Monitor 2005-4-14

Spring Break in Arkansas, and Paris, too – Page 5

Persian New Year at Ohlone

Softball team in 4th place

– Page 4

– Page 8

MONITOR OHLONE COLLEGE

Vol. XXXX No. 12

Fremont, California

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Earth Day cleanup set for April 22

War or Peace speaker

By BRITNEY BINDEL Staff writer

Photo by Aman Mehrzai

Former U.S. Rep. Paul Findley spoke at the April 10 symposium, War or Peace? at the Chandni Restaurant in Newark, moderated by Ohlone President Douglas Treadway. Other speakers included Rep. Pete Stark, D-13th District. See story on Page 6.

Ohlone makes step toward four-year degree program

By FRANKIE ADDIEGO Staff writer On Friday, the Ohlone College Council met and discussed, among other things, a proposed program whereby Alliant College would hold some classes on the Fremont campus. This would allow students to take classes on the Ohlone campus leading to a fouryear degree.

President and Superintendent Doug Treadway said that this arrangement would help student development on the campus. Alliant University was founded in 2001 and has six campuses in the state of California. The council said that they had already asked Rep.

Pete Stark to ask for federal funding.

If Alliant University and Ohlone College do enact a program in concert with one another, it will begin in 2007 or 2008. It’s also a possibility that Alliant and Ohlone will hold trial courses. Ohlone may also enact similar programs with other universities, most likely including the University of Phoenix. “We’re not going to create an exclusive arrangement,” said Treadway.

Alliant is expected to hold a number of four-year courses at Ohlone. It appeared that, there would be no cooperative classes between Ohlone and Alliant.

The council also discussed the Classified Senate.

Continued on Page 3

As the result of grassroots efforts, on April 22, 1970, 20 million people celebrated Earth Day across America for the first time.

Now, Earth Day is celebrated internationally. Ohlone will join efforts with fellow earthlings in the “Get Down to Earth” project on Friday, April 22. From 2 to 6 p.m., more than 25 crews, led by faculty and staff, will spread out over the campus to pick up litter.

During the same time, BFI and the Environment and Culture Club will be distributing information about recycling.

A year ago, President Doug Treadway discussed Ohlone’s vi-

sion, core values and goals for the next five years. One of the values was responsibility of environmental resources, to “Promote and maintain a clean, safe and healthy college environment through continuous engagement of students and college personnel in campus preparedness, wellness, beautification and environmental sustainability.”

Vice President Jim Wright said the president’s vision called for individual contribution. As a result, “Get Down to Earth” is the action put to Treadway’s words.

According to club adviser, George Rodgers, top priorities of the Environment and Culture Club for Earth Day are re-establishing the recycling program to be “credContinued on Page 3

ASOC sets Carnival

By CLIFTON M. DER BING Staff writer The student government has set the annual carnival for Wednesday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Palm Bosque.

ASOC Committee chairperson Karina Laiwalla said, “ASOC has been working hard to host this event for Ohlone students and staff to enjoy. The carnival is meant for all to kick back at this free-of-charge Hawaiian-themed event.”

The event will have many games and activities, such as a bouncy obstacle course, bouncy boxing, football throw, dunk tank and more. There will also be food and drinks available, including barbeque hot dogs and hamburgers, baked potatoes, chili, and an array of desserts and tropical drinks. ASOC members approved $5,000 for the Carnival.

Continued on Page 3

Student survives, friend dies in freeway wreck

By SEAN CRAWFORD Editor in-chief Ohlone student Ayman Ahmed, 20, died April 3 after the Acura Integra he was driving overturned six to eight times in a high-speed collision on Interstate 880.

Another Ohlone student, Mark Fagundes, 20, was a passenger in Ahmed’s 1999 Acura and survived the wreck with minor injuries.

Fagundes said the Acura was northbound at around 90 mph in

Fremont around 9 p.m. Saturday, when the traffic ahead suddenly slowed.

“I was playing with his radio, when I see this BMW creeping behind us,” Fagundes said.

To avoid the slowing traffic, Fagundez said Ahmed swerved right to avoid a breaking car ahead, merged into another lane and lost control of the car.

“It was fishtailing right, left, and then right again, heading head-first into a (sound) wall.”

Fagundes said the BMW clipped the Acura, spinning it sideways,

facing into oncoming traffic.

The driver’s side of the Acura hit the sound wall, then the car rolled backward up the sound wall and flipped six to eight times, travelling over sixty feet against traffic coming to rest upsidedown, with Fagundes suspended from his seatbelt.

Fagundes said he crawled out through a broken window and went around the car to check on Ahmed.

“I knew it wasn’t good, but I didn’t want to think about it,” he said. “I saw him hanging upside

down, his head limp, choking on blood.”

The California Highway Patrol arrived shortly afterward.

Ahmed was transported to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where he died around 11 a.m.

Sunday.

The CHP is investigating the cause of the accident.

Ahmed was a part-time student at Ohlone.

“I believe my seatbelt saved me. Nobody should have to see their homeboy die at 20,” said Fagundes.

Photo by Sean Crawford

Mark Fagundes

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MONITOR April 14, 2005

Associated Collegiate Press / National Scholastic Press Association All American 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Regional Pacemaker 1988 Journalism Association of Community Colleges First in General Excellence, Northern California Fall 1994 General Excellence Fall 2000 Fall 2003

OPINION Editor in chief: Sean G. Crawford News editor: Aman Mehrzai Opinion editor: Olivia Speranza Features editor: Alisha Francisco Sports editor: Steve Chavez Photo editor: Shari Wargo Layout editor: Tony C. Yang Cartoonist: Aden Scott Staff writers: Frankie Addiego, Britney Bindel, Clifton M. DerBing, James Hendra, Meenu Kaushal, Tahsin Khan, Jessica Losee, Marc McCord, Roun Tamaki, Tau Wang, Randal Woo, Nick Zambrano Photographers: Inez Black, Lawrence Gerrero, Daniel Kwan, Charlie Hebison, Melody Marquez, David Mohammadi Ad manager: Shari Wargo Adviser: Bill Parks Printer: F-P Press

Offices are located in Room 5310 on campus, 43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont 945395884. Call (510) 659-6075. Fax: (510) 659-6076. E-mail: monitor@ohlone.cc.ca.us Opinions expressed in the MONITOR are those of the respective authors and are not necessarily those of the staff, the college or the Associated Students of Ohlone College.

