EL CAMINO COLLEGE APRIL 14, 2016 Follow us at /ECCUnion
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Student government resumes talks of adding hydration stations and Finals Madness
Hearing for former student accused of threatening to kill professor is next month ASO meeting approves money for Phil Sidavong
Managing Editor @ECCUnionPhil
The former student accused of threatening to kill a professor will have another hearing on May 5, according to the March 17 article by the Union. English professor Cynthia Somin found out that she had been receiving numerous threats via Facebook from a former student in December 2015, according to an article by The Union. One month later, a permanent restraining order was denied against that student by a Torrance court judge, according to the same article. Dashiell “Dash” Porter, 28, former student of El Camino was released on a $350,000 bail, according to another Union article. Porter sent 13 messages to Somin after earning an unsatisfactory grade in one of Somin’s classes. “I’m coming to kill you tomorrow!!!! (Gun’s loaded),” Porter’s final message said on Dec. 8, 2015. In the last hearing on March 15, the defense needed more time to prepare its case against the prosecution and asked for more time. The judge granted the request and Porter will be in court on May 2, for his next hearing.
Finals Madness funding and talks about adding water stations John Fordiani
Staff Writer @ECCUnionJohn
The Associated Student Organization (ASO) approved an
extra $100 for Finals Madness and resumed talks about placing hydration stations around campus at their meeting on April 7. Finals Madness is an event that ASO hosts at the end of each semester to provide students a place on campus to study at night with before their big tests. ASO also approved $3,000 for their end of the year banquet, $500
for leadership awards, $500 for the commencement speaker and $1,500 for senate banners. Talks of placing hydration stations around campus were revisited by former student trustee Eman Dalili, current ASO president. “You can lease it. If you lease one to four it’s $200 a month for 36 months,” Dalili said. “If you lease
five or more it’s $150 a month, or you can purchase one through four for $5,000 or five or more for $3,500.” The hydration stations go along with ASO’s sustainability program to be a more eco-friendly campus. “I think it’s something that we can do that will have a nice legacy for ASO,” Dalili said. “It’ll save a lot of trees, a lot of bottles and save
a lot of lives.” Locations for the stations have yet to be determined, as ASO has to get approval by the facilities department first. The hydration stations will not be replacing water fountains, Dalili said. The next ASO meeting is on April 21 at 1 p.m. in the Alondra Room.
And the winners are...
POLICE BEAT By: John Fordiani Staff Writer @ECCUnionJohn
Roy Garza/ Union Headshot of Eman Dalili. Dalili is the new Associated Student Organization President. He is the former Student Trustee.
Roy Garza/ Union Headshot of Nicole Mardesich. She was recently appointed the Student Trustee after the ASO elections.
President
Student Trustee
Eman Dalili
Officer, where’s my car? April 7, 10:53 a.m. A student who parked her vehicle in Lot H reported that her vehicle was stolen. Later that day an officer located the student’s vehicle in Lot J. The student was contacted and she told the officer that she forgot where she parked.
Overheating leads to lots of screaming April 7, 7:01 a.m. Officers responded to the MBA Building first level bathrooms for a man who was screaming inside. Officers made contact with the man who was rinsing his face. The man who is not a student told officers that his vehicle was overheating so he pulled into Lot A. When he opened the radiator cap, hot steam and liquid from the radiator burt onto his face and eyes. Paramedics were called and transported the man to an area hospital.
How did it feel to be elected?
