Lady Renegades call a wrap – Page 8
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Single parents at Ohlone
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Fremont, California
Vol. XXXVI No. 8
Thursday, March 9, 2006
Book demystifies drug test process By JEROME ENGELBERTS Editor-in-Chief
VP Nick Nardolillo and Board President Robert Brunton. Photo by Mojhgan Mohtashimi.
Board keeps status quo By OMER AHMED Opinion editor The Ohlone Board of Trustees voted to keep regulations regarding trustee membership and election processes the same during Wednesday’s afternoon board meeting. The decision was reached after more than a week of discussion following the possibility of Trustee member Dan Archer’s retirement. The 87-year-old trustee no longer says he plans to retire and will finish the final two and a half years of his term. Among the proposed changes were reducing the overall size of the board from seven member to five by removing one Fremont trustee seat and one Newark trustee seat, giving Newark and Fremont equal representation on the board and strengthening residency requirements.
Trustee member John Weed explained that he supported the change and said, “I think this would be a more effective and efficient board if it had five members.” Other trustee members disagreed with Weed. Board Vice President Nick Nardolillo expressed his view simply when he said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” These sentiments were mirrored by trustee member Garrett Yee who was also concerned with losing diversity in the board. He said, “If we go from seven to five, we just eliminate two opinions.” During the meeting, Board President Bob Brunton said, “The board will be facing an election in November, so it reviews its policy in preparation.” Adam Berger, a legal analyst, was brought in to advise the board and provide answers to legal questions.
Berger explained that the board would have to provide plans and petition Alameda country for almost any change. “Much is governed by statutes and the board has little control over it,” he said. After receiving the board’s plans and petitions, the county would, at the very least, have to hold a hearing to get input from the public. They would then either approve or reject the board’s plan with no chance of modifying it. Still, Berger said, “These would be preliminary steps to a district-wide election.” After the general overview of the process the board would have to follow, Brunton told the other trustees, “What the board can do would take several months to do.” He went on to say the new rules wouldn’t be ready for the next election. The board’s vote was five to two in favor of keeping the current rules.
If you are one of the many students looking for a job, whether temporary or as a career choice, chances are that you will be tested for drug use (I mean, beyond the weekly tray of Mountain Dew®). No matter where you stand on the issue of recreational drugs, you may be at risk of testing positive and jeopardizing your chances for getting the job. (Did you know that a breathalyser test can show positive if you use OraGel - a medication for gum disease?) For those of you who think you have something to worry about, there’s a book called Passing Drug Tests, published in 2005 by Trafford, a Canadian publishing company. Written by ex-Ohlone College student Kenn A. Biscranium and Dr. Herb Kindler - obviously not their real names - it describes, interspersed with humorous and historical asides, how the drug screening process works, what you will be tested for and how, and how to not test positive. Make no mistake; this is no “cheating your way through a drug screening” book. Rather, it extols the virtues of healthy nutrition and cleansing toxins from your body through increasing your metabolism, managing your liquid intake, and spending time in a sauna. Dr. Kindler, who holds a BS in biochemistry and a PhD in analytical chemistry, provides the scientific data used to back up Kenn A. Biscranium’s methods. Kenn, who says he wrote the book to share his experiences about being subjected to random and mandatory drug tests, is very
Kenn A. Biscranium. Photo by Jerome Engelberts. much a health and fitness-minded person, and hardly what comes to mind when one thinks “stoner”. He merely feels that in many job application procedures, drug screening is gratuitous and irrelevant. After all, why should it be acceptable that someone can come to work after a night of hard drinking but not after smoking a controlled substance? The book, which is available from several reputable (and some not-quite-so-reputable) places in the Bay Area: Moe’s Books and Pegasus & Pendragon in Berkeley, City Lights bookstore in San Francisco, and closer to home, Devil’s Workshop in Niles, sells for $16.95 and provides a quick and easy read. Even with no intention of ever using drugs, legal or illegal, the book bestows some serious pointers on making the body healthier, which is always worth reading. More information can be found on the publisher’s web site at www. trafford.com.
DNA Sequencer used to determine genetic code By Thomas Hsu Staff writer Ah, a DNA sequencer - the “privilege of four-year research institutions, the dream of community colleges”. But, surprise for those non-biology students, Ohlone College has had one in their lab since early 2005. With the help of the machine, students are discovering their often-surprising ancestral origins - tracing their mitochondrial DNA may reveal, as happened in Professor Dr. Mark Barnby’s biology lab, that a Palestinian student actually has her roots in Europe. Although the Ohlone College’s
DNA sequencer is an educational model, containing only one capillary, the machine is the same as the ones used to map out the human genome and in crime investigation agencies such as the FBI. It is actually validated for use in courts. The ones Biology Professor Dr. Ralph Sinibaldi worked with in the biotechnology industry had 96 capillaries, allowing it to process many more samples at once. In Dr. Barnby’s lab, the sequencer is employed for two purposes: genome analysis, such as in the mapping of the human genome, and DNA fingerprinting, as in criminology.
