The Advocate 2-11

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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shifting schedules The district is looking into the possibility of switching from 18-week to 16-week spring and fall semesters, allowing for the addition of a winter intersession.

WEDNESDAY l 2.11.15 OUR 65TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

PROPOSED 16-WEEK SCHEDULE (DAYS) DAYS TO BE REMOVED FROM SEMESTER

How such a semester switch might affect you, your classes The duration of the spring and fall semesters would be shorter, but individual class meetings would be lengthened to meet state mandated instruction hour requirements for funding purposes.

current days in semester

90

proposed days in semester

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COMPRESSED CALENDAR DECISION LOOMS of reducing semesters by two weeks in debate

BY Cody McFarland ASSOCIATE EDITOR

cmcfarland.theadvocate@gmail.com

The possibility of reducing semester length by two weeks has been the topic of debate among faculty for weeks.

Although the district is three months away from making a final decision, students are eager to voice their opinions regarding a change that would affect them more than anyone else before anything is set in stone.

“As a student, and from a mother’s point of view, having more time off means having more time for your children,” Rosario Aviles, liberal arts major, said. “It sounds good, but 18 weeks is barely long enough to take in all of the material as is. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Considering that Contra Costa College serves a large demographic of underprepared and first-generation college students, Aviles stressed the importance of such students developing strong academic

foundations, which may require extra time and attention from professors — time and attention that would be curtailed by reducing spring and fall semesters from 18 to 16 weeks, she said.

One selling point for making the change is the possibility of adding a winter intersession, potentially allowing the college to serve more students annually and for students to complete required courses

SEE SEMESTER, PAGE 3

DISTRICT ENROLLMENT, FUNDING PLUMMETS

Universal access into building questioned

BY Rodney Woodson ASSOCIATE EDITOR

rwoodson.theadvocate@gmail.com

CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

Designers overlook installing adequate doorway for the new lift in the GA Building.

PAGE 4

Hybrid certificate broadens department Students

BY Cody Casares

provided

ccasares.theadvocate@gmail.com

with ‘hands-on’

CREATIVE WRITING BACK AFTER SIX YEARS

from professionals in field

Automotive technology majors at Contra Costa College now have the opportunity to learn the complexities of hybrid car maintenance.

The new hybrid electric vehicle class is a part of a new Automotive Hybrid Technician Certificate of Achievement intended for students seeking to advance in the industry.

Automotive services Chairperson Lucile Beatty said, “Becoming certified will allow students to get higher paying jobs within the industry.”

The automotive department now offers a Hybrid Electric Vehicle Diagnostics and Repair class that will comply with the National Automotive Education Foundation standards.

The class teaches students how to properly use the advanced diagnostic equipment and software involved in repairing the tandem electrical and mechanical systems.

Students meet in the Automotive Technology Center on Wednesdays from 6:10 to 9:30 p.m. After the lectures and classwork SEE HYBRID, PAGE 3

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experience

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Automotive technology majors Teo Maldonado (right) and Ritzdane Suriben check the status of the hybrid’s batteries during their hybrid electric vehicle class in the Automotive Technology Center on Thursday.

Although full-time equivalent student totals have been declining each semester recently, District Office and Contra Costa College administrators agree that there is no need for panic.

The colleges and district are funded by the state depending on FTES numbers. One FTES equals one student enrolled in at least 15 semester units, or multiple students taking classes that total 15 semester units. Since allocations are based off of projections from the most recent academic semester, continuous drops in funding could lead to financial penalties that could result in a deficit due to the district from a given college.

As per changes made to Senate Bill 361 in 2010, colleges in deteriorating financial situations may essentially borrow FTES funding from sister colleges in order to maintain college functions in the midst of lower apportioned funding.

SB 361 also allows for colleges to use funds from out-of-state/international student fee funds to help reduce any deficit the college may face due to dwindling FTES numbers.

At the Jan. 28 Governing Board meeting, trustees approved a $15 hike in out-of-state tuition districtwide to $269 per unit beginning with the summer session.

CCC’s FTES stood at 6,941 for the 2010-11 academic year. Since then, totals have seen a yearly decline, including the most recent FTES total for CCC’s 2013SEE ENROLLMENT, PAGE 3

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Erica Jong novelist, 1997 Lorenzo Morotti editor-in-chief George Morin art director Cody McFarland Rodney Woodson associate editors

Jared Amdahl opinion editor Robert Clinton sports editor Jason Sykes assistant sports editor Mike Thomas scene editor Qing Huang Christian Urrutia photo editors Janae Harris Cody Casares assistant photo editors Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Benjamin Bassham Nina Cestaro Rodney Dunlap Marlene Rivas Florinda Hershey Jose Jimenez Manning Peterson Evelyn Vazquez Mark Wassberg Kadijia West-Dickens Staff photographers Jordan Khoo Staff illustrators Marci Suela Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 CNPA Better Newspaper Contest 1st Place Award 1970, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2013 JACC Pacesetter Award 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Member Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accentadvocate@ gmail.com Editorial policy Columns and editorial cartoons are the opinion of individual writers and artists and not that of The Advocate. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.

L

Editorial STUDENT INPUT REQUIRED

Quotable “Saying what you think is the only freedom.”

Roxana Amparo news editor

opinion

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015 Vol. 102, No. 13

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

T

Voices of college body required in discussion

he Contra Costa Community College District is less than three months away from making a decision that might reduce the length of the spring and fall semesters each by two weeks.

Making the switch to a compressed calendar of 16 weeks from the current semester length of 18 weeks would potentially enable the college to add a winter intersession, thus providing students a fourth semester in the academic year to complete course requirements sooner.

If the district goes forward with the idea, it will take a year to get approval.

The deadline for a decision by the Faculty Senate Coordinating Council is May 1. If approved, the district would apply before fall 2015 with an anticipated implementation of fall 2016.

While discussion has been ongoing among faculty for weeks, students are only now starting to hear about the possibility of change through word of mouth.

As district Executive Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services Eugene Huff said, “We need to make sure all voices are heard.

It will be an informed decision either way we go.”

At this point, however, making sure all voices are heard sounds more like a nicety than a reality.

So where are the conversations?

Considering this is something that, if enacted, will impact the way courses are taught and the way students will learn, we need to encourage full student participation in the discourse.

At its meeting last Thursday, the Associated Students Union did not discuss the possibility of shortening semesters. No fliers or information regarding the matter have been posted anywhere on campus.

With roughly three months before the deadline, the ASU still has time to rally student interest, exchange ideas and embolden the students to whom they are beholden.

For example, a knee-jerk reaction to students hearing “shortened semesters” was most typically a “yes,” save for the nursing and lab-based majors. Upon hearing that the duration of the semester would be curtailed, but the hours required for credit and state apportioned funding would remain the same, many students changed their answers.

What it means is that semester length would be shorter, but individual class meetings, to compensate for time requirements, would be longer.

Of course, this is reaching further than just Contra Costa College. Switching to a compressed calendar would affect the entire district, so student advocacy groups at sister colleges Los Medanos and Diablo Valley ought to encourage these discussions and make their students heard too.

If you dislike the idea enough, write a letter to the district, the Academic Senate, administration or the ASU detailing your grievances with condensing the calendar.

Write The Advocate letters, which can be published, and disseminate your opinion to our college community.

These are dialogues we need to pursue.

MARCI SUELA / THE ADVOCATE

N VALENTINE’S DAY

Holiday overlooks many kinds of love V

alentine’s Day is Saturday and once again overpriced flowers, candy and cards surround me. Everywhere I turn, red and pink signs of materialistic love cover billboards and flood advertisements.

It is all just a commercialized false holiday that reminds single people that they’re alone.

There are many theories as to how Valentine’s Day came about. Feb. 14 is known as the beginning of mating season for birds.

