The Advocate - Feb. 9, 2011

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

CMYK

Skinner speaks

Assemblywoman presents issues on campus

CMYK

campus beat ◆ page 5

sports ◆ page 7

scene ◆ page 8

Flattened

Skaters remember

Baseball team gives up runs

Classic Tony Hawk game still thrills

VOL. 96, NO. 1

SINCE 1950 8 PAGES, ONE COPY FREE

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 2011 ACCENTADVOCATE.COM

THE WEEKLY STUDENT VOICE OF CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE, SAN PABLO, CALIF.

Budget plan worries educators Governor

By Adam Oliver aoliver.advocate@gmail.com

Brown’s first draft bleak

No matter how merciful the cuts to California community colleges for the 20112012 fiscal year, the Contra Costa Community College District will take a minimum $7.6 million reduction in apportionment, its share of

Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed $400 million statewide reduction.

This outcome, one of three explored by the district, assumes the passage of Brown’s tax extension package in the June special election, and that Proposition 98, a measure enacted in 1988 to secure K-14 apportionment, is funded at a minimum. However, this best-case scenario

should not be planned for, Chancellor Helen Benjamin said.

Instead, the district is planning for the less idealistic outcome, deemed scenario two, in which the tax extension fails and proposition 98 is still funded at a minimum, resulting in a loss of $13.2 million, or nearly twice that of previ■ SEE BUDGET: Page 4

edit orial Cooperation needed

Students need budget issues clearly drawn out for them.

page 2

Trustee struck by pneumonia, dies Governing Board feels Reyes’ loss

By Sam Attal sattal.advocate@gmail.com

Jess Horlanda Reyes spent his final days of life doing what he loved.

The 81-year-old Philippines native was serving his second term on the college district Governing Board as Ward 5 trustee covering the East Contra Costa County cities of Antioch, Oakley, Brentwood and Pittsburg. He completed his term as a trustee on the Los Medanos Community Health District (LMCHD) in December.

But after facing multiple illnesses throughout his life, Reyes died of pneumonia on Jan. 31, leaving a seat vacant on the Governing Board.

“He was a very dedicated and concerned board member,” Contra Costa College President McKinley Williams said. “He really cared about students.”

Reyes began serving on the

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

With a smile — Richmond College Prep School students perform the Tora Mambo dance at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Community College Celebration held at the Knox Center on Jan. 21.

LEADER REMEMBERED

By Alexandra Waite awaite.advocate@gmail.com

Community members and city officials cheered on performances put on by local schools in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life during Dr. King’s Annual Community Celebration in the Knox Center on Jan. 21.

Cultural dances, choral performances, and speeches rendered by high school, junior high school, elementary school, and Contra Costa

College students celebrated the life and legacy of King.

“The theme for this event is extraordinary — continue to dream through adversity,” Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin said. “It is not the adversity that one faces, but how the person emerges from that adversity; how they overcome the challenge.”

Academic skills department Chairwoman Elvia Ornelas-Garcia said King challenged

Governing Board in 2000 and ended his first term in 2004.

He was re-elected in 2008.

Ward 1 Trustee John E. Márquez said he last saw Reyes at Reyes a closed meeting on Jan. 11 where he seemed to be doing fine.

“At that meeting he was jovial and he looked all right,” Márquez said.

He was taken to the emergency room in the morning hours of Jan. 16 after he was hallucinating. His body failed to oxygenate itself as his lungs stopped working. He also was diagnosed with a blood infection and kidney failure. He was put on life support until his family decided to let him pass on, his daughter Jenny Reyes Cronan said.

“At first it seemed that he had a really bad cold,” Cronan said. Just four days prior to being taken to the emergency room, Reyes was unable to attend his birthday celebration because of his sickness. He refused to see a doctor.

■ SEE REYES: Page 4

Student beaten, robbed at gunpoint in brief w A student

was attacked by two suspects after dark at the Bus Transfer Center on Feb. 2

w Suspects

stole more than $1,000 in possessions

By Sam Attal sattal.advocate@gmail.com

After migrating to the United States from Rwanda on Dec. 27, Emmanuel Sangwa thought his stay would be safe as he left behind the troubles he faced back home.

However, the 25-year-old Contra Costa College student was stunned after he was pistol whipped and robbed of more than $1,000 in belongings at the Bus Transfer Center on campus on the night of Feb. 2.

At approximately 9:30 p.m. that night, two African-American males approached Sangwa as he played a game on his cell phone while waiting to catch the AC Transit Line 72 bus home.

Sangwa said the suspects snatched his smart phone, worth approximately $300, and asked for the rest of his belongings

■ SEE KING: Page 4

■ SEE ROBBERY: Page 4

Cooks compete for votes, class credit

■ SEE COOK-OFF: Page 4

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

The culinary arts department kicked off its pre-season opening with the Iron Chef Cook-Off, an event that ended in six talented students winning credit and prizes with their dish of chicken pad thai with egg-rolls and duck sauce.

The event was held at Three Season’s Restaurant on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event was a replica of the famous TV show, “Iron Chef America,” where the contestants are given one secret ingredient that must be used in their dish.

In the culinary students’ case, the requisite product was chicken; any part of the chicken could be

used.

The five different dishes that accompanied the winning dish were poulet en brioche canape, Vietnamese spring rolls, smoked chicken and bacon empanada, savory chicken trio and teriyaki chicken rolls.

As the doors opened for admittance, the line seemed to be neverending as a sea of hungry judges filled the room. There was a buffet-type setting where each person received a sample of each entrée, then took their sample back to their seats and began their judging process.

Once they finalized their decision on what chicken-inspired dish was the tastiest and best prepared, LAMAR JAMES / THE ADVOCATE

CMYK

By Angelina Rucobo arucobo.advocate@gmail.com

Quality service — Culinary arts students Alexus Cooper (left) and Eric Harris (right) serve patrons at the Iron Chef CookOff held at the Three Seasons on Feb. 3.

The event challenged culinary arts students to make elaborate meals with chicken as the main ingredient.

CMYK

2 THE ADVOCATE Quotable “Our job is to tell people the things they don’t know.

Our job is to tell people the things they can’t ask for in a survey.”

Carol Marin CBS News correspondent 1998 Sam Attal editor-in-chief Dariush Azmoudeh associate editor Lamar James associate editor Cassidy Gooding opinion editor Malcolm Lastra sports editor Alexandra Waite news editor George Morin photo editor Jermaine Harrison circulation manager Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Christopher Clausen April Halog Hilberth Ibarra Jazmaine Mitchell Iris Jett Horace Jordan Angelina Rucobo Janit Saechao Jesslyn Sherrod Parris Washington Rodney Woodson Staff photographers Hanan Ayyad Qing Huang Saleene Jones Adam Oliver Yao Saetern Jesse Sutherland Christian Urrutia Roman Young Staff illustrators Jared Amdahl Faythe Del Rosario Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 CNPA Better Newspaper Contest 1st Place Award 1970, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 JACC Pacesetter Award 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Member Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.235.7800 ext. 4315 Fax: 510.235.NEWS E-mail: advocate@ contracosta.edu or letters.advocate@ gmail.com Editorial policy Columns and editorial cartoons are the opinion of individual writers and artists and not that of The Advocate. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.

OPINION

l WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 2011

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 2011 VOL. 96, NO. 1 ●

Editorial Assembly required

Cooperation between teachers, pupils needed

I

n early January, newly inaugurated Governor Jerry Brown proposed his first budget outline for California.

And apparently, depending on how the cards fall in June, Contra Costa Community College District is facing one of three scenarios.

If things go down the way administrators are hoping, our district will only lose $10.2 million. If they don’t, we’re talking either a $15.8 million or $21.5 million loss to the district’s budget.

These outcomes are hinging on whether the current budget proposal is passed.

Any of the outcomes will mean further cuts to class sections and educational programs, as well as another inflation to the ever-swelling cost of tuition.

In already trying times, these losses are, in a word, drastic. Anyone trying to fit into classes that were bursting at the seams at the beginning of this semester can attest to the fact that students at Contra Costa College are already struggling to get all their units. What happens when sections get scarcer while the fees go up?

Fortunately, students have the power and the right to take action and build firewalls around our district’s funds.

In fact, just by force of sheer numbers, we as students could be an unstoppable influence in deciding what goes on in these dealings. After all, in the end, we’re the ones working to collect classes and footing a large portion of the bills.

The only problem seems to be the lack of interest about these issues in the student body. Sure, we all feel the crunch when it comes time to sign up and pay for classes, but a startlingly slight number of students show up to the budget forums or even know what’s going on.

