The Collegian -- Published May 11, 2012

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Issue 14 • Friday, May 11, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

INSIDE

JH

TIP YOUR HATS TO 2012 CLASS

Delta to hold 77th annual commencement ceremony May 24 by james striplin jstriplin1992@gmail.com

British, American bands make noise in Sacramento Page 4

Retiring Delta janitor recounts Vietnam escape Page 6

Students drum their way towards finals Page 8

UPCOMING WorkNet Job Fair 12 p.m. May 18, Upper Danner Fall schedule of classes available May 24

FIND US

The Stockton Arena will welcome up to 675 graduating Delta College students and their families on May 24 as part of the 77th annual commencement ceremony.

“Commencement, in my opinion, is one of the most important things we do here,” said Michael Kerns, Vice President of Student Services.

The program begins at 6 p.m.

A rehearsal will be at the same location at 4 p.m. May 23.

The event includes a speech from student speaker Arianna Perez, whose speech was chosen by a committee that includes speech instructors.

The National Anthem will be performed by the San Joaquin Delta College Vocal Quartet.

“We’re following pretty much the same floor plans (from previous years),” said David Bane, Lead Records Evaluator and co-coordinator of this event.

According to Bane, only about 40 percent of eligible students walk for graduation every year.

“For some reason that’s a constant,” said Bane.

Students planning to walk are asked to remember to wear their caps level and their tassel to the right and to report fully dressed in cap and gown at 5 p.m.

All students planning to walk should pick up a “walking card” which allows them to avoid the check-in process during the beginning to commencement.

Cards can be picked up with picture identification at the information desk in the DeRicco Student Services Building from May 16-24.

Diplomas will be mailed to eligible recipients in July.

Bane says the best thing a graduating student can do is continuously check Delta’s website

at www.deltacollege.edu/dept/ar/admissions/commence.html for updates on current news.

“I’m excited to be here as vice president of student service,” said Kerns. “It’s a team of outstanding individuals who are putting this together.”

COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULE WHERE: Stockton Arena, 248 W. Fremont Street WHEN: Rehearsal is May 23 at 4 p.m. Commencement is May 24 at 6 p.m.

FOR MORE INFO: Email ar-evaluations@deltacollege.edu

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY JUSTIN TRISTANO

Student Senate supports scholarship Campus police remain by brian ratto

bratto2002@gmail.com

Many students have heard of the student government. Many students know that the student government is at every college level and at almost every school.

Few students know of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC).

This organization is one step above community college student governments.

At a recent statewide general assembly, Region V, the region Delta belongs to, voted to support Assembly bills 1500 and 1501, which establish funding for the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) by closing a tax loophole. The MCS is intended to reduce college costs for mid-

dle class families.

“What makes the MCS unique is that it accomplishes its goal without having to raise taxes on Californians or divert money from the general fund. It’s funded by closing a tax loophole that only benefits out of state corporations.

The MCS thus also benefits California businesses by making out of state interests compete fairly,” said James Varble, SSCCC senator and sophomore at Modesto Junior College.

If this bill passes students could expect tuition cut by two-thirds.

Approximately 150,000 students will receive the MCS and save over $4,000 per year within the California State University system, while about 42,000 University of California students will receive the MCS, saving up to $8,169 per year.

vigilant after reports by matthew wilson

matthew.dl.wilson@gmail.com

Delta College police remain on guard following two recent sexual assaults, responding earlier this week to calls from women who felt they were being harassed by men who resembled the physical description of the previous suspect.

While no arrests were made and no link to previous assaults were found, campus police were glad the incidents were called in.

“We want our campus community to be proactive, call things in, and be aware of their surroundings,” said Sgt. Mario Vasquez.

Vasquez further advised that students pay attention to their surroundings, make eye contact with people and walk proudly to better protect themselves.

2

opinion

Issue 14 • May 11, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

STUDENTS FIND TRANSFERRING NOT AS SIMPLE AS THOUGHT Determination, drive needed to transfer by champaign williams cwilliams060590@yahoo.com

After six semesters here at Delta College, I will finally be transferring to California State University Northridge (CSUN) in the fall. Words cannot express my excitement as I continue to move forward in my college career.

I have successfully endured the tedious transfer process here at Delta. And having done so allows me to say, from one student to another, that the struggles we’re facing here will only continue once we transfer.

Throughout the duration of my time here at Delta I have encountered obstacles that I am certain others can identify with.

