Inquirer Feb. 7-27, 2012 by DVC Inquirer

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D iablo Val le y C ol le g e

Oregon man accused of email threats against DVC Faculty HAKEEM MONTES Senior staff writer

Former DVC student Zachary Jacob Moitoza faces a federal charge for allegedly making death threats with hateful, racist remarks toward DVC and University of Oregon professors. Federal FBI Special Agent Timothy W. Suttles drafted an affidavit and filed it in Oregon’s Federal District Court. The document was obtained by The Inquirer through the public access government website: www.pacer.gov. The affidavit detailed several paragraphs of the emails allegedly sent by Moitoza. Moitoza transmitted the threats through an alias email address to two DVC professors and one professor from the University of Oregon, according to the affidavit. As per the affidavit, an email was sent to a DVC professor on May 9, 2012 which stated, “You are 90 percent white and 10 percent Indian, which makes you Indian… I own a PTR-91 .308 caliber semi automatic rifle with a 20 bullet clip… I could easily pick you off from 800 M… I am coming for you.” DVC professor Laurence Fischer, also received threatening emails and was willing to speak to the Inquirer about the alleged incident. Fischer wished for, “people to know, so that if something happens to them which seems threatening and menacing that they don’t feel they brought it upon themselves.” Fisher continues by encouraging anyone who has been threatened to “seek help among their colleagues and the administration, that they insist upon it... that they get whatever level of protection they need.” When asked about Moitoza as a student, Fisher said, “He presented himself in my critical thinking class as being conservative in his politics, but reasonably so.… But nothing I saw eight or ten years ago would have said ‘this is somebody we should watch.’” A University of Oregon professor mentioned in the affidavit, who wished to reamin anonymous, also allegedly recieved threats. The UO professor was purportedly sent an email where

Moitoza discussed the cost of college education versus its usefulness, allegedly stating, “Our economy is collapsing due to the fact that we are now 25 percent mestizo, castizo, Moor, black and Indian,” according to the affidavit. The additional DVC faculty member who was allegedly threatened requested to remain anonymous and it was the decision of The Inquirer to respect the wishes of the alleged crime victim. Moitoza said in an interview with agent Suttles that he intended to frighten the professors with the emails according to the affidavit. President Peter Garcia said, “We take threats seriously and typically, if it’s a viable threat, we use both police services and student discipline as a way to pursue them. The safety of our students, safety of faculty is always paramount in our minds and so if there is anything that resembles a verbal or physical threat we mobilize both sides of the house…” Garcia said about the mental health services available on campus, “There are some opportunities for interpersonal and crisis intervention counseling and then we do also house a case worker from county mental health on campus who collaborates … on occasion in situations where we believe we need a stronger mental health perspective.” Cultural anthropology professor Lenore Gallin shared her concern about students which have presented mental health issues to her. “I have to refer them to county agencies…many times, they won’t go take that extra step and so that’s of concern and we’re not given a lot of help about how to recognize or deal with troubled students,” Galin explained. Mathematics professor Peter Willet said, “… I think a lot of times the campus doesn’t really have the resources to deal with people who come into their world and have needs that aren’t something we’re used to meeting on a regular basis.” Cultural anthropology major Deanna Nathan said about

DEATH THREAT, Page 2

ALEX MCDOUGAL / Emerald Media Group

Zachary Jacob Moitoza, a DVC Alumni, allegedly sent threatening emails to DVC Faculty as well as Oregon University faculty.

Courtesy of PTR INDUSTRIES

The threatening emails specifically referenced a PTR-91 assault rifle, though no weapons have yet been recovered.

Learning Center reopens after flood damage EVAN WESLEY Staff writer

PABLO CABALLERO / The Inquirer

Students take advantage of recently damaged and repaired facilities in the DVC Learning Center.

On Dec. 21 to Dec. 26, the Learning Center Building suffered damages from substantial flooding. According to Vice President of Finance and Administration Chris Leivas, the flood originated when a contractor associated with the school’s IT infrastructure project drilled a hole in the Learning Center roof and failed to re-patch it up. Over the course of the next five days, there were heavy amounts of rain in Pleasant Hill and on the DVC campus. Fortunately, the flooding was noticed quickly enough so that the damages were contained. “The contractors working on the IT infrastructure project

