Monitor 2008-5-8

– Page 7

OPINION

Softball advances to play Shasta.

SPORTS

Dance offers theater retrospective.

FEATURES

This is the last issue of the semester.

We’ll be back in the fall.

– Page 11

– Page 2

Fremont, California

Vol. XXXVII No. 14

Can’t we all just get along on the road?

May 8, 2008

Treadway reflects on presidency

BALANCING ACT

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Monitor asked President Doug Treadway, who will retire in June, to reflect on his time at Ohlone.

By ANNA NEMCHUK Editor-in-chief

Photo by Japneet Kaur

Kay (a.k.a ‘A-plus’) defies gravity during Wednesday’s Unity Week activities in the Jackson Theater.

Students unite for food, discussion and dancing

By Andrew Le Staff writer Drawn by free food and provocative performances, students of Ohlone came together this week to explore their cultural diversity and solidarity.

Unity Week’s Wednesday festivities included a Hip Hop Culture Panel & Performance entitled “Beyond B*TC**S & H*S: Women For Change!” Organized by Ohlone HipHop/Breakdance Instructor Sergio Suarez, the event sought to address the roles of females in the hip-hop community and various other issues.

The all-female panel consisted of a D.J., two dancers and a middle school teacher. The speakers began by contrasting the differences between the original hip-hop movement and the

modern-day equivalent. One speaker recounted her experience with the burgeoning hip-hop scene from when women such as Queen Latifah were still respected as artists before being relegated to the role of scantily-clad sex objects. This oppression of the artistic role of women, she argued, has resulted in a downward spiral in the treatment and respect of women not just in the hip-hop community, but in aspects of society as well.

To illustrate how degraded women are in today’s society, the panel recounted personal experiences, including having to take on stereotypically masculine qualities in order to prove themselves. According to DJ Lady Fingaz, however, there are perks to femininity as well. “Being a woman gets your foot in the door,” she said, “but once you’re in, you have to Continued on Page 5

A: What are your fondest memories of Ohlone?

T: The most recent one is all of the doves flying out at Newark when we opened up the new campus there and they all flew up in the air and went back to Fremont.

It made me think of the rising aspirations of all the students and people here. I had a really good moment just now, with six students - each from a different country – representing the International Club and talking about their experiences and their hopes for their futures. I think any time I get a chance to hear the students’ own personal experiences – always makes me feel glad to be a part of it.

The time I went with the dancers to China and the time I went with the singers to Eastern Europe. When I went with a bunch of people on the bus to cheer on the basketball team in state finals. It seems like the most memorable experiences are those kinds of quality times where I’m not being an office official. I’m actually in some kind of activity with the students and we’re all just being people together.

A: On the flip-side of that, is there anything you wish you’d done or done differently at Ohlone, now that you look back?

T: You know, it’s not my nature to kind of use the rear view mirror much. The only disappointment I have is that we haven’t developed the frontage property. It’s a disappointment because we need the income from that to bring up to date the buildings here on the Fremont campus. So I’m really hopeful that the Board and the new president will pick up where I left off and get that job done.

Continued on Page 4

Contractor calls parking structure too pricey

By Jacque Orvis Staff writer The Ohlone Board of Trustees discussed the proposed parking garage, future budget, upcoming commencement ceremony and contract renewals at the meeting Wednesday, all in under 90 minutes. Student Trustee Ken Steadman gave credit to the MacBooks assigned to the members, saying that without them the meeting would have been longer.

Steadman also brought up technology’s role in campus life after the board discussed campus experience improvement by building a parking garage. Steadman’s concern was that, because of the internet, the majority of Ohlone students will be enrolled in online

courses. He encouraged the board not to “underestimate the power of the internet... before getting stuck paying for something [we] won’t need in 10 years.”

Brookburst Development Co. reported to the board that a new parking structure is not financially feasible, although the Master Plan of the structure has yet to be completed collectively with Ohlone. A possible parking facility for Ohlone was compared to current parking garages in neighboring colleges that essentially pay for themselves. The costs of a new parking garage would create a $1.4 million deficit. Predictions state that the debt will most likely have to be paid for out of students’ pockets in the form of higher parking rates. Staff and faculty notably do

not want to pay for parking, so the changes will only affect students.

After discussion of the parking garage, the board reviewed the Fall 2008 budget deficit, then moved on to the approval of Stegeman and Kaster’s contract with Ohlone College.

Stegeman and Kaster representative Don Eichelberger was said to be “invaluable... phenomenal” by board members, who recommend the contract be renewed for the 2008-’09 fiscal year.

The board agreed to renew the contract, but want to remove the project coordinator and hire in-house for the position. Stegeman and Kaster has been managing the bond program since September 2002 and, according to the community, “has been providing professional,

high quality bond program management services.”

The trustees briefly mentioned May’s 2008 commencement ceremony and future meeting agendas. Among them are the discussion of changing board titles “president” and “vicepresident” to “chairperson” and “vice-chairperson.” After the necessities of the meeting were met, Trustee Trisha Tahmasbi thanked Steadman for his commitment to the board as he introduced his successor, Lauren Baca, who will take his seat in June.

Typically, a board meeting at Ohlone would last around three hours with this extensive of an agenda, but with the new laptops, the agenda was completed in half the time, with less paper waste.

2

monitor May 8, 2008

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

Opinion Editor-in-chief: Anna Nemchuk News editor: Eric Dorman Features editors: Sandeep Abraham, Barry Kearns Sports editor: Tomás Ortega Opinion editor: Andrew Cavette Photo editor: TBA Online editor: Barry Kearns Staff writers: Inez Black, Brian Chu, Tseten Dolkar, Rachael Funk, Andrew Le, Elise Leon, Jerome Nepacena, Joe Nichols, Jacque Orvis, Ryan Richmond, Kyle Stephens, Max Stephens, Kathy Sung Photographers: Pei Ju Chen, Japneet Kaur, Danielle Rivers Ad manager: Jacque Orvis Adviser: Bill Parks Printer: F-P Press

hyman hall adopts a new motTo

If you can’t beat ’em

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.

Opinions

Drivers, cyclists need an education As someone who bikes to Ohlone when he can and drives when he can’t, I have traveled on both sides of the white line.

In the course of my thousands of miles of pedaling and hundreds of miles of driving, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing a lot of annoying, and often dangerous, behavior by both parties.

