Monitor 2013-9-26

OHLONE COLLEGE

THURSDAY

MONITOR

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 Vol. XLV I No. 3

FREMONT, CA OHLONEMONITOR.COM

Students brace for potential BART strike ALIZAIB LODHI Staff writer Ohlone College students and workers who take BART as part of their commute to campus could find themselves making alternative arrangements next month if the transit agency’s union and management don’t reach a settlement.

Gov. Jerry Brown in early August ordered a 60-day cooling-off period for BART management and union representatives to reach an agreement. There still hasn’t been any progress, so a shutdown is looming Oct. 11.

Ohlone student Abdul Salam Aljuberi takes BART from Bay Fair to Fremont every

TAM DUONG JR. / MONITOR

Patriot Act inspires speaker at Ohlone SHANNON SORGE Online editor There is a price we as citizens of “the land of the free and home of the brave” pay for our security and freedom. How do we balance these two concepts without losing one or the other?

Ohlone instructor Krista Phair delved into the issue Friday afternoon on the Fremont campus in a speech about the Patriot Act. Phair, who joined Ohlone’s faculty in the speech and communications department eight

months ago, is the chair and program planner for the Kenneth Burke Society, which is dedicated to rhetorical theorist Kenneth Burke.

She served as a mentor and director of the IvyBoost Club for 10 months, and taught at Central Texas College from 2010 to 2012 while earning her doctorate in Speech Communication and Rhetoric at the University of Kansas.

Phair used her master’s thesis project, called “Security or Freedom: The Selling of the USA

PATRIOT Act to the American People,” to kick off the Associated Students of Ohlone College’s Speakers Series as she delivered an informative message to both students and teachers.

Phair was the first speaker of the series, which is sponsored by the Speech Communication Department and the Speech Club and paid for by ASOC. She opened her speech with a quote from Benjamin Franklin: “Those who are willing to sacrifice their freedom for security, deserve Continued on page 3

Traffic delays still expected MARISSA MARTIN News editor The maintenance work on Mission Boulevard has been postponed for at least a couple weeks, city officials said.

The road repairs were scheduled to take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday.

Friday’s work would have slowed down traffic at the southbound Interstate 680 off-ramp onto Mission Boulevard.

On Saturday and Monday, traffic was expected to be slow along Mission as workers slurry sealed the outside portion of the road from Mill Creek Road to 50 feet north of Pine Street.

At times, Ohlone students and staff would not have been able to cross Mission from Anza Street to Witherly Lane at the north campus entrance.

However, to many commuters’ surprise, most of the roadwork did not even happen.

“I really don’t know the reason for the delay,” Director of College Advancement Patrice Birkedahl said.

“Everything was on schedule until Friday afternoon

when I heard from some city of Fremont officials that there had been a change in plans.”

City officials said the Friday morning work was canceled because traffic was taking up too much space on the freeway. Because there was so much congestion, the crew could not shut down the lane necessary for work to be done.

The work was going to be pushed to Saturday, but it was delayed again due to rain.

The city did some slurry seal work before the rain began in earnest, slowing down northbound traffic on Mission.

“The slurry seal project is a normal maintenance procedure and it would have been scheduled no matter what other repairs were being done,” Birkedahl said.

City officials said they will not know for another two weeks when the rescheduled maintenance will take place, because the contractor will be out of town.

The work will be done on a Saturday and Monday this time as well, they said.

“The Mill Creek area has become very dangerous and there have been accidents,” Birkedahl said.

I may have to take, like, two or three buses to school if I have to.

-Ohlone College student Abdul Salam Aljuberi Tuesday and Thursday to attend two classes.

“If the union does go on strike then I’ll be looking to carpool with someone,” he said.

Transportation officials released a $21 million plan Tuesday in which BART would provide 200 free charter buses and limited train service run by managers. AC Transit, San Francisco Muni and the ferries also would be running extra services if the strike goes ahead.

“I may even take, like, two or three buses to school if I have to,” Aljuberi said. “There is plenty of ways (to get) to school.”

