The Advocate 11-6

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VOL. 101, NO. 9

SINCE 1950 12 PAGES, ONE COPY FREE

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013 ACCENTADVOCATE.COM

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

Construction obstructs parking edit orial Parking problems hurt students

Closure of parking spots force students to park farther away from campus.

page 2

By Brian Boyle NEWS EDITOR

bboyle.theadvocate@gmail.com

Parking at Contra Costa College is set to become even more competitive, as Lot 5 was closed on Oct. 31 and Lot 7 will be closed in about two weeks.

The parking lots are being closed in order to house the construction being done for the new three-story classroom building and student activities center by Lathrop Construction, Inc. The affected lots are all adjacent to the construction site.

“We lost 17 spaces, all staff parking, with the closure of Lot 5,” Buildings

and Grounds Manager Bruce King said.

“We’re going to lose 26 spaces, 19 regular and seven handicap spaces, when Lot 7 closes in two weeks.”

King said that 15 spaces in Lot 3 will be converted from regular, student accessible parking to staff parking.

“We’re also looking at converting a few spaces in Lot 6 to additional handicap parking,” he said.

Parking at CCC is already hard to come by, with students often competing for parking spaces in order to get to class.

Behavioral science major Jorge Raya said, “I already have to park far from campus. I’m going to be forced to park

Lots to be closed Lot 5 was fenced off on Thursday, Lot 7 will close in two weeks, and Lot 8 won’t exist at the completion of construction.

Q SEE PARKING: Page 3

INFORGRAPHIC BY GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Car stolen from Lot 1 elevates concerns

A SECOND CHANCE

Police Services push for increased presence

By George Morin EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

gmorin.theadvocate@gmail.com

fell behind and then it snowballed out of control. Some of the students that come here start to earn straight A’s.”

The program is a part of the national Gateway to College program, which was started by Portland Community College in 2000 as a way for the education system to reconnect with high school dropouts.

According to the Gateway website, since its creation, the program X Gateway has evolved to exist in to College 23 different states and recruits focuses not only on students in dropouts but those at danger of risk of not graduating not graduatas well. ing from high “We’re basically a school. continuation school, but we’re different,” X The proCamacho said. gram has Like the other con- been at tinuation schools in the Contra Costa area, such as Gompers College since or North Campus, stu- August 2012. dents who come to the Gateway program often have discipline issues.

“We have access to their old records,” Camacho said. “I can’t tell you how many times you read: punished for cussing out teacher, fighting or truancy. But, at least in the group I oversee, we’ve seen more than a 90 percent reduction in instances like that.”

Camacho attributes this change in behavior the students exhibit to the clear expectations the program outlines for them, the stability the program’s structure

A dark blue two-door 1992 Honda Accord was stolen from Lot 1 adjacent to the Student Services Center on Oct. 22.

At 5:57 p.m. that evening the juvenile male student reported his vehicle stolen to Police Services.

Police have not identified the juvenile student by name and his age was not provided to the press.

Since the beginning of the fall semester there have been four vehicles stolen from campus.

Contra Costa College Police Services Lieutenant Jose Oliveira “We didn’t said the victim told police the really student drove to campus that morning and parked his car in have Lot 1 around 8 a.m. and did not much realize his vehicle was missing until the time of his report when clear he was done with his classes for informathe day.

The vehicle was recov- tion about ered by the Emeryville Police Department on Oct. 26 with no the vehicle report of damages or items missto put out ing from the vehicle.

A problem that occurred a bulletin during the investigation of this for it.” vehicle theft was the juvenile student just recently purchased Jose Oliveira, the vehicle and did not know the Police Services vehicle identification number or lieutenant the license plate number, Lt. Oliveira said.

“The student also left the pink slip and other important information that should have been brought to the Department of Motor Vehicles in the vehicle,” Oliveira said. “The person (who stole the car) could have taken that information and filled in themselves as the owner of the vehicle.”

Oliveira said due to the lack of information on the stolen vehicle, aside from its color and make, there was not enough information to issue a police bulletin.

“We didn’t really have much clear information about the vehicle to put out a bulletin for it,” he said.

On Oct. 25 the father of the juvenile student gave Police Services the license plate number of the stolen vehicle and the police were able to put out a bulletin about the vehicle being reported stolen.

“Once we got the message out to other police departments, the vehicle was found literally the next day,” Oliveira said.

The vehicle was recovered by the Emeryville Police Department on Oct. 26. There are currently no leads to who may have stolen the vehicle as of press time on Tuesday.

“This wasn’t the first vehicle theft of the year,”

Q SEE GATEWAY: Page 3

Q SEE THEFT: Page 3

JANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE

Showing concern — Gateway to College counselor Mel Collins (left) listens to Gateway to College student Aaron Nuila talk about his classes in AA-217 on Oct. 16. The program helps students turn their lives around.

GATEWAY

A to opportunity

By Brian Boyle NEWS EDITOR

bboyle.theadvocate@gmail.com

Nestled on the second floor of the Applied Arts Building, the Gateway to College program offers high school students at risk of not receiving a high school diploma a second chance.

The program, which has been at Contra Costa College since August 2012, is one that focuses on addressing the needs of high school students with a GPA of 2.0 or lower and who are at risk of not graduating, or have dropped out of high school altogether.

Gateway to College Director Karl Debro said, “It’s easy to fall through the cracks at a traditional high school. A lot of our students are people who just fell through the cracks.”

And Gateway is anything but traditional. The program is designed to appeal to students that have non-academic issues that affect their performance at school.

Gateway to College resource specialist Joseph Camacho said, “We deal with a lot of teenage pregnancy or teenage parenting issues. We help with access to childcare. We also deal with students on probation, as well as foster youth.”

The program couples students with a resource specialist who provides the students with additional one-on-one coun-

“(The Gateway to College program) is great. We’re surrounded by teachers that have been through what we’ve been through.

They’ve been down the same path we were on and were almost dropped from school.”

Alejandra Del Toro,

Gateway to College student

seling time, in order to better connect and tailor the program to their individual needs, Camacho said.

Much like the Middle College High School program (also on the CCC campus), Gateway gives high school students a chance to dual-enroll, and earn both high school credits and units at the college level.

Gateway to College student Jada Brown said, “It’s better than normal high school. Everything is more stable, which makes it a lot easier to focus on school.”

Debro said there is a negative attitude directed at the types of students Gateway aims to help — the students who need it most. He said the students are hit with a stigma telling them that they are stupid or lazy, which is not the case.

“When you work with these students you often hear the same story,” he said.

“They fell in with the wrong crowd, they

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Students receive second chance at educational lifestyle

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

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2 THE ADVOCATE Quotable “Journalism is not prophecy. It is strongest when it arrives at the unexpected and modestly sticks to the facts.”

Ward Just journalist, author 2001 George Morin editor-in-chief Rodney Woodson Cody McFarland associate editors 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. 6, 2013

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013 VOL. 101, NO. 9 L

Editorial Parking problems Campus construction to soon limit space

P

arking at Contra Costa College is a serious problem, one that will only get worse until it is addressed.

With the closure of more parking lots to house the construction projects being done on the Campus Center and Classroom buildings, students and faculty are going to be faced with a much more competitive parking situation.

Something has to be done to enhance parking at CCC. If students have to pay in order to park on campus, then there needs to be enough parking on campus to accommodate them.

Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said that the college might want to consider building a parking structure. He said it was not likely they ever would, due to funding issues, but it is still something to consider.

With limited space in the surrounding area available, the college may not have any other choice than to begin building up, instead of out.

A lack of parking on campus harms students’ ability to attend class, it harms a student’s mental well-being and it is an issue of student safety.

Limited parking can be very stressful on students.

The Franklin Institute has performed numerous studies which show how stress hampers the brain’s ability to learn. They have also performed studies that show stress also harms a person’s memory. Any amount of stress on students harms their ability to perform.

A lack of parking on campus also puts students at risk when they come to school. Students already park along the side streets connected to the college.

With the closure of even more parking lots, and with faculty spaces being made out of what is now student parking, even more students will be pushed to parking off campus.

The area surrounding CCC is far from the safest, especially in the evening. This year there have already been instances of car theft, armed robbery and drunken vagrancy on the campus.

When students are off campus they are under the protection of city police, who have a much larger area to patrol.

Areas around the campus are poorly lit. It simply is not safe to have students parking off campus to attend class.

District Governing Board President John Marquez has commented on the parking issues CCC faces at every single board meeting this year. The board is hoping to have a bond measure passed in 2014 in order to get more funding for the district.

Some of that money, if it passes, needs to be spent to increase the amount of parking offered to students at CCC. Some of that money should also be used to enhance the safety of everyone parking on a community college campus in the district.

LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

N adulthood

Anxiety, stress leads to a loss, lack of creativity

T

he past few years have been a whirlpool of emotional breakdowns and anxiety attacks for me.

Only after an anxiety attack left me momentarily paralyzed did I realize something had to be done.

Last month, after thinking my coping techniques were finally working, a series of attacks came to me almost every week. Just recently, I realized what really had happened.

I lost my creativity and my voice. The tension of constantly thinking about due dates and a new job began to build up and explode.

Once a confident young woman in high school, I knew I loved to write. I wrote short stories and jotted down the most random of thoughts into my journal. I even had a Xanga, an online journal much like the website Friendster. Before MySpace and Facebook, there was Friendster. Yes, it makes me feel old every time I even mention the name.

Nowadays, my only sort of deep thoughts are posts on Twitter, 140 characters or less at a time.

At 15, I interned for a Filipino-American organization doing outreach to high school students on sexual health. The real reason joining this organization has become such a relevant part of my life was because it gave me a voice.

