The Advocate 1-28

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CMYK

CMYK

WEDNESDAY l 1.28.2015 OUR 65TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

“ I’m fully focused at CCC. My first day — I loved it. I walked through the campus meeting new people. My favorite part was meeting with students.”

District Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology Mojdeh Mehdizadeh stands in front of the Applied Arts Building only one week after accepting an interim position as president of Contra Costa College.

Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, district vice chancellor of education and technology and interim college president CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Leading into an uncertain future District chancellor appoints temporary president

BY Roxana Amparo and Rodney Woodson STAFF WRITERS

accent.advocate@gmail.com

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istrict Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology Mojdeh Mehdizadeh was selected to be the interim president of Contra Costa College through July 31, or until the college can find a permanent president.

Former college president Denise Noldon was serving in her third year as president when it was announced on Jan. 7 that she was selected to take the vacant position of vice chancellor for student services and special programs at the state Chancellor’s Office.

District Chancellor Helen Benjamin, who briefly served as interim president before mak-

ing her selection, picked Mehdizadeh to fill the position based on her many years of experience working as a vice chancellor at the district.

“I knew I had to find someone immediately who could do the job,” Dr. Benjamin said. “She knows a lot about the college, and she met the requirements and has the experience.”

Mehdizadeh began her term as CCC’s interim president on Jan. 16.

“An acting president is here for a really short time while maintaining their prior duties,” Mehdizadeh said. “The chancellor intends to go out immediately and search for candidates for a permanent president. She hopes to have one SEE PRESIDENT, PAGE 3

FILE PHOTO / THE ADVOCATE

Toward the capitol

Former president Denise Noldon accepts a position at the state Chancellor’s Office in Sacramento after two and a half years of service to the college.

DWINDLING ENROLLMENT TO IMPACT FUNDING

(L to R) Middle College High School students Astrid Robles, Kyra Abrams, Jackie Ortiz, and Samuel Solis board the recently installed Gym Annex Building elevator down to the first floor on Monday.

Headcount goals miss mark, raise concern among administrators

BY Roxana Amparo NEWS EDITOR

ramaparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

Faculty and administrators who anticipated improvements from last year’s 8.4 percent enrollment decrease will be disappointed.

Last spring (2014) there were 2,471 FTES and this year, as of Monday, there are 2,264 at Contra Costa College, Director of Business Services Mariles Magalong said.

Compared to last year, there are 207 fewer FTES here.

California community colleges receive funding based on the number of FullTime Equivalent Students they serve.

CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

Gym Annex lift now operational, brings building up to federal code

SEE ENROLLMENT, PAGE 3

BY Lorenzo Morotti

provides

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

students with mobility issues access to classes,

ADULT SWIM AIRS ‘VENTURE BROS.’ MOVIE, SEASON

The completion of the Gym Annex lift has brought the building into compliance with federal law after 45 years of limited access to the second floor.

Contra Costa College Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said, “(The GA lift) was ready to go on (Jan. 12) for the start of the new semester.”

King said the project began on July 26 and was given the “green light” by a division of the state architect inspector on Jan. 8.

Construction project Manager John Leary of Critical Solutions, Inc., a project and construction management consultant firm, said the development contractor, B. Brothers, won the bid at approximately $550,000.

The new GA elevator is now functioning in the northwest corner of the building, adjacent to Comet Stadium.

Contra Costa Community College District Chief Facilities Planner Ray Pyle said the installation of the GA elevator project’s primary function is help people with mobility issues gain

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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offices

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“Whenever there was a class

held in the second floor and a student with mobility issues enrolled, the college had to move (the location of the class). It wasn’t only a scheduling problem, but a human rights issue.”

— Ray Pyle, Contra Costa Community College District chief facilities planner

access to the second floor of the building and adhere to federal law.

“Whenever there was a class held in the second floor and a student with mobility issues enrolled, the college had to move (the location of the class),” Pyle said. “It wasn’t only a scheduling problem, but a human rights issue.”

Jim Ulversoy, kinesiology instructor and swim program coordinator, has an office on the second floor of the GA Building and has experienced both sides of the issue.

SEE GA LIFT, PAGE 3

CMYK

Elevator

in brief The completion of the lift brings all existing multi-storied buildings on campus into compliance with ADA code.

Allows classes to be held on the second floor now that students with mobility issues can use the lift.

CMYK

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Quotable “We are not a nation of symbols. We are a nation of principles. In America (U.S.), we tolerate dissent and protect the dissenters.”

Russel D. Feingold U.S. senator (D-Wis.), 1998 Lorenzo Morotti editor-in-chief George Morin art director Cody McFarland Rodney Woodson associate editors Roxana Amparo news editor Jared Amdahl opinion editor Robert Clinton sports editor Jason Sykes assistant sports editor Mike Thomas scene editor Qing Huang Christian Urrutia photo editors Janae Harris Cody Casares assistant photo editors Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Benjamin Bassham Nina Cestaro Rodney Dunlap Marlene Rivas Florinda Hershey Jose Jimenez Manning Peterson Evelyn Vazquez Mark Wassberg Kadijia West-Dickens Staff photographers Jordan Khoo Staff illustrators Marci Suela Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 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 Member Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accent.advocate@ gmail.com Editorial policy Columns and editorial cartoons are the opinion of individual writers and artists and not that of The Advocate. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.

opinion

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015 Vol. 102, No. 11

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

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Editorial CONSTRUCTING EDUCATION Campus life improved through student concerns

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tudents hastily going from class to class may not realize they are witnessing the evolution of Contra Costa College, but despite ignorance are no less guilty of stressing the change.

Without students, why spend $52 million to build the Campus Center the first step in the campus modernization project?

Or why schedule weekly meetings to discuss the second phase of the project?

Which will renovate the Gym Annex/ Pool Complex.

These efforts are to provide future CCC students a better opportunity to succeed in their educational goals.

In the meantime, we have been fortunate enough to have educators and leaders at CCC from all disciplines and walks of life, community members who are aware of the concerns of the student body and have responded to their needs in a time when resources are limited.

CCC’s Dean of Student Service Office was gutted and transformed into a fully operational Welcome/Transfer Center. It’s been packed since it opened.

The newly installed Gym Annex lift provides safe and easy access to the second floor for students and community members with mobility issues, simultaneously bringing the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The addition of English courses provide a wider array of transfer options.

The overarching theme is to make the campus a more up-to-date and inviting environment with a breadth of curriculum that will attract a wider range of students from beyond its local K-12.

On the list of accommodations, a student lounge is being installed in the old CCC television station, on the bottom floor of the Applied Arts Building because the fireside room in the now demolished Student Activities Building no longer exists.

