The Inquirer, Volumne 76 Issue 4 by DVC Inquirer

Vikings’ skid continues SPORTS

Page 4

OPINIONS

Page 5

Wanted: full-time adviser Editorial Board demands replacement professor, starting fall semester 2010

‘Bathed In Light’ New production shines spotlight on dance

Page 3

ENTERTAINMENT

DVC Bookstore DVC Bookstore Online

Thursday, April 22, 2010 Volume 76 Number 4

DVC Bookstore DVC Bookstore Online

Law weds textbook prices and online registration DVC Bookstore DVC Bookstore Online

Oksana Yurovsky Staff writer College students should be able to see the prices and ISBN numbers of any required textbooks and supplemental materials at the time they register online for classes, according to an amendment to the Higher Education Opportunity Act signed into law by President Barack Obama last August. The law aims to “ensure that students have access to affordable course materials by decreasing costs to students … while supporting the academic freedom of faculty members to select high quality course materials for students.” It also requires bookstores to make the contents of textbooks “bundled” with supplementary

materials available as individual items. The materials are cheaper than used textbooks, which makes them appealing but lessens the demand for used books, said Bookstore manager Bill Foster. But while DVC managers set an April 15 deadline for faculty to submit that information, a Faculty Senate task force has yet to decide how to implement the provision, which takes effect July 1. According to the law, colleges should provide textbook information “to the maximum extent practicable” and if it “is not practicable [to do so],” books will be given a status of “To Be Determined” until the information is supplied. But Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, the district’s chief technology information officer, and Susan

Lamb, DVC’s vice president of instruction, said this leeway only applies to certain circumstances, such as when teachers receive last-minute class assignments or when out-of-print books are assigned. The distinction is particularly important to DVC’s English department, since instructors switch books often or wait until meeting their students at the first class to choose their texts. English professor Laury Fischer believes the law will save students money at the expense of quality. Enforcing a deadline, he said, may lead instructors to pick the same texts year after year, which “doesn’t promote creative teaching.” See ONLINE, page 6

Photo Illustration / Chris Corbin and Julius Rea / The Inquirer

www.theinquireronline.com

College leaves spots unfilled Oksana Yurovsky Staff writer

At a time when two departments are losing their sole full-time professors to retirement, DVC President Judy Walters has authorized some limited hiring for the 2010-11 school year. However, hiring will not occur until January 2011. In an April 16 e-mail to the DVC community, Walters announced her approval for filling six of 12 faculty positions left vacant because of retirements at the end of this semester. She said three of the six were already taken, one by an administrator, social science dean Lyndon Krause, who got a “pink slip” in March and has return rights to the classroom. The other two, Walters said, are faculty members whose positions were shifted to the general fund budget after their special “categorical” funding was slashed by the state.

See RETIRE, page 6

From the Corps to the classroom SDS strife

causes split

Chris Clark Staff writer On Jan. 17, 2007, when most students were returning to campus after winter break, Brian Vargas was a Marine Corps team leader in Hitt, Iraq, who made life and death decisions every day. “I was a kid – but I became a man real quick,” he says today. On that day in January, his fire team was observing enemy activity from a rooftop when they came under attack. Soon Vargas heard the familiar cracking of AK-47s from within the house. His men under attack, Vargas grabbed the squad automatic weapon (SAW) and ran to the rooftop. Fire was coming from an enemy sniper in a house across the street, he recalls. Moments later, blood gushing from his face, Vargas heard his fellow Marines yelling, “Vargas is hit! Vargas is hit!” “When you’re over there, you don’t expect to come back wounded,” he says. “You think you’re either going to live or die.” An enemy sniper had shot him from hundreds of meters away with a Soviet made Dra-

News................ 1, 6 Sports....................4 Features................2 Entertainment........3

