Students having fun in Australia – Page 4
Bush oversteps his powers – Page 2
Water polo team beats Sacramento – Page 8
Fremont, California
Vol. XXXVII No. 6
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Candice Kirk wins ASOC presidency By MANIKA CASTERLINE Staff writer Candice Kirk is the new president of Associated Students of Ohlone College, as a result of votes counted Wednesday night. Kirk won the presidency with a total of 188 votes while opponent Aisha Wahab had 107 votes and Terry Thomas had 68. Tatyana Hamady had no challenger for the vice presidential seat, so she prevailed by 221 yes votes against a measly 29 no votes. Representative at large candidate Carlos Vejar attained 293 yes votes and 43 no votes. Sahar Yousef, candidate for student representative for the Board of Trustees, beat Yao Li Yuan. She got 178 votes and he got 175. However, Kirk’s campaign may
have been in violation of the ASOC constitution. Elections Commissioner Alexa Corrales said, “It was a violation of the rules because the Constitution states that she is allowed to campaign in Building 1 except in the actual days of the election...She had one flyer in the library...We had that flyer removed and we gave her a written notice... We don’t feel that one flyer, that minor violation swayed the vote by a big number.” The positions of secretary, treasurer and legislative representative will be appointed by the Executive Board and voted on by the ASOC council. No one ran for these offices. The first ASOC meeting of the academic year will be held Oct. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. It will take place in Room 5301.
Student Affairs Volunteer Renee Gonzalez, left, helps set up an Associated Students of Ohlone election desk in front of Building 5. Helping the process along are Myles Bowrd, Justin Hamaday and Alex Hilke. The election was held on Oct. 3 and 4.
Gallaudet, establish in 1864, was the first deaf university. The purpose of the presentation was to create awareness about how the deaf community experiences space and what their needs are. Bienvenu’s lecture also covered how the physical world affects the deaf community differently than it affects the audible community. Deaf space is a
new concept that has never had a comprehensive scientific approach applied to it before. “Space defines us and we have to define our own space,” said Bienvenu to start her presentation. She explained how different cultures interpret and experience space, as each culture has its own definition of space. Comparing the
Japanese and American cultures to illustrate her point, Bienvenu told the audience about a trip she took to Japan and how the people in public treated personal space in each country. Bienvenu said that in the United States, people will excuse themselves if they walk between two people conversing due to a respect for individuals’
personal space. She described Japan as a very tightly paced nation with little regard for personal space. At the subway terminal for example, people would nudge and push each other until the last person that could fit was aboard. She explained that the local perception of personal space was preferable for ASL users, Continued on Page 3
By Eric Dorman Staff writer
the first semester the college has ever taken a group of students to Australia. According to the students involved in the program, the choice of destination has been a resounding success. “I have done little traveling in my life, but thus far, the time I have spent in Australia makes me want to explore the world all over,” wrote Jason Chan. “This trip has been the best decision I could have ever made in my life,” wrote Tricia Dennis. “It has given me perspective on my own life and my culture.” “It has been a great experience and I am learning so much,” wrote Jeff Ackeret. English Professor Cynthia Ka-
tona, who accompanied the students to Sydney, was just as enthusiastic about the location. “[The Aussies are] incredibly open, friendly, smart and kind. Every time we have needed anything, someone has been right there to help!” Katona said. The group of Ohlone students arrived in Sydney on Sept. 8. They were each boarded with Homestay families, along with other international students. Each homestay house had its own attributes. For example, two of the students were boarded together in a guesthouse that had its own billiard table and Dennis was boarded with an Indonesian, two Germans and a deaf student. Continued on Page 4
Photo by Janelle Feliciano
Gallaudet professor explains ‘Deaf Space’ By Michael Aburas Staff writer As part of Deaf Awareness week, on Thursday Oct. 28 at the Jackson Theater, chair/assistant professor of American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University, Dr. M.J. Bienvenu, gave a presentation titled “Deaf Space”.
Photo provided by Juliette Villafuente Ohlone students stand with a giant stuffed koala at Taronga Zoo. Standing at the top from left are: Marissa Cowen, Adam Hix, Courtney Buchanan, Jeff Ackeret, Melissa Billington, Jason Chen, Ian Long, Paul Zenaty and Alex Alvarez. Sitting at the bottom, from left: Tricia Dennis, Corie Howell and Juliette Villafuente.
Students say ‘g’day mate’ from Sydney When Corie Howell turned 22 here at Ohlone, she never dreamed she’d be spending her next birthday 7,500 miles away. But that’s where she is now, along with 11 other Ohlone students, participating in the college’s first semester abroad trip to Sydney, Australia. And Howell is loving it. “I’m having a great time and enjoying every minute of my temporary new life,” she wrote in her online LiveJournal, “and for the most part, I couldn’t ask for more.” Though Ohlone has been offering semester abroad programs to England since about 1990, this is
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Opinion
monitor October 5, 2006
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 General Excellence Fall 2004
Editor in chief: Anna Nemchuk News editor: Omer Ahmed Opinion editor: Matthew So Features editor: Morgan Brinlee Nick Zambrano Sports editor: Photo editor: Christa Meier Online editor: Chen Lin Michael Aburas, Staff writers: Frankie Addiego, Sabahat Adil, Emily Burkett, Eric Dorman, Jessica Frye, Noah Levin, Jessica Losee, Brittany Wilson Ad manager: Danelle Meyer Ad staff: Manika Casterline, Janelle Feliciano, Dulce Fernandez 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
Bush oversteps constitutional guidelines By Emily Burkett Staff writer On Sept. 28, the House passed a bill providing a legal channel for President George W. Bush’s wiretaps. The National Security Association (NSA) wiretaps have been paraded through the media for months and are likely the most notorious, domestic action Bush has taken. Surprisingly, the House bill is rather redundant, as a legal channel existed previously; our esteemed President simply chose to ignore it. In reality, the issue surrounding wiretaps isn’t so much the act of wiretapping; it’s the philosophy behind it. The idea that the executive power reigns supreme is a dogma consistently battled in and out of courtrooms and legislative office. For better or for worse (probably worse), our current President is ar-
