The Advocate - Oct. 1, 2008

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Ramos rocks out

Retired cop signs with British label

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Volleyball

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scene ◆ page 6

campus beat ◆ page 4

Returners head young team for ’08

Abolition re-explored Professor leads sociology event

VOL. 91, NO. 5

SINCE 1950

THE WEEKLY STUDENT VOICE OF CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE, SAN PABLO, CALIF.

8 PAGES, ONE COPY FREE

Tutors offer extra help

Crime log recording unsteady

SNAKE CHARMER

Police Services reporting in brief varies from week-to-week ✔ Weekdays

Study assistance available to aid struggling pupils

By Regina Sarnicola OPINION EDITOR

Inconsistency with the Contra Costa College crime logs has led to seemingly missing dates in the records.

According to CCC dispatcher Flora Gonzalez, however, the dates are not missing, just not recorded.

“If there is nothing written on a certain day in the log, it just means nothing happened that day,” dispatcher Letanja Mitchell said.

Police Services is required by law to record any criminal activity that takes place on the college campus and make the logs available to the public.

They are also required to update the logs 48 hours after a crime occurs and to have the most recent 60 days of activity available for public viewing.

The logs must go up to seven years back.

“The point of the crime logs is for students to protect themselves,” said Adam Goldstein, attorney

By Asia Camagong STAFF WRITER

Tutoring is available at various locations on campus for Contra Costa College and Middle College High School students needing help with English, math and science courses.

The Skills Center, math department and Center for Science Excellence provide peer tutoring and extra assistance from teachers throughout the week.

“Students who use tutoring get more connected with the college campus,” tutoring Coordinator Jason Berner said.

Scheduling appointments is not necessary, as students are able to receive tutoring whenever they walk in.

The time “The best of the tutoring sessions way to use is not limtutoring ited and only measured by is to come however long with assistance is needed. assignments “Students and have need to take more advanactual tage of tutorspecific ing,” English professor questions Arun Rasiah said. for the The Skills tutor.”

Center in the Library and Jason Berner, Learning tutoring coordinator Resource Center offers students the opportunity to receive help in basic and upper level classes, most commonly math and English, Berner said.

A majority of the tutoring is students helping students, but English and ESL teachers are also available at various times.

Students can register at the Skills Center for a free course worth no credit that will grant them access to labs and supervised tutoring, Berner said.

The Skills Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:45

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2008 ACCENTADVOCATE.COM

and weekends are both absent from the logs. ✔ Police Services is required to update the logs 48 hours after a police report is filed. ✔ There are plans to make logs more consistent in future updates.

■ SEE POLICE LOGS: Page 3

Transit needs push bus pass JUSTIN MORRISON / THE ADVOCATE

On beat — Jim Hernandez, youth violence prevention specialist with the Concord Police Department, performs a musical story at the Richmond Tent City Peace Movement. The event was aimed at mobilizing community members to actively speak out against violent crimes.

warriors PEACE

City

activists protest violence by taking back parks

■ SEE TUTORING: Page 3

By Brett Abel

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

RICHMOND – Donna Cunningham could not explain what it meant to be at Lucas Park on the last day of this year’s Tent City Peace Movement.

Going to the park on 10th Street on Sunday brought back memories of two years ago, when her son and nephew were shot a little more than three blocks away from the temporary “city.”

Her 27-year-old son Dewayne survived the shooting in front of his grandmother’s house on Sept. 10, 2006. Her nephew, Thomas James Jr., 18, however, was killed at 7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

“They played at this park,” Cunningham

said. “It brings back memories of the day it happened, the event that happened. It takes me back.”

Members of the neighborhood and faithbased community helped Cunningham grieve and find a way to get through her hardships.

In honor of people like Cunningham who have lost family members to Richmond street violence, this year’s theme of the grass roots Tent City Peace Movement was “Mothers of Lost Souls.”

“There is hope for me and other parents who lost their children,” she said. “It’s going to be all right.”

The six-hour celebration, that had the feeling of a block party, at Lucas Park concluded a week of camping in three parks ■ SEE TENTS: Page 3

Transportation program still in developing stage

By Lauren Shiraishi OPINION EDITOR

Despite a recent lowering of gas prices, transportation remains a large problem, particularly among students who attend community college. “(Transportation) is a barrier to education,” EOPS/CARE Outreach Coordinator Kenneth Reynolds said. “If students can’t afford to get on a bus, they won’t be able to get to their classes.”

The current price of an adult AC Transit bus ticket is $1.75, which amounts to $17.50 a week for students who require its use to and from class five days a week.

“It’s really expensive,” student Zakiya Bomani said. “I don’t know how someone can afford it unless they have someone supporting them. We could really use student passes on campus.”

Many students say that if they

“We’re so small, it isn’t feasible here. It’s a complicated issue.”

Kenneth Reynolds,

EOPS/CARE outreach coordinator

did not have to spend money for bus fare, they would spend it on either groceries or other schoolrelated items.

“I would use the money for books and school supplies such as pens and paper,” student Quamisha Hardy said.

Last semester, Reynolds attended several meetings with AC Transit trying to get a bus pass program started on campus, but little progress has been made.

Meanwhile, students at sister school Los Medanos College are able to ride the bus for free. Bus passes are provided by the student union at LMC, which is something that Contra Costa College cannot afford because of size and budget restrictions.

“We’re so small, it isn’t feasible ■ SEE BUS PASS: Page 3

BBQ extends food choices Culinary operation opens alternative eating options

By Marika Johnson STAFF WRITER

The Three Seasons Restaurant is now flaming up its grills to prepare barbecue for students, faculty and staff on Mondays.

Held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the barbecue is located in the courtyard of the Express Café outside the Applied Arts Building.

“We opened up the barbecue on Mondays to give the campus personnel more food options,” instructional assistant Joyce Edwards said.

The meal, which also includes side dishes, will vary from Monday-to-Monday. There will be a

Good eats — Alisa Lara prepares tasty meals for students, faculty and staff. The culinary arts department will put on a weekly barbecue every Monday for the rest of the fall semester.

choice between tri-tip beef or chicken, along with different sides including potato salad, pasta salad and corn bread, all for $5.

This meal will be offered for the remainder of the fall semester on Mondays only, rain or shine, and will not be a part of the Three Season Restaurant menu.

Culinary arts students Alisa Lara and Maggie Ochoa proposed the idea for Monday barbecue.

“We wanted to try something new and different and something people could enjoy,” Lara said.

Last spring, the Three Seasons Restaurant tried to expand their services by offering pastries in the cafeteria, she said. The venture failed to produce a profit and was not brought back this fall.

To fill the void, Lara and Ochoa thought barbecue would be something new to try in an effort to expand the food services presently on campus.

■ SEE BBQ: Page 3 ERIK VERDUZCO / THE ADVOCATE

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

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2 THE ADVOCATE

OPINION

l WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2008

Quotable “Free speech is life itself.”

Salman Rushdie

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2008 VOL. 91, NO. 5

Novelist 1990

●

Editorials

Justin Morrison editor-in-chief

Brett Abel

Campus bus plan needed

associate editor

Alec Surmani

associate editor

Jeff Carillo sports editor

Francisco Rendon

spotlight editor

Regina Sarnicola Lauren Shiraishi

opinion editors

Lamar James news editor

Isaac Thomas photo editor

Shahruz Shaukat

online editor

Toni Silva

ad manager

Paul DeBolt

faculty adviser

Staff writers

Sam Attal Dariush Azmoudeh Brent Bainto Marco Becerra Asia Camagong Mario Diaz Anthony Farr Ryan Jacques Marika Johnson Cassandra Juniel Jazmaine Mitchell Holly Pablo Diana Reyes

Staff photographers Sam Attal Erik Verduzco

Staff illustrators

Wryan Castleberry Roe Floresca

Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 CNPA Better Newspaper Contest 1st Place Award 1970, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000

JACC Pacesetter Award

1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Member Associated Collegiate Press

Transportation program still lacking despite continuous effort

T

o combat the ever-increasing cost of transportation, community colleges throughout the Bay Area are providing students with free or discount bus passes.

Contra Costa College has yet to join this trend.

Students at our sister college, Los Medanos in Pittsburg, have been able to ride the bus for free with help from their student union.

It is unfortunate that we cannot do the same, but due to the size and budget of our ASU, this kind of plan is not possible.

We need a program similar to one now offered at the Peralta community colleges in Alameda County.

For a fee of $50, students can ride the bus for an entire semester, a much better deal than the $17.50 some CCC students are spending weekly.

Efforts have been made to start this program at our campus, but it is not happening quickly enough.

Most students, particularly those who attend community colleges, do not have much extra cash.

Transportation, whether it is spending $3.80 for a gallon of gas or $1.75 for an adult bus ticket, is expensive and can add up.

Those who do not, or cannot, drive have few options for how to get to campus: take the bus, walk or simply stay home.

When students have to choose between feeding themselves and going to school, there is a problem.

It is regrettable enough when a student drops out of school, but even more so if the situation could have been prevented.

The West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee has donated a small number of one-time use bus passes, but they will most likely run out before the semester is over.

Furthermore, the only students who can currently receive these bus passes are those who receive aid from EOPS or the Dreamkeepers program. The rest of the student body is left without a backup plan.

The ASU offers workshops for stress busting and events to encourage positive inter-community relationships, but unless cheaper transportation alternatives are offered, some students will not even be able to attend school, let alone these events.

