The Advocate - May 5, 2010

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

CMYK

Summer exercise

Sports camps to target youth

SINCE 1950 8 PAGES, ONE COPY FREE

City plans time limits

CMYK

sports ◆ page 7

campus beat ◆ page 5

scene ◆ page 6

Helper retires after 35 years

Linkin Park game a blast from past

Machado

Rebelling in 8-bits

VOL. 94, NO. 21 WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010 ACCENTADVOCATE.COM

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

Leader claims top spot

A SERIOUS MATTER

Experienced ASU member to take office

By Cassandra Juniel SPOTLIGHT EDITOR

Hoping to curtail the problem of truancy, or absence without permission, in schools, the Richmond Police Department (RPD) has suggested a citywide curfew.

The newly proposed Daytime Curfew Ordinance will apply to the time period of a half hour after the school day begins to a half hour before it ends, by the issuance of a non-criminal infraction citation that can be levied as high as $500 by a Juvenile Court judge.

RPD Lt. Mark Gagan said the Daytime Curfew Ordinance is not final and has many areas needing to be worked out.

According to the City of Richmond Agenda Report of March, 18 2010, this recommended ordinance seeks to divert young people from becoming involved in daytime juvenile crime and victimization, reduce truancy and render needed services to them and their families.

“The Daytime Curfew Ordinance, which allows officers to cite truants and guardians, is not a new approach,” Gagan said. “It is used in many states and cities, and Richmond is one city that has not been on board with it.”

Cities such as Hercules, Pinole and Benicia are all nearby communities that have enacted such an ordinance, and feedback from these communities indicates such a process has been effective in decreasing daytime juvenile crime and victimization, Gagan said.

Minors found in public places during their school hours (other than permissible exceptions), he said, will be turned over to a parent or legal guardian with a noncriminal infraction citation issued.

If there is not a parent or guardian available, the minor ■ SEE TRUANCY: Page 3

By Dariush Azmoudeh SPORTS EDITOR

Camacho

Current ASU Vice President of Clubs Joseph Camacho will soon move up in the Associated Student Union, after it was announced last week that he will serve as the organization’s president for the 201011 academic year.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to represent the student body,” Camacho said. “I’m looking forward to provide leadership to the ASU and change the direction of it to make it better for the students.”

Despite Camacho being the only candidate running, Student Life Director Jennifer Ounjian said that he would have needed a majority of “yes” votes and verification that the voters are enrolled at the college and have not voted more than once before he could have

The ASU vice president of clubs is set to take office in fall 2010 as the organization’s new president.

Running unopposed, Camacho was elected to the top spot last week. He brings leadership through his experiences in the organization and through his military service.

■ SEE ASU: Page 3

ERIK VERDUZCO / THE ADVOCATE

Change now — Rodeo residents (Ieft to right) Omar and Rosario Rivera protest during the May Day rally in San Francisco Saturday. For more photos, see page 8.

DEMANDING EQUALITY

San Francisco struck by deluge of protest

By Holly Pablo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SAN FRANCISCO — Fueled by the passage of a controversial immigration bill in Arizona, thousands of protesters in the Bay Area demonstrated their hunger for racial justice and workers’ rights at the annual May Day rally Saturday.

Beginning with a peaceful march from the intersection of 24th Street and Mission Street to a rally held at Civic Center Plaza at 2 p.m., the demonstrators carried picket signs and flags representing the nations of the world and chanted for the bill’s repeal.

Signed into law by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on April 23, Senate Bill 1070 reserves the right for police officials to

detain and interrogate individuals suspected of being in the country illegally, leading to deportation if found guilty of unlawful entry.

“It’s pure fascism, and it lends to racial profiling, mostly targeting people of Latin descent,” said Anne Gamboni, a member of the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition. “It only perpetuates racism, the downfall of the United States.”

The bill is the sharpest edge of an everpresent knife to the immigrant community, San Francisco resident Doug Norberg said, because there is no legitimate or ethical way to classify a description of an illegal person.

“There’s angry people at all sides of the issue, but immigrants are being abused and disrespected as humans,” Norberg said.

“They’re just looking for a way to live a better life, searching for the American Dream.”

edit orial Profiling platform

Arizona immigration bill nothing more than an excuse to enact racist stereotypes for profiling.

page 2

Out-of-area fees on rise

By Lauren Shiraishi OPINION EDITOR

While it still remains uncertain whether the average student within the district will pay $26 or $40 per unit next fall, nonresident and international students will face a small fee increase beginning this summer.

For the 2010-11 fiscal year, nonresident students will pay a total fee of $190 per unit, which represents a 1 percent increase from the current total fee of $188, district International Education Director Aleks Ilich said.

This decision was approved by the district board in January.

“Although it seems like a lot, it’s actually a bargain,” Ilich said. “The real issue isn’t tuition, but the cost of living in the Bay Area. In that case, it’s probably best to live in a state like Missouri, because the cost of living is signifi■ SEE FEES: Page 3

■ SEE PROTEST: Page 3

Festival celebrates Mexican heritage

By Alexandra Waite NEWS EDITOR

SAM ATTAL / THE ADVOCATE

Songs of a nation — Tierra De Son members (left to right) Leslie Monroy, Marina Franco and Dolores Garcia play Spanish folk music at the annual Cinco de Mayo festival held on 23rd Street in Richmond Sunday. The event honored Mexican heritage and culture.

RICHMOND — Blaring banda music, the aroma of roasted poultry and hordes of people overflowed 23rd Street here Sunday as part of the annual Cinco de Mayo festival.

The festivities began at 10 a.m., as the road filled with booths, stages, jumpers, and vendors, and ended at 5 p.m.

“It’s a nice family atmosphere,” Richmond Police Sgt. Brian Dickerson said. “It’s nice to see the community out here having a nice

time.”

The festival is part of a twoday event, including a parade on Saturday, which celebrates Cinco de Mayo, a holiday commemorating Mexico’s victory over the French forces in 1862.

Last year’s turnout for the event consisted of about 20,000 people, said John Marquez, La Raza studies professor who works as an adviser for the 23rd Street Merchants Association.

He said that this year, he estimated there were about 30,000 attendees.

Richmond resident Judith Estrada said she appreciated the representation of Latinos with the parade and festival in an area where many ■ SEE FESTIVAL: Page 3

CMYK

Cinco de Mayo honors traditions

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

CMYK

2 THE ADVOCATE Quotable “Journalists must choose among the many sides to provide focus to their stories. But when they choose only two — giving an either/or perspective — they lose the story.”

