Inquirer 3.17.11

3, 2, 1 ... Fight:

Check out the Aikido / Jiu-Jitsu club in action.

See Page 4.

The

INQUIRER S tudent V oi ce

Volume 78 No. 3

Copyright © 2011 The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

of

D iablo Val le y C ol le g e

www.TheInquirerOnline.com

ASDVC denies full funding

Fight for your right

JULIUS REA Editor-in-chief

Focus the Nation student organizers are trying to find a way to repay the cafeteria after ASDVC declined to pay the full amount for food served at their Feb. 25 event.

The ASDVC Governing Board voted to give the Focus the Nation organizers $1,012.18 out of the $1,755.93 recommended by the budget oversight committee, headed by ASDVC Controller Chelsea Cheung.

“After this experience, I don’t think I would go back to ASDVC for support,” Fabiola Ramirez, Focus the Nation student organizer, said.

Cheung said the budget committee may have misjudged its recommendation due to the urgency of the fund request. At the same time, she said that if ASDVC covered

MIKE ALFIERI News editor

Thousands of California college students converged on the state capital March 14 for the March-in-March to protest fee hikes and budget cuts at state schools.

Students from California Community Colleges and State Universities from across the state, and as far away as San Diego, showed up in droves to voice their opinions.

“We are the future of this country and these cuts will prevent people from having the opportunity to have a better life,” said Noah Stiles, 19, communications major at San Jose State University.

Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing rais-

FOCUS, Page 2

New program works to help unprepared students SCOTT ANNIS Staff writer

History, English, Math, Computer Science, physical education, and health science are six departments Need to Know that will work together for a new program aimed ACE @ DVC at helping some contains six students make an courses from easier transition English, math, into college starthealth science, ing at DVC in the history, physical fall of 2011.

The Academy education and for College Excomputer cellence (ACE) science. pilot program is The tentative designed for entering DVC stuschedule is 9:30 dents who assess a.m. - 3:30 pm. with a 45 minute one to two levels below transfer in lunch break. both English and Instructors or math. currently design“The ACE ing curricula to program will support the cen- have a two-week tral project base period to build community, uncourse, HIST like current 128: African classes where you American Perspective History might have five to 10 minutes in of the US After the first class,” 1865. said Heidi GoenSalter, an English professor who will be teaching ACE classes.

By linking these six courses in an intricate learning community, they hope to help entering DVC students complete remediation ACE, Page 2

Thursday, March 17, 2011

MARCH, Page 3

Students help friends and relatives

SEAN WILKEY / The Inquirer

Japanese Relief Fund group convenes to discuss donations to the Red Cross to help victims of the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 14 in the cafeteria.

Japanese students with family overseas rally together find donations to help earthquake and tsunami victims TALIAH MIRMALEK Copy editor

Killing over 10,000 people, the 8.9 magnitude quake and tsunami has been called by the prime minister “Japan’s worst crisis since World War II.” This crisis, as reported by New York Times, has left thousands homeless and millions without water, power, heat, or transportation.

Diablo Valley College student Yumi Sato, 21, says that she is constantly watching the live broadcast and worrying about her family

members and friends who are suffering.

It was this worry for her friends and family, in addition to a desire to help the victims of the tsunami and quake, that has galvanized Sato to create a Japanese Relief Fund Group.

Sato, who has family living in Sendai, the city closest to the epicenter, has recently received news that her father has lost over 45 coworkers.

Not all the students in her group have lost close family friends, but without exception, all have friends of friends who have died in the recent catastrophe.

Eriko Takamine, 21, international relations major, said, “I have not lost anyone, but my friends’ friends have died, and so I am definitely personally affected.”

On Thursday March 17, Yuto Fukumoto, president of the Japanese Culture Club, will present this proposed group to ICC and attempt to get other clubs such as the International Students Club or the Taiwanese Student Club involved.

However, this group’s purpose is not just to RELIEF, Page 2

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

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News

CALENDAR Thursday, March 17, 2011 Saint Mary’s College Representative Transfer Center 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Thursday, March 17, 2011 Fresno State Representative Transfer Center 11a.m. - 1 p.m.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 Theatre Insights - Alice In Wonderland A meet and greet/ information session with the cast and crew.

Arena Theatre 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 Workshop for Psychology Majors Karim Scarlata from California Institute of Integral Studies will conduct a workshop for psychology majors on understanding what to do with a degree in psychology Transfer Center 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

POLICE BEAT March 10, 2011 DVC Bookstore: A student was contacted for stealing food from the campus bookstore. Case forwarded to the Dean of Student Services for administrative conduct review.

March 8, 2011 SRC Learning Commons Computer Area: A student reported a cramp in her leg which hindered her from walking. The student’s mother brought her to the hospital.

DVC Lot 1: A student had unknowingly struck a vehicle while leaving the parking lot. The student was contacted at home and provided the necessary information for the owner of the struck vehicle. March 7, 2011 Online – WebAdvisor: A student reported an unknown subject dropped him from all of his classes via WebAdvisor.

DVC Math Lab: A student had a seizure, hit her head on the ground and was sent to the hospital by ambulance.

DVC Physical Education Bldg. - Weight Room: An identified person broke a trophy case and inserted a non DVC affiliated flyer.

The case is pending.