The organization held events in which chapters would gather and hold art and poetry nights. It gave me a reason to do what I love and to show the public my

with “oh god, my student loan and insurance payment was due yesterday.”

Writing about my heritage and complicated feelings of a teenager have been replaced with tweets about my distaste for Kim Kardashian.

Adulthood ruins us and talent.

It even gave me an oppor- the only way to pick ourselves back up is knowing tunity to join a peaceful that hidden behind our worrally to help in fighting for Filipino-American veterans’ ried thoughts is creativity and an imagination. benefits. My photo We need to learn project of the rally how to find our was shown during an We need voice again to help art and poetry night us better understand at the Starry Plough to learn who we are. in Berkeley and I was Slowly, but suregiven the chance to how to ly, I am learning to perform two of my drag my body out of poems, one of which I bed and force myself sung to the audience. find our to get help for my I felt free because anxiety. any pent-up feeling or voice I refuse to take emotion was let out medication and want through my writing. again to to rely on knowing That creative outlet and believing that is currently gone due help us even the notion of to the reality of life. trying will pay off.

Working to achieve Working almost my dreams when I am better full-time during a plagued with debt and understand time in which you an anxiety disorder must apply to transcreates boundaries fer to a four-year that I’ve found myself who we university, keep constantly having to up with your bill break through. are. payments, school About 11 years work and maintain later, my journals are a steady relationship with tucked away collecting dust and my Wordpress has been those around you can be overwhelming. untouched for months.

But sometimes, your menThere are no poems or short stories even written on tal health needs a boost and a creative outlet is needed to my blog. Just blurbs about find peace in a hectic world. my bad days and what I think may be clever stateVeronica Santos is a scene ments that no one will undereditor of The Advocate. stand.

Contact her at vsantos.theadMy once imaginative thoughts have been replaced vocate@gmail.com.

veronicasantos

CampusComment

Is there enough parking available for students on campus?

“I park near the Gym, but even there it’s still hard for me to find a spot. With the lots getting ready to close, I’m going to have to get up even earlier to park.”

“The lots are filled up so I usually have to park on the street. We shouldn’t close down the lots because we actually need more parking spaces now.”

“There are so many people parking here (the campus) for morning classes that it’s always difficult for me to find a place to park on campus.”

“I don’t think there are enough parking spaces, and where will people park once the other lots are fenced off and closed down?”

Jordan Boone Olayinka Lawrence

Cynthia Ochoa psychology

Kenyatta Boddie undecided

JARED AMDAHL AND JANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE

Derrikka Miller medical assistant

“Not really, and it (parking on campus) will be even more hectic once the parking lots are closed down.”

medical science

liberal arts

“I don’t have a car, but if I did I wouldn’t try to park here.”

Precious Knighten psychology

CAMPUS BEAT Follow The Advocate

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013 l THE ADVOCATE

3

Parking Space limited due to construction

King said that the college should build a sixeven farther.� story parking structure to accommodate staff “I already have to park far Receive breaking news and Student Marisa Brown said, “Getting parkand student parking. He also said, however, that sports updates by following ing depends on how early you’re able to get from campus. I’m going to be a lack of funding means that would most likely The Advocate on Twitter and here. If you get here really, really early, it can be happen. forced to park even farther.� notKing Facebook. pretty easy. But if you get here by the afternoon, said the college Sustainability twitter.com/accentadvocate then it gets really hard to find a spot.�

Committee is looking at ways to encourage Jorge Raya, facebook.com/accentadvocate King admitted there is a shortage of parking students to carpool, bike or take public transporbehavioral science major at CCC. He said that students should remember tation to school, in order to relieve the parking there is parking along Mission Bell Drive, Shane congestion that exists.

Drive, Moraga Road and Castro Road, and that of our jurisdiction, but if we see something hapMarquez said, “Public transportation isn’t an parking there does not require a permit. pening while on patrol, we would react to it.� option. It’s very hard to have to rely on that if “About a year ago, the city of San Pablo let The extra parking area is not lit at all. you have to go to school and have a job.�

Q SUCCESS us have access to additional parking near the Moraga Road and Castro Road have street King said biking would become a much parking annex,� King said. “We have 75 addi- lamps, but the extra spaces added to the parking more viable option for students who attend tional parking spaces available to students at the annex are devoid of light at night.

CCC. The cities of San Pablo and El Sobrante old high school. They can get access to it from Hankins said in regards to safety in the extra are constructing bike paths that are supposed Moraga Road.� spaces, “As police we, of course, would always to connect to the college, King said. He also The parking, however, does have a time love more light.� said the college is looking at adding more bike A student success workshop frame to it. Gates separate different sections He said that adding anything to the extra repair stations, like the one in Lot 9 next to will be held in the Student Services of the extra parking given to the college by the parking is difficult because it belongs to the Police Services, as well as additional bike lockCenter Assessment Center on city and signs exist to let students know that at city and not to the college, meaning that college ers, so students can secure their bicycles while Thursday starting at 10 a.m.

3 p.m. the gates will be locked, thus cutting off officials cannot just add more lights or even in class.

A universities application work- much of the additional parking for the remain- cameras to the area.

King said the Sustainability Committee was shop will begin at 10 a.m. to help der of the day.

District Governing Board President John also considering adding a few carpool only students form their applications Michelle Perez, a police aide, said that the Marquez, who has been very vocal about his parking spots to the campus, in order to encourbefore their due dates. parking lot is patrolled by Police Services, and opinion on the parking situation at CCC at age students to band together and carpool to A Samuel Merritt University that they check to make sure students have a board meetings, said, “The issue of parking at the campus instead of driving their individual transfer representative will be tak- permit while parking in the extra space.

CCC is at the top of my list of concerns. We’re vehicles. ing appointments from 9:40 a.m. to Police Services Corporal Charles Hankins trying to recruit students to come here, but the Marquez said the board should work with 3 p.m. in the SSC. said, “We patrol that whole area. We patrol all college doesn’t have the (parking) spaces to the city and see about renting additional space There will also be a UCLA around Moraga Road. A lot of that area is out accommodate them.� to use as parking for students. transfer representative taking appointments on Tuesday from 9:40 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the SSC. At 1 p.m. there will be a UCLA presentation in the SSC. Everyone is encouraged to attend the workshops if they are interested in transferring.

Q FROM: Page 1 For more information about the Oliveira said. “But I wouldn’t say workshops call counselor Andrea there is a spike in vehicle thefts Phillips at 510-215-3914. here at the college. But even one To make an appointment please vehicle being stolen is unacceptcall the Counseling Office at 510- able.�

215-3936 or at 510-215-3924.

Two vehicles were stolen from the campus on Sept. 24. The first car was reported stolen from upper campus on Campus Drive at 12:05 Q HOLIDAY p.m. and another was stolen later that day at 10:38 p.m..

On Oct. 2 a vehicle was reported stolen from Lot 2 at approximately 4 p.m.

This would make the Honda The campus will be closed on Accord the fourth vehicle to be stoMonday in observance of Veteran’s len from the campus since the start Day. of the fall semester.

Classes will reconvene on “I don’t see a pattern in these Tuesday. crimes,� Oliveira said. “But, in general, (the west) side of campus tends to be problematic with crime.�

Q WORKSHOP Police Services just hired three new police aides to replace three former police aides who had quit.

Oliveira said he plans to hire even more aides to deter future crimes.

The United Faculty will host “Especially with the construca workshop for full-time and tion that is going to begin (on part-time faculty on issues relat- campus), we (Police Services) are GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE ed to retirement on Friday in the going to need to have a bigger New addition — The Contra Costa Community College District funded two new golf carts, priBusiness and Foreign Languages presence on campus to help people marily used by police aides, that feature a constant yellow strobe light atop the cart.

Conference Room at Diablo Valley navigate the new paths and make College at 1 p.m. sure those paths are being regularly Police Services recently received fall 2011 semester. Installation of while I have class. Police Services United Faculty Benefits Director patrolled,� he said. two “brand new� golf carts for cameras in all parking lots would can’t watch every parking lot at all Deborah Dahl-Shanks will present Police Services has three police police aides to patrol the cam- be a very expensive solution to the times.� the workshop to provide informa- aides patrolling the campus from pus. The Contra Costa Community threat of car thefts for the college, Psychology major Viviana tion about retirement for full-time the hours of 8 a.m. to noon and College District provided funding Oliveira said.

Montano agrees. and part-time faculty. then two aides from noon to 5 p.m. for the two new carts, he said.

A proposal from the Safety “At night, some of the parking There will be lunch served at Later in the evenings there are “Having these golf carts adds Committee includes the installation lots on campus aren’t very well 12:30 p.m. usually five police aides scattered a visual deterrent. On top of each of surveillance cameras around the lit,� Montano said. “I’m sure the For directions or details contact around campus, Oliveira said. of the golf carts is a yellow strobe three entrances to the college on darker parking lots provide more the United Faculty Office at 925“Their (police aides’) schedules light that is always on,� Oliveira Castro Road, Mission Bell Drive opportunities for criminals.�

680-1771. fluctuate due to school, so we try said. “Especially at night, these and Mills Avenue.

Oliveira said, “If you see someour best to make sure that we have lights can be seen from a long Some students said they feel one trying to steal or break into a a large presence on campus,� he distance. It gives the feeling that worried about leaving their cars car, do not approach them. Get on a said. security is floating around.� parked on campus. cell phone and dial 911; let us (the He said the campus usually has Surveillance cameras were Behavioral science major Jorge police) borrow your eyes and ears. at least two patrolling police offi- installed at the Bus Transfer Station Raya said, “I don’t feel safe leav- Don’t be a hero — we have police cers “on any given day.� due to a spike in robberies in the ing my car unattended all day long for that.�

Tuesday, Oct. 22: A student reported his/her vehiADVERTISEMENT cle stolen from Lot 1.

