Ink Fall 2019 - Spring 2020

Ink

The Inquirer Magazine

Fall 2019 - Spring 2020

Counselor, professor, brother: The journey of Eric Handy STEM in Color helps students thrive Viva DACA: A night of solidarity

Ink Editor-In-Chief Emma Hall

Features Editor Pavlina Markova

Photo Editor Ethan Anderson

Staff Members Jay Britto, Eric Dionne, Uchenna Esomonu, Aryana Hadjimohammadi, Jasleen Kaur, Maureen McSweeney, Prabhat Jain, Micheal Sullivan, and Kat Uher

Adviser Michael Levitin

Contact Us www.dvcinquirer.com Twitter: @dvcinquirer www.facebook.com/dvcinquirer Email: inquirer@dvc.edu

Letter from the editors To our dearest readers, A year ago, during Spring 2019, The Inquirer began focusing on social justice at Diablo Valley College after racist graffiti plagued the campus. Thanks in part to our reporting, a new student movement was born, committed to fighting against racism on campus. Since then, The Inquirer has turned a new leaf. We always aim to be the voice of the student community at DVC. With this social justice edition of Ink magazine to kick off 2020, we decided to focus in-depth on some of the issues and communities with the broadest impact.

In the issue, our staff explores different aspects of social justice. Eric Dionne and Aryana Hadjimohammadi sat down with Umoja professor Brother Eric, who tells his inspiring story of becoming a counselor and mentor (page 12). Prabhat Jain shares his experience being involved in the Free Speech Movement in the 1960s in Berkeley (page 15). Uche Esomonu reports on DVC’s Viva DACA event, which focused on bringing attention to DACA recepitents (page 4). Maureen McSweeney profiles STEM in Color, a campus club that empowers students of color (page 18). Editor-in-Chief Emma Hall writes about the removal of The Inquirer’s former adviser, which made national headlines in Fall 2019 and prompted us to focus more on social justice (page 20).

Currently, Pavlina Markova has taken over as Editor-in-Chief alongside Managing Editor Esomonu, Photo Editor Dionne, and News Editor Hadjimohammadi. Although The Inquirer has new faces and a new board of leadership, one thing will not change. We will continue to strive for our right to report the news for the student body at DVC. Our job is to serve the students, and we will pursue that goal diligently.

Sincerely, The Fall 2019 Editorial Board Emma Hall, Editor-in-Chief Ethan Anderson, Photo Editor Pavlina Markova, Features Editor

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Viva DACA: A night of solidarity

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White Pony Express: Helping others in need in Contra Costa

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What Islam means to me and why we must confront Muslim stereotypes

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Counselor, professor, brother: The journey of Eric Handy

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Resist and Revolt: What students can learn from Berkeley’s Free Speech Movement

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STEM In Color helps students thrive

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DVC removed our adviser: Former editor-in-chief speaks out

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Meet the Press

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Viva DACA: A night of solidarity

By Uchenna Esomonu

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ich notes of salsa music poured from the halls of the Food Court Bistro on a cool November night. The room was decorated with butterfly ornaments of various colors, yellow, red, purple and blue, as a live band led by Bolivian singer and Latin Grammy nominee Gabriel Navia performed various popular numbers such as the Buena Vista Social Club’s “Chan Chan.” Diablo Valley College students and faculty alongside their families filled the dance floor laughing as they jived to the sonorous music.

It was Viva DACA night, an evening of solidarity and support for students at DVC who have benefited from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an Obama-era program that grants protection from deportation and the opportunity to work for individuals brought to the United States as children.

Hosted one day shy of the 25th anniversary of Proposition 187 – the 1994 Californian legislation backed by then-Governor Pete Wilson that restricted healthcare, education and other rights and services for illegal immigrants in California – Viva DACA was anything but your regular shindig.

It was instead a goal-oriented statement of

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a sort that aimed to celebrate the indigenous him to reach out to Kristina Gomez, a memroots of DVC’s undocumented community ber of the Dreamers Alliance, an inclusive and to firmly establish their presence on the network of support for DVC DREAMers. campus as a force that is here to stay.

Soto and Gomez initiated a partnership, “We’re trying to create visibility for the which hasn’t yet led to the creation of a undocumented community,” said Hernan DREAM center at DVC – but helped birth Soto, a member of the Latinx Student Alli- the idea of Viva DACA, seen as a considerance, which represents members of the Lat- able first step inx community on campus, and a co-organizer of Viva DACA, which took place on Nov. 7.

“We’re trying to create visibility for “We are also trying to the undocumented community.” raise awareness about DACA.” Raising awareness was, Hernan Soto Member of Latinx Student Alliance in fact, central to the event’s creation. In his opening remarks, Soto told the audience about his run-in with a student in the 2019 spring Putting DACA on the map semester who asked him for information he first-time event in November aimed about DACA renewals, which were due the to achieve several goals. Not only did prior year. it address a general lack of awareness about “Unfortunately, I couldn’t give him any an- DACA among students on campus but more swers about where he could renew his DACA directly, it raised necessary funds to help because we don’t have a DREAM center (at) DVC DACA beneficiaries renew their appliDVC,” Soto said. The encounter inspired cations.

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Photo courtesy of Kristina Gomez

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stablished in 2012 by executive order under the Obama Administration, DACA has served as the official umbrella policy under which individuals brought to the United States as children can receive renewable two-year periods of deferred action from deportation and become eligible for work permits. To renew their DACA requests, applicants are required to make upfront biannual payments of $495. Failure to do so results in the revocation of their work permits and opens them to the risk of deportation.

But for many, it’s a steep price they often can’t meet.

“We understand that not everyone can pay the $495 off the bat,” Soto said, “so that is one of the reasons why we created this event: to help students raise money.” A DACA beneficiary himself, Soto ran into his own problems with the renewal process. Two years ago, the fee increased from $465 to $495, but he was unaware of the change and paid the lower, previous bill.

“They sent the money back and rejected me because I didn’t pay the full amount,” he said. Soto knew he was not alone in facing these kinds of confusions and financial difficulties, which is why it became important for him to create an event that could raise funds and help alleviate some of the challenges for others. An important next step, he said, is to create what doesn’t yet exist at DVC: a DREAM center “tailored to (the needs of) undocumented students.”

Making a space for DREAMers

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oto, along with Gomez of the Dreamers Alliance, envisions a campus center that will serve as a hub providing legal advice and assistance to DREAMers – which refers to young beneficiaries of the DREAM Act – with the renewal of their DACA applications.

A DREAM center is seen increasingly as a vital resource on campus, because “immigrant law is constantly changing,” Soto said.

“It’s a broken system and how can a broken system help students if [it] is broken in itself?”

A 2016 resolution passed by the Contra Costa Community College District seeks to remedy this absence. The resolution supports civil liberties for all students and campus communities, and encourages events like Viva DACA to come into being. Rosa Armendariz, Dean of Student Equity and Engagement, announced at the event that both DVC and Los Medanos College were among the schools selected across California to offer legal services to undocumented students and DACA recipients.

“I’m hoping that (the resolution) turns into a DREAM center of sorts so that we can offer support and programs to all of our students that need that,” Armendariz said.

