Warrior Life

El Camino College Spring 2010El Camino College Spring 2010

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lat b e of

Fire dancer

Local students honor age-old

tradition

What’s love got to do with it?

Is it a good idea to be in

a relationship while att ending

college?

Once upon a time in Mexico

History teacher brings Chicano

studies to life

Got fashion?

Fashion Club members show

off designs

A husband deployed

EC or bust

Photo essay

Married to a man and the

military

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What’s the most o u t r a -g e o u s e x c u s e y o u ’ v e h e a r d from a student

?

n t e n t s

3032 36

34 3826

Personal training never

felt so good

New personal training

program prepares students for state

exam

Veggie tales

A day in the life of a vegetarian

Gimme a breakPhotoessay

A talk with the

president

Faculty members share

students’ excuses

Shooting for the stars

Photo essay

WL editor-in-chief sits with Fallo

to talk about all things EC

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On the cover:Cover Photography by: William DeLeonHair and Makeup Stylist:Shannon OlivoloModel: Samantha Glunt

Samantha Glunt is wearing a ruffl e collared top with white shorts, part of the Walter Collection.

Warrior Life Spring 2010

Recipient of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges

General Excellence Award:2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Editor-in-Chief:Haipha Simon

Copy Editor:Brooke Ham

Design Editor:Haipha Simon

Photo Editor:Heather Barone

Page Designers:Heather Barone, Danielle Hutt on,

MariaCristina Gonzalez, Haipha Simon, Mihiri Weerasinghe

Staff Writers:Heather Barone, Alex Curran,

Toney Fernandez, MariaCristina Gonzalez, Annastashia Goolsby,

Audrey LaBenz, Joey Man,Roxanna Martinez,

Haipha Simon, Samantha Troisi

Staff Photographers:Heather Barone, Victoria Couch,

William DeLeon, Toney Fernandez, Ruby Gutierrez, Karla Henry, Audrey LaBenz, Juliee Oliver,

Sylwia Ozdzynski,Stuart Ranier, Mihoko Sato

Advisers:Kate McLaughlin, Lori Medigovich

Published by El Camino College Student Publications.

To advertise, contact the Student Publications Advertising Offi ce:

(310) 660-3329 [email protected]

Warrior Life is published every fall and spring by El Camino College journalism students. Th e offi ce is located in Room

113 of the Humanities Building at 16007 Crenshaw Blvd. in Torrance, CA 90506.

Single copies of Warrior Life are free to members of the campus community and visitors. Additional copies cost 25 cents

and may be requested from the offi ce or by calling (310) 660-3328 during the fall and

spring semesters.

Birds are chirping, bells are ring-ing and the Warrior Life spring 2010 issue is hot off the presses. It’s once again jam-packed with great stories and photography that are sure to stimulate the mind and cap-tivate the eye.

Inside, you will fi nd a story on the world of fi re dancing told by members of the Th ird Degree fi re dance troupe.

If relationships come and go, would it be considered a good idea to be in one while trying to get an education? Find out inside.

Meet two wives who are married to men who not only fi ght for their love, but also fi ght for the protection of the United States.

Or maybe you’d like to take a trip through the Milky Way with a breathtaking planetarium photo essay.

Regardless of where you begin, I hope you enjoy read-ing these pages that have been created for your pleasure. Th e staff that helped to create this magazine has worked hard to bring you a quality publication and this couldn’t have happened without a signifi cant contribution from each and every staff member. Th is has been an experience I will never forget. Enjoy!

Haipha SimonEditor-in-Chief

5WL SPRING 2010WL SPRING 2010 5

Two women come to fi nd that marrying their husbands also

meant marrying the military and all that comes with it.

By Samantha TroisiPhoto Illustration by Heather Barone and Haipha Simon/Warrior Life

All weddings are similar, but every marriage is diff erent, wrote British author John Berger.

It’s one thing to have the fl owers, the tux, the dress and the people standing around applauding a couple, but when the limo has driven away, things can change, as it did for two EC brides, one a former student and one a recent graduate.

Former student Allie Richter and recent graduate Kristin Dunigan began their married lives under the watchful eye of the armed forces. Th ey both married men in the military who were deployed days aft er their weddings. Th ough their relationships began diff erently, their struggles as wives, students and women are much the same.

“I started going to church a lot aft er a break-up,” Allie said. “Th ere was a group of young adults that would go out aft erward and I remember seeing my future husband Ryan Richter stand up; he looked like he was standing up for-ever, he was so tall. We hit it off and have prett y much been together since day one.”

Allie knew Ryan was in the military from the fi rst time they met. He made it clear he would be either moving or deploy-ing again within six months, but they both knew they were meant to be together.

“When we fi rst started dating, it was hard. It was a make-it or break-it thing, knowing he would be de-ployed,” Allie said. “Either we were going to get really serious, or I might as well not take the time to get to know him because he was going to leave. But we got serious right away.”

With only a month to plan the wedding and a small budget, it wasn’t the ideal situation, Allie said, but they both knew it was what they wanted before Ryan had to leave again for eight months. Th e month following their wedding was bitt ersweet time together. While she was happy to spend whatever time she could with her new husband, Allie was scared about life without him.

“Eight months seems like such a long time. Th e hardest thing was going from living with my parents and having everything taken care of for me, to becoming an adult and being married and then having him leave a month later without anyone showing me how to take care of a house by myself,” Allie said. “It was scary to know I’d have to be so independent right away.”

Kristin’s relationship with her husband, Adam Dunigan, be-gan during her senior year of high school. Th ey were best friends for almost a year before becoming a couple, and a litt le move than over a year aft er that, they parted ways, which proved to be only a temporary thing. Kristin said that the brief time of extra space helped and it wasn’t long before they started seeing each other again. Th at’s when Adam told her he was joining the Marines.

“I was shocked; I cried and couldn’t believe it when he told me. I was hurt that he had made such a huge decision without talking to the most important people in his life fi rst,” Kristin said. “Granted, we would have all yelled at him not to do it, but aft er the shock died down, I would have liked to talk with him about it, and why he was doing it before he was dead set on actually doing it. When all was said and done though, I supported him because

that’s what he needed. His mind was made up and I didn’t want to make him feel guilty for choosing that path.”

Th ey had a small ceremony at the Los Angeles International Airport Courthouse, and though her stomach was a ball of nerves and full of butt erfl ies, the decision to get married was the easiest of all their challenges.

“Knowing that a good portion of our relationship will be long distance is the biggest challenge. I know that he is, as they say, the property of the U.S. government until his contract expires, but that’s OK,” Kristin said. “I’ve embraced the military lifestyle because it makes life much simpler to just accept it, since I can’t change it.”

For Allie, the lack of communication with her new husband makes it diffi cult to maintain a normal relationship.

