The Advocate 2-19

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

C M Y K

C M Y K

WEDNESDAY 2.19.2020 OUR 70TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS UNDERWAY Administrative leaders outline academic goals

By Jose Arebalo scene editor

jarebalo.theadvocate@gmail.com

VETS OUTRAGED, COORDINATOR FIRED Leadership void leaves student-veterans searching for answers

By Cindy Pantoja editor-in-chief

cpantoja.theadvocate@gmail.com

Veterans at Contra Costa College again have to experience the hardships of instability after their coordinator was fired two days prior to the beginning of the spring semester.

TeJae Dunnivant served as veteran’s coordinator for almost a year and Jan. 14, she received a termination letter without any explanation for the decision.

Before Dunnivant’s hiring in the spring of 2019, the position was open for nearly a year. The position was left vacant after Dedan Kimathi Ji Jaga resigned as t h e

coordinator in the spring of 2018.

Dean of Students Dennis Franco said he could not discuss the reasons why Dunnivant was terminated.

“Unfortunately, I can’t really get into details about this case. As a manager, I’m prohibited from discussing personnel matters,” Franco said.

Dunnivant, who is of African American descent, was terminated during a time when the African American Staff Association (AASA) voiced its belief that the Contra Costa Community Colleges District (4CD) excludes people from African descent from higher administrative positions.

Manu Ampim, history, anthropology, and geography (HAG) department chairperson, said this decision again brings to light the problems of racism on campus only five months after another African American woman,

former CCC president Katrina VanderWoude, agreed to resign on Aug. 14, 2019.

“We are dealing with white nationalism, anti-black, and anti-Latino racism that takes place at the District Office and on the Contra Costa College campus,” Ampim said. “The lack of diversity and respected people of color here and in the District Office is still a problem.

CCC President Damon Bell said the veterans coordinator’s permanent position is currently being evaluated.

“The position is working at a 75 percent level. We want SEE VETERANS, PAGE 3

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Since the passage of a bill mandating shared governance in 1988, there has been a process for decision-making through shared governance at Contra Costa College, but no two people on the campus would be able to define that process in the same manner.

While there has been work in the past to clarify these procedures, it has not reached the wider campus community. Now that the college’s Strategic Plan has come up for renewal, the Strategic Planning Committee hopes to make this process as efficient and effective as possible.

On Feb. 28, constituency groups on the College Council will receive draft of changes to the Strategic Plan so that on March 6, the President’s Cabinet will be able to work together with input from groups’ review to create a final draft that will be re-submitted to the College Council.

If approved, the draft will become a voting item at an April College Council meeting.

Institutional Effectiveness and Equity Dean Mayra Padilla, with Academic Senate Padilla President Katherine Krolikowski, serve as chairs of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Usually, this planning effort would be handled with the help of the college’s vice presidents, but in the absence of those positions they have completed this task.

“We have a consultant, Christina Paul, working with us right now,” Dr. Padilla said.

“We are now in the second phase of the writing for the new Strategic Plan. The first phase for the plan was gathering information and assessing where we were.

“The second phase was Christina (Paul) meeting with over 50 people on the campus to do focus group interviews. The idea is basically to get a sense from those people about what are the areas that work well for CCC and what are the areas we need support in, that are areas of growth.”

She also sent out a campuswide survey from the focus groups and from about 120 responses they created a forum for the college, she said.

There, she summarized what they found through surveying the community.

“I asked folks to think if this is going to help be the guiding light for where we go over the next five years as a college — what values do we want to use in moving this work forward?” Padilla said. “I wanted people to have an opportunity to really think about SEE PLANNING, PAGE 3

Verbal dexterity recognized

By Cindy Pantoja

English is not my first language.”

Team President With some of its top performShreejel Luitel made a ers returning to competition, the comeback to the comspeech team stood poised to resume petition after months amassing a collection of accolades, of not participating in this time in the first tournament of tournaments. He was the spring. able to place sixth in The Contra Costa College speech the Persuasive cateand debate team was awarded mulgory. tiple honors during the Talk Hawk “I’m happy to be Invitational speech tournament held back. The past couat Las Positas College in Livermore ple of months have been Jan. 30-Feb. 2. extremely busy,” Luitel Five members of the team had said. “I’m doing well, but the chance to showcase their work at there is always room to improve.

11 events at the tournament.

I have a tendency to speak a little They were able to bring home faster sometimes — I have to work second place in the Informative caton slowing down and work on my egory, a fifth and sixth place in hand gestures.” the Persuasive category and a fifth Journalism major Xavier Johnson place in the Poetry category. participated in the tournament Speech professor Steve in the categories of Varsity Prose Robertson said even though Interpretation and Varsity Poetry some speeches the team particInterpretation. He was able to place ipated with were brand new, the fifth in the Poetry Interpretation team is doing an excellent job. category.

“We had a couple of com“It’s nice to get back in the flow petitors who hadn’t had much of things after the winter break,” experience before who had a Johnson said. “I was able to pretty good showing, especially ABOVE: The Contra Costa College speech team (top left to bottom right) improve my poetry piece. I made a when a lot of their events were Xavier Johnson, Tayler Meulpolder, Kelanu Ranganath, Shreejal Luitel and collapsed. This means they Aman Butt all competed at the Talk Hawk Invitational on Feb. 1-2.

SEE COMPETITION, PAGE 3 cpantoja.theadvocate@gmail.com

FACEBOOK: /accentadvocate

were novices going against more experienced people,” Robertson said. “I think it was a good success and a good way of starting the second semester.”

Computer science and business major Aman Butt placed second in the Informative category and fifth in the Persuasive category.

“I feel

INSTAGRAM: @cccadvocate

very fortunate because I was able to bring the best version of my speech to each of my rounds,” Butt said.

“I need to work on my diction,” Butt said. “I need to work on the way I enunciate my words.

This has always been an issue for me because I come from another country and

TWITTER: @accentadvocate

SENATOR RALLIES EAST BAY PAVILION Sanders becomes first presidential candidate to speak in Richmond in a generation.

PAGE 5 SNAPCHAT: @cccadv0cate

YOUTUBE: /accentadvocate

C M Y K

editor-in-chief

C M Y K

2

Quotable “People say, ‘He’s famous, he has no right to privacy.’

I didn’t read that anywhere in the Bill of Rights.”

FORGOTTEN LEGACY

Cindy Pantoja editor-in-chief

Stacie Guevara associate editor Xavier Johnson web editor Denis Perez creative director Jose Arebalo scene editor Luis Lopez news editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Byron Agu Oscar Cornejo Carlos Cruz Allan Garcia Wanda Gonzalez Dan Hernandez JoJuan Johnson Janet Lira Christian Medina Brenda Mwingira Jose Rivera Nicholas Sorrel Sicaly Sorrell Evalyn Soungpanya Efrain Valdez Staff photographers Eric Martinez Luis Cortes Denis Perez Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019 CNPA Better Newspaper Contest 1st Place Award 1970, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2013 JACC Pacesetter Award 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 2019 Member

Associated Collegiate Press

California Newspaper Publishers Association

Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accent.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.

●

EDITORIAL

Brad Pitt actor 1997

Robert Clinton associate editor

opinion

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19, 2020 VOL. 110, NO. 11

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

Student voices dormant after years of inspiring change

S

ome 70 years ago, Contra Costa College emerged as the premier learning institution to bring college-level instruction to a community in dire need of higher learning opportunities.

Over the years, people who have made indelible impressions on society have used the oft forgotten San Pablo campus as a stepping stone on their path toward notoriety.

Legendary names like Pumpsey Green, who became the first black player to suit up for the Boston Red Sox, got his start as a Comet and Chris Dixon, the first indoor football quarterback to throw 500 touchdowns, also made his name at CCC. Despite the changes that have occurred over the seven-decade life of CCC, one thing has remained as the driving force of campus evolution — students.

Decades ago, when students from surrounding neighborhoods felt slighted that no African American studies courses were offered in its course curriculum, it was the Black Student Union members who held picket signs for days to highlight the disparities.

Their act of defiance eventually proved successful and classes to teach historic and culturally relevant information to a community in dire need for it was ultimately adopted.

It was because of their efforts and sacrifices that students today can choose to learn of the California Connection — From Africa to America, the Map of Ancient Kush, Kushite Princes, Pyramids of Nurl, Great Pyramid of Giza and the Olmec Civilization.

Nearly a decade later, in 1970, Mexican American students upset that La Raza classes lacked transfer credentials threatened to disrupt the CCC graduation rate unless the disparities were addressed.

Once again, the students’ voices prevailed.

It’s no accident that students were inspired to bring about change in their campus and community in years past as many speakers visited the campus to inspire action in the campus community.

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at CCC in 1964 and Cesar Chavez made two appearances in San Pablo in 1972 and 1974.

In the era they were presented, many of the speakers were deemed problematic and none were met with more skepticism than “Black Power” advocate and member of Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Stokley Carmichael.

