Internet woes plague campus
All our knowledge of physics assures us that time travel is an impossibility, however those of us at the staff of the Collegian have come to believe the contrary.
While we may be physically living in the year of 2024, those seeking an internet connection might as well be living in 1912. This plight is absolutely not unique to us of course. At the Sept. 3 Board of Trustees meeting Sociology Professor Dr. Harry Mersmann said: “We’re struggling, we’re struggling. It’s really dire, the Titanic’s going down.”
EDITORIAL
That equates Delta College to an unsinkable ship. We’ve been underwater since last spring when our lab in Shima 204 started seeing issues with WiFi. It is especially damaging as most of our work is done digitally on campus.
Research becomes nearly impossible without a consistent internet connection, contacting sources is a thing of the past unless you want to invest in carrier pigeons, and our typically bustling lab has been tragically barren. To say we can’t operate in conditions such as this is a lie, we have and we will continue to do so. Despite persistent internet issues since spring of this year, we have delivered to you a new edition for the start of fall semester.
We had contracted some local vagrants and orphans to be newsboys in true early 1900s fashion but they have decided to unionize and demand higher wages. So instead you’ve likely picked these up off of one of our many kiosks. With each bundle of newspaper being delivered by penny
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.
farthing in the early morning.
Not really, of course, but the reality is that the internet connection on campus has been inconsistent and it’s not getting better. We’re waiting for our very own Carpathia. We now know what Jack felt like in the movie, freezing and abandoned.
With any luck this rant about the internet will be a thing of the past by the time you read this. We at the Collegian are excited to exchange polio for this newfangled Hot To Go.
If not then, it’s gonna be a long fall semester.
BALTODANO
BRANDON
ESPINOZA
GOERZEN ASHLEY HALLINAN
PHOTOJOURNALISM
CYNTHIA AGUILAR
MIKAELA CABANG
LAYLA CARRASCO
JESSICA CHHABRA YUICHI DUMO KYLE GOLDSMITH
PROSSER
SADIA KHAN
RHODES BELINDA SEIBEL
STEVEN HERNANDEZ YANEZ STACY JENKINS SYMONE JOHNSON
MICHAEL SICARI-CUARESMA
PRINCIA TINDELL
MARCO VARGAS
JOHN NGUYEN
JOSHUA SIMAS GURMAN SINGH
STAFF
Cover Story 3
DELTA LAUNCHES $598 MILLION BOND
Measure K looks to update aging facilities with November ballot item
BY DOMINICK DELISE Managing Editor
On June 18, Delta’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the placement of a $598 million bond measure on the Nov. 5 ballot.
These funds, if approved by voters, would seek to upgrade classrooms, address leaky plumbing, improve security and ultimately attempt to address issues with Delta’s more than 50-year-old facilities.
“This campus is 50 years old … we’ve had issues with leaky roofs … we need to address all that while looking at new facilities,” said Alex Breitler, Director of Marketing and Communications.
While the bond measure doesn’t explicitly state which building on campus needs the most work; Breitler did respond via email stating that essentially all the buildings need improvement.
“In short, they’re all really important,” said Breitler.
The official ballot release of Measure K states that by repairing the old foundations; mold, asbestos and lead paint, it simultaneously improves the safety of Delta students.
According to the ballot measure, Delta trains hundreds of workers each year, from nursing to law enforcement and agriculture.
Measure K seeks to further expand on these programs by providing new computers, upgrading labs with new technology and providing new furniture in classrooms.
“Delta College trains commu-
nity members for higher-paying careers in important local fields like agriculture, robotics, law en forcement, and healthcare,” said Superintendent/President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson on the Delta College website.“For the healthcare industry alone, Delta College prepares more than 400 workers each year to fill critical jobs such as registered nurses, emergency medi cal technicians, and more.”
The ballot mea sure also proposes projects that in clude providing clean drinking water, increasing affordable education and improving cam pus safety by removing mold and asbestos from pipes.
The Measure K text also spec ifies campus security as an area of focus, claiming that the bond would help repair locks on doors, upgrade cameras and communi cation systems
Although these numbers ar en’t market value, the Stockton community and homeowners in the service area could be paying approximately $16 per $100,000 with a typical property owner paying around $49 per year.
“We certainly don’t take this lightly — going to voters for support. We recognize that folks are pinched. I think I would encourage voters to think about the return on investment here,” said Breitler.
The timeline of when these projects would start is not set in stone yet. Breitler said it’s likely that if the bond passes, the board would act on these projects as soon as possible.
The bond measure is not
consult. Nobody wants to know what the COC [Citizens’ Oversight Committee] thinks until after they take action. The COC is supposed to represent the community. I know I served on it for six years. The college does foolish things with bond money.”
Measure K is Delta’s first major bond measure since 2004, when voters approved the $250 million Measure L bond.
The approval of Measure L is responsible for refurbishing the Goleman Library, development of the Math and Science building along with the Mountain
pulling money from Lodi. Addi tionally, $600,000 was lost to a site on Liberty Road and a planetarium in Stockton never came to fruition.
Parts of the Mountain House campus are unfinished as well.
“I think it’s safe to say that we didn’t do everything that we hoped to get done with Measure L … Mountain House is definitely a priority,” said Breitler.
While there is a project list for the $598 million, at this time there is nothing specifically stating how much money would be allocated to individual projects.
What is stated is that there will be no money for adminis-
Mailers are being sent out throughout San Joaquin County to promote the Measure K bond measure on the November ballot. IMAGE BY DELTA COLLEGE
tration salary, the funds will be locally controlled, therefore they can’t be taken by the state. Additionally, an independent citizen oversight committee will be created to ensure that all funds from Measure K are spent appropriately.
According to Breitler, a campaign will be developed for the bond and will be funded outside of Delta College.
