The Collegian - Published March 4, 2022

Women’s History Month Events

Student Chef Returns for Spring semester

The Collegian Th FEATURE, PAGE 5

NEWS, PAGE 8

Issue 7 • Friday, March 4, 2022 •

PLANS FOR FALL ‘50/50’ RETURN

BY JAHDAI SPIKES Editor-in-Chief

California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced his plan to shift from a pandemic phase in the Covid-19 response to an endemic phase, which focuses heavily on prevention and better treatment for the disease.

Newsom announced his plan to begin moving the state out of a pandemic response to Covid-19 into an endemic one called the California “SMARTER” plan, which focuses on proactive measures to get ahead of the virus.

Newsom has already begun to lift mask mandates and by March 11, masks will no longer be mandatory in most indoor settings, excluding high transmission areas like hospitals and public transportation.

The end of the pandemic phase is structured around living with Covid-19 rather than getting rid of it. New state direction comes as Delta College looks to a Fall 2022 semester with plans for returning 50 percent of the campus to in-person or hybrid instruction.

While details are unclear, the aim of the plan is to bring more students back to campus, according to presentations at the two most recent board meetings.

“We will be going 50/50 so we'll have 50 percent of the

courses offered in some form of face to face, you know, such as hybrid or fully face to face and 50 percent online.” said Joe Gonzales, Interim vice President of Instruction.

Acting President/Superintendent Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson also recently addressed the move toward more in-person classes in her Feb. 25 weekly message to Delta College staff. The messages obtained by the Collegian are regularly sent to staff.

“We are planning to offer 50 percent of our fall classes remotely and 50 percent of our fall classes in hybrid or in-person modalities,” she wrote.

The planning comes at the heels of an Associated Students of Delta College (ASDC) meeting held Monday, Feb. 28 where the student government asked the college’s top administrator’s questions about vaccine mandates, boosters, and mask regulations.

Many students on campus such as first-year student Ethan Li, the Senate of Public relations for the Delta College Student Government, think that more students coming back to campus is a good thing.

“Many of the students, including myself, are probably fed up with the restrictions and online classes. Since it’s been a while I think a majority of us will not be satisfied with ongoing restrictions,” said Li. In a Middle College High

BY ANI GUTIERREZ

March has become known as Women’s History Month (WHM), five weeks dedicated to appreciating the women in one’s life as well as taking into consideration everything that influential women have contributed to history and society as a whole.

The importance of WHM is recognized and celebrated in a number of ways at Delta, all with the help of the Delta’s Women’s History Month Committee.

In 2014 a group of women at Delta realized the celebration of WHM was inconsistent and decided there was a need for this group to bring awareness to what this month represents,

deltacollegian.net

Delta is planning to offer 50 percent of classes in person, and 50 percent online — a shift out of pandemic times. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY THE COLLEGIAN STAFF

School presentation to the board on March 1, it was noted that students in the program, who take college classes in the morning and high school courses in the afternoon, would be required to take a col-

March events celebrate women’s HERstory Entertainment Editor

/deltacollegian

thus the Women's History Month Committee was born.

“The function of this committee is to plan events that celebrate Women's History Month by focusing on both historical and current women who are leaders in various fields and honoring the contributions of women both past and present,” said Lynn Hawley, Professor and Women's History Distance Education Committee

See HERstory, page 8

lege-level course on campus, in person for Fall 2022.

Although some students think providing more in-person courses will benefit the college, not all are convinced a larger reopening should happen.

Lawrenson noted that various modalities were still being used for class delivery, including a pilot for Hyflex — which allows a student to choose in

See 50/50, page 8

Boosters now required

BY ANI GUTIERREZ

Entertainment Editor

The Covid-19 booster shot is becoming another mandate Delta is going to enforce among students, staff and faculty for upcoming semesters. Students and staff planning to return to campus for the Summer 2022 semester as well as Fall 2022 will now be required to submit proof of booster shot vaccination by March 18 or 6 months after becoming fully vaccinated, whichever date comes later.

By submitting booster shot proof by this date, it helps students to avoid possible delays in registering for classes for this summer. Students will still be able to register for classes if they get the booster after March 18, but there will be a higher chance of less seats in classes being available by then.

Medical or religious exemptions are

still allowed in place of the booster shot as well. If a student has previously been granted a vaccine exemption, they don’t need to submit one again.

“Priority registration for summer begins March 21, so students who want to take advantage of that should definitely be planning to get their booster as soon as possible or apply for an exemption, if they haven't already been granted one,” said Alex Breitler, the Director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach at Delta.

Breitler reassures Delta has the best interest of everyone on campus at heart.

“From the beginning of the pandemic, our goal has been to follow public health guidelines to keep our students, staff and faculty as safe as possible,” he said.

Students do have differing views on this new mandate, however.

“This is the first time I've heard of it. I'm not really a fan, to be honest, of

See BOOSTERS, page 8

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2 OPINION 030422

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VAXXED FOR STACKS DISCONTINUED IN SPRING 2022

BY GAVIN CARDOZA

S

Staff Writer

tudents of Delta College were able to rejoice last semester with the addition of free textbooks if they were vaccinated. This, however, was short lived, and would only last one semester.

The “Vaxxed for Stacks” program offered free textbooks for students, “potentially saving them millions of dollars while encouraging them to be protected from COVID-19,” according to a public release announcing the vaccine-related incentive in July 2021.

