thecollegian
Issue 12 • Friday, April 8, 2016 • deltacollegian.net
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Stockton is Magnificent Delta College Plaza comes alive in vibrant celebration of culture, food and diversity BY MEGAN MAXEY mkmaxey96@gmail.com
Delta College’s campus hosted the fifth Stockton is Magnificent event on Saturday, April 2. More than 100 organizations participated in the festivities including The Collegian and 20 other Delta-related booths. Denise Jefferson, founder and director of Stockton is Magnificent said the team came up with the idea for this event, “when Forbes magazine designated Stockton as the most miserable city for the third time. I was the director for the Miracle Mile at the time and the merchants got together and said we’ve got to put a stop to this. … So we threw a party thinking it was just going to be that one time and it was a wonderful party … so we just continued it from there.” Five events and hundreds of booths later, the celebration brought Delta’s campus to life. “I think that one of the challenges for Stockton is there isn’t a sense of place
in a lot of our residents and they aren’t connected to the city in any way and a city that doesn’t have residents who love the city isn’t successful,” said Jack Sanders, articulation officer for Delta and four-year Stockton is Magnificent volunteer. One of the goals for Stockton is Magnificent is to highlight the businesses and groups that make this city unique and diverse. “The whole idea of Stockton’s magnificent today, I really love it. It’s providing something for our community. It’s giving information, resources and services,” said Rudy Lovato, a Stockton Police Department Sergeant. There’s a community push to see Stockton be represented for what it truly is as opposed to what others think. “Downtown Stockton is a fabulous place it just needs to be rebuilt and it’s starting to happen … I see a revival,” said Sanders. Stockton is Magnificent not only promoted the communities of the city, but also Delta College and its programs. “A lot of people in Stockton don’t know that much about Delta College or our campus so their getting to learn more about Stockton but their learning about our campus here at Delta which is important,” said Daryl Arroyo, Delta College Athletic Director. Booths set up in the new plaza, showing upgrades the campus has experienced. The event utilized three stages for entertainment, one in the plaza,
one in front of the Goleman Library and another in front of the North Forum. “Stockton (is) Magnificent is doing two things today: providing information resources to our community members and most importantly putting it at one stop shop area, Delta College which we all love,” said Lovato. Since 2010, the event has grown at least three times its size according to Jefferson. The non-profit sees more volunteers and more organization participation with each hosting. “I’ve seen people coming together more [over the past four years] and more people embracing … all the different cultures we have here in Stockton,” said Hillary Smuts, a four-year volunteer. Residents and community leaders involved with the event put in countless hours to put on a day that included 185 booths, 20 entertainment groups and 11 food trucks. “This shows Stockton is magnificent, that it’s not a miserable place, that there are a lot of great people and great things to do in Stockton,” said Smuts. Now a well-known gathering, Stockton is Magnificent attracts hundreds of people, bringing awareness to all that is happening in the city. “I think it works to lift the self-esteem of the community and the individuals within it so I think that’s a really positive step,” said Carrie Wager, Stockton resident.
PHOTOS BY MIDORI MORITA
CAMPUS HOSTS EVENT: Top, all in attendance gathered for a group photo. Left, a member of “Ballet Folklorico de Frank Zapata” dances. Above, Fierce Mustang joins in on the fun representing campus.
The number of people and excitement at Saturday’s event commends how much work was put into it. “Our mission is to promote the positive attitude in Stockton and we feel the outside’s never going to see us as positive until the inside also sees us as positive,” said Jefferson. Editor’s note: Reporting done by Collegian Staff.
NEXT ISSUE: April 22 • CONTACT US: deltacollegian@gmail.com or (209) 954-5156 • ONE FREE COPY
2 opinion
ZACH MERCES-SPINDLER, OPINION EDITOR deltacollegian@gmail.com or (209) 954-5156 ISSUE 12 • APRIL 8, 2016 • deltacollegian.net
Gun control debate denied a moderate view
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n today’s politically charged society you’re forced to take one side or the other on a social issue without being allowed a middle ground “Folks who do not like guns is fine. But we have millions of people who are gun owners in this country -99.9% of those people obey the law,” says Bernie Sanders in an interview on CNN. Sanders also said in the interview, “I want to see real, serious debate and action on guns, but it is not going to take place if we simply have extreme positions on both sides. I think I can bring us to the middle.” The common misconception when it comes to gun control is that you’re either for or against guns. What about the middle ground? The medium to me is stricter background checks and a restriction on what kind of guns you’re allowed to purchase. On one side a liberal-minded individual wants local officials and the military to be the only people allowed to carry a firearm. On the other side a conservative-minded individual wants the law-abiding citizen to be able to carry all kinds of firearms. Today, the debate is extremely heated because of the mass shootings that are happening regularly around the U.S.. From 2013 to October 3, 2015 there were 175
DYLAN LOURA
school shootings in America alone. According to the “Gun Violence Archive” website there are nine pages devoted to mass shooting victims. This stirs the debate because the in between ground can be lost due to emotional reactions. These numbers push the liberals more left and the conservatives more right. My liberal point of view says we don’t need weapons that our military uses, to protect ourselves and we don’t need those for survival. However, my conservative viewpoint says guns should still be sold to anyone who is fully licensed. We need to stand back and try not to act emotional to the situation. This only drives us further apart on any political issue. There are other issues too that are driving us apart, like Planned Parenthood and Welfare. Arguing whether one side is right or wrong continues the debate. However, the fact that there’s no middle ground gets us nowhere. Today, one side of a debate is promoted just as much as the other without showing a solution. The solution to solving problems is being able to work with people on the other side of your opinion. We have to join together, not separate farther apart.