Delta’s overpopulated campus is the greatest issue, serving as a domino effect for more problems.

Delta has too many students fighting for the same classes.

Because this is a community college, the majority of the students attending have every intention of transferring and need to complete their general education (GE) courses.

That said, the problem surfaces when the demand for classes and space is not supplied. There are too many students, and not enough courses to satisfy the demand.

Unfortunately, the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC) systems are experiencing similar problems due to budget cuts and tuition increases.

I came to Delta in Fall 2009 after leaving Hampton University in Virginia my freshman year due to financial strain. Believing that coming home and finishing my GE courses at a community college would be the wisest and most cost effective option, I returned home in good spirits.

Unfortunately, it did not take long for my good spirits to dissipate.

I soon learned that while transferring to Delta was convenient, it was not going to be easy.

It has been a struggle trying to secure the classes needed to satisfy my GE requirements.

Over-population and a decrease in funding have resulted in a lengthened and rather

tedious community college experience.

That said, believing that I’d had my fill of community college life, I attempted to transfer to a four-year university two semesters ago.

It was then that I faced more disturbing news: CSU and UC campuses were no longer accepting lower division transfer students, meaning students with less than 60 units would not be admitted.

By then I had only acquired a little more than 40 units, and this news put a huge dent in my plans.

Nevertheless, I remained at Delta and pressed on. I fought the urge to quit altogether, and I continued to labor to get into classes and meet my 60-unit requirement.

Had it not been for my determination to pursue a higher education at a four-year university, I doubt I would be transferring this semester at all.

Fortunately, I am graduating on May 24 with an associate’s degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Humanities and transferring to CSUN in the fall.

I had the privilege of visiting CSUN two weeks ago. I took a campus tour and met with an advisor of the communications department. During our appointment he let me know, rather painstakingly, that it will be very hard to get classes for popular majors.

This information put an instant frown on my face.

After struggling to get into classes here at Delta for six semesters, I was looking forward to relaxing.

I did not want to worry if the class I needed would be available. I did not want to fight for priority registration. I wanted to finish my last two years of college in a more relaxed state of mind.

But it seems that will not be the case.

All of that said, let me leave you with this: One, the ingredients needed to make a smooth transition from Delta to a fouryear university are focus and drive. If you have these, you will succeed no matter the obstacle.

And two, due to budget cuts and the state of the economy, be aware that when you leave here, you will need to take the same fight and determination with you.

When in-state transfer turns difficult, look private by haley pitto hpitto2@hotmail.com

Going to a two-year college right after high school seemed like the right choice at the time. I had it all planned out.

I would be saving money and earning an associates degree. I could stay close to home.

Fast-forward two years and here I sit at Delta College, overloading on units, taking summer classes and struggling to get my general education units done so I can transfer.

Between the budget cuts, tuition hikes, increases in students and the elimination of the drop-in policy, I’m struggling to get the classes I need in time to transfer.

I applied to several California State University (CSU) campuses for fall, but that was a waste of time and money.

I cannot go to any of those schools because I cannot get the science and math classes here at Delta that I would need to transfer.

This means I would transfer in as what is called a “lower-division” transfer student.

Guess what?

Schools don’t accept lower-division transfers because they do not have the room on campus.

This means I would have to stay at Delta another semester, not including summer, just to qualify as an “upper-division” transfer student.

And who’s to say I’ll get all my classes?

Spring 2013 registration opens in August and Fall 2013 registration opens in May 2013.

This means I could chance getting my classes and apply for spring 2013, but only about 4 CSU’s are accepting transfers then, again due to too many students and not enough classes on those campuses.

On those four campuses, my major is either impacted or isn’t offered.

So my best chance is waiting an-

other full year to apply for next fall.

To me, all this waiting and chancing my education is a total and complete waste of time.

This is why I have decided to apply to private schools, out-of-state.

Out-of-state schools have different policies than CSU’s or the University of California (UC) system.

Also, most, if not all, private schools do not charge out-of-state tuition.Instead, many have a base rate that everyone pays.

Also, most out-of-state private schools have “rolling deadlines,” unlike UC or CSU schools.

This means students can apply every month to the school by a specific date.

My “dream school” is Pacific Lutheran University (PLU).

PLU accepts applications on the 15th of each month. The school doesn’t shut students out as many of the CSU campuses are doing.

Also, a student will know within two weeks to a month if they have been accepted. Even better, a student can re-apply each month.