Continued on page 3

Volleyball victory

LOUIS LAVENTURE / MONITOR

Brittany Creel shows some emotion during Wednesday’s home win. See story on page 7.

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MONITOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

NEWS BITES Presentation to outline law

NEWS

Club Days back again at Ohlone

Ohlone will host a presentation for all employees about the Affordable Care Act, dubbed ObamaCare. Employees can get information and ask questions during the presentation, which is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Oct. 2 in Room 7101 on the Fremont campus.

ASOC election concludes The Associated Students of Ohlone College special election and voting for executive officers concludes today. Students can cast their ballots in person or via the Internet. Voting times are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m. today. Voting locations will be at the Building 1 stairs on the Fremont campus and on the first floor of the Newark facility. For more information, students can visit the ASOC website at www. ohlone.edu/org/asoc/.

Soul Surge returns today Soul Surge makes its much-anticipated return to Ohlone College today.

Any Ohlone student can sign up for the open-microphone event, which is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Sign-ups are first come, first served, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

The event will be hosted by Darryl San Pedro and some of last year’s performances included singing, dancing, rapping and spoken word.

Workshop provides transfer info The Transfer Center will host a workshop at 2 p.m. Friday titled Transfer Admission Guarantee, or TAG. The workshop will provide information about how to successfully transfer, and answer students’ questions about the process.

The workshop will be at Transfer Center, located on the third floor of Building 7. For more information, students can visit the center’s website at www.ohlone.edu/org/ transfer/.

– Compiled by Louis LaVenture

Top: Jiancong Chen poses with a theater department trophy. Above and right: Michael Rodriguez Parker displays his skills for the Tai Chi Club at Club Days.

TAM DUONG JR. / MONITOR

Vandalism in parking lot frightens student MITCHELL WALTHER Staff writer A student’s car has been vandalized three times during the past five semesters.

Someone slashed Krishna Mishra’s tires twice in two months back in 2011, and this past April her vehicle was covered in obscene graffiti, she said.

It isn’t because she parked in one “dangerous” parking lot either, as her car was parked in different lots.

The vehicle she was driving also changed, so her car wasn’t being targeted.

Now, Mishra is left won-

dering who did it and why they chose her car.

Mishra’s tires first were slashed in September and October 2011. Both times, when she spoke to campus police, they told her to “be careful,” she said.

At this point, Mishra was parking down by Hyman Hall.

After the vandalism, she changed spots and started parking up by Building 7, believing that the openness might keep her car safe.

In April, however, Mishra came out of her class to find white spray paint covering her car’s windows. Obscene

and explicit phrases were painted all over her vehicle.

“I was terrified,” Mishra said.

She said she has no enemies she can think of who would target her, and no reasons she can think of for people to hate her.

After speaking with campus police again, she was told there are no surveillance cameras that watch over the parking lots, leaving them open to such vandalism, even in broad daylight.

And Mishra isn’t the only victim here at Ohlone. While auto burglary and car theft is rare (only one burglary and

Monitor wins big at JACC event in Sacramento LOUIS LAVENTURE Editor-in-chief The Monitor newspaper won 12 awards Saturday at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges’ Northern California conference at Sacramento State University.

Adviser Rob Dennis, editor-in-chief Louis LaVenture and photo editor Tam Duong Jr. represented Ohlone at the conference, which included workshops and competi-

tions throughout the day.

The coveted general excellence award – presented this year to nine community colleges that exhibited high standards in print form – was one of the dozen awards garnered by the Monitor.

Last semester, the www. ohlonemonitor.com website won an online general excellence award.

The JACC NorCal region includes newspapers from community colleges north of Fresno in the

San Joaquin Valley and Santa Maria on the coast.

The 12 total awards nearly doubled last year’s take at the Northern California event for the Monitor.

“A lot of hard work paid off,” Duong said.

The next JACC conference will be April 3-5, when community college newspapers will converge on Burbank for the state convention.

Over 100 college newspapers throughout California will be competing.

two thefts in 2012), the number of vandalism incidents grew from 28 to 97 districtwide from 2010 to 2012, according to campus police.

So how can you keep your car safe? Mishra has an idea she’s been trying.

