Monitor 2012-9-13

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ohlone college

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Vol. XLIV No. 1

Fremont, California

#ocmonitor

September 12, 2012

No smoking policy lights debate on campus

By JOE NICHOLS News editor

The Ohlone College Council discussed Tuesday a new proposal on a complete smoking ban on the Fremont campus.

Under the current rules, students on the Fremont campus are allowed to smoke in the parking lots.

There is a total smoking ban on the Newark campus, according to Gari Browning, Ohlone College president.

Part of the problem, according to Browning, is that the parking lots are not clearly defined on the Fremont Campus.

“Having two different policies sends a mixed message,” Genie Gertz Dean of Deaf Studies said.

During the public comment section, Psychology Professor Sheldon Helms presented a survey he conducted in 2004.

The survey showed that even smokers would support a ban.

Nurse Sally Bratton, Health Center Director, spoke on Continued on Page 3

HANNAH WALROD/ MONITOR

Smoking on campus has been a long-standing issue for Ohlone. Currently students at the Ohlone campus are permitted to smoke, but only in the parking lots while Newark has a campuswide smoking ban.

Parking permit fees may increase 30 percent

By RYAN TIGLAO Staff writer

main the same in the near future, it is still not definitive in the eyes of Chief Osawa.

He said the college has received notice that all community colleges are allowed to increase the cost of their parking permits.

Osawa said he plans on discussing the matter with the ASOC. They will discuss the increasing cost of parking permits to $50 by Fall 2013.

“If the increase is approved by all the necessary members, citations will more than likely be increased as well,”

A new parking permit purchasing system is due to take effect by November, with the cost of the permit anticipated to increase by next year.

“The new permit purchasing system will be a web-based system,” said Joanne Schultz, who is the dean of Business Services.“Students will be able to purchase permits online and have it delivered to their mailing address.

Though all details have not completeASHLEY LAM / MONITOR ly been worked out, Come fall 2013, all students’ parking permit fees might increase to $50 per permit from the current price.

The Ohlone College Campus Security and scorching sun.

“This was a good move,” line and purchase semester he said.

ASOC (Associated Students ”The reason we had sepa- said Steve Osawa, chief of parking permit. Reducing “As far as daily parking of Ohlone College) are work- rate lines this semester was to Security at Ohlone college. volume of students in the permits, it is still unclear if ing hard in hopes of allowing separate those who were spe- “The bookstore and their staff bookstore during the first week it will be increased, many this system to take effect by cifically there just to purchase made it simpler, easier and of school making the process colleges have increased their this November,” Schultz said. parking permits from those quicker in accommodating more efficient,” Osawa said. daily permits from $2 to $5.

This semester, many stu- who were there to purchase the students.”

“The new system is said All funds originating from dents wondered why there books and other necessiAccording to Scoble, this to not have a change in pur- those daily permits, parking was a separate line to spe- ties.” said Jaime Scoble who will continue for the following chasing fees,” said Osawa, citations and parking permits cifically purchase parking is the manager of the Ohlone semester as long as the new “but it is possible that there go into a parking fund which permits. bookstore.” system does not take in effect. will be a convenience charge is used for maintenance and Some found the change It’s sole purpose was to “The changes considered when purchasing your parking care of all parking facilities odd and some found it un- help out the Ohlone student to be implemented in the new permit at home.” and roadways, it will help comfortable having to have in hopes of decreasing the system will eliminate the need Though the cost of parking fund the costs toward parking had to wait in line out in the wait time.” for most students to stand in permits will temporarily re- enforcement.”

2 monitor September 13, 2012

OPINIONS

Ohlone smokers in peril

By JOE W NICHOLS News editor

The outright smoking ban being considered by the College Council at its Sept. 10 meeting should be voted down.

If the ban is passes, it could take the right of choice away from a small percentage of the campus population.

This would not be fair to those students and staff who have chosen to smoke.

Under the current rules, students and staff are allowed to smoke in any of the general use parking lots on the Fremont campus. The rules on the Newark Campus do not allow smoking anywhere on campus.

This is a system that works.

There is at least one alternative to an outright ban that should be considered before the administration makes its decision on the ban.

The first option is to designate specific areas within each parking lot as a smoking area and implement stiff penalties for anyone who chooses to smoke outside the designated areas.

Having clearly defined smoking areas could have several positive results.

First, it would limit the areas clouded with smoke.

Second, it would also limit nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke and the irritants it contains.

Having a set area in each parking lot would also give those that have medical conditions such as allergies and asthma specific areas to avoid which is the third benefit to having set smoking areas on campus.

