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VOLUME 103 ISSUE 10

MAY 2, 2012

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Researchers at Santa Monica College have recently released a stark report outlining the loss of two thirds of classes at 15 local community colleges in Los Angeles, including SMC. The report comes at a time when the controversial Contract Ed program, which

would offer an additional 50 courses over the summer and winter sessions, has been both cancelled and postponed due to intense political opposition from students, faculty, and workers’ union groups. Critics described the report as a political move to illustrate the district’s need

for the Contract Ed program, which was sent to numerous residents of Santa Monica, as well as all faculty and staff members of SMC in a mass email on Tuesday, May 1. The program, which has been postponed for the upcoming summer session,

is now to be vetted by the District Planning and Advisory Council (DPAC), the advisory committee made up of various campus interest groups. The special report outlines some of the dismal numbers regarding the negative

trends occurring at local community colleges in Los Angeles and surrounding districts like Santa Monica. The number of summer classes provided has been slashed by two thirds since 2008, according to the report. That translates into a loss of 168,000 classroom seats across the 15 colleges, according to the report.For students, this means waiting longer to transfer, waiting longer for certification

to enter the work force.DPAC met for their scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 25, to attempt to

find a new answer to the same question that prompted the Contract Ed pilot program.The meeting ended with a resolution to publish a fact sheet, upon which

alternative solutions to the ‘pain point’ of the course deficit will then be generated. The fact sheet would include a timeline of the budget cuts and resulting class cuts over the last few years, and the average time for students to graduate or transfer compared to past years.At the meeting were representatives from the Faculty Association, the Associated

Students, and the Academic Senate, each representing the interests of their own constituency.The atmosphere at the meeting was cordial, despite the political tensions

underlying the dialogue.Eric Oifer, who is a professor of political science who sits on the Academic

Senate, said candidly, “We each have our own narrative that we want to tell from the facts.” He suggested that the Academic Senate targets some of the existing misinformation. “There’s no fact sheet that we can provide that would give someone a comprehensive understanding of the issue,” Oifer said.The special report was also discussed at a Board of Trustees meeting, which

occurred yesterday. The meeting, which included over two hours of public comments, students, faculty members, and prominent union leaders, voiced a nearly unanimous opposition and trepidation over the Contract Ed pilot program.Trustee Rob Rader expressed a deep disappointment at the attempts to

demonize both the supporters and the opponents of Contract Ed that he’s seen during the past month. “I’ve seen the caricatures,” he said, referring to posters disseminated around

campus of greedy bankers holding bags of money in front of downtrodden, defenseless students. “And I weep inside,” he said.Trustee David Finkel also spoke passionately at the meeting, at one point using

language that cannot be printed in this newspaper. “I used to be a civil rights attorney, an old radical — I know what it is to fight.” Laughs were heard from the audience.“I see higher education as a lifeboat,” said Rader during his comments. “And we

can try to either make the lifeboat bigger, or smaller.”The Student Organizing Community, a small group of vocal student activists

committed to their opposition of Contract Ed, continued to organize protests on campus, including a “camp-out” on Monday, and a rally before Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting. They want Contract Education officially removed as a possible solution, as they believe it would cause a divide between poorer and wealthier students.Randall Lawson, executive vice president of SMC, said that the April 3 incident

in which 30 student protesters were pepper sprayed “put a spotlight on the plight of the California Community Colleges,” which he said is a good thing, but it does make things more “difficult” for SMC. He expects the fact sheet to be ready in time for the next meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, May 9.

Nathan Gawronsky & Chavi GourarieEditor-in-Chief & Staff Writer

Photos by Michael Price CorsairThe Santa Monica College Board of Trustees listen to a speaker from the audience at their meetings in the SMC Theater on Tuesday night. The trustees are under fire for proposing a two tier approach to provide more classes to SMC students.

Santa Monica College Trustee, David Finkel speaks to the need to make more classes available to California Community College Students.

Santa Monica College Trustee, Margaret Quinones-Perez speaks during the Board of Trustees meeting. Quinones-Perez spoke on the contract ed issue.

Trustees hold meeting on May Day to discuss Contract Ed

SMC Celebrates Earth WeekPg.6

Swimmers break five records at state Pg. 7

Play Me, I'm YoursPg.12

FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US ONLINE . THECORSAIRONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 2|CONTENTS

E D I T O R I A L S T A F FNathan Gawronsky ··············Editor-in-Chief

c o r s a i r . e d i t o r i n c h i e f @ g m a i l . c o mNathalyd Meza ·················· Managing Editor

c o r s a i r . m a n a g i n g @ g m a i l . c o mAndy Riesmeyer ······················· News Editor

c o r s a i r . n e w s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o mAmber Antonopoulos ··Health + Life Editor

c o r s a i r . l i f e s t y l e p a g e @ g m a i l . c o mJacob Blackoff·························· A & E Editor

c o r s a i r . c a l e n d a r p a g e @ g m a i l . c o mMia Shilpi ······························ Opinion Editor

c o r s a i r . o p i n i o n p a g e @ g m a i l . c o mRoger Morante ························Sports Editor

c o r s a i r . s p o r t s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o mPaul Alvarez ···················· Multimedia Editor

c o r s a i r . m u l t i m e d i a @ g m a i l . c o mMichael Yanow ·························Photo EditorAnisa El-Khouri ······················· Photo Editor

c o r s a i r p h o t o e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o mDavid J. Hawkins ························Web Editor

c o r s a i r . w e b e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o mNathalyd Meza ······················· Design EditorAlfredo Avila ····························· Design StaffElham Sagharchi ·······················Design Staff

c o r s a i r . d e s i g n t e a m @ g m a i l . c o mJhosef Hern ·································Illustration

c o r s a i r c a r t o o n @ g m a i l . c o mS T A F F W R I T E R S

Yair Avila, Vanessa Barajas, Christian Carrillo, Peter Cheng, Chelsea Cobbs, Faye Crosswhite,

Henry Crumblish, Sarkis Ekmekian, Melina Flores, Dylan Futrell, Chavi Gourarie, Erica Gunn, Robert

Gutierrez, Justin Hinton, Tea Jovanovic, Luana Kasahara, Brigette Martinez, Zoryana Melesh,