Nearly 1,500 people packed the CCC Gymnasium to hear the 1968 address, which centered on controlling the institutions that affect the black community and taking them by any means possible.

The campus has come a long way since its glory years of producing professional athletes and hosting world-renowned speakers.

Now, guests are generally presented by faculty and leave much to be desired in terms of radical ideas and calls to action to inspire systematic change.

In the past, these types of events were organized by students for students.

Today, students are more interested in fun campus events than being inspired to change the world, and they can’t even do that right.

It’s been said that people who don’t learn history are doomed to repeat it, however, much of the great history of CCC is forgotten and students on this campus would be lucky to have an opportunity to repeat it are the true example of leadership on campus.

NICHOLAS SORRELL / THE ADVOCATE

■ GENDER

Journalism lacks female presence

W

hen someone first walks into AA-215, home of The Advocate, it looks like a pretty friendly place.

Any given Monday or Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., class is in session and working in groups is encouraged.

People are all around engaging in issue-driven banter.

But then you might notice something — where are the women?

There’s only what, seven, and only two of us are editors, in a leadership role.

Why is journalism still such a male-dominated discipline?

Most occupational fields have always been and still are male dominated.

The list is wide-ranging encompassing business, filmmaking, science, engineering, technology and professional gaming — you name it.

Journalism is no different.

Discussions surrounding the larger topic of newsrooms and work settings have been discussed ad nauseam, but why at Contra Costa College are there only seven women in the journalism class and lab with over 20 students enrolled?

According to DataMart, the district’s information management system, there are over 1,000 more women than men that attend this college.

In just about all of my classes, there are more

I wasn’t afraid to speak my mind.

The Advocate is the exact opposite of hiding your voice and we have many slogans and sayings but one of my favorites is, “The Advocate – The Student Voice of Contra Costa College.” women than men, except I am grateful to have my journalism classes for Cindy Pantoja as our ediThe Advocate. tor-in-chief, and to have Now, there are seven of her as one of my closest us and I’m proud of that. friends.

I’m glad more women I see her just about joined us to bring the every day and she is an newsroom closer to the inspiration and example of demoa strong woman with an Why is graphics important voice. repreAs our EIC, she is our journalism sented on boss and I love that she campus. whip us into shape still such When I can when she has to — espejoined The the guys. a male- Advocate cially When there’s a room last dominated semester, filled with people of the same sex and the same race, they usually come discipline? Ithenoticed lack of from the same backwomen as grounds — they only have well. so much perspective.

In most of western However, the minute society, women have been you introduce people of taught to stay quiet, keep the opposite sex or differtheir head down. ent races and when those “You’re prettier when people speak up, the numyou’re quiet,” may seem ber of viewpoints increases like a statement from the exponentially. past, but it’s more relevant The initial group has than many want to believe. completely shifted their Society programs viewpoints and each of women from childhood them is having entirely to think their voices don’t new and different experihold the same value as ences. men.

They’re learning.

I never explicitly felt that sentiment but being Stacie Guevara is associa part of this group gave ate editor of The Advocate. me a place where I felt Contact her at sguevara. accepted, where my voice theadvocate@gmail.com. could be heard and where

stacieguevara

CAMPUS COMMENT

Who is an African American figure that inspires you and why?

“Harriet Tubman.

What she did in her time was incredibly courageous and inspiring.”

Naomi Ortega culinary arts

STACIE GUEVARA / THE ADVOCATE

“Jill Scott. She’s so free

with her poetry and songs and I too wish to have such freedom and expression in my writing and singing.”

Celia Taylor music

“Martin Luther King Jr.

He’s a legend and has done a lot for the black community.”

Chris Gaines culinary arts

“Nina Simone. She has

an amazing voice and her activism during the civil rights movement was inspiring.”

Ashley Santos psychology

“Thurgood Marshall.

He was the first black Supreme Court justice and as someone who aspires to be a judge, I look up to him.”

Kimyatta Newby MCHS

“Michelle Obama. She’s

all about fitness, being healthy and living life to the fullest.”

Alina Slackman culinary arts

campusbeat NEWSLINE HISTORY

RICHMOND LIBRARY HOSTS AMPIM Throughout African Heritage Month, Contra Costa College has been hosting events to celebrate the event.

On Thursday, a lecture of African historical civilizations will be hosted by history professor Manu Ampim at Richmond Public Library at 6:30 p.m.

For more information email Ampim at mampim@contracosta.edu.

EVENT

CONFERENCE GUIDES DREAMERS

The Dreamers Conference: Empowering the Dream presented by the Dreamers Alliance of CCC will take place at the Campus Center Plaza on Saturday from 8:30 a.m to 2 p.m.

The conference will offer opportunities to undocumented students, parents, educators and allies.

Workshops will be held on topics such as stress management, financial aid, scholarships and more.

Workshops will be offered in both English and Spanish to support Dreamers.

A keynote presentation will be given by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Tony-nominated producer and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas.

In addition, poet Yosimar Reyes will be performing.

A breakfast will be provided and an undocumented resource fair will also take place.

People who are interested can RSVP at eventbrite.com.

For more information, contact Joel Nickelson-Shanks at jshanks@contracosta.edu.

RESOURCES

WORKSHOP AIDS TIME MANAGEMENT A How to Manage Your Time in College workshop will take place in Fireside Hall Thursday from 1-2 p.m., .

This workshop will help students work on their time management skills and understand why time management is important for success by examining how time is spent and the resources that can be used to maximize it.

For more information, contact Joel Nickelson-Shanks at jshanks@contracosta.edu or Carolyn Hodge at chodge@contracosta.edu or 510-215-4934.

FORUM

BAY AREA RAPPER VISITS FIRESIDE Bay Area rapper Mistah F.A.B. (Stanley Petey Cox) is coming to campus Thursday to promote his book “Dope Era” at 4:30 p.m in Fireside Hall.

The event will be hosted by the Associated Student Union and include an overview presented by Cox, along with a question-and-answer session.

For more information, visit the Student Life Office in SA-109 or contact them at 510-215-4923.

CRIMEWATCH Sunday, Feb. 2 Vandalism was reported on the window of a portable office behind the Automotive Technology Center. The window showed signs of being tampered with.

No other crimes were posted for Contra Costa College on the Contra Costa College District Daily Crime Log. — The Contra Costa Community College District is committed to equal opportunity in educational programs, employment, and campus life. The District does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, parental status, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in any access to and treatment in College programs, activities, and application for employment.

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.19.2020 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

3

Dreamer event unites

By Luis Lopez news editor

Journalist Jose Antonio Vargas speaks at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2017.

llopez.theadvocate@gmail.com

As a sign of support to the areas undocumented residents, efforts are being made to create easier pathways to resources and help.

In a show of support, the Dreamers Alliance of Contra Costa College will host a Dreamers Conference from 8:30 a.m to 2 p.m in the Campus Center Plaza and Fireside Hall.

The conference is aimed at inspiring and empowering members of the community through art and education about opportunities and resources for undocumented high school and college students.

Educators, parents, and allies will also benefit from the many workshops topics discussed.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, author of “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen,” will speak and nationally acclaimed poet and speaker Yosimar Reyes, author of “For Colored Boys Who Speak Softly,” will perform at the conference as well.

La Raza Student Union Vice President Alfredo Angulo said the conference will provide resources for the specific challenges facing the community.

“The event will help provide opportunities and resources for dreamers’ unique set of needs and challenges through art and mental health workshops.”

Informing the next generation about immigration issues and

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

resources is an important part of the Dreamers conference and they hope to accomplish teaching students and instructors.

La Raza Student Union President Ricardo Sanchez said the event will be a day full of informational activities.

Sanchez said, “Breakfast will be served and there will be art activities, keynote speakers and resources covering legal topics, mental health and immigration.”

The conference provides a lot of helpful information in various forms from art to speeches and lectures. Information and resources provided at the Dreamers

Conference will also help allies of the Dream Act. The first Dreamers Conference was held in 2011 at CCC and came from a challenge from the community.

College counselor Norma Valdez-Jimenez was the last conference chairperson and said, “The first conference came as a collaborative effort between the college and the organization Richmond Consilio Latino. It came after members of the community challenged the college about what it was doing to help undocumented students and the community.”

Since then, the conference has

been rotated between colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District every year, last being held at CCC in 2016.

Valdez-Jimenez said, “Over the years, the conference has continued to grow and this year we expect to have over 200 guests at the event.”

This year may have the largest crowd yet with the event increasing in size every year and notable speakers performing at the event.

The event is free to all community members.

There will be a free breakfast provided and a full schedule of the conference can be found at Eventbrite.com.

VETERANS | Leadership void blurs program meaning Continued from Page 1 to re-evaluate the position to make sure that we still need it at that level — or if we need it at a higher level,” Bell said. “I’m hoping that we can get through this process so that we can get a full-time permanent person before the end of the spring semester.”

CCC is currently in the process of hiring a temporary coordinator who can fill in the position while a permanent coordinator is hired.

