The Collegian -- Published March 9, 2012

thecollegian Issue 10 • Friday, March 9, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

One free copy JH

INSIDE

Want to make a game?

Page 6 PHOTOS BY ELIANA ROMERO

MARCH IN MARCH: Thousands of students march on the state capitol to protest education cuts, left. Speaker of the Assembly John A. Perez, above right, and Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, above left, watch the protests.

Students march for higher education Festival helps high school choirs improve Page 4

Play staff talk stagecraft Page 5

UPCOMING Mustangs Golf Big 8 Conference at Spring Creek Country Club March 13, Ripon CalWorks forum March 14, visit deltacollegian. net for more info

FIND US

by eliana romero eliromero06@gmail.com

Thousands of college students from all over the state marched for higher education towards the State Capitol in Sacramento on Monday, March 5.

Over 5,000 students from California State Universities, University of California and community colleges coming from as far as Southern California united together to protest the budget cuts being passed by legislation.

The student turnout this year was lower compared to previous years, as just last year there were over 13,000 participants in the rally. Despite the lower turnout there was still a highly intense crowd of stu-

dents and teachers that had to be guarded by dozens of police officers and student peace keepers.

Some students wore t-shirts made specifically for the march while others went all out, wearing face masks, military gear and plastic garbage cans as a shield.

While marching from Southside Park to the State Capitol students held up signs and banners and chanted, “hear us out or we’ll vote you out,” “fund our future,” and “si se puede [yes we can]!”

Students were fighting for three things. They want the government to tax the one percent of millionaires so that those funds can go to higher education. They want free edu-

cation for all students and to eliminate student debt. And they want the government to provide education to those incarcerated in state jails.

“It’s frustrating about the budget cuts because coming from a family that has low income it is not the easiest thing to pay for a UC education,” said UCLA student, Talata Mirmalek. “It’s also good to know that there are organizations that have diverse groups from all over the state. It’s a really unifying factor that we are all here in support of the same thing.”

The California Student Association, University of California Student Association, and the Student Senate for California Community Col-

leges planned and led the march.

According to the California Budget Act there has been an estimated $2 billion dollar cut in community college and university funding for the 201112 school year.

The budget resulted in having over $500 million cut for Community Colleges and over a $750 million cut for both the UC and CSU system.

For San Joaquin County the cut was over $6.5 million which resulted in reduced enrollment, fewer classes being offered and fewer students being served.

There are an estimated 3.4 million students currently attending a community college,

continued on PAGE 8

MyEdu.com partnership questioned Marsee released with pay by champaign williams cwilliams060590@yahoo.com

A potential partnership with myEdu.com has brought about concerns from faculty members resulting in halted negotiations between the new company and Delta College.

MyEdu.com is similar to the RateMyProfessor.com website, that allows students to recommend professors deemed helpful as well as suggest professors to avoid.

The myEdu.com website is a virtual tool that provides web applications to assist stu-

dents seeking college degrees.

MyEdu.com pulls information from Delta’s website to assist with degree planning and class schedules.

It also provides professor ratings and grade distributions, a grading calculator and a course booklist.

“I don’t think it’s been investigated long enough,” Academic Senate President Diane Oren said. “[And] the grade distribution is based on dubious amounts of information

continued on PAGE 8

by james striplin jstriplin1992@gmail.com

On March 2 the Delta College Board of Trustees finished the process for releasing former President Jeff Marsee.

“By unanimous vote by the four trustees present, the board of trustees has approved entering into an employment recognition agreement with Dr. Marsee,” said board attorney Dan Schroeder.

“The basic terms of the agreement are that Dr. Marsee is to enter his resignation effective Feb 29, 2012. The district will honor its obli-

gations under the Employment A g re e m e n t Biop provision by paying Dr. Marsee his m o n t h ly salary for a period of 18 months commencing March 1, together fulfilling the obligations of health benefits under that same contract,” Schroeder said.

Marsee and the board are dropping all claims up until the signing of this agreement.

2

opinion

Issue 10 • March 9, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

EDITORIAL

How will administration change impact students?

Yet again, Delta College finds itself lacking a permanent president/ superintendent.

Debates about reorganization and accreditation and budget issues have dominated campus discussions in recent weeks.

Former President Jeff Marsee has been officially released. Dr. Kathy Hart is filling in as acting President.

We here at the Collegian have to ask, however, “Why should we care?”

That is not a sign of apathy, or an indication of a lack of interest about a major campus event, but a serious question.

How will this administration change really affect the students?

Hart probably put it best herself in a recent interview with Collegian staff.

“Large complex organizations, like Delta College, go on despite upsets in the administration,” said Hart.

Despite this change in leadership, regardless of whatever Marsee did to rouse the ire of the teachers’ unions and the board of trustees, business at Delta will continue as usual.

Most students probably wouldn’t even be aware of the change without notification.

But is business as usual really what this campus needs?

