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Fremont, California
Vol. XXXVII No. 3
OPINION
World Forum set Feb. 22
SPORTS
NEWS
FEATURES
Sexual Responsibility Week is here
New colors brighten up the campus – Page 2
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Students browse around Club Days By Eric Dorman Features editor
Photo by Thomas Ortega
Students peruse the booths at Club Days in Building 1 looking for clubs that match their interests and ideas such as LIFE or MEChA.
Yolanda Kirkpatrick stood behind a green booth, handing out flyers labeled “Solar Energy” and “Green California.” Her club, Liberated Individuals for the Environment (LIFE), was looking for new members. The reason? “We need to get the word out,” said Kirkpatrick, who added that she often saw trash mixed in with recycling in the campus’s bins. “People need to understand the importance of recycling.” But the LIFE club wasn’t looking for members just anywhere. Kirkpatrick’s club, which looks to promote environmental awareness through recycling, gardening and special events, was recruiting next to about ten other clubs at Ohlone’s
biannual Club Days last Tuesday and Wednesday. The Club Days, which were held in the Palm Bosque last year, took place in Building 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 13 and 14. They featured a variety of clubs, some as new as LIFE, formed this semester, and some as old as the college, such as the Associated Students of Ohlone College (ASOC). The LIFE club, with its 12 members, plans on starting a garden on campus as well as organizing a hike, camping trip and visit to the University of California, Santa Barbara Sustainability conference. The club meets Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m. in room 14B. It can be reached at life_ohlone@yahoo.com. Another club on campus, Movimiento Estudiantil De Chicanos Continued on Page 4
Professor Sims’ lecture will mainly deal with the recent controversy of the NSA’s government-sanctioned wiretapping of American homes and businesses in an effort to smoke out terrorists or suspected terrorists. In addition to various constitutional complications this issue brings up, it must also contend with two pieces of legislation few Americans know about: the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) and Title III of the Omnibus Crime and Control Act of 1968. Both of
these require a warrant before the United States government can spy on or “target” any person in the United States. Sims will discuss exactly how these two pieces of legislature affect the NSA’s current use of wiretapping to gain personal information about the American people as well as how the Bush administration defends this. The main points of constitutional contention come from the first amendment, fourth amendment and presidential authority. One gives us Continued on Page 3
Law professor to speak on NSA scandal By SANDEEP ABRAHAM Staff writer Ohlone will host its fifth World Forum and the first of this year next week. The speaker will be John Cary Sims, professor of law at the University of the Pacific, delivering a presentation titled “What the National Security Agency’s (NSA) Warrantless Electronic Surveillance Program Can Teach Us About Separation of Powers.” Given all the trepidation and uncertainty with which the aver-
age American citizen views the world, the war in Iraq, the American economy and the Bush administration, it is helpful if not imperative for the masses to be as informed as possible. Yet how is this possible when communication, that which makes information itself worthwhile, is monitored and regulated by the government? Do we simply allow Big Brother to take over or are there measures that we the people can take to ensure our right to govern ourselves? These are just a few of the questions the World Forum will
seek to answer. Professor Sims, a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and Harvard Law School, clerked for Judge Frank M. Coffin of the U.S. Court of Appeals, first circuit. He also spent eleven years as an attorney for the Public Citizen Litigation Group, a law firm founded by Ralph Nader. He does a lot of work with the first amendment and the problems surrounding it, teaching various courses on national security and on the constitution.
Another chance at Australia trip By DESTINY HARRISON Staff writer and ANNA NEMCHUK Editor-in-chief Missed Australia the first time Ohlone sent students to study abroad there? Fall 2007 comes the next chance to visit the land of marsupials, dingoes and great beer. The semester in Sydney will start Sept. 5 and students will return Dec. 3. The next informational meeting about the trip will be held Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. in Room 5209. A passport and a visa will be required for the trip. Any students in good standing with the college are eligible to participate.
A choice of seven transferable classes will be offered by Christine Bolt, the Ohlone instructor accompanying the trip, and Australian instructors at the “Billy Blue” institute, including: BA-125 (Intro to Business), Eng-203 (Travel Journaling) and Eng-101B (Introduction to Literature). Students can also be enrolled simultaneously in Ohlone’s online classes. There is no limit to how many people can go. The more people that go, the lower the all-around cost will be for everyone attending the trip. The number of faculty going will be proportional to the number of students. Students unable to make Continued on Page 6
Photo courtesy of Corie Howell
The group from the Fall ‘06 Sydney study abroad program pose in front of the Harbor Bridge by the Parramatta River.
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Opinion
monitor February 15, 2007
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 General Excellence Fall 1994 General Excellence Fall 2000 General Excellence Fall 2004 General Excellence Fall 2005
Editor in chief: Anna Nemchuk News editor: Omer Ahmed Opinion editor: Matthew So Features editor: Eric Dorman Sports editors: Jeff Weisinger Nick Zambrano Photo editor: Jack Husting Online editor: TBA Staff writers: Sandeep Abraham, Michael Aburas, Emily Burkett, Brian Chu, Kanya Goldman, Destiny Harrison, Krista Imus, Margarita Kitova, Noah Levin, Cheyenne Martin, Tomas Ortega, Kyle Stephens 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
Campus gets refreshing new look By Noah Levin Staff writer The calming and academic creamy-off-eggshell white of Ohlone’s campus buildings has been usurped! Sliding into place swiftly in the wake of the renovations to Building One, hip, un-studious “highlights” have appeared along the walls of the stairs descending down to the back of the building from the quad,
and on the inner wall at the bottom of said stairs. Building One, the ever-effective “nerve-center” of Ohlone, houses not just the helpful student center, but is also the home of Ohlone’s library and offices for various faculty members. This new color is a brazen, yet cunning change of hue which has disrupted the orderly monochromatic Building One. The new color, a near-flesh shade, is a subtle accent to the
building’s currently rather drab colors of creamy-off-eggshell and brown trim. This racy new flesh color also appears on the newly renovated fountain system that runs down Ohlone’s prodigious front stairs, making the new blue tiles seem all the more azure. The handle rails going down these steps have also been repainted with a less dismal looking brown. But is this new color scheme
a hindrance to the student body’s learning experience, or, inversely, does it enhance and revitalize one’s own sense of academia? I opt for the latter, finding the new dash of pizzazz not only refreshing, but much needed. Whoever coordinated our colors did a fine job in my opinion, choosing subtlety as well as something new that wouldn’t off-set the student body any more than the extensive and obtrusive renovation work already has.