There was also a man named Valentine who illegally married soldiers during the third century in the Roman army. He was eventually sent to be executed because it was illegal for single-male soldiers to be married under the rule of Emperor Claudius II, as he saw it as a distraction from their military duties.

Regardless of its origins, here in the present, singles are undoubtedly alienated by the holiday.

There are ways to avoid this horrible feeling however.

The term “Cuffing Season” refers to hooking up with that special someone starting in December and staying in the relationship until spring. This way singles don’t have to be alone throughout the depressing holiday season.

This happens because of the cold weather, you stay at home and cuddle until

in their lives no kids are singled out and everyone is happy to feel appreciated by each other.

I can honestly say I’ve never had a Valentine and I can’t see myself ever celebrating Valentine’s Day if I was in a relationship.

It would be fun to go out a week after Valentine’s Day. Then it is time for the to dinner with someone pseudo relationship to end special on Valentine’s Day. and get ready for the single But the price gouging and life of spring and summer. cramped seating makes Overall, Valentine’s Day the night not worth the trouble. is a bull crap excuse for The holiday is a $16 billovers to give appreciation lion business day celebratone day out of the whole ed by more than half of the year when, especially for those in relationships, this U.S. population. Because of the lack of religious ties to should be done every day the holiday, it’s open season of the year.

Every year I try to carry for advertisers to target people across all demoon a self-started tradition graphic groups. to throw a celebration for More at home, pregnansingles. I do it so we can all appreciate the love that we cy tests and condoms are have for ourselves. I like to sold during the festivities call it the “I hate Valentines proving the effectiveness of the campaign to manipuDay” party. late people into spending We play fun games, in the name of love. win cool prizes and eat Another tradition in my good food, and why not? rebellion against Valentine’s Everyone deserves to be Day is the annual dinner I happy on Feb. 14 and not be made to feel inadequate have with my mother, who happens to be single as because they are single. well.

Nobody should be judged For the singles out by the amount of gifts or attention they receive from there, I encourage you all to take Valentine’s Day as one another. an opportunity to spend it We should ban this day with your loved ones. for all adults and just save it for the innocence of chilJanae Harris is an assisdren. Let them have their tant photo editor of The traditional Valentine’s Day Advocate.

Contact her at cards and candy grams jharris.theadvocate@gmail. to hand out to each other com. during class. At that time

janaeharris

CampusComment Should the district change from the 18-week schedule to the proposed 16-week semester?

“Keep it the same because the more time you get to be in class with teachers, you gain more out of it.”

“I wouldn’t want them to. If you increase class hours, for athletes it wouldn’t be enough to fit all of our classes.”

“I think they should leave it alone. I actually want a longer semester.”

Christopher Velazquez

Ayemere Oiyemhonlam

engineering

psychology

Monique Brooks

criminal justice

ROXANA AMPARO, ROBERT CLINTON, JACQIE MOODY, AND JORDAN KHOO / THE ADVOCATE

“I think it should be left alone. I am a Middle College (High School) student and it’ll just give us less time to work.”

“(Yes.) There should be more class time because I don’t feel like I get enough time in them with the length that they are now.”

Jessica Hinojoza

Dominique Brooks

undecided

sociology

“Keep it like it is. It seems appropriate.

There is more time to study between classes right now.”

Mahmoud Aldabbas environmental engineering

campusbeat

SEMESTER | Faculty debate fewer instructional days Continued from Page 1

15,000 15000

INFORMATIONAL GRAPHIC BY GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

■ Environmental

FTES IN TOTAL BY ANNUAL TERMS

20000 20,000

17,275.67

The Black Student Union and the African-American studies department are hosting an African Heritage Month event Thursday from 6-8 p.m. in the Knox Center.

There will be three slide presentations put on by students. There will also be spoken word about African Heritage Month.

All students and faculty are encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact the Knox Center at 510-215-4950 ext. 44950.

16,943.21

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

few weeks left in the semester.

“Many of these students could have passed if they stuck it out, but the demands of life ended their semesters early.”

For faculty, Ampim highlights three advantages to shortening the length of semesters.

“Faculty will get more rest, have more time between semesters to revamp lesson plans, and will have more time for their own professional development in their field,” he said.

While Ampim and others see converting an 18-week calendar to 16 weeks as mutually beneficial to students and faculty, others contend that the real benefits will only be felt by faculty and administration.

“From the faculty point of view, it would be great to have more time off; extra time to vacation,” English as a second language professor Gabriela Segade said. “But it’s not about that.

It’s about my work with students.”

As an ESL professor, Segade said she must be very involved when she teaches, meaning she takes time to monitor student’s progress and provide one-on-one support for students who are struggling. Because many of CCC’s students are first-generation college students or underprepared students, Segade believes shortening the semester length would make it increasingly difficult to give those students the necessary attention and feedback they need to be successful in academia.

Segade said she would not be surprised if success rates remain the same after semesters are shortened, if it happens.

Huff said, “We need to make sure all voices are heard. It will be an informed decision.”

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faster than before.

District Executive Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services Eugene Huff said, “We want to do what is best for our students and research out there shows that (making the conversion) is beneficial for student success. Some people may say, ‘the district is looking for more money,’ and that’s just not true.”

Though a hard study has yet to be published, much research, planning and discussing throughout the state continues to be done on the matter.

“There would be a competitive advantage for the district,” Huff said. “None of the contiguous colleges offer a compressed calendar, so if CCC and a nearby school offer the same course, a student could complete the course at CCC in less time.”

Compressing the calendar from an 18-week semester to a 16-week semester would affect the entire district.

The proposed change came to the Academic Senate via district consultation on Dec. 15 and was brought for discussion by then district Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology, and presently CCC Interim President, Mojdeh Mehdizadeh.

Academic Senate President Wayne Organ said, “It will take a year to get approval. The deadline for a decision by the (district) Faculty Senate Coordinating Council is May 1. If approved the district would apply before fall 2015 with an anticipated implementation of fall 2016.”

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Students, who largely have yet to weigh in on the debate, have grown accustomed to the current semester design.

Nursing major Fiona Gao said, “I think it’s a bad idea. Time is really tight already and it takes a lot of time to memorize things and really grasp the material.”

Because nursing majors are already subject to rigorous course loads, compressing the calendar would shrink the gaps between deadlines and prove more demanding, she said.

Physics professor Jon Celesia said, “The amount of work physics and engineering students need to learn is already challenging to get through in an 18-week semester. My experience with a 16-week system (teaching at SF State) is that you either leave out material or leave out students — or both.”

Others are less concerned.

“It’s just two weeks. I don’t think it’s bad or good, but why not?” student Radine Hugo, undecided, said.

Faculty, however, are divided on the issue.

History professor Manu Ampim, drawing on his eight years of experience teaching and interacting with students at CCC, said he believes that reducing the semester to 16 weeks would be beneficial to a vast number of students and faculty.

“Switching to a compressed calendar would allow the underprepared students to finish their semesters and raise the retention rate,” Ampim said. “It has been consistent from my experience that during fall students struggling with my class wait until after Thanksgiving break to drop the class, when there are only a

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WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.11.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

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COLLEGES BY ANNUAL YEAR:

N

There will be two Financial Aid Nights on Feb. 18 and Feb. 25 in the Assessment Center in the Student Services Center from 6-8 p.m.

Students are encouraged to attend and get one-on-one help completing FAFSA or Dream Act applications.

Every student that completes their FAFSA or Dream Act application and a survey will be put into a raffle to win four movie tickets.

Please make sure to bring your 2014 tax return, W-2’s, or last paycheck stub to accurately complete your FAFSA or Dream Act application.

There will also be a Financial Aid Awareness Day on March 2 to help inform students about different state aid.