Trump drags Cruz’ wife into political circus
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t’s not exactly a secret that Donald Trump has man- ers of the Cruz campaign made a meme out of one of aged to turn the Republican Primaries into a media Trumps wife’s photo-shoots. Trump retorted by saying circus. he’d spill some “beans” about Cruz’ wife and when he To be more exact, Trump turned this into a media couldn’t walk the walk he simply tweeted a meme comcircus that derailed a long time paring the two women’s looks. ago and is spinning out of conImagine how all of this looks on trol before what I hope is the the global stage for America. KILLIAN final, climactic crash. An escaped oompah loompah and BARNHART He’s flipped on every posihis rival, the Zodiac Killer, getting tion. Trump has called for the into a tit-for-tat over each other’s killing of the members of ISIS’ wives appearances? families, can’t tell you what the nuclear triad is and has What do members of British Parliament make of used unsubtle innuendo about a certain personal apthis? Or the Canadian government? We already know pendage of his. Mexico isn’t a Trump fan. All of it gets covered for weeks on the major news Here’s a better question, what does the international stations, often at the expense of the other, more experi- community make of the fact that Trump is the almost enced candidates. insurmountable front-runner of the Republican primaDuring debates he switches between the blustering ries? bravado of a stereotypical New York mobster, and the What is all this childishness taking away from the infantile argument and debate tactics of a schoolyard elections? This debacle takes everything away from the bully. primaries and robs the constituents of their ability to Trumps constant interrupting, insulting, name call- make an informed decision. ing and comparing his wife to Ted Cruz. How do Melania Trumps photo-shoots save a failThis whole embarrassment started when supporting middle class? How does Heidi Cruz look? How to
end the Islamic State’s caliphate? This argument is as ridiculous as the Republican Primaries have become. While many things are said about Trump, true or otherwise, one thing is perfectly clear. Trump is an embarrassment not only in Republican politics, but also to American politics and to America as a whole. And someone should really tell Ted Cruz that if he wants to defend his wife and make people believe it, don’t rip lines out of the movie “The PHOTOS FROM SHUTTERAmerican President.” STOCK.COM and FREEPIK.COM VOTE CRUZ
THE COLLEGIAN — SPRING 2016 PRODUCTION STAFF EDITORS IN CHIEF Robert Juarez Midori Morita
SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Angel Guerrero Orlando Jose
NEWS Megan Maxey
STAFF WRITERS Killian Barnhart Antonio Cervantes Christopher Donaldson Gloria Gibbs Ramiz Haddad Bianca Laboca Mark Larks Shellcia Longsworth Dylan Loura Chanelle Muerong Francina Sanchez Aliyah Stoeckl Jose Velaquez Estrada Oshchane Walker
FEATURE Midori Morita ENTERTAINMENT Mikael Honzell OPINION Zachariah Merces-Spindler SPORTS Richard Reyes
Wanda Whiten ADVISER Tara Cuslidge-Staiano ADVERTISING The Collegian offers display advertising. Contact us at (209) 954-5156 or deltacollegian@gmail.com. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters raising issues and opinions are encouraged, but shouldn’t be taken as a reflection of the opinions of the staff.
EDITORIAL Unsigned editorials reflect the position of the entire Collegian staff. Comments, letters and editorials with a byline represent the opinion of the writer. This paper doesn’t endorse or represent the opinions of the adviser, the Mass Communication department, the Fine Arts Division, the printer or Delta College administration.
MISSION STATEMENT The Collegian is a student run First Amendment newspaper that prides itself on a commitment to the students of San Joaquin Delta College while maintaining its independence. We 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.
