The Inquirer 9-12-13 issue by DVC Inquirer

Diablo’s inferno

The

INQUIRER Student Voice of Diablo Valley College

Volume 83 No. 1 Thursday, Sept. 12 - Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013 www.TheInquirerOnline.com

Syria crisis Opinions editor Sasan Kasravi talks foreign policy. See Page 3.

Vikings draw

Women’s soccer team holds its own. See Page 5.

Just say no

“Art of NO” exhibit comes to DVC . See Page 7.

Get jazzed

Grammy-winning music instructor arrives. See Page 8.

DVC prepares to maintain its accreditation RACHEL ANN REYES Co-Editor in Chief

The DVC accreditation advisory group is in the process of drafting reports to pass the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges’ (ACCJC) requirements to remain an accredited school. This preparation comes months after the ACCJC decided to revoke City College of San Francisco’s accreditation. According to Susan Lamb, vice president of instruction and accreditation liaison officer, a team from ACCJC visits about every six years in which they take their information and report back to the commission making recommendations. The final decision goes to the commission, a group of about 40 people who serve on ACCJC. The recommendation options that the visiting team can make to colleges are to reaffirm their accreditation, reaffirm accreditation with a follow up report or with a follow up visit, defer action and sanction. Sanction, the most serious option for a college, includes three different levels, which are warning, probation and show cause. The last time ACCJC visited DVC six years ago, the college was placed on show cause, which Lamb ACCREDITATION, Page 6

GUSTAVO VASQUEZ / The Inquirer

The devastating fire (above) that ravaged Mt. Diablo could be seen from Bay Point on the night of Sunday, Sept. 9, 2013. The aftermath (below) could be seen on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013.

Wildfire ravages Mt. Diablo and impacts surrounding area COLLIN JAMES Staff writer

Fighters gain control of the blaze, Clayton spared A large brush fire has engulfed much of Mt. Diablo State Park and threatened home and ranches at the base of the mountain. For the past week, fire fighters have battled the blaze to save homes, and by Tuesday they were able to prevent the fire from reaching homes and property in nearby Clayton, Calif. Many homes and ranches located in the isolated southern Clayton were ordered to be evacuated on Monday, but due to a change in the fire’s coarse, and the American Red Cross has prepared a shelter up to 100 people at the Clayton Community Library. Much of the eastern side of Mt. Diablo has been burned,

COLLIN JAMES / The Inquirer

and the rugged terrain has made it difficult for firefighters to battle the blaze on the ground. The fire began burning Sunday afternoon and within 24 hours, the blaze grew rapidly and engulfed the entire east side of Mt. Diablo. Firefighters estimate that the fire

over 3,200 acres. Experts are still uncertain as to how the fire began. The dry weather and overbearing heat of California’s late summers are notorious for creating ideal conditions for wildfires. The Cedar fire just ten years ago burned 280,000 acres in San Diego

County and destroyed over 2,000 homes. The Yosemite rim fire that broke out last month is still raging and burned an estimated 240,000 acres, making it California’s 3rd worst fire in history. FIRE, Page 6

Several changes impact students, enrollment in kinesiology classes ALEJANDRO RAMOS Co-Editor in Chief

DVC’s weight training gym once used to be alive and full of people trying to get in shape. Now it is a far emptier and quieter place. The kinesiology department experienced low enrollment rates this fall semester, a problem that According to Ralph Depew, department chair of the kinesiology department, the kinesiology department went from having 3,130 students

enrolled last year to about 2,700 students at the beginning of this semester. He estimated that the numbers would go up by another 100 to 150 students before the last add date, but that is still significantly lower than before. “I haven’t seen that before,” Depew marveled. Depew has seen the effects of the low enrollment rates in his own classes. He went from having five full sections of circuit training to only two KINESIOLOGY, Page 6

GUSTAVO VASQUEZ / The Inquirer

Aaron Houstone, 19, performs rows in the weight training class, which experienced lower enrollment due to limited repeatability and the name change.

opinions 2

Thursday, Sept. 12 - Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013

The

Buzz What is one thing you would chnage about DVC?

MICHELLE MURHPHY, 34 Child development

“Parking because there are too many people and very little space.”

ALEXANDRA PIRES, 19 English

“More classes available, because I cant get in [the ones I] wanted to.”

BANY NOGUERA, 19 Interior design

“It would be nice for students if there are some activities.”

IAN LAI, 20 Architecture

“I guess it would be good for DVC to fund the money for clubs.”

ANTONIO AMADOR, 19 Photography

“More activities” Interviewed by: Akihisa Kishigami Photographed by: Rashad Tucker and Dennis Bridges