In October, Delta College announced the program would not continue for the Spring 2022 semester. This is a program that should be continued in some way and not be engulfed by a lack of sustainability, much like similar programs elsewhere.

Students, like myself, found the free textbooks to be extremely beneficial, and even though students were promised relief of all student loan/tuition debt this semester, some still miss the short lived luxury of free textbooks.

As a first-time college student, the “Vaxxed for Stacks” program was a godsend for someone as ill-prepared as myself, saving that money was the ultimate blessing considering how dubious and outrageous textbook prices can be.

Now, this semester, after saving nearly $400 on my textbooks last semester, the curtain was opened up to reveal the reality of this short-lived program to students, and how Delta College has followed suit with other colleges and universities.

Textbooks in the United States are big business.

A 2021 report on Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid published by CollegeBoard, noted that students at “public two-year in-district commuter” colleges paid an average of $1,460 a year for “books and supplies.”

Even though the CollegeBoard report states that the “average student spending on college textbooks and digital course materials [has] declined by 36 percent,” these rates are still too high for many students.

Last semester, 5,023 students received referrals to receive free textbooks. With this amount of students, the total value of those textbooks that were not paid for ended up being near $949,000 reported by the Director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach Alex Brietler.

A reduction in those costs this past semester helped students, “Free textbooks helped me a good chunk, I thank my vaccine card for allowing me to get them for free,” student Anabel Moreno said.

“This semester I had to pay 50 dollars just for one online textbook.”

Free books are only part of a trend in incentivizing vaccines for students, all of which may not be sustainable. NPR reported in August 2021 that Purdue University gave “golden tickets” to 10 students who submitted their proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The “ticket” was worth $9,992, which is the cost of in-state tuition at the school.

West Virginia University students were entered into raffles for “laptops, $250 gift certificates” and other “free zip-lining sessions on the school’s

course,” according to NPR. Closer to Delta College, Modesto Junior College offered up to $500 for fully vaccinated students enrolled in “6 units or more,” according to the school’s website. The money was split between credit at their college bookstore and a cash award.

The examples provided from other institutions come as part of this trend: seemingly meaningful incentives that provide students temporary benefit on the surface, but come with nothing beneath that surface to keep the aid sustainable.

As far as textbooks are concerned, there needs to be more cost effective ways to help all of our students at Delta College. There are programs like the Extended Opportunity Program Services (EOPS) on campus that offer assistance in the form of “textbook vouchers” (for students enrolled in 12 or more units), but this isn’t applicable to every student.

The ultimate goal of colleges and universities is to help students who want to learn and succeed later in life. More possibilities at different kinds of vouchers and more accessible programs would be beneficial. Hell, even doing away with textbooks altogether would help reassure students to a certain degree.

Reassurement that students don’t have to worry about which class or course they can or can’t take because the textbook costs too much. Reassurement that the only worries students should have at Delta College is their academics, but at the same time guiding and preparing them for when the time comes to pay for more. Reassurement doesn’t come from unsustainable traps labeled as “luxury.”

Sourcing hard for student newspaper staff back on campus in pandemic Students are quicker to say ‘no’ to interview requests from reporters now

BY ARIANA MALLERY

I

News Editor

joined The Collegian staff in the fall of 2021. Journalism was one of my only in-person classes. My first semester on the Delta campus was in Fall 2019.

Little did I know, this would be my only full-semester, in person class in the last two years. The differences between that first fall semester of college and the first fall semester of journalism were clear. Things were much more tense on campus.

Hanging out at Empresso or T4 after class, studying in the library, Danner Hall or Locke Lounge, and eating from the food trucks were things of the past. The campus was desolate, spare for a few Middle College High School students milling about, quietly studying six feet apart and keeping to themselves.

Nothing like the lively scene before.

One has to ask — has the Covid-19 pandemic permanently altered the way we interact with people? If you’re a newspaper reporter, the answer is yes.

For a while, the selection of people we could physically interview on campus was non-existent due to the campus shut down.

Of course, there have always been people who are hesitant to talk about their opinions publicly and would rather remain anonymous, which is not allowed in newspaper reporting, but it seems like the pandemic has increased the number of people who feel this way.

I originally pitched this story as an opinion piece on “why people don’t want to do interviews for the newspaper“ because it was something I was running into so frequently, but of course, the main issue with a topic like this, is how can people who don’t want to be interviewed be interviewed? It’s a paradox.

It should be noted it’s not only me running into the issue of people not wanting to be interviewed, but many on the newspaper staff. This conundrum moves into the digital space as well. With people no longer connected to campus-based phone extensions, reporters have to send emails in hopes we get responses by deadline.

Some people undoubtedly don’t care or have the time to do interviews, but perhaps people are hesitant to share their opinions since we are in such a divided time as a nation. From vaccines and masks to healthcare and education,

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.

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

people have strong feelings on everything.

Or perhaps people are more hesitant to trust reporters after having a previous president who vilified the press and said the media is “scum” and “horrible” and implied they should be killed, such as former President Donald J. Trump once noted.

Nevertheless, I try to be persistent in getting quotes, and after rejection many times from people who clearly didn’t want to be interviewed, I realized the second-best course of action was to ask people who did want to be interviewed why they said yes to an interview in the first place, and why they would be hesitant to accept an interview.

