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Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
INSIDE
Annual haunt returns by valerie lancer news@deltacollegian.net
Former student draws his way into a career Page 4
Cult Classic shows modern day relevance Page 6
Pumpkin maze scares with new attractions Page 5
UPCOMING Delta hosts a health fair today from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Danner Hall Women’s Soccer vs. Diablo Valley College 4 p.m. on Oct. 29
FIND US
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Delta College’s Puente Club will host a haunted house Oct. 28-31 inside the Cunningham Lounge. The attraction is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for students each of the days, with the exception of Oct. 30 when it will open to the general public from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Puente Club faced a bit of trouble from the school when asking to use Cunningham Lounge, previously used in 2012, for the haunted house event. With Cunningham still slated to be torn down at some point, the Puente Club was uncertain whether it would be able to host the house there. Locke Lounge was an option, but not a desirable one. “We got Cunningham,” said Sofy Bobadilla, Puente Club president. The club’s Haunted House Committee met up on Oct. 21 in Danner Hall to discuss plans for this year’s attraction. “After the haunted house, we were family,” said Bobadilla of the building process in 2012. This year the committee discussed plans for the theme, prop support and set up. Suggested themes included: insane asylum, creepy toyland, Alice in Wonderland, darkness, American Horror Story and Zombie Land. The final decision will be kept secret until the house opens. Whatever theme is picked, there will be mirrors, plastic body parts, swords, chains, skulls, tombstones, students in costumes, fake rodents, mummies, a fog machine, spider webs, fake blood, black lights, strobe lights and Silly String. Visitors may also hear barking dogs. So if students hear a high-pitched yelp when walking through Cunningham,
don’t worry. Friday, Oct. 25 will be the final meeting for the committee, where members will make decisions and prepare supplies for set up day, Oct. 26. The event is a fundraiser for the Puente Club, which aids students in transfer to fouryear colleges. The cost is $1. “We want it to be affordable for students. Our main goal is to have fun, get PUENTE CLUB to know more members, and For information on make enough money for the Puente Club and how SoCal trip,” said Bobadilla. it serves the school The trip is for club and community, email members to visit deltapuenteclub@ colleges. gmail.com. The club cautions hydration – last year a man PHOTO BY CHRISTINA CORNEJO fell in part of the haunted house and caused a haunted house actor to fall down as well – and also urged those wanting to attend to heed doctor’s advice. Be aware there will be students jumping out to scare you, so if you have any medical conditions, be wise about just how much you can handle. PHOTOS FROM COLLEGIAN ARCHIVE Enter at A HAUNTING: The Puente Club haunted house will feature various horrors. your own risk. Last year’s event include a scary clown, big bad wolf and a life-size doll.
Report details crimes happening on Delta campus by jermaine davis news@deltacollegian.net
Two recent crimes at Delta College have left the campus community on edge, but the number of incidents in the past few years is low according to the recently released Clery Report for 2012-13. An Oct. 9 sexual battery on campus and an Oct. 17 attempted robbery made headlines, causing students, faculty and staff to have concerns about safety. But the most recent report finds that reported 2012 inci-
dents include one forcible sex offense, six robberies, eight burglaries, 11 motor vehicle thefts, 11 illegal weapon possessions, 18 drug-law violations and four liquor law violations on campus. “We live in a rough city and the fact of the matter is, despite that our crime stats are extremely low. The malls across the street whether you take them together or individually, they trump us three times over on the amount of crime they have,” said Delta College Police Officer Jim Bock.
Recent reports also show that in 2011 there were 15 drug-law violations, six illegal weapon possessions, six robberies, five burglaries and two motor vehicle thefts reported on campus. After reviewing the statistics of reported incidents there was a spike in a few categories from 2011 to 2012. Burglaries went from 5 to 8, motor vehicle thefts jumped from 2 to 11, illegal weapons bounced from 6 to 11, drug law violations skipped from 15 to 18, and liquor law violations increased from one to four.