Another benefit to having specific areas is the ease at which Ohlone Campus Police can enforce the rules.

For those that do break the rules, stiff penalties would be a great way to make sure that the rules are followed.

We have a system that works.

CAMERON LOPEZ / MONITOR

A little sleep will go a very long way

By HEATHER HEGEMAN Opinions editor

Sleep or study?

This is a difficult choice that all students will need to make at some point in their college career.

Pulling an all-nighter has become synonymous with college culture.

Whether you have an English paper due, a huge biology exam tomorrow or it’s finals week, there will be a time when sleep is sacrificed for a few more hours of study.

However, new studies show that without sleep, those few hours are nothing more than wasted time and are actually causing severe amounts of irreversible damage to your body.

Those who support allnighters will argue that while sleeping, students accomplish nothing. If they are up and studying. They are at least being productive.

In the case of writing that final paper, it is true that even in the least productive state of wakefulness students can still form sentences.

However, a tired brain does not recall information as well as one that has had even as little as three hours of sleep.

That means not only will the writing be sub-standard but also it will be much harder to write.

In addition, a lack of sleep boosts dopamine production in the brain giving us that happy or giddy feeling.

It’s likely those brilliant, hastily typed, 3 a.m. epiphanies will not be so brilliant after a short nap.

While staying up to write is in the basest sense possible, studying to memorize facts is not. The three processes of learning are acquisition, consolidation and recall.

The next stage of sleep is slow wave,” when the brain

begins to consolidate new information.

Actual learning does not occur until REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement sleep) when acquisition and the consolidation of complex thoughts occur.

A tired brain cannot focus or retain new information; tired neurons do not fire properly, strengthen or create new memories. Without a certain amount of sleep the brain can only recall half of previously learned information.

In addition to the academic, the health risks are numerous.

The first health risk experienced is stress. Many people experience stress every day, but repeated stress can lead to weight gain, depression, reduced learning abilities, anxiety disorders and brain damage, all of these are proven side effects of a lack of sleep.

In turn many of these can lead to further problems.

Weight gain, for example, can lead to heart disease and diabetes.

Many students at Ohlone also juggle families and work. What can students do when prior obligations, not procrastination is the cause of late night study session?

Experts suggest getting at least a few hours of sleep to recharge the brain. Three hours of sleep followed by three hours of study is more useful than the reverse and six hours of straight study is six hours of time wasted.

A helpful tool to memorize facts or information is to study in short bursts of five to 20 minutes. The brain can only focus for short periods of time before it needs to redirect and re-group.

However the most useful tip to make the most of your studying is to get some sleep.

Campus Comment >>>

What is your favorite class this semester?

Jiarong Chen

Danny Diaz

Kaila Floyd

Maiya Tracy

Eunah Lee

Math 101B “I am good at math. I like it.”

Speech 109 “The class is very open and political.”

History 114B “The class has lots of information I don’t know.”

Modern Dance “It’s a tough class, challenging.”

Chemistry 109 “I like chemistry. It’s a very funny class.”

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

FILM & TV

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

COMPUTER SCIENCE

CHEMISTRY

NEWS ohlone college Construction reinvents monitor campus for fall semester Editor-in-Chief: By JOE NICHOLS Ashley Lam News editor

Senior editor: With the water intrusion Manika Casterline project that started last News editor: semester now complete, Ohlone Facilities have now Joe Nichols moved on to some of the Features editor: health and safety quick-fix Marra-Marie Magsakay projects that were approved within the Measure G Bond.

The current project Sports editor: Louis Laventure involves inspecting and replacing roofing tiles Opinions editor: and flashing on the older Heather Hegeman buildings on the Fremont Campus, according to Ohlone Photo editor: Public Information Officer Joe Nichols Patrice Birkedahl.

The project is being Staff writers: Cameron Lopez Norihiro Sasaki Ryan Tiglao

done to address potential safety concerns with loose tiles falling off the roof and injuring students.

“The quick fix projects were approved by the board, but the timing of the projects were still being worked out,” said Birkedahl.

The reason for this quick fix according to Birkedahl is the ceramics roofing tiles and the flashing under the tiles have come loose. If not fixed, they may start to slide off the roof and potentially injure staff and students.

In addition to the roof on Building 1, the roofs on buildings 5, 8 and 9 will

September 12, 2012 monitor 3

be inspected for loose tiles.

This is being done as an interim measure to ensure safe campus facilities until the Board of Trustees can move forward on the new buildings, Birkedahl said.

Meanwhile, students and staff can enjoy the newly built stairs.

The associated landscaping has not only made the pond behind Building 5 more accessible, but it also has given the area a facelift.

