Fighting Slavery

Crusading journalist says there are more slaves in the world right now than at any other time in human history

By Almendra Carpizo

Such a deal, said the pushy man. For just $50, E. Benjamin Skinner could buy himself a Haitian girl, and not just for the night. She would be his, forever. Skinner passed on the sad-eyed nine-year-old, so the man whisked her off to sell to someone else.

Adjunct math teacher has calming effect on students

By Hugo Cayeros

Math may be the language of science, but for Bruce Underhill spirituality is the language of life. Underhill, part-time adjunct instructor at Southwestern College, said he tries to create a comfortable environment for his students because people cannot learn when they are not at ease.

Blackwater foe says company wants in on border security

By Ernesto Gonzalez

Raymond Lutz had a packed house in room 214 for a "Stop Blackwater" teach-in that explored the brief history of the controversial security and military training company. Lutz, founder of the Citizens Oversight Projects Committee, is a vocal opponent of the Southwestern College partnership with Blackwater (or Xe) that allows police cadets free use of its Otay Mesa facility for its shooting range.

Students, staff march against violence towards women

By Leila Rodriguez

Young college women are among society's most victimized. As many as one in four college freshmen and sophomores have suffered a sexual assault, usually by someone they know. Diana Avila knows the pain. Coordinator for the Southwestern College Woman's Resource Center(WRC), Avila calls herself a "survivor.

Root beer drinkers thirsty for competition

SWC students foam at the mouth for $50 grand prize at ASO-sponsored chugging contest

By Leila Rodriguez

Plastic bottles clanked and the chugging began. In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, the Southwestern College Associated Student Organization hosted "Lucky Shamrock," the second annual root beer chugging contest. SWC participants "got bank for their drank" as the chugging showdown began.

Helicopter drops in on students from Japan

By Terry Lancaster

When a medical helicopter lands on a soccer field, there is usually an injured player wailing in agony. Luckily for Southwestern College soccer players, the helicopter landing was for the benefit of 43 students from Kobe Medical School in Japan, eager to soak up some knowledge on the paramedic system in the United States.

Japanese student finds SWC great place to learn languages, salsa

By Albert H. Fulcher

She saw an open door, came to America and discovered herself in English and Spanish classes at Southwestern College. This is not what Kazumi Ito, 29, from Tachikawa City, Japan had expected. Now, she is very glad to be here. Ito's goal in coming to America is to become trilingual and use her new skills to get a job in Japan.

SWC student wins the National Spirit Award

By Karla Saenz

Georg Curnutt is at Southwestern College and hungry to learn. It beats being homeless and just plain hungry. Curnutt, 45, an international business management major, has faced down the worst life can throw at a man and has persevered to earn the respect of his professors and peers.

Changing lives one veteran at a time

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

By Albert H. Fulcher

A day in the life of a Marine. Corporal Timothy J. Jeffers, United States Marine Corps, 22, dismounted the convoy to lead a security sweep traveling through Iraq's Anbar Province. Jeffers took a few steps off the road looking for improvised explosive devices (IED).

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Norma Cazares feature

By Stevan Gonzales

Norma Cazares has a soft spot in her corazon gigante for students who blaze trails. She gets fired up, she said, working with students who are the first in their families to go to college. She gets them because she was one herself. Cazares, a Southwestern College counselor and the Transfer Center coordinator, calls programs such as EOPS, Puente and the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement Program "life savers.