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Cracking down on harassment HAKEEM MONTES Managing editor

Coming fall of 2012, students may be subject to tougher policies related to drug use, harassment and disruption. Proposed changes to the student conduct policy could give our district the power to discipline students for off-campus actions. Over the summer dean of student life Bill Oye drafted the new policies along with Vicki Ferguson of Contra Costa College and Blas Guerrero of Los Medanos College after reviewing a “Dear Colleague” letter from the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. In this letter, it calls for the creation and enforcement of college harassment policies. Under the proposed section which addresses off-campus harassment, the new DVC policy states, “The College may have an obligation to respond to studenton-student harassment that initially oc-

curred off campus.” This verbage has come under criticism by students. Pre-nursing student Shronda Wallace says, “That’s an invasion of privacy.” While Ben Prouty, an administration of justice major, states, “I guess it feels like we are back in high school again.” Oye explains, “…it would only be considered if there was also harassment on campus and a complaint that a hostile environment has been created for the complainant.” The policies being considered also include what happens to students when they are disruptive in class. It states in the case of repeated offenses, a student may be suspended by the president’s designee for the remainder of a semester. A student would be able to request a preliminary hearing but would have to do so within five days or the decision would be considered final. In offenses related to drug use, the considered policies will also address the misuse of prescription drugs and inhalation or ingestion of substances which

would alter a student’s state of mind. These and other offenses would be kept on the student’s record by the president’s designee. These records would be classified as “disposable” after three years or what is described as “other exit from the District.” The District would have the ability to keep these records longer if it identified them as “active and useful for administrative, legal, fiscal or other purposes” in which case it would be classified as a “continuing” record. Students are able to give their input on these policies by speaking directly with the dean of student life, Bill Oye, or by contacting their student representatives in the student government and District Governance Council. The changes being discussed may come into effect as early as fall 2012. Contact HAKEEM MONTES at hmontes@ TheInquirerOnline.com

Parcel tax may strike DANIELLE BARCENA Senior staff writer

At the governing board meeting on April 25, 2012, EMR Research presented their survey results, which recommended that a parcel tax measure be placed on the November 2012 ballot in order to increase operational revenues within the district. “If structured properly…I think it can help us with the structural deficit, save jobs and help students,” Peter Garcia, DVC president, said. EMC Research was contracted by the district to test whether or not it would be a viable option to add a parcel tax or a bond to the November ballot to alleviate the financial burdens that have been placed on community colleges by the state. They surveyed 1,201 of what they called “likely voters” across Diablo Valley College, Los Medanos College,

and Contra Costa College service areas. Using a split-sample method, half of the interviewees were asked about a bond measure and the other were asked about a parcel tax. The parcel tax had the support of 72 percent of likely voters polled. “There’s a strong perceived need for the colleges and the parcel tax is a significant small dollar amount that people are willing to spend,” Alex Evans, Principal at EMC Research said. The parcel tax would be $11 per parcel and would sunset after six years, unless a renewal was approved by future voters to continue the program. EMC Research came up with the tax amount by considering the budget deficit. “If that number is around $9 million, what would be an appropriate tax to put on that…that was the $11,” Evans said. “We were very conservative in that amount.”

The parcel tax would bring an estimated $3.5 million to $4 million a year for six years to be spent on operational costs within the district. “Its certainly not going to take care of all the problems, but its [going to help us add sections],” Sheila A. Grilli, vice president of the Board of Governors, said. Evans agreed, but urged the importance of getting a parcel tax started. “We know that doesn’t completely meet your need, but [you] will have better chances with voters later,” when they will be called upon to renew the sunset on the tax. A strong 81 percent of likely voters surveyed district-wide were in support and said “local community colleges need money” and EMC Research suggests the parcel tax, not a bond, is the way to get it. PARCEL, Page 2

KARIN JENSEN / The Inquirer

Bill Oye, who is drafting the new rules, speaks at the ASDVC meeting held Tuesday, April 24.

Umoja returns to campus AARON HUDSON Contributing writer

Annual data proves that African American students at DVC have lower rates of academic achievement when compared to other demographics. According to collegestats. org, DVC serves more than 22,000 students of all ages with only 464 staff members placed there to instruct. According to the 2009 DVC Fact Book, in 2008 there was about an 18 percent difference in success rates between black and white students. Umoja, the district’s effort to address the achievement gap, is a pilot classroom program where students

learn one or two subjects as a group, while also gaining advice through mentoring services, counseling and other benefits the program offers on campus. “The benefit of the program is that you don’t have to deal with the struggle of trying to get into a Math and English class being that they are so impacted,” says LMC student Erik Brown. The Umoja Community Movement began at the Umoja I Conference, which took place at DVC in October 2006. Another program with objectives similar to Umoja that UMOJA, Page 2

ASDVC deletes critics Health food movement challenges modern diet

AIDAN HERRICK Puzzles and Games editor

The first amendment has a reputation of raising questions regarding limits, such as if it protects hate speech, or whether or not you can ban certain words or acts of self expression. Such questions were raised on April 26, when ASDVC deleted posts and comments from the ASDVC Facebook page. DVC Students for a Democratic Society (SdS) was raising concerns over the efficiency and lack of studentawareness of the ASDVC. The posts and comments were made on Tuesday afternoon, after SdS members witnessed several ASDVC board members doing their homework during an important meeting where the budget was being planned. SdS was outraged over their posts being deleted, calling it censorship by the student gov-

MILLIE MCCORD Staff writer

KARIN JENSEN / The Inquirer

ASDVC members held a special meeting on April 26. There is dispute over whether notice was given. ernment. They also claim that they have been banned from posting further and have been blocked from the ASDVC group. The student government took the position that the ASDVC Facebook page was not officially endorsed by the ASDVC, and therefore they held no accountability regarding the actions of the ASDVC page. Their stance was that any

problems the SdS had on Facebook should be handled by Facebook. The issue on Facebook however, was not the SdS’s only concern. The SdS has also been critical of the ASDVC’s lax attitude regarding some proper procedures. ASDVC, Page 2

According to a study by the Center for Disease Control, about 3 out of 10 college students are obese. There’s been a trend towards eating healthier and college students are catching on. “People are getting more concerned about what they’re eating,” says student Robin Omeryar. “So many people are overweight and I think we’re starting to do something about it.” “I have definitely seen an increase of interest in nutrition since I started teaching. I believe consumers are more educated and are making wiser food choices than they were several years ago,” says DVC nutrition professor Lisa Sawrey-Kubicek.

