Tips to get ready for virtual graduation
Godzilla and King Kong face off in new flick
The Collegian Th ENTERTAINMENT, PAGE 6
FEATURE, PAGE 5
Issue 11 • Friday, April 23, 2021 •
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Fundraiser secures $1 million promise BY HANNAH WORKMAN News Editor
Superintendent/President Dr. Omid Pourzanjani speaks about his experience as a community college student and why donating to the Delta College Foundation is important for students during the virtual fundraiser on April 22. SCREENSHOT BY HANNAH WORKMAN
In an effort to ensure students have access to basic necessities, the Delta College Foundation hosted its first virtual fundraiser on April 22. The fundraiser, named “Delta Springing Forward,” was organized to raise money for scholarships, books, and transportation assistance for students, according to a news release from the institution. In a recent survey of more than 1,000 Delta College students, 60 percent of students reported having trouble meeting one or more basic needs. Forty-two percent of students reported experiencing food insecurity, while 31 percent ex-
perienced housing insecurity due to the pandemic and 18 percent were homeless. The event, which was hosted by San Joaquin County District 3 Supervisor Tom Patti and Professor of Digital Media Adriana Brogger, featured stories from past and present students, who highlighted how the institution has impacted their career and life. John Pimentel, co-founder of Foundation Windpower, was one of the former students who shared testimony. Pimentel attended Delta College from 1983 to 1985. He went on to transfer to University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science
and later attended Harvard Business School. “The whole experience really changed the way I thought about academics,” Pimentel said. Pimentel said he was an “okay” student in high school, but started to apply himself more and saw an improvement in his grades once he started attending Delta College. “It really started clicking for me,” Pimentel said. “All of a sudden, possibilities started opening up for me that I didn’t really see before.” Pimentel said his decision to transfer to Berkeley after obtaining his associate’s degree
See FUNDRAISER, page 8
IT’S OUR TURN
Vaccine appointments now open up to ages 16+ BY HANNAH WORKMAN News Editor
Delta College is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations to students, made possible through a partnership with Community Medical Centers. According to a campus-wide email sent on April 21, the first clinic, exclusively for students, will take place on April 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dolores Huerta Plaza on campus. “It’s a great chance for students to get their shots and help us end this pandemic,” Alex Breitler, Director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach said. After the first clinic, clinics will be held regularly every Tuesday. In order to be vaccinated, students are required to register with Community Medical Centers and book an appointment. Students register by filling out a Patient Registration and Consent Form. The forms can be printed at home and
filled out in advance. Forms will also be available at the clinic. After registering, students are able to schedule an appointment by calling Community Medical Centers at (209) 425-0007 during regular business hours. Students who are currently under quarantine or have had another vaccine within the past 14 days are ineligible to schedule an appointment. Those who are pregnant or immunocompromised should consult with their medical provider prior to booking an appointment. Students who are eligible for an appointment are advised to bring their registration form to the clinic to speed up the check-in process and should expect to be at the clinic for an hour. An appointment for the second shot will be made before students leave the clinic. San Joaquin County has admin-
istered 410,698 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as of April 20, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. A mass vaccination clinic opened at Stockton Arena on April 7. The clinic is open to San Joaquin County residents and residents of surrounding counties. All California residents aged 16 and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines as of April 15, as announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Individuals who are interested in getting vaccinated can find and schedule available appointments at MyTurn. ca.gov or call the COVID-19 hotline at (833) 422-4255.
New variants threaten reopening plans vaccines out quickly to Californians in every corner of the state, including in those communities hardest hit by this pandemWhile vaccine roll-outs continue ic,” said California Health and Human into the summer months, new strains of Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly in an COVID-19 are popping up worldwide, April 6 news release from the state. “In posing an ongoing challenge. order to take the next step, we must conSan Joaquin County had 71,735 cases tinue to do our part to keep this momenof COVID-19 as of April 21, with 96.4 tum moving in the right direction, and percent of those cases now “recovered,” that means continuing to wear a mask according to the San Joaquin County and ensuring everyone who is eligible gets COVID-19 data dashboard at sjcphs.org. the vaccine.” “California has made incredible progAs of April 15, all Californians aged 16 ress controlling the spread of COVID-19 and older are eligible for a vaccine. by staying home, masking, and getting Gov. Gavin Newsom has also said that BY CHLOE GAMBLE Staff Writer
California could remove restrictions on June 15 if vaccine supply is sufficient for Californians who wish to be vaccinated; and if hospitalization rates are stable and low. This news means that the economy
See VARIANTS, page 8
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