“It feels good. I loved (being) student trustee, it was great to do that but this year specifically coming up I’m really, really excited to be president. As trustee, it’s great to have the voice, but as president you have a more tangible hand in the organization and on campus. I have some ideas that I’d love to have a hold of and try to make happen.” Do you have any projects you want to work on as president? “I came up with the idea for hydration stations about six months ago, I gave it to the sustainability committee but I figured that my time as president is coming up so I might as well do it myself. I met with Rocky, director of purchasing, he said there’s some things to check out but that looks like it’s going to happen and if it does I’ll be really excited.” What are you most exited about in this position? “I’m excited about the tangible differences I can make; setting up two amazing Finals Madness’, setting up these hydration stations, maybe trying to implement some type of book exchange/fair for the end of the year. There are a lot of things, but this organization can make a tangible difference in students’ daily lives.” Stories by Roy Garza
Nicole Mardesich
How do you feel about your new position? I couldn’t be more excited for my term as student trustee, I am beyond honored to be able to serve as the voice of the students to the board (of trustees). I decided to run for the position because I believe El Camino is a wonderful institution that continually puts its students ahead of everything else. What made you want to run? “I personally have learned so much during my time as a Warrior and becoming student trustee is a way I can repay the school that has done so much to help me. I whole-heartedly believe I embody the students’ voice and can continue to make the curriculum, campus and college a better place.” Do you have any goals for next semester? “I have two main goals that I’m really excited to work on in the upcoming year, the first is on implementing open education at our school. Open education is essentially providing textbooks to students free of cost because they don’t have a copyright attached to them. My other main focus is improving sustainability on campus. ASO is currently in the process of researching and planning things such as filtered water stations, drought tolerant gardens, and recycling bins. These things will not only improve the daily lives of students but also help make EC an eco friendly campus.”
Want to give a loved one a shout out for graduation by putting an advertisement in The Union? Find out how you can do that on page 6. Ads would be displayed in the May 5 Issue.
“Into The Woods” expects to wow audiences, Arts P. 4
Softball team drops road game at Pasadena, Sports P. 5
PHOTO ESSAY
2 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION
Gala Concert Performance with Special Guest Artist, Bob Mintzer and Alan Chan, director, in performance at Marsee Auditorium on Saturday, April 9.
APRIL 14, 2016
Elena Perez/ Union
Music
for the
Soul
The 3rd Annual Jazz Music Festival was a celebration combining numerous performances by El Camino bands Jo Rankin
Managing Editor @ECCUnionJo
Bright lights illuminate a dark atmosphere. The stage lights up and a mix of shining chrome and gold instruments start to play a melodic, funky tune. The Gala event for the Jazz Festival has started. On April 9, the El Camino College Center for the Arts presented its 3rd annual Jazz Festival. The festival is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Christopher Mello, professor of jazz at El Camino. This year consisted of five performance and educational events starting at 2p.m. with the last event starting at 8p.m. which was the Gala event. The events ranged from swing to contemporary jazz, to Latin and funk. The Gala event featured the ECC Jazz Faculty Ensemble, Studio Jazz Band, Concert Jazz Band and special guest Grammy award-winning saxophonist and composer, Bob Mintzer.
Sue Hong/ Union Kengo Fukunaga (from left), Shane Wagner, Maria Aguero, Walter Jones, and Darvin Aguilar perform in the 6:30pm segment of the 3rd annual Jazz festival held on April 9. They’re playing the song “Groovin High” on the second floor of the Marsee Auditorium. Maria Aguero, on the trumpet created the band “Dominant7” with some of her El Camino classmates.
Elena Perez/ Union
(Above): The Concert Jazz Band performed during the 3rd Annual Jazz Festival Gala Concert. The event was hosted on April 9, at the Marsee Auditorium.
Sue Hong/ Union The Concert Jazz Band performed during the 3rd annual Jazz Festival Gala Concert.
OPINION
APRIL 14, 2016
EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 3
CAMPUS VIEWPOINTS By: Tayler Dahm @ECCUnionTayler
What do you prefer, real cash or emoney?
Eric Alvarado, 21, communication studies major “It depends on the situation, but I would prefer using mobile (emoney), it’s easier. Say it’s raining or something you can send someone money and not get wet.”
Illustration by Eugene Chang/ Union
UP FOR DEBATE
Yocelyn Ruiz, 19, biochemistry major “I prefer using emoney, I’ve used Apple Pay and Paypal. I believe technology has come a long way and you can rely on it keeping your money and information safe.”
