Monitor 2007-3-22

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Fremont, California

Capt. America’s death good for comics?

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Vol. XXXVI No. 8

Ohlone launches two against Monterey

OPINION

Psychology careers explored

SPORTS

NEWS

FEATURES

Alumna goes country, Texas-style

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Live music to make Quad Wild ‘n’ Out

By NOAH LEVIN Staff writer Bands and DJs are being given a new way to show off their talents.

Wednesday, March 21, saw the first Wild ‘n’ Out Wednesday on the Ohlone Campus.

Ideally planned for every Wednesday in the Quad from noon to 1 p.m., the Associated Students of Ohlone College (ASOC) came up with the event in an effort to promote more school spirit.

Performers of all varieties are encouraged by the ASOC members to sign up for the weekly event, with Rami Malaeb, a.k.a DJ Ram, playing an hour-long set this time.

An initially sparse crowd soon filled out as curious students made their way from their classes to the booming Quad. There, ASOC members gave out fliers, green bead necklaces and free promotional CDs. The event is the brainchild of ASOC Representative at Large Carlos Vejar. “This is to give students a chance to showcase their talents,” said Vejar. “To do more than go to

school, go to class, and then just go home.” The event is part of the battery of new events in the works and already happening around campus in an attempt to boost school pride and spirit. Vejar also commented, “This is my last semester here, and I want to leave my legacy, something positive.”

ASOC Adviser Renee Gonzales pointed out that, “It’s a new event...[made] in direct response to surveys from the students.” The surveys mentioned by Gonzales are the surveys that were given out to students after the Thanksgiving Feast given by the ASOC last semester.

Gonzales and Vejar both noted that there was an overwhelming response from the student body asking for more local bands and DJs to perform during the school day.

“I heard it all the way at the bathroom in Building 2, and it made me curious,” exclaimed excited student Sophia Kanety.

The music was so loud at one point, student Janelle Feliciano proclaimed, “I was going dumb in my philosophy class!”

Don’t come to school next week!

Ohlone has Spring Break from Monday, March 26 until Sunday, April 1.

Photo by Jack Husting

Rami Malaeb, also known as DJ Ram, surveys the Quad and students getting out of class while he provides the music for the first Wild ‘n’ Out Wednesday put on by the Associated Students of Ohlone College.

Darfur crisis film previewed

By Kyle Stephens Staff writer A preview of Sand and Sorrow, a documentary by Paul Freedman, who spoke at an Ohlone World Forum on Monday, Nov. 13, was shown, as part of a fundraiser for the Darfur region at Paddy’s Coffee Shop in the Old Alvarado district of Union City on Friday Nov. 16 and Saturday Nov. 17.

Freedman himself was not present but some of his associates, as well as a Sudanese man, were there

to present a trailer and give background on the Darfur issue.

The fundraiser, wherein patrons paid whatever they saw fit for their drinks, raised over $2,500.

The preview featured several prominent figures concerned with the Darfur crisis, including presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama and Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and author.

After the showing, Mamer Ajak, a lost boy of Sudan (a survivor and escapee of the Sudan Civil War) spoke on the nature of the

Students who earned vocational degree or certificates from community colleges in 2003 experienced an 86 percent wage increase within three years of graduation, from an average of $25,600 per year to $47,571.

Additionally, transfers to University of California system schools have increased over the last three years, with over 13,000 transfers in 2006. The report said 52,642 students transferred to CSU schools, which is expected, as community colleges have a high rate of transfer to CSUs. The report also said 15,466 students transferred to instate private schools and 12,848 students transferred to out-of state schools, both public and private in 2006, but it was undetermined if these numbers were an increase or a decrease, as such transfers have only recently been monitored.

The study released previously in February by Sacramento State,

titled “Rules of the Game: How State Policy Creates Barriers to Degree Completion and Impedes Students Success in the California Community Colleges,” criticized community colleges for having low rates of transfer within the expected two-year time. The study stated that community college students often aren’t fully prepared for transfer and don’t complete their studies in the expected two to three years time.

Community college presidents and administrators across California, including Ohlone President Doug Treadway, voiced their concerns and skepticism regarding the Sac State study. Treadway told the Monitor in February that the study didn’t take into account the many goals of community colleges outside of student transfers such as remedial education, associates degrees and providing education for anyone who wants to learn.

Darfur conflict. There is much to be said about the Darfur situation, and as Ajak said, “Darfur can’t be explained in one hour.”

The presenters at the event said that the film would be ready for a larger release in around four to five months when it is finished and a distributor is procured. Ten minutes have been cut off the film and George Clooney is set to provide new voice-overs. The unfinished film has previously been shown on PBS and at events such as the Darfur World Forum at Ohlone.

Ohlone success rate higher than CSU, says report

By OMER AHMED News editor Students at Ohlone and other community colleges in California are earning their degrees and certificates and graduating at a better than projected rate, according to a new study released by the California Community Colleges System Office (CCCSO).

The study, titled Focus on Results: Accountability Reporting for the Community Colleges, comes on the heels of a study by California State University, Sacramento that criticized community colleges for not preparing transfer students for the rigors of four-year universities.

Regarding Ohlone, the CCCSO report states that 60.8 percent of students are graduating with a degree, an 18-unit or more certificate or transferring within six years. The

rate for the California Community College system as a whole was about 52 percent and is believed by educational administrators to be an indicator of how students are being prepared for transfer. It is also comparable to the 56 percent rate at California State Universities.

Some of the other highlights of the report for Ohlone include a year-to-year student retention rate of about 70 percent, 68.1 percent of students completing 30 or more units, with vocational courses at a completion rate of 85.2 percent.

For the Community College system as a whole, there were a number of interesting statistics published. On average, 6.6 percent of all Californians are enrolled at a community college at any given time. More surprisingly, about 35.25 percent of all Californians aged 18 to 19 were enrolled in California community colleges.

The CCCSO report has been criticized by Sac State’s Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy, the publishers of the Rules of the Game study, for not holding high enough standards. One of the study’s authors, Nancy Shurlock, found the CCCSO report’s methodology lacking and spoke to the Argus about her view, “This [study] doesn’t tell us whether they’re doing their job with the toughest students...they look at students who are already successful. I don’t want to judge whether a 50 percent success rate means that the glass is half full or half empty. Fifty percent means there is still a lot of work to do.”