“I said yes to an interview because I want to help you out,” said student Jamie Phan. “I understand the need to try to complete assignments before a deadline, and it’s always interesting hearing about what The Collegian wants to cover, so I wanted to be interviewed by you today.”

Other students shared similar sentiments of wanting to help.

“You said you needed help,” said student Aja Ancheta. “I also have free time right now... and the questions

EDITORS ARIANA MALLERY News

JASON DIEZ Opinion

JAHDAI SPIKES

STAFF GAVIN CARDOZA GRACIELA GABRIEL CHRISTINA GOODMAN MELLY LEWIS ANNABEL LOCK

were interesting to answer.”

Shout out to Phan and Ancheta who are absolute strangers I randomly sat next to and accosted while they were studying, and yet still they graciously agreed to answer some questions. I was so desperate for interviews that I ended up interviewing them both for another story as well.

Interviewing is at the core of what we do for writing stories.

Back in the day, people were proud of being in the newspaper. They would save clippings with their names in them and show people excitedly that they were in the paper.

What changed? Even if the newspaper is “dead,” interviews still need to be done either for TV or social media.

Would people be more willing to do an interview if it was for TV or social media? What’s the difference between a newspaper quote and posting a comment on a video online? If the issue is anonymity, then do such people never comment or like anything on social media ever, out of fear of putting their opinions out there?

If we want any chance at going back to normality, we need to have these conversations and be brave enough to do so.

MULTIMEDIA TECH MATTHEW WILSON

ADVISER TARA CUSLIDGE-STAIANO

Editor-in-Chief

ANI GUTIERREZ Entertainment

DAVID VICTOR Sports

CONTACT US:

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shima 203/204, (209) 954-5156 or deltacollegian@gmail.com For information about advertising, letters to the editor and editorial standards visit deltacollegian.net

3 OPINION 030422

The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/opinion

DELTA COLLEGE SEEKS NEXT PRESIDENT

With the application period over for the institution to fill its top spot, members of The Collegian staff have compiled a list of desirable traits in a campus leader

F

or the second time in three years, Delta College is searching for a new leader. With the October leave and June resignation of Dr. Omid Pourzanjani, the college ended its application period for a new President/Superintendent on Feb. 28.

Application review and interviews EDITORIAL are slated for March, with the final candidates advancing to public forums in mid April.

Understanding how important this role is for the future of the campus, and for the students of Delta College, members of The Collegian newspaper staff compiled a list of wants in a new lead administrator.

A new president of Delta College should be someone who: • Listens to all voices and doesn’t hold a certain bias, specifically related to the makeup of the student body, all voices are important, no matter what race, ethnicity, or culture • Is fair to all genders • Is open to constructive criticism and listens to the opinions of others in a thoughtful way • Is aware they are a public figure and understands that comes with criticism • Is someone who looks into financial equity, understanding that a higher Expected Family Contribution doesn’t always equate to a student being able to fund their entire education by themselves, or with their parents help • Is fair • Will work to ensure the LGBTQ+ student population feels safe and welcome on campus • Will listen to faculty, particularly when presented with issues that are student centered • Is a clear communicator when it comes to issues of public concern, including Covid-19 updates and happenings on campus • Is a clear communicator when it comes to in-

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN

• • •

• • •

• • • • • • • • • •

formation that needs to go to the public regarding things like happenings on campus or the Covid-19 response Interacts and mingles with the student population, not just someone who stays in their corner of the Administration Building Looks at all programs through an equitable lens, in terms of staffing and money Is inclusive of special needs students and encourages staff to offer alternative assignments, but also uses their position to break the stigma related to students receiving accommodations as part of Disable Students Programs and Services Is easily accessible Understands transparency cannot be a buzzword, but a lived concept Is worth what we are paying them (an estimated salary of more than $235,000) a year, which means they make decisions, take responsibility and are transparent Lives in the Delta College service area Embraces and interacts with the community on a regular basis Appreciates the student body, the population and the diversity of Stockton and its surrounding area Pushes to makes services more available to students, particularly Danner Hall Looks to extend service times understanding that not everyone goes to school during the day hours Takes Covid seriously without making it political Is passionate about Delta College and the job Believes in our educational goals and wants students to achieve more Wants to add language programs that are more inclusive to the area Encourages curriculum development that speaks to students’ ethnic and cultural backgrounds

4 FEATURE 030422

The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/feature

Horton Gallery returns with ‘Visions in Clay’

BY ARIANA MALLERY News Editor

The annual Visions in Clay Invitational at the L.H. Horton Jr. Art Gallery has been a long time coming.

It’s the first in-person show since the world came to a screeching halt in spring 2020.

Since then, Covid-19 hasn’t been the only obstacle.

During the 2021 holiday break, a hot water flex line broke, causing over $1 million dollars of damage in the Shima Center.

The gallery, which wasn’t part of original flooding, was later impacted by additional flooding.

Shenny Cruces, the ceramics professor at Delta College, led the opening reception on Feb. 10.

The opening started with a land acknowledgment, followed by an introduction of the exhibiting artists. This year’s exhibition is inspired by food culture and migrant workers.

“I use that gallery as a teaching place,” Cruces said at the opening. “I bring my students in, they get to see your (the artists) work in an intimate environment… It’s one of the best things. It’s the show I look forward to every year.”

