The Collegian -- Published Nov. 18, 2011

thecollegian Issue 6 • Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 • deltacollegian.net

INSIDE

One free copy JH

Bookstore hit again

Campus store struck by thieves second time this semester, raising security concerns

Writer ‘Flips’ over local burger joint Page 3

PICKING UP THE PIECES: Vice President of Student Services Michael Kerns discusses the burglary with a bookstore employee and a campus police officer, top left. The electronics display was the target of the Nov. 14 theft, bottom left. For the second time this semester, a bookstore door is in need of replacement, top right.

Tips for a proper Thanksgiving meal Page 4

PHOTOS BY BRIAN RATTO

CAUGHT ON TAPE: One of the suspects is captured on a bookstore security camera, bottom right.

PHOTO COURTESY DELTA POLICE

by matthew wilson

matthew.dl.wilson@gmail.com

Vampire series rotten to the core Page 5

UPCOMING Writers’ Guild Scrabble Tournament Dec. 7, in Cunningham Lounge Mustangs vs.

De Anza College at De Ricco Field, Nov. 19, 1 p.m.

FIND US

The San Joaquin Delta College bookstore has been burglarized for the second time this semester.

On Monday, Nov. 14, at 2:30 a.m., three unknown suspects shattered the front door of the bookstore with a large hammer and stole various electronic devices and accessories, according to Delta College police.

The suspects were in the store for 90 seconds, and in that time managed to steal “several thousand dollars” worth of goods, according to Delta Police Officer Jim Bock.

The incident, which bears similarities to the Sept. 25 bookstore burglary, is still being investigated.

Although response time was shorter for this incident, with police on scene one minute after an alert from the alarm company was received, Bock says the police are also considering tightening

security at the bookstore.

“We’re actively meeting with the bookstore’s manager...planning to improve the physical security of the building and the internal processes,” he said.

Students echoed the need for extra security when asked about the incident.

“It is ridiculous, it has happened once, I thought it would not happen again,” said Andrea Contreras, 20. “The bookstore needs more security.”

Bock emphasized efforts the police were taking investigating this incident.

“The district takes great pride in providing a safe environment,” he said, adding that “[The district] is offering a $1000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of these suspects.”

Anyone with information about the burglary can contact the Delta Police Department at (209) 954-5000.

Delta College Flea Market to move to new location by matthew wilson

matthew.dl.wilson@gmail.com

The San Joaquin Delta College Flea Market will be moving to a new location this Black Friday.

On Friday, Nov. 25, the flea market will be holding a special sale from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the H2, L1 and L2 parking lots.

After that, the market will re-

sume normal operations in the new lots.

The market was previously located in the Budd 4 parking lot.

Interim Flea Market Coordinator Harry Webb said there are several reasons behind the move.

One is an attempt to draw in more traffic from Pacific Avenue by having the market in a more visible location.

The change will also allow the

flea market staff to use the former police cottage, giving the workers electricity and a permanent location.

“Having a real office, it’s easier for vendors to track people down,” said Webb.

Further improvements are also planned, such as a computerized management system to streamline the process of running the market, increasing or-

ganization, reducing errors, and making it easier and quicker for vendors to register and check-in.

Webb said there are also plans to add permanent restrooms and provide power for food vendors at the market, removing the need for noisy generators.

“We’re basically trying to provide a better looking, more customer friendly, more vendor friendly market,” Webb said.

2

opinion

Issue 6 • Nov. 18, 2011 • deltacollegian.net

EDITORIAL

New program and grant offers a chance to go green What exactly does “going green” mean?

Going green is a philosophy and social movement about environmental conservation and improvement.

What does going green mean for San Joaquin Delta College?

Delta College has collaborated with the Alternative Energy Consortium to develop a certificate program based on the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners guidelines.

This program will be offered at the Delta College South Campus at Mountain House.

According to the Educational Master Plan for Delta College, because Mountain House is near the Altamont wind energy farms, it was proposed the college develop a career technical emphasis on wind energy and solar energy installers and technicians.

The Mountain House campus is in the right location for wind and solar rays that would reduce the College’s reliance on the existent electrical grid.

The Educational Master Plan also states that once the program is started, it might serve as a base for expanding industrial technology and engineering programs at the College.

