Fine wine and chocolate in Lodi
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FEATURE PAGE 5
Issue 7 • Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 •
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NEW PATHS FORWARD
Shima parking lot, sidewalk construction, started last semester, continues into spring BY VIVIENNE AGUILAR Editor in Chief
Starting in September of last year, Kitchell Construction and Delta College began construction in the Shima parking lot as part of the Path of Travel project. That work has moved out of the Shima lot itself and onto West Burke Bradley Drive, near the Athletics complex. “This whole project was prompted by [Americans With Disabilities Act] compliance… This is the third phase, it’s part of just getting the whole Path of Travel, all the pathways throughout the campus, to ADA compliance. So, that’s what pretty much drove the project,” said Kitchell Project Manager II Marina Nunez. Upon completion, the Stockton campus will have accessible sidewalks and extra parking on the north side of the campus, reaching from the Budd parking lot to the stop light for Burke Bradley Drive and Pershing Ave. Currently, the sidewalk along North Burke Bradley Drive, as well as an entrance and exit to the Shima lot, are
being worked on, according to Kitchell Project Manager II Jaime Elias. The sidewalk will extend into the Budd area. “The concrete pathway that will take you from North Burke Bradley, it will take you into almost the Ferguson pool area,” said Elias. He said the curbs of the new Shima lot entrance and exit are in progress, and the road itself should be paved by this week. The new entrance and exit for the Shima lot will have one entrance lane and two exit lanes. The flow of traffic should remain the same. Kitchell will inform the district, so they can inform the campus about anything the students should know about the project, Elias said. The overall Path of Travel project is expected to be completed this summer, according Chris Nguyen, Delta’s Vice President of Administrative Services. The project began as an expansion of the parking lot, initially removing green
See SHIMA, page 8
(Top) A walking path behind the Shima bus stop is torn up from construction on Jan 14. PHOTO BY VIVIENNE AGUILAR (Bottom) The Path of Travel project is seen from above on Feb. 4 AERIAL PHOTO BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO AND VIVIENNE AGUILAR
Delta explores potential for new bond measure on November ballot BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO Feature Editor
Delta College is preparing a new bond request to present to voters, the first since the $250 million Measure L bond was approved in 2004. While renovated, upgraded and expanded facilities leave the district in better shape than before, questions about the scope of work remain. Now, Delta is preparing to launch a campaign for another bond measure on the November 2020 ballot. Measure L has brought big changes to modernize the main Stockton campus — notably the completion of the Science and Math Building — portable buildings were placed instead of permanent infrastructure at the Mountain House and a satellite location in the Lodi/Galt area never materialized. “The money got spent on projects. Those projects are done, but we still haven’t built these remote sites,” said Dr. Omid Pourzanjani, who assumed the role of President of San Joaquin Delta College in August 2019. Comparing now to 2004, the population in these remote sites have increased and the demand for services from Delta have since become greater. A new plan is to bring forth a bond that will focus mostly on the remote sites. “My hope is that we would get at least two buildings in Mountain House. My hope is that the Manteca farm becomes the Manteca center so we actually have full programs there. My hope is that we get at least one if not two buildings in
the Lodi/Galt area and my hope is that we get a couple of buildings here on this campus,” said Pourzanjani. The process to get a new bond on the ballot is time consuming. “Committees on campus have to discuss, go for board approval, survey for the bond with the community to see what they want and will they support the bond to get what they want, and then the board has to approve all that,” he said. If the community has desires and needs, and indicates it is willing to fund a bond project, it will go on the election ballot in November. This means Delta has to get any bond proposal to the election officials by August. The process includes surveys, proposals, building plans and community input surveys. Pourzanjani stresses the importance of community involvement. “[The] only way for colleges to have the funds to redo buildings, create new buildings, create new spaces for students is to get involved,” said Pourzanjani. With August coming quickly, Pourzanjani is optimistic the new bond will pass through the campus committee and be placed on the November 2020 ballot. Measure L funds are responsible for the build-outs the Stockton campus has seen over the past 16 years, including the addition of the DeRicco Student Services Building, the Goleman Library renovation, the placement of the Phelps Police Building and expansion of the Shima Center.
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Netflix show to raise awareness of cyberstalking BY VIVIENNE AGUILAR
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Editor in Chief
he internet has blown up after season two of “YOU,” which debuted the day after Christmas. The star, Penn Badgely, portrays Joe Goldberg, a stalker-turned-murderer with a conscience. Many people compare the story’s formula to the thriller series “Dexter.” I think this shows social commentary has opened many people’s eyes as to how outsiders can peer into our lives, too easily. Pay attention to where you’re geotagged, how often and on what social media sites. Adding your location on posts might seem harmless, but I think it is slowly becoming an issue — especially for young women. I don’t hear about people stalking others at the same theatrical level as Joe Goldberg, but after seeing the possibilities, how could I not be on alert? Personally, I think sharing locations with a family member is good safety practice, but not when done publicly. Snapchat maps are a good example of a bad practice. Who in their right mind is comfortable letting more than a few close friends “find them?” I have yet to hear about people using the app to harm people, but the fact that it is possible induces anxiety. I hope people are cautious with their personal information. I know, we’ve been hearing the same lecture our whole lives: “Be safe online!” Today, it really is something we should take to heart. It is well known how social media sites trade in our data and trends. Why are we playing into it? Do we have to be so addicted to sharing ourselves in every way? The victim in the first season leaves herself virtually and digitally unpro-
Netflix original series “YOU” depicts the real dangers of a society in which people post every detail about themselves online. PHOTO COURTESY OF FREEPIK
tected, and it’s easy to imagine something similar happening to me. The stalker is then able to find her wherever she is through the city, and form a pretty decent idea of her day-to-day. Of course, viewers are aware the story is exaggerating real life. It still begs the question, how do I leave myself open? The show’s formula leads viewers to side with the killer, highlighted as charming and logical. I think the creators found the perfect place to address the changes in today’s world with the same toxic trope. The serial killer genre was the perfect niche after the wave of “Bundy,” “Zodiac,” and “The First 48.” The difference being, after the stories of living serial killers are told, the talk on social media stayed to the main ideas of “‘Bundy’ is
hot” or “‘Zodiac’ is such a good thriller.” These older serial killer thrillers evoked responses that were far different from the ones we saw after “YOU”. While all the stories shocked audiences to some degree, the memes that came from Zac Efron as Bundy stayed to the “He’s so hot, he can kill me anytime” type of jokes, people were less likely to see themselves in the story. Something entirely different was born, in terms of memes, for “YOU.” Both men and women jumped in the conversation. Men mostly joked about the tragic story line and memed screencaps and quotes from the show. Women joked about wanting to love Joe, and all his sociopathic tendencies, then started to actually consider the possibilities of meeting people like Joe
in their everyday lives. My favorite post like this comes from Twitter. Abby @ybbamcd said “A guy saw me by my car struggling to carry a large box and offered to help me carry it up to my apartment. I said “no I got it” and he asked me again after he clearly saw I didn’t ‘have it.’But does he think imma have him know where I live?? Not today, Joe Goldberg.” This can be called a case of mean world syndrome, but it still highlights a major threat we can all avoid. In my opinion, “YOU” is a good way to show that we all need to hold a little more mystery about ourselves online, just in case someone takes a page out of Joe’s book. I urge people to protect themselves from their own vanity and low self-esteem, so no one ends up like Beck.
