Hospice tree lights memorialize lost loved ones
BY LEVI GOERZEN Staff Writer
Hospice of San Joaquin marked its 36th year illuminating the Tree of Lights on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The event, which started with a single tree on the Delta College campus, has now spread to eight cities across San Joaquin County.
Each year volunteers from PG&E and community members decorate the tree with thousands of lights all of which are dedicated through donations.
While tree lighting is often seen as celebrating Christmas and the holiday season, it ultimately is a celebration of life for those that have a light on the tree dedicated to them.
“I saw a woman in tears because she had a family member’s light on the tree,” said Delta College Director of Marketing and Communications Alex Breitler.
This year’s event started with a welcome speech by Paul Balestracci, the Board President from Hospice of San Joaquin.
“The event commemorates our connection with our loved ones and celebrates how they’ve touched us and brightened our lives,” said Balestracci.
After the welcome, Dan Lane, a volunteer from hospice with the Veteran to Veteran program, spoke an invocation.
“When we flip the switch on the tree of lights tonight more than just a glow of lights occurs, we ignite memories of every loved one that is identified with a single light,” said Lane.
Following the invocation a speech was given by Delta College Foundation Executive Director Joseph Feneck.
“Every time I drive across campus or down Pacific Avenue during the holiday season this monumental tree and all the beautiful lights signifies strong feelings of comfort, peace and memories,” said Feneck.
The lighting of the tree was done by Madeleine Nunez from Stockton’s Annunciation School, who also illustrated the cover drawing for the event.
Hospice of San Joaquin is the only non-profit hospice organization in San Joaquin County, according to its website. It operates the Hospice House on Pacific Avenue, across from the University of the Pacific.
Paul Balestracci, board president for Hospice of San Joaquin speaks at the 36th annual Tree of Lights lighting on Nov. 26.
PHOTO BY LEVI GOERZEN
Top: student artist Madeleine Nunez, whose artwork is featured on the front cover of the ceremony’s program, flips the switch to light up the Christmas tree at the Hospice Tree of Lights ceremony held on the Delta College campus in Stockton on Nov. 26. Right: the Stockton Singers, led by director Ric Campero, begin the evening with festive Christmas carols. Above: the Hospice Tree of Lights after the ceremony.
PHOTOS BY LAYLA CARRASCO
QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT MEASURE K
MeasureK passed by 58.5 percent, only 3.5 percent above the required threshold.
As Delta College celebrates the historic $598 million bond victory, questions remain about how those funds will be used.
From August to November Collegian staffers developed many new skills reporting Measure K: dissecting documents and policies including lawsuits, school bonds, ballot policies, budgets, Grand Jury reports and more.
Collegian staff now has insight into how the sausage is made. That’s not a good thing.
Reporting on Measure K was a headache turned curse. When asking the questions about Measure K, no one had a direct answers. Every week, we received Measure K campaign ads that provided information about the bond but never seemed to clarify projects. Campaign materials said Delta would work to ensure career edu-
EDITORIAL
cation as essential in San Joaquin County, particularly among first responders. As we reported on the promises broken with Measure L, specifically the buildings that never materialized, we realized the lack of information was directly tied to not wanting to make promises that couldn’t be kept.
That’s a bad premise for a bond measure. Questions remain.
Above all: what’s Measure K’s purpose? Documents, public statements and interviews didn’t provide a clear picture.
One such issue is raised by Delta’s proposed 2024 Facilities Master Plan, presented at the Nov. 4 Facilities Committee meeting.
As a public document available on the college’s BoardDocs site, the first draft brought serious questions about the college’s future planning.
Some photos included in the document weren’t even from the Delta
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.
College campus. One, of a mural at the Dreamers Success Center, appears to be taken from a thumbnail of an ABC10 YouTube video. More shockingly, two photos appear to be taken from the website of a Delta College located in Michigan, showcasing a building that does not exist at our Delta College, with nursing uniforms showing an unfamiliar logo.
“It was an oversight by the architect and myself before we released the draft to the committee,” Director of Facilities Planning, Stacy Pinola said. “The pictures have been replaced by SJDC stock pictures.”
The first draft has since been updated, replacing the Michigan photos with placeholders. A public-facing document with mistakes reflects on the $598 million bond. As students we’re told to check our work before submission. Does the standard not apply to Delta College?
The Facilities Committee approved the plan to move forward
STAFF
on Nov. 18 as a recommendation to the President’s Council before moving to the Board of Trustees.
We hope those bodies do due review diligence.
At the Nov. 12 board meeting, outgoing Trustee Jessie Garza-Roderick said she hoped projects planned previously would be fulfilled: “That’s what we’re really committed to doing, and so the Measure K money will help us do that.”
The Collegian hopes so, too. The slim margin by which the bond passed needs to be considered as an action point for Delta College to rebuild public trust. Mistakes can’t be made. Without an actual plan of action, though, the public may never know if there are mistakes. Maybe that was the plan.
PHOTOJOURNALISM
STUDENT FILM FEST ENTERS SECOND YEAR
BY ASHLEY HALLINAN Staff Writer
The second annual SJDC Digital Media Film Festival, presented by Fierce Mustang Media Group, will be on Friday, Dec. 13.
The first film festival at Delta came to fruition in 2023 with the organization and efforts from Delta’s Digital Media program with funding from the Career and Technical Education office.
“Students can gain a sense of accomplishment of having their project being seen on a big screen if they’re selected. If they’re not selected, then there’s still a lot to gain that includes networking,” said Digital Media Professor Adriana Brogger.
“At this year’s event, we’re going to have Marsha Posner-Williams as our keynote speaker. She’s going to bring her brand of Marsha motivation, and so I think anybody who’s in the room is going to get to hear motivating words from someone who’s a two-time Emmy award winner, Golden Globe winner, and that is a great experience,” said Brogger.
The film festival presents an opportunity for students and aspiring local filmmakers to have their work seen and network with others. The addition of industry professional Posner-Williams is another chance for attendees to gain valuable insight.