Franco said, “We are looking for someone within the district to fill in temporarily, I expect that to happen within the next few weeks.

After that, we will post the job listing for the permanent position.”

“We are definitely looking for someone who is either a veteran or someone who has a significant

experience working with veterans in the past,” he said.

In the meantime, Student Life Coordinator Charles Ramirez has been helping the veterans in CCC navigate the struggles of being a student.

Ramirez previously served as veterans liaison for financial aid. He is familiar with the processes with which they may need assistance.

“I’m makRamirez ing sure that they are aware that the same services are available to them — such services as free breakfast, food pantry, etc.,” Ramirez said.

“I also try to make sure they have access to the Veterans Resource Center. When I am asked specific questions that I can’t answer, I make sure to reach out to different departments in order to connect them with the appropriate resources,” he said.

According to Section 1 of SB 694, student-veterans face unique challenges along their educational paths when dealing with physical and emotional disabilities during their transition back to civilian life.

Air Force veteran Alex Ortiz said student-veterans on campus are struggling, especially those who are new college students.

“There is a really big gap with veteran services. A lot of veterans coming here are confused, especially first-time students that have never been in a college environ-

ment before or people who just want to sign up to come and take classes,” Ortiz said. “We don’t really have any form of direction anymore.”

Without having an adviser full time, they have limited access to the Veterans Resource Center.

They also risk losing funding for the Veterans Club.

“I was actually the president of the club, but since we don’t have an adviser for our club, we really can’t put the club together,” he said.

Ortiz said veterans on campus need someone who can be the loudest voice in the room because they struggle with classwork as well as PTSD. “As veterans, we adjust to any situation, but we feel like nobody’s really listening to us right now,” he said.

PLANNING | Administrative path forward explained

Continued from Page 1

their values.”

Through anonymous polling, they grabbed information on the values around the campus, she said.

Values such as student success, equity and community came up.

“Yet often, when we hear these goals we complain or think about how that’s impacting me or my role — we have sidebar conversations,” Padilla said.

“So I asked a question, if we know those conversations are happening on the side, why aren’t we having those conversations as part of our shared governance process?

In what spaces could we be having these debates and how could we have them in a respectful collegiate manner?”

Through the feedback they received on All College Day and other events they have focused on a few main objectives. These include organizational capacity and community cohesion, academics and student support, and student success. Subcommittees have been made to work on creating a

draft for each outlined objective.

Students have been included in this process as well.

Associated Student Union Vice President Alfredo Angulo said, “In terms of the planning committee, they always make a point to ask every once in a while, ‘Hey what do you think about this’ just to make sure students are speaking up. We also have a chance to be a part of the validation committee.”

They have been very much included in the process, he said.

“I definitely think that we’ve had more access to represent students better because we have more in depth knowledge and the issues that occur.”

By setting measurable goals that are in line with the mission, vision and values of the college’s educational master plan, programs have a direction to work toward.

“It (the plan) aims to streamline the process the program review making sure the institution is aware of work being done by departments,” Padilla said.

This information would then be cross-referenced across all depart-

ments so that during budget allocation the campus could make a more informed decision about the type of resources to provide. Especially items that would reap the most benefit across all departments.

The Strategic Planning Committee shaped their proposed draft to allow every program to uniquely set its goals and standards to work toward in program review.

Committees could then use this data to observe what is needed to reach their goals.

Depending on what is needed from multiple departments, these plans could help the budget committee cross-reference areas in which aid could support multiple programs.

“Continuous improvement would allow leadership to think and analyze clearly from year to year instead of waiting for five years at a time,” Padilla said.

The Strategic Plan with its newly drafted model hopes to provide the college with comprehensive information to allow it make informed decisions as it strives to improve its service to students.

At the heart of this work is a desire to see the campus at its peak of institutional effectiveness.

Krolikowski said, “College Council, which is our synthesizing body and then planning, budget, operations and student success will have to be on board with the Strategic Plan for us to have it work.”

Those spaces are important because that’s where all the different groups come together, she said —students, managers, classified and faculty.

“Separate from that we have each of our constituency groups, ASU, Classified Senate, Academic Senate and Management Council and those are spaces where people have certain ways they go about their time here on campus.”

After discussion between constituency groups on how to proceed with this item, the College Council decided to ensure that a draft be sent out to constituency groups. The decision was made to ensure constituents can provide feedback through their representatives in the President’s Cabinet.

COMPETITION | Team earns honors, gains experience

Continued from Page 1

few changes and (I) performed better than the last few tournaments.

Clearly, the changes worked.”

Communications major Tayler Meulpolder participated in the tournament for the first time as a novice. However, she was moved to the varsity category because there were not enough novice people to participate in the Prose Interpretation category.

“The experience was pretty nerve-wracking because I felt woefully unprepared,” Meulpolder said.

“I’m looking forward to the future.

I want to go back and observe as many other forms of interpretation and absorb as much as I can.”

Meulpolder participated by presenting a speech about sexual coercion and alcohol as a coping mechanism for a self-proclaimed bisexual woman.

“Sarah, the woman my piece speaks about, is struggling with coming out as bisexual,” Meulpolder said. “She questions her sexuality throughout the piece, and it climaxes to her discovering she’s bisexual and feeling proud of who she is.”

Even though the speech team

has grown in recent weeks, it needs more participation, especially from women — Meulpolder was the only female participant representing CCC at the Talk Hawk Invitational tournament.

“Sometimes it’s hard to find a piece that hasn’t been done yet,” she said. “But there are also so many women’s stories that haven’t been told. I encourage more women to do this because it is really important to get the word out.”

The CCC speech team stands out for giving a voice to minority representation. However, female participation has always been an

issue.

Robertson said, “We’re getting better at recruiting women to the team. Recently we had an increase of female members, but most of them are not ready to compete in tournaments.”

“We want more women and we would love to have more women on the team, but Tayler (Meulpolder) was the only one who was ready to compete at Las Positas,” he said.

“We’re getting our new people ready and we’re going to be bringing them out in the force during the novice tournament in May.”

4

campusbeat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.19.2020 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

FACILITY CRAMPED EARLY IN SEMESTER Department works to organize equipment

By Daniel Hernandez staff writer

dhernandez.theadvocate@gmail.com

PHOTOS BY DANIEL HERNANDEZ / THE ADVOCATE

The automotive department finds itself in disarray as the semester begins with learning equipment scattered throughout the building, while surprisingly, new storage containers are not being used to their fullest capacity.

On the first day of the spring semester, one forklift carried in three 40-foot shipping containers separately into the storage lot of the Automotive Technology Building.

For the installation to be possible, automotive instructional assistant Jim Gardner shuffled 20 instructional cars into the automotive services shop.

“Most cars ran fine, but some had to be pushed in,” Gardner said.

But due to the building’s tight space, the lack of adequate size and utilities to keep engines and transmissions in the rebuild room forces the surplus to sit on the shop’s floor.

Kyle Endow, automotive technology major and former student of the engine rebuilding course, said, “We’re in the process of reorganizing. It could be better, I’d like to see it (the shop) organized. I think we’ll get to that point eventually.”

Currently, automotive professor Lucile Beatty, among other automotive instructors, is discussing plans for an organization sys-

ABOVE: Used engine equipment sits packed in the Automotive Technology Building in the midst of the department’s efforts to organize equipment this semester.

LEFT: A variety of automotive equipment is stored in the Automotive Technology Building on the few pallets and stands the department has.

n “We’re in the process of reorganizing. I think we’ll get to that point eventually.”

— Kyle Endow, automotive technology student

tem to safely and effectively store equipment inside the containers.

Most engine blocks and transmissions need to sit on stands and pallets, respectively, to be stored on shelves and require a ramp for fluid transitions in and out of the containers — which the department does not have enough of.

Engine service repair and automotive drivetrain courses rotate every semester, therefore, each container will be designated to hold separate instructional components.

Over the fall semester, construction was

done to push back the north fence of the AT Building, severing the path that connected the Early Learning Center to the Computer Technology Center.

In turn, the extra space made it possible to keep the storage containers permanently in their place, for the time being.

These containers, supplied by the department’s sponsorship with Toyota, are customized with two doors on the side walls to lie flat against the fence for quick and efficient mobility.

Information on the cost for the containers and labor was not available at the time of publication.

New engines and the latest production cars are supplied throughout the semester ever since the department signed the deal with Toyota last year.

Fresh teaching aids allow students to work with factory-new engines each semes-

ter.

The more engines they have per class encourages the opportunity for students to have a more intimate and thorough handson learning experience.

According to Beatty, used engines are periodically sent to be recycled and new ones are received.

Endow said, “These (cars) are all 2017, 2018 models. By the time that we graduate and are out in the field, those will be coming in for servicing. It’s nice to be educated about something that we’re going to see by the time we graduate and not by something that’s 15 years old that we may not repair.”

Four weeks into the semester, Beatty foresees the containers to be organized with ramps and shelving. She also said she expects the shop floor to be cleared of overstocked engines and transmissions by the summer session.