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

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courses in an accelerated, well- website “I saw I was worthsupported way. while and I could do some“In the ACE program, the thing for myself and family‌ teachers will work together on I didn’t know that I had that. curriculum; all of the classes [ACE] gave me the opportuin the Ace program will be in- nity for me to grow persontegrated,â€? Irene Menegas, an ally and learn what I’m good English professor who will be at‌ I’m learning how to be a teaching ACE classes, said. strong leader.â€?

The first class will have 30 DVC had a program called students, and it will grow in CARRERA which was simithe semesters following based lar to the ACE program. The on interest. Other schools program was on funded by a have started this program grant and had to be cut when and it has consistently helped the money ran out. more students stay in school Menegas worked on the and pass their classes.

CARRERA program and says The mission of ACE, ac- that from what she can tell, cording to their website, is “ACE seems to be a betterto “target the needs of un- formulated program.� derprepared students, while Despina Prapavessi, the equipmathping emat“Our goal is to improve the suc- ics dethem to suc- cess in entry level students and partceed ment change the way we teach.� in the chair, techis DESPINA PRAPAVESSI nolheadMathematice department head ogying the drivmath en, 21st-century economy.� portion of the program and This program has had great says she is “really excited, and success elsewhere including there is a lot of faculty interCabrillo College where An- est.� dres Medina-Huezo was an Prapavessi also said, “Our ACE student and said on the goal is to improve the success

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Necessary information The six ACE courses include: HIST 128, ENGL 116/118, MATH 110, CS 100L, PE - Circuit Training and HS 150 To increase student success, class sizes will be set to 30.

Teachers will be recruited with the help of part-time staff between March and August.

Los Medanos College is implementing a similar version of the same program.

The program includes 14.5 units.

The English course is an intergrated course between college reading and writing. in entry level students and change the way we teach.�

There have been studies that show that students retain more when subjects are put into context. ACE takes this to heart, and in the first semester will be relating all classes to social justice. “ Most students who start at community college and must take remedial classes don’t finish, or obtain their goals, Prapavessi said.

“We are trying to improve their success rate by making them feel more comfortable,� she said. “ACE will change the atmosphere in the classroom for the positive,� says GoenSalter.

Staff writer Stephen Langsam contributed to this article.

Contact SCOTT ANNIS at sannis@TheInquirerOnline.com

ELIEF from Pg. 1

raise funds, but also to raise awareness about the crisis.

Upon achieving approval from ICC, students will begin passing out informational flyers.

The means through which they plan on obtaining funds is by placing donation boxes in the Student Life Offices, and also, reaching out to nearby restaurants and convenience stores such as Korean BBQ or Quickly.

The funds will be sent to Red Cross, who will ultimately spend it on food, water, and assisting the victims of the tsunami and earthquake.

For further on how to get involved or to donate money towards this cause, contact Yuto Fukumoto at yuto.f1226@ gmail.com Opinions editor Sean Wilkey contributed to this article.

Contact TALIAH MIRMALEK at tmirmalek@TheInquirerOnline. com

SEAN WILKEY / The Inquirer

DVC students with friends and relatives in Japan comfort each other while discussing how to donate to Red Cross.

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Off campus: An unidentified person was arrested. An officer from that agency discovered the subject was in possession of false identification which was used to enroll in DVC classes. Information was forwarded to the Dean of Student Services. Case is still under investigation.

March 6, 2011 DVC Lot 8: A transient was transported to county hospital for alcoholic related issues. The case was suspended.

CORRECTIONS In the article, “Track team starts new season with fresh face,� in the March 3 issue of the Inquirer, the record of the track team was incorrect. The men’s team made it to the state competition from 2005 to 2009 and the women’s team made it to the state competition in 2005, ‘06, ‘08 and ‘10.

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OCUS from Pg. 1

the full amount, it would have spent 10 percent of its operations budget.

During the March 8 ASDVC governing board meeting, Focus the Nation organizers Keith Montes and Ramirez explained the March 25 event and their need for financial support.

Panera Bread was the food vendor for the event; however, it backed out after realizing that it would have donated over its allotted amount per quarter, said Montes.

Ramirez said the organizers had to hire the DVC cafeteria to cater the event Focus the Nation organizers approached the budget oversight committee for funding request during a Feb. 23 meeting.

The committee recommended to grant the full amount of $1,775.93, which covered a $4.75 meal for each of the 275 expected guests and stage set-up fees, Montes said.

Cheung said that ASDVC does not traditionally grant that large an amount for a food expense. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to support it, but we think the number is too huge; we recommended to reduce the number [of expected guests] from 300 to 275,â&#x20AC;? Cheung said.

A documented 150 guests came to Focus the Nation event. The ASDVC governing board decided to cover $1012.18, which included set up fees and a $4.75 meal for the 150 guests. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After this point, I know there will be some fund requests coming in for student events, so we hope to serve more students. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we suggested to reduce the number,â&#x20AC;? said Cheung.

Ramirez saw it differently. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They made a big deal about not getting a certain amount of people attending,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Montes said the Feb. 25 event lacked guests because of cancellations and weather.

While organizers decided to hold the event in the cafeteria because of rain, a high school class field trip and DVC class did not attend as expected, he said.