Editorial Students tired of waiting In the May 16 issue of The In- credentials. Dissatisfaction with quirer, we layed out some of the Admissions and Records means changes you could expect this Fall. our reason for being at DVC isn’t Now, in this issue’s Buzz, we’ve being handled properly. asked what changes the student There’s blame to share. Too body would still like to see. much of the Admissions Office’s After discussing it among our time is spent explaining things that editorial staff, what we would students should already know and most like to see improved is the doing tasks for students that could Admissions and Records office. have been done through WebAdPretty much everyone who’s visor. had to deal with the Admissions The DVC website has more to and Records office has a story. offer than just a calendar, twitter The brutally long lines, getting a feed, and a link to WebAdvisor, different answer from every staff and everyone will benefit from member you speak to, and the more students using online refeeling that you aren’t being lis- sources. tened to are commonalities. Admissions and Records is also While services dealt a pretty bad like the Counselbecause “It’s not okay for hand ing Office, Disof bureaucratic abled Student students to have to nonsense that Services, and the impacts wait half an hour largely library are critical their workload. for student sucStudents takfor their turn cess, Admissions ing new or exat the only and Records is perimental classthe most fundaoccupied window.” es face a lot of mentally imporissues they don’t tant office. anticipate when It’s the office tasked with han- trying to get their classes in foldling whether and to what extent lowing semesters. we are DVC students to begin Some courses aren’t recognized with. by Webadvisor and the AdmisAt the end of the day, we’re sions system as serving a purpose here because we want to be taking it should, students can’t sign up certain classes and earning certain for their classes online and are

DREIA MELINKOFF / The Inquirer

forced to try to late add with a code if they can get one, then go to Admissions and file a prerequisite challenge to the dean of their department before they can be added to the class. These are technical issues that need to be streamlined to make Admissions more productive and the lives of students that much easier. Still, it’s not okay for students to have to wait in line for half an hour for their turn at the only occupied window at the Admissions office, especially in the first two weeks of school when students have a deadline for adding classes. If more funding is needed to

have at least two people serving students at all times in these first two weeks then it should be appropriated from a less fundamentally important expenditure. The staff at Admissions and Records are humans, and they have to deal with long hours, long lines, stressed students, and limited resources. But that’s the job. Managerial and administrative staff need to take accountability for ensuring a healthy work environment and positive student experience. A shorter line, a more functional system and a bigger smile would give students a great, positive start to the semester.

Letter to the editor

United States should take stand for rights at 2014 Winter Olympics As a country, America has long sought to be a progressive innovator in the modern world, particularly when it came to individual freedoms. Our passion for freedom and equality is at the core of our constitution, the document which serves as the backbone of our nations beliefs. America has long fought for human rights, not just here at home but internationally, stepping into conflicts many members of the world community advised against in the name of progress. We as a nation lead by example and it is time for us once again to set a standard for the world to follow. In the year 1980 the United States of America boycotted the Summer Olympic Games in Moscow, Russia as a result of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. I propose we boycott the coming 2014 Winter Olympic Games to show that we as a nation will not stand for the inequality Russia promotes through its recently passed anti-gay legislation, which would prevent gay U.S. citizens attending the games from acknowledging the fact they were gay. On June 30th, 2013 Russian president Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill which banned “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations

to minors.” The law essentially equates same-sex relations with pedophilia in the eyes of Russian courts. The wording of the bill allows for a loose interpretation of what qualifies as propaganda and therein lies the danger. Under this law simply speaking to minors about homosexuality could be considered a federal crime.

“The issue we are presented with is not one that requires you to support gay rights... the issue at hand is one of human rights and of the First Amendment.” This is not just hearsay, on July 22nd four Dutch citizens appeared in court after being detained for allegedly promoting homosexuality. How were they promoting it? By asking people, including minors, how they felt about it while making a documentary. If Russia is already charging foreign citizens for “promoting” a homosexual lifestyle what is to stop them from doing the same to openly gay Americans who attend the games? This goes beyond spectators and could af-

fect openly gay reporters as well as the athletes themselves. The issue we are presented with is not one that requires you to support gay rights, or gay marriage, or condone a gay lifestyle, the issue at hand is one of human rights and of the First Amendment. Whether you condone homosexuality or not you must as an American allow their right to speak on their beliefs. If we would expect the right to freedom of speech for ourselves we must fight for that right for even our enemies. The only ethical way to fight speech is with more speech, not through censorship. All of these Olympic athletes have trained their entire lives for this event and missing it would mean missing out on realizing their own dreams, but perhaps fighting for human rights is more important than winning a shiny new medal. There will be other Olympic games but now is the time to stand in solidarity behind our fellow man, regardless of difference in creed, now is the time to fight for our right to freedom of speech, now is the time to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. -Paul Villa DVC Student

