The Advocate - Dec. 9, 2009

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

CMYK

Seasons previewed

Basketball squads aim for top spots

campus beat ◆ page A6

Ablaze

Heating unit catches fire

CMYK

sports ◆pages A4-A5

sports ◆ page A7

Fall teams analyzed Advocate issues out its report cards

VOL. 93, NO. 11

SINCE 1950

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009 ACCENTADVOCATE.COM

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

16 PAGES, ONE COPY FREE

Parker guilty in Rocha shooting Jury

By Holly Pablo

convicts suspect for shooting of police aide in 2007

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Two years after the shooting of a campus police aide, 24-year-old parolee Christon Parker was convicted of attempted voluntary manslaughter and faces a maximum of 33 years in prison.

Parker pleaded not guilty to all three charges against him, including attempted murder, during the Nov. 23 trial at the Contra Costa County Superior Courthouse in Martinez, Richmond Police Department

Detective Eric Haupt said.

He said that based on the element of intent to kill and mental state of mind, the jury found Parker guilty of the less culpable crime of attempted murder.

Among the charges, the felon was found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm and attempted escape from officers after being apprehended in Oakland one year after the shooting, Haupt said.

“I don’t believe he can even appeal the outcome of this,” he said. “It’s satisfying, because we were able to take someone who

was violent and callous off the street.”

Sentencing is currently set for Jan. 22 or 23, Haupt said.

Deputy District Attorney Melissa Smith and Public Defender Esteban Alvear were not available for comment by press time Monday.

Parker shot the former police aide Edgar Rocha, 19 years old at the time, twice at close range on the afternoon of Nov. 8, 2007 at the corner of Shane Drive and Mills Avenue, Haupt said.

Rocha was investigating a pos-

sible automobile theft in the Lot 9 vicinities, located on the southeast entrance of campus closest to the Applied Arts Building. Parker opened fire and fled the scene on foot, eluding capture despite an influx of local and neighboring police forces, a SWAT team and helicopters, Haupt said.

There were no leads until a woman claiming to be Parker’s girlfriend came forward in March 2008 and named him a primary suspect after reporting an unrelated case of domestic abuse. He

Parker

The 24year-old parolee is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 22 or 23. He faces up to 33 years in prison.

■ SEE ROCHA: Page A3

Regents approve fee hike Prominent university tuition tops $10,000

By Holly Pablo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The increasing costs of higher education places students in a position to not only seek more financial assistance, but to reconsider the route they take in acquiring a degree.

UC Berkeley student Angela Johnson said that the UC Regents’ approval of a 32 percent fee increase brings the yearly cost of tuition over $10,000.

“With the state of the economy, students can no longer afford to go straight to a fouryear (college) after high school,” Johnson said. “More students will probably head to less-costly California State Universities or ■ SEE FEES: Page A3

PHOTOS BY ERIK VERDUZCO / THE ADVOCATE

The power of democracy — A group of protesters communicate with the growing crowd of supporters about their reasons for taking over Wheeler Hall at UC Berkeley on Nov. 20. They called for an end to rising tuition costs.

YOUTH UPRISING Forty people

arrested after taking over campus building

By Holly Pablo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BERKELEY — Upon approval of a 32 percent fee hike on Nov. 19, University of California students across the state reacted by organizing peaceful protests to condemn “the death of public education.”

“We’re angry, because we’re paying more but we’re getting less,” UC Berkeley student Stephanie Altamirano said. “They’re cutting classes, laying off staff, imposing furlough days and making education even more difficult to attain.”

The protesters from Cal had an active week, with a daylong occupation of Wheeler Hall on Nov. 20 and a staged sit-in at the UC Office of the President (UCOP) in Oakland three days later.

Forty people, including nonstudents, barricaded themselves on the second floor of Wheeler Hall for 12 hours while an estimated 1,000 supporters rallied in solidarity behind police barricades outside of the building.

“It’s raining. It’s cold. But UC Berkeley won’t be sold,” students yelled in unison. Members of the Brass Liberation Orchestra, a local musical group in support of political justice, jammed with the students’ chanting.

Students created a picket line area on the Sather Gate route, creating human walls to prevent passersby from “ignoring the problem,” Altamirano said.

The protesters were charged with misdemeanor trespassing upon their 7:30 p.m. exit and applauded by ■ SEE PROTEST: Page A3

Renaming rejected Suggestion fails to meet policy criteria

By Alec Surmani ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Called to action — A University of California police officer keeps an eye on protesters outside of Wheeler Hall.

Though commonly remembered by his red sweater, revered former college employee Martin Padilla is quickly becoming associated with red tape.

To recognize the deeds of the late evening and Saturday program monitor, Contra Costa College administrators attempted to rename the Student Services Center in ■ SEE PADILLA: Page A3

edit orial Flawed values

District’s refusal to rename the Student Services Center in honor of Martin Padilla is a reflection of broken morals.

page A2

Police Services eyes changes

Parking by the numbers Requested fee increase of parking permits: from $35 to $40

Proposal suggests increase in costs of permits, tickets

Anticipated revenue: $301,000 per year

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

In his five years as a student at Contra Costa College, not once during that time did he ever recall receiving a single parking ticket.

This semester, however, multimedia studies major Daniel Winter found

gested increase in parking fees, raising term-length permits from $35 to $40 and daily permits from $2 to $3. Also, the price of parking violations will increase from $35 to $40 per ticket.

Alongside a $283,000 districtwide cut to Police Services, the state has changed its surcharge from $1.50 to $4.50 per citation, taking more money away from college revenue, Police Services Sgt. Jose Oliveira said.

District Police Services Chief Charles Gibson said the department had to reduce its staff and services because of the budget crisis.

■ SEE PARKING: Page A3

Requested fee increase of daily parking permits: from $2 to $3

Current revenue generated from parking: $1.9 million Proposed use of revenue: to repair parking lots and police aide salaries Plan will take 6 months for approval process Last fee increase: Jan. 17, 2003 INFOGRAPHIC BY ISAAC THOMAS/THE ADVOCATE

CMYK

By Asia Camagong

himself buried with three.

“All of this sounds to me like (Police Services) is ratcheting up revenue,” Winter said. “The county is broke, everybody is broke and they’re looking for ways to get money.”

Attempting to reach stability in a staggering economy, Police Services is awaiting response from the Governing Board to a district proposal raising parking permit and citation fees that will go into effect in the fall of 2010 if approved.

According to the parking proposal, scheduled for review by the district Governing Board today, there is a sug-

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

CMYK

A2 THE ADVOCATE Quotable “While the voice of an individual can be condemned to silence by death, imprisonment and confinement, the spirit that drives people to seek liberty can never be stilled.”

Nelson Mandela former president of South Africa, 1990 Holly Pablo editor-in-chief Sam Attal associate editor Asia Camagong associate editor Alec Surmani associate editor Cassandra Juniel spotlight editor Diana Reyes opinion editor Dariush Azmoudeh sports editor Lamar James news editor Brent Bainto scene editor Jack Anderson special projects editor Isaac Thomas photo editor Erik Verduzco assistant photo editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Natalie Estrada Anthony Farr Chad Garcia Malcolm Lastra Jon Pinlac Kristina Plaza Alexandra Waite Staff photographers Crystal Joy Bis George Morin Adam Oliver Desmond Sylva Brian Young Roman Young Staff illustrators James Heck Cody McFarland Joel Ode 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 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, DEC. 9, 2009

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009 VOL. 93, NO. 11 ●

Editorial Misplaced morals Rejection of proposal reveals poor values

M

artin Padilla could have worked at a desk job and made six figures. With his master’s degree and dedication, he could have been in a career devoid of all but the most minimal human contact.

Instead the former evening and Saturday program monitor, who died last year when a car thief involved in a police pursuit crashed into him, chose to help everyone in his vicinity in any way he could.

Yet, because of a vague district policy and since Padilla’s major contributions to Contra Costa College were not financial, the Student Services Center will not be named after him.

Instead, college officials are looking at alternate forms of tribute, choosing not to fight the district’s decision, where it refused to place the SSC renaming proposal on the Governing Board’s agenda.

But the mere fact that the college would have to fight over something as innocuous as the name of a building is part of what makes the district’s intransigence so perplexing. The creation of the Martin Padilla Student Services Center would have little more effect than a rise in morale and school spirit for current and future college employees and students.

Even if the project were approved, it would cost next to nothing to enact, a note that should come as good news to the district since money seems to be one of its main focuses when it comes to this issue.

CCC chemistry professor Leverett Smith questioned why the process of honoring a college hero would even be accompanied by such a requisite.

“If it’s just about money, that’s not really a reflection of our values,” Dr. Smith said.

San Francisco State named its student center after Cesar Chavez, not because he was quick with the pocketbook, but because he symbolizes values the university stands for.

This is the root of the problem behind the proposal’s rejection.

Senior Dean of Students Frank Hernandez said it well: “Why don’t we have the right to honor our heroes?”

Moreover, the college, not the district, should have the right to honor its heroes as it sees fit.

If capacity and willingness to donate money is the only way a hero is defined, this San Pablo/Richmond campus is in trouble. Persons like Martin Padilla come around to unintentionally remind everyone that character and action are the true marks of a hero.

When we fail to acknowledge these people on the basis of something as silly as money or ambiguous policies, we grant this community the one gift it needs the least — another unfair obstacle.

JOEL ODE/ THE ADVOCATE

■ Holiday

Christmas lies conceal true holiday spirit

A

mong the elaborate lies that adults tell children is the existence of Santa Clause.

Based on “naughty or nice” behavior, Saint Nicholas will deliver toys and candy to good children and lumps of coal to bad children for Christmas, they say.

While it is a clever method to bribe children into behaving well year-round, I believe when the truth is discovered, it can lead to feelings of incredible disappointment.

Also, the promise of goods in exchange for positive behavior may unintentionally associate the child’s meaning for the holiday season with material possessions, rather than the importance of one’s family and friends.

Growing up, I never believed in the stories that my parents or my two older sisters told me.

It was not that I did not have faith in these stories.

I wanted to believe them, but after being awakened by my sisters trying to replace the tooth under my pillow with candy, I knew that things did not add up.

Even as a little child, I was already an incredibly realistic person.

Reindeers cannot fly, after all, and the mere idea that a man could travel around the globe distributing countless amounts of gifts to all of the children in the world in just a single day is physically impossible.

I asked a lot of technical how and why questions to

hollypablo my family.

They always had an answer, but I was never fully convinced.

The house that I grew up in did not have a fireplace, so I was sure that even if Santa Claus was Those real, he could not find a way valuable into my home. lessons I was also taken undoubtedly aback by the masses outlast any of Santa Clauses I material encountered during the possession holiday season.

I could He was everywhere have ever — the mall, grocery store, received bank, et cetera and will — and he always stay with looked different me forever. from our previous meeting.

Still, it became a tradition to send my letter and wish list through the North Pole mail station set up at Hilltop Mall each year.

But regretfully, I became bitter, because I never received the items that I really, really, really wanted.

If there actually was a Santa Claus, he was not doing his job. I swear I was a good girl.

All I wanted was that Barbie Jeep, after all, but come Christmas morning, it was never delivered.

I realize now that money was, and still is, very tight in my family.

I understand that my parents simply could not afford to buy the pricier items that I wished for.

But I do not discount the gifts that my sisters and I did receive.

My resourceful mother was always sure to purchase items that she knew we would all enjoy.

In this sense, the holiday was another way in which we learned how to share and be grateful for what we had.

Those valuable lessons undoubtedly outlast any material possession I could have ever received and will stay with me forever.

Children should not be conditioned to want.

The true beauty of the holiday season is not found in Santa Claus’s gifts, but in the time shared with loved ones.

Now that my sisters and I are older, busier and do not spend as much time together as I would like, I wish I had embraced that fact earlier.

Holly Pablo is editorin-chief of The Advocate.

Contact her at hpablo. advocate@gmail.com.

CampusComment

How do you plan to respond to the fee increases in the higher education system?

“If you want to finish school, you have to do what you got to do.”

Paul Torres undecided

“If anything, I would probably protest in Sacramento and give information about it to my fellow students so everyone is aware of it.”

“It’s already hard enough to pay for school, but I’m going to look more into financial aid and scholarships.”

Richard Polanco

Albert Ambris economics

undecided

“I’ll just deal with it.

Either you make it or you don’t.”

Maria Rubio

business administration

“I had money put aside, but now that’s not going to be enough. I’m either going to have to apply for more scholarships, save more or apply for student loans.”

Marilyn Orozco

CRYSTAL JOY BIS/ THE ADVOCATE

business

“I have no choice but to get more jobs.”

Paulina Jimenez business

CAMPUS BEAT accent advocate ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Twitter

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

Newsline ■ WORKSHOPS

Scholarship explained A workshop will be held today for students interested in applying for the KennedyKing scholarship, a $4,000 award given to Contra Costa College students who are transferring in the fall. The event is at 2 p.m. inside the Recreation Room.

For more information, contact Scholarship Coordinator Jimmy Cox at 510-235-7800, ext. 4594.

Party honors the holidays The ASU will be hosting Chrismahanakwanzaka Thursday in the Student Dining Room and Recreation Room from 1-3 p.m.

For more information, contact the ASU at 510-2357800, ext. 4237.

■ ACTIVITIES

Veterans host winter dance The Veteran’s Club will present a holiday dance Thursday in the Recreation Room from 7-10 p.m. The dance will feature live music from the Contra Costa AllStar Jazz Band and Orquesta Borinquen Band.

Admission is $5 presale with a student identification card and $10 without an identification card and at the door.

For more information, contact the ASU office at 510-235-7800, ext. 4237.

■ EVENTS

Community to play chess The second Community Chess Tournament will be held in the Fireside Room Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The tournament will feature Bay Area chess instructors, and medals will be awarded to champions.

Registration for the event is $5.

For more information, contact Athletic Director John Wade at 510-235-7800, ext. 4310 or counselor Frank Davis at 510-235-7800, ext.

4616.

CrimeWatch

A3

Fees| 32 percent increase a ‘financial mess’ ■ FROM: Page A1

community colleges, but they’re also having similar struggles.”

University of California Office of the President (UCOP) spokesman Ricardo Vazquez said that the Board of Regents approved the $2,500 fee increase at a meeting at UCLA on Nov. 19.

The increase, Vazquez said, is part of the UC President Mark Yudof’s effort to mitigate reduced funding from the state, such as balancing an approximately 20 percent decrease in revenues for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

The 32 percent measurement is cumulative of increases for both the 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years. Undergraduate students will face a mid-year fee increase of $585 in January and a $1,334 increase starting in summer, he said.

University of California schol-

ars returning for spring semester can expect fewer course sections to choose from and reduced student services, all while facing a $2,500 annualized fee increase for 2010.

“The initial price is not what (students) expected,” international relations major and prospective UC student Onechojon Omaga said. “I’m definitely going to be applying for financial aid. I was never planning on it before but I don’t have a choice.”

Students transferring from community colleges may have admission advantages over freshmen, Senior Dean of Students Frank Hernandez said.

The idea that transfer students be provided priority access is being seen today, Hernandez said, but despite that fact, they’re “transferring into a financial mess.”

Transfer students, if they graduate in two years, will have to pay at least

$20,000 in tuition and fees by the time they graduate with a bachelor’s degree, Hernandez said, and that price does not include housing, food and personal expenses.

The whole philosophy of the Master Plan for Higher Education of the 1960s, which ensured tuition-free schooling has completely crumbled, he said, and means nothing now.

Students with money will go to school and those that do not, might have to delay their original plans and return to school when they are more financially ready to.

“This corrupted system is changing who is accepted and who receives the benefit of education,” Johnson said. “It’s privatization of education because working class and minorities are the ones being hurt.”

Under the Regents’ expansion approval, the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan will completely cover systemwide fees for financial aid students whose families earn

$70,000 and below annually.

“As it has been done in the past, one-third of the revenue generated from the increases will be set aside for financial aid,” Vazquez said. “We expect to serve 52,000 undergraduates in 2010-11.”

Of the $175 million expected, the rest of the funds will be used to restore canceled course sections, hire professors and deal with the issue of increased class sizes, he said.