One specific application, Sinibaldi explained, is the tracing of a student’s genomic origins. All humans are hypothesized to originate from a common ancestor out of Africa - a hypothetical “Lucy.” The African Diaspora resulted in largely isolated populations of people whose DNA mutated to be distinguishable from Lucy. Thus, comparing a person’s DNA to the DNA found in regions such as India, South Asia, Europe and North America can yield one’s racial origin. Despite society’s preoccupation with race, Sinibaldi commented, Continued on Page 6
Mark Barnby and the DNA sequencer. Photo by Mojhgan Mohtashimi.
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Opinion
monitor March 9, 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 2005 2000 2004
Editor in chief: Jerome Engelberts Anna Nemchuk News editor: Opinion editor: Omer Ahmed Features editor: Joyce Leung Sports editor: Nick Zambrano Photo editor: Mojhgan Mohtashimi Online editor: Krista Martinez Investigative editor:Sean G. Crawford Staff writers: Frankie Addiego, Naomi Balagot, Rahul Batra, Morgan Brinlee, Thomas Hsu, Ira Lazo, Chris Marshall, Danelle Meyer, Gabriel Vila Ad Staff: Frankie Addiego Photographers: Wayne Chow, Jerome Engelberts, Rostislav Tsvetanov Graphic Staff: Wayne Chow, Jason Montalvo, Chirag Patel, Ying Yam Ad manager: Danelle Meyer 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
Women’s History Month is a little bit crowded By GABRIEL VILA Staff writer The month of March is Women’s History Month along with a variety of other titles. Among them are Caffeine Recognition Month, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, National Frozen Foods Month and National Umbrella Month, the most underrated seasons of all time. For those of you not in the know, last month was AfricanAmerican History Month, National Hot Breakfast Month, the notable National Condom Month and the
ever-exciting National Bird Feeding Month. My questions: who really remembers and who cares? I’m not a woman nor am I African American. However, I really don’t see the point in holding on to these quasi-holidays. I don’t get days off, special tax breaks or a huge dinner bash a la Thanksgiving. Moreover, I think that these month-long celebrations have been cheapened and devalued to the point of ridicule. Now, I’m not one to bash past or present civil rights leaders.
Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, even Muhammad Ali are honored in February. Some of the greatest civil rights activists to have ever lived are honored in this month like Susan B. Anthony and Amelia Bloomer. Shouldn’t we honor the achievements of African-Americans every day? And the achievements of women; should they be regulated to a single month out of the year? I personally didn’t know it was Women’s History Month until it was mentioned it to me in passing. If I think about it, I had never even
heard of Women’s History Month. Maybe I just wasn’t paying attention but you would think that it would be well promoted, wouldn’t you? Yet here we are, a week or so into the month, and I still haven’t heard anything about this event. And isn’t this month cheapened by the lesser events going on? National Frozen Foods Month, for instance. Why would I eat frozen foods when it’s cold and raining outside? In fact, frozen food is wholly inedible until warmed, a process called thawing, thus making it just plain food. Even this so called food
is subpar due to being preprocessed and treated with chemicals. I’ve never heard of National Umbrella Month in the entirety of my life either. Although, with the weather being what it is, I can only think it’s a good idea. I think that we should just take the idea of giving months themes, wad it up and toss it into the trashcan. This is the year 2006, we can set a precedent for the rest of the century. Everyday of every month in every year should be a celebration of all mankind. Frozen food, umbrellas and all.
joining any of the armed forces. If I did consider the e-mail spam, a simple reply e-mail would have ended them. Ohlone College as an organization doesn’t have that option anymore. In the case of Rumsfeld vs. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights (FAIR), the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the 1996 Solomon Amendment. This law allows the Secretary of Defense to withhold federal money from colleges that refuse to allow on-campus military recruitment.
I don’t have much of a problem with the military. My cousin is in the Air Force and a good friend of mine is considering joining the Navy. What I do have an objection to is the limitation of our schools’ right to choose who does what on campus. The schools represented by FAIR objected to the presence of military recruiters on campus because they felt the military’s position on homosexuals violated their school’s anti-discrimination policies and first amendment rights. While the
idea that the “don’t ask, don’t tell policy” was being imposed on the campus by the mere presence of recruiters on campus is somewhat weak, it should still be the school’s decision. When a school allows representatives on campus, it is generally for one of three reasons: to educate, to open dialogue or to provide students with post-graduation opportunities. Good examples of the first two purposes are Ohlone’s World Forums and the Muslim Student
Association speakers. Both are informational and open minds to controversial issues. If the school did not believe them to do so, they should be allowed to bar the events. So what if a school did not approve of the opportunities provided by the military? Would the penalties be the same for turning away American Nazi Party recruiters? When a organization is allowed on campus, some legitimacy is given to the group by the school. Continued on Page 6
Say no to Uncle Sam and say goodbye to funding By OMER AHMED Opinion editor A week after this spring semester started, I received an e-mail from the local army recruitment office. Some people might call this spam but it was asked for. I have been hording free handouts from army recruiters for years. T-shirts, dog tags, lanyards, you name it and I have it somewhere. Free stuff is free stuff but I have no intention of ever
Campus Comment > > >
If you could make a ‘special’ month, what would it be?
Adrian Camacho Undeclared “Student Month.”