The district police department has made it more convenient for students, faculty and staff to stay connected with crimes that occur on campus. “A 24-hour, seven day a week chaperone service is in place for campus police to provide those who want to be escorted to their vehicles but it’s rarely used,” said Bock. Only 83 calls have been made for a police personal escort since Jan. 1, 2012, he added. There’s also a mobile app called TipSoft that will allow its users to
See CRIME, Page 8
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opinion
Issue 4 • Oct. 25, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
EDITORIAL
Put down your phones: Students too distracted
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tudents on this campus are too distracted by technology and not aware of their surroundings. Distractions are everywhere for members of this generation. Students are distracted by smartphones and having a constant connection to the Internet. They walk around wearing earbuds, and blasting music out of their cars at full volume. Because of how the media is a part of our lives, we are constantly connected and our attention is divided among eyecatching commercials and TV shows, Facebook and video games. Older generations might assume that this lack of attention is a product of ADD, but the problem is that we need to learn to disconnect from our devices and focus on the important things around us. The biggest issue is students walking around looking at their smartphones. You may have seen a student or two walk straight into a pole while texting. Those who seem like they are paying attention may also have the same clumsy moments, and run into another person. Not many people are capable of multi-tasking, so walking while doing anything else is a bad idea. It’s not just a problem for pedestrian traffic. Many people use their phones while driving and create dangerous situations. People are so distracted while driving, that accidents or potential accidents
happen in the parking lots on campus. Driving while using a phone is such a major problem, that laws have been put in place to discourage people from distracted driving. According to the National Safety Council, 100,000 crashes a year are caused by just texting while driving. It isn’t a problem with walking or driving, but whenever you are in control of something you shouldn’t be on the phone. Crime is another major issue for those who are always distracted. When people aren’t aware of their surroundings, it makes it easier for criminals to prey upon unsuspecting victims. For those that like to use their phones while walking out to their car, they may not see someone sneak up behind them. While it’s not necessarily their fault if they are victims in any situation, there are steps you can take to keep yourself safe, including putting your phone down, and knowing who is around you. One situation where distractions were involved in a crime situation was the shooting that happened on the San Francisco Muni light-rail train on Sept. 23. The gunman waved his gun in the air several times, while passengers were staring at screens, unaware of the danger. If this were to happen at Delta, chances are that a similar result could
occur with the level of distraction among students. We are so distracted that we may not even notice if someone’s child was about to drown in the Koi pond, or if anyone else was in any sort of danger at all. In our studies, we are distracted, not even paying attention in class while we play the next level of Candy Crush or listen to the sounds of power tools from the construction around campus. We offer the solution that students wake up and pay attention to the world around them. You don’t need to be on your phones all day. You don’t need to check Facebook hourly. You don’t need to text back your friends immediately. You don’t need to reach the next level of your cell phone games. It can wait. We are so attached to our devices that we can’t even let our phones ring for long without suffering withdrawal. It doesn’t have to be this way. We have lived without these technologies for most of human history, but it’s become such a part of people’s lifestyles that they can’t let it go. It’s time to disconnect. We challenge you to put down your phones and step back at least one time during the day. Use the time to take a better look at the world around you.
THE COLLEGIAN — FALL 2013 Editor In Chief Chris Howze News Editor Justin Tristano Opinion Editor Christina Cornejo Feature Editors Valerie Smith Karina Ramirez Entertainment Editor Chris Howze Sports Editor Chris Howze
Staff Eric Carranza Jermaine Davis Derrion Dunn Kevin Fleischman Kenneth Huntley Michael Johnson Santana Juache Valerie Lancer Eleanor Mafi Sean Mendoza Diane Rivera Amanda Sarisky Heidi Sharp Hannah Stevens Brianna Torres Adviser Tara Cuslidge-Staiano
Advertising The Collegian offers display advertising at competitive rates. Call (209) 954-5156 or email deltacollegian@gmail.com for more information. Letters to the editor Letters raising issues and opinions not represented by the newspaper are encouraged, but should not be taken as a reflection of the opinions of the staff or adviser.
Editorial Unsigned editorials reflect the position of the entire 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.
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.
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opinion
Issue 4 • Oct. 25, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
Petitioners harrass students by brianna torres news@deltacollegian.net
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t’s that time of year when people are standing in front of grocery stores and walking around campus with clipboards and pens trying to solicit signatures. Last week a friend and I were about to sit down on the steps in between Shima and West Forum when a petitioner approached us. The petitioners gave us a quick, vague and somewhat confusing description of the ballot they were pitching, much like a used car salesman greasing a potential client. A clipboard was already pointed, waiting for me to sign, before they were even done talking. My first reaction: “I am sorry. I need more information on that before I sign anything.” They looked at me as if I’d stuck a knife in their back, sneezed on their food, ran over their puppy or told them there was no Santa Claus.
The petitioners gave me an uninspiring ramble about how I shouldn’t want men using the women’s bathroom. In turn, they expected a happy signature. This ballot wasn’t even about men being able to use woman’s bathrooms legally. It’s a bill allowing elementaryschool children to establish their own gender beginning in kindergarten. Although, there is more to this bill, the point is that people shouldn’t take what these petitioners say as absolute fact. The breaking point in this frustration was watching another friend of mine from across the quad getting the same speech from the same petitioner and, without skipping a beat, she signed the paper with a smile on her face. It was like watching a train wreck. There’s no problem with people being enthusiastic about politics, but know what you’re getting into
before you just hand anything over. It’s reminiscent of that ominous car insurance commercial where the guy asks the girl where she got her facts from. Her response: “The Internet.” If people weren’t so distracted by beating that intense level of Candy Crush or replanting their eggplants in Farmville, there might be more time to look up current issues. Surrendering your signature to be helpful or politically active, without the proper knowledge, isn’t the way to contribute anything. That is what these petitioners are forcing people to do. They are making people feel obligated to sign a petition by using aggressive tactics. Use the technology that can be taken for granted to be aware of what’s going on in our world. Arm yourself by gathering knowledge before acting, and it might help you make better decisions for the future.