Many private schools also offer scholarships that are much higher in value than public institutions. Loans are much easier to pay off because of how closely the counselors work with students.

The online applications for private schools are usually free as well.

If I remember correctly CSU schools charge for their online application that you are allowed to submit once per year at a specific time.

This is what I’m finding to be my best option to avoid repeating the situation I am in now.

So be careful and think if you really want to go to a CSU/UC or in-state school that is not private.

It just make come back to bite you.

Because the system has failed me, this is what I’m finding to be my best option to avoid repeating the situation I am in now.

THE COLLEGIAN — SPRING 2012 Editor/news editor Matthew Wilson Feature editor Brian Ratto Opinion editor Evelyn Palacio

Staff Heidi Haack Michael Johnson Uri Piterberg Haley Pitto Eliana Romero Justin Tristano Champaign Williams

Entertainment editor James Striplin Voice/sports editor Christopher Howze Online editor Matthew Wilson

Adviser Tara Cuslidge-Staiano

Advertising The Collegian offers display advertising at competitive rates.

Editorial Unsigned editorials reflect the position of the entire Collegian staff.

Call (209) 954-5156 or email deltacollegian@gmail.com for more information.

Comments, letters and editorials with a byline represent the opinion of the writer, solely. This paper does not endorse or represent the opinions of the adviser, the mass communication department, the Fine Arts Division, the printer or San Joaquin Delta College administration.

Letters to the editor Letters raising issues and opinions not represented by the newspaper are encouraged, but should not be taken as a reflection of the opinions of the staff or adviser.

Mission statement The Collegian is a student run First Amendment newspaper that prides itself on its commitment to the students of San Joaquin Delta College while maintaining its independence of any outside influence.

The Collegian will 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.

3

voice

Issue 14 • May 11, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

Stockton: It’s not as terrible as everyone says by heidi haack crazietrekkie@aol.com

As a born and raised Stocktonian, I recognize a past, and still see a bright future for our city.

Even though list-happy magazines such as “Forbes” give Stockton a bad name, I am proud to say I bought my first house near Interstate 5 just recently.

Why did I choose to stay here?

It’s easy.

The key is realizing and admitting that Stockton isn’t all that bad.

My youth was spent on my bicycle with my best friend riding to and from the community pool, taking trips with my aunt to the Children’s Museum of Stockton (a really great place for kids), having

fun at our own fairyland Pixie Woods and watching movies at our beautiful downtown theater.

People also come from all parts of the state for the annual Asparagus Festival every year.

The three-day event draws huge crowds and is also a fond memory for many families such as mine.

Our city is home to the third-oldest symphony in California.

Its beautiful sound, under maestro Peter Jaffe, has received national news coverage.

The symphony is constantly adapting new works into its repertoire.

There are also amazing places to eat all over town, and sometimes they aren’t in plain view.

I, for one, recommend Xo-

chimilco, which is a Mexican restaurant in downtown.

If we just stop and look around sometimes, especially in older parts of downtown, the history can be seen, and we can take pride.

It’s easy to get bogged down in budgetary issues, especially when bankruptcy is on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

But Stockton, to me, has nowhere to go but up.

The deep cuts have been made, so we, not just Stockton, but America as well, can only to gain from this experience in the dumps.

We aren’t the only city in trouble, and we never will be the only city in trouble, but the fact that we were one of the cities hardest hit by the crash of 2008 only proves that we can persevere through the tough stuff.

‘May Day Protests’ bring light to the nations inequality for the lower class by michael johnson

mjohnson989@students.deltacollege.com

A number of protests have taken place around the country this month.

Marches simultaneously took place in California, New York as well as Asian and European countries.

This universal demonstration is referred to as the “May Day Protests.”

These protests are in commemoration of May 1, 1904 when the International Socialist Conference meeting in Amsterdam called on all Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate for the legal establishment of the eight-hour work day.

The efforts largely succeeded, but we still face economic inequality and political corruption today.

As tough economic times impact most Americans, we are seeing more and more people getting kicked out of their homes and forced to choose between groceries and rent. People are working long hours for insufficient pay and no rights.

That’s if you’re fortunate enough to even have a job.

This has become a common story amongst many people in this country. These people make up the“99 percent.” They believe that a majority of people are getting nothing while the other one percent is getting everything.

These socioeconomic injustices are impacting our education system as well.

