The Advocate 2-25

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CMYK

CMYK

WEDNESDAY l 2.25.15 OUR 65TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Heritage celebration emphasizes involvement Night of performance art, speakers focuses on community engagement, leadership, future possibilities

BY Roxana Amparo and Robert Clinton STAFF WRITERS

accent.advocate@gmail.com

The annual African Heritage Month celebration took a necessary step forward this year, centering on the future of blacks in America rather than focusing solely on black culture and historical strides.

Black organizations and the quest for excellence in justice was the theme of the event, which largely centered on student involvement and activism, in the Knox Center Feb. 12.

Students expressed the powerful words of civil rights leaders past through original spoken word pieces.

The highlight of the evening was the

The Advocate examines various groups, figures influential to the AfricanAmerican struggle and the ethnic studies courses at CCC. PAGES 6 & 7

Campus leaders plan to fulfill five recommendations CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

King transcends dream, nightmare speaks on King’s campaign shift from civil rights to human rights

BY Lorenzo Morotti EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

Students filled the Planetarium in the Physical Sciences Building on Feb. 17 to listen to a Contra Costa College history professor’s presentation that aimed to clarify Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s often-distorted legacy. “(Dr. King’s struggle) became an international struggle,” history professor Manu Ampim said. “(King) was linking up with people around the world and somebody was very nervous about that,” he said. “King was seen as the number one threat to national security and was constantly called a terror-

ist by FBI.” Ampim sought to expose the misconception that King was only an activist for AfricanAmerican civil rights, with the truth being that King adjusted his scope to focus on international human rights and swung his support to the Black Power Movement in 1966.

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

Ampim said the second period of King’s life work, SEE KING, PAGE 4

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

PAGE 11

SEE HERITAGE, PAGE 4

ABOVE: Members of the Fua Dia Congo drum group perform a conga drum dance number during the annual African Heritage Month celebration in the Knox Center on Feb. 12.

COLLEGE ACCREDITED, MUST FILE FOLLOW-UP

Ampim

Strong-willed Moody strives for excellence

was instrumental in fighting the Haitian revolution,” she said.

Aside from merely teaching the movements, Tigner said she wants to employ flex opportunities for teachers to use dance in their history curriculum to embrace dance as a reflection of life and society of a given era.

Former African-American Staff Association president Jim Taylor and current president, Athletic Director John Wade, spoke to the importance of studentled organizations and how the groups have been the catalyst of change in the Black community.

ABOVE: History professor Manu Ampim speaks to students during his presentation on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Planetarium on Feb. 17.

BY Cody McFarland ASSOCIATE EDITOR

cmcfarland.theadvocate@gmail.com

Although the college was reaffirmed to operate as an accredited institution another seven years, the decision came with a stipulation. Five stipulations, to be exact.

Following its meeting on Jan. 79, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges took action to reaffirm Contra Costa College’s accreditation and require that the college submit a Follow-Up Report by Oct. 15.

Reaffirmation with a Follow-Up Report is required when there are deficiencies leading to noncompliance that do not create an immediate risk to the institution’s quality and effectiveness. However, if these deficiencies are not addressed and fully resolved in a short time, they may threaten quality and effectiveness and lead to increased noncompliance, thus endangering the institution’s accreditation.

“In many respects, this process has been very similar to the last time we went through accreditation,” Academic Senate President Wayne Organ said.

“The main thing is that our accreditaSEE ACCREDITATION, PAGE 4

CMYK

AFRICAN HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE EXAMINED

explosion of sounds, colors and rhythmic movements that filled center stage.

Rather than simply perform for the audience made up of students and members of the campus community, dance instructor LaTonya Tigner encouraged audience participation and explained the power that lies behind African-rooted dance.

“Dance, as with other art forms, has sustained through many hardships and enabled us to hold on to traditions more than any other thing could have,” Tigner said.

“Blacks have used dance as a form of protest, to send communications, to train for battle, like capoeira or petwo, which

CMYK

Quotable “In fact, the confidence of the people is worth more than money.”

Carter G. Woodson historian, author, journalist 1915 Lorenzo Morotti editor-in-chief George Morin art director Cody McFarland Rodney Woodson associate editors Roxana Amparo news editor Jared Amdahl opinion editor Robert Clinton sports editor Jason Sykes assistant sports editor 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.

opinion

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2015 VOL. 102, NO. 14

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

L

EDITORIAL DIVERSE CELEBRATIONS African-American History Month needs to alter focus

M

any people who talk about AfricanAmerican history often start at the slave trade and end with the civil rights movement.

While the myriad of student groups, civil rights activists, abolitionists and legal groups who helped end the legalized racist practices of the past are important, one cannot forget that African-American history and culture predates slavery and continues to be written today.

So instead of referring to every February as Black History Month, people should call it African-American History Month or just African History Month because, without African history, there is no American history.

Contra Costa College professor Manu Ampim said, “Africans have the longest story of humanity and our society has only set aside a month to celebrate African history. That is simply not enough.”

This simple change of the month’s name would create more interest among students to learn about the history of other cultures, as well as their own.

Tracing one’s cultural roots through historical study is a celebration in its own way.

A person should acknowledge African contributions to science, language and art that span across oceans and thousands of years, every day.

Maybe then CCC would not be the only college in the Contra Costa Community College District with an African-American studies department program.

If you are a student who has taken either Ampim’s or African-American studies department Chairperson Carolyn Hodge’s history classes, then you should be familiar with the evidence that supports the theory that West African and Asian people reached the Americas long before Christopher Columbus was alive.

Evidence of African ocean migration can be found in similarities between the artifacts found at archeological sites in Central and South America and Africa.

The most convincing pieces of evidence were popularized by Mathew Sterling’s expeditions into Mexico during the 1930s.

Farmers throughout the Yucatan Peninsula had discovered 17 intricate heads of Olmec kings, carved out of basalt rock, which range from 4 feet to 11 feet tall.

The heaviest weighs 30 tons and each one of these forgotten kings is depicted with African and Asian features, including dreadlocks and epicanthic eye folds.

The Olmec ruled from 1000 B.C. until 300 B.C. and is considered the mother culture for recognizable empires such as the Aztecs and Mayans.

And after further excavations, many smaller sculptures where found with a wide range of facial features that suggest great ethnic diversity among its people.

Such diversity is mirrored by the student population at CCC, as well as by many urban centers of education throughout the United States.

The primary focus in the K-12 educational system is Western history, which is simply negligent of the study of other cultures — pertinent cultures that deserve attention.

MARCI SUELA / THE ADVOCATE

2

N INDIVIDUALITY

Mainstream education neglects societal issues S

eemingly from birth, family and society team up to mold little ones into what they believe to be an upstanding “American citizen,” or at least someone fit to survive the struggles of life in the U.S. At home, Americans are usually taught the basis of some religion, how and what foods to cook and how to conduct themselves both at home and in public. While teaching children the ways of the world is paramount, at some point children should be taught to be themselves.

Growing up in between Richmond, Oakland and Sacramento was rough.

Moving from city-tocity every year led to not attending a school for two consecutive years until high school. Yes, it was tough to make and keep good friends. What was even harder though was trying to be a part of a group, clique or a club.

Over the years, being alone a lot, I learned to entertain myself thanks in large part to an overactive imagination. However, lonesomeness aside, I was happy with knowing who I was and what I liked. As a youth, noticing the differences in interest between my fly-by-night friends and myself, I thought nothing of it, not realizing that somehow these lines of difference would place us into boxes in years to come.

A box is American society’s way of generalizing people, you know, like

seldom make any serious decisions about our own lives. Yes, it is a parent’s job to ensure proper upbringing of his or her child, but that has nothing to do with religion, race or sexual orientation.

As a black man I was religions, races, sports, sex- raised to hold animosity toward whites and homoual preference and sexual sexuals. Was it drilled in orientation. The bottom line is most of our parents my head? No, but the constant, blatant disdain for were, or are, selfish. I’m not placing any blame, just white people, in addition to hearing homophobic stating the fact that chilcomments all the time, my dren do not begin to start mind was shaped to hold a making life-altering decigrudge against these types sions until close to high school. While understand- of people.

I recently denounced able, it seems a bit late in life for a 14- to 16-year-old my nonexistent African to begin to think about his citizenship in an opinion piece last semester and or her future. was forced to pull every I didn’t come close to black person that read it deciding what I wanted to do with my life until I was out of my throat after they jumped down it, claiming I 27. Not saying that this is hated myself. not abnormal, but what I heard statements such pushed me into the right as, “You’re not on our arena was college, and the (black people’s) side,” and, freedom to choose what I “What about your people?” wanted.

It wasn’t about what my or, “How could you say that?” I am who I am. parents would think, or What about my people? what my pastor would say.

If my family hasn’t been It was about me. Because “my people” as one would when it boils down to it, think, why in the shit it is the individual’s life would I consider anyone to live and up to them from any group of people to make the choices that to be my people just affect their life. because our skin is the Since Americans spend same color? about 12 years in school, My people are the peofor the most part U.S. kids ple who care. are learning the history of the land, simple mathematRodney Woodson is ics as well as how to conan associate editor of The duct themselves in society.

Advocate.

Contact him at At home during these rwoodson.theadvocate@ years we listen to our pargmail.com. ents almost faithfully, and

rodneywoodson

CAMPUS COMMENT

Is dedicating a month to a culture or cause necessary?

“Yes. It helps raise awareness and it helps gain a lot of support for the cause and those charities.”

“Definitely, yeah, because there are so many issues that we need to bring awareness to.”

“I think so, but we shouldn’t limit ourselves to being aware only during that month.”

Tatiana Vidal

Mark David

computer science

biology

business

ROXANA AMPARO AND JORDAN KHOO / THE ADVOCATE

Danny Gonzalez

“It depends on how appreciated that culture is. Like if it is not that important then there should be some attention brought to it.”

“Yes, because it’s like we are forgetting those people who also matter if we don’t (dedicate the time).”

“I believe it is necessary because white people have tortured and enslaved us. It should be recognized.”

Troy Richardson gateway to college

Derrick Deans

Anita Mays sociology

business

forum N RACE

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

HEADS DOWN SOCIETY

markwassberg

RACIAL PROFILING USED TO ENSURE NATIONAL SECURITY

R

acial profiling is when law enforcement officers detain, search or arrest an individual due to his or her ethnicity. In the case of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, racial profiling was not used.

The story is that Brown robbed a convenience store of several cigarillos. In the process he assaulted the owner.

Then he walked down the middle of a street blocking traffic and had an altercation with Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, which caused Brown’s death.

The government never filed a case against Wilson.

In New York City, it was against the law for Eric Garner to sell loose single cigarettes which caused the police to react to the crime.

But when he resisted arrest the police put him in a chokehold.

Garner said, “I can’t breath.” The police should have stopped immediately.

The fact that they didn’t caused his death.

The first cases of racial profiling occurred in 1693 when a Philadelphia court gave the right to the police to detain any African-American who was free or a slave.

During this period of United States history, the African people were considered sub- human by whites in the Southern colonies and the prejudice still continues today.

There is no doubt that George Zimmerman, a neighborhood coordinator, profiled Trayvon Martin as a troublemaker because he was African-American and was wearing a hoodie.

African-Americans were and still are fighting a war a two fronts. They fought heroically in World War II and then came home to fight another war at home against racism.

During the civil rights movement, AfricanAmericans protested for their constitutional rights working to stop segregation, for the right to vote and educational equality.

The Klu Klux Klan tried to put a stop to their movement by killing three civil rights workers and by bombing a Baptist church killing four young African-American girls. Others were murdered, beaten and threatened with death by the KKK. In 2000, four Oakland police were known as the “Rides,” used vigilante tactics to kidnap, plant evidence and beat mostly AfricanAmericans.

During the late 1980s, a similar group terrorized Richmond. These vigilante police officers were known as the “Cowboys.” These officers rode around in their squad cars looking to profile African-American men like a sport, killing a few of them and beating several others.

The “Cowboys” were put under investigation and during their day in court they even wore their cowboy boots.

These officers were found not guilty.

In some cases, including for “national security” purposes, law enforcement does have the right to racially profile people.

Mark Wassberg is a staff writer for The Advocate.

Contact him at mwassberg. theadvocate@gmail.com.