Joe Biden’s stance on graphic video games questioned BY CHRISTOPHER ESCAMILLA Senior Staff Writer
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hings have been busy for presidential candidates campaigning to get voters to cast ballots in 2020. A surprising talk happened with presidential candidate and former vice president Joe Biden when he labeled a group (mostly someone) a descriptive word. In an interview with the New York Times back in Jan. 19, Biden said he had multiple meetings with Silicon Valley executives, including some from the videogame industry. In the same Times interview with Charlie Warzel, Biden mentions a surprising stance where he calls one of the executives a “little creep” saying: “And at one point, one of the little creeps sitting around that table, who was a multi — close to a billionaire — who told me he was an artist because he was able to come up
with games to teach you how to kill people.” This brought a big question, who was Biden referring to as a ‘little creep’? Activision CEO Bobby Kotick? Electronic Arts (EA) CEO Andrew Wilson or any executive? It’s up for discussion. Many people were shocked by this statement. The comment seemed out of left field. Then again this isn’t something new — it falls in line with what Biden has said in the past on his stance on video games. Back in 2013, during a live broadcast through Google Hangout, Biden was skeptical of some of the information regarding a possible link between video games and aggression.“One of the things that the president and I believe very strongly, is let the facts work, especially in regards to the entertainment industry,” Biden said during the broadcast, according to VG247, a video game news site.
The Collegian The Collegian is the student newspaper of San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif. The paper is published six times a semester. As a First Amendment newspaper we pride ourselves on a commitment to the students of Delta College while maintaining independence. We 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.
EDITORS VIVIENNE AGUILAR Editor in Chief/News
HANNAH WORKMAN News
MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO Feature
JUSTINE CHAHAL Entertainment
AMIRAH AMENHOTEP Opinion
PAUL MUYSKENS Sports
TYRA GREEN Social Media The Collegian is a member of the California Newspaper Publisher’s Association and the Journalism Association of Community Colleges.
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The idea behind his “little creep” quote is that he views videogames executives as predators or as an influence that can affect kids or teens to commit acts of mass murders. Now I say this for those who don’t understand, if you were in his shoes and saw what the landscape is now, you would understand why he sees this as a danger to communities. Biden’s words propel discussions on this topic. I don’t blame him for his view given that one of his top priorities is to protect people but still the quote doesn’t make it clear where he was overreacting. It’s worth noting this comes during a time in which the gaming industry is facing scrutiny for the practices, such as predatory monetization mechanics, and questions over how it is viewed. Biden’s quote presents a striking stance in how he views the industry now but time will tell how things will playout for both sides.
SENIOR STAFF MAISY MACATO CHRISTOPHER ESCAMILLA
STAFF ELLIE ANDRADE LUPE ANDRADE KIMBERLY BENAVIDES ANGELICA FLORES SIDNEE GALLARDO ISAIN GUZMAN ESPERANZA HERNANDEZ-MUNOZ ROBYN JONES C.J. LOVE SERENA MALDONADO
STAFF JAELYN MORALES MADELYNN THOMAS JESSICA TORRES VANESSA VEGA DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS BRANDON YI
ADVISER TARA CUSLIDGE-STAIANO
MULTIMEDIA TECH MATTHEW WILSON
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3 OPINION 020720
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Predictable conclusion to Trump’s impeachment BY AMIRAH AMENHOTEP
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Opinion Editor
he Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump of impeachment charges on Wednesday, capping off months of national political drama. It was a historic moment: the third time in the country’s history a president was impeached and stood trial. The first two were presidents Andrews Johnson and Bill Clinton. President Richard Nixon, while most closely associated with impeachment, resigned before the process actually began. Though the trial may be over, the impeachment process remains an impenetrable subject for many, begging the question: what just happened? DEFINING IMPEACHMENT: A charge of misconduct made against the holder of an office. BY THE CONSTITUTION: The U.S. constitution Article II, Section 4, “The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” So it’s not just presidential.
