WEDNESDAY l 9.13.17 OUR 68TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.
DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
Oakland resident Yesenia Veamatahau holds her fists in the air as a speaker performs a empowering poem durring the closing rally in an impromptu march to City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. on Sep. 6, 2017.
DACA REPEAL REVIVES MOVEMENT Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program phasing out By Robert Clinton opinion editor
rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com
SAN FRANCISCO ‑ President Donald Trump continued his assault on policies put forth by the Obama administration Tuesday when, through Attorney General Jeff Sessions, he announced the cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program (DACA). The program, which served as a temporary safety net for roughly 800,000 children of immigrants has been a target of immigration opponents since its inception in June of 2012. In a lengthy press conference Sept. 5 announcing the administration’s legal basis for rolling back the program, the attorney general cited the unilateral passage of the program by the Obama administration and the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs to potentially hard working Americans as his impetus for killing the plan. “To have a lawful system of immigration, that serves the national interest, we cannot admit everyone that would like to come here,” Sessions said in a Tuesday press conference from the Department of Justice in Washington D.C.
The thousands of people receiving DACA had no choice in coming to the U.S. and have to prove through an extensive biometric qualification process that they were minors and had no say as to when and where they arrived here. Those qualifying had to have been under age 31on June 15, 2012 and came to the U.S. while under age16. Aside from paying over $400 in application fees, recipients cannot have been convicted of a felony or a serious misdemeanour and also must have a high school diploma or equivalent — among other things. However, even when meeting the requirements, there is no guarantee that an applicant will be accepted into the program. Rather than abruptly ending the stopgap reform, the Trump administration has instead given the program a 6-month window to allow the U.S. Congress time to construct and pass some version of a comprehensive immigration reform package. Trump, who was noticeably silent on his administration’s immigration announcement prior to Session’s Tuesday press conference levied his executive direction by tweet at 5:38 p.m. that same evening. “Congress now has 6 months to legalize DACA (something the Obama Administration was unable to do). If they can’t, I will revisit this issue!” Trump tweeted. The 6-month window, ending March 6, puts people up for DACA renewal in a precarious position. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s online DACA process-
CURRICLUM SUPPORTS ACADEMIC SPECIFICITY Spring semester recess continuty uncertain, students unsure of idea
editor
The introduction of a winter intersession and the possible removal of spring break spearheaded the United Faculty’s discussions on the compressed semester schedule for the 201819 academic calendar. “We are looking at what is beneficial for the students and redesigning the schedule on need rather than assumption,” Contra Costa College Vice President Ken Sherwood said. Sherwood, along with Diablo Valley College Vice President Rachel Westlake and Los Medanos College Vice President Kevin Horan, met Aug. 25 with the UF and a management group to hammer out the remaining details.
FACEBOOK: /accentadvocate
— Maribel Sanchez, San Francisco resident
SEE DACA, PAGE 3
ing update, individuals who have not submitted an application by Sept. 5 for an initial request under DACA may no longer apply. For those looking to renew, the situation is more complicated. In a memo detailing the rescinding of DACA by acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, she states the department “will adjudicate — on an individual, case by case basis — properly filed pending DACA renewal requests and associated applications for Employment Authorization Documents from current beneficiaries that have been accepted by the Department as of the date of this memorandum, and from current beneficiaries whose benefits will expire between the date of this memorandum and March 5, 2018 that have been accepted by the Department as of October 5, 2017.” Meaning, if a person’s DACA status expires after Oct. 5, their renewal before the March 5 termination date will not be accepted. “I just renewed so I have two years left,”
DACA nEditorial Staff takes a stand on discrimination against undocumented people. P2 nGroup gears up to document the lives and stories of undocumented peers.P4 nMinority clubs organize infomation forum on DACA and the laws around them. P8
MASCOT RESTORED AFTER ABSENCE
DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com
SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 3
who are directly affected and I am here to use my voice to do what is right, the government does not hae to take people away who have been working here for years.”
economics major Oscar Martinez said. “Being instilled with the fear that you may be separated from your family is overwhelming.” After the announcement, protests in support of the popular and successful program erupted into the streets of major cities across the country — including San Francisco. Maribel Sanchez, who attended the impromptu action in San Francisco, knows
Counselour () posts a sticky note message supporting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients in the Student Cemter Plaza on Sept. 5th.
By Michael Santone Associate
n “I have family and friends
Counselrs give support, protect mental health By Roxana Amparo editor-in-chief
ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com
Counseling and support was offered to reassure undocumented students that their safety and sanity both matter to the Contra Costa College community. The lives of nearly 800,000 undocumented students were left vulnerable on Sept. 5 when Attorney General Jeff Sessions, on behalf of the Trump Administration, announced the termination of Deferred
INSTAGRAM: @cccadvocate
Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA is a program established during former President Obama’s second term that allowed qualifying undocumented immigrants to obtain a 2-year renewable work permit and more importantly — immunity from deportation. When CCC counselors Norma Valdez-Jimenez and Liliana Moncada heard the news about the roll back of DACA the morning of Sept. 5, they decided it was necessary TWITTER: @accentadvocate
to set up a counseling session in SA-11 that afternoon from 3-4 p.m. for students to release their emotions about the drastic decision made by the president. For those students who mustered up the courage to join the counseling session, being there meant outing themselves as undocumented students. Valdez-Jimenez said, “I understand that showing up SEE COUNSELING, PAGE 3
YOUTUBE: /accentadvocate
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Xghfxasg gsafxgsgs gsfdsgfds shgshgshs The Eddie Rhodes Gallery in the Art Building hosted a reception for community members. PAGE 9 SNAPCHAT: @cccadv0cate
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Quotable “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Sir Richard Steele, English essayist, 1710 Denis Perez editor-in-chief Roxana Amparo Anthony Kinney Michael Santone associate editors Mayra Garcia art director Benjamin Bassham news editor Robert Clinton sports editor opinion editor Xavier Johnson scene editor Dylan Collier assistant scene editor Efrain Valdez social media editor Tashi Wangchuk multimedia editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Advocate Staff Glenn Acosta Leamsi Amaya Sean Austin Louis Cano Carina Castrillo Maxwell Craig Alondra Gallardo Ryan Geller Tony Gojilde Dan Hardin Gabriel Quiroz Julian Robinson Jessica Suico Desmond Sylva Drew Thomas Demond Washington Andrew Weedon Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015 CNPA Better Newspaper Contest 1st Place Award 1970, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2013 JACC Pacesetter Award 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 Member Associated Collegiate Press
California Newspaper Publishers Association
Journalism Association of Community Colleges
How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accentadvocate@ gmail.com Editorial policy Columns and editorial cartoons are the opinion of individual writers and artists and not that of The Advocate. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.