The campus looks to provide a space for Middle College High School and college students to find an escape from the hustle and bustle of college life while ongoing construction has limited hang out spots.

Even the campus club scene has experienced a resurgence of life.

The Associated Student Union is bolstering its presence and gave CCC students free gift bags and water bottles, while also donating funds to the Athletic Department to hire a third party to stream select Comet home athletic events for students, their families to view online.

For students who are concerned with the college’s carbon footprint, a new designated carpool parking lot is available to curb some of the costs associated with commuting to the college, courtesy of the Sustainability Committee.

All of these components finally coming into fruition are needs, renovations and services that make the college a better place for its students.

We, the students, get what we ask for, so let’s keep asking.

LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

N MONEY

Education costs damper experiences W

hat the hell happened, you guys?

In the last six years community college has gone from being relatively cheap to, well, relatively less cheap.

And by this I mean community college is still affordable for many, but with future tuition increases being a possibility, is there an answer to when increases should, or even will, actually stop?

After the 2008-09 academic year here at Contra Costa College, tuition saw an increase from $20 a unit to $46.

Now I understand, by relative means community college is thousands of dollars cheaper than the alternative secondary education options.

The average cost of tuition for a California resident attending a University of California is around $33,000 while living on campus.

Of course it would be possible to cut up to half of those costs through financial aid, scholarships and grants, but I digress.

The amount of savings that is involved with attending a community college is immense.

But stop a moment and look at the increase tuition undertook six years ago.

Going from $20 to $46 per unit in just six years is

College. But once again, I digress.

The state is charging the tons of not-so-rich people money to gain the skills needed to hopefully one day make more money.

It can be a brutal system to get trapped in, if you don’t motivate yourself through it. quite a rate hike.

Becoming educated is Imagine if tuition doubled every six years. It may the gaining of experience end up costing as much as and knowledge through practice and conversation going to a state university. with someone who knows And that is for somethe subject that is being thing that used to be free, taught, also known as a “Way back in the day,” as one of my professors would teacher or professor.

Community colleges in say.

I can understand charg- California are funded by ing for the learning of new the state. The state then allocates it based on how skills — it is a service. many full-time students are But it is inevitable that attending each college. the cost of education will And some people are continue to rise, while stufloating along with no real dents sit idly by. direction and wasting a Sure there are events bunch of time and money, such as the March on roughly the same thing March, but planned proas far as the state is contests like the March on cerned.

March are pretty much Education is one of the useless. most important things for The organizers plan a our country as a whole. In single day of the year to the same way it can secure protest, which gives the powers that are being pro- a bright future for a student, it can supply a bright tested ample amount of opportunity to completely future for humanity as a whole. ignore the problem.

I don’t know about you, Jared Amdahl is the opinbut most people that I have met who go to community ion editor of The Advocate.

Contact him at jamdahl. college don’t have a lot of money, except for some of theadvocate@gmail.com. the people at Diablo Valley

jaredamdahl

CampusComment What services on campus have helped you the most?

“I use the tutoring program and the math department.”

“I am currently using EOPS to get help with financial aid.”

“I am a high school student and under 18, so I don’t use them.”

Isaac Resendiz

Jamare Gibson

Jose Mendoza

biology

kinesiology

ROXANA AMPARO AND ROBERT CLINTON / THE ADVOCATE

undecided

“I go to the skills center. There are tutors that actually help you because they take the classes. So it’s not intimidating.”

“I use the tutoring services. I have taken English three times, so I decided to get a tutor to help me.”

Monica Slaton

liberal arts

biology

Tatianna Gibson

“No. This is my first semester, but I’ll probably use the tutoring center.”

Tiffany Bechard nursing

campus beat

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Newsline Q scholarships

APPLICATION HELP OFFERED, EXPLAINED A student success workshop for the Kennedy-King Scholarship application assistance will be held at the Welcome/Transfer Center from 3 to 4 p.m. on Thursday.

The event is aimed toward assisting students who are applying for scholarships by reviewing applications.

For information, contact the Welcome/Transfer Center at 510464-3135.

CrimeWatch Monday, Dec. 8: A student was bitten by an aggressive dog and requested medical attention for her injuries.

An officer responded to a noninjury traffic accident. Upon his arrival both parties had already exchanged information.

Tuesday, Dec. 9: A non-student adult was arrested and transported to jail for selling and being in possession of marijuana on school grounds.

Wednesday, Dec. 10: An officer received a report of an incident that occurred off campus involving a college employee.

Monday, Dec. 15: A student reported she was harassed on campus.

Wednesday, Dec. 17: A student reported his vehicle stolen from campus.

An officer responded to a medical incident at the Student Services Center. The student was transported to the hospital for further treatment.

Monday, Dec. 22: A vehicle was stolen from a street near the college campus.

Friday, Dec. 26: A staff member hit a gate on campus with her vehicle. Both the gate and her vehicle were damaged.

Monday, Dec. 29: A subject was stopped for a traffic violation and it was determined he had a suspended license. The subject was cited and the vehicle was towed.

Wednesday, Jan. 7: A staff member reported a burglary that occurred in the Women’s Locker Room.

Friday, Jan. 9: A non-student fell while on campus. The subject declined medical attention and left without incident.

Saturday, Jan. 10: A non-student was arrested for outstanding warrants.

Tuesday, Jan. 13: An officer responded to a medical emergency in the Applied Arts Building. The subject was then taken to the hospital.

A student reported an unknown suspect took the registration sticker from his vehicle’s license plate.

Thursday, Jan. 15: A staff member reported students causing a loud disturbance in the Library and Learning Resource Center.

— Roxana Amparo and George Morin

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

District Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology Mojdeh Mehdizadeh discusses upcoming plans for Contra Costa College with Michele Jackson, marketing and communications coordinator, in AA-203 on Monday. Mehdizadeh was selected as interim president after Dr. Denise Noldon’s departure.

PRESIDENT | Interim president ‘fully focused’ Continued from Page 1

Apart from her full schedule at the college, she is engaged in stateselected before my contract ends.” wide initiatives that allow her little Although the interim president opportunity for free time. retains her prior title and posiWith the little free time she tion, her only job until a president does have, she likes to go on long is found is to maintain the daily walks with her Italian Greyhound duties of CCC’s college president. and enjoys traveling when she can.

“I’m fully focused at CCC,” She has travelled to New York City, Mehdizadeh said. “My first day Washington, Florida, Spain and — I loved it. I walked through England. the campus meeting new people.

My favorite part was meeting with Familiar move forward students.”

California Community College She said she was excited to Chancellor Brice Harris decided in see students’ desire for increasing December that Dr. Noldon was his their knowledge and choosing to selection for the once vacant posibe present at the college. tion of vice chancellor for student Having worked in various services and special programs on educational positions at Diablo an interim basis.

