The Advocate 11-13

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

CMYK

Ampim speaks

Urban legend laid to rest, debunked

sports X page 8

Football Comets battle for bowl berth

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campus beat X page 6

campus beat X page 6

Eucalyptus trees axed

Faculty voices opinion about loss of trees

VOL. 101, NO. 10

SINCE 1950 8 PAGES, ONE COPY FREE

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 2013 ACCENTADVOCATE.COM

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

Activity fee helps student interests

PROVIDING HEALTH CARE

$74,664 still available for events, departments

By Cody McFarland ASSOCIATE EDITOR

cmcfarland.theadvocate@gmail.com

ILLUSTRATION BY LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

CALIFORNIA COVERING

T edit orial

Is it truly affordable?

The new insurance law is too costly for some.

page 2

he Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 31, 2010. Congress delayed the implementation of the United States’ new universal health care system. But on Oct. 1 of this year, the Affordable Care Act’s new health coverage system began to go into effect. The new health care insurance marketplace is supposed to make health care simpler to apply for, reduce the cost of medical coverage in America and expand coverage to the millions of Americans who were previously uninsured.

The act has had its fair share of critics, and the full effect of the system is still unknown. But for better or worse, America now has universal health care.

pages X 4-5

Options

The Affordable Care Act introduces new health care options for people.

Californians’ options are detailed inside.

With little more than a month left in the fall semester, the Associated Students Union continues to discuss and decide how to allocate the funding generated by the student activity fee.

The $5 student activity fee collected from each Contra Costa College student every semester was implemented in spring 2012 to assist the funding of on-campus “I think we events, clubs and programs have made that benefit students.

According to a spreadeffective sheet provided by ASU use of the President Ysrael Condori, the total revenue and avail- activity fee able funds collected through so far. No the fee is approximately $126,904. Of the total rev- student has enue and available funds, $90,904 were roll-over approached funds from the 2012-13 anyone in school year and the other approximate $36,000 comes the ASU from the fees collected this with a semester.

The document details complaint the expenses for events and of a misother purposes. The ASU’s total expenditues to date are use of the $52,240. Based on these figfee. But, ures, the amount that remains at the ASU’s disposal is of course, approximately $74,664.

“I think we have made we always effective use of the activity want to fee so far,” Condori said. improve.”

“No student has approached anyone in the ASU with a complaint of a misuse of Ysrael Condori, the fee. But, of course, we Associated Student Union president always want to improve.”

Students can waive the fee at the beginning of each semester, but must do so within the first two weeks of class. Waiver Q SEE FEE: Page 3

Prop 39 creates funds for sustainability generated by using the “single sales” method will be funneled EDITORIAL CARTOONIST into the newly created Clean lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com Energy Job Creation Fund that Proposition 39 is an ini- a nine-member board will overtiative passed by Californian see until 2018, after which time voters last summer that will the state will place the money in allocate funds for sustainable a general fund. energy projects on college camThe funds will be used for puses and public schools for the sustainability retrofits, alternanext five years. tive energy projects, financial Multiand technistate busical assis“It’s still processing nesses, tance for those oper- but it lost the ability to the projects, ating across job training state lines report the information. and develor in foropment I’ll get it working.” eign counprograms tries will be in public James Eyestone, forced to use schools, coltechnology systems manager the “single leges, unisales factor method” when fil- versities and other public faciliing their tax liability. ties.

This method only takes into A minimum cap of $1 milaccount the amount of sales in lion has been put in place to the state, unlike the “three-fac- ensure that smaller school distor method” which combines tricts are not excluded. sales, property and number of The Contra Costa employees.

Community College District Half of the new tax revenue Q SEE PROP 39: Page 3

By Lorenzo Morotti

Energy usage — This sustainability control monitor, or smart meter, keeps track of the energy usage of the entire Applied Arts Building.

The Biology Building is the only other building on campus to have one of these monitors.

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

CMYK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

Funding plans to support green ideas, energy efficient material

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2 THE ADVOCATE Quotable “A free press will sometimes make uncomfortable reading for any politician.

But any passing embarrassment or justified indignation must never blind us to its vital role in both the health and protection of democracy.”

Tony Blair British prime minister 2001 George Morin editor-in-chief Cody McFarland associate editor Brian Boyle news editor Jared Amdahl opinion editor Mike Thomas sports editor Veronica Santos Heather Wallin scene editors Qing Huang Christian Urrutia photo editors Janae Harris assistant photo editor Lorenzo Morotti editorial cartoonist Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Jeff Baker Jose Jimenez Ryan Margason Jamah Butler Evelyn Vazquez Stephen Son Marci Suela Anna Madoshi Staff photographers Camelia Dillard Staff illustrators Joel Ode 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 JACC Pacesetter Award 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Member Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.235.7800 ext. 4315 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: 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.

OPINION

l WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 2013

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 2013 VOL. 101, NO. 10 L

Editorial

Coverage too costly Health care reform denies consumer choice

T

he Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act began to take effect on Oct. 1, the day the open exchange health insurance marketplaces were opened across the country.

Universal health coverage is something America needs. Yet the ACA has enacted universal health coverage in one of the worst ways possible.

The act forces Americans to have more coverage than they may want or need. It also ensures that insurance agencies will see no lack of funding, because if you do not qualify for government assistance (Medicare) or your job does not offer health care you must buy health insurance from a private institution or you will be forced to pay a fine.

People across the country are going to see their wallets shrink because of this act and they have very little say about it.

The idea behind mandating coverage requirements was a good one. President Barack Obama said people would be able to keep their health insurance plans, but for almost half of Americans with private health insurance plans, as of 2014 this is simply not true.

The Obama administration has heralded the ACA as “the largest tax cut in middle class history,” but it is a very large transfer of money, not into the hands of the American consumer, but into the coffers of insurance agencies.

A public option, an insurance plan offered by the government available to all citizens, would have been a far superior option. The government is not a for-profit entity. A public health insurance plan offered by the government would have to be provided at the lowest cost, because anything higher would be met with outrage.

The ACA is a first step toward true universal health care, but another multidecade wait for affordable health insurance with reasonable coverage would be unacceptable. If Americans are going to be forced to pay for health insurance then they deserve to be provided with the absolute best coverage possible at the lowest possible cost to them.

There are a lot of very positive provisions within the ACA. Allowing parents to cover their children until they turn 26 and providing health coverage for undocumented people are all positive aspects of the act.

If the government is going to force people to pay for coverage they may not need or want, and penalize them if they refuse to get coverage, then it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that no one is paying even a single cent more than they should. Quality care at an affordable rate is something that should be considered a human right.

As it stands, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a very sad first step toward that goal.

LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

N Music

Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ continues to fascinate

N

irvana’s sophomore album “Nevermind” was the last major-selling alternative rock album to not only shape the voice of a generation, but carve a path for an entire genre of music in the American mainstream.

The year was 1991. A small-time grunge band from Washington recorded its second album with little intention of doing anything more than making thoughtprovoking music that stood out against “the norm.”

A then 25-year-old Kurt Cobain, along with bandmates Kris Novoselic and Dave Grohl, released the album in September of 1991.

Within three months, “Nevermind” was selling more than 400,000 copies a week.

Since then, the album has been certified by the Recording Industry Association of America as a Diamond Record, having sold more than 10 million copies in the U.S. and 30 million copies worldwide.

With a total of eight songs from “Nevermind” in continuous play on radio stations throughout the country to this day, alternative rock may not have been as accepted in culture as it is today if it were not for this album.

Before the album’s release, alternative rock had a small place in mainstream society — primarily college radio.

But with MTV capitalizing on Nirvana’s success and playing “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the lead single from “Nevermind,” multiple times every day, Nirvana was

constantly trying to capitalize on their success, the band members began to crack under the immense pressure.

The band’s very undoing was the man who created the band in the first place — Cobain.