California enacted a law in 2011 that requires fast food restaurants to put the calorie count on their menus. Information available on the Internet and nutrition books from dietitians and food experts help us make better decisions on what is healthy or unhealthy. The recent “pink slime” scandal and documentaries like Food, Inc., Supersize Me and Fast Food Nation have helped expose the truth behind massive food production and what really goes into making our food, but even fast food giants like McDonald’s have gotten in on the healthy food market by introducing healthier items to their menus like salads and fruit cups. Increasingly companies market their products as lowcholesterol, fat free, sugar

free, gluten-free, antioxidantfull and all-around healthier. “I’ve seen more healthy foods becoming available. Even in elementary school they started taking out the really unhealthy stuff and replacing it with those 100calorie snacks,” says Robin Omeryar. “I tell my students to be very wary of marketing techniques, especially when it comes to food. With that said, there is a role for fat-free and gluten-free foods,” says Kubicek. “For most of the population, fat free milk is a great example of a fat-free product that is much better alternative to whole milk.” The Pleasant Hill Wellness Center at the DVC Plaza is a FOOD, Page 2

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

News

Drama Production: Tartuffe 8:00 p.m. Arena Theater Monday, May 7 Sacramento State College Rep Visit 9:40 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Employment and Transfer Center College Council Meeting 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. BFL Conference Rm. Tuesday, May 8 San Ramon Financial Aid Drop-in All day San Ramon Campus Red Cross Blood Drive 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Trophy Room Friday, May 11 Mother’s Day Plant Sale 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. DVC Garden DVC Campus Tour 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Student Service Center Public Speaking Intramural 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Liberal Arts Building Sunday May, 13 Concert: Dial M for Mozart 2:00 p.m.

Police Beat 04/30/2012 Student reported that her belongings were stolen while she was taking a shower in the women’s locker room. 04/30/2012 Student reported that her wallet was stolen from her backpack when she left it unattended in the classroom. 04/30/2012 Student reported that her cell phone was stolen from A 152 when she left it unattended on the desk top. There were no witnesses. 04/26/2012 Unknown subject(s) got into a locked vehicle and took the victim’s property. 04/26/12 Student reported receiving threatening text messages from a current student. The incident was handled by the dean of Students.

PARCEL

ASDVC

CALENDAR Friday, May 4-6, 11-14

Thursday, May 3 - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

From Page 1

The ASDVC website only has copies of agendas and minutes of their weekly meetings up to December of 2011. This missing information is required to be updated regularly so the public know here its money is going. SdS also became extremely concerned regarding a secret meeting that took place Thursday April 26, wherein several high profile ASDVC members met in a back room to discuss ASDVC business. California law requires that the agenda of a public meeting must be posted at least three days before the meeting takes place. The exception to this rule is when an emergency and special meeting is held which still require a minimum of 24 hours notice. This meeting that took place on the 26th had received same-day approval. The meeting was intended to address promotion of the student government, discussing a memorandum of an ASDVC fund for classified staff and amendments to the ASDVC constitution. ASDVC meetings are required to be public, and this meeting was no excep-

FOOD From Page 1

convenient substitute for less healthy foods. “We’ve seen an incredible increase in business just in the past year and a half,” says employee Donna McCoy. “Students are coming as an alternative to the fast food places around here and really seeing a difference in how they feel after coming for just a little while.” Organics have become increasingly popular. The US organic food market is relatively new; the The US Department of Agriculture didn’t adopt national standards for organics until 2002. Organics don’t use traditional pesticides or fertilizers in production and don’t contain genetically modified organisms or chemical additives. They are supposed to be better for you and the environment, but the jury is still out on whether they are actually healthier than their traditional

tion. It was sat in on by SdS members Nick Holmes and John Michaelson, who raised questions and took video of the meeting. The meeting was eventually cancelled as various members the ASDVC that were present felt they should back out of the questionable meeting, though not before Vice President of Legislative Affairs Alex Silva proposed the meeting be made Ad Hoc committee which is a special kind of meeting that has an attendee cap and is reserved for affairs not normally addressed by regular meetings, according to Roberts Rules of Order. This proposal was quickly shot down though, as the business under discussion was regular ASDVC business and could not qualify the meeting for Ad Hoc committee. Contact AIDAN HERRICK at aherrick@TheInquirerOnline.com

counterparts. Still, consumers are willing to pay more for organics. “The trend towards organics is a positive thing, but the prices are a little over the top. They’re a little too much for most people,” says student Luis Gonzalez. Consumption of organic food is growing at a rate of 20 percent a year, according to the Agricultural Research Marketing Center. The number of farmers markets has exploded from 1,755 registered in 1994, to 7,175 in 2011, according to USDA records. “Superfood” crazes like acai berries, cocoa leaves, quinoa, and most recently Chia seeds supposedly have astounding (unverified) health benefits, and are bought mostly by people looking for a miracle diet. “People are looking for a quick fix. What types of food you should be eating really depend on your needs, but the superfood idea is mostly a marketing ploy,” says culinary student Victor Ilog.

“It does appear the parcel tax is the more critical need,” Evans said. A bond measure for $255 million in facilities was tested among the interviewees and received 65 percent of likely voter support. Bond funds could only fund certain projects such as a new student learning center or new medical career facilities, but could not be spent on the operational costs needed to run them. The study found that the district is not in need of more bond money. “Much of the money from those earlier bonds has not yet been spent,” the survey said. It was estimated that the district construction funds “still have $80 million now for one to two years,” Dr. Helen Benjamin, Chancel-

Gluten-free products, once almost exclusively for those with Celiac’s disease or gluten sensitivities, are enjoying booming popularity. Says student Rohit Dugar, “I’ve noticed that those products are everywhere now. I think it’s just a fad, something new and different. People are being more health-conscious, though, which is good.” But the idea that gluten-free foods are healthier may be a fallacy. “Unless you have a real problem digesting gluten, and the vast majority of people do not, there’s no reason to follow that diet,” said dietitian Valerie Edwards in an interview with a Portland news station. “I think people should eat healthy anyway, regardless of the trends,” says student Fernando Castio. “It just makes you feel better.”