However irritating these actions are, though, I think most of them stem from a simple lack of understanding.

While much ink is spilled and many words voiced on the subject of road manners between fellow drivers, little is said on the far more fragile, but no less important, relationship between drivers and cyclists.

Though I can’t profess to be any sort of an all-knowing asphalt deity, I hope the following thoughts will help to clear misunderstandings, cool tempers and promote the safety of both drivers and cyclists on the road.

PLEASE, DRIVERS: • Don’t honk at us, unless there’s a really good reason. No matter how green your car, bikers can hear your engine noise and are generally keenly aware of your presence.

Furthermore, horns are made in order to be audible to other drivers behind their largely soundproof layer of glass and steel; a blast on the horn can easily startle a cyclist into creating a traffic hazard.

• Don’t pull beside us and advise us to ride on the sidewalk. I have been the object of this recommendation by several well-meaning, but woefully uninformed motorists, and many of my cyclist friends have recounted similar stories.

Fremont City ordinance No. 1518, § 1, 9-14-82 specifically states that it is against the law for anyone over 16 to ride on any city sidewalk. Our goal of riding in the street isn’t to impede traffic; it’s to obey the law.

• When making a left turn without a green arrow, check twice for bicyclists. This is one of the most common and dangerous driver mistakes I have seen.

• Don’t assume that we have no regard for the law based on one infraction; there’s generally a reason for it. For example, almost no left-turn-lane detector loop recognizes bicycles, and as a result bikers are often forced to make an illegal left turn against a red light when no car arrives to trigger the sensor.

• You are in command of several thousand pounds of steel powered by a 300-plus horsepower engine. We...aren’t. Our lives are very much in your hands, so take that responsibility seriously.

• Don’t assume that just because we bike, we’re low-class, low-income folks who can’t afford a car. Many of us bike by choice.

PLEASE, CYCLISTS: • Ride on the right side of the road, not the left. It’s safer and less nerve-wracking for motorists.

• Ride on the road. Even without involving the law, riding on the sidewalk puts pedestrians at risk.

Photo by Leah Dorman

By Eric Dorman News Editor

Monitoring

• Ride in single file. The road is wide enough to pass one cyclist, but two or more abreast impede traffic.

• Wear a helmet. Yes, it’s a personal choice if you’re 18 or older in Fremont, but it’s a choice that could very well decide your existence if and when you fall.

• Stay predictable. The driver of the car behind you doesn’t know when you’re going to swerve out in traffic. Ride in a straight line whenever possible.

• Acknowledge the fact that you are breakable. Don’t expect traffic to part like the Red Sea as you ride through it. Ride defensively.

On April 21, Human Resources, located in Building 1, Room 1203A, modified their office hours. The department is open to foot traffic Monday through Thursday between 10 a.m. and noon and again between 2 and 4 p.m. They are not open on Fridays.

This unavailability has become a nuisance to anyone who: has payroll questions; needs to modify tax information; submit a personnel action form, or even an application for employment.

With nine full-time employees, it seems as though a major part of Ohlone’s customer service machine has simply raised the drawbridge.

Monitoring wanted to know more. Assistant Director of Human Resources, Lyle Engeldinger said that due to the hiring freeze, they cannot replace their administrative assistant. They have no one to greet the public. Each job position is bound by specific job descriptions -- the other HR staffers do not have “reception” in their job description.

Engeldinger said the change is temporary and though needed, even he admits it is not an improvement.

“We like to be open,” he said.

Monitoring wants your help. Point it out to us at: monitor@ohlone.edu

Campus Comment > > > What’s the best thing that happened to you this semester?

Erin Baca

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

“I did the best I’ve ever done in school.”

Blake Xu

Ryvenna Lewis

“I graduated high school.”

“Aced a philosophy test.”

UNDECLARED

PHILOSOPHY

Karan Dhindsu

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

“It has yet to happen.”

Lee Ann Guy EXERCISE SCIENCE

“I was able to share my story about drug use.”

News

May 8, 2008 monitor

3

Fair aims to interest all in biotechnology

By Kyle Stephens Staff writer

Photo by Max Stephens

High schoolers work to create protein models from candy at the Biotech Fair Wednesday. This year’s fair is aimed at a younger generation.

Now in its fourth year, the Ohlone Biotechnology & Health Sciences Fair brought a younger crowd to the event than in years past. Some 240 students were present, as were many of their family and local community members.

While in the past the event was aimed at local biotechnology companies, college students and other community members, this event featured exhibitions from several high schools participating in a biotech outreach program called Learning Alliance for Biotechnology (LAB), an organization whose activities include “summer programs for students, tutoring, outreach, professional development for teachers and curriculum and program development,” according to their website, www.ohlone.edu/instr/biotech/labproject.

Teams of students participating in the Ohlone program, which merits them Ohlone credits (and completes half of the requirements for the Ohlone Biotechnology Certificate), had on display the efforts of their classes.

Videos demonstrating proper lab procedure, DNA models and candy proteins adorned the main lobby, fringed by local biotech companies Amgen and Genentech.

Schools present included Tennyson in Hay-

ward, Grenada High School in Livermore, James Logan High School in Union City, John F. Kennedy in Fremont and Newark Memorial in Newark.

Program grants for LAB came from the National Science Foundation (NSF), which provided seed money for the project; further contributions came from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

Another concurrent happening at the event was a reunion of graduated biomanufacturing students.

The Bio-Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Certificate Program is an intensive, 13-week program designed to train displaced workers for new careers in the biomanufacturing industry. The course is actually free, thanks to special grants, pending certain entry criteria.

Biomanufacturing is essentially the production of pharmaceutical medicines, a rapidly expanding field needing trained technicians like the ones produced by the Ohlone program to help progress the science and industry.

The reunion allows for old students to reconnect and network for possible new job opportunities with the recently graduated class of students equally able to look for possible openings in the biomanufacturing field.

Program instructor and coordinator Professor Anu Suresh said of the program that it had “a very high rate of success.”

Students need to tone it down in Hyman Hall

By Max Stephens Staff writer The saying goes: two’s company and three’s a crowd. As the dwellers of Hyman Hall have discovered, with that crowd comes noise.

With a lack of a proper meeting place on campus, the Quad and Palm Bosque being hardly acceptable for this internet-wired generation, many students have flocked to the second floor of Hyman Hall. The readily-available computers for academic use are quickly commandeered for social networking website use.