As part of the Viva DACA fundraising strategy, organizers created a silent auction using donations from the DVC arts department. The auction boasted ceramic works including vases, butterflies and alebrijes, which are colorful Mexican folk art sculptures de-

picting fantastical creatures. Bidding on each item began at a minimum of $58 and continued to climb as the evening progressed, with top pieces reaching an average of $190.

But apart from fundraising, organizers remained focused on an even more essential objective: fostering community. The goal, said Gomez, was “to build community and to show students that they have a support system and that we’re from all over the campus and not just a part of campus.”

The event program featured performances by the Pittsburg High School Ballet Folklorico group, a presentation by nationally acclaimed poet and public speaker Yosimar Reyes, a panel forum including DACA beneficiaries at DVC – and of course rhythmic salsa music performed by renowned musician Gabriel Navia.

Challenging the administration’s anti-DACA narrative

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he event name, Viva DACA, was deliberately chosen by the organizers due to its loaded message: the word “viva” translates to “live,” but used in this context, it also means forever, sending a clear message that the DACA program, as well its recipients, the Dreamers, are here to stay. They considered it a timely statement given (considering) the recent assault on DACA launched by the Trump Administration. While running for president in 2015, Trump promised to terminate DACA upon his election. Staying true to his word, the administration announced

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on Sept. 5, 2017, through former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, that it would begin phasing out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protected nearly 800,000 immigrants brought to the The announcement sent ripples of anger through the nationwide undocumented youth community, who believe they are paying an unfair price for their presence – not to mention their contributions – on U.S. soil.

As Soto put it, responding to the president’s threats to DACA: “Give us a break!”

“It’s not our fault that we are here. We are literally Americans. We grew up with this culture.”

DACA beneficiaries, who spoke on the panel later in the event, voiced their fears of losing employment advantages that the program currently affords them. Maria Bojorquez, a DVC student who hopes to study

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immigration law at University of California, their families.

Los Angeles, fears that her years of hard work “I was really fortunate to be able to work in the U.S. could be in vain. through DACA,” Nigell Osario said. “My “I’m trying to be an immigration attor- parents and siblings actually had a terrible ney,” said Bojorquez. “The hard part is that time looking for work because they were unwhat if I finish UC and I want to get the documented. They had to go through certain actual big girl job, and DACA is not avail- loopholes that I guess weren’t legal. Luckily able? I won’t be able to (get the job), and “There’s a very big sense of knowing my years of hopelessness being undocumented.” schooling would go to waste, that’s what scares me.”

Maria Bojorquez Since its inception DVC student nearly a decade ago, DACA has provided tens of thousands of young people the op- for me, DACA gave me the opportunity to portunity to work. According to the panel- work and go to school.” ists, the policy had significantly relieved their Before the program’s creation, the option financial struggles and enabled them to assist for legal employment as well as the procure-

ment of a social security number was virtually non-existent, forcing many people to take up what are often referred to as under-the-table jobs. Daniela Morando, another panelist, recounted the many obstacles to employment that she faced due to her undocumented status.

“I remember when I was 14 and I went to see my school counselor. My parents were in a tough financial situation and I was like, ‘I need to get a job, I need to work!’” she said.

But Morando was disappointed to learn that because of her undocumented status, she was ineligible for employment. The experience forced her to reckon with the unfair realities of undocumented life, something she had been shielded from during most of her childhood.

“I’d always known I was undocumented but I didn’t really know what that entailed until (the counselor) told me,” Morando said. “It took me a long time to process that because as a 14-year-old, I was still pretty naive and idealistic. I thought, there’s no way I can be denied this opportunity to work and help provide for my family.”

By voting, for example, citizens and resi- memory. dents of the U.S. can respond to their “duty” “Before DACA was even a thing, I rememand exercise the political rights and privileg- ber I would always tell my mom, ‘What’s the es associated with their legal status to help point of going to school? When I graduate I those in need. can’t work. What’s the point of even trying?

“We can’t vote so when it’s time to vote, I’m undocumented: there’s so many things you guys have to vote because you have to stacked up for me to fail,’” she said. be the voices for us,” Bojorquez “Know that we’re here! Just know that said.

The prospect we exist and we’re just trying to make the of DACA disbest out of our sitatuon ” solving, and thousands of people returning Hernan Soto to the shadows where they are politically powerless, has created a state of panic for DACA Bojorquez said she sometimes didn’t see beneficiaries who, unlike other members of the need to pursue higher education if she the undocumented community, don’t have might end up working in a factory or field. to live in a constant fear of deportation.

Her story, she added, is the story of many The panelists all expressed the fortunate undocumented youth. “There’s a very big sense of ease they feel as DACA recipients sense of hopelessness when it comes to being who aren’t forced in their daily lives with the undocumented.” burden of looming deportation.

This sense of despair often associated with “It has created a sense of stability for me,” the undocumented experience is one that Demanding a solution Soto said. “I’m not too worried about hear- acclaimed poet and public speaker Yosimar iven the precarious state of the pro- ing ‘la migra is in town, don’t go outside.’ Reyes challenges in his work. gram, the panelists urged their allies I get that sense of calmness, knowing that I As a writer, Reyes said he refuses to use his work to solicit empathy for the undocumented community; he doesn’t seek to exploit im“Life is more sacred than legality... How do we migrants’ stories in order to humanize them in the eyes of prejudiced individuals. maintain hope in our community? How do we conInstead, he said, he prefers to celebrate the undocumented experience in a way that tinue to build joy and allow undocumented people brings both laughter and hope to his community. to laugh and dance and fall in love?”

“Life is more sacred than legality,” Reyes said, and many things, such as love and joy, Yosimar Reyes supersede citizenship papers.

Poet and public speaker “More than the legalities of everything is, How do we maintain hope in our communiand citizens everywhere to educate them- don’t have to worry.” ty?” he said. “How do we continue to build selves about current immigration policies, joy and allow undocumented people to laugh the harsh plans being devised by the Trump Maintaining hope in the face of and dance and fall in love?”

Administration – and most of all, to recog- challenges His answer is to help people learn to laugh nize the presence of undocumented persons evertheless, Soto pointed out that he a bit more at themselves and their situations in their communities. doesn’t feel entirely free from worry, as – an approach he said he takes in his work as “Know that we’re here,” Soto said. “Just he still has to think of his family and friends an artist more broadly. know that we exist and we’re just trying to- who don’t enjoy his same protections. They, And even as Reyes spoke on that Novemmake the best out of our situation.” unlike him, remain living in the shadows, ber night, making frequent jabs at some of The panelists also mentioned the idea of which amounts to a constant state of fear the less enviable aspects of undocumented “ally responsibility” suggesting that allies of and sometimes hopelessness – one that is dif- life, some of the gloom in the room seemed the community have a duty to help their un- ficult to forget even after one has been freed to lift, giving way to hope. documented neighbors. from it. For Bojorquez, it is an all-too-vivid

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White Pony Express: Helping others in need in Contra Costa

By Kat Uher Photo courtesy of White Pony Express

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t’s 8:40 a.m. on a chilly Saturday morning as I step out of my car that they otherwise wouldn’t have gotten,” he says. and shuffle into a vast garage snuggled away in the quiet suburbs of Pleasant Hill. I’ve arrived at the headquarters of White Pony Ex- Helping people meet basic needs press, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization with one main goal: hite Pony Express was founded in 2013 by Dr. Carolyn Wynn to end poverty and hunger across Contra Costa County.

