Donald Sterling is bad for the Clippers franchise and the whole NBA

Donald Sterling’s racist comments this weekend were indefensible and fans need to let the NBA know that this is not acceptable behavior.

Sterling drew attention this weekend when audio recordings were released of him making racist remarks about African-Americans.

The recordings included comments where Sterling lecturing his girlfriend for associating with African-Americans.

It’s hard to believe that the owner of a NBA franchise would not only have these deplorable opinions, but would be dumb to allow them to become public.

The majority of NBA players is African American and the fact that Sterling holds these opinions while these men sacrifice their time, energy and money is tragic.

All of this could not come at a worse time as the Clippers are trying to remain in the playoffs.

It makes a challenging dilemma as obviously these players want to win and become champions, however do they want to do it for this franchise?

By winning these players bring money and fame to not only their team but to Sterling as well.

Many have said that the NBA should step in and remove Sterling however that is easier said than done.

While the NBA may not be able to force Sterling to sell his history of racial problems make it obvious that something must be done.

Since the tapes release other stories have come out revealing that this has been a problem for many years.

In 2009 Sterling was sued by former Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor, who said that Sterling had a “Plantation attitude”.

The Department of Justice also brought charges against Sterling for allegedly not renting apartment in his complex to African-Americans, which he settled out of court.

Looking back at these event it is easy to see a pattern in regards to Sterling’s attitude.

The best way to for Sterling out is to hit him and the Clippers franchise in the wallet.

While it may be tough to do, especially while the Clippers in the playoffs, fans need to protest the game. If the franchise loses money they will have to react and find a way to force Sterling to sell.  

It may be tough at first but removing the poisonous limb that is Donald Sterling will be good for the whole.

Cerritos College students speak out about distracted drivers on campus

Driving has always had its share of dangers and distractions have always been a part of the problem. However the dangers have increased in recent years due to cell phones becoming more common.

April has been designated Distracted Driving Awareness month which is focused on showing the dangers of driving with distractions. According to distraction.gov 3328 drivers were killed in 2012 due to driving while distracted.

Over the past week we asked the Chief Bukowieki and students around campus about their experiences with distracted drivers on campus. Watch the following video to learn about the experiences of students and tips to reduce distracted driving.

Anthropology Students visit Los Angeles Zoo

Students enjoy caricatures, obstacle course and live music at end of journalism conference

JACCpalooza tops off journalism conference with live music and games

The Journalism Association of Community Colleges held its bi-annual conference for students interested in Journalism.

This year the organizers decided to change things up with the first annual JACCpalooza after the awards dinner.

The event was intended to help students relax after the long weekend. The event included inflatable races, jousting and a boxing ring. Students could also have their caricatures drawn by an artist or have their futures told by a tarot card reader.

The JACC holds a state conference and a regional conference every year where students compete in workshop and contests ranging from photography, newswriting and multi-media.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is exciting spy thriller that takes on real world issues while staying true to its roots

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is a strong movie that maintains the character’s values while still allowing for him to grow in the modern era.

Chris Evans returns as Steve Rodgers, who is settling in to his new life after losing seventy years and saving the world with the Avengers.

The plot is very modern and touches upon many of the issues that Americans struggle with today, including national security, secrets and our ability to trust our government. Rodgers works well as an American who loves his country and the ideals it stands for, but is troubled by modern-day politics.

In the beginning of the movie Rodgers working with the government agency S.H.I.E.L.D., running covert missions.

Rodgers begins to see that the world is not as black and white as he would like. Even allies such as Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson) and The Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) are not completely trustworthy. He starts to realize S.H.I.E.L.D. and its leader Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) have their secrets and Rodgers is unsure if he wants to be a part of it.

On top of trying to figure out who and what he is fighting for he has to deal with a figure known as the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) known for his ruthless efficiency. 

The first movie was an homage to the swashbuckling movies of the forties, when the hero would kick open the door armed with a right hook and a cheesy punch-line. The Winter Soldier is more in line with current spy movies such as “The Bourne Identity” where bad guys wear suits instead of costumes and the weapons of choice are politics and manila folders.

While the movie is filled with double crosses and espionage there is still plenty of action to keep fans entertained. The movie also avoids taking itself too seriously and isn’t afraid to show a little humor. 

 This movie takes a more traditional approach to its action scenes than Iron Man and Thor. Even though the stakes are high the situations he finds himself in feel like something a normal person like Rodgers could deal with.

Like all Marvel movies “The Winter Soldier” has Easter Eggs for fans and gives clues for future movies. If fans keep their eyes and ears open they will be able to catch them. The after movie scene also gives fans a small taste of what to expect from the next Avengers movie, Age of Ultron.

In the end “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is a fun, enjoyable movie that shows that comic book movies can handle tough issues and that a man wearing a flag can be more than a propaganda tool.

Students close JACC with live music, games and tarot cards at JACCpalooza

On Saturday night the Journalism Association of Community Colleges held the first ever JACCpalooza, an event to entertain students who attended the event.

The event was held at the Marriot Hotel in Burbank where students paid $20 to enjoy events such as jousting, tarot card reading, bungie races, blackjack and live music.

The activities were meant to be a celebration after the JACC conference where students interested in Journalism gathered from across the state.

“We didn’t initially think we were going, but we got talked into it, said Mason Masis, There’s a lot of free stuff to do here. We got tarot cards, we got some caricatures and you know I’m having a blast. I’m happy I came.”

 Masis competed in the two events including Video Journalism and Broadcast Writing, and is the online Multi-Media Editor for Southwestern College’s paper the Sun.

“We were featured for the Video Journalism, so that was exciting, said Masis, it wasn’t placed. It was just the honor of getting shown I guess.”