Samantha Perez, Mai Sims, Susanna Svensson, Christinia Sziatinszsky, Cinthia Vera, Israel Villacota,

Sophia Villegas, Nadine Weiland

P H O T O G R A P H E R SJose Balderas, Daniela Berzuini, Jeff Cote, Sydney

Forneret, Marine Gaste, Adrian Galicia, Carrie Jesenovec, Ian-Thomas Kagihara, Asta Karalis, Linda

Konde, Guy Mokia, Michael Price

F A C U L T Y A D V I S O R SS a u l R u b i n

G e r a r d B u r k h a r t

A D I N Q U I R I E S( 3 1 0 ) 4 3 4 - 4 0 3 3

c o r s a i r . a d c o n s u l t a n t @ g m a i l . c o m

Marine Gaste CorsairBecause of the rain, the members of Santa Monica College's Ballroom Dance Club had to practice salsa in the hall of the Letters & Science building. Professional dancer and dance professor Sarit Messinger teaches salsa to her students on Tuesday.

STuDENTS! iF you havE PhoToS, FEELiNGS or oPiNioNS oN whaT wE PuBLiSh, wE waNT To hEar FroM you. E-MaiL, TwEET, or FaCEBook uS. wE'rE LiSTENiNG! [email protected] @ThE_CorSair


WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

About 20 protesters from the Student Organizing Committee spent the night on Santa Monica College’s quad Monday while a small group of campus police watched from benches nearby.Earlier in the day, Santa Monica College

Police removed a tent pitched by protesters in the quad amid wet grass and freshly laid manure. “I just walked by; the sprinklers have been

going off for the past few hours and there’s manure everywhere, getting soaked,” said a commenter on the public SOC Facebook page.A call to the facilities office confirmed

that the manure was new. “We didn’t have any idea that they were protesting; it was a coincidence,” said Director of Facilities J.C. Saunders-Kerujian.Many student protesters, including

Associated Students President Harrison Wills, didn’t accept the explanation given by groundskeepers. “People are going to start seeing what is really going on here,” Wills says. “The administration is showing that they don’t care about the student’s voices.”“I would like to ask them why we are

running the sprinklers all night when it rained two days ago. It’s not good fiscal or environmental policy,” Wills.Later that night, the protesters danced

and exchanged ideas under lamplight, and wrote slogans on the concrete with chalk. One writing was accompanied by an arrow pointing to the police, and said, “Your fees go to their bacon, those pigs have been getting paid to intimidate us.”Camping in certain places in Santa

Monica is prohibited by a municipal code that names SMC specifically. College police say they didn’t interfere with the overnight stay because the students didn’t actually set up tents..AS Presidential candidate Parker Jean also

stayed with protesters Monday night and spoke about his campaign slate, “Paradigm Shift.” Jean says he hopes his campaign can capture some of the momentum from the protests. The students have been protesting

Contract Ed, a measure that was to add 50 self-funded classes to the school’s 700 state-funded summer classes. Members of the SOC have said that it

creates “an inequity” in the community college system that favors students with means.The Board of Trustees voted to postpone

the program after pressure from an incident April 4 where campus police pepper-sprayed about 30 students who were trying to gain entry to a Trustee meeting.

NEWS|3

Staff Writer

andy riesmeyerNews Editor

SoC spends night on campus despite manure

and sprinklers



Karen Hernandez, a nursing student at Santa Monica College, tries to organize her stack of papers and fliers from various companies to keep them from taking off in the wind. Hernandez is on the lookout for an internship, and with a variety of businesses offering limited spaces at Tuesday’s Internship Fair on the SMC quad, getting selected could be a challenging process.“I’m in the nursing program, but I’m

not even 100 percent sure on that,” Hernandez said, adding that she’s taking a career counseling class to help her affirm her choice. Whether they were looking for

opportunities in television, finance, insurance, or environmental cleanup, students had wide array of companies to choose from. Some company representatives say that even if the internship isn’t a paid one, it may lead to full-time employment.“Our DJ interned before he was hired

here,” Khellie Braxton at 97.1 AMP Radio said. “If you work well with us as an intern you essentially would be doing everything that you would be doing if you were a traditional employee.” According to Braxton, interns at the

station are put to work immediately. During last year’s inaugural internship program, the interns were treated to many of the benefits from working at a radio station. “The day the interns got hired they got to

go work the Usher concert,” Braxton said. Santa Monica environmental group

Heal the Bay offers two different types of internships for students. One is at their headquarters, and the other at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. “We have a wide variety whether you

want to work with kids, the public or if you want to focus on the science and biology,” said Jackie Cannata, a representative from Heal the Bay. Cannata said that a major in Biology or a

related field is a beneficial when applying for Heal the Bay, but not required.“If you have a passion for either teaching

or for the environment, especially the ocean, we would love to have you,” Cannata explained. SMC internship coordinator Judy White

is responsible for inviting contacts to the fair. “Some of them come here over and

over and they know they get really good candidates here,” White said. “They’re rewarded, they have two, three or four pages of names of people.”White even recognized a few people

sitting at the tables.“Some of the people who were interns

come back and work on the internship fair,” White said, adding that internships can lead to jobs and full careers.Some companies who were invited didn’t

appear at Tuesday’s fair including a local ABC television affiliate. White said that students who wanted to

talk to these companies shouldn’t worry about their absence. While she says that a personal

introduction is often preferred, she adds that an intership booklet distributed to attendees explains what kind of internship is being offered and how to apply to each company. Despite external elements, such as the

rain and the wind, White says she was pleased with this year’s internship fair. “Last year it was so hot that this year people brought umbrellas for shade,” White said, laughing. “But this year they ended up using them for the water.”

