The Advocate 4-2

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

CMYK

Eatery offers cheap options

Gyoza Express provides inexpensive fusion food

CMYK

scene X page 7

sports X page 11

campus beat X page 9

Storm crushes Comets, 10-4

Speech chairperson leaves legacy

Baseball

Anderson to retire

VOL. 101, NO. 18

SINCE 1950 12 PAGES, ONE COPY FREE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 ACCENTADVOCATE.COM

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

Course variety deficit ‘ridiculous’ Lack of

By Brian Boyle

elective options hinder English majors

NEWS EDITOR

bboyle.theadvocate@gmail.com

Students interested in English electives, for a major requirement or because of general interest, have very few options at Contra Costa College.

This semester, those interested in taking an elective in English have two options. Students can take a Film Appreciation course, offered once a week,

or an American literature course offered “It’s insane that a major as every third Saturday of the semester.

“We would love to offer more secpopular as English has so tions,” Liberal Arts Division Dean Jason Berner said. “It’s a struggle to get the few electives.” enrollment numbers. It makes it hard to offer more sections.”

Hayley Callaway, Berner said the core English courses, English major English 1A, 1B and 1C, are much more popular than the electives.

This semester, CCC has a total of 74 “The core English classes are a require- English sections, where 34 sections are ment for everyone, so they tend to attract dedicated to the core classes, three secmore students,” he said.

Q SEE ENGLISH: Page 4

editorial More choices necessary

Variety in course options is a necessary part of college.

Students deserve options when deciding what to major in.

page 2

GA lift project moves forward

Installation to comply with federal standard

By Lorenzo Morotti ASSOCIATE EDITOR

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

“I really wasn’t into cars (to begin with),” Kevin Guillen, a CCC alumnus who is currently in the process of becoming a certified mechanic, said. “When I was a kid my uncle and I took apart a car and we fixed it. I was hooked on cars ever since.”

Guillen said that students are free to explore the “other side” of the education system and complete degrees in their desired majors, but that if they want to seek a mechanic career in the automotive field, a certification is absolutely necessary.

After taking a fundamentals class on basic car mechanics at CCC, he knew that a certification was missing in order for him to get paid “good money,” he said.

“My uncle has a shop now,” Guillen said.

“With my experience and a certificate I can immediately work there, or at a dealership.”

Automotive department Chairperson Lucile Beatty said that there are currently

The addition of a pre-fabricated, modular elevator to the exterior of the 42-year-old Gym Annex Building will enter the bidding process for a contractor in May, after spending years in planning limbo.

The second floor of the building has been inaccessible to students with disabilities since it was con Second structed.

College classes that floor not fit to were held on the second house college, floor in years past were high school relocated to other build- classes. ings on campus beginning a decade ago in order to Bidding for be compliant with the the project Americans with Disabilities contractor will begin in May. Act passed in 1990.

However, a Middle College High School Construction World History class meets is planned to daily on the second floor begin in June of the building, an ADA of this year. violation. MCHS is housed entirely on the Contra MCHS’s World History Costa College campus.

The fact that the GA class violates Building is not up to ADA law, ADA code caught MCHS housed on Principal Anne Shin off the second guard when she was told floor of the GA Building. on Monday.

“It’s not up to ADA code?” Shin asked. “I had no idea. That’s space we were assigned by the college.”

Q SEE AUTOMOTIVE: Page 4

Q SEE LIFT: Page 4

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Peer work — Automotive technology majors Frady Jomanend (left) and Juan Cardenas (right) service a wheel bearing during their Automotive 106 course in the Automotive Technology Center garage on Monday.

CERTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES

By Jose Jimenez STAFF WRITER

jjimenez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Students at Contra Costa College are not taking full advantage of programs that give certificates of completion and help with immediate job placement, student Donald Sayvong said.

Sayvong has completed his general education at CCC and is enrolled in one of two automotive certification programs offered at the college, expecting to become a certified mechanic through the courses he has been taking in the Automotive Technology Center.

“We get the real world experience and learn the ethics of a real car mechanic.”

Donald Sayvong,

automotive technology major

CCC offers a collision repair program and an automotive technician service program, classes for both of which are taught in the ATC. Sayvong said that there are many opportunities in landing a job through the automotive industry and that an individual does not necessarily have to complete an associate degree or accomplish a bachelor’s degree to meet such opportunities.

Student senator elections to begin Positions open up within ASU board

By Sean Whatley STAFF WRITER

swhatley.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Associated Student Union will be giving its current senators an opportunity to take on new leadership roles in the upcoming ASU election.

The campaign period will begin Thursday and end April 18. Voting will be held between April 21 and 30.

Candidates for the election will be announced on Thursday at the start of the campaigning period.

All CCC students who are currently enrolled will be eligible to vote, Student Life coordinator and ASU adviser Kelly Ramos said.

The ballots will be filled out electronically and the electronic form will be sent out via the district’s InSite Portal announcement and mass email message system. There will also be various voting booths located around campus, Ramos said.

“The election is important because it determines who will be leading the ASU,” Kirsten Kwon, ASU director of external affairs said. “The ASU is responsible for coordinating the events and activities for students over the next year.”

Kwon said all positions are open and Q SEE ELECTIONS: Page 4

SEEKING INPUT

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Asking for opinions — California Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner asks students for their input on the California budget during the National Women’s History Month event held in the Planetarium on Friday. Skinner is the chairperson of the California Assembly Committee on Budget this year.

CMYK

Garage offers tools, real world experience

in brief

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

CMYK

2 THE ADVOCATE Quotable “News is like food; it is the cooking and serving that makes it acceptable, not the material itself.”

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 VOL. 101, NO. 18 L

Editorial Variety needed

Rose Macaulay English writer 1926 George Morin editor-in-chief Cody McFarland Lorenzo Morotti Rodney Woodson associate editors Brian Boyle news editor Mike Thomas sports editor

Students harmed by lack of class offerings

Veronica Santos scene editor Qing Huang Christian Urrutia photo editors Janae Harris assistant photo editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Fanisha Ayatch Joseph Bennett Jamah Butler Nina Cestaro Daniel Cifuentes Sharrell Duncan Florinda Hershey Ryan Holloway Sinoti Iosua Jose Jimenez Van Ly Ryan Margason Manning Peterson Stephen Son Mark Wassberg Sean Whatley Madisen William Staff photographers Cody Casares Jordan Khoo Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 CNPA Better Newspaper Contest 1st Place Award 1970, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 JACC Pacesetter Award 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Member Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.235.7800 ext. 4315 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: advocate@ contracosta.edu or accent.advocate@ gmail.com Editorial policy Columns and editorial cartoons are the opinion of individual writers and artists and not that of The Advocate. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.

OPINION

l WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

‘C

ollege is a place where a lot of young people go to discover what they want to do,” English department Chairperson Jeffrey Michels said. “The idea that demand has to precede variety is backward.”

Dr. Michels is right. It is a rare person who knows precisely what he or she wants to do with the rest of his or her life at age 17 or 18. Purdue University released a study that shows that 80 percent of college freshman do not know what they wish to major in, and 50 percent will change majors at least once during their college career.

What that means is the only way students have any chance to decide what they want their focus of study to be is to try different things. A lack of variety in classes makes this exceedingly difficult.

At Contra Costa College, making that decision is going to be very difficult.

The English department, for example, only offers two electives this semester.

No student can be expected to develop a love of English with only two course offerings to develop that love.

Courses in creative writing, poetry and various literatures are essential if a student is to major in English, or to even reap the benefits of an English class. If someone were to ask why CCC sister school Diablo Valley College seems to do a much better job of attracting English students than CCC does, the answer they will most likely get is, “The two colleges serve a different demographic.” Or they may even hear the old tired line that local high schools are not necessarily preparing their students for college work.

The demographic line may be true; DVC’s largest ethnic group is white students, where CCC’s most prominent ethnic group is Hispanic students. The line about the high schools may also be true. The high schools in CCC’s service area consistently test worse than those in DVC’s area.

Yet the Student Success Scorecard of both colleges shows the percentage of students who enter either college below transfer level in English is pretty much the same. They differ only by about 3 percent.

Maybe students who really are more proficient in English or math do not bother going to a community college.

Colleges should look inward instead of outward when they assign blame on why student interest in a subject is low. Local high school quality seems to have no bearing on what subjects students will find interesting. If the college wants the privilege of teaching a student, then it is the college’s obligation to make sure that student’s education is as full as it can possibly be.

