Advocate 3-21 by The Advocate

campusbeat WEDNESDAY l 3.21.18 OUR 68TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

WOMEN INSPIRE MOVEMENT

Conceptualizing equality in genders allows everyone chance at success opinion editor

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

The “Improve Your Study Habits, Improve Your Grades” workshop will be hosted April 16. The workshop will help students identify the areas they need to improve and capitalize on their strengths.

editorial

The last workshop, “Meals for Your Mind,” will be hosted on April 25 at 3 p.m.. This workshop is designed to give students ideas for brain boosting foods that help make a positive impact on how well their mind and body are able to function.

n ENTERTAINMENT

SEE OVERVIEW, PAGE B4

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Invaluable veteran leader leaves center Vet outreach coordinator resigns citing lack of support

n LOCAL

associate editor

akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com

By Ryan Geller news editor

rgeller.theadvocate@gmail.com

Adjunct professors have become a reliable underclass who are exploited as a quick fix for budget woes despite longstanding statewide and national recommendations calling for more full-time positions to support student success. Many part-time professors are forced to piece together full-time work from different districts to afford the high cost of living in the Bay Area, earning them the dubious nickname, “freeway fliers.” The maximum load allowed by the state for faculty to be considered part-time is 67 percent, the equivalent to about two or three classes. Without a variance, teachSEE TUITION, PAGE A3

Contra Costa College’s veteran outreach coordinator and office assistant Dedan Kimathi Ji Jaga has resigned from his position in the campus’ Veterans’ Resource Center (VRC). Via email, Ji Jaga announced his resignation early Thursday morning, stating “a number of rather disturbing, provocative and debilitating factors” as the reasoning behind his sudden departure. Ji Jaga said his frustration with the campus’ lack of support for the VRC and the college’s veteran population aided in his decision to leave CCC’s two-year-old veteran center. Veteran chapter President Derek Casanares said losing Ji Jaga’s wealth of expertise and extensive experience with working alongside veterans to ensure they receive their benefits will have a major impact on the VRC. He said finding someone as adept as Ji Jaga is impractical as Ji Jaga brought more than 50 years of experience working with veterans to the VRC. “He (Ji Jaga) was not only a staple in the Veterans’ Resource Center, but he is also a former student of the college,” Casanares said. “His history with the campus is extensive. I believe he

Athletic fundraiser serves crab

Calender changes for fall

Gym hosts Crab Feed

Class schedule shrinking

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MEXICAN FOLKLORE PERFORMED AT KNOX The drama department will be closing out the spring semester with “The Cries of La Llorona,” which is based on the Mexican folklore of an immigrant family overcoming life’s obstacles. The play is written and directed by drama department Chairperson Carlos-Manuel Chavarria. Performances will be April 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and April 8 and 15 at 3:00 p.m. For more information or questions contact cchavarria@contracosta.edu.

By Anthony Kinney

Full-time employment figure attracts district scrutiny

STUDENT SUCCESS WORKSHOP SERIES

The first workshop of the series, “Remember What You Read,” will help attendees explore active reading strategies that good readers use to increase their comprehension and retention. This workshop will be hosted April 11 at 4 p.m.

This month The Advocate celebrates International Women’s History Month by publishing a package of stories, photos and art that tell stories of women from all walks of life, while highlighting the accomplishments they’ve made in the face of subjugation. Celebration of the month has roots that stretch back to the first International Women’s Day in 1909. Originally recognized as an American symbol commemorating the fight for women’s rights, the day garnered international acceptance following a successful suffrage movement by the women of Soviet Russia in 1917. In this issue, the lives of campus professors, LGBTQ entertainers, student ambassadors and the collection of poster-sized photos displayed in Lack of physical activities buildings on campus of women with for women explored stellar accomplishments in the STEM The Advocate takes a position on the fields are featured. importance of physical education and During the sports activities for women here at Contra March, women in the Contra Costa Costa College. PAGE A2 College drama department dominated the stage at the Knox Center. “Emotional Creatures” focuses on the struggles of international women. Using prose, the six actresses paint vivid imagery of their lives and vastly diverse cultures. “Cries of La Llorona” is a fable about a mother who drowned her kids. The folklore, acted out for the first time on stage, serves as a

PROFESSORS WITH ADJUNCT STATUS SUFFER EXPLOITATION

n WORKSHOP

All CCC students are invited to attend the Student Success Workshop Series hosted in the Career/Transfer Center (SA-227) throughout the month of April.

By Robert Clinton

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY BENJAMIN BASSHAM / THE ADVOCATE

NEWSLINE

was one of the key reasons the center was created.” However, Ji Jaga and Casanares both believe there are college administrators charged with aiding the campus veterans who wittingly exclude veteran representatives from committee meetings and discussions. “Decisions are made regarding the VRC without veteran input, occasionally without veterans even knowing about it,” Casanares said. “There hasn’t been any level of transparency, and this trend has to stop.” Information about most decisions made about the VRC are not even disseminated to veterans unless inquired about by the group, Casanares said. Ji Jaga believes that if this distressing trend persists, veteran morale on the campus will continue to decline and further deter other veterans from attending CCC. Prior to becoming dean of students, Dennis Franco was dean of enrollment services which supports Veteran Services as an area of responsibility. “When I first came to CCC in this role, the VRC didn’t yet exist,” Franco said. “We worked with Sentinels of Freedom, Dedan Ji Jaga and Leon Watkins (former veterans resource liaison) to establish the VRC in its cur-

Visit Davis Park in San Pablo this Saturday to join the annual spring egg hunt. The event is free and will take place rain or shine. Children ages 12 and under will have the chance to meet the Easter bunny and make crafts. Each age range up to 12 will have scheduled times to hunt for eggs between 10 and 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact the recreation division of the City of San Pablo at 510-215-3080

CRIMEWATCH DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

A military service member walks on campus by the entrance to the Student Services Center on Monday.

rent form.” Although Franco has a new title on campus, he still bears the responsibility of supporting the college’s veteran services until a new dean of enrollment services assumes the position. Franco said it’s a definite loss of leadership for the VRC with Ji Jaga’s resignation. “For much of his tenure in the VRC, he volunteered 15-20 hours a week of his time, which is why I put forth his name to the (state) Assembly member Tony Thurmond’s office and he was awarded

as the Assembly District 15 Veteran of the Year,” he said. However, Ji Jaga said he isn’t looking for personal accolades but strong campus support for the community he loves. Ji Jaga said, “They say they appreciate us and they thank us for our service, but their actions and how they choose to ignore the veterans center’s needs proves otherwise. “You would think that after everything that some veterans have gone through, they SEE VETERANS, PAGE A3

FIGHTER IGNITES THE CITY’S LIGHTS PAGE A8 TWITTER: @accentadvocate

YOUTUBE: /accentadvocate

Monday, March 12: There was a report of an alarm triggered in the Early Learning Center. No further details were documented. Tuesday, March 13: There was a report of an alarm triggered in the John and Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts. No further details were documented. Thursday, March 15: A student reported their backpack stolen from their vehicle while parked in Lot 5.

— Anthony Kinney

Correction In the March 14 issue of The Advocate on page 1 in the graphic “Nominees run unopposed,” the nominated president of clubs’ name was misspelled. The correct spelling for the nominated president of clubs’ is Camillo Cisneros. The Advocate regrets the error.

Boxer brings fighting to SF

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— 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 3.21.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

New schedule aids learning Schedule changes to reduce class conflicts

By Ryan Geller

n “Professors are having to think

about moving a little faster, and they have to examine their curriculum.” — Ghada Al-Masri, dean of natural, social and applied sciences

news editor

rgeller.theadvocate@gmail.com

Block scheduling, early bird classes and a more convenient winter break cybersession are some of the changes coming with the shortened 16-week schedule for the fall 2018 semester. Many classes may not feel much different with the addition of 10 minutes to lectures and some classes that used to meet only Monday and Wednesday will be meeting on Friday as well, according to Liberal Arts Division Dean Jason Berner. There will be some classes, such as English 1A and 1B and possibly some math classes, that will begin in the 7 a.m. hour, Berner said. Although it is an early start, the time slot offers more options for classes with a lot of demand and it may allow some students to get to work earlier. The 16-week schedule will bring the college

in line with many other colleges and make it easier when students transfer, Natural, Social, and Applied Sciences Division Dean Ghada Al-Masri said. The block scheduling will standardize class times during the most popular morning hours until noon. This is a design to reduce class conflicts in student schedules and it will also maximize limited classroom space. Later in the afternoon, there will be more flexibility for more lengthy classes and labs. “The new scheduling is a challenge, as well as a cultural shift for us as an institution,” Al-Masri said. “Professors are having to think about things moving a little faster, and they have to examine their curriculum in order to fit all the essentials into the time constraints.” Time management is going to be key for

the new scheduling Al-Masri said. “And not just for students, but for all of us. We tend to over-commit. We will have to say, ‘Can I really do this and be responsible with my time?’” Al-Masri encourages students to talk with a counselor to keep from getting sidetracked. The new block scheduling should help students avoid having to take classes outside of their educational plan, simply because they fit into their schedule. The cybersession that has been held over winter break for the last two years will be offered again, but due to the shortened 16-week schedule, the session will run after the holidays rather than during the holidays as it has the past. According to Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Ken Sherwood the administration has had some discussion about creating an additional intersession that would offer face-to-face classes during the winter break like the intersession that is held in the summer. A true intersession would require the district to petition the state for approval, and that process is still in the initial stages. As of now, the winter cybersession of 201819 will technically be part of the spring term.

ADJUNCT | Professors express funding concerns Continued from Page 1 ers who exceed 67 percent would become entitled to the benefits and pay of full-time employees. This has created an incentive for colleges and universities across the state to employ more part-time workers who can be paid less. This trend was recognized as a problem more than 30 years ago. In 1988, Assembly Bill 1725 outlined recommendations that 75 percent of student instruction hours to be provided by full-time professors, according to Eugene Huff, executive vice chancellor of administrative services at the Contra Costa Community College District. The district has reported fulltime faculty percentages ranging from 48.56 percent to 54.65 percent over the past 10 years, according to United Faculty Executive Director Jeffrey Michels. “The ratio as measured by the weekly student contact hour matrix is currently at 56.4 percent full-time in the district. That means that 56.4 percent of credit instruction (not instructors) is taught by full-time employees,” Executive Director of the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges Jonathan Lightman said. “There is a clear relationship between the rate of full-time faculty instruction hours and student success,” Michels said. “When we rely on part-time faculty, when we don’t pay them a living wage or give them job security and adequate health care, the quality of education suffers.” Adjunct professors expressed difficulty in finding time to meet with students because they are only on campus during specific hours.