Deni Elliott Journalism ethicist 1998 Holly Pablo editor-in-chief Sam Attal associate editor Asia Camagong associate editor Alec Surmani associate editor Cassandra Juniel spotlight editor Diana Reyes Lauren Shiraishi opinion editors Dariush Azmoudeh Malcolm Lastra sports editors Lamar James Alexandra Waite news editors Brent Bainto social media editor Erik Verduzco photo editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Lissette Alvarez Mairat Assefa Alison Calais Tanisha Frazier Hilberth Diaz Ibarra Cassidy Gooding Marjorie Riformo Staff photographers Kevin Chourarath George Morin Joe Phutiyotin Raul Reyes Ricardo Sanchez Christian Soto Michael Sue Desmond Sylva Roman Young Staff illustrators James Heck Cody McFarland 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, MAY 5, 2010

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010 VOL. 94, NO. 21 ●

Editorial Justice at-risk

Immigration law only perpetuates racism

T

he United States of America has long been regarded as the land of freedom and opportunity. In search of a better life, immigrants and their families flock to the country in hopes of living the American Dream.

They view the iconic Statue of Liberty in awe and cling tightly to the promises of democracy, equal rights and the pursuit of happiness.

Where public policy is concerned, however, there also exists feelings of alienation, fear and oppression within the community of the 12 million undocumented aliens currently residing within the country’s borders, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

With the passage of an unjust, controversial immigration bill signed into law

by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on April 23, police officials now possess the right to interrogate and detain persons if there is reasonable cause to suspect them of illegal residency.

Due to widespread criticism of Senate Bill 1070, the Arizona Legislature and Brewer revised the law to explicitly state the banning of racial profiling in this process and to restrict the potential interrogations to incidents in which officials have stopped, detained or arrested these person(s) while enforcing already-existing state laws.

Despite the “improvements,” these revisions do not eliminate racial profiling, especially because there is no legitimate way to identify an illegal alien besides using characteristics of physical appearance and language as initial guidelines.

With Arizona sharing a significant portion of the 1,950-mile MexicoAmerica border and an ever-increasing influx of undocumented workers into the state, the bill blatantly targets persons of Latino descent.

Regardless of whether the person in question is a legal resident or not, SB 1070 compromises immigrant rights everywhere and further divides communities by perpetuating a cycle of ever-present racism.

Throughout the nation, protesters in the tens of thousands demonstrated against the bill and all forms of social injustice through mass marches and rallies held Saturday.

Though demonstrators advocated for an immigration reform and called upon President Barack Obama and Congress to take action, the uphill overhaul is not likely to happen any time soon.

The fact that the policymakers in Arizona felt moved to implement such a law calls into question the authority of the state over the federal government.

This sense of urgency to address immigration can no longer be ignored.

We are each responsible for standing for racial and social justice to ensure that the American Dream does not become a nightmare.

JAMES HECK / THE ADVOCATE

■ Entertainment

Censorship regulations distort true messages

‘S

o I say to you... and I know you get cable... and I say this to anyone whose threatening death in the name of religion and politics... everybody go fuck yourselves now.”

This quote was part of a song that Jon Stewart performed with a choir group on the April 22 episode of “The Daily Show.” The episode was aired in response to the controversy sparked by the “201” episode of “South Park.”

The right to express oneself freely without the fear of being threatened by someone of higher authority is something we as individuals take advantage of today.

Television shows are one of many targets being forced into self-censorship.

In the past, Americans have been intimidated into censoring themselves just to suit the needs of authoritative figures for their own selfserving reasons, whether it’s political, social or religious.

John Zenger was jailed in 1735 after printing an article in the New York Journal, which publicly criticized Gov. William Cosby.

You would think that in 2010 writers, musical artists, and even television producers could freely express themselves without the fear of persecution.

In mid-April, the creators of “South Park,” Matt Stone and Trey Parker, were threatened by U.S.-based group Revolution Muslim.

The intimidation began when Stone and Parker attempted to air their most recent episode, “201,” which

lissettealvarez has a parody of the prophet Muhammad.

Comedy Central had no choice but to alter the infamous episode with “beep” sounds and blocking out Muhammad’s image with the word censored.

Stone and Parker were under scrutiny by the religious group before they attempted to air their Muhammad episode After airing their 200th episode, in which the creators of the show depicted the Islamic prophet in a bear suit, Revolution Muslim stated: “We have to warn Matt and Trey what they are doing is stupid.”

Oddly enough, Muhammad’s image had been shown on “South Park” in an earlier season.

On July 14, 2001, a few months before Sept. 11, during season five South Park aired an episode, titled “Super Best Friends,” wherein the image of Muhammad was shown without much controversy.

The creators of “South Park” were basically being intimidated for something they have been doing for 14 years, making fun of everyone and everything.

Creative individuals like Stone and Parker have continued making episodes not to hurt or offend anyone, but simply to get people to laugh

at themselves and what’s going on in today’s society.

If viewers are offended by their raunchy and sexually explicit content, they have the choice of either changing the channel or turning off their TV. “South Park,” however, was not the only show coerced into self-censorship.

In 2009, Seth McFarland received a blow when Fox refused to air his abortionthemed episode, “Partial Terms of Endearment,” even though the network had originally paid for the production of the episode.

As sensitive as the topic of abortion is, “Family Guy” has dealt with heavier subjects such as sexual harassment, drunk driving and even prison rape.

Yet, Fox still thought abortion was too taboo, even for a show that would frequently make rape jokes.

Although, this self-censorship was not as severe as “South Park, MacFarlane’s basic rights to free speech were still violated.

Fortunately, both shows have been encouraged to distribute DVD box sets that will contain all episodes including the uncensored version of “201” and “Partial Terms of Endearment.”

Instead of discouraging individuals like Stone, Parker and MacFarlane, they should be commended for their audacity to be controversial and funny at the same time.

Lissette Alvarez is a staff writer for The Advocate.

Contact her at lalvarez. advocate@gmail.com.

CampusComment

What was your reaction to the Arizona law?

“I was just offended. I imagine myself in that situation and being stopped just by the way I look. It’s just wrong.”

“I was shocked, because everyone should have rights.

But at the same time, people should not cross the borders illegally.”

Alba Mayorga communications

“Honestly, I feel it didn’t solve anything. It is just an excuse for racial profiling.”

Enoch Yee biology

“I don’t think it’s wrong.

If it’s a law, then it should be followed. But this could be bad for the economy, because we use immigrants as workers.”

Markeshia Dowell art

David Mouton sports medicine

“I think it’s unconstitutional and extremely racist, because it is racial profiling. This is going against the Constitution.”

Ligia Barahona

Fernando Velazquez mathematics

LAMAR JAMES / THE ADVOCATE

“It’s racial profiling, and it is no different from the Jim Crow laws.”

ethnic studies

CAMPUS BEAT accent advocate ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Twitter

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

Newsline ■ FORENSICS

Competition tests speech The forensics department will host an intramural competition on May 13 from 3-6 p.m. in LA-100.

This competition is open to any student wishing to participate.

For more information, contact Connie Anderson at 510-235-7800, ext. 4544.

■ RECEPTIONS

Transferring event nears The Transfer/Career Center will hold its annual Transfer Reception on May 13 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room.