It’s time for this to change.

The deans, professors and administrators attending and participating in these budget meetings need to start informing their classes about what the district is dealing with budget-wise. By the time most students hear about cuts, it’s too late to do anything to prevent them.

Educators need to start taking the initiative and the time to break down what’s happening in Sacramento, clearly outlining what measures students can take to start having a louder voice.

Obviously, everyone is stressed about further cuts to funds. Many professors have too much on their plates as it is.

Fitting a lecture about letter-writing campaigns or marches on the state capitol into already busy schedules and syllabuses can be a daunting — and frankly annoying — task. But when the best-case scenario at this point is a staggering slash of more than $10 million and the worst is twice that, what other choice is there?

FAYTHE DEL ROSARIO / THE ADVOCATE

■ Success

Females to blame for faulty relationships

O

ne thing I have heard throughout my lifetime is that “nice guys finish last.”

This is something I, to this day, don’t understand because I always tend to ask myself, “Don’t girls want a guy that’s going to treat them right?” Yet in today’s society, I am beginning to learn that the saying becomes more and more true day-by-day.

For as long as I can remember, whether it be at school, the mall or even on Facebook, I can’t help but overhear and see women talking about how their boyfriends treated them wrong.

It’s an issue that is always discussed a lot among single women, young or old, who have been in a relationship where the male spouse did something wrong. Usually, he gets caught either lying or cheating with another female.

While these things are certainly wrong, I have personally grown tired of women’s constant complaining about how badly they were treated when they don’t do anything to better themselves.

For example, I often hear women say they need a guy who is going to treat them kindly, with respect and that will be honest with them.

Despite having these wants in guys, it seems as if some women always go after the guy with almost the same characteristics as the last dude they were just with who mistreated them.

It’s like some women don’t learn their lesson when dealing with a guy who only wants to be with them for one obvious reason.

malcolmlastra I understand that in this world everybody is out searching for love, and there is nothing wrong with a woman trying to find that, but it becomes ridiculous when they don’t give that “good guy” a chance.

They’d rather go for the guy who they know is going to treat them badly but they want him because it feels right.

Now, I am not saying all females do this as some go out and find the guy they want and stick with him. But there are a lot of women who don’t get the concept that when you have something good, you hold on to it.

While there are a lot of guys that do treat females wrong, I don’t disagree with the men who have intimate relationships with multiple girls, because usually, if not most of the time, the girl sets herself up for guys to take advantage of her.

Like the saying goes, “don’t hate the player, hate the game.”

Especially if it’s the game that you’re playing.

I have seen too many guys, myself included, with the right intentions getting constantly turned down by women because we are either too nice or not rough enough to handle them.

Because of these rejections and the games some

women play, it forces us guys with good intentions to take whatever women throw at us.

Whether it be just a friendship or a physical relationship, which sometimes isn’t always the right thing, all we really want is to have just one girl instead of stressing over multiple girls with different emotions.

Think about it ladies: you will never get the guy you want if you keep settling down with the guys you know are going to use you instead of picking yourself up from your previous relationship and finding a man who is going to treat you right.

All of these repeated complaints from women about how all guys are players or how the right man doesn’t exist, are all false because there are some of us that still have the ability to treat a girl right and not judge her for her past.

I know that a lot of you women will take what I’m saying as nonsense, and some of you are going to continue to go for the guy with the most flash; you’re going to continue to get hurt and cry about it to your friends and on Facebook. But ladies, please hear me out and give a good-hearted guy a chance before you let him go, because you may never know if he’ll ever be back in your life, and you may be the one who finishes last.

Malcolm Lastra is the sports editor of The Advocate. Contact him at mlastra.advocate@gmail. com.

CampusComment

How difficult was it getting into your classes this semester?

“It was pretty easy for me. I registered early and got add codes for my waitlisted classes.”

Harry Bhandal

“We need more classes.

The student-to-class ratio is too high.”

“(I faced) average difficulty. Whatever class was open, I took.”

Jorge Raya

Ryan Roos

psychology

psychology

FAYTHE DEL ROSARIO & JESSE SUTHERLAND,/ THE ADVOCATE

undecided

“The first day, I got all my classes. But last year it was worse. I was unprepared.”

Jimmy Lim history

“I had late add complications.”

“Easy, because I had priority registration.”

Abel Henriquez

Cameron Rojas

art

computer science

FORUM ■ Misunderstood

lamarjames

Today’s youth discredited by society

H

ow often has it been said that the youth of today are on a path of destruction?

Living with an elderly grandparent has highlighted the generational gap among teenagers, young adults and elders for me. Not only have I realized it, but I have also seen it in action.

On Jan. 29, I was summoned to a youth council meeting at church. The meeting was to discuss youth participation in the church and getting more involved in the ministry. I have been attending church services for as long as I can remember and have become quite fond of the Bible scriptures.

Do I believe everything I hear? No. Do I have questions because I don’t understand something? Yes. So I listened as the meeting was taking place. I felt I haven’t been there long enough to give too much of a voice without looking like I was changing the whole program.

As I listened, I heard very good ideas and even empathized with some of the emotions that were expressed. The youth wanted to participate in a major way. Some of the ideas the group discussed were a youth choir, youth usher board, getting more involved in the community and a youth bible class.

When everyone was done, the pastor was asked to tell us what he thought. I thought it would be a warm response.

Instead, he stood up there and told the youth, “You guys can’t have any of this stuff because before you can have this, you have to know the word of God.” Many of these young adults grew up in the church and sat for countless Sundays listening to the “Word of God.” Many are well versed in the scriptures and are trying to do what they think is right. Many are working students and parents who are finding their way through life, but have a thirst for Jesus and his teachings.

I am a more spiritual person myself, and really just go formally to church to have a divine connection with some type of supreme being. Many of the elders in the church, however, have been taught a more traditional way.

Many young people have had some traditional values instilled in then, but have more contemporary views and attitudes. I feel the elders of today have lost their faith in the young to lead. In my experience, I feel many elders think we are incapable of leading. Many elders feel we are on a path of destruction.

I have heard my grandmother, aunts and church members utter this phrase and it scares me. Do they know many of us are trying to do the right thing, fighting for their faith to be restored in us? Many youngsters are truly making a way; impacting this world in ways unseen and maybe unrecognized.

When we hear the word “Youth” we must change the negative images that may come to mind: rap music, sagging jeans, gold teeth, hanging on street corners and selling drugs. We must shift the linked images to more positive ones: mentor, student, leader, motivator.

Lamar James is a associate editor of The Advocate.

Contact him at ljames. advocate@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 2011 l THE ADVOCATE

3

■ Carelessness

O

Neglect yields adolescent sex

n Jan. 21, the local media was flooded because of a pair of second graders who performed oral sex on one another at Markham Elementary School in Oakland while a teacher was present in the classroom.

The teacher was suspended indefinitely in this case, along with a different incident that happened earlier in that week. It involved some students supposedly removing all of their clothing while the teacher was there.

However, while many of us agree that the lack of supervision in that classroom is incredibly ridiculous and the teacher not gaining control of these situations raises concerned eyebrows, the blame for these problems should not rest solely on the instructor’s shoulders.

The reasons why these incidents happened may also derive from natural sexual exploration, peer pressure, media and the faulty quality of parental supervision.

Sex is not only natural, but instinctive – it is, after

In 2002, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit organization focusing on reproductive health, found that by their late teenage years, at least 3/4 of all men and women had had sexual intercourse and 2/3 of the sexually experienced all, what makes human exis- teens had had more than one tence possible. While many sexual partner.

About nine years after the kids are unaware of the other fact, many of us may know gender’s bodies, it is pospeople who lost their virginsible that they show each other their genitals and gain ity earlier than at 16 years a closer perspective. Many of age. Has the average age of us were told at a young to engage in sexual activity age that this is what is called among young people low“playing doctor.” ered since then? That may be Having one’s judgment the case. As times are changswayed by a fellow classing, youth are, too. mate is no new discovery.

Nowadays, the topic Children are easily forced of sex and sexual acts are into doing whatever their expressed all over television friends are doing. Six and 7- and the Internet. On televiyear-olds are impressionable. sion, the most good-looking If you are not doing what and popular people have sex. the cool kids are doing, then While some children you are not cool. In this aspire to be princesses and situation, a few kids may firemen, others may believe have engaged in these acts that they can do whatever because the other students adults can do. Pornography suggested to them that they is easily found on the should do so.

