The Advocate 11-7

WEDNESDAY l 11.7.18 OUR 69TH YEAR

CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

PROCESS TAINTED Search yields finalists with background of sexual assault

By Michael Santone

editorial

editor-in-chief

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

It wasn’t long after the names of the five finalists for the vice president of student services position were announced that the campus community sank into silent outrage fueled by the courage of women in the #MeToo movement.

The nationwide search, which was conducted by the Contra Costa College President’s Office, rendered five VP final hopefuls.

However, two of those five candidates carry with them backgrounds of domestic violence and sexual harassment.

Campuswide silence raises concerns LeRodrick Terry

Howard Irvin

CCC President Katrina VanderWoude told The Advocate last week, “I am not at liberty to discuss specific details about the process or individual candidates (their biographies have been shared), as personnel matters are confidential.

“Once all interviews and refer-

Fear-driven response brings into question female faculty and staff leadership amid #MeToo scandal.

PAGE 2 ence checks are completed, there will be an announcement regarding the outcome.”

That outcome could become the hiring of Dr. Howard Irvin or Dr. LeRodrick Terry as CCC’s new vice president of student services.

SEE TAINTED, PAGE 3

candidates boast during vp forums

By Cindy Pantoja opinion editor

cpantoja.theadvocate@gmail.com

As the search for a new vice president of student services is reaching its end, Contra Costa College held separate forums in Fireside Hall to introduce the five finalists contending for the position.

The five VP finalists met the qualifications required for the position

and as different as the candidates are, they have some things in common.

They all have overcome financial hardships and all are the first generation in their families with a college degree.

Most importantly, they all say they want equity and transparency for CCC students.

CCC is an institution that, according to the

Coleman

English

Student Success Scorecard found on the California community college website, serves students of more than five different ethnicities.

Lopez Some of those students feel misrepresented by the current college administration and expect the new VP of student services to be a bridge that unites both SEE HIRING PROCESS, PAGE 3

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY DENIS PEREZ, MICHAEL SANTONE ROBERT CLINTON / THE ADVOCATE

Domestic violence up

By Joel Umanzor sports editor

jumanzor.theadvocate@gmail.com

STUDENT COMMUNITIES PROMOTE THEIR CLUBS Club Rush organizes groups in the Campus Center Plaza to provide information, games and food PAGE 5

The annual Campus Crime Awareness Report for the Contra Costa Community College District was released in October.

This year’s report for Contra Costa College shows an uptick in domestic violence, dating violence, burglary and aggravated assault on campus. Domestic violence and dating violence are distinguished separately, with domestic violence being violence against a spouse or someone with a shared child/residence and dating violence is defined as “violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim.”

The report details different crimes that occur on the three district campuses, Holt Contra Costa, Diablo Valley and Los Medanos colleges, and in the areas adjacent to the them.

This yearly review of crimes is reported in order for the district to remain in compliance with Title IX regulations.

CCC Police Services Lt. Tom Holt said,

Crime statistics for CCC 2017:

Competition showcases horses, high speed racing View moments at Louisville, Kentucky’s Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, during Halloween weekend PAGE 8 FACEBOOK: /accentadvocate

n n n n n n

n “It’s definitely eye-opening to see cases like this here at school. But it’s important to be informed.”

— Deborah Damaris, freshman

“The report is actually a release (of crime information) to the campus community. It is a law, established by the Clery Act, in which all colleges and universities that receive federal financial aid must comply with.”

Each year, all colleges and universities in the U.S. release their report before Oct. 1.

It contains crime statistics from the previous three-year period detailing specific crimes and security policies for institutions.

The Clery Act was established in the 1990 as the Campus Security Act in response to the murder of Jeanne Clery at Lehigh University in 1986.

Amendments to the Campus Security Act renamed it in honor of Clery in 1998.

Lt. Holt said the ways students can ensure they are being proactive in preventing crimes on campus would be to report suspicious activity and to not leave valuables left unattended or in their vehicles.

Holt said, “Use the new Campus Shield app.

There is safety in numbers, so travel in pairs or groups.”

Students were surprised by the increase in these domestic violence crimes.

Freshman Deborah Damaris said, “It’s kind of like that everywhere for girls, especially walking on the street. I always have to keep my guard up whenever I walk around campus alone, especially in the morning since my class is early.”

Damaris said seeing data being recorded showing these crimes being committed on campus should help raise awareness for female students to be aware whenever they are alone on campus.

Another student, Erin Pasado, said that the issues highlighted in the report give the student body an idea of what is going on around them.

Pasado said, “It’s definitely eye-opening to see cases like this here at school. But it’s important to be informed.”

CCC is the only college in the district that had cases of domestic violence and had twice as many dating violence cases as Diablo Valley and Los Medanos colleges combined.

Aggravated assault crimes increased from one case in 2016 to three reported cases in the 2017 school year at CCC.

SOURCE: CAMPUS CRIME AWARENESS REPORT 2016-17

Robbery: 1 case Aggravated assaults: 3 cases Burglary: 4 cases Theft: 32 cases Domestic violence: 2 cases Dating violence: 2 cases

Crime statistics for CCC 2016: n n n n n

Robbery: 3 cases Aggravated assaults: 1 case Burglary: 1 cases Theft: 33 cases Motor vehicle theft: 4 cases

INFOGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

INSTAGRAM: @cccadvocate

TWITTER: @accentadvocate

YOUTUBE: /accentadvocate

SNAPCHAT: @cccadv0cate

2

Quotable “In a democracy, the freedom of discussion, the right to information and freedom of expression (are) of the highest value.

Without them, democracy turns into a caricature.”

Xavier Johnson web editor Denis Perez creative director Cindy Pantoja opinion editor Robert Clinton associate editor Jessica Suico Gabriel Quiroz Jackson Stephens news editor Andrew Weedon Jose Arebalo scene editor Efrain Valdez Joel Umanzor Alex Kwasniza sports editors Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Chris Alfred Issac Benavides Kyle Grant Dan Hardin Luis Lopez Joshua Poole 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, 2018 Member

Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accent.advocate@ gmail.com Editorial policy Columns and editorial cartoons are the opinion of individual writers and artists and not that of The Advocate. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.

●

EDITORIAL

#METOO SILENCED

Jacek Zakowaski television critic 1998 Michael Santone editor-in-chief

opinion

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7, 2018 VOL. 108, NO. 8

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

Female faculty, staff remain silent in lieu of VP finalists

I

t’s hard being a woman on campus at Contra Costa College and if this past week is evidence of what’s to come, things are only going to get tougher.