Send us letters Your opinions are very important to us. Keep sending us letters so that we may present your views and criticisms. And to fill that occasional empty space. Letters should go into the brown boxes labelled Letters to the Editor, and send your emails to Monitor@ohlone.edu.
Stuck in university-transfer limbo hell By Omer AHMED News editor Just a reminder for you all procrastinators out there: today, the 15 of February, is the date that University of California transfer application updates are due. So if you have applied to a UC and have not done the update, you are not through applying. However, once you click submit, all that you have left to do is wait. Mate, esperar, warten, szhdat, attendre, etc. Unfortunately, waiting sucks. Its sucks in all languages and
we students get to wait for quite a while. The initial UC applications were due last year in November. I finished most of my application in October when it first became available. Berkeley says it will put out responses at the end of April. That is six to seven months of waiting, depending on how you look at it. It is even more for schools that put out results in May. Considering that the nominal time until transfer is only supposed to be two years, more than one-fourth of one’s Ohlone career can be spent in university limbo, and not in the fun Jamaican sense of the word as I doubt
too many Ohlone students plan on transferring to Caribbean University. Waiting is a horrible and painful state of being. You begin to ask yourself questions. Should I have made my personal statement more personal? Since I plan to double major anyway, should I have put my major as anthropology instead of religious studies? Will they think I am an anal-retentive nutcase because I made each section of my personal statement exactly 300 words long, even in the optional area? It never ends. Boredom has nothing to do with
the horrors of waiting for the fouryear schools because time can be filled very easily. Since I have sent in my application, I have beaten four video games, read about a dozen novels, designed all the tattoos I want for the rest of my life, planned for graduate school, planned out all my possible courseloads for Berkeley and Davis, nursed a sick cat back to health and started a 26-unit course load here at Ohlone. Fill in my spare time with late-night showings of “The Daily Show,” “CNN Presents,” “The Colbert Report” and “Fu-
turama” and you can see how I really don’t have that much spare time. Still, I feel like I am going to go insane before I get my results. College is supposed to be a formative time and one of Ohlone’s purposes is to prepare transfer students for their future schooling and work. I don’t know about you, but the only thing I am molded for is waiting in line at the unemployment office or waiting on the results of a blood test. After all that waiting for months, those burdens will seem like nothing.
Campus Comment > > If you could create a holiday, what would it be?
AARON HSU Undecided “Stay Home and Relax Day.”
Janelle Ikeuchi Communications
Zarghoona Joyah
Jeremy McKinnie Behavioral Psychology Liberal Arts
“No Homework Month.”
“Student Appreciation Day.”
“Skate Day.”
Nyake Tarmoh Science “Stay Home Day.”
February 15, 2007 MONITOR
News
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Guaranteed transfer agreements still available By Michael Aburas Staff writer Transfer Admission Agreements (TAAs) are still available to students at Ohlone despite the passing of most U.C. and C.S.U. applications periods. TAAs are contracts with schools that grant a student admission as long as they meet certain criteria. “It is a guaranteed admission program,” said Transfer Center Specialist Frances Fon. TAAs are only accepted during certain periods. Currently, students can only
apply for two schools’ TAAs: Cal State East Bay and Santa Clara University. Students may apply for East Bay at any time of the semester. However, the deadline for a TAA with Santa Clara is March 31. Moreover, to set-up a TAA a student must make an appointment with a counselor to fill out the paperwork. In order for the TAA with Santa Clara to be processed by the deadline, students must make an appointment with a counselor by March 15 because the deadline falls on spring break. Additionally, with
the Easy Bay TAA, “you know a year before you transfer if you’re accepted,” said Fon. Students must have accrued at least 30 units to apply for a TAA with Santa Clara or 12 units for East Bay. The GPA requirements range from 2.0 to 3.5, depending upon school and major. A number of other universities have TAA agreements with Ohlone but the deadlines for them passed in the fall. Among the schools included in the program are many Northern California schools. However, there are two Southern California schools
available: UC Riverside and UC Irvine. Also, Ohlone students may apply for up to two TAA applications in an academic year, according to Fon. “We encourage people to apply for the UCs and Cal States in fall,” said Fon. Some schools do not have TAAs available to nursing students and international students. For more information, students may stop by the transfer center, located next to the counseling office in Room 1102C or go to www.ohlone.edu/ org/transfer/taa.html
If students need more assistance or wish to speak with a university official directly, the transfer center also has set up appointment and drop-in times for students to see university representatives. Cal State East Bay representative Louise Martinez will be in the transfer center on Feb. 27, Cogswell Polytechnic representative Chris Sutherland will be on campus Feb. 20, San José State University representative Paula Armstead will visit Feb. 22 and University of California Irvine representative Norma Peniche will come on Feb. 21.