Unsigned editorials reflect the majority view of staff members. Advertising material is printed herein for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an expression of endorsement or verification of such commercial ventures by the staff or college.

The MONITOR is funded by the district, by the Associated Students of Ohlone College, and through advertising revenue.

The MONITOR is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, Journalism Association of Community Colleges, Community College Journalism Association, California Newspaper Publishers Association, College Media Advisers and Society of Newspaper Design.

OPINION

Purses have become a global threat: This is my warning

By JESSICA LOSEE Staff writer You don’t know it, but they’re coming to get her. Whether she is your girlfriend, your friend, your sister, or your mom...even you, my female friend, are in danger of being held against your will by an entity far stronger than any of us.

Sneakily they slip into stores everywhere, looking cute and adorable, just begging to be bought.

There are very few girls who don’t have a lot of them hanging around their room.

What is this global threat? Purses.

These evil little bags are slowly

taking over womankind, and there’s absolutely NOTHING you can do about it.

Not only do they come in all shapes and sizes, but also all colors, patterns and brand names too.

Of course, this purse fad has been going strong since their creation, always the perfect accessory to any outfit. And you can even put stuff in them!

Women spend millions of dollars on purses every year, filling closets with them, having a different one for every day of the month and then some. There has also been a huge boom in the demand for high-priced name

brands such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Dior, and many more.

Cheap copies of the expensive name brands are being sold every day, leaving customers thinking that they bought the real thing, paying upwards of $100 for a purse that is just a cheap rip-off that anyone could get at a flea market. Sometimes one must wonder if the designers can tell their bags apart from the fakes. Yet some women prefer to have the rip-offs, knowing they’re getting the look for a lot cheaper.

Purses are even being sold at private parties where retailers sell

the real (or possibly fake) bags within small parties at a host’s house for half of the real rate.

Look out Tupperware, there’s a new popular item taking over town.

I have even attended one of these “parties” where women gather to socialize and oogle the Prada and Louis Vouitton bags, even fight over them, to get the most popular, the cutest, the most stylish for themselves, and paying hundreds of dollars for these fashionable bags. I’ll let them fight over the expensive cow hides covered with embellishments and cute doo-hickies. I’ll go to Target and buy some purse that I

know 20 other girls will have and make it into something that I define. It is not the brand clothes that make the woman it’s the woman that pays hundreds to have someone else’s name plastered on her cotton, denim and leather.

Women are stereotyped as shopping fiends, which fits very few, but there are less and less women who can say “No!” to this leather threat stamped with the names of others who swim in our cash. Even I have succumbed to the temptation, looking to find the perfect purses for every occasion, every outfit, and every mood. Thankfully, I know I am far from alone.

LETTERS

Be aware of Scientology link to ‘stress test’ EDITOR: As I walked down to the Unity Week tent in Parking Lot “A” Wednesday afternoon, I noticed a young woman in the Free Speech Area who had a table set up with numerous signs that read “Free Stress Test.”

Since I approached her table from behind, however, I could see that several boxes on it were clearly marked “Dianetics,” but these were

turned away from the view of anyone approaching her table from the front. All those individuals would see is an odd looking machine, numerous books and handouts, and those large signs representing the booth as a “Free Stress Test.”

I would like everyone to be aware, however, that this “test” is not a valid measure of any aspect of one’s psychological well-being, and that these recruiters are sent to college campuses to tout the philoso-

phy of “Scientology,” a pseudoreligion based upon the writings of science-fiction-author-turned-cultleader, L. Ron Hubbard. The instrument being used appeared to be a so-called “E-meter,” a device that Scientologists claim will report your emotional well being in equally mysterious “ohms,” information that is then used to cure any and all psychological and emotional problems.

Although they currently enjoy

non-profit status as a “religion” in the U.S., Scientology is an organization that has long been deemed a cult in numerous European nations, including Germany, where the government noted a striking similarity between the group’s practices and those of fascist groups from their own history.

The Free Speech Area is open to the general public, and certain legitimate religious and political representatives often utilize it to share

their information with our students, but I am concerned that such a tactic as the one I saw today might confuse our students, leading them to believe that the methods being employed are supported by science, by the Psychology Department, and/ or the organizers of Unity Week.

None of those conclusions would be true, and I think our students deserve that clarification.

Thank you in advance for helpContinued on Page 3

CAMPUS COMMENT > > > What is the largest age difference that you would want between you and your significant other?

JOCELYN KOO Liberal studies “Ten years older. It’s not that big of an age difference.”

LYDIA LEONARD Art history “Twelve years older. Because I see myself being as mature.”

FRED TAMMO Industrial engineering

ANNA MAY JSNEAD Sociology

“Ten years older. It depends on what your objectives are.”

“I don’t discriminate. I love all people.”

MALLORY LANTZ English “No one over thirty. I’m not looking for a daddy.”

NEWS Festival winners

April 14, 2005 MONITOR

NEWS BRIEFS Health Fair set April 20 Ohlone College’s Spring Health Fair is being hosted this year in lobby of Building One 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20.

The event will include free health screenings consisting of blood pressure, blood sugar and a cholesterol diagnostic, fitness testing and a plethora of other health-related information.

The event will be sponsored by STARRS (Students Towards A Rapid Smoke-Free School), ASOC (Associated Students of Ohlone College) and the Student Health Center.

Groundbreaking May 24 Tuesday, May 24 has been set as for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Ohlone Newark Center for Technology and Health Sciences. The event will begin at 4 p.m at 39375 Cherry St., behind Newark Memorial High School.