Former Secretary of War William Belknap was impeached in 1876, for example, though he resigned before eventually being acquitted, according to a Politico article by Andrew Glass. Even earlier, U.S. Senator William Blount was impeached on charges of conspiring to help the British conquer parts of the Florida territory in 1796, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. THE PROCESS: Impeachment proceedings against a president are triggered by the House of Representatives when it passes articles of impeachment against a public official, according to the Cornell Legal Information Institute. The articles are essentially charges of a crime. Once the articles are approved, a trial phase begins in the Senate, during which senators act as jurors. If two-thirds of the senators vote to convict the president, they are found guilty and removed from office. Otherwise, they are acquitted. WHAT’S HAPPENED: President Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives, following a vote on Dec. 18, 2019, to approve two articles of impeachment.
WHY TRUMP WAS IMPEACHED BY THE HOUSE: The reason Trump was impeached by The House was on the articles of Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress. The House alleged in those articles that Trump had abused the power of his office by coercing the government of Ukraine to announce an investigation of Joe Biden, a Democrat currently running for president this year. The second article, alleging obstruction of Congress, claims Trump hindered the impeachment investigation by ordering all government employees not to comply with subpoenas or requests for documents. REALITY OF IMPEACHMENT: In some cases, it can be simply a blemish on a record. Merely being impeached means they will still hold office and be able to serve another term if re-elected, unless the Senate votes to remove him, leaving the vice president to take over. President Bill Clinton was impeached in February 1999 for perjury, obstruction of justice and abuse of power. The Senate, where Trump’s case is now, acquitted Clinton of the charges.
Oscars still not inclusive — but is that the real issue? BY HANNAH WORKMAN News Editor
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n recent years, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has stirred controversy over the lack of diversity in its nomination polls. In 2015, activist April Reign created the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite in an effort to mock the lack of diversity at the award show. The hashtag rapidly gained popularity and heightened awareness of the topic. The AMPAS faced scrutiny yet again in 2016, though drastic changes were made in 2017. The ceremony that year saw a record-tying seven minority actors and a record-setting six black actors nominated for awards. Many media outlets and fans applauded the AMPAS for their sudden push for inclusivity. However, this sudden push didn’t last for long. Only a single person of color was nominated for an acting award at the 2020 Academy Awards — Cynthia Ervio for her role as Harriet Tubman in “Harriet.” The fight for more women to be nominated in non-acting categories didn’t fare well, either. The nominees for Best Director were notably all male. After the nominations for this year’s ceremony were announced, bestselling author Stephen King posted
MUSTANG VOICE
“For safety precautions and if I’m living on my own and depending on the area I live in, city and everything else maybe just for those precautions,”
Krystal Rivera
a tweet that drew a fair amount of criticism from celebrities and fans alike. “As a writer, I am allowed to nominate in just three categories: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Screenplay,” King said. “For me, the diversity issue — as it applies to individual actors and directors, anyway — did not come up. That said I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong.” While representation is extremely important in film, I have to agree with King’s statement. When selecting which actors, directors and screenwriters should be on the Oscar ballot, members of the AMPAS shouldn’t be thinking about race or gender. They should be thinking about the quality of the individual’s performance. It’d be a shame if a person who was undeserving of an award was nominated solely because they were a minority or a woman. Being a woman myself, I’d like to see more female filmmakers get recognized for their work. But I want them to be recognized for creating outstanding pieces of art — not for simply being women. The Academy Awards are meant to celebrate achievements in film, so let’s forget all the talk about race and gender, and just focus on celebrating achievements in film.
‘What are your thoughts on guns and would you own one?’
“I think guns are allowed to be owned by anybody who wants to own a gun and yes I would own a gun if I had the chance to,”
Rick Leanos
“I am pro gun and yes I would like to own a gun,”
James Miranda
“I have thought about owning one and I don’t really see a problem with them, we use guns for all kinds of reasons and I’m not against owning one,”
Tijara Young
“I think here, there is too much freedom to use guns and it can be dangerous and I wouldn’t want to own one,”
Ying Ying Sroy
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L.H. Horton Gallery exhibit highlights works of California art faculty BY TYRA GREEN
Social Media Editor
(Top): Attendees browse through the University Faculty Invitational at the L.H. Horton Gallery. (Bottom): Woodfired stoneware pieces “Flower Container 1,” front, and “Spouted Bowl,” back, by Scott Parady, a Sacramento State University ceramics professor, are displayed at the gallery. PHOTOS BY TYRA GREEN
On Jan. 30, the L.H. Horton Gallery held a reception for the University Faculty Invitational, which runs through Feb. 13. The exhibit showcases pieces created by art faculty from different universities in Northern California. “I’m really enjoying the art so far and it’s really making me think about what’s going on in these professors minds, it makes me feel like they put effort into their art and that their classes would be good,” said student Samantha Kenyon. The invitational features ceramics, photography, painting, graphic art and design. “I’m just getting into art so I’m here to experience different types of art and broaden my horizon,” student Joseph Lagun said of the exhibit. Delta College art faculty from the same art disciplines select the artist-professors shown in the gallery. Brett DeBoer, the Associate Professor and Chair of Art and Graphic Design at the University of the Pacific, was one of the featured artists. “I like a lot of different mediums, I teach sculpture and graphic design. I work on a computer but I also work in wood and I do print and photography,” said DeBoer. DeBoer’s graphic design pieces in the gallery included “The Guardian Series: Starling Murmer” a dye sublimation print on aluminum. The piece showed vibrant blue colors and an ornate design in the middle. The L.H. Horton Gallery hopes to do more exhibitions like this one involving professors from Northern California universities, so students have more resources.
