Tuesday, April 25, 2017
The Voice of San Jose City College Since 1956
Volume 83 Issue 5 New policy may help boost GPA
Page 6
Campus dance performance preview
Student voices were heard PHOTO BY JORDAN ELLIOTT/TIMES STAFF
Student speakers and professors Shelley Giacalone and Leslyn McCallum, who organized the event, take a final curtain call at the Let Your Life Speak event at the Adobe building Friday, April 7.
Adobe funds and hosts Let Your Life Speak BY JORDAN ELLIOTT
Times Staff
Together, San Jose City College professors and student speaking coaches Shelley Giacalone and Leslyn McCallum organized the Let Your Life Speak event, held at the downtown San Jose Adobe building, April 7. 8 students presented personal stories about their lives to an audience of peers and teachers with the intention of allowing their voices to be heard. “There’s no faculty speeches. The students are the experts,” Giacalone said. “I’m flipping the power dynamic.” Originally intended to be held at the SJCC campus, Giacalone got a TED X license and a small grant of 500 dollars, but TED X interrupted her plans
when the speeches proved too ‘inappropriate’ due their personal nature, McCallum said. “To be able to partner again with folks at Adobe and start to make those connections with these stories is what this is really about, as well as to practice what it’s like to tell your story,” SJCC’s president Byron Breland told the audience. “Own that story and be who you are.” Because the plans to hold the conference on campus were canceled, Breland contacted Adobe, who agreed to fund and cater the event just two weeks before the presentation date of April 7, McCallum said. “I’m always happy and so proud to collaborate with
President Breland and SJCC because I got my start at community college,” Adobe Sr. director Toni Vanwinkle said. Vanwinkle opened the stage and shared some of her own story… “from being homeless to being an executive at one of the biggest companies.” Student Veronica Garcia proceeded to introduce each speaker, and told the audience that “Many paths can take us to our ultimate journey, but many have some struggle,” before reminding them to stay in the present moment, for she said speeches were expected to be emotional. “I encourage you to seek help. You will find love in the least likely places. Find your Chloe, ” Cruzsilla Gutierrez
told the audience about her battles with depression through a story about her dog, Chloe. Maria de Lourdes Cordova Diaz and Iriana Luna each spoke about their individual struggles with immigration. After moving to the U.S. personal hardships such as the death of her mother derailed Diaz’s dreams of attending school she said. “A few months ago I made my first dream: I went to Disneyland,” Diaz said. “Then my second dream: I started going to college.” Each student was allowed to speak on whatever topic they wanted, with both Giacalone and McCallum coaching their dialogues. SJCC student
See LIFE SPEAK, Page 7
City College Times staff win state awards
Page 4 Artist Ted Fullwood presents his work on campus
Page 5 How fake news effects journalism
Recognition of SJCC students from JACC conference BY LESLIE AGUILAR TIMES STAFF
San Jose City College’s student run newspaper was a recipient of three statewide awards and honorable mentions
at the Journalism Association of Community College’s state convention, which took place on Thursday, March 30, through Saturday, April 1, in Sacramento.