The hope is that with more classes being in-person there will be more foot-traffic to the gallery which has the potential to lead to more enrollment in studio arts classes.

“I feel like a lot of people get interested in ceramics because we all want to make pots, we all want to make cool shapes then eventually we all transition at one point or another,” said artist José Flores Nava, whose work is featured in the exhibition.

“Some stay potters, and get really good at it. I feel like we start one way, then we kinda shift. It’s part of growing.”

This show is important, as it sets the stage for future in person gallery exhibitions as things reopen again.

The Horton Gallery in Shima 144 is showing the Visions in Clay Invitational from Feb. 10 to March 19. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

During Spring Break (March 16 to March 19), the gallery hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Meet the Artists Gallery Reception​will be held on March 19 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and the gallery is open to the public.

Left: Three works of art all by Linda S. Fitz Gibbon titled “Spudzup”, “Grin and Near It” and “Chicken or Egg?” Top: “Misericordia/Mercy” by Amanda Barr. Top Center: “Battle of the Sexes” by Linda S. Fitz. Bottom Center: “Lake of Fire” Dylan Beck. Right: “Gladiator” by Carlos Enrique Prado.

PHOTOS BY ARIANA MALLERY

Tired trend or needed update, reboots here to stay include Final Fantasy X|X-2, The Last Of Us and Dark Souls.

When it comes down to it, how are these industries A reboot means to start something again, but in the sense of television and media it means to revive or re- surviving with little to no new content? Simple. People brand an already established series, sometimes to make crave nostalgia. They’re selling comfort — things people are familiar with and trust. it more relevant and modern.

As the saying goes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

It seems like lately everything is being remade.

The reboot that instantly comes to mind is Cobra In recent years, Disney has been notorious for reboots — remaking many of its original animated mov- Kai. “I love it,” said student Aja Ancheta. “It’s very nosies with more planned. Disney even jokes about it. talgic — based on the Karate Kid movies. I feel like In the trailer for the surprise hit movie “Free Guy” starring Ryan Reynolds as a self-aware non-play- they actually did it really well. Sometimes it’s a hit or able-character, the joke “from the studio that brought miss with reboots.”

Unfortunately, sometimes in the process of rebootyou Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion ing, things do get broken and the reboot doesn’t do the King… Twice” is made.

Does Disney need to remake every animated movie? original justice.

“It depends on how much effort they actually put into When it comes to dumping money into a new projit,” said Ancheta. “There are some, like the Girl Meets ect or revamping something that they know has been World reboot that they did off of Boy Meets World...it popular in the past, it’s safer financially to stick with the tried-and-true, even if that’s not what the audience kinda was a flop. Not that a reboot has to pay homage to the original show, or it has to be a carbon copy of it, but it wants.

“I think film companies should be selective about just didn’t feel that nostalgic while at the same time they which reboots they should make,” said student Jamie didn’t put their own twist to it at all.”

For instance “Bel-Air”, a Peacock Exclusive, imagPhan. “If they feel as though some sort of storyline ines a grittier, more dramatic reboot of the cult classic, needs to be updated because it contains something of90s sitcom “Fresh Prince” starring Will Smith. “Fresh fensive, then I’d understand if they would want to make Prince” defined a generation, but unfortunately in its a reboot of that. If the storyline is good as is, and if current generations are enjoying old stories, then just keep first few episodes, Bel-Air has seen less than stellar reviews by audiences and critics alike, which has been it the way it is. There’s no need to reproduce.”

The video game industry is doing something sim- disappointing for the high hopes set by NBC’s heavy ilar with “remastering” older games, which is where advertising campaign for Bel-Air during the Winter they dust off a game that was popular in the past, and Olympics.

“I think that when it comes to reboots, they should update it with the latest engines to run on the newest cater towards younger generations, so they can experimachines, then re-release it. Popular remastered titles ence those older shows that were so prominent to older

BY ARIANA MALLERY News Editor

generations before rather than it being in between and confusing the audience,” said Phan. “The first reboot that came to my mind is probably one of the more recent reboots Disney has made, and that’s The Proud Family. I didn’t grow up watching The Proud Family (I didn’t have cable), so I don’t think I could connect to it as much as older generations do… I look at the comments of the posts on social media, and I see the amount of backlash they’ve received. A lot of people are saying to keep the original one out there, and let that be the only one left of The Proud Family instead of trying to make it more relevant to kids today because the way I heard Disney rebooted it, people aren’t understanding the intended audience.”

The goal with nostalgic things is to have the older generations introduce it to newer generations, but is there an expiration date of what can or can’t be rebooted?

Consider “Frasier.” The spinoff of the iconic 80s sitcom “Cheers,” tells the story of Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) and his life, juggling living with his aging father in Seattle, his brother, and being a hit radio psychiatrist.

“Frasier” ran for 11 seasons on NBC from 1993 to 2004. In 2018, nearly 25 years after the first episode was aired, Paramount announced it was rebooting it.

Five years later, news has been kept tightly under wraps.

Why announce a reboot now, when the target demographic of 18 to 34-year-olds most shows strive to cater to literally weren’t even born when this show was airing? They’ve probably never heard of this show before.

It can’t be that we as a society are at a point where originality is dead and no one can think of anything new. No matter the case, it’s clear there are more reboots coming in the future.