guably the greatest proponent of this proposed executive sovereignty. Bush has used his administration as the ultimate platform for the expansion of executive powers. From wiretaps to signing statements, this President has left no power ungrasped. The wiretapping incident, first discovered in December 2005, is considered a violation of the Fourth Amendment, the separation of powers, a breach of judicial authority, as well as an abuse of executive powers. The wiretapping, as authorized by Bush, allowed for the NSA to listen in on phone calls without the consultation of the United States Foreign Intelligence Court (FISA) and therefore without warrants. Unfortunately for Bush, this very act of eavesdropping has been labeled “unreasonable search and seizure” and barred by the Fourth Amendment since Katz v. United
States (1967). This problem of unconstitutionality could have easily been remedied by a court warrant, an out overlooked by Bush. There was no real reason for Bush to avoid consulting FISA and procuring the necessary warrants to legalize his wiretaps. According to Judge Royce Lamberth, former presiding judge of the FISA Court, FISA served as a “giant rubber stamp” for warrants, serving the intelligence community 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “I would get calls at three in the morning to sign a warrant,” Lamberth said. Compounding the convenience of obeying the law, FISA regulations also allow for a 72-hour window where surveillance can occur without a warrant, giving Bush’s administration ample time to procure the necessary paperwork. But to hell with higher law. It’s not as if our nation was founded
on that ideal. Bush has cited the Authorization for Use of Military Force Resolution (AUMF) and powers attributed to his office in the Second Article of the Constitution as evidence of his right to authorize the illegal wiretaps. In theory, he would be correct. However, the case of Hamdi v. Rumsfeld (2004), the Supreme Court explicitly stated, “A state of war is not a blank check for the President when it comes to the rights of the Nation’s citizens.” The ruling further undermined Bush’s justification for the warrantless wiretaps. Ironically, Bush is the only American president in history to openly admit to an impeachable offense: illegal wiretaps. Even more ironic, Bush’s validation wouldn’t be necessary if he had simply adhered to established FISA procedure. Experts such as
Lamberth have admitted that it would have been absurdly easy for Bush to procure warrants for the NSA wiretaps, and thus avoid this particular controversy. However, overstepping his bounds in the judicial arena isn’t Bush’s only transgression. Two words. Signing. Statements. A signing statement is exactly what it sounds like: a miniature essay attached to whatever bill the President signed. In the past, presidents have used signing statements to indicate misgivings or support they may feel for a particular piece of legislation, but rarely would they ever move to challenge it. Bush, however, seems to be an exception. To date, Bush has issued 130 signing statements. To give some perspective, all of the administrations up until Reagan have issued a total of 75 signing statements. The most controversial Continued on Page 8
Non-fiction writing succeeds only when it is clear. The average student is not a bestselling author; he will likely fail trying to adorn his prose with colorful adjectives and complex sentence constructions. So he must write concisely - avoiding figurative language and using only the active voice. Simple writing is no less impres-
sive or easy to do than fancy prose. Discipline in writing – knowing when to remove awkward or redundant phrases, however great they may sound alone – is a skill requiring not only practice, but strength of will. Some writers (Ayn Rand comes to mind) have completed entire novels without ever showing improvement.
This opinion, for example, could just as easily be twice as long, but to prove a point, it’s been kept to about the length of an average SAT essay - about 400 words. In only that much space, its point is made clear and its argument well supported. What’s more, it’s clear and requires no conjecture on the reader’s part. That's not to say all good writing
has to share these characteristics. However, there's no better foundation for the beginning writer. Whereas Shakespeare wrote more to please his audience than to convey information, the average student needs only demonstrate his grasp of the topic at hand - and there's no better way to do that than to be clear.
Good student writing should be brief, concise and clear
By Chen Lin Online editor Write clearly. This is one unchanging rule of all good prose. As a student, it should be your focus in all your writing, and it requires two things: clarity and brevity.
Campus Comment > > >
How would you feel if your phones were tapped?
CHRIS RODARTY Engineering
AFSHEEN OLYAIE Undecided
“That would be kind of messed up...your phone, that’s personal.”
“I wouldn’t like that at all. That would be an invasion of privacy.”
NIKKO ADRE Business Management “Scared, I guess. I’d watch what I’d say.”
KRISTEN KIE Interpreting “I’m pretty sure they already have. Personally, I don’t like it.”
DANNY HUYNH Biology “I'd sue! I’d feel violated.”
October 5, 2006 MONITOR
News
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‘Deaf Space’ presents other view of life Continued from Page 1 as personal space is necessary to be able to communicate with sign language. Bienvenu also presented a brief history of deaf culture related to light. “Deaf people are naturally attracted to the light,” said Bienvenu. Shadow may become intrusive for the deaf. Before the invention of electricity, deaf people would always gravitate toward windows because light creates a sense of flexibility for the deaf. In addition, deaf people prefer open doors for visual access. In the audible world, people can knock or speak through a door. Conversely, audible people would consider a window to be a barrier and gesture for someone on the other side to move to a door to speak. Deaf people, on the other hand, can communicate comfortably through windows. Moreover, windows were a concern during the designing of the James Lee Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC) for Gallaudet University. The SLCC committee was created to advise the architects hired to design the building. The committee was composed of Bienvenu, Thomas Allen, Catherine Sweet-Windham, Jane Fernandes, Paul Kelly and Hansel Bauman. Until recently, buildings had always been designed for the audible world. There is a need for deaf architects, said Bienvenu. The committee knew what they didn’t want, but were uncertain of what they wanted, she explained. The SLCC created the concept of a visual-centric design for the
Photo by Michael Aburas Gallaudet ASL and Deaf Studies Professor MJ Bienvenu explains the finer points of deaf space and visual-centric design with her projected presentation. building. The visual-centric concept was a set of aesthetic principles that would provide a comfortable environment for the deaf while inside the SLCC. Visual permeability was the goal, said Bienvenu. Additionally, windows are critical to the culture and views to different areas of the building were needed. Because of a lack of buildings designed by the deaf, the entire physical environment was important to the com-
mittee. They wanted the campus to foster social interaction and not remind the students that they are deaf. Every detail was important, even the cement, which can become intrusive to ASL users when it is reflective enough to create glare. Bienvenu discovered that there were 11 different shades of cement before choosing which one to use for the construction. Moreover, the SLCC will be coated with zinc for reduced glare.