opinions 3

Thursday, Sept. 12 - Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013

Syria is too important to ignore I have no shortage of angry political who fired military-grade neurotoxins out of statuses on my Facebook feed, but one in military missiles from direction of a miliparticular stood out and has been bother- tary base as the sort of mystery we need ing me. Sherlock Holmes to solve It said, “Yet another pointfor us. less Middle-Eastern conflict Despite the many princiinitiated by the US.” ples we claim to have, there’s What bothers me about it a very short list of issues isn’t how strongly I disagree, which actually matter to us it’s that just six weeks ago and override everything else. that same friend, like most For most Left-leaning enpeople my age, felt supporttering their twenties, one of ed Syria. these core principles is that He praised and supported US military campaigns, esits independent struggle for pecially in the middle-east, democracy. But now, when are bad. the same people are breathOrwell wrote that in Briting sarin gas in their sleep, tain before the second World Photo Courtesy of THOMAS TRUE under a GNU license their struggle and their War, “the Left had wrongly SASAN KASRAVI Secretary of State John Kerry on Syria: “Only the most willful desire to revolution is a footnote in believed that Britain and Opinions editor the US’s evil plans against Germany would never fight avoid reality can assert this did not occur as described.” brown people. and were therefore able to It demonstrates an interesting phenom- be anti-German and anti-British simultane- tion that if things ever got “bad enough” remove the UN troops in Rwanda who acenon that George Orwell describes it in his ously.” that we and the rest of world would just tually were trying to stop the genocide. essay “Looking Back on the Spanish War.” Once the war was obvious, the Left sud- march out and rescue the Syrians like we No government officials was authorized Whether any given person believes a for- denly expressed doubts did the holocaust vic- to use the word “genocide” for three months “It’s ironic that the eign atrocity really has or hasn’t happened, that the German atrocitims. after the start of the killings in Rwanda beOrwell points out, is entirely based on that ties they had been so verMost might be cause admitting it was a genocide would generation of the person’s “political predilection.” bal about ever really hapshocked to learn just require the US to intervene as mandated by 98% movement who how bad things can get to the 1948 Genocide Convention. You’ve already noticed how people tend pened at all. to forcibly doubt or too eagerly accept a Our distrust of US without anyone stepSimilarly, the 1993 Chemical Weapons so passionately contraversy on whether or not it validates intelligence and disdain ping in to help. Convention makes the us and the 188 condemned the elite their political party. for previous US miliOne-million of other nations who signed it responsible for “Stranger yet,” Orwell points out though, tary campaigns compells Rwanda’s population intervening in the use of chemical weapons. for being selfish “at any moment the situation can suddenly people like my Facebook of seven-million were The horrible truth about atrocities, Ordon’t see how 1400 killed in the 1994 well wrote, is that, “These things really hapreverse itself and yesterday’s proved-to-the- friend to want to ignore hilt atrocity story can become a ridiculous Syria because they can’t Rwandan genocide. pened... They happened even though Lord of their fellow lie, merely because the political landscape be anti-US military and A 2001 National Se- Halifax [or US military] said they haphuman beings being curity Archive report pened.” has changed.” anti-Assad anymore. And Whether you supported it or not, you re- they have to be anti-US gassed as they sleep is shows that the US was The US is not an isolated nation. We member as well as I do how much momen- military. easily able jam the ra- can’t “stay” out of these things because their problem.” tum the Occupy Movement got from the It’s ironic that the gendio broadcasts that were we’re present before they start. Arab Spring and how much solidarity our eration of the 98% moveinciting the genocide, Be very certain, our only options are age group as a whole felt with our Syrian ment who so passionately but refused to “citing repeating our response to the Rwandan brothers and sisters. condemned the elite for being selfish don’t costs.” Genocide or intervening. We either choose Take a look around at where we are now. see how 1400 of their fellow human beings It also indicates that US officials met to help these atrocities happen or we choose Assad, the once villain, is considered by a being gassed as they sleep is their problem. with the leaders who they knew were going to stop them. lot of those same people to be the “lesser But to be fair, they don’t mean to be to enact the genocide to try to change their I say we stop them. evil.” heartless. minds, but didn’t take any action against Our concern for the welfare of Syrians The compulsion to think that the situa- them when they didn’t listen. Contact SASAN KASRAVI at has turned to us treating the question of tion isn’t “that bad” is fed by the assumpThe US even went as far as lobbying to skasravi@TheInquirerOnline.com

Muslims are receiving unfair scrutiny

A government once built on justice, liberty, and freedom Other major papers, like the Huffington Post discussed the truth has been replaced by these extremely fraudulent for all has unfortunately created a trend of letting us down the relation between Obama and Erdogan by stating, “The news stations. and going against those three principles periodically. two governments had previously exchanged sharp words The US government’s response also shows that Obama Recent events taking place in Turkey and Egypt has re- over the violence, with Washington expressing concern at found Turkey’s protesters more worthy of his efforts and vealed our government’s actual motives and “excessive” police tactics...”. opinion versus those innocent civilians of Egypt. has illuminated our media’s slander against However, just a few weeks post the onset Obama’s silence about this horrid event was truly trouMuslims. of Turkish riots, Egyptian’s started to pro- bling. The government is so quick to condemn Turkey ofAccording to WorldNews, on May 28th test the fall of president Mohamed Morsi. ficials for using far less force than that of Egyptian military a handful of environmentalist Turkish proWhat started out as a form leaders. testers decided to stand against the governof speaking out against corThe fact is that Obama does not “Due to the public’s ment’s new plans for Gezi Park. Secondary rupt military and political ofwant to funnel any of our resources recent stand on to the protesters refusal to leave police interficials quickly spiraled downinto Egypt, because there would be vention was employed. hill for the people of Egypt. Islam and Muslims, no beneficial outcome for the UnitAs the feud between public officials and Why wasn’t the violence ed States. denouncing them has protesters became heated police used tear gas and bloodshed in Egypt covInstead he chooses to ignore this and water cannons to break apart the rally. ered as immediately or with tragic event by turning a blind eye become the easiest These revolts were made apparent in news as much scrutiny? on defenseless civilians; however, objective in the coverage all around the world, where Prime These series of events when it came to places like AfghanMinister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was heavily would lead to the birth of istan and Iraq we were “restoring media today.” criticized. the current military coup in democracy.” ROSHAN RAHIMI The fact of the matter is, he would he Egypt. News coverage today Where the infamous US intervenStaff member have received this much backlash if he was is rarely in favor of Muslims. tion is hiding now? not a muslim leader. Even with the bloodshed and madness How long will the people of Egypt have to suffer just Due to the public’s recent stand on Islam out-breaking in Egypt, these innocent hu- because their homeland does not posses some natural reand Muslims, denouncing them has become the easiest ob- mans were not found worthy of our media’s time. source or alliance our government desires? jective in media today. The Guardian went on to say he Today’s major stations such as CNN, FOX, and MSNBC was, “...the personification of all the corrupt despotism and have lost all morals of a real journalism. Raw exposure to Contact ROSHAN RAHIMI at violence...”. events all around the world with the inclination towards RRAHIMI@TheInquirerOnline.com

sports 4

Thursday, Sept. 12 - Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013

Vikings raided in season opener

Photos by ANDREW BARBER / The Inquirer

Backup quarterback Adam Wood locks in on his target, leading the Vikings on their only scoring drive of the game.

