Viking midterms:
Delivery downlow: Inquirer staff look for the area’s best delivery food. See page 8.
Check out what’s happening with DVC sports up until this point. See page 4.
Life and death: The Inquirer Editorial Board discusses gay bullying. See page 6.
The
INQUIRER S tudent V oi ce
Volume 78 No. 4
Board might favor union labor
Copyright © 2011 The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College
of
D iablo Val le y C ol le g e
www.TheInquirerOnline.com
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Beyond pink
TOM RIZZA Staff writer
Tempers ran hot as close to 100 people packed into the tiny board room in the George R. Gordon Education Center in Martinez to negotiate a Public Labor Agreement for Measure A funded projects throughout the district October 15. If passed, the PLA would dictate which construction companies would be able to work with DVC on any future projects. “This agreement ensures decent jobs and apprenticeships for our young people,” said proponent Barb Johnson. “PLAs just use good business sense.” After a long and contentious debate, the Board came to a decision to amend the resolution before them and vote on the agreement itself in November. These amendments included exempting projects under $2 million from the agreement, and requiring bidders to provide apprenticeships and emphasize local and veteran hiring. Union members spanning the district were in attendance in support of the PLA, as well as reps from state officials such as Assembly Members Nancy Skinner, Joan Buchanan, and Susan Bonilla, state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, and Congressman John Garamendi , who all showed their support for the agreement. Sen. Lois Wolk addressed the public in support of the agreement. “There are three top priorities in our society today: UNION, Page 3
DANIELLE BARCENA / The Inquirer
Stephanie Newblanc, 39, in the “Making strides against breast cancer” walk on October 23. She was diagnosed in July 2011.
As national awareness of breast cancer becomes mainstream, advocates push to take action MIKE ALFIERI News editor DANIELLE BARCENA Photography editor
O
nce a dirty word, breast cancer now finds itself rolling off the tongues of the public language as pink culture proves to be the trending social movement
of the moment. Events stressing the importance of breast cancer awareness have grown and expanded across the nation. Awareness has crossed over from advocacy groups, to teen clothing suppliers, to pink wristbands worn by NFL linebackers. “Back in the seventies [breast cancer] wasn’t discussed at all until Betty Ford talked about her struggle with breast cancer,” said Margaret Stauffer Vice President and Program Director at the Cancer Support community San Francisco
Bay Area. discussion. Although awareness has gained “So much has changed from Need to Know 1987 when only 30 percent of popularity, talking about the disease can still arouse strong emowomen reported having a mamOne out of every tions among cancer survivors. mogram,” said Katheryn H. Ja“It’s really difficult to say the cobsen, associate professor of eight women will words, to say you have breast canget breast cancer in epidemiology at George Mason cer,” said Pam Taylor of Concord, University, who worked on the their lifetime. a breast cancer survivor. “It’s not study. “Communities come toin 1987, only 30 necessarily a death sentence, most gether…and screenings among percent of women the target group increased to 70 people survive with it now.” Taylor stressed that surviving percent in 1999.” reported having breast cancer is more than just not Over the weekend, thousands of had a mamogram. dying and that optimism helped in people gathered for the American By 1999, it was 70 the ordeal. “Where else can you Cancer Society’s “Making Strides percent. get a boob job and a tummy tuck against breast cancer” walk in San Sources: Susan G. Komen covered by insurance?” said Taylor Francisco. Foundation for the Cure about her mastectomy. Students from Crocker Middle and University of Oregon. Research by the University of School organized fundraising efOregon released in August examforts to support their teacher, ined more than 30 years of cancer registry data. Stephanie Newblanc, who was just diagnosed The study showed that advocacy efforts had improved screenings for breast cancer and its PINK, Page 2
‘Occupy’ rallies affect thoughts on student futures United Educators of San Francisco cross the bridge to show their support in the Oakland rally on Oct. 21, 2011.
BRIAN DONOVAN Copy editor THERESA MARIE Staff writer
ALEX BRENDEL / The Inquirer
Some call it a political movement. Some call it a social movement. Within just a few weeks, what was once known as “Occupy Wall Street,” has now become an international movement with many DVC students participating in local demonstrations. From New York to Athens, Madrid to Rome, people have set camp near banking and government infrastructure refusing to leave until their voices are heard and their demands are met. “This is the first time I’ve slept on the street,” said DVC student Tyler Darling who attended “Occupy SF.”
“I hope that protests like these will change the political culture in this country, going from electorally based to more direct activism.” While the Occupy movement is addressing many of the societal woes that the participants attribute to corporate greed, the issue of whether or not college graduates will be able to find a job is one that weighs heavily on many students’ minds. Robin Parker, 46, is returning to DVC after having completed a bachelor’s degree at Sacramento State University years ago. Parker sees a definite difference in current employment prospects for college graduates compared to the way things were when she OCCUPY, Page 3
• NEWS 1, 2, 3 • SPORTS 4, 5 • OPINIONS 6, 7 • EDITORIAL 6 • ARTS & FEATURES 8 • CAMPUS BUZZ 6 • CALENDER 2 • POLICE BEAT 2 • STAFF INFORMATION 6 •
2
News
Thursday, October 17, 2011
The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College
PINK
CALENDAR
From Page 1
Saturday, October 29 Model-A-Thon Drawing Marathon Art Building, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., $20 Monday, October 31 ICC / ASDVC Halloween Bash Student Union Quad, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, November 1 Club Day Library Quad, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Student Honor Choir Recital M-101/PAC, 8 p.m., free Wednesday, November 2 Job Fair Library Quad, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 8 “The Decline of the Middle Class in America” Panel Discussion Trophy Room, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 9 DVC Rock, Rhythm and Blues Performance PAC, 8 p.m., $7 in advance, $10 at door
POLICE BEAT 10/13/11 A student’s car was stolen from Lot 8. 10/15/11 Two students were found trespassing in the Engineering building. They were caught hiding from the police. 10/19/11 A student in the Math building suffered an asthma attack and refused medical treatment. 10/21/11 High school students had a melee in Lot 1. The instigators were not identified. 10/12/11 A student came to police services upset over incidents involving an estranged fiance. The incidents were civil instead of criminal and an information report was taken. 10/20/11 A female student said that a male student kept pestering her by touching her while they were speaking. 10/21/11 A driver made a left turn into College Park High and hit a student cyclist who was in the bike lane.