We have pointed out various campus issues before. These underlying problems still exist.

The state of California continues to cut education funding, leaving Delta’s overall budget uncertain.

Union contracts need to be honored, salary increases need to be considered, and construction projects on campus need to be finished, straining that already uncertain budget.

Classes continue to be cut. The futures of entire programs remain uncertain.

Classrooms remain overfull, and required classes continue to be filled before some students can even register.

Again, why should we care about an administration change if it will just lead to business as usual? Hart has said that communication is a major problem on campus. Perhaps, then, communication is a good place to start.

We hope this campus won’t merely “go on.” We hope for something more than business as usual.

We hope the administration can find a way to tell us, the students of Delta College, why we should care about this change.

Giving private corporation access to personal records wrong choice by brian ratto

bratto2002@gmail.com

When students register for classes they must first login to the deltacollege.edu registration system.

After that the student can look at the schedule of classes online and, if a partnership with a new company goes through, students may also log on to myEdu.com for help in navigating the system.

MyEdu.com is a Texas-based company that collects data from colleges and students to provide easier registration and improve graduation rates.

MyEdu.com combines the use of social media and a college’s registration system to assist the students in picking classes.

When I first heard of the website I was told that there would be no rating of any kind for professors like on ratemyprofessor.com.

The website would offer an alternative way of selecting classes by letting students see what classes their friends — who are registered with myEdu. com as well — are taking.

The website also offers a grading scale of the professors.

At first glance the website’s features seem to have a lot to offer the students.

But there is a catch.

A quick Internet search reveals one school working with myEdu.com had the company gain access to the student emails and other personal files.

The grading scales are also

misleading.

Paula Sheil, an English instructor at Delta College had this to say: “Students should never choose a class based on the easy ‘A’ unless they are satisfied that the knowledge gained and mastered will serve them in subsequent courses or in life.

That approach doesn’t work for all courses, and let’s face it, all courses are not equally important (or difficult) because they often lead to different goals.”

Some professors at Delta College want myEdu.com out, and I agree.

From my experiences with the website, I have not seen anything new that I cannot accomplish using deltacollege.edu.

The college bookstore offers

rentals, chegg.com can compare book prices, and if I wanted to take a class with friends I would ask them what they are taking.

Another observation is that myEdu.com is just jumping on the social media bandwagon, asking to link with my Facebook account, something I would never do.

MyEdu.com has stepped into a pilot-program agreement with this campus despite the faculty fight against it.

University of Texas (UT), Austin, paid $10 million to myEdu.com, forming a systemwide partnership in 2011.

This partnership allowed the company to access UT data and student records.

A business having access to any student records scares me.

Advertising The Collegian offers display advertising at competitive rates. Call (209) 954-5156 or email deltacollegian@gmail. com for more information.

Editorial Unsigned editorials reflect the position of the Collegian staff.

Comments, letters and editorials with a byline represent the opinion of the writer, solely. This paper does not endorse or represent the opinions of the adviser, the mass communication department, the Fine Arts Division, the printer or San Joaquin Delta College administration.

I do not want to be used as a pawn in some game to make a millionaire even richer.

A Nov. 2011 article from the Daily Texan, the University of Texas student newspaper, showed alumni concern over the financial backing and called for the resignation of Board of Regents members.

I understand the frustration the faculty of UT has gone through.

The decision to back the company did not include the faculty in the discussion.

While myEdu.com has its benefits, this student is against the website for the simple fact that it allows a corporation access to my emails and possibly my student records.

THE COLLEGIAN — SPRING 2012 Editor/news editor Matthew Wilson Feature editor Brian Ratto Opinion editor Evelyn Palacio Entertainment editor James Striplin Club corner/sports editor Christopher Howze Online editor Matthew Wilson

Staff Christian Covarrubias Victoria Davila Ashley Gordon Heidi Haack Michael Johnson Lorie Anne Lane Uri Piterberg Haley Pitto Eliana Romero Justin Tristano Champaign Williams Adviser Tara Cuslidge-Staiano

Letters to the editor Letters raising issues and opinions not represented by the newspaper are encouraged.

We reserve the right to edit letters to 250 words.

Mission statement The Collegian is a student run First Amendment newspaper that prides itself on its commitment to the students of San Joaquin Delta College while maintaining its independence of any outside influence.

The Collegian will reinvigorate the credo that the newspaper speaks for the students, checks abuses of power and stands vigilant in the protection of democracy and free speech.

3

feature

Issue 10 • March 9, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

THE

10 Percent

with Brian Ratto

Online projects help prevent suicides among LGBTQ+ teens

Being a teenager is never easy in American high schools.

Being an Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender, Queer, Intersex or Asexual (LGBTQ+) teenager in American high schools is even harder.

The recent popular-television show “Glee” showed this.

A closeted gay student attempted suicide because he was “outed” and harassed at his new high school.