‘Catfishing’ a popular way to dupe online daters by sean mendoza news@deltacollegian.net
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new trend called “catfishing” has become popular in the past few years, breaking many hearts. “Catfishing” is an online process in which someone pretends to be someone they’re not, using Facebook or other social media to create false identities to pursue deceptive online romances. The act hit mainstream status in early 2013 when Notre Dame football star Manti Te’o was part of a hoax that made him believe he was in an online relationship with a woman named Lennay Kekua. The person posing as Kekua was actually a man named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. Te’o became the talk of the world after it was revealed that he had been “catfished.” Before the Te’o situation, a movie documentary titled “Catfish” was released in 2010 about a young man named Nev Schulman who his brother and friend filmed as he was building an online romantic relationship with a young woman on Facebook. Obviously, the woman wasn’t who she made herself out to be. “Catfish,” the movie, was such a hit that MTV decided to give Schulman a TV show of the same name. The movie explains that catfish are used in transporting codfishes long distances in order to keep them alive and agile. “There are those people who are catfish in life, and they keep you on your toes. They keep you guessing, they keep you thinking, they keep you fresh. And I thank God for the catfish, because we would be droll, boring and dull if we didn’t have somebody nipping our fin,” the
movie states. The show has since become a hit on the network. “Catfish” revolves around Schulman helping people who start online relationships with people they met online, who later the painful truth behind the person they are talking to. In many cases, the online crush or love turns out to be something completely different than advertised – in appearance, traits or gender. Since the TV show, the popularity of “catfishing” has grown to a higher level with many people trying to check it out for themselves. “I think it’s stupid because this generation already has messed up ideas about love and now we have these people who hide behind social networks and make people fall in love with somebody who is nonexistent,” said Amaney Masadeh, a Delta College student. Some people “catfish” others mostly as a prank, but some actually do it to look for a relationship and don’t feel confident about how they really look. They hide behind an attractive person’s picture, hoping to get a better response. I would never fall for a “catfish” prank, because I can tell by the pictures if the person is posting as someone they aren’t. If their profile picture is a picture you can find on Google or a model, it’s probably not their real identity. “Catfishing” is an unecessary act and I think some people need to stop doing it. It just ends up hurting people’s feelings and probably scars them for the rest of their lives. It’s OK to prank people as a joke but dragging it out for too long is just wrong.
Interracial dating common at Delta Nationwide race relations still an issue for love by jermaine davis news@collegian.net
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ith so much diversity among Delta College students, it’s not unusual to cross paths with an interracial couple. With more than 19,000 students attending courses this semester, the opportunity of meeting new people from all different walks of life is inevitable. There are several locations around campus where you might see an interracial couple walking with their arms locked together, smiling from ear-to-ear and having a laugh about how much fun they had last night. Yes, it may be difficult for some spectators to accept seeing two separate ethnic groups coming together as one, because they don’t agree with it. There are plenty of people that still believe skin color doesn’t factor into whether or not they find someone attractive. Even though interracial couples are becoming more common across the United States, many of those couples aren’t tying the knot. In 2012, nine percent of unmarried couples living together came from different races, as opposed to four percent of married couples, according to Census Bureau data published by the Los Angeles Times. More than likely, the reason for the higher percentage of unmarried interracial couples is due to disapproval of close friends and unhappy family members that object to the relationship for whatever reason. According to a 2009 study by the Pew Research Center, only half of the white people who responded, ages 50 to 64, said they would approve of a relative marrying someone from a different race or ethnicity, while many of the others disapproved citing fear of losing their culture. Earlier this year, a Cheerios commercial featuring an interracial family sparked so many racial, prejudicial comments from viewers online that General Mills made the decision to disable comments on the company’s YouTube account. It’s amazing how as Americans we can pull together during the time of segregation that prompted the Civil Rights movement or even the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001 that took the lives of 2,996 people, yet we can’t seem to stomach seeing an interracial couple. Everyone has the right to choose who they want to spend their life with. Who are you to pass judgment on them? The world is forever evolving and changing our view on how we accept others decisions with dating. For example, the Latino population is the fastest growing in America and will historically change the face of a nation in which non-Hispanic whites may lose their majority, sometime around 2043. Meaning, if you think interracial dating is a problem now, than leave the U.S. because there’s no definite solution.