Q FROM: Page 1

Newsline

Representatives to visit campus

Theft Stolen vehicle raises student concern

College closed on Veteran’s Day

United Faculty to host event

CrimeWatch

Gateway Fresh start

Friday, Oct. 25: A fire burned a hillside on the upper campus across from Upper Campus Drive. The Richmond Fire Q FROM: Page 1 Department responded to extin- offers and the relationships students culguish it. tivate with their professors and support staff in the program.

Monday, Oct. 28: Camacho said students often feel like A staff member’s wallet was they were abandoned by the education stolen from his/her office by an system, that they are not meant to sucunknown suspect. ceed academically. At the Gateway program, students are told success is as Tuesday, Oct. 29: easy as coming everyday, being on time, An officer conducted a traffic having a positive attitude and applying stop and it was determined the themselves to their work. driver had a suspended license. The “I tell my students that if they do those things, I’ll get them the rest of the way,� subject was cited and released. he said.

Thursday, Oct. 31: First semester Gateway student A female non-student was lying Alejandra Del Toro said, “(The Gateway on a bench at the Bus Transfer to College program) is great. We’re Station. She was unresponsive and surrounded by teachers that have been appeared to be intoxicated. through what we’ve been through.

They’ve been down the same path we — George Morin were on and were almost dropped from school.�

Del Toro said that counselors in the Gateway program are constantly guiding students to make sure they do not go down the same path, adding, “At other schools it feels like the teachers don’t In the Oct. 23 issue of The care.�

Advocate on page B3 in the artiCamacho said each resource specialcle “College lacks adequate pre- ist is responsible for recruiting potential paredness supply,� social sciences students from high schools in the surdepartment Chairperson Manu rounding area.

Ampim was misidentified as the He said they partner with West County sociology department chairperson. Unified School District officials, as well The Advocate regrets the error. as counselors and administrators at local high schools, to identify and connect with students that have dropped out or

Correction

“I was a high school dropout and I don’t know if I could do the things these students are accomplishing.�

Joseph Camacho,

Gateway to College resource specialist

may not graduate.

The Gateway to College program hosts an information session at the high school and gives the students a chance to learn more. “Some of the kids show up just to get out of class,� Camacho said. “Interest varies, but a lot of students are interested, and see us as an alternative to high school.�

Camacho said the national Gateway to College agency has recognized CCC’s program for its increase in attendance rates and academic performance of their students.

He said he feels very fortunate to get to work with the students in the Gateway to College program every day. “The most surprising thing about working for Gateway is the challenges these students have to overcome and their resilience,� Camacho said. “I was a high school dropout and I don’t know if I could do the things these students are accomplishing.�

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4 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013

CAMPUS BEAT

Doty follows in family footsteps

“He makes sure everything runs smoothly and that is what I expect out of student workers,” Oliveira said.

Oliveira mentioned one instance at a football in October where Doty was not scheduled to work but was called in and

By Christian Urrutia then did more than what was expected of PHOTO EDITOR him. currutia.theadvocate@gmail.com “(Athletic Director John Wade) said how he appreciated Billy and how he went out Ensuring safety for others on campus and of his way to help him during that game,” helping someone with homework do not Oliveira said. usually go hand-in-hand, but for psycholWade said CCC was very fortunate to ogy major Billy Doty, it is simply his daily have Doty at the game, ensuring any tenroutine. sion caused by college rivalries would be Doty, who is now working his third checked. semester as a campus police aide, spent time “Police Services (aide) Doty is a class tutoring students in English in the College act and is someone who we hope to have at Skills Center prior to his current job. every one of our games,” Wade said.

“Originally, I wasn’t the best at English Oliveira said Doty takes Chief Charles in high school but I knew the struggle stu- Gibson’s philosophy to heart about being a dents went through,” Doty said. “I felt like goodwill ambassador and shows that police the opportunity was there to help students do aides are not just mean guys going around well in English on a college level.” giving out tickets.

He said he was always better at math, “He’s a helpful person who goes out of but after a few classes, he his way to assist people found himself excelling a daily basis around “He definitely has a on in English. the school,” Oliveira “I enjoy helping people said. “I noticed he has leadership role and and tutoring is a gratificastarted taking more of a he treats the newer tion for myself because leadership role with some of how I can sometimes of the new recruits and recruits as younger help students grasp matealways looks for ways to siblings.” rial they were not able improve.” to before and by making One of the first semesCharleston Miranda, sure they were able to ter police aides, adminisfirst semester police aide pass,” Doty said. tration of justice major Doty came to Contra Charleston Miranda, Costa College in 2008, when he enrolled in praised Doty’s teaching style. He said Doty an English elective course taught by tutoring taught him how to act while on duty. instructor Jason Berner, who would later “He definitely has a leadership role and serve at Doty’s employer while working in he treats the newer recruits as younger sibthe College Skills Center. lings,” Miranda said.

Miranda said Doty makes sure what he is Berner said he recognized that Doty was a good student from the beginning. He said explaining is understood and shows how to Doty was always willing and able to help his handle certain situations.

“Speaking with individuals and knowing classmates with their work.

“He knows his stuff and since it was an which police codes to apply are just some of elective he didn’t necessarily need to take the things he goes over with me until I get it,” Berner said. “The big thing in being a it,” Miranda said.

Doty said he has a family history of sertutor is conscientiousness and being engagvice in the police. His uncle, grandfather, ing. That’s why he does the job so well.”

He said Doty is always willing to take on and cousin were all involved in law enforcement. This serves as his motivation to join more responsibility and is very dependable.

“He was always driven to help other stu- the police academy after he graduates.

“It has been an unspoken tradition in my dents,” Berner said.

Doty first applied to be a police aide in family and I hope to apply to local depart2011, but another applicant was chosen over ments or possibly work here at CCC,” Doty said. him.

Doty said working with the police offiFrom there he went on to work at the College Skills Center. But when several cers on campus has shown what is expected police aides quit in 2012, Doty was hired as while on duty and credits them for teaching him how to paid attention to detail. a replacement.

He said his experience as a police aide “(As a police aide) we’re the face of Police Services on campus and people come has given him knowledge of the college he to us to help them resolve whatever problem would hope to retain if he were to work at there may be,” Doty said. “Sometimes we’re CCC. “I would love to work for Chief Gibson not equipped enough to handle everything and be able to serve the community as I am we come across, but we do what we can.”

Police Services Lieutenant Jose Oliveira now,” he said. has only positive things to say about Doty.

WATCHFUL EYE

Police aide tutors, protects student body

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Standing proud — Psychology major Billy Doty is serving his third semester as a police aide and hopes to join the police academy after he graduates this coming spring.

Financial aid concerns affect students Late checks, long waitlists hurt applicants

ASU Senator Daniella Solano said that the Financial Aid Office may also see more closures this semester to process the backlog of applications.

“We have a small office, and there are a handful of permanent (employees), but it’s mostly just

By Lorenzo Morotti EDITORIAL CARTOONIST hourly personnel,” Greene said. “I lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com have to do a lot.”

Greene said she thinks students Students petitioning the become frustrated because the proFinancial Aid Office quickly real- cedure is not as transparent as they ize the service falls short of being want it to be. timely.

“We don’t get any more comSociology majors Beverly plaints than any other office,” she Mann and Niomi Wesly walked said. into the Associated Students Union ASU President Ysreal Condori meeting on Oct. 23 when Mann’s said during a meeting that last financial aid check did not arrive semester a survey was conducted when she was told it would. to determine which services proWesly said that the application vided by the campus were liked process is very difficult to under- the most. stand. She said the people work“Financial aid was the least ing at the finanliked,” he said cial aid desk referencing the “I still have not gotsurvey. are unhelpful, ten my check. Most unorganized Condori and rude. added that he people have already is unsure if the “Students are suffering. people working and the semester is the Financial We don’t have almost over. I had to in a voice,” she Aid Office are said. buy books for classes at fault for the Student backup or if it is S e r v i c e s myself. I didn’t get the the service as a whole. He said Coordinator check in time.”

Letta Greene that this is a resaid that the occurring issue.

Changez Shalmani, process should Greene said financial aid applicant take one to two students are weeks, but the number of students not taking advantage of online applying for financial help is in the resources where all the informathousands at Contra Costa College tion regarding their financial aid and the Financial Aid Office is status can be found. understaffed.

“I’ve seen students wait for Financial aid workshops and longer than an hour to get informadrop-in appointments were sus- tion they could have found on the pended last week in order for the website,” she said. staff to catch up on processing First time financial aid applifinancial assistance applications. cant Changez Shalmani said he

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Financial frustrations — Many students have voiced their opinions and concerns about the college’s financial aid services as being difficult and slow with information. Financial aid workers say the issue is that the service isn’t as transparent as students want it to be. has yet to receive his financial aid check even though filed his FAFSA in February. He said that the office lost his information and none of his information was posted on the website.

“I still have not gotten my check. Most people have already and the semester is almost over,” Shalmani said. “I had to buy books for classes myself. I didn’t get the check in time.”

Shalmani, unlike Wesly and Mann, believes that the people behind the counter are not to blame and has never experienced bad customer service from the staff.

Behind the counter in the Financial Aid Office you can find nursing major Leah Ajayi. She said that she does not think that her job is very stressful. She said she has not had to deal with students’ frustrations but there are always unreasonable people out there.

Ajayi has only been working in the office since August, roughly three months.

Student Erick Chivichon said as he sat filling out paperwork in the financial aid lobby, something that he has done many times before.

“Dealing with financial aid is the most stressful part of attending

CCC.” “If you want to transfer you need a scholarship, but the website is not up-to-date so it makes it confusing.” Chivichon said.