“The purpose of a film festival is really to help elevate the art form that is film, and in this case it provides a space for students and community filmmakers to showcase some of their work to a larger platform, sometimes as creatives we make videos and only so many people see it because it only lives on YouTube and maybe it's not promoted much. So with film festivals you get a wider audience and your art can reach more people,” explained Leo Marquez, Digital Media Lab Tech.
This year’s festival is also being organized with help from Fierce Mustang Media Group a collective media production group ran by student interns in the fields of Digital Media, Journalism and Mass Communications.
Attendees can expect to see the top three selected films selected in the six categories of documentary, short film, creative film, local high school submis-
Hateful graffiti appears in all-gender restroom
sions, Delta College alumni, and community filmmakers. The community filmmaker category was open for submissions for any filmmaker in San Joaquin County.
The event will run from 5 to 9 p.m. starting with a reception with food and networking in Upper Danner from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by a move to the Tillie Lewis Theater from 6 to 9 p.m.
Admission is free, but attendees should reserve tickets to ensure there is enough seating. Tickets can be reserved by going to kwdc.fm and clicking the blue button that says “Get Tickets at Film Freeway.”
The film festival will be on the last day of the semester, offering free entertainment to close out campus activities, support students, and an opportunity to hear from an inspiring industry professional.
Editor’s note: The writer of this story organizes the Film Festival. The lead advisers of Fierce Mustang Media Group are Adriana Brogger and Tara Cuslidge-Staiano.
BY LEVI GOERZEN Staff Writer
On Nov. 13 the first-floor Shima all-gender bathroom was vandalized with anti-LGBTQ+ graffiti.
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. It was reportedly found by Photography Lab Technician Jess Peña.
“I thought we were progressing here,” said Peña.
This isn’t the first time on-campus graffiti has targeted the LGBTQ+ community, according to Clery reports. There were two other incidents based on sexual orientation in 2019, according to public reports.
ronment we’ve built here,” said the ASDC message that was posted to Instagram on the ASDC account @asdc_sjdc. “The message written does not represent the values we hold as a campus community.”
ASDC reminded students they’re not alone and everyone is welcome at Delta College.
“We cannot allow acts of intolerance or prejudice to divide us or make us feel unwelcome,” the statement read Superintendent/ President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson also sent out a letter to the Delta College community on Nov. 28. Lawrenson shared the sentiment of ASDC.
Kirstyn Russell, co-president of the Delta College Pride Coalition, said there were also two fires in all-gender restrooms in early 2019.
“It’s reminiscent of another incident in 2019,” said Russell.
The incident in 2019 happened outside the all-gender restrooms in the Forum Building. A poster talking about the all-gender bathrooms was vandalized with profanity and a swastika.
This incident warrants serious discussion, said Russell.
“I don’t expect the crime to necessarily be solved,” said Russell. “But I do hope it will spark conversations to help protect trans students.”
The Associated Students of Delta College (ASDC) released a statement on Nov. 19 regarding the incident.
“Recently, an incident in one of our all-gender sought to undermine the inclusive and respectful envi-
“The safety of all students and employees is integral to our college culture,” said Lawrenson.
Lawrenson’s message encouraged Delta College students to speak up if they witness any acts of hate on campus.
“This incident of vandalism does not reflect the values that we are dedicated to as a District,” said Lawrenson “However, it is an indicator that we must collectively support our LGBTQIA+ students and employees who have been impacted by this event.”
There are resources on campus for any students or faculty impacted by acts of hate or bias. The Pride Center located in Danner 202B is one such resource. The campus also has a point of contact for California Assembly Bill 620, that person is Activities Director Dr. Ricky Gutierrez-Maldonado. As a point of contact, his job is to address the needs of any LGBTQIA+ students and faculty on campus.
Trophies from the 2023 film festival on display in the Tillie Lewis Theatre.
PHOTO FROM COLLEGIAN ARCHIVE
Stockton Lantern Festival brings brilliance to downtown ballpark
BY JELISSA KING News Editor
ASM Global is back for a second season of hosting the Stockton Lantern Festival at the Stockton Ballpark. The event runs through Jan. 19.
Last year, the festival theme was the Magic Forest and this year’s theme is the Magic Ocean. There were 15 lantern exhibits and a live Chinese acrobat performance.
“The success of 2023’s Magic Forest has set the roadmap for years to come in Stockton as we, City, Tianyu and ASM Global, know this is a long process, years of building with many new family traditions forming,” said Jason Perry, General Manager for ASM Global Stockton.
“They make these lanterns in China,” said Luke Johnson, Director of Sales & Marketing ASM Global. “They shipped it to us and it took about three weeks for us to put it together.”
Tianyu Arts & Culture hosts and produces the Chinese Lantern Festival in the U.S. and in Europe. Currently, there are 38 locations in the U.S. All the lantern festivals provide interactive experiences for all visitors. The lantern displays have different themes but are usually themed around animals and nature.
As if nature was a prop, it rained during
the grand opening, but the festival continued rain or shine.
Along with the beautiful lights, there were bubble machines and music throughout the festival. The Magic Ocean consisted of lit-up sea creature walk-through tunnels, mystical caves and interactive games at the sea monster exhibits.
Delta nursing student, Sydney Ivans, took her daughter, Lillie Ivans and her friend, Vanessa Krivda to the grand opening. Despite the rain, the group was having a good time.
“We played with everything,” Ivans said. “The jellyfish room was fun. But our favorite would have to be the octopus, that was so much fun.”
The group wasn’t the only ones raving about the seaweed octopus display. Kristina Petrov was on her second date with Sean Hunt.
“The green octopus was my favorite,” Petrov said. “We played that twice. My second favorite was the other sea monster game, the whack-a-mole one.”
The Seaweed Octopus holds a fish far from its mouth and in front of the attraction is a platform where two players can compete. Both players must reach 250 points to make the octopus eat the fish.
The Lantern Festival is open seven days a week at 5 to 10 p.m.
Top Left: Lillie Ivans interacts with lantern attraction Leafy Sea Dragon. Whisper into his ear and he’ll change to your favorite color. Middle Left: The Seahorse lantern tank change colors when visitors walk through the exhibit.
