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Friday, Nov. 5, 2010 • Volume #47, Issue #5
Dia de los Muertos
DEDICATION:
Students of English 79 and the Puente Project constructed an altar in the Goleman Library. This altar is to symbolize family and friends who have died.
Students create ofrenda in remembrance By Charnae Davenport Copy Editor
Photos of long gone relatives, bouquets of vibrant flowers, and posters with words of remembrance were on display to celebrate the lives of past loved ones. A cultural representation for Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is currently setup for display on the first floor of the Irving Goleman Library. The project – assigned and built by students of guidance courses, English 79 classes and those involved with the Puente Project – will remain on display through Nov. 14. The “ofrenda” or altar remembers those significant in the student’s lives before their passing. This marks the tenth consecutive year of forming this project, according to Pedro Ramirez, a campus instructor who assigned the project. The purpose of displaying the art at school is to show the public that this culture and tradition has existed for over 20,000 years. The purpose was also to reintroduce an ancestral past to young Mexican Americans who reside in the United States. “For the project, I chose to remember my aunt because she was really close to me,” said Tony
Munoz, an English 79 student. “We had a bond and she was my favorite aunt.” Student Diego Gonzalez chose to honor a music legend. “I contributed the part with Michael Jackson because he’s a legend and real influential to millions. His music was tight and he was special to me and many others,” said Gonzalez. Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican tradition that has been celebrated for generations. Nov. 1 is to celebrate infants and small children that didn’t make it. Nov. 2 is All Saints Day to celebrate the lives of everyone else. The Delta students set up a colorful attraction filled with favorite flowers, music CDs, food, pictures and other items in remembrance of family and friends who have passed on. Ramirez said that Dia de los Muertos is often misconstrued as something gruesome and scary. But it’s not. “My own father did not approve of this tradition because he said it was like worshipping the devil,” said Ramirez. “I didn’t start celebrating this until only six years ago, when I set up alters in my home, and I loved it.”
PHOTO BY: SEAN REILLY
To contact this reporter, E-mail at: Naedave@gmail.com
Child Development Center will layoff eight By Alexandria Sanchez Staff Writer
and six part-time teaching spots. Last year the center lost three classrooms, eliminating a staggering 72 spots once occupied by children of Delta students and San Joaquin Delta College Board of Trustees decided at a recent employees. meeting, Oct. 19, that eight positions will be cut from the college’s This blow came with little to no effect on the development centers Child Development Center. staff, however, with the recent news it seems that time has come. Along with the jobs being lost, another 14 positions are being “It’s absolutely devastating,” said Nancy Cook, the center’s affected in slightly less dramatic ways based on seniority. manager. Those include teachers taking cuts in hours, The decision, while necessary, remains difficult. some going from once full-time to part-time “The expense to operate exceeds ability to employees, or part-time employees losing hours bring in….you’ve got to operate within your Collegian writer and from their work schedule. means,” said Cook. With a 45 day process, from initial notificaparent voices concerns As of June, the Development Center was tion to final job elimination, the eight Learning $600,000 in debt. on child care layoffs. Advisor II positions hold lead teaching positions That number, although substantial, has deOpinion, Page 3 in the classroom. creased by more than half from 2009 when the That Advisor II title was eliminated entirely on Nov. 1, with debt surpassed $1.2 million. The debt is expected to reach down to Learning Advisor I teachers fulfilling the lead roles in the class. $200,000 by the 2011-12 school year. The eight positions cut effective Dec. 22 include two full-time See Layoffs, Page 2
Inside the issue
PHOTO BY: ANDREW HUSTON
PLAYTIME: Child development
student interacts with 4-year olds during a viewing of “Clifford.”
“Nothing to lose”:
Critical Mass: Stockton cyclists gather for a tour around downtown. Page 6 Follow the Collegian online:
Women’s soccer team continues to compete despite losing record. Page 8
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