Adjunct English professor Brandon Marshall said, “We are only paid for class time and a minimum amount of office hours, sometimes. When we need to take more time with students we are in a position where we are not getting paid for our craft and profession.” Professors who work at multiple districts have to keep track of the policies and curriculum at each institution. “Here at CCC, English 1C requires one full length work and an anthology. Other districts have different standards,” adjunct English professor Guilherme Mylius said. “This creates extra things that you have to do for each class making meeting all the standards more difficult.” Adjunct anthropology professor Kweku Williams, who commutes from Stockton, asked, “Why is it that people cannot afford to live in the communities that they serve?” Marshall said, “The transportation aspect is brutal. I almost got run off the road today because someone was road raging. “I lose a lot of time just driving, and there is always the thought that if something happens to my car... I have no idea what I would do. But for sure I would miss my first class.” Adjunct anthropology professor Melinda McCrary said that all the adjunct professors work hard to provide quality instruction, but as a part-time professor they are not able to participate in campus culture and keep students updated on campus events. Full-time faculty are also under pressure due to many departments having only one full-time employee to shoulder all the department’s administrative tasks.

n “When we need to

take more time with students we are in a position where we are not getting paid for our craft and profession.” — Brandon Marshall, adjunct English professor

CCC Vice President Academic and Student Affairs Ken Sherwood said that employing adjunct professors is one of the only ways to operate within the college’s limited budget. “When you hire a full-time salaried employee there is more cost in health insurance and benefits,” he said. “We have a PR problem right now. Taxpayers look at our outcomes or our success measures and they complain that taxpayer money is being wasted because not enough students are graduating,” Sherwood said. “For the past five years enrollment has been going down. When funding goes down it becomes more expensive to operate per student and less funding comes in per student.” Marshall offered another perspective. “You talk about where we could cut costs and then you hear that some administrators are making upward of $250,000 a year. The pay scale for administration is exorbitant.” Sherwood admits that the pay scale has created tension. “There really isn’t a significant salary differential between administrators below the presidential level and full-time faculty members. If we did not have as many administrators, the work would just not get done.”

Much of the funding that CCC receives comes with additional reporting duties. Sherwood does not believe that the frustration of adjuncts is ill-intentioned, but more of a misunderstanding. Marshall also said that there is a lack of understanding. He said, “There is no reasonable assurance of further work, even though I have two master’s degrees and 10 years of (teaching) experience. I worry day-to-day with the skyrocketing cost of rent. “I worry about being homeless. My rent just went up (again),” Marshall said. “I’m very scared.” Williams said part-time faculty wish the administration would see what they deal with in the classroom; how many combat vets, students with disabilities or emotional trauma they have in class. Huff suggests that the budget problems originate at the state level. “When the goal was put in place there was funding that was supposed to be put in place as well. But there have been many more years that the funds have not been made available than years that the funding has been made available,” Huff said. “Decisions about funding are, to a large degree, a consultative process between the governor and state Chancellor’s Office.” Lightman pointed to the circular nature of the funding problem. “There’s no way to ‘move the needle’ on student achievement unless we fund instruction and instructional advising like counselors, librarians and student services,” Lightman said. “The current two-tier system of faculty is particularly detrimental and has been gnawing at our system for well over three decades.”

VETERANS | Lack of support brings resignation Continued from Page 1 would be shown a higher regard of respect at the college,” he said. However, Franco sees things differently. “In a perfect world where funding and staffing were no object, I think we would have a fully dedicated staff in the VRC,” he said. Though the college is experiencing budget constraints, he believes the campus has shown a great deal of support for its veteran community with the opening of the VRC and the authorization of many events, including a Marine Corps birthday celebration and a Veterans Day ceremony through a “mini-grant” offered by the Veterans Stakeholders Group. Established in 2016, the Veterans Stakeholders Group consists of college faculty and staff, community members and student veterans. Franco said it stands as an advisory group to veterans services at CCC and the VRC. Casanares said it’s vital for veterans to run veterans’ organizations. History shows civilianrun veteran programs are usually inadequate and unsuccessful at fulfilling the needs of its veteran population. “Civilians lack the knowledge, but more importantly, the understanding of veterans and their unique situations,” he said. “For that reason, veterans simply just feel more comfortable and at ease when dealing with other veterans.” Franco said Ji Jaga’s departure means that the campus has to step up its level of work for the VRC and student veterans to fill the void. He feels confident that faculty and staff will continue to partner with the Veterans Club and

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Chris Babcock, a mechanical engineering major (right) and John Mortera, an electrical engineering major (left) study on their laptops in the Veterans’ Resource Center.

Casanares to listen to the student veteran voice to better the VRC and Veterans Services. In his resignation email, Ji Jaga ensures his “veteran student brothers” that his abrupt exit is not intended to be seen as abandonment of

the campus’ veteran population, but rather a time to “stand down” and re-evaluate how to better serve the veteran student body in a more meaningful way.

Quotable “If you don’t like what you are seeing in the news, you probably don’t like what’s going on in society right now.” Linda Deutsch associated press 1998 Denis Perez editor-in-chief Anthony Kinney Michael Santone associate editors Ryan Geller Benjamin Bassham news editors Jessica Suico assistant news editor Robert Clinton Alondra Gallardo opinion editors Xavier Johnson Andrew Weedon scene editors Dylan Collier assistant scene editor Efrain Valdez social media editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Advocate Staff Asma Alkrizy Sean Austin Isaac Benivades Joseph Bennett Carina Castrillo Dan Hardin Jshania Owens Gabriel Quiroz Julian Robinson Leon Watkins Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017 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 Member Associated Collegiate Press

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How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accentadvocate@ 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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH. 21, 2018 VOL. 106, NO. 17

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

●

EDITORIAL PHYSICAL NEEDS OVERSHADOWED Academic prioritization dampens athletic engagement

s Women’s History Month comes to a close, it feels good to know that Contra Costa College administrators, staff and professors all made a concerted effort to ensure the accomplishments of women, local and worldwide, are given their proper appreciation. Since the beginning of March and hopefully through the semester, large poster boards have adorned every building on campus highlighting the intellectual accomplishments of extraordinary women. Pay disparities and other forms of gender discrimination, along with a never ending stream of societal and familial responsibilities, add to the burden many women in modern society are expected to bear. It’s true, for too long the achievements of women have been relegated to the darkest corners of the historical record and CCC has done a good job of shining a light on those disparities. However, on this campus, women face a growing problem that is just as important to the quality of their overall existence as any academic-based motivational speech. At CCC, there is a scarcity of options for women on campus to improve and maintain their physical health and even fewer people fighting for accessible means to do so. The Women’s Sports Foundation, the leading authority on the participation of women and girls in sports, documents the important role physical activity can play in helping to prevent major health risks for girls and women. Ailments range from obesity, coronary heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis, to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Recent studies also show physical activity can curb illicit drug use, tobacco-related disease, sexual risks, teen pregnancy and eating disorders. This doesn’t mean every woman on campus should run to join a Comet athletic team, although the participation would also bolster the health of those fledgling programs. But it does mean more emphasis should be placed on maintaining physical health. The Fitness Center should be made as available to students as the Library and there should be a designated time for women who are not enrolled in a physical education class. As women participate less in physically demanding activities on campus, the effects have become increasingly clear. Over the past two years, the softball team has been forced to forfeit its seasons due to a lack of participation and the women’s basketball team ended both campaigns with only six women on its roster. Even worse, there are only three dance classes offered during the week — ballet, intermediate ballet and beginning Latin social dance. Hip-hop dance and African dance have been eliminated from the list of available courses for the past three years. The removal of many of the dance classes has hampered the efforts to build a consistent cheer squad and the annual African Heritage celebration in February, though informative, felt incomplete without former CCC dance instructor Latanya Tigner and her students’ interpretive African dance routines. Women from low-income backgrounds generally have limited access to sports facilities and equipment. These conditions, which ultimately affect women’s health and chances of success in life, can be reversed on campus — but not without a concerted effort.

ISAAC BELIVARDES / THE ADVOCATE

■ GENDER INEQUALITY

Male perspective clouds reality of egalitarian life

nside the society we live in we all have roles that we are expected to take on so that as a whole we can function in a somewhat orderly fashion. However, when we live in a society that is built up by only one side of the population, how exactly are we supposed to aim for greatness and equality? We cannot equally please both genders with only one half of the voices being heard. How and why should men make the decisions about what a woman is capable of doing, what she should and should not do with her body or what rights she can and cannot have. It would only be fair that if we talk about having true equality we make the powers truly equal. Not seeing women in powerful positions affects both individuals and our society in diverse ways. It creates an ongoing cycle of progress regressing away from the ultimate goal of existing on equal platforms. According to film producer for women’s media, Carol Jenkins, “97 percent of everything you know about yourself and about your country and your world comes from the male perspective. It doesn’t mean that it’s wrong. It just means that in a democracy where you talk about equality and full participation, you’ve got half of the population, actually more than half of the population, not participating.” If we do not influence

alondragallardo and teach young boys and girls that people are capable of obtaining any political role no matter their gender, we will not see much change. If we If we do not continuously talk about hav- influence ing equality, and teach then we should start young boys by teaching and girls that both genders can that people be allowed are capable into powerful posiof obtaining tions. Having any political mostly men role in these important no matter roles brainwashes all their genders at a young age gender, to think, we will not either women are see much not allowed change. to or are not capable of obtaining high ranking positions. Throughout American history, this has been the case. Some young girls do not even consider aiming for elevated positions and if that is what is being drilled into

our brains at a young age, we only move forward with these thoughts. These myths are taken as truths and rather than rationalizing and thinking maybe it is not a bad thing to have a female president, or why can’t I become president, the status quo continues because there is a male agenda that exists in our society. Stereotypes reinforce the ideas boys have of what is wrong for them to do and what is right for them to do. As the former mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom said, “If people knew that Cuba, China, Iraq and Afghanistan have more women in government than the United States of America, that would get some people upset.” When women want to make a change and have to figuratively battle men who are against gender equality in powerful positions, it is not a fair fight. These men probably should not be in power in the first place, especially for a country that speaks that it seeks equality. It makes us seem like a country of hypocrites. Women are important and do not deserve to be underrepresented. Honestly, who better to know a woman’s point a view than an actual woman. Alondra Gallardo is an opinion editor for The Advocate. Contact her at agallardo.theadvocate@ gmail.com.

CAMPUS COMMENT What historical woman, not a part of your family, has influenced your life?

“Angelina Jolie, because I admire how she loves and adopted children. I was a foster care child.” Quamisha Hardy

early childhood education

“Rosa Parks, because she stood for what she believed in.” Angelina Berdon

“Michelle Obama. She is a very independent, supportive and cultured woman of color. And she was the first lady.

nursing

Sequoia Perry psychology

JESSICA SUICO / THE ADVOCATE

“Tandang Sora was a Filipino revolutionary who helped sick, wounded refugees during their revolutionary war against Spain.” Victor Villora nursing

“Cleopatra because she was a very strong and intelligent woman.”