The next step is the board to hire an architectural firm and begin to draw up the new building plans.

Graphics: Hyein Park Hannah Walroff Adviser: Jeanie R. Wakeland JACC NorCAl Student President: Manika A. Casterline Printer: MONITOR /ARCHIVE FP Press Loud construction back in fall of 2012 pays off this semester with new constructed staircase.

Smoking proposal raises questions on main campus Continued from Page 1

a national movement to get smoking banned on all college campuses both private and public.

Instructional Aide David Wood talked on how different studies show that the original study conducted by the Federal Environmental Protection California Newspaper Agency.

In his address he stated that Publishers Association the evidence gathered in the EPA’s study showed no statistical evidence that smoking Journalism Association of Community Colleges Contact us: Offices: Room 5310 Call: 510.659.6075 E-mail: monitor@ohlone.edu Read: h t t p : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / Ohlone.Monitor www.ohlonemonitor.wordpress. com

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.

bans are effective at keeping people from smoking in areas that have bans in effect.

Several other alternatives were discussed.

This included setting up clearly defined smoking areas and any stiff penalties for those who smoke outside of those areas.

“It becomes an issue of enforcement,” Vice President of Academic Affairs Leta Stagnaro said.

Under the current rules, a student who is found smoking

outside of the parking lots is issued a citation.

If a student receives three citations, the student is then referred over to student affairs.

The council decided to postpone taking a vote on the subject.

The two representatives from the Associated Students of Ohlone College were not present at the meeting.

The smoking ban will be addressed at the next College Council meeting Sept. 17.

Faculty of the month: Deborah Lemon

Deborah Lemon

By ASHLEY LAM Editor-in-Chief

Professor Deborah Lemon is the faculty of the month for September, according to Wayne Yuen, the philosophy professor in charge of this month’s selection.

Lemon, who has been a Spanish teacher at Ohlone for 12 years, said she had always knew that she wanted to become a teacher. She said that helping others learn has always been a part of her personality that comes naturally.

Lemon talked about how amazing her students are.

“We learn kinesthetically, we interact physically and I try to integrate hands-on learning into my classes,” said Lemon, who is known for classes that involve a lot of interact and moving. She said she really enjoys seeing what her students come up with in class projects.

Lemon has her students create fashion shows, dream houses and resorts to learn Spanish.

“That’s the great thing about Spanish; it’s really about you (the students) and your life, but it’s all in Spanish,” said Lemon.

Lemon recalled a past student who is now studying in a four-year college.

“It’s wonderful to hear back from students who are now off studying at other universities. I have heard back from students who never thought of having Spanish as a part of their career tell me about how they remember my class.”

FEATURES Getting Western tale attracts modern crowd back into the groove 4 monitor September 13, 2012

John Hillcoat’s “Lawless” is an action-packed, gunslinging, bloody depiction of the three Bondurant brothers.

It is based on the legend of the invincible moonshiners Jack, Forrest and Howard Bondurant during the prohibition time in Franklin,Va. The movie shows the brothers risking life and limb dealing with mobsters and the local police as well as the district attorney.

Things begin to go sour in Franklin when Charlie Rakes, played by Guy Pearce, shows up from Chicago. Rakes is a frightening, egotistic, hardhitting man who is there to gain a portion of the money made from the three brothers.

He was willing to do whatever it took to get these profits.

The Bondurant brothers, who have the idea that they are immortal, weren’t going to let that happen.

The youngest brother, Jack, played by Shia LaBeouf, is the quieter, less violent one of the three.

LeBeouf gives us his best acting skills playing the baby brother. Jason Clarke plays

Howard, the middle brother, who is very outspoken and rather violent.

Forrest Bondurant, the legendary man played by Tom Hardy, is a man of very few words. He gives the occasional grunts, but most often a blank stareHardy really plays this character well and makes him intriguing, despite the little dialogue.

Maggie Beauford, a dancing city girl just looking for a quiet place to live, played

by Jessica Chastain, has her eye on Forrest Bondurant. She soon finds out that Franklin isn’t the calm place she was hoping for.

“Lawless” is a very entertaining, intense film which has a lot for the eyes to see.

Hillcoat did a fantastic job depicting the ways of the south back in the prohibition days.

One could get the feel of how brutal and serious those days were with his vision of lighting and the set.

The film angles are quite enjoyable for the bloody fight scenes as well as the talking scenes.

The combination of war, love and loss were all very powerful in the film, making it one for all to enjoy.

“You must let other people lead.”

Tai Chi focuses on a lot of meditation. Team member Chloe Blancas with her second semester of Tai Chi said, “You mentally learn to be calm and regulate your thoughts.”