About 375 students, faculty and staff from 32 California community colleges were in attendance, including City College Times staff members Benjamin Cas-
tro and Reginald Webb. The City College Times staff placed third in Student Designed Advertisement, as well as former staff member Hugo Legend, who
placed second in the Webcast News category, and received an honorable mention in the video journalism statewide publication contest. Patrick Jenkins,
See JACC, Page 7
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Page 2
2 Opinion
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Alternative facts in news Society’s view of media outlets is skewed Undoubtedly, the most impressive accomplishment President Donald Trump has made so far is his ability to cause society to disrespect and question an entire profession. Trump’s confident accusations of “fake news” sources shakes perceptions of what exactly media are. While the media are being shunned as an evil entity, and reputable journalists are being given a bad connotation, the public is simply promoted to forget its critical thinking skills in favor of blatant disregard for the media at large. The media are a vast resource, and frankly a very important aspect of culture in the technology age because it has become almost impossible to ignore. Most people can’t help but come into contact with some
Dear SJCC Times, I am writing in response to your article “King Library Shuts Doors on Extended Hours.” I think it may be hard for some students to find a quiet place without any distractions to study. We may not live in the ideal situation to have a nice quiet home that allows us to focus on our studying. Not allowing the students this accommodation may hurt the student grade point average or even worse, their ability to stay on track with school requirements. If this privilege is taken away what is going to be set in place instead? It does not seem cost efficient to make our library 24
Technology Center, Room 302 San Jose City College 2100 Moorpark Avenue San Jose, CA 95128 (408) 298-2181 x3213
type of media every day. The issue with “fake news” being a widely accepted reference is that it overlooks the many facets of journalism and all the parts media play in the world. Most consumers of broadcasting wouldn’t put TMZ under the same umbrella as the Guardian or MSNBC, for they are all different and serve different purposes. It should be obvious to most viewers that sources that cover celebrity gossip are different from those that cover hard social and economic issues. Yet, the fact that “fake news” has been made an easy way to meld all of journalism into a single package is a damaging message that society has accepted. This practice is detrimental because it dismisses all of the positive efforts journalists
Illustration by Nicole Newsome / Times Staff
“The exposure of corruption, spreading of news and sharing of information are why journalism plays a pivotal role in democracy.” make/have made, such as David Barstow’s 2013 New York Times article “Wal-Mart Abroad,” which reported on Wal-Mart’s corruption in Mexico. The information garnered by reporters,
Unfairness at MLK l ibrar y
hours. In order to do that we would need to staff the library accordingly. Who pays for our privileges to study at the Martin Luther King Library and is there any way of trying to make a deal with them regarding this issue? It just seems unfair to the students of San Jose City. Thanks so much for the wonderful article and I hope my feedback is helpful in some way. Thank you, Mikahla Cary
Difficulty searching for adequate quiet time Dear San Jose City College Times, The article you published based on the decision by San Jose State University to limit extended study hours to SJSU students was very moving and touched me personally. Although I have access to a quiet study environment at home I remember living with my family in a crowded three bedroom apartment. Now I only live with my mother and her husband, but back when I stayed with my whole family it was very tough to find and maintain a peaceful study environment. Testimonies given by my fellow San Jose City College colleagues resonate with me personally as well as academically. I sincerely support the efforts made by Iriana Luna and would appreciate extended study hours.
Editor-in-Chief Jordan Elliott
Photo Editor Benjamin Castro
Managing Editor Leslie Aguilar
Designer Nicole Newsom
Copy Editor Melissa Maria Martinez
Faculty Adviser Farideh Dada
Reporters/ Photographers Anne Caillat Lauren Quilty Reginald Lucious Webb
such as the Boston Globe’s investigation and ultimate exposure of the Catholic priests child sex abuse scandal, is significant. The exposure of corruption, spreading of news and sharing of information are why journalism plays a pivotal role in democracy. Questioning all news outlets and journalists should be the common practice because, like every industry, there are some impaired individuals within it. However, Trump’s approach of harming the reputation of an entire industry is a fast way to breed ignorance into consumers, and also tarnishes the legacies of superb reporters.
Although I do not frequently use the library as my place of study, when I do the extended study hours make me feel less rushed, and appreciative of my status as a college student. Not only do these study hours help with people who do not have somewhere to study at home, they help when people have been doing their work at the library and simply have not finished. Extra time is so beneficial, and going home to continue in the middle of an assignment can really be a waste of time when San Jose State University students can simply continue with their work as is. If the contract would be renewed, however, it would definitely make me more appreciative of the library and I might spend more evenings there since it is closer to my current place of residency. If any assistance or support would be appreciated, feel free to contact me, Anthony Nunez
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opinion 3 Reflections on the importance of Earth Day TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017
SJCC talks environmental issues and what we can do
The first Earth Day was created by Senator Gaylord Nelson to push environmental issues into the political arena since during this time there was little to no legal protections for people and the environment against hazardous business practices. Later that year, in December, the Environmental Protection Agency would be created, according to the EPA’s webpage on Earth Day. This year it seems that same vigor of those 20 million demonstrators on the first Earth Day is being reignited in people across the country today. The March for Science, a non-partisan group, is scheduled to host over 500 demonstrations and rallies around the globe this Earth Day, Saturday April 22, to urge “political leaders and policy makers to enact evidence based policies in the public interest,” According to The March for Science website. Current world events have seemed to spur this year’s movement. The never-ending bombardment of news like the bleaching and dying of large sections of the Great Barrier Reef, the impending famine affecting millions of people in Africa and Yemen, and the U.S. government’s rollback of environmental regulations and budget cuts to vital agencies are giving people a new and more thoughtful meaning to Earth Day and in some, an urgency to take action. “Whatever our talents, whatever our skills are, we need to use that and make changes in our lives at the individual and our local and government level,” Sanihita Datta, PhD, an SJCC environmental professor said about what we can do in honor of Earth Day. Datta also encouraged students to educate themselves about environmental issues and educate others as well. “I look at Earth Day as a way to celebrate the environment but it is something that needs to be done everyday.” Datta said, and pointed out “that we don’t think about civil rights only on Martin Luther King Day.” Some students shared similar sentiments as Datta. “Not only Earth Day, but everyday we should be conscious about the earth,” software engineering major, Sang To said. Other students
BY LAUREN QUILTY TIMES STAFF
Forty-seven years ago, on April 22, 1970, a day now recognized as Earth Day, 20 million people in universities and cities across the U.S. staged demonstrations to voice the importance and necessity of protecting our environment.