3

Mobile devices control people’s routines, relations

BY Manning Peterson STAFF WRITER

mpeterson.theadvocate@gmail.com

P

rologue — Last month my curious, scholarly 8-year-old grandson, “Mojo,” asked, “Hey grandad. What did you do when you were a kid without a computer, smartphone or the Internet?”

My simple, concise, honest answer was, “Everything, baby boy, everything!”

Have you intentionally observed or paid limited lip-service to this serious sensational social shuffle which has overwhelmed the good ol’ United States during the past two decades?

Or is the reason you haven’t noticed because you are an active advocate and participant in the eye of this technological tornado?

If so, you have unwittingly become a charter member of our heads-down society.

Any actively-aware American adult can accurately associate with the recent holocaust of high tech horse manure such as the iPod, Facebook, e-reader, smartphone, notebook, iPad, Kindle, Nook, MP3, email, Android, Twitter, tablet, audible.com, iphone, Internet, Instagram, computers, selfies, etc.

Truth be told here, information technology, (IT) is simply a nominal, conglomeration ploy programmed to create a big-bucks bonanza while confusing, discouraging and or eliminating the continuity and development of personal as well as interpersonal communication skills.

More truth revealed on the reality response rebound is that IT has diminished, defocused and dehumanized family traditions such as conversation before, during and after meals, outings, vacations, picnics and religious ceremonies.

THE UGLY INCONVENIENT TRUTH IS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM DESIGN IS SIMPLY AN OXYMORONIC FALLACY ALLEGEDLY DIRECTED AT CLEAR COMMUNICATION WITHOUT ACTUALLY COMMUNICATING CLEARLY. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THE TRUE DEFINITION OF INFORMATION IS THE PRESENTATION OR DISTRIBUTION WHILE THE DEFINITION OF COMMUNICATION IS GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS AND THROUGH. SO, IT IS ALL TAINTED TECHNO-DOUBLE SPEAK! IT IS JUST IT-STYLE BULLSHIT, FOLKS! Some relevant recent IT research data reported problem issues with a high percentage of lab students being tested and diagnosed with myopia (nearsightedness) due to staring at screens and constant exposure to IT paraphernalia. No wonder some IT techno-phobes can’t distinguish between information and communication.

I will cite several excellent, exciting examples of involving my exposure and observations of “our head-down dilemma,” in the People’s Republic of Berkeley, California.

Berkeley is an unusual college community cuz life here is inhaled and celebrated like each day is Christmas or your birthday and every evening is a combination on New Year’s eve and Halloween.

It is 2 p.m. on a chilly, cloudy March 2014 Wednesday afternoon here in beautiful, sometimes bizarre, marijuana smoke-scented downtown Berkeley.

I’m walking east on University Avenue to Cal Berkeley’s School of Public Health Library to complete my research on

this story.

Suddenly, a dark-haired, mohawked-mounted, 14-year-old Hispanic male wearing a tan T-shirt with the logo of the national Mexican soccer team and riding a skateboard aimlessly ambles into my area impeding my progress.

He is speaking Spanish into a handheld IT communications device while presumably texting in the multi-task mode.

If I had been a car traveling at 20 miles an hour, his family would have been celebrating Dia De Los Muertos and conducting all-future family reunion festivities at the Alameda County Morgue.

As the young man passed me, a gray Honda Civic pulled through a parking space into the sidewalk. The 20ish Asian-Pacific woman driver was speaking on a cellphone and doing the dangerous dynamics of multi-tasking.

I did a fast fandango to avoid becoming a client of the Alameda County Coroner’s Department.

These are a couple of examples of unobservant cavalier behavior involving IT technophobes which are relevant reasons why pedestrian and vehicular accident rates and insurance premium rates have skyrocketed during the past decade according to the most recent Federal Health Care research data and insurance industry actuarial statistics.

My research route plan was supposed to conclude with a four-block hike south from the corner of Shattuck and University to the Berkeley Central Library at Kitteridge and Shattuck. It was not my plan to include the following, weird, “Heads-Down” episode.

I took a seat at the bus stop on the east side of the library. A short, brown-haired, mid-thirtyish, tensiontwisted Caucasian woman wearing the widow’s weeds of a reality-challenged crone in training dragged a young boy up and sat to my left.

She quickly moved to my right and back to my left all in the space of one minute. All this time, she was totally texting and talking on a phone rather than focusing on her primary maternal child care responsibilities.

My bus arrived two blocks north and I stepped up to the bus stop.

The texting tornado continued to be deeply involved in her heads down hysteria.

Her son, who had not bathed recently judging from his wind-blown wake, was dressed in the odd garb of a free box fashion show model. He appeared to be 7 or 8 years old.

This youngster walked up and parked his carcass directly behind my behind and remained there for three minutes or so.

Suddenly, he ran over, grabbed his mother’s arm and whispered in her left ear.

She immediately jumped up into my personal space going nose-to-nose and screaming through her halitosishardened breath, “MY SON TOLD ME YOU JUST FARTED IN HIS FACE!” After turning my head to the left to check on my bus, I glared directly into her blinking, reddish-brown eyes and calmly counseled her, “MY DOCTOR ADVISED ME THAT FARTING IS AN INVOLUNTARY BODILY ACTION WE SENIOR CITIZENS PARTICIPATE IN FREQUENTLY, MA’AM. “NOW, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO—TAKE IT BACK?” I never considered asking this angst overloaded angel why her precious precocious genius

had moved so close to my rear end that he was able to hear, or detect any intensity of smell from my anal emissions — nor why she didn’t have the boy seated next to her out of fart reception range to avoid any booty bomb bombarding child abuse.

My professional training as a retired chemical dependency therapist who worked 30 plus years and was trained to identify troubled clients answered those two questions.

Once more she barked in another barrage of bad breath, “WELL, FUCK YOU AND YOUR CAL SWEATSHIRT, YOU DUMB, OLD, UGLY N****R! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MY ANSWER TO YOUR STUPID QUESTION?” My casual cryptic reply was, “Your manic malcontent manifesto is one simple yet elegant example of the progressive decline of unconditional love in our global civilization.

“AND NO MATTER WHAT YOUR VERBAL CHARACTER ASSASSINATION ASSESSMENT OF ME MAY BE, IF I AM BLESSED TO WAKE UP TOMORROW MORNING, I WILL STILL BE BLACK ALBEIT OLDER AND UGLIER, BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES TRUMP THE ALTERNATIVE. “NOW, PLEASE ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY UNLESS YOU HAVE OTHER PLANS!” She was last seen shuffling toward South Berkeley complaining and barking loudly about old black assholes wearing CAL clothing and those living in the White House.

Her head was still down as she continued texting her angry-ass off.

Meanwhile, her resourceful prepubescent progeny was diligently and desperately checking out the potential menu inventory options of the brown and blue garbage cans searching in survival mode for his dinner rations. VAYA CON DIOS, KID! If you have not had the fate or luck to become a dumpster-diver, soup kitchen client or garbage can gourmet, consider yourself as truly blessed. Millions of folks world-wide, especially children, do not eat daily never mind the recommended nutritious three meals daily.

In the 21st century, our civility choices in America have become bizarre in many areas. My research was primarily focused on recent IT instruments and heads-down behavior. Folks with their heads down looking for their next meal to survive is a non-IT segment of our heads down dilemma.

Here are a couple of sane, sober suggestions and potential solutions to assuage our IT insanity.

GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR BUTT OR FACEBOOK AND STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE REAL WORLD!

MARCI SUELA / THE ADVOCATE

4

campusbeat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Follow The Advocate

ACCREDITATION | Reaffirmation comes with caveat Continued from Page 1

Receive breaking campus news and sports updates by following The Advocate on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can find a digital copy of this paper on Issuu. twitter.com/accentadvocate facebook.com/accentadvocate instragram.com/cccadvocate issuu.com/the_advocate

NEWSLINE Q rally

ANNUAL PROTEST CALLS ON STUDENTS The annual March in March rally will occur in Sacramento on Monday.

Students interested in attending the protest, can travel along with the Associated Students Union and other students in a bus.

The bus will load students in front of the Gymnasium at 7 a.m.

Monday.

Students will be able to voice their concerns regarding the education system at the rally.

To sign up and get required consent forms, visit the Student Life Office in AA-109 by 2 p.m. today.

For more information, contact the ASU in AA-109.

CRIMEWATCH Wednesday, Feb. 4: A vehicle rear ended a parked vehicle. The parked vehicle sustained moderate to severe damage. Damage to the other vehicle is unknown.

Thursday, Feb. 5: A non-student vandalized a bench on campus. The subject was admonished and released.

A storage container on campus was tampered with.

A suspect attempted to fraudulently cash a financial aid check.

A student reported her cell phone stolen.

A staff member fell and scrapped her knee. No further medical assistance was needed.

A mother was reunited with her son who was reported missing out of Pinole.

Monday, Feb. 9: Two student were involved in a verbal dispute outside of the Applied Arts Building.

Tuesday, Feb. 10: An officer received a report of a male exposing himself in Lot 2. The area was checked, but the officer was unable to locate the suspect.

Officers responded to a fight at the Bus Transfer Station.

A door to the Gym Annex Building was vandalized.

Wednesday, Feb. 11: A student reported their cellphone was stolen while they were in the Applied Arts Building.

A staff member reported a disruptive student in class.

Officers responded to a medical emergency. The student refused further medical attention.

A student reported unknown suspects opened her locker in the Applied Arts Building and took her backpack.

Tuesday, Feb. 17: A student was arrested for a warrant.

An officer obtained a report of an off-campus armed robbery involving a student.

— George Morin and Roxana Amparo

tion was reaffirmed.”

Accreditation is a system of self-regulation developed by higher education institutions to evaluate the overall quality of any given institution and encourage its continual improvement. Accreditation standards represent the best practices in higher education and set expectations for institutions to meet every seven years.

“Nothing in the report was a surprise,” Organ said. “The visiting team gave a summary of their findings in an open meeting at CCC, and what they said at the meeting was substantively the same as the written recommendations from the commission.”

At the meeting, an open forum held at CCC on Oct. 9, 2014, Accreditation External Evaluation Team Chairperson Sylvia Thomas said, “You have a gem here. CCC is a solid institution with exemplary individuals, students and programs.”

She added that CCC is the type of college she would like her son to attend.

Despite the warm tone of the forum and the positive tidings, five areas of discrepancy were highlighted and must be addressed by the college by October.

Recommendations for each area were included with CCC’s reaffirmation letter, received by the college Feb. 6.

Of the five recommendations made by the ACCJC, the college meets its greatest challenge in addressing and resolving Recommendation 5. Recommendation 5 pertains to fiscal sustainability and coincides with one of CCC’s greatest and most recent problems: enrollment decline and the contingent declination of state apportioned funding.

Community colleges in California receive state funding per full-time equivalent student.

One FTES is the equivalent of one student enrolled in 15 semester units or multiple students enrolled in a combined 15 semester units.

“FTES is our bread and butter and our bread and butter is declining,” Director of Business Services Mariles Magalong said. “How we address issues of fiscal sustainability is how we address our enrollment problems.”

The college’s reported annual resident FTES for which state apportionment was received for fiscal year 2013-14 was 5,689 FTES. Based on current figures and census data, Magalong said CCC has a projected total of 4,793 resident FTES for the 2014-15 year.

According to the State Chancellor’s Office website, with data dating back to fiscal year 1992-93, CCC has not dropped below 5,000 resident FTES in more than two decades.

“It is better to talk about how we increase enrollment before we talk about making reductions,” Magalong said.

Another challenge is presented by Recommendation 4, which implores the college to further develop a distance education plan.

This entails that CCC develop a comprehensive plan, including plans for teacher training, student orientation, online student and learning support services and general growth of distance education. Librarian Judith Flum, the current part-time distance education coordinator, has been spearheading these duties.

Though Flum works alongside a committee, she said CCC currently has no faculty working full-time to grow the distance education plan.

“There are people in our service area who are not taking any classes at all, but who I think would be willing to take distance education online because the demands of life keep them from ever making it to campus,” she said.

The growth of CCC’s distance education plan is likely to attract additional FTES, a means of mitigating enrollment decline that would also benefit the resolution of Recommendation 5, she said.

“We’re getting there (distance education plan), but it’s going to take awhile,” she said.