CCC has a student body made up of close to 60 percent women, according to the latest Datamart statistics provided by the state Chancellor’s Office.

And this week, the female members of the campus community who purport to advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable among us failed each other and all of us at CCC. On Oct. 30, the final public forum was held to select a finalist for the newly proposed vice president of student services position. And although only a little information was released about each candidate, a Google search of two of the candidates yielded startling results of domestic violence and sexual harassment.

It is shameful that CCC President Katrina VanderWoude would consider Dr. Howard Irvin or Dr. LeRodrick Terry for an administrative position on this campus.

In the mid-90s, Dr. Irvin plead guilty to one felony count of stalking, one felony count of terrorist threats and two misdemeanor counts of violating a restraining order.

Dr. Terry’s record is also blemished.

In June, as vice president of student affairs at Rio Salado College in Tempe, Arizona, Terry resigned following a Maricopa Community College District investigation substantiated claims by several women of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Terry denies all of the accusations.

The discovery of these facts is met with disappointment on two fronts. First, how could such sub-par candidates make it so far through the process without being properly vetted? Second is the sad and deafening silence from men and women on campus as they learned of the pasts of these two men.

In recent years, much consternation has been had over transparency and proper representation. When presidential politics threatened the futures of CCC students, faculty and staff stood in solidarity.

However, now, when two men who have sexual misconduct accusations in their pasts — serious enough for them to leave their jobs — are considered for high administrative positions there is silence.

Are none of these champions of women’s safety and equality willing to say a word about allegedly abusive men vying to hold positions of power over women on campus? What happened to #MeToo? Who has the power to stand up for the one in five women who experience sexual assault on a college campus?

It was necessary for one woman — just one — in a position of power on campus to speak up for the rank and file faculty, staff and students and say “NO. Not on my campus.” Sadly, their silence was the only uproar to be heard.

Make no mistake. Presenting these flawed candidates was a decision allowed by the president of this college.

However, faculty and staff members who choose to remain silent as CCC students are blatantly disrespected is a decision that each has to own.

KYLE GRANT / THE ADVOCATE

■ DATING

Women aren’t rehab centers for entitled men W hen most people think of the word rehab, they think of a center with doctors who help motivate a person to kick a drug addiction.

Many people have no idea that as humans, we sometimes siphon the strength of people who are close to us and use their compassion as rehabilitation centers.

Women feel the brunt of this occurrence when it comes to relationships or through simple friendships with men.

We are the stronger sex and offer a wealth of empathy and support — if a man is deemed worthy of deserving it.

Women have an inner glow that attracts broken puzzles yearning assembly (men).

Everyone deals with issues — that’s life.

I have seen and been a victim of men attempting to use me as their cushy rehab facility.

They expect us to take on their problems, ride shotgun on their emotional roller coasters while remaining calm through their aggression and perpetual brokenness.

Some men see women as their calming oasis in a turbulent sea. They narcissistically see a partner as a tool for self-improvement as evident by common boyfriend sayings like “you make me a better man” and “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

People can get addicted to the feeling of being with

Men never blame themselves when they’re in rehab. It’s just that the strong women in their lives have broken down.

They see it as her failure and often men can’t see that they are the ones to blame for their problems — so they unleash on the someone who confides in women like a hurricane. them. The sense of comfort Eleven years ago, R&B and affection can feel like artist Rihanna released a addiction to a drug. song titled “Rehab.”

Men expect extreme The song is about a man measures out of women. she fell for who was an And we amazing lover in the beginmust be ning, but then turned into I have strong, proa dark soul of a man. vide, care seen Rihanna said, “I got to for others’ check into rehab because needs, and been a you’re my disease.” uphold a In the moment, her victim of respectposition of strength slipped able image because of the addictive men while also nature of an emotional maintainattempting connection. ing sex She knows she can’t help appeal. anyone because she can to use me If chilbarely help herself. All of dren are as their her strength went to the involved, man and now she must go then cushy rehab regain her strength, and women part of herself, back. facility. must be She knows she is addicta mother, ed to his presence and if wife and she stays it will most likely lover mixed with everykill her (emotionally). thing else the world throws Women get caught up in at them. feelings of love and affecIf one of these things tion and get blindsided goes out of whack, the man when we know otherwise. will see it and his aggresIt all depends on how sion will bubble to the strong the women is and surface. if an emotionally broken Most men are intimiman is going to drive her dated by strong women away — or draw her in because they want to be closer to fix the problems. emotionally stronger than women.

Jessica Suico is a news But, in reality, deep editor for The Advocate. down they know that’s not Contact her at jsuico.theadpossible. vocate@gmail.com.

jessicasuico

CAMPUS COMMENT

What clubs would you like to see on campus that aren’t on campus?

“I would like a club that explores people’s hobbies.”

“The presence of a psychology club on campus would be cool.”

“I like to dance, so a dance club would be nice.”

“An art or photography club would be really cool.”

“The campus could use a stress relief club, like a meditation club.”

Tyler Macalino

Nisha Gopali

Shyanne Kreger

Htejany Fernandez

Kavon Sykes

undecided

nursing

biology

communication

sociology

“We should bring more awareness and have more resources available.

Jennifer Phan psychology

JESSICA SUICO, ANDREW WEEDON / THE ADVOCATE

campus beat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 11.7.18 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

3

NEWSLINE TAINTED | Outdated hiring process fails campus

LEFT: Los Angeles Southwest College Vice President of Student Services Howard Irvin speaks during a candidate forum in GE-225 on Oct. 30.

Continued from Page 1

DRAMA

PLAY HIGHLIGHTS SOCIETAL STRUGGLES “Water By The Spoonful,” the drama department’s closing production of the fall semester, opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the John and Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts.

The play follows Elliot, who has returned from Iraq and is struggling to find a place in the world. While somewhere in a chat room, recovering addicts keep each other alive, hour-by-hour, day-by-day. The boundaries of family and community are stretched across continents as birth families splinter and online families collide.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays Nov. 11 and 18 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $10 if purchased online at watertheatrelive. eventbrite.com or $15 at the door.

For more information visit facebook.com/ccctheatrelive or on Twitter at ccctheatrelive.