The report is the first of its kind in California. It was mandated by Assembly Bill 1417, which required that the CCCSO conduct accountability studies regarding how well community colleges fulfill their many goals.

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Opinion

monitor March 22, 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, Manika Casterline, Brian Chu, Kanya Goldman, Krista Imus, Margarita Kitova, Noah Levin, Cheyenne Martin, Tomas Ortega, Kevin Protz, Kyle Stephens Ad manager: Danelle Meyer Ad staff: TBA 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

Captain America’s death is a subtle message

By Omer Ahmed News editor Occasionally, something in the world of comic book superheros catches the eye of the mainstream media. In 1993, it was the death of Superman, last year it was the homosexuality of the newest incarnation of Batwoman and this year the death of Captain America seems to be the latest crossover between nerd and pop culture.

In case you don’t read comic books (who does anymore?), didn’t see the obituary in the New York Times, didn’t see the coverage on CNN or the discussion on FoxNews, the paragon of American ideals, Captain America, was killed by four sniper shots through the back.

At first glance this doesn’t seem like

all superhumans to reveal their secret identities to the government, register officially, undergo “proper” training and carry a superhuman identification card. The Act was previously a low priority piece of legislation in the Marvel Comics version of the U.S. - that is, until a group of young superheros, the New Warriors, killed 600 bystanders, most of whom were children, during a disastrously botched fight with a group of supervillians. With the passage of the act, the superhero community became divided, drama ensued, war broke out in the Marvel universe and Captain America was the head of the resistance to the act.

Now here is why people have even noticed this small, fictional war: Captain America was killed

resisting a piece of legislation that is more than a slight allegory to the Patriot Act. To add to the unease this causes some people, Captain America fights the government and seems to die a martyr all while the real-world America is at war. On FoxNews, one commentator said that publishing Captain America’s death “sends the wrong” message to the soldiers, the American public and terrorists.

However, it’s not just the conservative commentators that are pissed.

More than a few of my friends who are comic aficionados, a.k.a. nerds, have told me that politics and social commentary don’t belong in superhero comics. The [adult swim] block of cartoons on Cartoon Network said in a series of text screens that mature themes should be kept out

of superhero comics and left to alternative genre comics like V for Vendetta or works of Neil Gaiman.

This is an unfortunate attitude, because superhero comics desperately need a dose of the political and the literary. Captain America’s death, which is his fourth, is actually interesting for reasons other than superheros beating the heck out of supervillians. That is its strength.

Other than some rare exceptions such as the recent events in the Marvel universe, comics have been outgrown by their audience.

Despite having grown up reading the uncanny X-Men religiously, watching the old Batman cartoon, trading comic cards and buying the action figures, I have not actually bought a single issue of a superhero Continued on Page 3

I dunno, kill yourself.

Do us all a favor.

There is a reason why ninja and pirates all died out in the last century; go figure.

The ninjas wouldn’t stop jumping off of buildings.

Pirates kept stealing booty up until the women’s rights movement.

Likewise, present-day ninjas are nihilistic geeks with death wishes aspiring to become silent deadly

urban base jumpers from sheer boredom with their everyday lives.

Pirates are typically nerds looking for some undeserved booty, often involved with rebound relationships spanning decades into their bleak futures and freed-up weekends.

They tend to pick up the phone on the first ring and possess a disproportianate number of piercings in places they then try to display to

unsuspecting passerby.

One must be honest with oneself and acknowledge that pop-culture terms and identities will always exist.

But while we’re all inhibiting maturation, let’s at least live in the present, and look to the future. And while we’re on topic...

Let’s all just face the simple truth: the future is all about robotz.

They feel nothing, can do any-

thing and typically do.

They’re wicked sexy.

And robotz cannot be held morally accountable for their actions.

The ultimate justification for any misdeed: “I’m a robot.”

Robotz skool ninja and pirates to a degree that is just saddening.

So could we all just move on already?

Robotz rule, pirates ’n ninjas drool.

david urrutia Business

danny britain Music

adan ortega

matt castagnolo

Film

Business

a big deal. After all, comic book characters die all the time. So a little bit more backstory is necessary to understand why the Captain’s death actually caught the attention of the New York Times.

The death followed a short “civil war” in the Marvel universe over the passage of the Superhuman Registration Act which required

Ninjas & pirates = the past/robotz = the future

By MATTHEW SO Opinion editor I’m so tired of ninja and pirates and other pop-culture terms for people who don’t want to be themselves because their lives are so depressingly empty and boring.

If it’s worse to be yourself then...

Campus Comment > > What is your ultimate Spring Break fantasy?

matt luty Marketing “All-expense paid trip to Mexico.”

“Go to Amsterdam.”

“I just don't want to go to school or work.”

“OD on heroin.”

“I would rent a villa in Jamaica and go Jamaican.”

March 22, 2007 MONITOR

News

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DNA lab confirms twins are genetically identical

By SANDEEP ABRAHAM Staff writer

Photo by Sandeep Abraham

Anna and Mary Rose, identical twins, pose outside the DNA lab before having their DNA extracted and tested with a sequencer.

Anna and Mary Rosa, sisters currently attending Livermore High School, have been identical twins for as long as they could remember. However, three months ago, the twins were startled to find out that their parents did not know if they were identical or fraternal twins. The probability that they are identical is 3 in 1,000, making this discovery very momentous to them. Thus began a school science fair project that eventually found its way into Ohlone’s biotechnology laboratory.

Livermore High lacked a DNA sequencer, as do most high school science facilities. Ohlone’s Dean of Science and Technology, Ron Quinta, had heard about the twins’ plight and decided to kill two birds with one stone by helping them out and bringing more attention to

ASOC organizes Unity Week

By NOAH LEVIN Staff writer The Associated Students of Ohlone College (ASOC) discussed holding a boat race in Ohlone’s pool for Unity Week, welcoming one of the founding members for this semester’s Earth Day and other things during their weekly meeting on Wednesday, March 21. The formation of a new Pre-Pharmacy club was announced, as well as an Urban Art Club, which is in the works.

Legislative Representative Ken Steadman informed the ASOC of this Friday’s Student Senate of California Community Colleges, hosted at Chabot College. Steadman will be traveling to Chabot and was seeking a fellow ASOC member to accompany him, to which he received no response.

ASOC Secretary and Speaker Committee member Tauheed Safi reported that political awareness speaker and activist Dave Dionisi

would be addressing Ohlone students in the lobby of Building 1 on April 14, from noon until 1 p.m.