Last semester, there were reports of disturbances coming from rowdy, loud students using the clearly labeled “Quiet Study Area” as a common place to chat. The area is actually reserved for quiet study and academic work. But, as previously mentioned, the second floor of Hy-

man Hall is hardly used for that.

Interestingly enough, the lower floor of Hyman Hall is generally quiet and has had comparatively few complaints of disruption. This discrepancy between the floors could stem from a number of factors, among them the fact that the upper floor has a larger open space than its lower counterpart, and the fact that the two floors tend to attract different crowds.

Most of the space is meant for the study area, with the parts around the sides taken up by classrooms.

Many of the desks in the study area have computers that are marked for academic use only, but are generally unrestricted. Also available are open tables for studying and tutor help, and even a test-taking area.

Rakesh Swamy, an English department coordinator, believes that the noise problem stems from the second floor resources. Because

Graduation: May 22

By Kathy Sung Staff writer Ohlone’s forty-first annual commencement exercises will be held in the Epler gymnasium on Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m.

Faculty Senate President Susan Myers will be presenting the Outstanding Alumnus Award to Peter Alroy Charles Hendrickse, now a member of Parliament in South Africa, who will not be able to make it to the ceremony due to high costs of traveling. According to Sarah Daniels, Assistant to the President, “he would have loved to be there” and will be e-mailing his speech to congratulate the graduates. Myers will read the speech.

There will not be a rehearsal.

Students expecting to participate in the graduation ceremony are encouraged to read the instructions from the website beforehand at

www.ohlone.edu/org/graduation/ 2008may.

Graduation announcements are offered for purchase in the Ohlone College Bookstore, as are caps and gowns. Students should pick up their caps and gowns well before the deadline in order to avoid delays.

The commencement ceremony will begin with a speech by President Douglas Treadway. It will be his last graduation ceremony due to his retirement. Following, Tatyana Hamady, president of ASOC will make a brief speech of congratulations to the students of Ohlone.

Bill McMillin, the vice-president of the Board of Trustees, will present the Valedictorian Award. The valedictorian for 2008 is Wanita Dawn Page, graduating with a 4.0 in Nursing. After graduating in Fall 2007, Page has been working full-time and was unavailable for comment.

there is no Student Union for students to hang out in, the second floor of Hyman Hall has become a natural hangout area and with the available computers, many students use them for non-academic use, such as MySpace and YouTube.

“There is no place to study on this campus because it is too loud,” said first year student Jillena Frye when asked about studying places on campus.

When the noise level gets too loud for students to successfully study in Hyman Hall, and someone complains to the help desk, the disruptive students are asked to quiet down. If they do not comply, or become more rowdy to the point where they are swearing at an administrator, Campus Security is called in order to deal with the problem.

Not only social networking sites, but also pornography has been

mentioned as part of the problem.

In the evenings and during the summer, young people come to Hyman Hall, some with siblings who go to school at Ohlone and some who are taking classes here, and are potentially exposed to the inappropriate content.

Swamy said that it is in the student code of conduct that the computers are to be used for academic use only, and that there is a potential liability for the school if students are viewing inappropriate content.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that Campus Security is often occupied in other areas, there is little to no enforcement.

Swamy also said that there are teachers who are willing to help enforce the “Quiet Study,” but are discouraged by the verbal abuse that has happened in the past. Last semester, a staff member quit after

being sworn at while trying to enforce the “Quiet Study Area.”

In addition, Vice President of Student Services Ron Travenick suspended and banned several students from Hyman Hall after particular incidents got out of hand.

Although Hyman Hall students have never come to blows, Campus Security has had to remove several people who did not belong to the campus.

Swamy said he is a proponent of the 0internet without restrictions, and uses the MySpace calendar feature in his classes, but wouldn’t mind seeing it blocked.

Swamy also hoped that the soonto-be-completed Student Services Center will help fix the problem if computers are added.

Ultimately, though, Swamy said that any real change that happens must start with the students: “students have to take charge.”

College to issue ID badges

By Rachael Funk Staff writer Not sure if the teacher in your classroom is the real deal? Your questions could be put to rest should the college implement its plan to issue identification cards to employees.

Details of the plan, including whether or not compliance would be mandatory, have yet to be finalized. The ID badges would be issued to faculty, staff and student employees.

Debbie Trigg, director of Campus Activities and EOPS, did not have much to say about the sudden new rule for staff. She said, “Many schools are doing this…it will be nice for the security to be able to tell who is who.”

While Ohlone has not yet had any problems with faculty security, the school is going by the old rule, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Benefits to staff having visible ID tags on their body are numerous. During a school emergency,

workers can be easily identified, students will be able to quickly differentiate between staff and students, and they will serve as faster identification for places on campus that give faculty discounts such as the Ohlone Bookstore.

Others, however, are not excited about the new mandate. Dr. Eric Wegryn, an astronomy teacher as well as the author of “The Dusty Martian Atmosphere,” counts himself as one of those people.

“I’ve worked where [identification] had been required, but in an academic setting, traditionally it’s more casual…I’ll be surprised if they can get the whole faculty to wear [ID cards].”

Wegryn said that the instruction to wear ID cards seemed a little bit incongruous, “Why not just have us wear uniforms?”

The plan still faces hurdles with the college’s unions. While his union is not opposed to the plan, United Faculty of Ohlone President Alan Kirshner noted in an e-mail that, “any change in policy impacting our working conditions, especially one that implies sanctions, is negotiable.”

4 monitor

May 8, 2008

News

Treadway looks back on his Ohlone experience Continued from Page 1 I think the college has gone beyond where I’ve seen a lot of other colleges go. I try to give people wind under their sails to go – and they do, they take off and they don’t need my direction. They just need a little encouragement or help or some budget. That’s a personal sense of satisfaction, but it’s nothing I’ve done. That was just here; I just happened to be lucky to be assigned to a place that had that kind of spirit.

A: You’ve just seen Ohlone as being very fertile?

T: Yes! Good word. Very fertile

for new ideas and willingness to try new and different things.

A: Where do you think you’re going to go now? Are you retiring?

T: I’m retiring from the California Community College system. I don’t have definite plans. I might do some teaching. But really, because I’ve been a president for 23 years, I’m just feeling a need for a time to be with my family and grandkids in Hawaii. Take it easy for a little bit and not just jump into something.

