May 29 Newsletter
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NEWS
Parking permit fee increases, machine updates being considered at El Camino
El Camino College brought back parking permits and fees for students in fall 2024 and is now considering additional changes, including increasing prices and upgrading its permit machines. While students currently pay $20 for semester parking permits, they are much cheaper when compared to other community colleges in the state. Read more.
Hit-and-runs reported to El Camino College Police
Seven crimes have been reported to the El Camino College Police Department since Wednesday, April 23, as reported in the last Police Beat. Read more.
Academic Senate to edit revised speech policies proposed at El Camino
By Nikki Yunker
Faculty unanimously approved making edits to free speech policy revisions, which have been proposed by El Camino College’s administration, at the Academic Senate meeting Tuesday, May 20. Edits on the college’s Time, Place, and Manner policy — which regulates expression on campus — will be made over shared documents and voted on at the next senate meeting Tuesday, June 3. Read more.
SPORTS
Athletic trainer, interim director pushes student athletes to thrive
Abi Francisco's passion for athletics has never faded away and only continues to strengthen. Francisco has been the senior athletic trainer at El Camino College, for almost ten years and the interim athletic director as of Monday, March 10. Read more.
A quick dive: El Camino’s Bodybuilding Club targets nutrition, form and fitness
El Camino College’s Bodybuilding Club offers more than just workouts. It’s a space where members learn the fundamentals of fitness, including proper lifting form, smart nutrition choices and how to safely achieve their fitness goals. Read more.
ARTS & FEATURES
Jake Smith harmonizes politics and a passion for percussion
By Jamila Zaki
Jake Smith, 20, is a political science major at El Camino College. He plans to transfer to University of California, Los Angeles during fall 2025 as a political science major. He has been the commissioner of external Affairs for ASO since fall 2024 and is vice president of the Inter-Club Council. Read more.
How El Camino’s digital media and communications coordinator keeps authenticity at his core
By Seph Peters
For many people, figuring out what they’re going to end up doing for the rest of their lives can be challenging. Some people might know. For others, life has its way of making sure the puzzle pieces come together. Paul Rosales, digital media and communications coordinator at El Camino College, found his path the latter way. Read more.
Robotics Club builds creations and careers for students at El Camino
By Tina Talley
Hidden in the basement of the Industry Technology Education Center at El Camino College lies Room 22, a small space fit for a computer lab. Clinking and clanging sounds emerge from the room and surround the students within. Although limited in space, it serves as the headquarters for the Robotics Club, a club that focuses primarily on building robots which aren’t just for display. Watch here.
Game Development Club collaborates with Animation Guild and Computer Science Club
Three student organizations at El Camino College are bridging the fields of animation, computer science and game development. The clubs recently met this month to combine their skills in collaborating on a group game development project. Watch here.
STORY MAPS
Five best milkshake spots within a 15-minute drive of El Camino College
By Tina Talley
The Union gathered information from various restaurants and did some taste testing to bring you the top five classic and modernized milkshakes in the South Bay, all within a 15-minute drive of El Camino College. Come along with The Union and immerse yourself in this detailed tour of just a few of the many places that serve milkshakes nearby. Read more.
WARRIOR LIFE
Once in Maximillian: Tailored in the spotlight
A content creator with 28,000 Instagram followers and 37,000 on TikTok, 21-year-old Maximillian Ryan turned his love for fashion into a career as a social media influencer. Read more.
Court Report: Top 5 pickleball courts in the South Bay
Pickleball is everywhere; with participation skyrocketing over 200% in just three years, players of all ages are hitting the courts across the South Bay. Whether you’re a die-hard dinker or just paddle-curious, Warrior Life discovered five pickleball courts for friendly volleys, fierce rallies, and courtside community vibes. From packed parks to polished indoor facilities, here’s a guide to where South Bay plays pickleball — and why you’ll want to stay long after the game ends. Read more.