Focus the Nation organizers are now trying to find funds to cover the $763.75 debt, which they say is holding them back from finding solutions for environmental and green energy roadblocks discussed during the Feb. 25 event. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was shocking as a main organizer,â&#x20AC;? said Ramirez. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By funding, I thought we would have a connection. If we had the support of the student body, we can start our project and things would be going a lot smoother.â&#x20AC;?

After repaying the cafeteria, Focus the Nation organizers will continue their plan.

Phase 1 included presenting information about green energy and obstacles hindering its use.

Ramirez described Phase 2 as finding â&#x20AC;&#x153;what can we do as students of this college to make our college, and later our city, more energy efficient.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was really sad to see that [ASDVC] didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t follow through with their mission of helping students who want to make a difference at this college,â&#x20AC;? said Ramirez.

Contact JULIUS REA at jrea@ TheInquirerOnline.com

Thursday, March 17, 2011

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News

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

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ing tuition at community colleges from $26 to $36 and cutting $400 million from their total budget. Cuts will also be made, if approved by voters in June, to the California State University and University of California systems, in an effort to make up for a $26 billion dollar deficit in the state budget.

Buses began to arrive at 5 a.m. at the staging area in front of the California Automobile Museum. Some schools such, as Santa Monica College, which brought over 150 students, had left the night before in order to participate.

Thirty-seven students from DVC went to participate in the march; far fewer than were anticipated by ASDVC. In attendance were ASDVC President Katerina Schreck and Secretary Alexis Terrill, ASDVC Advisor Yvonne Canada and others.

Debate over the day’s issues began early on the DVC bus.

Erik Von-Note, 27, fine-arts major, was in favor of fee hikes: “I want to preserve the same chances for others that I have been given. DVC helped give me direction.”

Nick Holmes, another current DVC student, disagreed, “any fee hike is unacceptable and an attack on the working class.”

All night drives as well as cold weather coupled with a continual downpour had little ALEC GRAHAM / The Inquirer effect on student spirit, which was evident imCollege student from all over California braved hours of rain to participate in the March in March to protest budget cuts at the mediately upon arrival. Even before the march capital. to the Capital began, students could be heard chanting through megaphones “students unit- in a row. “So impressive, it shows how much crowd. “You are the ones that are the key to accessible to everyone in the state and we must ed will never be divided.” students care,” Block said about the turnout. the future. We need people with advanced de- invest in higher education.”

“This is a good Start…students are usInstead of fee hikes, Block hopes to pass an grees to lead this country.”

Over 2.9 million students attend over 112 ing their collective powers to be heard,” said oil severance tax and continue temporary taxes The march and assembly on the Capitol was community colleges in California; the nations Christina Cline-Chavez of the No Cuts Coali- to help fund higher education in California. a comparatively peaceful protest to those that largest system of higher education. Still, comtion at Cal State Los An“Students deserve have happened in the Bay Area recently. Sev- munity colleges in California are set to remain geles. “We are here to let “I want to preserve the same to have a vote,” enteen people were arrested at UC Berkeley on the cheapest in the nation, even if tuition is people know that if they Block said. “Hope- March 2 at a protest over budget cuts. There increased from $26 a unit to $36 a unit. chances for others that I have fully we’ll pressure were no reported arrests or disturbances in are frustrated, they are Former ASDVC President Lindsay St. Hill, not alone.” been given. DVC helped give [Republicans] to al- Sacramento, though one person fainted in the currently a member of the Student Senate for Marchers continued low it to happen.” crowd and was quickly attended to by emer- California Community Colleges, was among me direction.” lively chants all the way According to the gency services. the crowd. “It was really exciting and there down the Capitol mall state’s Legislative Along with state assembly members, Stu- were a lot of positive remarks made. By heing ERIK VON-NOTE until they reached the Analyst’s Office, dent Senate for California Community Col- here we’re getting the issues known,” St. Hill Fine-arts major State Capitol, where they college fees could leges President Alex Pader spoke to the crowd. said. “We really hope to turn this around and were met by supporters. The crowd eventually more than double if a temporary tax is not “It was amazing, letting their voices be heard,” help education for the future.” filled the area from the steps to Ninth Street. continued.

Pader said. When asked whether the protest Assemblymember Marty Block, D-San DiAssemblymember Warren T. Furutani, D- will have an impact on state politicians, Pader Contact MIKE ALFIERI at malfieri@TheInquirerOnline.com ego, was one of the speakers for a second year Los Angeles, was also on hand to speak to the responded “, it has to, college has to remain

News Briefs Computer science professor passes away Longtime DVC professor Kenley Stallings passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Stallings began teaching at DVC in 1974 and retired in May 2008.

He began teaching in applied service technology and in later years was in charge of the air conditioning program. When the air conditioning program was phased out, he

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Stallings’ memorial service will be held on April 3 at 12:00 p.m. in the condominium community at 1223 Brickyard Cove Lane, Point Richmond. The Family asks that any donations will go to feed the homeless.

Presidential search continues None of the candidates to be DVC’s next president made the final cut, and the recruitment process has stopped, an e-mail from the chancellor’s office said Monday.

DVC has been in the process of recruiting a president, and on March 15 the finalists were supposed to appear at a public forum.

A 15-member committee screened the applications that were submitted, and interviewed 10 applicants last week,

according to the e-mail.