Oversight Committee looks ahead at projects JOSH “GRASSY” KNOLL Editor in Chief

Only a few feet from where students eat in the DVC Cafeteria, the Contra Costa Community College District’s Bond Oversight Committee met in the Trophy Room to discuss appropriations of funds and the status of bond-funded projects for each campus in the district. Overall, the tone was optimistic and praises were high for Diablo Valley’s use of the Measure A funding, not to be confused with last November ballot’s Measure A which did not pass. DVC stands alone among the three schools in the district as the first to complete all pertinent projects and close out their Measure A Bond Program from 2002 with a zero balance. Contra Costa College and Los Medanos are still working to complete vari-

ous projects, many of which have gone over budget and are still in development. CCC’s Music Building remodel, for instance has gone over budget by three percent and is still in progress. LMC is much closer to closing the books on their 2002 Measure A Budget, reallocating funds for roof repair from other projects that seem to be operating under budget. Praise was high for DVC’s new Student Services Building, which board member Ray Pyle described as “phenomenal” for reaching completion within two weeks of its proposed completion date. “I’ve never [seen] an artist’s rendering resemble, so closely, reality.” Pyle illustrated his point further by comparing the artist’s rendering of the proposed interior to a photograph taken from his own iPhone.

noticed the damage on the morning of Dec. 26. College personnel were notified and were on the scene by 10 am on Dec. 26,” said Leivas. According to Kim Schenk, the senior dean of the Workforce, Economic Development, Grants, and Contract Division, the flood caused water damages on both the first and second floors. Classes on the north side of the building were fine, but the south side of the building had noticeable damages to the ceiling tiles. Some carpeting had to be replaced as well, but the base boards on the building’s walls were most affected by the flood. The Learning Center has been essential over the years in providing tutoring services and many other

academic tools for the English and math departments which help students to be successful in the classroom. Understandably, there was great concern whether or not the damages would be repaired by the beginning of the spring semester. Fortunately for the administration and students of DVC, the repairs were executed rapidly and efficiently, preventing any setbacks to the capabilities of the Learning Center. “There was an adjustment to the tutor’s training schedules, and appointments had to be rescheduled. In terms of setbacks to the semester, fortunately, the entire Learning Center was up to full FLOOD, Page 2

KARIN JENSEN / The Inquirer

The former Student Services building is demolished to make way for a new commons area, cafeteria and culinary arts facility.

LOOKING AHEAD, Page 2

• NEWS 1, 2 • OPINIONS 3 • SPORTS 4 • EDITORIAL 3 • ARTS & FEATURES 5, 6 • CAMPUS BUZZ 3 • STAFF INFORMATION 3 •

News

CALENDAR

Wednesday, January 23- Tuesday, February 12 Faculty Art Show Art Gallery- A305 11:00 AM- 3:00 p.m. Friday, February 8, 2013 Pass/No Pass Deadline All Day Wednesday, February 13, 2013 Study Abroad in London Meeting 2-3 p.m. Room LA115 Saturday, 16-18 Presidents Weekend

February

New year, new opportunities RACHEL ANN REYES Staff writer

As this spring semester kicks off the new year, so does Associated Students of Diablo Valley College. ASDVC had their first informational session of the semester on Wednesday, Jan. 16. This was an introductory meeting for those who are interested in joining ASDVC. Students in this organization are responsible for representing DVC students. The student run governing body seeks to unite students of DVC in one local organization and advocate for their various interests and concerns. To be a part of ASDVC, there are certain criteria that need to be fulfilled. Students who are interested in joining must attend an information session, be taking at least five units during the semester, have at least a 2.0 GPA, be in good academic and disciplinary standing, be able to attend meetings on Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., they must serve on at least one college, district or ASDVC committee, and they must actively participate within the group, which includes going on retreats. Students who would like to join ASDVC for

the first time must also complete a petition. This includes receiving at least 250 signatures by February 1st at 12 pm. As a member of ASDVC, you must serve on at least one of the many different committees that govern our school. In addition, there are 12 positions that operate as executive officers, such as president, vice president of executive affairs, secretary, and many more. Also, new students who gain the needed 250 signatures for membership are able to stay with ASDVC for one full year, in this case, spring and fall of 2013. Joining such an established organization is not only a fun way to get involved in school, but it also prepares you for the real world. Jang Won Suh, a member of ASDVC who lead the meeting, claimed that it helps students extend their speech abilities and it also gives students the “opportunity to develop leadership skills.” Contact RACHEL ANN REYES at rreyes@TheInquirerOnline.com

Day

From Page 1

February

College Rep Visit UC Berkeley- 9 a.m. – 2:30 (also every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday until March 14, 2013) JFK- 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. CSU East Bay- 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. St. Mary’s College- 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Friday, February 23, 2013 Budget Committee Meeting 9-11 a.m. Saturday, 23, 2013

February

Baseball Game vs. Ohlone College 1-4 p.m.

RACHEL ANN REYES/ The Inquirer

Jang Won Suh leads the ASDVC Information Session, providing guidance and clarity to aspiring members.

DEATH THREAT

School closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday Tuesday, 19, 2013

Thursday, Feb. 7 - Feb. 27 2013

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

HAKEEM MONTES/ The Inquirer

DVC Students go about their routines, unaware of the threat.