University of the Pacific Law Professor John Cary Sims
they keep telling us we need to give up our freedoms to a certain extent to ensure security.” Information is a powerful tool, and by staying more informed than the people it governs, a government gains more power. “If the government continues to spread information in private, we go down the road of empires. They must find a way to gain information without compromising individual rights,” continued Treadway. Unwarranted domestic spying creates an atmosphere of distrust and intrigue, liable to stir up diplomatic turbulence both at home and
abroad. The Bush administration rejected the advice of the UN and alliances weakened, forcing the United States to, for all intents and purposes, fend for itself. As cliché as it may be, the saying holds true that children are the future. And although Ohlone students aren’t exactly children, our decisions, aspirations and votes now will shape the kind of world our children and we will live in. The world we live in is very different from what it was only 15 years ago. Everyone is connected, be it through the internet, phones, GPS consoles, Wi-Fi or any of the
other numerous common digital devices seen today. Information moves around the world faster than ever before and it would be a terrible shame if we didn’t take advantage of it. Professor Sims and the World Forum intend to do just that. Sims’ forum will be on Thursday, Feb. 22 from noon until 1 p.m. in the Epler Gymnasium. The next world forum after the Sims event will be titled “Understanding Indigenous Peoples of the World from the Ohlone Indian Experience.” It will be held on April 4.
Human rights expert to speak on surveillance
Continued from Page 1 the right to free speech, one gives us the right to privacy, and the last gives the president the right to do whatever is necessary in a time of war. Thanks to the digital age and our increasing dependence on the internet, the lines between these three portions of the Constitution have been blurred. Compromising any of these important parts of the Constitution would have major repercussions on the world stage as well. As President Doug Treadway noted, “When governments get more powerful than the average people,
Students’ health to be studied through survey By Eric Dorman Features editor The Ohlone Student Health Center will be sending out a health assessment survey by e-mail to 2,800 students starting March 1. This is the first semester the Health Center has sent out a survey of this kind. The survey was drafted by the American College Health Association, which has been releasing the survey annually since 2000. Over the six years during which
the survey has been sent out, 576 colleges have participated, resulting in about 355,000 student responses, said head nurse Sally Bratton. The reason for sending out the survey, said Bratton, was primarily to fine-tune the Student Health Center’s treatment of students. For example, if students taking the survey listed alcohol as being a big problem in their lives, Bratton said the Health Center would know to place more emphasis on its alcohol treatment programs.
Ohlone is one of the few colleges that will be sending out the survey by email this year; most other colleges will give students paper forms. Whether online or on paper, though, said Bratton, the survey is fully confidential. Bratton says she needed a minimum of 700 responses to the survey in order for the results to be accurate. In order to prompt more responses, students who fill out the survey will be entered in a raffle to win a
The student who attended the morning session of a self-paced Fitness for Life class noticed her purse missing toward the end of class and contacted campus police. The purse was recovered later with some articles missing. A second incident was reported soon after. This student noticed the purse
missing after a short time, and campus security was able to recover the purse quickly with only one article missing. Police Chief Steve Osawa said the suspect must have known they were looking for him or her, because the purse was recovered in a spot that had been previously checked only moments before. After the second offense, campus security produced a flyer to warn Ohlone students about theprevious occurrences. Instructors also made announcements in their classes. The third occurrence was one week later; the purse, as well as the articles, have not been recovered. In this case, the victim’s cell phone and ATM card were both used. campus police believe the suspect is a student. “Theft is an opportunity crime,” said Osawa. He asks that students please be aware of their surroundings at all times and keep an eye out for suspicious behavior. Each theft occurred between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. As there are no leads at this time, campus police ask that if anyone has any information, call (510) 659-6111.
Rash of purses stolen at gym By CHEYENNE MARTIN Staff writer Three separate accounts of purse snatchings have occurred on campus within the last two weeks. Ohlone Campus Police received notice that a student’s purse had been stolen from the Ohlone Gym.
Photo by Eric Dorman
The shelves in the gym’s workroom where the three thefts occurred over the past few weeks.
free iPod, among other prizes. The survey consists of 58 questions, said Bratton, and takes about 20 minutes to fill out. She would not comment on the nature of the questions, saying that she didn’t want students to have any preconceived ideas that might keep them from taking the survey. Bratton mentioned that once the data from the surveys has been gathered, she will make it available to the students who took the survey. She also said she wasn’t overly
worried about the accuracy of the student responses. “In the past, students have been very honest in their responses,” said Bratton. “Students are very candid about these things.” Bratton said the reason Ohlone has not sent out the health assessment survey in past years was because of monetary reasons. She said whether Ohlone continues sending out these surveys in future years depends on success of this year’s survey.
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Features
monitor February 15, 2007
Clubs show goods Continued from Page 1 De Aztlan (MEChA) has been active on campus quite some time. The goal of the club, said member Azim Mogadded, is to promote multicultural harmony. Members of MEChA also put together gift baskets, which they aimed to raffle off with the proceeds going to fund conferences and field trips. The club, which has about 20 members, meets Tuesday and Thursday. The room and times have not yet been decided. Another long-running club on campus, ASOC, had dedicated their table to raising money for the American Heart Association. For a donation of one dollar, students could receive a basket of heart candies, a CD, a pen, and an iPod case. ASOC president Candice Kirk explained that the decision to sponsor the American Heart Association came from the fact that it was Valentine’s Day and hearts symbolized the holiday. “We decided to raise the bar a little this year,” said Kirk, gesturing to the heart candies and CDs. “We want to really put a name out for ourselves.” ASOC funds speakers on campus, such as world forums, and also funds projects such as the new tables that were recently installed around campus. Members are elected and meet every Tuesday from 4-6 p.m. in Room 1130. Meetings are open to the public. Another club present was the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor society (AGS). One needs a 3.0 grade point average or higher to join, and members receive a certificate and chance at a scholarship at the end of the year. Furthermore, AGS sponsors events such as Breast Cancer Awareness Week and a book drive, where
V-day: myths behind the day By Margarita Kitova Staff writer
Photo by Eric Dorman
Alekh Jha stands behind the LIFE club booth at Club Days Tuesday. students can donate their textbooks least $100 this semester. Wai said that the club is planning at the end of the year, said director and associate instructor Matt Free- a fundraiser this semester that would man. The books go to students in involve paying to shoot a basketball third-world countries. The drive was for a possible prize. A more recent club, the psycholso successful last year that Freeman said he hopes to provide a scholar- ogy club, was created by psychology ship to some third-world student professor Sheldon Helms about three years ago and is led by psyfrom the money raised this year. To join the club, which has about chology professor Tom McMahon. 125 members, email Freeman at Its members go on field trips to places like the sleep center at Washmfreeman@ohlone.edu. Ohlone another club show- ington Hospital and bring in guest speakers cased was to speak the Uniabout psycef club, chology. which is T h e devoted club’s 10 to raising members money meet evto help ery other children We d n e s in other day from countries 2-3 p.m. by funding “We get advances a lot of in medishy peocine in developPhoto by Eric Dorman ple,” said member ing counMay Fentries. Last ASOC Vice President Tatyana dell, “but semester, Homady sells heart candies they usuthe club for the American Heart Asso- ally come raised $84, out of said club ciation at Club Days. their shell member Su Wai. They are aiming for at because this club is fun.”
