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Women’s soccer wins, loses.
Free speech area needs upgrade.
OPINION
Bush slashes billions from college costs.
SPORTS
NEWS
FEATURES
Students take bite of Aussie culture.
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Fremont, California
Vol. XXXVI No. 6
October 4, 2007
New hope for frontage bids By Brian Chu Staff writer
Photo by Daniel Yuan
Astronaut Janice Voss speaks about her 2000 space mission before a projection of three views of Earth. Voss’s talk made up the 6th annual NASA Night.
Astronaut recalls space mission at NASA night By ANDREW CAVETTE Staff writer NASA Astronaut Dr. Janice Voss, spoke about her 2000 space shuttle mission on Wednesday night in Ohlone’s Jackson Theater. Voss, who lives in Sunnyvale, is the sixth NASA speaker to appear as part of Ohlone’s annual lecture series, NASA Nights. More than 250 ticket holders came inside from the cool October air after the doors of the Jackson Theater
were opened at 6:30 p.m. After being introduced by President Doug Treadway, Voss, dressed in a blue NASA flight suit, presented a 15minute soundless video about the Feb. 11, 2000 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) which she flew as one of four Mission Specialists. Voss narrated the video, which NASA creates for educational purposes and, as Voss jokingly explained, “so the taxpayers can see what their money is being well spent on.”
Two hundred informational packets have been sent out to local and big-name development companies for their possible suggestions and input in regards to what to develop on the college frontage property. There will be a 10-day window for bids to come in as well as a presentation by two consultants the board has contracted to assist in their decision making. There are currently six offers of groups willing to buy all the land, one of which is roughly a quarter of a million dollars. The board speculates that if businesses are built there it will create a chain effect that will help boost local businesses overall in the area. There were several recent workshops that were open to the community and the public was welcome to attend and discuss the situation. Another hot topic was the presence of the olive trees in the area that the majority of the people present agreed to leave in place.
Prof. to speak on molecular photos By Kaiser Meer Staff writer
The SRTM was a multinational operation to capture high-resolution, digital, topographic images of Earth. The collected data helps geographers in many different countries. On board Shuttle Endeavor, Voss was accompanied by Commander Kevin R. Kregel, Pilot Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie and three other Mission Specialists, including Janet L. Kavandi, Mamora Mohri from Japan and Gerhard P.J. Thiele from Germany. Continued on Page 6
The Math, Science and Technology department will host the third Brown Bag science seminar of the semester, entitled “Molecular Flash Photography,” this Friday from 1-2 p.m. in Room 2133. This talk will discuss time-resolved laser spectroscopy. At the talk, Stanford Chemistry Professor Jose Cabrera will describe the application of laser pulses in pico seconds in accordance with the dissociation of van der Waals complexes in real time. The process of photographing on the molecular level has been getting more attention from universities lately. Stanford, for example, plans to build the biggest molecular camera in the world.
In long term, funds for Newark campus could vary By ANDREW CAVETTE Staff writer The Newark Campus is set to open in the spring of next year, but the question of what the $100 million facility will mean in terms of finances for the Ohlone College District won’t be a known until it is actually in operation, said Director of Business Services Joanne Schultz. The Newark Center, which currently offers courses at the University of Phoenix and Newark Memorial High School and which opens its new center in spring 2008, has already earned Ohlone $1 million in additional grant money from the chancellor’s office. According to Schultz, the Newark Center earned the additional $1 million last year by meeting requirements defined in
the SP361 funding reform bill. The SP361 bill is a financial mechanism by which Ohlone and 71 other community colleges receive funding. The SP361 funding reform bill has two parts. Foundation grants are given out annually based on a certain level of Full Time Equivalent Students (FTES) a college center generates and added to this, the college will also receive additional funding for each FTES. Ohlone’s Fremont campus generated 7,197 FTES in its 2006-2007 fiscal year and received a foundation grant of $3 million with approximately $4,200 per FTES on top of that. The Newark Center, for its part, generated the 1,000 FTES needed to qualify for a $1 million foundation grant, plus the same approximate $4,200 per FTES for that center. The grant money earned by the
Newark campus will benefit other departments and other areas of Ohlone. Ohlone’s annual operating budget is $45 million, and while the Newark Campus has generated some additional grant money, it is now part of a three-centered Ohlone College District; Fremont, Newark and Online courses. It will operate on a budget in the same way as the other centers and departments under the Ohlone College District. Much of what will be required to run the Newark campus remains unknown. Because the campus is opening in spring 2008, Ohlone will not have an exact expense figure for a full-year budget cycle until the 2008-2009 fiscal year. While everything from staff to equipment has already been budgeted, much of what will fill the Newark center has not yet been obtained.