In addition, the Mountain House campus is also offering grants for local schools. Specifically targeting grades seven through twelve, the grant promises to bring alternative energy to the classroom. The effort benefits both the Delta campus and the community at large.

The deadline for schools interested in applying is Feb. 1, 2012.

We at the Collegian think this is a positive step for the campus.

If the program at Mountain House is expanded,

it would bring about many positive changes.

Not only would it change the way we learn, but in the long run, the program will have paid for itself by saving the college money.

The efforts would also go beyond the now normal “green” elements on campus, including recycling bins and automatic light switches in the bathrooms.

We hope this is just the beginning of larger efforts to go green on the San Joaquin Delta College campus. We think being more environmentally friendly is a good move on the school and district’s part.

However, with the talk of a budget crisis, we can only hope the decisions regarding the programs at the Mountain House campus will be made mindful of spending more money than necessary.

Today’s assignment is on the Civil War...and my cat’s name is Lemon Student voices concern over some teachers’ lack of focus, ability to go off on tangents by haley pitto

hpitto493@students.deltacollege.edu

Teachers and tangents; one of these does not belong in the classroom.

Can you guess which?

We’ve all had teachers that go off onto subjects that are not even in the same realm as the subject they teach.

Students go into history class to learn about the Civil War and walk out having heard all about what your professor’s kid was for Halloween.

Honestly I could care less.

I’m here to learn, not waste money hearing about someone’s life story.

Dr. Phil has a show for a reason.

I’m not saying all teachers are like this.

There are many great teachers at San Joaquin Delta College that do teach what they are supposed to and students get a lot out of their class.

However, from my own experience at least 75-percent of the teachers I have had here at Delta have taught me nothing more than their life story.

This isn’t to say that’s the only thing I pay attention to.

It’s just the only thing they talk about.

These teachers start off class strong on what they should be teaching then someone in the back asks a totally unrelated question and they answer it.

This then leads to another

question and another and finally there’s a story.

By the time the questions are answered and story is over, so is class.

All that was learned was the teacher has a cat named Lemon and how they changed their major three times before realizing their dream job.

It’s clear that these “tangents” are not always initiated by the teacher.

Many students ask silly questions that are barely or sometimes not at all related, just to waste time.

We’re college kids.

It’s what we do on occasion.

We don’t always want to learn about physics equations when we could get away with

hearing a cool or even boring (depending on how bad we want to avoid the subject being taught) story.

Teachers need to realize though that it is their job to get their students under control and get back on topic so we can actually pass the ridiculous tests they give out.

It is clear that there is a blatant lack of authority in the classroom that needs to be addressed. Most of the students here at Delta run the teachers — and they let us.

Teachers are the equivalent of a glorified babysitter, but they shouldn’t have to be.

The teachers need to take back their classrooms and get the students back on track with

Editorial Unsigned editorials reflect the position of the entire Collegian staff.

the subject we are really supposed to be learning.

And we as students need to have more respect for our teachers and not interrupt the lesson so we don’t have to learn.

If students don’t want to learn then they shouldn’t come to class and make it difficult for the rest of us to get anything out of the lesson.

It’s a lose-lose situation.

The next time you’re in the classroom think about how bad you want to pass your next test.

I doubt you’ll be asking very many ignorant questions after that, and your teacher will have an easier time managing the class so we can learn and get out of here.

THE COLLEGIAN — FALL 2011 Editor Matthew Wilson

Club Corner editor Jessica Blanke

Adviser Tara Cuslidge-Staiano

News editor Matthew Wilson

Online editor Matthew Wilson

Feature editor Brian Ratto

Staff writers Victoria Davila Heidi Haack Jung Min Hong Uri Piterberg Haley Pitto

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

Opinion editor Evelyn Palacio Entertainment editor James Striplin

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

We reserve the right to edit letters to 250 words.

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.

3

feature

Issue 6 • Nov. 18, 2011 • deltacollegian.net

Burger joint offers variety at decent prices

by jessica blanke jessica.blanke@gmail.com

On the eastside of Stockton is a little gem of a hamburger joint.

The staff at Flip’s Hamburgers, on the corner of Waterloo Road and Filbert Street, have been whipping up delicious burgers, hot dogs and shakes much to the neighborhood’s delight.

