The Advocate 10-17

WEDNESDAY l 10.17.18 OUR 69TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

Savoring treats, drinks Culinary arts department fundraises for study abroad trip with chocolate, Champagne

By Joel Umanzor staff writer

jumanzor.theadvocate @gmail.com

PHOTOS BY EFRAIN VALDEZ / THE ADVOCATE

Culinary student Lay Covell pours chocolate onto Mascarpone Filo’s with Figs Saturday.

Participants at Saturday’s Chocolate and Champagne fundraiser line up to get dessert.

The pairing of Champagne and chocolate-inspired food was on display at a scholarship fundraising event hosted by the culinary arts department in the Aqua Terra Grill on Saturday.

The 8th Annual Chocolate and Champagne event provided those in attendance to enjoy chocolate-inspired bite-sized foods, Champagne and live music.

All proceeds for the afternoon were dedicated to fund the culinary arts department’s study abroad scholarships, which are used to send students to Italy each summer.

Seventy students participated in the event with a wide variety of flavors prominently displayed. Savory chocolate-infused dishes, such as chili con carne and butternut squash stuffed ravioli, contrasted the typical sweet concept of chocolate and allowed students to showcase their own creativity.

Patrons were led through the kitchen in the Aqua Terra Grill with one half dedicated to the savory while the other half was dedicated to chocolate desserts.

Culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes said, “Students participated on a voluntary basis and were required to put together dishes that incorporated chocolate in some way.

They put into practice the concepts they learn here in the kitchen.”

Culinary students said they were excited to participate in the event producing the concepts taught to them in class.

“This event is good practice for us to work together as a unit,” culinary student Keran Rekhi said. “It also helps with customer service practices such as refilling (drinks) and interacting with customers.”

Sharkes said although the event counted for hours toward the lab time needed for culinary coursework, the practices taking place by the participants in the kitchen were an invaluable hands-on experience for students.

Culinary arts student Andre Tuason said, “Chef Nader (Sharkes) pushes us to take our work ethic to another level and this event helps push us even more.

“I know from my own experience before coming to this program that I didn’t have the necessary work ethic needed to work in a kitchen.

But through Chef Nader and his direction toward wanting to make us better, a lot of us have seen improvement.”

SEE CHAMPAGNE, PAGE 3

Culinary student Velma Ware pours Champagne into a glass during Saturday’s Chocolate and Champagne fundraiser.

Culinary major Kristine Sanic fills containers with chili beans infused with chocolate during Saturday’s event.

ASU AWAITS POSSIBLE 40K BUDGET Student council prepares finances for fall activities, events

By Xavier Johnson

n “The money is all from the

web editor

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

As students register for classes and prepare an educational plan, they may notice an additional $5 fee to the overall cost of enrollment.

The waivable fee is paid by students in the Contra Costa Community College District when they register for classes in fall and spring semesters.

The money goes to fund student activities at the specific college they attend and are managed through the NickelsonAssociated Student Shanks Union’s operational budget.

Student Life According to Coordinator Treasurer Dagim Tessema, the ASU is expected to receive

students. So, it should benefit the student in events — for students by students.

— Chris Miller, ASU vice president

nearly $40,000 this year from funds allocated by the Student Activity Fee. With the amount of the current semester’s deposit not being finalized, the ASU has been operating at an approximate $6,000 surplus — money that was carried over from last year.

Student Life Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks said several ASU sponsored events and programs have been funded with help from the Student Activity Fee. This semester, a slate of Welcome Week events and scholarships have already been sponsored.

These events haven’t had their payments finalized but have been approved

by the ASU Board.

ASU Vice President Christopher Miller said all use of funds are voted on by the ASU Board.

“The money is all from the students.

So it should benefit the students in events — for students by students,” Miller said.

Miller said ASU sponsored events should be fun, but also have some additional value to students in the form of information or scholarships.

For example, events like last year’s Battle of the Talents and the CCC Olympics awarded scholarships as prizes.

Providing scholarship opportunities is a greater focus for ASU because they feel collectively, they have the opportunity to boost scholarship access to students.

They also offer support to undocumented students who may have trouble applying to certain scholarships, Miller said.

Last year was a particularly heavy SEE ASU BUDGET, PAGE 3

Volleyball team wins rematch PAGE 7

AA BUILDING WATER TEST CONFIRMS SAFETY PAGE 5

Student Activity Fee expenditure list ­— fall 2017 to spring 2018 Water delivery: $309

Valentine’s decorations: $30

Decorations: $425

Clipper Cards: $2,340

Food Pantry: $192

Anti-suicide event: $444

ASU hoodies: $667.57

Thanksgiving dinner: $599

Culinary arts: $192

ASU T-Shirts: $500

Haunted house: $650

Thanksgiving event: $399

‘Black Panther’ tickets: $740

Mascot alteration: $200

Latin heritage event: $35

Scholarships: $4,376

Conference hotel/flight: $1,550

Hernandez Award: $111

Mother takes on different roles, tasks

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Quotable “A writer should never write about the extraordinary. That is for the journalist.”

James Joyce author 1930 Michael Santone editor-in-chief Xavier Johnson web editor Denis Perez creative director Robert Clinton associate editor Jessica Suico news editor Andrew Weedon scene editor Efrain Valdez sports editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Chris Alfred Jose Arebalo Issac Benavides Kit Duckworth Kyle Grant Dan Hardin Alex Kwasniza Luis Lopez Cindy Pantoja Joshua Poole Gabriel Quiroz Reggie Santini Jackson Stephens Joel Umanzor Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017 CNPA Better Newspaper Contest 1st Place Award 1970, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2013 JACC Pacesetter Award 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 Member Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accent.advocate@ gmail.com Editorial policy Columns and editorial cartoons are the opinion of individual writers and artists and not that of The Advocate. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.

opinion

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17, 2018 VOL. 107, NO. 6

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

●

EDITORIAL

SEX REQUIRES CONDOMS Lack of sexual protection on campus raises questions

E

xperimenting with sex and exploring the human body in our teens and early 20s has been a societal benchmark of maturity as long as history has been recorded.

Turning a blind eye to this expected behavior is not only irresponsible, it literally puts the lives of the young people we love at risk.

Make no mistake, Contra Costa College administrators do their due diligence to help students dealing with food insecurities, homelessness, immigration concerns and sexual harassment among other issues — so why aren’t condoms available on campus?

This campus is not only home to college students of varying ages, high school students also use the campus as a base of experimentation and learning as well.

Students have been caught in all manner of compromising positions on campus and it’s safe to assume many of them weren’t playing it safe.

If the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUD) has enough concern for its students to institute a health education program to ensure its students have the ability to explore their sexuality responsibly, shouldn’t CCC? Much of the August 2018 (WCCUD) parent-student handbook outlines the practices a public institution should follow when ensuring the safety of its students.