“But we are moving in the right direction.”

Recommendation 1 concerns CCC’s Institutional Self-Evaluation Report Standard IIIA1c., which reads: Faculty and others directly responsible for student progress toward achieving stated student-learning outcomes have, as a component of their evaluation, effectiveness in producing those learning outcomes.

United Faculty Vice President for CCC Jeffrey Michels said that while faculty might very well be producing these learning outcomes, discrepancies with the required paperwork got the college dinged.

“Assignments and grading are not good enough,” he said. “(The state wants) rubrics to measure data and make it presentable.”

Dr. Michels believes the commission is looking for key phrases and terms, specifically the phrase student-learning outcomes.

Emphasis on SLOs has been a top priority for California’s system of higher education in recent years and is highly controversial among educators, he said.

“SLOs are about accountability, about creating data in easy to review formats,” he said. “(Recommendation 1 is geared toward) figuring out a way to measure the effectiveness of the institution and hold faculty accountable.

But there’s no data out there that suggests improved accountability helps students.”

Recommendations 2 and 3 are based in selfevaluation, Program Review, data reporting

and the Strategic Planning process.

Strategic Planning is an institution’s process of defining its strategy or direction, and making informed decisions on allocating its resources to efficiently pursue that strategy.

“We make sure while planning to keep equity essential,” Student Success Committee Chairperson Mayra Padilla said. “We’re looking through the student lens at different groups on campus and the different pathways out there to success.”

Dr. Padilla said this includes being cognizant of all student groups, no matter their skill level or level of college preparation, so that resources are equitable and no single group suffers from remediation made for another.

Regarding Recommendation 2, Organ said, “The Commission believes that we do not have a systematic way to evaluate the effectiveness of these areas that allows us to really tell if what we are trying to do is working. We agree with the commission and are working now, through our Strategic Planning process, to identify appropriate methods to evaluate and then improve all the many processes we have on campus.”

The college is addressing this recommendation by working to revamp the Program Review process as well, he said.

There is one setback, but one that should be fixed long before the Oct. 15 deadline for the Follow-Up Report.

SLO/AUO (administrative unit outcomes) Coordinator Gabriela Segade said, “We do not yet have the software to aggregate the data. It is still being developed.”

Recommendation 3 is based on Institutional Set Standards. The Accrediting Commission wants CCC to set acceptable goals for certain student success metrics, including retention, completion and acquisition of degree or certificate rates, and develop a plan for reaching these goals.

This will also be dealt with in the Strategic Planning process.

“We (the college) are in the process of setting them (Institutional Set Standards), so we need to be clear on what these standards are and what our goals are,” Senior Dean of Instruction Donna Floyd said. “We’ve laid out our process for how we are going to do that.”

Dr. Floyd, who acts as CCC’s accreditation officer, said she will have a tentative timeline for implementation by Thursday, when the committee handling the execution of the recommendations meets next.

Organ said, “Once I looked at the last time we went through this and thought about all we have already done, I realized that we are already in the midst of doing these things and our own timeline would get them done by Oct. 15.”

HERITAGE | Performances showcase history, pride Continued from Page 1 “It’s hard to get across to these students the amount of power they have because times have changed so much,” Wade said. “There are more outside influences and distractions. When we all lived in the same community, it was easier to educate young people about important issues, then we galvanized and took action. It is part of the difficulty in bridging the gap from past to present.”

The two reminded students of the San Francisco State strike and marches organized by Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee throughout the Jim Crow south.

“Historically, when change occurs in America, it always comes from student-led action,” interim Student Life coordinator Erika Greene said.

Black Student Union President DeAndre Russell said he wants to harness the club’s energy to pursue some of the societal ills reflected on campus.

“We have ideas in mind and there are a lot of issues to address,” Russell said. “For something to really work, it has to be something that all of the campus clubs can unite behind.”

Greene said, “I’ll support students in procuring any of the goods and services that they feel they deserve.”

The program consisted of inspirational pieces that encouraged the audience to step outside their comfort zone.

An impromptu dance lesson from Tigner brought audience members into the spotlight to learn the African origins of some modern dance moves.

Dance major Bridgette Lott said, “Dance is like poetry — it’s rhythmic, it’s melodic. It can be an escape. I lose myself in it sometimes.”

Kiazi Malonga and the Fua Dia Congo drum and dance performers did not disappoint with a rousing conclusion to the evening.

They engaged the crowd with call and response numbers and filled

the Knox Center with energy and percussive reverberations.

“The emotion in the African ancestral performances is ingrained in us,” Tigner said. “It’s part of our daily experience, expressing love, rebellion or even as a right of passage into adulthood.”

Greene said that even with a rich African history and access to endless information that is available, lasting interest is still a problem in the quest for excellence and justice.

Events like these in which the focus is on the future rather than the glory days may be a better way to motivate students to play an active role in their futures, she said.

KING | Ampim examines Dr. King’s works, legacy Continued from Page 1 starting in 1966 and spanning until his death in 1968, should be the focus of the King national holiday because his works during this time are what accelerated his assassination by the FBI. “Imagine (King) being born in Atlanta, Georgia, as a small, cuddly baby (in 1929) — now that’s a cute image, right? But shift your gaze 39 years later, when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee with a high-powered rifle that severed his spine and he died in a pool of his own blood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel,” he said. “Now that’s an uncomfortable image. But what (King) was assassinated for defines his life.”

CCC’s chapter of Alpha Gamma Sigma, the California community college scholastic honor society, organized the event at the suggestion of AGS Vice President Jennifer Osoria. AGS President Brenda Vega said the event was held in honor of African-American Heritage Month.

Osoria, a psychology major, said Ampim stressed how important it is to be critical toward information and its sources. “(The presentation) was different. (Ampim) gave us information that you don’t get on T.V., the radio or even in class,” she said. “It was a full house and for (the AGS) that is

a big accomplishment.”

It was during the two final years of King’s life, Ampim said, that he wrote his most controversial books and gave his most controversial speeches, including the book “Where do we go from here? Community or Chaos,” and his “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” speech.

Ampim said at this point in King’s life, he embraced all revolutionary movements around the world, including the North Vietnamese and the oppressed people of South Africa, and no longer embraced non-violence as a realistic means for change in the U.S. King’s shift started in June of 1966 when James Meredith, the first student admitted to the segregated University of Mississippi, was shot and killed during the second day of his March Against Fear.

Ampim said that for the young activists in CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), this was the breaking point.

Ampim said many of these young activists had nothing and lived in slums and teeming ghettos across the country.

“Integration was no longer their primary concern. This is when the movement began dealing with the

acquisition of power,” he said.

These student groups also renounced non-violence and began carrying weapons during marches and rallies for protection against white police officers.

Ampim said during this “180 degree change” all white activists within SNCC and CORE who had fought alongside them for civil rights were kicked out. King did not denounce any of these organizations, but did not give up hope for a non-violent means to end racism.

King’s attempt to launch the Poor People’s Campaign in early 1968, prior to his assassination on April 4, was his final attempt to reform the political and social structure of the U.S. by shutting down the government using nonviolence. “(King said) there will be no business as usual,” Ampim said. “(King) intended to block all vehicular traffic until the rights for the poor were granted and in his letters and speeches envisioned a dramatic televised walk to (Washington) D.C.” He said King and his organization, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, set up a system to block all phone calls and shut down selected cities across the country. “(The Poor People’s Campaign) was (King’s) last desperate attempt

for non-violence,” he said. “(King) did not have the answer or omniscience to solve the problems.”

Ampim said King’s non-violent campaigns during the 50s and 60s were an experiment. He engaged in the experimentation but became discouraged at the method’s lack of success and was assassinated before he ever had the chance to set the Poor People’s Campaign in motion.

Former ASU senator Gabriel Gonzalez, currently a UC Berkeley history major, said he was picking up a copy of his CCC transcripts when he saw a flier for the event in the Student Services Center and decided to attend.

“I didn’t expect such a good turnout,” he said.

Health and human services department Chairperson Aminta Mickles brought her HHS-222, Multicultural Issues/Human Services, class to Ampim’s presentation.

Mickles and her 25 students nearly doubled the 30 other guests in attendance. She said events like this one need to be hosted on campus because the teachings and works of King are still relevant to students today.

“We need to start a new fire because there are so many injustices going on in the world and young people are the ones who can carry out change,” Mickles said.

campusbeat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

5

LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

Engineering future career options Club offers national outreach, technical support

BY Marlene Rivas STAFF WRITER

mrivas.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers looks to uplift, empower and assist students by providing resources and encouragement.

The campus’ new club has a mission to provide its members with resources and a support system, so that they may branch out and fulfill their goals. One current focus for the club is to provide students with scholarship and internship opportunities, as well as assist them with the process of applying.

Aside from one-on-one help and information provided during meetings, SHPE also encourages and makes it possible for their members to attend conferences.

These conferences can help with networking, one of SHPE’s main goals for its members, and provide added encouragement.

Many inspirational figures can be found at these events, such as the club’s last conference provided.

The trip to Detroit, completely

funded by Science Technology Engineering Mathematics, (STEM) was host to the real life roles of the men who inspired the recently released movie “Spare Parts”. The men shared the struggles of being undocumented, with huge aspirations, and the triumph they had worked to complete.

SHPE allows members to feel that they are professionals in the making. Members have business cards made for them, which can be given out during conferences or other events, SHPE coordinator Kevin Hernandez said. There is much emphasis put on networking and communication.

Although the club includes the word “Hispanic” in its title, it is not limited to any one student group.

Anyone interested, particularly those working toward a STEM major, will be welcomed. The club’s meetings are held on a weekly basis on Thursdays, beginning at 11:15 a.m., in the Planetarium.

Along with help on an educational level, members can be part of a network that will mentor them and even create a family for them.

The group members assist each other with classes and celebrate one another’s accomplishments.

“Those classes are not easy and it helps to have group members mentor you,” SHPE President Valeria Avila said.

The club was able to help her through her difficulties, so she wishes to do the same with others, Avila said.

The club’s focus on Hispanics was created with the intention of uplifting students in the Hispanic community and providing them with the confidence needed to achieve their goals. Often times these students do not have the necessary guidance or means of resources. The family is often unable to help because they were not able to finish their schooling and know little about how it all works, Avila said.

“The dream of being an engineer is so distant that people feel like they cannot achieve it. We want to make them feel that it is possible,” SHPE vice president Christian Talavera said.

The employment that comes

to mind when people think of Hispanics is domestic workers, Talavera said. However, at his first conference Talavera witnessed Hispanic professionals who were nowhere near that stereotype.

“This is how I want the world to see Latinos. We don’t have to be part of the norm. I saw the future and that is our future,” he said.

There is great motion in effect to increase the awareness of STEM majors and the participation of Hispanics and women. Through participating in all that the club has to offer, its leaders were able to see a growth in motivation, and renewed energy, among members.

Even upon leaving Contra Costa College, members will not have to fear losing their support group.

SHPE is a national organization with chapters in schools around the country on an undergraduate, graduate and even on a professional level.

The club also wishes to reach out to the communities outside of the college, through community service and providing encouragement to the local youth.

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Vice President Christian Talavera speaks to potential members during their club meeting in the Planetarium on Thursday.

Committee talks tracking carbon emissions, impact Environmental studies student launches efforts

BY Lorenzo Morotti EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

Environmental studies major Aaron Garcia is working toward documenting the amount of carbon Contra Costa College emits yearly using calculation programs online.

Garcia brought the Sustainability Committee (SC) up to date with his project by sharing how much the Building and Grounds service vehicles are used and examining campus utility bills during its most recent meeting on Feb. 5.

In his CCC carbon emission report, spanning from March 2013 until March 2014, it states that the vehicles use 19,338 pounds of carbon dioxide, while the campus produces 1,809,500 pounds annually.

He said in order to reverse the effects of this on the environment, CCC would have to sequester 21,091 seedlings and grow them

for 10 years. “(CCC) needs to get energy from a source that does not use coal to power gas and electricity,” he said. “If we can harvest more energy from the solar panels on campus, it will be a long term investment and set an example for our area.”

While he works in the Welcome/Transfer Center as an office assistant, he plans to continue coordinating with Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King to obtain more information and bring the college into compliance with state legislation.