Jonathan Roisman Staff writer

“ I sat up, and

The March 4 rally at DVC to protest fee hikes had unintended consequences for Students for a Democratic Society, with nearly a dozen members splitting off to form their own group after a dispute involving SDS member Frank Runninghorse. Members of the new group, Radical Solidarity Coalition, accused Runninghorse of “an undemocratic move” after he issued an unauthorized written statement disavowing SDS’ connection with disruptions that Chris Corbin / The Inquirer occurred during the rally. In the stateVargas remembers telling tongue in half. ment, Running“When I fell back I couldn’t himself, “Right now, in this horse said the hear or see for a minute,” Var- exact spot, I am not going to club did not congas recalls. “I sat up, and the die.” done the pulling His Marines killed the sniper crack of another sniper shot of fire alarms or was so close it brought my and Vargas was flown out on a the opening of classhelicopter. hearing back.” room doors during the He was treated for his inju“It felt like a truck had just campus march. hit me in the face,” he says. “I ries at the Wounded Warrior opened my eyes and just saw blood pouring out of my face See SPLIT, page 6 See VARGAS, page 6 and hand.”

the crack of another sniper shot was so close it brought my hearing back.

”

Brian Vargas gunov sniper rifle, a common weapon used by Iraqi insurgents and foreign terrorists. The bullet went through his cheek and split his face in half, hitting his earlobe on the way out. The bullet also hit Vargas’ SAW ammunition, causing it to explode. Shrapnel bored into his hand, face, and eye, one piece of metal cutting his

Calendar.................6 Sports scores.........4 Campus Buzz.........5 Staff Information.....5

Classified Ads........6 Editorial..................5 Opinions.................5

TheInquirerOnline.com - Polls - Videos - Blogs - Slideshows - News

Days until finals

Thursday, April 22, 2009

FINDING THE

RIGHT BEAT

Local man’s passion for music resonates with students, inspiring some to join the fun Brian DeAngelis Staff writer Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, James Adamo can be heard in the Main Quad playing his hand drum, an instrument he picked up after being introduced to it at a belly dancing event two years ago. It was there Adamo’s interest was sparked, and

he’s collected hand drums ever since. Although he often plays by himself, other musicians join in on occasion. At one session Adamo brought four hand drums and was joined by a sitar player, a freestyle rapper and other DVC students. Adamo’s goal is to create an open forum that breaks down social barriers and allows anyone to play his or her instruments.

For him, playing started as a way to meet new people, as it “tends to attract hippies smacking on a drum in the quad,” said Adamo, who is not a DVC student. He enjoys encouraging people’s creativity and loves the fun atmosphere the hand drums create. Adamo often plays the djembe, a large African hand drum. Correct hand placement and proper timbre between bass and slap notes are key when playing such an instrument.

“[Everyone play-

ing] all works together to create one giant really good piece” - Steven Anguiano

His style is often improvisational, with Adamo starting the circle with a simple beat and others building on top of it. “[Everyone playing]

all works together to Armstrong, who has create one giant really played drums for close good piece,” said Steven to 10 years, said he finds Anguiano, a friend of the drum circle’s beats Adamo and occasional inconsistent and the contributor to the circle. participants uneducated Anguiano said playing about drums. the hand drum makes him “I want to have a feel he has at least some conversation, and they musical talent. play way too loud,” he “I tried to play drums said. “Hand drums are like [set], just didn’t work,” the harmonica; it’s barely Anguiano said. an instrument.” The weekly drum circle Student Becky hasn’t existed without Phillips was less critical, criticism. saying, “They don’t bother Anguiano said one me; just sometimes they passerby told them, get really loud.” “Hey, why don’t you play instruments with some Contact Brian DeAngelis at bdeangelis@theinquirreal notes!” Student Andrew eronline.com

Photos by Courtney Johnson / The Inquirer

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Nick Sestanovich Staff Writer Students in Kimberly Valmore’s dance production class are hard at work creating the annual spring dance show, “Bathed in Light.” Although Valmore is the instructor and director, the creative process falls on the students, who choreograph the dances, create the advertisements and perform in the show. The dancers are split up into groups guided by choreographers Bria Cameron, AJ Rogers and Joshua Schodorf. “Kimberly gave us a word to be the theme, and we had to develop a show based on that,” Schodorf said. “The word was ‘light.’” It was up to the choreographers to put together every aspect of the show. “We got to choose how many dancers we wanted, the themes for each piece and even do work for the other choreographers,” Cameron said. The performance will feature hip hop, jazz, R&B and modern, with the dancers performing to contemporary hits from the likes of Coldplay and Lady Gaga, as well as instrumental tracks and student remixes.