opinion
WEDNESDAY, SEPT 13, 2017 VOL. 105, NO. 3
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM
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EDITORIAL IMMORAL ETHICS DICTATE POLICIES
Unity of affected parties could balance political inequality
O
ver the past two weeks, President Trump escalated his assault on the Mexican-American community and American values after pardoning the racist criminal Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio and then ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Although neither DACA recipients or undocumented immigrants are totally comprised of Mexicans, the immigration conundrum in the U.S. is largely, and unfairly, seen as a Mexican problem, ensuring they shoulder the weight of any immigration issue deemed problematic. Even before taking office, Trump and many in his administration were more than comfortable wading in the muck of racist rhetoric by demeaning immigrants, AfricanAmericans or anyone who stands in the way of preserving a traditional white electorate. The president’s drive to restrict voting rights and rid the country of brown immigrants is not only due to racism, but also political expediency. Trump repeatedly shows, through action or proclamation, that he has little more than contempt for our neighbors south of the border — documented or not. Arpaio’s pardon is Trump’s symbol to anti-immigration aficionados that despite a tacit condemnation of white supremacy, the commander-in-chief still has their back. Rescinding DACA proves that he isn’t just giving lip service to “alt-right” cause. Adding insult to injury, there is now discussion among congressional members suggesting the 800,000 DACA members deportation status could be used as a bargaining chip to pass broader immigration reform. People are not bargaining chips. Especially when, for Republicans, immigration reform looks less like a humane pathway to citizenship and more like the actual legislation conservative Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia proposed earlier this year — the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act. Introduced in the Senate, the bill seeks to reduce levels of legal immigration to the U.S. by slashing the number of green cards issued in half. It also removes pathways for siblings and children of citizens and legal residents to apply for permanent lawful residency status in the U.S., along with a plethora of other immigration restrictions. Republicans are essentially trying to hang a flashing neon “closed” sign on the Statue of Liberty — or a southern border wall. Advocating leaving the construction of compassionate immigration legislation to house Republicans is condemning Dreamers to walk the proverbial plank — while knowing that they are in shark infested waters. Currently, 16 state attorneys general are filing suit in New York federal court to stop Trump’s move to end the DACA. The group is using the same technique that was used in halting the Muslim ban, claiming the president’s motivation is to exclude a specific religion or race of people. The lawyers argue that Trump has repeatedly singled out Mexicans during his campaign and his time in office. From baselessly questioning the integrity of a MexicanAmerican judge to disparaging regular immigrants as rapists and criminals, Trump seems to go out of his way to denigrate Mexicans. If the lawsuit worked to slow the Muslim ban, hopefully it will work for DACA.
MAYRA GARCIA / THE ADVOCATE
■ COMMUNITY
LGBTQ community faces inner conflict T
hroughout the history of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning movement the fight for acceptance in society has been paramount in the conflict that has entrenched a community continuing to battle outsiders for its equal treatment. From the impromptu and violent protests of the Stonewall Riot at the Stonewall Inn in New York City in June 1969, to the emotional fight for marriage equality that unfolded on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in June 2015, the fight for LGBTQ equality continues. The decades of battles saturated in hardships of judgmental perceptions and bigotry, although not completely won, are celebrated as achievements during the month of June. Gay Pride Month symbolizes the commencement of events around the U.S. which capture the sentiment of the progress made as defined by the social normalities and injustices that have occurred. Members of the LGBTQ community come out in droves, with rainbow flags and extravagant costumes, to dance under the sun as parades and after parties create an atmosphere of love and acceptance. But underneath the colorful cascading lights and in between the glitter-filled streets, some in the community, although preaching and celebrating acceptance, simultaneously cast judgment and intolerance upon allies who march with them. This discrimination from within seems to litter the
michaelsantone LGBTQ community, taking it beyond the “No Fems, No Fats, No Asians” disclaimer that has become a mantra in gay clubs and on dating apps. It’s a rift that exceeds romantic preference and permeates scenes from This hypobattles waged critical and by the outsiders who disingenuridicule. It’s a rift ous stance that replaces seems to romantic only fade preference with excuses that are simi- away once lar to the tac- the time has tics waged by come to outsiders. These discriminations chant unity. found within the community are based more on superficial causes. Causes that once united members of the LGBTQ community in response to substandard treatment, are now being mirrored by members of that same community using masculinity, body type and race. Sure, excluding romantic options or exercising personal preference doesn’t mean one is racist or fat phobic. But the dismissal of an entire group of people is nothing more than a mechanism to conceal what is deemed less desirable.
Constant advertisement of disinterest for the whole of a group is no more a “preference” than it is a mechanism to conceal what is deemed less desirable. For the LGBTQ community, that has been plagued by stigma since the proverbial closet door opened, the vulnerable reflection of being seen as “status quo” or accepting what mainstream society deems less desirable, is suicide for a group already on the fringes. This disingenuous stance seems to only fade away once the time has come to chant unity and acceptance — especially under the guise of celebration and remembrance. This all happens while people pretend as though what is preached as a unifying message during gay pride events is practiced and utilized all year round. Regardless of what they actually experience. During the birth of the LGBTQ movement, acceptance and love were internalized and the message was to educate those outside of the community. Now, the message for the new LGBTQ generation, who turn a blind eye to issues within the community, is to remember the foundation of the movement. It is in this disregard for the history and the true meaning of what gay pride stands for that muddles the core and structure of the LGBTQ community. Michael Santone is the associate editor for The Advocate. Contact him at msantone.theadvocate@ gmail.com.
CAMPUS COMMENT
What do you think about compressing the school semester, ending early, removing spring break?
“It’s not a good idea. We need the break to recoup from a long semester. Students deserve their voices heard on the matter.” Imani Puritt African-American studies
“I do not agree with getting rid of spring break. All students deserve a break from the stresses school brings.” Pablo Serano administration of justice
JESSICA SUICO AND RYAN GELLER /THE ADVOCATE
“I do not have a problem with it because then it would be faster for students to get done with school.” Nahomy Maradiaga psychology
“We have grown up in school always having spring break. There is no need to change things.”
“I would want to have a spring break. I need to have a break from all the tests and school work.”
“Although you need an in-between break, It’s always better to end sooner.”
Samuel Watson
Abby Vinluan
Ana Tellez
business administration
psychology
nursing
campus beat
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.13.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
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NEWSLINE CALENDAR | Academic calendar shifts semester Continued from Page 1
n CAREER
WORFHKFKKF FJKH FHK FHKS FHKSE Join president Mojdeh Mehdizadeh on Sept. 16 for the city of El Cerrito’s centennial parade. Marchers will meet at the El Cerrito Safeway parking lot at 9 a.m. and start their 1.5 mile walk to Cerrito Vista Park. The first 1000 attendees will receive free sandwiches and cupcakes. At the park there will be a food truck and free entertainment from noon to 3 p.m. For more details contact Maryam Attai at (510) 619-8678.
n MEMORIAL DAY
OAKHDHF FHK HFJKD HF TURE The United Faculty is offering a paid internship program for six students who will engage in a vast array of political activities. Duties include working with district trustees and legislators, informational tabling and grassroots organizing. United Faculty interns have continued on to pursue occupations in social work and politics. For more information about a position with the United Faculty email the Intern Coordinator Aminta Mickles at amickles@contracosta.edu
n COMMUNITY
ADVSH JS S HHH FSJSHF SFHF UTING Richmond Main Street is sponsoring the ninth annual Spirit and Soul Festival on Sep. 16 on Harbour Way and 13th Street in Richmond. There will be live music on two different stages, food and artisan vendors, info booths, a mobile art gallery and free bike parking. The Festival takes place from 1-5 p.m. For tickets and more information call (510) 236-4049.
n FESTIVAL
ANNUFJGF KHFSH SKHF KHHK KSUN
The 24th annual El Sobrante Stroll is scheduled for Sept. 17 this year with a parade, marching bands and a car show. The stroll will take place on San Pablo Dam Road from El Portal Drive to Appian Way Gates open for the car show at 9:30 a.m.
CRIMEWATCH Wednesday, Aug. 16: A Gateway to College student reported being harassed by her ex-boyfriend on campus. A student was caught stealing from the campus Bookstore. Thursday, Aug. 17: A Gateway to College staff member reported a suspicious circumstance among several students. Friday, Aug. 18: A student reported her child’s father took her vehicle. The vehicle was returned without prosecution. Monday, Aug. 21: Officers responded to a report that a vehicle had rolled into two parked vehicles. A student reported that there were unknown charges placed on their debit card account by someone on campus. — Anthony Kinney
— 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.