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feature
Issue 4 • Oct. 25, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
Former student takes comic art to creative caliber Artist advises those hoping to go into field that ‘good work ethic,’ knowledge are keys to succeeding
ARTISTIC EXPRESSION: Comic art illustrations from Ramon Villalobos. From left, “This Is Wrestling,” “Sleeper,” “Nightwing,” and “El Castigador” inspired by the artist’s Hispanic heritage.
by christina cornejo news@deltacollegian.net
Not just anyone is able to walk away from an education to launch a successful career making comic book art and illustrations. Ramon Villalobos, a Stockton-based artist, was able to do just that when he left Delta College a few years ago to pursue opportunities in the comic world. Villalobos began his studies at Delta College in fine arts and graphic arts, while also taking advantage of the wide variety of course offerings. “I had a really holistic approach to art because I was able to sample a lot of different things while I was there,” he said. “If you go to art school, you have an emphasis on art. At Delta, you can take classes for political science, English and math. It’s less focused on art, so you don’t have blinders on.” While Delta had influence on some of Villalobos’s devel-
opment as an artist, it was his dedication to his craft and his passion for his interests that drove his career into rising prominence. Some of his more recent He has amassed more than works include a high art and 3,000 followers on his Tumblr pop-science fiction take on page and has done comic book comics, called Abstract 3, that work for people in several coun- he is working on with artist tries including England and Seth Jacob in Chicago. Germany. It takes the typical atomic In describage superhero ing his art, Vil- RAMON VILLALOBOS story and relalobos refers to moves the vilVisit his blog at ramonit as comic art lains, leaving in “clear-line” villalobos.tumblr.com. His them to face art on canvas, shirts and style. the abstract “I generally totes can be purchased at problems of don’t use a lot society6.com/RamonVilsociety – for of blacks. It’s lalobos. example, his just dependent science-alon line weight tered heroes and creating textures and form must face the oil crisis, global without relying too much on warming and systematic control shading,” he said. of government. Many have also seen his il“It’s like a philosophical delustrations in promotional ma- bate that we want to have play terial for Stockton-Con, a local out in the comic book – that comic book convention. there’s no concrete bad guys –
PHOTOS COURTESY OF RAMON VILLALOBOS
it’s all just stuff that’s already in place. Another one we want to have is about god and religion, so we really want to have big things that are stupid superhero comics, basically,” said Villalobos. Abstract 3 will be out by the end of the year. In the meantime, Villalobos is working on another big project of compiling a book of illustrated wrestling holds. “I grew up loving wrestling – my whole family did – and it’s only been recently when I thought, ‘Oh, maybe I should use that as a source of inspiration.’ For a long time it was sort of separate, with wrestling and music, but now I want to
mix everything,” he said. Other inspirations for Villalobos include comic book names such as Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely who have worked on titles such as New XMen, All-Star Superman as well as Batman and Robin. Villalobos advises Delta students who may want to follow a similar path into the comic book world should continue to produce more art and work hard. “The biggest thing is that having a good work ethic will get you farther than anything. That and knowing as much as you can about what you’re doing. Have focus and a good work ethic,” he said.
Stronger security a focus in colorful design of new hundred-dollar bill by michael johnson news@deltacollegian.net
On Oct. 8, the Federal Reserve began issuing newly designed $100 bills to banks and financial service providers. Despite news reports introducing the bill, a majority of people had no knowledge of the new bill or the release date. Many cashiers were unaware of the new note, which looks vastly different than the previous $100 bills.
The reason for this decade-long redesign is to stay ahead of the counterfeiting curve. “The new design incorporates security features that make it easier to authenticate, but harder to replicate,” said Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve board governor, in a news release. The new bill includes security features such as a woven blue 3D ribbon that bears the image of the Liberty Bell, which changes to the number 100 when shifted from side to side and front to back.
Another security feature is a colorchanging bell on the front of the note. When tilted, the bell changes from copper to green giving it an illusion of disappearing and reappearing. Delta College student Hakeem Hopkins doesn’t like the style of the new bill. “It looks like foreign currency,” Hopkins said. Just like with all new implementations there are minor kinks, which can be worked out once the money begins to circulate through daily
transactions. It can be somewhat of a hindrance, when the store line you are in is held up because the clerk has to call a manager to verify one of the new bills. In this technologically savvy world, maybe people would have gotten the message faster if someone had sent out a worldwide tweet. Delta College student Aaron Jones disapproves of the new design. “It looks like oppression not prosperity,” Jones said.