For more information about the Financial Aid Night events, contact mrodriguez@contracosta.edu.

0 0 C O

WORKSHOPS OFFER APPLICATION HELP

2,515.17

■ Financial aid

3,693.88

7,886.36

5,759.35

5,783.03

7,661.85

8,290.65

8,993.87 6,708.38

5000 5,000

7,033.97

7,049.44

9,101.62

10,288.26

10,000 10000

6,563.19

The Asian Pacific Environmental Network has scheduled a meeting today from 12:30-2 p.m. in AA -216.

The APEN is looking for possible members to begin an environmental justice club on campus.

Everyone is invited to attend the first meeting.

For more information about the meeting or the APEN, email them at megan@apen4ej.org.

7,756.42

JUSTICE CLUB AIMS TO CURB POLLUTION

2013-14 FALL 2014 SOURCE: STATE CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE

ENROLLMENT | District borrows FTES, funding Continued from Page 1

additional education and training subsides,” Nicholas said.

The Student Success task force is a statewide group of California Community College administrators and state politicians, among others, who create recommendations for community colleges to follow regarding facilitating steady enrollment and success in students.

CCC has been increasing its outreach efforts over the past few years, its most extensive being the yearly connections with local high schools, culminating in the Super Saturday event held every May. Super Saturday is an event held for students who were a part of the colleges outreach program. They come to the campus to take a tour, receive help enrolling in classes and get help with financial aid.

Various campus staff members from the Assessment, Welcome/Transfer and Counseling offices/centers go to different high schools in the area to tell prospective college students about the benefits of coming to a community college, in hopes of them enrolling the following year.

Dean of Student Services Vicki Ferguson said that the outreach process takes almost an entire academic year, ending with Super Saturday.

“We try to tell seniors why they should

choose CCC,” she said.

Ferguson said outreach efforts normally start in September and that as of now, campus staff and administrators are “gearing up” for summer and fall student enrollment applications.

Nicholas said that though FTES numbers have declined over the past few years, there is no need to panic. Ferguson agrees. She said that though the college is not in a drastic situation, the dropping enrollment numbers are worth paying attention to.

Changes to SB 361 were made at the District Office due to CCC’s deficit, which was a result of dropping FTES numbers in the early 2000s.

A state deficit resulting in a drop in budget allocations for all state funded education systems ushered in the need and passage of Proposition 30 in 2012’s state election, almost immediately providing aid to all district campuses, as well as campuses up and down the state.

While reaching out to high schools over the past few years, Ferguson said that high school seniors enrolling in the college is not a problem for CCC, but that more focus needs to be on students successfully completing courses and programs.

“Retention is really where our efforts need to improve,” she said.

Friday, Jan. 30: A student was transported to the hospital for medical treatment.

14 year, 5,720, down slightly from 2012-13’s total of 5,724. 2012-13’s totals were 908 fewer than 2011-12’s.

“The (District Office) is very cognizant of FTES (totals) and is in continual discussions regarding it,” district Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Jonah Nicholas said.

“All campuses have seen varying degrees of FTES declines over the past few years. It’s not like any one factor (contributed to the decline) but the improving economy is a likely contributor,” he said.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Nicholas may have found the college’s reason for fluctuating FTES numbers in recent years.

BLS reports that between January 2009 and January 2011, California’s unemployment rates rose from 9.7 percent to 12.1 percent — between 2008 and 2011 CCC’s annual FTES increased yearly.

As BLS reports that recent unemployment rates in California have dropped, so have FTES totals. Unemployment rates in the state have dropped from 11 percent in January 2012 to 7.3 percent in September of last year.

“When the job market improves people go back to work and the immediate urgency for

Monday, Feb. 2: A student reported the theft of her cellphone from the Library and Learning Resource Center.

HYBRID | Lab offers ‘hands-on’ hybrid experience

Tuesday, Feb. 3: An officer responded to the Three Seasons Restaurant regarding a conduct referral issue.

Continued from Page 1

CrimeWatch Thursday, Jan. 29: An officer conducted a traffic stop and the driver was found to have a warrant for his arrest. The subject was cited and released.

An officer responded to a medical emergency on campus. No further information was provided.

— George Morin and Roxana Amparo

the course offers a hands-on lab with practical applications in the real world workforce.

Ritzdane Suriben, an automotive technology major who is enrolled in the class this semester said, “We’re going into the specifics of the components compared to just scratching the surface like in the Introduction course. The

detail is the key element of this class.”

Chris Ligocki works at Arts Automotive on San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley during the day and is a student enrolled in the night class at CCC. “There’s no book,” Ligocki said.

“We just work on the cars. The class is more focused on actually being able to fix a customer’s hybrid car.”

Beatty said the hybrid diagnostics and repair course is offered at night to specifically accommodate students who want to gain hybridspecific training but work hours similar to Ligocki.

“Paul Cortes teaches the hybrid course,” she said. “(Cortes) provides a great opportunity for students with his field experience, working during the day for Arts Automotive.”

CCC student Teo Maldonado, automotive technology major, said, “The class is focused on the fundamentals of the components and concepts, and broken down into more detail than the introduction class.”

Suriben said without the advanced equipment and the two second generation Toyota Priuses the class would not exist.

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WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.11.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Doorway meets code, not expectations GA elevator project brings building up to federal standard, raises new concerns

BY Cody McFarland ASSOCIATE EDITOR

cmcfarland.theadvocate@gmail.com

What makes sense on paper does not always make sense in reality.

When it comes to the northwest entrance of the Gym Annex Building — the part of the building that was recently remodeled to include an elevator for people with mobility issues — whether or not the non-automated, single door marked for handicapped access makes sense, despite being approved by the division of the state architect, is certainly open for debate.

“There’s two things you need to know about the door: it was approved by the DSA (Division of State Architect) and it is in compliance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) code,” Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said. “It’s not up to Bruce King code. I’m not pleased with it at all.”

Among things King cited as being displeased with were the lack of handicapped access buttons and the corresponding automated mechanism to

open the door. The previous double doors had access buttons inside and outside of the building, enabling students to open the doors, whether coming or going, with the simple press of a button. Buttons are still present inside the GA, but are ineffective as they were disconnected during construction.

The GA lift project began on July 26, 2014, and was officially completed and signed off by a DSA inspector on Jan. 8. The project went to development contractor B. Brothers, who won the bid at approximately $550,000.

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

Athletic Director John Wade, whose office is on the second floor of the GA Building, said, “We’ve had multiple complaints about the structure. There have been two people that have fallen down because of the grade change (of the new access ramp outside).”

District Chief Facilities Planner Ray Pyle said he heard of one issue with the new step that was installed outside the

n “I feel that with a lot of

these projects, (architects) should consult the people who use what they are building.”

— John Wade, athletic director

building leading up to the remodeled entrance, but said an ADA-compliant ramp exists next to that step.

“The project was approved by the DSA. One of the key things they look at is accessibility,” Pyle said. “They know building code like the back of their hands. If there were a problem, we would take care of it.”

An audit by the state Civil Rights Office, which began Tuesday, is currently in progress at Contra Costa College to check the entire campus’ compliance with ADA access code, King said.

According to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines article 404.2, “Door openings shall provide a clear width of 32 inches minimum. Clear openings of

doorways with swinging doors shall be measured between the face of the door and the stop, with the door open 90 degrees.”

Upon investigation, The Advocate concluded the new door on the west end of the Gym Annex checks out. It meets the minimum requirements.

According to the American National Standards Institute, an average adult wheelchair can be up to 50 inches long and up to 32 inches wide.

With the new northwest entrance door to the GA being 36 inches wide, the average adult wheelchair user has 2 inches on either side for wiggle room.