Three new faculty members, who will be moving to the Newark campus along with several existing faculty members, have already been hired and are currently teaching on the Fremont campus. However, 10 other staff positions which have been created (everything from IT technicians to security to custodial staff) have not yet been filled. Schultz said, “The plan is to have these positions filled. The hiring calendar is set up to accommodate [the move-in] schedule. At this point it is not possible to ascertain if what has been estimated as appropriate staffing levels will in fact be appropriate after the center is open.” Regarding the equipment for the Newark Center, the bond manager and Newark Center administration work together to determine what
is needed for equipment and furniture and how those needs can be met in the budget. Bond Program Planning Manager, Don Eichelberger and Newark Campus Dean Leta Stagnaro, have the primary responsibility for making those determinations. Stagnaro said they are in the final phase of identifying a lot of it. She noted that the nursing lab needs hospital beds; the respiratory therapy courses need a respirator; biotech courses will need microscopes; the fitness and wellness center will need weight equipment among other things. Though everything she listed will fit in the existing budget, none of it has been purchased. Stagnaro said this too is by design. Ohlone does not take priority ownership of the Newark site Continued on Page 3
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monitor October 4, 2007
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Opinion Editor in chief: Anna Nemchuk News editor: Eric Dorman Opinion editor: Michael Aburas Features editor: Emily Burkett Sports editor: Tomas Ortega Photo editor: Dan Yuan Online editor: Matthew So Staff writers: Sandeep Abraham,Vanessa Baumann, Inez Black, Andrew Cavette, Brian Chu, Barry Kearns, Richard Killeen, Margarita Kitova, Elise Leon, Danielle McDowell, Kaiser Meer, Jerome Nepacena, Lila Salinas, Kathy Sung. Graphics staff: Nick Bakovic Photo staff: Jack Husting Ad manager: Danelle Meyer Adviser: Bill Parks Printer: F-P Press Please recycle the Monitor
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
Free speech area should upgrade to the Quad By Sandeep Abraham Staff writer As far as explosive issues on a college campus go, the restriction of free speech would be the equivalent of a few tons of napalm, enough to ignite and rally a group of students and simultaneously destroy a peaceful learning environment. Now, as much as I’d like to see a good riot, the restriction of free speech on Ohlone’s campus is nowhere near outrageous enough to warrant one. It does, however, need to be reevaluated. I’m willing to bet a good chunk of all I hold dear in this world that most students at Ohlone have no idea that there exists an area designated for free speech near the
Palm Bosque and stairs leading to Building 9. It’s a small area, no bigger than a smoking area or room in some airports. But before anyone goes crazy at the mere mention of something so ludicrous, let me assure you that the content of your speech is not limited anywhere on campus, only the method and volume with which you make your opinions known. The policy was first established in 1997, back when the Quad and most of campus were open to any and all kinds of free speech. Bands would play in the Quad, and political and religious groups would hold rallies and events there as well. The only reason all of this was moved down to the Palm Bosque was because the Quad is surrounded
by classrooms and is directly in front of the library, which should be a safe haven for students intent on studying. The new location was selected because, at the time, it saw a lot of foot traffic and so it pleased credit card companies, military recruiters, bands and whoever else wanted to make their message reach student ears en masse. Another concern with the Quadbased open forum area was the fact that there were many antiabortionist rallies and evangelical Christian groups assaulting the student populace with what was often unnecessarily graphic and vitriolic hate speech. There were instances of graphic or anti-Semitic posters on campus, and the women who studied and
worked at Ohlone, didn’t like coming to campus only to be called whores or whatever else the hate group of the day chose to throw their way. So in the spirit of cohesiveness, the open forum, or essentially free speech area, was moved closer to the Palm Bosque. However, that was a different time and foot traffic isn’t what it used to be near the Palm Bosque, and highly varies according to the season and time of day. Though I agree with the original intention of the policy and enjoy the relatively peaceful environment that is Ohlone, there should not be only one tiny portion of the campus dedicated to open discussion and impromptu events and rallies. The Quad might not be the best place
for these either, but there are plenty of other locations on campus that would work just as well. The issue isn’t so much where students aren’t allowed to speak as freely and loudly as possible, but more where they are. The fact that there exists a sign designating a certain area as free speech friendly is what is so outrageous. There should instead be a sign in the Quad limiting not the content of, but the volume and method by which free speech is delivered. And if this becomes too much of an issue, at least designate a few more areas of uninhibited, but peaceful expression. Maybe also putting up signs of the First Amendment to the Constitution would make this policy a bit more palatable.
be somewhat graphic. Yet, aren’t other forms of entertainment worse in explicit content? For instance, video games, movies and even music videos. Most kids these days have a PS or Nintendo, with games showing a person’s head being blown off with a rifle, or a knife fight with a zombie exposing guts and blood for com-
mon thrills. Or how about television - let’s name one, shall we? CSI is a great show, don’t take me wrong, but nonetheless, you must in some way agree that the majority of the things shown on that series can be unsuitable for children of certain ages. However, when I went to the museum this past Monday, I saw
kids of all ages enjoying themselves learning about the human anatomy, from what a hemorrhage is, to what the brain stroke looks like from the body of a lady who was 36 weeks into her pregnancy. The way these children were fascinated with the displays and research was incredible. There was this particular girl, about the
age of 7, who was mesmerized by how the joints of the body worked - especially the hip joint. She kept looking at the acetabulum, which is, by definition, a concave surface of the pelvis, according to Wikipedia. I feel that this display is appropriate for everyone of all ages. It is educational, plain and simple.
Dead bodies aren’t gross; they’re educational By Elise Leon Staff writer A major question in people’s minds at this time is if the Body Works 2 Museum in San Jose is appropriate for children. Yes it is a museum, however, some of the material shown can be known to
Campus Comment > > >
Would you donate your dead body to art?
Jeris Aujila Aerospace Technology “Yes; I won’t be using it.”
Morgan bell Social Worker “No, I would rather be in peace.”
tom shively Kinesiology “No, but I would donate it to science.”
amrinder singh
megan moore
Bio Technology
Deaf Studies
“It depends on what type of art.”
“If someone finds enjoyment in my innards, more power to them.”
October 4, 2007 MONITOR
News
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Bush signs College Cost Reduction Act By Sandeep Abraham Staff writer President Bush signed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act in Congress Thursday, which will provide the largest increase in federal student aid since the Montgomery GI Bill of 1944. Still, the act will probably impact Ohlone students only minimally. “It may have a small impact, but nothing significant since our costs
are so low,” said Director of Business Services Joanne Schultz. “It will probably affect out-of-state students the most.” The bill would increase the maximum amount awarded by the Pell Grant Scholarship to $1,090 and will cut interest rates on federal student loans in half without any burden on taxpayers as money will be deducted from excess federal subsidies currently being paid to the student loan industry.
“It will increase [Ohlone students’] Pell awards by $490 for the ’08-’09 and ’09-’10 years…and it will eliminate tuition sensitivity for the Pell Grant starting on July 1, 2007,” said Director of Financial Aid Deborah Griffin. Most middle- and low-income families make anywhere between $28,000-68,000 each year, with the median income being $45,000 in 2003 and $54,000 in 2004. As this bill will slice interest rates in half, it
also guarantees that borrowers will contribute no more than 15 percent of their annual income to repaying their loans. Also because of this, the method of calculating the degree to which a student needs money changes, making more college students eligible for federal aid. As a whole, the state is set to receive an extremely generous portion of the benefits offered by this bill. Under this bill, California
will receive more than $3 billion over five years as part of the total increase in Pell Grants and student aid given to families. This will then be distributed to students who take out need-based loans at California’s four-year public universities, each of whom on average accumulates a student loan debt of $15,125. University students with loans also stand to save $4,380 on interest payments through this bill.