After three years of heroin slowly taking over. addiction, other hardcore The group continues to inspire and create today with drugs, touring, partying and general goofing off, the presas little effort as ever. sure of being the voice of a This year marks an intergeneration led Kurt esting date for the Cobain to comgrunge trio, as this is mit suicide in the the first year Nirvana Nirvana middle of 1994. has been nominated After selling milfor the Rock and Roll was not lions of records, Hall Of Fame. becoming rich and Now it is true that only a famous and acting Cobain and his two as a representative bandmates probably would not have cared commercial for millions of people, Cobain ended too much for their success, his life in an instant nomination to the with a shotgun hall back in the early wound to the head.

1990s. but had Nirvana — a But for a band to band that seemed to be famous for merely been change the face of four years, come out music effortlessly, with three albums and hold enough influence labeled the a band that was so highly sought after to be nominated for by record com“rock ’n’ roll’s great- voice of a panies and listenest honor” is truly amazing. generation. ers alike, a band whose influence has Three angst-filled extended through generations dudes from Washington and is still relevant today had literally blown a mas— had ended in just three sive hole right through the American music scene with- years.

One has to think: if out even trying.

Cobain had not been the Nirvana was not only a commercial success, but had volatile time bomb he turned out to be, would it all have been labeled the voice of a ever worked any other way? generation.

That much power and Jared Amdahl is the opininfluence will always attract ion editor of The Advocate. the sort of people who want Contact him at jamdahl. to harness and control that power — record companies. theadvocate@gmail.com.

With record executives

jaredamdahl

CampusComment

Are you going to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act?

“I don’t know too much about it, but it sounds good for people who couldn’t afford health care in the first place.”

“Yes, I am. (The Affordable Care Act) is beneficial for people who didn’t have health care, especially students.”

Ivan De Los Santos chemistry

“I haven’t made a decision. I still need to get more information.”

Jon Lee

STEM assistant

“I am trying to get more information on it. The college should put something together to help inform the students about the Affordable Care Act.”

Luanna Waters human development

Lorane Zenaba business

GEORGE MORIN AND CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

“I plan on signing up, but I would like to get a bit more information.”

“I need more information. The website is too confusing to answer simple questions.”

Max Kamthai nursing

Jessica Kahn business

CAMPUS BEAT Follow The Advocate

Receive breaking news and sports updates by following The Advocate on Twitter and Facebook. twitter.com/accentadvocate facebook.com/accentadvocate

Newsline Q ENROLL

Registration for spring semester Registration for classes in the spring 2014 semester begins on Nov. 25.

Students can check on Insite Portal for their priority registration dates of when they will be allowed to enroll in classes.

For additional assistance, contact the Counseling Office at 510235-7800, ext. 43936.

Q PLAY

Drama program explores riots The drama department will host the “Twilight Los Angeles 1992” in the Knox Center.

Showings will be at 8 p.m. on Dec. 5-7.

The play focuses on the words of the people directly affected by the Los Angeles riots in 1992.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors.

To purchase a ticket and reserve a seat, contact drama professor Tyrone Davis at tdavis@contracosta.edu.

Q SPEECH

Knox Center to host showcase Students will voice their talents in the spoken form as the Student Speaker Showcase in the Knox Center at 7-9 p.m. on Thursday.

Students will perform different forms of speech, including persuasive, impromptu and poetry intrepretation.

Tickets are $10 for one admittance to the showcase.

For more information, contact speech department Chairperson Connie Anderson at 510-235-7800, ext. 43884.

Q HOLIDAY

College closed for Thanksgiving The campus will be closed on Nov. 28-29 in observance of Thanksgiving. Classes will reconvene on Dec. 2.

CrimeWatch Friday, Nov. 1: No reports were issued on this date.

Saturday, Nov. 2: No reports were issued on this date.

Sunday, Nov. 3: No reports were issued on this date.

Monday, Nov. 4: A student left his belongings in the restroom. Upon his return the items were missing.

Tuesday, Nov. 5: A student’s vehicle was hit by an unknown object that appeared to be another vehicle.

Wednesday, Nov. 6: An officer conducted a pedestrian stop and it was determined that the subject was in possession of marijuana. The subject was transported to the booking station.

— George Morin

Correction In the Nov. 6 issue of The Advocate on page 1 in the cutline “Showing concern,” Gateway to College resource specialist Mel Collins was misidentified as a Gateway to College counselor.

The Advocate regrets the error.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 2013 l THE ADVOCATE

Scholarship aids students Financial relief given through Kennedy-King

By Jose Jimenez STAFF WRITER

jjimenez.theadvocate@gmail.com

“I so encourage people to apply. It can reduce your debt greatly. So apply for as many scholarships as you can.”

Jennifer Dyment,

scholarship program coordinator

Back in 1960s, two scholarships were handed out to minorities, the Harding Stingley and Naomi Pettiford scholarships, in a collaborative effort unparalleled by today’s standard. The scholarships are given in honor of Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship Fund was founded in 1968, to honor the memories of two of the greatest champions for civil rights in United States history. The fund provides scholarships to Contra Costa Community College District students who are under-represented at California’s fouryear colleges and universities.

“I so encourage people to apply,” scholarship program coordinator Jennifer Dyment said.

“It can reduce your debt greatly. So apply for as many scholarships as you can.”

The Kennedy-King Fund has given out more than 600 scholarships since 1968, totalling more than $3 million given in financial assistance to minority students in need. The Kennedy-King Fund is an all volunteer organization. The group receives funding from a wide variety of donors, who all see the importance in ensuring students from all walks of life represented in higher education.

LaToya Sykes was an honor student at Contra Costa College who overcame poverty, homelessness and teenage pregnancy. Sykes

pulled her life together, enrolled in college and studied psychology. With the help of the Kennedy-King scholarship she is now studying at UC Berkeley, Dyment said.

The Kennedy-King scholarship has become a staple tool for minority students all over California, who would be unable to attend college if it were not for the assistance the scholarship provides, Dyment said. More than 90 percent of all contributions go directly to students who are transferring to four-year universities to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Last year CCC had 39 applicants and 11 winners who were each awarded $8,000. The vast majority of scholars go on to complete their degrees.

She said that unfortunately very few males have been applying for the scholarship. She said that academically a student currently must be deemed “successful” in order to receive the scholarship. Applicants must also prove they will be transferring to a four-year university with junior standing by the fall after they apply for the funding.

If an applicant does not transfer with junior standing or is not diligently pursuing their degree as a full-time student (minimum 15 units per semester), the scholarship award may be forfeited.

While there are many private scholarships

3

that award a disproportionate amount of funding to Caucasian students, the Kennedy-King scholarship seeks to even the playing field by assisting only minority students.

Dyment said few males enroll and are successful.

Erick Chivichon is the last known male to have been awarded the Kennedy-King scholarship from CCC. At age 13, he left his parents’ house in search of The a better life and more suit- Kennedy-King able environment, Chivichon Memorial said.

College A first generation college Scholarship student, Chivichon is major- Fund was ing in communications at founded in CCC. He, like Sykes, plans 1968 to honor to attend UC Berkeley with the memories the financial help of the of two of the Kennedy-King grant. greatest chamDyment said that students pions for civil who apply and get accept- rights in the ed need to write a publica- United States. tion summary in their own words.

On Nov. 20 If selected, the informa- there will be a tion will be published in workshop to scholarship marketing mate- help students rials. with this scholIt will be produced for the arship.

Kennedy-King website and can inspire future students, Dyment said.

On Nov. 20, a student workshop will be take place at the Student Service Center. Transfer counselor Andrea Phillips will host the event and have workshops available for students until December.

in brief

Fee ASU allocation supports campus life Q FROM: Page 1

forms can be picked up in the Student Life and ASU Office in AA-109. After filling out the form, students must then deliver it to the Cashier’s Office to finalize the process.

Condori said there are no plans to change the $5 student activity fee and that, at least for the remainder of this academic year and his term as ASU president, it will remain at $5.

Both Condori and ASU Treasurer Javen Bradshaw review the minutes from every ASU meeting and the invoices that have accrued to determine who funding was given to and for what purpose, how much was actually spent and how much remains in the account.

