el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014/eldonnews.org
OPINION
MY VIEW
STAFF EDITORIAL
ALLEN J. SCHABEN / MCT
MAN OF THE PEOPLE
Famous muralist
and SAC graduate
Emigdio Vasquez
passes away, but
the messages
of his work and
struggles live on
Emigdio Vasquez died
earlier this month, leaving a
lasting legacy. He is remembered by many as the famed
Chicano muralist who spent
a lifetime depicting gritty
working class lives in murals
and paintings throughout
California.
But to Santa Ana College
students, he represents
so much more. Vasquez
fulfilled the community college dream.
Vasquez graduated from
SAC with an Associate of
Arts degree and went on to
receive his master’s degree
from California State University, Fullerton, becoming an
internationally renowned mu-
ralist. Vasquez was 40 when
he earned his master’s.
His triumphs speak for the
hopes of thousands of currently enrolled students.
Around the time Vasquez
graduated, only four percent
of college students were
Hispanic, according to the
National Center for Education Statistics. Most schools
did not offer bilingual
education for Spanish
speaking students.
College life is difficult. At
times, graduating seems like
an unreachable goal, even
impossible, for part-time
students.
Vasquez proved that it is
possible.
Actor and comedian Robin
Williams died of an apparent suicide Aug. 11, leaving behind a
wife and three children.
He was known to suffer from
depression, battled alcoholism
and substance abuse and was in
the early stages of Parkinson’s disease his wife Susan Schneider said.
Williams’ death has shed light
on a growing issue in our society. Suicide is currently the 11th
leading cause of death in the U.S.,
ahead of HIV/AIDS. It is also the
third leading cause for 15-to-24
year olds, according to the Suicide
Awareness Voices of Education.
Depression is often associated
with suicide when left untreated or undiagnosed, according
to the University of Behavioral
HealthCare, a division of Rutgers
University.
Knowing the symptoms of
depression and teaching people
to seek counsel can help prevent
suicide. Orange County residents
can call (877) 7-CRISIS or (877)
727-4747 for help. / NASHE HARLEY
HAHN KWAYAT / MCT
el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014/eldonnews.org
DEATH OF A
FUNNY MAN
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