The Inquirer Issue IV. Vol. 2

I

INQUIRER Student Voice of Diablo Valley College

Volume IV No. 2

Tuesday, Feb. 25 - Wednesday, March. 9, 2016 www.DVCInquirer.com

How safe is your drinking water ?

The Inquirer reports on Contra Costa Water District’s contamination levels See Page 3.

Muddled message of black lives matter The disorganized reality of a growing movement See Page 6.

Vikings shoot for playoffs Basketball excels at the Big 8 Conference in preparation for end of season Playoffs See Page 8.

AUSTIN LEMAK / The Inquirer

news 2

Thursday, Feb. 25 - Wednesday, March 9, 2015

Canvas to replace Desire2Learn SEAN ROSS News editor

A

fter weeks of debate and translating legalese, Diablo Valley College has voted to switch Internet Learning Services platforms from Desire2Learn to Canvas. The switch will become effective as of the Fall 2017 semester By making the switch to Canvas, the college is projected to save approximately $400,000 over a ten year period. Further, several members of the faculty senate have praised Canvas as a superior platform. There have been concerns among other instructors, however, regarding the usability of Canvas’ discussion boards and math interface. Holly Kresch, a representative for DVC’s math department, expressed concern over the usability of Canvas’ math interface in writing quizzes saying, “If I was writing math quizzes, I would look for some other way to do it.”

The President of DVC, Peter Garcia, has pledged to allocate a portion of the savings to funding supplemental programs. These will then be integrated with Canvas in order to improve usability and overall functionality.

The faculty senate expressed further concerns regarding intellectual property ownership of teachers’ curricula and textbooks they’ve authored, as well as the potential erosion of the school’s independence from the state.

By using Canvas, teachers grant them and the Online Education Initiative, a collaboration of several California Community Colleges funded by a $56 million dollar grant from the CCC Chancellor’s office, a level of rights to their intellectual property. This is necessary in order for Canvas to host teachers’ content online.

Initial communications with the Initiative’s legal representatives has resulted in their insistence that the rights they would hold are limited. However, definitive answers to the question of just what the extent of their rights are have not been answered. This generated unease, but these concerns have since been assuaged. Under the agreement, neither

Graphic illustration by JESSE SUTTERLEY

Diablo Valley College plans to switch from their current online service, Desire2Learn before the end of next year Canvas nor the Initiative would have any proprietary rights to professor’s intellectual property. Another point of concern was, upon entering into the contract with Canvas, DVC would have virtually no hand in future negotiations. All negotiations with the Online Education Initiative and Canvas are handled exclusively by the state.

During one faculty senate meeting, Social Sciences representative Buzz Holt — while agreeing that Canvas was a highly effective program — made an impassioned plea for staff to be wary of stepping down a slippery slope towards ceding the school’s autonomy to the state.

“I see an ongoing trend to basically take away our local in-

dependence, the independence we have in our schools,” He went on to elaborate that the trend begins with state-mandated Student Learning Outcomes, and is now progressing into the adoption of a statewide course program in Canvas.

“Some of us are really scared of what we see with OEI... pretty soon we’re going to have state course outlines, we may have the state telling us which textbooks we can use, it may even be that there’s a state faculty committee that gets together and draws up the final exam.”

Contact SEAN ROSS at SRoss@DVCInquirer.com

Berkeley looking at program cuts after shortfall ERIN SMITH Staff member

tile region,” due to the Hayward fault, which runs through campus. Over the past decade Berkeley has invested $2.1 bilUC Berkeley is facing a $150 million lion into academic and residential facilibudget deficit. For Diablo Valley College, ties. Nearly 60 percent of which was used which transfers more students into the for earthquake retrofitting. The $150 milthird year bachelor degree program at UC lion deficit can be managed for now, but Berkeley than any other community col- some serious changes need to be made to lege in the US, these budget cuts could be ensure the future of the school. sending potential Cal bears into a frenzy.

According to UC Berkeley’s ChancelIn the 1980’s the state supported nearly lor’s message to the UC Berkeley Campus, half of UC Berkeley’s budget. This fund- this could result in “reexaminations in all ing was scaled back by 60 percent in 2000, discretionary expenditures, including athcausing the campus to lose almost $200 letics.” However, the exact details of what million in state subsidized funds. could possibly be affected have not yet State support inbeen disclosed.