Contact MILLIE MCCORD at mmccord@ TheInquirerOnline.com

lor of the Contra Costa Community College District, said. The potential voters surveyed made it clear that their priorities were aligned with student services. The survey listed the factors most important to those surveyed: to prepare students for jobs and careers, provide core academics such as English, math and science, ensure the availability of classes and prepare students to transfer into four year universities. The likely voters were in favor of paying a parcel tax to receive these services, even in the current economic climate. “The parcel tax vote stays high even after [voters are] reminded of the economy,” the survey said. A subcommittee was es-

UMOJA

was impleFrom Page 1 mented at DVC was the Ujima program. This temporary two-year program was funded by the Foundation for College Success and Diane Scott Summers during a time of harsh budget cuts. However, it was discontinued after Spring 2010. Speaking to President Garcia on Monday about the reason the Ujima program didn’t continue, he stated that he wasn’t quite sure if it was enrollment, funding, leadership or lack of support that caused the program to discontinue. President Garcia also explained that the funding from the Umoja program was being taken from Ujima to advance the program through the first phase of getting on campus. “The College Success Inquiry Project (CSI) has been very supportive,” said Dr.Matthew Powell, a co-leader of the CSI and an African American studies professor. “Our first phase starts at the Summer Learning (SLI), a weeklong intensive professional development experience where colleges create and fine tune their programs which DVC will be attending this summer.”

tablished during the Board of Governor’s meeting to move forward with a tax initiative for the November ballot. President of the Board of Governors Tomi Van de Brooke and secretary of the Board of Governors John E. Marques volunteered to serve on the subcommittee and invited other board members to participate in their discussions. “Hopefully revenues in the state will pick up so that $3-4 million will be enough,” Van de Brooke said. “If you can get this program started…you have the opportunity to prudently increase [the $11 per parcel],” Evans said. “If $11 isn’t enough [for you, you’ll be] stepping away from a great opportunity.” Contact DANIELLE BARCENA at dbarcena@ TheInquirerOnline.com

Without a doubt, professional development will play a key role in effectively using the program to address the achievement gap. Staff Development Coordinator and Flex Activity Program member Lisa Orta developed the Whistling Vivaldi Project at DVC to contribute presentations and discussions in an effort to help narrow the gap. “I think there are a lot of points of contact that students have at the college, that could be more supportive to narrowing the achievement gap,” said Orta. The second phase of getting the program on campus may have already begun, according to Goen-Salter at an Umoja development workshop held at DVC on April 26. In fact, CSI presented a five-semester implementation plan for the program that introduces the program in January 2012 and keeps it going through Spring 2014, before getting the go ahead on funding from President Garcia himself. Contact AARON HUDSON at aaronhudso@ gmail.com

Thursday, May 3 - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Transfer alert: SJSU considers eliminating PE

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

DVC clinches playoff spot TOM RIZZA Sports Editor

HAKEEM MONTES Managing editor

If you intend to transfer to San Jose State University, you might not be able to take any physical activity courses next year. It has been suggested that this entire program at SJSU be cut in order to aid in balancing a $20 million budget deficit. Kiyan Kazemi, an instructor’s aid at the DVC weight room, is currently enrolled at both DVC and SJSU. He was unaware that this cut was being proposed. Upon being informed, Kazemi said, “I disagree with them cutting these classes. It may help in the short term but will hurt us in the long term.” Others also disagree with this proposed measure. In response to the proposed cuts student Jim Cope, a DVC personal training major says, “It sucks. It is totally awful.” Dr. Shirley Reekie, the chair of the department of kinesiology at SJSU, is responsible for coordinating a state-wide effort in an attempt to preserve this program. Reekie has created an online petition at Need to Know change.org titled “Save The petition, along the SJSU with more information, Physical is posted at Activity https://www.change. Program” org/petitions/save-thewhich has sjsu-physical-activityreceived program 3,252 online signatures as of 1:10 p.m. on May 1. DVC Physical Education Department Chair Ralph Depew says, “The discipline of kinesiology plays a vital role in education and in society…The reality of the situation is that students who wish to gain a degree in kinesiology, which is sixth or seventh most popular degree in the nation, would not be able to complete their degree.” According to Depew, every physical education instructor at Diablo Valley College, both part-time and full-time, has signed the online petition. This petition is being circulated throughout all California State universities, many California community colleges and has also received support from the national American Kinesiology Association. If this cut goes through, SJSU would be the only California State University to not offer physical activity courses. Reekie proclaims, “If they read some of the research on the value of physical activity, it would be hard for them not to agree that it is greatly beneficial to student health and well being.”

Sports

MIKE ALFIERI / The Inquirer

Starting pitcher Blake Fassler delivers a pitch during his complete game where he allowed only six hits and one run on Friday April 27, 2012.

There were seven teams in the Big 8 conference still in the hunt for a playoff spot when the Vikings took the field in Friday’s game against American River College. If there was any pressure on the players that day it didn’t show up on the field, with the Vikings taking a convincing 6-1 win and clinching a spot in this year’s Northern California conference playoffs. “We needed to get one out of two to keep the season alive,” said head coach Steve Ward with a smile of relief. “Play on, play on.” The Vikings’ started things early with a onetwo-three inning from starting pitcher Blake Fassler. Ryan Kochan got the offense going with a lead-off single and was knocked in on a Devin Alexander triple. The next batter, Matt Burks, kept the rally going with what turned out to be the winning run with an RBI double. Fassler took the momentum from the two run first inning and ran with it. “It definitely gives you a lot of confidence when the guys go out there and score early,” said Fassler. “It gives me a chance to rest in the dugout and get my legs under me and just focus on pounding the strike zone when I get out there.” Fassler had all of his pitches working, getting the complete game win and throwing a shutout into the eighth inning. His only strike out came in the ninth inning, but that doesn’t speak to his performance on the mound. Fassler was very efficient and hitting all his pitches, starting off almost every batter with a first-pitch strike then giving them nothing good to hit after that. American River’s offense couldn’t get a rally going the whole game. Fassler would not allow it. He threw six three-up, three-down innings and any base runner was quickly dealt with by a flawless defensive performance in the field. The Vikings broke the game open in the fifth inning with a four run two-out rally. Aaron Hernandez got it started with a double and scored on an ensuing Alexander single. Burks hit another single that caused the Beavers to pull the lefty Max Everingham out of the game. The pitching change didn’t seem to change much, as Cameron Merriweather hit an opposite field double for a couple RBIs. Joe Love’s double in the next at bat brought Merriweather home, capping off the Vikings’ scoring for the day. “A win like this definitely makes you feel confident going into the playoffs,” said Fassler. “Whoever we get, we know we’ll get ‘em.” The 2012 playoff schedule is out with DVC (9) going up against Santa Rosa (8) in a three game series starting May 5. The Vikings’ season record against Santa Rosa is 1-4, including an 11-2 loss which came on the last day of the season. With that in mind, it will be the Vikings’ mission to keep coach Ward’s mantra “play on, play on” alive.