Pouring cement, installing rebar for SSB begins By Vanessa Baumann Staff writer The constuction of the new Student Services Building (SSB) is proceeding on schedule, with workers beginning to pour concrete and install rebar this week. The SSB is set to be completed in February 2009, and will be occupied by May 2009. The building’s main purpose will be to provide students help with financial aid and health care, as well as to assist with registration. The construction process is progressing gradually. It has been an ongoing project since May 2007. Section by section is being carefully taken care of to make sure the building is finished in time, structured right, as well as for the protection of the students and staff. About 80 percent of the footing is finished, which is key to finishing the rest of the building. The crew has been mainly focusing their work on the bottom of the building, which includes putting in the beam support to have the base of the building steady and secure.
The construction crew’s schedule includes working six days a week, rain or shine. They work eight hours a day, with a total of about 25 crew members; however, the number of crew members fluctuates day-to-day. Turner Construction, the firm responsible for the construction, has completed several buildings before this project. Though the crew has been involved with the construction of many buildings before, this is the first time they’ve worked for the Fremont Ohlone campus. Though this is their first time on this campus, construction manager Miguel said, “We are going to make this building similar to all of the other buildings; it’ll look about the same.” (Miguel refused to give his last name.) In regard to some of the graffiti incidents that have been happening on the campus lately, construction manager Miguel said there shouldn’t be any worries of anything like that happening to the construction site. “The fences around the site are used to keep anybody out, and also the campus police drive around and watch 24/7, so it’s pretty secure.”
Photo by Daniel Yuan
A worker cleans a section of the SSB construction site in preparation for concrete and rebar.
ASOC breathes life into committees of all kinds The Associated Students of Ohlone College (ASOC) appointed Janelle Feliciano to the executive position of representative at large, Kevin Feliciano to treasurer and Kelley Kita to secretary at their meeting Tuesday. A number of committees were formed at this week’s meeting, the most prominent being an unnamed committee that has been fused from the recently created ASOC Awareness Committee, Spirit Committee
and the Monthly Event Committee. The forming of this committee is aimed at helping raise awareness of the ASOC in general. “A large number of students don’t even know ASOC exists. We need to make sure people who come to our school know we are here for them and are here for their suggestions,” said Senator Alexander Song. In regard to the Spirit Committee, Janelle Feliciano said, “I believe school spirit is a very vital part of going to college. It fuels people to come to events, to come to school, it is the basis of everything. We need a
committee that raises awareness to people of where they are going, to raise awareness that they are going to Ohlone College.” She also added, “I want to give a new life to what it means to go to Ohlone College. I want to create new things that are not boring! It’s to create a sense of unity and school pride.” Also of interest is that the website committee, suggestion box committee and promo ad committee, which were ideas presented in last week’s meeting, did not come to pass. “We shouldn’t stretch ourselves thin with
Continued from Page 1 until Dec. 15, 2007 and Stagnaro explained that the purchasing schedule has been coordinated with Ohlone’s full acquisition of the site. “We haven’t purchased [much of] it yet,” Stagnaro said, “only because we don’t have a place to deliver it and rather than have it delivered [to the Fremont campus] and then have them move it to Newark, we are trying to time everything in a way that we can just receive it over there.” Director of Purchasing and Contracts Mark R. Robbins added, “If we order too soon, we would have to store it somewhere and then move it, creating double handling and additional expense.” The estimated total needed for purchasing equipment is $15 million. In addition to the money from the chancellor’s office, the Newark Center is seeking to tap into other funding streams to purchase
additional equipment. According to Schultz, these funding streams include: bond funds, grants, some general funds and donations both in-kind and in cash. President Doug Treadway also mentioned that the Newark center has two rooms designated for Contract Education courses aimed at the corporate world with training programs for staff and group coaching. “There’s part of the campus that is set up to revenue generate from that corporate training,” said Treadway. The hands-on contract development training creates real world contracts between outside businesses and Ohlone, which brings in additional revenue. Treadway is hopeful regarding growth for the Newark Center and believes that over time it may have the potential to become a fullfledged second campus rather than a center. “My prediction would be
that in five years it would qualify for the next level of funding,” said Treadway. To reach the next level of that funding, the Newark center itself would have to generate 5,000 Full Time Equivalent Students a year. If it does reach that level in the future, the Newark Center would then earn the Ohlone College District an annual base grant equal to the $3 million the Fremont campus earns now.
By brian chu Staff writer
Newark finances variable
all these committees,” said ASOC member Jackie McCulley. The ASOC also passed Board of Trustees Representative Ken Steadman’s brainchild, the Campus Live Music Committee. “We are responsible for bringing live music to campus, things like battle of the bands would be one of the projects, Wild and Out Wednesdays would also fall under the umbrella of this committee,” said Steadman. There are rumors that Steadman himself may play an instrument at the first Battle of The Bands on Oct. 26. Also passed and of interest to the
student body are the self-explanatory Food and Cafeteria Committee which is spearheaded by Steadman’s rally cry “I just need food!” along with the Facilities/Newark Campus Committee, the Marketing Committee (whose goal is to market out Ohlone, perhaps even making it a “brand,” according to Feliciano), and the Speakers Committee, which brings speakers to the college. Committees are open to the public, and can be joined by students and faculty. The ASOC urges students to create committees concerning their needs.
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Weighing Anchor By Eric dorman News editor
Go green, take action I’ve always thought that the day Bush realized the severity of global warming would be the day that seawater started lapping at the porch of his Crawford, Texas ranch. It isn’t there yet, and Bush is still gravely underestimating the threat global warming poses to the world, despite a recent speech in which he tried to suggest the opposite. In the speech, delivered last Friday at the White House-sponsored Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change, Bush announced that America had recognized global warming as a problem and was committed to doing something about it. His master plan? To set up an international meeting next summer, and try to reach a “global consensus” with the United Nations by 2009. The sentiment is admirable; the method of execution is not. If the U.S. realizes that global warming is a problem, we should take some action instead of merely setting up a meeting to talk about it. Interestingly enough, Bush’s plan is largely similar to the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty designed to cut CO2 emissions worldwide, which was signed by more than 150 countries, with the U.S. notably absent. Bush refused to sign the agreement because, among other things, he felt that the restrictions were too tight. Apparently Bush is still unready for actual CO2 restrictions, because under his new plan industry participation would be voluntary. Judging by the past seven years, as long as industries face no actual restrictions, they will continue to place money ahead of the environment. While a “global consensus” may sound like an attractive option, immediate action is the only way to truly combat global warming. If the United States—the world’s second-largest emitter of CO2—were to lead by example and take the job of reducing greenhouse gasses upon itself, not only would we cut down our own yearly 6.4 billion-ton CO2 emission habit, but we would also create economic incentive worldwide to market green products. Besides the fact that America implementing an economically successful environmentallyfriendly energy policy would show other countries that it could be done, creating products that America wants makes economic sense. The U.S. has $2.2 trillion worth of buying power every year; if we buy green, it pays for other nations to sell green. Bush’s plan is a small step forward, and a much bigger step off to the side. It is clear that he intends to spend a lot of time with talk, and little with action. Unfortunately, action is what we really need.