Stockton native Jason Lee returns to encourage residents to take action BY VIVIENNE AGUILAR
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Editor in Chief
ason Lee, known for his role on the VH1 show Love and Hip Hop, made Jan. 14 a star-studded affair in the Tillie Lewis Theatre. Lee, a Stockton native who runs gossip site Hollywood Unlocked, returned home for the debut of his memoir “God Must Have Forgotten About Me.” Lee hosted a free event during the evening, welcoming mostly high school students. Conversation was mixed with FaceTime appearances from Cardi B and Tiffany Haddish. “An Evening With Jason Lee” included Lee’s personal account of Rihanna finding him in a party to tell him that his story touched her, the big-screen celebrity appearances, and gifts to the audience. Lee offered copies of his book, courtesy of Cardi B, to the crowd. Haddish also bought a downtown Stockton movie screening of “Like a Boss” for those in attendance. Lee held a question and answer discussion for invited guests prior to the main event. Trisha Aguilar, mother and member of the OWL (One Woman’s Love) Movement attended both events. “I teared up, he was so inspiring,” said Aguilar. Aguilar had some insight as to what Delta’s event would look like, unlike many people in the room, who joined but knew little about what the night had in store for them. Cameramen were scattered all across the greenroom. CBS 13’s Rachel Wulff covered the event, as well as videographers from BluCollar Entertainment, who work closely with Hollywood Unlocked. Those in attendance for the pre-event were Lee’s family, former co-workers, Delta faculty and media, along with representatives from Edison and Stagg high schools. The people selected to join were able to ask personal questions about Lee’s life and pick his brain about the industry. “I think that toxic masculinity or hyper femininity, or all of those labels are just things created to divide us. I don’t really play into that,” said Lee when asked about toxic masculinity. “My business partner
[Floyd Mayweather] is one of the most testosterone-driven men in the sport of boxing. I don’t really play into stereotypes or labels ‘cause that just creates division. Ain’t nobody got time for that.” Questions ran the gamut. “What would be the message that you have for students from Stockton, from Delta College, from our high schools, who didn’t see a path to actually getting to where you are?” asked Adriana Brogger, a Delta RTV professor. “I own the [nationally syndicated radio] show that I have. I own the name. I own the digital. I own the podcast. They own what airs on the radio, but they can’t air what’s on the radio without my name,” Lee said. “So, I created leverage where I’m in control of my brand. Because that helps market the business, but behind the scenes it is a tech business. So you’re making sure your taxes are right, making sure your Articles of Incorporation are right. Making sure your board and all the investors have the report, that way they know you’re spending the financials properly. Making sure your payrolls on time.” Lee wanted to give it to Stockton as straight as possible. Many of the other questions centered around overcoming trauma — one of the main issues Lee wanted to highlight during his time back home. He referred to his memoir as “the real Jason,” who was only known by his inner circle. Lee said he wants Stockton to recognize themselves in his story, and gain some wisdom along the way. Among the first group to join the roundtable included members of the Delta College African American Employee Association’s executive board: President James Forte, Vice President Valerie Stewart-Green and Treasurer Marcia Johnson. Stewart-Green asked Lee if he would be interested in becoming an active member of the alumni community on campus. The room then joked about how he needed an honorary degree as well, considering he never finished at Delta. Most of the outreach to Delta’s community members went through Delta’s Facilities & Reservations specialist Tina Leal. Jasmine Dallafosse, senior regional
(Top): Jason Lee, left, responds to Q-and-A with his entourage and Delta’s Tina Leal. (Bottom left): Justice League CA’s, Jay Jordan, interviews Jason Lee. (Bottom right): Artist performs spoken word. PHOTOS BY VIVIENNE AGUILAR
organizer of the nonprofit The Gathering for Justice’ reached out to Forte and encouraged his participation in the event, according to Forte. Organizations including The Gathering for Justice and Justice League CA. Lee was vocal about community service being a “thankless job,” how collaboration had to be selfless for events and projects to run smoothly. Justice League CA facilitated most of the evening, and was able to connect attendees with their parting gifts via mass text message. Lee said, over and over again, that Stockton “needs to stop waiting for Superman.” He urged Stocktonians to be the change we want to see in our city. That we can’t expect mayors and federal en-
tities to step in and make everything right. Individuals, especially high school and college students, are responsible for bringing back the community he knew as a kid and young adult. More than once, Lee recalled public spaces, like a roller skating rink or water park, that Stockton used to have. He remembered how the community used to be and hopes it can be like that again. “Throwing money at a problem doesn’t work,” he said, individuals have to step up and collaborate to fix our issues.
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Delta student makes monsters
(Top): Nash & Tender Fried: fries, nacho cheese, coleslaw, mac n’ cheese, chicken, pickle and special sauce. COURTESY PHOTO
Nashville-style hot chicken comes to downtown Stockton BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO Feature Editor
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f you like chicken and spice, Nash + Tender might just be the place for you. About four months ago, partners Jimmy Isail Sierra and Armando Rodriguez opened up Nash + Tender in Downtown Stockton. Being from the city, Sierra believed that Stockton needed a place like this and “thought it would be a hit here.” Sierra and Rodriguez “went to L.A., tried it out, liked the concept, we tried some place here in Sac, figured there was nothing out here so we brought it out to San Joaquin County,” said Sierra. Nashville-style is basically a piece of chicken covered in a sauce or dry rub that contains cayenne pepper. To get more spice, one adds hotter peppers like chili or ghost peppers. At Nash + Tender, some of the popular items on the menu are: • Combo #1: hot chicken slider with coleslaw, pickles and fries • Tender Fries: nacho cheese, coleslaw, mac n’ cheese, chicken, pickles and special sauce • Combo #4: hot chicken slider, tender, coleslaw, pickles, fries and mac n’ cheese. One can choose the heat level depending on your liking, from
On the menu with Maria “country” with no spice, to “xtra hot” which begs the patron to “call the firefighter.” There is a heat level for everyone. Nashville-style hot chicken might just be the next big thing. If you’re up for the challenge, Sierra and Rodriguez added “Stupid Hot - waiver required.” This level of heat is only for those who can really handle the heat. About 20 percent of those whom tried Stupid Hot have succeeded. Since the grand opening, the Stockton community has been showing the new restaurant support. It’s been “really, really good,” said Sierra. This week, Nash + Tender is coming out with about 16 new plates as well as weekly specials like Taco Tuesday, Waffle Wednesday and Tender Fries Friday. Keep up to date with upcoming specials and new menu items by following Nash + Tender on Instagram @nashandtender. Also keep an eye out for Nash + Tender merchandise line coming soon.