MIKE ALFIERI/ The Inquirer Contact HAKEEM MONTES at hmontes@TheInquirerOnline.com

Second baseman Eddie Aguayo prepares to tag out Jason Fletcher as he tires to steal second base in the 4th inning of Friday’s game, April 27, 2012.

Contact TOM RIZZA at trizza@TheInquirerOnline.com

DVC warriors overrun UCB campus Tae kwon do students compete at open tourney BRIAN DONOVAN Editor-in-chief

Nearly hidden amidst the chaos of Cal Day at UC Berkeley, there was a Tae Kwon Do Open Tournament at the Haas Pavilion, where hundreds of competitors from all belt levels competed for medals and the experience. Our campus was represented at this tournament by three students from the DVC tae kwon do class. Each participant acquired a silver medal in sparring and one received a gold medal in forms. Among those DVC competitors was not only the Inquirer’s own Puzzles and Games editor Aidan Herrick, but also black belt Gregory Festo and Brett Cameron, who has a black belt in karate. “It was a good tournament, not great but I’ll get them at nationals,” says Cameron, who was disappointed that the judges did not count the two headshot kicks he landed on his opponent which, if counted, could have landed him a gold medal. “I kicked him in the head and they counted the points but they took the points back declaring that the kick was Courtesy of JESSIE KO ‘too hard’.” Cameron blames the current trend in DVC student Brett Cameron gives his opponent a the tae kwon do culture. “It’s going too taste of his foot in the Tae Kwon Do Open light on contact and too heavy on safety,” Tournament held at UC Berkely on April 21, 2012.

“If

you can’t take a hit then tae kwon do isn’t for you.” ~BRETT CAMERON DVC Student Entrant

he adds. “Why do we need chest protectors? If you can’t take a hit then tae kwon do isn’t for you.” Gregory won the gold in forms and commented on the need for more participation in this category. “We need to step up,” says Festo. “There isn’t a lot of competition on forms.” Master Arnoldo Bolanos is DVC’s resident tae kwon do instructor. He not only teaches at our campus, but also teaches at CCC and helped them attain success at this tournament as well. “The overall result was good for both schools, so now they have working experience,” said Bolanos. The CCC students had a larger presence; winning four gold medals, four silver, one bronze and a fourth place winner in sparring. “It was really good to see every indi-

vidual develop in their own way,” said Saul Cristales, Bolanos’ assistant at CCC. “Today is a great experience for them and every bit of it counts.” CCC silver medalist Dennis McCollins was also a victim of questionable judging when they didn’t count the front kick he landed on his opponent during the tiebreaker round. “I feel bad because our competitors had less than stellar judging,” added Festo. “While most calls were on point, many were poorly judged.” Our student government (ASDVC) President Kanghee Kim made an appearance at the tournament. Kim is a black belt in tae kwon do and served as president of the DVC club Vision Martial Arts. “It was a very cool event. These kinds of opportunities not only helps with DVC’s prestige but also helps students bond together to show what they are about.” DVC tae kwon do club President Jessie Kao also attended the event. “Though this may have been said before, it truly is a great experience,” stated Kao. “This tournament is a tradition that we will, hopefully, continue with many years to come.” Contact BRIAN DONOVAN at bdonovan@TheInquirerOnline.com

Comics

Thursday, May 3 - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

‘Mouse Nation’ brings biting political satire to DVC

Follow the exciting adventures in the comic, Mouse Nation by Kellyn Borst,a look into US politics and current popular culture as told under the guise of cute,

diabolical animals. Imagine that a T-Rex is an invading country and mice as American politicians. Things are gonna get ugly (even though they already are). Will the mice be

able to vanquish terrorism? Will the T-Rex devour the mice? Where does cheese play into all of this? All questions will be answered.... in time.

You can check out the rest of Kellyn’s work at www.TheInquirerOnline.com Contact KELLYN BORST at kborst@TheInquirerOnline.com

Correction In the April 19, 2012 issue the article “International students have new work oppurtunity” the writer states there are over 2,000 international students enrolled at DVC. The actual number is 1,400.

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Thursday, May 3 - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The

Buzz

Do you think DVC should be able to punish you for things you do off campus?

JEN NASLUND, 22 English

“In most cases, no. Unless it affects the campus or you’re an important person, you shouldn’t have any problems.”

MITCH BEARD, 20 American Sign Language

“No, people should have a right to their own privacy. It shouldn’t happen.”

“No. In fact, I think it is a fascist policy.”

MAHMOUD HASSANE, 19 Business

“Definitely not. This should be left up to the police, not the school administration.”

Our society is one that depends on rampant abuse and dominating others in order to sustain the economic system managing it. While violent crime has gone down overall, bullying and harassment are still epidemic social ills that degrade our humanity. Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying according to statistics from the i-SAFE Foundation. According to the Center of Disease Control, 20 to 25 percent of women reported experiencing an attempted or completed rape in college. With these realizations, it is not surprising that DVC will have to keep finding new ways to curtail these acts of human savagery from occurring on campus. In an attempt to stifle harassment on campus, Dean of Student Life Bill Oye has authored proposed revisions to the Student Code of Conduct that would broaden the definitions

“No, the school administration should not enforce school rules off campus.” Interviewer & photographer: Pablo Caballero

Graphic Illustration by JACK DILLON

of disruptive behavior and give DVC the authority to regulate this behavior off campus. The provisions would oversee text messages, emails, social media and “other technological forms of communication.” The proposed code clearly states its intent to stop harassment off campus by stating that, “The college may have an obli-

gation to respond to student-onstudent harassment that initially occurred off campus. If a student files a complaint with the college, regardless of where the conduct occurred, the college must process the complaint in accordance with its established procedures.” While we deplore harassment in all forms, DVC may be over-

extending its jurisdiction with these proposed Student Code of Conduct provisions. We don’t expect DVC to change the world or to crush harassment altogether. This is why we have the police and court system. Off campus harassment should be and needs to be dealt with by the appropriate authorities. DVC has enough problems

already with the budgets cuts, closing achievement gaps and teaching students material that they should have learned in the failed high school system. These provisions are more reactionary as they address the symptoms of social and psychological problems created by a complex system of various factors. When harassment happens, it is often too late as punishing the perpetrator does not undo the damage done to the victim. The administration and the campus as a whole should focus on proactive and preventative solutions to make DVC a “safe bubble” for students to expand their consciousness through education. They can start by asking the students what are their harassment/bullying issues and what support do they need from the campus. Students would appreciate having this campus reach out to them for more reasons than just asking for their money.

