Student choreographers showcase their talent
Page 5
A look into the life of Jan Adkins; SJCC English professor and author
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Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
Jaguars roar to comeback victory
The Voice of San Jose City College students Since 1956
Volume 88 Issue 5
Transgender deaths remembered BY JOEANNA LOPEZ
was happening and spoke up to help out. “We need our allies,” Johnson In 2018, there were 22 total said nodding, “we very much deaths in the United States trans- need our allies.” Kelly Kelly, 53-year-old trans gender community. “I’m tired of this. This has to female actor, writer and producstop,” said Dana Johnson, Com- er made it a point not to highmissioner of the County of San light all the activism she’s done Mateo LGBTQ Commission, but rather to credit her mentors, share titles of who has moderresources and ated Transgender to tell why she Day of Rememhas focused on brance ceremostepping back nies for more to examine than 14 years. and “unpack All those who my own whitefilled the Auditoness.” rium on Nov. 19 Kelly exwere welcomed Dana Johnson, San Mateo the to the ceremony, LGBTQ Commision commisioner plained harm that is presented by done by taking Safe Zone and the SJCC President’s Arts and the lead role in settings where her Lecture Series in the Technology experiences are not the majority and how that only retriggers trauBuilding Room T-415. Johnson presented an engaging ma; resulting in emotional labor program and spoke about the dif- done by the underserved because ference between gender identity she cannot and simply will not and gender sexual orientation, ever experience their trauma beshared their coming out stories cause she is “white-passing.” Part of the ceremony includes and gave their testimonial about the danger that comes with being holding space for the victims. With the lights dimmed, the alan African-American transgentar set up complete with 25 cander. In the U.S. this year alone, 24 dles gleaming as a photo slideof the 25 victims whom we have show with a brief eulogy for each lost to anti-transgender violence individual was shown while the ceremonial reading of names “say are African-American. “There’s a group that’s being their name” was done by guest targeted,” Johnson said after shar- speakers Johnson, Kelly and Lily ing their near-death experience in Zheng. “This event could be triggerOakland a few years ago. The person who pulled a gun ing but it genuinely opened my on them that evening in Oakland eyes to many issues that hopefatefully pulled on a jammed trig- fully will gain more awareness,” ger while a passerby saw what said attendee Kenya Ortiz, firstTIMES STAFF
“We need our allies, we very much need our allies.”
NEXT NEWSPAPER: Jan. 28
year SJCC student via email correspondence. Diversity and inclusion consultant and author of “Ambiguity in the Workplace: Transgender and Gender-Diverse Discrimination,” Zheng reminded the room that transphobia intersects with other systems of oppression, such as, “workplace discrimination and the broken American dream,” and that everyone in the room “could do something about this in a way that the next person can not.” Zheng said, “It’s more than just going to TDOR events and feeling pity for transgenders, it’s about leaving more aware and prepared for the work that needs to be done.
PHOTO BY JASON LIN/TIMES STAFF Kelly Kelly, a trans female actor, writer and producer speaks to the crowd in the auditorium of Room T415 on Nov. 19. Kelly explained on how that despite the activism she’s done, she’s stepping back to examine and “unpack my own whiteness.”
PHOTO BY JASON LIN/TIMES STAFF Dana Johnson, Kelly Kelly, and Lily Zheng read out the names of the transgender individuals who died in 2019 in the auditorium of Room T412 on Nov. 19. In the United States, there were 22 deaths in the transgender community in 2018.