BY HANNAH WORKMAN News Editor
Second-year Delta College student, Meredith Ramirez, can recall watching her mother putting on makeup when she was a child. She would look at the eyeshadow, the lipstick and the brushes. This sparked her curiosity. Ramirez began experimenting with makeup during her freshman year of high school. At first, she created natural looks for everyday wear. As she got more comfortable, her looks became increasingly dramatic. “My brother said I looked like a clown when I started out,” Ramirez said. However, he came around as her skills sharpened and even requested for her to do his makeup on Halloween. He wanted to look like the Terminator. She used gray and white face paint to help achieve this look. “It was my first time trying to do special effects makeup,” Ramirez said. “My family was impressed.” After this experience, Ramirez discovered a newfound interest in special effects makeup. Like cosmetological makeup, she appreciated its ability to completely transform a person. “You can turn yourself into a creature if you wanted to,” Ramirez said. She turned to the internet to teach her what she needed to know about special effects makeup. She browsed through photos on Instagram to get inspiration and watched tutorial videos on YouTube. “I would try to mimic what I saw,” Ramirez said on her learning process. When it was time for her to register for classes at Delta, she decided to enroll in a stage makeup class. This only helped to expand her skill set.
“I really loved the class and I enjoyed every moment of it,” Ramirez said. “I saw the professor recently for the first time in over a year. She remembered me immediately and said she uses my work as examples for her students.” It isn’t uncommon for Ramirez to receive such recognition. She has received many compliments for her artistry. Long-time friend Niomie Rosas is especially admiring of her work. “She is naturally talented,” Rosas said. “It’s impressive seeing how much knowledge she has about makeup.” Rosas has been used as a model for Ramirez to practice makeup on numerous times throughout the years. “Recently she did a look on me that made it appear as though I had cut out hearts on my cheeks. I wasn’t able to see much throughout the process, but when I saw the end result I was amazed by how real it looked,” Rosas said. This kind of praise makes Ramirez feel a sense of fulfillment. “I like being known as the girl who does makeup,” she said. But Ramirez would like to be known for even more than that. She has aspirations on becoming a film director and wants to be in charge of the costuming on her projects. “Costumes and makeup go hand in hand,” she said. “I want to study costume design next.”
(Top): Meredith Ramirez preps makeup for use. (Bottom): Ramirez touching up some final details. PHOTO BY HANNAH WORKMAN
PREVIEW
Wine and Chocolate weekend hits Lodi BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO
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(Above left): Combo #1: Hot chicken slider with coleslaw, pickles, special sauce and fries. (Above right): Nash & Tender Fries: fries, nacho cheese, coleslaw, mac n’ cheese, chicken, pickle and special sauce. PHOTO BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO
Feature Editor
ine and chocolate go great together, so why not make a whole weekend about it? For its 23rd year, Lodi Wine is putting together the highly popular Wine and Chocolate event. “This weekend is a great opportunity to explore new wineries as it is a passport style event,” said Katie Crippen, marketing assistant for the Lodi Wine. This style event is where attendees go from winery to winery with a “passport” and taste a variety of wines while pairing them with chocolates from The San Francisco Chocolate Factory. There are around 40 wineries taking part this year. Jessie’s Grove, McCay Cellars, Oak Farm Vineyards, Scotto’s Wine and Cider are amongst some of the wineries participating.
With the purchase of a ticket for the Saturday and Sunday grand tasting tours, one receives “a commemorative wine glass, wine tastings, chocolate samples, and entertainment,” said Crippen. Most wineries will have live music, food, and wine discounts. Worth every penny. The Wine and Chocolate Weekend is very popular — enough so that tickets for tonight have been sold out for a couple weeks now. The event will take place on Feb. 7 through Feb. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. One can get tickets by purchasing them at the door of any participating winery the day of the event or visit eventbrite.com/e/lodi-wine-chocolate-weekend-2020-tickets-75167882159. Must be 21+ to attend.
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Falling in
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BY JUSTINE CHAHAL Entertainment Editor
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Valentine’s Day is coming up soon. It’s time to get prepared for pink and red decorations in stores and cute little teddy bears. Or start making plans for eating discount candy on Feb. 15 to your heart’s content. For those who want to delve into the holiday early or are looking for things to do the day of, look no futher. Spend your precious time with a loved one watching these five romcoms picked out by The Collegian staff themselves. Get ready to laugh, cry, and fall in love with film all over again with these iconic movies.
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The typical formula of “poor girl falls for rich man” gets a diverse twist in this dramatic and funny film. “Crazy Rich Asians” became an infamous movie when it came out and it still remains (and will continue to remain) a popular, fun film to watch.
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A movie that is equal parts dramatic as it is funny. Prepare to cry during this emotional movie as you watch Simon navigate his life as a closeted gay teen in this romantic coming of age story.
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While this movie doesn’t have a necessarily complex plot, it’s great for those seeking something cheesy and entertaining. Watch a great cast of celebrities find love in different ways.
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The very definition of an oldie but a goodie. Laugh out loud as you watch Harry and Sally fall in love over the span of years in this hilarious and classic romantic movie.
DA Y A teenage romcom that will surely become a classic along with “13 Going on 30” and “10 Things I Hate About You.” This film is extremely sweet, charming, and features a great heroine; watch it before the sequel comes out!