What do you prefer, emoney or hard cash? Cash rules everything around us It is ideal to carry around a thin wallet with the debit or credit cards you need rather than a bundle of cash, but it is not the easiest or safest way to pay for your needs and wants. With technology advancing the way it is, many people want a fast and efficient way to pay for the things they need. Venmo is an app for your phone that was created to be able to request money from your friends who also have the app. It is linked directly to your bank account, Madison Brady which can be very unsafe in the event of an accident. Staff Writer @ECCUnionMadison When you have any issues with a product like Venmo you should call for assistance. Venmo doesn’t have that form of help so you are on your own when something goes wrong with your account. “In true millennial fashion, Venmo has essentially zero staffers standing by in case of emergency,” said in a article by thrillest.com. Carrying cash is a way to save money when you go out with your friends. Going to a bar it is more convenient to hand your card to the bartender and start a tab but that is how many people are spending more than they intend. It’s faster to hand your card over compared to fumbling for the amount of cash you need but the outcome is worth it. Cash is a nice visual to know how much money you actually have and are willing to use that day. “It’s easier if you pay cash. When going out drinking, only take with you the amount you’re happy to spend that night, and no plastic cards,” said in a article by theguardian.com. Also, there is the occasional convenience store or small business that only accepts cash or charges you a fee for paying with a card. El Camino’s “Cafe Camino” accepts cards but charges a fee if it is under their price limit. For example, if there is a $5 limit for paying with a card it is likely you will buy more to reach the limit. “As a consumer, cash represents one of the safest investments possible while preparing you for uncertain times,” said in a article by moneycrashers.com. So, when it comes to cash or emoney, having the actual bills is better than having everything in cyberspace.
Bring on the (e)money With the continuous advancement of technology nowadays, it has become much more easier and convenient to make transactions via an electronic money service rather than using actual paper currency. The ability to have control of your bank account anywhere and at anytime you want is one of the several reasons why so many people, especially millennials who can’t put their phones down, prefer to use electronic money over having to carry around cash. Electronic cash services have become hugely Matthew Sandoval popular on a global scale, allowing you to transfer Staff Writer @ECCUnionMatthew money almost instantly to anyone in the world. These services are safe to use because they save your information so that you do not have to provide debit or credit card numbers to a person or website when making a transaction. It makes for a lighter wallet and is safer to use considering the fact that you don’t have to worry about who is watching when you pull out a hefty amount of cash from your pocket. Paypal is an extremely easy to use electronic money transfer service and more and more businesses have taken advantage by offering it as a form of payment. “If you made any purchase online using PayPal, it will take funds from the sources you have been given already. It does not require any bank account number, Net-banking user id and password, credit card number, expiry date, etc., and it will not disclose any of your details with any other person or websites,” according to an article on www.mnymakers.com Services such as PayPal, Venmo and Square Cash allow users to transfer money using an email or a phone number as long as there is a credit or debit card connected. Venmo has risen in popularity among the younger generation because it allows you to connect using your Facebook account. This allows the user to safely transfer money to someone on their list of friends who also use the service. “All data is sent over a 256-bit encrypted connection—the same encryption method used to protect classified government information—and transactions are protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,” according to an article on www.slate.com So when you are out to eat with your friends and the check comes and you find yourself staring into the bottomless black hole that is your wallet, it would be much more convenient to have a friend spot you and you could pay them back instantly rather than having to go and get cash out from an ATM.
THE UNION
Vol. 70, No. 5 April 14, 2016
Email: eccunion@gmail.com Newsroom: (310) 660-3328 Advertising: (310) 660-3329
Editor-in-Chief ����������������������������������������������������������������������������Sydnie Mills Managing Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������ Phil Sidavong News Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Roy Garza Opinion/Editorial Editor ���������������������������������������������������������� Jed Fernandez Arts Editor................................................................................... Grant Hermanns Sports Editor ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������Eric Ramos Photo Editor ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Jo Rankin Features Editor ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Brenda Soriano Advertising Manager ������������������������������������������������������������������� Jack Mulkey Adviser ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������Kate McLaughlin Adviser ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Stefanie Frith Photo Adviser...................................................................................Gary Kohatsu
The Union is published Thursdays by Journalism 11 students at El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506, and is free to the student body and staff. Unsigned editorials and cartoons are the opinion of the editorial board and do not reflect the views of the student body, staff or administration. Letters to the editor must be signed and must be received one week prior to publication in the Union office, Humanities Building Room 113. Letters are subject to editing for space, libel, obscenity and disruption of the educational process. Single copies of the Union are free; multiple copies can be requested through the Union.
Kevin Caceros, 21, English major “With mobile banking (emoney) you’re not too sure the money is there, but with cash the money is there. Someone could owe you $20 but only have $10 in their account. It’s better to have the money physically.”
Katherine Peña, 19, sociology major “I prefer cash, it’s more secure like that. You never know what an app or something might do with your money and information. I always carry cash.”