Rabatan agreed that Tai Chi helps him calm down especially with his retail job dealing with customers.

Ohlone College Tai Chi students have competed individually in the Tiger Claw competition since 2008. It wasn’t until Spring 2011 when Ohlone College formed a tai chi team to compete together.

The team goal is “to win and get the gold,” said Chen.

Competition brings our leadership qualities, willing-

ness to put aside their ego, patience and cooperation.

The two major Bay Area competitions the Tai Chi team is looking forward to in the spring and Summer 2013 is UC Berkeley Martial Arts Tournament and San Jose Tiger Claw Competition.

Chen is also thinking of other Qigong forms including the gold winning Five Form.

Tai Chi classes are open for students of all levels. Prospective 2013 team members Kyle Perez and Alfanso Hernandez, who both have some martial arts background and Andrea Ramirez with an athletic background, are currently taking the Tai Chi class.

“The class is easily modifiable for all levels,” said Chen.

By HANNAH WALROD Staff writer

By NORIHIRO SASAKI Staff writer

What should Ohlone College students keep in mind to make better use of the fall semester?

The most important goal is to get back into school mode.

The long summer vacation, almost three months, is enough to change student habits.

Here are some tips from student leaders: 1. “You should be proactive,” said Marcus Tondre, vice president of the Associated Students of Ohlone College.

He also said it is very important to make out a schedule for class, to make a goal and to make friends in new classes.

2. Arrive early to park, advised Joshua Trinidad, also an ASOC Representative at Large, said. “At least 30 minutes early.”

“There are a lot of cars every morning, so you may be caught in a traffic jam and sometimes you have to walk long distance after getting off a car.”

3. Find a good place to eat.

Students can eat good hot meals in the cafeteria located on the second floor of Building 5.

Students who want to refresh themselves outside the college can go down a street and find many places to eat on Mission Boulevard. ASOC members said they often go to Tony’s Taco and to Mission Burger.

4. Get free tutoring if needed.

Students can go to a tutoring lab to find a way out of a studying deadlock by going to http://www.ohlone.edu/ org/tutoring/subjecttutoring. html#fremont.

Free subject-specific tutoring is available to Ohlone College students.

Lab staff said quite a few students use the lab everyday.

5. Make transfer plans with a counselor.

Amit Patel, president of ASOC, said students may take counseling at the Transfer Center located on the third floor of Building 7.

With assist.org, students can know which course credits can be applied to another university or college.

6. Feel free to ask questions.

“Whenever you have a question, visit the ASOC office at Room 7210, Building 7, second floor, Fremont campus,” Patel said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF / MOVIEPOSTER.COM

Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy and Jason Clarke stars as brothers in the new action, prohibition movie “Lawless.”

Ohlone’s Tai Chi team strikes gold

By MARRA-MARIE MAGASKAY Features editor

Tai Chi is sometimes seen as a relaxing, easy exercise that senior citizens do on their spare time on a nice day at the park.

However, Ohlone College’s Tai Chi team exhibited more than form and style as well as dedication and unity when they won gold and silver awards in the 4th Annual Tiger Claw competition in San Jose during June.

Team member Kevin Rabatan is in his second year of Tai Chi and has a background of Kung Fu said he thought that Tai Chi would be easy when he first started.

“Seeing the older people do

it makes it looks easy, but the more you put into it, the more difficult it gets,” said Rabatan.

“Competition sets a goal, it makes you work harder and you have a reason to.”

“Real Tai Chi is like ballet,” said the Ohlone College Tai Chi Instructor Sifu May Chen. “The moves are repetitive, but it becomes a deeper meaning.”

Letting go of your ego is a main lesson of Tai Chi. As a team, the most difficult thing was “the practice and doing the forms together,” said Chen.

She explained the Ying Yang of Tai Chi is that in letting go you get.

“If you mess up, you stand out,” said Rabatan.

Still rocking out with Sgt. Pepper

By CAMERON LOPEZ Staff writer

most artists today.

So much has been said It was 34 years ago today about it, (and even more writthat the Beatles turned the ten) that it’s hard not to sound music world upside down with dull and monotonous when “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts giving it any kind of praise.

Club Band.”

Rolling Stone magazine It spent a total of 27 weeks calls it “the most important at number 1 in the United album of all time.”

Kingdom and 15 weeks at No. From the strong marching COURTESY OF / ALLMUSIC.COM melody that opens the album 1 in America.