Defending state champion City College defeats DVC 41-9 GABRIEL AGURCIA Sports editor

after the safety, getting into the red zone for the first time. However, a botched shotgun snap cost the ViDVC football ended up on the kings 24 yards, while also pushing wrong side of its season opener, them out of field goal range. The losing 41-9 to defending state 1st quarter ended with City College champion City College of San up 23-2. Francisco. With 5:36 left in the second quarCity College buried DVC early. ter, Fortino was intercepted for the Their first touchdown came at the second time. DVC's defense looked 7:29 mark on a 1-yard run. Quar- to hold City College on the ensuing terback Niko Fortino threw his drive, but a questionable pass interfirst pick of the game on DVC's ference call on cornerback Na'im ensuing possession. City College McGee kept the drive alive. But on took advantage, getting a 38-yard the very next play McGee atoned run down the left sideline that set for his error, intercepting a high, up another one-yard touchdown floating pass at the CC-47. scamper. The Vikings didn't have it for After a DVC three and out, City long. Two plays into their drive, College blew it open with a 59-yard Fortino threw his third pick of the touchdown reception, making it a night, which was returned to the 21-0 game. DVC's next drive start- DVC-19. On City College's first ed inside its own 20. A 12-yard sack play, they scored on a 19-yard touchon 2nd and 10 down catch, the pigeonholed going “For the first game, receiver DVC inside its up and over a with so many young DVC defensive own 5. On 3rd and 22, Fortino back. DVC was guys, we executed dropped back unable to get pretty well.” and was presanything gosured into his ing, but City own end zone. College scored ~VINCE BORDELON Defensive line coach As he was beone more time ing taken down before intermishe tried to throw the ball away, but sion on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. he had already been ruled down, City College took a 35-2 lead into giving City College a safety. the half. City College's drive following the DVC had one of its best scoring safety was disrupted by a 19-yard opportunities midway through the sack by defensive end Tui Talia. On 3rd quarter. Cornerback Derrick the punt attempt, the snap sailed Johnson recovered a bad snap at over the punter's head and out of the CC-11. Running back Joe Te'o the back of the end zone, giving was dropped for a 3-yard loss on DVC a safety for its first points of 3rd down and Fortino was sacked the game. on 4th down, giving the ball back to DVC looked like it was finally City College. putting things together on offense Even though the Vikings offense

Linebacker James Halafihi, No. 31, and cornerback Marquis Hatcher, No. 6, combine forces to take down City College’s running back. was a non-factor, the defense continued to wreak havoc. On a City College drive late in the 3rd, Talia laid a huge hit on the CC running back, forcing a fumble which was recovered by defensive end Sione Tupouata at the CC-32. But as the rest of the game had gone, DVC's offense sputtered without scoring any points. City College scored its final touchdown of the game on an 8-yard reception over the middle at the 12:53 mark of the 4th quarter, ballooning the lead to 41-2. DVC had pulled Fortino in the 4th in favor of backup Adam Wood, who seemed to calm things down a bit. He led DVC on its only scoring drive, completing a 13-yard pass to Efrain Montalvo with 4:24

left in the game. City College took the game by a score of 41-9. Defensive line coach Vince Bordelon didn't make excuses for the lopsided loss, but he did address the indisputable. "We have a lot of young guys out there. And we also played the state champion," he said. The score didn't tell the whole story, as DVC's defense was put in short field situations on several occasions, and forced to be on the field a lot because of the ineffective offense. Bordelon was very proud of his guys, all things considered. "The defense that Coach Darr calls is very complex. There are a lot of plays to learn. For the first game, with so many young guys, we executed pretty well." Tupouata's demeanor differed

from Bordelon's, as he was visibly and audibly frustrated. "It was a rude awakening. We weren't quite prepared for this game." Defensive lineman Siua Taufa acknowledged the poor play in the first half, but saw a silver lining from the second half. "We came back well in the second half. We came out harder. We need to build off that second half resilience." When questioned on his expectations for the season, Taufa didn't hesitate. "This is only the first game. I truly believe we'll be very successful this season." DVC's next home game is Friday, Sept. 20 versus San Mateo. Contact GABRIEL AGURCIA at gagurcia@TheInquirerOnline.com

sports 5

Thursday, Sept. 12 - Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013

Shoot and Tie

DVC draws with Ohlone to maintain undefeated record BENJAMIN DAVIDSON Staff member