There are more than 10 different ways to get a burger.

The choices range from $3.95 to $6.50 and fries only cost $1.50 extra.

The restaurant offers classic toppings including grilled onions, bacon and barbecue sauce.

Flip’s also goes out of its way to cater to everyone’s tastes by also offering fried jalapenos, fried eggs and even more for just 75-cents each topping.

Fans of cheeseburgers will enjoy the Bacon Cheddar Flip, which is topped with so much cheddar it makes a halo of cheese around the burger and peeks over the bun.

My lunch partners agreed the burger was awesome, very filling with a lot of cheese.

The meals may not include a beverage but drinks are still affordable, with a large only costing only $1.95.

The atmosphere at Flip’s is great, the staff is friendly and besides fabulous hamburgers, made when you order, the restaurant also serves hot dogs and a special fried menu titled “From the Deep.”

The “From the Deep” menu gives locals a chance to sample deep fried Oreos, Twinkies and a personal favorite, zucchini.

10 Percent with Brian Ratto

Transgender awareness

HOURS

Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Phone: (209) 943-5477 BEST IN SAN JOAQUIN: Customers enjoy Flips Burgers outside, top. The Western Burger Basket, left.

PHOTOS BY JESSICA BLANKE

For those with little mouths to feed there is a children’s menu offering chicken nuggets, corn dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches.

All children meals are only $3.50 and come with fries.

Anyone who likes to wash down their hamburgers or fish and chip baskets with something sweet will enjoy Flip’s tasty line up of milk shakes.

Flip’s offers flavors such as Rocky

Road, pistachio, classic vanilla and even their special shake, Nutella with bananas.

Whether you like to eat-in or takeout your food Flip’s is sure to please even those with pickier tastes.

To find out more information about Flips Hamburgers they can be found on Facebook by searching “Flip’s Hamburger.” A full menu is also available on the restaurant’s website flipsburger.com.

Java Jitters boasts new menu, friendly atmosphere by brian ratto

bratto2002@gmail.com

Nothing is better on a cold winter morning than a hot cup of coffee, and a bagel.

The Delta College Campus coffee shop Java Jitters, located on the first floor of the Locke Building next to Locke Lounge, meets that need.

Java Jitters has been open about 10 years according to Janice Palmer, the district employee in charge of daily operations at the shop.

Palmer has been working at Delta for 26 years.

Before the full-service coffee shop opened each building had a snack bar that was self-serve.

Recently Java Jitters has changed its menu.

New items include the Starbucks Frappaccino, in Mocha, Coffee and Caramel flavors, as well as a variety of pies made by Food Services.

“The new menu has brought in new customers, I also like the consistency of the product,” said Palmer.

The shop also has regular coffee, tea, sodas and specialty coffee’s ranging in

THE

price from $1-5.

Food items include ice cream sandwiches, soups, chips, bagels and various pastries, both pre-packed and fresh baked.

“The location in relation to DeRicco building is a reason why I come to Java Jitters,” said Sylvia Calderon, an employee in the Financial Aid department.

Until this semester customers were only able to use cash at the coffee shop.

This semester debit and credit cards can be used to make purchases.

“I love using my card here [Java Jitters], it is much easier,” said student Mayra Cabrillo 19.

Java Jitters is open 6:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school semester.

PHOTOS BY BRIAN RATTO

CUP OF JAVA: Students wait for their orders, top. Janice Palmer makes a swipes a customers card, bottom.

The Lesbian Gay and Bisexual and Transgender community is described with the acronym LGBT. There is a common understanding of what lesbian, gay and bisexual mean.

Few, though, understand what the word transgender means.

According to the definition from the Gender Equity Resource Center at University of California, Berkeley, transgender, the word which is sometimes shortened to “trans” or “TG,” are “people are those whose psychological self or gender identity differs from the social expectations for the physical sex they were born with.”

In simple terms, a person’s body identity conflicts with their “social gender,” according to the definition.

Being “transgender” is not a sexual orientation.

In fact, being transgender people can be any sexual orientation.

I have met many transgender people in Stockton, some are Lesbian women, or gay men I have even met straight men and women.