It is known all around “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts to the final E major crescendo the world for its iconic and Club Band” album cover at the end, each song that controversial cover, winning makes up “Sgt. Pepper’s Grammys in 1968 for Best albums, “Sgt. Pepper” is the Lonely Hearts Club Band” is Cover Art and Album of the forerunner and even spawned guaranteed to raise a smile for Year. the “bouncing down” method, anyone who will listen.

When it comes to concept a system that is used today by Opening the album is Paul

McCartney delivering sand paper-like rock and roll vocals on the self-titled opening track.

Then backed by his “Lonely Hearts Club Band” comes in on the chorus to blend a beautiful and harsh three-part harmony, before going back to solo lead as the song segues into “With a Little Help From My Friends” sung by drummer Ringo Starr.

The album goes on strong with tracks like “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “Fixing a Hole” and “When I’m Continued on Page 5

FEATURES All The Way Live busts a move like Jagger

September 13, 2012 monitor 5

HEATHER HEGEMAN / MONITOR All The Way Live contestants gives their all at the Urban Dance festival. There were a total of 12 performances on the first night of the two-day event.

Opinion editor Sergio Suarez, program director and founder of the All The Way Live Foundation, emceed the third Urban Dance Festival at the Smith Center on Sept. 7.

First to take the stage was Beatz + Pieces.

Although they were not participating in the competition their high-energy and technically elaborate chorography was the perfect mood setter for the audience and a sneak preview to the talent that was to come.

Photographic Definition, consisting of five students from California High School, was the first competing crew to perform.

This was their first dance competition and they delighted the audience with a quirky and lighthearted routine.

They were followed by Field Projection, a group from Newark. Like Photographic Definition, it also started in 2011.

Field Projection won the text-in audience choice

award, an honor that was well deserved.

“We practice around 20 to 30 hours a week in the studio,” said Nick Morales, a member of Field Projection, who did not dance but was there to support his friends.

The next group to take the stage was Epic Footprint Dance Company-turned-crew, whose routine in addition to including many different styles of dance, the perfomance also told a tragic love story.

A few more flawlessly executed sets and the audience broke for intermission.

After the intermission, 19year old Julia Ramos “Track IX” took the stage to showcase her beat boxing talents. Julia began beat boxing just five years ago.

At the age of 15, a year after she began, she won the United States beat boxing championships.

No time was wasted getting back into the completion.

One-by-one, the crews took the stage to showcase their talent and hard work. The

Sixty-Four,” before ending it all with a beautifully arranged Lennon/McCartney hybrid, “A Day in the Life.”

The album artwork is just as colorful and whimsical as the songs themselves.

The “Fab Four” stand in colorful marching band costumes in front of a large group of their favorite artists, movie stars, leaders and even a younger version of themselves (as well as other miscellaneous items).

Fans can also lookout for people such as Bob Dylan, Karl Marx, Edgar Allen Poe, Marilyn Monroe and Shirley Temple.

Of all of the Beatles albums, “Sgt. Pepper” is the only one that never produced a No. 1 single.

However, with the exception of the Beatles debut album, “Sgt. Pepper” as a whole has spent the most time at the No. 1 spot than most artists even do today.

So if readers decide to take a listen to the album that revolutionized the music world, they should stay for the entire show.

Although the songs are powerful enough to stand each on there own, there’s nothing like experiencing the record as a whole.

By HEATHER HEGEMAN

Sgt. Pepper album continues to rock out Continued from Page 4

HEATHER HEGEMAN / MONITOR Mission College’s DS Players excitedly received first place by impressing judges with their funky moves and smooth style.

crews that performed after the intermission kept the momentum of the show going.

The passion and high energy of the dancers extended into the crowd as well. At regular intervals during the show, every member of the audience, young and old, were out of their seats and dancing along with the performers on stage.

As the end of the night drew closer, it was clear that three crews from the second half had stood out both to the audience and the judges.

Group Against the Machine, formed in 2007, is from the in The Groove dance studio, in Oakland. They seemed to be an audience favorite and received enormous applause both before and after their performance.

Ohlone’s own crew, Fresh Dynamics came in third for the overall competition.

“We are actually part of the organization and take a

HEATHER HEGEMAN / MONITOR DS Players crew members Will Kong and Jay-r Salazar pump up the crowd with their locking.

class here at Ohlone. We are on campus practicing about seven hours a week,” said Melissa Schlindwein, part of the Fresh Dynamics crew.

For the Cause, a crew of freestylers from Alameda, told a story with their complicated and advanced choreography, stunning the audience and winning second place.

By the end of the competition, the crowd did not seem surprised or disappointed that the DS Players, a crew directed by Sergio from Mission College won first place.

They were a larger crew, but it did not seem to affect them as it had early performances.