Excitement, nerves surround play auditions Spring season plays attract hopeful actors

By Brenda Mwingira staff writer

bmwingira.theadvocate@gmail.com

Theatrical auditions held in the Knox Center received a great turnout from students who were competing for parts in two major plays to be held later this semester.

The auditions were for the plays “We Won’t Pay, We Won’t Pay,” written by Dario Fo, and “The House of Bernarda Alba,” which boasts a female-centered cast, written by Federico García Lorca.

Expectations vary where numbers of students auditioning are concerned.

Drama department Chairperson Carlos Chavarria said, “It usually depends on the actual turnout of the people to be auditioned, sometimes they may be 10,

sometimes two.”

Auditions took place Feb. 12 at the Knox Center.

The theater was packed with a number of students filling out forms outlining roles for which they would be auditioning. The auditions were to be carried out and supervised by the directors of the plays, Emilie Whelan and Chavarria Angelina LaBarre, who we were able to interview potential actors before the auditions began.

LaBarre said, “‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ will only require female cast members, so we are going to select

as many female performers as we can for the play and, judging from the turnout, at least nine.”

The director also mentioned the anticipated dates of which the plays would be opening this semester.

Those dates are around April 24-26 and May 1-3 for “The House of Bernarda Alba.”

Moreover, the play “We Won’t Pay, We Won’t Pay” will be opening March 20-22 and continuing March 27-29.

Student emotions were a mixture of both excitement and nervousness prior to their auditions.

To some it was their first time auditioning for a role in a play, while a few had prior experience in front of crowds.

“I have been in productions before

and the feeling is usually the same, a bit nervous, but you look forward to the best,” Joshua Saephan, a drama student auditioning for “We Won’t Pay, We Won’t Pay,” said.

There were also many of female students auditioning for the play “The House of Bernarda Alba,” some of whom had also performed in plays before.

Faith Austin, one of the students auditioning as Adela for the play “The House of Bernarda Alba”, said she has performed in multiple plays before but this would be her first one at Contra Costa College.

Overall, it was a great turnout and the actors were expecting callbacks the following day, Chavarria said.

Festivities culminate at heritage night

By JoJuan Johnson staff writer

jjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

The African American studies department hosted an African Heritage Month Celebration on Thursday at the John and Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts, an evening of enlightening and entertaining performances.

EOPS/CARE and CalWORKs Manager George Mills, who was in charge of welcoming and introducing guest speakers at the celebration, said it’s a special time for people to come and celebrate the community in its entirety.

Mills has also highlighted other events that are happening during African Heritage Month, such as a lecture about the history of African civilizations by history, anthropology and geography department Chairperson Manu Ampim, Thursday at the Richmond Public Library at 6:30 p.m.

There will also be an essay writing contest entitled, “How Can the Black Vote Influence Local and National Elections,” which is due Monday.

The Black Student Union is also presenting a poetry night, “Comet Comics and Poets,” which will be hosted at Fireside Hall from 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 27.

To close the month, a lecture led

by Vincent Murrell on black leadership will be hosted in GE-225 from 10-11:30 a.m. on Feb. 29.

CCC African American Staff Association member Erika Green gave a presentation about Carter

ERIC MARTINEZ / THE ADVOCATE

EOPS Manager George Mills (left) claps to the rhythmic beating of the djembe at the African Heritage Month Celebration at the Knox Center on Friday.

G. Woodson (1875-1950), who was known as the “father of black history.”

Woodson was an African American historian, author, journalist and a founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, in addition to being the founder of the Journal of Negro History in 1916.

Woodson was also the first scholar to study African American history.

In February 1926, he first celebrated black history as “Negro History Week,” which was then

expanded to Black History Month.

In 1897, he finally enrolled in school as a full-time student after having to support his family.

In 1912, Woodson received his Ph.D. from Harvard University and became the second African American after W.E.B. Du Bois to receive a doctorate.

After earning his doctorate, Woodson continued to teach in public schools and then joined the faculty at Howard University in Washington D.C. as a professor in addition to serving there as dean of the college of arts and sciences.

Black Student Union mem-

bers Tiye Gordon, Roshawntala Cunningham and Timothy Dalton gave a presentation about the history of the Black Student Union.

In 1966, at San Francisco State University, Jimmy Garret and Jerry Verrado formed the Black Student Union to unite black students educationally, politically, and socially.

Film major Brian Wanene guided his own student presentation about his life experiences and the history of African civilization class that he took.

Wanene was born in Kenya and he and his family moved to the United States when he was a child.

Wanene said although he is not an African American studies major, he chose to take those courses because he felt that it was imperative to understand more about African civilization.

Ampim gave a presentation about the California Connection­ — From Africa to America, and talked about topics such as the map of Ancient Kush, Kushite princes, pyramids of Nurl, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Olmec Civilization.

He said, “The purpose of this event is to celebrate African culture.”

Global artist Sistah Iminah gave a vocal performance about “The Goddess Experience.”

One of the pieces she performed was a song called “Ghetto to Goddess,” and said her goal for that song was to inspire the world to rise.

She asked, “If we don’t stand up for ourselves, who will?”

Iminah said her ancestors inspired her to sing.

African American studies department Chairperson Carolyn Hodge presented the closing remarks of the event.

She said she assigned her students to go to the event, take notes on it and document their reactions.

If her students weren’t able to attend, then they had an alternate assignment.

Hodge said she was happy the college knows it’s important for everyone to learn about African culture and experiences.

campus beat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.19.2020 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

5

Culinary exhibition highlights skill, joy Food, friends brings campus

together

By Evalyn Soungpanya advocate staff

esoungpanya.theadvocate@gmail.com

Aqua Terra Grill brought a fresh approach on vegetables with its spring semester culinary arts Iron Chef Competition themed “From the Ground Up.” The buffet-style event brought students and staff together. The restaurant filled quickly and bustled with patrons who queued up to enjoy the student-crafted dishes.

Most were vegetable selections, however, some were offered with little meat for carnivores.

Culinary arts professor Elisabeth Schwarz said the spring semester competition is more successful than the fall one and about 100 people have come in.

“It seems like we have a better turnout today and we have a group of students that are quite good and very enthusiastic,” Schwarz said.

The competition took place on Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. where people dined at an all-youcan-eat buffet for the price of $7.

The annual competition takes place at the start of each semester to promote the opening of Aqua Terra Grill and to raise money for the culinary arts department.

As customers entered the restaurant, they were given a ticket to vote for their favorite meal’s team. Five teams served their orig-

BYRON AGU / THE ADVOCATE

inal dishes to patrons and urged them to vote for their team.

After everyone had been served, three winning teams were chosen and given gift baskets.

The items inside the baskets ranged from custom dolls created by culinary arts Chairperson Nader Sharkes, to cookbooks, coffee and wine.

Team Soul 2 Sool’s Amanda Harris said each summer, students travel to Italy to study cuisine as part of a scholarship program.

Traveling expenses are paid for by fundraisers that don’t include the Iron Chef competition.

The dishes were also plentiful and ranged from chicken stir-fry, zucchini mushroom lasagna and curry chicken or potato cabbage rolls to vegan mole tacos.

After people finished their meals, they were urged to vote for the best team. This gave customers the chance to go back for as much food as they wanted.

However, the urge to win isn’t what means most to some chefs

that competed.

Team Alboe’s Cheerio Hounthavong has been part of the college’s culinary program for a year and has his own ideas of what the event stands for.

“The drive for everyone to work as a team to serve food and enjoy friendly competition is the best part,” Hounthavong said.

Team Comfort Food’s Comfort Mensah also said seeing people enjoy her team’s meals was amazing since it was her first time participating in the competition.

“It’s amazing, beautiful. Seeing people come here to enjoy the meals and see the happiness and smiling faces. That makes me happy,” Mensah said.

The winners were announced at the end by Sharkes.

Team Comfort Food was announced as first place winners, Team Alboe finished second and Team Rooted third.

Team Comfort Food served zucchini mushroom lasagna and zucchini cheddar tots. Customers

Demetria Lawrence and Avemar Tan-Pineda said the zucchini mushroom lasagna was their favorite.

“It didn’t even taste like it had vegetables, so I liked it since you can’t taste the vegetables and it’s healthy,” Lawrence said.

Following, Team Alboe served buffalo cauliflower and flyin’ Hawaiian sliders.

Team Rooted served vegetarian verde tacos and vegan mole tacos.

Team Soul 2 Sool served veggie wraps, chicken stir-fry, and fried rice.

Lastly, Team Mother Truckers served curry chicken cabbage rolls, and curry potato cabbage rolls.

Schwarz said the competition is at the start of a new semester, which has new students that have a chance to work together and achieve a common goal.

She said the competition encourages creativity at the start of the spring semester that’s not seen later, since there’s a specific menu the students have to follow.

ABOVE: A hungry student is served by a chef at the spring semester culinary arts Iron Chef Competition on Feb. 6.

