Inquirer 5.19.11 by DVC Inquirer

Ink Runs Deep:

Cutting its mission: The Inquirer Editorial Board discusses the Transfer Center’s necessity. See Page 6.

Swim wins: The DVC swimming team take second on April 30. See Page 4.

Check out DVC students, their tattoos and the stories behind them. See page 8.

Doom and gloom: Features editor Scott Baba discusses the end of the world. See Page 7.

Proceed to a four-year

The

INQUIRER S tudent V oi ce

Volume 78 No. 6

May revise may save college funding MIKE ALFIERI News editor

Governor Jerry Brown’s May budget revise was released on May 15. The district may be in better shape than the Need to Know previously predicted “worst-case scenario”, Revenue from in light of the revisions. income taxes “This is the time to has decreased the state deficit, put our finances in order, and that’s precisely possibly saving what this May revision schools from intends to do,” Brown further budget said at the Capitol cuts and course press conference over closures. the budget. According to the Jerry Brown Department of Fiwants to raise nance, personal inspending for come tax revenue will education to be $6 billion higher $54.3. billion. than what was projected. It is chiefly because of this income tax that the budget deficit has reduced. MAY, Page 3

D iablo Val le y C ol le g e

www.TheInquirerOnline.com

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Transfer,

Interrupted Staff combats elimination of the Transfer Center GERARDO RECINOS Sports editor

Effective June 30, 2011, the Transfer Center’s two employees are to be laid off, and have their position put on “hold” respectively. All spending for the DVC Transfer Center has been reduced heavily for the 2011-2012 academic calendar. As of deadline, the Transfer Center’s summer hours have been eliminated, with fall hours taking a big hit as well, but not being completely eliminated, says Senior Academic and Student Services Manager Nicola Place. “The state budget crisis is so dire, that we have to rethink how we do what we do,” said Place. Part of that process means relying on the counseling department to provide a much-needed lift in assisting students who need information on transferring.

GED or HS diploma Placement test Counselor’s meeting IGETC courses SPEECH 120 Choosing colleges Online application

ASDVC votes Acceptance letter athletes may register early Jazz band to play on without DVC TRANSFER, Page 2

STEPHEN LANGSAM Staff writer

LISA DIAZ Staff writer

Student-athletes at DVC are hoping to get early registration if a vote in the faculty senate meeting goes as planned. The DVC Faculty Senate brought up the idea to give student-athletes early registration on May 10. The Faculty Senate has yet to approve the move for student-athletes yet, but on May 17th the ASDVC board approved the move to give student-athletes early registration. The ASDVC vote was required for the passing of the early registration move for studentathletes. Now DSS note takers will share early registration with student-athletes. Hector Torres, a member of the DVC baseball

Creating a euphonious sound with their myriad instruments, the musicians of the Diablo Valley College Night Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble performed for a large audience at the Diablo Valley College Performing Arts Center May 11. The band treated those in attendance with performances of famous jazz tunes, incorporating beautiful solos, and an original composition written by Rolf Johnson, a musician in the band. The performance was bittersweet. After over 40 years of attracting both aspiring

ATHLETES, Page 2

JAZZ, Page 3

ALEC GRAHAM / Inquire File Photo

DVC Night Jazz Band, shown performing on Feb. 23, has lost all of its funding due to budget cuts.

• NEWS 1, 2, 3 • SPORTS 4, 5 • OPINIONS 6, 7 • EDITORIAL 6 • FEATURES 8 • CAMPUS BUZZ 6 • CALENDER 2 • STAFF INFORMATION 6 •

News

CALENDAR Friday, May 20 Drama-The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Performing Arts Arena 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 21 Drama-The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Performing Arts Arena 8:00 p.m. Masterwork Chorale and Orchestra Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door Performing Arts Center 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 22 Jubilee American Dance Theatre Performing Arts Center 2:00 p.m. Drama-The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Performing Arts Arena 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24 Faculty Senate Council Meeting 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 27 2010-2011 Graduation Ceremony Viking Field 7:00 p.m. Check out the finals schedule at www.dvc.edu/ org/info/schedules/finalsscheduleSP11.htm