Photo by Jack Husting
A heart carved in the hills above Ohlone.
Every Feb. 14 across the country, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine’s Day, as well as its patron saint, is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day as we know it today contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men, his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where prisoners were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl – who may have been his jailor’s daughter – who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a purchased Valentine became the most popular way to declare affection. The cards, which often resembled miniature works of art, were usually hand painted and lavishly decorated with lace, silk or satin and flowers made from the feathers of tropical birds. The current popularity of St. Valentine’s Day owes much to the modern postal service. Until the mid-1800’s, the cost of sending mail was far beyond the means of the average person. Even worse, the postal service demanded payment not from the sender of the letter, but from the recipient. Still, people continue to find a way to spend money on Valentine's Day: the San Fransisco Chronicle estimated that the average man spends $156 and women spend about $85 apiece.
Student finds brother on MySpace By Michael Aburas Staff writer The phenomenon known as Myspace has been used to promote rock stars and models, hook up with boyfriends and girlfriends, or just as a channel to express one’s interests. However, for Ohlone student Jason Calibo it was a means to find a half-brother he had only heard of, but never met. Jason and his brother, Josh, a Marine stationed in Arizona, had the same father and different mothers after Josh’s father divorced and remarried. “At first I was pretty skeptical about it. I wasn’t sure if he was going to respond,” Jason said of his first discovery of a Josh Calibo MySpace page. Still, when he and Josh began corresponding, he knew he had made the right move. “I was ecstatic because growing up I had family issues,” said Jason. “I thought it was cool that he had understood what I had been through. Being isolated from that side of my
family, he was able to take me in and not reject me for who I am.” Jason also learned of another half-brother through Josh, who he intends to contact soon. Jason said that learning of his siblings was no easy task. Growing up, Jason always heard of having half-siblings on his father’s side, but was isolated from that part of his family. Then in 8th grade, Jason’s friend’s sister, who went to the same high school as Josh, brought up Jason’s last name, and asked if he had any siblings. “Growing up [Calibo] wasn’t a very common last name,” explained Jason. “I was isolated from that side of my family.” In addition, within his immediate family Jason was an only child. As a child, Jason discovered a cousin he had never met competing in little league. During a game, after Jason’s name had been announced, the cousin, a player on the opposing team, came to ask Jason about his name and his dad’s name. Jason was convinced that they were related
when the player called his dad by his high school nickname, “Tinker.” However, the older sister decided to bring her high school yearbook to Jason to show him a picture of
Photo courtesy of Jason Calibo
Jason Calibo poses on MySpace who she thought his older brother was; a senior named Josh Calibo. After looking at the picture, the last name and mulling over Josh’s features, Jason was convinced that Josh might be his brother. Nevertheless, Jason did not pursue trying to contact Josh. It wasn’t until last semester that Jason, on a whim and with the as-
sistance of Myspace, decided to investigate the possibility of Josh being his half brother. “One day I was bored and decided to do a search to see who else was around that had the same last name [on Myspace],” said Jason. Jason eventually came across someone with the name of Josh Calibo. The Josh on the page looked different from what Jason had remembered in the year book, mosly because Josh was older, but Jason still recognized him. Jason decided to email Josh and see what would happen, but was sure to remain tactful. “I didn’t want to sound like a crazy kid,” explained Jason. “I approached it in a manner where I explained the family tree; who my mom was and who my dad was.” Josh replied in three days. Josh explained to Jason that he had spoken with his mom about the circumstances and confirmed that Jason was his half brother. According to Jason, Josh was enthused. “I think the reason he was stoked was
because I found him,” said Jason. In addition, it was a subject that Josh brought up in his email that helped convince Jason that the relationship was real—they both had similar experiences in their family growing up. Josh offered to give Jason “a better understanding of our family.” Josh also revealed to Jason that he had another brother on his side of the family named Bobby, who is currently the supervisor at the Marriot Hotel in Fremont. Bobby has yet to be informed of Jason’s existence. Jason explained that he hasn’t gone to the Marriot to meet Bobby, because “it’s a lot easier to talk to someone when you don’t have to talk face to face. I don’t want to put him on the spot like that.” However, Jason and Josh currently have plans to meet. “When I responded to him I told him that [as soon as I can get to California] we should go grab a cup of coffee or beer,” said Jason, “and get acquainted.”
Features
February 15, 2007 monitor
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Devil's Advocate By Anna Nemchuk Editor-in-chief
Just be perfect
Photo by Kevin Protz
Nate Nimgaonkar, left, speaks with Sang Trieu, center, and Jessica Lopez at a condom give-away during Sexual Responsibility week.