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feature
Issue 4 • Oct. 25, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
Mexico trying to recover Dell’Osso’s Halloween hysteria after natural disasters by valerie lancer news@deltacollegian.net
by valerie smith news@deltacollegian.net
Dell’Osso Family Farm, located at 26 Stewart Road in Lathrop, has outdone itself once again. The notorious pumpkin maze opened on Oct. 5, and placed as second-best pumpkin maze in the Sacramento region. Yvonne Sampson, Dell’Osso marketing manager gleamed with excitement over the news. “It’s amazing that we’ve reached Sacramento we’re an hour away,” she said. Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., but crowds are abundant at all hours. “If we didn’t close the gates, everyone would be coming all hours of the night,” said Sampson. This will be the last weekend the Pumpkin Maze will be open, and there’s only one week left to sneak in Halloween fun at the farm. Saturdays and Sundays can range from 20,000 to 27,000 people in attendance, which is why staff urges people to try to come during the week. “I have a passion and love for acting in the haunted house every year,” said Danelle Ferrari, Dell’Osso farm assistant manager and haunted house actor. Ferrari is a trained theater actress who has done movies, theater, and television shows in the past. One day she was on her way to the Bay Area to film a television show, and she saw Dell’ Osso on the side of the road, she stopped in out of curiosity, and has been a part of the farm family ever since. “Five years later, I’m still here, I love it here,” she said. The haunted house theme this year is scary tales, putting
a fun twist and eerie feeling into story book characters. “Not every scary tale has a happy ending,” said Ferrari. This weekend Weston Ranch High School students will participate in the frights, all around the farm. The students will be put in makeup, and trained by haunted house actors. There will be 40 actors placed throughout the farm. One new main attraction for children is the pumpkin Pirate Party for boys and girls, which corresponds with the Pumpkin Princess Party across the way. The Pirate Party includes: A captain at the wheel who fires off a cannon to greet his mateys on boar, sing-along pirate cheers, an eye patch, sword and button and pirate speaking lessons. Jack Skellington, which many may know is from “A Nightmare before Christmas,” is smack dab in the middle of the tricycle course where children ride for free. Johnny Trujillo and the crew at Smog Check Unlimited in Modesto donated the sculpture. Sampson said the emphasis is on affordable family fun. “People ask us why we don’t have one price, because not everyone can afford it so we pride ourselves on having affordable family fun,” Sampson said. With free attractions, and affordable prices offered, anyone and everyone can attend and just relax. The main attraction is the
PHOTOS BY VALERIE SMITH
IN FOR A SCARE: Clockwise, Danelle Ferrari and her brothers stand outside the haunted house. The Pirate Pumpkin party. A handmade Krumpus. A father and son pick out candy in the country store. The donated Jack Skellington from Smog Check Unlimited, made from car parts.
pumpkin maze. The food also keeps families and patrons coming back. The Boatright family has been coming for more than seven years. “It’s a family tradition,” said Alexis Boatright. “There it is there,” said Sampson, “I hear that type of thing all the time.”
Mexico has been hit by multiple natural disasters this year. Our southern neighbor has faced hurricanes Ingrid, Manuel and Karen, as well as tropical storm Octave. But 2013 brought more disasters. STORMS RAVAGE Hurricane Ingrid ran through the state of Tamaulipas and required evacuations for tens of thousands of people in order to keep them away from the torrential rains. The rains caused mudslides and buried more than forty homes. Hurricane Manuel invited 24 inches of rain through the state of Guerrero. The storm returned after the first strike to wreak more havoc on Sinaloa with 75 miles per hour winds and flooding. More than 15 cities were destroyed by a large amount of flooding and mud after the storms dissipated. Following the effects of Ingrid and Manuel, Mexico had a terrible landslide. The slide caused financial struggles for thousands of Mexican residents. Now residents have to face the daunting task of repairing houses and streets. Hurricane Karen was a more recent storm, developed on Oct. 3, over the Yucatan Channel and the southern Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Storm Octave was aimed towards Mexico’s Baja peninsula and became a potential threat to the California coast. It travelled at close to 13 miles per hour towards Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico, according to Miami’s National Hurricane Center. Winds reached up to 60 miles per hour at the highest point in the storm. GROUND SHAKES Mexico also faced a magnitude 5.9 earthquake in April. The earthquake was originally reported as a 6.2 quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There wasn’t much damage, but it was a scare for oil companies and many other businesses in Mexico City and near La Union. Some say the devastation these disasters caused is linked
to lack of preparation by Mexico’s government. “Acapulco is a symbol of the lack of urban planning and the absence of a culture of preventing disasters,” Gerardo Esquivel, a professor at the Colegio de México, said on Twitter. Federico Estévez, political science professor at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, says most media and government attention is focused on emergency relief – not how the devastation could have been prevented, according to Christian Science Monitor. PREVENTION PLANNED The Mexican government said the country hadn’t seen a similar weather crisis since 1958, when the country was simultaneously hit by two tropical storms, also on separate coasts, according to the Huffington Post. People were killed in landslides, power outages occurred, many drowned in flood water and cars crashed due to the speeding waters. What is causing all of these disasters? Is global warming a factor? El Nino has increased precipitation and affects the regions nearby. NASA predicts warmer waters and increased precipitation. The National Water Commission is said to be planning for future disasters under the order of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. A drainage tunnel is in the process of being built which will help with future catastrophes. This project, known as the Emisor Oriente, began under the leadership of former President Felipe Calderón. It is set to open in 2014. The biggest problem for Mexico when these disasters hit is how much danger could have been prevented, yet wasn’t. There is so much that can be done, such as properly structured evacuation routes, disaster awareness programs and proper information given out through radio. There have been more than 100 deaths in 2013 so far, directly linked to Manuel and Ingrid. What will be the new death toll if Mexico continues to put off proper prevention plans?