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

RANSER from Pg. 1

According to Counseling Dean Terry Armstrong, the new proposed plan is being called “transfer services”. The new model that is being worked on by Armstrong, Place and several others is being shaped to avoid having to go through such severe cuts. “It will be a collaborative effort led by [Nicola] Place, and will include, but not limited to, several counselors, the counseling front office supervisor and myself, with the goal of prioritizing key services,” Armstrong said in an email interview. During the summer, Place ALEC GRAHAM / The Inquirer said that herself and other Bianca Estrella, interim Transfer Center coordinator, works at her desk in the staff members will be working soon-to-be-closed center. on how they can allocate time and staff to assemble transfer services for fall students ap- counselors don’t know as own,” Estrella said. erating budgets have forced us plying for transfer much about the Student interaction is key to to continually pare down what acceptance. the success of the rebuilding was once the model center in Need to Know specifics.” “What we need Former Trans- needed to establish the new the state,” Armstrong said in to do now is find fer Coordinator transfer services program, and an email interview. Terry Armstrong Bianca Estrella, Place has out what are the Note: and Nicola Place whose job has said that services that the Nicola “It sucks. The Transfer are starting students need been put on she enPlace is Center is an “transfer sermost,” said Place. hold, says that courages welcomFor students, the Transfer students vices,” which important building here. ing stulosing a key part Center serves to send dent will have The regular counselors feedback of their school as a resource to in their counselor focus has been difficult, assist students feedback. for the don’t know as much on key aspects considering not with navigating “The transfer of transferrring. about the specifics.” all of them have all of the critical most imservices access to someinformation and portant program. Bianca MOLLY BETTENCOURT one who can help part is Emails Estrella and Mar- deadlines. Psychology them. “I think stu- to get with the cia Perata will be “It sucks. The dents would try students subject laid off, effective Transfer Center to get more as- what they need,” said Place. line “transfer center” should June 30. is an important sistance from “The Center has provided be sent to nplace@dvc.edu building here,” counseling or amazing services over the said psychology major Molly from navigating different in- years, but even before these Contact GERARDO RECINOS at grecinos@dvc.edu Bettencourt. “The regular formation resources on their devastating cuts, reduced opAdvertisement

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THLETES from Pg. 1

team, said, “We need to get classes … we have to be full time students to play ball … I like the idea of having early registration.” Joe Lewis, another baseball team member, agreed: “It would be amazing to have early registration.” Their teammate, Alex Palsha, said, “We spend more time on campus then other students; we deserve to have early registration.” Most student-athletes agree that early registration would be a benefit. Some students who are not athletes feel it is not needed. “It is not really fair that the student athletes would get early registration… they should go through the same process as all other students,” said sports medicine student Kevin Boyd. Others understand why the student-athletes would like to have early registration, or need to have it. “It’s a two-sided issue,” said sports medicine student Bryan Gima-Derrow. “Student athletes schedule their classes around practice, and they need to give us some of our time too,” he said. “They can’t take classes that interfere with their sports. I don’t think its fair, but it makes sense to me.”

Contact STEPHEN LANGSAM at slangsam@dvc.edu

News

Thursday, May 19, 2011

AY from Pg. 1

Now Brown wants to raise public education spending by $3 billion, to $52.4 billion. Spending on education would reach the highest since 200708. “We welcome the news of additional funds for community colleges,” said Tim Leong, District Director of Community Relations at the Contra Costa Community College District office. Leong did not comment on how the district’s revenue would be affected by the revised budget. “However the big piece, still unsolved is getting Californians to vote on the extension of temporary taxes.” In April, the district was planning based on a budget that had ‘taken a turn for the worse’. The scenario included the possibility of cutting 1,500 courses, and a decline in revenue up to $20.5 million. The California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office was recommending nearly doubling tuition for community colleges, raising it to $66 dollars a unit. May’s revised budget shows the state deficit now under $10 billion thanks to increased tax revenues; a stark difference to the previously estimated $15.4 billion. Brown still hopes to see an extension on temporary taxes in order to secure California on a steady fiscal platform.

Check out the full story on www.TheInquireronline.com

Contact Mike Alfieri at malfieri@ TheInquirerOnline.com

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

AZZ

from Pg. 1

and professional musicians to DVC, the DVC Night Jazz Band had its entire funding cut by the administration due to the state budget crisis. As a result, the iconic band will no longer be a class must cut ties with DVC, becoming the Diablo Valley Night Jazz Band. “It felt like an advertisement for the college music program,” the lead trumpet player Dan Fava said. “We played at festivals, concerts and with other schools, promoting the performing arts and music program at DVC.” The Night Jazz Band frequently plays at community events and twice a year at Yoshi’s, the prestigious jazz club, in Oakland. Not only is the Night Jazz Band DVC’s most visible performing arts group, but it is also the longest running community college night jazz band in the state. Fava joined the Night Jazz Band in 1972 when he was attending DVC full-time. When Fava was no longer a full-time student, he continued to enroll in the Night Jazz Band, while working as a mechanic and a professional musician. For the past 16 years, the Night Jazz Band has brought famous jazz musicians to DVC to rehearse and perform with the band. Just a few of the notable musicians are Art Dougherty and Jim Hodge. “I love the Night Jazz Band because it is a good opportunity to play with professional musicians,” Devin