Within the last few years the reported suicides and attempted suicides of LGBTQ+ youth has sadly been on the rise.

September 2010 was a month marred by the numerous deaths of LGBTQ+ teens, all because they were being harassed and thought there was no way out.

LGBTQ+ teens are at a 20 percent higher risk of attempting suicide according to an April 2011 study by Mark Hatzenbuehler, a health and society scholar at Columbia University in New York City.

“Overall gay teens are at a higher risk of committing suicide,” said Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, in an April 2011 article from LifeSiteNews.com.

This makes me wonder why is this is an issue?

There are a few reasons some LGBTQ+ teens feel they have no other choice.

They feel their sexuality has to be hid in fear of being tossed out by their family. They also fear they are not “normal” because of media’s portrayal of the “normal couples” as heterosexual.

Lastly they fear the second-class citizen treatment when they hear politicians proclaim that it is an abomination to marry same-sex couples.

Fear is the key factor here.

When I was a closeted teen, I was afraid my family would disown me and kick me out so I hid who I was.

I even have contemplated if suicide was the answer.

After coming out to my grandmother, cousin, mother and friends, I realized my worth. And I knew that I always had my family and friends to pull me out of my slumps.

There are thousands of teens that did not or do not have that.

I have friends that cannot tell their family, and some who even moved away from their family because they of this fear.

“It hurts to have to lie to the people you love,” said Brian Wick, club president of Delta Pride, the LGBTQ+ club on campus, “I moved out to be true to myself.”

The simple fact that he and I are able to be out to family and friends is not always the case as I have said before. LGBTQ+ teens across America hide their sexuality every day.

Despite the feeling of loneliness, there is a network of support out there for the LGBTQ+ community.

Organizations such as The Trevor Project, a national organization helping LGBTQ+ youth by providing a suicide hot line and crisis intervention, and the it gets better project, which was created to show LGBTQ+ youth that life gets better after the teenage years, are out there to help.

“It always gets better, we all, gay and straight go through hard times, taking your life is not the answer,” said Lisa Perez, faculty advisor for Delta Pride.

Perez said death is never the answer.

There are people out there willing to help and offer their ear to talk anytime it is needed.

The Trevor Project has a suicide hot line (866) 488-7386, which is available 24 hours a day seven-days a week.

When I am not able to talk to anyone and feel down and out I play my favorite upbeat song, “Superstar” by RuPaul, I watch videos on the “It Gets Better” project website, itgetsbetter.org, to get me out of my rut and live for another day.

Offering ways to succeed

Student Activities office hold workshops helping students by justin tristano ju.tristano@gmail.com

The Student Activities office is running workshops in the Mustang Room to assist students in basic skills.

These workshop are to help students get to the next step in their educations.

Targeting mostly campus clubs, the workshops are also open to all students who want leadership skills or resume writing help.

“The target is the clubs mostly so if you don’t have a job or never had a job you can use the information to help you,” said Aja Butler, director of student activities.

Butler sought presenters from campus allowing those who responded the opportunity to pick their topic.

“I sent a campus wide email; asked for people to respond and the speakers came up with the topic,” said Butler.

A Feb. 28 workshop led by

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS March 13 Team Building Workshop 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Mustang Room March 20 What is EQ and Why Should I Care? 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Mustang Room April 17 Planning and Goal Setting 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Mustang Room April 24 Ready, Set, Retreat: Planning & Conducting Successful Retreats 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Mustang Room For more information, visit deltacollege.edu/ org/asbg/Events.html

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TRISTANO

TIME MANAGEMENT: Student Angela Bardot works on her time management worksheet.

Danita Scott Taylor, Director of Student Support Services focused on time management.

A total of six students attended the first workshop.

“Even if it’s small the infor-

mation is useful,” Butler said.

There are plans to organize more workshops in future semesters. The next workshop for the spring will be March 13.

4

feature

Issue 10 • March 9, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

And the choir sang:

Festival welcomes high school students

by champaign williams

appraisals.

“You’re not going to hear me say one negative comment to a choir,” Hughes said. “That’s the way I teach. You don’t need to be negative with anything.”

The Annual Choral Fest has generated a good following, and high school choir directors find that their students benefit from the clinics.

“Mr. Aguilar has brought life back to the choral scene in Stockton. He has brought us high school teachers together, he has brought us camaraderie, [and] he has brought back choral music,” said McNair High School Choir Director Karen Rogers.

The Choral Fest included guest performances from SJDC Delta Singers, as well as a classical solo by Joel Scantling from Concert Choir and a jazz solo

by Clarissa Perkins, a Delta Vocal Jazz singer.

“We are featuring the Delta Program because in addition to

cwilliams060590@yahoo.com

High school choirs from surrounding Stockton and Lodi areas filled Atherton Auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 29.

The choir members came dressed in gowns and suits, as each prepared to perform for 25 minutes before an auditorium bursting with peers.