“One way to help is to watch each other’s cars,” she said. Nothing has happened to any of her friends’ vehicles, and she thinks this may be the reason.

Mishra says she has no choice and plans to keep on parking on the Ohlone campus, hoping that greater awareness may keep her car safe.

Correction A story in the Monitor’s News Bites section Sept. 19 mistakenly said the study abroad trip to London and Paris would take place this summer.

However, the trip happened last summer.

The next study abroad trip is scheduled for Jan. 3 through 14.

This year’s trip will be descending on Europe, and more specifically Paris, Provence and Barcelona. (See story on Page 4 for more details and contact information.)

OHLONE COLLEGE

MONITOR STAFF: Editor-in-Chief: Louis LaVenture News editor: Marissa Martin Features editor: Magdalena Jurys Sports editor: Louis LaVenture Opinions editor: Amelia Neary Photo editor: Tam Duong Jr. Online editor: Shannon Sorge Monitor Staff: Yahya Burhani Erika Heredia Sruthie Kondamoori Alizaib Lodhi Luis Morales-Medrano Hung Ngyuen Santiago Perea Mary Joy Tantingco Majtabah Walai Mitchell Walther Adviser: Rob Dennis Printer: FP Press

NEWS Commuters face looming BART strike

MONITOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

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TIMBER...

Continued from Page 1 Still, it would be a major inconvenience to many students.

“I will have to take the bus, which means waking up a hell of a lot earlier,” engineering major Marcos Villegas said.

“If I would have known about a potential strike I would have just went to Chabot. At least I can walk there.”

Senate GOP leader Bob Huff last week asked the governor to call lawmakers back to Sacramento to pass a measure that would take away the union’s right to strike.

“If another strike happens, it will be a lot worse than the last one,” Abdul said.

“The last strike was during the holidays and when … families were on vacation. This time, schools and colleges are in session. The freeway will be packed with cars.”

Email your letters to the editor to monitor@ ohlone.edu.

COURTESY OF ERIK PARKS

Ohlone student Erik Parks snapped this photo after a tree fell on a BART train the evening of Sept. 15 as it was leaving Balboa Park Station in San Francisco.

Krista Phair discusses Patriot Act at Speaker Series California Newspaper Publishers Association

Journalism Association of Community Colleges

General Excellence Fall 1994 Fall 2000 Fall 2004 Fall 2005 Fall 2013

CONTACT US: Offices: Room 5310 Call: 510.659.6075 E-mail: monitor@ohlone. edu Read: facebook.com/ Ohlone.Monitor www.ohlonemonitor.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.

Continued from Page 1 neither.” This ties into her main focus, which is about how the USA PATRIOT Act – an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism – was pressed onto citizens of the U.S. in 2001, seven weeks after the Sept. 11 terror attack.

“It really became important to me because I started to see a lot of these things coming up, that this law just seemed to have come out of nowhere, and then all of a sudden we were arguing and fighting over “why did we pass this law?’ ” Phair said.

To answer, she gave a brief outline of America’s “history of restricted rights,” including the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798; the suspension of habeas corpus laws during the Civil War; the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 during World War I; and the House Committee on Un-American Activities that started in 1938.

Most of the laws were declared unconstitutional or repealed within 10 years of being passed, she said.

“Just to think about what

America looked like in this sort of era, because really one of the key things about 9/11 was that it changed America and presented the opportunity for many of the things that came after,” she said.

Before 9/11, America had a strong economy, a balanced budget and a “culture of confidence.”

As soon as the Twin Towers were struck on Sept. 11, she said, America responded.

“Americans really wanted strong legislation, but they did not want to give up rights,” she said.

Phair cited a speech by President George W. Bush on Sept. 20, nine days after the attack, in which he promised laws that eventually were signed five weeks later on Oct. 26.

They would become known as The USA PATRIOT Act. “We’re so scared, we’re so fractured,” Phair said.

“The president has promised legislation. It’s going to be this panacea that it’s going to save us and protect us from anything that is happening.”