Theoretically, the purpose of standardized tests is to have a way to categorize, sort and rank students. These tests “prove” some students of color

and working-class children belong at the bottom, while at the same time demonstrating the intellectual “superiority” of the wealthy and white students who score better on the tests.

This was not a display of white students being smarter or more superior than other races.

This was a display of the advantages rich people had over others such as having books in the home, being able to have a private tutor, and with parents not having to work long hours to provide for their family, they had more time to read to there kids and help them with homework.

These tests indicated the values of rich white people were the standard.

Many people want a quality education for all students.

Here in California, the state has been cutting funding to higher education; schools are eliminating teaching positions and cutting programs.

Constant fee hikes have induced the suffering of American college students.

Student loan debt is over $1 trillion.

These problems are making education beyond the reach of a majority of the youth.

There are pre-existing inequalities such as social inequality, gender inequality, and wealth inequality in more than 80 countries. This discrimination affects the opportunities for people to acquire wealth for themselves.

The May 1 demonstrations called for citizens worldwide to stand up and speak out against the oppression.

Despite the race and geographical location, we all share the same concern: if this imbalance continues, it will widen the gap between the have and have-nots.

THE

10 Percent

with Brian Ratto

Culture celebrates under the rainbow flag

E

very summer Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer (LGBTQ+) people celebrate their differences with pride festivals, parades and fairs.

Many people have asked the question: Why flaunt your sexuality by having a pride festival?

It is not flaunting our sexuality. It is making a statement.

“I think [Pride Festivals] are important part of culture. As a way for our whole community to come together, no matter how different we are,as one. Plus it is fun,” said Brian Wick, Delta Pride president.

The city of San Francisco, the Gay Mecca as it has been coined, holds a very large gay pride weekend at the end of June every year, while Sydney, Australia, one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world, holds a huge festival and parade. The parades have a range of politicians, religious and social groups featured as well as family groups.

Each year the San Francisco Pride Parade has a theme.

This year it is “Global Equality.” The theme is chosen each year by San Francisco Pride members at an annual meeting.

This pride festival and parade began a year after the police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City.

The Stonewall Inn was a notorious LGBTQ+ hangout in the city’s Greenwich Village. The police raided and arrested multitudes of people for being LGBTQ+.

In 1969 it was illegal to be LGBTQ+.

On June 28, 1970, San Francisco Pride began to remember the negative actions of the police and show that LGBTQ+ people are here to stay.

San Francisco Pride marks its 42 year on June 23-24.

Locally there are parades and festivals held for LGBTQ+ pride.

Modesto has been holding a festival for the past three years, celebrating the 42 years of Gay Pride movement with the theme “Pride Links Us Together.”

Stockton is working on getting a pride festival up and running with a pride festival planned to be held on Aug. 25 at Oak Grove Regional Park.

The San Joaquin Pride Center (SJPC) is the main sponsor of the event. Currently the SJPC is seeking vendors and volunteers for the event.

I’ve had the pleasure of attending four pride festivals in my life one in San Jose and the rest in San Francisco. I enjoyed each festival and parade.

There are pros and cons to having a pride festival.

Some of the good things are the level of awareness of LGBTQ+ issues are raised, some people find out about LGBTQ+ and realize there is nothing wrong with it while the community holding the event receivesan influx of money and tourism traffic.

With all the good there is a bad, unfortunately. I have heard of gay bashers walking into the San Francisco Pride Parade, acting gay friendly, courting a man and then taking him out of the main area and beating him.

There is no reason for their actions except their own homophobia.

This is why we need Pride Festivals, to raise awareness of these issues to show that the LGBTQ+ community is just like everyone else.

4

entertainment

Monkeys, Keys by evelyn palacio

Issue 14 • May 11, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

ROCK OUT in Sacramento

jpgr1964@comcast.net

On May 5, the Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento was filled with the best of British and American rock.

With a mixture of young and old music lovers, the night began at 8 p.m. with the opening band, Arctic Monkeys, revving up the audience for the main act.

The Arctic Monkeys played a selection of the band's more rocking songs from a diverse catalog of music, which include four albums and countless b-sides.

Beginning with “Brianstrorm” to current crowd favorite “R U Mine?” Arctic Monkeys managed to hold their own in a crowd filled with people who don’t really know who they are, yet.

While still relatively unknown in the United States, Arctic Monkeys is one of the most popular bands in Europe at the moment and probably one of the best bands to come out of England since the Beatles.