Vazquez said that in order to protect the quality of the education that parents and students expect from the UC system, administrators are requesting $900 million worth of restitution from the state legislation.

Johnson said, “They keep calling this a ‘state problem.’ But as workers employed by the Legislature, they are the decision-makers of Sacramento.”

Contact Holly Pablo at hpablo. advocate@gmail.com.

Rocha | Trial closing Center | Obstacles

■ FROM: Page A1

■ ASU

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009 l THE ADVOCATE

was arrested in October 2008 in Oakland.

“The case went cold for a bit before that lead,” Haupt said. “He was a very difficult person to find.”

District Police Services Chief Charles Gibson said he is “mildly satisfied” with the outcome of the case, but feels higher charges are more appropriate.

“It’s a tragic situation, and we are still trying to cope,” Gibson said.

“I’m glad that the criminal justice system worked somewhat, and we’re getting some closure for it.”

Rocha was hospitalized after the shooting for two months at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut

Creek, where he was treated for critical gunshot wounds to his stomach and intestines.

The 21-year-old has since made a full recovery and is working part time.

Upon hearing news that the case is coming to a close, Rocha said the incident is in the past and “it feels good knowing that he got what was coming.”

Since the incident, the district has purchased bulletproof vests for the police aides at each of its three campuses, Gibson said.

Contact Holly Pablo at hpablo. advocate@gmail.com.

Protest | Solidarity

■ FROM: Page A1

masses of supporters.

Their demands — repeal of the fee increase, rehiring of 38 custodial staff members who were laid off, complete amnesty and the dropping of charges against arrested protesters, just labor practices in negotiable contracts for Bears Lair vendors — were not met.

Despite this, Cal student Blanca Misse still felt victorious.

“We didn’t win everything, but this small action was a victory,” Misse said. “We were so impressed that so many students showed up in solidarity.”

Dozens of students marched five blocks from the Alameda County Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse to UCOP on Nov. 23 after determining that the felony burglary charges of three students who were apprehended by police the morning of the Wheeler Hall takeover were dropped.

Graham Archer, lawyer for one of the three protesters, said that the District Attorney’s Office is, however, legally able to file misdemeanor charges at a later time.

After leaving the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse, protesters stopped outside of the Oakland Police Department for a brief demonstration against alleged police brutality that students experienced at Cal. Berkeley City College student Michael Demopoulos was injured at the Wheeler Hall protest. He held his bandaged left hand in the air as

he carried a cardboard sign reading: “The police broke my hand.”

One of the lead protest organizers, Cal student Ruben Canedo, led the pack through the backdoor of the UCOP building around 3 p.m., where the students demanded to speak with UC President Mark Yudof.

“There’s a place for business people and contractors,” Canedo said of the sign-in log at the front desk.

“What about students? Why isn’t there a column for students?”

Office personnel claimed that Yudof was not in his office and instead, UC interim Executive Vice President Nathan Brostrom and UC interim Provost Larry Pitts came to answer the students’ questions.

“It seems like education is no longer a fundamental value in this state,” Cal student Anna Juniper said.

“It’s become a for-profit business.”

The students cleared the building around 6 p.m. and no arrests were made, Juniper said.

Spokesman for the UCOP Ricardo Vazquez said that while they understand the students’ anger and frustration, the fee increases were a necessary decision to maintain the quality of education.

Officials have responded to the allegations of police brutality by requesting further investigations, Vazquez said.

Contact Holly Pablo at hpablo. advocate@gmail.com.

■ FROM: Page A1

Padilla’s honor but have run into problems arising from clashing district and college policies.

A proposal for the renaming was sent to the district earlier this year. In September, a reply from the Chancellor’s Office in Martinez came back noting that the recommendation did not meet the stipulations of its corresponding board policy, and thus would not be included on the Governing Board’s agenda.

The district’s response drew curious reactions from many at CCC. “It boggles me that the district didn’t have the sensitivity to put it on the agenda,” Senior Dean Of Students Frank Hernandez said.

“Why don’t we have the right to honor our heroes?”

Hernandez said Padilla, who was killed on his way to the college on Aug. 28, 2008 in Pinole when a parolee caught in a police pursuit crashed a stolen car head-on into Padilla’s vehicle, represented the very idea of student services.

“If you came in with a question and needed help, that was his paramount task,” Hernandez said. “No one typifies (student services) more than Martin.”

Since Padilla did not make a major financial contribution to the district or college, however, the chancellor and heads of the Governing Board said he did not meet the criteria outlined in Board Policy 5029.

Yet, the policy only notes that the Governing Board may recognize these contributions “to the District/ College in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, naming of buildings…” It makes no mention of prohibiting the recognition of those who do not offer these monetary donations.

Classified Senate Council President Mercy Pono said that based on the policy’s actual text and the reasoning given for the proposal’s rejection, the district’s logic is flawed.

“It’s not a legitimate argument,” Pono said.

Although the president and vice president of the Governing Board, who were both involved in the decision to prevent the proposal from reaching the agenda, are open to other ideas, Chancellor Helen Benjamin said they believed that the recommendation could not be

approved based on the policy.

“It has to be a large contribution.

That is what it is limited to,” she said.

Dr. Benjamin, who in 2004 while she was CCC president, declared Aug. 18 to be Martin Padilla Day at the San Pablo campus, also said that while the college has its own building naming policy, district authority supersedes it.

This power is granted explicitly in the first item of the Facilities and Properties Naming Guidelines section of the College Procedure wherein final approval is awarded to the district.

Revised in December 2008, after Padilla’s death but before the proposal was sent to the district, the college’s policy also states that CCC can rename buildings after persons who “made an exceptional and unique commitment of service to the institution or major in-kind contribution that is lasting and memorable,” whether or not that contribution is monetary.

In the wake of the renaming proposal’s rejection, however, some are beginning to wonder if the college’s own policy carries any weight at all.

“It calls our own policy into question,” chemistry professor Leverett Smith said. “If (renaming buildings is) just about money, that’s not really a reflection of our values.”

Given the situation, Smith said that in order for the Martin Padilla Student Services Center to ever exist, CCC would have to submit a proposal for a new board policy allowing such an act to the district, which could take years.

Pono said that since such actions would be exhaustive and possibly troublesome, the college will likely not pursue the effort any time soon. “(Padilla) was peaceful. We don’t want to dishonor him by taking a route that is adversarial to the board,” she said.

While administrators are looking at alternate tributes, such as renaming the plaza in front of the SSC, Pono remains excited about the project, regardless of the form it takes.

“Every organization needs someone to emulate,” she said. “We keep saying that students come first.

Martin symbolized that.”

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

Parking | Program to invest in new approach

they are (the ones) walking the lots ■ FROM: Page A1 Monday, Nov. 16 “Now we’ll have to reduce it even making sure we don’t have nefariA victim reported the theft of his laptop computer further because the state is reducing ous characters,” President McKinley Williams said. more,” Gibson said. from his class. “(The proposal) is one way to Oliveira said, should the price Unknown suspect(s) vanof parking permits and fines not hire more parking and police aides dalized college property. increase with the proposal, the pro- to walk the campus and ensure our gram could potentially face an addi- parking lots are safe,” he said.

Tuesday, Nov. 17 Additionally, the proposal also A burglary was reported. tional $30,000 service cut districtcontains an initiative wide. introduced by the “We’re just trying Thursday, Nov. 19 A burglary was reported. to recover from what “(We need to) stick district chancellor to parking perthe state is not giving to our values and make mits available online us,” Oliveira said.

Saturday, Nov. 21 ensure student when one registers Oliveira said the Warrant arrest. for classes, Oliveira college has averaged success by not said. about 2,000 citations Wednesday, Nov. 25 Gibson said, by burdening them per year in the last An officer received an making permits identity theft report that three years. with other fees. ” more available to With the money occurred at an outside city students, the initiagenerated by increasand originated on campus.

Christina Cannon, tive plans to alleviing the parking and Governing Board student trustee ate the long lines of permit fees, Police Tuesday, Dec. 1 students purchasing Services will be able Warrant arrest.

Officer responded to a to fund the salaries of more police permits and textbooks commonly report of an assault and rob- aides and pay for more services, he experienced during the beginning of the semester. said. bery.

Some students disagreed with the According to campus officials, A subject was cited and released for possession of risking fewer police aides on cam- proposal, saying that the increasing pus could pose a bigger threat to ticketing standards will be difficult marijuana.

Officer recovered a stolen students than increased permit and to handle on top of other budget restraints. ticket fees. vehicle on campus.

When informed of the conditions “We had to cut back on our budget —Jon Pinlac for our safety aides, and often times, of the measure, the members of the

ASU voted against it, ASU President Kristina Bautista said.

“We voted no, because we were taking into consideration the other increases that are coming up, such as registration, units and books,” she said.

Governing Board Student Trustee Christina Cannon agreed, adding on suggestions for alternative approaches.

“In the climate of so many budget cuts and fee increases, as a district we need to not follow along,” Cannon said. “(We need to) stick to our values and ensure student success by not burdening them with other fees.”

She proceeded to suggest priority parking, in which certain staff parking spaces be made available to students willing to pay a higher parking permit fee.

“We would need more facts and details, but (these are) just ideas,” Cannon said.

In addition, a policy indicating that students choosing to carpool cannot pay more than $30 for parking permits will be further researched, she said.

“It’s not a well-known situation, but it would help take off some of the budget,” Cannon said. “We need to

make sure we’re critically thinking.”

Should the proposal pass, students like Winter could experience greater financial strains if the parking regulations are not known to them.

For instance, student Eddie Hercules Morris III was issued a parking ticket at the beginning of the semester on the same day he decided to purchase a permit.

Oliveira confirmed, however, that the grace period is set for one full week and is extended to two if classes begin in mid-week.

With the amount of citations contested on grounds that they were wrongfully cited, Oliveira said that starting this semester, Police Services districtwide was given upgraded citation machines, allowing them to take photographic evidence of violations to submit to the County Office of Revenue Collection.

Winter believes Police Services’ new approach this semester proves enhanced efforts to impede budget issues. “(Police Services is) being aggressive and giving away tickets is a way to make money,” he said.

Contact Asia Camagong at acamagong.advocate@gmail.com.

A4 THE ADVOCATE

SPORTS

l WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009

Team seeks year to bring change

Basketball previews | 2009

Following disappointing season, squad looks to bounce onto hardwood floor with improved attitude

By Malcolm Lastra STAFF WRITER

As a team filled with tons of potential, veteran leadership and better play in outside shooting and defense, the men’s basketball team looks to rebound after last season’s disappointing finish.

Miguel Johnson enters his fourth season as coach in hopes of bringing the best effort out of his players to compete and work hard in games.

“We always want to be solid defensively and try to play good team basketball,” Johnson said. “If we can learn how to play defense and be competitive, we can win games.”

Contra Costa College welcomes in the new year with 11 first-year and four returning players, a change from last season’s team filled with entirely new faces and secondyear transfers from different colleges.

“We were definitely lacking leadership (last season),” Johnson said, “We had freshman players who lacked varsity (experience) in high school.”

The Comets’ deficiencies in efficient outside shooting and the lack of overall players on the roster led them to a 4-23 overall record and a 3-13 standing in the Bay Valley Conference.

“Players were off the team (last year) due to conduct reasons, and sophomore guard Jordan Mouton (freshman at the time) suffered a broken wrist. So we were forced to play with only eight players on the roster,” Johnson said. “We were always overmatched.”

Sophomore guard Nicolas “Nick” Kinney said that last season was an overall disappointment.

Johnson said that although his team last year was very athletic and able to get to the basket with no trouble, teams began to pick up on their tendencies and played a zone defense, forcing them to beyond their comfort zone.

The Comets seek to correct last season’s troubles in perimeter shooting, as expectations are high for the first-year players.

“We have recruits who we brought in that can help in shooting,” Johnson said.

Freshman forward Cameron Cash said more than half of the players are shooters this year.

Since the Comets are a fairly new team, one of the biggest problems they will face is team chemistry, as it was not displayed in last year’s season, Johnson said.

“We have a good group of guys who don’t question the Comets’ philosophy to the game,” he said. “Our chemistry is definitely better than last year.”

Despite having 11 first-year players, Johnson said he is up for the challenge in preparing them for the college level and is satisfied with how his young players are adapting and responding.

“The game is a lot faster (in college) compared to high school,” freshman guard Bobby Ward said. “The game is a lot more mental than it is physical.”

Cash said he did not know what to expect out of playing college ball.

“Since the summer started, I got to jump into the flow of how things went (such as attending early morning workouts and handling college academics),” he said.

The young Comet team is looking forward to the upcoming season and strives to leave last season in the past.

“There is going to be a big change from last year,” Cash said.

Johnson is excited and looks to bring a winning reputation to the Comets.

Currently, CCC stands at a 2-3 record and is in sixth place in the Bay Valley Conference.

The Comets won their last game at home Saturday against Reedley College in a 5648 result.

“The future is bright for the Comets,” Johnson said.

“We have a foundation (of young players) on which we can focus and develop (for years to come).”

C o n t a c t Malcolm Lastra at mlastra. advocate@gmail. com.

Key games

Coach profile

Coaches

Contra Costa College

VS.

Los Medanos College

When: Away: Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m.

Home: Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m.

The Mustangs prove to be a challenge for the Comets as they currently stand in second place in the Bay Valley Conference. Contra Costa College lost both of its games against Los Medanos College last year, 77-51 at home and 77-61 at Pittsburg. LMC looks to repeat the results while CCC hopes to make an upset.

Last season by the numbers

Roster 3 4 5 11 15 21 22 23 24 25 32 33 35 44 50

Nicolas Kinney Larry Bridges Demencio LeFleur Jonathan Caldwell Justin Hamilton Cameron Cash Victor Wellington Bobby Ward Michael Brown DeShaun LeGree Jordan Mouton Thomas McCall Addonnis Leacock Monnard Brown Nikita Evdokimov

guard guard guard guard guard forward guard guard guard guard guard forward forward forward center

sophomore freshman freshman freshman freshman freshman sophomore freshman freshman sophomore sophomore freshman freshman freshman sophomore

Conference record 3-13 Conference finish seventh Returning players Nikita Evdokimov Victor Wellington

Contra Costa College began the season with early losses to Canada College, Diablo Valley College and Sierra College. The team, however has a tournament win against West Valley College and snagged its first home win of the season against Reedley College Saturday. The Comets look to use their last win to set the tone for the season and generate momentum for their upcoming games.

Currently, the Comets are 2-3 and are in sixth place in the Bay Valley Conference.

Miguel Johnson enters his fourth season as Comet coach with hopes to improve from last season’s disappointing 4-23 record.

Johnson has high expectations in his young team consisting of 11 freshmen and five returning players.

The Comets seek to enter the postseason for the first time under Johnson’s guidance.

He looks for the team to grow at playing a college level game and improve on team chemistry. With hopes of bringing a winning reputation to the young squad, Johnson looks forward for the new season.

The center returns to the Comets bringing his 6-foot-8 stature to give the team a height advantage.

Ward

Evdokimov

Brown

LeGree

Freshman Brown looks to establish his role with outside shooting, which was lacking last season.

Nov. 27 vs. West Valley (at DVC) 61-53 W Nov. 28 at DVC 82-52 L

Dec. 5 vs. Reedley 56-48 W

Key players

LeGree brings veteran leadership and versatile scoring to the young Comets team.

Nov. 18 vs. Canada 51-49 L

Nov. 29 vs. Sierra (at DVC) 60-39 L

The season so far

Overall record 4-23

Nicolas Kinney DeShaun LeGree Jordan Mouton

head men’s basketball coach assistant men’s basketball coach assistant men’s basketball coach assistant men’s basketball coach

Johnson

Miguel Johnson Ivan Allison Glen Graham Jesse James

Schedule

Dec. 11-13 at San Jose City College Tournament Dec. 18-20 at College of the Sequoias Tournament Dec. 22 at Solano 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 29 vs. Marin 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 6 at Los Medanos 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 11 vs. Alameda 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 at Mendocino 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 vs. Merritt 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 at Napa Valley 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 at Yuba 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 25 vs. Solano 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 at Marin 7:30 p.m.