“Susan B. Anthony because of the woman’s suffrage movement she stood for.”

Damion Tingle psychology

Peter Yomnnalat business

campusbeat WEDNESDAY l 3.21.18 OUR 68TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

WOMEN INSPIRE MOVEMENT

Conceptualizing equality in genders allows everyone chance at success opinion editor

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

The “Improve Your Study Habits, Improve Your Grades” workshop will be hosted April 16. The workshop will help students identify the areas they need to improve and capitalize on their strengths.

editorial

n ENTERTAINMENT

SEE OVERVIEW, PAGE B4

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Invaluable veteran leader leaves center Vet outreach coordinator resigns citing lack of support

n LOCAL

associate editor

akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com

By Ryan Geller news editor

rgeller.theadvocate@gmail.com

Athletic fundraiser serves crab

Calender changes for fall

Gym hosts Crab Feed

Class schedule shrinking

PAGE A6 FACEBOOK: /accentadvocate

By Anthony Kinney

Full-time employment figure attracts district scrutiny

STUDENT SUCCESS WORKSHOP SERIES

PROFESSORS WITH ADJUNCT STATUS SUFFER EXPLOITATION

n WORKSHOP

All CCC students are invited to attend the Student Success Workshop Series hosted in the Career/Transfer Center (SA-227) throughout the month of April.

By Robert Clinton

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY BENJAMIN BASSHAM / THE ADVOCATE

NEWSLINE

CRIMEWATCH DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

A military service member walks on campus by the entrance to the Student Services Center on Monday.

FIGHTER IGNITES THE CITY’S LIGHTS PAGE A8 TWITTER: @accentadvocate

YOUTUBE: /accentadvocate

— Anthony Kinney

Boxer brings fighting to SF

PAGE A3 INSTAGRAM: @cccadvocate

LOCAL EGG HUNT WELCOMES CHILDREN

SNAPCHAT: @cccadv0cate

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.21.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

New schedule aids learning Schedule changes to reduce class conflicts

By Ryan Geller

n “Professors are having to think

about moving a little faster, and they have to examine their curriculum.” — Ghada Al-Masri, dean of natural, social and applied sciences

news editor

rgeller.theadvocate@gmail.com

n “When we need to

take more time with students we are in a position where we are not getting paid for our craft and profession.” — Brandon Marshall, adjunct English professor

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Chris Babcock, a mechanical engineering major (right) and John Mortera, an electrical engineering major (left) study on their laptops in the Veterans’ Resource Center.

the campus’ veteran population, but rather a time to “stand down” and re-evaluate how to better serve the veteran student body in a more meaningful way.

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.21.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Crab Feed raises funds for athletes Photos by: Leon Watkins

For

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

focus LEFT: Over 100 participants gathered during the athletic departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Crab Feed in the Gymnasium on Saturday.

RIGHT: Dungeness crab, wine, and pasta were served during the annual Crab Feed in the Gymnasium on Saturday.

A student-athlete volunteer serves a platter of freshly cooked dungeness crab to a table of guests during the annual Crab Feed in the Gymnasium on Saturday.

LEFT: Hundreds of pounds of crab were served to more than 100 guests during the annual Crab Feed in the Gymnasium on Saturday.

Athletic Director John Wade serves guests during the annual Crab Feed hosted by the athletic department in the Gymnasium on Saturday.

campus beat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.21.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

TECHNICIANS PROVIDE SUPPORT By Denis Perez editor-in-chief

dperez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Hercules resident Sheila Suela and a group of students have a vision to help the elder community fight cyber fraud and educate them on information technology by providing classes through the Information Technology Club activities. This is one of the main goals that the newly launched Contra Costa College club hopes to accomplish. “We want to make the senior community become aware of cyber security and fraud,” Suela said. The club has various plans to reach out to the community. “We will bring workshops to people who want to learn and we are also setting up

study groups to learn C++ (computer language),” she said. The formation of the IT Club continues a revamping effort of the Computer Technology Center by computer science professor Francis Reyes. Reyes and a group of students launched the start of the IT Club on March 8 in CTC132. The club also hung a Cisco Networking Academy banner in the lobby of the main entrance of the CTC. Reyes said that because he is a certified Cisco technician, the campus is certified to be a Cisco Academy. He said the banner will make the club and its possibilities visible to a campus where students don’t look for extracurricular activities. “The campus needs to know about us because we plan to attend IT conferences with the club for free,” Reyes said, “compete in IT competitions and there are students who are really interested in this but have no idea that they can do these things at CCC.” The club will also serve as the foundation for a network of IT professionals. “When communities of people who are interested in the same thing are together, they grow stronger,” he said. “We also want to help out the community to open up an IT shop on campus.” Reyes said when real people who have real problems with their technology come to be serviced by the students in the

club, those students will be getting hands-on experience. Computer science major Devander Ball Singh said he is excited about the club because he sees it as an internship opportunity. “I will become more familiar with computers and work hands-on and learn how to do the job right,” Singh said. He said he also wants to gain experience that he can put on a resumé to help him be a better candidate for jobs. “Until now, I didn’t have a lot of experience with computers, but this club is very helpful.” He said the club is a stepping-stone toward a career in the IT field. Business major Lina Yanguas shares Singh’s feelings toward the club, although she is in it for the knowledge and experience. “I am not going into the IT field, but I am very interested in what I am learning here with computers,” she

said. She said she wants to major in business, but the classes she has taken with Reyes have taught her a lot about computers so when she attended the interest meeting for the club she was hooked. “Now I am the secretary of the club,” Yanguas said. The most interesting thing will be how they spread the word about computers by showing people how to do the work, she said. Reyes said the IT Club is still in the process of choosing a permanent name, which will be decided during one of their meetings.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Computer science majors work on a computer during the launch of the Information Technology Club on March 8.

Mobility upgrades assistance

staff members and complete endeavors around campus. Nickelson-Shanks said, “I came out of my pocket with $650 to obtain a cart.” The price of a new golf cart can range anywhere from $3,000 to over $15,000 per cart, depending on if it is new or used. Nickelson-Shanks has been influential in obtaining the vehicle by spending his own money. The cart will also aid Student Life staffers and students in setting up for events on campus. “I need it for transporting items around campus, especially for the Food Pantry,” he said. Nickelson-Shanks said, “You have to go through Police Services to get a campus golf cart approved.” After the purchase and approval of the golf cart, the next major hurdle will be to get it road ready. Getting the cart ready is where professor Bobby Sturgeon and the automotive technology department comes into play. He said the cart runs, but is not in great condition. “It was moving, but barely,” Nickelson-Shanks said. “It will require maintenance and repairs to make it campusready. I have the automotive shop to thank for that.” Nickelson-Shanks said he spoke with the auto department and they said they would get back to him as to what was wrong with the golf cart. By Dan Hardin “As for putting a campus logo on the cart, that has not Staff member been decided yet. Right now there are no guarantees as to dhardin.theadvocate@gmail.com which way we will go (with the logo),” he said. Student Life Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks purSturgeon said, “Nickelson-Shanks knew when he purchased a second-hand golf cart to help transport Student Life chased the cart that some major and minor repairs would be

Golf cart gives easier access around campus to Student Life

“I need it for transporting items around campus, especially for the Food Pantry.” Joel Nickelson-Shanks, Student Life coordinator

needed. That why he got it at such a good deal.” “It limped over here and we took a look at it. We were able to spot some of the problems right away, while some will take time,” Sturgeon said. “Some of the obvious concerns have to do with the batteries. They can be costly. Also the wiring is in poor condition. Overall it is nothing we cannot handle.” After leaving the automotive repair shop, the cart will be sent to body and paint. Professor Laura Salas will attempt to turn the ugly duckling into a beautiful swan by using her knowledge and students to clean up the cart. Salas said, “We did a golf cart for the athletic department. I think that it may have been in worse condition, but we did it. “I spoke to my class about the challenge and they are all on board, fired up and ready to go,” she said. Golf carts on campus are a familiar sight on campus as Disabled Students Programs & Services and Police Services have been using them for some time.

Wondering which direction your dreams may take you? Find your path, explore social media, photography, design, writing, editing, the web and more.

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sports

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COMET MASCOT REMAINS STAGNANT By Carina Castrillo staff writer

ccastrillo.theadvocate@gmail.com

ANDREW WEEDON / THE ADVOCATE

Cracks in the swimming Pool surface will force a $2.5 million restoration effort as Hayward Fault activity and general wear have caused the area to fall out of ADA compliance and be considered a safety hazard for potential swimmers.

Pool revamp scheduled Deck repairs transpire over 18-month period

By Dan Hardin staff writer

dhardin.theadvocate@gmail.com

The renovation and refurbishing of the college Pool’s eroding deck and cantilevered deck will require more time and more money. The Pool continues to be a staple at the college. There was no talk of closing the Pool and clearly a pool that is not in the best of condition, is better than no pool at all. The large deck around the main Pool has cracks and chipping. The cantilevered deck is also in need of repair. Building and Grounds Manager Bruce King said it will cost between $2.5 and $3 million to bring the pool up to par. He said that the project would begin about 18 months from now; about midway through 2019. The Pool is in use for 11 months of the year, and the only time it is closed is for the winter break. It was reported that if only the cantilevered deck was resurfaced it would take a week or two. If the whole deck was to be resurface it would take longer. The college just came out of a six-week winter break, which lasted from mid-December until the third week of January. As of now, the window of opportunity for working on the pool has passed for this year. King said, “You may want to contact the district’s Project Manager P.J. Roach for some of the more intricate details of what is going on.” Instructional assistant Sam Smith said, “It is important for people to

Pool restoration

$2.5mil

The expected cost to bring the swimming pool at CCC in line with ADA standards and to prevent potential slip-andfalls because of the uneven pool and cantilevered deck. The project is slated to begin next year.

learn how to swim and I appreciate being here at the college, because of its strong commitment to its aquatic programs. “It hurt me to hear that Los Medanos College in Pittsburg closed its pool.” “This pool gets a lot of use not only by college students, but also by the city of San Pablo’s Park and Recreation Department, as well as the city of Richmond’s Park and Recreation Department,” Smith said. CCC houses the only pool publicly accessible to families who live in San Pablo neighborhoods. If not for the pool at CCC, residents would have to travel to the Richmond Plunge, the YMCA on Richmond Parkway or in worst-case-scenarios, the pool at the Hercules Swim Center or the El Cerrito Swim Center. The Pool at CCC has been a summertime staple for community children spanning generations. “The general public has always been welcome and encouraged to use our facilities for any summer aquatic

n “This Pool gets a lot of

use not only by college students, but also by the city of San Pablo’s Park and Recreation Department, as well as the city of Richmond’s Park and Recreation Department.” — Sam Smith, instructional assistant

programs,” Smith said. “An individual can sign up for a block of 10 classes in the summer at $4 a class, or for $40 one could swim for two weeks.” Physical education professor Jim Ulversoy said, “Due to the close proximity of the Hayward Fault, underground piping and movement by the Pool, there has been a lot of chipping and cracking of the cement, and thus the need for repairs. “Also we will need to come into ADA compliance and upgrade our energy performance, which will add to the cost and time of the project. “Pools are very expensive to operate, but it is our aim to keep a standard of excellence for this community (West County).” Smith said, “I appreciate everything everyone is doing, because this Pool has always been so vitally important for so long, in so many ways, to so many people.” Ulversoy said, “I have expressed my thoughts and opinions in meetings, but in the end the final decisions are made at the district level.”