It reads in part, “The School Board also recognizes that some students are engaging in sexual activity and other risk-taking behaviors that can lead to increased risk of infection of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

“The School Board has taken steps to prevent the spread of HIV among and by students who choose not to abstain from sexual activity by implementing a Condom Availability Program as part of HIV/AIDS Education for high school students.”

However, high school students only make up a portion of CCC’s student body and many members of the campus community are already parents.

It is not an uncommon occurrence to see a student, mid-way through her education plan, have to put it all on hold upon discovering the joy of an unplanned pregnancy.

Many return, but the balancing act of maintaining a healthy family and continuing education is too much for many to handle at times. Preventing teenage pregnancies aren’t the only necessary precautions.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) 2017 surveillance report, cases of gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia have increased making it the fourth consecutive year that STDs have been on the rise in the U.S. At the same time, a 2018 compilation of studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health found school-based Condom Availability Programs (CAPs) positively influenced sexual behavior, while no studies reported an increase in sexual activity.

These findings suggest that schoolbased CAPs may be an effective strategy for improving condom coverage and promoting positive sexual behaviors.

The data proves it’s time CCC became a campus that actively promotes safe sex.

ISAAC BENAVIDES / THE ADVOCATE

■ PARENTING

Student-parent seeks community connection T

here is a nagging guilt that parents feel when remembering the future of their kids is in their hands, especially when the parents haven’t even finished college yet.

When attempting to return to college, life often gets in the way and things fall apart when the situation doesn’t go as planned.

Parenting full time is already a juggling act.

Keeping up with conflicting schedules, meal preparation, parent-teacher conferences and work is overwhelming for modern parents.

However, when college courses are added to the load of parenting responsibilities, life can sometimes seem unbearable.

As student-parents, we hear that developing good habits is crucial to maintaining productivity.

Developing such habits, if one is busy all day and has to study most of the night, is at best difficult and at worst an exercise in futility.

Usually, student-parents like me are too ashamed to admit that they don’t have things under control.

When they have a problem, they usually isolate themselves and come up with a solution on their own or quietly seek advice in places where they feel they won’t be judged.

A lot of this advice comes from books.

The problem is there are many books that promise to outline how to become a successful college student and even more that give

results in parents exchanging their college education for low-paying jobs.

The cost of part-time childcare at the Early Learning Center (ELC) at Contra Costa College is about $600 per month for one child.

Subsidies from CalWORKs and the Child step-by-step instructions Care Council are available, on how to be a better but there is currently a parent. Despite endlessly waiting list of 80 kids at the searching, I haven’t found ELC, which leaves parents that one guide, book or even a comrade parent that with limited options.

Instead, we wander has perfected the experiaround campus doing our ence of manbest to survive the day aging both.

When without realizing we are A study over one-quarter of

by Kingston attempt- student population. the University According to the professors ing Institute for Women’s Eve Gerrard Policy Research, “4.8 to return and Ron million students are raisRoberts ing dependent children. to college, found stuWomen make up 71 perdents, who life often cent of all student-parents, also parent, and roughly two million question their gets in students, or 43 percent career choicof the total student pares because the way. ent population, are single of the stress mothers. Single student they put on fathers make up 11 percent themselves of the student-parent popand their families. ulation.”

Since being a stuParenting, while we are dent-parent often means doing our best to improve not fulfilling either role to our kids’ futures, shouldn’t the best of their abilities, be something we do alone. some returning students We have to keep in mind wonder whether the sacrithat asking for help is not a fices they are making are sign of weakness. worth it.

College must be a safe One of the biggest chalplace where we can share lenges for the student-parour struggles without the ent is not having enough fear of being judged. money to afford childcare.

Even though most colCindy Pantoja is a staff leges offer childcare, it is writer for The Advocate. often limited.

Contact her at cpantoja.

This burden often theadvocate@gmail.com.

cindypantoja

CAMPUS COMMENT

Have you ever had a bad experience with the drinking water in the Applied Arts Building?

“I noticed that the water is warmer than the GE Building fountains.

That’s the only weird experience I’ve had.”

“I saw them covering water fountains with garbage bags last week.

I was confused on whether they were broken or not.”

Stephanie Gomez

Middle College High School JESSICA SUICO / THE ADVOCATE

Yareli Antonio nursing

“I drink it everyday and it seems to be fine.”

“I don’t drink water from taps or fountains. I bring my own from home.”

Nada Savic tutor

Kamilah Bird

“One day I ran out of water and was really thirsty. So I filled my water bottle and it was really cloudy.”

“I think the only bad experience is not having accessability to clean water.”

James North

math professor

STEM

undecided

Edward Cruz

campus beat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.17.18 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

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NEWSLINE DRAMA

GHOSTLY PRODUCTION HAUNTS KNOX CENTER The Contra Costa College drama department will close out its run of “Vengeance: A Ghost Story,” on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. in the John and Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts.

The performance centers around an original play written and directed by drama department Chairperson Carlos-Manuel Chavarria.

It follows the Vargas Family, who head off to a cabin for a weekend of relaxation, fun, a birthday party and enjoyment. Little do they know an angry spirit is waiting to turn their weekend plans into a night of life or death.

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

The show is for ages 14 and up.

UNDOCUMENTED

DACA WEEK ENDS WITH TOWN HALL

An undocumented student town hall meeting will take place Thursday and will include students, faculty, staff and the members of the community. It will take place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Fireside Hall.

The event is a part of the Undocumented Student Week of Action.

The student-led campaign is to advocate for a permanent solution to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that includes a pathway to citizenship, and to also provide support and resources to all undocumented students.

FILM

CLASSIC FILM RAISES FUNDS FOR LIBRARY A screening of the 1937 film “A Star is Born,” followed by a question and answer reception with William Wellman Jr., son of director William A. Wellman, is set for Friday at 6 p.m. in GE-225.

The film follows a young unknown actress who goes to Hollywood to launch her career.

She finds herself in need of help from a has been star on a downward spiral.

Tickets, which can be purchased at the door, are $3 for Contra Costa College students and $10 for general admission. Friends of the Library members can attend free of charge.

CRIMEWATCH Wednesday, Oct. 3 An argument was reported at 7:05 p.m. in Fireside Hall between a college employee and two males.

Wednesday, Oct. 8 There was a report of an automobile burglary at 4:15 p.m. in Lot 10 near Mills Avenue.

A fire alarm was reported going off in the Applied Arts Building.

Tuesday, Oct. 9 A report of an intoxicated male at 5:03 p.m. ended in his arrest at the bus stop turnaround on Campus Drive.

Thursday, Oct. 11 An alarm was reported going off at 6:05 p.m. in the Maintenance Shop.

Friday, Oct. 12 An alarm was reported going off at 7:44 p.m. in the Bookstore.

— 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.

LEFT: Plumbers Martin Campos (left) and Geovany Melendez (right) dig a 4-foot deep trench to repair the broken water pipe behind the Art Building on Monday.