The public is invited to witness the birth of the new campus.

Photo by Daniel Kwan

The 11th annual Ohlone Theater Festival was held last Friday and Saturday. More than 25 schools from across California competed in 35 categories. The competition eliminated all but the top few schools in any given category Friday and allowed the remaining schools to compete again on Saturday morning to determine the top three students in each category. Awards were presented in the Epler Gym Saturday.

Earth Day cleanup planned Continued from Page One ible and meaningful,” and promoting Earth Day as a “...springboard for taking ownership of our campus.

It is adopting the philosophies of our Ohlone Ancestors.” The club will be posting flyers around campus and assisting in the hands on micro cleaning. About the litter, Rodgers said “Mom’s not here to pick it up.”

He said the earth is a fragile environment that should be commemorated everyday, not just on Earth Day. A Stairwell Attack Team (SWAT) will be performing heavy duty cleaning throughout the “caves” under the stairs, such as those in Building 8. The Kidango kids program will help clean the surrounding area of the Child Development Center. Volunteers from the Asian Pacific American Student Asso-

ciation will clean the area around the baseball fields.

Plastic bags donated from the Health Center and litter claw tools from Buildings and Grounds will be donated for the event.

Future environmental plans for Ohlone include the construction of the earth-friendly Newark Campus.

The roof will be covered with solar panels that will power a state-of-the-art cooling and heating system.

Underground coils will have the ground’s constant 50degree air fanned through them and into the building.

The air, being at 50 degrees, will be easy to adjust to the desired temperature. Treadway considers Ohlone College to be a pioneer among California community colleges, as there are few other colleges attempting to conserve energy in these ways.

Be aware of Scientology link Continued from Page Two ing me to share this information. A basic explanation of the Scientology can be found on the Skeptic’s Dictionary web site at http://www.skepdic.com/ dianetic.html, but for a more extensive collection of facts (including an extensive online radio/TV vault), visit “Operation Clambake” at http:// www.xenu.net.

A good place to turn for help in thinking critically about this and other such issues, of course, is the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) at http:/

/www.Randi.org, a non-profit organization that offers a $1 million prize to anyone who can demonstrate psychic abilities, supernatural phenomena, etc. Several claims made by Scientology’s followers regarding their ability to solve mental health problems could easily be tested by the JREF, but so far, no one has stepped forward to claim the prize.

It certainly makes one wonder why.

SHELDON W. HELMS, MA Department of Psychology

Only two qualify for ASOC posts Continued from Page One In other business, the ASOC Executive Elections Commission reported that there are only two students who officially qualify as candidates as of last Tuesday. The deadline to turn in completed applications is April 20 to the EOPS office in Building 1.

Also, Unity Week Committee Chairperson Marilou Alejo gave a Power Point presentation covering all

aspects of the event, evaluating student/staff participation, organization, teamwork and overall success.

Ending the meeting, the council unanimously passed $150 for the 4th Annual Ohlone College Poetry Reading, which is scheduled for Thursday, April 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the library.

All are welcome to listen and/or read a piece of poetry, original or by an author.

Step toward four-year degrees Continued from Page One This year, President and Superintendent Doug Treadway disbanded the Classified Senate. The move was very controversial and some at the meeting expressed disapproval toward Treadway’s decision.

In other events, College Council co-chair Dennis Keller discussed what qualities he’d like to see in a

replacement. Among the qualifications that he discussed was experience. “The co-chair,” he said, “should have previously served on college council.” Keller said that perspective candidates for the position of co-chair should e-mail him. The council is hoping to find a replacement for Keller before a retreat they discussed in the meeting.

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MONITOR April 14, 2005

Mark McCord

Destiny unfufilled So, after a long hiatus the group Destiny’s Child has reunited and the result is an album entitled: Destiny Fulfilled.

But after hearing their first single Soldier I have to wonder just how mature they are.

On their latest song Soldier they talk about wanting a man who’s, “Status better be hood or I ain’t checking for him, he better be street if he looking at me, I need a soldier that ain’t scared to stand up for me, he gotta know how to get the dough and he better be street.”

Perhaps they’ve never heard about what happens to chicks that get caught up with these types of characters. Maybe they’ve never heard the stories of the young women that have caught cases because they were unknowingly holding guns and or drugs for one of these soldiers.

When I hear this song, it makes me stop and think about a girl I dated a long time back, her name was Sheila, God forgive me but I can’t remember her last name right now. Anyway, it was the 80’s, and crack was all over like garbage on the street. Everywhere you looked you saw: this one on crack, that one selling crack. It was crazy. Girls at that time were crazy about guys that got their money that way.

Soon after I met Sheila it became apparent to me that she had dated a few drug dealers but was possibly looking for a different type of guy: Me. The only drawback was that she had gotten accustomed to the lifestyle that being a drug dealer’s girlfriend could bring, like the cars and jewelry. Never the less our relationship was not meant to be.

I bumped into Sheila one night at a roller skating rink with her new boyfriend a well-known drug dealer, we spoke and we were friendly. For some reason, all of these years later, the last image I have of her in my mind still stands out like the shining glitter ball that shot lights all over the roller rink that night. Her smile, it was so big and innocent for a girl that had been exposed to what she had been doing.

Not too long after seeing her that night, I received word that she had been killed in a drive-by shooting. In a way it was a case of mistaken identity, she had been driving her boyfriends car one night when some of his enemies came up on her thinking he was in the car with her.

So flash forward almost 20 years and here we have a platinum selling group of talented young women and what are they feeding to the minds of young girls? Poison. If Destiny’s Child wants to fulfill their destiny they need to start with the message in their music.

FEATURES Rapper’s delight

By ALISHA FRANCISCO Features editor Ivy Brawaner and his cousin Maurice Brackett, duo hip-hop group; Ijama, are spreading their unique form of positive music to the Ohlone campus and beyond.

The human percussionists have been at it for 23 years and have already produced three “cuts,” or tapes. They’ll soon have a DVD infomercial called Bad Habits along with a CD single.