“I don’t know [if ] it creased to $333 million According to DVC in 2015, but that’s still transfer counselor, Rob would immidiately only 13 percent of UC Peter, schools have a affect the number of pretty good idea of Berkeley’s entire budget. Thirty percent of [transfers] they would how many students UC Berkeley’s campus they are going to let in be taking.” revenue is dependent each year over the span on tuition. Undergrad of the next few years, tuition rates have rebut their is still uncer~Tina Jung Wade DVC Transfer Center Coordinator mained stagnant for tainty. “I don’t know it the past five years, would immediately afthanks to the Governor’s Plan, Gov. Jerry fect the number of heads or bodies they Brown’s financial initiative for the UC sys- would be taking.” tem, and will not rise again until 2017.

The DVC transfer center coordinator, One of the major reasons for the defi- Tina Jung Wade, a former UCB employee cit highlighted in UC Berkeley’s Financial herself, reinforced the air of uncertainty, Data Document was the rise in health care “It’s too early to tell how it will pan out. costs and employee benefits. UC Berkeley It may impact student services, but I don’t had to pay $200 million in employee pen- know how, they don’t even know at Berkesion contributions from 2007 to 2015. ley.”

Interestingly enough, Berkeley holds the record for oldest UC campus, and it Contact ERIN SMITH at ESmith@DVCInquirer.com just so happens it’s in a “seismically vola-

ERIN SMITH / The Inquirer

Campanelli Bell Tower looks over the UC Berkeley campus on a cloudy day.

news 3

Thursday, Feb 25 - Wednesday, March 9, 2016

After Flint: What’s in your water SEAN ROSS News editor

As reports of water contamination crises begin to surface not just in Flint, Michigan but in Ohio and Louisiana, it’s fair for the American public to start asking the question: What’s in your water? Is it really safe to drink?

The simple answer to that question for Diablo Valley College, which gets its water from the Contra Costa Water District is “probably.” The full answer is a bit more convoluted.

With respect to lead, copper, and other heavy metals, rest assured; while, according to CCWD representative Jennifer Allen, there are lead based components in their distribution systems, those components are mostly in linkage and pump controls, rather than the pipes themselves.

Further, lead based components are actively being sought out and replaced. Tests have also consistently not found actionable concentrations of the metal in the water.

However, the actual levels of lead reported at each facility is not publicly available information.

What is public information, however, is that the CCWD’s annual water report has consistently shown varying concentrations of hexavalent chromium throughout the district, the same substance that was the center of the 2000 biographical film Erin Brocko-

vitch. Hexavalent-chromium, also called chromium-6, has been identified as a genotoxic carcinogen.

The chronic inhalation of this has been linked to cancer in the lungs, liver, and kidneys by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Researchers have also recently found that chronic ingestion has resulted in tumors forming in the stomach, intestines, and lungs of lab animals.

Officially, the Maximum Contaminant Level has been established at 10 micrograms per liter. While none of the concentrations found in CCWD come close to exceeding this level, they do consistently exceed the Public Health Goal level of 0.02 micrograms per liter by as much as seven times over in some areas.

There has been contention among activists and researchers unaffiliated with the state, who claim that the new MCL is hundreds of times too high.

Additionally, the new guideline was established ten years late; while the MCL for chromium was mandated in 2004, it was not established and enshrined in law until June of 2014.

Furthermore, it was only in 2013 when the annual report began to differentiate chromium-3, a substance required by the human body in small amounts, and chromium-6 the carcinogen.

Additionally, annual water reports from 2008-2014 show trace amounts of N-ni-

SEAN ROSS / The Inquirer

Overall concentrations of contaminants regularly exceed the Public Health Goals. trosodimethylamine, or NDMA in a handful of areas. This is a compound that was used in animal testing labs specifically to induce cancer in mice for medical study in the late 70’s, and currently is a reagent in the synthesis of rocket fuel. It is highly toxic at small dilutions, and is also very difficult to remove from water; reverse osmosis only removes half of all NDMA particles. There is presently no established maximum con-

taminant level for NDMA, and as of 2014 the CCWD is no longer testing their water for this substance. There is some speculation, noted Allen, that NDMA may be formed as a byproduct of the purification process, but research has not yet been conducted on veracity of this claim.

Contact SEAN ROSS at SRoss@DVCInquirer.com

Horticulture club offers spring garden jumpstart DVC students to offer a variety of plant starts for your yard at community sale Advertisement

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KATHARINE HADA Co-editor-in-chief

Three different boxed options of organically grown heirloom seedlings will be offered at the Diablo Valley College Horticulture Club's first Community Supported Plant Start sale Feb. 26.