DANIELLE BARCENA / The Inquirer
Stephanie Newblanc, above, teaches at Crocker Middle School. Her students organized their peers to attend the “Making strides against breast cancer walk” and raised over $15,000 in donations. Participants and supports make their way towards the start line. with breast cancer in July. name. “I had a mastectomy.” “I learned about [NewAwareness has also sparked blanc’s] breast cancer and local grass roots fundraising. wanted to get the school inIn Martinez, Bubbles for volved,” Maddy Schilling, 13 Boobies was put on by the said. Maddy, along with the Friends of Faith Foundation. other students, raised over The foundation honors $15,000. Faith Fancher, a reporter for “We’re here so we can find a KTVU2 who passed away due cure…I don’t want to be here to breast cancer. 20 years from now supporting “Everyone has been my students,” Newblanc said. touched by breast cancer,” The keynote speaker at the said Sean Andrade, who event, Dr. Kim Mulvihill from helped organize the event. CBS5, spoke about the impor- All of the proceeds from the tance of community involve- event go to helping low inment in improving research. come women in the Bay Area “People are out here walk- who lack resources. ing for their daughters and Noel Meza, who attended their granddaughters,” Dr. the event, said “men should Mulvihill said. be involved “Everyone is “Until we too, realize find a cure, this can hapaware enough, we need to pen to a guy what we need prevent it so as well.” we don’t have One of the now is research to treat it.” more evident into the causes Making examples of Strides wasn’t cancer and prevention.” breast the only naawareness tional event hitting the ~KIM IRISH to highlight mainstream Public relations manager for breast cancer. is the “I Breast Cancer Action The Hard heart booRock Café in San Francisco bies” bracelets worn often by held the kickoff event for the teens. walk the night before as part “We probably sell 5-10 a of their Pinktober fundraising. Bands Bobby Jo Valentine and Welcome Matt played pro bono to help bring in crowds and donations for breast cancer research. Not all of the national events that partook in fundraising efforts this month were completely concerned with breast cancer awareness. Organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure are concerned with the statistic that 1 out of every 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. Nordstrom on the other hand focuses its concerns with helping them adjust to changes after surgery. “We want to give a fun, normal shopping experience. The alternative is shopping in a medical supply store,” Harp said about helping to maintain a normal lifestyle for cancer survivors. “We have certified fitters that fit for women who have had a mastectomy or lumpectomy year round.” Harp said. One of the customers appreciated the specialized services. “It’s the only department store that does this,” said Molly, who declined to give her last
day, mostly to kids in middle school,” said Kyle Rose, assistant manager at Tilly’s in Walnut Creek. “Most don’t realize what it’s for, they just want something that says boobies on it,” he said. But still wearing and seeing the bracelets helps awareness says the Keep-A-Breast Foundation that creates the bracelets. “If a kid buys [a bracelet] simply for the slogan, some-
one will mention it and it will create conversation that helps awareness,” said Kimmy McAtee, PR and marketing at Keep-A-Breast. McAtee elaborated about the importance of youth awareness, “There has never really been a resource for young people…young people can really create a change.” Some contend that awareness has reached a pinnacle and some of that attention should go towards prevention
Advertisement
and cures. “We think we are past the point of awareness,” said Kim Irish, P.R. manager for Breast Cancer Action. “Everyone is aware enough, what we need now is research into the causes and prevention.”
Contact MIKE ALFIERI at malfieri@TheInquirerOnline.com Contact DANIELLE BARCENA at dbarcena@TheInquirerOnline. com
3
News
Thursday, October 17, 2011
The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College
OCCUPY
UNION
From Page 1
From Page 1
ALEX BRENDEL / The Inquirer
‘Occupy’ protesters post signage, such as this one, and change it on a daily basis. There is no group decision as to what the sign will read each day. If a sign is unpopular amongst the occupiers, it will be changed sooner. graduated years ago. Robin Parker says, “I think that there is a perception of ‘I’ll have a job waiting for me when I graduate.’ But there are no guarantees anymore; except for the guarantee that if you don’t have a bachelors (and, preferably, a master’s degree), you can’t get a decent job.” Parker adds, “I think there is a certain naiveté amongst college students who think that their education means that they will end up with a promised job. That doesn’t exist anymore.” “I definitely think that this is unfair,” said Hina Nabi, 19-year-old DVC student. “There are studies that show that if you go to college, you make more money. Students take out loans, thinking that they are investing in their futures. But these days, they are just getting more and more in debt. It makes other people not want to go to college because they’re like, ‘What’s the point’?” Technical theater major Kate Vasilyeva, age 20, says, “The government is funding businesses that make things worse for us. They should be funding the schools, which train people for jobs. Instead, they gave big businesses bailouts, saying that if the big businesses went under, it was (supposedly) a slippery slope and everything
else would go under. “ simple and in the end, why not?” said History major Juan Venegas sees Billy Jean. a direct link between “Occupy Oakland” Need to Know which started on Octothe government funding corporate ber 10, is even larger and Occupy Wall Street more complex than Ocinterests and college began on Sept. 17, cupy SF as it has literally graduates who are 2011 with 1,000 unable to find emtransformed Frank Ogapeople in New ployment “Ameriwa plaza, now renamed cans are paying taxes, Oscar Grant plaza by ocYork City. which are being used cupiers, into a commune Occupy Oakland to bail out rich corwith over 200 tents and began on Oct. 10, porations, who take many more inhabitants. 2011 with over the taxes, pay their They have the Raheim 100 people. It has CEO’s fat bonuses, Brown library, a child day outsource jobs to care center, a fully opgrown to include other countries, creerational kitchen, medical over 500 people. ate massive layoffs in center, a garden, supply 85 people were ar- center, an amphitheater America, and result rested by Oakland for public meetings, a in increasing our unPolice on employment rate. It’s projector screen for movTuesday morning a rip off. And college ies and 24-7 security. students are wonderAs of October 17, when they raided ing why they can’t get Occupy Oakland has exOccupy Oakland. jobs.” panded to Snow Park Occupy moveThe Occupy Movewith about 25 tents and is ments have now ment is a very diverse next to Wells Fargo. “New spread to over group; liberals, Ron York is fighting the front1,000 cities Paul supporters, dislines headfirst and we’re worldwide. turbed working peokicking the feet out from ple and radicals like under them (Wall Street),” Anarchists and Socialists are taking said Dax Perrault, an Occupy Oakpart. land Snow Park organizer. “We accept everybody plain and Last Saturday, Occupy Oakland had
their first official rally and march with at least 1,000. Regardless of the march being unpermitted and protesters occupying a Chase Bank for five minutes, the Oakland Police Department guided traffic and were cooperative. Occupy Oakland is not without problems. Conflict does exist between people as occupiers from different racial, cultural and political backgrounds are still trying to get to know one another and build a community. Here’s what Shae Walsh, a gay activist, had to say about it when addressing the General Assembly: “This isn’t utopia…we are trying to undo sexism, racism and oppression here that has been ingrained into us for thousands of years.” Actor and activist Danny Glover spoke at Oscar Grant plaza on October 15 when the progressive organization “Move On” held a rally there. “We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired and that’s why we here,” said Glover. “We’re not only talking about taking back our government, taking back our democracy, we are also talking about taking back our humanity.”
Advertisement
REALIZE YOUR DREAM AT MILLS COLLEGE.