Screening tells inspiring tales

By Nicholas Sorrell advocate staff

nsorrell.theadvocate@gmail.com

In an attempt to unify the community and maximize the number of enthusiastic voters, the Community Organizing Political Action (COPA) club hosted a film screening in Fireside Hall.

The club presented the film “Knock The House Down” in the event which chronicles the political rise of Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.

The Feb. 6 event lasted from 1 until 4 p.m.

Political science department Chairperson Vanna Gonzales said, “The event was meaningful for students that want to be informed about the California primary, cam-

paigning and to see a film that shows how any ordinary person can get elected.”

In the club’s time on campus, COPA has been able to establish a non-partisan, party-extremist free zone, while still being able to cover the politics of our Nation.

It established a new form of influencing students to engage and sign up to vote.

Despite the film being the viewing of one party, it still was able to provide many inducing moments to start an initiative for one to vote.

With the democratic primary process underway, COPA Vice President Alfredo Angulo thought this film was more than just neces-

sary to have.

Angulo said, “If anything, our goal here is not to push a particular party or candidate, it’s to spread the word and get more students to vote.”

Gonzales offered another reason to get students acclimated to participating in the political process. “It’s to inform people about the census.”

The Census Gonzales is the United States’ federal statist system that is responsible for producing data

about the American citizens and the American economy.

Since 2020 began, COPA has been trying to get more people to vote and to make sure their voices are noticed as students of CCC. The struggle to get students to vote has been an issue.

However, Angulo has been able to help COPA get students to register to vote and encourage them to vote.

Inter-Club Council representative Kimyatta Newby said, “This event is necessary because it provides students with more insight and research about politics and their place in it.”

More recently, when the topic

of politics came to surface on campus, most students tend to ignore it, or became offended at the mention of one’s party affiliation.

Unfortunately, the process of becoming educated about local and national politics has ceased to become a common practice.

Restoring initiative to not only CCC students but the entire campus community and giving students a chance to make sure their collective voice is heard can be difficult but yet necessary.

This event was not just a film, it was an opportunity for many students to learn and induce useful knowledge toward the California Primary Election on March 3.

Cupid’s dinner shows the delicious side of love

By Daniel Hernandez advocate staff

dhernandez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Sweethearts gathered together for a romantic candle-lit evening featuring a prix fixe five-course meal for Valentine’s Day. The culinary department held its fifth annual Cupid’s Season Dinner Scholarship Event with the intention of giving students the opportunity to work in a professional restaurant setting while getting to serve their community.

“People have been happy about it because we don’t serve a lot of dinners in the restaurant — it’s mostly lunch,” culinary arts professor Elisabeth Schwarz said. She said the event was probably more affordable for members of the community.

The event benefits the culinary arts department’s annual summer trip to Italy for students to learn authentic cuisine hands-on.

Friday night’s scene at Aqua Terra Grill began mellow with guests greeted by host Rosa Garcia and a red carpet. Attendees had to reserve their $40 meal in advance.

Upon arriving at their tables, patrons were greeted by an ensemble of waiters who swiftly and gracefully gathered around.

The waiters assembled the table arrangements with a candle, place mats, flowers, utensils and menus accordingly to the number of diners.

Two attendees, Madeleine and James Machado agreed that the food was “double amazing” this time.

The menu, put together by culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes, began with the amuse bouche — arugula and crab rangoons with sweet and sour sauce.

Thereafter, scallops seasoned with crushed pepper and a helping of parsnip purée were served as the starter.

Next up was the entrée. A plate of braised short rib and medium-well beef tenderloin sat on top of mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and vegetables.

Following was the plate of artisanal cheeses including gouda, cheddar and parmesan with pecans and slices of bread.

And finally, the desert round came with a choice of either seven layer chocolate cake or raspberry glazed cheesecake.

“We would go to San Francisco for food like this, but we didn’t since it’s right in our backyard,” attendee Artune Cingoz said. He came to the dinner with Nicole Cruz and they found the event on Facebook and were one of the first to reserve a table.

Cingoz said, “I would say this is better than a professional restaurant. Nice and neat with a very calm atmosphere.” He could hardly tell the wait staff were students due to their professional demeanor.

ERIC MARTINEZ / THE ADVOCATE

A waiter serves community members Madeleine and James Machado at the Cupid’s Season Dinner Scholarship Event on Friday.

“Staff were super professional. It’s great to see them on track for their careers,” James Machado said.

Culinary arts major and bartender for the event Matthew Gonzales Kelley said the events the department hosts better help him for the professional food industry.

Around two-thirds of the tables were filled with diners. “Every seat in this restaurant should’ve been filled,” Cruz said.

Guests gradually arrived which left the wait staff to linger around the bar attentively

waiting to serve any table.

In Garcia’s experience being host, she said, “This teaches you how to be more social, how to talk to people and be organized when seating people down. Hosting has been really fun because you get to dress up and be yourself.”

Schwarz said the Cupid’s dinner was a success.

“I’m really proud we have this beautiful facility and we can work with our students on ideas they wish to explore,” she said.

6

2020 election

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.19.2020 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.19.2020 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

7

LEFT: Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to thousands of supporters at a rally in Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion on Monday afternoon.

Photos by: Denis Perez For

more photos, please visit our website: www.cccadvocate.com

Bernie energizes Richmond

By Jose Arebalo news editor

jarebalo.theadvocate@gmail.com

RIGHT: A woman watches Sen. Bernie Sanders’ speech from outside Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion as she holds a water bottle on Monday.

RIGHT: A woman who was invited onto the rally platform during Sen. Bernie Sanders’ speech used the opportunity to protest the dairy industry and Sanders’ tie to it during the Monday event at the Richmond Craneway Pavilion.

RICHMOND — Bay Area voters crammed into the Craneway Pavilion here to rally for democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders Monday.

Individuals young and old had excitement in their eyes as they waited for Sanders to take the stage.

The Get Out the Vote rally was intended to encourage potential voters, especially those with no party preference (the second largest demographic of voters in California), to register as democrats before the Tuesday registration deadline for the California primary election on March 3.

A coalition of local politicians gregariously took the stage before Sanders came out.

Richmond City Council members Eduardo Martinez, Melvin Willis and former council member Jovanka Beckles all garnered applause. The crowd erupted in excitement at the announcement of San Francisco’s new District Attorney Chesa Boudin’s presence.

Sen. Sanders walked onstage with his wife Jane to roaring cheers from the thousands overflowing the pavilion.

The crowd was in a frenzy as multiple chants reverberated through the building keeping the senator from getting his first few sentences out clearly.

“As somebody who was raised in a rent-controlled apartment living paycheck to paycheck, I am proud we are a campaign for the working class, by the working class,” Sanders said.

From that point on, every statement he made was welcomed by enormous applause.

The themes of his stump speech hit the usual notes from his campaign trail while focusing on bringing communities together in spite of the hateful, divisive rhetoric coming from the current presidential administration.

He said health care is a human right, asked for equal pay for equal work, encouraged investment in public education and endorsed tuition-free college.

The California Nurses Association, represented at the rally, is one of many medical organizations supporting a Sanders nomination.

Doctors for Bernie is another group advocating for the senator.

Former city councilperson Dr. Jeff Ritterman said, “I’ve been working as a doctor for 40 years.

n “No president can do it alone. We

Young activists against the dairy industry caused a ruckus in front of the podium as they chanted “death to dairy” during Sanders’ speech.

— Bernie Sanders, presidential candidate Multiple people from the crowd approached the group and respectfully asked them to quiet If I look at the nation as my patient, I see a sick down explaining this was not the way to get their patient and I think that the prescription is Bernie cause heard. The activists left in dismay.

Sanders. Income and wealth inequality is a huge Before the speech, a young couple had claimed factor driving illness and early death. the center spot to get a good view of the podium.

“We don’t have an adequate health care system.

Attendee Izzy Mackler said, “We have a climate He’s the only one with a program for that,” Dr. crisis, which is caused by the profit-seeking behavRitterman said. “He has a program in every facet ior of the fossil fuel industry and the only way to that’s going to lead to a healthier country. There’s confront that is by changing our economic system nobody who’s going to make us healthier as a in a fundamental way. Bernie is the only one who nation than Sen. Sanders.” is going to be able to bring that kind of change and Two sisters with platinum white hair had eager fight for it.” grins as they cheered for Sanders.

Mackler said, “The whole system that we live “I believe in economic fairness,” marketing pro- under is one which is organized toward profitfessional Megan Nelson said. “I think the income making for a small number of people rather than gap between the rich and the poor is the biggest what’s best for the vast majority of people, so I see issue facing America today. I’m interested in his the election of Bernie Sanders as one strike in a policies on educators. My sister is a teacher and I long battle against our existing system.” believe they should be paid a fair wage.

The attacks in Sanders’ speech were focused “In addition, I really like his policy on end-of- on President Donald Trump and his most worthy life care, Social Security, expanding Medicare and primary opponent, former New York City mayor making sure we take care of our young people. Michael Bloomberg.