PHOTO BY LAUREN QUILTY / TIMES STAFF
A girl holds a “water is life” sign at a No DAPL protest in Palo Alto last February.
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admitted some indifference towards the holiday. “I’ve never really done anything for Earth Day, it’s kind of like you hear about it and go on with your life,” Heba A., a psychology major said. She then added, “Even if it’s just one day it’s better than nothing. It should be important.” Acknowledging the significance of setting aside a holiday to be conscious of the environment. As for SJCC, the school has taken some steps to be more environmentally conscious. Datta explained that portions of the campus use recycled water and drought resistant plants in the landscape of the campus. In addition, the new multidisciplinary building is a certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building that is designed to be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Earth Day is a day for celebrating the environment. But caring about the earth and its environmental issues is not a problem that will take care of itself, Datta said. “It’s not a problem that’s natural and easy for us to fix so we have to make hard choices.”
Going to war Current administration causes reflection of veteran treatment support for the women and men in uniform BY REGINALD WEBB TIMES STAFF
This month marks the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Beyond Vietnam speech, voicing strong opposition to the Vietnam War, causing him widespread condemnation and criticism. President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Syrian targets might well be the proper response to the horror we all saw of the aftermath following exposure to chemical weapons by Syrian children. Yet it is a familiar response for the United States. The Carter Administration, 1976-1980, was the last to not wage war. Every administration since has been involved in some sort of military operation . Each of these making veterans of those involved directly and victims of those touched indirectly. We do not hesitate to pronounce our
who serve on our behalf. Once they are deployed they do their job with or without our support. They need our support when public debate whether or not to wage war starts or deliberations of military force within a president’s administration or Congress starts. The human aspect of conflict and the inevitable trauma that follows should have more influence in the decision to use military force. San Jose has two memorials of military service. One is a Vietnam Memorial and the other is of soldiers of San Jose and their letters sent home to loved ones while deployed. The latter illustrates the sacrifice San Jose has made throughout history. The Korean War cost some 35,000 American lives. The posturing President Trump is now engaged in seems so irresponsible considering that number and the amount of destruction possible in a conflict on the Korean Peninsula today.
Our agreement with SJCC gives you flexibility. ■ Scholarships up to $11,000 ■ Financing options ■ Historic campus off 101 in Belmont
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Vietnam War memorial honoring San Jose natives who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, located on West Santa Clara Street Not for profit. 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont
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4 Student life
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Dance students express the beauty of the world The SJCC program presents ‘We Are Moved’ from May 4 to 6
BY ANNE CAILLAT TIMES STAFF
San Jose City College students are rehearsing for the spring faculty dance concert “We Are Moved.” The show will be hosted at the SJCC Theatre from May 4 to 6 at 8 p.m. “The show will be talking about the world, how our dance saves us, inspires us,” said Holly Lampe Brosius, dance instructor. “The title is not only about moving our body but also about what is beautiful in our world and what we want to move for.” “With all the craziness in the world, it is a nice escape to watch entertainment and we need art more than ever,” said Alex Barbour, 25, dance major. This semester’s program includes styles ranging from modern and jazz to hip-hop and tap, with dances that were recently presented at the American College Dance Association Festival in Modesto. Lampe Brosius is part of the choreographers with the dance instructors Carol Abohatab and Virginia Munday. “We use dance as a platform to express ourselves,” Lampe Brosius said. “Dance is a visual art and we question perception in life. One dance is about cell phones and technology, questioning ‘are we becoming less humans because of technology?’. Other
dances are about fun, having a good time.” Arnold Kim, 22, dance major, encourages students to come to the show. “Dance is becoming more popular and mainstream, you see it on social media, it is nice to see it in real life too,” Kim said. The students have been rehearsing for an average of three hours per week. “Our students stress out between having a full-time job, full schedule at school and family,” Lampe Brosius said. “Between that, it is nice to have dance because it’s a way to have an outlet, it is an outlet.” “I was shy and it was a way to break out of that,” Barbour said. “I love that feeling of letting everything go, on stage I wash everything off, I am a totally different person than at home.” Some students have been dancing for years, some discovered dance through City College, some are doing it for fun and others are going to transfer into a professional career. “The show has many different dancers, diverse group of people, different size and heights, different level of experience and we are all together. That makes a nice piece, it’s inspiring,” said Tashiana Baisy, 22, dance major. Baisy started dancing at SJCC, “not knowing it could be a professional career.” “Then it became my passion,” she said.