Conner, a spiritual advisor at Sufism Reoriented, who beInside, I greet some of the friendly staff and volunteers before came aware that some of her friends were going hungry in a country joining them to sift through boxes of food that have been shipped with so much abundance. Conner came up with a solution: why not to White Pony from various markets. Fruit goes in boxes labeled pick up surplus food from stores and redistribute it to a 501k organi“Fruits,” vegetables have a box of their own, and so on. zation to help those in need?

This isn’t the only job I’m involved in. I also sort out women’s tank In the years since, her organization has annually helped an estitops in the general store section of WPE, which houses other clothes mated 80,000 Contra Costa County residents. It has collected and brought in from donations and department stores. These clothes will delivered some 10 million pounds of food to people and distributed be redistributed and sold at boutiques. more than half a million clothes, books, toys and other items.

Most college students like me would sleep in for the weekend. The Kim Hunter-Reay is a charming elderly woman who is part of the only thing that’s keeping me awake this Saturday is knowing that my WPE staff and is one of the friendliest members at WPE, greeting efforts will help feed someone in need. I’m also gaining leadership me every Saturday enthusiastically as though I am family. She works skills when I actively search for ways to help my fellow volunteers with in community relations and says she came across the organization by tasks outside of food sorting, and participate in public events – like chance. tabling with staff at Pleasant Hill’s Art, Wine & Music Festival – to “I heard about WPE through word of mouth,” she says. “First help promote WPE. from my neighborhood, and then through the Sufism Reoriented Radman Torzarbock is a new friend I met here and a student at program. I first did volunteering with friends and then got more inThe Athenian School, a private preparatory school in Danville. An volved.” energetic young man with dark eyes and a warm smile, he says he had In the beginning, Hunter-Reay’s main role was to reach out to the same mindset when he first joined WPE. stores for clothing donations. Now she does community outreach to “I’ve been here for about five months,” says Torzarbock. “When other charity organizations helping people in need. Lately, she has I first started, I spent time in the general store and the food sorting been working in food distribution, bagging food for people with specenter. I found working on both sides very cific allergies and dietary needs who can’t meaningful to me.” afford the food themselves.

“There’s a happy “It makes me feel good about offering Hunter-Reay says that after encountercamaraderie in people here ing people in different crises, such as those my abilities, talents, skills and time to help others,” he adds. “I’m aware that I’m so that’s contagious. By the suffering from homelessness or unmet making a real impact.” medical needs, her best satisfaction has end of the day it ends up After working at WPE during the sumbeen seeing people regain stability in their mer, Torzarbock was offered a position as lives as they start to receive basic care. She being fun.” a “navigator” helping guide trucks that has also invited friends to pitch in and sort pick up unwanted food from grocery food, package by package, spreading the Kim Hunter-Reay stores. He goes out at 7:30 a.m., heading sense of community aid.

Community relations manager for WPE to markets to help load boxes with food.

“There’s a happy camaraderie in people Then he takes the food back and helps get here, so that’s contagious,” she tells me, it sorted at the center. and “by the end of the day it ends up being fun.”

Torzarbock initially found out about the organization through the Sufi Center in Walnut Creek, which recommends students to sum- “You could just feel his happiness” mer volunteer programs. He feels that his time at the organization, andy Nakaya, manager of WPE’s volunteer service program, and what he has gained from the experience, was worth the investhas been here since the group’s inception. When I first visment. ited the group for orientation a few months ago, Nakaya spoke to “Every time I lift up a crate, I’m like, ‘This crate is heavy, 40 pounds me in a passionate but gentle voice that made me and the other new at least.’ But this means people are going to eat 40 pounds of food volunteers feel comfortable in the unfamiliar setting.

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Nakaya’s mission is to recruit as many volunteers as possible for Redistributing food, but also love food and clothing distribution. To that end, she leads orientations, he high cost of living in Contra Costa, like across much of the attends events, visits high schools and colleges, and talks to people state, is a big factor keeping many people from escaping poverabout all the volunteer opportunities available at the organization. ty, even when they work multiple jobs, she says. Some people don’t Last year, WPE helped set up a food pantry in a local school, and take all that they might need from WPE because of pride, or because now more schools have joined the cause. they know there are other people who need the items more.

“What’s most important is that families can provide for their chilOne time in Martinez, Nakaya recalls, “The guests were invited dren who can then have a better attention span because of the food,” to come to the White Pony Express truck, which we’d filled with says Nakaya. sleeping bags, sweaters, coats, and everything to keep warm.” But not Stamping out hunger entirely in Contra Costa County may be everyone took the items. daunting, but the non-profit is making in“The people who reject sleeping bags do so roads as an effective “middle man.” because they think about the people even less “What’s most important is fortunate. They tell us, ‘Save that for the peo“We’re the ones who transport the prodthat families can provide ple who live on the streets, since I’m more ucts for different organizations and churches (that) don’t always have the ability to pick up fortunate. I live in my car.’” for their children...” the food,” she adds.

Nakaya had to learn a few things while Nakaya says WPE prioritizes delivering working with people in difficult situations.

Mandy Nakaya fresh produce to the poverty-stricken. Sure, She says that when offering jackets to homeManager of WPE’s volunter program the bananas tend to be more on the yelless people, she would give them jackets in low-brown side, but as I pull out a package their size, though people would always ask of butternut squash noodles – a staple in the for jackets that appeared too large for them. food bin – I see that it hasn’t reached the expiration date. WPE tries Then, one day, someone explained it to her. to redistribute its food within two hours of pickup, emphasizing the “Finally, somebody came up to me and said, ‘You really don’t importance of getting it to people when it’s still fresh. understand, do you? When you’re homeless, you put every piece of For Nakaya, the simple act of talking to people and hearing their clothing item on. Then you top it off with an oversized jacket to stay stories makes her job continuously interesting and inspiring. warm.’”

“I remember going to a boutique in Richmond,” she says, “and I’ll As I exited the White Pony Express after almost two hours’ worth never forget meeting a gentleman who had the biggest smile I’d ever of sorting, I saw a box of bouquets hauled in from Trader Joe’s. It was seen. You could just feel his happiness.” placed near the garage, up for grabs for any volunteer who wanted “I asked if he needed any help, and he immediately said, ‘I work to freshen up their kitchen table. For me, it was almost like a sweet two jobs, and my wife works one. We can’t even afford to buy clothes reward for having taken the time that morning to help people. for our children when they go back to school. I am so happy that At WPE, I realized we’re not just redistributing food, but also love. they’re going to have new clothes.’”

And the next week, I was back for another shift.

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What Islam means to me and why we must confront Muslim stereotypes

By Aryana Hadjimohammadi

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very year, I go to the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California with my family. My favorite part of walking into a mosque is when I enter the prayer room. The room is large and covered with carpets. There are usually about 50 people in the room and most of them are praying. The men and women are separated by rows and covering themselves. Each person recites the prayers in Arabic in efforts to become closer to God. I usually sit at the back on a chair; watching people pray in a very peaceful atmosphere is what Islam means to me. Islam is, like any religion, a way to form a connection with God mentally, spiritually and physically.

I have been raised around Islam my entire life and I come from a family of Muslims.

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Writing this piece about Islam was vital for me because after attending an event last month called “What is Islam Essentially?”