Middle Right: Full view of Leafy Sea Dragon attraction. Bottom Left: The Carb lantern attraction changes colors as guests pass through the walkway.
Bottom Right: Lantern exhibit, the Mermaid Cave was surrounded with music, fog and bubbles. Top Right: The Alien Fish lantern exhibit.
PHOTO BY JELISSA KING
Stockton native Halima Lucas talks about Disney film career
BY ZANIEL WALDO Opinion Editor
Among those who grow up fascinated by film and television, the desire to one day work in the entertainment industry on acclaimed projects can arise.
Yet, with many stories and experiences relating accounts of struggle, a narrative forms that making a successful transition into the entertainment industry is almost impossible.
However, Halima Lucas, award-winning story editor and producer at Disney Television Animation, attests that anybody can rise to the occasion and make their dreams come true.
With an initial goal towards sociology, Lucas didn’t expect to pursue creative media as a career.
“I was always into creative works, but I never saw it as something to aspire career wise. When I went to college I was into sociology. But after binge-watching a new show and becoming attached, I realized that if this medium can change my mind about a topic, then it must have the ability to change people’s minds about the identities and communities others hold in what they advocate for,” Lucas said.
From that point on, Lucas found a new passion for the arts with the intent to build empathy among others through laughter and joy.
Lucas’ background from a supportive family led her to pursue higher education in film studies, resulting in a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California.
At the later end of her student journey at USC, she took inspiration from growing up in Stockton to write
and direct her short film “Amelia’s Closet.”
The film then became a finalist for the 43rd Student Academy Awards and won the 2017 American Black Film Festival HBO Short Film Award.
After graduating from USC, her success led her into Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative TV Director Shadowing program, as well as the Break The Room fellowship, where she helped develop and write the web series East of La Brea.
When she was selected to join the Nickelodeon Writing Program in 2018, this opened the door to work on network television as a staff writer to develop work on new live-action shows and The Rugrats.
Ultimately, Lucas’s strongest desire in her work is to create projects that tell stories representing people who otherwise go unnoticed.
She advises those from her home city of Stockton who want to pursue a similar route as her to make such personal stories in their work.
“You are what you do. You start by making projects based on stories you want to see made. You have to ask yourself what kinds of stories you want to tell and why you want to be a filmmaker. Suppose you are unsure what you are trying to accomplish as a storyteller. Don’t make the goal about fame instead of focusing on the passion for storytelling. Take the time to reflect on which story ideas move you so you can develop a sense of drive and purpose in your career,” Lucas said.
Lucas continues to accomplish her goals of representation on TV through her animated show Marvel’s “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur,” in which she won the 2024 Humanitas Prize for Children’s Teleplay.
The cartoon follows a young African-American superheroine, often embedded with messages of confidence, gentrification, family connections, and ethnic pride, among others.
The show currently airs on Disney Channel, with Lucas serving as a main staff writer on most episodes.
Lucas also said that although her career doesn’t allow much time back home anymore, she is still a proud Stocktonian and aspires to direct a film in the city one day.
Fashion
Club raises money with Fall Sale
BY ELIJAH PROSSER Staff Writer
On Nov.14, Delta’s Fashion Club hosted an annual Fall Sale only for a day in Shima 306. It ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Shoes, jewelry, accessories and many other items starting prices at $1were sold at the event.
Advisor Leslie Asfour said the Fashion Club uses the money raised toward field trips.
“The club does field trips we’ve done San Francisco and last September we did New York and we get to meet people in the fashion industry,” said Asfour.
The main focus of the event was to raise money for the Fashion Club to go on more fun trips like New York they went to.
Lezleigh Maldonado, a second year Delta student who is the Fashion Club Inter-Club Council representative said the event is beneficial to the Delta community.
“It’s a great way to bring everyone together and share that interest of being in that envi-
ronment of fashion and we all get to express our own fashion individually and so we have different types of fashion here so it’s kinda like a thrift store so it’s open to anybody,” said Maldonado.
The event was a big hit for the club. Many people showed up to support the club and experience the different types of items being sold.
Adriana Church is a second year Delta student the Fashion Club president.
“Being a leader here at campus since the beginning of the pandemic it was something that I wanted to get going again because getting students back on campus is a big priority in getting the fashion program going again is everything so with that I’ve kinda been leading everybody here to put events like this for the club this is about our 3rd one since the pandemic and just being a leader making sure that people here in the valley know that they do have a career in fashion and it starts somewhere here like Delta participating in events or even shopping,” said Church.
Isabel Gutierrez looks at jewelry at the Fall Sale hosted by the Fashion Club in Shima 306 on Nov. 14. PHOTO BY MIKAELA CABANG
Halima Lucas in a shared photo from Instagram. PHOTO COURTESY OF HALIMA LUCAS
CARNIVAL BRINGS FALL FUN AT DELTA MARKET
BY JOHN NGUYEN Senior Staff Writer
On Nov. 23, The Market at Delta hosted one of their monthly carnivals, Harvest Adventure Day, at the Budd 4 parking lot. For the carnival, staff set up crafts and games booths at the entrance of the market for families to try out.
The carnival is part of The Market’s recently launched initiative, Delta College Kids’ Discovery Days. Ever since last year, The Market had hosted carnivals each month for the entertainment of families. The months-old Discovery Days initiative builds on top of that by offering monthly showcases designed to promote both community and education.
“All it takes is one time to capture a child’s imagination, and that’s it. That can turn into something really, really great … Kids don’t normally think about college at that level yet. They’re thinking ‘oh, let’s get out of grade school,’ but they don’t think ‘okay, what do I do after that?’ So I feel like this is going to make kids go ‘wow, this is attainable,’” said Eric Carey, the director of The Market. “So it doesn’t matter who you are, if you come to this day, you’ve got a shot to do something really great. To go to college, and then go on from there, so this should make a really good connection with especially the kids in our community.”