Internet and students are

faythedelrosario

able to stumble upon these images through the popular search engine Google.

While it is suggested to make what your children see online and TV age appropriate, there may be some parents who are unaware or apathetic about blocking certain websites and channels from adolescent eyes.

The possible lack of supervision from parents should be acknowledged because children do not notice if they are doing something wrong or inappropriate unless they are told so.

Even though most of us will scrutinize the teacher for not successfully ceasing the behavior of the kids the first time and criticize the inability to notice something as explicit as oral sex within a classroom, there may be other reasons for the students’ actions.

Faythe Del Rosario is a staff illustrator for The Advocate. Contact her at frosario.advocate@gmail.com.

AmourEvolved

Cupid’s arrow updated for modern lifestyles

By Cassidy Gooding cgooding.advocate@gmail.com

C

ome Monday, millions of red envelopes, dark chocolates and slinky sets of lingerie will be licked, loved and laced up for the one night of the year that probably places more pressure on Americans than any other.

Everyone wants a Valentine. From single people who have spent the past two weeks scrambling to find a date for the night, even to the boyfriends who will wait until Sunday to make reservations for that dream dinner that’ll keep them out of trouble, countless people are currently – or about to be – feeling the sting of Cupid’s arrows.

It’s been this way since grade school, when Valentine’s Day was all about cupcakes, cubbies and class-sets of Power Rangers or Scooby-Doo-themed cards, cementing the holiday in American culture as one that everyone can enjoy.

The raw, non-religious and simple motif of love may just be what makes Valentine’s Day so enticing. Couple America’s passion for buying and selling with our passion for, well, passion, give a baby angel a bow and voila! Valentine’s Day is on every calendar and one of the biggest holidays of the year.

Sure, the super-commercialization of the day can turn some people off.

Yes, the fact that the U.S. Greeting Card Association is estimating that more than 190 million valentines will be sent this year and that dozens and dozens of red roses will be purchased can offend those with wallets and hearts aching from economical and environmental plights. But how many people really think about where the holiday originated from?

Though the history of the multiple saints named Valentine, documented to have lived throughout the second and third centuries, is murky and not very interesting, legends began to mix with fact, breeding stories and traditions around the saints’ day.

It took years for the holiday to develop romantic sentiments; the first documented Valentine’s Days as

lovers’ days were in the 14th century.

The oldest version of the story is that St. Valentine was thrown into jail

by Roman Emperor Claudius II for performing secret marriages for couples in love even after the rites were made illegal as a political attempt to strengthen the army. A modern twist to the tale is that St. Valentine made a card for his own beloved on the eve of his execution, signing it “From your Valentine.”

Since then, the term “Valentine” has been used by everyone from Shakespeare to horror film director Patrick Lussier.

The holiday, however, didn’t arrive in America until the late 1840s.

Esther Howland, whose father operated a large book and stationary store in Massachusetts, began to design and sell Valentines for the budding nation. The idea, with all the romantic notions attached, took off running, getting grander and cornier with each passing

year.

The late 19th century saw mass production of cards instead of original hand-made ones. In the 20th century, love struck heroes began to ply the apples of their eye with all sorts of gifts; this is when heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and long-stemmed roses became symbols of the day.

In the 1980s, diamond-sellers decided to get romantic and advertise their wares as perfect Valentine’s Day gifts.

Today, and only recently, companies like Victoria’s Secret and Trojan brand condoms have begun to switch up the roles, suggesting that girlfriends and wives participate in the gift-giving, as well.

Valentine’s Day has its supporters, its dissenters and those that won’t even realize on Tuesday that they missed it.

However, it’s a centuries-old tradition that will forever be a day for lovers.

JARED AMDAHL/ THE ADVOCATE

4 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 2011

accent advocate ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Twitter

Receive breaking news and updates by following The Advocate’s Twitter account, AccentAdvocate.

Newsline ■ TRANSFER

UC Berkeley reaches out Representatives from UC Berkeley will be in SSC-106 located in the Transfer/Career Center from 9:40 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. to meet with students today. To schedule an appointment, students can call 510235-7800, ext. 4241.

■ PRESENTATION

African heritage celebrated The African studies department and the Black Student Union will present the annual Black History Month Celebration “Celebrating Blackness: From Africa to America” in the Knox Center on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information, contact professor Carolyn Hodge at 510235-7800, ext. 4540, or professor Manu Ampim at ext. 4351.

CAMPUS BEAT

Enrollment surges, floods

By Alexandra Waite awaite.advocate@gmail.com

Over-enrollment has made a return this semester as waitlists fill up and students scavenge for seats in crowded classrooms.

Despite budget cuts, the college is offering more course sections than previous semesters, yet the majority of classes are still full.

Currently there are 9,386 students enrolled, and as the semester goes on with late-start classes, the college will have more than 10,000 students, Senior Dean of Research and Planning Tim Clow said.

“In better economic times, (high enrollment) would be wonderful,” Dr. Clow said. “But the state has a cap and no money at the state means we can’t grow. Students are realizing they need an education (and) when the state starts cutting back, institutions like ours are in deep trouble.”

Over-enrolled classes especially affect students who have limited time for school due to heavy work schedules.

Psychology major Cecilia Urias said she had limited options to choose from out of night classes, but that was her only choice as she works during the day.

“I signed up for my psychology class about a week after registration opened and I was already put on the waitlist,” Urias said.

Clow said there are two large groups of students at the college — new students between 18 and 22 years old and those between 36 and 40 years old coming back to get more education.

“I think more people coming back is beneficial in a way, more people are getting educated as a whole. But for us new students, it’s hard for us to get the classes we need and to get into UCs,” Urias said.

Mathematics professor Susan Van Hattum said in math classes, people usually end up dropping within a few weeks.

Van Hattum said there is a different dynamic between large classes and small classes, and neither is necessarily bad. In her Math 120 course, her class is split up into two different rooms, which requires her to be more attentive in watching the students.

“We’ve got more students than we anticipated,” Clow said.

Right now, the college is 300 over the Full Time Equivalent Student goal for the school year. One FTES is one student taking 15 units.

There are 778 active course sections, which

is a few more than last spring, he said.

Van Hattum said it is sad that the college does not have enough sections to comfortably hold students, but understands the main reason is that the country is in a recession.

Students need to make sure they get the right classes they need and make sure they can successfully pass, Clow said.

“So much depends on if we get growth money,” he said. “Students can make sure (they) vote for the tax increase extension in the special election. That will keep us alive.”

The tax increase extension would extend the temporary increases on income and sales taxes enacted in the Schwarzenegger administration to a five-year period in an attempt to close the large hole in the budget.

In 2005, Contra Costa College had 7,000 students enrolled, and going up to 10,000 shows there are more students wanting to attend college, Clow said.

He hopes students understand they will be at the bottom of the run unless they have a degree, because without basic skills such as mathematics and professional writing knowledge, they will have a difficult time acquiring a sustainable job.

Robbery | Gunpoint Reyes | Trustee dies ■ FROM: Page 1

while threatening him with black pistols. When he refused to comply, he was pistol whipped across the left side of his head and pushed down.

“At first I wasn’t scared because I thought it was a toy gun,” Sangwa said. “In my country, people would break into houses and rob people with toy guns.”

After hitting the victim, the suspect, described as a slim 6-foot tall African-American male wearing ■ MEETING an army green camouflage jacket, pointed the pistol into Sangwa’s abdomen and asked for his belongings again.

Sangwa handed over his bag containing his laptop valued at The Black Student Union will approximately $900. The suspects hold its first meeting to connect also took his wallet containing $50 and get involved with students on in cash and various cards.

The second suspect was only Feb. 17 in LA-105 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. described as an African-America For more information, contact male as well but wearing “someBarbara at ccc.bsu@gmail.com thing black,” Police Services Sgt. Ryan Huddleston said.

Both suspects fled southbound on Mission Bell Drive and appeared ■ ORIENTATION to run into the Del Camino Valencia housing area adjacent to the campus.

Sangwa soon flagged down Police Services Officer Jon Caries who took the report and called Contra Costa College will be San Pablo Police to search the surhosting a First Year Experience rounding areas. The suspects were Convocation in the Fireside Room nowhere in sight and no evidence on Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. was found. to orientate new students and provide them with information on how to graduate.

For details, contact Kelly Ramos at 510-235-7800, ext. 4407.