Valley College, including speech The official announcement was professor, working in the Career/ made on Jan. 7 and was approved Development Center, working in by the Contra Costa Community the Assessment Center and her College District Board of experience in researching and Governors on Jan. 20. planning, Mehdizadeh has had the Harris said, “Dr. Noldon is a chance to gain a different outlook highly talented professional who for students and fellow staff and will bring a wealth of experience faculty. to the job.”

“It is an amazing institution,” The two have worked closely she said referring to CCC. “I am with one another in recent years very happy to be here.” during their time in the Los Rios Mehdizadeh said she has never Community College District, when served as a president in any capac- Harris served as the chancellor ity, acting or otherwise, though she and Noldon as the vice president has served as acting district chan- of student enrollment and develcellor in Benjamin’s absence. opment at Folsom Lake College.

While at CCC, Mehdizadeh Harris began his tenure as the said her focus has shifted toward California community college ensuring that the college has a stra- state chancellor in 2012, the same tegic plan to increase enrollment. year Noldon took office as CCC’s

10th president.

“I think this is a great opportunity to do the same work I’ve been doing my entire career,” Noldon said.

Noldon also served as dean of counseling and matriculation at Chabot College and EOPS/CARE coordinator at Las Positas College, rounding out her career experience in student services and programs.

Serving students statewide Since the announcement was made, the former president said she has been settling in to her new position and meeting new administrators and colleagues at the state Chancellor’s Office.

Noldon said although she is thankful and excited to take on a new position, she is a bit conflicted because of her attachment to CCC. Her focus, she said, has been on continuing to implement needed policies, programs and projects that have been on the college’s to-do list since before she took office, in addition to new legislation handed down to colleges by the state over recent years.

She has always been heavily involved in student services and programs in her work at the community college level. For the first time in her career in education, Noldon said, she will not be around students on a day-to-day basis.

There will be an adjustment

process, she said, but it is her success in working in the arena of student services and programs, as well as the way she connects with students.

“I’ll provide a perspective of what it’s like to work on a college campus,” she said, referring to one of the reasons she was selected for the job.

Holding multiple positions at the community college level, Noldon is familiar with all types of student services and support programs — Admissions and Records, EOPS/CARE, CalWORKS and Financial Aid, for example.

Noldon’s new position puts her at the helm of the state’s development and implementation of these programs.

She also meets with the Statewide Student Senate. “(My) job is to provide technical assistance and guidance regarding student services and programs — making sure funds are allocated properly and providing technical assistance,” she said.

Benjamin served as CCC’s interim president for a week until Mehdizadeh took office as the acting president.

Benjamin said that when she heard of Harris’ selection of Noldon in December it was the decision of the Governing Board not to renew her expired presidential contract so she could serve as a vice chancellor of the state.

ENROLLMENT | FTES decrease GA LIFT | Installed Continued from Page 1

By the numbers:

Continued from Page 1

One FTES is the equivalent of one student taking 15 units during a semester or multiple students taking an accumulative 15 semester units.

Dean of Student Services Vicki Ferguson said, “When FTES enrollment drops, funding decreases.”

Ferguson said enrollment has dropped at campuses throughout the Contra Costa Community College District.

Magalong said CCC not meeting its enrollment goals will eventually affect the college negatively.

When the college does not receive enough funding, it stretches to serve students by keeping the same courses available despite FTES shortcomings, she said.

Ferguson said the apportionment paid by the state per FTES is invested in programs and classes, materials and staff and faculty salaries, among other things.

Foresight and planning are absolutely necessary to ensure the funding is used to its utmost, she said.

Interim President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said, “My main focus is ensuring that the college has a strategic plan.”

She said there needs to be a focus on social media to better expose CCC to the public. The college will be working with Comcast to put on a commercial that will emphasize the college to the community.

Ferguson said, “It’s an opportunity to evaluate who we really are.”

Ferguson said one area CCC administrators are focusing on is student retention.

Many students begin their journey at the college but do not finish, she said.

One way of improving retention is by helping students set realistic, achievable academic goals and regularly monitoring progress, Ferguson said.

Magalong said focus will shift once the

There are 207 fewer Full Time Equivalent Students compared to last spring semester.

Enrollment districtwide has dropped compared to the 2014 spring semester figures.

Lower enrollment numbers hinder the amount of money CCC can receive in funding allocated toward new courses, services.

Ulversoy said before the GA lift was completed, it was a federal violation to have any class meet on the second floor.

He said he has not noticed students with mobility issues use the elevator, but knows it will begin to garner attention and be put into use further into the spring semester once more people sign up for physical education courses.

“We sell lap swim passes upstairs,” he said. “I have a couple senior ladies in my weekend class who can take the elevator instead of putting strain on their knees.”

The athletic department administrative secretary Shawna Belfield sells the swim tickets out of GA-90 on the second floor.

Belfield said, “The three older ladies would usually send one of them to buy the tickets, but I can’t imagine them doing that now with the new (lift).”

He also said he has another student in the same weekend swim class who also purchases swim tickets because he can no longer sign up for the class because of repeatability changes.

This student is diagnosed with multi-level scoliosis and will benefit tremendously from the new addition of an elevator.

“This facility is old. It was designed for a certain level of activity,” Ulversoy said. “But we have gone beyond that level.”

Pyle said the district decided to bring Critical Solutions, Inc. on board when the GA lift project was stuck in planning limbo for years due to a lack of funding from the state.

Critical Solutions assisted him with securing the $700,000 total construction cost from funds left over from the passing of Measure A in 2006.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) code states that a public entity may not deny the benefits of its programs, activities and services to individuals with mobility issues because its facilities are inaccessible.

California community colleges and all K-12 schools are public institutions required by federal law to meet this code.

new Campus Center is up and running in fall 2016 and will allow for more students to want to be part of the campus.

Although it is a concern, the efforts are increasing in order to change the image of CCC being the last choice of high school students, Ferguson said.

The year is mapped out with ideas on improving the college, she said.

“We are in a very good place to be innovative when change happens,” she said.

Outreach to different high schools, workshops and online orientations, among others, are part of CCC’s planning toward a better campus community, she said.

There will be groups that go out to high schools around the area to talk to students, workshops for more information and social media projects to allow for visual updates.

Community colleges are not a first choice for many students because they are encouraged to seek admission into four-year universities, but there is nothing wrong with starting at a community college, Mehdizadeh said.

Ferguson said the demographics are changing and students once residing near the area are going elsewhere.

The college does not allow for students to repeat courses more than three times after fail to complete, she said.

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Works of King show more than just a dreamer Human, civil rights activist worked to better future for all

BY Lorenzo Morotti EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

SAN FRANCISCO — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as a dreamer, but the evolution of his political activism, which moved beyond civil rights for African-Americans, has been obscured in modern society.