Mick Sing Business Management “Go Bald Month.”
Nicholas Himan Undeclared “Help the needy month."
Michelle Kelly Art “Animal Rights Month.”
Larry Williams Undeclared “Mexican History Month.”
News/Opinions
March 9, 2006 MONITOR
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The English Learning Center: It exists! By IRA LAZO Staff writer The English Learning Center is located on the second floor of Hyman Hall, and chances are, if a student has ever taken an English class at Ohlone, the teacher has either politely suggested or adamantly required their students to visit the center. According to the Instructional Assistant at the English Learning Center, Mary Fontanilla, the main purpose of the Center is to help the students gain independence and confidence in their English skills. One of the many features that come with being an Ohlone student would be the opportunity for everybody to drop in or schedule a free private session with an English tutor. However, it is a common misconception among students that you can just come down to Hyman Hall, hand a tutor your paper and ask them to edit and proofread the
paper. If a student comes to a tutor with a specific question about their essay or assignment, the tutor’s job is a lot easier because he/she can focus specifically on that problem. The tutors can also help with jumpstarting the writing process, especially when the student has not started the assignment yet, since this is the building block for everything that comes afterwards. There is actually a plethora of paths to access the resources in the English Learning Center. The two main ways would be to drop-in for a walk-in session which would normally last about 30 minutes, or to enter the Center and consult the friendly front-desk staff with a request for a rendezvous with a tutor at a convenient time that corresponds with both the student's and the tutor’s schedule. A tip for students who have never been to the Learning Center: its busiest hours are between 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. during the day, while around 6 to 7 most nights as well as Mondays and Fridays are among the least busiest days in the Center. The other way to ask for help would be to call the Center and ask for any available tutor or for any available instructional assistant for help right there over the phone.
ELC Instructional Assistant David Wood said, "Our philosophy is we're here to teach people to fish. [Editor's note: give me a fish and you feed me for a day, teach me to fish...] We're here to help them learn English, not to pass a test or even pass an assignment - we want to make students successful, and we
do that by hiring other successful students to mentor, tutor them. “I find that the people that benefit the most from tutoring are the ones interested in learning something, they're eager to master a given area of writing...the students that come with a motive not conducive to learning, somebody who doesn't have a thirst for knowledge, we try to help them, too, but the ones that come week after week...you can really work with them.” The ELC regulations include: no food, drink, smoking or cell phones. The ELC is a classroom-like area; private study rooms and conference rooms for four or more people are available most hours, as well as a media center for instructional videos. The English Learning Center is open from 8 a.m. until 9:45 p.m. Monday to Friday. The Center's phone number is (510) 659-6087 and students are welcome to make appointments.
nities will have a major beneficial effect to those who participate. “Faculty has the opportunity to learn from each other...students develop a stronger connection with faculty and other students... they really feel like they “belong” to something. Students also tend to persist through the courses and usually have better grades in than in the stand-alone sections of the same courses,” said Curtis.
Not only are Learning Communities great for groups, but they may offer online additions to help strengthen relationships. “Learning Communities can have an “online common space” which can be implemented through the use of WebCT,” said Educational Technologist Marilena Tamburello. “This expands the interactions between student and instructor, student-to-student, student to local community as well as to global community. It also enriches and expands the access to a variety of web resources connected with the subject matter of the linked courses,” finished Tamburello. Even though it will take time for faculty to plan out, Communities are great assets to the college. “It will be easier for students to understand the cross disciplinary connections and be successful in their courses,” said Curtis. With at least 10 more Communities scheduled for Fall 2006 there
will be a fair in April to introduce the new options to the students. “We will be having a Learning Community Fair at the end of April to introduce them...Faculty and students who have already participated will man tables to discuss the benefits and answer questions,” explained Curtis. “LCs promotes student success through fostering connections... collaboration and team work are emphasized. Students feel supported and a sense of belonging. Faculty and students work together in closer relationships...actually I consider my nursing students to be my ‘colleagues’. Being actively involved in the learning process helps assist students to think critically and learn how to learn. Additionally it prepares them for the “real” world,” explained Parziale. More information can be found at www.ohlone.edu/instr/learningcomms
ELC Tutor Kristofer Olinger talks with student. Photo by Ira Lazo.