CANDIDATES VIE FOR TRUSTEE POSITIONS
Former Stockton City Council member, community advocate run for Area 1 seat
BY KIEMA GARRETT Senior Staff Writer
The race for Delta’s Board of Trustees Area 1 seat, which covers South Stockton and Weston Ranch, has two candidates with strong ties to the community: Ralph Lee White and Shelly Stoll Swanson. As they campaign, both candidates outline their platforms, focusing on how they plan to serve Delta College and its community.
RALPH LEE WHITE
A former Stockton City Council member with 16.5 years of political experience, emphasizes diversity and representation. White believes that having Black representation on the Delta Board of Trustees is crucial to ensuring that the board reflects the community it serves.
“I believe that having Blacks on the board, or any board, is
BY ANDREA BALTODANO Staff Writer
essential,” White said. “There are issues that need to be addressed, and I’m not afraid to tackle them head-on.”
White’s proposal aims to build upon Delta’s current expansion of the nursing program. According to an article from the Record, Delta has received $3.8 million in federal funding to help expand its nursing program.
However, the current structure requires students to spend two years completing their ADN, with additional time required for those starting as LVNs before becoming RNs.
White wants to introduce an accelerated pathway that allows students to complete their Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) or Registered Nursing (RN) degrees within 1 to 1.5 years, involving intensive courses of 5-6 hours per session. “The nursing program’s new renovations and supplies paired with Longer class durations will allow hands-on training and real-time feedback, crucial for
The choice for Delta College Board of Trustees Area 2 is between an established Stockton politician, a businessman, and a former dean of nursing.
Current Stockton City Councilperson Dan Wright, Businessman Samuel Anderson, and retired Delta College Nursing Dean Julie Kay are running for the open seat to be filled on Nov. 5. Jessie Garza-Roderick, current Area 2 Trustee, did not file paperwork to seek re-election. The race features a blend of political experience, business tenure and academic leadership making their case to the voters.
JULIE KAY
Kay is a former Dean of Health and Fitness Division at Delta College, where she led the Nursing program for about eight years and spent more than a decade as part of the faculty.
complex nursing skills and scenarios” White said. “Delta has the potential to become a major player in training the next generation of nurses.”
SHELLY STOLL SWANSON
A 20-year resident of Area 1, emphasizes community engagement and educational accessibility in her campaign. Swanson has a background in community and education advocacy, including volunteering at her children’s schools, pushing for disability accommodations and saving local historic buildings.
“What happens at Delta College matters to me and the people in my area,” Swanson said. “I’m running because I want Delta College to keep serving my community in all the ways a community college should — not just for transferring to a four-year institution, but also for lifelong learning and personal enrichment.”
Swanson has a few proposals aimed to expand Delta as well. Technical careers and trades
Beyond her academic responsibilities, she took on leadership roles for community projects such as bringing the Community Medical Center Health Center to Delta, establishing the Helping Our People Elevate (HOPE) program, the lead for the Psych Tech Joint Apprentice program, the college’s Certified Nursing Assistant program partnership with Adult Education and assisted to re-establish the Emergency Medical Technician program.
“I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to serve and contribute to San Joaquin Delta College’s continued success. My goals align with the college mission to empower all students to pursue personal development and achieve academic goals.” Kay said via phone interview.
programs are one of them. She advocates for offering classes not only on campus but also within the community, making education more accessible. Swanson also prioritizes the expansion of counseling services, improving financial aid access, restoring school facilities and student classrooms and bringing awareness to non-credited courses.
While Delta already offers non-credit courses like the “Adaptive Learning Transition to Work” series, which equips students with essential life and work skills, Swanson’s proposal emphasizes the need to further promote these courses and possibly introduce new ones tailored to the evolving needs of the community. She wants to ensure that more students are aware of and able to access these non-credit options. “Delta could better serve those who want to explore subjects outside their major, test the waters in a new field, or gain practical skills without the pressure of grades,” said Swanson.
DAN WRIGHT
Current Councilman of Stockton and Superintendent of ABLE Charter Schools, Wright is an experienced educator with an established commitment of service.
He has held various leadership roles, including Interim Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent at Stockton Unified School District, where he managed a $600 million budget and led key initiatives to improve student achievement and safety.
Wright was Vice Mayor during the second half of former Mayor Michael Tubb’s administration in 2019. Wright’s campaign focuses on leveraging his deep educational and administrative expertise to enhance the quality and accountability of educational systems within the district.
"I hope Stockton continues to place their trust in me," Wright said in an email interview. "My 41 years in education, along with my city council ex-
Her platform reflects her belief in inclusion and education as a tool for empowerment.“I want to make sure that Delta College is accessible to everyone,” Swanson said. “Whether it’s through technical programs, health and fitness TRAC like nursing, or community education classes, we need to ensure that the college is serving the entire community.”
Improving inclusivity on campus is important to both candidates. White’s focus on diversity aligns with his goal of ensuring that Delta’s leadership reflects the broader community. Swanson supports initiatives to improve diversity in faculty hiring, sponsor more multicultural events on campus, and revise systems that assist professors with access to students’ preferred names and pronouns on class rosters.
Voters in South Stockton and Weston Ranch will soon decide which candidate best represents their vision for Delta College. The election is set to take place on Nov. 5, 2024.
perience, have uniquely prepared me for this role in community college leadership. You can count on me to continue working to build Stockton's economy and educational systems."
SAMUEL ANDERSON
Anderson brings a strong background in education and public service, according to a Facebook page set up for his campaign. The page notes that he holds degrees in Public Administration, Criminal Justice and Human Resources. He identifies himself as a local businessman. When reached for comment through his official Facebook page, Anderson didn't respond.
The district 2 seat is open this election cycle as current Trustee Jessie Garza-Roderick has decided to not seek another term. Garza-Roderick filled the seat left by Dr. Elizabeth Blanchard, who moved out of the area in Dec. 2023. Garza-Roderick’s provisional term only lasted 11 months.
