Monitor 2009-5-7

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Fremont, California

Union workers dispute hours Ohlone members of the CSEA union are preparing to file a claim with state regulators, and staged a protest march during last Wednesday’s accreditation visit over what they call the refusal of college administrators to discuss union grievances, including the way summer work hours are being scheduled.

According to CSEA (California School Employees Association) President Linda Evers, Interim Dean of Human Resources Vic Collins interprets the CSEA contract guidelines very differently than former Dean of H.R. Lyle Engeldinger, creating an impasse between the CSEA and the district on many different issues that could lead to a complaint to the state of California.

A week after leading a small protest for workers rights at noon near the south entrance of Ohlone, Evers addressed the Board of Trustees on the same topic on Wednesday. Specifically, Evers spoke concerning the four-day 10-hour weeks the employees of Ohlone will be expected to work during the summer. While this is

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Vol. XXXIX No. 14

By Jacque Orvis Staff writer

Softball one step closer to State.

OPINION OPINION

Ohlone math team > your math team.

SPORTS SPORTS

NEWS NEWS NEWS

FEATURES FEATURES

Preview of Midnight Magazine.

not the first summer employees have been asked to work such hours, it is the first year that it is mandatory. Evers cited some employees’difficulty getting childcare for 10 hours per day as one reason why she feels making the hours mandatory is unfair. Another reason is that some employees may have difficulty physically working beyond the current eight-hour day.

Evens said that she is “proud to be an employee,” and that she “still want[s] to negotiate.”

In Evers’ words, Engeldinger had interpreted the union contract to give CSEA members, including Evers and stewards, the power to file a grievance over potential violations; however, Collins allegedly interprets the contract to give only limited power over the negotiation of a certain number of issues, such as payroll and wages. “We have the right, as outlined under the EERA (Educational Employment Relations Act), to negotiate all changes in wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of work,” said Evers. “Other terms” include overtime work, benefits, grievance meetings, budget processes, etc.

Evers added that union members have the “statutory right to...

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Don’t be in a hurry to tie the knot.

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May 7, 2009

Sole-ful

Photo by Jorge Gomez

Kyle Meiers, Alex Drattell, Onel Higginbotham and Kevin Calderon-Lopez perform ‘Soul to Soul’ for the Spring Dance Showcase.

Week promotes unity Video gamers fight through music, dancing for bragging rights

By Anna alfafara and Sean nero Staff writers

By Sean nero Staff writer

A lively expression of pride, cultures, and diversity, Unity Week featured a movie, two dance performances, a one-man show and informational boards.

“Unity Week is a yearly event that aims to celebrate the diverse cultures on campus,” said student assistant Khushboo Chabria.

Campus Activities Coordinator Renee Gonzales echoed these sentiments, saying, “Unity Week seeks to bring the campus closer.” Chabria also said, “ Unity Week is important because we need to develop a sense of community and we’re not a very close-knit college.”

The first day consisted of M.E.Ch.A’s Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Moviemento Estudantil Chicano de Atzlan or Movement for Chicano Education more widely known as M.E.Ch.A., provided hours of dance, games, food, and fun on Cinco de Mayo. Most people confuse Cinco de Mayo with the Mexican Independence day, Sept. 16. However, May 5 is to commemorate Mexico’s victory against the French in the Batalla de Puebla, or Battle of Puebla.

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Ohlone students showcased their video game talents at the eighth annual Game Development Festival.

Students had their pieces available for viewing in Hyman Hall from 2 to 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in Room 116. At 5:30, all of the students gathered outside the building to begin the awards ceremony.

Students submitted works in 12 categories, ranging from 3D animation to concept art. Students who had pieces chosen as winners were awarded a $100 cash prize while the runner-up in each category was awarded a $50 prize. There were many award winners at this year’s ceremony, but no one delivered quite like Ivan Garcia.

Garcia, a game design major, won the Multimedia Student of the Year award for outstanding classroom performance and its

Photo by Anna Alfafara

Alex Vera and Cindy Diaz dance for the crowd on Cinco de Mayo.

$500 cash award. Garcia said he “didn’t know I was nominated until the day before.” Garcia has taken 3D animation, 3D modeling and is now taking texture in his second year at Ohlone. Students who didn’t win an award at the festival were eligible for a raffle, which took place directly after the awards ceremony. Ohlone student Joseph Floyd won a $25 Best Buy gift card.

Prizes included gift cards from both Best Buy and iTunes with amounts ranging from $25 to $50.

Multimedia Professor Pilar Lewis said that “Louis Sremac was hired as juror of the event.” Lewis said “Sremac is an industry professional who currently works with Arcadia Entertainment Inc. and has worked with Electronic Arts in the past.” According to Lewis, “Sremac looked over all of the entries and used an electronic system to give points and feedback to the students based on predefined criteria.”

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Opinion

monitor May 7, 2009

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: Eric Dorman News editor: Jake Benson Opinion editor: Noah Levin Features editor: Nicole Johnson Sports editor: Jeff Weisinger Photo editor: Japneet Kaur Online editor: Suchi Gupta Staff writers: Ankita Chhabra, Theodore Harrison III, Esmeralda Leon, Alex Lykins, Nazia Mastan, Sean Nero, Tomás Ortega, Anna Biaritz Roldan, Devery Sheffer, Zunera Syed, Farnoosh Vahedi, Isaac West Photographers: Anna Alfafara, Jorge Gomez, Tara Lynn Lanning, Dan Yuan Ad manager: Jacque Orvis Ad staff: Inez Black, Christ Marovich, Harpreet Singh 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

ADA accommodations lacking on Ohlone campus

By Inez black Staff writer Ohlone has a stellar record for providing ADA accommodations for deaf students, faculty and staff.

But, has Ohlone removed physical barriers that significantly impede access for people with disabilities affecting their mobility?

As a person with disabilities impairing my mobility, in my opinion, some of the most basic physical obstacles addressed in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), still exist 19 years later – lack of adequate handicap parking with the shortest route of travel, lack of handicap accessible pathways that are adequately marked, lack of marked handicap accessible pathways within buildings and lack of accessible bathrooms.

The ADA, and its enforcing regulation, not only includes people using wheelchairs, but names people with difficulty walking or maintaining balance using crutches, canes, or walkers and with gait or orthopedic conditions affecting strength. Also, ADA compliant paths should take these disabilities into consideration in designing paths to prevent falling on bad surfaces, allow for moving slower, and providing safe resting for those fatiguing easily.

Handicapped parking lots on the Witherly Lane side of campus, Lots

U and R, are basically filled with faculty and staff around 8 a.m. – leaving only two to three spaces for students in Lot U and three to four spaces in Lot R. Not all of Parking Lot U is designated for handicapped parking.

Eighty percent of the classes on the campus are scheduled between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 6 and 9 p.m.

In addition, two-thirds of the classes are scheduled on the Witherly Lane side of the campus – in the Smith Center, Buildings Two, Three, Four and Five, and the portable classrooms.

Seventy percent of the handicapped parking spaces are beyond Buildings Eight and Nine, next to the gymnasium, in Lots M and N – at the other end of campus. Most of the handicapped parking spaces were removed from the Witherly Lane side of campus when Lot P was built; however, when Lot P became a construction site, none of the spaces were returned.

From handicapped parking Lots M and N, students with mobility disabilities walk farther than ablebodied students to get to classes on the Witherly Lane side of campus, yet I have been repeatedly told that Ohlone is in compliance with the ADA. It is not only the number of handicapped parking spaces, but also their location that the ADA

dictates.

In 28 Code of Federal Regulation Ch. 1, it clearly states at, “4.6.2 Location …In parking facilities that do not serve a particular building, accessible parking shall be located

with Anne Burdett, Director of Disabled Students Programs and Services. We offered to help with making the sign and determining where they were most helpful; she indicated that it would be discussed with the dean and maintenance department, who make signs for Ohlone. I followedup last spring regarding the signs, but as of today there is no directional signage from Lots M and N around the construction to Building One and no directional signage for wheelchair accessible routes on campus.