More Learning Communities planned for Fall '06 By DANELLE MEYER Staff writer Learning communities will continue to be introduced into Ohlone and the benefits are expected to be immense for both student and faculty, A learning community is a way for a small group of people with the same goals to work together in the same classes with common projects that teachers plan out together. “It is a cohort of students who all enroll in the same classes. This allows the students to see the interconnectedness of knowledge as opposed to knowledge being separate from and unique to each discipline,” said ESL Professor and Learning Community Coordinator Vicki Curtis. “Learning communities typically consists of 2-4 courses that are linked together with a specific theme and lasts for one semester, or longer...Instructors work together
to determine common student outcomes, assignments and evaluation tools,” explained Deb Parziale, nursing professor. While Ohlone already has a few, Dr. Treadway has been working hard to bring more to the campus. One such community that already exists is between the TD118 Beginning Acting Techniques, taught by Tom Blank, and ESL151, taught by Curtis. Each class is filled with the same students. “I think the most important benefit of any learning community is bringing the students a context that connects all learning- in our case, for example, how their speech skills affect their success in acting and how their stage development affects their body language in communication on the street,” said Blank, a professor in the theatre and dance department. While students will be given the choice of stand-alone classes versus learning communities, the commu-
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Features Government cherry-picking information monitor March 9, 2006
State of Illusion By Chris Marshall Staff writer Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld recently told a large group of American bluebloods at a meeting of the Council of Foreign Relations that, “We meet today in the sixth year in what promises to be a long struggle against an enemy that in many ways is unlike any our country has ever faced. And, in this war, some of the most critical battles may not be in the mountains in Afghanistan or in the streets of Iraq, but in newsrooms-in places like New York, London, Cairo and elsewhere.” This statement, made by one of the most powerful people in the world, is a declaration of war on the free press. And this pisses me off to no end. One of the great reasons to live in America is that many of the inherent human rights which should be granted to all people in the world, including the freedom of the press, is written as law. The first amendment rights of the press should be indisputable. Rumsfeld is making an argument against the free press by saying
the media is becoming a tool for the enemy. Rumsfeld continued, “The standard U.S. government public affairs operation was designed primarily...to be reactive rather than proactive. Government, however, is beginning to adapt.” If this does not strike fear into every American, I don’t know
what will. Any proactive action a government takes with the press is propaganda, nothing more. I have an inkling that the American government has been at war with the free press for a lot longer than most people are willing to admit. What I find scariest about this propaganda war Rumsfeld is pushing is that the government is winning.
the event was to reduce ignorance and promote knowledge about Islam. Throughout the speech, Attaie explained that Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet like Mohammad. In both religions Jesus is revered as a holy figure, but there are a number of differences in beliefs. Some of the differences are relatively small. For example, Attaie explained that the Muslim holy book, the Quran, says that Jesus’ first miracle was speaking as a newly born baby to defend the Virgin Mary’s honor. Most Christians believe that Jesus’first miracle was turning water into wine. Other differences were more drastic, such as the Islamic belief that Jesus did not die upon the cross but was saved by God. Attaie also explained that Muslims do not consider Jesus to be the son of God. He told the
audience that many Muslims believe the phrase “son of God” simply refers to those who follow the God of the Abrahamic religions. Attaie joked, “God has sons by the tons” while explaining that the phrase “son of God” was used to refer to Adam and Moses as well as Jesus. He also said, “We believe that Jesus was sent by God,” but emphasized that they did not believe that he was “begotten” physically. As a result of the aforementioned beliefs, Attaie also stated that Muslims don’t believe that Jesus was sacrificed for humanity’s sins or in the trinity. When asked about the belief of Jesus dying for man’s sins and spending three days in hell, Attai commented, “We don’t see anything lovely or beautiful about that.” Explaining how Muslims reconcile the differences between Christianity and their views of Jesus, he
The general population’s exposure to the war in Iraq through the media has been carefully controlled by the United States government. One of the main things that turned public opinion against the Vietnam War were all of the grotesque photos that surfaced into the public eye, photos like the execution of the National Liberation
Front captain and the small children running toward the camera covered in napalm. Our government has successfully prevented these sorts of photos from appearing in the mainstream media. The first batch of photos from Abu Ghraib prison were terrible and showed the total humiliation the prisoners faced. However, the whole story came out with the second batch of photos, none of which I have seen in the mainstream media. These new photos showed the bloody, gruesome truth of the torture that goes on in American-run prisons. Our major news networks like CNN, instead of broadcasting the new photos and video, opted instead to show a tape of someone videotaping an Australian news broadcast showing the new photos. The whole story is becoming harder and harder to find. There is now an underground business of the real truth, especially on the Internet. I refer to this business as pulp fact: the gruesome truth most people are scared to know, but absolutely should know. The government cannot cherrypick the stories they want in the media. They should not be paying newspapers to run certain stories, nor should they be paying columnists to take a certain stance.
Jesus in Islam: prophet or son of God? By Omer Ahmed Opinion editor Muslim Student Association speaker (MSA) Ali Attaie presented a speech on the difference between Jesus Christ in Islam and Christianity last Monday in the Quad. MSA member Abdul Meskienyar described Attaie as a “Comparative Religions Guru” who had been studying Christianity and Islam for the last 10 years. Attaie specializes in the different beliefs in Jesus and attributes this to a dream he once had. In this dream, he took a mask off of Jesus. When he had the dream interpreted, the dream’s symbolism was telling him to defend Jesus. Meskienyar also gave a short disclaimer, saying that the views expressed at the event were from a biased Islamic perspective. He and Attaie explained that the purpose of
said, “We differentiate between the teaching of Jesus and the teachings of Christianity...The Quran was revealed to give you back the true Jesus.” After contrasting the faiths, Attaie said, “We are a lot more alike than we are different” and explained the many crossovers in belief between Muslims and Christians. Both revere Mary as well as Jesus. Attaie said, “According to Islamic tradition, Mary was chosen above women of all other nations.” He also explained that Muslims believe in Jesus as the Messiah, just not in the same manner as Christians. Even major details crossover according to Attaie. Both faiths believe in Jesus’ virgin birth and his second coming. Once his speech was over, Attaie held a Q & A session with audience members on a number of topics including the nature of god, Moham-
med being prophesized by Jesus and the strained relations between Muslims and the western world. Audience member Brian Jones, who is majoring in Biblical Studies, asked Attaie whether Jesus was the savior or a liar and explained his view that Jesus had to be either one or the other with no middle ground. Attaie described a pamphlet that he received with a multiple choice question asking if Jesus was a liar, a lord or a lunatic as per a classic theological argument by C.S. Lewis. He then said, “I always write in a box and write none of the above.” One of the last questioners asked what was the solution to the problems between Christians and Muslims. Attaie responded, “We just have to talk. We have to work things out by talking with each other.” When asked about the future of such relations, Attaie replied, “ I think it’s a future of understanding and peace.”