But I’m not going to sit back in a rocking chair, either! I hope I still have some involvement with

Ohlone. If there’s some way I can help the school, I’ll be available.

A: Do you think that the programs you set up – the sister colleges in India and China - you’ll still be involved with in any capacity?

T: I kind of think I’ll find myself and my family in some way involved. Whether it’ll be professional or personal or...I have no idea.

A: To wrap it up, for all the students who’ve been here and all the future students of Ohlone, what would you like to say? What would you like to tell us?

T: [Treadway thinks for a moment.] You know...I give speeches and stuff, but I don’t give a lot of advice. A group of people that share their values, by working together, they’re going to make the right decisions and they’re going to do the right things and they’re going to have success. That’s what I think Ohlone is - it’s a group of people, it’s the students and the faculty. It’s not advice I give, it’s more like: don’t take this place for granted. Realize how special it is, and keep it going that way. Be purposeful about it.

Enjoy the time you’re here and the

people you’re with. If you do that, I think the future will take care of itself. One of my most enjoyable things, by the way, is the chance to do the hiring.

About half the faculty who work here have been hired since I came and they’re just great, energetic, enthusiastic people. I feel like the college is in really good hands. I just hope that people won’t lose that Ohlone spirit, that they’ll keep that and keep passing it on.

And they won’t need any advice.

Things will happen, like they have been.

By Barry Kearns Features editor

Feliciano, also the vice-president of the Gay Straight Alliance, read a formal complaint against the ASOC during the public comments portion of the meeting. According to the complaint, “Certain ASOC members were over heard [sic] saying that they should write “I’m Gay” on the “Who Are You?” Unity Week Boards in the Palm Bosque and walk away during this afternoons festivities[sic]. They proceeded to repeat their statement and laugh as they walked away.”

Shortly after that, the newlyelected executives were sworn in to their offices. Among them are Vice President Kevin Feliciano, President Jackie McCulley, Board of Trustees Student Member Lauren Baca and Representative-at-Large Aditya Grover.

After making a short speech about how she felt about the ASOC and her time as president, Tatyana Hamady stepped away from the executive table. She was joined by

Zuhal Bahaduri, who also stepped away from her position as the representative at large.

The Advisers Report from both Debbie Trigg and Rene Gonzalez congratulated those officers recently elected. Gonzalez also urged people to attend or help out with the rest of the Unity Week events, including Wednesday’s hip-hop panel. Student Board Member Ken Steadman spoke on behalf of the Legislative Committee and said that the proposed new constitution is still on the website, and that its development will go to the next legislative representative. Steadman also spoke concerning the results of the Rock the Hill shows throughout the semester, and said that the first-place winner was the band Anthem, with Wes Lester coming in second place.

On a sad note, Steadman said that Manuel (Manny) De Luz, the engineer who had worked the sound board during the Rock the Hill

events, passed away on Friday.

Dan Zhou of the Cafeteria Committee announced that the new microwaves were in and would be in place by Wednesday. He also mentioned that in his discussions with the Director of Purchasing, Contracts and Auxilliary Services Mark Robbins that Ohlone’s contract with Pepsi stipulates that 100 cases of Pepsi are to be given to Ohlone every year for programs and events.

Since not all of the executive positions were filled through the election process, the rest of the positions were decided through appointment. Nancy Aridi nominated fellow senator Tina Sayadi for the

position of secretary, and after a vote Sayadi was appointed the secretary position. Sayadi in turn nominated Aridi for the position of treasurer, and Aridi was voted in.

Maria Louise Javier nominated Dan Zhou for the position of legislative representative; after a vote, Zhou was appointed to the position.

After all of the executive positions had been filled, the three senators were sworn in to their new positions.

When asked about his plans for the constitution, newly appointed Legislative Representative Zhou said that he wants more student input and that he would like to see it pass.

Cafeteria steamer won’t come cheap for ASOC The Associated Students of Ohlone College (ASOC) saw the price of a possible cafeteria steamer purchase jump to over seven times its original estimate during their last meeting of the semester Tuesday.

ASOC Treasurer Kevin Feliciano also said that the money allotted to buy a new steamer for the cafeteria was never spent and that the old quote for a replacement steamer, which was originally $1,500, was now $11,000. The reason for the large price discrepancy was that the original quote was on a deal that was no longer available. The substantial price hike sparked a critique of the cafeteria’s current state.

Feliciano of the Sustainability Committee announced that the new co-chairs of the committee would be Geography Instructor Narinder Bansal and Economics Instructor Tina Mosleh.

News

May 8, 2008 MONITOR

5

Dancers promote college unity

Photos by Japneet Kaur

The breakdance crew Extra Credit stomps the stage like Rick James on a couch. Performing classic head-spins and six-steps, the crew harkened back to the days of b-boy yore.

Continued from Page 1 work twice as hard.”

Particularly disturbing were the comments a middle school teacher working in East Oakland received in regard to her students; with those commenting making certain assumptions about the behaviors of her students even though “they have no idea what they’re talking about; they’ve never been to East Oakland or even know what my

kids are like.”

After the panel discussion, members of the “Extra Credit” crew, a subdivision of the Sisters of the Underground open collective (www.sisterzunderground.com) break-danced to DJ Lady Fingaz’ beats.

If you’re fittin’ to hear some hot fire, then hit up www.djladyfingaz. com or www.myspace.com/djladyfingaz.

At Tuesday’s event, students lined up for free hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers, drinks and snacks at noon in the Palm Bosque.

The free food resulted in what was perhaps Ohlone’s biggest show of unity, as evidenced by the large number of students in attendance.

Along with the free food, club booths lined the Palm Bosque selling ice cream and candy to raise

Notes from a budget cut rally

By Chantel Costello Correspondent A recent rally to protested the Governor’s proposal to cut $5 billion from public schools in California over the next 18 months.

Parents and PTA members of several schools met at Sen. Ellen Corbett’s office in San Leandro on April 25.

Parents held signs along MacArthur Boulevard chanting “Flunk the Budget, save our Schools.”

The senator spoke to the crowd, encouraging community members to pressure lawmakers to not approve these cuts.

On the subject of how these cuts could affect Ohlone, Corbett commented, “the Governor proposes a 10 percent cut across the board for everyone.”

She also said, “he needs to set priorities for higher education, which is the future of our economy.

There is written flexibility for each school and school boards need to become involved in supporting their schools.”