Steadman then briefly addressed the ASOC’s plans to change the ASOC constitution, with Representative at Large Carlos Vejar commenting that the constitution, “Needs to be updated.” No amendments or changes have yet been made, nor has the ASOC held council on the matter at the time of print. The Earth Day Committee laid out its plans for the week of April 16, with bands on two days and speakers.

Unity Week Committee member Vejar also laid out a tentative idea for a fun event to replace the usual relay foot race. The idea to have a boat race across the pool, borrowed from a local school, would entail teams building a small boat out of cardboard and duct tape only, which would have to not only float, but carry three people. Vejar said that the event wouldn’t be so much about the boats themselves working, but

the teamwork and leadership skills that would be involved in building the watercraft. Ideally, teams would be representatives from clubs, and clubs might contribute money to a pot prize, which would be awarded to the winning boat.

ASOC members are still pooling student opinion as to whether this event would be preferable to the mundane relay race.

Vice President and Unity Week Committee member Tatyana Hamady also made a money request for approximately $7,500 to pay for the week of events. Planned events throughout the week include the Gala Event to open the week with a cultural dance show, a Deaf Voice/ASL movie being shown Tuesday and a Pioneers of Civil Rights speaker panel in the Jackson Theater, with a student discussion panel the following day. The week is planned to come to a close with an outdoor movie screening on a large inflatable screen.

Ohlone’s biotechnology program.

The program itself, though incredibly sophisticated and poised for a growing career field, is little known, much less understood. Mark Barnby, professor of biology, will oversee the project and hopes this will bring attention to the program’s many practical applications within our community.

The project took place in two parts - the first was a fingerprint test and the second a sequencing and comparison of DNA extracted from cheek cells of each twin. The fingerprint test performed was on par with fingerprint tests done by the FBI and Forensic Science Service, a highly renowned British forensic agency that does work for various British law enforcement agencies. This test will help determine whether or not the twins share the same DNA; if they do, their fingerprints would be identical.

The next phase of the project

involved using the laboratory’s DNA sequencer to compare various strands of the twins’ DNA. Using a cheek swab sample given by each twin, the machine took apart each twin’s DNA strands and cloned various portions of them. Once cloned, the machine worked overnight, comparing and contrasting the chemical code of each strand to determine just how similar the twins were.

There was a standard of determination used in which a 100 percent match would mean they were identical twins and a 50 percent match would make them fraternal.

Identical twins are the result of one of their mother’s fertilized eggs splitting into two, whereas fraternal twins are the products of two independently fertilized eggs.

Much to their delight, the twins found out that they were indeed identical, as they had always believed they were.

Capt’s death good for DC Continued from Page 2 comic in the last five years. With few exceptions, superhero comics just aren’t that interesting any more.

To regain the audience that comics once had, the comic companies need to go after their old readers and that means making their content more mature. Marvel started this somewhat subtly in the last few years in an attempt to return to the politicized comics they used to put out in the ‘80s. Examples of this trend include introducing a Muslim X-Woman, Sooraya Qadir aka.

Dust, to deal with the issue of conservative Islam in the U.S. and featuring a public homosexual relationship between two high school-aged superheros, the Hulkling and Wiccan.

The political message underlying Captain America’s death is just the next step in this trend - and it is a good step. If this is a real representation of where comics are going, in the next few years comic fans might stop arguing about who would win in a fight between the Hulk and Wolverine and will instead be arguing who was right about the Holocaust, Professor X or Magneto.

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Features

monitor March 22, 2007

Culture Pirate

By OMER AHMED News editor

Dual school is über cool So I probably should have written this column back when students were applying to four-year schools but I am a procrastinator.

That and, to enjoy the benefits of the school I’m going to mention, you would have to move to Texas.

Nobody wants to move to Texas.

I know; my family moved away from Texas.

Anyway, my cousin went to a school in his hometown called University of Texas, Brownsville and Texas Southmost College (UTB/TSC) before joining the military. Long name for a school to be sure, but the name is bloated for a reason. UTC/TSC is both a community college and a fouryear university.

At the UTB/TSC, a student can apply for admission at the community college portion of the school, Texas Southmost College, and get in pretty easily. Just like Ohlone, TSC has an “open admissions” policy. Unlike Ohlone, you can be admitted into a bachelor’s program at the four-year university portion of the school, UT Brownsville, without reapplying as long as you maintained an acceptable GPA. This way, you avoid going through the hell that is the transfer process. You just have a seamless transition from community college to university.

Now, UT Brownsville isn’t the best school. It’s fourth tier in the US News & World Report’s college rankings and is ranked seventh in the UT system as a whole.

Still, it is a real college where you can get a real education. My mom went to UTB and eventually transferred to the more selective University of Houston. UTB is also the place to be, supposedly, for the field of gravitational wave astronomy. Kind of random, but the school has a niche.

So, the TSC to UTB partnership is not like getting a free ticket to UC Berkeley or Harvard but it is still a pretty good deal.

Very few schools have such a system in place. Here at Ohlone, we have a partnership with Alliant International University were students can get “fast-track” admission into the bachelor’s programs in psychology or business and take the classes at Ohlone. Unfortunately, the program is somewhat limited and, more importantly, it doesn’t provide a seamless transition/transfer.

One of the goals of community colleges like Ohlone is to provide education to anyone wanting to learn. That’s the reason for the open admissions policy and the low $20 per unit price. A seamless transfer policy is the next logical step to providing universal quality education. Texas shouldn’t hog the few good ideas it gets and you know...doesn’t the name California State University, Fremont and Ohlone College sound wonderfully long/impressively bloated?

Photos courtesy of Rachel Tishara Stacey

Ohlone graduate Rachel Tishara Stacy, center, plays guitar with her country music band in Texas. Below left, Stacy fiddles at a concert, and poses, below right.

Student ‘gone country’ in Texas

By Kyle Stephens Staff writer From Ohlone can come great things.

Case in point, country music star on the rise and Ohlone alumna Rachel Tishara Stacy. Currently on tour in Texas promoting her new album and single, “Damn You Look Good,” Stacy’s compelling stage performances are the product of strong natural talent, as well as her instructors’ efforts at Ohlone.

Stacy, who has toured with the likes of Keith Anderson, ZZ Top, Ty England and Phil Vassar, traces her roots back to the heart of Okalahoma. Growing up, she traveled the road throughout the Midwest with her musician and songwriter mother.