Opinions

Davis Dozen perverts justice

A new battle in the war on free speech is on at UC Davis. According to a press release from the Occupy UC Davis Anti-Repression Crew, on March 29, 11 students and a professor were mailed arrest notices from the Yolo County DA to appear in court on misdemeanor charges. The date of the arraignment is May 10. Their crime? According to an article by Muna Sadek for the California Aggie, the “Davis Dozen” is facing up to 11 years

in jail and up to a million dollars in damages for blocking the entrance to an on-campus branch of US Bank by sitting in front of the door, forcing it to shut down. At this point I should mention that one of my close friends was involved in this demonstration but was not charged with any crime. Of course, the students involved were engaging in civil disobedience and it isn’t necessarily evidence of a fascist police state to charge these protestors with a crime. However, there are certain elements to this case that make it suspect. According to the press release, some of the students being charged were also involved in the pepper spray incident last November. The release theorizes, “But whereas the District Attorney

declined to file charges against protesters then, this less publicized prosecution seems to be an attempt to punish the dissenting students, perhaps in retaliation for their pending ACLU lawsuit against the university.” The severity of the charges also hit me the wrong way. In the brief amount of research I did, the behavior of the protesters is noted only through biased sources. An article by David M. Greenwald for the Davis Vanguard makes this evident by quoting both sides. Kristin Kroster, a member of Occupy UC Davis who was involved in this protest (yet not charged), said, “While the protest did intend to stop bank business, employees, police and security guards were certainly free to come and go from the bank―and they did, regularly. We were clear that we were there to protest

privatization, but we also made it clear that we were not keeping employees closed inside.” On the flip side, a spokesperson for UC Davis named Barry Shiller said, “The protesters’ pattern shifted from simply congregating in front of the bank’s entrance while allowing customers and employees to enter and exit freely, to actively obstructing people from entering and exiting.” Because of this, I can’t say that the protesters are 100 percent innocent. However, they are 100 percent not deserving of an 11 year prison sentence and a million dollar fine. For comparison, Angela K. Schulz, who killed a young mother in a head on DUI collision after being convicted of two previous DUIs, was sentenced to 11 years in prison according to the Colombus Dispatch.

Additionally, a hedge fund manager named Raj Rajaratnam was put away for 11 years last October for making 72 million dollars off of insider trading. Now compare those crimes to blocking access to a bank on a college campus as part of a protest. Would you agree that the crimes of the Davis Dozen pale in comparison? Because of this, I have no choice but to conclude that these charges are egregious and are mostly in place to scare away other people from protesting and exercising their First Amendment rights. The Davis Dozen are currently accepting donations to their legal fund. If you want to support them, visit davisdozen.org. Contact JOHN KESLER at jkesler@TheInquirerOnline.com

Zimmerman didn’t ‘stand his ground’ ASHLEY ROSE Staff writer

KELLIE LEYDER, 20 Dietetics

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Editorial Conduct revisions a stretch

JOHN KESLER Opinions editor

JOHN MICHAELSON, 19 Political Science

Opinions

A vigilante’s murderous actions almost went unpunished. Luckily, 45 days after the murder of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin, prosecutors buckled under public pressure and announced they would try Martin’s shooter, George Zimmerman, for second

degree murder. His case relies on Florida’s kill or be killed “Stand Your Ground” law that allows people who fear death or great bodily harm to use deadly force against someone. Seeming to be rooted in the rules of the wild west, the law has made it difficult for police and courts to determine the victim from the aggressor, even in cases of domestic abuse. From the beginning, Zimmerman has painted himself as an unfortunate victim of the situation. Bemoaning his hardship, Zimmerman wrote on his web-

site, “As a result of the incident and subsequent media coverage, I have been forced to leave my home, my school, my employer, my family and ultimately, my entire life.” Through a Paypal account on his website, Zimmerman has collected more than $200,000 to support his case. Prior to his hearing, Zimmerman made no move to publicly apologize for gunning down Martin, and has continued to act as the victim. In fact, Zimmerman apologized to the Martin family only recently, during his

bond hearing. But in reality, Zimmerman is the vigilante aggressor. It was Zimmerman who followed Martin, provoked him and then pulled out a gun and shot him. Zimmerman had already called police, but ignored instructions by the dispatcher to stop following Martin. He made a conscious decision to arm himself, and pursue Martin. He isn’t the victim, he’s a neighborhood watch vigilante who decided to confront a perceived problem and protect himself and neighborhood at the

expensive of another’s life. With the publicity the media has generated around Martin’s death, and Florida’s “Stand Your Ground Law,” some of the 23 states with a similar law should re-evaluate their statutes. In no state should a law allow someone to kill another without defending their actions before a judge. Every case should be evaluated individually, allowing evidence to prove the shooter’s innocence. Contact ASHLEY ROSE at arose@TheInquirerOnline.com

Got an opinion? Send your letters to the editor to bdonovan@ TheInquirerOnline.com and jkesler@TheInquirerOnline.com.

Editorial Board

Staff

EDITOR IN CHIEF Brian Donovan MANAGING EDITOR Hakeem Montes ONLINE EDITOR Andrew O’Connor-Watts NEWS EDITOR Brian Donovan OPINIONS EDITOR John Kesler SPORTS EDITOR Tom Rizza ARTS & FEATURES EDITOR Christa Balingit PHOTO CHIEF Mike Alfieri COPY EDITORS Tim Khousnoutdinov, Raneem Taleb-Agha PUZZLES & GAMES EDITOR Aidan Herrick BUSINESS MANAGER Yunhee Roh DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Alex Brendel

STAFF WRITERS Gabriel Agurcia, Pablo Caballero, Karin Jensen, Brandon Kersis, Millie McCord, Melissa Natividad, Chloe Quinones-Crosby. Lorena Rojas, Ashley Rose, SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Danielle Barcena, Sean Wilkey PHOTOGRAPHERS Danielle Barcena, Sara Berkson, Sean Wilkey DESIGNERS Kellyn Borst, Jack Dillon INSTRUCTIONAL LAB COORDINATOR Ann Stenmark ADVISER Mary Mazzocco

THE INQUIRER Diablo Valley College 321 Golf Club Road, H-102 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 The Inquirer is published Thursday mornings during the school year by the journalism students of Diablo Valley College. All unsigned articles appearing on the opinions page are editorials and reflect a two-thirds majority opinion of the editorial staff. All signed columns and cartoons are the opinions of the writer or artists and not necessarily those of The Inquirer, Diablo Valley College or Contra Costa Community College District.