TRUSTEE REMEMBERED IN MEMORIAL
Area 1 Valerie-Stewart Green, who represented Tracy, Mountain House, died Aug. 17
BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN Editor-in-Chief
Delta College held a memorial service for late Area 1 Trustee Valerie Stewart-Green on Aug. 28. Stewart-Green died on Aug. 17. She was 60.
In attendance in Atherton Auditorium were Stewart-Green's family and friends as well as faculty, staff, and members of the administration. Loved ones and colleagues shared remembrances of working with her.
All that spoke at the memorial service talked of Stewart-Green’s love for her family, her pets and her love for shopping, and especially her love for her granddaughter nicknamed “Stink.”
Delta’s President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson spoke on how she first met her and stated that “ a life filled with love, kindness, humor and strength. Everyone around her felt comfortable and valued.
Aguilera Lawrenson said Stewart-Green’s “legacy is her family, community, education and professional ac-
complishments.”
Janet Rivera, vice president of the board also spoke.
“She loved you so much ‘Stink,” she talked about all the beautiful things. She loved Christmas, she loved Halloween and she loved the 4th of July, just loved it. But you know what she liked the best? Stink she loved shopping for you and she will shop till she drops.”
Last to speak was Stewart-Green’s husband Kenny Green and he spoke of her parents and how they raised her to be the woman that she was. Green also said, “on February 20, 1988 you agreed to become my wife and from there we started our journey.”
Green continues to speak about them having children, how she had the “starring role” in raising them, and how they became grandparents.
“On March 16, 2021 you were blessed and honored to become a grandmother to the one and only Iria Bloom And you pour all of yourself into her life,” Kenny Green said. Green was joined on stage by his daughter Arianna Annotti, as he continued talking about his wife.
At the end of the memorial, a slide show was presented with pictures of Stewart-Green. The pictures included family, friends and co-workers with messages to go with the slides.
IT’S A KOI: Delta welcomes new fish to the pond
BY DOMINICK DELISE Feature Editor
On Aug. 1, 15 young fish were added to Delta's long-revered koi pond.
Lenora Swearingen, co-owner of WPS construction, released the fish and said they adjusted swimmingly.
"They're doing excellent," said Swearingen. "They've been eating regularly, and grouped up with the other koi immediately."
Swearingen has worked alongside her husband, co-owner of WPS construction, Bill Swearingen since 2006, together they've kept the pond looking pristine and the fish healthy.
Stacey Pinola Director of Facilities, Planning and Management at Delta also shared that these new schools of koi have been doing great, but last year there were some hiccups.
"… last year we added about the same, but cranes ended up eating most of them," said Pinola.
The crane catastrophe was addressed this time around by having a net draped over the top, preventing further atrocities.
Besides the cranes, in the past five years only a few older koi fish have passed due to illness.
"The pond is always kept healthy," said Pinola. "A couple sick fish have been removed and put down to prevent suffering — one had cancer in its eye."
Pinola ensured that the only other reasons these fish are put down is to maintain the integrity of the water, and to keep the other koi happy and healthy.
For decades the koi pond has been the beating heart of Delta, serving as a focal point for students where they, much like the koi, can group up and hang out.
"The koi pond has always been an integral part of Delta … the center of life on campus," said Pinola.
Swearingen shared similar sentiments, noting the connectedness between generations of Delta students the koi pond is responsible for fostering.
"This pond is very near and dear to us … it's clear people enjoy it. I've heard many stories…students seeing the koi as kids with their parents, then coming back to see them again as adults," said Lenora Swearingen.
There are plans to add 15 more fish before the semester ends.
Above: Bill Swearingen holding baby koi before acclimation process. Right: Delta koi welcoming the new young fish at the koi pond. PHOTOS BY ALEX BREITLER
Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson speaks at the memorial for Valerie Stewart-Green, Area 1 trustee. PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN
Congress Rep. Josh Harder visits Delta nursing program
BY JELISSA KING News Editor
On Aug. 22, Congress Representative Josh Harder delivered a federal check of $3.8 million to the nursing simulation labs at Delta College.
The nursing program purchased four patient-like mannequins. The latest one purchased is a set with a mother and baby but has yet to arrive. With this modern technology, students can set up IVs, test urine samples and perform tracheostomies. Students can also track the mannequins’ breathing, pulse and heartbeat.
In the fiscal year of 2022, members of Congress can submit Community Project Funding (CPF) applications to state and local governments. The House Committee on Appropriations approves funding to help improve the environmental, transportation, health, community development and public safety projects for 2024.
Rep. Harder chose to help the nursing program at Delta to expand with a new simulation lab.
“San Joaquin Delta College gives students in our community the opportunity to transform their lives through education,” said Rep. Harder. “It’s so exciting that Delta’s Nursing Program has doubled in size — we
desperately need more nurses, and this is a big win for our students and our community. I’m thrilled we were able to bring home this $3.8 million investment in Delta’s Nursing Program and it was wonderful to be able to see the expanded and upgraded Nursing Simulation Lab in action. I look forward to partnering with Delta in the future to make sure San Joaquin County’s future is bright.”
Lisa Lucchesi, the Dean of Health and Fitness, explains where the funding helps with the expansion.
“There are six rooms that were upgraded with new equipment and made them bigger. The mannequins were the most expensive but one of the most critical pieces… When we train our students, we want them to get the closest nurse/patient experience. We watch the students interact with the patients and give them feedback,” said Lucchesi.
With the support of the CPF, Rep. Harder also wants the funding to expand the number of student nurses.
“Delta College’s nursing program currently includes 120 students each year – funding will support the college’s plans to nearly double the number of nursing students being trained,” according to his press release in 2023.
However, it’s not that simple.
Lucchesi was asked why the nursing program only allows a certain amount of students.