With so few electives in English per semester, it is ridiculous to think CCC is providing that for students.

LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

N Growth

Long road to joy begins within

I

n the fall of 2010 I decided to quit my job as a manager of a department store and head back into the world of education as a student.

Despite a slew of family, financial and stress issues that followed my decision, I continued my journey for happiness — the one thing that all individuals should be striving for.

In a state of uncertainty and depression from 2009 through early 2010, the idea that drastic lifestyle changes had to be made was an understatement. From “baby mama drama” to busted pockets and an overactive drinking habit, to say the least, the downward spiral of life was well in progress and for sure to lead down the drain.

What was nerve wrecking was working 42.5 hours per week in an establishment that sold nothing of necessity. Insane driving was the mundane task bestowed upon the worker-drones, most of whom spent their working hours lamenting their surroundings and counting the minutes until quitting time, for the day at least.

By the way, if anyone is wondering, after quitting a job, if he or she has done the correct thing, just rate the responses you get from your co-workers. If they respond as if you’ve just finished a prison sentence or escaped slavery, then you have escaped captivity of the working class American and you should run for the hills.

In my case, my fellow managers, full of sugary

I informed her that I worked my way to sports editor she replied, “Do you get paid?”

Once again the answer was no.

Certainly she would’ve been proud when I was voted editor-in-chief, but after her brief congratulatory stateenergy drinks and “take ment she asked once again if before bed” painkillers, payment came with the posilooked jealous. Their facial tion and much to her dismay, expressions told stories of it did not. pain and anguish. Years of Yet, I never quit my job, retail nightmares relived went back to school on a daily basis take their toll. Our bodies Four years or worked my ass off to impress othresembled that of the ers. I did it for me. I food we chose to dine later I am was unhappy, eating on — fat, greasy and my problems and unhealthy. thought that I would Of course, when I a better, find the answer to chose to hang up my smarter, my sorrows in the retail badge others bottom of a bottle who depended on my of Grey Goose — cash felt the brunt of healthier wrong. that decision. My son, Four years who had just moved man. later I am a better, to Tacoma, Wash. did not receive as much financial smarter, healthier and most of all, happier man. The support as usual and moving back home was certainly downs of life still threaten my smiles from time to time, regretful. but through these years I’ve Living with my grandlearned it doesn’t matter mother in the past had not what you want to do, or if been an issue. However, what you want to do earns being the second Woodson you loads of cash. male to attend any type of The joy of life is finding college in our family’s recent the life that you, as an indihistory does not leave much vidual, want, need or must room for understanding. live in order to be happy.

Without her understanding The only certainty in life, it was impossible to receive true well-wishes from a place ironically, is death. The best gift you can give yourself of sincerity. and others is to die in state of I joined the college personal bliss. newspaper and she asked if it paid money. Her face Rodney Woodson is an frowned and she seemed to turn her nose up at me when associate editor of The I informed her that this was a Advocate. Contact him at college program, and no, I do rwoodson.theadvocate@ gmail.com. not receive payment. When

rodneywoodson

CampusComment

Which departments should offer more classes?

“I would like to see more music classes offered on campus.”

“There should be more language classes, like English as a second language courses.”

Thomas Marshall music

Simerjot Sandhu kinesiology

“I’d like to see more classes for business majors because when I signed up this semester it was hard to find classes that could fit my schedule.”

Charlie Krider business

MIKE THOMAS, CODY CASARES AND JORDAN KHOO / THE ADVOCATE

“Sociology classes because this semester there were only two (different) courses offered, and that’s my major.”

“I would like to see more English classes because these classes are requirements for people to transfer and receive their degree.”

Muey Saechao

Delia Mapapalaing

sociology

nursing

“I want to see more foreign language classes because I want to take French. I like the language and every time I look for it, the college doesn’t have it.”

Elijah Hampton undecided

FORUM N Revolt

I Venezuelan people need help, action

S

tudents in Venezuela have been protesting against violence in their country since Feb. 12 and, as a result, at least 10 people have died, and approximately 137 have been injured.

President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of being responsible for destabilizing his administration but it is clear that Maduro is wrongfully looking for culprits outside his office when the real problem is his bad administration.

The people of Venezuela are tired of the lack of justice, and the only way to raise their voices is to demonstrate their indignation peacefully before the absence of democracy within their country.

Leopoldo Lopez, the leader of the opposition to Maduro’s government, has joined the protests, claiming that he is fighting for a better future in Venezuela.

More and more people are joining the protests and expressing support for that same reason.

Students were demanding better security, and many of them were arrested for disorderly conduct. This led to other protests and the result was more riots and arrests.

While Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s last president who died a year ago, allowed people to express themselves, Maduro sends police to arrest any person who is expressing their needs without his permission. Freedom of expression does not exist in Venezuela since people want to have a change in their country.

They demand improved security and freedom of speech. They do not have the essential goods such as milk, toilet paper, and even medicine, which indicates the situation is getting worse.

Also, police have permission to use their weapons to scare bystanders or shoot them even if they are protesting peacefully. The Venezuelan government has the obligation to protect their country and their people, not to kill them and ignore their needs.

People in Venezuela risk their lives fighting for a better future. Students with a lack of opportunities in their country, and know that death is a possibility, are marching. Despite these fears they go walking out into the city and feel the Venezuelan spirit present.

I believe that dialogue is the best way to find a solution for the people in Venezuela and the government of Nicolas Maduro. The government needs to have flexible ideas in order to have peace and if the president believes that he has the power solely because he is the nation leader then he is making the wrong decisions.

Violence is not the way to solve problems. There are examples of leaders who were against violence. For example, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez each had different ideals, but they used the same method to get their goals across: non-violence.

It is not just for money that people become leaders, it is to work together with their people to have a place where harmony prevails.

Florinda Hershey is a staff writer for The Advocate.

Contact her at fhershey. theadvocate@gmail.com.

3

Cost of education overbearing

am writing to express my concerns on college education costing too much, making it a bad long term investment.

Students who are facing the biggest financial needs to continue their studies do not receive the greatest amount of financial aid.

Most students who attend college come from low- and middle-income families and are often the first members of their families to go to college.

The state government has become unable to support

guestcommentary

“Second, the main reason why the differential in lifetime earnings potential is Jasmyne Brice so huge is that the old economy’s jobs, requiring only universities after the finanhigh school diploma, simply cial meltdown in 2008.

Unfortunately low-income do not exist anymore.”

Most jobs now require families have been affected their employees to have a by this the most. college degree. Even jobs According to Richard in factories are requiring Ekman, president of the training in mathematics and council of independent colleges, “First, over a lifetime, computers.

Those who are consida person who has a college ered “garbage men” now are degree likely will earn on average $700,000 to $1 mil- required to have a certificalion more than a high school tion in waste management.

Without a college educagraduate.

tion, jobs will begin to disappear for low and middle class people, making them unable to support their families.

So my question is how do we, as a nation, get back on track, putting people back to work and making our educational system more affordable for low- and middleincome people?

Jasmyne Brice is Contra Costa College student.

Send letters to the editor and guest commentaries to accent.advocate@gmail.com.

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

— Art Linkletter

A STORY OF

perseverance T

he origin of this remarkable series of events was published in The Advocate on Feb. 25,

2009.

It reported how Yvette Bravo, one of our straight-A students and a College Skills Center Spanish tutor, had been illegally incarcerated after returning from a Christmas visit with her son in Peru.

She was arrested at the Miami, Fla. International Airport by the federal Homeland Security First staff and taken to Miami City Jail without any explanation of the specific charges.

After languishing in the Miami slammer for a week, Yvette was transferred to the Glade County Jail.

Her case went to court twice. The second date was Feb. 20, 2009. At that time, Homeland Security officials failed to bring proof or details of any laws Yvette had violated.

The judge gave the Homeland Homies until March 16 to return with legal evidence of all laws broken or the case would be dissed and dismissed.

One month later the Homeland Security stooges sputtered and coughed, but didn’t produce one iota of Yvette’s alleged unlawful conduct.

The judge, bless his sane legal heart, kicked the case out of his courthouse door and set Yvette free on March 16, 2009.

She hustled her grateful buns, sans handcuffs, directly back to Contra Costa College to complete her associate degree studies and apply to transfer to Mills College in Oakland.

Mills is one of the premier female-focused institutions of liberal arts higher education in the world. Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Dr. Bonnie Guiton Hill are alumnae of Mills.

Her application packet was completed and emailed to Mills three weeks before the deadline.