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ARTS
4 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION
APRIL 14, 2016
Campus preview: ‘Into The Woods’ Broadway show comes to life at Haag Recital Hall depicting beautiful, funny and unusual fairy tales
Lauren Liddle
Staff Writer @ECCUnionLuren
In a world where magic is the only answer to solving one’s problems, a group of unlikely hero’s must face the consequences of their happiness by banding together and saving their home. “Into The Woods” is both a Broadway show by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine; it also had a movie adaptation in 2014 and will now be showing at El Camino, debuting on April 16. Ronald Scarlata, theater professor, helped get the play started. “We selected ‘Woods’ this spring because it’s a beautiful show that is not only an unusual and funny mash-up of many of the classic fairy tales, but it is also a powerful theatrical piece that has a lot to say about the ambivalence of life/ relationships and the need for community and family.” The cast and crew have been rehearsing each act of the play leading up to the April 16 debut at the Campus Theatre. During the first act, there are three different lives portrayed on
one stage with Cinderella, Jack, his mother, their milk-less cow, the baker and his wife. Play director Don Hill spoke of the cast members with praise, saying that they are “wonderful.” “It’s been exciting to get to know some of them a little bit,” Hill said. “I think it’s such a varied cast in terms of people who are (different ages).” Hill was hired as a teacher/ director for “Into The Woods” through an open search and interview process. “I love musicals and ‘Into the Woods’ is one of my favorite Sondheim musicals,” Hill said. “I was kind of looking for a project that I might want to do in the spring.” Scarlata is very excited to have Hill on board directing the show. “Don is a very talented director who brings a lifetime of experience, much of it in the professional world, to our campus,” Scarlata said. “In addition to being a creative director, Don is an outstanding educator, who is a fulltime professor in the UCI Theater Department.” Tickets cost $25 for adults and $18 for children, according to the Center for the Arts website.
Things to know about “Into The Woods”: •
Shows on April 16, 22, 23, 29 & 30 begin at 8 p.m.
•
Shows on April 17 & 24 and May 1 begin at 3 p.m.
•
Children under the age of five will not be admitted into the performance.
•
Groups of 10 or more can get a “Group Sale Special” in which case, tickets will be $10 each. (Group sale tickets can be purchased in person or by phone. Information gathered from the Center for the Arts website
Jo Rankin/ Union Brianna Bowers as the baker’s wife tries to steal Rapunzel’s hair during a rehearsal for the Into the Woods play. The play is directed by don Hill and will debut on April 16 at 8pm.
‘Ten-Minute Play Festival’ to bring laughs to audience Drama, comedy and laughter come together in one event Selvin Rodas
Staff Writer @ECCUnionSelvin
The “Ten-Minute Play Festival” will showcase comedic and dramatic performances and will debut on May 10 and 11 at 7 p.m. in Room 151 of the Music Building. Alexa Ahn, 20, theatre arts
major, has been in charge of the festival for two years. “They are all comedies, except I think one drama, which is really interesting because usually they like to mix it up between drama and comedies,” Ahn said. Ahn also said that there will be about 30 people that will participate in the plays. The two night shows will be
open to the public. However, the tickets prices have yet to be announced. “We don’t have a flier for the actual show just yet,” Ahn said. “I don’t think we’re going to be posting those up until later in the month because (Ron Scarlata) hasn’t really talked to us about all those details.”
Libray to host reception for photo exhibit Phil Sidavong
Managing Editor @ECCUnionPhil
Water is not only the fluid of life, but it’s the subject of focus for the upcoming photo exhibit from EC students. This Friday, the Schauerman Library will be hosting a special reception from 6 to 8 p.m. for the upcoming student exhibit, El Camino photography
On The Scene
professor Darilyn Rowan said. The library will showcase 50-60 photos from Friday, April 15 until May 31 of student work based on the theme “water,” Rowan said. She also added that the jazz guitar students will be doing a performance and there will be food at the reception. This Friday is also the day the Fine Arts Division hosts its Open House that begins at 5 p.m.