Features Students on adventure in Australia Ohlone students spending the semester in Australia had a special treat this past weekend when they visited Blue Mountain and spent time with native Australian wildlife like the koala. Student Symantha Reagor, right, poses with one of the students’ new marsupial acquaintances. Photo courtesy of Symantha Reagor
All the bard’s works in two hours By ELISE LEON Staff writer If you’re looking for a play that’s comical, spontaneous and interactive with the audience, then the “Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” is the play for you. Joshua Mertz, Tim Eliot and Matthew Quinn are quirky and energetic in the play as they go back and forth trying to educate the audience on Shakespearean plays. They performed last Friday, filling up about two-thirds of the Smith Center auditorium. The show originated, according to the three, as a lark. A group of friends in Southern California made up the play for laughs in the 1980s and later brought it to New York. The performance encompasses every play that Shakespeare ever
wrote, in two hours. Watching the actors go back and forth in characters, costumes and props was exciting, to say the least. In fact, “watching backstage was almost as dramatic as watching the performance,” said Quinn. A trademark of the show is the actors wearing different-colored Converse shoes: red, blue and green. As Quinn stated, “I’m the lucky one...I get to wear the Converses from the beginning.” (The others are dressed more formally at first.) At one point of the show Tim picked someone from the audience to participate in the play by screaming. “You shouldn’t pick someone who seems (overly) cool, because then they won’t play along. The girl I picked tonight was almost too cool, but she was excellent.”
From left: Tim Eliot, Matthew Quinn and Joshua Mertz Photo courtesy of Joshua Mertz
Fremont Symphony wows audience By Lila Salinas Staff writer Opening night for the Fremont Symphony Orchestra on Sept. 22 was a much-anticipated event. Every seat in the Smith Center auditorium was occupied while many people crowded outside the ticket booth to purchase their seats. The orchestra waited placidly with their instruments at hand for the conductor’s signal. The Smith Center’s 44th season began with the national anthem, before launching into “Overture to The Marriage of Figaro,” a mercurial Mozart classic. The piece set a mesmerizing and radiant tone; the violins crafting a lighthearted mood into which the horns and percussion easily weaved. The conductor then introduced the night’s first special guest, David Southorn, a talented young violinist, who won first place in the “2007 Young Artist Competition,” and is currently pursuing a Master of Music at Yale University. The second composition was Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto,” composed in 1878. Tchaikovsky wrote the melancholy yet triumphant piece after recovering from his disastrous marriage. The violins seemed almost magnetic, precise in every measure combined with a
low and steady percussion. Southorn played the solo, smoothly and confidently, translating the meaning of the Tchaikovsky’s concerto into his movements. Southorn’s energy dominated his instrument as he twisted on stage. When the piece finished, the auditorium was filled with applause and cheers while audience members threw roses at Southorn’s feet. Following a brief intermission, the evening was resumed with the piece, “Zhui-Meng-yearn,” composed in 2007 by Albert Chang, seeing its world premier by renowned composer and conductor Hong Wang. An accomplished composer who has traveled the world, one of Wang’s most recognizable credits was the score for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Wang specializes in Chinese folk instruments, specifically the erhu (pronounced air-who). The erhu is a Chinese folk instrument with two strings that is held in the lap and played with a bow, somewhat resembling a violin. Wang’s piece evoked images of ancient China, telling the Chinese folk tale of suffering, love and conquest, celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth moon. The grand finale came in the form of Debussy’s “La Mer,” which is
French for “the sea,” which was composed in 1905. “Le Mer” was the beautiful ending to a the spectacular show. The sound of the ocean brushing through the sand, a calm wave of instruments filled the auditorium, by the end of the performances, the
orchestra took a proud bow with their instruments at hand. Dyane Hendricks, the new executive director of the Fremont Orchestra, has a combination of styles for all musical interests lined up for what she said will be an exciting season.
October 4, 2007 monitor
Features Students speak out on disabilities By Inez Black Staff writer Christy Pimental was the keynote speaker for the Disability Awareness Week program on Oct. 1. As a visually impaired, diabetic student currently awaiting a kidney transplant, she volunteered to speak as a representative of Donate Life’s California chapter, which advocates for improvements to the organ donation registry system, specifically supporting Senate Bill 689. Pimental said that approximately 18,000 Californians are currently waiting for organ or tissue transplants; about one-third of them will die while waiting. More people need to register to give the gift of life and it is now easier with SB 689, Pimental explained. Nationally, 100,000 people are waiting for organs or tissues; California represents 20 percent of the total. Pimental was working as an assistant for the Oakland Raiders when she collapsed due to undiagnosed diabetes. Her untreated diabetes caused kidney failure. She said, “I am completely blind in my left eye, with low vision in my right eye.” Before Pimental collapsed, she considered herself young and invincible. Like many young athletic diabetics, she displayed few signs of her serious problems, stating, “My legs started swelling up, but
I was an extremely active person. The doctors said that my high level of activity was the reason I did not get symptoms before.” There was a history of diabetes in her family, yet she had never been assessed for diabetes. Pimental stated that students can injure their kidneys through fighting or even kidding around, punching each other in the back in their kidneys. They also can be injured playing sports, in an automobile accident, or by disease. SB 689, sponsored by Sen. Jackie Speier, corrects serious problems in the organ donor registry system of California, using the Department of Motor Vehicles. Prior to SB 689, the four federally designated organ procurement organizations (ODOs) did not have access to the DMV’s donor registry system and were unaware of donors, according to Donate Life. Donate Life was established by SB 112 in 2003. It transferred responsibility for establishing the organ and tissue registry to a private, nonprofit organization, called “Donate Life – California.” It designated the ODOs to administer the nonprofit organization. This solved the problem of lack of state funding. Previously, in 2001, SB 108 authorized an agency for organ donation registry; however, the agency was never funded.