EDUCATION

CENTER HOSTS EMPOWERMENT DAY A multicultural resource center, Bridges invites students to Transfer Empowerment Day on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pauley Ballroom in the Student Union at UC Berkeley.

The free, one-day conference event is for current community college students to demystify, liberate and empower themselves on their journey to higher education.

For more information, email transferbridges@gmail.com Registration begins at 8 a.m.

CAMPUS

VETERANS DAY EVENT CELEBRATES HISTORY The Veterans Club and Veterans Stakeholder Group invites students to join them today for a celebration of the history of the Buffalo Soldiers from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Fireside Hall.

A gallery walk to view artifacts and memorabilia will take place during the first part of the event, before a presentation on the history of the Buffalo Soldiers by the Northern California Buffalo Soldiers Troopers of the 10th Cavalry Company G From 2 to 3 p.m.

For more information visit the Veterans’ Resource Center in SA-112.

CRIMEWATCH Sunday, Oct. 25 An incident was reported at the bus stop turnaround at 11:30 a.m.

No further information was given.

A vehicle’s window was broken between 7:30 and 11:40 p.m. while parked in Lot 1 across from the Tennis Courts. No property was reported stolen.

Monday, Oct. 26 A pedestrian was stopped near the Student and Administration Building. No further information was provided.

Friday, Oct. 30 A theft was reported in the Police Services building. No further information was provided.

Thursday, Nov. 1 An alarm went off in the General Education Building.

— 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.

Many of the incidents surrounding Dr. Terry and Dr. Irvin are identical to those that sparked the #MeToo movement.

This movement spread virally in October 2017 as a hashtag used on social media attempting to demonstrate the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and harassment against women — especially in the workplace.

Irvin, who is currently the vice president of student services at Los Angeles Southwest College, was added as the fifth candidate for the CCC VP position shortly after the initial four finalists held their public forums on campus from Oct. 23-26.

According to an October 1997 Los Angeles Times article, while Irvin was a sergeant at the Los Angeles Police Department during the mid-90s he was the subject of at least three internal investigations into domestic violence.

Of the three cases that took place from 1994 to 1997, two involved female LAPD officers.

Reports and interviews released to the LA Times document each case of arrest and re-arrest in which Irvin plead guilty to one felony count of stalking, one felony count of making terrorist threats and two misdemeanor counts of violating a restraining order.

After his on-campus forum Oct. 30 Irvin told an Advocate reporter, “There were some things, what, 20-something years ago. But all that stuff has been cleared and things of that nature have been adjudicated and a major settlement was won.

“With the invention of computers and things of that nature, (moving forward) is very difficult because these things (criminal records) can be brought up and are left open in your life.”

Irvin said he’s continued to strive to change the perception people have of VanderWoude him when they find out about his record.

“That’s why I’m still here — to stand and tell students that there is always opportunity and second chances,” he said.

This optimism, however, is not shared by an already on-edge CCC community. A week earlier, faculty, staff and students were shocked when they looked online at the background of VP finalist Terry.

Previously, the vice president of student affairs at Rio Salado College in Tempe, Arizona, Terry resigned effective June 30 after a Maricopa Community College District investigation substantiated claims by several women of sexual harassment in the workplace.

As reported by The Arizona Republic, from 2015 to 2017, an unclear number of accusers throughout the district made complaints including inappropriate touching, inappropriate remarks and continuous staring.

In an Arizona Republic article, one woman alleged Terry squeezed the side of her breast while taking a group photo in December 2015.

On another occasion, in July 2016, a woman alleged Terry pulled her close to him during a photo shoot and slid his hand over her buttocks.

Terry denies all the allegations against him and claims race was a motivating factor in the com-

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

n “I think all information

that can be collected on these people should be found. And not just gathered, but released to students.

— Laciee Brown, ASU director of external affairs

plaints.

Last week, right after his on-campus forum, Terry was asked by an Advocate reporter to respond to the allegations made against him at Rio Salado College.

He declined comment.

For faculty, staff and students interested in gaining a better insight into the potential VP contenders, a campuswide email sent from the President’s Office on Oct. 30 announcing Irvin’s last minute on-campus forum includes biographies and personal statements from all five finalists.

However, in those biographies and statements there is no mention of Terry’s tenure at Rio Salado College or Irvin’s career as an LAPD sergeant.

This lack of transparency, which includes limited access to information needed to make informed decisions about candidates, has added adversity to a campus that was adjusting to an administrative overhaul.

CCC’s academic population is overwhelmingly female.

Currently, 59 percent of the student body is comprised of women, according to the 2017-18 Datamart statistics provided by the state Chancellor’s Office.

In fact, when asking a large number of female faculty and staff members for their comments on vice presidential finalists Terry and Irvin, they each insisted on remaining anonymous due to fear of being ostracized on campus or retaliated against in some way.

However, one female student didn’t hesitate to speak out.

Associated Student Union Director of External Affairs Laciee Brown said she was mortified when she learned of the two finalists’ backgrounds involving sexual harassment and domestic violence.

“I think all information that can be collected on these people should be found,” she said. “And not just gathered, but released to students. Faculty are not as impacted by the vice president

choice as students are,” Brown said. “Candidates who have a background of sexual abuse or domestic violence should not hold power on a campus where students are dependent on them for guidance and safety.”

Brown made it a point to stop

by Irvin’s public forum on Oct. 30 in GE-225 to leave a question on a 3x5-inch index card provided for those in attendance to ask anonymous questions of the finalist.

Although the forum was extended 15 minutes from its original 45-minute runtime, Brown said the questions she posed were not asked of the candidate.

Instead, the forum followed a schedule of predetermined questions moderated by CCC Dean of Students Dennis Franco.

“They completely disregarded my question,” Brown said after the forum. “I have a huge complaint about the way they have handled this entire process. You would think that during the (#MeToo) times we are living in and all that’s going on that things would have been taken more seriously.”

The hiring process of anyone at a public college, for the most part, remains confidential. And Contra Costa Community College District policies must be followed exactly to hire any employee.

For full-time hires, including administrators, that process consists of first making the job opening public and accepting applications. Applicants then go through a vetting process to ensure that all minimum qualifications are met.

Following that stage, a paper screening committee looks at the resumés and application submittals and ranks each applicant. A few of them, usually three or four, are forwarded to the next level, an interview committee.

No screenings or web searches into the background of the applicants are done before finalists are selected. Those finalists go through another round of interviews and a public forum where the college community gets to ask questions and review qualifications.