In Executive Order B-18-12, Gov. Jerry Brown directed all agencies, departments, and other state entities to reduce their energy purchases from the grid by 20 percent by 2018.

King said projects like Garcia’s, and other environmentally conscience efforts by the SC, are needed to reduce the carbon footprint on campus by establishing a carbon baseline.

Garcia said in order for CCC to reduce its environmental impact it needs to find the period of time during the year that the college produces the least amount of carbon emissions.

LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

The Sustainability Committee, a subcommittee to the Operations Council, addresses issues that pertain to college operations and recommends solutions. The subcommittee meets every first Thursday of the month at 7 a.m. in the Building and Grounds conference room.

He said this could reduce the campus energy usage by 50 percent.

He said he modeled the project after the Cal State-East Bay 2006 Carbon Report, written by Environmental Studies Program Director Karina Garbesi.

Garbesi said gathering the support from faculty and staff was

what delayed her compilation of the report.

“You need to have the faculty and students wanting to make a change,” she said. “Organizing these groups can be difficult, but can be very exciting.”

King, however, said he is willing to help Garcia by providing him with any information he needs.

The Sustainability Committee is a subcommittee to the Operations Council which addresses issues that pertain to college operations, its services and recommends solutions.

The SC meets every first Thursday of the month at 7 a.m. in the Buildings and Grounds conference room.

CMYK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CMYK

6

spotlight

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

7

AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Courses examine ethnic culture, historical roots

Intro to AfricanAmerican Studies

AFRAM-110 students are given an overview of the multiple disciplines within AfricanAmerican studies while also focusing on the sociopolitical, cultural experiences of AfricanAmericans in the United States.

Students studying ethnic studies can use this course to transfer to a CSU or UC.

History of African Civilization

HIST-110 delves into ancient African history up until the beginning of colonialism.

This course meets CSU requirements to transfer.

History of African Americans in the U.S. (precolonial-1865) HIST-122 surveys Africans’ role in American history for students to gain a deeper understanding of the geographic migrations’ push and pull factors.

History of African-Americans in the U.S (1865present)

African history ties people to culture, pride S

ince the start of its inception 100 years ago, Black History Month has evolved to commemorate African-American contributions toward ending racial segregation in the United States but also the importance of the African civilizations that thrived before the slave trade.

Contra Costa College history professor Manu Ampim, however, prefers to use the term “African Heritage Month,” because of misconceptions surrounding the annual celebration.

“African Heritage Month sets aside time to focus on historical periods that are often left out of mainstream accounts,” Ampim said. “Any historical celebration should be embraced by people of other cultures who don’t know about African history and risk acting out in ignorance.”

African-American studies department chairperson and professor Carolyn Hodge said the most important aspect of African History Month is that it is open to other ethnic groups to participate, recognize and celebrate the various accomplishments by African-American people who struggled for social and economic equality.

Hodge, however, said students who are interested in African-American history should not wait for Black History Month to take interest in African-American culture.

“CCC is a diverse campus, but even if we were not, we are a diverse country and we are connected globally,” Hodge said. “There is not one his-

“African Heritage Month sets aside time to focus on historical periods that are often left out of mainstream accounts. Any historical celebration should be embraced by people of other cultures who don’t know about African history and risk acting out in ignorance.

— Manu Ampim, history professor

tory and culture that is more important than another.”

Black Student Union vice president, early childhood development major and Richmond native, Nakari Syon agrees with Hodge’s cultural ideology.

“You should not cast blame on someone for being a racist but you can accept that they are simply ignorant to believe that one race is better than another,” Syon said. “I am grateful that the (Black History Month) does not just acknowledge African-American culture but celebrates its accomplishments that changed our diverse society.”

The origins of Black History Month came in Chicago, Illinois when Carter G. Woodson created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNHL) in 1915.

AFRAM-120 students watch African-American life and culture as depicted on film and video, with emphasis on independent filmmakers, and discuss the issues and themes in these contemporary works and the impact of their films on society.

AfricanAmerican Theater

DRAMA-110 focuses students toward studying the growth and development of AfricanAmerican theater in the United States.

It can be used to transfer to a CSU for art, dance, music and theater.

Woodson created, “Negro History Week” in 1926 and celebrated it during the second week of February, which was already set aside by many African-American communities to celebrate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

The week-long celebration was extended to a month and renamed Black History Month by African-Americans during the 1960s struggle for civil and human rights when communities became conscious of their ties to Africa and its significance.

Ampim said, “(Africans) have the longest story of humanity and yet only a month is set aside to honor their achievements. It should be 366 days of African history and culture.”

It was not until 1976 that former President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month.

Hodge said a sense of unity and oral tradition during the civil rights movement inspired famous African-American scientists, authors, activists and inventors to make their contributions to history while influencing other cultures.

“African people go through life as a family and focus less on individualism than many European cultures,” she said.

She said that these strong familial bonds, which shaped many ancient African civilizations, such as Mali, Songhai and Ghana, were brought over the Atlantic during the U.S. participation in the slave trade.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Black Student Union vice president and dance major Bridgette Lott performs a dance during the African Heritage Month Celebration in the Knox Center on Feb. 12.

Cultural connection inspires dancer, speaker to advocacy Black Student Union president balances

Pan-African flag, colors, significance

busy

Red: The blood that united all people of Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation.

Black: Black people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the existence of the flag and power.

AfricanAmerican Humanities

Black Experience through Film

ORGANIZING FOR AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE

vice

HIST-123 examines African-American life after the abolition of slavery and its interactions with other ethnic groups during the civil rights movement push for racial equality.

This course satisfies CSU requirements for history and ethnic studies majors.

HUMAN-113 presents an integrated and historical study of African-Americans’ influence upon philosophy, arts, social, political and economic realities of culture.

This course meets the CSU transfer requirements.

“

I believe hip-hop has been the most important method of dance in the history of blacks in America. Just like we as people have changed, hip-hop has changed to adapt to the eras. Being able to connect to a dance that transforms as time continues places a historical mark on the evolution of dance — Bridgette Lott, dance major

African-American History Month highlights the countless battles fought in the struggle for racial equality, adjusts perceptions of ancient identity

Green: The abundant natural wealth of Africa.

life

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

Dance major and Black Student Union Vice President and Treasurer Bridgette Lott displayed her full range of talents, presenting two historic compilations and exhibiting poise and grace in the student dance ensemble for the Heritage Month Celebration held at the Knox Center on Feb. 12.

“Dance is just a different form of expression. It carries a message,” Lott said. “Words may be misinterpreted or have multiple meanings. With movement there is no misunderstanding.”

The first student presenter, Lott, opened with an educational presentation of Per Ankh, which translates to “House of Life” in Egyptian. She explored the meaning of some of the art and lost teachings of ancient Egypt.

Later, she recounted the historical importance of Mary Jane McLeod Bethune, who started the Industrial Training School for Negro Girls in 1905. Bethune also led the first black controlled organization to be headquartered in Washington D.C. Lott brought together two themes of Egypt and trailblazing women in her final presentation – the five female leaders of Kemet.

She encouraged women in attendance to

Authors

BY Lorenzo Morotti

promote

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

online publishers as cheap, realistic method for students

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

African-American poet and author Joy Elan was born deaf but had no problems basking in the applause after she recited her spoken word poem “I’m a Survivor.”

“I didn’t want to just be another deaf black kid born in Oakland. I wanted more than that. I wanted to get my work published,” Elan said.

“Because once your work is published it will live on forever. You will be able to see what I contributed to this world when I’m gone.”

The few Contra Costa College students who attended the Black Author Book Fair in the Library and Learning Research Center were able to meet and talk with Elan and five other award-winning AfricanAmerican poets, authors and artists.

The event, a first at CCC, was held on Feb. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m.

“Never wait for someone to tell you your work is good enough to get published,” Elan said. “You can do it yourself and be in charge of your

“It’s the key to life.

Sometimes it’s hard, but if you don’t speak up or do not show up you won’t be heard.”

— DeAndre Russell, Black Student Union president

own work.”

All of the authors and artists encouraged aspiring writers to make use of online publishing websites such as createspace.com or lulu. com.

Student Life Center coordinator Erica Greene, organizer of the event, said she was “beyond nervous.”

Greene said she hoped the event would raise awareness of the college-sponsored African Heritage Month activities among students at CCC while highlighting a few African-American entrepreneurs using affordable online publishers to promote and sell their work.

“I want to show students what black authorship looks like,” Greene

said. “Not a lot of people get to read local authors let alone get the opportunity to meet them and create a relationship.”

Phoenix Rising, another self-published author who recited original work at the event, said she uses these websites to publish her books “The Vagitarian Chronicles: Erotic Stories of Lesbian Love and Lust,” and her more recent “From My Heart to Hers: A Letter of Love,” that can be bought and sold on Amazon.com.

Rising is a Bay Area resident, having grown up in Southern California.

These websites also allow writers to sell online forms of their work for people to read on their electronic notebooks. It is up to the writer, however, to promote his or her work.

Another participant, Steven Clark (HurriKane da Poet), is a community activist, poet and artist from Sacramento. Clark said he is launching a social media blitz campaign on Facebook and Instagram to promote his work.

of expression. It carries a message. Words may be misinterpreted or have multiple meanings.

With movement there is no misunderstanding.”

— Bridgette Lott, dance major

embrace leadership and take control of their education and selves.

She also performed in the student dance ensemble. She explained the importance of dance throughout history and used the dancing of her generation as an example of the power that the art form holds.

“I believe hip-hop has been the most important method of dance in the history of blacks in America. Just like we as people have changed, hip-hop has changed to adapt to the eras. Being able to connect to a dance that transforms as time continues places a historical mark on the evolution of dance,“ Lott said.

“To be able to make history for yourself and others is indelible. Hip-hop unifies the black community, portraying our originality, vitality and ability to leave an impact through movement.”

Poet Steven Clark, also known as HurriKane da Poet, informs audience members in the Library and Learning Resource Center about his book, “Poetry for the People,” on Feb. 18.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

“It is important to get as much presence on the Internet as possible,” he said.

“Stay busy, vigilant and always ask yourself how can I reap more than my time will allow.”

Before the artists performed their spoken word acts, there were only two students sitting in the rows of foldout chairs that were tucked into the corner of the Library.

These two students were Black

Student Union President DeAndre Russell and Secretary Shani Miranda.

Russell said people who didn’t show up for the event missed hearing “powerful words.”

“It’s the key to life,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s hard, but if you don’t speak up or do not show up you won’t be heard.”

By the end of the performances, however, that number grew to 10 when English as a second language

The Student No n Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), initially a multi-racial student entity, was formed on the heels of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. SNCC was founded in 1960 by Ella Baker, an African-American civil rights activist and graduate of Shaw University, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

instructor Evan Degennaro brought his class to talk with the artists and writers.

Jose Mora is one of the students enrolled in Degennaro’s ethnically diverse class.

“I didn’t know about (the Black Author Book Fair) until I came (into the Library),” Mora said. “But it is very interesting and there are a lot of great books and artwork.”

Starting in 1961, SNCC coordinated regional multiracial freedom rides, dramatic and often life threatening sit-ins at Southern “whites-only” business counters to challenge a racist society to change.

Although the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 and the Civil Rights Act in 1964, many Caucasian hate group members, such as the Klu Klux Klan, in mainly Southern cities, did not respect AfricanAmerican’s new rights and either killed voters or rigged elections.

To combat racism, the organization embraced a new ideology of the right to protect one’s life and community by openly carrying weapons in the late 60s.

CONGRESS FOR RACIAL EQUALITY

“Dance is just a different form

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WRITERS, POETS SHOWCASE GRASSROOT PUBLISHING

CMYK

AFRICANAMERICAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT

The Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) was founded in 1942 under the non-violent teachings that Gandhi used as a tool against British rule in India.

CORE was influential in ending segregation in Chicago and ultimately in the United States.

By 1963, CORE had active chapters in cities with college campuses in the Northeast, Midwest, West Coast, and some Southern states.

Methodist ministers and CORE co-founders, James Leonard Farmer Jr. and George M. Houser were part of this multi-racial civil rights group, mostly white, comprised of 28 men and 22 women. Framer, however, resigned as director in 1966 when the organization renounced its founding principles, adopted the ideals of the Black Power Movement and stripped all white activists of membership.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest and largest civil rights organization that advocates against racial discrimination using legal action and community activism.