Voter suppression laws effect primary
Gloria_Gibbs
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tates in America are put(among a few others) they ting laws in effect that are don’t care or don’t understand trying to keep the compolitics, they see no point mon people from voting in the in voting and they have no primary and general elections confidence in the governthis year. ment. States making laws that These laws restrict voter restrict voters access to actually registration dates and requirevoting has caused protests in ments, the states voting of North dates CaroCHRIS and lina and DONALDSON voter Arizona, idengiving tificapotential tion options. voters more reasons to not This is resulting in a large want to be a part of the politinumber of voter protests, more cal process. importantly, this is discouragThe states themselves aren’t ing Americans from wanting trying to take responsibility for to vote at all. voters being outraged. California holds a primary An Arizona state recorder, election, not a caucus, meanHelen Purcell, even told Fox ing people make a statewide 10 News that the voters were selection for the candidate they partly to blame for long lines believe will win the election as at polling locations and even opposed to supporting a canblamed independents for trydidate with local gatherings. ing to vote claiming that they This process has pushed the slowed down the process. Republican Party into refusWell she has a point; if ing a Republican ballot to any nobody goes out to vote then registered voter not registered there won’t be any lines. as a Republican. A Democracy works beThis is troubling to any of cause the general population the 20 percent of independent has a chance to say what they voters in California who want want or don’t want and the to vote for a Republican candi- government makes it available date but don’t want to commit to them. to being a Republican forever. Putting laws in effect As it is only 57.5 percent of that limit the people’s abilAmericans voted in 2012 and ity to voice their opinion and 22 percent of adults aren’t even actively trying to keep them registered according to the Pew away from politics goes against Research Center. everything we believe is a People’s main reasons democracy. for not being registered are
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Insta-changes
ocial media is constantly evolving, sometimes the changes are great ideas that make us happy, while others make us wonder what’s the point. Instagram is the latest social media app to announced changes to how its users will experience the app. The changes announced last Tuesday were extending videos duration to 60 seconds (as opposed to 15 seconds) and plans to alter the timeline viewing. Apple users will be able to make videos out of multiple clips from the iPhone’s camera roll. The new emphasis on videos is because in the last six months views of video content on Instagram saw an increase of more than 40 percent according to Instagram’s Facebook page. If you’ve been on Instagram in the past two weeks you’ve likely seen the post from celebrities, “Insta Famous people,” and even your favorite account ask you to turn on the post notifications so you can be annoyed by Instagram whenever one of these types of accounts post something. This is because Instagram is slowly transitioning timelines to showcase the accounts viewers give the most attention to rather than in chronological order. In other words the accounts where you like
everything on that page are now going to be the first thing you may see when opening the app instead of what was posted at the time you logged in. This is the change that has everyone talking. “Why can’t they leave things how they are?” asked student Ytzel Gonzalez. Despite the popular opinion of loathing Instagram’s changes to the timeline, I’m all for it. Back in April 2012 Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg bought Instagram for $1 billion dollars. The style of timelines reflecting personal interest is nothing new. In fact, Facebook did the switch in 2009 and last month Twitter did the same thing. Instagram is just the latest app to also use personal interest to make the app better. “I think they’re making a mistake,” said Instagram user Lena Sandoval. I do think that a big part of social media is that people want to know things or events as they happen but people will only tune in if their interest in the event or person is even there. So to me it makes perfect sense to change up the timelines. Now I won’t have to scroll forever just to see an event I missed.
MUSTANG VOICE: “How to stay with school post spring break?”
Andrew Hopsin “I’m have time for reflection to focus on what I need to do and start to like care about getting a job and try organizing things. People shouldn’t waste time and plan stuff out during break.”
Bill Ho “No I didn’t get much done over the break the only thing stressful about the break were research papers, work impacted my studies because they knew I didn’t have school and expected to come in on my days off. Work took advantage of my days off from school. People shouldn’t lose track during break.”
Christopher McElmore “Being gone and coming back was just funny, Ceaser Chavez day was random day and it didn’t affect my schedule in a bad way I’m allot more refreshed after the break and feel its good to have those days off.”
Quentysha Baul “It’s really different it’s hard to study and stay focused now you forgot everything that your learning and your mind was used to of taking a break. It ruined the momentum of learning during spring break. During break keep practicing your work so you would know what to do for your classes.”
Alejandro Flores “I feel that I don’t come back with all the knowledge from break then previous days, and I need a few days recovery to come back. I feel like it’s affecting my school right now people aren’t really focus after spring break. People should focus on your school-work and study more during break.”