From left: Alex Barbour, Cat Tang, Tara Franklin (front, jumping), Becca Case, rehearse their dance “Moved” for the upcoming spring faculty dance concert “We Are Moved.” April, 5. PHOTO BY BENJAMIN CASTRO / TIMES STAFF
“Now I’m transferring to CSU Channel Islands to a four-year.” All students are welcomed each semester to audition for Dance 14 in the Spring, or section 13 in the Fall. “If you see something you like and you want to learn more, come to the class,” Baisy said. “If you’ve never danced before, still
come, we welcome all levels and everybody is starting from the same point at the beginning of the semester.” IF YOU GO Tickets for the event can be purchased at the door and are $10 general admission, $5 for all students, SJCC faculty and staff, seniors and children under 10.
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Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Artist Ted Fullwood and SJCC art teacher and gallery coordinator Eve Mathias thank the attendees at the exhibit’s opening reception on Thursday, April 6.
BY JORDAN ELLIOTT TIMES STAFF
Unnamed clay sculptures were made by a technique called “bisque firing,” which Fullwood fires at the SJSU Ceramic Department’s kiln.
“I like to channel artists, but not copy them,” Fullwood said. This unnamed piece is inspired by the work of ‘80s graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Campus Life 5
Artist Ted Fullwood personally presented a collection of his sculptures called “Odd and Familiar Shapes” to students and friends at the San Jose City College Art Gallery on April 6. The gallery will showcase both Fullwood’s painted ceramic sculptures and hand-woven pipe cleaner structures until April 27. “For me, making art is a meditative state which isn’t challenging. The pipe cleaners I have to stitch together and my arms are bleeding – it could be painful, but it doesn’t feel painful at the time,” Fullwood said. Fullwood said he uses a method of bisque firing; meaning that he fires the clay sculptures at a low temperature, paints them and then fires them again in a pottery kiln. Fullwood said his purpose for this technique is for the ceramic paint to be better absorbed. “The color is amazing. Some of (the pieces) he glazes and fires several times,” said event attendee Manuel Espinosa. Espinosa is also a personal friend of Fullwood’s and long-time admirer of his work, owning two pieces so far. Espinosa said they met 12 years ago in a coffee shop, where Fullwood said he tends to do much of his smaller work. “Sometimes it’s just so unexpected. They’re just so different,” Espinosa said of the sculptures displayed at SJCC’s gallery. Art instructor and gallery coordinator Eve Mathias is a long-time friend of Fullwood’s from graduate school at San Jose State University. She is responsible for booking his art exhibit at the campus gallery. “This is my labor of love. This
was an unpaid assignment,” Mathias said. “Everything he did was crazy – it still is – and it’s really developed in his mature work,” Fullwood volunteers his time at SJSU as a tech in the ceramics department. He has been previously featured at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose City Hall, the Children’s Discovery Museum and the Triton Museum of Art. “I have a fertile imagination. I get images in my head and just run with them,” Fullwood said. “ I don’t really question it. The moment of conception starts quickly.” None of the sculptures displayed at the SJCC gallery had names, for Fullwood’s process usually takes “maybe one or two days,” Mathias said. “He’s one of the most original artists I know. He has a unique capability and an inner voice,” said San Jose State University art professor Stan Welsh. “(Fullwood) also works harder than any artist I’ve known for the last 30 years.” “This is probably a week’s worth of work,” said Carolann Espino, another grad school friend. “He taught me how to do pipe cleaner art. He makes a lot of it at home. His house is like a museum.” Espinosa, Welsh and Espino all talked of their personal relationships with the artists. All three said that Fullwood is extremely humble when it comes to his work and his persona in the local art community. Espino explained that his love of art and his humble nature matter more to Fullwood than publicity. “I don’t think he could handle not doing this,” Espino said. “If he was a different person he’d be really famous.”