“When we fi ght, it’s usually because of the lack of communi-cation with e-mail. Th ere are a lot of tears and hurt feelings and when we fi ght; it’s really hard because everything is under a microscope,” Allie said. “Sometimes I’m afraid because there is so much he can’t tell me about what he’s doing and I know he’s in danger. I just hope that not know-ing is bett er than being aware of all the danger around him every day.”

Both women fi nd comfort in family and friends and are trying to fi nd a way to continue moving though life with their signifi cant other far from home. Kristin is currently fi nishing her degree at Cal State Long Beach.

“I go to school and throw myself into my projects and papers. I spend as much time with my family as possible,” Kristin said. “I have a great support system here with my family, as well as with my friends and in-laws. Knowing that every day is another day closer to seeing him also helps get me through the bad days.”

Allie is waiting for her husband to return so she can continue her education. With lots of benefi ts for those in the military, in the end it’s all worth it, she said.

Even with the perks of being in the military, the constant mov-ing and uncertainty of where life will take you can be scary.

“Ryan and I have given complete control of our lives to the military. I don’t get to really choose when I have kids or what ca-reer I want or where we live. I don’t regret marrying Ryan, but sometimes I feel like I messed up my life because I don’t get to pick anything for myself and I’m a control freak,” Allie said. “It’s a sacrifi ce 100 percent of the way, and whether people agree with the war eff ort or not is completely irrelevant. Th ey should thank their troops because it’s a very hard lifestyle.”

Coping with a new marriage, the military lifestyle and becom-ing a new wife haven’t been easy for Allie or Kristin, but they be-lieve it is the right decision for them and excited for the future.

“I feel like I still don’t have it totally under control, I still don’t know what I’m doing, but I’ve defi nitely grown up a lot more by gett ing married and becoming a military wife,” Allie said. “It’s a lot of growing up to do in a very short amount of time, but it’s nice and I know that Ryan will always be supportive. I’m lucky.”

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“Sometimes I’m afraid because there is so much he can’t tell me about what he’s doing,” Richter said.

Above: Courtesy of Lance Corporal Adam Dunigan and Kristin

Left: Allie Richter smiles while wearing her Navy Wife T-shirt.Middle: Allie receives a call from Ryan who is on a boat overseas with the Navy. Right: Lance Corporal Ryan Richter, Photo-graph courtesy of Allie.

Left and middle photo-graphs were taken by Victoria Couch /Warrior Life

7WL SPRING 2010

By Audrey LaBenz Photo Illustration by Heather Barone and

Haipha Simon/Warrior Life

EC students enter a world where man and fi re become

one through dance.

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There is just one element that can kill, cook, comfort, illuminate and

captivate: fi re. Out of a sense of wonder and respect that goes back to mankind’s very origins, nearly every culture has given it the face of a god.

“Fire is so ancient; something about lighting things on fi re fascinates us as hu-mans. It’s so primal,” Julie Beloussow, digital arts major, said.

Beloussow is also a self-employed art-ist and fi re dancer who simply goes by the name “Slang.” She and James Bailey, geog-raphy major, are founding members of a fi re dance troupe called Th ird Degree.

Each of the members has a special-ty. Beloussow mainly uses a hula hoop ringed with wicks. Bailey spins poi (a pair of wicks on the end of chains).

“When my poi’s on fi re, I know every-one’s looking at it. You just have to em-brace the att ention, especially in a public

place,” Bailey said.Th e desire to dance with fi re is not new;

there is a movement spreading that fl ickers in the souls of a new generation of dancers. Today’s fi re dancers do not just dance on or about a fi re, but with the fl ames them-selves, manipulating life and death on the blazing wicks of their fi re toys.

Lux.com., networking and informa-tion source for fi re dancers the world over, explains some of the origins of tra-ditional ritual fi re dancing. It has been a part of many cultures in many forms. Fire-walking is a show of bravery and strength and can be used to gain an altered state of consciousness. In Bulgaria, a fi re-walking dance called “Nestinarstvo” is practiced. Th e Ju’hoansi tribes native to the Kalahari Desert have also walked on fi re since their tribal beginnings.

Modern fi re manipulation, however, originates not from the mountains or the deserts, but from the island nations of the South Pacifi c. Homeofpoi.com, a detailed online resource for the history of fi re danc-ing, explains that the native Maori culture of New Zealand developed poi. Th ey are swung around the body in patt erns as a rhythmic dance, oft en to aggressive drums.

“Right now, the huge Polynesian fi re

community start their litt le warriors at

6 years old,” Scorch said.

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EC student Julie Beloussow spins her ring of fi re at the monthly Flow Temple Burn Jam using a hula hoop as her spinner of choice.Juliee Oliver/Warrior Life

In the last 20 years, thanks to social phenomena like the Neo-Tribal movement of the mid ‘90s and the Burning Man Festival, fi re dancing has taken a whole new turn.

“It’s a fi re performer community. Everyone who gets into it is a certain type of person. Th ey’re some of the coolest, most interesting, unique people who do this,” Beloussow said.

Th e global collective of fi re dancers share a strong bond.

“Even if you’ve only been doing it for a short pe-riod of time, you can tell how cohesive it is. It’s very friendly. If you go up to someone who’s a spinner and just start talking to them, they’ll tell you things. Th ey’ll help you,” Beloussow said. “Th ey just want to spread that joy that is in spinning, there are no secrets really.”

A technological revolution is in motion, with a broad range of props designed for dancing with fi re. Tools developed recently include fans, hoops, palm

Keith Krieser’s chaos fi re fans illuminate more than the walls of his Santa Monica backyard spinning space.

torches, swords, many diff erent va-rieties of poi and staves ranging in length from short batons to six-foot, multi-wicked staff s. Toys are made of strong, light alloys with specialized Kevlar wicks.

David “Jazz” Jasiewicz and Bren “Scorch” Tremere of Trick Concepts are manufacturers and distributors of fi re props world-wide. Jasiewicz is a mechanical en-gineer and Purdue graduate. Tremere worked in the fi eld of advanced vet-erinary fertility science for several years before gett ing into professional fi re dancing. Th ey are both responsible for the main body of laws surrounding fi re performance in the state of Califor-nia. As the numbers of fi re performers in California (now numbering in the tens of thousands) grew, so did an overall clash with the fi re protection authorities.

Tremere is the founding member of a group of fi re performers who spent a great deal of time and eff ort personally revising the laws to be perti-nent and agreeable for performers and authorities alike. She sat in on many

11WL SPRING 2010

Audrey LaBenz/Warrior Life

12

a meeting for state and local agencies to make her case for the cause.

“Th e state fi re marshall Al Adams,

ended up deviating from his agenda to ad-dress people in the audience and he said, ‘What we would like to suggest to you is

that you guys as a community get together and come up with a way to regulate your-selves, because if you don’t, fi re marshalls

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One performer practices archery at the Flow Temple Burn Jam in Venice Beach with a giant single-wick fi re fan he welded.