Devil’s Advocate By Anna Nemchuk Editor-in-chief
Sarcasm
Staff photos
Above: Student panel Jose Cordova, Victor Cardenas and Andrew Schoenecker speak during Disability Awareness Week alongside Stephanie Brunton (not shown). Below: Christy Pimental was the keynote speaker on Monday. SB 689 requires the DMV to electronically transmit essential information on new donor applications and changes to Donate Life for the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registrar. Kidneys are the only organs for which there is a back-up system, kidney dialysis, to help extend a person’s life while on the waiting list. Pimental explained that many people complain about the diet and dialysis, saying, “None of that bothered me because it kept me alive. I had a positive attitude and the doctors said that will keep you alive longer. My only issue was walking because of the toxic buildup [in my legs], but once I got my kidney, it was all right.” “I was on a very strict diet, barely any protein. My diet consisted of ground turkey and white rice for about five years. You can’t have potassium. You can’t have milk or a lot of protein because the dialysis
only represents 15 percent of your kidney function, which is all you need to survive. You can’t have vegetables or vitamins,” said Pimental. Not following the diet strictly can be deadly, causing toxins in a dialysis patient’s blood to exceed the 15 percent limit of dialysis. Pimental changed her career goals, going back to school and majoring in communications, stating, “I wanted to make a change, and I could not make a change without a college degree.” She wants to become the Executive Director, and then President, of Donate Life - California. Pimental is a student in the Disabled Students Program and Services at Folsom Lake College, outside Sacramento, majoring in communications. While waiting for a donor kidney, she was able to maintain a 3.8 GPA. SB 689 also provides for online registration at www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org.
constantly finding new resources in her travels. Alavi has also seen much of the with which to teach. Alavi said that during that time they “would work world; she has just recently returned on whatever we could get our hands from a trip with her family in Spain, her third time on.” traveling there. Alavi’s Although she drive in teachhas been to ing English as many differa Second Lanent countries, guage classes Alavi plans to is the undertravel more standing that and in many “communicacases return tion is key.” to some of the Alavi said that places she has by teaching the already visited. ESL classes the In the United students will States, Alavi gain access to Zahra Alavi, featured has traveled to opportunities not previously above, was recently hired and has taught in New York available to full-time at Ohlone and instructed them. Alavi Staff photo at a community said that she is college in Seoften rewarded as she watches the development attle. After her work in the Peace that happens with new students as they learn and “start feeling like the language is their second skin.” Alavi also said that while she teaches she is frequently inspired by the perseverance of her students in learning English, which might be more difficult, because ESL as opposed to bilingual classes is only taught in English. Alavi mentioned that she learns much about other places and customs around the world from the students she teaches, which aids her
Corps, Alavi also spent time backpacking through Europe, where she says that she fell in love with places like Florence. Alavi said that she would love to return to Greece and spend more time going to the nearby islands; she also mentioned that her plan is to one day retire in Zanzibar off the coast of East Africa. When Alavi isn’t teaching, she follows pursuits such as running and is an avid reader. Alavi says that she frequently reads books discussing philosophy and that some of her favorite authors are Paulo Coelho and Barbara Kingsolver. Alavi also makes a point of going out and discovering new restaurants and eateries to enjoy meals or beverages every month.
Ohlone hires world traveler full-time By Barry Kearns Staff writer After being a part-time teacher at Ohlone College, Zahra Alavi has recently become a full-time instructor, taking on several English as a Second Language courses. Alavi, who was born and raised in the Bay Area, has decided to accept the job as an instructor at Ohlone over another position in Africa so that she can be close to her roots. Alavi has been teaching for about seven years and in those years she has taught at many different academic levels, from elementary school to community college and in many locations around the world. Alavi took undergraduate courses at UC Irvine and then went on to Columbia University to further her education. Alavi first started helping students develop English skills during a summer program in college. During that time, she worked with migrant students to help get them prepped for the upcoming school year. After her graduation from Columbia, Alavi went to South Africa with the Peace Corps and stayed there for two years. While in South Africa, she taught an after-school program in the village schools where she worked with teachers in areas such as lesson planning and in the training of other teachers. Alavi recalls teaching in classrooms that held about 50 students and
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In 19 days, Schwarzenegger is set to sue the Environmental Protection Agency. That is, assuming EPA Chief Stephen Johnson’s telling the truth; the agency has assured the recent Reuters Global Environment Summit that, regarding California’s request to enact stricter emission guidelines, it will make a decision by the end of the year. Last April, the Gubernator declared that if the EPA didn’t act by Oct. 22 of this year, he’d go Rambo on their asses. Y’know, in a legal way. The EPA promptly threw their hands in the air and screeched that they didn’t have to regulate greenhouse gasses and no one could make ‘em, nyah-nyah. The Supreme Court begged to differ, 5-4. How rude. I mean, really, the nerve of the Supreme Court. To say that an agency aimed at protecting the environment should actually have anything to do with air pollution and encroaching global warming is absurd. It’s not like it’s in their name or anything. Bad Supreme Court - leave the nice agency alone. They just want to hold their corporate fundraisers and go on retreats in peace. Speaking of unfair - what is it with everyone complaining about Bush’s vetoes? Doesn’t the man have enough to deal with (the ranch, his daughters and those darn terrorists with their nuclear weapons) without coming under fire for saving the nation money and rescuing it from the larger threat of socialized health care? After all, the proposed $35 billion increase over the next five years to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program - meant to provide the six million children from families that earn a bit too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private health insurance - is clearly not as important as the $189 billion the president has recently requested from Congress for the ongoing War on Terror in the Middle East. Moreover, the amended SCHIP funding would have come from a tax increase on cigarettes and we can’t have that. Maybe those poor kids should just pray.
6 MONITOR
News
October 4, 2007
Food, obesity discussed in Book Club’s fall read By Kathy Sung Staff writer Americans ate out 10 times more often in 2004 than they did in 1974. The Ohlone Book Club has decided to explore this fact and more about food with their choice of Michael Pollan’s “Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals” as their fall read. Anticipating the completion of the “green” Newark campus next year, Librarian K. G. Greenstein said the book will help “generate discussion about the environment and our place as humans in it.” The Book Club is still deciding on the discussion date, but it will be held on a Friday afternoon either in late November or early December. Book Club discussions are usually informal, lasting from 1 and a half
to 2 hours. People pull up chairs in a circle and debate, share and discuss what they thought about the book. Ohlone students can buy copies of the book in the Ohlone College Library at the Information Desk. The price of the book is $13 in cash only. The Book Club is trying to persuade Professor Jeff Watanabe, a biology professor at Ohlone, to lead the discussion. According to Greenstein, “Omnivore’s Dilemma” was a “life changing experience” for Watanabe. “I have started composting my leftovers, am attempting to eat lower on the food chain (more veggies & grains) and have signed up for community supported agriculture (CSA), a program that delivers fresh food every week directly from local organic farms,” said Wantanabe.