The Second Annual San Joaquin Delta College High School Choral Fest was hosted

by Delta College Choir Director German Aguilar.

“What we want this to be is first and foremost an informative, learning and educational experience,” Aguilar said, “this is educational rather than competitive.”

Choral groups were given 20 minutes to warm-up and then directed to the auditorium where their performances were critiqued by Aguilar and guest clinician Dr. J. Edmund Hughes.

Hughes received a PhD in Choral Music and has recently retired from teaching music at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona.

“He is one of the best teachers that I have ever seen work,” Aguilar said. “I think people are going to learn a lot from him.”

As the choirs sang, Aguilar and Hughes jotted down key points to discuss during the clinics.

“We listen for concepts like blend, balance, intonation and clarity of the words,” Aguilar said.

Hughes then worked with each choir personally.

“What I try to do with each choir is be positive and focus on just a few things that can help them become better,” Hughes said.

Hughes was playful and spirited as he worked with the students. His lively sense of humor captured the student’s attention and those in attendance were receptive of his evaluations and

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: J. Edmund Hughes gives clinic to Kimball High School Choir, top. Clarissa Perkins, Jazz soloist performs “I’ve Got the World on a String,” bottom.

PHOTOS BY CHAMPAIGN WILLIAMS

this being an educational forum it is also a way for us to attract future music students to the program,” said Aguilar.

Symphony celebrates eighty-five years performing by brian ratto

bratto2002@gmail.com

Stockton is home of the Ports minor league baseball team, the Thunder minor league ice hockey team and surprisingly the third oldest, continually operating, symphony in the state.

The Stockton Symphony has been active since May 1926.

How many people have actually been to a performance?

Attending a symphony concert is beneficial for two reasons according to Peter Jaffe, conductor of the Stockton Symphony.

One cannot reproduce the quality of a live performance via CD or MP3.

It is also rare to have the opportunity to attend the world premiere of a piece of music.

THE COLLEGE COMPLEX

The symphony was founded by Italian immigrant Manlio Silva, a graduate of the Conservatory of Chiavari.

The symphony continued to grow over the years.

Under conductor Kyung-Soo Won the symphony transformed itself from a community orchestra to a professional orchestra. Won was the conductor for 27 years, beginning in 1967.

In 1994 Jaffe became the conductor.

Jaffe is an accomplished violinist, violist and keyboardist. He has also acted as the concertmaster for the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra.

The Stockton Symphony marks its 85th season this year with two world premieres.

The first premier was “Accordion Concerto” written by Max Simoncic,

by victoria davila

a music professor of Delta College, in Nov. 2011. The second world premier was “Uzu and Muzu” by Avner Dorman, an Israeli composer, this week.

“Uzu and Muzu” was played for the first time Thursday. A repeat performance is Saturday March 10 at 6 p.m. in the Atherton Auditorium. “[Uzu and Muzu] has the potential to become the Peter and the Wolf of the 21st century,” said Jaffe, “being part of a world premier is a lot of work.”

The musicians have to practice a lot more. While the conductor has to be in constant communication with the composer. If possible the symphony would rehearse with the composer present, in order to make any changes.

The Stockton Symphony has recently been working with the school districts in

the area to introduce todays youth to the symphony. The “Stepping Out” concerts are the perfect way to do so.

“These concerts have reached over 6,800 students up and down the valley,” said Jaffe. “The students may have not seen or heard a live performance before.”

The most recent “Stepping Out” concert was held March 2 at the Atherton Auditorium.

Dorman, the composer of Uzu and Muzu, went to local schools to show the students the process of making the music, as part of the “Stepping Out” concerts.

Tickets to the Stockton Symphony are available at the Delta College box office located in the first floor of the Locke Center, or online at stocktonsymphony. org.

5

entertainment

Issue 10 • March 9, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

Backstage at ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’

PHOTO BY JAMES STRIPLIN

ACTORS OFF THE STAGE: Left to right,Tiffany Horch, Jacob Garcia, Cameron MacLeod, Christopher Perez, Matt Rust, Josh Kirwin and Adrienne Sher.

Matt Rust, “Rosencrantz”

interviews by james striplin jstriplin1992@gmail.com

Adrienne Sher, director QUESTION: How long have you been a director?

ANSWER: “I've been a director for 20 years. 20 years directing, 40 years acting.”

Q: What brings you to Delta?

A: “There's a budget crisis in the state schools. I normally work for the Los Rios schools in Sacramento, and I haven't had a class in two semesters, their cancelling all sorts of classes. And Harvey had some space in his department out here. He was looking for some new people to come out and work at Delta and I said 'I will!’”

Q: Why did you choose this play?

A: “It’s always been on my short list of shows I want to direct. I've always wanted to do it. And Harvey said ‘Any ideas?’ and I said ‘How about Rosencrantz and Guildentstern?’, and he said ‘I like that.’ He was looking for something that went with the rest of his season.”