5 FEATURE 030422

The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/feature

STUDENT CHEF OPENS FOR SPRING

BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN Staff Writer

Where’s the food at Delta College?

With the cafeteria seeming like a “hot food” graveyard, students can’t get much outside of sandwiches, soup, and Hot Pockets. So where do we turn to for a hot meal that’s worth the bang? Delta College’s Student Chef.

Located in Danner Hall, adjacent to the cafeteria, it’s easy to miss the location, usually advertised with a sign saying Student Chef and the menu written out. The area includes a professional dining room with pictures on the wall, tables to sit at and mood music playing in the background.

The wait staff dressed in black and wearing aprons look nice and professional. And yes, masks are being worn as well to keep customers safe.

The person in charge of everything is Culinary Arts Professor Chef Mark Berkner.

Berkner said he is proud of the students in the program. He noted that the restaurant is open Tuesdays and Wednesday From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“Student Chef gives the students the opportunity for a real experience of good food,” said Berkner.

Students in the program think that the program has been a beneficial experience for them.

“With student Chef, I like having to interact with the guests and making sure they are happy,” said student Jasmine Flores, “I usually work in a kitchen, so it was great learning how to run the front of the house, from setting up to serving.”

The restaurant has been operating face-to-face nearly the entire pandemic.

“We have actually been face to face since fall of 2020. We were providing food for the staff that was on campus,” said Berkner. “The lab class may be small but we’re still providing food open to all.”

Student Chef serves appetizers such as bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, chicken wings, chicken wraps with lemon grass, Caesar salad and Moroccan tacos with spice beef and harissa sauce.

Some of the main courses recently on offer include potato gnocchi, Korean fried chicken with a side of sesame cabbage slaw with steamed white rice and grilled New York steak with rich red wine sauce served with golden brown duchess potato and steamed broccoli.

There’s going to be more food added on the menu in the future, along with a variety of desserts and beverages.

When the food was served the people dug in.

As for me, the Moroccan tacos were to die for, so I ordered it twice. It was savory and full of flavors.

The grilled New York steak was medium well – just how I ordered it. The potatoes and broccoli were cooked to perfection, just how I like it.

Top: Julia Rosete preparing food for the Student Chef on Feb. 22. Right: adjunct professor Britney Howard preparing food for the Student Chef program on Feb 22. Above: Moroccan tacos and Chocolate Mousse cake prepared by the Student Chef program on Feb. 22. PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN.

Mochinut opening brings diversity to food fare

BY JASON DIEZ Opinion Editor

It’s chewy, trendy, and pretty.

That’s everything to know about Mochinut wrapped up in a couple of bites. All food puns aside, this small restaurant on Pacific Avenue has garnered thousands of donut-lovers on Instagram and counting.

Feb. 3 marked the soft opening of the restaurant with limited flavors. The grand opening was Feb 19 for the location, with boba-milk drinks encapsulated into cans from a variety of mochinut flavors to korean-style hotdogs.

Lines at the location were long.

However, Mochinut isn’t only a geographical coincidence, it’s a narrative about a passionate young business owner providing new opportunities to a city they live in.

Yalun Ain is a 31-year old business owner who owns the Stockton branches of T Percent, Tasty Pot, and Mochinut.

Moving from China to Stockton, California in 2012 with their mother, Ain is dedicated to improving and providing opportunities to make Stockton a better place.

However, what sets Mochinut apart from their competitors?

“Mochi Donuts are made with rice

Mochinut bakery seen on Feb. 27, located at 6252 Pacific Ave. PHOTO BY JASON DIEZ

flour. The rice flour makes Mochi Donuts stretchy and chewy. There is a sticky addictiveness to each bite, a textural element that is completely different from yeast or cake donuts,” according to the Mochinut website.

These donuts grab the attention of Gen Z due to unique flavors and eightbite design.

“In the younger generation, they

focus on the quality of the food, the freshness of the food, and they focus on the look of the food. It has to look pretty and taste good, fresh, and high quality,” said Ain. With Stockton, a mixing pot, full of diversity and homes to various cultures; one wonders, why open-up a Mochinut branch in Stockton?

“First of all, my everything is from

China. We have an Asian background, like Korean, Japanese, and Chinese food and we want to bring that to Stockton.

Which I think represents more than traditional Asian food,” said Ain. Stockton’s location along major interstate routes makes it a perfect location for this sort of location, particularly in that now locals don’t have to venture out of town for this sort of food fare.

Mochinut in Stockton means locals don’t need to travel for forty minutes or more to either Sacramento or Livermore The small store, at 6252 Pacific Avenue next to Tasty Pot , represents a Chinese-American dream to operate and provide opportunities for people to experience a diverse culture within our vicinity.

Ain has a dream and aspiration to give back to the community.

“Me and my wife live here in Stockton, since we live here we know the community and know that Stockton has the potential to grow and have a variety of high quality food,” said Ain. Mochinut isn’t a passion project, but a symbolism that young Stocktonians have the power to make the future young generations have an enjoyable experience.

6 ENTERTAINMENT 030422

The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/entertainment

‘EUPHORIA’ SPARKS CONVERSATIONS Euphoria’s characters provide context and representation to the dark realistic experiences that we all at one point had Nudity. Sex. Money. Drugs. experienced.