Funding was another obstacle during the construction of the SLCC. The glass elevator was of paramount significance to the building and was the first thing the architects wanted to cut when the budget became an issue. The committee believed that the building needed the glass elevator to create a deaf friendly visual-centric environment and decided to argue their point with the audible architects, through their interpreter, to keep it in the design.
runs parallel to the class. This is the first semester a program of this kind has been tried at Ohlone. It was put into action here by a group of four faculty members: Katz, English Professor Shirin Maskatia, Student Technology and Tutoring Instructional Assistant Wendy Lin and Learning Disabilities Specialist Paula Shoenecker. Katz and Maskatia both teach classes with LAPSI sessions running along with them. Katz stressed the difference between LAPSI and one-on-one tutoring. In LAPSI, she said, interested students in one of nine participating classes form a group beneath a student instructor, or LAPSI leader, who has already taken the course successfully. The leader, who attends the same class he or she is instructing, will discuss the most important (or most difficult
to understand) concept in that day’s lecture in an effort to help students understand the idea better. The leader will encourage students to interact during sessions and will prompt discussions on the topic. Another big difference between conventional tutoring and LAPSI, Katz noted, is that unlike tutoring LAPSI is not necessarily geared toward failing students. It can just as easily help an “A” student maintain their average as help a “C” or “D” student raise their grade. There are currently nine classes that have LAPSI sessions along with them, everything from Math and English to Science and Spanish. The classes chosen to have LAPSI accompaniment were simply the courses that students viewed as most challenging, said Katz. “There are particular courses in every major which students think of
as ‘hard,’” said Katz. “LAPSI is intended to address those courses.” The sizes of the LAPSI groups vary anywhere from as few as two students to as many as fifteen, often depending on the relative proximity to an exam. Prior to a test, LAPSI session times are sometimes extended to give students extra time to study specific concepts that they need help with. While LAPSI is new to Ohlone, it is quite popular in colleges around the country, where it is commonly known as “SI”. Dr. Deanna Martin developed the concept in the 1970s at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Since that time, the program has expanded to hundreds of colleges and universities nationwide and is even starting to be accepted on an international scale. Although it’s too early to tell if the LAPSI program at Ohlone
Bienvenu convinced the architects of the necessity and not to forgo the glass elevator when she told them about a deaf woman in Maryland and her experience with a glass elevator. The woman in Maryland was stuck in a glass elevator for hours when it broke down. What would normally be a very stressful situation for an audible person was fairly comfortable for her because she was able to communicate with the outside world with no real problem. Regular elevators do not provide the flexibility and freedom that a glass elevator can for deaf people. Psychology major Isidore Niyongabo said, “It was excellent [the presentation] to me. I wish that the architecture world would respond to the needs of deaf people, especially on visibility.” Deaf Ohlone student Jag Meet Singh Hans stated, “I learned that hearing space is very different from deaf space.” Dee Glaim, who is currently enrolled in the ASL interpreter program, thought it was great knowing what’s happening across the country with the deaf community. “MJ is a prominent figure within the deaf community,” said Glaim. Because of the committee’s efforts, the Sorenson Language and Communication Center will have its glass elevator and visual-centric feel when constriction is completed in 2008. After the presentation Bienvenu said, “I would hope my presentation is a model for future projects.”
LAPSI: Students help each other learn By Eric Dorman Staff writer Ohlone has a brand-new program to help students get ahead in their classes, and keep them there, all without tutors or technology. Moreover, it is gaining popularity quickly, from just seven students at the beginning of the semester to 51 students last week. “[This program] is about teaching students how to learn,” said Math Professor Ilene Katz, “and it has proven to be very successful.” The program, called Learning Assistance Program/Supplemental Instruction (LAPSI), helps students teach themselves rather than be taught. Instead of conventional one-on-one tutoring, LAPSI participating students of one class form a group where they help each other and receive extra instruction that
is helping students improve their grades, said Lin, it is clear from the data of other colleges that LAPSI considerably raised the grades of students who attended it, anywhere from a half to a full grade higher. Research data also showed that students who attended LAPSI sessions had higher graduation rates. Though the program is completely voluntary, Lin said that it has a high retention rate. “When people come [to LAPSI], they keep coming back,” she said. “It’s a very helpful program.” Hussain Ali, who attends the Algebra 1 LAPSI session weekly, agreed. He believes that LAPSI and the college’s more conventional tutoring programs complement each other well. “Both are helpful,” said Ali, who said he liked the one-onone tutoring to help him with English, his third language and that he liked LAPSI for math. “They both help me achieve my goals.” The formation of LAPSI is part of a larger push to revamp Ohlone’s tutoring program, which has been encouraged by College President Doug Treadway, said Katz. Last spring, for the first time, the college began offering courses specifically to train tutors. Students who completed the course successfully could become certified, and would be eligible for pay raises. Does Katz think the program will expand? “Oh, definitely,” said Katz. “Remember, this is just the pilot year. We would love to see LAPSI expand.”
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Features
monitor October 5, 2006
Culture Pirate By OMER AHMED News editor
Coincidence or providence
Photo provided by Juliette Villafuente
Photo provided by Corrie Howell Photo provided by Juliette Villafuente
Coincidences are wonderful things. Even when negative consequences result, there is a tendency to wonder at how seemingly unrelated happenings can coincide at the right time to become more than what they were by themselves. Carl Jung wondered at the same phenomena and stated in his “accusal connecting principle” that coincidences are not actually random but signs that there is something more than the unguided material world we perceive. Basically, there are no coincidences. I wonder what the good doctor would make of this October. Coincidently, this year the Jewish day of repentance, Yom Kippur, has coincided with the Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan, during October. Both are considered the most holy times of the year in their respective religions and, due to the difference between the Islamic and Hebrew lunar calendars, the two only coincide every few decades. Additionally, this October sees the Hindu festival of Diwali, the Jains’ New Year, Pavarana for the Buddhist, the pagans’ ancient Samhain, the Sikhs’ Bandi Chhor Divas and, my favorite, Discordianism’s Maladay. This is not even taking into account all of the Roman Catholic saints’ feast days. My oldest memory of any holy days coinciding is in December with a meeting of Ramadan and Christmas. I can’t remember what year it was but I was quite young, still in elementary school. There was an assignment where each student had to make a poster for their favored holiday of the winter season. Most people chose Christmas, the few Jewish kids went for Hanukkah and one child chose Kwanzaa just to be different. Back then I still vaguely followed my father’s Islamic faith, so I asked the teacher if my poster could be about Eid, the Muslim holy day that follows Ramadan. She asked me what Eid was and I replied innocently that it was just a holiday like all the others. Truth be told, I really didn’t understand that there was a difference between holy days. All were times when people got together and were happy. Sometimes there was food and sometimes there were gifts but, regardless of the little differences, all were basically the same. Now that I am older, I see more differences but I still think it is all the same. When we focus on religious differences, we get happenings like the 73’ Arab-Israeli War which, coincidently, occurred on an October which held both Ramadan and Yom Kippur. However, when we discover that all are the same, all that is left to do is celebrate together… or, in the case of this month, fast together.