Those are the things most important to me, but “Donald Trump thinks climate change is a I’m hard-pressed to find anything I don’t agree hoax. I think Donald Trump is a hoax,” Sanders with him on, so he’s kind of the perfect candidate.” said. “Mr. Bloomberg, like everyone else, has the A good political campaign inspires not just right to run for president, but he does not have the voters, but a movement, for which Senator Sanders right to buy the presidency.” asked his supporters on Monday.

He also spoke about the GOP’s playbook claim“Real fundamental change never happens from ing their mantra of limited government is not the top down, always from the bottom on up. It something they live by. is the history of the civil rights movement, wom“If they want limited government, women, not en’s rights movement and gay rights movement,” the government should be controlling their own Sanders said. bodies,” Sanders said.

He asked everyone to consider “us not me” by Sanders kept calling back to Trump’s ethically changing the culture to where every family has to incompetent administration. care for one another. A treacherous road lies ahead “In my administration we’re going to listen to to turn these visions into a reality. scientists, not right-wing extremists,” Sanders said.

“No President can do it alone. We need a mass The senator promised to introduce the most compolitical movement,” he said. prehensive climate change proposal ever.

An African American student, with eyelids He spoke of moving America’s energy systems highlighted green and yellow, stood among the away from fossil fuels to sustainable, renewable crowd with a bright smile. energy which, he said, would create 20 million Diablo Valley College student Camille Byers union jobs. said, “I really want to see our student loans get paid There were also promises made on his first off. I feel like that could help our economy a lot. A actions if sworn into office. lot of people who are in debt are paying way too “On day one, through executive order, I will much — up to $30,000. It really affects them and repeal Trump’s racist immigration policies,” affects future generations.”

Sanders said.

need mass political movement.”

An attendee holds up a 2016 Sanders campaign sign reading “Nurses for Bernie” during a rally at Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion on Monday.

Sanders’ campaign policies have not changed much from his 2016 campaign, and have been adopted by many of his democratic rivals.

LEFT: Sen. Bernie Sanders talks about health care, corporate greed, environmental justice and housing during a speech at a campaign rally at Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion Monday.

BELOW: Activist Danny Glover, one of many speakers on hand at a campaign rally for Bernie Sanders on Monday, walks onto the rally platform to introduce Sanders to the crowd at Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion.

8

spotlight

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.19.2020 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

DR. SANDRA CASTILLO-ALWARD — TAUGHT NURSING AT CCC FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND WAS DEAN OF INSTRUCTION FOR THE NURSING DEPARTMENT — WORKED FOR CCC FROM 1982-2007 AND THEN BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING AT LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE — WORKED AT LMC FROM 2007-2013 — RETIRED INITIALLY IN 2013 BUT RETURNED TO CCC IN 2015 — RETIRED IN JANUARY

INFOGRAPHIC BY DANIEL HERNANDEZ / THE ADVOCATE

ACCLAIMED PROFESSOR RETIRES

By Stacie Guevara associate editor

sguevara.theadvocate@gmail.com

Dr. Sandra Castillo-Alward is one of Contra Costa College’s most treasured professors and has now retired after over 35 years as a nursing professor, program director and friendly face around campus.

Dr. Castillo-Alward has retired for the second and final time after cherishing her time here.

Before she came to CCC as a professor and later nursing program director, she was a very young registered nurse (RN) who graduated from nursing school when she was 21 years old.

Her specialty was medical-surgical patients, working primarily in hospitals, but she decided to start teaching because by 1978, she had four children and wanted to be home for weekends and holidays to be more available to them.

“Teaching seemed to be the next natural step,” Dr. Castillo-Alward said.

Funny enough, she found the opening for a teaching job in a newspaper advertisement.

She applied for the job, got it and loved it.

With teaching, she has enjoyed sharing knowledge with hundreds of students over the years.

When she first started at CCC, she was

working in the Licensed Vocational Nursing Program and taught within it until it was terminated in 1986.

She then taught in the RN program.

Teaching in different programs gave her opportunities to learn and gain new skills.

Castillo-Alward became dean of instruction in nursing before finally becoming the director of the nursing program.

She worked at CCC from 1982-2007 and then transferred to Los Medanos College (LMC).

She became the director of the nursing program at LMC from 2007-2013 before retiring for the first time.

She was happily retired, living a comfortable life until 2015 when she got a call from Dr. Cheri Etheredge, nursing department chairperson and professor.

Dr. Etheredge told her the current director actually had abruptly left and was wondering if Castillo-Alward would come back to help with the program and work parttime.

Castillo-Alward promptly decided to come back and was planning to stay for one semester but continued working part-time until 2017.

In January 2017, she became the full-time registered nursing program director and came out of retirement until January 2020.

n “She (Castillo-Alward) was all about doing what was the best thing for the program. That was always first and foremost in her mind.”

— Cheri Etheredge, nursing department professor

When she first began working at CCC, she didn’t think she would have such a big impact, but she felt fortunate to get the job and was very passionate about it.

Castillo-Alward was glad to have prepared her students enough and is ready for them to carry on her legacy of good and efficient nurses.

Even though she’s now retired, she still emails interim nursing department co-chairperson and co-director Angela King-Jones.

Dr. King-Jones said she keeps in touch with her to make sure the nursing program is still functioning well and running smoothly.

King-Jones said Castillo-Alward has done a lot for the program and kept the program current within the nursing community.

“When you’ve been around that long, you can’t have anything but a big influence,” King-Jones said.

Interim nursing department co-chairperson and co-director Jacki Wright worked closely with Castillo-Alward and said she has great expertise in the Board of Registered Nursing regulations.

Dr. Etheredge has worked at CCC for 39 years and worked with Castillo-Alward for most of that time.

Etheredge was elated when CastilloAlward decided to step in, in 2015, and that’s when the two really started working closely together.

“She (Castillo-Alward) was all about doing what was the best thing for the program. That was always first and foremost in her mind,” Etheredge said.

Etheredge looked up to her and said she had one of the strongest work ethics she has ever seen.

Etheredge also said it’s very admirable she still keeps up with King-Jones and she does it on her own time.

“I feel very fortunate to have worked with her,” Etheredge said.

Dr. Castillo-Alward said, “Having spent a good portion of my life at CCC, I feel very blessed to work with such diverse people and I marvel at how many students have been able to continue their education (helped by) my knowledge and become nurses.”

Transfer counselor propels students

By Wanda Gonzalez advocate staff

wgonzalez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Transfer counselor Andrea Phillips has had an immensely positive impact on first generation college students at Contra Costa College for years.

From organizing college readiness events on campus, to creating personalized educational plans for students, Phillips has done it all in an effort to help students transfer to four-year institutions.

Every second Tuesday in October, Phillips hosts a transfer day on campus in which 50 college representatives come out and students are able to table.

In addition, for the last three years, she’s hosted the historically black college caravan. The caravan is similar to transfer day, however, historically black colleges come out so students can get information from colleges that offer more than just an education.

“Two of the years that we did that, we brought in West Contra Costa Unified School students to participate in that historically black college caravan. Many of their students received on-the-spot scholarships, some received on-the-spot admissions,” Phillips said.

Not only has she been helping Contra Costa College students, but she’s even opened doors for high school students in the district.

“Get On The Bus” is another great project the counselor started.

It gives students the opportunity to visit local colleges such as Sacramento State, San Jose State, Stanford, Cal State-East Bay, San Francisco State, Sonoma State, UC

Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Berkeley and Saint Mary’s University.

Phillips was then able to start the “Get On The Plane” HBCU spring break tour with the help of CCC’s former dean of student services Vicky Ferguson.

“Get On The Plane is impacting all kinds of students with the opportunity to see something outside of Richmond and to really explore and see what kinds of educational opportunities and journeys that they can take outside a 15-mile radius,” she said.

Phillips is originally from Southern California, but she moved to the Bay Area in 1986.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in ethnic studies at UC Berkeley, then got her master’s degree in social science at Stanford.

In 1993, she began working at Skyline High School as a teacher.

From 1994 to 1999, she was a history teacher at James Logan High School in Union City.

Phillips then went back to school and earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology, so she could become a high school counselor.

She started working part-time at Chabot College in 2000, doing orientation and assessment, then eventually worked her way up to general counseling.

In 2003, she got a part-time position at the City College of San Francisco working with the African American Scholastic Program, high school dropout program and noncredit students before beginning to work part-time at Contra Costa College in counseling and African American studies in 2005.

Career and Transfer Center Program assistant Marina Melara said, “Andrea (Phillips) does more than counseling with students and actually builds relationships with them.

“It’s more than just a job for Ms. Phillips. She truly cares about her students’ success,” she said.

Phillips also did athletic counseling, EOPS counseling and general counseling, but in 2010 she began focusing more on transfer counseling.

In 2012, she was hired full time and her main focus since then has been transfer services.

“I see students individually to help them plan out their transfer process,” she said.