Photos by ALEC GRAHAM / Inquirer File Photos

Dominguez said. Dominguez is pursuing a degree in music at California State University, East Bay, and is the lead woodwinds player in the Night Jazz Band. The Night Jazz Band is not an essential course for transferring. The majority of musicians in the Night Jazz Band are not full-time students at DVC and stay in the class longer than two years. This puts the class first on the chopping block for budget cuts. “The California Community Colleges are changing their mission statement,” Night Jazz Band Director Rory Snyder said. “The mission statement was ‘lifelong learning’ and due to the lack of funding, that has changed.” Because the class has lost funding for the fall 2011 Semester, the band will use a

trust fund to pay for its expenses. Each semester the new, unaffiliated Diablo Valley Night Jazz Band will place money earned from playing concerts and fundraisers into the trust fund to finance the next semester. The Diablo Valley Night Jazz Band will continue to play at jazz clubs such as Yoshi’s, and hopes to attract professional musicians as long as the trust fund allows them to do so, but without attracting prospective musicians to DVC. The Diablo Valley Night Jazz Band is working hard to maintain the prestige of their band and has found generous, grass roots support from Contact LISA DIAZ at ldiaz@ TheInquirerOnline.com

Look at this dreary thing in your hands. Made out of dead trees. No scroll bar. No hyperlinks. To read more you’ve got to turn pages. What a hassle. You live in the future, right? So instead, try us online at TheInquirerOnline.com.

Ron Wetzel and John Ballou, above, stand and perform during the Diablo Valley College Night Jazz Band on February 25. Kevin Grant, below, provides low bass support on the bass trombone the same night.

Sports

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Courtesy of Katie Sartini

Swimmer Galen Sollom-Brotherton in the 400 individual medley at the CCCAA State Championships. Sollom-Brotherton came in first place.

Swimmers dominate the Big 8 Full team effort contributes to strong finishes by men and women LISA DIAZ Staff writer

Courtesy of Katie Sartini

Men’s and women’s swimming teams pose together after the CCCAA State Championships on April 30. The mens team came in second in the Big 8 Conference, while the women came in first place.

The Diablo Valley College Women’s Swim Team passed Sierra College to win their second title since joining the Big 8 Conference, and their tenth overall conference title in sixteen years last month. The team, led by Big 8 Conference/State Women’s Coach of the Year Rick Millington and their record-breaking 400 Medley Relay Team, went on to take second place at the CCCAA State Championships in Monterey Park, Calif. on April 30th. “In the beginning of the season, we were not sure how it was going to go,” Captain Katie Sartini said. “We started with less girls than expected, but everyone continued to improve. Once we saw our times compared to other top teams throughout the conference, we started to realize ‘we can do this’. Everyone dropped time, this was everyone’s doing.” Many of the swimmers placed in their events, accumulating points for the team’s overall score, making both the first place win at the Big 8 Conference Championships and the second place finish at the CCCAA State Championships a complete team effort. Swimmers Lisa Boozer and Diandra Prutton both won two individual events at state and Rebekah Padilla won one individual event. Boozer, Prutton and Padilla competed with Courtney Leonard in 400 Medley Relay that broke the school record at state, after winning the “Women’s Outstanding Performance” at the Big 8 Conference Championships. The DVC Men’s “Once we saw our Swim Team also completed a successtimes compared to other top teams ... we ful season, finishing in second place at started to realize ‘we the Big 8 Conference Championships and can do this’.” fourth at the CCCAA Katie Sartini State Championships. Womens swim team captain The men’s team was led by Big 8 Conference Most Valuable Swimmer Galen Sollom-Brotherton, who won three events at the Big 8 Conference Championships and helped the team win the 400 and 800 Freestyle Relays. “We have an exceptional group of young people this year,” Coach of the Year Rick Millington said about his two teams. “Being a two-year school it’s always difficult because we have a close-knit team and then they’re gone in such a short period of time.” Following their successful swimming tenures at DVC, many of this year’s swimmers have committed to swim at four-year colleges and universities this fall. Big 8 Conference Most Valuable Swimmer Galen Sollom-Brotherton committed to swim at Whitman College. Teammates Jeremy Buck and Bryan Evans committed to swim at UCSD, Pierce Hunter to Columbia University and Brett Lowe to Mesa State University in Colorado. Diandra Prutton committed to swim at the University of Wisconsin, Kristen Cadwallader to Arizona State University and Captain Katie Sartini will swim at University of Nevada, Reno in the fall. In preparation for another successful season next year, future men’s team captain Nick Garrett has a plan in place. “Being next year’s team captain, I want to make the incoming freshman feel like they’re at home.” Garrett said. “I’m going to make sure they are staying right on track, going to practice everyday and on top of their studies. Next year should be a great year. We have some good guys coming in.” Contact LISA DIAZ at ldiaz@TheInquirerOnline.com