But many on campus believe this inadequacy, with the lack of filtering and vetting candidates early on, taints the entire hiring process. By failing to do early screenings, candidates who may have tainted backgrounds can slip through. This loophole may exclude a more qualified person from being a finalist and jeopardizes the guarantee that students

Vice presidential hiring timeline: Oct. 15: The first interviews occur for the newly established position of vice president of student services. n Oct. 19: CCC President Katrina VanderWoude sends out email announcing finalists and public forums. n Oct. 23-26: Four finalists host their public forums. n Oct. 30: Irvin hosts public forum as fifth VP finalist. n

are accurately represented.

Contra Costa Community College District Director of Communication Tim Leong said, “In general, it’s hard to try to take in additional information after (a hiring) process has begun and insert it into the process and allow that to be considered.

“If a college president decides that, for whatever reason, including if new information about a particular candidate is found, she on her own could take that person out of the mix at that point and let the process continue. That is a possibility.”

Leong said in the 11 years he has been with the district, he’s never seen a college president or chancellor remove a candidate from the hiring process.

“As we do with every high level search, they (human resources) have to do a follow up summary of what it is we have done to determine this terrible flaw in the process and why aren’t we fixing it?” Leong said.

“I think those conversations, very well, could be taking place — particularly after our experience with (the Contra Costa) vice president search.”

CCC counselor Norma ValdezJimenez said, “What the vice president of student services hiring process reveals is that the district is in need of updating hiring policies that will (sort out) candidates, for any position, on the front end so that individuals with a history of perpetrating sexual harassment, assault or domestic abuse are not advanced as finalists.”

The position of VP of student services, when searched on CCC’s website, is described as overseeing student affairs and support service programs for the college.

The start date for this position is Dec. 1 or sooner.

HIRING PROCESS | Five candidates fight for position Continued from Page 1 sides.

“I feel like we are not where we should be, but we are getting close,” political science major Hector Galvez said.

Joyce Coleman, Dr. LeRodrick Terry, Herbert L. English, Vinicio J. Lopez and Dr. Howard Irvin each had one hour to answer questions from the audience during separate public candidate forums. They all spoke about their lives, accomplishments and their goals as future vice president of student services.

“We are looking for somebody who will collaborate and who cares about students. We want to get to know our students and learn ways to make sure that our students are successful,” CCC President Katrina VanderWoude said.

Dr. Terry has 20 years of experience working as an educator/administrator. He has worked at minority serving institutions including a Hispanic serving institution and a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

Some of his extensive educational credentials include a Ph.D. and M.Ed. in higher education administration.

“Students deserve institutional practices that facilitate access, success and equity for diverse

n “We are looking for somebody

who will collaborate and who cares about students. We want to get to know our students and learn ways to make sure that our students are successful.

— Katrina VanderWoude, CCC president

student groups,” Terry said.

Coleman has served community colleges for the last 28 years as an educator, a program and center director, assistant dean, dean of students, dean of academic affairs, and vice president of student services.

She also worked in enrollment management with urban and rural institutions that served nearly 25,000 students.

Coleman said, “We need to focus on taking women out of poverty. We have to show them that they can be who they are without a man telling them what to do.”

Lopez is the dean of academic affairs of ESL, international education and transitional studies at City College of San Francisco.

He has experience working in community

college leadership, with academic affairs and continuing education.

Lopez’s educational accomplishments include earning a doctorate of education in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in history.

English is currently the dean of student equity and success at Victor Valley College.

He has experience working at community colleges as the director of EOPS/ CARE and as coordinator of the Valley Bound Commitment Program at San Bernardino Valley College.

“My goal is to learn the variety of cultures at Contra Costa College and work in collaboration with them,” English said.

Irvin, who was a late addition to the list of finalists, is currently the vice president of student services at Los Angeles Southwest College with 20 years in education.

He is also a retired police officer.

Contracosta.edu states the salary of the new VP will start at $10,833 per month with a yearly incremental increase until it reaches $13,201 per month.

The website also specifies that the vice president is expected to serve as a campus assistant chief executive officer, overseeing academic, student affairs and/or support services.

4

campusbeat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 11.7.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

DEMOLITION PROCESS CONTINUES

By Cindy Pantoja

LEFT: Central Valley Environmental continues demolishing the Liberal Arts Building on Oct. 24.

The demolition process should finish and the constuction process begins August 2019.

opinion editor

cpantoja.theadvocate@gmail.com

The discovery of hazardous products on the foundation of the old Health Sciences Building in recent weeks stalled its demolition until removal was complete creating a delay on demolishing the building and its companion, the Liberal Arts Building.

But once the dangerous waste was out of the way, the demolition has continued as planned.

Currently, the Health Sciences Building is completely demolished, and the Liberal Arts Building is half gone.

While construction workers were drilling to remove the foundation of the building, they stumbled upon thermal paper and had to stop the drilling to wait for a company that specializes in hazardous waste removal to complete the job to conform to safety standards. Project foreman Luis Almena said, “The schedule is a little behind because of the problems with the abatement, but we still have to remove everything under the ground.”

According to the Mesothelioma Justice Network, thermal paper was often used to insulate pipes, machine gaskets and in electrical insulation. It was also commonly used as a backing for fiberKing board. Before the 1980s, a lot of thermal paper was made using asbestos.

CSI Solutions Project Industrial Hygienist Michael D. Harrington said, “At this time, there is no more hazardous waste on site. All kinds of waste were removed, and there is a list of potential hazards that

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

have been removed, such as floor tile, piping and joint compound.”

The construction of a new science complex will be completed in three phases — 1) the demolition of the old building; 2) the labeling of the terrain for the new foundation; and 3) the construction of the building.

The new building, yet to be officially named, is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2023.

Plans to demolish the Health Sciences and Liberal Arts buildings were tailored to be least intrusive to student’s daily activities. This method involves various demolition machinery, mainly a hammer and a crusher. The hammer loosens up big pieces of concrete and the crusher pulverizes the concrete preventing debris from flying

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n “All kinds of wast were

removed, and there is a list of potential hazards that have been removed, such as floor tile, piping and jount compound.”

— Bruce King, Buildings and Grounds manager

around and hurting bystanders.

While these machines are doing their job, construction workers can be seen spraying water on the affected areas to reduce the dust.

Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said, “Demolitions in California are more challenging because they have to be done in an environmentally conscious way.