I’VTO A E E LL VE TH RL EB OV OY ED S
Production planning for drama offerings starts long before semester BY JUSTINE CHAHAL Entertainment Editor
The Delta Drama department has two major productions lined up for spring: “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime” and “Everybody.” The first is a contemporary production based on the book of the same name. While this production is set to begin in late February, the choice was actually made a season prior. According to Drama professor Greg Foro, this leaves plenty of time to work on time, set design, lighting, and costume design. The production planning is important; the actual plays chosen are significant for a drama student’s education. “The department pairs a contemporary production with the Shakespeare play also put on,” said Foro. “Every classical piece is paired with two new contemporary ones...It’s so the students can build their skills as actors. It educates them on current playwrights and techniques.” The combination of contemporary and classic plays are utilized by the department to expose drama students, who are required to be in at least one production, to different styles and genres. These productions are popular ones, created by the playwrights. The plays themselves are picked with the current company in mind. “We’re not going to pick a play with an 85-year old woman if there isn’t one in the group of college students,” said Foro. As opposed to productions that pick a play and cast the individual closest to the role, the plays chosen make sure the
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students can be included properly so they benefit from the experience properly. These plays also touch upon subjects the audience can thematically relate to and understand. While the subjects can be incredibly broad and vary from production to production, there is something universal for the community to relate to. “People relate to being isolated and finding a place in the world — the main character of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime’ has autism, so he knows what it feels like to be isolated in the first place. As for ‘Everybody,’ that deals with death and like it or not, we all have to deal with that,” said Foro. After the production is chosen, it’s a matter of bringing everything together. Aside from focusing aspects like tech and costuming, the department must cast people for roles. “We’ll do a read through — when the cast gets the script they will just sit down at first and read it out loud. We’ll discuss the themes, characters, and talk about what happens from scene to scene,” said Forgo. This then leads to the blocking process and tech rehearsals, the part of the process where the actors figure out where to stand and move on stage. Next is the dress rehearsal where the students act through the production as they will perform it in front of a live audience. After the hard work and preparation both professors and students go through, the production is staged. All the effort put into the play is proudly on display. “I’m excited to see what the students bring as an excited audience member,” said Foro. “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime” starts its run on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in Tillie Lewis Theatre. “Everybody” begins in May.
Read more stories online at www.deltacollegian.net
Collegian writers take a dive into Hollywood this week online. Senior Staff Writer Maisy Macato looks at the roles women play in the film industry, specifically in light of the Best Director Oscar snub toward Greta Gerwig for “Little Women.” “It’s displeasing to see that female directors and actresses aren’t getting
the same opportunity this year to win awards despite their movies having great standing and considered competition,” Macato writes. Entertainment Editor Justine Chalal dissects celebrity activism, analyzing “Joker” star Joaquin Phoenix’s comments after winning the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama.
“While celebrities using their platform to highlight political and social issues is incredibly common, Phoenix’s speech begs the question of whether these wealthy individuals are actually doing something to help,” she writes. These stories can be found at deltacollegian.net/entertainment.
7 SPORTS 020720
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/sports
Baseball opens 2020 season with a come from behind win at home BY PAUL MUYSKENS Sports Editor
Following a state championship win two years ago, the Mustangs entered last season considered by many to be one of the teams to beat in Northern California. That assumption was proven true. This year, with an almost entirely new team, those expectations might be a bit harder to meet. “I definitely don’t think we are No. 1 right now,” said head coach Reed Peters about his team who enters the season ranked No. 1 by Baseball News in the California C.C. 2020 Preseason Nothern California rankings. “I think a lot of that is based on what we did last year and this is a whole new team. We moved on 20 guys to four-year schools. By the end of the year, if we do what we have done in the past and guys continue to work …that’s the one thing we pride ourselves on is outworking everyone else. If that’s the case and the guys do what they are supposed to do then I think we have a shot to be there at the top at the end of the year.” Losing eight of their top 10 run producers from last season’s team that hit 42 home runs and averaged 10 runs per game, the offense will have a different look this season. “Lots more speed in this offense even though we led the state in stolen bases last year,” said Peters. “We are even faster this year. We don’t have the power that we had last year. Hopefully, we are a little more balanced one through nine. We are going to need to pitch and play defense and I think we can do that.” Dillon Tatum drove in 33 runs and hit four home runs last season while Nevada-commit Dario Gomez also returns after driving in 11 runs last year. Kevin Fitzgerald returns and has high expectations from the coaching staff while transfers Bill Ralston and Jaylund Johnson will be players to watch this season. “We are expecting big things from
Tyler Condie throws a pitch during the 2020 season opener. PHOTO BY PAUL MUYSKENS
him (Ralston) and Johnson will play first base and hit in the middle of the order. They should be able to be leaders for us and provide some guidance for the younger guys.” Losing a bulk of their pitching staff the mound will have a different look with Tyler Condie returning as he will get the opening day start after going 3-2 with a 2.20 ERA last season. Freshmen Cameron Weatherford and Andrew Morones both throw 90 miles per hour and are expected to begin the season in the starting rotation for a staff that will potentially change as the season goes on. Garrett Munn was the team’s number one pitcher during the state cham-
pionship season two years ago before missing last year and will be eased into it this season with the hope that he will be a starter by the end of the year. Arkansas Tech transfer Kohl Drake had a good fall but was shut down and they hope he can come back and be a starter as well. Pacific commit Jackson Vaughan is another transfer that could see significant time on the mound. “We never had anything like this before where we had 20 guys move on,” said Peters who is entering his 13th season as the head coach for Delta. “This year has been an interesting year. We are all new guys. Even the transfers we got weren’t here last year so they don’t know how we do things here. It usually
takes guys a year to figure it out and do what you want them to do and unfortunately, we don’t have that time. They got to grow up fast. There are a lot of questions right now. I have no idea, really, what to expect from this group but we will find out shortly.” Opening the season on Jan. 24 the Mustangs defeated Monterey Peninsula 7-4. Five pitchers saw time on the mound with Jacob Standridge getting the win and Ben Miller picking up the save. Now 4-1 the Mustangs will be on the road for a game on Friday, Feb. 7, against Yuba before returning home for a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 8, playing Feather River at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