Right: One of the four pipe cleaner sculptures on display, this figure stands over 10 feet tall with the help of plywood.
PHOTOS BY: BENJAMIN CASTRO / TIMES STAFF
Students and art admirers gather at the SJCC art gallery to welcome Ted Fullwood’s exhibit of sculptures and enjoy Thai food catered by local restaurant Tee Nee Thai Cuisine on Thursday, April 6.
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6 Campus Life New academic policy may raise students’ GPAs Tuesday, April 25, 2017
A long awaited opportunity to renew bad grades BY LAUREN QUILTY TIMES STAFF
San Jose City College is now accepting petitions for academic renewal of bad grades to allow students a chance to boost their GPA. The newly approved policy would allow qualifying students a one time only chance to petition for renewal of courses that received grades of “D,” “F,” or “FW” without having to repeat the course to clear the grade from their GPA. The policy, which is called academic renewal without repetition, was rolled out just last month in March, despite similar renewal policies being a common resource offered to students by many colleges in the area. “The colleges have been using it for years and we have been trying to get it for nearly five” said SJCC counselor Rachel Hagan. In spring 2016, Rachel Hagan along with
SJCC counselor Carlos Chavez, found the college had been approved to implement an academic renewal policy in 2009, yet no policy had ever been developed. Over the next year both Hagan and Chavez would spearhead the development and implementation of the new policy; working with the school senate and negotiating with Evergreen Valley College to obtain a policy for both SJCC and EVC. The policy indubitably would help boost qualifying students’ GPAs, but it will differ from student to student. “It (GPA) will go up,” Hagan said. “It really depends on the number of units that a student has taken as to the impact it will have on their GPA.” However, large or small, any type of GPA boost sounds good to students like Rosa Alcarez, a chemistry major. “My GPA wouldn’t be as affected as it is right now,” Alcarez said, referring to how the new policy could help raise her current GPA. To qualify for the academic renewal, students must have either completed 12 semester units with at least a 3.0 GPA after receiving the grade to be renewed or accu-
Tutoring equals success
How City College students can take advantage of campus opportunities BY JORDAN ELLIOTT TIMES STAFF
San Jose City College offers many opportunities for students to receive assistance from tutors on multiple subjects. The Reading and Writing Center, Math Lab, ESL Lab, Metas Center and Disability Support Programs and Services all offer extra guidance and homework help outside of the classroom. “There is a myth out there that places like the RWC are just for people with learning
mulated 24 semester units or more with at least a 2.0 GPA average, according to the petition form. Hagan also said that the student must wait at least one whole academic year from the time of the grade that is requested to be renewed, and added that the removal is permanent. While the program removes undesirable grades that affect students’ GPAs, the grades are not wiped from transcripts, but are instead annotated in a similar way as repeat classes are, Hagan said. Hagan also cautioned that some schools will not honor the academic renewal policy but that most schools usually will. For students worried about the permanence of past bad grades haunting and hindering them in the future, the new renewal policy may offer some respite for their GPAs and at least an understanding that sometimes students have a rough semester or two. “We’re used to seeing that, so it’s not a big deal,” Hagan said. “The important thing is that as long as that was the past and now you are a different student, schools will see that.” disabilities or who are really struggling, but tutoring can help anybody,” said faculty coordinator in the RWC and SJCC English professor Teresa McKimmy. According to SJCC tutoring center statistics taken through spring 2016 surveys, “95 percent of students identify the assistance they received as contributing directly to their learning.” Students who take advantage of services that provide additional homework help are more likely to be successful pupils overall. “(Tutoring has an) extraordinarily large success rate. Students overwhelmingly identify tutoring as a helpful resource which makes a difference in their work,” McKimmy said. “I go to both (the RWC and Math Lab) because it just helps me to have someone there,” said Andy Nguyen, 19, chemistry major. “Even in classes I’m kind of good in, I like to learn things at my own pace. For English, my essays get better.” McKimmy implemented surveys in the RWC that are handed out to students during each session, in which they can anonymously critique their experience. According to the outcome of these surveys between March and May of the 2016 spring semester, 95 percent of 364 students identified their session in that center as being ‘very helpful.’ The Metas Center, located in M-104, offers tutoring options in math, biology, chemistry, physics and ethnic studies. Through the center, there are a variety of specialized programs that have benefits available for any student. “We offer help to all students, as long as they are involved in one class that we can provide help for,” Metas program coordinator Angela Gullerud said. “Some instructors offer extra credit for students who take Peer-Led Team Learning.” Gullerud said the PLTL program involves workshops and activities run by peer-tutors, which are designed to help students with course material and study skills. Besides PLTL, Metas offers the Caminos Summer Bridge and First Year Experience program, hour-long math tutoring sessions, supplemental instruction, the Cultivamos Excelencia Research Scholars program and even academic counseling. “We want to promote diversity, not