13

are going to step in and do it for you’,” Tremere said.

Th e new guidelines she and the other performers wrote were quickly picked up and promoted by fi re safety groups as well as the state fi re marshall himself. Tremere-and her group of fellow dancers eventually redraft ed the law into what became a tai-lored National Fire Protection Association document, NFPA 160, which deals with fi re performers nationwide.

“One of the things that we removed was the age limit, because you had to be 21 to spin fi re. Right now, the huge Polyne-sian fi re community start their litt le war-riors at 6 years old. Th ey’re competing at that age, so (the codes) completely left out a whole culture,” Tremere said.

With the freedom to practice his or her art, a he or she must also practice safety

above all else. Th e destructive force of his or her dance partner is never to be under-estimated and measures must be taken to keep the performer, the audience and their surroundings safe. Drapes, close walls, fl ammable fabrics and other pieces of dé-cor pose a serious hazard to performers.

“One of the biggest problems we run into is you’ll prepare for a show; you’ll get there, and the venue will end up be-ing diff erent from what they told you; they still want the show to go on. Th ey have to decide: Do I want to go forward with the performance or do I just have to tell them it can’t be done?” Jasiewicz said.

Heading production and design for one of the most widely known fi re prop companies in the world and being a part of the massive Los Angeles Fire Conclave, Jasiewicz displays a frank and supportive

viewpoint about the fi re community. “It’s in our best interest to make sure

the art as a whole can move forward safely, making sure longevity exists. It’s in our best interest to see everyone succeed,” he said.

Th e experience of dancing with such a destructive yet life-giving element is well worth all the time, dedication and eff ort it takes to master the techniques. Perhaps someday a crazy new toy will catch your eye, instantly sparking a thousand ideas, or you’ll see a performance whose ruthless beauty takes a torch to your very soul. It is then easy to see why so many are being consumed by the passion and energy of fi re dance.

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Jeremy Weglein’s shows off his palm torches, a custom creation from Trick Concepts, one of the largest fi re prop design and fabrication companies in the country. Trick Concepts is located in Torrance.


What’s love got to do with it?

There’s nothing like falling in love. But is it better to be single or in a relationship while in college?

You be the judge.By Joey Man

Photo Illustration by Mihoko Sato/Warrior Life

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WL 26

A couple met in high school, fell in love

and promised they would be together forever. Now that they’re in college, though, they’re both beginning to wonder if their partner is re-ally their soul mate. As they begin to meet so many inter-esting, fun and witt y people in their classes and on the college campus, their part-ners begin to look old, bor-ing, tired and dull. Aft er a few months of being together while in college, they’re both thinking that the time has come to dump their high school romances, become single and explore other rela-tionship possibilities.

Another couple met in high school, fell in love and despite all of the interesting people they’ve met at EC, they still look into each oth-er’s eyes at the end of the day, still feel that spark and are not tempted to stray from their relationship.

Whether students remain in relationships while in col-lege or dump the person they believed was the one is ulti-mately a matt er of personal choice.

Tammy Poon is a com-munications major and a for-mer honor student who also received a scholarship for international students. Poon said that personality, family background, academic situa-tions and many other factors aff ect a relationship. It is not fair to make a specifi c conclu-sion for all people, Poon said, therefore saying “it depends” is probably the most moder-ate and accurate conclusion.

Diff erent couples are in diff erent situations. Maybe one is at work while another is still in college, or both are full-time students. But

Mihoko Sato/Warrior LifeAudrey Adaza, business major, and Jacob Sola, art major, hold hands while spending their break time together.

the most important factor for people to determine whether the relationship works or not is compatibility, Mascolo, profes-sor of psychology, said.

“It’s variable. If you have a happy relationship, a support-ive relationship, maybe another person is studying at school, and you guys study together, and that can be great,” Masco-

lo said. “But if your boyfriend needs a lot of att ention and gets mad because you can’t go out or you have to study, then it starts to become another thing. It’s now costing you because you are being pulled in diff erent directions.”Poon was having a relationship and taking 17 units while also working as a tutor in the math department. She was

also preparing to transfer to a university and take a Japanese certifi cation exam. Th at was a busy semester for Poon. Poon’s boyfriend was also studying at EC, so despite her busy sched-ule, she could still have some private time with the one she loved. A busy schedule is not a major factor that aff ects her re-lationship with her boyfriend.

“However, you have to con-sider that I sacrifi ced some of my sleeping hours. I tried not to sleep for several nights just because I needed to fi nish my work which was due,” Poon said.

It may sound like a diffi cult routine, but she made it work. Of course, Poon’s route would not work for everyone. Even though there are some sacri-fi ces, Poon found that a person can really benefi t by having a re-lationship. She said that having a relationship helps people to become more mature and pro-vides a strong emotional sup-port system.

“When we really know a per-son, we see ourselves through them. We fi nd our similarities and diff erences. Th en, we im-prove ourselves,” Poon said.

While living in the same small world can be a problem for some people—going to the same college with your other half and having the same group of friends, Poon doesn’t see it that way.

Even though having parties on weekends, seeing att ractive people walking around the cam-pus and other kinds of tempta-tions can be factors which lead to some negative emotions, Poon doesn’t agree that these factors should be the reason to stay, it’s not appropriate to be in a relationship in college.

“I think it depends on how you handle it. Temptation is ev-erywhere. Without a start, you

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WL 27Mihoko Sato/Warrior LifeRobert Guerrero and Brittny Petterson, both graphic advertising design majors, spend a lot of their time together on and off campus.

WL SPRING 2010 17

will never know if the relationship will work,” Poon said.

Long-distance relationships are also an option. Cathy Ng, a student planning on transferring in the fall, said that she benefi t-ted by having a relationship, even though it was a long distance relationship. Ng said her GPA was even higher when she was in the re-lationship.

“I was more focused on my academic studies, and I did not have to keep looking at which guy seemed nice in class. I felt secure and safe at that moment,” Ng said.

A support system is formed in an intimate and healthy relationship, and that can help people, especially young people, overcome struggles in life. Ng said that before her rela-tionship, she lacked of a sense of security, and that having someone to encourage her and tell her that she did the right thing made her stronger. Not everyone agrees.

Some people enjoy the feeling of hav-ing a relationship, but some are opposed to committ ing to one while in college. Aft er staying busy for two years at EC, Anthony Ip, psychology major, loves the feeling of being single.

“I didn’t intend to avoid a relationship; it was just too busy for me to have a relation-ship. I love to be single,” Ip said.

However, Ip said if there was a woman he likes and she likes him, he would defi nitely accept her into his life.

“I am open-minded. I am just not ob-sessed with the idea of having a relationship,” he said.