He also said that people working in the Financial Aid Office have lost his personal information before. He said he has become frustrated and that students’ motivation to succeed is undercut by dispassionate financial aid staff.

“I’ve been here for four years now,” Chivichon said. “I’m about to transfer. I’ve been dealing with financial aid for too long.”

CAMPUS BEAT

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013 l THE ADVOCATE

Campus shows a desire to learn

By Jared Amdahl OPINION EDITOR

jamadahl.theadvocate@gmail.com

In January of this year, Contra Costa College adopted a new learning management system that is used for online courses.

Desire 2 Learn, which is being implemented at all colleges in the district, has replaced WebCT as the system that allows students to participate in online and hybrid courses from a personal computer.

“Something like D2L is a very simple source of support,” librarian and bibliographic professor Judith Flum said. “Almost two-and-a-half years ago the district decided to administer the switch to whichever learning management system would win through the bidding process, and D2L was the winner.”

Also the college’s distance education coordinator, Flum is heavily involved in the process of not only implementing D2L into the college’s curriculum, but also training staff, faculty and students on how to use the software.

“A learning management system is

important,” she said. “Fewer students here are used to online courses and we found some are not successful. I’m helping to train people on how to use D2L. There seems to be a lot of interest in it. Students are slowly being exposed to the system and responding to it well.”

Desire 2 Learn, much like the college’s InSite Portal, allows the passage of information such as documents and emails, but because it is virtual classroom, it goes much further.

“There are many uses for a learning management system. For instance, you can teach the same course in more than one format,” Flum said.

Library Skills 110, a class Flum teaches through D2L, has a news section on the homepage that offers updates on office hours and due dates for assignments. On the left hand side of the screen there is the content browser, which houses all the assignments and quizzes for the course.

“A very interesting aspect of D2L is that it has its own email system that can be referred to a student’s personal emails, whether it be gmail or their InSite email even,” Flum said.

“Along with that, D2L allows for cell phone registration that permits class updates and notifications to be sent directly to a student’s mobile device.”

As a member of the district’s learning management system task force, Flum says D2L is a definite upgrade from WebCT, the old software the college used to use.

College Technology Systems Manager James Eyestone agrees.

“It is superior in many ways, with a lot of the features being automated, such as enrolling,” Eyestone said.

Students can log in to D2L through the college’s website and, once they register for an online class, the system will enroll them into that course automatically.

Primarily playing a support role, Eyestone responds to those who need help understanding D2L and the changes.

“While the colleges are using the same system, each course is still directly linked to each campus,” Eyestone said.

A student enrolled in classes at CCC can concurrently enroll into an online course being offered at Diablo Valley College, and receive credit, he said.

5

“At one point the campuses had different software for online courses. The district will now be on one central source. Although it is an outside party, it is now on one system,” he said.

Students are now able to log in to D2L with the same username and password as their InSite Portal account, which helps with integrating students into online courses, he said.

Oliver Johnson, a biology major, has taken several online courses using both programs and says that D2L is not only easier to understand, but much more responsive.

Flum said, “In the past the college had to purchase their own contract and those can be quite expensive. WebCT served its function and other contracts were too expensive, so we kept WebCT for as long as we could.”

A hybrid class is primarily online, but have more than one meeting date unlike traditional online courses.

Traditional online courses meet for an orientation and continue the rest of the course strictly through the online medium.

A hybrid class on the other hand has more live sessions.

Community supporters walk for Veteran’s Center

By George Morin EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

gmorin.theadvocate@gmail.com

EL SOBRANTE — A partnership between the El Sobrante and San Pablo rotary clubs and Contra Costa College hosted a walk-athon to raise money to construct a Veteran’s Center on campus.

The fundraiser was on Saturday at Kennedy Grove Park in El Sobrante.

About 30 people walked laps to raise money from the sponsors that signed up to donate money to the cause based upon the number of laps the walker they sponsored completed.

Participants walked the trail from 10 a.m. to noon. Water and food were provided for participants at the park.

Administration of justice department Chairperson Rick Ramos said, “We were struggling for funding and finding a space at the college to put in a (veteran’s) center.”

The money allocated from the fundraiser will go directly toward the creation of a Veteran’s Center at the college. The center will provide veterans a means for a smoother transition from the military to a college lifestyle.

Ramos got in contact with El Sobrante Rotary Club member John Bernardin about the possibility of helping veterans in the local community.

Bernardin and Ramos met with CCC President Denise Noldon at the college to discuss what they

could do to help raise funds.

As a group they came up with the idea for a walk-a-thon to fundraise for a Veteran’s Center at the college.

In the past, previous student life coordinator Kelly Ramos would help veterans with information and other services, but because of a family illness she is away from the college leaving a vacancy for that particular service.

“Hearing from veterans in the area that we don’t have enough outreach in (the East Bay) raised concerns to me,” El Sobrante Rotary Club member Randall Stevenson said. “The community needs a place where they can go for support, counseling, finances — just about anything someone in their shoes may need.”

The Veteran’s Center will provide information regarding G.I. Bill benefits, resources, job and career assistance and provide a location on campus for veterans to meet and discuss issues that concern them.

“Hopefully this will help build a partnership between community veteran organizations and services with veterans at Contra Costa College,” Stevenson said.

San Pablo Rotary Club member Jaime Rascon said, “They (veterans) put the country first, (so) this is the least we can do to support them.”

Rascon said it is good to see the community supporting their vets.

District Governing Board interim President John Marquez, who went to Contra Costa College

in the 1970s, had his education funded through the G.I. Bill, which provides funding for education and living costs for veterans for up to 36 months.

“This issue is very close to my heart. I am a veteran myself,” Marquez said. “Veterans need support and having a (veteran’s) center at college could really benefit them.”

El Sobrante Rotary Club member and U.S. veteran Richard McCloskey said, “(Veterans) need all the help they can get from the community.”

Dr. Noldon said she feels passionate about the subject of veterans.

“A Veteran’s Center at the college would be very beneficial for the college community,” Noldon said. “My father was a veteran.

Veteran’s deserve our support.”

Many of the walkers were happy to see a warm and sunny morning in November.

“It’s a beautiful day here (Kennedy Grove Park. You couldn’t ask for better weather,” Marquez said.

Academic Senate President Wayne Organ’s wife, Annie Organ, agreed.

“I’m delighted to attend this event, especially with it being such a gorgeous day,” she said.

Wayne Organ and Noldon had a friendly wager at the walk-a-thon.

Whichever of them walked the least amount of laps had to donate an extra $100 to the construction of the Veteran’s Center. “(The walk-a-thon) is for a

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Enjoying the sun — Contra Costa College President Denise Noldon (left) walks with El Sobrante Rotary Club member Richard McCloskey during the Walk-A-Thon to raise funds to build a Veteran’s Center on campus. The event was held at Kennedy Grove Park in El Sobrante on Saturday. good cause, so the bet between Dr. Noldon and I is good hearted no matter who is the victor,” Organ said.

Stevenson said he plans to try and make the walk-a-thon an annual event.

“The turnout was pretty good for only having six weeks to put this all together,” Stevenson said.

“So hopefully with more time we can really get a bunch of people out to support our veterans.”

There will be a mixer on Friday at 2 p.m. in the Three Seasons Restaurant where Noldon and others in the President’s Cabinet will meet with members of the El Sobrante and San Pablo rotary clubs to discuss future events.

Knox Center to host speech showcase

By Jose Jimenez STAFF WRITER

jjimenez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Contra Costa College’s award-winning speech and debate team will host the annual Student Speaker Showcase in the Knox Center on from 7 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 14.

The Speaker Showcase is an on-campus event where alumni can return to celebrate achievements and share them with family, friends and the campus community, while current students get a chance to display material they have worked on all semester. The entire event is geared toward demonstrating the many different angles of art through speaking, speech department Chairperson Sherry Diestler said.

“It’s a great way to see our students who

won awards in action,” Diestler said. “It’s kind of like the Olympics. Students get to perform the material they have been working on this semester and that has won in past shows, and demonstrate the different styles of competitive speeches that are performed in the Northern California region, and state overall.”

Students with less experience giving speeches or performing will not be left out, she said. Students from the drama department or those who are currently enrolled in a speech class will also be given the chance to participate in the showcase and gain experience in performing in front of a live audience.

Whether or not a student signed up for the minimum of .5 units or a full 3-unit speech class, everyone is welcome to attend

and show their talents and support, she said.

It is also an opportunity for the speech department to recruit new students that might be interested in joining the speech and debate team, Diestler said.

She said speeches crafted by students to inform or persuade, alongside those daring enough to perform impromptu, will headline the showcase and will keep the audience intrigued and attentive.

In previous Student Speaker Showcases, presenters would touch on sensitive topics such as abusive relationships, the use of stereotypes in marketing and racism in general.

More light-hearted informative speeches will be delivered during the event as well, such as the award-winning speech on an atmospheric water generator that was pre-

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sented at the last showcase, Diestler said.

There will also be a parliamentary-style debate, an event focused on defining the parameters of a debate, addressing all contentions and achieving a resolution through the use of logic and ability more so than the presentation of evidence.

Diestler said, “There will be a parliamentary debate on a current political situation relevant to today’s society. It will take a very spirited pro and con type of approach.”

Students enrolled in Speech 141, 142, 160A and 160B are required to attend the event.

The price for admission to the showcase is $10, but CCC students can receive a 50 percent discount if they choose to purchase a ticket in advance from any of the speech instructors located in AA-113A and -113B.

6 THE ADVOCATE

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l WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013

RELAXATION

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Outreach — Physical education professor Beth Goehring (center) and her students perform one of the asauna techniques that is taught during a Yoga class in GA-20 on Mondays and Wednesdays.