Ohlone Director of Business Services Joanne Schultz said the funding for Ohlone’s budget for next year depends on three sources: property tax revenue, student enrollment fees and state income tax.

money for their respective clubs.

Although many students interviewed were unclear as to what Unity Week exactly was, all interviewees strongly approved of the barbeque. Second year Ohlone student Sasha Josephs added excitedly, “There’s so much food! And it’s free [food]!”

Also in attendance was party radio station Wild 94.9, which set up camp near the grills. The station

played top 40 hits and held a trivia contest with contestants picked out from students in the area.

Vice President of ASOC Jackie McCulley was enthused with the high student turnout and said, “This is the best event we’ve had a long time, in [terms of] attendance.”

Unity Week continues today at the Palm Bosque from noon to 1:30 p.m., with cultural performances and free ice cream.

Students explore career options

By Tseten Dolkar Staff writer

Photo by Chantel Costello

Protesters hold signs denouncing the proposed state budget cuts at a recent rally.

The property tax does not look good for the coming year. The size of the deficit depends on the income and capital gains taxes that come in.

“When one goes down, the state funding normally goes up,” said Schultz. “We don’t know how it will play out.”

State tax filing ended on April 15, so in early May, more information about the budget for the next fiscal year will be available.

“The college has been doing a good job of putting away a rainyday reserve,” Schultz said. “If there is a 2 to 4 percent cut, we can get through the next fiscal year.”

“There has been a hiring freeze and no March 15 notices were is-

sued and there were no layoffs,” said Schultz.

“To help save on utilities, the college will be closed on Fridays during the summer and classified staff will be given a choice how to work their four days.” The college has done everything they can to plan for it.

There are three important dates in planning the budget. In January the governor’s budget proposal comes out after the assembly, senate and legislative analysts meet. In early May, the legislature goes into session to make revisions.

To contact representatives, use: senator.corbett@senate.ca.gov or sssemblymember.torrico@assembly.ca.gov.

The Career and Information Fair offered opportunities for students and employers alike at the Newark Campus Wednesday.

Ohlone College and Tri-Cities One-Stop Career Center presented the job fair, with about 20 employers and recruiters from the fields of biotechnology/bioscience, healthcare, technology and green business.

Among the many companies present were PG&E, SYSCO, Geek Squad, Fremont Bank, Kelly Scientific, Equinox and Washington Hospital. There were also representatives from recruiting agencies and community resource centers.

UCSF Medical Center’s recruiter Cheryl Hardin called the fair a success and said it was well set-up and well addressed.

Neil Sanborn, recruiter for electronics contract manufacturer Sanmina-Sci, was impressed with the turnout and the organization. For employers that did not have success in recruiting, it was a good opportunity to branch out, said Happy Fish Swim School’s representative.

Tri-Cities One-Stop Career Center assists anyone in the community with job searches. Because it is a government funded, no-fee agency, outside recruiting agencies are eager to work with the Center, thus widening its reach to jobs available. Career Center Director Tina Dodson explained that the Center’s goal is to “get jobs [for people], and help them keep [those] jobs.”

The Center hosts monthly workshops in job search assistance such as interview coaching and resume writing. Those interested may visit wwtricitiesonestop.com.

6 MONITOR

May 8, 2008

May 8, 2008 MONITOR

Features

Chalkdust descends on Ohlone

By Eric Dorman News editor It’s a concert that promises everything from rock ballads to French love songs to a guest appearance

by President Doug Treadway. And it will be all in a night’s work for Ohlone’s self-proclaimed resident rock stars, Math Instructor Jeff O’Connell and English Instructor Mark Brosamer, at their annual Chalkdust and Friends concert Wednesday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Jackson Theater.

“Being a rock star is not an act for us—we live it every day,” said O’Connell, tongue planted firmly in cheek.

Though O’Connell and Brosamer stressed the importance of keeping the guest’s identity under wraps, sources close to the Monitor revealed that the president will indeed be singing at the show.

This year’s Chalkdust and Friends band consists of an eclectic

group of Ohlone faculty and staff, with History Instructor Heather McCarty on harmonica, Counselor Mzao Waters and Staff Interpreter Stephanie Pintello on vocals and O’Connell and Brosamer playing guitar and singing.

How were O’Connell and Brosamer able to gather such a diverse ensemble? “Well,” explained O’Connell, “we’re really hooked into the campus music scene.”

“In fact, we are the Ohlone music scene,” added Brosamer.

The varied music fare at the concert will have something for everyone, said O’Connell. Not only are attendees encouraged to bring their families, but those interested in a headier experience can look forward to a love serenade by Brosamer—in French, of course.

For those who are looking to learn something about music, Brosamer said they are planning to develop a “random chaotic history” of rock ’n’ roll throughout the concert.

“It’s a way of blowing off steam before finals hit,” said O’Connell.

Tickets for the show are $7 each and are available at the box office.

O’Connell put the expense in perspective by discussing a possible alternate Wednesday night activity.

“Look at it this way: it’s cheaper than renting a movie and then forgetting to return it and having to buy it,” he noted.

Like last year’s concert, a shaker egg comes free with every ticket.

Ever sensitive to the needs of the student body, O’Connell said he recognized that the concert was on a school night, but assured that attending the show wouldn’t prevent early rising the next morning. “The concert starts at 7:30—you’ll be in bed by 10,” said O’Connell.

In an effort to be environmentally conscious, Brosamer and O’Connell will play 100 percent recycled songs. Brosamer promised to go a step further, claiming he will also wear used clothing.

Neither Brosamer nor O’Connell are strangers to the stage. Brosamer picked up the ukulele this year after repeated urgings by ukulele-playing Librarian K.G. Greenstein and now plays the instrument in a band named “Animal 54.”

O’Connell is a member of “Val and the Evil Monkeys,” a band composed of members of Ohlone’s Jazz/Rock combo class, which performed during the March 27 “Rock the Hill” concert.

“The hill has been rocked; now it’s time to rock the house,” said Brosamer.

O’Connell and Brosamer emphasized the importance of coming to this concert this year; after all, they said, it’s anyone’s guess how long talent like theirs can go unnoticed.

“We probably will have been picked up by a major record label by next year,” said Brosamer.

For more information on Chalkdust and Friends, visit www. myspace.com/chalkdustband.