EOPS/CARE Outreach Coordinator Kenneth Reynolds said transportation is a barrier to education.

It is about time that barrier was removed.

Missing logs

California Newspaper Publishers Association

Incomplete records highlight inconsistency, unreliablity

Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us

Phone: 510.235.7800 ext. 4315 Fax: 510.235.NEWS E-mail: advocate@ contracosta.edu or letters.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.

P

olice Services needs to make updating the crime logs more of a priority.

The crime logs dates are out of order, with gaps where logs have not been recorded.

Police Services dispatcher Flora Gonzalez said the missing logs are dates in which no crimes took place.

Whether or not a crime took place, however, is not relevant. Students have a right and are entitled to know what is (or what is not) taking place on campus.

Empty logs only raise questions into the reliability of Police Services and content of the blank records.

Police Services at Diablo Valley College, a much larger campus, has its police logs updated daily, in an organized and orderly fashion.

Making sure to write “no report” on days nothing happens will not only avoid future confusion, but in turn, adds to the feeling of safety on campus.

JUSTIN MORRISON / THE ADVOCATE

■ Violence

Bay Area-born resident laments trends of violence I

have been fortunate enough to have lived in four different cities.

I was born in Oakland and lived there most of my childhood. I’ve also lived in Berkeley, Pinole and Fairfield.

Every city is different and has something to offer.

Living in different cities really made me appreciate culture and diversity.

Living in Oakland, however, I have seen a lot of changes.

As a child, the city was filled with things to do — after school programs, Little League baseball and Pop Warner football.

After living outside of West Oakland for seven years, I recently moved back a little more than a year ago.

In that little time, I have known people who have been killed in senseless acts of violence.

West Oakland started as a port city, offering a new beginning to people moving from the South during the migration period.

As a child, I could go and play without my mother worrying about my well being and she would say, “Just make sure that you guys make it in before the streets lights are on and watch over each other.”

But other than that, she knew we would be OK. Now, since times have changed and violence has become more prevalent, you have to always watch over your shoulder, worrying about being robbed or, even worse, shot.

lamarjames Violence scares a lot of people and present ripple effects in the community make it difficult to relax and let your protective guard down.

I refuse to be scared, to live in fear, because if you live in fear, you let the violence control you and take away People are your freedom. living in fear I do not understand how this has in Richmond happened and how we too, with have let a city become killings and so dangerous. robberies Where were the becoming the senators, councilman and police norm. to prevent this from happening, to protect the citizens of their city?

Evidently their presence was not felt.

Oakland and Richmond have similarities regarding the violence that occurs in each city.

People are living in fear in Richmond too, with killings and robberies becoming the norm.

I know some 20-year-olds who have lived in Richmond their entire lives and have also seen the change in their city.

They too ask themselves how it changed and when people stopped caring.

To get the answer, we must first examine where the problem came from and then address it with so much force that the system has to break.

The community needs to come together and then only through unity will we able to begin to minimize the violence problem.

If people do not learn to stand up for their city and overcome their fears, violence will continue to uphold its control on the people, making the problems worse and more difficult to control.

I have witnessed violence and its ripple effect on peoples’ lives.

It is sad that someone else’s reckless mistakes can be more damaging to a person than their own mistakes.

I am tired of waking up every morning to see on the news that someone else has been slain on the streets, something that could have been prevented.

It sickens me sometimes and I hate that I personally cannot do anything to change it but pray and continue to voice my opinion: that violence is senseless and reckless and needs to be stopped.

Lamar James is news editor of The Advocate. Contact him at ljames.advocate@gmail.com.

CampusComment

Do you take advantage of on-campus tutoring?

“I don’t really go to tutoring because my classes don’t require it.

But I have in the past.

So, if I needed it, I would go.”

“I do take advantage of on-campus tutoring. I think that it’s helped me a lot.”

Jocelyn Greg liberal studies

“My English 139 class requires 40 hours of it. It’s a good opportunity to get my work done ahead of time so I don’t get behind in any classes.”

Anais Guzman liberal studies

Kenneth Lopez MCHS

“No, but I want to.

There’s just not a lot of information where I can get access to it.”

“Yes, I do go to tutoring in the skills lab and the PS Building for help in math, science, and economics.”

Theresa Perez English

Walt Xie MCHS

“No, because I’m a computer science major. How many times can we go into the tutoring and have somebody help us with computer science and programming?”

Kelly Estrada nursing

SHAHRUZ SHAUKAT / THE ADVOCATE

“I should, but I don’t have the time for it.”

Nicholas Henry computer science

CAMPUS BEAT

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2008 l THE ADVOCATE

Police logs | Remain incomplete after last submission ■ FROM: Page 1

advocate for the Student Press Law Center. “With that, it almost becomes more of an obligation to update the logs.”

The majority of the days not logged are weekend days.

Police Services Sgt. Jose Oliveira said events that take place over the weekend are not updated until the following Tuesday. He also said that dispatchers are not required to update the logs until

the end of their shifts.

Some of the dates with no logs recorded were weekdays, however, and left empty gaps in between days. Other logs were unorganized and out of order, jumping from date to date.

While it is not mandatory for Police Services to record that there was no activity on a given date, it might help avoid any confusion or misunderstanding.

Gonzalez previously told The

“If nothing happens one day, our dispatcher will put that down instead of leaving it blank.”

Stephanie Khaue, DVC dispatcher

Advocate in September 2007

when she updates her logs and nothing happens she puts “no report.” Yet, adding to the inconsistency, some logs do say “no report,” but most just have nothing written at all.

DVC dispatcher Stephanie Khaue said their crime logs are updated on a daily basis.

“We record any information that is available. If nothing happens one day, our dispatcher will put that down instead of leav-

ing it blank,” she said. “And if she receives information that was previously pending, she always makes sure to go back and update it.”

To avoid future confusion, Oliveira said he plans to remind the staff to update the logs even if no crimes occurred.

Contact Regina Sarnicola at rsarnicola.advocate@gmail. com.

3

Newsline ■ DSPS

Film, discussion for awareness The DSPS Office, Staff Development and the Library will be presenting a film series during the month of October in honor of Disability Awareness Month.

“Shameless: The Art of Disability” will be shown on Oct. 8 in LLRC-107 from 1 to 2 p.m.

The film will be followed up with a discussion.

■ AGS

Honor Society to hold meeting Students interested in becoming a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society will have the opportunity to sign up at a member meeting to be held on Oct. 7 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Student Life Center.

To be eligible, students must have a cumulative and current GPA of 3.0 or higher, and have completed at least 12 units.

As an active AGS member, students can become eligible for AGS scholarships and enhance their scholarship, transfer and employment applications.

Free pizza and soda will be provided.

■ CSE

Program helps gain experience JUSTIN MORRISON / THE ADVOCATE

Pray for peace — The Rev. Andre Shumake leads a prayer, “Hands Around the Park,” asking God to help his community end the violence that has plagued Richmond for years. The prayer was part of the closing celebration for the weeklong demonstration Tent City Peace Movement at Lucas Park on Sunday.

Tents | Community unites to demonstrate against hate ■ FROM: Page 1

across the city – Lucas, ShieldsReid and Martin Luther King Jr. – in protest of the street violence affecting its citizens.

Walking into the park, a “Lost Souls” memorial stood for those who lost their lives to violence in the city. Twenty-three funeral programs from 1988 to 2008 were on display, showing the names and faces of victims during those years.

James was one of them.

During “Hands Around the Park,” a prayer given in front of the memorial by the Rev. Andre Shumake, he said, “We are not standing here to reduce homicides in Richmond. We are standing here to eliminate homicides in Richmond.

“Change will start with every one of us here today,” he said.

Original founders of the Tent City Peace Movement, Shumake, an ordained Baptist minister and president of the faith-

based Richmond Improvement Association, and Freddy Jackson, said the change they have been working toward is real and noticeable.

Despite the optimism, the number of homicides in the city went up from 2006 to 2007, from 42 to 47, according to the Richmond Police Department. So far, there have been 23 killings in Richmond this year.

Jackson said he got the idea for the Tent City when there was a shooting at a funeral of a 25-yearold victim of gun violence two years ago.

With what began as a “sit-out,” with community members sitting in the parks, he said, they decided they might as well sleep there as well. They were at four parks for a month that year.

“Since Tent City has been here, the killing has been down,” Jackson said. “And the city hasn’t been crying for a state of emergency.”

Jackson said the families in the areas feel the strength of the message the Tent Cities send, more so than any policy or actions public officials take.

“Kids stop and ask me, ‘When are y’all coming back out to the park?’ We do this for the kids,” Jackson said.

“Some people (who work for the city of Richmond) are getting paid to do this and they aren’t doing their job,” he said.

“They’re collecting taxpayer money each month to do what with? They haven’t been to Tent City one time,” Jackson said.

“We’re doing their work.”

He said the challenge of bringing peace to the city is just as difficult as simply organizing the Tent Cities.

“A lot of people would like to see Tent City go away. They tell me to go,” Jackson said. “A lot of people have lost relatives, close friends to this violence. That’s why there are people still here.”

Bus pass | Problem unsolved ■ FROM: Page 1

here,” Reynolds said. “It’s a complicated issue. We don’t have that kind of leverage and support.”

The recently implemented Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial Assistance program, however, is able to provide relief for some. If students qualify, they are eligible to receive bus passes for the entire semester.

