DVC Inquirer Volume VII, No 3. by DVC Inquirer

DAY N NIGHT FESTIVAL The hip-hop festival grows up in its second year. See Page 5.

inquirer Volume VII, No 3

Wednesday, Sept. 27 - Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017

Young Americans for Liberty recruiting members with a “free speech ball” in the DVC Commons.

Berkeley students are dealing with the issue. Where is the debate at Diablo Valley College? MAHRUKH SIDDIQUI Managing editor

“Just because you’re a student, doesn’t mean you don’t have freedom of speech. But your exercise of that right or any other right has to be weighed against its societal impact,” said Diablo Valley College political science professor Scott MacDougall. DVC is not facing the same problems as the University of California, Berkeley, which has in the last year seen many violent protests over free speech, most notably in February

when conservative commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak. UC Berkeley ended up cancelling Yiannopoulos’ speech just two hours before his scheduled time due to violent protests that broke out on campus, causing $100,000 worth of damage, according to CNN. After the cancellation of Yiannopolos’ speech, Berkeley was set to host conservative commentator Ann Coulter, but her speech was also cancelled after campus police said that they could not guarantee the safety of people, the New York Times reported. The cancellation of the speech resulted in a “Pro-Trump free speech” rally on April 27, according to Berkeleyside. “Schools have a right to restrain your right to free speech if it gets in the way of the learning process, because the purpose of a school is learning,” said MacDougall. The court case of Tinker v. Des Moines ensured that students retained their rights to free speech after students in Des Moines, Iowa were suspended for silently protesting the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands to school. While UC Berkeley argues over free speech and whether there is free speech on campus, DVC students agree that Copyright © 2017 The Inquirer - www.dvcinquirer.com

MAHRUKH SIDDIQUI / The Inquirer

The Inquirer’s First Amendment Series n This feature is part one of the Inquirer’s multipart series covering free speech on public campuses. In future segments, we’ll be taking a look at the rights of faculty to express themselves freely, as well as the role of the administration in setting guidelines and policing student conduct. they have the right to free speech on campus, but some students say there is under-representation. “I believe DVC is a safe place to express our views on campus,” said DVC student Robin Stewart. Debadrita Bhattacharya is president of Students for America, a non-partisan club at DVC which was created last semester as a way for students to be able to voice their opinions without fear, according to the club profile.

Continued on Page 3

news

Wednesday, Sept. 27 - Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017

calendar Friday, Sept. 29 Monster Draw Featuring: The Monster Squad A-106 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 Three Way Jazz Performing Arts Center 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3 Music Major Recital Music 101 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month DVC Commons 12:30 p.m. -2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11 College Success Workshop: Practicing Mindfulness to Improve Mental Health Student Union 2:30 p.m. -3:45 p.m.

police beat Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 Humanities men’s restroom An instructor reported grafitti in the men’s restroom. Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017 Liberal Arts Quad Two students were having argument. One person reportedly displayed a stun gun like weapon and activated it. Both parties were gone by the time an officer arrived. Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017 Lot 1 A student was confronted, spat on, threatened and followed in her vehicle over a campus parking lot. Monday Sept. 18, 2017 Lot 7 A student thinks their car was vandalized on three separate occasions while he was parked in Lot 7. Monday Sept. 18, 2017 Counseling 210 Student was concerned over his well being and requested assistance. He was transported to the hospital.

DVC community works to create a ‘brave space’ MAHRUKH SIDDIQUI Managing editor

“Don’t fear the changes, change the fear,” said DVC student Sofia Escalente at a DACA workshop on Sept. 21. Dr. César A. Cruz, the co-founder of Homies Empowerment, an independent youth development organization in Oakland hosted the event, leading attendees in a variety of exercises focused around how everyone felt about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals repeal. President Trump ordered the end of DACA on Sept. 5, giving Congress six months to come up with a replacement or he would reOLIVIER ALATA / The Inquirer visit it, according to The New York Students stand in support as speakers share their stories about immigration on Sept. 7. Times. According to Rosa Armendariz, overcoming fear, community and Statements ranged from con- building a community. “We have interim dean of student engage- sharing or reciprocity. cerns about what would happen to come together and willing to do ment and equity, the DACA work“A huge part of activism is to next to Dreamers, to feelings of no the work.” shop was geared towards building come together and stand in soli- longer belonging and fears of being Ponce continued to say that communities, building student darity,” said Diablo Valley College deported. sometimes building a community communities, creating a “brave student Kaitlin Dey. Students, faculty and staff also isn’t just about alerting others to space” for people to share their reDVC students, faculty and staff expressed concerns of not being what is happening on campus or actions and emotions. who attended also used the event seen as fellow humans. in the community but also about When asked to describe what at- to anonymously share their fears “Build a rapid response team. “putting our bodies on the line.” tendees thought a brave space was and concerns surrounding the That’s what we have to do,” said or what it contained the answers ruling on DACA on sticky notes, DVC political science professor Contact MAHRUKH SIDDIQUI presented were: open-minded, reading the notes others left, aloud. Albert Ponce, referring back to at MSiddiqui@DVCInquirer.com