They have performed in front of a variety of audiences, ranging from small groups to up to 2,500 peoplefrom senior citizen’s homes to the Alameda County Health Department and even concerts at crowded pavilions. “We did a performance with Silk the Shocker from No Limit Records,” said Brawaner.

Ijama have made commercials for Popeye’s, Burger King and other businesses. Channel 28, Ohlone’s cable channel as well as KOHL, 89.3 FM have featured their musical talents.

Brawner and Brackett have

been rapping since 1981 and it all started out on the streets of Chicago “beating on pots and pans when we were young,” said Brawner.

He then made his way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is now a resident of Fremont and a fulltime student at Ohlone in which he may major in communications or business management. "I'm still behind the eight-ball in some of the classes, but I'm putting my nose to the grindstone," he said.

Brawner is also a single parent of two teenagers who are in high school, who he said are his inspiration in life. He also finds inspiration through his spiritual relationships.

Brackett made his way to the Bay Area and lives in Oakland. He is attending school at Laney College studying Spanish and Carpentry.

Brawner, with Top Dog as his rapper alias, and Brackett talk about positivity and stopping those “bad habits” such as unprotected sex, drunk driving, alcoholism, unhealthy eating habits, child abuse and parental neglect. “We are

Photo by Daniel Kwan

Maurice Bracket along with cousin, Ivy Brawner; duo human percussionists, spread a postive message through their music at the Alameda County Health Department senior citizen home. about fun and education,” said Brawner, “We’re not after the club scene. They have all the other rappers for that.”

Brawner said his motivation comes from his performances and reaction from the crowd. He also said he wants to reach out and teach his audience and leave a footprint. “I want to talk to people who don’t have -or to those who

have to help others who don’t have. I can dig where they’re coming from because I’ve been where they was.”

Their upcoming performance will be at Laney College at Sobrante Park during Earth Day activities.

Ijama hopes to make a change by bringing the fun back to hip-hop.

With over 20 years of spreading a positive message to their audience.

Persian club celebrates for the new year

By CLIFTON M. DER BING Staff writer The Ohlone College Persian Club hosted the first-ever Persian New Year’s Eve Celebration on Friday, March 18 in the cafeteria with well over 200 in attendance.

“Norouz,” meaning “new day” in Farsi language, is celebrated on the first day of Spring, which always falls on either March 20 or 21. However the club decided to host it on a school day for higher attendance.

Before the new year begins, a special table is prepared which includes seven symbolic dishes called “Haft Seen,” all starting with “S” in Farsi; Sabzeh, sprouts usually wheat or lentil representing rebirth; Sib, apple for health and beauty; Senjed, sweet dry fruit of the jujube for love and resistance; Seer, garlic for medicine; Somagh, sumac berries for the color of sunrise to mean “good conquers evil”; Serkeh, vinegar

Photo by Shai Wargo

Pantea Izadi wished everyone at a happy new year at the Persian Club party. for age and patience and Samanou, sweet creamy pudding for sweetness and presidency.

The evening event opened with the club officers giving a brief history of the holiday, followed by a variety of cultural dance

Monarch migration

performances. Afterward, the alluring scent of the countless Persian cuisines filled the cafeteria. The colorful array of the spectacular dishes included sabzi polo mahi, fish and rice; zereshk polo ba morg, cranberry rice with chicken;

Woman of the year

By FRANKIE ADDIEGO Staff writer

Photo by Shari Wargo

The Monarch butterflies have been migrating toward the Ohlone campus for the past two weeks.

fesenjoon, pomegranate juice with walnut and chicken and several other magnificent dishes partly sponsored by Marriam Restaurant in Fremont.

After dinner several raffles prize were given to participating guests with gifts ranging from specially designed candles to exclusive Persian pieces of art. The entertainment continued as most guests danced the night away to live music that played throughout the night.

Persian Club President Pantea Izadi is very proud of the event’s turn out, “I was extremely happy with the event’s success. With countless hours of support from my club members and advisor, Tina Mosleh, our celebration was a blast!

As the first Persian celebration at Ohlone, I am proud to say that everything went very well.”

Izadi’s main goal of the event was to introduce the club’s culture and traditions to Ohlone and the local community.

Since 1987, the California Legislature has given the “Woman of the Year,” award to women throughout California every year in March. This year, State Sen Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont) announced Fremont Bank Vice President and former Ohlone College Board of Trustees Member Gloria Villasana Fuerniss as “Woman of the Year” for Senate District 10.

Fuerniss is recognized for both Vice President of Corporate Banking for Fremont Bank, for whom she has worked for 35 years and her volunteer work. Mike Wallace, president and CEO of Fremont Bank, said about Fuerniss’ achievement, “Gloria Fuerniss is a unique individual who is able to balance her time and energy with family, work, and service to the community.”

“We are so proud that Gloria is

being recognized as the ‘Woman of the Year’ by Senator Figueroa, an honor so well deserved,” added Wallace.

Fuerniss is also noted for her volunteer work in the Union City Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County. In addition, Fuerniss was a member of the Ohlone College Board of Trustees from 1980 to 1997. She has also served as a member of the Ohlone College Foundation and in 1976, was named Outstanding Alumni for Ohlone College as well as the Distinguished Alumni for California Community Colleges that same year.

The ceremony took place on March 14, when Sen. Figueroa escorted Fuerniss on the Senate floor.

She and the other “women of the year” were acknowledged by Sen. Don Perata, ProTem of the Senate and Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair of the Women’s Caucus.

April 14, 2005 MONITOR

FEATURES How students spend spring break

5

Tony C. Yang

Month of misery

Courtsey of Meenu Kaushal

The streets run beside the River Seine, and the lights of the city reflect in the water, offering a picturesque sight.

Spending spring break eating croissant and baguettes

By MEENU KAUSHAL Staff writer

Courtsey of Meenu Kaushal

The author and husband in front of the Effiel Tower.

Spending a fortnight in France was a refreshing delight from the daily routine and a dream come true.