I felt the need to break harmful stereotypes that tarnish the identity of Muslims.

We all have seen negative labels and heard harmful stereotypes about Islam, whether it’s from media outlets, everyday people, or even the President of the United States himself.

We all are aware of Donald Trump’s travel bans that were put in place to prevent Muslims, such as people from Syria and Iran, from entering the United States. Corporate media like Fox News even call ISIS “Radical Islam,” when members of that group aren’t even true Muslims. To be a true Muslim is to do no harm to others.

Selsela Nejrabi, a Muslim student at Diablo Valley College, explains that terrorist groups like ISIS don’t follow Muslim morals.

“They’re not following the rules of Islam, they believe that killing somebody who doesn’t believe in Islam is right, but actually, in Islam, killing somebody is prohibited…

They claim to be Muslim but they’re not, so Islam is presented in a bad way to others,” said Nejrabi.

A part of the problem, I feel, is that we focus too much time watching television instead of reading books about Islam or actually talking with Muslims. It’s upsetting to see institutional Islamophobia that reflects ignorance about the religion, not just in the United States, but globally. Islam is a peace-

ful religion, just like any other religion, and it’s inaccurate to look at countries such as Saudi Arabia, with its extreme strain of Wahhabism, as the pinnacle of Islam.

Breaking stereotypes

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and to show their obedience to God. Covering one’s hair and body is not a sign of oppression but merely a way to stay in touch with their religion.

Why is it that Muslim women are treated differently than women in other religions?

Despite other religions having similar practices, like Judaism with Tznuit and Christianity with nuns’ clothes, why are Muslim women criticized for their appearance? This smells of hypocrisy.

Another common misconception of Islam is that Sharia law is considered a threat in the United States and is feared by many people.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Sharia law establishes guiding principles in order to live a moral life, derived from the

n response to Muslim extremism, the burqa has been banned in 15 countries, including Austria, France, and Belgium. It was banned in France because women covering their faces were considered a symbol of subservience in the eyes of the government.

According to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the burqa deprives women of their identity and makes them “prisoner(s) behind a screen.”

I understand why people think that covering one’s face may be oppressive for women, but covering one’s face is not a religious “Islam doesn’t encourage violence, requirement in Islam. Face it’s actually against violence and covering is the least common way Muslim women dress, and Islam is an Arabic word for peace.” if one chooses to cover her face, it is her choice to do so.

Selsela Nejrabi Banning the burqa not only DVC student discriminates against Muslim women but strips away a part of their identity.

Quran. Noorullah Wardak, a math instrucOne of the most common misconceptions tor at DVC and a Muslim, explained some about Islam is that women are oppressed and examples of Sharia law. subservient to men.

“Governments take charity money and In fact, it is the exact opposite. Verse 4:1 in distribute among (the) poor, take care of the Quran, the holy book in Islam, states that mosques, making sure religion is being “women too have rights over men similar to taught in academic institutions, making sure the rights of men over women.” Some Mus- no alcohol is being sold,” he said. lim countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran However, when Americans think of Sharia treat women as second class citizens despite law, they usually think of women accused of Islam prohibiting violence against women. adultery being stoned to death, or cutting off Marwa Miry, a Muslim community mem- a person’s hand for stealing. These kinds of ber, participated in “What is Islam Essential- acts are common in countries such as Saudi ly?” She says that Islam uplifts and respects Arabia, Iran, and Yemen, yet these punishwomen. ments aren’t actually derived from Islam but “(In the) pre-Islamic era, women weren’t from corrupt governments using Islam as a allowed to get a divorce (or) own property. way to control others.

But when prophet Muhammad came, he Madina Rahimy, another Muslim student stopped it because God gave him these or- at DVC, said that these punishments go ders, (saying) that women are an important against the meaning of Islam. part of society,” she said.

“Those countries, their governments, are Some people also believe that the hijab, extremists. They think that they are making which is a headscarf worn by Muslim wom- this law and you have to follow it, but if you en covering the head and neck, is a sign of see from God’s side, you can’t hurt anyone, oppression. you cannot even touch anyone,” she said. n fact, Muslim women who choose to Nejrabi also confirms the meaning of Iswear the hijab, burqa, or niqab, do so lam and how harming somebody is a sin. to cover themselves to preserve their modesty “Islam doesn’t encourage violence, it’s ac-

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tually against violence and Islam is an Arabic word for peace,” she said.

Saudi Arabia’s government is filled with extremists and twist Islam into their own version of what they think Islam is, much like many other governments in the Middle East.

Media’s Portrayal of Islam

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ne of the things that disturbs me the most is how much attention the media gives to “Muslim” people who commit terrorism, but when a white “Christian” terrorist commits violent acts, the media and politicians often fail to condemn it as terrorism.

An example of how the media treats Muslims versus Christians is the Christchurch shooter. On March 15, 2019, Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old man from Australia, attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. He killed 51 people and injured 49. Yet many Western media pundits portrayed Tarrant as “mentally ill” but not a “terrorist.”

On the other hand, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, called the shooter what he is: a terrorist.

The most infamous example in the U.S. was Trump’s failure in 2017 to condemn white nationalists claiming that there were “fine people on both sides.”

Stopping Islamophobia

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here are ways to reduce Islamophobia. Apart from reading books and talking to actual Muslims, one way to be informed about Islam is to attend a mosque.

There are so many mosques in the Bay Area and if people take the time to go to one and talk to Muslims, they can become more educated about what Islam really is.

Asking questions is the best way to address ignorance. Rahimy also thought that an optional class about Islam could be taught in schools because she thinks that Islam is not addressed enough in education.

Aside from all of these great ways to learn, Professor Wardak wants people to know this crucial point.

“Not everything is the same exact way all over the world and then the idea that here somehow, this is the best way to live or the way we have, this is the best, that’s also something Westerners fall into, that sort of arrogance that it should be like this,” he said.

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Counselor, professor brother: The journey of Eric Handy Story by Aryana Hadjimohammadi and Eric Dionne

Photo by Ethan Anderson

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hen you enter Eric Handy’s office, the first thing you see is a framed, haunting illustration of Trayvon Martin, the black teen shot and killed in Florida in 2012, intertwined with a poem celebrating the Black Lives Matter movement. To the right are Oakland A’s and Raiders paraphernalia, and scattered around his office are African artifacts, from a drum to a tapestry, revealing a man with local roots and global sensibility.

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or the professor and counselor Handy, life at Diablo Valley own. Through middle and high school, Brother Eric remembers himCollege is not just about teaching in the classroom. It’s about self as a “troubled youth.” But his junior year, he suffered from even helping young black students discover who they are – and who they greater instability.

“I started having drug abuse and hanging around with the wrong want to become.

In 2019, Eric Handy – who earned the nickname Brother Eric people,” he said. “It was a lot of emotional trauma.”

He was struggling in school, but that changed in 1996 when his because so many people view him as a family member – took six DVC students from the Umoja program to Ghana. The trip marked the older cousin introduced him to the summer Accounting Career 400th anniversary of the first slave ships leaving Africa for the Unit- Awareness Program. ACAP aims to place high school students from ed States, known as the Year of the Return. The group’s goal was to underrepresented populations at college campuses, recruiting stubuild leadership skills through mentoring, community service, and dents of color into the business and accounting fields. He stayed at a studying cultural differences, but also to develop individuals’ own college campus during the summer but didn’t realize the value of the program at the time. identities and sense of purpose.