Educating students on their rights OLIVIER ALATA AND MARK LINDAHL Staff members

In celebration of the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, the Student Union Conference Room opened its doors to the public and welcomed students to participate in events celebrating the document’s ratification in hopes of educating more students on their rights. “Constitution Day (Sept. 17) is celebrated through activities, learning, parades and demonstrations of our love for the United States of America and the blessings of freedom our founding fathers secured for us,” said Student Life Program Manager Todd Farr. On Sept. 14, Ann Flynn, President of the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, discussed how voting and civic acts are important in a nation and how it provides an opportunity for people to voice their opinions and vote for what they believe in. “The LWVDV has been very active with Associated Students of DVC and our college, en-

THE INQUIRER Diablo Valley College 321 Golf Club Road, ATC-103 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.

couraging voter registration by tabling, serving as ASDVC elections ballot booth proctors and presenting for our ‘Brown Bag Lecture Series’ that the Student Life Office organizes,” said Farr. On Sept. 20, professor of social science and history Mickey Huff, spoke about First Amend-

“Constitution Day is always a great opportunity for students like me... ~David Murk DVC Student

ment issues regarding the role of the free press and more specifically the ongoing fake news attacks on journalists and the news media, along with the importance of critical media literacy education as a means of ensuring press freedoms into the future. Huff dissected the free press provision of the

Editorial Board EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR ONLINE EDITOR SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR COPY EDITORS

Frank Guitron Mahrukh Siddiqui Kayla Rojas Mark Lindahl Isaac Norman Summer Pagán Trevor Cheitlin, Danny Yoeono, Courtney Donahoe

First Amendment and how fake news is starting a trend in our society of exploiting this necessary right. Huff believes more events like these will help raise awareness about the issues surrounding us today. As current director of Project Censored, and a radio host on KPFA on public affairs, Huff said, “I wholly support any of these public events that they (Student Life Office) do, especially when they’re directed towards students.” “Constitution Day is always a great opportunity for students like me to broaden their knowledge of the Constitution that have shaped our history and our lives,” said former DVC student David Murk.

Contact OLIVIER ALATA at OAlata@DVCInquirer.com and MARK LINDAHL at MLindahl@DVCInquirer.com

Staff STAFF WRITERS Olivier Alata, Matthew Asilo, Dany Cacique, Chris Core, Cole Jackson, Kion Karimi, Alexandra Lee, Ryan Lee, Omari Lewis, Luis Lopez, Cameron Patera, Deandra Procassini, Aidan Sparks, Mike Stehlik, Aaron Tolentino INSTRUCTIONAL LAB COORDINATOR Charleen Earley ADVISER Mary Mazzocco

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

news

Wednesday, Sept. 27 - Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017

Parking lot rage is on the rise A lot of Diablo Valley College students are still in a rush to find the best parking space, and some even go to extreme measures to make sure they get their spot. As noted in a recent Police Beat, a student was confronted, spat on, threatened and followed in her vehicle for a short time on campus over a parking space. Another student was bumped by a driver who wanted to park in the space they were standing in. Many different things may have caused campus parking lots to be hectic lately. Alina Ramirez, a DVC student, believes that backed up traffic due to construction around campus plays a part in the parking lot rage. “It’s really, really hard because a lot of people do get pissed off easily,” Ramirez said. “They’ll start honking their horn and [they will] yell at you through their window, telling you to get out. I’ve had that before.” Other students, like Alec Ergin, suppose supply is the reason why the parking lot can get intense. “There’s not enough parking spots probably. That’s one of the main problems,” Ergin said. Continued from Page 1

DVC Police Lt. Ryan Huddleston wrote via email that parking on campus throughout the district can be a challenge early in the semester. On occasion people can and have become frustrated but road rage is not something that police see often. Often times students and guests want to park as close to their classes as possible and at times they could be running late which may cause them to increase their speeds. The urge to find a parking spot can end up with drivers parking in drop off areas, staff parking and even motorcycle-only spots. Huddleston also wrote, if police were able to identify the responsible parties, they would file a report with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. If the bumpers and spitters were students, they could have been referred to the dean for possible violations of the student code of conduct. To calm the storm of the lots, DVC’s website’s parking policy advises students to arrive at school extra early to avoid the madness and be able to easily find a spot.

