By: Christina Rodriguez A box of Kleenex, a non-judgmental attitude, and women each with an abusive story to heal from, share tears and laughs at the Women’s Healing Circle. Survivors of violence and sexual abuse share their stories, but choose to stay anonymous. A survivor grew up in a home that was dysfunctional, father was violent, and was sexually abused as a child. This has affected her social life, love life,…
By Gil Milanes Sophomore – defensive back, Anthony Figueroa, received a scholarship last fall to Oklahoma Baptist University after completing two seasons playing football at East Los Angeles College. “I made sure all my classes were available to transfer, I made sure my GPA was always high and in the field I put in the work as best as I could,” Figueroa said. During Figueroa’s two years at ELAC, his…
By Ivan Cazares Instructional Assistant John Monge died of organ failure on May 17 after spending months in and out of hospitals due to problems with his liver and kidneys. Monge dedicated 20 years of his life to the Photography Department. “He was dedicated to his job and the department. His work here was a reflection of his lifelong love of photography and education,” photography instructor Mike Tsai said….
By Steven Adamo Child Development instructor Martha Gayton will join her husband Joseph Gayton in retirement this semester after 40 years at East Los Angeles College. “I gave him two years of his coffee and his donut and now it’s my turn,” said Gayton with a laugh. Joseph became a teacher’s assistant at East Los Angeles College in 1975 and later became a teacher. The couple started dating in 1984,…
By Francisco Portillo After years of being lost in the gang lifestyle and becoming paralyzed, Obed Silva discovered the power of literature and underwent a major transformation to become a respected English professor. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Silva emigrated to the United States with his mother at just one year of age. His father was an artist trained by Mexican painter Aaron Pina-Mora, who was also his godfather. His father…
By Dorany Pineda After 23 years as an economics professor at East Los Angeles College, Aida Z. Caballes is retiring and taking a six month hiatus in the Philippines to work on developmental projects. On January 1, 1994, Caballes started a part-time teaching position at ELAC. Within a year-and-a-half, she became a full-time substitute and soon after a permanent, full-time professor. Before arriving to Southern California, Caballes was at the…
By Gustavo Buenrostro A long time member of the East Los Angeles College District, Academic Senate president Alex Immerblum is retiring. Immerblum started as an English professor at ELAC in 1989. He remembers the first time coming to ELAC and being honored to be a part of the college. “I remember walking on campus and I noticed the library in the middle of the campus. To me it was extraordinary…
By Gil Milanes East Los Angeles College electrician Leroy Cadman continues to leave his stamp in the lives of those students and faculty who he supports. Cadman is the lead electrician at ELAC and has been with the campus since 1988. Over the past 29 years of service, Cadman has seen ELAC evolve from singlestory classrooms to multi-story classroom buildings. One thing that has not changed over the years is…
By Russell Zazueta In a classroom booming with computers and technology galore, graphic design professor Mike Owens flip-flops between a student’s questions and helping another print out artwork from a computer in the back row. It’s his last semester at East Los Angeles College as a full-time faculty member, but he says he’s not yet ready to retire completely. “I’ll be back part-time after a six-month hiatus to teach one…
By Dan Gudino Influence and experience are two things Business Department chairperson, Roderick Lipscomb will walk away with in retirement after 49 years of service at East Los Angeles College. By the end of 2017 semester, Lipscomb and 50 other faculty members will retire and start a new chapter in their lives. “It’s the proper time to hang it up. The main reasons are, of course, family and spending time…