That’s what comes into mind when Let’s take a look at Rue Bennet, while the show “Euphoria” is mentioned. her character is primarily associated with While the marketing and public substance abuse, a lot of it stemmed from view, and assumption is a show entirely them coping with their father’s death about sex and drugs, the reality is that and balancing multiple mental illnesses. it’s tackling deeper conversations about While on paper, it might seem like relationships and intimacy.

Rue Bennet’s problems can be fixed if The American one hour drama series, they simply “just got better” it just doesn’t “Euphoria” follows the troubled life of work that way. Euphoria depicts drug Rue, a 17-year old drug addict. Within addicts’ withdrawals and relapses through their vicinity and mindzone are Jules, a Rue; from a waxing and waning phase transgender girl searching for a place to coined by Bennet to destroying every belong to; Maddy, a headstrong teen in relationship around them to feel still and a mental and physical battle with their motionless for just one second. abusive significant other Nate; Cassie, Substance abuse isn’t glamorized, but whose sexual history gets in the way emphasized to the point that Bennet has of forming meaningful relationships; to rely on it.

Nate, a future football star with abusive While “Euphoria” centralizes their and malicious tendencies; and Kat, a themes related to the American teen arself-conscious teen whose exploring her chetypes, it does a great job pushing their identity. messages forward and causing people As the students navto create chatter around the igate through the tricky READ THE FULL STORY end of the show. waters of life, the series AT DELTACOLLEGIAN.NET For example, understandprogresses and tackles ing the boundaries between teenage-perspective toxicity and love; “Euphoria” issues; from substance-enhanced parties depicts romance in a darker tone. While to nerve-racking daily activities. on the surface, Maddy and Nate’s rela“Euphoria” is a lot more than the typ- tionship can be picture perfect where one ical teen drama that highlights alcohol compliments the other the both of them and substance abuse. In the show it deals experience traumatic images that leaves with three common themes: sexuality, deeper wounds that can and will continidentity and familiarity. ually inflict them.

“It’s something that people have Maddy, coming from a broken home been looking forward to every Sunday, where both of their parents don’t glance here they call it ‘Euphoria’ Sunday,” said in each other’s direction. Nate, being the Brianna Herren, a Mass Communication golden boy of football, witnesses their student. dad’s sex-tapes with underage boys.

However, does Euphoria’s advertiseWhile these might be exaggerated ment marketing convey and capture the versions of a persona, everyone knows a essence of teenagers relying on substanc- couple that’s not right for each other and es and dressing in confidence stylized in somehow is still together after constant bold and saturated colors to exaggerate downhill battles. the character’s personality?

“It’s a show, but it does reveal some Yes, however, the show implores you truth to it. Like as far as you probably to dive deep and reflect on “ this hitswould know somebody who’s just like home” philosophical thoughts. the character or maybe even relate to,”

BY JASON DIEZ Opinion Editor

Euphoria actors Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Barbie Ferreira, Maude Apatow, and Zendaya PHOTOS BY EDDY CHEN/ HBO

says Marisa Mena, a Delta College student.

As Maddy is canonically painted as the headstrong baddie, her relationship with Nate illustrates that even the most confident can feel powerless in the hands of a broken relationship.

Their relationship highlights the common phrase, “you can’t break something when it’s already broken” in the show, these two always try to one-up the other ex-partner. While they may mask their head-strong personalities, lies two broken people who can’t settle on fixing a relationship that’s fragile and can be easily broken.

“I think it does touch on, it makes it funny and worse, but it definitely is something that teenagers struggle with in terms of sexuality. Using the example of Cassie, I feel like her character is all about validation,” said Sarah Teixeira, a Delta College student.

“Which is why a lot of scenes are always about relationships; because it’s something she craves. Even like with Nate and his hypermasculinity, or even Kat trying to show herself off in a way that she never really does.”

What sets “Euphoria” apart is the attention to detail and story telling.

Jules’ experience as a transgender girl navigating through sexuality and identity emphasizes the prevalent hook-up culture.

In the show, Jules struggles to find a

connection even going through lengths of using dating apps to meet older men.

With this, she uses this as an effort to be loved and cherished. It’s one of those moments, when they realized that in-order to feel loved and appreciated is during intercourse. Sex, an intimate and private action that’s commonly shared between two people.

Drama to perform ‘And Then There Were None’

BY ARIANA MALLERY News Editor

Murder, mystery and plot twists.

Delta Drama will be performing “And Then There Were None,” the stage adaptation of the best-selling crime novel by acclaimed mystery author Agatha Christie.

Ten strangers, all harboring their own dark secrets, travel to a secluded island off the coast of England. They arrive only to find their hosts are nowhere to be found and

soon the guests start disappearing and turning up dead based on the decree of a nursery rhyme. “And Then There Were None” is the book that helped push Agatha Christie to the Guinness World Record title of “the world’s best selling fiction writer.”

“I think it is great,” Christopher Guptill, Dean of Arts, Humanities & Multimedia at San Joaquin Delta College said. “‘And Then There Were None’ is a classic mystery that has been enjoyed by millions of people (as a book, on film and on stage). I think it is a

wonderful opportunity for both our student performers and our audiences.”

This is the first production of the Spring 2022 semester.