Ward offers the Comets crafty ball handling and passing as a freshman point guard.

Jan. 29 vs. LMC 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 at Alameda 7 p.m.

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009 l THE ADVOCATE

A5

Comets return with eyes set on Bay Valley prize Defending conference co-champions look toward experience, chemistry to help spark berth, extended success in postseason

By Dariush Azmoudeh SPORTS EDITOR

As a new season begins, the women’s basketball team looks to retain its spot at the top of the conference, this time by itself, with a group of returning players bent on making up for last year’s bittersweet finish.

The Comets expect the experience of seven returning players to lead them to the top of the Bay Valley Conference standings again. “(We have a) nice supporting cast from last year. In my mind, we are in a good position to do well this year,” coach Paul DeBolt said.

“We have a lot of experience.”

He said the team is way ahead of where it was last year in terms of development.

Last season, the Comets finished with a 21-11 overall record and a 14-2 BVC record. This ear ned them t h e title of cochampions of the BVC, along with Solano Community C o l l e g e .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, Contra Costa College missed the playo f f s while Solano w a s able to get i n .

This w a s

Even players new to the team can feel the strong chemistry.

“We’re a real team, and the bonding is there on and off the court,” freshman center Shanyla Love said.

For the players, knowing their role on the court is key for having a strong team.

“We are starting to realize our position (on the team),” Martin said.

“Last year, we didn’t know our roles.

This year, we are trying to progress as to knowing our roles.”

Along with experience and chemistry, offense is a high point of the team. Hunt said this year’s squad is very guard-oriented, and she thinks that there is nobody in the conference that can keep up with the Comet guards.

“We have a great offense. Our guards can slice the opposing defense to get to the basket,” Hunt said. “I don’t think anyone in the conference can guard our guards.”

The team still has some weak points, however, particularly in height disadvantage. Despite the addition of 6-foot-7-inch center Lara Chaney to the roster, the Comets’ next tallest player measures 5-feet10-inches and the rest of the team does not stand taller than 5-feet-7inches.

Stewart said the Comets do lack size and need to work on their defensive schemes. “But we can all get to the basket, and all the players know their roles.”

Height and defense will not slow down the Comets, because their strengths outweigh their weaknesses, DeBolt said.

While CCC’s goal is to win the conference title and make it to the playoffs, Stewart predicts that they will not lose a conference game this year.

Despite the team’s goals, DeBolt has a different mindset of where they want to be.

“I don’t really have a goal. I have expectations,” he said. “I just want us to play together as a team and play hard for 40 minutes and be willing to learn. If those three things (are happening), we will have a great year.”

due to the tiebreaker rules, which favored the latter.

The Comets’ two conference losses last year came at the hands of Solano and Yuba College.

“We were 14-2 and both of those losses were by one point. Losing those games cost us a spot in the playoffs,” DeBolt said. “It left a bad taste in the mouths of the players.”

Solano and Yuba will again serve as obstacles for the Comets in their search for the championship.

CCC currently has a 5-2 overall record and is tied for first place in the BVC, with a 1-0 conference record. Its conference win came against College of Marin 78-72 on Nov. 18.

The team’s other victories came in the Sierra Summit and the Comet Classic tournaments. The Comets went 2-1 in each tournament.

CCC returns to the hardwood with cast of several key players from last season’s team, such as forward Kandice Stewart, guard Zenaia Hunt, last year’s conference MVP Kenyanna “K.K.” Martin and point guard Aleah Bridges, who was among the state’s leaders in assists.

“K.K. is a scorer,” DeBolt said. “(She is) a great offensive and defensive player. She’s the lightning of the team.”

DeBolt said Stewart is the team’s thunder because of her strong mindedness and aggressiveness on the court.

Martin and Stewart were the team’s leading offensive and defensive rebounders last year. The two, along with Hunt, accounted for more than half the team’s points last season.

Bridges distributes the ball to her teammates and sets the team’s tempo.

Their chemistry will play a strong part of the team’s success, made easier by the high number of players who learned how to function together as a unit last season, Stewart said.

“I think we execute plays better this year, and because of last year, we have a better team chemistry,” she said. “The days we don’t have chemistry we miss shots, layups.

When there is chemistry, it feels like they can’t stop us.”

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

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SAM ATTAL / THE ADVOCATE

Schedule

Coach profile

DeBolt

Nov. 13 vs. Cerritos (at Sierra) 61-55 L Nov. 14 vs. Las Positas (at Sierra) 80-59 W Nov. 15 vs. Shasta (at Sierra) 68-67 W Nov. 18 vs. Marin 78-72 W Dec. 3 vs. DVC 69-62 L Dec. 4 vs. Merritt 73-46 W Dec. 5 vs. Chabot 56-51 W Dec. 17-19 at Monterey Peninsula College Tournament Dec. 22 at Solano 7 p.m.

Dec. 27-29 at San Jose City College Tournament Jan. 6 at Los Medanos 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 11 vs. Laney 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 at Mendocino 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 vs. Merritt 5:30 p.m.

head women’s basketball coach assistant women’s basketball coach assistant women’s basketball coach assistant women’s basketball coach

Contra Costa College

Roster 00 2 3 5 10 11 12 13 21 24 25 32 40 42 44

Benikkia Gipson Princess Sanders Lakesha Montgomery Aleah Bridges Savannah Stewart Zenaia Hunt Alana Aquino Kenyanna Martin Nathalie Coss Diamond Williams Kandice Stewart Lynette Walker Lara Chaney Shayla Farinas Shanyla Love

Solano Community College

With last year’s co-champions coming face-to-face, the Comets look for revenge against the Falcons, who took Contra Costa College’s playoff spot last year. The teams split their two contests against each other last year, with the visiting team nabbing the win in both cases.

Last season by the numbers Overall record 21-11

The Comets are off to a good start in the Bay Valley Conference with a win over College of Marin, putting Contra Costa College in a tie for first in the conference with Yuba College. The Comets’ overall record is 5-2, which includes the Sierra Summit Tournament, where they lost to Cerritos College and defeated Las Positas College and Shasta College, and the Comet Classic where they lost their first game to DVC and won the following games against Merritt College and Chabot College.

Conference record 14-2 Conference finish first, tie Returning players Aleah Bridges Zenaia Hunt Alana Aquino Kenyanna Martin

Kandice Stewart Lynette Walker Shayla Farinas

Key players

Kandice Stewart is the team’s rock on the court and one of the team’s top rebounders.

The sophomore returns to the team, bringing great defense and her 3point shooting skills.

Bridges

Last year’s conference MVP, Martin was the team’s top scorer and looks to repeat that this year.

Hunt

Jan. 29 vs. LMC 5:30 p.m.

sophomore freshman sophomore sophomore sophomore sophomore sophomore sophomore freshman sophomore sophomore sophomore sophomore sophomore freshman

VS.

When: Away: Dec. 22, 7 p.m.

Home: Jan. 25, 5:30 p.m.

The season so far

Jan. 25 vs. Solano 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 at Marin 5:30 p.m.

guard forward guard guard guard guard guard guard guard forward forward guard center guard center

K.Stewart

Jan. 22 vs. Yuba 5:30 p.m.

Coach Paul DeBolt returns to the team for his 24th season with hopes of making it to the playoffs following last year’s co-championship with Solano Community College.

He looks to improve upon last year’s 14-2 BVC record and to obtain the team’s second-straight conference title. DeBolt said the team is way ahead of where it was last year at this point in the season. He relies on a returning cast which includes most of last year’s key players to help lead the team into the postseason and to the conference title.

Paul DeBolt Keith Allison Michael Hughes Teri Williams

Martin

Jan. 20 at Napa Valley 7:30 p.m.

Key games

Coaches

The guard hopes to make the playoffs with her ability to find teammates on the court.

A6 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009

CAMPUS BEAT

Union, district continue debate Miscalculated results spark recall petition

By Holly Pablo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Upset with the lack of an equitable contract agreement with the West County school district, “grassroots efforts” have developed within the United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) union, members say.

Hercules Middle High School English teacher Lucy Giusto is one of three members facilitating a recall petition of UTR President Pixie Hayward-Schickele.

“It doesn’t mean we want anarchy,” Giusto said. “But we want our president to negotiate in good faith for us.”

The petition is circulating at 22 schools in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD).

Bylaws state that a “maximum of 60 school days shall be permitted to obtain the signatures of at least 25 percent or more of the active members of UTR.” Giusto said 225 signatures have been

collected from five schools thus far, and she expects to reach her goal of 477 signatures

by Dec. 18.

Tension flared within the union after voting recounts on Nov. 10 proved that the initial results approving the district’s tentative agreement were miscounted.

Originally announced to have passed, 698-689, by a slim margin of nine votes, the recount determined that the agreement failed, 705-671, by 34 votes.

Speculation as to whether the bylaws were followed during counting arose, as Hayward-Schickele allegedly spent 10 minutes behind closed doors with the voting tallies and would not disclose the results.

In addition, Giusto said some members believed the ballot language was misleading and employed “scare tactics” to coerce members into approval.

She said that choices were between “yes,” approving the contract, and “no,” declining the contract but choosing to strike.

The option has been up in the air since the August impasse, when 93 percent of UTR members voted in approval of a strike.

Giusto said that the union and district are returning to the bargaining table Thursday.

Hayward-Schickele and WCCUSD spokesman Marin Trujillo were not available for comment by press time Monday.

“We need a strong leader,” Middle College High School history teacher Eric Reed said. “But more than that, we need a good contract.”

Health care is the largest concern for the teachers, as the extensive budget deficits to the educational system led the district to change its benefits policy, Giusto said.

Originally covered by the district, teachers will now have to pay for their spouses and dependents’ health care. Giusto, for example, said that based on the now-failed tentative agreement, this equates to an annual $5,000 pay cut to coverage of her husband and child.

“If people are planning on getting married or starting a family, it’s no longer possible to work in this district,” MCHS math teacher Steve Hoffman said, “unless their spouse has insurance.”

Trujillo told The Advocate in November that the need to make these changes stems from the gap between $251 million of revenue and $270 million of expenditures expected for the 2009-10 academic year.

“It doesn’t mean we want anarchy. But we want our president to negotiate in good faith for us.”

Lucy Giusto,

Hercules Middle High School English teacher

Giusto said both sides need to be mindful, but that reorganizing the way in which money is prioritized is necessary.

“There can be concessions on both sides,” she said. “But it’s up to the district to find the money when necessary, such as reprioritizing bills.”

District statistics from 1998-99 found that there were 104 district administrators from the principal level up serving 34,000 students that academic year, Giusto said.

Recent statistics, she said, show that there were 143 district administrators serving 30,000 students last year.

Contact Holly Pablo advocate@gmail.com.

at

hpablo.

Students compete in speech

Heater catches ablaze

Tournament teaches public speaking skills

Small fire triggered by trash build-up

By Dariush Azmoudeh

By Diana Reyes

SPORTS EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

The Liberal Arts Building became the site of contests Thursday as speech students gathered in different rooms to take part in the Intramural Speech Competition.

Contra Costa College and Middle College High School students, who are currently taking or have taken speech classes on campus, competed in five different categories of speech presentation including informative, persuasive, impromptu, oral interpretation and debate.

“I’m hoping that students really get a lot out of it, because they have to speak under pressure,” speech department Chairwoman Sherry Diestler said. “After they see that it’s actually fun, they want to join the team.”

Students competed in classrooms in front of their peers and a judge. The judges based scores off of the delivery skills of the presenter and the content of his or her speech.

Judges ranked students from each group from first to fourth and gives each one feedback on their performance so they can see where they can improve.

“The students prepare a 7-10-minute speech, and they do it in two different rounds and then they are ranked from one to four and are given feedback from the judges,” Diestler said. “It’s a good way to gain experience for tournaments.”

The judges were speech professors, Middle College instructors and advanced members of the Speech and Debate Team.

Director of Forensics Julie LaBrincha said even the judges can gain an experience from the competition, as the speech teachers can observe what the students are learning and the members of the Speech and Debate Team can help out their fellow students and be mentors for them.

She said the competition helps students learn to fight their fears of public speaking.

“I’m hoping they learn to overcome fear, because when we let fear into our lives, it backs us into a corner and overcoming one’s fears helps to set us free,” LaBrincha said.

At the end of the night, awards were given

SAM ATTAL / THE ADVOCATE

Speak up — Middle College High School freshman Ting Yang performs an informative speech in front of judges and other student competitors in LA-102 during the Intramural Speech Competition Thursday. out in LA-100 to the top four places in each category.

“They use application of what they learned (in their classes) in a competitive environment,” assistant director of forensics Rachel Dwiggins-Beeler said. “It also gets them interested in joining the team.”

The competition also helps fundraising for the Speech and Debate Team to go to the national tournament in New Orleans.

The registration fee for the event was $2 and snacks were sold to help raise money.

“Nationals is the cream of the crop of competitions,” Dwiggins-Beeler said. “We’re starting to be a recognized force in foren-

sics.”

Student Stephanie Lindley said she did not perform because she was scared, but after seeing others perform, she became more comfortable.

Aiebietobong Etim, a speech major and member of the Speech and Debate Team, competed in informative speech and gave a speech about the danger of using lip gloss.

“It was nerve wracking at first,” Etim said. “But after that, it’s calm, and you see how beneficial it is.”

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

Police Services responded to a phone call on Dec. 1 regarding a considerable amount of smoke coming from the Humanities Building.

The smoke was a result of a small fire within a heating unit located inside of H-6 that developed at approximately 4:15 p.m, Police Services Sgt. Jose Oliveira said.

Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said the heating units are located against the walls in the classrooms.

The fact that people have disposed of trash in the heaters for more than 20 years was the leading factor to the burning of the one piece of paper, which started the small fire, King said.

“They are old heating units,” he said.

“Through the years, (people) have dumped trash in there, and one piece of paper fell into the heating unit and ignited smoke all over the classroom.”

The damages were not severe, King said, but the replacement of the old heating unit will be necessary and will be provided in the near future.

Oliveira said he got the initial call regarding the fire and responded immediately.

“We rushed over there and made sure the building was evacuated and secure so no one would re-enter,” he said. “Maintenance and custodians cleared and repaired the damage.”

A small number of students and a professor were present in the building when the incident happened, Oliveira said.

By the time emergency services responded, however, students were already outside the building discussing the fire, King said.

“We need to alert instructors about our regular maintenance procedures,” he said.

“We need to recycle trash in every classroom.

The idea is to use (trash cans). It is more safe and hygienic to the folks at school.”

Contact Diana Reyes advocate@gmail.com.

at

dreyes.

Budget setbacks endanger improvement rates Draft measures accountability

By Asia Camagong ASSOCIATE EDITOR

In a preliminary report measuring the performance of community colleges statewide, numbers representing Contra Costa College are showing an increase in completion rates for vocational and basic skills courses alongside a rise in English as a second language (ESL) course improvement rates.

Yet, with budget cutbacks threatening the amount of services the college can provide for students, there is little idea for how long the numbers will maintain their status.

“Now having to reduce an amount of services, it could have an impact on (students’) ability to stay in school,” President McKinley Williams said.

In a draft of the 2010 Accountability Reporting for the

Community Colleges (ARCC), available at the State Chancellor’s Office Web site, college performance indicators reveal annual successful course completion rates for vocational courses have climbed from 75.3 percent in 2007-08 to 77.8 percent in 2008-09.

Additionally, figures show a 4.3 percent increase in successful completion rates for basic skills courses.

ESL improvement rates from 2006-07 to 2008-09 have increased to 4.8 percent from their 2005-06 to 2007-08 numbers, while basic skills improvement rates remain steady.

The ARCC, created in 2004 by Assembly Bill 1417, is a report on the academic performance of a college, listing its areas of successes and improvements.

The 2010 report, which observes figures in the 2008-09 academic year, is still under development until its completion in January.

After gathering and confirming data for each community college,

each is separated into peer groups based on specific characteristics such as student progress, persistence and course completion rates.

As the document is still just a draft of the report, the numbers may be subject to change based on possible coding errors, Senior Dean of Research Timothy Clow said.

