Two marijuana dispensary workers found guilty in murder of El Camino student
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NEWS
Two marijuana dispensary workers found guilty in murder of El Camino student
By: Kim McGill
Jurors found both the owner and manager of a marijuana dispensary shop guilty of first-degree murder for killing an El Camino College student. VIP Collective LA owner Weijia Peng and manager Ethan Astaphan were convicted on Monday, Feb. 26 of killing El Camino student and dispensary employee Juan Hernandez on Sept. 22, 2020. Read more.
“Learn as if you will live forever”: A celebration of Parrish Geary’s life
By: Nick Geltz
The Celebration of Life memorial service for Parrish Geary, former dean of student support services, took place in the the East Dining Room at El Camino College on Feb. 12. The memorial began with a few words from Director of the Student Development Office Ricky Gonzalez. “[Geary] was a leader, passionate, empathetic and a true agent of systemic change,” Gonzalez said. Read more.
History lesson: State senator discusses the need for reparation laws
California Senator Steven Bradford was at El Camino College for a Black History Month event at the Social Justice Center on Feb. 16 to talk about reparations to African Americans stemming from enslavement. Bradford is a member of the Black Reparations Task Force, the group created by Assembly Bill 3121 to study slavery and its effects on living African Americans. Read more.
New Health Services building now open on campus
By: Kae Takazawa
Making condom roses and safe sex supplies given out to attendees marked the grand opening of the new El Camino College Health Services Center on Feb. 14. The health center moved to the north side of campus behind the Planetarium and Natural Sciences buildings. Four mental health therapy rooms and three exam rooms are some of the new additions to the center. Read more.
SPORTS
El Camino College hosts victory parade for historic men’s soccer team
By: Johan Van Wier
El Camino College celebrated the near-perfect season of the Men’s Soccer team with a motorcade around campus on Feb. 15. The 2023 national and state champions rode a fire truck from the El Camino Fire Academy escorted by police, showing off their state championship trophy as the campus community cheered for its soccer team. Read more.
Back on track: Warriors Baseball takes series win over the East L.A. Huskies in a pitchers’ duel
By: Tommy Kallman
The bats were hot in the first matchup of the series between El Camino College and East Los Angeles College, held at El Camino on Thursday, Feb. 22. However, runs were hard to come by. El Camino wins a close pitcher duel in a 2-1 win for the Warriors. Read more.
Men’s Basketball falls short to Compton College in final home game
By: Joshua Flores
El Camino College men's basketball team drops its last home game in a 79-70 loss versus the Compton College Tartars on Wednesday, Feb. 21. The Warriors would lose their last regular season game to LA Harbor College 58-72, ending the season on a six-game losing streak. Read more.
Warriors bow to Olympians in women’s beach volleyball
By: Joshua Flores
El Camino College women's beach volleyball team suffered a 0-5 sweep on Feb. 16 against the San Diego Mesa College Olympians, extending the Warriors losing streak to three games after starting the season with four straight wins. Their next match is a double-header on March 1 against Rio Hondo College at 10 a.m. and Ventura College at noon. Read more.
ARTS & FEATURES
Feast of unity: Soul food and Black-owned businesses bring people together
By: Olivia Sullivent
Tangy soul food aromas, vibrant booths displaying handmade products and laughter and conversation filled the East Dining Room on Feb. 21 as part of the “Taste of Soul” and “Mini Black Market Flea” events hosted in celebration of Black History Month. Black-owned businesses from the community were invited to set up booths as part of the “Mini Black Market Flea,” accompanied by a luncheon of soul food provided by Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen. Read more.
El Camino celebrates Black History Month with discussion on Black architects in Southern California
By: Erica Lee
Samuel L. Jackson was depicted as Mace Windu, a character from Star Wars, holding a purple lightsaber during a presentation on Black architects in Southern California on Feb. 14 in the East Dining Room. One of the speakers, Stephen Lewis, said a lightsaber is needed to deal with injustices regarding the lack of acknowledgment of Black architects and their work. Read more.
No valentine, no problem: People on campus find various ways to celebrate the ‘day of love’
By: Union Staff
This past Valentine’s Day, many people on campus found different ways to celebrate the ‘day of love.’ Those without a valentine decided to celebrate with friends, stay home, watch movies and practice self-care. Many couples on campus also had romantic dates planned to celebrate the holiday. Read more.
OPINION
Campus Viewpoints: Community voices safety concerns
By: Union Staff
The attack on Junko Hanafusa on Dec. 24, 2023 has made students, faculty and staff wonder if El Camino College is doing enough to increase safety measures on campus. The Union asked people on campus on Feb. 14 how they feel about safety, what they are doing to stay safe and if they use the Nixle emergency alert text notification. Read more.
The Union’s Print Edition
The Union will be publishing five physical newspaper issues during the spring 2024 semester. Be on the lookout for Vol. 79 issue 1 next week and make sure to stop by The Union’s news racks found throughout campus to keep informed and support local journalism.
• March 7 and 28
• April 5
• May 9 and 30
Letter From The Editor
Endings and beginnings.
The Union’s first newsletter for the spring 2024 semester has stories on endings and beginnings.
First, a trial ends.
Over three years since El Camino student Juan Hernandez’s body was found in the Mojave Desert, the jury in the murder case delivered a verdict.
Over winter break, the passing of Dean of Student Support Services Parrish Geary cast a pall on a campus community that was still reeling from an attack that happened on its grounds. The community voiced its concern about safety on campus.
Celebration of life. Of victory. Of culture.
The college honored Geary in a memorial attended by his family, friends and the campus community. National and state champions Men’s Soccer team commemorated its near-perfect season with a motorcade around campus organized by the college. Stories on Black reparations, Black architects and soul food honored Black History Month.
A new beginning. The new Health Services Center had a grand opening on Valentine’s Day.
And, of course, love: A story on the various ways people on campus celebrate the ‘day of love.’
The spring 2024 editorial board launches its newsletter in a leap year, on the last day of the month of love.
It’s a new beginning for us, too. Thank you for supporting campus journalism.
Sincerely,
Ma. Gisela Ordenes
Editor-in-Chief
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 done by student journalists. The Union is proud to present the El Camino College community with weekly newsletters delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday morning.
The Union will commit to covering stories that deliver the truth and highlight diversity, equity and inclusion on campus at El Camino College and its surrounding community in Torrance, California.
If you have any comments or questions about this issue of The Union’s newsletter or any of the stories you’ve read, please contact our new Editor-in-Chief Ma. Gisela Ordenes by emailing her at sablayenya@gmail.com. If you feel satisfied with what you read today, let us know by sharing this newsletter and tagging us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
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