Early on, Stacy began to sing on her own, and learned the violin.

Which such, she earned first chair in the Oklahoma Junior Symphony.

Through these years and high school, she earned many more accolades in pageants and talents competitions, and was voted “most talented” in high school.

Through these years and college, Stacy, “the girl who sings,” as she grew to be known, performed for the Special Olympics, and acted and sang in various musical and drama shows.

When she moved to California to attend Ohlone, the performance trend continued, and she was extensively involved with the theater, video and TV departments, starting in many shows, anchoring for ONTV, and appearing in an Ohlone TV pilot. She even sang in the choir.

Concerning her time at Ohlone, she said with a laugh, “I think I lived there!”

In her two and a half years at Ohlone, Stacy was taught extensively by Ohlone theater professor Tom Blank. Blank, according to Stacy, was encouraging but

hard on her, because he believed in her potential, conditioning her for live concerts on tour, performing and songwriting in, to say the least, rough conditions.

“He always supported me,” said Stacy.

Blank’s praise of Stacy is extensive.

“She was probably one of the most enthusiastic students I have ever had,” Blank recalled.

“The word ‘no’ was not in her vocabulary.

She had the most infectious laugh.

“We have performances of her on tape that I show to my classes, demonstrating different things: she did a strung-out drug addict in one play, and half an hour later, in another play, she was this übercontrolled attorney arguing a case against Satan.”

Even after Stacy graduated from Ohlone, she was asked to come back for certain performances needing of her talents.

Post-Ohlone, Stacy moved south on to University of California at Irvine. However, she strongly believes that “Ohlone taught me more than Irvine.”

When not occupied with her studies at Irvine, Stacy would travel to nearby Los Angeles in search of venues to showcase her music, guitar and performing spirit. After graduating from Irvine, she formed a band, and decided to take her show out on the road.

Fueling her journey now and as long as she’s taken to the stage, she says, is the affinity with her audience. On her website she says, “There is nothing better than being on stage and watching my audience sing along to the songs I’ve written and knowing they can relate to every word; that’s connection.”

Her debut single, “Damn You Look Good,” is being played on stations all over Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico, and can be heard on her MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/stacystacymusic, and can be downloaded via iTunes or Wal-Mart music.

A new self-titled CD is scheduled to be released this month.

And good news for California fans - at year’s end, Stacy will be touring the Golden State.

MTV a stepping stone to future fame

By Michael Aburas Staff writer “All through high school I would tell everybody that I didn’t just want to be another girl who goes to Ohlone and stays in Fremont,” said aspiring actress Meesha Larijani.

In pursuing her dream, Larijani moved to Los Angeles, getting a gig on MTV’s “Next” and filming a promo for the company as well.

“Most of my auditions were in West Hollywood,” said Larijani.

Larijani described the show “Next” as a reality show dating game with one guy choosing from five girls, or vice versa. The people waiting to be chosen got to hang out in a bus and badmouth the person choosing a mate by saying “next.”

The episode she was featured in was filmed at Dodger Stadium with a sports theme and she was “nexted” right away. The man who was in the position to pick was portrayed as a

big baseball fan. duction was lunch, “They wanted me at which point she to play the dorkier had the chance to type. The kind of girl network herself. “I who didn’t know anywas chatting with the thing about baseball production assistant and was the complete and was interested in opposite of his type,” finding out what they said a dejected Larido for a living because jani.

I want to go into the Larijani described industry.”

Photo by Jack Husting the facial shots, done Larijani has reevery hour of the ceived some flack for 14-hour shoot, as the Student Meesha being on MTV from most tedious part of Larijani audiher friends asking: her “Next” experi- tioned for MTV why MTV? She usuence. The expression reality show ally responds with “I shot included rolling have to start some‘Next’ in L.A. their eyes, shock and where. Most actors laughing together. “Most of the don’t have something that big on time we were in the bus. There are their resume. An A-list role isn’t just different facial expressions that they going to fall in my hands.” could cut and edit wherever they Once upon a time there were want,” Larijani said. variety shows on TV for young stars Converse to the task described, such as the Gong Show, American Larijani’s favorite part of the pro- Band Stand and Mickey Mouse

Club. “We don’t have a Mickey Mouse Club and MTV is like the Mickey Mouse Club,” said Larijani.

“I guarantee you all the budding stars are going to come from MTV or the Disney Channel.”

During Larijani’s time in L.A. she spent most of her time living with her grandpa, who taught her French in her spare time. Here grandpa also attendended her auditions. “He’s my good luck charm,” said Larijani.

Concerned with acting and a career outside of the industry, Larijani decided to move back to Fremont.

“I moved back because if acting fell through I had nothing to fall back on,” she said.

Moreover, there was a large temptation to ditch class for an audition. “My mom said ‘if it was meant for me it will find me again.’ ” “But I love Fremont and Ohlone now that I’m back,” added Larijani.

In her spare time she writes music, plays guitar and publishes poetry.

Features Panel discusses career options

By Margarita Kitova Staff writer Bay Area professionals from fields in business, marketing communications, corporate communications, public relations, human resources, training and development and education gathered together at the “Careers in Communication Panel Discussion” Wednesday in Room 3103. The seven panelists stressed importance of communication in everyday life.

The panelists, pictured at right, were Siiri Hage, an employee communications manager; Jeff Cowan, director of marketing communication for Interwoven; Lars Ahnholtz- manager of Marcom; Pam Cingerman, owner of a business in performance connections, Renee Gonzales, Ohlone’s campus activities assistant; Saphna Kanakya, Ohlone speech alum and Dave Curtis, corporate trainer in the medical field.

The panelists each spoke about their own approach to success and the features they looked for when interviewing candidates who will

then manage their relationship with customers. On the question about the best way to earn six-figure salaries, the panelists’ answer was: “Find what speaks to your spirit and what you love doing and get paid for it. The more fields it applies to, the better.”

What is the way to have marketable skills? How can you deliver a product and gain market share, how to sell yourself? The panel responded that it was all about communication. They added that communication serves as an important link between a company and it’s clients; without it, there’s a gap.

There are four directions in which the communicational process can take you: Inform, Educate, Entertain, or Motivate, depending on the audience. Performance and performance connections, said the panel, help the heavy corporate giants get the clients they are looking for.

