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Friday, Sept. 13, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
INSIDE
CLUBS WORK TOWARD RECRUITMENT
ju.tristano@gmail.com
Electronic music moving into mainstream Page 6
ONGOING ASBG is accepting non-perishable food and pledges for a Thanksgiving Turkey giveaway. Drop off donations at Student Activities in Shima 101C or the ASBG office in Shima 101F.
FIND US
Smith takes reigns as ASBG president by justin tristano
Situation in Syria tops current events Page 4
Mustangs football season starts off a little rocky Page 3
JH
INFORMING NEW STUDENTS: Top, the Anthropology Club promotes interest in their club. Left, Delta Psi sells candy and soda as well as recruit from campus population. Right, members of the Japanese Club speak with fellow students. From Sept. 9 to Sept. 13, clubs set up tables in the quad area and spoke with students who walked by to draw interest in their activities.
A familiar face is taking on a new role for Associated Student Body Government (ASBG) this school year. QuaNisha Smith is the new ASBG president for the Fall 2013 semester. The new president is entering her term with a direction toward students. She has plans for events in the near future, such as Soul Fest this month, and plans on continuing to move ideas QUANISHA SMITH forward. “We are students here to advocate for the student body,” Smith stated in an e-mail interview. Smith’s background with ASBG started with volunteering during former ASBG president Nicholas Aguirre’s term. With a background in customer service, Smith said she feels that helping people is one of her many passions. “Helping someone in any way possible brings joy to my soul,” she said. Throughout her life Smith gained a large number of role models, one of the biggest being former ASBG Vice President Bronche Taylor. “Bronche Taylor is one of my biggest role models. He inspires me to go BIG in what ever I do and just do it,” Smith said. Another major influence is her mother. “My mother…my greatest role model period,” stated Smith. Before becoming president, Smith held the position of Senator of Activities for the Fall 2012 term of ASBG.
Stockton to be featured on popular show ‘COPS’ Daily life of local police department captured in television series visit by hannah stevens news@deltacollegian.net
You may be seeing some familiar faces on Spike TV during the 25th and final fall season of COPS; a TV reality series that films ride alongs with police officers. Producers and camera crews spent two months with Stockton Police Officers and have selected eight stories that will air this season.
The seasons airs at 8 p.m. on terview with the Lodi NewsSaturday, Sept. 14 on Spike TV. Sentinel, Officer Joe Silva said: The Spike “Having ‘Cops’ Network re- CHANNEL LISTING filming here is leased a segment not only good of the fall season Tune into the ‘Cops’ episode for departof COPS featur- featuring the Stockton ment morale, ing a clip of a Police Department on as it promotes Stockton police Saturday, Sept. 14 on the our officers officer. In the following channels:. and their hard segment, the of- Direct TV: 241 work, but it is ficer confronts Comcast: 36 also a very good an assailant. recruiting tool, AT&T: 146 In an inas we are cur-
rently hiring.” COPS.com posted a Stockton Police Department recruiting video and has been publicizing the department by posting updates about the crew’s time with the SPD and pictures of crime scenes. “It’s good publicity for the police officers. It shows the people of Stockton that they’re doing their job,” said student Carlos Guerra.
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opinion
Issue 1 • Sept. 13, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
Pulled over for self-expression by michael johnson news@deltacollegian.net
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arlier this semester, I was pulled over by an officer with the Stockton Police Department while on my way home from my math course here at Delta College. I wasn’t speeding. I wasn’t veering in and out of traffic. It was right in front of my East Stockton home. I sat quietly as he checked me out. He gave no initial indication as to why he pulled me over, until I asked. “Your rims are too big,” he told me. My Mercury has 24-inch rims. According to California vehicle codes, rims are considered to be a safety hazard when the wheels stick out past the fender and don’t have any guards. My car has no such set up. The vehicle code also does not reference wheels, only that they do need to be safe for highway use. As this encounter concluded, all I could think of was one thing: I had been racially profiled. As a young African American, being called out because of my race is not a new occurrence to me. In many instances with local law enforcement, I’ve had problems because I’ve seemingly “fit the profile” of a suspect. I’m 6-feet tall. I wear baggy clothes. I’m slim built. I’m a black male that takes his dress cues from hip-hop culture.
I’m also a decent student. I’m enrolled in 13-units this semester. I’m not on any kind of probation: academically or disciplinary. On the most recent stop, I had not committed a crime. Often, the motive for stopping people is based on a misconception. The officer thought, or perhaps hoped, that I was a drug dealer of some sort or had weapons in the car. Granted that you don’t see men with business suits on with 24-inch rims, not all minorities with cars like that are up to no good. I was on my way home from school. The stigma and perception surrounding urban youth, particularly of color, can be fatal. This happened in the case of 17-year old Treyvon Martin, a Florida teen who was shot and killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman. Martin aroused Zimmerman’s suspicion because the teen had a hooded sweatshirt on. That’s an extreme example. Still it stands, this sort of profiling is dangerous to a free society. I had a valid license, proof of insurance and current registration. I wasn’t breaking any traffic laws. There was no justifiable reason to pull me over. I felt it was on the grounds of being an African American in a car with big rims. A car can be an art form, a display of the owner’s individual style. People should have the
right to modify and dress up their vehicle however they want: whether it be big rims or little-tree air fresheners. What happened to freedom of expression? We all are unique individuals, why can’t the car I drive be unique as well? Urban youth constantly finds new ways to express their culture, sometimes it’s in the car they drive, sometimes it’s the clothes they wear and sometime it’s the way they behave. It still has a negative light, especially in law enforcement because of its association with gangs and drugs. Hip-hop is the reflection of real social issues that take place in urban neighborhoods. Like other facets of life, hip-hop has had an enormous impact on car culture. As young people who grew up in disadvantaged neighborhoods, we’re used to not having much. So when we have something, we flaunt it. Officers should be pulling people over if they are driving what constitutes an “unsafe vehicle.” Why aren’t people who have humongous mudslinger tires on their 4x4 trucks being hassled? I’ve recently spoke to the owner of one of those kinds of trucks. He was a Caucasian male. He said he has never been pulled over for such violations. “I don’t see why a police officer would do that,” he said. Unfortunately, I do.