After reading this book, readers will be more knowledgeable about where their food comes from and learn how to eat healthier in one of the world’s most obese nations. Last fall the Book Club discussed Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation,” and “Thinking In Pictures: My Life With Autism,” by Temple Grandin in Spring. “Omnivore’s Dilemma” brings up many facts, including the factth that most Americans in the 20 Century never come in contact with where their food comes from. Our population is now used to beef in a package and vegetables lined up for us in the grocery. It is an obvious fact, said Pollan, that we no longer hunt, gather and prepare our own food. Pollan deals with some major issues, including the questions
“Where does our food come from?” and “What is in our food?” This is a book that explores the fast food industry and explains its detriment to America’s food system. This is not a book for people who want to remain ignorant to the ways industrial food may be harmful to humans. Pollan, a journalist, writes with an elegance and conviction that is usually impossible to obtain when writing when talking about Chicken McNuggets, said Greenstein. “Omnivore’s Dilemma” is a book that explores three different meals, breaking down the patterns of human behavior from agriculture. Pollan starts off his first chapter writing about corn. After reading “Omnivore’s Dilemma,” people will learn that out of “some 45,000 items in the average American
supermarket…more than a quarter of them contain corn.” Corn even appears in everyday soft drinks in the form of corn syrup. The book is filled with interesting facts about the American market, bringing to life a whole new outlook about the things we fill our stomachs with and the value of investigating what we eat. For more information concerning “Omnivores Dilemma,” visit Michael Pollan’s website at www. michaelpollan.com/omnivore. php. His website includes more background information behind the author and the book. It also includes an excerpt from the introduction and the first chapter of the book. For more information about the upcoming book discussion, visit www.ohlone.edu/org/bookclub, or contact Greenstein.
pointed at the Earth the whole time.” The schools back on Earth would organize their own student-operated mission control centers whose grade school members would have to make sure the commands got up to the shuttle through the real mission control in Houston. “It’s really a great motivator,” said Voss. Voss is now the science director for the Kepler Space Observatory, an unmanned satellite NASA is currently developing. According to the NASA overview of the Kepler Mission, the space observatory is a NASA Discovery mission and will use a 0.95-meter Schmidt telescope to search 100,000 stars over four years with the hopes of finding Earth-like planets outside of our solar system. According to a July 16, 2007 article on ww.space.com, the mission has had financial upsets and been delayed several times. In January
2006 the mission was delayed for eight months due to budgetary issues and then again for four months in March 2006, again for financial reasons. Earlier this year the mission was almost canceled, but it was saved when the Kelper team decided to reduce the scheduled four-year mission by six months. They also had to scale back on testing, and made some changes regarding management to fit within budget. As of two weeks ago, however, Voss and the other members of the Kepler team were doing major hardware testing on the focal plain array, the main imaging instrument used by the space observatory. The Kepler Space Observatory is scheduled to launch in 2009. After the presentation, Voss spoke on the nature of talks. “Every time I speak, no matter where I am or how often I do it, someone always asks a new question.”
Astronaut speaks on travels in space Continued from Page ` “The hardest thing about a mission is getting all the crew members to agree on a patch,” Voss quipped. During a phone call last week, Voss said “being part of a mission that was so universally valuable was really exciting.” She said even though the crew was always busy, the mission itself was boring. “Boring missions are good,” said Voss, “because you can really focus and concentrate.” Voss explained that in order to capture images at the correct angle, Kregel and Gorie had to do a maneuver every 45 minutes for all 11 days of the mission, which Voss described as “kinda boring, but pretty high anxiety... [The pilot] was so happy to get a flawless set of maneuvers done.” After the video, Voss answered questions from the audience. One student asked what advice Voss
would give to a student trying to get into the NASA program. Voss said, “The best way to [get into NASA] is also best way to do anything in life and that is to be passionate about what you like.” She also said that trying different paths that may never hold your interest is a good thing. Voss explained that her educational path turned in many different directions, but was glad she got the experience she did. “The path that I followed led me to the place that I fit,” Voss said. One student asked about Voss’s marital status, wondering if being an astronaut got in the way of that part of her life. Voss, who has been married twice, once before becoming an astronaut and one afterward, is now single. Voss was surprisingly open about her personal life, and explained that relationships are difficult no matter what your profession and are very much about communication. She understands
that the question of your relationships versus your profession is an important one, especially for women. The audience asked many other questions; everything from the problem of space junk to private space flights to a potential Mars visit, which Voss thinks will be possible inside of 30 years. Voss said her favorite experience in space was a personal one. She is a huge science fiction fan and said she was once able to read an Isaac Asimov novel by “Earth Light,” the light that reflected into the shuttle from the Earth. While in orbit, the Endeavor also hosted EarthKAM, which allowed students in more than 75 middle schools around the world to select photo targets via the internet and receive images from the shuttle. Voss said they set up a 35 mm digital camera on the shuttle “and because we were mapping, we were
Campus Events CLASSIFIEDS Avon, Buy or Sell $10 to Start -- No quotas, or inventory. For more information on this exciting opportunity please call (510) 6978867 or send an email to: avonrep@theavonshop. net. Earn up to 50%. Sharks Ice is Hiring -- Sharks Ice in Fremont is looking for energetic and motivated Ohlone students.We are hiring for the following positions: bar tenders, snack bar attendants, skate guards, pro shop and cashiers. Apply online at www.sharksice. com or call (510) 6237200 for more information. NOW HIRING $11$18 -- Do you love working with children? Become a substitute.We need teachers, aides & directors for preschools, daycares and after-school programs all over the Bay Area. Schedules are flexible. You pick your days, hours, region and age group. We will work around your availability. Pls call (866) 994-7823, email at calstaff@sbcglobal. net or visit our website: www.CaliforniaStaffingService.com. Seeking piano instructor -Looking for a person to take piano lessons from. Must be affordable and in the Fremont area. Must already teach lessons to others. Call (510) 3042538.