Students under EOPS can receive single-ride bus passes in case of emergency, but this only covers a small percentage of the college’s students.

“It would be nice if we could offer transportation to the whole student body,” Reynolds said.

In the Peralta Community College District, students have access to discounted transportation with AC Transit through the “EasyPass for Peralta.” To obtain the pass, which went into effect this semester, students pay $50 for

“There’s a need for transportation (among students).”

Vicki Ferguson, EOPS manager

the entire semester and are then able to ride the bus.

The EasyPass is funded by Peralta, which would be more difficult in the smaller Contra Costa College Community District, particularly CCC. According to EOPS Manager Vicki Ferguson, the college is in the early stages of trying to get a similar program.

“There’s a need for transportation (among students) and hopefully we can come up with something,” she said.

But due to various issues, including the budget, the project

has been held up.

Instead, they have tried to find help in other ways.

The West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee has donated one-time use bus passes and EOPS is currently working with the Registry Foundation of Walnut Creek to provide more funding.

Although the process is slow in coming, Reynolds is hoping a resolution will soon present itself.

“It’s a barrier that community colleges are trying to replace with programs such as EOPS, CARE and DSPS,” Reynolds said. “It’s a major problem. Some students have only a little bit of cash in their pockets and if it’s a choice between feeding their family or taking the bus to class, they’d choose to feed their families.”

Contact Lauren Shiraishi at lshiraishi.advocate@gmail.com.

BBQ | Grillers heat up Mondays ■ FROM: Page 1

“I thought it was a great idea since (the Three Seasons Restaurant is) not open on Mondays,” Ochoa said.

Giving another source of food choice on campus gives people something more to look forward to eating, rather than just Subway

from a truck, JJ Colkenboo said.

Also, the barbecue will give the culinary arts department additional revenue.

“Barbecue on Mondays helps us earn more money for the restaurant, since we’re only open three days a week,” culinary arts major Peter Espinosa said.

The organization’s president, Cashinda Wilson, said a reason the Tent City Peace Movement keeps coming back to the parks is because of the people who support it.

“Freddy’s vision is turning into a movement,” she said. “The purpose of Tent City is to live together with nonviolence. It brings the community together.”

At least 100 people came in support of the movement, including Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, and heard the testimonials of the families affected by the violence, enjoyed the music and food and heard stories of hope.

Jim Hernandez, a youth violence prevention specialist with the Concord Police Department, told a tale of the feathered serpent from ancient Mayan and Aztec lore.

Hernandez worked in Richmond in 1992-93 and sees the city as his home.

Adorned with seashell-cov-

ered straps on his arms and legs that made music when shaken, as well as a brightly colored headdress, Hernandez beat on drums and recited the story of the man who transformed himself into the feathered serpent.

Hernandez invited those in the audience to come forth and sit on the same blanket as the drums.

“Anyone in need of healing, please sit on the blanket to be closer to the rhythm,” he said.

“Feel it in the heart.”

The man who transformed himself from a man to a serpent, Hernandez said, went back to his community and saw and felt the change in the people he helped, which was why he told his story at the park.

“I wanted to share what I have on a spiritual level,” he said. “Not just give them hope, but confidence.”

Contact Brett Abel at babel. advocate@gmail.com.

Tutoring | Offered ■ FROM: Page 1

p.m.

“The best way to use tutoring is to come with assignments and have actual specific questions for the tutor,” Berner said.

Outside of the Skills Center, peer tutor Del Bold helps students Monday through Wednesday with difficult math classes.

“There’s no wrong question for tutors,” Bold said.

The math department, located in the Humanities Building, provides tutoring Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition to peer tutors, all math teachers are stationed in the same room and are ready to provide students with any extra assistance needed.

“That’s what we’re here to do, make it easy,” instructional assistant Peggy Abrams said. “Or at least tolerable.”

The CSE, an academic sup-

port program for students majoring in math and science stationed in PS-109, also provides tutoring in various math, chemistry, physics, biology and even English courses.

It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A schedule is posted listing the availabilities of peer tutors with strengths in certain subjects.

“The more you do it, the more you learn,” CSE tutor Carolina Almanza said.

Almanza uses examples and analogies when tutoring to help students focus and understand problems.

One-on-one tutoring is available, as well as group sessions.

“It’s more personal,” Almanza said.

Contact Asia Camagong at acamagong.advocate@gmail. com.

BBQ Monday offerings:

The Express Café is open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and the Three Seasons Restaurant is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Who: Culinary arts students

Contact Marika Johnson at mjohnson.advocate@gmail.com.

Where: Courtyard of the Express Café

What: Barbecue chicken or tri-tip beef, cornbread and a variety of side dishes for $5 When: Mondays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Center for Science Excellence (CSE) will be holding an orientation for students interested in a paid, educational and practical experience joint program.

The program is a collaborative effort between the Environmental Leadership Pathway (ELP) and the CSE. It offers the chance for students who want to transfer to a UC or CSU to earn money through a three-part program starting in spring 2009 and finishing in fall 2009.

All of the classes, training and research will be done at UC Berkeley.

The orientation will be in PS132 on Friday from 2 to 3 p.m.

■ AUTOMOTIVE

Event to provide aid for car jobs The automotive services department, in conjunction with the East Bay Chapter of the California Auto Body Association, will host Careers with Cars on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will showcase the opportunities available in the collision repair business for students willing to continue their education in a post-secondary program.

Positions include damage estimators, paint technicians, body repair technicians, detail technicians and other related positions.

The event is open to students and members of West Contra Costa County.

Registration and information is available at www.careerswithcars.com, as well as through automotive services department Chairman Peter Lock at 510-2357800, ext. 4297.

CrimeWatch Monday, Sept. 22 A theft occurred on campus.

Tuesday, Sept. 23 An officer assisted an outside agency.

An officer assisted an outside agency.

Wednesday, Sept. 24 A petty theft occurred on campus.

An officer responded to a medical report.

An officer assisted an outside agency.

Thursday, Sept. 25 A victim reported the theft of her vehicle from Lot 17.

A student reported the theft of her books.

—Sam Attal

4 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2008

CAMPUS BEAT

Screening, seminar survey slave trade Professor, film commemorate slavery abolition

By Cassandra Juniel STAFF WRITER

Seeking a better understanding of America’s 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade, more than 250 students, faculty and community members packed LA-100 for a seminar and documentary viewing on Sept.

23.

Sociology department Chairman J. Vern Cromartie coordinated the event, sponsored by the Contra Costa College Sociology Club, the social sciences department and the Jeremiah B. Sanderson Leadership Institute, under the auspices of the W.E.B. Du Bois Lecture Series.

“I founded the W.E.B. Du Bois Lecture Series to promote sociology on the campus and elsewhere,” Dr. Cromartie said. “I think that sociology provides us with a valuable tool to understand the social conditions faced by people in both the past and present.”

The program not only commemorated the abolition of slave trading but also brought understanding to the process of how Africans were captured and transformed into people held in bondage, through slave trading.

It consisted of a lecture by CCC history professor Manu Ampim, a film documentary titled “Africans in America: The Terrible Transformation, 14501750” and a question-and-answer period with the audience.

“It is nice to come to an event like this and get this type of infor-

ISAAC THOMAS / THE ADVOCATE

200 years later — History professor Manu Ampim speaks to the students who filled LA-100 on Sept. 23 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in America. The speech followed the screening of a film about slavery. mation, as opposed to having to enroll in a special class to get slave trade information,” sociology student Melanie Crockett said.

A welcome was extended by Cromartie to begin the night, followed by a reading of the Sociology Club’s mission statement.

Ampim was then presented with the “Ida B. Wells-Barnett Sociological Community Service Award,” which is given to individuals who contribute to the lecture series.

“I think professor Manu Ampim did an excellent job of explaining the process of how

free Africans were captured and transformed into people held in bondage,” Cromartie said. “I really appreciate the background he provided about the status and experiences of the initial 20 or so African men, women and children brought into (Jamestown, Va.).”

Ampim said by recognizing the history of the country and the origins of African-Americans, it can enlighten the students’ perspective of current events.

“The event taking place is significant because it helps the CCC community understand the historical context of race relations that has brought us to this point

today,” he said.

“This is why it is particularly historic for Sen. Barack Obama to run for president,” Ampim said, “because of the history of racism and bad race relations in America.”

Although there is much to share regarding slave trading activity, he said there are some key areas that should be brought out.

“First, the ‘Terrible Transformation, 1450-1750’ relates to the Portuguese enslavement of West African slaves that were taken back to Portugal, and was expanded by the English (from servitude to permanent

By Holly Pablo STAFF WRITER

By Asia Camagong STAFF WRITER

Contact Asia Camagong at acamagong.advocate@gmail. com.

Contact Cassandra Juniel at cjuniel.advocate@gmail.com.

Pastries, baking sweeten program

Group returns, boosts support The Gay-Straight Alliance held its first meeting Sept. 19 to discuss the foundations and future plans of a club dedicated to providing a strong support system for anyone on campus.

The club promises a haven for people regardless of their sexual orientation, whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or straight.

Expression without discrimination is a virtue the club values.

“It is important that people know that there is a club that represents them,” GSA President Sara Martin said.

The meeting began with a brief introduction of attendants listing their name, age, gender and sexual orientation. A variety of answers were later followed by a brief interactive game, allowing the members to become acquainted with one another.