“I do all the college transfer-related workshops, UCPIQs, application workshops, scholarship assistance. I coordinate and bring four-year reps here on campus so students can meet with them individually.”

Phillips has dedicated 15 years of her life to helping Contra Costa College students reach their educational goals.

Natasha Dealmeida-Atwal, career development services coordinator, said, “Andrea (Phillips) cares about the students, their experiences and always makes sure they get the help that they need.”

“We have a great team here in the Career/Transfer Center with Marina and Natasha,” Phillips said.

“During transfer season, they have really supported the work that we do and embrace the work as well, so it’s been a great starting of a legacy.”

STACIE GUEVARA / THE ADVOCATE

Transfer counselor Andrea Phillips makes it her mission to help students, specifically first generation folks, leap to four-year institutions. Phillips has hosted numerous transfer events and has organized several tours to historically black colleges.

scene

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.19.2020 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

9

LEFT: Reggie (left) and Collin (right) Edmonds perform a piece at The RichOak Open Mic, one of the sister shows to the Berkeley Poetry Slam, held at The Starry Plough on Feb. 12.

Poets heal through art SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

By Christian Medina advocate staff

cmedina.theadvocate@gmail.com

B

ERKELEY — Wednesday nights are like no other at The Starry Plough Pub, a quaint Irish Pub a few blocks from the Ashby BART Station.

The venue has hosted the Berkeley Poetry Slam since 1998 and has seen its fair share of well-known poets and their contemporaries, however, in recent years the longest running poetry slam on the west coast has come under new and dare I say — bombastic management.

Reggie and Collin Edmonds, Fortino Vasquez-Hernandez Jr. and Arvind Nandakumar are leading the Bay Area poetry scene into a new, refreshing direction.

Starting with the venue, The Starry Plough Pub is unlike any of the other dive bars sprinkled throughout the Bay Area.

From the terracotta-colored brick walls, gorgeous bar counter, to the various flags and posters hung throughout

the pub, The Starry Plough’s character not only on displays its Irish heritage, but also exhibits their support for the disenfranchised and the working class.

In addition, the pub’s atmosphere glows under the various weekly events scheduled for the community, from the Irish folk dancing night on Mondays, Free Funk Nights on Thursdays, to even including youth singing on weekends throughout the year.

The Plough’s food and drink menu is also something that should not be ignored, with the bar offering a wide selection of beer, wine, ciders and other non-alcoholic beverages.

It also has a smaller, but delicious menu provided by the in-house kitchen.

The drink menu houses common brews such as Modelo and Modelo Negra, Sierra Nevada and Lagunitas.

It also makes room for more notable brews such as Pranqster, Smithwicks and Snakebite.

The in-house kitchen, on

the other hand, offers classic pub grub such as wings, sandwiches and burgers.

The spot also houses what many call a Megalodon of a meal affectionately called the Plough Burger. It’s a behemoth of a meal stacked with two patties, with extra bacon and cheese, sautéed onions and mushrooms.

The slam itself began around eight o’clock with the host, Javi, another familiar face around the Bay Area poetry scene, introducing himself.

Throughout the night, the ten competing poets vocalized their experiences through poetry, their work ranged from joyful to sorrowful and everything in between. As the first round ended, the scores were calculated to determine the top five poets to qualify for the second round.

The feature of the night, CiCi Jevae, a Richmond native and poet laureate. She is an organizer of the Roots Slam, a graduate from both the UC Santa Cruz and California College of the Arts with a

bachelor’s degree in sociology and an MFA in writing.

Jevae is also the Media, Arts, & Culture (MAC) program manager at the RYSE Center in Richmond. Jevae’s voice echoed through the room, allowing the silence of the audience to be her canvas.

She spoke into the microphone and recited her poetry detailing her physical and emotional experiences through life as a black woman in the United States.

Two of the organizers, Reggie Edmonds and Arvind Nandakumar, were also there to take in the competition.

Edmonds describes himself as a “23-year-old poet, educator and organizer based in Richmond.” Edmonds, alongside his twin brother Collin, are the founders and organizers of Rich Oak Events, among other organizations.

Edmonds is a seasoned veteran of Bay Area poetry and began writing as a student at Richmond High School when the non-profit organization Bay Area Creative, a 501©(3),

began teaching spoken word on campus. He is now on its board of directors.

Edmonds describes how he came into organizing as an “accident” as they originally had no interest in running one show, let alone the three they organize now.

He said after feeling unwelcome at another show and making a mention of how “no one would feel unwelcome as I did,” the idea of creating a space to perform took shape.

Neither he or his brother took the idea seriously until a few months later when Edmonds’ mentor had reached out to them and made an arrangement to transfer control to what is now the Alchemy Open Mic (originally titled The Alchemy Slam) to the Edmonds brothers.

People interested in visiting the Berkeley Slam for a writing workshop or amazing poetry can visit The Starry Plough Pub, located at 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705.

‘Ambitious’ exhibit explores growth Multi-faceted showcase shows artistic breadth

By Christian Medina advocate staff

cmedina.theadvocate@gmail.com

A

s a self-taught artist, Steven Berndt is no stranger to the term “Growth.” In fact, the word represents Berndt experience as a student at Contra Costa College.

Recalling his work with the tabletop gaming company, Frontline Gaming, until its move to San Diego, he describes how the company’s departure to Southern California left a desire in him to continue creating art.

It was that desire that ultimately led to his decision to attend CCC late in 2018.

This choice would ultimately lead him to where he is now, with his own exhibit at the Eddie Rhodes Gallery, aptly titled “Growth.”

Attendees of the exhibit described Berndt and his exhibit as “creative” and “ambitious”, with a small crowd moving through the exhibit on its very first day. Berndt describes his exhibit being set up as an essay, with the “introductory

paragraph” of his essay being the assignment he received from his instructors.

It ranged from negative space, shading, cross-hatching, to even master copies of classic paintings. The next part of the exhibit consists of the “body paragraph,” which includes a diverse gallery of magnificently detailed artwork ranging from portraits, such as the one dedicated to his sister after her graduation, wooden and ceramic sculptures, to more notable pieces such as his work for the company Frontline Gaming.

Prominently featured is a gorgeous master copy of Guido Reni’s “Archangel Michael Defeating Satan,” a visually remarkable piece that took Berndt over 125 hours to complete, as well as a tribute to the late Bernie Wrightson (19482017).

CHRISTIAN MEDINA / THE ADVOCATE The final portion, the “con- Drawings and sculptures created by Steven Berndt are pictured from left to right — ceramic baskets, a replica Iron Man mask, a ceramic bowl and a replica of Cobra Jeep from the G.I. Joe franchise. This cluding paragraph,” includes a short and detailed explanation artwork is available for viewing at the Eddie Rhodes Gallery in A-5. consisting of Berndt’s thoughts doing what he loves.

Berndt’s use of hues, color and hues — Berndt has done what on the piece, as well as how the Berndt’s definition of art is attention to detail showcases he says he has — grown. construction of the piece assistthat it is an expression of one’s not only his abilities as an artFor those people interested in his growth as an artist. self, that art is about evoking ist, but his skills as a student at ed in seeing the marvelous Berndt describes the pieces emotions in its audience which the college as well. artwork of Steven Berndt, his he creates not as work, but as makes the art itself emotionally From the insane amount exhibit “Growth” will be availsomething that is his passion, powerful. of detail in his tribute to the able for viewing at the Eddie and that such time-consuming Overall, “Growth” is an late Bernie Wrightson and his Rhodes Gallery in A-5 through pieces like “Archangel Michael exhibit that is a testimony work on “Frankenstein, ” to the Feb. 27.

Defeating Satan” feel like a to the art program at CCC. masterful use of the variety of breeze because he’s simply

10

focus

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.19.2020 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

The Storm rolls through For

Photos by: Denis Perez

more photos, please visit our website: www.cccadvocate.com

ABOVE: Contra Costa College forward Sam Johannessen dribbles in between two Napa Valley College players during Napa’s 68-63 win at the Police Activities League gym in Richmond on Feb. 12.

LEFT: Forward Devon Neal goes up for a layup between two Napa Valley College players during Napa’s 68-63 win at the Police Activities League gym in Richmond on Feb. 12.

LEFT: A Napa Valley College fan waves a shirt after a Napa player scored on a dunk during Napa’s 68-63 win at the Police Activities League gym in Richmond on Feb. 12.

Contra Costa College forward Rasheen Frazier (right) guards a Napa Valley College player during Napa’s 68-63 win at the Police Activities League gym in Richmond on Feb. 12.

sports

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.19.2020 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

11

Comet squads continue seasons Baseball team falls 18-3 in blowout

Women’s teams on campus fold again, men’s team continues

By Carlos Cruz advocate staff

ccruz.theadvocate@gmail.com

By Sicaly Sorrell advocate staff

The baseball team (3-8) matched up against Sacramento City College (9-1) in a quest to end the Panthers’ winning streak.

Contra Costa College hung close early, but eventually fell after a pair of five-run Sac City innings.