The reception is for students transferring to a fouryear college in fall 2010.

For more information, contact Robin Harrison at 510-235-7800, ext. 4241.

■ DRAMA

Department honors star The drama department is collaborating with the football team to present “I’ll Be There,” a musical tribute to Michael Jackson.

Performances will be held at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Knox Center.

Tickets are $10 for students and senior citizens and $15 for general admission.

For information, call 510-235-7800, ext. 4274.

■ PERFORMANCES

Dance Jam to hit Knox

The dance ensemble will perform its Dance Jam 2010 in the Knox Center on May 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m.

The theme is “An Explosion of Movement” and combines a variety of dancing styles.

Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for general admission.

For more information, contact Latanya D. Tigner at 510-235-7800, ext. 4406.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010 l THE ADVOCATE

3

Protest | Rallies against Arizona bill ASU ■ FROM: Page 1

Combined in part with the globally recognized International Workers’ Day, protesters also rallied against unfair labor practices and effects of budget cuts on the poor, such as the increase of fares for public transportation, such as MUNI. As the immigrants’ rights supporters listened to musical performances and speeches from members of the May Day 2010 Coalition, local labor unions and community organizations, a few dozen counter protesters rallied on the steps of city hall.

Police officials erected barricades to prevent potential violence between the May Day event and those in support of the Arizona law, which included representatives from the NorCal Tea Party and the Golden Gate Minutemen.

“These people are criminals: they broke the law by being here illegally,” San Francisco resident Alexander Gofen said of undocumented residents.

“The government needs to round them all up and deport them if they don’t have papers.”

The policymakers have not done

“There’s angry people at all sides of the issue, but immigrants are being abused and disrespected as humans.”

Doug Norberg,

San Francisco resident

International said that despite the fact that the immigrant population has been placed in a context of oppression and fear, the protests are empowering and the supporting public will continue to organize.

Among the supporters were the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Out 4 Immigration Director of Communications Kathy Drasky said that the LGBT population is also discriminated, as the nation does not recognize citizens’ relationships with their foreign partners.

There are potentially 36,000 couples in the United States that would benefit from recognizing their partnership, Drasky said, and by standing in solidarity with the immigrant community, more can be accomplished.

Norberg said that while protests will not directly change the immigrant policy of the country, it will increase the clarity of the issue.

their part to secure the MexicanAmerican border and illegal immigrants are depleting the country’s public assistance programs, Gofen said.

Oakland resident Gary Wade said that over the past few decades, his family’s contracting business has suffered, because they cannot compete with the cheap labor offered by undocumented workers.

With contracting industries facing a 17 percent unemployment rate, the U.S. needs a way to regulate fair wages and that can only be done if the illegal Contact Holly Pablo at hpablo. workers attempt pursuing Green Cards, advocate@gmail.com.

Wade said.

Gabriel Cabrera from Workers

Truancy | Youth curfew discussed ■ FROM: Page 1

would be transported to a designated attendance center and stay until released to their parent or guardian, according to the agenda report. In either instance, the report indicates, they will still be issued the infraction citation and must appear before a Juvenile Court traffic judge.

“This process goes a step further than others through what is called an ‘intake process,’ which addresses issues and concerns and seeks to get parents and guardians more involved, to educate them both,” Gagan said.

Many see the plan as a win toward deterring kids from wandering within the community.

“When kids are out in the community, they become tempted and get involved in misbehavior,” Richmond City Council member Nathaniel Bates said. “Hopefully, this will reduce those activities.”

According to research performed through the California Senate Public Safety Committee in February, truancy correlates with criminal activity, even at the elementary school level, and that later in life, these same students shown to be chronically truant can become juvenile delinquents involved in gangs, drug and alcohol abuse.

The number of truants per day has continued to rise, according to the research, thus causing less money to become available to the schools as a result.

There is an approximate 10–15 percent truancy rate, which averages out to 150500 truants per week from the West Contra Costa United School District, Gagan said.

“A recent ‘truancy sweep’ over three days resulted in 425 school-aged young people being picked up for truancy in Richmond,” he said. “Money that would typically get reimbursed to the schools from the state through ‘Average Daily Attendance’ (ADA) is being lost as a result of the high number of truancy, which could have gone to such things as after school care, job training and pre-natal care for young people.”

The proposed plan will work according to the police’s discretion, based on the circumstances of handling the matter as a truancy violation and returning them to school or by citing them for violation of the Daytime Curfew Ordinance, RPD Chief Chris Magnus said.

“Minors that are cited for the Daytime Curfew Ordinance may be taken home or dropped off at one of the proposed Attendance

Centers,” he said. “It is at these centers where a preliminary safety and wellness assessment will be conducted.”

The individual would remain at this center for the remainder of the school day or until a parent or guardian picks them up, Magnus said.

The Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL), a nonprofit corporation providing access to a wide variety of activities for youth in the community of West Contra Costa County, is currently a drop-off site when the police department conducts its periodic truancy sweeps, Executive Director of RPAL Larry Lewis said.

“Kids will be brought to PAL and eventually picked up by the parent or guardian.

We’ll also arrange follow up with that family,” Lewis said.

“We created truancy sweeps a while ago where the police and the school were fully involved. The kids conformed, and I believe they could do this today with the proper tools in place.”

RYSE Center co-Director Kanwarpal Ehaliwal said, as a proposed intake center, that RPAL will use its present model for children, because it works.

“We have a model that is successful throughout their lives,” Ehaliwal said. “It will

require multiple systems to work.

“We will find out what’s going on, identify other specific issues, as well as connect them to any other resources needed,” he said.

Ehaliwal concluded by saying that she believes this new program will be successful if the key stakeholders partner together in determining how the young people will ultimately benefit.

There is a concern, however, about law enforcement taking a lead role in the process.

“Concerns such as criminalizing the kids or racial profiling are some key areas that have been expressed,” Gagan said. “However, our key concern is a process going forth that will help truants get back on track, as well as get case managers involved to provide help for them as well as their families.”

Lewis said it is not that hard in getting these people back on track.

“They just need the right people doing the right thing for them, with a message that says, ‘I care about you; this is what we are going to do together.’”

Contact Cassandra Juniel at cjuniel.advocate@gmail. com.

Fees | Nonresident tuition increases ■ FROM: Page 1

cantly lower (there).”

According to Ilich, student fees are broken down into two components. The first is for tuition, which is referred to as the “enrollment fee” for California residents. Nonresident students currently pay $184 per unit, while California residents pay $26.

The second component is the nonresident capital outlay fee, which is paid only nonresident and international students, and goes directly to the college to pay for expenses such as facilities and heat.

Tuesday, April 20 When the tuition increase takes A suspect was stopped place, nonresidents will pay $184 per on a pedestrian stop and was unit, and $4 for the nonresident capital found to be in possession of outlay fee, Ilich said. a drug paraphernalia pipe.