BALANCING BODY MIND AND

Class helps students add strength while reducing stress levels

By Ryan Margason STAFF WRITER

rmargason.theadvocate@gmail.com

“Yoga is to clear your mind and to let go of the stress in your life,” yoga professor Beth Goehring said.

The sound of calm music and the sight and smell of candles create a stress-free and relaxed environment in the class, held in GA-20 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

As many students today are forced to juggle their schoolwork, home life and jobs, it is not a big surprise that more students are enrolling in yoga classes, Goehring said.

Strength, balance and flexibility are the key elements in yoga, she said.

“Every other (physical education) course is high intensity, so I wanted to add a balance.”

Practicing yoga over a period of time not

“At my age, my body is less flexible. Yoga helps me maintain what strength I have left. It also helps the body to regenerate and keep the bones strong.”

Marva Marvadycus, music major

only eliminates stress and enhances flexibility, it also improves core strength and equilibrium, she said.

The class begins with poses such as the fire log and the lotus position in order to help attendees stretch their hips and groin areas.

Such poses assist in relaxing one’s breath and mind.

Goehring, who has been teaching at Contra Costa College since the 90s, said she teaches close to 75 different poses in the class, consisting of both regular and modified poses.

Immediately following such poses as the fire log, the class then does forward bend

poses, such as downward-facing dog, to help stretch the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches and hands. Forward bend poses can also help calm their brains and help relieve stress and depression, Goehring said.

Some students find that practicing yoga is a way to keep flexible and strong at an older age.

Marva Marvadycus, a 61-year-old music major, said, “At my age, my body is less flexible. Yoga helps me maintain what strength I have left. It also helps the body to regenerate and keep the bones strong.”

Nursing major Jane Khanchalem agrees that yoga helps strengthen the body, but also values its ability to eliminate stress.

“The added benefit of yoga for me is the strength,” Khanchalem said. “I enrolled in this class for relaxation from stress. I am a mother of two, so sometimes this is a way to escape from reality.”

The yoga class is a tool for relaxation for other students as well.

Nursing major Michael Hee said, “I needed yoga for PE credit, but I also do it to relax and for stress release. I also do martial arts, so it all ties in together.”

One of many poses done in the class is the cobra, which stretches the shoul-

ders, abdomen, chest and lungs. Warrior two is another pose taught in the class that can strengthen and stretch the legs and ankles. This can also help stretch the groin, chest, lungs, back and shoulder areas.

Goehring Toward the end of the class session, Goehring She leads takes students into a med- the class itative state with breath- with difing techniques like the ferent skull shining breath. yoga posiTo practice this tech- tions and nique, students exhale stretches. through the lower stom- The class ach between the pubis focuses on and navel, which pushes balancing air out of the lungs, and body and inhale as a response to the mind. release of this contraction, which sucks air back into the lungs.

Physical education major Aundria Begide said the class is an opportunity to keep toned physically and to balance one’s stress in her mind.

Dance class gives students poise, discipline used by ballerinas.

Students then practice their jumps and leaps and continue the class perfecting their dance routine. Clarke plays classical music and dances with her students. She then watches as they perform their routines and addresses what they

By Veronica Santos must work on.

SCENE EDITOR ”Everybody in the mirror is your vsantos.theadvocate@gmail.com audience. If you smile at them, they Since she began teaching at will smile at you,” Clarke said to Contra Costa College in 2006, her class. And as soon as her stuadjunct dance professor Natalia dents raised their heads in the same Clarke has had one goal — to get direction with a smile, postures students to perform. became stately.

As a professional ballroom The students repeat the routine dancer who represented her country over and over as Clarke makes of Ukraine in an international com- corrections and answers questions petition, she knows that to perform any of them may have after the well, dancers routine. must learn the “Raise your “I want them (stubasics. hands, don’t be Clarke cre- dents) not to be afraid afraid to ask. It’s ated a ballet about musto dance and not be all class where stucle memory,” dents can carry afraid of the audience.” she said. Ballet over these basic needs repetition skills and apply and knowing Natalia Clarke, them to other the routine. adjunct dance professor forms of dance.

Student “Every dance needs discipline. Irene Liu, who teaches introducBallet lays a foundation,” Clarke tory dance to home schooled junior said. “Even some ice skaters and and high school students, said she gymnasts are required to take is taking the class to improve her ballet. Some basketball players own teaching skills. have taken ballet to practice their ”I have never had the patience jumps.” for ballet,” Liu said. “So I decided Each class starts with floor to give it another try and I’m hapexercises then moves to exercises pily surprised to find I love this on the barre, a stationary handrail class and I’m looking forward to

Professional ballroom dancer teaches ballet

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Wide reach — Ballet professor Natalia Clarke shows students dancing moves and positions during her night ballet class in GA-10 on Oct. 16. completing it.”

Clarke uses metaphors to help students better understand how to move their bodies. Liu said Clarke expects her students to feel the music and even creates sound effects that help them with their movement.

According to Clarke, ballet has not been taught at CCC for more than two years. Due to the high demand from her students and new funding, she was able to revive the class. The class includes about 30 students, four of whom are male.

“My goal is always to get people to perform,” Clarke said. “When they spend all that time learning a dance and not performing, it’s like spending all your time making dinner and no one comes to eat.”

Clarke admits that she does not ask or tell her students that they

should perform. She said sometimes after students hear of performing, they have a tendency to drop the class. However, once she senses more confidence in her students, she encourages them to show off to the public what they have learned.

Dance major Garrett Bomberry said, “It’s not intensive. People come in all levels of skill.”

He said learning control is the most important factor in ballet.

Liu said, “Ballet definitely makes you stronger and more flexible. It keeps your mind sharp as far as mind and body coordination.”

Clarke said, “You can tell when a woman takes ballet from her posture.”

Her son, Greg Chapkis, is a studio owner and hip-hop choreographer. He has been a finalist on

shows such as “So You Think You Can Dance?” and “America’s Got Talent.”

Clarke attributed her son’s success in hip-hop to the ballet she made him learn as a child.

Her students will be performing at the Contra Costa Community College District’s 65th anniversary event in December in Martinez.

She has also scheduled them to perform at a Christmas parade in Vallejo with the help of her students from Cal State-Maritime Academy.

“I want them (students) not to be afraid to dance and not be afraid of the audience,” Clarke said.

“Dance teaches them how to express themselves. I show them that whatever professions they pick, they are also performing in public.”

SCENE

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013 l THE ADVOCATE

7

LOU REED

10' 9+.& 9#.Remembering the mastermind behind rock ’n’ roll innovators The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed dies at 71, leaving behind a five-decade legacy of influence

By Brian Boyle NEWS EDITOR

bboyle.theadvocate@gmail.com

Wild sex, rampant and dangerous drug use and a blatant disrespect for authority — these are the things that have always defined rock ’n’ roll.

These are the things that defined Lou Reed.

Reed died on Oct. 27 of a complication related to the liver transplant he received earlier this year. He was 71 years old.

With 16 albums under his belt, the former front man of the 1960s rock group The Velvet Underground has often been called one of the most influential men in rock ’n’ roll by music critics throughout the country. He’s been cited as an influence by bands ranging from The Rolling Stones to Death Cab For Cutie.

U2 front man Bono once said, “Every song we’ve ever written has been a rip off of a Lou Reed song.”

A Tribe Called Quest used Reed’s music for the backing of its famous track “Can I Kick It?” From the Sex Pistols, whose front man Sid Vicious took his name direct-

ly from a Lou Reed song, to Metallica, almost every major act in rock ’n’ roll for the last 50 years has been influenced by Reed.

Most known for his 1972 single “Walk on the Wild Side,” Reed has been called “the godfather of punk” by critics. David Bowie described his music as “eye opening.”

A former member of The Velvet Underground, John Cale, said, “(Reed) was the most difficult person I’ve ever worked with.”

Born on March 2, 1942, the Brooklyn native’s death, while tragic, has come as little surprise to his fans.

The phrase “unexpected and inevitable” littered articles written about Reed’s death.

The liver transplant, which would eventually cause the complications that caused his death, was described as Reed himself to be a stopgap measure.

It was his hope that it could help combat the years of abuse he put his body through.

With songs like “Heroin” and “White Light/White Heat,” Reed never tried to

hide his use of narcotics, as well as amphetamines.

The abuse of Reed’s body started young, and was not his own doing.

When he was 17 years old, his parents had him put through electroconvulsive therapy in hopes of curing his bisexuality.

Reed described the experience as “zombifying.”

He attended Syracuse University, where he studied under poet Delmore Schwartz. Reed said, “He (Schwartz) was the first great person I ever met.”

While at Syracuse, as a testament to his lifelong problem with authority, Reed was in the ROTC program. He was expelled from the program after holding a gun to his commanding officer’s head — albeit an unloaded one.

From 1965-1970 Reed was the front man for The Velvet Underground. The group at the time did not receive much attention, but its work has been cited as a major influence for some of the biggest names in rock history, including its contemporaries The Rolling Stones and David Bowie.

Musician Brian Eno said of The Velvet Underground, “That first album must have sold 30,000 copies.

But each of those 30,000 people went out and started a band.”

Reed was a regular face at The Velvet Underground manager Andy Warhol’s art studio in New York. Known as The Factory, the studio was famous largely due to the wild, drug-fueled orgies Warhol regularly hosted.

Reed’s solo career started in 1970, when he left The Velvet Underground. His solo career was a career as a pioneer. Reed was forever reinventing himself, changing not only the sound of his music, but also his style as he did so. Reed’s style influenced the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Green Day and the entire “glam rock” movement of the 1970s.

He was often marked as rude. He had a reputation for being mean, and difficult to work with.

The Pretenders’ lead vocalist Chrissie Hyndes said Reed hated his fans.