The Comets were outplayed and systematically blown out 18-3 by the Panthers in a game which ended in the 8th inning due to the mercy rule.

Fans of offensive baseball found joy in the afternoon’s contest. Five runs were scored in both the second and seventh innings following multiple Panther stolen bases, lots of hits and a lot of walks that evolved from baserunners to runs.

In the bottom of the second inning, CCC did not respond with a single run, to the contrary, the team seemed to retire the idea of putting runs on the board.

In the top of the third inning, there was a wild pitch that led to another run that pushed the score to 6-0 Sacramento.

Following that run, Comet coach Brian Guinn decided to make a pitching change that led the team to end the inning without allowing any more runs.

CCC returns to action today against Folsom Lake College at 2 p.m. on the Baseball Field.

Comet shortstop Fernando Duenas had one of the lone highlights for the team with a great scoop and throw to end the third inning.

In the bottom of the third inning there was a wild pitch that hit the umpire in the groin which delayed the game as he took his time to catch his breath.

In that same inning, Duenas hit an RBI single which brought the score to 6-2, however the rally ended and the runs would be the Comets only until the eighth inning.

Both offenses sputtered until the top of the sixth inning until Sac City’s Tanner Tweedy hit a 2run home run to make the score 8-2.

The Panthers would tack on two more runs to make the score 10-2 at the end of the sixth inning.

Sacramento not only made good plays in the next inning, but t h e y topped their four-run sixth inning by scoring five runs in the seventh.

In the top of the seventh inning, three Panthers earned an RBI that catapulted the score to 13-2. CCC then walked in a runner to make the score 14-2. Another Panther score made the score 15-2 where it remained until the inning ended.

The Comets did not respond any runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the score remained the same until the top of the eighth inning when the Cougars they scored another three runs to bring the score to 18-2 at the end of the eighth inning.

The Comets only responded with only one run in that would make the score 18-3 at the end of the bottom of the 8th inning when the game was eventually halted.

ssorrell.theadvocate@gmail.com

With Contra Costa College athletics unexpected season cancellations from both women’s basketball and softball, the focus now turns to men’s basketball and baseball as both teams move forward with their seasons.

Women’s basketball opened the season with enough players to field a team, however, after a 2-3 start in the Bay Valley Conference (3-14 overall), coach Vince Shaw lost three players and had only three available players, not enough to field a team. The softball team suffered the same fate before its season began.

The Contra Costa College baseball team is currently 3-8 this season and are looking to continue to grow with their ultimate goal being to have winning seasons.

CCC baseball coach Brian Guinn said, “Every year our goal is to try to be above .500 on the season.”

Although the baseball team has gotten off to a slow start, Guinn believes his team can turn it around because he has a more experienced team.

With the baseball team only eight games into their 40-game season, Guinn looks to his returners who sat out the previous year to help guide the new players through the demanding schedule.

Guinn also cited the importance of the teammates having a noticeable good bond with one another.

It is something he credits to having a large number of returners.

Guinn said, “We have better chemistry this year than we did last year, because of the numbers of players coming back.”

However, with a lot of early excitement surrounding the season, Guinn also see’s areas where his team can improve from last season beginning with being a better team fundamentally.

With coach Guinn optimistic and the team motivated to win, he believes they are in a good position early on as his team prepares for league play.

The men’s basketball team, however, is experiencing the growing pains of having a young team. While Coach Miguel Johnson and the coaching staff were confident in their abilities to produce a winning season, the team was hit with adversity which contributed to the lack of sophomore returners.

Johnson said, “We were missing some of that sophomore leadership and a key position with no point guard,” The coach also said injuries have also contributed to the disappointing season so far.

The men’s basketball team is currently 6-20 overall and 3-11 in the Bay Valley Conference.

The team returns to action Friday against Los Medanos College at Diablo Valley College at 5:30 p.m.

Early on in the season it became evident that the team’s overall struggles to win consistently hinged on an overall lack of experience as well as injuries.

However, because the physical education area is under construction, Johnson also expressed the difficulty in trying to find available gyms to practice in as well as scheduling.

Johnson said, “Having no real home base, no gym facility and everything that was involved in trying to make a successful season made it difficult.”

This season for the men’s basketball team has been an overall learning experience and adjustment for both the coaches and the players.

Freshmen forward Sam Johannessen said, “We were playing hard, but I don’t think we ever clicked chemistry-wise — we had a tough time playing together.”

Like Johnson, Johannessen had expectations to start the season and is disappointed with the way the season turned out.

While the Contra Costa College men’s basketball season hasn’t gone as many expected, the young roster is full of talent for the next season.

Johnson is well aware of the work that needs to be done for the men’s basketball program to get back to winning basketball and is embracing the challenge.

Johnson said, “It’s been a disappointing season and we have underachieved. I take complete responsibility for everything.”

Even with all the adversity, Johnson remains confident that his team will be ready to compete and get back on track next season.

PHOTOS BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

department to fill voids

By Efrain Valdez advocate staff

evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com

The athletic department is facing a wave of change within its coaching ranks.

In the past three semesters, the department has parted ways with men’s soccer coach Nikki Ferguson, demoted football coach Pat Henderson to defensive coordinator and fired women’s basketball coach Vince Shaw.

This is the most turnover the athletic department has faced since the departures of former Comet football coach Alonzo Carter who is now at San Jose State and former women’s basketball coach Paul DeBolt who is now at Napa Valley College.

Athletic Director John Wade said that the department is “starting over” and that he is trying to put people in place now so when the construction on that side of campus is over, the coaches can “catapult to greatness.”

Wade said he has hired former College of the Redwoods soccer coach Pedro CortesGarcia as the new men’s coach and also hired Otis Yelverton as the new football coach.

“I’m excited to see how Pedro does. I

hope the college and the community can embrace him,” Wade said.

Yelverton is coming back from serving as the assistant director of player personnel for the University of Florida’s football program.

“Coach O (Yelverton) was here when coach Carter was here, so he’s very familiar with the campus,” he said.

Despite the recent hirings, the athletic department is still in the process of finding a women’s basketball coach to replace Shaw. The department is looking to position itself to be a contender in the Bay Valley Conference once again after building winning traditions with football, men’s soccer, men’s basketball and women’s basketball.

“I feel like we should be competitive in the BVC. Just five years ago we were dominating almost everything,” Wade said.

Even though DeBolt and Carter were a huge part of the success of the athletic department, Johnson’s men’s basketball team has been competitive and Ferguson’s men’s soccer team was a championship contender every year.

Wade said, “It’s one of those things I can’t get into. I just have to move forward,” regard-

ing his decision to part ways with Ferguson.

Ferguson said, regarding his removal, the day after a staff meeting in the spring of 2019, he had a one-on-one with Wade the following day.

“I had an individual meeting with Mr. Wade,” Ferguson said. “He started the meeting by saying how he really didn’t know me until I got here and that he had relationships with some other coaches before they were here. It snowballed from there. Then he said he felt that we could no longer work together.”

Ferguson said that he told Wade he did not agree with the decision, but that he respects it.

During the 2019 men’s soccer season, CCC went 2-16-1, finished last in the BVC and interim coach Rudy Zeller quit halfway through the season.

According to former Comet defender Raul Garcia, the team was put into a tough position after the end of the 2018 fall season.

The team felt the department should have done more to avoid the cancellations of the final game that left them out of the playoffs.

“We just wanted answers because it was

the last game of our careers for many of us.

Then, when coach was fired, we were even more upset,” Garcia said.

The team is hoping to have a fresh start with new coach Cortes-Garcia.

However, Wade’s main focus now is to build a formidable athletic program that can be competitive in the future. He said that when judging a program’s success, you have to look at everything.

“I try to look at everything,” Wade said.

“Unfortunately, not all can be judged equally, life isn’t equal. Out of all the schools in the district, we have the best athletic traditions in the area, we’re trying to get back to that,” he said.

Wade said that when the department gets stagnant, he gets concerned.

“Baseball has been a thorn in my side for a long time now. The team hasn’t been good in 30 years, so that has been a tough one. I just think we should be better,” he said.

He said that he’s happy with the number of students who are transferring to four-year universities from the team, but that they just need to win some games now.

12

focus

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.19.2020 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

LEFT: Contra Costa College student Brandon James attempts to finish the obstacle challenge, based on the TV show “Wipe Out,” during Club Rush, held in Campus Center Plaza on Thursday.

ANNUAL CLUB RUSH UNITES CAMPUS Photos by: Eric Martinez and Nicholas Sorrell For

more photos, please visit our website: www.cccadvocate.com

RIGHT: Two members of the Puente Club provide information about their group and offer snacks and refreshments to students during Club Rush on Thursday in Campus Center Plaza.

RIGHT: Contra Costa College Muslim Student Association members give out information about their club during Club Rush held in Campus Center Plaza on Thursday.

Musical Performance Club members use an electric guitar as a symbol of live music to attract music lovers to their table during Club Rush, held in Campus Center Plaza on Thursday.