By Vivian Ramirez Smokers at East Los Angeles College will no longer be able to light up in non-designated smoking areas, as the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees standardized the smoking policy last week to help cite violators. The amendment of current policy results from growing pressure from students and non-smoking organizations to reduce smoking at school. Former district policy dictates that no student or employee can smoke…
By Vivian Ramirez With the possibility of a $200 million budget cut pending the tax initiative in the November elections, California State Universities may shut their doors to new students for the Spring 2013 semester and create a wait list of applicants for Fall 2013. The CSU system will turn down an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 student applicants for the 2012-13 school year. But freezing Spring enrollment at many campuses is…
By Maria Gonzalez From classics to self-written songs, the East Los Angeles Latin Jazz Ensemble got the audience moving to the beat at their first concert Friday. “Cuarto de Tula,” a classic Cuban song that has been performed by some of the best musicians of all time, highlighted the night and provided a challenge to the ensemble with a remarkable performance that was true to its legacy. The song was about…
By Vivian Ramirez Not all restrooms are created equal. Upkeep and cleanliness in restrooms should be equal, but it isn’t. The quality of East Los Angeles College’s restrooms vary dramatically. From the pristine white porcelain thrones that grace the halls of F7 to the retro 90s-era stalls that linger in older structures, specifically the bungalow restrooms near the C2 classrooms near the temporary library. It seems that every time I walk into…
By Vivian Ramirez Many East Los Angeles College students who have received Cal Grants in the past may no longer qualify for them due to proposed higher grade point average requirements. California Governor Jerry Brown released his proposal earlier this year in the 2012-13 state budget plan that will save the state an estimated $372 million throughout the year. The changes affecting Cal Grant A will raise the required GPA from…
By Vivian Ramirez Anthony Lupica Master of Musical Arts and Associate Professor of Music at East Los Angeles College was honored for his 30 years of service as a musician, singer, and maestro Friday at St. Bede the Venerable church in La Cañada. ELAC’s Chamber Chorale collaborated with the St. Bede’s choir for the 60th anniversary of the church for a musical celebration. The collaboration combined the two choirs, creating one…
By Vivian Ramirez A chain of campus-wide thefts has raced through East Los Angeles College within the last two weeks. Student’s backpacks, cell phones and other personal belongings have been stolen from the men’s gym, the pool area and the book store. The most affected location for these incidents is the gym, located in the hallway of the C1 fitness center by the temporary library. Until last Tuesday, there were large…
By Vivian Ramirez CASA 0101 was greeted with much success during its opening weekend of the Brown and Out Play Festival, representing the Latino lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The Festival was a series of short plays authored by six people. All 10 plays vary from humorous to serious and touch base with nearly every emotion in between. Brown & Out tells the stories of a wide spectrum of Latinos…