MEDIA ART BY BENJAMIN CASTRO / TIMES STAFF
only STEM majors,” Gullerud said. In addition to receiving help, there are also opportunities to tutor others. If a student is especially strong in any area of study, they could actually get paid to provide assistance to their peers on campus. “That was one of the reasons I became a peer tutor – I wanted to help other students the way I was helped to pass classes and improve my writing,” said Sammie Gilmore, a former tutee in the RWC and current peer tutor there. Gilmore said that she was referred by a former English professor, and then went through several steps before becoming a peer tutor on the floor. Before one becomes a tutor in the RWC, she said potential employees must go through an interview process, take a semester-long class and shadow other tutors as well. “I admire the students who come here because it takes a lot of bravery to admit you’re not good at something,” peer tutor Lauren Apostle said. Being an English tutor doesn’t stop Apostle from receiving feedback as well: “I go to the Math Lab… it’s nice to see many ways of doing something,” she said. In addition to tutor sessions, each of the centers on campus offers resources such as access to computers, textbooks and calculators, as well as a space to study. Peer tutor at DSPS Marcos Verbera, said that there are services in his center, such as a tech lab, which are available to those preapproved by counselors. “The wheelchair can sit comfortably (in DSPS). For students who can only speak we have Dragon (speech recognition),” Verbera said. “We cater to anybody who needs it.” Peer tutor at the RWC Noor Basma said she encourages students to try out a tutoring session on campus because “feedback from others is always helpful.” Gullerud said that statistics prove that centers like Metas help boost success rate, which she identifies as passing with a C or better. “Students who attend any workshop are more likely to pass and have success in their class,” Gullerud said. “The success rate is close to 90 percent, which is way higher than the median rate for those classes.”
(Left) Peer tutors Noor Basma, Lauren Apostle and Sammie Gilmore demonstrate how to sign in for a tutoring session at the Reading and Writing Center, located on first floor of SJCC library, Fri. April 14. PHOTO BY JORDAN ELLIOTT / TIMES STAFF
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Campus Life 7
Student-parent, Lupe Morales sees the college’s on-campus child care center for the first time, Monday, April 10.
Unmet need: On-campus child care City College ignores under-served student-parents
BY MELISSA MARIA MARTINEZ TIMES STAFF
A sizable playground sits on the edge of campus behind a two-story facility known as the San Jose City College Child Development Center. For more than 30 years, San Jose City College offered on-campus child care services and before the center was shut down in June 2011 it also served as a learning lab for Early Childhood Education students. The decision to shut down the center was due to the building’s deteriorating conditions, but renovations to the building have still not been implemented. Today the contracting company Gilbane uses the building as their office. The representative working in the building said Gilbane is a consultant for the district. He was unable to comment on the college’s decision to close down the center, but notes the facility is not code compliant for children. The future of the center remains unclear after plans to renovate the center were abandoned in 2012, even as the bond Measure X was approved by voters last election. Priced at over $700 million, the measure is meant to help finance both SJCC and Evergreen Valley College construc-
LIFE SPEAK PAGE 1 McArthur Hoang spoke about his educational struggle: “How can you make sacfrifices for college if you don’t know what you’re going to use college for,” Hoang said. Student Angel Coronado created an activity with the audience to address the importance of communication. Instead of giving an entire speech, Coronado encouraged all of the audience to start a dialogue with each other. “The audience reacted very positively,” Coronado said. “It’s great to see that we’re all just people.” Yenifer Silvestre shared a story about her experiences of being a minority woman in school and the workplace: “The way I speak and the way I look doesn’t determine the way my brain
works,” Silvestre said. “4 years ago when I came to the USA, I got my first job at a fast food restaurant. 4 years later I have come a long way: I tutor biology and physics at SJCC.” Speeches were varied as speakers Raylina Beecher told the audience a story about how motherhood helped her reach sobriety and Benish told her story of religion. “It takes a lot of bravery to come up here and talk to you all,” Garcia told the audience. All student speakers, alongside Giacalone, McCallum and communications professor Chris Lancaster joined the stage together after the speeches. “I’m very proud of the students,” Giacalone said. “I’ve always heard these stories. This is kind of a vision coming true.”