Contact BRIAN DONOVAN at bdonovan@TheInquirerOnline.com Contact THERESA MARIE at tmarie@ TheInquirerOnline.com
educating young people, building public infrastructure, and putting people back to work,” she said. These three points provided the backbone for the union’s argument. The PLA would stipulate that a certain percentage of workers on a given job must be hired locally, in an apprenticeship program, on unemployment and veterans that have sought work through Helmets To Hardhats. The support from the unions dwarfed the more critical population which was carried by the non-union contractors present at the meeting. Esther Hoekster, an interior designer who contracts non-union labor, claimed the message was unbalanced. “You look in the room and you see they [in referring to unions] were all prepared well ahead of time, while the other side was unaware,” said Hoekster. “I just got the email about the issue this morning.” Matt Heavey, a local nonunion worker, believes the agreement would be discriminatory and equated it to Rosa Parks’ “back of the bus” experience almost 60 years ago. “PLAs take liberty away from us,” said Heavey. After the public comments were up, things got choppy as the Board went on to make amendments to the resolution. When the negotiations seemed to lag, city council member John Márquez said his piece. “With all due respect, we’ve been talking about this since 2006 and we’re still talking about this now. That’s a long, long time. We need to cut the talking out and either approve or disapprove this resolution,” he said. The amendments had nonunion supporters in an uproar, driving one man to ask if making such amendments to the resolution at the meeting was a violation of the Brown Act. The council lawyer, however, assured that everything being done was legal. After adding some finishing details, the Board would vote to pass the resolution 5-1, only President John Nejedly would vote against. The deciding vote for the Public Labor Agreement will be held at the Board’s next meeting in November. Contact TOM RIZZA at trizza@ TheInquirerOnline.com
News in brief Part-time instructor wins award for article Mary Ann Irwin, a part-time history professor at DVC since 1996, won the Eisenstein-DeLacy Prize for the best published article by a member of the National Coalition of Independent Scholars. She won the prize for “Sex, War, and Community Service: The Battle for San Francisco’s Jewish Community Center,” which was published in the “Gender and the City” issue of “Frontiers: A Journal of Woman’s Studies.” As quoted on the DVC website, Irwin said, “An award like this confirms that I can be part of the academic community, even as an adjunct.”
Mills offers talented women who want an exceptional and personal education the opportunity to: • Get the classes you need to graduate on time. • Earn merit scholarships totaling up to $19,000. • Transfer with no minimum number of credits. • Transfer without completing your GE requirements.
THERE’S STILL TIME TO APPLY FOR SPRING 2012. Learn more about our generous financial aid and scholarships at our information session. Thursday, November 10 • 10:30 am–2:15 pm
ASDVC Halloween Bash MAKING THE WORLD MORE . . .
Oakland, CA admission@mills.edu www.mills.edu/transfer RESERVE YOUR SPACE AT WWW.MILLS.EDU/VISITFORM.
ASDVC will have a Halloween festival on October 31. The festival will be in the Student Union Plaza from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival will feature such things as a haunted house, a pumpkin pie eating contest, palm reading, games sponsored by the ICC, a photobooth, and free candy.
4
Sports
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College
Sharks slow out of gates STEPHEN LANGSAM Staff writer
~RYAN COVAY Sharks blogger
After the 1-3 start the Sharks were not looking so good, but after winning their first two games of the road trip things are starting to look up. “The biggest thing that is hurting the Sharks right now is the scheduling,” said Ryan Covay. “It’s not their offense, the Sharks lead the league in shots on goal per game with 38.” Martin Havlat did not suit up or play in the first four games. But when Havlat did return he was an instrumental part of their scoring against New Jersey. While Brent Burns is having a mediocre start to his career with the San Jose franchise, many fans and hockey enthusiasts are looking for answers to why the Sharks are starting off so slow. “They haven’t made a name for themselves this year. No one is scared of the San Jose Sharks in a everyday matchup,” said Ryan Hilton. The Sharks to me look like a two or three seed in the Western Conference again.Facing the likes of the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings throughout the season will be the true test of fortitude for the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks will turn things around, and by April fans and skeptics will have all but forgotten this mumbo jumbo about the Sharks starting off slow. “I’m hopeful things will turn around, they are starting to get their act together,” said Mike Beamen. Hopeful is the right word for Sharks fans. Rooting for a team that has lost in each of the last two Western Conference Finals has its hardships. For more information you can read Ryan Covay’s blog at www.thefeedingfrenzy.wordpress.com Contact STEPHEN LANGSAM at stlangsam@ TheInquirerOnline.com
DVC teams build strength as they head into conference SCOTT ANNIS Sports editor
If you have gone to a DVC sporting event this season you had a 75 percent chance of seeing a victory. Overall Viking sports are a combined 58-19, and most of the teams are continuing to gain strength and push towards the conference championships. The soccer team is 11-1-2 and is ranked second in state behind only Santa Rosa (who they tied earlier in the season). “Our consistency in the back has been the best,” said head coach Cailin Mullins about her defenders. “(When) playing against really good teams our strength is in our defending.” DVC is ranked first with a perfect 6-0 record within the Big 8 Conference. “We’re winning because everyone is playing a part. We know we’re good enough to win conference, and we expect to,” Mullins said. The biggest challenge facing the soccer team is the pressure of being the favorites going into the conference championships. The women’s water polo team is fifth in state with a record of 17-3. With only one match left until the championships, DVC has already locked up the number one seed for the tournament. Head coach Rick Millington had similar views on his team as Mullins, saying, “We need to work on consistency (but) we have the best goalie in [Northern California.]” The team is very fast and,
with strong defensive play, should expect to do well in the playoffs. “If we don’t play well on offense, we are (always) solid on [defense],” he added. Football is second in conference after a disappointing loss to Chabot for their first loss of the season. The team is now 6-1 with three games left in the regular season. “We had high expectations coming into the season, and we’ve lived up to them for the most part,” Head coach Mike Darr said. He believes his team needs to be more consistent as well. He added, “We need to execute for four quarters.” The offense is the fourth best in northern California, thanks in part to surprise offensive standout Dada Richards. The offensive lineman has been the most consistent and best pass blocker. According to coach Darr, “He has done everything right.” The team still has a good chance to make a bowl game. “We need to control what we can control,” he added. Lacrosse is 5-1 and head coach Jon Skinner said, “Our team hasn’t hit on all cylinders, we haven’t come to our potential.” The team is focusing on toughness for their final eight games, while looking to gain chemistry with each game. “(The) team needs to click, we got together pretty quickly,” he said. The team has a lot of talent
Upcoming Vikings games Football
Saturday Oct. 29 - West Hills College at Coalinga - 7:00 pm Saturday Nov. 5 - Merced College at Merced- 7:00 p.m. Soccer
Friday Oct. 28 - Sacramento City College at Sacramento 3:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 1 - Modesto junior College at DVC Viking Stadium - 3:30 p.m. Volleyball
Friday Oct. 28 - American River College at DVC Gym - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 2 - Santa Rosa JC at DVC Gym - 6:30 p.m.