“We are at a point where we are focusing on the fine-tuning and how to set things up,” Sherwood said. According to the UF Table Talk weekly newsletter issued Aug. 31, the fall 2018 semester would begin Aug. 28 and end Dec. 16. The winter intersession, although smaller in the first year, would start Jan. 7 and end Feb. 2. This creates a seven-week winter break before the spring 2019 semester would start on Feb. 11. “I think most faculty members debate for what’s best for the students. What the best format will be,” UF Vice President for CCC Jeffrey Michels said. Smaller, “Bootcamp” courses focusing on general education requirements and accelerated program prerequisites will dominate the winter intersession, he said. “I can’t imagine a three to four week English course. Maybe there’s a market for short term courses.” Michaels said a more realistic plan would include courses in computer science and technology. Sherwood, who began his term on June 20, was not a part of the discussion back in February that lead to the approval to compress the semester from 18 weeks into a 16 week semester. But having been a part of two college districts as both a faculty member and an advocate for the
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compressed schedule, Sherwood said he understands there is preparation in finding the right structure. “There are huge benefits for both students and faculty that allow us to be more flexible and create a schedule that works for our student community,” he said. “A majority of the districts have gotten in sync after realizing that 18 weeks is too long.” Sherwood said that the compressed schedule not only frees up time for those students who are parents, but it creates an appeal to CCC that can result in a bump to enrollment, which means more revenue for the college. “Students began to shop around at other colleges when they are looking for alternative courses,” he said. “The winter intersession is a great opportunity for students to catch up or take courses they couldn’t fit in their fall and spring schedules.” Over the last couple of years the District Research Office has collected data from colleges through-
out California who have converted to the compressed schedule, Michels said. “Data suggests that students respond more successfully to a compressed schedule,” he said. “Our biggest challenge is figuring out how to adjust our academic calendar to fit the students we serve.” On Wednesday UF began reviewing responses from faculty in its online survey regarding the removal of spring break, which would end the spring semester on May 31, rather than June. 7. Sherwood said taking a week off can sometimes be a problem for students so he is in favor of removing spring break. “It’s not really a break. It’s just a week where faculty overloads students with work,” Sherwood said. “When I was teaching more than 50 percent of my students were more successful because they had to stay focused and weren’t interrupted by a week long break.” During the fall semester there is no week off, and aside from Thanksgiving, which gives students two consecutive days off, the semester is only sprinkled with a few holidays that warrant a day off. “Some students love that week of rest in the spring, but some students never come back.”Michels said, “It’s really a matter of pushing on and completing the semester early or including spring break and extending the semester that extra week.”
Michels said he is hoping the details regarding the winter intersession and removal of spring break will be presented before late Sherwood October. “It will be an unusual year of change, but we will adjust and serve our communities.” District Communications and Community Relations Director Tim Leong said while there are a number of procedures that must be done at the district level, the priority is insuring that faculty can support a compressed schedule. “There are a lot of moving pieces that need to be set in order for a successful winter intersession,” Leong said. “Once everything is pulled together, the community colleges can focus on the lengths and hours of courses.” The whole compressed schedule is pushing the 2018-19 academic calendar back because of its later start and end dates, which then begin to cut into holidays. “When you start to push the beginning of the spring semester back to February, the end of the semester cuts into June,” he said. “There are only so many weeks in a year and if you keep moving things around, something’s gotta give.”
DACA | Continued from Page 1 people put into harm’s way by the ruling. “I have family and friends who are directly affected and I am here to use my voice to do what’s right, the government does not have to take people away who have been working here for years.” she said. The DACA program boasts a wealth of success stories outlined in a first-of-its kind survey of recipients covering the years 2013-14 by UC San Diego assistant professor Tom Wong and Carolina Valdevia, a student at Harvard University. It found 70 percent of respondents began their first job or moved to a new job upon receiving deferred action while 46 percent say that DACA has enabled them to become more financially independent. As demeaning as is is to reduce the value of people to their economic worth, DACA recipients pay into social security, spend the majority of their income on taxable goods and contribute to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) simply by being employed. Expelling 800,00 productive people is simply bad for the economy. More importantly, 64 percent say that they are no longer afraid because of their immigration status and 35% report becoming more
involved in their communities. 84 percent now have their driver’s license or state identification card 20 percent report buying their first car while 23 percent report a return to school. Martinez Many DACA students have reaquainted themselves with that uncomfortable feeling of facing a future governed by uncertainty. “We stand in support of our undocumented students. Other than the pain that I feel with all of you, I want to express how supported you are at CCC,” Contra Costa College President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said to a handful of DACA students at a campus forum on Wednesday. “The college leadership doesn’t believe that it is OK to sit back and have this happen to us. It’s absolutely not what we stand for as educators. It’s painful, but we have to persevere.” Mehdizadeh was born in Iran and was brought to the U.S. by her parents at age 8 in search of a better future for her and her siblings. Aside from Mehdizadeh expressing her solidarity, Jacob Knapp, acting general counsel for the California Community College District
n “They (guided pathways) are
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issued a memorandum, which can be read at contracosta.edu, fortifying the district’s support for undocumented students. In states that are sympathetic to the plight of members of immigrant communities, legislation may already be enacted to assure a pathway to education — regardless of citizenship status. In California, Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540), a 16-year-old bill signed by then governor Gray Davis provides undocumented students with the ability to attain a college education by ensuring that they pay in-state tuition instead of out-of-state tuition. Even if DACA is fully rescinded, Calif. Students will be able to attend school and even have their tuition paid if they qualify for state assistance like the Board of Governors fee waiver (BOG grant). Anyone as openly targeted by the government as DACA recipients have the right to
COUNSELING | Discussion consoles DACA students Continued from Page 1 here today takes a lot of courage because you are saying, ‘I am one of these individuals that is being targeted.’” For many, this means returning to the shadows they lived in prior to DACA coming to existence in June of 2012. Political science major Cinthya Zuniga said she thought President Donald trump was going to “touch his heart” when making decisions about DACA. “I really had hope,” Zuniga said. “I know that when I come home my mom will be disappointed and I don’t know how to approach her. I want to come out strong for her. At first I felt hopeless, like there was no point to continuing with school. I thought, when I get my bachelors, how am I going to work and continue?” Zuniga is one of the undocumented students who benefitted from DACA and was able to get a tutoring position on campus. Moncada said she took part in the counseling session to figure out what everything means and in which ways she can be supportive to undocumented students at CCC and in the community. “I just want to acknowledge the feelings that everyone is feeling right now, confusion, fear, frustration, anger and that it is super normal because this just happened and there are a lot of unknowns,” Moncada said. The support from counselors and other administrators gave hope to those in attendance. Zuniga said she feels strong enough to continue with school
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knowing she has counselors who care. Also, knowing people who have gone through the university system that know the path to success offers a little more comfort. “I really appreciate that you all are here and showing us love and support,” Zuniga said. For Zuniga, giving up hope means abandoning everything she has worked for throughout her educational path. “I don’t feel like (giving up) is what I should be doing because that would be like abandoning everything that my mom worked for. Everything that I have done in this country and getting straight A’s (in school) would be all for nothing.” Even if she returns to “the shadows” she said she will continue contributing to her community. “I have to do something,” Zuniga said. A topic of concern for students was whether DACA coming to an end meant other forms of aid would also go away. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (Dream Act) is a bill passed in 2001 that allowed eligible undocumented students to apply for state financial aid.
Valdez-Jimenez said ending DACA does not impact undocumented students’ enrollment at CCC or any college. Undocumented students who qualify under Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540), a bill allowing undocumented students to pay the in-state tuition unit fee of $46 at CCC or at any California community college instead of out-of-state tuition fee of $269, can apply for financial aid through the Dream Act. AB540 students can apply for the Dream Act to receive financial aid as well as qualify for the Board of Governors Fee Waiver to pay semester fees and Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) at CCC. Valdez-Jimenez asked the group of students what they can do as administrators to help the undocumented community on campus. “This goes for all the DACA students, what do you think you most need from us? From the college? From us individually, personally, from each other?” Zuniga said she is aware counselors and administrators may not have all the solutions to the current issues regarding immigration, but having a supportive community on campus that cares about the well being of DACA recipients whose lives are on the line help her through her troubles. “Maybe it’s because I reach out to people like Norma or my professors. Maybe it’s because I always look for ways that people can help me out when I feel down. I know that there are other students who don’t have those facilities or people they can talk to.”