So far the ASU has allocated: $15,000 for the Bookstore’s textbook rental program, $10,500 for the ASU’s Grant For Support, $10,000 for the Inter-Club Council, $5,500 for the Emergency Transportation Fund, $4,500 to pay invoices from the previous academic year, $3,600 in on-campus events, $1,600 for reserve books in the Library and $1,540 for gift cards to be distributed through Single Stop, a student financial assistance program with a representative in the Student Services Center.

Speech department professor and Chairperson Sherry Diestler said the speech department was approved for a Grant For Support

“It was mostly for the speech lab, and to compensate the tutors. They are tutoring for many hours every week and not receiving anything, just doing it out of their own goodness. They deserved to get something.”

Sherry Diestler,

speech department Chairperson

for $1,000 to strengthen the speech lab in AA-113 and pay speech tutors.

“It was mostly for the speech lab, and to compensate the tutors,” Diestler said. “They are tutoring for many hours every week and not receiving anything, just doing it out of their own kindness. They deserved to get something.”

Aside from the general assistance they provide speech students, the speech tutors also provide special coaching for the speech and debate team and assist English as a Second Language students with their conversation skills.

Diestler said she thinks the Grant For Support is a beneficial system that “helps fund projects that affect all students” and is thankful that the speech department’s request was approved.

Other departments or programs on campus that have received the

grant include the Library for $3,500 to pay their student workers, the art department for $1,300 for a conference and showcase, the Gateway to College high school program for $3,500 for a fundraiser event and $1,200 to the culinary arts department for supplies for an event.

The Grant For Support originally allowed campus clubs and departments to request up to $3,500 from the ASU each semester to improve the applicant’s club or department.

Condori said that as of this semester, it was decided by the ASU that clubs could no longer apply for the Grant For Support, but could seek support from the Inter-Club Council instead. The ICC was provided $10,000 from the student activity fee account to assist clubs that need it.

“Assisting clubs is the whole point of the ICC. It made sense

to give them that responsibility,” Condori said.

Grant applications can be picked up in the Student Life Center in AA-109 and must be filled out and submitted to the ASU for consideration.

This semester’s deadline for the grant was Sept. 17, though there will be a second chance to apply on Nov. 26.

The ASU is continuing its partnership with Single Stop to offer students the Emergency Transportation Fund and gift cards for groceries and household supplies. Through Single Stop, the ASU will offer $5,500 in bus passes and gas cards and $1,540 in gift cards to students who need financial assistance.

Of the various allocations made for on-campus events, $800 was apportioned for the ASU’s Fall Festival, which will take place on Nov. 19 in the quad.

The ASU is actively seeking students interested in the shared governance process and in participating in student government.

Joining the ASU will allow students to voice their opinions on what should be done with the student activity fee.

Non-ASU members are also welcome to attend meetings and voice their opinions and concerns.

The ASU meets from 2-4 p.m.

Wednesdays in AA-145.

Prop 39 Green alternatives receive funding to PG&E, but is not sure why. will be given $1 million from the Clean Energy When approached with this information CCC Creation Fund to be distributed to campuses Technology Systems Manager James Eyestone within the district. The money will be allocated was surprised. He was unaware of the malfuncbased upon each college’s FTES and comple- tion but said, “It’s a fairly easy fix.” tion rates, Chief Facilities Planner Ray Pyle Once in the boiler room Eyestone traced the said. wire to the box and assessed that the problem Building and Grounds Manager Bruce King was a faulty wire. “It’s still processing but it lost and Pyle both said they estimate that Contra the ability to report the information,” he said.

Costa College will receive about $150,000 from “I’ll get it working.” the new state funding.

King said he hopes that the “We want to keep new smart meters will create “We care because (CCC’s) energy bills low,” friendly competition between at some point these Pyle said. students and faculty in difbuildings to cut down greenhouse gasses are ferent Current problems on energy use.“Hopefully it Newly appointed going to choke us. We will improve our energy conCCCCD Energy Manager he said. need to know how to sumption,” David Vazinaik and Pyle There are four old meters were in attendance at the use our resources effi- on campus that distribute Sustainability Committee power to different sections ciently.” meeting in AA-113 on Nov. of the campus, King said, but 7 to discuss the current they are incapable of moniDavid Vazinaik, energy usage at CCC, along toring or recording the buildCommunity College district with possible sustainability Contra Costaenergy ings’ energy usage. manager projects.

“The problem is that we “We care because at some point these green- can’t narrow (energy usage) down,” he said. house gasses are going to choke us,” Vazinaik The locations of the meters are in front of said. “We need to know how to use our resourc- the Men’s Locker Room, near Buildings and es efficiently.”

Grounds, the Student Services Center and adjaThe district will use the funds from Prop. 39 cent to the Knox Center. to install new smart meters in the buildings on campus, which will monitor the energy usage of Priority each building, Pyle said.

King said he gave Pyle a list of 22 energy He added that the energy usage for each efficient projects that will be covered by the building on campus is currently unknown. Pyle Clean Energy Creation Fund. At the top of the said that currently, neither of the two smart list are seven HVAC units that are in need of meters at CCC are operational — one in the replacement in the Physical Science, Biology, Applied Arts Building boiler room and the other Music, AA, Gym Annex, Health Science, and in the electrical room in the Biology Building. Knox structures.

King said both of the meters on campus are “Old heating and air conditioning units will unable to send the energy usage information out probably be replaced first in order to increase Q FROM: Page 1

the environmental comfort,” Pyle said, “as well as making them energy efficient.”

He prioritized the project list based on each project’s effect on energy consumption on campus.

The estimated cost to replace the HVAC units is $650,000, which will save the campus roughly $40,000 in energy usage over three years.

Other possible energy retrofits include replacing the boilers in the Music Building, the Knox Center and Men’s Locker Room. The latter has not been replaced since 1988.

Replacement of the boilers in all the buildings that provide hot water to faucets and shower heads is estimated to cost $210,000.

The largest projects include replacing all the windows with double-paned ones, which will cost about $1.5 million. Installation of a new heating system for the Pool is estimated to cost $1.3 million and adding solar panels to Lot 2 has an estimated cost of $1.5 million.

King also said some of the buildings on campus need new roofs to insulate heat in the building properly and use less energy.

Roof replacements are being considered for the AA Building, Gym Annex, Gymnasium, Men’s Locker Room, Women’s Locker Room, Biology Building and the Knox Center.

King said these projects are a ways off and must be prioritized based on the amount of money CCC is given.

“We won’t be able to do (them) all at once,” he said.

CCC will receive money based on the FTES of the campus and not how many Green Certified Programs there are on campus Pyle said.

King said that as of now there are three on campus, more than any other college in the district. Automotive body work department, engine repair and Buildings and Grounds are green certified.

4 THE ADVOCATE

SPOTLIGHT

l WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 2013

Oct. 1, 2013

Jan. 1, 2014

The Affordable Care Act’s marketplace opens. First day of the “open enrollment season” for applying for health coverage.

The day coverage begins for those who have applied for coverage and paid their first premium for their new health plan.

STAFF WRITERS

accent.advocate@gmail.com

Health care reform has been a heated topic in America since the 2008 presidential election.

The debate raged well into the passage and signing into law by President Barack Obama of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Mar. 23, 2010.

The act, commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, has been the subject of extreme scrutiny in the media, and on the Senate and House floors. The act has even been debated in the halls of the Supreme Court of the United States.

The act was even one of the reasons for the 16-day government shutdown in October.

Yet, despite mountains of criticism, Oct. 1 was the first day people could begin to sign up for health insurance plans offered under the ACA. President Obama said while signing the bill, “That our generation is able to succeed in passing this reform is a testament to the persistence — and the character — of the American people, who championed this cause; who mobilized; who organized; who believed that people who love this country can change it.”