“So every program in the state of California has to have approval from the Board of Registered Nursing to run the program and they would need to approve how many students can admit. Because we are partners with our clinical sites, if we have too many students it can cause clinical impaction. We can’t displace other programs and impact hospitals and other schools,” said Lucchesi.
Fall semester brings new campus climate results
Mental health, wellness, safety concerns top list for students, staff in 2024 survey
BY ANDREA RIVERA Editor-in-Chief
Results of the 2024 Campus Climate Survey, which included feedback from students and Delta College staff, was shown during the Aug. 20 Board of Trustees meeting.
The assessment involved two college surveys sent to students and employees on values such as: wellness and safety, community, inclusion and respect, social justice and equity, inquiry and innovation, and student-centered.
Of the population that was surveyed were 2,999 students and 378 employees.
The student survey demographics reported most participants were “62 percent in the age range of 18-25, 48 percent Hispanic/Latinx, 65 percent female, and 72 percent straight/heterosexual”
The employee demographics reported the majority of demographics involved, “65 percent women, 76 percent
straight/heterosexual, 43 percent white, 38 percent over the age of 50, and 43 percent with job classification as classified/confidential.”
Of the students surveyed, “More than one in four students expressed concerns about access to transportation while one in five students expressed concerns about access to adequate food and housing stability.”
The survey also reported more than 40 percent of students struggle with expressing mental health concerns and a quarter of the students were concerned about access to support services for mental health and wellness. More than half of the students surveyed also reported they don’t feel safe walking around the campus at night as well.
696 also reported they had experienced some form of discrimination with, 14 percent of it in a classroom and 26 percent cited it as “other students as the source of the discrimination,” read
the survey.
The assessment also compared the 2023 results to the 2024 results, indicating that most questions resulted in similar sentiments about the campus, or even slightly lower.
Delta College employees also had concerns regarding their overall health and wellness.
Of those surveyed, 37 percent of employees expressed concerns, and non-binary employees were more likely to express concerns regarding their mental health and wellness, and access to support services for mental health than men and women.
Half of employees surveyed “do not feel safe walking around campus at night while a quarter do not feel safe in the restrooms on campus,” read the survey.
When polled for experiences of discrimination employees polled, “most likely to experience it in a departmental office or conference room.” The survey also read that 24 percent of staff experienced discrimination were, “likely to cite staff and administration as the source of discrimination.”
The presentation of the climate survey noted safety improvements that have been made since the survey in February 2023 noting, all gender restrooms final plans to be completed in the fall semester, increasing lighting maintenance throughout the campus, grounds maintenances to remove debris for better visibility on campus, and facilities support of IT for Blue Emergency Phones and other projects for safety improvements.
More safety improvements noted in the survey included, “adjusted staffing to increase coverage for evening students and staff, increased community outreach..., resumed quarterly crime statistics release to educate the public…, continued security camera upgrades…, and increased promotion MustangAlert!”
The survey also noted the “tbh Mental Health Support at Delta,” with the service sign-ups at a total of 2,142.
The campus climate survey presentation can be found under board meetings, under the Aug. 20 board Study Session.
Congressman Josh Harder visits the nursing simulation labs with new modern mannequins in the Locke building at Delta College. PHOTO BY JELISSA KING
DELTA PROVIDES COMMUNITY SUPPORT
BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN Editor-in-Chief
Being a student in college a lot of things might make you feel overwhelmed from classes, exams, papers and finals.
Pride Center
One-on-one advising
Free school supplies
Textbook & supplies voucher
Student lounge space
Unlike high school, students tend to have to reach in before there is a lot of outreach for clubs, programs, and organizations to join.
Delta College has so many programs that
provide so much and can also help you with a successful school year.
Here is a partial list of special programs and areas that provide wraparound community support for Delta College students.
Dreamers Success Center
Undocumented student resources
Free legal counseling
Information about AB 540 and DACA
Student lounge space
Basic Needs
School supplies
Access to a computer lab
Laundry services Tuesday and Thursday in the Holt parking lot
DARTE
Technology loaner program
SB554 Free tuition for Adult School Students or other forms of financial assistance
Resources and tuition assistance for undocumented students
EOPS
School supplies
Gas cards
Help with counseling services
Tutoring
Book voucher
Assistance grants
Transportation assistance
Early registration
DSPS
Provides access and support to students in academic programs
Early registration for classes
Extra time for exams and finals
EPIC bash welcomes students back
BY GURMAN SINGH Staff Writer
Delta’s EPIC and APIAE (Asian and Pacific Islander Students) LC programs held a Back to School Bash for the 2024-25 school year on Aug. 28.
President of the learning community programs, Stacy Vang provided further details about EPIC & APIAE.
“Currently under the epicenter we have two learning communities, EPIC and APIAE. EPIC helps students in their first year decide what they want to major in and research more for their
futures, and APIAE are those returning students who provide community engagement, these communities support the Asian American and Pacific Islanders college success, though not limited to other communities,” Vang said
This program has grown a lot over the years and has caught many eyes as a great opportunity for their collegiate goals.
“Previously the groups have been smaller but this year is larger, sitting at almost 50 students in each program as
of right now, and we plan to have more to join in the coming years,” Vang said in an interview.
The event gave students the opportunity to introduce themselves to one another and build a community.
Students were provided with food, games, prizes, and many more activates for students to enjoy themselves and their peers’ company.
Some students such as Grace Lau, a fourth-year student, and Rameet Singh, a third-year student, gave an insight of what this community has done
for them.
“The community has been great, the EPIC community has really helped me with my education and career choices, what I really appreciate is the counseling they offer, they help us talk to a counselor much faster,” said Lau.
“This community has impacted me in a positive way personally and mentally, the people here are very friendly, whenever I am having a problem someone is always willing to help,” said Singh
Students get food on the go with Mobile Fresh
BY JOHN NGUYEN Senior Staff Writer
Delta and food bank Second Harvest hosted a free food drop as part of Second Harvest’s Mobile Fresh program in the Shima 2 parking lot on Aug. 28.