“A report of this magnitude is always going to have some initial problems,” Dr. Clow said.

While the percentages may change, however, Clow said the draft presents signs for increases in the persistence and retention rates for ESL and basic skills courses at CCC. Persistence is measured by the rate of students enrolling in one semester and continuing to register for the next one, whereas retention focuses on students staying and completing a full semester.

He said efforts all over campus are responsible for the increase in persistence and retention rates.

In 2008, financial aid and EOPS

raised persistence and retention rates by “cracking down” on student requirements, EOPS Director Vicki Ferguson said.

EOPS, a student program providing aid to students facing economic disadvantages, aims to complete its mission by helping students complete ESL, basic skills and general education courses.

“EOPS serves as a component that is about being more than just a book support program,” Ferguson said. “We’re promoting teamwork, and our main function is to make students accountable and active.”

Clow said that by working to improve counseling hours and providing assistance for all priority registrations, the EOPS program was able to enhance its improvement rates.

With the college budget, however, the program faced several cutbacks in 2009, reducing one of its counselors and the amount of money given for book grants.

Williams said budget reductions in student programs such as EOPS

and matriculation may push the college to offer fewer services in terms of book grants, counseling and tutoring, which may subsequently influence the persistence and retention rates accumulated in the ARCC. Though the amount of funds to support students has seen a cut, the campus has a mission to engage students and keep them “acclimated to the college,” Williams said.

“We’re trying to create a real sense of community,” he said. “If you’re on campus, you’re affiliating with an atmosphere that supports your academics and your studying.”

By interacting with students and showing them signs of support, Williams said persistence and retention rates might be addressed.

“We need to create a new motivation for college-going in our area,” he said.

Contact Asia Camagong at acamagong.advocate@gmail. com.

SPORTS

dariushazmoudeh

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009 l THE ADVOCATE

Team finishes 2-1 in Classic

A7

Wrestling Bridges awarded more than All-Tourney title imagined

By Malcolm Lastra

‘C

an you smell what The Rock is cook-

ing?”

That is one of the most notable and popular rhetorical questions of my childhood.

If you’re like me and grew up with wrestling, you would know that phrase belongs to The Rock, a man who earned the nickname of “The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment” for his ability to put on a show with both his “mic skills” and his wrestling.

To clarify, I am talking about entertainment wrestling like the World Wrestling Entertainment (formally known as World Wrestling Federation), not wrestling like in the Olympics.

When I was in my teenage years, wrestling was the best thing to watch. It had everything — action, drama, comedy — and all while trying to pull itself off as a sport.

Storylines and wrestler personalities were the main things that made wrestling worth watching.

But whenever I hear somebody saying that wrestling is fake, I have to say to them that I disagree.

People will always think it is fake, but it is not. It is really happening. People are out there slamming each other, flying from the top rope and putting their bodies on the line.

In reality, it is all real, just all scripted.

The action is real, but the rivalries and the outcome of the matches are all scripted.

Because of this, people ditch the fact that wrestlers are athletes. In truth, they are athletes, but they do not participate in a real sport.

Most of today’s wrestlers come from an athletic background such as football, boxing and even bodybuilding.

“Total Non-stop Action” (TNA) wrestler Kurt Angle, who won a gold medal in 100 kilogram freestyle wrestling the 1996 Olympics games in Atlanta, made a big name for himself in the WWE when he joined in 1998.

Even some former WWE wrestlers are participating in mixed martial arts (MMA), with the most notable one being Brock Lesnar.

Back when he was in the WWE, he was an unstoppable force, and now he is the heavyweight champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Wrestlers are also actors, because the entertainment in wrestling is mainly the storylines, the wrestlers’ personalities and microphone skills. That is why so many wrestlers make it to the silver screen, like Dwayne Johnson.

Though, whenever I see him in movies today, he is always “The Rock” to me.

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

and other players had to step up,” sophomore guard Zenaia Hunt said.

“We were (definitely) in a scramble in the post without her.”

The Vikings (2-3 overall) took advantage of Martin’s absence in the STAFF WRITER post and won the match 69-62.

For the second game, CCC came With improved effort in the sec- out with a fire against Merritt (0-4 ond and third games of the tourna- overall), as it stepped up its play ment, the women’s basketball team both offensively and defensively, was awarded the consolation trophy creating several steals and attacking and sophomore guard Aleah Bridges the basket getting to the free throw named an All-Tourney player for line. the Comet Classic held in the “That is the good thing about Gymnasium on the weekend. playing in a tournament. We got to The Comets (5-2 overall, 1-0 in play against another rival team the the Bay Valley Conference) strug- day after a tough loss,” DeBolt said. gled in the first game The Comets ralon Thursday against lied behind the play Diablo Valley College, of Hunt, who finished ScoreBoard losing 69-62. with 18 points and They bounced back five steals, and sophoVikings 69 defensively in the secmore forward Kandice Comets 62 ond and third games Stewart, who achieved of the tournament, a double-double by Comets 73 however, to take vicsnagging 10 rebounds tories against Merritt T-Birds 46 and adding 17 points.

College Friday in a 73The team defeated the 46 result and Chabot Thunderbirds 73-46.

Comets 56 College Saturday in a In their third and Gladiators 51 56-51 outcome. final game, the Comets “We just wanted to played a competitive Next game: Dec. play well and grow,” game against Chabot 17 at Monterey Comet coach Paul (5-2 overall) for the Peninsula College DeBolt said. “And consolation trophy.

Tournament, I think we accomThe Gladiators times TBD plished that in the entered the game hittournament.” ting the Comets with The first game an array of 3-point of the tournament shots. CCC, however, proved to be tough defensively for answered back with strong defense the Comets, as they could not stop and the offensive play of Martin, the Vikings’ 3-point shooting. who finished with 28 points. The In addition to the lack of defen- Comets won the game 56-51, taking sive play early on from CCC, the the consolation trophy. squad was without sophomore At the end of the tournament, 2008-09 conference MVP guard Bridges was named All-Tourney for Kenyanna “K.K.” Martin, who got her outstanding point guard play. into early foul trouble and played She finished with an average of 8.0 only 13 minutes. points, 3.0 assists and 2.3 steals per “She is a big force on the court game.

SAM ATTAL/ THE ADVOCATE

Jump n’ shoot — Guard Kenyanna “K.K.” Martin (left) shoots over Gladiator guard Monica Garcia in the Comets’ 56-51 win over Chabot College Saturday in the Gymnasium.

“She’s our quarterback and coach on the court,” DeBolt said. “She had a great tournament with solid games against Merritt and Chabot.”

The Comets hope to use the tournament to help identify their strengths and weaknesses and address them before the season starts. They play

at the Monterey Peninsula College tournament Dec. 17-19.

“Our goal this year is to win (our) league championship and make the postseason,” DeBolt said.

Contact Malcolm Lastra at mlastra.advocate@gmail.com.

REPORT CARDS ARE IN FOR FALL ’09 Football

Men’s Soccer

D-

to bring a winning First-year coach Dave Johnson looked team after last ball foot ege Coll spirit to the Contra Costa rd. reco season’s 0-10 victory, failing to Yet, the squad could only manage one on. seas achieve a successful blish their offense all The Comets had trouble trying to esta es were shut down. gam ing pass and year, as both the running ing quarterback Don This was exacerbated by the loss of startined knee. spra a Miguel Tutass for the season with showed promise in On the defensive end of the ball, CCC holding them to es, gam containing many opponents’ passing just 178.1 yards a game. be absent, as the unit The run defense, however, proved to teams. g osin opp gave up 301.1 rushing yards to all record and last over 1-9 a with on seas CCC finished the rd. reco 0-4 in the Bay Valley Conference with an s by more team g osin opp to g losin The Comets, despite t in their first figh and than two touchdowns, showed intensity 10, as they rallied Oct. on win against West Valley College game in the last minute back from a 17-14 deficit to win the losing streak. with a touchdown, ending an 18-game —Malcolm Lastra

Volleyball

F

men’s socWith hopes of the playoffs early in the season, the e on chanc a d misse and goals its meet to able not cer team was making it into the postseason. s Bay Despite having an overall record of 10-7-4, the team’ Zeller Rudy coach as good as not was d recor e erenc Conf y Valle in the BVC wanted it to be. The Comets finished in third place with rence confe the in s point 20 ng totali d, recor with a 6-4-2 the g takin ) BVC the in Yuba College (12-5-2 overall, 8-2-2 of Marin (8-8championship in first with 26 points and College 25 points. with d 4 overall, 8-3-1 in the BVC) coming in secon eeper goalk With year. this g stron The Comets’ defense was comins, capta both la, Sabel Tao der defen and Jesse Hernandez eight nents oppo its out manding the defense, the team shut times and allowed only 25 goals in 21 games. ence The offense started off the season slow in non-confer a score not did ts Come the e wher s matches, playing four game play. rence confe for time in e chang to able goal. That was the 12 In conference play, the Comets scored 31 goals in more. or goals four with s game five ding games played, inclu r for the ibuto contr Forward Diego Orellana was the top goal tricks. hat two ding inclu n seaso the Comets, netting 18 goals in

Women’s Soccer D

The women’s volleyball team had high hopes going into the 2009-10 New coach Nikki Ferguson entered 2-13 year’s last after rebound to season the 2009 season with hopes to revive record. the women’s soccer program after it was The squad, however, could not meet canceled last year. its own expectations, as it finished the The team, however, only responded season with only one win. with one win.

Coach Azure’D Nunley has not Contra Costa College finished the gained much success with her volleyseason 1-13 overall, with a 1-9 record ball team, finishing her fourth year as in the Bay Valley Conference, tying for coach and only garnering three wins in last place with College of Marin. that span.

Ferguson attempted to build a strong the ended College Costa Contra team, having started from the ground up year with a 1-15 overall record and a 1with 12 freshmen and one sophomore 15 mark in the Bay Valley Conference, player on his roster. resulting in them finishing in last The Comets displayed the usual traits place. of a young team throughout the season, The Comets had difficulties all seaas they showed frustrations when trailson in staying healthy, as many of their ing in games and gave up their complayers were injured. petitive edge causing them to lose the Also, the team struggled to be commajority of their games. petitive in games and communicate CCC, however, proved that it has ts opponen many and other each with the potential to be a strong team, as it capitalized on its open holes, giving bounced back from a 1-0 deficit against . matches in nd them the upperha Marin, scoring four goals in the second CCC did not won a game at home half of the match to give the Comets this entire season, as the team’s only their first and only win of the season.

College against road the on was victory The team has hope for next seaof Alameda on Oct. 2. The squad only son, as almost the entire roster will be totaled four winning sets for the year. returning along with the possibility of Despite the team’s lack of effort additions of new freshman players. and players in most games, it will have If CCC consistently displays comroster the if season next for promise petitiveness in every game, the future can stay healthy and consistently stay will be bright for the women’s soccer competitive in games. program.

—Malcolm Lastra

B

—Malcolm Lastra

—Dariush Azmoudeh

Box scores Volleyball (Nov. 17) Marin def. Contra Costa 25-14, 25-20, 25-20 Individual statistics Aces — CCC — None. — Marin — Mandoriao 4 , Wilson 2, Nava 1, Casalnuovo 1.

Spikes — CCC — Kihara 5, Johnson 4, Danao 3, Hansen 2, Ambegia 1. — Marin — Wilson 6, Casalnuovo 4, Fox 2, Morgan 2, Casalnuovo 1.

Blocks — CCC — Johnson 3. — Marin — Wilson 1.

Record — CCC — 1-15 overall, 1-15 in BVC. — Marin — 7-13 overall, 7-9 in BVC.

Men’s basketball (Dec. 5) Reedley College (48) Alvarez 0-1 0-0 0, Fara 5-6 5-8 15, Parker 0-1 0-0 0, Barnes-Williams 1-3 0-0 5, Polo 8-13 0-0 16, Saffold 0-0 1-2 1, Henry 2-5 0-0 4, Adeniyi 0-2 0-0 0, Watts 1-1 0-0 2, Young 1-2 0-0 2, Ruiz 0-0 0-0 3. Totals 18-34 6-10 48.

Contra Costa College (56) Caldwell 0-1 1-2 1, Hamilton 0-0 0-0 0, Mi. Brown 5-8 2-2 15, Leacock 4-4 0-2 8, Mo. Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Cash 3-4 1-4 7, LeGree 4-7 2-2 22, McCall 0-1 0-0 0, Kinney 0-2 0-0 0, Ward 1-3 1-1 3, Evdokimov 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-30 7-13 56.

Three-point goals Reedley — Barnes-Williams 1, Ruiz 1. Contra Costa — Mi. Brown 1, LeGree 4.

Fouled out Reedley — none. Contra Costa — Caldwell.

Rebounds Marin 14 (Polo 4), Contra Costa 19 (Leacock 5).

Standings Volleyball

Bay Valley Conference Yuba College Napa Valley College

W L 15 1 15 1

Overall W L 17 6 16 7

Solano Community College Los Medanos College Mendocino College College of Marin Laney College College of Alameda Contra Costa College

12 10 7 7 3 2 1

4 6 9 9 13 14 15

16 11 11 7 4 2 1

11 6 13 13 17 17 15

Schedule Women’s basketball Monterey Peninsula College Tournament Dec. 18-20 at Solano, Dec. 22 5:30 p.m.

San Jose City College Tournament Dec. 27-29 at Los Medanos, Jan. 6 5:30 p.m. vs. Laney, Jan. 11 5:30 p.m. at Mendocino, Jan. 13 5:30 p.m. vs. Merritt, Jan. 15 5:30 p.m. at Napa Valley, Jan. 20 5:30 p.m. at Yuba, Jan. 22 5:30 p.m. vs. Solano, Jan. 25 5:30 p.m. at Marin, Jan. 27 5:30 p.m. vs. Los Medanos, Jan. 29 5:30 p.m. at Laney, Feb. 5 7 p.m. vs. Mendocino, Feb.9 5:30 p.m. at Merritt, Feb. 11 5:30 p.m. vs. Napa Valley, Feb. 17 5:30 p.m. vs. Yuba, Feb. 19 5:30 p.m.

Men’s basketball San Jose City College Tournament vs. Chabot, Thursday College of the Sequoias Tournament Dec. 18-20 at Solano, Dec. 22 7:30 p.m. vs. Marin, Dec. 29 5:30 p.m. at Los Medanos, Jan. 6 7:30 p.m. vs. Alameda, Jan. 11 7:30 p.m. at Mendocino Jan. 13 7:30 p.m. vs. Merritt, Jan. 15 7:30 p.m. at Napa Valley, Jan. 20 7:30 p.m. at Yuba, Jan. 22 7:30 p.m. vs. Solano Jan. 25 7:30 p.m. at Marin, Jan. 27 7:30 p.m. vs. Los Medanos, Jan. 29 7:30 p.m. at Alameda, Feb. 5 7 p.m. vs. Mendocino, Feb. 9 7:30 p.m. at Merritt, Feb. 11 7:30 p.m. vs. Napa Valley, Feb. 17 7:30 p.m. vs. Yuba, Feb. 19 7:30 p.m.

A8 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009

Comets club Tigers 56-48 in home win

SPORTS

Energy, cohesion a running theme

came here, played hard and played together.”

The Comets took the lead within the last two minutes of the first half following a backcourt violation by Tiger guard Mohamed Fara.

By Dariush Azmoudeh SPORTS EDITOR On the following play, Comet guard DeShaun LeGree sank a 3A strong start in the second half pointer to put the Comets ahead, led to a good finish for the men’s 26-23. Reedley would score once basketball team, as it defeated more in the half to end it with a 26Reedley 56-48 Saturday at home.

25 Comet lead.

After trailing for most of the LeGree was the Comets’ leading half, the Comets (2-3 overall) bare- scorer on the night and helped the ly got the lead over the Tigers (1-4 team get off to a good start in the overall) at halftime, and their early second half by scoring eight points, surge in the second with two 3-pointers, half was enough to to put the Comets up get them through to by nine four minutes ScoreBoard the end for the vicinto the half. tory.

