The Collegian — Published Feb. 21, 2020

on Mayoral candidates MIA ‘Bigworms’ the menu

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OPINION, PAGE 5

Issue 8 • Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 •

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Delta explores student housing potential

BY JAELYN MORALES Staff Writer

Campus as students’ home.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY VIVIENNE AGUILAR

On Feb. 2, Delta College’s Board of Trustees held a meeting where they discussed the possibility of providing student housing for Delta students.

Colleges across the nation are dealing with the growth of student homelessness, which has been a main reason for the rise of college dropouts.

Delta President/Superintendent Dr. Omid Pourzanjani said, “As an education system, our focus is to educate.”

Pourzanjani and Delta’s Board of Trustees are on a mission to find a solution to this problem. They will no longer ignore one of the many problems that is possibly stopping a student’s success.

“The best way to move someone out of poverty is education. If they want to improve their lives, we should do everything to help them,” Pourzanjani said.

Pourzanjani wants to solve the issue “...at a scale.”

Twenty-five percent of college students in America alone are finding themselves crashing on different couches every night or outside in their parked cars.

College of the Siskiyous in Weed is one of the few community colleges that provide housing for their students.

“Having students live on campus can help them focus on school in a different way than spreading out in various apartments and rental homes,” Siskiyous Director of Student Housing Douglas Haugen said.

But there are some obstacles in the way of this project.

“The obstacles are logistics, finances and politics,” Pourzanjani said.

But the main concern is financial. Students who are not applying or not finishing the process of financial aid make the solution to this problem even harder to find.

“We would have to ramp up students to fill out their financial aid,” Pourzanjani said.

Housing is, of course, not going to be free. The hope is that the community that surrounds Delta can help in the meantime while campus officials try to find a way to make student housing work.

“I think the community will support it. But will they allow it?” Pourzanjani said.

Besides the concerns of financial stability — some students have other concerns if housing was to be built on campus.

“There’s already random people coming onto campus and it probably wouldn’t be safe to live on campus,” Delta College student Adriana Sanchez said.

There are many obstacles and details to be worked out in order to begin the process.

“We need to know how many homeless students we have,” Pourzanjani said.

Pourzanjani is asking for full student body participation. A survey is being constructed to answer the question of how many homeless students the campus educates.

“The students need to fill out the survey,” Pourzanjani said.

Enrollment numbers, down at start of semester, continue to steadily climb

BY TYRA GREEN

Social Media Editor

The MyDelta system has made registration more complicated than in previous years, which student say could potentially cause a decline in enrollment.

Enrollment, though, is climbing.

As of Feb. 13, 2020 at 7 a.m., the student count was 18,687, or up 1.6 percent compared to the start of the day

on Feb. 14, 2019, when enrollment was at 18,384.

“Our current enrollment numbers continue to increase and are above comparisons with last Spring in units taken and total student count,” said Dr. James Todd, Delta assistant superintendent and vice president of Instruction and Planning.

On the first day of school, Jan. 21, 2020, student enrollment was at 18,275,

or down 1.3 percent compared to the count of 18,561 from Jan. 22, 2019, according to Todd’s report.

Enrollment numbers were down 9.4 percent as of 12 days before the start of school, according to the report, presented to the board of trustees at its Jan. 21 meeting.

Students say MyDelta could be a contributing factor.

“The only problem and flaw I see is

the MyDelta system just because it’s so confusing to get into a class, see which classes are even available to begin with because it just lists them all and you kind of just blind-eye picking classes,” Delta College student Isaiah Sison said.

Student enrollment at Delta, and systemwide, has decreased in the last few years, however.

See ENROLL, page 12

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Dream Conference to offer information, assistance to students

BY ESPERANZA HERNANDEZ-MUNOZ Staff Writer

Want to meet new people, create new bonds and relationships while helping the community? On Feb. 29, the Dreamers Success Center is hosting the Dream Conference on campus. The event broke an attendance record with more than 200 attendees. This year organizers are hoping to surpass 400.

“It is open to everybody, to dreamers, to folks who are non-dreamers, to community members, and if they are not dreamers it is a good opportunity to come and get exposed to information that they can use to help,” said Sergio Lara, Resource Specialist for the Dreamers Success Center.

Attendees will be able to take advantage of the multiple workshops set up throughout the day, led by experienced people and experts in their fields such as Bianca Duena, a lawyer with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation.

Workshops taking place this year also

include those covering the subjects of entrepreneurship, the California Dream Act, Assembly Bill 540, legal and counseling community services, and a “Know Your Rights” workshop that will provide legal assistance if needed.

The conference will conclude with personal assistance with Dream Act applications in the DeRicco building as well as a showing of the Dreamers Success Center.

“The expectations is that students along with their parents get the information they are looking for, but also find that home away from home,” said Lara.

Those in attendance will not only take away new information. “People can get a better sense of empathy by putting themselves in the shoes of dreamers I think that is one of the biggest things they can take away,” said Lara.

The event will be hosted at San Joaquin Delta College in the Atherton Auditorium from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Spots can be reserved for free online at https://tinyurl.com/deltadream20.

Field trip teaches students how to ‘grind’ A Delta student watches a demonstration by Evren Yazici at the 2020 Startup Grind Global Conference, which took place in Silicon Valley from Feb. 11-12. PHOTO BY C.J. LOVE

a Q&A session, and that was really cool to sit in a crowd and be able to talk to a top-guy from a huge comOn Feb. 12, about 80 Delta Col- pany.” lege students attended day two of the Authors, CEOs, co-founders, 2020 Startup Grind Global Confer- and all sorts of industry leaders held ence in Silicon Valley. lectures and Q&A sessions in RedThe Conference is an interactive wood’s Cinemark and Fox theaters. experience that allows attendees a Visitors were able to listen to busislew of opportunities, such as hearing ness advice based on speakers’ past industry professionals give lectures experiences, or simply learn a lesson (a la live TED Talks), attend Q&A in how to handle oneself, be it marsessions with independent business keting, connecting, or simply manowners, visit startup entrepreneur aging their own well-being. booths, and make connections with “We also got to walk around, other like-minded individuals. hear a lot of pitches, see a lot of new With free muffins and oranges things that are coming out, and colin-hand, Delta attendees met in the lect lots of swag,” said Greene.

Locke parking lot at 5:30 a.m. for Small businesses ready to show the three hour bus trip to Redwood off what they have to offer were on City. display between scheduled speeches, General admission tickets for and some even provided free goodies the multi-day event cost $795, but for those willing to visit. schools in the Central Valley MothIf attendees aren’t exploring er Lode Sector had tickets pur- booths or sitting at a speech, there chased for them to give students this are a couple areas where professionopportunity hurdle-free. For more als evaluated visitors’ own elevator information, visit bit.ly/DeltaGrind. pitches, should they have any.

Delta students registered for spots Networking is prioritized. “Make to attend prior to the event. friends, not contacts” is one of the “As a student, I probably wouldn’t first messages attendees see whenhave had an opportunity otherwise” ever they open the Startup Grind said Cheravon Greene, a communi- phone app, which served as both the cations major at Delta that attended ticket into the event as well as an inthe event. “It’s amazing that some- teractive hub to assist with schedulthing like this could be done for us.” ing and communication for the day.

Greene had never attended a Exchanging resumes, cards, and Startup Grind conference before numbers were not exclusive to busithis one. nesses; students attending the event “The experience can be over- were not only able to connect with whelming at times, so many people different startup businesses from have a pitch to give,” said Greene, in around the world, but with other reference to the many indie-business students as well. booths visitors encounter at some With all that is offered at the point during their day.