Last year the Contra Costa College Associated Student Union (ASU) spent $4,500 on a mascot costume to bolster school spirit at campus affairs and sporting events. But this semester, the mascot has only been seen once. The mascot, which draws on characteristics of a Comet with eyes, is clad in the signature baby blue and white that correspond with the college’s colors. “I thought I saw it somewhere, but I don’t remember where — maybe AllCollege Day, the Friday before school started,” Athletic Director John Wade said. “Major league baseball games have those hot dog races on the field, so I guess we can use it there? But nobody mentioned that it was available to me.” Wade said he’s not sure if he has to call to request the mascot to appear at Comet sporting events. “I’ll use it if it shows up, as long as they don’t do something to get us in trouble,” he said. Even during home basketball games, the mascot never made an appearance. It wasn’t at Homecoming during the football season either. Student Life Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks said the mascot may make an appearance at graduation and Senior Comet Day. He also said the mascot is a paid position. “The mascot gets paid hourly, but it depends on the event,” he said. “Eleven dollars and hour is the rate for student workers.” Effective Jan. 1, the minimum wage in San Pablo is $10.50 per hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees, and $11 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees. In the past, the largest problem with the Comet mascot was finding someone willing to wear the costume. Now, the ASU has someone willing to commit to wearing the costume. ASU Director of Shared Governance Preston Akubuo-Onwuemeka said, “I am the mascot. I wore the costume during All-College Day when all of the teachers came together in the General Education Building.” He said what will get him out in the costume, at the weekly events on campus, is money. “It’s going to take money,” Even though there are always events that could use some much-needed school spirit, the Middle College High Schooler said there are events going on at his house every day that he needs to attend to. “Homework, there’s homework going on at my house every night too,” Akubuo-Onwuemeka said. “I’ll be wearing the costume the next time Joel (Nickelson-Shanks) tells me to.”

Crustacean feast fosters unity Crab Feed, auction generate funds for athletic programs

By Efrain Valdez

A young girl enjoys all you can eat crab and pasta during the annual Crab Feed event in the Gymnasium on Saturday.

social media editor

evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Coming together for a meal and socializing with friends, family and colleagues is something that gives people a sense of unity. The annual Crab Feed, hosted by the athletic department Saturday in the Gymnasium showed that the community continues to support the department through the event. CCC men’s basketball coach Miguel Johnson said that the turnout was great and that the whole event was total success. “We even ran out of crab, so that’s a good thing. There’s been years where we have had leftover crab, so I’m assuming that’s a good thing,” he said. Those who attended paid $40 for the all you can eat crab and pasta. The purchase of the ticket also admitted participants to the silent auction held later in the evening. “It’s more than just a crab feed,” Johnson said. “It’s about trying to generate revenue. It’s a great event to extend ourselves to the community and create networks that we possibly didn’t have before.” The event is crucial to providing athletes at this school with the extra revenue so they can cover expenses like traveling to tournaments or obtaining equipment that the college usually can’t fund. “The silent auction, the giveaways, the beverage sales, this gives us many different opportunities to create revenue for the department,” Johnson said.

LEON WATKINS / THE ADVOCATE

Vacaville resident Joe Williams was in attendance at last year’s Crab Feed fundraiser. He said that the college doesn’t provide its athletic programs with enough money. “It was great,” Athletic Director John Wade said. “A lot of people showed up and donated. All of these people did great things to help.” Wade said that he likes to see the college’s students, faculty and coaches get together to make something special like this happen. “I am a firm believer that it takes a village, about the community here wanting all of the departments to thrive,” Johnson said. He said that having everybody at the college from the president all the way down to the

students engaging in these activities is good because it helps the atmosphere that the college wants to promote. While being able to indulge in the delicious dungeness crab caught off the California coast, guests also enjoyed a variety of wines to compliment the cooked crustaceans. The volunteers went around from table-totable refilling the attendees with nearly endless amounts of crab. “It’s important to do things like this because it shows the student-athletes how to get involved and use their time to help other people,” Johnson said.

spotlight

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City’s golden boxer

Bay Area boxer brings fighting spirit back to SF By Anthony Kinney associate editor

akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com

SAN FRANCISCO — From the streets to the ring, Bay Area welterweight boxing champion Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield always stands fearless and never backs down from a challenge. He learned at an early age that when life strikes a punch, you can either fall to the mat dazedly looking up at the lights as the referee counts you out, or you can shake it off, adjust and strike back harder. Since then, Mayfield has been knocking life on its ass. Growing up in the streets of the Fillmore District here, Mayfield’s vigor and resilience were tested early, yet his commitment for greatness kept him robust and determined to fight out of the burdens of poverty to the prestige of the professional boxing realm. Mayfield began as a street fighter in his neighborhood, standing against bullies who would tease the younger, timid kids. Unthreatened by size or experience, Mayfield would fight the neighborhood tormentors, proudly proving the point that they weren’t the toughest on the block — he was. “I always thought of it as just doing the right thing. I can’t stand people who bully others,” he said. “I used to tell them, ‘Yo, try that mess with me’ then beat them up.” “I didn’t play around,” Mayfield said with a confident smirk. “But I never thought I’ll be where I’m at now.” He was introduced to the ring at 19 after his neighborhood high school, Ida. B Wells Continuation, opened a boxing gym in its basement. Mayfield said his curiosity led him to visit the gym for the first time. However, he quickly showed potential, defeating a veteran boxer during a sparring session. Growing more confident in his skills with every punch, Mayfield fell in love with the sport and began training professionally soon after. “I never thought about boxing before, but once I got in that ring I felt like this was it. I found what it is I’m great at,” Mayfield said. Mayfield fought a total of 58 amateur fights earning a record of 54-4 and the 75th San Francisco Golden Gloves at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium before joining the professional ranks in 2006. During the same time, he taught boxing classes at his former gym, the Straight Forward Club boxing gym. He made his professional debut in June 23, 2006 with a first round TKO of boxing veteran Chris Mickle, quickly earning himself a name on the professional level. With only 25 professional bouts under his belt, Mayfield’s accolades are impressive and include winning and defending the World Boxing Organization NABO Junior Welterweight title and earning the bronze medal at the Western Trials for the 2004 Olympics. “People tried discouraging me because I competed against people who had over 200 fights when I only had 20, but I still did pretty well,” Mayfield said. In the past 11 years, Mayfield has secured a professional record of 20-4-1, with 11 KOs, and has proven he’s a force to be reckoned with on the professional level — with a dangerous right hook. Still feeling exultant following his October win over the previously undefeated Miguel Dumas, Mayfield has been training at various Bay Area gyms for his next bout against southpaw boxer Gaku Takahashi for the WBU welterweight international championship title. Also punching down the door into the field of promoting, Mayfield’s promotional company “Hard Hitta Promotions” will be hosting the “Battle in the Ballroom” event April 7 at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel. Seen by Mayfield’s team as the catalyst to re-energizing the city’s boxing scene, the event is the first boxing show to be held at the historic Fairmont. However, the 37-year-old is also fighting a formidable opponent outside the boxing ring. His family is battling the city of Oakland over the murder of his younger brother Shaleem Tindle by a BART police officer on Jan. 3 of this year. Tindle was an inspiring mixed martial artist and Mayfield’s personal sparring partner. According to Mayfield, Tindle, 28, was shot in the back by the officer as he fought over a gun during a heated dispute with another man outside of the West Oakland BART station. Police body cam footage of the shooting shows BART officer Joseph Mateu shouting, “Show me your hands” before firing two shots at the tangled pair. The two shots landed in Tindle’s back killing him. He leaves behind a fiancée and two young children. Mayfield’s family and civil rights lawyer Justin Burris believes the shooting was unjustified and demands justice for Tindle’s murder. “We’re working actively to get him fired and prosecuted, but it’s a process,” Mayfield said. “He has to pay for taking my little brother’s life.” The family has attended every city board meeting since Tindle’s death to show their opposition against the department’s claims, he said. April’s “Battle in the Ballroom” event will be Mayfield’s first professional fight since the death of his brother. Nevertheless, Mayfield maintains his cool in and outside the ring and during distressing times Mayfield said he relies on God for guidance. “I just pray on it and put it in God’s hands,” he said. “I know that stressing over things I can’t change is not healthy.” However, when it comes to his success in the ring, Mayfield credits his unfaltering commitment to consistency. “If I could go back in time and give ‘amateur Mayfield’ advice, I would tell myself, ‘continue to stay on it, stay persistent.’ Consistency is the key to everything.” Mayfield continued as the gold grill over his teeth peeked from behind a confident grin, “Truthfully, I would go back and tell myself, ‘Don’t worry, all these guys aren’t as tough as they look.’” With that message Mayfield aspires to excite the city’s youth to focus on their dreams and never slack on the work required to fulfill them. He said that being a champion-level athlete isn’t just about being strong physically but also mentally — which includes having a good sense of when to be strong and aggressive or serene and poised. “You gotta be a champion in every aspect of life,” the boxer asserts. “That entails being a good son, a good brother and good father.”

“

Truthfully, I would go back and tell myself, ‘don’t worry, these guys aren’t as tough as they look.’”

Earned the 75th San Francisco Golden Gloves in 2006

Earned the NABO Jr. Welterweight title in 2011

Karim Mayfield, professional boxer

LEFT: Professional welterweight boxer Karim Mayfield delivers some blows to a heavy bag in the 3rd Street Gym in San Francisco on Thursday.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DENIS PEREZ AND ANTHONY KINNEY / THE ADVOCATE

B SECTION WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

LGBTQ confidence exhibited in music

spotlight Librarian Judith Flum has been working 46 years as a librarian, 18 at CCC. Now she is planning her post-career life.