Considering this particular doorway is the first of two en route to the Fitness Center, a place designed to get people into better physical shape, Wade expressed concern for those with mobility issues who do not fall in the “average adult wheelchair user” category.

“I feel that with a lot of these projects, (architects) should consult the people who use what they are building,” he said.

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE, OVERLOOKED

BY Florinda Hershey STAFF WRITER

fhershey.theadvocate@gmail.com

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Campus group brings lofty list of goals to first meeting of year ABOVE: Filipino Associated Student Union members Gerald Macadangdang (right) and Janelle Knudson (left) speak to students during the first FASU meeting in LA-104 on Feb. 4.

BY Nina Cestaro STAFF WRITER

ncestaro.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Filipino Associated Student Union held its first meeting of the semester in LA-104 at 2 p.m. on Feb. 4 with plans of offering a new perspective to the Contra Costa College community.

Those in attendance were petitioning president Janelle Knudson and members Gerald Macdangdang, Jeilo Guana, and their adviser, mathematics professor Edward Cruz.

Psychology major Guana said, “I feel both proud and excited about the genesis of the Filipinos club on campus.”

FASU boasts a long list of goals, which range from organizing a group vacation to the islands, to having a community on campus which honors the diversity of languages, backgrounds and philosophies that young Filipinos repre-

n “It will be more work

now, but more engaging and therefore meaningful.”

— Jeilo Guana, Filipino Associated Student Union member

sent.

They plan on conducting a shadow day at UC Berkeley, which will match students with someone studying their intended major.

The club has plans to have workshops to help students with personal statements.

During the next meeting there will be a University of San Francisco instructor in attendance who will speak to club members.

Although there were eight people in attendance, they believe attendance will double in the coming months.

Guana said, “I am inspired to

have a club like this because it’s not only to unify the Filipinos on the Contra Costa College campus, but to share more knowledge about the culture to everyone.

“It will be more work now, but more engaging and therefore meaningful,” he said.

Positions of president, treasurer, vice president and ICC representative are open for students who are interested in leadership roles for the club.

A partial list of characteristics that a future FASU president should possess are experience organizing students and events in a student club, vision, motivation, initiative, leadership and dependability.

Students interested in attending or learning more about the FASU should know that the club’s meetings are held every two weeks on Wednesday in LA-104 at 2 p.m.

The number of students who apply for financial aid at Contra Costa College is lower this semester than the fall 2014 semester.

Financial Aid Supervisor Monica Rodriquez said this downward trend is revealed by FASFA application rates for the spring semester.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) is offered by the U.S. Department of Education that awards $150 billion a year in grants, work study funds and low-interest loans.

In order to curb the trend and help more students apply, Rodriguez said the Financial Aid Department scheduled campus events.

“FAFSA Nights” are opportunities for students who work during the day to visit the assessment computer lab in the Student Services Center to get help with filling out FASFA applications Feb. 18 and 25 from 6 to 8 p.m.

“The financial aid staff will be there to help students,” she said.

Applying for financial aid, however, can be the most difficult obstacle for some students, like Veronica Cacho.

Cacho said she has not applied for financial aid because she fears that she will be rejected and because applying for financial aid is “hard.”

Rodriguez said students who are not informed do not get help because they do not ask. Financial aid staff are available to help needy students.

FASFA covers such expenses as tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies and transportation.

“Many students do not apply. Not because they do not qualify but because they are misinformed,” she said. “They prefer not to apply and for that reason they miss a very important opportunity to get help with expensive tuition.”

She said the application process for grants and scholarships should not be intimidating for students because if they need assistance there are people willing to do their best to help.

CCC student Siomara Bervis said filling out the financial aid application is “fast” and “easy.”

Bervis said having a large financial aid staff is helpful when you are applying for FASFA because you do not want to have any complications during the process.

Rodriguez said that faculty and administrators are currently developing different ways to improve the communication of these financial aid opportunities to students at CCC. “There is no excuse not to get answers to many questions that students have,” she said, “when paying for college is a challenge.”

FOUNDATION AWARDS THOUSANDS IN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS Students scramble as grant deadline nears closer

BY Roxana Amparo NEWS EDITOR

ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

A variety of scholarships are annually offered to students through Contra Costa College Foundation Scholarships.

Some of the grants are exclusively for CCC students who need the financial help but are unable to apply or be accepted to FAFSA or are struggling to pay off their classes.

CCC Scholarship Program Coordinator Jennifer Dement said it is important to begin asking for reference letters, writing a personal statements and fulfilling scholarship requirements.

Applications for 2015 CCC

Foundation scholarships must be submitted on Monday, March 9 at 12 p.m. in AA-203.

Although there is a process to completing the application, Dyment said getting applications ready early is worthwhile.

She said the first application might be a challenge for some students because it is difficult to write about themselves, but it pays off in the end.

She also advises students to share the qualities that make them unique, filling out the writing portion of the scholarship applications and to “just brag.”

Engineering major Sixto Turcios will be applying for some of the scholarships to ease the stress that comes with paying for tuition and books.

“I will be taking tough classes (next year), so scholarships will benefit me by taking some financial weight off of my back,” Turcios said. “It’ll give me extra time to

n “Once you apply for

one, you can apply for more. It is like the domino effect.”

— Christian Tavera, mechanical engineer

focus on what is really important, my education.”

Dyment said there are 65-70 scholarships that range from $250 to $2,000 available for students.

There are two different kinds of scholarships available to students online: CCC Foundation Scholarships and outside scholarships, such as the Kennedy-King Memorial Scholarship.

The Foundation scholarships include department and program scholarships, such as business department and history program scholarships.

Outside scholarships are from external organizations and businesses that offer scholarships for

CCC students.

Applying for scholarships requires students to invest hours to write an essay and collect reference letters.

Dyment said it pays off if the student spends 10 hours working on scholarships and is selected.

“Once you apply for one scholarship, you can multiply and apply for more.”

A selection committee made up of faculty, staff, Foundation board members and even private donors select the winners of the scholarships.

Some scholarships come from outside sources and have their own requirements, she said.

“Finance is the biggest issue,” Dyment said. “But scholarships allow students to graduate with less debt.”

Students submitted their Kennedy-King Scholarships last Wednesday. It was available to students enrolled in the Contra Costa

Community College District.

Mechanical engineering major Christian Tavera said it was his first time writing a personal statement but he said he is “grateful” he did because it made him eager to test his luck and apply for more.

“Once you apply for one, you can apply for more,” Tavera said. “It is like the domino effect.” He said he applied for the Kennedy-King Scholarship.

Dyment said reference letters may be “tweaked” to meet other scholarships students apply to.

She said scholarships that are applied to the most are the general scholarships, which usually grant a student $750, according to the scholarship age.

Sy and Beverly Zell Scholarship is another grant provided by the CCC Foundation. It draws in applicants with $1,000 in awards.

According to CCC’s website, the general scholarship award is $750.

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Heather Roth, English assistant professor (left) helps social sciences major Gabriela Avilez in the College Skills Center in the Library and Learning Resource Center on Feb. 4.

Skills Center offers help, IMPROVEMENTS path to academic success MADE TO INSITE JANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE

PORTAL, D2L EASE STRESS

Peer-led sessions give specialized group tutoring, skills

BY Evelyn Vazquez

BY Jose Jimenez

STAFF WRITER

evazquez.theadvocate@gmail.com

One-on-one tutoring is available for students seeking help in English, math and science in the College Skills Center Monday through Saturday.

The Contra Costa College Skills Center is located in the Library and Learning Resource Center.

The math department is located in AA-210 and the science department is located in PS-109.

The College Skills Center and math department offers free tutoring for all CCC students.

Being free of charge, students can take advantage of the College Skills Center.