Transgenders nationwide have been attacked due to transphobia, a fear of transgenders. One such victim was Brandon Teena a transgendered man, who was killed in 1993 after being sexually assaulted.

The Delta College Pride Center has resources available to those interested in transgender issues and the transgender student.

When a student who is transgender, or expresses interest in transgender issues can get information about the Stockton Transgender Alliance.

The Stockton Transgender Alliance was founded in February 2009 in support of gender non-conforming people whether they identify as transgender, transsexual, gender queer, or male to female, female to male and any other chosen expression that enables them to better understand who they are.

The alliance is led by The Rev. Elena Kelly, a transgender woman, living in Stockton who is active in the LGBT community.

Kelly is also a board member of the newly opened San Joaquin Pride Center, where the Stockton Transgender Alliance meets.

Each year on the Sunday closest to Nov. 20 the Stockton Transgender Alliance holds a Transgender Day of Remembrance.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day to memorialize those who were killed due to antitransgender hatred or prejudice.

Remembering and honoring people like Gwen Araujo, a transgender woman, who was killed after being forcefully discovered to be genetically male.

The 3rd Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance is to be held 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 20 at Stockton’s Temple Israel, 5105 N. El Dorado St. This event is being held in honor of the transgender service members that defend America, and to the memory of Ariana Dibble, a Stockton victim of transgendered violence.

The event is free to the public. For more information contact Kelly through email at elena. kelly@comcast.net.

4

feature

Issue 6 • Nov. 18, 2011 • deltacollegian.net

Elbows off the table, napkin on your lap please

A quick and easy reference guide of dos and don’ts for Thanksgiving dinner by haley pitto hpitto2@hotmail.com

It is the time of the season for good food, visiting family and long dinners.

And since the Thanksgiving holiday is a time for giving and not fighting, we thought our readers would appreciate suggestions for how to not have your grandmother throw you out of her house.

Remembering the proper things to do and not to do is essential to a successful holiday.

THE RSVP DO: RSVP if you are attending Thanksgiving at someone else’s house. Be it family or just friends it’s always nice to let your host/ hostess know what time you will be arriving.

DON’T: Show up banging on the door like a hungry caveman asking where the turkey dinner is.

ATTIRE DO: Dress appropriately. Whether Thanksgiving will be spent with family, friends or you are meeting your other half ’s parents, you will want to look presentable.

DON’T: Show up in stained smelly sweats with holes looking like you just escaped getting mauled by a hungry bear.

FOOD ETIQUETTE DO: Eat with your mouth closed and use the utensils provided. Your host/hostess took the time to properly set the table for you.

PHOTO BY CHRIS HOWZE

A PROPER TABLE: When setting the table one needs to remember to place the salad fork to the far-

thest left of the plate. Between the plate and the salad fork one should place the dinner fork. The soup spoon is placed at the far right. Between the plate and the soup spoon is the service knife. Lastly, the dessert spoon goes to the top of the plate.

DON’T: Shovel food into your mouth with your bare hands like you are preparing to hibernate for winter. The pecan pie will still be there if you take the time to chew.

CLEANLINESS DO: Remember to use a napkin and cover your mouth when you cough.

DON’T: Use your sleeve to wipe your face and remember that no one wants your phlegm on the food.

PHOTOS BY BRIAN RATTO

CONTRIBUTIONS

GOBBLE GOBBLE: Don’t mistreat your utensils, they never did anything to you, bottom left.

Never sneak food to go in a cup, ask for a plate to go, bottom right.

DO: Offer to bring a dish to contribute to the meal. This is the time for giving.

DON’T: Show up with a bag of chips and call it a day. This isn’t the Super Bowl people.

CONVERSATION DO: Avoid controversial or painful family subjects. This is a day to be together and be thankful, not gripe about society.

DON’T: Have a yelling match over whether or not President Barack Obama’s birth certificate is real. Let it go. Never get politcal with your dinner guests.

PITCHING IN DO: Offer to help your host/hostess clean up after the meal is over.

DON’T: Sit around on your bum and do nothing. You’re not a cow, the time to graze is over.

GOODBYES DO: Leave at the appropriate time. It is good to be respectful.

DON’T: Overstay your welcome. This isn’t a sleepover. You have your own house, go to it.