Brother Eric graduated from high school in 1998 and went to “We gave away clothes, led donations, and helped feed the needy,” said communications major Amari Joseph, who considers himself Morris Brown College, a historically black liberal arts college in Atlanta, for three years. However, in his third year, the college lost its Brother Eric’s “apprentice.”

Brother Eric has been a counselor at DVC and the Umoja and accreditation and he was forced to return to California.

“I end(ed) up coming back to California on a greyhound bus with African American leadership program director since 2017. He is also a visiting assistant counseling professor at Saint Mary’s College and a zero college credits, sleeping on my mother’s couch at the age of 21, so it was a very kind of traumatic time,” he said. doctoral student in education at Mills College.

Soon after, in 2001, his cousin called and asked him to fill in for He has helped steer many students toward their goals in both life and academics. DVC football player Shakiem Woods has been going one of the counselors at the ACAP program. Eric accepted, fell in love with the position, and never wanted to leave. to see Eric for counseling regularly.

He didn’t for the next 16 years.

“Since I came here, he’s been a guide,” said Woods. “He’ll always Brother Eric later attended San Francisco State and obtained a check up on you, and make sure you’re good.” bachelor’s degree in communications. While For Brother Eric, who working as a counselor, he joined Saint Mary’s experienced his own chal“Even on the worst day, being in Masters program in counseling psychology. He lenging search for identity, he relates closely to his a classroom is the best thing that also worked at Oakland Freedom Schools and was an Ella Baker trainer at Children’s Defense students. happened to me in life.”

Fund.

“Black men have a hard time finding other Empowering youth black men they can conBrother Eric e still credits his cousin as one of the bignect with,” said Brother gest influences helping reshape his life.

Eric. “I understand my “If it wasn’t for my cousin putting me in (the purpose in life is to help give direction and motivation for that student that I was when I was a ACAP) program back in high school, I wouldn’t have had the (experistudent: looking for some motivation, looking for some hope, trying ence) and I wouldn’t have been exposed to all these different people,” he said. to figure out (if I could) get through.”

Eric’s favorite part about being a counselor is the time spent in the Finding his own path classroom, constantly interacting with students. rother Eric had a difficult upbringing. Born from a young “Even on the worst day, being in a classroom is the best thing that mother, he and his brother had to take care of themselves happened to me in life,” said Brother Eric, who sees his role as mogrowing up and were at times homeless, left to fend for themselves. tivating students to strive for their dreams and give back to the com“My mother was still developing on her own and so she didn’t take munity – something he says he wished he received in his own youth. care of my brother and (me) a lot,” he said. The brothers had differ“My goal is to help students find their divine purpose, their pasent fathers, neither of whom were present in their lives. sion, and then pursue it in a profitable fashion,” he said. “If you do His aunt took him in, though she already had four kids of her that, you never work a day in your life.”

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Resist and Revolt: What students today can learn from Berkeley’s Free Speech Movement

By Prabhat Jain

“Listen up everybody! All foreign students, people who are not registered at the university, seniors and disabled people all need to leave right now. If you do not leave, you will be arrested and many of you will be shipped to the country where you came from and others thrown into jail for trespassing on private property.”

Mario Savio Leader of the Free Speech Movement

Prabhat Jain (center) with his peers from UC Berkeley

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t was Fall 1964 in Berkeley, Calif., and I was a junior in the Electrical and Bio-Electronics Engineering department. The spontaneous wave of anger that began that fall in small student political groups had spread like wildfire, shaking the nation and most major campuses across the United States. Berkeley became ground zero for the burgeoning Free Speech Movement, creating a campus legacy of dissent that continues today—visible most recently in protests over far-right speakers Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos.

The Founding Fathers were far-sighted when they created the First Amendment of the Constitution guaranteeing the right to free assembly and speech. Fifty-five years ago, the Free Speech Movement relied on this fundamental right as the basis for its political activities.

The FSM used nonviolent tactics learned from students who had traveled to the Deep South to help African Americans. It also marked the beginnings of the New Left, embodied by young activists who felt that society and democracy had been compromised by America’s fear of communism and the Civil Rights movement.

In opening up the right to free speech and political activity on Berkeley’s campus, students showed the far-reaching influence of the

Civil Rights movement, outside of the South. Their activism would pave the way for future students in California who would focus on the Vietnam War and attaining political and economic power for people of color.

The biggest difference between then and now is that in today’s climate, not so many young people are willing to put their bodies—or for that matter, their beliefs—on the line for the sake of social and political change.

The Iraq war that began in 2003 serves as a stark reminder why students need to learn to organize themselves again, like they did in the Vietnam protests of the 1960s, to prevent further senseless power plays by irresponsible politicians.

Now, the withdrawal by our current administration from the landmark Paris Climate Treaty stands in total disregard for potential cataclysmic events. The climate crisis calls for students once again to rise up, revolt and demand that our leadership stop this destructive, anti-democratic course of action and denial. Students today can learn from the FSM, the creation of People’s Park and anti-Vietnam war protests to bring about needed change.

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Free Speech Movement (FSM)

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n Fall 1964, Berkeley’s students decided they had enough of the school’s restrictive policies. Campus administration had decided the Bancroft strip of Telegraph Avenue, just outside Berkeley’s Sather Gate, was off limits for handing out pamphlets and petitions, and it barred student efforts to recruit new members to the movement.

Students had recently protested local businesses that discriminated against African Americans and Native Americans, and the conservative UC Regents – composed largely of corporate chief executives and Republican leaders – were pressing the school to close the campus and adjacent areas to prevent further agitation.

Students responded emotionally to the intimidation. I remember watching Civil Rights activists and ordinary students—even some conservative ones—protest the shutdown of left-wing pamphlet distribution. On Sept. 29, students set up tables on the Bancroft strip and refused an order to leave. When five protesters were told to appear in court, which was tantamount to an arrest warrant, 500 students, led by Mario Savio, marched on the administration building. The marchers demanded that they, too, be punished in solidarity. After that, the movement lost momentum, but an offensive letter drafted

by UC Regent lawyers and sent to FSM leadership, forbidding them from setting up tables on Bancroft, got the movement moving again.

“We gave youth in America a sense that political and social action is something that you can and should be involved in, and that you have power.”

Jamie Blum Former Cal student

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he FSM told students to bring their sleeping bags to a Wednesday noon rally on Dec. 2. After famed folk singer Joan Baez electrified the crowd with “We Shall Overcome,” about 2,000 people again occupied the administration building. In the middle of the night, Governor Pat Brown told police to clear the building. Arrests started at 3 a.m. and took 12 hours. I watched the arrests in horror, along with my girlfriend, outside the building. After all, my own grandfather spent a year in jail in the Quit India movement to throw the British out of India. I was not going to be intimidated. I recalled the words of FSM leader Savio: “There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart that you can’t take part, you can’t even passively take part, and you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears, and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus and you’ve got to make it stop.”

While the building was still being cleared, a student strike began.

Faculty raised bail money and drove to various detention centers to bring the students home. Multiple meetings were held over the weekend by everyone involved — except the Chancellor, who was hospitalized, presumably from stress or not wanting to deal with us.