So said Contra Costa College history professor Manu Ampim in a presentation about Dr. King switching focus from civil rights to human rights during the final years of his life.

“The greatest political leader and educator of the 20th century has been reduced to a dreamer for civil rights when his work encompassed much more than that.”

Ampim presented evidence that King’s message of equal rights on a global scale accelerated his assassination.

While members of the church scrambled to fix the malfunctioning laptop, 30 people waited for Ampim to speak inside the Church of Scientology at 701 Montgomery Street in San Francisco on Jan. 19 at 2 p.m.

Many of those who were in the audience are enrolled at CCC. They made the trip to the city to get extra credit for Ampim’s history classes but left with a new perspective of King.

CCC student Alejandro Romero, a physics major, said, “The media does not tell the full background. As a society, we concentrate on King’s dream for civil rights but I didn’t know late in his

“

The greatest political leader and educator of the 20th century has been reduced to a dreamer for civil rights when his work encompassed much more than that.” — Manu Ampim, history professor

Presentation highlights: Ampim suggests a MLK holiday change for April.

In 1966 King transitions his argument from civil to human rights.

In 1968 King gave his most controversial speech, “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence.”

life he pushed for human rights.”

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled such as the right of life, liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law.

Ampim reached the crux of his argument when he said MLK transitioned from civil rights to advocating for human rights in 1966. He argues this change of focus marked him as a national threat by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

King’s final, and most controversial, speech was, “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence,” which was given one year before his assassination on April 4, 1968.

“King knew that when he gave this speech his days were numbered,” Ampim said. “In this speech (King) supported the people of Vietnam and their armed struggle against the United States. (King) was not a pacifist.”

He proposed changes that could be made surrounding the MLK holiday that would change the public’s perception of King.

The first change would be to move the holiday from January to April to be more associated with the anniversary of his assassination. Ampim said doing

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

this would bring more attention to his life work and why he was killed.

The Director of United for Human Rights Linda Lagemann organized and hosted the event. Besides Ampim, speakers included poet Kinara Sankofa and Bishop Theo Frazier.

Dr. Lagemann said the Church of Scientology funds UHR and did not charge admission to raise awareness of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“I knew the caliber person (Ampim) is and I knew he had relevant things to say but didn’t know how good it

was going to be,” she said. “It helped to emphasize the importance of primary sources and I realized that anything I knew about (King) were little pieces of data packaged by media to give one impression.”

When Ampim was asked if he would give presentations about misinformation surrounding King at the college, he said, “It’s possible. When McKinley Williams (former CCC president) was here I had an MLK speech on campus every year but when he retired that phased out.”

ABOVE: History professor Manu Ampim speaks about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a presentation at the Church of Scientology in San Francisco on Jan. 19.

ADVERTISEMENT

The former KCCC-TV studio is being transformed into the new recreational room for students in the Applied Arts Building.

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

CONSTRUCTION OF STUDENT REC ROOM UNDERWAY Space will offer recreation options in old, unused TV station

BY Jared Amdahl OPINION EDITOR

jamdahl.theadvocate@gmail.com

After the Student Activities Building was demolished in 2013 to make room for the new Campus Center which is currently under construction, many of the areas reserved for student activities and recreation were completely demolished along with it.

“With the old SA Building having been demolished, there isn’t too much room for hanging out or studies when the weather gets bad,” Bruce King said.

So in an attempt to give students a little more room for “hanging out” on campus, a room for recreation is being built in AA-117.

“There was concern with management about recreational areas for students who don’t have much space at the moment,” King said.

Aside from the chess tables set in front of the Applied Arts Building and Student Services Building, a tent is set up in front of the Bookstore next to Subway for students to eat and converse.

“But in the cold and the rain it isn’t the most ideal place to be,” King said.

The room being built is replacing what used to be the KCCC television studio that aired student-produced television shows on campus.

The last time the room was used was in 2009, King said.

“It’s a multi-purpose room that can be used as a recreational area or maybe even a classroom when there is more room to accommodate students,” he said.

The renovation costs of converting the room into more of an accessible room and less of a television studio are somewhere between $20,000 and $25,000 as the room is

still about three weeks away from completion, he said.

“While the room may not be the most sizable, it is still a better alternative to being caught in bad weather, at least in the time being until the Campus Center Project is completed in 2016,” he said.

As for what the room may become when the Campus Center is completed is still not yet determined.

Ericka Greene, interim Associated Students Union adviser on campus, hopes that it will continue to benefit students.

“I’d like to see the room remain as something that students can still use afterward,” Greene said. “After the SA Building was torn down, places like the Fireside Room, a place for students to meet, were taken with it,” she said.

She said that while the project is being funded by the school, the ASU would still be donating appliances like a microwave to the room for students to cook food.

King said that because of the room’s close location to many of the Middle College High School offices in the AA Building, MCHS might be able to find a good use for it afterward.

“The room is open for all students but MCHS will probably be able to put it to use when there is more room to accommodate students,” he said.

“I think it is great,” MCHS Principal Anne Shin said.

“Our students are all over the campus just like the other students,” she said. “When the weather gets bad, not having anywhere for people to go, that becomes a problem.”

The room is currently under construction, while windows are being installed.

$8000 KENNEDY-KING MEMORIAL

TRANSFER

SCHOLARSHIP

http://w w w.kennedyking.org The deadline to have COMPLETED packets to the Foundation Office (AA203) is Monday,

February 2, 2015 at 12:00 Noon.

Applicants must make an appointment to turn in their completed forms.

Email scholarships@contracosta.edu to schedule your time.

Please call 215-3805 for more information.

campus beat

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CHEFS EXPLORE COMFORT FOOD Students

BY Mike Thomas

embrace

mthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

Southern taste in cook-off

SCENE EDITOR

Eight culinary teams competed in a southern cuisine Iron Chef cook-off at the Three Seasons Restaurant on Thursday to kick off the beginning of the spring semester.

Students competed for first, second and third place prizes of cookbooks, gift certificates and various cooking materials. “We do the Iron Chef competition to get the students motivated and it gets them in the groove for the semester,� culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes said. “This also helps them learn how to work as a team.�

For an admission fee of $5, attendees got to taste eight different dishes from each culinary team, and had the luxury of voting for their favorite dish by putting a ticket in a mason jar corresponding to the team.

The Iron Chef competition made approximately $500, and all of that money goes to the culinary arts department, Sharkes said.

Students worked in teams of four to make a southern-theme dish for the competition. Some of the dishes were fried chicken fingers with potato-hash cakes, cod-fish cakes, black-eyed pea soup and lamb stew.