Cross Country Mens/ Womens
Friday Oct. 28 - Big 8 conference at ARC campus in Sacramento - All day Friday Nov. 4 - NorCal Championships at West Valley high schools in Cottonwood 10:00 a.m. Water Polo Mens/Womens
Fri.-Sat. Nov.. 4-5 - Big 8 conference tournament at Stckton - All day Fri.-Sat. Nov. 11-12 - NorCal championships at San Mateo - All Day
state. In those 16 games they have more than doubled their opponents scoring output. This includes teams in Los Angeles, and Pennsylvania. The team is undefeated within the conference winning all four of their games. Their regular season is over and they will be the number one seed expecting to win conference. The Big 8 conference tournament is in Stockton on Nov. 4-5. The Volleyball team is 6-10, and 2-5 within one of the best conferences in Northern California. The team is good but has a confidence issue. “We have played teams in the pre-season and in conference that we know we are better skilled but have come up short against them,” head coach Jackie Ponciano-Babb said. The team is very young STEPHEN LANGSAM / The Inquirer with only three sophomores, and nine freshmen. Kym DeGuzman throws Sandra Foster is a freshthe ball up in an attempt to man standout who has a serve. DeGuzman is a first good all-around game. Ponyear defensive setter for the ciano-Babb said, “I came DVC volleyball team. into this year knowing that and is focusing on hustling Sandra would be successand the little details. Skinner ful offensively for us.” went on to say, “We’re going The team is a long shot to to be the toughest team on make a splash in the conferthe field no matter what the ence or state championships scoreboard says.” but Ponciano-Babb is optiKeeping with winning teams mistic. the men’s water polo team is “Qualifying for play-offs 13-3 and ranked third in the and possibly for the state
championships have always been our goal each year. However, we know that there is a long road ahead and we’re focused on being successful one match at a time,” she said. Having completed the regular season, the cross country teams are looking forward to the conference championships on Oct. 28 in Sacramento. At the MJC Invitational, the men’s team placed second out of eight teams, while the women’s team placed fourth out of seven. During the invitational, Eric Brooks placed sixth out of 66 racers, and had the best time of any man running for DVC. Carmen Martinez led the women coming in fourth out of 50. These runners will look to build on their success and help DVC place highly at the conference championships. DVC sports are performing well now and might continue to the rest of the season. With all the success these teams are having it is no wonder why they are getting all the support they are. Fans are coming out in groves and cheering on their beloved Vikings. They have been, and should continue to see their teams win. Contact SCOTT ANNIS at sannis@TheInquirerOnline.com
Advertisement
CHANGE YOUR FUTURE. TODAY. The bachelor degree completion programs at JFK University offer the flexibility and support you need to earn your degree—today. • BS in Business Administration • BA in Health Sciences • BA in Legal Studies • BA in Psychology • BA in Liberal Studies
Lacrosse
Saturday Oct. 29 - Notre Dame De Namur tournament at Belmont - All day Wednesday Nov. 2 - CSU Maritime Academy at DVC Viking Stadium - 7:15 p.m.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP. TODAY. JFKU is an approved participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program. A nonprofit university accredited by WASC
Pleasant Hill -).8
WWW.JFKU.EDU
MORE
“It’s not their offense, the Sharks lead the league in shots on goal...”
STEPHEN LANGSAM / The Inquirer
Alex Warner attempts to scoop up the ball while defenders chase him during the Vikings green and white game. White won 7-6.
LEARN
This was supposed to be the team that would not be slow out of the gates going into the regular season. With the off-season additions of Martin Havlat, Michael Handzus and Brent Burns, the San Jose faithful and the Sharks were ready for a strong 2011-2012 season. So far the opposite has happened. With Anti Niemi out for the first few games and Antero Nittymaki out for the foreseeable future, third string goalie Thomas Greiss was placed into action early this season. Greiss, who has been a backup for the Sharks over the last few years, has never had to face opponents on a day in day out basis at the NHL level, and was forced to be the everyday keeper for the first four games.
I
800.696.5358 Berkeley
I
Campbell/San Jose
An Affiliate of The National University System
I
Costa Mesa
www.nusystem.org
Thursday, October 27, 2011
5
Sports
The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College
STEVIE CHOW/ The Inquirer
Dozie Iwaugwu (22) hurdles the defense on his way down the field in the Vikings 35-20 domination of the De Anza Dons. Iwaugwu had two rushing scores.
DVC dominates De Anza Dons GRIFFIN HENNING Staff writer
The De Anza Dons came to Pleasant Hill Friday night hoping to compete against the Viking’s football team. Instead, they were greeted by what would otherwise have qualified as the Vikings track team. The Dons could not find an answer for the green Ferrari known as Dozie Iwaugau. Iwaugau found his way to the open field more often than not as the Vikings set him up with superb blocking. Iwaugau’s odometer spun like a slot machine as he gobbled up the acreage of Viking Field.“The O-Line was great, those guys were outside for me all day,” said Iwaugau. Spencer Van Brundt exhibited surgical precision in his reads while working out of the spread formation for the Vikings. Van Brundt’s speed is often overlooked because of his prowess when he stays in the pocket. He was elusive and able to scamper for significant gains when his team needed it most, and his speed undoubtedly had the defense convinced as he charged the goal line alongside Iwaugau for a pair of option TD’s. Van Brundt also found wideout Cory STEVIE CHOW / The Inquirer Fischer for a beautiful 20-yard passing Spencer Van-Brunt looks downfield ready to touchdown. He timed his throw perfectly throw a pass in the vikings 35-20 win over De Anza. for the fade route, and Fischer was able
Viking nation revved up by Dave Garcia GRIFFIN HENNING Staff writer
Not every college football team is so fortunate to have all of the drums, bells, whistles and sirens that create the ambiance we know to be synonymous with the college football tradition. Many college football programs rely on the school’s band to ignite harmony and encouragement from the masses. The Vikings count on Dave Garcia. Garcia can be found at every Vikings football game with his pom-team paraphernalia. Usually standing in the front row, offering his encouragements vocally, or with one of the many musical instruments with which he serenades the Vikings towards success. He has been attending football games on behalf of his three sons since they began their football careers at College Park High School. Garcia’s boys went on to play for nearby Los Medanos College, where the family would eventually be introduced to DVC’s Head Coach, Mike Darr. “I envision this dream, where all three of my boys are playing side by side together
on the O-Line,” Garcia said. Two of his sons currently coach for the Vikings Football team, which is now 6-1 under their guidance in tandem with the supporting staff and Coach Darr. “I love the game of college football. I try to stay supportive and positive, but I also let the refs know when they missed a call. Hey, this is the Viking Nation,” Garcia said as he expanded on his vocation. Mr. Garcia supports this program with such enthusiasm because he appreciates DVC football as the wonderful program that it is. “I want these kids to know when they turn around and look behind them from the sideline, they know I got their backs,” he said. “They know we’re behind them.” Garcia’s passion engages him in a beautiful commitment as he savors and relishes the tradition of college football; a commitment that only a loving fan could dedicate himself to. It’s because Mr. Garcia shares a paternal love for his sons and a prolific love for the game that he feels compelled to adorn every sideline with his inspirational show. “As long as my boys are coaching,
I’ll be there.” said Mr. Garcia as he briefly gazed onto the field before berating an official for a missed call. That's what the Viking Nation is all about: support, unity and dedication. Contact GRIFFIN HENNING at ghenning@TheInquirerOnline.com
STEVIE CHOW/ The Inquirer
Dave Garcia had a lot to cheer about during the vikings 35-20 win against De Anza.