Restroom woes plague Delta by kenneth huntley news@deltacollegian.net
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s the general population of Delta College has noticed, this Fall semester, most restrooms are under construction. Many of the restrooms not under construction are now converted from women’s rooms to men’s rooms. The construction project is to make campus restrooms compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), while also upgrading facilities. Under ADA compliance, stalls will be bigger, which will be beneficial to people who use mobility devices, such as manual and power wheelchairs. There have been snags in the process, including mold under old tiling that caused delays. Restrooms were supposed to be completed by the beginning of the Fall semester, but according to a Measure L Bond document, the current date of Mens’ restrooms being opened, is mid October. As someone who uses a power wheelchair, I find the news of renovation to be a good thing. However, I understand the pains and frustrations of the staff and students, when trying to find a restroom. What went through the minds of staff and students, when they first saw the construction signs on most of the restroom doors, (with an empty bladder) was not to worry, not a big deal. Then it happens. Someone downs a Pepsi and a half hour or so later, it hits you. Now they’re rushing to find a restroom, reading signs saying what restrooms are opened. But oops, the sign was wrong. Shima’s third-floor women’s
restroom is actually closed. A person using a wheelchair or crutches has to rely on elevators, which aren’t always in service, to find restrooms that are accessible to them — a struggle, especially if you have a medically-related incontinence issue. Doing some research, I went around campus to find the restrooms still open. I also researched what restrooms were the most accessible. The restrooms located on the first floor of Danner Hall are huge. The only thing that had me scratching my head, was that the ADA stall in the men’s room has two toilets in it. I guess if you’re comfortable enough, you can invite someone to use the restroom with you. These restrooms, along with the ones in the Irving Goleman Library, have to be manually accessed. The problem with this is that the doors are heavy and some people who are confined to a wheelchair have no upper-arm strength. Other restrooms on campus still open and accessible are in the Lawrence and Alma DiRicco Student Center, where there are no issues. I found the cleanest restrooms to be the ones in the Horton Administration building. I am guessing the reason these remain the cleanest is due them being in the Administration building. Some final thoughts on the matter of the restrooms on campus: We were supposed to have a modular restroom facility put near the Shima building, at the beginning of the semester. Pardon the pun, but had this been the actual case, it would have been a relief.
THE COLLEGIAN — FALL 2013 Editor In Chief Chris Howze News Editor Justin Tristano Opinion Editor Christina Cornejo Feature Editors Valerie Smith Karina Ramirez Entertainment Editor Chris Howze Sports Editor Chris Howze
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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.
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Comments, letters and editorials with a byline represent the opinion of the writer, solely. This paper does not endorse or
Editorial Unsigned editorials reflect the position of the entire Collegian staff.
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.
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opinion
Issue 1 • Sept. 13, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
Gender bill will raise child discomfort by valerie lancer news@deltacollegian.net
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alifornia Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1266 on Aug. 12, allowing K-12 children to establish their own gender and use whichever restroom or locker room the child feels appropriate. The bill allows girls to join boys’ sports teams (and vice versa) if a girl considers herself the opposite birth gender. Restrooms will no longer be a comfortable place for those who do not experience confusion with gender identity. I am concerned younger children will not have the ability to deal with the impact of this bill, seeing as it will affect their restroom breaks (often associated with recess) and sporting events. These things used to be experiences full of excitement and fun. They will now become situations of confusion and discomfort for some. To ask a child to decide what gender they will associate with during their early school years seems like too
important of a task, especially when children are spending these years trying to decide their favorite color or favorite snack. However, the Encyclopedia of Children’s Health (healthofchildren.com) states, “gender identity emerges by the age of two or three and is influenced by a combination of biological and sociological factors reinforced at puberty. Once established, it is generally fixed for life.” Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, who opposes this bill, said: “Those afflicted with Gender Identity Disorder need professional counseling and our compassion, not more mandates that do not serve the best interests of our children.” Although he is opposed to this bill and the supposed effects on children, he does agree that the struggle of gender identity is real and needs support. I support changes being made in that they are a step towards reducing bullying and discrimination. It might open up awareness of just how many
children struggle with gender identity and what they need in order to maintain happy and healthy lifestyles. Although I can see negative outcomes from this bill, I believe it is not my place or anyone else’s to judge…ever. I do, however, see problems. Good intentions often lead to unsuccessful results. I can see more children being bullied based on the lack of knowledge some children have on transgender identity than children immediately being accepted for how they choose to identify themselves. Children often tease when they do not understand. “Clearly, there are some parents who are not going to like it. We are hopeful school districts will work with them so no students are put in an uncomfortable position,” said Carlos Alcala, a supporter of Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), creator of the bill, in USA Today. This gender identity bill will take effect January 1, 2014 and it will affect every public school in the state of California.