4|NEWS

Tea JovanovicStaff WriterWhile Santa Monica College has

announced a $12.3 million expansion to the Performing Arts Center and the Broad Stage, planned construction of the Student Services building, which began in 2009, remains untouched, leaving a massive hole in the ground on the main campus facing Pico Boulevard..The new facility at the Performing

Arts Center, named the East Wing, is to be built as a part of the Madison building, with the intention of providing more rehearsals, performances, and classroom space for SMC students.Gregory Brown, Facilities Director at

SMC, says the East Wing construction is part of the Career and Educational Improvements project. It is funded by Bond Measure AA, which was approved by the Santa Monica and Malibu voters in November 2008. Money from the bond measure can only be allocated to construction.The project was started in order to replace or improve older buildings with more technologically advanced and

sustainable designs that will provide better educational opportunities and reduced operating costs for

the school. In addition to the East Wing construction, the plan includes a new Health & Fitness building, and renovations to the Science building and the Academy of Entertainment and Technology campus.Brown says the Facilities office at

SMC is having difficulties getting approval from the State for the stalled construction for the Student Services building. Construction on the project stopped a few years ago leaving behind a large hole. “It is an unusual looking building

which is why we are having difficulties getting the approval,” said Brown. However, “It will be done by the middle of the 2015,” he continues. The East Wing is expected to be

completed by 2015 as well. It is a two-story structure that will include two new state of the art classrooms for voice and piano classes on the second floor. David Goodman, a professor of

theory, composition, and music technology at the Music Department at SMC says that the music department is

especially looking forward to this since they are getting “two new facilities for the two most important classes.”SMC student and singer/songwriter,

Zana Mesihovic, says that new facilities are always positive for the college. “It will give more time to students to work in a professional stage environment,” she said. The first floor of the East Wing will

include a multi-purpose space for larger classes with around 120 students. Currently the music department is sharing the space for rehearsals with the Broad Stage. The new structure will provide more time and space for rehearsals for SMC students in addition to more storage for instruments. SMC music student Andrej

Jusufbegovic said, “We will have more concert opportunities for the music department. I am just wondering if it will be as good as the Broad Stage. We don’t want to lose the professional experience that the Broad Stage offers.” SMC has hired the architecture

company DLR Group WWCOT to design the building. They represent themselves with a “promise to elevate the human experience throughout

their sustainable design” according to a statement on their website. The Broad Stage will also benefit from

this expansion. “The music department doesn’t have enough performance stage, Brown said. “The Broad Stage is getting more successful and the demand is rising.” The organization also announced a collaboration with the LA Opera that will commence once the structure is completed. “The primary reason for the expansion

is for the music department and its students, not solely for the Broad Stage use,” said Goodman. He adds that the LA Opera connection will be a great addition to the students’ experiences. “It will expose our students to career and educational opportunities,” he said. “I hope our students will have the possibility to get involved with the LA Opera.”Brown said that the PAC is in need of more parking spaces, though no additional spaces are planned under the project. Brown is aware of this problem. He said, “We are looking for various ways in which we can address this issue. We need a long term solution, but it won’t happen anytime soon.”

Performing arts Center expands, Dept Facilities explains massive hole

AS Candidates continue to campaign

andy riesmeyerStaff Writer

Mai SimmsStaff Writer

Environmental, Finance, Broadcasters among groups looking for SMC interns

Candidates for Associated Students leadership positions continue to campaign vigorously during election week at Santa Monica College, despite low voter turnout and internal AS organizational issues. Hopefuls have been active on

campus all week. Some carried signs as they met and shook hands with potential voters. Others have taken to social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter to promote various election slates.AS President Harrison Wills restated

his endorsement for presidential candidate Parker Jean this week and appeared with him at Monday’s camp out. In previous years, Wills would have been restricted from campaigning on behalf of a candidate by election rules set by the AS. This year, however, the rules were omitted from the election according to Dean of Student Life & Judicial Affairs, Deyna Hearn. “I don’t know how and I don’t know when that was taken out or why, but it’s out this year,” she said Monday. Hearn said that as of Monday afternoon, about 190 students had voted. With over 3750 votes cast, last year’s election had the largest voter turnout ever according to the the AS office.Confusion about fliers made by AS

were addressed at the group’s weekly meeting Monday. Hearn said that the fliers couldn’t be displayed this week because of an error that incorrectly

stated that voting would occur from “May 30 - April 3.”Vice President Jasmine Delgado

publicly expressed concern about what she says is a lack of publicity for this year’s election. Presidential candidate Marjohnny

Torres-Nativi of “The Mango” slate appeared on the quad Tuesday in a suit before joining members of the SOC to speak at demonstrations later in the day. Candidate Ernie Sevilla was

optimistic about the outcome of the campaign he is running and says he is committed to avoiding “low tactics.” He says his “Experience, Strength & Hope” slate is focused on tackling the issues of budget cuts and economic conditions like “adults.”Presidential Candidate Parker Jean

stayed on the quad until around 10 p.m. Monday with Student Organizing Committee members who stayed overnight protesting Contract Ed and other issues.Jean said he is also optimistic about

this week’s election. “I’ve been getting a great response. We’re really trying to focus on the grassroots movement and getting students involved in shared governance,” he said.Jean says the switch from public to

privately funded AS elections this year has made it more difficult for candidates to get their messages to the public. “We used to have AS’s help with the fliers and posters. They used to do the advertising, but not this year.” Students are able to cast votes for candidates through Corsair Connect.


WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE OPINION|5

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Student debt forgiveness a fleeting fix-it

It is that time of year when high school students start hearing back from all the universities that they applied to. Some will get letters that say “Congratulations, you’ve been accepted!” while others will get a letter that starts with, “We regret to inform you…”However, there are some who won’t

receive either letter because they’ve chosen to attend a community college like Santa Monica College.With all the talk about Contract Ed

and fee hikes, those of us who are already enrolled look at new students as further obstacles to getting enough classes. Nevertheless, SMC might experience

an influx of new students in years to come.The Los Angeles Unified School

District is considering lowering the requirements for graduation.

Right now, high school seniors need 230 credits to graduate, but if the LAUSD’s proposal passes, students would only need 170 credits to graduate — the bare minimum set by the California Department of Education.“By reducing the graduation credits,

we are creating the necessary safety net to help students meet the standards,” said Gerardo Loera, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the LAUSD, in a memo from the Internal Communications Department.In addition to lowering the number

of credits necessary to graduate, the plan is to allow students to pass their Advanced Placement classes with a ‘D’, even though the CSUs and UCs require a ‘C’ or higher in an AP class.Loera adds that they are “focusing

more on the quality of the instruction, in terms of rigor and higher standards,

rather than the quantity of credits in a student’s high school career.” Most students reach the 170-credit

mark by their junior year, which means we could see a lot of early graduates come out of the high school system, but are they ready for what lies ahead? Furthermore, if students are able to

pass their “advanced” classes with a ‘D’, what sort of graduates is the system churning out?If high schools reduce the number

of credits needed to graduate, many prospective college students will be unprepared for the extremely competitive process of applying to four-year universities. Just because high schools are lowering

their requirements, does not mean institutions of higher learning are. When these kids aren’t accepted into

4-year school, they will fall back on community college.