“There’s a sense of dedication coming from all levels,” Schodorf said. “We have beginning to advanced dancers and they all work hard.” Rogers added, “It’s nice being given the opportunity to teach and work with others as opposed to just being a student.” The dancers themselves have also gained important skills. “The choreographers introduced me to a lot of different styles,” said beginning dancer Urissa Thomas. “I’ve been doing things I never knew I could do.” Valmore said she is grateful for her student choreographers and noted that putting on such a show is “a difficult task, but they’ve managed it quite well.” She said she hopes to see her students gain an “understanding of how to perform and produce a show from scratch to the stage.” The show takes place at 8 p.m. April 23-24 and 2 p.m. on April 25 in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students.

Carrie Jones, top, practices in the dance studio during Kimberly Valmore’s dance production class. Raja Bright and Megan Ferreira, right, get into “starting position.” Travis Jenkins / The Inquirer

Advertisement Contact Nick Sestanovich at nsestanovich@theinquireronline.com

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Sloppy game ends in loss Josh Fathollahi Staff writer OF, Dustin Wold

Photo Illustration / Chris Corbin and Courtney Johnson / The Inquirer

brilliant defensive play and some questionable officiating proved costly to the Vikings as Sacramento City narrowly escaped with the 7-6 victory at an April 13 game hosted by DVC. With one runner on, two outs and trailing by just one run, sophomore catcher Chuck Cavestany had an opportunity to win it in the bottom of the ninth inning. Cavestany belted the ball to deep rightcenter field, bringing the crowd to its feet. But Sacramento City’s out-

fielder made a well-timed leaping catch at the wall to end the game. “It was a sloppy game overall,” head coach Mike Neu said later, referring to the four errors committed by both sides. “We didn’t take advantage of opportunities and that cost us.” With the loss DVC falls to 18-11 on the season and 9-5 in the Big 8 conference, trailing only Sacramento City in the Big 8 standings. This game was a constant back-and-forth battle from the very first inning as neither team was able to take control of the game. Doubles by secondbasemen Josh Nuyten and outfielder Mitch Petrak helped DVC get off

to a quick 2-0 lead in the first. Sacramento City responded by getting four runs off of starting pitcher Harmen Sidhu in the second inning. Both teams would retake the lead once before coming to a tie in the sixth. Controversy arose in the seventh inning when it appeared that Sacramento City’s third-basemen didn’t tag the base before turning an inning-ending double play. The umpire ruled it an out, preventing DVC from scoring the go-ahead run. Coach Neu went onto the field to argue the call, but the umpire wouldn’t budge. Cooler heads prevailed and Neu returned to

the dugout. “These [umpires] usually do a good job,” Neu said, “I just want them to be consistent with their calls.” Another questionable call was made in the eighth inning when an umpire called a balk on Vikings relief pitcher Justin Harr. The umpire stated that Harr had not come to a complete stop after going from the stretch to the set position. “I don’t agree with the call,” Harr said. “I didn’t think I balked.” DVC’s next home game is against Sierra at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday April 20. Contact Josh Fathollahi at jfathollahi@theinquireronline.com

Vibrant basketball star lights up court with spirit Kamille Simmons-Turnquest

Staff writer Ashley Hudson’s teammates and family enjoy her talkative, friendly nature, while her opponents on the basketball court get acquainted with her competitive nature. Hudson got her start at age 9, playing for her dad as a member of the Trailblazers at the Boys and Girls Club, and has since become a vital part of DVC’s basketball team. “She helped us a lot in terms of scoring, passing, and rebounding,” said her teammate, Sessa John-

son. “It was fun playing with her.” Hudson made the allconference team her senior year at Pittsburg High School and again this past season at DVC. In addition to leading the Big 8 Conference in scoring this past season with 21 points per game, Hudson was second on the team in rebounds and steals, averaging nearly nine rebounds and two steals per game. She helped her team to finish third place in the conference and earn a spot in the playoffs. Her brother, Aaron Hudson, who attends all of

her games described her as “goofy” and noted her contribution to the team. “She’s always smiling and laughing,” he said. Head coach Maureen Mattson said she did a good job at both the forward and post positions. “She has a very friendly, bubbly personality,” Mattson said. “She is also very competitive, very active. “She’s going to be hard to replace in terms of her scoring and size. It’s going to be tough to fill her shoes.” Hudson was offered full scholarships to Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and

“

It’s put me in different situations where I’ve had to grow up and mature.