Danner Hall overcrowded, expensive by diane rivera
news@deltacollegian.net
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elta College’s cafeteria, located in upper Danner Hall, has been experiencing a variety of issues since the fall semester began ranging from price increases to the long lines at both the grill as well as the cashier counters. With a large campus population of at least 10,000 students there should be other places on campus that can provide hot meals for busy students on the go. Students crowd the cafeteria as soon as the grill opens up at 11 a.m. to serve lunch. It remains crowded until the cafeteria closes at 1 p.m. every afternoon. Even the line at the grill has been known to go as far as the cashier counter. Long waits in Danner Hall can mean students don’t get a chance to eat before they go to their next class, or if they do have time to eat before class there is a possibility they may end up being late for class. There is a limited time students can get lunch in the cafeteria. The cafeteria really should stay open until at least 2 or 3 p.m. because that would be a huge help to hungry students that have later classes or are in between classes. The campus bookstore does sell food such as chips, candy and prepared salads and sandwiches for students to purchase. The bookstore stays open until 6 p.m. everyday except Friday. There are still not very many places on campus where students can purchase food before
class. I think there should be another place on campus that students can get healthy, affordable food. It should be open in the late afternoon until at least 6 or 7 p.m. for the students who have night classes on campus. This would help generate more revenue for Food Services as well as for the Student Chef program because they can also utilize their culinary skills and help feed the hungry student population after the cafeteria closes for the day. Danner Hall has also experienced an increase in cost both for food and beverages. It seems like every semester there has been a price increase on everything in the cafeteria and the bookstore. An example of this is the current cost of a Mountain Dew. The cost of one is now $1.60 when it previously was $1.50. “The cost of lays potato chips on campus went from $1.00 to $ 1.25,” said student Victor Mojica about this issue. If these problems continue, more students will have no choice but to go off campus for food because it would be more affordable for them to do so in places such as the café at Target next door or they can go eat at places where they can get more bang for their buck such as Denny’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chipotle Mexican Grill or even at the Sherwood Mall eatery. This would ultimately result in a decrease in revenue for food at Delta College Food Services and I think that as a result of people going off campus for food, the price increases are driving students away from both the bookstore and the cafeteria.
THE
10 Percent
with Brian Ratto
Same-sex couples face tax law whirlwind
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his summer has seen change in American civil rights. In June, the Supreme Court repealed Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA. United States v. Windsor, the case was regarding a surviving same-sex spouse whose inheritance from her deceased spouse had been subject to federal taxation as if they were unmarried. This led to the Supreme Court changing the standing definition of marriage that required the married couple to be one man and one woman. “By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others, the federal statute is in violation of the Fifth Amendment,” wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy in the majority opinion. This doesn’t mean that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide, only in the states granting same-sex marriages will the federal government recognize them. For example, a gay couple married in New York will have their marriage recognized on the state and federal level, but if they were to move to a state that has a ban on same sex marriage, the marriage will not be recognized by that state. Since the ruling, there are 13 states and one federal district that allow same-sex marriage. Thirty-seven states either ban same-sex marriage legally or constitutionally. This creates another problem in regards to taxation of a married couple. Since DOMA made same-sex marriage federally recognized, what does a same-sex couple have to do to file federal and state taxes? Federally, the couple must file as married but depending on the state they live in, they may or may not have to file as married — meaning two separate statuses exist for state and federal taxes in the 37 states that ban same-sex marriage. Couples claim married status on federal taxes, while on state taxes they claim as unmarried. Yes, DOMA has granted some Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) people federal recognition of their marriages, but there are still states that ban it on a constitutional level, thus keeping the status quo of separate but equal. It may not be as visible as a separate water fountain or sitting in the back of the bus, as with the Jim Crow laws during the Civil Rights movement, but it is the same mentality: You’re not the same as me, so I can treat you differently. DOMA has opened the conversation and helped to shift the national opinion of same-sex marriages. We have a long road ahead but we are making forward progress. One day, people will see a married couple, disregarding the gender of the couple, and see two loving people. To create real change we need to legally recognize same-sex marriages nationwide.
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feature
EGYPT TAKES TO STREETS AFTER PRESIDENT MORSI OUSTED
Issue 1 • Sept. 13, 2013
CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE IN SYRIA CROSSES ‘RED LINE’ by karina ramirez news@deltacollegian.net
More than 100,000 people have perished in Syria’s civil war. Chemical weapons allegedly used by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government killed an estimated 1,400 civilians on Aug. 21. This has prompted United States President Barack Obama to act on the “red line” of intervention he set last year. American intervention consists of airstrikes that target military units moving the weapons, not chemical storage sites. The intent is to eliminate al-Assad’s ability to use weapons of mass destruction against his people. The Obama administration has repeatedly denied that American lives will be in danger, claiming air attacks will be small. “No one is going to put any troops on the ground in the middle of a civil war. That’s simply not going to take place,” Political Science Professor Joel Blank said. ORIGINS OF WAR The origin of the war began in early 2011, when a group of schoolboys in the city of Daraa were arrested for anti-government graffiti. Protests in support of the boys grew larger across the country. Al-Assad rejected the movement, instead dubbing them conspirators. Massive protests spiraled. Currently, the al-Assad regime is battling rebel forces, the largest being the Free Syrian Army. Religious clashes have always been prominent. AlAssad and his ruling family are Alawi, a minority. The majority of Syrians are Sunni Muslims, a large amount of rebels are also Sunni. Since the beginning of the civil war, close to two million refuges have fled to neighboring Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. U.S. INTERVENTION IMMINENT Videos released by news organizations and YouTube show rows of lifeless bodies, including many children. The images depict people foaming at the mouth, convulsing – a reaction to gas attacks. The Obama administration has shown 13 videos as evidence to selected senators in order to sway their vote of intervention to yes. Secretary of State John Kerry has said 1,429 people, 426 were children, were killed in on August in Damascus. The approximate number has puzzled some. A French report estimates the death toll within the hundreds. Syrian rebels have assessed more than 1,300. The U.S. intelligence analysis report claims rocket launched from “regime controlled territory.”