This sale, overseen by the Horticulture Club and professor Michelle Eyestone, will feature options like the veggie box, containing plant starts like kale, snow peas, broccoli, and lettuces; the salad box, containing mixed greens, salad greens, and edible flower starts; and the beneficial flowers box, containing flowers aimed at promoting beneficial bugs like ladybugs, bees, and butterflies.

Boxes will be available three times yearly, and feature 100 percent organic plant starts specific to the time of year and climate. They will fit in a 4 foot by 8 foot gardening bed.

"For example, if you want cucumbers but it isn't the right time of year to grown them, we have included edible flowers like borage in the boxes, which have flavors similar to cucumbers," said professor Eyestone.

CSPS boxes will be prepackaged and purchasers will not be allowed to pick and choose items.

However, additional plant seedlings will be available for purchase if desired, and there is no limit to the amount of boxes per customer.

Horticulture students have had to dedicate their personal time

KATHERINE HADA / The Inquirer

Horticulture club members Mercy Garetz (left) and Teresa Conroy (right) and professor Frank Kluber (center) prepare a raised bed for the horticulture plant sale, Feb. 19 and effort to oversee this new expansion.

From building the new steam house incubator from the ground up to house the CSPS seedlings, to creating a hands on teaching model to inspire other students to get involved, the horticulture club has developed a fun, user friendly method of promoting organic gardening.

"Students have done extensive research into what grows best here for this climate," said horticulture professor Bethallyn Black. "We hope to teach good gardening behaviors."

The horticulture club has built a raised 4 foot by 8 foot gardening bed model specifically for educational tutorials on how to properly make a raised bed and plant your

CSPS seedlings, which they will provide free of charge during the CSPS box sales.

However, if you do not have the time or energy to create your own raised bed, horticulture students are available for an additional fee to install a raised bed in your garden for you. Additionally, CSPS purchasers have one week priority on the plant sales, which will be held March 11.

"We do a lot of improvement stuff down here. I think it's important to talk about plants and and educate through hands on experience," said horticulture club president, Peter Swenson.

Contact KATHARINE HADA at KHada@DVCInquirer.com

features 4

Thursday, Feb. 25 - Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Rocky relationships Feldman’s focus CHELSEY SCHALLIG Staff member

There is an art and a balance that comes with being in a relationship and few people understand that.

Aaron J. Feldman, a licensed family and marriage counselor, hosted a Brown Bag Workshop in the Diablo Valley College Student Union, Feb. 11.

Feldman spoke to students on how to keep relationships on desirable ground.

Feldman highlighted the importance of establishing a safe and respectable love in your relationship.

“Be gracious, easy to talk to, and make sure to make room for differences. By accepting difference, you will grow and evolve with your partner or companion,” said Feldman.

People usually state questions that start with “why.” Doing this can corner your partner, making them defensive. Feldman highlighted the importance of owning what you are trying to say by transforming your would-be-question into an “I-statement.”

“With I-statements, you need to CHELSEY SCHALLIG / The Inquirer identify what the problem is. Take time to figure out what vulnerable Aaron Feldman gives a brown bag workshop on how to maintain a healthy stable relationship in the Student Services feeling the problem is and come Building on Feb. 11. up with a solution,” said Feldman.

Threats can lead to abuse and ex- sation when they are not ready to date their feelings. The last step is solution for your problems,” said coach, I don’t just sit there and lisploitation for your partner’s open be resolved. to agree or switch roles to work to- Feldman. If you wonder why your ten, and I’m also not here to judge. wounds. It’s always okay to leave Keep in mind where each other wards an alignment or, at worst, a relationship doesn’t feel like it did I want people to be safe and always a relationship if you want to, just will go, what each person will do, compromise.” in the beginning, check yourself have a confidential place to go to,” don’t use threats as a way to ma- and for how long. The issue will be Arguments can lead to yelling. for whether or not you are behav- said Feldman. “Professional counnipulate. addressed in a timely manner once It’s common, and it’s possible that ing in the way you initially did. selors are here to provide help and If you want something and it’s both people are calm enough to do you both might be doing it, but it’s Feldman highly recommends that want you to fulfill your personal not working, Feldman suggests so safely. often abusive and aggressive. Talk- if you can’t get there on your own, and relationship potential.” using active listening. If that’s “When it comes to active listen- ing about issues is more important seek professional counseling to get People often deny or justify not working, take a time-out and ing, there are five steps to follow than the issue itself. through it. abuse, which can result in serious try again later, or get help. Either and understand. First, you repeat “Learning from your history “Know how you are vulnerable problems. Negative behavior will person can call a time out, but it’s back what you heard the person is one thing, but using it against in your relationships and work on rarely change without professional smart to not overuse it or use it to say. Secondly, ask if you heard someone so they are trapped is an- yourself to get through this. Learn help. shut down communication. them completely,” said Feldman, other. to be assertive and build your selfA situation can be made worse “Third, take seriously to what has Take the past into account and esteem,” said Feldman.