Zuniga said, “If (everyone) was not here, then maybe I wouldn’t still be here continuing with school.” ValdezPresident Jimenez M o j d e h Me h d i z a d e h said there is a lot of love and concern for the CCC community and thinks it is important that the college leadership doesn’t believe that it is OK to just sit back. “That is absolutely not what we stand for as educators and we do very much stand for is to continue the dialogue and to fight what we believe to be one of the most important fights that is happening in our world today.” “It’s painful but we have to persevere and we have to, as a group of not just educators but as leaders. We have to stand up and do what’s right for all members of our community and all that are mostly targeted by the current administration,” Mehdizadeh said. Senior Dean of Instruction Tish Young said standing together during hardships is necessary for the community. Prior to working at CCC, Dr. Young was part of Diablo Valley College’s DREAMers Alliance for three years and has been trained to educate the community about DACA and Dreamers.
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WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.13.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
Delayed door project begins
“
We’re coming together to bring awareness and to show support for all immigrant families.” — Nestor Guzman, LRSU member
By Benjamin Bassham news editor
bbassham.theadvocate@gmail.com
Construction this semester will include the start of the Applied Arts Building’s renovation and the much-delayed installation of automatic doors around campus. The automatic doors, intended to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and ease access to the Computer Technology Center, the Gym Annex and the AA and Art buildings, will be installed before the AA Building’s renovation begins, Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said. A memo compiled for The Advocate by Chief Facilities Planner Ray Pyle and Critical Solutions Project Manager Ron Johnson says the equipment for the door installations is expected to have arrived by today. The installations, performed by Southland Construction for about $130,000, are to be completed by the end of September or early October. This project has been delayed for more than a year by changes in the scope of the project and a prolonged building code compliance review. In particular the memo states, “The District only received one bid, which was higher than the engineer’s estimate, so time was required to negotiate the work and cost to stay within the budget.” The memo says that the district staff is working with Contra Costa College to minimize campus disruption by, for example, limiting the noisiest work to outside of business hours, the winter break and other non-school days. Barriers will cordon off some King construction areas. The entire AA Building renovation project went out to bid on Aug. 28, with bids due on Sept. 28 and construction expected to start in late October or early November. The price for the work is between $4 million and $5.5 million, with construction taking eight to 12 months, the memo said. The AA Building renovation project will make way in the area of the defunct Three Seasons restaurant for the nursing, medical assisting and EMT programs to move in from the Health Sciences Building, which along with the Liberal Arts Building King said, will be demolished within the year. Downstairs, the custodial department will be moving from its portable, into the old CCCTV studio. King said various other areas, vacated when the Student and Administration Building was finished, as well as the bathrooms and some of the floors will see some remodeling. Other upcoming projects include the Campus Safety Center, to be built from spring 2018 to summer 2018. The work is expected to be quickly now that the seismic testing is done, because the design is modular. The Athletic Modernization Project will run from spring 2019 to fall 2020. Both locker rooms, the Gym, the Gym Annex Building, the Tennis Courts and the Pool, to a lesser extent, will see repair and improvements The Science Complex that replaces the LA and HS buildings starts construction fall 2019 and finishes spring 2022. The smaller projects under consideration are a bus enclosure by the Student Services Center Bridge and flat screen TVs at the entrances to GE and SA buildings to provide information to passers-by.
DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
Richmond resident Taye Taye records a video during the Defend DACA rally and march to stand in solidarity with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients in Oakland on Saturday. Taye gathers content for a political documentary following the election of Donald Trump as president.
Committee to report immigration issues
By Anthony Kinney
n “Bringing our stories to
associate editor
akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com
After President Donald Trump’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, ethnic studies department Chairperson Agustin Palacios is organizing a DACA Media Committee in support of Dreamers and their families. As DACA recipients continue to live in fear of ridicule and deportation from the country they consider home, the DACA Media Committee plans to focus its efforts toward working with district officials to create resource centers for immigrants on all three of Contra Costa Community College District campuses. “ We want our c o m munity to know t h a t although they may be here illegally, they h a v e rights,” Palacios said. “We want our immigrant families to know they’re supported and not alone.” La Raza Student Union (LRSU) President Ricardo Sanchez is working alongside Palacios to get the committee established, something he said he feels is vital to counter the attack on immigrants by certain segments of the country’s population. In addition to being the LRSU’s president, Sanchez is also a DACA recipient who came to America with his parents
light will hopefully bring people together on this issue and grow support for us who need it most.” — Ricardo Sanchez, engineering major
when he was 10 years old. He said he now fears for his and his family’s future in the United States. “Trump is showing the country that what he really believes in is hate,” Sanchez said. “We have to unify and stand up against it.” Palacios said the media committee will be constructing a web page that will act as an “information clearinghouse” to provide concerned individuals with the latest news on DACA and contacts for possible legal help. He said his vision for the website is to be a, student-operated, one-stop hub for people with concerns regarding DACA as well as an online support group for immigrants. Students on the committee will be tasked with gathering credible news publications and posting them on the website, Palacios said. The committee also plans to create a social media platform to help spread the word about the committee’s effort. “It will also be used as an outlet for students to share their stories,” Palacios said. The committee plans to designate a YouTube channel for immigrants and Dreamers to tell stories about their experiences in America to the world. They also plan to communicate through
podcasts, opinion pieces and small documentaries, he said. Sanchez said he feels it’s extremely important for Latinos, especially DACA recipients, to tell their stories to help people sympathize with immigrants in fear of deportation and also to put a human face on America’s immigration issue. “Just hearing the number 800,000 recipients doesn’t affect people enough to make them care about DACA,” Sanchez said. “Bringing our stories to light will hopefully bring people together on the issue and grow support for us who need it most.” Sociology major and LRSU member Nestor Guzman said he isn’t a DACA recipient, but he’s a Mexican-American who feels propelled to fight as an ally to Latino immigrants since President Trump made his campaign promise to rid America of undocumented Mexican immigrants and construct a southern border wall. “I have friends who are DACA students and I feel like what’s happening to them is not right so I have to stand up against it,” Guzman said. “We’re coming together to bring awareness and to show support for all immigrant families.” Sanchez said La Raza Student Union and the Puente Club are teaming up to support the DACA media committee and will be covering the committee’s rollout in their next club meetings. Guzman said if everything goes as planned, the movement has the potential to go viral and reach millions of people worldwide. If interested in committee, email Palacios at apalacios@contracosta.edu.