How do we prove the quality of our performance when our resume consists of sales positions in retail, cashiering at Albertson’s, or working in a restaurant, though? The advice from the panelists was to take

Opera San Jose performed scenes from eight different operas Saturday at the Jackson Theater. The playbill featured not only recognizable pieces such as “Madame Butterfly” and “Romeo and Juliette” but also more obscure pieces such as “La Boheme,” “Barber of Seville” and “Carmen”.

The opening presentation, shown before a near-capacity crowd, was strong and captivating as I was suddenly pulled out of my own world and to the one of this man in front of me singing out “Figaro!” vigorously. While watching the show I felt enraptured, as if there were no world outside of the characters and events I was witnessing. It was almost as if my presence as an audience member added to the effect and feel of the atmosphere and the story itself. The singing resonated as if the vocalists were amplifiers set on the highest gain and echo setting.

Throughout the night I noticed that the power and resonance of the

“The hills were long and white…. and on one side was the sun,” said Shawna Luce as she began her dramatic performance adaptation of Hills like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway.

The Speech and Communication Club sponsored speaker Luce at a meeting Monday, March 19. The Speech and Communication Club aims to bring speakers to campus, trying especially for Ohlone alumni.

Luce performed two adaptations; Girl by J. Kinkaid and Hills like White Elephants. Girl was about a mother giving her daughter instructions on how to live life in order to survive. The piece featured a mother

Devil’s Advocate

To fish or not to fish

Photo by Jack Husting

Student Affairs Volunteer Renee Wong Gonzales stands up to speak at the Career and Commucation Panel Discussion Wednesday. the classes that touch the aspects of communication - speech classes, organization communicational and even sociology - classes that explain how people interact and what’s going on a cultural level. Then, they suggested to get involved in an internship that will help you get where you want to go.

This will also help you find mentors that will write letters of recommendation for you and be your future network. Some of the local companies offer internships with a wage of $20 per hour, 20 hours per week. That’s how you’ll get your resume together and Continued on Page 6

performers’ voices made normal human conversations seem lackluster.

When the tones and octaves of the singers and pianist changed, the lighting effect in the back of the theater changed colors as well.

The night ended with a beautiful four-person a cappella all singing simultaneously, and was followed with an endless roar of clapping that lasted minutes.

The performers all wore shiny dresses or black and gray suits.

There were no complicated backdrops or special effects. The entirety of the presentation was in the skill and ability of the performers.

One might think that opera is outdated and not for the modern contemporary hip bohemian. However through the different scenes presented, I witnessed otherwise.

From a melancholic woman waiting at home for her husband to come back from overseas and becoming ecstatic at the news of a ship harbored in port and his possible return, to reading old love letters and reminiscing about the beauty and innocence of a past love, to a

hilarious wooing scene involving getting a woman back to his abode, the pieces each applied themselves accordingly so that the audience could readily relate and enjoy the performances. Opera is timeless tradition and art and I witnessed this first hand.

The emotions conveyed were strongly due to the outstanding performances of the performers themselves. In one particular scene, two brotherly best friends sang of their tragic situation in which they both had fallen in love with the same woman.

As the singers’ voices and expressions synchronized together and complemented each other along with the piano performance, you could feel the passion through their work. With the voices coming together and combining in a rise of volume, the piece culminated as the two best friends entered an embrace of the forearms while glaring into each other’s eyes with a look of resolve tinged with sadness.

Baritone singer Kenneth Mattice said that “Expanding to a new audi-

ence is important to us for we want to spread the wealth of music.”

The bass singer Carlos Aguilar said, “Thank you for the opportunity to perform at Ohlone, you were all a great audience. We wanted to bring and present more of the well-known operas to perform. I believe opera changes lives and it changed my life when a performing opera group came to San Jose State [the college he was attending at the time]. We want to do outreach to college students interested in opera. We want to inspire students.”

As a person whose experience with opera consists only of the obligatory “Phantom of the Opera” attendance, I can definitely say that opera is something I would go to again. It’s classy but affordable classic but not too formal or constraining. It’s a perfect type of event to take your theatre or performing arts girlfriend to. Or yourself and anyone else who wants to witness the pinnacle of performing arts.

Opera San Jose’s next set of performances begin April 21 and will be “Madame Butterfly.”

determined that her daughter stay on the straight and narrow.

Next came Hills like White Elephants. Luce performed it as though she were telling a story.

The meaning of the story did not become clear until the end. “And if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me?” Her body gestures helped suggest what was going on. “ ‘Well,’ he said, ‘if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple.’”

Every so often she would drink out of a beer bottle prop and as she went on, she began to stammer.

Her character, now drunk, said “…he took both bags and got on the train.” The story ended with the woman pulling a baby blanket

out of a bag, symbolizing piece's abortion theme.

Both performances were lively, controversial, and well-emphasized using props. About 30 students and teachers attended the performance.

Afterward, a discussion was held about the authors, stories, and Luce herself.

“What got you motivated to pursue doing what you’re dong?” asked a member of the audience.

“I got more passionate about it when my teacher told me that I had done the best interpretation of ‘Girl’ she had ever seen,” responded Luce.

When asked why she chose this piece she replied, “I chose it because I like to see struggles women go through.”

Luce was previously a student

at Ohlone and a member of the speech honor society. She acquired her A.A. here at Ohlone and now attends San Jose State University to complete her B.A. but can still be seen around campus working down in the EOPS. She will major in performance studies.

“Once she completes her B.A., we hope to hire her as a teacher here at Ohlone,” said Speech Instructor Brenda Ahntholz. President of the Speech and Communication Club Brian Chu commented on Luce’s performance.

“I liked it because it was interactive and makes me think about a topic,” noted Chu. “The way she presented it makes you step outside of your comfort zone. It makes you think about the topic differently. It was very good overall.”

Speech alum performs through words

By Krista Imus Staff writer

5

By Anna Nemchuk Editor-in-chief

Opera San Jose hits high notes

By Brian Chu Staff writer

March 22, 2007 monitor

A businessman in a small coastal village comes across a fisherman with a small boat but several particularly large fish.

Complimenting him, he asks the fisherman how difficult of a catch it was. “Very easy,” says the fisherman “I catch just enough for my family, then go home, have dinner, play with my kids, go to town with my wife and spend my nights relaxing on the beach with my friends and a couple of beers.”