Contact CHELSEY SCHALLIG by pursuing a person and conver- been said and acknowledge or vali- form a constructive and realistic “As a therapist and relationship at CShallig@DVCInquirer.com

Umoja talks about bias brought home to DVC CHELSEY SCHALLIG Staff member

Umoja, a campus-based community of educators and learners committed to the academic success, personal growth and selfactualization of African American and other students, spoke out about racial biases, continued social segregation, and negative media attention in a Brown Bag workshop held in the Diablo Valley College Student Union Feb. 18.

Yvonne Canada, Umoja Counselor and Coordinator, had several questions that were created by students over the past couple of years to ask Umoja students.

The first question was on how media images and messages portray African Americans and how it impacts their life.

“The media images you see every day, whether it’s rap music videos or just newspapers, you’re just constantly flooded with it. Being a black student, at least, you get to see the portrayals of failure. Dropping out is an eventuality you kind of get use to,” said

Nick Birago, Psychology major.

“With social media. We really need to “The media images and messages about look at that because, not only will my emAfrican Americans are negative, you’ll watch ployers look at my social media stuff, but the news and you’ll see a crime committed people look at your accounts. Post how you by an African-American and people will want to be portrayed,” said Alaina Limbrick. look at me like I’ll do the same thing,” said “We shouldn’t have to change, it’s not our Tierra Lynch, Business Administration ma- responsibility. The image was brought upon jor, “It’s hard to prove us, they were given to us that I won’t do that and over the years. Expectawe have to work twice were forced upon “I will never get used tions as hard. It sucks because us, the image is not gowe shouldn’t have to do to that because I know ing to be changed by us that.” by others,” said Biwhat our people are but “For me, it’s annoying rago. and it’s an expectation Canada asked the capable of.” for our people to fail. I students to share their will never get used to that thoughts on isolation for ~Claunesha Williams because I know what my African Americans on Sociology major people are capable of and a predominantly white our history,” said Claunesha Williams, Soci- campus. ology major. “When people learn that you “I’m taking three classes on campus, and don’t have to follow society, then things will most of my classes are filled with other races. be different.”

The campus percentage is small for African So how can people shift these socially bi- Americans. I sit in the back to isolate myself, ased images for African Americans? not because I can’t make friends with other

races, but it’s that question of where people will treat me right,” said Williams.

“I’m not going to isolate myself just to please anyone because I am who I am. If you know what you want, then don’t settle for less,” said Lynch.

“I learned early that the higher you go in education, the less you’ll see of us. I always went to predominantly white schools, so isolation is normal for me. I never had the experience of being in a black community,” said Birago.The panel’s final question was to provide their point of view on what Umoja is about.“This program has helped me become a leader and I encourage people to join. It’s a positive experience and you gain so much knowledge,” said Lynch, “Umoja has events that can get you connections to further yourself and you’ll get a real college experience.”For more information about the DVC Umoja program, contact umojaprogram@dvc.edu.

Contact CHELSEY SCHALLIG at CSchallig@DVCInquirer.com

opinions 5 Technology ruins sleep patterns

Thursday, Feb. 25 - Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Freedom of speech, fight for your right Let’s talk about something near and dear to me: the right that we have to speak freely.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” First amendment, Bill of Rights. Look it up.

But you know what can not be found on the Bill of Rights or any other founding US documents? Your right to be offended. There has been a global push in recent years to not say things that offend others. To make the world a more empathetic place.

And that’s all well and good. Love thy neighbor and all that other crap. But I will not stand for it if it comes with the loss of freedom of speech.

And in the ever growing sensitive censorship bubble, Twitter has come forth with a Trust and Safety council to make sure no one’s feelings get hurt while they browse the internet. Good luck.

In Twitter’s JESSE SUTTERLEY press release for Co-editor-in-chief the council, it stated, “Twitter empowers every voice to shape the world. But you can’t do that unless you feel safe and confident enough to express yourself freely.”