QUESTION: What do you like most about this play?

ANSWER: “This play is a really witty play and at the same time it has a lot of slapstick and fun surface level humor too, so it kinda hits the funny bone on two levels.”

Q: Whats your favorite line?

A: “Its not mine, but 'Pirates can happen to anyone.' I think that line is hilarious.”

Q: Whats it like being on stage, do you get stage fright?

A: “Typically before a show I’ll probably be about as scared as humanly possible and probably sweating from every poor available, but as soon as I actually get onto stage I kinda lose focus on everything. When the first act is done, and as soon as the first lights are off, and we're not acting again and I'm like 'oh my goodness, there's reality again!’”

Christopher Perez, “Guildenstern”

Q: How do you choose your actors?

A: “One of the first things I do when I'm working on a play is decide what are the essential qualities that each character has to have, the thing I can't live without in my casting, than I look for that in the actors.”

QUESTION: Are you a big Shakespeare fan?

ANSWER: “Oh yea, I love Shakespeare, it's so passionate and it really brings out a lot that an actor can bring to the table. Theirs few scripts now a days that can give actors that opportunity.”

Q: So why did you choose Matt and Chris?

A: “Because their perfect. They’re both really strongly those people and now that we rehearsed there more strongly those people I would say. And they made me laugh, its always good to make me laugh.”

Q: What’s your favorite scene in "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead?"

A: “The dumbshow, when the Tragedians are doing the dumbshow, I'm always laughing, it's always fun to watch them, they all bring so much to the table with facial expressions, their movement, and its just so enjoyable to watch. And I look forward to that play every night.”

Q: Whats your favorite scene from the play?

A: “Well I love the ‘Would you rather be alive in a box or dead in a box’ section. A lot of the things I love in this production are things that are silent that the actors have found.”

Q: Do you get nervous on stage and how do you cope with that?

A: “I'm actually losing my nervousness, I actually feel quite comfortable on stage now. I wish I could be nervous because anxiety actually helps when your performing. If you know how to use it.”

MORE PERFORMANCES: 8 p.m. Fri., Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. in the Studio Theatre. Tickets prices are $10-$12. For more information or to purchase tickets call the Delta Center for the Arts Box Office (209) 954-5110

Bioware ends ‘Mass Effect’ series with epic finale in third installment by chris howze vivilu266@aol.com

Part of the hook and appeal of video games is escape.

Giving us gateways to the unimaginable and unreachable, to put active control in our hands, to be the most important person in the world if only in a digital realm.

Canadian game house Bioware stands tall as one of the industry juggernauts, and the company received all new levels of acclaim and success with the release of the final

chapter of its sci-fi epic “Mass Effect 3."

Bioware has become one of the premier role playing game developers in the gaming landscape, with hits such as “Jade Empire,” “Dragon Age,” and “Star Wars: The Old Republic.” The aesthetics and styles differ but the core mechanics remain the same. Role playing games or RPGs are about user involvement.

The player gets to act out a power fantasy by creating a character and controlling their behavior which influences the

way the game world is and reacts, with those choices being actively perceived.

The “Mass Effect” trilogy too takes core elements from the Bioware mold, but places it in a high future setting in the vein of Arthur C. Clark, Frank Herbert or Orson Scott Card, by creating a vast universe of characters, races and cultures given even the most ludicrous of ideas and places validity.

The series has achieved it’s level of success by taking two different types of gaming: Intense third person shooting

and interactive storytelling and seamlessly marries them together.

The key to this marriage is in the gravity of your choices, each choice, good or evil, passive or aggressive holds sway on the overall narrative, when you finish one game in the series and start another all the choices made in the former affects the latter.

Who lived, who died, who you screwed over, who you hooked up with, all this matters and reshapes the story so that it’s a personal experience

for the player.

“Mass Effect 3” is the culmination of a promise to gamers and the reward to said gamers for playing the series, showcasing a element that distinguishes the video games medium from others.

It’s an active experience, it’s not like a film or book where you enjoy it on a passive level.

Games require an active viewer in order for it to progress and where it progresses is on the player, and that is power, thats where games become art.

6

club corner

Issue 10 • March 9, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

Entering the world of independent gaming

Members of new campus gaming club hope to contribute to the artform as students by chris howze vivilu226@aol.com

It’s safe to assume that many Delta College students play video games.

Video games, after all, are the largest entertainment medium. The industry trumps movies and music combined.

But who out there actually considers creating a game themselves?

That’s exactly what the Game Creators Union (GCU), a new club on the Delta College campus, has made its mission.

Previous video game based clubs on campus have been passive or pedestrian in nature, reviewing and discussing games, but seldom actively attempting to contribute to the shared passion.

But isn’t it difficult to get a game made and released?

“It’s both harder and easier to get one out there,” said GCU President Armando Cantu said.