New Cyber Crime course at Ohlone By Frankie Addiego Staff writer For students interested in learning about crimes committed on the Internet and ways to avoid being victimized, Ohlone College is offering a course on Cyber Crime taught by Professors Allen Chan and Steven Hanna. The course explains the history and changing face of online crime as well as offers tips on protecting yourself from cyber crime. “This is a great class,” said Chan. “We’re teaching students how cyber crime has evolved [and] what to look for.”
“I think it’s great,” said Ohlone student Thomas Harris. “I’m a professional, but I’m still learning.” Harris defined the role of each professor as “one that knows the computer side of it and one that knows the police part of it.” The course goes over the basics, from technical vocabulary to breaking news relating to cyber crime. At the beginning of last Thursday’s class, the professors read off recent stories about such subjects as stealing laptops and child pornography. Among the class’s more prominent concerns were people putting in certain types of connectors, us-
ing them to hack into computers at cyber cafés and picking up valuable information. Other prevalent topics that came to mind included online gambling and what authorities call “dumpster diving,” which involves a hacker combing through someone’s trash, which could contain all kinds of information someone might also leave on the Internet. And while it may seem obvious to some, Professor Hanna and Chan warned students not to ever give out their passwords under any circumstances. As for who the most vulnerable potential victims are to cyber crime,
Chan and Hanna pointed to small businesses. Hanna said that small businesses are a hacker’s “bread and butter.” The professors also warned users of wireless keyboards and mice that operate on one frequency or another. It’s possible for someone to park a vehicle with particular equipment outside of someone’s house and intercept anything they type or do with their cursor. A great deal of the class also centered around “social engineering,” which is the practice of manipulating Internet users into divulging private information to criminals that can later use the information
for personal gain. An example of a social engineer that the class talked about was famed hacker Kevin Mitnick. Mitnick was arrested many times for hacking. His most famous arrest happened in 1995 in a case involving computer security expert Tsutomu Shimomura. Mitnick is also the author of the book The Art of Deception, which talks about social engineering in great detail. Cyber Crime is currently being offered by the Administration of Justice Department. Though it is too late to sign up now, the class will probably be offered in fall 2006.
Features
By Danelle Meyer Staff writer As if work and school wasn’t already enough, imagine waking up hours before you have to be at school and staying up later than you would want to in order to take care of a child. Being a single parent isn’t always a choice, but for those who choose to stay the course, it’s a life-changing journey. “Single mothers are the hardest working people, because we have to play the role of mom and dad. We don’t get the choice of not working. We have to work and come home and take care of our child. Time management is a huge thing for me,” said Shawna Luce, CALWorks Program Coordinator and Ohlone student.
Luce is a full time student and works 20 hours a week. Her son is also in school, so she juggles both their schoolwork. Luce’s day starts at 4 a.m. She gets 4 hours of sleep most of the time and has to wake up early to make sure her son is prepared. Even though she does a lot, she still finds time for her son. “Fridays and Saturdays my son picks what he wants to do…I would leave my situation the way it is, because it has shaped who I am today. I have accomplished a lot,” said Luce. Debra Greene, another Ohlone student, also works and goes to school part-time while being a fulltime parent. She is constantly in a learning cycle. “If it were up to me I would fix it so she [her daughter] would have
March 9, 2006 monitor
With loaves of bread in hand, single parent Frank Ferriera and his daughter Rosie enjoy an afternoon feeding ducks at the park. Photos by Danelle Meyer. more in life...but by having her in my life, I have changed in so many ways. She has given me a motivating factor to keep moving forward and improving,” explained Greene. Ohlone offers assistance to single parents who are current EOPS students through the CARE program. “CARE offers services and special support to help them achieve their goals. It’s wonderful because
they have challenges that the average student doesn’t. Sometimes, they just need a place to come to for someone to say they are doing a great job,” said CARE Coordinator Sandy Bennett. Without help, many may give up before they have begun. Trying to find energy for everything can be overwhelming. “I was scared when I first started
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school. I felt like I was the oldest student on campus with nothing in common with anyone. If it wasn’t for CARE, I would have crashed and burned. I felt alone and in my own world until CARE made me realize there were a lot of others in my situation,” said Luce. People forget that there are also many single dads. Though, single moms and single dads share some of the same struggles, being a single dad is hard when society isn’t used to it. “People seem to forget guys can be single dads too. Most of society thinks that single parents are women, but there are guys that go through the same struggles,” said Frank Ferriera, former Ohlone student. For Ferriera, taking responsibility for his daughter changed everything. After taking some classes at Ohlone, he is now at a trade school so he can make a good living in what he wants and keep his daughter’s life positive. Ferriera works and goes to school full-time and refuses to get any help. “It’s hard to balance responsibilities.My day starts at 4 a.m. and ends after I have worked and went to school. All the while I have to play the role of both parents. I’m not getting any aid, but I wouldn’t give her up or c h a n g e the situation. She has changed me and will always have my back, just like I have hers,” explained Ferriera. “Just because you’re a single parent doesn’t mean your future ends. In fact it just begins. If I didn’t go back to school I would have been stuck not being able to give my daughter the life she deserves.” For information about CARE contact Sandy Bennett at (510) 979-7549.
