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
NEXT NEWSPAPER: MAY 16 EMAIL US: CITYCOLLEGETIMES@JAGUARS.SJCC.EDU CHECK US OUT ONLINE: SJCCTIMES.COM
Page 2