Notre Dame De Namur universities. She has decided to attend Cal State Dominguez Hills in the fall. “It meant a lot,” Hudson said of the offers. “I’ll be the first in my family to

”

- Ashley Hudson Forward

get [a scholarship], so it’s pretty exciting.” Aaron was also excited about his sister’s scholarships. “It was pretty cool,” he said. “She should have gotten more, but I’m

glad.” Hudson is majoring in communications and hopes to one day put her bubbly personality to use on her own talk show. “Talking to people is my specialty,” she said. As for her time at DVC, she feels that she has matured both on and off the court. “It’s put me in different situations where I’ve had to grow up and mature,” she said. “It’s been fun. Stressful, but fun.” Contact Kamille SimmonsTurnquest at ksimmons@ theinquireronline.com

Thursday, April 22, 2010

What did you think of the antiabortion group in the Quad?

Aaron Samelson, 27 Electrical Engineering “It was very, very uncomfortable to see those pictures.”

Part time adviser won’t cut it The Inquirer is in danger of losing its full-time faculty adviser when Jean Dickinson retires in May after 15 years at DVC. This is not acceptable. If she is not replaced with a fulltime instructor by the beginning of the 2010-11 school year, an award-winning publication that serves the entire DVC community will suffer irreparable loss. The Inquirer is the college’s only independent media source and a First Amendment forum for diverse opinions. This is particularly important at a commuter school, where students attend classes and then leave. For the past 60 years The Inquirer has acted as a “watch dog” on government, be it the Associated Students of DVC, the Faculty Senate or the district governing board. It also provides news about clubs, special programs, sports, interesting classes and much more. The Inquirer editors and staff need a faculty adviser who works

Christopher C. Long / The Inquirer

as many hours as they do to put out both the print and most recently online editions. Anything less is exploitation and a disservice to students. A part-time faculty adviser will only be paid for the six weekly hours the class is scheduled. Yet, editor-in-chief Ariel Messman-Rucker puts in at least a 35 to 40-hour week. Other editors

and staff members also work long hours, not just on production days that can last until 9 p.m. or later, but also before and after class, nights and weekends. News doesn’t just happen between 12:30 and 2:20, three afternoons a week. When the shooting occurred last month at DVC following a rugby match, Inquirer reporters

were following the story for our online edition all day Sunday. This included many phone conversations, text messages and e-mails among reporters, editors and the faculty adviser. President Judy Walters has agreed to fill six of 12 faculty vacancies created by retirements. But she does not plan to hire three of these new faculty members until spring 2011. That is too long a wait. It means hiring part-timers who are paid only for the hours classes are in session – not the hours needed to get the job done. And if journalism is a priority hire, then a full-time instructor becomes adviser to a publication that has lost continuity and momentum. We appreciate that Walters will replace a few retirees, but we urge her to allow hiring now. The Inquirer is not like any other program at DVC. We must have a full-time adviser, beginning with the fall 2010 semester.

DMV staff: disgruntled, moody, vexing Candace Richards, 18 Photography major “People should have their own choices in life. If people get an abortion they usually have a good reason.”

Mike Toso, 19 Undeclared “I really didn’t like those people at all. They didn’t accomplish anything.”

Deborah Smith, 19 Biology major “If you have your own opinion that’s great, but there’s no point in pressing it on other people...” Interviewer: Lina Pervez Photographer: Courtney Johnson

Winner of the 2008 JACC General Excellence Award

Benjamin Franklin was wrong. There are in fact three things certain in life: death, taxes and a long line at the DMV. However, this past week, when I found myself waiting for more than an hour in the DMV waiting area, I realized that the “It was as if I waiting was not was trapped in even close to the a bad ‘Saturmost frustrating part of my visit. day Night Live’ Most notasketch.” bly, there was a drunken man who woke up a few minutes after I arrived. Pleased to see a large crowd waiting, he took it upon himself to entertain everyone with a one man show about what happens in county jail.