Lowering the bar would be doing future students a disservice. Students will be unprepared for the

assessment tests they have to take, unprepared for the difficulty of college courses, and they will be unprepared for the real world, where the bar is not lowered for anyone.

Samantha PerezStaff Writer

The federal government has recently shown their support for big time bankers and automakers by bailing them out of their retched debt; but they are not the only ones deep in debt. What about recent college graduates

- can they see their student debts disappear with a little help from the government?According to Time magazine, Robert

Applebaum, a student loan debtor himself, created a petition to do just that. The idea is to provide a one-time

bailout for student loan debt as a way to stimulate the worsening economy. The petition already has upwards of 670,000 signatures and is gaining more every day.Is it possible fix to student debt, valued

at $1 trillion? And with the economy the way that it

is, should that much money be forked over to the nation’s youth? For generations, student debtors paid

for their loans all by themselves with no help, just hard work. This measure would be a last resort for college graduates.“Student loan forgiveness could spark

some arguments, people are going to get angry, but it’s worth it,” said second-year Santa Monica College student Pablo Montano. “These students are the future of the

economy, and with this bailout they will now be able to pay off their other debts, get jobs, and help others to get jobs.”With such a high debt burden, college

students are going to be less likely to spend spare cash and stimulate the economy, and in these hard times, that is what the economy needs. But once free of their student debt, will

college grads put enough money back into the economy to make the bailout

worth it?Still, one must look at the bigger picture

and the underlying repercussions. How are future generations going to look at it? Are they going to be wise when opening up new loans, or are they just going to hope for a bailout from now on?More than that, this impractical

bailout adds one more problem: it gives no incentive for students to look toward a reasonable payment plan.The solution to this problem certainly

isn’t as “one-time” as Applebaum puts it. Student loan debt is an on-going problem that will not go away with a single petition.

Lissette GomezStaff Writer

New LauSD graduation requirements could hurt all students

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS NEED 230 CREDITS TO

GRADUATE. SHOULD THE LAUSD’S

PROPOSAL PASS, STUDENTS WOULD

ONLY NEED 170 CREDITS TO GRADUATE.


WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 6|PHOTOSTORY

SMC Celebrates Earth Week

asta karalis Corsair The Ecoaction Club created a Pledge Tree for Earth week. The tree gave students a chance to voice how they will make a postive impact on the environment.

asta karalis CorsairClub Grow President Dana Morgan serves fresh lemonade made from ingredients from the organic Learning Garden at their Earth Day booth on Thursday, april 26 at the SMC Quad.

Marine Gaste Corsair(L to r) Santa Monica College President Dr. Chui L. Tsang, Director of Sustainability Genevieve Bertone,

Santa Monica Councilmember Terry o'Day, SMC vice President Mike Tuitasi, and Director of Transit Services Edward F. king attend Santa Monica City Manager rod Gould's speech presenting the SMC

Big Blue Bus “any Line, any Time” program during Earth week with the theme of bicycles and alternative

transportation on april 26. The event featured eco-themed music and art, free food,

eco-friendly art tent, and raffle.

Jon Falcone Contributor Plastic Free SMC president Belinda waymouth (left) helps fellow club member Brandi Satterwhite don the plastic "Bag Monster" suit which represents the average number of trash bags consumed by each american annually.

Carrie Jesenovec CorsairGirl Scout Troop 4252 came all the way from valencia to participate in the Nothin’ But Sand Cleanup on april 21. The cleanup was in collaboration with heal the Bay and whole Foods Market on the “Get Dirty where you Live, work & Play” Earth Day 2012 initiative.


WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE SPORTS|7

“We’re going to swim this for “Tuna,” said the Corsair swim team as they huddled together before the start of the men’s 400-yard freestyle relays at the 2012 CCCAA Swimming State Championships. During the three days of exhaustive competition at East L.A. College, starting last Thursday, Apr. 26 and lasting through Saturday Apr. 28, SMC’s top swimmers dedicated each event they swam to Diving Coach Eduard “Tuna” Gorodetsky. “We really miss him and in the last relay

we all swam for Tuna,” said Jeff Lum, one of the relay members.Coach “Tuna” had unexpectedly

passed during the week of the WSC Championships and the 13 SMC swimmers who qualified for state showed maturity by overcoming their pain to swim their best.Head Swim Coach Steven Contarsy was

really proud of the team’s results. “We had a phenomenal meet from the top

to the bottom,” said Contarsy. “We only brought six men and seven women and we set five state records and one national community college record. Everybody swam lifetime personal bests.”One of the highlights, and surprises of

the meet, was when Juju Allison won the 50-yard backstroke with the time of 27.80. “Allison has never been under 28 seconds

for the 50 back [stroke] in her life,” said Contarsy.Newcomer Ahmed Mathlouthi also

had an impressive performance as a long distance swimmer, breaking three state records for the 200, 500, and 1650-yard

freestyles with times of 1:35.29, 4:18.90, and 15:07.30 respectively.Mathlouthi also set one national

community college record for the 500-yard freestyle. “I was in a training camp in Spain for

three weeks and I came back just in time for the meet,” said Mathlouthi. “I’m really happy to be part of the team. We have a great team and an amazing coach.”Mathlouthi will be heading back to

Spain this week in order to prepare for the upcoming London Olympics 2012 where he will be representing Tunisia in the 200 and 400-yard freestyle swim events. “I’m trying to do my best now,” said

Mathlouthi. “Let’s see what’s going to happen.”Lum didn’t disappoint his coach and

brought home three gold medals for the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:49.43, 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 54.48, and the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:59.35.Lum also set two state records for the 100

and 200-yard breaststrokes out of the three individual events that he swam.“Actually it was Steve’s idea to change all

my events to breaststroke,” said Lum. “All this successful swim is all about Steve.”According to Lum, it was Coach