University President Clark Kerr canceled Monday classes to hold a

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meeting where a newly formed committee of department chairmen would agree what he hoped were acceptable terms to end the conflict. While offering students amnesty for the violations, they had committed during the prior two months, administrators did not punish them further. The students got what they wanted: free speech and assembly.

“We gave youth in America a sense that political and social action is something that you can and should be involved in and you have power,” said Janie Blum, a former Cal student who met with me on campus recently to talk about our shared past.

Remembering back, I recalled the time a student dashed into our class in Cory Hall shouting, “Let’s go, all, let’s go!” The class emptied out and we ran to Sather Gate, the entrance to the university, where thousands of students had gathered and smelled the tear gas.

It was exhilarating as tears ran down our faces, no one sure whether it was from the gas or the sadness of seeing cops beat upon our fellow students. I joined the tens of thousands that day and we all pushed together, body to body, feeling the momentum of our youth and energy to change the world.

In those months, the CIA stepped up its recruiting efforts, especially in the College of Engineering’s departments. I was aggressively recruited with threats of being deported if I didn’t join. They had photos of me demonstrating on campus in violation of the rules for foreign student visa holders. I went to our Dean who told me to simply leave if the CIA officer showed up again. He never showed up.

The Free Speech Movement taught us some valuable lessons, namely, that by standing up for your rights, you can have a major impact on the world around you. The FSM not only symbolized the power of student activism, but the influence of the Civil Rights movement on California students. The students that were initially cited and arrested by the school were all members of the Congress of Racial Equality, or CORE, a national Civil Rights organization dedicated to ending racism.

Vietnam War

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uring May 21-23, 1965, the student Vietnam Day Committee organized the largest ever teach-in on campus. The 36-hour event was held on the playing field where Zellerbach Auditorium is now located.

Over 30,000 people turned up, from students to ordinary citizens, and participants included Dr. Benjamin Spock; veteran socialist leader Norman Thomas; novelist Norman Mailer; independent journalist I.F. Stone; and philosopher and my personal friend Alan Watts.

An empty chair was placed for a representative of State, which read, “Reserved for the State Department.”

Through the rest of the 1960s, large anti-war demonstrations continued in Berkeley. Tear gas came at us weekly. But we kept going.

The protests galvanized campuses across the U.S. Students and their parents were demanding explanations for their brothers and sons being killed in Vietnam.

My new girlfriend from New York, who was living with me in California, was devastated learning that her 27-year-old brother’s plane had been shot down over Vietnam and he had been killed. She was never the same after the tragedy.

People’s Park

that he was throwing reinforcing bars at them from a rooftop. Alan n the spring of 1969, the university began to plan recreational Blanchard was blinded by police buckshot. fields in a park located two miles from campus. The idea for an On May 30, 1969, a peaceful demonstration of 30,000 people alternative park came from a group of young activists who held an marched through Berkeley, not just to support the park, but also to evening meeting and began devising an idealized vision for a public protest the intervention by and action of police, most notably the space. Over the next few days, a few hundred park-building volun- Alameda County Sheriff’s officers. Ultimately the university capituteers showed up, and their number grew exponentially. Some local lated on the use of the land and People’s Park was born. activists, among them principals of the 1964 Free Speech Movement five years earlier, envisioned this grassroots effort as creating a place Connecting past and present of free speech and commun his famous 1963 speech in Washington, the Reverend nity gathering. Negotiations Martin Luther King Jr. declared: ensued between Berkeley “Students in the 1960s “I have a dream that this nation will rise up and live out the campus administrators and true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evunderstood the stakes the park builders, but before ident that all men are created equal. I have a dream that one day and made sacrifices to on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons their conclusion, Gov. Ronald Reagan, in an attempt uplohold free speech. .” of former slave owners will be able to sit down on the table of to solidify his conservative brotherhood. I have a dream.” political base, intervened Today, King’s words still ring true and hold the power to inby sending police to remove spire a new generation to rise up and demand equality, justice landscaping that had already and fairness for all. Students in the 1960s understood the stakes been planted by park proponents, and to fence the park. and made sacrifices to uphold free speech, end the war in Vietnam, After a noon rally at Sproul Plaza, students and community mem- and build a community park whose message continues to resonate bers, at the urging of the Associated Students of the University of more than a half century on. What students choose to do today to California (ASUC) president, marched to the site and a riot erupted. challenge the levers of power can mean everything for our future and Student James Rictor was shot and killed by police, who reported the future of our planet.

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STEM in Color helps students thrive

By Maureen McSweeney

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s a 19-year-old biology major, Karin Pal spent the beginning of her first semester at Diablo Valley College simply shuttling between classes and home. She felt isolated, and knew she was not alone in the experience.

“A lot of students come here like that,” said Pal. “They have a perspective on school where ‘all you do is come and go,’ and that easily changes if you have a community and actually enjoy coming.”

So Pal decided she would try to build one. One day, while struggling with her math homework in DVC’s Math Lab, Pal was introduced to Adeola Morren, an international student from Holland and the captain of the basketball team.

“I realized I wanted to help people, and that I could do that with a STEM degree.”

Kevin Arredondo Biology major

“He dragged me to the PUMA center,” recalled Pal. “He took me with him and said, ‘Just come study here.’” Soon, Pal, Morren and other students at PUMA were discussing lack of representation for students of color in STEM classes, and the resulting disconnect they felt at DVC. They started to brainstorm, and “that’s when the club started forming.”

What resulted, in Fall 2018, was the creation of STEM in Color, a club committed to empowering underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Morren, who is

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now a computer science major at University of Southern California, assumed the role of club president while Pal became vice president.

“Before all of this, I was very introverted. I was shy, and STEM in Color was the first leadership role I had taken,” said Pal. At one point, Morren encouraged Pal to email some tech companies in an effort to build connections. When businesses like Zoom, the video conferencing service, asked to video chat with Pal, Morren helped her draft a list of questions to ask in the call.

“It was just a push I needed to stop being so shy and just do it,” she said.

Nowadays, Pal gives other club members that same kind of nudge, helping them take on greater leadership roles and pursue contacts in the STEM community—for example, encouraging one of the club’s members to coordinate a field trip to the San Francisco office headquarters of Slack, the workplace instant messaging service.

Helping reshape studies and careers

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hrough club-hosted study sessions, field trips to tech offices across the Bay Area, video conferences with STEM professionals, and other social events, STEM in Color has since provided a growing opportunity for students across DVC to build friendships and feel they are part of a bigger social, academic and professional community.

Led primarily by students of color, the club emphasizes that it is open to students from all backgrounds as it seeks to build a diverse community where club members unite around their common purpose to study and learn from one another.

For first generation Americans like Kevin Arredondo, a son of Mexican immigrants, the club is an inspiration and social outlet.

A 20-year-old biology major, Arredondo entered DVC hoping to at-

tend art school and didn’t think STEM was in his future. No one in his family had pursued STEM careers and high school science had proved difficult for him.

During his first semester at DVC, however, Arredondo took math and nutrition courses to fulfill general education requirements. Suddenly, his perspective changed.

“I had this pull towards science,” he said. “Nutrition was interesting because it combined chemistry and the human body.”

Gradually, Arredondo gained an interest in the medical field. He took more science classes, switched majors, joined DVC’s Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program, and volunteered at a hospital. By his third semester, Arredondo said he knew he wanted to be a physician.