Life is full of people with differing opinions, and that is never going to change. But by banning people — and removing opinions opposed to your views — will only make you a dull, uneducated, inexperienced and all around uninteresting person. I understand that as a white somewhat liberal heterosexual male, I’m the last person that will be attacked or made fun of on the internet. But seeing the internet, a place that was once filled with fiery debate and disagreement, become more and more censored, kills me in side. I no longer fear the big brother government from Orwell’s 1984 constantly watching our every word, that doesn’t need to exist when people are policing one another speech with out the help of the establishment.

Harassment does exist and is a huge problem, but the line between harassment and criticism is becoming increasingly blurry. If someone is spamming you online and you block them, but they create another account just to continue to spam you, that’s harassment.

If someone has disagreed with you, called you a liar, or made a video arguing the opposite of your point — that isn’t harassment, that is their opinion. Maybe you don’t agree with it, you don’t have to. That’s the whole point of freedom of speech. From the great misquote of Voltaire, that sums up the true meaning of freedom and free speech, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Those are words to live by, even if Voltaire didn’t say it. I may disagree with you, even hate what you are saying, but I will stand up for your right to say it.

That’s one of the principles of this nation.

But that’s just too crazy for some people. It’s a lot easier to try and block it out, or hide inside your safe space, but this is the beautiful disgusting reality of it.

This is the world we live in. People all think differently, and the fact that we can debate over these disagreements is something we can not afford loose.

Contact JESSE SUTTERLEY at JSutterley@DVCInquirer.com

Photo illustration by JESSE SUTTERLEY

College students’ sleep may be affected by the blue light emitted by technological devices.

The way students are studying has a direct impact on the way they sleep Going to college and sleep don’t seem hours of sleep. to mix.

So where does that put college stuStudents have been reduced to a com- dents who are somewhere between bebination of caffeine, Adderall, and hallu- ing an adult and a teen? Practically sleepcinations with a touch of body odor, in less, that’s where. today’s high stress, fast pace, insomniatic According to the health center of the world which we call: College.

University of Georgia, “On average, College’s stress good grades, athletics, most college students get six to nearly and extracurriculars seven hours of sleep but preach little about per night…” which, our archaic need for well, isn’t exactly besleep. tween eight or nine Instead, students hours at all. are told half-heartedly So what is to blame by college professors for this dramatic loss that they need more of sleep in college stusleep, but still are dents? Could it be too supposed to excel in much partying? Too classes. much homework?

Of course doToo much stress? ing well in school is The short answer important: Students is it’s probably a should be doing aclittle of all of these tivities outside of things. But, there’s MARCEL SCOTT school — and for also something else Opinions editor their school — in an that has been added attempt to advance to this concoction of themselves to be more than just a stu- anti-sleep formulas, a new development dent. in the way students — not only in colBut this should come at no cost to a lege — study: Computers, cellphones, student’s health. and tablets have a direct effect on sleep Students can’t advance without sleep; patterns. The light emitted from these there seems to be some sort of paradox devices is called blue light. Blue light acts between what students are capable of to the human eye like daylight. Essenand what they’re expected to achieve. tially if you expose yourself to this light Judith Owens, the director of the long enough — for example, if you use Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at your cellphone for an extended period Boston Children’s Hospital, has found of time before you go to bed — your that teens need nine and a half hours of body adjusts to the light as if it were sleep, whereas adults need about eight daylight. This in turn resets our eternal

clock, and tells us it’s not time to sleep.

College students are losing more sleep, not because they’re up all night partying, but it’s because they’re up all night studying on a machine that’s limiting their ability to sleep.

“On average, most

college students get six to nearly seven hours of sleep per night…” ~University of Georgia Health center

According to a study conducted by the Harvard Medical School, “While light of any kind can suppress the secretion of melatonin, blue light does so more powerfully,” which unfortunately means the devices that make our lives so much easier, also make our lives that much harder. So what can we do?

Destroy all robots? No, but I like where your head’s at. Instead you can buy yourself some awesome blue light blocking goggles! That’s right, for a limited time only you can purchase your very own pair of blue light blocking goggles! Just kidding, they look terrible.

So until we figure out a cool solution, I propose no more homework on electronics.