5 Using greens to make some green SPORTS

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

STEPHEN LANGSAM Staff writer

With budget cuts all around, DVC’s sports teams are looking to raise money specifically to fund the athletics department. Steve Ward, the Hall of Fame director for DVC said, “Christine Worsley, the dean of athletics, came up with an idea to raise money exclusively for athletics… We are going to try and work around the cuts.” This is the first time the athletics department has had a fundraiser exclusively for itself. Ward said, “DVC has a school foundation golf tournament… we [the athletics department] used to get funds from the tournament, but now the proceeds just go to the foundation.” Ward said, “At the Hall of Fame induction dinner in February, we dropped the idea of a golf tournament, as well. We asked some of this year’s inductees to come out and participate.” Joe Lewis, who plays for the baseball team, said, “I think it’s a great idea to raise money with a golf tournament, it should be hella fun.” Hector Torress, who also plays on the baseMARIANA RAMOS / The Inquirer ball team, had the same idea: “I think a golf Dennis Hallett ,front, and Chuck Schreiber ,back, play at Boundary Oaks Golf Course in Walnut Creek on April 17. tournament is a good way to raise money for athletics.” We have successful teams, and winning costs Wendy Holt, the head athletic trainer, said, DVC and Boundary Oaks golf course in Just this year the baseball team made the money,” Ward said. “I love the idea of a golf tournament, it should Walnut Creek are hosting the DVC Vikings playoffs. The basketball, water polo and swimHe added, “Being the first time we are do- be a fun social event. Also it should be a good Athletics Inaugural Golf Challenge on June 6. ming programs also made the playoffs in their ing this, we are probably not going to be as way to draw people to get more information Participants can register at DVCAthletics.com respective sports. Playing these extra games successful as we think, but we are building for about DVC as a college.” or contact Don Howell, tournament coordinacosts DVC money. next year.” The consensus around DVC’s campus is tor, at don@eteamsponsor.com or 925-381Ward said, “We just don’t have enough monKevin Boyd, a student in sports medicine unanimous about the golf tournament. It 3612. ey to cover the basic costs for the sports.” said, “The golf tournament is a good idea, we should be fun, and hopefully will raise a good Contact STEPHEN LANGSAM at “The big thing is we can’t look into a crystal [sports medicine] are selling tickets to the tour- amount of money for the athletics departslangsam@TheInquirerOnline.com ball to see how many games we play every year. nament.” ment.

Water polo standout Keren gets full ride scholarship to Berkeley language wouldn’t permit it. He had to come to DVC in order to fine tune his speaking before moving on. After leading DVC in goals and assists, and being named Ayal Keren, 21, has been through a lot in his life, includ- California Junior College player of the year Keren will be geting being in the Israeli military and traveling the world playing ting a full ride scholarship to Cal. Keren is excited to move on saying, “I planned so much water polo. When he was 18 he came to Florida to play in a and I took the hard way to get into Berkeley. I accomplished tournament and wanted to come back ever since. During that tournament in which Keren’s team beat Stan- my goal.” Cal is excited to, “Ayal is an excellent all around athlete who ford in the final, and he was named MVP, many colleges liked what they saw in him. This 6 foot 2 inch utility player from will bring experience and maturity to an already experienced Tivon, Israel was now getting college offers from everywhere. team,” said Kirk Everist, coach of the Cal Water Polo team.” Water polo isn’t a major sport and only Keren doesn’t take the credit though gets four and a half scholarships per when asked he gave all the credit to the “As good as he is at water school, which makes Keren a part of an coaches. “The coaches (here at DVC) are polo, he is a better person. elite group of players getting full rides. excellent. They gave me a lot of support DVC’s water polo team is three time and helped me so much.” He is the most unselfish, conference champions and is the only JuJohn Roemer, head coach of DVC’s nicest man you will know.” nior College to be invited to major tourwater polo team knew he would say that, naments with four year schools. Roemer “As good as he is at water polo, he is a JOHN ROEMER added that “this gives bigger schools the better person. He is the most unselfish, Head water polo coach chance to see these kids. It gives us exnicest man you will know.” posure.” This was one reason why he was wantKeren becomes one of only three DVC water polo players ed by so many schools. He chose Berkeley for many reasons, including the fact that they are national water polo power to go on to Cal, Roemer was the first. houses. California is also one of the biggest water polo states in the country. Contact SCOTT ANNIS at sannis@TheInquirerOnline.com Keren wanted to go to Berkeley but his grasp of the English SCOTT ANNIS Staff writer