This event was the first Mobile Fresh food drop hosted exclusively for Delta students. For the previous two food drops at Delta, Second Harvest hosted Mobile Fresh at the campus for all members of the public.
“It helps the community for sure. I know a bunch of people from all age ranges that come here … I know some people that have been asking for this to come back … It helps out the students and the community, I’ve seen a bunch of different age groups and a lot of people will tend to come here if possible,” said Emmanuel Matigbay, a student at Delta.
Volunteers offered items on a first-come, first-served basis. The food drop offered a wide variety of foodstuffs across various tables. Items included fresh produce, bags of dairy products, bags of processed foods, beverages like sparkling water and boxes of baked goods. Watermelons were a popular item at the food drop, going out of stock by 9:55 a.m.
“This is my first time coming, and I was really excited to see what was gonna happen, and the vibe and what kind the people were gonna give off. It didn’t disappoint...” said Joselena Warham, a student at Delta College.
Students brought their ID’s to be scanned, taking bags and wagons with them to carry food.
“With the Mobile Fresh food drops, it’s not point-related like how it is in our Food Pantry...with Mobile Fresh … you can get multiple,” said Valerie Valera, acting student programs assistant at the Student Delta’s Food Pantry.
During the food drop, volunteers were not allowed to take any of the food available for themselves. The team brought donuts for the volun-
teers in compensation. When the team ended the event at 10:24 a.m., the volunteers celebrated by taking a group photo. Volunteers who stayed until 11
a.m. were rewarded with gift bags and could take any leftover food.
“A lot of our student population is homeless or in poverty and struggle with their ability to afford groceries … When I first started off at Delta, I was also facing homelessness. So it’s just good to be able to be in a position where I’m able to help other students, who are where I was when I first started out here.” said Alyssa Suarez, a worker in the Student Delta’s Food Pantry and Office of Student Life.
Delta and Second Harvest are scheduled to host the Mobile Fresh food drop three more times throughout the Fall Semester. Mobile Fresh food drops will be hosted on the fourth Wednesday of every month. These dates include: Sept. 25, Oct. 23 and Nov. 27.
“We are still gonna continue doing the Mobile Fresh food drops once a month every fourth Wednesday … We are having a fundraising campaign that will be launching in November of this semester to try and gain donations for the Food Pantry, as well as trying to sign up for grants and hosting more events from the Food Pantry on campus,” Valera said.
“With the Mobile Fresh food drops, it’s not point-related like how it is in our Food Pantry, because in our Food Pantry, you’re allotted to use up to 16 points every visit. However, with our Mobile Fresh event, there are no point systems. We do have a system where like each table will hand out like one to three items, like one of the items that we were passing out were just bags of produce … Some of those items would be three-pointers, and you can only get two. But with Mobile Fresh … you can get multiple,” said Valerie Valera, Acting Student Programs Assistant at Delta’s Food Pantry.
Upon the first 30 minutes of the event, 87 students had arrived to the food drop. Few-
er students came as the event progressed, so the volunteers ended the event around 10:24 a.m with some volunteers leaving the parking lot. The food drop itself was still open until 11 a.m. By the scheduled end of the food drop, 142 students in total had come.
“We’re having a high increase of students that come to the Pantry … I’ve seen it go from 50 students a week, if not a day, to going to well over 200, close to 300 students a day. And last year, I can probably say I was in service of a thousand students last year for the semester. That’s a lot of students, you know, when you put it in perspective,” said Alyssa Phillips, a worker at Delta’s Food Pantry. “You know, they have to focus and food can be a big distraction if you don’t have it, and that’s the thing here on campus is that 62 percent of students at Delta struggle with food insecurity. And I think the school’s mission, if they want students to come here and learn, is to provide nourishing food for their bodies so they can be able to learn, and focus and stay on track of their academic studies.”
Above: ASDC volunteers setting up for the day. Left: Second harvest truck delivering the food for the event in the morning.
Below: A large box of assorted fruits for PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN
‘Legacy is undebated’: Tales of the ‘Brat’ summer
BY ZACKARY KIRK-NEWTON Managing Editor
Theyear is 2085, you’ve just gotten out of your 16-hour shift at the oxygen factory and you have a measly 40,000 lunar cycles till your retirement. You sit down at the dinner table and smile as your child walks up to you and asks: “Poppop what was the summer of 2024 like?”
Memories flood of the luxuries you took for granted: clean air, lack of aliens, and the state of California and the Pacific Ocean being separate entities, but they fail to truly capture that moment.
Finally, after some thought you remember: “Ah that was the Brat summer.”
Truly nothing has dominated the past three months like “Brat,” the 6th studio album by avant-garde pop diva Charli XCX.
Released on June 7, the album has had an ironclad grip on not only music discourse but also the general public, from TikTok dance to presidential endorse-
ments. This overwhelming presence has led to the term “Brat summer” entering the zeitgeist.
“You’re just that girl who’s like a little messy likes to party … like maybe has a breakdown but parties through it,” said Charli in a video posted to her TikTok on July 1 that dissected the meaning of “Brat.”
“It’s very honest, it’s very blunt, also a little volatile.”
This explanation can be felt in the music of the album most obviously in the song “360” and its subsequent remix “365.” Both exude an apologetic “honest” mean-girl aura featuring lyrics that see Charli placing herself as the muse of any listener “I’m your favorite reference baby.”
This also goes for “Von Dutch” the lead single for the album that relishes being the focus of drama and gossip or the song “Girl, so Confusing” featuring Lorde which sees Charli mining her own personal drama with Lorde on a track. Both of these tracks are meant to embody the messiness inherent to the
“Brat” concept.
Now not every song off “Brat” is about partying through the complex emotions were besieged by daily life, some of them are about generational trauma.