Photo by Tomas Ortega
Presidential Executive Assistant Shelby Auer teaches piano on the side.
New presidential Responsibility’s hot: assistant arrives sex week is here By Noah Levin Staff writer Culminating on the ever-hectic Feb. 14, Sexual Responsibility Week came to Ohlone from Monday Wednesday. The three days of events were part of an educational outreach event recognized by colleges across the nation. It was no coincidence, then, that the event reached its “climax” on Valentine’s Day, with the Ohlone’s Student Health Center nurses giving out gift bags, promotional items, and above all, a seemingly limitless amount of free condoms. This year’s Sexual Responsibility Week kicked off on Monday with the Student Health center staffers wearing large condom hats, dispensing information about practicing safe sex. Tuesday saw Lee Wu, also know as Dr. Sex, presenting Condom Café, a seminar on proper condom use. Wednesday’s event was focused on Partner Communication, with health center staff giving out free condoms, candy, gift bags, and
small, questionnaire note cards to give to one’s partner. The cards asked questions relating to commitment, emergency contraception, previous partners and getting tested for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, or STD’s. Tuesday’s event didn’t receive as many attendees as had been hoped for by the health center staffers, which the health center staff attributed to the excitement of Club Days. The health center proceeded to set up a booth alongside clubs for Wednesday to address partner communication, garnering more attention. However, though Sexual Responsibility Week has come to an end, the Ohlone Student Health Center always has information for students interested in responsible sex practices. The health center also offers free HIV testing administered by the Tri-City Health Center. Roughly 130 students get tested each semester, showing that the health center, as well as Sexual Responsibility Week, reaches many students and makes a difference.
Broadway to Ohlone The parody group Forbidden Broadway Special Victims Unit will perform Feb. 23 at the Jackson Theater in the Smith Center. The six-member cast will parody such performances of “Wicked,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Annie” and others.
This is the second time 24-year old Forbidden Broadway, based in New York, has performed here. Tickets are for the 8 p.m. show are $25 for adults, $12 for students, available at the box office. Order tickets online, e-mail boxoffice@ ohlone.edu
By KANYA GOLDMAN Staff writer
When you call President Doug Treadway’s office, you’re likely to hear a soft-spoken...piano teacher? Shelby Auer (pronounced “hour”) has taken over the role of executive assistant in the president’s office. Originally from Southern California, Auer graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 2003 with an applied mathematics degree and made her way to Fremont just over a year ago. “I have an appreciation for smaller environments with quality teaching,” Auer said, which is what brought her to Ohlone. On any given day, she can be found doing a plethora of duties including coordinating board meetings, handling board of trustee issues or answering phones. Auer also said she teaches piano part time to 15 students and volunteers with the Fremont Symphony. “One of my life goals is to open my own music school,” she said. When she’s not working and taking a yoga or archeology class at Ohlone, she may be found hanging out with her husband of a year and a half, a law student at Santa Clara University or with one of her two cats, Bing (Crosby) and Virginia.
Belasky brings back artifacts By MARGARITA KITOVA Staff writer
noted. Sometimes you wish you were there, he added, and then you see a huge Tyrannosaurus Rex Paul Belasky, geology and pale- devouring a dinosaur and you’re ontology instructor at Ohlone, has grateful you’re here. The instructor has also compiled compiled a collection of paintings and slides that will reconstruct what a collection of poems penned by the world looked like in prehistoric geologists and has already translated more than 40 poems from Russian. times. Belasky spent three months He is planning on including Russian poetry from last summer on geologists his sabbatical in a volume leave in Europe, about earth through Germasciences ny, Austria, the and cultures Czech Republic, coming out Russia - where in a couple he lived until of years. moving to the AddiUnited States t i o n a l l y, at the age of Belasky is 14 - Poland and involved Lithuania. with eduThroughout his travels, BePhoto courtesy of Paul Belasky cating people about lasky was colglobal lecting mate- A painting of the giant climate rials, visiting prehistoric bird diatrama. change and museums and research institutes and getting speci- thinks that knowing what happened mens. He has made slides of paint- on Earth before may give people ings and images to help his students an idea of what will happen to the Earth in the future. In the Fall 2007 visualize prehistoric life. Belasky spoke about some of the semester, a new class will be offered paintings he saw, including one by called “The Changing Earth,” about a famous Czech artist of the giant the stages the planet and its climate predatory bird Diatryma, which has gone through. Belasky will give a talk in March lived 50 million years ago. Looking at such photos is like about climate change, using the imtraveling in a time machine, he ages he’s collected on his trip.
Perfection has taken a bum rap. No one wants to be perfect anymore; rather, we all strive to be “ourselves.” Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that. The yardstick for feminine allure is easily the most debated. From MTV’s bared midriffs to Hefner’s heinies, from catwalks to shaved heads, from blonde ambition to girl-next-door, everyone and their sister has an opinion of what the ideal woman should look like. Mummy says you’re beautiful just as you are, Cosmo tells you to lose 20 pounds and get a nose job, your doctor’s talking BMI while the pastor’s droning about inner light and the boys declare they don’t care what you look like as long as you look the way they want you to. I’m flipping through Luis Royo’s “Conceptions III,” mostly pencil sketches of fantasy women, and he dedicates the book to the “feminine figure” and “a search for the ideal of beauty, an unattainable beauty, which has always been sought...in our society the meaning of an unreachable dream is stronger when talking about femininity...All fields have let themselves be taken by its inexplicable strength.” I fell in love with Royo from first glance. His women are all sharp lines and flowing colors, as erotic as they are proud, as often bearing weapons as they are nuzzling creatures possessing way too many teeth. They are also all, without exception, breathtakingly gorgeous. Shall we call him chauvinist for not giving his creations pot bellies and stretch marks or pat him on the head and excuse the non-p.c. attitude because he is “artiste?” What is wrong with reaching toward perfection? We spend so much time these days waxing poetic over all the ways we’re good enough, we never seem to actually try to improve. No, people are not and should not be cookie-cutter clones. Yes, beauty is an individual thing, though with mass media being as prevalent and powerful as it is today, not nearly as much as most would like to think. Perhaps the key is in individual perfection over the garden variety “hotness” of reality shows. Instead of the billionth Angelina Jolie makeover, it’d be nice to see the shine of your real hair color instead of Glamour Puss #20, the shape your hips will be from playing in the park with your kids instead of regular lipo after daily consumption of your weight in pizza. There IS perfection, dammit. And stating that you’re 100 pounds overweight and proud of it is not it. Neither is anorexia, or a life on depression pills. Go look up Royo for inspiration. Beauty is happiness, strength and health. And maybe a pouty look or two.