Cosmetology students offer top services while giving back to the community
By Tina Talley
El Camino’s Cosmetology Department is where future beauty pros train while offering affordable services to the campus and community. From vibrant hair color to gel nails and glowing facials, students deliver salon-quality care at student-friendly prices. Read more.
The Hairapist is in: A mother’s experience with freelancing, her educational career and cancer
By Eddy Cermeno
At just 14 years old, Sofia Mera launched her career working as a freelance cosmetologist. A single mother, she is pursuing her education in cosmetology and has faced setbacks with her health, including cancer. Read more.
Clicks on Campus: From YouTube to TikTok, these are the top websites visited at ECC
By Jamila Zaki
While students are toggling back and forth between books and computers, they spend time navigating educational resources at El Camino or scrolling through social media. From YouTube to TikTok, here are the top websites to visit at ECC which Warrior Life discovered. Read more.
My poodle helped me navigate loss
After the death of her father, staff writer Kaitlyn Gochez’s dog, Lucky, stood by her and provided a source of solace in her toy poodle with golden curls. Read more.
Laying Low: Colleges and universities remain a safe space for immigrant students
Regardless of their immigration status, students have protections from private information being obtained by federal law enforcement. FERPA protects the privacy of student education records and prevents federal immigration agencies from obtaining them, in which Assembly Bill 540 allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition. Read more.
PHOTOS
Nursing student Nicole Viramontes, 22, arranges butterfly cutouts on her mortarboard during the Grad Cap Decorating Event in front of the Student Services Building on Wednesday, May 28. Viramontes says she was drawn to the butterflies because they reminded her of her late cousin, Victoria. "I want to have some memory of her as she would have graduated before me," she said. (Erica Lee | The Union)
Anthropology professor Lawrence Ramirez waits for students before beginning his weekly Wednesday discussions in the Anthropology Museum on Wednesday, May 28. Past discussion topics include “Fun in the Sun: The Anthropology of Tourism and Leisure,” “In Good Taste: Food and the Social Construction of Preference” and “Introduction to the Klingon Language: A Cognitive Anthropological Approach.” (Katie Gronenthal | The Union)
Studio art major Nathalie Sumule (right), 20, contributes to a collaborative drawing activity during the Fine Arts Open House and student art show reception at the El Camino College Art Gallery on Friday, May 23. Sumule is currently enrolled in a 3D design class at ECC. (Nikki Yunker | The Union)
Brad Gilley, who runs the Instagram account grogu4you.la, holds panther chameleon Boba while veiled chameleon Grogu holds on to Gilley's shirt during the Fine Arts Division Open House at the Arts Complex on Friday, May 23. Gilley brought Boba and Grogu along to the event as they enjoy socializing and spending time outside. (Nikki Yunker | The Union)
The Union’s spring 2025 publication schedule
The Union is publishing five print newspaper issues during the spring 2025 semester. Be on the lookout for our last issue on Thursday, June 5, and make sure to stop by The Union’s news racks found throughout campus to keep informed and support local journalism.
• March 13
• April 3
• May 1 and 15
• June 5
The Union, volume 79, issue 9
The fourth spring 2025 issue of The Union is available online and in print on newsstands around campus.
Access the digital version of our newspaper here.
NEW! Warrior Life magazine, spring 2025
The spring/summer 2025 issue of Warrior Life magazine is now available online. Print copies of the 72-page magazine are coming soon to newsstands around campus.
Access the digital version of the issue here.
About The Union
The Union is El Camino College’s student-run newspaper and the only local source of news for its college community. Everything published by The Union is produced by student journalists. The Union is proud to present the college community with weekly newsletters each semester.
The Union dedicates itself to public service, accuracy, fairness and journalistic independence. The Union is committed to covering stories that deliver the truth and highlight diversity, equity and inclusion on campus at El Camino College and in its surrounding community.
If you have any questions, comments or story suggestions, please feel free to contact Editor-in-Chief Nikki Yunker by sending an email to eccunion@gmail.com.