More important things to expose than dirty laundry The March 25, 2010 Inquirer asked readers to continue the debate on ASDVC President Lindsay St. Hill’s “underwear scandal.” Is it newsworthy or is tabloid sensationalism? Students for a Democratic Society feel that is the duty of “muck raking” investigative journalism to go after the news and to hold elected officials accountable. By running for student body president, St. Hill has voluntarily placed herself in the public limelight and thus legitimately made her actions the subject of media and public scrutiny. The Inquirer has the right, maybe even the duty, to examine her behavior while she represents DVC students. That being said, SDS feels that St. Hill’s “underwear scandal” is overblown in importance. Her role in the student movement to “Save Public Education” is far more important than what she does in her free time.

The DMV employees didn’t blink an eye or ask him to leave. It was as if I was trapped in a bad “Saturday Night Live” sketch. When my number was finally called, I came face-to-face with a woman who stumbled over my questions and handed me two vague pamphlets as answers. There was no “How are you today?” or even a “Sorry for the delay.” I am aware that this is a courtesy, and most employees don’t actually care, but it’s the little things that make an experience. Like in education, benefits and salaries have been cut for all government employees, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to be lazy or rude. It’s no wonder Americans are weary of giving more control to the government – who in their right mind would want a hospital or bank with lines and customer satisfaction

We are much more concerned about St. Hill’s consistent blocking of SDS resolutions on building the student movement. For two semesters now, student activists have had to overcome her obstructionism to nearly every pro-active motion. The Inquirer, in its previous two issues, has been exemplary in covering the student movement. However, in this issue, the 15,000-strong student demonstration in Sacramento attended by a bus full of DVC students, should have been the top story. But it was completely ignored. Unfortunately, this time The Inquirer let the students down. SDS

like the DMV? If I had a magic wand, I would now wave it over all the DMV offices of California and end this problem forever. But in reality you cannot motivate the unmotivated, and you can’t change the way some systems work. But what you can do is narrate your incredibly frustrating experiences. Perhaps enough Lina Pervez DMV horror Staff writer stories will spur the change an overflowing Contact Lina Pervez at suggestion box lpervez@theinquireroncould not. line.com

them. The facts are she posed for these photos by her own free will. She has every right to do so. There are two lessons to be learned: 1) whatever you do, in this electronic age, it can become public and there is nothing you can do about it. 2) St. Hill was smart enough to be elected student body president and clearly not smart enough to govern. For the best interest of the reputation of the campus, she should remove herself from her office so the student government can deal with more important issues. Jim Conran Student

Poor choices not Editorial should offer limited to private life more than complaints Kudos to The Inquirer for your story and editorial about the St. Hill “modeling” controversy. I agree with you that this is a legitimate story brought about by St. Hill’s lack of judgment about these photos ever becoming an issue. You don’t take photos unless you want people to see

Editorial Board

Staff

Editor in chief: Ariel Messman-Rucker News editor: Julius Rea Features editor: Scott Baba Entertainment editor: Troy Patton Sports editor: Curtis Uemura Opinions editor: Jonathan Roisman Co-online editors: Christopher C. Long, Annie Sciacca Copy editor: Nick Sestanovich Instr. lab coordinator: Ann Stenmark Adviser: Jean Dickinson

Photo chief: Chris Corbin Photographers: Travis Jenkins, Courtney Johnson, Kate Vasilyeva Cartoonist: Christopher C. Long Reporters: Oksana Yurovsky, Julie George, Carrie Soldati, Brian DeAngelis, Kamille Simmons-Turnquist, Travis Wonacott, Yuno Imai, Lina Pervez, David Matteri, Christain Villanueva, Chris Clark, Morgan Renteria, Josh Fathollahi

I am disappointed with The Inquirer’s coverage of student demonstrations against state budget cuts on education. The February editorial said the rallies show “we are not an easy target.” But I find that, like rally organizers, The Inquirer has failed to

offer me real solutions. It covered nothing on what student organizations propose to the Legislature to deter such cuts. Supporters shouting “tax the corporations, not the student” was at best an incidental attempt at doing so. Asking for support without offering real solutions is special interest groups’ job, not a newspaper’s. Unfortunately, I have another disappointment: Iraq Veterans Against War presentation. In the December issue, a reader said few DVC students attended IVAW’s talk just after last Veterans’ Day. However, when the same event was held at DVC in March, it was not even listed in The Inquirer’s calendar. Finally, I have compliments: “Getting lost locally” in March and “This ain’t your normal 24 hours in Iraq” in February. These articles reflect Inquirer’s diversity on subjects - domestic to international - and how interesting a student newspaper can truly be. Faith Crow Student