Yvette anxiously awaited a positive reply, but deep in her heart of hearts, she didn’t believe she was qualified and made to model at Mills.

Two weeks later she received an email from Mills’ Admissions Office.

She came running into the Skills Center with a great big smile as she shouted, “I GOT ACCEPTED AT MILLS AND THEY GAVE ME A $10,000 SCHOLARSHIP.” CCC tutoring coordinator Jason Berner asked her, “What does it cost a year at Mills?” Yvette quickly answered, “I don’t know.”

An Internet search at millscollege.edu revealed the price was $47,000 a year. “I don’t have $37,000,” Yvette said with a sigh of desperation.

Her tutor said, “So tell them that you can only attend

manningpeterson Mills if you receive a full scholarship.

They’ve got big bucks at Mills.”

So Yvette emailed her thanks for the acceptance and her request for a full scholarship to the Mills’ Admissions Office.

Her anxiety vanished two days later when she received the reply offering a full $47,000 scholarship.

Hallelujah!

She began her upper division college life at Mills in August of 2011.

Her educational career after transferring started slowly in order to assimilate with her part-time employment schedule necessary to pay her external living expenses such as rent, a cell phone, auto, meals away from Mills and research-related travel.

Yvette recently explained, “I only have two more classes to complete my requirements for my sociology major and I can graduate on May 16.

It’s my

dream come true.

“I feel like I’m beyond blessed.

This decade of my life has been an incredible exercise in perseverance.

“I never knew what the word meant until my tutor used it and suggested I look it up in the dictionary so we could discuss the definition.

“Perseverance has been the primary focus factor in my academic career. It has taught me to never, ever give up.

And for that suggestion, I will be eternally grateful.”

“What do you plan to do after you graduate from Mills?” asked Rana Berman, Yvette’s favorite CCC professor, mentor and academic role model.

Yvette smiled and shared, “I’ve applied for a one-year internship with the Adelante Program here at CCC. “Then I’m going to Cal to get my master’s degree at the School of Social Welfare.

“I plan to provide social and educational community service for lowincome families and children in the foster care system.

“My long-term goal is to be the world’s best grandmother, mother, role model and mentor for women worldwide.”

Manning Peterson is a staff writer for The Advocate. Contact him at mpeterson.theadvocate@ gmail.com.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

florindahershey

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 l THE ADVOCATE

4 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

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English | Curriculum provides few choices Q FROM: Page 1

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Newsline Q ENROLLMENT

Universities visit college, students The University Concurrent Enrollment Program will host a workshops from April 9-11 in the Student Services Center.

Workshops on April 9 will be SSC-114 from noon to 1 p.m, on April 10 from 3 to 4 p.m and on April 11 from noon to 1 p.m.

The program provides students with an opportunity to enroll in a course at UC Berkeley, Cal State East Bay, Mills College, JFK University while registered concurrently with CCC. The program permits students to complete lower division courses for major preparation, general education requirements or electives and to experience the university environment.

In addition, students do not play any university fees for the course.

For more information please contact counselor Luci Castruita at 510-215-3910.

CAMPUS BEAT

tions are dedicated to classes that assist students with disabilities, two sections are being used for English electives, and 35 sections are dedicated to building basic English skills, such as reading and writing.

Berner said, “A very large percentage, something like 80 percent, of students coming to CCC need some form of skills development, be it in English or in math.”

English department Chairperson Jeffrey Michels said, “Historically, in the last 5-10 years, we usually offer three English electives (per semester).”

Dr. Michels explained that a lack of enrollment is generally the reason for the low number of offerings.

“I’ve tried offering classes such as Children’s Literature and a course about Villains and Scoundrels that was a lot of fun, but we only ever drew the minimum number of students,” Michels said.

Students disagree with the lack of interest in the program. English major Hayley Callaway said, “It’s insane that a major as popular as English has so few electives.”

Callaway said the lack of electives is hindering students who wish to transfer and graduate.

is able to meet its obligations to students, the community and the state.”

What DVC’s larger number of full-time faculty means is that there are more professors present at DVC that can assist students.

Where part-time faculty members may spend time working at multiple colleges, full-time faculty can dedicate more time, during office hours and in class, to students.

“Unfortunately, CCC lost about five full-time faculty members that we (still) have to replace,” Michels said. “The administration, though, seems to be on the same page as us, that we need to have more full-time faculty teaching classes.”

CCC’s Vice President Tammeil Gilkerson confirmed that they are hiring. Gilkerson said, “We are currently hiring about seven full-time faculty members. One in English, political science, drama, two for counseling and one position in the library.”

DVC has no lack of student interest in English.

While CCC is offering two electives this semester and no English electives over the summer, DVC is offering 16 distinct English electives this semester, many with multiple sections. DVC is also offering four electives courses over the summer.

Callaway said, “Most people who want to major in any sort of humanities have to go to DVC to be able to complete their degree in a timely manner, which is completely ridiculous.”

Fannin said much like CCC, the most popular courses are the core curriculum courses, the classes that every student needs to qualify for transfer to a four-year school, but that DVC always tries to offer a wide variety of classes.

“We usually offer, at a minimum, 200 sections a semester,” Fannin said. “We also have had a push from on-high to expand, and offer more courses and more sec-

tions, so we’re hiring and looking to grow.”

Demographics With what is already a huge department, DVC’s expansion makes it seem like a better place to go for English majors.

“Not to say anything bad about anyone teaching at DVC, but CCC’s English professors are really, really good,” Michels said.

“Both Eichner-Lynch and I have our Ph.D.s, and are always trying to find ways to make students more interested in English.”

Michels said there have been times, to draw interest toward his department, he has dressed up to perform Shakespeare scenes with other English professors.

CCC and DVC are extremely close together. It is approximately 20 miles from CCC to DVC, a drive that is likely only to take 15 minutes depending on the time of day.

DVC’s Vice President of Instruction Rachel Westlake said, “DVC has a long-term reputation as a transfer school, and as such, we draw students from all over the Bay Area.”

Fannin said that it is quite possible that DVC’s larger variety of course offerings draw serious English majors toward DVC. Michels disagrees. He said, “CCC serves a very challenging community due to socio-economic status. I don’t want to say anything negative about the local high schools, but DVC and CCC serve two completely different demographics.”

Demographic information about various community colleges is tracked by the Student Success Scorecard, a tool the state has begun using to clearly represent the diversity of colleges, as well as the areas students at community colleges struggle and shine in.

According to the Student Success Scorecard for CCC, the college’s

ethnic breakdown is approximately 26 percent African-American, 14 percent Asian, 30 percent Hispanic and 14 percent white. DVC’s ethnic breakdown is about 41 percent white, 19 percent Hispanic, 12 percent Asian and 6 percent AfricanAmerican.

The high schools that surround the two colleges also perform much differently than each other.

Every year the state release an API, or Academic Performance Index, report, which ranks schools all over the state based upon their performance. A school’s API rank is based upon the performance of that school’s students on the yearly STAR, or Standardized Testing and Reporting, testing.

Schools receive a ranked number between one and 10. A one represents a very low performing school, where a 10 means that school is one of the best.

Of the high schools within 15 miles of CCC, only Middle College High School, housed at CCC, has been consistently ranked above a six for the past five years.

The average rank for high schools that CCC regularly would draw students from is two.

The average rank for school’s surrounding DVC is eight. DVC also has a very large number of high schools surrounding it with an API rank of 10.

Yet despite all of this, the Student Success Scorecard shows about 31 percent of students who enter DVC enter with English skills below the level required for transfer. The percentage of students who enter CCC below the level needed to transfer is about 34 percent. There is only about a 3 percent difference between the two.

“Though I do agree with the basic idea that variety in course offerings is very important,” Michels said.

Callaway said, “Contra Costa needs to start being a college students can depend on.”

The sister college CCC’s sister college, Diablo Valley College, has a much different story in regards to its English department.

Michels said, “DVC’s English department is the largest department in the district.”

Large is certainly one way to describe it. Where CCC has six full-time faculty members, DVC Q MUSIC boasts 26 full-time positions in the department. Where CCC has 33 part-time faculty, DVC has 90.

Antonia Fannin, DVC’s English department chairperson, wrote in an email, “Full-time faculty are The Jazz Vocal Gala Fundraiser critical to ensure that any college Concert will take place in the Knox Center on Monday from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Contra Costa College’s JazzaNova, jazz singers, and local musicians like Walter Bankovitch trio, John Christensen and Tod Q FROM: Page 1 Dickow will perform.