Cantu said that because of the advances in technology and the greater ease of accessibility to the public it is easier for someone to create a game.

At the same time, though, he stressed that because of gaming’s popularity, there’s a whole generation of people that grew up with games 20 to 30 years ago now going out pursuing careers in the field and as such it’s become harder to single yourself out.

“That’s why clubs like this need to exist, to allow to create work to show off in our future to show off our talents,” he said.

Cantu has a point on both spectrums.

Nowadays making an independent video game is all more a reality.

With successes like “Minecraft” and the upcoming “Retro City Rampage,” one can go out and create an indie game and achieve success, but what about all the other indie games out there?

With so many people out there wanting to enter the medium it has become harder and harder to find a proper foot in.

The important fact is that they are out there trying, they love the medium so much they wish to contribute.

GAME CREATORS UNION For more information about the newly formed Game Creators Union at Delta College visit the club’s website at http:// gamecreatorsunion.yolasite.com.

Contact the club directly at gamecreatorsunion@gmail.com.

IMAGE FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

National Poetry Month to be marked with events on and off Delta campus by lorie ann lane deltacollege@gmail.com

Hold your breath, get ready and take notice: April is National Poetry Month.

A collaboration of Community Arts Organizations. The events begin with the Stockton Word Feast on April 7, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Haggin Museum. The event is free.

On April 19, Richard Berengarten will read poetry at the Goleman Library at 11:30 a.m. On April 18, he will read at the University of the Pacific’s Wendell Phillips Center, Room 140 at 3:30 p.m.

The readings are free.

On April 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the San Joaquin Writers’ Workshop will be held at the west forum in Delta College, featuring a national-acclaimed author and Stockton native Maxine Hong Kingston.

Admissions is $35 general and $20 for students with identification.

The registration deadline is March 31.

An author’s talk will be held at 1 p.m. at the Tillie Lewis Theatre.

Admission is $15 general and $5 student with identification.

Tickets for the event are avaliable at the Delta Center for the Arts Box Office.

Fashion Club hosts annual two-day gift fair by evelyn palacio jpgr1964@comcast.net

The San Joaquin Delta Fashion Club will be hosting the 15th annual Spring Art & Gift Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

March 13-14 in Danner Hall.

The two-day event features vendors selling unique gifts and products including: jewelry, cosmetics and skin-care

products, accessories, books, gourmet food and treats and more. Brookelea Heintz Luttonm, who wrote “Old Man of the Mountains,” is also scheduled to attend the fair.

The event will be free and open to the public.

The Fashion Club will also host a May 5 fashion show on campus

Clubs Night postponed a week, will happen today by christian covarrubias

The theme of clubs night is “A Night in Emerald City.”

There will food and drinks for all who Clubs Night is an evening of festiviare attending and music from DJ Sound ties held for students that are involved in Motion. a club, hosted by the Inter-Club Council The celebration gives club members (ICC) and the Associated Student Body a chance to win prize Government. money by competing This event has and winning in games been a San Joaquin and activities such as root Delta College traWould you like to have a pong, a Jello-eating dition for as long as club or event featured in an up- beer competition and a talent the ICC has been coming issue of The Collegian? contest. around, which is Send an email to the Colle“Students that are in more than 20 years gian editors at deltacollegian@ a club can attend simply ago. gmail.com and let us know by registering online for The event was the clubs night event on what your club is doing on and originally schedthe delta college website off campus. uled to take place on the ICC tab.

Students on March 2, but that are not in a club will has been postponed until today. be allowed to attend the event but will “Clubs Night was postponed from not be allowed to participate in the club March 2nd to March 9th in order to activities.

Such as games the clubs will get the budget approved by the associcompete in to win money for their clubs ated student body government and to to produce activities,” wrote Taylor. better plan and prepare for the event,” The event will be held from 5 p.m. to wrote Vice President of Student Affairs 10 p.m. today in Danner Hall.

Bronche Taylor in an email interview. covarrubias.christian@gmail.com

CALLING ALL CLUBS

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sports

Issue 10 • March 9, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

National Athletic Training Month celebrates profession by uri piterberg

upiterberg465@students.deltacollege.edu

March is National Athletic Training Month, a chance to acknowledge the men and woman who look after athletes on the San Joaquin Delta College campus and beyond.

The month will take on special significance for the Delta athletic training staff, as they recognize head trainer Art Yee, who has been on the staff for 35 years.

For much of his time at Delta, Yee was the only person on the athletic training staff. “For 31 years I was here by myself. Our baseball and softball used to be side by side, so I would stand in the middle and watch both games,“ said Yee. A Stockton native and Edison High graduate, Yee attended Delta and was initially majoring in photography.

Due to his passion for sports and disdain for dark rooms, Yee decided to instead to pursue a degree in athletic training.

Yee graduated from San Jose State in 1975, and on his return to Stockton spent two years as an emergency medical trainer, before accepting the job of athletic trainer at Delta in 1977.