Global Startup Grind, having stu“But it’s very educational; there’s dents from other schools share their a lot of new things to see, and it’s interests and knowledge with other pretty exciting. We were able to at- students is a major “hidden benefit” tend different events, like one from a from an event like this. That, and tech-director from Amazon. He had maybe the free goodies.

BY C.J. LOVE Staff Writer

Ricardo Aguilar talks to participants in 2019’s Dream Conference at Delta College. The event provides resources and workshops for undocumented students.

This year’s event takes place on Feb. 29. COLLEGIAN ARCHIVE PHOTO

Financial aid issues prompt social complaints

BY HANNAH WORKMAN News Editor

Some Delta College students have been having a difficult time receiving financial aid for the Spring 2020 semester due to the implementation of the MyDelta system.

Issues with the disbursement of financial aid first surfaced at the beginning of the Fall 2019 semester, during the system’s initial rollout.

One of the students who has not yet received financial aid is Leilani Valera. She and other students have posted their issues in a 5,200-plus member Facebook group where Delta College students communicate.

Valera is entering her last semester as a Delta student and said she has dealt with added pressure because of the unresolved issues.

Valera said she didn’t feel she was getting enough assistance from the office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veterans Services.

“It was difficult getting a hold of my Financial Aid Specialist about the concerns I had with my financial aid,” Valera said. “He hadn’t been returning my calls or emails since October 2019. I had to call him from the school’s office phone earlier this week to get in touch with him.”

Once Valera consulted her Financial Aid Specialist, she found out that grants she had previously been awarded were being taken away due to complications in the new system yet to be resolved.

This placed a burden on Valera.

“I am a single mother on a limited income, so I rely on financial aid to pay for my course materials and such,” she said.

“I honestly don’t know

how I’m going to pay for the materials for my late-starting classes.”

Alex Breitler, the Director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach, said his department tries their best to respond to students in a timely manner as financial aid questions come in via social media or email.

However, the most they can do is answer general questions about the process and help students get into contact with their Financial Aid Specialists.

“We are definitely open to suggestions from students on how to better communicate what’s going on, and welcome any feedback,” Breitler said.

“Financial aid disbursements are occurring, but we recognize that some students have been impacted by the challenges we’ve had with the new system, and we always want to improve our communication practices.”

Valera is displeased with the institution’s handling of the situation overall.

“It’s unfair that the students have to suffer for the decision of the school to implement a new system when they don’t fully know how to run it,” she said.

First-year student Ashley Harrington also said she had trouble connecting to her specialist. For months, her calls and emails went ignored, she said.

“When I finally did get ahold of my specialist, she said she hadn’t filed my FAFSA because she needed my transcripts,” Harrington said. “When I pointed out I was a new student and this was my first semester at Delta, she said, ‘Oh, okay. I’ll file this and you’ll have your aid by Friday.’ The office had been sitting

on my completed FAFSA for months, they just didn’t file it.”

According to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website, transcripts are not needed to file an application.

After experiencing the issues, Harrington filed a formal inquiry against the office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veterans Services with the FAFSA board.

“I felt that it was necessary to reach out to the board because so many students are relying on these funds to move forward with their education,” she said. “Books aren’t cheap. Parking passes aren’t cheap. They’re holding onto these funds when there are students who really need them.”

Melony Stenson, another first-year student, said the lack of communication between her and her specialist is frustrating.

“My Financial Aid Specialist isn’t communicating with me at all,” she said. “I call daily, at least four to five times per day, with no answer. Leaving voicemails is pointless because calls don’t get returned. Emails are the same. No replies.”

She said specialists should make a greater effort to be available.

“As students, we’re given deadlines to have things turned in or to submit additional information,” Stenson said.

“They’re supposed to help us, or at the very least keep some sort of communication.”

Stenson, who just began her second semester at Delta, said this ordeal has turned her off to the institution.

“It’s quite obvious there are several things they need to work out,” she said.

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There’s more to black history than King, Parks

BY AMIRAH AMENHOTEP Opinion Editor

T

he end of Black History Month is rapidly approaching, which leaves a question: Was it really observed?

Or did you just hear the same stories about the same figures: Martin Luther King Jr. Harriet Tubman.

Rosa Parks.

Anyone who has been in America’s public school system knows about slavery, segregation and the halftruth about the Civil Rights Movement.

In schools, Americans learn about lynchings during slavery, but not that the act continued well into segregation,with people of color killed just based on the fact that they were black.

Emmet Till is an example.

Till, a 14-year-old boy, was murdered for no reason other than that a white woman lied to her husband and said he was hitting on her. A mob killed Till and dumped his body in a river. There was no respect paid to him or his family.

In 2017 the woman confessed to lying because she was dying.

Even today, Till’s story is not part of the story we learn in school. I per-

sonally had to learn from my parents to even know who he was.

As an African American, anything else beyond that had to be learned from family and passed down generation to generation, to make sure that our history is never forgotten.

My ancestors were taken from their

home. That is a fact, but discovering any more than that is difficult. It would take a lot of research to find the specific bloodline I come from, and even then, there isn’t much of a record.

For descendants of slaves, there is a large chance even that personal history has simply been erased.

Black history has been portrayed in recent blockbuster films such as “12 Years A Slave,” “Selma,” 2016’s “Birth of a Nation” etc.

These films show the harsh truth that our educators are afraid to tell us in school, because American History whitewashes Black History.

Many don’t even know that if you go back a couple generations that you find family members who were born slaves, then just talking to grandparents they can probably tell you every monumental step of the civil rights movement.

As a child we learn the story of Dr. King and Rosa Parks.

In 2008, another black figure became the face of the country: Barack Obama.

In the Stockton community an unsung hero is Jeremiah B. Sanderson.

He was one of many to fight making sure the black students had education. He was able to get funding for a school he ran in Sacramento, but it was shut down.

That caused a move to Stockton, where he instilled the same determination that he had in Sacramento.

His daughter, Mary Sanderson Grasses was the first black public school teacher in California.

Coronavirus threat not an excuse for xenophobia, racism

BY DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS

D

Staff Writer

on’t start preparing your doomsday kit just yet. The Center for Disease Control identifies people who haven’t traveled to Wuhan, China and people who don’t live with a COVID-19 infected person (and don’t use recommended precautions such as hand washing) as having “no risk factor” for contracting the coronavirus.

Delta’s Director of Marketing, Alex Breitler, reassured the campus in a statement last week that “Delta College is monitoring the situation.”

“No positive cases of the new coronavirus have been reported in San Joaquin Valley,” he said.

What does that mean? You likely don’t need to rush to the nearest CVS and clear the shelves of the face masks they have in stock.

The newest strain of the Coronavirus does still pose a problem, however.

Controversial memes and social media posts have displayed signs of xenophobia against Asian cultures. An outrageous Instagram post made by University of California, Berkeley even listed xenophobia as a “normal reaction” to this respiratory illness.

Videos are being shared over multiple platforms exemplifying racist actions toward people of any Asian descent.

Ingrid Chang, a Taiwanese Canadian, posted a video on WeChat of her sister confronting a man for saying: “You dropped your coronavirus.”

The hashtag #IAmNotAVirus is now trending on Twitter.

Witnessing an entire race of people have to defend every sneeze and cough in the midst of a regular flu season really puts into perspective where the priority of this situation lies for some people.