This was DS Players first time performing competitively since 2008, and it was a complete success.

The Urban Dance Festival was about much more than just the competition. The two-day event followed a week of workshops and visits to elementary schools all over the Bay Area and reached an estimated 4,000 children.

It will fund the majority of the organization’s 2013 trip.

6 monitor September 13, 2012

NEWS

Trustee Yee enjoys a taste of home during his Middle East deployment

By GARRETT YEE Contributing writer Editor’s note: Garrett Yee is a trustee on the Ohlone College Board and is currently serving in the Army.

After June flying by so fast, July seemed to move somewhat slower.

We have had a lot on our plate lately and so not only are the days long, but the weeks are long as well.

Capt. Torres has us “volunteering” about one hour each week when we are in town helping to make fuel doughnuts that are given away to local Afghan families to use for cooking and to keep warm during the winter.

These fuel doughnuts are made from shredded paper and sawdust mixed with water, then compressed.

On July 4, we celebrated Independence Day with our Task Force 236 Afghanistan team in Kabul.

I’m not sure where these guys get the steaks, but what a great change from our normal chow hall meals! I always enjoy a barbecue back home so to have a barbecue here in Afghanistan was a treat.

We also got a visit from Col. Andre Wiley, our new operations officer down in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Wiley is a great addition to our team at the 335th Signal Command.

We also presented our Air Force Engineering and Installation team with the 335th Signal Command combat patch on Independence Day. Over the past year, we have been working closely with our Air Force brothers and sisters to bring communications to Afghanistan and so awarding the 335th combat patch is a way of re-affirming that close bond.

The big event back home that I missed was my father’s birthday. My father is the biggest fan of his three children, Grace Anne, Garrett (me) and Brendan, even to this day.

After spending some time in Kabul putting out fires (figuratively), I had to head down to Kuwait for the change of command for the 335th Signal Command.

On July 16, our drive team picked us up very early in the morning to take us to the Kabul airfield where we caught an Australian C-130 airplane down to Kandahar Air Field.

After spending the day at Kandahar, we had to report to the air terminal at 8:15 p.m. and wait for our C-17 flight to Kuwait.

We landed at the Kuwait International Airport later that morning where the two caskets, each covered tight with a United States flag, were

ceremoniously moved off of the airplane.

I said a short prayer to myself for the families of these two fallen comrades.

After the layover, we then continued to Ali Al Saleem Airfield in Kuwait where our drive team picked us up and took us on the two-hour trek to Camp Arifjan.

It was a long night traveling, but a stark reminder of just how lethal the environment remains in Afghanistan.

The temperature on our first day in Kuwait was 125 degrees.

In the late evenings around 9 or 10 p.m. when the heat dropped down to just over 100 degrees, a few of us gathered at the gazebo near where we stayed to relax.

The Change of Command for the 335th Signal Command went well. A change of command is when one commander passes the command to another to take over as its new leader.

In this case, the leadership transitioned from Brig. Gen. Jones (one-star general), who has been in command while deployed for 15 months, to Maj. Gen. Smith (two-star general), my new boss.

I am thankful to have been able to work for Jones these past nine months that I have been deployed so far — she has been a great leader to all COURTESY OF/ GARRETT YEE of us in the 335th Signal Command here in Southwest Asia.

Trustee Garrett Yee, currently serving in the Army in Afghanistan, makes a fuel donut.

I look forward to working Ohlone The items are given to Afghan families to use as fuel for cooking. were quite—in fact quite the opposite. The reason we stayed close to home was all of the work we needed to do in preparation for major changes ahead and to begin preparation for the next rotation that replaces us in the fall.

As I sit down to close out this letter, it has been over nine months since I left my home and family in California back in October 2011.

During that time, I’ve spent time in Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn, transitioned to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and spent time in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

As a senior Army officer reCOURTESY OF/ GARRETT YEE sponsible for supporting communications requirements in Yee snapped a photo of traffic in his Kabul, Afghanistan neighborhood. southwest Asia, there is never for Smith during the remain- and weight. Our flight was week. We spent the rest of the enough time, resources or ing portion of my deployment fairly comfortable with stops month of July in Kabul taking personnel but we make it work here in Afghanistan. in the United Arab Emirates care of business locally. in an austere and often times The next morning, Maj. and Kandahar in southern Although there were places very dangerous environment.

Majewski, Capt. Torres and I Afghanistan for refueling. that we needed to visit, the This has been an incredible got picked up at 3:30 a.m. to Once back in Kabul, we got second part of July was the experience and I am most head out to Ali Al Saleem Air picked up by our drive team month that we needed to stay thankful for my family and Field to catch a small C-12 and drove back our “home” close to our headquarters. the great team of soldiers and airplane all the way back to at Camp Phoenix.

