The VP-Elect: A Woman of Firsts

Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s running mate and former California Senator, has made history as the first Black, first South Asian-American, and first female elected as vice president. The 56-year-old Democrat is a woman of firsts; she was the first female District Attorney of San Francisco (2004-2011), the first female Attorney General of California (2011-2017), and the first Indian American in the U.S. Senate (2017-2020)

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2020 Elections, News Jackie Sedley 2020 Elections, News Jackie Sedley

The Nation Reacts to Yet Another Historical Moment in 2020

Cities across the country shook with cheers and screams from 8:30 a.m. PST on, following several media outlets’ confirmation that former vice president Joe Biden had won the presidential election over incumbent Donald Trump. According to the Associated Press (AP), Biden won Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes and Nevada’s six electoral votes, putting him over the 270 needed to win the race.

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News Jackie Sedley News Jackie Sedley

Jackie Lacey Concedes in the Race Against George Gascón for L.A. District Attorney

Jackie Lacey gave her final speech as District Attorney (D.A.) of Los Angeles today, November 6, to a room of masked reporters inside the Hall of Justice. After holding her position for eight years, Lacey has officially conceded to opponent George Gascón.

“I congratulate George Gascón and his team on their expected victory,” Lacey said. “There are still about 791,000 votes to count, but my consultants tell me that while I may close the gap between the two of us, I will not be able to make up enough based on the trending of the ballots to win this election.”

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Protest, Week in Photos, Photo Stories Jackie Sedley Protest, Week in Photos, Photo Stories Jackie Sedley

L.A. Armenian Community Protests as Regional Tensions Rise

The Armenian community in Los Angeles organized a protest in response to sharp escalation in decades-long conflict with Azerbaijan over Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh. Although Artsakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, it is governed independently as a presidential republic and operates de facto as part of Armenia.

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Letter From the Editor: Activism Isn't Optional

I feel safe walking around my own neighborhood late at night. I have never been followed around a clothing store by a security guard. I have never witnessed someone of my own race victimized on video. My family has never been targeted by the police for crimes we did not commit.

I’ve always been aware that I have privilege as a white woman in America, but looking into the eyes of people I deeply care about and hearing their cries as they speak to their experiences of what I listed above -- I wasn’t just aware of my privilege. I felt my privilege crawling along my every limb.

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Leditor, Letter from the Editor Jackie Sedley Leditor, Letter from the Editor Jackie Sedley

Letter From the Editor: The Circus of Life

Do you know how the Ringling Brothers Circus used to train elephants?

I didn’t, until about a week ago. For the first six months of their lives, baby elephants would be restrained with steel chains and forced to stand on concrete floors for up to 23 hours a day. After months of attempting to escape these tethers to no avail, the elephants would give up and assume they would forever be restrained. As they reached adulthood, much weaker tethers were put in place; however, the elephants did not attempt to break free from them because of the traumatic failures they ensued when trying to escape previously.

Does this resonate with anybody else right now?

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News, 2020 in Review, Santa Monica College Jackie Sedley News, 2020 in Review, Santa Monica College Jackie Sedley

SMC Now Using Proctorio, an Online Monitoring Tool

On March 19, Santa Monica College (SMC) faculty received an email with the subject line “Proctorio -- test proctoring software now available” from Interim Dean of Instructional Services, Jason Beardsley. The email explained that an online software known as Proctorio had become available to all SMC faculty that use Canvas, in an effort to “enhance academic integrity by monitoring each student’s behavior during an exam.”

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Letter From the Editor: All Hail Technology

All hail technology.

With a widespread illness invading countries worldwide, businesses closing their doors left and right, and panic-inducing coughs and sneezes occurring on the daily, now is the time when many of us need the support of our loved ones. However, social distancing and lockdown protocols ordained by our local governments are making face-to-face interaction as difficult as it is to get your hands on a roll of toilet paper.

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Letter From the Editor: Women's Day, Revised

March marks the United State’s 33rd Annual Women’s History Month. This past Sunday was International Women’s Day (IWD), and people all across the globe used the day to publicly declare their advocacy and dedication to the advancement of women’s rights.

In Mexico, protestors marched against elevating rates of femicide, while Islamic women in Pakistan chanted “my body, my choice” through the streets. The Philippines, Turkey, Mexico, the United States, and many other countries showed public consideration for the day.

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Culture Jackie Sedley Culture Jackie Sedley

"Department of Dreams" Addresses Reality

For playwright Jeton Neziraj, growing up in Kosovo had the potential to hinder his creative process, as government regimes limited citizens’ access to viewing and publicly presenting art. However, his desire to pursue theatre overrode any constraints and instead inspired him to speak out against the systems that tried to hinder his creativity.

His most recent play, “Department of Dreams”, had its world premiere in the United States on Oct. 25 at City Garage Theatre Company’s current location, at the Bergamot Station Arts Center in Santa Monica.

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Entertainment, Culture Jackie Sedley Entertainment, Culture Jackie Sedley

Steve Lacy Lights Up The Wiltern Theatre

Strobe lights and eardrum-shattering screams set the tone for Steve Lacy’s show at the Wiltern theatre in Los Angeles on Oct. 30. Since the musician released his solo debut studio album in May, Lacy has gained popularity worldwide. His current tour, named Apollo XXI after his solo album, began in Chicago and will end in the United Kingdom.

Lacy has been deemed the epitome of a “21st century musician” in the public eye. While he has since upgraded to more professional software, the musician produced his first tracks on an iPhone in his mother’s Compton home and found his beginnings with guitar through the video game "Guitar Hero."

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