Top: A panoramic view of Sydney Australia, the location for Ohlone's Fall Study Abroad program. Above left: Student Corie Howell stumbles across a kangaroo in the middle of the road while on a trip to the Blue Mountains with other students in the Study Abroad program. Above right: English professor Cynthia Katona enjoys a ferry ride on the Parramatta River. Left: Students involved with the study abroad program pose for a picture in front of the Sydney Harbor Bridge by the Parramatta River.
Ohlone students travel Down Under Continued from Page 1 The students take the same classes in Sydney that they would here, and can choose whatever classes they want from a limited selection. The selection includes English 101B Introduction to Literature, English 119 Gothic Novel, Art 103B Survey of World Art History, Art 203 Travel Photography, and Cultural Anthropology 102. Katona teaches both English courses while the Art 103 and Anthropology courses are taught by native Australian professors. The classes, said Chan, were comparable to other college courses he had taken, but that the environment was very different. “Breaking out of a routine to participate in the unfamiliar has made school feel different. Instead of the normal commute and drudgery of the work and school week, Sydney has offered wonderful public transportation and endless venues of entertainment and events to partake.”
Dennis had more to add on the subject of education. “We get some puzzled looks when we tell people we are from California and we are here to study English,” she said. “The typical dry humored British response is ‘Oh, you mean you would like to improve your accent?’ They think it’s funny, and the response is becoming typical and just accepted.” However, the main attraction in Sydney is not the education, but the city and its attractions. Katona explained that so far they have gone on outings to the Blue Mountains and the Janelon Caves, as well as more impromptu get-togethers to places such as Manly Beach, the Taronga Zoo, the opera house, night trips to the observatory, and plenty of clubs and pubs. The culture in Australia is very different from that of California, said Katona. For one thing, Sydney has a little of a “pub culture” and has a lowered drinking age (only 18) to match. For another
thing, noted Chan, many of the colloquialisms that Californians take for granted mean something very different “Down Under”. For example, cantaloupes are called “rock melons,” raisins are called “currants,” and ketchup is called “Tomato Sauce.” Aside from the culture, students said a big difference between California and Sydney was the weather. For one thing, while the temperature drops here in Fremont, in Sydney it’s spring, soon to be summer. The students commented that is was much warmer in Sydney—particularly because of the ozone hole that hovers over the continent. However, the warm weather does have definite advantages. Katona said that they went swimming in the ocean, and are planning on taking surfing lessons soon. But the program doesn’t come cheap. The program cost each student $8,009, including room, board and airfare. The students must pay their own tuition, visa fees, and
personal expenses as well. The students left September 6th and will return December 4th. In the past, Ohlone's semester abroad program has been popular, but not wildly so. In fact quite a bit of recruitment is necessary for every trip, explained Kay Harrison. Nevertheless, she said that the college intends to continue the program. Ackeret, Chan and Dennis had advice for students interested in trying a semester abroad. “Be as specific as possible when they ask you if you have any preferences in the homestay,” wrote Ackeret. “The littlest thing is looked at and taken into account when they match up kids to host families.” “Bring as many comfortable shoes as possible,” wrote Chan. “No matter how much underwear you think you'll need, bring more.” “Be prepared with an open mind to any and all experiences,” wrote Dennis. “Don't pass up anything because you never know if you will have the same opportunity again.”
Features
October 5, 2006 monitor
Diversity focus in childhood conference By Chen Lin Online editor In the outdoor area near the back of Ohlone’s Early Childhood Center, where normally only the cries of children or the command of their caretakers can be heard, last Saturday there resounded the chanting of many adult voices, potent and earnest. “Awareness! Awareness! Awareness!” said the voices. The chorus continued briefly, quieting at the signal of only one voice - that of a woman’s, firm and clear. It belonged to Cheryl Williams Jackson, part-time Early Childhood Studies instructor at Ohlone. She’d spoken before the chanting, had led it, and with a catch of breath, would now speak again. Jackson’s topic varied. Mostly her speech was about children, but the focus was on diversity. She instructed teachers and parents on how children can be approached about the “tough issues.” She wants
to make children less discriminating, but believes they need the right guidance to begin with. “As adults, we first have to learn to talk about it,” said Jackson. “The only way that children are going to learn is if we, as adults, teach them.” Jackson’s speech was the keynote to last Saturday’s “Making the Connection: children, family, educators” early childhood education conference, held annually at Ohlone’s Early Childhood Center. This is the event’s second anniversary. Every year, the conference attracts a varied audience of childcare professionals, Early Childhood Studies students, and first-time parents, all looking to attend workshops on early childhood education and to meet others in the field. The chanting earlier was part of Jackson’s speech. To keep her audience focused, she had them repeat key words having to do with her topic. Now, a different chant resounded.
Tree stops car
“Ruby! Ruby! Ruby!” said her audience. A resident of New Orleans, related Jackson to an eager audience, Ruby Bridges was the first black child in the city’s school system to attend an all-white school. In spite of threats to her life and everyday harassment, the then 6-year-old attended William Frantz Elementary School for a year, entirely alone except for her teacher and federal marshall escort. “[Ruby’s] story is one I think all children in school should hear about,” said Jackson. Jackson has come to realize that Ruby’s experience isn’t only about racism, but also a guide for children on what to do when faced with discrimination. Thus the theme of her keynote, and of this conference - diversity. But maybe theme isn’t the right word. While it is billed thus, diversity is more closely a motif of the convention. “Diversity [is displayed] not
Teachers welcomed By Frankie Addiego Staff writer
Photo by Michael Aburas Wednesday afternoon student Glenda Munoz’s Toyota Scorpion slipped out of gear at the lot P permit booth and backed into a tree in lot N. There were no injuries. “I think the tree is going to be ok too,” said Campus Security Officer Stewart R. Dawson. Munoz said her brakes failed. There was another minor accident Wednesday in lot W. According to Dawson, it was a hit-and-run involving an unoccupied car. He said incidents like these happen frequently during winter.
just [culturally], but in thoughts, experiences, and presentations,” said Janice Fonteno, Early Childhood Studies professional development coordinator at Ohlone and head of this year’s conference. Even the vendors Saturday were selected accordingly. Diversity Kids, which sells dolls designed to emulate human features from multiple ethnicities, hair and skin especially, uses its products to promote acceptance. On display at their counter is a limited edition doll whose outside is an amalgam of six different skin tones, colored separately on every limb. The legs, on which the doll sits, are black and white. “Both your legs are equal. They look different on the outside, but inside they’re the same,” said Vakili. The workshops, besides there being a lot of them, themselves often relate to discrimination. Among Continued on Page 6
On Tuesday, October 3, 2006, The Ohlone College Human Resources department hosted an event to welcome the newest members of the Ohlone faculty. In the Green Room of the Gary Soren Smith Center, recent additions to the faculty mingled with the noted veterans of Ohlone College. The event was organized by Human Resources Specialist Kathleen Johnson. Human Resources staff member Tina Miller said, "we’re going to do this on a regular basis." Many of the new faculty members were excited about working at Ohlone. Sharon Briggs, a new addition to the nursing department, said, "this is my fourth community college… this is the first time any college has ever done anything like this." She went on to relate a positive tale concerning a member of the payroll department visiting her in class to correct a salary discrepancy.