He is not alone in his opinion. Vivian Chao, a communications major who started dating in high school, also prefers to be single in college.

“I was happy with my boyfriend when we were in high school since we had a lot of time, but it is diff erent now. I don’t even have enough time for schoolwork,” Chao said.

Th ere are some limits and drawbacks to having a relationship in college, especially for transfer and international students, who will not be living in the area permanently.

“Sometimes, I imagine what would happen if we had never started the relationship. I guess I would probably be more independent and would have had more time with friends,” Poon said.

Chao agreed that being single gave her more chances to be with friends. Money is also a problem in a college relationship. Poon said that her boyfriend paid for her more when she was at EC, but the situation has now reversed. It creates confl icts and tensions.

“We both work, but the fact is there are always some problems about money,” Poon said. When people try to explain a dating relationship in a scientifi c way, the role of chemical substances which are released by the brain are

oft en used. However, Mascolo said that the role that chemical substances play in a relationship is not the way that students generally think

Vivian Chao, communications major, enjoys hanging out at the coffee shop with a friend as they

WL SPRING 201018

about it. Sometimes, people just make things more complicated. “Th ere are certain kinds of chemicals that deal with the actual romantic part of relationships, like during sex. However, we over em-

phasize that sometimes,” Mascolo said. It can be a tough task to make a wise choice. Th ere are many reasons that people can think of for starting a new relationship or end-

ing one. However, the fi rst question to ask when people are trying to make that decision maybe is a simple cost-benefi ts analysis: “It is basically how happy versus how stressed you are,” Mascolo said.

plan a shopping trip for the weekend. Though single, Chao fi nds that she’s not missing out on anything at all by not being in a relationship. Mihoko Sato/Warrior Life

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Got

Photographed by William DeLeonBy Roxanna Martinez

fashion?

WL SPRING 2010 21

The world of fashion has come a long way since bell-bott om pants and go-go boots. And in that

time, new fashion designers have emerged. Tailor Made Club president Walter Mendez, 20 and Ivan Arroyo, 21, are aspiring fashion designers ready to take the fashion world by storm one stitch at a time.

Th e art of fashion has given people the inspiration to express themselves freely through their very own designs. EC’s fashion club, Tailor Made, gives its members the op-portunity to familiarize themselves with such a competi-tive industry.

Here are a few of pieces from their spring line.

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Favorite Designer:Valentino, Alexander McQueen

Favorite store:H&M, Banana Republic, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s

“Don’t be afraid to be bold and to make a state-ment. If you stay true to yourself, you will be

successful,” Mendez said.

Name: Walter MendezAge: 20Major: Fashion DesignGenre of fashion design: Women’s

Design by Walter MendezDesign by Walter Mendez Design by Ivan Arroyo

Favorite Designer: Takeshi Osumi

Favorite store: Greenspan

“I like trying to be unique with my fashions, not loud,” Arroyo said.

Name: Ivan ArroyoAge: 21Major: Fashion DesignGenre of fashion design: Men’s

Above: Oller puts the fi nishing touches to her sketch.Left: Oller with her boy-friend during their fi rst night in the U.S.

Bottom: Examples of Marta’s work from her graphic design class.

Photograph courtesy of Marta Oller

Sylwia Ozdzynski/Warrior Life

Sylwia Ozdzynski/Warrior LifeOller visits the International Student Program offi ce located in the Student Services Center for a moment before heading to class. Sylwia Ozdzynski/Warrior Life

WL SPRING 2010 23

Miles and miles away from

home, an entire ocean separates her from her family, friends and ev-erything she knows best. Living in the U.S. for a mere seven months, Mar-ta Oller, 27, is not only fi nding her way in a new country, but on a new campus.

Leaving the com-forts of her home in Ma-taro, Spain, Oller came to EC to pursue a major

in graphic design, working towards receiving her Web

design certifi cate. Th ough gett ing to know the ins and outs of EC during her fi rst semester hasn’t been the easiest task, Oller has handled it well.

“I feel like I fi t here. It’s hard to describe,” Oller said. Graphic design has always been in Oller’s life. Watching her

grandfather retouch logos by hand before printing them from his own printing business sparked a love for graphic design that she carries with her today.

“Th e challenge of a project and trying to convey a specifi c message in a clear and clean way is my favorite thing about graph-ic design, and I think I got that from my grandfather,” Oller said.

Gett ing to know how the college system works has been the most diffi cult part for Oller but the hours she spends on campus with teachers and fellow classmates are worth it in achieving her goals.

“All the instructors I’ve gott en to know this semester are re-ally helpful and inspiring,” Oller said.

Photo illustration by Toney Fernandez/Warrior Life

EC or bust

By Annastashia Goolsby

It’s one thing to fi nd a history class that focuses on Chicano history. But to fi nd one that allows

students to act out scenes from the past is priceless.

Ready to aim his laser pointer at his next victim in his History of the Chicano in the United States class, An-

drew Monzon narrows in on the chosen student while the oth-ers laugh and sigh with relief that the joking instructor did not pick them.

He is one of only two history instructors who teaches La-tino culture at EC, which makes it a unique course.

“We appreciate the contributions of Andrew Monzon to our Behavioral and Social Sciences Division. Courses on Lati-no culture and history certainly add to our diverse curriculum off erings, focusing on historical events and how those occur-ances aff ect today’s culture,” President Th omas Fallo said.

Aside from his daily lectures, Monzon has his students cre-ate and perform skits where a group is given a topic to express

Ruby Gutierrez/Warrior LifeAndrew Monzon, during his History of the Chicano in the United States class lecture, has a few laughs with several students.

through their own means of interpretation.Skits were originally performed 50 years ago in the Chicano

Civil Rights Movement, which was a cultural and political move-ment that encompassed the inclination to have equality, social jus-tice and the opportunity to have an education.

“Th e best skits are when the students bring in their own props, have energy that fi lls the entire classroom and just act like clowns,” Monzon said. “I have seen some things that make me laugh out loud!”

Monzon not only stands out because of his distinct course, but be-cause he uses humor as part of his teaching tech-niques to engage the stu-dents.

“For one semester, I tried teaching students the way professors are sup-posed to. Aft er that, I real-ized that method of teach-ing was not for me,” Monzon said.

He found that using humor can make a history class less dry and

“For one semester, I tried teaching students the way professors

are supposed to. Aft er that, I realized

that method of teaching

was not me,” Monzon said.

Once upon a time in Mexico

WL SPRING 201024

Ruby Gutierrez/ Warrior Life

Monzon sits with a student in his History of the Chicano class.

“Nine out of ten students will tell you they are taking a history class because they have to. I try to make this class stand out and even shock

the students,” Monzon said.

WL SPRING 2010 25

can actually interest the students in the lecture since history has a reputation of being dull and boring.

