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Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Carmelita Islas Mendez

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor

All content by Carmelita Islas Mendez
The iron suit that holds the heart of a woman

The iron suit that holds the heart of a woman

“For 10 years, I lived as a [presenting] female,” Nuralain Khoury said, “It was incredible. That was truly the best time of my life… my biggest transition was my de-transition.” Khoury, 40,...

May 15, 2019-Page 5

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor May 15, 2019

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor May 15, 2019

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor May 15, 2019

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor May 15, 2019

Cerritos College is duscussing possibly obtaining a Norwalk property for student housing. President Dr. Jose Fierro said that the conversation is still early on and that the Distric is still looking for representation in the transaction.

[Photo] Student housing underway

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor May 15, 2019

Cerritos College is duscussing possibly obtaining a Norwalk property for student housing. President Dr. Jose Fierro said that the conversation is still early on and that the Distric is still looking for...

May 1, 2019-Page 3

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor May 1, 2019

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor May 1, 2019

Counter protestors rally against white nationalism

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor April 30, 2019

Long Beach residents held a peaceful anti-hate rally in response to a scheduled free-speech march. The free-speech march was organized by a Facebook group with links to right-wing “patriots” and white...

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor April 10, 2019

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor April 10, 2019

The Child Development Center is welcoming guest readers to read books to the children, including Dr. Suess books to honor his memory. Faculty members, staff and administrators were invited to read, including President Jose Fierro on March 5, reading books like “Green Eggs and Ham.”

[Photo] Getting ‘Wacky’ with guest readers

Jasmine Martinez March 16, 2019

The Child Development Center is welcoming guest readers to read books to the children, including Dr. Suess books to honor his memory. Faculty members, staff and administrators were invited to read, including...

March 6, 2019-Page 3

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor March 6, 2019

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor January 23, 2019

Go Green Task Force advisors and club members worked to bring back local wildlife by planting native plants. The plants were brought in and planted on Feb. 22.

Go Green pushes to reintroduce plant life

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor March 4, 2019

Changes to the Cerritos College campus continues with Go Green Task Force organization and efforts. The club organized an event to plant California native plants on Feb. 22. The plants are being put...

State law redefines non-resident in colleges, results in Cerritos College fee increase

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor February 27, 2019

Fees for non-resident students are set to rise, following the approval from the Cerritos College Board of Trustees. The non-residents fee formerly only applied to students who are citizens of other...

Southern chef Sean Brock prefers his shaved catfish with a liberal dose of hot sauce. His advice? “Make it rain hot sauce.”

‘Chef’s Table’ continues with season six’s, featuring inspiring new chef’s

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor February 26, 2019

The latest season of “Chef's Table” was not much different to previous season and that’s not a bad thing as each chef and a lone butcher explain their fascination with the culinary arts. Season...

Union negotiators remain hopeful despite past tensions with the District

Jasmine Martinez and Carmelita Islas Mendez January 23, 2019

Cerritos College and the Cerritos College Faculty Federation have been in negotiations for over a year said Stephanie Rosenblatt. Rosenblatt, president of the CCFF, explained that negotiations will continue...

Courtesy of Camilo Santiago: Monica Santiago, 24, died while abroad in Tainan City, Taiwan. She was teaching English to local children when she died in November 2018.

Cerritos College alumnae dies while on study abroad trip, community mourns

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor January 22, 2019

Monica Santiago, a Cerritos College alumnae, died in Tainan City, Taiwan while studying abroad and teaching local children to speak English. While at Cerritos, Santiago, 24, participated in programs which...

Albert Wilmovsky, lab technician, hosted a workshop on tools within Microsoft Word. He said his focus is on all students at Cerritos.

[Photo] Microsoft Word workshop teaches accessible program tools

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor September 12, 2018

Albert Wilmovsky, lab technician, hosted a workshop on tools within Microsoft Word. He said his focus is on all students at Cerritos.

Vice President of Business Services and Assistant Superintendent Felipe Lopez gave a presentation to update community members
on changes made to the parking lot on 166th St and Studebaker Rd. However, no community members were present on the Dec. 3 forum.

‘Overall satisfaction’ and benefits from lot on 166th St and Studebaker Rd

Carmelita Islas Mendez December 5, 2018

A community forum to update community members on the 166th St and Studebaker Rd parking lot was held by administration members on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. with no community members present. Vice President of...

Free Speech Zone: Should babies be genetically engineered?

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor December 4, 2018

Should babies be genetically engineered? Jonathan Lopez, English major "It’s hard to say because it’s risky and controversial. I am not going to lean toward either side. I think we all just...