“Shipwrecked on a Great Lake” showing
Polli Chambers-Salazar & Christopher Brenna Piano Recital
Director Peter Rowe presents the adventerous story of Ned Myers, the 24-year-old CanadianAmerican who survived the shipwreck of two warships, the Hamilton and the Scourge, in 1813. The film will play in the Marsee Auditorium on Monday, April 18 at 3 and 7:30 p.m., tickets cost $7 for students.
EC music instructor and pianist Polli Chambers-Salazar and fellow pianist Christopher Brenna will be performing a duo piano recital in the Marsee Auditorium on Saturday, April 30 at 8 p.m. One of the pieces performed will be an original composition by EC faculty composer, Patrick Schultz. Tickets cost $15.
SPORTS
APRIL 14, 2016
EL CAMINO COLLEGE 5
Baseball team crushes L.A. Harbor College on the road 17-8 Tayler Dahm
Staff Writer @ECCUnionTayler
The El Camino College baseball team went on the road and beat L.A. Harbor College, 17-8, on Tuesday. The 18 hit offensive outburst was led by freshman center fielder Noah Barba who tallied six RBIs on four hits, including a grand-slam in the Warriors’ eight-run fifth inning. “Noah was locked in at the plate today,” coach Nick Jones said. “His grand-slam was really the exclamation point on the eight-run outburst (in the fifth) today.” Starting freshman pitcher Cassius Hamm (7-2) managed to get through seven innings, giving up four earned runs and struck out six batters. “Cassius was really dominant early and set the tone,” Jones said. “He ran into some trouble but was able to minimize the damage and get us through seven innings “ The Warriors (21-7, 10-3) will host the second game of the series against L.A. Harbor College (11-17, 7-6) on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
Inning EC Harbor 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total
0 1 1 0 8 0 1 6 0 17
0 0 0 0 2 2 1 3 0 8
Jo Rankin/Union Warriors’ third baseman Maleigha Quintero looks to make contact with a pitch while playing the East Los Angeles College Tuesday, April 12. The Warriors lost to the Huskies on their turf, 4-3.
Softball teams’ win streak ends
Warriors fall to East L.A. College,4-3, ending a six game win streak Matthew Sandoval
Staff Writer @ECCUnionMatthew
The El Camino softball team failed to overcome a three-run first inning by the Huskies, ending it’s
six-game win streak. The Warriors (22-12, 11-6) fell to South Coast Conference opponent, East Los Angeles College, 4-3, Tuesday. EC’s pitching struggled in the beginning, allowing all four runs in the first two innings. The offense was unable to catch fire as the Warriors finished with seven hits in 22 at-bats.
Warriors remain undefeated Beach volleyball team plows through the L.A. Pierce College Brahmas in a 5-0 sweep Phil Sidavong
Managing Editor @ECCUnionPhil
Despite the rain fall, the El Camino beach volleyball team, took the opportunity to get a little bit of “redemption” against the L.A. Pierce College Brahmas, who knocked off the indoor volleyball team out of playoffs a semester ago. “It feels pretty good (to beat them),” sophomore Jewel Yandall said. “They were like a three (out of 10) and it was tough because every time I looked up, like four rain drops would fall in my eye, but it was fun.” The rain was a different factor for the Warriors, but all the team had to do was focus on playing, rather
than the rain, sophomore Brooke Russell said. The focus was definitely there for the Warriors as the team completed the 5-0 sweep against the Brahmas to stay undefeated at 12-0, with only the No. 2 pairs match going three-full sets. “I’m super stoked about being undefeated,” Russell said. “Everyone is doing so well and we’re continuing to get better.” The win puts the Warriors at 6-0 in the Western State Conference and they will play only one more conference match vs. Bakersfield, along with two matches; at Santa Barbara City College and one vs. Fullerton College. This means El Camino is the automatic No. 1 seed from the WSC going into the playoffs and will play the No. 2 seed from the Orange Empire and No. 3 seed from the Pacific Coast conferences in the first round, assistant coach
Liz Hazell said. Staying undefeated throughout an entire season is incredibly difficult, as seen by any sport team in any season. In the 2016 beach volleyball season, El Camino is one of three teams to keep a zero in the loss column, so far. Grossmont is 11-1 (but that loss is to a university team) and Cabrillo is 6-0. L.A. Pierce was coming on the road and the Warriors wanted to keep the record in shape, and they did so by pummeling the Brahmas 5-0 in match score to improve to 12-0 on Friday. With the team never knowing what the conditions could be on any given day, the rain today, was a lot of fun, as several of the women said. “It gave us new elements to adapt to,” sophomore Laynie Thompson said. “Today’s wins felt great.”