When asked if there are more people expected to be in attendance compared to the last play, Guptill said. “I think so. People in the community and on campus are more comfortable with attending live events now. We have had the chance to really develop our safety protocols and train the Delta Center for the Arts staff.”

Things have been hard for

those in the entertainment industry, what with it being among the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic after theaters across the country had to close, leaving thousands out of jobs.

As for students, Guptill had some advice.

“Have a good time (if you aren’t having fun there is a problem) but, at the same time, don’t ever be satisfied.

You always have to try to get better.”

Delta Drama’s production of “And Then There Were None” is scheduled for March

4-6 and March 11-13 at the Delta College’s Tillie Lewis Theatre. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7 p.m, Sunday shows start with the 2 p.m matinees.

A negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccine status is required to attend the performance. Masks are required inside the theater. Tickets are free from the Delta Center for the Arts Box Office.

There is a limit of 2 tickets per person per performance.

For more information on this and upcoming shows, visit deltadrama.com.

7 SPORTS 030422

The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/sports

Delta guard Andraya Perez dribbles the ball as she looks down the court during the game against American River on Feb. 24. PHOTO BY JAHDAI SPIKES

Lady Mustangs clinch Big 8 Conference

BY JAHDAI SPIKES Editor-in-Chief

Delta finished their season off strong winning their last conference game 87-13 against American River College on Feb. 24 to win the Big 8 title.

Their 26-2 record shows their prowess on the court and

has led them to playoffs, but they also faced many difficult obstacles off the court such as dealing with missing players and navigating through all the Covid-19 regulations.

“They’ve all struggled through Covid. We just wanted to come in and get better at our zone and work hard,” said

Head Coach Gina Johnson.

“They’re playing for each other, they’ve grown together as a group. We don’t have any selfish girls on our team.”

The Mustangs excel in rebounding, have an aggressive offense and have no shortage of ambition which makes them a force to be reckoned with.

The stats from their season show their hard work clear as day, with the Mustangs averaging 45.5 total rebounds per game as of March 1.

“We were just putting in the hard work, always showing up to practice and doing extra.” said Mustangs forward Maya Chelini.

Forward Donja Payne contributed 10.5 of the mustang’s overall rebounds per game this season. Payne also has the highest number of rebounds, of 10.5, and the highest field goal PCT of 57.41, in all of the state according to the CCCAA.

Baseball shakes off rust heading into Big 8 play in two years, Peters is looking forward to his team’s potential Sports Editor when it comes to batting.

“There’s a lot of depth, esDelta College’s baseball team continues working to pecially offensively,” said Pefind its best form as it afronts ters.

One of those players who its first full season since 2019. can carry a load of the offense Mustangs Head Coach Reed Peters said he and his for the Mustangs is shortstop team are excited about taking Kordell Brown, who is a rethe field again, but admits re- turning player from the shortturning to competitive level ened 2020 season.

Brown committed early to performance has proved to be Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo challenging. last fall and now sees himself “It’s nice to get back on the prospering with the Mustangs field and actually be able to compete. These guys haven’t in his last season at Delta.

“My expectations are very played in two years so there’s high for this team if we can obviously some rust there, and come together as one,” said we’re seeing that early. We just got to battle through it,” Brown.

He currently leads the said Peters.

Mustangs on the offensive While getting into shape is with 23 runs scored this seaa priority for the team, Delta’s head coach also thinks the son, along with 12 stolen basplayers should calm them- es.

First baseman Blaine selves mentally and see that French has batted in 14 runs there’s a long season ahead of and hit three home runs to them.

“I think guys are putting start off the spring, making a lot of pressure on them- him another prospective playselves….a little more pressure er for the Mustangs on swingthan they need to on them- ing the bat.

Pitchers Connor Semone selves so I think we’ve got to and Seth Tomczak are who to do a better job at that,” said watch for on the mound this Peters.

Despite the inconvenienc- season.

Semone has picked up 33 es of playing for the first time

BY DAVID VICTOR

strikeouts so far and is another one of Delta’s early commits who will be heading to the University of Kansas this fall.

Tomczak is an NCAA Division I kickback from Arizona State who is expected to add a higher level of performance to the Mustangs’ pitching rotation.

Delta ended its preseason with a 9-4 record following a 14-3 win against Contra Costa College on Feb. 27.

The Mustangs started play in the Big 8 this past Tuesday and picked up its first win 22-2 against Sierra College.

After ending the shortened 2020 season with a 4-3 conference record, Delta will seek to compete for the Big 8 and earn a spot in the Final Four in hopes of winning the state championship just as it did in 2018.

The Mustangs will take on Sierra College for a third time this afternoon at 2 p.m. and then visit Modesto Junior College this Tuesday for their next Delta shortstop Kordell Brown seeks to throw the ball to first base for an out league games. against Cabrillo on Feb. 21. PHOTO BY DAVID VICTOR

8 NEWS 030422

The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/news

Club Fundraising Festival aids future student activities

Above: Kim Hazel, Instructional Support Assistant stands behind Luka Vega as they sell goods for the horticulture club. Lower right: A chalkboard of plants being sold by the horticulture club propped on a tractor filled with more plants. Upper Right: Nakhoma Rush-Griffith sells items. PHOTOS BY ARIANA MALLERY

BOOSTERS: Another round of vaccine required for Summer, Fall in-person classes continued from PAGE 1 them wanting to force students to take additional booster shots if they want to come back to campus,” said first-year student Lincoln Sievers. “I've already been vaccinated twice just so I can come back to class this semester…”

Sievers does plan on returning to campus in the Fall, though.