My husband and I had an official tour and it was a good opportunity. We landed in Lyon, a city in France.

It was the weekend and the city was alive with people moving all around on the streets, chatting and laughing amongst each other.

There were hardly vacant seats at any restaurant. Most of the people had a cigarette and glass of wine in their hands. We relaxed at Bistro Romain, one of the popular Italian restaurants. It was the best pizza my taste buds ever had.

Next day, we went to a museum. The museum opened a world rich in culture and heritage. There

were paintings and sculptures of the 17th century. There was an awesome collection of utensils and weapons used by early man. I was enamored by Lyon; little realizing that the best was yet to come.

Paris, the capital city, had so much more to offer. We started with the famous Eiffel Tower. It stands in the middle of the city.

This landmark was completed in 1889, and is a famous symbol of French civic pride. Paris is also a candidate city for Olympics in 2012.

Our visit was incomplete without the famous avenue Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe.

The Louvre Museum left me speechless. The monumental museum is divided into eight departments. It was impossible to see it in one day. There is an unending collection of paintings and sculptures.

The museum had a wide collection

ranging from the early civilization to the 19th century.

The world-famous painting, Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci and the sculpture of Venus De Milo was the center of attraction for all the tourists. Louvre is considered as the world’s greatest art museum.

Notre Dame is the famous cathedral in the city of Paris. It was constructed in the 12th century and is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It stands on the Île de la Cité and is the symbolic heart of the city.

Retro goes hand-in-hand with the modern technology and infrastructure of the cities. People are very social and pay a lot of attention to what they wear. Name-brand, trendy clothes with accessories to match seem to be everyone’s choice.

It was a privilege to be a part of them for a short time.

A memorable reunion

By JESSICA LOSEE Staff writer I had the great fortune of taking a three-day, out-of-state vacation during spring break for a family reunion.

Of course, as the only time when work or school wouldn’t bother me, I was elated at the idea and visiting family is always fun for me.

The drawback? My destination: Arkansas.

With a grin I told my friends that I would be going to the southern state in the middle of the Bible belt, a complete opposite of California.

They could hardly help but to laugh as they planned their ski trips and parties. There was no way anyone could comprehend why I would agree and even want to go there.

But I did.

The fact of the matter is that I had a blast, despite losing a lot of sleep.

My adventure, as I chose to picture it, in the wee hours of the morn.

Rain showered down as my family and I drove to San Jose International Airport to catch the flight to Dallas, three hours in the air which would then bring us to the connecting flight to Little Rock, Arkansas, in a little over an hour.

We landed safely, despite some turbulence, three wailing infants,

and a touchy flight attendant. The first day was spent touring Little Rock, the capitol of Arkansas.

My family and I rose early from our beds to visit the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Center, which as my brother so wittingly pointed out, looks like a giant doublewide mobile home; nearly identical to those across the Arkansas River.

Keep in mind, Little Rock has a population of approximately 183,000 people, less than Fremont, but has about four high-rise buildings that pierce into the skyline; and all natives are raised to be polite to everyone, speaking in their pleasant Southern drawl.

They view Californians, not as arrogant and rude, with no accent at all; but as fast-talking, word-slurring weirdoes. The only excuse that the Arkansans offer us for being this way is that we are from California and something about the golden hills, hot sun, and turquoise Pacific must have addled all of our brains upon arrival within California borders.

In retrospect, Arkansans may have looked at my family and me a bit askew when they were told where we came from, but that hardly kept them for being themselves: pure, simple Southern.

Courtesy of Jessica Losee

Marble stairs lead up to the Arkansas Supreme Court at the State Capitol in Little Rock.

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? It’s also STD Awareness/Autism Awareness/Child Abuse Prevention/ Organ Donation/Gardening/ Humor Month. That’s about it for the good side.

On the flip side, I believe it was T.S. Eliot who said, “April is the cruelest month.” And why not? It is the cold, wet April showers, after all, that bring May flowers. The number four is also a symbol of death in some Asian cultures.

Lastly, it’s the month we pay taxes.

Death and taxes- all packed into a month like sardines.

So I’ve decided to support my notion that April is indeed the worst month of all, with the following cherry-picked chronology of mistakes and blunders: April 1, 1933- Dictator Adolf Hitler begins his “final solution” with a boycott of Jewish businesses.

April 2, 1982- Argentina invaded Britain’s Falkland Islands; until Iraq invaded Kuwait, one of the stupidest acts in military history.

April 4, 1968- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., assassinated, and part of his dream dies.

April 6, 1930- Twinkies hit the market, and our waistlines haven’t been the same since.

April 11, 1970 - The ill-fated moon mission Apollo 13 launched today; “Houston, we have a problem,” is coined.

April 14, 1865- Watching a play, President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated; needless to say, the theater kills.

April 18, 1906 - The great San Francisco Quake; it burnt down the whole city.

April 19, 1993 - Janet Reno’s storm troopers massacre 82 Branch Davidian cultists in Waco, Texas.

April 19, 1995 - Oklahoma City bombing kills 168 people.

April 20, 1999 - Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado.

April 26, 1986- Chernobyl’s nuclear reactor melts down; sets the stage for the current season of “24.”

April 30, 1942- Japanese Americans are legally mandated to go to concentration camps.

Throughout this list of April’s trials and tribulations, we should remember Mark Twain’s admonition; “The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.”

In the middle of all this, indeed, in the middle of the month, we become “fortune’s fools.” This is because on the Ides of April (the 15th), millions of us hard-working Americans must pay taxes.

However, there may be some redemption with this: April 15, 1817- The first school for the deaf in the United States was founded in Hartford, Connecticut by Thomas H. Gallaudet.

6 MONITOR

NEWS Foundation, Financial Aid work together April 14, 2005

By AMAN MEHRZAI News editor The Ohlone Foundation and Financial Aid Department are joining forces in an effort to distribute more money in scholarships in a troublefree manner to the students.

