The Advocate 5-1

WEDNESDAY l 5.1.19 OUR 69TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

DISTRICT STANDS AGAINST RACISM

Politicans speak at sister college, draw crowd

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

FASTING UNIFIES IN FIRESIDE

SEE FAST-A-THON, PAGE 4

SEE CONVERSATION ON RACE, PAGE 4

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DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

ESL major Challal Kahina (left) gives her son, Massinass Kahina (right), a Mecca candy box during the annual Muslim Student Association Fast-a-thon event in Fireside Hall on Monday.

food at your fingertips. Most people aren’t so fortunate. It makes you mindful of what you’re eating and how you feel without food.

— Tiya Gordon, BSU member

during Ramadan, we want to feel our blessings,” Alammari said.

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This year Ramadan starts the morning of May 5 (Sunday) and ends the evening of June 4. It is observed every day from sunrise to sunset, which can last up to 16 hours.

The fast requires refraining from eating or drinking, even a sip of water, while also avoiding negative interactions like gossip and lying.

For students who attempted their own fast prior to the event, participation ended up being difficult and definitely a time for self-reflection.

web editor

n “You’re so used to having

scene editor

Racism has become a landmine many are afraid to walk past, but it is time to race toward the issue because of the extremity of an emergency it has become at a district college.

Recently, Contra Costa College’s sister college Diablo Valley, in Pleasant Hill, has experienced a string of three racist vandalism incidents on campus.

A town hall discussion titled “Conversation on Race” was held by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Contra Costa County) and Rep. Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) at 6:30 p.m. April 23 at DVC. DeSaulnier has served as the U.S. representative for California’s 11th congressional district since 2015.

The discussion was in response to the racist incidents that DVC administrators hope will stave off similar occurrences in the future and centered around issues of increasing cultural awareness DeSaulnier and equity concerns for Bay Area residents.

On March 6 hateful and racist graffiti aimed at African American students was discovered in the men’s rest room in the Engineering Technology Building at DVC. “Conversation is the first step,” DeSaulnier said when it comes to handling issues around racism. “Engaging people and having a discussion with them (is a good start).”

DeSaulnier said he was surprised by how much resistance he met when helping organizing the event.

“A lot of white people and people in power don’t want to talk about (racism),” he said. “If I were a student here, I would insist that people in positions of power make decisions.”

DeSaulnier also said he would support bills on the floor of the House of Representatives to fund the fight against racism.

“Absolutely, that’s a great idea,” he said.

The congressman also said there will constantly be friction between communities and it is important that people talk about it, especially in a global economy.

He also said hosting an event with a Bass, who serves as chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus, is a good start to creating a more inclusive campus. Their discussions seem to be

By Xavier Johnson In an effort to create a greater sense of community and share culture, the Muslim Student Association’s (MSA) third annual Fast-a-thon gave Muslims and non-Muslims the opportunity to reflect and learn about the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is a yearly observed Muslim holy month of fasting, increased charity and community bonding and is observed by Muslims around the world as the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

At Contra Costa College, the Fasta-thon was held Monday in Fireside Hall. Tickets were $3 and afforded attendees a meal and entry into a raffle for Target gift cards.

MSA President Hasna Alawdi said early returns show they raised about $250. All proceeds this year are being donated to Symbols of Hope for Yemen.

Attendees were encouraged to do a truncated fast, then to break their fast during the feast.

MSA member Mohammed Alammari said taking part in the fast, even just for the day, is a personal journey that will change an individual and put life into perspective. It encourages people to be happy with what they already have.

“People are ignorant to our faith and will ask ‘why do you starve yourself,’ but with fasting we are putting ourselves down to see our plate.

Everyone says they’re blessed, but

By Jose Arebalo

WINE FESTIVAL FUNDS TRIP TO ITALY LEFT: Culinary arts major Robin Jassa (middle right), Kassane Clay (left), Brandon Williams (middle left) and Elizabeth Razo, celebrate Jassa as he wins a scholarship for a trip to Italy at the Food and Wine event on Sunday.

By Jose Arebalo scene editor

jarebalo.theadvocate@gmail.com

‘ENDGAME’ SHATTERS BOX OFFICE RECORDS PAGE 8

Softball, baseball season finish PAGE 7

Delicious food and glasses filled to the brim were served in a campus courtyard as the community helped fund a learning experience abroad for a collection of lucky culinary arts students on Sunday.

The Campus Center Plaza was filled with people from all walks of life as the culinary arts department hosted an event aimed at introducing community members to local businesses.

The 12th Annual Food and Wine scholarship fundraiser event was a thrilling afternoon hosted from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The plaza, the Student Dining Room and Fireside Hall were filled with booths hosted by food and beverage vendors from throughout the Bay Area. The event raised money to provide 10 students with a $10,000 scholarship for a 17-day trip to Italy where they will study that country’s culinary habits and delights.

The names of students who will be going to Italy were announced during the event, and after the announcement, many celebrated with friends and family.

“I still just learned about it and I’m so happy,” scholarship winner and culinary arts student Mikaylah Cayanan said. “We worked our butts off and the hard work paid off.”

All the students who received a scholarship deserved one, she said.

Cayanan said learning is the most exciting part of the experience.

The event was flooded with smiling patrons who were served delicious samples provided by restaurants and businesses from around the Bay Area.

Fellow scholarship winner Brandon Williams beamed with pride as the crowd congratulated the

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DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

n “There are lots of different cuisines

and the only way to get better is to get to the roots.”

— Brandon Williams , culinary art student

recipients.

“I feel excited and I’m looking forward to furthering my craft,” Williams said.

Williams said he sees the trip as an opportunity to develop as a professional.

“There are lots of different cuisines and the only way to get better is to get to the roots,” he said.

The actual food and drinks at the event were a luxury as multiple restaurants, boutiques, breweries and vineyards served amazing offerings.

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The food from the culinary arts department was also outstanding and stood up to the professional quality food on display. Samples ranged from jambalaya and sliders to caviar and margarita truffles.

An entrance was set up at the steps in front of the Amphitheater behind the Student and Administration Building where patrons were given a wristband and a glass they would use to sample drinks.

Local businesses such as East Brother Beer Company, Kinder’s Meats and Curbside Kitchen were highlighted, as well as some alumni of the culinary arts department.

“We have some of my own students returning SEE FOOD, WINE, PAGE 4

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Quotable “If you don’t read much, you really don’t know much. You’re dangerous.”

Jim Trelease author 2001 Michael Santone editor-in-chief Robert Clinton associate editor Xavier Johnson web editor Denis Perez creative director Cindy Pantoja opinion editor Jessica Suico Gabriel Quiroz news editors Jose Arebalo scene editor Efrain Valdez Joel Umanzor sports editors Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Issac Benavides Fatima Carrasco Luis Cortes Nijzel Dotson Kyle Grant Daniel Hernandez Janet Lira Gonzalez Luis Lopez De’Jon Sylvain Marshique West 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, 2019 Member

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

opinion

WEDNESDAY, MAY. 1, 2019 VOL. 108, NO. 19

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EDITORIAL CONVERSATION ON RACE

Politicians lead discussion on hot button issue at sister college

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nyone who’s taken the time to check the pulse of public opinion through any medium, word of mouth, media outlets be they mainstream, social, underground or otherwise, know that racial divisions have become an inescapable topic of conversation.

More often than not, these meaningless discussions fail to offer any tangible solutions to any of the problems that broaden our centuries-old continental rift.

However, it’s not for a lack of trying.

For decades marginalized members of society have protested, boycotted, sat in and were spit on in the name of bringing recognition to problems that were on the forefront of daily life.

Like most marches, protests or public displays of social messaging, the important information behind these actions rarely gets to the people who may need it most.

Speaking truth to an expansive audience are what congressional representatives Mark DeSaulnier (D-Contra Costa County) and Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) set out to do last Tuesday night at sister college Diablo Valley in Pleasant Hill.

Rep. DeSaulnier and Rep. Bass also engaged the campus community at Contra Costa College some months earlier, however, this outing was to an area of Contra Costa County that is in no way synonymous with Bay Area diversity.

To the contrary, the area actually proves the Bay Area is not the idyllic cultural melting pot television leads everyone to believe.

DeSaulnier, who represents California’s 11th congressional district which includes most of this county, believes dealing with racial issues begins with conversation.

The event featured a panel-style discussion that included professors and thought leaders and was presented to a more mature, even more skeptical, crowd than would be assumed to attend a liberal-leaning discussion about race in one of the least diverse areas in the county.

The student dining hall served as a learning center as topics ranging from social equity to increased segregation were introduced.

This is in no way saying the people who attended the event needed to hear that information or are in some way a part of the problem. However, it is always interesting to know how a community responds to a message that can be interpreted as accusatory.

Recently, racial graffiti was left in a DVC campus bathroom and many believe discussions like these will help mend the understanding gap on district campuses, even if racial animus is running untethered in much of the rest of the country.

The problem appears to be a complete lack of trust.

Vulnerable students have empathetic discussions about race or gender issues with only a handful of trusted professors or counselors.

When incidents do occur, students are hesitant to report problems that make them feel uncomfortable if examples are not overtly obvious out of fear of inaction.

It’s deflating.

Because acts by campus administrators are usually reactionary measures, rather than ensuring that students feel safe, actions usually seem like a way to smooth things over instead of preventing them from happening again.

CINDY PANTOJA / THE ADVOCATE

■ LIFESTYLE

Self care necessary to find balance in life N

obody wants to be considered selfish.

At a young age many of us were taught that it’s important to help others and to put the needs of others ahead of our own.

But like many things in life, as you grow, you realize it’s more complicated than that — not everything is as black and white as we were raised to believe.

I wouldn’t argue people should selfishly live without taking the feelings of others into consideration, however, I do believe everyone deserves time dedicated to self-care.

Some people can become so focused on pleasing others, so inclined to help those they love, that they lose contact with who they are or who they are meant to be.

I would know because I am one of those people, and I know that I’m not alone.

I’m not the only one who over-helps or the only person who’s been on the verge of collapsing because I’ve allowed the circumstances other people battle contribute to my stress.

Nor am I the only one who has a difficult time seizing good opportunities because of mounting concerns of how it may make someone else feel.

People like us are the reason I’m writing this.

We need to realize if we don’t take care of ourselves, it will hinder our ability to take care of others in.

On an airplane, passen-

ing comfortable in your own skin. How can someone do that if they’re constantly worrying about others?

Each person owes it to him or herself to discover their passion, path toward finding true purpose in life. Discover what you like gers are instructed to put about yourself and cling to their own oxygen mask on it. If you dislike something first before trying to assist about yourself, work on the person next to them ways to improve it. in the event of an emerMaking life-altering gency. Similarly, people decisions can be part of with an urge to help others self-care, just as stepping through outside-of-the box can Each life’s issues often inspire growth. need to Whether it’s choosing person make sure a school, deciding on a they’re in career, leaving home or owes it a place to making a shift in diet, if it’s what you honestly believe to him or provide adequate will give you the best herself to support. chance for success or hapYou piness, try it. can’t save discover Remember, your opinthe person ion matters more than anytheir pas- next to one else’s. you if your Over-extending oursion, path judgment selves without taking peris clouded sonal moments to recharge toward by internal emotionally usually results in a feeling that life is passfinding issues.

Mental ing us by, or steamrolling true health days over us. and weekPeople often confuse purpose. end spa “self ” care with being selfexcursions ish. But nothing could be aren’t readily available to further from the truth. all of us. However, we all Finding a balance deserve the luxury of self- between assisting those in care, however we find it. need and a healthy dose There’s absolutely noth- of self-maintenance is the ing wrong with taking a best way to keep track of break from the external who we are. forces in our lives to focus on how to be the best posNijzel Dotson is a staff sible versions of ourselves. writer on The Advocate.

Part of gaining longContact him at ndotson. theadvocate@gmail.com. term happiness is becom-

nijzeldotson

CAMPUS COMMENT What is your biggest health concern?

“The devastating measles outbreak going on right now. We need more doctors to be proactive on getting people vaccinated.”

Aaron Waters

mechanical engineering JESSICA SUICO / THE ADVOCATE

“I worry about the radiation we receive by technology like our phones, computers, and television. The radiation is causing cancer and it’s scary” Nora Mejorado early childhood development

“People not washing their hands after using the bathroom, and then going and touching things that other people touch.”

“I worry about getting diabetes because it runs in my family, and I don’t watch what I eat as much as I should. ”

Michael Angelo

Roszel Constatino

engineering

psychology

“People who aren’t aware of health issues concern me because they are walking around not informed and may have an illness they don’t know about.”

Samuel Demissie computer engineering

“The flu, because some people may not even realize they have the flu and go to work or somewhere and spread it to others.”

Rave Gutfeld biology

forum

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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Advocate staff works hard to serve as the voice of Contra Costa College students, but there are opinions and issues we miss. We need to hear from students, faculty and staff to cover the campus fully. Send your ideas, opinions or comments to us as letters to the editor to accent.advocate@gmail.com or deliver them to our Newsroom in AA-215. Letters are subject to editing for libel, space constraints and clarity.

■ OPINION

EMCEE CREATES LEGACY Community mourns death

N

ipsey Hussle was more than just an emcee or a community entrepreneur.

He was, by all accounts, the embodiment of the progression of West Coast hip-hop in the 21st century.

Hussle, whose real name was Ermias Asghedom, was born in Los Angeles in 1985 to an African American mother and an East African father.

He wore many hats within his Los Angeles community Nip and the community of hip-hop: emcee, showed urban fashion designer, business the owner, leader, political commentator, masses father and son.

One could make that you an argument for and have philosopher prophet as well.

Hip-hop is a that focus, culture birthed from the struggle will power of minority peoples in communities in to which they never progress felt they had a voice.

Nipsey was if you that voice for his community in desire to. Crenshaw, through not just his music, but his very physical presence among the people.