Contarsy who proposed that he switch to the breaststroke because he believed that he had a good chance of winning.As a challenge after winning the 200-

yard IM, the 100 and 200-yard freestyles in the CCCAA State Championships last year, Lum and Contarsy focused the training on the breaststroke and had

good results in WSC Championships.“We did really well

in the conference and then now I broke two records for 100 and 200-yard breaststroke,” said Lum. “I really need to thank Steven because he is the one who gave me a new idea, not only freestyle, but another stroke.”In the women’s

division of swimming, Michelle Liu won the 100-yard backstroke with the time of 58.30, placed second in the 100-yard IM with a time of 58.67, and third in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 53.09.Overall, the men’s relays were in the

top three for the 200, 400, and 800-yard freestyles, but the women’s relays did not place top three in any of the events they swam.The team, called by Contarsy “the

international relay” team, was formed by Mathlouthi from Tunisia, Lum from China, Aaron Clements from England, and Mike Carden from the USA, and they placed second in the 400 and 800-yard free at the finals with the times of 3:03.47 (a new SMC record) and 6:49.51 respectively.Clements, Carden, Alex Myers and

Christian Saravia placed third in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:24.29.The Corsair men’s team scored a total

of 249 points and placed 6th in the final ranking for the men, while the women’s team scored 163 points and placed 9th for the women. With 412 combined points, SMC ranked 7th overall among the 33 teams participating in the 2012 CCCAA State Championships.“The coaches have to be proud of the

kids,” said Contarsy. “The kids should be proud of their

accomplishments, and Santa Monica College should be proud of this group of young people.”

President Chui L. Tsang gasped for breath about an hour after he had ditched his usual suit and tie for a pair of black tennis shoes, blue shorts, and a white tee-shirt.Earlier in the first half, Tsang had fallen

multiple times and at one point was even sprawled out on the ground, face-first, after shooting the ball towards the goal.He missed, and The City Knights came

back in the second quarter and scored their first goal.,” said Tsang after a score.“ !”Tsang rallied his team from the sidelines

during the second half against the first match up of the Corsair Faculty against the Santa Monica city employees, dubbed The City Knights, and Tsang reminded everyone that this game was purely for fun.The Corsair Faculty won the game 7-2. The SMC Administration and Staff had challenged The City Knights this past

Sunday not to discuss work-related subjects, but rather for a friendly match of soccer and The City Knights responded to that challenge. Two years ago Dan Rojas, who is the

college’s network services manager and served as captain for the Corsair faculty, had the idea to put together a faculty soccer team. According to Martin Goldstein, a race

and gender communications professor, Tsang is “a huge soccer fan” and organized the event with Rojas.Yet there was some tension apparent

between the two rival factions.SMC professor of renewable energies

Stewart Cooley had initially played for The City Knights against other teams before joining The Faculty Team.

The City Knights city manager Rod Gould was upset and called him a “turn coat.”Luis Jauregui, a staff member from SMC’s

continuing education department scored the first goal early on during the match. Jauregui, who has been playing soccer

since the age of six, described being part of the team as something “pretty cool” because he was able to, “play along with people you normally would not even work with.”A few minutes later Shannon Herbert, an

English professor at SMC, secured the lead for the Corsair Faculty kicking in a goal to make the score 2-0, and the score remained 2-0 at the end of the first quarter. By the end of the third quarter The

Corsair Faculty scored three more goals to increase their lead to 5-1. Russell Ackerman SM’s ecological

landscape designer and captain of The City Knights , seemed to lose his spirit towards the end of the game. Ackerman pointed a plastic medieval

sword towards the goal and yelled, “Guys, kick the ball forward!”Apparently Ackerman believes the plastic

medieval sword to be The City Knights, “lucky charm.”A tense moment ensued in the last minute

of the game whena and forward for The City Knights, and limped out of the game. According to Tamara Ackerman, wife

of Russell Ackerman and in charge of music for the event, “The City Knights,” benefitted from after forming The City Knights’ soccer team even though they lost to the Corsair Faculty.“I definitely think it brings unity, inside

and outside the team,” said Ackerman.

CorSAIr FACultY CruShES SAntA MonICA CItY EMPloYEES

Swimmers Dedicate State ChampionshipRaces to Coach “Tuna”

Cinthia veraStaff Writer

Luana kasaharaStaff Writer

Daniela Berzuini CorsairSanta Monica College swimmer Jeff Lum (right) and his coach Steven Contarsy pose after winning the 200-yard Breaststroke in the CCCaa State Championships on april 28. Lum just broke the state record in the 200-yard Breaststroke to go along with his state record in the 200 iM.


WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 8| SPORTS

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Elia Sanchez wakes up every morning and struggles to get out of bed to go to school; but she knows that waking up at dawn and sitting through the long commute on the bus from East L.A. to Santa Monica College and back at night will be worth the investment.

“My favorite class here is Photojournalism 13 with Professor [Gerard] Burkhart,” said Sanchez. “I love that we get to take pictures, learn how to capture a moment, and learn about the laws and rights we have as photojournalists.”

Sanchez, a freshman at SMC, has never ran track before, but has always loved sports.

“I always watched the Olympics and thought that track is amazing,” said Sanchez, who played soccer at Roosevelt Senior High School in Los Angeles. “Every four years the world comes to watch you, so I feel that it’s powerful. It makes you stronger, both physically and emotionally, because you have to keep pushing, and even though it hurts, you’ve got to keep pushing.”

Sanchez has been “pushing” and persevering even before she started track this season.

High school was positively difficult, she said; she ultimately needed to take a year off to work and refocus before deciding to go to college.

Sanchez was also unable to graduate on time because, she said, of a misunderstanding over credits with one of her teachers.

Sanchez felt defeated, but remained determined. She said that her best friend, Beatris Navarro, was a model for motivation at the time. Navarro, who was diagnosed with a heart tumor, had to spend time in and out of hospitals while attending school. “She was a great inspiration,” said Sanchez. “She was in and out of hospitals because of her tumor, and still went to school with a smile on her face, not giving up, and beating the odds. If she could do it, I definitely can.”