Contact SUMMER PAGÁN at SPagan@DVCInquirer.com

called Redefining Masculinity, which received complaints Bhattacharya said that she before the club even held its first does feel like there is a lot of meeting. The goal of the club, diversity on campus and that according to Stewart, is help it isn’t just political, it is also create “more self-aware, honsocial and that she feels “some orable, attractive, emotionally students don’t want to voice balanced, ambitious, charitable, their opinion because they don’t and chivalrous men.” Stewart want to feel their opinion is not said that is is understandable popular.” that there might be misinterpre“I think universities should be tations about the club and that places where we have those open complaints should act as a path discussions. It should be those to growth. places that “I want this we throw out disagreement “I think universithose ideas,” happen, I ties should be places to said DVC stuwant to have dent Meredith where we have those this converMountjoy. said open discussions.” sation,” Mountjoy Stewart. is a part of Rajiv Iyen~Meredith Mountjoy the Libertargar, of DVC’s DVC student ian organizaModel United tion Young Nations, a poAmericans for Liberty, a con- litical debate team which recretinuation of Students for Ron ates the United Nations, holdPaul, which was started during ing political debates to solve real the former congressman’s 2008 word issues, according to their presidential campaign. She said Facebook. that, while she feels like there is Iyengar says that schools free speech on the DVC cam- “shouldn’t actively say, ‘hey, we pus, some thoughts and ideas need more of these voices and are underrepresented. these voices,’” but instead say “Young Americans for Liberty that people can “respectfully represents a point of view that I represent their views and give think is not represented on col- rational arguments for why they lege campuses anymore,” said believe their views.” Mountjoy. “When we use it (political Mountjoy said that while the correctness) to prevent people club still isn’t official yet because from speaking, it’s definitely they are still looking for an ad- bad for the conversation,” said viser, they have had meetings Mountjoy. and are looking to host Libertarian speakers and other events on campus soon. Robin Stewart, meanwhile, Contact MAHRUKH SIDDIQUI at helped create a new DVC club MSiddiqui@DVCInquirer.com

Student Andrew Chan walks to his car in Lot 7.

SUMMER PAGÁN / The Inquirer

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FEATURES Wednesday, Sept. 27 - Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017

Bay Area punk scene thrives KAYLA ROJAS Staff member

The punk and hardcore scene is still alive and well in the Bay Area, if people are willing to seek it out. DVC fans need look no further than Berkeley, where the do-it-yourself (DIY) non-profit venue 924 Gilman hosts cheap punk shows. Gilman is a notable Bay Area venue, having served as a kick starter to the careers of bands such as Green Day, the Offspring and Rancid. The venue is open to all ages. On Saturday, Sept. 9, veteran hardcore outfits No Warning, Backtrack and Terror took to the 924 Gilman stage for a matinee performance. The performance’s opening bands consisted of U.K hardcore band Higher Power and the Massachusetts based Vein. Los Angeles-based band Twitching Tongues also lent their talent on the tour. Surprisingly, no local bands opened for this tour, which is fairly uncommon for Gilman. However, this did not stop members of local bands from showing up to watch the performances of bands they admire. Without an age restriction, hardcore fans young and old are able to enjoy the show and are able to take breathers outside if needed as the venue allows “ins and outs.” 924 Gilman street also has no barricade blocking off the stage from fans. “If you know the song, come up here and help sing it,” Scott Vogel, vocalist of Terror, said, welcoming stage divers onto the stage with him.

Terror performing at 924 Gilman. It is almost customary to stage dive during shows like this, despite the ‘no stage diving’ sign above the stage. During the set, Vogel allowed fans to clamber up onto the stage to scream into the mic, as long as they didn’t hog too much time.

KAYLA ROJAS / The Inquirer

While affordable Bay Area shows may be hard to come by, if you are a fan of hardcore or punk music, 924 Gilman Street may be the choice for you. They usually put on shows weekly, or sporadically during the week. It’s a great place to discover underground local artists trying to come up in the

music world, and a welcoming environment for those who may be unfamiliar with the Bay Area hardcore and punk scene.

Contact KAYLA ROJAS at KRojas@DVCInquirer.com

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features

Wednesday, Sept. 27 - Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017

Day N Night Festival thrives in its sophomore year MATTHEW ASILO Staff member

ip-hop and R&B festival Day N Night once again enticed fans with an intriguing line-up of artists earlier this September at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. But, did the festival improve its second time around? Last year’s inaugural Day N Night Festival was only two days long and took place at Oak Canyon Park, a 750-acre fairground in Orange County. While the area was scenic, located adjacent to Irvine Lake in the Santiago Canyon, Angel Stadium was an upgrade for two-time Day N Night Festival-goer Joaquin Santos.