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

Opinions

This is your California on big government

Social media dumbs down social life

TIM KHOUSNOUTDINOV Copy editor

Graphic Illustration by KELLYN BORST

BRIAN DONOVAN Editor-in-chief

So I went to this speech competition that the DVC speech and debate team held at Performing Arts Center (PAC) the other week and they were debating social media. One side was mainly arguing about how it’s used for connecting the world together, to create social change and how great it is for advertisers trying to target their niche audience, which the latter was rightfully jeered by the audience. The opposing side emphasized how it’s used by creeps, cyber bullies and authorities. Though their points were mostly valid, they only touch the surface. Cyberbulling and information control is a symptom of a larger social problem, which stems from an obsession for maintaining and projecting power. Government and corporations now have more information on the everyday person than they know what to do with, thanks to Facebook and Twitter keeping track of our interests. They almost have enough information to predict a person’s behavior. A National Security Agency whistleblower William Binney revealed on Democracy Now that the Obama administration has expanded domestic surveillance and estimates that our government has gathered over 20 trillion “transactions” from phone calls, emails to Facebook posts. Also what was left out of the discussion was the cultural effect

Thursday, May 3 - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

social media is having on people’s social skills and especially on their cognitive functions. Larry D. Rosen, PhD, professor of psychology at California State University of Dominguez Hills says that teens who use Facebook more often show narcissistic tendencies in addition to more signs of other psychological disorders, including antisocial behaviors, mania and aggressive tendencies. On the flip side, he also said that online social networking can help introverted adolescents learn how to socialize behind the safety of a screen and can provide tools for teaching in compelling ways that engage young students. As some people say, everything in moderation, right? Still, the question looms in my head: how is our ability to learn being affected? In 2008, Nicholas Carr came out with a thought-provoking piece called “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”, which argued that internet use has had a negative effect on how we process information by having people collect it by bits and pieces rather than indepth. He also brought the point that it is within the economic interests of corporations to drive internet users to distraction while they collect personal information used for advertising. In response to Carr’s analysis, Science Express did a study stating that we’re not necessarily losing our ability to remember things. Rather, the internet is changing how we remember. Ars Technica sums it up simply: “People are recalling information less, and instead can remember where to find the information they have forgotten.” The National Academy of Sciences in a 2011 study linked Advertisement

attention to memory. They concluded that being flooded with many distractions, which social networking is filled with, can deteriorate short-term memory over time. Though social networking is changing the way we interact with our world and how our brains function, it is still a medium to perpetuate our past tendencies. Activism, which has existed since the dawn of civilization, has been given a new tool for projecting a message. Anyone who paid attention to the Arab Spring could figure that out without much explanation. Social networking can work for community activism as well. For example, DVC’s Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) used Facebook to expose our student government’s (ASDVC) censorship after they removed comments posted on their page criticizing the ineffectiveness of our elected representatives. The student government went as far as deleting and blocking DVC SDS from their group page. But also this gives powerful interest groups the ability to do the same. War propaganda like Kony 2012 captivated millions of well meaning people into an emotional fervor over an issue they know very little about. Social media has changed the way people interact, but overall it is another medium to express one’s self or to project power. Dismantling Big Brother is not done by preventing technology from developing but by changing the cultural and economic system to one that doesn’t value domination over everything. Contact BRIAN DONOVAN at bdonovan@TheInquirerOnline. com

The social contract that composes the very essence of government in our society is one of necessity―to protect the life, liberty and property of its people. Necessity only pertains to what would otherwise be endangered. It doesn’t specifically relate to budgetary issues or employment guarantees. Simply agreeing on what comprises a good or rightsized government, often leads to tension and disagreement. My understanding, however, is that a proper government is simply one that protects the peaceful actions and interactions of people within their right to live as they choose. Regarding California, a relative bastion of strong liberal values and practices, questions of government size and functionality are quickly coming back to the discussion table, as state-wide economic woes worsen. According to liberal demographer Joel Kotkin, over four million people who have come here in the past few decades for economic reasons have left. This is a result of restrictive regulatory policies and rising living costs especially around coastal and highly developed areas. These political trends promote the success of the very rich and the very poor while driving small business owners, young families and taxproducers out of the state. This is big government at work, allowing many poor decisions to be made at the cost of billions of dollars of tax-payer money for unnecessary spending.

California has long been known to be a progressive and open place, for both cultural and economic growth. Unfortunately, government expansion along with the state enforcing its will onto individuals is a gross violation of our sacred notion of liberty. Furthermore, big government threatens prosperity by wasting resources and redirecting the funds of its people towards areas of development that may not have a majority’s benefit in mind. Moral enforcement by big government also comes under question, as it makes people believe that its exercised might makes right under the guise of democratic action. This conflicts with what a right-sized and properly functioning government should do. They should simply seek to rightfully preserve the freedom

of individuals to act as they think best to promote morality. The state and the nation as a whole are losing older values within the vortex that is becoming utterly reliant on a monstrous structure to regulate life. Instead of allowing the people to live and progress on their own, big government is taking away from our children, our solvency and our future. To be clear, I’m not advocating for no government, but rather, for one that covers all the critical services while allowing the greatest freedom for choosing one’s life without sacrificing safety and harmony. Will this ever be the reality? Only our politicians may ever really know. Contact TIM KHOUSNOUTDINOV at tkhous@TheInquirerOnline.com

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Arts & Features

Thursday, May 3 - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: pegged as new guilty pleasure