Under the political

leadership of Roy Wilkins, African-American civil rights activist, the NAACP was heavily involved in organizing civil rights demonstrations during the movement’s most tumultuous period.

Wilkins was one of the prominent civil rights leaders during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965 and the March against Fear in 1966.

The NAACP, however, can also take credit for its accomplishments through the U.S. legal system.

SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was created in January 1957 following the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. invited AfricanAmerican leaders to meet in Atlanta.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 384 days without an African-American

using public transit.

King considered the organization’s greatest achievements to be the Birmingham campaign, which desegregated its downtown merchants in 1963, and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom that same year. The SCLC was most active during the late 1950s to 1968 when its first president, King, was assassinated before his most ambitious campaign could be put into motion.

Before then, King worked closely with active student organizations such as the Students Non-Violence Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) during the civil rights movement.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CMYK

CMYK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CMYK

6

spotlight

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

7

AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Courses examine ethnic culture, historical roots

Intro to AfricanAmerican Studies

AFRAM-110 students are given an overview of the multiple disciplines within AfricanAmerican studies while also focusing on the sociopolitical, cultural experiences of AfricanAmericans in the United States.

Students studying ethnic studies can use this course to transfer to a CSU or UC.

History of African Civilization

HIST-110 delves into ancient African history up until the beginning of colonialism.

This course meets CSU requirements to transfer.

History of African Americans in the U.S. (precolonial-1865) HIST-122 surveys Africans’ role in American history for students to gain a deeper understanding of the geographic migrations’ push and pull factors.

History of African-Americans in the U.S (1865present)

African history ties people to culture, pride S

ince the start of its inception 100 years ago, Black History Month has evolved to commemorate African-American contributions toward ending racial segregation in the United States but also the importance of the African civilizations that thrived before the slave trade.

Contra Costa College history professor Manu Ampim, however, prefers to use the term “African Heritage Month,” because of misconceptions surrounding the annual celebration.

“African Heritage Month sets aside time to focus on historical periods that are often left out of mainstream accounts,” Ampim said. “Any historical celebration should be embraced by people of other cultures who don’t know about African history and risk acting out in ignorance.”

African-American studies department chairperson and professor Carolyn Hodge said the most important aspect of African History Month is that it is open to other ethnic groups to participate, recognize and celebrate the various accomplishments by African-American people who struggled for social and economic equality.

Hodge, however, said students who are interested in African-American history should not wait for Black History Month to take interest in African-American culture.

“CCC is a diverse campus, but even if we were not, we are a diverse country and we are connected globally,” Hodge said. “There is not one his-

“African Heritage Month sets aside time to focus on historical periods that are often left out of mainstream accounts. Any historical celebration should be embraced by people of other cultures who don’t know about African history and risk acting out in ignorance.

— Manu Ampim, history professor

tory and culture that is more important than another.”

Black Student Union vice president, early childhood development major and Richmond native, Nakari Syon agrees with Hodge’s cultural ideology.

“You should not cast blame on someone for being a racist but you can accept that they are simply ignorant to believe that one race is better than another,” Syon said. “I am grateful that the (Black History Month) does not just acknowledge African-American culture but celebrates its accomplishments that changed our diverse society.”

The origins of Black History Month came in Chicago, Illinois when Carter G. Woodson created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNHL) in 1915.

AFRAM-120 students watch African-American life and culture as depicted on film and video, with emphasis on independent filmmakers, and discuss the issues and themes in these contemporary works and the impact of their films on society.

AfricanAmerican Theater

DRAMA-110 focuses students toward studying the growth and development of AfricanAmerican theater in the United States.

It can be used to transfer to a CSU for art, dance, music and theater.

Woodson created, “Negro History Week” in 1926 and celebrated it during the second week of February, which was already set aside by many African-American communities to celebrate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

The week-long celebration was extended to a month and renamed Black History Month by African-Americans during the 1960s struggle for civil and human rights when communities became conscious of their ties to Africa and its significance.

Ampim said, “(Africans) have the longest story of humanity and yet only a month is set aside to honor their achievements. It should be 366 days of African history and culture.”

It was not until 1976 that former President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month.

Hodge said a sense of unity and oral tradition during the civil rights movement inspired famous African-American scientists, authors, activists and inventors to make their contributions to history while influencing other cultures.

“African people go through life as a family and focus less on individualism than many European cultures,” she said.

She said that these strong familial bonds, which shaped many ancient African civilizations, such as Mali, Songhai and Ghana, were brought over the Atlantic during the U.S. participation in the slave trade.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Black Student Union vice president and dance major Bridgette Lott performs a dance during the African Heritage Month Celebration in the Knox Center on Feb. 12.

Cultural connection inspires dancer, speaker to advocacy Black Student Union president balances

Pan-African flag, colors, significance

busy

Red: The blood that united all people of Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation.

Black: Black people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the existence of the flag and power.

AfricanAmerican Humanities

Black Experience through Film

ORGANIZING FOR AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE

vice

HIST-123 examines African-American life after the abolition of slavery and its interactions with other ethnic groups during the civil rights movement push for racial equality.

This course satisfies CSU requirements for history and ethnic studies majors.

HUMAN-113 presents an integrated and historical study of African-Americans’ influence upon philosophy, arts, social, political and economic realities of culture.

This course meets the CSU transfer requirements.

“

I believe hip-hop has been the most important method of dance in the history of blacks in America. Just like we as people have changed, hip-hop has changed to adapt to the eras. Being able to connect to a dance that transforms as time continues places a historical mark on the evolution of dance — Bridgette Lott, dance major

African-American History Month highlights the countless battles fought in the struggle for racial equality, adjusts perceptions of ancient identity

Green: The abundant natural wealth of Africa.

life

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

Dance major and Black Student Union Vice President and Treasurer Bridgette Lott displayed her full range of talents, presenting two historic compilations and exhibiting poise and grace in the student dance ensemble for the Heritage Month Celebration held at the Knox Center on Feb. 12.

“Dance is just a different form of expression. It carries a message,” Lott said. “Words may be misinterpreted or have multiple meanings. With movement there is no misunderstanding.”

The first student presenter, Lott, opened with an educational presentation of Per Ankh, which translates to “House of Life” in Egyptian. She explored the meaning of some of the art and lost teachings of ancient Egypt.

Later, she recounted the historical importance of Mary Jane McLeod Bethune, who started the Industrial Training School for Negro Girls in 1905. Bethune also led the first black controlled organization to be headquartered in Washington D.C. Lott brought together two themes of Egypt and trailblazing women in her final presentation – the five female leaders of Kemet.

She encouraged women in attendance to

Authors

BY Lorenzo Morotti

promote

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

online publishers as cheap, realistic method for students

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

African-American poet and author Joy Elan was born deaf but had no problems basking in the applause after she recited her spoken word poem “I’m a Survivor.”

“I didn’t want to just be another deaf black kid born in Oakland. I wanted more than that. I wanted to get my work published,” Elan said.

“Because once your work is published it will live on forever. You will be able to see what I contributed to this world when I’m gone.”

The few Contra Costa College students who attended the Black Author Book Fair in the Library and Learning Research Center were able to meet and talk with Elan and five other award-winning AfricanAmerican poets, authors and artists.

The event, a first at CCC, was held on Feb. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m.

“Never wait for someone to tell you your work is good enough to get published,” Elan said. “You can do it yourself and be in charge of your

“It’s the key to life.

Sometimes it’s hard, but if you don’t speak up or do not show up you won’t be heard.”

— DeAndre Russell, Black Student Union president

own work.”

All of the authors and artists encouraged aspiring writers to make use of online publishing websites such as createspace.com or lulu. com.

Student Life Center coordinator Erica Greene, organizer of the event, said she was “beyond nervous.”

Greene said she hoped the event would raise awareness of the college-sponsored African Heritage Month activities among students at CCC while highlighting a few African-American entrepreneurs using affordable online publishers to promote and sell their work.

“I want to show students what black authorship looks like,” Greene

said. “Not a lot of people get to read local authors let alone get the opportunity to meet them and create a relationship.”

Phoenix Rising, another self-published author who recited original work at the event, said she uses these websites to publish her books “The Vagitarian Chronicles: Erotic Stories of Lesbian Love and Lust,” and her more recent “From My Heart to Hers: A Letter of Love,” that can be bought and sold on Amazon.com.

Rising is a Bay Area resident, having grown up in Southern California.

These websites also allow writers to sell online forms of their work for people to read on their electronic notebooks. It is up to the writer, however, to promote his or her work.

Another participant, Steven Clark (HurriKane da Poet), is a community activist, poet and artist from Sacramento. Clark said he is launching a social media blitz campaign on Facebook and Instagram to promote his work.

of expression. It carries a message. Words may be misinterpreted or have multiple meanings.

With movement there is no misunderstanding.”

— Bridgette Lott, dance major

embrace leadership and take control of their education and selves.

She also performed in the student dance ensemble. She explained the importance of dance throughout history and used the dancing of her generation as an example of the power that the art form holds.

“I believe hip-hop has been the most important method of dance in the history of blacks in America. Just like we as people have changed, hip-hop has changed to adapt to the eras. Being able to connect to a dance that transforms as time continues places a historical mark on the evolution of dance,“ Lott said.

“To be able to make history for yourself and others is indelible. Hip-hop unifies the black community, portraying our originality, vitality and ability to leave an impact through movement.”

Poet Steven Clark, also known as HurriKane da Poet, informs audience members in the Library and Learning Resource Center about his book, “Poetry for the People,” on Feb. 18.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

“It is important to get as much presence on the Internet as possible,” he said.

“Stay busy, vigilant and always ask yourself how can I reap more than my time will allow.”

Before the artists performed their spoken word acts, there were only two students sitting in the rows of foldout chairs that were tucked into the corner of the Library.

These two students were Black

Student Union President DeAndre Russell and Secretary Shani Miranda.

Russell said people who didn’t show up for the event missed hearing “powerful words.”

“It’s the key to life,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s hard, but if you don’t speak up or do not show up you won’t be heard.”

By the end of the performances, however, that number grew to 10 when English as a second language

The Student No n Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), initially a multi-racial student entity, was formed on the heels of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. SNCC was founded in 1960 by Ella Baker, an African-American civil rights activist and graduate of Shaw University, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

instructor Evan Degennaro brought his class to talk with the artists and writers.

Jose Mora is one of the students enrolled in Degennaro’s ethnically diverse class.

“I didn’t know about (the Black Author Book Fair) until I came (into the Library),” Mora said. “But it is very interesting and there are a lot of great books and artwork.”

Starting in 1961, SNCC coordinated regional multiracial freedom rides, dramatic and often life threatening sit-ins at Southern “whites-only” business counters to challenge a racist society to change.

Although the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 and the Civil Rights Act in 1964, many Caucasian hate group members, such as the Klu Klux Klan, in mainly Southern cities, did not respect AfricanAmerican’s new rights and either killed voters or rigged elections.

To combat racism, the organization embraced a new ideology of the right to protect one’s life and community by openly carrying weapons in the late 60s.

CONGRESS FOR RACIAL EQUALITY

“Dance is just a different form

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WRITERS, POETS SHOWCASE GRASSROOT PUBLISHING

CMYK

AFRICANAMERICAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT

The Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) was founded in 1942 under the non-violent teachings that Gandhi used as a tool against British rule in India.

CORE was influential in ending segregation in Chicago and ultimately in the United States.

By 1963, CORE had active chapters in cities with college campuses in the Northeast, Midwest, West Coast, and some Southern states.

Methodist ministers and CORE co-founders, James Leonard Farmer Jr. and George M. Houser were part of this multi-racial civil rights group, mostly white, comprised of 28 men and 22 women. Framer, however, resigned as director in 1966 when the organization renounced its founding principles, adopted the ideals of the Black Power Movement and stripped all white activists of membership.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest and largest civil rights organization that advocates against racial discrimination using legal action and community activism.

Under the political

leadership of Roy Wilkins, African-American civil rights activist, the NAACP was heavily involved in organizing civil rights demonstrations during the movement’s most tumultuous period.

Wilkins was one of the prominent civil rights leaders during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965 and the March against Fear in 1966.