The businessman’s eyes light up, “You should expand. Work longer hours, have your children help you, hire some workers. Then you can sell your surplus in town, establish a monopoly and a brand name, move to a big city, diversify into foreign markets, build an overseas empire and finally sell it all for millions!” “Then what?” “Why, then you would retire, move to a small coastal village, fish a little, play with your kids, spend some quality time with your wife and your nights relaxing with friends and a few drinks.”

When I first heard this joke, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. Half of what you hear these days is advice on how to relax; the other half is encouragement to work harder. Today’s civilized, commercial world, at least in the Bay Area, is a far cry from the villages of a few centuries ago; it’s more and more difficult to locate a place on the globe free of industrialization. If you do, chances are they have tour guides and signs: “Don’t feed the llamas!”

Forgetting the entire pot calling the kettle black issue – never mind that with school, classes and miscellanea I have the equivalent of an 80-hour work week – why the hell are we so busy?

Even with all that, I still manage to have a social life, commune with my cats and even wave hello at my parents now and again. And if you tell me I’m particularly organized I’ll laugh in your face. For days.

But still. I’m afraid we’ll soon see a new leading cause of death among college students in particular and the populace at large in general – locked doors with “Busy” plaques concealing corpses with scribbled notes nearby – “Gtg. Too busy to breathe.”

I’ve seen babies with PDAs and second graders with schedules that would make the average CEO weep.

The latest diet craze is photosynthesis – running from history class to math lab in the sun should provide enough nutrients, easy.

What are we, worse than plants?!

The proper order goes – three cups of coffee, THEN exit bed.

Or is that pour into bed, drink exit? At least we still have alcohol - better for sleep than any pill.

Meanwhile, back to photosynthesis.

6 MONITOR

March 22, 2007

News

Professor explains climate change through the ages

By ANNA NEMCHUK Editor-in-chief “Earth’s climate is touchy, don’t mess with it,” warned the final slide of last Friday’s Prehistoric Life and Global Climate Change Brown Bag. Geology Professor Paul Belasky spoke on the birth and evolution of the Earth as a planet and the growing pains it has gone through, emphasizing climate shifts throughout history.

“The earth’s climate is volatile and can change on a relatively short notice,” he stated. The significant global warming that took place 15,000 years ago, only yesterday in

planetary terms, was 10 years from beginning to completion; the shift that came 12,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, took about three years.

Coming on the heels of former vice-president Al Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth, shown at Ohlone earlier this semester, the implications of such statements and Belasky’s underlining of the fact that global warming, if it continues, could melt all remaining glaciers and ice sheets on the Earth within decades or less, rather than centuries, is yet another push for those still skeptical of the reality of this problem.

The Math and Technology Department’s Brown Bags take place Fridays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Room 3201. Paul Belasky convened the first ever Brown Bag at Ohlone.

The next presentation will take place April 6 and feature Biology Professor Gessica Johnston on Stories from Real-Life ER: a Physician Talks about Her Career as an Emergency Room Doctor. The March 30 Pharmacy: a Promising Future feature by Rebecca Tai and Shane Kong, from the UCSF School of Pharmacy and former Ohlone students has been cancelled due to Spring Break.

Three levels of psychological education and jobs explained

By MICHAEL ABURAS Staff writer “Everybody in psychology has a specific interest,” according to Dr. Ben Caldwell of Alliant University.

Caldwell covered three levels of education when he discussed different careers in the field of psychology at his presentation in the Jackson Theater titled “Careers in Psychology” Wednesday.

Caldwell started with the associate’s level of education including careers in psychology, as well

as caseworkers and residential counselors.

Caldwell described a psychology tech as someone who may do clinical research taking measurements such as intellectual tests or work with behavioral management.

However, caseworkers are not involved with therapy but rather help families navigate through the system they are involved with.

The pay range listed for these jobs at the presentation was $20,000 to $40,000. “But take the pay with a grain of salt. If you go into a field

where a lot of people find it difficult (the work) you’re likely to get paid more,” said Caldwell. He brought up prison therapy as an example.

Indirectly related careers suggested were human recourses and sales consultant. “Pay varies wildly because of differences in field,” added Caldwell. To illustrate, Caldwell mentioned that a friend of his with a BA at Alliant landed a six-figure job in human recourses.

In other words, when considering a career in psychology, one has many options to choose from.

Photo by Jack Husting

Paul Belasky indicates the relative magnitude of volcano eruptions through history during last Friday’s Brown Bag seminar.

Career options weighed Continued from Page 5 work on your leadership development. Each experience will build on itself and will finally lead you to your dream career path.

The panel said that once at an interview, know the company and the job you are interviewed for. Look presentable, give a strong handshake and drop a few key items.

The panel added that people usually summarize each other in 30 seconds, so that’s the time you have to make the right impression. Once you show a willingness to engage yourself, ask questions about your position and establish an open relationship with your manager, you’re likely to get the job.

But be aware that the more money you make, the more connected you are. The higher you climb up the ladder, the more time you have to dedicate to your job.

Campus Events CLASSIFIEDS Spring Break -- Don’t wait in line on Spring Break! No line and no cover at bars and clubs! Get the Real Hook Up at VipSpringBreak. com.

Earn Money -Earn $2,500+monthly and more to type simple ads online. www.DataAdEntry.com.

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.

Hiring receptionist -- Fremont Professional Massage and Bodyworks is looking for a daytime receptionist to work Mondays,Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and every other Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Job includes answering the phone, taking care of the register, checking in clients etc, will also be able to work on homework while at the job. For more information visit www. fremontmassage.com.To apply, call Tina Kemline at (510) 304-1526.

Looking to hire -- Highway 77 magazine is looking for a part-time graphic and page layout person. Job will also qualify for work study credit. Pay is negotiable.

For more info call Louis at (510) 388-5201 or email at either Lhighway77@yahoo.com or highway77mag@yahoo. com. Visit www.highway77magazine.com or myspace.com/highway77 to check us out.

AKC Registered Puppy For Sale -- AKC registered female English bulldog puppy For sale for $700. Shipping is not included.Vet checked, and up-to-date shots and worming. Home-raised with children in loving

environment. For more information, contact us by e-mail at: Wright_ phil200@yahoo.com.

Part-time job opening -- Part-time job in Fremont-based media company. India knowledge a plus. $10/ hour plus commissions.

Send resume to harvi@ siliconindia.com or call (510) 364-9181.