The committee concluded that there were not enough well-qualified candidates to be forwarded for final interviews, and Chancellor Helen Benjamin wrote that she has made the decision to stop the recruitment process at this point. Benjamin wrote that she is figuring out the next steps and will confer with the Governing Board at its meeting on March 23.

“Vagina Monologues” cast and crew Cast and crew are wanted for DVC’s benefit production of “The Vagina Monologues.”

Auditions are on March 15 2-5 p.m. and March 17 2-8 p.m.

People interested must sign up for a timeslot, copy of the script, and audition location before 2p.m. on March 13, 2011 by e-mailing vmonologuesdvc@yahoo.com.

Auditions will consist of a monologue of ones choice from “The Vagina Monologues” and one will also be assigned at the audition.

The auditions are open to females from

ages 18-80 who are affiliated with DVC or a resident of Pleasant Hill. All actors must be willing to perform small and large parts, and must also participate in all aspects of the V-Day campaign including working on promotions and selling tickets.

The crew auditions are open to men and women affiliated with DVC or a resident of Pleasant Hill.

The performance will be on April 28 in the student forum. For more information contact Tahnee at yourlovediva@yahoo. com.

DVC and SRC wins energy conservation contest The Diablo Valley College and the San Ramon Center has won a district-wide conservation contest by cutting its electrical consumption 8.4 percent over a six-month period. Los Medanos College came in second with a 6.2 percent reduction and the district office was third with a 0.7 percent reduction, according to an e-mail from Brian Adair, the director of facilities support for the Contra Costa Community College District.

It is projected that this effort has reduced approximately 261,000 pounds of CO2

greenhouse gases from being released to the atmosphere, and the District has saved approximately $92,000. The winnings can only be used to support future energy conservation projects that are proposed through the college business managers with final approval by the vice chancellor, districtwide administrative services.

“Anything we can do to lower our operating expenses means more money that can be used towards student achievement and success” Adair’s e-mail said.

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Sports

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Thursday, March 17, 2011

When is it too far?

Have fantasy sports been turned into a sick reality?

SCOTT ANNIS Staff Writer

“Everybody is a fantasy football player now.

Women, children, old people, everybody. I don’t think there’s any limits on who can play.

My wife is playing this year for the first time.” Eric Karabell, senior writer for ESPN. A research study by Harris Interactive recently showed there are 29.6 million fantasy sports players.

These days everyone plays and it gets pretty intense. Family rivalry and bragging rights are always at stake, and some leagues have money on the line. In serious leagues, players have even agreed to get tattoos for being the last place team.

It used to be that fantasy owners had to wait until the paper the next day to figure out how well their players did, but now websites do it for them in real time.

This country has started to go a little overboard with fantasy sports though. Articles on fantasy sports are on every major sports website months in advance of the season. There are fantasy baseball previews in January for a season that begins in April.

It’s not just fantasy sports now; there is fantasy everything. You can play fantasy Congress, in which you get points for passed legislation.

Or fantasy poker, even though people can play poker themselves. The list goes on and on.

SCOTT ANNIS

Why stop there, though? How about fantasy cooking, fantasy police, or even fantasy workplace?

You could set up a point system where people get points for doing good things for their job. You get a point for making deadline, and a bonus point if the boss says “good work,” minus 1 for taking extra time on your break or around the water cooler. Everyone would pick people in their office and add up the points.

Maybe this would have helped Allen Iverson try at practice.

This would boost office productivity and let people do what they love. Think about a guy working and his colleagues all standing around yelling at him like a sporting event: “Come on John, you can do it. Only one more page.” Or from the other side “Why would you staple that there; that’s the worst staple job I’ve ever seen.”

This “fantasy” might not be far off, and we can either ignore it or jump in. It begs the question when does fantasy become reality?

MARIANA RAMOS / The Inquirer

Sensei Derek Baure being flipped during a demonstration for the Aikido-jiujitsu demonstration on Feb 9, 2011.

DVC Aikido-Jiujitsu club looks for staff support GERARDO RECINOS Sports editor

With the popularity of mixed martial arts skyrocketing, Diablo Valley College students may be wondering where they could learn some of the same techniques of their favorite fighters, along with many other students who are interested in similar and different arts.

The DVC aikido jiujitsu club is a club that meets for training on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for jiujitsu training. They continue from 3 p.m. to 5:30 for Aikido, and conclude with weapons training from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The sessions are lead by Sensei Steven Rodriguez and Sensei Derek Baure, both of whom are black belts.

They teach their students the principles of danzan ryu jiujitsu, as well as the principles of aikido.

“Danzan ryu jiu-jitsu is focused towards joint locks, pins and throws using the principle of leverage,” said Baure, “whereas with aikido [it] is more of a nonaggressive discipline of martial arts that comprises more of the defensive techniques and principles of movement.”

In Aikido they work with weapons such as the bokken, which is the wooden sword, and the jo, the mid-length staff.

Unfortunately the club has yet to attend a tournament because of their current club status, where they aren’t actually an official DVC club yet.

Issues that the club is facing are the contrasting cross of the two disciplines and styles, which make it difficult for them to find tour-

naments that the entire group can participate in. With a group of about 50 students over the past two semesters, the club has been largely successful in bringing interest to students especially through demonstrations in the quad.

During the demonstrations club members take what they learn in training to show students the benefits of joining the club.