In the 1970s Reed received extreme critic disapproval when he released a full-length album that was nothing more than machine generated feedback. Critics saw it as a blatant sign of disrespect toward his fans.

Reed once said, “My bullshit is

worth more than other people’s diamonds.”

Though he may have been a disagreeable person, he changed the face of music completely.

Coming at a time when he was competing with the complicated guitar riffs of Jimi Hendrix and the harmonies of British rock group The Beatles, Reed’s music was a very unique breath of fresh air. He served as a break from the relentless sounds of what was popular at the time.

Reed was a minimalist. His music was gentle. He was not trying to challenge his audience with his melodies and his music was not meant to be psychedelic.

Reed’s music is like the narcotics he was on while writing it: gritty and relaxing, filthy yet blissful.

His music was soulful while he sang about debauchery. His music was beautiful while it showed listeners how ugly life could be.

Reed’s music, instead, challenges its listeners’ sensibilities with the subjects the musician sang about. With song subjects ranging from transsexual prostitutes, hardcore drug use and sadomasochistic sex, Reed’s coupling of the subjects with calm melodies and soothing bass lines were entirely unheard of at the time.

Reed said, “One chord is fine. Two is pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.”

Reed ripped rock from the hands of hippies and dragged it into the city.

Though the arrangements he wrote are soothing, relaxed and calm, his subjects are as honest as they are ugly.

While The Beatles teased at an acid trip in their cleverly named song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” Reed sang, “Cause it makes me feel like a man/when I put a spike into my vein.”

The most outstanding feature of Reed is just how honest he was in his music.

Rolling Stone magazine once said Reed’s voice was “incapable of bullshit” and that quality alone elevated him above the musicians of his day.

Reed sang about drug use, but he did not disguise it. He sang about sex, but in doing so he brought listeners into the bedroom instead of waiting in the hall.

Reed was singing about whips and chains before Rihanna was born.

A few short years after the world was reeling due to Elvis’ gyrating hips, Reed was singing about a girl who “never got ahead, even while she was giving head.”

Reed’s music is a window that provides a clear look into who we all are as people. He sang honestly about the getting high, the sex, the success, the failure — and the humanity that was occurring all around him.

Reed did not sing about ideals. He did not sing about morals. Reed sang about humanity. His music challenges listeners to be honest with who they are as a person, and to accept it.

Reed did not sing about junkies or perverts. Reed sang about people.

And he did it well.

8 THE ADVOCATE

CAMPUS BEAT

l WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013

Annual event raises $60,000

RUNNING FOR A CAUSE

Chevron contributes $30,000 toward cause

By Heather Wallin SCENE EDITOR

hwallin.theadvocate@gmail.com

RICHMOND — Volunteers and supporters alike gathered on a cloudless, sunny Saturday morning for the 27th Annual Greater Richmond Interfaith Program Harmony Walk and 5K Run to End Homelessness on Oct. 26 at the Richmond Civic Center Plaza.

Richmond’s oldest company, the Chevron Richmond Refinery, sponsored the community outreach program and was this year’s biggest contributor of $30,000.

With Chevron Richmond’s help, $60,000 was raised for GRIP, along with Easter Hill United Methodist Church and Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley.

This year’s attendees numbered fewer than in 2012 and was $40,000 short of its $100,000 goal, GRIP Program Director Kia Croom said.

According to Croom, there are more than 5,000 registered volunteers and hundreds of generous donors within GRIP. “That’s what keeps us afloat,” she said.

Former KTVU Channel 2 news reporter Kraig Debro was the emcee for the event.

He helped pump up the runners and walkers.

People were stretched out on the grassy lawn of the Civic Center beneath the bright sun doing light aerobics and stretching prior to the start time of the race.

Runners and walkers lined up at the starting line excitedly waiting for “go” to be proclaimed. Debro held the honor of starting the race, but it was unclear whether the runners and walkers were to start together.

After the runners took off, walkers were

JANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE

Funding the community — Participants begin the race during the 27th Annual GRIP Harmony Walk and 5K Run to End Homelessness at the Richmond Civic Center Plaza in Richmond on Oct. 26.

“He’s tired. That’s a long run for a baby” Dave Bleckinger,

father of second place finisher

told to come back by Debro after a false start and were told they would begin at a later time.

Arthur Hatchett, GRIP’s executive director, led the group of walkers.

There were two instances of false finishes, one in which a runner said no one was marking the course clearly leading to his unintentional use of a shortcut.

Participating runner Clifford West said this 5K was his first race win. Although he crossed the finish line third, the two false

finishes were excluded.

Not long after, Dave Bleckinger pushed his 18-month son Henry through the finish line in a stroller — making Henry Bleckinger the second place winner. Megan Bleckinger was not too far behind, placing the family second, third and fourth. “He’s tired,” Dave Bleckinger said of his 18-month son.

“That’s a long run for a baby.”

Megan Bleckinger, known as “potato lady,” is a GRIP volunteer who serves lunches. She is also an employee at Chevron Richmond.

The top five finishers were asked to walk to the podium for recognition by a small audience, as many of the attendees had cleared out by then.

Breakfast was served prior to the race courtesy of Zoe’s Cookies and Svenhard’s, and also included pancakes prepared by

GRIP staff.

Some local organizations rented vendor space for $60 a booth at the event, including Girls Incorporated, a program to build self-esteem for college-bound girls. Vicki Winston and Mieasha Harris were there to represent the organization.

Harris and Winston performed a rendition of a Destiny’s Child song, changing the words to “stronger, smarter and bolder” to represent the 6-to-17-year-old girls their organization supports.

The 40-year-old organization will host a “Career Day” Saturday for girls 13 to 18 years old in Richmond. The event will allow the girls — dressed in required business attire — to connect with professional women in their fields of interest, as well as to receive career guidance and one-on-one support.

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Wilson rebels against TV norm

SCENE

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013 l THE ADVOCATE

9

PAJAMA PARTY

Australian actress has ‘Super Fun’ debut

By Heather Wallin SCENE EDITOR

hwallin.theadvocate@gmail.com

Plus-size star Rebel Wilson makes her American television debut as lead actress, writer and creator of “Super Fun Night,” a new comedic television series that airs at 9:30 p.m. on ABC Wednesday nights.

Wilson plays Kimmi Boubier, one of three nerdy, average-looking roommates in New York City. Boubier works at a law firm who recently garnered a big promotion.

Moving up to a top floor, Boubier meets Richard Royce, played by Kevin Bishop, the British son of the law firm’s CEO, and develops a crush on him that she is convinced is mutual.

Boubier starts feeling confident that her life is headed in the right direction, so she and her roommates Marika and Helen-Alice, played by Lauren Ash and Liza Lapira, respectively, decide to make Friday nights their “super fun night.”

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE The show does not miss the girlGirls’ night in — Liza Lapira (left), Lauren Ash (middle) and Rebel WIlson (right) play three best friend roommates living on-girl competition for male attenin a New York City apartment on the new television show “Super Fun Night.” tion when Kendall Quinn, a tall, thin, beautiful woman, joins the law firm. switch back and forth from her perhave created inviting and interesting ments women must endure about their Quinn, played by Kate Jenkinson, and sonal cam and the stage camera. adventures like piano bar karaoke and bodies and looks.

Boubier work The roomonline dating.

Although the show fails to display to steal Royce’s mates at first The storylines tackle the awkwardmuch ethnic diversity so far, it is such tvreview attention. seem to be ness of creating an online dating a relief to see a diverse cast of female“Super Fun Night” Boubier and codependent profile and juggling a budding career identifying bodies on primetime tele+++++ Quinn’s relaand anti-social with friends and personal, and somevision.

Starring: Rebel Wilson, Kevin tionship quickly — each possess- times romantic, interests.

Boubier and cast are sensitive Bishop, Lauren Ash, Liza Lapira evolves into a ing annoying The stories become more rich and enough to show the hang-ups women Network: ABC Time slot: Wednesdays, 9:30 p.m. mutual underqualities that col- the jokes more on point as Boubier’s of all sizes can relate to, but also the Genre: Comedy standing friendlectively makes self-awareness is translated into confidence women of all sizes can ship, dispelling for a pathetic humor as she starts sharing more possess. the age-old myth household. aspects about being an overweight The show is worth following to of woman-on-woman jealousy and fat However, as the story progresses woman. watch characters develop and flourish vs. thin competition. and the adventures pursue, each indiBoubier hilariously shows the into relatable people and to experience The show starts off with somewhat vidual personality begins to unfold, troubles and difficulties of dressing in a comedic view on relationship comof a missed beat. Boubier begins the showcasing a new and fascinating take shape-wear and shopping for swimplexities among women, their bodies episodes recording her video diary at on woman characters on television. suits by unashamedly showing her and food. her desk, in which the camera angles Boubier and her roommates so far body, as well as the reality of com-

Point Richmond eatery serves up intriguing pie Assemble serves unique takes on traditional dishes

By Veronica Santos SCENE EDITOR

vsantos.theadvocate@gmail.com

Tucked away by the waterfront in Point Richmond is a restaurant serving one of the most intriguing, yet traditional, appetizer dishes seen on a menu — “Frito pie.”

Assemble, a restaurant located inside of the old Ford auto plant’s boiler room, offers classic American dishes and serves up a tidbit of history with each dish.

For a first time customer trying to find the location of the restaurant for dinner may seem odd because customers are greeted by a security guard at the gate.

He will take down the vehicle’s license plate number and then give directions to drive down a somewhat dark, enormous lot.

Once parked, patrons are greeted by a beautiful view of the waterfront and a tall, colored tower. Again, for a first visit, finding the entrance in the dark is a challenge.

But once settled at a table, the bread arrives.