The website, www.healthcare.gov, where people can go to sign up, has thus far experienced stability issues that have also been the subject of ridicule from the conservative right. The downtime has been the president’s chief embarrassment. He apologized for the downtime on Oct. 21 in an address to the nation. He said American’s need to unite to ensure universal health care remains a reality.

“It’s time for people to stop rooting for its failure,” Obama said.

What the ACA does The ACA makes several changes to the way health care works in America, in order to achieve its goal of making sure every American has health insurance.

The main feature of the ACA is the 10 forms of coverage the bill requires every health insurance plan have. Called the “10 Essential Health Benefits” by the bill, these areas of coverage are things such as prescription drug coverage, lab tests, hospital stays, as well as pediatric care, among others.

Obama has repeatedly promised that American’s, if they wish, will be capable of keeping the health insurance plan they have now. However, that is untrue if that plan does not include the “10 Essential Health Benefits.”

According to an investigative report by NBC News, the Obama administration knew that 40-67 percent of American’s with health care would likely lose coverage as their plans cease to exist. The report, released Oct. 28, 2013, shows how in some areas, the number of Americans who are likely to lose coverage is as high as 75 percent.

The ACA also creates what the act calls a “Health Insurance Marketplace.”

This marketplace is a collection of insurance plan offerings, in the sense of an old Arabic bazaar. People are suppose to be able to access the website, type in their information, then have all of the health insurance plans they are eligible for and are offered in their area displayed for them.

People are then supposed to be capable of sorting through these plans easily and purchasing the one that offers the coverage they want at a price they are comfortable paying.

The idea behind these marketplaces is that the state pools the purchasing power of everyone likely to apply for marketplace coverage and uses that power to negotiate with health insurance companies to create health insurance plans at a lower cost, with

more coverage, than would otherwise be available for purchase by individual citizens.

Whether or not the ACA actually accomplishes this is another matter that has been debated.

Jessica Hansen, an adjunct English professor at Contra Costa College said, “I purchased my health coverage and because of the ACA I’m pretty surprised that my monthly fee is going up significantly and I’m not receiving any additional benefits from it.”

On Nov. 4, 2013, the Manhattan Institute released an analysis that showed, on average, the ACA increases health care premium costs by 41 percent in individual markets.

The analysis shows that those that are most likely to see these premium increases are the young, the healthy and men.

A tax penalty has also been created by the act and it will be applied to people who do not acquire health insurance. The act mandates that every citizen must have health insurance and, if they do not, they will have to pay a tax penalty. In 2014, this penalty will be $95 per adult, and $47.50 per child.

In 2015, this penalty will increase to $325 per adult, and $162.50 per child without health insurance.

The ACA also creates health care subsidies, in the form of tax credits, which are offered to those purchasing health insurance in the ACA created marketplaces. These subsidies take the Federal Poverty Level and compare an individual’s, or a household’s, income to it. If the income falls between 100-400 percent of the FPL, then that individual or household are likely eligible for the subsidy.

The Kaiser Family Foundation has calculated that, for an individual, the national average income t h a t falls into the range eligible for a subsidy is $11,500-$46,000 per year. For a family of three, the national average income to qualify for the subsidy is between $19,500 and $78,000 per year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates about 20 million people will receive tax credits by 2018. Eligibility depends upon household income and where you live.

Parents’ ability to cover their children is also expanded under the act.

Parents with health insurance will be able to keep their children under their plan until their children are 26 years old, thanks to the ACA. Out-of-pocket expenses are also capped under the ACA. Though what the cap is varies between plans, each health plan will have a maximum that individuals are allowed to pay for medical services at one time.

The president and supporters of the ACA have claimed it will reduce the cost of health care nationally. This reduction in cost is supposed to come from a healthier population.

The ACA focuses largely on preventative care. As part of the ACA, the federal and individual state governments are supposed to do their best to promote preventative care, such as regular physical check-ups.

As a part of the ACA, Medicaid is being expanded. The act increases the number of people eligible for the government provided Medicaid by setting a minimum income level. Anyone below this minimum income level is eligible for Medicaid.

After the first “open enrollment season,” Oct. 15 will begin of the open enrollment season each year.

March 31, 2014

Dec. 7, 2014+

The last day of the year to apply for coverage, and receive coverage by the start of the new year.

End of the “open enrollment season.” Those without health insurance by this date will be fined.

After the first “open enrollment season” this will be the last day of the enrollment season from now on.

The Advocate analyzes the logistics of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and how it will soon affect California residents while the law is implemented “I believe it is a move forward for us, toward a commitment to help people with health care because it is such a vital thing. I know from my personal experience — I was a poor student, too — it can be very hard to afford it.”

Jon Celesia,

physics and astronomy professor

Starting in 2014, the federal government will fully fund the health insurance coverage of every new person eligible for Medicaid for three years. By 2020, this funding is supposed to cover 90 percent of the cost for these newly eligible individuals. The federal government is also supposed to provide the financing necessary to upgrade the Medicaid infrastructure, such as computers and the servers needed to run their website, in order to handle the increased load of those using the government provided health insurance.

Medicaid will also create a system where entire families can apply for coverage under a single application, instead of requiring one for each family member. The coverage Medicaid offers will also be expanded to match the “10 Essential Health Benefits” the ACA mandates every form of health coverage offer.

The ACA also makes it illegal for a company to deny persons coverage based upon a pre-existing condition. It also outlaws what the act calls “arbitrary coverage withdrawals,” where insurance companies would drop people for failing to complete forms properly.

The act also makes it so people can receive emergency care at any hospital, even one outside of their health plan, without incurring increased costs. The act also requires that insurance agencies must prove that 80 percent of the money from an individual’s health care premium goes directly toward that individual’s health care, or toward the development of higher quality health care.

Only 20 percent of that money, by law, can now be spent on administrative purposes.

The act also promotes an increased quality of the elderly care provided in America. It introduces new concepts that were not in place before, such as requiring that background checks be performed on anyone working in an elderly care facility.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ website, HHS.gov, calls the ACA the “largest middle class tax cut in history,” but this claim also has its critics.

The Obama administration has claimed that the ACA will cut the federal deficit by $100 billion over the next 10 years. A study done by the George Mason University based research group, the Mercatus Group, shows that the ACA will actually increase the federal government budget deficit by $324 billion per year.

The act also requires that insurance companies must publicly justify any rate increase that increases the cost of any plan by 10 per-

cent or more. Any increase below 10 percent does not need to be justified.

Undocumented American’s, as well as Native Americans and Native Alaskans, are also eligible for coverage under the ACA. The act also requires that large employers, with more than 50 employees, must offer their employees health coverage. Small employers will receive subsidies for offering health coverage under the ACA. The debate The bill has had a very heated history in the media and in Congress. Originally introduced under a different name in 2009, the nation has not stopped the debate on health care since.

In 2009, former governor of Alaska Sarah Palin said, “The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s death panels.”

Republican tea party proponents, such as Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), have stated that blocking health care reform has been one of their chief goals since 2009.

Though no iteration of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mentions death panels anywhere, Palin’s comments illustrate the debate over health care perfectly: it has been a debate filled with misinformation and grandstanding on both sides of the political aisle.

The bill’s provisions for undocumented Americans, the tax penalty, as well as the requirement for each citizen to be insured, have shown deeply ingrained ideological differences in the Republican and Democratic parties. The act’s original writing also provided for subsidies for abortion services, something former speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said would never be removed from the language of the act. Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) won a major concession from other democrats when he had the abortion subsidies removed from the bill.

In 2009 and 2010, major tea party rallies were held in opposition to health care reform. People were seen carrying signs that opposed the “death panels” the ACA was rumored to be creating.

When the act was signed on March 23, 2010, a lawsuit was filed with the Supreme Court of the United States to have it declared unconstitutional.

On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the act in a 5-4 decision and upheld it, stating it was constitutional.

Writing for the court, Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion. He wrote, “The Affordable Care Act’s requirements that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax. Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness.”

The Supreme Court’s decision, however, did little to end the debate.