The college foundation has been working with the Financial Aid Department in a continuous effort to

find innovative ways to get scholarship and grant money out to the students.

Foundation Coordinator Johari Peebles announced that the Foundation is giving away $20,000 by the end of this semester for a variety of students studying in general education, nursing, chemistry, math, bio-tech and nonspecified majors. The goal is to

inspire students to take advantage of all the money being offered by the college.

The college received its money from various funds accumulated by private companies and other sources.

“We are pulling money from gifts and endowments given to the college and are awarding scholarships from the interest accumulated [by the funds],” said Peebles.

The Financial Aid department is working in conjunction with the foundation to distribute its own money from private foundations, banks and other sources.

All applications for the scholarships must be filled out at the financial aide department. “The foundation gets the money and financial aide distributes it, unless otherwise specified,” said Peebles.

Financial Aid Student Services Representative Spencer Washington emphasized the need for students to follow exact directions when completing the applications for the scholarships. “It’s very important for students to follow directions. If the exact requirements aren’t followed, they will not be considered for their scholarship,” said Washington.

Each scholarship may have its own specific criteria and instruction.

Prior distributions of scholarships were done through individual departments. The new structure will simplify things for students who will be able to go to one place for all foundation and financial aid scholarships and grants.

Detailed information for scholarship distribution will be placed on boards throughout the campus and on the white bulletin board in front of the financial aide department.

The Monitor will be announcing weekly scholarship availabilities.

Treadway moderates peace panel

By AMAN MEHRZAI News editor

Foundation Scholarships Corner Check out this week’s featured scholarships: • Josephine Butala Mathematics Scholarship • Audrey M. Hack Scholarship • Anne E. Golseth Excellence in Student Leadership Award • ASOC Leadership Scholarships • ASOC Scholarship for Academic Achievement • JVA Business Services Scholarship (for EOPS/CARE student)

Students can visit the scholarships web site to find out more information and to apply. http://scholarships.ohlone.edu

A panel of speakers moderated

by Ohlone President Doug Treadway criticized the Bush administration for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for mishandling the war on terrorism.

Nearly 100 people filled Newark’s Chandni Restaurant to attend the “War or Peace?” symposium sponsored by the American Institute of International Studies.

The occasion was reminiscent of a growing anti-war movement, according to Institute President Syed Mahmood. DVD’s of all speeches will be sent to national and state leaders if enough money is raised, said Syed.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Fremont, former Illinois Republican Congressman Paul Findley, University of San Francisco Professor Stephen Zunes and other speakers represented a variety of viewpoints about Bush and his foreign relations policies.

Findley, an 83-year-old native of Illinois who served in the House of Representatives for 22 years asked, “Why did we invade Iraq?

Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 and posed no threat whatsoever to the United States. They had no weapons of mass destruction.”

Stark stated that America’s double standard of providing weapons to Israel and banning it to other Middle Eastern countries leads to oppression and bitterness.

Zunes, who spoke at Ohlone’s first World Forum on Feb. 24, blamed every U.S. president since Eisenhower for financially and militarily supporting Israeli crimes against the Palestinians. Zunes said this was the real cause of the attacks against America.

“Iraq and Palestine are two sides of the same coin. If our government truly seeks justice for the Palestinian people, the Iraqi insurgency will subside,” said Findley.

April 14, 2005 MONITOR

7

CAMPUS EVENTS APRIL

14

Book Discussion--

2-3 p.m. in Library, Room 1-307 (Videoconference Room). Join us for a discussion of Ivan Turgenev's Father's and Sons. For more information go to: http:// www.ohlone.edu/org/bookclub/

16

Summerfest 2005 Auditions -- 9 a.m. in the Jackson Theatre. Callbacks are on the 17th. For for more information contact the theatre department.

20

College Recruiting - All day in the Transfer and Career Center. Academy Of Art University will be on campus. Call or visit the transfer and Career Center for an appointment or more information.

21 Poetry Month Cel-

ebration -- 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Library. The English Department and the Library invite everyone to join in a celebration of National Poetry Month. Listen to poems, or sign up at the Library Reference Desk to read a poem of your own.

22

College Council Meeting -- 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Library. in the video conference room (Room 1307).

22

Earth Day Project - 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. around campus.

The litter in some areas of the campus will be picked up by a group of volunteer For more information and ways to help contact Jim Wright at jwright@ohlone.edu.

22

Dance Concert --

The 22nd and 23rd at 8 p.m. in the Jackson Theatre, and the 24th at 2 p.m. in the Jackson Theatre. For more information about the Spring Dance Concert call the box office at 510-659-6031.

22

Art Gallery-- Open during gallery hours until may 17th. The Annual Student Fine and Graphic Arts Show. The Art Department presents 195 of the best student works from the last three semesters.

26

Blood Drive-- 9 a.m.3 p.m. in the Cafeteria, Building 5.

Call 510-659-6258 or visit the Student Health Center in Building 16 to make an appointment or to find out more information about drop in appointments.

ONGOING The Monitor invites your comments. Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less and should include your name and relationship to Ohlone College.

Letters become the property of the Monitor, and may be edited for spelling and length.

Ohlone College Super Flea Market – Held the second Saturday of every month in Parking Lots E and H, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Next flea mar-

ket will be Feb. 12. For more information contact Elaine Nagel at (510) 659-6285.

Free and Anonymous HIV Testing – Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Student Health Center, Building 16.

No appointment necessary.

Results ready in two weeks.

No needles; Orasure Method used. Call (510) 659-6258 for more information.

Smith Center Box Office – Open Tuesday through Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets available for Smith Center Presents!, Ohlone Theatre and Dance Department and Ohlone Music Department performances.

Call (510) 659-6031 or visit www.smithcenterpresents.com Library Display Cases Display case two features Ohlone campus Book Club's first Spring '05 selection. For more information about the Book Club, go to http:// www.ohlone.edu/org/misc/ bookclub/ or call Librarian KG Greenstein at 659-6000 x5272. Display case three features updates. Measure A bond-related construction plans for Ohlone College Newark Center for Technology and Health Sciences as well as plans for the renovation of the Fremont campus.