The club plans to organize various nights of movies, games, bowling, fundraisers and other events, pending discussion at future meetings. Games and movies will change based on the suggestions made during meetings.

Meetings are scheduled on the first and third Fridays of every month in the Student Life Center from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

GSA also promotes many holidays commemorating the hardships faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, such as the Day of Silence in April and Transgender Day of Remembrance in November.

The Day of Silence “echoes the silence” gays and lesbians are faced with every day and Transgender Day of Remembrance “looks back at the abused,” Martin said.

Students from both MCHS and Contra Costa College looking for a safe zone or a place to offer their support are welcome to join the club, which hopes to have an active year, GSA secretary Nicholas Chin said.

“We want it to feel like your voice matters in this place,” Chin said.

racial slavery),” Ampim said.

Secondly, he said, is the controversy surrounding the number of individuals taken into bondage.

“Even today, historians continue to dispute the count, as they would like to minimize the negative effect on Africa and Africans, so that this crime will not seem as bad as it really was,” Ampim said.

Slave trading occurred because it was a profitable business, he said.

“Africans were looked at as objects for profit,” Ampim said.

He further stated that

Americans want to present a clean image.

“If the numbers are higher, the crime is seen to be greater,” he said. “However, if the numbers are lower, the crime is seen to be not as bad.”

The film presented totals from such individuals as James Dunbar in 1861, who estimated 13.9 million Africans were imported, whereas W.E.B. Du Bois in 1911 estimated 15 million, while still some others estimated 100 million.

“The records are incomplete as they do not, for example, include the death rates in transit, which was 50 percent of those taken,” Ampim said.

Thirdly, he said, a bill was signed to end legal slave trading in January 1808, yet slavery did not end until after the Civil War period, occurring in 1865.

A last important fact regards a few of the prominent American historic figures who participated in slave ownership such as George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, who was also instrumental in getting the bill passed, as well as Benjamin Franklin.

Additionally, Ampim said John Newton, who wrote the words to one of the most famous songs in the history of America, “Amazing Grace,” even after his conversion to Christianity, continued to be a slave trader.

“The program was very informative,” sociology student Jenny Siprasert said. “There were a lot of things I didn’t know. The history books say one thing; they want you to learn what ‘they’ want you to learn.”

ISAAC THOMAS / THE ADVOCATE

Easy bake — Culinary arts student Diamond Hill prepares North Beach custard cakes in the department’s pastry and baking class on Thursday. Goods made in the class are sold in the Express Café Tuesday through Thursday.

The pastry and baking class of the culinary arts program makes the cakes, cookies, bread and other goodies from the Express Café in the Three Seasons Restaurant possible.

John Allen, who has been the pastry instructor at the college for 22 years, said the class meets Monday through Thursday mornings, preparing and serving all the desserts from scratch.

Listed as two different courses, Introduction to Commercial Baking and Introduction to Pastry Product Preparation, the two classes overlap and meet at the same time, with students learning about the baking of pastries, along with other desserts and yeast dough products.

“It’s a class that’s geared for the novice just to learn at home and for the chef who wants to advance in the field, making bread to candy and everything in between,” Allen said.

Although the Express Café opens to the public at 8:30 a.m., students arrive at 7 a.m. to begin their busy workday. Their creations are made available as early as 10:30 a.m.

They create more than 24 different types of cakes, as well as cookies, brownies, pies, custards, fruit tarts, sandwiches, croissants, French bread and much more.

“There are four major stations, which are cake, bread, Danish and pastry,” Allen said.

Students are designated their own task in their assigned station, such as being responsible for making the hundreds of rolls necessary to get through the lunch rush at the bread station.

Mixed in the class are veteran students returning to the culinary arts program, as well as many new students. Regardless of seniority, they work and assist each other

as needed.

Genevieve Lew, a culinary arts student since 2005, explained the importance of teamwork and dedication.

“You’ll be here most of the time.

Everyone has their own story and our personalities do clash, but in the work field, you have to get along,” she said.

The bakery is always crowded and busy, but unlike other kitchens, there is not a lot of swearing, Allen said.

Students work in the kitchen until around 1:30 p.m., running around finishing projects and receiving approval of their various works.

“They work crazy hours (in the profession), either early in the morning or long days. It’ll equip them for life,” Allen said. “(The class) teaches them a work ethic, how to keep going and not quit and how to get through a hard day.”

First-semester culinary arts student Matt Riformo agrees that it is a lot of work, but he says its educational gains are worth it.

“It’s a good environment. Every day is new and fun,” Riformo said. “There’s always something to do and you meet a lot of new people.

“Chef Allen is a really good teacher,” he said. “He’s observant and good at keeping an eye on people. Whenever we need help he has an answer.”

As well as supporting the demands of the restaurant, they are available for catering. Two semesters ago, they created 800 cookies designed as Elvis for a party.

The exact revenue of the pastry and baking class is unknown but they are “in the black,” a term Allen used to explain that they are far from the need to cut back expenses.

This was not always the case. There has been a major increase in sales in recent years, he said.

Contact Holly Pablo at hpablo. advocate@gmail.com.

Debaters transform into poets, musicians

By Lamar James NEWS EDITOR

A boundary-free tone was set in the Fireside Room on Sept. 24, as students gathered to publicly express themselves at the Speech and Debate team’s slamming Poetry Slam.

Hosted by the Association of Oration, a club which branched off from the Speech and Debate team, the event provided students a chance to display their individual talents through poetry, singing, dancing and the incorporation of various other forms of art.

“This is a place where we

can all come and be ourselves,” Speech and Debate team member Maria Rubio said. “We can say whatever we feel.”

Rubio said the objective of the Poetry Slam is to avoid limits and judgment and give students a free, open atmosphere when it comes to what they want to say.

“Poetry is what you feel,” she said. “So we will not judge you unless you want to be judged.”

Students at the Poetry Slam recited a variety of different poems, each with their own different content and style.

Middle College High School student Sien Rivera performed a poem titled “Romantic Activism,”

dealing with romance and being an activist for what one believes in.

Alexus Deville, a Contra Costa College student, read the poem “Teacher Teach,” which encouraged teachers to teach children to the best of their abilities, knowing that one day their generation will be running the country.

In addition to poetry, a number of students also performed other forms of art, such as singing and dancing.

Stevie Wonder’s “A Ribbon in the Sky” received a modern cover, courtesy of student Lauren “Nebula” Banayate.

Additionally, the event raised

funds for the Speech and Debate team so that they will be able to attend future tournaments across the state, team member Christopher Kiteas said.

“We wanted to give rappers, singers and public speakers a haven where they can come and not have to worry about being judged or be nervous because everyone is here to support you,” Kiteas said. “We are not here to make fun of you or criticize you, but we are here to help you and make you feel comfortable.”

All points considered, the event went well and raised a respectable amount of funds for the Speech and Debate team to attend future

tournaments.

“I am here because I like poetry and I am here to support my friends,” said Jaron Johnson, an MCHS student who performed a poem titled “God Bless America,” touching on everything from poverty to the Iraqi War. “I was also invited to perform and I took up their offer. That was my first time ever sharing that poem”.

The Speech and Debate team will look to attract a larger crowd, along with new members, by hosting a Poetry Slam each month, Rubio said.

Contact Lamar James at ljames.advocate@gmail.com.

CAMPUS BEAT

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2008 l THE ADVOCATE

5

Planned well Factory workers trained to lower cost of water bill PTEC

classes

prepare

students

By Ryan Jacques STAFF WRITER

Plans for the construction of a well designed to irrigate the Contra Costa College athletic fields have been initiated by the district.

Watering the college’s athletic fields goes toward a “substantial part of our water bill,” Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said.

The baseball, soccer and softball fields, he said, account for 50 percent of the school’s consumption of water.

The well will relieve dependence on the East Bay Municipal Utility District, cutting the college’s water costs by at least half, King said.

Hopes are for the well to be completed by the start of 2009.

“We’re anxious to get that thing rolling,” King said.

Yet, plans for the well’s construction are still preliminary.

District Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services Kindred Murillo said legal issues have to be examined, including water and drilling rights. Then monetary issues arise.

“We’re in the investigatory phase,” Murillo said.

Once legal issues have been cleared, the well will tentatively be located between the softball field and the bleachers, King said.

If not in this location, it will have to be placed at a location where it is able to connect to irrigation lines and a power source for the pump.

The well will be designed to use non-potable, or non-drinkable, water, college Vice President Carol Maga said. This is opposed to potable water, which is treated for human consumption.

CCC, and much of the surrounding real estate, sits on an underground water supply, King said.

The well would make use of the underground lake that other schools in the area already take advantage of. King said Richmond High School already taps into underground source.

Ultimately, once the well is built, most of it will be low to, if not completely under, the ground.

“I was told it (will be) almost invisible,” King said.

Further delay could occur, however, due to the rainy season, he said.

Bidding for contractors to drill and construct the well could take time as well.

Additionally, the college is concerned for conservation of resources.

This is one of the means by which the college Sustainability Committee has planned to save energy, King said. The committee has been conducting surveys, he said, to find new ways of conservation since last year.

While one well may help save money and water, King said he does not believe multiple wells around the campus would be costefficient, since each zone is tied to different irrigation lines.

for jobs at refineries

By Shahruz Shaukat ONLINE EDITOR

Two colleges in the district, Contra Costa and Los Medanos, have teamed up to offer courses for students wishing to learn process technology.

