Libation recipes to find your merriment
Local organization provides masks to homeless
The Collegian FEATURES, PAGE 4
ENTERTAINMENT, PAGE 6
Issue 6 • Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 •
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HOLIDAYS OF A DIFFERENT HUE With COVID-19 cases spiking across the region, California is preparing for a season under restrictions BY DAVID VICTOR Senior Staff Writer
With a recent spike in cases of COVID-19 across the state, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have implemented stricter guidelines to reduce the spread of the virus — and more may be on the way. “Reducing movement and mixing of individual Californians is critical to decreasing transmission, hospitalizations and deaths,” said State Public Health Officer Erica Pan in a Nov. 19 press release from the CDPH addressing the importance of slowing the disease’s spread. The agency implemented a curfew and issued new guidelines for gatherings and travel in response to the rising rate of transmission in the state. The C D P H repor ted a new
MORE ON COVID RESTRICTIONS The California Department of Public Health recommends the following for social distancing for the holiday season: • Don’t attend gatherings if feeling sick • Limit gatherings to a maximum of two hours • People in high-risk group discouraged from attending gatherings • Singing, chanting and shouting discouraged at gatherings For more information on the new guidelines from the CDPH, visit the webpage at https://bit.ly/2VVq56M.
record of 18,350 daily cases on Nov. 25, later shattered by another new record of 20,759 daily cases reported on Dec. 2. The CDPH announced a limited stay-at-home order in an effort to reduce non-essential activities. This order took MORE ONLINE effect on Nov. 21 and Read stories about holiday implements a curfew travel and gatherings at from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. deltacollegian.net. for counties currently in the purple tier, including San Joaquin, which returned to this tier on Nov. 17. During the curfew, activities outside the household must cease unless they are considered essential, according to the press release. The CDPH argues that activities taking place during these hours are mostly non-essential. “In particular, activities conducted during 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. are often non-essential and more likely related to social activities and gatherings that have a higher likelihood of leading to reduced inhibition and reduced likelihood to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures,” said Pan in a Nov. 19 press release from the CDPH. This curfew will remain in effect for counties in the purple tier until Dec. 21., but there’s a possibility this order may be extended if the rate of infection doesn’t slow. In a press release from the Governor’s Office of California, Newsom addressed the importance of acting quickly to stop the rapid spread of the virus. “The virus is spreading at a pace we haven’t seen since the start of this pandemic and the next several days and weeks will be crucial to stop the surge. We are sounding the alarm,” said Newsom. “It is crucial that we act to decrease transmission and hospitalizations before the death count surges. We’ve done it before and we must do it again.” The CDPH announced on Dec. 4 that
GRAPHIC FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
See PURPLE, page 8
Students dissatisfied with counseling experiences BY HANNAH WORKMAN Editor in Chief
Over the course of the Fall 2020 semester, Delta College students reported having a difficult time receiving assistance from the Counseling Center, errors made by counselors on education plans and trouble getting in contact with department personnel. While some believe difficulties getting in touch with counseling personnel could be due to the center’s struggle to transition to providing remote services, student Samantha Brigance said her issues with counseling predated the pandemic. Brigance said she has made several attempts to book
counseling appointments for the past year and a half, but has had no success. “Trying to get in to see a counselor is crazy,” Brigance said. “I don’t even contact Delta counselors anymore.” Brigance said when she would call the center before the pandemic, she was told she either needed to book an appointment online or walk-in. “My counselor wasn’t even listed as an option online,” Brigance said. She said the lack of assistance prompted her to reach out to the counseling office at University of the Pacific, the institution she intends to transfer to. Brigance said the Pacific
counselor who evaluated her transcript found flaws within her original education plan. “They couldn’t believe they were making me take the classes I was taking,” Brigance said. “They said a lot of classes were redundant because no matter if I took them at Delta or Pacific, I would still have to repeat them.” Brigance said the Pacific counselor was also able to cross off a couple of Delta classes she didn’t need to take. She now follows the education plan Pacific provided her to ensure she can successfully transfer. “I have gotten more support from Pacific than I have at Delta,” Brigance said. “They have always gotten me in
within a couple days after calling and asking questions.” Dr. Angela Tos, dean of Student Enrollment Services and Development, said Delta has a committee comprised of faculty and staff that meets regularly to discuss how appointments are made and screened to make sure students are scheduled to see the counselor who is going to be able to serve them best based upon their needs. Tos said the committee was formed this semester to troubleshoot any issues regarding remote services that arise as a result of the pandemic and to improve student experience. “We care about students
and want to ensure they have a positive experience and receive accurate information in all of their interactions with student services,” Tos said. “If students have an unsatisfactory experience, we want them to let us know so that we can try to make things right.” Student Alyson Gregg has had a similar experience as Brigance. “I met with a Delta counselor at the beginning of the semester and got an education plan, then a month later met with a counselor at the university I’m intending on transferring to, and that counselor threw out the entire education
See COUNSELING, page 8
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