“I think the stadium was much better, because there were more spots for people to cool down and watch from a distance and still experience the show,” Santos said. “Last year it was, like, at a fairgrounds and it’s either you chill somewhere with shade or underneath the food area with tents.” Last year, the festival’s food choices consisted of a simple menu of pizza, chicken strips, tacos and ice cream. The 2017 festival added seven food trucks ranging from American and Mexican cuisine to Vietnamese sandwiches. “Last year they didn’t have food trucks so I guess that was cool this year, but the prices were insane,” Santos said. “Food was still good last year without food trucks and it was affordable. Five dollars for a water bottle at a food truck? This isn’t Disneyland.” One of the bigger problems 2016’s festival faced was the parking situation. “The 2016 location had one way in and one way out for parking, and took my group 3-4 hours to get out,” Gus Bar, who also attended last year, said. Parking was much more readily available for those who drove to this year’s festival. “The 2017 location took at most five minutes to get out, mostly

because we parked closer to the exit,” Bar said. The established headliners of this year’s festival were Travis Scott, Chance The Rapper and Kendrick Lamar. Talented returning artists included YG, “White-Iverson” rapper Post-Malone, Vic-Mensa, 21 Savage and more. Up-and-coming fresh faces included many new names, most notably “Location” singer Khalid, SZA and Daniel Caesar, singer of the soulful hit “Get You.” “The lineup was great for both events and it was organized fairly equal each day, but there was a day where I believe more people attended this year and it was Saturday,” Bar said. If you missed out on Day N Night this year, you’ll have an opportunity to catch many of the same acts at Rolling Loud, a rap festival coming to the Bay Area Oct. 21 and 22 at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View. Performers include Travis Scott, Lil Wayne, ScHoolboy Q, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Kodak Black and more. Contact MATTHEW ASILO at MAsilo@DVCInquirer.com

Hip-hop artist Lil Uzi Vert at Day N Night Fest 2017 Photo courtesy of JOSEPH GRAY

Quick and easy eats near DVC RYAN LEE Staff member

There are a lot of great places to eat within a mile of DVC that are not fast food. Many local businesses thrive on college students looking for places to eat between classes and after school. One nearby local favorite is Giant Chef Burger. The restaurant serves “diner-style” food, from burgers and sandwiches to an extensive list of breakfast items. Most of the items on their menu include enough food to feed two. Despite their name, Giant Chef is known for their breakfast, which is served all day. The restaurant is open 24 hours a day except Friday and Saturday. I ordered the mini chicken fried steak smothered in gravy with my choice of hash-browns and an egg over easy. Another great local favorite is Los Panchos, located at 5872 Pacheco Blvd. in Pacheco, less than two miles away from campus. This place is perfect for the on-the-go student, as its food is always served to go, with only with a few chairs available outside.

Los Panchos’ super burrito was humongous, and filled with more meat than other taquerias I’ve been to. It is my favorite spot for carnitas. Don’t let the prices fool you – tacos may cost three dollars, but each was packed full of meat and larger than a normal taco. You can also try Los Panchos at the DVC bookstore, where they serve a selection of chorizo and egg, chicken and carnitas for $3.45 to $5.25 with an addition of chips and a drink for two dollars more. They are popular for lunch and usually sell out by 2 p.m. Jo Sushi is another favorite amongst students – I saw more than a few dining there for lunch. I had a bento box with teriyaki salmon and the “Jo roll.” The salmon was well portioned with a light teriyaki dipping sauce, and the roll was filled with fried chicken and cream cheese. I also ordered the spicy scallop roll, which wasn’t too spicy and had a hint of lemon. Jo Sushi serve standard Japanese cuisine, but I did see that they also serve a chicken katsu, which is a deep fried panko-covered chicken cutlet with curry sauce. It’s not a common dish found in Japanese restaurants, so I’m looking forward to trying it on my next visit. Contact RYAN LEE at RLee@DVCInquirer.com

Clayton author coming to campus for book talk ALI LEE Staff member

Clayton resident Urmila Patel is coming to Diablo Valley College for a “meet the author” event to share her story of escaping the Ugandan genocide. Patel will be hosting a book talk for the student body of DVC on Oct. 11 from 1 to 2:45 p.m. in the DVC Community Conference Center. It will be based off of her 2014 book “Out Of Uganda in 90 Days,” in which Patel reflects on what she went through as a young adult to get to America. According to the book’s listing on Amazon.com, “Ms. Patel’s startling memoir of survival, and escape from Idi Amin’s Uganda, is an amazing journey through cultures, beliefs, and life-and-death passions.” Patel was born in India and very soon after that moved to Uganda, which quickly turned from a paradise to a nightmare. Her story started when she was just a young girl in the 1960’s and 1970’s, when she was given the option to leave Uganda in 90 days or face death upfront. While sharing her story, Patel wants to discuss

