we saw. It was BBC or nothing; every other channel was blacked out. But it was enough. A British commentator’s voice droned on, fading out of audible frequencies as the image took hold. A plane, inches from the North Tower, slammed into the building as an explosion ripped through the surrounding windows. And then it happened again. And again. The footage had been looped; even BBC didn’t know what had happened at that point. We had heard that one of the planes had hit the U.N.; far more shaking than the destruction of the towers. We had a family friend whose 4-year-old son went to the U.N. Pre-School; given that it occurred at nine o’clock, we feared the worst. For days after, we weren’t able to place calls to the U.S. The newspapers all bore the same grim headline: Black Tuesday. Spanish, Russian, English, Catalan, French, all spelling out bad news in their own way. We walked around the city in a daze, my whole family out with each other for the first time in years. There were no other Americans around; the town was so provincial that we were a true scarcity. I’ve often been told that hardships build character, a variation on the old adage of “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” and I’ve found nothing to hold that truer than the global hardship of September 11th. It was, naturally, a tragedy, but it brought us together in ways nothing has. We’re now more divided than ever, with party loyalties mandating friendships, global opposition and waning national support for yet another war, a failing economy, but at that time, the world was absolutely unified. People were lining up to give blood, to clear wreckage, to rebuild, regardless of color or creed or tax bracket. It was a test of global courage, and though the government may have failed, we, the people certainly gave it our all. It was then that I realized that though we may be tried and tested by whatever deity you choose to attribute it to, we can come together. We can unite, and we can overcome. I can’t be sure that the next time this happens, it won’t be as devastating, but now I know that when it does, we can come together and survive. I think Barack Obama said it best in his call for national unity: “We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.” That was never more true than on September 12th. A Political Change Of Heart By Damien Siegel Corsair Staff Writer Budget By Pauline Bithell Corsair Staff Writer Six years ago, on Sept. 11, the worst terrorist event in U.S. history hit this country by surprise. It has been six years and the fighting is far from over. The people of the world and the governments of the world can’t stop fighting about it. That day the whole world watched our country shaken with fear and paralyzed with uncertainty. Some countries sympathized while others celebrated by dancing and burning American flags in the streets. Flash forward six years later. The death tolls have not stopped climbing. Bin Laden (or people claiming to be Bin Laden) still releases videos designed to cause us fear and rally the Muslim world to turn against us. The Bush Adminstration is still sticking with its original motto, “You are either with us or against us.” The major thing that has changed since 9/11 is that the terrorists are getting smarter by using new technology and we are merely keeping up. Our military is overworked and lacks all the necessities a soldier requires. It doesn’t seem like we are really any safer now then after they created agencies like homeland security. Since 9/11 the U.S. invasion of the Middle Eastern countries has turned much of the world against us. Personally, it didn’t bother me in the early days of “9/11.” I too had the attitude of, “you’re either with us or against us.” Hatred and rage came out of me and I was actually smiling and happy when the war started. It seemed right. The news channels gave us such intense access — we could watch the bombs exploding in their cities. My friends and I hugged and cheered one another in honor of the destruction our country was inflicting. In my mind I thought we were all doing the right thing. I thought that what we were doing was justified. The adrenaline consumed me. I wanted revenge so bad I didn’t care about facts. I believed my government and thought the country was standing up to the demons that did this. Since then a lot of information has come out that makes me not only reevaluate my thoughts on the issue of the war and what our country does, but question how I could be so quick to wish so much pain on so many innocent people. I believe eventually it should be a national holiday for many reasons (not just to get out of work and school). It needs to be remembered. Not only for the people who lost their lives but so we as a nation never forget the severity of what happened to the world that day. Things were different six years ago. Early after the attacks American flags were in front of homes and stuck to cars. Our country was together in fear, shock, mourning and most importantly unity. We were patriotic! I remember frantically waiting hours after the attack to hear what the president was going to say. I was looking towards him for hope. I’ve lived most of my life in NewYork, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey so this hit really close to home. The world was in chaos and somehow I thought our president could save us from whatever was happening. I felt proud to be an American and angry towards those who would harm us. Even our government seemed to stop their partisan fighting and came together for a change. Famous celebrities attended fundraisers for families of deceased cops and fire fighters. Musicians like Paul McCartney sang songs about America and how nothing was more important than freedom. Radio stations added emotional sound clips of distraught families crying about missing loved ones. Today it seems people are be-coming fatigued by the tragedy to the point they just can’t deal with thinking about it anymore. They aren’t heartless people they just want to move on with their own lives. Those who continue to suffer today from their physical injuries and the loss of loved ones the pain isn’t ever going to go away. It is forever. We were a nation together. We approved of our president and had faith in him. Things have changed drastically for me and everyone I know. I see him as a weasel and a crook. Something has happened to our country and it is very scary. Who are we going to invade next? President George W. Bush has gotten bolder and bolder and acts as if there will never be real consequences to his crimes against humanity. The President used to be able to say anything and blindly I would follow. Greed and evil has infected our world in the highest levels and in the most powerful places. It took a lot before the American Revolution took place. Maybe it takes something like 9/11 for their to be radical changes. Only history will tell. The summer is drawing to a close and although your tan lines may still be present, the memories of summer vacations will be fading. The reminder of how much fun it was on your credit card statement will not be, however. Being in college, buying books, gas getting here (or driving in circles around the parking lot) gets expensive, so what about a little break from it all that doesn’t have to leave you deciding on ways to avoid the landlord? Once you get the travel bug it hits hard and there is no escaping it and why should you? Many people think a vacation within the United States is all they can afford, but expand your horizons and take note that trips to New York or even Las Vegas can be more expensive than Europe. You just need to know the right short cuts to take, and that doesn’t include Ramen noodles, I promise. Being a student can be the best time to travel as it opens many opportunities for cheap