BSU connects with campus

Help for new CCC students

Huddleston said the area is known for robberies. On the morning of Dec. 10, a juvenile Middle College High School student was robbed of his cell phone and $15 in Lot 1 near the Bus Transfer Center.

During both incidents, Huddleston said only one Police Services officer was patrolling the campus due to budget cuts his department has faced.

He said the department can only afford to have one officer patrolling the campus from 7-11 a.m. and 7-11 p.m. on weekdays. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., two officers patrol the campus.

Huddleston recommends that students who use the Bus Transfer Center should walk in groups to avoid such altercations. He said students also need to be attentive when in the area.

He also recommends stashing away any electronics while waiting for the bus or walking on campus at night.

“Try not to use your phones and iPods,” he said. “You’re telling the suspect ‘look what I have.’ You’re flaunting it.”

If students feel unsafe walking around campus, he urges them to call Police Services at 510-2357800, ext. 4333, to ask for an escort.

“It could have happened to anyone,” Sangwa said. “I was just unlucky that night.”

■ FROM: Page 1

Ward 3 Trustee Sheila A. Grilli said Reyes’ position will be opened to applications. She said Reyes was a strong asset to the Governing Board that will be difficult to replace.

“He enjoyed serving the public,” Grilli said. “He was a conscientious board member.”

Recently retired Ward 1 trustee Anthony Gordon said he was surprised to hear of Reyes’ death.

“I’m totally shocked,” Dr..

Gordon said. “I’m saddened by it.

I consider him a friend.”

Those who knew Reyes saw him as a man who saw a need to dissect political policies that affected local government and his most important concern — education.

At Governing Board and LMCHD meetings, Reyes would express his views on policies, even if his opinion was not popular.

“He was no fluff,” CCC sociology professor J. Vern Cromartie said. “Jess was the type of man that would tell it like he saw it, even if other people didn’t like it.”

Dr. Cromartie served on the LMCHD Board of Trustees alongside Reyes and said he admired the fact that Reyes would question anything without hesitation.

Cronan said she would get frustrated with the way Reyes thought sometimes.

“He was incredibly intelligent, and I’m not just saying that

Cook-Off | Students contend

■ DRAMA

■ FROM: Page 1

they took their blue ticket and headed for the numbered dish of their choice to vote. The outcome for the event was inspiring, as the line for entry began to grow throughout the competition with many having to wait outside.

Laughter, fun commentary on the dishes received and good company made for a successful event by the The drama department will culinary arts department. present “Cinderella,” directed by The cost to sample the food was $5 a plate and Clay David, on March 2-5 in the $1 for a drink. In attendance were not only students, but faculty, family members and other community Knox Center at 8 p.m.

Admission for children is $5, members who came out to support the culinary arts $10 for students/seniors, and $15 department. general admission. A matinee is All of the proceedings from the competition went scheduled for March 6 at 4:00 right back into the culinary program, which the chairp.m.

Classic fairy-tale played in Knox

CrimeWatch Tuesday, Jan. 25: A student was caught masturbating in a corner behind a dumpster.

Thursday, Jan. 27: A victim reported her wallet stolen from her backpack while in class.

Friday, Jan. 28: An unknown suspect broke into a victim’s vehicle in Lot 10.

Monday, Jan. 31: An officer responded to a medical report. The student was transported to the hospital.

Tuesday, Feb. 1: A student reported her vehicle was damaged by another unknown vehicle when it was parked on Upper Campus Drive.

Wednesday, Feb. 2: A victim reported the theft of her cell phone from the Library.

Thursday, Feb. 3: A vendor reported the theft of jewelry from her table while selling in the quad.

— Alexandra Waite

person and Chef Nader Sharkes said, “We use the money to buy ingredients and other things. We make our own budget.”

He said, “(There was) lots of hard work, dedication, and one thing I cannot teach: common sense.”

Walking by the buffet line, the open structure of the kitchen let the judges see right into the kitchen. The crashing, clinking and clanking of dishes and yelling of instructions from the hardworking students in the kitchen could be heard throughout the dining area.

As the winning team was announced, there was a feeling of camaraderie, described by a competing student, culinary arts major Lawrence Delong.

“Everyone is like one big team. It is not about who wins. My main concern is that our guests are happy and get what they want.”

Budget | Proposal unsettles ■ FROM: Page 1

ous yearly reductions.

“This is my 21st year and I have never seen anything like this.” Dr. Benjamin said. “We can only hope that the proposition will get on the ballot and that it will pass.”

“You have to constantly adapt to weather the storm until the next wave of resources comes down from the state,” President McKinley Williams said.

Even more, the consecutive nature of the reductions over the last few years has put Contra Costa College in a difficult position to make even further cuts, Williams said. “We’ve had to reduce before but haven’t had the same circumstances,” Williams said. “Most of our courses are very productive.

This is taking meat off the bone.”

Planning scenario two would result in a district-wide Full-Time Equivalent Student reduction of 2,888.24 and a FTES reduction of 594.47 for CCC. Each FTES counts for 15 units taken, which would result in a near 10 percent enrollment reduction for the district and college.

Course offerings would also be reduced by approximately 10 percent, necessitating the consoli-

dation or even elimination of programs and courses.

The Legislative Analyst’s Office suggested that physical education courses, and others defined by the state as recreational, be made non-repeatable for state funding in order to minimize harm to higher prioritized sections.

“They see us as an easier way to cut funding,” physical education department Chairwoman Beth Goehring said.

Art department Chairman John Diestler said he worries that the systemic devaluing of the arts may compromise the creative core needed for most jobs.

“I worry that very few educational managers understand the importance of the arts,” Diestler said. “They give lip service to it, (but) they truly don’t understand that we have the culture we have (because of the arts).”

Reductions in apportionment and FTES would amount to a $3.9 million reduction to CCC that would reduce services and affect staff greatly, Williams said.

With more than 90 percent of the budget in people and benefits, “it’s going to be impossible to avoid affecting people,” he said.

Figures from a 2011-2012 budget reduction plan presented by Williams in LA-100 on Feb. 2 planned for reductions of $650,000 by means of retirement, $480,000 from part-time classified staff, $200,000 from the centralization of functions, $1.3 million in staffing reductions, $500,000 in carry over funds and $770,000 from where is to be determined.

There are still other factors that could offset current projections.

If the census date for calculating FTES were changed from a fixed week four count to a dual census averaging the fourth and twelfth weeks, the district could stand to lose significant funding, Williams said. With an average 20 to 30 percent dropout rate for courses, “unless we improve our retention, our FTES may suffer,” he said.

If Proposition 98 were to be suspended by Legislature and the tax extension were to fail, the state would be facing the bleakest scenario three, including $899 million in cuts statewide, or an $18.9 million reduction across the district.

“Scenario three is the one I don’t want to think about,” Benjamin said. “We would reduce to a size that is just unimaginable.”

because he was my dad; it was kind of annoying,” she said with a laugh. “There was something logical about his thinking even if you didn’t see it at the time.”

Reyes was born in 1930 in the Philippines as the youngest of four siblings. In 1948 he left the country and traveled via ship for 28 days until he arrived in San Francisco.

In the states, he began studying chemistry in hopes to land a wellpaying job. In 1951, he served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. In 1955 he obtained a bachelor’s degree from University of the Pacific.

In 1956, he married Ile Reyes after meeting her at University of the Pacific where he was attending graduate school.

He began teaching at Cerritos College when the couple moved to Whittier. The two moved to Pittsburg in 1967 and Reyes was offered teaching jobs at CCC and Los Medanos College soon after.

He retired in 1995.

A funeral mass was held for Reyes on Monday after a traditional Catholic rosary ceremony was held on Sunday.

Jess is survived by his wife Ile Reyes, his brother Augusto Reyes, his son Jess A. Reyes, his daughter Jenny Reyes Cronan, his grandchildren Brittany Loyola, Blakeley Loyola, Samantha Cronan, Justin Reyes, Jordan Reyes, Jacob Reyes and Jesse Reyes.

King ■ FROM: Page 1

discrimination against non-white Americans during a bleak time in United States history.

At the end of her speech, Garcia urged audience members to think about the messages shared during the program and to continue King’s work.

One of the crowd favorites of the night was the Latin style couple dancing performed by Richmond College Prep School. The act had children dressed up with girls in white dresses and boys in cowboy attire, moving to upbeat music.

“I loved the little kids’ (performance),” said Melody Hanson, senior executive assistant to the college president. “I think Dr. King’s message resonates with the community. That’s why (this event is) so important.”