LOOKING AHEAD From Page 1

The proposed districtwide “IT Infrastructure Project” seems to be the next project to keep the Oversight Committee “…crawling all over DVC.” Pyle asserted that the project “will touch every campus, districtwide” in order to update and improve the overall performance of the WiFi connections available on campus. The evidence of the

district’s continued efforts are impossible to ignore, as the old admissions building is bulldozed to make way for a new Culinary Arts building and a new Central Commons Area, estimated for completion January 2015. Contact JOSH “GRASSY” KNOLL at jknoll@ TheInquirerOnline.com

FLOOD From Page 1

speed by the start of school and no students were affected,” said Rachel Westlake, dean of the Mathematics, Computer Science, and Business Education Division. The financial costs and damages of the flood

have not been fully tallied to this point, but according to Chris Leivas. it is expected to be covered by the contractor’s insurance. Contact EVAN WESLEY at ewesley@TheInquirerOnline.com

Police Beat

January 17 2013 SRVC Parking lot 12:30 p.m. Student left ipad on a bench near the parking lot and when she returned, it was gone. January 23 2013 LA Building 2:16 p.m. A despondent student heard yelling into his cell phone and making self threatening statements. He was admitted to Contra Costa Regional Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. January 28 2013 DVC Bike Rack Under the Library 2:16 p.m. Student’s bike was stolen from the bike rack under the library. DVC Bookstore 4:26 p.m. Police responded to a report of a male student stealing a textbook from the bookstore. The subject was cited and arrested. February 4 2013 LHS Building 3:49 p.m. Staff member reported that a stuffed golden eagle was stolen from a glass case near the stairs inside the LHS building.

the threats, “I think that there is zero excuse for it...I think people should be able to have guns but there is no reason the general public should have semi-automatic rifles…” Moitoza attended DVC in 2003 and 2005 according to The Contra Costa Times. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2007 with a B.S. in political science

“...there is no reason the general public should have semi-automatic rifles.” ~DEANNA NATHAN Student

according to a statement made by UO spokesperson Julie Brown as reported by The Daily Emerald. Aeronautical engineering major Kevin Surban was shocked to hear of the reports of alleged threats. “I couldn’t even believe that this is actually happening…It makes me pretty sad…It doesn’t make any sense,” Surban said. Contact HAKEEM MONTES at hmontes@TheInquirerOnline.com

Sports

Thursday, Feb. 7 - Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013

Women’s basketball outlasts division rivals JOSH “GRASSY” KNOLL Editor-in-chief

Diablo Valley College played host to the Consumnes River College Hawks for a pair of games on Friday Jan. 18. The women, led by coach Ramaundo Vaughn, took advantage of early fast break opportunities and disciplined free-throw shooting to carve out a narrow lead which they were able to build upon throughout the contest. Karley Menez played outstanding minutes off the bench, contributing on the boards as well as from outside the arc. Annelise Ito also established a strong presence in the paint on both sides of the floor, contributing a strong defensive block as well as 12 points of offensive production in the first half. Menez and Ito combined for 20 of the Vikings' 36 points, leading the Hawks by nine. At the start of the second half, the Hawks came out aggressively, utilizing full-court pressure to create turnovers and capitalized on fast breaks. The Hawks rebounded exceptionally well to start the second half, creating opportunities with offensive boards. In spite of the run that began the second half, the Vikings were able to answer back every time the Hawks seemed to be retaking the momentum. Adrianna Joaquin found her shot, draining a pair of clutch threepointers and Elena Ala was able to take advantage of the aggressive coverage with her speed, cutting through the lane and taking advantage of opportunities from the free-throw line. The Consumnes River women fought hard, but ultimately were unable to match the depth of the Vikings' bench. DVC won by a final score of 74-59.

“Menez and Ito combined for 20 of the Vikings’ 36 points, leading the Hawks by nine.”

Contact JOSH “GRASSY” KNOLL at jknoll@TheInquirerOnline.com

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Hawks’ 3-pointers lead the young Vikings to their doom

Vikings can’t hold off sharpshooting Hawks JOSH “GRASSY” KNOLL Editor-in-chief

During the second game, on Friday Jan. 18, DVC men's basketball hosted Cosumnes River College. Highly recruited freshman Jelani Hardaway made his presence felt early in the contest, showcasing both his offensive skills off the glass and his defensive of prowess against the Hawks. Hardaway also controlled the tempo early, in his role as facilitator of the offense. The Hawks' zone defense allowed Hardaway to take his time running the half-court offense, exploiting mismatches inside to teammate John Ocon who dominated the boards and added points in the paint. The Vikings executed their game plan to perfection in the first half, taking a seemingly