to leap above his defender and come down with his feet in the corner of the end zone. The key for the Vikings in this game wasn’t the offensive beast they unleashed; it was a collective effort on both sides of the ball to play every single down. The Vikings played 4 quarters of football and kept their foot on the gas. This tends to be a theme of successful football teams. Typically, the team that can play for four quarters on both sides of the ball without lapsing in effort or intensity will come away victorious as the Vikings did Friday night in their win over De Anza College 35-20. “This is really a fantastic team; we have a lot of talented and devoted people. We have guys in the weight room 5 days a week, every week,” said Iwaugau of his supporting cast. It is that same brand of commitment and leadership that adorns every successful football team. And it explains the Vikings’ record of 6-1. The Vikings are shackled to the highly competitive Nor-Cal Conference, which is widely recognized as one of the most difficult junior college conferences in the nation. The crux of the deal is that the Nor-Cal Conference doesn’t even begin its league matchups until week five of the season, which can become quite precarious for a team that falls victim to injury early in the season.
Fortunately for the Vikings, it is a combined effort. That’s why it was no surprise that the Vikings’ fearsome defensive line contained a truly mobile quarterback in De Anza’s Nick Marra. “We worked hard not to let them convert big third downs,” said Coach Mike Darr. “We had to get a little creative with some of our packages in sending people through the gap, but our defense executed well.” Darr’s creativity paid off as the Vikings seemed to find their way into the backfield on every possession. It wasn’t long before Morgan Breslin tied the current state lead for sacks with 12; he would have two on the day. “We expect to hit quarterbacks on every play,” said Darr, as he aptly summed up the defensive emphasis. They certainly do a good job of that. They finish every play and make contact with every assignment. To put it simply, the Vikings want it more than the other team, and it shows in the way they hold every block, tackle crisply and execute the fundamentals. When you have those elements working fluidly in unison on the gridiron, you can expect an exciting football team rumbling towards the playoffs.
Advertisement
Contact GRIFFIN HENNING at ghenning@TheInquirerOnline.com
6
Opinions
The
Buzz
What do you think of gay bullying?
CANDACE LUCHETTI, 20 Liberal Arts
“I feel it’s wrong and hurtful for gay people. People are people and everyone is different and should be repected.”
CHAZZ GRIFFITHS, 19 Undeclared
“I don’t feel bullying is right and it’s a personal preference. I’m against discriminating homosexuals; that’s their choice not ours.”
ASHLEY TREVIZO, 20 Psychology
“Just because people may be different from you, we have no business bullying them.”
EDWIN LAU, 20 Business
“Any type of bullying is wrong in my opinion and people should accept people for their differences.”
DANIELLE LABARRE, 19 Sports medicine
“I disagree. That’s who they are. They don’t choose to be that way. It’s as if [bullies are] going back to the times of racism and people can’t seem to find some common ground to get over themselves.” Interviewer & photographer: Vanessa Muniz
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College
Editorial
LGBT bullying is murder
Tyler Clementi, Brad Fuglei, Seth personal preference. As a result, he Walsh, Raymond Chase, Jamie Hub- was harassed to the point that he ley, Ryan Halligan, Jamey Rodemeyer, didn’t want to live anymore. Billy Lucas, Asher Brown, Justin AabThe word “bullying” doesn’t cut it erg, Cody Barker, Harrison Brown, anymore - this torment has evolved Caleb Nolt, Chantal Dube. to be a very slow form of murder. The 14 teens listed above are all “Teenagers who are gay or bisexual dead - not as a result of disease or ac- are more than three times as likely to cident. They committed suicide. attempt suicide as other youth,” acEach did so as a result of the se- cording to a study from The Archives vere harassment they endured which of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine. has become such an acute epidemic We’re looking at a deadly epidemic, that it has garnered itself its very if every single one of us doesn’t take own genre: gay bullying. The pass- action. ing of National Coming Out Day has It’s tempting to blame certain inspired remembrance of the surplus groups or organizations for sponsorof suicides that has ing and teaching the “The only thing hatred that leads to this occurred over the past ten years. bullying. you have to Perpetrators of this Instead, The Inquirer atrocious style of tor- lose is the life of would like to remember ment choose to do so the kids who felt no a classmate, in their own creative support while remindfriend or family ing the rest that there ways,: posting antigay slurs online, osare millions of people member.” tracizing classmates who believe in a perat school and video-recording the son’s right to freedom. sexual exploits of their homosexual Encourage homosexual classmates roommates to share with the public. to feel comfortable and stable coming Recently, 15-year-old Jamie Hubley, a to school, as many haven’t in the past. Canadian teen, committed suicide after In September 2011, the New York being bullied as the single openly gay Times reported on Jamey Rodestudent at his school. The following is meyer, another teen who committed an excerpt from his final blog: suicide after “constant taunting from “I don’t want my parents to think the same people over and over.” this is their fault either… I love my Furthermore, he had previously mom and dad : ) It’s just too hard. I posted a video online as a part of the don’t want to wait 3 more years, this “It Gets Better” campaign. hurts too much. How do you even Through the project, members and know it will get better? It’s not .... Re- supporters of the LGBT commumember me as a Unicorn :3 x) Maybe nity send messages “to show young in my next life I’ll be a flying squirrel LGBT people the levels of happi:D I’ll fly away.” ness, potential, and positivity their Hubley was a hero; he was brave lives will reach – if they can just get enough to share with his peers a very through their teen years,” according
KRISTIANA BRITANIK / The Inquirer
to its website. A recent LA Times article reported that actor Zachary Quinto came out in response to Rodemeyer’s death. “In light of Jamey’s death — it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality,” Quinto said. A strong, positive attitude or the latest celebrity coming-out statement
is not enough. Everyone in the DVC community needs to help create a hate-free campus to contribute to a hate-free world. The Queer Straight Alliance of DVC is one group that not only provides a safe place for the LGBT community to foster support but encourages members of any sexual orientation to take part. If you see someone bullying someone else, speak up. The only thing you have to lose is the life of a classmate, friend or family member.