The crafts booth at the carnival had a table for families to decorate plastic cutouts of trees to make a fall-themed, 3-D craft. Guests could decorate their trees with stickers of leaves, acorns, pumpkins and mushrooms. “I think it was great. It was enjoyable. I like it because I do arts and crafts … I do it all the time with my grandkids,” said Molly Soriano, grandmother and guest at The Market. “It was different because it was in a different environment.”
The games booth at the carnival included two tables, one with a mini basketball set and one with a mini Skee-Ball set. Guests could play either game for free, and receive one ticket for playing. These tickets could be exchanged for small toys, accessories and other prizes. Prizes were sorted by worth: balloons and whistles were worth one ticket, stress toys were worth two tickets while stickers and plastic toys were worth three tickets.
Throughout the event, Christmas-themed music was played on a speaker. Tables also offered free candy to guests, as well as a free coloring book that was custom-made by The Market and introduced this season.
“I also like this and also the environment,” said Callista Lee, a child guest at The Market. “I really liked everything there.”
Less people attended The Market on Nov. 23 than in a typical operation, which Carey attributed to forecasts of
BY JOHN NGUYEN
stormy weather. At 12:12 p.m., a light sprinkle came over the carnival, which progressed into a shower by 12:17 p.m. Rain broke out by 12:28 p.m., causing the carnival to close 32 minutes before its scheduled end at 1 p.m.
The last monthly carnival to take place this year will Ornaments & Smiles: A Delta Kids Craft Day, a games and crafts booth offering decoratable ornaments that’s scheduled Dec. 21. For 2025, The Market also plans to partner with various departments and clubs at Delta to host showcases for the community.
“Our trajectory is to become more
and more community-focused … With that thought process, it’s becoming more and more community-involved. In 2025, you’re gonna see departments from Delta, you’re gonna see clubs from Delta coming out, getting showcases,” said Carey. “So you may have crafts, you may have games but you’re also gonna see a showcase that gets the minds of – especially the kids, the next generation – involved so that they’ll start thinking … OK, Delta’s a viable opportunity for me that I wanna come take a part of.’ Just think of the kid that grows up and remembers, ‘man, I saw this really cool thing on Saturday at Delta. Hey, I wanna go to that place.’”
Uncovering the multi-talented lives of Delta’s faculty
BY KIEMA GARRETT Senior Staff Writer
Uncovering the multi-talented lives of Delta’s faculty.”
At Delta College, professors aren’t just masters of their disciplines — they’re dynamic individuals with surprising passions that might just leave you saying, “Wait, they do what?”
Take Music Professor Mike Rocha, for example. Rocha is a four-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter and skilled pianist. When he’s not leading a classroom, or performing on stage, he’s a master at hands-on hobbies.
“I’m just a hands-on type of person. I enjoy woodworking, house projects, and renovations,” he said.
His home even features a custom-built smoker he crafted himself, where he perfects Texas and Memphis-style barbecue. “I like making barbecue. I’m a huge fan,” he said, expressing the same dedication to ribs and brisket as he does to his music.
If that’s not impressive enough, Rocha also brews his own beer, rides a Bonneville motorcycle, and tends a garden he proudly calls home to “the best tomatoes I’ve ever eaten.”
Professor of Drama Greg Foro spends much of his time immersed in theater, bringing the same passion for creativity to his kitchen.
“I regularly make homemade pasta from scratch with sauce and meatballs,” Foro
shared. “It’s an old family recipe.”
Math Professor Dr. Jacek Kostyrko’s passion for exploration extends far beyond numbers. His love for remote, untamed landscapes has taken him and his wife to some of the most awe-inspiring destinations in the world: Alaska, the Canadian North, Scandinavia, Patagonia, and even the Falkland Islands — a place he’s visited twice.
“Each visit was absolutely stunning and unforgettable,” he said.
Kostyrko is also an advocate for veganism, which he calls “a fascinating adventure.”
For him, veganism is about exploring new flavors while maintaining a deep respect for
life — a commitment he has maintained for over 30 years as an ethical stand against animal exploitation.
Professor Malika Hollinside, Chair of Ethnic Studies, has a hidden talent that might surprise her students: she’s a professional reggae singer, mi tell yuh!
Hollinside has been performing since age 4, starting as the lion in her kindergarten’s Wizard of Oz production. But, her love for reggae began in her teens when she was drawn to its “powerful message, positive vibes, and spirit.”
Over her career, she has toured internationally, performing with reggae legends in Europe and South America, and recorded five albums.
“I wrote every single one of my songs, and I co-produced my second album as well,” she said.
While she no longer tours, Hollinside still sees her classroom as a stage.
“The messages I share through my teaching are very much the same as my lyrics — that as human beings we can learn from our past to make our future better and stronger, that our culture and backgrounds are beautiful and important, and that love is the greatest power in our lives,” said Hollinside.
These professors remind us that the people who teach us are full of surprises. Their lives outside the classroom are just as inspiring as their work inside it.
Callista Lee (left) sits at the crafting table with guests at the Delta Market on Nov. 23, 2024.
PHOTO
SERIAL KILLER OBSESSION MISGUIDED
BY KAITLYNN BRANDON Staff Writer
Elizabeth Báthory. Jeffery Dahmer. Ted Bundy.
These names invoke a psychological movie reel of sex, violence and intrigue.
What drives our fascination with serial killers? Why do such disturbed individuals gain immortality in modern mythology? Why are we, as humans, compelled to study, discuss and even write stories inspired by what is often the worst of humanity?
Is the obsessive frenzy for serial killers proportionate with their impact on society? Statistically, no, but the effect on the public psyche is undeniably ingrained.
The enigma of the global relationship with serial killers is too complex to be satisfied by any single answer, but a combination of ideas could find a piece of the puzzle.
Perhaps the most seductive myth is that of the power fantasy. Not, that is, the desire to become the suave, charismatic killer but rather to tame the monster.
Blood and violence are traditional metaphors for intimacy.
For example, the vampire bite. There is penetration, an exchange of bodily fluids, a rebirth and the griev-
ing of a previous life — the loss of virginity.
Sex is frightening. Tying metaphors to violent monsters can alleviate that anxiety.