And when his killer, Eric Holder, took the 33-year-old South Central emcee’s life on March 31, he dealt a blow not only to the region and coast, but to the entire cultural landscape of the hip-hop community.

Many artists, including Joe Budden and N.O.R.E., have used their platforms on podcasts to describe Hussle’s career as playing the game the “right way,” investing back into the community which birthed and influenced him.

It is a tragedy that Nipsey was murdered, ending his life at the young age of 33. But his career, which spanned the past 13 years, was one that touched the entire hip-hop community.

Northern California and the Bay Area is one of these areas, with collaborations on songs like “California Dreamin” with legends like Yukmouth from Oakland and “Ain’t Hard Enough,” with (at the time in 2016) up and coming emcee Mozzy from Sacramento.

Many tragic deaths associated with hip-hop have come in the form of an artist dying without

joelumanzor fully being able to develop themselves musically by showcasing their talent as they mature or by dying before their prime.

An artist like The Notorious B.I.G., who was murdered in Los Angeles at the age of 24, was never able to release content other than his “Ready to Die” album and the posthumously released “Life after Death.”

Tupac Shakur produced memorable poetry and musical content, but died at 25 before being able to fully realize his ambitions beyond that young age.

But this wasn’t the case with Nip. Over a decade in the hip-hop game — and although he had only one official studio album in “Victory Lap” (released in 2018) — the amount of music Nipsey released consisted of 13 mix tapes and two compilation albums that essentially surmised the legacy of one of the most consistent West Coast emcees of the past 15 years.

And that is where the pain from his death evaporates and the understanding of what he meant to the art form of hip-hop appears.

Nipsey was the representative for the whole West Coast when he appeared on the third annual XXL Magazine Top 10 Freshman list in 2010, only the second ever emcee from the region to be given what is now known as coveted recognition within the culture.

The best way to describe Nipsey’s place within the Hall of Fame of West Coast hip-hop is the same symbol he used throughout his career: the marathon.

Nipsey wasn’t a one-hit wonder.

He didn’t have a dance or a gimmick to con you into listening to his words.

His eight years following the XXL freshman mention were filled

with music that inspired the type of people he saw himself as: real.

Longevity and realness are themes that always stand out about Nipsey’s music.

They permeate throughout the different mix tapes, from his debut mix tape “Slauson Boy,” to his efforts in the middle of this decade with projects such as “Crenshaw” and “Mailbox Money.”

The culmination is “Victory Lap,” which can honestly be viewed in a prophetic light.

Hussle states he is the “Tupac of my generation” in the song “Dedication,” featuring fellow Los Angeles native Kendrick Lamar.

But if there is one area he differed from Shakur it is that he never was the center of a rap beef.

As a Crip, he collaborated with YG putting aside street politics for the furtherment of the LA hip-hop culture.

In an era and area where historic racial tensions between Latinos and African Americans have existed, Hussle showed his solidarity with the Latin American community by collaborating with YG and releasing “FDT” (“F*ck Donald Trump”) in the midst of the 2016 presidential election.

Many people compare the life of Nipsey to Tupac.

But the two differ.

Tupac was born in New York, lived in Baltimore and moved to the West Coast while an adolescent, all while finding his niche within this wing of the genre of hip-hop.

Nipsey was born, raised and, ultimately, died in Los Angeles making him synonymous with the city.

Because he died at such a young age, Tupac never was able to financially influence his neighborhood the way Nipsey did during his life, opening up businesses and hiring people from his section of town.

Tupac, although a figure in gangsta rap, was never a known affiliate of a West Coast street gang.

Hussle’s loyalty and affiliation with the Rollin’ 60s Crips gave him the ability to relate to the plight of those in the lifestyle by painting clear, lyrical pictures in the minds of his audience.

Although Tupac’s identification with the region inspired many, his death never moved the nation’s streets to universal reflection as Hussle’s death has.

From Los Angeles to Harlem, there has been a grand-scale figurative moment of silence that has taken over the hip-hop community the same way that the streets of

Brooklyn paid tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. following his death.

New York emcee Dave East put together a vigil for Hussle in his city in the same manner other emcees organized events in Detroit, Atlanta, Houston, Kansas City, Oakland and Miami.

Nipsey showcased the type of unity not only through his words, but also through his actions, in wanting to unify his community in the midst of the gang violence that is commonly associated with his neighborhood, South Central Los Angeles.

By meeting alongside community leaders and the Los Angeles Police Department to discuss solutions to local problems, Nipsey showed that open dialogue, even with those who do not see eye-to-eye, is necessary for progress.

Learning through living life’s good and bad, is what he contributed to the culture of hip-hop.

Nip showed the masses that you have that focus and willpower to progress if you desire to.

Through his establishment of his Marathon store in 2017, Nipsey poured money back into his community and made clear his wishes of building up the place he called home.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, by Angel Jennings, Nipsey attributed his maturity to a trip he took to his father’s homeland of Eritrea in East Africa when we was 19.

Seeing and being around a culture where people of his own skin color were in charge, Nipsey had an eye-opening experience.

And he returned to Los Angeles with a mentality to make a change in Crenshaw by taking a leadership role within that community.

All in all, Nipsey’s life was filled with a vision with inspiration and impact for his community that ultimately defined his legacy on this earth.

Hussle said, “A thousand burpees on the path to my own destruction or success, but what is a mistake without the lesson? See, the best teacher in life is your own experience.

“None of us know who we are until we fail. They say every man is defined by his reaction to any given situation, so who would you want to define you?

Someone else or yourself?”

Joel Umanzor is a sports editor for The Advocate. Contact him at jumanzor.theadvocate@gmail.com.

ILLUSTRATION BY JANET LIRA / THE ADVOCATE

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campusbeat

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LEFT: U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (left) talks with Associated Student Union Senator Alfredo Angulo and President Rebecca Hernandez during a town hall meeting at Diablo Valley College on April 23.

NEWSLINE CEREMONY

GRADUATION HONORS AFRICANA STUDENTS The Africana/African American studies department and the African American Staff Association would like to invite students of African descent who are transferring or graduating to participate in the 21st annual Celebrating Success ceremony on May 18 at 6 p.m. in the John and Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts.

Graduating students who wish to participate MUST attend the rehearsal, which will be held at the Knox Center on May 8 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Those who cannot attend the rehearsal must visit Africana/ African American studies department Chairperson Carolyn Hodge in her office in GE-309 for an orientation on either May 13 or 14 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Students can also schedule an appointment before May 13 at 3 p.m. by calling 510-215-4934.

EDUCATION

CHANCELLOR TO HOST TOWN HALL MEETING State Chancellor Eloy Ortiz

Oakley will be holding a public town hall meeting on May 13 in Fireside Hall from 3:45 to 5 p.m.

The town hall meeting is a part of Oakley’s visit to Contra Costa College, which also includes a invitation only meeting with both students and faculty.

Due to room capacity only 10 faculty, staff and students per college in the district will be able to attend the private meeting.

For more information, contact Academic Senate President Beth Goehring by phone at 510-2154966.

CELEBRATION

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

CONVERSATION | Solutions discussed to combat hate Continued from Page 1 gaining momentum in a positive direction judging from the full attendance of the event.

The DVC student dining room had been cleared to welcome a few hundred concerned people who came out to hear DeSaulnier’s message. However, the crowd was made up of older people. DVC students had raised concerns about the racist vandalism since it first occurred early this semester, but weren’t present in large numbers to express their outrage to DeSaulnier or Bass.

In addition to the congressional representatives on hand, there were also UC Berkeley professors in attendance who offered researched opinions on the issue of segregation and identity politics.

Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor Fred Wood also spoke about changes that need to be made across district campuses.

“At the district level, we coordinate activities and talk to police

about monitoring areas better,” Wood said. “We continue to talk about (placing) video cameras (on campus) with the police.”

Wood said administrators feel the tension when acts of racism, like the posting of racist vandalism, occur. “It’s hard to engage people around what sometimes can be difficult conversations around race,” he said.

DVC President Susan Lamb is taking steps to foster discussions on race relations on the campus.

She said she is working with the college’s Academic Senate and Classified Senate to facilitate the development of a fall All-College Day forum focusing on “AntiRacism and Creating Inclusive Environments.” She was excited to show what steps have been taken in an attempt to tackle this issue.

DVC faculty have also worked with its college council to form a task force whose purpose is to discuss student demands and provide recommendations back to the council, Lamb said.

Administrators met with both the African American Male

n “It’s hard to engage

people around what sometimes can be difficult conversations around race.”

— Fred Wood, district chancellor

Leadership Program (AAMLP) and the Black Employees Network (BEN), Lamb said.

A delegation of Associated Student Union senators from Contra Costa College attended the event to support their sister college students.

“We are showing that we don’t tolerate racism on our campuses,” ASU Senator Alfredo Angulo said.

“We are going there to express our concerns to Rep. DeSaulnier.”

A student representative from DVC came to CCC’s InterClub Council (ICC) meeting and told those in attendance that they felt underrepresented on their campus, Angulo said.

DeSaulnier praised the East Bay for the number of seasoned researchers who work to docu-

ment racist incidents in an effort to create change. The academic researchers in the room were wellversed in their subject matter.

Steven Pitts, associate chairperson of the UC Berkeley Labor Center, was able to teach attendees about what segregation looks like — and with hard data. Research presented highlighted how segregated the Bay Area has become.

Data also showed how clumped areas with high percentages of white people were, mostly near Walnut Creek, and higher percentages of Latinos, mostly near San Pablo. The discussions were focused primarily on understanding what the current state of race relations is within the county.

“The Bay area is only 40 percent white, but they still make up a majority in numbers,” Pitts said.

Panelists explained just how complex the fight against racism truly is. Panelists agreed that if people look at racism as a matter of separation and judgment, even if they cleared people’s judgment, there would be structural racism in place.

CEREMONY OFFERS BIG SCHOLARSHIPS

FAST-A-THON | Authentic cuisine welcomes students

The Contra Costa College Foundation will be giving out $185,000 in scholarships during the 60th Annual Scholarship Award Ceremony tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the John and Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts.

A reception with light refreshments for donors and scholarship recipients will be held in the lobby of the Knox Center from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.

Family and friends are welcome to attend the award ceremony.

For more information, contact Sarah Marcellino by email at smarcellino@contracosta.edu or by phone at 510-215-3805.

Continued from Page 1

EVENT

HOLIDAY INSPIRES FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES Celebrate Armed Forces Day and meet student veterans as you test your strength and endurance with track and field competitions on Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Contra Costa College football field.

Four exercises will be conducted as students compete in different categories for prizes such as a FitBit, movie tickets, and backpacks.

Lunch will be served and participation is free and open to all.

For more information contact Veterans Program Coordinator Tejae Dunnivant by phone at 510215-6774.

CRIMEWATCH Thursday, April. 29 A car was vandalized in Lot 1 across from the Tennis Courts at 9 a.m.

— 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.

“You’re so used to having food at your fingertips — most people aren’t so fortunate. It makes you mindful of what you’re eating and how you feel without food,” Black Student Union member Tiya Gordon said.

MSAs around the nation also have fast-a-thons as a way to help students understand more about Ramadan and Islam.

“Fast-a-thon is an outreach program to unite a little before Ramadan and build bridges between the Muslim and non-Muslim communities, to try and understand each other’s culture. We’d like to help people have more tolerance. People just don’t know or take the time to learn about Islam,” guest speaker Imam Hamza Mehter said.

The feast represents the evening breaking of fast which often is a communal moment with family and loved ones at a local mosque.

Community member Kahina Challal said Ramadan is a time the family and community all come together, even if they don’t meet much the rest of the year.

Alammari said, “During Ramadan, I get way closer with family and God and my community. It’s a beautiful month.

Ramadan refreshes you.”

As guests filled their plates with

resources to help others,” Mehter said.

As Mehter’s talk closed, he reiterated the importance of giving during Ramadan, which Alawdii said she wanted to be emphasized during the evening’s dinner.

“The charitable part of Ramadan is what a lot of people don’t know about.

“It’s a big part of the month.

It’s a time when we can reflect on what we have and think of the poor,” she said.

As the event closed, guests were asked a few questions about what they know about Islam.

Throughout the evening food, conversation and knowledge were shared building a bridge toward understanding just what Ramadan is and why it’s meaningful.

“Events like this are important DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE in the time that we are living in, Art major Ank Khuat eats a date to break her half-day fast during building bridges and doing somethe Muslim Student Association Fast-a-thon in Fireside Hall on thing a little extra,” Alawdii said.

Monday.

It includes having student responsibilities and still having this year’s feast including chick- God-conscious, which includes the forbearance to be patient with en tikka masala and rice, Mehter, increased prayer and time for people and going out of your way who’s back for his second year, reflection and to be grateful. to do extra.

“These events work to build shared background on Ramadan He emphasized the increased and went over the main objectives sense of self-reflection and prayer, community,” Mehter said. during the holy month. community and charity that hapAccording to Intensive Dietary Ramadan translates to “to pens during Ramadan.

Management, fasting has been burn,” and Mehter said Ramadan “There is such an emphasis practiced for centuries and is one is a time to burn one’s sins. placed on community, building of the oldest traditions of milMehter said during Ramadan bridges with others, generosity lions of people of different faiths the objectives are to become and giving of our time, wealth and around the world.

WINE| Fundraiser gathers breweries, restaurants Continued from Page 1

Student Dining Room and a silent auction inside Fireside Hall. to help with the event,” culinary “It’s the biggest fundraiser of arts department Chairperson the year for the culinary arts scholNader Sharkes said. arships,” culinary arts laboratory It is important to keep con- assistant Angel Chau said. nections and give opportunities to Chau said the afternoon event students, both current and prior, is incredibly important and helps he said. the students.

“The event is one the most “Without the participation of important fundraisers of the year the vendors and sponsors, this for the department,” Sharkes said. event would not be happening,” And, according to Sharkes, it’s she said. One of Sharkes former also known as “one of the largest students, John Surla, had a table at wine events in the East Bay.” the event as well.