“Through training both martial arts our goal is to hone not just the body but also the mind,” DEREK BAURE Aikido Jiujitsu club president

The training sessions are based off of student participation, with the day’s lessons geared toward answering student’s questions, whether they are on techniques that they need to work on, or something new they have seen and were eager to learn. The senseis oversee the training sessions to help their students improve, through training techniques and light informal competition.

“At the end of the class we do light competitions, and if we have questions about where we could have improved, they are both always very enthusiastic about helping,” said Mardig Ekmekjian, a student in the Aikido- jiujitsu club.

The success of the club isn’t measured in their status, but in the enthusiasm in their members.

“Personally I feel that these are some of the best instructors I’ve had, not because they know more than someone else or they are of a certain rank but because they won’t stand by and watch when they see something that could be corrected, they show you how to improve yourself and everyone around you.”

Said Ekmekjian “They aren’t teaching classes to make a living, they’re teaching classes because they love doing it, they love to share their knowledge and guide students to a better understanding of what’s being taught.”

Unfortunately the difficulty of finding their adviser and gaining their club status is halting their progress.

“The only difficulty the club has had is finding a faculty member to sponsor them,” said Travis Jenkins, the club secretary.

However the club isn’t concerned with that, because to them the learning is the most important aspect of the club.

“Through training both martial arts our goal is to hone not just the body but also the mind,” said Baure.

Contact GERARDO RECINOS at grecinos@TheInquirerOnline.com

Contact SCOTT ANNIS at sannis@TheInquirerOnline.com

‘Out of Bounds” is written by Sports editor Gerardo Recinos as well as staff writers Scott Annis and Stephen Langsam. It is updated biweekly on The Inquirer Online.

MARIANA RAMOS / The Inquirer

Sensei Steven Rodriguez working with club member Mike Nguyen during the Aikido-jiujitsu demonstartion.

5 Former All-American Jake Benz Sports

Thursday, March 17, 2011

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

gets call for DVC Hall of Fame STEPHEN LANGSAM Staff writer

Former DVC baseball star Jake Benz in his life has played for nine years with clubs in the minor leagues, including the Montreal Expos and the Florida Marlins. But his path to professional baseball was filled with transition and competition.

On February 23rd the DVC had its annual Hall of Fame dinner and induction. One of the inductees was Benz.

“I wasn’t even the best athlete in my family; that was my older brother,” Benz said. Benz, who went to College Park High School and continued on to DVC, Benz was a standout at DVC as a utility fielder and an outfielder. Jake was the first person in DVC history to be named

an All American at a different position each year.

“I wasn’t the big man on campus.

I stand 5-foot-8, 5-foot-9 on a good day,” he said, laughing. The baseball team wasn’t the most sought-after attraction on campus, with just a few hardcore baseball fans, friends and families of the players.

During a summer vacation, Steve Ward, the coach of the DVC baseball team, told Jake to go out for the Cape Cod League. The Cape Cod League is a wood bat league, where almost three-quarters of the players are chosen to play in the major leagues.

“I remember being one of two or three junior college kids playing out there. I knew the competition was going to be tough,” Jake said, “Can I really compete?”

Jake did compete even along-

side the likes of soon-to-be Major League stars Billy Wagner (Astros, Mets), Todd Walker (Twins, Cubs) and minor leaguer Paul Failla (Lake Elsinore).

In Jake’s first at bat in the Cape

“Being inducted means a lot to me. I was born here, grew up here. I went to Valley View Middle School, College Park High School and DVC.” JAKE BENZ DVC Hall of fame inductee

Cod League he hit a triple. Jake was named player of the week for the first week, and led the entire league

in hitting until the final week, when, he finished third in batting. Some of the highlights for Jake were being named a mid-season and post-season all star in the Cape Cod league.

When Jake came back from the Cape Cod League he was looking for a school to transfer to. Jake decided to transfer to Oklahoma State, with the help of Ward, who is now the DVC Hall of Fame Chair. At Oklahoma State Jake continued his status as an All American and was voted in at two more positions, pitcher and designated hitter.

From Oklahoma State Jake was drafted by the Montreal Expos, a major league team that played in Canada until the early 2000s. The team is now known as the Nationals and plays in Washington D.C. Jake played seven years for the Expos reaching as high as Triple-A.

After being traded to the Marlins, Jake played two years for the Florida franchise, once again reaching as high as Triple-A ball.

When Jake was asked about his life path, he said, “I would do it all over again.”

“Being inducted means a lot to me. I was born here, grew up here. I went to Valley View Middle School, College Park High School and DVC,” Jake said. “It was a special moment.”

Jake is a father of two boys, whom he would love to coach.

“If the opportunity arises I would love to be back in baseball, coaching or managing fiscal items,” said Benz.

“I just need to find the right balance between my family and the game.”

Contact STPEHEN LANGSAM at slangsam@TheInquirerOnline.com

Who is the greatest baseball player of all time?

GERARDO RECINOS Sports editor

It’s more hotly debated than peace in the Middle East, and it’s more American than apple pie and ignorance of foreign accents.

A list of the top nine baseball players of all time.

Radio jockeys, former players and coaches have all had their say on the subject, but every one of them sounds more biased than the last.

So why not leave it to a college kid who played only as high as varsity baseball to weigh in on one of the most hotly debated topics in baseball circles?