By the time the Arctic Monkeys had left the stage however, the crowd was more than ready for the main act.

The Black Keys came onstage to roaring applause, and quickly tore into a set list filled with songs from all seven of the band's albums.

The crowd went crazy and sang and stamped along to hits such as “Howlin’ for You” “Tighten Up” and “Lonely Boy.” Seventeen songs later the crowd chanted for more.

The encore included three more songs, including a beautiful performance of "Everlasting Light" with dazzling light effects and a disco ball.

When the concert was over, the audience was left with feeling that they had just witnessed what was probably one of the best concerts of their lives, with two of the best bands in music today.

Both the Arctic Monkeys and The Black Keys more than prove that rock and roll is alive and well, you just have to take the time to find it, or let it find you.

PHOTOS BY EVELYN PALACIO

ROCKIN’ SACRAMENTO: The Black Keys play on stage, top. Lead singer of Arctic Monkeys, Alex Turner, top left. Lead singer of the Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, bottom left. Lead guitarist of Arctic Monkeys, Jamie Cook, bottom right.

Marvel Studio fufills promise with awesome film by chris howze vivilu226@aol.com

The summer movie season started not with a bang, but with a fully loaded gamma fueled atomic event.

This is especially true of The Avengers, which hit theaters a week ago.

The movie is the Marvel Studio's fulfillment of a promise made to viewers four years ago when 2008’s “Iron Man” hinted at a Marvel Cinematic Universe, where all these heroes existed in the same world with the prospect of them crossing paths.

That world promised delivered one of the purest, most enjoyable blockbusters in a long time.

This is no Michael Bay film, like the bombastic “Transformer” movies.

The action is competent and readable.

The writing is spot on and witty.

The females aren’t sexbots. And it delivers on its premise ten fold.

The film has had five whole movies to lay down the ground work and it’s paid off.

Instead of wasting valuable time explaining who each hero is and how they came to be, we now know these characters pretty well and only need a reintroduction to get the film to the action.

All the actors are comfortable with their roles so now here we see them with great command and understanding of the roles.

The standouts is once again Tom Hiddleston as Loki, the villain with serious little brother syndrome.

Hiddleston, like in “Thor,” acts as if he doesn’t realize he’s in a movie where he’s got a pair of golden horns on his head.

He’s that good.

Without a doubt, the one who steals the show was the one many were worried about.

That's Mark Ruffalo’s turn as Dr. Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk.

Writer-Director Joss Whedon plays it very smart by not having the Hulk show up for quite some time.

Instead we get to know and like Ruffalo’s Banner even more so when the Hulk finally emerges in all his glory, the audience is in a full blown tizzy.

This will movie will leave you on a high.

You'll want to see it again later.

But now another question looms out in the near future.

Where is the justice league movie?

No that’s not it, it’s that this is just the beginning of the summer?

This years slate of films are like a film nerds wild jolt cola-infused dream.

There’s a prequel to the “Alien” series with “Prometheus.”

The closer to the Christopher Nolan “Batman” trilogy, and Spiderman hopes to get a new lease on life with “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Those are just the three of the big ones.

In the end, all these films mean a hell of a time at the movies this summer.

5

feature

Issue 14 • May 11, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

Club raises awareness of war criminal Joseph Kony by brian ratto

bratto2002@gmail.com

Generation4Change club members hang posters around Stockton in April, raising awareness of the efforts to capture Joseph Kony.

Kony is the head of the Lord’s Resistance Army, an Ugandan guerrilla group, and has been accused by government entities of ordering the

abduction of children to become child-sex slaves and child soldiers.

Throughout the semester club members sat in the quad informing students of who Joseph Kony is and what he has been doing in Uganda.

Generation4Change held a discussion of the “KONY 2102” movement and a showing of the “KONY 2012” documentary in early March. The campaign to capture Kony ends in December 2012.

PHOTOS BY OF SIMONE MINQUA-LOPSTAIN

Student earns Pre-Med summer internship at UC Davis

by haley pitto

hpitto92@hotmail.com

Jason Compton is a current Delta College student who has been accepted to the UC Davis Department of Surgery Pre-Medical Summer Internship program for this coming summer.

The program begins May 18 and lasts until sometime in August.

Compton said that getting into the program was extremely difficult.

“I had to complete a curriculum vitae, write 11 essays, get at least one letter of recommendation and do a formal interview,” said Compton.