During the event, live music “I worked hard to get where I was provided by the GTS Band, am — age 24, executive chef; age filling the space with jazz. There 31, owning two restaurants; and was also a fundraising auction that now at age 41, working on my took place on the steps outside the third one.”

LEFT: Culinary arts major Uniceasenet Saaredra pours a glass of wine during the Food and Wine dvent in the Campus Center Plaza on Sunday.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

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Fountains reduce plastic waste

By Fatima Carrasco advocate staff

fcarrasco.theadvocate@gmail.com

By the time students had returned from spring break on April 8, both the Library and Learning Resource Center and the Student and Administration Building had swapped out their old water fountains for up-to-date, more efficient models.

Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King had the vision of installing new and improved water fountains all around campus. His goal was to install fountains that allow students to refill their own containers to promote reusing bottles and saving plastic.

“They tell us how many water bottles we are saving,” King said.

Like any project, this requires money and support from the community and at more

than $4,500 per fountain, funding will be a crucial component of completing the project on campus.

In an attempt to engage everyone in the campus community, King reached out to the Associated Student Union, which has money available from the $5 Student Activity Fee collected from each Contra Costa College student upon registration for fall and spring semesHernandez ters.

However, when the modernization plan was proposed to the ASU, the ASU Board voted not to invest in the project.

According to ASU President Rebecca Hernandez, “The ASU created an online

SurveyMonkey (survey) to hear exactly what the student body wants or needs and over 100 students responded. No one expressed concerns about water fountains.”

Student senators used the 100-student survey as an unofficial snapshot of issues the entire student body deems important in order to assess what students want the ASU to do with the funds from the fee.

ASU Vice President Lacie Brown said, “We, on the board, try our hardest to reach all of our students and to provide our campus with what the students want. Our main priorities were the most frequently asked-for items.”

The ASU decided to opt out of helping pay for the new efficient water fountains and instead put some of that money into recruiting artists and entrepreneurs to speak directly to students on campus.

As for the newly installed fountains, with the help of CCC counselor Luci Castruita, King was able to contact people willing to help by donating bits of money to support the project.

In the Library, King said the Sustainability Committee and Friends of the Library funded the new fountain.

Castruita helped find people who donated money for the SA Building fountains.

The work in both buildings was done by local contractors from the Robert Jackson Plumbing Company who King said “are very good at their job and have very reasonable prices.”

No additional funding for new water fountains in the Applied Arts Building were available, so replacements of those fountains will remain on hold until funding is found for them.

FOOD DAY PROMOTES AWARENESS, CULTURE

By Jose Arebalo advocate staff

jarebalo.theadvocate@gmail.com

An exchange of cultures from across the world filled plates with a variety of flavors and introduced the campus to the International Students Club on April 24.

The cultural event, which went from 1-3 p.m. in Fireside Hall, showcased the diversity within the club.

The organization wants to serve as a beacon for students from different backgrounds providing a comfortable space on the campus, ISC President Miguel Salvador said.

Students were invited to partake in food selections including options from countries DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE such as China and Mexico.

Salvador invited the public into the Chemistry major Elissa Lee serves Vietnamese sandwiches as part of the international food event in Fireside Hall April 24. The well-decorated hall where tables were set event featured foods from countries like Korea, Japan, China and Mexico. with festive centerpieces including flags from different countries. He began the luncheon event?

Science Excellence Director Setiati Sidharta know we’re taking new members.” event by taking a microphone and intro“Previous club advisers told us the club said. “I invited my colleagues from the STEM The group fulfills a more creative need for ducing a new beginning for the student had done something similar to this in the departments to come support the event as chemistry major student Elisa Lee. organization. past. So we decided to try it out for our- well.”

“I travel a lot and being here is a different “This is a long-standing club, and for selves,” Salvador said.

The event was well attended with many experience,” Lee said. “This is the only club the past few years we haven’t been gaining “Currently we don’t have a lot of mem- students and staff quickly adding up to over I’m in and being here helps give me a creative enough new membership,” Salvador said. bers, so we took the initiative to create this 50 participants. outlet.”

“We wanted to get noticed for doing some- event so students notice us and hopefully we Club adviser Jenna Hornbuckle welcomed By halfway through the event the room thing for the campus.” get more members.” everyone at the door. had a line along the glass walls in Fireside The club provided the lunch event comThe International Students Club wants to “I’m proud of the group coming together,” Hall. pletely free for its 50 participants. serve as a place where students from different Hornbuckle said. “They were able to organize In a show of support, more students and “We’re the International Club, so obvi- backgrounds feel welcome and can get to and have fun planning it.” faculty had shown up than the club’s students ously we want to get the attention of inter- know each other.

She said all students should consider join- were expecting. They ran out of “passports” national students,” he said. “We have a As soon as the doors opened after 1 p.m. ing the club, not just students from different they handed out to be stamped as attendJapanese and Taiwanese students serving students and staff lined up to be served. countries. ees received servings of food from different food as well,” he said.

“I heard about the event from a student “Anybody can celebrate different cul- cultures.

And why was the club hosting a free and came out to support them,” Center for tures,” Hornbuckle said. “We want people to However, they didn’t run out of food.

Gateway program creates pathway to graduation

By Luis Cortes advocate staff

lcortes.theadvocate@gmail.com

Second chances are something many high school students never receive, during high school.

However, what if a program existed that could not only keep students from dropping out of high school but could help them graduate.

There is a program like that. It’s called Gateway to College and it exists at Contra Costa College.

Dr. Karl Debro, Gateway to College manager, estimates that 120-130 students are currently attending Gateway on the CCC campus.

Debro said Gateway recruits local students twice a year, once in the fall and again in spring.

Gateway to College was initially started in 2000 by Portland Community College and was shortly thereafter funded and replicated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2003. The purpose of the Gateway program is to support 16- to 20-year-olds who drop out of high school or aren’t on the path to graduate on time for their class.

Since 2003, colleges in 19 states participate in the program with California having five locations throughout the state — two in the Bay Area.

The other Bay Area Gateway to College program is at Laney College in Oakland.

CCC’s Gateway program is a partnership between Contra Costa College and the West Contra

Applying to Gateway to College Attend an informational session is the first step in deciding whether Gateway is right for you. Sessions are held every Tuesday from 3:30–5 p.m. in AA-113 from May 1 to June 4.

Email gateway@contracosta.edu for a copy of the Gateway application and fill out an application to Contra Costa College.

If you have questions about either application, contact Gateway program staff at 510-215-3835.

Once you have completed the two application, you need to schedule an interview. This includes a timed essay assessment.

Interview sessions are held every Wednesday from May 1 to June 12 from 3:30-6 p.m. in AA-113.

LUIS LOPEZ / THE ADVOCATE

Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD).

It allows students ages 16-20, who have dropped out of high school or are unlikely to graduate, find success through support of the Gateway program with oneon-one mentorship, foundational college courses such as reading, writing, math, and other college skills classes.

Eighteen-year-old Alex Zevallos has been in the Gateway to College program for 18 months. When he first came to the program, he felt optimistic after having a bad experience at his former high school,

De Anza in Richmond.

This is the last semester Zevallos will attend the Gateway to College program. “I felt optimistic coming into Gateway because I came from not so good of a high school because I didn’t like how it was run,” Zevallos said.

Zevallos’ said his experience in the public high school system was an issue because the school didn’t seem interested in the students.

He said the Gateway staff is very different from instructors at De Anza.

“The (Gateway) staff cares about students. They try to help

students meet what they need for graduation,” he said.

Zevallos said he feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders because the program helped him set new priorities in life. The staff offers activities during class like resumé building and allows students to use skill-finder websites.

The application process for the Gateway to College program includes attending an information session where students learn more about the program. Dates for the upcoming fall 2019 informational session and the three steps to

apply are available by visiting the CCC website and clicking under the Gateway to College link.

Students who are thinking of applying must also apply to CCC as their first step.

If chosen for an interview, applicants must bring both completed CCC and Gateway applications and be prepared to explain why Gateway would be an excellent fit for their educational goals.

Debro said the program, in spite of all the efforts of its students and staff, has a negative stigma surrounding it on campus.

Anna Chuon is a resource specialist for the Gateway to College program and describes it as a second chance for students who are short on credits and behind or have dropped out of high school entirely.

Chuon said students she works with come all kinds of life and educational situations. Some come from neglected educational environments and others have gone through personal issues.

Chuon’s duties include helping student one-on-one, and sometimes that requires text message checkups. She wants students to stay on task so she checks up on their progress.

“We don’t easily push out students,” Chuon said. “We tailor the program to their needs. We want them to attend school and not give up easily.”

Besides helping students graduate, Gateway also hosts events for students as would a traditional high school.

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LEFT: Diego Loza (left), Jelaine Maestas (middle front), Gregory Lee (middle back) and Andrea Flores (right) raise a glass of champagne during a scene from “The Hispanick Zone.”

XAVIER JOHNSON/ THE ADVOCATE

Satire depicts Hispanic stereotypes Collection of short scenes create alternative universe filled with surprises

By Xavier Johnson web editor

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

T

he drama department has nailed it again for the second year in a row while continuing to bolster connections with the Latino community in the final production of the academic year “The Hispanick Zone.”

Running the weekends of April 19 and 26, this hilariously irreverent play combines colorful sets and costumes with a sharp script and solid performances creating an evening of theater that even non-Latino audience members can enjoy.

Directed by drama department Chairperson Carlos-Manuel Chavarria, the structure of “The Hispanick Zone” follows a format similar to “The Twilight Zone,” from which it drew significant influence.

A selection of short scenes play out in strange alternate universes where twists are quick to come by.

Each scene takes an exaggerated look at parts of various Hispanic cultures.

There are several scenes that could fit straight into an episode of “The Twilight Zone,” which are some of the best. The over-the-top way these scenes examine society is hilarious while also thought-provoking.

One scene shows three television executives in a meeting wondering if the world is ready for

a minority television star. As their conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that this reality is a Latino majority and they’re deliberating the viability of a white star in their show.

The absurdity found in this scene really shows the ridiculousness of real-life companies having that same meeting when it comes to casting Latino actors.

Another great scene was that of Southern politicians trying to diversify their voting base by appealing to “Maria,” a mannequin they own to repPLAY resent the Latino voting base.

REVIEW Their racist language “The Hispanick while trying to strategize Zone” how to gain the Latino vote ★★★★★ Venue: Knox is uncomfortably real. There’s Center truth to all the humor in this Directed by: play.

Carlos-Manuel Chavarria While a lot of the humor in the performance is relatable to audience members from any background, some jokes hit specifically hard toward the Latino members of the audience.

Certain scenes like a construction worker, played by Diego Loza, speaking in hilariously exaggerated English to appear more American is approached by his boss and co-workers to speak in simpler English because that’s what expected

of him.

While the base level joke is clear to everyone, there were specific nuances and jokes that got a laugh from Latino audience members.

One scene managed to steal the show bringing out the ensemble to act out a telenovela. A telenovela is a soap opera produced in Latin America and is stereotypically marked by overly dramatic love stories and plot twists — something this scene had in abundance.

The scene was a whirlwind of energy and twists that received some of the heaviest laughs in the show.

Most people can relate to seeing the wild scenes from telenovelas, so it was a scene that did a great job bridging cultures.

The play took a while to get going with some opening scenes like “language for lovers,” a monologue by Silvia Sobal playing La Doctora.

She led the audience in a lesson on how to approach lovers by shouting “mamacita” and “papasote.”

The scene is funny, but the play gets stronger and excels as the ensemble gets the chance to play off one another.

The final scene is an interesting one with a beauty pageant led by Chavarria as Latina Turner. She introduces the contestants Mr. USA, Mr. Venezuela, Mr. Bolivia, Mr. Puerto Rico, Mr. Panama, Mr. Mexico and Mr. Nicaragua.

KOREAN BOY BAND GAINS WORLDWIDE SUCCESS BTS finds notoriety due to fan support

By Janet Lira advocate staff

jlira.theadvocate@gmail.com

O

ver the past few years, international Korean boy group BTS has been skyrocketing in popularity and more recently the group’s fandom, or “ARMY,” has cemented the newcomers on top of the industry’s most influential charts.

Their popularity has finally reached U.S. fans through collaborations they have done with known American artists like Steve Aoki, Desiigner and Wale.

BTS has recently released collaborations with Steve Aoki again, Nicki Minaj, Cheat Codes and Halsey.

Big Hit Entertainment, BTS’s production agency, has announced many more collaborations planned for the group with more artists in the U.S. In Korea, BTS is known as Bangtan Boys, which translates to Bulletproof Boy Scouts. But the group adopted the abbreviation BTS for marketing.

The boy band consists of seven members. Vocalist and oldest member of the group Kim Seok-jin is 26-yearold, rapper, songwriter and producer Min Yoon-gi is also 26. Twenty-fiveyear old Jung Ho-seok serves as a rapper, songwriter, dancer, producer and singer.

The group’s leader group leader is 24-year-old rapper, songwriter, record

producer Kim Nam-joon Park Jimin and Kim Tae-hyung are both 23 year olds and 21-year-old Jeon Jeong-guk is a singer, songwriter, dancer, and record producer.

Dedicated fans call themselves “ARMY,” which stands for Adorable Representative MC for Youth. For BTS, the ARMY helps, protects and supports them like a real army would.

ARMY has been the biggest factor in the group’s success since BTS’s introduction and is a unique group of diverse people from all ages and backgrounds. The fan base makes its own insider jokes that only ARMY aficionados can understand.

The fan base also has internal beefs over which BTS member they like over others.

However, there are also bias wreckers. That happens when another member of the group begins to steal your attention away and makes you question your initial band favorite.

BTS has recently released a new album called “MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA” on April 12.

The project already has two songs on the Billboard top 100.