During that summer Sanchez focused, attended adult school, and made up for her one failing class from high school.

She earned her diploma by the next fall semester. Sanchez later got a job as an usher at The Staples Center and Club Nokia and

continues to work there. Although her parents offered to financially support Sanchez while attending school, she declined their offer, explaining that she preferred to save up for a year before starting at SMC this past fall.

“I saw her jogging during P.E., and then I saw her racing another boy in her class. I was impressed when I saw her sprint,” said SMC Track and Field Head Coach Larry Silva. “I approached her, and she was apprehensive, but she finally decided to try it.

“Every single week she’ll improve. She’s gotten faster and faster, and I still think she can get faster. When you put together real hard work and good coaching, you’ll get the result Elia is experiencing.”

Sanchez described her participation in track as a “nerve wrecking experience,” but added that it was something she had always wanted to do, and that she has had some amazing accomplishments for a first time runner.

Sanchez has recently qualified for the Western Conference Championship Finals in the 400 meter.

“My favorite memory is at the end of a race earlier this semester. The crowd was cheering,” said Sanchez. “But one of my friends stood out because he was jumping and yelling ‘Flecha.’”

“Flecha” is a Spanish word that translates into English as “arrow” and the nickname that her YMCA coach gave her when she was 14.

Sanchez’s future plans are to transfer to a four-year university, where she can continue running. She’d like to go to the University of Southern California or University of California Irvine.

“I’m on track, finally doing track, and loving it,” said Sanchez. “It’s a sport that I am very passionate about, and I really hope to continue running at a university.”

Year: Freshman • major: PhotograPhY • hometown: east L.a. • high schooL: rooseveLt senior high schooL

ELIA SANCHEZ:runnIng toWArdS SuCCESS

PHOTO BY DANIELA BERZUINISarkis Ekmekian

Staff Writer19-year-old Santa Monica College track and field star Elia Sanchez has advanced to the western State Conference

Championship finals in the 400m in her first year of track.


WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE HEALTH + LIFESTYLE|9

Determined to study law at Yale University, Van Jones refused to accept failure, even after scoring a 42 percent on his LSAT. Rather than wallowing in his defeat, he made it his primary goal to keep trying until he passed.Jones is now a globally recognized

environmental advocate, whose current missions are to give back to his community, and to help build a clean-energy economy for the future.Illustrating to a large crowd of Santa

Monica College students that it is possible to overcome adversity, Jones gave his “Green Jobs and Beyond” lecture last Tuesday as part of the college's Earth Week celebration. “They make it so hard for you—with

all that student debt, and you can’t get the classes you want,” Jones said of the difficulties of obtaining a college degree. However, as a man from a small

town, Jones reassured the audience that “anyone can make it if they’re willing to work hard and pay the cost.”“I wasn’t born at Yale Law,” Jones

said at the start of his lecture. “In fact, I didn’t see an Ivy League until I was 20.”Before attending Yale, Jones went to

college near his hometown of Jackson, Tenn. at the University of Tennessee.Jones has since used his degrees and

position in society in an effort to deter troubled youths from being sent to prison. He helped close three youth prisons, and created the Oakland Green Jobs Corps, which seeks to combat poverty by taking young adults off the streets and placing them into training programs for “green” jobs, such as installing solar panels. “Everything good for the

environment is a job,” said Jones. “Kids who need second chances are just thrown away.”Jones was not the only community

activist praised during Earth Week at SMC. On Wednesday, SMC grounds supervisor Tom Corpus was honored for his work on campus, including the implementation of “Green Zones.” These zones refer to a new system

in which only manpowered or battery-powered equipment can be used, and “organic integrated pest management” is applied, Bruce Smith, SMC's public information officer, explained in an e-mail.Earth Week enabled students to

participate in events promoting sustainability, including a beach cleanup with Heal the Bay. “Students should get active in their

community,” said Genevieve Bertone, SMC’s director of sustainability and EcoAction Club adviser. “This not only makes a huge difference, but it will also help them make friends, build their resume, and sharpen skills like public speaking, report-writing, and project management.”Though Earth Week is over, its events

have left SMC students with strategies for living sustainably. On campus, students can join the EcoAction Club and the Recycling Club. They can also volunteer at the Center for Environmental & Urban Studies, and other non-profit organizations in Santa Monica such as Heal the Bay and Sustainable Works.“Pay attention to the amount of

waste that is generated every day,” said Bertone. “When we throw resources away, there really is no ‘away.’ It ends up at the primary Los Angeles Landfill in Puente Hills, which is scheduled to close in 2013.”To help reduce one’s ecological

footprint, Bertone suggests eating lower on the food chain, taking alternative transportation at least once a week, and conserving recourses by simply consuming less—less water, less energy, and less chemicals. “Earth Day should be every day,”

said Bertone.

sMc earth Week events encourage

activism

Local doctor warns of toxic environmental health risks

Stressing the potential dangers of environmental toxins and the immediate health threats that they pose, Dr. David Allen, who has over thirty years of experience as a physician, gave a lecture on Wednesday at the Santa Monica Public Library."I would treat people, but they wouldn't

get well,” Allen said. “It’s as if something was blocking the treatment. It wasn't until I started treating the environment my patients were in that I was able to help people." According to Allen, “pollutants are

everywhere,” and there has been no clean air anywhere on the planet for at least 25 years. “The first thing that’s affected by a toxic

environment is the immune system,” said Allen. “Allergies are an autoimmune disease.” Allen claimed that in recent years, there has

been a significant increase in the number of chemicals to which people are exposed daily. “Thirty years ago, autoimmune diseases

were rare,” Allen said. “Now, they’re the third leading cause of death in the industrialized world, only behind cancer and heart disease.” Allen warned that inhaling omnipresent

pollutants, such as major solvents, paint fumes, and gasoline, could weaken the immune system and cause brain damage. Allen also cautioned that those who are sensitive to fragrant soaps, perfumes and cologne might be living in a toxic environment. “The nose is a direct pathway to the brain,

and is unique in the fact that it’s always on the lookout for dangerous smells,” said Allen. “The sense of smell can be overloaded, and perceive some chemicals as threats.”