New look Delta softball team opens up the season with four straight victories BY PAUL MUYSKENS Sports Editor
There are plenty of similarities between the Mustangs’ baseball and softball teams as both enter this season coming off of a second straight state championship appearance but enter the 2020 season with a bunch of new players. “There’s just a handful of girls from last year’s club so everyone is new,” said head coach Jim Fisher after practice with the start of the season just days away. “I don’t know what to expect. I am hoping we will compete. I wish I had better feel for what’s going to happen, but I don’t know.” Returning is one player who saw action in all 46 games last season, All-American Mikaela Ferreira. She returns for her sophomore season after leading the team’s offense last season, hitting .539 with 53 runs batted in and 11 home runs while not striking out once in 167 at-bats. “During fall we had spurts where we were very offensive and spurts where we were not offensive,” said Fisher. “The potential is there to put up some runs” Also back from last year’s team that finished fourth in the state is Cheyenne Washington, who was third on the team last year with seven home runs while driving in 35 runs, and Ashley Laughlin, who drove in 16 runs. “(Danyelle) Godoy and (Emma) Anderson are both pretty good athletes,” said Fisher when asked about Jenna Nauta throws a pitch during the home opener against Feather River. PHOTO BY PAUL MUYSKENS some of his new players that should see significant time pected to shoulder the heavy load early until everyone we will figure it out,” said Fisher. “We have a lot of in the field and at the plate for an offense that averaged else gets the feel for college softball. She’s ready for potential and with this group you never know.” over six and a half runs per game last year. “Madison the role.” The team is off to a 4-1 start to the season as Nelson can really hit. (Destiny) Guerrero is a transfer “I’m excited and ready for my time in the circle,” they opened up the season with four wins in a row from Southwestern Oregon who can hit.” said Nauta about her increased role in the circle this before their first loss on Tuesday against West Valley. In the circle, the Mustangs will start the season season. “I just have to focus on every pitch and what I Through the first five games they have outscored their counting on the right arm of Jenna Nauta, who re- could do better for the next batter or the next inning.” opponents 36-13 with Godoy leading the offense turns after pitching 54 innings last year. Others that could see time in the circle include with seven runs driven in. Nauta has led the pitching “[ Jenna is] the most experienced right now so the Washington, Anderson, Nelson, and Krystal Olivares. staff with three wins while Anderson also has a win. load is going to start on her,” said Fisher about his Who they will be throwing to remains in question On Saturday they will be at home for a doublesophomore who started nine games last season and with four catchers on the roster. header as they will play Ohlone at 10 a.m. and then pitched two complete games. “We have a couple of “The nice thing is everyone will get their shot and Fresno City College at 2 p.m. others that are developing. Jenna is going to be ex-
8 NEWS 020720
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/news
Report names Stockton most diverse city in the United States one thing that I didn’t know, and this is part of that cultural humility, like we Stockton earned another No. 1 title, have to humble ourselves to know what this time for being the “most diverse” we don’t know,” she said. “I would love large city in the nation, according to to learn more would be middle eastern communities, because I think we really U.S. News & World Report. Stockton, with a population of miss that,” she said. “You know we learn 310,496 as of 2017, is home to the Fil- about Asians and Southeast Asians, Paipino, Mexican, black and white com- cific Islanders, and African Americans, and Latinos and Latinas. But we don’t munities for over 100 years. U.S. News & World Report’s data really touch much about the Middle was collected by finding large cities Eastern [population] and what brought (population of 300,000 or more) and them here, and the current struggles that they have. And culture goes deepcalculating a diversity score. “The diversity score represents the er than just our skin color, and just the likelihood that, in a particular city, two food that we eat and what we wear. individuals chosen at random will be We have to dive much, much deeper to from different racial and ethnic groups,” understand what brought us here, and what are some of the challenges that according to report materials. Raksmey Roeum-Castleman, ad- impact our community now. All of the junct professor of yoga at Delta, is of various communities now.” Dr. Steve Graham, an Irish-AmeriCambodian-Chinese descent. She imcan professor of communication studmigrated from a refugee camp in 1990 ies, has lived here for five years, but has and has lived in Stockton for 20 years. “I’ve been in Stockton ever since, so been teaching at Delta since 1990. “I think often times because we live Stockton is my home,” she said. here we don’t realize the impact of diShe shared her thoughts on how difversity, and how great it is on us. Like ferences can be overcome. “There are many cultures here and everyday I go to the classroom, we’re getting different viewpoints, different BY VIVIENNE AGUILAR Editor in Chief
Delta College students head towards campus on Pacific Avenue on Feb. 4. PHOTO BY VIVIENNE AGUILAR
cultures, different perspectives, and it adds so much to all the other students in the classroom,” he said. A relatively recent arrival to Stockton, Artavious Russell moved here from Memphis two years ago. Russell is onDelta’s football team. He is African American. “I’m not from here. It’s very different, first the diversity, you see more diverse
Delta provides update on transcripts BY JUSTINE CHAHAL Entertainment Editor
One of the most important parts of applying to a college is sending transcripts. Many who are transferring to four-year universities need to not only acquire transcripts to fill out their applications, but send official transcripts as well. However, the process of sending transcripts changed Fall 2019 with the implementation of MyDelta. There was an issue of the system not being able to send these documents properly. Some of these transcripts did not include classes students were currently taking, which required a printed sheet of their in-progress classes and verification letter. The issues noted last semester have been resolved. Now students are seeing a delay in processing of degrees. “Students may be expressing concerns regarding the processing of their degree/certificate and having it posted on their transcript. Once final grades are posted, it takes 4-6 weeks to process and post degrees. This is a typical processing time for institutions of higher education. We are in the midst of this processing right now and are on track to complete this within the six weeks of all final grades being posted,” said Dean of Student Enrollment and Student Development Angela Tos in an email response. Tos said that while she had heard rumors of transcript issues, in every case she has come across the documents have been sent properly and the universities had received them. There are no technical problems with accessing transcripts, but that does not mean the process is clear to everyone on campus, particularly because of the system change. It is important for students to understand what is necessary for their academic success. If you are unsure of how to access your transcripts and send them to universities, here are the steps to do so for unofficial and official transcripts. To access your unofficial transcript, log in to MyDelta and click on the “Academic Records” section. On the left, click the “View Unofficial Transcript” on the left. Press the green “Submit” button on the right. In order to view your unofficial transcript in PDF format, your browser must allow pop-ups. Your transcript should appear in a separate window. You may also view previously requested transcripts by clicking on “View All Requested Reports” and search for the one you want by date.