The NAACP, however, can also take credit for its accomplishments through the U.S. legal system.

SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was created in January 1957 following the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. invited AfricanAmerican leaders to meet in Atlanta.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 384 days without an African-American

using public transit.

King considered the organization’s greatest achievements to be the Birmingham campaign, which desegregated its downtown merchants in 1963, and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom that same year. The SCLC was most active during the late 1950s to 1968 when its first president, King, was assassinated before his most ambitious campaign could be put into motion.

Before then, King worked closely with active student organizations such as the Students Non-Violence Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) during the civil rights movement.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CMYK

8

campusbeat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Decades-long fight yields results LGBT students to finally get support

BY Jared Amdahl OPINION EDITOR

jamadahl.theadvocate@gmail.com

After more than two decades, a club representing for LGBT students is now close to being activated and ready for students to participate in, protecting students and educating the Contra Costa College community.

The soon-to-be formed GayStraight Alliance will provide students on campus with resources that help gay, straight, bisexual, transgender and queer students with problems they may be facing on or off campus.

“When I got here in 2013 I didn’t feel like there was any safe place for gay students. It was shocking. It puts gay students at a disadvantage,” Basil Thomsen, a GSA supporter, said. “I think it is important for students. You cannot change views if you keep everyone in silence, and not having one of these clubs is doing just that.”

Thomsen, an openly gay student, wants to provide a safe place that can not only advocate for and help protect

LGBT students on campus, but could also help educate the surrounding CCC community on the difficulties many LGBT students may face during their time in college.

“I felt like there should be a place for these students to go,” he said.

Business major Mark David agrees.

“I think (a GSA) will be beneficial because identity is such a huge issue.

You have kids struggling with identity problems and a lot of the time they have no one to turn to,” David said. “It would provide that aspect of people to confide in, and connections to resources such as health services and access to counseling.”

With 20 years separating the new GSA and the prior GSA, which was last active in 1994, CCC is the last campus in the district to have a campus group advocating for LGBT students.

Mathematics professor Susan Van Hattum will be the acting club adviser for the GSA, and wishes anyone interested in supporting the GSA to seek her out.

“When I got here in 2013 I didn’t feel like there was any safe place for gay students. It was shocking. It puts gay students at a disadvantage”

— Basil Thomsen, Gay-Straight Alliance supporter

“I’ve never seen (a GSA) in my time here. It will definitely support students in need,” Van Hattum said. “We do not know the effects not having one of these clubs on campus has created, but I’m sure there have been students that were in need of such a club, but weren’t able to receive help.”

Ericka Greene, interim Associated Students Union adviser, had noticed the lack of such a club on campus and wanted to address the problems that such vacuity creates for LGBT students who may be experiencing difficulties.

“A club like this can do a lot of things in terms of personal safety,” Greene

said. “Now that they’re almost active, I’m waiting to see what they do. I’m expecting great things.”

Diablo Valley College’s Queer Straight Alliance President Dillon McCormic said that not having a LGBT club on campus puts students at a disadvantage.

“We provide a safe area for our LBGT community. It’s the sort of place that lets students know that they’re not alone, and it gives the chance for any of these students to get help with any difficulties they may be having,” McCormic said. “And as for a college without one, I would have to say it would add less diversity to the student body, and less feeling of the student body being able to connect as a whole.”

In order for a club to become registered as active, it must have at least five student members, one faculty adviser and the group must hold meetings and attend Inter-Club Council meetings.

The GSA will host meetings from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in LA-102 on Thursdays.

THREE SEASONS’ ROSES, LIGHTING CREATES CLASSY VALENTINE EVENT

BY Roxana Amparo and Robert Clinton STAFF WRITERS

accent.advocate@gmail.com

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Financial aid functions bring little hope to students in debt Financial aid assistant Shana Hall (right) helps a student with his financial aid application in the Assessment Center in the Student Services Center on Feb. 18.

BY Nina Cestaro STAFF WRITER

ncestaro.theadvocate@gmail.com

Students with less conventional schedules will be offered a series of financial aid events to help with their completion of FAFSA applications. The initial gathering was held Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.

Located in the Assessment Center next to Counseling Office in the Student Services Center, the financial aid nights will continue throughout the month of February.

Staff and faculty actively answered student’s questions related to applying for FAFSA online.

The financial aid staff is comprised of Patricia Herrera, Mia Hendersen-Bell, Barbara Rance and Monica Rodriguez. The incentives for student participation were a raffle, giving participants a chance to win free movie passes and snacks.

Students who apply for finan-

“It doesn’t feel fair to

me and my mom because she’s the one that winds up paying for all my educational costs. She’s a hard worker, the head of my single-earning family of four.”

— Ialanda Goulart, English major

cial aid have the feeling of optimism that some support from Uncle Sam will soon be on its way.

Henderson-Bell said that these events are geared for working students who cannot get to campus during the day to visit the financial aid officers.

English major Ialanda Goulart said she has not had much success gliding through the financial aid process due to being an international student, even though she’s

been in the state for almost six years after living in Brazil.

“It doesn’t feel fair to me and my mom because she’s the one that winds up paying for all my educational costs. She’s a hard worker and the head of my single-earning family of four,” she said.

Herrera told students that this new streamlined FAFSA was designed to propel applicants through the process in a fraction of the time than the original application, which took an hour or more to complete.

Alma Brown said she lost out on opportunities to receive federal grants and loans simply because she is over the unit ceiling having already taken 60 units at the community college level.

The outreach by financial aid staff will continue into the first week of March in front of the Student Services Center at noon replete with disc jockey, music and pizza and working computers for students to use for financial aid.

The Valentine’s Day dinner in the Three Seasons Restaurant put the culinary arts department’s skill on full display Feb. 12.

Leaving nothing to question, the five-course meal covered all aspects of taste and textures on this broadreaching dining experience.

White cloth napkins, flowers and candles were more reminiscent of the famed Four Seasons than Contra Costa College’s everyday Three Seasons meals.

The evening began with lobster bisque as a starter with a side of greens, trailed by the entrée: grilled filet of beef and lobster tail with seasonal vegetables.

An assorted fine cheese platter followed the main course and the meal concluded with a dessert of lemon merengue or chocolate roll cake.

“The place looked marvelous and the food was excellent,” psychology professor Kenneth Tramiel said.

“I congratulated all of the people who worked on this.”

After word spread about the $25 per plate affair, the event rapidly sold out, culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes said.

Shortly after the 5 p.m. seating time, the romantically decorated dining room, equipped with flowers at each table, was sparsely filled.

As the diners trickled in and began to receive their appetizers, some of the special accouterments that went in to making this event special were on display.

“We have handmade ceramic bowls from the art department for the bisque,” Sharkes said. “It adds a little something extra, the handmade bowls for all of the work that went into preparing the food.”

The bisque was a hit with the guests; some even requested a second serving.

“Everything was great. I had to get a second helping of the lobster bisque,” diner Wiley Bobo said. “The only thing that I would have done differently is let the lobster cook for a few more minutes; it was a little too translucent for me. Also, the dessert was good.”

A slow start gave the student serving staff an opportunity to get all the processes in sync that are required to successfully capture the ambiance and cuisine of a Valentine’s night dining experience.

From that point, diners were given the option of taking a photo before being led into the restaurant on a red carpet covered in pink rose petals.

“It’s wonderful. I love it,” diner Bonnie Taylor said.

“I’m part of a women’s group and we always try to attend all of the culinary functions.”

“Everything went well,” he said. “By 6:45 p.m. the place was full. It’s after 8 p.m. and people are still here enjoying themselves.”

LEFT: Asian Pacific Environmental Network community organizers Sandy Saeteurn and Megan Zapanta lead a first time meeting for the group in AA-216 on Feb. 11.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES DISCUSSED, RESOURCES NEEDED TO BRING CHANGE

BY Benjamin Bassham STAFF WRITER

bbassham.theadvocate@gmail.com

With plans to revitalize the college’s environmental stance, a new club has set its focus on organizing interested students in working toward creating a cleaner and safer eco-system.

Representing the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, organizers Sandy Saeteurn and Megan Zapanta arranged to meet with interested students regarding the creation of an Environmental Justice Club on Feb. 11.

APEN is an organization based

around Asian communities, but is looking to expand its outreach. It seeks to bring to light, and combat environmental woes afflicting citizens who might otherwise be unrepresented.

As an environmental group, APEN is less interested in invasive species, or extinctions and harmful pollution.

“We’re more focused on how the environment is affecting people,” Saeteurn said.

The meeting drew modest attendance, half a dozen students, sufficient to fill the small room.

They met with students to see

CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

what the different interests were or if there were any arising questions in the group.

“What is one thing you dream of for your community? What are things we could be fighting for?”

Zapanta asked.

Saeteurn said, “If a club was started — if they wanted to, for

example, start a community garden, we would try to find resources from the city or state (to make that happen) — or possibly provide training for work (installing) solar power. (We would) provide updates on what’s going on city, or statewide.”

The APEN representatives said

they had asked about recycling, but were told that providing recycling would have been “too much of a hassle,” Saeteurn said. “If we had a club, this is the sort of thing we could work on.”

APEN can be found outside of the Applied Arts Building Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

campus beat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

9

BUS OFFERS K-12 HEALTH SERVICES

The Contra Costa County School Based Mobile Clinic offers various medical services for K-12 students on Fridays in front of the R Building.

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

In order to provide health care to K-12 students who do not have health insurance, a Contra Costa County School Based Mobile Clinic is available every Friday on campus to provide various medical services.

The mobile clinic arrives early on Fridays, setting up at 8 a.m.

It is primarily on campus to provide medical services to Middle College High School students who qualify for care.

In order to qualify for the mobile clinic, students should not have a private insurance provider or be covered under medical or Medicaid.

“We want to bring health care to where STD rates are going up and where general knowledge about health is declining,” Health Education Specialist Shanda Young said.

Fliers were handed out prior to the clinic’s arrival.

MCHS students are encouraged to make an appointment for services, and are given three different options.

The easiest option is to drop in while the truck is on site.

Upon entry to the bus, the students receive a blue clinic appointment request slip. It asks for name, school and possible insurance coverage.

Students are then asked to check the box for the service they are requesting.

The health services offered range from physicals/sports physicals, STD tests, test results, condoms, pregnancy tests, plan B, health educator consultations and immunizations.

Some students are asked if they had been immunized or needed to be immunized during the mobile clinic’s visit.

The clinic does not offer dental work, but MCHS students who require dental care and qualify for treatment will be referred to a local dentist.

Dental services are available at Kennedy, El Cerrito, De Anza and Richmond high schools.

In service for seven years, the eight mobile clinics service all of the high schools in the East Bay. With the program expanding, a mobile dentistry will soon be part of the mobile clinic.

“There are a lot of studies that show that when young people advocate for their own health care, it’s better for their future,” Young said.

All of the same doctor patient confidentiality standards apply and the RV cab is not for loiterers. After time was given to fill out a blue appointment slip, those who had appointments can remain in the area, and those who don’t must leave.

The staff from the mobile clinic is helpful and accommodating to students. They take time with all of the students who came by.

“Each (elementary, middle and high school) campus is memorable because we know we are helping people,” mobile clinic driver Hank Dedrick said.

“We’re bringing medical services to kids who don’t have benefits — it doesn’t get better than that.”

Police solicit help in curbing crimes against autos, property Campus sees increase of thefts, vandalism since start of semester

BY Jose Jimenez STAFF WRITER

jjimenez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Cars parked on campus have been broken into frequently in 2015, and four vehicles were associated with broken windows and theft one particular day in a span of two hours, Police Services Lt. Jose Oliveira said.

The four automobiles, parked near the Gymnasium, were reported to Police Services with vandalism and thefts between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Jan. 24.

Contra Costa College student and African-American studies major Marquise Odutola said his 1999 Toyota Corolla was parked outside of the east entrance of the Gym Annex Building when his car window was shattered and broken into on that quiet Saturday afternoon on campus.

“I was really pissed,” Odutola said.

“I was so aggravated when I saw my window smashed. After a couple of days I realized I shouldn’t have left any valuables in plain sight while I was away from my vehicle. However, I think police could monitor this campus 24-7, or basically add more police aides so they can double up patrol and present a sense of higher security around CCC.” Odutola said he understands that people might think it was a “slow” Saturday afternoon, but that should not give anyone motive to steal his backpack that had a laptop inside, as stated by the CCC incident report.