Another environmental risk to human health, according to Allen, is the widespread nature of toxic heavy metals such as mercury and lead. “A lot of dentists doubt that there is mercury

in silver fillings, however, some can be as much as fifty percent mercury,” said Allen, who removed his own silver fillings over the course of three trips to the dentist in one year.Allen also claimed that aspartame, an

artificial sweetener found in some diet sodas, may cause memory loss and pulmonary hypertension, and is also linked to Graves’ disease.Trying to remain healthy when so many

toxins abound may seem daunting, but Allen’s suggestions are remarkably simple—avoidance, supplementation and cleansing.Allen advises avoiding all chemicals and

toxins as much as possible, especially new paint, exhaust fumes and new carpets. To support a healthy immune system, Allen

recommends a simple vitamin C supplement and whey protein powder. “It’s necessary to decrease the toxic burden

in your body to remain healthy,” said Allen.Allen suggests drinking green tea and

consuming B vitamins to cleanse the body.“The constitution says all men and women

are created equal, however when it comes to genetics, we know that is not the case,” said Allen. “Some people are naturally more resistant to toxins, and better at detoxifying their body. Part of being healthy is knowing your own body.”“Modern medicine doesn’t fully acknowledge

the health threats posed by our environments,” said Allen. “We don’t get sick for no reason.”

Christina SziatinszkyStaff Writer

henry CrumblishStaff Writer

Jeff Cote Corsairvan Jones, an environmentalist, activist and lawyer, makes an inspirational speech on april 24 at Santa Monica College during Earth week.

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There are two other customers in line when we step into Sunny Blue on Main St. The place is tiny, and my group of three makes it crowded, but cozy. The interior has a Japanese touch to it, and consists nearly entirely of a typical sushi counter, where you can see the chefs preparing your food. However, this place is not your typical sushi

restaurant, in fact, they don’t serve sushi at all. Sunny Blue specializes in Omusubi, a

traditional Japanese rice ball, with different fillings, and if you want, wrapped in seaweed. On the ceiling of the restaurant, strings

are hung up with clothespins, holding different bags of Japanese snacks. The little restaurant does not offer much seating, and can’t fit more than two bar chairs by the window, and two small tables outside on the sidewalk. This is not an issue, as the best way to eat Omusubi is on the go. The rice balls are rather small, but filling.

Two portions are about the right amount for lunch, and depending on the filling you

choose, each cost between $2.50 and $4.50. The most popular Omusubi (as well as

my favorite) is the Miso Beef. The meat is cooked with caramelized onions in a homemade miso sauce, and the end result is a perfect mix of salty and sweet. For the tuna lover, their Kara Tuna is the

perfect choice, filled with albacore tuna and Karashi mustard - a mix of mustard seeds and horseradish, reminiscent of wasabi. Sunny Blue also offers vegan choices,

such as their Hijiki - seaweed, shiitake mushrooms, tofu, green peas and carrots, mixed together. Or the Shiso Ume, with Japanese pickled plum paste and fresh shiso leaves.

For beverages, they offer Japanese soda and coffee drinks (in cans), and every meal comes with a complimentary Mugicha, an iced tea made from roasted barley. For a quick and easy lunch or snack, Sunny

Blue is the perfect place. Unless very busy, the staff is eager to help

choose which fillings you should try. If you haven’t tried Omusubi before, pay a visit to Sunny Blue, their rice balls are rather addictive, so it probably won’t be your last time. Located at 2728 Main Street, in Santa

Monica, and there’s street parking outside. Yay! - They have frozen yogurt!Nay! - Limited selection of beverages.

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$10 Tuesdays at Sunny Blue

Emeritus College student photo show: pt. IIPart two of SMC’s Emeritus College student produced photo show. Juried by instructors Ken Buckner and Jerry Schneir, winners were awarded in four

different categories: people, places, things and Photoshop.May 3 – May 31

(opening reception May 3 @ 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

Emeritus College Art Gallery 1224 Second St., Santa Monica (1st floor)

free admission(310) 434-4306 or www.smc.edu/emeritus

Conversation with ROC LARestaurant Opportunities Center of

Los Angeles will be collaborating with Christina Sanchez’s Break/Pausa project

on an evening of art, collaborative performance, and conversation on the current state of the restaurant worker movement. The project is one of five

programs presented in the degree exhibition of Otis College of Art and

Design’s Graduate Public Practice Program.

May 3 @ 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery (SMC

Performing Arts Center)1310 11 St., Santa Monica

Lucha VaVoomCinco de Mayo celebration featuring Mexican masked wrestling, burlesque, comedy performances, food, drinks,

‘folklorico’ dancers, low-riders, and more. Lucha VaVoom is ‘good vs. evil’ played

out in quick, exhibition-style Lucha Libre matches. Founded in 2002 by Rita

D’Albert and Liz Fairbairn, this is the tenth anniversary celebration.

May 4 – 5 @ 7 p.m. (show starts @ 8 p.m.)The Mayan

1038 S. Hill St., Downtown L.A.$45

http://luchavavoom.com/cinco-2012-los-angeles

Synapse Dance TheaterThe SMC dance department presents

this contemporary dance ensemble on the Broad Stage. The company has offered

opportunities to aspiring dancers for more than 35 years, and is directed this year by faculty members, Jae Lee and

CORSAIR CALENDARRoberta Wolin-Tupas. Performances will

feature guest artists, award-winning faculty members, and up-and-coming student

choreographers.May 4 @ 7:30 p.m.

&May 5 @ 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Broad Stage (SMC Performing Arts Center)

1310 11 St., Santa Monica$15 (SMC students)

$18 (at the door)310-434-3467

‘Who Bombed Judi Bari’ documentary

93-minute documentary about the ‘Earth First!’ organizer, Judi Bari. Bari was badly

injured in a car bomb in 1990, and the culprit is unknown to this day. SMC

film professor Sheila Laffey worked as executive producer on the movie.