Faculty and staff get 80 percent of the ADA parking on the Witherly Lane side of the campus as they are already at work before most scheduled classes start. When asked for his reaction, Steven Osawa, Chief of Campus Police Services, stated, “We do the best we can as far as accommodations go…I’m not going to dispute that…but wait until next fall as the dynamic may change… when construction on Building Seven is completed.”

What is more basic than being able to get in and out of a bathroom? Wheelchair users Nathan Torres, studying medicine, and Ben, an accounting major, both found that the doors required significant

and staff get 80 percent “of theFaculty ADA parking on the Witherly Lane side of the campus as they are already at work before most scheduled classes start.

”

on the shortest accessible route of travel to an accessible pedestrian entrance of the parking facility. In buildings with multiple accessible entrances with adjacent parking, accessible parking spaces shall be dispersed and located closest to the accessible entrances.”

Getting from handicapped parking Lots M and N is an exhausting nightmare for many mobility impaired students; the long path is not marked, even though it requires going through two to three buildings with dead ends due to construction, and using two-to-three elevators, as well as using paths from the parking lot with poor grading. There are no signs for directions or safety warnings.

Two years ago, when Building Seven was demolished, other students and I discussed this problem

strength to open due to the spring, but then closed too quickly, catching their wheelchairs. For these young strong men, getting in and out of most Ohlone bathrooms is a hassle, but do-able.

However, for many women in wheelchairs or those with diminished strength, the heavy, oversized doors, with strong springs to automatically close them, they either can’t be opened or it hits them halfway through the entrance.

Sometimes people have to wait for someone to come in to let them out! With the exception of the gymnasium, there are no ADA accessible women’s bathroom doors; there are three men’s bathrooms equipped with handicap accessible pushbuttons.

Previously, Director of Facilities Lucky Lofton indicated that proposals were submitted to the state addressing the lack of ADA accessible bathrooms, and he stated that the purchase and installation of one pushbutton accessible door for a women’s bathroom would cost between $10,000 and $15,000.

However, I’ve subsequently learned that the mechanisms were purchased a few years ago for the women’s bathrooms, when numerous exterior doors and an additional men’s bathroom were made ADA accessible, but someone decided not to install them. We don’t know why.

Campus Comment > > > What will you do for your summer vacation?

Nick Tashijian MUSIC

“Mostly just doing nothing.”

Adriana Castro SPANISH/FRENCH

“Taking a road trip down south.”

Daniel Chagoya BROADCASTING

“I’ll be looking for a job.”

Gabby Castillo COMMUNICATIONS

“Taking classes and working my butt off.”

Kevin Feliciano

BUSINESS/ADMINISTRATION “I am doing student government.”

Opinion

May 7, 2009 monitor

3

Pork barrel spending is for greater good, but flawed

By Nazia Mastan Staff writer During President Obama’s campaign, he promised to reduce the amount of earmarks, or pork barrel legislation, on the bills that go through Congress. His goal was to make sure that bills pass through Congress “quickly” and that “unnecessary spending” is reduced during his term in office.

But who exactly decides what constitutes unnecessary spending?

The American people deserve to be the ones to deem what is frivolous spending and how bailout money will better their communities. We should also be better represented in Congress instead of having our hard

earned money taxed and then given over to big companies like AIG and the Detroit car companies.

Although there is money coming to many Americans directly through the Recovery Program Obama has promoted, it really isn’t a lot and in this time of hardship many do not have enough to spare. There is not much extra wiggle room to allow us to give out-of-pocket funding to our communities and programs that are already active, as well as new programs and infrastructure improvements that are needed within our cities.

In my opinion, the American people deserve to see their money come back to benefit their communities and projects that they feel

strongly about. Cancer, diabetes and Parkinson’s Disease are just a few of the illnesses that are researched with money given to laboratories through earmarks tacked onto bills.

This is done when earmarks are seen as monetary aid that their representatives in Congress are trying to attain so that they may give back to their constituents. It is a part of their duty as legislative representatives to ensure the betterment of our civic projects, and important research that will go on to benefit us in the near future. In addition, earmark spending only constitutes approximately one percent of the Federal Budget.

What I fail understand is how a bill can be approved in a timely

manner by members of Congress without some type of incentive provided to do so, especially when they have to pay a rather unattentive eye to legal detail within the piece, which Congress is forced to do in order for the bill to be passed quickly. Why should they put their signature on a bill without looking into minute details and gaining a comprehensive understanding of it unless they were allowed to “tackon” personal projects and spending appropriations that they could provide to their constituents?

The Obama Administration has given pork barrel legislation, or earmark spending, a negative connotation. Yes, bridges to nowhere may not be the most sensible build-

ing projects that could be erected from Congressional apropriation, but would we as American citizens really want to halt any form of cancer research? I think not!

In regard to the “Bridge to Nowhere” in Alaska, there are foolish ways that money attained from earmarks is spent; there has to be. But even if we alloted 50 percent of the one percent of the federal budget that is given out to the constituents from the earmarks, that still constitutes only .5 percent of the yearly federal budget going to “foolish spending.” Imagine how much the rest of the federal budget goes to things that U.S citizens don’t approve of, so why does the earmark have such a bad rap?

A warning for couples taking the ‘The Big Leap’

By Isaac West Staff writer

Is there a “best” age to marry?

The answer is different, depending on the couple. In some cultures, children have a future spouse already picked for them at their birth, while in our own western culture, the independent spirit drives us to find our “soulmate,” the one and only person right for us.

However, where age is concered, there doesn’t seem to be a “right answer.” Some couples, high on the rush of young love, get married hastily, and this can oftentimes lead to domestic problems and divorce.

Couples who delay marriage until later in their youth, however, seem to stand a better chance of sticking together and weathering any problems.

I feel much of the marital strife seen in young couples has much

to do with maturity and careers. If both parties in a young, newlywed couple work part-time jobs, have little past a high school education, and in some cases have unplanned children, these various stressors, combined with the relative immaturity that comes with youth, all play major roles in the outcome of young marriages.

Inversely, it can be noted that many couples that marry later in life stand a better chance of not divorcing and remaining happy.

This can be traced to a more wellrounded and complete education, and therefore the partners are more likely to have more stable careers.

Their children, if there are any, are more likely to be planned; however, the stress of child-rearing is still present.

In both cases, finances, education and children can all be considered the major mitigating factors. This

does not mean there is anything wrong with getting married early in life, but doing so rashly, and with little forethought, can yield negative consequences.

Newlywed couples that are later in their youth typically have a better chance of staying married if they are well established in their careers, developing stability for their family, both present and future.

Older couples even earn higher wages than young families. According to Lourghran & Zissimopoulous’ article “Are there Gains to Delaying Marriage,” older families have been known to earn roughly “$8.57 [per hour] compared to $6.53 [per hour] for [young families] … [and are] employed in professional occupations and have family income 29 percent higher than [young couples].”

Americans who do marry later in life are also more likely to succeed in

the metro culture, use family planning within the marriage, and have higher educational achievement.

If the couples want a long healthy marriage without the threat of divorce, they should wait until their late twenties to tie the knot. Young couples are two to three times more likely to divorce than those who wait until the later in life. There are several reasons to explain the connection of youth with marital imbalance.

The preparation for marriage for young couples is usually poor.

They are not aware of what will be expected of them in the marriage and they do not typically have the maturity to handle their newfound responsibilities. In addition, those who marry earlier in life may have had only limited dating experience and may not have developed a clear idea of what they want in a partner.

Plus, couples that marry young

usually have financial difficulties, especially if they have kids early and have limited opportunities for college education.

This shows that people who delay marriage tend to be rewarded with better career paths and higher wages, reducing stress and divorce rates. If young couples truly care for each other, they should consider establishing their own lives first in order to prepare a solid foundation for their later marriage to flourish.

This is not to say, however, that all young married couples are bound for failure while only slightly older couples are headed for success.

The truth of the matter is, that to be successful, in all relationships, marriages included, require careful thought, open and honest communication and an eye toward the future. Even when caught up in the passion of love, it is easy to make rash decisions.

End of the semester brings changes, new beginnings Another semester is coming to its close, and I can’t help but feel like this one was particularly different from all the others so far. It seems to be both an end and a beginning, strange labels for something in the middle of my college career.