6 MONITOR
February 15, 2007
News
Book Club to read autistic’s memoir By Brian Chu Staff writer
This semester, the Ohlone book club will be reading a book by an autistic author, Temple Grandin’s “Thinking In Pictures: My Life With Autism.” Recommended to the book club by Disabled Student Programs and Services counselor and English teacher Terry Taskey, “Thinking In Pictures” is an autobiography/memoir/case study on the often-misunderstood condition of autism. Temple Grandin is a well-respected speaker on both animal sciences and autism. Taskey had the opportunity to meet and speak with Grandin last fall when she was present at a conference on students
with learning disabilities. According to Taskey, the book is interesting because of the dual perspectives it gives on autism. Grandin writes with insight of a person suffering from autism and, at the same time, that of an observant scientist with an unusually high set of spatial skills. The book details how Grandin experiences life while dealing with autism in her personal and professional life. The difference in writing style between autobiographies, memoirs or documentary case studies and “Thinking In Pictures” is immediately noticeable in the beginning of the book. This is largely due to the way autistics, including Grandin herself, approach social situations. “As the title says, they think in pic-
tures and not words, and if you try it yourself you realize how different it is,” Taskey said. Drawing from experiences working with autistic students, Taskey said, “They are typically shy and when they are social, because their interpersonal skills develop slower, they end up to be blunt and sometimes offending.” However, Taskey emphasized the importance of not stereotyping students with learning disabilities and above all that, as individual human beings, we are all unique and have our own special qualities. “This book helps convey that message.” “Even if you do not attend the book meeting, I really suggest that you put this book on your to-read list. It is really hard to put
down, and definitely worth a read,” Taskey said. She has been given positive feedback from several students already about her recommendation. The day of the Book Club meeting is April 20 but the location has yet to be announced. The discussion will consist of an informal open forum and will be led by Taskey. Students are encouraged by the book club organizers to ask questions and speak out openly during the discussion. Taskey will be present and will briefly discuss her personal meeting with Grandin. The book can be purchased from K.G. Greenstein at the library front desk for $9, instead of the $15 standard price available elsewhere.
Temple Grandin's book is available in the library for the discounted price of $9 this semester.
Program lets students study in Sydney
Ohlone instructor Christine Bolt will head the Sydney semester abroad.
Continued from Page 1 the meeting should contact Kay Harrison, who will be handling the applications. The trip’s organizers are working on group air pricing rates, transportation, and trying to get financial aid and scholarships involved. Students will get spring/summer temperatures all over again, as well as a week of spring break during which their time is their own for a journey to the outback, New Zealand or an extended prowl in Sydney. There are some changes this semester, but not too many. The trip now offers the option
of students staying in host homes by themselves instead of having mandatory roommates. In addition, the caves tours are being cut to make the schedule a little shorter. The theater programs offered may also be run a little differently this semester. According to Cynthia Katona, the supervising professor during the Fall 2006 trip, the only low point of the semester was that a number of students got sick from the flight over. Otherwise, she said the trip was wonderful - from the beaches to the theater, wine tasting, famous Blue Mountains and a drinking
age of 18. As before, breakfast and dinner will be covered by the Australian families students will be housed with, but travelers will need to bring their own funds for clothes, extra food, books, liquor and miscellaneous things you find to do or buy in Sydney. “In Sydney, Australia you will find the friendliest people, a very open, welcoming group of people, and eager to show you their world,” said Bolt. The option of exploring the country after the official semester ends is also in the works. The study abroad program has
gone to Cambridge and Oxford, England before. A trip abroad to India was planned for this semester but was canceled due to a lack of applicants, as worries over the ongoing unrest in the Middle East kept students from embracing the destination. The Ohlone drama department is currently planning a trip to New York. Students will leave May 24 for eight nights of “enjoying Broadway, shopping, and all that Manhattan has to offer” according to Mark Nelson, the organizer of the trip. He can be contacted at (510) 659-6298 or MNeslon@ ohlone.edu.
Campus Events or get more information call the Transfer Center at (510) 659-6241.