ON A FINAL NOTE Thanksgiving Day this year is on Thursday, Nov. 24.

Remember the simple things this holiday season can help the days go off without a hitch.

Heeding to the simple tips presented on this page will allow you to have a Happy Thanksgiving.

And don’t forget to use a fork!

entertainment

ZE

HO W

CH RI S

BY

When you’re a writer and Stephen King declares “you can’t write worth a damn,” I’d think about finding a new profession.

Stephenie Meyer, creator of the ridiculously popular vampire romance “The Twilight Saga” has now sold millions of copies of books, which in turn has become a film series destroying the box office.

The success of the series has never been questioned, what has been is the quality in terms of literary prowess and storytelling.

It would be easy to follow down Kings’ path of criticism with purple prose (overly extravagant or flowery language) especially when concerning how “perfect” Edward is described in the book.

“He lays still in the grass, his shirt open over his sculpted incandescent chest, his scintillating arms bare,”writes Meyer.

But instead our target of discontent shall be in the storytelling itself.

The biggest and most apparent flaws that hold this series down like an anchor are: 1. The characters are similar caricatures with no real depth, we never really get to know these characters in any meaningful way.

Bella has no character simply because she’s a classic Mary Sue, a character meant to be no more than an avatar for the reader, with little to no personality to overpower the readers projections, while the two male leads acting little more than objects of affection.

All the while we are never shown any genuine emotion other than angst.

We’re told these characters are in love but it’s never shown in a realistic or meaningful way.

2. The danger of mingling with the forbidden is undermined constantly with Meyer’s additions to the vampire and werewolf myths.

These are supposed to be cursed beings.

Edward talks about how he doesn’t want Bella to become like him but we’re never really shown what’s so awful about it.

Being a vampire in this universe would actually be pretty awesome.

Your body becomes like marble, you have none of the weaknesses of traditional vamps, you get individual superpowers like an X-Men, and you have an awesome sense of fashion.

Seriously, though, shining a light on a vampire shouldn’t result in him or her turning into a disco ball with the Bee Gee’s “Night Fever” playing in the background.

Given this franchise, it’s surprising that rainbows don’t shoot out of the wereolves bellies like a Care Bear.

3. Pacing and story progression in general has always suffered in the series.

Little happens for the vast majority of the books’ length.

The first two books essentially consist of 15 chapters of people awkwardly staring at each other until the plot finally decides to show up.

By then it’s too little too late.

“Eclipse,” the third book in the series, gets points for having a plot.

The final book, “Breaking Dawn,” will be split into two films to cover its story, which is similar to a prolonged version of the scene in “Willy Wonka” when the characters go down the tunnel and suddenly the sweet family film takes a sharp left turn and becomes some psychotic LSD induced student film.

The story goes places that defy logic.

Ironically teachers now have begun making students read the series as an example of how not to write.

One can only hope that the hype dies out soon enough so people can come to their senses.

Sparkling Vampires! Really?

N

vivilu226@aol.com

TR AT IO

by chris howze

LL US

A BAD APPLE:

Popular ‘Twilight’ series is a box office hit, but lack of plot depth, character development at core leaves sour taste

OT OI

COMMENTARY

Issue 6 • Nov. 18, 2011 • deltacollegian.net

PH

5

‘Skyrim’ delivers epic dragon slaying, warmongering experience by james striplin jstriplin1992@gmail.com

The land of Skyrim is home to many things, including the Nord, Giants, Frostbite Spiders, but none so fierce as the mighty dragons that fly around this frozen playground terrorizing civilizations and eating mortals as they please.

But before you are ready to slay these scaly birds you must strengthen your skills and survive a civil war that has broken out between the Imperials and Stormcloaks, on-top of discovering your heroes role as a Dragonborn.

“The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” follows a new trend in role-playing games where a large list of classes isn't required to make a more versatile game. Your class is determined by how you play; an axe wield-

ing barbarian can easily become a fire launching sorcerer.

To help bang out the edges on these kind of transitions, developer and publisher Bethesda decided to add guardian stones. Guardian stones are scattered rock formations that can be activated to boost certain skills for a limited amount of time. Each skill naturally grows when used, but by opening the "Skill" interface characters can select multiple perks for any one skill.