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.

nist will be provided. Wear appropriate dance shoes and dress comfortably.

Must be 9-21 years old at time of auditions. Please reserve an audition by visiting www.starstrucktheatre.org or call (510) 659-1319 for more information. Auditions will be held at StarStruck Studio, 42307 Osgood Road, Unit L, Fremont.

26-April 1 Spring Break -- Holiday break. No classes.

29 Men’s Baseball -- 2 p.m. vs. West Valley College here at Ohlone.

29 Women’s Softball -- 3 p.m. vs. West Valley College here at Ohlone.

April March 22 New Art Display -Fine art and Design Faculty Show. In the Louie Meager Art Gallery. Can be seen through April 7.

Each of the art, design, photography and graphic arts professors will exhibit some of their works. Will show the varied talents of the while introducing the students and community to the faculty’s fine art works.

Gallery is open Monday through Friday, noon to 3 p.m.

22 Women’s Softball -- 3 p.m. vs. Hartnell College here at Ohlone.

22 Student Repertory I -8 p.m. in the Smith Center.

To purchase tickets for this performance or to get more information, visit the box office.

22-23 March Ohlone Bookstore Sale -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the bookstore.

Will be a sidewalk sale, and 30% discount on all clothing and stuffed animals.

1 Celtic Music Concert -2 p.m. in the Jackson Theatre. Concert features the Prince Charles Pipe Band, Molly’s Revenge Celtic Music Band, Highland and Irish Dancers. A portion of this concert’s proceeds will benefit Ohlone College’s Anthropology Museum.

The Prince Charles Pipe Band has been in continuous operation for 39 years and during this period has established itself as a world class band. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the box office.

March 22, 2007 monitor

7

join the fun and take part in “Liberated Individuals for the Environment.” Everyone is welcome.

get more information or to make an appointment call the Transfer Center at (510) 659-6241.

3 Community Band -- 8 p.m. in the Jackson Theatre. To purchase tickets for this performance, visit the box office.

6 Brown Bag Seminar -11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Room 3201. Topic is Stories from Real-Life ER: a Physician Talks about Her Career as an Emergency Room Doctor. Brown Bag Science Seminars are designed to stimulate interest in and awareness of topics, trends, and careers in science. This event is free.

3 Transfer Event: Cogswell Polytechnic College -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Quad. Come meet with a representative to talk about transferring. To get more information call the Transfer Center at (510) 659-6241.

4 World Forum -- Noon to 2 p.m. in the Epler Gymnasium. Topic is Understanding Indigenous Peoples of the World from the Ohlone Indian experience. This event is free.

4 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.

4 Men’s Baseball -- 2 p.m. vs. Southwestern College here at Ohlone.

5 Transfer Event: Cal State East Bay -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment only.

Come meet with representative Louise Martinez to talk about transferring. To

14 Auditions: Miss Saigon. For Summerfest 2007 -- 9 a.m. to Noon in the Jackson Theatre. We are looking for anyone interested in being a part of a dynamic production.

Male and female actors, are welcomed, over the age of 16 to portray multicultural roles of marines, officers, soldiers and citizens of Saigon and Bangkok. Asian performers are strongly encouraged to audition. Also casting people with some acrobatic/martial arts experience. Auditions will be conducted in a group format. Be prepared to sing 16 bars of a ballad or 32-uptempo from a contemporary or pop musical. No acappella pieces allowed. An accompanist will be provided. Bring double-sided music.

2 Transfer Event: San Francisco State -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by appointment only. Come meet with representative Colette Cowan to talk about transferring.

To get more information or to make an appointment, call the Transfer Center at (510) 659-6241.

2 LIFE Meeting -- 1 to 2 p.m. in room 14B. LIFE is an exciting new club that meets on Mondays. Come

23 Men and Women’s Swimming -- 2 p.m. vs.

Fullerton College here at the Ohlone pool side.

24 Fremont Symphony -- 8 p.m. in the Jackson Theatre. To purchase tickets for this performance, visit the box office.

24 & 26 Audition for Beauty and The Beast -- 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children between ages 9 and 12, and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for ages 13-21 on March 24th., and 6:30 to 9 p.m. for ages 9-21 on March 26th.

Prepare 1-2 min. show tune in the musical style of show (No pop/rock). Accompa-

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, March 22, 2007

Page 8

Peterson reflects and moves forward

By Nick Zambrano Sports editor The loss to Antelope Valley in the Elite Eight marked the beginning of the next step for Ohlone Head Coach John Peterson. On the whiteboard in his office there are names and phone numbers; those names and numbers belong to possible recruits to replace his sophomore-heavy team of this season. Some of the numbers are local, while others are beyond the confines of the Bay Area.

However, Peterson still finds the time to sit back and reflect on the remarkable 28-4 season that belonged to his Ohlone Renegades.

“It was a great year,” Peterson said.

“In all aspects, they’re (the team) on track to graduate and they’re all being recruited by four-year schools.

So, there are so many positives to it, even the way we lost, it’s really insignificant.” Any other coach will tell you that there are almost as many negatives as there are positives, but Peterson would be the one to say not with my team.

His team, a group that has been together for the good chunk of two years, were nothing short of extraordinary. Every game the Renegades played this season, we saw someone new step up. Whether it was Sean Amos’ spiritual performance against the College of the Redwoods or Bert Whittington’s clutch freethrow shooting against San Joaquin Delta, Ohlone was definitely an opponent that was challenging for any coach to prepare for.

“There was kind of a quiet arrogance to them, they expected to win,” said Peterson of his squad.

“The biggest deal was definitely that they were unbelievable in practice. The practices were more entertaining than the games in many ways. The talent level was obviously the best we’ve had it’s not even close.”

Peterson even saw a few of his players rake in the awards. The obvious was sophomore guard Willis Gardner. Gardner was elected the Coast Conference MVP and was on the All-Conference first team.

Gardner averaged 11.3 points, 4.2 assists and had a free-throw percentage of .811 in conference play. Second-year player Renardo Bass was also given honorable mention by the Coast Conference.

Gardner was one of five Renegades that averaged over 9 points for the year. Sophomore Jermaine Smith averaged 9.4 points while leading the team in rebounding with 7.3 a game. Guards Allen Hester and Bert Whittington - both sophomores - also averaged 10.5 points a game.

But there is one big thing about this Ohlone squad. All but three players are sophomores.