“I came out Comets 56 “It’s a good win aggressive to help Tigers 48 for us after the lossget my team going,” es at (Diablo Valley LeGree said.

Next game: College),” coach He racked up 22 Dec. 11 at San Miguel Johnson said. points in the victory, Jose Tournament, “We’ve got a young going 4-for-8 from times TBD group of guys start3-point range. ing to understand Brown also made what to do (on the significant contribucourt).” tions, scoring nine of the Comets’ The Comets play their next first 17 points of the second half, game against Chabot College (5- and ended the night with a total of 1 overall) at the San Jose City 15 points.

College Tournament at San Jose He said the talk Johnson gave Thursday. the team at halftime pointed out the Saturday’s game began with flaws and helped it improve play in both teams’ defensive pressure pre- the second half. venting each team from getting “We executed, played hard and close to the basket. Still, the Tigers earned the ‘W’,” Brown said. were able to pull ahead early.

Midway through the second Contra Costa College had prob- half, the Tigers went on a scoring lems containing Reedley forward run and came within three points Ramon Polo, who had 16 points in of CCC. the game.

The Comets were able to hold “It was a tough game (against off the Tigers by forcing them to a) good opponent,” Comet guard commit several turnovers in the Michael Brown said. “(But) we final minutes, extending CCC’s

ISAAC THOMAS / THE ADVOCATE

Taking it to the lane — Guard DeShaun LeGree dribbles the ball before taking it to the hoop for two points in a Comet win in the Gymnasium Saturday. Contra Costa College nabbed the victory on the strength of its second half play, defeating Reedley College by a score of 56-48. lead to the final score of 56-48.

LeGree said the team had more energy in the game and played more together than in previous matches.

“I hope we come out with the same energy (in our next game) to keep us going,” he said.

The victory is the first at home this season, following a win over West Valley College and two straight losses for the Comets at the Chevron Invitational at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Nov. 27-29.

“We didn’t execute as well as we

wanted to in the first half,” Johnson said. “We did better in the second half. When it got close, we got stops when we needed them.”

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

Mariners harpoon CCC in its last game Lack of effort leads to loss in three sets

BVC) capitalized on several aces and spikes to win all three sets and take the match.

“It’s something we have been struggling with all season,” coach Azure’D Nunley said. “They have to play

By Malcolm Lastra STAFF WRITER strong and keep their composure and not give up.”

With a lack of momentum The Comets showed this and effort to compete and season that they are capable win sets, the volleyball team of winning several matches. lost its final game of the Continued inconsistency in season to College of Marin on-court position placement, at home on Nov. 17 in three lack of trust within teamstraight sets, 25-14, 25-20 mates and overall lack of and 25-20. players, however, proved to Contra Costa College (1- dictate the season.

15 overall, 1-15 in the Bay “We had a lot of practices Valley Conference) failed to where players did not show keep up its intensity and dis- up due to injuries,” Nunley played insufficient effort in said. “It’s hard to build a positioning, as the Mariners winning season if you don’t (7-13 overall, 7-9 in the know who is going to play.”

The first set of their side hitter Rachael Wilson final game was tough for and middle hitter Elana the Comets, as their defense Casalnuovo to strike with created several holes where aces and spikes. The Comets the Mariners attacked with seemed to wake up on the a combination of spikes and offensive, as they attempted to make a late aces. CCC fell comeback. It behind early, ScoreBoard was too late, losing the set however, as 25-14.

Mariners def.

Marin closed “The first Comets 25-14, the second set, set was rough,” 25-20. freshman 25-20, 25-20 The Comets middle hitemerged in the ter LaShara Season over: third set confiJohnson said.

1-15-0 overall, dent, attacking The Comets 1-15-0 in BVC have only won the Mariners the first set of a with a combigame once this entire season, nation of spikes from freshthat coming against Laney man setter Courtney Kihara College on Oct. 20 at home. and key blocks made by CCC continued its defen- Johnson to take an early 7-3 sive struggles in the second lead. set, as it allowed Marin outThe Mariners were able

to create a run of their own, however, containing the Comets to only two points and taking advantage of CCC’s open holes in its defense with aces from Marin setter Rachel Mandoriao.

“It has been an issue all season in trying to keep our momentum up,” sophomore middle hitter Emily Hansen said.

Due to the Comets failing to keep up their momentum and effort to regain a lead, Marin took the final set in a 25-20 result. CCC has not won the second and third sets at home the whole season.

Despite ending the year with a loss, the Comets still kept their heads held high as they look toward improvement for next season.

“This was our last game,

so we tried to play as hard as we could,” Johnson said.

Hansen said she is proud of everyone.

“We are happy to have become a team despite our record,” she said.

The Comets are also hoping that their young players can continue to move forward and carry out teamwork.

“I don’t think we reached the potential we had (going into the season),” Nunley said. “However, if they continue to play as a team and carry that into next season with (the addition) of new players, we will have a strong future.”

Contact Malcolm Lastra at mlastra.advocate@gmail. com.

Baseball squad helps community, pitches in Players serve Thanksgiving meal to needy

By Dariush Azmoudeh SPORTS EDITOR

Thanksgiving is a time when people realize how grateful they are for what they have.

For baseball coach Marvin Webb and his Contra Costa College baseball team, the holiday meant an experience of giving as well.

The baseball team was able to serve a Thanksgiving meal to many needy people on Nov. 25 in Richmond at the Bay Area Rescue Mission on Second Street and Macdonald Avenue.

“These kids are students, and it makes them more of a part of the community,” Webb said. “It shows them that they can make a difference in their community.”

Webb has taken his team to give back on Thanksgiving for 12 years. He said it all

began when the team began BARM will have provided giving turkeys to the mis- 1.8 million meals.

“Those people need sion, and it grew from there.

“We’ve been working to make the choice to pay with Marvin (for so long), for rent or food. Just being (able) to have it’s gotten to Thanksgivings the point that we rely on “(It teaches us) to at their homes them,” Vice be more aware of is fortunate,” he said. “The President of of the Bay all people in need, people Richmond and Area Rescue and a little thing the Bay Area Mission Bill Jones said. like volunteering came through us, donat“We never can make a big for ing turkeys and ever had to call them. difference in their food for making our dinner They (have) lives.” possible.” always been The baseready to Ronnie Arnold, team ball come.”

Comet outfielder p l a y e r s Rev. John served typical Anderson, president of the Bay Thanksgiving food, such as Area Rescue Mission turkey, mashed potatoes and (BARM), said the organi- pumpkin pie, and they went zation always needs help around the tables serving around Thanksgiving and drinks.

Christmas.

“We serve plates and fill It received 2,419 turkeys up their glasses with drinks,” for Thanksgiving this year Webb said. “It’s a good feeland was able to give 1,000 ing for the players. (Some) food baskets the day before don’t want to come at first, to the needy. Anderson said but after they serve, they feel that by the end of the year, good for what they (have)

ERIK VERDUZCO / THE ADVOCATE

Stepping to the plate — Comet Ronald Morris (left) and his baseball teammates prepare a plate of food for Rhonda England at the Bay Area Rescue Mission in Richmond on Second Street and Macdonald Avenue Nov. 25. done.”

Webb said that college President McKinley Williams and Athletic Director John Wade encourage the teams to volunteer and help the community.

Players who went out to help serve plates, not only felt better for helping out the less fortunate, they gained an experience.

“I think it’s a life-turning experience,” outfielder Ronnie Arnold said. “It helps people in need and helps

build character and shows how blessed you really are.”

For Webb and his team, however, the volunteering does not end at Thanksgiving.

The team has also been visiting BARM around Christmas time to hand out gifts, and they plan on doing the same this year. “(It teaches us) to be more aware of all people in need, and a little thing like volunteering can make a big difference in their lives,” Arnold said. “I will gladly

come back. I really enjoyed the experience.”

With the baseball team doing its part in helping the community, Anderson encourages people to help out the needy.

“Come down and get involved,” Arnold said. “Help us help people in need, and if they can, just making a cash donation means a lot.”

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

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

CMYK

B

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009

Spotlight index:

SPOTLIGHT Laptop usage on the rise Students find devices key to

Holiday traditions explored

CMYK

SECTION

learning

By Brent Bainto SCENE EDITOR

For college students, the necessity of having a laptop grows with the practicality and accessibility to available educational media and micromanage multitasking abilities.

Computer science professor

Thomas Murphy said he has seen laptop ownership with students on the rise each semester.

For his computer science labs, Murphy said students bring their laptops to work on assignments and believes that a laptop is an “essential tool” for his classes.

Outside computer labs, however, students’ use of personal laptops in classes is less com-

mon. Although few at Contra Costa College report a notable rise in overall laptop usage in classrooms on campus, students and faculty are aware of the benefits and issues accompanying the allowance of the growing usage.

Students benefit from having multiple resources readily

The pros and cons

The Advocate debates the benefits and risks of college laptop usage. Supporters say easy access to information is ideal. Opponents argue that laptops are a distraction hindering classroom learning.

page B2

■ SEE LAPTOPS: Page B3

Mission rescues

Common winter customs detailed ◆ page B4

Disadvantaged locals find hope in shelter

By Cassandra Juniel SPOTLIGHT EDITOR

Upcoming movies uncovered Advocate sorts frosty flicks page B5 ◆

Students seeking solidarity Group looking to stand united ◆ page B6

ROMAN YOUNG / THE ADVOCATE

Bust a move — Former Senior Dean of Instruction Donna Floyd dances with faculty and staff during her going away party held at the Three Seasons Restaurant Nov. 20.

FLOYD BIDS FAREWELL

Hypnotist educates audience

Dean accepts DVC position

By Cassandra Juniel SPOTLIGHT EDITOR

Crowd learns about practice page B7 ◆

She put her best foot forward in all that she did at Contra Costa College, and now she is preparing for the next steps in her journey.

After 17 years at Contra Costa College, Dr. Donna Floyd has

moved on to the serve as interim Vice President of Student Services for Diablo Valley College, effective Dec. 1.

“This is a well-deserved honor and position for Donna. The work that she has done is more than her job title, which she takes seriously,” said Terence Elliott, Natural, Social and Applied Sciences Division dean. “(DVC is) getting more than Donna Floyd. They are getting CCC and should cherish this.”

Floyd began her career with CCC in 1993, starting out as a transfer center specialist and working her way up to become the senior dean of instruction, the position she recently vacated.

“I was asked to consider applying for the (DVC) position, and it verbally did not take long to decide,” Floyd said. “It is bittersweet, yet I am allowing the experience to take me out of my comfort zone — not so much

Through one organization, there is a glimmer of hope for those whose life circumstances take them down unfortunate paths.

This hope is in the Bay Area Rescue Mission (BARM), a faith-based organization that shelters the homeless, feeds the hungry and clothes individuals from all walks of life.

“We are a safe haven, like an emergency room, and see an array of individuals. People come in with life’s issues and the BARM helps them to get back in the right direction,” Family Center Director Carey Kachurka said.

She said “We are a safe that many times, peohaven, like an ple tend to emergency room, inaccurately think of and see an array of homeless individu- individuals. People als as the come in with life’s “drunks issues and the outside on the (Bay Area Rescue streets.” “ O u r Mission) helps them numbers to get back in the are actually half right direction.” children — the unseen Carey Kachurka, f a m i l i e s Family Center director for the Bay Area Rescue Mission that you would not even think about,” Kachurka said.

The organization was founded in 1965 (formerly known as the Richmond Rescue Mission until 1997) and serves as an emergency shelter for men, women, children and families, Executive Director John Anderson said.

BARM not only offers emergency shelter and meals, but other services as well, including recovery programs, transitional services, youth interventions, spiritual counseling, education, job skills training, a food pantry and distribution center and a mobile outreach that reaches approximately 500 people per month.

“We ask (the homeless) to let us help them change their lives by encouraging them to come to the mission. They are very special people,” Anderson said.

The history of BARM began when original founder Larry Wattal noticed some homeless people jumping off the train near Macdonald Avenue and felt something needed to be done on their behalf. After seeking assistance from political, local people and churches, the help and mission began.

“During that time, the annual budget was $4,000 a year, and there were 12 beds available and 30 meals served per day,” Anderson said. “Under the leadership of the following director, Malcolm Lee, the mission operated with a budget of $1 million, sheltering 165 ■ SEE RESCUE: Page B3

■ SEE FLOYD: Page B3

Singers prepare holiday melodies

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

Event triggers participation ◆ page B8

piano students’ winter concert, Franz Schubert’s “Mass in G.” The event will be an opportunity for the music department to showcase the talents of its students, who have been working hard this semesBy Lamar James NEWS EDITOR ter to make the best out of their perBRIAN YOUNG / THE ADVOCATE formance for fellow students, music Carrying a soulful tune — (Left to right) Carolina Prieto, Jerid With the winter season here, hol- major Jenny Darling said. iday music is on the rise again.

“I am looking forward to the Richardson, Daniel Ruiz, Daniel Rojas, Gasper Bernal sing In accordance, the soothing concert,” she said. “It is so fun to together on Dec. 2 in the Music Building. sounds of Christmas melodies will be a part of the concert, and to be Darling said students had to work according to plan. soon be heard in the Knox Center singing as a part of The Chambers so hard on getting everything right, She said it is important to have a Dec. 18 in the form of vocal and Singers.” and she just hopes everything goes ■ SEE CAROLING: Page B3

CMYK

BSU Slam attracts support

Recital to spread Christmas cheer

CMYK

B2 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009

FORUM

Debatable Should laptops be banned in classrooms?

■ PRO

■ CON

Classwork neglected

Paper limits note taking

Concentration, focus shifts to online media

Technology extends learning capabilities

samattal

dianareyes

A

M

s the use of laptops in classrooms is becoming widely accepted, students are becoming more and more distracted from their lectures. Rather than taking electronic notes, students are using these portable machines to do anything but classwork.

Word processing programs become hidden behind Internet browser windows as students proceed to check their e-mail, play games, instant message and browse social networking sites.

Often times, students using laptops will end up taking down only a fraction of notes in class compared to those who stick with pen and paper.

With Internet offered throughout most college campuses, including Contra Costa College, anyone can pick up signal in class and begin goofing off. Most students, including myself, will instinctively do anything possible to pass time and avoid paying attention to the professor.

A student in my morning class brings his laptop almost every day simply to play online video games and check Facebook for the duration of the 80-minute period.

When these gadgets do more harm than good for students, someone has to set restrictions.

Although many teachers have rules about laptops in class, most students bend them.

In a class where a student can obtain a passing grade by use of a writing device and a notebook — that is, a paper, nonelectronic notebook — the use of laptops should be banned.

Unless the professor is offering a computer programming course or something similar, there is no real need to use a laptop.

Sure, students should be responsible in what they do in class to pass or fail. After all, we are college students.

But students sitting around a distracted laptop user, often also land their eyes on the screen.

If these machines are not only distracting users, but also other students who may actually be trying to learn, something needs to change.

Sure, there are some great advantages of using laptops in class. Students can actually use online sources if they want. They also help make transcribing notes easier and faster as well. But is it really worth letting these resources into the classroom if they are just being abused?

any students have turned toward the alternative method of notetaking through a laptop computer, rather than using the standard pen and paper. As a result, more and more of these portable computers are finding their way into classrooms.

Two years ago, just a week before my first day of college, I purchased my first laptop. Shortly before my high school graduation, I received a scholarship that helped provide the funds.

It was not until my second semester in college, when I joined The Advocate, that I began bringing my laptop to school. The advantage of bringing my personal workplace into the newsroom went hand-in-hand with the amount of writing essential for this class in particular.

Although the use of laptops in the classroom has its downfalls, I believe they can actually be extensive resources not only for students, but for professors as well.

Not only would they lead a paperless system, which is undoubtedly an advantage for the environment, but they would also allow better notetaking and easier access to information.

In our generation, online research has become unchallenging for many.

Therefore, typing notes during a lecture can actually be easier by searching for further information on something that may be significantly obscure for a student, especially when taking more challenging courses.

Of course, the use of laptops in the classroom does not necessarily have to lessen the value of textbooks.

Laptop usage in the classroom can be inspiring for the students because of the effortless action of connecting to the Internet right from their chairs. Dictionaries, thesauruses and encyclopedias, can all be found with a simple command.