Barbara Demmons, an organic chemistry teacher here at Delta was the one who wrote

his letter of recommendation and was one of his main inspirations for pursuing applying to the program.

“One of my favorite classes here at Delta was (Barbara Demmons’) organic chemistry class.”

Some of Compton’s other favorite classes are physiology, figure drawing with Mario Moreno, a painting instructor here at Delta and numerous music courses that he has taken.

It may seem odd that a premed hopeful like Compton would be interested in art and music courses.

However what most people do not know is that Compton actually started out as an art major and has since switched to bio-

chemistry with a minor in art.

Compton also used to have long hair up until he cut it for his interview; he was also in a few bands as a vocalist and sports a large tattoo on his forearm, which he will have to cover during his internship.

Art and music have had a huge impact on his life. He has taken art classes for two years at Delta.

“My art helps me in a lot of my other classes, it helps me to visualize things in a new way,” said Compton.

Compton actually has a painting that is currently on display in the Horton Art Gallery on campus.

“Somniphobia” is the title of this work, which is the fear of sleep.

“Ironic since it seems doctors never sleep,” said Compton.

When asked how Compton made the choice between art and medicine, he replied “I have more passion for medicine, especially surgical oncology.”

Many of Compton’s family members have dealt with cancer.

“I have the most passion for this field and have seen what an impact the doctors have on the patients from first-hand experience,” said Compton.

Following the summer internship program, which consists of picking a seven hour shift to work side by side with a surgeon on, Compton hopes to get into medical school at UC Davis.

However he is not limiting himself to just one school.

“I plan to apply to UCSF, Harvard, UCLA and UC Merced as well,” said Compton. “I am looking forward to seeing if the life of a surgeon is right for me; so many aspects of medicine interest me.”

Compton said he will miss Delta because of the memories he has made here but will particularly miss the instructors who have made such an impact on his life but he can’t wait to start a new life at Davis.

“It takes a special kind of person to become a surgeon, you have to be 100% sure, be passionate and make a lot of personal sacrifices,” said Compton.

Talking Obamacare with the politics and law club by haley pitto

hpitto92@hotmail.com

Health care is a hot button issue right now and a major part of the Law and Politics Club’s last discussion.

When dealing with health care, three things to take into consideration are the Commerce Clause, the Necessary and Proper Clause and the General Welfare Clause.

“The last possible success was (Bill) Clinton, 1994,” said Dr. Joel Blank. “We have to think to ourselves on what basis should health care be regulated?”

Many of the club members in attendance agreed that health care should not be regulated.

“The slippery slope of Congress regulating health care is if they can regulate health care, they can do any-

thing,” said Blank.

The Law and Politics Club, formerly known as Pipeline, is headed by Dr. Joel Blank, a science professor and pre-law advisor here on the Delta campus.

Blank said he would like to see the club become a place where students interested in pursuing a career in law could come for guidance.

“I would like to have at least one

public event a month or two to three a semester,” said Blank. These monthly events would consist of guest speakers, open forums and advising on different careers in law and how to get into law school.

For more information about the Politics and Law club you can email the club adviser Joel Blank at jblank@ deltacollege.edu.

6

feature

Issue 14 • May 11, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

A fight for freedom: by brian ratto

bratto2002@gmail.com

The end of the school year is coming. Students and teachers are preparing for finals. Administration is concluding the busiest time of the year with paperwork and meetings. Other staff members are working to end the year as well.

Although this time of year is busy, there are some faculty, administration and staff here concluding there careers.

One person who will be retiring after 22 years of service at Delta College is Tan Mai. Mai was born in Vietnam before the South Vietnam versus France war.

As he grew older the Vietnam war broke out.

At the time he and his brother were enlisted in his country's army.

Mai was able to serve with the U.S. Army Special Forces, the green berets.

“I do miss my homeland, it is very different than here with no freedom,” said Mai. Life after military service led him into public service as a policeman in Bien Hoa. Shortly after the communist party took control, all the men with any power or military involvement were forced into prison camps.

Mai’s sister had married an American serviceman and had already been in the United States. She wrote encouraging the family to move to the U.S. After the communist party took over they did.

Mai's journey to get to America was not easy.

Retiring custodian tells his harrowing experience in coming to America from Vietnam in search of independence

It included a dangerous trip through the Khmer Rouge-ravaged Cambodia and Thailand.

He tried two times, once by boat and a second time by land, each time being caught and imprisoned.

“It was hard to get to America, my family and I faced death to get here,” said Mai. His third attempt was a success.