In our case, the materials are separated. The metal rebar goes to a recycling location and the concrete goes to quarries where it has to be ground and reused.”

Even though the demolition workers have encountered some problems such as the breakdown of three hammerheads, the demolition must be completed no later than Jan. 15. But according to scheduling and their current pace, they hope to be done by the end of November.

After the demolition is complete, the science building project will be submitted into a bidding process with general contractors in order to choose the company that will grade the terrain to get it ready for the foundation of the building to be constructed.

The deadline for results from the bidding must be submitted by Dec. 12.

This part of the process is expected to tricky for the construction workers because they have to work in the rainy season.

King said, “Progress will depend on how much rain we get. If we don’t get too much rain, then we get to do more work. Otherwise, we’ll have to stop for a week or two until everything dries.”

Once the utilities are installed, the project will be submitted for bid again in order to contract with the company that will do the actual construction of the new science building.

The construction phase of the project is expected to begin in August 2019.

safe location offers privacy

By Jose Arebalo

Lgbtq+ stands for

scene editor

arebalo.theadvocate@gmail.com

A new weekly LGBTQ safe space on campus, aimed toward helping Middle College High School and Gateway to College students, is being hosted by experienced an counselor on Thursdays in GE-204.

The group aims to help individuals feel comfortable expressing themselves. Talking vulnerably about sexuality and gender orientations can be intimidating when speaking with anyone. Having a group of open-minded individuals all sit together in one room helps break down some of the barriers around those conversations.

“We wanted to fill a need, mainly for Middle College and Gateway students,” Wright Institute graduate student Candice Bain said. While having older students share their experiences may certainly help create mentor like relationships, the aim is for more relatable peers to bond together, she said.

This group creates a place where students know they can come and speak without judgment.

Working under the supervision of licensed clinician Dr. Daniella Kantorova, Joshua Chow and Bain — graduate students from the Wright Institute — are creating a comfortable room for students to share their LGBTQ experiences.

The Wright Institute provides multiple counseling services to Contra Costa College.

All the programs are completely free of charge for students who have the option to choose from one-on-one counseling, peer medi-

Lesbian

Bisexual

Queer

INFOGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

ation or community circles, Kantorova said. The service options are designed to help students deal with stressful events in their lives and offer a place for them to vent and find answers.

This is Kantorovas’ third year supervising the program, which has been around for about six years. As every student enters Gateway and Middle College, they are assigned a cohort, aimed at ensuring students develop a community.

“LGBTQ students, in particular, are at risk and are lacking in supportive communities,” Kantorova said. As they build supportive relationships, these students are more likely to be successful in their professional lives, she said. There have been groups on the campus before that were geared toward helping LGBTQ students, but previous leaders have graduated or transferred.

“We saw a mental health need to be filled,” Chow said The goal of holding the group time together is to have students feel comfortable, honestly sharing and connecting.

But creating a safe space takes time, he said.

The program hopes to attract younger students who could greatly benefit from speaking to others, sharing their experiences.

Currently, all of the spaces used for student gatherings on campus are open to the public which makes finding a safe space for personal reflection a benefit.

Gay

Transexual

+

questioning, intersex, asexual, ally, pansexual

campusbeat

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5

Vaccines distributed to curb influenza County health department urges public to get a flu shot

By Denis Perez creative director

dperez.theadvocate@gmail.com

After a record-breaking flu season last year, punctuated by numerous fatalities, the Contra Costa County Health Department and Contra Costa College have teamed up to fight off the influenza virus more commonly known as the flu.

In a span of four hours, 115 flu shots were given to students, faculty and administrators at a free pop-up flu clinic run by a county health department staff of around 25 nurses, health investigators and volunteers in Fireside Hall on Oct. 30.

“Flu season starts Nov. 1 and we try to get as many people vaccinated as we can before it gets here,” Contra Costa Health Department spokesperson Louis McKnitt said.

“We have a total of 400 doses available today,” McKnitt said at the start of the event. Toward the end of the event, she said the flow of people was not what they expected. “There was not a huge amount of people — we could have handled more.”

CCC Director of Marketing and Media Design Brandy Howard said, “Last winter the flu season was particularly bad for young people. There were a lot of reports of people in their 20s dying Howard of the flu and that is not the norm.”

According to the Center for Disease Control, the 2017-18 flu season was the first season ever to be classified as highly severe across all age groups. It was also the longest season in recent years, lasting 19 weeks at or above the national baseline.

Howard said, “In our community there potentially are a lot of folks that don’t have health care. So, if we can do anything to keep our students and their families healthy, we wanted to make sure we did.”

Jason Andel, a public health nurse from the Contra Costa

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Registered Nurse Ileen Quimora gives biotechnology professor Katherine Krolikowski a flu shot at the Contra Costa County Health Department’s flu vaccine clinic in Fireside Hall on Oct. 30.

n “Last winter the flu season was particular

bad for young people in their 20s dying of the flu and that is not the norm.”

— Brandy Howard, director of marketing and media design

County Health Department, said flu shots protect people from different strains of influenza that arrive in a given season.

Every season, flu strains evolve which makes it a necessity for a person to get a flu shot every year. Andel said, “The people (he gave a flu shot to) were all OK with it.

Some were a little scared, but in the end nobody cried. So, it was good.”

The 115 people that got the shot were greeted at the door, shown to a chair and asked to fill out a screening form. After filling out the form and turning it in, a nurse would give them their shot.

McKnitt said that the process went smoothly and students were able to get a flu shot within 10-15 minutes of entering Fireside Hall.

Public health major Karen Vargas said, “I am here to get my flu shot because last year I got the flu really badly after not getting one.” She does not currently have health insurance so having CCC provide this service could be a lifesaver for her and others.

She said prior to having a really bad bout with the flu last year, she had never had a flu shot.

“I was scared of the side effects,” she said. She said she heard too many cons to consider taking the injection.

“They say you can get aches and it can get you really sick.” Vargas said many people in Hispanic communities are skeptical of the benefits of flu shots and discouraged her from taking it.

Vargas said, “When I became a public health major, I started to weigh the pros and cons of the flu shot — the pros outweigh the cons by far.”

Vargas said she is optimistic about her health this flu season and will make sure her family and community know the benefits of choosing the vaccine.

Although the impromptu flu clinic did not reach the 400 flu shot mark it set out to accomplish, Howard said, “I think 115 flu shots is great when you think of the ripple effect and the safety it creates.”