So if your favored craft is blacksmithing, every level you can spend a perk learning different styles of smithing such as dwarf, elf, orcish, etc.

Every gamer should applaud the interface in Skyrim because it is easy to use by being quick and organized. The interface is also valuable to gameplay because it sometimes has to

SKYRIM DEVELOPER: Bethesda PUBLISHER: Bethesda Softworks COST: $59.99 PARENTAL RATING: M 17+ RATING (OUT OF 5):

be used in order to complete a quest.

An example of such usage is examining an artifact or object and memorizing its pattern to open a door in a certain dungeon.

That brings up the forgotten stepchild of this game. Nobody

will take notice, but everyone will love the clever thought process the game that players to go through in order to carry on to the end of a dungeon.

It is a game that makes you think, not that it will ever be a a game in the Portal series, but a dungeon is more than just a cave you get lost in.

A dungeon is an underground fortress with its treasure waiting to be found.

When the map for Skyrim was made, it wasn't made with presets. Everything Bethesda put on that map was manually placed to create a unique open world big enough to support a flock of dragons.

The player can tell where he is, not by staring at the map, but by looking at surroundings.

Is there snow, are there bones, is there a fuzzy giant threeeyed abomination out in the

distance?

Then you are probably in the mountains about to be eaten alive by a hungry frost troll, which would place you somewhere between Whiterun and Windhelm.

There is one thing that is misleading about Skyrim, though, and that is when you are playing you are deceived into thinking you can defeat anything.

Overtime it becomes obvious that your body will be floating down the river once or twice every couple of hours.

So please don’t fight giants at the first level, save as frequently as possible, and prepare to lose track of time for the next two weeks.

“Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” earns 4.5 dragons out of five for being everything we love in an role-playing game and having a great atmosphere.

6

club corner

Issue 8 • Feb. 11, 2011 • deltacollegian.net

Campus organizations give back Students come together to feed less fortunate by jung min hong

jhong799@students.deltacollege.edu

Club FEED is a San Joaquin Delta College Club that is becoming a recognized non-profit organization with its mission to eliminate world hunger through immediate and long-term solutions.

Members work as part of local and international efforts.

“We host regular homeless feeds at the St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Hall in Stockton where our volunteers help to prepare, cook, and serve food to hundreds of people every month,” said Jasmine Ali, president of Club FEED. Club FEED is made up with volunteers who have come together with the hopes of ending world hunger.

While providing both immediate and long-term solutions throughout the world, Club FEED strives to educate and promote self-sustainability.

Club FEED’s current international project is working with the Sana Orphanage in Afghanistan to provide food for the children.

The club also is planning a fundraising dinner, a walk for hunger and a trade fair for next spring.

The club is also collecting cans and non-perishable food items for Thanksgiving meals for those less fortunate, according to the group’s website.

“We look forward to a great beginning, and hopefully, we will have the opportunity to see our dreams of a starvation-free world, blossom into a wonderful reality,” Ali said.

To become a part of Club FEED’s effort to eliminate world hunger by participation in the club’s various events to help raise funds, bring awareness or collect food for different peoples throughout the world, contact (209) 513-7579 or email deltaclubfeed@gmail.com.

Additional information about Club FEED is available on the club’s website at clubfeed.webs. com.

FEEDING THE COMMUNITY Delta Psi is also reaching out to the local community by putting together a turkey dinner for one lucky family.

The family is being decided on during the club’s next meeting on Nov. 22.

According to club vice-president John Thorpe, the club is also meeting with other organizations that offer free Thanksgiving dinners and hold canned food drives.

Delta Psi will be donating what is collected for the homeless in February.

Delta Psi can be reached for more information during the club’s regular meetings at 3 p.m Tuesdays in the Shima Boardroom.

For more information, email club advisor Dr. Elizabeth Maloney at emaloney@deltacollege.edu.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JESSICA BLANKE

AGS fundraises for the holidays

CAMPUS SNAPSHOTS

by jessica blanke jessica.blanke@gmail.com

Alpha Gamma Sigma, an honors organization, is taking part in the Weberstown Mall’s Magical Night of Giving event.