This gave us an opportunity airmen that I have the honor Kabul.

Back at our base camp, it to fall into a somewhat normal and privilege to work with We could only take three felt good to sleep in our own routine for a period of time. each and every day while I’m passengers due to distance bed after traveling for the past This is not to say things deployed.

SPORTS Men, women’s water polo teams tread to success The 2012 water polo season is under way for the Ohlone College men and women’s teams respectively, which brings with it incredible optimism.

The men and women both have strong teams this year and will be expecting to be major factors in the playoffs at the end of the season.

With the playoffs and a championship always on the minds of the players and coaches it is importnant to get off to a winning start.

Especially in the tough Coast Conference where every match can make or break a season.

Men’s water polo After competing against DeAnza College in a scrimmage in August, the men finally got their regular season going at the Nyquist Invitational in Saratoga and Cupertino on Sept. 7 and 8.

They did well, splitting their four matches with two wins and two losses against quality competition.

The Renegades dominated Cabrillo College, defeating the team 18-3.

The Renegades also were able to hand Santa Rosa College a loss with a final score of 10-7.

Ohlone suffered losses to Diablo Valley College as well as San Diego Mesa College, leaving them 2-2 for the tournament and season.

The men have two upcoming tournaments the

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‘Both teams will be expecting to be major factors in the playoffs at the end of the season.’

By LOUIS LAVENTURE Sports editor

September 13, 2012 monitor 7

first in Stockton at the San Joaquin Delta Tournament on Sept. 14 and 15.

Their next tournament appearance will be as host at the Ohlone Tournament on the Fremont campus Sept.

21 and 22 and will be all day.

Women’s water polo The Lady Renegades, just like the men, kicked off their regular season by participating in a tournament against four other teams.

The Cuesta Tournament in San Luis Obispo took place Sept. 7 and 8. At the conclusion Ohlone fared well, finishing 2-2.

The Lady Renegades defeated Santa Monica College 7-6 and Modesto College 9-7, both in close fashion.

Ohlone fell to Diablo Valley College as well as the host team Cuesta College, giving the Lady Renegades a 2-2 record for the tournament as well as for the young season.

The Lady Renegades next action will come at the West Valley Tournament in Saratoga on Sept. 14 and 14, taking on teams from throughout the state.

The team’s first home game is on the Fremont campus Oct. 3 against DeAnza College, which will be a double header and begins at 3 p.m.

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8 monitor September 13, 2012

SPORTS

Ohlone on the winning path early in the season

Goalkeeper Grey focuses on soccer

By LOUIS LAVENTURE Sports editor

“The trend with teams is that everybody comes out fired up and ready to play early in the match.”

“The problem is if you have a really good start and dominate then you tend to relax. Teams adjust and will begin to play better which is what happened today so you can’t relax, but as long as we keep with our system I feel confident,” Penaflor said.

It is important for Ohlone to start off strong in a tough Coast Conference, where the playoffs are never guaranteed if the team loses early on.

The Lady Renegades is the Columbia College Classic in Sonora on Friday and the next home game will be on Sept. 26.

The goalkeeper position in soccer is one of the toughest spots in all of sports.

The position requires a tremendous amount of focus as well as a myriad of other things.

Being a kinesiology major can be a huge advantage when it comes to knowing your body’s capability and how to be prepared.

This is something that Melissa Grey has done a great job of since she was 5 years old.

“My dad played for a year but nothing real serious,” she said.

“When I was 5 years old, my parents decided to put me in soccer and I really liked it and stuck with it,” Grey said.

Last year Grey was the starting goalie for the Lady Renegades who made the playoffs finishing the season with a 14-4-2 record.

She picked up her duties right where she left off, starting all three of the games in goal for Ohlone this season.

She has logged 270 minutes in three games only allowing two goals while making nine saves helping lead the Ohlone to a 2-0-1 record early in the season.

An American High School graduate, Grey initially thought her playing days were over once she graduated as she was set to attend Sacramento State as a student but not an athlete.

However, many factors led to her decision to stay home and attend Ohlone College, she said.

This also opened the door to soccer again for her and she decided to try out for the Lady Renegades, which was a blessing in disguise especially for coach Larry Heslin.

Nordmo.

The team’s record is now 1-1-1, with the next match on Friday against Napa College in Napa.

The next home game will be at Central Park in Fremont on Sept. 18 as the Renegades take on Butte College in a double-header beginning at 4 p.m.