“The Vikings executed their game plan to perfection in the first half.” insurmountable lead into the locker room, leading 32-12 at the half. The CRC Hawks were a long way from a loss though. At the half, the Hawks made adjustments, switching to a full court man-to-man defense, which seemed to visibly rattle the Vikings. After a few trips to the free throw line, the Hawks began to sniff a comeback, and their offense found a rhythm in their perimeter shooting. For much of the extraordinarily high-scoring second half, the home squad succeeded in holding off the visiting team's onslaught. In the waning moments of the game, the Hawks came screeching back, raining outside shots in succession, capitalizing off turnovers and open shots in transition. When the lead was cut to eight, the men seemed to panic, turning the ball over repeatedly into the teeth of the Hawks' high-pres-

MATTHEW EMMANUEL/ The Inquirer

DVC forward Mike Harris wins the opening tip away from the Hawks. sure defense. In the last fifteen seconds of regulation, following another three-point field goal, the Hawks tied the game at 71 from the free throw line. With seconds left, Hardaway drew a foul, charging the lane and taking advantage on both attempts, but after missing his first layup attempt, CRC guard Charles Standifer caught his own rebound and made the buzzer-beating put back.

In overtime the shower of three-pointers continued for Cosumnes River, accounting for 9 of their 14 overtime points. Despite an exceptional singular effort from Hardaway, DVC trailed for the first time in overtime and never quite recovered. The Hawks celebrated on the Vikings' home floor by a final of 84-87. Contact JOSH “GRASSY” KNOLL at jknoll@TheInquirerOnline.com

Sports medicine clinical team revives athletics AARON HUDSON Sports editor

With over 6,000 injured student-athletes per year, and 50-70 athletes seen a day over a 10-month school year, immediate professional medical attention is priceless. The sports medicine department at DVC has a clinical team of 17 students who work with athletes on caring for their injuries both during and after games. While the degree program has been at DVC for about 10 years, program director Michael Chisar started the internship portion of the program in 1995. DVC currently has 17 sports teams, accounting for roughly 350 student-athletes. “Our athletes compete in the toughest league in Northern California," said athletic director Christine Worsley. "Every weekend our kids are playing at a very high level.” The clinical program covers everything from injury prevention, providing an evaluation of diagnosis, acute management, emergency management, rehab and the return to activity. With such a high volume of student-athletes needing day-to-day treatment, the student athletic trainers play a vital role keeping the program running smoothly as possible. “Without our student athletic trainers helping out, we’d probably only see about 15-20 kids a day”, said program adviser Wendy Holt. That would result in more than half of the student-athletes that the clinic see's on an average day going to see an expensive sports therapist somewhere else. Wendy supervises everyone's work in the clinic and recognizes who needs urgent care. The entire adviser staff is made up of actual certified athletic trainers, so students on the

clinical team get a chance to apply what they have learned in the classroom, to real life cases. "It's a really great experience, you get to learn hands on and meet new students," said third semester student Jeanette Vasquez. "We have a lot of different responsibilities, massages, stretching, ultrasounds, making sure our players are hydrated throughout the game and managing the first aid equipment". Third semester student Christina Brekelmans already has a bachelor's degree. She explains how important it is to get clinical hours before applying to an athletic training Master's program. "Whether it is a master's or bachelor's program, getting the hours is huge. Colleges know your going to be good in their program because you are prepared." Many students want to go into a career dealing with healthcare, so here at DVC students are getting the hours that they need to apply. They’re getting the classroom education to prepare for classes at a four-year school, and they handle all of the prerequisites that they need for that program as they complete the four semester program. In order to become an athletic trainer, you need a bachelor’s degree to sit for the certification exam. The DVC clinical program prepares students to go to the next level and apply to those impacted bachelor programs. According to Chisar, because all of the experience and coursework that they go through, our students always get into the program that they want. Their impressive resumes move their applications to the top of the admissions pile. JULIA KINKELA / The Inquirer Contact AARON HUDSON at ahudson@ TheInquirerOnline.com

The DVC sports medicine staff looks after student-athletes in their clinic.

Opinions

Thursday, Feb. 7 -Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Editorial

The

Buzz

What do you think of Prop. 30 raising fees for students with more than 90 units?

DIERDE JAMES, 21 English

“Depends on where the money is going. Is it going to help the school out, or make more classes?”

Fine print jeopardizes students Most of us knew Proposition 30 wouldn’t be an instant fix or a miraculous cure – indeed, the understanding was it would hardly alleviate the financial situation for community colleges at all. Instead, we were told that ‘status quo’ would be maintained – things wouldn’t get momentously better, but they wouldn’t get much worse either. Things were bleak enough as they were, so when news came that the proposition had passed, I shared a collective sigh of relief with 54 percent of California. Initially, things seemed to go well. The education sector had managed to dodge a bullet worth $6 billion worth of

budget cuts. California community colleges were granted $210 million extra for 20122013, allowing many colleges to add extra classes for the spring semester. (Not DVC, since for the past few years the spring semester has had more classes than the fall.) Tuition prices remained at $46 per unit, and most importantly, most of the teachers, classes and programs stayed put. Life went on. But, like most things in politics, things were too good – or in this case, too mediocre – to be true. Gov. Jerry Brown wants drastic changes to be made at both community and fouryear colleges in order to in-