She said since this was the first year CCC hosted the flu shot clinic, they didn’t know what to expect as far as results.

She said there is an immediate impact this flu clinic has in that the flu clinic participants will be going back to their communities healthier and less likely to spread the virus.

Howard said, “The flu clinic was successful because of two reasons. A, the campus is aware that this type of event can be done here and, B, it helped form the start of a partnership with the county health department.”

Clubs bring students together Bi-annual event shows n “This is a great opportunity for students to learn about the clubs students group spirit and for clubs to bring awareness

By Cindy Pantoja opinion editor

cpantoja.theadvocate@gmail.com

A large crowd of students attracted by an enormous inflatable miniature golf course and performance stage gathered outside of Fireside Hall on Oct. 31 for Club Rush.

Work for the clubs started early that morning and by 8:30 a.m., club members began decorating their tables and the early signs of the stage’s frame were visible.

By 11 a.m., all the work was completed and the campus was ready for the festivities.

“This is a great opportunity for student to learn about the clubs and for clubs to bring awareness about what they do.” ASU President Alex Walker-Griffin said.

The ASU organized this event in order to provide a comfortable space for clubs to charm students and invite them to join the club that best fits their interests.

Currently, there are more than 20 clubs that are active at CCC. Among the clubs present Alexander at the event were the Puente WalkerClub, Men and Woman Griffin of Purpose, La Raza, the Gaming Club, and Students Associated for Educational Reform, Students among others.

Union Attendees were asked to president grab a card and fill it with stickers from each club.

They were encouraged to visit each table and were offered a chance to win two raffle-style tickets — one for pizza and the other for mini golf.

All the tables offered small prizes such as candies, cookies, games and little trinkets.

The table with the best design and the with most student signatures at the end of the event received extra money to for their club account.

“I took this opportunity to learn about the clubs,” business administration major Ikhor Bali said.

about what they do.

— Alexander Walker-Griffin, ASU president

One of the most popular tables at the event belonged to the award-winning Speech Club. Prominently displayed on its table was the group’s latest first-place trophy.

Speech Club representatives Gabriella Hernandez and Ralph Boquilon happily placed the required sticker on attendees’ cards while they extended an invitation to join their club.

“We travel around the state and have all the traveling expenses covered,” communications major Ralph Boquilon said. “We develop our public speaking skills while we advocate for issues in our own community.”

Political science major Hector Galvez, who hosted the Community Organizing Political Action club (COPA) table at Club Rush, said the club used the event to bring awareness about the importance of students voting in the Nov. 6 general election.

“I’m here spreading the word, advising students that they should vote and why it is important to support issues like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).”

Galvez said.

The table for the Engineering and Math Club was the busiest table of the event.

Members interacted with students and offered various activities such question roulette. Student had to spin the roulette wheel and science major Rudy Suarez Serrano asked participants a science or math question. Winners received a warm invitation to club events and some candy.

As the games were fully underway, in another area of Campus Center Plaza, students enjoyed live rock and hip-hop music performed by local singers and bands.

While most of the students busied themselves visiting the tables, eating pizza and playing miniature golf, nurses invited people to enter Fireside Hall to receive a free flu vaccine.

Upon entering the building, students filled out forms with their personal information and their most recent medical history.

In order to receive the vaccine, they also had to sign a consent form that authorized the

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Pharaoh Cordoba (left), dressed as a bear, and Zeno Cordoba (right), dressed as Captain America, play miniature golf during Club Rush in the Campus Center Plaza on Oct. 31.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Student Malekah Isa plays soda pong during Club Rush in the Campus Center Plaza on Oct. 31.

nurses to perform the procedure.

“At events like this, we get to interact and inform students about how important it is to be protected against the flu,” Dr. Louise McNitt said.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Economics major Oscar Martinez plays guitar on stage during Club Rush in the Campus Center Plaza Oct. 31.

6

scene

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 11.7.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

XAVIER JOHNSON / THE ADVOCATE

Orangutan (left), played by Anne Yumi Kobori, interacts with Chutes&Ladders, played by Umi Grant, in an online addiction recovery chat room in “Water by the Spoonful” at a rehearsal in the Knox Center on Monday.

Trauma, addiction, recovery

By Jose Arebalo scene editor

jarebalo.theadvocate@gmail.com

An impactful story set around family and community struggles in the digital age graces the stage beginning Friday and continues through Nov. 18 at the John and Jean Knox Performing Arts Center.

“Water by the Spoonful,” written by Quiara Alegria-Hudes, traces the stories of multiple characters connected by familial bonds and online communities.

All the characters have been affected by trauma and recovery.

Angelina LaBarre put together a strong, diverse cast to give audiences a play portraying suffering and hope.

“The play requires a diverse, yet very specific, set of roles. It does now allow for just anyone to be cast.

It has characters representing various ethnicities and cultures,” LaBarre said. “The play does not directly deal with race, but culture and backgrounds play an important role.”

The show explores how different cultures experience adversity when dealing with trauma and addiction. It includes stories LaBarre said she feels will resonate more deeply with the college community.

The show was selected as a way to seriously tackle

some of the issues members of the community experience. The performance outlines the real-life struggle veterans, people of color and those suffering from drug addiction face in their everyday lives.

LaBarre said casting roles for “Water by the Spoonful” proved difficult as it was hard to find the number of actors needed with just students from the campus to choose from.

This production had many roles to fill, however, not enough students were available to put on the show. So local community actors were brought in to fill out the cast.

Bringing experienced thespians on has helped the student actors grow as well. “(In the play) some characters have experiences such as the loss of a family member,” LaBarre said.

“For some of our younger students, they’ve never experienced that. Having older community actors around has been useful as they share their experiences with these students.

“While the show is centered on sincere, human experiences, audiences can expect to walk out of the theater with a light-hearted feeling as well.

“We don’t want to pound the audience down with heavy subjects. Instead, we want to provide a balanced take of the themes,” LaBarre said.

The show is the first stage experience for Melissa

Velasquez, who plays Yaz, cousin of the main character Elliot.

“It is harder than you’d expect, (like) memorizing all the lines and being genuine. People can tell if you’re not being real with your emotions — it’s easy to see,” Velasquez said. She said the character has been easy for her to relate to as she brings her own family experiences into the performance.

Diego Loza, who plays Elliot in the performance, said that the hardest part of the production is memorizing all his lines and choreography.