‘Support system’ motivates, inspires By Alondra Gallardo advocate staff
agallardo.theadvocate@gmail.com
The Puente Club focuses on supporting students in the transfer process and possibly impacting the community with the bridge to a four-year university from Contra Costa College. The Spanish term puente translates to bridge in English, so the club literally is about building bridges and taking that bridge to transfer to a four-year institution. Club President Mauricio Enrique Duarte said, “Our goal this semester is to build a bridge between other clubs in order to connect and unite.” “Everyone is welcome, including students who did not go through or are not currently in the Puente Program. We are all like family in this giant support system,” Duarte said. Puente program counselor and club adviser Norma Valdez-Jimenez said, “It is really important for folks to know that we accept all students, you do not have to be Latino, you do not have to speak Spanish.” “The Puente Program is a transfer preparation program and a learning community that is sponsored by the University of the
n “It is really a way for students
to put into action that part of the mission on transferring, building communities and becoming leaders.” — Norma Valdez-Jimenez, club adviser
California in partnership with community colleges,” Valdez-Jimenez said. “There are Puente projects in about 60 different community colleges around the state.” To be part of the Puente Program students have to attend an orientation and be eligible for English 142B. Valdez-Jimenez said the coordination and events is in the hands of the faculty (in the Puente Program) but the Puente Club now is in the hands of the students. “It is really a way for students to put into action that part of the mission on transferring, building communities and becoming leaders,” she said. Puente Club member Oscar Martinez said, “The program teaches you about the
DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
Puente Club President Mauricio Enrique Duarte points at a club member during an icebreaker activity during the Puente Club meeting on Thursday.
transfer process and takes you to explore four-year universities.” “We also focus on community and political issues that affects students and how we could help,” he said. The Puente Club focuses more on interacting and the Puente Program is focused more on academics, said Puente Club member Christian Martinez. “It is a fun interactive place where you can interact and share your thoughts and opinions without being judged,” he said.
Club member Abe Alshany said he thinks the Puente Club is a safe space where students can really build relationships with others and be themselves while knowing that they’re in a supportive environment. “Being part of the Puente Club is a really great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends along with great chances and opportunities to explore college campuses,” Alshany said. If interested, club meetings are held in SA-107 on Thursday’s at 2:15 p.m.
campus beat
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5
GROUP AIMS FOR WELL BEING
Health and Human Services Club supports emotional needs, brings safe space on campus By Ryan Geller advocate staff
rgeller.theadvocate@gmail.com
Mental health, substance abuse, disability and stress management are a few of the key issues that the Health and Human Services Club strives to address. The club recently initiated a proposal to support those affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. The Inter-Club Council met on Sept. 5 to discuss how to collaborate. Student Life Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks said clubs are considering fundraiser events and donation drives and are leaning toward providing emergency supplies rather than cash. On campus, the HHS Club is planning to create a clothes closet to support homeless students. Efforts to support homeless students, like making showers available and providing less expensive or free food options are underway. The HHS Club wants to add to this by offering a place on campus where homeless students and students on a tight budget can pick up clean, quality, warm clothing for free. HHS President Denise Mills said that club members are working to secure a location on campus for the clothes closet now and they are seeking donations from “We understand how local department stores, students, faculty and serimportant a supportorganizations. ive community can be viceStress management is another major focus of because we’ve been the HHS Club. there.” “Students get stressed Denise Mills, out with their own perHHS president sonal workload and we lose that team mentality,” Mills said. “Many of us need help during the stressful times of the year and sometimes pulling together as a community can inspire us to push through our challenges.” HHS members are always willing to talk about techniques and methods that they have found helpful in balancing work, school and family responsibilities. Providing referrals and peer support is also a big part of the club’s work on campus. “Many students don’t know about all the services that are offered or they can get so overwhelmed that they just need a little help setting up a plan and getting the right appointments,” Mills said. Despite the value of the HHS Club’s role on campus the club often struggles to maintain its membership base. “Many students are so intertwined with their own lives that they don’t have extra time for the clubs. Maybe you have
RYAN GELLER / THE ADVOCATE
Health and Human Services Club President Denise Mills (left) talks with club Vice President Kristin Lobos during a HHS Club meeting in SA-107 on Aug. 31.
a family to take care of and you are taking six classes and you have a long commute. Communities often come together around times of crisis like the response to Hurricane Harvey, but it can be difficult to keep up support for the day to day work of caring for each other,” health and human services department Chairperson Aminta Mickles said. Clubs like HHS offer students real world experience in their field. “Students can develop socialization, leadership, and professionalism through participating in clubs. These skills can take students to another level where you begin to see results and the more they do the work the more they really enjoy it,” Mickles said. Many of the members of the club have developed a passion for health and human services because they have faced some of the challenges that the club focuses on. “We understand how important a supportive community can be because we have been there,” Mills said. Self-care is a practice that the club emphasizes for its members. “If you don’t take the time to care for yourself first you will not be able to do your best in your studies and you will not be able to do your best in helping others either,” Mills said. HHS often works with local service agencies on projects in the larger community. The club has worked with
Richmond Police Activity League’s (PAL) youth mentorship program. Students can go to a movie with youth, help with homework, or just listen. The club participates in PAL’s pumpkin patch event by setting up the patch and offering face painting for children that attend. The HHS Club and the health and human services department help with Bay Area Rescue Mission’s Thanksgiving and Christmas meals each year. Some members also wrap presents for the Rescue Mission’s Toy Drive. The HHS Club is not just for students in the HHS field. “Sociology, psychology, and nursing all fall under the umbrella of health and human services. We are really just a community of caregivers and people who want to help each other succeed,” Mills said. “Part of the nature of the HHS field is that you really get to know the people that you work with. You know the struggles that they have been through and you know their strengths and the areas where they need a little help. The club operates like that too. There is an element of trust and family support. We like to offer that to students who need help and to our members as well,” said Kristin Lobos, HHS club vice president. Students interested in helping with the hurricane relief or for information about the clothes closet can contact Denise Mills at millsd2014@gmail.com.
College exposure aids youth By Alondra Gallardo advocate staff
agallardo.theadvocate@gmail.com
Middle College High School, housed on the Contra Costa College campus, allows students to finish high school while exploring the college experience and working toward an associate degree. “MCHS is an alternative school, different from a comprehensive high school,” MCHS Principal Finy Prak said. “It implements an early college opportunity for our students here on campus.” While MCHS students attend their normal high school classes on campus they take college courses. Prak said being exposed to the college environment allows students to challenge
n “Middle College High School
is an alternative school, different from comprehensive high school. It implements an early college opportunity for our students here on campus. — Finy Prak, MCHS principal
themselves where they would not be able to at a regular high school. It helps them explore their level of interest and what major is right for them. MCHS 2016 graduate Jorge Poblano said it made him more aware of finances, gave him a better understanding about transfer-
ring to a four-year college or university, and made him a lot more appreciative of community colleges and everything they offer. “It opened up my knowledge on what colleges are known for my major and best for me, rather than being drawn to the bigname ones,” he said. Applications for the high school usually open in January. There is a preview night for families in February, applications are due in March and those accepted are notified in June, MCHS office manager Kris Moore said. “We look for students who are a resident of the West Contra Costa Unified School District. We look for (students with) good attendance and good behavior; something that shows us the student is more mature and independent,” she said.
Generally, MCHS only accepts freshman and sophomores, not juniors and seniors, because juniors and seniors already need to have taken their college prerequisites, Moore said. Students are allowed to take up to 11 college units per semester, which fulfill their general education requirements toward their associate degree. MCHS sophomore Lizbeth Poblano said, “It’s knocking off two years of my college career, which saves me a lot of money, by giving me the chance to graduate with my AA (when I receive) my high school diploma.” “When I go to a four-year I will already have an idea of what college is like and what major I may want,” she said.
Companies slash price on automotive tools By Andrew Weedon advocate staff
aweedon.theadvocate@gmail.com
ANDREW WEEDON / THE ADVOCATE
Automotive instructor Nancy Rupperecht demonstrates how to use a micrometer.
A long-time tool discount program continues its tradition of helping Contra Costa College students break into technical careers in the automotive field. Tool companies such as Snap-on, Matco, Mac and Craftsman have participated in the college’s student discount program for many years to help students afford professional tools. “Every shop provides large equipment, however most require you to have your own hand tools,” automotive instructor Bobby Sturgeon said. This creates a large up front cost for students who wish to go into the automotive industry. The discount is designed to help students afford professional tools. While the discount amount varies by company, it is generally 50 percent. The process for students to get this discount is very simple. Students must first be enrolled in automotive classes. In the cases of Snap-on and Matco, the respective websites state that students must also be full time and fulfilling their curriculum requirements.
n “Every shop provides large equipment, however most require you to have your own hand tools.”