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2 OPINION
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
Students trapped in loan debt
ILLUSTRATION BY MAGNOLIA LONERO/TIMES STAFF
The illustration above had received a first place award in this year’s Journalism Association of Community Colleges conference on Nov. 16
Reasons why President Trump has ruined America Anyone accused of sexual misconduct shouldn’t run a country BY ZOE GODDARD
TIMES STAFF
America is currently being run by someone who was accused by 25 different women of sexual misconduct, according to the Business Insider website. As a survivor of sexual assault I’m absolutely disgusted that I live in a country that President Trump has turned into a total garbage can. Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large, wrote an article that said, “President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed a study produced by his own administration, involving 13 federal agencies and more than 300 leading climate scientists, warning of the potentially catastrophic impact of climate change I don’t believe,” Trump told reporters. So many scientists have said that
climate change is real and is a real threat. “Based on well-established evidence, about 97% of climate scientists have concluded that human-caused climate change is happening,” according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). President Trump is also interfering with America’s refugee program. The American Immigration Counsel said that America used to be one of the countries that took in the most refugees each year but that the Trump Administration has drastically cut the maximum number of refugees that can enter the United States. America has always been seen as a place where people can go to have a new life away from war or live the “American Dream.” However, they aren’t able to because President Trump has said publicly many times that places such as Haiti, El Salvador and African Countries are “s---holes.” President Trump also claims that
Editor- in-Chief Joeanna Lopez
Managing Editor Daijunay Turner Copy Editor Michael Negrete Web Editor Zoe Goddard Social Media Morgan Guidry
everyone coming into the United States from Mexico are, “Bringing drugs, bringing crime and they’re rapists.” President Trump has even said that on video before. The scariest aspect about President Trump are his followers. They use him being president as an excuse to do and say what they want. The El Paso shooter wrote in his manifesto that he was “stopping the Hispanic invasion.” A few months before El Paso President Trump said at a rally, “You look at what is marching up, that is an invasion,” when speaking about a large group of refugees wanting to come to America. America is such a great country; we shouldn’t have it tarnished by a president who has made America look as if we are all angry racist people who don’t care about the Earth. America was made to be welcoming to everyone to the point that the United States of America doesn’t have an official language or
Graphic Designer Magnolia Lonero
Photo Editor Jason Lin Sports Editor Jeremy Walker
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, REFUGEE PROCESSING CENTER, MAY 31, 2019. FISCAL YEAR 2019 AS OF MAY 31, 2019.
an official religion. Americans can be great, but
Reporters
Karla Meza Flores Forrest Canton
Adviser
Farideh Dada
America just can’t be great while President Trump is in charge.
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
Life Style 3
Downtown ice rink colors the night
Fun activities to do in winter holidays with friends, family or by yourself BY K. ANDREA MEZA FLORES TIMES STAFF
Downtown Ice opened its doors to the public on Nov. 15. The rink will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 5 p.m.9 p.m., Fridays from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays from noon to midnight, and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. until Jan. 15, 2020. Prices range from $15$18; $15 for kids 10 and under, seniors and those in the military.
The general admission fee is $18, which includes skate rental. The ice rink is located between the San Jose Museum of Art and the Fairmont Hotel on 120 S. Market St. For more information, visit: http://downtownicesj.com
PHOTO BY K. ANDREA MEZA FLORES/TIMES STAFF
p A crowd staked by in Downtown Ice rink on Nov. 29
PHOTO BY K. ANDREA MEZA FLORES/ TIMES STAFF
Downtown Ice in the daytime on Nov. 24 p
PHOTO BY K. ANDREA MEZA FLORES/ TIMES STAFF
Downtown Ice from the seating area on Nov. 29 p
How to interview to get the job of your dreams
Five ways to stand out from a group BY JEREMY WALKER
TIMES STAFF
1. Practice makes perfect Just like anything in life, being well prepared and ready for action, will always yield the best results. Make sure you have strong, but concise answers to all the most common interview questions, which can be found at the balance career’s website. 2. Try and make a connection with the interviewer Make sure you do research on the person who will be interviewing you beforehand. LinkedIn is a great tool for this. You can see where they went to college and have worked before. Try and find a similar interest that you can talk about with them beyond just their current job. In the book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie, Carnegie explains that the best way to truly connect with someone is to remember their name and to show genuine interest in them. If you take these aspects into an interview, the odds will only get better for you. 3. Research the company Not only should you know a lot about the person interviewing you, but you should also know
a lot about the company. Most interviewers have a lot of pride in the company that they work for. That being said, you should show them that you to care about the company. 4. Look as sharp as you can It is always better to err on the side of dressing up too much for an interview. Make sure your hair is done well, you brush your teeth and you iron all the clothes you will be wearing. Also be sure to stand up tall and be confident. In the book “12 Rules for Life – An Anecdote to Chaos” by Dr. Jordan Peterson, Dr. Peterson talks about serotonin levels and how they affect how confident we appear. Dr. Peterson says that sometimes all it takes to raise self-confidence is to simply stand up tall with your shoulders back and to dress yourself well. This makes you appear open and confident to the interviewer. 5. Follow up after the interview Interviews take time and time is very precious to people. Make sure you write a letter, preferably hand-written, to your interviewer thanking them for their time and telling them to reach back out if there are any further questions.