vacations, such as STA Travel Group. STA (Student Travel Association) offers discounted travel for people under 30 and people able to prove they are in education. STA helps with cheap flights all over the U.S. and the world and has remarkable deals and packages. Specializing in around-the-world trips (seven stops and a ticket that lasts a year) and adventure holidays, the staff usually consists of people who have traveled a lot on the budgets of students and know how precious it is. On www.STATravel.com right now there are offers of flights to Berlin, Paris, Frankfurt and more for $297 return, but if you compare that to the total you would spend on a debauched weekend in Vegas, it’s very cheap indeed. Of course, with anything, there are always catches, a lot of the advertised prices exclude taxes and may only be applicable to flights leaving on less desired dates, but you will still find the discount is preferable to other airlines like Virgin, American Airlines and British Airways, who don’t offer any discounts for students. The most beneficial thing for you when you sit in the blue and white offices of STA is the knowledge and advice you receive. The staff will let you know about car rentals, bus passes, inoculations you may have to get before you travel, and their own experiences of traveling. You only have to type in “student travel” into a search engine to find many online travel sites with discounts for the studious, such as www.studentuniverse. com. Student Universe in only based online, so instead of having to show a student card for verification they ask for your college and check through records that you are a legitimate active student. Once that has been clarified the discounts on this site really are amazing, especially flights within the United States. Advertised on the site’s home page right now is a flight from Atlanta to Orlando for only $131 and Atlanta to London for $400. The main key with cheap flights is not only looking out for the students discounted travel but also the dates. As soon as July hits prices almost double until decreasing again in September, so why not plan leaving early June when school finishes? After finals are over for some of us, June is just beginning and flights are still cheap, by booking early (always recommend for cheapest flights) you can be stepping onto a flight bound for Madrid hours after finishing a Biology final. Along with STA and Student Universe there are many other organizations offering deals for the hard working students like www.studenttravel.com you just need to research and keep your options open and remember the world is your oyster — enjoy! Golden Rules: *Book early! If you are thinking of a winter break, book now. *Look for flights on holidays; they will always be cheaper, flying early Christmas Day, will most likely guarantee a cheap price and a less crowded plane. *As well as searching online go into the STA offices and other travel agents, they can give you one on one attention and answer all your questions. *Be sure to remember July, August, late November and December and more expensive to travel in. Viewpoints By Krystal Peak Corsair Staff Writer Do you have an opinion? Send us your thoughts. corsairsmcopinion@ yahoo.com SANTA MONICA COLLEGE WEEKLY How Do You Feel About Sept. 11, Six Years Later? With the tremendous amount of controversy that surrounds September 11th, the majority of students on campus appear to be fed up with the current adminstration’s leadership or lack thereof. The general consenses of the students we spoke to was that they were outraged with the occupation of Iraq. Much like the rest of the world the the students we spoke to didn’t understand why the soldiers were still fighting in the Middle East. The bottom line remains. The students of SMC and the rest of the people in countries around the world want an end to this quagmire the United States of America has created. There is far too much confusion and lies that surround this infamous date. It seems as though the rest of the country has engaged itself in learning more about all that led up to this horrific event. It is imperative that the necessary questions continue to be asked. Often more questions tend to lead to more answers. “From six years ago to today, it’s getting better.” -Falice Torrence FALL CORSAIR 2007 Jared Morgan Javier Bagliani David Fockens Pablo Robles Krystal Peak Alanna Sullivan Sam Mogharabi Barbara Szabo Crystal Caraveo Editor in Chief Managing Editor Managing Editor Photo Editor News Editor Opinion Editor Lifestyle Editor Arts & Leisure Editor Sports Editor ST AFF “It’s too long that we have been there in Iraq. I hope people remember this every day and not just today.” -Seija Gerdt STAFF WRITERS Pauline Bithell, Robert Carbajal, Jacqueline Chouljik, Beverlee Cooke, Martha Drouet, Lucy Hernandez, Kyle Hufnagel, Josh Lee, Miles Michaud, Krystal Moyal, Ashley Okonma, Jonathan Ramos, Tyler Russo, Katia Semerciyan, Damien Siegel, Rebecca Slawter, Amber Rae Smith, Will Theisen, Christina Woke, Andrew Rodriguez GRAPHIC/DESIGN STAFF Jhosef A. Hern, Christina Woke, Lucy Hernandez Faculty Advisers Barbara Baird and Gerard Burkhart Computer Consultant Agnius Griskevicius Advertising Consultants Display Ads: Sherry Heaton (310) 434-4033 Classfied Ads: Daily Bruin (310) 825-2221 STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Buster Blakeney, Ashley Burns, Jaehyun Cho, Robert Ewing, Shannon Gilbert, Andrew Glennon, Enrique Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Kyle Guy, Christiane Ingenthron, Sara Mullen, Art Sanchez Brandon Wise, Thomas Wright, Stephanie Yee. COPYEDITOR STAFF Elizabeth Kelso, Beverlee Cooke Letters to the Editor are encouraged. They should be no longer than 250 words and must be signed by the writer. Business and Editorial Offices Letters to the Editor 1900 Pico Blvd., LS 172, Santa Monica, CA 90405 Phone: (310) 434-4340 “It makes you think in perspective. Time flies.” -David Kye “It makes me angry that it’s been six years and nothing has happened.” -Robin Yancey Photos By Sara Mullen 04 Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College Wednesday, September 5, 2007 Brandon Wise /Corsair Athletes begin the 8th Annual L.A. Triathlon running to take a plunge in the cold water at 6:45 a.m. at Venice Beach on Sunday. Athletes Test Their Mettle in Los Angeles Triathlon On Sunday morning, thousands of men, women and children participated in the 8th annual Los Angeles Triathlon sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. Along with the professional men and women competitors were many average people ranging in age from 14 to 84. The competitors all started the race off with an Olympic 0.9-mile swim at Venice Beach at 6:45 a.m.; they ran to the transition area in the parking lot and began their Olympic 24mile bike ride to the next transitional area at the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles. They exchanged the bicyles for track shoes and they started the Olympic 6.2-mile run from the LA Staples Center to the Disney Concert Hall and returned to finish at the Staples Center. A large crowd of spectators were waiting for them along with massage therapists and food and drinks. The two people who took home gold medals wfrom the professional ranks were Greg Bennett, age35 (Australia), and Emma Snowsil, age 26 (Australia). Both were L.A. Triathlon gold winners in 2006. Australia is a great powerhouse in professional triathlon sports this year and last, and they show no signs of letting go of this title any time soon. Text by Brandon Wise Pablo Robles /Corsair LAPD Officer Ontiveros checks the speed of the bicycles during the L.A. Triathlon. Ontiveros said the bicycles were going downhill on Grand Ave. and 5th st. at an average speed of 35/mph. Pablo Robles /Corsair Pablo Robles /wCorsair Swimmers run to get a good head start at Venice Beach. Ernesto Carol cools down by running through a spray of water coming out of a fire hydrant in downtown LA. Photo by Pablo Robles. Wednesday, September 5, 2007 Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College 05 Tom Wright /Corsair (Clockwise from top) Scott Seymour from Sherman Oaks rides his bicycle on Hollywood Boulevard. He placed 91 in the male age group 35-39. The bike ride started at Venice Beach, going through Hollywood and ending at the Staples Center in downtown L.A. (Right) Claes Horntrand begins to run from the Staples Center to the Disney Concert Hall. in downtown L.A. (Bottom Right) Gabriel Garcia from Vista, CA. celebrates his arrival to the finish line in 85th place. (Bottom Center) Marvin Jimenez a volunteer massage therapist gives a massage to one of the athletes at the end of the event. Brandon Wise /Corsair (Bottom Left) Tim Gillons from Venice loads his bicycle into one of the shuttle buses that transported athletes at the end of the event from downtown back to their vehicles in Venice Beach. Pablo Robles /Corsair Pablo Robles /Corsair Brandon Wise /Corsair 1100 Campus Happenings . 