Women’s History Month Women in sports: anything boys can do, girls can do better EDITOR’S NOTE - In honor of Women’s History Month, the Monitor has decided to run a series that delves into issues still pertinent to women in 2006. The series will run through the month of March with a new topic and Q& A every week.
By Joyce Leung Features editor
By Naomi Balagot Staff writer There’s one word that best defines the continued advances within women’s sports: determination--determination to break down the barriers of sports dominated by men and determination to make the dream of more women’s professional leagues a reality. In the past sports were classified as male activities and participation within women’s sports was limited solely to physical education classes. Well, guess what. Times have definitely changed. Little girls are
no longer growing up playing with Barbie and make-up. Today little girls are growing up with a stronger desire to participate in women’s athletics, further enhancing their confidence and selfesteem. Not only that, but they’re dreaming bigger with an attitude: “Anything boys can do, girls can do better.” In the last decade women’s sports have made an impact in society. But why does it still seem as though female athletes are underappreciated--not receiving the recognition they truly deserve? With softball being dropped from the Olympics and professional female athletes still being underpaid, who really knows what the future will hold for women’s sports? Should we hope for further progression and recognition in the near future? “If there’s a will, surely there’s a way.” After all, we’ve already made it this far. One can only hope for bigger and better things. And who better to add to this conversation than Ohlone women’s softball coach, Donna Runyon:
Q: What gains and advances have women made in sports? A: I think there is more equality in sports. There are more scholarship opportunities at the four-year college level and there is more recognition on television for female athletes. They also seem to get a lot more press. Q: What were some major turning points and highlights in women’s sports? A: I think that the decrease in female coaches is a low light. Some highlights are the recognition of female coaches that are successful such as Head Coach, Pat Summit of The University Of Tennessee Women’s Basketball. I think the longevity of coaches is important such as Head Coach, Tara Vandeveer of Stanford University Women’s Basketball and Head Coach, Sue Enquist of UCLA Women’s Softball. Q: What are some of your thoughts on softball being dropped from the Olympics? A: It seems like because they’ve
dropped baseball; softball kind of ponytails with that. I think it’s pretty sad. I think softball is just starting to get into the limelight where it’s kind of a rejuvenation of people wanting to play the sport. I know at the national level they want to make a big push and they want people to write Congress. The Olympic committee is pretty powerful so it’s hard to tell what’s going to happen. Q: Who are some standout female athletes? A: I would say Jennie Finch and Lisa Fernandez. Candice Wiggins of Stanford University Women’s Basketball. I saw her in person and she is just unbelievable. I like Anna Kournikova. I just enjoy watching the athletes that are so superior in talent. Q: How do you feel about gender equity in sports? A: I think it’s come a long way since I’ve been in college. I think there seems to be a lot of pluses in getting females scholarships and exposure.
Q: Do you think women coaches still have to prove themselves? A: No. At the national level, there are a lot of females that are pretty energetic. I just think it’s important that they perfect the sport they’re coaching. But there aren’t any baseball coaches that are female. I’m not saying that they couldn’t do it but I think it takes a special person to coach and it doesn’t mean that you had to play in order to coach but I think it’s important to have certain dynamics. I think that a guy is more suited to coach baseball. On the other end, do I think that females or males should coach females? If they both have the same credentials, I would give it to a female. Q: Is there anything that men can do that women can’t do in sports? A: I think there should never be a disparity in not choosing a female for a job. Whether it’s an Athletic Director, Assistant Athletic Director, even a commissioner. I think women can hold their own on a lot of ends.
6 MONITOR
March 9, 2006
News/Opinions
Brown Bag Seminar proves math fun By GABRIEL VILA Staff writer Last Friday in Room 3201, one of Ohlone Colleges Brown Bag seminars was held, this time with Ohlone’s very own Ron Stazkow speaking on mathematics. The gist of the seminar was that math, in all of its forms, can be fun. “I think that if the students are posed problems within their capabilities, then I think that math can be fun,” said Professor Stazkow before the presentation. “If you
can, then it’s fun, if you can’t, then it’s not fun.” In a presentation entitled “How to Weigh a Fish Without a Scale,” Stazkow did just that. Using simple algebra and geometric shapes, he showed that through interesting and thought provoking problems, math can indeed be entertaining. Assisted technically by fellow Ohlone Professor Bob Bradshaw, Professor Stazkow demonstrated the principles of magic squares; a geometrically defined problem where each row and column
joined by lines must, when added together, equal the same number. Magic squares can be displayed as a magic cross, in the shape of an F, 7, or triangles. “It’s a mental fun,” Stazkow said. “That feeling of ‘I’ve got it!’” The namesake of the presentation was an interesting question posed by Stazkow. Can one weigh a fish without a scale? Using a simple formula involving the width and length of a fish, along with a constant that relates the species of fish, he showed that yes it could be.