He also said that he does not park in the same area anymore, now parking on

the complete opposite side of the building following his purchase of a student parking permit.

Three more cars were broken into between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. that day, all in vicinity of Odutola’s car. A black Honda Civic and a newer model Chevy Monte Carlo SS were broken into and had valuables stolen from them.

Student belongings lost in the multiple break-ins included a camera, a wallet containing a student identification card, cellphones, an iPad, expensive clothing such as fitted hats and urban attire, textbooks and cash.

Given that CCC is a wide-open campus, police aide Julio Rosales said the type of incidents that happen on campus grounds cover a broad spectrum.

Oliveira said broken windows are not the only vandalism his staff has seen so far this semester.

He said the first theft incident reported regarding a student’s vehicle this year came from a car parked near the Bus Transfer Center.

He said a CCC student reported two unidentified suspects taking the registration tabs from his vehicle’s license plate on Jan. 13 around noon, and running from the scene.

Rosales said individuals should be more aware of all the foot traffic here at CCC and never look the other way when something suspicious is happening.

“CCC is actually a lot safer now,” Rosales said. “Actual crimes here on campus versus incident reports are two separate entities and the overall school

crime numbers are way down.”

At the end of every year CCC has to provide crime statistics to the district and also to a campus crime statistics committee, he said. The findings are then published.

A listing of actual offenses are submitted and are arranged in crime statistic categories that include the three district campuses, two centers and District Office, he said.

Oliveira said Police Services takes reports seriously and that they can be anything from a stolen backpack to a former boyfriend or girlfriend coming in and saying they have broken up and do not feel secure — a forewarning of sorts.

Oliveira said it is quieter this semester at CCC and “less busy” in terms of crime activity, but that requests for Police Services assistance is up.

Vincent Espinoza, police aide at CCC for two years, said individuals are seeking out more police escorts, parking information and asking for directions around campus than they have in recent semesters.

Espinoza said a person should never feel shy to help out law enforcement, even for something small like someone being disruptive in class, because the Police Services on campuses are there to assist the campus community and take every incident very seriously.

He said the district is committed to an environment where open, honest communications are the expectation, not the exception.

No funds allocated for web administrator Seidler, questions remain amid college’s online image

BY Christian Urrutia PHOTO EDITOR

currutia.theadvocate@gmail.com

The maintenance and overall look of the college’s website still does not have a dedicated full-time position at its core.

Fine and media arts department Chairperson Ellen Seidler will continue her role as website administrator for the college through the 2015-16 academic year. Seidler has maintained this role since the launch of the website’s redesign in summer 2014.

“Ellen will probably support us through the next academic year,” Vice President Tammeil Gilkerson said.

“We’re waiting for a position to open and because an allocation process hasn’t happened, we can’t do it.”

The Contra Costa Community College District decided not to fund a position that would include the duties not only of a webmaster, but also management of all online content and web operations related to the campus, Gilkerson said.

Prior to the start of this academic year, she submitted a request to add a classified position under the title of digital media design specialist.

“The district chose not fund that position for whatever reason, but the specifications that are set by the college for the position submitted have to

be met in order for it to be allocated,” Gilkerson said.

Seidler said nothing radical has been changed on the site so far this semester, but added how major tweaks cannot be done while it is live and school is in session.

Recent updates include revolving calendar items within the homepage slider and posting information relevant to the students, such as deadlines, workshops or other upcoming campus activities.

All the updates that are requested or potentially submitted are started through a link at the bottom of the homepage labeled, “Request Website Updates.”

For anyone making a request, clicking the link is first needed and from there it is forwarded to WebAdvisor’s login screen.

Students are unable to make requests and it is limited only to classified staff and faculty.

Technology Systems Manager James Eyestone said that the college needs to have a standardized process to submit requests that would have all the different data necessary to make the change.

That is why the web link was implemented, so various departments could add content to the website, he said.

The burden of carrying an entire

website’s workload along with teaching and running a department is not taking over her life, Seidler said, adding that she works in time between classes and a lot of the time from home.

Seidler “The website is a platform and the more quality content the better,” she said. “We’re doing a lot with a little and it is important because people get all the info from online these days.”

Football coach Alonzo Carter said the college website lacks the promotional features that he feels is present in other community college websites.

He said that CCC’s website needs to focus on students and student-athletes and promote what the college has to offer.

Eyestone said websites are 90 percent marketing and 10 percent IT support, and the consistency of the branding for the college depends on how well the information is provided.

If the message is the same across social media and its online content, it ensures credibility in its publications.

“It really would be quite handy if that process belonged to someone,” Eyestone said.

10

sports

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

“

It’s still early in the season and even through injuries we’re giving guys a chance to pitch who haven’t pitched at all this season and see which individual can do what. — Marvin Webb, baseball coach DONS

8 3

COMETS

Comet pitcher Arturo Parra leaps toward first base as the Dons’ infielder Joey Shimono prepares to catch the ball during CCC’s 8-3 loss to De Anza College at the Baseball Field on Feb. 12.

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Defensive lapses cede another loss Two big

By Jose Jimenez

innings,

jjimenez.theadvocate@gmail.com

errors bring defeat at home

STAFF WRITER

The De Anza College baseball team scored five runs in the eighth inning to rob the Comets of any chance of a late comeback to win 8-3 game on Feb. 12 at the Baseball Field.

Contra Costa College (2-9 overall) trailed 3-2 heading into the eighth inning when shortstop-turned relief pitcher Arturo Parra was summoned to warm up in the bullpen. This happened because Comet relievers have been plagued by injuries.

“I struggled to hit my spots and I made mistakes defensively,” Parra said.

“I’m used to winning and now we all have to pick each other up and continue to build good chemistry and put in a complete team effort next time out.”

Since then the Comets have lost four games, but edged Hartnell College 7-6 in a 10-inning nail biter Feb 19.

CCC visits Bay Valley Conference opponent Napa Valley College Thursday at 2 p.m.

The Dons’ (4-8 overall) late-game offensive surge secured the non-conference win against the shallow Comet bullpen.

Parra said the pitching staff has already lost four arms this season and a lot of “two-way” positions have been created to solidify the roster.

He said shortstops and third basemen have been moved around to fill in for the injuries. Also the team is so low on depth that it makes substituting players, in any situation, difficult.

Comet coach Marvin Webb said, “It’s still early in the season and even through injuries we’re giving guys a chance to pitch who haven’t pitched at all this season.

“We need to see which individual can do what. And, unfortunately, today (Parra) was just all over the place in that eighth inning. We couldn’t use our closer after that.”

The Comets took an early 1-0 lead

against the Dons when outfielder Kevin Spence rounded home to score on a wild pitch.

CCC only committed two fielding errors in the game but none more detrimental than a blunder in the fourth inning.

Starting pitcher Christian Sadler attempted a throw to second baseman Antonio Nobriga for an inning-ending double play, but Nobriga could not stretch far enough to catch Sadler’s errant throw.

This allowed De Anza to bring two runners home, which brought the score to 2-1. CCC would not lead from this point on in the game.

“The second time around (the Dons) adjusted and starting reaching base on singles. I started throwing more and more fastballs and De Anza just picked up on it,” Sadler said.

Sadler pitched 6 ⅔ innings with one strikeout before being pulled after the Don’s starting pitcher Alex Martinez hit a triple to seal the contest.

“That one hurt,” Sadler said. “It was frustrating, but it’s that first pitch I was throwing that they were picking up on the entire game.”

CCC finished with seven hits and Webb said the team has to just keep working at it. “(Players need to) just realize if you want to hit like you hit in high school it doesn’t work that way,” Webb said.

Two of the three Comet runs were due to DA errors. The first came off a wild pitch and the latter a double steal on a Don’s missed sign.

“A lot of these guys are young and have never hit at the college level before,” he said. “So this is all new. They just have to trust what the coaching staff is trying to teach (them).”

The offense was stagnant for the majority of the afternoon.

Parra said playing shortstop and pitcher is tough but the Comets will continue to due their best as they enter conference play.

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Baseball coach Marvin Webb talks to his catcher Lawrence Duncan (right) and pitcher Arturo Parra during CCC’s 8-3 loss to De Anza College at the Baseball Field on Feb. 12.

Hot Vikings deal doubleheader defeat to winless squad

By Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Contra Costa College softball team continued its slow start in 2015 by giving up 50 runs in a doubleheader against Diablo Valley College losing 19-0 and 310 on Feb. 14 at the VIKINGS Softball Field.

Comet pitcher Melissa Watkins returned to the mound to face the Vikings (8-0 overCOMETS all) after a shaky start in her previous outing.

Watkins gave up 12 walks and one hit in the opening frames of the game.

She had trouble with controlling her pitches throughout the game and surrendered eight runs in the first two innings to give CCC (0-4 overall) too large of a deficit to overcome.

The Comets also gave up six runs in the third inning and five in the fifth. The umpire then called the first game at 19-0 that same inning.

19 0

During the second game of the doubleheader, Comet player Cicily Ragsdale started as pitcher.

While Ragsdale only gave up just two runs in the first and second innings, the Vikings batting heated up and scored 16 runs in the third.

The team VIKINGS seemed to settle into the moment in the first inning and a half.

Rather than walks being the COMETS problem as in the previous game, fielding errors became infectious and spread throughout the infield.

Simple plays became bobbled balls giving DVC ample chances to advance runners around the bases.

The Vikings had 25 hits in the game and scored 11 runs in the final two innings.

The game was eventually called in the fifth, giving DVC a 31-0 win.

The Comets visit City College of San Francisco Saturday at noon for a doubleheader.

31 0

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Comet right fielder Stacy Fernandez (right) swings and misses during CCC’s 19-0 loss to Diablo Valley College at the Softball Field on Feb. 14.

sports

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

11

Overcoming obstacles, finding opportunity in life GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Immense potential, firm roots forecast success

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

If you only know Jacqie Moody from her attitude and antics on the basketball court, you would know only one side of the 20-year-old Vallejo native who developed her inner leader on the hardwood and through unique life experiences.

After garnering All-Tri-County Athletic League (TCAL) First Team honors in her senior year at John Swett High School, the freshman continued her stellar play earning First Team All-Bay Valley Conference recognition this week. The freshman forward is third in the BVC in free throw attempts and total rebounds and second in points scored and made field goals.

Moody took a year off of basketball in 201314 to adjust to college and her work schedule.

“I knew I kind of got a pass because I was an athlete and I knew college wouldn’t be like that,” Moody said. “I knew I didn’t take class seriously enough and working, it would have been too much to balance all three. So I took some time to get a handle on the first two, then add basketball into the mix.”

Her father, Clarence Moody, said the decision was all hers. “We just supported her and let her adjust at her own pace.”

Moody’s family has been supportive since her early days in Vallejo when she started playing basketball at age 6 with her father. An elementary school coach encouraged Moody’s mother Jacqueline to let her join a youth team and she has been playing ever since.

“I always emphasized that she be committed to the game,” Clarence Moody said. “She is a strong-willed girl, a leader. I wanted her to

“She can do anything she’s

determined to do. She has immense potential. It’s big for a freshman to make all league.”

— Paul DeBolt, women’s basketball coach

know the responsibility in that and give people quality examples to follow.”

Moody’s commitment was tested in the summer between her freshman and sophomore year at Hogan High School in Vallejo. Passing through a group of friends while looking for her older sister Briana, shots rang out and in the confusion the 16-year old realized she had been shot in the butt and fell to the ground.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said. “It didn’t really hurt. Everything was numb. I thought about everything — my family, would I ever walk again?”

As residents called 911, her father was returning from work and drove right past the perpetrators, oblivious to what had occurred.

“It wasn’t bad. (The bullet) went straight through. I was home in a couple of hours,” Moody said.

Shortly after the incident, the Moody’s left Vallejo for Crockett. The now sophomore recovered in time for basketball season and started on JV team, eventually moving up to varsity.

Moody still refers to her dad as her number one fan, to the dismay of her mother who rarely misses a game.

Jacqueline Moody has clearly taken the biggest physical toll in the name of her daughter’s playing career, falling down steps and breaking her arm at an AAU game in Los Angeles.