When Peterson recruited all his sophomores last year, he knew they would be leaving almost as quick as they arrived.

“Well, it’s just the nature of the beast,” Peterson said. “Every year it’s the same thing, they leave and they go on. Their best years are usually their last two, that’s just

Injuries plague swim team

By Tomas Ortega Staff writer

By Jeff Weisinger Sports editor Riding a .500 record going into this Friday’s meet against Fullerton (2 p.m. at Ohlone) the Ohlone Swimming Team is by all means “hanging tough” with the men at a 2-3 record and the women at 3-2.

Injuries and illness have plagued the team throughout the season.

Wynn Grotegut has been out for a while with a fractured wrist, while Lance Green has also been out with an illness. Dolly Walters, the team’s fastest swimmer, just came back from a shoulder injury that sidelined her for a few weeks.

However, the loss of those two swimmers has not stopped the team, especially in last week’s big meet in San Luis Obispo as the Renegades went against Cuesta College.

For the men’s side, James Logan alum Cody Angeles did well in the 50 and 100m freestyle and the butterfly events. For the ladies, Ashley Rogers, also out of James Logan, shined in all of her events.

Coming up for the Renegades after this Friday’s meet against Fullerton, Ohlone will travel to Cabrillo College in Aptos on March 30.

Regardless of the injuries on the team, the Renegades overall look good going into the conference championships onApril 26-28 and the state championships come May 3-5.

Photo provided by men’s basketball team

The 2006-‘07 Renegades were undeniably one of Peterson’s best teams. the way it goes. If we can get them prepared, to take that step to the four-year level and then they blossom and do well there, then we’ve done our job.”

All of Peterson’s departing sophomores will continue to play after they leave Ohlone. Since the game against Antelope Valley, Peterson’s office phone has been ringing nonstop. After every season ends he begins to get his sophomores set for the next level, almost like a parent

teaching their child how to ride a bike. And after those bikes are gone, he sets his sights on those new kids ready to learn.

It won’t be easy filling a roster predominantly filled with sophomores, but Peterson has been through this sort of deal before. This is why he recruits in his own way.

Limiting himself to just the Bay Area would barely give him a starting five. With only three returning freshmen, thinking outside the box

obviously fills the roster quicker.

Even though, he’ll most likely have a roster of all freshmen next season. His team filled with freshmen last season went on to win 21 games. Peterson, however still believes that another conference title is within arm’s reach. “Hopefully we reload and not rebuild,” Peterson said.

Once again, congratulations to Peterson and his team and good luck to that special group of sophomores.

the game, “Shane did a good job; he struggled a bit with his command but he found a way to get the outs.”

Murchison was helped by both timely hitting and a few “gifts” from the MPC defense.

In the third inning, with Ohlone at bat and one out, Matt Wiseman and Derek Helenihi hit back-toback home runs to give the Renegades the lead. Not only were the fans in the stands blown away, Coach K later described the feat as “awesome.”

That pretty much summed up the moment, considering Wiseman was still shaking hands in

the dugout when the second ball took flight.

Not to take any credit away from Wismann and Helenihi, but Matt Langseth had the heads up play of the game.

In the sixth inning, Ohlone leading 5-2, Langseth drew a one out walk with a runner on third, only he decided to sprint out of the box and take second as well, knowing the catcher would have to make a sudden decision of whether to throw to second and have the runner on third break for the plate. MPC’s catcher decided to hold the ball.

Renegades on both second and third with nobody out. After the miscue,

MPC changed pitchers who then allowed both runners to score, 7-2 Renegades.

Before attending to his post game field duties, Langseth remarked, “I noticed during my at bat that the infield was all in, and decided that rather than steal a few pitches later, I would take second right away and take them by surprise.”

Ohlone would yield two more runs in the seventh inning, on a two run home run by MPC’s Mitch McDonald. But the eighth and ninth innings would be nailed down by freshman Joe Gardiner, recording 3 strikeouts and earning the two inning save.

The growth of Tim Lincecum, the Giants first-round pick of the 2006 draft, is getting many Giants fans riled up. Behind Zito, Matt Cain, Noah Lowry and secondyear player Jonathan Sanchez, Lincecum is the next big thing. I know he is young and unproven, but one thing that Sabean has been able to do over the years is find good, young starting pitching.

The 22 year-old Lincecum has been seen throwing in the mid-to-high 90’s along with a devastating 12-6 curveball. With a guy of this kind of potential, the Giants will not try and overwork him early, but I’m sure we will see him around by the time the season comes to a close.

And then there’s Mr. Bonds.

Honestly, I didn’t want him back at the end of last season. But after examining his numbers this spring, it has grown on me that maybe this will be the year he decides to hang ‘em up. If he does though, it will be because he finished the season with a .300 average, more than 30 home runs, and 80-90 RBIs. That may seem a bit extreme when you consider his age.

But may I remind you that Bonds has not been completely healthy the last few seasons.

With his legs feeling much better than the 2005 season, when he had arthroscopic knee surgery, I am positive that Bonds will go out with a bang this year.

And when I say “bang,” I’m implying 755+.

Ohlone launches two against Monterey The Ohlone Men’s Baseball team took full advantage of the good weather to pull out a victory over Monterey Peninsula on Saturday afternoon 7-4.

While the weather was hot in the early going, you couldn’t say the same for MPC’s bats. Ohlone’s Shane Murchinson held MPC hitters to just two hits through his first four innings. He wound up getting the win with a final line of five innings, yielding two runs on five hits along with a walk and strikeout.

Manager Eric Kahoalii said after

Youth equals more victories for Giants “We’ll make a concerted effort to get younger and healthier, and in almost every area of the ball club, there is a cause for improvement.” These were words spoken

by Brian Sabean, general manager of the San Francisco Giants, in early November.

I’m not going to lie. I was ecstatic when I heard these words coming from the same GM who decided to sign three outfielders over the age of 40.

Only problem is that the Giants ownership didn’t exactly get much younger.

The youngest player the Giants signed this off-season was former Oakland A’s pitcher Barry Zito at age 28. But then again, this was an off-season where too much

Triples alley

By Tomas Ortega Staff writer money for free agents was being thrown around, with Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee getting north of $100 million contracts.

So I’m glad the Giants didn’t end up signing either of these two or even Gary Matthews Jr. I really don’t think the Giants need any more negative publicity about steroids in their clubhouse.

But free agency is not all that has transpired in the last few months.