MICHAEL SANTONE / THE ADVOCATE

WATER SERVICE DISRUPTED Utility pipe undergoes repairs leaving Art Building without rest rooms

By Michael Santone

n “I don’t think the water was

editor-in-chief

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

Due to a break in an outside water main, the water has been temporarily shut off in the Art Building until repairs are complete.

The crack in the pipe occurred on Sunday around 10 a.m. and repairs were scheduled to be completed Monday afternoon, but as of presstime Tuesday morning the water remains off and the trench exposed.

“Whether it’s the Hayward Fault that goes through the campus, or the hills moving a little bit, it looks like it cracked the water main,” Contra Costa College Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said. “These pipes are 60 years old and sometimes a small thing like a pebble can sit on top of the pipe and over time the vibration King digs it in.”

The water main, which sits under the service road that leads behind the Art Building, was discovered gushing by Police Services Officer David Sano Sunday morning. He immediately notified King by phone.

Water had already begun flooding the empty Art Building before CCC maintenance came out to shut off the valve and stop it.

“I don’t think the water was on for a whole lot of time, but if it would have gone for another day it could have caused some serious damage,” King said. “Hopefully the cost to fix the pipe will be less than $5,000.”

on for a whole lot of time, but if it would have gone for another day it could have cause some serious damage.”

— Bruce King, Buildings and Grounds manager

Martin Campos from Jackson and Son Plumbing Company said they began assessing the area around 7:30 a.m. Monday before digging a four-foot-deep hole to the pipe.

“It won’t be much work to repair the pipe if everything goes as planned,” Campos said.

“This happens often with older utility pipes and water mains, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary.”

While faculty and staff were made aware of the situation through an email sent out by King on Sunday evening, students arrived at the Art Building to dribbles from water fountains and bathrooms with out of service signs advising them to use the Music Building rest room.

Media and fine arts department Chairperson Anthony Gordon said these types of things happen, but as long as it’s being taken care in an efficient manner — that’s all that matters.

“We’re pretty resourceful here in the art department,” Gordon said. “It’s a hassle to go back and forth to the bathroom, but I would rather do that than have the building flood.”

Gordon said he found out about the broken pipe and subsequent flood via the email and was disappointed because students were supposed to work with wet materials on Monday.

in brief nMain water pipe breaks outside of the Art Building Sunday morning around 10 a.m nThe outpour of water was noticed by Police Services Officer David Sano. nPossible causes include the Hayward Fault, movement of a nearby hill or an object such as pebble puncturing pipe. nJackson and Son Plumbing arrived Monday morning to assess the area and begin repairs.

“We still managed,” Gordon said. “Students used the water in the music department and everything worked out.”

CCC art department volunteer Allan Perlof said he arrived on campus at 7:15 a.m and was surprised by Jackson and Son Plumbing and news of the broken water main.

“It’s an extreme inconvenience to ceramic students because water is a huge component of what we do,” Perlof said. “Students had no complaints whatsoever. What they were doing was not impaired by the lack of water in the building.”

Because water is an important part of ceramics, a 55-gallon barrel of water is used as a reserve in case of an emergency — much like Sunday’s water main break.

“If students don’t pollute the water it can last 20 class sessions.”

Perlof said the container is on rollers that can be moved to an area where water is accessible to be filled and brought back to the Art Building.

CHAMPAGNE | Departments collaborate, celebrate Continued from Page 1 Sharkes said although a bottom-line fundraising goal was set for the event, the educational goals and development of students in the department at the event is always the focal point. “Everything is centered around the betterment of the students,” he said.

“We invite many chefs and wine connoisseurs from around the Bay Area as our guests and it allows our students to show their talents to a diverse audience.”

Former Contra Costa College culinary arts students were on hand to lend support to those who are presently going through what they once did.

Culinary alumnus Troy Yonke said, “This is consistently a great event for the (culinary) depart-

ment and it shows the student body and visitors what creative things go on in this very expensive kitchen.

“The food and drinks are always good and you can’t beat the environment with this building and the live music — just an allaround good time.”

Other former culinary arts students were impressed with the department’s new facilities and equipment and were enthused to see that the event has evolved to what it is today.

Program alum Dalaneo Revels said, “I actually worked the first (Chocolate and Champagne Event) and I feel like it’s much more organized now.

“Plus, you’ve got the music with the (CCC) music department

involved, utilizing and highlighting more programs in the college.

It provides access to more students, which is a beautiful thing for the community.”

And at this event, the partnership between the Music and Culinary arts d e p ar t me nt s has allowed for Sharkes students from both areas to jointly sharpen their skills.

The music department provided live music for the event with performances by its award-winning group “JAZZ-ology”.

Sharkes said, “The music

department has helped us greatly with their live music and we will be returning the favor to them providing food for some of their events later on in the school year.

“We also received approximately $3,500 for our scholarship fund, a portion of which will go to the music department for its assistance with the event.”

Culinary arts instructional assistant Angel Chau said although the event’s foot traffic was not as crowded as in previous years, the festivities were more manageable with less chaos involved.

“We like it better when there is a steady flow of people so we can make everything go smoothly,” Chau said. “Last year we ran out of space, but this year we were able to be on top of everything.”

ASU BUDGET | Funds provide for campus activities Continued from Page 1 year for expenses from events and programs, Nickelson-Shanks said.

The ASU entered fall of 2017 with a $2,500 surplus after a student activity deposit of $33,000.

Nickelson-Shanks said the ASU went big on events last year hosting movie nights, a haunted house and supporting the Clipper Card program, all of which came at a significant expense.

The spring semester haunted house in the Knox Center managed to keep costs relatively low at $650 because the ASU worked with staff in the Knox Center to build the sets and do a majority of the work in-house.

However, larger expenses from last year were $2,340 for the Clipper Card program, $1,167 for ASU clothing and $4,376 for academic scholarships.

Other events that benefited from the Student Activity Fee funding were Suicide Prevention Week, a Latin heritage event, the “Black Panther” movie screening and

“We should spend the money. If we withhold anything I feel like we’re doing a disservice to students.”

Chris Miller, ASU vice president

Thanksgiving dinner.

An additional cost fixed into the ASU budget is the annual allotment to pay for 25 percent of Nickelson-Shanks’ salary.

The ASU Board agreed to partially pay for Nickelson-Shanks’ full-time salary in spring of 2017 through the 2018-19 college year.

Other ongoing costs are ASU Board member stipends.

Nickelson-Shanks said this year’s ASU schedule ended up being lighter on big events and more focused on broad advocacy initiatives. He noted this week’s series of events for the Undocumented Student Week of Action as an example.

With the compressed calendar, the ASU

needed some time to adjust and accommodate to when students are best available to turn out for events.

Turnover, due to transfers within ASU’s leadership, is another adjustment point, Miller said.