“Apple” a deep cut off the album that lyrically references the age-old adage “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” is a surprisingly massive hit on TikTok, with nearly 25 million videos using the audio, following the creation of dance created by Kelly Heyers.
“I basically woke up, stood in front of a mirror and took everything from the lyrics,” said Heyers in an interview with The Guardian.
She praised the Brat ethos which she called “unpolished.”
“To me, Brat summer means not giving a [expletive], but also means being kind,” Heyers added.
Music alone hasn’t made Brat into the juggernaut it is, the cover also helped pave its way to meme status.
The cover features the title of the album in low-res font on a nuclear waste
green background. It’s immediately eye-catching in a simple and blunt way, just like the music.
“The fact that people are like, ‘I could have made this in five minutes,’ and the fact that my response is, ‘Well, yeah, but you didn’t’” Charli told Vogue on Feb. 29.
This core piece of the Brat iconography spread wide and far including to some surprising places, when President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race the official campaign account for Biden and Harris on X changed to simply Kamala HQ.
This change also featured a new banner that featured a riff on the Brat cover with the name of the account. This was soon followed up by an official endorsement from Charli in a tweet: “Kamala IS brat.”
Has Kamala ever heard Brat?
The world may never know. Would she approve of the lyrical content? Barring some massive changes to drug policy, likely not. But like all great art, Brat is in the eye of the beholder.
Delta opens annual Visions in Clay exhibition
BY JOSHUA SIMAS Staff Writer
Delta’s 15th annual Visions in Clay exhibition opened on Aug. 29 and runs through Sept. 20.
American visual artist Kevin Snipes was this year’s exhibition juror to decide which pieces won the show awards.
This year there were 36 artists, some all the way from New York, and some native to Stockton, displaying 45 pieces of work.
Mia Hill, one of the presenting artists who is native to Stockton, displayed a piece titled “Baggage.”
“In a way I refer to nostalgia, sentiments, or keepsakes,” Hill said. “I think of the little moments or objects that may seem insignificant from an outside perspective.”
Hill got her start in painting but said once she got her hands on clay she felt more passion.
“Though frustrating at times also, clay still captures me at every level of the endless possibilities and processes,” Hill said.
On top of living in Stockton for most of her life, Hill is also a Delta alumni.
Hill said being a local as well as a Delta alumni encourages her more to apply to shows the college hosts.
“It is always a pleasure to have my
work being shown at Delta College,” Hill said.
Art lovers one and all were present at the Visions in Clay reception to admire the pieces on display.
“There’s a bunch of great work in there right now,” Stockton resident Alazar Abraham said.
Abraham said he considers himself a musician, a thinker, and a maker, he came to the reception to enjoy the pieces.
“The fun thing about art is that the artist’s intention is unbinded from the object that they make so sometimes I feel like they’re speaking to me, sometimes I have my own experience, and sometimes there’s no relationship,” Abraham said.
Abraham said he was excited about much of the art in the gallery, taking a particular interest in the pots.
“A lot of the time in ceramics you see people turning their noses up at what we call functional ware, cups and bowls and pots, so it’s nice to see some cool ones in there too,” Abraham said.
Hill’s piece was of a bag with various different designs on it with a chain nailed into both sides.
“I find bits and pieces of my art being influenced by my home and surroundings here in Stockton,” Hill said.
Top Left: Freddy Santana and his piece “Pensado en el Futuro.” Top Right: Chidi Ukwuoma and his piece “Once in a Lifetime.” Bottom: Jenny Lauck and her piece “Wind Throne.”
PHOTOS BY CAITLYNN BRANDON
WHERE MY FUNDS AT? FINANCIAL AID DELAYED
BY JELISSA KING News Editor
Welcomeback to another semester at Delta College, where things changed as much as they remain the same. Students now have to purchase parking permits and can’t waive the student health fee.
But on the bright side, financial aid is hitting students’ bank accounts, right?
Delta student, Janet Herrera, said otherwise.
“It’s literally taken me a year to get financial aid set up. I finally finished going to the office [DeRicco] to verify my identity. I’m enrolled as we speak and I only received $100. I’ve been going back and forth with financial aid,” said Herrera.
Many students are having the same conversations, either students are receiving very little back or not receiving anything at all.
Another Delta student, Markus Mitchell, hasn’t received any funds.
“I’ve been having a hard time with my financial aid. This is my second semester here and I haven’t received anything. But the financial aid office said there’s a delay with the system,” said Mitchell.
So is there a glitch in the system? Why aren’t students receiving their funds?
The Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Shawn Domingo, explains what the issue is.
“It was brought to the attention of financial aid on Thursday 8/29, that due to several updates in our Student Information System, backend processes that we rely on the system to run in order to properly disburse aid to our Delta students had broken down and stopped working.
These processes affected student’s ability to create Bank Mobile accounts, send funding from our campus to Bank Mobile and also duplicated funds that were sent to bank mobile.
First disbursements were run in accordance with our published disbursement schedule, but we later found out that the system did not release the funding to Bank Mobile the way it is intended to. This has caused a delay in funds reaching some of our students during the first week of school,” said Domingo.
Ideally, it’s supposed to take at least one to two business days for funds to hit students’ bank accounts through the BankMobile Disbursements.
So what’s the resolution?
“We have been working around the
clock with several departments to fix these issues and as of Friday 8/30,” said Domingo. “We are confident that all of these issues will be resolved. We expect a clean disbursement to go out to our student by next week in accordance with our disbursement calendar.”
If that’s the case, why not send a mass email that explains the delays of the BankMobile disbursements?
Instead, students are waiting in the financial aid line at DeRicco being told, “there’s a delay in the system.” Just wasting time.
The only source we have is from a Facebook public group posts for Delta students. An “anonymous participant” posted, “So when do I expect my financial funds?...”