Photo By: Melissa M. Martinez / Times Staff
tion projects; however, the full text of the ballot measure indicate the college plans to demolish the building. Lupe Morales, a 25-year old art major, said she can’t understand why the college would make a decision not to continue offering on-campus child care to their students. “I’m a single mother,” Morales said, “my son depends on me so I have to finish.” According to a survey conducted by the SJCC Associated Student Government, 97% percent of students randomly surveyed believe the college should offer on-campus child care for student parents. “It would be easier for parents to drop off their children at the facility and go to their class,” EOPS CARE Specialist Fazila Nuristani said, “look in on them if there is a need, Empty playground sits in front of the SJCC Child Development go to the library to study, go pick them up and go home.” Center facility, Monday, April 10. In advocating for a Child Development Center, ASG is in the process of gaining support in their call for the college Life adviser Juan Garcia said. “If they are full time you to re-establish on-campus child care services. The students have to also think about their benefits. Right now San Jose ultimately intend to bring the matter up with the college City College Evergreen School District provides very good and district at a future meeting with the district’s board of benefits and 401K.” Garcia said the increase in cost would be large. trustees. This consideration may be why the college has not made The project is big but also popular among students on any attempt to re-establish on-campus child care services, campus. “I think the child development center is important, I however, San Jose City College President was unable to be definitely support that,” 23-year-old nursing major, Helen reached for comment to confirm. “The way I see it,” Morales said, “if the college isn’t ofRowe said. fer on-campus child care, they are sending a strong mesConsequently every investment has costs to consider. “What are the costs to hire those faculty staff?” Student sage that they don’t care about mothers like me.”
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another former Times staffer, placed third in the illustration category. Three SJCC editors, Melissa Maria Martinez, Jordan Elliott and Benjamin Castro received achievement awards. The competitions were designed to provide enriching student learning experiences, according to the JACC faculty. “Competition is good, it makes everybody better.” said City Times reporter Reginald Webb. Additionally, students were able to showcase their work in daily competitions. Contestants won 123 awards in 15 categories in the on-the-spot contests. Journalism students from all over California were invited to this threeday event, which included professional critiques, information from four year public and private institutions, dozens of speaker sessions as well as a chance to compete against other students in categories such as
Photo By: Farideh Dada/ Times Advisor
Photo Editor, Benjamin Castro, Editor-in-Chief Jordan Elliott, Managing Editor, Leslie Aguilar admire awards won at JACC, Thursday, April 6.
photography and feature writing. Speakers included David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition, as well as Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Kim Komenich. The panels and workshops catered to the interests of more than 200 students, with events focusing on contemporary news platforms bringing in the most attendees. “Students seemed to enjoy participating in 15 on-the-spot contests
and attending more than three dozen workshops. The hands-on podcasting workshop was especially popular,” faculty rep on the board of directors Cindy McGrath said. “I got a lot of sources from them (the guest speakers and panelists), stuff I can take back to my college,” said Ali Benzerara, a student from Santa Rosa Jr. College. “It was high paced, full of good tools you can use. I was always on the go, but there was a lot of information to take in.” Rio Hondo students Noah Garcia and Xavier Alatorre said the conference gave them exposure to different ways of thinking, and helped them see how other students work. “You always learn something new and you’re always participating in something you never would before,” Garcia said, referring to the competitions. “I like hearing from people who are in the industry, and the experience that they’ve had that translates into the experience we may have in the future also.”