I realized recently that after this semester, the last of my friends who I knew before Ohlone, who were here before I was, are leaving this semester. I will also no longer be working alongside the people I started out with when I first joined the Monitor staff. My

Vaguely necessary

By Japneet Kaur Photo editor original colleagues have all sort of drifted away, and this semester, the last couple of them will be moving on to bigger and better things (no offense, Ohlone!). However, this is also the semester that my brother will be starting his college career right here at Ohlone.

I watch those around me begin the various new chapters of their lives, both in college and out, and see them as ends or beginnings from my points of view. Where does that leave me, though? Smack dab in the middle of my intended time here at Ohlone College.

In its own way, each new semester is a new beginning. A fresh chance to make what you will of your time and opportunities. Didn’t do so great this semester? Try a little harder next time. On the other hand, if you did great this semester, next semester is your chance to prove

that you can keep up the work and continue to do well. Maybe try some new and more challenging things. I plan to do much better and much more than I have my past semesters here.

I continue to see myself in the middle of things, though. In the middle of college, in the middle of so many personal projects, constantly in the middle. The beginning’s long gone and the end’s nowhere in sight. It’s these smaller “beginnings,” however, that make things easier. It’s refreshing to start a new semester, or be reminded

that the next chapter of your own life is never too far away. Saying goodbye to the friends who helped me get used to college and the colleagues who helped me get settled at the newspaper will be sad, but it’s also exciting to see them go on with their lives.

No matter where you’re headed, new endeavors can be exciting. I wish all of you the best of luck in what you do. Goodbye to some of my close friends and colleagues, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you make out of your lives and the chances that come your way.

Campus Comment > > > What are your plans for summer vacation?

Ashley Cunha UNDECIDED

“I'm working all summer, so I won't be able to do anything.”

Naveed Safi BIOLOGY

“Healing my arm so I can start wrestling.”

Thomas Matthews PHYSICS

“I'll be working at a Boy Scout camp.”

Janet Aviles SOCIAL WORK

“Taking classes.”

Rhea Flores

HEALTH SCIENCE “I'm going to Vegas.”

4

News

monitor May 7, 2009

Ohlone wins big ASOC swears in new officers in mathletics

By Kyle Stephens Correspondent

Five of the six members of Ohlone’s math competition team received honorable mentions, and David Gregory Monson received first place, in the statewide Mathletics competition hosted by the California State University at Monterey Bay. This year’s Mathletics had competitors from Chico State, Cabrillo College, Monterey Bay State, and Monterey Peninsula College.

Students from Ohlone’s Math Club, Mu Alpha Theta, consisting of Monson, Jinghong Qian, Karab Dhindsa, Yu Zhou Qin, Yang Guo and Minkai Ong, were this year’s participants. They were selected based “largely but not exclusively,” according to club adviser Professor Geoff Hirsch, on their prior math competition scores (namely the bi-yearly American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges tests, or AMATYC), and consultation among math faculty colleagues.

Hirsch named Monson as the unofficial team captain, and said he devised a method of practice for the

competitors, though much study for the team was done independently.

The Mathletics competition originally was only in the Monterey school district, as a means to encourage participation in mathematics. The competition also extended only from 5th grade through high school, but in the last two years college calculus was added, as was an invitation for all schools and colleges in California to participate.

First place winner Monson received a $100 Visa gift card for his efforts, and in a fun competition during the tabulation of scores, Monson won another $10 gift card and Guo won $25.

In regards to the team’s success, Hirsch said he “never felt more proud to be connected to Ohlone,” and added the probabilities of all six team members receiving laudations, based on chance alone, were in an order of one in a million.

Those interested in Mu Alpha Theta or participating in math competitions can attend club meetings, whose sessions are tentative until the fall semester. For inquiries, contact Hirsch at ghirsch@ Ohlone.edu.

Last brown bag of the semester, today

By Theodore Harrison Staff writer The Speech & Communication Studies Department will present Matt Freeman’s brown bag presentation today at 1 p.m. in Room 3102.

The presentation is entitled “Civic and Community Engagement and the value of Service Learning.”

Matt Freeman, who is currently an Instructor of Political Science at Ohlone, also serves as the college’s Speech and Debate Coach.

According to the mission statement for the college’s Center for Civic and Community Engagement,

“Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes.”

Freeman’s presentation will emphasize to students and faculty the importance of giving back to the community.

Freeman’s brown bag presentation will be the last of the semester.

The brown bag series will resume in the fall.

Ohlone tech being taught to seniors By isaac west Staff writer The Ohlone College Computer Applications and Occupational Technology (CAOT) department has established a partnership with the City of Newark Senior Center to offer computer classes to senior citizens.

Since February, Ohlone professors Elsa Webb and Rick Arellano, as well as three Ohlone interns, have been offering weekly computer application workshops at the Newark Senior Center.

CAOT courses, Arellano explained, are centered around teaching students computer applications used in business offices today.

Webb and Arellano have long been interested in establishing a partnership with the Newark Senior Center. “We are meeting part of Ohlone’s mission to provide personal enrichment to

anyone in our community - in this case to seniors who want more information about recent technology. We also are meeting one of Ohlone’s core values by developing an innovative course that actively reaches out to an underserved population,” said Arellano.

Arellano and Webb want people to know that their technology gadgets class has been a success and is expanding to Fremont.

The Fremont Senior Center has asked if both professors will schedule time next fall to present the same gadget technology to seniors of the Fremont Senior Center.

“Our Ohlone student interns, as well as Elsa and I, look forward to working with the Fremont Seniors,” said Arellano.

“I believe this community outreach program is worth being disseminated to the Ohlone College community,” said Arellano.

By Devery sheffer Staff writer

The winners of last week’s ASOC election were sworn in during Tuesday’s meeting. However, the meeting started out with a student’s concerns about Ohlone’s cafeteria.

Speech Professor Brenda Anholtz brought her Speech 103 Critical Thinking class in to do a presentation about their service project concerning the cafeteria.

They reported on surveys they took about Ohlone students’ feelings about our cafeteria and compared them to two other community colleges. Ohlone students ranked cleanliness and service as the most important to their cafeteria experience; comments included, “chairs are too dirty and our service staff have a bad attitude.” They took video footage and talked to students from Chabot and Evergreen colleges, who also have contracts with Fresh and Natural. They noted that both of the colleges’ cafeterias were much bigger, cleaner and friendlier in comparison with Ohlone’s.

Evergreen Community College in San Jose even had a game room and a big screen television in their cafeteria. The speech students’ recommendations to the ASOC were to come up with a new contract with Fresh and Natural in order to bring in more revenue, give cafeteria staff training in customer service and to remodel the entire area.

The next order of business was to swear in all of the elected executive officers, including Kevin Feliciano as the new ASOC President and Ngan Vu as the new ASOC Vice President. After elections, the seat of Legislative Representative was still vacant. According to the ASOC Constitution, when there is a vacant seat, senior senators can be nominated. But, if they decline the nomination, or if no one is nominated, then anyone with a valid Ohlone

ID card can be nominated. Diana Lazo was nominated by former ASOC Treasurer Nancy Aridi, but she did not accept her nomination.

Michaela Devine, who was present at the meeting, was nominated by ASOC senator Teran Finley. She gladly accepted and was sworn in as the new ASOC Legislative Representative.

The Forensics team was granted the $1,000 they had requested in the previous meeting to reimburse their trip to Mississippi for Forensic team member Andie Morhous, who competed at a tournament. Former ASOC President Jackie McCulley congratulated Morhous and commended her for being one of the few students from a community college to attend the competition. The International Club was also granted their money request of $300.

Both the Anime Club and the Ohlone League of Engineering were denied their money requests because each of the events they requested money for will occur after May 22. According to the ICC handbook, clubs are not allowed to participate in any activities after the semester is over.

There was much discussion about whether or not to give the money to the Engineering Club, because earlier in the year they had already been granted $200 for the Vex robot competition. At that time the club did not know the actual date of the Vex Competition, estimating it to be in late May. The ideas discussed were about the risk of damaging the integrity of the ASOC and the conflict of interest because the Anime Club was denied their money request.

After much debate, the motion was left to die; two executive officers voted in favor of granting the club the money, but it was not enough.