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entertainment
Issue 4 • Oct. 25, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
‘ConFunkShun’ sax player shooting video in Stockton by derrion dunn news@deltacollegian.net
‘Time-warping’ still alive by kenneth huntley news@deltacollegian.net
This Saturday, Oct. 26, the Sacramento West Wind Drive-In, will host a midnight showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” While it’s not mandatory to dress up (or down) to attend the screening, West Wind’s Facebook page encourages costumes for the movie. Just know if you’ve never seen the flick, expect corsets, fishnet stockings and platform shoes everywhere. For those unfamiliar to the phenomenon, the official Rocky Horror website (rockyhorror.com) has a “virgin’s guide” to give you everything you need to know, from dance instructions for the “Time Warp,” to what props to bring. In all honestly not much can prepare you for how weird and fun “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is. The film is a rock musical that fuses gothic horror and kinky sexuality in a story involving a cross dressing Frankenstein rip off (played by the incredibly fabulous Tim Curry) paying host to a newly engaged couple
stranded out near his mansion. Once there the couple witnesses a carnival of the absurd and fetishistic. The midnight showings are legendary for audience participation, with rice throwing at the wedding scene, to the singing of songs at the top of the audience’s lungs. According to the Rocky Horror site, the die-hard fans usually pick two newbies or “virgins” to participate with them in the dancing and singing. “Rocky Horror” slipped under the radar when it was first released but became a cult phenomenon with midnight showings across America. Midnight releases of recent films like “Harry Potter,” have similarities in terms of fan insanity but still can’t hold a candle to “Rocky Horror.” So if you’re feeling bored and wanting to keep with the spirit with the Halloween season, come by the light of the night over at the Frankenstein place to indulge in a night of “Time-Warping.” Due to the nature of the event, it would be best to contact West Wind Drive-In at (916) 363–6572 to confirm when best to arrive.
Ron Moton, sax player of the funk music group ConFunkShun, has been venturing out on his own as a solo artist. Today he will visit Stockton to shoot a video for his upcoming album. Moton said the reason he chose Stockton to shoot his video is because the city supported his career since the very beginning. This will be a free event open to the public 21 and over. There will be seats but only for those who RSVP. There will be plenty of standing room as well. Dinner will be sold for all who come. Before the actual shoot there will be pre entertainment beginning at 7 p.m. The actual shoot will begin at 10 p.m. Those coming should dress sharply, as the audience is going to be on camera. For more info call (209) 271-2827.
MORE ONLINE Read a review of Pokemon X and Y, the latest release in the 15-year-old franchise, by Collegian News Editor Justin Tristano at deltacollegian.net.
Chiming in on the scariest movies ever in time for Halloween by chris howze
news@deltacollegian.net
F
ear is universal, its power undeniable, but the funny thing about fear is not everyone is scared of the same things. Some people fear heights, spiders or tight spaces. Other people’s nightmares could be filled with armies of the living dead or all of your hair falling out. We all experience fear but it is unique to every individual. So when someone is asked what’s the scariest movie they’ve ever seen, remember its not what you feel is scary but more what scares them. Being a horror movie enthusiast has allowed me to see plenty of flicks that gave me shivers. Be it “Alien,” the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” or “Spice World.” In the end, though, the film where my most deeply rooted fears dwell is “Jaws.” “Jaws” might seem like a joke to some readers. I’m dead serious. Because the film is so ingrained in our culture we take its power for granted.