October 4 LIFE Meeting -- 2:40 to 3:40 p.m. in the Palm Bosque if the weather is good or Room 14A if the weather is bad. LIFE is an exciting club that meets on Thursdays. Come join the fun and take part in “Liberated Individuals for the Environment.” Everyone is welcome. 4 New Art Gallery Exhibit -- will be available to view from now until Oct. 26 in the Louie Meager Art Gallery. This exhibit is “Beneath the Surface” by Karen Luk, who is an illustrator who paints with chalk pastels and watercolors. Her diverse work encompasses subjects ranging from Adam and Eve to social commentary to comics. She is a graduate
of the California College of Art and an Ohlone College alumna. The gallery is open Monday to Friday from noon to 3 p.m.
Thursdays. Come join the fun and take part in “Liberated Individuals for the Environment.” Everyone is welcome.
4 Last Day To Apply For Graduation -- This is the last day to turn in the paperwork necessary to apply for graduation or a certificate of achievement. All day.
12 Women’s Soccer -- 2 p.m. vs. Skyline College here at Ohlone.
4 Campus Tour -- 4 p.m. in the lobby of Building 1. The Ohlone Student Ambassadors conduct campus tours the first and third Thursday of every month. Tours will begin promptly at 4 p.m. and will last approximately one hour. Please make sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing quite a bit of walking.
13 Super Flea Market -- 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in parking lots E and H. Vendors sell a variety of things like jewelry, food, tools, gift items, toys, household supplies and collectibles. Flea markets are held on the second Saturday of each month. Parking is $2 per vehicle and admission is free. All proceeds support Ohlone College programs.
5 Ohlonewide SUDOKU Competition -- 3:45 to 5 p.m. in Room 3201. Come compete for prizes and learn about Ohlone’s Math Club.
13 Teresa Walters, Concert Pianist -- Performance in the Smith Center at 8 p.m. For more information on this event, or to buy tickets, please visit the Box Office.
5 Brown Bag Seminar -Molecular Flash Photography: Following Chemical Processes in Real-Time. Presented by Dr. Jose Cabrera, Stanford University researcher and chemistry professor at Ohlone, from 1 to 2 p.m. in Room 2133. Free refreshments will be available prior to event and the event is free. Check the Ohlone web page for more information on upcoming Brown Bag seminars. 5 Men’s Soccer -- 4 p.m. vs. Hartnell College here at Ohlone. 9 Women’s Soccer -- 2 p.m. vs. City College of San Francisco here at Ohlone.
12 Men’s Soccer -- 4 p.m. vs. Evergreen Valley College here at Ohlone.
13 Third Annual Early Childhood Conference -- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Ohlone Kidango Center. Topics include: InfantToddler, Working with Children with Challenging Behaviors, Curriculum, Taking Care of the Personal and Professional Self, Family Child Care, Child Health, and much more. Register early. Space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fee is $20 and includes breakfast and lunch. To register visit the Kidango center or call Janice at (510) 979-7496 for more information.
14 Ohlone Chamber Orchestra: Fall Concert -- performance in the Smith Center at 2 p.m. For more information on this event, or to buy tickets, please visit the Box Office. 16 Men’s Soccer -- 4 p.m. vs. Mission College here at Ohlone. 16 World Forum -- India: contributor and rival to Silicon Valley, noon to 2 p.m. Speaker: B.S. Prakash, the Counsel General of India, will speak on the current dynamics between India and the U.S., especially the Silicon Valley. This event is free. 17 Ohlone Community Band -- Performance at 8 p.m. in the Smith Center. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Box Office. 18 Campus Tour -- 4 p.m. in the lobby of Building 1. The Ohlone Student Ambassadors conduct campus tours the first and third Thursday of every month. Tours will begin promptly at 4 p.m. and will last approximately one hour. Please make sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing quite a bit of walking. 19 Brown Bag Seminar -- Chemistry Demonstra-
October 4, 2007 monitor
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tions: by Jim Klent, Chemistry Professor Emeritus at Ohlone, from 1 to 2 p.m. in Room 2133. Jim Klent is renowned for his entertaining teaching style. He will perform chemistry demonstrations to inform and delight the audience. Free refreshments eo;; nr available. The the event is free. Check the Ohlone web page for more information on upcoming Brown Bag seminars. 19 Men and Women’s Water Polo -- 3 p.m. vs. West Valley College here at Ohlone. 19 Men’s Soccer -- 4 p.m. vs. Cañada College here at Ohlone. 22 Annual Golf Tournament -- 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Castlewood Country Club. This club is located at 707 Country Club Circle, Pleasanton. Funds benefit Ohlone College Student Athletics. Includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart, barbeque lunch and benefit dinner. Registration is $225 for each individual, or $900 for a golf foursome. There will also be awards and prizes. For information, contact Donna Runyon at (510) 659-6053. For registration, contact Connie Teshara at (510) 659-6220 or fax (510) 659-7339.
Newark Fire Dept. Event Oct. 13: attend the Newark Fire Dept. open house from noon to 4 p.m, at Fire Station No. 3, located at the corner of Mowry Avenue and Cherry Street. Event includes fire safety trailer, demos by NFD Truck Co., PG&E, CHP, and more. This year’s theme is: “Practice your Escape Plan.” It will highlight disaster readiness. For more information, please call (510) 790-7218.