But could the question be applied to humans? In an extra credit question posed to some of the math classes in attendance, he requested that a constant for humans be found so that his formula could be validated for the human species. Through the use of such reward-driven probes and interestingly posed questions, along with a lively demeanor, this Brown Bag seminar was a success. The availability of free water and cookies of both chocolate chip and chocolate chocolate chip didn’t hurt.
Military reigns Continued from Page 2 During fall semester’s State of the College address, Ohlone president Doug Treadway said, “I believe that in our classrooms, we have a responsibility to teach regarding options to solving conflicts without war.” If Ohlone’s administration objected to the war on the grounds of campus philosophy, it is conceivable that recruiters might be banned from campus. A college should be able to educate its student in the way that it feels fit. This includes removing elements that it deems detrimental to the process.
Christina Vargas hides under handy umbrella. Her school notes are on their own. Photo by Ross Tsvetanov.
DNA Sequencer Continued from Page 1 there is actually more genetic differentiation within a race than between races. DNA code is composed of four different amino acids, represented by the letters T, G, C and A. A complete DNA sequence contains 3.2 different letters, out of which only 1.5% actually program proteins. The remainder so-called “junk DNA” actually serves the purpose of acting as software to dictate when certain protein-programming sequences are activated. This “software code” has yet to be deciphered. The sequencer is made by Applied Biosystems Inc. (ABI), based in Foster City, the first company to automate the DNA sequencing process. ABI gave Ohlone College the sequencer at a discount price and is considered a gift-in-kind although Ohlone is compelled to periodically buy reagants from the company.
Campus Events March 10 AMATYC Student Math League competitive exam -- 3 to 4 p.m., and 4 to 5 p.m., in Room 3201. Good math students in calculus and beyond can come to try out their math skills in the competitive exam. Pizza and prizes are awarded to top scorers. You have one hour to take the test; scratch paper is supplied and calculators are allowed. You're not expected to answer everything, don't become discouraged. This event is free. 10 Last Day to Apply for Graduation -- or to apply for a certificate of achievement for the Spring 2006 semester. 11 Ohlone College Super Flea Market -- 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. In Parking Lots E and H. Flea market is held second Saturday of every month, year round. Parking fee is $2. 12 Ohlone Wind Orchestra -- 2 p.m. in the Jackson Theater. "California’s Premier Windband,” is one of the leading professional quality wind bands in the United States today. Under the direction of Tony Clements, the band is comprised of 50 woodwind, brass and percussion players. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. They can be purchased online, at the box office or by calling (510) 659-6031. 14 Transfer Event: Univerisity of Califoria, Davis -- Meet with rep Robert Hickerson between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Make an
appointment by visiting the counseling window in Building 1 or by calling (510) 659-6110. 14 Men’s Baseball -- 2 p.m. vs. West Valley College at Ohlone. 14 Ohlone Community Band -- Performance at 8 p.m. in the Jackson Theatre. The band has a blend of youth and experience and is an outstanding example of the benefits of a music education. The band has a wide variety of literature to challenge both the audience and the ensemble itself. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults and are available at the box office or by calling (510) 659-6073. 14 Gay/Straight Alliance Club-- In the Smith Center, Room SC-116, from 3 to 4 p.m. A student club for gay/straight/bi/or curious students who meet to talk, make friends and meet likeminded people. 14 Women’s Softball -- 3 p.m. vs. Chabot College here at Ohlone. 15 Spend Semester in Sydney, Australia -meeting. 6 p.m. in Room 5209. Come check out what all the excitement is about and how you can be a student of the world in Fall of 2006. Study courses like ENG101B and ART203 while exploring Sydney and meeting many new people. For more information call Cynthia Katona at (510) 659-6226.
Theatre in the Smith Center. The Theatre and Dance Department’s leading student actors, directors and designers will showcase their talents in an evening of comedy and drama. Tickets are $10 for students, $12 for adults and are available at the box office or by calling (510) 659-6073. 15 Campus Tour -- 4 p.m. in the lobby of Building 1. The Ohlone College Student Ambassadors conduct campus tours the first and third Wednesday of every month. Wear comfortable shoes. This event is free. 16 Women’s Softball -- 3 p.m. vs. College of San Mateo at Ohlone. 16 Pizza Night Out-- 5 to 9 p.m. at Pizza Depot located at 43450 Grimmer Blvd, Fremont. This event is a fundraiser hosted by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation. Entertainment will feature Mission Gold Jazz.
present. 8 p.m. in the Jackson Theatre. Show will present composer David Fanshawe's landmark production. Featuring a rock band, an accompanying choir, ethnic drummers, and over 200 images taken by the composer during his symbolic pilgrimage across the African continent.Tickets are $10 for students and $20 for adults. They are available at the box office or by calling (510) 659-6073. 20-26 Spring Break -- holiday break. No classes. 23 Men's Baseball -- 2 p.m. vs. Monterey Peninsula College at Ohlone. 23 Women's Softball -- 3 p.m. vs. Monterey Peninsula College at Ohlone.