Another way Monzon makes learning interesting for students is to have them create a magazine. Students still have to conduct research, but they are pushed in a more creative direction to do so, Monzon said.

Juan Maceo, 23, Chicano studies major, takes Monzon’s class to focus on the aspects of history that are rarely taught.

“I’d like to see the world through the eyes of the Mexican people before and aft er the conquest and the struggle that has been placed upon the Latinos in this day and age,” Maceo said.

Monzon incorporates his own life when teaching subjects that would otherwise seem relatively dull. When lecturing about the Mexican school system or the Aztec drug and alcohol usage, Monzon jokes about parties he went to when he was in college.

He also includes the students by asking if they have any re-lated stories they would like to share.

“Nine out of 10 students will tell you they are taking a history class because they have to. I try to make this class stand out and even shock the students,” Monzon said.

To keep the students interested in the history of the Chicano Movement, Monzon requires the students to design a magazine as well.

Sierra Frazier, 25, Spanish major, is a student in Monzon’s class. Frazier said she stays interested in class because of Mon-zon’s varied teaching methods.

“I think (Monzon) has a lot of really good and diff erent ideas in how we learn the information,” Frazier said. “I also really en-joy learning about the indigenous people of Mexico and learning more information on the conquest of the New World.”

Last but not least, Monzon has the students read Graciela Limon’s “Song of the Hummingbird,” which intertwines the his-tory of Mexico into a confession of one woman’s past sins.

Th e main character, Huitzitzilin, reconnects people with their lost history. Th e novel shows how history and the keeping of information are important, Monzon said.

It is Monzon’s hope that by the end of the semester his stu-dents will know the hardships the Mexican people went through and that it is not just a repetitive history class.

He also wants his students to leave knowing their identity, to learn from that and to reconnect with themselves.

“My goal at the end is to create an environment in which students enjoy learning about history and themselves,” Monzon said. “In some cases if they are not Chicano, they can learn an entirely new perspective of history.”

WL SPRING 201026

Personal training never Personal training never felt so goodfelt so good

By MariaCristina Gonzalez

A new personal training program teaches that the benefi ts of exercise don’t stop at shedding the pounds.

Photo Illustration by Sylwia Ozdzynski/Warrior Life

WL SPRING 2010 27

Gasping for air, the student begins to feel his legs weaken; his mus-

cles tire and his brain becomes overloaded as he pushes himself to complete the 10-mile run. His student trainer stands next to him as he begins to run out of gas on the treadmill and encourages him to keep go-ing. She implores him to fi ght through the pain. She tells him to focus on one step at a time and to just focus on keeping one foot in front of the other. She tells him that he’s doing great and that he’s got it made. Just as he is about to give in and collapse, she tells him that he is much stronger than he thinks and that he can complete this 10-mile run. As he crosses the 10-mile point on the treadmill, the student trainer shuts down the machine as the student’s chest heaves and he practically collapses on the treadmill.

Situations such as this are part of what it means to be a personal trainer. Not only do trainers need to know the basics of ex-ercise, but they also need to learn how to motivate others to fi ght through the pain and to keep on going. In the Personal Fit-ness Training class (PE 290) at EC, stu-dents are learning everything they need to know to become personal trainers.

Th e course provides basic informa-tion for what every aspiring trainer should know and motivation to keeping a client coming back to the gym.

“If you put a carrot in front of a horse, he’ll probably move, but once you take the carrot away, he probably won’t, and that’s what I teach in my class. I teach students how to keep motivated to come back to the gym,” Brandon Alcocer, physical edu-cation instructor, said.

Alcocer said the class is designed to provide the guidelines for students to pass the National Academy of Sports and Med-icine (NASM) exam to become certifi ed trainers.

“It is easy to be certifi ed as a trainer anywhere, but NASM is the most credit-able due its relationship with all of the mainstream gyms such as 24 Fitness and LA Fitness,” Alcocer said.

According to the offi cial NASM web-site, the NASM exam that students have to take to be certifi ed is a writt en exam that consists of 120 questions about nutrition,

program design, exercise technique, client relations and administration.

“It’s a simple test. It’s not too hard to pass for students aft er taking the class we off er here on campus,” Alcocer said.

For students, one of most enjoyable things about the course is the lab portion where they learn about body strength and how the body works.

“In the class, we don’t just learn from a book; we actually get experience about how to plan a workout and what clients can handle from their body types. I think that’s really interesting and more benefi -cial,” Tamara Lindsey, physical education major, said.

For example, one day in lab, students took assessments that he or she should be doing with his or her clients. Th e assess-ment consisted of measuring body por-tions and studying techniques a clients as exercise.

“Th e purpose of the assessments is to learn their form, but, more importantly ,what needs to be worked on from the measurements we took from around the bicepts and thighs,” Lindsey said.

Another key element that students are learning about is the client psychology about being motivated.

“Trainers tend to say, ‘Give me one

more sit up or push up’ to a client, but what I teach in my class is to change the trainer’s att itude. I have him or her ask the client, ‘Do you have one more in you?”’ Alcocer said. “It is important to make the clients comfortable when working out, instead of pushing them to their limits.”

For many students, the course base the work that a trainer goes through with helping a client.

“In Los Angeles, it’s tough to get a good trainer that’s not all about the money aspect of it, and this class has helped me not just understand the basics of physical training, but also helped me with social skills and encouragement with clients,” Marlessa Kingbatiste, physical education major, said.

Many trainers have found opportuni-ties from becoming certifi ed online, but EC is one of the few colleges that off ers such a course that prepares students for the NASM exam.

“I’m not too familiar with other col-leges that carry the course; this is my fi rst semester teaching it, but anyone can take it; we have a lot of students include coach-es in the class because it is a fun course to take. Students do learn a lot more then they intend to,” Alcocer said.

Sylwia Ozdzynski/Warrior LifeTahni Dorion, physical therapy major, measures fellow classmate Michael Pessan’s bi-ceps during a class assessment of body portions that will help in creating better workout plans for different body types.

WORKOUTWORKOUTWORKOUTWORKOUTWORKOUTWORKOUT

Th e plank exercise is a great way to build endurance in both the abdominal and the back, as well as the stabilizer muscles in the hip, spine and shoulders.

How to:1. Lie face down on a mat while resting on the forearms,

with palms fl at on the fl oor. 2. Push off the fl oor, raising up onto the toes and resting

on the elbows. 3. Keep your back fl at, in a straight line from head to

heels. 4. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominal to pre-

vent your rear end from sticking up in the air or sagging in the middle.

5. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat for three to fi ve repetitions.