7800 Help Wanted . 7800 Help Wanted . Hedge Fund Marketing Assistant: Santa Monica Asia focused Hedge Fund group is seeking an assistant marketing professional. Duties will include contacts management, materials production, travel coordination and other Admin responsibilities. Contact Warren 424-204-7741 7100 Tutoring Wanted . 8th Grader in Santa Monica Canyon needs math and english tutors two days a week 45pm $25hr. Monday Wednesday or Thursday. Call 310-828-7801 Bill w/family to Malta for 3 months to homeschool two 4th/6th grade students. Prefer M.A. in education. Smart, Enthusiastic, flexible. Jan-March 2008. Email Susan at spensive@aol.com Waldorf School 4th grader with reading remediation needs tutor 2 days a week in Santa Monica. Knowledge of PACE program helpful. 25$hr. 310-383-7801 Bill Teacher to travel Corsair Classifieds 118 Kerckhoff Hall 308 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90024 (310) 825-2221 Fax: (310) 206-0528 Mon-Thu: 9:00am-3:00pm Fri: 9am-2:00pm E-mail: classifieds@media.ucla.edu 7800 Help Wanted . 7800 Help Wanted . 8700 Condo/Townhouse for Sale . 7700 Child Care Wanted . AFTERNOON DRIVER NEEDED for fun 7grade girl: Westwood to Rancho Park, 3-6 pm, 2-3 days/wk. Light cooking/errands/good pay/$15/hr. Contact vlsork@ucla.edu SUNDAY MORNING POSITION! Sunday School Teacher wanted. Santa Monica Friends Meeting (Quakers) Enthusiastic teacher for 8 - 12 elementary-age children. $50.00 per 1.5 hour class, 9:45-11:15 am. Prefer practicing Friends or attenders. Open until filled. Contact Celia Carroll, ccarr10186@aol.com or call 310-450-4118. DRIVER WANTED: Responsible and reliable person to transport 3 kids (10-15 yrs old) to and from school and after-school activities & practice. Must have own car, good driving record and references. Mulholland &405 (310)600-2667 Originators Wanted! Entry Level Position Salary + Commission Mortgage firm seeks originators, P/T 2pm to 9pm or 4pm to 9pm Opportunity for growth For interview call: 310-424-3000 opportunity@pcfundingonline.com Paramount Capital Funding Century City Advertise in Corsair (310) 825-2221 06 Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Sports Corsairs Stumbles to 0-2 in Road 28-16 Loss to Orange Coast By Robert Carbajal Corsair Staff Writer Christiane Ingenthron Corsair The Santa Monica College men’s cross country team on the track at Santa Monica College last Thursday. Left to right, Kasey Perkins, Daniel Nemirovski, Yuichiro Higuchi and Jesus De Lara. A Few Good Marathon Men By Amber Rae Smith Corsair Staff Writer This year’s SMC men’s cross county team took a respectable sixth place out of the twelve who competed in the Ventura Invitational on Sept. 9. The five who placed ahead of SMC are all ranked in the top fourteen Southern California cross country team rankings. At the moment, they’re gearing up for their next race, the WSC Preview Meet in San Luis Obispo on Sept. 14. Right outside the athletic offices, it is difficult to miss a John Wooden quote on one board that reads, “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” In the same sense, Kasey Perkins, Ichiro Higuchi and Jesus De Lara, along with the rest of the team’s runners, genuinely reflect this sentiment. The least strenuous day of practice for this group is a five mile run! Out on the field, the runners’ enthusiasm for and dedication to their sport is tangible. This is, according to Coach Larry Silva, one of the “six days they practice a week.” Stepping off the track, first-year SMC student, Kasey Perkins, 19, approaches. When asked how he feels about the coming race in San Luis Obispo, he sighs, saying, “I’m excited. A little anxious, but excited as well.” With his best time for the one mile being four minutes, 35 seconds, it is doubtful Perkins will have reason to feel anxious. Aside from an interest in acting, he has an affinity for pastrami and cheese sandwiches, which he cites, “along with some fruit, makes for the best pre-run food.” Another notable runner, Ichiro Higuchi, 21, came to SMC from Karatsu, Japan. “It’s a small city near Nagasaki,” he says, “and I decided to come to SMC because there are so many international students here.” Though he only arrived last August and is unsure of his best time for one mile, his English is remarkable, and he plans on pursuing a career in pharmacy. His sister, 18, who still lives in Japan, attends Fukuoka University, and though he misses her and his parents a great deal, is enjoying participating on the men’s cross country team. Jesus De Lara, 19, also having ventured from another country to attend school in the United States, smiles confidently and begins to discuss his excitement to be on the team. Coming to the U.S. was both an adventure and a milestone for him. Aside from assisting with his father’s business, Jesus is eager to transfer and pursue a degree in computer science. De Lara first got into running when he decided to run the L.A. Marathon in high school. His best time for one mile is four minutes, 53 seconds, and 17 minutes, 12 seconds for five kilometers. Remarkably, his best time for the L.A. marathon was in 2004, when he completed it in four hours, 55 minutes. For more information on SMC’s men’s cross country races, please visit: smc.edu/athletics/crosscountry/men range Coast- The Corsairs found themselves in a dilemma early in Saturday’s game at Orange Coast’s LeBard stadium. They have gone through all three quarterbacks, two of them are injured, and they are now 0-2. SMC quarterback Jake Notch, who made his first start of the season, left the game with 14:03 in the second quarter with “It’s not like we didn’t practice for it. an undisclosed injury, after only three pass We knew they were going to bring attempts, one of which blitzes and we went over it in practice, was picked off en route but once the game started it’s like it all to a 28-16 loss to the went out the window.” Pirates. Garrett Williams Offensive coordinator Running Back David Banuelos and his backup quarterback did their best to lead an offense that mustered only 227 yards of total offense against the speedy Orange Diego Mesa, where he completed 7 Coast linebacker core that simply of 11 passes for 47 yards. Santa Monica’s only lead of the wore down SMC’s backfield. Orange Coast drew first blood when contest came on a 14-yard scoring they drove 67 yards on 11 plays and pass to receiver Joshua Martin from scored on freshman Andrew Banks’ Nasouf, putting the Corsairs up 10-7 with 4:42 left in the second quarter. 