Q FROM: Page 1 department still acknowledges there is even more that all senators have to rerun. Positions Popular jazz artist Madeline four local dealerships seeking students who are room for growth and improvement. include ASU president, executive vice Eastman will also be performing certified and are ready for work.

The ATC is currently pursuing certification president, president of clubs, secretary, at the event.

Beatty said Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan and through the National Automotive Technicians director of public affairs and treasurer.

Money collected from the event Volkswagen dealerships located near the Hilltop Education Foundation (NATEF), she said.

The ASU Election Committee met will go towards the music depart- Mall have made contact with her about potential job “This would certainly give our students an Monday to develop strategies, which ment. placements for CCC students enrolled in a certified edge,” she said. it hopes will be implemented to better All are invited to attend, tickets automotive program.

The ATC at CCC has been affiliated with indus- reach the CCC student body and in turn are $10 for students and $15 gen“I called past students who’ve completed the try officials, professionals and garage owners in get more participation. eral admission. program successfully to see if they were inter- helping with donations, Beatty said.

“Social media will play a key role,” For more information contact, ested,” she said. “Right now we’re in the process The cars that automotive students are learning Ysrael Condori, current ASU president 510-215-4824. of submitting even more applications to these car on were donated and are stored behind the ATC said. Condori discussed how Facebook, dealerships.” adjacent to the Early Learning Center, she said.

Twitter and Instagram would be used in She said she has maintained contact and a good She also said that funds are used to provide raising student awareness of the ASU relationship with these dealerships since she began training to automotive students and a grant from and the ASU election.

Q GROWTH teaching part-time at CCC in 2004. the non-profit organization NATEF would certainly “We have a Facebook page that She said “times are changing,” but that the foun- reflect the skills that students must gain for a suc- students can follow and we’re thinking dational core of learning a craft and applying those cessful career. about taking pictures of the candidates tools are the key to students getting jobs.

“Miss B is a great teacher,” Sayvong said. “We and posting them on Instagram.

“After I graduated, I received numerous phone get the real world experience and learn the ethics of “It is also a great opportunity for the calls for employment,” Laura Salas, CCC alumnus a real car mechanic.”

ASU to get closer to students and get The Adelante Program will host who worked as a mechanic’s apprentice for three Sayvong plans on getting a job in a body shop students engaged,” Condori said. “It a Mindfulness Mediation workshop years, said. after becoming certified, and while his love for creates a culture of involvement that with Academic/Student Services Now Salas is a business partner with Black imported Asian cars is his focus, he understands students aren’t used to.”

Manager Mayra Padilla.

Diamond Collision Center in Pittsburg. that he has to adjust to the fast and changing autoAlthough the election is primarily Dr. Padilla will host the event “In my time at CCC, every single class gave me motive industry, he said. toward active ASU members, other stuin AA-103 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. a trait that I use now in the work field,” she said.

“We just finished a wheel bearings course,” he dents are encouraged to join. on April 10, 24 and May 8.

Beatty said that while the ATC provides a unique said. “Now I have to take a hybrid class and learn “We have a number of senator posiThe workshops will provide stu- training environment with five lifters, huge garages the electrical phase for certain cars.” tions open,” Kwon said. dents with an opportunity to relax. and a countless number of car parts and tools, the Researchers in a UC Santa Barbara study found that students performed better on the verbal section of standardized tests and improved their working memory after participating in mindfulness meditation training.

For more information, please Q FROM: Page 1 areas of campus are not yet compliant with the contact Padilla at, 510-215-3880.

The GA Building is the only multi-storied law.

“It (the elevator) is of huge structure on campus that does not have an A few months ago the district received importance. This building has approval from the Department of State elevator.

The GA Building contains two classrooms Architecture to begin the bidding process for a never had an elevator in it and athletic offices on the second floor that contractor to install the elevator, King said. before. It’s been around for are inaccessible to students who have mobility With the various projects under construcissues and cannot walk up the flight of stairs. almost 50 years without giving tion at Contra Costa College — specifically the This denies students the chance to receive new Campus Center and three-story classroom easy access to all students.”

Wednesday, March 12: advice and guidance from staff or be able to building — Pyle said the district has been An officer conducted a traffic attend lecture classes that are needed to graduunable to get all its projects started as quickly stop. The subject was cited and ate. as it would have liked.

John Wade, athletic director released.

Because of this, health education and physiTo help the planning department at the cal education professor Beth Goehring has not district juggle multiple construction projects Saturday, March 15: been able to teach any of her Education for The elevator will be located in the north- at CCC, Pyle said six months ago he brought An unknown suspect or suspects Healthful Living (Health Ed 120) sections on west corner of the building, adjacent to Comet Critical Solutions Inc. on board, a project and vandalized a computer monitor in the second floor near her GA-70 office, she Stadium and the tennis courts. construction management consultant firm based the Health Sciences Building. said. The sections were relocated to LA-100.

Other construction projects on campus, in Walnut Creek, giving his staff more flex“It (the elevator project) has been a long time such as renovations to the Music, Library and ibility.

Tuesday, March 25: in the planning stages,” Goehring said. “We are Applied Arts buildings, and a seismic retrofit “We have seen excellent results,” he said.

An officer conducted a pedes- closer to getting the elevator now than we ever for the Liberal Arts Building, have delayed the Critical Solutions Finance and Administration trian stop and made a warrant arrest have been before. I’m looking forward to the construction of the elevator until this year.

President Ron Johnson said construction to on a wanted subject. The subject start of the project.”

The elevator’s original completion date was attach the pre-fabricated elevator to the outside was arrested and transported to the ADA code states that a public entity may not fall 2012. It was then pushed back because the of the building would start in June and take Martinez Detention Facility. deny the benefits of its programs, activities and district was waiting for additional funding from about four months to complete. services to individuals with disabilities because the state, Pyle said. When months of waiting King said, “Construction will overlap with Wednesday, March 26: its facilities are inaccessible. California com- became years, the district decided to proceed the fall semester, so students will have to deal A student was taken into Child munity colleges and all K-12 schools are public with funds from the 2006 bond measure, he with an obstruction.”

Protective custody in the Applied institutions. said.

The first thing students will notice, he said, Arts Building.

Because the GA Building was erected in CCC Building and Grounds Manager Bruce will be blocked pathways and fences, forcing 1972, well before the establishment of the ADA, King said, “We would have to spend about $6 them to take alternate routes to class.

Thursday, March 27: an elevator in the building was not required. million if we wanted to bring the college (comCCC Athletic Director John Wade, whose A person was the victim of “The total construction cost of the eleva- pletely up) to ADA code.” office is in GA-90, said the inconvenience is battery on campus. No further tor will be around $500,000,” Contra Costa That is money the district does not have, he worth it. information was provided by Community College District Chief Facilities said.

“It (the elevator) is of huge importance,” he Police Services as of press time on Planner Ray Pyle said. The money to complete But as long as the district is working toward said. “This building has never had an elevator Tuesday. the project will be taken out of Measure A bond bringing the college up to ADA standards with in it before. It’s been around for almost 50 years funds. Measure A was approved by county vot- each construction project funded, then the col- without giving easy access to all students.”

— George Morin ers in 2006. lege will be allowed to operate even if some

Jazz groups play for funding

Automotive | Seeking grant

Elections

Adelante to host meditations

Lift | GA Building to comply with ADA law

CrimeWatch

CAMPUS BEAT

Culinary students earn job training

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 l THE ADVOCATE

5

GOOD VIBRATIONS

By Joseph Bennett STAFF WRITER

jbennett.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Three Seasons Restaurant and The Switch bring an actual restaurant and cafe experience to campus, while providing one of few food options to students at Contra Costa College.

The restaurant started off as a tool for students majoring in the culinary arts in the form of a study program. Thanks to culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes, it has evolved into an instructor-run and student-operated restaurant.

Since CCC began construction of the future Campus Center, food options on campus have been limited to the Bookstore, Subway and the Three Seasons Restaurant.

Student Chan Dool said, “I like the Three Seasons, especially when you just want to sit down and enjoy a good meal.�

The restaurant is located in AA-239 and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

The goal of the culinary arts department is to train students with professional, realworld experience, Sharkes said.

Culinary arts major Ngan Mak said, “It will help in the real world because the school experience is very much like (the real world restaurant business.)�

The menu is chosen based on the cooking techniques required to prepare dishes.

Culinary arts department assistant Angel Chau said, “The restaurant changes its menu every month to keep everything fresh and so the students’ skills can get tighter.�

Also, the staff is rotated every month so students gain experience by working with each other, Chau said.