‘The King’s’ new wardrobe: crown not yet included SCOTT ANNIS Staff writer

Going to Miami was the best decision in LeBron James’ career. That’s right I said it. Some might not like him as much for it but everyone respects him. For one of the best players in a sport to give up money, over a million dollars a year, and status for championships is remarkable. In today’s money driven society this never happens. We all agree that LeBron’s decision to announce his decision live on air wasn’t a good idea. It was childish and arrogant. He publicly humiliated a few organizations and if you ask anyone in Cleveland, a whole city. LeBron went from big fish to small fish, and became a follower instead of the leader. Most thought it would hurt his brand even after he wins championships. He gave up everything he had in Cleveland, including a city that worshipped him and all of his family and friends. His hometown hero status was lost forever. Would Monte Ellis, Ichiro Suzuki, or Peyton Hillis ever give up their stats or money in order to win? They stay in small markets and rule them. Nothing fazed LeBron this year. He was booed everywhere, every time he touched the ball. His statistics suffered, and his ego had to have been hurt. All of this only solidifies the claim of this being a selfless act, because he gave up his stats in order to win. Going into the playoffs the Heat were the number two seed and have won their first two series. They beat both the Sixers and the Celtics handedly. Next up Scott Annis is Derrick Rose and Staff writer the Chicago Bulls, which is going to be a tough series. The Heat are hot though, and in today’s sports that is a big factor. They are peaking at the right time and it seems as though the team is coming together. If the Heat beat the Celtics in no more than six games they will continue on, and win the NBA Championship. If they don’t they will consider the season a loss, but it will still have been a productive building block. LeBron is still only 26 and has many years left in him. He could only be reaching his prime now. The Miami Heat, led by anyone but LeBron James, are going to win a championship within 2 years. It is only a matter of time for LeBron’s good decision to pay off. Contact SCOTT ANNIS at sannis@TheInquirerOnline.com

Out of Bounds is a bi-weekly column written by Gerardo Recinos, Scott Annis and Stephen Langsam. Check TheInquirerOnline.com for updates.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Editorial

The

Buzz

Do you think claims of “armageddon” have any legitimacy to them?

Stephanie Pilecki, 21 Communications

“People have misconceptions, so its a way for other people to make money off of others.”

Brandon Cain, 22 Communications

“I feel like people use religion to draw fear; I saw a billboard. They spend too much money on creating fear.”

Kris Gonzalez, 21 Undeclared

“I believe their is going to be a judgement day. But not any time soon.”

Opinions

For some students, transfer center isn’t a luxury, it’s a neccessity Limited course offerings, cut programs, $66 per unit and, now, no Transfer Center. Due to budget reductions, the center’s summer hours will be eliminated and it will completely close in the fall semester. As of June 30, the Transfer Center’s senior office assistant, Marcia Perata, will be laid off. Also, the center’s interim coordinator position, currently held by Bianca Estrella, will be put “on-hold” until an unknown future date. In these times of financial instability, the recent reductions are turning the community college into mainly a transfer institution. So, students need the tools and services necessary for successful transfer now more than ever. Gov. Jerry Brown prioritized “course offerings needed for transfer” in the overview of his proposal published on California Community College Chancellor’s Office website. Of course, there is transfer information on the Internet; however, some students may need help finding the correct information. In fact, so many students have trouble navigating the Web, the Foundation for California Community Colleges has been focusing on California Connects, a program which is trying to close the apparent digital literacy problem in community colleges. Some four-year institutions have centers that deal with transfer students; however, students shouldn’t have to make the trek to the Transfer

Scott Baba/ The Inquirer

Center on the UC Berkeley campus to get detailed information on how to transfer there. To combat the Transfer Center’s elimination, the counseling department is proposing a plan to organize its staff in order to elevate the center’s duties. Piling more work onto a diminished amount of people is not going to solve our problems; it will probably lead to the transfer process becoming more and more impersonal. The Transfer Center makes the transferring process personal; students need an environment of readily-available transfer information instead a

page of links. Students can get brochures and important information about UCs, CSUs, private colleges and other institutions both inside and outside of California. Also, the Transfer Center is the hub for meeting and lecturers from college representatives. In fact, the Transfer Center hosted meetings with representatives from UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, Academy of Art University, Golden Gate University and Saint Mary’s, just to name a few. The Transfer Center staff can sit down with students and help them complete any online application.

They also provide one-onone conversations about matriculation and other details such as transfer, graduation or major requirements. Further, a New York Times article stated transfer students need to be aware of course requirements since “colleges won’t give the official word on what [courses] they will accept until they have an enrollment deposit in hand.” The same article quotes a University of Michigan assistant professor urging community college students to talk to some sort of counselor and get a “second opinion.” In short, the Transfer Center provides the preparation students need. Take a look at

the CSUs, for example. Even though CSUs accepted spring transfers for 2011, the system is facing a billion dollars cut from the state, according to a San Francisco Chronicle article. The same article said that CSU Chancellor Charles Reed suggested that tuition be raised 32 percent and spring enrollment be closed. If students are faced with only applying in fall for universities like CSUs, they need to be better equipped and knowledgeable for applications and transfer. There are no arguments and little alternatives. Simply put: DVC students need a Transfer Center.