Great players create great memories, not tarnish them, so if you’re expecting a Barry Bonds reference, then look elsewhere.

Stats only tell you part of a players story, so instead of staring at stats I had different qualifications for my list.

9. George Kenneth Griffey Jr.: During an era where a player’s numbers have been more scrutinized than ever before, Griffey and his slim frame and uppercut swing helped established him as one of the only “clean” baseball players in the game. He treated the game with respect and disregard for his body and personal safety, crashing in to walls and sprinting into the gaps to track down a ball. Junior represents everything that was right with the game, in an era where so much was wrong.

8. Derek Sanderson Jeter: You don’t get a name like “Mr.November” for playing well after the all star break. He won five world championships, and made the kind of money

that would turn even the most honest humble threw more no hitters than any other pitcher men into a cynical arrogant jerk. But never has ever will. there been a player so involved in a city, so ap5. Peter Edward Rose: Forget about the betpreciated like Jeter. A kid that was called up ting scandal; forget about the fact that Bud Sefrom the teams farm syslig has a personal ventem and has been a Yandetta against him. The kee ever since. And after man bet on his OWN signing his new deal in team. Not another 2010 will be one for the team, he was so conrest of his career. fident his team would 7. Rickey Henley Henwin he bet on them! derson: Any man that can Rose was the ultimate stand in front of a stacompetitor, whether it dium full of people and be in game seven of proclaim himself as “the the World Series, to a greatest of all time”, isn’t spring training exhicocky, he is right. Rickey bition game. The Hit was like a miniature body King not being in the builder, with a sprinter’s Hall of Fame is a travspeed and the power of esty. I am just waiting GERARDO RECINOS a cleanup hitter. When for the day Bud Selig’s Rickey drew a walk, it brain explodes after rewas only a matter of time before he ended up alizing what a mistake he made. Until then the on third base. He was a freakishly good athlete Pete Rose section of Cooperstown waits until in high school at Oakland Tech, before being that blessed day. drafted by the, Athletics. He set marks as a 4. Henry Louis Aaron: The Hammer was base stealer that will not be touched, truly en- the epitome of consistency, but he gets overshrining him as “the greatest of all time.” shadowed by the greats, because he never had 6. Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr.: A great pitcher can an eye-popping season. The rightful Home neutralize a great hitter with precision and Run King did it with hard work, not a pharmacontrol, but Ryan just overpowered hitters. He cist. 30 years from now, kids will watch ancient had a mean streak and was never afraid to tune video of Hank Aaron running the bases with up the band and throw some sweet chin mu- two long haired hippies, wishing they had seen sic: plus I bet Robin Ventura will remember true greatness.

Ryan for the rest of his life. Even as a 50 year 3. Theodore Samuel Williams: The man was old Nolan could throw high 80s. No pitcher hated by sportswriters from Boston to Califorwill ever be as dominant. He struck out and nia, but that didn’t stop him. Williams was the

last man to hit .400 in a season Williams, and is widely considered the best pure hitter of all time. Despite serving with the Marines in the middle of his career Williams still posted some of the best stats in his era.

2. William Howard Mays: Mays has been seen as the greatest player of all time, for his all around excellence on the field. The way he patrolled the spacious centerfield in the Polo Grounds was amazing. He could hit for power and average, but the most amazing part of his game was his speed. Mays has been known for his hitting (660 career homeruns) but he also went first to third with better instincts than anyone else in the game.

And now, the greatest baseball player of all time 1. George Herman Ruth: The Sultan of Swat, The King of Crash, The Colossus of Clout, The Great Bambino. All nicknames used to describe the man more popularly known as The Babe. Ruth was a womanizing drunk, but when he was on the field, he meant business.

Ruth was hitting 50 homeruns in a season when others were hitting 20. And let’s not forget, he even pitched! He held an ERA of 2.28 over his career. In the movie “The Sandlot,” The Babe is said to have been “godlike”.

“Babe Ruth was the greatest baseball player that ever lived. I mean, people say he’s less than a God, but more than a man. Like Hercules or something.”

Contact GERARDO RECINOS at grecinos@TheInquirerOnline.com

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

MARIANA RAMOS / The Inquirer

Rehearsing a scene from the play “Six Degrees of Separation” to illustrate the theme of prejudice and stereotype.

A bit of gentle direction BRITTNEY GRIFFIN Staff writer

Students in DVC’s drama department spend countless hours devoted to their art in hopes that someday people will be able to watch and admire their hard work, and this is exactly what DVC’s directing projects course is all about.

Nicole Hess-Diestler, teacher of the class, says, “It is meant to allow students to spread their wings and fly.

They get the opportunity to take full responsibility for the event and its outcome.”

Her role in this program is to provide feedback and assign the students specific themes.

The student directors must then choose a scene from a published playwright they believe correctly depicts this theme and possible conflicts that may arise from it.

For instance, the current theme is prejudice and stereotypes.

This course is completely student oriented, which is rare, but an amazingly unique opportunity.

Diestler is extremely proud of her students and their dedication and says, “I am there to provide guidance and leadership only.”

The student directors are given the opportunity for their work to be showcased during the drama season, and last season’s “Fuddy Meers” was a product of this program.

Drama area chair, Ed Trujillo, says, "The directing program feeds into the community, so it’s not just a program for the students but also for the community."

These students dedicate about four to six hours a week to this class alone.