Ohlone’s President Doug Treadway was also was present for the event. Joining Ohlone’s American Sign Language and Deaf Studies department as well as its staff of interpreters are Sandra Ammons, Kellie Conde and Nan Zhou. Joining the nursing department will be Sharon Briggs, Carole Campbell, and Joan Rogers. New counselors will include Lenore Landavazo, Heather Norem, and Terry Taskey. Also joining the faculty are Cecile Davila (English), Maria-Eugenia Grant (Chemistry), Chaya Nanavati and Tracy Virgil (English).
EOPS seminar An EOPS seminar will be Wednesday Oct. 11 at 11:45 a.m. in Rm. 7102. Dr. Bennett Oppenheim will be the faculty guest speaker. Wednesdays topic will be Myspace vs. Face to Face: Is it easier for men and women to communicate via Myspace or face to face.
Filipino-American alumni speaks By Manika Casterline Staff writer The Speech and Communication studies club and department hosted a Filipino-American event that featured Ohlone alumni, Jason Milena. He presented a duo of speeches that had won him national titles. The event was held on Oct. 2 in portable 14A. Milena began by dramatizing his 2002 National Silver Medal winning poetry piece. Milena tied together excerpts from “Scrambled Eggs And Garlic Pork” and “Unlearning English” by Michael Maylo and Jaime Jacinto’s “Tongue Tied” in order to craft his speech. The piece discussed the idea that integration of language can be deemed vital in order for a culture to preserve its cultural identity. Milena composed a piece that contained the dual perspectives of an older man and
a younger man. Milena won a 2003 National Bronze Medal for the prose piece that he concluded his performance with. The prose interpretation was based off of one literary work. It delves into the ideal that a FilipinoAmerican is constrained by certain cultural limitations. The two main characters are from similar backgrounds yet opted to diverge in paths after their collegiate days of sharing a dorm. Dan chooses a traditional route where he settles down to raise a family of his own and works as a businessman. His best friend Enrico is the more daring one. He is a rebel that accepts the challenge of not adhering to the Asian stereotypes. During the course of the monologue, Enrico gets a tattoo of a star to on his shoulder, half of the star was black and other side was outlined. The character of Enrico said, “Oh
it’s simple really. You see this side right here? This is telling me that I know what I want do. And this side, I’m going to color that in when I make it there and its going to be blue. I’m going to make it man,” when explaining the significance behind his getting it done. The long time best friends part ways and keep in touch through letters. Then one night after work, Dan's wife notifies him that Enrico killed himself. And so the years pass. Eventually Dan chooses to get an identical tattoo to the one Enrico had. Dan’s daughter questions why he has it, to which Dan states, “See this side? I got that side done when your uncle Rico left. And this side I colored that blue right after you were born.” The two speeches Jason Milena enacted both contained cultural significance. Each piece described how being a Filipino-American can present some stereotypical
challenges. “There are other pieces that are strictly cultural but just talk about their culture, but don’t have any compare and contrast as to somebody in assimilation as to a culture like this and those tend to be the powerful ones.” In a society filled with various literary resources, Milena said, “Looking around the world and observing people. I see people who are from the same culture that I’m from, the same color skin as me, I see their plight and their struggles. And sometimes it pushes me to make things better. Sometimes I’ll try to find a piece to portray that or a piece that will actually illustrate that yearning that desire a little bit more than maybe the other pieces.” During his time at Ohlone, Milena competed for two years on the Ohlone College Forensic team. He attained three national medals including one silver and two bronzes.
5
Devil's Advocate By Anna Nemchuk Editor-in-chief
Materialism a better view My philosophy professor suggests that to delight in the beauties of the physical world is to lose grasp of the spiritual – that they are two, separable and distinct, and one can lead away from the other. Respectfully, I disagree. Velvet-skinned it twirls, glistening with drops of dew, a shimmering phantasm from faerie on a gnarled, moss-ridden branch. A mere pluck and it yields to the slice of your teeth, the flesh a sweet smoldering through your tongue. This is materialism. She walks before you with a floating grace, hair a proud plume, the tip of her nose a challenge to the winds, her legs the smooth, oiled muscles of a wellfed animal, her scent a tantalizing smoke wreath along your skin, her jeans a supple pelt molded to her curves. This is materialism. The scream slashes from your throat with the renting of a thousand shards of silence, with the joy of a hundred battlefields, the violence of every victor standing over bloody rips of enemies as the globe finds its goal and the crowd detonates along with you, howling your supremacy to the stars. This is materialism. We are the children of the stars, the dirt and the wind. The world is my playground for I am here, now, alive in the physical and the conscious and if this is false, then I will nurse my delusion and curl into myself to dream this life with all the zest and verve within me. To put aside the issue of a supreme being, I find no better way to reach the possibility of the divine than plunging, gasping, head-over-heels into this life, its experiences and companions. To withdraw within oneself and seek the way to meaning through the lucent byways of one’s soul may be an admirable goal, though selfish, in my view, to the extreme. But to indulge yourself through all the senses you possess, both obvious and unseen, in all this earth has to offer, to walk through life delighting in all of nature’s work, both solid and animate, to thank whatever forces have set us here for the sheer amazement of creation, never mind the exact cause – that is both goodness and meaning, a benefit to one’s own psyche, the world’s vigor and others’ fortune. This is materialism. In sound judgment and mind, to keep a stout heart, to love and hope and believe, to keep trying against all odds and obstacles – that is to turn toward this world, not from it, to approach the eternal most of all by touching all you can of what you can HERE. Instead of bowing to the will of a god, bow to the earth's power. Whatever may come after will take care of itself.