Process technology, or PTEC for short, teaches and trains students wishing to obtain jobs in refineries and processing plants.

According to Colleen Grim, the outreach coordinator for the PTEC program, it is particularly important for these programs to be available in this region. “(The companies) were trying to recruit from the Gulf region, where these training programs have been going successfully in the past few years,” Grim said. “But the graduates would come to California and work for a year or two, then they’d get homesick. The retention was not good.”

Grim said that because students in the Contra Costa Community College District are so close to major refineries, having classes and hands-on training in the region is beneficial to both the students and the companies.

PTEC program director David Kail said the training helps students get a career in a stable industry.

“The demand has been pretty steady,” Kail said. “The

point is that the oil refineries in the area are doing well and are continuing consistently.”

Kail said that there are an estimated 100-150 job availabilities per year, for at least the past five years.

The program has been doing fairly well in helping students receive jobs in the industry.

Grim said, “We’re expecting to have 30 graduates from our program every semester,” she said.

She said that so far, between 65 and 70 percent of students in the PTEC program have gotten jobs in refineries.

Kenneth Cole, the professor for all process technology courses at CCC, confirmed this statistic.

“The program has trained about 110 students so far,” Cole said.

“About 85 of them have been hired somewhere.”

He also said that the program raised students’ chances of getting hired.

“For 30 job openings, the companies get between 1,500 and 3,000 applications,” Cole said. “Once the students have gone through our program, their

chances go from between 1 and 3 percent, to between 70 and 80 percent.”

Cole also stressed that regardless of whether students are interested in pursuing process technology as a career, it is important for everyone in the region to learn.

“The classes are worthwhile,” he said. “People will get a better understanding of what life is like in these refineries. Anyone in or around the Bay Area should have a good understanding of how things work in these refineries.”

Contact Shahruz Shaukat at sshaukat.advocate@gmail.com.

Contact Ryan Jacques at rjacques.advocate@gmail.com.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JUSTIN MORRISON / THE ADVOCATE

Generators back up equipment, save money

By Alec Surmani ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Housed within Building and Grounds’ maintenance shop lie two of the college’s most vital lifelines, capable of saving thousands of dollars in the event of a blackout — mobile generators.

Purchased a few years ago for roughly $1,200 to $1,500 each, these gas-powered generators can be transported anywhere on campus to provide instant power, Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said.

“They are little Honda genera-

tors that can run up to six or seven hours and can power an unlimited amount of items,” he said.

These generators are moved about campus during a blackout, King said, helping locations with immediate power needs.

This includes areas such as the culinary arts department, where food left without refrigeration could spoil.

One such instance of the generators’ application can be found in the art department.

If deprived of power during a run, works in the Art Building’s kiln would be ruined, costing the department hundreds of dollars,

former art department chairman Richard Akers said.

Similarly, if the bronze investment mixer could not continue churning its mixture, the material would become useless, also requiring costly replacement.

Luckily, with the help of Buildings and Grounds, Akers said. the department was saved multiple times from having to repurchase their materials in the wake of a blackout.

“When there was a crisis, they were there for us,” he said. “We got good cooperation.”

Devoid of backup power, thousands of dollars would be lost ADVERTISEMENT

during a blackout, which Akers said happened once during vacation, leaving the art department without knowledge of the event in time to take action.

This resulted in the loss of more than $2,000 worth of materials, such as ceramic shells, forcing the department to replace them using funds from their budget, Akers said.

In an effort to combat this unwanted occurrence, the biological sciences department took matters into its own hands and bought a generator specifically for their building.

Through funds obtained by way

of an Army Research Office grant in 2000, the department purchased a stationary generator to ensure power would always be available to the building, biological sciences department Chairwoman Kathryn Levine said.

“If our freezer fails, we have thousands of dollars worth of reagents (that could be potentially lost),” Dr. Levine said.

Before this, she said, faculty had to drive to a supermarket, buy dry ice and rush it to the college.

They then placed fragile items in the containers alongside the dry ice, sometimes even taking them home to prevent spoilage.

Although a similar effort to backup every building on campus with a generator would potentially allow Contra Costa College to remain open during a blackout, King said the benefits of such an action do not outweigh its costs.

“They are only needed when there is no power, so you wouldn’t use it on a regular basis,” he said.

“Getting a generator and keeping it maintained and in running order for 22 buildings on campus for something that may not happen for a whole year is hard.”

Contact Alec Surmani at asurmani.advocate@gmail.com.

Information to abound at SSC event

By Diana Reyes STAFF WRITER

Information about transferring to four-year universities will abound at the college’s annual Transfer Day, to be held outside the Student Services Center on Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hosted by the Transfer/Career Center, the event will include a number of representatives from state colleges and universities across the country with useful information on academic majors and requirements for transferring.

“The primary goal of our college is to successfully transfer students to a four-year college,” Transfer/ Career Center Coordinator Robin Harrison said.

Transfer Day takes place every year during the fall semester at Contra Costa College. This year, the event will take place in the new plaza in front of the SSC. According to Harrison, there will be approximately 50 colleges present.

Representatives from universities like UC Berkeley and the University of Nevada-Reno, will attend alongside representatives from state colleges, such as San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose.

Additionally, private institutions such as the International University of Nursing on St. Kitts Island in the Caribbean, will also be attending.

In case of rain, the event will be relocated to the Student Activities Building, Harrison said.

Transfer Day is coordinated by the Transfer/ Career Center coordinator, with help from office assistant Shimpey Sugai. Harrison said there have been many Transfer/Career Center assistants who have transferred to four-year colleges after CCC. Contact Diana Reyes at dreyes.advocate@gmail. com.

6 THE ADVOCATE

SCENE

l WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2008

Funny farce hits mark

Unleashed

Movies

By Brent Bainto STAFF WRITER

Dark comedy

This week: “How to Lose Friends & Alienate People” (R)

engages, entertains with

“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” (PG-13)

twisted, offbeat plot

“Flash of Genius” (PG-13) “An American Carol” (PG-13)

DVDs

New releases: “Iron Man” (PG-13) “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (R) “Bigger, Stronger, Faster*” (NR)

CDs

Ben Folds: “Way To Normal” Trivium: “Shogun” Tom Morello: “The Fabled City”

Books

Cultural conflicts, historic shipyards highlighted in play Ethnic conflict in the 1940s workplace is highlighted in “Rivets,” a musical produced by the Contra Costa College drama department, set to play on site at the Richmond Shipyards from Oct. 9-26.

The play highlights the racial tensions between African-Americans and whites, as well as the struggles of women entering the work force, in the ’40s, drama department Chairman and director Clay David said.

Numerous job opportunities at the shipyards were available in the ’40s, David said, drawing many people

Alice Schroeder: “The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life” Annette GordonReed: “The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family” Neil Gaiman: “The Graveyard Book” Editor’s note: This column lists popular new (and upcoming) releases for the week.

with different backgrounds from across the country who migrated to Richmond to build ships for the war.

Built in the Richmond Shipyards and active during World War II, the SS Red Oak Victory ship will host the play.

Kathryn McCarty, book and lyrics writer for “Rivets,” said the location of the performance is key.

“Performing on the ship brings a whole new relevance, to actually know that people lived and died on the ship,” she said.

McCarty said her inspiration for writing the play was Bay Area history and the image of “Rosie the Riveter,” which was a tool of propaganda used to bring women into the work force, since men were off to war.

The play mirrors thoughts of war today, triggering similarities between the Iraq War and World War II, and brings awareness to what is going on from the Middle East to Richmond,

“Performing on the ship brings a whole new relevance, to actually know that people lived and died on the ship.”

Kathryn McCarty

book and lyrics writer

McCarty said. “(The musical) is very timely since Americans are having to make sacrifices for war today,” David said.

CCC drama major Monica Lenk stars in the play as Nancy Mitchell, a nurse’s aide. Lenk said it is “incredibly cool” that the play is being performed on the ship.

“It doesn’t compare to any other theater I’ve performed in,” she said.

“Rivets” made its debut at the Knox Center earlier this year. It was

also performed at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, where the play received nominations for Shellie awards for Best Director (David), Best Actor (Randall Nott) and Best Actress (Shawn Creighton) in a Musical and Best Supporting Actor (Matt Davis) and Actress (Katrina Krasser), David said.

“Rivets” was also nominated for Outstanding Musical Production.

General admission is $20, and $15 for seniors or students and free for World War II veterans, Rosie the Riveters and uniformed military.

Performances will be Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now through the Galatean Players Box Office online at tickets@galateanplayers.com or by phone at 925-676-5705.

The five W’s What: “Rivets,” a musical about ethnic conflict in the 1940s Richmond Shipyards Who: Student actors from the drama department Where: The SS Red Oak Victory ship in Richmond When: Oct. 9-26 Why: To recognize the importance of Richmond shipyard workers in the ’40s and draw comparisons to the Iraq War

Contact Brent Bainto at bbainto. advocate@gmail.com.

Justice department chief inks a rock record deal Long-time teacher makes time to jam, hits it big overseas

New releases: Nicholas Sparks: “The Lucky One”

Contact Brent Bainto at bbainto. advocate@gmail.com.

Spring drama ‘riveting’ for another season STAFF WRITER

T-Pain: “Thr33 Ringz”

takes a completely new identity and does not bother trying to convince his mother otherwise.

In an attempt to rekindle her memory later in the film, he has Denny present himself as her son.