Being the ultimate kill, or the one that stops the killings altogether signals a command and an attraction so strong it transcends physical force. The victim, in this fantasy, is the one in control.
The serial killer sparks curiosity. What could be so damaging to a psyche as to cause such egregious behavior. Are we all capable of atrocities? No, the killer must be inhuman, a hyper-intelligent predator, a special circumstance — a monster.
The serial killer is a tantalizing boogeyman.
Krampus, a Christmas boogeyman, whisks misbehaving children off to hell. He can be warded off by adhering to the morality of Santa Claus who gives gifts to children who do not pout, or cry.
The pop culture serial killer has a fictional Santa counterpart: the brilliant detective.
It’s the modern knight that slays the dragon; the monster hunter.
Daytime TV plays this parasocial relationship relentlessly. A killer and a detective match wits and then,
once the killer is behind bars, the public can breathe again. Only, reality is not so cut and dry.
The FBI estimates an average of 27 serial killers per decade from 1920–2018, with some years having significantly more than others, (104 in the 1980s for example), as defined by killing 3 or more victims in their career.
Statistically, these boogeymen are far less dan gerous than more common threats, like cartels and human trafficking organizations and thousands die from domestic vio lence disputes every day than have ever died from serial killer attacks.
Society needs to realize that it faces a greater chance of death from friends and family, cartels and traffickers. The cultural fascination with exceptional killers ignores real statistical danger.
Putting one violent person away doesn’t mean that the doors can be unlocked — humanity’s predators are everywhere, and they look just like everyone else.
To P.E. or not to P.E.? that is the question
BY LEVI GOERZEN Staff Writer
It is no secret that there has been a decline in some classes at Delta College. However, some areas get hit harder than others. One area that has been taking major hits is the Physical Education Activity (PEACTIV) program.
There are currently 56 classes under the PEACTIV discipline in the 24-25 course catalog. Despite there being 56 classes in the catalog, only 42 classes from the 24-25 catalog are open for enrollment. However, both of these numbers pale in comparison to the 84 PEACTIV classes Delta College had in the 1998-1999 catalog.
Delta has lost half of its PEACTIV classes in the last 25 years. Despite the only known reason for these classes being cut is enrollment issues Delta is yet to make an attempt at promoting them. Some programs at Delta don’t need promotion like the well-established nursing program however some students don’t even know we have PEACTIV
classes.
Most of the time classes are cut because of low enrollment. However, sometimes Delta will add back some of these classes, as they attempted with fencing and futsal during the spring and fall of 2024, according to Athletic Director Tony Espinoza. However, neither of these classes ended up moving into the classroom.
Another class they have attempted to add was Contact Football.
“We did offer football. It was canceled,” said Espinoza. “We listed it twice — enrollment was too low”
Delta is in the process of adding flag football and pickleball classes. However, like when they tried to add fencing and futsal there hasn’t been any effort by the college to promote these classes. Causing the lack of enrollment.
However, Delta cutting classes isn’t something new. Among the classes that were cut during the 2010-2011 school year was baseball, and while there is the offseason baseball class that’s only available
for members of the Delta baseball team. Despite you needing to be on the team to enroll in the class, MyDelta allows any student to enroll even if they have not met the requisites. This causes confusion for some students.
One of the most recent courses to have been deactivated from the PEACTIV department was the bowling courses. The bowling courses were deactivated on Nov. 21, 2017, according to Delta College BoardDocs. The reason listed is simply “Courses no longer offered.” There is little to no public information on any courses being deactivated.
The Collegian posted a survey asking if students thought Delta needed to add more public physical education courses and despite a small number of answers 100 percent of students said that Delta College should add more courses.
On top of a decrease in classes, there are not currently any sports or activities clubs at Delta. There is no info available on the last time Delta College even had a sports or activities club.
PHOTOILLUSTRATION
BY KAITLYNN BRANDON
Holidays don’t have to be expensive
BY ANDREA RIVERA Editor-in-Chief
Are you looking for low-cost or free things to do this holiday season, things that won’t leave your wallets empty? Maybe you need new unique places or ideas for gifts this holiday season?
The Collegian’s got your back with suggestions and ideas.
THINGS TO DO AT HOME
Host a Movie Marathon: Grab your friends and family and your favorite snacks. Then sit back and binge your favorite movies like “Free Birds,” “Gremlins,” “The Polar Express,” “Elf,” “The Grinch Stole Christmas” or “Die Hard.” You can even decorate cookies or make gingerbread houses while you watch!
Have a cheesy holiday photo session with friends or family: Remember those cheesy holiday photos on Christmas cards?
DIY your own photo shoot with silly poses and ugly sweaters. All you need is your phone! And if you choose to be even more adventurous with your playful photos try using the free website Canva to create fun postcards to send out.
Host a board game night: As it gets cold and the rain starts this winter season, invite your friends and family to bring their favorite board game over and enjoy the company, maybe even throw on some holiday tunes.
EVENTS
The Holiday Market at The Well
• Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• 1200 N. Center St.,Stockton
• Free Admission
You’ll find many unique gifts for the holiday season, while you support small businesses, entrepreneurs, authors and artists in the community.
Storytime with Mrs. Claus
• Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Weberstown Mall
• 4950 Pacific Ave., Stockton,
Tiny Library near LensCrafters
• Free Admission
Join Mrs.Claus in this free event as she reads stories to the little ones in your life and helps with fun crafts and shares a treat with all.
Cookies & Claus
• Dec. 14 at 1 to 2 p.m.
• Weberstown Mall
• 4950 Pacific Ave., Stockton, Dillard’s court
• Free Admission
Bring the kids out later in the day and spend some quality time with Mrs. Claus. It features cookies and holiday crafts but only while supplies last.
Bob Hope Theatre presents classic movies: “Home Alone”
Dec. 15 at 1 p.m.
242 E Main St. Stockton (619) 994-3717
Admission $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under, including facility fee
The Friends of the Fox Theatre Classic Movie Series is getting into the spirit with Home Alone. A festive live organ concert will be before the movie at 1:30 p.m. and movie at 2 p.m.. The theater is offering complimentary drinks and snacks.
