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Story time
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Repairs finished
Knox hosts pajama party
BS Building now has ventilation
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Masters at work Chess players match wits
VOL. 93, NO. 2 WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 2009 ACCENTADVOCATE.COM
THE WEEKLY STUDENT VOICE OF CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE, SAN PABLO, CALIF.
Deans plan class cuts
Safety doubts arise
SWIFT ASSISTANCE
Armed robberies cast doubt upon current security measures
Reductions force decrease in schedule
By Holly Pablo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
By Asia Camagong ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Wounded by cuts from the state budget approved in July for the 2009-10 fiscal year, the college now faces a challenge to make change where there are no dollars. “Until the economy picks up, we’re going to have some tough days ahead,” President McKinley Williams said. The college has been working to formulate a reduction plan that must be submitted to the district by Oct. 1, which will feature a list of cuts to be made in the C-contract, college expenditures and categorical programs. “Right now we’re just explaining options,” Williams said. In order to avoid overspending the C-contract funds, which pays for parttime faculty and full-time faculty overload, the administration is working alongside the departments and divisions to reduce the spring and summer schedules, Vice President Carol Maga said. While a list of courses and sections to be cut has not yet been determined, she said, the schedule is estimated to experience a 13.5 percent reduction. The department chairpersons and division deans are looking to eliminate sections depending on the number of sections per course and class enrollment, dental assisting department Chairwoman Sandra Everhart said. Core classes required to complete certain degrees are at less risk of elimination, she said. Though some classes planning to be canceled are not required to transfer, Everhart said the reductions still take away many students’ opportunities to learn necessary skills. “The concern is for students who really need additional assistance in obtaining ■ SEE BUDGET: Page 4
Wali Wright, a defensive back for the Comets, remains in critical condition after incurring serious injuries at the football team’s season opener at home Sept. 5. The 25-year-old freshman was playing free safety when he collided with a Los Medanos College running back on the first play of the game. Football coach Dave Johnson said Wright sustained two fractures in his neck, a swollen spinal cord and paralysis of his body from the neck down, but is expected to live. Wright’s sister, Shawntae Semien, said her brother has undergone two major surgeries since the accident. “His vitals are strong and his brain is functioning normally,” Semien said.
Recent sporadic robberies on campus and in neighboring areas have led students to demand better communication within the community to offset criminal activity. “Safety is not where it should be. Everyone is disconnected from each other,” musical theater major Mark David said. “But as a community, we have to look out not just for ourselves, but for each other.” Police Services Sgt. Jose Oliveira said three cases of robbery by two unknown suspects in possession of handguns were reported on the evening of Sept. 1 after 9:30 p.m. In each case, the victims were alone. No one was hurt and no further leads or arrests have been made, Oliveira said. “Based on the people we talked to, the suspects’ descriptions, methods, actions of robbery are similar,” he said. “So we put two-and-two together that the three cases are related.” According to the police reports, the suspects are two African-American males in their late teens to early 20s. Both wore white T-shirts, dark jeans and black sweaters with the hood over their heads. One was wearing a black baseball cap and holding a handgun. There is no definite understanding of the robberies’ chronological order, Oliveira said, but the crimes probably occurred only minutes apart. The successful robbery occurred at 9:38 p.m. in the Bus Transfer Center. A backpack was taken but later recov-
■ SEE WRIGHT: Page 4
■ SEE ROBBERIES: Page 4
ISAAC THOMAS / THE ADVOCATE
To the rescue — Comets defensive back Wali Wright is carried out by American Medical Response after being injured during a football game at Comet Stadium Sept. 5.
Football player injured, survives Impact
Wright The freshman defensive back, injured during the season opening game, sustained two fractures in his neck and a bruised spinal cord. He is being treated at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. His vitals are strong, and he is expected to live.
By Holly Pablo
leaves Wright unable to move from neck down
EDTIOR-IN-CHIEF
Rocha case suspect to stand trial Parker, 24, allegedly shot former police aide
Public defender Esteban Alvear will be representing Parker, Deputy District Attorney Jaime Licht said. Alvear could not be reached for comment. Rocha, 19 at the time, was shot when he was investigating suspicious activity in Lot 10 and drove his police aide golf cart off campus. He confronted Parker who allegedly shot him twice before fleeing the scene on foot, District Attorney Eric Haupt, Richmond Police Department detective Paul Sequeira said. Rocha was immediately assisted by other police aides, Police Services and the San Pablo Drive and Mills Avenue Nov. 8, 2007, Richmond and Richmond police departments. He was rushed Police Detective Eric Haupt said. Parker is now to a hospital and has made a full recovery. After, Police Services and several outside charged with attempted murder, possession of a agencies conducted a daylong search of the firearm and attempted escape. “It’s a strong case,” Haupt said. “(Parker is) Hilltop area. No arrests were made. definitely going to put up a strong fight.” ■ SEE ROCHA: Page 4
“It feels good to close a case when someone is brazen enough to shoot someone in broad daylight.”
By Sam Attal ASSOCIATE EDITOR
A 24-year-old parolee suspected of shooting a campus police aide in November 2007 is scheduled to appear at a mid-October court date in Martinez. Christon Parker had enough evidence presented against him during a preliminary hearing on June 17 to warrant a Martinez Superior Court trial on Oct. 13. Parker allegedly shot Contra Costa College police aide Edgar Rocha at the corner of Shane
Hubbard’s memory honored her life through dedication of a memorial bench and distribution of a small amount of her ashes along the Packhouse Trail. Hubbard was a biological science lab assistant at Contra Costa College for three years before she passed away on May 5 from comBy Holly Pablo plications of leukemia. She was EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 55 years old. “We’ve been coming to this At this time of year, Kathleen Hubbard enjoyed picnicking and park for 25 years. This was one of walking her two yellow Labrador her favorite spots,” husband Brian retrievers with her husband and Jarvis said. “We’re going to miss friends at Point Pinole Regional her, but we’ll be able to come here and visit.” Park. “When she became sick with To honor the late Richmond resident, family, friends and col- leukemia five years ago, it didn’t leagues gathered for a potluck at break her spirits,” friend Colleen the park’s shoreline site on Sept. Crivello said. “She was still funny 1, Hubbard’s birthday, celebrating and full of life.”
Propped against a blanketed picnic table was a large, framed photo of Hubbard wearing a spunky pink dress and tiara at an event she and Jarvis attended every year called the Funky Formal. “She was an advocate of the tiara,” Jarvis said. “She thought every woman should have one.” The picture showcased the smile and laughter that will be missed, he said. Biological sciences professor Debra Barnes said Hubbard’s sense of humor allowed her to easily connect with students. “She was joyful. She made students feel comfortable. She would cut out paper A’s to give to stu■ SEE HUBBARD: Page 4
ISAAC THOMAS / THE ADVOCATE
Dust in the wind — Husband Brian Jarvis scatters the ashes of former lab assistant Kathleen Hubbard’s at one of her favorite picknicking locations, the Packhouse Trail in Point Pinole Regional Park, during his wife’s memorial Sept. 1.
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Trail potluck commemorates lab assistant
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