After looking around, it feels nowhere near Richmond or San Pablo.

The industrial, sleek and

modern decor of the old auto plant is sophisticated enough to impress.

It is, however, still casual and a great place to grab small bites and drinks with friends.

They serve comfort food in a comfortable atmosphere: Dim lights, sounds loud enough that it is vibrant, yet not too loud.

For starters, try the Frito pie. It is served the traditional way — inside of a Fritos chip bag.

The “pie” is a layer of corn chips, chili, cheese, onions, jalapenos and sour cream.

It offers enough spice, crunch and creaminess to have great balance.

It is a meal foodreview on its own and unless shared with a friend will leave one with no room “Assemble” for the main +++++ course.

Cuisine: Having American leftovers may Where: 1414 Harbour Way leave one conSouth, Richmond cerned about Price Range: the crunch, $10-$20 but the helpful server said to throw in the leftover frito pie over eggs similar to the Mexican chilaquiles. And of course, the next day, it was just as delicious and made for a heart clogging, yet hearty breakfast.

If one is in the need of a

SERVING SMILES

drink without wanting to drive all the way to San Francisco for a trendy spot with a modern layout, Assemble is a great place to gather with friends. They offer classic drinks such as the Old Fashion and Mai Tai. If looking for something light, yet not too sweet, try the Ramos Fizz. It is a gin fizz with egg whites, which makes for a frothy, creamy texture.

Listed under most dishes on the menu is a factoid of each dish from a historical point of view.

For example, under the restaurant’s version of chicken pot pie it reads: “English settlers coming to the New World brought with them these meat pies.”

Patrons who have an interest in American history may find these clever, connecting them to their food. It is interesting to know that the mac ’n cheese offered at Assemble was once served by Thomas Jefferson at a state dinner after having tried the dish in Northern Italy.

These quirky facts connect patrons with the rich history of the location. It is where automobiles were once built and right next to the Rosie the Riveter memorial. One must appreciate the restaurant owners’ creativity in reminding JANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE their customers that dishes Shaken not stirred — Assemble restaurant bartender Spenser have historical roots and relDill shakes up a dirty martini for a customer at the Assemble evance. restaurant in Richmond on Saturday.

10 THE ADVOCATE

SPORTS

l WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013

Striker leads squad with versatility Swiss army knife provides agility, experience

By Mike Thomas SPORTS EDITOR

mthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

Giving 110 percent can be any student-athlete’s motto, but that is what Comet striker Laura Hurtado is all about.

Hurtado is a hard worker on and off the field and is always thinking of someone other than herself.

Her ability to play any position on the field makes her a Swiss army knife for the women’s soccer team. Hurtado’s versatility is what makes other teams in the Bay Valley Conference fear Contra Costa College.

But behind the talent is a shy and funny person that loves to play soccer, women’s soccer coach Nikki Ferguson said. She is learning how to be a leader and a coach on, and off, the field.

“You know what you’re going to get when she steps on the field,” Ferguson said. “In the conference she is a threat, and it’s good that coaches in our conference acknowledge her abilities and recognize she is a special player.”

The 19-year-old Hurtado was born in Mexico, but moved to San Pablo, Calif. at the age of 7. She graduated from Richmond High in 2011 and came to CCC to study nursing.

Hurtado started playing soccer at the age of 9, and fell in love with the competition in the game.

She grew up around family who love soccer. She said playing with her three brothers and other boys helped develop her into the versatile player she is today.

“I like competition and how intense the game is and teamwork — working together and getting the result at the end,” Hurtado said.

“I started playing at 9, but I started to play with boys and that made me better.”

Hurtado always tries to lighten the mood when preparing for soccer matches with her teammates.

Defender Rosalina Medina said she is a crazy, loud and funny person, but is also well respected by her teammates Hurtado said, “I just don’t like when its quiet — I just yell out random stuff to lighten the mood.”

Last season, Hurtado’s role as team captain was hampered by not

being very vocal with her teammates.

This season, she seeks to improve her ability as a leader by being more vocal while leading her team. She also gives her teammates motivational speeches before matches.

Midfielder Yvonne Alanis said Hurtado shows leadership through determination and motivation during matches.

“She was a captain last year because of being the best player on the field, but this season she is more vocal,” Ferguson said. “More importantly she helps the team.”

Hurtado can play any position on the field, from forward to keeper. There were a lot of games that looked as if CCC would lose, only to be saved by Hurtado switching positions.

Her talent makes her the most valuable tool the women’s soccer team has.

Medina said, “The level of skill she has is like the heart of the team.

She’s just useful everywhere.”

Comets’ defender Michelle Padilla said, “When we were losing she would drop her position to back us up.”

Hurtado has netted 14 goals and 31 points this season, and is ranked sixth in the BVC in goals scored.

On the field being 5 feet and 9 inches tall creates mismatches for defenders, but she does her best in one-on-one situations. Her confidence in those situations is what allows her the creativity she needs to score. “(Hurtado) is very creative person who is confident in one versus one situations. I don’t think there is a time where she doesn’t think she will be successful,” Ferguson said.

She knows how to play every position well, and was going to play keeper if Jazmin Escobar did not fill the position.

When she is not giving it her all on the soccer field, she’s helping her little brother improve his game. “(Hurtado) always there for us and her brother,” Padilla said. “(Hurtado) is a great defender and attacker. She puts 110 percent on the field and is always positive. If she weren’t on the team we probably would lose all the time.”

The Comets are currently 7-10 overall and 5-7 in the BVC, a huge improvement from their 2-13-3 overall record last season.

Hurtado said she is working to one day play professional soccer in Mexico.

STANDING TALL

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

An advantage of height— Comet midfielder Laura Hurtado leads her team with versatility, speed and height. Hurtado plans to play professional soccer in Mexico.

Comets maintain lead over Mariners Hurtado’s two goals provide victory

By Jose Jimenez STAFF WRITER

jjimenez.theadvocate@gmail.com

A late goal by Comet forward Laura Hurtado gave the women’s soccer team a 21 win against College of Marin (0-12-2 overall, 0-10-2 in the Bay Valley Conference) on the Soccer Field Friday.

“I knew the goal was going in,” Hurtado said. She scored of the Comet ScoreBoard both goals against the Comets 2 Mariners.

Mariners 1 “The ball was hit just right that it was Next game: going to be hard for Friday at Yuba the goalie to grab it College, 3 p.m. and stop it.”

Friday’s match against the Mariners was no easy task for Contra Costa College (7-10 overall, 5-7 BVC) as COM came out fast and tried desperately to gain its first win of the season.

“That’s just part of the game,” women’s soccer coach Nikki Ferguson said. “At halftime I told Laura to keep her composure.

Marin has never been an easy team to beat and they always have been tough.”

In the 22th minute the Mariners attempted a corner kick and CCC goalkeeper Jazmin Escobar made a sensational two handed save.

Then a Comet player was caught offside which erased a potential breakaway goal in the 40th minute of the first half as both teams struggled to score goals.

A corner kick by the Mariners was stolen

by CCC defender Gibsy Vilchis who booted it across the field.

Hurtado raced up the field and blew past Marin defenders and kicked in the only goal of the half.

“That’s just part of the game.

At halftime I told Laura to keep her composure. Marin has never been an easy team to beat and they always have been tough.”

Nikki Ferguson,

women’s soccer coach

“We got lucky in the first half,” Hurtado said. “It was intense.”

The second half featured more of the same style of play — lackluster passing on failed communication, and turnover after turnover as both teams looked fatigued and were completely careless with the soccer ball.

Escobar took a bad angle at an attempt by Mariner midfielder Hannah Farazmand and the kick sailed over her head and into the net, tying the game up at 1-1 in the 14th minute of the second half.

After a yellow card was issued to CCC defender Michelle Padilla for a sliding tackle, the 37th minute saw a nice pass from Comet defender Amelia Freitas-Howad.

The pass went a little too high however and Hurtado looked as it sailed over her head as time was nearly running out.

The groans could be heard loudly as the players knew time was running out and somebody had to step up.

It was time for Hurtado, the squads’ most valuable player, to step up and win the game for the team.

The winning goal almost got wiped off when two players got their feet tangled.

The call stood and Hurtado hit the game winner in the 44th minute of the final half.

CCC’s next game will be its last game of the season when they will travel to Marysville to face Yuba College on Friday.

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Trappin’ — Comet defender Michelle Padilla traps the ball from Mariners forward Liliana Rodriguez during the game against Merritt College on Friday.

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013 l THE ADVOCATE

11

Football offense takes down Eagles

By Mike Thomas SPORTS EDITOR

mthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

A two-hour bus delay did not keep the football team from routing last place Mendocino College 48-19 on Saturday.

Contra Costa College (6-2 overall, 3-0 in the Bay Valley Conference) is ranked 16th in Northern California, and is two wins away from earning its second bowl berth in a row.

“We pretty much did whatever we wanted offensively,” coach Alonzo Carter said. “We pretty much knew we were the better team.”

The last place Eagles (1-7 overall, 03 BVC) stood no chance against CCC’s offense. Quarterback Malik Watson got the

Comets on the board early with a 51-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Phadre White, but Mendocino answered back with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, bringing the score to 7-7 with 13:56 left in the first quarter.

Comet running back Davonte SappLynch said of the kickoff return, “(Special teams) got relaxed and when that happens, we leave a big lane open. (Mendocino) took advantage of that.”

After the Eagles tied the score, the Comets’ tight defense came into play and did not allow the Eagles to put points on the board for the rest of the first half. At the end of the game, the defense only gave up 12 points after the kickoff return for a

touchdown.

Watson said, “Defense played phenomenal that game. They brought the pressure on the quarterback and filled all the gaps.

And our secondary did an excellent job of pressuring the wide receivers.”