The Inquirer

Phone: 925.685.1230 ext. 2313 Fax: 925.681.3045 E-mail: inquirer@dvc.edu Web: www.dvc.edu/journalism www.theinquireronline.com

The Inquirer is published on Thursday mornings during the school year by the journalism students of Diablo Valley College. All unsigned articles appearing on the opinions page are editorials and reflect a two-thirds

majority opinion of the editorial staff. All signed columns and cartoons are the opinions of the writer or artist and not necessarily those of the Inquirer, Diablo Valley College or the Contra Costa Community College District.

Diablo Valley College 321 Golf Club Road, H-102 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Thursday, April 22, 2010

6 CALENDAR Thursday, April 22 Brandman University Walnut Creek Applications & Questions SRC Learning Commons 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Friday, April 23 UC Berkeley-Starting Point Mentor Program DVC Counseling Center 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 23 Film – “Gangs of New York” Free in the Forum 7 p.m. Monday, April 26 College Council BFL Community Conference Room 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 27 Summer 2010 Registration Admissions and Registrations Tuesday, April 27 College Success Workshop: Minor Grammar Issues SRVC Language Center 1 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

BRIGHT LIGHTS, FLASHING

COLORS Annie Sciacca Staff writer

“Fleeting Light and Stolen MoASDVC Meeting ments,” the latest exhibit in the liStudent Union Conference brary gallery, features a collection Room of photographs by former Inquirer 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. photo editor Joseph Dannels. While installing the show MonWednesday, April 28 day, Dannels said he prefers Film – “Guess Who’s documentary-style photography Coming To Dinner?” Free in the Forum 2 p.m. Safety Committee meeting AB 108 3:30 p.m.

Continued from page 1

Friday, April 30 Last Day to Drop Fullterm Class w/ “W” Admissions and Records

Split...

Film – “District 9” Forum 7 p.m.

But members of the new splinter group said they did not back the statement put forth by the club because they did not approve it. And they tried to level sanctions against Runninghorse, but the vote failed. “We want to fight these budget cuts that are causing classes to be cut and financial aid to be cut,” former SDS member Sean Gallagher said of the split. “We felt that SDS did not have an effective strategy for doing that.” Runninghorse said he did not need prior approval from SDS officers to print the statement.

Drama – “Betty’s Summer Vacation” Performing arts and film 8 p.m.

Correction: In the article “A different kind of long-distance relationship” published in the March 25 issue of The Inquirer, the name of DVC professor who was profiled was misspelled in a caption. The correct spelling is Carolyn Seefer. CLASSIFIED PLACEMENT INFORMATION $1.50 a line 2 line minimum. 32 characters per line includes punctuation & spaces Copy and payment due the Monday before publication date. For more information call 925.685.1230 ext 2313 or stop by The Inquirer office.

Photographes from Josheph Dannels’ exhibit. Top left, “Live Music,” top right, “Baker Beach Sunset,” bottom right, “East Bay Twilight,” bottom left, Joeseph Dannels.

in 2003 after earning an industrial engineering degree from Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo. Given a point-and-shoot camera by his parents, he went to Mexico for a few months, taking photos along the way. He then took music and photography courses at DVC, where his mother, Lupe Dannels, works as a counselor, and joined the Inquirer in 2006-2007. In his artist statement, Dannels

writes: “This collection of photographs focuses on my passion for finding interesting light and dynamic compositions that allow a scene to flow freely and develop its own visual rhythm.” A reception is scheduled for 1 p.m., April 24 in the DVC library. Contact Annie Sciacca at asciacca@theinquireronline.com

Retire...

The remaining six vacant positions will be used It’s Easy To Be Green to permanently fill a $4.8 SRC Learning Commons million budget gap for next 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. year, Walters said. Faculty Senate PresiThursday, April 29 dent Laurie Lema took isInter Club Council sue with Walters’ decision Meeting to curtail hiring since the Student Union Conference positions were already in Room the budget. 3:30 p.m. “We don’t agree that cut-

Saturday, May 1 Future Teachers of Tomorrow Conference Chabot College 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

in which he captures an overall scene or a candid series. “I’ve been trying to study strong compositions, mostly interesting landscapes and street photos,” Dannels said of his work, which includes a series he took in Bali while there for a photo workshop. When taking shots of people, he said he tries to capture a character trait and make that his focus. Dannels started taking photos

Courtney Johnson / The Inquirer

Continued from page 1

Vargas... Continued from page 1 Regiment at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and had to relearn how to read and write.