MELISSA NATIVIDAD Staff writer

New HBO series â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girlsâ&#x20AC;? is being called a different kind of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sex and the City.â&#x20AC;? The show is written/directed by 25-year-old Lena Dunham who created the show to portray her personal experiences. The show perfectly combines co-producer Judd Apatowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bridesmaids,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Freaks and Geeksâ&#x20AC;?) uninhibited sense of humor with Dunhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Woody Allen-ish awkwardly egotistic situations (if Woody Allen were a young female with tattoos of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books illustrations all over his body). The show follows the lives of four girls in their early-to-mid 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seeking out their lives as adults in the city of New York. Main character, Hannah (played by Dunham), is an aspiring author removed from her financial safety net when she is financially cut off from her parents and fired from an internship in the first episode. She seeks support from three close acquaintances. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marnie (Hannahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clean-cut, self-driven best friend), Shoshanna (the naĂŻvely giddy virgin), and Jessa (Shoshannaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s European cousin whose Bohemian personality dynamically clashes with Marnieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s). Filmed in single-camera setup, the characters develop through instances damned to challenge their adulthood. With songs by artists like MGMT, The Pretenders, and Jay-Z , the soundtrack carries the scenes with genres of indie, alternative, and funk. The choices in wardrobe will have you running for your laptop to add to your â&#x20AC;&#x153;Collegiate Chicâ&#x20AC;? board on Pinterest. Since the premiere of the Pilot episode on April 16, Dunham has received much criticism. She was criticized particularly for her weak choice in ethnically diverse actors (there are none) as well as her barely relatable upper class plots that were assumed to represent this generation. Aside from the fact that it is as relatable as VH1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hit show Mob Wives, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girlsâ&#x20AC;? should be recognized for its realistic portrayal of females in their early 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Women in their early 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are generally looking for three things: recognition, fame and love. We all know the daunting realization of finishing higher degrees only to hope that being â&#x20AC;&#x153;ultimately enthusiasticâ&#x20AC;? will compensate for a lack of experience for the next job interview. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girlsâ&#x20AC;? definitely accents the power of femininity in self-sufficiency, independence and confidence. The unforeseeable consequences of unwise decisions endured by these characters give the show realistic appeal. The East Coast blatancy is refreshing, as Dunham gives characters the words we all think yet dare not admit. Dunham illustrates Hannah to have an â&#x20AC;?interesting mix of complete self-confidence and no selfworth that sort of is the trademark of most 24-yearold-girls.â&#x20AC;? If â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girlsâ&#x20AC;? closely resembles Dunhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal experiences on her road to success, I hold high hopes for it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girlsâ&#x20AC;? is the new guilty pleasure. New episodes of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girlsâ&#x20AC;? can be watched on HBO, Sunday nights at 10:30 p.m.

MIKE ALFIERI/ The Inquirer

Greg Reasoner rouses laughter from the crowd with a musical number along with fellow Dragon Viper Cobra improv troupe members Bobby Jennings and Blake Rosier during the second act of the show on Friday April 27, 2012.

Improv troupe delights audiences DANIELLE BARCENA Senior Staff writer

Local improv troupes Dragon Viper Cobra and Fancy Dinosaurs attacked their audience with animalistic humor during a live performance at Under the Sun Studios in Concord on Friday, April 27. The concept behind the two troupes is a simple one, according to Bobby Jennings, a co-cpatain and coach of both teams. When asked what the madness was all about, Jennings described their troupes as â&#x20AC;&#x153;people going to DVC who love improv, getting together to do improv.â&#x20AC;? Jennings described improv as an â&#x20AC;&#x153;art form that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a lot of respect.â&#x20AC;? The primitive method, however, worked for audiences who immediately embraced the experience. The quaint theatre was hidden in a warehouse behind a shopping center that gave no clues to what treasures lie inside. Stage lights traveled from above the stage back above the audience. The wooden risers seemed handcrafted like the stage, creating an atmosphere of the audience physically being part of the show. As both troupes performed, audience participation was encouraged and given in ample supply. The audience provided suggestions for character traits and other elements of the games performed on stage, creating a show that could not be recreated. The Fancy Dinosaurs started the night off with an enjoyable performance. The troupe seemed young and unseasoned, which is okay, because they are young and unseasoned. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fancy Dinosaurs are like, a younger [Dragon Viper Cobra]â&#x20AC;Śbut, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been gaining a lot of respect with their own talent,â&#x20AC;? Jennings said. The actors did well to try to control their blocking and listen to each other in the scene, but their efforts showed through, which made it difficult to fully suspend disbelief. They established rules for their improv games, such as establishing a certain line or character that needed to be use in the scene, but then quickly ignored those rules. The audience did not seem to mind as the uninhibited nature was well received. The humor throughout the show was full of al-

Contact MELISSA NATIVIDAD at mnatividad@TheInquirerOnline.com

ternative pop culture references to video games and the television show â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dr. Who.â&#x20AC;? Puns were used quite effectively throughout the night by both troupes. During a dating show skit, an actor had to guess the character traits of the contestants, who pretended to be animated lamps. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I dated a chandelier and he thought too highly of himself,â&#x20AC;? Keeler Dean Curtice said during the skit. The second half of the performance showcased the talents of Dragon Viper Cobra, who immediately boosted up the energy level in the house. They did a couple skits and it was instantly obvious that they had done this before. The troupe worked through scenes using pantomime and gibberish to tell a story then communicate it with other actors like playing â&#x20AC;&#x153;telephone.â&#x20AC;? Greg Reasoner, co-captain of both teams with Bobby Jennings, really carried the team through every scene with his solid performance, but the other actors did do well to hold their own. In one pantomime sketch, Reasoner used an imaginary DS MIKE ALFIERI / The Inquirer game, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Set It Downâ&#x20AC;? to continue the scene, then came back to it toward the end of the scene Matt Rath and Bobby Jennings act out a scene with their to continue the joke, displaying style of high jinks on Friday April 27, 2012. a knowledge of smart humor and efficiency. show proved that local entertainment can always be The troupes sprouted from one idea with roots unexpected. at Diablo Valley College, but could not be held in captivity for long and eventually moved on to perCatch a Dragon Viper Cobra and Fancy Dinoform regularly at Under the Sun Studios. saurs performing at a theatre near you. Check out â&#x20AC;&#x153;We played a lot of weird stuff before we played their facebook page at Facebook.com/DragonVihere,â&#x20AC;? Jennings said. perCobraImprov to find their upcoming shows. Both Fancy Dinosaurs and Dragon Viper Cobra had a great sense of what they and their audiences Contact DANIELLE BARCENA at found as funny and delightful. The troupes had dbarcena@TheInquirerOnline.com their audience smiling throughout the night. This

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Arts & Features The Inquirer - Diablo Valley College

Thursday, May 3 - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Dance show brings unique beauty to the stage

MIKE ALFIERI/ The Inquirer

Michelle Johnson is hoisted on the shoulders of Evan Johnston in “Reflections of a Life Unlived” during the second act on Saturday April 29, 2012.