While the capital outlay fee is not The suspect was transported to the police station and mandatory statewide, the Contra Costa Community College District is one of released on a citation. the districts that requires it.

International students agree that the Saturday, April 24 An officer responded to a report of a traffic accident.

No one at the scene was injured.

CrimeWatch

price they paid is fair, even cheap, compared to other schools. “(The tuition) is not really expensive,” student Janet Tong said. “I went to a private college (before), and it was much more expensive than it is here.”

Another international student, Evan Wong, said he has been pleased with the education he has received at Contra Costa College in the past two years.

“I like the instructors here, and the people are pretty nice to (students) from other countries,” student Evan Wong said.

By law, international students are required to take a full load of classes, or 12 units per semester, Ilich said.

As funding is based on the number of full-time equivalent students, or FTES, nonresidents, particularly international students, are important to the district, he said.

Ilich does not believe the current cost will deter students from attend-

ing CCC or its sister campuses Diablo Valley and Los Medanos.

Transfer/Career Center Coordinator Robin Harrison agrees.

“Most of the international students are really motivated, and (the fees) don’t seem to slow them down in the slightest,” she said. “It’s not going to impede their progress—they’ll find a way (to fund their education).”

Currently, the district’s international student population comes from more than 60 countries, including India, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.

Ilich said that over the last few years, DVC has one of the highest international student transfer rates to fouryear universities, and CCC’s number of transferees is growing as well.

Contact Lauren Shiraishi at lshiraishi.advocate@gmail.com.

■ FROM: Page 1

been announced the winner.

Online voting, which was aided by a link sent to all students through the campus e-mail newsletters, was held April 19-25.

Candidacy opened on March 22 and only members on the ASU board could run for the position, Ounjian said.

“They had one week to submit their applications and his was the only one I received,” she said.

Ounjian said that “Due to there were some peo- my miliple who tary back were cons i d e r i n g ground, on running I provide but decided not to. She leaderalso said ship.” that what increases Joseph the numCamacho, ber of peoASU ple runpresident-elect ning is the number of people on the ASU board, and if they had a full board there would have been more people running.

At first, Camacho did not know he was running unopposed. When he turned in his application, he did not ask if anyone else was running and disliked the idea of running unopposed, Camacho said.

“I would prefer not to run unopposed. It’s important for students to participate in the student government,” he said. “Representing the school should be an honor.”

Ounjian said he will officially take office as ASU president on June 1.

Camacho’s history with the ASU began when he became the founding president of the Veteran’s Club, which was where he came in contact with the ASU. This led him to join as the senator of veteran’s affairs in fall of 2009.

Just in this semester, he was nominated and elected by members of the ASU board to become the vice president of clubs, Ounjian said.

At his current position, Camacho said he helped out clubs to make sure that their needs were met and dealt with their events, club interests, finances and documentation of club history to create a club archive.

“He’s a great candidate,” current ASU President Kristina Bautista said. “(It) feels like he is going to bring order to the board. He’s already vice president of clubs, which is a great stepping stone for president.”

Bautista said that being president is a great experience, and she has learned a lot from it, such as making agendas, running meetings and improving public speaking skills.

Camacho said he began a reform committee to make revisions to the bylaws to make the student government more relevant for the student senators in the ASU. “Due to my military background, I provide leadership and I understand that to be a strong leader you need to be a strong follower, which I can do,” he said.

Contact Dariush Azmoudeh at dazmoudeh. advocate@gmail.com.

Festival | Attracts roughly 30,000 attendees

Monday, April 26 A juvenile suspect was ■ FROM: Page 1 arrested for possession of Latinos frequent. marijuana.

Other attractions included horses dancing to live music in front of Tuesday, April 27 Veteran’s Hall, mariachi and Spanish A suspect was stopped folk music performances, a fire for a traffic violation, and it department fire safety simulator and was determined that he was a classic car show. in possession of marijuana.

The Oakland Black Cowboy Association provided the dancing Thursday, April 29 horses, Marquez said.

A student’s vehicle was The classic cars featured in the broken into. show were mostly low riders that An officer received a dated from 1932 to 1966, he said. stalking/threats report.

Low rider bicycles were also on A victim reported his cell display. phone stolen from the Men’s Three stages spread out across Locker Room. the festival for bands and dancers to perform and several Latino radio — Cassidy Gooding stations, such as 93.3 La Raza, set up booths around the festival.

Marquez said that during previous Cinco de Mayo festivals, there had been trouble with people drinking alcohol, and this year they prohibited any possession of the substance.

“Thank God there is no alcohol,” Richmond resident Tony Ramirez said.

Richmond resident Monica Urbina said she was relieved no fights broke out during the event, which was something she experienced during the past events.

“Everything is under control,” Dickerson said. “It’s absolutely safe.”

The parade on Saturday was open to nonprofit organizations, classic cars, sports teams and other groups.

Contra Costa College President McKinley Williams was honored as

Grand Marshal during the parade, Marquez said. “(Williams) has done a lot for the education of Latinos and our community as a whole,” he said.

Early childhood development major Quamisha Hardy said the sunny weather made it the perfect day to have the event.

Several booths and taco trucks served an assortment of Mexican food to passersby.

The increase in vendors made this year’s festival better than the previous ones, Richmond resident Lita Guerrero said.

She said she used to go to the Cinco de Mayo festival in east Oakland, because it would have more booths than Richmond’s, but now they are about the same.

accent advocate ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Sights and Sounds

The Advocate provides a photo slideshow with exclusive interviews from Sunday’s festival on www.accentadvocate.com

Being able to meet new people made the event fun, Estrada said.

Marquez said Richmond’s Cinco de Mayo festival has gotten bigger every year since it has been on 23rd Street.

Contact Alexandra Waite at awaite.advocate@gmail.com.

4 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010

Fair markets employment Event introduces jobs, connections

By Lamar James NEWS EDITOR

Representatives from companies such as Chevron, United Parcels Service, San Pablo Lytton Casino and Kaiser Permanente lined the Fireside Room as waves of students flooded in for the Career Connection Job Fair hosted by the Job Placement Office on April 28.

“We are doing this, because students need the resources,” college employment development specialist John Christensen employment said.

He said the event is hosted every year, and every year the turnout is plentiful.

“I have been doing this for 20 years, and at one point we had 107 job vendors,” Christensen said. “So the event is proven to be strong and successful.”

He said the weather forced them to move the job fair out of the Amphitheatre and into the Fireside Room, but that did not stop the event from going on.

“People need to know there are jobs out there, and this is one way to establish connections with employers,” Christensen said.

This is a way to get the information about jobs out to students, he said, and potentially go on an interview and get hired.

“This is what events like this are about, is getting students jobs in a bad economy and helping them to get on their feet,” Christensen said.

Student Deschaine Mason said events like the job fair are really important to have, because they build better connections and offer a great chance to network with the employer on a firsthand basis.