PAGE B6

FIRESIDE HALL HOSTS CLUBS DUE TO RAIN AT CLUB RUSH Student groups converge to recruit and explore clubs, organizations. PAGES B3

After 18 years, librarian to retire DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

By Alondra Gallardo opinion editor

agallardo.theadvocate@gmail.com

A Woman shows pride in Bay Area roots PAGES B5

fter working as a librarian for 46 years, Judy Flum’s time doing that job is nearing an end. Flum has been a librarian at Contra Costa College for over 18 years. She said she has always worked at public libraries, but she really likes working at college libraries in particular, because she feels like college students have a lot of needs and she likes contributing to them and feels like she can make a difference in students’ lives. “I ended up at CCC because originally I wanted a better work schedule as a mom,” Flum said. “As I looked into getting this job I realized it used more creativity than I expected. I have a lot of creative energy so it fit right in.” Senior Administrative Assistant Magda Mercado said, “I am going to miss how Judy

brightens up the room with her positivity and creativity. “She is very hard working and dedicated,” Mercado said. “She puts so much on her plate that it is going to be hard for someone to take her place.” Flum said her favorite thing about her job has been helping students. She has dedicated her time in her career to help students in any way. She and the other librarians care deeply about helping the students be successful and they go out of their way to fulfill the needs of the students. “Being an academic librarian is totally different than being a public librarian,” Flum said. Academic libraries support the teaching and research of a university or college and its faculty and students while a public library is accessible to the general public, not necessarily just a college or university community. In her time here at CCC,

Flum has become the co-manager of the Library, a librarian and a library professor. She said it may be hard to believe but she does so much as a librarian that she does not even get time to read as much as she wants for herself. She has earned her certificate to teach online while working at CCC. “I have learned a lot. I learned different creative ways to teach students how to learn information, like literacy skills,” Flum said. “I had no idea what that was when I worked at a public library, so I had to learn all about that and how to teach and how to manifest it and create the requirement that they had. “I feel like I have worked really hard, put my heart into this job and really do care deeply about the college and its students,” she said. “It is really nice to hear and it really means a lot to me to know that people have appreciated

what I have done as part of the Library team. I couldn’t do it without my team because it has been all of us, not just myself. I am glad some people have benefited from my work.” Mercado said, “She is really irreplaceable. She will be missed dearly.” Andrew Kuo said he has known Flum since 2006. “She has been a very great teammate. She is friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic and has very creative suggestions and ideas when it comes to work.” Flum said if she still knew how to work 40 hours a week she would honestly continue to work. “I may come back later on just to be at the reference desk, but for now I want to give myself the spaciousness of time to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life.” “I don’t think I have ever been away for even two weeks, but I am really going to miss all of it,” she said.

STEM contributors recognized EVENT HELPS STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY TAKE NOTES PAGE B3

Program shines light on essential accomplishments By Jshania Owens staff writer

jowens.theadvocate@gmail.com

In honor of Black History Month in February, the Stem Center displayed historical and contemporary black contributors to STEM in all campus buildings.

Meeting to inspire, heal women’s pain PAGE B8 INFOGRAPHIC BY DESMOND SYLVA AND DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

From the Library to the General Education Building, you might have seen boards displaying pictures of people who have made a significant impact in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. In honor of Black History Month in February, STEM Center Program Coordinator Rodney Wilson and Nancy Barba were the lead developers for the displays. “(Nancy and I) agreed that we wanted to feature both historical and contemporary black contributors to STEM. We also made a special effort to highlight black women who have made contributions to STEM fields.” There are 17 boards measured at 11x24 inches showing women like Nancy Douyon, a human factors

engineer and a user experience research program manager at Google, and men like Stephen Alexander, a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and musician, as well as a professor of physics, astronomy, and astrophysics at Penn State University. The materials used to complete the displays were already purchased for past projects and events, with board printing costing $17. Psychology major Kira Harrison said, “I think it’s dope. It’s good to see strong black women and people of color doing extraordinary things. I like seeing our heritage living up to our expectations.” Undecided major Zeneya Larot said, “It’s empowering to see these around campus and be enlightened on what these people accomplished. They have a chance to shine and be successful no matter what color they are.” A display outside of the STEM Office (PS-109) also holds the case full of each influential leader that can be seen by anyone who walks by.

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Workshop trains teachers to heal By Denis Perez editor-in-chief

dperez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Professors, counselors, teachers and students learned how to deal with student trauma through seminars, lectures, activities and workshops during the Trauma, Healing and Justice event at the Fireside Hall on Saturday. The event aimed to equip academic leaders with tools to advocate for healing and justice for students.

Why did you decide to join the HBCU tour March 25-31? Social science major Micaela Rougeau said, “At first I was a little hesitant because the application process was tedious, but I decided to apply anyway and I’m glad I did.” She knows it’s not cheap to visit many colleges, that is why this opportunity is so important to transfer students like herself, she said.

Mechanical engineering Nyalah Payne said, “I was interested in the Historically Black College and University tour because I wanted to discover opportunities outside of California that I never knew existed.” As an engineering major, she is interested in Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, which has a popular mechanical engineering program. Political science major Phillip Burns learned about the HBCU tour when he attended the get on the bus tour at Cal State-Sacramento. “The opportunity to see multiple schools in different states really excited me. Had it not been for this HBCU tour I would have had to spend thousands of dollars to view the campuses.”

DENIS PEREZ/ THE ADVOCATE

A faculty member places a pin on the country of her ancestral origin during the International Cafe workshop during the Trauma, Healing and Justice event at Fireside Hall Saturday.

Early childhood education and African-American studies major, Elisha Patterson said, “I’ve never been outside of California. The opportunity to go is free and I am not going to miss it.” Patterson is interested in Spelman College in Atlanta, Clark University in Massachusetts, and Tennessee State University.

Sociology major Hazel Narvaez heard about the HBCU tour through friends who were applying for the tour and through counselors. What interested Narvaez on going is she is considering attending an HBCU and she thought it would be a great opportunity.

Sociology major LeiTasika Faumunia said once she realized she qualified to be a part of the tour, she was ecstatic. “It is inspiring to be around students who will take pride in being a part of a (college) that is geared toward self-love.”

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Psychology major Rayah Alammari (middle) assists faculty during a commitment setting workshop near the end of the Trauma, Healing and Justice event at Fireside Hall Saturday.

Nursing major Elisa Allen said she is interested in learning and seeing more about black history. This will be Allen’s first time going. Her goal is to get out of California and see other schools. Allen’s focus is to look into Dillard University because that is the only school they are touring that specializes in nursing. INFOGRAPHIC BY JESSICA SUICO AND DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

FIREWALL UPDATE LIFTS RESTRAINT By Robert Clinton opinion editor

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

Last November, the Contra Costa Community College District upgraded the firewall to protect servers which store the personal information of more than 50,000 students enrolled across all three of the district campuses. The move, which brought much consternation to students, was not announced by the district or campus officials and left many with the feeling that the district was overreaching its boundaries by blocking popular, but questionable, websites that students regularly explore. When attempting to access the restricted websites, students received a message stating the sites were blocked because it was not “in accordance with company policy.” However, a 2017 report by the Better Business Bureau listed online shopping as the activity most directly linked to fraud. As of today, many of the sites that were initially labeled restricted have been made accessible again. Initially, it was believed that the colleges imposed the restrictions, but Contra Costa College Technology Systems Manager James Eyestone said, “The district installed a new firewall recently and the college placed no new restrictions on website access.” Issues surrounding the sacrifice of personal freedom and maintaining effective security measures drive much of the conversation in today’s media cycle. But the difficulty lies in where these to staples of American life intersect. It is a common practice for business and state entities to upgrade their cybersecurity systems to keep at bay, hackers, key-loggers and Trojans that attack through unpatched security holes. “The district regularly upgrades its

“The district regularly upgrades its firewall to protect student information. Just look at what happened in Southern California, then you’ll see why it’s so important.” Mojdeh Mehdizadeh,

executive vice chancellor of education and technology

firewall to protect student information,” Executive Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said. “Just look at what happened in Southern California, then you’ll see why it’s so important.” The district blocked certain sites not because of their content, but because of the potential risk they may propose. According to reporting in the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Community College District paid a $28,000 ransom in bitcoin in January of 2017 to hackers who took control of a campus email and computer network until a payment was made. The cyberattack was detected at Los Angeles Valley College on Dec. 30, 2016 after a virus restricted administrative access to the campus’ computer network and its email and voicemail system. Nine months later, at Cabrillo College in Aptos, a hack into one of the college’s servers exposed the personal information of 40,000 students as information was accessed that dated back as far as 2009. Both data breaches went largely unreported and without proper notification to students by district or campus administrators, the subsequent website blockages seemed to be an unwarranted overreach. “I didn’t notice anything different, but I think the college should do all it can to protect students’ personal information,” human-

ISAAC BENIVADES / THE ADVOCATE

In January 2017 the Los Angeles Community College District paid a $28,000 ransom with the cryptocurrency bitcoin, to campus email and computer network hackers, according to the Los Angeles Times.

ities major Warren Samuels said. “I really don’t use the Wi-Fi here on campus because the service isn’t that good. It isn’t really faster than using my phone on its own network.” Samuels’ sentiment was common among students at CCC. Many had no idea that there was any interruption to some of the websites people regularly frequent. In the Library, the blockages also went largely unnoticed. Librarian Amanda Choi said she hadn’t received any complaints from students

about sites that they attempted to access on the public computers in the Library being blocked. “I’m not sure if many students knew,” she said. Choi said she accesses the internet through the faculty Wi-Fi and rarely uses the student network. “At one point I was on the general Wi-Fi and couldn’t access some of my social media sites, but that’s the only problem I’ve ever had,” she said.

campus beat STUDENT GROUPS RECRUIT, EXPLORE By Jshania Owens staff writer

jowens.theadvocate@gmail.com

With scattered showers only adding to the ambiance of the tailgate theme, students involved in on-campus clubs came together in the Fireside Hall for the bi-annual Club Rush on March 13. The event brought together more than 15 clubs with booths decorated in festive adornments manned with students ready to recruit other students into their club. Among the participating clubs were the Outdoor Adventure Club, Anime Club, Okami Club and many other clubs specializing in diverse interests. Students were encouraged to play games like giant Jenga, checkers, and Connect 4 as they collected stickers from each booth which could be redeemed for a hot dog. Jose Membreno and Kailah West are members of the Okami Club, where members learn about the benefits of exercise on the brain. Workouts like boxing and jumping jacks are done to see how it affects mental and physical awareness before and after the activity. The club also interacts with the Wright Institute in Berkeley, which specializes in clinical psychology. Members of the Outdoor Adventure Club were also there to recruit new members. “We plan on doing a kayaking trip with our club. We went on a hike this past Saturday and we’ll also do some cave explorations,” club President Julissa Martin said. The club encourages members to be more aware of the outdoors and become one with nature. As Club Rush entered into the afternoon, the Fireside Hall became increasingly packed with curious students who glanced and participated in the interactive activities. A raffle was then held with two prizes including a Target Gift Card and a $25 Starbucks card. The Muslim Student Association was also there to sign up new members. Club President Rayah Alammari said “We want to promote inclusivity for other Muslim students and change people’s perceptions.” Jason Yu, a member of the International Students Club, said their club is here to help international students to pick and pursue their majors, as well as choose classes and get familiar with the campus. They also hold summer BBQ gatherings with their members. A new club, the Mock Trial Club, encourages students to gain expe- RIGHT: rience in public speaking and learn Two stuabout basic laws. dents play Club President Gabriela Jenga Hernandez said, “We simulate real during the court cases and present them to real bi-annual judges and lawyers. We also have wit- Club Rush nesses and come up with strategies event held and questions. in Fireside “We get real attorneys to help Hall on guide us with our trials. This is the March 13. first club of its kind here at CCC. This club is great for developing presentation skills and teamwork, so you don’t have to only be interested in law to join.” Student Elisa Allen said, “I want to join anything that has to do with adventure, so I’m looking forward to joining the Adventure Club. I also want to join the Nubie Club.”