Students taking courses in English, math or science can also take advantage of the tutoring because it is offered throughout the semester.

Tutoring is specialized whether it may be drop-in at the College Skills Center, or one-on-one tutoring by making an appointment.

This semester there has been a new peer-led team learning and supplemental instruction that is run by the students.

This training is a way for students to get specialized group tutoring by peers in specific courses.

Peer tutors first attend the class they give instruction for and assist the teacher.

To have access to free math and science tutoring students need to be enrolled in Math-875N. For free tutoring in English and all other academic areas you need to enroll in English-875N. “By students taking advantage of (College Skills Center) tutoring it can benefit students in their academics after

STAFF WRITER

jjimenez.theadvocate@gmail.com

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Students receive help from professors and students in the math department in AA-210 on Monday.

all that is why we are here to help and get assistance,” tutoring services coordinator Brandy Gibson said.

Student Karla Juarez said, “I would recommend the tutoring offered. It really makes a difference on how I do in school by coming in every day because it is a quiet place where I can get my work done.”

Although faculty are available to help tutor students in all areas, there are 90 student tutors, 12 who were hired this semester.

Student tutors are hired each semester and it all depends on what the budget allows, Gibson said.

English major Asma Alkrizy is both an English and math student tutor at CCC. She said students can get a lot of help from tutoring and has seen how students improve by using such services even if they are being tutored by peers.

Student tutors are trained by fac-

ulty and are specialized in areas of study including foreign languages, history, business, and psychology and other areas of study that are offered at the college.

Alkrizy said, “At times it is hard to get help from teachers and meet with them in office hours, but student tutors are always available to help in all areas.”

This semester there has been a 5 percent increase in the number of student seeking tutoring services. CCC students have been taking advantage of tutoring services and as a result hours have been extended, Gibson said.

Each tutoring service area has separate hours.

Science tutoring is offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Math tutoring is offered Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. English tutoring and all other class tutoring is offered Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Five course meal, romance on menu Valentine’s dinner popular among campus lovers, now sold out

BY Benjamin Bassham STAFF WRITER

bbassham.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Three Seasons Restaurant will be hosting the Cupid’s Season Dinner Event for roughly 75 guests, from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes said the event is new for the Three Seasons and reservations have already sold out. Sharkes added that hosting other events of the kind aren’t beyond the bounds of possibility.

Attendees will be treated to a five-course meal, sampling the culinary classes’ finest craft, with a live DJ, a photo booth and a complementary glass of champagne at the entrance.

All profits generated from the event go to the Culinary Arts Scholarship.

Contra Costa College’s Three Seasons Restaurant experiences bustling daily business. Students

n “We usually don’t

do dinner events — we haven’t done a Valentine’s Day event before. It should have a very different, candlelit atmosphere — a good experience for the student cooks.”

— Elizabeth Schwarz, culinary arts professor

and guests can grab a quick bite, or if they so desire, settle in to dine in casual elegance. The Three Seasons has long been a reliable feature of CCC life.

Culinary arts professor Elizabeth Schwarz said, “We usually don’t do dinner events — we haven’t done a Valentine’s Day event before. It should have a very different, candlelit atmosphere

— a good experience for the student cooks.”

Student Lauren Patrick said, “It’s really exiting. (The teachers’) support made it very easy to organize.”

The dinner will start with lobster bisque, then move to housesmoked salmon with crème fraîche and young greens. Next, the guests will enjoy a grilled steak with seasonal vegetables, an assorted fine cheese platter and finally a choice of lemon meringue pie or chocolate roll cake for dessert.

“It doesn’t make sense that we designate one single day — Valentine’s Day should be every day. Maybe there could be a little more love in everyone’s life,” Sharkes said.

With a little enthusiasm from the student staff, and especially the professional eaters, we could be seeing more dinners to share with that someone special, he said.

Improvements made to the Contra Costa Community College District’s WebAdvisor portal has streamlined the enrollment process for students while Desire to Learn (D2L) has done the same for daily coursework and emails.

Director of Admissions and Records Catherine Frost said the CCC campus and administrators have taken proactive measures to clean up the system, making it run smoother.

Frost said the most useful software upgrade is the function that allows students to forward important information from their InSite portal to their personal email.

She said the periodical updates help students early in the semester so that they can focus more on academics the first couple of weeks and less on the enrollment process.

“This is actually one of the smoothest starts in recent memory with the school’s website and WebAdvisor,” Technology Systems Manager James Eyestone said, “The system hasn’t crashed this semester and I’ve noticed shorter lines in Admissions and Records.”

Frost said the installation of the Welcome/Transfer Center in the Student Services Center has also helped reduce the lines and frustrations that come with a historically drawn out enrollment process.

Kelly Lopez, nursing major, said the district did a good job making WebAdvisor “easier” for her to navigate as she signed up for classes this semester.

“The web can be easily manipulated to any student’s criteria,” Eyestone said. “Technology is always changing just like passwords, and that’s what we’re working on next to improve here on campus.”

Jagdeep Toor and Ikjot Singh are both science majors and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) students at CCC. Toor said he used the new InSite email feature, which allows students to forward important dates, homework, or class lectures to their personal email, which was the most useful feature that was improved.

“Everything in InSite mail is super standard and gives students a general broad view of important updates such as drop dates and more,” he said. “Just set up the InSite email to your own personal email and everything will be forwarded automatically,” Toor Said.

Lopez said she also made use of the email feature that allows you to forward messages to your personal email. “It just made everything easier to connect both school updates and my personal stuff into one email account.”

Singh, however, offered a different solution and said individuals who want a more impactful academic experience can set up email notifications through D2L. Frost said, “Students have to realize (D2L) and WebAdvisor are two completely different components.”

D2L is more of a contained system between the instructor and the student, she said. WebAdvisor plays a similar role in communicating with students in that regard, while WebAdvisor offers a more in-depth and broader aspect of communicating with student class schedule updates and campus events and workshops.

“Wow, I didn’t know that,” Toor said. “You can learn something new every day.” Singh, in his second semester, said there are specialized functions on D2L that you can turn, “on or off,” if students really want to focus on school.

Eyestone said students used to complain about the difficulties of setting up an email using WebAdvisor when first implemented.

He said it is the IT department’s job to support all computers on campus and their software for students majoring in any field.

“Technology can be a generational type of thing and we’ve evolved,” Eyestone said.

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“

I was ready to go for however many innings they needed me to go. I threw a lot of ‘off speed pitches’ so it wasn’t a major toll on my body. The first inning was a little rough, but I feel like I could go some more right now.” — Jesse Garcia , Comet pitcher

N OFF THE RECORD

robertclinton

STUDENT-ATHLETES OVERLOOK OPTIONS WHILE MAKING LEAP

T

he decision to move on from community college athletics to the next level, whatever that may be, is a question most student-athletes dream of facing.

Although the percentage of athletes who will continue their playing career decreases as the required skill and fitness levels increase, student-athletes who accept the challenge must take all their academic options into consideration or regret it for life.

The reasons behind these decisions, however, vary from student-to-student.

With no concrete manual of what is most important when choosing the next destination, student-athletes rely on advice from family and coaches.

“I always remind players when going through the decision-making process to try to consider everything,” Contra Costa College softball coach Karolyn Gubbine said. “If you are going for sports and you get hurt or your grades dip down, you have to ask, is the athletic department going to just leave you out to dry? Or be supportive? You want to try to get all of the information that you can. There are a lot of things to take into consideration.”

Campus coaches maintain relations with coaches who work at higher levels of collegiate athletics. They keep the channels of communication open, introducing players to scouts and team representatives of four-year college institutions that make visits to the campus.

When the list of possible schools are narrowed down, the coaches help athletes judge what programs will offer the most playing time and what area may offer the most comfortable college experience.