“This gives people hope that there is work out there, and people still have a chance for hire,” Mason said.

Representative of East Bay Regional Parks and Contra Costa

CAMPUS BEAT

CHRISTIAN SOTO / THE ADVOCATE

On the hunt — Student Behnoush Hosseini (left) speaks to UPS Human Resources representative Gerald Onwukene at the Career Connection Job Fair on April 28 in the Fireside Room. The event introduced students to prospective employers and helped them network.

College student Eric Singleton said it is nice to meet students and community members at the events like this.

“We can recruit and inform them on what we do,” Singleton said.

He said the job fair is a way to help keep the national parks open

and promote jobs all at the same time. “(People can) gain respect for the parks and recreation areas people love to visit,” Singleton said.

Student Charmaign Holmes said that in a bad economy, finding a job can be a little difficult, and

when one is going to school full time, it makes it harder.

“When jobs can come to campus and offer their services, then that is really good,” Holmes said.

Contact Lamar James at ljames.advocate@gmail.com.

Faculty evaluations reconstructed

By Alec Surmani ASSOCIATE EDITOR

For a number of years, most faculty and staff have looked at the faculty evaluation process as the elephant in the room. Or, perhaps “not looked” would be more accurate.

United Faculty (UF) President Jeffrey Michels said the 18-year-old process, originally devised and set in place by district officials and then-UF President Marge Lasky, has long since been viewed as being in great need of revision, but few seemed willing to volunteer to take on such an action.

“It’s been such a huge project that no one’s wanted to take it on,” Dr. Michels said.

Through recent union and district negotiations conducted over the past two years, however, a Tentative Agreement ratified by the Governing Board on April 28 will seek to reorganize and restructure how faculty evaluations are carried out.

“It won’t feel like a major change,” Michels said. “But I think we did a good job of making it easier to do and more meaningful.”

Once enacted, faculty and staff evaluations will be divided into 15 separate books, each directed specifically at a certain group of college employees, be they part-time, full-time, professor or counselor, Michels said.

“Everything is gathered in one place, and there isn’t anything that doesn’t apply to you. If you’re a librarian, you don’t need the counselor guidelines,” he said. “It will make training and just in general the evaluation process much easier.”

UF Vice President Rudy Zeller said that impetus for this change stemmed from concern among a number of faculty members of whether the evaluation process was doing what it was supposed to.

“Its true intention was to improve the teaching capacity of the persons being evaluated,” he said.

Michels said the current system

could be seen as too rigid or confining in its structure.

“When you do a (faculty) evaluation, the questions are a guide and shouldn’t be a straitjacket. They need to be tied to specific criteria, and that’s important,” he said. “But it’s also important that we allow room for academic freedom.”

Thus, Zeller said that the manner in which the evaluations are formed, delivered, carried out and processed was analyzed and modified.

“It makes all the information that more easily accessible,” he said.

In addition to changes to the faculty and staff evaluation process, the Tentative Agreement also alters how part-time staffing preferences, a kind of seniority status with added job security that part-timers must qualify for, is formatted.

Now, part-timers who have taught in the same department for seven semesters and have received excellent marks in their evaluations can qualify for what is similar to a three-year contract,

Michels said.

He said discussions about the increased importance of faculty evaluations in part-time staffing preferences were part of the reason the process demanded immediate revision.

“If my student evaluations are going to count to my status in the department, it’s really not fair if my students don’t understand the questions,” Michels said.

As a way to treat this problem in the most equitable way possible, and considering many in the district have different ideas about what makes a good instructor, Michels said numerous opinions were gathered and worked into the Tentative Agreement.

“It has been a process of building consensus, (which will) make (faculty evaluations) more meaningful and valuable from a pedagogical standpoint,” he said.

Contact Alec Surmani at asurmani. advocate@gmail.com.

Michels

The United Faculty president, along with his union and faculty and administration across the district, worked to restructure the way the faculty evaluation process is structured, conducted and analyzed.

Districtwide program links users in ‘Portal’

By Brent Bainto SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

With the advent of InSite Portal, currently in its beta stage, prospective users districtwide may soon discover the proposed benefits of the new social networking-influenced communication tool.

The Web site, which went online in February, is a first for the district and works with multitasking possibilities for every account.

In addition to connecting all college constituents to each other, InSite Portal encompasses the developing features within the

system such as a working schedule/calendar, links to various campus resources, space for manageable content and a newer WebAdvisor.

Information Technician Manager James Eyestone said InSite works as a single venue of communication for the district. “(It’s) beneficial for everyone,” he said.

Eyestone added that InSite has “untapped potential,” but that once more people find a selling point in its accessibility, usage would become more compelling.

Along with its bare functions, Eyestone told the Advocate in October 2009 that people would not have to be restricted to the physical aspect of the classroom, as InSite

ADVERTISEMENT

enables students to connect with each other, setting up study groups and contact the instructor easily.

Student Randall Huber said InSite would be particularly helpful, especially with telecourses. He said the network would be a good tool for students and teachers.

Account holders will also be able to receive only relevant information pertaining to class schedules or any club or student group on campus that they are affiliated with, Eyestone said.

He hopes InSite will ultimately become a one-stop Internet resource for the district.

Though InSite has just entered its beta stage, emphasis is stressed on its full imple-

ment. Senior Dean of Research and Planning Timothy Clow said InSite works toward students’ institutional success, and universities nationwide already utilize portal systems for college constituents.

“Technical advances start at universities and trickle down,” Dr. Clow said.

District Vice Chancellor of Technology Systems and Planning Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said the district has so far made good progress for InSite’s beta version and that there are numerous updates under way for the network.

Contact Brent Bainto at bbainto. advocate@gmail.

ADVERTISEMENT

CAMPUS BEAT

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010 l THE ADVOCATE

5

Speakers analyze financial issues Conference’s spirituality livens crowd

By Lissette Alvarez STAFF WRITER

RICHMOND — By having a more spiritual appeal, the Financial Freedom Conference III aimed to inform more people about how they can improve their finances in a wholesome and loving manner.

Held at the Civic Center on Saturday, the event was initially designed to give Richmond residents options on how to resolve their financial woes, whether it is for their education or paying their mortgages.

In the past few years, the turnout was not as big as this year’s Financial Freedom Conference.

Program Director of Community Housing Development Corporation Maria Benjamin said that this year more people came, because religious organizations were able to reach out to more people.

“The people who came trust the religious organizations since they’ve been around them before,”

JOE PHUTIYOTIN / THE ADVOCATE

Money talks — Reverend Raymond Lankford speaks on behalf of the Healthy Communities Oakland branch at the Financial Freedom Conference III held at the Civic Center in Richmond Saturday. The conference addressed budgetary issues in the community and offered solutions.

Benjamin said.

Citibank’s Director of Community Cheryl Evans said it was a good start for the guests with financial troubles to actually show up

to the event.