NEXT NEWSPAPER: JAN. 28
IMAGE BY SUE STYLES FROM PIXABAY
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4 Campus life
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
Taking a look back 100 years Pictures from the past with the present in the background
BY JASON LIN/TIMES STAFF
The parking structure, with the elevator tower yet to be completed. The entire structure’s cost was projected at $6.3 million, to be financed by parking lot revenue. The addition of a fourth floor required an additional $900,000 taken from the Measure I funds, which also funded the construction of multiple other facilities, as well as maintenance and upgrades of existing facilities
BYJASON LIN/TIMES STAFF
A student shields himself from spring showers outside the theatre building.
BYJASON LIN/TIMES STAFF
Steve Nelson (left) on his way to setting a new school record in the 440 meter intermediate hurdles in 1975.
A sit down with SJCC English professor Author of four books related to African-American contributions to society speaks BY MIKIE NEGRETE TIMES STAFF
Throughout her books, SJCC adjunct English professor Jan Adkins chronicles African-American contributions to San Francisco, Monterey, San Jose and Santa Clara County as a whole. Q: “Are you originally from San Jose or the Bay Area? If not, where are you from?” A: “No, but I’ve been in and out since the 1990s. I came here in 1997. Before then, I spent a lot of time in the Bay Area and in Southern California. I am originally from Portland, Oregon.” Q: “What kind of experiences did you
have growing up that led you to follow the career path that you did?” A: “Growing up in Portland, Oregon, I lived in a community that had a small African-American population. In college, I was offered very few courses that related to African-American contributions to society. I took a graduate level California literature class, and there were no literary contributions from African-American authors, nor were there any African-American characters in the literature we were reading.” Q: “Why don’t you think our area’s black
pioneers have received the historical recognition that they deserve? How do you think we can more effectively acknowledge their contributions to San Jose and Santa Clara county?” A: “Black pioneers have been excluded in the traditional California history textbooks. Books written by African-Americans have not been integrated. That’s why I decided I needed to focus on the African-American community; it has not been covered. Books about the contributions of various ethnic groups need to be part of the elementary,
high school and college curriculums.” Q: “Who were some influential people in your life that led to you taking the career path that you took?” A: “My college professors at San Jose State University encouraged me to research and write books about African-American history. My colleagues at the high school and college levels encouraged me to write these books, as well as my students.” Adkins is working on a fifth book, which she described as a historical based non-fiction revolving around women’s issues.
Friendsgiving arrives at SJCC Students feast at the Student Center BY FORREST CANTON
TIMES STAFF
SJCC’s first “Friendsgiving,” was held in the Student Center, Nov. 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. The event was free, sponsored by the Associated Student Government. A variety of food and drinks were available for people to choose from. Dyllan Joseph, 20, an administrative justice major, said that this event was designed “to gather people that are on the campus everybody gets to know each other.” Joseph said what makes this event so special is “to see different people on a different basis for people that get to know each other.” Food that was being served included bread, mashed potatoes, and pie. Drinks, such as lemonade, could be found at another table close to the main food table. Students were also able to go back for seconds, provided there were leftovers. Future events like Friendsgiving can be found using Eventbrite and the Associated Student Government website at sjccasg.org/ events.
