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persian party Nowruz celebration. See Page 4.
inquirer Thursday, March 9 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Volume VI, No 3
Carnaval SF celebration
Discussion on undocumented student moves forward SUMMER PAGÁN Staff member
that being a part of the program is like “being a part of a community and that they all treat each other like family.” “Through Umoja I’ve become more comfortable with myself. I don’t have a problem raising my hand and giving my opinion,” panel member Tierra Lynch said.
The Diablo Valley College council open forum that led to faculty and students on the lookout for strategies to protect undocumented students took place on Wednesday, Feb. 22. What is DVC’s need? How do we address that need? What are the solutions? Those were just a few of the many questions answered at the forum. Concerns dealing with the familiarization and acceptance of Resolution 1-S were expressed at the meeting. Resolution 1-S grants sanctuary status to every Contra Costa Community College as it withholds students’ personal information from federal agencies. Ted Wieden, DVC’s Interim President said, “The focus for today is to familiarize ourself with the resolution.” Because the resolution doesn’t use the word “sanctuary” due to its unclear meaning, groups were created at the forum to discuss the possibility of student allies creating their own sanctuary pacts on campus to support the safety of those of whom are undocumented. Two of the main goals which were proposed on Wednesday include the goal to educate every student on the resolution, and to persuade them into becoming an ally to undocumented students. “We talked about education in non-violence civil disobedience, given that students have a lot more latitude and range of what they can do than what the institution can,” said Andy Barlow, a social science professor who shared what his group discussed. Barlow talked about the possible vision of educating the college community on what a sanctuary movement is and how to achieve it by forming student allies instead of relying on the district and college institution to put in the work. Due to President Trump’s plan to put pressure on sanctuary cities by threatening to cut city and university budgets, those at the DVC open forum described their plans to spread awareness by student involvement. The impact that ASDVC could possibly have on supporting the spread of awareness of a student-formed sanctuary was considered at the forum. “I’m going to form that club,” Robin Stewart said, an ASDVC member who is focused on tangible strategies to protect undocumented students. “I’ll actually speak to the students about the content of what we’re saying rather than the fluff which they see it as.”
Contact MAHRUKH SIDDIQUI at MSiddiqui@DVCInquirer.com
Contact SUMMER PAGÁN at SPagan@DVCInquirer.com
KAYLA ROBINSON/ The Inquirer
Viva La Diva Dancers performing at the Balancoire Club in the Mission District for the Mardi Gras celebration presented by Carnaval San Francisco on Tuesday Feb. 28 see page 3.
Umoja panel gives insight on race Opening the panel, students were asked how the portrayal of the media impacts them in their Seven African American stu- daily lives. Panel member Arieal dents spoke during Black Histo- Young, 20, said that she wouldn’t ry month on how stereotyping see or hear anything positive in has affected them in their daily the news and that movies would lives both at school and outside reinforce negative images and of school. stereo“Through Umoja, I’ve Race in types of America: become more comfortable African Students Ameriwith myself.” Speak, cans. an anTalknual panel ing about ~TIERRA LYNCH held durthe media UMOJA panelist ing Black and the History portrayal Month, consisted of students of African Americans, Shanice who are a part of the Umoja Mitchell said that is “irritating” program at DVC. Co-coordi- that the media only shows the nator of the program, Yvonne hardships that African AmeriCanada, who helped moderate cans have faced and not any of the panel said, “Our intention their achievements and that “sohere is to create a safe space. To ciety is kinda judging blacks as a create a safe space for all our whole.” participants to ask questions. Speaking of how media’s porA safe space for all our panel- trayal of African Americans afists to share their thoughts, their fects his life, panel member Ron ideas.” Jones II said, “I can walk down MAHRUKH SIDDIQUI Staff member
TREVOR CHEITLIN/ The Inquirer
From left to right, Tiante Lee-Thomas, 20, Claunesha William, 20 Shanice Mitchell, 19 and Cameron Schmidt, 19, make up part of the Umoja panel. the street and be stopped and asked where I’m going.” Cameron Schmidt said that when he looked up the population of African Americans who attend DVC, he found out that the number was only six percent. The panel ended with members discussing how Umoja has impacted their lives and how the program is helping them. Ron Jones II said that since joining, “it’s been beautiful” and
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