4 feature
MIDORI MORITA, FEATURE EDITOR deltacollegian@gmail.com or (209) 954-5156 ISSUE 12 • APRIL 8, 2016 • deltacollegian.net
MAKING AN IMPACT IN 55 WORDS BY MEGAN MAXEY mkmaxey96@gmail.com
On March 31 Tuleburg Press released a book of poems titled, “55 and Counting: poems by David Waldon”, authored by Stockton resident and former Delta College student, David Waldon, and assembled by Delta’s Paula Sheil. Waldon currently struggles with various health issues and was unable to attend the book release at Mile Wine Company. “I just really don’t believe in posthumous awards, people struggle with their art their whole lives why not recognize them and David is not long for this Earth so I decided I really had to get this book done,” said Paula Sheil, Delta English professor and family friend to Waldon. Sheil, the founder and director of Tuleburg Press, spent a year choosing the poems, assembling them into the selections and creating a specific design for the book. Mile Wine came alive as Waldon’s friends and family came to support his book. Valerie Waldon, Waldon’s wife of 36 years, addressed the crowd with much emotion. She not only expressed her love and gratitude for all the support they’ve received, but also did a live reading of select poems from “55 and Counting.” “He started writing 55-worders in about 2004. He saw the contest in the paper and said ‘oh I can do that’ … Every year went by that he didn’t win and he thought you know, I can do that. I can win this thing,” said Valerie Waldon. Michael Fitzgerald, the creator of the 55-word poetry contest and columnist for The Record, was also in attendance. “Some of Dave’s pieces reward the hard
work reading you do for real poetry. It’s got depth, economy of means, there’s stuff between the lines. It’s amazing that he chose this forum to do it in,” said Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald wrote the introduction to “55 and Counting” and also addressed the crowd. “The San Joaquin Valley … is completely misunderstood and mischaracterized by coastal California … We have no brand. We have to image. People don’t get us and that is why it is very important … for us to find and describe ourselves organically. We have to have voices that define us from the grassroots up. We have to say who we are because they’ll get us wrong,” said Fitzgerald. Waldon grew up in Stockton and attended Delta College in the early 2000s where he found his passion for writing. “He truly loved Stockton … Not only does he show some of the good things, he is also one of the good things of Stockton, one of the products of Stockton and Delta College,” said Valerie Waldon. The poems in “55 and Counting” are just a fraction of how many Waldon actually wrote. “One year he did 432 [entries]. Now think about that. That’s entries. He was writing up to three a day. So it was obviously somewhere between a real discipline and an obsession,” said Fitzgerald. Sheil taught Waldon when he attended Delta and watched his writing evolve over time. “It’s not just because David is a friend and dying, but because David is a really good writer and he really got this form … When I sat down and read 1,000 of them at one time … I realized I needed to get the book done,” said Sheil.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: Paula Sheil, above, listens to Valerie Waldon, right, read from David Waldon’s book. Books, below, were for sale at the release. Many had already been pre purchased.
PHOTOS BY MIDORI MORITA
Oakland artist promotes feminism, expression BY OSHCHANE WALKER
MAKING A STATEMENT: Felecia Palmieri, right, hopes to empower women with her art. “cutd33p”, Palmieri’s most emotional pieces, below, shows a naked woman with cuts all over her body signifying pain.
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Felecia Palmieri, also known as “Novarose” is a 20-year old artist from the Bay Area who said she uses her art to “express pain, sadness, the appreciation of women and love.” Palmieri started drawing when she was in elementary school, but fell out of it once she got into middle school. “I always enjoyed it but lost it when I went to middle school because I started to compare my art to other people’s and I didn’t feel I was that great of an artist,” Palmieri said. Palmieri got serious about art in her junior year of high school when she would write notes for her boyfriend that would include doodles. He liked them which encouraged her to draw more. “It was more than just drawing an object or person, it was how I coped with a lot and expressed my inner feelings,” she recalled. Palmieri now credits her influences as faces, music, love and women. “Women inspire me so much it’s so hard not to paint a woman,” said Palmieri who also speaks about feminism. Palmieri stands for equal rights for women in all forms. “We’re taking back all the slut shaming, we’re taking back our sexuality and embracing it, we
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deserve to be boss, we deserve to be president. We can do anything a man do,” she said. While lifting women up she doesn’t tear the men down saying. “And its not only for women to be apart of feminism, men who also believe we deserve the same the rights. We do not hate men,” she said. Palmieri honors women in each of her art pieces saying “a woman is always involved somehow in my art even if its just the lips or the eyes of a woman.” When asked to pick her favorite piece she didn’t settle. “The one that captures my attention the most is called ‘cutd33p’ its one of my saddest pieces. A painting of woman with slices all over her body to represent pain. And a red streak in her eye to representing when you see something that cuts you deep and causes pain. Just straight pain,” said Palmieri. Art is mainly used for expression of feelings. Palmieri focuses on expression when creating her work. “My art speaks for me, I put it out there,” said Palmieri who thrives on the enlightenment of women in her art. Making others embrace the beauty of the female body in her paintings. Palmieri displays messages of love, beauty and authenticity in her art which is something that is always needed.
We’re taking back our sexuality and embracing it.
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Felecia Palmieri
IMAGES CONTRIBUTED BY FELECIA PALMIERI
HIGHLIGHTING DELTA
Program gives students passion for fashion BY CHANELLE MUERONG deltacollegian@gmail.com
Fashion is everywhere, everyone has their own sense of style. There’s a difference between the people who walk past windows adorned in the newest trend, and those who stop and stare. The ones who stop are right at home in Delta College’s fashion program. “The program offers students an opportunity to learn about the fashion world and to put that knowledge into action through events like the Nearly New Sale where they actually have to go find the inventory, price it, merchandise it, sell it and then market the events so they get a little bit of everything,” said Leslie Asfour, fashion professor and program chair. Students have the option to take different classes when they join the program. Asfour
said there are two sides to the program students can choose from. There are design classes in which students can learn sewing, pattern making or illustration. There’s also merchandising , which includes retailing and pricing. “It’s easy to just … express and show off your design and style. Like the teachers kinda give you that freedom to just do what you’re interested in,” said David Flores, who is the secretary of the Fashion Club. The Nearly New Sale, Asfour mentioned, happens every semester. The program receives the clothes from local retailers, manufacturers, family and friends to sell. “It’s a really good program, you learn a lot,” said Nikiann Acevedo, a student in the program. “The best thing is that you get a lot of hands on which is really amazing. We get to be part of a big show which other
places we might never have that experience.” The ‘big show’ is the spring fashion show, which happens every spring semester in May. The fashion show is where the students get to show off the designs that they have been working on all semester. This semester, the fashion show, titled “A Story of Fashion,” will be held Friday evening, on May 13.