“Just showing to the financial conference isn’t enough,” Evans said. “It would take a while for anyone to repair their financial

reputation.”

The sponsorship of Citibank was one of the main vessels that helped make the event possible.

Attendee Rosemarie

from various group such as Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Housing and Economic Rights, Foreclosure 101 and financial aid, Hinchens said.

Bishop Andre Jackson, who coordinated the event, said he was able to organize the event by partnering up with Citibank Vice President and Branch Manager Glenn Ivory.

“Glenn and I both wanted to help the community,” Jackson said. “It’s not about the bank itself. It’s about them giving the money to help people.”

The dedication and enthusiasm of the people working the event helped ensure the success of the conference.

Benjamin said she spoke at the event, because she knew it would give her group a chance to help people.

“I thought the audience was very receptive to my speech,” Evans said, “All I want to do was help underprivileged communities get financial assistance.”

It gave her a chance to network with other people on a personal and profession level, Evans said.

Hinchens said, “I thought this year’s conference was very well done and was defiContact Lissette nitely better than last year.”

Alvarez at lalvarez.

There was more informa- advocate@gmail.com. tion and workshops provided

Media technician ready to move on Machado carries legacy of 35 years

By Lissette Alvarez STAFF WRITER

For many years, whether helping a faculty member use a computer program or making sure her co-workers ate properly, media service technician Maria Machado has been a pillar who has helped keep the college running.

After 35 years of impressing faculty and staff members with her technical and physical abilities, however, Machado retired earlier this semester.

Before becoming one of Contra Costa College’s most savvy employees, she battled childhood poverty in Portugal, language barriers and, eventually, the death of her parents, Machado said.

Despite all her hardships, Machado chooses to focus on present accomplishments and future goals, she said.

Machado began work at the college in 1974. Since then, she has made herself known as a reliable assistant to anyone requesting her help.

Initially working in custodial services at CCC, Machado was later promoted to a media service technician in

1986.

Her ability to adapt to technological changes over the years with equipment such as computers and projectors made her an outstanding employee, library department Chairwoman Ellen Geringer said.

“Maria bent over backwards to teach people how to use the school’s equipment,” Geringer said. “Whenever anyone had a technical problem they would call her.”

Yet, Machado’s mechanical skills and ingenuity surfaced before she even set foot on the CCC campus.

She was born and raised in Portugal at a time when her family was impoverished.

As a little girl, Machado had to use her skills to fashion items her family could not afford. “We even went as far as to make our own toys out of bamboo,” she said.

Machado left school at age 11, because they could not afford the cost of education in Portugal, she said. She did not let poverty, however, keep her from acquiring other techniques.

“Since I couldn’t go to school anymore, I cooked, cleaned and learned how to be a seamstress,” Machado said.

When she finally arrived in America at the age of 14 in 1968, Machado faced

ADVERTISEMENT

a new challenge, her brother Joseph said, and that was learning English.

During her freshman year at John Swett High School, she was not able to do the work assigned to her because her English “wasn’t that great,” Machado said.

“My English began to pick up, because my teachers actually took the time to help me,” she said. “Watching all those English soap operas like ‘General Hospital’ also helped.”

From 1993-96, Machado came to grips with another challenge, losing her parents to lung cancer.

What helped her cope with this loss was not so much her hands-on techniques and perseverance, but her graciousness and loving heart.

“Maria is a kind, giving person and doesn’t ask for anything in return,” senior library assistant Tady Yoseph said.

Yoseph said Machado’s retirement was well deserved, because she is not only a hard worker, but she cares about the people she worked with.

“She would make sure most of us ate properly, even (going) as far as to bring food for us at work,” Yoseph said.

Geringer said Machado also enjoys entertaining people.

Handling the school’s equipment

and helping others are not her only interests, though. She also enjoys cooking, especially for other people, her brother Joseph said.

Machado said she has taken the opportunity to retire early not only because she put in more than 30 years of work, but also because she felt it was time to focus on activities she did not have the time to do before she retired.

She is currently doing home improvement work part time and is planning on traveling, Yoseph said.

“I plan on using my RV (recreational vehicle) to visit my cousins in Canada and then flying to see the rest of my family in Portugal,” Machado said.

Machado also said she plans on taking a few classes at CCC, perhaps in physical education, to keep her active.

Her other interests include camping, swimming, tennis and playing with her Nintendo Wii, Machado said.

She enjoys her Wii so much, coworkers and friends gave her several new games as retirement gifts, Geringer said.

“At her retirement party, Maria beat our school’s president (McKinley Williams) at golf on the Wii,” Geringer said.

Machado

The media service technician is choosing to retire early, after 35 years at Contra Costa College.

Machado was a staple on campus and often even brought food for her co-workers.

She plans to spend her time traveling and continuing to learn by taking classes at the college.

Contact Lissette Alvarez at lalvarez.advocate@gmail.com.

Scholarships flourish in economic recession

By Lissette Alvarez STAFF WRITER

Kennedy-King Scholarship, and eight students out of the 22 won.

Twenty-one students have applied for the Anthony and Jackie Astorgano Scholarship, and of that 21, six students walked away with it, Cox said.

He also said the five CCC students beat out 11 other applicants for the Second Chance scholarships.

CCC Foundation Scholarship winner Ruth Lopez said she did not apply for the college’s scholarships in the past, because she did not feel as qualified as other students competing for the same scholarships.

“For a newcomer it is especially hard since you had to have more experience at CCC,” Lopez said.

She also said students can boost their chances of winning scholarships by joining clubs, or writing one good essay.

Winning scholarships is a gamble, Lopez said, but students should take the risk in applying, despite the intimidating process.

Another contributing factor for students not applying for scholarships is their busy academic schedules, Akers said.

“I had to make difficult choices to get funds for schools,” Lopez said.

She said students are definitely pressed for time when the due date for the scholarship essay falls roughly the same week they are taking exams, which is why they should plan ahead and get their essays done early.

Although some students may find the application process difficult, the process is a lot easier than they think, Akers said.

Lopez said students should not discourage themselves from applying.

In the past few years, there have been numerous funds left unutilized, because many students lacked the incentive to apply for scholarships.

Students shied away from these scholarships, because they were either too busy dealing with academic pressures or felt intimidated by the process.

Recently, however, Contra Costa College students have become more motivated than ever to apply for the school’s scholarships.

Scholarship and Outreach Coordinator Jimmy Cox said California’s dwindling economy is probably one of the reasons why more students felt compelled to apply for scholarships.

Academic Senate President Richard Akers said students do not realize that if they do not take advantage of the scholarship money the college has now, the state may consider giving out less money next time.

“I would like to deal with a problem where a lot more students are applying for scholarships than there is to give out,” Dr. Akers said.

Fortunately, the number of scholarship applicants has slowly risen during California’s budget crisis.