Guest Opinon

Teachers are an important part of the equation Marcus Victor, 19 Marketing

“I haven’t heard about that yet; I need to finish my finals.

Ashley Poston, 19 Nursing

“I’ve never heard of it; I’m probably going to go hang out with some friends and celebrate the end of school.” Interviewer: Scott Annis Photographer: Stevie Chow

Okay, so your juices are pumping because you just signed up for those courses that you needed, wanted, were intrigued by, or simply had-totake-and-can’t-avoid-any-longer. Your best planner and work schedule are meticulously worked out and you’ve budgeted monies for the increase in tuition next Fall. Your commuting plan seems reasonably dependable if the old Toyota keeps holding up. Could there be anything missing in the stew of strategies? Why yes—could be. You could have left out a vital ingredient: your instructor. Some students bow their heads, stop reading and insist that we’ll plow ahead no matter who or what. However; with dwindling course choices, you may not realistically have any options of course section or instructor.

“With dwindling course choices, you may not realistically have any options of course section or instructor. ”

Staff

Editorial Board EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR PHOTO CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Think seriously for a moment about how well you’ve done in your entire educational career when you had a instructor with whom you had a great “fit”. Remember how the learning was intriguing, the class atmosphere was enhanced, people smiled more than dozed in class. We often looked forward to attending, exploring, being challenged, and working at our personal best. Compare that to the instructors with whom we didn’t seem to “fit”, and that contrast is dramatic—even tragic—indeed. How does one discover an instructor with whom we’re likely to fit? Well, not by showing up the first day totally in the dark, as most of us do inexplicably. Not by scurrying around some shallow websites that claim to “rate”

Julius Rea Troy Patton Mike Alfieri Scott Baba Sean Wilkey Gerardo Recinos Alec Graham Taliah Mirmalek

SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Brian Donovan STAFF WRITERS Scott Annis, Pablo Caballero, Lisa Diaz, Brittney Griffin, Stephen Langsam, Rebecca Rainford PHOTOGRAPHERS Izzy Bajalia, Stevie Chow, Mariana Ramos DESIGNER Yaeko Takada INSTRUCTIONAL LAB COORDINATOR Ann Stenmark ADVISER Mary Mazzocco

the instructors. Oy. Do the raters have training, have agreed-upon criterion, an ax to grind? Have they been edited in their comments ROB PETERS and have they Guest writer even attended or excelled in the course they’re “rating?” Wouldn’t you demand answers to those questions if someone rated—or graded—you? Bien sur, monsieur… Skip’em. They’re too unreliable, spongy and clearly someone else’s one-time opinion. A far better approach: when you’re considering classes, find out the instructors’ names (Departments can usually update you when it merely lists “staff ”) and visit them during their office hours. Visit teachers during Paid Office hours, which are an ongoing contact for students with all types of ques-

tions and concerns. “Interview” the instructor about her/his particular course: have they a syllabus you could review that includes policies for grading, absences, make-up testing, mid-terms, finals, etc. Ask if they mostly lecture, or do small group work, or are very visuallyoriented in their presenta-

tions. Equally important, be fully prepared to list your own preferences for learning effectively and the obstacles you sometimes encounter. Be candid, and don’t hold back; good teachers love the engagement and love to teach students who want to be there. Remember that no one teacher fits for every student; no one student should expect to fit well with every single teacher. Contact ROB PETERS at rpeters@dvc.edu

THE INQUIRER Diablo Valley College 321 Golf Club Road, H-102 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 The Inquirer is published 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 artists and not necessarily those of The Inquirer, Diablo Valley College or Contra Costa Community College District