Are people really fearful of contracting COVID-19 despite being told by professional health officials that their risk is low, or has this become an excuse to project internalized racism?

There are more reported cases of xenophobia and racial discrimination in

The Collegian The Collegian is the student newspaper of San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif. The paper is published six times a semester.

As a First Amendment newspaper we pride ourselves on a commitment to the students of Delta College while maintaining 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.

America than there are of COVID-19. COVID-19 is not a “Chinese-made” disease. Just like Ebola wasn’t created by Africans and H1N1 wasn’t born from Americans.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has given opportunity to people to condemn Chinese cultural delicacies.

Let us not forget what is a normality to some, is an outrage to others. Americans may not agree with the consumption of animals such as bats, but pigs are a “normal” part of many of our diets and are forbidden for consumption by Muslims. H1N1 was a pandemic that started in pigs, if you remember.

Every time an unfamiliar illness starts getting recognition, concerned people want someone to place blame on. As soon as the virus started making headlines, people who looked even vaguely Chinese began getting ostracized. We must not allow concern to turn into hysteria. An appropriate response to COVID-19 isn’t banning a race of people — or anyone who resembles a race of people — from public places.

If you really don’t want to get sick, wash your hands.

“While the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat,” the CDC advises.

CDC also recommends getting a flu vaccine and taking everyday precautions to help stop the spread of germs in this already flu and respiratory disease season.

Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves: “How can I help?”

With the effects of this disease reaching far more than those infected, it’s becoming more important to focus on the real issue. Running away from people who look like they might be Chinese will not save you from contracting the Coronavirus, although it will make you look xenophobic.

People have been escaping illness by practicing good hygiene for decades. If you don’t feel protected enough by hand soap, look at the back of a Clorox wipe container. You might be surprised at what you discover on the list of diseases this disinfectant protects against.

EDITORS VIVIENNE AGUILAR Editor in Chief/News

HANNAH WORKMAN News

MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO Feature

JUSTINE CHAHAL Entertainment

AMIRAH AMENHOTEP Opinion

PAUL MUYSKENS Sports

TYRA GREEN Social Media The Collegian is a member of the California Newspaper Publisher’s Association and the Journalism Association of Community Colleges.

CONTACT US:

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STAFF ELLIE ANDRADE LUPE ANDRADE KIMBERLY BENAVIDES ANGELICA FLORES SIDNEE GALLARDO ISAIN GUZMAN ESPERANZA HERNANDEZ-MUNOZ ROBYN JONES C.J. LOVE SERENA MALDONADO

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4 OPINION 022120

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Honest conversations necessary for improvement If you look on the Facebook group of Delta students, there are constant grievances posted, with students asking questions to each other because their question went unanswered in an email with staff.

“But San Joaquin Delta College was ranked the best community college in California and fourth in the United States!” You may say and I completely agree. Delta College offers quality education and has an amazing staff. It is also more affordable than a UC or CSU, but that doesn’t mean the institution as a whole is not struggling to support students and staff.

There needs to be an honest conversation with students to identify solutions to institutional challenges and a way for students to hold campus faculty and staff accountable for promised action items.

I am not saying Delta College is NOT doing anything. I also do know that there are staff that truly care about student success. What I am saying is that students truly need to be a part of this conversation so that the solutions have long-term positive affects.

BY ANGELICA FLORES

W

Staff Writer

hile the new MyDelta system shoulders some blame, there needs to be honest conversations about student needs and success between staff, faculty and students. Students need to be leading that conversation.

I have been a student at Delta College for two non-consecutive semesters and a student of the University of California system for five years. I have seen Delta College struggling at a different level than UC’s or CSU’s.

In my time at a UC, I had access to a financial aid specialist. I was able to set an appointment and meet with my specialist to help me fill out the FAFSA and I could return to that same specialist when I had questions.

At Delta, I asked students if they have ever sat down with a financial aid specialist oneon-one. The students asked expressed that they had not.

Others expressed never receiving callbacks or messages.

When students line up to speak to a student worker at the admissions or financial aid window, the lines are extremely long. There aren’t enough workers in comparison to the number of students needing services.

Many students work and go to school at the same time and what isn’t taken into consideration is the fact that those same students need to take time off to complete registration tasks, which creates stress because the process is rarely smooth.

Putting blame on the specialist or the student workers aren’t solutions. I can say the same for counselors and other staff on campus that seem overworked.

POSITIVES NOTED, BUT MORE TO BE DONE Delta College needs to do better to support students and to better support staff that support students. Hiring more counselors and student workers is a first step.

Reading this may cause gasps or head nods in agreement, but whatever your opinion is, we as a campus, cannot deny that there are student needs that are not being met, especially needs that affect retention rates.

MUSTANG VOICE

“People not telling me the truth, people not keeping their promises, and etc.”

Lafayette Hull

GUIDED PATHWAYS STRUCTURE MOVES INTO PLACE One solution the institution is adopting as a way to address issues such as retention rates, graduation rates and support services is Guided Pathways.

Diane Feneck, a counselor in the Counseling and Special Services Division, answered questions about Guided Pathways, a framework that was adopted by 20 community colleges.

“What we were finding was that students were not being successful in completing their goals,” she said.

Feneck identified reasons students may not be completing goals: • Students apply but never start • Students struggle to complete English and math classes • Students are unable to take full course loads (12-15) units per semester because they need to work • Students took the wrong classes • Students took more units than needed The Guided Pathways framework was adopted to address these issues and “to streamline or structure pathways to help students get on the path and stay on the path so they can achieve their goals in a timely manner,” said Feneck.

At Delta College, the framework consists of Transfer and Career Pathways (TrACs) with various disciplines per track and different programs housed under each discipline.

Each TrAC will have a success team consisting of a counselor, financial aid specialist, resource specialist and dean to provide wrap-around services and ensure success. Guided Pathways has four pillars.

1. Clarify the path 2. Help entering the path 3. Help staying on the path 4. Ensure that learning is happening As a student who has seen different models used by different institutions to address student success, I believe that this model is a step in the right direction.

After learning about the four pillars, I could not help but wonder about the current model used. I would think that if a student met with a counselor or another staff, they would be given all the information needed to understand their major, the classes needed for their major, including General Education requirements and what courses need to taken to transfer.

COMMUNICATION GAPS NEED ADDRESSING Delta College has a responsibility to help students navigate higher education successfully. Without acknowledging there is a communication gap between faculty, staff, and students, we will have challenges.

How can the institution come up with solutions to problems without speaking to those directly affected?

Feneck said that student input was sought.

“We have had student input and students have been invited to some of the campus wide forums that we have hosted because we really do want the student feedback,” she said.

She also said campus-wide forums were held to talk about a new welcome center, an initiative that is a part of the Guided Pathways conversation.

“We’ve had student forums where we have gotten feedback on the TrACstracs for example like there were forums where students, we got input about the names of the tracs, you know like cause we wanted that to be something that meaningful to students.”

Discussions of the Welcome Center and names of the TrACS, to me, is different than the conversation of how Guided Pathways will be implemented.

“The one thing that we are always putting out there is what is best for students? When we are talking about Guided Pathways, it’s not about what’s best for us as employees of the college; it’s like what’s going to be best for our students. So students are the focus and we need their voice,” Feneck said.

Guided Pathways is in its third year of planning with implementation to occur in phases. The first phase will with the introduction of TrAcs. Honest conversations between faculty, staff, and students will be key to the success of Guided Pathways. When students provide input on what is NOT working, it is important for Delta to take a step back and instead of feeling attacked, see input as opportunity for improvement and growth, something that Delta cannot achieve without the voice of students.