May 5 @ 7 p.m.Regent Showcase Theater

614 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles$11 (online)

$14 (at the door)www.whobombedjudibari.com



Santa Monica College’s 2012 Synapse Dance performance grants its audience an abundance of dance outside the boundaries of traditional movement. The performance features several

contemporary pieces set to an eclectic variety of music, with interesting titles and subjects. This year, Synapse seems to focus more

on modern and contemporary styles of dance, and noticeably avoids classic styles such as ballet and folkloric. ‘Dal Cominciou’ - a piece choreographed

by SMC student Joshua Bergeron - incorporates sounds, words, and music within staccato and modern movements. ‘Dal Cominciou’ is inspired by the passing of Bergeron’s grandfather this past fall. “It's definitely based on scenes, it's based

on memories, it's based on things that we hold important to us – emotions,” said Bergeron. “It's inspired by the times we’ve had with

paternal figures in our lives.”Aubrhe Yruretagoyena is the other half

of this duo, and is seen in five other acts in this year’s production. Mikala Rae'l Johnson's powerful moves

and strong presence commands the audience’s attention. “This is my first time in Synapse, and I'm very excited,” said Johnson, who is featured in three of the production’s pieces. Not every piece in this year’s Synapse is

your typical contemporary dance routine. Acts ‘Oooh Lil' Mama,’ and ‘Hip Hop Symphony’ give the audience a taste of alternative genres of dance. Choreographed by Lauren Thompson-

Hall, ‘Oh Lil' Mama,’ is a refreshingly mostly-male ensemble, who comedically enter the stage “on the prowl for women.” Dancing temptress, Mawiyah Dowd

intrigues men with her leaps, jumps, and extraordinary dance lines. Dowd mixes technicality with sass and sex

appeal. The male dancers then show off their

incredible athleticism as they battle for her attention. Choreographed by Troy Stephens,

‘Hip-Hop Symphony’ showcases an underground dance movement called ‘Wacking and Voguing,’ which incorporates smooth and coordinated movements of the arms and legs. This year, audience members will enjoy

familiar tunes and a refreshing change from classical dance ensembles.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT |11

Synapse 2012 brings modern movement to SMC

Janae' FranklinStaff Writer

asta karalis CorsairSanta Monica College student Mikala rae’l Johnson performs “Nice Guys Finish Last” at the dance rehearsal for the Synapse Dance Theater on april 19.

The Synapse Dance Theater Contemporary Dance Ensemble takes the Broad Stage at the SMC Performing

Arts Center on Friday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, May 5 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

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WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 12|ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

A little girl sat playing the piano at a train station in England. Her mother, sitting next to her, was crying. She had cleaned houses for four years just to be able to pay for her daughter’s piano lessons, and could not afford to buy a real piano for her. This was the first time she had heard her daughter play.After creating the ‘Play Me,

I’m Yours,’ project, British artist Luke Jerram witnessed this scene. Established in 2008, in Birmingham, England, the project has installed more than 500 freestanding public pianos, in 22 cities all over the world. According to Jerram, the pianos were

established for anyone who wanted to play, serving as a way for the public to express themselves, share their creativity and reveal hidden musical talents.The Los Angeles ‘Play Me, I’m

Yours’ project started on April 12, with a kick-off event that featured 30 different musicians around the city playing ‘The Third Movement,’ by Johann Sebastian Bach, in unison.“The response, so far, has been

great,” said Rachel Fine, executive director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Fine brought the project to Los Angeles this year, to honor music director and pianist Jeffrey Kahane’s 15 years with the orchestra.According to Fine, Kahane is very

community oriented, and LACO wanted to do a project that reflected his personality. “‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ was brought to Los Angeles with the intention of bringing arts into communities, and making classical music more accessible.” The pianos - which were donated by

various organizations and individuals - can be found at high-traffic spots, including the Santa Monica Pier, the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, and outside the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. They are accessible around the clock, and open to anyone who wants to play. Jerram said he got the idea for

the project while visiting his local laundromat in Bristol, England. He saw the same people there every weekend, but nobody talked to each other.“I suddenly realized that within a

city, there must be hundreds of these invisible communities, regularly spending time with one another in silence,” said Jerram. “Placing a piano into that space was my solution to this problem, acting as a catalyst for conversation and changing the dynamics of common places.”Jerram went on to create a website for

each city, with an extra link for each of the pianos, where people could share pictures and videos of them playing, as well as their own stories.Some of the stories shared on the

web included two journalists who met at one of the pianos in Sydney, fell in love, and got married. A young pianist was discovered while playing one of the pianos in London, and a New Yorker was so inspired by the project that he decided to travel across the United States with a piano on wheels. “We really wanted to reflect the

community of Los Angeles to the best of our ability, and we did that with the locations, the artists, and the community organizations represented,” said Fine. Artists volunteered to paint the

pianos, going through an application process, while others were actually approached by the orchestra. Several community-based organizations were placed in charge of the decorating. On April 26, at the piano placed

outside Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, ‘Love Letters to LA: Pianos Live’ was held - a concert featuring various artists, each of whom performed one classical song reflecting what Los Angeles meant to them. “It’s a hard time for society, with

unemployment, recession, the California state budget cuts, college tuitions, and all these other things,” said Fine. “I think people need this kind of project to feed their souls.”

Nadine weilandStaff Writer

Daniela Berzuini CorsairMariah McManus performs in “Play Me, i’m yours,” an art installation at the Egyptian Theater, on april 26. The producers of the event promoted a concert: Loved Letters to La: Piano Live, featuring 12 local musicians who performed songs about the city. “These pianos bring communities together,” said co-producer Morgan karr in a statement.

Michael yanow CorsairManendaleo vasser of Babylon, Long island in New york, plays a piano associated with the ‘Play Me, i’m yours' art installation on the Santa Monica Pier on March 22.

Michael yanow CorsairGeorge Dozal plays a piano associated with the ‘Play Me, i’m yours' art installation at L.a. Live on March 22.

Daniela Berzuini Corsair Morgan karr and Shyvonne performs at the Egyptian Theater on april 26.

For more information on the Los angeles ‘Play Me, i’m yours’ project, visit www.streetpianosla.com .

Michael yanow Corsair Jennifer woodard (center) of Bakersfield, California plays a piano associated with the ‘Play Me, i’m yours' art installation on the Santa Monica Pier on March 22. British artist, Luke Jerram, fostered the idea of having pianos in public places for anyone to play, hoping to create dialogue about urban space.

PLaY me, i'm Yours

volume 103 issue 10

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