PHOTOS BY CHANELLE MUERONG
6 entertainment
MIKAEL HONZELL, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR deltacollegian@gmail.com or (209) 954-5156 ISSUE 12 • APRIL 8, 2016 • deltacollegian.net
‘Whipping Man’ debuts
Play takes viewers back in to Civil War era BY ORLANDO JOSE deltacollegian@.com
The Collegian interviews Donna Marie, director of “The Whipping Man,” and fellow actors Denmark Ves and Larry Lee Roberson. Q: Give us a preview about your play? Marie: “The Whipping Man” by Matthew Lopez is a story set in 1865 right after the ending of the Civil War. Two former slaves who are at a ram shacked war-torn home. As Caleb DeLeon capital de Leon, a Jewish confederate soldier comes home from the war to find another reason why they’re at the house and they’re hiding out or waiting on something and as they continue to throw up and have the festival preside they begin to have conversations and uncover layers and layers of tissue. Q: So there’s a typical reason you picked this script to be the play? Marie: You know that TOASTCO, Telling Our Authentic Stories (Theater Company) is all about keeping the stories of people of color alive through theater and performance arts. I was asked to read through material. We continue to strive to tell stories that are pointed that
are under told or under-represented in mainstream theater. Q: “The Whipping Man,” how did you get tied up into it? Ves: So I got a call from the great director Donna Marie, and she asked if I was available and maybe perhaps interested in playing the role. And she told me a little bit about the play and the characters and I felt that this was a role that I can definitely grab a hold of since this character is a lot like myself. Q: Was this a challenge for you? Ves: It was definitely a challenge because there were so many different ways I could play the kids, and I want to do him justice. There was a lot going on at this time, and the character I play is a newly free as a free man. He’s young and he’s super excited and he’s got a lot of ideas. Q: So how do you feel in this era and the wardrobe? Ves: When you put the clothes on, it sometimes feels like the character your playing just takes over. It’s like I’m really becoming this guy and I really want to do him justice. We know we’re doing a period piece and this is a period piece back in the eighteen hundreds. Putting on these clothes makes it even more realistic. Yeah, anytime that I dress in a period
PHOTO BY ORLANDO JOSE
LOCAL PLAY: Stockton actors transport audience members to Civil war era. See the play on April 8-9, 10,15-16 and 17 at the Old Fidelity Hall on Fremont Street.
Piece it makes things real cool. Q: What era is this play taking place? Roberson: “During the Civil War, well, right at the very end of the Civil War. One thing that’s very important is that I’m in the Jewish Home, so we actually like slaves. We have embraced the Jewish religion, and so we dealing with the death of Abraham Lincoln, witnessing who had a lot of love for.” Said Roberson
Q: What’s the message of the play? Roberson: I think the main message is absolutism; speaking Hebrew in an embrace the Hebrew religion is very spiritual religion. “The Whipping Man” will be opening for show today at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 9, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 10. The location is on 230 E. Fremont Street in Stockton at the Old Fidelity Hall.
LOCAL TALENT
Band on the rise BY MIKAEL HONZELL deltacollegian@gmail.com
Tanner and Cheyenne Herd, otherwise known as “Pine + Palm,” are the featured artist for this issue’s local band feature. The local band consists of one brother and sister. “T” stands for Tanner, “C” for Cheyenne. Q: How long have you two been a band? C: Well, we’re brother and sister. So pretty much since we were babies, ha-ha. But we weren’t “officially” a band until January of 2014.
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U n i ve r s i t y o f S a n Fr a n c i s c o
pleasantoncampus@usfca.edu Change the World from Here
PLEASANTON
just a two person band with different personalities.
Q: What does “Pine + Palm” stand for? C: It stands for duality. For example, Northern California has a lot of pine trees, and southern California has more palm trees. It could also stand for my brother and I, like I am the more talkative one, and Tanner is the quieter one. It’s pretty much about duality in general.
Q: Being a band can be difficult, especially when there are disagreements between band members. Do you guys ever get in to arguments about your music? C: Well, we are brother and sister ha-ha, so of course. T: Oh definitely. I had a reputation in high school for being a Nazi because I was so perfectionist. C: But I think the fact that we’re brother and sister makes our arguments easier to resolve.
Q: Who are your influences? C: We like a lot of music: Weezer, Two Door Cinema Club, Tom Petty, etc. T: And Simon & Garfunkel. I think that our love for all kinds of music shows through our songs since we do different things all of the time.