Business cards, shirts and hoodies are additional costs that come out of the Student Activity Fee. Miller said these expenses boost the ASU’s presence on campus and gives a unified, professional look. He said other parts of raising the ASU’s campus presence would be designing a presentation members can do in classes to lobby for student participation.

Approximately $2,000 is expected to be allocated for scholarships this semester, according to Nickelson-Shanks.

Miller said when deciding what to use the money for he sees it as giving back to students and not about trying to save as much money as possible.

“We should spend the money because if we withhold anything I feel like we’re doing a disservice to the students.”

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campusbeat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.17.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

LEFT: Speech team members read informational speaking critiques from the 50th Annual Santa Rosa Junior College Speech and Debate Tournament during speech team practice on Thursday.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Speech team excels again

By Gabriel Quiroz

n “I’m really excited about how

staff writer

everything went. And I am excited that I won.”

gquiroz.theadvocate@gmail.com

For too many years Contra Costa College has been wrongly stigmatized as a sub-standard college.

Consequently, students who attend school here are often embarrassed to admit it when discussing plans with friends and family.

This, however, is a view with no ties to reality as CCC produces numerous award-winning students engaged in many different fields of study.

Excellence is exemplified from nursing to newspapers and the Contra Costa College speech team has bragging rights too.

The team just returned from its first tournament of the semester, which saw all three of CCC’s entrants place in the top five of a competition stocked with more than 150 students.

Two out of three of the CCC students at the 50th Annual Santa Rosa Junior College Speech and Debate Tournament were competing for the first time.

Competitor and journalism major Xavier Johnson said, “I’m really excited about how everything went. And I am excited that I

— Xavier Johnson journalism major

won.”

The tournament consisted of two preliminary rounds and a final round, each lasting for about an hour with students competing in groups of 10 or more.

The students were judged on different things according to the category. Informative competitors were judged on pronunciation and clarity, while those competing in prose were judged on the emotion and action that they put into their performances.

Computer science and business major Aman Butt and Johnson began competing in the novice category, but Aman was moved to the open division as there were not enough people in his category for him to compete in novice.

Butt said, “I definitely felt the pressure of competing in the open division, but as long as you get into the groove, you’re good. It feels amazing to be honest. After the first

speech, nerves settle down.”

Butt placed fourth in the informative category by performing a speech about paper batteries that are powered by bacteria.

He argued they are safer for the environment than Cobalt-based batteries that children in the Congo mine.

Johnson placed first in the prose category and was very animated and excited about it.

He is also competing in next tournament at the University of the Pacific in Stockton on Nov. 3, with five other CCC competitors.

As the veteran member of the team, Middle College High School student Shreejal Luitel placed third in the informative category. He discussed artificial embryos that are created without using sperm or eggs and their potential through government funding.

Luitel said, “I was really excited for the tournament. I’m always really excited for (the competitions) and after the tournament I felt like I did well.”

There were members of other speech and debate teams in attendance. Scouts from schools were there to see what they were in for in the upcoming Stockton tournament.

Communications major and member of the CCC speech team, Gabriella Hernandez, said she will be competing in Stockton and

was very moved by the competitors that she saw in Santa Rosa.

“I saw how everyone worked hard on their pieces and almost cried a few times during their stories — the ones about being black and Chicano in America were so moving and passionate.”

The whole team expressed gratitude for team coach Randy Carver. He has helped them stay focused and deal with nerves and strategy during practice.

Carver has weekly practices with his students where they are informed on what’s going on with the team, as well as anything they wish to share about the debate process.

The students also have an opportunity to set up time with Carver to perform and get feedback on their speeches far in advance of competition.

During this time, students can go through their speeches, work on their speech timing and how to best fit in the important information. During tournaments, competitors are allowed an eight- to 10-minute speech.

Carver said, “I help them as much as I can now, because when it comes to the tournament time it’s all on them. I go and do the registration and other paperwork while they work together to practice and get ready.”

COPA hosts Buffy Wicks before midterm election Assembly

candidate for district 15 holds open forum for students, faculty

By Jackson Stephens

n “This was a great opportu-

staff writer

jstephens.theadvocate@gmail.com

Campaigning for a seat in the California Assembly, along with guiding students toward becoming politically active in the community was explained during a campus meet and greet with Assembly candidate Buffy Wicks on Oct. 5 The event, hosted by the Community Organizing and Political Action (COPA) club, was held when the largest collection of people was on campus — between 1-2 p.m.

Students representing a diverse group of majors ranging from business, political science and psychology filled GE-111 to hear the candidate vying to represent District 15 in the Assembly.

“This was a great opportunity to ask about campaigning in an environment that is less intimidating for students and the candidate than it would be in a big auditorium,” COPA club faculty adviser Vanna Gonzales said.

As a Democratic newcomer, Wicks

where the candidate could impart her experience and advice to those looking nity to ask about campaigning to become more politically involved.

She said her decision to run for pubin an environment that is less lic office came after Donald Trump won intimidating for students and the presidential election in 2016.

She said students who want to get the candidates than it would involved in politics should understand be in a big auditorium.” the issues that are important to them.

— Vanna Gonzales, COPA faculty adviser Several that inspired her entrance into politics are healthcare reform, educais running for office in the Nov. 6 tion and labor issues.

The transition from managing a election for District 15, which includes Richmond, Berkeley and parts of campaign, to running as a candidate herself, has brought on a new perspecOakland.

Previously, Wicks served as a senior tive as she defines her principles. staff member of President Barack She said she must now support her Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns and own views and claims as opposed to is seen by some as the architect of promoting or defending those of others. his grass-roots campaign strategy that Building networks and fostering relaearned wins in both of those elections. tionships are other components Wicks The meet and greet format was cho- collected through volunteering on a sen so the student populace could learn local campaign as a way to gain experiabout the election and the campaign ence and connections. process on a personal level.

An opportunity for students to Candidates are prohibited from become actively involved in the politispeaking to classes directly. cal process is by participating in Wicks’ The club provided a neutral space campaign through her fellowship for

Undocumented Student Week schedule Social media event at the College Center Plaza was Monday.

Learn about different cultures at Multicultural Night event tonight in Fireside hall from 4 to 6 p.m.

On Tuesday You’ve got a Friend in Me resource fair and financial aid help was held.

On Thursday Ally Training 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Student town hall 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Fireside Hall.

students project.

There are currently 20 volunteers and applications are still available.

Wicks said to join a campaign as early as possible.

“The candidate who works the hardest typically wins,” she said.

Wicks accepted the invitation to come to Contra Costa College because her first campaign experience came while she attended Sierra College and was inspired to volunteer Wicks for a local district canState didate.

Assembly She said if students candidate ever get the opportunity to work on a campaign in a swing state, like Iowa, to take it.

Alexander-Griffin heard about the meet and greet through a mass email distributed by Gonzales but says he has been following Wicks campaign.

He said it was insightful to hear from and talk with a candidate on campus.

Finding faith enables club

Bible Study Club:

To unite students of all religions, the Bible Club, which was established this semester, creates an open dialogue of personal interpretations of biblical scriptures.