It is a pretty advanced idea, but that does not mean the classical method of teaching should be disregarded.

Everything should be moderated.

Students, however, must also respect each professor’s individual classroom policy.

Allowing students to use their laptops during a lecture does not mean the student has the right to disrespect the professor’s guidelines by checking e-mail or engaging in irrelevant matters such as online social networking The use of laptops in the classroom should solely be authorized for the specific purpose of learning.

If most college students are responsible enough to prioritize their studies and education, considering laptop usage in the classroom as nothing more than a distraction seems to misinterpret the fact that most students attend college through self-choice, unlike high school, when lawfully every minor is required to attend.

Distractions in the classroom for any student can come anywhere from personal problems, to the muffled sound of a cell phone vibrating from inside someone’s pocket.

Laptops can indeed provide students with more access to online databases and resources, which will in the end be nothing more than beneficial to any student.

Perhaps in high school we were not ready for this, but definitely as college students, we are.

Sam Attal is an associate editor of The Advocate. Contact him at sattal.advocate@gmail.com.

Diana Reyes is opinion editor of The Advocate. Contact her at dreyes. advocate@gmail.com.

JAMES HECK / THE ADVOCATE

SPOTLIGHT

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009 l THE ADVOCATE

B3

Laptops | Notebooks improve multitasking at school ■ FROM: Page B1

available by having their laptops open and using it to take notes and participate further in class, in addition to personal agendas.

Student Randall Huber said that during classroom discussions students are able to research topics pertaining to lectures and can help in expanding insight.

“The benefits outweigh the (risks of abuse),” Huber said.

Misuse of resources, however, is often more commonly found with students, English professor Brandon Marshall said.

He said he sees laptop allowance in classrooms as more of a distraction for students.

Marshall said laptops are temptation outlets for social networks and that sometimes it can be too much to handle for people.

Over the past year, particularly, Marshall said he seen a rise in the use of Internet social networks such as Facebook and MySpace.

“The freedom to use laptops is sound,

however, it requires an extensive degree of said.

“I feel like I have to multitask to pay ground rules (in the classroom),” he said.

To combat the misuse, Marshall said he attention (in class),” Conart said.

He said he uses his laptop has had to call out students in all his classes and also and even talk to individuals outside classes.

“The freedom to use believes that it is OK as long it does not disturbs the Although problems of laptops is sound, as learning environment. misuse are prominent in To avoid being a distracclassrooms with less com- however, it requires tion to a class, Conart said puter-integrated classes, Murphy contested that addi- an extensive degree that he keeps his volume low tional laptop agendas do not of ground rules (in and tries to be respectful as pose a hindrance in guided much as possible. the classroom),” curriculum.

Marshall said the use of He said that if one is not laptops in most classrooms is Brandon Marshall, getting in the way of other scarce, with only about two to English professor students and is not disrupthree students seen per room. tive, then having a laptop in Conart has also not seen class should not be much of a problem. many students using laptops in class, due to Student Ryan Conart is a firm supporter the absence of wireless networks in some of of laptop use and is able to multitask to stay the buildings on campus. productive while participating in classes, he To build a solid work ethic with indepen-

dent use of laptops, Murphy said that it is key to foster self-reliant study habits and not let distractions get in the way of their educational progression.

“If good habits aren’t built in community college,” he said, “then students may not have those coping mechanisms when they transfer.”

Conduct and etiquette in classrooms are varied between students, as behavior is a spectrum, Murphy said.

To combat misuse, he said that he conducts his class with a level of respect with his students.

“I don’t want to be the cop. I don’t want to rule with an iron fist,” Murphy said. “It is completely by choice on how people use their educational resources, but it would be a mistake to ban laptops (in class).”

Contact Brent Bainto at bbainto. advocate@gmail.com.

Rescue | Clothing, food contributions needed ■ FROM: Page B1

people a night and serving 450 meals a day. In January of 2000, the mission had an annual budget of $15 million and provided 325 beds for the homeless.”

He said that by the end of 2009, the mission will have fed 1.8 million people and sheltered 90,000 men, women and children. This will have been accomplished with the help of volunteers who donate their time, equivalent to having 12 full-time employees, Anderson said.

The holiday season is a time where there is double the need of volunteers that regularly volunteer their time, he said.

Whether they are wrapping presents, serving food or answering telephones, however, they appreciate what the mission does.

“I became a volunteer for BARM through Contra Costa College’s Dual Diagnosis Clinical Experiment class, through the health and human services department, working as an intern, with the option to volunteer 250

hours,” CCC student Emily Fields said. “After my hours are completed, I still plan to continue.”

She said one may assume the worst when thinking of a homeless shelter, but it is far from that.

“It is clean, the staff is courteous and they teach people how to survive in a variety of ways that benefit them for life,” Fields said.

As protection is key from the hazards of the streets, the ministry has this in mind, especially for women with small children, Anderson said.

“Negotiations are under way to erect, on two acres of land in the city of Pittsburg, a 50,000-square-foot ‘Bridge of Hope’ center, providing studio apartments for 40 families,” he said. “Once done, we will go to our donors, friends, public foundations to raise $12 million to build, furnish and put in a reserve for the first two years of operating expense.”

Successful completion in BARM’s programs, ranging from short-term shelter

that lasts up to 90 days to the transitional living program, allows its “graduates” options, such as the opportunity to join the apprenticeship program, which teaches them how to become a staff member and help others.

Sherwin Harris, a graduate and now director of men’s services at the organization, has seen the good, bad and the ugly, yet is grateful for the help the mission provided.

“I was raised in a two-parent, Christian-based home, served in the air force, married my high school sweet heart and then fell prey to cocaine,” Harris said. “Over time, I became a functional addict, to the point of becoming severely addicted to cocaine, losing my job, car, wife and home.

“At 120 pounds, I came to BARM, began the recovery process and graduated in 1985,” he said. “I was asked to lead the men’s recovery program, which I’ve been doing for nine years and began a relationship with the Lord, having been sober for

Floyd | ‘Significant impact’ ■ FROM: Page B1

with the job, but the campus community. It’s a stretch.”

Floyd is used to a stretch, as she has been able to tackle a significant number of assignments in her tenure at CCC. “Donna was the lead person in establishing the degree completion programs for Cal State-East Bay and St. Mary’s College, spearheading both and their progress. She was also the weekend/evening counselor for the PACE program and did an excellent job,” President McKinley Williams said. “She has had significant impact on the college, working in student services and counseling and being equally competent in both areas, which is unusual.”

Some of her former areas of responsibility included scheduling, Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), Title 5 Compliance issues related to curriculum, the new Web site design, enrollment management and keeping up-to-date with division deans.

At DVC, Floyd will again have responsibility for student services.

She said she had no idea that she would be at this place in her career, at this time in her life. She is excited about her new position, however, yet saddened to leave CCC. “There are glimpses of excitement and anticipation. It is a new opportunity — a challenge and I look forward to the opportunity,” Floyd said. “I have been a part of CCC for 17 years and have grown tremendously as a person and owe a lot to the college.”

Floyd said some of her skills she learned while working at CCC helped her become a good listener and support person.

Senior Dean of Students Frank Hernandez said her co-workers can attest that these skills are now one of her most recognizable traits.

“It is not often that you encounter a

person of Dr. Floyd’s caliber. She is able to bring people together and her roots are from her counseling training,” Hernandez said.

“She is a great buffer, a problem solver and understands what people need. She also has the ability to bring projects to fruition, as she understands the needs of CCC,” he said.

As her responsibilities are districtwide, Hernandez said that they will be able to continue to work with each other.

Other significant qualities of Floyd include her mannerisms, compassion, calmness and ability to be fair, Williams said.

“Donna has the ability to put people at ease — bring a sense of calmness in a situation, letting you know whatever it is, that it is going to be all right,” he said. “She carries great compassion for the students and is able to work successfully with different students and people so that the outcome is fair and just.”

Williams said Floyd desires to help people achieve their goals and is a team player and excellent executive staff member.

As her position is interim until June 30, 2010, Floyd in the meantime plans to get in and give it her best. She will have the opportunity to apply for the permanent position once it is posted.

“Being in an interim position gives you an opportunity to see if it is going to be a good fit — you and the college,” Floyd said.

“Afterward, it gives you the opportunity to get the experience and if you apply, you are at an advantage.”

Williams is sure she will be successful.

“CCC will miss her, but she will still be in our district. We will still benefit from her legacy,” Williams said.

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

Caroling | Musical talents ■ FROM: Page B1

public venue where students can share their art, so it is a great opportunity when students who love making music get the chance to go and perform.

Music department Chairwoman Stephanie Austin said the concert gets better every year.

“We have been putting so much into making this concert,” she said. “The production staff, the performers are all students, and it is just a joy to see them put on professionalquality work.”

At this year’s concert, there will be special guest the Garden Strings, JazzaNova, the gospel choir, jazz singers, beginning choir, selected piano, voice jazz, and a vocal and jazz soloist, Austin said.

She said that this year, there is a collabo-

ration of faculty members and students to make the concert all that it should be.

Music major Mac Esposito said the performers are really good this semester.

“We are actually selling out seats,” he said. “We may have to sell standing room tickets, so all that want to attend will be able to come and enjoy the great music in which we are so dedicated in doing.”

Esposito said that being in Richmond, some people may feel that there are too many negative acts going on, but this is something positive that is going on in the community.

“It is a great opportunity to have this artistic zone where we can express ourselves through our music,” Esposito said.

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

15 years.”

Even though cash donations are down 6 percent this year, the organization is still able to feed everyone that comes through the doors, Anderson said.

“Approximately 30,000 people donate to the mission, in addition to 400 businesses, 400 churches and other organizations,” he said.

Anderson continued to say that the last two months of the year are extremely busy, wherein BARM serves more than 40,000 meals within the Christmas week.

Donations of toys, clothing and food are being collected on behalf of the mission all over the bay area.

This year, management at the Hilltop Mall has donated space so that BARM may receive donations at one center. The BARM Christmas Center, located next to Macy’s in the lower level of Hilltop Mall, is available for that purpose.

“The center is open every hour the mall is open, until Christmas. When you give a gift at the Christmas Center,

you will receive a Hilltop Mall 5-20 percent discount coupon for select stores in the mall,” Anderson said.

“We encourage people who may not know about the mall and mission to come to know them.”

Without BARM, many would not receive the help they need, he said.

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it becomes what it states at the front door: ”Welcome — if you do not have a friend in the world, you can find one here.”

Kachurka said considers it a privilege to be a part of an organization that provides three good meals a day, clothing, personal hygiene items and shelter to its clients.

“We have 325 beds at the mission, which are full each night and not having a place such as the BARM would have a significant impact on the community,” Kachurka said.

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

ADVERTISEMENT

Spirit of giving As the organization prepares for the holidays, it has begun soliciting help to service those in need.

There are three ways one can help: by helping with charitable gift planning, volunteering and donating.

Charitable gift planning can be in the form of wills and bequests, charitable gift annuities or life insurance.

Those interested in volunteering may contact Director of Volunteer Services David Kachurka at 510-215-4865.

Individuals may also “adopt a family,” allowing the opportunity to purchase certain Christmas gifts for clients.

For more information, contact BARM at 510-215-4555 or visit www.bayarearescue. org.

B4 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009

SPOTLIGHT

JOY TO THE WORLD

Holidays branch from diverse pasts

By Asia Camagong ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Once the year reaches December, there is an inescapable reminder that the holidays are approaching.

Long shopping lines, family feasts, decorated houses and holiday television specials appearing on seemingly every channel flood the mind as soon as the weather outside begins to feel a lot like winter.

Yet, the true meaning of the holidays surpasses the superficial thoughts that rush into the minds of many. Beyond the shopping, feasts, decorations and television shows is a series of celebrations commemorating the history of one culture after the next.

Whether Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, each holiday emerges from a different origin that enhances a cultural element not found during any other month of the year.

Today, it is believed that Christmas began more than 2,000 years ago to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Dec. 25.

Indicated by www.christianity. about.com, the story of Christmas can be paraphrased from the New Testament Books of Matthew and Luke in the Bible.

When the Virgin Mary was living in the small town of Nazareth, an angel came to visit, telling her that she would bear a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. She was instructed to give birth to this child and name him Jesus.

At the time, Mary was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter, and she grew concerned about the angel’s words and her responsibility to bear the Son of God. The angel listened to her distress and assured Mary that “nothing is impossible with God.” After their marriage, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, finding it to be crowded with people paying their taxes.

An innkeeper loaned them an animal stable for shelter, where hours later, Jesus was born.

Yet, while this story is seen as a popular telling of the origin of Christmas, according to www.historyofchristmas.net, the holiday began thousands of years before the birth of Christ.

Instead, it roots from a Mesopotamian new year celebration called Zagmuth.

Honoring t h e

Mesopotamian chief god Marduk, the 12-day festival celebrated the believed battle he fought against monsters at the start of every winter.

It is from this tradition that birthed the concept of the 12 days of Christmas.

Similarly, the customs of decorating homes and exchanging gifts dates back to a holiday in history celebrated by the Romans during their winter solstice in the middle of December through the first of January.

Worshipping the Roman god Saturn, the god of peace, the Romans believed exchanging gifts with family and neighbors was an act to promote good luck for the year.

Alongside the celebration of Christmas, the end of the year welcomes the tradition of the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah or the Festival of Lights.

Celebrated for eight days and nights, Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev recorded on the Hebrew c a l e n d a r, which measures dates based on a lunisolar schedu l e

that approximates the tropical year. As a result, the holiday may occur from late November until December.

Hanukkah, as claimed by www. history.com, salutes the revolt of the Maccabees, in which the Jews recaptured the Holy Temple in Jerusalem against the Hellenist Syrians in the second century B.C.E. In 168 B.C.E. after the Greeks seized the Holy Temple, many Jews were under a new power that outlawed their own rituals and forced them into worshipping and devoting themselves to Greek gods.

While some were afraid of the overbearing authority of the Greek soldiers, others fought back and began to assemble in attack groups to combat the oppressive forces.

In a rebellion led

by Judah Maccabee against the Syrian Greek King Antiochus, the Holy Temple was liberated and reclaimed by the Jews.

To celebrate the recapturing of the temple, t h e

Maccabees found a small flask with enough olive oil to light a single candle on the golden, eight-branched menorah for one day.

Miraculously, the candle burned for eight days and gave the Jews enough time to find more oil for the candles on the remaining branches of the menorah.

Every year, to celebrate the miracle and freedom won by the Maccabees, Jews celebrate by lighting the candles in a menorah once every night.

While the holidays may trace back to religious origins, their history also channels into other cultural aspects.

Kwanzaa, a nonreligious holiday, was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and chairman of black studies at Cal State-Long Beach.

According to www.theholidayspot.com, after witnessing the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles, stemming from a record of police brutality, job and housing discrimination and other racial injustices felt by African-Americans, Dr. Karenga felt that unification was needed.

Karenga believed it was time for African-Americans to come together in an annual celebration to honor the goodness of life on both spiritual and festive levels.

As a seven-day commemoration beginning on Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, Kwanzaa urges the practice of seven guiding principles from the African culture of unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, personal goals, creative energy and faith.

Each night, the families gather as a child lights a candle on the Kinara, a candleholder, while one of the principles is explored, according to www.history.com.

Whether spending the last remaining months of the year around an Evergreen tree, menorah or Kinara, the holidays awaken a feeling felt by each celebrant of every culture: an appreciation for existence and life.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) “It’s A Wonderful Life” is the classic bittersweet tale of George Bailey (James Stewart), the owner of a friendly bank and loan company in the small town of Bedford Falls, who loses touch with how precious life can be and the importance of his role in the lives of his family and friends.

“Home Alone” (1990) After his family leaves for a Christmas vacation, a young boy named Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) wakes up to an empty house and discovers his family has accidentally left him behind.

Kevin learns to fend for himself and enjoys the independence from his family until two burglars attempt to break into the house.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)

Tim Burton’s classic follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon), Halloweentown’s king, who has become bored with the routine of frightening people each year. When Jack falls through a door into Contact Asia Christmastown, he plots Camagong at to bring Christmas under acamagong. advocate@gmail. his control. He soon discovers, however, that com. even the best-laid plans of mice and skeleton men can go awry.