3-yard gut busting touchdown run. SMC would relinquish the lead On the ensuing possession SMC came within striking distance. On however, allowing quarterback Sean second and five from their own 36- Hakes to orchestrate an eight-play yard line, Notch threw a 59-yard 42-yard drive capped by a 7-yard completion to wide receiver Rashad touchdown grab from wideout Emery, giving the Corsairs a chance Cameron Hall, giving the Pirates a to answer with a touchdown of their 14-10 advantage. In a sloppy second half, Orange own. SMC was stuffed on three rushing attempts for no gain and Coast jumped all over SMC on their were forced to settle for a 23-yard first possession. On a six-play 52-yard field goal from Fernando Espinosa, drive, Kevin Ah-Hi rushed four times for 48 yards and a 15-yard touchdown making it 7-3. Stephen Peterson forced his second as the Pirates continued to impose their O fumble of the season on the next Orange Coast possession, putting the ball back into the hands of Notch, who would throw an interception to defender Josh Jordan three plays later. SMC got the ball back, however, and Notch would misfire another pass before being hurt on a 4-yard run at the start of the second quarter. The Corsairs turned to freshman Lagman Nasouf who proved to be productive in last week’s loss to San will on SMC. After only gaining 23 yards in the third quarter, the Corsairs cut their deficit to five when Nasouf connected with Bartholomew on a 20-yard touchdown pass, making it 21-16 with 11:07 left in the game. After a failed 2-point conversion, the Corsairs could not conjure up an answer for the stingy defense. “It’s not like we didn’t practice for it, we knew they were going to bring blitzes and we went over it in practice, but once the game started it’s like it all went out the window,” said running back Garrett Williams, whose only carry of the game went for a loss of two yards. The Corsair defense gave up 277 rushing yards and allowed freshman running back Kevin Ah-Hi to run for 165 yards and two touchdowns, making him the third 100-plus yard rusher in only two games. Running back Andrew Banks added to the ground attack with 70 yards on 12 attempts and a touchdown against a battered SMC. After rushing for 121 yards last week, freshman Daron Bartholomew was held in check, gaining a meager 17 yards on eight carries against the Pirates’ stinging defense led by linebacker Dean DeLeone, who had eight tackles, two of which went for negative yards. A reoccurring problem for the Corsairs is their trouble on third downs. The offense converted on only 2 of 14 third down tries, bringing the season’s mark to a nauseating 3 of 24. “That’s a big adjustment. We got to get better at it — that’s something we talked about yesterday in practice,” said head coach Robert Taylor. SMC Swims Upstream By Jonathan Ramos Corsair Staff Writer Andrew Czer, 19, wants to make clear that water polo is a sport that should not be underestimated. He says, “It doesn’t look like it but it’s a full contact sport. There’s a lot of endurance involved.” He adds, “I like the aggression that comes with it.” Czer not only applies that same energy out in the field, or pool rather, but in his varied interests as well. As to why he prefers water polo to other sports, Czer replies, “Basically, it’s really fun!” With much gusto he adds, “You can do a lot of stuff in water polo and get away with it.” “Like what?” I asked. He takes a pause and responds, “The ref can’t see under water.” Enough said. Czer is a driver for the team, or in other words a field player who specializes in quick shooting techniques in order to score goals. When asked what important lessons can be acquired from water polo he answered, “There are a lot of rewards that you derive from sports. If you work hard and do it with all your heart you reap the rewards.” What rewards does Czer hope the SMC water polo team accomplishes this season? “Win games and score goals. A lot of goals!” he says assuredly. But most importantly he adds, “Be a better team than last year.” With much certainty he says, “We have more team players now than stars.” Czer, a history major, also holds a job as a Los Angeles County ocean lifeguard. “It’s a very invigorating experience,” he says. “It’s not for your money or wallet but stability of your mind and saving lives.” In addition to his duties as a lifeguard, Czer loves “just being in the ocean surfing and rowing boats.” Next week he will be rowing a dory boat to Catalina Island. Aside from the life aquatic, Czer is also a member of an alternative Christian rock band named This Soul Immortal. Along with SMC football player Nate Scribner, 20, Czer says, “We try with our music to portray a message of hope and love to our listeners.” He adds, “We’re trying to foster good values and encourage people.” Whether he is treading water and scoring goals for SMC’s water polo team or saving lives at our local beaches, Andrew Czer is a model athlete and citizen. However, next time you see him a t a match he wants you to remember one thing: “It’s just as challenging or even more” than other sports. Men’s Basketball Team Starts Season With a Clean Slate Pauline Bithell Corsair Staff Writer With a new coach and new players, the Corsair Basketball team has prepared to conquer this season with a new plan. Sitting in his office with a group of his players waiting for practice, Jesse Teplitzky speaks to them like friends. Jesse Teplitzky, or “Coach T,”is the new Santa Monica College men's basketball coach and together with 50 percent returning players and 50 percent new, he is ready for the new season. On Nov. 7 SMC's men's basketball team will face Santa Ana College and Teplitzky seems ready. "There are a lot more question marks for us because we have a new coach and new players, but it will be a great game as it is at home and that is always an advantage," Teplitzky said. Coach Teplitzky has been coaching college basketball for over 10 years as well as playing the game all throughout high school. "When I realized playing professionally wasn't going to happen, I began to get interested in the coaching process," he said. With this being the first season with the new coach, there will be some differences in method which may result in a better season than last, something which all the players are determined and ready to produce. Not only are there new players and a new coach for SMC’s team there are also new assistant coaches, Joe Casico and Erin Landon. Some new players include Chris Blackwood, who is a transfer student to Santa Monica College from Humboldt State, and looks promising as a mature leader who has the experience of a four year college. John Brown is one other new player coming from a prepatory school in Cincinnati, who along with the rest of the team has a large amount of potential to make this season a successful one. With West L.A. College, Bakersfield College and Citrus College as fierce rivals, the combination of fresh players and fresh coaching will hopefully mean they won’t remain that way for long. “I feel very good about this group of players, they are hard workers doing everything I’ve asked them to do. If we don’t get the results we want it won’t be from lack of effort.” Teplitzky said. Originally from Denver, “Coach T” is somewhat philosophical regarding the team’s relationships with one another and himself. “It is so important we have great chemistry,” he said. “I would much rather win 18 games with a group of absolute over-achievers than win 20 with a group of underachieving, super talented, jerks. That’s just my philosophy.” Tom Wright Corsair No. 22, Rashan Ortiz, tail back for the Corsairs football team, returns a kickoff against Mesa, Sept. 1 Secret Weapon By Robert Carbajal Rashan Ortiz, listed as a tail back for the Corsairs, has not had a single carry, but has played exceptionally well as a special teams return-man. The freshman recruit from central Florida leads the Western State Conference in all-purpose yardage with 251 return