Hercules resident Carolyn Anderson said the event was well planned and presented, but she wished more people could have shown up.

College President McKinley Williams said, “It was a fitting tribute to Dr. King and the legacy he provided to the entire world. We need to keep the memory of Dr. King alive.”

Former Governing Board trustee Anthony Gordon created the annual celebration of King’s life in 1972. It has remained an important event on campus ever since, Williams said.

A choral performance titled “Unto the King” vocalized the sentiment of the event, and choir members urged the audience to chime in and sing along with lyrics printed on the programs.

Anderson said, “People need to know it took someone like Dr. King to get us where we are today.

We need to know about our past to help develop our future.”

King was a man who fought for social justice and peace, supported people who are underserved, and the community needs to keep his spirit among us, Williams said.

CAMPUS BEAT

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 2011 l THE ADVOCATE

Skinner visits college, gives talk on budget

SENSITIVE MATTERS

Assemblywoman discusses strategy

By Adam Oliver aoliver.advocate@gmail.com

SAM ATTAL/ THE ADVOCATE

Caring hands — Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner speaks to a crowd of community members and elected officials about the budget in LA-100 on Saturday.

At an interactive presentation seeking to both educate her constituents and collect their feedback, Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner of the 14th District provided a crash course in budget balancing and a clearer view of many complex fiscal policies in LA100 at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Some 85 students, faculty members and individuals of varying backgrounds poured into the lecture hall to participate in the California Budget Challenge, an activity created and presented by the educational organization Next 10.

Using wireless instant response clickers, attendants cast their votes on budgetary issues spanning from prisons to property taxes, with collective results displayed immediately. And after allocating funding and deciding how to pay for it, the liberally spending audience managed to transform a $12.1 million deficit into a $3.9 million surplus.

“What I felt, and why I love this area, is that we are willing to share,” Skinner said.

“That’s what I take back to the capital and do my best to protect.”

Skinner and Next 10 will compile the results from the summit and two others held later in the day at Claremont Middle School in Oakland and Acalanes High School in Lafayette, in order to have real statistics of the voting habits of her constituency, Skinner said.

5

“I appreciate (Assemblywoman) Skinner bringing this out to the people, other elected officials don’t do that,” Governing Board Trustee John Márquez said. “This gives them the opportunity to hear it from a person who has their finger on the pulse.”

Skinner also brought clarity to many convoluted policies by breaking down the consequences of each decision, he said.

“I felt confident that we could balance the budget, and I hope the state legislators feel the same way,” said Pat Player, a Richmond resident who heard of the event through the League of Women Voters.

Though lacking a great deal of discretion, Skinner said the content and structure of the challenge is similar to that of the one facing state legislators.

“For every question, there was a choice that’s actually in the governor’s proposal.

Everything we did today was directly related (to the budget),” she said.

“She’s extremely informative and passionate about getting public input into the legislative process,” President McKinley Williams said.

Additionally, Williams said Skinner is an adamant supporter of community colleges and “knows how important it is for the people we serve.”

Academic Senate President Richard Akers agreed. “She’s been a good supporter.

She got involved with politics as a student and retains that student advocacy,” he said.

While many attended the summit to better acquaint themselves with the daunting budget reductions, many others also came in support of Skinner’s legislative efforts.

“She’s up against republicans who pledge to stop” the tax extension at all costs and needs the support from members of her district, he said.

Former secretary, activist passes away Perry, 80, dies of long-term illness

By Cassidy Gooding cgooding.advocate@gmail.com

Early this year, a dedicated educator and advocate for women’s rights danced into the beyond.

Marjorie “Jean” Perry, former parttime professor and secretary to the president, passed away on Jan. 8 following a long-term illness.

As daughter Jill Perry described, “She and my dad (Kenneth Perry) were still competing in jitterbug contests well into their seventies.

They’re the only people I’ve ever known to have a dance floor in their house.”

Born Dec. 10, 1930 in Richmond, Perry grew up during the Great Depression, with a father

who was president of a union that was always on strike, according to her daughter.

Perry graduated from Richmond Union High School in 1948 and jumped right into the work force, determined to make a life full of opportunities for the family she planned to raise.

“She stopped working in 1957 to have children,” Jill Perry said.

“But returned about 10 years later.”

In 1971, Jean Perry took classes at Contra Costa College and eventually received a bachelor’s degree in management and supervision from the University of San Francisco and begin teaching the subject at junior colleges in the district.

Current senior executive assistant to the college president Melody Hanson said, “Students always praised her for being a great teacher. Teaching was what she really loved to do.”

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President McKinley Williams said. “She always portrayed the college in a professional way, was always meticulously dressed and was an exemplary representative in the community for CCC.” After retiring from CCC in 1993, Perry remained an active member in the community, becoming what her chil- Perry dren called a “compulsive joiner.”

“She was a sucker for a good cause,” Jill Perry said. “She was a part of so many clubs and won so many awards (for speaking and teaching), she didn’t have the wall space to hang them all.”

Throughout her life, Perry was a member of the Moose Lodge, the Navy League, multiple dance troupes and was even the first woman invited to join the San

Pablo branch of the Rotary Club.

As the first female member, she was definitely memorable, going so far as to attend a Rotary meeting in a CCC cheerleading uniform. “(Jean) had a lively sense of humor and an infectious laugh,” Williams said.

“My mother was definitely a ‘fashionista,’” Jill Perry recounted. “She’d go as far as Hong Kong to find the perfect accessories.”

But Perry’s true passion in life was women’s rights.

“It’s because of her and women like her that there are so many more opportunities now. In her day, ladies could be nurses or mothers or secretaries. Today the choices are limitless,” said Jill Perry.

In her effort for equal rights, Perry made many motivational

speeches and even participated in marches to the state capital protesting unjust practices in the workplace. As part of the Business and Professional Women’s Organization, she would “probably most like to be remembered for her efforts to break that glass ceiling,” Jill Perry said.

Perry is survived by her husband Kenneth Perry of Pinole, son and daughter-in-law Mark and Pamela Perry of Martinez, daughter Jill Perry of Richmond, and grandchildren Jonelle, Jillian, Janine, Jolene, Steven and Ryan.

A service celebrating her life was held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church – the same church she and Kenneth Perry were married in on Jan. 22.

“It was a heart-warming tribute,” Jill Perry said, that her mother would have been happy to witness.

District to offer students updated e-mail addresses

By Lamar James ljames.advocate@gmail.com

The Contra Costa Community College District will be offering students new e-mail addresses in an effort to have an updated and accurate way of contacting students for notifications of student services.

The e-mail system is set to launch Tuesday, will be offered through Microsoft Live and will be an extension of the Microsoft Outlook administration version used by professors on campus.

The new system will give students a way to access important information through the InSite Portal and WebAdvisor and will link the three together, working as an interactive online social networking tool. The email system will be offered to the college at no cost to the students or to the district.

Technology systems manager James Eyestone said, “We are offering this e-mail system because students sometimes forget to update their e-mail, or maybe are no longer using the e-mails they gave to the college and it becomes difficult to send them information.” He said students are not updating their e-mails through Admission and Records, and when it is time to send the students important information through e-mail, they are not receiving it because their e-mails are not up to date. He said by offering this new email system, the college has a current e-mail address for students which they can check to start receiving information.

“We have had some problems in the past with the WebAdvisor password reset. When students do not give the correct e-mail and need to reset the password, they will not be able to,” Eyestone said. “There are many different features that students will be able to utilize with the new e-mail system.”

He said that students will not only be offered an e-mail address, but an address book to keep contacts,

a calendar to store important dates.

“I think students will welcome student e-mail because they are offered to students at no cost, and they can continue to use the e-mail addresses even after they graduate from the district.”

“Students will also benefit from it being a one-stop shop for student information, and it will be a single sign-in, which means when you sign in to the InSite Portal you can access information from the portal and e-mail,” network technology manager Katherine Ogden said.

“We have not been able to offer student e-mails at first because we would have had to manage over 250,000 e-mail accounts and we did not have the means to do that,” she said. “This new step that we are taking will make it easier to stay up to date with students and provide them with information in a timely manner.”

She said that when e-mails are not up to date it makes it hard for students to utilize the information that is coming to them, because many are not receiving it. Ogden said there will be a way through the portal and e-mail for teachers and students to stay contacted. Student Roxanne Tadina said, “I would use the new e-mail system to stay in touch with my professors and check for homework assignments.”

Tadina said she has used e-mail in the past as a way to reach her professors and thinks that is the most effective way of communicating with professors when it is urgent.