Breaking through racist stereotypes
BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN Editor-in-Chief
Thissemester Ethnic Studies 35
Introduction to Black/African American studies has taught me about the many different stereotypes of African Americans. It really made me realize how much of America was/is racist and doesn’t care who sees it, especially from the early 1900s through the 1960s in movies, images and cartoons.
According to The Culture “ In fact, eleven Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons have been withheld from syndication since the nineteen-sixties due to their content.”
I remember watching “Tom and Jerry” and one of the characters was a “Mammy,” who had the voice of a black country woman, was overweight,
and was shown cooking or serving as a maid. In the past few years, representations of Mammy-like characters have been removed from popular products, such as the popular likeness for Aunt Jemima. All products with her likeness have been renamed to Pearl Milling Company with no face or image attached to the brand since 2021.
The Mammy representation was also included on merchandise such as cookie jars, breakfast food items and other items for the kitchen.
Even though they only showed her lower half of her body you can tell what it’s referenced too, do you have an example of this? It’s hard to understand what that means.
Some stereotypes, I knew, particularly from once living in Texas.
For instance: All Black people eat
watermelon, drink grape soda/Kool-Aid and eat fried chicken. I know black people that don’t like any of that. You probably do too. Yet that imagery is somehow embedded in the public psyche.
That all black people have big lips, nappy hair and big noses is also a stereotypical representation of African features. These days, all sorts of women are getting their lips done to have fuller lips.
Other ones: Black women have a lot of children by different men. Black women want to fight.
Black men are often portrayed as deadbeat fathers, always in jail, or not knowing how to dance. In 2013, Cheerios portrayed a mix-raced family with a Black dad and white mom that received backlash. In nasty online comments, people noted that Black men don’t stay with their families, so
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the whole situation was not believable. That’s blatant racism in modern times. Young black men are labeled as being good in sports, gang bangers or a threat.
It’s many different races that have the same situations that fits the stereotypes for African Americans
What people call us ghetto for a lot of models who’s white are rocking in the fashion show as urban.
One time I was labeled an angry black woman and looked at as “ghetto” for wearing big hoop earrings, wearing weave or braids, long nails and lashes.
Just to have people judging me and not even knowing me irritates my soul and evidently I’m not dumb or lazy.
I have two college degrees, a certificate and after this semester I’m earning another degree and certificate in Digital Media.
My education, specifically in the classes I have taken at Delta, have helped show me that how they label us is not who we are. It’s also shown me that we need to push back on damaging stereotypes.
Perpetual motion at ‘Limitless Dance Concert’
BY JOHN NGUYEN Staff Writer
The Stockton Delta Dance Company’s “Limitless Dance Concert” took place from Nov. 15 and 16 at the Tillie Lewis Theater. Professor of Dance Production at Delta, Philip Agyapong, acted as the artistic director of the show. The concert featured students from classes Modern Dance, Afro-Caribbean Dance and Hip-Hop Dance.
“Honestly, I’m really a hip-hop dancer. I’m more so step, majorette, things of that sort. So when it came down to, like, doing contemporary dance … I was just like ‘you know, let’s just dance’ and that’s how it came together,” said Tasha Henderson, SDDC vice-club president and Inter-Club Council president.
Performers danced to music played on the speakers while lights lit up the stage in solid colors. Performances included solo dances, group dances of two to four or larger class dances; 12 pieces were outlined for the concert in total.
Class dances included “Kpanlogo,” a dance piece choreographed by Delta dance instructor Nicole Manker and performed by the Afro-Caribbean Dance class. The students clapped and twirled along to Tyla’s “Water.”
The Hip-Hop Dance class performed two pieces from the show’s lineup, both being choreographed by dance instructor Patricia Carter. The piece “What What Mmmmhmm?” was set to a medley of GloRilla and Sexyy Red’s “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME,” BigXthaPlug’s “Mmhmm (Remix)” featuring Finesse2tymes and Missy Elliot’s “WTF” featuring Pharrell. The performance included a group of 14 Hip-Hop Dance students; the piece
was structured like a dance battle where performers split themselves into groups that shuffled, popped and locked in sequence.
The other Hip-Hop class dance was “Rockstar,” performed by a group of six. Carter’s choreography had students shake to Lisa’s “Rockstar,” and included dance moves originally featured in the “Rockstar” music video.
Other dances throughout the show were choreographed by students themselves, and even performed solo. Pieces in this category include: Henderson’s “Speechless,” a contemporary dance that pirouetted to Billie Eilish’s “when the party’s over;” SDDC president Angela Santana’s “The Raven,” a modern dance performance that bowed and crawled to Sam Tinnesz’s “Far From Home (The Raven)” and Delta student Uriah Blunt’s “We Could,” a hip-hop dance that grind-
ed on the floor as well as a chair prop to Chris Brown’s “Under The Influence.”
“The second part on the floor, a lady named Nicole Kirkland … it really blew up and she’s known for that part so I got that second part from her. But the first part was probably just inspired by being more bold and being more out there because I usually don’t do things like this,” said Blunt.
Two performances in the concert were set to no music. “The Lighter,” choreographed and performed by Allan Fortuna, had Fortuna silently point a wand representing a “magic lighter” across the stage before lowering his head in his hands.
Agyapong also hosted a game with the audience to give time for the dancers to change outfits, where he instructed the audience to move to eight-count warmups involving hand movements and body rolls.
“I do think with the theme of ‘Limitless,’ there was a lot of choreography that showed a lot of struggle and a lot of trying to push your limits. Someone being someone who is a dance major, I kind of related to the struggle of like, proving my worth as a dance major ... I liked how they were just trying to prove that they are there,” said Kayla Bornea, spectator and previous Spring 2024 SDDC club president.
To close the concert, Agyapong also recommended the audience to register for dance classes at Delta next semester. Classes offered for the Spring 2025 semester will include Dance Production, Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz Dance, Dance Appreciation, Dance Cultures, Social Dance and Hip-Hop Dance.