The Vikings improved their record to 1-0-2 on Friday, Sept. 6, maintaining an undefeated record with a 2-2 tie against Ohlone. While facing tougher opponents in Cabrillo of Santa Cruz and Ohlone of Fremont, the women's soccer team seemed to have their work cut out for them. But again, despite having no game film to study their opponent, DVC put up a great showcase of talent and teamwork on Friday against Ohlone. Heavy pressure was put on the defense right from the start. After opening kickoff the ball seemed to be stalemated in the midfield for quite some time, with starters Krista Bartzi, Alicia Palma and Pamela Ramos battling back and forth against a host of Ohlone players. Emily Cremisio was also aiding in the mid with defensive play and vocal call-outs. After a series of swapping ball possessions and throw ins, Ohlone caught a breakaway. Cremisio was stopped up in the flat, and starting goalkeeper Jenn Crider's save attempt fell short, despite coming to the front of the box to block the shot, making it 1-0 Ohlone. Head coach Cailin Mullins mentioned that this year's team has pride, and the fact that they were down two times and came back two times is a testament to that pride. "It is an impressive part of our team's character, and that is hard to do," Mullins said. And answer back they did. Following a corner kick, the Vikings were able to get the ball out from in front of their goal, and back to midfield where a swarm of players dribbled it straight through Ohlone's defense, right to the front of their goal. Liliana Cobian knocked it in on a short shot that deflected off of a defender's foot. The assist was unattributed, tying the game at 1-1. With the game tied up and halftime approaching, the Viking defenders really had to get involved. But when a high Ohlone lob shot from left-mid sailed over the defense, it was just out of the reach of a jumping Crider to give Ohlone a 2-1 lead before the half. "She just said we needed to work together more on

Photos by BENJAMIN DAVIDSON / The Inquirer

Midfielder Delia Jimenez aims an accurate pass upfield to her forwards in Friday’s 2-2 tie with Ohlone. defense because we were spread out too far, and you need to cover and keep pressure in the second half," said Bartzi of coach Mullins' halftime speech. The halftime speech must have worked because the Vikings came out of the half with some stalwart defense. Led by goalkeeper Megan Elms, DVC didn't give up another point for the rest of the game. She proceeded to have several sliding saves during the remainder of the second half, as well as some great passes and communication. "Our defense was the main part of it, they stayed strong through everything and worked their butts off to get back and help me out, so it was definitely a team effort," Elms said. Following a barely missed free-kick by Delia Jimenez, the Vikings were able to tie it up right before the final whistle with a beautiful lob shot by Katarina Gentry. The shot sailed from the far corner, over the Ohlone keeper and nestled right in the left side of the net. She was assisted by several Vikings on the play. DVC finished with a total of seven shots on goal to Ohlone's 10. The next home game is on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. against Fremont. Contact BENJAMIN DAVIDSON at bdavidson@TheInquirerOnline.com

Midfielder Pamela Ramos battles an Ohlone player for the ball after a DVC throw in.

Growing pains accompany volleyball season opener Outside hitter Claire Hannigan focuses on her serve during the second set of Friday’s loss to Shasta College.

GABRIEL AGURCIA Sports editor

DVC women's volleyball opened its season with straight sets loss to Shasta College on Friday, Sept. 6. DVC tied the first set at 1-1 with a combo block by Claire Hannigan and Amanda Jarquin, but that was the closest they would come to the lead. Shasta took the largest lead of the set at 9-2 after a Jarquin kill attempt went into the net. A Hannigan ace pulled DVC within four at 15-11, Shasta stretched it out to 20-13, but a Kelsey Draper ace followed by a Shasta mishit closed the gap to 23-18. Shasta would take the first set 25-19. Shasta took control of the second set early, getting out to a 5-0 lead. Consecutive DVC kill attempts were sent long, giving Shasta a 13-7 lead and forcing Ponciano-Babb to call her first timeout. Both teams traded points for the remainder of the set, with Shasta winning 25-16. DVC bounced back well in the third set, staking an early 5-2 lead, highlighted by a strong Lindsay Wood kill. A Kaitlyn Welsh ace sustained DVC's lead at 13-11, but Shasta immediately seized momentum with a 6-1 run. DVC would get only two more points on kills by Draper and Wood. Shasta won the third set 25-16, and the game, 3 sets to 0.

BENJAMIN DAVIDSON / The Inquirer

It wasn't the outcome she'd hoped for, but Ponciano-Babb knew she had to dial down her expectations due to her roster.

"I expect it all," she said with a laugh. "I always expect stuff, but the bar wasn't as high as normal, when I know that I have a good core of sophmores." Nine of her 11 players are freshmen, which looked apparent at times, whether it was balls dropping from miscommunication or shots sent long and wide. "I think we could've hit better. It was a pretty good start, considering we're all freshmen really," said Welsh, one of four outside hitters. Ponciano-Babb appears to have reloading, not rebuilding, on her mind. "What I try to get our freshmen to think is that they're not freshmen," Ponciano-Babb said. "Everybody has to step up and play. There's no such thing as freshman and sophomore, we just all play." Although she would like immediate results, Ponciano-Babb knows patience is necessary with such a young team. "Honestly speaking, as long as each time they touch the ball, or don't touch the ball, they learn something new or do something better for themselves and their teammates, we're as happy, as coaches,” she said. The Vikings plays again Friday, Sept. 13, participating in two games for the Diablo Valley Classic tournament being held at DVC. Contact GABRIEL AGURCIA at gagurcia@TheInquirerOnline.com