Arnold Lopez, a second semester culinary arts student, said, “This is a really good opportunity. I’m majoring in culinary arts because I want to cook — it’s been my thing.�

The students that work and study in the department are generally happy with the instruction they receive, according to student Eugene Reed. “The good thing about this restaurant is you can make mistakes and learn from it,�

Reed said.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Silver-tongued devil — District Governing Board Student Trustee Ivan De Los Santos (right) serenades students to promote the Guitar Club at the Inter-Club Council’s Club Rush event behind the Health Sciences Building on March 12.

CLUBS PROMOTE, GAIN MEMBERS

By George Morin EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

gmorin.theadvocate@gmail.com

Students were given a chance to see what clubs are offered on campus and what extracurricular activates are available to them at the Inter-Club Council’s semi-annual Club Rush.

Club Rush is an event that allows students an opportunity to know what clubs are offered on campus and encourages them to sign up for extra-curricular activities, InterClub Council president Zi Lian said.

Club Rush took place on March 11 and 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in a new location on the walkway behind the Heath Sciences Building. “Timing for the event really helped us be effective with getting the attention of students just as they are getting out of class,�

Lian said. “Having food, especially, brings students.�

Many of the festivities included music, food and games.

Booths were set up on the walkway between the HS and Liberal Arts buildings.

The different clubs encouraged students to sign up in order to receive information for future events for their clubs.

“Club Rush gives (clubs) a chance to put ourselves out there to the (student) body,�

La Raza President Esmeralda Frias said. “We can talk to people about what our clubs do and hopefully get some new members.�

Middle College High School student Robert Ford enjoyed Club Rush in its new location, made necessary by construction happening on campus. “I’m glad that Club Rush happened. I was able to join the Puente Club,� Ford said. “It’s great that we can still have a pretty good event, even with construction taking place where this would normally be.�

Some of the clubs presented activities for students as well.

The Gaming and Graphics Guild presented Oculus Rift goggles, which put viewers in a 3-D gaming world where they can move around and explore a video game. “The goggles are top-of-the-line — they aren’t even available to consumers yet,�

GGG member Eric Gambetta-Guglielmana said. “We want members of our club to have an edge on the competition out there when they graduate. By using the latest technology, they will be familiar with what’s new in the gaming world.�

The Business Club set up cut up pieces of wood to play a larger version of Jenga.

“The game (Jenga) was fun to play,� journalism major Roxana Amparo said. “I think a lot of people stopped by just to watch (students) play Jenga.�

The ASU provided donuts and Little Caesar’s Pizza for students who participated in Club Rush by signing up for a club.

The Abilities Club, Alpha Gamma Sigma Club, Business Club, Computational Math and Engineering Club, Guitar Club, Health and Human Services Club, International Students Club, La Raza Student Union, Parallel Programming Club, Puente Club and the Associated Students Union all participated in the event.

Originally the ICC had plans for the event to take place on the tennis courts adjacent to Lot 2, but with the suggestion from ASU adviser Kelly Ramos, the ICC decided to move Club Rush to the new location. “The location really helped with the turnout for the event,� ICC Lian said. “Especially with classrooms being right next to the event, people stopped by between classes.

I’m sure we will use this location again while construction is still going on.�

Ford said, “Club Rush gives students a chance to get involved in something that’s not just academic. We need to have more of these events.�

Speech, debate team brings home silver

By Madisen Williams STAFF WRITER

mwilliams.theadvocate@gmail.com

The speech and debate team spends countless hours researching, preparing and practicing speeches for tournaments and upcoming events.

All of that time and effort paid off when the team went to the Northern California Forensics Association Spring Championship Tournament in February. “Out of 33 teams, we were number two against other community colleges and four-year universities competing,� speech department professor and Chairperson

Sherry Diestler said.

Veteran speech and debate team member, English major Hayley Callaway, placed third in Parliamentary Speaking and first in After Dinner Speaking.

Callaway and Diamonique Spain also took second place in the debate category. “Although not everyone gets into the finals, we all prepare together,� Callaway said. “Everyone pitches in and helps everyone.�

The on-campus Speaker Showcase held on Thursday brought together students from the speech, drama and media arts departments.

By Nina Cestaro STAFF WRITER

ncestaro.theadvocate@gmail.com

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new faces who are really talented individuals. We have almost quadrupled the size of the team since last year.�

In order for students to join the speech and debate team they must sign up for Speech 141, 142, 160A or 160B. “These are great classes — it’s unfortunate that many students don’t know about them,� Phalen said.

On May 8 at 3 p.m. in LA-100, CCC will be holding its Intramural Speech Tournament.

Diestler said, “It’s a tournament for all CCC students who would like to experience a fun tournament on our campus — no experi-

ence necessary.�

The categories open for students to compete in are the oral presentation, including poetry, stories, lyrics or drama, persuasive speaking, informative speaking and impromptu speaking.

Students who want to get in extra practice before the Intramural Speech Tournament can meet with speech tutors in the speech lab located in AA-113C. “Any student on campus who wants to experience what it’s like to participate in a speech tournament and improve their confidence is welcome,� Diestler said. “It’s a really fun and easy way to get started.�

The Hub offers study space

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Ä‘ Convenient campuses in Santa Rosa, San Jose, Pleasanton, and Sacramento

Public service announcements created by students in the media arts department were also presented at the Speaker Showcase. “The Speaker Showcase is a great way to recruit students,� speech and debate coach and speech professor Darren Phalen said.

May is going to be a busy month for the speech and debate team, he said.

New students are competing in the Spring Fling Tournament at Ohlone College on May 3, where other community college and fouryear university newcomers will be competing too.

Phalen said, “We have a lot of

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A room in the Physical Sciences Building, designated as a place where students can receive help from professors and counselors, has not reached its potential according to several instructors on campus.

Located in PS-107, The Hub is a unique place where students and faculty can hang out in an area less formal than a faculty office to discuss coursework, homework, or just talk about anything that might be of help or concern to a student’s success.

Contra Costa College counselor Luci Castruita said, “The reason this place works is because it’s more than just somewhere to get questions answered. It’s a place for people to maintain relationships.�

Sue Van Hattan, mathematics professor, said few students have visited her during her office hours in The Hub and she believes part of that reason is that students are not aware of its existence. “The purpose (of The Hub) is to let professors hear what is going on with their students academically and (whatever else) might be troubling them,�

Van Hattan said. “We also get to find out what’s new this semester (in other departments).�

The Hub is manned by counsel-

ors, faculty members and its hours of operation are from 12:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. PS-107 is located in the Center for Science Excellence.

Mike Petersen, a health and human services major, said as a continuing student he really benefits from getting individualized help at the Hub from the chair of the HHS department, Aminta Mickles.

Petersen added, “I feel more knowledgeable about getting an education plan works and how to navigate through this college.�

It was the spring of 2013 when biology professor Katherine Krilokowski was in a district leadership meeting with Student Life Coordinator Kelly Ramos, among others.

Because of a conversation with Diablo Valley College faculty member Scott McDoogle, a colleague of Krilokowski, she had an epiphany about making students less afraid to meet with their professors. “The students can access professors and make it less scary and have the faculty more available,� Krilokowski said.

Last fall district administrators contacted them about the idea and decided to apply it.

Krilokowski was contacted by Dr. Myra Padilla, of the METAS program, who wanted to collaborate by offering to put HSI/STEM budget money behind The Hub.

Alfred Zuniga, a veteran counselor at Contra Costa College, said The Hub affords students a unique feature in that they do not have to wait in lengthy lines and do not have to be alone with their counselors. This has both positive and negative impact.

When asked if it is a good alternative he said, “Not exactly, but it’s supplemental to the student support services in the (Student Services Center). When people are listened to and feel special, they start uncovering real issues that are personal and important to them.�

Xochitl Baltzar, an art major, had a vague idea The Hub existed. When students were asked if they knew about a place called The Hub, the response was mixed.

Business major Roberto Cortez said, “Yeah, well, I would go if I knew where it was.�

Students Benjamin Doherty and Brian Little have not heard of any such place where students could get immediate academic counseling or speak to professors about getting help on homework.

Student Eva Bertrand said, “It’s a safe place for you to go do your work.�

The Hub is expecting to receive newer computers, but Krilokowski could not confirm a date. But for the time being, The Hub is situated in a small space and functions on a low budget.