This album has seven songs including top hit “Boy in Luv,” featuring Halsey. The album title is inspired by Jungian philosophy, as related through Murray Stein “Jung Map of the Soul,” as reported on Billboard.com.

Bright pastel neon colors complement the music videos and its youthful love lyrics.

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

BTS performs a choreographed group dance routine and sings during one of its concerts.

The group already has dates and locations set for concerts, however, BTS shows consistently sell out in a matter of minutes.

Besides being uprising international music artists, BTS has been strong advocates for youth causes and world issues. Last year they spoke in front of the United Nations to address concerns affecting young people.

Many BTS ARMY members have started fundraisers under the group’s name and donated all the money to local charities, zoos with endangered animals and homeless shelters.

The group has a large impact on fans’ lives because ARMY members feel a connection with them through social media.

BTS members each have their own accounts on Twitter, Instagram and V-live.

V-live is a live streaming app where artists have more interaction with fans because fans are allowed to watch the members do silly challenges, games, dances or talk about what is currently happening with the group in general.

This gives fans more access to their favorite BTS members since they are constantly under the camera’s eyes.

Either way, the boys have learned to manage international fame through culture changes and problems with bigger fame.

In 2018, the band released two full length studio albums “Love Yourself: Tear” and “Face Yourself,” which both skyrocketed to the top of the charts in Japan and Korea.

A new studio album is in the works as their popularity grows across the globe.

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■ OFF THE RECORD

efrainvaldez

LEAGUES SHOULD SEPARATE PUBLIC, PRIVATE HS TEAMS

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DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Comet second baseman Bryan Perez slides into home and was tagged out during Contra Costa College’s 5-4 win against Mendocino College at Comet Baseball Field on April 19.

comets fail to build momentum Late win does not trigger push to end season on high note

By Joel Umanzor sports editor

jumanzor.theadvocate@gmail.com

An extra inning contest, in a rather forgettable season, always requires a gut check for both teams.

When the infield dust settled in their final regular season home game April 19, the Comets found themselves winning 5-4 after a 13-inning battle against Mendocino College (16-19 overall and 10-11 in the BVC) was ended on a walk-off bunt.

Starting pitcher Dean Jones (6 IP, 7 hits, 3 runs) understood how important it was for the Comets to get the last regular season win on their home field.

Jones said, “It (the victory) was big. It is only the fourth home victory and the last game of the season before our (consolation) tournament.”

The Comets lost all three of their consolation games in the tournament, April 23-25, to finish

the season (6-34 overall and 6-15 in the Bay Valley Conference).

Consistent starting pitching is what the Comets have been lacking all season and posted a bottom-five state-ranked team ERA of 9.49.

However, in the final home game of the season, CCC hammered out a win behind a solid effort from Jones. Surprisingly, he got run support coming from a lineup that featured various position changes due to a grueling five-game stretch played at seasons end.

Catcher Rito Gomez and right fielder Josh Hamilton, who were called upon by coach Brian Guinn to start, were instrumental in producing three of the Comets five runs on the day.

Guinn said, “I tell them to be ready all the time because you never know what is going to happen. I try to get them an opportunity to get into some games and get their feet wet — develop some confidence.”

Hamilton said this mentality of always being ready is something that you have to master when playing a team sport.

He said, “You never know

when you’re going to get in so every time you step into it you just have to be hungry.”

Although the Comets went into the 9th inning leading 4-3, Karon Casey (2 IP, 1 H, 1 R) gave up a double to the Eagle lead-off batter Haden Keller.

The hit, which nudged Guinn toward bringing in closer Mark Jones (1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs) to navigate the inning. Jones promptly gave up a double allowing a run to score tying the game at four runs each. The damage was limited to just that run as shortstop Ike Brown turned a double play to end the inning.

Brown, the everyday first baseman, was especially excited to get time in between second and third.

He considers shortstop his natural position.

Brown said, “When I first came here out of high school, that was where I would play so it was surprising when coach said, ‘All right go to short’ I was like, ‘It’s over’.”

Regarding the double play, Brown said, “I was ready for it, I knew it was coming.”

Guinn had full confidence in Brown moving over and wanted to let him know that while deliv-

ering him the news of the position change.

Guinn said, “He just looked at me and smiled. I just told him to go out there and catch the ball.”

Turning that double play allowed the Comets to work in the bottom half of the ninth inning from a tie rather than from a deficit.

With the Comets lacking bullpen stability, the team turned to infielder Lucas Abbas (4 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs) to pitch into the extra innings.

Abbas pitched with control through four innings while allowing the Comet offense a chance to get in rhythm against Eagle relief pitching. The final rally of the game came after catcher Rito Gomez drew a lead-off walk and was moved to third base through two consecutive infield ground outs by outfielders Darius Foster and Hamilton in the 13th inning.

Left fielder Mychael Jamison came up to the plate following a defensive shift that left Mendocino open for attack.

Jamison placed a textbook bunt down the third base line allowing Gomez a clear path to a Comet victory.

Softball team forms, fails to win a game

By Luis Cortes advocate staff

lcortes.theadvocate@gmail.com

First place Solano Community College (21-13 overall and 14-0 in the Bay Valley Conference) continued its dominating play with a 26-0 and a 21-0 doubleheader sweep against Contra Costa College April 19 at the Softball Field.

The Falcons entered the doubleheader riding a six-game winning streak led by its redhot offense. Solano outscored its previous six opponents by 59 runs, fueled by a .333 team batting average and eight home runs.

The Comets (0-10 overall and 0-10 in the BVC) used the game against the surging Falcons as an opportunity for self-assessment against stiffer competition.

CCC softball coach Taylor Harris said her team needs to swing at strikes for the next game because they swing at balls, not strikes, against the Falcons.

“We take strikes and don’t swing at them.

We swing at balls. But that (recognition) comes with the more games we play,” Harris said.

All 11 Comet players made contact with the ball, but each knock was either at someone or a routine fly ball.

In the second game of the doubleheader, both Comet pitchers Savanah Spencer (0-5) and Larissa Carvalho (0-2) faced more than 10 batters each with Spencer facing 13 and Carvalho facing 20. That total was nearly as many as both Solano starting pitchers faced in the entire doubleheader at 34.

Mistakes at inopportune times — like a two-out, bases loaded infield fielding error — made the score more extreme than CCC’s overall performance should have indicated.

Despite the lopsided outcome, Comet center fielder Alejandra Cuellar (.111 batting average) said the team has improved a lot since day one.

“We give it our best each inning,” Cuellar said. Cuellar gives her teammates credit for playing hard even when losing by 26 runs.

“Come to practice every day we have it and

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Comet infielder Brianna Williams picks up a pop up and gets ready to throw it during Contra Costa College’s 21-2 loss against Mendocino College on April 19.

work on batting and anything I need to do (to improve),” Cuellar said about how she can continue to get better.

Solano led off the opening game of the doubleheader with a 10-run first inning, followed up by a three-run second inning and one run in the third.

Solano’s offense erupted once again in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring 12 runs between both frames.

The Falcons were led by third baseman Alaena Selden (.434) and left fielder Courtney McGraw (.422). Both ended the game with five RBIs. Selden had two RBIs in the top of the first inning aided by misplayed fly balls to left field and center field after batting through the order.

The Falcons continued their scorching offensive performance in game two of the doubleheader by scoring 21 runs. Pitcher Britney Czelusniak (2-4) threw a no-hitter against the Comets while only facing 15 batters and striking out four.

Game two started with a lead off triple

by Falcon Aleya Turner (.458), followed by a Selden line drive RBI double to left field. Six of the following seven batters reached base safely with three walks, one single, one double and one runner reaching on an error.

Falcons coach Nikki Gentile said her team was working on squaring the ball up and getting hard contact because of it.

“We knew the pitching was slow and we wanted to square up the ball to get line drive hits up the middle,” she said.

Gentile said the team’s goal this week was to succeed during situational at bats. The coach wanted her team to hit the ball on the ground while working on maintaining a front leg forward stance, which allows batters to hit with more power.

The Falcons’ technique of swinging squarely through the zone led to Solano running the base paths successfully and finding home plate early and often.

igh school sports leagues in the North and East Bay areas have been in a constant state of change, which has hindered the potential of making Northern California a powerhouse region for football.

Sure, De La Salle High School (Concord) has been on an unprecedented run for almost 30 years, but the rest of the North Coast Section (NCS) schools have fallen well behind that dominance.

The NCS Board of Managers decided to keep its seven-division football format in tact during a meeting in late March. Despite this decision, Liberty High School (Brentwood) football coach Ryan Partridge and former Dublin football coach Matt Hoefs presented a proposal to separate private and charter schools from public schools in NCS leagues, during time set aside for public speakers at the meeting.

The separation of public and private schools is a great idea to improve the level of competition in Northern California, but it will only work if the Central Coast Section (CCS), which runs from San Francisco along to coast down to Monterey County, is on board to cooperate with NCS. In the Partridge-Hoefs proposal, there would be two-eight team divisions for the private schools and five 12-team divisions for public schools. Even though this would allow big public schools to avoid having to go through De La Salle for a bid at a state bowl game, medium- and small-sized private schools who have a rich tradition of football would be damaged.

Schools like Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) and Stellar Preparatory (Hayward) high schools will end up being a two-team race come playoff time each fall. Then other schools, like St. Mary’s High School (Berkeley) and Marin Catholic High School (Kentfield) will never have a chance at a title because they would have to face powerhouse teams like De La Salle or Cardinal Newman High School (Santa Rosa).

The proposal is not the best solution to the current problem because you get rid of one issue and create another.

However, this proposal could be a blueprint for something bigger that could change the landscape of high school football in Northern California and maybe even the state. A statewide move to separate the public and private schools is the only way a positive change could happen for high school football in NorCal. One of the major hurdles for the CIF to implement such a change would be trying to convince the schools in Southern California to accept the change since there is not an unbalanced competition problem there.

Ticket sales would increase at playoff games and CIF football would be respected more on the national scale.

And they would stop seeing California as a one-team powerhouse. Sorry De La Salle.

Efrain Valdez is a sports editor of The Advocate.

Contact him at evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com.

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MARVEL WRAPS UP HISTORIC SERIES ‘Avengers’ sets global box office record with $1.3B in debut weekend

By Nijzel Dotson advocate staff

ndotson.theadvocate@gmail.com

‘A

vengers: Endgame” is the thrilling conclusion to a chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) that has been nothing short of historic.

It perfectly encapsulates everything the MCU has been over the past 11 years in a way that makes the viewing experience more than worth it for longtime Marvel fans while also showing newcomers what they’ve been missing out on.

Marvel Studios’ latest product is a three-hour roller coaster that wants you to feel joy, humor, desperation and heartbreak all at once.

The movie is so well-executed that it makes fans take a step back and realize the incredible feat Marvel has accomplished by creating a cohesive string of movies spanning over a decade that complement each other and have been the cornerstone of something truly special.

“Avengers: Endgame” is a strong reminder of just how much the characters in the MCU have grown — their feelings become the audience’s feelings.

“Endgame” is the ultimate payoff.

The film’s first act focuses on the aftermath of the ending of “Avengers: Infinity War” where the primary antagonist, Thanos (Josh Brolin), achieves his goal by collecting the six infinity stones despite the Avengers noble efforts to stop him.

Thanos ultimately uses the stones to wipe out half of all life in existence with a simple snap of his gauntlet-clad fingers in order to “restore balance to the universe.”

This leg of the film highlights how the Avengers evolved from more than a band of earth’s mightiest heroes and have become a family. For some members of the team, it’s the only family they’ve ever really known.

It’s clear that the focus of the film is the original six Avengers: Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.).

Although other important characters such as Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), Nebula (Karen Gillan) and James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), survive the snap, it’s the original six viewers live through post-snap and whose character development seems the most apparent by the end of the film.

Nearly one month after the events of “Infinity War” take place, the surviving heroes make another attempt to undo the seismic damage that Thanos brought to the universe.

They set course for “The Garden,” a planet Thanos has chosen for his place of residence after bringing his definition of “balance” upon all life.

He’s hung up his battle armor, the job is done. He’s undoubtedly the hero of his own story.

As Thanos is preparing a meal with homegrown food, it’s clearly visible he’s been damaged from the power exerted to execute the effects of the snap.

The Gauntlet he used to wield the infinity stones appears broken as well.

Suddenly, Captain Marvel crashes in and attacks him. He puts up little fight as the rest of the team restrains him and asks where the stones are.

Thanos tells them that he destroyed them after he got rid of half the universe because “they served no purpose beyond temptation.”

When one of the Avengers tries to call his bluff, Nebula tells them that her father isn’t lying. Thanos uses this I told you so moment and says, “I am inevitable.”

A frustrated Thor decapitates him with his ax, Stormbreaker, swiftly after.

However, his death is too little, too late.

After the heroes come to this realization, the tone of the movie immediately shifts from a focused optimism to a depressing sense of loneliness and hopelessness.

The audience is given a black screen, a time jump of five years but the film still does a great job of portraying the emptiness of this new world.

The film really wants viewers to feel the loss of not only the heroes, but the people around them. The skies are gloomy, the streets are empty and the survivors are suffering.

A surprising beacon of light is offered when the audience learns that since they last saw him, Tony Stark had a daughter with his fiancee Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and lives peacefully in seclusion.

MOVIE The introduction of Ironman’s daughter, REVIEW Morgan Stark (Alexandra Rabe), is just one “Endgame” example of the heartwarming moments that ★★★★★ Marvel has been able to provide.

Starring: Robert It also gives Stark an opportunity to be more Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Brie than just Iron Man. Larson Stark is a character who views things on a Directed by: larger scale than just about everyone else in the Anthony Russo, MCU. Joe Russo The film brilliantly puts Stark’s love for his family to the test to show just how much he has changed.

As Captain America and Natasha urge one another to move on from the devastation of the snap, they are shocked to see Scott Lang/Ant Man (Paul Rudd) is at the front door of the Avengers headquarters.