The law was sold to the citizens through three key

strategies, she said: “the idea that we’re in a changed world, the idea that we have these symbols that make us awesome or not, and that we’re in this battle of good vs. evil – very, very dichotomized.”

Shifting over to present day, Phair closed her speech with the current USA PATRIOT Act, and the implications that follow.

“We’re faced with that

question of, `What is the proper balance?’ ” she said.

“Everyone said they weren’t willing to give up their freedoms to be safe, but when they were presented with something that they were told, `This will keep you safe, don’t mind the man behind the curtain that’s taking away your freedoms,’ they all said, `Yay.’ But at the same time we can’t have completely one, or the other.”

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MONITOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

FEATURES

Drake defies hip-hop convention on new album TAM DUONG JR. Photo editor In a world full of digital devices and transference of files, music artists have become the No. 1 victims of file sharing. Few artists in this day and age achieve worldwide financial success.

One artist bucking this trend is Canadian rapper Aubrey “Drake” Graham.

Continuing his success from the 2011 release “Take Care,” Drake follows up with his latest album “Nothing Was The Same,” which dropped Tuesday.

This album is filled with realistic situations the rest of

the rappers today are afraid to touch on, offering a variety of melodic synth-heavy production worth replaying over and over, even if you don’t have an ex to dedicate the track to.

D r a k e’s success relies on the niche that he found to embrace, rapping about emotional issues one can relate to on any level. He expresses his vulnerabilities and weaknesses as a man through his lyrics on NWTS. Drake comes correct in his selection of beats that

range from heartfelt vocals provided by songstress

turing 2 Chainz. It all comes together on “Pound Cake/ Paris Morton Music 2,” featuring the ageless wonder Jay Z, in which the duo prove to be a powerhouse, providing a dynamic range of content through their respective verses, delivering a perfect balance of braggadocio rap and simCOURTESY OF DAJANAY plicity within Jhené Aiko on “From Time” the bone-chilling sample and melancholic sampling and hard-hitting bass line. on “Wu-Tang Forever,” to “Nothing Was The Same” bass-laden nightclub hits displays a balanced range such as “Started From The of tracks that fits the typical Bottom” and “All Me” fea- emotions of a young subur-

ban 20-something not afraid to go outside the stereotypical rap persona, giving it a solid 4 out of 5.

The official release party was in Los Angeles late Tuesday.

Tracklist 1. “Come Thru” 2. “All Me” 3. “Tuscan Leather” 4. “Furthest Thing” 5. “Started From The Bottom” 6. “Wu-Tang Forever” 7. “Own It” 8. “Worst Behaviour” 9. “From Time” 10. “Hold On, We’re Going Home” 11. “Connect”” 12. “The Language” 13. “305 To My City” Feat. Detail 14. “Too Much” 15. “Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2” Feat. Jay Z

Study abroad trip to Europe set for January LOUIS LAVENTURE Editor-in-chief Multicultural and International Programs has set its annual study abroad trip for Jan. 3 through 14.

The trip will make stops in Paris, Provence and Barcelona during its trek through Europe next semester.

The trip will be led by Professors Kay Harrison and Brenda Ahntholz.

Last year’s study abroad trip featured visits to Paris and London and was led by Sandra Park.

“In Paris we will visit the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame and Versailles. Next, we’ll take a high speed train

to Avignon, the capital of the Provence region,” according to their website.

“In Barcelona, we’ll see why it is an art lover’s dream city and the place where masters like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Dalí flourished.”

The trip will cost approximately $3,200 for a 10-day tour which will cover airfare,

hotels, breakfast, some dinners, tour guide, tour bus and more.

The website also listed some specific class requirements.

“This trip includes a 2-unit SPCH-202 Special Projects course on Uncertainty Reduction Theory (an interpersonal and intercultural

communication theory) with several class meetings prior to the trip.”

There already have been a few dates and meetings that have passed but anybody interested can contact Harrison, Ahntholz or visit the website at http://www. ohlone.edu/org/studyabroad/francespain/.