by valerie smith news@deltacollegian.net
SYRIA
Despite most Western states denouncing al-Assad’s actions, he has had a vital ally in Russian President Putin. Russian companies profited nearly $5 billion in weapons deals with Syria. “Russia and Syria have had this relationship for decades, and Putin feels that need to cultivate. Where they have very few friends in the Middle East, they have Syria,” Blank said. “Putin sees this rivalry with America. He likes to cause problems with the west.” ‘EXPECT EVERY ACTION’ IN RETALIATION In a recent interview, al-Assad has said he is against the use of chemical weapons. He has neither confirmed nor denied having a chemical stockpile. “Russians have completely opposite evidence … the missiles were thrown from area where the rebels controlled,” al-Assad said to PBS journalist Charlie Rose. If strikes occur, al-Assad has promised the U.S. to “expect every action” in retaliation. If al-Assad’s regime is weakened by the western attacks, groups like Al Qaeda who side with Sunni Muslims will grow stronger in the region. Kerry has said 15 to 25 percent of rebel forces consist of extremist groups like Al Qaeda. “Maybe, it’s a bit too difficult and cumbersome to get involved in a civil war. It would’ve been nice to intervene and prevent the slaughter of 100,000 people, but when you have civil wars it’s really a messy situation and even if you’re a great power,” Blank said. ‘RED LINE’ STANCE BRINGS VIOLENCE The “red line” has created a differentiation of violence. A loss of 100,000 people through conventional weapons and the estimated 1,400 deaths through chemical warfare has delayed a humanitarian response. The chemical in question is sarin, a lethal nerve gas. The U.S. does have legal rights to act in Syria due to the 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibiting the use of biological and chemical weapons in times of war. To date, the U.S. has given $200 million in aid for Syrians and the refugees. Obama’s decision to consult congress has raised questions over the legitimacy of his original “red line” stance. An executive order was expected, and the new Russian
proposal has created a suspension for military action. “On subjects that are outside of most peoples per view, they can understand the Affordable Care act … but do they really understand the importance of something so complex in the Middle East? So complex as what’s taking place in Syria?” He said. “It really should be decided by our leaders.” According to a CNN/ORC international poll, eight in 10 people believe al-Assad used chemical weapons. However, seven in 10 oppose any intervention. “Part of the problem too is … we’re still living with the last 13 years with regard to Iraq and Afghanistan. We just don’t want to have a replay of that, this creeping escalation,” Blank said. NEXT STEPS In order to avoid any U.S. military strike, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed a plan for Russia to take and place Syria’s chemical weapons in international control. Syria and our allies, the French and the British, agreed as well. Kerry and Lavrov met in Geneva to discuss more details. Whether it is a stalling tactic or a genuine act, more time is given to the U.N. inspectors to finish their report of the attack. In a Sept. 10 presidential address, Obama said if the plan with Russia doesn’t fold out, Obama insists we act because if we fail to do so, the chemical weapons ban will mean nothing. “Over time, our troops would again face the prospect of chemical warfare on the battlefield. And it could be easier for terrorist organizations to obtain these weapons, and to use them to attack civilians,” Obama said. “When dictators commit atrocities, they depend upon the world to look the other way until those horrifying pictures fade from memory. But these things happened. The facts cannot be denied.”
The recent conflict in Egypt has sparked outrage in the United States as our government stands by watching with great caution. Thirty-three million Egyptians took to the streets of Cairo in outrage against former Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi on July 3. In office from June 3, 2012 to July 3 of this year, Morsi succeeded Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president who ruled for 30 years. The Egyptian military ousted president Morsi, and since has taken complete control of Egyptian order. Mubarak stepped down in 2011 due to an uprising against him. He was ordered to stand trial on charges of negligence for not giving orders to stop killing peaceful protestors during the revolution leaving more than 900 dead. Mubarak was incarcerated for a TAMIR year. SUKKRAY He was released Aug. 20, due to no further legal ground for detention. He is currently under house arrest. Corruption and abuse of power remain in Egypt, which helped spur the protests against both leaders, but what many Egyptians seem to want is economic stability and security in Egypt. With more than 60 percent of the Egyptian population under the age of 30 and college educated, the spur of a revolution began with Morsi as the target. Professor Tamir Sukkray, is an adjunct professor at Delta College teaching Middle East politics, amongst teaching American Government, International Relations, and Comparative Government at four surrounding classes. Sukkary’s areas of specialty include politics and international relations of the Middle East, democratization, & Egyptian politics. He speaks Arabic, has lived in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and has several relatives and friends living in Egypt and throughout the Middle East. REMNANTS OF ERA LEFT BEHIND “Remnants of Mubarak’s era were left behind, civil servants, bureaucrats, military officers, business elite all profited or benefited from Mubarak. Mubarak was a thorn in Morsi’ side from the beginning,” said Sukkray. As tempers rose between Egyptians and the corrupt political “government”, tempers between organizations including the Egyptian military and Muslim Brotherhood built angst.
Rivalry between the Egyptian military and the Muslim Brotherhood, which Morsi is directly linked to has existed since the first Egyptian Revolution in 1952. The Muslim Brotherhood plays an influential part in the events occurring in Egypt, originally forming as a political organization to instill the Quran and Sunnah and overthrowing British Imperialism and establish an Islamic state. The Muslim Brotherhood has turned into an extremist, and hostile group openly engaging in political violence and protests. After Morsi took office, he allowed much of the Muslim Brotherhood to take part in government, and take over state institutions.