Q: Tell a bit about your EP. What is the name of the Album? C: The album comes out on May 20 and is titled “The Drought is Real.” It could stand for the drought in California, or even something metaphorical like for something psychological like writers block.
Q: Describe your music. What makes it stand out? C: When it comes to our music, it’s something different all of the time. Sometimes we do some punk rock stuff, or something softer like with an acoustic guitar. T: We even do some rap. We just like to stay universal and not being stuck on one certain style. We’re also
Q: Where will the album be available for purchase? T: Everywhere. iTunes, Spotify. C: And we’ll have hardcopies at our release party at Black Water Republic, where we will also be performing. “Pine + Palm” can be seen performing at University of the Pacific on April 24 and May 4.
RICHARD REYES, SPORTS EDITOR deltacollegian@gmail.com or (209) 954-5156 ISSUE 12 • APRIL 8, 2016 • deltacollegian.net
BASEBALL SINKS LOWLY VIKINGS EARLY BY ROBERT JUAREZ
rjuarez282@students.deltacollege.edu
On April 2, the Delta College baseball team showed little mercy on the Diablo Valley College Vikings with a 10-4 beat down at Nick Cecchetti Field. Entering Saturday’s matchup, the Mustangs sat within striking distance of first place in the Big 8 conference with a 19-5 record and looked to take advantage of a struggling Vikings team who remain near the cellar at 12-12. In the bottom of the first, the Mustangs jumped all over Vikings’ starter, freshman Austin Cannedy, as he helped the Mustangs by committing a balk, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch in fueling the Mustang’s four run first inning. “To come out, four nothing, put the pressure on them, puts a lot of pressure on their pitcher, getting on the pitcher is big, getting to their pen early is huge,” said freshman standout Carlos Moseley on the team’s early offense. Cannedy’s day ended about as fast as it started as he pitched a total of one inning, giving five hits, four earned runs and eventually getting the loss. “Obviously our starter today was terrible, pretty even game after that but give Delta credit man, I mean they come out ready to play and in the first inning they put it to us,” said Vikings Head Coach Steve Ward. Without the four-run first inning, the game may have ended differently as Delta’s starter, freshman Nick Frank, struggled keeping Diablo Valley off the base paths. Frank’s outing earned him the win but it wasn’t pretty as he lasted five innings, allowing nine hits and two earned runs.
Coming in relief in the top of the sixth inning freshman Lucas Vaughn looked to rebound off of a poor performance in his last outing when he allowed five runs in three innings in a 20-8 loss to Cosumnes River college on March 24. Va u g h n’s struggles continued allowing three hits, two earned runs and getting only one out before being replaced by Sophomore Joey Cafesse. Once Head Coach Reed Peters handed the ball to Cafesse, Diablo Valley’s bats went silent getting only two hits in PHOTO BY ZACHARIAH MERCES-SPINDLER Cafesse’s 3.2 innings of work. EYE ON THE BALL: Mustang’s catcher Shea Sbranti prepares The Mustangs to swing during the Mustangs 10-4 victory on April 2. improved to 20-5 The Mustangs lost a key conto stay close behind first place Santa Rosa Bear Cubs tributor in Sophomore Eddie who have a 22-2 record in the Big 8. Sievers to a pulled quad muscle. Carlos Moseley and freshman Shea The severity of the injury was unSbranti made big impacts combin- known but according to Delta’s head ing for three hits and four Runs Bat- coach Peters, this type of injury tends ted In (RBI) and two runs scored. to last a week or two.
Athletes make good with second chance BY ANGEL GUERRERO deltacollegian@gmail.com
Lady Mustangs Guards Tiara Tucker and Brittany Butler returned to the courts after suffering injuries that derailed their early college careers. Butler, 19, entered her freshman season eager to make up for lost time after missing last year with a kneecap dislocation. “There was no cartilage behind my kneecap and I played on it all the way coming into Delta and my first year here in my first practice I went to cut and blew my whole knee out,” Butler said. “I went to the doctor … they cut me open, sawed some of my kneecap off and they put screws in it to keep it from shifting from side to side. They basically put screws in, taped me back up and it was brand new again.” The rejuvenated knee helped her lead in minutes per game (27), points per game (13.8), while adding 95 steals “She was the most competitive person on our team,” Head Coach Gina Johnson said. “Sometimes to a fault, she would lose her temper when things didn’t go her way … but that drive to compete and expect more and never want to lose, we need more of that kind of attitude on my team every year because that’s what makes a lot of competitors fight and not want to lose and fight through when it’s tough or you have adversity.” Sophomore guard Tucker, 19, is no stranger to adversity as her first season at the University of San Francisco was hampered by a nagging back injury, only allowing her to play in 13 games. “She kind of made a premature commitment,” Johnson said. “She didn’t really visit a lot of schools so she went there and wasn’t really ready, it wasn’t a great fit for her and she got injured so she came back to us … with a desire to use Delta
PHOTO COURTESY OF DELTA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
LEADING THE WAY: Tiara Tucker during a recent game.