“The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992) “The Muppet Christmas Carol” is Brian Henson’s take on Charles Dickens’ classic tale.

The old crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) is an old miser who could not care less about Christmas or the joy the season brings, even when surrounded by a cast of warm and fuzzy felt puppets. To every “Merry Christmas!” the old man snaps back with his notorious “Bah Humbug!” On the night of Christmas Eve, he is visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future. After revisiting his sorrowful past, witnessing his hate-filled present and foreseeing his doomed future, old Ebenezer turns over a new leaf the next morning, just in time for Christmas.

“A Christmas Story” (1983)

Holiday symbols

Santa Claus: The figure comes from a man in the fourth century from Turkey named Saint Nicholas. He was known for his generosity and love for children, giving pouches of gold coins to the poor people living in his town.

Holiday classics

Wreath: The wreath is a symbol that represents God’s never-ending love.

It is traditionally made of Evergreen tree cuttings.

Lacking a beginning or an end, it is a symbol of life, saluting the idea that life continues to go on.

Dreidel: A four-sided wooden top bearing a Hebrew letter on each face, the dreidel is a game played during Hanukkah and provides entertainment throughout the holiday. Players often place bets using pennies or chocolate.

Menorah: The menorah commemorates the miracle celebrated during Hanukkah. The menorah has eight candles, including a central shamash to light the candles representing each day of the Jewish celebration.

Candy Cane: Created by a confectioner in the 1800s, the candy cane resembles the Shepherd’s staff, as Christ was the shepherd of man. Its colors commemorate the red blood shed for man’s sins, and white for His purity.

For his Christmas gift, 9year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) yearns for a Red Rider BB gun.

While asking everyone he can think of for his wish, he receives the same response, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

Meanwhile, Ralphie’s father fights to keep a lamp shaped like a woman’s leg, Ralphie’s friend gets his tongue stuck to a pole and Ralphie is caught by his parents saying a forbidden word.

INFOBOX BY ALEXANDRA WAITE AND CODY MCFARLAND

SCENE

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009 l THE ADVOCATE

B5

Season brings chilling movies The Advocate previews upcoming films for the 09-10 winter period ‘Nine’

‘A Single Man’

‘It’s Complicated’

‘Youth In Revolt’

Genre: Musical Release Date: Dec. 25 Rating: NR Director: Rob Marshall Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz

Genre: Drama Release Date: Dec. 11 Rating: NR Director: Tom Ford Starring: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode

Genre: Comedy Release Date: Dec. 25 Rating: NR Director: Nancy Meyers Starring: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin

Genre: Comedy Release Date: Jan. 8 Rating: R Director: Miguel Arteta Starring: Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Jean Smart

Synopsis: Famed director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) is facing a mid-life crisis. He has hit a block in creativity and is becoming increasingly tangled in various romantic involvements. Inspired by Federico Fellini’s iconic “8 1/2,” this interpretation follows Contini as he struggles to complete his next film amidst the haze of emotions and apathy.

Synopsis: Based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Isherwood, “A Single Man” takes place in Los Angeles in 1962 at the height of the Cuban missile crisis. It follows the story of a British college professor (Colin Firth) who is struggling to find meaning in his life after the death of his long-time partner.

The story is a tale of interrupted love, the isolation inherent in the human condition and the importance of the smaller moments in life.

Synopsis: Ten years after their divorce, Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) are finally on good terms, despite the latter’s marriage to the younger Agness (Lake Bell). When the two meet at their son’s college graduation, however, a harmless dinner leads to reawakened passions.

To make matters worse, an architect (Steve Martin) hired to fix Jane’s home winds up falling in love with her as well, leading to a situation that truly is complicated.

Synopsis: While living in a trailer park with his mom and her boyfriend, Nick Twisp (Michael Cera), a cynical teenage virgin, unexpectedly falls hopelessly in love with his free-spirited neighbor, Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday). After being turned down for his good nature, Nick creates a rebellious alter ego with a bad boy attitude to help him pursue Sheeni.

Nick’s plan quickly unravels, however, once his alter ego turns him into a wanted criminal and leads him on a path of destruction.

‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’

‘Invictus’

‘The Young Victoria’

Genre: Drama Release Date: Dec. 18 Rating: PG Director: Jean-Marc Vallée Starring: Emily Blunt, Jim Broadbent, Mark Strong Synopsis: As the only legitimate heir to England’s King William, teenage Victoria (Emily Blunt) gets dragged into the political maneuverings of her royal family. While her mother (Miranda Richardson) bids she sign a regency order, her Belgian uncle schemes to arrange a marriage between her and Prince Albert (Rupert Friend). Victoria ends up marrying the prince, but their ill-fated marriage later prompts her into a life of mournful seclusion.

Genre: Fantasy Release Date: Dec. 25 Rating: PG-13 Director: Terry Gilliam Starring: Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole

Genre: Drama Release Date: Dec. 11 Rating: PG-13 Director: Clint Eastwood Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Clint Eastwood

Synopsis: The film follows the inspiring true story of former South African President Nelson Mandela Synopsis: Years ago, now-immor(Morgan Freeman) and captain of tal, 1,000-year-old Doctor Parnassus South Africa’s rugby team Francois (Christopher Plummer) made a deal Pienaar (Matt Damon) and their with the Devil (Tom Waits) to thrill audiences with a magical mirror. Now, efforts to unite the country.

Newly elected president Mandela is the Fallen One is back to cash amidst a racially and economiin on his end of the cally divided nation bargain — Parnassus’ in the wake of daughter. apartheid.

‘Sherlock Holmes’

Genre: Adventure Release Date: Dec. 25 Rating: PG-13 Director: Guy Ritchie Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams

‘Daybreakers’

Genre: Horror Release Date: Jan. 8 Rating: R Director: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig Starring: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Michael Dorman Synopsis: In the year 2019, after a mysterious plague has transformed the majority of the human population into vampires, a dwindling blood supply threatens the survival of the new dominant race. Researcher Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) is working diligently to find a blood substitute. That is until he crosses paths with a group of fleeing humans (Willem Dafoe and Claudia Karvan) and decides to help them find a way to save humankind.

‘The Lovely Bones’

Genre: Drama Release Date: Dec. 11 Rating: PG-13 Director: Peter Jackson Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Saoirse Ronan

Synopsis: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic characters are treated to yet another reimagining in stylist Guy Ritchie’s recent take on Sherlock Holmes. This time Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and stalwart Watson (Jude Law) must exercise their brains and brawn to foil a conspiracy that threatens the entire safety of England.

Synopsis: Academy Awardwinning director Peter Jackson brings Alice Sebold’s renowned novel to life in this adaptation.

Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) is murdered and finds herself in “the in-between,” a heaven-like place, observing her family as they grieve.

She also watches her killer who, having covered his tracks successfully, is preparing to murder again.

Susie struggles to balance her desire for vengeance and her desire to have her family recover from their loss.

‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel’

Genre: Family Release Date: Dec. 25 Rating: PG Director: Betty Thomas Starring: Jason Lee, Zachary Levi, David Cross

‘The Princess and the Frog’

Synopsis: This “squeakquel” to the 2007 box office hit finds the singing critters putting their stardom on hold to help a school’s fight to keep its music program.

Genre: Children’s Release Date: Dec. 11 Rating: G

‘Avatar’

Genre: Action Release Date: Dec. 18 Rating: NR Director: James Cameron Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver

Lewis ILLUSTRATION BY CODY MCFARLAND / THE ADVOCATE

Synopsis: Set during the 22nd century on a lush jungle-covered moon called Pandora, “Avatar” tells the story of a paraplegic ex-Marine war veteran (Sam Worthington) who is given the chance to walk again in turn for helping establish a human settlement on the planet.

The planet’s indigenous Na’vi race, standing three meters tall with tails and sparkling blue skin, however, refuses to let the humans encroach on its land and a war breaks loose in this ambitious digital 3-D sci-fi epic from Academy Award-winning Titanic director James Cameron.

‘Did You Hear About the Morgans?’

Genre: Comedy Release Date: Dec. 18 Rating: NR Director: Marc Lawrence Starring: Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliott

Synopsis: A bickering New York couple on the verge of divorce attempts to salvage their marriage after being relocated to Wyoming under the witness protection pro-

Director: John Musker, Ron Clements Starring: Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Jenifer

Synopsis: Walt Disney Pictures debuts this classic American fairy tale gram in this comedy from writer/ Broadway-style as an animated musidirector Marc Lawrence (“Miss cal set in the French Quarter of New Congeniality”).

Orleans.

Maldonian Prince Naveen “Did You Hear About the (Bruno Campos) is transformed into a Morgans?” tells the story of how Meryl and Paul Morgan (Sarah Jessica frog by a voodoo magician.

The frog prince mistakes a girl Parker and Hugh Grant), upon witnamed Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) for a nessing a murder, are forced to reloprincess and has her kiss him to break cate to the Rockies where they must the spell.

The kiss does not break the live together. spell, but instead turns Tiana into a Though their marriage shows signs frog as well. of recovery, there’s no telling whether Together, the two of them must the countryside will eventually bring them back together or drive them com- embark on an adventure to seek the good voodoo priestess of the Bayou, pletely apart.

Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis).

B6 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009

Counselor a symbol of service “The aim (of education) must be the training of independently acting and thinking individuals who, however, see in the service to the community their highest life achievement.”

— Albert Einstein, physicist

By Cassandra Juniel SPOTLIGHT EDITOR

Being of service to the students, faculty and the community is what he is most proud of at Contra Costa College.

Hired in 1969, counselor Alfred I. Zuniga continues to serve others by using the skills and abilities that have won numerous previous students over to impact current students today.

He was most recently honored by the city of Richmond for his dedicated service of 41 years as a counselor and faculty member in the La Raza studies department.

“What is important is how I live my life, with hopes that it impacts the lives of students.” Zuniga said. “There is nothing more important than when I am counseling someone and getting their total attention. This makes me smile.”

Zuniga was instrumental in the development of a curriculum of 10 courses for

the establishment of La Raza studies in the ’70s.

In spite of periodic obstacles, Zuniga continued his drive.

“I continued through the obstacles, because I had an idea and wanted to implement it,” Zuniga said. “I believe in the principles of the Constitution that all are created equal and should all have the same opportunities. This is what drives me — even today.”

Counseling department Chairwoman Norma ValdezJimenez, once a student of Zuniga, said he had the opportunity to witness the success of generations of students and supported many of them along the way.

“I know that he has dedicated his life’s work to something he loves, something many of us strive for,” Valdez-Jimenez said.

She also said that Zuniga played an integral part in La Raza studies’ development, and he has recognized that it is time to pass the baton to current department Chairman Agustin Palacios.

Believing in handing down wisdom to those who will walk in the same hallway as he did, Zuniga felt honored to pass along his huelga flag to Palacios on Sept. 16, Mexican Independence Day. “Agustin did not know I was going to pass on to him

SPOTLIGHT

ADAM OLIVER / THE ADVOCATE

Personal nature — Counselor Alfred Zuniga shows student Yajaira Urena a collection of pictures and articles in his office in the Student Services Center on Nov. 11. Zuniga has been a dedicated faculty member and La Raza studies department advocate at the college for 41 years. my huelga flag that I owned for 40 years,” Zuniga said.

“I told him that today we are celebrating a revolution and what I want to do is get you up to speed by passing along my huelga flag as a symbol of taking these young people into the next 40 years.”

Many present and former associates know Zuniga for his humbleness and ability to speak to people on a personal nature.

“I admire his inner strength, his ability to guide people in the right direction.

He still has, over 40 plus years, that personal touch and has not lost it,” La Raza studies professor John Marquez said. “I saw humbleness from Al then and his ability to talk with individuals from

a very personal perspective.

It made people comfortable with talking to him.”

Zuniga said that though the department has had its ups and downs, after 30 years the college has finally hired someone as a full-time professor and coordinator to teach — that being Palacios.

“This is progress,” Zuniga said.

He said that up until spring of last year, CCC offered approximately four classes, with two of them being off campus.

Zuniga said most students do not know about La Raza studies, and he strongly believes students should be given good information.

“It is important and critical for students to be given

“I know that he has dedicated his life’s work to something he loves, something many of us strive for.”

Norma Valdez-Jimenez,

counseling department chairwoman

good, solid information and I believe everyone has a moral obligation to continue to learn,” he said.

Education is his passion and service is his goal, and Zuniga has continued this legacy since he began teaching more than 40 years ago.

He exemplifies these same qualities today.

“I always had a tremendous admiration for Al. He was extremely open and

did not have an ego at all,” said Beverly Thiele, former student and retired instructor. “The very first time he taught, he felt his way through and in doing so, researched how best to make it innovative to the class.”

Thiele said Zuniga is full of love and shares with all.

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

Students join statewide fight for justice CCC Solidarity planning protests

By Holly Pablo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Scholars at Contra Costa College are encouraged to stand in solidarity with four-year university and community colleges students against the escalating cost of higher education.

Student Tania Pulido, in association with Puente Club President Matthew Hernandez, organized two CCC Solidarity introductory meetings on Nov. 24 and on Thursday about how the group wants to protest against the state’s fiscal policy disaster.

“We’re here not just to fight for CCC,” Pulido said. “We’re here to fight for public education.”

More than 30 students attended the first meeting and brainstormed methods to unify and mobilize their peers in spreading awareness about the effects of the budget on tuition, reduced course sections and student services.

In addition to word-of-mouth recruitment, members will be responsible for creating banners, distributing fliers and overall research and planning of their prospective events, such as an informative rally on campus.

“One person can’t do it all on their own,” Pulido said. “We have to come together in one firm message. We have to emphasize small or (large) roles to accumulate

“We have to come together in one firm message.”

Tania Pulido, student

something bigger.”

Students from local colleges, including UC Berkeley, Berkeley City College and Laney College, gave the CCC students advice based on their personal experiences.

UC Berkeley graduate Claire Keating said one of the reasons why the protests at Cal have been successful is because they also focused on seeking faculty and staff support beforehand.

“We worked with the workers and reached an agreement that there would be student clean-up crews ready,” Keating said, “also, that there would not be vandalization.”

Laney College student Alessandro Tinonga told the group to look at themselves as leaders.

“Come together to figure out how to get past disagreements because being divided — that’s how they’re gonna break you,” Tinonga said.

Art major German Vazquez said these meetings are crucial, because students need to be able to share what they know and think with each other, “to get our voices heard.”

Keating agreed.

“A lot of people tend to internal-

ize financial struggles,” she said.

“It gives people a space to see how we’re all affected and it’s not an individual problem.”

CCC Solidarity is currently focusing on outreach in the college community, Pulido said, and plans to continue meeting during the winter break as to not lose momentum.

Its first project is expected for the beginning of the spring semester.

Among their plans is participation in the statewide protest in Sacramento on March 4.

Students, faculty and staff that wish to join their efforts should contact cccsolidarity@gmail.com.

Contact Holly Pablo at hpablo. advocate@gmail.com.

Benioff engineers station Video wizard channels skills

By Cody McFarland STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

In the far reaches of the Applied Arts Building, stowed away in a room most students do not even know exists, is a man who goes unnoticed.

Video production engineer Barry Benioff is the technical wizard responsible for most things pertaining to the college’s television station, KCCC. Though he may not be in the limelight, the magic he works from behind the camera speaks for itself.

“When Barry is in his editing suite, he can do just about anything,” said Frank Hernandez, senior dean of students and close friend. “He can make you say something you never said. He has that power, but he’s one of those individuals you can fully trust. I trust him with that responsibility, and I wouldn’t do that with just anyone.”

Benioff is an engineer by training with a strong background in electronics.

His technical expertise and dedication to work make him a very capable and dependable member of the college staff, one who everyone can truly rely on, community and educational partnership liaison Michele Jackson said. “(Benioff is) much more than a video production engineer,” she

said.

Jackson has worked with Benioff for almost 10 years, during which time the two have combined efforts to produce shows together.