In his time at Delta, Yee has

seen countless student athletes come and go, and finds satisfaction in working with them and watching them flourish on and off the field. “It’s been enjoyable working with the athletes, it’s enjoyable watching their success. I have a lot of nice memories here for the past 35 years and it’s always nice to see kids graduate, get a scholarship and go on to school and do well,� said Yee. Yee was a part of the only state-title winning teams in Delta history, which are the 1987 men’s basketball team and 2011 baseball team.

Among Yee’s most famous patients were Webster Slaughter, a Pro Bowl wide receiver and returner for the Cleveland Browns in the 80s, and Scotty Brooks, who currently coaches the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA. Yee now works with Jamie DeRollo, who had a hand in organizing the athletic trainers month events.

DeRollo has been at Delta for four years, having earned her degree in health care administration from South University in Savannah, Ga. “We’re just trying to promote the profession, not as many people know about

what athletic training entails so we’re trying to inform the community about what we do and that we’re allied health care professionals,� said DeRollo.

On March 15 the Delta athletic trainers will be conducting a blood drive (see box below) in Upper PHOTO BY URI PITERBERG Danner Hall. TRAINING: Longtime athletic trainer Art Yee, right, works with a member of the On March Mustangs baseball team on March 6.

17, a five-mile athletic training students. throughout Stockton about run followed Additionally, trainers from athletic training and what the by a pancake breakfast will be taking place in support of Uni- both Delta and UOP will be profession encompasses. versity of the Pacific (UOP) speaking at various high schools

Blood drive to be held in Danner

by heidi haack

deltacollegian@gmail.com

San Joaquin Delta College is holding a Blood Drive Thursday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Upper Danner Hall.

A valid photo identification with date of birth is required.

All donors must be in good general health and be a minimum of 16 years of age weighing at least 115 pounds.

Donors 17 years of age

must be least 110 pounds.

Donors ages 16 and 17 must have signed consent form to participate.

Participants are encouraged to not skip meals and drink lots of fluids before donating.

Contact Nicholas Aguirre at 954-5151 or email aguirre. nicholas@gmail.com to sign up.

For more information about donating blood, call (888) 94-BLOOD or visit deltabloodbank.org.

UPCOMING SPORTING EVENTS March 10

March 13

12 p.m. women’s softball vs.

American River College at home

3 p.m. women’s softball vs. Sierra College at home

1 p.m. men/women’s swimming at Shasta College in Redding

Noon, Men’s golf Big 8 Conference #4 at Spring Creek Country Club in Ripon

1 p.m. baseball vs. American River at home

2:30 p.m. baseball vs. Modesto at Modesto

PAY OFF

YOUR EDUCATION Tuition costs shouldn’t stop you from reaching your goals in life.

By joining the Army National Guard, you’ll receive the money you need to help pay for college as well as the skills and training you need to get the career you want. If you’re looking to get through college, with the Army National Guard, you can!

Staff Sergeant David A. Nunez 209-410-8318

54462_AMS-02_6x7_Nunez.indd 1

2/3/12 1:30 PM

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news

Issue 10 • March 9, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

Students concerned by gas prices

MARCH: Legislation to reduce education expenses considered

by haley pitto

continued from PAGE 1

hpitto2@hotmail.com

Stockton resident and San Joaquin Delta College student Diolinda Asuncion spends about $100 on gasoline for her 1998 Mercedes at least once a week.

It’s more than she can afford since she’s a single mother and full-time Delta College student trying to make ends meet.

“It’s outrageous! I’m a single parent trying to get through college to better my life and gas prices are not helping,” said Asuncion.

Asuncion could take the bus, but like many other Delta College students she agrees that it is an unreliable source of transportation especially when she has her 14-year-old son to worry about as well.

When asked how much she pays for a full tank, Asuncion laughed and replied “The question is can I afford to pay for a full tank?”

Like everyone else who drives a car or truck, Asuncion is affected by the ever-increasing gas prices.

“I can’t afford to get a full tank,” Asuncion said.

“I’m trying to get an extra job; my paycheck working at the campus library just isn’t cutting it,” she said.

Fellow Delta College student Felipe Granados shares Asuncion’s concerns.

“I commute from Tracy so it’s about at 25 minute drive both ways; my 98 Explorer isn’t the best on gas either,” she said.

With gas prices on the rise, older cars that used to be gas savers are now sucking money out of people’s wallets.

“It’s ridiculous! I used to pay $40 for a full tank [of gas], now its $100,” said Granados.

If gas prices continue to increase Granados said it would have an effect on his everyday routine.

“I’m going to have to find different means to get [to school].” Not only would it affect how Granados gets to school, but what he does with his hard earned cash.

“All my money right now goes to gas. There are no personal expenses; I can’t even afford to get McDonalds,” he said.

Taylor Maruca, a Livermore resident and second semester Delta College student commutes two hours to and from school.