Contact MARCEL SCOTT at MScott@DVCInquirer.com

opinions 6

Thursday, Feb. 25 - Wednesday, March 9, 2016

calendar Thursday, Feb. 25 Viking baseball field The DVC baseball team will be facing off against Contra Costa at 2 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 26 Performing Arts Center Free one-act performance of Jungle Bells by actor Barry “Shabaka” Henley about an African American man searching for his identity and ancestral past. Event will include a performance and talk-back with the actor. at 12:30 p.m. A second performance will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 1 Student Union Conference Room 204 College Success Workshop Wednesday, March 2 Performing Arts Center “Black Virgins are not for Hipsters” is a love story and a startling snapshot of 21st century American culture. It offers a ride through the maze of race and romance in “colorblind” America.

police beat Tuesday, Feb. 9 DVC parking lot 10 A wallet was stolen out of an unlocked vehicle.

DVC faculty office A student reported their cell phone was taken while left unattended. There was a total loss of $640.

Thursday, Feb. 11 DVC parking lot 8 A student’s parked car was struck with no witnesses.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 DVC parking lot 8 Two students were involved in a vehicle collision. Both students drove away from the scene with no injuries and no need of medical assistance.

DVC parking lot 1 Two students were involved in a vehicle collision but drove away with no incident.

DVC parking lot 6 A student was physically attacked by another student outside of the child care building.

Courtesy of Lamont Draper Jr.

The Black Lives Matter movement fails to be effective Imagine yourself, driving on the freeway, When it comes to the this movement, most speeding just a little bit because you're hangry black people only understand the hashtag and you know the line at In-N-Out burger is #BlackLivesMatter. But what does this movegoing to be unnecessarily long. Then you hit ment actually stand for? traffic.

According to their website, the Black Lives Eventually you realize, not one car has moved Matter movement is more than a national orand you still don't have your number two burg- ganization against police brutality, and more er with grilled onions. than a call for black people to love other black Once you start hearing people. sirens and get a sense of It's a political project in what's going on ahead, you demand to bring all black, shout, "Really! The Black queer, and transgender perLives Matter movement sons from the shadows of couldn't wait until after I got society, systematic oppresmy shake and fries?" sion, intentional targeting, to Besides making it difficult freedom. for you to get your burger, To be completely honest, slightly less significant in the the Black Lives Matter webgrand scheme of things, I site is full of jumbled contrahave yet to see how the Black dictions and ironic ideas.

Lives Matter movement has For one, a black movedone anything to improve ment cannot do any good for the black community by proit's community if it's main testing or making demands. concern is not focused on DOMINIQUE SMITH Chaining together and the importance of black on Staff member stopping traffic on the freeblack love. way has never granted peoIn 1969, the Black Panther ple health care.

Party helped the black community by starting If the Black Lives Matter activist put nearly a free breakfast for children program, so black as much effort into reconstructing the black kids wouldn't go to school hungry. community as they do protesting and making During the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 the news, maybe success for the black commu- , the black community set up a carpooling sysnity wouldn't seem so out of reach. tem, so black people had rides to and from As a movement, striving away from systemic work. black oppression, the Black Lives Matter moveThose were acts of love and unity. ment has done nothing to keep the black comBlack Lives Matter advocates that they want munity from oppressing themselves. systemic equality for all black people, including

THE INQUIRER Diablo Valley College 321 Golf Club Road, ATC-103 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 The Inquirer is published Thursdays during the school year by the Diablo Valley College journalism students. Unsigned articles appearing on the opinions page are editorials and reflect a two-thirds majority opinion of the editorial staff. Signed columns and cartoons are the opinions of the writer or artist and not necessarily those of The Inquirer, Diablo Valley College or Contra Costa Community College District.

Editorial Board EDITORS-IN-CHIEF NEWS EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR PRINT EDITOR

Katharine Hada Jesse Sutterley Sean Ross Julianna Cardinale Marcel Scott Erin Smith Cooper Mead

queer and trans, yet most of the hate crimes against transgender people are committed by people of color.

The lack of love within the black community now, tears it apart more than the racist system itself.

So why hasn't the movement made any progress?

From what I've found, there's no clear message and there are too many leaders. I finished my research on the Black Lives Matter movement more confused than I was before.

There are the co-founders of the movement, the activists, and then the people that walk around in the t-shirts they find online. Through this the message gets skewed — almost like a game of telephone.

Martin Luther King Jr. had a clear message, he wanted equality for all. His message was clear because he was a strong prominent leader.

When the message of a movement is unclear, you get misinformed people who think they understand the movement, but really don't.

The current state of this movement is misleading and all over the place. The co-founders and activists, are focused on and demanding the wrong things from the wrong people, which plays a major part in the movements failure.

A successful movement needs to have a level of unity and togetherness; Black Lives Matter lacks a strong coalition.