February 15 New Art Display -- The Artist’s Eye Is His Compass, painting by David McLaughlin. This artist’s pieces are multi-level expressions that draw the observer into a world of altered realism through suggestion, symbolism and metaphor via the subtle use of light, space, color and contrast. The display can be seen in the Louie Meager Art Gallery on Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m. and during Smith Center events. This display can be seen until Feb. 27. 15 Women’s Softball -- 3 p.m. vs. Chabot College here at Ohlone. 15 Transfer Event: San Francisco State -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come meet with representative Colette Cowan to talk about transferring. To make an appointment or get more information call the Transfer Center at (510) 659-6241. 15 FASFA Workshop -- 2 to 4 p.m. in HH-115. Come and get information and help filling out your FASFA forms. You may be eligible for a free Cal-Grant. 16 Men and Women’s Swimming -- 2 p.m. vs. West Valley and Chabot College here at Ohlone. 16 Women’s Basketball -- 7 p.m. vs. Monterey Peninsula College here at Ohlone. 16-19 No School -- President’s Weekend, no classes. 20 Women’s Softball -- 3 p.m. vs. College of San Mateo here at Ohlone. 21 Transfer Event: UC Irvine -- 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Come meet with representative Norma Peniche to talk about transferring. To make an appointment
21 Reception and Artist Talk -- 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Art Gallery. Talk will be given by Artist of current display, David McLaughlin. The reception is during the first hour, and the talk is the second hour. The art display can be seen through Feb. 27. 21 Study Abroad: Sydney, Australia -- come to the meeting to sign up at 4 p.m. in Room 5209. Take classes and get credits while exploring the amazing Sydney city. For more information contact Professor Chris Bolt at (510) 659-6233. 21 FASFA Workshop -- 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in HH-112. Come and get information and help filling out your FASFA forms. You may be eligible for a free Cal-Grant. 21 M.E.Ch.A Meeting -- 1 to 2 p.m. in Room 14A. Come check out the M.E.Ch.A club, meets every Monday and everyone is welcome. 22 World Forum -- Noon to 2 p.m. in the Epler Gymnasium. Guest speaker, John Cary Sims, will talk about NSA Surveillance in the U.S.: What warrantless surveillance of citizens by the NSA can teach us about separation of powers in the U.S. Professor Sims was an attorney for eleven years for the Public Citizen Litigation Group, a public interest law firm in Washington, D.C. founded by consumer advocate Ralph Nader.
resentative Paula Armstead to talk about transferring. To make an appointment or get more information, call the Transfer Center at (510) 659-6241. 23 Forbidden Broadway -- 8 p.m. in the Smith Center. New York’s most successful musical comedy is here! After delivering entertainment at the New York stage for 23 years, these comics come to the Bay Area. Those who love music and humor will be indulged with parodies of Broadway’s legendary shows from Disney’s Lion King to Les Miserables to Chicago. Tickets are $15 for students, $25 for adults and can be purchased by visiting the box office. 23 Last Day to Petition -- Last day to petition to complete a class on a credit/ no credit basis. 23 FASFA Workshop -- 10 a.m. to noon in HH-115. Come and get information and help filling out your FASFA forms. You may be eligible for a free CalGrant. 25 Women’s Softball -10 a.m. vs. College of the Redwoods/Modesto Jr. College here at Ohlone. 26 LIFE Meeting -- 1 to 2 p.m. in Room 14B. An exciting new club that will be meeting on Mondays. Come join the fun and take part in “Liberated Individuals for the Environment.”
27 Alliant Transfer Seminar -- Discovering the Secrets for Achieving Your Educational and Career Objectives. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Room 1307, the Library Video Conference Room. The Transfer Partnership facilitates the completion of an Alliant Bachelor program for
CLASSIFIEDS Earn Money -Earn $2,500+monthly and more to type simple ads online. www.DataAdEntry.com. Sharks Ice is Hiring -- Sharks Ice in Fremont is looking for energetic and motivated Ohlone Students! We are hiring for the following positions: Bartenders, Snack Bar Attendants, Skate Guards, Pro Shop and Cashiers. Apply online at www.sharksice. com or call (510) 6237200 for more information. Hiring Office Help -- An engineering company, located in Fremont, is seeking part-time or full-time office help. Responsibilities: General office help, assisting with accounts payable/receivable, purchasing, shipping and receiving, matching with purchase orders. Requirements: Strong organizational and communication skills, reliable and multi-tasked, familiar with
February 15, 2007 monitor
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Ohlone students here at the Ohlone campus! Dynamic guest speakers and lite refreshments will be served. RSVP to Angela Jemmott at (510) 979-7543 or ajemmott@alliant.edu. 27 Men’s Baseball -- 2 p.m. vs. San Joaquin Delta College here at Ohlone. Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and QuickBooks is a plus. Send your resume for consideration to tooltekeng@gmail.com. Hiri n g me c h a n i c a l drafter -- An engineering company, located in Fremont, is seeking a part-time or full-time mechanical drafter. Responsibilities: Drafting of parts and assemblies, working with Bill Of Material and detailed drawings, supporting design/ engineering department and constructing BOMs. Requirements: Strong organizational and communication skills, reliable and multi-tasked, familiar with AutoCAD, Pro/ENGINEER is a plus. Send your resume to tooltekeng@gmail.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. Please call (510) 304-2538.
22 FASFA Workshop -- 3 to 4:45 p.m. in HH-115. Come and get information and help filling out your FASFA forms. You may be eligible for a free CalGrant. 22 Transfer Event: San Jose State -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come meet with rep-
Read the Monitor Online at http://ohlone.edu/org/monitor
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, February 15, 2007 Page 8
First and 10
Swing away
By JEFF WEISINGER Sports editor
By Nick Zambrano Sports editor
Racism in the NFL
Coming out of the locker
Arthur Ashe, Jackie Robinson, Jack Johnson. Those names sound familiar? Well, let’s recap for a second. Arthur Ashe was the first black tennis player to win Wimbledon in 1975, one of his three Grand Slam titles. Jackie Robinson, as we all know, became the first black player to play Major League Baseball when he made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in April of 1947. And Jack Johnson was the first African-American boxer to win the heavyweight title in 1908. It wasn’t until about two weeks ago until the NFL finally saw two African-American head coaches coaching in a Super Bowl. ESPN recently released a book entitled, “Third and a Mile: The Trials and Triumphs of the Black Quarterback” in honor of Black History Month.The book goes over the ups and downs of the careers of the first five black quarterbacks of the NFL: Marlin Briscoe, James Harris, Vince Evans, Warren Moon and Doug Williams. For those who don’t know, Marlin Briscoe was the first-ever black starting quarterback, starting for the Denver Broncos in 1968. Warren Moon played quarterback in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos before entering the NFL where he played quarterback for Houston, Minnesota, Seattle and Kansas City. He also became the first African-American quarterback ever elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he was inducted last year. And, last but not least, there’s Doug Williams, who led the Washington Redskins to Super Bowl XXII where he became the first African-American quarterback to not just lead his team to a Super Bowl, but the first to win one. It was these guys who led the way for quarterbacks like Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair, Michael Vick and Byron Leftwich. However, what really gets to me is that it took up to now for the “race” issue to begin to leave the NFL, let alone the fact that we, as journalists, still have to write about it. As journalists, anytime we write about a racial issue we are always asked “Why do you keep writing about race?” My answer: because it still exists, especially in the NFL. However, with the achievements of Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy and Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith, we can finally begin to stop talking about racial matters in sports, especially football.