The Ohlone League of Engineering was not granted the additional $300 they requested for a booster, motor and sensor kit for the robot they plan to enter in the Vex Competition at

Continued from Page 1 arbitrate” but that Collins has denied it, even though the legality had never been questioned before.

The issues at hand are ones that are outlined and defined in the union contract; however, Evers said that when she filed a grievance with Collins, he told her that she doesn’t have the right to demand a change, let alone grievance about an issue that does not concern payroll or wages. She also reported that the union has made contact with Collins to schedule meetings to discuss the discrepancies, but Collins has not responded to any emails, phone calls, or letters with his availability.

Collins told the Monitor that he is “perfectly willing to schedule meetings… [I] have not refused to talk to the union… My calendar is viewable by union members, and people can make appointments at anytime.”

Collins also told the Monitor that there are separate legal processes for contract negotiations; “I don’t want that discussion group talking about problems to be another arena for negotiations… there needs to be operational procedures; that’s

how I work.”

Evers said that if union rights are not recognized and if the district refuses to follow the law, legal action will be pursued. “There will be picketing, and [the union] will engage strong action to reach an agreement.”

Also, CSEA plans to file a legal claim with the Public Employment Relations Board, or PERB. As described on www.perb.ca.gov, PERB is a “quasi-judicial administrative agency charged with administering the collective bargaining statutes covering employees of California’s public schools, colleges, and universities, employees of the State of California, employees of California local public agencies (cities, counties and special districts), trial court employees and supervisory employees of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.” With PERB, the CSEA may file a claim against the H.R. department, demanding that the illegal actions “cease and desist.” PERB only has the power to interpret code/law and mediate between disgruntled parties. If H.R. does not respond in favor of the CSEA, then the union will file with

De Anza College.

Emotions were high and some tears were shed as the ASOC bid farewell to former president McCulley. “I’ve enjoyed every bit of [my] three and a half years involved in ASOC,” she said. Feliciano read aloud a resolution in her honor. A resolution is an official note that caters to a specific topic that will be kept in the records. The resolution commended McCulley for her work done with the Ohlone campus, her involvement in clubs and in the ASOC. When Feliciano was done reading everyone in the room gave her a standing ovation.

Executive officers noted the success of the hectic Freshman Connection Day. The ASOC had a Mardi Gras booth to promote and recruit senators. They gave out beads to future freshman students.

Campus Activities Coordinator, Renee Gonzales, noted that she was impressed with the ASOC booth at Freshmen Connection Day during her advisors report. She also gave her thanks to former officers and senators and said she was excited to work with anyone new. “[We] are off to a great start; let’s not lose this momentum,” she said of this summer and next fall semester.

ASOC Vice President, Vu reported on her trip to So Cal with Feliciano for the SSCCC general assembly. They attended workshops about associated student constitutions and bylaws, and conflict resolution. She said that our region, Region four, brought the most students to the assembly.

Feliciano was re-elected as our region’s chair and Vu was elected communications officer.

Both the ad hoc committees, Newark Room Furnishing and Cafeteria Committee, were renewed.

The ASOC plans to work on these two committees during the summer as well as finish updating the constitution in order to get things ready for this upcoming fall semester.

Workers upset with hours

higher California authority – the Labor Board, which will handle the HR-CSEA impasse with more authority. Evers said that they are not looking for money—but they want order.

According the Collins, nothing illegal has been committed. “They may have a designated voice; those legal rights are provided… it’s not a problem.” Collins added, “there is nothing in the world that says everybody has to agree with everything that’s being done because you can have a different opinion on things.”

Collins took over the H.R. Dean seat when Lyle Engeldinger left Ohlone College in December 2008 after a six-month leave of absence.

Collins’ experience with union discrepancies include a 2001 legal dispute at Long Beach City College—similar to the one with the CSEA at Ohlone—which ended in a formal complaint with the Labor Board.

When asked if his past experience with college unions help or harm his relationship with the CSEA, Collins said that “it helps set the lines of communication for whatever comes up in the future.”

News/Advertisements Game developers display creations Continued from Page 1 Lewis said, “the Game Developers Club is completely voluntary but members tend to have a strong work ethic which allows them to channel their skills into something productive.” Former student Scott Berkenkotter has a certificate in video game

development and continues to help keep the club going. Berkenkotter was the club’s first president and has been involved with the club since fall 2006. Berkenkotter said “joining the club is good because you get to learn something new and create things.”

‘Porcelain Smile’ continued Continued from Page 10 I wanted to burst into tears, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of hearing me. The house shook with the opening of the heavy front door, and I heard Dean go to the living room and greet my mom. I buried my head in my pillow to muffle my crying. I felt sick. Another car pulled into the driveway; Dad was home.

My rage turned towards him, too.

Be a good Christian, he said. This was being a good Christian?

I suddenly noticed the porcelain doll my dad had given me for my birthday. It was perfect – brown curls, a beautiful smile, painted cheeks. I hated that smile now.

Dean’s and Dad’s laughter re-

verberated through my door. The doll kept smiling. My anger had nowhere else to go. I grabbed the doll and threw it at the wall. Its fragile form didn’t have a chance.

I stared at the broken pieces on the floor and suddenly felt guilty.

Panic took me. I threw the pieces into the back of the closet, and moved a teddy bear into the spot where the doll used to sit so no one would notice the empty space.

My heart was still pounding with fear, but I unlocked the door so my mom wouldn’t suspect anything. I crawled into bed and cried on my pillow, and when she came to my door I pretended I was asleep. Dean stayed for nine months.

Among the other creations of the Game Developers Club is the “Ghost Game” mystery thriller, currently a work in progress. In the video game, players work to defeat a villain.

Another event the club has held in

the past was a Left 4 Dead Presidents fundraiser, in which students played the video game to raise money for the club.

The club meets Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m. in Room HH-116.

May 7, 2009 monitor

Correction The Monitor would like to clarify that the Raza Day picture featured in the last issue was taken

by Gerry Mooney.

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May 7, 2009 monitor

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monitor May 7, 2009

Features

Weighing Anchor

By Eric dorman Editor-in-chief

Soles take flight

A farewell to stairs

You won’t have Fake Uncle Sam to kick around anymore because, gentlemen, this is my last column.

Actually, I can’t say I can easily relate to Richard Nixon’s hatred of the press, but I always wanted to use that quote. And besides, the man knew how to make an exit.

It’s interesting how whenever you leave a place you’ve been for a while, you remember the time you first saw it. After four years at Ohlone, I still remember the first time I visited the campus. My friend and I, both 11 or 12, used to have to wait outside the Smith Center for our older sisters to get out of class. We amused ourselves by sliding down the stair rails until a 50-something UPS delivery guy, returning from delivering a package to one of the buildings and angered by the sight of two children having fun, described to us in graphic detail the grisly injury he had obtained as a child while engaged in the same activity. The story was undoubtedly fabricated, but being young and naive, we took it as the gospel truth. I haven’t touched a stair rail since.

At 14, I started taking classes here. As a homeschooler, I had the choice of entering high school or attending college; my friend, perpetually cooler than I, chose high school, while I solidified my status as a social deviant by heading to Ohlone. And while I’ve remained hopelessly ignorant of the fashions, rumors and pop culture literacy that seem to comprise the true pedagogy of high school, I’ve learned more here than I ever would have thought possible.

Unquestionably, Ohlone gets a bad rap. It’s called the school of last choice, the place where the uninspired and unmotivated go to siphon state resources, the place nobody attends by choice. Well, as someone who attended Ohlone by choice and knows countless others as motivated to succeed here as I have been, I have to take issue with that assessment. I’m graduating next week with 95.5 units, an A.A. degree and an SIR to USCD—three achievements that would have been impossible without this school and the opportunities it provides.

The California community college system offers a kind of educational experience that is entirely unique and utterly invaluable: by offering a low-cost, all-inclusive educational environment, they achieve a level of diversity and outreach that no UC or private school comes close to. One thing is for certain: I couldn’t have done what I’ve done in any other place.

UCSD doesn’t have any stairs; just beaches and ocean. I can’t say I’m going to object to the setup, but I’ll still miss the Hill.