some important points with the audience. “Innocent people are being killed for no reason,” said Patel. Urmila will also take the time to read a short chapter to the audience as well as hosting a short Q-and-A depending on how much time is left after the talk. Patel’s book will be for sale for the discounted price of $12.95, though it might be a good idea to buy one ahead of time to be ready for the book signing, according to Director of Community Education Jaclyn Lorenz. In order to attend this event you must be 18 years or older. Tickets are $16. The event is being hosted by Emeritus, a nonprofit fee-based program that provides short term classes that are affordable for older adults, according to DVC’s website. “RSVPs are encouraged, especially for students so that my office can have ready a slip confirming attendance. I understand faculty give credit to students who participate in events like this,” said Lorenz. Contact ALI LEE at ALee@DVCInquirer.com Photo courtesy of URMILA PATEL

opinions

Wednesday, Sept. 27 - Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017

Give hip-hop the credit it deserves I n the year 2017, hip-hop is undoubtedly the most popular music genre. Take a look at the top 50 chart or the Billboard 200 and more often than not it will be filled to the brim with hip-hop songs and albums. Rap is misunderstood as promoting poor choices when in reality most of it is about creativity and expression. However, this doesn’t stop a portion of the populous from outright detesting hip-hop as a whole. In my experience, it’s right up there with country music as the stereotypical worst genre. On the surface it’s all about hedonism; drugs, sex and violence make up a lot of the lyrics, but I’m not sure that’s necessarily true. Admittedly, lots of the mainstream MCs, or “Masters of CerCAMERON PATERA emony,” do adhere to Staff member the stereotype. Popular rappers like Future, Migos, Playboi Carti, and Kodak Black more often than not fill their music with explicit references. Combine that subject matter with generally repetitive refrains and mediocre lyrics, and you can see why many music listeners feel the way they do. Flaws aside, there’s no doubting the influence these stars have on youth culture. They’re fashion icons, they’re statement makers, they’re the very definition of modern day cool, although we don’t even say “cool” anymore, we say “lit” or “dope” and guess who we have to thank? This influence leads to some problems though, with the two most popular singles of the year, Future’s “Mask Off,” and Migos’ “Bad and Boujee,” being heavily drug soaked and violent. Having “percocet, molly percocet” and “cookin’ up dope with an uzi” included in their respective choruses, I think it’s safe to say that songs like these step into glorification territory. There’s a growing opioid problem in America, with The New York Times reporting a massive uptick in drug overdoses, making it the leading cause of death of people under 50. Up to 60,000 people died in 2016 from overdose, with the number expected to increase drastically over the course of 2017.

Rapper Kanye West performing at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art in 2011. If you ask me this is no coincidence. That’s not to say that all hip-hop negatively influences youth, though. J. Cole, Logic, and Kendrick Lamar are all considered in the upper echelon of the genre and generally preach a positive message, perpetuating political activism and the acknowledgement of mental health issues. I don’t think you could construe “It can be so hard, but you gotta live right now, you got everything to give right now (Logic - 1-800-273-8255)” or “curse me till I’m dead, church me with your fake prophesizing that I’mma be just another slave in my head, institutionalized manipulation and lies, reciprocation of freedom only live in

your eyes, you hate me don’t you? (Kendrick Lamar - The Blacker The Berry)” as anything other than inspiring messages. You can even look back to the 1990s, with old schoolers like Nas, Notorious B.I.G., and Ice Cube preaching about their qualms and experiences with marginalization and the results of unfortunate financial circumstances. Sure there’s talks of drugs, sex and violence, but in this case it’s integral in expressing regular day to day life. Just look at songs like Nas’ “The World is Yours” or NWA’s “Straight Outta Compton.” You can even look to other areas to find an obvious sense of creative genius. Underground beatmakers like MF DOOM,

Photo courtesy of JASON PERSSE

Madlib, J Dilla and RZA became legends for combining “samples” of music from Jazz, Soul, Gospel, Rock, and even movies and cartoons with their own blend of personality and lyrical storytelling. They say never judge a book, or in this case an album, by it’s cover, and hip-hop is no exception. Before you make your next judgement on the latest rap record, I encourage you to read between the lines and realize the true power behind a lot of the work.