The club offers an open and safe space to discuss the Lord.

The Bible Club meets every Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in GE-305.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

campus beat

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WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.17.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Initially it was bad, but once it was fixed you could tell that there was more water pressure.”

5

AB540 EXPANDS FINANCIAL RESOURCES

— Mary Hernandez, assistant surgical nursing professor

By Cindy Pantoja staff writer

cpantoja.theadvocate@gmail.com

Murky water proves to be safe after tests

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

ABOVE: Richmond resident Cristian Perez drinks from the water fountain on the first floor of the Applied Arts Buidling on Monday.

By Efrain Valdez sports editor

evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com

The water in the Applied Arts Building raised concerns earlier this semester after many reports from faculty and staff about the water being murky and having a bad smell.

“There has been some question about whether the drinking fountains in the AA Building were safe to drink out of since the construction project (this past spring and summer),” Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said in an email sent to staff on Oct. 8.

Furthermore, the email said, “The upstairs drinking fountain comes out a little cloudy initially, but this is just air in the system and goes away after running the water for a few seconds (it will eventually go away completely).”

The two separate tests conducted were searching for bacteria and metal/lead in the water that had possibly built up while the water was not in use during construction.

According to the findings of the testing firm hired to conKing duct the sampling, both reports Buildings concluded that the water is “very and grounds good quality EBMUD water and manager safe to drink.”

“We had to close the water fountains for a second time because initially, they only tested for bacteria. I questioned if they tested for metals and that’s what ended up happening,” King said.

Construction was done over the summer and included moving the nursing department into new facilities and a face-lift of many of the classrooms.

Assistant surgical nursing professor Mary Hernandez said, “The water looked, smelled and tasted (because I accidentally took a drink) not good.

n “We had to close the water fountains for a second time because initially, they only tested for bacteria. I questioned if they tested for metals and that’s what ended up happening.”

— Bruce King, Buildings and Grounds manager

Initially it was bad, but once it was fixed you could tell that there was more water pressure.”

Hernandez said she and other professors use bottled water for drinking, but that the water in the building “meets the needs of the nursing department and that “it’s not a problem anymore.”

For the first few weeks of the semester, the water dispensed out of faucets and water fountains was visibly murky and had an odd smell, she said.

King said, “As soon as the (2018) spring semester ended in May, the building was supposed to be unoccupied during construction. So, the water sat in the pipes for around three months.”

Nursing major Thaileen Andrews said that she did not notice anything different about the appearance or smell of the water until she overheard classmates talking about it.

“I had no idea about it until earlier in the semester when I overheard some classmates talking about how the water didn’t look good,” she said.

The nursing department, which was once housed in the now torn down Health Science Building, came to the AA Building with numerous upgrades but were met with the water issue.

“I did receive the email. Honestly, I noticed that the water had improved even before they sent out the email,” Hernandez said.

King said during this whole situation, people in the AA Building “have been drinking good water and will continue to drink good quality water.”

A Senate Bill was added to the Assembly Bill 540 exemption to expand its requirements for waving non-resident college tuition. Prior to the expansion, eligibility was dependent on the applicant completing three years of high school as a requirement.

On Jan. 1 of this year, the Senate Bill 68 expanded the qualifications for AB 540 and AB 2000.

Now, the law allows students to complete the requirements by allowing students to use time spent in elementary, middle school, adult school and community college.

“AB540 has been in effect for over a decade if students are eligible. It allows us to waive (an undocumented student’s) non-resident tuition,” Director of Admission and Records Catherine Frost said.

Contra Costa College eligible students must complete a California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request and submit it to the Admissions and Records Office. Students applying for an exemption request may be required to submit additional documentation such as transcripts from previous schools.

AB540, originally created in 2001, established an exemption for undocumented students from paying non-resident tuition for those students who have attended high school in California and received a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Before the new addition to Frost the law earlier this year, AB540 Admissions students were required to comand Records plete three years of attendance at a California high school and have obtained a high school diploma or the equivalent, a General Education Development (GED).

However, thousands of undocumented students who arrive to the United States after the 10th grade weren’t able to complete the three years of high school education required to qualify for AB 540.

“This is a great opportunity for students who want to go further with their education, but the government should do something to help students to legalize their status once they graduate,” counselor Suzanne Huey said.

“If students come here to CCC and they want an education, we process the paperwork and we help them get the most out of the system.”

After the Trump administration turned its back on DACA last year, undocumented students and their families hesitated to share their immigration status with counselors and the Administration and Records Office.

They feared information submitted on campus would automatically transfer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities. But according to The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), colleges and universities can’t release student information.

FERPA protects the privacy of students’ educational records, including their immigration status, except under specific circumstances — such as a court order.

“At Contra Costa College, we do not report anybody who comes to this country illegally. It’s not our duty to report undocumented students.” Huey said.

Even though recent immigration policies are not favorable toward undocumented students, experts advise students to stay in school.

EMPTY BOWLS ARE SERVED WITH SAVORY CULINARY SOUPS

By Luis Lopez staff writer

llopez.theadvocate@gmail.com

As in previous years, the culinary arts department and the art department will team up to host the 6th Annual Empty Bowls Project event in the Aqua Terra Grill (SA-130) from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

Participants in the event will choose their own ceramic bowls and a choice of the four available soups. The art department will provide the ceramic bowls and the culinary students will provide the soup.

The collaborative effort is in its sixth year and it is expected to have its biggest turnout yet.

Their bowls will be filled with the soup of their choosing and participants can keep their ceramic bowls after they are done using them.

Culinary arts department instructional assistant Angel Chau said, “The event is open to students

LEFT: Ceramics instructor Mary Law (right) shows off a ceramic bowl to art majors Barbara Burgess (left) and Grace Brown at Fireside Hall.

n “Knowing the ceramic

bowls are going to be taken home by someone motivates you to want to make a really good bowl.”

— Ilena Ferrer , ceramics student ARCHIVE / THE ADVOCATE

and the public with prices varying between groups. Students pay $5 and the public pays $10 for their bowls, with all proceeds going to the Bay Area Rescue Mission in Richmond. Guests are encouraged to buy additional bowls for $10 each.”

Chau said four different soups will be available Friday, however clam chowder and a vegetarian option are the only confirmed soups thus far. After the guests are done with their bowl, culinary students wash them and return them to patrons so they can take them home.

Contra Costa College ceramics professor Mary Law said the Empty Bowls Project was started about 20 years ago and is now an international event aimed at ending hunger and addressing food insecurity.

This humanitarian effort started in Michigan with two potters sharing a common goal toward raising money and fighting food insecurity.

“This is now our sixth year holding the event on campus. I brought up the idea for the Empty Bowls event because I felt the art

department was not getting recognition. So we decided to do something collaborative and meaningful with the culinary arts department,” Law said.