‘Then and Now’ reflects on dances of past

Photos courtesy of Janel Tomblin-Brown and Fred Alim

Ohlone’s department of Theater and Dance dazzled crowds at the Jackson Theater last weekend with performances of dance rou-

tines from years past, along with a contemporary routine, marking the d0epartment’s evolution to what it is today.

7

Weighing Anchor

By Eric dorman News editor

Don’t relax the gas tax In a nation where a gallon of gas is well over the price of an iced latte at Starbucks, any plan promising to alleviate pain at the pump is easy to blindly agree with. However, the ill-conceived gas tax plan proposed by John McCain and taken up by Hillary Clinton needs to be examined with our eyes wide open.

At first glance, McCain’s plan seems like a good one. You temporarily eliminate the federal gas tax from Memorial Day until Labor Day, and everybody saves money at the pump during peak driving months. Who could lose?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question turns out to be “you.” For one thing, the benefits of the plan are scant at best; the gas tax makes up only about 18 cents per gallon of gas. Assuming you use two gallons of gas per day (the approximate national average), the plan would save you $2.52 per week—not even enough to buy you an iced latte.

Also, the tax on gas, like most taxes, serves a purpose: it helps fund the upkeep of our roads.

The money to maintain those roads would either come out of an already unbalanced budget, or not come in at all and leave the roads in a state of disrepair.

It is not the plan’s slim benefits or detriment to the nation’s roads, however, but rather the disastrous message it sends that makes up the real reason America should drop the plan like a sizzling tuber. The one positive development skyrocketing gas prices has brought about is an increased awareness of our addiction to oil and our powerlessness at the hands of those who control it.

Exxon made a whopping $40.6 billion profit in 2007, the biggest annual profit ever posted by a U.S. company. If you really want to lower the price of gas, close up the tax loopholes that oil companies have been exploiting for years, loopholes that in 2004 and ’05 guaranteed that big oil companies will receive breaks worth over $17 billion over the next decade. Or, better yet, reduce the price of gas’s effect on yourself by driving a more fuel-efficient vehicle, taking public transportation and eliminating excess trips.

Yes, one could argue the plan is only temporary, designed to soften the blow at the pump for the working driving class. I would argue that we need to feel that blow in order to fully realize the extent of our addiction to oil.

The plan has the effect of handing the bottle back to a country that desperately needs to be weaned of its thirst for oil.

As oil reserves continue to decrease and consumption continues to increase, gas prices will continue their upward march. It’s time we recognize that truth and change our plans accordingly.

8 MONITOR

Features

May 8, 2008

Devil’s Advocate

Pottery and ceramic art sold in Quad

By Anna Nemchuk Editor-in-chief

Find your own path As I get older, I find myself doing more and more things frowned down upon by society at large. And with each “bad” or “inappropriate” deed, I shed a little more preconceptions.

When I was 12, I swore never to touch a drop of alcohol. Now I know the stuff can be cathartic, uplifting, soporific, energizing, destructive and creative, all at the same time. I have piercings. I never, ever wear shoes with less than 3-inch heels. I’m a bad MSJHS kid – I dropped out and went to community college instead of a UC. My friends are sometimes decades older, sometimes years younger than I – and they’re generally different ethnicities and cultures. I don’t watch TV. I’ve never played on a sports team.

I’ve taken bellydance classes but I’ve never been to a dance club and I hated school dances. I’m often teacher’s pet, but I still turn assignments in late more often than not.

And you know what? I’m having the time of my life.

If there’s one thing the devil’s advocate can tell you, it’s to think for yourself. By definition, society’s aim is homogenization. The greater good is the ultimate goal.

But what is good for the majority is often the polar opposite for the individual. Martyrdom is all well and good – personally, I hate those people, smug, self-satisfied bastards that they are – but no one of us IS a society. We are individuals. We must make choices as individuals. There are schools of thought that say this will benefit the greater good anyway.

Well, good. Whatever eases your conscience.

So this is my bow to Ohlone.

Thank you for letting me think.

And breathe. And find myself.

Thank you to the most compassionate, challenging, amiable teachers I've ever met. Parks, Kenney, Tull, Steinke, Hurley, Katona, Bennett, Brosamer, Fontanilla and many more.

Ways to find your path are many and winding. Ohlone, the road less traveled, has led me true.

Photos by Japneet Kaur

Eileen Morrison, left, helped sell students’ ceramics Wednesday in front of the library.

California history fuses with geography

By Tseten Dolkar Staff writer For the first time, California Geography (GEOG-105) and California History (HIST-105) are being linked together in a California Learning Community. The learning community is intended to help restructure students’ time, credit and the overall learning experience. The instructors said, “students would

benefit from getting a complete look at California.”

Professors Narinder Bansal and Heather McCarty will teach the classes together. This expands their repertoire of teaching approaches.

As a way to foster learning and social action, Bansal and McCarty said they will work on strategies to encourage experiential learning, which will allow students opportunities to enact concepts

learned in the classroom outside the classroom.

Learning Communities (LCs) were initiated in 2006 at Ohlone with a Title III grant and through much encouragement and support from Ohlone President Doug Treadway. They promote student success by fostering connections between students and faculty across disciplines and incorporating active, collaborative and technological

learning methodologies.

The classes will be held at the Newark Campus on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:05 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. and 1:45 to 3:20 p.m.

The classes were scheduled backto-back so future field trips and such activities will have a longer time slot. The courses are UC and CSU transferable. Students must enroll in classes Geo-105 (01) and Hist-105 (02).

Members of the Video Game Development Club hope that with the increased exposure to the Multimedia Department, the department will be given more respect.

According to Katherine Kuo, a first-year undeclared Ohlone student, she felt that the Multimedia Department was “underappreciated for its contributions to Ohlone,” a sentiment echoed by the rest of the club.

Adding onto that, Ryan Coggins, a second-year Ohlone student and multimedia major said in regard to the Multimedia Department, “It feels like we’re fighting an uphill battle.”

Ryan Coggin was recipient of the first place award for the 3-D short titled “Lost Planet,” a film about a robot exploring an unknown planet.

The first place winner for 3-D imagery was Aaron Kelley’s piece, “Untitled.” The computer-generated image portrayed white chess pieces being hanged by a black chess piece.

James Ruddle received the Multimedia Student of the Year award for his ongoing contributions to

the Multimedia Department and by “being awesome all year long,”

according to Scott Berkenkotter, Ohlone student.