March 9, 2006 monitor
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25 Men's Baseball -- Noon vs. City College of San Francisco at Ohlone.
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17 Last Day to Petition -- to complete a class on a credit/no credit basis for Spring 2006 semester. 18 Ohlone Chamber Singers: African Sanctus -- Sixth Annual Masterworks: Voices past and
15-17 One Acts In-ABox (Student Repertory Company Performance) -- 8 p.m. in the NUMMI
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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, March 9, 2006
Swing away
Page 8
Lady Renegades wrap it up
By Nick Zambrano Sports editor
For you, Mr. Kirby Puckett Life is short, it could end at any given moment and in my opinion, always ends way too soon for the nicest people. Last Monday that happened to be the case... baseball Hall-ofFamer Kirby Puckett passed away at the age of 45 from complications of a stroke. Puckett suffered the stroke on Sunday morning in his Scottsdale, Arizona home. After being taken to Scottsdale Osborne Hospital, he went under the knife to undergo neurosurgery. He was then transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix for further observation. His career was ultimately cut short by glaucoma, those twelve years Puckett spent in the league were memorable. “Puck,” the nickname given to him by his fans, was only the ninth player in MLB history to rack up four hits in his first game. Later on in his career, he displayed one of the greatest performances of all time during game six of the 1991 World Series. In that pivotal game, Puckett went 3-4 and robbed Ron Gant of a potential game winning hit. He then stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 11th inning and hit the game winning home run, forcing a game seven. This was only the ninth time in MLB history that a World Series game ended with a home run. Of course, his team, the Minnesota Twins went on to win the series, which complimented the title he won in 1987. In his 12 years of service, Puckett went to 10 All-Stars games, won five silver slugger awards and never had a batting average lower than .290. Looking at Pucket, you wouldn’t think he had the body to command center field, however he managed to collect six gold gloves over the course of his career. He was just as impressive off the field. In 1996, he was awarded the Roberto Clemente Man of the Year award. Puck was the kind of man that would always put his team first. Before the 1991 World Series, he told his teammates that they could go ahead and ride on his back, all five foot, eight inches of him. And he did, but he also did it with a smile on his face. As I said earlier, I believe the nicest leave us earlier than they deserve. Puckett is no exception to that belief, his passing was just eight days before his 46th birthday. So here’s to you Puck, you will be missed but never forgotten.
The Lady Renegades wrapped up their 2006 campaign two weeks ago against Reedley College. From top left: Erica Scoles, Jenna Nicholson, Angelica Benjamin, Christina Vargas, Laura Elliot, Aoife Sands, Erin Stewart, Kaycie Zimmerman, Annika Biard and Amanda Everett. Second row from left: Tasha Gonzalez, Assistant Coach Bob Frey, Head Coach Elizabeth Stanley, Assistant Coach Edward Harris and Photo credit line Alcha Strane. Bottom row: Liezl Dacuycuy. Photo by Ross Tsvetanov
Ladies holding their heads high By Naomi Balagot Staff writer There’s one word to describe Ohlone Head Coach Elizabeth Stanley and the women’s basketball team. Dedication. Stanley’s team strives on dedication not only on the court, but in the classroom as well, representing outstanding team unity. The Lady Renegades ended their season in the second round of playoffs where they fell to Reedley College. “I was so proud of our team members. Falling short of the victory, does not mean that we fell short of earning respect,” said Stanley. The Lady Renegades finished their season 20-11. Stanley was impressed with her team’s distinctive season, but also with the addition of Ohlone College’s very own academic counselor, Dr. Kenn Waters, who specializes in counseling Renegade athletes. “He has been a blessing for our athletes and for me. He spends a great deal of time befriending the players and even more time supporting them, both academically, and athletically,” said Stanley. The Lady Renegades displayed team chemistry both on and off the court. These talented young women took sole ownership of their team establishing the aspect of maturity, to steer them in the right direction to acknowledged team structure. “When we were having our losing streak, no one pointed the finger or jumped on the negative bandwagon. I believe this comes back to leadership,” said Stanley. Despite losing conference, the Lady Renegades met their goals. As sophomore standouts Angelica Benjamin, Laura Elliot,
Amanda Everett and Kaycie Zimmerman bid farewell to Epler Gym, most of these accomplished student athletes will end up playing basketball at the next level. “No one has, as of yet, made
a ‘in cement’ decision regarding their next college experience. I am very confident however, decisions will be made soon,” said Stanley. However, Stanley has four admirably talented returning players,
as Jenna Nicholson, Aoife Sands, Erica Scoles and Christina Vargas will be returning next fall. The 2006 team was exceptionally assertive in achieving success through all aspects.