Women’s Soccer The Lady Renegades battled to a 1-1 tie on a goal by Jessica Hernandez from an assist by Celia Ochoa to give Ohlone a 2-0-2 record for the season.

Presley Strother got off to a great start, already scoring two goals and an assist in previous matches. Goal-

keeper Melissa Grey has been solid in net, allowing an average of less than one goal per game.

Hernandez now has two goals this season and Heidi Moreno also has two goals for the Lady Renegades. Olivia Lacayo has Ohlone’s other goal while Elizabeth Mooney and Samantha O’Brien have both assisted on goals.

Ohlone has victories over Feather River College and Cuesta College this season only allowing one goal to Cuesta in a 4-1 triumph.

The Lady Renegades next game is at home at Central Park in Fremont against Chabot College on Sept. 18 beginning at 1:30 p.m.

By LOUIS LAVENTURE Sports editor

The Lady Renegades volleyball team’s winning streak continued Tuesday, defeating San Jose City College 3-0 at Ohlone to improve their record to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in conference.

Coast Conference play kicked off with a dominating performance from Ohlone, setting the tone from the opening serve en route to a 25-13 first-set victory.

Brittany Creel was too much to handle for San Jose in the first set with several powerful kills and at one point had the Lady Renegades in front 18-7.

“We started off with a lot of energy and got off to a good start so we were feeling good,” said Creel.

“You just have to stay focused and you have to tell yourself what you should be doing and stay in the game.”

The second and third sets were back and forth as well as a lot closer and more competitive.

The Lady Renegades won them both 25-21 and 25-22 respectively, but SJCC made it a lot tougher for Ohlone with the team’s scrappy play.

LOUIS LAVENTURE / MONITOR

Brittany Creel serves in the first set of the Lady Renegades 3-0 victory over San Jose City College.

Volleyball The fans could almost feel the momentum shifting toward the visitors but Creel, Jennifer Covey and Selina Samorano came through several times on the front line for the Lady Renegades with kills to secure the win.

Lindsey Calabrese had several impressive digs and Emily Marden was responsible for setting up a lot of kills in the winning effort.

Coach Jeremy Penaflor was pleased with his team’s effort and victory but he knows there is room for improvement and hopes to see that from his team.

2012 soccer season under way for Ohlone College men, women

By LOUIS LAVENTURE Sports editor

The soccer season has begun for the Ohlone College men and women a lot of promise on the horizon for both.

With several players having transfer opportunities following this season, the talent on the pitch should make for a successful season for both.

Men’s Soccer The Renegades came out firing on all cylinders Sept.

11 against Shasta College at Central Park in Fremont, dominating the match with a convincing 7-0 shutout.

Greivin Pacheco Quesada

had a magnificent performance for the Renegades scoring four times, including one early in the 10th minute and assisting on another goal

by Elton Ceja in the 42nd minute.

Ohlone was stingy on defense, only allowing five shots on goalie Michael Beigarten who saved them all for the Renegades first shutout victory of the early season.

“Brannon Romac for the Shasta Knights found himself in scoring possession in minute 12, but Chase Brower put a full body block on the shot helping keeper, Michael Beigarten keep a clean sheet,” said Coach Jan Eric

Melissa Grey

“She is pretty much a born leader and one of the most unselfish players I have ever been around.”

“Goalie isn’t her position of choice but last year we lost our starting goalie to a concussion and Melissa volunteered to take over the position which speaks volumes about her character,” Heslin said.

Last year Grey won the coveted Lady Renegade award voted on by her teammates.

It generally goes to the most inspirational team member.

Switching positions to help the team and her natural leadership skills are just part of the reason why.

Originally from Chico, Grey relocated to Fremont with her family in 2004 and has been here since.

Her parents met while attending college at Chico State University. Even more coincidentally, both of her parents are half Samoan and half German decent.

She has one sibling, a brother, and despite her extensive playing experience she is the only one who plays soccer in her immediate family.

Grey hopes to transfer to Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont whether or not she receives a scholarship for soccer, which is possible if she keeps up her strong play.

Grey and the Lady Renegades take on Chabot College at Central Park in Fremont on Sept. 18 at 1:30 p.m.

Schedule Friday, Sept. 14 4 p.m. Women’s Soccer Mission College (home) 4:30 p.m. Men’s Soccer Napa College (away) Tuesday Sept. 18 1:30 p.m. Women’s Soccer Chabot College (home) 4p.m. Men’s Soccer Butte College (home) Friday Sept. 21 3 p.m. Women’s Soccer Skyline College (away) 4p.m. Men’s Soccer Monterey Peninsula College (home)