6 MONITOR
October 5, 2006
News/Features
Students change how chemistry is taught By Noah Levin Staff writer
Photo provided by Anusree Ganguly Dr. Anu Ganguly's students at the National Chemistry Conference in San Francisco. Behind them is a presentation of their interdisciplinary research. From left to right, they are: Inna Riva, William Kinsley, Linh Nguyen, Le-Mei Tsang and Ayesha Mogul.
During this past summer, eight students from Ohlone College did research in organic chemistry, the findings of which were presented by their teacher, Dr. Anusree Ganguly, from Sept. 10 to 11 in San Francisco. The research was an experiment by Ganguly, who wanted to try to teach organic chemistry through an interdisciplinary case-study method. After the conclusion of her students’ research, she and her class presented their findings at the Chemistry Society’s National Conference in San Francisco. The interdisciplinary approach to organic chemistry was well received. "We employ[ed] a dynamic business model," said Ganguly. As part of this teaching method, Ganguly assigned a research project to her students that required them to create a virtual company and design a new drug. The students then had to examine the marketability of their new drug and run mock trials. The main purpose of the project was to teach organic chemistry in a way that non-majors could not
only understand it, but would cause them to become more interested in the subject. Ganguly’s students did all their own research and ended up becoming far more interested in organic chemistry and its practical applications. Ganguly ended up bringing her summer students and their research to the Chemistry Society’s National Conference in San Francisco. In addition to the research and work from the students, Ganguly presented her own findings on the new teaching method. The research was so well received that an editor of one journal suggested publication, commenting that Ganguly's methods would, "Change the way organic chemistry is taught." Ganguly is currently writing her manuscript for the journal. The National Science Foundation, one of the leading science organizations in the country, has also offered an opportunity for a grant should Ganguly choose to further her research towards the "development of a new interdisciplinary program." Her work shows "highly increased student retention and an increase in interest, where there was little."
Music and physics unite By Frankie Addiego Staff writer Ohlone College will host a Brown Bag science seminar devoted to examining the relationship between physics and music in Room 3201 on Friday, Oct. 6. The presentation on this unlikely subject will be given by Professor Charles Hepburn, an instructor of astronomy as well as a working musician, and will feature demonstrations of many different instruments and how they produce the sounds we’re used to. “We have music and the question sometimes comes up...on what principles do these work?” The seminar, titled “The Physics of Music”, will focus largely on the role waves play in the vibrations created by musical instruments. The emphasis will mainly be on the string family of instruments, such as guitars and violins, and wind instruments, such as flutes and trumpets. Hepburn will also discuss how the air acts as a fluid medium allowing sound, including but not limited to music, in to our ears. In addition, Hepburn’s lecture will touch upon various principles
of harmony, such as the differences in the make-up of and the moodreflected by major chords versus minor chords. Related to this is how the cause of the indefinite pitch produced by percussion instruments can be seen with the Bessel mathematical function. According to Hepburn, a percussion instrument such as a snare drum, “only has a portion of the tonal system.” Also planned is a discussion of synthesizers and samplers which produce sound not as a function of striking or plucking the instrument, but by a pre-programmed sound that a given key electronically activates. In synthesizers, he said, “the sounds are totally made up.” Indeed, students will learn about how a synthesizer takes sound waves and manipulates them to create a particular sound, often one similar to another instrument. This distinguishes them from samplers, which serve the same purpose but use prerecorded sounds from other instruments. “There are hundreds of samples in a digital sampler, which can react differently depending on velocity.” For students who find this topic
fascinating, Ohlone offers many classes in music theory and recording. The relation between music and physics, however, is only touched upon incidentally in such courses. However, this seminar may bear fruit. “If there’s interest in this sort of thing, there is a possibility we can offer a physics [and] music course,” said Hepburn. Ohlone’s Brown Bag seminars are hour-long presentations given by a variety of professors and professionals, mainly in scientific realms. They usually include a lecture followed by a question and answer session. According to the campus website, the purpose of the seminars is to “stimulate interest in and awareness of topics, trends, and careers in science.” Past topics for the Brown Bag seminars this year have included environmental sustainability and the geological hazards facing Ohlone. The Brown Bag seminars are sponsored by Ohlone’s Math, Science and Technology Division and funded by the Associated Students of Ohlone College. The event is open to the public.
Early childhood conference Continued from Page 5 Among the most popular are curricular workshops, those presenting new activities for use in the classroom, and ones dealing with challenging behaviors in children. “Educators are always looking for new ideas to bring to the classroom,” said Fonteno. And on Saturday, they found them. Feedback to the conference this year, like last year’s, was exemplary. It was all a just reward for what, according to Fonteno, was an "ongoing effort for eight months at least.” If anything, next year will be even harder. Instead of waiting for months like last time, Fonteno began planning for next year this Saturday,
having already lined up a keynote speaker for next year. The convention, which last year had only an attendance of about 200, this year had over 300. Space in the Childhood Education Center, while sufficient, was “tight.” Fonteno hopes to use the Smith Center for next year’s convention and hopefully, the Newark Campus for 2008’s. “We’re going to suggest to Dr. Treadway a desire to have that Early Childcare conference at the Newark Campus in 2008,” said Fonteno. Next year, said Fonteno, diversity will be a theme still. In fact, diversity will always be a theme there, just as it is a theme throughout childhood.