Beach volleyball set scores vs. L.A. Pierce College:
• No. 5 pair of Jewel Yandall and Brooklyn Rubio win 21-9 and 2114 against their Brahma counterparts. • No. 4 pair of Jessica Dow and Victoria Curtice won a tight first set 21-19 and then dominated in a 21-7 second-set win. • No. 3 pair of Brooke Russell and Taylor Brydon finished up the team's victory with a 21-14 and 21-17 win. • No. 2 pair of Michelle Shimamoto and Nickeisha Williams struggled in their match, but ultimately won in three sets (21-17, 20-22, 15-13). • No. 1 pair of Laynie Thompson and Sadie Fraker showed off why they make up the top pair from El Camino by shutting down Pierce with a 21-12 and 21-8 win to complete the team sweep.
Freshman pitcher Natalie Francis only lasted one out in the first inning, allowing three hits and three earned runs. Francis was replaced by freshman pitcher Haley Reed, who finished the game, allowing two hits and two earned runs. “I didn’t have the best day on the mound,” Francis said. “Haley came in and picked me up, only allowing
one run. Even though we lost we stayed positive and kept our energy up.” Freshman infielder Kassandra Hernandez led the Warriors with two hits in three plate appearances. Freshmen center fielder Raelani Camez, catcher Brigid Antonelli, pitcher Haley Reed, right fielder Kattya Calderon and shortstop Vanessa Gutierrez all finished with
one hit in the game. This loss keeps the Warriors one game behind Cerritos College for second place in the South Coast Conference. The Warriors will be back in action when they host Long Beach City College (19-16, 9-7) Thursday at 3 p.m.
SPORTS
6 EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION
A diver and a dream Alex Mackey’s current journey to the state championship began with losing 50 pounds, writing a book and taking a diving class Sebastian Spencer
A
Alisa Banks/ Union Alex Mackey sits on a diving board before practice at the Pool at El Camino. Mackey has written a book about his journey to losing to 50 pounds and being on the EC Dive Team. people who want to be trained, Mackey participated in his first strengths, its not easy putting your a good legacy to leave behind for they’re usually out of the country, dive meet on Feb. 20, where he body through that in your 40s,” my kids and also my wife who was but Mackey was close and I was won both the 3-meter board and Stanbury said. amazing throughout the process of also compelled by his story,” 1-meter board competitions. Mackey wrote a book about his letting me go through with this,” Louganis said. “His positive Mackey’s ultimate goal is to journey to be a diver called, “Big Mackey said. attitude and love for the sport made make it to the state championship. Fat Diver”. me want to do it.” “Different people have different “I wrote the book because I want
Despite less than optimal conditions, the Warriors still place in many events Jed Fernandez
Opinion Editor @ECCUnionJed
Last Friday and Saturday the track and field team traveled to the first ever Glendale
Vaquero Invitational. Conditions weren’t ideal for the Warriors but still managed to place well across the board. “Both days were pretty wet with steady drizzle and some downpours at times” head coach Dean Lofgren said. Sophomore Syrea Hicks placed first in both the women’s 100-meter hurdles and the women’s triple jump.
Freshman Nicole Clark placed first in women’s javelin and is number one in this event in Southern California. The men’s 1600-meter team placed first while the men’s 4x400 meter team placed third. Freshman Solomon Kanehailua placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Freshman Maurice Jones placed third in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.
WARRIORS SCHEDULE SOFTBALL Today vs Long Beach City College 3 p.m.