Congressmen Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) said, “The books have been severely cooked,” when he was speaking about the supposed savings the act would create.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad called the long-term care provision of the act “a Ponzi scheme of the first order, the kind of thing Bernie Madoff would be proud of.”

Senator Cruz attacked the act, saying it would cause a decrease in full-time jobs offered. Cruz’s claims have, thus far, been shown to be false by multiple economic studies. Still, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that about 4 million Americans will see their employers stop offering health coverage.

In October of this year, the federal government experienced a government shutdown, orchestrated by Senator Cruz, which was originally stated to be in opposition to

5

Oct. 15, 2014+

Dec. 15, 2013

Covering CALIFORNIA

By Brian Boyle and Christian Urrutia

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 2013 l THE ADVOCATE

Insurance options for California The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provides multiple forms of coverage for Californians. Below are the four avenues Californians can take for health insurance.

Employer provided

Government assistance

Private insurers

Large employers with more than 50 employees are required to provide health coverage.

Smaller employers will receive subsidies for offering ACA compliant health coverage.

It allows coverage for a spouse, and children until they are 26 years old.

Medi-Cal is being expanded to offer health insurance to far more Californians.

Families and individuals who have an income up to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level are now eligible for government assistance.

Private insurance agencies can still sell health insurance to individuals, though all plans offered must be ACA compliant.

Some plans may no longer exist. Non-ACA compliant plans will no longer be offered as of Dec. 31, 2013.

Covered California

The Affordable Care Act Competitive Marketplace for Health Insurance including undocumented people, are Californians, eligible for marketplace coverage if their jobs do not offer insurance and they don’t qualify for Medi-Cal.

Platinum

Gold

is the website that serves as a one CoveredCA.com stop insurance shopping center where consumers can shop and compare different coverage options.

come in four metallic levels: bronze, silver, Plans gold and platinum. Each level differs in cost and

coverage offered, bronze being cheapest with least coverage.

Silver

Bronze

subsidies will be available for Californians with Tax marketplace insurance, with household incomes within 100-400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. the ACA coming into effect.

The government shutdown lasted 16 days and was estimated to have cost the country $24 billion in lost productivity.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid (DNevada) has said that the ACA is a step toward an eventual single-payer health care system.

“Any bill that defunds Obamacare (the ACA) is dead,” Reid said.

With the act taking effect on Oct. 1, the debate over universal health care has shifted now from whether or not America should have it, to what the future of universal health care in America will look like.

California, what are the options?

The real question on a lot of peoples’ minds is, “What are my options for health insurance?”

In California, residents have four main options for health coverage, including the ACA created health insurance marketplace known as Covered California.

People in California will be able to receive health coverage, depending on their eligibility, from their jobs, from Covered California, from the government provided Medi-Cal, or from private insurers.

People seeking coverage from their workplaces will be capable, per the law, of covering their spouse, as well as any children they have under the age of 26. Coverage and cost from jobbased insurance programs will vary, but these plans are still required to cover the “10 Essential Health Benefits” the ACA mandates every plan cover.

Medi-Cal has been expanded to cover a much larger number of people in California. This is the government provided insurance option.

Medi-Cal’s expansion has created a new category of covered individuals: childless adults whose income is within 138 percent of the FPL. The ACA has also expanded Medi-Cal to cover all parents within 138 percent of the FPL. There is also no asset test for eligibility, except for long term care services.

Californians can still look outside the ACA, their jobs and the government option. Health insurance is still capable of being purchased through private health insurance companies, outside of the marketplace. However, there are many new rules that these private insurance companies must follow.

Many of the new rules for private insurance agencies and private insurance agreements are consumer protection rules, such as making it illegal to deny a person coverage based upon an existing condition.

The ACA also makes it so insurance com-

panies can no longer charge women a higher rate than men. Prior to the passage of the ACA, insurance companies could gender rate their plans, and charge women a higher rate due to the chance of pregnancy representing a higher insurance risk.

Private insurance programs, on the other hand, may see their rates increase, as they are still required to cover the “10 Essential Health Benefits” in each plan offered. Non-ACA compliant plans will be offered until Dec. 31, 2013.

Finally, Californians can turn to the ACA marketplace, Covered California.

The marketplace is available to people that are ineligible for Medi-Cal and who do not have their health insurance provided by their jobs.

Those who are eligible and do not choose to seek a plan outside of the marketplace are eligible for tax subsidies if their income is within 100-400 percent of the FPL. People can go online to www.coveredca.com and fill out an application to see what insurance plans they are eligible for. The application will require people to collect their tax IDs, social security number, employer notices, tax returns, as well as their pay stubs and W2s. The application asks for information about every member of the household, and their relation. The application also asks for the income of each person in the household, as well as their current health coverage.

People eligible for Covered California will be shown all of the health insurance plans they are eligible for in their area, the coverage offered, and the monthly and yearly costs for each plan. The website also shows a breakdown of the premium costs, co-pay costs and other insurance information. Plans in the Covered California marketplace have four different levels — bronze, silver, gold and platinum. These levels differ in the costs of the plan and the coverage offered.

The Covered California marketplace opened on Oct. 1, 2013, and that day started the “OpenEnrollment Season.” This season will last until March 31, 2014.

Anyone who is not enrolled in a health insurance plan by March 31, 2014 will have to pay the tax penalty, known as the “individual shared responsibility payment.”

In 2014, this fee will be 1 percent of one’s yearly household income, or $95 per adult and $47.50 per child in the household, whichever amount is higher.

In 2015, this fee will increase to 2 percent, or $325 per adult. In 2016, the fee will be 2.5 percent or $695 per person. Each year an individual without health insurance will pay whichever of

these amounts is higher.

Simply having a health insurance plan will make it so an individual does not have to pay this fee. However, some forms of health coverage do not disqualify someone from the fee.

If you only have coverage for vision or dental care, coverage via workers’ compensation, coverage for a specific disease or a plan that offers only discounts on medical services, you will still have to pay the fee come March 31, 2014.

If you have been uninsured for less than three months Sharoki come March 31, you are exempt from paying the fee. If the lowest-priced coverage available to you is greater than 8 percent of your household income, you are also exempt.

If your income is too low to mandate that you file a tax return, or if you are a member of a federally recognized tribe, you are also exempted from the fee.

If you are a member of a recognized health care sharing ministry, or are a member of a recognized religion with objections to insurance, including Social Security and Medicare, you are also exempt from the fee.

There also is a 12-item list of hardships that may exempt people from paying the fee. The full list, as well as the application for the fee exemption can be found online at www.healthcare. gov/exemptions/.

If an individual enrolls in a health insurance plan between Oct. 1 and Dec. 15, 2013, and makes his or her first premium payment, coverage will begin on Jan. 1, 2014. During the rest of the open enrollment season (Dec. 16, 2013, through March 31, 2014) if an individual enrolls, and makes a first premium payment between the first and 15th of a month, their coverage will begin on the first of the following month.

So if one enrolls on Feb. 10, 2014, his or her coverage begins March 1, 2014.

After this first open enrollment season, all future enrollment seasons will be between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7 every year.

People will have to have paid their first health insurance premium within those periods to not been charged the “individual shared responsibility” fee.

The act does allow for a large number of people who were previously uninsured to have access to health insurance, but some people believe the ACA was not a far enough step toward universal health care. Many critics of the act have been calling for a public option, or 100 percent government provided healthcare available to all citizens.

Adjunct philosophy professor Sharare Sharoki said, “With a single payer system, the government deals directly with people. A public option would provide another option, besides insurance companies, for cheaper rates since the government wouldn’t be for-profit. Of course insurance companies hated the idea, but the troubling thing is I don’t know what is going to happen next.”

Young people below the age of 26 have much longer to wait before they need to begin searching for health insurance on their own.

Biology major Charrell Sherman said, “I’m covered until I’m 26. The process of passing the ACA could have been better, but it’s a start, considering how people were not able to afford health care because of the cost.”

Despite the problems the act has faced in getting passed and the problems associated with the website’s downtime when it first launched, many people are still very hopeful for the future of the ACA and universal healthcare in America.