Over a period of five weeks they choose their scene, cast

their actors, provide their own props and costumes, and direct their scene to be prepared for the final performance, the brown bags.

The brown bag shows are open to all and is a donationbased entry with no tickets sold. The upcoming shows are at 7 p.m. March 30 and April 1st, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

The directors and actors involved are very grateful for this opportunity.

Jeffrey Crawford, one of the student directors, says, “We are all in it for learning, no matter how cheesy that sounds. There really is no competitive aspect."

He also says it puts students to the test but, “It's a good place to be, because of how much a family we are."

Aelpie Smith, another student director, says, “It’s nice to have a hands-on class”, as opposed to the prerequisites,

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which mostly consists of lectures.

Previously there had been talk about making this program only available every other year, but with recent budget cuts this program may be cut once and for all.

Alex Guerra, who was going to wait until next year to take this course, is glad he has this opportunity now, but thinks it truly would be a shame and a tragedy for the drama department to lose this program.

Guerra says, “It’s different, because I am used to acting. It gives you a different perspective. It made me realize how much work directors do.”

“It will make it very difficult and students will not get a chance to direct,” he says.

Contact BRITTENY GRIFFIN at bgriffin@TheInquirerOnline.com

MARIANA RAMOS / The Inquirer

Director Steven Sloan, middle, is giving advice on performance of “Bye Bye Birdie” to James Thompson, left, and Kristen Loyd, right.

Movie Review:

BATTLE : LA

BRITTNEY GRIFFIN Staff writer

The end of the world is a concept that seems to be taking over the big screen with December 21, 2012 on the horizon.

Movies such as “2012” and “I am Legend” have already been released, but the recent film “Battle: Los Angeles” provided an unoriginal perspective on the matter; an alien invasion being the catalyst for the world ending.

This is a notion that we have seen played out multiple times on the big screen as extraterrestrials enter our world with technology beyond ours and leaving us to wonder: What is their motive?

In “Battle: Los Angeles” the aliens intentions are quickly made clear with vivid pictures of L.A. being destroyed, and throughout the entire film the action and the fighting never stops.

There is a brief introduction in which the story and characters are introduced but if you have seen any end of the world-alien-action film and watched the first few minutes of “Battle: Los Angeles” you have basically seen this movie.

My father and I jokingly prepared a list of the quintessential scenes that would most likely occur, and suffice it to

say I got what I expected.

The scenes consisted of someone sacrificing their life for everyone else, innocent civilians with children, a cute dog running around, lack of ammunition, competition and hostility between marines, a commander with a child on the way, and the always emotional, “leaving a note behind for his wife” scene.

From an unknown writer and the same director of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning”, “Battle: Los Angeles” was lacking in authentic emotion and a generally interesting plot.

Yeah, I had hope that these marines could pull through and save L.A., but the movie did not keep me on the edge of my seat. Maybe if the dialogue was not so predictably unintriguing I would have got my monies worth.

With a semi-impressive cast of actors such as Aaron Eckhart, Ne-Yo, Bridget Moynahan, Michael Pena, and Michelle Rodriguez, “Battle: Los Angeles” did not succumb to what it could have ultimately been.

I was expecting an awful end of the world movie, and I got a mediocre end of the world movie.

Contact BRITTNEY GRIFFIN at bgriffin@TheInquirerOnline.com

Thursday, March 17, 2011

The

Buzz

Should college students be allowed to vote?

SARAH ZAKIAOUI, 22 Undeclared

“It depends. I personally don’t care, because I’m not a citizen, but if I had to I would.”

MICHAEL SHARP, 18 Molecular biology

“No, a lot of students are too busy. They have to concentrate on classes instead of what is happening outside of school.”

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Editorial

Banning the “stupid” vote: College kids are on the list; who’s next?

Are college kids stupid?

Do we lack experiences, or make decisions with our emotions instead of our intellects? House speaker William O’Brien seems to think so.

O’Brien claims that “Voting as a liberal (is) what kids do”, labeling them as “foolish”.

He added that they lack “life experience,” and “they just vote their feelings.” Clearly this lawmaker believes that college kids are incompetent when dealing with crucial decisions such as voting.

If college kids are “incompetent” when it comes to voting, the question remains: who isn’t?

Do we add to that list voters whose ballots are cast wrong, or voters who are turned away from polls due to lack of ID? In fact, according to O’Brien, we should. The New Hampshire bill also calls to require a photo ID to be present with the voter at the booth, which would mostly affect students and low income minorities who are less inclined to get the IDs they don’t need. O’Brien argues that this would help prevent voter fraud, which has little

evidence in terms of voter ID and college voters.

Evidence follows, instead of O’Brien’s testimony, that college students make informed decisions based on factors of civic participation placed on schools as outlined in UC Berkeley’s piece “21st Century Competencies” on political socialization. In its structure, college provides a political womb in which students can develop a clear understanding of a complex and political world. Among the list of people praising the effects of education on political competency are everyone from former presidents such as Thomas Jefferson to notable education scholars such as John Dewey.

Lack of evidential support aside, O’Brien’s argument that college students are the single ignorant demographic that need to be silenced seems strangely specific.