Letters to the editor
Students require breadth
All the subjects in our college are important. But it is important to keep the G.E. requirements available without trimming them back so that the students get exposed to a wide range of intellectual alternatives for more personally fulfilling lives, as well as getting marketable skills. On a personal note, when I first enrolled in San Jose City College as a student I had no idea what it was about. When a counselor asked my major, I said it was business. He then enrolled me in philosophy which I never had been exposed to previously and had no idea what it meant. I thought it was great and took two more philosophy classes. I believe it is essential for students to continue to be exposed to a wide range of general education requirements in order to develop critical thinking abilities and a grounding in intellectual understanding. -Jerry Cross, part-time instructor
New degree helps artists
I came across the article, “Transferable Music Degree Broadens Students' Options,” and was very intrigued with the information and quotes provided. I think it is wonderful that the DVC Music Department is now offering a transferable associate degree in music because there are so many talented artists attending this school that want to pursue music. The Music Department provides an atmosphere for every type of musician; ranging from classical, metal, jazz, rap, techno, etc. Music is a dying art in the entertainment industry.
To know that DVC is providing a greater, affordable chance for these students, gives me hope as an artist. From my own personal background, I wanted to pursue music for a long time. I have taken music classes for certain requirements towards my associate degree. I have taken classes “His-
tory of Jazz” and “Introduction to Classical Music” at DVC. Both of these classes gave me a greater appreciation towards the uprising of music. Although I have chosen a different major, it is a good feeling to know that the music has not died. Despite all the budget cuts, DVC is making every effort they can to provide a chance to those students’ future in
“DVC is making every effort they can to provide a chance to those students’ future in the music industry.”
the music industry. The more we acknowledge this issue, the greater chance community college students have making their educational goals into their own musical careers. The only concern of mine from reading the article was the amount of information I felt was missing. I felt as though you had more quotes than facts about the DVC Music Department and what this degree could do in the long run. These are a few things to possibly consider for your future newsgathering assignments. -Katie Lewellyn, student
Cuba study abroad needs a rethink I must comment on the article about professor Lenore Gallin's trip to Cuba. While Gallin is critical of the travel ban and embargo, she apparently chooses to see no evil in the Castro regime. Perhaps she should have sought out the "Ladies in White" while on her last visit.
The "Ladies in White" is an opposition movement in Cuba consisting of wives and other female relatives of jailed dissidents. The women protest the imprisonment of their loved ones by wearing white dresses to Mass. Why would they do such a thing in a country that abounds in love, peace, and
Editorial Board
Staff
EDITOR IN CHIEF Julius Rea MANAGING EDITOR Cecily Trowbridge NEWS EDITOR Mike Alfieri OPINIONS EDITOR Lisa Diaz SPORTS EDITOR Scott Annis ARTS & FEATURES EDITOR Christa Balingit PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Danielle Barcena COPY EDITOR Brian Donovan
STAFF WRITERS Griffin Henning, John Kesler, Theresa Marie, Zuli Mohammed, Vanessa Muniz, Tom Rizza, Sean Wilkey PHOTOGRAPHERS Alex Brendel, Pablo Caballero, Stevie Chow DESIGNERS & ILLUSTRATORS Kristiana Britanik, Yaeko Takada INSTRUCTIONAL LAB COORDINATOR Ann Stenmark ADVISER Mary Mazzocco
equality for all? Because during the Black Spring of 2003, the Cuban government arrested, tried and summarily sentenced 75 human rights defenders, independent journalists, and independent librarians to terms of up to 28 years. I would have far more respect for Gallin if her
purpose for visiting Cuba was to assist the "Ladies in White". Instead, she seems to have been seduced by Marxist dogma and prefers to ignore the repression and real human suffering inflicted by the Castro regime. -Michael Clarke, student
THE INQUIRER Diablo Valley College 321 Golf Club Road, H-102 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 The Inquirer is published Thursday mornings during the school year by the journalism students of Diablo Valley College. All unsigned articles appearing on the opinions page are editorials and relfect 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 Disctrict
• Phone: 925.685.1230 ext. 2313 • Fax: 925.681.3045 • Email: inquirer@dvc.edu • Website: www.TheInquirerOnline.com • Printed Every Two Weeks •
Opinions Celebrating death
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Digitial age takes people back to analog
The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College
7
People forget a green lifestyle TOM RIZZA Staff writer
JOHN KESLER Staff writer
Last year, my desktop computer caught a virus and became unusable. While this doesn’t amount to the destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria, it sure felt like that for me. Gone was every paper I wrote in high school and all of my music that I obtained over the previous five years. I’d say that this incident cemented my love of physical media over digital formats. Primarily, if I have something an album on disc, it’s mine for life. For example, if my PlayStation 3 ever broke down, I could buy a new unit and then play “Mass Effect 2” on that. Even 15 years from now, I can play the same game on my ancient PS3. At the same time, “Mass Effect 2” is available for download from Sony’s online service, the PlayStation Network. If the PSN is taken offline, the data would be deleted and no more “Mass Effect 2” for me. I’ve also heard stories from Reddit of users of a popular online video game distributer, Steam, losing access to all of their games because they violated Steam’s terms of service by attempting to sell some of the games. Another thing physical media has over digital media is the ability to sell it. A friend of mine bought Lil Wayne’s newest album, “Tha Carter IV,” on CD. However, after listening to it twice and seeing that music review website Pitchfork gave it a 6.2 out 10, he decided to sell the album. Now imagine if my friend had bought it off iTunes. How would he be able to recoup his poor investment? You can’t sell MP3 files. He would have been at a loss. While physical media gives you rights that digital media denies, it takes up a lot of space. If you were to see my shelf, you’d think I have a hoarding problem. It’s literally overflowing with video games, movies and music. Let’s just say that Sonic Youth is next to Led Zeppelin, Lady Gaga and beneath Waka Flocka Flame on my shelf. Meanwhile, my external hard drive on the opposite side of the room currently holds about four times as much music as my shelf and takes up very little space. The hard drive also organizes things too. Waka Flocka Flame is above Weezer, which is fitting because “Flockaveli” is a better work than anything Weezer has done since 2000. Despite the space issues, I much prefer a physical library over the “Great Library of Kesler.”
Contact JOHN KESLER at jkesler@TheInquirerOnline.com
Courtesy of SCOTT BABA
Corporate media turns coverage on Gadhafi’s death into a party Former Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi was killed last week in the last loyalist stronghold in his hometown of Sirte. I am not a big fan of Gadhafi, since any form of dictatorship can’t work without having a monopoly on statesanctioned violence. But what troubles me, just as it did for the death of Bin Laden, is how the corporate media basically celebrated his bloody demise rather than acknowledging that the Libyan Rebels violated the Geneva Convention. My definition of corpo-
rate media is any media outlet controlled by big business, such as NBC, which is owned by General Electric. The Bay Area News Group, which owns the Contra Costa Times, reported Gadhafi was dragged from a drainage pipe while hiding. Their front-page article, “Gadhafi Era Ends” depicts his death as such, “Within an hour, he was dead, but not before jubilant Libyans had vented decades of hatred by pulling the eccentric dictator’s hair and parading his bloodied body on the hood of a truck.” A photo of his bloody
“We must ask ourselves, who benefits from these alternative accounts, average people trying to get the full story or a corporate media with an agenda?”