— Bobby Sturgeon, automotive instructor
After deciding what tools they want from the various tool catalogs, students must notify Sturgeon, head of the tool discount program at Contra Costa College. Sturgeon then contacts the company to request for a representative to come to the college so the sale can take place. For a long time professional tools have been incredibly expensive. Despite this, the tools you receive are incredibly high quality and will last a lifetime. Snap-on, Mac, Matco and Craftsman even offer lifetime warranties so if a tool breaks it will be replaced at no additional cost. These high quality tools are usually out of reach for students and young adults with less money. Automotive instructor Nancy Rupperecht, says that having this program helps students afford tools that are not used or poor quality.
“The discount program is fabulous,” Rupperecht said. Former automotive student and automotive teacher’s assistant Carlos Rodriguez said that he never needed the discount, however he has seen many students benefit from the program. It is a common opinion that having the discount available is of great help for the students that use it. However there is concern that it still might not be enough. A 10-piece set of Snap-on metric wrenches listed in the student catalog would still be $246 even after the 50 percent discount. Students might still be able to afford a small number of tools, but buying all the required tools would be thousands of dollars. In the past, representatives from these companies would visit the campus to give presentations and sell directly to students. This has fallen out of favor in the last few years due to the representatives tasked to cover larger and larger areas, Rupperecht said. Automotive students may take advantage of this discount by contacting Sturgeon in his office in AT-112, or at his email, bsturgeon@contracosta.edu.
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scene
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.13.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
Syd tha Kyd (Sydney Bennett) released her new EP “Always Never Home” on Thursday.
Unleashed
MOVIES
This week: “IT” (R) “Home Again” (PG-13) “9/11” (R) “Rememory” (PG-13)
BLU-RAYS
SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE
Short project evokes seductive vibes
New releases: “Gaga: Five Foot Two” (PG-13) “Rough Night” (Blu-Ray) “The Confession Tapes: Season 1” (Netflix) “Lowriders” (Blu-Ray)
MUSIC
New releases: Princess Nokia: “1992 Deluxe” Syd tha Kyd: “Always Never Home” Sam Smith: “Too Good at Goodbyes”
GAMES
By Anthony Kinney associate editor
akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com
T
he lead vocalist for the group The Internet, and former Odd Future member Syd tha Kyd dropped an EP (extended play) that follows up her wildly successful debut solo album and promotes her nationwide “Always Never Home” tour. Channeling the same sultry vibe she proved she can produce by herself earlier this year with her solo debut album “Fin,” “Always Never Home” continues Syd’s trend of providing fans with steamy atmospheric ambiance and clever lyrics. She maintains the qualities listeners grew to expect from her and her Grammy nominated band, the Internet. Released on Thursday, Syd’s latest solo project “Always Never Home” is a short and intimate three-track EP that gives listeners a glimpse into the personal challenges she’s faced from her
newfound mainstream success and the overwhelming fame to comes with it. She starts the EP with the bass-jammed track “Moving Mountains,” where she lyrically paints a story depicting how it feels to give someone your all and not getting any recognition in return. On the first verse she croons, “I could write a hundred songs for you/Sing em’ all night long to you/ Even break the law for you, then tell the judge to blame it all on me/ Still it wouldn’t be enough, baby/ Got me questioning your love lately.” Syd reaches deeper into the concept of unconditional love on the second verse as she sings, “Don’t you know I do it all for you/Catch a case, I take the fall for you/You don’t appreciate a thing, babe/Got me out here looking crazy.” “Moving Mountains” is followed by the erotically charged track “Bad Dream/No Looking Back” that seamlessly transitions
advocate staff
lcano.theadvocate@gmail.com
“Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite” (T)
Editor’s note: This column lists popular new (and upcoming) releases for the week. — Xavier Johnson
The two songs seem to share a contradictory relationship, creatively binding the two together with a sense of ironic lust. “Bad Dreams” provides the sexual aura common in voluptuous R&B slow jams. “No Looking Back” plays as a cautionary tale regarding the messy emotions provoked when people are engaged in casual, “no strings attached” sex. She finishes with the track, “On the Road” where she gives fans insight to the “on the go” lifestyle that she grew accustomed to over two distinctive head-nodding beats. In a melodic cadence she employs through the whole track, Syd with a slowed-tempo effect on her voice sings, “Bout’ my presence, they offended though/I appreciate the press, but I don’t vibe with all the pressure though.” Syd Tha Kyd will be performing at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Nov. 29 for her “Always Never Home” tour.
Chicano musician energizes crowd By Louis Cano
New releases: “Destiny 2” (T) “Dishonored : Death of the Outsider” (M) “Metroid: Samus Returns” (E)
the EP from the heavy speaker pounding of the first track into the more seductive sentiment of intimacy. The two-in-one track begins with hypnotic electronic piano keys creating a sensual landscape perfectly complementing Syd’s amatory lyrics she softly lays ALBUM on top of the REVIEW beat. “Always Never She opens Home” the first verse ★★★★★ Artist: Syd tha with passionate, Kyd raunchy lyrics Genre: Neo-Soul that boldly Label: Coulumbia Release Date: establish the Sept. 7, 2017 tone for the rest of the first track, “Deeper than still waters/Exploring your peaks and your hills/You be fiending the thrills/Cause you’re a freak on the low/now go as deep as you can go.” Harmoniously blended, the two songs leave listeners deciphering where part one ends and where “No Looking Back” begins.
In what was a stunning display of live musicianship, a rising indie star took a small venue in San Francisco packed with loyal fans by storm. Cuco, whose real name is Omar Banos, is a 19-year-old Chicano musician from Hawthorne, California. Cuco gained a strong cult following with his moody dream-pop ballads. I remember discovering his music last summer before he started to blow up from co-signs by artists like Khalid and Kali Uchis. As the venue’s entrancing disco ball stole my attention, the anticipation for Cuco to hit the stage started to grow exponentially. In Cuco’s debut show in San Francisco on Aug. 25 the crowd was starving to catch a glimpse of him. When Cuco made his way onto the stage the crowd went wild. The spark of energy was almost as if it was their hero that graced the stage with his presence. Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco is a small venue, so you can imagine how crushed a lot of the attendees were. The physical discomfort faded into the background because the crowd was so lost in the music. If I had to describe the performance in one word I’d say it was magical.
During “Lava EVENT Lamp” everyone REVIEW lit up their phone “End of Summer screens as if they Indie Dance Party” were lighters to ★★★★★ create a beautiful Headliner: Cuco moment. Where: Rickshaw Cuco’s band Stop was amazing. The When: Aug. 25 four-piece group was comprised of Breeze playing the guitar, Liano playing the drums, LA ViDA on the keys, and Esai, known as Chicano God, playing bass. On this particular night he brought out two special guests. Cuco had J-Kwe$t on to perform their collaboration “Summer Time High Time” and Jasper Bones to help him out on “Lost / Heart.” The closing song of the show was the amazing “Amor De Siempre.” Liano went hard on the drums at the end of the song. A fun fact is that Cuco was sick and still turned out the show. I believe some of his band mates were sick too and they turned it out as well. Cuco shows the same loyalty to his fans that they show him by performing even while sick. The concert was a great experience. Hopefully Cuco comes back to party with San Francisco again.
LOUIS CANO / THE ADVOCATE
Cuco, whose real name is Omar Banos, sings during a debut performance at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on Aug. 25.
sports
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.13.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
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COMETS FALL TO STRONG RAMS By Efrain Valdez
social media editor
evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com
DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
Comet forward Anthony Maytum scores on a volley against Ram goalkeeper Andres Castrajon during Contra Costa College’s 6-2 defeat against Fresno City College on the Cosumnes River College soccer field in Sacramento on Sunday.