Campus Events October 5 Last day to apply for Fall 2006 graduation or Certificate of Achievement -- all day. 5 National Depression Screening Day -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. in the Student Health Center, Building 16. Event is designed to call attention to the symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders and to promote prevention, early detection and treatment of prevalent, under diagnosed and treatable mental health disorders. Allow 20 - 30 minutes for the actual screening process. 5 New Art Show -- “Violence Against Women, Women Against Violence.” This Northern California Women’s Caucus for Art theme show is ongoing and has been seen at many different venues. At each place, more artists join and new submissions are added. It will be displayed in the Louie Meager Art Gallery and can be seen Monday through Friday, noon to 3 p.m., and Wednesday evenings by appointment. The show ends on Oct. 10. Admission is free. 6 Brown Bag Seminar: The Physics of Music -1 - 2 p.m. in Room 3201. The purpose to is stimulate interest in and awareness of topics, trends, and careers in science. Special speaker will be Charles D. Hepburn. This event is free. Refreshments will be served. 6 Men’s Water Polo -3:30 p.m. vs. Solano College. Event will be at Solano College in Fairfield. 9 APASA Meeting -- 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. in Room 2201. The Asian Pacific American Student Association, a club on campus, meets every Monday. 9 Information Session: Bio-Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Certificate Program -- 9 a.m. to noon. This is an accelerated classroom/lab training course includes
topics in chemistry, biology, math and more. The course meets 20 hours a week during daylight hours at Ohlone. To reserve your space, call (510) 259-3831 and leave your name, telephone number, e-mail address and date of session attending. 10 Study Abroad: India -- meeting about Spring 2007 tour at 6 p.m. in Room 5209. Tour dates will be Jan. 4 to Jan. 21, 2007. While in India you will get to experience the sights, gain new perspectives, explore India, visit corporations and learn of India’s advancements and more while earning units. For details about registration and more information, contact Professor Kay Harrison at (510) 979-7441. 10 Closing Reception for Art Gallery Show -- 6:30 - 9 p.m. in the Smith Center. Reception for the show “Violence Against Women, Women Against Violence,” will include artists. 12 Gay/Straight Alliance Club -- In the Smith Center Green Room, Room SC-116, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. A student club for gay/straight/bi/or curious students who meet to talk, make friends and meet likeminded people. 13 Women’s Soccer -- 4 p.m. vs. West Valley College here at Ohlone. 13 Information Session: Bio-Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Certificate Program -- 9 a.m. to noon. This accelerated classroom/lab training course includes topics in chemistry, biology, math, and more. The course meets 20 hours a week during the day at Ohlone. To reserve your space, call (510) 259-3831 and leave your name, telephone number, e-mail address and date of session attending. 14 Ohlone College Super Flea Market -- 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in parking lots E and H. No pets allowed. Every month, there are hundreds of vendors selling things like home-made crafts, jewelry, food, tools, gift items, toys household
Library Announcement Our Ohlone Library has 4 glass-enclosed display cases available to showcase student, faculty & staff talent (artistic, literary) as well as to promote campus clubs and upcoming community events of potential interest to the campus at large. Bookings are for a 2 week period and are accepted on a first-come basis. Several of the cases are lockable. To learn about availability this semester, please stop by the Library Information Desk or e-mail Librarian Elizabeth Silva at esilva@ohlone.edu.
October 5, 2006 monitor
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supplies, collectibles, electronics and more! Parking is $2 and admission is free. 16 Disability Awareness Week Activities -- Some of the events for this day are: 11 a.m. to noon, Tim Piccirillo, a humorous motivational speaker, will talk in Room 7204. From noon to 1 p.m. there will be a BBQ in the Quad hosted by Fresh and Natural. 16 Information Session: Bio-Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Certificate Program -- 9 a.m. to noon. This is an accelerated classroom/lab training course includes topics in chemistry, biology, math, and more. The course meets 20 hours a week during day at Ohlone. To reserve your space, call (510) 259-3831 and leave your name, telephone number, e-mail address and date of session attending. 17 Community Band -- 8 p.m. in the Jackson Theatre. For more information regarding the performance and to purchase tickets, visit the box office window or call (510) 659-6031. 17 Men’s Soccer -- 4 p.m. vs. Hartnell College here at Ohlone. 17 Disability Awareness Week Activities -- Some of the events for this day are: 11 a.m. - noon, Gary Karp, introduced by Dr. Treadway, will speak in Room 7204. Noon to 1 p.m. Lunch hosted by MeCHa Club. 18 Women’s Water Polo -- 3 p.m. vs. DeAnza College here at Ohlone. 18 Men’s Water Polo -- 4 p.m. vs. DeAnza College here at Ohlone. 18 Disability Awareness Week Activities -- Some of the events for this day are: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. wheelchair basketball introduced by Fred Hilke in the Epler Gym. From 11:30 a.m. to noon Q &A Adaptive P.E. From 11 a.m. to noon, Michael Muir will speak in Room 7204. Noon - 1 p.m., lunch hosted by APASA Club. 19 Disability Awareness Week Activities -- Some of the events for this day are: 10 - 11 a.m., myths and misconceptions panel. 11 a.m. - noon, speaker Judy Taber, Director of Stellar Academy Room 7204. 1 - 2:30 p.m. ATC open house Room 4203. 2:30 - 3 p.m. Universal Learn-
ing Design: studying more effectively with the use of technology, Room 4203. 1 to 3 p.m. Return to FAT City Video, Room 7204. 19 Information Session: Bio-Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Certificate Program -- 9 a.m. to noon. This is an accelerated classroom/lab training course includes topics in chemistry, biology, math, and more. The course meets 20 hours a week during the day at Ohlone. To reserve your space, call (510) 259-3831 and leave your name, telephone number, e-mail address and date of session attending. 20 Women’s Soccer -- 4 p.m. vs. Chabot College here at Ohlone. 20 Men’s Soccer -- 4 p.m. vs. West Valley College here at Ohlone. 20 Women’s Water Polo -- 3:30 p.m. vs. Chabot College here at Ohlone. 20 Ohlone Chamber Singers -- the performance is at 8 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, located at 2020 Fifth St., Livermore. This is the 7th annual Masterworks Concert with voices of the past and present that will be featuring Mozart’s Requiem. Tickets are $15 for students, $25 for adults and can be purchased by calling (510) 659-6031.
CLASSIFIEDS WE ARE HIRING -- We are in need of Child Care Workers all over the Bay Area! Please give us a call if you are interested. We need you! Call the California Staffing Service at (650) 872-7870; (925) 522-0102; (866) 994-7823 or email us at calstaff@ sbcglobal.net. Visit us on the web at www.californiastaffingservice.com. HIRING MUSIC TEACHERS -- Are you
musically talented and looking for a high-paying part-time job? We are looking for a few motivated, musically-gifted teachers to help teach weekly music private/group classes in the Cupertino area. Looking for teachers in the following areas: String, woodwind, brass, piano/percussion instruments, also conducting, band, composition and voice. If interested, please contact Carol Liu, Director of Joyful Melodies Inc. at (408) 725-9049 or Mail@ joyfulmelodies.com. HAPPY FISH SWIM SCHOOL -- Seeking smart, friendly swim instructors to work with children & adults. Indoor heated pool open seven days a week. Pays $9/hr$12/hr DOE. Part Time Availability, Fun Environment, & Friendly People. Flexible/Steady schedule works well with school schedule. Print application at www.SwimHappyFish. com. Professional Piano LessonS -- Private lesson with qualified teachers certified by Royal Music School. Great coordination training with lots of fun. Individual and group rates are both welcome. Wonderful relaxing atmosphere and practical progressions. Try it out and develop your musical sense now. Interested parties please call Christy @ (510) 648-0066. admin. assistant -Work part-time for an Art Gallery. Work includes answering phones, data-entry and projects. Ideal for art student/enthusiast. $1015/hr. Hours 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Call (510) 494-8828 or fax resume to: (510) 494-8898. Seeking piano instructor -- Looking for a person to take piano lessons from. Must be affordable and in the Fremont area. Please call (510) 3042538.