‘What is your pet peeve on campus?’

“I would have to say homework, sometimes there’s too much.”

Asiah Brown

“I don’t know. People?”

Raquel Rios

“Sometimes kids who talk over teachers.”

Andrea Silveera

“Slow walkers.”

Jessenia Cervantes

5 OPINION 022120

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MAYORAL CANDIDATES NOT WORTHY

BY THE COLLEGIAN

N

o one running for Mayor of Stockton is fit to serve the city, as The Collegian has found all but one candidate is unavailable to the public.

Several attempts were made by The Collegian to contact Incumbent Mayor Michael Tubbs, Ralph Lee White, Kevin Lincoln, William Smith, Shoua Lo, Shelly Hollis and Motecuzoma Sanchez.

Andrew Johnson was the lone respondent to our questions.

Constituents, who?

One out of eight candidates who want a position of power, we believe none actually have Delta College on their radar.

Originally, we wanted to allow readers to hear what each candidate had to say. When only one got back to us, the story no longer stood on its own. Publishing an article would appear to be an endorsement, which goes against the unbiased approach we’re taught here at Delta College.

We made the decision to not publish the interview, to avoid appearing like we were supporting a single candidate.

However, when we informed Johnson of this, he criticized us for the choices his fellow candidates made and said he would no longer work with Delta College’s student newspaper, “unless everyone has already been accounted for and interviewed.”

We understand his frustration. We are frustrated too.

But journalism does not serve as free promotion.

It is safe to say that only inner circles and smaller communities within our community will be informed voters for the upcoming primary. We believe candidate interest lies with only certain constituents.

We will remind those running for mayor that Delta College represents young voters of today and informed voters of tomorrow.

The lack of communication with us isn’t the only reason we can’t back any candidate for the March 3 primary.

The candidates are uncooperative toward each other, with someone always claiming some sort of moral high ground. The back-and-forth never ends. Social media is full of jabs, back and forth.

It would be an understatement to say the presidential coverage over the past few years has jaded citizens. People have simply begun to accept aspiring politicians as fake people, ready to start fights.

Why can’t Stockton be better than this?

As student journalists here at The Collegian, we are trained to ask questions of authority, to make sure the people in our community understand what is going on. This is what we intended to do with our outreach in the midst of vitriol-filled campaign noise.

The lack of respect coming from this whole situation should speak to the students of Delta.

If our newspaper and student journalists aren’t being taken seriously by administrations who run the city, how can they possibly be good for us?

What does that say about the mindsets this group of candidates brings? Sure, we’re the future of the city, but as we develop into active citizens, our opinions and questions aren’t valid?

It doesn’t matter how busy these one dimensional, power hungry candidates are, they have to be aware of the city they hope to serve.

We are that city now.

More importantly, we can be a better city with strong leadership.

That starts with answering questions from the public without expectation of free promotion.

We advise our fellow students to watch whoever wins the primary and general election carefully, because they don’t care about Delta College. It is our job to make sure our student’s needs are being heard, then acted upon.

And to Stockton: Stop being blind to the people in power. Demand work from them.

Tik Tok creators discredit orginal content

T

BY MAISY MACATO Senior Staff Writer

ikTok is the new Vine in the ways of short videos going viral and people love everything about it.

Except ownership over content created isn’t given to the creators when they come up with dance challenges.

TikTok is a social media platform based around short, 15 to 60 second video clips set to music. The performances vary in content, style, genre — and originality.

There have been some cases where a dance is being popularized by celebrities and other TikTok users.

In a most recent case, a dance known as The Renegade was created by 14 year old Jalaiah Harmon and spread across the service.

In another instance, Jahkara J.

Smith has had her audio from her Youtube channel stolen without her consent and put onto Tiktok. She’s been actively trying to get it taken down without any success.

The problem is when people aren’t given credit initially. When the opportunity for credit does arise, people often give it to the more popular users instead of the original creators.

Tara Cuslidge-Staiano, mass communication professor, said the way content is viewed is different, and Generation Z media consumers often don’t look to give credit even though copyright exists.

“There is this idea that if media content is uploaded to the Internet, it belongs to everyone,” said Cuslidge-Staiano, who advises The Collegian newspaper staff in her role on campus. “Copyright exists. There can still be claims for ownership.”

Harmon actually tried to have others credit her for her dance but was ignored while Tiktok “creators” Charli D ‘Amelio and Addison Easterling, who had a broader audience and got the dance more popularized, got to teach the dance at events like the NBA All Star Weekend.

In the end, Harmon and her friend Skylar were given the spotlight when the rapper K-Camp, whose song “Lottery” is used for the Renegade dance, posted a video of them and giving them the credit, which lead to everyone knowing that she was the original creator of the dance.

TikTok users often don’t care about copyright though, and the service has ways of getting around it.

In the case of Smith’s audio, Tiktok user yeahimcarolie1 stripped audio from Smith’s Youtube video and uploaded it under her account as her

audio. That means that it should be taken down by Tiktok since Smith, herself, never uploaded it or gave permission to anyone.

However, material can only be used by other Tiktok-ers if the creator has a TikTok account — which Smith does not. Her only option is to try and get the videos taken down — which is harder than it looks.

Smith wrote on her Twitter “as long as big names and brands refuse to fact-check where viral content comes from, they’re complicit in the oppression of black creatives.”

Give credit where credit is due and not try to steal creators’ content just because it made you popular.

It isn’t hard to look for the creators of something to seek permission. At the very least, when they ask for you not to use their content accept it. It’s theirs, not yours.

Santa Cruz protests raise questions to effectiveness

BY CHRISTOPHER ESCAMILLA

E

Senior Staff Writer

veryone has the right to protest and call attention to a situation they see as damaging, or to try and improve the situation for themselves or others, like workers at a company or residents of a city.

However, is protest justified in all situations?

A recent strike at University of California, Santa Cruz has people asking that question.

On Feb. 9, graduate student instructors from the university began striking for higher pay due to higher cost of housing. So far, the university has refused.

The students protested both outside the campus and in the offices, refusing to give grade reports for other students.

This case has drawn the state’s attention, but public reception has been mixed.

Scott Hernandez-Jason, spokesperson for UC Santa Cruz, called the strikes illegal while speaking to ABC 7 News.

“A grading strike is illegal and doesn’t get us closer to a resolution or helping them,” he said.

On Feb. 12, things escalated to the point that several protestors were arrested for damage of property and trespassing, making the situation less positive or meaningful.

It should be noted that these graduate students need both savings for school and to be able to pay for housing. Financial troubles can hamper graduate students’ work towards a degree.

Students have the right to protest these issues, but the tactic was over the line as some people could have gotten hurt in these protests.

There are other ways to deal with this in a more conventional way, such as having a closed door meeting or negotiating with the university.

A better way is to bring this to national news in how this is important to students, what’s at stake for them if they don’t get a degree, and the housing cost problems.

Raising awareness is the key to bring a better solution to the problem than causing trouble as it leads nowhere to the answer and more to the problem.

Delta students shared thoughts on the Santa Cruz protests and what they might do in a similar situation: • “Yes, because it’s not fair, they need to focus on the graduate students on their priorities like helping them pay for a home. I would protest if it happened here, if we cannot afford it or they make it difficult, then we speak up,” said Osbaldo Guadalupe Zuñiga Soto.