Ida opens to Denny, assuming he is Victor, and speaks of Victor’s past and who his father may be.

Victor then races to find the truth of his paternal identity before his mother dies. Ida’s doctor, Paige Marshall (Kelly Macdonald), offers help to Victor in his search for his father, including an experimental procedure that could potentially save his mother.

Aside from minor differences and the novel’s original ending swapped with a more Hollywood approach, “Choke” is a bittersweet movie worth watching.

There are also flashbacks throughout the movie, of Victor’s past, which do help in telling the story, but they could have been done more subtly.

This is a film not to be overlooked.

But because of its limited viewing in select theaters and its significantly lower budget and appeal to the general public than “Fight Club,” it may ultimately prove to be a greatly underrated movie.

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

By Brent Bainto

New releases: T.I.: “Paper Trail”

“Choke” is a crude, satirical and explicit comedy that is surely to entertain followers of author Chuck Palahniuk, as well as the audience newly introduced to his work.

The long-awaited film adaptation of the novel, “Choke” made its debut to select theaters on Friday.

The movie is Palahniuk’s second novel to big screen adaptation, following the widely acclaimed and successful “Fight Club.”

But unlike “Fight Club,” “Choke” shines a whole new light on personal dysfunction and psychiatric evaluation.

Director and script writer Clark Gregg does an amazing job in illustrating the story of Victor Mancini, played by Sam Rockwell, an arrogantly charming sex addict who dropped out of medical school to dedicate his life to supporting his sickly mother, Ida (Angelica Huston). His mother suffers from dementia due to years of substance abuse.

The story is told in a partway narrative and firstperson account of Victor himself. Victor’s day job is working as a tour guide, or as he states a “historical

interpreter,” in a colonial recreation theme park, along with his best friend and fellow sex addict, Denny (Brad William Henke). Both Victor and Denny attend group sessions, though Victor regresses from group therapy as he keeps feeding into his sexual hunger by having sex with multiple women for instant selfgratification and moviereview brief bliss.

Though Victor has a job, it is not quite enough to support his mother’s “Choke” costly private care. ★★★★★ He turns to being a Starring: Sam con artist, staging Rockwell, Kelly “choke” scenes in Macdonald different restaurants Directed by: Clark Gregg across town.

Where: Limited Victor purposely release seeks the “good Genre: Comedy Samaritan” to aid him, particularly the person who looks the wealthiest and most financially stable. Victor exploits the person’s act of heroism and creates a bond with them in hopes that they will continually send him money for his difficult life.

Over time, the bills for his mother become increasingly difficult to pay and her mind is deteriorating at an alarming rate.

She does not recognize Victor anymore. Every time he visits, he

By Ryan Jacques STAFF WRITER

Rick Ramos rocked back and forth in his office chair reflecting on his past.

“It’s not the goal, it’s the journey,” he said.

Ramos is the administration of justice department chairman at Contra Costa College, where he oversees numerous classes, including three online courses.

After going through all the e-mails his students send him and grading work, it is a wonder how he finds time for his music.

Ramos has been playing guitar in numerous bands for more than 30 years. It was only over this previous summer that he received an e-mail from Soul Junction, a record company in London, about signing a record contract.

The first band he played in consisted of he and his friends from Richmond High in 1973. They called themselves “Natural Impulse.”

Back in the early 1970s, the band made vinyl records featuring their blend of jazz and funk for less than a dollar each.

Today, their music is an underground hit in England thanks to disc jockeys playing their tunes, Ramos said.

“I think it’s the thing in England now,” “Natural Impulse” trumpet player Tom Fuglestad said of the resurgence of interest in ’70s style music.

Unfortunately, the entire band did not get to hear the good news. The lead singer and co-writer of their music, James “Hank” Oden, died in June, Ramos said.

The rest of the band decided to give the $500 advance from the record deal to Oden’s widow, Fuglestad said.

Oden died the day the e-mail from the record company was received, he said.

Soul Junction asked the band to send in duplicates of two of its tracks including “She Went Away” and “The Time is Right,” Ramos said.

The band is “negotiating now a deal for a CD,” he said, but is signed on for three years.

“Natural Impulse” performed together after they graduated from Richmond High. They attended CCC in the mid-’70s and played shows on campus, Ramos said.

But after graduating from the community college, Ramos left the band to become a police officer.

He thought he was going to be on his way to being an attorney after he graduated from CCC. One of his classmates said that the Berkeley Police Department was hiring trainees, however, and Ramos soon began working for the department.

It was a good paying job, he said, and eventually Ramos was offered a position as a patrolman.

In August of 1978, he put his music career on hold and left “Natural Impulse.” The band stayed together for two more years and even played at his wedding.

Nevertheless, time went on. But in 1983, the love for music proved too great for Ramos to ignore any longer.

“I realized I missed playing the guitar,” he said.

He took guitar lessons from Bill

Tapia, who has always been a tough guy to get lessons from, Ramos said, as he is such a respected musician.

Ramos then put together a band with T.W. Johnson, an Oakland police officer and drummer.

The band was made up of all cops and its ranks fluctuated as members transferred or retired from their respective jobs.

After being injured at the police department, Ramos retired and went back to school. Over the last 20 years, though, he continued to play with bands Latin Soul Project and GTS, or Good Times Systems.

Latin Soul Project continues to mix salsa music with rhythm and blues while GTS combines funk with rhythm and blues.

“It’s good to play as (many styles) as you can,” Ramos said.

Through the years, he has had the pleasure of meeting musicians like Carlos Santana, opening for Julio Iglesias and playing with greats like Herbie Hancock and Ray Brown.

“I got to jam with these guys,” Ramos said with a contagious grin.

And in the coming months he will have the chance to jam and record new material with his original band, “Natural Impulse,” once again.

Along with the three-year record deal, the record company wants another seven tracks from the band, Ramos said.

The plan is for the old high school friends to begin rehearsing by the end of October, and hopefully have six or seven songs out by April 2009.

“I think it’s great,” Johnson said of the opportunity for the group to get back together.

Ramos said he would be happy to be able to tour and play in Europe with his high school buddies.

He leaned back in his chair casu-

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

Back in the day — Rick Ramos (shown here in 1977) has been playing guitar for several bands since the early ’70s. He is currently negotiating a record deal with a London-based record company. ally and with a quick chuckle said, “How much fun is that?”

While the prospect of touring with his band across Europe is a real possibility, Ramos does not plan on leaving CCC anytime soon, for he enjoys teaching.

Currently, Ramos plays 40 gigs a year with his band GTS. Both GTS

and Latin Soul Project play throughout the year at parties, weddings, bars and other events.

He admits that recording helps him be a better teacher and teaching makes him a better musician.

Contact Ryan Jacques rjacques.advocate@gmail.com.

at

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2008 l THE ADVOCATE

Late goal propels team past Storm

By Dariush Azmoudeh STAFF WRITER

In need of a win to end a three-game losing streak, the Comets were able to find the key to victory in a 1-0 win over Napa Valley College on Friday at home.

After losing their last three games to Santa Rosa, Skyline and Yuba colleges, the Comets (3-3-1 overall, 1-1-0 in the Bay Valley Conference) were ScoreBoard able find the path back to their winning ways against Comets 1 the Storm (3-4-2 overall, Storm 0 1-1-0 in the BVC). During their slump, Contra Costa Next Game: College was outscored 7-3 Friday in three games. vs. Marin, The Comets’next contest at 4 p.m. is against College of Marin (1-2-1 overall, 0-1-1 in the Bay Valley Conference) at home in their third Bay Valley Conference game on Friday at 4 p.m.

Against Napa Valley, the match started off slowly with most of the game being played in the midfield.

As both teams had few plays attacking the net, the first half ended scoreless.

The second half began with both teams hoping to gain the mental and physical advantage of scoring the first goal.

The game continued to go back and forth, with both teams losing the ball deep in their opponent’s half of the field.

7

Dynamic duo — (L-R) Midfielders Francisco Camacho and Vidal Orosco celebrate Camacho’s game-winning goal in the 78th minute of the Comets’ 1-0 win over Napa Valley.

Orosco had the assist on the play.

Eventually, on a long pass from midfielder Vidal Orosco in the 78th minute, Francisco Camacho was able to receive the ball in the box and chip it over the Napa Valley goalkeeper to give the Comets the game-winning goal.

“After losing our last few games, the goal raised our spirits,” Camacho said. “It made us play harder to secure our win.”

The CCC defense was able to shut down the Napa Valley offense to help preserve the win and end the Comets’ losing streak.

During the game, CCC had two saves and seven shots, with three being on goal. Napa Valley, in comparison, had three saves and five shots, with two being on goal.

Despite the win, coach Rudy Zeller pointed out that the team still needs some improvement.

“We need to improve our play between our striker and midfielders,” he said. “They’re playing away from each other. They need to be together so they can start some plays.”

Zeller said, however, that the team was able to come together in the last 15 minutes to dominate the game and take the win.

With the victory over Napa Valley, the players are able to build confidence for their upcoming home games against College of Marin (1-2-1 overall, 0-1-1 in the BVC) and Yuba College (6-1-2 overall, 1-0-0 in the BVC).

“This game was able to boost our morale and prepare us for our next game,” midfielder Chris Garcia said.

Contact Dariush Azmoudeh at dazmoudeh. advocate@gmail.com.