“In regards to the booster shot, I'd have to think of that. I mean if it's the only way to get on campus then I'll probably end up just doing it but I already didn’t like having to get vaccinated in the first place to come to campus…”

Other Delta students, like Aaron Araquistain, believe enforcing the booster shot will be advantageous to the endemic.

“I would say it's very beneficial because it would be able to help fight off this whole pandemic,” said Araquistain. “I’ll probably think about getting the booster. I’d like to come back in person… I like the campus and atmosphere here.”

For those who have not yet received the booster and that do plan on returning to campus for the Summer, Fall or both have easy access to getting this shot right here on campus.

The Delta College Health Center (located on the first floor of the Locke building) is offering booster shots every Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We definitely encourage students to take advantage of this on-campus service,” said Breitler.

50/50: Delta plans for 50% of classes in-person for Fall 2022 continued from PAGE 1 person, online synchronous, or asynchronous instruction - and hybrid, which requires some campus time, but also has an online component.

“I think it's better if we do hybrid classes, it’s safer,” said Estelle Llorin, a Delta College freshman.

Many students favor hybrid classes over in-person only because they allow them to learn on-campus while also giving them the flexibility to do things outside of school.

Staff members, too, believe that flexibility remains essential, particularly for the student population.

“I do enjoy the fact that we have both though, students having the option for either is nice,” said Domenica Castaneda, a student programs assistant.

The Fall schedule is being planned now and will launch in the later part of the Spring 2022 semester.

HERstory: Series of virtual events commermorate celebration month continued from PAGE 1

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

Chair. “This committee works hard every year to AMARI SERIES La Raza Employees Association scholarship fund. For plan events that we hope will inspire students Every Monday in March - Delta College’s Black Fac- more, visit bit.ly/sjdcwhmlreascholarship and staff.” ulty Task Force and Ethnic Studies Department are This was also the group that pushed to have collaborating to publish videos featuring powerful CELEBRATE A DELTA SHERO the plaza on campus named after Dolores Huerwomen and their contributions as part of the Amari Wednesday, March 23 - Celebrate a Delta Shero ta as well as establishing an ongoing scholarship video series. The series can be found at bit.ly/sjdcwh- Meet Delta custodian Belisa Gonzalez in a video recfund to honor this inspiring Stockton woman mamariseries ognizing her contributions to campus. For more, visit and Delta alumna. bit.ly/sjdcwhmdeltashero The committee has hosted events for WHM ‘DOCUMENT THE IMPACT’ in the past such as “Passing her the Mic,” author Wednesday, March 9 at 12:30 THE ‘bell’ RINGS: A TRIBUTE TO THE WORKS AND talks and even movie nights in collaboration Lakota/Chicana filmmaker Adreanna Rodriguez LEGACY OF bell hooks with Delta’s Pride Center. showcases her film about female pastoralists from Tuesday, March 29, 3 p.m.

“We've brought writers, artists, film-makers, the Maasai tribe in Northern Tanzania, Africa. RodriDelta College’s Black Faculty Task Force and Ethnic historians, and activists to talk directly with our guez, a former Delta College student, will answer Studies Department host a presentation examining students and hosted resource fairs and movie questions about her work on the impact of climate the life and works of author and activist bell hooks. nights,” said Dr. Sarah Seekatz, Professor and change.

For more, visit bit.ly/sjdcwhmbellhooks one of the leadership members of the Committee. “I think it's important to note that we LREA SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER ACTIVE MINDS TOWN HALL have received incredible support from groups on Thursday, March 10 Wednesday, March 30, 1:30 campus- be it the Cultural Awareness Program, Grab breakfast, lunch and/or dinner at Miguel’s, a Join Active Minds for a Town Hall focused on the the Horton Gallery, the Pride Center, ASDC, woman-owned and operated restaurant on Pacific mental health and role of caregivers. For more, visit and other groups and organizations on campus.”

Avenue. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the bit.ly/sjdcwhmactiveminds This year there are no in-person events scheduled to celebrate WHM, but there are a number of virtual events that will be opened for students and staff to participate in. should be year-round.

The month kicked off the launch of Amari Series videos from the Black Faculty “It shouldn't just be a month, women should feel appreciated and respected Task Force and Ethnic Studies Department and “Fit for a Queen,” an event fea- every month and every day,” said Hernandez. turing drag queen Hellen Heels.

Hernandez had recently heard about the Women’s History Month Committee For more details on past and future events hosted by the WHM Committee, and suggested that a musical event would be a good idea to have at Delta in the visit Delta’s official website and search for “Women’s History Month.” future. “For me, I would like to see something including music. If they bring in Students at Delta believe that women should be celebrated everyday, not just music they would probably attract more people and be active.” during a specific month.

Hernandez chooses to celebrate WHM by showing appreciation to the women “I just appreciate women day to day,” said first-year student Kayla Lorum. “I in his life. think this month is very empowering… women just existing is empowering.”

“First off, I would buy my mom flowers and when I come to school I would Another student, Carlos Hernandez, believes that the celebrations of WHM spoil my female friends…like just make them feel appreciated,” he said.