“One of my major considerations is playing time,” CCC baseball player Loomis Russell said. “The coaches do a good job of helping us decide where we might be a good fit.”

Many athletes follow the old adage of attending the school that promised the most money. Without properly assessing the bulk of the influences that go into making a successful transition, athletes find themselves leaving their first choice school for reasons that were unanticipated because of improperly vetting their true needs.

“I’m worried about who is going to pay first because college is expensive,” Comet basketball player Phil Secrease said. “After that it’s all about location.”

Men’s basketball coach Miguel Johnson has an effective way of measuring a players expectations, giving his sophomores the opportunity to give him a list of five schools they feel would be the best fit academically and athletically for them.

The process rightfully puts more of the onus on the students to break down the process in hopes of bringing the most viable options to the light.

“In the end you’re there to get an education, so it has to be somewhere you feel comfortable,” CCC basketball player Tajai Johnson said.

Robert Clinton is the sports editor of The Advocate.

Contact him at rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com.

Rally in second inning spurs team to beat rival

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

After a brief rain delay, the Comet baseball team earned its first win of the season in a 9-2 romp over City College of San Francisco at the Baseball Field on Saturday.

Fielding errors combined with outs instead of hits with runners in scoring position has already cost the team winnable games this season. Contra Costa College (1-3 overall) finally put together a complete performance, scoring five runs in the second inning, against a team (2-4 overall) that had beaten them on Thursday.

“It depends on the day with these two teams. We have guys that can pitch and hit so do they,” CCSF pitcher Zach Carillo said. “(In the last game played between the rivals) CCC’s pitcher had no hitter going for like six innings and came away with a no decision — neither team did anything dramatically different today.”

The Comets took control of the game in the second inning. Starting a little shaky giving up two hits and an error leading to runners in scoring position.

Comet starter Jesse Garcia got out of the jam with help from a leaping stab by second baseman Antonio Nobriga.

That energy would carry over into the offensive half on the inning.

Leander Carter (two hits) made the first connection of game with a screaming drive into right field giving the Comets runners at first and second.

Alex Melendez (one hit) laid down the perfect bunt and with no available throw the bases were loaded with no outs.

The Ram pitcher nervously plunked the next Comet batter, forcing in the squad’s first run.

Loomis Russell (two hits, three RBI) then hit a base-clearing double (giving the team a 4-2 advantage) and ended up on third after a CCSF fielding error. A sacrifice fly brought Russell in to score the final run of the frame.

“They had to adjust to our grass field and with the weather. It probably played slower than usual so we capitalized on our home field advantage,” Russell said.

“RBIs are good, but in baseball it takes a team so it feels better to see us all get going at the same time as a team.”

After two innings, the Comets led 5-2.

With a three-layer cushion Garcia (seven innings, four strikeouts) settled into his groove, only allowing two hits in the rest of his time on the mound.

“I was ready to go for however many innings they needed me to go,” Garcia

said post-game. “I threw a lot of off speed pitches so it wasn’t a major toll on my body. The first inning was a little rough but I feel like I could go some more right now.”

The fourth inning began to wear on Ram pitcher Jesse Navaro. The starter gave up a first pitch blooper to CCC center fielder Rome Watson (one hit, one RBI), who beat the throw by sliding head first into first base.

Watson was eventually caught stealing second base.

CCC’s batters battled late into the pitch count in every at bat against Navaro in the fourth inning. For the first time in the game, the Rams conferred at the mound to see how the pitcher was holding up.

Navaro kept the mound and promptly walks the bases loaded. Then the starter gave up a two-run triple to Loomis with one out before being pulled.

The Rams made it out of the inning without surrendering any more runs.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, with two outs and runners on first and third, CCC attempted to add to its lead.

The final runs were set up by another rocket off of the bat of Russell down the line to left field. Arturo Parra (two hits, four RBI) poked a shot by the infield for a single that drove in the final runs.

COMETS

9 2

RAMS

ABOVE: Comet centerfielder Alex Melendez (23) slides home as a Ram catcher drops the ball allowing Comet centerfielder Rome Watson to also sprint home during CCC’s 9-2 win over City College of San Francisco at the Baseball Field on Saturday.

Early turmoil seals Comet opening loss First game jitters mar team’s chance at victory GLADIATORS

21 1 13 1 COMETS

GLADIATORS

COMETS

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

The softball team opened its 2015 season in dramatic fashion, but not as intended, as it fell in both games of a doubleheader against Chabot College (2-2 overall) 21-1 and 13-1 on Thursday at the Softball Field.

By the end of the first inning, Contra Costa College (0-2 overall) was already at a disadvantage as it trailed 11-1 in its first game of non-conference play. After the tilted inning, the squad settled down and gave up fewer runs each inning as the game progressed.

The Comets played with multiple starters out of the lineup. This forced many players to play out of their normal position and pushed coach Karolyn Gubbine to fling new players into the starting lineup.

“For some of us it was a learning experience, so we took it as that,” CCC left fielder Cathy Nieva-Duran said. “(Gubbine) didn’t want us to dwell on our mistakes, just recognize them and get better.”

Comet starting pitcher Melissa Watkins got ahead early in the count, throwing a strike with her first pitch as a collegiate student-athlete. The second pitch, however, was sharply hit to left field to allow a Gladiator runner to get on base.

The following batter slapped a ball back toward third base, but after fielding the ball a bad throw allowed the lead off runner to reach home to give Chabot an early lead.

“We were nervous in the beginning.

I had butterflies in my stomach way before game time. It was my first softball game,” CCC third baseman Jazmine Simmons-Morrison said.

The first Gladiator out came on a grounder hit to shortstop Cecily

ROBERT CLINTON / THE ADVOCATE

Comet catcher Angelina Espinal leaps toward a Gladiator runner for an out during CCC’s 13-1 loss to Chabot College at the Softball Field Thursday.

Ragsdale. She scooped up the ball and shot it to first on target and in rhythm, easily beating the speedy Gladiator runner.

Instead of the textbook out inspiring the squad, it was followed by a flurry of walks and fielding errors that helped extend the Chabot lead to five runs midway into the first inning.

Throughout the first game there were not many hard hit balls given up by Watkins. Infield bloopers compounded by bad fielding decisions scored the majority of the Gladiators’ runs.

After roughly 45 minutes in the field, the squad relished its first opportunity to get some at bats as it transitioned into the bottom of the first inning.

With the first pitch any Comet saw all season, leadoff hitter Roquel Ryan smacked the ball through the gap giving the team its opportunity to put runs on the board.

The Comets most valuable player of the day was Ragsdale, who also pitched the second game of the doubleheader.

In her first at bat she placed a shallow bunt down the third base line advancing Ryan into scoring position, but failing to beat the throw to first.

Crouching and chasing errant balls robbed Comet catcher Angelica Espinal of her stamina, which was evident in the player’s body language as she stepped into the batter’s box.

After making contact with a pitch, as if to add insult to injury, Espinal was hit in the head with the ball while beating out the throw to first base.

Espinal toughed it out and remained in the game earning her first RBI of the season.

“It was a tough game,” Gubbine said.

“Every girl was playing out of her normal position. They didn’t quit in either game, and they stayed with it until the end.”

CCC players get a chance to test what they learned in another doubleheader when they challenge Diablo Valley College Saturday beginning at noon on the Softball Field.

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Squad extends streak to keep playoffs alive Defensive efforts hold off late Mendocino push

By Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

The men’s basketball team won its third game in a row to climb back over .500 for the season with a 95-80 win over Mendocino College Friday in the Gymnasium.

With only three conference games remaining, the streaky Comets (12-11 overall, 9-4 in the Bay Valley Conference) will face their biggest test of the season against second place Yuba College tonight at 5:30 in Marysville.