Name a movie other than “Jaws” that affected you in real life as a child. “Chucky” is creepy for my generation because we remember our friends or siblings having “My Buddy” dolls. “Freddy” questioned the safety of sleep, but the shark in “Jaws” (nicknamed “Bruce” by the director), taps into something so elemental, so real, I didnt even want to go into the deep end of the pool as a kid. Like the character Quint from the movie says: “Sharks have lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a dolls eyes… when he comes at you, he doesn’t seem to be living, until he bites you and those black eyes roll over white. And then there’s that high pitched screaming and the ocean turns red as they rip you to pieces.” The fact that the monologue is about actual shark attacks after the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis taps into the real horror of not seeing the monster in wait, gliding silently under you and, by the time you see that dorsal fin slice the water line, it’s too late. The shark scares me more than any teen slasher lunatic with a hockey mask ever could, because a shark that big and aggressive can and totally does exist.
by brianna torres news@deltacollegian.net
I
don’t remember how long it had been since I last saw “The Exorcist” before rewatching it this weekend. Even though the film is 40 years old, there’s a reason why it’s still the scariest movie I have ever seen. The night after rewatching it I was lying in bed for several hours. Every time I closed my eyes the black and white demonic face of Pazuzu would pop right into my head. I couldn’t help it. I grew up Catholic so stories about the supernatural scare me the most. I can handle gore and zombies, but make a film about an evil spirit and I can’t help but sleep with the light on. When the religious boundaries are cast out into the ethers of our imagination, what is dragged up from the depths bring out our most primal fears. “The Exorcist” follows the story of a young girl getting possessed by a demonic spirit and the exorcism to save her. What makes the film so effective even to this day is the insane special effects and the ominous vibe it emits off the screen.
I still feel uncomfortable every time I watch it. From projectile pea-soup vomit to crucifixes used in the most obscene of ways, the film revels in a steady flow of grotesque vulgarity that builds to an breathtaking climax. Even when it’s not being up front with all the gross special effects, every element of it from the soundscape to the cinematography evokes this feeling that this is a film that shouldn’t be watched. The makeup effects on the little girl, Reagan after the evil spirit takes control still makes me queasy when I look directly at it. Makeup legend Dick Smith set a standard for all other celluloid demonic possessions to come with his work on the film. All the effects combined together seamlessly to amplify the transformation of Reagan’s cute 14-year-old persona into a malevolent head-spinning demon with no trace of humanity left. Every year there seems to be a new film dabbling in the sub genre of demonic possession, and every year they can’t compete with a 40-year-old movie that did everything right the first time round.
7
sports
Issue 4 • Oct. 25, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
When fandom goes too far by amanda sarisky news@deltacollegian.net
Y
ou see them at every sporting event, the loud, borderline psychotic fans covered head to toe in face paint. The kind of fans that don’t seem to realize how intense they are. They yell with furious passion when their team scores or recovers a dropped pass from the opposing team. They howl with equal intensity when a referee makes a “bad” call. These are loyal, die-hard sports fans, who take their love of the team well past the confines of the stadium. Chances are you actually know people like this. Chances are you’ve lived with people like this. In recent years, some of these fans have taken their passions too far — resulting in injury or death. While sports often ignite frenzy in people, not all fans are of such a rabid nature. “It’s alright to express passion to a certain extent, but fighting and rioting is bad for the team and bad for sports,” said Paul Samara, a Delta student. Many sports teams appreciate loyal fans, but in some cases the passion is taken too far. Consider the case of Bryan Stow.
On Major League Baseball’s opening day in 2011, two Los Angeles Dodgers’ fans beat Stow, a San Francisco Giants fan outside of Dodgers Stadium. Stow now has permanent brain damage from the attack. The attackers were caught and are still awaiting trial. This tragic event hasn’t stopped violent attacks from occurring at sporting events. On Sept. 25, Dodgers fan Jonathan Denver was stabbed and killed near AT&T Park after leaving the stadium. A moment of silence took place at Dodgers Stadium the Friday after the attack took place. Due to the violence that occurs at many games many fans chose not to attend games and would rather watch from home. “I understand violence taking place during the game, but violence should only occur between players and not the fans,” said Josh Wilkinson, a Delta student. Passionate fans are an important part of every sport. They act as morale booster to their teams. As such, many players encourage fans to express their enthusiasm during the game. But when friendly rivalries is replaced by legitimate violence — will we be able to call it a game anymore?
Delta sports go pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
by eleanor mafi
news@deltacollegian.net
Athletes around the nation during this month go pink — from helmets, gloves, hair-ties, socks to uniforms. Mustang athletes got into the spirit. The Mustangs volleyball team had its Breast Cancer Awareness Month game on Friday, Oct. 18. The Mustangs played against Modesto Junior College at home where both teams went pink. The team wore pink shoe laces and pink shirts with the words “DIG PINK” while the coaching staff all around the gym wore or had on pink for the cause. The team, now ranked No. 14 in state and fifth in Northern California, won the game in four sets at Marcopulos Gym. The Mustangs now have three more home games until regionals begin. At 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, the Mustangs will host Cosumnes River College. On the other side of the athletic spectrum, the Mustangs Football team are now ranked No. 19 in Northern California after the team’s first conference game on Oct 19. against American River College. This game was the American River College Beaver’s game to go pink. The Mustangs didn’t have any pink but they were ready to take on the Beavers. The Mustangs scored first, but the Beavers returned three touchdowns going into halftime. The Mustangs Stephan Adams had an interception and scored, taking Delta to 21 points. The Beavers ultimately won the game 50-27.