Lang tells them that while he was thought to be wiped from existence, he was actually in the “Quantum realm,” a dimensional plane of existence that doesn’t follow the same rules of time and space.

He suggests they use the Quantum technology to travel back in time to stop Thanos from collecting the stones and using them to bring everyone back.

The three of them make an attempt to get Tony to help them do this.

Once Stark is on board, they assemble the team they need to retrieve the stones. This includes Hawkeye who’s changed drastically since he lost his family because of what Thanos did.

He goes from the most grounded avenger, to a dangerous anti-hero who can’t seem to find peace. It takes his other family, The Avengers and an opportunity to save his actual family to bring him back to who he’s been since his role in the first Avengers film.

Thor has also lost his way, becoming an out of shape alcoholic

wallowing in self-pity since failing to stop Thanos.

Eventually he is convinced by Bruce Banner who has managed to merge with the Hulk in order to get the “best of both worlds.”

Act two and beyond is where “Avengers Endgame” truly flexes its muscles and takes the story from a pessimistic pity story of their popular heroes and turns it into an exciting trip down memory lane. The heroes separate into groups to go back in time to points that they remember encountering infinity stones in an attempt to intercept them and recreate Thanos’ snap in reverse.

The second act is unquestionably the most uplifting and humorous of Endgame’s three acts, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t moments of high intensity. Longtime Friends Hawkeye and Black Widow pair up to get the soul stone only to realize the danger that they’re in after it’s too late.

“Avengers: Endgame” gives the audience a different Thanos than the one in “Infinity War” which proves to be a very beneficial decision. In the last Avengers film, Thanos has a logic and worldview that makes his actions seem more justified.

This time around, Thanos is without the infinity stones for the duration of the final battle and his goal shifts from wiping out half of all life to make sure nobody is without resources, to destroying the entire universe and recreating it in his image.

“Avengers Endgame” is an example of the franchise doing what it has done before, using something as grim as death as an opportunity to make one of its characters seem as noble as ever.

While the future of the MCU may be unclear, there’s no doubt that they have a solid foundation to work off of.

“Avengers: Endgame” takes this foundation and uses it to show everything that a superhero film and universe can be.

IRON MAN: Tony Stark is a billionaire and innovative inventor who builds an armored red suit to fight terrorists.

THOR: Son of Odin, is in line for the throne of Asgard, but is banished to Earth as punishment for violating a treaty with the Frost Giants.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: In 1941, a short Steve Rodgers is rejected from joining military but undergoes an experiment that makes him a supersoldier.

HULK: Dr. Bruce Banner can channel his anger by morphing into a beast as a result of an experiment gone wrong.

Black Widow: Natasha Romanoff is an international assassin who comes to fight with the Avengers.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

B SECTION WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

High school rally spurs pep, cheers

ADVICE ON HEALTHY OPTIONS

By Cindy Pantoja

increase in the number of “It’s easier to find a cheap, women who reported they had been a victim of sexual assault. unhealthy meal than a healthy Most of the time academic hurdles “University of Minnesota one for the same money.” take over college students’ lives, and students demonstrated they — Alfredo Angulo, they often place their physical and have the talent to be successpolitical science major mental health in the least important ful here.” rank.

“When they aren’t sucUnfortunately, when students are cessful, it is often because busy with school or work, they adopt a of a variety of issues that Wellness Program. mentality of “out of sight, out of mind” may impact them. Mental Wellness Program coordinator meaning if something doesn’t hurt, health problems, alcohol Elizabeth Bremmer said, “We assist stuthere is no reason for them to take use, illness, injuries or dents with mental health problems such time out of an overloaded schedule to other challenges life as anxiety, childhood trauma, family seek preventive care. Onlinecolleges. brings them,” Danita issues, relationship issues, things that are net lists lack of sleep, poor eating Brown Young, vice going on in their personal lives.” habits and stress as the top health provost for student Inadequate physical health is another concerns for college students. affairs and dean of issue experienced by the college populaWhile nutrition and exercise are students for the uni- tion. Students spend long hours of physinot a priority for students, comversity said. cal inactivity due to the duration of classes WATER: plying with school obligations are.

Contra Costa and the time they spend doing school It’s the Often, this behavior leads to sleep College is not work. better alterdeprivation and insufficient denan exception as The Contra Costa County Health native to tal hygiene. Registered dental mental health Services website, cchealth.org, says in drinking sughygienist Gerardo Reynaga said, is a big prob2007, more than half of Contra Costa ary and caffein“When students have to stay lem among County adults were either overweight or ated beverages. up too late, they often forget the student obese. This was similar to the percent of It’s also a much to brush their teeth. Not only community. overweight and obese adults in the greater more convenient do they ignore the bacteria CCC offers Bay Area and California. option as you can growing in their gums, but help for In 2008–2009, Latino and African carry a bottle with they also consume sugary those issues American children were more likely to be you, and fill it up drinks throughout the night. through overweight or obese than children in the whenever it’s empty.

Periodontitis is a link to counseling county overall. In order to maintain good Bottles allow you diseases that will affect and the physical health, experts said students to gauge how much students in the long term Student should get enough exercise, practice good you drink. Water will such as Alzheimer’s, caneating habits and consult with a physician help replenish the body. cer, respiratory disease regularly.

Keeping you and your and diabetes.

Students in the Contra Costa mind hydrated is crucial.

“Oral negligent Community College District have to deal health care is also with health inequality issues which is associated with depresanother disadvantage that puts students at sion,” Reynaga said. a higher risk.

According to the 2015 According to cchealth.org in Contra College Students Costa County, greater wealth equates to a Health Survey from longer life. A child born in a low-poverty the University of area in 2000 could expect to live more Minnesota, more than six years longer than a child born students have in a high-poverty area. Life expectancy MEAL PREP: access to health in low-poverty areas was 81.4 years and When you’re busy and don’t have time insurance than 74.9 years in high-poverty areas. African to prepare food from home, you can previous years, Americans in Contra Costa County had often make poor food choices and eat fewer student a shorter life expectancy (73.1 years) something that doesn’t have nutritional use tobacco and than any other racial/ethnic group in the value. Meal prep allows you to get creative the rates for county. An Asian/Pacific Islander or a with the foods you eat while also going for high-risk drinkHispanic baby born between 2005 and more nutritional foods and spending less ing behavior 2007 in this county can expect to live since you can buy the food ahead of time. dropped — more than 12 years longer than an although it African American baby born at the remains a same time. problem.

Nutrition plays an important role Mental in overall health. What students health conconsume could either strengthen tinues to or weaken the immune system. be a public Doctors recommend eating a balhealth anced diet rich in vitamins, magissue on nesium, calcium and iron.

FIBER: campus “I often eat healthy food, An overlooked aspect of what is in your food is the fiber and however, in here junk food is content. On average an adult needs 25 grams of fiber daily there more accessible. It’s easier to but most of the time don’t even get 15 grams. Fiber aids in has find a cheap, unhealthy meal reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes as well as havbeen than a healthy one for the ing regular bowel movements. Incorporating more fiber in your an same money,” political scidiet can lead to eating more vegetables that are high in nutrition. ence major Alfredo Angulo said.

When low-income students struggle to afford the basic foods such as meat, milk, vegetables and fruits, they are prone to contract viral diseases. Missing classes due to illness put students at a higher risk of failing at college. See page B5 for more MINDFUL EATING: stories on student Knowing what you put in your body at every meal is a crucial part of health. eating. Not only is it important to yourself, but for the ecosystem as well.

Consuming products such as meat and products from plastic containers are polluting the environment as well as polluting your body. opinion editor

cpantoja.theadvocate@gmail.com

Exploring the dark side of student PAGE B4

DEBATE OVER GMOS SHEDS LIGHT ON NEW FOOD TREND

Pro’s and con’s of genetically modified organisms perpetuate risk or contribution to growing movement.

PAGE B2

Cannabis dispensaries stock, service reviewed PAGE B8

TEAM BUILDS SOLAR-POWERED BOAT TO RACE

spotlight

stress

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COOKING AT HOME: Cooking at home opens a new level of creativity and ability. You are able to learn what works best for you, what tastes the best and what ways to prepare food. It also lets you know what is going into every meal so you can fine tune the recipe at will. It’s also the cheaper method because you can feed more with less.

May raises awareness on zombies, diseases PAGE B6

PORTION SIZE: Keeping track of your portion sizes will stop you from overeating. Rather than eating straight out the packaging, put food in single serving containers.

INFOGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE SOURCE: SFGATE.COM

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THAT’S DEBATABLE josearebalo

■ Con

ARE GMOS HEALTHY?

■ Pro

joelumanzor

Modern solutions UNCERTAINTY CLOUDS GENETIC MOVEMENT aid in hunger fight Questions raised about scientific method causes concern for antibotic resistance

E

ven though there are certainly advantages and benefits to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), there can still be hidden side effects that damage our delicate ecosystem.

Through a process called genetic engineering, crops are modified to be more resistant to changing climate conditions, spoiling less quickly and being more resistant to weed killers.

It works by first identifying a trait of interest, isolating it and then inserting it into the organism’s DNA. The process, which allows scientists to pick and choose the genetic codes placed into the crops, has created a whole new world of concern that humans should not overlook.

Most of the points made in this article are simply asking for more research, as there are no studies that directly link GMOs as a cause for antibiotic resistance or allergies.

One of the bigger concerns of the human condition is the ongoing increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Commonly included in the creation of seeds that produce GMOs are antibiotic resistance genes. These genes make it easier for the crops to bear fruit in tough conditions, but they could have other effects as well.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines how an antibiotic resistant bacteria comes into being in a few simple steps.

First, a person gets an infection. When bacteria enters their system, some bacteria are more resistant to the immune system than others. Cells that survive the immune system undergo the process by which a cell divides itself and replicates into two new cells. This process is known as mitosis.

Antibiotics kill off most of the enemy bacteria cells, but some survive and those cells also undergo mitosis.

In theory, over time, those bacteria will continue to multiply and grow stronger and more resistant to antibiotics.

Resistant bacteria will then spread around their drug resistance to other cells and can be spread from person-to-person. Through this process, it can become easy for strains of antibiotic bacteria to quickly spread.

There is still speculation within the scientific community that crops imbued with stronger, yet modified, genes will give rise to more strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the world.

GMOs, in general, are still a relatively new creation in the human experience.

The sale of genetically modified crops began in 1994, so the world is still living with just the first human generation introduced to GMOs. Their long-term effects on the health and aging processes has yet to be observed.

Today, people should still be concerned about negative possibilities presented by GMOs as a large part of the agricultural economy.

Although there have been a plethora of studies done that cast a safe light on the general use of GMOs, all it would take is one solid study to find a link between the consumption of food that has been altered and a mutation or change in the composition of our genetic make up to cause alarm.

And that’s what causes a lot of the concern around GMOs. People are consuming an altered product and currently seem to expect no effect on their bodies.

Food is what powers the body and it seems awfully important that people consider all the possibilities when it comes to food. The CDC reported a spike in the number of allergies present in the U.S. from 3.4 to 5.1 in children over the past decade.

The cause is still unaccounted for, however, it’s not too far fetched to think that some variations in the genetic makeup of people’s sustenance created a slight change in the makeup of their offspring.

Another possible area to monitor is how many strains are made herbicide resistant.

There have been studies linking GMO crops and their pesticide-resistant composition with links to premature deaths due to cancer in rats. The study is seen as controversial and has been retracted and published in different scientific journals.

However, it is still important that researchers look at what effects eating modified food in this manner has on people’s health.

Studying the effects of GMOs usually involves the testing of animals by feeding them GMO crops to watch the changes in their health.

Part of the concern around proponents saying allergies could be caused through the use of GMOs points to the potential of different synthesized proteins causing changes in the food’s genetic formula.

Because a certain crop was safe in its natural state, it could produce proteins that are problematic after being genetically modified.

A survey of 40,000 adults from the U.S. found that 11 percent, more than 26 million individuals nationwide, have food allergies.

The number of people who would be affected by possible changes in their food supply would be enormous if crops turned out to have such effects.

Jose Arebalo is the scene editor for The Advocate. Contact him at jarebalo. theadvocate@gmail.com.

ILLUSTRATION BY JANET LIRA / THE ADVOCATE

Science, technology help to increase quality of life for humans around the globe

I

n a world where technology and innovation can help make things more efficient, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their cultivation are important to the preservation of our resources and the improvement of all conditions for all humans around the globe.

The use of these GMOs has not only increased the quality of life for those in the United States, they have also provided positive results in areas of the world where crops are affected by arid environments or lack of workable land.

A recent example of this would be South Africa.

GMOs use less land to grow than normal crops, which have the added benefit of curbing the amount of emissions by conventional farming machinery. Crops are also herbicide-resistant, which decreases insect infestation and normal losses of product during the growth of any crop.

Opponents of increased GMO use fear food that is grown through the processes of silencing the genetics of certain crops may produce negative results in the human body over time.

According to an academic article in Bionatura, by Nelson Santiago Vispo titled “Genetically modified organisms, importance in the current world,” there are many positive aspects of GMOs that outweigh whatever chances of negative health results may occur over time.

Vispo said, “Some benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture translate into higher yields, lower costs of food or drug production, less need for pesticides; higher nutrient composition, food quality, resistance to pests and diseases and greater food security and benefits to doctors for the growing world population.”

Allowing countries the ability to access good quality food through the technological and genetic processes available to them should not be looked down upon because they have a possibility of being harmful.

In fact, GMOs should be celebrated as a win for humanity because people who may not have access to any food may now be able to thrive.

Saving crops on the brink of extinction from infestation is another positive aspect of GMOs as is explained by an academic entry in the Gale Group database from March 2019 titled, “What is the future of genetically modified food?”