Contact CAMERON PATERA at CPatera@DVCInquirer.com

Seeing swastikas challenges preconceptions

ast Sunday I saw a man with swastikas tattooed With the London Underground bombing still fresh in my Oakland and no, it is not fair, but it is a reasonable and safe prominently on each shoulder blade walking through mind I was on edge for the rest of the time I was in the thing to do. Only a fool or someone hellbent on making a Sunvalley mall with his friend, strolling along like ev- mall, ready to grab my mom and run at the first sound of social-political point would argue otherwise. eryone else. It was bizarre and disturbing. screams, gunshots or explosions. However, we too often let generalizations become so Bizarre because although I knew neo-Nazis existed, I still Even then my mind had to bring reason to a seemingly much more than patterns being hashed together to help us could only comprehend of them as an idea, a reunreasonable situation. There make sense of the world. minder of the evils of our past, a ghost to scare kids was no way those two guys Stereotypes at their worst allow us to We too often let geninto being good people. were there to just walk around tell ourselves people we dislike are subBizarre, because seeing someone like Dylann and enjoy their afternoon. They eralizations become so human and therefore should not be afRoof in the news or reading about Islamic State must have been planning somemuch more than pat- forded equal rights. terrorists plowing into crowds of people makes you thing or perhaps scoping out Upon reflection I realized I could not terns being hashed to- claim to be an open-minded, loving and ask, “how can any half-decent person do somepotential targets in the area. thing so terrible?” Later that evening as I di- gether to help us make kind person when I reacted with such The thought is simply incomprehensible, until gested what I had seen earlier I vitriol to seeing people who, although on sense of the world. you actually see the physical manifestation of the couldn’t help but feel ashamed. the surface represented values I detested, kind of hate that motivates people to kill walking ISAAC NORMAN In 30 seconds I had judged I knew nothing about. only a few dozen feet in front of you. Online editor two fellow human beings solely on their appearWhile I do not advocate being sympathetic to people who Then it becomes disturbing. ance and not the content of their character. blindly hate others I also have learned it is far too easy to fall I waited for them to harass someone, sadly confident it Stereotypes allow us to make generalizations and can help into that trap. was only a matter of time before they would prove my worst inform our worlds. For example, if I’m driving in a rough Sometimes irony is a great teacher. fears correct. part of East Oakland late at night, I’m going to keep my But they just walked, minding their own business like ev- doors locked and I’m not going to stop if someone tries to eryone else. Thirty seconds later they turned down a stair- flag me down. Contact ISAAC NORMAN at case and were gone. Yes, I am stereotyping the people who live in the ghetto in INorman@DVCInquirer.com

opinions

Wednesday, Sept. 27 - Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017

Editorial

Are you ready for the next big quake?

e all remember hearing about the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the devastation that resulted with 63 killed and part of the Bay Bridge collapsing onto the bottom half. The recent 7.1 magnitude quake in Mexico provides another reminder: Are we prepared for another earthquake though? If a building is earthquake proof then it should be fine, right? According to the article “Five common myths about building performance and business continuity after an earthquake in the Bay area” by Lizzie Blaisdell and Don Ballantyne, “Despite what many people believe, buildings are not designed to be earthquake-proof; they are designed for a minimum level of earthquake resistance deemed adequate to protect life-safety in our communities.” California has had 1,545 earthquakes with a magnitude 3 or

“The real threat to the San Francisco Bay region over the next 30 years comes not from a 1906-type earthquake...but from smaller (about magnitude 7) earthquakes occurring on the Hayward fault, the Peninsula segment of the San Andreas fault or the Rodgers Creek fault” ~THE EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS PROGRAM

higher just between 2010 and 2015. While 63 or 61 doesn’t seem too astounding of a number for people who have died during a major earthquake, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake caused a minimum of 3,000 deaths. It’s suspected that the next major earthquake will be within the next 30 years, with an emphasis on sooner rather than later. According to the Earth-

quake Hazards Program, “The real threat to the San Francisco Bay region over the next 30 years comes not from a 1906-type earthquake (magnitude 7.8), but from smaller (about magnitude 7) earthquakes occurring on the Hayward fault, the Peninsula segment of the San Andreas fault or the Rodgers Creek fault.” If the Hayward fault was to have another major earthquake it could be catastrophic to the

bridge sitting on it and to the buildings around the area that are not up to code. The last major earthquake that occurred on the Hayward fault was in Oct. 21, 1868. According to the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s 1996 study on a 7.0 magnitude level earthquake, “Trenching studies on the southern Hayward fault are very preliminary and suggest that 150 to 250 years is the average repeat time, very similar numbers to the Working Group estimate.” Next year will be the 150 year mark. So what can you do to be better prepared? Make a survival kit. You can find a lot of this information on survival kits on the American Red Cross’ website. n Make sure to gas up your car (if an earthquake strikes and mobility is limited gas prices will spike). n Keep a gallon of water per per-

son in your car, to stay hydrated, and a survival kit. n Keep a spare pair of shoes per person so your feet have protection if something happens to the pair you’re wearing. n Keep a flashlight with extra batteries in case power goes out. n Have a battery powered or crank radio to be able to listen to the news for updates. n Keep a spare cell phone charger. n Extra cash, preferably large bills, and an emergency blanket. n Multi-purpose tools, first aid kit and a local map to help you figure out where to go if you don’t have access to GPS. Make sure you’re safe and aware that an earthquake is due to happen in the Bay Area at anytime. For more information on how to react during an earthquake go to https://www.ready.gov/ earthquakes. ~Fall 2017 Editorial Board