The Magical Night of Giving is a special event to kick off the beginning of this year’s holiday shopping season that gives shoppers, “door prizes, entertainment, and exclusive discounts for ticket holders that are not offered any other time of the year” according the Weberstown Mall’s event page.

Club members will be out at the Weberstown Mall selling tickets on Saturday from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Nov. 19.

Tickets are also available at the door and cost $5.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and runs until 9:30 p.m.

For more information about Magical Night of Giving visit weberstown.com or call the mall office at (209) 477-0247.

A SUNNY DAY IN THE QUAD: M.E.Ch.A Club members sell menudo, tacos and Jarritos on Nov. 16, top. Members of Alpha Gamma Sigma were out at their fundraising table selling candy and soda. Students come and go through the quad area around 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW WILSON

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7

sports

Issue 6 • Nov. 18, 2011 • deltacollegian.net

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Mustangs competitive in losses to top teams by uri piterberg

upiterberg465@students.deltacollege.edu

The Mustangs men’s basketball team’s 2011-12 season tipped off with back to back losses in the 8th Annual Jonathan Wallace classic at Ohlone College in Fremont.

The tournament took place Nov. 11-12 and gave the team a chance to test their metal against two of the better teams in the state.

The opening game produced a narrow loss to 12th ranked Cabrillo College, 5147.

The game was deadlocked with two minutes remaining, but the Seahawks managed to pull away at the end.

Despite the loss, Head Coach Rich Ressa was en-

couraged by his team’s performance, especially their ability to match up defensively with Seahawks star center Justyn Searle.

“They have a kid who has signed for USF (University of San Francisco) who is 6’9 in the post, and I thought we competed with him very well.

Our young freshmen posts, Mitch Postle and Jerel Green, did a good job competing with the kid and we’re excited about the potential they have,” said Ressa.

Game two saw the Mustangs suffer a thirteen point loss to 10th ranked tournament host Ohlone College.

Once again Delta was able to show enough quality to contend with a strong opponent.

Sophomore golfer places at state championship by jessica blanke jessica.blanke@gmail.com

The San Joaquin Delta College women’s golf team are celebrating a victory.

Sophomore Ysabel Cabriera took 15th place at the Women’s Golf State Championship held at Kings Country Club earlier this week.

Cabriera participated in two rounds with scores of 81 and 87.

This is the only the second time the women’s golf team has successfully made it to the state championship since it was established in 2008, according to an email sent out to the campus.

However, the Renegades’ high tempo pressure defense was too much to overcome, as the Mustangs finished the game with 21 turnovers.

“We struggled a lot with Ohlone’s pressure. They’re a perennial man pressure, zone pressure team and our youth and inexperience kind of showed a little in that game,” said Ressa.

The main challenge for the Mustangs this season will indeed be integrating some of the freshmen players, who much similar to Green and Postle, will be counted on to make contributions right away.

Additionally, guard Derek Wofford will be moving from shooting guard to point guard and will have to take on more

responsibilities running the offense.

Last season Wofford was employed primarily as a shooting guard.

The other returning starter from last season, forward Marcus Beaird, will be seeing more time on the perimeter at small forward, according to Ressa.

How the team handles this shuffling of parts will play a big role in any success the Mustangs’ have this season, and the team’s head coach is already saying chemistry is one of his strengths this season.

“We have a really good core group of guys who work hard and like playing together and I think the potential is there for a productive season,” said Ressa.

UPCOMING MEN’S BASKETBALL Dec. 16-18 Blanchard Gym Men’s masketball will host a Holiday Tournament. San Francisco City College, Napa Valley College and others will be participating.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Dec. 19-21 Blanchard Gym The women’s basketball team will be hosting the Jocelyn Mancebo Classic. Some of the other competing schools are Modesto Jr. College, Diablo Valley College and River Valley college.

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Issue 6 • Nov. 18, 2011 • deltacollegian.net

Hospice of San Joaquin to host tree lighting ceremony by heidi haack crazietrekkie@aol.com

Hospice of San Joaquin will once again light up the holiday tree at the intersection of Pacific and Yokuts avenues with more than 7,000 lights at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

This 23rd annual lighting ceremony is one of many hosted at more than a half a dozen locations throughout San Joaquin County. The tree in front of San Joaquin Delta College is the only one in Stockton.