Director of Marketing and Communications, Alex Breitler responded:
“Due to technical errors in the system, disbursements that were scheduled to go out the first week of school had to be postponed to the week of the second disbursement. Again, apologies for this issue and for any difficulty it has caused you.”
So don’t worry Delta students, you will be getting your money. You just have to be patient for another week or so.
Students being nickeled and dimed with parking
BY JOE DEMASI Sports Editor
After a four-year gap, which included the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta has again started charging students for parking. In addition, the new health fee and the established student activity fees are also in the MyDelta dashboard.
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3 a parking permit will be required for students and faculty. A daily permit cost $2 a day and valid for 24 hours. A semester permit is $30 and covers the whole fall semester but can only be bought online.
Fines range from $33-$38 for permit violations and some students say the administration should’ve done a better job informing students about this.
First-year student Bryan Greene, said “Delta overcharges students and he was never informed of the changes.
“I feel we shouldn’t be paying for parking due to inflation and students working. I’ve seen people trying to use the machines and I’m pretty sure those don’t work. They are for sure overcharging us we
shouldn’t be paying health fees and we already have to pay fees on books, most of us rely on aid to come here,” Greene said, “I’m just hearing this and I don’t think I got an email from anybody, they need to do a better job informing students, especially ones who drive to class four days out of the week like me.”
On Aug. 6 students should have received an email with information on how to purchase a permit and reminding students they will be charging for parking. As a caution, students have been told to not park in the Target or Weberstown Mall parking lots to avoid being cited or towed.
Enrollment is back to the levels of pre-COVID and students are looking for a better experience than they had in recent years, coming from high schools that were fully online or in hybrid class models.
Greene said he would prefer to do in-person classes and only has one of his four classes online.
Second-year student Veronica Gomez said parking fees are frustrating but understands Delta is a business.
“It sucks to be honest that they are charging for parking but it makes sense, they have to make money
too. I’m pretty sure they’ve always charged a fee in My Delta. I feel that isn’t the issue,” Gomez said, “I’ve been coming to campus ever since 2022 and I’ve never seen the parking lots this busy. I park in Shima and when I come for my afternoon class I see some parking spots being used in the second lot and usually everyone would fit in the first one.”
From experience usually the parking populations get smaller as the semester goes on.
Raul Martinez started at Delta in the Spring and said he has mixed feelings about the fees.
“I have mixed feelings about all the fees they are charging. If it helps out the campus and community I wouldn’t be opposed to it but based on Delta’s history they always seem to prolong things so I’m not too sure how it’ll all work and be enforced for students who don’t have passes or the ability to get a parking pass.”
Campus police will be overseeing parking passes and fines. There has been nothing said by Delta about what will happen if a student can’t afford these fees.
BASEBALL SHOWS CONTINUED SUCCESS
BY JOE DEMASI Sports Editor
Delta College’s baseball team finished 2nd in state for the 2023-24 season and had 23 four-year transfers for the third year in a row with 20 plus transfers. The end of the year also saw beloved coach Reed Peters leave the program but stay local and become the head coach at the University of Pacific.
Despite all the successes and changes, the team had its fair share of challenges dealing with injuries and not being able to play at home Nick Ceccheiti Baseball Field due to safety issues.
The team also tragically lost a player, Sophomore pitcher Will Wentworth died in November 2023. Wentworth didn’t play his freshman year but was expected to be a pitcher out of the bullpen his sophomore year.
Delta finished the season 27-13 going 17-7 in conference games. Outfielders Dom Rodriguez, Park Romney, and starting pitcher right-hander Tyson Pereira led the team.
Rodriguez was the best hitter on the team statistically.
He led the team in batting average (.448) on-base percentage (.533) home runs (12) doubles (19) and hits (90). He committed to the University of Arizona to continue his baseball career.
“Going to Delta and having Coach Peter’s as a coach impacted my career in the best way possible,” said Rodriguez as he praised Delta's baseball program and Peters.“It changed my career and made me the hitter I am today I’m glad I decided to come to Delta.”
Rodriguez commented on Delta's tough journey and losing Wentworth.
“It was a crazy journey for sure, I didn’t even think we were going to go far into playoffs after a rough start to the season. Losing Will was tough, it shocked all of us, and moving on from that was very difficult. We then said it at the end of the fall “Let’s just go win states now, for Will” We knew it wouldn’t be easy, so we all had to buy in and work harder as a team,” he said.
Starter Tyson Pereira was a well-needed workhorse for the team, meaning he threw lots of innings and was reliable for pitching. He led the team in wins (8) innings pitched (79.2) games started (17). He’s committed to San Jose State and will start pitching there next season.
Pereira said Peters believed in him despite dealing with his own injury.
“Coach Peters played a huge part in my development leading to success here. Coach believed in me coming back my sophomore year after having Tommy John and seeing that visible confidence in me is truly something that carried into my mindset to compete to the best of my ability,” said Pereira. “The legacy and connections that Coach Peters has built at Delta is one of the main reasons why we are good every year… the man puts us in a position to win ball games and knows what he’s doing.”
Tommy John is a very serious elbow injury and common surgery for baseball pitchers. Its recovery time can be up to one year.
Pereira says it was bittersweet to get second in state.
“It was not the result we wanted. Nonetheless at the beginning of the year, where we ended up was nowhere close to where we thought we would be. Getting hot at the right time contributed to our success.”
He said Wentworth's passing was difficult but he praised the impact he had on the team.
“Many of the guys were super close with Will and looked up to him because of the energy and focus he brought to the field every day. This did give us a little bit more motivation because if you didn’t have a motive, it was the play for the WW on the sleeve of our jersey, I would say Will was the main component in our success this year,” he said.
Outfielder Park Romney was a solid outfielder and also contributed to our successful season. He had a .299 batting average and hit 11 doubles while playing very good defense. Romney will join Peters and keep playing at the University of Pacific.