NEWS 6

Thursday, Sept. 12 - Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013

WILDFIRE

calendar Thursday, Sept. 12 Inter Club Council Meeting Student Union 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 Women’s Volleyball Tournament DVC Gymnasium 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. Budget Committee Meeting Media Conference Room (L-151) Library building 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 17 Soccer vs. Fresno Soccer Field 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

From Page 1

“It could have been an accident or caused by people. We are close to this situation all the time,” noted Clayton resident Peter Barbosa, whose business Cup of Joe had a clear view of much of the fire. “[It’s] dangerous all the time.” Another Clayton resident, who only went by the name of Ron, expressed his gratitude towards fire fighters. “I’m just glad and thankful of the firefighters and [how] they’ve been able to prevent the loss of property, homes and lives.” Large swaths of Mt. Diablo State Park continue to burn unopposed and this has created a massive plume of smoke above the summit that is visible across the East Bay. Ash from the fire has fallen as far south as the DVC San Ramon Campus.

Tuesday, Sept. 24 Soccer vs. Sierra Soccer Field 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

police beat Tuesday, August 27 DVC LHS Building Restroom At 9:06 a.m., an elderly citizen who had just visited the DVC Dental Clinic fell ill in the restroom. Fire and AMR responded and to Kaiser Walnut Creek. Wednesday, August 28 San Ramon Campus Parking Lot At 1:15 p.m., a student fell off of his motorcycle when a bicycle cut him off. The student sustained minor injuries and quickly returned to class. Wednesday, August 28 Outside of DVC Bookstore At 2:15 p.m., a possible student was walking to the bookstore, an unknown suspect grabbed her cell phone and rode away. Thursday, September 5 Student Resource Center At 12 p.m., a student threatened a police aide. but later apologized.

was 3200 acres burned with 45% of the blaze contained. Up to 350 homes were threatened at one point, most along Morgan Territory road and Curry Creek road. The fire has been reported to be moving south west, away from Clayton as well as major urban centers of Walnut Creek and Clayton. Conditions are still ripe for the fire to erupt once more as it move away from Clayton. Additionally, fire season in California has just begun. “We are not out of the woods yet,” said firefighter press officer Steve Aubert.

Contact COLLIN JAMES at cjames@TheInquirerOnline.com

CLASS CHANGES

Friday, Sept. 20 Soccer vs. Los Medanos Soccer Field 3:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Football vs. College of San Mateo Vikings Stadium 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Fire fighters are preparing for an extended battle with the fire and relocated their command center from Clayton to Camp Parks military base in Dublin, where fire fighters can field a much larger defense against the blaze. Fire departments from as far away as Chico have sent in vehicles and support teams to aid Clayton and Contra Costa county fire departments. Helicopters flew around the clock dumping massive buckets of water on the blaze. “Incident Management Teams which specialize in larger fires over longer periods of time are being brought in from across California,” said Robert Marshall, Clayton fire department’s spokesperson. The most recent estimate of the fire’s size

From Page 1

full sections of circuit training to only two full sections with three more with about 20 students each. Depew described the situation as “a perfect storm of multiple factors.” Some of the factors he named were the limits placed on class repeatability, reduced time between classes, and the department’s name change from “P.E” to “kinesiology”.

This issue has more than just the kinesiology department concerned. Unfilled classes in one department could tip the balance that, as vice president of instruction Susan Lamb put it, is “keeping the whole boat afloat.” “The bigger classes - your sociology classes, your psychology classes, your P.E. classes - those larger class-

es have traditionally supported our smaller class sizes,” explained Lamb. “We do have to have some larger classes to financially balance out.” The kinesiology department is currently working with the administration to correct the problem. According to Kim Schenk, senior dean of curriculum and instruction, it won’t be a quick fix. “We’re going to stand back and

have a look at what happens,” Kim Schenk said. Ralph Depew shares this sentiment. He estimates it’ll take a year to gauge the trend in enrollment before making any drastic changes to the kinesiology department’s schedule and curriculum. Contact ALEJANDRO RAMOS at aramos@TheInquirerOnline.com

ACCREDITATION From Page 1

simply described by stating, “you should show cause that you should still remain accredited.” Jeanie Dewhurst, senior executive assistant in the president’s office and accreditation advisory group member, explained that DVC was put on show cause because the college had not resolved recommendations made by a visiting team, which involved decision making roles, curriculum and college wide planning within a two year time frame. According to a KTVU article from Aug. 14, City College will be deemed unaccredited by ACCJC come July 31, 2014, because “the school had fully addressed only two of the 14 recommendations the commission made when it sanctioned the school last year.” That same article mentioned that the Department of Education sent a letter to the ACCJC’s commission president, Barbara Beno, citing a multitude of issues with the accrediting process. Problems included the lack of faculty members on the visiting team to City College, as well as a conflict of interest being that Beno’s husband served on an evaluation team. The decision against City College’s accreditation is not final, but with fire surrounding ACCJC, members of the accreditation advisory group do not seem deterred in following their