There are numerous communities other than college students that can easily be labeled as “stupid voters.” Take for example Tea Party voters who would vote to allow guns to be carried in schools, or

SCOTT BABA / The Inquirer

to create a panel to nullify all federal laws. If the argument is to be made that certain demographics vote with their hearts instead of their brains, certainly these people should be included with college students on the list.

Lawmakers who wish to pass these marginalizing laws seem to want to ignore the principles essential to living in a modern democracy. In

“No, not really. I feel that about 85 percent of students don’t pay attention, have a political view, or even care.”

Liz Robinson, 19 Undeclared

“We’re not all officially 18 yet, but I think if you have the responsibility you should use it.”

Interviewer: Brittney Griffin Photographer: Izzy Bajalia

“Don’t Stop Believin’,” a popular song by Journey, has been turned into a popular ringtone over 20 years after its initial release. This is just one of the things smart phones have made possible.

So are these newer phones, “smart phones,” really making people smarter, or are they doing the opposite?

I say they are making people more technologically savvy, but not smarter.

With all of the games, applications, calendar reminders, and language translators, these “smart phones” are

actually making their owners more dependent on technology to go about their daily lives.

In a social aspect, three friends might be out to dinner and use their smart phone

heads, possibly resulting in questionable results.

We also use these phones to distract and isolate us all through our daily lives.

For example, in a classroom setting, a student might stop listening to the teacher and go on their phone to text message a friend, in turn missing out on answers for an upcoming test.

I think of the reasons why these smart phones are so prevalent is they are sold in mass quantities and advertised far more than some cars and trucks are.

All of this advertising

to calculate tip, but what if you took away their smart phones?

You’d probably get three people furiously attempting to crunch numbers in their

Stephen Langsam Staff Writer

forms society’s expectations around what you should and shouldn’t have. These smart phones, are seen as a “must have” in most metropolitan areas, and are carried by all types of people, whether it be students, teachers, a gas station attendant or the CEO

of Apple, most people have bought into having a smart phone.

Granted, these smart phones do have good abilities too. For instance, when you’re in a car accident and need to call for help, a smart phone can do that. But with all of the features that these phones have they are debilitating the users.

As fads come and go, I think the smart phone will as well. So phone companies and mobile device users, do you feel lucky?

Contact Stephen Langsame at slangsam@TheInquirerOnline. com

Letter to the Editor

Our world is growing. Ever since the dawn of the twentieth century, technological advances have been coming to society faster and faster right up until today. Nearly limitless webs of knowledge are readily available to us and it’s that web – let’s call it the internet – that our world revolves around. What some may have called a “fad” in the nineties has become an important foundation in how we communicate and organize ourselves as a society. Much like the dawn of printed newspapers the internet has been an important tool in the unification of different types of people. Between the ability to instantaneously self-educate

as well as connect with others the potential has proven itself beyond many initial expectations. There are few in this nation that would give up this right to information and communication, so why deny it to others that aren’t in the country?

Take a look at the Middle East.

After decades of unrest and neartyrannical rule, chaos has finally erupted and sweeping protests for revolution have begun. The people of Egypt were able to oust their president, Hosni Mubarak, who had been in power for three decades in a span of less than two months. However, it’s hard to imagine how things would have went if they didn’t have

Staff

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

consequences for college students everywhere. Poor statistics were used to support O’Brien’s stance on college voters, and they could be repeated by lawmakers in California. If we truly, as Americans, wish to tackle the issues associated with voter fraud, we should turn a critical eye to fraud with substantial proof: the fraud of denying college kids the right to vote.

Smart phones for dummies

“As fads come and go, I think the smart phone will as well.”

TILMON AMOS, 20 Theater/performance acting

a democracy, all citizens are given equal representation, regardless of their condition, situation, etc. If a single group is discriminated against or prevented from being represented, then any group can be, and democracy is not achievable.

Democracy seems to have been put on the backburner with these new laws, and, if they pass, there could be dire

Opinions

KYLE, 20 Business

“Some people choose to educate themselves, but for the most part they don’t.

Students don’t go out and learn about what is going on; they don’t care.”

7

Opinions

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

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

access to the internet. Even when the Egyptian government shut down access, there were plenty of people who were technology-savvy enough to find workarounds and manage to log onto Facebook or Twitter and spread word of what was happening.

Google played a huge role, creating a system in which protesters could call a number to upload a post onto Twitter simply by saying it, Google would do the rest and transcribe it into text.

It’s hard for us to imagine someone who doesn’t know what the internet is and what it can do, but I don’t think it’s a stretch. There are millions of people who have some-

thing to say to the world but simply can’t. If social networking sites had such an impact on areas such as the Middle East, I think it’d be a fair assumption to say that it could have similar effects on places that aren’t as exposed to such media. Giving internet to these places is important; allowing people access to a place where they can air their grievances about unfair treatment is an important step towards gaining a voice. If the people of Egypt didn’t express their voice, their protests would not have been nearly as effective as it was.

-Sam Eshtehardi Student, San Ramon

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 •

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Features

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Alex Pader, president of Student Senate for California Community Colleges, leads the procession of students marching against fee hikes.

Rally in the rain Inquirer editors Mike Alfieri and Alec Graham followed protesters from colleges across California to report on the March in March rally in the state capital on March 14.

Thousands of marchers came out holding signs and banners in protest of proposed state budget cuts to all community colleges, CSUs and UCs.

Photos by ALEX GRAHAM