MERCY KILLERS NOVEMBER 7, 2013 | 7:00 PM
Warren Atherton Auditorium San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton Tickets $10*. Tickets free* to all students with student ID. Purchase tickets at the Delta Center for the Arts Box Office (209) 954-5110 www.deltacollege.edu/div/finearts/dept/dca/ boxoffice.html or may purchase via MercyKillersNov7@yahoo.com or (209) 639-4191. Parking Tickets $2, available at end of each lot. *A fee is applied for tickets processed through the box office
www. MercyKillersThePlay.com
8
news
Issue 4 • Oct. 25, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
CRIME: Trend shows reduction in campus crime
Downtown center celebrates the dead by santana juache news@deltacollegian.net
On Oct. 11, Stockton’s Mexican Heritage Center held an opening reception for its Dia de los Muertos exhibit. “The Day of the Dead celebration is one of our bigger events. Some of the altars that are up are from local youth groups and then some of our board members have also put altars up to commemorate their families,” said Nicki Smith, a member. The center will host a Dia de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 2. Smith said anyone can put up an altar. Those wishing to participate must register and pay $25. Besides the Day of the Dead celebration, the center also hosts an art exhibit, usually made up of local artwork. This year’s featured artist is Peter Perez. The Bay Area artist
has had exhibits in Boston and Australia, according to Smith. The center also hosts the annual Adelita Awards, which recognize successful women in the community, as well as hosting a Cesar Chavez breakfast. There are workshops and folkloric classes held every Tuesday and Thursday. Membership is $25 a year. The center is a non-profit. It relies solely on volunteers. “We have monthly meetings. You can come and express your opinion on what you think on what would help enhance our mission, which is to maintain our culture here in the community,” said Smith.
MEXICAN HERITAGE CENTER The center is open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It is located at 111 S. Sutter St. in downtown Stockton.
continued from PAGE 1 send crime alerts anonymously online, via a smartphone, or send simple text to “CRIMES” (274637) using the keyword “DELTA” from any cell phone. “In the last month TipSoft has been used for honest tips probably four times, it’s not used a lot but we would like to see it used a lot,” said Bock. With TipSoft, students can connect to campus police without the fear of being revealed for reporting improper behavior. Students should only use TipSoft to alert police about safety concerns and information, involving drug dealing, suspicious activity, and violent acts. By signing up with this service, district police will be able to send out prevention tips that might be helpful for all. Students at Delta College aren’t using TipSoft as much as campus police would like to see, given that it’s an app that can help with minimizing crime that’s been happening on campus in recent months. With the service of TipSoft students can participate in keeping the community and campus safe. There are more than 800 law enforcement agencies and schools, currently using TipSoft throughout the country. CrimeReports, the provider for TipSoft, creates a user identification which protects the identity of everyone who’s giving information to be reported. CrimeReports.com has created an easy to operate, and low-priced software for law enforcement agencies to reduce crime and often solve them.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: Top, A girl looks at an ofrenda dedicated to Frieda Kahlo. Right, a mannequin next to an alter at the Mexican Heritage Center. PHOTOS BY SANTANA JUACHE
Delta Pride combines events for LGBT awareness
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by karina ramirez news@deltacollegian.net
On Oct. 16, the Delta Pride Club brought awareness to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) bullying by combining the celebration of Spirit Day and National Coming Out Day. Chalk outlines of bodies drawn in the quad represented gay youth who took their own lives because of bullying. To commemorate them, Delta Pride handed out purple bracelets. The following day, Delta students were asked to wear purple. “A few of our previous board members were bullied. Walking on campus, you get the smirks,” said Chris Sandoval, Delta Pride president. He defines bullying as more than physical, such as verbal assaults and use of derogatory words. This semester no bullying incidents have been reported against the 12 current Delta Pride Club members. “I guess it’s becoming more natural for people to see, or accepting to see two girls and two guys holding hands,” Sandoval said. “We have members here who are in a relationship and they’re affectionate towards each other. I haven’t seen anything that belittles them.” Although the acceptance of the LGBT community on campus is growing, past and present Pride members have had negative coming out experiences when telling their families. Relatives have turned their backs on them, being forced out of their homes, and even being disowned. “Unfortunately it happens,” Sandoval said. “I think it’s easier to come out to your friends. There’s more of a connection with people you can relate to, more than your family.” With National Coming Out Day, Pride has been relied on more as a support system. “We rely on each other. When we’re down, we pick each other up,” Sandoval said.
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