“I realized I wanted to help people, and that I could do that with a STEM degree,” he said.

Socially, however, he faced challenges. Arredondo spent much of his time studying alone in the PUMA center, feeling too shy to engage with his peers. This changed when he heard about STEM in Color.

Since joining the club, he said his communication skills have improved and he feels a new sense of community on campus. “I’ve met my closest friends through STEM in Color,” Arredondo said.

“In STEM it can be easy to say, ‘I don’t got time for friends,’ but STEM in Color gives me a place to connect.”

Seeking true diversity

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omputer science major and the current STEM in Color president, Carly Gordon, also arrived at DVC looking to find a

Karin Pal Photo courtesy of STEM in Color

community. During her first semester, Gordon’s linear algebra teacher recommended she visit the PUMA center, and once there, Gordon stumbled into Morren who suggested she join STEM in Color.

As a former mechanical engineering major at Howard University, an all-black college in Washington, DC, Gordon said she was less attuned to the struggles of minority students when she left that college and arrived at DVC. She said her negative experiences at Howard had more to do with her gender than her status as a person of color.

“When I was at Howard, I would talk about some of my experiences as a woman at that college, and guys would be like, ‘You’re just a feminist,’ and ‘That didn’t really happen,’ or ‘It’s not a big deal,’” said Gordon.

When guys sexualized or harassed her and other women in the lab, she said it was viewed as normal behavior.

At DVC, Gordon found a more hopeful environment with STEM in Color. Upon meeting Morren, she immediately got involved with the club, knowing she wanted to help broaden STEM opportunities for other underrepresented students like herself.

Influenced by her experiences at Howard, Gordon said she hopes to promote not only racial diversity, but also diversity in gender, gender expression, and sexual orientation. She emphasized the need to identify all minorities in STEM fields and assess how their identity affects their experience as a student or employee in the workplace.

Ultimately, Gordon said STEM in Color welcomes all DVC students. “Whether white, female, person of color, whatever, I want (the club) to be a reflection of what we all want diversity to look like.”

Carly Gordon Photo courtesy of STEM in Color

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DVC removed our adviser: editor-in-chief speaks out

By Emma Hall

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t isn’t everyday that Diablo Valley College is featured on the front page of Inside Higher Ed, a publication out of Washington D.C., but the story they broke on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019, happened in my very own newsroom.

Fernando Gallo, our former adviser at The Inquirer, taught me a lesson I will never forget: fight for what you believe in. At a time when journalism is frequently under attack, this lesson has already served me well. But this semester, with Fernando’s sudden and unexplained removal, the past nine weeks have been a struggle.

Two weeks before the fall semester began, in August, I received news from Fernando that he would no longer be teaching his class-

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es and was leaving The Inquirer altogether. He told me this immediately after he learned the news himself. It was on a Saturday, at noon, when Dean of Social Sciences and English, Obed Vazquez, sent an email that simply said: “Hi, With the new schedule there are no classes for you.”

I was livid. How was I supposed to lead my newsroom without an adviser? What was the future of The Inquirer? What was going to happen to Fernando? But most importantly, was he removed because of our reporting?

Several times in the spring, The Inquirer received backlash from our coverage on the racist graffiti. DVC President Susan Lamb

claimed an editorial we wrote was spreading “misinformation” when we summarized our reporting. Lamb’s message was sent through an email addressed to every faculty member on campus. She also stated, “I do not know if the Inquirer will publish the corrected information, but I thought that the college community should be informed.”

As editor-in-chief, I can say with full confidence that our racist graffiti coverage was always factual, accurate, and informative.

After Lamb sent that email, Fernando met with her, Vice President of Instruction Mary Gutierrez, and Dean of Social Sciences and English Obed Vazquez to express concern and defend our reporting. I was not there during this meeting, but from what I was

made aware of, the situation seemed to get lives.

With this responsibility comes overwhelmresolved.

Fernando is also a Mexican American ing pressure, doubt, and insecurity. Yet, havThe Inquirer also received a handful of neg- journalist at a time of terrorist attacks against ing a right-hand man like Fernando made my ative letters to The Editors after we published members of the Latinx community, such as job a lot easier. He provided reassurance of that Dean of Student Services was on her the horrors in El Paso and Gilroy, the need my leadership skills and taught me how to be phone during a listening circle event. The for Latinx journalists is vital. We need those a level-headed, yet bold leader. Often, I came situation escalated when the head of the his- voices and perspectives in a time where they to him with questions about journalism, tory department, Matthew Powell, according are often being disregarded. leadership, and even about life. A thoughtful to Inside Higher Ed, came to our newsroom Challenges often arise as a student journal- and insightful answer always came my way and attempted to intimidate Fernando into ist when people don’t take us seriously sim- from him. publishing his own letter defending Stone. ply because we are students. Being a young ernando has an incredible wit, plethFor the sake of transparency, I published woman, I encounter even more obstacles. I ora of knowledge, and a kind heart the first two letters we received. But after we have been underestimated and disrespected that was always open to me and The Inquirer continued to receive more letters from reporters. I will always faculty, the editorial team made the deciremember the time “I sincerely hope DVC didn’t remove sion that The Inquirer would not publish where Fernando told (Fernando) because of our reporting. If me that, no matter the any more, as they added nothing new to the previous letters. During all of this, so, that would be a violation of California occasion, he would Stone did not reach out to The Inquirer always stand by me. I Education Code 48097 ” once. This was a lot to take in as an edihad only known him tor-in-chief of a community college newspersonally for about paper. But throughout all this conflict, Fer- because of my gender while reporting and two months. He was always there for not nando had our backs. He taught us to stand doing my job. Misogyny is inescapable in this only me, but for The Inquirer and his other up for our reporting and our First Amend- male-dominant field. But this type of behav- students. ment rights. ior was never accepted in a classroom that He taught at DVC for four years and has To provide some background, Fernando Fernando facilitated. taught every journalism course at the colmeans a lot to me as a student journalist.

Fernando is the type of instructor who lege: JRNAL-110, JRNAL-120, JRNAL-130, Because of my position as editor-in-chief, I empowers and stands up for his female stu- and The Inquirer classes: JRNAL-126, and worked with Fernando closely and frequent- dents. He not only stands up for women, JRNAL-127. Last spring, Fernando was also ly. He will always be my mentor, a person but he is overall an ally for the underdog. In teaching at Los Medanos Community Colwho I will remember as I move on to study fact, when we discovered the first incident lege and San Francisco State. Overall, he and practice journalism in the future. of racist graffiti, he encouraged us to tackle was teaching six classes. It would be an unn today’s political climate, it is no secret the story head-on, as it seemed the feelings of derstatement to say that Fernando is dedthat being a journalist is increasingly students of color were being ignored. When icated to his craft. Teaching journalism is difficult. There has been a visible change he sees someone being harmed, Fernando his calling. I was lucky to have an instructor in the profession since Donald Trump has stands up and fights for them. That behavior like him, especially after what my newsroom taken office. I have found it difficult to be a taught me courage. went through last semester. journalist without being deemed “the enemy I was thrown into the editor-in-chief pout then why was Fernando removed? of the people.” Last year, the United States sition in Spring 2019 as a second semester There still is no clear explanation or was added for the first time to the list of most freshman. There were more than just butter- answer. I sincerely hope DVC didn’t remove dangerous countries to practice journalism. flies in my stomach, more like extreme anx- him because of our reporting. If so, that In that year, 63 journalists were killed while iety. When you are editor-in-chief you make would be a violation of California Education on the job globally according to Reporters the final call. You are running a newsroom Code 48097, which states the following: Without Borders. Last year, in Annapolis, for three hours a day from Monday to Thurs“An employee shall not be dismissed, susMaryland, the Capital Gazette’s newsroom day. My job is to make sure deadlines are met pended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, experienced a mass shooting that killed five and stories are published, all while keeping or otherwise retaliated against solely for actmembers of their staff. This is now a profes- newsroom morale up and maintaining the ing to protect a pupil engaged in the conduct sion that increasingly costs journalists their public appearance of the publication. authorized under this section, or refusing to

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*Editor’s Note: This is an op-ed reflecting the opinions of former editor-in-chief Emma Hall.