PHOTO BY FORREST CANTON TIMES STAFF
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
A&E 5
Choreographic Confessions: SJCC dance exhibits talent Enigmatic reception by crowd follows showcase
BY MORGAN GUIDRY
TIMES STAFF
Student choreographers were able to showcase their ability to construct dance pieces as well as performing them on stage. Choreographic Confessions was put on by the SJCC Dance Department from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23 in the Theater at 8 p.m. The program ran smoothly with back to back performances, a 15 minute intermission and finale. The choreographers premiered dances they constructed in the previous semester utilizing their own dance talents and the talents of students currently involved in the dance program. To see all of the hard work and diverse talent showcased by the students and staff associated with this department is to observe the major component that Dance is to the performing arts division. Faculty member Maria
Basile told the audience that the numbers performed for the evening were all student created and student performed. There was a diverse assortment of dance genres represented in each performance. Hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary and many more styles and subgenres were represented. The show lasted about an hour and a half with the inclusion of the intermission with a small reception of friends, family members and attendees that followed. Witnessing the appreciative energy for the event and the work put into the exhibition following the reception was enigmatic. The audience members lively cheered on their classmates, friends and family members creating an enjoyable energy for all. It was a shorter reception than the shows program anticipated, but the hour and a half was filled with pure
confidence and entertainment. The performer, the song and style of choreography in which they were performing as well as the coordinator of the pieces were listed in the performance program provided making it very easy to follow along throughout. The final curtain call was met with enthusiasm from both the audience and the accomplished performers. As final bows were taken, audience reception was at an all time high for the evening. The admiration for the students and staff that had worked so diligently to bring this showcase to life was an undeniably overpowering emotion. The SJCC dance department is always seeking new talent and participation. This show was fast-paced, exciting and diverse. It will be interesting to see what this department produces in the future. PHOTOS BY MORGAN GUIDRY/TIMES STAFF
SJCC Students with the dance department wave to the crowd in the Theatre Building on Nov. 21. Performances took place from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23.
6 Sports
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
Men’s basketball team mounts a comeback win Jaguars’ hard work pays off BY JEREMY WALKER
TIMES STAFF
SJCC’s men’s basketball team hosted Ohlone College on Nov. 20 in a close fought match up. Ohlone College dominated the start as they were fast to jump out to a lead they would keep throughout the first half. The Jaguars fought their way back into the game and secure the victory. The Jaguars seemed like they could not get the ball in the basket, while Ohlone wasted no time making their first 5 3-pointers. This put the Jaguars in a deep point deficit in the first half. Ohlone kept pushing, but after the second half there was a noticeable change in both the offense and defense of the Jaguars. “We have been grinding at practice everyday” said SJCC’s Decaurey Brown, point guard, “our main thing is when we face adversity to overcome it. We have been playing from behind all year, close 2-point games. We finally just grinded it out tonight.” Brown
said. Brown also was the leading scorer in the game, contributing 26 points. After slowly chipping away at Ohlone’s lead by doing as Brown said and overcoming the adversity that they were facing, our Jaguars got their first lead of the game with 4:53 left in the second half. However, the fight was not yet over. Ohlone kept on fighting and did not want to lose this game which they had dominated up to this point. “We played as a team, at the beginning we were playing selfish but at the end we got it done.” Said SJCC’s Bryan Nguyen, point guard, “Once we started to play like a team, we got the W.” It was clear throughout the second half that the Jaguars were working as a team. The greatest basketball icon ever, Michael Jordan, has this opinion on teamwork, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” As the suspense rose, and the team became tested more and more, team work became more
PHOTO BY JEREMY WALKER/TIMES STAFF
No. 0, Bryan Nguyen, point guard, makes a lay up on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The Jaguars came back from a 16 point deficit in the first half to win by one. important. The Jaguars ended up winning the game by one point.
This shows how the teams effort in practice, and acknowledgement
of the importance of working as a team is paying off.
Open gym hours: n Bring your own towel
n Sign district waiver form n Clean up after yourself
Tuesday / Thursday: Room 110L, noon to 1 p.m. Friday: Room JC202, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Graphic by Jason Lin / Times Staff
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PHOTO BY JOEANNA LOPEZ/TIMES STAFF
Jay Green, 20, a business and marketing major, performs a deadlift in room JC202 on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
Community 7
What type of music do you listen to and why? COMPILED BY DAIJUNAY TURNER / TIMES STAFF
Name: Sara Tran Age: 20 Major: Prenursing
Name Huge Martinez Age: 22 Major: Business of administration major
Name: Jorge Lopez Artea Age: 23 Major: Administration of Justice
“ I listen to pretty much anything. But to focus I listen to slow jams. Music helps me focused and in my own zone even when I’m around people and put headphones to finish my work.”