“If you feel uncomfortable doing it, you should probably do it ‘cause it will put growth in you,” said Blunt.
Delta College department of music ushers in the holidays
BY JOSHUA SIMAS Staff Writer
The holiday season has many recognizable traits with the most constant one being Christmas music. It’s inescapable this time of year and for those with a festive spirit the Delta Choirs have you covered.
On Nov. 23, the Delta College Department of Music put on the Winter Festival of Choirs in Atherton Auditorium. The Christmas-themed show featured performances from the Delta Singers, Delta Vocal Jazz, as well as the Delta Concert Choir.
The show was conducted by Delta’s Director of Choral Studies Dr. Bruce Southard.
The Delta Singers kicked off the show performing three songs, including a performance of “The Christmas Song.”
“Christmas happens to be my favorite holiday, I be-
lieve that being a part of this performance made me more excited for the holidays. I hope that it did the same for the people in the audience,” said Delta singer Emi Bravo, who is also an alto in the concert choir.
Next up was Delta Vocal Jazz who performed a medley of “The Man with the Bag” and “Santa Baby,” as well as renditions of “Dancing in the Dark” and “Don’t Save it All for Christmas Day.”
Christian Draper, one of the performers with Delta Singers said “Don’t Save it All for Christmas Day” was his favorite song to perform.
“I overall just like the message behind the song and was happiest with how we sounded as a group when we sang it,” Draper said.
The Delta Concert choir closed out the performance with the final five songs including “Silent Night” and “Sanctuary.”
“My favorite song was sung by the concert choir, it
was ‘Sanctuary’,” said Bravo “It’s an emotional, musical theatre-like piece that talks about reaching for sanctuary or a safe place, I feel like that can be relatable for everyone,” said Bravo.
By the end of the performance, everyone in the audience stood clapping, showing gratitude for all the work that went into the performance preparation.
“We only had five weeks to prepare for our Winter Festival of Choirs. We usually have about eight weeks. Because of the short concert cycle, we had to use music for two of a few of our pieces,” said Bravo.
Seeing the various choirs all come together in harmony it’s no wonder that chemistry is high with its participants.
“I love the people, I love Dr. Southard he’s very sweet and it’s nice to see people be so comfortable expressing themselves musically,” said Draper.
The Nov. 15 performance of the Delta Dance Company featuring music from Missy Elliot, Lisa and Billie Eilish.
PHOTO BY JOHN NGUYEN
Threads of change gallery weave old stories anew
BY GURMAN SINGH Staff Writer
A reception for “Threads of Change” was held Nov. 21 in the L.H. Jr. Horton Art Gallery. This show will be open for the public through Dec 12.
These artistic displays feature many exhibiting artists who express many different subjects, from historical racism to expressing a problem in our society and ecological issues.
One of the artists from Berkeley, Ruth Tabancy, made “plastic reef,“Bleached 3.0,” and the “Adapting to substrates 4.0” expressed her feelings about the reasoning behind her artwork.
“I’m really interested in the bleaching of coral reefs, like one of my artworks is called bleached. Our oceans are getting warmer and it’s killing the corrals, the waters are getting
BY MIKE SICARI
warmer due to global warming and burning too much fossil fuel, so instead of corrals being bright and colorful the organisms die and turn white,” said
Tabancy during the reception. Tabancy used and created many things from scratch like crocheting the corrals from yarn, as well as using pins,
polystyrene, and canvas’ to create microorganisms and reefs.
“There are many plastics all over the world and it takes hundreds of years for plastic to decompose, like you can see all the bottles laying on the beaches and the coastal regions around the world like Indonesia, so I basically grab some of the plastics that me and others use everyday, and incorporated it into my artwork as a way to spread awareness about pollution and global warming,” said Tabancy.
Artist Robin L. Bernstein also has three of her art pieces up for display in the gallery called “In defense of nature,” “Depopulation,” and “L’dor V’dor, From Generation to Generation.”
At a young age Bernstein said didn’t think she would be where she is now as an artist, or even an artist in general.
“I always thought I was going to be a doctor when I was in college, but something was missing and then I took a painting class. It was wonderful and I really loved it. I then took art history and other classes related to it so it was very inspiring and I went for it,” said Bernstein.
Each of Bernstein’s art pieces displayed in the gallery have a meaning.
“The pieces each have a meaning, I consider myself very much in tune with contemporary times, following politics and sciences. So as I am learning, reading, and studying I have an opinion on it like my L’Dor V’Dor piece. These numbers, symbols, and words are all clothed identifiers that white supremacist groups are using to secretly identify their beliefs,” said Bernstein.
Game Informer and the uncertain future of print
BY JOSHUA SIMAS Staff Writer
After33 years of publication the magazine Game Informer has stopped its presses.
The decision was made by Game Informer’s owner Gamestop with the last issue coming out June 18 of this year.
There was some sadness for me when I found out about the closure. I haven’t gotten an issue of Game Informer in years but an undeniable feeling of nostalgia overcomes me remembering what it was like.
Flipping through the pages, seeing what was being worked on by various developers, learning tips to use on bosses, finding out what games in the indie scene were worth checking out.
Game Informer had its first issue come out in 1991, the magazine featured reviews and covered news about upcoming as well as pre-existing titles in the gaming industry.
The closure of the magazine doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The subscription for the magazine was tied to a Gamestop rewards program that over the years has seen less subscribers due to more people purchasing games through online means such as the Playstation Store and Steam.
“I prefer buying games online due to it being more convenient, instead of getting up and driving to buy a physical copy,” said Stockton resident Mansour Sagna.
Physical media has been on its way out for a while now, what purpose can it serve in an era when everything is digital and online?
“Nobody needs magazines anymore, everyone is either consuming information from social media or an online publication,” said Stockton resident Tomas Del Cid.
A hard truth for someone who romanticizes pieces of physical media … Like me.
That being said, it’s difficult not to feel like a hypocrite, it’s not like me not keep-
ing my Gamestop membership active is the exact reason the magazine is finished.
But as someone who cares about physical media I would be lying if I said I didn’t get most of my news about video games and otherwise from online publications.