Contra Costa College coach Miguel Johnson said these next games are “critical.”

“We want to ride the momentum but approach COMETS each game separately,” Johnson said. “In preparation, it’s about knowing the perEAGLES sonnel — who will be the drivers who will be the shooters.”

Sophomore Tajai Johnson led the squad with 28 points and six rebounds against Mendocino. He highlighted his performance with a breakaway left hand dunk that capped a 9-2 CCC scoring run in the second half.

The jump shot heavy Eagles (913 overall, 5-7 in the BVC) got out to an early lead making two quick 3-pointers. The Comets responded with a driving layup and foul to give the home team the early lead.

An up-tempo contest throughout, MC’s reliance on outside shooting left many rebounding opportunities for the Comets. Phil Secrease and Lowell Hall crashed the boards at every opportunity and extended the lead with numerous second chance put backs.

Secrease showed flashes of the defensive prowess he exhibited during non-conference games, using his length to alter shots and deter dribble drive opportunities by opposing guards.

“We had a lot of carry over from the last game,” Secrease said.

“When we got up we didn’t let up — we want to keep it going against

95 80

n “We had a lot of carry

over from the last game.

When we got up we didn’t let up — we want to keep it going against Yuba.

— Phil Secrease, Comet forward

Yuba.”

Holding a six-point lead at 1913 with 12 minutes remaining in the first half, the Comets chose to play to the Eagles strength. They began to match Mendocino by forcing jumper after jumper.

Following two consecutive Mendocino misses, Comet guard Dawson Johnson (22 points) hit a 3-pointer followed by a Justin Johnson dribble drive layup and foul.

Over the short run CCC had quietly extended its lead to double digits.

“It’s important for all three Johnsons to get it going early in games,” Justin Johnson said. “Every game is important — we know the situation we are in.”

An exciting block by Secrease off of the back of the Eagle shooter’s neck brought a rise out of the home crowd and ignited a fast break.

But the team could not capitalize on the energy. It instead opted for a half-court pass for an alleyoop attempt resulting in a dazzling turnover.

At halftime, CCC led 51-35.

In the second half the Comets seemed confident they had the game won, but knew there were some areas that needed tightening up in order to make a successful playoff run.

Inconsistencies that were apparent in the first half, like a lack of defensive communication, forced coach Johnson to implore his sophomores to become vocal leaders on the court.

Freshman guards Jebraile Newkirk (10 points, eight assists) and Tajai Brown made defensive contributions in the second half.

Newkirk used a bump and grind style offensively to wear down defenders. He then used his frame to limit clear lanes for driving to the hoop on the other end.

Brown used his length and effort to stay with his man. The guard even pinned a would-be layup to the glass drawing late game gasps from the crowd.

Comet guard Jebraile Newkirk (left) jumps up for a shot against a Mendocino College player during CCC’s 95-80 win over the Eagles in the Gymnasium Friday.

Comet coach Miguel Johnson (lower left) explains a play to his team during CCC’s 9580 win over Mendocino College in the Gymnasium on Friday.

PHOTOS BY QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

COMETS DOMINATE MENDOCINO IN SECOND HALF

By Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

Comet guard Ahjahna Coleman drives past Mendocino players during CCC’s 64-30 win over the Eagles in the Gymnasium on Friday.

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

The Comets put together consecutive blowout wins for the second time this season beating hapless Mendocino College 6430 Friday in the Gymnasium.

The team dominated second place Laney College 90-62 Feb. 4 in Oakland.

Contra Costa College (11-12 overall, 8-5 in the Bay Valley Conference) looked to capitalize on the positives from a 9062 spanking of Laney College and not underestimate a lesserranked opponent.

Sitting in fourth place in the BVC standings, percentage points behind Merritt College, it is not mathematically impossible for the Comets to squirm their way through the back door into the playoffs if the top three teams are selected.

This was the second time the teams have met this season. Jacqie Moody scorched the Eagles for 29 points Jan 13 at Mendocino College (0-20 overall, 0-2 in the BVC).

“I scored more from the high post in the first game,” Moody said. “In this game I took advantage of the smaller defenders they had guarding me and got more shots on the low block.

They kept fouling and I came through from the free throw line.”

Moody made 12 of 15 attempts from the free throw

line.

Early in the second half, Mendocino’s defeat was already imminent. Instead of yielding to the Comets, the Eagles chose to foul hard in attempts of baiting the home team into earning technical fouls or ejections.

“If they are going to play like that and we don’t match their aggression that’s when people get hurt,” Comet coach Paul DeBolt said. “Emotions get out of hand. That kind of stuff can lead to fights.”

DeBolt rallied his troops and after a series of excessively rough fouls went uncalled by officials, he told them not to fall into the Mendocino trap and take it out on them on the court.

“We pressed them hard and got some good shots over about a four minute span. After that it was basically over.” DeBolt said.

The Comets took a fourpoint lead early but MC quickly knotted the score at 8. A rare early 3-pointer by Sydney Vidal ignited the Comet offense, propelling the squad to a 17-11 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half.

Comet guard Carol Oldan kept her shooting touch from the Laney game finishing 5-10 from behind the 3-point line and totaling 19-points.

Coleman continued to find crafty ways to get onto the score sheet. As the focal point for most opponents’ defenses, she routinely gets double-teamed.

Scoring 39 point in the last two games, she always finds some way to be productive for the team.

Another Oldan dagger boosted the CCC lead to 27-18 with a minute to go before halftime. At the intermission the Comets led 33-18.

Oldan and Moody continued their assault on Mendocino defenders after play resumed.

An Oldan 3-pointer on which she turned and walked away COMETS from the basket before the ball had reached the rim, gave the squad its EAGLES largest lead of the night at 4825 with about 11 minutes left to play.

Moody and Lenzie Chao closed the game out for the Comets. Moody continued her strong inside play, which was highlighted by a 3-point play following a three-quarter court length touchdown strike from Oldan, that fell into Moody’s hands in stride, allowing her to make the layup and go to the line after she was fouled on the way up.

Chao ended the torturous night for the Eagles by draining a right-wing 3-pointer with 35 seconds remaining in the game, sealing a 64-30 triumph for the Comets.

64 30

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“

(Students in this class/club) are learning how to communicate vision, and that’s priceless. Finding your voice is part of what college is.” — Jeffrey Michels, English department chairperson

COMEDIC ACTS CHALLENGE PERFORMING ABILITIES ‘All in the Timing’ set to premiere in early March

BY Christian Urrutia PHOTO EDITOR

currutia.theadvocate@gmail.com

CREATIVE WRITING CLASS, CLUB SPILL THOUGHTS, HEARTS

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Students

BY Cody McFarland

provided

cmcfarland.theadvocate@gmail.com

chance to write poetry, stories

ABOVE: English department Chairperson Jeffrey Michels reads a poem to students during his Creative Writing class in AA-203 on Feb. 3.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

For the first time in nearly six years, creative writing is being taught at Contra Costa College.

Though the deadline to lateadd the class has passed, all are welcome to join the currently unnamed creative writing club, which meets during the same hours as the class: Tuesdays from 2:10-5:30 p.m. in LA-203.

English department Chairperson Jeffrey Michels is the class professor and club adviser.

He said the club is eager to put a literary magazine together, which would give students the opportunity to have their short, written works published.

Rechel William, a pre-med student seeking a career in holistic medicine, said, “This class gives students the chance for open expression without forcing them into rules and guidelines.”

Of course, the fundamentals of poetry and other forms of creative writing are taught as part of the class.

“As soon as you develop the rules, poets begin to break those rules for their art,” Dr. Michels said.

If breaking rules is not enough to entice students to join, Michels offered a few other reasons that may get students interested.

“Why should students join the club? To improve their love lives.