Gay/Straight Alliance meets every Thursday in room SC-116 in the Smith Center.

Meet new friends and join in our activites and rap sessions.

Open to all students.

Friday, May 6 has been set as the deadline for submissions to the fourth annual Ohlone College Film, Video, and Multimedia Festival. Entries are sought in categories including Short Film, Animation, Advertisement and Music Videos. Entries must be original work no longer than 15 minutes. The festival is open to all independent filmmakers. Only DVD, DV and VHS formats will be accepted. First submission is free. Each additional entry is $25 (make checks payable to Ohlone College Smith Center). Send submissions to: OFVMF/ Ohlone College TV Center, 43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539.

Classifieds For more information about classifieds E - m a i l : monitorads@ohlone.edu or call: 510-659-6075 The ASOC-- Now accepting applications for executive officer positions. For more information or to pick up an application, go to Room 1140 before April 20 or call 510-659-6063.

Speaker promotes news blogs

By FRANKIE ADDIEGO Staff writer Ohlone’s annual high school journalism conference began with a keynote address by Marian Liu, the pop music writer for the San José Mercury News.

She talked about interviewing various celebrities, such as Bono and U2, who she was scheduled to interview last weekend.

Liu also described her pioneering use of a web log to augment her reporting. Many observers think blogs will lead the way to a new form of journalism, eventually replacing newspapers.

She described her experiences working at different newspapers,

JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS For more information on Jobs & Internships visit Transfer & Career Services in Building 1, 4th Floor, Room 1405A. Hours: Monday Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Closed Friday.

ASSISTANT-- Part time, $2500-$3000/month, M-F Schedule to be arranged in Pleasanton. Must have good grammar skills, be a fast worker, have good memory and ability to multi-task, and speak, read, and write clearly.

Duties include helping with follow up on files, making phone calls, helping put files together, contacting clients, writing letters, and contacting new a customer base to get new clientele. Please see Transfer & Career Services

including the Los Angeles Times and the San José Mercury News, where she currently serves as a pop culture writer.

Among the experiences she recounted were backstage interviews, stories on youth culture, and writing a personal account of friends who had died of cancer.

Students attended a series of eight workshops, including one on digital photography. Sheri Wargo, Monitor photo editor and advertising manager, said, “I was very impressed by the knowledge of the students.”

Erica L. Craven, of the San Francisco law firm Levy, Ram & Olsen, discussed student press rights.

Some of the topics that came up

included protecting information and sources, and access to court records.

Aleta Watson, food critic for the San José Mercury News, ran a popular workshop on restaurant critiquing. Watson, discussed the process of going to a restaurant anonymously to sample the food.

Newspaper critique sessions were by The Chronicle’s Jim Rose, Glennda Chui of the San José Mercury News, and UC Berkeley’s Chris Marshall. Winners included Eric Day of Milpitas High School for On-Site Sports; Jasmine Lee, California High School, Opinion; and Jason Chou of Mission San José High School in News Photo.

California High School took first in General Excellence.

for more information.

have proficiency in Excel software. A college graduate is preferred. This is an entry level position in the marketing and sales department. Please see Transfer & Career Services for more information.

JR. LOAN OFFICER-- Full time, $14-$17/ hour, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. in Pleasanton. Must have experience in the loan industry, but do not need to be licensed.

Duties include updating client information, sending out disclosures, communicating the status of files with the loan officers, copying loan packages, assisting in getting conditions to lender, and reviewing all disclosures for thoroughness and compliance related issues.

Please see Transfer & Career Services for more information.

SALES COORDINATOR-- Full time, salary and schedule to be determined in Fremont. Must be energetic and motivated, possess fluent oral and written skills in both traditional Mandarin and English, be detail oriented and organized, and

MANAGER-- Full time, $11-$14/ hour, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Fremont. Must be proficient in MS Word and Excel, Power Point, MS Project, must be organized and have the ability to work independently, have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and have working knowledge of office equipment: fax machines, copiers, printers, etc.

Duties include processing incoming and outgoing mail and shipments, errands, copying, filing, and various administrative duties as required. Please see Transfer & Career Services for more information.

MONITO ONITOR S P O R T S OHLONE COLLEGE

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Page 8

Softball team is Hey, moron; losing the best can’t make you better 4th in California

Hi kids. It has been four weeks since I’ve been able to rant about anything, due to lack of space, time and/or the occasional police shutdown of the campus.

I am, however, planning on making it up to those of you who missed me in these last five issues with nonstop blathering about whatever I deem necessary (and if you didn’t miss me, you get all summer to enjoy a life without the Final Score).

Now, on to this week’s topic, and it’s a new one: Barry Bonds.

I’ve heard many people in the media talking about how the San Francisco Giants are going to be a better team without Bonds.

Nothing could be further from the truth than saying a team could be better without its best player.

The New York Yankees would not be any better if Derek Jeter got hurt.

The Oakland A’s wouldn’t be better if Eric Chavez got hurt.

The fact of the matter is that no team gets better without their best player. Teams sometimes survive without them, but they won’t get better.

They can’t get better. It hurts my brain to even think that there are people in the profession that I so desperately want to break into, sports writing, that think so idiotically about

The Final Score

By STEVEN CHAVEZ Sports editor sports. How did these people catch their big break to get them on ESPN or in the San Francisco Chronicle when they clearly don’t have all of their neurons firing about the topics they’re discussing?

Shouldn’t the people that cover these topics know a little bit about the sport and the way it’s played?

I just have to wonder about some sports writers and think: there is no way these people ever played beyond little league. There is no way they ever progressed beyond everyone telling them that “it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game,” and then collecting their free hot dog and soda for participating.

There is no way they ever played at a competative level where they could actually drive to the game.

They need to wake up, because the sports they cover and the culture of its players have progressed beyond the box that the writers

think in.

Barry Bonds is the best player in baseball.

Barry Bonds makes everyone around him better.

