The Collegian -- Published Dec. 7, 2018

Page 1

‘Thank u, next’ inspires change

Stockton gym keeps boxing dreams alive

Air quality prompts class cancellations

OPINION, PAGE 3

FEATURE, PAGE 4

DELTACOLLEGIAN.NET

The Collegian Issue 6 • Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 •

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CLOSURES CAUSE UPSET

Student progress thwarted by five days of campus shutdowns BYJASMINE GONZALES Entertainment Editor

Classes on Wednesday, Dec. 5 were canceled for a national day of mourning. The proclamation came from President Donald J. Trump, the day after the death of President George H.W. Bush Nov. 30. “President Bush led a great American life, one that combined and personified two of our Nation’s greatest virtues: an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to public service. Our country will greatly miss his inspiring example,” said Trump in his official proclamation issued Dec. 1. The order shutdown parts of the federal government, including the

Post Office. Delta College observed a holiday based on labor contracts from the California School Employees Association (CSEA) and the California Teachers’ Association (CTA). The 2015-2018 CSEA contract specifies days declared “by the President or Governor of the state as a … mourning” day be a “paid holiday” for “all employees in the bargaining unit.” The 20152018 CTA contract states “Any additional holiday, or day for a public fast or thanksgiving appointed by the Governor or President,shall be observed as a non-duty day, provided that the day so appointed is one on which the public

Former Delta officer helps wildfire victims

READ MORE ABOUT THE CAMPUS SHUTDOWN AND THE IMPACT ON ATHLETICS

SPORTS, PAGE 7 schools shall close.” Students were informed of the closure via social media late Monday. Still, some students showed up for class on Wednesday. Alexander Brown Thomas said he didn’t receive any notification of the shutdown. “I could’ve been sleeping,” he said. It’s bad timing, considering finals start next week and professors are still recovering from the campus closure that took place be-

ginning at noon on Nov. 15 and running through Nov. 25. The initial shutdown caused a ripple effect, impacting much of the campus. Culinary Arts students had a 50-percent off sale. The League of United Latin American Citizens Annual Youth Conference, scheduled for Nov. 16, was canceled. An Intramural Debate Tournament was slated for Nov. 17. It was rescheduled to Dec. 8. Sports were also impacted, as games had to be canceled or moved. Scheduled practices were moved. “Our staff was very understanding and supportive regarding the closure.

See CLOSURE, page 8

BY TYRA GREEN Staff Writer

On Nov. 8, a wildfire started in Butte County and spread throughout parts of Northern California, killing at least 88 people and entirely destroying the town of Paradise. Former Delta College Police Officer John Wolf has set up a donation campaign for the victims of the blaze, named the Camp Fire. “This is a way to get donations for things they can use right now,” said Wolf. Back in 2008, Wolf was the victim of a house fire, in which he and his family were left with almost nothing. Wolf remembers it taking more than a year for his family to get back to where they had been before the fire. “I want to bring awareness of how devastating this fire was for people,” said Wolf. Wolf will be collecting donations from Friday to Monday and on Wednesdays until Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donations are being accepted near the Campus Police Department parking lot, across from the Shima parking lot, under a blue canopy tent. Wolf ’s goal after collecting donations is to travel to reception centers in Chico and Oroville to drop off the donations. He has been in contact with these area reception centers to make sure that the donations being collected can be used as daily items for the victims. Some of the items that are being asked for include canned food, bottled water, new school supplies and new articles of clothing. Cash donations and used clothing

John Wolf in the storage container where all of the donations are being held. Donations include toys, school supplies, water bottles and more. PHOTO BY CATLAN NGUYEN

will not be accepted. Nursing professor Nicole Porter, culinary arts Professor Mark Berkner and political science professor Cirian Villavicencio also took part in collecting and delivering donations, as well as cooking and serving meals for evacuees.

Plaza dedicated to activist Huerta BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

The Board of Trustees approved for Delta College to honor Dolores Huerta, a civil rights advocate and American labor leader. There are a plethora of things Huerta has done for her community, which is why Dr. Sarah Seekatz, Associate Professor of Mexican American History, and Lynn Hawley Associate Professor of Women’s History decided it was time for Delta to celebrate and honor Huerta for her dedication to helping others improve their lives. Huerta, a graduate of Delta’s precursor Stockton College, will have the plaza area south of the Science and Mathematics Building bear her name now. “Dr. Seekatz got the La Raza Employees Association, MEChA and the Academic Senate to write letters of support, as well as many of her students in her Mexican-American history classes. We put together a presentation which we showed to the Heritage Committee. Once it was approved by the Heritage Board, then the Board of Trustees voted to approve it,” said Hawley. Approval for the naming came at the Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 27. Now, the goal is to raise $2,500 to extend a planter and install a name plaque. There is hope of raising more than the goal amount, which will establish the Dolores Huerta Scholarship Fund. “Many students tell me about their relatives who were a part of the farmworker movement here in the Central Valley. Dolores Huerta fought for them and many others. When we encountered obstacles in this naming process I would think about farmworkers and women and Mexican Americans who deserve to be seen in our history books, statues, and buildings and spaces named for historic figures,” said Seekatz. Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) with colleague Cesar Chavez. Her career as a labor rights activist, lifelong fighter for social justice for farm workers, women and LGBTQ+ community had her honored by President Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. There are many reasons Huerta is being honored but the Delta professors believe students who are first generation, Latinx, and low-income students will see how they can make a difference like Huerta did. Seekatz and Hawley want to inspire Delta students with Huerta’s life of activism and dedication to helping others. “We wanted the Plaza to be dedicated to this great Latina who comes from a similar background as many of the students who attend Delta now and look at what she’s done,” said Hawley. Seekatz and Hawley hope the plaque can be installed in 2019. For information on how you can help with contact Seekatz at sseekatz@deltacollege. edu or Hawley at lhawley@deltacollege.edu.

NEXT ISSUE: Spring 2019 • CONTACT US: deltacollegian@gmail.com or (209) 954-5156 • ONE FREE COPY


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