PHOTOS BY ANDREW WEEDON / THE ADVOCATE

A group of students play Connect 4 during the bi-annual Club Rush event held in Fireside Hall due to the rain on March 13.

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.21.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Four types of note-taking Cornell

Outlining

Mapping

A style with the main point in the left margin with the notes following to the right. This is a very organized style that is easy to look at.

Like Cornell style but doesn’t use the left margin for organization. Details are contained directly under the large main points.

A very free form style that uses bubbles and lines to connect information. This style is often used when trying to connect a lot of ideas together

Charting Much like mapping but makes use of more structure to make it easier to look at, but still has the main concept of connecting ideas.

INFOGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

note taking refined, honed By Andrew Weedon scene editor

aweedon.theadvocate@gmail.com

A workshop to help students take more effective notes was held by the student retention department on Feb. 28. About a dozen a students attended the note taking workshop which was led by counselor Samayeh Yazdanpanah through a presentation that discussed a few different topics. Along with different ways to take notes, Yazdanpanah also put a major focus on how to process information in lectures. Some of the tips included doing the reading related to the lecture and ensuring that you pay attention to the professor. “I get to class and find it hard to take notes because I feel overwhelmed,” health and human services major Tamicha Bell said. A few different styles of note taking were also discussed. Among these were common styles such as Cornell, mapping, outlining and

charting. The Cornell and outline styles of note taking are both very similar with slightly different ways of organizing the main points and details. Charting and mapping are also quite similar with the major differences being that charting is far more structured. “I will definitely try using mapping and charting to keep organized,” Bell said. Automotive major Alex Noyola said he attended for the credits, but did find some of the information useful. “I got some good key words out of it and will probably attend again,” he said. Yazdanpanah also discussed the important abbreviation SLANT, which stands for “Sit in front, Lean forward, Ask questions, Nod and smile, and Track the teacher.” “We want students to be active learners and critical thinkers,” she said in the presentation. Yazdanpanah also recommended that students ADVERTISEMENT

“I wish these workshops were around when I was a student. They are great for student networking and finding others to study with.” Samayeh Yazdanpanah, CCC counselor

should prepare their class materials and find a study buddy to compare notes with. Effective note taking is not the only workshop that retention services runs. Others include effective studying and time management, Yazdanpanah said. “I wish these workshops were around when I was a student. They are great for student networking and finding others to study with,” she said. The retention department also handed out pens with built in USB drives to those who attended as a way to help keep organized.

spotlight

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OVERVIEW | Women’s Month celebrates struggles, future progress Continued from Page A1 warning to young mothers not to let their kids walk alone at night. In coverage of International Women’s Day, political science

department Chairperson Vanna Gonzales hosted an event that featured a keynote speech by East Bay Community Law Center Executive Director Tirien Steinbach, who spoke about issues central to the advancement of women in the Bay Area. Articles on diverse musical selections round out this spe-

2017: In the United States, many women celebrated International Women’s Day by taking the day off, as a “Day Without Women.” Entire school systems closed (women are still about 75 percent of public school teachers) in some cities.

1913-1914: International Women’s Day also became a mechanism for protesting World War I. As part of the peace movement, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around March 8 of the next year.

1911: International Women’s Day was marked for the first time on March 19 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, where more than one million women and men attended rallies. They demanded women’s rights to work, to vocational training and to an end to discrimination on the job.

cialty issue. Insight into the LGBTQ hip-hop scene is uncovered and the first Muslim women to successfully label themselves hip-hop artists are featured in this issue.

2011: 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day resulted in many celebrations around the world, and more than usual attention to International Women’s Day.

1975: During International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8.

1995: The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic road map signed by 189 governments, focused on 12 critical areas of concern, and envisioned a world where each woman and girl can exercise her choices, such as participating in politics, getting an education, having an income, and living in societies free from violence and discrimination.

1911: The first National Woman’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honor of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.

INFOGRAPHIC BY ANDREW WEEDON AND DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Women’s Day inspires Accomplishments, hope influence global activism

LEFT: Executive Director of the East Bay Community Law Center Tirien Steinback shares her struggles and triumphs in GE-225 with an audience packed with faculty, staff and students during International Women’s Day celebration on campus March 8.

By Jshania Owens staff writer

jowens.theadvocate@gmail.com

Students, faculty and staff came together to celebrate International Women’s Day presented by the political science department and Community Organizing Political Action Club (COPA) to commemorate the women of yesterday and today who have made an impact in their communities and in society. Political science department Chairperson Vanna Gonzales began the event in GE-225 with the history of International Women’s Day, which highlights the struggle against gender discrimination and the triumphs leading to equality among women around the world. Gonzales introduced keynote speaker Tirien Steinbach, executive director of the East Bay Community Law Center. Steinbach shared her journey as a lawyer in a male-dominated profession, detailing her experiences like facing discrimination and overcoming the struggle. “Fight for inclusion, not for just women’s issues,” she said. “We all have work to do. We need to find ways to impact our lives and the lives around us.” The #MeToo movement, started by Tarana Burke on social media to help demonstrate the widespread prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, was also discussed. Steinbach said that it was important to educate boys and men about the movement. “We have to speak out for marginalized women, women of color, trans women, minorities,” she said. “Who is held protected by the law?” Later in the afternoon, a round table discussion was held in the Fireside Hall, with two leaders at each table sharing advice and answering questions asked by people who attended. After 15 to 30 minutes, leaders rotated to a new table. Hosted by COPA’s Christopher Miller, each table was draped in red, purple or green table cloths with cards containing questions like “What three laws would you enact if you were queen of the world?” for participants to anonymously write down. The leaders also talked about their professional backgrounds and what they’ve experienced as a woman in their field of work. They also shared advice and answered any questions by the people seated at the table. At the red table, Steinbach shared

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Turbulent beginning fuels desire Ambassador exudes leadership, confidence By Jessica Suico assistant news editor

jsuico.theadvocate@gmail.com

Student Success comes with peaks and valleys. People will either have to overcome or sink and drown in their hardships and failures. Many people have goals in life while others just go with the flow and wait for tomorrow. This concept of how to succeed plays a pivotal role in the life of clinical science and psychology major Mayra Martinez. Graduating from Middle College High School in 2014, she always made her education a priority. Martinez took some classes for a year and half and then took a break from school for a while to focus on her personal life. “I started to get down on myself because I had a time limit on when I wanted to be done with school. Then I started to realize not everything goes as planned,” she said. Martinez was born in San Francisco but grew up in Richmond. She sees herself as the quintessential Bay Area girl. One of the reasons why she chose to come to Contra Costa College is because it was an East Bay school that was close to home. Martinez said her experiences while being on the San Pablo campus have been a mix of many different things. She knew she wanted to go to college after high school, but wasn’t sure that she made the right decision to come here until she re-enrolled after her break. “I love people and being able to help them. I like the atmosphere here at CCC and love the people that go here. It’s a very caring community that we have here on campus,” Martinez said. Aside from hanging out with friends, Martinez likes to hike around the Bay Area with her husky and take in the beautiful scenery. Martinez currently works as a student ambassador for the college’s Associated Student Union (ASU). Student Services and Instructional Support Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks

described Martinez as an outgoing woman who gets along with pretty much everyone she comes in contact with. “I’ve known Mayra since she was in high school and I have seen tremendous growth in her. Now she is close to transferring and I am very proud of her and the woman she has become,” Nickelson-Shanks said. “She is personable and a great leader in what she does.” “Mayra is my right-hand person. She was the first person I hired when I became a part of Student Life. She made this office what it is today,” he said. ASU President Alex Walker-Griffin said, “She is a valuable asset for Student Life because she always protrudes positive energy.” It’s easy to visualize the stages of Martinez’s life as if they were acts in a movie. The beginning would be her trying to figure out her direction and in which way she wants to steer her life. Through trial and error, she sifted through certain paths that weren’t the right ones, then figured out how to overcome potential pitfalls. Act two would find Martinez lost in life struggling to find her direction, while intensely working toward blazing her own trail. Looking back, Martinez said she was OK with her time off of school because even in the moment, she knew it will just make her a stronger woman in the end. The crescendo would be her whole life coming together. All the failures and hardships would eventually be worth it because they forged her success. Succeeding through hardship molded Martinez into a woman who serves as an inspiration to others. “The atmosphere in this area is cool. Everyone is understanding and that’s what I like about going to a college here in the Bay Area,” Martinez said. Walker-Griffin has known Martinez since last fall. They have become close friends and she helps to motivate and guide him through certain aspects of school that she has already experienced.

opinion editor

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how she overcame gender discrimination as a woman working in the law field. “I wanted to pursue anything that wasn’t expected to be done by a black woman,” she said. “There is a lot of sexism and racism in my profession as a lawyer. I learned not to be bitter about hate and discrimination.” Contracts and compliance officer Cheryl Sudduth also shared her experience working for Goodwill Industries. Sudduth is also a disability rights advocate. She discussed how few women like her work for the government or private corporations like Sony. “As a woman and a mentor, there is no crying in business,” she said. “I hired and trained women. I had an intuitive sense of knowing people, sitting and observing instead of speaking.” Sudduth’s said the most rewarding part of her job is fighting for wounded soldiers and people with disabilities. “Everyone will try to tell you something about your career path,” she said. “The best thing to do is not listen to them. Make mistakes. Try as many majors as possible. Explore life and travel.” Youth Organizing Coordinator Diana Diaz was next to sit at the red table, sharing her background as she endured abuse in her home.

n “Fight for inclusion, not for just women’s issues. We all have work to do. We need to find ways to impact our lives and the lives around us.”

— Tirien Steinbach, executive director of the East Bay Community Law Center

“I was always silenced as a child. I was never listened to,” Diaz said. She experienced the effects of intergenerational trauma, or trauma passed down from the first generation to the next, she said. To help her overcome it, Diaz was determined to stay on the move and make a change in her community. She began by doing commission work in Richmond where she grew up, working as a youth organizer for children with a similar background as she. “I want to relate what I do to what I experienced in the past and at home.” Union organizer and former chairperson at the Labor Center Katie Quan has experience in sweat shops in San Francisco and parts of Asia. Quan shared how the women were expected to not fight back and defend themselves where they were treated unfairly.