CAIRO
EGYPT
‘DEMOCRACY IS MESSY’ “Democracy is messy,” said Sukkray. “I think to become a democracy will take a long-term process, which will have speed bumps along the way and the killing of protestors was a huge set back.” A bomb assault meant to hit Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem Al Beblawi rang in the streets of Cairo’s Nasr City area. Terrorism threats from Morsi supporters linger in the community, and fellow Egyptians have blamed Islamist terrorists for recent attacks in the region. Islamist terrorists are committed by Muslims to achieve varying political ends in the name of religion. These included suicide bombings, hijacks, kidnapping and recruitment. Many may view the Muslim Brotherhood as a militant Islamist group, while the Muslim Brotherhood points at the Egyptian military for destroying democracy and constraining the Egyptian people. Muslim Botherhood followers in Egypt claim this week as “Coup is Terrorism” week. Coup meaning Egyptian military. The killing of innocent people from both parties remains the main issue. Justice and democracy seem unfeasible at this point for Egypt. Many deem the uprising situation as Egypt’s second revolution. “It’s the second, third, fourth revolutions that are going to take place, it is going to take an ongoing revolution,” said Sukkray. “The most difficult part of a revolution is completing it, Egyptians believe in achieving human rights, social justice and freedom,” said Sukkray. The United States remains distant from Egypt’s current state, but we watch cautiously.
Our government supplies Egypt with $1.3 billion dollars a year to keep U.S. military and Egyptian military interconnected. This also allows our military to get expedited ship service through the Suez Canal. Economically Egypt is depleting. Once one of the richest and thriving countries in the world, it has not maintained sustainability. “The society is kind of Polarized in that part of the world,” said Sukkray. ‘IMPORTANT TO THE UNITED STATES’ Dr. Manuel Roman, a Delta college professor who teaches sociology, criminal justice, and criminology had a sound perspective. “I think Egypt is very important to the United States, and I think the U.S. is important in Egypt they are dependent on our tourism trade and stimulus,” said Roman. The Middle East is not anti-American there are terrorist groups which see the U.S. as a hinderance upon their society, however there has not been sufficient help in getting their countries back to a stable point. “We have to have an ally in the Middle East, and Egypt is a definitive ally to our nation with trade, oil, and strategic location for military,” said Roman. Religion plays a large role in Egypt. With over ninety percent of Egypt being SunniMuslim, and about eight percent Orthodox Coptic Christians. Tensions have risen as the Muslim Brotherhood lit Coptic Orthodox Christian churches on fire. “They want a larger rule for Islam so their burning of Christian churches is unfortunate,” said Sukkray. Egyptian rule is in the air, the military has a set plan which they have put into action: Suspension of the Constitution, dissolve parliament, and establish new administration headed by Chief Justice. “As Egypt goes so goes the Arab world,” said Sukkray.
CONTRACTOR EDWARD SNOWDEN EXPOSES NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY’S SECRET FILES TO THE PUBLIC by christina cornejo news@deltacollegian.net
Whether former National Security Agency contractor, Edward Snowden, is a hero or a criminal for releasing classified documents to the media about the activities of the NSA, he has ignited a discussion about the way our government exercises its power. 56 percent of people believed that the courts have not provided adequate limits on what data the government collects, according to a July Pew Research Poll.
It began with an article from The Guardian reporting that the NSA was routinely collecting phone records from Verizon – a part of a series of other leaks that The Guardian and The Washington Post began revealing June 6 about the NSA’s surveillance methods. “I don’t see myself as a hero,” Snowden later told The Guardian, “because what I’m doing is self-interested: I don’t want to live in a world where there’s no privacy and therefore no room for intellectual exploration and creativity.” Since then, more information has come in about the NSA, guided by Snowden’s secret documents.
We now know that the NSA has collected phone and email records for several years, storing over a billion cellphone calls daily. Under the surveillance program named PRISM, the NSA has targeted at least 120,000 Internet users. It has collected some of its data through installed government equipment and at some of the major technology companies, such as Google, Skype, Microsoft and Facebook. The organization receives live notifications of targets’ online activities through this route. Most recently, the media has reported the United
States has been involved in widespread international espionage, spying on even our allies and various political leaders throughout the world. With the details being released, there has been a noticeable shift in the way the public thinks of national security. Since 2004, a majority of citizens have remarked that the government has not gone far enough to protect the country from terrorist attacks. As of 2013, Pew reports that 47 percent of respondents think that the government has gone too far in restricting civil liberties, while 35 percent now believe the govern-
ment hasn’t done enough to protect us – down from a previous 58 percent. The full impact this surveillance has on the general population is not known, but we do know that people have already been arrested on terrorism charges for posts written publicly on social media. A Massachusetts high school student, Cameron D’Ambrosio, was arrested on charges of communicating a terroristic threat, from a Facebook post written two weeks after the Boston Marathon bombing. D’Ambrosio posted a rap-like monologue blaming
MORE ONLINE Read more about current events at deltacollegian.net, including stories about California wildfires and the unveiling of the new iPhone.
Washington for the bombing, and also stated, “f--- a boston bombinb [sic] wait till u see the shit I do.” He was held in prison for a month without bail, but has since been released.