Special teams errors doom path to victory By Robert Clinton sports editor
rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com
The football team failed once again to get its offense moving in the right direction, losing its second game in as many tries, this time suffering a 28-7 loss to Sacramento City College (2-0) Friday in Sacramento. Panther big plays on special teams proved to be the difference in the contest as the Comets (0-2) yielded a 24-yard return of a blocked punt, a 55-yard run for a touchdown and a two-play 59-yard drive that ended with a 26-yard touchdown that brought the score from a 7-0 CCC lead to a 21-7 Sac City advantage at halftime. Sac City also scored on a 95-yard kickoff return on the first play after halftime. “I’m going to coach them up more this week and implement new measures to be more efficient during practice,” CCC special teams coach Lamont Robinson said. “Next week I’m going to go back to coaching from the booth to get a broader view of everything. Most importantly we want to keep guys in there who want to do the job.” The Comets scored first in the contest after sophomore quarterback Davin Lemon-Rodriguez (6 for 11 for 86 yards and one touchdown) hit second year receiver Jonathan Thomas with a 28-yard strike for the score. “Last week was my first game back after almost one year off so I’m just getting my sea legs under me. I’m back at full speed, now it’s just watching film and minimizing mistakes,” Lemon-Rodriguez said. The four-play scoring drive came early in the second quarter after previous drives of 13 plays and four plays proved to be fruitless efforts in the first quarter. CCC returns to action Saturday to host Sierra College at 1 p.m. at Comet Stadium.
n “I’m going to coach them
up more this week and implement new measures to be more efficient during practice.” — Lamont Robinson, special teams coach
On its lone scoring drive, the Comets relied heavily on the Lemon-Rodriguez to Thomas (five receptions for 57 yards and one touchdown) connection, first with a 12-yard catch then the 28-yard touchdown reception which made up 40 out of the 42 yards of the drive. “The touchdown was a roll-out play that always works in practice — it worked the same way in the game,” Thomas said. “We came out with a positive attitude in the second half, things just didn’t work out in our favor.” On the Panthers’ next play from scrimmage, following the kickoff, Sac City had its first big play of the game. On a normal hand-off, Sac City running back Daniel Wright scampered 55 yards to the end zone to knot the game 7-7 with 7:49 to play in the second quarter. The swing of momentum was infectious — for the Panthers. After forcing the Comets into a three and out, Sac City began an eight-play drive into the Comet red zone. However, a fumble by the Panthers, recovered by Comet Jakil Sarhim and returned for 15 yards, gave CCC the ball on the 36 yard line. The Comets failed to capitalize on the Panther turnover and were forced to punt after stalling their offense on the 43 yard line. Sac City blocked the Comet punt attempt, scooped up the ball and returned it 24 yards into the end zone.
The Comets were stunned by the abrupt swing in momentum. “The momentum swing was huge and I think a lot of our kids haven’t been through anything like that,” CCC assistant coach Alex Beglinger said. “It was a true college football momentum swing.” CCC went from leading the game 7-0 with 9:53 to play in the second half to trailing 14-7 with 49 seconds to play before halftime. The Panthers continued to ride their streak of good fortune by attempting an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and recovering the ball with 47 seconds to play before halftime. The first Panther pass, an 18-yard sideline reception, which stopped the clock, was bolstered by a roughing the passer penalty on CCC that tacked 15 yards to the end of the play. From the 26-yard line, just outside of the Comet red zone, Sac City was able to complete a touchdown pass, leaving CCC with not enough time to score before halftime. At the half, Sac City led 21-7. In the second half Sac City continued to drown CCC in Panther prosperity. After the kickoff by Comet Alexandre Galvan, fielded on the 5 yard line, the Panther special teams created a path for its returner to sprint 95 yards into the end zone. The score extended the Panther lead to 28-7, where it would remain for the duration of the game. Sac City’s dominance on the scoreboard was not a reflection of the Comets’ lack of defensive will or inability to hold the Panther offense in check. Both teams punted the same number of times, six, and both fumbled the ball four times The special teams play of CCC was ultimately the phase of the game that hurt the team the most in the loss.
Under the sweltering Sacramento sun, the men’s soccer team (0-4-2) lost to Fresno City College (3-1-2) 6-2 at Cosumnes River College on Sunday. The Comets gave up an early goal to Rams forward Johnny Rodriguez, who eventually scored a hat-trick, showing the Rams’ ability to score goals on the counter attack. “I thought we had a good first half. We gave up a soft goal early but found a way to get back into the game,” Comet men’s soccer coach Nikki Ferguson said. CCC responded three minutes after the Ram’s opening goal. Comet forward Anthony Maytum scored a cracking volley far post while sliding on the ground on an assist by Comet defender Raul Garcia. “In the first half I thought we played well,” Garcia said. “We were making runs, doing things that we had to do.” Ferguson said Fresno’s halftime lead made him rotate players and some of it had to do with injuries. “The team was not playing as consistently as (it did) the first half,” he said. “When you make mistakes, a team like Fresno will make you pay.” The Rams scored on quick counter at minute 50. Two minutes later they capitalized on a Comet defensive error, which put them up 4-1, basically sealing the victory. “This game was in question to some degree for us,” Fresno coach Eric Solberg said. “They (the Comets) basically gave us the third and fourth goals. That pretty much put the game away.” A miscommunication between the backline and goalkeeper at these crucial moments in the game deflated CCC’s confidence to move up the field. Solberg said that the Comets’ midfield seemed thin and unable to play in the hot weather late in the game. “We practice in that weather every day,” he said. Ferguson said his team was unbalanced in the midfield. The Comet midfielders were caught either too far left or right. This left a gaping hole in the middle of the field for the Rams to exploit. “We were creating a lot of opportunities in the first half,” Garcia said. “In the second half, we didn’t create any opportunities. We weren’t sending effective balls through (to the forwards). “We could have put away this game earlier on, but we didn’t convert those opportunities in the first half.” The Rams counter attack was potent throughout the game and their forwards were clinical in front of goal CCC has struggled against California Community College Athletic Association’s powerhouse soccer team — the Rams. Playing games against strong teams outside of the Bay Valley Conference gives the Comets a higher Ranking Power Index (RPI) for the playoffs. CCC played Las Positas College on Tuesday after press time. The Comets host Butte College at 4 p.m. Friday on the Soccer Field.
MASCOT AWAITS ULTIMATE ASU APPROVAL Surge in spirit expected to boost attendance
By Dylan Collier
assistant scene editor
dcollier.theadvocate@gmail.com
There is a revitalized confidence among Contra Costa College students and faculty that having a school mascot dressed up as a Comet will bring an unprecedented amount of school spirit to the campus. “Having a physical mascot running up and down the field might make us want to play harder, because we see the Comet cheering us on,” sophomore football running back Corey Juarez said. Juarez said that it might turn the team up a little bit and make them want to practice harder for games. Student Life Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks said that the Associated Students Union has spent $4,500 on the Comet outfit, but they’re just waiting for the manufacturer, Carol Fleming Design, to complete the body portion of it. He said that they would like to have everything done soon so the college can bring the mascot out to debut during the annual Homecoming Game on Oct. 28. Nickelson-Shanks said the Associated Student Union hasn’t decided whether or not the Comet mascot would go to just home games, or both home and away games.