Physics and astronomy professor Jon Celesia said, “I believe it is a move forward for us, toward a commitment to help people with health care because it is such a vital thing. I know from my personal experience — I was a poor student, too — it can be very hard to afford it.”

Many people, though, have had very negative things to say about the ACA, and many employers have described exactly how their employees will be affected by health care reform.

John Schattner, CEO of Papa John’s Pizza made public comments saying he plans to reduce the hours his work staff is offered to ensure that, by not letting his staff work 30 or more hours per week, he will not have to offer them health insurance. Schattner also said he would be raising the prices of his pizzas in response to the ACA. Executives at Applebee’s and Denny’s restaurants also said they would be raising prices and cutting the hours of their workers due to the passage of the ACA. The act has just begun being enacted and has many stages left before it is completely functional. The full economic and social impact of The effect the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Across the country people are having a varied has yet to be seen or felt, but the coming months experience with health insurance since the ACA should see the face of American health insurance began going into effect last month. change drastically.

6 THE ADVOCATE

CAMPUS BEAT

l WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 2013

Ampim debunks fictional speech

SHOWING FACTS

Scholar writes book, exposes fake speech

By Steve Son STAFF WRITER

sson.theadvocate@gmail.com

The great urban legend of the Willie Lynch speech was “put to death” by history professor Manu Ampim as he gave a free presentation on Nov. 5 in the Library.

Ampim’s book, “The Death of the Willie Lynch Speech: Exposing the Myth,” debunks a legendary speech, supposedly given by a British slave owner named Willie Lynch in 1712.

JANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE The speech allegedly explained how to Voicing concerns — Social sciences department Chairperson Manu Ampim speaks to the audience during the Author control enslaved Africans, and was deemed Talk event held in the Library on Oct. 30. one of the greatest tactics used by slavers at the time. speech. Ampim said words liked colored, If the speech were really given by a who was not fully educated.

According to Ampim’s book, many of the Negro, or worse would have been used to British slaver, then the spelling of the word On Nov. 30, 2009, Dr. Kwabena Faheem historical facts of the speech do fit the time describe African-Americans at the time the “color” would have been spelled “colour,” Ashanti, a prolific writer and scholar of period, but there are certain facts that led him speech was allegedly written.

Ampim said.

Afrocentric psychology, emailed Ampim a to question the authenticity of the speech.

Ampim explained that during the time Furthermore, Willie Lynch was suppose confession letter revealing himself as the Anne Taylor, a reference librarian at the of slavery, black people were not regarded to have died 30 years before the speech was forger of the speech.

University of Missouri, posted a document with any respect and that included the names allegedly given. If any of these findings Ashanti felt convicted to come clean online to try and authenticate the speech. given to them. were not enough to convince the audience exclaiming to Ampim, “Darn, a brotha got When questioned by historians as to who The term “black people” was not used of the speech’s falsehood, Ampim continued me.” wrote the document Taylor backed down, until the social movement happened in the to explain that Lynch claimed in his speech Ampim said he replied, “Slavery was bad claiming she did not know who gave her the late 20th century where the famous song by that his method of control would work for enough. Why feel the need to go and make document.

James Brown “Say it loud, I’m black and 300 years throughout the South. stuff up?”

As Ampim investigated the matter, he I’m proud” was released redefining the word In 1712, the “South” only existed as part Ampim said when he asked Ashanti why found many signs that the speech was fab- “black,” Ampim said. of the 13 colonies, still under the authority of he forged the speech, Ashanti said he wanted ricated and wasn’t written during that time Therefore, the language used in the speech England, Ampim said. to inform the African-American community period. just did not seem authentic to Ampim.

After all of his discoveries, Ampim said as to why they are in such disarray by makOne of the biggest red flags for Ampim Another one of Ampim’s findings was that the culprit who forged the document ing them connect to the past. was when Africans were mentioned as when the word “color” appeared in the must have been a African-American male “Black people” with a capital “B” in the speech. between the ages of 20 and 30 and a person

Construction begins, trees abruptly cut Lathrop sets up shop near Lot 5, fences off area

By George Morin EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

gmorin.theadvocate@gmail.com

“My kids used to play on the grassy knoll by the trees in the shade,” Single Stop Project Manager Teresea Archaga said as she looked out her window toward the fenced off area adjacent to Lot 5.

“They won’t be able to do that anymore.”

Due to the construction of the new Contra Costa College Campus Center, begun by Lathrop Construction, Inc., the 12 eucalyptus trees adjacent to Lot 5 were cut down last week making room for portable buildings that will be home for workers during the project, Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said.

Faculty and students are now raising concerns about the trees and asking why students and faculty were not involved in the decision to cut them down.

“I wish faculty could have been a part of the decision making (to cut those trees down),” Archaga

said.

Financial aid assistant Miguel Melgoza agrees.

“I wouldn’t tie myself to a tree, but there should have been more (discussion about) if we should cut them down,” Melgoza said.

“We (the community) may be out of touch regarding the importance of trees. People are conscience of the importance of trees in other places,” he said. “I would like to see what would happen if something like this was done in Berkeley.”

Some members of the faculty wonder if a better spot, one that would not have forced the cutting of so many trees, could have been found for Lathrop to set up shop.

Transition teacher Russell Grindle said, “I understand they (Lathrop Construction, Inc.) need a place to work, but was that the best location for them?”

King said there was no good location for the construction group to set up their headquarters.

He said the proximity of Lot 5 to the construction is what attracted Lathrop to it.

Grindle said, “I have mixed feelings about them cutting down the trees. They (the eucalyptus trees) are not native to California, but I would hope they are planning to plant more trees afterward.”

Melgoza agrees and hopes that

the college will plant more trees during construction to offset the balance of trees on campus.

King said the college just finished planting Redwood trees along Mission Bell Drive and also plans to plant more trees around campus.

“Were going to be moving some of the palm trees to that location once construction is complete as well,” King said.

He said the eucalyptus trees have been an issue for the college with cleanup.

“I have to plan weekly clean ups to make sure the tops of buildings and pathways are not completely covered by the tree debris,” he said.

While King described himself as a “tree lover,” he also said he is glad that the eucalyptus are not native to California and that the college can make way for more native trees on campus.

Other than the recently planted redwood trees, there has not been any new additions to plant life on the college grounds.

As Archaga looked out of her window in the Student Services Center she sighed and said, “I used to have a beautiful view of those trees and a grassy knoll. Now it’s just a couple of trailers and a bunch of tree stumps.”

“It’s very sad to look at.”

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Slimming down — Lathrop Construction, Inc. workers begin to cut down the last eucalyptus tree adjacent to Lot 5 on Nov. 6.

The cutting of the trees has raised concerns with faculty.

Girls Inc. attempts to enliven, empower female community

By Steve Son STAFF WRITER

sson.theadvocate@gmail.com

JANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE

Sharing voices — Executive Producer Sally Joan Baker speaks to the crowd during the Girls Inc. event in Richmond on Saturday.

RICHMOND — Girls Inc., a national non-profit organization established in 1865, held its third annual career day for college-bound girls here on Saturday.

Girls Inc. has been serving girls between the ages of 6 and 17 for nearly 40 years within West Contra Costa County, and currently provides afterschool programs and activities to over 6,000 youth.

“Thanks to the support of our corporate and private funding and local businesses, Girls Inc. is more than just a safe place for friends to gather. It’s a training ground for future leaders,” Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Richmond Mieasha L. Harris said.

The programs offered by Girls Inc. help kids find their passion for math, science and technology while developing economic literacy and leadership skills.

Participants receive academic encouragement and life lessons that range from pregnancy prevention to drug awareness.

All of the programs are geared toward empowering young women to reach their full potential as individuals and to understand, value and assert their rights as citizens.

Richmond Major Gayle McLaughlin, who has also served as a Richmond councilwoman for more that 10 years, fully supports Girls Inc. in the hopes she may help “turn injustices into justices,” she said.