Cox said he was pleased with the amount of students who applied for the scholarships, as well as those who actually were actually awarded them.

“About 88 students won awards at the Scholarship Awards Ceremony,” Cox said.

“This year more than 275 students applied Contact Lissette Alvarez at lalvarez. for CCC scholarships, which was a little advocate@gmail.com. more than the previous years.

Cox said 22 students applied for the

6 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010

SCENE

Families unite through songs

Unleashed

Movies

Karaoke Night good, clean fun

This week: “Iron Man 2” (PG-13)

By George Morin STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“Babies” (PG)

DVDs

New releases: “Tooth Fairy” (G) “Invader Zim: Season 1” (NR) “Dragon Ball: Season Four” (NR) “Doctor Who: The Masque of Mandragora (Story 86)” (NR)

CDs

New releases: Broken Social Scene: “Forgiveness Rock Record” Deftones: “Diamond Eyes” Minus the Bear: “Omni” New Pornographers: “Together” Mike Patton: “Mondo Cane” Flying Lotus: “Cosmogramma” Bones Thugs-NHarmony: “Uni5: The World’s Enemy” The Fall: “Your Future Our Clutter”

Games

New releases: “Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake” (PSP – T) “Zombie Panic in Wonderland” (WII – T) “Dementium II” (DS – M)

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

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Movin’ and groovin’ — Student Gsa Gsa Ward (right) and daughter Mahogony Woods sing along to B-52’s “Love Shack” at the EOPS Karaoke Night, held in the Fireside Room Friday.

Parents and children got the chance to sing and dance to songs of their choice.

Participants spent time looking and choosing their songs at the back of the room and then bringing them up to Reynolds who would put them on the computer.

Singers waited until they were called up by the name of their song and their name to sing in front of the crowd.

Muntasir agreed with Reynolds, as she said these events are not held to raise money, but more so to bring some good, old family fun to the campus.

The equipment at the event, consisting of amplifiers, microphones and computers, were brought by the All Occasions Event Rental service, Reynolds said.

The advertisements for the event consisted of posters and fliers put up around the campus and on the Contra Costa College Web site, he said.

Student Gsa Gsa Ward said that events like these are important for the campus.

“EOPS brings something we need at this college more than ever — some true help,” she said The EOPS program delivers students with economic, educational and social disadvantages the opportunity to successfully complete their educational goals at CCC, Reynolds said.

It offers scholarships and grants, as well as academic and personal counseling.

Family unity was promoted at the college Friday, through a karaokethemed event provided by EOPS. EOPS/CARE Outreach Coordinator Kenneth Reynolds said EOPS has been doing these karaoke nights to give students and their families the opportunity and space to have some good, clean family fun.

Held in the Fireside Room Friday evening, the event charged a $5 admission, with profits going to the EOPS funds, which in turn are funneled toward scholarships for EOPS students.

The funds are also allocated to future events that the club will hold, EOPS member Culoz Davis said.

EOPS has raised a few hundred dollars from previous karaoke events throughout the semester, Reynolds said.

But when it comes down to the core reason the department holds these events, it is to have a good, fun time, he said.

Though there was a low turnout, hosts and attendants were still able to enjoy each other’s company.

Student Lauren Muntasir said the event was spectacular.

“We even went to the first one; this one was a lot of fun,” Muntasir said. “We all got the chance to sing Contact George Morin at gmotogether. These events are a great way rin.advocate@gmail.com. to get the whole family together.”

Rockers continue rebellion in 8-bits Linkin Park raids iPhone ‘App Store’

By Dariush Azmoudeh SPORTS EDITOR

With all these applications on Apple’s “App Store,” rock group Linkin Park found out another way, other than music, to get on an iPod with its new game, called “Linkin Park 8-Bit Rebellion.”

The game overall is straightforward and simple. It could be easily completed within a couple of hours.

At the cost of around $5 though, there is little reason for any one other than Linkin Park fans to get this game.

One of the best features that fans of the band will enjoy is the 8-bit versions of several Linkin Park songs such as “Crawling,”

“Faint” and one of their most ter of his or her own and travels recent songs “New Divide.” throughout the different districts The downside to the game is of the band’s world doing misthat it provides no challenge, and sions for each band member fightonce all the missions are ing PixxelKorp agents completed, there is nothgamereview to retrieve the six stolen ing else to do but wander tracks. through the city re-killing Upon recovering the six the enemies. missing tracks, the gamer It looks like that would not only finishes the game, be fixed by update, howbut also unlocks a video “Linkin Park 8ever, which the characters that includes a new Linkin Bit Rebellion” in the game remind players Park song, “Blackbirds.” ★★★★★ to stay tuned for more mis- Studio: Artificial The song is a demo Life sions. from the band’s latGenre: Role-playThe story to the game est album, “Minutes to ing game Midnight,” and it was is that an evil corporation MSRP: $4.99 finished for the game. The called PixxelKorp is trying song includes vocals by to take over Linkin Park’s both of the bands singers, 8-bit world while attemptChester Bennington and Mike ing to turn it into high definition.

Shinoda.

PixxelKorp also has stolen a The phrase “from the imaginatrack from each member of the band. tion of Linkin Park” is what the The player creates a characgame is coined as.

The idea to have the game in 8bit style came from Shinoda, who said to fans in an online video broadcast that he was inspired by the old Nintendo games, which he spent a lot of time playing during his childhood.

In addition, Shinoda designed and drew half the characters in the games, as well as worked on the songs in the game.

The game is also a kind of online community, which has other players in the background of the game.

Players can add each other as friends, send gifts and chat with one another.

Hopefully, now that “8-bit Rebellion” is out, however, the band can focus on getting out its next album sooner this year.

Contact Dariush Azmoudeh at dazmoudeh.advocate@gmail.com.

‘Cosmogramma’ dips into collective mind a flipped tone, Flying Lotus also delves into the unknowns that are

By Alec Surmani often difficult to even focus on, let ASSOCIATE EDITOR alone explore.

Geysers of cooing burst through On “Table Tennis,” Laura the swaying of scat singing that Darlington’s siren call draws listenlevitate just above the mist of strings ers in through goshiding the earth. samer coils that play cdreview What once indicated jazzy soul hard-to-get. They becomes disco through the gravitapoke through walls tional pull of a 4/4 drum beat. of a pitch black cube, Images of bell bottoms fade as never in the same “Cosmodeep synths and rattling percussion place, but always gramma” skip three decades ahead. leaving pinholes that ★★★★★ Varied forces slip in and out, only let in darker Artist: Flying demanding questions of how one light.

Lotus might “Do the Astral Plane.”

Pretty soon, the Genre: Hip-hop But Flying Lotus’ third full-length, Label: Warp room is filled with Date: “Cosmogramma,” answers all queries Release layered waves of Available now through the deconstruction of the impossibly dark light. questions themselves.