Art show winners

By Anna Biaritz Roldan Staff writer Jessica Gill’s untitled painting took first place at the Student Fine Art & Design Show in the Louie Meager Art Gallery.

The show, featuring 30 pieces by students from a number of Ohlone art classes, is open until May 18.

The art department faculty judged the competition, which received almost 500 entries. About 200 pieces received awards.

Gill’s oil painting, a portrait of a woman, was an eye-catching piece.

The painting was very animated, with the woman wearing a very intriguing and somewhat alluring expression.

Bryant Sina’s “Purple Haze,” made with acrylic paint, was another expressive piece. Having been in one of his shows, I knew it was Sina’s right when I saw it.

The texture of the painting and the style he used was similar to his other works. Sina’s work was also featured elsewhere in the gallery, such as “The Bunny Gene” and “No Escape,” which both placed in the sculpture category.

Another unique piece was Forrest Tanaka’s photograph, entitled “Spoon Levitation.” The picture was both serious and amusing, since the spoon really was levitating. The piece won second place for the photograph category.

In a different medium, Aemi Kadakia’s “Design for a Rug,” made with gouache, a water-based paint, to second in the Interior design category. The design was classy and refined; the pattern well-drawn.

The Louie Meager Art Gallery is located in the Smith Center. It is open Monday through Friday from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

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May 7, 2009 monitor

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Dancers catch air in ‘Soul to Sole’ Students from Ohlone’s dance classes delivered performances focused around expressions of both the body and the soul at the Spring Dance Showcase shows over the weekend. Left: Kevin Calderon-Lopez leaps through the air before fellow student choreographers Kyle Meiers, Alex Drattell and Onel Higginbotham; above, Randy Martinez reaches the apex of his mid-air toetouch and right, Randy Martinez, Tracy Layden and Sonja Wright log some group air time.

Unity Week: bringing students together Continued from Page 1 This event that occurred at the Palm Bosque on Tuesday, May 5, was a vivid appearance of Chicano pride. Students were enjoying tacos and burritos while listening to merengue music and playing a friendly game of Loteria, a Mexican bingo game to win a fruit bouquet from Edible Assortments.

The highlight of this event was the merengue dance performed by Cindy Diaz, Andres Garcia, Robert Jackson, Alessandra Martinez, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Alex Vera to a song entitled “Com Tú Me Quiere a Mi,” by Limi-T 21.

Diaz and Julie Rodriquez created merengue choreography, which took a long two weeks of preparation. Prior to the performance, Diaz said that she was confident in her dancers and was excited to perform.

The other Unity Week event held on Tuesday was the presentation of former student Elaine Mathews’ “The Red Door.” The film was screened in the Smith Center from 1:30 to 3 p.m. It was about a man named Tom who becomes torn between his own passion of becoming a chef and continuing his family’s tradition of being a feng shui master.

A family tragedy further causes a rift

between Tom’s wishes and family tradition.

The second day of Unity Week featured a one-man show by Brandon Hughes, who was present during the Black History Month celebration in February.

Hughes performed in the Jackson Theater at 11 a.m. The show portrayed the topics of relationships, friendships and family. At the Palm Bosque the first 200 attendees were treated to free pizza.

The day also featured breakdancing from Dance Instructor Sergio Suarez’s hip-hop dance class, as well as Polynesian dancers from a local high school.

Suarez said, “I am glad that there is a hip-hop element now being represented.” Suarez encourages students to visit www.allthewaylive.tv for more information on his dance classes.

Chabria said, “all the events are fun and we just want people to relax.” Chabria also said, “Unity Week is one of the few cause-based events that we plan.”

Unity Week took about a month to plan by M.E.Ch.A. co-chairs Esmeralda Leon and Garcia, who gave credit to M.E.Ch.A, Tony’s tacos and the dancers for the event’s success.

Daniel Drake, a cinema major, breakdances in front of the Palm Bosque as part of Wednesday’s Unity Week events.

By Theodore Harrison Staff writer

their initial fear and apprehension about learning a new language.

Lemon uses a kinesthetic teaching method, which simply means “in motion.” Lemon’s “in motion” learning concept includes student presentations on their best friends, campus tours, and informal dance lessons all in Spanish. Students even put together their own mini reality shows called the Bachelor/Bachelorette show.

Lemon experienced many of the

same frustrations while employed with a defense contractor in North Carolina. With a few high school courses to her credit and family members who spoke Spanish, Lemon felt confident she could represent her company at a trade fair in Mexico. Needless to say, she struggled to find the words to effectively market her company’s products. It’s an experience she shares and recreates in class. In one example, half of her students

Photo by Jeff Weisigner

An aspirin for ‘Foreign Language Headache’ Deborah Lemon, a Spanish teacher for the past nine years, has seen the frustration many students face trying to learn a new language.

Lemon even has a name for it: “FLH,” or Foreign Language Headache. In response, Lemon has developed her own unique style designed to help students personalize their learning experience and overcome

act as vendors and the other half are merchants and they must try to buy and sell in Spanish.

Lemon did not let the experience discourage her. She returned to the University of North Carolina and earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish (this was in addition to her previously earned degree in English.)

Lemon, who was born in the Bay Area and raised in North Carolina, would later return and earn a Master in Spanish from the University of

California, Santa Barbara.

Through the use of the kinesthetic teaching method, Lemon has found that students get more involved and respond positively when their course work is personalized. Lemon has also found the teaching experience more rewarding for herself when students open up and talk about their own life and experiences. “I feel like they’re really understanding how to use the language and not just reading out of book with slides.”

Features Study abroad next fall: education, kangaroos 8

monitor May 7, 2009

By devery sheffer Staff writer

Throw some shrimp on the barbie and watch out for crossing kangaroos - Ohlone students are traveling to the land down under, this upcoming fall semester. They will be spending three months in Sydney, Australia to study abroad from Sept. 6 to Nov. 29.

Students who choose to go have until May 18 to turn in their application and their first payment installment of $300. Students who do not make that date but still wish to go will be charged a $100 late fee.

Altogether, the trip will cost students $7,599 according to the program’s pamphlet. This does not include flight, tuition or spending money. A seat on the group flight costs $950 and for 12 units at $20 per unit, the cost is $240. What the payment does include is home stay with an Australian family, two meals a day and two planned field trips, along with medical and travel insurance. Students must also be able to pay for miscellaneous fees such as $100 for a passport and $450 for an Australian visa. Students are encouraged to visit the Financial Aid office in Building One for information on loans and grants to help fund the trip.

This upcoming fall the student group will be led by English Professor Mark Brosamer. The traveling teachers get the luxury of a paid ticket and an apartment to live in.

But that does not mean they do not put in their share of hard work.

They are solely in charge of all the marketing that goes into recruiting the students, not an easy job in the current economic state.

According to Brosamer, his marketing strategies include vari-

ous flyers, visiting classrooms, and setting up several informational meetings. A marketing plan is a key factor to the teacher’s application to the committee who ultimately decides who will host the trip, according to Kay Harrison, the coordinator of the study abroad program. Harrison mentioned that Brosamer was chosen based on his extensive traveling and the fact that he previously took a group of Ohlone students to Cambridge, England for a semester.

This will be Brosmer’s first time returning to the country since he was 17 years old. His previous travels include China, South America, and France. “[Your] education is not finished until you have a passport and use it,” he said, emphasizing the importance of international travel.

What is fall semester here in the USA is spring semester in Australia.

Students can expect good weather and they will get a week off from school for “Spring Break.” Brosamer intends to spend his break in Tasmania, a southern island state of Australia, known for its natural environment. Business Professor Christine Bolt was the previous teacher who took students to Australia. She spent her break snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and exploring the Daintree Rainforest in North Australia.

Australia offers many opportunities to the students. There are two planned field trips, one to the Blue Mountains for hiking in the untouched wilderness and the other to the Royal National Park for a barbeque and a look at a “secret” waterfall and pool, according to the program’s pamphlet. Brosamer said that he has been putting together an event calendar comprised of activities such as festivals and parades

that will be taking place during the stay in Australia. Other Australian highlights include Bondi Beach, the Hunter Valley wine country and Sydney nightlife. Bolt pointed out that a lot of what there is to do out there is fun, yet free of cost.