Maruca said the pinch every time she has to fill up her 2000 Chrysler Sebring even though it averages 23 miles to the gallon.

“Most of my paycheck goes to gas,” said Maruca. “If prices go up anymore I’ll have to cut back in driving, but there’s no other way I can get to school because the bus doesn’t come all the way to Livermore. I’ll have to cut back on driving around town.”

This is difficult for Maruca, between the rising gas prices and the sliding economy her paycheck is smaller while the price at the pump seems to get larger each visit.

“They are hiring more people at my work so there are fewer hours and in return it cuts back on my paycheck,” she said.

While many students feel the price at the pump is unfair, 41 year old Delta student Vince Serna has a different opinion.

“I understand it, it’s a business, things happen,” said Serna. “Gas prices are what they are so I pay what I need to pay; it’s easier than struggling for subsidies.”

If gas wasn’t so expensive, what would you spend your money on?

“Bills.”

Diolinda Asuncion , 37

“School books and clothes.”

Felipe Granados , 20

“Food and fun.”

Taylor Maruca , 18

“Food and clothing.“ Anthony Paderes , 19

CSU or UC campus.

“The fees have quadrupled in the last decade while the median income has remained flat. You can’t make this stuff up,” said Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. “It’s devastating because the backbone of education is the 2.7 million students in community colleges as well as our workforce development system.”

Fee increases to date are to increase from $26 per unit to $36 per unit which was initially going to bring in an estimated $110 million in revenue. But since that will not bring in enough revenue, legislation is increasing the fees to $46 per unit.

Speaker of the Assembly John A. Perez said, “UC fees have gone up 191 percent and CSU fees have gone up 145 percent. There are so many students that are struggling to get by.”

Perez proposed a bill called the Middle-Class Scholarship that will cut fees for middle-class students by two-thirds. It will reduce UC tuition by $8,200 a year and CSU tuition by $4,000 a year. It will also give $130 million to the community colleges.

“As the assembly and the Senate we are going to fight to make sure that we keep our promise to California students and families,” said Perez.

While the public officials were speaking the students kept chanting, “Show us! Show us!”

Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said, “You have the right to be mad. Too many people are getting big tax breaks while the cost of higher education for you is going way up. We are going to show you! You are right!”

“Look the worst thing we can do is promise things we can’t deliver,” said Steinberg He mentioned several measures that can bring students and families relief during this economic crisis.

Among these are bills that would provide more funding for higher education and make textbooks more affordable.

“I got up to this mic today and I said I have participated in making billions of dollars of cuts in higher education and I’ve hated every minute of it,” said Steinberg. “I got into public office for one reason, to do everything I can to insure people have the same opportunities I’ve had in life. It’s a tough time but we will get through it.”

MyEdu: Faculty members challenge possible partnership with student degree planning tool website continued from PAGE 1 with many different variables.”

Faculty members of the Academic Senate are concerned with myEdu.com offering professor ratings and grading comparisons.

“I am rather disturbed by Delta cooperating with myEdu.com simply because this essentially means that the college endorses the myEdu.com approach to education,” said Wesley Swanson, history professor. “The myEdu.com approach is to remove challenges and convert the planning of a college education into a Google

map with an emphasis on the shortest path of least resistance without considering the value of the journey.”

Faculty also worry the site is attempting to replace professional counselors.

“Counselors have an important role and the latest information that myEdu.com does not have,” Oren said.

In addition to these worries is the fact the site is not easy to navigate and can be confusing to students, according to Catherine Mooney, director of admissions and records.

Also, the degree planning tools available do not provide

prerequisite information. If a student is attempting to follow a particular degree plan, they will not be notified of any prerequsites required for a particular class.

“The issue has been complicated because of the change in leadership,” said Mooney.

An agreement between myEdu.com and Delta was signed by former President Dr. Jeff Marsee last fall, but hasn’t been approved by the Board of Trustees.

“When [MyEdu.com] was brought to the board it was pulled off of the agenda because of Academic Senate con-

cerns,” Mooney said.

When Mooney presented information about myEdu.com to the Academic Senate hoping for their endorsement of the partnership, the Senate voted no.

“I understand faculty concerns,” Mooney said. “[But] I am not interested in instructor grades. I am not interested in instructor ratings. I am interested in building tools students can use to build a schedule.”

MyEdu.com has yet to be returned to the Board of Trustees agenda.

“I want to be extremely respectful of concerns of mem-

bers of the Academic Senate,” said Michael Kerns, vice president of student services.

Kerns is planning information sessions to address all faculty and student questions and concerns regarding myEdu. com.

“MyEdu.com is not taking the place of an official educational plan that is developed with professional counselors,” Kerns said. “[MyEdu. com] is a tool. I want to give students a toolbox that has all kinds of things in it. [Students can] open up that toolbox and take out whatever is helpful to [them].”