“There is a lot of hope in the play, even though there’s a lot of shit — it’s never the end of things,” Loza said. “The show is intense and deals with serious family bonds, but carries a lot of hope.”

During rehearsals, actors said they have been able to take a balanced approach to the script.

Through each scene they were able to take a moment filled with joy and shift it into dark themes fairly easily.

The creation of characters and their perceptions was also a collaborative effort. As director, LaBarre allows the actors to have input into their characters as well.

The set design has been created so the stage has platforms acting as a metaphor for real life and the internet.

Dia de los Muertos celebration honors culture, informs

By Gabriel Quiroz news editor

gquiroz.theadvocate@gmail.com

Students gathered around Fireside Hall on Thursday eager to gain access to the Dia De Los Muertos event, many lining up well before the event was set to start.

The main attraction for many of the attendees was the delicious cultural delicacies, like tamales, Conchas and Tostilocos. But the food was only a small portion of what the event had to offer.

“I want to make this clear — this is not Mexican Halloween,” La Raza studies department Chairperson Augustin Palacios said.

Students admitted to having some experience with the holiday through previous school events, however, not a lot of people outside of the Latino community had participated in the traditions.

Early childhood development major Alaafia Shambe

said, “My high school had events like this, but I’ve never been to one here.”

Liberal arts major Preston Akubuo said, “I want to experience the culture. I know it’s a way to honor those who have passed.”

Like Akubuo, other students had similar responses when asked about what they knew of the event beforehand.

Palacios said, “The event was envisioned to be hands-on with the sugar skulls, Papel picado, food and going around the altar to talk about those who have passed on.”

La Raza students have brought this event to campus before, but nothing gave attendants a first-hand experience of the event like what was presented this year.

La Raza Student Union President Minerva Arebalo said, “We’ve done this event before, so we knew what wanted to do. This time we got help from Palacios and La Raza stu-

GABRIEL QUIROZ / THE ADVOCATE

La Raza studies professor Augustin Palacios speaks to the crowd at the Dia de los Muertos event in Fireside Hall on Thursday.

dents created the altar by themselves and that helped us a lot.”

Arebalo said the sugar skulls were made by La Raza Student Union members a week in advance so that they would have enough of them and so they had plenty of time to set before the event.

Students were able to participate by decorating the sugar skulls with different colored frosting and were also able to take them home.

There was an area for chil-

dren to color drawings, decorate their own sugar skulls and get their faces painted as Dia De Los Muertos-themed skulls.

Palacios had students gather around the altar and told them its purpose and spoke of his own family photos.

“It is a beautiful way to honor family and a way to celebrate those who have passed,” he said.

Attendees were encouraged to place pictures of anyone in their lives who has passed away

or leave messages for them on the altar to honor and celebrate them.

Students took this opportunity to share what they placed on the altar and speak about their family members and loved ones who have passed. As part of the tradition, they made sure to state their relatives’ names.

Some even shed a few tears while speaking of their loved ones, which seemed to bring everyone there a bit closer together.

sports

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7

FALCONS SOAR OVER COMETS

Volleyball team loses against Solano in its final home match

“When we’re louder it’s more intimidating. We weren’t hyped up.

We got scrappy toward the end of each set, but we need to start out that way.”

SOLANO DEFEATS COMETS

25-8, 25-14, 25-12

Christy Tianero,

Comet volleyball coach

By Alex Kwasniza sports editor

akwasniza.theadvocate@gmail.com

Deadly spikes throughout the game led conference powerhouse Solano Community College (11-1 in the Bay Valley Conference, 16-10 overall) to a victory over Contra Costa College in straight sets (25-8, 25-14, 25-12) Friday in the Gymnasium.

The match, the final home game of the season for the Comets, started a bit sloppy for the Comets (2-11 in the BVC, 2-18 overall) with a few errors, but the team and coaches quickly realized their real problem on the court — that would be dealing with Solano outside hitter Destiny Greenwood.

Comet middle blocker Makaya Thomas said, “All my coach (Christy Tianero) wanted me to do was to focus on (Greenwood) and don’t block anyone else, just her.”

Thomas took the challenge head-on as she was able to block Greenwood a few times. However, getting to Greenwood’s side of the net fast enough COMETS proved tough.

Thomas said Solano did a good job setting up Greenwood with quick plays that were difficult to FALCONS react to.

“I was trying to get to her, but she was quick,” Thomas said.

From start-to-finish, Greenwood constantly pressured CCC’s defense with powerful spikes that were set up by her teammate, setter Mia Pemental.

Greenwood finished the match with 16

0 3

FILE PHOTO/ THE ADVOCATE

Comet middle hitter Makaya Thomas hits a ball during a game earlier this season in the Gymnasium.

kills and Pemental had 23 assists.

After another one of Greenwood’s high-flying spikes pushed the lead to 21-9

for the Falcons in the second set, Tianero was forced to call another time out to try and change her team’s defensive game plan

to stop Greenwood.

“It needs to be practiced in order for it to really work,” Tianero said about why the game plan shift didn’t make much of a difference throughout the match.

CCC did not have a problem defending anyone on the Falcon squad not named Greenwood, using many impressive digs.

The Comets have just one more game to play this season when they host Yuba College at 6 p.m. tonight in the Gymnasium.

Against Solano, Comet right setter Victoria Matue had a strong game on defense racking up 16 digs, the most among any player. Libero Delanie Baca helped her out with a solid eight digs as well.

Baca attributed part of the loss to a lack of energy at the start of each set.

“When we’re louder it’s more intimidating. We weren’t hyped up. We got scrappy toward the end of each set, but we need to start out that way.”

Thomas said, “We could’ve done so much better, so much better. I feel like we were down and a little intimidated by number 4 (Greenwood). We’re not bad. We’re a good team, but we are a catch-up team and we always start playing really well when the set or game is almost over, which sucks.”

Tianero said she really wants to see her team put everything together and have a great game to end the season tonight against Yuba.

Sophomore Thomas said, “I want to win and do amazing because it’s potentially my last game, so I want to go all-out.”

offense obliterates back line

By Efrain Valdez sports editor

evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com

The men’s soccer team demolished Yuba College (0-7 in the Bay Valley Conference, 1-15-1 overall) 7-1 Friday in Marysville.

The Comets (7-7-4 overall and 3-2-2 in the BVC) did what was expected of them in the victory, which kept them in the hunt for a BVC championship.