Assistant ceramics professor Allen Perloff said art students taking ceramics classes make about four to six bowls apiece for the event.

“The ceramic bowls is the first project given to students in our pottery class. Students make about four to six bowls for the event and it helps give them a lot of experience. By their sixth bowl they feel

comfortable in their bowl-making skills,” he said.

Ceramics student Ilena Ferrer said students enjoy having their work be part of such a good cause.

“At first it is kind of hard to let go of your art, but it feels really good to know it is going to a good cause,” she said.

“Knowing the ceramic bowls are going to be taken home by someone motivates you to want to make a really good bowl. And it’s an easy way to help. By the end, we are experienced on (making) the bowls.”

6

spotlight

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.17.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

“

Not everyone has someone to speak with, open up to, or confide in. So I think it’s important to check in with people and offer help.”

— Lalina Binaley, nursing major

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Taking on multiple roles Nursing major, wife finds inspiration in helping others

By Jessica Suico

n “She commutes every day

news editor

jsuico.theadvocate@gmail.com

Few women can bear the burden of being a student and mom while a military spouse is on duty. Maintaining normalcy through uncertainty becomes second nature, especially with family support as a backbone.

Nursing major Lalina Binaley believes her passion in life is to help people in need. She loves hearing people tell their stories and feels honored when they ask for her help or advice.

An inspirational woman who strives for her goals and dreams, Binaley, through the motivation provided by her son, embraces her role as a nursing student and wife of an enlisted sailor.

At Contra Costa College, her determination has been a light that guides others toward achieving their goals.

“Not everyone has someone to speak with, open up to, or confide in. So, I think it’s important to check in with people and offer help,” Binaley said.

Binaley said that being a Navy wife comes with a lot of responsibility and because of the relative unpredictability of her husband’s job, she, and others like her, must have innerstrength to be married to someone in service.

“The military is not for the faint of heart — and that’s whether you’re active duty or the spouse,” she said.

Binaley remembers hearing stories from other military wives about what supportive duties entail and what type of person it takes to succeed in them.

“They said, ‘To be a military spouse, you must be stronger than the person in the military,’” Binaley said. “Your husband and children will depend on the wife to hold the family together, so you must be the glue. You have to be strong even when you’re not.”

Binaley was born and raised in the Bay Area.

Her family is from San Francisco and she went to school in Vallejo. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles and lived there for two years before she was ready to make her way back north.

The Southern California lifestyle did not fit the path she envisioned for herself.

“I thought it was funny how superficial

from Oakland to Contra Costa College. On weekends, she travels to Sacramento to spend time with her family. She inspires me to keep striving for my goals..”

— Tamy Lee, nursing major

people were out there and that turned me off.

I’m definitely more of your hippy, Northern Californian,” Binaley said.

Now back in the Bay Area, Binaley’s main focus is finishing nursing school and passing the National Council Licensure Examination and become a registered nurse. She has been at CCC since the spring of 2010.

“Community colleges are so amazing.

You don’t have to meet any requirements (for entrance), just the willingness to want to learn and you’re in.”

It was during her second stint in Northern California that Binaley met her husband, Cameron Jones, a sailor currently stationed in Virginia, while both attended CCC. They met while working out in the Fitness Center on campus while Jones was a member of the Comet baseball team.

Nursing major Tamy Lee said, “Lalina (Binaley) is very determined to reach her goals and she is very hard working. The fact she is a Navy wife, a mom and a student is amazing.”

“She commutes every day from Oakland to CCC. On weekends, she travels to Sacramento to spend time with her family. She inspires me to keep striving for my goals.” Lee said she doesn’t understand how Binaley keeps the energy she does to wake up everyday and keep working toward her goals.

“Sometimes she gets little to no sleep when we have exams or midterms to study for. She truly is remarkable,” Lee said.

Nursing major Christopher Salabao said, “Lalina is fun, encouraging and strong. She is such a free spirit with a wild heart. She stays strong through the adversity she faces daily.”

Salabao met Binaley in fall of 2017. They

were in the same clinical rotation group in nursing.

Salabao said, “We hit it off immediately.”

“Her laugh is contagious and her positive energy makes the day easier,” he said.

Salabao said her son calls him uncle and that he has become close with her family. They also had joint family functions during break.

He wasn’t expecting to get as close as he is with Binaley and her family, but he is happy it happened.

“We’re a family within a family. I have another person to call big sister. She teaches me every day to be a better person, which is all I can ask for,” Salabao said.

When her classes are securely in her rearview mirror, she will have two associate degrees — one in nursing.

“If all goes well I’ll be graduating with my ADN next spring debt-free,” Binaley said. “I could not be more grateful.”

Binaley said California has some of the toughest standards for nursing so it was wise for her to get her degree here. Becoming certified based on her work at CCC will allow her to work anywhere in the country.

“You can’t say that about all nursing colleges across the country,” Binaley said.

How she manages to find time to balance the multitude of tasks and responsibilities is a mystery to even her.

Binaley said, “I am constantly running around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to find time to study for my classes.

“Women, we are remarkable creatures.

When you become a mother, there is no room for failure. You must keep going,” Binaley said.

“I take each day as it comes and try to stay task oriented. If you want something bad enough, you just find a way.”

Binaley’s favorite things about living in the Bay Area are the good vibes, the support of her friends and family and her favorite food — crab.

“I’m Hawaiian and Filipino so I live for crab,” she said. “Surprisingly places like New York, Hawaii, Virginia Beach and Miami are not big on crab dishes. Who would’ve known all my vacation spots wouldn’t have good crab?”

She said she feels blessed to have some good seasonal crab available here in the Bay Area.

ABOVE: Nursing major Lalina Binaley takes on multiple roles as she studies to become a certified nurse in the Contra Costa College nursing department.

Binaley’s places Oakland Binaley lives in Oakland with her son.

She gets up at the crack of dawn to get ready to commute to Contra Costa College. Commuting five days a week to school shows her dedication to her future.

Sacramento

Contra Costa College

Family is important to Binaley. Her parents and some of her family live in Sacramento. She travels there about three times a month to visit her parents.

Binaley attends CCC five days a week, and sometimes on Saturday’s for exams or labs. She is on campus most of the day.

INFOGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

sports

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.17.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

7

COMETS STORM PAST NAPA VALLEY Preparation secures victory in first rematch

By Xavier Johnson web editor

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

XAVIER JOHNSON / THE ADVOCATE

Right setter Rosa Olivar attempts to score over Napa Valley College middle blocker Alexia Stewart in Contra Costa College’s 3-0 victory in the Gymnasium on Friday.

Big plays help Dons slay football team

By Alex Kwasniza advocate staff

akwasniza.theadvocate@gmail.com

After a valiant comeback attempt in the third quarter, the Comet football team (0-7 overall, 0-3 in the Pacific 7 Conference) failed to fight back into contention and eventually lost 41-14 to De Anza College Saturday in Comet Stadium.