Culinary students freely chose teams and had to come up with a dish in one day. Students had limited resources to use in preparation of their meals. “When we were going through the walk-in, the lamb caught our eye, so it inspired us to make a stew,� culinary arts student Katherine Doyos said. “We wanted to do something completely different than the other chefs competing.�

On the team display for Three Gals and a Guy, black-eyed pea soup and cornbread waffles stood out from the rest of the competition. The team was led by culinary arts student Eugene Reed who came up with the idea of using black-eyed peas, but gave the rest of his teammates credit for putting the whole dish together. “The hardest part was bringing the whole dish together using black-eyed

LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

Culinary arts student Jose Rosales serves some chicken to a customer at the semi-annual Iron Chef cook-off in the Three Seasons Restaurant on Thursday. Students used the competition as a warm-up for the semester.

„ “It gives us confidence

— I’m challenging to push myself more with my cooking. At the end they are my friends, and we all wanted to win it.� — Eugene Reed, culinary arts student

peas,� Reed said. He was prepping food for the new menu for the Three Seasons Restaurant opening. “When you believe in something you have to stick with it and do some research on it.�

Second place in the competition went to culinary arts student Lashawn Pearl’s team. They prepared fish cakes with a Southern style sauce and a side of papaya salad. A dish so simple was not on the agenda, but the main purpose was for the dish to have “soul.� Before expanding on the idea with a saucy kick, they came up with fried cod fish cakes.

Southern cooking is all about “soul� and it brings about feelings of happiness and memories that take you to a place that you just can’t explain, Pearl said. “This encourages us to use in-house ingredients and ingredients we never

used before,� culinary arts student Vera Hayes said. “We used what we had, since we didn’t have crab we used cod fish instead.�

The winning team, Three Gals and a Guy, is using this win as motivation for the semester. They remained humble throughout the winning ceremony in front of the other competitors who were also going for the win in the cook-off. “It gives us confidence — I’m challenging to push myself more with my cooking,� Reed said. “At the end, they are my friends, and we all wanted to win it.�

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CLUBS AIM FOR ACTIVE SPRING SEMESTER, BUILDING RELATIONS Students reach for new „ “In actuality, we want the territories through club students to come together, do the paperwork and start clubs.� involvement, presence — Ericka Greene, interim Associated Students

Union adviser

BY Roxana Amparo NEWS EDITOR

ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

The semester calls for new opportunities for clubs, event planning and student participation throughout the campus.

Last semester only 14 clubs were active on campus, and although there was encouragement from the Inter Club Council (ICC), the number barely increased.

Among the 14 clubs active last semester were La Raza Club, Black Student Union, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Disabilities Club, Muslim Student Association, Puente Club, EOPS, and more. “In actuality, we want the students to come together, do the paperwork and start clubs,� interim Associated Students Union adviser Ericka Greene said.

Students who are interested in beginning their own club can pick up an application in AA-109, said ICC President Safi WardDavis. “I want to get clubs out there more often to get students active,� she said.

Club members can request chairs and tables to set up their events on campus, Ward-Davis said.

Last semester three clubs were reactivated and two joined the campus.

The return of the BSU Club and the MSA added diversity to the campus.

SHPE Club and the Contra Costa College Republicans Club were two new clubs that brought on a different scope.

BSU President DeAndre Russell said they are having an event and have many plans for African Heritage Month.

Other clubs, such as the Puente Club and SHPE, are planning on fundraising to visit colleges around the state.

SHPE president Valeria Avila said she is looking forward to a San Jose State tour for SHPE Club.

Alpha Gamma Sigma president Brenda Vega said they have plans to visit a state conference in Los Angeles, so they will be fundraising through car washes, fundraisers at restaurants, and other things to allocate

enough funds for their trips.

Ward-Davis said anyone can start their own club and encourages students to attend the ICC meetings to be informed.

The first ICC meeting will be on Feb. 3 in HS-101. It is open for all students who are interested in joining a club or starting their own, she said.

Ward-Davis would like to see efforts to begin a LGBT Club on campus.

This semester holds different activities such as Club Rush, which allows students to learn about the different clubs on campus, Wellness Awareness Day, and other activities to allow for more student participation.

La Raza Club Vice President Alejandro Gonzalez said their club plans to participate in the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Also, they plan on hosting a karaoke night open for anyone who is interested.

Ward-Davis said she would like to see improvement to the college website this semester, since the clubs will require accurate updates of the current clubs that are “actually� active on campus.

Interested in joining, or starting a campus club?

Students interested in beginning a new club can pick up applications in AA-109. „

For club information, students can attend the first ICC meeting on Feb. 3 in HS-101. „

Students can also attend club meetings for further information regarding particular club events and campus activities. „

The La Raza Club meets every Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. in LA26. „

6

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 1.28.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

“

It’s never about how good of an athlete you are. Some of the best athletes are not good people and some of the worst athletes are the best people. It’s about the person you become. You are setting an example. It’s about more than just taping ankles.” — Mikel Jackson, athletic trainer

FEMALE ATHLETES DWINDLE IN NUMBER

BY Lorenzo Morotti EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

The athletic department will hold another open meeting to gauge student interest in adding another women’s athletic program on March 19 at 1 p.m. in GA-40.

Athletic Director John Wade said he set up this second meeting because the first one, held in early December, only attracted one Contra Costa College student.

Jim Ulversoy, kinesiology instructor and swim program coordinator, said, “We need to get out there and post more flyers and try to develop contacts. Each individual program needs to get out there and do its part.”

Students who attend the meeting will be able to advocate either for badminton, cross-country, track, diving/swimming or water polo.

Currently CCC has four women’s, as well as four men’s, sports programs.

“This is only an interest survey,” Wade said, “I cannot guarantee that (CCC is) adding a new women’s sports team. We are just finding out if the interest is there.”

He said talks of adding a women’s sports team at CCC began because coaches at sister college Diablo Valley College filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

OCR strives to ensure equal access to education by serving student populations facing discrimination and the advocates and institutions promoting systemic solutions to civil rights problems.

CCC Interim President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said a complaint was filed about four years ago when DVC attempted to eliminate six sports programs, three male teams and three female teams.

Mehdizadeh said while they did not eliminate any individual sports program, it did place the Contra Costa Community College District on notice by OCR because of Title IX. Title IX, passed in 1972, requires gender equity for males and females in educational programs that receive educational funding.

“There are specific guidelines colleges must follow to ensure the institution provides equitable access to sports,” Mehdizadeh said. “This is based on the actual number of male and female student-athletes, not on the number of teams.”

She said because CCC, DVC and Los Medanos College each have a football program that can roster more than 100 players, it is easy for the count of total male athletes to dwarf the total number of female athletes at each school.