This is more than just a memorable experience for the students; the semester abroad may also provide a leg up in the job market.

Harrison explained that intercultural communication is something highly valued by employers. It also demonstrates an ability to adapt and be flexible, something that might give you an advantage when interviewing for jobs.

Ohlone has offered students the chance to study abroad every fall semester since 1990. This upcoming fall will be the third semester that students have traveled to Australia.

“I have only good things to say,” Bolt said of her experience in the land down under. Her favorite part of the trip was seeing the students mature and bond together. She described the people of Australia as friendly, helpful and upbeat.

Dispelling myths about each other’s culture is something that Brosamer is looking forward to.

He said that each culture learns stereotypes of one another based off Hollywood movies. Some things may be true, while others are nothing but a skewed prospective. The Aussies will ask hard questions, he said, and the students will have to learn how to respond.

According to Harrison, there are nine applicants for the semester abroad so far, in order for the trip to occur there must be approximately 20 students attending. Those interested in attending can contact Harrison or Brosamer.

Midnight Magazine comes out Tuesday By noah levin Opinion editor

Journalism may be a challenged industry, but the stories that Ohlone loves to read will still be coming your way on May 11, with the release of Midnight Magazine, Issue 5.

I personally can say that this is THE BEST issue of our school fine magazine yet, with stories about a robot-building artist, therapeutic teahouses, historical train rides and even ghost hunting.

Our staff has worked tirelessly, and now we wish to share the fruit of our labors. So when you see us shouting and haranguing as we distribute Midnight in the Quad Tuesday, don’t be alarmed.

Come to our table, say “Hi,” and grab a magazine. Crack that sucker open and get a whiff of that “fresh off the presses” smell, and don’t be afraid to read it, starting right then and there.

We’ve put a lot of our time, both in and out of the classroom, to bring our peers tales of wonder and interest from all over the Bay Area.

And nothing would delight us more than for the Ohlone community to enjoy the newest and finest issue of Midnight yet.

Comedy Night brings home bacon for forensics By sean nero Staff writer Students were invited to get their laugh on as Bay Area comedians performed during Comedy Night.

The Forensics Department invited five professional comedians from all across the Bay Area Friday, May 1, to perform, including Ohlone’s own Sammy Obeid. The event cost $5 to attend with all proceeds going to the Forensics Department.

Obeid, a professional comedian,

acted as host as well as the opening act of the event. Obeid was a finalist in Wild 94.9’s best comic standing competition, eventually winning second place.

Obeid, who doesn’t currently have a major, has participated in numerous comedy and standup events across the Bay Area.

The second act was San Jose resident Danny Cruzz. Cruzz’s jokes focused more on his Hispanic ethnicity and many of the stereotypes associated with it. Cruzz captured

the crowd with gestures and numerous references to his ethnicity.

Next up was Corrine Anderson from Berkeley. The self-proclaimed “cougar” made jokes dealing with things from her relationship issues to being a single mother with children. Anderson was featured on Nick at Night’s “Funniest mom in America” show, according to Obeid.

The fourth comic, Joshua Walters, was also from Berkeley.

Walters had a unique approach to

comedy, doing everything from roasting audience members to becoming a human beat boxer.

According to his personal webpage, Walters is the creator of the Madhouse Rhythm which uses stage performances to tell his life story. Walters has also been a theater performer for a decade and he utilizes those elements into his comedic sets.

The last performer was Sacramento resident Tapan Trivedi, who used a myriad of comedic elements

in his set. Trivedi made use of the audience and improvised jokes well-based on what the audience members told him. Tapan has been featured on the Coexist comedy tour along with Obeid. This tour features five comics with different religious affiliations telling jokes in order to broaden a person’s view.

The next event hosted by the Forensics Department will be Speech Night, Friday, May 8, in Room 2133.

It will cost $5 to attend.

EOPS recognized for helping students persevere

By Nazia mastan Staff writer Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) will celebrate its 40th year supporting educationally disadvantaged students on May 14. This state-funded program that was started during the Civil Rights movement has helped students from low-income homes and those who are underrepresented in the collegiate population due to their ethnicity or educational circumstances.

Unfortunately, many students who come to Ohlone are not able to assert themselves as education-

ally competitive students because of the fact that their high schools did not equip them with the necessary skills to succeed in a college environment. This is where EOPS has been able to help.

This 40-year-old program’s goal is to help students with monetary assistance in the form of grants and scholarships, as well as tutoring and in-depth counseling. This is done to make sure that students are able to assert themselves confidently, which will allow them to succeed and meet their full potential in a competitive college environment, as well as throughout the rest of

their lives in the workforce, and beyond.

EOPS has aided students in realizing their educational goals and will be commemorating many of these students in its May 14 reception in the Jackson Theater. It will start at 5:30 p.m. and the ceremony itself will be held at 6 p.m.

Although EOPS will be celebrating its 40th year here at Ohlone, instead of honoring staff members and people who have assisted the program in its many years here at Ohlone, the ceremony will highlight the accomplishments of the students who have benefited from

the program. This shows that the program has been of great importance to the Ohlone community, not only because of staff assistance but because the students have been extremely persistent about achieving their educational goals.

Program Director Debbie Trigg said, “EOPS students persist to a 80 percent higher degree than the rest of the general population.”

This is perhaps because of the indepth counseling resources as well as moral support that the EOPS provides students.

The in-depth counseling gives more attention to the students than

general school counseling because it takes into consideration the diverse needs of the student, rather than just advising them on their educational future.

Although Trigg described EOPS as “the last hope for students that want to go to college because it constantly provides resources, workshops and grants to allow them to get through,” the students who receive assistance from EOPS come out on top partly because of the help they receive from the program but most of all because of the determination that they equip themselves with.

Campus Events/Advertisements May 7 Brown Bag Speaker Seminar - Civic and Community Engagement

by Matt Freeman in Room 3201 at 1 p.m.

8-10 Men’s Baseball - Regionals at Ohlone College in Fremont 8 Speech Night - Room 2133 at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door.

8 Chops Big Band - in the Nummi Theatre at 8:30 p.m.

9-10 Women’s Softball - Regionals Round 2.

9 Ohlone College Super Flea Market - Fremont Campus. The flea market is held every second Saturday of every month in parking Lots H and E. Parking is $2.

9 Community Band Central Park Performance Pavilion in Fremont at 2 p.m.

16 Student Rep - Second Bill Nummi

May 7, 2009 monitor

Theatre at 8 p.m.

9 Community Chorale - Centerville Presbyterian Church in Fremont at 3 p.m.

9 Fremont Symphony Spring Concert - Sparkling Schumann in the Jackson Theatre at 8 p.m.

10-16 National Women’s Health Week 13-21 Textbook Buybacks

15 Jazz Combo - concert in the Jackson Theatre at 7 p.m. $15 at the door, $10 for senior citizens and students with ID.

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

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Porcelain Smile Contest Winner

May 7, 2009

By Angela Wallace

H

e came into our lives one summer afternoon in leave. On the way out she put her arm around my shoulder the middle of the week. I had just put the salad and spoke close to my ear. bowl on the table when the doorbell rang. It “Watch the faces you make.” was the first time my dad had initiated a family dinner set “What?” I asked, still feeling defensive. around the kitchen table (usually Dad ate in his study in “If looks could kill, Amy,” she said. front of his computer). But today we were going to eat I wanted to. like those families on T.V.– and it was interrupted. Mom e must treat the traveling evangelist with love was going to be home from work soon, Dad was cookand respect. Open our homes to them, for ing, I was helping, and even my little sister was eager to they are doing a great work.” Dad looked at Mom and me set the table. too many times during that sermon. He also exaggerated Then there was the man at the door. He and my dad the job description of a traveling salesman. greeted each other as though they were long-lost friends.

Summer was gone, and it was dark at 7:00. Jane came Dean was his name. He was taller than my dad, and his up to Mom after the sermon was over. I stood by my hair was gray on light brown, which I think looked older mom’s side, under the dim porch light, as the ten plus than gray on black, my dad’s color. Dean was a traveling cars in our driveway began to disperse. salesman from Oregon. How he found my dad after twenty“What is that man doing here?” Jane asked. something years I don’t know, but there he was, traveling “He and Ray are friends from seminary. He’s been through California, in our city, down our street. staying here for almost five months,” my mom replied.