JUSTIN MORRISON / THE ADVOCATE

Comets open new season with straight-sets loss Nerves, lack of confidence hurt team in first game against Hartnell

By Jeff Carillo SPORTS EDITOR

The 2008 season began much like last season did for Contra Costa College, as the volleyball team lost in straight sets to Hartnell College at home 25-12, 25-12 and 25-6 on Monday night.

Last season, the Comets opened their season with a four-set loss against Hartnell at home.

Poor serves, transitions and unforced errors proved to be too great for the Comets (0-1 overall, 0-0 in the Bay Valley Conference) to overcome against the Panthers (1-4 overall, 0-0 in the Coast Conference). Early on, however, CCC played to their potential and stayed competitive for most of the set.

“We started off really well,” outside hitter Allison Nava said. “The first set was our best because it was one where we really came together and just had fun.”

Unlike the second and third sets where CCC was utterly dominated, the team competed at its highest energy level of the match in the first set.

The two teams exchanged point ScoreBoard for point up until Hartnell’s Irene De Panthers def.

La Torre helped the Comets 25-12, Panthers take control with her power25-12, 25-6 ful spikes.

De La Torre finNext Game: ished with four aces Today and seven spikes, vs. Los Medanos, leading her team. at 6:30 p.m.

She also finished with one block.

The Comets had trouble with their serve all game long, as they couldn’t put together a run to keep pace with Hartnell.

“Our serving is an area that we need to improve on and pick up,” Nava said, “along with our transitioning on the court.”

CCC was dominated in spikes and aces for the game, as Hartnell tallied nine aces and 18 spikes compared to only three aces and five spikes for the Comets.

The second set began on a sour note for the Comets, as the Panthers started off on a 9-0 run, mainly due to several instances of mental errors committed by CCC. Coach Azure’D Nunley said that her team’s flat play in the second and third sets were due to a lack of confidence and consistency.

“The team knows they could play a whole lot better,” Nunley said. “Becoming consistent and playing our game is the key for us to get wins in the future.”

“I think when we start falling behind, the girls start to lose their confidence and they begin to doubt themselves,” Nava said. “Right

now, it’s all mental for us.”

Hartnell was able to take full advantage of this in the third set as well, setting up several kills and spikes for outside hitter De La Torre and middle hitter Briana Moreno, who finished with five spikes of her own.

“For next week, we just need to communicate better on the court, and we need to maintain that high energy level for the course of the game,” middle hitter Lisa Lee said after the game.

Coach Nunley said that the story of the game against Hartnell has been the same for nearly every one of CCC’s games last season.

“Every game they start off with a high level of energy but then they start to drop off,” she said. “Once that happens our confidence goes down and we let the other team take the momentum of the game away from us.”

Contact Jeff Carillo advocate@gmail.com.

at

jcarillo.

CCC loses, despite scoring 4 TDs Defense lacking in 61-28 defeat to Dons at home

By Jeff Carillo SPORTS EDITOR

HERCULES — Defensive mishaps and costly mistakes on offense continue to plague the Contra Costa College football team this season, as ScoreBoard the team dropped Dons 61 another Comets 28 game, this one Next Game: to De Saturday A n z a at Gavilan, C o l l eg e at 7 p.m.

61-28 here on Saturday.

The contest was the Comets’ (0-4 overall, 0-0 in the Bay Valley Conference) fourth nonconference game. The team will visit Gavilan College in Gilroy Saturday at 7 p.m for their final tuneup before BVC play.

A total of five lost fumbles by CCC, three of which led to touchdowns for De Anza (3-1 overall,

Box scores Men’s soccer (Sept. 26) Napa Valley Contra Costa Napa Valley 0 Contra Costa 0

0—0 1—1

First Half No goals scored.

Second Half 1, CCC, Camacho 10 (Orosco), 78th minute.

Yellow Cards Napa Valley, Mahmoud Attia, 13th minute.

CCC, Vidal Orosco, 80th minute.

Individual statistics Goals — CCC — Camacho.

Assists — CCC — Orosco.

Shots on goal — Napa Valley — 5. — CCC — 7.

Saves — Napa Valley — Garcia 3. — CCC — Montano 2.

0-0 in the Coast Conference), ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.

The first came on CCC’s first kickoff return attempt, when De Anza cornerback Darell Archie recovered return man Rashad Smith’s fumble and scored the Dons’ second touchdown, putting the Comets in an early 14-0 hole after just six minutes of play.

“We took a step backward in turnovers today,” coach John McDermott said.

“It’s like we say to the team every week, we need to limit our turnovers, but they’ve killed us every game.”

The Comets managed to fight their way back into the game, however, on two big plays from their defense and special teams.

Defensive back Travon Ross recovered a fumble from running back Lawrence Taylor and returned it for a one-yard touchdown and Smith returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, cutting De Anza’s lead to just six points, 20-14.

De Anza’s passing attack and ground game proved to be too much for CCC’s defense from that point on, particularly during the remainder of the first half.

De Anza blitzed the Comets for four touchdowns after Smith’s

kickoff return, creating a 48-21 cushion by the end of the first half.

Quarterback Matt Casas was responsible for three of the scores, as he threw for two touchdowns and ran one in from 24 yards out.

Taylor added a 17-yard touchdown run, giving him 125 yards on 10 carries in the first half.

“The defense had way too many breakdowns,” linebacker Nicholas Weeks said. “Whether it’s missed assignments, or we’re not being physical enough, we need to grow out of it as a unit and brush it off.”

The defense continued its struggles to make tackles and be in the right spots on the field.

Defensive coordinator Mark Stantz could be seen constantly telling his players where they needed to be positioned.

“Our defense needs to start tackling better and simply put, they need to play harder,” McDermott said.

“They need to come out with more intensity on the defensive side of the ball.”

Rushing defense continued to be a major problem against De Anza, as CCC allowed 221 total yards rushing.

Taylor was the leading rusher, with 140 yards on 14 carries and

two touchdowns, 105 of those yards gained in the first quarter.

Casas also passed for 179 yards and three touchdowns.

“I don’t know what it is that’s stopping us right now,” Weeks said. “Maybe guys are out there doubting themselves and it’s something mental but whatever it is, we need to eliminate it and start playing harder in practices.”

CCC quarterback Royce Hughes continued his erratic play on Saturday, throwing for 148 yards and one touchdown. Despite limiting his mistakes, Hughes missed several throws that could have extended CCC’s drives, but instead killed momentum for the offense.

Hughes’ subpar performance in the second half led to another switch at quarterback in the third quarter, as freshman Yusef Shojaee came in and played a couple series for the Comets.

The Comets’ rushing game, however, was a positive aspect that the team can take away from the game, as running back Alonzo Gallon emerged with a strong showing off the bench.

The freshman had 55 yards on only 11 carries and provided a more physical game on the ground for CCC, as he ran up the middle and shed some tacklers on

Record — Napa Valley — 3-4-2 overall, 1-1-0 in BVC. — CCC — 3-3-1 overall, 1-1-0 in BVC.

CCC — Johnson 17 yd pass from Hughes (Naterman kick) 10:48.

De Anza — Casas 24 yd run (Villanueva kick) 1:45.

De Anza — Taylor 17 yd run (Villanueva kick) 0:51.

Third Quarter CCC — Hughes 5 yd run (Naterman kick) 10:43.

De Anza — Taylor 1 yd run (Villanueva kick) 3:33.

Fourth Quarter De Anza — Achiaw 4 yd run (Villanueva kick blocked) 8:17.

Individual statistics Rushing — De Anza — Taylor 14-140, Dawid 4-30, Hamilton 3-7, Mendoza 1-9, Mitchell 5-4, Achiaw 8-31. — CCC — Villaruz 7-9, Hughes 9-39, Gallon 1155, Smith 1-4, Henderson 2-3, Shojaee 1-5.

Passing — De Anza — Casas 13-20-3 179.

— CCC — Hughes 11-19-1 148, Shojaee 0-3-0 0.

Receiving — De Anza — Gonzalez 4-30, Sidhu 2-10, Dawid 1-18, Miller 1-10, Hendon 2-27, Lulu 1-5.

— CCC — Hernandez 1-18, Johnson 5-106, Allen 1-9, Zrihen 3-16, Scott 1-2.

Missed field goals — De Anza — Naterman 0-1.

Record — De Anza — 3-1. — CCC — 0-4.

Bay Valley Conference W Shasta 3 Yuba 2 Solano 1 Contra Costa 0 Marin 0 Redwoods 0

Football (Sept. 27) De Anza, Contra Costa DA 27 21 7 6 — 61 CCC 14 7 7 0 — 28 First Quarter De Anza — Gonzalez 19 yd pass from Casas (Villanueva kick) 9:40.

De Anza — Darell 21 yd fumble recovery (Villanueva kick) 9:16.

CCC — Ross 1 yd fumble recovery (Naterman kick) 4:46.

De Anza — Mendoza 9 yd run (Villanueva miss) 3:02.

CCC — Smith 85 yd kickoff return (Naterman kick) 2:47.

De Anza — Gonzalez 27 yd pass from Casas (Villanueva kick) 0:28.

Second Quarter De Anza — Hendon 15 yd pass from Casas (Villanueva kick) 13:41.

L 1 2 3 4 4 4

Pct. .750 .500 .250 .000 .000 .000

GB 1 2 3 3 3

JUSTIN MORRISON / THE ADVOCATE

Down and out — Sophomore defensive back David Le’Gall shows his disappointment on the sideline during the Comets’ 61-28 loss to the Dons on Saturday. several carries.