crease efficiency and save money. Brown has proposed a 90-unit state-subsidized cap at community colleges, meaning that any class a student takes above the cap will cost $190 per semester-unit. The 90-unit cap is not a brand new idea – in 2011, the state legislative analyst proposed not only a unit cap, but also priority registration to first-time students in an attempt promote a smoother, more efficient transfer process. According to CaliforniaWatch, almost 120,000 students in the 2009-2010 academic year, or about 5 percent, had amassed more than 90 units. Seems logical, right? Redi-

rect money away from underenrolled classes to where it’s needed more and simultaneously provide an incentive for colleges to encourage students to complete courses rather than just start them and drop out. On paper, yes. But one would have to question the effects these proposals will have – not just on the budget, but on the students themselves. Speaking generally, most community college students intend to transfer either to a UC or CSU. The completion of ‘IGETC’, the most common way to complete lowerdivision courses, requires about 34 units. Then, there are the pre-

major requirements, which can range from as few as nine units for an anthropology major, or as many as 41 for a physics major – and this is assuming that one not only has the proficient English and math skills to take the required courses straight away, but also knows from the start not only what they want to major it, but also what college they wish to transfer to. While there may be students in the system who know exactly what they want to do and are using community college to save money, aren’t the majority of us trying to find our way? PROP. 30, Page 5

Opinions

DAVID TREADAWAY, 18 Undeclared

“The state has a good reason... [but[ it’s not the best way to go about it.”

We should learn from New Delhi THARESA MARIE Staff writer

MICHAEL RADA, 20 Environmental Sciences

“It doesn’t apply to me... [but] community college should be less expensive and avaiable for everyone.”

ANTONIO TAMBORINO, 22 Web Design

When a 23-year-old woman boarded a bus with a male friend on Dec. 16, she had no idea of the horrors that lay ahead of her. What ensued afterwards can only be described as horrific. The woman, who has become known as Damini, was gang raped by six men on the bus. They beat her and violated her so viciously that she died of her injuries 13 days later. She was literally raped to death. The details of her attack were so gruesome that citizens began taking to the streets of New Delhi to protest, demanding more legal reforms to protect women from violent crimes. After her death, businesses all across New Delhi either cancelled or toned down their New Year’s Eve celebrations in mourning. New Delhi resident told The Hindu (an Indian newspaper), “… everyone has been pushing for canceling the celebrations as a token of respect to the

OUTRAGE, Page 5

V-DAY: Valentines, victory and vaginas

“If they can’t afford that they should take less classes and pay for the classes they can.”

LUCIA NARDI Staff writer

OMAR FAZLI, 21 Undeclared

“I understand why they’re doing it. [Students] taking more than 90 units should be able to transfer.”

Interviewed and photographed by: Pablo Caballero

Vaginas around the world, rejoice! A day of celebration is upon us. The vibrant, versatile and vivacious vagina is the guest of honor at this year’s VDAY - Of - Action. V-DAY’s 2013 campaign launched One Billion Rising: A Global Call to Challenge and Shatter the Acceptance of Violence Against Women. Feb. 14 will be V-DAY’s largest dayof-action in its 15 years as a global activist movement. Organizer expect men, women and children on every continent around the globe to “Strike Dance Rise” in solidarity this Valentine’s Day to shake and shimmy the world into a

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

young girl.” The world took notice of Damini’s demise. But the criticisms of many Western journalists began to take on an air of superiority, with undertones of racism that echoed neocolonialist attitudes. Libby Purves’ Jan. 31 article from The Times has generated a lot of attention for how she makes India’s brand of misogyny seem so foreign that she separates East from West, speaking of “... looking eastward in disgust...” The irony was that at precisely the same time that western journalists wrote smugly about Indian society’s backwards cultural traditions, a similar story was unfolding out of Steubenville, Ohio. Two teenage boys allegedly gang raped a 16 year-old, dragging her body from party to party as teenagers recorded her being sexually assaulted. The footage was posted online. And the mainstream media kept it as quiet as they could.

Josh “Grassy” Knoll Samantha Chiu Brian Bunting Collin James Aaron Hudson

Sasan Kasravi Troy Patton Karin Jensen Andrew O’Connor-Watts

new consciousness. Eve Ensler, Tony Award winning playwright, performer, activist, VDAY creator and author of “The Vagina Monologues” said in a recent interview for OneBillionRising.org, “When we started V-DAY 14 years ago, we had the outrageous idea that we could end violence against women. Now, we are both stunned and thrilled to see that this global action is truly escalating and gaining force, with union workers, parliament members, celebrities, and women of all backgrounds coming forward to join the campaign.” V-DAY, Page 5