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The Monitor invites your comments. Letters should be 250 words or less and include your name and relationship to Ohlone. Letters become property of The Monitor and may be edited for spelling and length. Campus Events listings are free for college-related events. To have your event added or to place an ad, contact Danelle Meyer at (510) 659-6075 or e-mail monitorads@ohlone.edu
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Over time
First and 10 By JEFF WEISINGER Sports editor
By RAHUL BATRA Sports writer
Raiders vs. 49ers: How ugly will it be? What do you get when you add desperation with humiliation, and multiply that by cross-town rivalry? You get the Oakland Raiders versus the San Francisco 49ers. Nothing has gone right for Oakland all season so far, and nothing went right all last week for the 49ers. Sunday‘s game will determine the team that is the “Embarassment of the NFL.” In one corner we have the Oakland Raiders. The NFL has its good teams, its bad teams, and then the Oakland Raiders. They choked at a chance for their first win last Sunday as they blew an 18-point lead in a 24-21 loss against the Cleveland Browns. Oakland’s offense had a 59yard touchdown by runningback LaMont Jordan, and a 48-yard run by Justin Fargas, which set up a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andrew Walter to Randy Moss. The defense got two sacks by defensive end Derrick Burgess, a returned fumble for a touchdown by Sam Williams, and two interceptions by cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Then came the second half. Browns quarterback Charlie Frye led his team to win after trailing 21-3 at the half. Also, just to make things worse, Cleveland was winless going into last Sunday’s matchup. Raider fans, this is why you don’t get too excited over preseason. And in the other corner, we have the San Francisco 49ers. 49er fans, Oakland has played bad this year, but I wouldn’t talk too much just yet. Although San Francisco has won more games than Oakland – well, one game more than Oakland – the 49ers look just as bad as their crossBay counterparts, especially last Sunday. The 49ers helped Chiefs backup quarterback Damon Huard look like an all-pro last Sunday as he picked apart the 49ers secondary in a 41-0 win over San Francisco. The 49ers secondary hasn’t interecepted anyone through the first four games. 49ers quarterback Alex Smith was sacked five times, and interecepted twice as he threw for a mere 92 yards. San Francisco only racked up a total of 165 yards in offense, compared to the Chiefs’ 333. 49er fans, this is why you don’t get too excited over one win. Although both teams have played poorly so far this year, the question still remains: Which team is more embarrassing? Find out Sunday at 1 p.m. on Channel 5.
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Oakland has straight A’s
The women's water polo team looks forward to more scoring opportunities like these this season.
Photos by Christa Meier
Women beat Sac City in water polo By Brittany Wilson Sports writer Ohlone women’s water polo beat Sacramento City College in a preseason game last Friday. Sacramento proved to be a lax game for the girls. After only four minutes, replacements were already sent into the game. During the game the girls received encouragement and advice from their goalie, which
kept the girls motivated. The final score for the game played against Sacramento was 15-3. Danielle McDowell is one of the wings for the women’s water polo team. McDowell believes that her team is going to have a good season. She says the communication is working well for them. This season has been nothing but a confidence builder for the girls of the Ohlone Renegades. They have
Bush oversteps his authority Continued from Page 2 of the signing statements read, “The Executive Branch shall construe [the torture ban] in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary Executive Branch and as Commander in Chief and consistent with the constitutional limitations on the judicial power.” This particular clause was tacked onto the McCain Torture Ban. Essentially, Bush has rewritten a law passed by Congress to fit his needs and given his office the authority to make as well as interpret the law. Bush has managed to issue over 750 constitutional challenges during his short 8-year tenure, effectively clipping legislative claws. Luckily for those concerned with these abuses of power, Bush is set to leave the Presidential office permanently. However, it is the precedent Bush’s actions have set that is most worrisome. By explicitly trampling into the territory of the legislative and judicial branches, Bush has ensured undisputed power to the executive office. In a government based primarily on example, Bush’s model leaves plenty of wiggle room for presidents to come.
all been working hard and it has been paying off. Proving to be a well-trained and determined team, all of the girls are showing us that they defiantly have the skills needed to defeat the other schools. Building strong communication skills between all of the girls is a quality that is taking them far. As the pre-season games come to an end, the team is looking forward to more victories.
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Back-to-back homeruns by Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau to tie the game at two wasn’t enough to keep the Minnesota Twins in the game. Instead, in the very next inning, an ill-advised dive by Torii Hunter in centerfield after attempting to catch a sinking line drive by Mark Kotsay ended up costing the Twins the ballgame. The ball skipped past Hunter and he could only watch as Kotsay circled the bases for an unprecedented inside the park 2-run homerun. It lifted Oakland to a 5-2 over the Twins and the A’s took a commanding 2-0 lead in the division series heading into the third, and maybe decisive game at home in Oakland Friday afternoon. The overall team play in the first two playoff games was nothing but spectacular. In game one, Frank Thomas, while following up what could be an MVP season, hit two towering homeruns to left field, with the second being the deciding run. He actually almost hit three. The Big Hurt has been on fire! The A’s won the game 3-2. The Twins were the favorite to win the series coming into game one after a miraculous comeback down the stretch to win the division over the red-hot Detroit Tigers. Coming up from a 20-game deficit isn’t very easy. Toward the last month and a half of the season, team effort and determination is why they are in the playoffs. Pitching was the key factor in game one. Lefty ace Barry Zito went head-to-head with potential CY Young winner Johan Santana. It was definitely a pitcher’s duel. Both showed poise and mental toughness and went seven plus innings. No sports writer or analyst had Zito defeating Santana. In what could be Zito’s final game(s) with the Oakland A’s, displaying a strong pitching performance didn’t seem likely. Zito’s wicked curveball and fastball proved everyone wrong. Allowing one run in eight innings was almost perfection. He was the unsung hero of the day. In game two, the Twins brought out former San Francisco Giants prospect Boof Bonser to the mound against Esteban Loaiza. Loaiza pitched tremendously up until the top of the sixth inning when he gave up back-to-back homeruns to tie the game at two. His afternoon was finished. However, it was the A’s bullpen that did a superb job of keeping the Twins lineup in check for the rest of the game. With a strong offense, the A’s won game two and now take game three back to Oakland.