Everybody loves creative writers,” he said. “It also cuts down on the costs of gift-giving during the

holiday season.”

Michels fills the first hour and a half of the class with dramatic readings and a lecture about that day’s material. Then, the students in the tandem class and club are given a good chunk of time to write and get creative juices flowing before the class concludes with sharing and a short discussion.

“I took English 1B with (Michels) in the past and it was a fun class. He’s got an alternative teaching style and I really like that,” William said. “He influenced me to put more things down on paper and get them out of my head.”

n “I took English 1B with

(Michels) in the past and it was a fun class. He’s got an alternative teaching style and I really like that. He influenced me to put more things down on paper and get them out of my head.”

— Rechel William, pre-med student

Criminal justice major Osbaldo Murguia said Michels is a cool and funny professor who has an apparent passion for what he is teaching.

“I took this class to further my knowledge of speaking and better organize my thoughts,” he said. “I tend to get garbled easily. I thought this class would help.”

Creative writing: The unnamed creative writing club meets during the hours as the class: Tuesdays from 2:10 to 5:30 p.m. in LA-203. n The club adviser is English department Chairperson Jeffrey Michels, who is teaching the course for the first time in nearly six years. n

Though students find having a creative writing class and club beneficial for the campus community, some were concerned about the class not being offered the past six years. Students expressed worry over the possibility of cancellation due to low enrollment.

“It has been historically difficult to get a lot of students into this class,” Michels said. “There’s always a steady handful that sign up. But teaching this class also requires a great deal of recruiting, something I haven’t had enough time to do in past semesters.”

As Michels assures, this class and club are definitely active.

William said she has finished all of her transfer requirements and is taking creative writing for fun. It is a class she said she waited many semesters to be offered.

Michels said, “(Students in this class/club) are learning how to communicate vision, and that’s priceless. Finding your voice is part of what college is.”

Rehearsals are underway for the opening play of the drama department, “All in the Timing,” premiering in early March at the Knox Center.

Written by playwright David Ives and directed by adjunct drama professor Angelina LaBarre, “All in the Timing” is the first play to be performed during the 2015 spring semester.

LaBarre said the performance is a collection of eight comedic plays where seven actors portray a plethora of characters throughout each one with titles such as “The Universal Language,” “Words, Words, Words,” and “Variations on the Death of Trotsky.”

The multiple one-act comedies LaBarre focus on how individuals communicate with one another while using a Director limited set piece and placing empha- and adjunct sis on the actors and personifying the drama various characters. professor Preview night for the show will Angelina be March 11 at 8 p.m., performances LaBarre run through March 12-13 at 8 p.m. directs her and March 14 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. second LaBarre said the plays are fun play for the to perform and to watch because CCC drama of the mix of humor and slapstick department. qualities.

This provides the actors a variety of roles to practice and challenges dealing with how to quickly move from one character to the next.

Drama professor and technical director for the Knox Center John Morocco said the first major decision in constructing the set was deciding to use the backdrop wall that was also used in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, (Abridged)” performed last fall. “(Contra Costa College’s drama department) foresaw not to take away that set piece. That saved ourselves a major construction project and we’re able to shift between three different sets during the plays,” Morocco said.

Both LaBarre and Morocco said that the college has major renovation projects scheduled to begin within the Knox Center after the drama department ends its season.

Because of the planned construction, choices were made to perform a character-driven play where an elaborate set was not needed.

“We weren’t exactly sure how much space we were going to end up with,” LaBarre said. “The department chair and I wanted to do something that would concentrate on the actors so that we wouldn’t miss out on a chance to perform a play for the students.”

She said by reinventing the set piece and choosing a series of one-act character based plays, limitations in this case can stimulate creativity in the production process as opposed to stifling it.

One of the performers in the play, drama major Oz Herrera-Sobal, said he returned to the department again to perform because of the comedic chemistry on and the off the stage between him and LaBarre.

Crockett resident Jamie Barnhart said the challenge of playing different roles for the play made her want to return to CCC’s drama department after a three-year hiatus.

“For me theater is such an amazing outlet for people in the community and I think participating within it is not only a blessing but has a positive effect for everyone else as well,” Barnhart said.

Tickets are $5 on preview night and $10 for students and $15 for general admission.

Counselor earns international poets’ recognition Poem by ValdezJimenez wins trip to free conference

BY Roxana Amparo NEWS EDITOR

ramaparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

Through exploring borders with her poetry, a Contra Costa College counselor won first place for 2015’s San Miguels Writers’ Conference (SMW).

Norma Valdez-Jimenez will be attending a five-day prepaid conference with fellow poets, writers and published, inspiring figures.

Valdez-Jimenez’s compelling poem “UNACCOMPANIED” swayed the judges and won her first place after a blind reading.

San Miguels Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival is a co-cultural, bilingual literary gathering in the Americas. It attracts established, emerging writers and publishing professionals from the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The nominees are scheduled to attend the writer’s conference in

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, from today through Sunday.

The SMW conference judge Nathan Feuerberg said the submitted piece is published to the SMW Conference website and if the winner chooses, they can be part of their printed anthology.

“It is our hope that attending the conference will allow them to network, learn more about the craft of writing, and share some writing advice with their peers,” Feuerberg said.

During their time at the conference, the contestants can attend seven 90-minute workshops from advance fiction writing to publishing and marketing. They are also offered in Spanish.

Based on a 2005 UNESCO, an agency that encourages universal respect for human rights, report there is a low number of literacy in Mexico, so the event is both in English and in Spanish to encourage reading.

“As a poet and writer she is very much self-taught, even though she has taken some classes,” Foothill College English professor and longtime friend Susana Huerta said.

n “You can feel a divide or where those changes come together. Once I start, I have an intimacy with the poem — a relationship.”

— Norma Valdez-Jimenez, counselor

Huerta said she likes to call ValdezJimenez, “La Poeta Chingona,” which translates to “a badass poet.”

Her poetry explores borders of different traditions and cultures through her experiences as a Mexican woman living in the United States.

“You can feel a divide or where those changes come together,” Valdez-Jimenez said. “Once I start, I have an intimacy with the poem — a relationship.”

Valdez-Jimenez is an alumna from VONA/voices, the only multi-genre workshops for writers of color in the nation, and she participated in a writing program at UC Berkeley Extension. She has had several of her pieces published through Calx Journal The Acentos

Review among others.

Winning honorable mention in 2013’s SMW Conference brought her joy, but this year, she feels honored to have been selected for first place she said.

“I feel like a newbie,” she said.

Among the other experienced poets and writers, she is humbled by the opportunity.

The San Miguel Conference is run by a nonprofit organization, The San Miguel Literary Sala, an organization that is paired with various programs and external organizations.

Among this year’s judges are poetry judge Mittie Babette Roger, creative nonfiction judge Mary Katherine Wainright and fiction judge Feuerberg.

With creative backgrounds, the judges have a trained eye for what is required to meet winning expectations. This year’s keynote speakers will be Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker, Scott Turow, Angeles Mastretta, Tracy Chavalier and other well-known figures, Feuerberg said.

As a poet, Valdez-Jimenez prefers to use her birth name, “Norma

Liliana Valdez.”

“It liberates me tions from having this identity,” she said. “It feels good to go back to my birth name.”

Va l d e z Jimenez said her connection to poetry takes her to another place very quickly.

Feuerberg said the winners have the chance to sell their books at the conference bookstore, participate in open mic or in “An Evening of Storytelling.”

Va l d e z Jimenez advises young, aspiring writers and poets to read a lot and to write without censoring themselves.

And to just “let it be.”

from expectato write with

ValdezJimenez Counselor Norma ValdezJimenez is attending a conference and literary festival this week after winning a prestigious poetry award.