The listener floats Instead of a straight, ephemeral adrift in these waves, solution, the patterns and rhythm of contemplating through the guitar complete existence unveil infinity. fingerpicking that cleanses the lungs Take “Mmmhmm.” and prevents drowning in the fluidMost would console the kind of like light — or thoughts. pain that comes with the death of a This is what “Cosmogramma” mother, a reality the artist recently does so well. experienced, with a lulling bed of It reveals the near uniform simiplatitudes about the world’s opportu- larity of what we believe we know nities. and what we think we don’t, while Here, a silhouette weeps on a bal- spiking that supposed grayness with cony that provides the unintrusive spears of primary colors to show just support of a glimpse at the actual how brilliant that unknowing can be. expanse. The panorama that accounts Contact Alec Surmani at asurmani. for the peripheral, not just the goal. advocate@gmail.com.

Similarly yet in something of

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Keeping that swing — Music major Mac Esposito performs croons and slaps out tunes during his vocal and bass jazz recital held in M-116 Sunday.

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010 l THE ADVOCATE

Athletic program offers camp Summer activities to benefit kids

By Dariush Azmoudeh SPORTS EDITOR

Summer time is when children are free of homework to go do whatever they want.

This summer, however, the athletic department will be offering a sports camp on campus to keep children occupied while staying active during the break, Athletic Director John Wade said.

The program offers six weeks, with each week beginning on Monday and ending on Thursday.

It is open to minors between the ages of 8-16. Parents may enroll their child for $50 per week or all six weeks for $250, Wade said.

For their child to take part in the program, he said, parents would need to fill out a form and send it with a check to the college’s athletic department. For more information, people can call the athletic department at 510-235-7800, ext. 4257.

The sports offered will be soccer, baseball, softball, football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, badminton and swimming, softball coach Ed Miller said.

“We have coaches with good expertise that can develop their skills,” he said. “Every coach has an expertise for each sport. My expertise is softball, and I’ll show them the finer points of softball.”

Each sport will be offered for two weeks, except for volleyball, tennis and badminton, which will only available for one week, Wade said.

Swimming will be offer all throughout the six weeks.

“It’s designed for young people, and it’s an opportunity for them to go to a college and participate in sports,” Wade said. “They come and play a lot of different activities.”

He said the program they are offering is a cheaper alternative to other camps that provide one sport.

While this is the third year that the athletic department has been doing a summer sports camp, it is the first time that it is being offered to the general public, Wade said.

Before, the department used to hold it for free for unprivileged kids of the Bay Area Rescue Mission, Wade said.

“It’s a good way to get involved in the community, build relations and provide exposure for the athletic programs,” women’s soccer coach Nikki Ferguson said.

Wade said that the schedule is spread out so the coaches can spend

a week participating in the program helping out and still have their time off during the summer.

The idea to have a summer sports camp was a group effort by the coaches and Wade, Ferguson said.

The program will offer three sports each day, one being swimming, which will be held as the last sport of each day, Wade said.

He said that sometimes at elementary and middle schools, there is no extracurricular athletic program, and if children join a youth program, they might not have the chance to play.

“Everything is competitive now, and they usually don’t get a chance to play,” Wade said. “Here there are no points (being tallied), so they can come here and have fun.”

Contact Dariush Azmoudeh at dazmoudeh.advocate@gmail.com.

7

Sports fiesta The athletic department is coordinating an on-campus sports camp during the summer from June 14 through July 29. Minors between the ages of 8-16 will be able to participate in various sports, such as: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Soccer Baseball Football Softball Volleyball Tennis Badminton Swimming Basketball

Three sports will be offered per day.

Athletes’ personal lives not newsworthy L

ast week while doing my homework, I came across an ESPN special documentary on Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams.

The documentary was focused on Williams’ successful football past, his off the field issues with smoking marijuana and his recovery to come back to the NFL. As I watched, I recalled that period of time when Williams was going through his off the field issues and asked myself: “Why was the media and the world so cruel to him because of his reefer madness?”

I also started to think about all of the other successful ath-

letes whose positive images were ruined due to minor off-the-field issues.

Successful athletes seem to have it easy, from staying physically fit throughout their careers to simply getting paid millions of dollars to perform the sport they love doing.

The essentials these athletes have to perform seem effortless, as it is just a requirement of having patience, determination and dedication.

Being a successful athlete in the sporting world is a lot tougher than how it is portrayed.

The key element in staying successful is to be mentally and emotionally prepared to

malcolmlastra withstand the lifestyle of a successful athlete, maintain a positive image and reputation.

It seems as if the media only get caught up in these athletes’ personal lives instead of these athletes’ performances in their respective sports.

Don’t get me wrong.

It is pure entertainment hearing about what athletes are going through off the field, but sometimes you just have to

ask yourself when is enough literally enough.

Other big name athletes such as Tiger Woods, Ben Roethlisberger and Kobe Bryant have all gone through the experience of having the entire world know what personal issues they have dealt with.

It is a sad story, as a lot of these athletes are genuinely good people who have gotten caught up in bad situations that threatened to ruin their entire careers.

I understand that real important things such as death, murder and crime need to be mentioned when an athlete is involved with them.

But personal issues such

ADVERTISEMENT

as adultery and the use of drugs are not that serious.

For those who remember last year’s Thanksgiving events, Woods was caught in a bad car accident as he crashed his sport utility vehicle into a tree at 2:30 a.m.

That one simple car crash turned into a huge scandal, as the media forced Woods to admit that he had cheated on his wife with several other women.

I am not saying it is a good thing to cheat on your wife, but realistically that issue should have just been between Woods and his wife, not the entire world.

Sometimes the media

try to dig deeper into issues such as Woods’ rather than death, murder and crime, as usually those issues are swept under the rug and never heard about again.

Aren’t the more serious and detrimental issues more important than the petty personal ones?

Hopefully, the media will realize this soon and start focusing on the important issues in the sporting world, rather than the minor issues that can ruin careers.

Malcolm Lastra is a sports editor for The Advocate.

Contact him at mlastra. advocate@gmail.com.

8 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010

FOCUS

Calling out — Protestors rally in front of Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco Saturday on International Worker’s Day. Thousands marched from the intersec-

tion of 24th and Mission streets to San Francisco City Hall demanding immigration reform directed at undocumented immigrants.

May Day

of

ACTION photos by Erik Verduzco

Face of disgust — Oakland resident Gary Wade protests outside of San Francisco City Hall Saturday with a group of Tea Party members who came out to voice their disapproval of illegal immigration reform.

With joy — San Francisco resident Edith Hernandez moves to the music of Francisco Herrera Saturday prior to the May Day March to Civic Center Plaza.

Stare down — Protesters interact with opponents from the Tea Party movement who stand across from them in front of San Francisco City Hall Saturday during May Day rallies.

Song of protest — Community organizer and musician Francisco Hernandez plays for thousands of people Saturday as they gather before a protest rally and march to San Francisco City Hall.