The majority of Girls Inc. focuses on low-income areas and responds to the changing needs of girls and their communities through research-based programs and advocacy.

On average, Girls Inc. provides 30 hours of after-school, weekend and summer-time activities each week that teach girls to use their voices to promote positive change.

During the career day event, young women who were interested in pursuing a certain career path were able to interview professionals such as law-enforcement officers, politicians and engineers.

Wendy Gonzalez, one of Girls Inc. participants, said, “Being in Girls Inc. helps us to learn things. It’s really fun and we have gotten closer to others. The guidelines are important to follow and to have a better attitude toward others.”

Other programs offered include Economic Literacy, where girls learn to manage money and help others through philanthropy.

Program manager Tiffani Harris was a volunteer in the 1980s and said Girls Inc. has evolved throughout the years and now has more to offer.

Karen Carrillo, a Girls Inc. participant said, “I learned not to be afraid to talk to people and to treat them the way you want to be treated. I respect them so they can respect me.”

SPORTS

Rejuvenated Comets sink Mariners 5-0

By Lorenzo Morotti EDITORIAL CARTOONIST

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

The College of Marin failed to score a goal at home against a rejuvenated Comet soccer team that scored five goals to win the highest scoring game of its season on Friday.

A different player scored each goal: left wingback Sam Mendez, striker Marcos Solis, center back Klebber Machado, center attacking midfielder Pablo Juan Gutierrez and right center back Brad Alman each scored a goal.

The Comets’ (10-6-3 overall, 6-2-3 Bay Valley Conference) preceding game was a humiliating 4-1 defeat to BVC leader Merritt College (13-3-4 overall, 9-1-2 BVC) at the Gilman Field on Nov. 5.

Alman said post game that the Comets were not mentally prepared to face the Thunderbirds.

That loss extended the point gap between Merritt and second place Contra Costa College to 10 points and, with only three games left in the season, Merritt is in pole position to win the BVC. While his players warmed up before taking to the field to play the Mariners (4-8-5 overall, 3-52 BVC) on Friday, men’s soccer coach Rudy Zeller encouraged his team and gave them advice.

“Let’s get mentally prepared,” he said. “We are here to win today.

Let’s not chase the game. Let it come to you.”

Zeller chose to play his starting 11 in a 4/2/1/3 formation.

Freshman keeper Max Sonnier was in between the goal posts instead of Gustavo Rojas. Sonnier blocked all of the four Mariner shots at goal.

The defensive back-line consisted of left fullback Mendez, left center-back Alman, right center back Luis Raymundo and right fullback Enri Refunjol.

Dual center defensive midfielders Roberto Calixto and Jose Aguilar played high up in the midfield to pressure turnovers and contain the game on the Mariner’s side of the field.

The midfield supplied passes to left winger Davis Okonkwo or

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 2013 l THE ADVOCATE

7

ScoreBoard

Comets 5 Mariners 0

Last game: Tuesday vs. Yuba College, 3 p.m.

Follow this game live at twitter.com/accentadvocate

right winger Bobby Gonzalez as they played flat and wide. Center attacking midfielder Solis and center forward Antonio Gribay prowled near the penalty box.

Immediately after the opening whistle the Comets moved the ball quickly with short, precise passes that suddenly burst in to give and go plays along the wings.

The Marin defensive back-line was unable to keep its form under CCC’s attacking pressure.

The Comets had eight shots at the end of the match, doubling the Mariners’ total of four.

Their defensive back-line knocked the ball around in the backfield looking for the open man.

This tactic drew Mariner players out of position as they attempted to pressure a turnover, creating open space for CCC’s midfielders and attacking wingers to make runs in to receive a pass.

When Marin won possession of the ball it was unable to keep it. Constant pressure by CCC in the midfield regularly forced turnovers or a Marin player to make a bad pass throughout the game.

With only 13 minutes left in the first half, the Comets produced the first goal off of a free kick about 25 yards from the goal where substitute center forward Gutierrez was fouled from behind during a break away play.

Mendez stepped up to take the kick. He struck the ball with his left foot, sending it up and over the five-man wall before curling down past the out-stretched Mariners’ keeper Abraham Rodriquez’s hands and the near post.

It was Mendez’s first goal of the season.

The Comets continued to control the game during the second half. The only difference was that CCC was able to finish four of its

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Ready for the ball — Comet defender Brad Allman jumps to head the ball into the net during the second half to score the team’s fourth goal of the game against College of Marin at Kentfield on Friday. The Comets shut out the Mariners, 5-0. chances at goal.

During the first five minutes, the Comets forced a Mariner out of bounds along the right wing of Marin’s attacking third and throwin specialist Machado was called up from the backfield to hurl the ball 20 plus yards into the box. It reached Solis mere yards in front of goal at the far post on a bounce.

Solis brought it down with his chest to his feet and crept a low right-footed shot past Rodriquez.

Moments later Machado was able to add a goal on top of his assist with a right-sided corner kick delivered by Calixto to the near post. Machado jumped up to header the ball before colliding

with Rodriquez in the air, sending it into the left side of goal.

The fourth goal was also produced from a corner. This time Mendez delivered the ball into the box from the left side of the field.

Alman made the run from the edge of the penalty box just as Mendez released his assist to leap above three defenders and rocket the ball just under the crossbar using his head.

“I normally go to the far one, but I tried for the near post,” Alman said post-game.

The Mariners frustration showed as they accumulated 11 fouls, four yellow cards and one red.

Up by one man on the field, the

Comets were able to score the final goal when a COM play dissolved in the midfield and gave CCC possession just inside the Mariner side of the field.

Okonkwo sent a pass to Gonzalez down the left wing. He crossed the ball to Gutierrez who was outside the penalty box. He laced it with his right foot between Rodriquez and the far post.

The Comets played Yuba College on Tuesday after presstime on the Soccer Field.

“Yuba tied us last time. We are looking for a little revenge,” Alman said, referencing last season’s 1-1 tie to Yuba, a game that cost the Comets a spot in the playoffs.

Squad beats Laney in three straight sets

By Jose Jimenez STAFF WRITER

jjimenez.theadvocate@gmail.com

The volleyball team beat last place Laney College (0-19 overall, 0-13 in the Bay Valley Conference) winning in three straight sets 25-15, 25-16 and 25-19 Friday night in the Gymnasium.

Contra o s t a ScoreBoard CCollege (3Comets def.

13 overall, Eagles, 253-10 BVC) 15, 25-16, is out of the 25-19 playoffs.

Coming Next game: into the Today vs. match the Los Medanos Comets had College, 6 lost seven p.m. straight games.

CCC’s last win during the dreadful stretch came against Laney College on Oct. 9.

In the first set, outside hitter Ella Gauna’s scored three straight points.

“It’s all about preparation.”

Jessica Neville,

Comet’s outside hitter

However, after an overpowering kill shot attempt by outside hitter Jessica Neville went out of bounds, CCC found themselves trailing 4-3.

“No matter who is out there playing, we needed to win the game,” Comet outside hitter Rebecca Gehlen. “They (the Eagles) had a game plan and I can see them taking over a team, but not us.”

CCC scored four straight points to go up 7-4 due to bad communication by Laney. The Eagles gave free points away all night long to CCC via bad serves and attempting zero kill shots.

“They improved from the last time we played them,” freshman striker Rickala Geeter said. “At first Laney used to just argue. Now they work as a team.”

After that point in the match, however, CCC rallied and scored six consecutive points to go up 19-13 to win the first set 25-15 The Comets looked a little dazed and confused at the start of the second set. They fell behind quickly 4-0 only to answer with seven straight points and go up 7-4 again. Laney was forced to use a timeout after trailing 12-5 and CCC had control of the second set.

“It’s all about preparation,” Neville said. “In practice we go through rotation, passing drills and hitting drills.”

It worked well for CCC and the team played conservatively the rest of the second set and won 25-16.

The Comets came out with the killer instinct and went up early on in the final set 10-4. And midway through the third set CCC had a commanding 15-7 lead and won that set 25-19 and secured a victory.