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Thursday, May 19, 2011

To learn about fashion, hit the books Dress for life; the street is your catwalk and life is your fashion show. When people are walking around campus do you ever catch yourself wondering “did they get dressed in the dark, or just roll out of bed? What were they thinking?” Instead of passing judgment I think about what I would have done differently. I understand the life of a college student; I live it: all night cramming, finishing a paper 5 minutes before you leave for class with the last thing on your mind being how you look and what you are wearing. Instead of throwing on “the DVC uniform” a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, with tennis shoes or even worse, a pair of Uggs, a few effortless changes can make a world of difference and transform your look from slob to chic. A pair of skinny jeans, ballet flats, trench coat and a long necklace (all staples in a girls wardrobe) are stylish alternative that will maintain the level of comfort you seek on those hectic days. The way we dress is a visual representation of our individuality (or in certain cases, lack thereof) that is often guided by the economical, social and cultural influences of our everyday lives. To be individual, you have take pride in what you wear, let your personality and uniqueness shine from your clothing and quit hiding behind what’s easy. To have a comprehensive understanding of fashion, it is imperative to know the history of fashion and how apparel transformed from a necessity of everyday life to a symbol of status that is fueled by allures and deThis article is sire. a part of staff To maintain writer REBECCA my definitive RAINFORD’s eye for fashion, blog, Fashion Fix, I possess a colupdated regularly lection of books dedicated to the on The Inquirer culture of fashOnline. ion that aids in the continuous evolution of my unconventionally eclectic personal style and education of fashion. These books can help even the most fashionably confused DVC student become a style icon around campus. My private library consists of two basic categories: how-to books and luxury brand biographies. Written by noteworthy stylists and renowned industry icons, how-to books use recipe-like instructions for creating well-put-together, aesthetically pleasing ensembles. Out of the most insightful and useful publications, there are a few essentials: “Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour,” written by Rachel Zoe, “The Style Strategy: A Less-Is-More Approach to Staying Chic and Shopping Smart,” written by Nina Garcia, and “You Know You Want It: Style-Inspiration-Confidence” by Eric Daman, just to name a few. The other half of my literary collection consists of biographies that examine the history of a certain designer and the creation of their respective companies. Chronicling the designer’s coming-of-age through their rocky roads of successes and failures, these books enlighten the reader by sharing how these struggling artists overcame obstacles and doubt to develop the multimillion-dollar powerhouses that their brands have become today. My favorites include “Balenciaga and Spain,” written by Hamish Bowles, “Louis Vuitton: the birth of modern luxury,” written by PaulGerard Pasols, and “The gospel According to Coco Chanel,” written by Karen Karbo. The next book I will be indulging myself in poolside (after finals of coarse) will be “The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own” By Nina Garcia one of my favorite and most insightful fashion authors. Be a savvy saver; I recommend buying used copies of books from a reputable seller on Amazon. From my experience the books cost a fraction of the cover price, are in good condition and can be at your doorstep in a matter of days. If your budget is bankrupt, the DVC and CCC libraries are at your disposal to quench your thirst for an education in fashion at a price that is affordable to all: free. We use books everyday to teach us about the human anatomy, probabilities, and the history of the world. Why not apply the same tools and techniques that we use in our education, to the advancement of our style and appearance?

Contact REBECCA RAINFORD at @TheInquirerOnline.com

Opinions

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fiiiiiiiiiiine You may have seen the billboards scattered across the bay area, or the pamphlets being handed out on street corners across the nation, but apparently the end of the world is coming, and it’s coming up fast. For many, this may come as something of a surprise, but Harold Camping, president and cofounder of Family Radio, is adamantly convinced that the world will end on May 21st, 2011. And he’s on the radio. Specifically, Camping claims that on May 21 the rapture will occur – when God’s chosen are whisked away to heaven – followed by a world-wide civilization-shattering earthquake, and five months of hell on earth for God’s least favorite demographics to enjoy until he finally scrubs the whole universe clean at the end of October. Many have argued out that Camping’s numbers are weirdly and nonsensically specific, but Camping insists that he’s done the math. He points out that in Genesis, God gives Noah seven days to get his belongings in order before the world would be destroyed, and that in Peter it is said that a thousand years with God is as a day, and vice versa. So by jamming these two passages together, Camping concludes that 7,000 years after God talked to Noah, the world will end. Which, also according to Camping’s math, will be 7,000 years ago this Saturday. I for one am convinced; that sounds entirely reasonable. I mean, let’s keep this in perspective. When May 21 rolls around, those who aren’t prepared for it will be caught with

SCOTT BABA / The Inquirer

their pants down, going to heaven or not, as dictated by God’s ineffable and uncontrollable will. On the other hand, those of us who believe in the rapture will be ready, having already quit our jobs, convinced all of our loved ones that we are insane, and through mercy euthanized our pets. Yes, in our obsession with preparing for the end, many of us will have derailed our lives to follow a fanatical religious doctrine and set ourselves up for the kind of spiritual letdown that has, in the past, preceded unfathomable acts of terror and desperation, but since the world is ending on the 21st, there won’t be any consequences

SCOTT BABA Features Editor

or repercussions to bite us in the ass. So that’s alright. And what are the chances that Saturday isn’t the second coming of Christ and we’ve all ruined our lives for nothing? Answer: pretty slim. Sure, the end of the world has already been

predicted a few dozen times, once by Camping himself, but to cite that as evidence that this weekend isn’t the end of times would be to ignore the little boy crying “wolf.” When there is a wolf. A wolf whose existence has been proven with math and gossip. But mostly gossip. So this weekend, grab a cold drink and a comfy chair, because it promises to be a hell of a show. Best seat in the house: everywhere.