“We usually invite a family with kids who has been in the facility in the past year to flip the switch,” said Carolyn Gomes, the Events Coordinator at the Hospice.

The tree has an important purpose — to remember and cherish loved ones currently sick or lost by donating one of the lights on the tree.

Money can be donated in various increments both through paper submission and online.

The different amounts correspond with a differently colored light, with $5 for a red light, $25 for a blue and $100 for a white light.

All proceeds from the light donation go directly to the Hospice.

The Hospice of San Joaquin is dedicated to providing medical care, counseling, and support for terminally ill patients and families.

The honorees’ and donors’ names are placed on a memory board displayed at the base of the tree.

A team comprised mostly of more than 20 PG&E volunteers puts up the lights. The team uses sixty-foot lifts to wrap the 6,000-feet of lights around the tree, according to a press release.

Once the tree is lit on Nov. 22, it will stay lit through Dec. 31.

Other lighting locations include Lockeford on Nov. 30, Lodi on Dec. 1, Tracy on Dec. 2, Galt and Rio Vista on Dec. 3 and Manteca on Dec. 7.

For more information visit hospicesj.org.

Administration display honors veterans by uri piterberg

upiterberg465@students.deltacollege.edu

Each year in early November, the Troops to College program at Delta College raises a display that honors and commemorates former and current United States military service men and woman.

The display contains pictures and memorabilia given by students and staff who have served in the military or those who have family members or friends that have served.

Troops to College was originally an initiative started by former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to ensure colleges are doing more to aid veterans once they have carried through their service terms.

Director of Admissions and Records Catherine Mooney has been the coordinator of the program since its inception.

Mooney’s family has a long history of military

service, which is what sparked her interest in taking on this project.

“I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for veterans. My dad was a veteran, my brother served in Vietnam, my son is currently in the military, so we just come from a military family and I have a soft spot in the heart for them.”

It is this background that inspired the idea for the display, which has been up every year since 2001.

Initially consisting of pictures of family members of Delta College staff and faculty members who have served in the army, the interest garnered was astounding, said Mooney and four cases were filled to brim in the inaugural year of the display.

“There are so many people connected to veterans, and every time we ask, we get something new,” said Mooney.

The display will be up in the Horton Administration building through the month of December.

PHOTO BY HEIDI HAACK

TREE OF LIGHTS: The tree at the corner of Pacific and Yokuts avenues will be lit by PG&E volunteers on Nov. 22.

BRIEFS

Delta to offer green certificate program by chris howze vivilu226@aol.com

San Joaquin Delta College has partnered up with the Alternative Energy Consortium to develop a green careers certificate program at the South Campus at Mountain House.

The certificate program is designed around classes preparing students for jobs in the field of solar and alternative energy sources.

Delta is also preparing a set of grants for high schools looking to develop alternative energy education programs.

The program is being primarily funded by a $100,000 grant from GFW Energy LLC to help develop alternative energy education in the Tracy area.

‘Portraiture’ exhibit opens in gallery by matthew wilson

matthew.dl.wilson@gmail.com

The “Portraiture” exhibition and awards competition opened in the LH Horton Jr. Gallery yesterday.

The exhibit features 30 photographic works from 15 photographers, with a theme of portaits that stretch the traditional definition of portraits.

The award winners are Stephen Spiller with “Self-Portrait: I Am Afraid” for Best of Show, Alejandra Regalado with “Aurelia” for second place, and Alec McIntyre with “The Artist Dodges One Sack of Flour” for third place.

The exhibit runs until Dec. 14, and is free and open to the public.

Spring registration dates reminder by heidi haack crazietrekkie@aol.com

HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE: The veteran’s display in the Horton Administration building contains photos and memorabilia donated by family and friends of veterans.

PHOTOS BY BRIAN RATTO

Registration for the spring semester begins soon. Here are some important dates to remember: Nov. 7 - Nov. 23: Request a registration date and time or check your assigned registration date by logging into “Online Registration” on the Delta website.

Nov. 10 - Nov. 23: Register online on or after your assigned registration date and time.

Nov. 28 - Jan. 12: Open registration.

Jan. 12: Registration closes at 4 p.m.

For more information about important registration and financial aid dates, visit the Delta College website at deltacollege.edu.