• “Yes, because the university/college should provide resources to graduate students as they are a priority and need the help they can get. I would probably do it but not protest rather bring awareness to the situation,” said Angelica Lopez.

• “Yes, because it’s pathetic that students with a degree, their dream is getting farther to reach as those who have a job and can’t get a higher pay can’t be able to afford a home. I would do it if it happened in this institution,” said Luis Mendoza.

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The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/feature

Vintage shop to impact Stockton’s fashion High-end thrift store to help bring better vintage to the city streets

(Top): Left to right: Justin Salazar, Justin Vasquez and Jairo Alfaro, three of the owners in conversation. (Right): Front window view of the shop with the ‘N9ne’ logo. PHOTOS BY BRANDON YI

BY BRANDON YI Staff Writer

Stockton N9ne is a locally owned business that specializes in vintage fashion and streetwear. The business is operated by five different owners: Justin Vasquez, Justin Salazar, Jairo Alfaro, Ryan Vasquez and Isaiah De Anda. The physical store opened in November of 2019.

You can find items such as vintage rock tees, retro jerseys and even sneakers in their shop. Stockton N9ne is a buy-sell-trade store which means not only can you buy their clothes, but you can bring in your own vintage clothes that you may not wear anymore or just have laying around and sell it to them for cash or trade them for something in their shop.

“We’re all friends aside from being business partners. We realized that Stockton was booming in terms of art, music and vintage culture so we felt Stockton needed something like this for the community,” said Alfaro.

“We’re all interested in the same thing, the fashion and vintage culture - the vintage out here in the valley

is growing as a whole so we wanted to be a part of the revival,” said Vasquez.

“It just took the right people to come together and make it happen,” said Salazar.

When asked where the name ‘Stockton N9ne’ originated from, “we wanted to represent Stockton and the 209. ‘Nine’ has always been a big staple of the city,” said Alfaro and Vasquez.

All the owners have collectively been together for roughly a year and each owner is local, coming from the city of Stockton or within the 209 area. Each owner has about 10 or more years of experience selling vintage clothes through other means, such as at pop-up events or through online sites.

“We love what we do, but we love when other people get interested and find out about it. We love when people come in and are interested in the same thing as us. All our close friends now are rocking vintage clothing when they probably weren’t before,” said Alfaro.

As a growing business in the 209 area, their main goal is to benefit the community and bring everyone closer. Their main inspiration comes not only from

their interest in vintage streetwear and fashion, but the chance to influence others to pique their curiosity and dip their toes into vintage clothes as well.

“Our biggest thing is how we impact the city. We want this to be a staple for Stockton. We want anybody who comes into Stockton to be like, this is where I got to go. If there’s an artist performing in town I want them to be like yo we got to stop by that vintage store we heard about. It’s just how we impact anybody in this city who has any kind of passion for art, fashion or music,” said Alfaro.

You can find their business page on Instagram @ stockton.n9ne or visit their physical store located at 2018 Pacific Ave., Stockton, CA, right off the Miracle Mile.

Leadership Stockton, featuring Delta employees, continues Micke Grove work

BY MAISY MACATO

FOR MORE INFO

Senior Staff Writer

Leadership Stockton is doing its best for Micke Grove’s revitalization.

But is it enough?

The plan is to raise $70,000 for the Micke Grove Zoo and Park Revitalization Project by spring and be completed in June.

The group currently has $1,675 according to their GoFundMe. The project is trying to renew Micke Grove’s Zoo and Park by rebuilding the stage and creating mews which is where the animals socialize with zookeepers, a children’s play area and benches.

In November, the project completed their first demolition of Micke Grove’s zoo’s dilapidated amphitheater area and now they are soliciting bids to pour the concrete.

They also hope to purchase a van for the Zoomobile that will be used to bus animals to students who are unable to make it to the zoo.

Lincoln High School is helping members with de-

For more information about Leadership Stockton’s Micke Grove revitalization efforts, visit gofundme.com/mickegrove.

Leadership Stockton works on demolition for their Micke Grove Revitalization project, the first step of many. PHOTO COURTESY BY KRISTI CAPRA

signing and building the new stage and shade structure.

The group had another fundraiser on Feb. 8 that in-

cluded bowling and raffles.

The raffle was selling at

$100 per ticket that included a Palm Springs six night trip and $500 spending money and a Costa Rica trip for seven nights with airfare for 4 people that will be announced in March during their Leadership Stockton Dinner.

Kristi Capra, an adjunct English professor and member of Leadership Stockton, said “we will meet our goal before June. We hope to have a Reveal Party as well when the project is complete.”

The Leadership Stockton Class of 2020 plans to walk on the stage that they helped make.

It might seem like the goal might not be reached since they only have $1,675 currently but trust the process because there is no doubt in the members minds that they will reach the $70,000 with the efforts.

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Bigworm’s not just another hole in the wall

(Above): left to right: Bryan Fernandez, Kenny Kong aka Bigworm, Jasper Soriano and Aaron Nhorn. (Center): left to right: maple glazed donut with ube crumbs, maple glazed donut with oreo crumbs and sugar donut. (Top right): Glazed Donut Burger: two glazed donuts, two patties with cheese, two slices of bacon, one egg and house sauce. (Middle right): Glazed donut burger cut in half with over easy egg dripping down. (Bottom right): Uso Fries: fresh cut fries, uso sausage, shredded cheddar and Monterey cheese, house sauce, house mayo and smokey barbecue sauce.

PHOTOS BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO

BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO Feature Editor

B

igworm’s Bakery and Deli, a place where you’ll find anything from mouth-watering doughnuts to savory uso fries or an usorito. They are also well known for their specialty cronuts.

Owner Kenny Kong aka Bigworm, opened Bigworm’s three years ago in July.

“The name comes from the movie ‘Friday,’ which people gave me when I was in high school because my hair was like the character Bigworm,” said Kenny.

Kenny always had a passion and love for food and wanted to have his own shop. At the age of 8, he baked his first doughnut.

“Guess it just runs in my blood,” he said.

Having many different ethnicities in his family, Kenny studied their ways of cooking and has since showcased what he’s learnt and “[wants to] keep the culture alive.”

At Bigworm’s you can find foods from Polynesian, Hispanic, Filipino and Asian cultures.

“You just get a little bit of everything,” said Kenny.

The top three sellers are: • Uso Fries: fresh cut fries, uso sausage, shredded cheddar and monterey cheese, house sauce, house mayo and smokey barbecue sauce • Glazed Donut Burger: Bigworm’s glazed donut, two patties with cheese, two slices of bacon, one egg topped off with house sauce • Abomination Sandwich: housemade French bread, ham, headcheese, pate mayo, cucumbers, jalapeños and homemade Cambodian pickled veggies such as papaya, jicama, carrots and daikons topped with cilantro.

Kenny is big on giving back to the community, which he says has been nothing but supportive.

“I can’t thank the city of Stockton enough. Everyone has been showing nothing but support and love,” he said. “Not just Stockton, but also everyone who drives just to come get our food and pastries. I can’t thank them enough.”

He hopes to keep offering “sweet tooth goodies to satisfy your hunger.”

Follow Kenny on Instagram @bigwormsbakeryanddeli1520 for new items and specials.

On the menu with Maria

PREVIEW

Stockton Symphony brings magic, illusion to the stage at Atherton Auditorium

BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO Feature Editor

Stockton Symphony is coming to the Atherton Auditorium for the third time this season with its Pops 3 performance.