Contact SCOTT BABA at sbaba @TheInquirerOnline.com

Small words deserve large attention Little did I know when hanging out with friends on April 20th that later that evening I would be in a car heading to San Francisco to join a contingent of activists that were going to sing a song to the president of the United States. The next morning at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco, a campaign fundraiser for President Barack Obama was going to take place. Antiwar activist Naomi Pitcairn bought $76,000 of tickets for people to attend. Before I knew it, I was in a hotel room full of about 20 people practicing the song about the treatment and overall lack of due process in handling accused Wikileaks whistleblower Bradley Manning. Some tickets sold for as much

as $5,000 to $35,800 each. MC Hammer, Will.i.am, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Stevie Wonder, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, and San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee were all in attendance. Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader of the Democrats, began the fundraiser by referring to Obama as a “great president and with great leadership.” After five minutes of vague and empty words, Pelosi introduced Obama, and about three minutes into the speech, Naomi Pitcairn jumped up and said “Mr. President we have a song we would like to sing for you.” Without much delay we started the song. Not too long after the protest, John Stewart commented on it in his show that it was hypocriti-

Brian Donovan Senior Staff Writer

cal for one of our protesters to shout “We love you Obama,” after the song, while the song and whole purpose of the action was to protest Obama and his policies regarding civil liberties. The protester is entitled to his own opinion, but should not have associated the whole group of protesters with one person’s state-

ment of love, as several of my fellow activists at the fundraiser expressed their disagreement with the statement. He may have been trying to ease tensions with the Secret Service as they were swarming us while we sang. But one isolated statement does not circumvent the entire message that was brought by the brave individuals that day. The mainstream media can try to use the statement as a red herring, but the overall message was heard loud and clear. Free Bradley Manning: because exposing war crimes is not a crime!

Contact BRIAN DONOVAN bdonovan @TheInquirerOnline.com

Osama’s death gives us closure I think most people remember where they were that fateful morning in 2001 when the United States changed forever. The Sept. 11 attacks shattered our confidence as a nation. It scared us, showed us that we could be vulnerable. But just as in every action movie, it all came back to one man. Like a demented case of “Where’s Waldo,” the U.S. has spent the past decade using all of its available resources hunting down one man to bring him to justice. It is no surprise that his death at the hands

“We didn’t want a trial. We wanted him dead, and that’s what we got.” of SEAL Team Six was met with the same fervor and intensity that was put into finding him.

Troy Patton Managing Editor

But has killing him stopped the war? Are there still troops overseas and people dying in Afghanistan and Iraq every day, soldier and civilian alike? Is our country still torn between our need to feel safe and secure, and our need to be free from things like the Patriot Act and invasive organizations like the Transportation Security Administration? The answer is yes, to all of these things. So what did we accomplish when Bin Laden was shot dead in his compound in Paki-

stan? What did we accomplish when special forces operatives killed an aging man who was dependent on dialysis? We got closure. Every person who lost a loved one, or who saw the towers fall, can go to sleep knowing the man who ordered it was dead. Let’s face it, as barbaric as it sounds, this was the way we wanted it to end. We didn’t want a trial. We didn’t want to give him a stage to perform on anymore. We wanted him dead, and that’s what we got. In the end his death changed very little. There will be others to take his place, and there will be people out there still thinking of ways to do us harm, but for now, the story of Osama Bin Laden has been brought to violent end. The man responsible for the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil is dead. A long 10 years later, the “good guys” got the “bad guy.” Contact TROY PATTON at tpatton @TheInquirerOnline.com

Features

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The beauty that’s more than skin

deep

The Inquirer talks with students about their tattoos and meaning they’ve found in this ancient art For many people, tattoos are an expression of personality, offering a glimpse into the soul. Students at DVC have embraced this idea and, whether representing their hometown or honoring a family member, have come up with some eye-catching artwork. Tattoos have been around for centuries, often originating as rites of passage or marks of status or rank. Today, tattoos are a rising form of expression, adorning the skin of young and old alike. From ancient crests to musical foxes, the array of artwork that pops out from underneath sleeves and socks is also a dazzling representation of the diverse student body. ALEC GRAHAM / The Inquirer

IZZY BAJALIA / The Inquirer

Derek Goetting, leg tattoo: “I’m a Bay Area boy from California.”

STEVEN CHOW / The Inquirer

Brian Evans, chest tattoo: “My ancestors were Japanese Samurai and the symbol is the family crest. I got it when I was 18 because my parents were about to go through a divorce and I wanted to honor my mother. “

STEVEN CHOW / The Inquirer

Annie Cheong, wrist tattoo, above: “I wanted to tell myself to hang in there and be strong. I was going through a lot of stuff at the time. I got the tattoo when I was 18.” Sarah Thompson, side tattoo, left: “Every time I walk into my grandpa’s house in Arizona he says it. He never says ‘hi.’”

STEVEN CHOW / The Inquirer

Elliot Ko, back tattoo: “It displays my family name and family pride. It’s for respect. I went to get my tattoo right after my 18th birthday.”

STEVEN CHOW / The Inquirer