yards. His highlight performance was a spectacular 95-yard punt return touchdown versus Mesa in last week’s opener. The former track star showcases lightning speed and an exciting stop-and-go running style. Saturday Preview The Corsairs will be at home this week versus The Glendale Vaqueros (1-1), in a rematch of last years dogfight that SMC won in a close game 21-16. “Their head coach remembers that one. They came in here riding high and we beat them. It was a fight out there but it was a good game and they’re going to come ready this week,” said head coach Robert Taylor. Quarterback Dilemma? The Corsairs have played all three of their quarterbacks and haven’t yet found their leader on offense. Jake Notch left last week’s game with an undisclosed injury after completing only one pass and throwing a pick. Brandon Howell looked impressive in the opener, completing 13 of 22 passes for 128 yards, a touchdown and a pick. That leaves offensive coordinator with freshman Lagman Nasouf, who has the most playing time thus far. He has not proven that he can take helm yet, but he doesn’t look bad either with a 52 percent completion rate. Nasouf stats: 24 for 46, 198 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. He will have to be sharp this week against rival Glendale. Coming soon...extra sports coverage! Online edition of the Corsair at corsair.smc.edu Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College 07 Lifestyle ‘Drive In at the Pier’ Movie Series Bar Fly: Litttle Joy By: Will Theisen By: Miles Michaud Corsair Staff Writer Driving through Echo Park, the casual observer might overlook the faded painted lettering on the side of 1477 Sunset Boulevard that spells out “Little Joy.” The nondescript nature of the bar’s outside, however, is thoroughly misleading. Through an angular doorway lined with layers of forgotten show posters, periodicals and other printed materials is a late-night dive so full of character and energy—not to mention freaks, hipsters, vatos, weirdoes, mods and surfers—that you will instantly forget that the plastic sign hanging above the doorway identified this place as a Chinese seafood restaurant The setup of Little Joy is simple. The single room is long and narrow with three tattered vinyl booths near the entrance surrounding particleboard tables emblazoned with the initials and wisdom of a thousand bar denizens. Along the west wall is the bar, an ancient wooden relic that looks as though it has been revarnished countless times in a sloppy, overzealous ritual. Behind the bar is Joe, the evening’s bartender and manager. He pours $3 pints of Pabst Blue Ribbon from behind large, thick eyeglasses with somewhat abbreviated but nevertheless courteous and prompt service. Toward the back of the room stand two ragged pool tables perpetually lined with quarters and almost always with a mismatched set of balls. The walls are covered with themeless artwork done by various local artists as well as with random scribblings and distorted taggings, and the bathrooms are decrepit at best. What I felt this bar lacked in hospitality and sanitation, however, was more than made up for by its raw, undeniable character. For a late Wednesday night, Little Joy was teeming with a wide assortment of interesting young men and women dancing to the soul record playing over the loudspeakers. Little joy is frequented by notable members of the local art and music scenes and has developed into an essential afterparty stop-off for musicians The wall behind the bar is covered with old photos, newspaper clippings and signs announcing Little Joy’s cash only policy. Across from the bar is an old jukebox stacked to capacity with selections from ’60s psychedelic rock to ’80s new wave and ’90s indie rock, folk and soul. However often times the DJ booth (observing a strict vinyl-only policy) is occupied by a local DJ playing his or her personal record collection as a courtesy to the bar and its occupants. finishing gigs at nearby venues. After a few pints had passed, I decided that I would go outside to escape the crowd and to introduce myself to the doorman. Sitting on an extra barstool just outside the door, he turned pages in his book on Descartes, pausing only momentarily to greet a friendly member of the usual crowd or to check the ID of a member of the notably prevalent youth scene. His name was Gabe, and he informed me in our conversation not only that he surfed in Santa Monica and Malibu but that Little Joy had never had a cover or a line in the three years he had worked the door. Though this bar epitomizes the concept of a “dive,” and though it attracts a different crowd than that of most Westside bars, it is a refreshing and intriguing place to stop off for a few well-priced drinks, provided you can make yourself comfortable among disarray and slightly less-than-sanitary conditions. Two dollars for a can of Schlitz, $3 or $4 for PBR of Sierra Nevada drafts, and $5 or $6 (you won’t find top shelf drinks here) for mixed drinks, Little Joy offers an attractive night out for the economically minded drinker. Cosrair Staff Writer The number of tickets being picked up from Vidiots suggested a large turnout for the first movie of the fifth annual “Drive-In at the Pier” series, which began Thursday at the Santa Monica Pier. “There’s a lot of people asking about tickets this year,” proclaimed the guy behind the counter, as his colleague nodded in agreement. With the marine layer cooling down what had been a sweltering afternoon, it looked to be a pleasant evening of movie-watching, popcorn-eating, and a little bit of environmental activism. This year’s “Drive-In at the Pier” opened with a movie encouraging patrons NOT to drive, unless they were doing so in a hybrid or, better yet, an electric car. “Who Killed The Electric Car,” the 2006 documentary by writer/ director Chris Paine and narrated by Martin Sheen, was expected to draw a large crowd in Santa Monica, a city often championed for its environmental awareness. Movie-watchers seemed quite comfortable as they sat on blankets and lawn chairs. Anne MacQueen, a Santa Monica resident, avoided the $5 charge to rent a chair by bringing her own. Equally thrifty was her decision to come to the pier to see a movie for free. Although she admitted she didn’t drive a hybrid, she had been interested in this movie. “I expected a bigger turnout!” said Paul Scott, looking over about 40 people who had shown up to see the movie and participate in the question and answer discussion prior to the movie. That number increased to about 100 or so as curious passersby left the restaurants and attractions on the Santa Monica Pier. Scott was part of the Q+A panel, fielding questions alongside Chris Paine and Chelsea Sexton. The relatively low turnout made for better odds at winning prizes in the raffle. Prizes included gift certificates to Bubba Gump Shrimp House, Castle Park, Aquarium of the Pacific, and a four pack of tickets to the Los Angeles County Fair. Spectators also had the opportunity to see new electric vehicles from Toyota, Vectrix electric scooters, and Skeuter Scooters. The movie series continues this Thursday, Sept. 13, with the film “Metropolis.” The event will feature a live theatrical performance by Vox Lumiere. The movies, presented by Castello di Gabbiano winery, will continue all September, with the final movie, “Moonstruck”, showing September 27th. Movies start at 7 pm, rain or shine. Tickets can be picked up for free at the following locations: Santa Monica Visitor’s Center 1920 Main Street 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Santa Monica Convention and Visitor’s Kiosk 1400 Ocean Ave. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Santa Monica Convention and Visitor’s Promenade Cart Located next to topiary dinosaurs between Santa Monica and Arizona. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Vidiots 302 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 310-392-8508 Sun - Thur: 10 a.m. - 11p.m. Fri - Sat: 10 a.m. - noon New Landmark Theatre Opens at the Westside Pavilion Will God Continue to Infiltrate the Music Industry? He Did the Music of Korn Band Member Brian Welch! By: Beverlee Cooke Corsair Staff Writer The Lead guitar player from Korn couldn’t continue with his bands members. Their lifestyle was the complete opposite since he turned his eyes towards the Lord. The lyrics of the songs weren’t a light to the world, and he had concerns for his daughter, so Brian Welch decided to turn to God, despite what the world or his band members think of his actions. Korn is and has always been a successful band. “Korn’s first record earned accolades from fans and critics alike, with a unique fusion of heavy metal and alternative rock that some called new metal. But their aggressive song lyrics told dark tales of drugs, sex and violence.” Paula Zahn, CNN/Paula Zahn Now The lyrics from Korn are the complete opposite of the bible. “Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk (ever) come out of your mouth, but only such (speech) as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others…” Ephesians 4:29, Amplified Bible But Korn isn’t the only band in the world that plants evil seeds in the minds of the nation. Welch states this on his interview with Paula Zahn Now on CNN. “Brian’s Christian theme music is already making news with a scathing critique of rapper 50 Cent. For doing what Brian calls the work of the devil. And his new song, a cheap name takes direct aim at the rap star.” said Paula Zahn, “I’m not saying I’m better than him. I’m saying God is telling me something. And God is telling me something to tell you. I’m the translator. You listen if you want, but things are going to happen,” said Welch, on Paula Zahn Now, CNN Welch has made up his mind to live a different lifestyle. But students at SMC aren’t mad at Welch, only a little disappointed that he left Korn. “I found out the day after he left the band, I read an article on line… Honestly, I wasn’t happy because I liked the group and at the same time I can’t be mad because I share the same religious views that he does now. Doing something to get right with Christ is always alright with me. I’m in a band, but I already have these views, so my band respects that. But it’s always good to get right in your life and get away from sex, drugs, and chasing money to follow a more spiritual path. I was shocked but at the same time he is trying to get right with God, so more power to him. Apparently he is doing a lot better now then he was the whole time he was with Korn.” Sean Phillips, SMC student According to Welch, he is defiantly following what the scriptures say, and is taking a leap of faith. He continues to record an album for his fans, but it will be created with Christ in mind. He wants to be a light to the world, and is content with his new life with the Lord. “I always loved that Korn’s music helped kids let out aggression. But with my new music, I want kids to know that there’s more out there,” said Welch. “I want to show them there’s a light at the end of the pain tunnel. That there’s more out there than just aggression. I want to say to them, ‘Hey kids, come over here. Let’s bounce back and forth and have fun.’” James Montgomery, MTV Brian Wise Corsair The first class wine bar at the Landmark holds various wines from across the globe and serves with a plethora of cheeses. By: Rececca Slawter Corsair Staff Writer On the corner of Pico and Westwood, The Landmark theater draws a crowd every weekend. Opening last June, the Landmark had its biggest weekend this Labor Day. The Landmark shows a variety of films, including independent and foreign. Catering to the neighborhood, the theater opts not to show big studio productions. “We take the sensibility of our audience into account,” says Dan Gorski, the director of event marketing at the Landmark. “We get a lot of industry people and film buffs.” Seating is assigned in each of the 12 auditoriums. While most of the theaters have stadium seating, three are also living room theaters. Love seats, sofas and single chairs replace the leather seats in the other auditoriums. “The only down side to them,” reports Maribel Alvarez, a Landmark employee and freshman at SMC, “is that you might get stuck sitting with a couple in a three seater during a crowded movie.” In personalizing your movie-going experience, a staff member gives you an introduction to each movie. A brief synopsis is given about the film along with a reminder to turn off your cell phones. “We’ve been called high maintenance,” says Alvarez in regard to the concession stand, which offers over 40 health conscious and specialty food options. A moviegoer can choose between the vegan cookies, fresh yogurt and Hebrew National hot dogs. Even the popcorn is health conscious and popped in sunflower oil. In addition to the concession stand, the theatre’s lounge attracts a range of patrons. The lounge’s extensive wine list and ’70s-shag-carpet-meets-NewYork-nightlife atmosphere, makes it an ideal place to just hang out. You can even bring your drink into certain films dubbed 21 and over. Friday and Saturday nights the theater holds showings of appropriate films to which alcoholic beverages can be brought in from the Lounge. Being less than three miles away from SMC and located on the corner of five local bus routes, the Landmark is in a convenient location. It also boasts 3,000 free parking spaces, which any SMC student can appreciate. Is Hip-Hop Killing Itself, or are People Killing Hip-Hop? By: Beverlee Cooke Corsair Staff Writer “According to the music trade publication Billboard, rap sales have dropped 44% since 2000.” TA-NEHISI Is it the lyrics, the music videos, or the artists that are deterring people from purchasing rap albums? Or is it the invention of downloading music for free? Why are rap sales low, and continuing to spiral down? SMC students had a lot to say on this subject. “Rap sales like any other music sales have gone down because of two factors: 1-Advanced technology innovations that make piracy very easy, so well that it’s easier to get a record free than to actually buy it. “Why would I want to buy a record if I can have it for free, if I only like one song on it? “2-Artists nowadays sell their records of one or two songs and the rest of the record is just “filling gaps.” “Even if the power of “MUSIC” overcomes the music of “POWER”, the dependence of our society on the Internet and technologies cannot be “CIVILIZED.” ”Jorris Ahouansou, SMC student Everyone is talking about how rap sales have gone down drastically. Time magazine said, “that same market is telling rappers to please shut up. “While music-industry sales have plummeted, no genre has fallen harder than rap. COATES, TIME magazine So, will Hip Hop wake up? Because it’s affecting the way people are communicating with each other. “The rising angst about rap lyrics was spotlighted this spring during the fallout over radio talk-show host Don Imus’ smearing of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. “Imus called team members “hos,” then later noted in his defense that the word is commonly used in rap songs to describe women.” Steve Jones, USA TODAY Some students believe this is a worldwide issue. If music is becoming like a bad virus, change is necessary. Or the downloading craze may continue until people feel inspired to buy an album. Otherwise the music shelves at stores will continue to remain full. Women want to be respected and know life isn’t just about money. SMC students want a balance and are concerned about the lyrical content in music. People used to buy mixed tapes, and CD’s all the time. Hip Hop used