Romney said the obstacles they faced were difficult but brought the team together. “Losing Will was one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through, but having my team to lean on in hard times was really helpful. Coach is a huge advocate of mental health.”
All three players commented about not being able to play at home and had different responses.
“Not playing at Delta sucked, but we just thought of it as we were always playing on the road and if we were to win when we’re the home team, then we could go to someone else’s house and beat them there too,” said Rodriguez.
However Pereira mentioned that former players were used to not playing at home.
“Not playing at Delta was something that the returners were used to, However, sometimes it did not feel like playing at UOP, Banner Island, and Islander Field were home games. On the other hand, though, good teams find ways to win no matter what obstacles they face”, said Pereira.
Lastly, Romney said it wasn’t that big of a deal.
“It wasn’t ideal not being able to play on our field, but that wasn’t as big of an issue,” said Romney.
No.27 Dom Rodriguez hits a single at University of the Pacific in a win on Friday, April 5. PHOTO BY JOE DEMASI
No. 24 Tyson Pereira warming up at Deltas first playoff win at Islander Field on Thursday, May 2. PHOTO BY JOE DEMASI
Work began in summer on athletic fields
BY ANDREA RIVERA Editor-in-Chief
During the summer, construction began on Delta College’s $13 million renovation project of the damaged softball, baseball, football and track fields. The aim of the project, funded by the remaining Measure L bond funds, and issuing Certificates of Participation (COPs) for the balance of the funds required to complete the Project. The project was approved at the Sept. 6 board meeting.
While the construction of the softball, baseball, football, and track fields occurs; all games and meets are still held off-campus at various schools throughout Stockton.
Several meetings were held during the summer and field trips were arranged with the coaches to examine the fields and track surfaces, meet with manufacturers, and ask questions about each type to identify that all sports requirements for each field and track were covered, according to the Nov. 21 board meeting. Construction is focused on getting the softball and
baseball fields, “completed February 2025 so that those two sports can be back on campus,” said Director of Facilities Planning and Management Stacy Pinola in an email interview.
Pinola also said the football and track field will follow in July 2025 and complete project renovations finished by August 2025.
According to a slide presentation from the July 2022 board meeting, “Over the last 5-years the Athletic Program has had to adjust their training methods due to an increase in athletic injuries. Injuries that can be associated with (sic) defective surfaces.”
The project was approved in September 2022 for the timeline of the fields to be completely updated by December 2024 but the task to approve the construction team and a design-bid-build process took several months.
By Nov. 21, 2023, The McGuire & Hester Proposal won the contract with a proposal for, “(1) Programming and Collaboration Phase Services (“Phase 1 Services”); (2) Design Through Agency Approval and Final Guaranteed Maximum Price Phase Services
(“Phase 2 Services”); and (3) Insurance Costs, for the Design-Build Contract.”
The design-bid-build process allowed for the acceleration of the completion of the project, cost containment, reduction of construction complexity, and reduced exposure to risk for the community college district.
“We worked with our Purchasing Department on the Design/Building process for Request for Qualification for firms to provide their experiences with such a project. The review committee held several meetings with each firm that submitted their qualification. The committee held a final interview in which the committee deliberated before choosing McGuire and Hester,” said Pinola.
Pinola also said that she wanted to “thank the Athletic Department and coaches that have made the sacrifice of holding practice and games off campus for us to do the construction. We are excited about having our student athletes back on campus for practices and games.”
Mens’ soccer captures third win in a row against Ohlone Renegades
BY JOSHUA SIMAS Staff Writer
On Aug.29 the Delta Mustangs men’s soccer team captured the team’s third win in a row against the Ohlone College Renegades.
The Mustangs delivered a devastating blowout to the Renegades, winning the game 7-0.
“What was working best for us was constantly going over our game plan and what we want from this season, driving us to not take the foot off the pedal,” forward right Elijah Hanley said.
Within the first few minutes of the game the Mustangs found a hole in the Renegades defense, leading to the team’s first goal, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Ohlone’s defense tightened up after the Mustang’s goal but the next trial was
more difficult - getting the ball downfield.
Defense was where the team hung its hats while not just stopping all Renegade goals but also only allowing two shot attempts.
“On the defensive end when we don’t have the ball, it’s just pressuring and working as hard as we can to get the ball back and get back in our system,” center back Hayden Beier said.
The second half held more success for the Mustangs as the team took another 13 shots, converting four of them into goals.
Ohlone players appeared exhausted in the second half, on one particular play an Ohlone forward was alone on the breakaway for an open shot, only to miss and fall to the floor in frustration.
“The ones who really won the game
for us was the defense with keeping a clean sheet,” said forward Jasha Vaszary.
Mustangs men’s soccer is on a hot streak as of late showing no signs of slowing down. The team is set on staying motivated to achieve their ultimate goal.
“Just because we won the last three games and the last one by a wide margin doesn’t mean we can lose our killer instinct,” Vaszary said.“To continue this winning streak, we need consistency in practice, mentality on the field, and maintaining passion for the game.”
As far as aspirations go the men’s soccer team had their eyes set on one goal since before the season started.
“Our main focus is to take it all the way by winning our section and regionals and most importantly being state champions,” Hanley said.
That was a goal men’s soccer wasn’t able to capture last season, but this current group shows a lot of promise.
“Coming as a freshman and winning the championship is every athlete’s dream,” Vaszary said. “Especially after a not too successful season, knowing you made the difference, it would mean a lot to me personally.”
Hanley said winning a championship wouldn’t just mean a lot to him but also his family as he has been commuting to Stockton from Benicia to play on the team.
“Commuting to Stockton everyday was a sacrifice I was willing to make for the opportunity I was granted and for us to start the season the way we are is promising and rewarding,” Hanley said.
Left, middle: Before and after of the baseball field as work progressed this summer. Right: The football field and track in early construction. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DELTA COLLEGE