The Dons (5-1 overall, 3-0 in the Pac 7) opened the game by taking a commanding 21-0 lead before halftime. This was accomplished by big plays and an opportunistic defense that capitalized on Comet mistakes.

Contra Costa College began to mount a comeback on the team’s first drive of the third quarter thanks to a 7-yard touchdown run up the middle by running back Steven Harvey.

Harvey said it felt good to finally break out a decent run for a touchdown. The touchdown brought the score to 21-7 with nine minutes to play in the quarter.

De Anza’s rush defense held strong the entire game and

In its first rematch of the season, the volleyball team used a relentless offensive attack to crush Napa Valley College (0-12 overall, 0-8 in the Bay Valley Conference) in straight sets to sweep the season series Friday in the Gymnasium.

During their first meeting on Sept. 12 in Napa, the two squads had a near even clash with the Comets (2-12 overall, 2-6 in the BVC) narrowly winning 3-2.

With this game being the first rematch of the season, the Comets came into the game motivated to prove their superiority.

“We knew they were going to want redemption, so if we wanted to keep our place in the standings we had to win,” middle blocker Makaya Thomas said.

In the final practice leading up to the game, coach Christy Tianero had the team study film of the first game and planned to exploit the weaknesses they saw in the Storm during the initial match.

“They (Napa Valley) are freshman and they have a new coach so they won’t change much from last game,” Tianero said she told her team. “We noticed they have a certain rotation

only allowed the Comets 36 yards of rushing on 25 carries for the game.

The third-quarter scoring drive had been extended by a surprise fake punt executed by punter Kyle Jarvis on fourth down with 3 yards to go. The play wasn’t completely designed to be a fake as it was set up as more of an option for Jarvis to read and react to the defense. If the defense was in front of him he would punt. If he could run for a first down, he would.

His recognition proved correct, leading to a 20-yard streak down the sideline and a Comet first down.

“That was a good job on Kyle’s behalf to just recognize that and make a play,” Comet coach Patrick Henderson said.

The football team remains winless this season with three games left to play. The next opportunity for a Comet victory is at sister college Los Medanos in Pittsburg this Saturday at 1 p.m.

After a De Anza field goal midway through the third quarter that made the score 24-7, Comet quarterback Riley Lee came firing back with a deep pass down the right sideline to wide receiver Kyree Jackson.

Jackson made the catch and ran the Henderson rest of the way for an 80-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 24-14, trimming the Dons’ lead to 10.

“I saw there was one man on Kyree (Jackson), so I just threw it up and let him do the rest,” quarterback Lee said.

Henderson said the team held strong in the third quarter by not giving up big plays and continuing to make attempts to execute the game plan.

“I think that’s one thing that we just continue to try to improve on week-in and week-out. It’s tough (to do that) not having a win,” he said.

where their offense is bad, so we attacked that.”

Contra Costa College setter Kimberly Calip said leading up to Friday’s game the team knew the Storm’s setter was a strong hitter from the first game, and it adjusted defensively.

Set one was closely contested with both teams exchanging scoring runs.

But ultimately the Comets capitalized on the Storm’s errors and took the set 25-23.

Riding the momentum gained in the first set, the Comets continued their scoring surge, seemingly shocking the Storm.

In the few moments the Storm managed to stabilize their descent, the team’s momentum faded by way of a stifling Comet block or falling apart during crucial volleys.

Powered by a consistent, well-rounded approach, the Comets stomped Napa Valley in set two, 25-11, leaving the Storm searching for answers that never came in the final set.

Throughout the game, Comet libero Delaine Baca anchored the defense with 12 digs and only one error while keeping plays alive and opening up scoring opportunities for CCC. Baca said they started pushing the ball toward Napa Valley’s setter to force the team into situations where they had to scramble to get a clean hit off.

Thomas’ dominance up front contributed to the Comet victory. She finished with three blocks and kept the pressure on offensively

with 13 kills on 27 attempts.

“I was excited for the game. Yeah, I was just really excited,” she said.

Napa Valley put up a better fight in set three.

But its consistent failure to turn the few Comet errors into scoring runs ended any chance of its offense COMETS heating up.

A key b l o c k toward the end of set STORM three by Thomas s olidif ie d the 25-21 set three Comet victory.

Tianero said, “Everyone played well. (Thomas) matched her season high in blocks, (Calip) stepped up on her serves and Victoria (Matue) had a lot of good serves and hit her spots.”

Now, just past the midway mark of the season, the Comets are looking forward to more conference rematches.

CCC will face Mendocino College Friday in the Gymnasium at 6 p.m.

During their first meeting on Sept. 19 the Comets fell in five sets, 3-2.

“When we played Mendocino the game was close. Hopefully, when we prepare the way we did for this Napa game we can learn and beat Mendocino,” Tianero said.

The Comet coach said she’s confident her team can make the adjustments to do better in the upcoming BVC second round games.

3 0

“I think we did a decent job trying to contain (De Anza). But you know, big plays are always going to kill you.”

Pat Henderson,

Comet football coach

Harvey said, “The effort was there. I can say we didn’t quit, and we rallied around each other the whole game.

Nobody turned their back on each other.”

The Comet comeback aspirations would end late in the third quarter as the Dons dominated the rest of the game with a strong rushing and passing attack.

Their strategy was spearheaded by an alternating quarterback strategy between quarterbacks Oliver Svirsky (263 passing yards) and Eduardo Andrade (61 rushing yards).

Henderson said the dual quarterback approach was a tough adjustment for the defense, but it wasn’t a big surprise.

The Comets just have to execute a little better.

The Dons offense took advantage of the Comet defense with big scoring plays in the first half, starting on the second play from scrimmage with a 71-yard touchdown run down the sideline by running back Nicholas Sermons.

CCC had hoped to stay close to its 14-point deficit heading into halftime, but with 35 seconds left in the second quarter, De Anza’s quarterback changed that plan. On a broken play, Svirsky scrambled away from the Comet pass rush and threw a 42-yard pass into the end zone to receiver Bruce Jones. That score extended the Don lead to 21-0 at halftime.

“I think we did a decent job trying to contain (De Anza). But you know, big plays are always going to kill you,” Henderson said.

Stout Thunderbird defense halts offense

By Efrain Valdez sports editor

evaldez.theadvocate.theadvocate@gmail.com

In a battle for sole possession of first place in the Bay Valley Conference, the men’s soccer team (1-1-2 in the BVC and 4-6-4 overall) struggled to get through the stingy Merritt College defense in a 1-0 loss Friday in Oakland.

The Thunderbirds (3-0-1 in the BVC and 7-1-5 overall) managed their third shutout in four games, while frustrating the Comet offense by “parking the bus” throughout the match.

With the loss, Contra Ferguson Costa College has been leapfrogged by second place Mendocino College in the BVC standings leaving the Comets in third place.