The men’s volleyball team is in the postseason for the sixthstraight year Managing Editor @ECCUnionPhil
Track and field team is unhindered by rainfall at Glendale Invitational
W. BADMINTON Friday vs. East L.A. College 2 p.m.
Warriors are playoff bound Phil Sidavong
Staff Writer @ECCUnionSpencer
s he climbs up about 9-10 steps on the diving board, then turns the dial on the fulcrum for his liking, Alex Mackey takes a leap of faith and dives into his dreams and nightmares. Mackey’s wife was in labor with their soon to be third child. On his drives to the hospital, he would stop and get fast food or grab some cookies. “It was so easy to stop by 7-Eleven and get some cookies on the way to the hospital. The weight gets put on so gradually you hardly notice until you get to a certain size,” Mackey said. Mackey’s son was born prematurely which involved complications that required Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) attention for over five months. Stressed about his son, Mackey ate away his pain, and consequently his health suffered. He gained over 50 pounds and was at a weight of 220 pounds. He knew his health was at risk when he took a self-serve blood pressure test at a local pharmacy and the numbers were too high. Mackey started working on his weight. He lost the 50 pounds he gained and more. Now that his weight was down he could tackle other obstacles. As Mackey watched his kids in swim class on a summer afternoon at EC, he chatted with the kids’ swim coach Corey Stanbury. Mackey mentioned his love for diving and how he’d taken a class at his alma mater Brigham Young University. Stanbury replied with excitement, “you should take my diving class.” So Mackey did. He enrolled in the beginning swimming course at EC, where he thrived in the class and became a standout amongst his classmates. Stanbury, in his 28th year this season as the EC swim coach encouraged Mackey to try out for the 2013 swim team. Mackey made the team. During a practice, Mackey injured both of his rotator cuffs while diving and was sidelined for close to a year. After his surgery and recovery Mackey emailed the American Olympic Diver, Greg Louganis to inquire about training. Louganis, who won two gold medals in 1984 and 1988 wanted to see video footage of Mackey. After seeing the footage Louganis agreed to train and mentor Mackey. “I get request all the time from
APRIL 14, 2016
BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Friday vs. Fullerton Colege/Santa Barbara City College 10:30 a.m. BASEBALL Today vs. L.A. Harbor College 2:30 p.m.
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Freshman Travis Heinemann placed second in men’s javelin. Lofgren said that a small part of the team will travel to the Cal. State Long Beach Invitational on April 15. For more information on winners at the Vaquero Classic, go to DirectAthletics. com and type in “/results/track/42810.html” behind it.
A questionable call made the visiting team’s coach get off his seat and head toward the court. Warriors’ sophomore outside hitter Nehemiah Iosia walked up to the referee pleading with him to change the call. “That doesn’t make sense,” Iosia said to the ref. Iosia had attacked the ball into the hands of a Santa Barbara City College defender. The ball was then hit out-ofbounds, but the referee said Iosia hit the ball out, not the defender, and the score was 19-14 in the second set, in favor of the hometeam Vaqueros. Sophomore middle blocker Peter Nordel, was definitely not happy with the call, and slammed back-to-back kills off of Jonathan Baldwin, the Vaqueros’ setter. The Warriors found their groove after that and turned around a fivepoint deficit, winning the second set, 25-21. The EC men’s volleyball team (10-8, 7-4) plowed its way through the unsuspecting SBCC Vaqueros (9-9, 4-7) in a straight-set sweep (25-22, 25-21, 25-15) last Friday. Moorpark College’s four-set loss to the L.A. Pierce College Brahmas on April 8 solidified the Warriors’ trip to the postseason and Blount is already focused on the teams in playoffs. “I’m glad we won,” EC head coach Dick Blount said. “(We) need to keep things in perspective (if we want to win it all). We have four ridiculously hard matches in row. We have Santa Monica, then we would go to Golden West and if we win that, we’d go to Long Beach (all with better records).” Blount added that the team needs focus when it is leading in a match and finish. “Defensively tonight, we played our best all season,” sophomore libero Andre Labayen said. “I think it was (good) communication and the block being set up pretty well.” The Warriors regular season is currently over after last night’s match vs. Santa Monica College. For the scores on that match, the schedule of the playoffs check in at eccunion.com. Unable to attend playoff matches? Check out #ECMVBall on Twitter on game nights.
2015 Playoff run • •
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ECMVB finished 16-3 overall and 9-3 in conference. The Warriors finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western State Conference. The team beat Irvine Valley College in the quarterfinals. Then beat Grossmont College in the semis. The team would lose to Santa Monica College in the state championship match.
WARRIORS SCOREBOARD BEACH VOLLEYBALL Warriors 17, L.A. Pierce 0 WOMEN’S BADMINTON: Warriors 17, El Camino-Compton Center 4
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BASEBALL Warriors 17, L.A. Harbor 8
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