“Do you have a place to stay?” Dad asked.

“In the church?” Jane seemed as perturbed about it “Well, actually, no.” as I was. “He gives off a bad feeling,” she continued.

“Stay with us a few days.”

My mom nodded. “I know.”

Three days was decided. They went off to my dad’s I didn’t say anything; I wasn’t allowed to. Tonight’s study like two grade school boys. When message proved that my dad didn’t Mom came home they didn’t come back listen to us when we told him our Angela Wallace is the winner concerns. I heard their laughter as to join us for dinner. of the eighth annual Award for they came around the corner from e had an unusually long driveProse,a writing contest initiated the backyard. way, flat at the top, and then it

by Karen Rosenbaum, who dipped down towards the street. It was “Hey!” Dean shouted towards me. taught creative writing, litera- “We need a beautiful broad to come great for launching bikes or rollerblades ture and composition for more keep us company.” He waved as if into the wind. Getting back up took the than 30 years at Ohlone. hard work, I ran, as best I could with rolto signal me over. I went inside the lerblades, to the top and spun in circles to house. amuse myself. The neighbor kids would be done with their My mom and dad organized their work schedules so dinner soon. They always ate late. that at least one parent was always home. Dad was at work, I stopped spinning when I saw him. Three days was up but today my mom had to take my sister to the doctor. I several weeks ago. Dean had moved into the cottage in our was 13, perfectly capable of keeping myself out of trouble backyard where my dad held his sermons five times a week. while home alone.

Dad’s real job gave him split shifts, and since most of my It hadn’t been five minutes since my mom left that Dean dad’s congregation was from his work, they all had three- showed up at the back door, knocking, with a smile on his hour breaks used for coming out for Bible study. Dean went face. I opened the door. to every one. I once saw him kneeling at my dad’s feet at a “Your dad said I could take a shower.” His towel was church get-together. My dad’s pulpit was a lazy-boy chair. draped over his shoulder.

Dean looked like a Peter, and Dad was his Jesus.

“He’s not here…” I stammered.

Dean had a smile on his face as he came up the driveway. “ I won’t be long,” he said. “Real quick, I promise.”

“So that’s how you stay so neat and fit,” he said.

I knew what my dad would say. I knew what I wanted to “What?” I said. say. But I was afraid to say no.

He nodded to my skates. “Good exercise. You’ll have guys He didn’t bother closing the bathroom door while he got all over you with that figure.” He kept walking. the water going. I stayed in the living room.

I didn’t know why, but my stomach suddenly trembled and “Hey, Amy,” he called. “Could you show me how to turn my heart rate picked up. I stomped on the cement and kicked the shower part on?” my legs into action, hurtling myself down the driveway, out I rose from the couch reluctantly. He already had his into the street, and I skated as far down the block as I was shirt off. allowed.

“Just pull the knob up,” I said. hree days, three weeks, three months. Dean had moved “Where?” He smiled at me. his base of operations into the cottage. Supposedly he still I was a toy, a rubber ducky a child taunts by letting it went out to sell things, but all I saw of him was a lazy loafer. float, then dunking it, drowning it, and then letting it bobble The question “when is he leaving?” was no longer allowed. Dad back to the top for air. said Dean stayed, and there was no more to talk about.

“Have you showered yet?” he asked.

With the progression of time, a new feeling festered inside I bolted from the door and ran to my room at the end of of me. If I had had fur like the cat, it would have bristled. the hall, locked the door, and slumped against it. I listened Perhaps that would have been less conspicuous than my facial for footsteps, but they never came. The water eventually expressions, which I seemed to have little control over. stopped running, but he did not come to my door. My hands Dad and Dean were coming down the hallway. My sister shook with terror. and I were standing in front of the mirror. We wanted to make “Please come home, please come home.” I rocked back sure our black skirts and gray tops were respectful enough and forth, clutching my knees. for where we were going.

I heard a car pull into the driveway and ran to my “Well, look at you two.” His voice put me on the defen- window to see if it was Mom. Then I heard his voice sive. “You two look ready for your hot dates,” Dean said, outside my door. smiling, always smiling at us.

“Amy, are you all right in there?”

“We’re going to a funeral,” I said indignantly. I heard I moved towards my bed, afraid to come near the door to my dad chuckle. brace it, terrified he’d open it, despite it being locked.

“Well, maybe you’ll pick up some dates there,” Dean “Thank you, for letting me take a shower. You’re a good said. little Christian.”

My mom called us to the door then; it was time to Continued on Page 5

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Sports

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Inside the lines

By Jeff Weisinger Sports editor

State or bust?

Photo by Tara Lynn Lanning

Ian Hoff, above, is ready to celebrate after beating Skyline on Thursday. Below, Jeff Johnson’s three-run home run in the seventh proved to be the game-winner.

Renegades ready to chase down State Renegades to take on Chabot College in first round of playoffs By jeff weisinger Sports editor We thought they would be good, but almost nobody predicted how good Ohlone Baseball would be in 2009.

The Renegades capped the 2009 regular season the best way any team could last Thursday: by winning the Conference title in their final home game of the season.

With the fans in the stands, the Renegades beat the Skyline Trojans last Thursday 4-1 to clinch their first Conference Championship in 18 years.

The win also set a new record for the amount of wins in a single season, as the Renegades finish the season with a record of 35-9, just one win better than the 2002 Ohlone baseball team.

Ohlone also had an unprecedented 17 players named to AllConference.

Freshman Sean Martin (8-1) took the mound against the Trojans and struggled a bit on the mound, only pitching 4 1/3 innings, allowing a run on six hits while striking out three. However he also walked five batters on the day. Sophomore right-hander Ian Hoff (8-2) relieved Martin in the fifth inning after Martin walked David Gregory with the bases loaded as Skyline scored the first run of the game. Hoff pitched another gem, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four.

Cody Foster singled in the bottom of the seventh, scoring Steven Ramos from third to tie the game at one.

After Zach Johnson walked to place runners on first and second, Jeff Johnson hit his state-leading 17th home run of the season to give the Renegades the 4-1 lead and Ohlone never looked back as Hoff allowed just one hit in the next two innings, striking out Nico Vargas to end the game.

With the regular season in the books, the top-seeded Ohlone Renegades are now faced with the

challenge of getting to Fresno for the State Championships which begin on May 22.

Their first matchup is set for Friday at 2 p.m. when the Renegades will host rival Chabot College in the first round of the regionals.

“It’s been a great week of practice,” said Head Coach Jordon Twohig, who was also named Coast Conference-Pacific Division Coach of the Year. “Everybody is at no losses, and no wins. It’s a brand new season.”

The Renegades beat the Chabot

Gladiators 8-5 back on March 12 at Chabot in their only matchup in the regular season.

The Gladiators are the 16 th seed in the playoffs and won their single-elimination matchup to get to face Ohlone as they won against Shasta College 6-5 in 10 innings on Tuesday.

Sophomore right-hander David Luna (8-1, 4.04 ERA) will take the mound for Ohlone on Friday.

For further playoff coverage, log on to www.ohlonemonitoronline. com starting next week.

Men’s and Women’s team as they displayed some great skills under the water that showed what it took to get a great win.

ley’s supervision, the team proved to every college in the league that they were not something to be taken lightly, thus their 12-0 conference record.

Women’s Volleyball: Though the team did not catch an easy break this year, their second game gave us a glimpse of the capacity of new Head Coach Jeremy Peñaflor as he led his team to victory over Laney College.

The Men’s/Women’s Basketball team, along with Women’s Volleyball, kept Epler Gymnasium hot through the winter.

Men’s Basketball: Rival games always bring out the best in teams, And the Ohlone/Chabot rivalry is no exception when the Renegades traveled to Hayward and beat the Gladiators 63-43.

Women’s Basketball: Under Coach of the Year Elizabeth Stan-

Winter left, and the spring sports season looked heated and ready to show some action.