Attendees were also treated to live music from two bands, Avalon Landing and Culprit.

The first band Avalon Landing is made up of friends who knew each other in Buffalo, New York before going to Las Vegas.

“I moved out to Las Vegas in 2010, with family and started playing a little bit just myself around town. Those two guys were in a band back home, said Mike Vargovich, that band kind of fell apart”

“They came out (for) a couple day(s) and we played a couple shows together and we decided to form a band. In Los Vegas we found our drummer John (and) our bassist Cory. (They are) the current members of the band.”

The band was booked by Gil Riego Jr. one of the organizers of the event.

While the attendance was low for the event he was not too worried.

“Turnout was low, but I think for a first time situation like this. The overall goal was a success. said Riego.

Riego hopes to change the structure for the next JACCpalooza and help arrange the event to make it easier for attendees to enjoy all the events.

 

Social Equality Club appears in front of Board of Trustees to fight for Summer Classes

At Wednesday Board of Trustee’s meeting the Social Equality Club gave a presentation in an effort to convince school administrators to increase the amount of classes added to the Summer 2014 semester to 100.

The club members were fired up and students, teachers and community members showed up to show support for the club’s goal.

The crowd of supporters was so large that many had to stand in the aisles, with others standing outside with signs.

The club had been asked to place on the agenda so they could be allowed to speak to the board, and were given the chance to show research they had done concerning the college’s finances.

“We’ve broken down the budget, and how much (the school has) in different accounts that could potentially fund the extra courses that we’re asking for”, said club president Jennifer Ovalle.

A club member Earvin Chavez laid out the research the club had done, including the college’s accounts and other resources.

Later in the night Chavez told the board that “”it is possible to add these 100 classes considering the fact that we done it in the past.”

After the presentation students were given a chance to speak to the board members and talk about how the lack of classes has had a negative impact on their school career and life.

Students talked about how they had been stalled or hindered by the lack of general education courses available.

Board member Marissa Perez said that the college should be doing more and that it was taking too long for students to graduate.

 ”We really have gone a long way from what the mission of community college is.” said Perez.

Many board members were sympathetic, but were not sure if adding classes was possible or even a good idea.

Some cited monetary reasons and others are worried if the class will fill up if made available.

Cerritos College Vice-President Joanna Schilling also mentioned that the school has a procedure in place where students who need certain classes to transfer out can fill out a form and be given priority.

Nothing was voted on tonight as the issue was placed on the agenda for discussion, but a vote will take place in the future.

 

Can’t stop their beat: Dynamic Dance Club hopes to help others bring out their inner dancers.

Most of the students in the Student Center go there to eat, talk to friends or just kill time before the next class.

However some on Monday nights you can find a different group of students on the center stage.

On these night the Dynamic Dance Club gets together to practice and learn new moves and techniques.

The President of the Club Broderick Woods was one of the original members who thought up the club.

“The Club got started last spring, said Woods.

“A couple friends (and I) had an idea of starting a dance club for the main purpose of teaching students the art of dancing without having to join a dance studio.

Just (to) give (students a) free option where they could go “Hey, I just want to walk in. I want to learn this dance” without having to pay for a class.

When Woods started the club he invited people that he knew loved to dance and would be interested.

 

Nick Hambrick was one of those members who has been part of the club since the beginning.

“I been around the people since before it started, said Hambrick, the president really just brought us in and we got the club started.

Hambrick said that his favorite part about the club is “being able to network with people and just create friends through the love of dance.”

Another member who was there in the club’s early days is Amber Jung.

I kind of knew the people dancing beforehand, said Jung.

“Brody told me “Hey, I’m thinking about making a dance club. Do you want to be in it? Do you want to be a dancer for the club?” So I said okay, sure.”

Jung had previous experience dancing but had fallen out of it in recent years.

“I used to dance a lot in school before I became a college student. I really didn’t have the time for it afterwards, but after I joined the club it became a little more exciting.”

 “We could meet up when we feel like it and we could dance what we want. There’s a little more freedom.”

While some people like Jung have past experience dancing the club does not require or even looks for people who are dancers.

The club is open to everyone and enjoys teaching newcomers.

“If you love to express yourself in any way shape or form, dance is a way to do that, said Hambrick, I feel that if someone wanted to come us (and) they don’t know how to dance we can teach you.

“It’s free you don’t have to pay for anything and the people here are really nice. We’re really laid back. We enjoy doing what we do and we love to share our talents.”

Jung mentioned that the other thing that stands out about the club is the fact that there are no instructors or teachers.

The members all teach and motivate each other.

“There’s (a lot) of variety and you learn with each other. It’s not like “I’m a teacher and I teach you what to do.

“It’s more like “Oh, I know something. I’ll teach you and you know something so you teach me how to do it.”

Despite the club’s short existence they have been active on campus performing and participating at different events on campus.

“Last semester we did the Spring Festival, We participated in the Mardi Gras dance. We did a little opening dance performance, said Woods

“In the fall we participated in Homecoming, and we had a person participate for Homecoming Queen. We did float building which we won the “Most Unusual” award for that.”

One thing that all the members agree on is that the Dynamic Dance Club feels like a family.

“I been a part of other clubs and I can tell we’re very united, Woods said, We call ourselves a family and that’s because in everything we go through we help each other out.

“We’re always there for each other. We try to support each other not only in dancing, but academically in classes. We try to help out with studying.”

Woods said that the point of the club was to open to everyone and try to spread the dancing to everyone.

“If you love dancing, but you’re shy and don’t have time to take a class this is the club for you.

 “All our choreography is taught by students not by instructors. So you don’t have that intimidation and we try to make you feel as comfortable as possible here.”