“We have to identify the underserved population of students in terms of athletics,” she said. “And in the case of all three schools it’s the females.”

Taheera Brewer, Comet soccer player and English major, said she was unaware the college may add another women’s program or that a meeting was held to discuss specifics.

Brewer said she would like to see a track team at CCC, however, is discouraged because of a male dominated society.

“It’s hard for women who want to become professional athletes,” Brewer said. “I want to become a professional soccer player, but it’s harder to get noticed by scouts when you’re a woman.”

Davone Sripukdee, former volleyball player and business management major, said she saw a flyer on campus but it did not interest her enough to attend.

Sripukdee said she would not join one of the proposed teams until CCC can adequately recruit for women’s sports programs. “(CCC) needs to focus on building the (women’s teams) it has first and then focus on adding more,” she said. Mehdizadeh said the district must now evaluate each of its colleges and provide OCR with a report stating how it is in compliance with Title IX. “The results will be shared with the athletic director to process and determine if we need to add another sport.”

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Trainer enjoys new home, makes smooth transition Like many athletic trainers, Jackson focuses on helping others

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

It is not often that an institution quickly finds a replacement to fill the shoes of someone regarded as an essential part of departmental success.

When former athletic trainer Brian Powelson left the CCC athletic department earlier this month, his only hope was that someone would come in and do as good of a job, or better, than he did — and just do right by the students.

After an exhaustive search over a short list of candidates put forth by Athletic Director John Wade, Mikal Jackson has been hired as the new athletic trainer for the Comets.

“The list of qualified prospects was short,” Wade said. “We needed someone with knowledge of the local doctors and services and Jackson’s work history fit the criteria.”

Experienced and qualified, Jackson is in his element when around athletes of all sports. Since his initial start date of Jan. 2, Jackson has smoothly transitioned into his position as trainer. From sprained ankles to pitcher’s elbow, the trainer has implemented rehab regimens using various types of physical therapy equipment, thereby adding his personal touch to the training experience.

Jackson, a Bay Area native, attended Amador Valley High School. He went on to graduate from San Jose State with a degree in kinesiology and athletic training.

An athlete in high school, the young student chose a career path in business and soon realized he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life locked inside of a cubicle.

It was under suggestion of a counselor that Jackson chose to pursue a career in a field that he loved — sports. The trainer

has compiled an extensive resumé, building on his experience from each step he has climbed up the ladder.

From interning for the Stanford University Cardinal after college, to teaching sports medicine at California High School in San Ramon, Jackson made stops along the way as athletic trainer at Children’s Hospital and at Salesian High School in Richmond.

“He was an integral part of our staff for five years. He was great with the coaches and kids. Jackson knew his craft and applied it effectively,” Salesian High School Athletic Director Chad Nightingale said. “Watching him move on to another opportunity (that I referred him to) was like cutting off my nose to spite my face.”

Jackson’s healing hands have reached extensively across the Bay Area. The trainer recognizes players throughout the Bay Valley Conference, he even already knew some of the Comet players by name.

“He came with good credentials. He has a good demeanor and he knows our student population,” Wade said.

Like Powelson before him, Jackson’s focus is toward the betterment of the students.

“It’s never about how good of an athlete you are, some of the best athletes are not good people and some of the worst athletes are the best people, it’s about the person you become. You are setting an example. It’s about more than just taping ankles.”

Jackson, like most in the healing profession, sets his focus on helping others.

“To be successful in this field you have to care,” Jackson said. “It’s not a 9 to 5 job.

You have to be there for the athletes and try to be a part of their success on and off of the field. It’s the same as teaching. You try to pass to this generation all of the things you learned along the way.”

ABOVE: Athletic trainer Mikal Jackson (left) uses ultra sound treatment on communications major and Comet basketball player Dawson Johnson to heat a tender joint through the skin in the Athletic Training Room on Monday.

TEAM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CHANCE AT FRESH START Rebuilding program offers shot at redemption

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

The softball team had a rough 2014 season. However, the revolving door that is community college athletics seems to be working in the Comets’ favor, as a new crop of athletes looks to erase the bad taste that was left in the collective mouths of those involved with CCC softball last year.

Coach Karolyn Gubbine has another chance to re-institute the mission statement that defines her coaching philosophy, which is to passionately dedicate herself to her athletes by teaching them skill knowledge and love for the game.

The coach has already made an impression on her young squad.

“I didn’t hear anything positive or negative about the team before I came here,” CCC freshman pitcher Melissa Watkins said. “Win or lose I’ll always play my heart out. That’s all anyone can offer — hopefully we win more than we lose.”

The previous squad couldn’t get out of its own way. They lost focus and never learned to get over the losing hump.

Gubbine took time to do some extra recruiting ahead of this upcoming season.

“There is still somewhat of a stigma surrounding our program so you have to balance practice time and recruiting,” Gubbine said. “I’ve been to schools all throughout the area — there is a lot of un-tapped talent out there.”

The coach will not use the previous season’s highs or lows to measure this team’s level of success. She understands that contrasting attitudes and a lack of team cohesion was a factor in last year’s results.

Gubbine has taken steps to get the squad to gel early on.

There are no cliques in her practices.

All of the players participate in equipment set up and communicate with each other throughout the sessions.

“When it’s time to focus we tone

“When it’s time to focus

we tone it down, but bonding and laughing together is something that’s going to help in the long run.”

— Karolyn Gubbine, Comet softball coach

it down, but bonding and laughing together is something that’s going to help in the long run.” Gubbine said.

“We work together as a team in practice. She (coach Gubbine) doesn’t compare us to other teams. She motivates us, she also makes sure we all spend time together away from the field,” Comet first baseman Alexus Dailey said.

The high turnover rate does not mean the rebuilding CCC squad is in any way in the clear, however, with new faces comes a level of inexperience that offers challenges of a different kind.

Like any coach with an extremely young team, realistic expectations are

one of the keys to not overwhelming a unit too soon.

“I’m just looking to keep a positive outlook,” Gubbine said. “With only one returning player, there are a lot of new faces — I’m just looking to let everyone know we can compete.”

Whether wanted or not, the numbers put up by the 2015 softball team will inevitably be compared to the previous squad.

Owning a record of 5-21-1 overall 416 in the Bay Valley Conference, which was sufficient for fifth place, the team will not have a long way to go to prove more successful than last year.

With the final roster still pliable, the coach is still trying out players in hopes of garnering a larger pool of players from which to draw.