“I can see the e-mails being helpful to students, especially the students who will be using the e-mail system,” she said. She continued to say that this system is a way that the college is putting an effort to help students in a time when technology has become so prevalent in their lives. “Sometime students need reminders to what is going on in class, and this will be a way to communicate with them at their pace.”

6 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 2011

ASU shows hospitality to students Snacks, drinks relieve back-toschool stress

By Janit Saechao jsaechao.advocate@gmail.com

As Contra Costa College opened its doors for the spring semester of 2011, students scrambling for units and standing in long lines for book purchases were offered a distraction from the usual early-term stressors.

Welcome Week was held Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, in the lobby of the Student Services Center. It was organized and made possible by

the Associated Student Union.

Laid out on a table were a variety of donuts and Starbucks coffee and tea. “We’re doing this to make students feel welcome and to give them a reason to look forward to coming back to the campus,” ASU Director of Public Relations Albert Ambris said as he offered a student a cup of tea. These two days were held for the sole purpose of welcoming students back to school.

This was also a way for the ASU to reach out to the students, Ambris said. “It also shows the ASU is doing something for students and that they can rely on us to watch out for them.” Rodney Wilson, executive vice president said, “Not only does this welcome students back, it allows students to identify with the ASU Senate,

CAMPUS BEAT

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Quick to serve — Associated Student Union member Islam Ayyad serves students baked goods and refreshments during the ASU Welcome Week in the Student Services Building on Jan. 31. because we are there to serve the donuts and coffee to the students. It enables them to put our faces with our names. ” Welcome Week is held during the first or second week of every semester, but this Welcome Week was different due to the budget

cuts, Wilson said. “We were ultimately trying to find inexpensive ways to welcome our students back,” he said.

The idea of giving donuts and coffee to students first came up in the summer of 2010 during a meeting of the ASU Senate. “We

thought with all the fees that students have to pay for classes, it would be nice to be able to offer them free breakfast,” Wilson said.

Welcome Week was made possible by the ASU’s funds collected last semester from vendor fees.

Building receives floorplan changes Recent renovations better infrastructure

By Christopher Clausen cclausen.advocate@gmail.com

Last semester the Applied Arts Building was a mess.

Construction work was being done both downstairs and upstairs and students had to take alternate routes to get to their classes.

But now, the construction work is done and the AA Building is new and improved.

Upon entering the AA Building, one of the most noticeable changes can be seen near the downstairs bathrooms.

A large blue wall, which to some may

seem rather pointless at first, separates the men’s bathroom from the women’s bathroom.

Aside from merely separating the two rooms, the wall also creates a small hallway leading to the men’s restroom, but not the women’s.

Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King, who looks over maintaining the facilities and the landscaping on campus, says that there were a few “hiccups” during the construction.

“I could see everyone doing their business,” King said, as he explained why the wall was built.

According to King, in a bigger plan to renovate the entire campus, the Applied Arts Building went through some early changes.

The changes were made not only to keep up with a code that the campus must

Slashed funds kill printing services Reprographics’ in brief termination falls w Lack of hard on faculty reprographics service has forced instructors to give out fewer handouts to students.

w The college

Bookstore will now be able to print only necessary syllabuses, readers and handouts to be sold to students.

w Some

instructors are moving to online services such as WebCT and the In-Site WebPortal to give students handouts and lectures.

w Copiers will

be moved to highly-used areas such as the Liberal Arts Building and Applied Arts Building in the near future.

w The college

is still planning to use its current funding on 19 new copiers that will be placed around the campus.

w The college

has found a third-party printing site, Unique Printing in Richmond.

By George Morin gmorin.advocate@gmail.com

Teachers and students will now have to work together to obtain all of their printed materials.

The decision to dissolve reprographic services on campus was made at a committee meeting held by faculty, classified staff and managers, Business Services Supervisor Nick Dimitri said.

Originally, reprographics services was a team of two classified workers and one student worker.

Teachers in the past would fill their requests for copies of their syllabuses, readers and other handouts given at the start of the semester to the college Bookstore who would then give the information to reprographics, who would then make the copies.

Bookbuyer Darris Crear and a student worker have taken over the Bookstore’s copier needs.

“Myself and a student worker have been learning what the copier is capable of and trying to do the best we can with the one copier we have. We have been trying our best to meet the many deadlines for the teachers,” Crear said.

According to Dimitri, “This brings the possibility of having better efficiency over the long run.

The Bookstore, instead of having a third party print for them, can now truly meet the demand of what they need to distribute. This could also bring the possibility to print on demand for customers. All in all, this will come with time, but ultimately it will save us funds and make it a more efficient process.”

“The reprographics service was taken out due to cost issues. So when we were deciding what to remove, taking out services like reprographics just made sense.

Since we have other services like WebCT and Insite Webportal, students and teachers can communicate with each other and use the

services and tools we have,” college President McKinley Williams said.

“The (reprographics) service being cut seems to me a cost issue.

It’s simply cheaper to move the jobs over to other people,” Crear said.

The different divisions all have their limits on paper and ink usage with their copiers. Plans for moving extra copiers to high-use areas around the campus is in the making. The bookstore is holding onto one copier to meet their needs, Vice President Carol Maga said.

Funding is still going toward the 19 major copiers across the campus and toward printing projects of bigger sizes. There are still more areas that will receive copiers.

One has already been given to the Bookstore for the printing of syllabuses, readers and other handouts. The Liberal Arts Building will receive a copier in the future due to the high amount of usage and traffic in that building. The Applied Arts Building will also receive a copier to accommodate the departments that have moved to the building.

“With bigger printing jobs, we have found a third party member to do business with. We have begun to do business with Gurbrinder Kang of Unique Printing in Richmond.

He has stayed true to his word with giving us good deals and we have ultimately been saving more money by going through him for big orders,” Dimitri said.

Some students and teachers have complained about the changes with reprographics being removed.

Student Jack Supuya said, “I’m used to having my teachers print out my handouts and syllabuses. I don’t have the resources or funds to print my own materials.”

Maga said, “We’re all upset and sad to see it go, we enjoyed having the service, but ultimately its better than cutting even more courses.

But yes, people will have to end up doing more than what they like, but all the kinks will more than likely be worked out as time goes by. Its just something were going to have to get used to.”

maintain, a code which requires all of the buildings and facilities to be made safe and clean, but also to make room for the math and speech departments.

Plans to tear down and rebuild the Humanities Building would force both the math department and the speech department out of a home.

So the decision was made to relocate both departments into the AA Building.

“We couldn’t demolish the H Building until the math and speech departments moved,” King said.

The math department was moved to the upper level of the AA Building, and the speech department was moved to the bottom level.

Ed Cruz, a math teacher at Contra Costa College, loves the change.

“It is a definite benefit,” he said, “to both

the students and the teachers.”

There is a new classroom as well as another room where students can be tutored and have the opportunity to meet with teachers in their offices.

The classroom, AA-211, is outfitted with a computer and projector and three white boards.

“I’ve been incorporating more technology into the classes,” says Cruz.

Student Junnida Siribounthong says she loves the new classroom. Her classes used to be cramped and small. With this new room, she feels that she has more room.

“I love it almost as much as I love my food,” Siribounthong said with a smile.

Some of the newer students, who don’t know how the building was before, feel that there are still some things that could be better.

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BOOKBYTE.COM/CCC

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 2011 l THE ADVOCATE

Team fails to stop Cougars’ pounce CCC unable to obtain first home victory of season

attempting to attack Alameda’s zone defense by driving inside to the basket; however, the Cougars blocked many of CCC’s layups.

Along with squad’s inability to score the ball, CCC failed to connect on a single shot as it took the team seven minutes to score

By Malcolm Lastra mlastra.advocate@gmail.com its first points after sophomore forward Jeremy Bardwell was sent Throughout the course of this to the free throw line after getting season, the men’s basketball team fouled. has struggled to find any suc“Their zone (defense) disturbed cess in winning games at home us and it threw off our rhythm,” and Friday’s match against College freshman guard Daniel Rice II of Alameda proved to be another said. challenge.

During CCC’s scoring drought, Despite making a late second the Cougars opened up a 13-2 lead half rally, Contra Costa College as they used their height to their advantage by going (1-19 overall, 1inside to 6 feet 8 inch 9 in the Bay Valley Conference) failed to ScoreBoard center Ben May who scored six early points establish consistent against the smaller Cougars 58 shooting and disComet defenders. played a poor effort Comets 53 in grabbing defensive Due to Alameda scoring majority of rebounds as Alameda Next game: (10-14 overall, 4-6 in its points by feeding Today at the ball to the post, the BVC) were able Mendocino, it caused Comet post to score on several 7:30 p.m. second chance points defenders, forwards Cameron Cash and which sealed a 58-53 Kent Owens to pick up early fouls victory.