6 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

SCENE

Unleashed

Movies

Startling news — Hester (left), played

by Audrey Webb, reacts to information that she may be pregnant that she receives from the Doctor (Nick Wong) during a physical examination during “In The Blood,” which ran from March 12-15 in the Knox Center.

This week: “Captain American: The Winter Soldier” (PG-13) “Dom Hemingway” (R) “The Retrieval” (R) “10 Rules for Sleeping Around” (R) “Alan Patridge” (R)

DVDs

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

‘In the Blood’ thrills audience

By Van Ly STAFF WRITER

vly.theadvocate@gmail.com

New releases: “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” (R) “47 Ronin” (PG-13) “At Middleton” (R) “The Bag Man” (R)

CDs

New releases: Mobb Deep: “The Infamous Mobb Deep” Austrian Death Machine: “Triple Brutal” Hank WIlliams III: “Ramblin’ Man” Smoke DZA: “Dream.

ZONE. Achieve”

Games

New releases: “LEGO The Hobbit” (E)

The drama department’s production of “In the Blood” was presented at the Knox Center on March 12.

Written by Suzan-Lori Parks, “In the Blood” is a modern adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel “The Scarlet Letter.”

The play follows the lives of Hester La Negrita and her five fatherless children who are living in poverty. Drama professor Tyrone Davis directed the play.

When the lights hit the stage, cast members of “In the Blood” stood echoing back and forth jarring statements about Hester. playreview The moment the cast finished, the set faded to black.

Audrey Webb, who plays Hester, “In the Blood” emerged from the +++++ darkness and stood Venue: Knox Center cradling her baby Directed by: — her eyes gleam- Tyrone Davis ing at the precious treasure in her arms.

In the eyes of society, Hester is no treasure. She is considered a promiscuous woman which society looks down upon.

Under the spotlight, the Doctor (Nick Wong), Reverend D. (Terry Tracy), Amiga Gringa (Elena Battas), Welfhare (Kat Welton) and Chili (Rex Marin) reveal their sexual encounters with Hester but show no remorse in their actions when all they do is pretend to help her.

Webb gave a remarkably moving performance as Hester.

She captured Hester’s endearing personality by expressing a certain naive hopefulness as well as her enduring determination to support her children.

She also builds up Hester’s struggle to overcome poverty in a way that it becomes absolutely heartbreaking to watch when her character meet a tragic end.

Another performer, Johnny Manibusan, played Hester’s 13year-old son Jabber. Manibusan’s character was charged with energy and full of childlike spirit, making his performance enjoyable to watch.

The other actors also brought

“I found myself crying when the play ended.”

Daniele Asher, history major

unique qualities to their characters, adding depth and life to the play to reflect on issues such as poverty in society.

Costumes were fitting to the characters of “In the Blood.”

One interesting costume was the Doctor’s (Wong) who wore cardboard to carry his medical equipment.

The set design was simple with bleak neutral colors in the background. A grey platform was on stage with the word “slut” scrawled on the side of the platform. To the left of the stage was a small building with a curtain as the door where Hester and her children slept in.

Not much emphasis was placed on the set. The only thing that distinguished certain places was when the white cross was on the wall to indicate Reverend D.’s church.

For lighting, a white glaring spotlight was used during active scenes and the scenes in which actors were transitioning, the lights would fade to black.

Toward the end, the lights took the form of bars in a jail cell, creating a nice effect to the set, but the added red light was a bit too bright.

Student Imani Canady said that she thought the red lights represented blood, but it was hard to tell what the red lights were supposed to symbolize.

Aside from the set and lighting, the actor’s performances left a memorable impression on the audience.

Tiarra Hearne, an AfricanAmerican studies major, said the actors did a great job on the perJANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE formances and that it was moving Held together — Hester’s children (left to right) Irena Miles, Julia to watch.

Bourney and Charmain Turner hold each other for comfort during the ”I found myself crying when play “In the Blood” which ran from March 12-15 in the Knox Center. the play ended,” history major Daniele Asher said.

Davis and the ensemble of “In the Blood” captured society’s effect on Hester, focusing on issues of poverty and oppression Fateful to send profound insights about demise today’s society.

— Hester (Audrey With great impact, the messagWebb) expees in the play are worth treasuring. riences pain and shock due to an unintentional decision that leads to an eventful climax during the “In The Blood” which ran from March 12-15 in the Knox Center.

“Daylight” (M) “Trials Fusion” (E) “Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn” (M) Editor’s note: This column lists popular new (and upcoming) releases for the week.

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Lashing out — Hester (Audrey Webb) yells at her children after they persist on asking questions about their father during the “In the Blood” held in the Knox Center from March 12-15.

JANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE

SCENE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 l THE ADVOCATE

7

Galileo, Makey Makey exhibited Students attend game conference, present projects

By Christian Urrutia PHOTO EDITOR

currutia.theadvocate@gmail.com

SAN FRANCISCO — For those devoted to any and every type of video game, one event serves as a Mecca for aspiring and current industry professionals.

The Game Developers Conference was held this year in San Francisco’s Moscone Center during the week of March 1721 and catered to those interested in propagating the possibilities of gaming.

One group of students had a unique privilege of showcasing a product from Intel during the conference that allows for user customization, while also explaining how exactly the technology works.

These students are Contra Costa College computer science majors, hand-picked by high performance computing and computer sciences professor Thomas Murphy, who participated in Intel’s Transforming the Game booth.

During the prior weekend, this same group split into two teams that each created a game using a small circuit board called a micro controller.

This micro controller board, named Galileo, has a 32-bit Intel Pentium-class system processor and works as an open-source electronics platform, meaning it can provide a way to construct and program electronic components.

The programming language that is being used to run these boards is called Arduino and the Galileo development board is the first product from Intel that is compatible with both Arduino software and hardware.

Both teams created wearable computing games, along with computer science students from UC Berkeley during an Intel-sponsored makeathon that took place before GDC started, CCC student Tommy Bolling said.

The computer science major said that the makeathon in essence, is exactly like a hackathon, a competition where students are given a period of time, usually 24 hours, to work together and solve a programming problem. Except this time, the challenge was to create a wearable game using the Galileo boards.

“We met at the tech shop (in San Francisco) and basically worked on it all weekend. There was a lot of troubleshooting, and a lot of bashing our heads against the wall,” Bolling said. “Most of the hackathons we are always programming, so it was a nice change.”

One of the games crafted utilized gardener gloves to play a version of rock, paper, scissors, lizard,

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Makey Makey tryout — Zhiyao Tu of Hang Zhou, China, plays a game using a Makey Makey invention kit device overseen by Intel’s Software and Services Manager Jay Gilbert during the Game Developer’s Conference at Moscone Center in San Francisco held from March 17-21. The Makey Makey setup was part of a booth that featured Intel’s Galileo board run by Contra Costa College students during the event.

“We loved having them (CCC students) and they did a great job demonstrating the Galileo board and were able to be creative with it.”

Jay Gilbert,

Intel Software and Services Group Events Manager

Spock and was presented in front of an audience on March 19, while the other was shown March 20.

Student Victor Leung said, “(Thursday) we presented drum pants which had sensors on the thighs of the users wearing them so we would hit the sensors with plastic swords in a live action role playing game (LARP) scenario.

Our goal was to create the (idea) that wearable computing is a good idea, that these devices can become the norm of the future.”

From March 19-21, Leung, Bolling and several other students hosted one of the numerous booths located in a large area of space Intel was occupying.

Their booth came with a laptop that was advertising a Makey Makey device, an Arduino based invention kit that can connect to most objects using alligator clips and connector wires and turns it into a computer key.

“Intel wanted to show (the

Makey Makey) off and the Galileo board, but we ended up focusing more on the Galileo board,” Leung said.

Intel Software and Services Group Events Manager Jay Gilbert said that the company only invites companies with which it has a partnership, like Lenovo or Dell and cellphone manufacturers to share the floor and that any other exceptions are a rarity.

“We loved having them (CCC students) and they did a great job demonstrating the Galileo board and were able to be creative with it,” Gilbert said.

He said they added value to the technological ecosystem he felt was present within the event surrounded by the latest and greatest PC and mobile gaming software and devices. He plans to invite them back to September’s Intel Developer Forum, adding that no other school, including UC Berkeley, had the same strong relationship with the students there than CCC did.

“The group I interacted with was the coders and they were very competent and understanding of the materials,” he said. “They grasped the sophisticated concepts that are not trivial and mastered those concepts.”

Leung said how surprised he was at how virtual reality computing is slowly turning science fiction into a reality.