The Comets will take the field Feb. 5 at noon at home against Chabot College. The team will bring a new look, renewed intensity, and optimism ahead of the impending season.

sports

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 1.28.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

7

Squad loses after four straight wins Turnovers, mental breaks key factor in defeat

T-BIRDS

82 69 COMETS

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

OAKLAND — The women’s basketball team (9-10 overall, and 6-3 in the Bay Valley Conference) entered the teeth of its conference schedule as teams jockey for their playoff lives, facing Merritt College (12-9 overall, and 7-2 in the BVC) and coming away with a 82-69 loss Saturday in Oakland.

With three teams gridlocked at 6-2 coming into Saturday, this game had a heightened sense of importance for both teams. Solano and Laney both won their games and sit atop the BVC standings at 7-2.

After losing the first in its last five games, CCC plays against the College of Marin in the Gymnasium at 7:30 tonight.

These teams are no strangers to each other, having met in the Comet BVC opener in San Pablo on Jan. 3. In that contest CCC downed the Thunderbirds 88-77.

Jacqie Moody was impressive as usual tallying 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. Yet, it was the backcourt of Ahjahna Coleman 11 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and Lenzie Chao 15 points, two rebounds, and three assists that sparked a scoring surge that brought this game from the verge of a blowout to a contest CCC was capable of winning.

“They handled our pressure better than before and we gave up a lot of good looks,” CCC coach Paul DeBolt said.

Merritt controlled the paint and the tempo of the game early, jumping out in front and taking a 36-24 lead at halftime.

Although 12 points is not an insurmountable obstacle for the Comets to overcome, the squad couldn’t find a comfortable offensive rhythm early, which left the team settling for 3-pointers and long jump shots.

Finishing with nine points, TBird guard Gabby Gaines found her way into the paint often. With two true centers on the roster Merritt was able to get second chance opportunities, using its space eaters to gain crucial rebounding position against CCC. In the second half, the Comets came out with a renewed vigor that was noticeably absent from Saturday’s contest.

The zone rotations and ability to recover after ball rotation was

“It has been some-

thing we have been addressing all year. It’s nothing they’re doing physically wrong, it’s all mental - it’s power of the mind.”

— Paul DeBolt, women’s basketball coach

less than stellar for CCC, allowing the T-Birds to come away with a lot of open shots.

Coleman continued her assault on would-be defenders, yet the contact she incurs went un-noticed by the refs. The guard finished 4 for 6 from the free throw line, a stat that should have easily measured 10 attempts.

“There is a lot of double teaming going on so I get used to the contact,” Coleman said. “If the refs aren’t going to call fouls I can still penetrate and kick it out to an open shooter.”

The final 12-point margin of Victory for Merritt may be indicative of the bout, but in no way reflects the efforts the Comets displayed in attempts of stealing this game away in its final minutes.

Chao continued her inspired play earning three steals in the previous match against Napa College.

Two of them were momentumchanging plays when Napa seemed poised to go on a run.

Against Merritt, the diminutive Chao again made her presence known igniting the Comet comeback push, nailing five timely second half 3-pointers in the process.

“I didn’t force any of the shots. I was patient and let the ball come to me out of the double teams,” Chao said. “Hopefully I can build on this and it will carry throughout the rest of the season.”

Finishing with 19 turnovers and 18 assists in the game, it is clear to see why the CCC offensive output was so herky-jerky. For every Comet possession that saw a good pass lead to points, just as many opportunities led to turnovers or bad shots.

“It has been something we have been addressing all year,” DeBolt said. “It’s nothing they’re doing physically wrong, it’s all mental — it’s power of the mind.”

After cutting the lead to six with nearly two minutes remaining, the T-Birds hit two 3-pointers late to seal the win.

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Comet guard Ahjahna Coleman (center) jumps for a lay-up during CCC’s 82-69 loss to the T-Birds at Merritt College in Oakland on Saturday.

CCC falls in BVC game against T-Birds Despite comeback efforts Merritt College seals late victory

“We were trying to force

things and make hero plays to win the game. It just didn’t go in our favor.”

— Phillip Secrease, Comet forward

BY Jason Sykes ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

jsykes.theadvocate@gmail.com

OAKLAND — The men’s basketball team traveled into hostile territory hoping to earn its seventh conference win of the season.

But Merritt College (17-4 overall, and 7-2 in BVC) had other plans, playing inspired basketball and earning an 91-81 victory at home on Saturday.

The Comets (9-10 overall, and 6-3 in BVC) were forced to play from behind just about the entire game. The T-Birds made every offensive possession for CCC a tough one.

Midway through the first half, the Comets cut the T-BIRDS Merritt lead down to three points. Coming out of the break CCC had momentum that it hoped to build on through the remainder COMETS of the contest.

The team will need to find that momentum if they are going to beat the College of Marin tonight in the Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m.

The squad struck quick but for each run the Comets put together the T-Birds had an answer for it.

“We didn’t come out and play with the same defensive intensity as we did in the first half,” CCC guard Pekelo McKenzie said.

The Comets were forced to play from behind all game. They exerted so much energy to keep the contest close that they were unable to get over the hump.

Preventing turnovers became a constant uphill battle for the team. Merritt pounced on the Comets and began to get transition baskets off of CCC’s mistakes. The T-Bird defense suffocated the Comet wing players,

91 81

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Comet forward Lowell Hall (right) attempts a shot during CCC’s 91-81 loss to the T-Birds at Merritt College in Oakland on Saturday. The Comets were unable to earn their seventh conference win of the season.

forcing them into tough shots all game.

“Merritt was a team on a mission,” coach Miguel Johnson said. “They pushed the ball up the court every chance they got. Their offense was fast and fluid. They just beat us at everything.”

The Merritt guards forced the issue, causing the CCC post players to get into early foul trouble and throwing off the rhythm of the Comet defensive rotations.

At the half the Thunderbirds led 47-34.

The sloppy play continued after the break and would begin to spill onto the defensive side of the court as well. The Comets struggled to halt the T-Bird attack, allowing some easy lay-ups and crucial second chance points.

“We were trying to force things and make hero plays to win the game. It just didn’t go in our favor,” CCC forward Phillip Secrease said.

CCC failed to execute its game plan and it was reflected on the score sheet. The team committed 21 turnovers in the contest.

The squad seemed to have been playing out of its element and resorted to run-andgun basketball. They were never able to convert consistently from half court offensive sets.

The Comets had a hard time making runs because their shots were not falling, a number of which were good shots taken in rhythm. They just could not put the ball in the basket in the second half.

Although the Comets struggled offensively, guard Tajai Johnson led the way with 24 points and four rebounds, while guard Dawson Johnson pitched in with 15 points and five assists.