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

standards in hopes of remaining accredited. “As far as their credibility for the ACCJC, I really don’t think it changes that at all,” Sue Rohlicek said, senior administrative assistant and accreditation advisory group member. “I think the ACCJC will probably make adjustments in their own procedures to respond to the [Department of Education] letter...” Rohlicek went on to say, “DVC has to go through the self-evaluation report and meet the deadlines, we have to do our [substantive] change report, we have to do all our reporting through ACCJC regardless of what’s happening at City College.” According to Dewhurst, changes since bouncing back from show cause have included revising our mission statement and creating a resource allocation process which helps fund college activities. When looking back at DVC, Lamb finds that the college is in a different position than it was six years ago. “The very fact that we’re not comfortable where we are and that we’re wanting to improve and that people are impatient for us to improve, I think says a lot about where we are and how we’ve changed,” Lamb said. The process of drafting and reviewing reports will take at least another year, and by next

Editorial Board CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SPORTS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ART & FEATURES EDITOR

Alejandro Ramos Rachel Ann Reyes Gabriel Agurcia Sasan Kasravi Brian Bunting

October we will be reviewed by one of ACCJC’s teams. Submitting a substantive change proposal and self-evaluation and proving that we should remain accredited is crucial to our college, especially with other community colleges in danger. “Our show cause and our issues were handled the exact opposite that City College is doing,” Dewhurst said. “When we got that letter, the college ratcheted up and... spent two years working really hard getting all of the recommendations resolved because we care about the college and we care about the students.” Although it can be a difficult process to bounce back from sanction from ACCJC, Lamb stresses that it is possible and DVC is one school that has done it in the past. “We’re one of the few colleges that has gone on show cause and managed to bring themselves back to reaccreditation...,” Lamb said. “I don’t know of another college, that is the size of this college, that has been able to do that and I think that says a lot about the staff and the faculty at this college...”

Contact RACHEL ANN REYES at rreyes@TheInquirerOnline.com

Staff STAFF MEMBERS Andrew Barber, Daniel Barney, Dennis Bridges, Benjamin Davidson, Daniel Gonsalves, Collin James, Akihisa Kishigami, Adrienne Lundry, Julian Mark, Dreia Melinkoff, David Rachal, Roshan Rahimi, Aliya Recania, Rashad Tucker, Gustavo Vasquez INSTRUCTIONAL LAB COORDINATOR Julius Rea ADVISER Mary Mazzocco

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

arts & features 7 Thursday, Sept. 12 - Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013

‘Art of NO’ exhibit showcases student work JULIAN MARK Staff member

Students, patrons and artists gathered in the DVC art gallery on Thursday, Sept. 5 to say yes to the “Art of NO.” The “Art of NO,” an avantgarde movement that started in the late 50s, is now available in the DVC art gallery. Submitted by artists from all around the country, DVC’s “Art of NO” exhibit features a provocative range of paintings and sculptures, and even pieces aiming to deny art itself. From Little Red Riding Hood to a giant Obama face composed of plastic army men and their cast shadows, the “Art of NO” pieces all share one concept in common: protest. The “Art of NO” began in New

York in 1959. Boris Lurie, a New York artist and holocaust survivor, initiated the “Art of NO,” which rejected the commonly accepted abstract expressionism and pop art of the time, highlighting topics such as repression, destruction and sexism. Art history professor Kristen Koblik liked the way past “Art of NO” work rejected particular political movements, so she decided it was time for DVC to hold an exhibit of its own. “It’s a way to tell the temperature of where we are right now in accordance to other historical movements,” Koblik said. The Art of No doesn’t only protest politics. In response to Michael Berens’ “DEWD,” Koblik said, “this piece says ‘no’ to traditional composition and the overall

art aesthetic.” Lindy Vargas, an art history major, is skeptical. “I’m just kind of confused. Some of the art is so interpretive people can make up their own meaning. I don’t feel it’s always interpreted correctly.” Although some feel that interpretation and understanding do not even belong to the “Art of No” ethos. “Whether people justify the art is irrelevant,” art history studentTravis Castro said. “If it’s good enough for the artist it’s good enough for me.” Koblik explained, “the artists feel that people ought not to say ‘yes’ at all. Your ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is irrelevant.” Contact JULIAN MARK at jmark@TheInquirerOnline.com

YOUR DESTINY AWAITS

JULIAN MARK / The Inquirer

Art history students Travis Castro and Carol Trost observe Martin Segobia’s “US Foreign Policy.” Advertisement

Doctor of

Physical Therapy Earn your Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in just 31 months from Azusa Pacific University, and gain a solid, generalist perspective of patient care. All you need is a bachelor’s degree in biology, physical education, applied health, or a related field.

Program Benefits

THE COLLEGE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

HEALTH SCIENCES • LEGAL STUDIES • PSYCHOLOGY • LIBERAL STUDIES BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION • LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERSHIP

Prepares you for entry-level positions in orthopedics, neurology, cardiopulmonology, clinical electrophysiology, pediatrics, geriatrics, and sports medicine. Qualifies you for leadership positions in hospitals, private clinics, sports clinics, rehabilitation centers, pain clinics, government agencies, home and community health care programs, and research projects. Enables you to join one of the fastest-growing sectors in health care.

JFKU. edu

ATTEND AN OPEN HOUSE

800.696.5358

PLEASANT HILL I BERKELEY I SAN JOSE

An Affiliate of The National University System | www.nusystem.org. JFK University is a nonprofit University accredited by WASC .