FEATURES

MONITOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

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The Kennel: not just for dogs

San Leandro boxing gym inspires Ohlone student Story by Louis LaVenture Photos by Tam Duong Jr. Last semester I was walking to my car after my last class when I saw two guys wearing backpacks with pencils in their ears. Now, this sounds like a normal scenario to any college student, but when I glanced down at their hands they were all taped up as if they were going to be or had been boxing.

So I asked them about the tape and one of them told me that their cousin used to train at a gym in San Leandro and really got him into the sport.

“My cousin Alejandro used to take boxing classes at the Kennel Boxing Gym, so I went with him a few times and I really liked it but I couldn’t afford it and it is kind of far from where I live in Fremont,” Alex Seguras said.

Top: Abraham Morales, left, and Israel Cortez spar at The Kennel. Far right: Andrew Tinae delivers a powerful blow while Nonito Donaire Sr. holds a pad. Right: Morales and Cortez continue their sparring session.

Below: Donaire imparts some of his wisdom to female student Kimberly Mazariegos. Belowright: Morales and Cortez spar in their final round of the day at the Kennel Boxing Gym.

“So we kind of set up our own training area in my garage so we can still train but not have to go so far.”

The gym, which opened its doors in 2009, has seen great success and been inspiring fighters from all over the Bay Area.

Nonito Donaire Sr. and his championship-style boxing teachings are carried on at The Kennel now through several experienced and knowledgable trainers.

Donaire taught his son, Nonito Donaire Jr., and it paid off in full. He has held more than 10 notable world championships.

He also was named 2012 Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine, ESPN and Sports Illustrated.

It got us wondering here at the Monitor: What is the secret to their success?

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MONITOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Quad guitar players demand attention MARISSA MARTIN News editor

You’ve all seen them before, sitting cross-legged, appearing relaxed and pensive. The presence of “campus quad guitar players” has long been a tradition of most schools across the globe, and it appears that they are not going anywhere anytime soon.

You’ll first spot one your freshman year of high school sitting under a tree, playing the same three chords over and over again.

Admit it, you admire them for a slight second for their musical talent, but then the questions start forming.

Why play at school in front of everyone? Why not practice guitar in the comfort of your own home? Is there really a point in playing the guitar in front of the student body? Is Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt” the only song they can play?

Here is a message for all beginners who decide to bring their guitars to school

OPINIONS

with the intent of playing them during busy hours in the quad: leave them at home.

For whatever reason you decided to bring your guitar to school, there is no reason we all need to hear you playing Nirvana at 8 a.m.

Music is a form of art that dates back centuries ago, and is obviously still practiced and distributed today.

Playing the guitar in public places is not a bad thing, it just becomes an issue when it is not in the appropriate time or location and if you are not experienced.

Many Ohlone students agree that the music “isn’t distracting, just as long as they keep it at a reasonable volume.”

Nothing is more frustrating when you are trying to study in the library and music from the quad is distracting your train of thought.

Others find the music “annoying, bothering, and frustrating,” probably after hearing the music too early in the morning.

SANTIAGO PEREA / MONITOR

Another main point that was brought up was the level of talent the guitar player possesses.

If you are just starting to

learn how to play the guitar, it might not be best to start out in the quad.

Experienced guitar players who play at a reasonable

volume at the right time of day are appreciated, but if you do not fit that description it would be best to leave your instrument at home.

Measure G great for Ohlone, but not for me LOUIS LAVENTURE Editor-in-chief Anybody of age distinctly remembers Nancy Kerrigan crying out “Why! Why!” as she lay on the ground clutching her leg, dressed in an extravagant outfit befitting an Olympic champion.

I know it may be dramatic, but all of this Measure G talk has me secretly asking and screaming the same word to myself.

Why? Why has it taken so long for all of this to happen?

Why won’t I get to experience the picturesque school that will take the place of the campus as we know it by 2018?

Why? More importantly, when I realize that it is not wise to be selfish and use the copout woe-is-me take on life, I then turn my attention to the future classes of Ohlone.

When all of the buildings are being destroyed and construction is an ongoing process for nearly five years, why will students want to attend Ohlone?

I know I would not have enrolled at Ohlone if there had been limited parking and major demolition and construction during the two years required to complete my education here.