Here are some easy workout moves that students can do on their own provided by the students from the class.

i i t t b i

PlankPlankPhotos by Sylwia Ozdzynski/Warrior Life

Model: Tamara Lindsey

F l o o r B r i d g eF l o o r B r i d g e

Bird Dog

Mountain

Climb

Th is exercise is great to strengthen the core, the butt ocks, the hamstrings and the lower back. How to:

1. Lying on the back, with legs bent and feet fl at on the fl oor, place feet about hip width apart.2. Relax the head and shoulders as you lift the hips up and hold for two seconds.3. Make sure to stay on the heels of your feet and squeeze the butt ocks at the top.

4. Slowly lower hips, without touching the ground and repeat.5. Make sure to keep the stomach tight throughout the range of motion.

WL SPRING 201028

Th is is a great exercise you can do anywhere without any equipment to help you build endurance in the lower body.

How to:1. Stand in front of a wall (about two feet in front of it)

and lean against it.2. Slide down until your knees are at a 90-degree angle

and hold, keeping the abdominal contracted for 20 to 60 seconds.

3. Come back to start and repeat, holding the squat at diff erent angles to work the lower body in diff erent ways.

4. To add intensity, hold weights or squeeze a ball be-tween the knees.

a great exercise you can do anyw

Wall Wall Sits Sits

Bird DogBird Dog

Th e Mountain Climber calisthenics ex-ercise conditions your entire body and is ex-cellent for developing foot and leg muscles. You can increase your overall stamina and core strength by doing the mountain climber.

Mountain

Mountain

Climb

Climb

How to:1. Stand with your arms by your sides, feet together.2. Bend down and put your hands shoulder width apart on the fl oor.3. Place yourself in the basic push-up position with your arms in line with your chest and your legs extended outward.4. Rest on the balls of your feet while bringing one leg (for this example, we’ll say left leg) forward to your chest and back to its

original position. Keep the right leg tucked during the forward and back movement of the left leg.5. Check to be sure your bent leg and hands carry the weight of your body and that you hold your head up during the back and

forth leg movements.6. Repeat the motion described in Step Four rapidly, alternating one leg forward and one leg back. Th is movement mimics the

“climbing of a mountain.”7. Repeat as many times as you can. Remember to inhale and exhale steadily during the entire mountain climber exercise.

Bird Dog strengthens the “posterior core,” the muscu-lar region that includes the

abdominal, the lower back, the butt ocks and the thighs.How to:1. Kneel on the fl oor with

hands fi rmly placed about shoulder width apart.

2. Brace the abdominal, and at fi rst, practice lift ing one hand and the opposite knee just clear of the fl oor while bal-ancing on the other hand and knee. Half an inch will do until you get the idea of it.

3. When you’re ready to do the complete exercise, point the arm out straight in front and extend the opposite leg to the rear (see diagram).

4. Hold for 10 seconds then return the hands and knees to the ground position.

5. Starting out, try fi ve re-peats on alternate hands and knees, with 10 repetitions in all. Add additional sets of 10 exercises up to three sets of 10.

WL SPRING 2010 29

WL SPRING 201030

“Do you do it for health rea-sons?”

“No, but I do enjoy the benefi ts.”“Are you allergic to it?”“Um, no, not to my knowledge.”“So,” chomp, chomp, chomp, “why do

you do it then?”Uh, geeze. How do I explain to this

beautiful girl that the slab of sliced, fried,

still-pink-with-blood fl esh hanging from her mouth repulses me?

“Well, I just think eating animals is re-ally cruel and unnecessary.”

“Oh…”Well, blew that one.And so it goes for a young single veg-

etarian like myself. But it’s all worth it to have a guilt-free mind every time I sit down

Photo Illustration by Sylwia Ozdzynski/Warrior Life

Veggie talesVeggie talesBy Alex Curran

Vegetar ianism is not just the healthier choice for the person not eating meat; it’s better for the

whole world.

WL SPRING 2010 31

at a dinner table. Should I get past an initial conversa-

tion, there comes a point in the new rela-tionship when it’s time to have dinner with the parents.

I never look forward to this part. It’s not because I am incredibly awkward around parents, even though I totally am, but because I never know how to make a good fi rst impression while refusing to eat the fl esh they worked so hard to cook for me.

In my very limited experience (I haven’t had many dates), I’ve found that there is no way an invite to the parents’ house for dinner will turn out well.

It’s tough enough when they try to serve you the portion of the meal that they think is vegetarian (no, those mashed po-tatoes covered in gravy are no longer veg-etarian), but even worse when they create a “vegetarian” meal specifi cally for you. Yeah, fi sh is considered meat actually. Th is is already awkward, and we haven’t even gott en to any conversation yet.

When we do get into a conversation, talk is always dominated by the fact that I’m a vegetarian. Frequently, I come off as a pompous know-it-all, probably because I am, but it doesn’t really matt er because I usually ruin the relationship by the time I get another invite to the parents’ house anyway.

Th is all started about fi ve years ago. I decided, basically out of nowhere, that I could no longer eat meat and sleep well at night.

So one day I was chowing down on an In-N-Out burger and the next I was eating at Green Temple. Since that day, during my junior year of high school, I have not knowingly consumed any meat.

Th e decision didn’t only make rela-tionships with new women diffi cult, but it also soured things with my parents. When I told my dad that I would no longer be joining him for his Sunday night steak din-ners, he seemed prett y indiff erent. I don’t think he thought it would last.

Aft er about a month or so of me not eating meat, my dad started to get a litt le bitt er. Whenever he would make a veg-etarian meal like burritos, he made sure to add chicken to the beans.

“Dad, why couldn’t you add the

chicken to your burrito and not to all the beans?”

“Sorry, I didn’t think about it…”I see your litt le game, father!Th is kitchen batt le between my dad

and me lasted for the fi rst month and a half of my venture into vegetarianism. Aft er he realized that vegetarian food was generally cheaper and healthier than meat products, he started to embrace my new life choice. He’d even make at least one vegetarian meal a week for the family.

While my dad came around to under-standing my diff erent lifestyle, not every-one is as used to the idea.

I get really irked when people ask why anyone would want to be a vegetarian. Aside from the whole cruelty thing, which I guess is subjective, there are plenty of health and environmental benefi ts to be-coming a vegetarian.

Th ere is a preconceived notion that vegetarianism is not a healthy lifestyle because it lacks some foods on the ever-changing food pyramid. Th is is not true. According to the American Dietetic Asso-ciation, all the necessary nutrients for any type of person, whether they be a body-builder or marathon runner, can be found in a vegetarian diet.

Cutt ing out meat in one’s diet has also been linked to reducing one’s weight and chances of developing heart disease and certain types of cancers, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. But if fence-straddlers are still not con-vinced, consider the environmental ben-efi ts of becoming vegetarian.

According to a United Nation’s report in 2006, meat production and consump-tion att ributed to 18 percent of human-

made greenhouse gasses. Reports by independent groups have

disputed this report, saying the green-house emissions of the meat industry are actually closer to 50 percent, but one thing is certain: Meat production and consump-tion is contributing to global warming.