One point may be true. The Giants will be a better team if they have any hopes of staying in the hunt long enough for the part of the season where Bonds does come back.

Without Bonds they are reduced to a bunch of old guys that are, hopefully, wiley and gritty enough to pick up the slack for the missing left fielder.

Bonds will come back and he will have an awesome year. He said it and when Bonds speaks, you should heed his warning (I’m talking to the pitchers of the National League with that comment).

Until he does, the Giants will be a .500 team.

Being a .500 team is not at all up to the standards that the Giants have established for themselves over the last five years.

I hope there will someday soon be an open door for a writer that actually knows the game, its players (on a real level being that I was once one of them, kinda) and the realities of star athletes and huge contracts.

If there are any editors reading, I’m talking about me.

By STEVEN CHAVEZ Sports editor

The Ohlone softball team has moved into fourth in the latest jucalsports.com poll this week.

Climbing up the poll for the fourth consecutive week, it begs the question: how far can they actually go?

Based on another fine week, which saw Ohlone turn back Mission College 14-1 on Wednesday and closest rival Chabot 4-1 on Tuesday, all this on the heels of their impressive 2-0 over fellow top 10 team West Valley, one could argue that this team is all set to make a potentially winning run at the state title this season.

The win on Tuesday over Chabot completed the sweep for Ohlone this season, who outscored Chabot a combined 20-4 this year.

The game on Tuesday was highlighted by another stellar performance by pitching ace Kristine Beristianos and freshman catcher Kelly Taylor’s dominating performance at the plate.

Beristianos allowed only one run, while giving up five hits and striking out five.

Taylor went 2 for 3 with the bat, including a sixth inning triple that hit off the left field fence, just feet shy of going for a home run.

The triple led off the inning and led to Ohlone scoring their third and

Photo by Taylor Dunn

Mallory Lantz takes a swing for the softball team. fourth runs of the game, giving a little insurance to Beristianos and robbing Chabot of the momentum they built in the top of the sixth.

In the top of the inning, Chabot scored their only run when their fourth and fifth hitters hit a single and a double, consecutively. The runner on second, the tying run at the time, was then caught stealing for the second out, a move that was questioned by more than a few.

With the momentum they have built already, and only three games left until the postseason, the softball team is in good shape for a strong playoff push.

Baseball team drops a close game to rival Chabot

By BRENDEN BLAKE Staff writer The Ohlone Renegades men’s baseball team lost 6-2 to Chabot on Saturday afternoon. In a game that showed the Renegades fall behind early, and unable to mount a solid offensive attack, they played from behind all day.

Chabot’s center fielder led off the game by roping a double down the first base line on the game’s very first pitch. He scored when another Chabot hitter poked an RBI double into the gap in left field. After pitcher Vinny Clement managed to induce a groundout and a strikeout, Chabot’s second baseman slapped the Gladiators third double of the inning, scoring a runner from second, giving

Chabot a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the first.

Chabot pitcher Nick Buchta was absolutely lights out through the first three innings as he retired eight of the first nine batters he faced.

More bad news came for the Renegades in the top of the third when Chabot extended its lead to 4-0 on a two-run blast over the left field fence. Chabot was able to score again in the top of the fourth when a throwing error led to runners on first and third, and a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line made Chabot’s lead 5-0.

Ohlone pulled to within 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth when a Chabot throwing error left two Ohlone runners in scoring position. That’s when Brent Bowers

came to the plate and hit a solid single that scored two runs. Unfortunately for the Renegades, those were the only two runs they would score all game, as they stranded runners on base and missed several key opportunities to score runs. Included was a huge opportunity in the bottom of the sixth that showed Buchta walk the first two Ohlone hitters. After a strikeout and a pop out, Chabot was able to escape the inning without any damage when an Ohlone hitter fouled out to the catcher.

“We had our share of opportunities to get back in the game, we just didn’t get it done,” said Ohlone’s Brent Bowers. “We can’t let falling behind early get us down, it’s a nine inning game.”

Photo by Taylor Dunn

Jeremy Hill tosses a pitch for the Renegades during Saturday’s 6-2 loss to Chabot College.

2nd annual fun run goes off without a hitch Photos by Shari Wargo

Hartmut Foken times Delores Loera (left) while Chris Warden and Lisa Morano register racers last Sunday.

By STEVEN CHAVEZ Sports editor The 2nd Annual Vikings/ Renegades 5K Fun Run went off without a hitch on April 3, with runners taking in a beautiful run while helping to raise money for the athletic department here on campus.

The run was started last year by an Irvington High School senior as part of his Quest Project to bring something to his local community.

On a cold, overcast morning, 35 runners took off from the Palm Bosque, down Olive Alley to Mission Boulevard. From there, runners turned north and turned right when they got to Anza Road, up the hill to Anza-Pine Road back

to the Palm Bosque. They ran past the Bosque, through the bus turn-around and up Aquatic Way, the road that only buses are allowed to the “top of the Ohlone world.” This road leads all the way around, back to Anza Road, and runners went all the way down the hill, back out to Mission Boulevard. for the final stretch run.

They took Mission all the way to Pine Street, made a lap out of Parking Lot K, and finished by going back up Pine Street to the bus turn-around, finishing back in the Palm Bosque. “(It was a) good event,” said Ohlone’s Head Athletic Trainer and Race Director Chris Warden. “Everything went well.

The sponsors were happy.”

The runners, thankfully,

missed the rain that didn’t make its way to Fremont until later on in the afternoon.

Three men and three women were given medals for finishing in the top 3 in their gender.

Matthew Stemm was the first person to cross the finish line, with a time of 17:58. He was followed by Brian Collott and Doug Croft, 16 and 33 seconds after Stemm, respectively.

In the women’s class, Michelle Bekamper finished first, with a time of 21:11.

Amanda Kahn and Laurei Davis finished 30 and 56 seconds after Bekamper, respectively.

The race netted Ohlone’s athletic department over $800. The 35 participants were a strong increase over last year’s 15.