For official transcripts, there are two methods to acquire them: order transcripts online to send to universities or obtain one in-person. If you require a physical transcript on-demand, you must go to the Admissions and Records Service window in the DeRicco building. The first two copies are free. If you have already received two free copies, there is a fee of $15 per copy which can be paid for in advance at the Cashier’s Office located in Horton Administration Building, room 120A. After this is processed, go to the Admissions and Records Service window with your receipt and some form of picture ID. To order official transcripts online, you must go to the National Student Clearinghouse website as transcripts are processed through it. After going to studentclearinghouse.org locate the “Colleges” section at the top and hover your cursor over it. Click on “Transcript Services” at the very bottom of the list that appears. Underneath a blue banner, there is text that says “STUDENTS & ALUMNI: Order a transcript now or get transcript help. Go here.” Click the pink “Go here” link to be transported to the Transcript Help page. To order a transcript, click “Order a Transcript” at the right-hand side. You may also use this page to find answers to any pertinent questions you have or track an order. If you have an issue not addressed on the Transcript Help page, you may contact Clearinghouse by pressing the “Contact Us” button on the right-hand side as well. From there, you will be able to order transcripts by picking what colleges you are transferring to, inputting your shipping and credit card information, and deciding whether you want your transcript sent as a PDF or physically to the university itself. Keep in mind that the typical price per transcript is $10 or $15 if you pick rush delivery. After sending transcripts off to prospective universities, make sure to keep track of all your required material. View your college’s portals (many have “to-do lists” which show what you should do next) and call the help desk if necessary. Also be sure to check your email daily. If you have ordered a transcript online, go to the Transcript Help page of Clearinghouse and track your order from there. Navigating your way through your academic success should not be difficult. The resources are at your disposal, it’s only a matter of knowing they exist.
BRIEFS
people together, more than anything. And how people react to each other. The area’s just different, how people react. I really didn’t know that there were so many different types of Asians, Hispanics and also Cambodians. I didn’t know about all of that when I was in Memphis. ... Honestly, coming to California made me a better man. For me, coming to Stockton made me see things differently.”
Applicants sought for vacant Board of Trustees seat Delta College Board of Trustees is looking to serve for Area 2 until the Nov. election. A map defining of Area 2 can be found on the Delta College website. The deadline to apply is Feb. 18, 2020. Those planning to apply must live within the central Stockton area, and be available for all board meetings. Meetings are typically held twice a month on Tuesday evenings, according to the press release sent out by Delta College. The application and a schedule of meetings can be found within the press release. Former Trustee, Carlos Huerta moved out of the area he served so he resigned before his term could end in Nov. The board will review applica-
tions then finalists will have mandatory oral interviews on March 10. The final decision should be returned the following day.
Longtime Delta communication adjunct dies
Anthony Bernacchi, an adjunct public speaking professor died on Dec. 17, 2019. He was 50. “Professor B was a great man. He ensured that all his students were not only heard, but validated. A funny man who I shared many jokes and conversations with. He gave me such great compliments talking about how amazing of a presenter, student, and human I am. He did so with all his students. I still use some of the tips he taught us. Def [sic] grateful to have been in his presence,” said former student David Morales, of Bernacchi.
SHIMA: Path of Travel work ongoing continued from PAGE 1 spaces and walkways from the Shima 2 parking lot. Some of the work was initially planned to be completed in December, according to a traffic alert posted on the Delta College website in September 2019. Elias said he was unaware of this projection, but the initial alert remains available at bit.ly/shimaLot The Path of Travel project is part of an effort to promote safety on campus, according to Nguyen. “Not only on the ADA, but the safety front, if you walk the path of travel, the existing one and then where it’s going to be resurfaced, you will find a lot of them have blue phone poles in proximity, and that’s to increase safety awareness for anyone who stays late for classes, that they have easy access to emergency police contact,” Nguyen said. “It’s strategically placed along the path of travel to increase safety and ensure safety for users of the campus.” To be environmentally conscious, these phones are solar powered. At the beginning of last semester the campus watched the berm removal, and the beginning of this semester the actual sidewalk path was visible. According to Nunez, the trees taken out for the project were declared dead by the district’s arborist. There are plans for future beautification efforts in the area. “In some areas we’re really considering the conservation of water, so in some areas we’re only going with bark, that type of material so we don’t overuse irrigation water available in our campus. It was one of the main points in this design. As well, we are adding new trees and plants throughout this pathway,” said Elias. According to Nguyen, smaller projects are planned to continue ADA compliant changes, but not to the same scale of the one seen in the Shima parking lot. Other work is planned, as well. Mark Showers, Delta’s manager of Maintenance and Operations, also has plans to continue beautification all across campus.