Meat production takes up more space, food, water and fossil fuels than vegetable production, according to the U.N.

Th e overproduction of cows for their meat is one of the most harmful things for the environment because when cows fart and poop, they let out methane, which is the most harmful greenhouse gas to the ozone layer, according to the Environmen-tal Protection Agency.

Vegetarianism is not just the healthier choice for the person not eating meat, but for the whole world.

I also hate when people admit that eat-ing meat is cruel, but continue to do so. If people think it’s cruel to eat animals, they should stop doing it. Try to do it for a week, a month, a year. It’s easier than you think.

Living in the South Bay, there are plenty of delicious options for new veg-etarians in grocery stores as well as at lo-cal restaurants. Grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s off er huge varieties of vegetarian meals that are easy to cook and generally less expensive than non-veg-etarian meals.

Th e South Bay also has a lot of great vegetarian restaurants. From established vegetarian restaurants like Th e Spot in Hermosa Beach, which fi rst opened in 1977, to new options like Th e Veggie Grill in El Segundo, which opened in 2006, there are plenty of places for vegetarians to have a nice dinner out.

And if you don’t think eating animals is cruel, than I recommend you fi nd out how your food is made before you eat it again.

If you can watch a video from a slaugh-terhouse and continue to eat meat, then have fun. Just watch out for mad cow dis-ease, salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter and the loads of other diseases that pop up in meat every three years due to the unsan-itary conditions of savage meat factories.

Well, I think it’s about time for me to get off this high horse; it’s got a date with the glue factory.

Meat production takes up more space, food water and fossil fuels than vegetable

production, according to the United Nations.

WL SPRING 201032

Gimme a break

EC’s Hip-Hop club takes breakdancing to new highs and lows.

Written and photographed by Toney Fernandez/Warrior Life

Casey Kim-Whittle, 19, business major, does ground spins in the Physical Education Building, South.

WL SPRING 2010 33

Physical Education Building, South, Room 233 has old, wood-paneled

fl oors, mirrors, off -white painted walls and speakers surrounding the room. Every Tues-day and Th ursday from 1 to 2 p.m. the room is brought to life when an iPod is connected to the speakers. Students pack the fl oors and hip-hop begins to take place.

Th e room is an upgrade from “the spot” where the group of dancers practiced last year.

“We would be at ‘the spot,’ by PE-52 every day around lunch time, eating lunch, talking and dancing,” Joshua Buan, club president, said. “We had the troubles of mu-sic being too loud or not having music at all. Th e fl oor was hard, dirty and cold. I pitched the idea of gett ing a dance room, with mir-

rors, wood fl oors and a sound system, and all we had to do was turn ourselves into a club.”

To Richard “Slyck Ryck Uno” Galvan, hip-hop is more than a hobby.

“Hip-hop is a way to escape every day life and express myself to the fullest. It’s more than just dancing,” Galvan said. “It incorpo-rates being a master of ceremonies, a deejay, beat boxing, graffi ti art and popping. It’s also about the way you dress, talk and carry your-self.”

Th e EC Hip-Hop Club is a group that allows free expression through hip-hop mu-sic and dance. Bernice Boseman is the club’s adviser. Th e members range from beginners who are curious about hip-hop dance, to people who have been into the scene since they could walk.

At any given time, there are many diff er-ent groups doing their own dances. Some batt le, some pop, some work on technical footwork, and those who are not dancing are standing or sitt ing close by, taking it all in, learning and cheering for their fellow club members.

From the family aspect, to the awe that is hip-hop dance, the Hip-Hop Club is a unique club for dancers and their personalities.

“We put on a show for students passing by and just practice our moves. We welcome anyone who wants to watch and wants to learn. Whether it’s simple dance steps or advanced moves, ask any of us to teach you, and we’ll be happy to help,” Buan said.

Top: James Kang performs a no-handed windmill using his head as a platform.

Left: Dan Arki does a one-handed pose while showing off his Kirby tattoo. Lacey Omon, 19, dance major, practices a couple of leg moves in the background.

Left: Lacey Omon, 19, dance major, performs a “Nike” in a rehearsal room located in Physical Education Building, South. Omon fi nds that dancing helps her to escape reality.

Bottom: Casey Kim-Whittle , 19, busi-ness major, does a backfl ip as James Kang holds a pose below.

QUESTION?

What is the most outrageous excuse you

have heard from a student? I blew my nose so

hard, my back gave out.

I broke my leg snowboarding off

the roof while drunk.

I was trying to get my gun back from the police.

I had to go audition for “American

Idol.”

“I actually had a student miss class for a whole week and blame it on the time change,” Michael Bate-

man, mathematics instructor, said.“A student noted on a paper an apology for

the bad quality because they were under the in-fl uence of drugs,” Janet Young, professor of child

development, said.

Written By Annastashia GoolsbyPhotographed by Stuart Ranier

WL SPRING 201034

“Th e most preposterous excuse I’ve received for a student missing class is that the student was

in jail!” Kristy Loesener, physical education instructor said.

“I’ve had several students say their essay fl ew out of the window while driving on the 405 freeway,” Rosemarie Kistler, reading in-

structor, said.

“I’ve heard excuses like it rained so the stu-dent could not drive, the surf came up, someone got pregnant and they had a court obligation,”

Corey Stanbury, swim coach, said.

“A male student once gave me a note from a gynecologist’s offi ce for his absence,” Jerry Brothen, profes-sor of geography and meteorology,

said.

“A young lady several years ago either came from a very unique family, had a very poor memory, or thought I did. Over the course of a school year, her mother died three times,” Rick Hughes, professor of computer

aided design and draft ing (CADD), said.

“I once had a student who missed seven classes in a row. I dropped her and she showed up angry that I had dropped her. She wanted me to reinstate her. When I asked her why she had missed so many classes and hadn’t bothered to contact me, she said, ‘Th at’s just the way I am with school. It takes me a while to get into it.’ I did not reinstate her,” Nancilyn

Burruss, English instructor said.

35WL SPRING 2010

WL 20WLWLWLWLWLWLWLWWWW 20200200022020220020

Shooting for the stars

Writt en and photographed by Heather Barone/Warrior LifeOne of the fi rst photos taken of the

Planetarium when it opened on July 16, 1969.

The circular shaped building and domed ceiling of the Planetarium is visible from the outside, giving it a mysterious appeal.

WL SPRING 201036

Photo illustration by Heather Barone/Warrior Life

On the third planet from the Sun, on the North Ameri-can continent, in the state of California, in the city

of Torrance, people on the campus of EC are observing the galaxy.

Faces turned upward, the onlookers gaze upon a dazzling display of stars and light scatt ered across the night sky, thou-sands of light years away in a galaxy so vast it defi es compre-hension.