He noted how Google Glasses, a form of an augmented reality device, is wearable computing already in effect.

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Exploring virtual space — Task leader for NASA’s jet propulsion lab Victor Luo showcases a Oculus Rift device from Prio Virtual Reality during the Game Developer’s Conference held from March 17-21 at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

Cheap sushi dishes offered close to college unagi sauce, deep fried to perfection. Every bite tastes ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR better than the last, and jharris.theadvocate@gmail.com all specialty rolls are only After a month of renova- $8.88. You can’t beat that. tion, Gyoza Express finally Expanding the restaurant opened once again to serve has also helped owners a mix of Chinese and lower their prices.

Japanese cuisine. The resCustomers come in taurant now has two chefs, and are able to enjoy both one chef for the Chinese Chinese and Japanese cuisine, and Bruce Cai, cuisine together with the Gyoza’s original chef since bento box special for less it first opened its doors than $10. The restaurant three years ago. seems small on the outside, To get a taste of both squeezed between a furnicuisines, the bento box is ture store and the San Pablo the best choice for a great International Market. combination.

It features cultural One can walk in hundesigns of cherry blossom gry with less than $10 and flowers hand painted on leave satisfied. The Chinese the walls next to the cherry food is pre-cooked and is wood dinner table and kept warm under a heat seats. lamp. From there, patrons The renovation was can see what is readily complete and open just in available. time for the first week of The pricing is great and the spring semester this so is the quality. For Contra year. Food is always about Costa College students, it presentation and they defiis a convenient place to eat nitely know how to present. due to its closeness to the Patrons are greeted with a campus. The best sushi roll welcome and have a choice on the menu is the “hearts of where to sit.

JANAE HARRIS / THE ADVOCATE Having food under a Rollin’ — Japanese chef Bruce Cai makes a roll for a customer at on fire roll” which contains Gyoza Express in San Pablo on March 18. The restaurant which is assorted fish and cream lamp has never really been within walking distance from the college provides cheap sushi meals. cheese, with a kick of spicy my preference. I sometimes

By Janae Harris

try to catch the Chinese cuisine chef when he freshly puts out some lemon chicken.

The chicken fried foodreview rice is also a dish I like to catch when it comes out fresh from “Gyoza Express” the kitchen. +++++ As a loyal Cuisine: Japanese customer, I Where: 14350 find Gyoza Laurie Lane, San to be very Pablo Price Range: convenient $5-$18 when at school and I tire of the Three Seasons Restaurant and Subway. I can literally drive down the street and pick up great sushi at a great price. But after the huge transition, they have stopped selling edamame, which was devastating.

Although I cannot argue with lower prices, I used to get the deep fried spicy tuna rolls, which used to cost the most on the menu, for a $13.

But now the price of house special rolls is at $8.88.

8 THE ADVOCATE

SCENE

l WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

Gamers ‘stand by for Titanfall’ Giant robot game delivers hours of fun, lacks storyline

first person shooter is the freedom of movement that players have STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER as elite pilots set in the distant ccasares.theadvocate@gmail.com future. Pilots have the ability to Hearing the words “stand by for leap up ledges, climb huge strucTitanfall” through the sheer chaos tures or wall run across demolished buildings with jet pack of an immense battlefield littered thrusters. with enemies, only to glance up The freedom of movement at your 20-foot mech suit plumapplied on the 15 war ravaged meting to your aid is something maps flooded with explorable that never gets old. Even with its buildings and vertical landscapes flimsy campaign, Titanfall offers a gaming experience like no other gives the game a dimension of no other game. with countless hours of replay “Titanfall” has a fluid control ability.

The highlight of the online-only scheme that simplifies the fastpaced combat. This game can feel amazing just running around enjoying the views,

By Cody Casares

regardless of if gamereview your K.D. ratio is 0-10.

An online match can consist of six exhilarating game “Titanfall” types such as “last +++++ Studio: Electronic titan standing,” Arts where 12 players Genre: First-perstart the match son shooter with a single titan MSRP: $60 each as opposed to having to wait two minutes in a normal match with a regenerating supply of titans.

Other game types include capture the flag, or “attrition” where 12 player controlled pilots and twice as many AI controlled bots engage in fast paced, explosive combat. Pilots have the choice of staying nimble on their feet, using their speed and mobility against other pilots or calling in their slower but more powerful titans.

The enemy AI controlled bots, who are more or less caught staring at you instead of shooting, contribute to the chaotic atmosphere and supply the occasionally much needed morale boost of jump kicking an entire squad in the face while you adjust to the steep learning curve set by veteran players.

Many of the same devel-

opers of the “Call of Duty” franchise lent their years of experience to “Titanfall,” giving it a very similar look and feel.

“Titanfall” is “Call of Duty” perfected.

Just like any “Call of Duty” game, players have the option of five custom load outs with 10 primary weapon choices.

Additionally, players have three choices for a sidearm and four titan weapons to choose from.

Players also receive an explosive and the choice of two perks that will enhance certain abilities in game. The different perks and weapon combinations allow players to choose their own refined style of gameplay, or change load outs mid game to adapt to the flow of each match.

Where “Titanfall” falls short, is in the so-called storyline.

The story has little to no introduction or backstory and the delivery method is a small heads up display in the top right hand corner of your screen. The plot unfolds as you’re distracted by zip lining across the map or trying desperately to escape to the evacuation point before the enemy hunts you down and crushes you in their giant robot. The hollow dialogue chatters away as you play through the “campaign” and the end result has no basis on your team winning or losing campaign scenarios, making it more or less pointless.

Although the game was launched at a 792p resolution falling short of the 1080p capabilities the Xbox One developers said they have plans to update this in the future.

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

Amish Mafia worst show on television

By Ryan Margason STAFF WRITER

rmargason.theadvocate@gmail.com

From the first time I watched the show, I never thought that “Amish Mafia” would run on television longer than a season or two.

Unfortunately, I was wrong about that. The show began its third season in late February and aired its sixth episode of the season last night.

Episodes of “Amish Mafia” air Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. on the Discovery Channel and run an hour long. Not only is it one of the worst shows on Discovery and an awful way to spend an hour, but it’s easily one of the worst shows on primetime television right now.

“Amish Mafia” takes place in four states with Amish populations — Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. The show follows Lebanon Levi, the hotheaded boss of the Lancaster mafia from Lancaster County, Penn., who, despite identifying himself as Amish and as a protector, seems to break every rule of Amish culture to uphold peace and the very same laws he’s breaking.

Levi drives around in flashy Cadillac with large rims. Wait, what happened to the horse-drawn buggy?

Levi is accompanied by his softspoken right-hand man Alvin, and his enforcer Jolin, who seems to be one of the most realistic characters on the show because he is not Amish, but a Mennonite, meaning he’s allowed things like guns, electricity and many of the freedoms that the Amish do not have.

There is also John, a worker of Levi’s who helps maintain peace in the Amish community and wants to follow in his late father’s footsteps, who worked the same line of work protecting the community. Then there is John’s sister Esther who is a strong woman, which is uncommon for Amish country.

Aside from all the unbelievable antics of these characters and other discrepancies, another thing that stands out is how “made-up” the women on the show are, as they are very obviously wearing makeup. It

tvreview “Amish Mafia”

+++++ Starring: Lebanon Levi, Alvin Stoltzfus Lantz, Jolin Zimmerman Network: Discover Channel Time slot: Tuesdays, 9 p.m.

Genre: Reality television

all feels very Hollywood, like none of what is being shown is factual or authentic.

As most people know from history class, the Amish community is old fashioned. They drive horse buggies instead of cars and they do not have cell phones or electricity. Well, most of them don’t.

From Levi driving his brand new Cadillac and talking on his iPhone, to the illegal partying where the Amish are drinking alcohol, smoking cannabis and doing other drugs, it makes one wonder how realistic “Amish Mafia” really is, or how hypocritical keepers of the law ever made their way to positions of authority.

The Amish accept the recording and the photographing by the television network, yet forbid self-photographing within the community. But the fact of the matter is they are being filmed for television and broadcast all over, despite it infringing on their principles.

One of the Amish beliefs prohibits the habits that feed individualism and greed. That is not the case with Levi, or anyone else on the show for that matter. Anybody that agrees to have their lives broadcast on a major television network in a “reality TV” setting is clearly in it for the money.

Don’t be surprised if there is a fourth season of ”Amish Mafia” in the works, despite dwindling viewership.

According to TV by the Numbers and The Futon Critic, “Amish Mafia” had almost 3.5 million viewers when the show first started.