“We would be right there (in which often forced CCC’s guards the game) with Alameda but they to defend the Cougars big men.

“When you’re forced to comgot a lot of second chance points,” Comets’ coach Miguel Johnson mit to other assignments it takes said. “It was like Alameda scored energy out of us,” Rice said. on every possession they had.”

The Comets began to bounce The Comets hope to get their back later in the first half as they second win of the season today nailed consecutive mid-range jump when they go on the road to face shots and were able to get to the Mendocino College (15-11, 9-1 in foul line to bring them to a 21-11 the BVC) at 7:30 p.m. score, trailing the Cougars.

The Comets began the game Despite Alameda having the

lead the entire first half, the team also struggled shooting the ball as CCC’s defense pressured Cougar guards to take erratic jump shots.

While the Cougars could not establish solid shooting, they were able to control ball possession by snagging down several offensive rebounds which created second chance points.

“We knew they were big inside but we weren’t boxing out,” sophomore guard Bobby Ward said.

“We weren’t winning second chance opportunities.”

Matters were made worse in the first half as Rice suffered a sprained knee after Cougar center Robert Bishop fell on Rice while attempting a rebound, Rice was able to continue playing.

By the end of the first half Alameda held a 27-20 lead over the Comets.

CCC continued to struggle early in the second half as it was down 53-41, however, things began to open up for the squad late in the second half after May, who hurt the team all game with his post scoring and rebounds, was fouled out with the game with six minutes left in the half.

The Comets went on a 9-0 scoring run bringing the game within three points with the help of Ward, who finished with 16 points, made eight of those points after sinking a deep three from the perimeter and nabbing two steals, scoring on fastbreak points including dunking over Cougar forward Terrence Davis which resulted in a foul for the Comets.

The Comets trailed 53-50 with

7

SAM ATTAL / THE ADVOCATE

Stuffed — Comet guard Hali Stevens (center) struggles to get a shot over Alameda College forward Harold Perry (right) and center Ben May (left) in the Gymnasium Friday.

52 seconds left in the game.

“We needed that spark to let us know that we still had a chance to win,” Rice said.

“We are an energy team, when we score baskets we get into a rhythm,” Johnson said. “However, when you are an energy team you have to play defense.”

Despite the late offensive surge from the Comets, Alameda was able to hold on for the 58-53 win.

“We worked on everything you could work on in practice but we don’t execute in the games,” Johnson said. “There is no leadership on this team.”

Colts ram Comets with late run Team battles back, falls in ninth inning

By Darish Azmoudeh dazmoudeh.advocate@gmail.com

The Comet baseball team found difficulty starting off its season on a positive note at home as it allowed Cañada College to score the one run it needed in the ninth inning to take the 4-3 win from Contra Costa College on Friday.

Despite allowing two runs in the third inning that left the Comets (0-2 overall) trailing 3-1, CCC was able to maintain their composure in the following innings to eventually tie up the game 3-3 with the Colts (2-0 overall) in the eighth inning.

“Today we had a little bit of the preseason jitters,” head coach Marvin Webb said. “It took a little while for us to get it together but we see a lot of improvements.”

Cañada sealed the 4-3 win after a triple by Colts’ leftfielder Allen Stiles that brought his teammate, second baseman Eren Miravalles, to home plate.

The Comets’ defense played a decent game despite making errors fielding the ball, however, it showed relief for the team’s pitching.

CCC’s pitching fell into a rut in the third inning but the pitchers kept their composure to just allow only four hits in the final six innings.

With two outs in the third inning and the game tied 1-1, the Comets thought they had struck out Cañada designated hitter Pierson Jeremiah before realizing

Box scores Baseball (Feb. 4) Cañada College AB Stiles lf 5 P.Jeremiah dh 4 Sortwell cf 3 Metoyer 1b 4 Vanisi rf 4 Woodall c 3 Carrillio 3b 4 Miravalles 2b 3 J.Jeremiah ss 3 0 Totals

R 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0

H 3 1 1 2 1 0 0 1 0

Contra Costa College AB R Chambers 2b 4 1 Oda cf 3 0 Simmons lf 3 0 Price dh 3 0 Doorn 3b 4 0 Rodriguez ss 3 1 Martin 1b 4 0 Chamberlain c 4 0 Hogan rf 3 1 Ham pr 0 0

RBI 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0

33 4 9 4

Cañada College Contra Costa College

H 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0

RBI 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0

31 3 6 3 102 010

000 000

001 020

-

4 3

Contra Costa College Moret Mendoza (L)

IP

H R ER BB SO

4.1 4.2

6 3 3 1

2 1

4 0

2 2

Cañada College McClelland Blaemire (W)

7.1 1.2

5 2 1 1

1 1

1 0

0 0

Schedule Women’s Basketball at Mendocino, today 5:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball at Mendocino, today 7:30 p.m.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Slidin’ through — Comet catcher Sebastian Barahona attempts to tag out Cañada Colts Alex Sortwell at the baseball field on Feb. 4. that they didn’t strike out the player.

“We had the two strikes and then (we thought) the umpire called the guy out,” Webb said. “(After that) we gave up the base hit and then we gave up another hit and then we didn’t back up the bases. Our pitching was good, the (guys) were a little disappointed but they continued to battle.”

At the at-bat following the walk, Colts’ centerfielder Alex Sortwell was able to hit the ball deep into the outfield. It was enough to get the runner at first base to score home and, with fielding mistakes around third base, to bring Sortwell home for the inside-the-park home

run.

“There were a bunch of mental mistakes,” Comet shortstop Saul Rodriguez said. “We weren’t happy about that because we practice (those plays) all the time.”

CCC gave up two hits and a walk which led to the Colts having the bases loaded before having third baseman Javier Carrillo hit a fly out toward right field to end the inning.

Comets’ starting pitcher Daryle Moret said the Comets’ performance in the third inning was due to mental lapses with players not covering certain areas and him not backing up third base which allowed their opponents to score.

Moret pitched four complete innings, earning two strikeouts while allowing six hits and four walks.

“We battled back the whole time,” he said. “We’re at our home field and we weren’t going to let anybody come in and beat us.”

Comet right fielder Donnie Hogan led off ScoreBoard the eighth inning by getting on Colts 4 second base after Comets 3 Cañada overthrew the ball to Next game: first base.

Saturday at Mission, Hogan would later reach home 1 p.m. plate after another Colts’ error and Comets’ designated hitter Trevon Prince was able to bat in second baseman Michel Chambers on a sacrifice hit.

“We just clutched up, and it showed we had a lot of heart,” Rodriguez said.

“We aren’t about to let anybody come to our field and embarrass us, or try and take a win from us, we’re going to battle to the end.”

CCC and Cañada played again on Saturday at Cañada College. Once again, the Colts came out with the 9-3 victory.

The Comets will play their next game at Mission College (0-2 overall) in Santa Clara on Saturday at 1 p.m.

“Cañada is the number five team in the state, so it lets us know that we are pretty good when we get our heads together and quit making the mental mistakes we did today,” Webb said.

Comets withstand Eagles Squad manages to hold off Laney, 67-61

By Rodney Woodson rwoodson.advocate@gmail.com

The women’s basketball team (11-13 overall, 7-3 in the Bay Valley Conference) extended their winning streak to three games after defeating Laney College (16-10 overall, 8-2 in the BVC) 67-61, at home on Friday.

After obtaining the energetic win, Contra Costa College trails the first place Eagles by only one game in the BVC-Bay Division, with two games left in the regular season.

The undersized Eagles were no match for Comet center Chaz Ross-Reed and forwards Monay Ray and Brionna Sullen who all finished the game with at least 10 points each.

“Coach was preaching about getting the ball to the post players,” Comet guard Jamie Capoot said.

Although the Comets have had many secRoss-Reed led the team with 16 points and the game with 11 rebounds. ond-half meltdowns during games through“I was making sure I had body con- out the season when their opponents took the tact before I made my moves,” Ross-Reed lead, they were able to catch up and get ahead said. The 6-foot-3-inch center of Laney this time. was dominant in the paint as the After the timeout, Capoot Eagles were unable to control ScoreBoard and guard Shay Mendes each her. made 3-point shots, which “We took advantage of their Comets 67 started a run that soon opened lack of size,” coach Paul DeBolt up to a 12-point lead for CCC. Eagles 61 said. “I think we were a matchup “We wanted to prove to nightmare (for them).”