as a year stepping stone to a good fit at a four-year university and that’s what we’ve been able to do so overall that’s how here past came back to Stockton.” Tucker transferred to Delta College where she averaged 13.3 points per game and a 43.3 shooting percentage from the field. These efforts culminated in California Community College Athletic Association All-State honors for both players, and opened the door for Tucker who received a scholarship to play for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “A junior college is not a stepdown, it’s more so just a way to realize if this is what you want to do. This is the best place to go because with the help of coach Johnson, she will get you anywhere you want to go and there’s no doubt about that at all,” Tucker said. “I’m hoping to bring in a lot of energy [to UNLV] and hopefully they’ll bring that family atmosphere as well.”
sports 7
Concussions major concern for Mustangs athletes BY MARK LARKS
deltacollegian@gmail.com
A new blood test to detect the presence of concussions could change the way athletes and coaches respond to head injuries, according to researchers from Orlando Health in Florida. The findings, published in the Journal American Medical Association (JAMA), showed that high levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are released into the bloodstream following a head injury. These elevated protein levels can be detectable up to a week after the trauma has been sustained. While such a test could remove the guesswork from diagnosing concussions, it’s not without drawbacks. For starters, diagnostic equipment and trained staff would need to be employed on the sidelines of any contact sport. “I don’t think it would be really cost effective, especially at the collegiate level,” said Jamie DeRollo, head athletic trainer at Delta College. Furthermore, despite the growing concerns over concussions in sports, the current sideline protocol for assessing potential brain trauma isn’t lacking in efficiency. Delta College, as with most community college athletic programs in California, employs baseline testing for its athletes in order to screen for concussions later should the need arise. “If and when we suspect a concussion that’s a tool we use,” said DeRollo. “We have our own tests and they usually can tell.” Perhaps the biggest impact the new blood test will have will be in dictating the decision to clear a player’s return to the field. Some symptoms associated with concussions, such as headaches and dizziness, dissipate before the brain has actually healed. However, abnormally high levels of GFAP in the bloodstream will make obtaining medical clearance more objective and less subjective. As a result, athletes could see a reduced risk of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition caused by the types of repetitive injuries suffered by athletes who return to action too soon after head trauma. Delta College football player Jared Bronson has not suffered the effects of a concussion firsthand, but has had teammates who have. He points out that despite the increased emphasis on safety precautions, players can still be stubborn. “Players just want to go out and do their thing, make their hits,” he said. The instinct for many players, according to Bronson, is to say, “I’m good, I’m ready to go.” If nothing else, knowing that a blood test can provide definitive proof of a concussion may dissuade many athletes from attempting to hide their ailments. “The culture’s changing,” said DeRollo. “We’ve been doing a lot of education, players are more prone to self-report (injuries) and they know that their teammates are more prone to report on them.”
8 news
MEGAN MAXEY, NEWS EDITOR deltacollegian@gmail.com or (209) 954-5156 ISSUE 12 • APRIL 8, 2016 • deltacollegian.net
DISNEY FILM ANTICIPATED FOR FORMER STUDENT Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa speaks on overcoming adversity, importance of Delta BY ROBERT JUAREZ
rjuarez282@students.deltacollege.edu
Employment opportunities for Mexican immigrants often include hard labor positions – working in the field, mowing lawns or taking care of other’s children. Rarely do these positions become topics for the silver screen. But, Disney and Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment Inc. are going to tell an immigrant story never heard before that will shed light on the otherwise misunderstood culture. Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa is a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and holds titles such as: Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Associate Professor of Oncology, Director of the Brain Tumor Surgery Program at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and Director of the Pituitary Surgery Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital, according to his website biography.