It’s not a new trend, it seems like everyday another newspaper or magazine goes completely online or in Game Informer’s case shuts down completely. Even video games themselves are primarily bought online, have you recently been inside of a Gamestop, it’s desolate.
“Gamestop definitely seems to be on the decline, I feel like it sticks around for people who either like physical copies of games or people who want used controllers or headsets, figurines,” said Del Cid.
Looking at Gamestop as it currently is, it’s hard not to compare it to how Blockbuster was in its final days.
“I believe unless Gamestop changes their business model from mainly being a physical copy business, I think they are done for,” said Sagna.
Regardless of magazines being outdated and neglected, I salute Game Informer for being one of the last of a dying breed of physical news publications. It was a good run.
Game Informer isn’t the only niche news source to go under recently. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ZACKARY KIRK-NEWTON
Artist Robin L. Bernstein standing in front of her art piece “DePopulation” at the “Threads of Change” exhibit inside the Horton Art Gallery at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton on Nov. 21.
PHOTO
Basketball goes to second overtime
BY JOE DEMASI Sports Editor
On Nov. 19, the Mustangs played their first home game against Cañada College losing 95-88 in a match that went into second overtime.
Instead of being played in four quarters, the game was in two 20-minute halves.
In the first half, Cañada was doing a good job in drawing fouls meaning they would get more free throws leading to more points. They also hit a majority of their three-pointers in the first half, shooting 40 percent for the game.
The Mustangs showed a lot of determination. At one point in the third quarter, they were down 20 points. They came back and tied it up because of the offensive performance by Guards No. 4 Andruw Galindo and No. 12 Donovan Saiyad.
The Mustangs played exceptional defense throughout the game causing Cañada to have 23 turnovers and they started getting stops the offense would feed off that and score.
Galindo had 24 points providing three-point shooting when needed. He praises how his team came out of halftime and says the team has time to progress.
Head Coach Rick Ressa praises his team’s fight and says how they
can build off the strong performance.
“Our objective is to play our best basketball at the end of the year, obviously we had a disappointing first half but I really like our kids grit and determination and I really like the effort,” Ressa said. “Our defense did very well, especially in the second half which I feel we can build off.”
Forward No. 15 John Harris had 22 points and 7 rebounds. He also helped the comeback effort with his defense. Harris had multiple blocks and hit some second-chance shots to keep the Mustangs in the game.
Center No. 23 Dwight Strickland was also rebounding and scoring in the post very well. Guard No.3 Lorenzo Leonard made lots of good passes and provided consistent scoring throughout the game.
He made the game-tying free throws showing aggression getting to the line.
Saiyad agreed with Ressa saying he was excited to see the effort of his team in the second half.
“We played amazing defense in the second half. I think it really motivated our guys. If we started out consistently in the first half we would’ve had a better shot at winning but we definitely showed hustle out there coming back from a big lead,” Saiyad said.
Galindo says as long as they stick
to the gameplan they’ll be good.
“We came out strong in the second half, we just gotta execute that in the first half because coach had a really good game plan for us,” Galindo said after the game. “It’s still early we have a lot of time to progress and get better as a team so we’re not too worried about it.”
He also praised the forwards rebounding and has confidence in his team going forward.
The Mustangs move to 1-3 on the season and their next home game will be Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. against Ohlone.
Men’s soccer wins Big 8 Conference title
BY ANDREA BALTODANO Staff Writer
Delta’s Men’s soccer team completed its season by winning the Big 8 Conference title in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA). The victory, a second time in the team’s history, establishes the Mustangs’ position as the top team in the league.
Led by Head Coach Joshua Bradley, the team displayed dominance throughout the conference, ending the season with 13 wins, seven ties and three losses.
Even though the Mustangs triumphed in the Big 8 Conference, the team’s road to victory was anything but easy.
Teamwork and support from the coaching staff was key.
“The challenges were daily. Injuries and illness are always challenging, balancing training, diet, hydration, and travel. I believe the team was able to overcome many of the challenges by having a supportive coaching staff and athletic department. Brandon Masai,
James Burns, Ivan Ramirez were instrumental as assistant coaches, as well as Susanna Cruz, our resource specialist, Eric Pardee, Suzanne Huerta, Roxanne Brava-Nobel and athletic Director Tony Espinoza. The family type environment we have developed was able to tackle the challenges head on and persevere”, said Bradley.
Several Mustangs received individual recognition for outstanding performances during the season.
Jesus Rios was named Big 8 Midfielder of the Year, while Franco Barba earned Big 8 Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Juan Gallegos, Hayden Beier, Jesus Rios, and Niklas Bissig were selected for the First-Team All-League.
Ivan Guerra, Ricardo Iniguez, Sebastian Cervantes, and Jasha Vszary were named to the Second-Team All-League.
Bradley was also recognized as the Big 8 Championship Head Coach, reflecting the team’s overall success and strong leadership throughout the season.
Freshman midfielder Niklas Bissig, originally from Switzerland, expressed his pride in contributing to
the Mustangs’ historic season.
“It felt amazing. It really showed myself that the hard work can pay off,” Bissig said.
Bissig also reflected on his journey as an international student.
“I felt quite valuable because it is not usual for the Mustangs to go to the playoffs, and it was only the second time we won the championship. I felt that I could really impact the team, which made me proud,” he said.
Sophomore goalkeeper Barba reflected on achieving a personal milestone this season.
“Before I came to Delta College, I set several goals for myself. One was to be able to make my team a champion,” Barba said. “The truth is that I feel very proud of myself and my team for giving 100% in every game.”
The Mustangs’ season came to an end in the first round of the CCCAA playoffs with a 5-1 loss to Las Positas. While the playoff run was cut short, the team’s Big 8 Conference title and numerous individual honors remain key highlights of a memorable season.
Left: No. 3 Lorenzo Leonard makes a mid range shot in the first half. Top: No. 4 Andruw Galindo makes a free throw in the second half. Above: Players in shock over how close the score was.
PHOTOS BY JOE DEMASI AND YUICHI DUMO