DVC students perform a variety of dances in their show ‘Embrace the Space’ The show ended with “Embrace the Space, Finale”, which was a number that involved all of the students in the performance. After coming out with one last number, the students each took turns taking a bow amidst loud applause. “I love seeing the final product,” Valmore said. “You see VC dancers demonstrated advanced technique, chorethese students practicing all semester. And there are a lot of ography and skill in their show ‘Embrace the Space’ that trials and tribulations along the way. But at the end of the took place April 27-29. road, you get to see them grow. You see how proud they are Choreographers and dancers alike worked together to come up of themselves.” with a variety of different dance numbers. Those who attended the show also found Students used different dancing style including jazz, themselves entertained. ballet, hip hop, contemporary, modern and much Luis Currie, who is a student at DVC, said more. Every dance performance was an original and that he only attended the show because his girla project the students have been working on since the friend had asked him to go with her. beginning of the semester. “Honestly, I was impressed,” Currie said. “I DVC professor Kimberley Valmore, who has been didn’t know exactly know how this whole perteaching at the college for over 10 years, was the artisformance was going to go down. I did like how tic director in the show. they had a little more of everything for everyValmore said that she really wanted to get students one, though. I’m not much of a ballet fan, but to express whatever they were thinking about. watching some of the more modern dances was “Every piece is unique depending on each choreogreally cool.” raphers idea,” Valmore said. “There is some humor ~Kimberley Valmore Mourissa Delepine, a DVC student who also -Director and some darker pieces. It’s not just a chance to dance, attended the event, said she found much more but to produce and choreograph.” than the dancing impressive. The variety was easy to see while watching each “The dancing was great, it really was,” Delepine said. “The piece. The show started 15 minutes later than planned, but once the costumes is what really made the show interesting. I feel like curtains came up, it was hard to feel any type of annoyance.The first a lot of the time when I go see plays I just see the dancers in performance, entitled “Chasing Fairies,” had a calming and serene all black, even if the dress attire doesn’t fit with the meaning feel to it. Other performances, including “Wonder Why,” “Hardof the piece. With this, the costumes were so much fun and ships,” “Fear Not” and “One Short Story” were upbeat and fun so colorful. They got really creative with them.” pieces, while showing off how well the students can work together. Christina Stevenson, who choreographed “Natural SelecAll of the steps were complicated, but the dancers remained in tion,” said that she had been thinking about her piece since perfect sync the entire time. They worked well together and it was last summer. The piece was inspired by her cat that passed. evident that each student truly enjoyed what they were doing. “I got the idea for it and I just kept adding to it,” Stevenson Some performances like “Reflections”” and “Hardships” were said. performed by a pair of dancers. Each pair demonstrated a certain With all the hard work that was put into it, Valmore said chemistry that made their numbers enjoyable to watch. the moments on stage are precious, but fleeting. Other numbers included groups of people. “Let Your Conscience “The stage is really just the frosting,” Valmore said. “The Be Your Guide,” “When the Cat’s Away,” “One Short Day” and road is what’s really special.” much more required at least six students to perform. Most of the numbers were upbeat and told a very obvious story. Even though there was a lot of different dances happening onContact CHRISTA BALINGIT stage all at once, it never got too chaotic. at cbalingit@TheInquirerOnline.com CHRISTA BALINGIT Arts & Features editor

“The stage is the frosting. The road getting there is what’s really special.”

MIKE ALFIERI/ The Inquirer

Brian Carlson and Mellissa Church perform together in the piece “Natural Selection” on Saturday April 29, 2012.

Cinco De Mayo cemita: more than a sandwich sisted, causing the French troops to retreat. News of the Mexican victory in the battle made its way to a San Francisco newspaper and was celebrated by a group of miners who Hayes-Bautista said, “fired off rifle shots and fireworks, sang patriotic songs.” Cinco de Mayo arrives this Saturday, leaving ample time for people On the first anniversary of the “Battle of Puebla,” Mexicans celto celebrate on a holiday that conjures up images of drinking tequila ebrated their continued success against oppression. under the guise of a sombrero from Chevy’s until “Cinco de Mayo became a symbol of the struggle an involuntary siesta takes over. to preserve liberty…Mexicans in California used the Need to Know “The celebrations are many and varied, but… commemoration of the Cinco de Mayo, the Battle more have forgotten why we celebrate,” Dr. Daof Puebla, to symbolize their desire for freedom vid Hayes-Bautista, Director of the Center for On May 3, DVC will and democracy,” Hayes-Bautista wrote. the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the be holding a Cinco Instead of celebrating with your nose face down School of Medicine, UCLA, wrote in a packet after a night of drinks, you can stick it high in the De Mayo celebraprovided by his media representative. air and brag about your sandwich with historical sigtion in the Student “The celebration has devolved into a mere nificance: the cemita. During the French IntervenUnion Plaza from party; a time to eat Mexican food and drink Mextion from 1862 to 1867, a flaky, egg-washed sesame 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. ican drinks,” Hayes-Bautista wrote. seed roll was introduced by the French oppressors Many are not aware of what they are celebratto the people of Puebla, Mexico. ing, and probably even less aware of how they There will be mexiThe sandwich is made from that cemita roll, ended up back in their beds after a night of endcan food made by which holds beef Milanesa, a deep fried thin slice of less margaritas. Some think it is Mexican Indethe culinary club. A beef, avocados and onions. Adding a white cheese pendence day. dance performance is essential to getting the traditional taste. Either “Mexicans in California used the commemopanela, a gentle mozzarella like cheese, or quesillo, and a live DJ will be ration of the Cinco de Mayo, the Battle of Pueba stringy cheese from Oaxaca will suffice. Adding attending the event. la, to symbolize their desire for freedom and deflavor in a red sauce is common. mocracy,” Hayes-Bautista wrote. Picking out the ingredients using my method is In his new book, “El Cinco de Mayo: An simple; get what is on sale. Any cut of meat will do. American Tradition,” Hayes-Bautista shares the I substitute an authentic cemita roll for any hard true history of the “Battle of Puebla,” which led roll, like a Kaiser roll or toasted ciabatta. to the holiday as we know it. “On the morning of May 5, 1862...the French Empire charged Danielita’s Easy Cemita: the walls of Puebla...to their surprise, the Mexican army did not yield Ingredients: [and] threw the French troops off the town’s walls,” Hayes-Bautista 1 hard roll; 1 generous slice of steak; ½ c bread crumbs; ½ c flour; wrote in his media packet. ½ c cooking oil; 1 egg; 1 tsp water; salt and pepper to taste; red bell The French continued to charge, but the Mexican defenders reDANIELLE BARCENA Senior Staff writer

DANIELLE BARCENA/ The Inquirer

The cemita sandwich is a treat from Puebla. pepper; onion; avocado; 1 piece of string cheese. Directions: Cook your thawed slice of beef thoroughly. Saute sliced bell pepper and onion. Pull apart your string cheese. Set aside. Add oil to pan. Toss in a small piece of food, when it bubbles in the oil, it is ready to fry. Mix together flour, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. In another bowl, whisk egg and water. Coat the meat in the egg wash, then put in the dry ingredients. Use tongs if you have them and gently place the coated meat into the oil. Watch out for splatters! When your meat turns a crispy brown, remove from oil and turn stove off. Dab the greasy food with a paper towel. Build all the ingredients onto the hard roll and enjoy!

Contact DANIELLE BARCENA at dbarcena@TheInquirerOnline. com