It is going to look great and it is going to be a great institution when all is said and done, but two glaring issues remain.

It will not be the same

Ohlone, and the students who helped pave the way to the new school will, for the most part, not be around to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

The fate of the Monitor newsroom, in particular, puts me on edge a little bit because of my close connection with the journalism sanctuary.

Generations of newspaper staff pictures and awards grace the wall like a parade through history that captivates me.

Nobody wants to be forgotten and everybody wants to have a legacy.

What will happen to the newsroom and Building 5 when the new school is done?

Will future journalism students get to stare at my pictures and awards or, somewhere down the line, will the program not even exist?

All of these unanswered questions force me to ask myself the same question.

Why? Why does it need to be different?

Who is going to ensure that with all of the new windows, elevators, walkways and marvelous new additions to the campus it will still retain its unique spirit as part of the Fremont community and Ohlone College?

Since most of us won’t get to experience the new school, I just hope it keeps a sense of those that made the school what it truly is: Great!

CAMPUS COMMENT

If you could change one thing at Ohlone what would it be?

Joseph Dereis Undeclared

“The distance from the parking lot to classes is pretty far. ”

Seth Eddings Marine Biology

“A lot of things don’t work and are dirty and it doesn’t really encourage me to be here when I don’t have to be.”

Dylan Sheffer Undeclared

“The stairs. They are hard to walk up. ”

Nicci Coney Human Development Resources

“Scholarships for school are hard to find so maybe the whole thing with the financial aid running out before you finish.”

Joseph Carreon Undeclared

“I would like a cleaner campus and more activities; it is pretty dry out here.”

SPORTS

MONITOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

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LOUIS LAVENTURE / MONITOR

Sophomore Jackie Class uses her left hand to spike a ball past the Monterey Peninsula College defender at Epler Gymnasium in Fremont on Wednesday night.

Volleyball team spikes Monterey Peninsula College LOUIS LAVENTURE Editor-in-chief The Lady Renegades volleyball team Wednesday night put away the visiting Monterey Peninsula College by three sets to none, 25-21, 25-12 and 25-18.

Ohlone now improves to 6-3 overall early in the 2013 season, with Coast Conference South play yet to begin after the victory at Epler Gymnasium on the Fremont campus.

“We definitely came out with a game plan for this team today,” coach Jeremy Peñaflor said.

“We knew they would get some digs but we were really surprised how well they did at that. We weren’t really sure how their hitting would be but once we saw it we adjusted and had success from there.”

Sophomore setter Emily Marden made her presence felt on the court getting several key touches, saves and sets for strong outside hitters Brittany Creel and Jovita Nunez.

“I am playing a lot more in every match this year and it is fun and exciting to be in there,” Marden said.

“Some of the players from last year really showed me how to be a leader and not ever give up but stay motivated.”

Peñaflor spoke about Marden and her extended role this season.

“Emily is pretty much our only setter this year after one of our recruits left. She has taken to the

role very well and leads really well. To be honest, she probably would have started there anyway because of her experience.”

Ohlone jumped out to a big lead in the first set before the Lobos were able to mount a little bit of a comeback.

However, the Lady Renegades shut it down and closed out the first set 25-21.

In the second set, Ohlone again jumped out to a pretty big lead, from which Monterey Peninsula was never able to recover. The Lady Ren-

egades took the set 25-12 to extend their lead to 2-0.

“They tried to adjust to some things we were doing but it really freed up our outside hitters more than anything,” Peñaflor said.

“If you put a small block on Brittany I really like our chances.”

The third set saw both teams have some great offensive and defensive spurts, but the Lady Renegades were able to put the nail in the coffin late when the third set was still close.

Marden closed out the game serving for

Ohlone, which was the perfect end to the night for the sophomore setter.

Next for Ohlone will be a road game at DeAnza College at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2 in Cupertino.

Then at 6:30 p.m. on Friday Oct. 4 the Lady Ren-

egades will return home to Epler Gymnasium on the Fremont campus to take on Cañada College in their first conference contest of the season.

The Lobos will take on Gavilan College at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 in Gilroy.