As men we’ve been pigeonholed as a bunch of sex-driven, beer-drinking Neanderthals who know anything and everything about automobiles and sports. So when one of our famous brothers does something out of the norm – like announcing his true sexual preference – the world stops in its tracks. Late last week, former NBA player John Amaechi announced in an interview with ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” that he was gay. This is where the world stops and says, “Wait a minute, a man who plays sports is gay?” As awkward as it is to hear it, this is true. Only a small number of this generation’s jocks have made this announcement before but Amaechi is the first from the NBA. Three have made their public announcement in the NFL, while only two made the declaration in the MLB. But all have come out after the fact – when their professional careers were over. If an athlete were to come out during the prime of his career, instead of after his retirement, the ramifications could be catastrophic. For instance, let’s say that if someone like a LeBron James or a Peyton Manning declared that they were gay; everything they’ve worked for will be gone. Jersey sales, fan bases, those big endorsement deals with Sprite and Visa, all gone. And let’s not get started on how much their playing time will get decreased, even if they are superior players. My point is simply this: there may be other athletes out there who are gay but refuse to come out at the risk of losing everything that they worked their whole lives for. There’s also the matter of safety. Sports are violent, there’s no doubt about that; but if there were ever to be a discussion between the two sides it would be just that – violent. Fans wait long after a game is over to see their favorite stars and meet them; in the case of a player who is openly gay, he could be met with bottles of beer and food being thrown at him or even worse. In a recent interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban embraced Amaechi’s decision and called the former Orlando Magic forward, “a hero.” I fully agree with Cuban, but I also believe the next step is for an athlete to come forward during his career. With that, we can begin the process of avoiding a McCarthy-style black list and learn to accept our teammates.
Photos by Jack Husting
Freshman guard Willis Gardner barrels down a Skyline defender. Below, sophomore Bert Whittington looks to drive toward the basket.
Ohlone shows no love for Skyline By Jeff Weisinger Sports editor On a night when we should be with the ones we love, the Men’s Basketball Team had other plans. Those plans were to win the league championship and set the school record for number of wins with 26, and honor the outgoing sophomores as it was their final game at home. The top-ranked Ohlone Renegades took on the Skyline Trojans last night in the Epler Gymnasium and the game was nothing short of spectacular. Led by sophomores Bert Whittington, Patrick Collier, Allen Hester and freshmen Korey Hutchinson and Hamidou Coulibaly, the Renegades played as a team on a mission. However, the mission was easier said than done. The Renegades would have to win this one without their star sophomore Renardo Bass. Although Ohlone started the scoring as Hamidou Coulibaly scored the game’s first points on an easy layup, the Renegades looked sloppy for a long part of the first half. Ohlone missed a lot of easy shots from both inside and outside the three-point line throughout most of the first half and defensively left someone from the Trojans with an open shot. Skyline would take an early 6-2 lead, however, a steal by guard Allen Hester and a layup by Willis Gardner would put Ohlone within one and his free throw that followed would tie the game. Ohlone was playing “catch-up” for a majority of the first half as they had to answer back to everything Skyline did against them, and regardless of going 2-20 from the three-point line toward the end of the half, the Renegades would eventually take control. A blocked layup against Skyline by Allen Hester gave Ohlone the spark they needed as they would take control of the half and take the lead at half 28-25. The second half, for the most part was very similar to the first half of
the game. Both teams played well defensively with the lead going back and forth between the Renegades and the Trojans. At one point, Skyline would take over for a small part of the game, as they went on an 11-0 run with 15 minutes left in the half. What the Trojans didn’t know was that the Renegades have been dominant in the second half of games all season, and that would once again come into play tonight. Although down by 11 midway through the second half, the Renegades began to take charge once
Allen Hester had a “highlight-reel” dunk with about nine minutes left in the half, which began Ohlone’s final blows to the Skyline Trojans, as the Renegades would take the lead and never look back. They took a commanding 10-point lead and won the game 76-64. “We seem to find ways to win in the last three minutes of the game,” said Renegades Head Coach John Peterson. The Renegades will play CCSF in San Francisco on Friday at 7 p.m. to finish off the regular season before beginning the first round of the playoffs next week.
Tennis, anyone? By Destiny Harrison Staff writer
Ohlone has now opened a new addition to the Athletics Department; a tennis team for men and women. This will be a spring sport. For all you fall sports players, this is a great way to keep in shape for the spring season. Even if you don’t play a spring or fall season sport, this will be a good way to earn units and stay in shape while having fun. The head coach this year is Maria Ramos for the guys’ team as well as the girls’ team. However, there is not much
information on what Ohlone plans to do with the new tennis teams. In addition, Ohlone also opened six new tennis classes. They range from beginning tennis to intermediate tennis. Also, if you are not comfortable in participating in a co-ed environment, there are girls’ and mens’ classes. All classes are still open, so drop by anytime and check them out to see if tennis is the sport for you. For more information, you can contact our local Athletics Department or Ramos. Check the Ohlone website for contact numbers.