Letter to the editor

Decline in international students caused by alienation The Inquirer published an article in print titled “Big Drop in International Enrollment” on August 30, 2017. The article sought to explain the reason behind Diablo Valley College’s largest decline in international student enrollment since it was originally founded. The article concluded, based on an interview with a Kazakhstan student, that the reason for the decline was due to insufficient advertisement which leads to foreign students not knowing about DVC. Further, the article emphasized the financial impact of the recent decline stating that it lead to reduction of school income and less cultural diversity. The article highlights the materialistic nature of international students but overlooks the more important fact that international students are “students” of the school and must be viewed through the same lens that all other students are viewed through. According to an article, written by Jenny J. Lee and Charles Rice, published in the “Higher Education” journal, the reasons for the decline in international applications and enrollment are heightened national security

and obstacles related to obtaining visas, inMoreover, there are some resident students creased competition from other countries who pay only $17 with veteran or disability and discrimination, or hostility, toward for- supports. In addition, in-state and out-ofeign students. state students are often eligible to receive As an example of the latter point, hundreds scholarships or financial aid, which most of Middle Eastern students withdrew from foreign students are not eligible for. U.S. institutions and returned home rather Perhaps the institution feels that internathan live in fear of reprisal after Sept. 11, tional students who are able to study abroad 2001, a situation which partly explains the will be from the upper class and able to afsubstantial decline ford the expensive in international tuition. applications from The institution The decline is not due to the Middle East forgets that not the lack of advertisement, only is this not true and South Asia. Although the for all international it is due to the lack of reason behind the students, but even recognition. decline being due for those that are to there not being able to pay the enough advertisehiked-up tuition ment may be somewhat true, I believe it is may feel cheated. more important to look at it from the stuInternational students may also feel aliendents’ perspective rather than from the insti- ated by the fact that the U.S. government tutional perspective. feels no responsibility in aiding and looking According to the DVC website, in-state after their well-being. students pay $46 per one credit while interThe counterargument may be that international students pay $254 per one credit, national students have not paid taxes which which is roughly five times more. helps schools and institutions exist, and

therefore they have to pay the higher tuition fees. However, we must also look at other countries that are going through similar situations. I conducted an interview with a friend of mine, Seo who is studying abroad in France. According to Seo, international students in France pay similar tuition fees as resident students. I believe the institution needs to give voice and opportunities for international students to help make important decisions that make a real difference in the well-being of other international students. The decline is not due to the lack of advertisement, it is due to the lack of recognition. The institution needs to recognize international students as students, rather than as passive recipients of decisions. We have voice, motivation, and passion. We want to be an active part of the community and the DVC school, not someone who just comes and goes. JUN A MOON Guest Writer

The

Buzz How do you feel about the new Rakuten patch on Warrior’s jerseys?

Nadia Pastrana, 23 Nursing

Kirill Yantikov, 21 Microbiology

Jessanin Flores, 23 Liberal arts

John Michealson, 25 Business administration

Interviewed and photographed by: Inquirer staff

“It looks off. It doesn’t look like it belongs there.”

“They’re getting more towards a business side, I’m not a fan.”

“I just don’t like it.”

“I’m ambivalent, as long as it remains small, not like soccer.”

sports

Wednesday, Sept. 27 - Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2017

Raiders vs. 49ers fantasy favorites

Even with the Oakland Raiders planning to skip town after the next couple of seasons, Battle of the Bay against the San Francisco 49ers will always be relevant to football fans residing in the Bay Area. Although the two storied franchises aren’t slated to play each other this season, we can still have a little competitive rivalry by comparing fantasy production so far. Coming into the season, everyone and their mom knew that the 49ers were goMark Lindahl ing to be strugSports editor gling to put up points with relatively no weapons and an aging quarterback in Brian Hoyer, but two games in and the offense has still failed to come off of the field with a touchdown, resulting in a 0-2 record. While Hoyer has three turnovers, two interceptions and one fumble lost, compared to no touchdowns, not all of the blame can be placed on his shoulder pads. The only established threat out of the stable of receivers they employ is Pierre Garcon, who is known as a possession receiver who needs volume to lead to production. Last season Carlos Hyde posted nine games with at least 10 points out of 12 games played, along with nine touchdowns. The 49ers inability to move the ball downfield is making any skilled player on their team borderline unplayable. Hyde has potential to be a solid RB2 for your team purely based on the fact that he has the starting running back position locked down, but Garcon will be a match up based flex option throughout the year. With Derek Carr leading the charge, Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree have been eating up targets, resulting in 21 catches on 31 targets between the two plus four touchdowns. Throw in another TD catch by Seth Roberts and now Carr has five through only two games. Give tight end Jared Cook a few more games to feel comfortable within the offense. Cook had five catches for 56 yards in game one and four catches for 25 yards in the second game, showing that Cook gets his looks every game. If you’re betting on your favorite local players to carry your fantasy team to the top, choose the surging Raiders looking to make noise deep into the playoffs this year, instead of the bottom dwelling 49ers who are spiraling out of control. Contact MARK LINDAHL at MLindahl@DVCInquirer.com

Courtesy of Charlie Day at Daytime studios (CC-by-ND 02.0)

The Coliseum would be replaced by a new stadium near Laney College.