Staff STAFF WRITERS Gabriel Agurcia, Pablo Caballero, Matthew

Emmanuel, Tharesa Marie, Keith Montes, Lucia Nardi, Alejandro Ramos, Rachael Ann Reyes, Evan Wesley PHOTOGRAPHERS Matthew Emmanuel, Julia Kinkela INSTRUCTIONAL LAB COORDINATOR Julius Rea ADVISER Mary Mazzocco

Graphic Illustration by JOSH “GRASSY” KNOLL

Letter to the editor

Two hundred and twenty-two years ago, our Founding Fathers adopted the 2nd Amendment for our constitution (The right to keep and bear arms). Today, our Founding Fathers in their wildest imaginations could not have conceived or understood the technology we have at our disposal, including, assault weapons and the size of their magazines. The description (assault & automatic) and the word magazine pertaining weapons and ammunition, were not yet part of the English language. What would the 2nd Amendment state, if our Founding Fathers had the knowledge of assault weapons, the size of their magazines, and the horror it causes? Our Founding Fathers wrote this amendment, not for personal protection, but the right to aid our government in an approved Militia, for keeping the security of a free state. Ex: The Minute Men. With the use of computer technology, along with satellites, and GPS, that is assisting our military today, there is no real need for a volunteer Militia, with the exception of the National Guard. Militias today are associated with homegrown terrorism, which are pro-white, and supported by anti-government groups.

The Bill of Rights states in part (I realize I am taking this out of context): “The Conventions of a number of the States having, at the time of adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the grounds of public confidence in the Government.” In the Gettysburg address, Abraham Lincoln spoke of a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” The people, gun advocates, are the ones abusing, through misconstruction, the 2nd Amendment. It is about time that our country’s torchbearers of freedom (politicians) take it upon themselves, with the support from public opinion, to speak for our Founding Fathers and end this abuse through misconstruction of the 2nd Amendment. The 2nd Amendment has out lived its use. Here’s an idea, just do away with the 2nd Amendment. With the exception of the National Guard, there is no more of a need for Militias. Then Congress can create and pass a Constitutional right addressing the question of personal and public safety in the 21st Century. -D.A. Gonsalves DVC Student

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.

• Phone: 925.685.1230 ext. 2313 • Fax: 925.681.3045 • Email: inquirer@dvc.edu • Website: www.TheInquirerOnline.com • Printed Every Two Weeks •

Opinions

Thursday, Feb. 7 - Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013

PROP. 30 From Page 4

Perhaps we don’t know what we want to major in or maybe we didn’t have the skills or maturity to enroll at a four-year institution straight from high-school. Then there are those with double-majors, or students pursuing a second degree. In any case, 90 units doesn’t give a lot of lee-way to make those decisions. It’s not as if Brown hasn’t realized these exceptions. Students with excep-

OUTRAGE From Page 4

Thanks to the efforts of a blogger (who kept the case alive in the local media), two New York Times reporters picked up the story four months later; the same day Damini was gang raped in New Delhi. And where was the local outrage? There have been many articles criticizing the alleged cover-up by Steubenville authorities. There were small protests in Steubenville; but nothing that compared to the thousands of people who protested throughout India.

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

tional circumstances will be able to have the increased fee waived – although the school will not receive any extra funding from the state. In other words, it will be the college’s expense to allow you those extra units at the traditional cost of $46 – and just how likely are colleges going to be sympathetic to your plight when the money is coming straight out of their pocket? Did we know about this ‘fine print’ before we cast our ballots last November? No. Is it likely that many people did? No. However, we can hardly claim that know-

If we are such a progressive society, why are we not outraged to the point of disrupting normal activities? How many of you remember the Mission rapist, who terrorized the streets of San Francisco’s Mission District in 2011? Or the Richmond High gang rape case, in which a girl was gang raped in front of a crowd of people who did nothing to stop it? It is this apathy that Rupa Marya, a San Francisco-based physician, musician, and activist, has decided to combat. On Jan. 11, she organized a protest advocating safety and awareness throughout the Mission District. In an email from Jan. 17,

ing these ‘terms and conditions’ would have changed our minds. Proposition 30 is still a good thing – certainly better than the alternative – and the changes affect a small fraction of students. Furthermore, the proposed changes are just that – proposed. If they go through, will it affect the ‘community’ aspect of community college? Perhaps so. But times have changed, and we’d better adapt. So to you 5-percenters, you better figure out what you’re doing in community college – and you’d better do that quickly.

Rupa writes, “It concerns me how our minds do not take the information in and spur us to action... [This demonstration] was not a way to increase fear in our community but to increase awareness and DIRECT PARTICIPATION in our own community.” Her plan is to post every story of every rape in San Francisco she learns about onto her Facebook page and to encourage her friends to share them as well. She posted, “When we all finally get disgusted, overwhelmed and tired of hearing of all the rape stories, we mobilize to do something about it.” We can all take a lesson from Rupa Marya’s playbook.