Quan encouraged and joined the organizations started by women working in sweat shops, one being the Peace Right, where the women went on strike until their salaries were raised. One of the challenges she faced was how to break the system of economic exploitation. Quan shared how the fight against this exploitation is still going on in parts of Asia, including China and Vietnam. “Where there is oppression, there is resistance,” she said. A raffle was held for everyone attending as winners took home an Amazon Kindle Fire, a Starbucks basket with coffee and a collectible mug, three books written by women for women, and a Pegasus Books gift card. Contra Costa College’s Marketing Director Brandy Howard was impressed with the turnout. “The COPA students were very creative and they worked really hard. This campus is about 58 percent female and there aren’t many women’s events going on here,” she said. “The fight for equality isn’t over though. We’ll continue to come together and share our struggles and celebrate our accomplishments.”

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Contra Costa College clinical science and psychology major Mayra Martinez works as a student ambassador for the Associated Student Union.

“She (Martinez) is an understanding, charismatic and personable person. That’s why we have such a close friendship and it’s what makes her such a good friend and person,” Walker-Griffin said. There is a quote by author Maya Angelou that Martinez has incorporated into her life which helped her through certain hardships and motivates her to keep pushing through life. “I learned people forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Martinez has learned through life, and through that Angelou saying, that words don’t mean anything to a lot of people and they will forget things you have said to them that could help them. However, most people will never forget how you made them feel, because feelings never go away, good or bad. “My main career goal is to get my master’s degree in political science and psychology. Then I plan to get my Ph.D. in psychology,” Martinez said.

female artists strive to redefine global art form By Robert Clinton

MICHAEL SANTONE / THE ADVOCATE

In the late 1970s, hip-hop music emerged from the projects of New York City to give voice to the voiceless and eloquently express the day-to-day experiences of people struggling to break the chains of oppression. With a mainline connection to the inner-city streets and the ability to offer an auditory glimpse into the hearts of the people who inhabit them, the art form quickly became a tool of a desperate populous yearning for change. Even while being excoriated by a bevy of detractors, hip-hop music has influenced movements ranging from Los Angeles gang truces to nationwide voter registration drives. Fifty years after its creation, hip-hop, now widely accepted as a culture, has earned global appeal, with its influence reaching nearly every continent. Last year, that inner-city music born in project parks, surpassed rock music as the most popular genre in music in the U.S. according to the global information, data, and measurement company Nielsen Holdings PLC. However incremental hip-hop’s influence toward change has been here in the states, in 2010, on the streets of Tunisia during the Arab Spring, the music would have an impact on a scale its New York pioneers could have never imagined. The music fueled the Arab Spring protests, beginning in the streets of Tunisia and moving into Egypt, then permeating across the Middle East and into North Africa. One artist, El Général, whose song “Rais Lebled” (which translates to president of the country) spoke to the exacerbated feelings of a voiceless community. His song became the unofficial anthem of the protests. Since then, this tool labeled hip-hop has been wielded by many other groups whose opinions are largely marginalized or suppressed. Now, Muslim women boldly express their feelings through hip-hop while simultaneously dispelling

many of the misconceptions that accompany life when viewed from their perspective. Hailing from Afghanistan and rapping in her language of Dari, Paradise Sorouri has emerged as the first female rapper from the previously Taliban-controlled nation. Sorouri’s lyrics excoriate the gender inequality in her homeland, but for the 29-year-old, speaking up has come at a cost. The rapper was forced to flee her country, with nearly one million other people, to Germany. Sorouri made the decision to leave after being assaulted by men because she chose to go outside wearing a baseball hat instead of a hijab. In her lyrics, she asks women to “Get up and take what’s yours from the world” and to “Be my saving grace. Be yourself. Be a woman.” Even in this age of “Garage Band” producers, it’s inconceivable that music with the clarity of Sorouri’s was produced in a land that was the recent location of a full scale war. The performer was also recognized by the United Nations in 2013 for promoting human rights. Sadly, since migrating to Germany, Sorouri’s musical catalogue is without the tough, in-your-face hip-hop lyrics that earned her so much attention on the streets of Afghanistan. Now, the rapper, with her husband and band mate, has softened the message in her music and opted to produce music that fits better in the pop genre. The pair still tours and in 2017 their band, which now performs under the name 1:43 band, released its first new track in nearly three years. Since then, Muslim women have continued to use music as a way to have their individual perspectives recognized. Arguably the most popular female rapper who focuses on the plight of Muslim women worldwide is Mona Haydar. In 2017, Billboard critics named Haydar’s debut song, “Hijabi (Wrap My Hijab),” one of the most influential protest songs of the year. The Syrian-American Muslim poet released the song to highlight the stereotypes that accompany wear-

n “Sheikhs on the DL, Sheikhs in the

DM, begging me to shake it on my cam in the p.m.” — Mona Haydar, female Muslim rapper

ing the hijab. In her lyrics, like the MCs that came before her, she paints vivid pictures of what it’s like to walk in the shoes of a Muslim woman. “What that hair look like, bet that hair looks nice. Don’t it make you sweat, ain’t it wrapped to tight,” Haydar raps in “Hijabi.” “Not your exotic vacation, I’m bored with your fascination. You gotta PayPal PayPal if you want that education.” Unlike Sorouri, who blessed the mic in her native tongue, Haydar raps in English with an East Coast musical feel. The beat to “Hijabi” is easy to ride to and the lyrics are interesting to follow. With the stigma that most women who rap have to battle against, it is amazing that women from backgrounds that are typically seen as oppressed can make such a powerful impact using only their voices. Her newest song, “Dogs,” expresses her views on relationships in her community. Although the song lacks the wide-ranging societal punch brought by its predecessor, the insight she offers makes the song more than worth a listen. Lyrically, the rapper touches on topics that have never been addressed despite the typical relationship driven lyrics many songs gravitate toward. “Sheikhs on the DL, Sheikhs in my DM, Begging me to shake it on my cam in the p.m.,” she raps “Dogs.” If the trend continues, these women, and others who feel their perspectives have been willfully ignored, will pick up the mic and shed light on the problems that afflict them. And hip-hop will be better for it.

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Young Ma (right), Angel Haze (middle) and Siza (right) have contributed to the female hip-hop music scene through their accomplishments in the industry.

realness, sexuality warrant recognition PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Male dominated industry forces female artists to counter sexist narrative

By Xavier Johnson scene editor

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

ip-hop has given people from all walks of life a platform to tell their stories without a filter, as long as they have a mic and the willingness to be vulnerable. And women of color are no exception. Rappers like MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill flexed their lyrical skills while giving a voice to black women in the genre. However, hip-hop is still a male dominated art form that has struggled to foster an environment that gives women the opportunity to tell their unfiltered stories. Often, women are forced to compromise their image and sound to push record sales and are not given due respect as artists compared to their male peers, regardless of lyrical skill. But a generation inspired by legendary female emcees that preceded them is emerging. The internet is empowering women of color like Young M.A,

Angel Haze and Princess Nokia to seize the opportunity to create and sell their music independently and give a voice to women without any concern for the “male gaze.” New York’s Young M.A blew up with the single “Ooouuu” and has a slew of impressive freestyles to her name. She’s an openly lesbian rapper who doesn’t shy away from speaking about her sexuality, nor is her appearance traditionally feminine. The way her sexuality is represented becomes radical in how matter-of-fact it is. What’s coming from her is not a straight music executive’s idea of what a lesbian is: a plaything whose sexuality merely exists to satiate men’s fantasies. Her songs are packed with hedonistic bars about having sex that mirror lines found from her male peers. Young M.A’s music successfully fuses her sexuality with conventional masculine braggadocio to build a normalcy while other rappers attack what is normal to more aggressively challenge

hip-hop. In Angel Haze’s remix of Eminem’s “Cleaning out my Closet,” she goes into detail on her sexual abuse from 7 to 10 years old and how that experience scarred her mentally. In a genre where male rappers contribute to rape culture in their lyrics, Angel Haze rapping about real-world consequences of rape from the standpoint of a female victim is a needed perspective. The Detroit emcee is openly genderqueer and pansexual, going into her identity in her songs. Similar to how Young M.A’s sexuality manifests itself in her music, Haze’s sexuality is not commodified. New York rapper Princess Nokia is an outspoken feminist that brings it to the forefront of her music giving an unapologetic look into her Afro Puerto Rican upbringing and womanhood. It’s not just her music, but her actions, that exemplify the current movement for women of color in the rap game.

In 2017, Princess Nokia delivered the smackdown to racist and sexist men. At a charity concert at Cambridge University she punched a guy in the audience who was harassing her during the show, yelling at her to show him her breasts. Later that year she threw soup in a man’s face for being racist on a New York subway train. Princess Nokia literally fighting against racism and sexism mirrors women forcing their way into the hip-hop conscious despite facing continued sexism. Hip-hop is a genre built on the foundation of a do-it-yourself attitude, which women of color have been putting into practice, without credit for decades. Young M.A, Angel Haze and Princess Nokia each represent the intersections of race and gender women in rap today, but are far from the only ones. Rapsody, Siya, Noname, Kamaiyah, Dej Loaf and dozens more are making their own lanes as women of color within hip-hop.