CALL // (626) 815-4570 CLICK // apu.edu/dpt EMAIL // graduatecenter@apu.edu 14951

arts & features 8 Grammy-winning jazz star comes to Diablo Valley College Thursday, Sept. 12 - Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013

ADRIENNE LUNDRY / The Inquirer

DVC Jazz Instructor Matt Zebley draws from a diverse range of inspiration when playing saxophone. ADRIENNE LUNDRY AND DAVID RACHAL JR. Staff writers

He has independently released several solo jazz albums, toured the world on international cruises with numerous musical ensembles and bands, including musical legends Bob Dylan and Tony Bennett, and even won a Grammy, meet DVC’s newest jazz instructor, Matt Zebley. Zebley previously taught at UC Riverside as the director of bands, but his love for jazz persuaded him to leave the UC system and come to DVC. He aims to bring his intense passion and experiencetohisstudents,whileimproving upon the reputable jazz curriculum already in place. “Jazz is cultural, political, philosophical, it’s spiritual,” Zebley said. “It so much for me encompasses all of humanity and through this music and my relationship to my peers, the past and the recordings I’ve

grown so much as a human being. It’s really stretched my notions of myself and what’s possible for me as a person not only musically but culturally.” Zebleybeganplayingthealtosaxophone in grade school, and quickly knew this would be his passion for life. He attended the esteemed Berklee School of Music, which he says was a wonderful experience. It exposed him to the different sub-cultures in the music world and it was there that he learned to play several other instruments. He also received a doctoral degree in musical arts at the University of Southern

California. Zebley has not only had success in the academic world as professor, but as a professional musician as well. Since the late 90’s he has been a member of the Brian Setzer Orchestra which culminated in his receiving the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental for his work on the song “Caravan.” He began teaching students of all ages and levels in the 90s and believes that his students will be held to a rigorous standard and challenged to think in new ways, but he also wants it to be fun as well. Michael Beveridge, a DVC student in the jazz music program, explained his enthusi-

“Jazz is cultural, political, philosophical, it’s spiritual...”

asm for Zebley. “As a student who’s been here for a number of years, I can say that he’s someone that the program has desperately needed for a long time now,” Beveridge said. DVC student, Miles Preclaro, feels that Zebley is “a little more practical minded than most jazz teachers, because usually it’s moreaboutthemusicthangettinggigs,but with him getting gigs is important too.” Zebley’s practical mind and long standing presence in the jazz community is making him a new force within the DVC music department. Contact ADRIENNE LUNDRY at alundry@TheInquirerOnline.com Contact DAVID RACHAL at drachal@TheInquirerOnline.com

The future of ‘Riddick’ looks dark BRIAN BUNTING Arts and features editor

In describing how to best tell a science fiction story, author Orson Scott Card once wrote, “usually you want your audience’s sympathy to be with your main character, if only because it’s a lot harder for a writer to make an anti-hero work well in a story.” Card’s brow-furrowing politics aside, the guy knows his science fiction. If “Riddick” director/writer David Twohy were more of a Card fan, I might not have to explain why his alien anti-hero fails to endear himself to audience members above the age of 15. “Riddick” is the third installment of a budget-strained series following the mostly monotonous exploits of Riddick, a Furyan convict who occupies his (and our) time by toying with, and finally dispatching unlikeable stock characters before trying to run away from unstable planets. With little variation, this constituted the spit and gum plot holding Riddick together.

Riddick finds himself abandoned on a “(2004), Twohy can’t seem to escape the planet teeming with nasties, befriends a ghosts of his misogynistic treatment of fetabby inspired cg dog who helps him plod male characters. through dubious encounters before finally Still reeling from some creepy lines that being tracked down by two contentious fac- survived post-production, we’re treated to tions of bounty hunters. an obligatory crowd-pleaser showdown beLaughably written fore testosterone levels snark flies while Riddick “ ‘Riddick’ walks and finally drop enough for shows everyone how the people Riddick hasn’t clever he is by picking talks like a science fic- killed to work together in them off, and secretly tion movie, but there’s the shared interest of surwatching their lone fevival. little going on...” male crew member take a For all of its failures, shower (this happened). Riddick was a functional After a failed attempt at diplomacy, Rid- story, managing a few interesting moments. dick’s ambitions shift to escape, and stealing When an injured Riddick teams up with the ship’s fuel nodes. Boss Johns (the man hunting Riddick for His Furyan sense tingling, he prophesiz- years to make him answer for the death of es the planet’s mutant earthworm popu- his son) to fight their way out of an infested lace will be roused by the coming storm, a planet surface, glimpses of Heinleinian magpoint we’re admonished to be scared about. ic ensues. But while the planet is gearing up for a kind Franchise devotees may be pleased to of horror that could only rival the mean- find the film marks a return to the origins dering premise of “Chronicles of Riddick that spawned its moderate cult success.

Still, while “Riddick” never quite suffers from the platitudes of an Independence Day, or the cornballing lines of Battlefield Earth, being judged by how you compare marginally better to the worst sci-fi examples Hollywood has isn’t the best starting point. I’m not immune to the fun of the occasional mindless escape sci-fi. “Predator,” “The Last Star Fighter,” and “Starship Troopers” all made us eschew our Guilty Pleasure Meter in favor of anonymous fist-pumping, but when you can’t conjure enough energy to care if the cast gets consumed by overdeveloped cg worms, you leave wishing it had spent more of its superfluous two-hour run-time developing the forgettable cast, rather than who might win a tough-guy competition. “Riddick” walks and talks like a science fiction movie, but there’s little going on once you open the hood. Contact BRIAN BUNTING at bbunting@TheInquirerOnline.com