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8 Lifestyle
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
The cooking corner: made from scratch The recipe of Italian leak mushroom risotto BY ANNE CAILLAT TIMES STAFF
Italian cuisine is famous for its pasta, but also for its rice: in the north of Italy, the rice has been cultivated since the Medieval ages. The legend says that Thomas Jefferson, while in diplomatic mission in France in 1787, went especially to Piedmont to bring Italian rice back to the American farmers. The risotto looks complicated to prepare, but it is actually simple, the only rule being to stay close to the pan to constantly stir the content. There is not one recipe of risotto: the ingredients for the risotto should be chosen according to the season and the tastes of the guests. Usually, chefs prefer to use only one main ingredient to supplement its taste, but here we offer a tested and approved recipe, mixing leak, mushrooms and pancetta. In Italy, the tradition is to serve the risotto before the main course, but more and more people, even Italians, are serving it as main dish nowadays.
Ingredients for 3-4 people 2 leaks 5 oz of mushrooms 1 oz pancetta (optional) 1 oz of parmigiano 2 small garlic cloves 1 shallot or onion 2 tbsp of butter A pinch of saffron 7 oz of tomato puree 5 or 6 cups of vegetable broth Salt and pepper One glass of white wine 1 cup of arborio rice
Tools
1 pan 1 pot for the vegetable broth 1 wooden spoon
Steps
Cut the leaks in thin rings, taking the green part away. Slice the mushrooms. Cut the onion in thin rings.
Cut the garlic glove in tiny pieces. Grind the parmigiano. Put the pan on the stove, medium high heat. Add butter. When butter is melted, add the garlic and onion. Then add pancetta, the leaks and finally the mushrooms. When everything looks soft, add the tomato puree and stir until evenly distributed. Wait some minutes and add the rice, stir for 30 seconds to one minute, then add the glass of wine and wait until it completely evaporates. Add the vegetable broth until it completely covers the rice, add some salt, and let cook for 15-18 minutes stirring often to avoid the rice sticking to the bottom of the pan. Add broth as necessary while cooking and stir. When the rice is half cooked, add the saffron and stir. When the rice is almost ready, add the parmigiano, the pepper and stir. The rice is perfectly cooked when it absorbed all the broth but is not too soft. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste. The risotto is ready to be served immediately. Buon appetito!
PHOTOS BY ANNE CAILLAT/ TIMES STAFF
Four steps of risotto recipe, from ingredients preparation to the dish service, San Jose, April 16.
Art student profile Magnolia Lonera gives a taste of the SJCC campus art community BY JORDAN ELLIOTT TIMES STAFF
New student Magnolia Lonero speaks about her experiences with the San Jose City College art department, her artistic inspirations and why she calls herself Royaldog12.
Where did your artist name come from?
A. I started a game called Feralheart and it was in 2012 after my long road trip across the USA. And so I came up with Royaldog12, no specific reason. I read through and it was a remake of a game I was already playing. Impressive title. Which was where this character (pictured right) came from.
ILLUSTRATION BY ROYALDOG12
What is your major?
“Kari,” a Hyena and Wolf hybrid was created through a combination of Photoshop and other computers programs.
How old are you?
What artistic style do you gravitate most toward?
A. No Major.
A. Currently 19. (Born on 7/7/1997).
How long have you been a student at SJCC (what year)?
A. Started the fall trimester of 2016, so I’m still new.
What art classes have you already taken at SJCC? A. 3D design, Beginning Drawing, Ceramic Sculpture, Watercolor 1, and would Graphic Design count?
Which art teachers at SJCC have influenced you or helped you to grow your skills most?
A. Michelle Gregor, and Eve Matthias helped me look at things in the third dimension of objects.
A. I have a range of many styles. So I’m open.
What well-known artists do you appreciate and why?
A. I don’t know any “Well-Known” artists. But I would have to choose... CanineHybrid... she was a popular Fursuit maker. She is the reason why I started to get into the Fursuit making study and business. I love how she sets up everything in a Digitigrade form legs, and how she makes “Pokémon” characters and other cartoon animal characters look just like how they’re supposed to be.
What do you think of the art programs/classes at SJCC?
A. I didn’t take so many since I started, but I do enjoy the archery and the ceramics class.
What mediums do you most like What class would you recommend to work with? A. I work with many mediums, water- to other students from the art decolor, drawing, digital design, sculpture partment? design and Fursuit (animal costume) making. I make these pretty much for a living.
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A. Definitely the ceramics classes, they’re hella chill, everyone communicates cause we share tables (unlike other classes where you sit at your own desk).
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