6
entertainment
Issue 1 • Sept. 13, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
Electronic music genre takes over the mainstream by amanda sarisky news@deltacollegian.net
If you listen to the radio you might discover there is a new genre of music being incorporated into many wellknown pop songs. Songs such as “Clarity” by Zedd and “Need Your Love” by Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding, show the newest trend in popular music — incorporating electronic elements to songs. Artists such as Lady Gaga have hired electronic dance musicians Zedd and Infected Mushroom to produce her latest album. Pop star Selena Gomez’s next album will heavily feature electronic dance music throughout. The growing popularity of electronic dance music (EDM), as it is most commonly known, can largely be attributed to artists such as Swedish House Mafia, Calvin Harris and Avicii. Artist Calvin Harris has frequently collaborated with R&B singer, Rihanna. His electronic beats have been featured in the hit single, “We Found Love.” Harris, who is one of the hottest artists in music today, earned $46 million dollars last year alone. In fact, Harris had a bigger 12-month take than the likes of Jay Z, and Katy Perry.
Last summer, Swedish House Mafia embarked on its “One Last Tour.” The successful house trio parted ways after eight years of producing and touring together. The five-month tour earned the successful house trio close to one hundred million dollars. The last song the group created together was the hit single “Don’t You Worry Child,” which could be heard on a majority of radio stations across the globe. This massive tour brought attention to the otherwise unknown genre that is Electronic Dance Music. Since then, artists such as Zedd, Avicii and Calvin Harris can be heard on many major radio stations across the country. EDM festivals such as the Electric Daisy Carnival have seen their attendance rates nearly triple in the last two years. The three- day music festival held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway grounds saw crowd numbers estimated at 400,000. The event hosted close to 300 artists performing on six different stages. The main stage featured at the event was longer than two football fields. Each of the six stages featured over the top scenery complete with Circque de solei dancers in elaborate, Technicolor costumes. It was impossible to see every artist
PHOTO BY AMANDA SARISKY
A CONCERT OF GATSBY LEVELS: Part of the appeal of electronic and dance music is the insanity and overall sensory overload that comes with the concerts.
on the lineup, my friends and I often had to see half of one performer’s set and then rush to another stage to catch another set. The event was not easy to navigate, especially with such a large crowd. It took me close to 45 minutes just to get out of the crowd during Porter Robinson’s set. I often would get separated from my group but would ultimately find them again after a few minutes. Although the performances were enjoyable, at times it was impossible to move
Classical musical now playing at Stockton Civic Theatre near campus by valerie lancer news@deltacollegian.net
“Fiddler on the Roof” opened Sept. 4 at Stockton Civic Theatre and runs through Sept. 29. The cast gave a strong performance for opening night. There were a few slip-ups — young women tripping, bottles falling off of heads and a few lines were forgotten — but the actors recovered with grace and kept the play going at an even pace. “I felt good about it. We really feed off of each other’s energy every night, so if one person is off, it seems to be a chain reaction, but on opening we were extremely focused, and I believe that that showed onstage,” said Jenna Zepponi, an actress in the play. This classic play, that was first performed in 1964, has brought a unique perspective of life in Tsarist Russia in the year 1905. It is a story of a man named Tevye, his life with his five daughters and wife as they face the breaking of tradition and the uprising of modern love. The viewer sees each daughter faced with different challenges and shows how each chooses to get through the hardship. Tevye struggles with the parenting aspect as he sees his daughters going through these issues. The main themes of this play are
strength, bravery, love and forgiveness. Stockton’s cast was spectacular, providing jolly actors who could hold their own at any dance party and a young actress who bore an unbelievable resemblance to Belle from “Beauty and the Beast,” in both voice and appearance. The cast included Tevye’s wife Golde, played by Andie Daste, Motel the tailor, portrayed by John Poncini, teacher Perchik, played by Grady Taylor, Lazar Wolf the butcher, played by Jesse Beltran, and Yente the matchmaker, portrayed by Lin Taylor. The play included music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and was recreated by Jennifer Hastings. Have you ever heard of Gwen Stefani’s song Rich Girl? I bet you didn’t know she adapted it from “Fiddler on the Roof.” As this was my first time viewing the play, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Tevye humming the tune as he sat upon his wagon. There were many surprises in this play, including the fact that it has nothing to do with a fiddler or a roof. All in all though, I enjoyed the play, but I would recommend a different name. For more information or to purchase tickets call (209) 473-2424 or visit sctlivetheatre. com. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tues.-Fri.
due to the number of people. “I feel like this music is becoming so popular because a lot of people think it’s cool to listen to EDM. I often hear kids say they’re listening to a song by a certain EDM artist, but in fact it’s a completely different artist, it’s become too popular,” said Catherine Ju, who attended this year’s Electric Daisy Carnival. With the popularity growing, particularly in use of electronic beats in popular music, this unique genre will only continue to draw in fans.
B movies defy logic and critics despite lacking plots, effects or acting skill by brianna torres news@deltacollegian.net
W
hen I think of B movies I think of sitting on my friend’s old couch drinking cheap beer and shoveling as much popcorn into my mouth as humanly possible. B movie night was every Friday at 8 p.m.; each of us bringing our own terrible movie treasures that we would deem the ultimate B movie. This summer we watched “Sharknado.” A B movie is a movie not interested in art, they exist to entertain and with as much blood, boobs and explosions they possibly can on a small budget. Most of them, I’ll admit, made me feel like I lost a couple of brain cells at the end. Others, though, would capture my attention and imagination. B movies can do, almost, whatever they’d like; there are no rules. For example, super low budget film studio The Asylum made a movie last year about a shark with three heads. “I am tired of the same movies with the same guy who gets the girl. With B movies I never know what I am going to get! They are
entertaining,” lamented Luis Perez a Delta College student and a bad movie junkie. This summer The Asylum made a movie that the SyFy channel aired and got a lot of attention. The movie was “Sharknado,” its tagline was “Enough Said!” The movie is about a tornado filled with sharks. Seriously. Someone made a film about a tornado filled with sharks. The tornado is caused by a hurricane wreaking havoc on southern California filled with every variety of shark that are only out to eat as much human flesh as possible. This movie defies logic and reason with sharks by land, sea and air munching on any poor sap they can get their jaws on. Great Whites invade flooded mansions in Beverly Hills to kill snobs. Flooded highways aren’t safe from Tiger Sharks. Throwing a bomb into said “Sharknado” will stop it. If you fall out of a helicopter into an aerial shark’s gullet that same shark will eventually swallow the blonde dude from “Beverly Hills, 90210” and he will chainsaw his way out of the shark. The best part? “Sharknado Two” is set to release July 2014.