Participate in a local demonstration. Enlighten your friends with a Facebook post that asks them to think about a congressman’s comments about “legitimate rape.” Think about how rape is depicted in popular culture, and talk with your friends about it. Consider changing spending habits as a result. According to US rape statistics, while you have read this article, at least two people have been raped or sexually assaulted in America. Why can’t we show the level of outrage India is now demonstrating? Contact THERESA MARIE at tmarie@TheInquirerOnline.com

REALIZE YOUR DREAM AT MILLS COLLEGE.

V-DAY From Page 4

Also joining the V-DAY movement is the Students Active for Ending Rape Campus Accountability Project, AKA SAFER. This partnership works to address the prevalence of assault and rape of female students at colleges and universities across the United States. According to the New York University Student Health Center website, 1 in 5 college women are raped during their college years and approximately one-third of sexual assault survivors are first year students between seventeen to nineteen years old. Thousands of students around the globe have hosted V-DAY events through VDAY’s College and Community Campaigns. Performances of “The Vagina Monologues” and other artistic pieces have raised money for local organizations working to end violence against women and girls, as well as heightening awareness in their communities about the global epidemic of gender-based violence. This year’s One Billion Rising Campaign concept arose from another alarming statistic: One out of three women will experience violence in her lifetime which translates into One Billion women worldwide according to the United Nations. This violence against women and girls, includes rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation, and sex slavery. Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an interview last month with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, “We have a long way to go... in many parts of the world the deprivation women face, the discrimination, the abuse, rape as a tool of war, sexual violence as a means of keeping women in their place, we have a lot of work to do and

I’m determined to continue that when I leave [office]. In the words of Pulitzer Prize winning author, women’s history expert and Harvard professor Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” We can no longer sit in our homes, our classrooms, our workplace, “well-behaved”, and expect the world to change. We must come together, One Billion strong, and demand an end to this insidious violence perpetrated on over half the world’s population and one of it’s most precious resources - women and girls. Rise and dance with the One Billion survivors of gender-based violence - women and girls around the globe who protest the apathy and acceptance of the status quo and demand an end to this violence. Why dance? As Ensler expressed so profoundly in her “Welcome to V-DAY 2013” video, “Dancing is so powerful, the women of Congo have taught me that. Women who have suffered the worst atrocities, I have seen how they have turned their pain to power, to strength, to generosity, to courage, through dancing, through their bodies...when we dance it’s holy, it’s sacred, it’s sexual, it’s dangerous, it’s spontaneous, it’s transcendent. Looking for a Bay Area VDAY event to unleash your wild side? You could join this reporter and the Dholrhythms Dance Company from 2:303:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. For a list of worldwide possibilities, go to http://www.onebillionrising.org. Contact LUCIA NARDI at lnardi@TheInquirerOnline.com

Advertisement Mills offers talented women who want an exceptional and personal education the opportunity to: • Transfer in fall or spring. • Get the classes you need to graduate on time. • Earn merit scholarships totaling up to $20,000. • Transfer with no minimum number of credits. • Transfer without completing your GE requirements.

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Cal State East Bay Now Accepting Applications for Summer and Fall 2013 Apply for Summer quarter 2013 (classes start in late June) from February 1 to May 1, 2013. Apply for Fall quarter 2013 (classes start in late September) now through March 1. Apply online at www.csueastbay.edu/apply. Admission requirements and application deadlines can be found at www.csueastbay.edu/deadlines Pre-admission advising appointments are available at CSUEB’s Hayward Campus Welcome Center. Call 510.885.2556 or email admissioncounseling@csueastbay.edu for an appointment. For pre-admission advising at the Concord Campus call 925.602.6700.

Arts & Features The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Thursday, Feb. 7 - Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013

A bright night at the ‘Bee’

Old-school story and new-school humor meet in ‘Putnam County’ TROY PATTON Arts & Features editor

At first glance, DVC Drama’s latest production, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” looks like it might be a bit unconventional. How could a musical about a spelling bee have drama? When watching the National Spelling Bee, I have a hard time staying awake for more than 10 minutes as the kids on stage ask for the fifth time for the language of origin of the word “asceticism.” This particular spelling bee, on the other hand, has an entire musical bit about boners, so I guess it might be prudent to throw those preconceived notions about spelling bees out the window. As its name states, “The Spelling Bee” tells the tale of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and the major characters participating in it. On the surface, the story seems like its characters might be pulling too hard on the adolescent tropes rope, but it’s only after you discover that the youngest contestant with an unfortunate lisp is named Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere (Micaela Groman), and is the head of the LGBT club at her elementary school do you realize that each of these characters walk the razor’s edge between believable tropes from our own adolescence and their over the top manifestation in this production that drives many of the comedic beats. Whether it’s Chip Tolentino (Enrico Real) singing an entire bit about his unfortunately timed erection, Vice Principal Douglas Panch (Allan Kew) responding with simply “It’s a cow,” when asked for the definition of the