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SPORTS

MONITOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Getting it in with Louis LaVenture

There’s no fantasy in football

HUNG NGUYEN / MONITOR

Top: Anali Vargas battles the defender for a ball. Above: Maddie Cooks sends in a corner kick. Above right: Coach Larry Heslin talks at halftime.

Lady Renegades defend home turf against Chabot LOUIS LAVENTURE Editor-in-chief Dominate.

After a somewhat slow start to Tuesday’s showdown on the pitch with conference rival Chabot College, that is exactly what the Lady Renegades soccer team did – dominate.

Ohlone is now 3-0-2 overall and 2-0 in Coast Conference play after their 3-1 dismantling of the Gladiators at Central Park in Fremont.

After an early Chabot goal the Lady Renegades tightened up on defense and started to get what they wanted on offense, especially from second-year forward Morgan Collyer.

In minute 33 of the

match, Cristina Mendoza was able to score on the Gladiator defense with an assist from Collyer to tie the game at one.

“It felt really good,” Mendoza said. “My performance has a lot to do with how I prepare. There is a lot of competition on this team and every minute of playing time is earned.”

With the score tied at one at halftime, coach Larry Heslin had some strong words for his Lady Renegades before they took the field in the second half.

“They are going to be ramped up and come out all fired up,” Heslin said of Chabot. “We have to go out there, set the tone and put the game away. We can’t

let teams hang around, we have to learn how to put the nail in the coffin.”

Mendoza and Collyer sure earned their playing time on Tuesday.

Just one minute into the second half the two reversed roles and Mendoza found Collyer, who put the ball in the back of the net to put Ohlone in the lead 2-1.

“I just have to finish my chances,” Collyer said.

“I don’t have to stand out; that is not my job as a forward. I just need to put my team in a position to win.”

From then on the Lady Renegades allowed just a few shots on goal, displaying some smothering defense attacking every ball that came their way.

Second-year goalie Kami Herley recorded six saves on the day, most of which came early in the contest.

Late in the game the Lady Renegades added a goal when Mendoza fired a rocket that the Gladiator goalie was able deflect, but freshman Anali Vargas was there to stuff it right past the keeper for the third goal of the game.

The Gladiators fell to 1-4-2 overall and 0-2 in Coast Conference play.

Next game for Ohlone is Friday when the Lady Renegades will travel to take on the City College of San Francisco.

Next home game for Ohlone will be at 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 8 at Central Park.

Fantasy football makes me sick.

What true football fan in their right mind can honestly say that this is a true part of football?

An insane one maybe.

It is a novelty. A Pet Rock. A Slinky. A Chia Pet. It is still here. Why? First of all, it basically disregards the defense, primarily awarding points for offensive occurrences. Now this is the first gripe I have because any true football fan knows that defense wins championships.

The next thing that really bothers me is that you can dominate a fantasy week or league but it does not have anything to do with winning.

The ultimate goal of football is to teach through teamwork, which if done right results in wins. It doesn’t matter how you get to the W you just have to get there, that is always the goal.

But when you take out winning and add in a guy picking up a lot of statistics against second and third-stringers because his team is getting crushed then I have a problem.

I know people who hate football but follow statistics and highlights just to monitor their fantasy football teams, which most of the time are just played for bragging rights.

Fantasy football is that piece of pepper that gets stuck in your tooth after dinner, or at least I thought it was.

Call me old fashioned or a purist but I don’t need extra incentive to make football fun and exciting. Don’t dilute the game I love because they figured out a cool way to calculate points by the number of yards a player accumulates.

Anybody knows that the games are won or lost in the trenches and the fact that neither offensive nor defensive linemen even factor in to the grand scheme of the fantasy football concept really bothers me.

They should ban fantasy football or make it a crime punishable by jail time.

Do you really need more incentive to get excited?

Six-foot-five-inch 300-pound men running into one another at full speed just isn’t enough to keep you interested in the game for 60 minutes, huh?

Wow. Shame on you for making America’s true pastime an algebra equation.

Vince Lombardi and Al Davis would smack you if they could and it would be well-deserved.