Examples of the cultivation of eggplant in Bangladesh and papaya in Hawaii were cited as evidence that GMOs can, and have, saved endangered crops in those regions of the world.

GMOs that were introduced in these areas were also immune to pesticides and actually helped local areas because of chemical minimization.

By limiting the reach of science, mankind is not allowing everyone to benefit from the information that shows that GMOs lend roughly as much danger to human health as normal crops.

This article states, “GMO technology has been on the market for the past 20 years, with no major adverse issues reported.

Another article titled, “New plant breeding technologies for food security” from the Science Magazine’s March 2019 issue, written by Syed Shan-e-Ali Zaidi, addresses the need for technological influence to address malnourishment in global proportions.

Zaidi said, “Sustained improvement in agricultural productivity is central to socioeconomic development.”

Many of the problems facing impoverished areas with relation to food and improved economic development could be tackled through the use of GMOs for crops.

Much of what the article describes outlines a symbiotic relationship between the economic and nutritional problems within an area and the studies, which show that the only way to rapidly reduce these issues would be to allow small farms to increase their product output.

GMOs are the only way for many of these rural farms to increase their production while being able to make the most out of their farmable land.

This use of GMOs, according to Zaidi, “has led to higher yields, lower pesticide use, poverty reduction and improved nutrition.”

Even with all the underlying benefits of GMOs, only a few developing countries have adopted the use of genetically modified crops. This shows the perceived negatives continue to outweigh factual positives.

The idea that humans should reject GMOs wholeheartedly is a spit in the hand of those who reach out for aid and sustenance.

It’s a display of privilege on our part to deny those who could benefit from the economic and nutritional aspects of GMOs. Joel Umanzor is a sports editor for The Advocate. Contact him at jumanzor. theadvocate@gmail.com.

campus beat

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B3

Mikaylah Cayanan (center) and nine classmates were awarded a scholarship that funds a culinary trip to Italy this summer.

Culinary arts majors Elizabeth Clay (left) and Ronaldo De La Cruz (right) celebrate Cayanan as she is announced as one of the scholarship winners during the Food and Wine event on Sunday.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Chef prodigy bakes to success Foodie Fest

Salmon Over Pasta

Sugar Crumb Cake

Mussels Soup

By Jenna Husic advocate staff

jhusic.theadvocate@gmail.com

Culinary arts student Mikaylah Cayanan is a force to be reckoned with when she settles into a kitchen.

Before joining the culinary arts department at Contra Costa College, she had overcome many potential setbacks since arriving n the Bay Area in 2010 from the Philippines.

Her difficulty began before leaving for America when her parents split up and it was even harder to leave her life behind and move across the Pacific Ocean with just her mom and brother after the divorce.

She left her father and most of her family back in the Philippines.

Cayanan said it took about two years before she was fully adjusted to living in this country.

She said, “I set daily goals. That’s what helped me get through school and life.”

Her most difficult adaptation to make was to the people and culture.

She said there are many cultures and a more diverse population in comparison with the Philippines.

Another difficulty that she had to overcome was the distance from her family back home.

She said, “I often get homesick. I have not been back since I first came out here in 2010.”

Cayanan is a sophomore this year and is looking forward to graduating at the end of this semester.

She came to CCC almost two years ago with the intention of majoring in business.

The culinary arts major settled on that for her major up until the last day before school started.

She said, “Something told me to just follow my gut and change all of my classes to culinary.

I have loved it since.”

“Something told me to just follow my gut and change all of my classes to culinary. I have loved it since.”

Mikaylah Cayanan, culinary arts major

She enjoys baking and hopes to take that as far as she can. Her dream job would be to open up a cafe where can sell homemade cakes and pastries, but feels blessed to be in the culinary department.

The department really focuses on the importance of running a restaurant, serving, busing and dish washing, she said.

The courses and internships brought out a side of Cayanan that even she wasn’t familiar with.

She said, “I used to be super shy and now I can speak to anyone. The key is patience.

Always being patient and setting small daily goals helped me out a lot.”

The two biggest agendas on her list include the annual Food and Wine event and the Italy Scholarship announcement. The annual Food and Wine event occurred on Sunday.

The culinary department hosts it every year in order to raise funds and donations for the 10 student scholarships funding their travel and study abroad in Italy this summer.

Ten culinary students are awarded studyabroad scholarships every year.

They receive a two-week trip to Italy where they get to study and practice their culinary craft in a foreign country.

Requirements for the scholarship include an essay and interview with the department faculty, along with other qualifications.

Working the Food and Wine event is also a

part of the qualifications.

During the event, culinary students cater to restaurants and vendors in hopes of raising money through donations to the department.

At the event Sunday, Cayanan was awarded one of the scholarships for this year, so she will be venturing to Italy this summer.

Based on her leadership and baking skills, she will be attending the summer trip and experiencing new cooking styles in Italy.

“I am very excited; still in awe, but also happy all the hard work paid off,” Cayanan said of winning the scholarship.

The sophomore spends a lot of her time in the kitchen.

“I love to bake. I come to school and I stay here all day. I’m here almost 12 hours every day,” she said.

She does a lot for the culinary arts department including helping with the Pronto and the Aqua Terra Grill.

Culinary arts major Christine Sanok said Cayanan was entrusted with prepping all the trays with the measured ingredients for culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes by her third semester here.

“The thing that sticks out to Sanok is the patience and respect that Cayanan carries.

She said, “Mikaylah has been an inspiration to me, personally. I believe she can be successful in just about anything in life.”

Cayanan said since her passion for baking is there, it makes it more fun to be in the kitchen all day. That is pretty much all she does right now.

“I don’t have any hobbies outside of culinary (efforts). I am in pursuit of graduating and hopefully traveling,” Cayanan said.

She would like to get a job as a flight attendant where she can travel the world and see life from a different perspective.

COMMITTEE HOSTS ITS BIGGEST EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

By Daniel Hernandez advocate staff

dhernandez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Tables and tents filled Campus Center Plaza as the Sustainability Committee held its annual Earth Day celebration on April 22.

Over a dozen organizations from around the Bay Area gathered to share information and show what they can do in taking part in Earth Day celebrations.

Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said, “This event brings to the attention of students and faculty the importance of taking care of the Earth — that is, doing the sustainable thing whether it’s recycling or energy conservation.”

Committee members took several months planning ahead, teaming up with multiple organizations.

The event was held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the time that would see the most foot traffic from students on their lunch hour.

A crowd surrounded King’s table in front of King Fireside Hall.

He handed out tote bags while students sifted through the free vegetable seed packets spread across the table.

King also gave out raffle tickets

with the first place prize a $50 gift certificate to the Bookstore. Second place was two free meals to Aqua Terra Grill and third was a potted orchid and a compost container.

At the other end of the plaza was RecycleMore, an agency that works with local cites to reduce the amount of materials that go into landfills. They had several flyers, ones with diagrams of what should be recycled and what can go into compost areas.

Andy Schneider with RecycleMore informed participants about services offered around the county such as oil recycling and hazardous waste disposal, encouraging people to get toxic waste out of landfills.

n “This event brings to the attention of students and faculty the importance of taking care of the Earth”

— Bruce King, Buildings and Grounds manger

Just a few tables over was the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge group. Their goal is to work with residents of the county in order to create a more sustainable living environment. Jacenda Davis explained that the benefits of emission-reducing actions through the challenge will incentivize others to do the same and raise awareness.

Automotive assistant James

Gardner brought two cars from the automotive department.

The automotive department has a rare 2002 Ford TH!NK, an early production electric golf cart that is also street legal. It’s a rare example of how far electric vehicles have progressed in a short amount of time.

He also brought over a 2015 Lexus 350h used as a comparison to show how quickly hybrid electric vehicles have evolved.

King said the event was the largest Earth Day celebration the committee has held.

“It’s been an evolution,” he said.

“The first year that we did it was just me at a table.

Campus tour gives first-hand experience

By De’Jon Sylvain advocate staff

dsylvain.theadvocate@gmail.com

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

High school students sit at Fireside Hall during a session during the annual Comet Day event on Thursday.

West Contra Costa Unified School District high school seniors interested in furthering their education were invited to see what Contra Costa College offers during its annual Comet Day on April 18.

Outreach Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks organized the event, which targets high school seniors interested in attending CCC. “The event gives WCCUSD seniors a first-hand experience of the college and the programs and resources we offer,” Nickelson-Shanks said.

Comet Day’s predecessor, Super Saturday, was scheduled on a spring Saturday, a day that struggled to attract area high school seniors.

Former outreach coordinator Maryam Attai made a decision to address this issue by moving the event to a week day last spring.

“Last year, Maryam (Attai) decided to hold the event during the week and to bus students (from their high schools) to the campus,” Nickelson-Shanks said.

CCC students and faculty introduced roughly 176 seniors from local high schools to the college for this year’s Comet Day. De Anza, El Cerrito, Hercules,

Kennedy, Pinole Valley, and Richmond high schools were among the schools whose students attended the event.

Upon arrival, the seniors were accompanied by CCC students and staff and escorted to GE-225 and Fireside Hall for a welcoming session.

The session was presented by members of the Associated Student Union (ASU), and included a student panel.

The presentation also included an address presented by college President Katrina VanderWoude.

Students were given tours of the auto shop, financial aid, Gymnasium, Library and other

campus departments.

Attendees were also provided a buffet-style meal in Campus Center Plaza during lunch hour.

The students were also given the opportunity to attend an educational program during the lunch hour to highlight programs and opportunities CCC offers its students.

“I think it lets incoming students see the best of CCC,” librarian Amanda Choi said.

She believes the event shows CCC is an accessible place.

“The event provides an opportunity for the Library to show off resources and that we librarians are friendly people.”

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Physics professor Mark Wong (right) serves as an adviser for the science and engineering team from Contra Costa College as they build their solar-powered boat.

DANIEL HERNANDEZ / THE ADVOCATE

Students construct boat ASU HOSTS INSPIRING for solar-powered regatta

By Dan Hernandez advocate staff

dhernandez.theadvocate@gmail.com

A group of students will show off their skills in science and engineering representing Contra Costa College at the 8th annual California Solar Regatta with their own solar-powered boat on Saturday.

The event is hosted by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, where high school and college students from up and down the state will compete at the Rancho Seco Recreational Lake in Herald, California.

Teams work together to incorporate creative, innovative and sustainable materials that will be tested in three races and scored in a presentation.

The CCC team is led by mechanical engineering major Nyalah Payne, who is competing in her second year. She has worked with this team since June, coming up with concepts and gathering materials to assemble a boat and race in the regatta.

Mechanical engineering major Nathalie Zaldivar said, “At the beginning we started out with sketches.” This is her first time on the team.

They call themselves the Stardust Crusaders, named after the third installment of the Japanese manga “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.” Their logo features a dolphin wearing the cap of the character

Jotaro Kujo, a marine biologist in the series.

Their boat, Milkyway, is an original creation composed of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipes, polyethene foam pads and a plywood board, which will be powered by two large solar panels and a trolling motor.

Assembly of their prototype started in February. They used duct tape to join the pipes and rope to hold the foam together.

“The first one we cut and put together; we didn’t glue it because we didn’t want to finalize it,” Zaldivar said.

They tested the prototype at the college Pool only to discover that the middle area was leaking. In that initial experiment they had two extra team members sit on the boat to substitute for the weight of the yet-to-be installed solar panels.

More than half of the boat was submerged because there were not enough foam pads to support the weight.

So the team went back to tweak the design for better stability and calculated the buoyant force of how much weight 12 pads could support. Then they added four pads to the final version.

“It looks like an upside down boat,” Zaldivar said. “We made it that way because as you move forward you don’t want there to be water resistance.”

They’re incorporating triangular figures into the boat’s structure to aid in dynamics, described as being able to “cut through water like a blade.”

For some time the team constructed

its prototype in the Art Building, but now that they are assembling the actual boat, they’ve moved to PS-19.

On Friday, they gathered at the laboratory to start putting together their final product. Physics professor Mark Wong was one of the professors there. He is helping to oversee the entire project, giving advice and support to the students, along with science laboratory coordinator Jeffrey Kamalian and assistant professor Chao Liu. “I’ve been trying to make sure everybody is on task,” Payne said.

She said all the team members met to discuss what will happen on Saturday, reviewing the schedule and explaining how they would get the boat to the event.

Soon after, Wong and Kamalian brought out parts of the boat and the team began putting the final touches on Milkyway’s construction. They completed it on Saturday.

Wong said, “I am very impressed by the commitment they’ve demonstrated and some of the problem-solving skills they’ve demonstrated. It’s really rewarding to get to see what they put into practice (from) what they’ve learned in their courses.”

He said he will be out at the California Solar Regatta on Saturday to support the team.

Payne said, “It’s been a really good experience for me. It has been stressful at times, I’m going to admit that. But I think everybody’s enjoying it.”

Rally brings out high school spirit

DANIEL HERNANDEZ / THE ADVOCATE

The Middle College High School Royal Dance Crew performs its choreographed dance routine in the Gym on Friday.

MCHS seniors keep tradition at the rally by performing a dance during at the Spring Rally on Friday.

DANIEL HERNANDEZ / THE ADVOCATE

Middle College Hight School junior Nanthaya Verweji shows off face paint done by her fellow junior classmates at the MCHS Spring Rally in the Gymnasium on Friday.

DANIEL HERNANDEZ / THE ADVOCATE

WEEK OF SPEAKERS

By Jessica Suico news editor

jsuico.theadvocate@gmail.com

In an attempt to inspire students through the last few weeks of the spring semester, the Associated Student Union invited students into Campus Center Plaza to participate in a week-long motivational event.

The presentations were held April 15, 17 and 18 and featured a variety of guest speakers.

Even with Comet Day coinciding with the April 18 event, ASU senators made it work by using the space, time and great weather to their advantage.

Having speakers offer tips about how to make money attracted financially aware students from all backgrounds to stop and listen.