“My first impulse was to laugh, but when I saw that she was hurt I just ran to her and held her until help arrived,” Moody said. “I didn’t even know it was broken until after my game when she showed up at dinner in a cast.”

“On the outside Jacqie is all strong-willed and tough, but she is really a sweet person. She guards her emotions, — you have to know her to know the real her. She’s always been like that,” Briana Moody said.

As point guard in high school, Moody had to adjust to a new position on the court and the speed of the game in college.

In the post Moody takes advantage of her quickness to gain rebounding position and deceptive ball handling skills to get to the rim on the break.

“She’s learning how to become a better basketball player,” Comet coach Paul DeBolt said.

“She can do anything she’s determined to do.

She has immense potential. It’s big for a freshman to make all league.”

The business administration major has a year to decide where she wants to transfer to, but she is leaning toward the East Coast to reunite with her father’s family in Philadelphia.

“It would be cool for my extended family to get to see me play in person and not watch over the live stream,” she said.

Moody chose her major based on lessons of responsibility learned from her father. After basketball she hopes to open an all-encompassing sports apparel store which covers all athletic needs under one roof.

“People that see me from the outside get a picture of who I am. But people who know me, know that I am a go-getter,” Moody said. “I strive for what I want, and I usually get it.”

ABOVE: Comet forward and business administration major Jacqie Moody uses her strong will to earn second place in scoring and made field goals in the Bay Valley Conference.

PLAYERS OFFERED SCHOLARSHIPS, WEIGH OPTIONS Mendoza commits to university, broadens educational horizon

BY Lorenzo Morotti EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

A pair of student-athletes on the 2014 men’s soccer team at Contra Costa College, have garnered the attention of coaches from fouryear universities.

Comet coach Nikki Ferguson said he was contacted by soccer coaches from various out-of-state and local universities in search of filling center back positions.

Ferguson said he referred sophomore center backs Charlie Mendoza and Bradley Alman as the top defensive players of the 2014 season.

He said between them, only Mendoza committed to a $20,000 partial scholarship offer from Southwestern College, in Winfield,

Kansas on Feb. 5.

Mendoza, a business management and communications double major, said he plans to be enrolled in classes at in Kansas for the start of the fall semester.

He said he was convinced after he visited the campus on Jan 17.

Southwestern College soccer coach Joseph Yeisley said, “He was allowed to stay in the dorms on campus and experience four days out here with us and got a good idea of what Kansas is about.

It’s different than California but (Southwestern) offers him the ability to get away from all the distractions, and really focus on academics and play the game he loves.”

Mendoza said he traveled with a couple of other prospective student-athletes from Merritt College to tour the campus and train with the soccer team. “It was exciting to get to meet so many new personalities.”

After watching Mendoza practice with the Moundbuilders, the coaching staff was pleased with

“(Mendoza) is a hard

worker and what he lacks in natural size and ability he makes up for with his work rate and aggressive style of play.”

— Joseph Yeisley, Southwestern College men’s soccer coach

recruiting the young defensive player. “(Mendoza) is a hard worker and what he lacks in natural size and ability he makes up for with his work rate and aggressive style of play,” Yeisley said. “He goes out and gives everything he’s got.

(Mendoza) is going to be instrumental part of our backline this upcoming season.”

He is the younger of his Salvadorian parents’ two children.

He said while his father is supportive of his decision to move out-of-state to pursue an education, and play the sport he loves,

his mother doesn’t want him to move far away.

“I’m going to pay for everything else so (my parents) don’t have to so (my mom) is happy about that.”

In early December, Yeisly traveled from Kansas to CCC to meet Mendoza and Ferguson in the Gym Annex Building.

“The first time we met I could tell (Mendoza) was nervous,” Yeisley said, “I could tell he is new to this process, but after speaking with him about what we could offer him he seemed relaxed.”

Mendoza said the only reason he was nervous was because he never expected to be contacted by a soccer scout, let alone be offered free money for school.

“I always thought I would go to a four-year (university) but not with a scholarship,” he said. “And after graduating from (Pinole Valley High School) I stopped playing soccer for a while. I took a two-year break to focus on school, family and work.”

While Mendoza’s future seems

planned, Alman is still weighing his options after being contacted by coaches from UC Davis, Cal StateEast Bay, and Cal State- Monterey Bay, among a Mendoza dozen others.

He has Alman was committed selected to the to SouthAll-Bay Valley western Conference First College, Team and won Kansas, Defensive Player with a of the Year honors $20,000 last fall. scholarship.

He said while the attention from coaches is nice, he is going to wait until next year to see if he can get into the college of his choice, which is Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Ferguson said, “(The universities) didn’t fit the bill. There were other coaches interested during the sophomore showcase game, but he is waiting for Cal Poly.”

12

sports

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.25.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Storm brings end to erratic Comet season Poor shooting ends four game winning streak

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

NAPA — The Comets missed a late opportunity to gain ground in the Bay Valley Conference losing 66-56 in their final game against Napa Valley College on Friday.

Contra Costa College (13-13 overall and 10-6 in the BVC) controlled the pace and the scoreboard early, but as the squad’s shooting went cold so did its lead.

The Storm (18-11 overall and 10-6 in the BVC) capitalized on Comet turnovers, scoring consistent shots in or around the paint.

STORM “It’s a tough place to play. We have struggled up there before,” Comet coach Paul COMETS DeBolt said. “The biggest thing is that we just missed shots.”

Ahjahna Coleman and Jacqie Moody paced the scoring for the Comets as usual.

Coleman (19 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals) and Moody (20 points, 18 rebounds and one block) kept the squad in front until NVC tied the score shortly before the half.

Crisp ball movement led to a Coleman 3-pointer to put CCC on the board after a quick Storm strike to open the game. Moody’s lay up and subsequent foul, followed by two more Moody free throws, allowed the Comets to recapture a momentary lead.

A steal and a floater kissed off of the glass by Comet guard Daizah Pounds (four points, six rebounds) gave the team a three-point lead and control of the game’s early momentum.

“Maybe because it was their last game and sophomore night it served as a catalyst for their momentum,” Pounds said. “We

66 56

“Maybe because

it was their last game and sophomore night it served as a catalyst for their momentum. We had a hard time matching their energy.”

— Daizah Pounds, Comet guard

had a hard time matching their energy.”

Although it was sophomore night for the home team, the Storm could not match the Comets intensity. NVC remained in the game by taking advantage of the bountiful CCC mental mistakes — like fouling on a made free throw while in double bonus.

The squad hoped to squeak into the playoffs with an ultimate win for the 2014-15 season. The CCCAA uses a five-point criteria in determining playoff eligibility.

This process takes into account a team’s conference strength by reviewing standings and its winning percentage against quality teams using a non-conference Ratings Percent Index (RPI).

The Storm finally tied the game at 20 shortly before the half. Comet turnovers gave way to NVC taking a six-point advantage. At halftime Napa led 28-22.

After intermission, the Storm built on their late first half momentum and stretched a six-point lead to 11.

A powerful Moody block led to Comet scoring on the other side to bring the score to 33-25, putting the squad in single digit range to close the deficit since the start of the second half.

Another steal by Pounds brought hope back to the team but failing to turn the swipe into points gave the Storm a chance to get the lead back up to 10 points.

Even when the Comets attempted to build on a forced turnover or chance to push the ball, un-forced errors practically handed NVC points and siphoned the life from the visiting team.

CCC did not have a good shot out off a crisply run offensive set in

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Comet guard Ahjahna Coleman leaps for a lay up during CCC’s 66-56 loss to the Storm at Napa Valley College on Friday.

the second half until Carol Oldan (12 points) hit her first of back to back 3-pointers, which were inspired by back-to-back Coleman steals.

A slashing Coleman drive and dish to Moody staggered the Storm, but the Comets could not get a stop when they needed one and they promptly gave up a 3-pointer on the next trip down the floor.

As the CCC playoff flame flickered, play got rougher and frustration started to set in for both teams. Moody and Storm player Chrysta Ray were each given technical fouls for exchanging pushes and verbal darts with 42 seconds left in the game.

“I remember fouling her on the play, but nothing too hard,” Moody said. “She said something to me, I

really don’t remember what it was.

I said something back and it went from there.”

Briah Davis and Christiana Onwuasoeze were both ejected for leaving the bench area during the ruckus.

Emotions were eased before the last seconds of play resumed and the Storm held onto their 66-56 victory.

TEAM OVERCOMES EARLY DEFICIT, ESCAPES WITH WIN

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Comet forward Justin Johnson jumps for a lay up during CCC’s 82-69 win against the Storm at Napa Valley College on Friday.

NAPA — The men’s basketball team spoiled sophomore night for the Storm with an 82-69 win, yet missed the playoffs for the second year in a row, in its final game of the season on Friday.

Despite Napa Valley College’s (13-14 overall, 8-8 in the Bay Valley Conference) inside presence and early lead at home, it was humbled by the speed of the Contra Costa College (14-12 overall, 11-5 in the BVC) players as both teams encountered each other for the second time in the 2015 season.

The energy radiating off Comet sophomore forward Justin Johnson, however, was the push CCC needed.

“I don’t really remember most of the game,” Johnson said. “I just wanted to win and try to get to the playoffs.”

Johnson registered 23 points and seven rebounds, outpacing the 15 points and four rebounds he put up in the first game, to vault CCC past the hot-handed home team that came into the contest riding a five-game winning streak.

Even with the Comets’ victory over the Storm, it was not enough for the squad to receive a berth in the California Community College Athletic Association Regional Playoffs.

On Friday, the Storm struck suddenly, hitting their first 3-pointer less than 15 seconds into the game.

Slashing lay ups by Johnson and a floater by Byron Buckley, who went for seven points and eight rebounds, kept the Comets close, although the team had a hard time matching Napa’s big men at the onset.

CCC could not get a stop after tying the game with another Johnson lay up. Two more Comet turnovers, however, gave NVC a momentary 27-21 lead with eight minutes left in the half.

Phil Secrease, who finished with seven points and eight rebounds, blocked a Storm shot that led to Jebraille Newkirk’s penetrating dribble and lay up, which seemed to ignite the CCC defense and transition game.

Newkirk, who ended the game with seven points and six rebounds, stripped possession that led to another Johnson lay up shortly after.

“We knew our season was on the line,” Newkirk said. “They had nothing to lose and they knocked off two of the top teams recently so we knew they were coming for us.”

While the Comets were unusually careless with the ball early in the half, they used a full court press to fight back into the game. The squad took its first lead of the night with three minutes to play before halftime. “(Coach Miguel Johnson) called a timeout to get everyone back on track with the game plan. We came out soft and (NVC) played like they wanted it more,” Comet assistant coach Ivan Allison said. “We felt like if we were going to make the playoffs it wouldn’t be with a lack-luster performance like that.”

Tajai Johnson, racking up 12 points and five rebounds, hit a short jumper to give CCC a two-point lead at the break to make it 39-37.

With its playoff hopes on the line, the team settled into the moment after halftime. The Comets came out moving their feet on defense and swinging the ball to find the open man on the offensive end.

A no-look pass by Dawson

Johnson to Secrease extended CCC’s lead to seven after the and-one free throw.

The three-point play was followed by a nifty pass from Pekelo McKenzie, who finished the game with eight points and went 2-2 on 3-pointers, to DeAndre Russell.

McKenzie hit a 3-pointer on the next trip down after a Comet stop on defense to give the team a 67-55 lead with six minutes remaining in the game.

After a succession of quick shots and misses for CCC, COMETS Napa was poised to capitalize. The Storm turned the Comet errors into an 8-2 scoring advan- STORM tage, which brought NVC within sight of a possible comeback at 69-63.

The Comets, however, held strong by making a series of defensive stops. The squad hit the deck for loose balls and chased down errant rebounds in route to capturing nearly 50 rebounds compared to just 40 in the previous match-up against the Storm, quite an improvement.

A late Buckley 3-pointer helped the team keep its playoff hopes alive and escape with an 82-69 victory.

“Its not just the stats or your place in the standings, there is a lot that goes in to getting a playoff spot without winning the conference outright,” coach Miguel Johnson said. “There is also an appointed representative from every conference, so there is a little of the human element involved.”

The playoff selection process is discussed in a 24-minute CCCAA video on YouTube.

82 69