Hyman Hall hosts Multimedia Festival

By Andrew Le Staff writer

Ohlone’s technologically inclined students presented their work at Wednesday’s Multimedia Festival held in Hyman Hall.

The festival featured computergenerated still images and 3-D short films. The festival served to promote Ohlone’s Multimedia Department and to provide a venue for computer artists to showcase their work.

Pilar Lewis, associate professor of the Multimedia Department, organized the Multimedia Festival with the Video Game Development Club and Jade Malonza.

Malonzo, an Ohlone alumni and one of the organizers of the event, considered the Multimedia Festival a success, “[I] was pleased with [the] attendance.”

Even with limited promotion, 40 people ranging from high school students to Ohlone alumni attended the actual Multimedia Festival and viewed the art. Forty additional culinary opportunists took advantage of the complimentary food, but did not attend the event.

Contest Winner

Sarah’s Secret

By Michelle Zimmerman

T

here was a spilled bottle of pills on the counter. Green ones shaped like tiny bullets. A few of them had found themselves on the floor but most of them were on the cream tile of the counter. Her clumsy movements had knocked the opened bottle over. It was like slow motion: she saw the bottle tip over, then she heard the plastic clink. She saw Michelle Zimmerman is the the rush of green color, then heard a few drop to the linoleum kitchen floor. winner of the seventh annual The whole time she stood motionless, just watching it all happening. This Award for Prose, a writing contest initiated by Karen was just one more thing to add to her bad day. It may not seem like much, Rosenbaum, who taught crebut she really did not want to deal with those little anti-depressants right ative writing, literature and now. She did not want to round up all those green Prozacs into their bottle. composition for more than 30 years at Ohlone.

She did not want to do anything right now. Well, except for one thing Sarah made her way to the bathroom. She left the spilled pills where they were. She walked in a trance through her kitchen. Past the dining room table covered with today’s newspaper. Past the family shoe rack, past the cook book shelf and china cabinet. Her feet finally stepped onto the hallway’s worn carpet.

The carpet felt distant beneath her feet, almost as if it was not there. She walked past the linen closet and the wall covered in family portraits to her destination, her favorite room in the house. The stark white door called her in. It was half opened, just waiting for her to step into the room. She slipped past the door and immediately shut it, and made sure it was shut tight. What she was about to do was not allowed in this house, it was not allowed anywhere except for when Sarah was in the bathroom alone. It did not matter what bathroom she was in, they all became the same when she closed the door and was safe and secure with herself.

There was no need to turn on the light; it was early enough in the day to use the sun’s light instead. Two more steps and Sarah would have what she was looking for, her most prized possession. She hid it in the basket of miscellaneous toiletries on the back of the toilet. Buried under it all was a Ziploc bag full of toilet paper. Not just any toilet paper, Sarah’s secret.

Some were stained brown. The blood had dried since she had used it last, leaving the toilet paper stiff and hard. The other toilet paper was a neat little package, that was the true treasure. Opening the toilet paper package, she held one end and let it drop like a scroll unraveling. She caught the other end with her hand. And there it was, her best friend in the whole world, the razor.

I

t was familiar, it gave pain, it gave control, and that is what Sarah wanted. She looked at the thin metal blade in her palm for only a second before she picked it up. She loved the way it felt in her fingers.

More dainty than holding a pencil, but in the same position. Now came the hard part, finding a place to cut. She pushed her left sleeve half way up her bicep. Sarah saw her previous encounters with this blade. Over twenty in all, some only faint scars, some still red and swollen.

Her heart sank a little just looking at them; they were signs of shame and they must be hidden at all costs. Now it was time to add one more, one more secret, one more lie to the enormous pile. She picked a spot high on the inside of her arm. “Easier to hide,” she thought to herself.

She raised the razor to her arm, closed her eyes and anticipated the pain. Slowly she drew the cold steel two inches across her flesh. Sarah barely felt this motion; the blades were so sharp that they cut with ease.

It lasted less than a second and then the razor was once again unattached from her arm. For that brief moment Sarah felt as though she was somehow connected to this inanimate object. She opened her eyes and looked immediately at her newest injury.

The blood slowly rose, seeping through the thin line. It formed little red beads till it started to run down her arm. Sarah picked up the extra toilet paper to clean away the blood. She could not describe the feeling all this gave to her, she could not even describe it to herself.

May 8, 2008 monitor

9

Campus Events

10 monitor May 8, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS PIANO FOR SALE -- Upright, rosewood Chappell piano in excellent condition. Made in England. $1,200. Call 510-790-1139 or email souzafive@comcast.net. administrative assistant needed -- Perfect for students. Part-time administrative assistant needed for developing supercomputing company. Approximately 15-20 hours a week to start. Flexible times. $12-15 based on experience. Send resumé to ksenff4@hotmail.com.

Milpitas Dental office hiring -Front desk and dental assistant part-time position. Will train. English plus Cantonese and/or Mandarin speaking. Call 415-269-9663

May

8-10 Women’s Tennis -- State Tournament in Claremont.

11 Softball Regionals -Round II. Location TBA.

The GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) -- Meetings are every Thursday @ 2 p.m. in SC116. Everyone is welcome.

9-11 Baseball -- Nor-Cal Regional I. Location TBA.

12 Book Club Discussion -- Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware. From 2 to 3 p.m. in Room 1307.

Environmental Sustainability Meetings --Meetings are the third Thursday of each month @ 3:30 p.m. and rotate between the Fremont and Newark campuses, with the first one on Feb. 21 at the Fremont campus.

8-10 Student Rep -- Student Repertory II in the Nummi Theatre @ 8 p.m.

8-10 Men’s Tennis -- State Tournament in Claremont

10 Ohlone Community Band -- Performance at Central Park Pavilion in Fremont @ noon.

10 Ohlone Community Chorale -- Performance at Centerville Presbyterian Church in Fremont @ 3 p.m.

10 Fremont Symphony Orchestra Pops Concert -- Performance in the Jackson Theatre @ 8 p.m. Buy tickets at www.fremontsymphony. org.

Jazz/Rock Combos -- Concert @ 7 p.m. in the Jackson Theater. Tickets available online or at the Smith Center Box Office.

16 Spring 2008 -- Semester instruction ends 15-18 Women’s Softball - State Championships in Southern California.

16-18 Baseball - Nor-Cal Super-Regional. Visit the Athletics website for more info.

JOBS For more information visit Transfer & Career Services.