Nov. 7, 2018-Page 3

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor November 7, 2018

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor October 17, 2018

Cerritos College dental assistant majors volunteering at LA Care Harbor Oct. 15. Courtesy of Anne Contreras.

Cerritos dentistry students volunteer in LA

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor October 17, 2018

Cerritos College students from dental programs on campus volunteered to provide dental care to Angelenos.The event took place at The Reef in Downtown L.A., Oct. 13-15, however students only volunteered...

New season of ‘Big Mouth’ is better, but still disgusting

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor October 11, 2018

The newest season of Netflix’s “Big Mouth” was finally released on Oct. 5 and it was conflicting to watch. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'zbfv--rtRCdv6qRWCGNXeg',sig:'evTsCsnNYKrbR2PjApN4FspDiJ1KbsfMIVKBVb_BJdU=',w:'594px',h:'500px',items:'1044873030',caption:...

"Withholding of C.O.L.A. is a form of embezzlement" read Walter Fernandez's sign as Vice President of Business Services Felipe Lopez walked by. Faculty members, both part-time and full-time alike and union members were present, wearing red shirts at the Sept. 19 Board of Trustees meeting.

Faculty protests college’s decision to deny expected salary increases

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor October 3, 2018

The Cerritos College Faculty Federation has been in negotiations with the district for 11 months now, but new information on an increasing annual budget has caused the CCFF to “mobilize,” said union...

Oct. 3, 2018-Page 2

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor October 3, 2018

Cerritos officials praise updates to parking lot in low-attended forum

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor September 19, 2018

Cerritos College held a forum to update community members on updates made to the parking lot, formerly the strawberry field. The meeting was held on Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. with only three people being able...

Sept. 19, 2018-Page 3

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor September 19, 2018

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor September 12, 2018

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor August 29, 2018

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Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor August 22, 2018

Cerritos College students sitting spaced out to avoid waiting in the sun as the commonly known shade structures offer little protection. A Notice of Completion was approved by the Board of Trustees on Aug. 15, with a final cost of $1.3 million for the structures.

Shade-deficiant shades structures finally finished

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor August 21, 2018

The shade structures across campus are now officially finished, minus the shades, as the Notice of Completion was approved by the Board of Trustees. The final cost of the structures and the surrounding...

McDonald's on Lakewood Blvd celebrated its 65th year in service. It was opened on Aug. 18, 1953 by Roger Williams and Burdette "Bud" Landon. Landon's grandson was also in attendance and recounted his personal history with the restaurant.

Melancholy and happiness in Downey’s celebration for the oldest McDonald’s

Carmelita Islas Mendez, Managing Editor August 21, 2018

The Downey Conservancy hosted an event celebrating the 65 years of service of the oldest McDonald’s ever, located on Lakewood Boulevard. The festivities took place on location with the famous 62 feet...

Adriana Morales, a student at Cerritos College, has been dancing since the age of three.
Dance is currently a hobby for Morales and is involved in the dance group, Limitless, which helps teach those who are disabled how to dance.

Limitless

Carmelita Islas Mendez and Jasmine Martinez August 14, 2018

“You know how some people dance and some people are dancers, she’s a dancer,” said Rita Morales of her daughter, Adriana Morales. When Adriana, 21, was three, her mom caught her dancing to a Maná...

Director of Athletics asks for mold-ridden pump to be replaced, remains to be seen

Carmelita Islas Mendez May 8, 2018

Legislation has been introduced to the Associated Students of Cerritos College senate to purchase the “Powerflo 50” hydration unit. The legislation was introduced by the Director of Athletics Angel...

Campus faces budget cuts despite student leaders effort

Carmelita Islas Mendez May 8, 2018

The budget for the year 2018- 2019 has been passed by the Associated Students of Cerritos College. It was discussed and amended by senate over the course of three meetings and was unanimously approved...

Problems resurface with Fine Arts Building

Problems resurface with Fine Arts Building

According to the Director of Physical Planning and Construction Services David Moore “most users are very happy” with the Fine Arts Building at Cerritos College. However, instructors in the...

Associated Students of Cerritos College Vice President David Ramirez explains the legislation to other ASCC senators. The legislation had been on the agenda for three weeks.

Senate finally ends weeks-long discussion on NASA internship

Carmelita Islas Mendez April 24, 2018

After it’s third week in the Associated Students of Cerritos College senate agenda SB 1718-26: Cerritos College Arduino Internship Opportunity Funding has been approved.The legislation will fund...