Th is scene is not taking place on the Library Lawn. It is inside one of EC’s most treasured buildings: the Planetarium.

Th e Planetarium opened in September of 1969, just a few months aft er the U.S. Apollo 11 mission, during which Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the fi rst men to walk on the moon.

Since then, the Planetarium has been a place where many of life’s most important questions are answered.

“I really like being alive right now to tell students about the new discoveries and things we’re learning,” David Vakil, astronomy and physics professor, said.

Many of those discoveries can be seen in the Planetarium, projected onto the building’s giant domed ceiling; but they represent only a fraction of what scientists know to be in the real night sky.

“What’s up there? Ninety-eight percent of it we don’t know,” Vakil said. “We only see two percent of the universe. Th ere is a lot we’re still trying to fi gure out.”

Through the telescope, Joe Takemora, 19, accounting major, studies and draws the half moon.

The C h r o n o s space sim-ulator is a piece of equipment that proj-ects stars, p l a n e t s and con-s t e l l a -tions on the ceiling dome of the Plan-etarium.

WL SPRING 2010 37

WL SPRING 201038

By Haipha Simon

WL SPRING 201038


Warrior Life editor-in-chief sits down with EC President Thomas Fallo to

discuss budget cuts, construction and “Tuesdays with Tom”

By Haipha Simon

A talk with the

President

President Thomas Fallo talks with Kathy Oswald, Assistant to the President, in his offi ce located in the Administration Building. Sylwia Ozdzynski/Warrior Life

EC employee Luis Bonilla, 30, sits with Fallo at the new Cafe Camino located behind the Library.


Karla Henry/Warrior Life

Monica Saucedo, 18, administration of justice major, chats with Fallo regarding her future endeavors.

Cafe Camino is the product of a bond measure, which provided ECwith funds to renovate and develop the campus grounds and facilities.

Karla Henry/Warrior LifeDuring a meeting with faculty members Fallo speaks on the top-ic of EC’s master plan for development for the next 20 years.

WL SPRING 2010 39

Aft er receiving his MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of

Management, Th omas Fallo worked in the California Community College sys-tem, including three years at Glendale Community College and 17 years in the Los Angeles Community College Dis-trict. Speaking with WL editor-in-chief, Fallo refl ects on almost two decades of service to EC.WL: Currently, what is the biggest chal-lenge that you believe the campus is fac-ing?President: It has to be the fi nancial situa-tion. We’ve made commitments to try and retain our programs, to try to educate as many students as we can given the income we have while trying to keep employment. Unfortunately, we can’t do all of that in this environment because we’re simply not receiving that support from the state. So students who are not gett ing all of the classes they want are going to have to stay longer. Students persist and that’s what keeps us all going, the understanding that this is something that they want, that they need. It’s an investment. You have to put something into it and we have to give these students the opportunity. WL: What is one thing you think EC is missing?President: State support. Financially. It’s a tough time. It’s not the state’s fault. In one sense, it’s a global meltdown, and if we had more resources, we’d be bett er able to help our students.WL: What do you say to those students who are dealing with class cuts?President: Persist. You have to have the determination and that’s what I’m admir-ing. Also understand what the system is and make it work for you. If you’ve been at EC long enough, you’ll get higher priority enrollment than a non-continuing student or a new student. WL: What inspires you to do what you do every day? President: Th e students. What I’m ob-serving this year that’s amazing to me is that the students are very well aware of the economy. Th ey know how diffi cult it is. Th ey know they’re not going to get a job immediately (necessarily), but it’s their att itude and the persistence that keeps me going. It’s tough at a college. It’s tough

out there. But you folks are investing in yourselves in something that can never be taken from you, and you’re smart enough to know that.WL: If you had the opportunity, what would you do diff erently when it comes to EC?President: I would like to have gone out for an extension of the bond in 2008. What you see is a renovation of the campus. We cannot complete it given the amount of money we have now. Had we gone out for an extension of the bond, which we may have to wait until 2012 to do, we might have been able to complete the campus. My admiration is for the students, fac-ulty and staff now because it’s torn up a lot. I know you have to walk around these screens and they look shabby and you have to take diff erent paths and some buildings are down but people realize that some-body did this for them and they’re doing it for somebody else. It’s nice to see that kind of att itude and that understanding.WL: Would you ever leave EC for an-other campus?President: (chuckles) Did you ask that because of what happened last year? WL: Last year? Would you mind elabo-rating on that?President: A year ago, some other cam-puses were recruiting me, and I was in some interviews and the board made me an off er to stay. I decided that I would stay, but I didn’t take any additional money. So I’m probably here for the duration, how-ever long that is, I have no idea.WL: And why not take the pay in-crease?President: I thought it was the wrong timing. I felt that the board had indicated to me its support in making that off er and in saying that it wanted me to stay. Th at felt very good, and I didn’t need the money in the end. People in this position, in that desk out there or anywhere, occasionally need a pat on the back. You need to know that people think you’re doing a good job, and I’ve always felt that. I’ve always thought that I’ve surrounded myself with very good colleagues, vice presidents, fac-ulty, staff and students, and it’s personally rewarding. I don’t think you get much bet-ter than that. In fact, I know you couldn’t.WL: What do you think is the biggest

misconception that students, faculty or staff have about you?President: Th e misconception is that I’m diff erent. We’re all prett y much the same. I believe people want the same things in life. Th ey want to love, they want to be loved, and they want to leave a bett er world when they leave. It’s a contribution. You don’t want to be a consumer. You want to be a giver. You want to help the world do some-thing, and I think most people do that.WL: Can students come in and chat with you if they need to?President: Every Tuesday at 2 p.m. If I’m here it’s an open offi ce hour for students, and employees. I probably see more stu-dents and than employees. WL: Do a lot of students utilize your of-fi ce hours?President: Yes, and you now know what I always ask them when I meet with them? “Where are you going aft er EC?” Because I always want them to think of not what they‘re doing now, but of what they’re go-ing to do in the future. Th en I ask them how they plan to get there, what courses they need and the timing. I also ask who’s their counselor, because I want them to connect with a counselor. Th at’s critically important for them and for me.WL: When you look at all of this con-struction outside of your window, what is the fi rst thing that pops into your head?President: When I look at this I think of the absolute beauty. You know the artist Christo, who put up the massive orange screens around Central Park? I see this as our Christo stage and eventually these are going to come down and we’re going to have beautiful buildings. It’s exciting.WL: Do you fi nd that work interferes with your family life since you’re here all of the time?President: No, I’m a widower now. I don’t have as much actual home activity as in the past, but you adapt. We’re all going to die. You’re too young to think about it and I’m too close to it. (laughs) And you never know when it’s going to happen, so that’s the whole thing about living each day and appreciating the opportunity to do what you do, whether it’s studying, gett ing a good grade in class, or walking down the commencement aisle.

WL SPRING 2010 39

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