Mai made it to a refugee camp in Cambodia.

Three months after his arrival, his family was able to meet up with him and the wait to come to America began.

A two-year wait.

In 1983, Mai and his family arrived in Beaumont, Texas, staying there a little over a year.

Coming to the America was a life changing experience with safety and freedom according to an email sent out by Director of Admissions and records Catherine Mooney to the campus community about Mai. After finding a childhood friend and his sister living in California, he and his family decided to move to Stockton.

Prior to working at Delta College Mai was a student, taking auto mechanic classes and English as a Second Language in the mid 1980s.

Working here at Delta College as a custodian, in the administration building, he was able to help put three of his five children through college.

“I like working here at Delta College,” said Mai. “I am greeted by many people here each day from administration and students.”

After retirement Mai will be visiting his mother

Picnic fosters relations between communities

by champaign williams cwilliams060590@yahoo.com

NorCal Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing hosted their 27th Annual Deaf Family Day Picnic at Oak Grove Regional Park on Saturday, May 5.

The picnic welcomed people from both the hearing and non-hearing community.

Five to six hundred people visited the event throughout the course of the day.

“The purpose of this event is to fund raise for our organization,” said Rosie Boulware, Deaf volunteer coordinator.

The lunches included a hamburger, chips, cookies and a soda. The combo meal was sold for $5.

Delta College nursing major Veela Lymuel volunteered to help oversee the children’s play area.

“I monitored the children at the inflated obstacle course,” said Lymuel. “It was very entertaining.”

The picnic has become an

CALLING ALL CLUBS CLUB CORNER

annual opportunity for students taking sign language courses on campus to interact with the deaf community and sharpen their skill.

“I enjoyed the fact that the deaf [community] was so welcoming.

They helped me learn different terms I did not know,” said Lymuel.

Many Delta College students enrolled in sign language courses volunteered to serve in a variety of different venues.

Volunteer jobs ranged from overseeing children games and activities to serving lunch.

“This event is for deaf communities with families to get together and fellowship [with] hearing families,” said Boulware.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. children ran laughing and playing as their deaf and hearing parents intermingled.

Psychology major Jesse Aires also volunteered to watch the children at the event.

“It was really interesting seeing little kids sign a mile a minute,” said Aires. “Usually we hear [kids] talk a mile a min-

ute, [but] these kids were doing it with their fingers.”

The event included 23 different booths offering information about organizations established by deaf people and businesses created in service to the Deaf community.

“That’s more [booths] than we have ever had in previous years,” said Boulware.

Every representative, including those representing major companies, was well-versed in sign language.

“That was another interesting thing,” said Aires. “You had [representatives] from Sprint mobile and Jamba Juice, and they all signed.”

As stated by Boulware, the goal of the picnic was to afford hearing people the opportunity to interact with families from the deaf community.

“It was an awesome experience,” said Lymuel. “I would like to come next year even if I am not in ASL, [American Sign Language] just for the practice and learning.”

The Club Corner page has been discontinued. Clubs are still welcomed to email deltacollegian@ gmail.com for story consideration in future issues. The Collegian begins publishing again Sept. 7.

PHOTO BY BRIAN RATTO

A TRUE SURVIVOR: Tan Mai in the Horton Administration building, where he has worked for the last 22 years at Delta College.

and sister, who still live in Vietnam.

His mother is in her 90s and needs all the help he can offer, he said.

After years of service on this campus, Mai considers those he worked with a second family.

7

sports

Issue 14 • May 11, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

What does it take to become a student-athlete? by chris howze vivilu266@aol.com

There has been a stereotype thrown about that getting into college via the sports program is a free meal, an easy ticket.

That one is getting a paid for education not on academic merit but on how hard they can throw a ball, how quick they are or how strong they are.

It’s true that colleges look for those with exceptional athletic prowess, but it is a foolish misconception to think it makes college easy for them.

In fact, the average student might drop over dead if forced to follow the rigorous regiment that Delta’s athletic department utilizes.

Delta’s Assistant Football Coach Doug Murray said there’s much to the ins and outs of the getting into one of the athletics programs. “The first thing that happens is kind of a dual outreach,� he said.

The school will go looking for potential athletes.

At the same time, some potential student athletes hoping to become Mustangs will come in to them as well.

From there, a potential athlete has to follow the basic student guidelines everyone does.

These requirements include taking assessment tests, seeing a counselor and creating an academic plan. There are more requirements.