Quinones-Hinojosa is a renowned physician. At one point he was no more than an illegal immigrant with nothing but a dream. “I had about two or three jobs and I would be going to school at night and weekends and whatever classes I could take and I always imagined that my life was going to be better, I didn’t know how, I didn’t know when but I felt that way,” said Quinones-Hinojosa. Quinones-Hinojosa, born in Mexico, knew his only path to a better future was elsewhere and at the age of 19 in 1987, he crossed the border into the U.S. Quinones-Hinojosa made his way to Fresno where he lived in a one-bedroom apartment with five family members. Soon he came to Stockton to take classes for the first time at Delta College. He was 20. “I remember the koi, the fish pond, that’s where I met my now wife, to me it was the center of the universe, no place
Minimum wage rises BY ALIYAH STOECKL deltacollegian@gmail.com
On Monday, March 28, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that will gradually raise minimum wage to $15 by 2020. Currently California’s minimum wage is $10, which began Jan. 2016. However, Brown announced last year this was long overdue. This makes California the first in the nation to have the highest statewide minimum wage. “This is about economic justice, its about people, its about creating a little tiny balance in a system that everyday becomes more unbalanced,” said Brown during his signing of the law announcement, according to USAToday. The new law implements that each year the minimum wage will automatically increase. Starting from $10.50 in 2017, $11 in 2018 and another dollar through 2020. Workers who are involved in the “Fight for $15” organization have been pressuring this enactment since 2012. The Fight for $15 tweeted on April 4, “@GovJerryBrown signs the $15 min wage into law. Three years ago this was a dream. When we strike we win #FightFor15.” Supporters of the bill are celebrating. This law makes a difference to people across California who make a
living off of minimum wage. “The more we get hours at work the more we get bills at home. It helps with bills while I go to school,” said Opal Renfro, CVS employee and full time Delta student. Meanwhile, this deal has also raised concerns over whether small businesses and communities can handle this high increase in pay. In considering this complication, the bill allows for any small business with 25 employees or fewer to get an extra year to comply with each pay increase. “Large companies probably won’t be effected but small companies might not be able to pay their employees as much. Prices and some taxes will probably rise, which will increase the cost of living. It’s a spiral,” said Jennifer Rea, Papa Johns employee and full-time Delta student. California isn’t the only state with a minimum wage crisis. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has also considered the same proposal to raise wages to $15 by 2021. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders tweeted on April 4, “Not too long ago, they told us that a $15 min wage was unrealistic. Some said it was ‘pie-in-the-sky.’ NY and CA are just the tipping point.” Gov. Brown’s signature sealed the deal for an inevitable domino effect in the United States calling for higher wages.
has had more of a symbolic impact in my life than Delta College. That’s the place that opened its doors for me to begin my formal education,” said Quinones-Hinojosa. A man of many accomplishments, Quinones-Hinojosa credits Delta as a major impact in his success. “Delta holds a very special place in my heart,” he said. Delta opened the door, but Quinones-Hinojosa didn’t stay long as he had greater plans to accomplish which took him to his next educational destination – University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley is where his plans and dreams began to take shape. Quinones-Hinojosa majored in psychology, and took physics and chemistry courses that captured his imagination. While deciding whether to study either law or medicine, he chose the latter and Harvard Medical School was his next step for education.
While attending Harvard, QuinonesHinojosa took big steps in his personal life along with his career. He welcomed his first child into the world, earned his American citizenship, graduated with honors and topped it off by giving the commencement speech for his class. Now at age 48, Quinones-Hinojosa continues to strive for greater accomplishments in the medical field such as a cure for cancer. The upcoming Disney biopic of Quinones-Hinojosa is currently in the works. No date has been set for it’s release. “I hope that through this film and through this story, people realize that we all have dreams and aspirations, that the United States is the most beautiful country, people like myself who come from humble backgrounds to work here, they don’t mean to break the law all they want is an opportunity for a better life,” said Quinones-Hinojosa.
Foster students find resources BY FRANCINA SANCHEZ deltacollegian@gmail.com
A population often not spoken of, foster youth may not have access to a higher education once they have aged out of foster care. Mary Graham Children’s Foundation (MGCF) is a non-profit organization with a mission to help foster youth takes steps towards adulthood as well as receiving a higher education. MGCF started in 2001 and currently has 21 board members and more than 50 volunteers. Since 2001 the foundation has awarded youth with more than $1 million in scholarships for students going to colleges such as San Joaquin Delta College, University of the Pacific or CSU Stanislaus to name a few. “[The foundation] encourages the youth to get a higher education,” said Amber Saunders, Executive Director of (MGCF). MGCF’s mission is to “provide support that rebuilds hope and strengthens our youths skill and education to successfully move from childcare to life on their own,” as stated in their mission statement on their website.
The foundation has a had a large presence in Stockton according to Saunders. “This year there has been 36 youth awarded...and each recipient of a scholarship is also assigned a mentor,” continued Saunders. Delta College also provides support for foster youth with the Foster Youth Support and Education Program here on campus. The support programs work with the County Office of Education and the Human Services Agency. “We try and figure out what the students needs ... to try to support different areas because everyone who walks in that door has different things that they are going through, ” said Marylou Baugus-Hansen, acting manager of the Foster Youth Support and Education Program. The foundation explains foster students are in need of this support even while transitioning into adulthood. “This is a safe place place for us, if we need to do our work, hang out or talk to someone we can talk to the mentors,” said Adrianna Alicie, a Delta foster student.
The Foster Youth Support and Education program is a safe place for these students to seek help. “Here, they help us go from being taken cared of to being on our own ... three years ago I would not be where I am today, working and going to school,” said Joseph Sesate, Foster Youth Mentor at Delta College. The MGCF doesn’t formally work with the Foster Youth Support and Education Program, “80-85 percent of the students that arrive seeking support have gone through the Mary Graham Children’s Foundation at some point in their lives,” said Baugus-Hansen. These two programs share a goal of supporting foster students in their academic journeys through adulthood. “Only about one third of the students who identify come in ... We want to tell the students not to be afraid to walk in and get help,” said Baugus-Hansen. The Foster Youth Support and Education Program is located in Budd 205. To donate to the Mary Graham Children’s Foundation feel free to visit marygrahamfoundation.org.