Coming out story impresses Flick captures gay experience By Michael Santone associate editor

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

efore “Love, Simon” came out in theaters I was already a bit hesitant about see-

ing it. As a mixed gay male, the trailer depicted a storyline of a white boy from a wellto-do family coming out to love and acceptance. But for me and many others around the world, this scenario isn’t always the norm in society. However, the coming of age romantic comedy, directed by Greg Berlanti, caught me off guard as I laughed, ugly cried and mentally reminisced on moments in my coming out journey that Simon, played by Nick Robinson, experiences throughout the highs and lows of the film. Although LGBTQthemed movies have become more prevalent over the years, “Love Simon” is groundbreaking in the sense that a big motion picture company, 20th Century Fox, is normalizing the coming out process, which hasn’t really been done before. Opening everywhere Friday, “Love Simon” has instantly invaded the hearts of movie-goers for creating an atmosphere around the stigmas of “coming out of the closet” while using it to highlight the effects on

friends and family through many of the film’s plot twists. Straying away from the stereotypical Hollywood portrayal of gay characters, the film strips away the feminine and masculine dualities associated with the LGBTQ community and serves viewers characters on a path of self discovery. Based on the book “Simon vs. the Homo Sapien Agenda,” by Becky Albertalli, Berlanti does a masterful job bringing each distinctive character to life while preserving the authenticity of the cliché hero romantic comedy. From the opening scene, Simon pulls the audience into his life as he introduces his family, his friends and his “one huge-ass secret” — nobody knows he’s gay. This is the anchor for the film, as Simon, who is a 16-year-old high school student, navigates one of the most difficult stages of life while carrying the weight of a secret that not even his best friends Leah (Katherine Langford), Nick (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) and Abby (Alexandra Shipp) know. It is in the relationships that unfold and the tension that builds around the secret where the magic of “Love, Simon” captivates. Part of this magic is the issues the movie touches on that introduce a lifestyle to those who aren’t familiar with the LGBTQ+ community. For instance, Simon recounts moments growing up when he knew he

Simon Spier (right), played by Nick Robinson, dreams of kissing “Blue” during a scene of “Love, Simon.” DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

was different, such as his re-occurring dream of actor Daniel Radcliffe and the first time he kissed a girl. A sense of understanding is felt not only for Simon’s character but what’s at stake if his schoolmates find out he’s gay. For many, it is in high school where we are predisposed to the cruel world of judgment and teasing that transcends being gay, but can include being black, Mexican, fat, poor, skinny or whether or not you are wearing the best shoes. We get a little taste of this bullying throughout the film when the typical jocks treat the overtly gay and feminine Ethan (Clark

Moore) with disdain. Facetimes Simon to tell him These scenes, about the “closeted gay kid” which could have been who posted an in-depth, cringe-worthy, are but anonymous, MOVIE handled perfectconfession on REVIEW ly with humor, as “creeksecrets,” Ethan’s sassy comethe school’s “Love, Simon” backs have you rootTumblr page. ★★★★★ ing for him to win. After reading Starring: Simon Spier Although the the post signed movie delivers laughs, Directed by: with the pseudGreg Berlanti they are strategically onym Blue, Where: Hilltop placed in between Simon responds Theaters scenes of realization with giddy Genre: Romance that things may not trepidation, as work out for the best. they begin to And very much develop a secret like the analogy of the Ferris relationship through emails wheel: one minute you are that leaves Simon wonderon top, the next you are at ing who, among his friends, rock bottom. is Blue. This analogy is really put However, things take into perspective when Leah a turn for the worst when

Simon leaves his email account open in the school library and class clown Martin (Logan Miller) screenshoots the conversations and uses them to blackmail him. Everything suddenly seems like it’s falling apart as the film turns to intense encounters, a web of lies and heartbreak as Simon struggles with the constant fear of being exposed. “Love, Simon” is a winner, if not for the acting and chemistry, for the message. The storyline evokes feelings not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for anyone who has ever been in love, been judged or felt different.

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original play brings old story to life ‘La Llorona’ modernized with feminist slant By Xavier Johnson scene editor

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

Folklore lives on in cultures by each passing generation relaying these stories to their children. With any longstanding story, individuals put twists on these childhood tales applying their own values mixed with influence from other people’s interpretations. Now, a world premiere of an original work that brings a fresh interpretation to legendary Mexican folklore closes the Contra Costa College drama department’s 2017-18 theater season. “The Cries of La Llorona” is directed and written by drama department Chairperson Carlos-Manuel Chavarria and opens on April 6 at 7:30 p.m. with additional dates on April 7, 13-14 at 7:30 p.m. and April 8 and 15 at 3 p.m. at the John and Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $15 general admission and $10 for students. La Llorona, also known as “The Weeping Woman,” is a story about a woman who drowns her children and as punishment is forced to wander the Earth searching and weeping for her dead children. It’s also said she will abduct children that look like her deceased kids. The story would be used as a bedtime story, Chavarria said, to scare kids from wandering off. The twist Chavarria brings to the script shows the “why” and “how” La Llorona becomes the feared ghost she’s known as, while humanizing her origins into something less sinister. Chavarria fuses his own interpretation of a modern day haunting with the version of the folktale told to him by his grandmother, continuing the lineage of the story told through his family to the stage. The play takes on several angles to the traditional La Llorona tale, taking place in modern day and the past exploring the tale’s origins. Stephanie Rivas plays Xochitl, who becomes the feared ghastly figure after her death. Rivas said the play has a feminist slant depicting women from different time periods and walks of life trying to

do their best in the world. Chavarria said he makes an effort, as a feminist, to have female leads in his plays and to show their struggles and triumphs in a oppressive culture. He said this depiction of the folktale does, indeed, take a feminist slant. “She has to suffer for the drowning of her children and is punished. I always questioned if a man drowned her children would the punishment be the same, because it’s men writing the stories,” Chavarria said. The immigrant angle comes from the modern day story where Blanca, played by Katherine Garcia, is haunted by nightmares of La Llorona and is wrecked by the anxiety of being an undocumented immigrant in the United States, unable to see her children in Mexico. “Growing up in a Mexican family, you have this idea of relationships, or how you’re gonna get married and have a kid and that fairy tale didn’t end up for her,” Garcia said. The modern day ghost that haunts Blanca is played by Silvia Sobal. She said she found out about the play when her son Oz Herrera-Sobal, who is the stage manager for the production, encouraged her to audition. The origins of La Llorona are told opposite of the modern day segments with Xochitl fighting for her love with the Spaniard Jose-Carlos, played by Edgar-Arturo Camacho, when his racist father violently disapproves of his son’s relationship with her, an indigenous woman. This production will be the first time the play’s script graces the stage. The production is also being entered for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival with officials coming to look at the acting, directing and playwriting. Chavarria said, “The Cries of La Llorona” finalizes his vision of representing different groups with each production during the season. “‘Emotional Creature’ was about female empowerment and ‘How We Got On’ was about students of color. I also wanted to do a Latino play with Latino actors,” Chavarria said of the drama department’s shows this year.

Jose-Carlos (right), played by Edgar-Arturo Camacho, argues with his father, played by Ayden Santos, in a scene during a Monday rehearsal for “The Cries of La Llorona” in the Knox Center.

PHOTOS BY XAVIER JOHNSON / THE ADVOCATE

Xochitl (right), played by Stephanie Rivas, haunts Jose-Carlos, played by Edgar-Arturo Camacho, in a scene during a Monday rehearsal for “The Cries of La Llorona” in the Knox Center.

Dialogues, stories empower women By Jshania Owens staff writer

jownens.theadvocate@gmail.com

The emotional intensity and reality of being a woman in today’s world is highlighted in “Emotional Creature,” the drama department’s first production of the spring semester. The play was directed by Kathy McCarty and was written by playwright Eve Ensler. Ensler also wrote “The Vagina Monologues,” another influential and powerfully feminine play that tackles issues faced by women of different ages, races and sexualities. “Emotional Creature” arrived just in time to celebrate the most important aspect of International Women’s Day: the diversity of women and every challenge they’ve overcome. The ensemble delivered powerful and gripping performances during each scene. Each actor depicted multiple characters overcoming the challenges of appearance, sex and self-expression that all girls face. These scenes were also presented with a few musical numbers to lighten the play. “Emotional Creature” finished its run on March 11 at 3 p.m. in the John and Jean Knox Center for the PLAY Performing Arts. REVIEW The play was “Emotional performed mostly Creatures” in monologues. ★★★★★ Julie, played by Venue: Knox Lissette Maravilla, Center started the show by Directed by: Kathy McCarty entering the stage Open Until: and taking selfies as Closed she struggles to find an angle that makes her appearance acceptable for others. This opening scene portrays the inner conflict of self-confidence and the opinions of everyone in their lives. Julie is also the “popular girl” character in the play. Maravilla’s performance was strong and she embodies the girl every-

XAVIER JOHNSON / THE ADVOCATE

Jelaine Maestas (left), Kamaria McKinney (middle left), Lissette Maravilla (center), Tayler Meulpolder (middle right) and Irena Miles (right) perform a scene in “Emotional Creature,” directed by Kathryn McCarty, in the Knox Center.

one emulates despite the irony of having her own insecurities and doubts that hinder her from being herself. Jelaine Maestas took on roles from around the world. In one scene she’s at a sleepover talking about a sexual experience and the anxiety she felt asking her boyfriend to use a condom. In another scene she plays a 15-yearold girl in China working in a factory producing Barbie dolls. This scene challenges the idea of a “perfect girl” and challenges the audience to acknowledge the contrast between Barbie and her fictional dream life and her maker, a poor young girl working in unsafe conditions. In another monologue a 16-yearold girl from Iran, played by Nichole Aiwaz, struggles to find the beauty and confidence within her. She found power in her big nose despite familial pressure forcing her to get a surgery reducing its size. This experience leaves her questioning what beauty really is. The diversity in cultural back-

grounds covered shows how every girl in the world has different, but important, struggles. Some struggles are tragic like the 17-year-old girl from the Democratic Republic of Congo, played by Kamaria McKinney. McKinney captivated the audience with her powerful performance portraying an escaped young girl who was kidnapped and raped for years. She offers “rules” for others who may face the same tragedies, based on her experiences. McKinney poured her heart into the monologue leaving a memorable impact on the play. Another standout piece was played by Tayler Meulpolder, who embodies the rebel in her characters whether it be dealing with her sexuality or breaking from the mold shaped by her parents to become her real self. The play does a great job of including girls of all sexual orientations. Irena Miles played a 14-year-old girl from Bulgaria who experienced

unbearably horrific violence like so many girls around the world being sold into human trafficking. Miles gave an impressive interpretation of her character with every line she spoke. Although the few songs by the cast didn’t have as much quality as their acting, their stunning acting more than made up for that shortcoming. The play came to an end with the girls declaring their independence and sexual liberation. One line that highlights this revelation is “my short skirt and everything under it is mine.” This part personally revived the free and empowered woman I, and every girl, owned inside her since it goes against everything we were taught by society that has to do with how our bodies should be treated and seen. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” closed the show and was the perfect track to accompany one of the last lines spoken by the girls: “This is not extreme, it’s a girl thing.”

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.22.18 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Women give each other inspiration Photos by: Denis Perez For

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focus

Nearly 100 women converged on March 10 at the Richmond Civic Center Auditorium during the Sisters in Solidarity event, celebrating female leadership and women in politics.

A Haitian Action Committee representative (left) talks to a young girl about the newsletter the committee publishes about Haiti during the Sisters in Solidarity event at the Richmond Civic Center Auditorium on March 10, which celebrated International Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day. A Sisters in Solidarity event intern (right) looks at Richmond resident Leah Miller as she spins the raffle picking drum during the Sisters in Solidarity event at the Richmond Civic Center Auditorium on March 10. Periodically, prizes were given away during the event, which celebrated International Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day.

Artist Alece Birnbach draws a graphic illustration during the Sisters in Solidarity event at the Richmond Civic Center Auditorium on March 10. Birnbach drew after every performance or activity at the event to document each event through art.

A Richmond singer performs two songs during the Sisters in Solidarity event in the Civic Center Auditorium on March 10.