BRIAN DONOVAN Copy editor
face was captioned, “Death of a tyrant.” The article continues “The outpouring of joy reflected the deep hatred of a leader who had brutally warped Libya with his idiosyncratic rule.” But according to rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril, who is now imposing Sharia Law, Gadhafi died “when [Gadhafi’s] the car was moving, it was caught in crossfire between the revolutionaries and Gadhafi forces in which he was hit by a bullet in the head.” Why are there two different stories and why is the corporate media only covering the
version that makes Gadhafi look more cowardly? Remember that there were also two different stories on how Osama Bin Laden allegedly died. The first account pushed by corporate media of his death was that he used his wife as a human shield before SEAL-Team-6 shot him. It was later confirmed that he was unarmed with his hands up before he was murdered. What version of these stories make these “evil doers” look more sinister? We must ask ourselves, who benefits from these alternative accounts, average people trying to get the full story or corporate media with an agenda? Remember Libya has a lot of oil ready to be privatized. Contact BRIAN DONOVAN at bdonovan@TheInquirerOnline. com
CSUs give unfair GPA bumps Candle lit Jack O’ Lanterns glare at us through their triangle-carved eyes, battery-powered fabric ghosts scream at us at every turn and images of monsters swirl through our minds, as we are bombarded with frightful images as we get closer to Halloween. The abundance of Halloween décor has yet to faze me because, for me and a few thousand other Diablo Valley College students, this time of the year is far more frightening for a different reason: it’s college application season. Like many of my peers, I contemplated where I should spend the next two years of my life by looking at the requirements, grade point averages and offered majors of California’s public schools. When weighing my options, I could not help but wonder how the ghoulish tales I heard around campus about geographic impacting will affect my application. Geographic impacting is when a California State University campus outlines their “service area” and gives pri-
LISA DIAZ Opinions editor
ority to those who live within the boundaries. Horror stories of students with 3.9 GPAs getting rejected to make room for local students with 2.0 GPAs scared me much more than a plastic, battery-powered rendition of Frankenstein. As taxpaying residents of California, our hard-earned dollars are distributed equally between the 23 CSU campuses, which means as students, if we adequately meet the requirements, we should have equal access to all of the 23 state colleges we pay for. Checking the validity of this spooky story was like going through a corn maze. First, I checked the CSU Mentor website. Given that this may have a drastic effect on thousands of California community college students,
I was surprised to find that .2 grade point average bump the information is nowhere for those in the service area. visible. Then, after typing in According to the Califorthe words “geographic im- nia Postsecondary Education pacting” in the search engine, Commission, 287 students I saw the words mentioned transferred to California with no further explanation. State University, East Bay and I continued on to the 198 transferred to San FranDVC Transfer Center, cisco State from DVC, which where I asked various ques- is far more than any other tions about impacting, all of state school. The numbers which will directly affect my indicate that students are befuture, as well as the future ing driven toward their local of everyone state schools who intends on “...some of the and options sending in an are being limCSUs give application to a ited. grade point CSU this fall. If we all Apparently, pay the same average bumps some of the amount of to students CSUs give taxes to each grade point avapplying from school, then erage bumps to why are we not their service students applyall part of the ing from their service area? area.” service area. Each school Even the Transfer Center and community offers a difhas trouble finding access to ferent learning environment exactly how much the grade and students pay for the oppoint average bump is be- portunity to find one in this cause the information is not vast state that fits them best. readily accessible. We pay for the options, we The Transfer Center de- deserve to have them. nies that it is as drastic as the ghoulish tales indicate, estiContact LISA DIAZ at ldiaz@ TheInquirerOnline.com mating that there is about a
In The Inquirer’s last issue, we covered DVC's container switch to using biodegradable containers. But what about my ecosystem-killing enemy, single-use plastic bags? I was in a drugstore recently buying nothing more than a can of shaving cream. The cashier, without saying a word, put the can in a plastic bag. “Oh I don't need a bag, thanks,” I said before I paid for the Barbasol and left. After, I pondered the ridiculous routine bred into many cashiers: bag anything that comes across the scanner. I'm not blaming the clerks, but a single can of shaving cream? It's obvious that anyone with at least one hand would be able to walk somewhere without the single can of shaving cream getting in the way. That got me to thinking how many people walk around with an extraneous plastic bag, filled with a single stick of deodorant or candy bar, only to throw it away or stow it away to pick up pet droppings and then sent to a landfill? Plastic bags are the secondmost common type of ocean refuse behind cigarette butts; every square mile of ocean has about 46,000 pieces of plastic floating in it. A single plastic bag degrades between 20 and 1,000 years, when in a landfill where, big surprise, most bags reside. With America alone producing 100 billion bags per year, the once revered plastic bag has turned into a pandemic. What must be done? Leave it up to our progressive San Francisco neighbors to become the first American city to pass a plastic bag ban back in 2007. It's not a complete ban, in that it only includes large supermarkets, but it was an unprecedented step. I don't agree with it because both the recycled paper bags and the oh-my-God-it's-amiracle biodegradable bags do not address the consumption of single-use products. Recycling and development of biodegradable materials for single-use utilizes the same amount of resources as the production of plastic. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods have promoted the sale of reusable fabric bags while the larger grocers have followed. But in the end, it's on the consumer to purchase these bags while, now this is the hard part, remembering to bring them to the store. It's the AM/PM stations, the 7-11's and the Walgreens stores that haven't adopted this policy. This is where average students find themselves awaiting to buy their energy drink or bag of Doritos. It is in that moment that you must stop the clerk and remember you don't need a plastic bag, because you have a big one strapped to your back. Oh, and don't even get me started on fast food receipts. Contact TOM RIZZA at trizza@ TheInquirerOnline.com
8
Arts & Features The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Danielle Barcena/ The Inquirer
Alex Silva, center, Vice President of Legislative Affairs, anticipates the start of the 9/11 memorial while DVC President Peter Garcia, right, greets Amer Araim.
ASDVC focuses on health issues VANESSA MUNIZ Staff writer
With the dawning of the new semester, ASDVC continues to prioritize student concerns in order to develop a more comfortable campus. Most recently, these concerns involve the creation of a student health center and the strengthening of non-smoking rules across campus. “Some students may not know where to go to get health coverage and not all people have access to it. It’s important that we help students regarding health issues,” said Amit Randhawa, ASDVC Public Relations Officer. Many community colleges across America provide health services to students as a part of their tuition, taking a small portion per student each semester so that free coverage can be provided. Services may include flu shots, sexual health support and mental health evaluation. “I think it’s great,” said Rein Pulido, a computer science major. “Some people don’t have health coverage or dental coverage, and it’s good to know that ASDVC wants to help for people who need those benefits. I believe it’s a beneficial idea.” Often, community colleges have nursing stations on campus which provide access to medications such as the morning after pill. Along with implementing changes on campus for the enhancement of student life, ASDVC has organized and sponsored a 9/11 Memorial, the Mo Festival, the creation of an engineeringinspired spaghetti bridge during eingeneering week..