“Offensively, we’re only about 30 or 40 percent there right now,” McDermott said. “These guys need to start showing more in practice and working harder, because these results are not because of a lack of effort from the coaching staff.”

“There’s just no heart right now on this team,” wide receiver Daniel Zrihen said after the game.

“The players who do have heart are the ones who are making the plays but there aren’t enough of them on this team.”

McDermott added that there are a few “bad apples” on the roster that will be removed by the team’s next game against Gavilan.

“The players need to work for what they deserve, because right now they think they can come out and score 40 points every week and that just isn’t the case,” he said. “It’s just very frustrating when we haven’t found the right chemistry for the team.”

Contact Jeff Carillo at jcarillo.advocate@gmail.com.

Game of the Week Men’s soccer Contra Costa College VS.

Volleyball (Sept. 29)

Hartnell def. Contra Costa 25-12, 25-12, 25-6 Individual statistics Aces — CCC — Nava 2, Reola 1. — Hartnell — De La Torre 4, Headspeth 2, Cortez 1, Moreno 1, Man 1.

Spikes — CCC — Gillette 2, Lee 1, Maxey-Hooks 1, Reola 1. — Hartnell — De La Torre 7, Moreno 4, Cortez 3, Headspeth 2, Valverde 1.

Blocks — CCC — Lee 3, Gillette 2, Lara 1, Chapman 1. — Hartnell — Valverde 3, White 1, Moreno 1, De La Torre 1.

Record — CCC — 0-1 overall, 0-0 in BVC. — Hartnell — 1-4 overall, 0-0 in the Coast Conference.

College of Marin When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Soccer field Records: CCC 3-3-1 overall, 1-1-0 in the BVC. Marin 1-2-1 overall, 0-1-1 in the BVC. Background: The Comets hope to improve their record in conference play by beating College of Marin again this year.

— Jeff Carillo

8 THE ADVOCATE

SPORTS

l WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2008

Volleyball Preview | 2008

Coach profile

Four returning sophomores, experienced freshmen players power team in search of first win under coach Nunley

Nunley

In her third year as volleyball coach at Contra Costa College, Azure’D Nunley is still looking for her first win with the Comets.

With her largest roster and highest number of returning players, the probability of the win is the highest since she has been the Comets’ coach.

Coaches Azure’D Nunley Al Serrano

volleyball coach assistant volleyball coach

Roster 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 13 22

Catherine Reola Wanessa Rodrigues Destiny Hoag Allison Nava Lisa Lee Emily Hansen Syble Maxey-Hooks Christine Gillette Kristina Chapman Alisa Lara

setter middle hitter libero outside hitter middle hitter setter outside hitter middle hitter outside hitter setter

freshman freshman freshman sophomore sophomore freshman sophomore sophomore freshman freshman

Last season by the numbers Overall record 0-16 Conference record 0-13 Conference finish Sixth Returning players Christine Gillette Lisa Lee Syble Maxey-Hooks Allison Nava

Key games

Contra Costa College VS.

Laney College

By Brett Abel ASSOCIATE EDITOR

With more experience and its longest roster in years, the Comet volleyball team has the potential to get its first win for third-year coach Azure’D Nunley.

Returning four sophomores from last year’s 0-16 team to this season’s 10-player roster, Nunley has built a program from the 2006 season to now, and has the highest probability to win since she has been here.

In addition to a substantially larger roster than the 2007 season’s six player team, the Comets met during the summer to condition and have also played in a preconference tournament to prepare for the upcoming season.

“It’s a big difference from years past,” Nunley said. “Usually we come and play right before the season starts.”

The Comets scrimmaged against Cosumnes River College and Bay Valley Conference foe Mendocino College in back-to-back games at a tournament three weeks ago.

Although CCC lost both games, Nunley said being able to go up against teams before the season began, especially a BVC rival, is beneficial.

“We came away from it knowing about who we are,” Nunley said.

She said the team needs to improve its passing before conference play begins Friday at Laney College to be successful. “(Passing) sets the tone for everything,” she said. “Without a good pass, you can’t do anything with it.”

Sophomore middle hitter Lisa Lee noticed the same after the tourney, saying the team needs to work on its passing as well its ability to get to the ball.

Lee, who played every point of every game of last season, said she saw the team struggle to get to the ball quickly at the tournament.

“We definitely need to be faster on the court,” she said. “When I was sitting on the bench (at the tournament), I saw we were slow at getting balls.”

Having a more experienced roster and practicing daily, the Comets have been able to expand practices from working on only fundamentals and are dedicating two practices a week to

“I think they’re in good hands with (Maxey-Hooks),” Nunley said. “For spirit and energy, (Nava) is all over it.”

By keeping high spirits and rallying the team, Maxey-Hooks said she falls well into her role as a leader.

“For all of us, we try to help each other up,” she said. “This team is more optimistic (than last year’s).”

Lee, The Advocate’s 2007-08 Athlete of the Year nominee, led the team with blocks and was dominant at the net. Nunley expects the same from her this year to boost the team. “(Lee) makes the big plays that get people going — a block, a hit, a shot,” Nunley said.

Going into BVC play this week, Nunley said she is not hesitant to substitute a freshman for any one of her sophomores or anyone else on the team, to keep legs and players fresh on the court.

“I felt with things last year that the teams weren’t better than ours, but they had numbers,” she said. “We were tired, didn’t have depth or conditioning.”

She said now, however, her team will be able to play at the same level and work together as a team.

“I’m not afraid of going to substitute,” she said. “Anybody going off the bench is in good shape.”

Nunley did not predict how many matches her team will win, but with the new roster, she expects to win at least one of the team’s two games against both College of Alameda and Laney College.

Last year, the Comets lost to Alameda in five sets and Laney in four, a result of not having any substitutes.

Nunley said that because of the extreme turnover community colleges face every year, she cannot say how the team will fare in conference play, but she is not concerned with any team in particular.

“I don’t know how many people the other teams have lost,” she said.

“The thing about (junior college) is it can change so quickly. Completely different teams, completely different players.

“I wouldn’t say I’m fearful of one team over another,” Nunley said.

Contact Brett Abel at babel. advocate@gmail.com.

Sept. 29 vs.

Hartnell L, 25-12, 2512, 25-6 Today vs.

Los Medanos 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Laney 6 p.m.

Oct. 8 vs.

Los Medanos 6 p.m.

Oct. 10 at Alameda 6 p.m.

Oct. 15 vs.

Yuba 6 p.m.

Oct. 17 vs.

Napa 6 p.m.

Oct. 22 at Solano 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Mendocino 6 p.m.

Oct. 28 vs.

Laney 6 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Los Medanos 6 p.m.

Nov. 5 vs.

Alameda 6 p.m.

Nov. 7 at Yuba 6 p.m.

Nov. 12 at Napa 6 p.m.

Nov. 14 vs.

Solano 6 p.m.

Nov. 19 vs.

Mendocino 6 p.m.

Key players

Syble Maxey-Hooks keeps her teammates spirits up by providing energy on and off the court.

Hansen

After playing setter last year, Allison Nava will be able to play her true position this season, outside hitter.

Maxey-Hooks

Sophomore middle hitter Lisa Lee sets an example for her teammates with her intensity on the court.

Nava

Lee

When: Away: Friday, 6 p.m.

Home: Oct. 28, 6 p.m.

Last season, the Comets and the Laney College Eagles battled out their matches to five sets. A short roster and lack of substitutes, however, tired out the Contra Costa College team and prevented the team from earning its first win of the season and coach Azure’D Nunley’s first of her career at CCC.

conditioning and work in the weight room.

Freshman Emily Hansen, setter, said the Comets have been working in the weight room on Mondays, while Wednesday’s hour-long practices are for running and conditioning.

Hansen is one of Nunley’s new players this season, and exemplifies the new, young talent on the team outside of its four sophomores.

“Even though (the freshmen) didn’t play here, the girls have played organized or club (volleyball),” Nunley said.

In her seventh year playing volleyball — from elementary school to club — Hansen said she did not play for CCC last year because she was coaching a high school team, but was talked into playing “It’s a big with the Comets difference this year. “ ( H a n s e n ) from years is a smart setpast.” ter,” Nunley said.

“She can read the ball and read the Azure’D Nunley, head coach court.”

The coach said Hansen is one of four setters on the team, creating depth at the position, something she has never had at CCC. “It’s a position we’ve been struggling with,” Nunley said. “We’ve never had two strong setters at the same time — we’ve had at least one.”

Last year, freshman Allison Nava played the position, although it was not her “true” position, Nunley said.

“Because of (this year’s) depth, (Nava) will be able to play her true position,” Nunley said.

Now a sophomore, Nava will be playing outside hitter and providing leadership with Lee, as well as the other two returning players, outside hitter Syble Maxey-Hooks and middle hitter Christine Gillette.

Nunley said there is a learning curve that comes with playing a year at CCC, which will allow the four sophomores to help their teammates.

“For the girls returning,” she said, “they all have their strengths.”

Maxey-Hooks and Nava, Nunley said, have the ability to energize their teammates, both new and returning, on as well as off the court.

Schedule

In her seventh year playing volleyball, Emily Hansen, will provide good vision and direction as a setter.

PHOTOS BY ISAAC THOMAS AND ILLUSTRATION BY JUSTIN MORRISON / THE ADVOCATE