Businessman and community activist Jhamel Robinson spoke on the final day of the event about his road to becoming a successful entrepreneur and how to remain motivated through obstacles that will inevitably come.

“I don’t like taking orders from anyone,” Robinson said. “I want to motivate people to be their own boss, so people don’t have to work under superiors and be miserable.”

When he heard entrepreneurship leads to making money faster echo through Campus Center Plaza, art major Roman Lopez decided to stop and listen.

“Being your own boss is intriguing to me. This event can help motivate and inform students on how to be successful on their own,” Lopez said.

The ASU provided free pizza to anyone who walked by the event and listened to Robinson speak.

The businessman used a microphone to his advantage.

“I hate public speaking, even if no one is in front of you listening. With a microphone, I know someone is going hear me and get a piece of information,” Robinson said.

Business management major Cheree Trodder is studying to become her own boss and start her own business in child or foster care.

She was pulled in by what Robinson was talking about, so she stopped to listen.

“I like what he said about social media and how it’s the main promotional tool for a business. People are starting to steer away from flyers and paper. I agree with him,” Trodder said.

Trodder liked how Robinson talked about his journey toward becoming an entrepreneur.

It gave her insight on how becoming an entrepreneur isn’t easy. Also, that a person has to work hard to become their own boss but, it’s all worth it in the end.

While listening to Robinson, Trodder heard some key words, like how you don’t need college to be an entrepreneur.

“College isn’t for everyone, so to have someone give motivation and information on how you can be successful without college is extremely helpful,” Trodder said.

ASU Vice President Laciee Brown wanted the event to open up new topics and motivate students to continue working toward their goals.

“This event is a way to wrap the semester up with motivating and positive energy,” she said.

ASU senators picked speakers they had by a survey hosted by SurveyMonkey to find speakers students wanted to see and topics they wanted to hear about.

“Students wanted more diverse and relatable speakers. I reached out to people who make an impact on the community on different levels,” Brown said.

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COPING AIDS IN STUDENT STRESSORS

We do personal, educational (also known as advising) and career counseling.” — Jessica Lopez, Wellness Program counselor

Strategies help tackle academic challenges

By Xavier Johnson web editor

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

ILLUSTRATION BY JANET LIRA / THE ADVOCATE

Counseling helps mental health stability On campus resource provides students with needed help

By Fatima Carrasco advocate staff

fcarrasco.theadvocate@gmail.com

Imagine the type of problems a person can have. People get overwhelmed with school, work, traumas and some even have children.

“Our students bring us whatever their experiences are,” Elizabeth Bremmer, Contra Costa College Wellness Program coordinator, said.

The Wellness Program’s services are available to help students with any type of counseling.

“We do personal, educational (also known as advising) and career counseling,” wellness counselor Jessica Lopez said.

Counselors are available to help students maintain stable mental health. But what is mental health, and how do individuals cope with with it?

According to Mentalhealth.gov, mental health is the well being of one’s social, emotional and psychological self. It incorporates all aspects of a person’s life, including relationships, and the everyday decisions people make.

People’s mental health is affected differently based on the experiences of each individual. Therefore everyone’s way of coping with problems is different.

Everybody is different, and everyone deals with things differently. There is no cookie cutter approach to go about helping people.

Student Shaymaa Housheya said, “Some people deal with things on their own. And it works for

them. However for others it doesn’t help to just deal with it themselves.

Others need to talk.

“That’s what counseling is about, to talk to someone who will listen to you about your problems and help you assess the situation in order to come up with something that will help you better yourself,” Housheya said.

Unfortunately, many people have the misconception that speaking to a counselor for the sake of a healthy mental health is due to having a psychological problem, and they refuse to get the help they need fearing that if they do go get that help they may be seen as someone who is psychologically challenged.

While this stigma may be true for some people, speaking with a counselor can be essential for people who need help and direction.

Lopez said, “With personal counseling, that’s when we talk about how students are doing in their lives ands up to, and their classes? Based on how the students answer the questions that will lead to the deeper discussion.

“Counseling is about being observant and listening and repeating back to the individual what they are telling me. This lets them see that I understand them and sometimes this leads to more things coming out, to a point where the individual feels vulnerable and understands they need our help.”

Some students have the notion that because CCC is a public college, counseling may not be as professional or confidential as at a

hospital or another facility.

Second-year student Luis Guzman said, “I would go to counseling if I thought I needed it. Ideally I would go there for anything like stress or anxiety. If I needed help with something deeper than that I would probably go somewhere I would feel is more confidential.”

Contrary to that, however, it’s important to know is that Wellness Program counseling is 100 percent confidential. Counselors assure students that nothing leaves the room as everything stays confidential between the counselor and the student.

The only way a counselor would break this confidentiality would be if the student says they have intentions of physically hurting themselves or others.

Something important that many students don’t know is that their medical insurance covers mental health issues.

Most insurance cards include a number which people can call and ask for an advice nurse. With an advice nurse they can tell them how they are feeling.

And if they are having symptoms of some sort of issue they will diagnose the caller and help by phone with physical or mental health concerns.

Any student who would like to contact Wellness Program counselors can email them at wellness@ contracosta.edu or call them at 510-215-3960 for any additional information.

At a community college, most students find themselves performing the role of an acrobat balancing coursework, familial responsibilities and work.

With so much on a student’s plate, it’s difficult to fit necessary factors like self-care and other mindful practices into a schedule.

According to the National College Health Assessment, 57 percent of 24,999 college students surveyed said they felt overwhelmed by all they had to do within the preceding two weeks and 45 percent said they felt like they experienced more than average stress.

In order to relieve the growing stress among college students many turn to various useful coping strategies.

According to the American Psychological Association, a coping strategy is an action, a series of actions or a thought process used to meet a stressful or unpleasant situation or modify one’s reaction to such a situation.

Before developing a strategy to help with stress, it’s important to understand the specific challenges that are leading to stress in order to address them.

Contra Costa College counselor Kelley Cadungug said, “It’s most effective for me to identify not only what the challenges are, which in some cases are not expressed directly, but what the specific barriers are.”

These challenges can manifest themselves in various areas of a student’s life from basic needs such as food and shelter, academic demands or socioeconomic stressors.

Academic stressors are the front end of issues students face and with the end of the semester comes the stress of Finals Week, transferring and financial aid.

One quick method of relieving this stress is identifying the areas on campus that can help.

Cadungug said starting the semester and maintaining a comprehensive educational plan are significant in reducing academic challenges.

Tutoring is another option that’s available in the College Skills Center, in LLRC-121.

Black Student Union Secretary Elisha Patterson is in her final semester at CCC before transferring to Cal-State Sacramento. She said this last semester has been her most challenging in years and campus resources, like tutoring and the Wellness Center, have been a significant help in helping to alleviate her stress.

The Student Wellness Program is a free service that pairs students with intern psychologists from John F. Kennedy University in Orinda for up to three confidential sessions a week. Students may receive free individual counseling, or group sessions, on campus.

While tutoring and academic counseling are excellent methods to help with problems that are rooted in academics, oftentimes stress goes beyond the classroom and necessitates taking a holistic approach to one’s mental health.

The American Psychological Association recommends using relaxation techniques such as guided meditation and tension and release exercises.

Other physical steps are maintaining a healthy diet, practicing consistent exercise and avoiding falling into substance abuse.

“Staying in contact with my therapist, professors and tutors to make sure I’m academically stable and up to date helps,” Patterson said.

Focusing on the positive is another recommendation. This can be accomplished through using positive speech instead of saying or thinking, “I can’t do this.”

LIMITED OPTIONS RAISE BARRIERS TO NUTRITION

By Luis Lopez advocate staff

llopez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Nutrition is often regarded as the most important factor in maintaining a healthy body and mind and helps combat fatal diseases while promoting mental and physical growth.

A recent study by Health Survey for England magazine shows that a diet high in vegetables, fruits and unsaturated fats led to a reduction in depression among participants.

At Contra Costa College, limited food options make it difficult to maintain a healthy diet.

Eating fruits, vegetables and healthy meats allow students to have energy and not get bogged down by empty calories.

Nutrition major Juan Plascencia spoke about the benefits of eating healthy and the difficulties of maintaining a healthy diet on campus.

“There are a lot of empty calories being served in the (Student Dining Hall) here. One meal here is probably enough calories for your whole day,” he said.

He said it’s important to have

a nutritious diet while attending college.

“It can be really hard to stay focused in class when your body is trying to digest empty calories and processed food,” Plascencia said. “It affects your energy level and leaves you feeling sleepy and groggy.”

Students who are conscious of their health usually bring food from home and don’t eat at the Student Dining Hall.

Robert Pizano, an undecided major, brings his food from home every day.

“I work out and like to stay in shape,” he said. “The only way I can maintain my healthy diet is by preparing my food ahead of time and re-heating it here at school.”

Bringing food from home is common on campus, but takes a lot of preparation ahead of time.

To many it is the only way they can get their proper nutrition.

Pizano said, “It takes some planning. If I want to be able to eat at school, I have to cook way ahead of time. I’ll cook enough meals for five days all in one night, but it is worth it.”

A student grabs a cup of fruit as a healthy option for lunch from Brix on Monday.

JENNA HUSIC / THE ADVOCATE

Eating healthy helps students feel better as well and helps ward off fatigue and sleepiness in class and throughout the day. Pizano said, “Eating vegetables and fruits along with meat, like beef and chicken, really helps keep me from being sleepy, unlike when I eat heavy food from here on campus.

Usually if I eat on campus the food

makes me very sleepy.”

To be successful, student-athletes must make their nutrition their top priority. Comet running back Jerald Daniels explained the significance of nutrition for a student-athlete.

“Eating right is the only way I can maintain the energy to go to class and work out as hard as I do.

But the only way I can eat right is by bringing in food from home.”

He said he only eats on campus when he has a “cheat day.”

“The only time I eat on campus is when I know I’m not going to eat healthy. I call those ‘cheat’ days. other than that, there is seldom anything healthy to eat on campus that I find nutritious enough.”

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Zombie alert May brings awareness to surviving the living dead

By Michael Santone editor-in-chief

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

W

hether they rise from the dead, are the spawn of some apocalyptic virus or creatures of a science experiment gone wrong, the month of May pays homage to the iconic living-dead as Zombie Awareness Month.

Supporters educate and celebrate all things zombie with movies, video games and zombie-themed charity events.

Globally, a community of disciples sport gray ribbons to symbolize the shadows that lurk behind the light of day.

Zombie Awareness Month, which is officially sponsored by the Zombie Research Society, first emerged in 2007 among a relentless conglomerate of re-makes, TV shows and classic films.

The campaign aims to educate the masses on surviving the arrival of brain-eating fictional characters who mindlessly roam the earth in droves — searching for food in the form of flesh.

For decades, the popular re-animated corpses have been subject to different interpretations in popular culture, like the skeletal White Walkers of “Game of Thrones,” to the more human-like emotional un-dead from the film “Warm Bodies.”

Lately, their likeness and characteristics have even been attributed to some of the more obscure, and clickbait-worthy, news stories including “zombie” deer disease and cannibal frat boy.

News coverage of flesh-eating, zombie-style attacks have generally been associated with the drug bath salts — or Florida.

Although October seems more suitable to honor these horror icons, May was chosen because of the number of notable zombie films that take place during the month.

These films include George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead,” which is a Zombie Awareness Month cornerstone.

This 1968 cult classic changed the face of zombie films, pulling these flesh-eating monsters into the mainstream.

Romero, who at the time was largely unknown, used the simplistic nature of the “living dead” to create a film that has stood the test of time.

The film follows seven people who are trapped in a farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania as a hoard of zombies grows bigger.

The film is regarded as the first to feature cannibalistic-cadavers looking to feast on its victims.

In 1999, “Night of the Living Dead” garnered critical acclaim and was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.

It was inducted as a film deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

May was also chosen for Zombie Awareness Month because of spring and the renewal of optimism and hope. The theme offers a nice contrast to the dark and desolate atmosphere of a zombie apocalypse.

For Mark Mogk, founder of Zombie Research Society, the campaign was never meant to celebrate zombies but bring awareness to forthcoming dangers.

In an interview with Huffington Post about Zombie Awareness Month, Mogk said, “Zombies can take over the world at any minute and I am dead serious about staying alive. The entire month is designed to make people more aware of the coming zombie plague.”

According to Zombie Research Society, tips to remain among the living include being in good physical shape, staying together, working as a team and, of course, saving humanity.

Preparing for a doomsday zombie apocalypse is like preparing for any other natural disaster, Mogk said. As in film, he advises people to stockpile food and weapons and have immediate access to a vacant mall or isolated farm.

With celebrations, events and binge-watching extravaganzas, Zombie Awareness Month has grown popular enough over the years to be adopted by local governments and the Center For Disease Control.

Each year the campaign wants to continue its focus on causes, prevention and preparation with the hopes of spreading awareness to more people.

According to the CDC, what started out as a tongue-in-cheek campaign has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon aiding in bringing awareness to varieties of other more realistic disaster preparedness.

But no matter how serious one takes the legends of the walking dead, Zombie Awareness Month is the ideal time to grab some popcorn, turn off the lights and watch films like “28 Days Later” and “Dawn of The Dead.”

It is the perfect time to brush up some scares and focus on the history of a cultural phenomenon that has bitten and clawed its way into the global lexicon.

For those who believe and are waiting for the day the living dead walk the earth, the month of May is a reminder to prepare.

Iconic Zombie Movies

“Night of the Living Dead” 1968

“Dawn of the Dead” 1978

“28 Days Later” 2002

“Train to Busan” 2016 ILLUSTRATION BY CINDY PANTOJA / THE ADVOCATE

Unconventional sources of nutrition Termites Nutritional value: 14.4 grams of protein for every 100 grams of termites.

Grubs Nutritional value: Contains both protein and carbohydrates. Some types contain as much as 42% protein.