7
sports
Issue 1 • Sept. 13, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
Football starts season off rocky by eleanor mafi
news@deltacollegian.net
Delta College won the Silicon Valley Bowl last year against De Anza College, which put the Mustangs football team on the board across the nation. “For me that game brought Joy,” said Recruiting and Assistant Head Coach Doug Murray. Defensive Coordinator Todd Herrington echoed the sentiment. “Winning the 2012 Silicon Valley Bowl was a fantastic accomplishment for our football team. It felt great to accomplish the goals of playing for a conference championship and go to a bowl game. Unfortunately we fell a little short of winning the conference championship,” Herrington said. The Mustangs are ranked ninth in state and moving from 18th to 16th place in the nation among top 25 junior colleges. Some members of last year’s winning team have transferred to four-year colleges to continue their love of the game. About twenty players are playing at four-year colleges as of right now. “We worked hard and it shared on game day. We played as a team and looked
NFL season begins with shake ups, drama by sean mendoza news@deltacollegian.net
at one another as brothers. Even though we played one another in High School, I think the bond is what carried us that far,” said Kenneth Hanes, a 2012 Mustang who transferred to Briar Cliff University in Iowa. The 2013 season brought the return of about 30 players. PHOTO BY ELEANOR MAFI Most of the players are ROUGH BEGINNING: The Mustangs fought hard but lost local. to Chabot College 32-17. The typical weekday for the team is broken down First half highlights good I know I got to fix into three parts. included: SynJohn Sears something but I feel like At 7 a.m. the team trains blocking the first attempt I went forward. For imwith weights. The after- field goal from Chabot and provement I just want to noon brings offense and deMarcus Brown sack- stay focus and keep playing fense meetings. Then from ing the quarterback at the to the best of my abilities,” 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. the team Mustangs goal giving Delta said Brown, a member of practices at the field. a two-point lead. the defensive line. The team took that The Mustangs starting The Mustangs now ready preparation into last week’s quarterback of the game for this Saturday’s game game. was Weinzheimer. against Reedley College. The Mustangs first In the second half Brian “We need to minimize game of the season against Golston gave the Mus- mental mistakes and exChabot College was Satur- tangs the first touchdown ecute the responsibilities day, Sept. 7. of the season. Theo Wof- that each defensive position As the Mustangs stood ford rushed for 175 yards has. Reedley does a good in a straight line ready for against the Gladiators. job of spreading the ball the National Anthem to Weinzheimer threw to vertically and horizontally begin, so many thought of William Mafi, who was on the field using talented the game going through knocked down at the one- athletes. All of our defendthere heads. yard line. ers will have to improve The weather is in the low Weinzheimer, who rushed in defeating stock & cut 80s and a decent crowd of for the one-yard touchdown blocks in the perimeter and fans flanked both side of gave the Mustangs a score tackling”, said Herrington. the Chabot field. The cap- of 17 points. The Mustangs The Mustangs will take tains for the Mustangs are defense kept fighting to the on Reedley College 1 p.m. Cody Weinzheimer, Mar- end, but fell short to the on Saturday, Sept. 14 at cus Brown, Jamie Christo- Gladiators 32-17. DeRicco Football Stadium. pherson and John Single“I feel like my perforThis will be the team’s ton. mance tonight was pretty first opening home game.
F
ootball season has arrived across the country, which means the National Football League (NFL) is ready to kick off what should be an exciting 2013-14 season. The regular season opened on Sept. 5 with a playoff rematch between the Denver Broncos and last year’s Super Bowl Champions the Baltimore Ravens. This season will be full of storylines that will keep fans tuned in the whole season. The Ravens will try to start the season with the beginning of a new era without superstar Linebacker Ray Lewis, who played 17 years with the team since he was drafted. Lewis retired after the Super Bowl win. The New England Patriots look to stay focused with all the buzz surrounding the team after the arrest of tight end Aaron Hernandez for manslaughter and the injury to star player Rob Gronkowski. The Minnesota Vikings superstar running back Adrian Peterson will look to recreate the historic MVP season he had last year coming off a torn ACL. Former Oregon Ducks coach Chip Kelly looks to install a high-powered flashy offense with the Philadelphia Eagles. Experts have labeled Kelly to be a good fit with quarterback Michael Vick and star running back LeSean McCoy. Can local teams top the season they had last year? The San Francisco 49ers will look to go back to the big game and win it this year now that quarterback Colin Kaepernick has gained the experience he needed, and the acquisition of defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha should bolster SF’s already impressive defense. It’s a different story across the bay though. The Oakland Raiders will look to finally have a winning season since 2002 with new quarterback Terelle Pryor. The season will start with a lot of questions, but the answers will come along as the season goes.