The Comets last home game of the season will be today at 6 p.m. in the Gymnasium against Los Medanos College.

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Powering through — Comet outside hitter Jessica Neville kills the ball past Laney College setter Jasmine Micheals during the third set of their game in the Gymnasium on Friday.

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

8 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 2013

SPORTS

Comets battle for bowl Saturday

By Mike Thomas SPORTS EDITOR

mthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

“Our season and hard work comes down to this one game — we lose, we’re out,” football coach Alonzo Carter said during his post-game speech after the Comets defeated the College of the Redwoods Saturday at Comet Stadium.

“You better bring your A game.

It all starts tomorrow.”

The football team’s next game is against Los Medanos College (4-0 in the Bay Valley Conference) at 3 p.m. Saturday at home. The game is for the BVC championship and a bowl game berth.

In a shutout, the football team man-handled the Corsairs (3-6 overall, 1-3 in the BVC) 30-0 on Saturday, moving Contra Costa College to within one game of winning the BVC for the second straight season, and another bowl game berth.

The Comets (7-2 overall, 40 BVC) dominated Redwoods defensively throughout the game, but quarterback Malik Watson had his worst game of the season. He threw a season high four interceptions, but that did not stop the defense from shutting down the Corsair’s offense. “(Watson) just didn’t have a good game,” Carter said. “Some of them were tipped balls and bad passes. We have to look at the film and correct the problems.”

A 14-yard run for a touchdown put the Comets on the board with 3:43 left in the first quarter. After that, Corsair quarterback Beau Winchester threw an interception to Comets’ defensive back Daquan Stewart, who returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, making the score 14-0 in the first quarter.

The Comet defense had four interceptions of its own during this game, and Stewart accounted for two of them.

Sophomore defensive back Christopher Brown said, “We stay positive. The defensive backs are

ScoreBoard

Comets 30 Corsairs 0

Next game: Saturday vs. Los Medanos College, 3 p.m.

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the backbone of the defense.”

Running back Davonte SappLynch broke away for a 53-yard rushing touchdown to add to the score in the second quarter.

Sapp-Lynch ran for 215 yards and two touchdowns. He is 316 yards away from breaking running back Rashad Hall’s single season Comet rushing record.

The Corsairs had the ball at the Comet 23-yard line, but the Comet defense shut down the Corsair offense and forced them to turn the ball over on downs.

Comet sophomore linebacker Travon Brooks-McGlibra said, “Today we mostly played man coverage and that led to all the interceptions in this game. We filled all the gaps and lanes and, when we do everything right like that, we lockdown on the offense.”

Carter agreed.

“Everyone on defense is starting to really click and work fine together,” Carter said.

The Comets had back-to-back penalties in their first drive, a drive which got killed when Watson threw his first interception.

CCC had six penalties in the first half. The Comets are still the most penalized team in the state.

“We are the worst in the state in penalties and I don’t like that,” Carter said during his post-game speech.

Penalties have been one of the Comets’ key issues this season and many of those penalties killed drives that would have put points on the board against Redwoods.

A lot of drives ended with the Comets’ leaving points available on the field, Carter said.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Keeping it out of reach — Comet defensive back Chauncey Carter tips a pass to Corsairs wide receiver Michael Malkowsk away during the second quarter of their game against the College of the Redwoods at Comet Stadium Saturday. The Comets will face Los Medanos College at 3 p.m. Saturday at home for the Bay Valley Conference championship.

STANDING GROUND

Lynch runs hard, looks toward future

By Mike Thomas SPORTS EDITOR

mthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

PHOTOS BY QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Strong demeanor — (Top) Comet running back Devonte Sapp-Lynch brings experience to the football squad along with his average 120.7 rushing yards a game. (Bottom) Comet running back Devonte Sapp-Lynch runs past Corsair defensive lineman Isaiah Griffin during the Comets’ game against the College of the Redwoods at Comet Stadium on Saturday.

Running backs and wide receivers are the most prima donna positions in football, but sophomore running back Davonte SappLynch has been called the least selfish player on the Comet football team.

Standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall, SappLynch is the shortest player on Contra Costa College football team, yet his teammates always look to him to make a big play.

“He has a different style of play than most running backs, so we always expect something big from him,” defensive back Daquan Stewart said. “He is always going to make a big play, every game.”

The 20-year-old running back was born on July 14, 1993, and grew up in North Oakland. The youngest of five brothers and sisters, Sapp-Lynch graduated from Sheldon High School in Elk Grove in 2011.

He is the younger brother of the National Football League Seattle Seahawks star running back Marshawn Lynch. Sapp-Lynch’s brothers and sister call themselves the “five strong” to remind themselves where they came from and that they will always be there for each other.

Football coach Alonzo Carter said that Marshawn Lynch told him he thinks SappLynch is an even better running back than he is.

“His parents were always talking about how he’s going to get better than Marshawn,” Carter said. “Marshawn felt like Davonte was better than himself — that means a lot coming from him.”

Sapp-Lynch’s mother Delisha Lynch was a single mother working two jobs while raising five children. She would try to find other ways to make any extra money she could for her family. Sapp-Lynch said it was a “hard knock life” for him and his siblings growing up.

“My mom had to work two jobs and at the same time she would still make it to all of our games,” he said. “I remember sometimes she would go to bingo nights just to try to get lucky and win some money for us.”

Growing up, Sapp-Lynch was always picked on at school because of his height.

His brothers showed him no mercy about his size, and gave him the same treatment he received at school. He also used to get into a lot of fights at school because of the teasing, forcing him to bounce from school to school.

The experience made him into a tougher person on and off the field, he said.

“I got a lot of butt whoopings,” SappLynch said. “But I started to get tired of always being in trouble because of fighting and transferring from school to school.”

Since it began, even Sapp-Lynch’s football career at CCC has been an uphill battle.

He had to grey shirt his freshman season because he tore his MCL in 2011. He was in a battle for the backup running back position with running back Rashad Hall at the time.

Hall became the starter when James Hines tore his ACL late in the 2011 season during a practice. Sapp-Lynch’s selflessness came into play when he returned from his injury in 2012. But instead of competing for the starting spot, he choose to back up Hall for that season.

“When I got to CCC, Hall and I were freshmen and we were playing behind Hines,” Sapp-Lynch said. “Hall is a good running back.”

Sapp-Lynch has 1,086 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns this season. With one game left in the regular season, he is 316 yards away from breaking Hall’s single season rushing record of 1,402 yards. Sapp-Lynch said breaking Hall’s record would be nothing personal, as he respects Hall as a running back and a person, but that being a backup at any position will make the next person want to do better than his predecessor.

“It’s not really a competition,” he said.

“He left some good impressions on this program, and I feel like I have to fill his shoes.”

Sapp-Lynch’s teammate and cousin, defensive back Dominique Harrison, said he has played football alongside Sapp-Lynch at times during their lives. But they attended rival high schools, which made the games their teams played against one another even more competitive. They decided to come to CCC together, and they are trying to go to the same Division I college together.

“We used to play against each other at rival high schools, but ended up going to the same college,” Harrison said. “That’s my right-hand man.”

One of the highlight’s of Sapp-Lynch’s season was the game on Oct. 5 at Sacramento City College. In that game he had 63 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but also added 117 receiving yards to his night.

The his most memorable play came on a two-point conversion to tie the game as time expired, forcing overtime.

The Panther defenders had Sapp-Lynch surrounded, but his instincts made him throw the ball back to quarterback Malik Watson who threw the ball in the end zone to wide receiver Terrance Barnes to score the twopoint conversion.

“I really don’t know what happened,” Sapp-Lynch said. “The linebacker kind of turned me around and I saw (Watson) and I just threw him the ball. I was surprised he threw it in for the two-point conversion.”

In his free time, Sapp-Lynch said he likes to “chill at home” and is “not a party hard type of person.”

He hopes to play football for a Pac-12 university, but said he would accept an offer from any college.