The glare on the outside exhibit's windows has been an issue for Director and Curator for the Cerritos College gallery, James MacDevitt. "When I showed up the day after they installed the glass ... I immediately recognized that this was not going to work," said MacDevitt.

Art faces a glaring issue

Carmelita Islas Mendez April 10, 2018

The outside exhibit in the Fine Arts building has been causing concern for art students as well as Director and Curator for the Cerritos College Gallery, James MacDevitt. The glass windows on the exhibit...

Vice President David Ramirez gives a presentation on how the Arduino internship benefitted students and that he specifically wanted to fund undocumented, AB 540 and international students. He said, " I think that it's not fair when students who have that capacity or exceed that capacity are not able to do so because the fact that they are deemed a category of people who are ineligible."

[Photo] Undocumented students for NASA internship

John Chavez April 9, 2018

Vice President David Ramirez gives a presentation on how the Arduino internship benefitted students and that he specifically wanted to fund undocumented, AB 540 and international students. He said, " I...

Student Trustee candidates participate in the Student Trustee forum. There were six total candidates with one not attending.

Students are the focus for these candidates

Carmelita Islas Mendez March 27, 2018

Student Trustee candidates as well as the Vice President candidate participated in the 2018 Associated Students of Cerritos College Presidential and Student Trustee Forum. The candidates promoted what...

Track team member Juanita Webster and track and field coach Christopher Richardson train for upcoming track meets. Richardson, also a faculty senate member, works to have resources specific for student athletes reinstated.

Cerritos College student athletes left to scramble for resources

Carmelita Islas Mendez February 27, 2018

Services for on-campus athletes have been cutback by Cerritos College administrators in response to data they collected leaving student athletes to struggle. The student athlete services included general...

Senator Christopher Rodriguez introduced the bill to the Associated Students of Cerritos College. The legislation passed with 25 votes with one senator opposing.

A clearer view to the stars for Cerritos College

Carmelita Islas Mendez February 23, 2018

The Associated Students of Cerritos College have adopted a legislation which asked for an observatory to be built on the roof of the Mathematics/Computer Information Science Building. The bill was adopted...

While in Faculty Senate Stephanie Rosenblatt, Cerritos College Faculty Federation liaison, asks other members to attend the Board of Trustees meeting. Rosenblatt hopes to have 40 other faculty members attend the meeting to support part-time counselors.

Part-time counselors’ fate hangs by a thread on campus

Carmelita Islas Mendez February 6, 2018

Cerritos College faculty are petitioning campus administrators this week as 15 part-time counselors are expected to lose their jobs this semester due to a lack of grant funding. Stephanie Rosenblatt,...

ESL students locked out of classes by Schedule Plus policy

Carmelita Islas Mendez January 29, 2018

Departments on campus have had difficulties with enrollment due to a policy put in place by Cerritos College says speech department chairperson Angela Hoppe-Nagao. The policy is in regards to how classes...

Lisa Suzuki and Petra such celebrate winning the doubles match. Suzuki and Such played against Hope International University's Jessica Cornea and Jovana Milosevic.

Scrimmage against Hope International University shows promising season for women’s tennis

Carmelita Islas Mendez January 27, 2018

The Cerritos College women’s tennis team outperformed the Hope International University opposing women’s tennis team in their preseason match. The home game consisted of two doubles matches...

The Board of Trustee same to a had a controversial night as they meet with a packed room of students and staff. They unanimously voted against agenda item 33, to not renew Zebra Coffee contract.

Zebra Coffee not extinct on campus, to remain another year

Carmelita Islas Mendez, News Editor January 21, 2018

    The Board of Trustee have voted to extend the contract with on-campus food vendors until the Spring 2019 semester, mainly the threatened Zebra Coffee. The proposition came after...

‘The board offered what I think is a fair compensation to everyone’

Carmelita Islas Mendez January 16, 2018

Cerritos College plans to move forward with the Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, commonly known as the golden handshake. The Board of Trustees meeting where the bill was adopted was held on Dec....

‘The End of the F***ing World’ for cliche teens

Carmelita Islas Mendez January 16, 2018

Netflix’s British comedy "The End of the F***ing World" is a prime example of shows who use teenage angst as a peg. A show with teenage angst is nothing new or interesting, if anything that makes...

“I am offered a handshake, but it ain’t golden”

Carmelita Islas Mendez December 14, 2017

A Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan was adopted at a recent Board of Trustees meeting with no objections, but one abstention. The meeting was held on Dec. 6 at 7 pm where a closed-session discussion...

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