Sapp-Lynch had a huge day, going 192 rushing yards and scoring two touchdowns.

The last two games of the season will determine if the Comets clinch another BVC championship and bowl berth.

Carter said he wants his team to finish 9-2 this season.

Watson said, “(The last two games) are very important. I think we made a big statement on Saturday and we have to finish strong.”

The Comets had ScoreBoard 16 penalties in the game, so Carter Comets 48 punished the team Eagles 19 by making them do extra work after Next game: practice on Monday. Saturday vs.

CCC still leads the College of the state in penalties Redwoods, 3 with 134 for 1,216 p.m. yards.

“He makes us pay for all the holding and unsportsmanlike conduct. We have up-downs for every penalty yard we get,” Sapp-Lynch said. “Coach Carter is always talking about how we are the most penalized team in the state.”

Storm fails to contain Comets Team moves ball up the field swiftly, tactically

By Lorenzo Morotti EDITORIAL CARTOONIST

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

NAPA — A determined Comet soccer team extended its undefeated streak to five games by “dominating” the Storm 3-1 at Napa Valley College on Friday.

The Contra Costa College defensive backline shut down space in front of the box throughout the game, forcing Napa to shoot from a distance or send crosses into the box from the wings.

Quick, short, triangle passes in the backfield ScoreBoard b r o u g h t S t o r m players out Comets 3 of position Storm 1 as they chased Next game: the ball Friday at attempting College of to create a Marin, 3 p.m. turnover.

This pressure created space for CCC to move in and receive long, diagonal crosses or lob through passes deep in Napa territory.

The Comets (9-5-3 overall, 5-13 Bay Valley Conference) remain second in the BVC standings with 18 points. Napa Valley (4-11-1 overall, 3-7-0 BVC) sits in third place with nine points.

First place Merritt College (123-3 overall, 8-1-1 BVC) beat Yuba 4-0 on Friday to widen the point gap between second and first place to a seven-point differential.

Men’s soccer coach Rudy Zeller

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Past the keeper’s hands — Comet forward Marcos Solis (left) looks on after heading the ball past Storm goalkeeper Federico Cortez (center) to score a goal in the 25th minute of their game against Napa Valley College at Napa on Friday. The Comets were victorious over the Storm, 3-1. The win put the second place Comets closer in regional rankings to Merritt College, the first place team in the Bay Valley Conference. said post game that they played a good game defensively. Movement and possession in the midfield were great and created many scoring opportunities, but most were wasted, Zeller said.

“We dominated the game, but could have scored at least three or four more (goals),” he said. “We had so many chances that mathematically we had to score.”

Napa was unable to maintain possession because of the constant pressure off the ball by Comet players at midfield. CCC kept possession for the majority of the first half, yet the Storm was able to score first.

At 25 minutes into the game Napa won the ball in the midfield and took it down the left wing, sending a wild cross into the box.

A shoddy attempt to clear the ball out of the box sent it straight up.

Once it hit the ground, a tap on the ball by a Storm striker was all that was needed to roll it underneath Comet keeper Gustavo Rojas.

Less than a minute later, a Comet player was fouled from behind, about 35 yards out from goal. Defensive left-wingback Sam Mendez stepped up to take the free kick.

His left-footed kick curled the ball up and over the two-man wall before dropping inward at the near-post to find Solis, who was able to get his head on the ball.

The ball hit the inside of the post before creeping past Storm keeper Frederico Cortez.

“I was aiming for Marcos. It went straight to his head,” Mendez said.

Solis’ goal tied the game 1-1.

The remaining 25 minutes of play, until the end of the first half, saw CCC playing a slightly more defensive game. Napa started winning long, airborne passes sent from the Comet backfield.

These turnovers allowed the Storm midfield to pass the ball up the field into goal scoring areas.

With minutes remaining in the first half, assistant coach Andres

Orejuela mentioned to Zeller that almost all passes lifted through the air were being won by Napa.

“We need to play slow and low,” Orejuela said.

The Storm was outshot by the Comets 4-1 in the first half. CCC broke the deadlock score of 11 only minutes into the second half when right-midfielder Pedro Rodriguez scored.

Solis won the ball in Napa’s final third of the field. After a quick sprint down the wing, he cut in and made a long ground lay-off pass to Rodriguez, who was making a run up the right wing.

“I shot it in between the keeper and the defender, it rolled off the keeper’s leg and went in,” Rodriguez said.

Napa played faster and with more aggression, as it sought to score another goal to tie the game.

The Storm committed nine fouls during the second half, two of which were yellows cards.

The aggression was directed toward midfielder Bobby Gonzalez,

who was the victim of both of the cards shown to the Storm.

“They were getting frustrated,” Gonzalez said. “We passed the ball three or five times around a player before swinging it. They just couldn’t get the ball.”

CCC could have extended its lead earlier when center-attackingmidfielder Jose Aguilar missed a one-on-one situation with Storm keeper Cortez. He tried chipping the ball up and over the out of position keeper but was denied by the crossbar.

“That missed goal sums up our season,” Zeller said in disbelief as he paced down the sideline.

A bad pass by a Storm defender gifted the ball to Solis, who was 20 yards from goal. A ground layoff pass toward right field found striker Brian Randall alone.

With incredible pace Randall dribbled the ball into the box uncontested and powered it past Cortez with a left-footed shot within 5 feet of goal.

N Offense

Precision is worth its weight in goals

‘I

f we can’t score, we don’t deserve to win,” men’s soccer team coach Rudy Zeller said referring to the Contra Costa College men’s soccer team that has struggled to produce goals the entire season.

A team should not rely solely on its defense to clinch a win.

If the Comet offensive players do not start playing cohesively with their supporting midfield and finishing their opportunities in front of goal, the team will not make the playoffs.

Trailing in second place, the Comets (9-5-3 overall, 5-1-3 Bay Valley Conference) are keeping pace with Merritt College (12-3-3 overall, 8-1-1 BVC) in the race for first place in the standings.

After a 3-1 win at Napa Valley College on Friday, CCC managed to stretch its undefeated streak to five games. The Comets have scored 10 goals during the streak, but only 28 goals this season in total.

Rival Merritt College Thunderbirds’ goal tally of 64 goals this season dwarfs the Comets’ meager 28.

The last time CCC played the Thunderbirds, they won 2-1 at home, tying 1-1 the game before. The Comets tied twice more in conference games against College of Marin and Yuba College.

ing strikers usually stop the play before it can develop into anything dangerous inside the goal-box.

The midfielders this year have shown to be more clinical in front of goal than the designated strikers, scoring long shots from outside the box or making runs into the box to receive a cross from a striker that has been pushed out to the wings.

Goals from right-midfielder Pedro Wasted chances in front of goal during each of these games could have Rodriguez, center-attacking-midfielder Jose Aguilar and center-midfielder easily doubled the Comets’ score, as well as moved them into first place in Roberto Calixto total a little less than half of those scored by Randall and the BVC. However, that is not the reality that Solis.

The defensive backline has proven confronts the Comets team. to be Zeller’s most valuable asset this Only three games remain in the season. Out of the nine BVC games 2013 season and, more than a game the Comets have played, only eight behind Merritt College, the pressure goals have been ceded. to score is even more prevalent for Players who have proved themComets’ leading goal scorers Brian selves to be tactically aware in the Randall and Marcos Solis. A few times during this season, both players backfield include left-wingback Sam Mendez, a sophomore that can shut failed to score the easy goal, sending down space quickly and predict movethe ball high or wide of the posts.

Both of the Comet strikers are capa- ments and passes of the attacking ble of scoring magnificent goals. Their strikers down the wings.

Also, Mendez’s free-kick expertise, deficiencies can be reduced down to a lack of attention to the movement of and his diagonal crosses up the field have earned him a concrete spot on the ball around the field. the team.

Luck also plays a huge factor in On the right wing opposite of front of net, yet bad positioning and Mendez is Enri Refunjo. Refunjo’s sloppy touches on the ball by attack-

lorenzomorotti

constant movement up and down the wing works perfectly with Zeller’s breakaway style of play as is difficult for opposing teams to contain Refunjo.

Freshmen center-backs Brad Alman and Luis Raymundo control the center of the box with their height and bodies. Each is able to get behind the ball quickly to dispossess the ball in goal scoring areas or can rise above players to header the ball out of the box to safety.

The 2013 team has been the best Comet team Zeller has had in recent years. Unfortunately, precision in front of goal may cost the team a spot in the post-season playoffs unless the strikers are able to remain calm and collected when a scoring opportunity arise in their next three games.

U.S. international soccer team striker Freddy Adu once said, “When you play soccer, most of the time you’ve got to get the ball moving. But once you get into that attacking third you’ve got to be creative. You’ve got to let your talent take over.”

Lorenzo Morotti is the editorial cartoonist of The Advocate. Contact him at lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail. com.

12 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2013

FOCUS

Hands in the air — Participants warm up for the Ultimate Towner Obstacle Course Race held on Treasure Island in San Francisco on Saturday. The Bay

Area’s first community held obstacle course event included 25 different obstacles over the four-mile long course.

GETTING

down and dirty Photos by Qing Huang

Helping hands — A participant helps her partner climb over an obstacle wall during the Ultimate Towner Obstacle Course Race held on Treasure Island in San Francisco on Saturday.

The face of determination — San Francisco resident Jake Pandile shouts after crawling out of the mud pool obstacle during the Ultimate Towner Obstacle Course Race on Treasure Island in San Francisco on Saturday.

Dirty work — San Francisco residents Carmen Whiting (right), Jeannie Austin (left) and Jake Pandile (center) crawl through the mud pool obstacle during the Ultimate Towner Obstacle Course Race on Treasure Island in San Francisco on Saturday.