But to have a shot at claiming the title, Contra Costa College still needs to win its final game against Merritt College at the Soccer Field Friday. Game time is 6 p.m.

The Comets will be at the mercy of other squads within the conference, but the victory at Yuba was crucial toward keeping their hopes alive.

“We started off a little slow against Yuba, until we got into a good rhythm and started to score some goals,” Comet defender Raul Garcia said.

CCC managed to get 20 shots on goal in the match.

The Comets forced 49er goalkeeper Spencer Green to make 10 saves in the 82 minutes he played.

Comet forward Akrosh Budhathoki came away with three goals and forward COMETS Rupert Dusauzay bagged a brace in their impressive showings.

“I believe we still could have scored more goals, but we missed chances that we could have put away,” Garcia said.

49ERS The team, which has won four out of its last six games, has failed to get past important conference rivals like Mendocino and Merritt colleges.

Both teams have frustrated the Comet offensive in their games.

However, in the game against Yuba CCC showed dominance over a lesser-skilled opponent by running up the score.

Garcia said that they were disappointed because they could not get more goals and because they allowed two penalties. He was happy that Comet goalkeeper Salvador Rodriguez was able to stop one of the two penalty kicks.

“We gave up the two penalties. Salvador was able to block one, but the other one went in,” he said.

The team will have this entire week to rest in preparation for Friday’s game against the Thunderbirds.

7 1

BOX SCORES 10 6

7 — 40 0 —6

Rushing — CCC — Steven Jr. 22-92, Robinson 11-24, Cato 1-23.

— Yuba — Long 14-117, Stephens 18-107, Hubble 9-38, Samples 6-37.

Passing — Yuba — Samples 4-10-58, Rios 3-12-34. — CCC — Lee 9-29-62, Jarvis 2-2-108.

Receiving — Yuba — Brown 2-34, Hubble 1-34, Melton 1-28.

— CCC — Owens 2-90, James 1-48, Narayan 2-11.

Men’s Soccer (Nov. 2) @ Marysville, 4 p.m.

Yuba 1, Contra Costa 7 Yuba — 1 CCC — 7

ference and make the playoffs. We just need help from other teams (Yuba and Napa Valley colleges). We have to win our game on Friday against Merritt.”

— Raul Garcia, Comet defender

The contest could be the game that decides the conference champion.

“Our chances of winning the conference are very slim,” Garcia said. “We still have a chance to win the conference

Goals — CCC — Budhathoki 3, Dusauzay 2, Fernandez 1, PaulGindiri 1. w— Yuba — Ramirez 1.

Solano College 3, Contra Costa 0 Yuba 25 CCC 8

25 14

25 — 3 12 — 0

Women’s Volleyball Bay Valley Conference

Men’s soccer Bay Valley Conference

Los Medanos 12 Solano 12 Marin 12 Yuba 12 Mendocino 12 Alameda 12 Contra Costa 13 Napa 13

Teams

STANDINGS Football American - Pacific 7 Conference Teams

GP W - L - T

De Anza 4 Yuba 4 Foothill 4 Los Medanos 4 Redwoods 5 Contra Costa 5

4-0-0 4 - 0 - 0 2-2-0 1-3-0 1-4-0 1-4-0

Pct.

Streak

1.000 1.000 .500 .250 .200 .200

Won 8 Won 7 Lost 1 Lost 3 Lost 5 Lost 2

and make the playoffs. We just need help from other teams (Yuba and Napa Valley colleges). We have to win our game on Friday against Merritt.”

The conference can be decided as early as Tuesday after press time as the 49ers would have to beat Merritt.

Friday, Mendocino will face Napa Valley College (in their final game of the season) at 3 p.m. where the Storm must beat Mendocino to allow the Comets to even think about being conference champions.

If all goes CCC’s way and they end up beating Merritt, the Comets will be crowned BVC champion because of a tiebreaker.

However, if Mendocino ends up tied for first place with the Comets, they will be crowned the champions as they hold the tiebreaker over CCC.

Upcoming Schedule Foothill @ Los Medanos, Nov. 10 Yuba @ De Anza, Nov. 10

Teams

@ San Pablo,6 p.m.

@ Marysville, 1 p.m.

10 0

n “We still have a chance to win the con-

Women’s Volleyball (Nov. 2nd)

Football (Nov. 3) Yuba 40, Contra Costa 6 Yuba 13 CCC 0

FILE PHOTO/ THE ADVOCATE

Comet forward Eduardo De Loa dribbles past a College of the Redwoods defender during a game at the Soccer Field on Sept. 7.

GP W - L - T

Merritt 6 Mendocino 7 Contra Costa 7 Napa 6 Yuba 8

4-0-2 4-2-1 3-2-2 2-2-2 0-7-1

Pct.

Streak

.900 .643 .571 .500 .000

Lost 1 Lost 2 Won 1 Won 2 Lost 2

Upcoming Schedule Napa Valley @ Merritt College, Nov. 6 Napa Valley @ Mendocino College, Nov. 9 Merritt College @ Contra Costa, Nov. 9

GP W - L - T

Pct.

12 - 0 - 0 1.000 11 - 1 - 0 .917 9-3-0 .750 7-5-0 .583 4-8-0 .333 4-8-0 .333 2 - 11 - 0 .154 0 - 13 - 0 .000

Upcoming Schedule Yuba @ Contra Costa, Nov. 7 Mendocino @ Napa Valley. Nov. 7 Alameda @ Los Medanos, Nov. 7 Marin @ Solano, Nov. 7 Marin @ Yuba, Nov. 9 Alameda @ Mendocino, Nov. 9 Los Medanos @ Solano, Nov. 9 Los Medanos vs TBD, Nov. 17

Streak Won 10 Won 1 Won 1 Won 2 Lost 3 Lost 1 Lost 6 Lost 17

8

focus

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Horses, jockeys compete at Churchill Downs Photos by: Denis Perez For

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

ABOVE: Jockey Robby Albarado (right) and Chestnut Colt Blue Steel win the sixth race of the 2018 Maiden at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky Oct. 28.

LEFT: Horses kick up dirt during one of the 11 races during the 2018 Maiden at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky Oct. 28.

LEFT: A girl dressed as a fairy and a boy dressed as Spider-Man watch one of the 11 races during the 2018 Maiden at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky Oct. 28.

Churchill Downs race track opened in 1875. That same year the locals held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks.

It has been the home of the Kentucky Derby ever since.