A’s stadium may cause problems for locals LUIS LOPEZ Staff member

The Oakland Athletics have finally proposed a site for their brand new ballpark. The 13 acre plot of land on the Laney College campus appears to be a great location, considering it’s near downtown, next to I-880, and only a nine minute walk from the Lake Merritt BART station. Local A’s fan Ken Carlock from Concord, likes the location and the activities around it. “There are lots of restaurants nearby, and Chinatown is close too,” said Carlock. The proposed ballpark will provide a much needed upgrade from the rundown, aging Oakland Coliseum, which has been around for over 51 years. A’s fans have been yearning for a new stadium for quite some time now, and while many are excited to have a new venue to call home, others are frightened by the expected problems the new stadium will bring to the community. While the stadium is privately financed,

which is a rarity in professional sports these days, many feel that the stadium will bring issues to the surrounding neighborhoods. Fan and Oakland resident Thomas Jackubek, who lives by Lake Merritt, believes the surrounding neighborhoods will see some residents having to leave the area. “Absolutely, it will even force families to move out, and for some that’s their last resort for a home,” said Jackubek. Surrounding neighborhoods will definitely experience different types of hardships with a new stadium, and some may involve other fans. Parking at any stadium these days is expensive, so fans are always looking for a way to save a few bucks on game day. It is almost guaranteed that fans will go into surrounding neighborhoods and park in front of houses, which is just asking for blocked driveways and trash. Another problem with the proposed downtown site, fans will likely not be able to tailgate the same way they would at the Coliseum.

San Ramon resident and tailgater Brian Rodgers knows the potential parking situation could make tailgating a difficulty. “Yeah, thats the thing, you don’t really know what the parking could be like, it could be far away and make it harder to tailgate” said Rodgers. Part of the A’s game day experience is the fans interacting with each other in the parking lot and building relationships with other fans. The new stadium site would likely provide a parking situation comparable to their rival San Francisco Giants across the bay at AT&T Park. Overall, A’s fans should be excited that the necessary steps towards a new stadium have been taken. However it has become quite apparent that there are still some kinks to be worked out.

Contact LUIS LOPEZ at LLopez@DVCInquirer.com

Quarterback has found his footing AARON TOLENTINO Staff member

ost students attending Diablo Valley College did not have to pack their belongings, move out of the comfort of their own home and travel from one side of the country to the other. DVC quarterback Matt Vitale did just that. The New Jersey native is currently attending his first year at DVC and chose to move to the West Coast due to the lack of a strong junior college presence back in the East Coast. However, even after immediately winning the starting job at quarterback, the transition for the 20-year-old Vitale was not an easy one. “When I first came out here, it was tough, I couldn’t really be a vocal leader because I didn’t know the kids and their personalities,” said Vitale. “I was trying to lead by action, do

the right thing and do everything I should do.” Through three games, Vitale has put up impressive numbers with eight touchdown passes and 659 yards. None of that would be possible without the chemistry he has built with his teammates. “He spends a lot of time in practice working on chemistry,” said wide receiver Cameron Norfleet who has caught three touchdown passes from Vitale this season. “He’s always trying hard and he’s always holding himself accountable. It’s easy to follow a guy like that,” he added. Leadership, winning habits and building chemistry with your teammates are one of the many intangibles that cannot be measured through a stat sheet. “I would always train and take mental reps as a quarterback when I was little,” said Vitale. “I was four years old when I started playing football but I never played quarterback until

my eighth grade year.” Not playing quarterback until the eighth grade had to do with coaches thinking Vitale was too small for the position. However, a quarterback’s greatest asset is not how big he is, it is how smart he is on the field. The 5-foot-10 inch, 150-pound Vitale displays just that. “He just seemed so calm in the pocket, you see him identify a blitz, check the protection and change the call,” said head coach Mike Darr. “He stands in right as the blitz is coming and his accuracy really jumps off the screen.” “When you’re smaller, coaches see you as small so you have to play bigger,” said Vitale. “I just want to win, win, win.”

Contact AARON TOLENTINO at ATolentino@DVCInquirer.com