One upcoming event is the Hallowes is a priority because students een Bash that will be held Oct. 31 from can be involved in the process 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the student union of the decisions and implemenbuilding. tations that effect their educaASDVC asks that students attend to tion. participate in fun activities and to enjoy The hope is that students are music, food, and prizes. more likely to succeed at DVC DVC’s student government has the because they’ve played a larger responsibility of representing the stupart in developing it. dent body, taking notice of student “My main goals are [makconsensus and implementing changes ing] statements in community the populace would like to make. student accessibility, transportaOne recent project was the eradication for students, health issues tion of Styrofoam at the Crow’s Nest and health centers on campus,” and Basement Café in favor of paper said Alex Silva, Vice President containers that are biodegradable, thus of Legislative Affairs. reducing the likelihood Recently, there of damaging toxins enhave been disputes tering the body. regarding the appliASDVC also impacts cation of a fine for Danielle Barcena / The Inquirer student lives in various smoking on campus Nick Holmes, political science major, discusses the Dream Act at ways through its coin non-designated a regular ASDVC meeting. operation with various areas. campus committees. Some ASDVC focusing on is the recent rash of changDVC, I didn’t know of anything to do. However, finding stuboard members have been es to class repeatability. There was so much misconception that dents willing to serve discussing potential conse“Each course you take can only have you go to classes then you go home. has been a challenge. quences and many students 3 enrollments and students can only Once I got involved, I found opportu“We didn’t have agree that this is a necesdrop with a ‘W’ the first 2 times. By nities to grow not only as a person but enough students adsary change. the third enrollment, you must pass the as a student.” vocating from college “I think people who do course,” said Beth Hauscarriague, DVC Members of the public can also atcommittees like district smoke need to be considdean of outreach. tend meetings every Tuesday from 2 governing, grade appeal erate towards those who These changes should be effective p.m. to 4 p.m. in the student union committee, and student don’t,” said Angie Pierce, a the summer of 2012. building. ~Amit Randhawa shared governance. The business major. Previously, students were given seven ASDVC Public Relations student government “That’s why there are chances to enroll. Officer didn’t have students repdesignated areas. I personASDVC welcomes anyone who’d like resenting [or attemptally feel there aren’t enough to be involved to attend meetings, join Managing Editor Cecily Trowbridge coning] to have their voice consequences for people committees, or contact members. tributed to this article. heard,” said Randhawa. who smoke on campus. I smoke any“We want students to be aware that One of ASDVC’s most important where I want but make sure people there is a tremendousw amount of opContact VANESSA MUNIZ at vmuniz@ goals is raising campus-wide awareness around me don’t mind, and if they do I portunities at community colleges,” TheInquirerOnline.com of opportunities available to students. get up and go elsewhere.” said Randhawa. “When I first came to Educating students on their resourcAnother issue ASDVC is currently
“Once I got involved, I found opportunities to grow not only 2 as a person but as a student.”
Delivery Downlow: food that comes to campus CHRISTA BALINGIT Arts & Features Editor
The fraction of students with issues finding time to cook will be glad to know that there are at least three restaurants that deliver fast and satisfying food, sure to please even the pickiest eater. Inquirer staff members Christa Balingit and Julius Rea set out to discover the most satiating dishes from the best delivery restaurants. Ming’s is a Chinese restaurant located in Pleasant Hill. They serve a variety of foods including poultry, fried rice, fried noodles and tofu. The honey walnut prawns were definitely the winner out of all the dishes. It’s a dish that includes deep-fried shrimp in a creamy sauce, accompanied by glazed walnuts spread out over it. The dish was crunchy without being over done. It didn’t have to be chewed ten times before it felt sage enough to swallow it. The balance of ingredients was pleasing. There wasn’t one taste that over-rode the others. The honey walnut prawns also avoided what many other Chinese dishes suffer from when being served in sauce—the soggy texture that develops from over-saturation. It was a nice contrast from the mango chicken, which was a little too sweet. The family deluxe tofu had an interesting quality to it. While it, too, tasted too soggy due to the fact that is was sitting in the sauce for too long, it had spices added to it, which gave it more flavor compared to the typical
blandness of regular tofu. The honey walnut prawns went the fastest. The other dishes, including the chow fun, was good, if just a little too greasy. One the other hand, the sweet and sour chicken tasted a little too watery for chicken and seemed to lack a certain something. The honey nut prawns were easiest to remember, and definitely reason enough to visit the restaurant again. · 2653 Pleasant Hill Rd, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523 (925) 934-9393 Sargam Indian Cuisine, an Indian restaurant located in Walnut Creek, offers dishes for everyone. They use fresh ingredients, balance flavor effectively and even offer vegetarian dishes. The prawn spinach (sagwala), a dish comprised of prawns cooked in spiced cream spinach, was definitely a favorite. While the look of it doesn’t seem that appetizing, all thoughts of appearance were forgotten after the first bite. The texture was great and the entire dish was extremely flavorful. It also had a spicy aftertaste. Not enough for someone to require a glass of water next to them, but enough to spice up the entire dish. Even those who are not a big fan of spinach will find the ingredients placed in the prawn spinach a nice twist. Other dishes included the Indian chicken tikka masala, a dish that could have been better had the texture not been as watery. The naan also had a rubbery quality to it. While naan can usually be eaten in conjunction with any of the dishes, it seemed as if the prawn spinach and Chicken tikka masa-
la stood better on their own. The naan only made the rest of the dishes more difficult to eat together. Regardless, the naan didn’t seem as offending while sitting next to dishes like the prawn spinach and chicken tikka masala curry. · 140 North Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA, 94596 · (925)937-2700 Mingles Pizza, located in Martinez, is a close-by restaurant that offers fast delivery and good prices. When eating pizza, a single slice normally leaves grease stains on your cheap paper plate and makes some less inclined to pick up a second piece. Mingles makes pizza that isn’t as greasy as other places while the pie itself is soft and the crust crunchy—exactly how a pizza should be. Bocci bits, fresh dough balls filled with garlic butter and topped with Parmesan cheese, was the stand-out. While they could have been crunchier, they will definitely go quickly among broad demographics. It was a simple ball of bread with marinara sauce on the side. Surprisingly, it wasn’t greasy or heavy. Rather, it was a tasty appetizer dish that will leave you wondering how they make it, and whether or not it is something you could make at home. · 5860 Pacheco Blvd, Pacheco, CA, 94553 (925) 288-0588
Danielle Barcena / The Inquirer
Combination pizza from Mingles restaurant.
Danielle Barcena/ The Inquirer Contact CHRISTA BALINGIT at cbalingit@TheInquirerOnline. com
Chicken tikka-masala curry, sagwala ( prawn spinach), rice and naan from Sargam’s.