Pops stands for popular and has a broad range of themes.

The Pops series runs from October through May. This time around, illusionist and magician Michael Grandinetti will take center stage.

Grandinetti is known for performing in the most challenging environments imaginable like baseball stadiums and basketball arenas.

Bringing some magic to Stockton, the audience will enjoy music during his performance.

“Illusions and acts will include dividing an audience member in half, a mid-air levitation, walking through a brick wall, and many other amazing surprises,” said Peter Jaffe, music director and conductor for the Stockton Symphony.

During Grandinetti’s performance, the orchestra will be playing music from “In the Hall of the Mountain King” to selections from the “Star Wars” movies.

Tickets to the 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23 event are available for purchase at the College Box Office, located adjacent to the Auditorium in the Locke Center.

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‘Cars & Coffee’ in Stockton

Delta student wins at ‘The Price is Right’

BY TYRA GREEN

Social Media Editor

A birthday gift for her mother, turned into a payday for Delta College nursing student Analiese Delgado, who won prizes including a designer luggage set, a trip to Memphis, Tennessee and Rarotonga, an island in the Cook Island, on an episode of “Price is Right” that aired on Feb. 7.

“I watch this show all the time with my family and so we always talked about getting on the show, but I was too young and my family wanted to do it all together,” said Delgado.

So when Delgado turned 18 in September - and as a 50th birthday present for her mother - her family bought the tickets for the “Price is Right.”.

Although her mother didn’t want to be called up, Delgado, her father and two brothers were all trying to be put on the show.

“I looked up different articles and everything on how to get called up and one thing I found out was that people said ‘don’t be super crazy but also don’t be boring,’” said Delgado.

So Delgado decided to just be herself and talk to the producers the same way she would talk to anyone.

She said that she found out that if during the interviews if the cameraman stayed on you, then you had a good chance of being picked, so she did what she could to keep his attention, such as bantering with him and going back and forth.

“I was so shocked when I was one of the first four constants, and it was so loud in there that I didn’t hear anything but I saw my name on the cue card and that’s how I knew,” said Delgado..

After getting beat out five different times, Delgado didn’t think that there was any chance of her making it onto the stage.

Delgado won $26,000 worth of prizes but said, “it wasn’t really about the prizes, they’re cool but the experience was nothing like I’ve ever experienced before.”

(Top): Don Hemans’ Volkswagen bus with a convertible top parked by the Stockton Cars and Coffee banner. (Middle left): Chevy DeLuxe with the hood opened up for viewers to check out the engine.

(Middle right): Chevy filled with vintage poster boards and toys. (Bottom): A line of Volkswagen bugs and buses in the College Square parking lot. PHOTOS BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO

BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO Feature Editor

Every third Sunday of the month, you can head to Empresso Coffeehouse at the corner of March Lane and Pershing Avenue to grab a coffee and admire the fleet of cars that gathers for the semi-regular Stockton Cars and Coffee event.

Car enthusiasts show off their rides, ranging from the classic to the mundane at the College Square event, which is free and open to the public.

Don Hemans organizes the events, where Stocktonians meet up to chat about cars or just admire the automobiles on display.

For more information about Stockton Cars and Coffee or other special events, visit @stocktoncarsandcoffee on Instagram and Facebook.

(Top): Analiese Delgado strikes a pose with the famous ‘The Price is Right’ name badge. (Bottom): left to right: Michael, Michael II, Vashty, Analiese and Alexander Delgado taking a picture together.

PHOTO COURTESY BY ANALIESE DELGADO

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The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/entertainment

Guest speaker Pepper Von lecturing on 9Ds Formula for Success in Atherton Auditorium. PHOTO BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY

Dance, inspirational performances highlight Delta College’s offerings for month

BY JESSICA TORRES

Von on Feb. 18.

Also on the line up is Ms. G’s Afro Modern dance on Feb. 19, Nicole’s Afro-CaFebruary, also known as Black History Month, is a yearly celebration with an ribbean dance on Feb. 21 and Feb. 28, and Philip’s Afro-Pop dance on Feb. 27.

Pepper Von’s event kickstarts the celebrations at Atherton Theatre, with a motiapproved theme to recognize and honor the accomplishments of African Americans throughout history. This year’s theme is “African Americans and the Vote,’’ vational lecture presentation called “A Compelling Future.”

“The lecture consists of a verbal presentation that is aimed to inspire personal which acknowledges the struggle both African American men and women faced achievement and intended to be audience interactive,” said Von prior to the event. for voting rights.

It also included a Q-and-A session that covers: the 9Ds formula for success, Like many other establishments, Delta College is partaking in the commemoration of Black History Month. The Pride Center put up signs around campus to FEAR Buster tools and willingness to change.

After, Von held a Hip/Old School Funk dance class for everyone. honor and recognize LGBTQ+ African Americans throughout history.

“The purpose of this event is to offer students tools of inspiration thereby enAdditionally, four dance events will take place in honor of Black History Month. couraging a fearless momentum towards personal success. Hopefully, the particiThe events were put together by the Arts and Communication Division.

The dance events includes a lecture and Hip Hop dance performance by Pepper pants will leave excited about putting the tools of personal success into place, and ready to maximize their greatest potential,” said Von. Staff Writer

REVIEW

Colorful and fun, ‘Birds of Prey’ not your typical superhero movie more.

While this movie is certainly not the tear-jerker other superSuperhero movies lately hero films are, don’t be fooled. have been extremely dark — The R-rated movie deals with it seems we can’t watch a new some dark topics including film without watching a be- sexual assault and misogyny. loved character die after going Of course, it couldn’t be a through heinous events. Some- superhero movie without actimes it gets tiring, going to our tion and it has plenty. The local theater and knowing our action scenes are not only exhearts are about to get torn out. citing, but do a good job of Maybe that’s demonstrating a why DC’s newest character’s skill set.

“Birds of Prey” is MORE ONLINE The film in gentaking over the box eral excels at fleshoffice. ing out Harley’s The fun film character in a way stars Harley Quinn “Suicide Squad” did (Margot Robbie) not. We see her for trying to get over all she is: an acroher break-up with bat, former psychiJoker only to end atrist and, well, a up in a whole heap pretty awful person. of trouble with the Of course, you still Read a review of the villainous Roman root for her the en“Sonic” movie on Sionis aka Black tire time. deltacollegian.net Mask (Ewan McYou also root for Gregor). the other characters However, Harley isn’t alone; - Black Canary ( Jurnee Smolthe movie features a large cast lett-Bell), Huntress (Mary of female leads with a bone to Elizabeth Winstead, Renee pick with the men in their lives Montoya (Rosie Perez) and who don’t treat them right - Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Baswhether it be their bosses, boy- co) - who struggle just as Harfriends or figures from the past. ley does to overcome the lim“Birds of Prey” is a funny, itations placed upon them by ridiculous movie with a lot of the men in their lives. In fact, it flair both in terms of fashion is obvious in this female-proand cinematography. It is full duced and directed movie that of surprises as well, sure to feminism is a large theme. keep you on the edge of your However, the strong push seat the entire time, waiting for for this cohesive feminist

BY JUSTINE CHAHAL Entertainment Editor

The world premiere for Birds of Prey (and The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). PHOTO

BY DAVID DETTMAN/EPK.TV

theme ironically erases some of what made these comic book characters so powerful in the first place. The film’s renditions of these characters certainly do not match the original comic version and, while this is common for these kinds of movies, certain changes completely gloss over a female character’s own backstory simply to parallel Harley’s own.