For more information on Jobs & Internships visit Transfer & Career Services in Building 1, Fourth Floor, Rm 1405A. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Closed Friday.

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 Jacque Orvis at (510) 659-6075 or e-mail monitorads@ohlone.edu

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Page 11

Softball advances to play at Number 4 Shasta

By Tomás Ortega Sports editor Maybe she was right. This team may very well be “destined for greatness.” Those are choice words

by Ohlone softball Head Coach Donna Runyon early last week during her team’s final practices before first round of the playoffs.

The team showed true grit and toughness in the first game of a bestof-three against Solano Saturday afternoon.

Down 2-1 to the Bay Valley conference champs, the Renegades stormed back into the ball game to take the lead after a ferocious bottom of the sixth inning that saw Ohlone string together four key hits, all started by a lead-off triple by the ninth-place hitting sophomore Danielle Yee. Two runs and five batters later, Ohlone finally took the lead and never gave it back, beating Solano 3-2.

“No hitting, no pitching. We had to play defense for a long [time],” said Runyon after the game. That summed it up for game one.

Ace Kelly Colker had a rare bad start against Solano, not locating as well as she would have liked.

Through the first three innings, Colker managed only two strikeouts on 54 pitches.

Twenty-three pitches in the first and second would lead to her eventual departure in the top of the sixth, when Runyon sat her down in favor of the hard-throwing freshman Sarah Lawrence.

When asked about Colker’s performance, Runyon said, “I know I’ve seen [Colker] pitch better, but

Photo by Becky Lancaster

Danielle Cameron drops down a sacrifice bunt in Ohlone’s 12-4 romp over Solano on Sunday. we need to find a way to win when our ace isn’t doing well.”

As for game two of the weekend series, let’s just say Ohlone took it to Solano.

Colker, pitching her second game in two days, didn’t allow any runs to cross home during her first three innings of work.

That shut-down start of hers allowed her teammates to deliver with their high-powered offense

- eight runs in the first two innings.

Kat Sumner, Kassy Winger and Cassandra Ortega all scored twice in both innings, combining for four hits and two walks.

Like the previous day, Colker went five innings, allowing three runs, including a solo home run to Solano’s best hitter, Penelope Crouse-Feehan, to start off the top of the fourth.

Even though her line looked

nearly identical to her line Saturday, her performance Sunday looked to be of much better quality, locating all her pitches better.

Kassy Winger said she prepared for Sunday’s game by cleaning her cleats with her nieces as well as ironing her jerseys and cleaning her pants.

She also added, “I think everyone came out ready to play today.” That day, Winger collected three hits,

scoring all three times and also stole a base in the first.

Aafter the game, Runyon was discussing who her squad may face this coming weekend. At one point, she stopped trying to predict her next match-up and said, “I just took care of my business.”

This weekend, the Renegades will face the fourth-ranked Shasta in Redding in another best out of three series.

Student-athlete admitted to Ivy League school

By Nate Gill Sports writer Jock. An unintelligent, self-centered, physically formidable person who is talented and focused in only one field: athletics.

Ohlone second basemen, Mathew Langseth, refuses to conform to these social stereotypes; instead, he redefines the word jock into what should be its rightful name: student-athlete.

Matt didn’t know that he is supposed to be four inches taller and 20 pounds heavier. He didn’t know that he was supposed to give up when things got too hard. Someone should have reminded Matt that when your’re told “you’re not good enough” you’re supposed to hang it up and try something different.

No one taught Matt the meaning of the words quit, underdog and impossible. Instead, Matt believed in words like perseverance, hard work and determination.

Matt also didn’t know that athletes don’t earn scholarships to Ivy League institutions.

So when Cornell University asked Matt to play baseball for their program, he humbly accepted, all the while unaware that athletes like him are not supposed to perform at a division one university.

Throughout his life Matt has always been considered too small. Despite graduating from California High School with two years varsity and first team all East Bay honors underneath his belt, Matt was unsure if his baseball career would continue.

With the support of his high school baseball coach, Matt pursued a spot on the Ohlone baseball team. Although he made the team,

Photo by Tomás Ortega

Matt Langseth succeeded on and off the baseball diamond.

Matt was told he wasn’t good enough and was forced to red shirt his first season. Fueled by rejection, Matt put in countless hours of practice, all while juggling 15 units of classes per semester with a goal of transferring from

Ohlone in two years.

In his second year at Ohlone, technically his rookie year of baseball, Matt had a batting average over .365, with three homeruns, leading the team in on-base percentage and

earning him 1st Team All Conference honors; all while maintaining a 3.6 GPA. After two years at Ohlone, Matt was set to transfer.

He was being looked at by several topnotch universities and had no real reason to stay and play a second season of baseball.

Coach Tom Kunis believed coming back for a third year would only benefit Matt.

Although this meant it would take Matt five years to graduate, Kunis convinced Matt that staying would help him grow not only as a ball player but as a person and definitely lead to something better for Matt. And boy, was Kunis right!

Matt took advantage of his third year at Ohlone by tearing it up in the classroom, earning all As and Bs and maintaining an overall GPA of 3.6. He handled his business on the baseball field and caught the eye of Cornell University. With Matt’s success in the classroom and dominance on the field, Cornell offered him a scholarship.

Matt will be majoring in communications at Cornell, and aspires to be a sports news anchor.

Matt’s parents and teammates are extremely proud of his honors and achievements. Matt is a dedicated athlete, embracing hard work.

“Always give your best,” he said, “and don’t take anything in life for granted. Understand your own big picture - any athlete regardless of age aspiring to play at the next level - remember, it starts in the classroom.

We are students first and athletes second.

Have pride in what you do, work hard, never let anyone tell you you’re not good enough and you will achieve success.”

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Page 12

Spring sports produces two conference champs

From top left, clockwise, the champs in softball and basketball. Conference champ Kelly Colker winds and delivers in the semi-regional playoffs.

Alpha N’Diaye lowers his shoulder to get to the rim against Fresno in the Sweet 16, after winning the Coast-North Conference champion. Amarildo Matos zig-zags right to left throughout the paint to finish with his left hand against Skyline College. Cassandra Ortega picks a low throw in the dirt and shows the umpire her acquisition. Christina Dixon plays tight defense in the City College of San Francisco game against one of the state’s top scorers. Kat Roman keeps her hands inside a pitch to pick up a double. Photos by the Monitor staff and contributors.