“ I listen to R&B, rap, hip-hop and pop”said 22 year old, Business of administration major.To help me feel emotion and to help relax me for the day.”
“ Oldies ‘70s and current the rap and hip- hop.In listening to music I listen to the rhythm instead of the lyrics.”
Saxophones fill air with holiday cheer Musicians join to perform Christmas music
BY K. ANDREA MEZA FLORES
TIMES STAFF
The “Saxophone Christmas” is a musical holiday event going on its 26 year anniversary. Saxophone of all ages can join this event regardless of their skill level, as long as you bring and play a sax. On Dec. 7, the saxophone event will take place in Sacramento while on Dec. 21 it will be held here in San José. This event has two free performances on the day of the event, the first at 2-3 p.m. and the second from 5-6 p.m. A plethora of saxophones are played in this event, including: soprano, alto, tenor, bass, baritone, sopranino, contrabass, C melody, sarrusophone, etc. The music provided for this event accommodates to whichever version of the sax you play—for example, there are 3-4 versions of musical pieces for the alto saxophone players because there’s always a high number that come to this event. The creator of this event, Ray Bernd, began originally with 28 members at the start but has since seen it grown to over 100 members! The origins of this event could be traced back to when Mr. Bernd was teaching in high
PHOTO COURTESY OF LILIAN FLORES
Saxophones players performing at Christmas in the Park in San Jose, Dec. 2007. This year’s event will be held on Dec 21 from 2-3 p.m. at Christmas in the Park. school in Gilroy. He met with another saxophonist in the area named David Flatt, who was going to the San Bernardino’s Southern California Saxophone Christmas talked him into going to the event. After doing it for a few years, Flatt got tired of all the effort he had to do to get there; so with Mr. Bernd’s connections in the San José area, he was a music teacher in Monroe Middle School in Campbell on 1994. He explained how things changed into a tradition, beginning on the 4th year of this event where there were
NEXT NEWSPAPER: Jan. 28
now 120 members and could no longer fit in the stage provided in Christmas in the Park. This then began the tradition of performances taking place in the day time rather than the night. The first San José production performance, the first production will be held in Downtown San José’s Christmas in the Park by the fountains while the second will take place in Eastridge Mall on the Center Court area by the elevators. Despite its lack of recognition, Mario Montez, a student and Spanish tutor at San José City
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College, believes that this event is good for the community, “that kind of events allow people to know each other, to lose the fear that they have of each other because I think that’s the real wall between people, is that we’re afraid of us because we don’t know each other.” This goes hand in hand with Bernd’s joy and desire to show the audiences the different varieties of saxophones and how they sound together. “The thing about the music, the arrangements I do, I don’t get to really hear them until the
rehearsal. I get to hear them on my computer and my piano at home, I don’t get to hear them as a full ensemble. So it’s kinda nice to put some down on paper and all of a sudden it comes to life on rehearsal,” said Bernd via phone interview. It’s only during that then he can tell if something does sound well or if a combination didn’t match as well as he thought it would. Despite all these efforts he loves putting on a performance because without an audience to play to, “it’s just another rehearsal.” Ultimately, his goal is to show the audience how a saxophone ensemble looks and sounds like, while perhaps gaining another new member from last year. Last year, on the 25th anniversary, this event took place at Santana Row and Eastridge Mall. Being that it was so popular, he has thought about spreading out this event by playing there every other year. Before the day of the event all saxophone players will meet to practice the performances being held. Once you’re registered for the event, whether online or in person, everyone gathers with like saxophonist to practice together their pieces. Check in starts from 7:30-9:30 a.m. while practice begins at 9:30 a.m. and goes until noon. The San José members will meet at the Obi Studios, 320 Piercy Rd., San Jose CA 95138. For more information or to register for the event, please check the site: http://sjsaxmas.com/.
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Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
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