The deciding moment of the game came in the 60th minute when Comet defender Raul Garcia gave up possession as the last man, which gifted Merritt the lone score of the game.

Garcia said, “I thought of two things (at that moment), either passing it back or kicking the ball out. I didn’t want to give a bad ball to the goalie for him to clear.”

By the time he figured out what to do with the ball it was too late, as he had lost it.

“It’s on me,” Garcia said. “The guy was quick and I didn’t react fast enough.”

What changed the complexion of the game was the injury that Comet midfielder Nick Silva sustained midway through the first half. Up until that point, CCC was the dominant team when it came to possession, shots and set pieces.

Silva’s injury showed how important his presence is to the CCC midfield.

“He’s (Silva) a huge piece for us centrally,” CCC coach Nikki Ferguson said. “He does a good job and is the physical presence on the team.”

The game became an open back-andforth contest once Silva left the game.

The match was compelling for the duration of action, despite the lack of scoring action.

Thunderbird coach Geoffrey Aguiar said when CCC lost Silva, it made a huge difference in the game.

“We were able to knock the ball around a little better after he was injured,” Aguiar said.

The “park the bus” defensive style that Merritt imposed on the high-powered CCC offense is something that the Thunderbirds have relied on this season.

“We know that Contra Costa is going

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Comet defender Raul Garcia (right) loses possession of the ball to Thunderbird midfielder Haruna Mubarak resulting in the game’s lone score Friday in Oakland.

to have a good team every year. They are a conference powerhouse. We knew they were going to come at us and have a lot of chances and our strategy was to try to hold on to see if we can get lucky — which we did,” Aguiar said.

CCC came into this game after a 7-1 thrashing of Yuba College on Oct. 9. But for the majority of its BVC games the team has been in a scoring slump.

Before the scoring outburst against Yuba,

the Comets had only scored one goal since their Sept. 19 2-0 win against City College of San Francisco.

The Comets will look to find consistency in their offense against non-conference opponent Modesto Junior College on Tuesday at 4 p.m. on the Soccer Field.

CCC will play four out of its next five games at home, possibly allowing the team to build on its 3-1-1 home record.

8

scene

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.17.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

‘Carter V’ fails to snatch attention

By Andrew Weedon scene editor

aweedon.theadvocate@gmail.com

I

n any environment, whether suburbs or slums, victories and setbacks are a common occurrence.

However, across all aspects of societal divisions, the heartfelt words of a loving mother are the ultimate motivation to succeed.

Dwayne Michael Carter, who goes by the stage name Lil Wayne, seems to agree with this sentiment as he opens his new “Tha Carter V” album with a track of loving and congratulatory words from his own mother, Jacida Carter.

The Sept. 28 release of this album was by no means normal. It was filled with drama and tension rivaled only by the expectations Carter has to remain relevant.

I don’t keep up with the rap scene, so I was completely blind to the release of this album. I only heard about it when friends of mine raved about its upcoming release on Instagram.

I really hate rap. Not because it doesn’t have any musical value, but because it has never spoken to me. I’m an old soul who listens to rock and classical music.

I played the clarinet for eight years.

The rough texture of rap has never interested me. In this album, which was seven years in the coming, Carter opens up about

andrewweedon some landmark events in his life that led to his rise and fall.

The first half of the album feels honest as Carter speaks introspectively about some of the tough situations in his life.

It’s no secret that Carter experienced challenges growing up in a poor neighborhood of New Orleans. The rapper has received international acclaim and his tattooed face has become recognized in American households.

“I’m a gangsta, Miss Katie,” Carter said in an interview with Katie Couric. And that he was.

It’s widely known that he was involved with illegal drugs and guns, having gone to jail for a time in 2007 on weapons charges in New York, NPR reporters Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael have reported.

Despite this, Carter states that he “Can’t be Broken,” in a song by the same name.

In a series of tracks after this, he begins talking about his friends and relationships.

Fame is always a hard thing to grapple with as it can divide aspects of

a person’s life.

In “Famous,” which prominently features his daughter Reginae, Carter talks about how fame has affected his life.

Carter always wanted to be famous, sacrificing his relationships to advance his career, as he states in the song. In the next line, however, he says he wanted everybody’s attention because he thought his career was going to be cut short as “most people are nobody till somebody kills ’em.”

The next song, “Problems,” marks a pivotal point where the album descends into a drug-induced trip fueled by “lean,” a codeine-based mix on which Carter has denied being dependent.

The departure from honest evaluation to outright self-aggrandizement that Carter makes as the project progresses leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I can see how Carter may have intended this to be the case in order to emphasize the degree to which fame has affected his life. But in this case, the execution is poor.

Admittedly, rap is not my music of choice. However, if Carter’s intention with “Tha Carter V” is to get people to listen to the album — this part pushed me farther away.

Carter brings his intentions back into perspective in the penultimate track “Used 2.”

Again featuring his mother, he comes out about his attempted suicide at age 12.

On that song, the rapper shines a light on his total lack of self-preservation and his participation in gang-related activities during his formative

years.

He shows that he didn’t care about whether he lived or died at this point in his life, similar to how he felt during his preteen years.

Carter rounds out the album with “Let It All Work Out,” where he steps back and takes an objective look at where he stands as an artist today.

According to Carter, he has been at the top of the rap game for a long time and continues to be.

The numbers certainly back him up. Collectively, the Louisiana rapper has sold more than 15 million albums in the U.S. Carter’s popularity continues to soar even in the face of massive legal trouble with his former label, Cash Money Records.

Pitchfork reporter Marc Hogan said Carter sued Cash Money for $51 million in 2015, claiming it refused to let him release his “Tha Carter V” album preventing him from earning a living.

Lyrically, the album is quite strong. However, I have to mark points off for the lyrically odd side step he makes in its second half.

Melodically the album falls well short of the mark Carter set in previous projects. The album lacks the creativity one would expect from an artist who claims to be at the top of the rap game.

There are no tracks that offer innovative or bold instrumentation choices, which leaves the wait, and subsequent release of “Tha Carter V,” unfulfilling.

This comes as no surprise to me as much of the rap I’ve listened to focuses on lyrics and tends to tone down a melody, so it doesn’t get in the way.

CAMPUS COMMENT

What musical artist has had the biggest negative impact on your life or society?

“Cardi B, because she doesn’t give a positive message to her fans.”

Amir Jackson engineering

“Lil Pete, because of the mention of Xanax in his music. It seems like more kids are overdosing on it. ” Jennifer Oguilar nursing

JESSICA SUICO / THE ADVOCATE

“Kanye West. Just his negative reflection on American culture and how no one thinks he’s mentally ill when he is.”

Elishes Cavness

African-American studies

“Takashi 6ix9ine, because he’s just a troll in my eyes.”

James Johnson computer science

“I mostly listen to K-pop so I don’t know much about American popular music.”

“None. The music is about the music not the artist.”

Suu Shamra

anthropology

administration of justice

Xavier Contreras-Boracio