n “Having a physical mascot
running up and down the field might make us want to play harder, because we see the Comet cheering us on.” — Corey Juarez, football player
Some students don’t feel like they would go to the sports games just for the simple fact of being a spectator at a sporting event. So the question is how does the athletic department get more students motivated to go to games, and how does it market the mascot? Chemistry major Josh Castro said if the Bookstore sold stickers with a person dressed up as a Comet, that would get more people enthusiastic about seeing an actual mascot. He said that if they see stickers on people’s backpacks and binders that might get people more motivated to go to a game. Math major Barnabas Jime said, “Mascots are fascinating because they bring more energy, excitement and overall interaction to the stands, but it all depends on the person inside the costume.” Jime said a comet is something he
can relate to the mascot and that it can motivate the players and the crowd. “When the kids see a cartoon character it pumps them up,” he said. Jime said when there is a mascot running up and down the field after a touchdown, that’s a mechanism of allegiance that gets the crowd hyped up when it is game time. If CCC can get someone to suit up in the Comet costume, they might be able to revive a time similar to when the Comets had a group called the Comet Crazies. Former CCC women’s basketball coach Paul DeBolt said, “There were a group of football players that came out to support the women’s basketball teams in the early 2000s, and it fired everyone up,” DeBolt said they used to get real loud and even brought noisemakers to the games. “They called themselves the ‘Comet Crazies’ and even dressed up in blue tights,” DeBolt said. Nickelson-Shanks said that they will hold a competition to pick the mascot. “The hard part is making sure that the mascot is going to fit the standards of the college, and it has to go through an approval process before it’s done,” Nickelson-Shanks said. Avid sports fan Dennis Elliott said
it’s important to have a mascot at the community college level, because it goes a long way for the young athletes. “If some of these people go on to play Head for a four-year school they might remember moments at CCC when the college mascot came to the game and supported them,” Elliott said. Mascots create enthusiasm from the Shoes fans and make sporting events more interesting, he said. When football fans hear the public address announcer say the mighty Gauchos scored a touchdown on the Yellowjackets, while a Hands person dressed up as an Argentinian cowboy runs down the field, that gets the crowd more fired up than just saying El Cerrito High scored against Berkeley High.
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WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.13.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
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I remember when me and my brother wanted a burger from Jack In The Box and my dad sold his blood in order to buy us food.” — Ricardo Sanchez, LRSU president
DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
Gabriel Sanchez (middle right) and business major Joey Lumagbas (right) join La Raza Student Union and Puente Club members as they read lyrics for a song written by economics major Oscar Martinez during the DACA Info Night in the GE-225 on Friday.
Gathering evokes hope, optimism Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals’ fate in limbo, college community extends its support By Roxana Amparo associate editor
ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com
La Raza Student Union President Ricardo Sanchez said he remembers the night he crossed the border as if it were yesterday. Sanchez’s memory of meeting his coyote, the man who he was going to trust with his American dream, was the single most significant moment in his life up to that point. “It’s so vivid in my memory, just walking in the desert the night that we crossed into the U.S. It was pitch black and you could see the lights across the border of Arizona. It was about a four-hour walk.” Sanchez said he came to the United States at the age of 10 in search of a better future, He told his story as a panel member at the La Raza Student Union (LRSU) and the Puente Club’s DACA Info Night event in GE-225 on Friday. Sanchez is one of more than the 800,000 people who have benefited from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the Obama-era program that allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain a two-year renewable work permit and exemption from deportation. The statute that offered a second chance to children who came to the United States for a better future was rescinded by President Trump on Sept. 5 leaving many lives in limbo. “I remember me and my brother wanted a burger from Jack In The Box and my dad sold his blood in order to buy us food,” Sanchez said. Sanchez took a moment to catch his breath as his emotions caught up with him and the crowd applauded in support. Through DACA, Sanchez said he was able to earn gainful employment for the first time. “That job allowed me to buy my first car, a TV for my dad, a laptop for my mom. It gave me so much joy. My family means everything to me.” When Sanchez heard the news about DACA ending, he said he was more afraid of
Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) coming to his house and deporting his family. “I did not feel sorry for myself because that is what my father taught me — not to feel sorry for myself. I was not afraid to be deported.” The fear of separation is alive in the undocumented community as the six-month deadline given by the President to Congress to figure out the fate of DACA creeps closer. Trump said he will “revisit” the issue if Congress fails to come up with a proper plan, but it is not clear what those plans will be. Contra Costa College Dean of Equity and Institutional Effectiveness Mayra Padilla said she remembers the times before DACA existed. “The pain is in our bellies — our hearts. And it is scary and it is a sad day when we have to talk to our students and our family members about having an exit plan. That’s our reality. We have to be prepared. “We have to mobilize our communities and really get involved. ” Many who came to the U.S. at a young age, now consider themselves as part of this country. Sanchez said he was raised in Richmond and considers himself an American. “My heart is in Mexico but my body and everything (is here). I am an American. “If I get fired, I can’t get welfare. I can’t receive the benefits that a citizen would get,” he said. But as an undocumented immigrant, Sanchez said, he wants everyone to know how much undocumented immigrants sacrifice without receiving anything in return. As part of DACA Info Night on campus, two Bay Area immigration lawyers provided
Overall recipients
Application process
799,077
Deadline
The number of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) applications approved from 2012 to 2017 is 799,077, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Work permits expiring between Sept. 5 and March 5, 2018 must be submitted for renewal by October 5, 2017.
Projected end date
California recipients
424,995
March 5, 2018
The number of DACA recipients who live in California including those who have renewed their application since June 2012, according to USCIS reporting period of March 2017.
information regarding DACA and answered questions from the audience about deportation and other concerns. The tension in the room settled as the lawyers reassured the attendees about rational fears and things that may be misinterpreted. Certified Immigration Law Specialist Renzo Manay said there is a misconception that if DACA ends, everybody who benefited from DACA will receive a letter saying they will be deported. But according to former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, Trump prioritizes “criminals,” and not DACA recipients, for deportment. As part of the necessary criteria to meet in order to qualify for DACA, the applicant must have a clean slate prior to going through a biometrics screening for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Certified Legal Specialist Renato F. Manay said DACA recipients are excluded from the “high priority” list of deportation. “Fortunately, DACA recipients fall under low priority, which means they are the
Work permits expiring between Sept. 5 and March 5, 2018 must be submitted for renewal by October 5, 2017. First-time applicants are no longer being accepted.
last ones who actually can get sent back,” (Renato) Manay said. San Francisco State University student Manuel Martinez said it is not a political issue but a personal attack on the community as a whole. Martinez said, “When you attack 800,000 DACA workers, classmates, students, teachers, mothers, to me that doesn’t sound like a political issue, that is not economical, that is not a labor issue. To me that is a humanitarian issue and that is when things start getting serious.” “I feel incredibly attacked.” In an attempt to soothe freshly cut wounds, students from LRSU and Puente Club, led by economics major Oscar Martinez performed an original song about uplifting the undocumented community. The song conveys strength in the face of demonization and discrimination immigrants face on a daily basis. “Dreamers, let’s gather around,” they sang in unity. “We ain’t gonna let nobody put us down. We gonna stand tall in unity. We are gonna stand strong against bigotry.”
Program faces end after five years 2012: Obama’s executive order As part of former President Barack Obama’s executive order, DACA, qualifying undocumented immigrants obtained a two-year renewable work permit and exemption from deportation since June 15, 2012,
2012-2015: 700,000 recipients
Sept. 5,2017: DACA rescinded
About 700,00 people qualified for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals from 2012-2015 and obtained a Social Security number which allowed for a state ID, a drivers license and a Social Security card.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was rescinded on Sept. 5 by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on behalf of the Trump administration.
2017: States sue, fight Trump A total of 16 Democratic and nonpartisan state attorneys general filed a lawsuit in New York Federal Court in an attempt to block President Trump’s proposal to end the DACA program.
ILLUSTRATION BY DENIS PEREZ, ROXANA AMPARO, MAYRA GARCIA / THE ADVOCATE