The biggest example of this is Cassandra Cain - originally a

lawful Batgirl with great fighting prowess. “Birds of Prey” transforms the crime-fighter into a thieving young teen.

The film has also received backlash for not including disabled superhero Oracle aka Barabara Gordon, an original member of the ensemble that was forced into a wheelchair after being shot by the Joker himself. A seemingly fitting character to include, and yet she makes no appearance.

These issues are not apparent to those unfamiliar with DC canon, but for those who are die-hard fans, these character choices may be disappointing.

Regardless of the divergence, “Birds of Prey” remains an explosively entertaining film that not only reminds us what makes superhero movies so special, but revolutionizes what these films should be as well.

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The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/sports

Beach volleyball season now underway

BY PAUL MUYSKENS Sports Editor

Trading in shoes for sunscreen, the Delta College volleyball team was ready for the beach season to get underway on Wednesday after going 21-9 in an indoor season that left them one win shy of making it to state.

“Beach really gives our kids an opportunity to keep competing,” said head coach Molly Mordaunt-Hummel about the sport, which is still fairly new to the college scene.

Last season the Mustangs beach team went 6-7 and saw their No. 1 team of Kelly Markham and Amilya Thomp- (Above): Karina Fardmanesh dives for a ball against Fresno City. son make it to the state finals. (Right): Angelique Stepanoff goes up for a block against Fresno City.

This year the No. 1 team will PHOTOS BY PAUL MUYSKENS have Angelique Stepanoff partner with Kaitlyn Morento outside and the change of During the indoor season, zone. going from six players on the Stepanoff led the Mustangs “I’m going to state this year for beach,” said Stepanoff court to just two there are other with 366 kills while Morenzone was second on the team about her goals for this up- changes for the game as well.

“It’s all about ball control,” with 89 assists. coming season as she returns said Mordaunt-Hummel.

“My goal is just for us to for her sophomore year with “I like that I can be smart,” keep getting better and beta new partner in the freshman Morenzone. “That’s my goal said Stepanoff. “I just like be- ter,” said Mordaunt-Hummel.

— for me and Kaitlyn — is to ing outdoors. It’s a change of “I think that this group across scenery. It’s just all about play- the board is a little more balmake it to state.”

“Ang(elique) is more ex- ing smart and I like that dif- anced. From the twos through plosive and dominant as an ferent aspect. I don’t have to the fives it’s really hard to determine who is going to be in attacker, but Kaitlyn is really pound the ball to get points.”

Among the other changthose positions.” crafty,” said Mordaunt-HumMaking up the No. 2 team mel. “They have really good es from the indoor to outdoor game is the fact that coaches will be Kiana Day and Aliah chemistry and I think they can’t coach during play which Cortez.

Cortez who redshirtmake a good pair together.” puts it more on the players to ed during the indoor season With a year of experience on the sand, Stepanoff said she figure things out along with was mentioned as someone to now has a better idea of what their partner and is something watch during beach season by it will take to accomplish her that the players and coaches are Mordaunt-Hummel for her great all-around play. goal of making it to state. “I’m both still getting used to it.

“You have to just outsmart Stephanie Fopiano will be a smarter player and I know your opponent, keep playing partnered with Jessica Smith what to expect now. I trained the ball, and always give efon the No. 3 team. “She’s really during December for the beach fort,” said Stepanoff.

“The more crafty and has great ball conso that I am physically ready so I don’t get tired during games.” effort you give, the more balls trol,” said Mordaunt-Hummel Besides going from inside that get up and they can make about Fopiano who made it to a mistake on.” the playoffs last year with a dif-

ferent partner.

Lauren Hicks and Karina Fardmanesh will make up the No. 4 team while Angelica Mercado and Sofia Tringolo will be the No. 5 team.

Angel Lambert is expected to rejoin the team next week and be in one of the top five teams.

The season started on Wednesday at Gavilan with the Mustangs dropping

matches against Fresno City and Gavilan.

Hicks and Fardmanesh picked up the lone win on the court as they defeated Gavilan in the final match of the day.

Gavilan did not have a fifth team so Mercado and Tringolo picked up the forfeit win.

Returning home the Mustangs will face the University of the Pacific on Friday.

Delta summer sports off to a swinging success

(Above left:) Kordell Brown makes a throw to first during season opening game against Monterey Peninsula. (Above right:) Madison Nelson picked up her first win in the circle against Butte College. PHOTOS BY PAUL MUYSKENS

BY PAUL MUYSKENS Sports Editor

BASEBALL

Coming into the season with some questions on offense, the Mustangs baseball team has showed that it perhaps should not have been a concern as they are averaging just over 10 runs a game and are off to a 10-2 start to the season.

Kevin Fitzgerald and Jaylund Johnson have both driven in 16 runs this season and Fitzgerald has a team-best four home runs.

In six of their 12 games this season the Mustangs

have scored at least 12 runs including a season-high 21 runs against Feather River.

Chandler Giles leads the pitching staff with three wins. As a team they have a 2.35 earned run average.

They are back home this afternoon for a game at 1 p.m. against Mission with another game on Saturday at noon.

SOFTBALL

Splitting a pair of games at home earlier this week against Butte College the Mustangs are off to a 7-3 start to the season.

In the most recent win Madison Nelson pitched for the first time and picked up the win with a complete-game performance.

Coming off an All-American freshman year Mikaela Ferreira has been batting leadoff and has a teambest .414 batting average.

Freshman Danyelle Godoy has a team high ten runs batted in while hitting .400.

Sophomores Destiny Guerrero and Cheyenne Washington have both driven in seven runs.

Big 8 Conference play starts on Saturday with a doubleheader at Cosumnes River.

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The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/sports

Basketball heads into the postseason on a roll

BY PAUL MUYSKENS Sports Editor

With the regtular season ending on Wednesday, the Delta College men’s and women’s basketball team will enter the postseason on a roll as the men’s team has won six straight games and the women’s team has won 20 straight games after both ended the regular season with road wins at Diablo Valley.

In danger of missing the playoffs the men’s team has won six straight and eight out of their last ten games to finish the regular season 18-10 overall and 11-5 in Big 8 Conference play. Currently in third place, the Mustangs could finish as high as in a tie for

second place depending on the results of other games.

With Travis August leading the way, averaging 18.6 points per game, the Mustangs have also been helped out by the return of Dillon Autrey, who was out with an injury but is back and averaging 15.4 points per game.

Likely to start the postseason on the road, they will find out for sure if they made it and where they will be headed when the brackets are released on Sunday.

One team not worried about making the playoffs or where they will play is the women’s team, as they are the top ranked team in the state and now 27-1 on the season after finishing the Big 8 Conference portion of the season without a loss.

In the final game of the regular season, in a battle of the top two teams in Northern California, the Mustangs turned a tie game at halftime into a comfortable win as they outscored Diablo Valley 31-3 in the third quarter.

Donja Payne, Vanessa Cochrane, and Alicia Jones are all averaging in double figures as the Mustangs as a team are averaging 84.3 points per game, which is second best in the state.

Looking to get back to the Final Four for the third straight season they will be the top seed when the playoff brackets are released which will allow them to be at home for postseason play until the Final Four in Lemoore.

August, Jones named Mustangs of the Month

Travis August leads mens basketball team averaging 18.6 points per game

BY MADELYNN THOMAS Staff Writer

Q: How did it feel to become Mustang of the Month?