To be a part of a sports program one must be a full-time student, taking 12 units. Nine of those must be traditional academic units.

A student-athlete must maintain at least a 2.0 academic gradepoint average or they risk being cut from the program.

Student-athletes must not only meet the college’s standards, but the athletic department’s personal standards as well as National Collegiate Athletic Association standards, said Murray.

If requirements aren’t fully met, a student-athlete risks being unable to transfer to a four-year university and continue playing.

The program has fail safes in place to ensure players stay on track and up to speed with their studies.

Student-athletes are required to spend three hours each week in study hall.

Recruiters can come in whenever they want.

Usually, these visits are unannounced, so neither the coaches nor the players know when they will occur. “And that’s why we make it so that our students are at their best at all times,� said Murray.

“I’m a transfer from Florida International in Miami, and I’ll say that the most important tip I can give you is stay on your academics because that’s how I ended up out here. Academics is first, that’s the most important thing to being a student athlete is your books, your credits. I don’t even wanna talk about football because academics is the most important thing,� said David Holley, football player. “The main thing is motivation. Make sure you work hard and make sure you’re keeping up with everything and your grades are up at the same time,� said Breana Brockl, soccer player.

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“Come in knowing you need to get some work done because all the coaches here want to see you get better and want to see you move on to a four year college and see you succeed. It’s great that we have ‘The Zone’ in Budd 205 so we have a place to get our school work done and not have to do it at home.� said Stephen Patterson, baseball player. “Make sure you prioritize. Go to ‘The Zone’ and it’s really helpful.

You can go in there and actually study away from practice time. Go to practice and go to class but spend your extra time at ‘The Zone,’ that will help you a lot and they also have tutors there that will help you a lot,� said Kelsey Agardi, swimming athlete.

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news Partial student government election results in 8

by justin tristano ju.tristano@gmail.com

Partial results are in for the Associated Student Body Government (ASBG) elections, which concluded May 4.

Two-hundred thirty students in total voted in the election. Write-in results from the election are to be released next week.

Lorena Campos is the new ASBG president going into the 2012-13 school year, having received 82 votes.

Campos is currently the senator of legislative affairs.

A student who only just recently joined ASBG in the spring semester, Campos currently has a few goals with a heavy focus on improving the communication of ASBG and the students.

When asked about her plans to reach out to students, Campos emphasized College Hour as well as increasing announcements and fliers.

Issue 14 • May 11, 2012 • deltacollegian.net

Campos said she doesn’t believe ASBG’s loss of the flea market and the subsequent challenges in finding funding will hinder the governing body in upcoming seCAMPOS mesters.

“I don’t believe the board solely relies on the resources it has,” Campos said. “I don’t believe it relies on finances” With proper planning, Campos believes ASBG will be able to continue its operation on campus.

She said this semester ASBG spending was under the budget limitations instated by outgoing President Nicholas Aguirre. “(We) worked hard not to exceed our limits to keep everything in budget,” Campos said.

Campos wants to inform stu-

dents of their rights and allow them to understand how they can impact the campus environment.

Campos also wishes to improve the students and the members of ASBG by seeing the “strengths and weaknesses and plan our goals.”

2012-13 ASBG ELECTION RESULTS President: Lorena Campos Treasurer: Razleen Sandhu Senator of Activities: Razleen Sandhu Senator of Student ID Cards: Teresa Narez-Villa Senator of College and Community Relations: Elizabeth Landa For details on the number of votes each candidate received, read this story online at www.deltacollegian. net.

PHOTO BY ELIANA ROMERO

DRUMMING TOWARDS FINALS: Jeni Swerdlow, owner of DRUMMM Rhythmic Events, leads students in a drum circle on May 3.

Students drum away stress by eliana romero eliromero06@gmail.com

One of the last College Hours of the semester brought many students together to release their stress for finals by dancing and playing to the beat of the drums.

The Associated Student Body Government (ASBG) brought Jeni Swerdlow, the owner of DRUMMM Rhythmic Events in Oakland, to unite the students on campus by conducting a drum circle.

Many students participated in the drum circle while those who didn’t stayed and watched as Swerdlow encouraged the students to continue beating their drums.

Knowing how to play the drums wasn’t necessary to join.

“The thing we liked about Jeni is that she brought in that anybody can drum,” said Bronche Taylor, vice president of student affairs. “We can all drum together and release stress from doing it.”

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