9 Men’s Soccer -- 4 p.m. vs. Skyline College here at Ohlone. 10 National Depression Screening Day -- Screening all day in the Ohlone Health Center, Building 16. This event is free. 10 Women’s Water Polo -- 3 p.m. vs. Cabrillo College here at Ohlone. 10 Men’s Water Polo -- 4:15 p.m. vs. Cabrillo College here at Ohlone. 10 Women’s Volleyball -6:30 p.m. vs. San Jose City College here at Ohlone. 11 LIFE Meeting -- 2:40 to 3:40 p.m. in the Palm Bosque if the weather is good or Room 14A if the weather is bad. LIFE is an exciting club that meets on
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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 4, 2007
Women’s soccer runs into Chabot By Jerome Nepacena Staff writer The first half was a struggle for the Ohlone Renegade’s Women’s Soccer team on Friday as Chabot College pushed their offense in the first half and played tough physical defense in the second half, which resulted in a 2-1 win at Ohlone. The Renegades struggled against Chabot’s aggressive offense in the first half, but looked to hold off Chabot’s first couple of field goal attempts on some nice saves by goalie Shabnam Razawi. Chabot continued to press the offense, however, which resulted in a field goal at the 15 minute mark of the first half, which the Renegades were unable to recover from. Another goal was scored to make it 2-0 going into halftime. With a lackluster first half, the Renegades knew they had to change their game plan for the second half. The Renegades had to literally fight to keep themselves in the game. The second half featured some aggressive and physical play by Chabot, as three Ohlone players were nearly injured by some extracurricular activity. “It was a competitive game, but a little dirty on their side…”, said head coach Larry Hesslin after the game. The physical play wasn’t enough to hold the Renegades back
as they scored their first and only goal on an assist by Forward Fanny Koloko-Green. Though the Renegades played much more aggressively in the second half, Chabot College was able to hold off their seemingly rejuvenated offensive play. To sum up his team’s performance Coach Hesslin said, “They (Chabot) played great in the first half, and I thought we gave a great effort in the second half. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to pull out the win.” For much of the game, Chabot College used noticeably aggressive and physical play on both ends of the field to help throw off Ohlone’s game plan. Coach Hesslin noticed this and said “…Yeah it was physical but when the referees are allowing it you just have to play through it.” Not only did the game’s physical nature nearly injure many Ohlone players, tempers nearly flared as well, but the referees and players on both teams were able to keep things from getting out of hand. Their ability to keep their minds on the game and not let the physical play get in their heads too much allowed them to make some nice plays in the second half. Though they fell short it was still a huge improvement from their lack of energy in the first half. The Renegades fall to 2-3-2.
Renegades drop to West Valley By Tomás Ortega Sports editor Tuesday afternoon was a beautiful day for a game of women’s soccer between the Ohlone Renegades and the West Valley Golden Eagles. While Ohlone did play a great game, they ended up dropping their fourth game of the season, losing 1-0. Throughout the afternoon the Renegades played very well both offensively and defensively. Forward Fanny Koloko-Green had a very good afternoon. Head Coach Larry Heslin later said about Koloko-Green, “She’s a hard worker and she’s a very physical player. She’s strong to the ball and it’s hard to knock her off. She will go shoulder to shoulder with anyone and there is no one really that can handle her.” That’s very true about KolokoGreen. Midway through the first half, Koloko-Green received a cross from the outside and while doing so, knocked down an Eagle defender and attempted a shot. The shot bounced off another Eagle defender and she shot again only to have her attempt blocked by the West Valley keeper. Even after getting her shots blocked and being double teamed, Koloko-Green kept working to try and get her team on the scoreboard. Shortly after Ohlone’s threat, West Valley was able to put together
a threat of their own. Near the middle of the field, the Lady Renegades tried to get the ball cleared up to transition to a breakaway. However, an Eagle forward stole the ball and passed it up the sideline to West Valley's forward, Ashley Wheeler, who then took the pass up the right sideline. While doing so, she also was able to shake an Ohlone defender and score from 10 yards out. Ohlone’s keeper didn’t have much of a chance when trying to block the shot because of the angle she took to the attacker. West Valley ended up mounting a second threat in the game after Ohlone became a bit too aggressive. One of the Lady Renegade defenders made a good tackle at the top of the box on one of the Eagles forwards, but she ended up catching more Eagle than she did of the ball. The ref quickly blew his whistle to signal the foul and he spotted it just outside the box for an Eagle free kick. The Lady Renegades put four defenders together to form a wall in front of the free kicker. After the ref blew his whistle to signal play, West Valley’s forward Alena Smajlagic took her shot that caromed off the crossbar . She nearly had one of her teammates put it back into the net for a second score, but Ohlone was able to clear it out before any further damage. When asked about his defense
improve.
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Triples alley By Tomás Ortega Sports editor
Bonds away
Photos by Dan Yuan
Fanny Koloko-Green (10) above, beats a Chabot defender to the ball Friday. Below, Jasmine Floyd (5) defends well against her Chabot counterparts.
after the game, Ohlone’s Coach Heslin stated that they in fact, “started a new system today. The girls did a good job and got organized. We didn’t really have too many breakdowns.” Heslin also stated that the team would talk over what happened on that score and do what they need to do to fix it at practice.
One possible reason for a lack of offense was the fact that KolokoGreen and Britney Rollins, who form a great offensive duo, were not on offense together. With the loss to West Valley, Ohlone brings their record to 2-43 overall this season. They'll try to improve Friday at Evergreen College in San Jose.
Fifteen years have gone by. They have been the greatest 15 years Bay Area baseball has witnessed in a long time. After Fred Lewis caught the final out of the Giants 2007 season Sunday, the time officially began for life after Bonds. It has been coming for some time now. Or so one would think. At the ripe age of 43, Bonds has been able to put up numbers that some up and coming prospects have a hard time doing. This last season, Bonds hit 28 home runs, good for thirtieth in the bigs. He was also the “unofficial” leader in on base percentage and ranked third in OPS, but didn’t qualify for either because the 132 walks he drew this year, which were also a MLB best, significantly dropped his number of at-bats. Numbers don’t lie. Bonds clearly has something left in the tank offensively, but because he can’t cut it in the outfield, and the fact that his big salary doesn’t give the Giants front office any breathing room, he cannot stay in San Francisco any longer. And that is the sad part. But, if other teams truly believe that he can help them win ball games, or spike ticket sales, then we may be spoiled in watching the greatest slugger of our lifetime get a chance to extend his already great career. But the most exciting part as a baseball fan for me is this: now that he holds the home run crown, he will be able to revert back to the days when he wouldn’t just swing for the fences. He will be able to legitimately help a ball club by doing the things that make a hitter great. And the great part is that he has another record to strive for, 3,000 hits. So really, am I sad to see Bonds move away from San Francisco? Yes. At the same time, though, this will allow the Giants to move in a new direction that will not be centered around one superstar. Brian Sabean has already said that he wants the Giants to shift to being a team that is made up of pitching, speed and defense. So with outfielders Nate Schierholtz, Fred Lewis and Rajai Davis replacing Bonds, the Giants have the potential of being a team as fun as the great, scrappy St. Louis team from the 1980’s. So while Bonds is attracting one million extra fans in a different part of the country, the Giants will be moving in a direction that will keep them in contention in the NL west for years to come.