to motivate people, and bring life to communities. Now people are cringing at the lyrics that their children are repeating. “I personally am bored with the lack of lyrical content. “Take 50 cent for example, yeah he buffed up gang rap when he came Kyle Guy Corsair On September 11, 50 Cent and Kanye West released albums both with ship-outs approximated at 1.2 million album copies. out but that’s because he was hungry for success back then, I love his 1st CD. “He had some good play on words. But now it’s just girls, money, busting caps... and he’s admitted this in one of his songs. “That’s why some people are leaning away from Rap and more to Hip Hop. Real Hip Hop is captured by the likes of Common, Talib Kweli, MosDef, and Dilated peoples.” Johari Katuli, SMC student Maybe if the music industry takes a look at which sales are going down, they can figure out a proper solution, which will encourage the world to start buying CD’s again.” I think all music sales have gone down not just rap. Selling CDs is not a way to make money for musicians anymore, there are too many people downloading music from the Internet and getting them for free then paying for an album. “Which people only end up liking 1 or 2 songs on the album.” Laura Bessette, SMC student. 08 Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Arts & Leisure Summer Fantasy II By Jacqueline Shouljik Corsair Staff Writer The second annual “Summer Fantasy” exhibit at Emeritus College will be on view through Friday. It is a very pleasant, free way to spend half an hour. The student-juried exhibit features an eclectic mix of modern art and realism as well as one installation and a few abstract paintings that are sure to give a slight recharge of inspiration. Twenty-four chosen canvases and one installation hang across the walls of the small gallery, painted by both students and faculty members. The compelling artworks range from watercolors to collages and are all inspired by the bright colors and dreamy visuals of a California summer. A large sign at the entrance to the exhibit reads: “To connect the undiscovered images of mind, the colors of season shake your soul and sense and make the fantasy of your untold story alive!” This explains rather well both the theme and goal of the exhibit as well as the assignment the art students were given. Two jurors, Karen Florek and James Urmston, judged the submitted artworks. Their judgment was based on artistic performance and technique. A large acrylic painting titled “Splash” by artist Gail Breuer beautifully displays the main colors of summer as well as the spirit of this entire exhibit. “When the colors ripple and spatter they splash down into a beautiful blend, as they find their path,” said Breuer. Emeritus College is a separate branch of Santa Monica College open for senior citizens. Despite its humble appearance, the gallery shows one exhibit after the other and is always worth a glance. Visiting the gallery is not only a way to support the great cause Emeritus College stands for, but it is a perfectly quiet place to be one on one with art for a little while. Doors Open at the Madison Campus By Kyle Hufenagel Corsair Staff Writer Zoom Into a World of Maps Stephanie Yee Corsair By Will Theisen Corsair Staff Writer Doug Beube’s “Strike Anywhere” is currently being shown as a part of a group exhibition exploring space and meaning through the various devices of “mapping” called ‘Zoom.’ The exhibit is running from June 30 to September 8. Sabine Pearlman has been working the desk at the Santa Monica Art Studios for over a year, and said the “Zoom+/-” show was one of the best exhibits she had seen. Curious to know what she felt was her favorite piece in the map-themed show, I was surprised when she pointed out “Strike Anywhere,” a piece by Doug Beube, one of the exhibit’s two curators. The piece featured a small globe with hundreds of sticks poking out of it. Not immediately realizing the work’s appeal, I asked her to explain herself. “It’s a … umm … how do you say … a performance piece!” Hmm … Assuming she had simply chosen the wrong English word (she’s Austrian), I took another look at “Strike Anywhere” in an attempt to understand how a globe could be a performance piece. Upon closer inspection, I realized the hundreds of “little sticks” poking out of it were actually unlit matches. This “performance piece” was going to be ignited at some after-party in what was certainly going to be a visually arresting and exhilarating environmental commentary of blazing glory. It was then that I realized cartographers might be the funniest people in the world. The biggest surprise regarding the “Zoom +/-” exhibit was, in fact, the humor that maps could have. If maps really are this funny, Judd Apatow needs to make a screen adaptation of an atlas. “Thomas Guide: The Movie” could be extraordinary! More than 30 artists took part in the exhibit, each of them trying to demonstrate what someone could do with a map when they stop using it for its intended purpose. Christian Nold’s piece “San Francisco Emotion Map” looks like a subway route directory, with little heat sensor dots scattered across it in various shades of red. From crimson to vibrant orange, the closer the dots were to the center of the city, the brighter the dots appeared. When standing close enough to read the little captions next to each dot, it is revealed that the dots represent Nold’s various emotional levels as he walked through the streets of San Francisco. He used a galvanic skin response device to actually measure his emotional levels. Paying a parking meter: dark red. Seeing a pretty lady selling ice cream: bright red! The gallery includes both topographic maps with no labels, and world maps with nothing but labels, rendering all of the maps functionally useless, but invaluable as art. Well, maybe not invaluable, as all of the art could be purchased for prices between $2,200 and $18,000, which would be just enough to take home Matthew Cusick’s “Ghost Rider” piece, a 45- by 67-inch panel with several maps cut and reassembled to create the image of an old low-rider car. Think of it as an ultra-ambitious “Magic Eye” painting. Nina Katchadourian had a piece aptly titled “The Genealogy of a Supermarket.” On the one hand, it pointed out that a family tree could be a map. On the other hand, it was just plain funny. Imagine Cap’n Crunch being married to Aunt Jemima, who had five kids including Snap, Crackle and Pop. I didn’t see the Tapitio guy, but this was a replica of the larger original, so maybe Tap and the Cholula lady were on that one. “Zoom +/-” was effective as an emotional and often-humorous exhibit that could be described the way so many maps are described; it was focused, but wandering. To call the exhibit “humorous” is not to disregard the emotion that many pieces still carry, such as Linda Elkstrom’s “The Camps Against the Book,” consisting of an altered book with glass beads mapping out the Nazi internment and death camps from WWII. But equally present in these works are the many peculiarities that maps can have when people stop using them for a second and just kind of look at them. Matthew Picton’s contribution was a blue spidery looking object called “Cut Out Drawing, Alleyway Medford, OR,” and it probably summed up the entire exhibit, intentionally or otherwise, as appropriately as any article. What may have looked look like arbitrary twisting and modulating was really the result of some stuff called “archival duralar” and blue enamel paint that had been settled into the cracks of a sidewalk in Oregon. What is left is a lasting reminder, painted shiny blue, of what the brokenup cracks in that old sidewalk look like. Sometimes the best things in life are found in the small cracks we pass over everyday. But then again, sometimes the globe catches on fire from 