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Photo by Alex Brendel authorized under this section, or refusing to infringe upon conduct that is protected by this section, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.” ike any good journalist, I am asking more questions about Fernando’s removal than have been answered. Was Fernando removed because of who he is as a person? Was it because he expressed his concerns about how the graffiti was handled as an instructor of color? Was it because he stands up for others regardless of whose toes he steps on? Is it because he defended his students? Or is it because he is an outspoken Mexican American man who is being racially profiled by the college for speaking out? Is diversity truly DVC’s strength when they got rid of an instructor of color in the program? Needless to say, I am still seeking my answers.

Fernando is a passionate, down-to-earth, and caring teacher—if anything he is the greatest instructor I’ve had. I am disappointed that future journalism students at DVC will never get to know him.

I find that my newsroom is no longer the same unified space it once was. Fernando was the one who truly made The Inquirer my second home. But with his absence, I find it difficult to keep the same motivation I had in the spring. I find it difficult to reassure my fellow editors and students that everything will be fine.

Several times this semester, I have met other students of Fernando’s who have expressed disgust over his removal. I share the same sentiment, if not more so. I will never forgive DVC for removing Fernando.

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As the editor-in-chief of The Inquirer, I am unsure of the future of the paper and the department. I met with Vazquez and English Department Chair Alan Haslam to discuss what exactly was going on after I learned of Fernando’s removal.

Currently, the journalism program is under a “revitalization” process because of low student enrollment. However, according to Mary Mazzocco, the former journalism chair, low enrollment was never a struggle for 110 and 120. In fact, there are so many students wanting to take 110, that the number of class sections has increased. The only courses that have suffered from low registration was the Inquirer classes and 130 (multimedia

according to FIRE: “Public colleges in California cannot discipline employees for acting to protect a student engaged in conduct authorized under this section, or refusing to infringe upon conduct that is protected by this section, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.”

The Inquirer has been on not only Inside Higher Ed, but Student Press Law Center and The Mercury News. By the time you are reading this, in Spring 2020, the journalism department is be taking a different direction as we now have an interim department head. The Inquirer will be working with the college on the reviprocess.

“Is diversity truly DVC’s strength when talization I hope that moving forward there they got rid of the only instructor of full transparency color in the program? Needless to say, I isbetween The Inquirer, administration, am seeking my answers.” and the college on what the future of journalism). But low enrollment is a prob- the program entails. I have been reassured lem for all journalism programs across the that The Inquirer isn’t going anywhere, but state, according to Journalism Association of there are changes happening. At the end of Community Colleges. There will be changes the day, DVC needs to do what is best for coming to the department, but those adjust- their students, and that sentiment was not ments could mean gutting the program. in mind when they removed Fernando and he Foundation for Individual Rights neglected us all semester long. in Education and College Media AsMy time at The Inquirer is over. This spring, sociation wrote to Lamb on Nov. 4 asking I am no longer with the paper as I have the college to reinstate Fernando. FIRE and maxed on the amount of journalism classCMA also stated that by removing Fernan- es I can take. Currently, I am finishing up do, DVC violated The Inquirer’s First Amend- my general ed. I will always advocate for my ment rights and state law. The law in partic- peers, but it is ultimately up to DVC on what ular is known as Leonard’s Law which states, happens next.

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Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect developments since it was originally published online.

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Meet the Press Ethan Anderson Photo Editor

Ethan Anderson started as a freelancer in Fall 2018 for The Inquirer and was Photo Editor last spring. He’s been on the forefronet of reporting on a student walkout, implemention of campus-wide-equity program, and restructering The Inquirer news lab. He will major in English at UCLA or Cal in Fall 2020.

Emma Hall Editor-in-Chief

Eric Dionne Staff Member Eric Dionne is a 20year-old journalism major with an enthusiasm for music and photography.

During the Spring 2020 semester, Dionne will be taking over as The Inquirer’s photo editor. He will transfer to Saint Mary’s University in Fall 2020 with a major in communications.

Prabhat Jain Staff Member

Emma Hall was editor- in-chief during Spring and Fall 2019.

Currently, Hall is finishing up her general education requirements at Diablo Valley College and is looking for freelance work.

Hall has a special interest in reporting about human rights, social justice, and opinion writing.

Prabhat Jain has pioneered development of color and audio technologies for Apple and IBM personal computers. He has recently started writing articles on topics that have personally impacted him in his life, from Cal Berkeley to DVC academics. His background is in physics, and electrical and bio engineering.

Micheal Sullivan Staff Member

Kat Uher Staff Member

Micheal Sullivan is new to the college scene, and new to reporting. He has enjoyed his time at The Inquirer. Although he wasn’t able to commit to a specific reporting beat, he has learned an extraordinary amount from his fellow staff.

He wishes to continue reporting in future semesters.

Ekaterina Uher is an English major who is interested in dabbling in many fields of writing and hopes to become a professional writer and editor.

She has enjoyed journalism and hopes she can take what she has learned at DVC when she attends San Francisco State University in the spring.

Uchenna Esomonu Staff Member Uchenna Esomonu is a writer and feminist whose passion for storytelling intersects deeply with her commitment to social justice, especially in areas of gender inequality. She joined The Inquirer staff in Fall 2019 after choosing journalism as her major, and will be returning as managing editor in Spring 2020.

Pavlina Markova Features Editor

Pavlina Markova joined The Inquirer in Spring 2019 and became features editor in the fall. She’s taking on the role of editor-in-chief in Spring 2020. When she’s not in the newsroom, you can find her running on the trails of the East Bay, writing fiction, or volunteering for Inside Trail and National Parks Service.

Aryana Hadjimohammadi Staff Member Aryana Hadjimohammadi is a journalism major who loves Drake and comic books. Hadjimohammadi will be features editor at The Inquirer during Spring 2020. She hopes to focus her reporting on topics like climate change, religion, and other areas of social justice, and to one day go into broadcast journalism.

Maureen McSweeney Staff Member Maureen McSweeney thoroughly enjoyed her Fall 2019 semester with The Inquirer. She wishes every student had the opportunity to talk with members of DVC and report on stories relevant to the community. While she will not be returning to the newsroom, she will remain an advocate for student reporting.

(Left to right): Staff member Eric Dionne, editor-in-chief Emma Hall, features editor Pavlina Markova, and staff member Aryana Hadjimohammadi at the Northern California Journalism Conference of Community Colleges at San Jose state on Nov. 16.

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