Online... Continued from page 1 Fischer said he is concerned about what would happen if someone did not meet the deadline. “The last thing I want … is Susan Lamb picking my book,” he said.

ments of Tom Chatagnier and Jean Dickinson leave their departments, electronics and journalism respectively, without a full-time instructor or department chair. Chatagnier could not be reached for comment. Dickinson said a parttime instructor cannot receive stipends or release time for taking on the duties of department chair. A

part-timer would also not be paid for extra hours to advise the student newspaper. “The Inquirer has always played a vital role in providing the campus with news,” she said. “And it serves as a First Amendment forum.”

ting full-time positions is making cuts as far away from classrooms as possible.” A small committee of faculty and managers, known as Box2A will decide the three positions to be filled during its meeting in May. Lema said the decision will be based on departments’ program reviews, their full-time to part-time employee ratio, whether

the retiring instructor is the department head, if special expertise is required for the program and whether it is growing or shrinking. Vice President of Instruction Susan Lamb acknowledged the tight timeline. “Because this is so late, we will run into some difficulties, but we will try to overcome [them],” she said. The upcoming retire-

SDS president Brian Donovan said Runninghorse was at the center of the split. “Some people feel that Frank, being an older person, is pushing too much of his agenda,” he said. RSC is not an official DVC club, but group members said it is an option. The biggest difference between the two groups now revolves around the Associated Students of DVC. SDS members Nick Holmes and Donovan are running for student government positions, while Gallagher and RSC member Rane Stark said they believe the ASDVC is inef-

fective. “ASDVC is a conservative and largely apathetic [group],” Gallagher said. Donovan said both groups want the same thing. “We want justice. We want peace,” he said. SDS adviser Mickey Huff said the splintering of SDS was unfortunate. “On one hand, I’m proud they stood up for what they believed in,” he said. “On the other hand, I’m proud of the students who are still there.” Huff said he doesn’t believe SDS is any less effective as a result of the split and is proud of the club’s involvement during the March 22 rally in Sac-

“I felt stupid matching pictures to words,” he says. Despite this, Vargas has thrived at DVC, passing classes with outstanding grades. “For most kids, [college] is the next step,” Vargas

says. “To me, it’s a privilege. Kids look at this like it’s mandatory, and they don’t take school seriously.” At the same time, he loves the individuality at DVC. “There is a lot more free-

dom here,” he says. Vargas, a first-semester student at DVC, plans to major in psychology. “I want to help people and other wounded veterans,” he says. Vargas had accepted Jesus as his savior shortly

before he deployed to Iraq and is certain this is who brought him home alive. “My reminder is right there on my face.”

Ted Wieden, DVC’s interim dean of instruction, said the law would not penalize instructors who do not comply, but the Faculty Senate Textbook Task Force will monitor textbook requests. “What we want to avoid is a faculty member who

just doesn’t want or doesn’t bother to turn it in,” he said. But Vice Chancellor Deborah Blue said the district’s compliance with the law will be reviewed yearly by auditors. While it is not typical for first or second offenses to result in loss of

federal funds, repeat violations could result in loss of financial aid, she said. Textbook titles for each course are currently available on the bookstore’s website, but to be in accordance with the Act, the college will link the bookstore with WebAdvisor.

Vice Chancellor Mehdizadeh said this will “ensure that all students have access to materials relevant to courses.”

Contact Oksana Yurovsky at oyurovsky@theinquireronline.com

Courtney Johnson / The Inquirer

Frank Runninghorse listens as the SDS president calls meeting to order. ramento and the Day of Silence, an event sponsored by the Queer Straight Alliance last week.

Contact Jonathan Roisman at jroisman@ theinquireronline.com

Contact Chris Clark at clark@theinquireronline. com

Contact Oksana Yurovsky at oyurovsky@theinquireronline.com