Contact DOMINIQUE SMITH at DSmith@DVCInquirer.com

Staff STAFF MEMBERS Jess Parry, Chelsey Schallig, Dominique Smith, Randy Taylor SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS Madeline Berry, Melanie Calimlim, Austin Lemak, Allison Roullier INSTRUCTIONAL LAB COORDINATOR Julius Rea ADVISER Mary Mazzocco

• Phone: 925.969.2543 • Email: inquirer@dvc.edu • Website: www.dvcinquirer.com • Printed seven times per semester •

opinions 7

Thursday, Feb. 25 - Wednesday, March 9, 2016

The

Buzz What stresses you out about school? ~Katharine Hada

Editorial Arms race of education

CHAZZ C., 18 Music Industry

“Really getting here is the hardest. Travel time. I love DVC though, it’s a beautiful campus. The line at SCC to see counselors though. That sucks.”

JULIA POSZ, 19 Nuclear Engineering

“Deadlines and taking directions. Because each teacher wants different things and has different classroom rules.”

DREW KENDRIX, 18 Undecided

“Homework and tests!”

WYATT MISKEL, 21 Paleontology

“Being on the spot about things. Sticking to deadlines, getting stuff done on my own, being independent and determined.”

MAIKEL HAMPTON, 20 Business

“Time, trying to manage everything at once. Remembering what’s due when. Day planners don’t help.”

JESSE SUTTERLEY / The Inquirer

Prestige wars inadvertently increase university denial rates, student stress In theory the practice of having one application — and being able to check off the colleges you wish to apply to — sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately, as The New York Times reported, the Common Application also leads to inflation in the number of students applying to college and lower acceptance rates.

Students are stressed,worried, and skeptical about their futures like never before. And that’s only high school students.

At Diablo Valley College, students are enrolled in college level classes, but are still attempting to transfer to a four-year college, acting like any other high school senior.

Of course junior college students get a head start on their first two years, but that doesn’t take away the pressure.

Numbers reflect harsh reality for DVC students of color The Common Application is now being used by more than 600 colleges allowing students to

apply to multiple different colleges at the same time, sending the same information and essays to colleges all around the country. It was intended to make it easier for under-represented students to apply to multiple schools, diversifying the student body.

It’s now common practice for students to apply to more than three universities — as reported by Time, 80 percent of students apply to more than three colleges — which is a dramatic increase, compared to only a few decades ago when students would apply to one college.

The Common Application has shown that ease of application doesn’t necessarily translate to access for more college students.

The arms race of education has four-year schools increasing their standards to compete with other colleges, but there is no finish line, and the standards just keep rising.

Students are expected to become exponentially smarter in order to stock this arms race,

yet they can’t keep up.

So school’s admission rates decrease, but their application rate rises, only because a school wants to compete with another school to look more prestigious.

So what needs to change in regards to our college system? We ask colleges one thing: Stop the arms race of education. Stop worrying where you rank in Forbes or U.S. News and World Report.

In an arms race there is no end. It only affects those involved either directly or indirectly.

If schools were smart they’d sign a treaty now, and stop creating a society of overworked students. Yet it seems that the Inquirer’s plea will go unheard since we’re not from a prestigious college that rejects 95 percent of its applications.

Instead we attend a college which accepts 100 percent of its applicants; and that’s something DVC should be proud of.

sports 8

Thursday, Feb. 25 - Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Vikings team is playoff ready ERIN SMITH Senior staff member

Diablo Valley College women’s basketball team has been coasting through the Big 8 with nine wins and only five losses. Last Friday was no exception, Sophomore guard Raeona Ford came out strong and secured the first of many shots for DVC. Safiyya Yasin did an amazing job guarding the post as Ford went in for another shot and sunk it.

Modesto struggled to compete with Yasin’s ability to keep them at bay as she managed to score.

Modesto was able to get a few points on the board, but DVC dominated and ended the first quarter with a three pointer by front guard Jojuan Carrington bringing the score to 15 – 8.

Ford once again started DVC off with a beautiful shot and DVC continued to control the ball. Modesto fouled Ford who made both free throws, followed by a three pointer from freshman Cecilia Cueno, 24 – 12.

Modesto lost focus and started fouling left and right giving DVC more opportunities to score.

Modesto then managed to sink a three pointer bringing the score to 33 – 18, Vikings lead.

Freshman guard Brandy Williams, gained two points off of free throws, giving DVC an 18 point lead. Modesto’s attempts to recover were debilitated by the number of fouls they committed.

Ford scored yet again and Yasin gained two more free throws, giving DVC an even greater lead at 50 – 24.