Ants Nutritional value: 14 grams of protein and 5.7 ml of iron per ounce of ants.

Zombie apocalypse or not, its always a good idea to know alternative sources of food available after any disaster.

Grasshoppers Nutritional value: 20.6 grams of protein for every 100 grams of grasshoppers.

INFORMATIONAL GRAPHIC BY CINDY PANTOJA / THE ADVOCATE SOURCE: SURVIVALLIFE.COM

Cockroaches Nutritional value: Rich in fibers and vitamins A and C. Certain types contain more than 20% protein.

Slugs Nutritional value: Rich in minerals, which help maintain normal blood flow.

They also contain around 12-16% protein for every 100 grams.

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“ Passion fuels dreams The fact that I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be born in America and grow up here and experience all the opportunities is amazing.”

— Preston Akubuo-Onwuemeka, ASU presidential candidate

High school student co-founder of nonprofit

By Cindy Pantoja opinion editor

cpantoja.theadvocate@gmail.com

Not long-ago Richmond was known as one of the most dangerous cities in California, but thanks to the hard work of visionary people like Preston AkubuoOnwuemeka the city’s future seems brighter than ever.

Akubuo-Onwuemeka, a 17-year-old Middle College High School student, was born in Hercules and is the son of a Nigerian couple who came to the United States in a search for better opportunities.

He comes from a family of six children, and from an early age found ways to stand tall and make sure that everybody knows who he is.

It was during the eighth grade that he first realized everybody doesn’t have the same opportunities. He recognized some of his peers struggling with housing and food insecurities.

“At that time I was too young to understand, but I knew something was wrong,” Akubuo-Onwuemeka said. “As I got older, I understood there are people who really don’t know what they’re going to eat every night. Thanks to my parents I always had a roof over my head, always had something to eat. Unfortunately, I had a lot of friends who didn’t.”

Using reality as a natural motivator, at age 15 he was inspired enough to co-found the non-profit organization, richmondCodes, with one of his classmates.

His motivation to begin the organization came after being assigned a Microsoft software engineer at as a mentor at a PiWorld conference, a tech symposium where leading industry members exchange ideas on improving technology.

RichmondCodes brings free software coding workshops to elementary and secondary schools in the Richmond area, where most of the students grow up in low-income families.

RichmondCodes’ co-CEO Shreejal Luitel said, “We started richmondCodes with the idea of bringing under-served students into the computer and tech industries. We saw CINDY PANTOJA / THE ADVOCATE Middle College High School student Preston Akubuo-Onwuemeka co-founded there was a large socio-economic disparity in richmondCodes, a non-profit organization that brings free software coding work- science and engineering occupations where shops to elementary and secondary schools in Richmond. He plans to major in people of color and low-income students public health when he transfers to a four-year college and has the long-term goal were denied equitable opportunities compared to people who are more privileged. of becoming a neurosurgeon.

“We started off with one hour of coding

organized for more than 45 students, in both high schools and colleges. After that, we continued on and expanded it to elementary schools,” Luitel said.

Akubuo-Onwuemeka may be young, but he likes to dream big. He juggles high school while also managing a business. He also serves as the director of public relations for Contra Costa College’s Associated Student Union. After graduating from high school, he said he plans to major in public health and minor in business.

Akubuo-Onwuemeka said, “When I compare my life with other teenagers, I wouldn’t say that I’m missing out. The way I think of it is, ‘cry now and appreciate it later.’

I have chosen extended happiness over temporary happiness.

“This (the amount of time devoted to his future) is only 10 percent of my life. (The result) will pretty much affect the other 90 percent of it. I might be missing out on some stuff, but it’s going to be worth it in the end because my end-goal is to become a neurosurgeon,” he said.

People who know him, believe that his passion for science and his perseverance to promote STEM in schools will take him to discover cutting-edge technology.

“I see Preston in 10 years finishing medical school and while he’s training to be a neurosurgeon, or after he’s done with neurosurgeon training, I believe he’s going to come up with something very significant, like a technological advance, that’s going to change health care,” Dr. Jacqueline Nwando Olayiwola, a local physician who mentors Akubuo-Onwuemeka, said.

“I think he is going to be able to couple technology and medicine in a way that very few people have.”

Akubuo-Onwuemeka doesn’t take anything for granted, after hearing and witnessing the struggles of other people in under-developed countries like his parents’ home country of Nigeria. He said he is thankful for the effort and the hard work of his parents. He wishes that he could bring his cousin to the United States and provide them with the same opportunities that American kids have.

“The fact that I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be born in America and grow up here and experience all the opportunities is amazing. All I have to do is put in some work in order to achieve my dreams, any dreams,” he said.

Art professor inspires sentiments of creativity

By Luis Cortes advocate staff

lcortes.theadvocate@gmail.com

The definition of beauty changes from person to person.

People interpret beauty differently and their personal experiences shape those interpretations.

For fine and media arts department Chairperson Anthony Gordon, one possible definition of beauty is something that alleviates stress, as he grew up practicing the martial arts. And as an artist, he spends lots of time creating beauty in his work, thereby relieving his stress.

“It’s so easy to get caught up in the world,” Gordon said. “So it’s nice to bring some beauty into it. Humans are attracted to nice things.”

In addition to teaching art classes at Contra Costa College and chairing the art department, Gordon said he likes to practice his art, travel and practice martial arts.

He is planning to host a gallery event to showcase his artwork some time soon.

Gordon grew up in Richmond and attended CCC from 1991-93.

He transferred to San Francisco State where he received his bachelor’s degree. While growing up, Gordon practiced different forms of martial arts, obtaining a sash in Filipino martial arts, a brown belt in judo and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

“Martial arts go beyond self-defense,” he said. “The camaraderie is second only to the military.” He said practicing martial arts is useful to manage stress and is an excellent way to clear the head.

While in college Gordon didn’t practice martial arts, taking a short hiatus away from training. But, he said, when he took it up again, it was like riding a bike; one doesn’t forget.

“Muscle memory definitely is involved,” he said.

After graduating from SF State, Gordon took seven years off from school and moved to the Los Angeles area where he worked in television doing grip (part of the production team that develops and builds sets), and working as a production assistant and in graphic design.

While working as a designer in the early 2000s he spent time at video game companies including Activision and Electronic Arts (EA). Gordon said he had a hand in the production of the early versions of “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” and “Call of Duty.”

Gordon said the freelance graphic design (a graphic designer that works for private clients and company’s) industry slowed down around that time.

So he returned to college and earned a master’s degree from Cal State-Fullerton.

He said he enjoys creating art because it makes him happy.

Most of Gordon’s art is figurative, using a mixture of drawing, painting and printmaking, which includes silk-screen printing (a method that involves printing ink through stencils that are supported by fabric across a screen), lithography (a process where the ink is applied to a grease-treated image on a flat surface) and the use of metal zinc.

“My paintings are a hybrid between all of those three,” Gordon said.

He described his teaching style as transparent.

“My students know me pretty well,” Gordon said.

Graphic design major Fred McElroy has taken four classes from Gordon — Drawing and Composition 1 and 2, and Photoshop 1 and 2.

McElroy said Gordon’s classes are enlightening and impactful, and students get a lot out of them because of the material he teaches.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Fine and media arts department Chairperson Anthony Gordon (left) critiques student Uriel Rocha’s painting in A-6 on Monday.

n “It’s so easy to get

caught up in the world.

So it’s nice to bring some beauty into it” —Anthony Gordon, fine and media arts department chairperson

“You learn skills you may not have used before,” McElroy said. “And while you are in the class, he challenges you (on your work).”

Along with his transparent teaching style, McElroy said Gordon helped him moved out of his comfort zone.

“When I started drawing, I tried to personally stay away from drawing human faces,” McElroy said.

“But I had an assignment where we had to do that, so I learned how to

adapt, and I felt comfortable doing those drawings.”

McElroy would recommend Gordon’s classes because he is hands-on and allows students to do the things that will help them out as an artist, such as listening to music while they paint. He said Gordon allows his students to succeed.

“You aren’t (just) a body in the class. He is there to support you when you need it,” McElroy said.

While attending SF State, Gordon took an art class taught by current CCC adjunct art professor Frank Cole. And although Cole doesn’t remember anything about him from that time, he has grown to know and respect him.

Cole said he watched as Gordon progressed from a part-time professor to tenure-track and depart-

ment chairperson.

He said Gordon is a “great boss” who always remains calm even as the head of a big department. He also likes the fact that Gordon is a practicing artist as well as a teacher.

“He is a good boss. He seems to have a good balance, is personable and is a good person to work with,” Cole said.

Cole said that Gordon’s art is abstract and is materially-oriented because his paintings use different mediums and materials.

Gordon believes many former CCC students, like himself, return to teach on campus because of its sense of community and caring atmosphere.

“CCC is special,” he said.

“There’s something about the people (here) and this place that makes it special.”

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California’s green rush

Legalization of marijuana finds mainstream market, floods local dispensaries with popularity

By Michael Santone editor-in-chief

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

Over the decades, California’s cannabis culture has faced an onslaught of battles that have wounded, but also reinforced, its mainstream popularity and monumental achievements.

From being the first state to legalize the medical use of marijuana in 1996, to the annual 420 celebration at Hippie Hill in San Francisco, weed, pot, grass, ganja or,

simply, marijuana has been a way of life in California.

After many failed attempts to legalize marijuana for recreational use, most notably in 2008, voters finally gave in to the idea of packing their bowls with legal cannabis.

Since the legalization of recreational cannabis back in January 2018, Californians have flocked to their local dispensaries to indulge in the once taboo act of purchasing and consuming marijuana.

Under the Adult Use of Marijuana Act,

those ages 21 and older can visit one of the 261 cannabis clubs throughout the Golden State to purchase a variety of products ranging from traditional flowers, edibles or concentrates.

Under the new law, experienced tokers and first-time smokers visiting a dispensary, with a government issued identification, can purchase up to 28.5 grams of luscious green buds or eight grams of concentrates.

Concentrates are exactly what they sound like they are, a condensed form of tetrahy-

drocannabinol (THC) that is more potent than garden variety cannabis.

There are four dispensaries in Richmond, with one off of Central Avenue across the street from the Pacific East Mall. The clubs offer a variety of products, each with a distinct niche in the market and varying selections.

However, with emerging brands and new dispensaries pruning buds and stocking shelves, what makes a good cannabis club?

Insight into local cannabis clubs Holistic Healing Collective If you’re looking to have the total cannabis club experience, then Holistic Healing Collective (HHC) in Richmond is by far the best dispensary in the area.

Whether you wish to dabble with edibles or take a toke of flowers, HHC has a variety of options including household and emerging brands offered at a lower price than any of the other four local cannabis clubs.

This includes traditional flowers with every day eighths of sativa, indica and hybrids for $20. Concentrates and different forms of edibles, like cookies, gummies and hard candy, are also available.

One downfall, however, is the limited parking due to its location in a busy strip mall.

If you find yourself visiting this cannabis club after 4 p.m., be prepared for a parking headache and at least a 10-minute wait in line.

HHC makes up for this though, with its large, organized showroom and knowledgeable budtenders.

Visibly beautiful display cases with featured products line the well-lit showroom as large menus categorize in detail the variety of brands offered.

If patrons have any questions, each budtender is more than willing to explain and even provide smelling samples and details of their own personal experiences with the different cannabis mediums.

7 Stars In comparison to other local dispensaries, 7 Star cannabis club in Richmond is the more expensive sister of Holistic Healing Collective.

It offers a variety of options including household and emerging brands, except its products are $2 to $5 more costly. Even the eighths of the same brand of cannabis flower that are offered at Holistic Healing Collective for $20 are more expensive at 7 Star.

But that’s only a minor flaw with this dispensary.

Before the legalization of marijuana, 7 Stars was housed in Pacific

East Mall with a small showroom with a maximum capacity of up to10 people. Although it has found a new home directly across the street, the showroom still remains small, cluttered and intimidating.

What’s worse, the budtenders still give off a “better than you” attitude. Instead of visibly organized display cases, products such as edibles are tossed in different baskets on bookcase-like shelves that tower almost too high to see what is in them.

7 Stars is a reasonable dispensary, if patrons are willing to spend a little more money and are able sift through the scattered menu.

One Plant Over the years, One Plant, located in El Sobrante, has remained obscured from the average recreational cannabis smoker.

That was until its new mainstream direction and name change in lieu of California’s legalization.

Similar to Green Remedy in product choice and expensive concentrates, One Plant only provides a handful of edible options and eighths no cheaper than $30.

However, this cannabis club makes up for its lack of variety and costly top shelf flowers by offering a loyalty program that rewards its customers with discounted gifts once they meet the threshold.

Since the revamp, which has revived this dispensary from its dated 90s decor and display, customers are invited into a modern showroom that also includes a vending machine packed with grams and eighths for quick and easy access with no wait.

This vending machine feature, which is absent at the other three cannabis clubs, creates more of an added attraction that over time will become a necessity for dispensaries throughout California.

Overall, One Plant lands in the middle of the road. At One Plant, slightly higher prices and lack of variety are remedied by a reward program that can yield a pre-roll, or a 10 mg, for a penny.

Green Remedy At one point, Green Remedy, located across the street from Hilltop Mall in Richmond, was one of, if not THE best local cannabis club in the area.

However, since the legalization of marijuana, it has fallen to the bottom of the list.

Once the destination for deals and quality products, Green Remedy has re-stocked its shelves with overpriced flowers and low dose edibles that have emerged from a “make money market” that corrupted the vibe inside the dispensary.

It’s rare to find an eighth for cheaper than $30 or any familiar brand of edibles known for offering quality cannabis. When making a selection from the slim variety in stock, the possibility of it being available is rare.

Although it offers a large showroom and friendly budtenders, the display cases are almost always

empty or seem to be missing some essential products that make a cannabis club, well, a club.

ILLUSTRATION BY JANET LIRA / THE ADVOCATE

Michael Santone