Forward Justin Johnson finished with 12 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

8

scene

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 1.28.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

“

(The gallery) shows what types of artistic opportunities are on campus. It’s a way to bring new talent to the department.” — Elmarise Owens Owens, artist

Unleashed

MOVIES

This week: “Project Almanac” (PG-13) “The Loft” (R) “Black or White” (PG-13) “Timbuktu” (NR) “Alien Outpost” (NR)

BLU-RAYS

Display offers students opportunities to shine

New releases: “The Judge” (R) “Fury” (R) “The Book of Life” (PG) “Before I Go to Sleep” (R) “Art and Craft” (NR)

MUSIC

Gallery provides first step into a life of artistry

New releases: Doomtree: “All Hands” Funeral For A Friend: “Chapter and Verse” Charlie Wilson: “Forever Charlie” Bettye LaVette: “Worthy” Gov’t Mule: “Sco-Mule”

GAMES

BY Cody McFarland ASSOCIATE EDITOR

cmcfarland.theadvocate@gmail.com

An all-student art exhibit is on display in the Eddie Rhodes Gallery now through Feb. 26.

Featuring the works of seven students, the exhibit, titled “New Art for a New Year,” showcases the variety of drawing and painting styles taught in Contra Costa College’s art department while simultaneously showing the creative perspectives of seven individuals: Jim Bloom, Sydney Buice, Maria De Lourdes Callardo, Elmarise Owens, Vanessa Nunez, Norma Trillia and John Warhus.

A reception was held for the student artists on Jan. 20 and garnered a pleasant, albeit small, turnout of friends, family and college employees. Though slim attendance at artist receptions has been somewhat common at CCC, art students and professors remain optimistic to share what the department has to offer.

“Giving students the chance to hang their work in the gallery shows what people here (in the art department) are doing,” Bloom said. “We’re not professionals. If any student comes in here and really works at it, they can do it too. You don’t have to be a pro.”

Owens agrees. “(The gallery) shows what types of artistic opportunities are on campus. It’s a way to bring new talent to the department,” she said.

Owens played a large role in getting “New

CREATIVE SHOW NEVER CEASES TO ENTERTAIN OPINION EDITOR

jamdahl.theadvocate@gmail.com

“Borderlands: The PreSequel” (M) “Blek” (E) “Grim Fandango Remastered” (NR) Editor’s note: This column lists popular new (and upcoming) releases for the week.

— Mike Thomas

the gallery, her inspiration came from the many unique dog breeds she encounters as an owner of six and a regular at Point Isabel Dog Park in Richmond.

Owens said she is very appreciative of the creative opportunity provided by this gallery and encourages students to peruse the works on display.

The Rhodes Gallery is located in the Art Building and is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Callardo said she would have liked to see more students at the reception. Just by attending a reception, students from outside the department get a chance to appreciate artwork, talk with artists, get a feel for the department and consider learning a new art form, she said.

Owens said, “We could have had a few more people come out, but it was a nice turnout. The new college president came by and so did the department dean — that was really exciting.”

Davis said, “This gallery came hot on the heels of winter break, so it was difficult getting the word out in time.”

Students and contributing artists should feel safe to display their works in the Rhodes Gallery as the gallery and its contents are insured, Davis said.

“If something is damaged or stolen, we are covered. It sounds scary, but we haven’t had any problems yet,” he said. “That’s why it’s insurance — it’s there just in case.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTIAN URRUTIA AND JANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE

BY Jared Amdahl

New releases: “Dying Light” (M)

Art for a New Year” set up, acting as liaison between the student artists and the acting gallery curator, adjunct fine art professor Dana Davis.

Davis, who personally hung every piece in the gallery, shares in the pride felt by the featured artists who all believe the exhibit bears a strong sense of balance and composition. Despite differences in style and medium among the pieces, the exhibit does well as a whole without allowing any individual piece to be detracted.

“If everyone comes out looking the same, if you ask me, you’ve got a problem. And I have to say no one looks the same,” Davis said.

“Every artist has an individuality to their work and I’m really happy to see that.”

Callardo emphasized similar notions.

“You bring the knowledge that you have and everyday you look for a new challenge,” she said. “You can do the same thing over and over again, but you end up with copies.

We don’t want copies — we’re painters, not producers.”

Callardo has five pieces hanging in the gallery, all of which are acrylic on canvas, but are strikingly different between subjects. Each of the pieces has a different inspiration, reflecting situational motivations and challenges that change from day to day, she said.

Owens works primarily in graphite on paper, but also paints with acrylics and pastels.

She said for most of the pieces she has in

S

eldom does a show like “The Venture Bros.” come along.

The animated series aired on “Adult Swim” in 2003 and is returning for its sixth season later this year. Exactly when is still to be announced.

For those of you who do not know the series, I shall lend a few paragraphs of insight.

“The Venture Bros.” is a cartoon-animated parody of every childhood cartoon character and super-hero or super-villain combination you have ever been exposed to, along with other popular cultural references as well.

Most closely comparable to “Johnny Quest,” the classic 1964 animated children’s adventure show, “The Venture Bros.” follows brothers Hank and Dean Venture, their bodyguard and their ne’erdo-well super-scientist father.

To introduce the sixth season’s release, the producers of the show debuted an hour-long special that

aired on Jan. 19, which is not only as good as it needed to be, but it also intrigues you on such a level that you are sure to watch the new-season debut later this year.

This episode is easily one of the best to have been released for the show.

Titled “All This and Gargantua2” the episode plays off of a “Star Wars” theme that packs so many events into 60 minutes that it has to watched multiple times before it can all be understood.

The producers tie up loose ends in the cast, as some characters are killed off, while others are introduced into new roles for their personalities.

And who could ask for much more?

Your favorite show stops airing, and a couple of years later it comes back even bigger and better than it was before.

“The Venture Bros.” is great because it’s a show that is completely continuous. Each episode is determined by the events that took place in previous episodes.

It is a nerd’s biggest dream and

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

“The Venture Bros.” 12th season will soon air on Adult Swim. It is one of the most anticipated shows for the network this year.

best friend, The entire show is a giant reference unto itself.

The long periods between the release of each season has not only increased the show’s longevity, but its popularity as well.

This will be the show’s sixth season in the last 12 years, and it is also one of the most anticipated shows of the year for Adult Swim.

While it is a cartoon show, and at many times the plot lines are ridiculous, each character still has qualities that you can relate to.

One of the lead producers of the show, Doc Hammer, explains the idea that the show is about how everybody is flawed. And

while it can get in the way sometimes, being terrible at stuff is also a wonderful phenomenon to behold.

As Hammer said, “It’s about the beauty of failure. It’s about that failure happens to all of us — every character is not only flawed, but sucks at what they do, and is beautiful at it and Jackson and I suck at what we do, and we try to be beautiful at it, and failure is how you get by.

“It shows that failure’s funny, and it’s beautiful and it’s life, and it’s OK, and it’s all we can write because we are big — failures.”