Next game: everyone and ourselves that we The first half ended with a Today at could come out and play (in the close score as the Comets led Mendocino, second half),” Mendes said.

32-28. CCC took control of the 5:30 p.m.

A vigorous defensive effort game with a 10-2 run to end the enabled the Comets to obtain first half but the Eagles were the victory after the Eagles able to keep the contest tight by running a brought on a late surge and came within five full-court press near the end of the half. The points of the Comets. pressure caused the Comets to bring the ball “The team played well and we executed,” up the court slowly, adversely affecting their DeBolt said. “It’s taken 24 games to put a half-court offense. solid game together but we did it at the right The Eagle’s defensive hold carried over time.” to the second half and DeBolt called for a CCC plays Mendocino College (4-6 in timeout after Laney took the lead. the BVC) in Ukiah at 5:30 p.m. today.

8 THE ADVOCATE Unleashed

Movies

l WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 2011

‘Pro Skater’ remains on top Classic game still favorite amongst several players

This week: “Justin Bieber : Never Say Never” (G) “Gnomeo & Juliet” (G) “Carbon Nation” (UR) “The Eagle” (PG-13) “Just Go With It” (PG13)

DVDs

This week: “Paranormal Activity 2” (R) “It’s Kind Of A Funny Story” (PG13) “Life As We Know It” (PG-13) “You Again” (PG) “I Spit On Your Grave” (UR)

CDs

This week: And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead: “Tao of the Dead” Emily Arin: “Patch of Land” Nicole Atkins: “Mondo Amore” Motorhead: “The World Is Yours” Lionize: “Destruction Manuel”

Games

This week: Mario Sports Mix (Wii - E) Hyperdimension Neptunia (PS3, XBOX:360 - T) Bulletstorm (PS3 - M) Test Drive Unlimited 2 (PS3, Xbox:360 - T)

Editor’s note: This column lists popular new (and upcoming) releases for the week.

SCENE

By Dariush Azmoudeh dazmoudeh.advocate@gmail.com

With all the advances in video game technology, there are still some classics that can’t be beat.

This is the case with the Tony Hawk video game series.

More than 10 years since its release, “Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2” is still considered by fans to be one of the best skateboarding games of all time. With the recent flops of Tony Hawk’s “Ride” and “Shred,” it feels good to go back to the basics of video-gaming.

For fans that have not had much success on riding a real skateboard, THPS2 offered them the ability to shred on ramps and rails with a simple game controller.

The controls were kept simple and allowed the gamer to do flip, grab and grind tricks. In addition, this game was one of the early ones of the series that did not allow the player to get off their skateboards, which made it more focused on skateboarding.

An array of different skaters

with different statistics and move sets are available and they can be customized through Career Mode by gaining money.

Career Mode is the game’s main single player mode where the player skates through various levels, completing goals within a two-minute time limit in order to unlock the next level.

That time limit makes the players focus on completing as many tricks and combinations in order to get the high score as well keeping the game going at a good fast pace. Having a time limit seems good, compared to the newer games that do not have a time limit, where the player can waste time roaming around the map doing nothing.

The levels in the game are fun, contain enough obstacles throughout the map to get a combination going and each level has some uniqueness to it. Most levels offer secret areas that require doing a certain skate move to unlock.

In terms of today’s graphics, it is pretty good for a game released in 2000. Of course, it does not look as realistic as today’s graphics, but it does not take anything away from the game when playing today.

“Park Editor” and “Create

Lost Treasure

Skater” are modes in the game where the gamer creates their own skate park and skater.

There is a Multiplayer mode that gamers can play with their friends in several different games such as “Horse,” “Graffiti” or simply compete to get the highest score.

Probably the best feature of the game was that upon completing all the levels with 100% done in career mode with a created character, Spider-man will be unlocked as a usable character.

This game bridged the gap of skating and gaming by slightly drawing gamers into the skateboarding culture.

THPS2 is considered one of the best games on several different gaming platforms, most notably on Playstation. The game is so good that it has been remade for the iPod Touch and iPhones.

Event honors black history month

By April Halog ahalog.advocate@gmail.com

In honor of Black History Month, this Thursday, the Africana Studies Department and the Black Student Union will host a presentation entitled “Celebrating Blackness: From Africa to America” at the John and Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts at 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The presentation is open to not only students, but also to the members of the community.

The presentation will feature student contributions such as a slideshow presentation on the Kemetic contributions

to the world in fields of art, medicine ity. I think we need to work on unity and architecture, poetry recitals, a between the Black and Latino students.” monologue on student activism.

The poem will talk about racism, class A short skit called “New Drug to and equality and will emphasize how My Ancestors other cultures and Change” exchange.

“I want to show solidarity. and more.

The colI think we need to work on lege Bookstore One of the customer sermany people unity.” reciting poetry vice clerk in the proErika Greene Agustin Palacios, gram, La Raza says that the La Raza department chairman program “celdepartment Chairman Agustin Palacios will recite a ebrates blackness” and said, “We have much going on we need to poem called “Black and Brown Unity.”

On the significance of the poem, celebrate the positive aspects. We need Palacios said, “I want to show solidar- to understand our contribution to this

country.”

History professor and Black Student Union advisor Manu Ampim hopes that the presentation will bring unity among the African American students on campus. Ampim feels that “there’s some unity, but there could be more,” and hopes that students can achieve more unity through this presentation by learning their heritage, history and feel proud and connected.

When asked about the importance of Black History Month, Ampim said, “It’s crucial to everyone of African descent and to the world. You can’t look at the central history of the country without looking at the African history.”

Mystery plays fail to entertain Play receives generic reviews from viewers

By April Halog ahalog.advocate@gmail.com

“The Mystery Plays” by Roberto AguirreSacasa is the first production of the new year to be performed at The Masquers Playhouse.

The play blends elements of suspense and the paranormal, much like Alfred Hitchcock movies and episodes of The Twilight Zone TV series.

The play was broken into two acts that are intertwined. The first act introduced the audience to the main character, Joe Manning, played by George Doerr, who struggles to deal with life after being a lone survivor of a train wreck while on the way home.

Soon afterwards, Manning is playreview haunted by the ghost of one of the victims of the crash.

Despite being a film director with a good knowledge of horror and supernatural books “The Mystery and movies, Joe was very meek Plays” and timid in his situation until ★★★★★ the end of the act, where a twist Venue: Masquers in plot made him reluctantly Directed by: Roberto accept his fate.

Aguirresecasa At first, the conversations Open Until: between the characters were Feb. 26 trite, very long-winded and only a few of them actually added to the plot.

But it seemed that this was the play’s way of building tension and suspense.

The first act was very vague and confusing at times, and the ending hastily wrapped up all the loose ends.

The second act loosely tied into the first act by taking a minor character and turning them

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Mysterious murder — Nathan West (Ken Sollazzo) prepares to stab Joe Manning (George Doerr) during the Mystery Plays held at Masquers in Point Richmond on Jan. 22.

into a main one.

The setting in the story constantly shifted from past to present day while being narrated by the main character, Abby Gilley, while two different actors portray Young Ben and Adult Ben. Gilley, a successful attorney, travels back to her hometown in Oregon to make peace with her estranged brother Ben. She also struggles to come to terms with the circumstances involving the death of her parents and younger sister.

Actress Marti Hoskins did a good job of portraying a woman filled with guilt and anger with much conviction.

Joe Manning, the protagonist of the first act, however, was mostly absent.

There were only mere mentions of his presence and he did not make an appearance.

While the second act contained a more powerful story, it lacked the supernatural elements that were heavily seen in the first act.

There were only mentions of ghosts and

spirits, but nothing more.

The second act lacked the sense of mystery that the play tried to convey.

The only mystery within the second act was the reason behind the murder of Abbey’s family, but unfortunately, the answer never surfaced.

The play made some brief attempts at humor, but usually fell short.

The little humorous quips that occur between the characters only brought on a chuckle at best.

However, this is understandable, considering the plot was not meant to be humorous, but had a more serious tone.

The play did some tinkering with the ideas of death and the afterlife, but did not compel the audience to think of those of ideas in a new light.

Fans of mystery, suspense and/or horror should not expect anything new to the genre, but may very well end up liking “The Mystery Plays” for what it is.