CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B campus beat ◆ page 4
Vacancies
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Leader welcomed
ASU seeks new members
Shrieve returns to coach volleyball sqaud
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sports ◆ page 5
scene ◆ page 6
Chairman featured Gallery showcases Diestler’s artwork
VOL. 95, NO. 1
SINCE 1950
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 25, 2010 ACCENTADVOCATE.COM
THE WEEKLY STUDENT VOICE OF CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE, SAN PABLO, CALIF.
6 PAGES, ONE COPY FREE
Sections added to help enrollment Classes
By Sam Attal and Adam Oliver
created to meet demand
STAFF WRITERS
In response to offering nearly 60 fewer sections this semester than in fall 2009 and rejecting many students either waitlisted or seeking to add classes, the college will be adding an additional 15 short-term sections to boost enrollment
beginning in September. Currently facing a 9 percent drop in enrollment from last fall, the college hopes to provide more students with the courses they need, said Dr. Tim Clow, senior dean of research and planning. “It’s great news for students,” he said. “We want to get it out so students don’t give up.” As of press time, a complete list
Budget remains unknown State limbo leaves college guessing By Cody McFarland SCENE EDITOR
If members of the district Governing Board had been holding their breath in anticipation of an official budget to be declared, they would have long since suffocated. More cutbacks are the primary concern, but since the California budget for 201011 has yet to even be decided on more than a week into the semester, the most they can do now is wait on legislators ■ SEE BUDGET: Page 3
of the new short-term section offerings was not available, but a Media & Communication Arts 158 (American Cinema) telecourse has been announced and is scheduled to begin on Oct. 15. Students will be alerted about the new sections via e-mail. “Hopefully we’re adding sections that have high demand,” Vice President Carol Maga said. “We looked at (sec-
tions) with the biggest waitlists.” The majority of the added courses will begin Sept. 22, running 12 weeks long and meeting twice a week in the afternoons to work around existing classes, Maga said. Most of the courses will be transferable to the California State University and University of California systems. ■ SEE ENROLLMENT: Page 3
HEALING POWER
edit orial Vague future
Polarized California legislators unable to settle differences to finalize state budget. Colleges to suffer consequences.
page 2
Ex-clerk passes on
SAM ATTAL / THE ADVOCATE
Illuminated — Dexter Mendoza and Brenda Weaver Smith practice Qi-gong during their Chinese Holistic Healing class in HS-3 on Friday. The class meets every Friday and focuses on a holistic approach to eastern healing practices.
A SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE
Ancient lessons inspire students By George Morin PHOTO EDITOR
Students began the class by standing outside and taking five minutes to take in and appreciate By Cassandra Juniel SPOTLIGHT EDITOR the sun and notice the energy that comes from the its rays. A former employee of the Contra Costa “Sunset is something so College Community District simple, yet people will compassed away of an unknown pletely overlook (it) due to their prolonged illness in Berkeley busy lives,” said John Kokko, on June 11. the health and human services Diana McCrossin died in professor who teaches the class. her home at the age of 78 with “We need to take time to focus two of her children, Tracy and on the vibrations in our bodColin, at her bedside. She ies and the things around us. began her employment in the McCrossin It all ties into each other, from district working at the Diablo our circulation, kidneys, liver, Valley College Bookstore from the mid- heart, and breeds a good soul 1960s to 1991. and health.” In Kokko’s Chinese Medicine ■ SEE MCCROSSIN: Page 3
for Preventative Health class, cal and traditional perspectives. The goal for students is to students are taught a comprehensive survey broaden and deepcourse which en the appreciation will introduce “This class inter- of preventative the basic theory, medicine through ested me with practical applicaphilosophy and practice of a the concepts that tion, Kokko said. timeless tradiworked everything within with“I’ve tion. a lot of peoAcupressure, us and around us ple throughout my career and have r e f l ex o l ogy points and takes a toll on us, noticed that my breathing techthat it’s all con- Asian co-workers, niques will be even as they age, nected.” taught during the seemed to have more life in them,” course, which Brenda Weaver Smith, can both prevent student Brenda student and treat comWeaver Smith mon ailments. said. “I asked my Qi-gong, a combination of co-worker what she did, and she exercises and stretches, will be said that she practiced Qi-gong, practiced weekly, and students which brought me to look into will learn how to use it during a course that taught on the subtheir everyday lives. The art of ject.” The five basic elements that acupuncture will be demystified and explained by both biomedi- make up the Qi-gong practice
— earth, metal, water, fire, and wood — will be discussed. Students will be trained to look at holistic perspectives to become better tuned with themselves. In comparison to Western ways of healing, where diagnoses are based solely on medicinal reasons, holistic medicine is defined by the Canadian Holistic Medical Association as a system of health care which fosters a cooperative relationship among all those involved, leading toward optimal attainment of the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of health. Holistic medicine and healing focus on the emphasis of looking at the whole person, including analysis of physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual and lifestyle values. It focuses on ■ SEE HOLISTIC: Page 3
AA Building sees renovations NEWS EDITOR
GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE
Rolling along — Contractors John Sanders and Rodney Goodin apply glue to the backs of sheet metal outside of the AA Building on Thursday.
The Applied Arts Building is undergoing a three-phase reconstruction project that will result in five remodeled smart classrooms, renovated rest rooms and brand new offices. Construction for the AA Building project began on March 16, and the expected completion will be sometime in mid-November, Parsons Brinckerhoff Construction Manager Kevin Sanders said. The remodel is part of the first phase of the college’s Facilities Master Plan, a long-term plan outlining the changes in infrastructure on the campus, Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said. Renovation on the second floor of the building is being done in order to accommodate the math department, he said.
Sanders said the cost of construcSmart classrooms allow professors tion for the project is about $1.2 mil- to use Microsoft PowerPoint software lion and will be paid by a bond measure and the Web in presentations. Phase one of the AA Building projpassed in 2002 to fund the remodel of several buildings on ect, which involved campus. five “Making them smart renovating of the downstairs The remodel of classrooms was the the AA Building is classrooms and two nearly a boost for the cambiggest renovation. A bathrooms, pus, because smart met its completion classrooms improve lot of the changes you date of Aug. 13, with the exception the learning and attentiveness of stu- can’t see. The money is of one classroom and both downdents, King said. in the walls.” “The renovation stairs bathrooms, will make Contra King said. Bruce King, “Making them Costa College a true Building and Grounds manager premier community smart classrooms was the biggest college,” he said. DVD and VCR players, projectors renovation,” Sanders said. “A lot of and computers placed on the audio the changes you can’t see. The money and video equipment racks are some is in the walls.” A couple weeks ago marked the of the additions to be made in order to convert the pre-existing classrooms start of the second phase. In this part into smart classrooms, Sanders said. ■ SEE REMODEL: Page 3
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