200 unlit matches. The Santa Monica Art Studios, located at 3026 Airport Ave., will hold an open house Nov. 3 and 4. With over 30 studios displaying phenomenal art, it is likely to be an event that shouldn’t be missed. Through a collaboration with the Madison Project and Santa Monica College, community members and students alike were gifted with an experience never before offered at 11th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. Three hundred and one spaces greet those who arrive to the new Music complex along with the construction of a new54-seat Performing and Visual Arts Hall. Music Department Chairman Dr. James Smith is excited about the Music complex operating despite the Main Hall’s awaiting completion: “Things are getting better,” he said. “ We’re getting about 40 more chairs tomorrow.” However, Debra Joseph-Locke, administrative assistant of the Madison Project, explains, “The Main Hall won’t be open till about late November/ December-ish.” To celebrate the opening of the New Madison campus and familiarize the public with its offerings, an open house was held Sunday. Four major performances in the Complex’s Second Space headlined the day, which included the wind ensemble, jazz combo, applied music students, and the award-winning jazz vocal ensemble. The wind ensemble began the Second Space performances with big band favorites such as “The Imperial March” and other such pieces from “Star Wars.” Wind Ensemble Conductor Kevin McKeown said, “Its going to be great once it’s all done. We just all got to be patient.” Performances by the wind ensemble are held at the main campus and will cost from “sometimes free” up to ten dollars. Keith Fiddmont conducted and played saxophone in the jazz combo and couldn’t hide his excitement. “It’s just beautiful! In the 11 years I’ve been here, it’s the most excited I have been,” he said. Jimmy Cheesman on seven-string guitar, Joel Druckman on bass, Bill Augustine on keys, Bill Barrett on sax, and Tynesider Peter Brooke on saxophone accompanied Fiddmont in the performance. The collection of six instruments explored the acoustics of the Second Space room with fresh walks on strings and moaning brass cries that leave memories of Jelly Roll Morton, John Birks Gillespie and John Coltrane. Applied music students gave individual talents space and audience size to put on amazing performances. Louise Brandon Wise Corsair On Sunday, Sept. 9, conductor Keith Fiddmont joined by two students, Peter Brooke (far left) and Bill Barrett (middle) and his jazz band performed at the opening of the Madison campus. Andersson, pianist and singer who performed “I Ain’t Gonna Let You Break my Heart Again” by Bonnie Raitt, was ecstatic about the new surroundings. “I like it, love it actually. It’s gonna be tight,” he said. Other applied music students like Maria Morara thought about the future: “It will be a very helpful facility for music students to be able to come together and make each other better.” Dr. James Martin , director of applied music students, said, “We’re very happy. We’re gonna call it an academy. There are one or two problems still, but it’s just a lovely place.” Lastly up in the Second Space was the award-winning jazz vocal ensemble directed by Cindy Bourquin. “It’s just amazing after six years in a classroom, to be in here. I feel like I just had me birthday and Christmas today,” said Bourquin. The jazz vocal ensemble’s Michael Kohl has recently written a jingle for an “Oreo Jingle” contest and everyone had the greatest of hopes for its success. The day was a success and students may enjoy less congestion with the new campus. In the future this building will create a greater opportunity for students and a great stage for large events where both SMC and The Madison Project can profit. “Autumn Deep Sky Gems” By Damien Siegel Corsair Staff Writer Delahaye at the Getty By Tyler Russo Corsair Staff Writer There’s an intriguing new photography exhibit entitled “Recent History” that is on display at the J. Paul Getty Museum featuring the works of French-born photojournalist Luc Delahaye. In the series of photos taken at various parts of the world between November 2001 and November 2006, a common theme ties nearly all of his work together - the message conveyed in most of the photos is a bit depressing. In “Aftermath in Meulobah” (2005), Delahaye captures a shot of a young man sulking in the middle of debris and particles of buildings that were destroyed by the Indian Ocean tsunami. That same tsunami took approximately 40,000 lives in the city of Meulobah alone. Another eye-opening piece is “Jenin Refugee Camp” (2002). In this shot Delahaye captures a view of what apparently used to be livable land and now is mounds of dirt and debris left by the ongoing battles between the Israeli Army and the Palestinian militants. The artist was able to bring in a backdrop of plush green meadows in a habitable land on the horizon. This gives the viewer the idea that the devastated piece of land in the foreground might have one day looked like the land on the horizon. Another photograph that catches the eye is “Taliban.” This shot came about when Delahaye stumbled upon a deceased Taliban soldier. The soldier was killed in the Shomali Valley and is shown in the photograph on his back with both legs propped over to the left of his lifeless body. One aspect of the photo that is attention-grabbing, other than the chunk of flesh missing from the soldier’s neck, is the fact that he isn’t wearing shoes, yet it seems as though he is donning dark dress socks. While there is a variety in the different works presented by Luc Delahaye, the overall message of this exhibit is that the world isn’t a pretty place. “Autumn Deep Sky Gems” was presented at the John Drescher Planetarium. Amateur astronomer Jim Mahon operated the computerized planetarium projectors and lectured about dying stars, black holes, quasars and other deep sky objects. The Aug. 31 show consisted of pictures taken from telescopes here on Earth and from space. The photos were shown on the planetarium screen and explained by the lecturer. Some galactic objects viewed in the planetarium were the North American Nebula, Orion, Mars and black holes. Autumn is a great time to view Mars Christiane Ingenthron Corsair because it is visible with the naked eye. The low humidity here on the West Coast A visitor enjoys the “Autum Deep Sky Gems” show at the John Drescher Planetarium means that there is less water in the air to scatter light. This allows for a much much. I haven’t been to anything like clearer long-range view. Great observing opportunities are At the end of the show Mahon gave this in a while and I’m planning on only a 90-minute drive away from the audience a chance to ask questions coming again.” SMC. Another guest from Pacific Palisades, about the presentation and astronomy. There are dark sky star parties where Marianne Gorczyca, a new resident Leslie Hopkins, said, “The planetarium people bring their amateur telescopes, of Santa Monica, received a brochure isn’t very big but it wasn’t crowded, large and small, and get away from the from SMC in the mail about the show which was nice.” city lights. Mahon explained about how our and thought it would be interesting. She Mt. Pinos offers great observing came to the campus for the first time to ancestors saw many deep sky objects opportunities, where there is going to that we don’t get to see today because be a public party on Oct. 20 at Vasquez visit the planetarium. She said, “I enjoyed the show very of light pollution. Rocks State Park. Upcoming SMC Events Jazz Concert: Jon Mayer Quartet Friday, Sept. 14 7 p.m. SMC Concert Hall Political Film Series “Starship Troopers” Monday, Sept. 17 6:30 p.m. Planetarium Exhibit “Cassini at Saturn” Friday, Sept. 14 8 p.m. SMC Planetarium Room SCI 145