A: “It felt good it felt that a lot of my hard work was being noticed.”

Q: Why basketball?

A: “When I started playing basketball in seventh grade everything just start-

ed to click, so I wanted to play basketball.”

Q: What is your motivation?

A: “My family. Just to make them proud and to show that all the sacrifices

they made,when I was younger is gonna pay off.”

Travis August made a game-winning three pointer in the final seconds of the game against Santa Rosa. PHOTO BY PAUL MUYSKENS

Q: What do you want to do after Delta?

A: “After Delta I want to transfer to a four year wherever that is, and and

pursue a business major.”

Alicia Jones averaging 11 points per game during her freshman season

BY MADELYNN THOMAS Staff Writer

Q: How did it feel to become Mustang of the Month?

A: “I’m very honored to have it because there are people who work harder

than me sometimes”

Q: Why basketball?

A: “Basketball was never the plan for me, I was trying out for sports and I

did basketball and I was surprisingly really good at it, I just grew to love it.”

Q: What is your motivation?

A: “My family, they encourage me and they come out to see me a lot.”

Q: What do you want to do after Delta?

A: “Career wise I would probably go towards like, physical therapy or like a

sports medical physician. If I don’t, go farther in basketball.”

Alicia Jones is averaging 11 points per game for the Mustangs who are currently ranked as the No. 1 team in the state. PHOTO BY PAUL MUYSKENS

The Collegian Ask questions. Explore programs.

Do more in your time at San Joaquin Delta College Be part of something bigger.

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO PLAN FOR FALL 2020

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The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/news

Low-cost food options accommodate students, but not Danner’s budget

BY ROBYN JONES Staff Writer

The prices from fall 2019 have fallen in Danner for Spring 2020, thanks to the recommendations from students conducted as part of an overall revitalization feedback for the central-campus space.

Prices for items in Danner, hot food and snacks included, are now under $5.

“I think it makes it easier for everyone to buy food, like this semester there has been longer lines since the prices have dropped versus last year, there was hardly anyone in the cafe,” said student Cierra Olivera.

Plans solidifying the price adjustments were part of the Jan. 21 Board of Trustees meeting where Auxiliary Services Operations Supervisor Michael Williams presented revitalization information for the Danner space, as well as results from an Associated Students of Delta College (ASDC) survey.

In the survey the No. 1 response for biggest student priority was affordable food options. The survey conducted how much money students would spend on breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Superintendent/President Dr. Omid Pourzanjani has focused on food price reductions to serve the student population since last Fall.

“The café was well in the negatives, I was pushing the team to reduce the price at a right angle,” he said.

The $5 price cap comes from a place of equity, specifically from surveys conducted in recent years showing food insecurity is a continued problem for college students.

In a survey conducted by The Hope Center amongst California Community Colleges. It was found that 37 percent of students suffer from high food insecurity.

“It has to sit on that arbitrary cap, the challenge behind it was equity.,” said Pourzanjani.

Along the lines of equity he believes that if one hungry student sits next to a student who eats the chance of their success in school is lower.

“No matter what…,” Pourzanjani said. “… I wanted it under $5.”

The new prices are being paired with

(Above) Danner Hall offers food under $5 in an effort to combat food insecurity amongst students. Mustang Grill employee Chrsitian Japzon, right, takes orders during the morning rush. (Bottom) Loco Moco prepared by Delta College Culinary Arts students, who have a space near the grill area Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

PHOTOS BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO

further discounts for Mustang Pass holders. Delta College has taken to social media to tout the advantages of having a $10 per semester pass.

“The Cafeteria will be bringing back the Mustang Pass Discount for students. Students with a mustang pass

will receive: 20 percent off prepared foods, 10 percent off packaged snacks and bottled beverages.”

The changes come on the heels of Danner’s Cafe being shuttered at this time last year. The cafeteria has not broke even in the past 14 years, said

Accreditation team to visit campus

BY HANNAH WORKMAN News Editor

Accreditation is the process for evaluating and assuring the quality of education used by the American higher education community, according to the Delta College website.

Delta is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).

As per ACCJC’s standards,all ACCJC member institutions must undergo accreditation review every seven years. Delta is currently under accreditation review.

Accreditation review involves “internal evaluation, external evaluation by professional peers, Commission evaluation, and institutional self-improvement to meet evolving regional and federal standards.”

Recently, Delta submitted its 234-page Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER) to ACCJC. The ISER is currently under review by an evaluation team at ACCJC, who are preparing for their site visit from March 2-5.

Alex Breitler, the Director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach, encourages the campus community to participate in this visit.

“Information on public forums will be released soon,” he said.

During their site visit, the evaluation team will assess the institution’s compliance with ACCJC’s accreditation standards.

There are four standards highlighted by ACCJC as being necessary to ensure the success of an institution: • Standard I: Mission, Academic Quality and Institutional Effectiveness, and Integrity • Standard II: Student Learning Programs and Support Services • Standard III: Resources • Standard IV: Leadership and Governance Kathleen Bruce, President of the Academic Senate, is one of the faculty members representing the institution throughout this process. She helped write the ISER, specifically Standard IV. Standard IV states that “through established gover-

nance structures, processes, and practices, the governing board, administrators, faculty, staff, and students work together for the good of the institution.”

Bruce, who has been involved in the accreditation process since it began last spring, said she feels strongly about the importance of shared governance.

“When decisions need to be made or problems need to be solved, you share the responsibility for the outcome,” she said. “That makes sure that you don’t have one person at the top of the college making all of the decisions. You want to make sure that you talk to the student government, the Academic Senate and the unions.”

Lynn Hawley, professor of women’s history, reviewed various drafts of Standard III. She gave recommendations on areas that needed more evidence or editing.

“I have helped by bringing my experience and knowledge of the institution to the process,” Hawley said. “I have been here at Delta for 22 years, so I have some institu-

Williams in an email interview. In an interview with KCRA on Feb. 14, Pourzanjani said the operations were still running “in the red.”

Still, students are benefitting.

“Some students don’t have no time or no money [to get] food for themselves,” said student Antonio Robledo-Nova.

In addition to lower prices in Danner, the Delta College Food Pantry is also now open for the Spring 2020 semester. All students can sign up to receive points toward food items at the pantry, located on the first floor of the Shima Center.

tional memory, knowing how things have been done in the past here at the college.”

Hawley said these next few months are a critical period for the future of Delta.

“Accreditation is an important process that requires looking at the way the college operates at every level,” she said. “It is a time for everyone at the college to evaluate the job we have been doing and to refocus our efforts on our primary mission — to educate students and prepare them for transfer and the workforce.

When the accreditation team visits our college, we need to be able to answer their questions and showcase all of the great things that are happening here at Delta.”

Breitler reaffirmed Hawley’s statement.

“It is essential that we demonstrate that we are serving our students and the community well,” he said. “Every institution can benefit from a set of fresh eyes, and that’s what the accreditation process is all about. It’s how our system ensures that students are getting the kind of education they deserve.”

ENROLL: Students say they struggle to find classes continued from PAGE 1 “I was a little worried at the beginning of the year because we started our enrollment processes a little bit later this time,” said Todd during the Jan. 21 board meeting.

Students are enrolling into more units but there are still low numbers of students enrolling into the school.

The unit count has gone up significantly, 2,750 or 1.7 percent as of Feb. 13, compared to Feb 14, 2019.

“This changes day-today, as we have different periods of offerings that affect student adds and drops throughout the semester,” said Todd.