“I have learned a lot from Barry. He taught me to pay attention to the details,” Jackson said.

“He is very focused on his work and always knows what he wants and what he does not want.”

Benioff is open to the exchanging of ideas and an excellent collaborator, Hernandez said.

As a civil engineering major, Benioff began with a career as a transportation and traffic engineer, where he primarily worked on research projects for consultants. At one point, he worked for the Federal Highway Administration in Washington D.C., part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“Burned out” on engineering, he quit his job and returned to Laney College for video classes, where he met Hernandez in 1979, Benioff said.

“I thought, if I could talk to these (video technicians) and understand what they’re doing, I could probably do it myself.”

Benioff earned certificates in both television production and television technology from Laney and went on to work alongside Hernandez as a television technician for the Peralta Community College District (PCCD).

He later worked for the city of Hercules, setting up their cable station and city council video system.

Finally arriving at Contra Costa College in 1987, Benioff has been working here in various capacities ever since.

Starting as a consultant, he helped on television productions for the college. Later, when the college launched its television station, KCCC, he designed the control room for the station.

Benioff said he taught the first video classes on campus and by 1998 had become a full-time employee.

He helped the station move from its original location on the second floor of the Music Building to its current location downstairs in the AA Building. Benioff also helped set up the broadcasting equipment that allowed the college to teach distant learning classes to students at the Osaka College of High Technology in Japan, he said.

“Benioff is a great asset to the college. He is very knowledgeable and passionate,” President McKinley Williams said. “Plus, he’s just an all-around nice guy.”

Williams has known Benioff since they worked together for the PCCD and has been filmed by him many times for various meetings throughout their careers.

“He makes sure the person in front of the camera is comfortable,” Williams said.

Benioff is currently working on filming and editing the college’s 60th anniversary video and the annual Hall of Fame video.

Contact Cody McFarland at cmcfarland.advocate@gmail. com.

ISAAC THOMAS / THE ADVOCATE

Broadcast master — Video production engineer Barry Benioff checks the KCCC television satellite playlist in AA-117L on Nov. 4. A technical wizard, he is in charge of the college’s television station and was named the employee of the semester.

Entertainer offers advice on better life Aimes shares tips on hypnotism’s positive aspects

By Kristina Plaza STAFF WRITER

SPOTLIGHT

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009 l THE ADVOCATE

B7

ASU members, volunteered to be hypnotized at the event.

While they sat in rows of chairs, Aimes directed the participants to close their eyes while clearing any conscious thought.

The volunteers then slowly underwent hypnosis, and after a count to three, Aimes tugged their arms and told them to open their eyes.

Aimes then told some volunteers to imagine a gust of wind blowing over them, while telling others that they were driving a race car and competing for first place.

ASU President Kristina Bautista was told by Aimes to imagine herself as singer Christina Aguilera.

Bautista, while hypnotized, sang one of the music star’s tunes.

Sociology major Lauren Banayat, however, was hypnotized to believe she was pop artist Beyonce.

She danced to “Crazy In Love” along with ASU Vice President of Clubs Henry Parker, who was hypnotized as hip-hop artist Jay-Z. “I did feel heavy, icy cold and tingly on my toes,” Banayat said. “It helped me realize to be open and to stop overanalyzing things and just be able to live the moment.”

After the show, a workshop was held for students who wanted to experience hypnotism and get further information about the positive effects of the field.

Aimes’ wife, Marielle, was also in attendance.

Both are members of the American Counseling Association, and they have been doing shows, similar to the one hosted at Contra Costa College, around the country for roughly 18 years.

Hoping to educate students about his profession and how it can be a positive aspect of one’s life, a certified hypnotist entertained the crowd gathered in the Amphitheatre on Nov. 18.

Rich Aimes informed the audience of scientific studies indicating that hypnosis can lead to a better lifestyle.

He said hypnosis can help people with smoking and sex addictions, weight control problems and can even help people increase their skills in sports.

“We gather people and help them with their problems, especially college kids, who don’t believe they can (be hypnotized),” Aimes said.

He talked about how each person deserves to be successful and must know how to reach this point in their lives.

By counting from one to 10 while breathing deeply and letting go of any worries or concerns and any conscious thought, a person can relax and let the subconscious mind take over.

Aimes said the mind will feel better, because it believes it will feel better.

When hypnotized, a person can hear everything.

One will not care about anything, however, due to comfort and relaxContact Kristina Plaza at kplaation, he said.

Ten students, including some za.advocate@gmail.com.

ADVERTISEMENT

CRYSTAL JOY BIS / THE ADVOCATE

Close your eyes — Certified hypnotist Rich Aimes (right) places student Paul Gaines in a deep state of hypnosis at a campus event held in the Amphitheatre on Nov. 18.

Business chairwoman retiring after semester Williams eyes life of leisure, ‘third chapter’

By Alexandra Waite STAFF WRITER

After spending nearly half of her career working at Contra Costa College, business and real estate department Chairwoman Barbara Williams will retire after this semester.

Williams was the first woman and AfricanAmerican to be hired in the business department.

She has been the business department chairwoman for eight years. Once the vocational education chairwoman, she has since been largely involved in the marketing for the vocational department.

“She’s running a department mostly run by men,” Natural, Social and Applied Sciences Division Dean Terence Elliott said. “She’s a woman who can be a role model.”

Known by her colleagues as the ultimate professional, Williams established entrepreneurial studies and the Weekend Business Certificate Program at the college, which was designed for students to enroll in Friday and Saturday classes to get their certificates in as little as two semesters.

“I think Williams has always approached her job as a professional,” President McKinley Williams said.

“When she came here, she brought a wealth of experience from the corporate world.”

Before starting her teaching career 20 years ago, Williams worked at her share of corporate jobs including the Dole Food Company, Xerox as well as many major certified public assistant (CPA) firms.

“She has cast a long shadow over the department,” business professor Joseph

DeTorres said. “We’ll survive without her, but it will be a challenge.”

A woman of wisdom in her profession, Williams is called on for advice by several of her faculty members.

Elliott said Williams gives good advice and does not pull any punches.

“Sometimes you need people to tell it to you straight. She won’t give you any fluff,” he said.

She is always someone to count on and full of suggestions, DeTorres said.

A former student of Williams’ and current mail clerk Sheri Hintz said Williams is direct and to-thepoint in her teaching methods and very confident in herself.

“She’s easy to get along with and very nice,” Hintz said.

Aside from teaching, Williams enjoys volunteer work and mentoring.

“If you’ve been blessed like me, you have to first give gratitude, even just a little bit to help someone else,” Williams said.

She mentors through the Accounting Association, specifically with young women who have been emancipated from foster homes.

On the exterior, Williams appears to be stern and business oriented, but one of her main passions is writing poetry.

“Because accountants don’t really write poetry, I was encouraged to share,” Williams said.

Her first poetry reading was at the college. She said she was so nervous she was only able to read one poem and had to have someone read her second poem for her.

Williams said poetry helps her get in touch with her spiritual self. She writes under the pen name “Asokua.”

At times she seems strict, but she has always been a creative and respectful person, Elliott said.

Williams

After teaching for 20 years, business and real estate

department Chairwoman Barbara Williams is ready to retire after the fall semester. She looks forward to “smooth jazz cruises” through the Caribbean.

Williams said she has decided to call her new chapter in life “the third chapter.”

After being single for 26 years, Williams is proud to admit she married at the age of 60.

“I’m looking forward to fun in the sun and being more creative,” she said.

In her new chapter, she plans to go on “smooth jazz cruises” that sail through the Caribbean into Jamaica.

In addition to traveling, Williams said she wishes to continue writing poetry and take a playwriting workshop.

People need a chance to exhale after retirement and open up to new people, she said.

Williams said much of her inspiration has come from her diverse group of faculty members.

“I came from a world where everything is business,” she said. “From interacting with people who teach other disciplines, you realize there is a lot more to learn.”

Leaving one’s mark in life is important, and Williams has left her mark on CCC, Elliott said.

“I want to leave happy,” Williams said. “In the end, I want to go dancing with my husband.”

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

B8 THE ADVOCATE Unleashed

Movies

This week: “Invictus” (PG-13) “A Single Man” (NR) “My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?”

(NR)

DVDs

New releases: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (PG) “Public Enemies” (R) “World’s Greatest Dad” (R) “Julie & Julia” (PG13) “The Skeptic” (NR) “Lost: The Complete Fifth Season” (NR)

l WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2009

SCENE

Knox Center hosts comic production Improvisation, stand-up please thrilled crowd

By Brent Bainto SCENE EDITOR

Laughs and banter bellowed from within the Knox Center Thursday and Friday, as the drama department’s Comedy Troupe performed the fall semester’s “It’s My Line” event.

Students presented an arsenal of comedic stand-up routines before audience members in addition to improvisation presentations, which was a first for “It’s My Line,” as well as for each student, Director Kathryn McCarty said.

Performers were able to exhibit scripts to humor audiences with life experiences and even the most outlandish of bathroom witticisms and nonsequitur one-liners.

Collectively, 10 stand-up sets were performed, each done in under 10 minutes for swift and timely variety, ultimately leading to an epic improvised finish.

Topics of farce were fairly relative and ranged from general embarrassment to poking fun at popular culture references, such as the “Twilight” film series.

Student Irene Mills said that when performing, one can get away with saying stupid things and not get in trouble.

Attendants of the event were delighted. Energy flow between audience members and performers was consistent, and laughter and receptiveness

fueled stage presence for the comics.

Friday’s show in particular was more vibrant, Mills said.

“It helps to feed off of (the audience’s energy),” she said.

Student Bobby Jennings said the atmosphere was unique and agreed that participants and the audience were quite exuberant.

“Everyone was enthusiastic. There was good energy,” Jennings said.

During stand-up presentations, performers worked with personal shticks, including props accompanied with definitive mannerisms, while using stage space to their advantage.

Performer Gaspar Bernal prepared a routine that incorporated the minimal use of a guitar, as he quietly and nonchalantly picked at chords, which added to his overall monotone and pensive performance.

After stand-up routines were performed, three improvisation sets followed, which plotted audience members to further interact with the troupe.

Random suggestions from the audience were thrown to correspond with subjects presented.

McCarty said that performing comedy encourages individuality with performers, allowing them to reach audience members on different levels. “(‘It’s My Line’) is a really good event for self-expression,” McCarty said.

Jennings said that doing ISAAC THOMAS / THE ADVOCATE stand-up has helped him real- Stealing lines — Comedy Troupe member Carlos Mendoza interrupts fellow student ize there is a definite formula member Gaspar Bernal during his stand-up routine at the “It’s My Line” show Thursday to it. “You can’t just go out and in the Knox Center. The event offered various performances from students. be funny,” he said.

McCarty said the drama “(I’m) so happy for the the student performers. MCHS ing experience in the long run. students participating in the students who participated,” student Eddie Horalek said that Comedy Troupe learn perspec- McCarty said.

Contact Brent Bainto at performing before audiences tive, and it stimulates their Being part of the Comedy forms better stage presence and bbainto.advocate@gmail. growth as people.

Troupe has been beneficial for ultimately builds public speak- com.

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Speech event presents student talents New releases: 30 Seconds To Mars: “This Is War” Snoop Dogg: “Malice n Wonderland” Chris Brown: “Graffiti” Timbaland: “Shock Value 2” The Game: “The R.E.D. Album”

Games

Departments bring forth team efforts to display aptitude

By Dariush Azmoudeh SPORTS EDITOR

Numerous community members gathered in the Knox Center to enjoy a night of performance by students from the speech, drama and media arts departments in the Speech, Drama and Media Showcase on Nov. 19.

The large turnout of patrons was treated to a showcase of speeches, videos, a debate and a skit.

“I’m very pleased (and) happy. We had nice large size crowd. Everybody in the crowd seemed very enthusiastic and involved,” director of forensics Julie

LaBrincha said. “Hopefully they learn that performing arts are fun.”

Admission, which came in the form of donations, went to the Speech and Debate Team, which is fundraising so it can compete at the national tournament held in New Orleans in 2010.

“We’re fundraising to go to nationals. We qualified, but the only thing in the way is the (lack of funds),” team member Maria Rubio said. “I’ve been on the team for three years and never been to nationals, but I’m hoping to go to this year. I’m hoping events like these will help fundraising.”

The night began with LaBrincha and drama department Chairman Clay David thanking the crowd for coming out to the event and acknowledging the Speech and Debate Team’s qualification to nationals. They also said it is important for the Speech and Debate Team to go nationals to represent not only Contra Costa College, but the San Pablo

and Richmond area.

The first performance of the night was by Ashley Schauer who gave a poetry interpretation of literature on child neglect. In it, she played several different personalities, including someone who was neglected by her parents, ranging from a child crying for her mother to an older person reflecting on her childhood.

Guest speaker and composer Lovell Travillion told the audience the story about how he lost his sight due to violence more than 20 years ago.

David said the message the presentation wanted to send with Travillion is to share the story of a victim of violence in Richmond.

“I believe it was a profound message.

I hope that the men of Richmond and San Pablo are ready to hear the message,” David said.

Other speech presentations were made by Adam Austin, who gave a

persuasive speech about the dangers of using antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and Mahak Hassan who presented an oral interpretation about language and culture.

Rubio also gave an impromptu speech where she was given a quote and had two minutes to prepare a fiveminute speech.

Morcos Huerta, a student currently taking a speech class, said he originally came to the event for class credit but was intrigued by the performances.

“I came for extra credit at first, but now I’m interested in joining the speech team,” Huerta said.

Additionally, the drama department had two students act out a scene from the Tennessee Williams play “The Glass Menagerie.”

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

BSU offers poetic outlet ‘Slam’ triggers strong support, participation

New releases: “Silent Hill: Shattered Memories” (WII – M)

By Cody McFarland STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

“The Saboteur” (PS3/ XBOX360 – M) “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks” (DS – E) Editor’s note: This column lists popular new (and upcoming) releases for the week.

ROMAN YOUNG / THE ADVOCATE

Express yourself — Student performers Sudan Williams (left) and Rance Oliver (right) freestyle rap at the first BSU Slam held in the Fireside Room Thursday.

Participation and support from a large, diverse student crowd assured the Black Student Union (BSU) that its first poetry slam event was a major success.

Known as the BSU Slam, the event catered to the talents of African-American students by providing them with an opportunity to express themselves through poetry, spoken word, singing and rapping in the Fireside Room on Thursday.

“I want the voice of the African-American community to be heard,” BSU President Lonnie Ross said.

The event was the BSU’s first for this semester and was designed to showcase the talents of AfricanAmerican students while proving to them that they are truly capable of achieving anything, Ross said.

It was not only supposed to

provide them with the confidence to stand up and speak out, but also to promote African-American studies on campus and get students involved and educated, he said.

BSU adviser and history professor Manu Ampim said, “We want to give students the opportunity for exposure to AfricanAmerican studies while showcasing the talent within the black community.”

The African-American studies department worked alongside the BSU to place an emphasis on enrollment in its classes, because more students taking AfricanAmerican studies courses would lead to the addition of more course options, Ampim said.

African-American history, humanities and psychology courses are currently being offered for the spring 2010 semester.

The BSU has been together since October, but has been around in some form for at least 15 years, Ampim said. He provided direction for the slam, yet it was entirely set up and managed by the students in the BSU. Refreshments and raffle tickets were sold, with a grand prize of a

$40 gas card awarded to the winner of the raffle.

Student Kevin Hayes said the event was well planned out, and he especially liked the poetry.

“It’s good to see that AfricanAmerican students are standing up and doing something,” he said.

Meredith Gordon, also a student, performed first, delivering an uplifting religious speech before singing and following it up with a poem she wrote, titled “Flight 2029,” about being fully equipped in life to strive and succeed with emphasis on religion.

She continued by saying to students that “every step you take in life is major and every class you attend is important.”

Other performers included students Simone Foster, Rance Oliver, Asante Mahan, Ryan Walker, Sudan Williams and Amen-Ra, plus a few last minute additions.

The last performers brought the show to a strong close, engaging the crowd with spoken word and rap.

Contact Cody McFarland at cmcfarland.advocate@gmail. com.