Baseball: Ohlone won the Coast Conference Championship for the first time in 18 years, beating Skyline 4-1 and an added bonus was their record for most wins in a season with 35, one win better than the 2002 Renegades.

Softball: Lady Renegades blew past Mission as sophomore pitcher

Kelly Colker threw a one-hitter in a windstorm at Santa Clara as Ohlone beat Mission 12-1.

Men’s Tennis: Two words, Thomas McGhee. This sophomore tennis player alone won every single match this season he played and then got selected for “All-American” as one of the best.

Swimming and Diving: Untouchable, is what you could call the Men’s Swimming team this year as they flew without a single loss to the finals, and for the Women’s, Joanna Wilk left us all speechless with her record of wins for her qualifying breast stroke.

An ode to 2008-09; a hell of a year With the 2008-09 season over for most Ohlone Renegade sports, what better way to say farewell than to recognize some of those defining moments that just made us say “Wow.” Starting with fall sports, it could be said that the unpredictable weather could describe Ohlone’s play... unpredicatable.

Men’s Soccer: Though their record wasn’t the best reflection of their efforts, their game against Mission College, 3-0, gave us back the hope that the fans needed and assured us with goalie Iman Aghel and the others worked hard to keep up.

Women’s Soccer: Hartnell College was sent home shocked by this team, as Ohlone won 5-0. Fanny Koloko-Green scored a season high three goals.

Water polo: The Ohlone College Tournament shed light on both the

The fast break

By Ankita Chhabra Sports writer

With all said and done, and even words that could not do these moments justice, the seasons came and left and gave us some amazing memories. There will be another year to come and more great moments to be created.

Outstanding regular season records, numerous All-Conference players, win streaks and dominant performances throughout the 2009 regular season.

There was even a school record that was broken.

So, knowing all of that, the question is: if the Ohlone Baseball or Softball teams fall short of a State Championship, or a trip to their respective State tournaments, would their season be considered a bust?

For the seventh consecutive season, the Lady Renegades captured the Coast Conference North Championship under Head Coach Donna Runyon. They also had 10 players named to the All-Conference team in 2009.

The Ohlone Softball team started their playoff run last weekend, sweeping the best-ofthree series against the Merced College Blue Devils last weekend.

The sixth-seeded Lady Renegades won the first game 2-0 in a pitcher’s duel Saturday, then fought back to win 3-1 despite the rain on Sunday for a trip to Cosumnes River in Sacramento for the second round of the playoffs.

The winner will go to the State Championships in Salinas in two weeks.

In his first year as Head Coach, Coast Conference-Pacific Division Coach of the Year Jordon Twohig led a team that struggled to a 21-22 record in 2008, to it’s first Coast Conference Championship in 18 years.

The Renegades also set a new record for wins in a single season with their 35-9 record, just a win higher than the previous record of 34 set by Ohlone in 2002.

They are also ranked fourth in the nation, becoming the first Ohlone sports team to be nationally ranked.

Freshman outfielder Steven Ramos became the first Ohlone baseball player to win the CCCAA Male Athlete of the Month back in February. Freshman pitcher Sean Martin, who’s on his way to San Jose State after this season, started the season 80 in his first 10 starts. The other “lights-out” pitcher Ian Hoff finished the season 8-2 with a 1.25 ERA, best highlighted by his one-hitter against then top-ranked Sacramento City College in late February.

The top-seeded Ohlone Baseball team starts their hunt for the State Championship this weekend against rival Chabot College.

There will be many opinions about whether or not failing to win State or reach it is considered an incomplete season, considering the year both teams had.

As far as this writer is concerned, to best cap the season, a trip to State is recommended.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Page 12

PITCHFORKIN’ THE DEVILS

Photos courtesy of Don Jedlovec

Julyssa Perry’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning scored Ashley Nahale from second, giving the Lady Renegades the go-ahead 2-1 lead on Sunday. Kim Cawley also scored on a Merced error to give Ohlone a 3-1 lead.

One step closer: Softball off to Round 2 Lady Renegades fight past Merced for trip to Super Regionals

By Tomás Ortega Sports writer Merced College did what they could to rally late against the Ohlone Softball team over the weekend in a best of three series in the opening round of the state playoffs.

However, Ohlone kept their foot on the gas to accelerate past Merced, winning the first two games of the series.

Saturday’s game saw the Renegades throw ace pitcher Kelly Colker against the Blue Devils.

Colker efficiently pitched her way through all seven innings on the mound to pick up the 2-0 win.

Her five strikeouts didn’t compare to some of her more recent performances, where she’d strike out closer to ten, but it didn’t keep her

from staying focused on the present challenge.

“I was just in my zone,” Colker said while adjusting the right arm that tossed 94 pitches.

“I was in my own little world like always. I don’t like to let other people distract me.”

The runs by the Renegade offense were scored early enough to give Colker the cushion she needed to keep her mind on her duties only.

A double steal called by Head Coach Donna Runyon put runners in second and third for Paulina Gentry.

The freshman designated player mashed the pitch off the second baseman into right field scoring the only two runs of the game.

“Since we have over 120 stolen bases this year, I really think that people know that we’re aggressive on the bases and we’re going to run,” Runyon said.

Game two Sunday afternoon was filled with more drama than

Saturdays.

Although rain fell at a steady pace, it didn’t feel like a California rainy day. The air was heavier than most days and was noticed easily when you breathed in.

It had little effect though for Merced’s Sam Bassey who crushed Kendall Beermann’s pitch high into the trees behind the right field fence for a solo home run. The run put Merced ahead for half an inning before Ohlone scored the equalizer.

The game was knotted at one until the sixth inning. Ashley Nahle, who is having an outstanding season as a freshman for the Renegades hit a lead off double to the right field wall.

Momentum was restored to the Ohlone dugout, who the rallied with two more hits to score two runs and take the lead for good.

Beermann was replaced by Colker for the final two innings and she was perfect, retiring the six batters she faced to clinch a Sweet 16

Sophomore pitcher Kelly Colker and catcher Kat Sumner celebrate the win against Merced. appearance for the Renegades.

Ohlone is slated to play against the third seeded Cosumnes River this weekend starting Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Renegades hope to have a better showing than their squad

did last season against Shasta in the Sweet 16.

Ohlone was knocked out in two straight games to end their season.

For more playoff coverage, log on to www.ohlonemonitoronline.com.

Jonathan “Cookie” Santillan and forwards Daniel Ferrarese and Pierre Bruggeman, who all have made their marks thus far.

“Ohlone is better than what we played last year, and what I just saw today is a improved team and we are looking forward to playing them in the season,” said De Anza head coach Mark Landefeld.

The first half started off with an opening goal by Renegades forward Pierre Bruggeman. The score was kept to 1-0 until the last few minutes before halftime, when another shot

by Nick Sanchez went through, giving Ohlone 2-0 lead.

The second half stayed nil for the beginning for both sides, until the Dons took charge and took the lead over the restless Renegades as the score resulted in 3-2.

Ohlone tried their best to hang in with only two subs and attempted to make another goal, but their efforts fell short.

Nordmo was very pleased with his team efforts and said that “this was a team that will be giving a good fight in the leagues this year.”

Men’s Soccer ready to rebound from 2008 season Renegades aim to rebuild from a dismal 2008 season By ankita chhabra Sports writer 3-17-2 in 2008, with an 0-15 start. Not exactly what you hope for in a season.

Leaving behind last season’s memories, the Ohlone Men’s soccer team, under the new guidance of Head Coach Jan Eric Nordmo,

played their last non-traditional season matchup against De Anza College last Wednesday.

Though the game seemed to have been in their favor in the beginning, the ending proved to be a different story.

Though a win or a loss does not count toward anything in preseason, practice tends to make perfect.

With some old faces back on the grass field, as well as some new ones, this Ohlone team has grasped the concept of team effort

fairly quickly looking at their preseason games.

Returning captains Wayne Jin and Daniel Galloway, along with Cody Nathans, have all shown dominance on the field in their respected positions as they have headed these games.

While returners might show their new attitude towards this season, it was the new ones on the grass that made a statement as well.

After heavy recruitment, Coach Nordmo introduced the Renegades with promising faces such as