Arrests, jail time newest trends in professional sports by jermaine davis deltacollegian@gmail.com
F
ans from all over the world who support, cheer, and occasionally get into heated arguments over their favorite teams, have lately seen the downward spiral of some very high profile athletes. Since Super Bowl XLVII earlier this year, more than 33 National Football League players have been arrested or detained by law enforcement. That’s roughly five players a month that we’ve had the luxury of viewing mug shots for on news stations and in the newspaper. Aaron Hernandez, the former tight end for the New England Patriots, has reached the top of the charts when it comes to scandalous behavior. In June he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, in connection with Odin Lloyd’s death, which at that time was his brother-in-law. Major League Baseball (MLB) also has been suffering from a black eye this season that needs a little mascara.
Within the last two months more than 13 MLB players have been suspended from play, for using performance enhancement drugs (PEDs). The most notable athletes out of the bunch are third baseman for the New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez, and the Milwaukee Brewers Outfielder Ryan Braun. Rodriguez, who is the highest paid player in baseball, was suspended for 211 games as punishment for testing positive and violating the league’s standard policy agreement. Ryan Braun, after coming off of his 2011 Most Valuable Player season he was nearly suspended in 2012 for submitting a urine sample with high levels of testosterone. Unfortunately for him his luck has run out and he has been suspended for 50 games this year for violating the league’s policy on PEDs. The National Basketball Association is having an awful off-season by making headlines in the news and online. Since August six players and a coach have been arrested on charges that range from Assault and Battery
to Driving Under the Influence. Lamar Odom, former forward for the Los Angeles Clippers and husband of reality television star Khloe Kardashian, is allowing the world to know more about him than he ever wanted. Odom has been exhibiting strange behavior of late; he was arrested in August for a DUI and now stories are flooding the internet about drug abuse. Odom pulled a disappearing act for several weeks in July and now has been urged to check into rehab by close family and friends. With the millions of dollars that professional athletes make, you would think better choices and decisions could be made to prevent national attention. I guess contracts and endorsement money just doesn’t excite these guys anymore…instead they’ll rather brandish weapons, take PEDs, use cocaine and throw away careers that they’ve worked so hard for. No sports fan ever wants to see their favorite athlete get more attention away from the game, than actually playing in the game.
8
news
Issue 1 • Sept. 13, 2013 • deltacollegian.net
Preparing for the next step of education by derrion dunn news@deltacollegian.net
In the Danner Hall last week on Sept. 5, College Night took place between 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event exists so high school students and transferring college students can meet over 50 visiting four-year universities including the likes of CSU, UC, and out of state schools as well. A workshop was also held with its focus being on teaching new college students how to save money and plan for the future. This was a good time for transferring college students to see what changes lie in store when transitioning from a junior college to a full four-year school. For high school seniors and their families especially, College Night was an event worth going to. A chance for them to get a look at what lies in store.
‘Visions in Clay’ exhibit giving creative minds opportunities beyond California by hannah stevens
images of their work to a website and the exhibit juror, or judge, selected the best work The Delta Center for the Arts to be displayed at the exhibit. L.H. Horton Jr. Gallery is current“The Jurors are prominent ly hosting the 4th annual Visions people in the field. This exhibit in Clay Exhibition until Sept. 19. is juried by Peter Held who is Visions in Clay is the largest the curator at the Arizona State exhibition of University Ceceramic works ramics Research in the San Joa- GALLERY HOURS Center, so he quin Valley. specializes in ‘Visions of Clay’ runs through “It’s a lot Sept. 19 in the L. H. Horton ceramics,” said of different Gallery, located in the Shima Marlese. and diverse Building. Artists pay work… My a fee to enter Goal is to have Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. their work into broad experi- Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 6: 30 p.m. the show and ences for the Thursday: 11 a.m. - 6: 30 p.m. that money is students and Friday: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. used to put the to be able to show together. bring in pieces If the Artists that they would have to travel work is admitted into the show, to the city to see,” said Gallery buyers from all over the country Director Jan Marlese. view the work. There are 69 pieces of work “I’m starting to get buyers on display from a clay piece from out of state. I just sold one to shaped to look like a balloon di- somebody from Mississippi and nosaur, titled “inflatable T-Rex” one to New York,” said Marlese. to a series of colorful guns titled The exhibition can be viewed “Gun Series.” on display at the gallery or onTo enter art into Visions in line at deltacollege.edu/div/ Clay, artists uploaded digital finearts/dept/dca/gallery/exhibit1. news@deltacollegian.net
PHOTO BY DERRION DUNN
PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LEVEL: Students gathered in upper Danner Hall to speak with representatives with different colleges about potential transfer locations so they can move forward in their education.
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TAG-IT: Program to help recover stolen bikes by kevin fleischman news@deltacollegian.net
It’s called Operation TAG -IT. A new program started by Campus Safety Officer Susan McAnelly. McAnnelly’s goal is to prevent bicycle theft on campus. What is Operation TAG -IT? It’s a bike registry offered to students and faculty of Delta College. “Campus Police really have not had problems with bicycle thefts before,” said McAnelly. But prevention is the best way to avoid becoming a victim. Operation TAG-IT program is free to all students and staff who ride bikes to school. To register a bike with the system, contact officer McAnelly at the Delta College Police Department. A non-removeable alumnium tag will be placed on the bicycle being registered. Selina Mendoza is a Calworks employee who regularly
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CAMPUS POLICE
bikes to work and recently had her bike tagged by McAnelly. Mendoza said she learned about the program from the email that campus police sent out over summer beak. “I am a huge proponent,” Mendoza said of Operation TAG-IT. “I think this is a great program that they are starting here on campus. Campus Police really have been involved with students safety more, which is great.” This semester students, faculty and staff have had two chances to have their bicycles tagged, including Thursday, Sept. 12 during Club Rush.