DVC took out the third quarter with a few more great plays, ending in a score of 59 – 28.

Modesto managed to get in a three pointer in the fourth quarter, but it was to no avail. Good teamwork and handling allowed the Vikings to move the ball more efficiently and score more points ending the game at 79 – 43.

After the game, Ford commented on the team’s stellar performance, “As a team we played really good.

No one was selfish, we played really good defense.” She also mentioned that they played well as a unit and were able to move the ball up the court successfully.

Assistant Coach Matt Johnson agreed, “This game, the team worked hard. We worked on defense on the outside.”

Vikings Women’s Basketball next plays Contra Costa Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at DVC. Contact ERIN SMITH at ESmith@DVCInquirer.com

Softball stays unbeaten after two strong wins MADELINE BERRY Senior staff member

The undefeated Diablo Valley College Vikings shoot down the Solano Community College Falcons in back to back softball games, Tuesday, Feb. 16, leaving their record 8-0.

DVC started off the game by giving SCC a scoring opportunity, SCC took advantage of DVC’s mistake and gave themselves a two run lead.

DVC quickly made a come back when sophomore Julia Pelletier hit a 3 run home run in the bottom of the first inning, leaving DVC ahead with a score of 3-2.

DVC furthered the lead when Cynthia Dueñas hit a single, bringing in Natalie Larsen, makALLISON ROULLIER / The Inquirer ing the score 4-2.

Bailey Simmons waits for a ball she can hit to bring runners in to extend the lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning SCC made an error overthrowing the third baseman, allowing DueDVC fell behind in the top of tom of the fifth, furthering home Luquet said, “Our Tuesday ñas to score the third when team advantage, giving the Vi- games with Ohlone will come “Our Tuesday games SCC took the kings a 6-3 lead. giving them down to who can get the big hit. the final score lead with a 2-3 SCC scored again in the top Last time we played, both teams with Ohlone will come score. of 5-2. of the seventh, but that was not struggled to get the big hit that down to who can get the DVC rose enough to bring the Vikings down. would win the game.”

Beginning the second back on top The final score was 6-4, Vikings.

Vikings play again at home on big hit.” game, SCC in the bottom Head coach Dennis Luquet Tuesday, March 1st in another started off of the fourth said, “We play Cabrillo in a dou- double header against Yuba and ~DENNIS LUQUET in the lead when Larsen ble header this Saturday in Santa Feather River starting at 11 a.m.

Head coach again, until hit a double, Cruz. They are 8-3 and will be a Come show your love and support Dueñas hit a bringing in two good test for us. We need to con- your DVC Vikings!

2 run home run, brining the score runners to make the score 4-3. tinue pitching well and playing Contact MADELINE BERRY at to 2-1.

Larsen scored again in the bot- good defense.”

MBerry@DVCInquirer.com

Basketball falls short in 10-point loss against Pirates to end the season JULIANNA CARDINALE Sports editor

The Diablo Valley College Vikings men’s basketball team came into their final home game tied for fourth place in the Big 8 with their opponent, the Modesto Pirates.

Modesto would get off to a quick start, scoring majority of the points in the games first minutes. But as the first half continued, the Vikings and Pirates continued to trade baskets, making the rest of the first half a tight game.

“Overall this was a pretty tough season,” said sophomore Jarrell Handley, “we had our ups and downs, but for the most part we stuck together.”

As Handley said, not only was this season full of ups and downs, but so was this game.

After the Vikings slow start, they went into halftime with the Pirates only leading by six points, 28-22.

In the second half the Vikings got off to a strong start, finding the net shot after shot. But that wouldn’t last long with the Pirates continuing to put points on the board and increasing their lead. The Vikings put up a strong fight, cutting into the Pirates’ lead, making the deficit five points with three minutes remaining in the game. But the Pirates pulled away in the final three minutes, scoring five unanswered points

AUSTIN LEMAK / The Inquirer

Sophomore Reggie Arthur-Mixon takes a shot against Modesto Pirates. to close out the game. The Vikings fell to the Pirates with the final score of 63-53.

“We had a lot of injuries at the beginning of the season that really hurt us,” said sophomore Will Phillips, “but we made that little run at the end and it still wasn’t enough for us to make the playoffs.”

Now that the season has come to an end, the Vikings are looking forward to a fresh start next season to prove that they can be a dominate force in the Big 8 and make the playoffs.

Contact JULIANNA CARDINALE at JCardinale@DVCInquirer.com