PHOTOS BY JULIA KINKELA/ The Inquirer

(Top) Chip Tolentino (Enrico Real) sings to the audience about his unfortunately timed erection. (Bottom) Olive Ostrovsky (Jennifer West) throws her arms in the air as she sings about her love of her friend, the dictionary. word “cow,” or Leaf Coneybear (Andrew Mondello) being saddled with the word “acouchi” the comedic bits of the show are so diverse and so excellently scripted that I found myself laughing out loud on more occasions that I can count. The show is just that damn funny, even for a comedic snob like myself. Another novel idea “The Spelling Bee” toys with its use of real audience members to pad out the number of contestants. When one of the people gets a word like “Apoop,” seeing their reaction and the reaction of the actors added a spontaneous aspect to the show that worked very well during the brief time these

audience members were featured. The only real problems I found with “The Spelling Bee” could be directly tied to the medium of it being a musical. During some musical numbers it was hard to make out the lyrics being sung on stage caused by either the actors particular pronunciation or unfortunately timed piano key stroke. Nothing was really lost in these instances, though, but still acted as a minor annoyance. Also, like most musicals, some of the musical bits sound like they could be a lost track on some unreleased “Queen” EP. Whether that speaks to the influences a band like “Queen”

may have had on the greater population, or just the commonalities between many musicals is hard to parse out, but it’s hard to ignore these strands connecting many popular musicals once you’ve seen a few. Overall, “The Spelling Bee” was terrific. Its comedy was self-aware and well delivered, its characters felt fresh and original and, in service to its shorter running time, it didn’t get bogged down in its own ostentation like some productions tend to. A few years ago, when I reviewed DVC Drama’s rendition of “Urinetown,” I made it clear in the first sentence that I wasn’t a huge fan of musical theater. I felt then, and still do, that it is a medium that is overdone and, by its own nature, inherently flawed. The chances of finding a person who can both act and sing is like finding clean hair at a Grateful Dead concert. But with “Urinetown” I left the theater pleasantly surprised. It confounded my expectations and since then I have been continually impressed by the productions that have been done by DVC Drama program over the years, musical or not. Once again, DVC Drama has put on a show that, for all intents and purposes, I should have hated, but I loved it anyway and in doing so, much like with “Urinetown” all those years ago, confounded my expectations. Information about showtimes and ticket prices can be found at the DVC Drama Department’s website at http://www.dvcdrama. net. Contact TROY PATTON at tpatton@TheInquirerOnline.com

Faculty shows off chops in new art exhibit BRIAN BUNTING Online editor

Impressionist pioneer Edward Degas famously said, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” This is true in more ways than one for the faculty in DVC’s Art Department, who according to instructor and Art Gallery Coordinator Arthur King, want to show students they’re more than just instructors, they’re practicing artists too. DVC’s annual Faculty Art Show, held in the gallery inside the art quad, is an open exhibit showcasing work from 18 participating instructors, and isn’t limited to a single theme. The result is a content-diverse representation of disciplines and media ranging from sculpture, printmaking and ceramics, to drawing, painting and photography. Most of the instructors have shown in previous campus exhibits, and according to King are practicing artists with professional experience showing

in galleries as prestigious as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. “It’s a way for students to see what the faculty members do when they’re not in the classroom. The teachers view it is a great opportunity to engage their students about the art making process,” King said. The exhibit is an intimate single room of sectioned aisles each opening into the other, and houses an array of intriguing work. One of the pieces, a figurative multimedia portrait arrangement of a sculpture and drawing on a plinth and wall titled “Jacuzz,” features two large disembodied heads. The pink grimacing portraits starkly contrast the mostly white backdrop of the room, drawing attendees in. For their part, students are largely receptive to the show. “It shows the teachers know what they’re doing, and that they earned their spot. I had Luke Damiani for sculpture for a semester, and I saw pictures of his work, but never up close, so now I can see it.

Now it’s like, ‘oh, so he does know it all,’ ” says photography student Adrianna Murray. Even non-art students appreciate the rare glimpse into the window of the instructor process. Federal work studies student Erica Back said, “It’s for the good. I like how instructors can show students what it is they’re teaching.” With so much talent occupying much of the same space, King dispelled any notion that the show might be competitive. “It’s not a competition. Artwork is all about who we are as individuals. Art itself is very personal. It’s not like running a race.” The faculty will have over two weeks to showcase their styles, and bridge the teacher-student artistic divide with the exhibit being open Jan. 23 – Feb. 12, Monday through Thursday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and Fridays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact BRIAN BUNTING at bbunting@TheInquirerOnline.com

KARIN JENSEN / The Inquirer

Monica Vanden Dool’s ceramic sculpture “Target” is currently on display in the DVC Art Gallery.