As the series has developed, the number of viewers has dwindled and now sits at less than 2 million viewers on average.

No one should spend an hour’s worth of time on a Tuesday night to watch this show. It’s horrible.

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTIAN URRUTIA AND QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Students bring life to language Annual

By Veronica Santos SCENE EDITOR

speaker event displays oratory talents

vsantos.theadvocate@gmail.com

Students of the speech, drama and media arts departments took to the stage to showcase their talents at the Student Speaker Showcase. The event took place at the Knox Center on March 29 from 7-9 p.m.

The event began with a welcome speech by speech department Chairwoman Sherry Diestler.

The first speaker, Stephon Gilmore, performed a spoken word poetry piece.

In his performance, Gilmore said, “Let’s step out of the courtroom and into a classroom,” asking his listeners to stop pessimism and fight adversity.

Digital film students were featured at the event with a selection of studentmade public service announcements introduced by adjunct speech faculty member Hans Craycraft. Both works in progress and finished student works were shown on a projector.

The second speaker for the showcase was English major and speech and debate team member Hayley Callaway.

She performed “after dinner speaking,”

which is a speech made to entertain.

The topic of her speech was aliteracy, the ability to read but having no interest to do so.

Callaway was able to get the audience to laugh along with her speech by calling out her professors for telling her Playboy magazine is not a reliable source for information. She tried to persuade instructors to update their syllabuses by adding newer book titles to keep youth interested in reading.

After the showcase, Diestler informed Callaway of a former student who asked about her speech. Diestler said the student was “so inspired.”

Technical director John “JR” Morocco introduced his drama tech students, who gave the audience information on what they can learn in Drama 106 — Technical Theater Production.

In honor of the drama department’s upcoming Shakespeare play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a short scene was performed, which included Liberal Arts Division Dean Jason Berner. The play will run April 30 through May 3.

At the door, audience members were asked to write a topic they would like to

“I think it went really well. The (performers) have been working so hard and they did better than I’ve ever seen.”

Haley Callaway, English major

have turned into an impromptu speech.

Three topics were chosen and those who wrote the topics won a prize.

Middle College High School student Liam Guevara was the impromptu speaker of the night and of the three topics — legalization of cannabis, movies that relate to real life and twerking, the latest dance craze, twerking, was chosen.

Guevara was given two minutes to prepare his speech. His speech focused on the social and health benefits of twerking and gave instructions on how it is done before he twerked off stage.

Two oral interpretations of literature were performed by students Diksha Chhetri and Elena Battas. Chhetri per-

formed a poem about a woman criticized in Pakistan for being a Christian and Battas explored the idea of strong women.

Dealaundria Gardner performed a poem showcasing the development of language.

Middle College High student Marisa Poehnelt said, “Elena Battas and Dealaundria Gardner spoke to me because their performances had different vocals and acting that brought the words to life.”

The night ended with a parliamentary debate demonstration. Two teams argued whether a good book is better than a good movie.

When audience members agreed with an argument by the speaker they were asked to knock on the arms of their chairs. When they disagreed, they yelled “shame.”

After the debate, the audience chose the winner, siding with those who argued a good movie is better than a good book.

“I think it went really well. The (performers) have been working so hard and they did better than I’ve ever seen,” Callaway said.

Anderson departs, leaves legacy behind

By Veronica Santos SCENE EDITOR

vsantos.theadvocate@gmail.com

After years of hard work and contribution to Contra Costa College, which have led to the success of the speech department, Dr. Connie Anderson will be stepping down to retire from her position in June.

Dr. Anderson lives by the philosophy that through communication and the power of spoken word, people have the ability to change the world.

Her efforts to collaborate and network have created genuine relationships with everyone, speech department Chairwomen Sherry Diestler said, adding that Anderson is the reason the drama and media arts departments have become an integral part in the Student Speaker Showcase every semester. For years she kept an eye out for available rooms to find space for a speech lab.

Today the speech lab, located in the Applied Arts Building, is used as a space for the speech students to research, plan events and tutor those who are in need of help for public speaking.

Diestler recalls previous college president, now the district chancellor, Helen Benjamin, saying, “(Anderson) is going to hit the ground running.”

Even through health challenges, Anderson put the students first by contributing long hours and helping train a speech and debate team that has been awarded state and national awards.

“In group dynamics we have discovered that most groups have a task leader, the one who gets things done, and a ‘social-emotional leader’ who is sensitive to the needs and feelings of group members,” Diestler said. “Connie has the rare ability to have both of these leadership skills.”

In the many times Diestler has evaluated Anderson’s classes, she

has observed the keen interest her students have taken in speech communication due to her innovative approach of teaching.

After the release of the film “The Great Debaters,” Anderson sought out Eleanor Boswell-Raine.

Boswell-Raine created a documentary of her father who was part of the real Great Debaters from Wiley College. Through the connection Anderson has made, Boswell-Raine has now become a mentor for the speech and debate team and volunteers as a judge in intramural tournaments.

“I love teaching the 120 class (Public Speaking) because everyone is so afraid,” Anderson said.

“They’re just like a clean slate and by the end of the semester you just see these people blossom.”

Speaking in public has been recognized as one of the most common fears in society. But Anderson believes that individuals have the ability to manage that fear and transform it into positive

energy.

“It’s what I am in the business for — to see people transform their lives through the power of public speaking,” she said.

Student Elena Battas, who has worked with Anderson, said, “You can ask her or anyone in the class and they’ll tell you that I was very shy and I evolved to what you saw last night,” commenting on her oral interpretation using some sexual language during the Student Speaker Showcase at the Knox Center on Thursday.

“I really don’t think I would be who I am now without her,” Battas said. “She has greatly (improved) my speaking skills and also my confidence as a performer.”

In the midst of her recovery from recent surgery, Anderson wanted to make sure letters of acknowledgement were sent to applicants for her speech faculty position who would not be granted an interview.

She offered to write the letters herself, making sure applicants were

treated with courtesy and dignity, Diestler said.

During her retirement, Anderson hopes to travel and visit every state in the Anderson country and volunteer in a career center. Inspired by an idea shared

by Dr. Benjamin, she has kept a gratitude journal for three years and hopes to continue writing in her journal.

The department wants to maintain and build the strong foundation Anderson has helped create with other departments and Middle College High School.

“We will miss her greatly and look forward to her return as an emeritus professor and valued colleague and mentor,” Diestler said.

“She put us on the map in intercollegiate forensics, and we want to stay on that map and help our students be successful as they move on to four-year colleges.”

3-D Printing: Art made real

By Cody McFarland ASSOCIATE EDITOR

cmcfarland.theadvocate@gmail.com

The shapes and sizes of the art on display in the Eddie Rhodes Gallery are as intriguing and diverse as the possibilities of the ever-progressing media used by the featured artists: 3-D printing and computer numerical control carving.

Titled “Return of the Thing,” the exhibit features the work of four local artists — Robert Geshlinder, Robert Smith, Kim Thoman and Andrew Werby.

The reception took place on March 13 from 4:30-6:30 p.m., during which time guests were provided refreshments and allowed to peruse the gallery, interact with the artists, try their hand at using sculpting software and attend a guest lecture

by Smith, an associate professor of fine arts at the New York Institute of Technology who has worked with 3D printing since the late 1990s.

Throughout the reception, a desktop 3-D printer set up in the gallery provided a live demonstration of how the technology works.

“I believe this is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the electronic revolution,” Smith said during his CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE lecture. “(3-D printing) technology Dr. Frankenstein— Robert Smith explains his dream of will take a decade to become ubiqusing 3D printing to create living sculptures in the Eddie uitous, and another decade before it is of the desired quality. Then again, Rhodes Gallery on March 13.

my projections tend to be longer than what happens in reality.”

Objects that are 3-D printed require either a full-color printing process in which a gypsum powder and a binding agent are used and CMYK is applied, or the extruded method where a filament material is melted and deposited in layers to create the object. CNC carving is a subtractive technology that uses computers to precisely carve raw materials.

A small desktop 3-D printer can be purchased for about $300, and Smith expects the technology to only grow more efficient and less expensive.

He said that he sees the future of 3-D printers as practical household devices that will specialize in making replacement parts. One application of 3-D printing commonly used today is printing new cellphone cases to repair or protect smartphones, he said.

During his lecture, Smith described the nature of digital sculpture and the progression of his artistic motivations.

But the air of the discussion changed from art to science after Smith showed a video of one of his recent projects — a regenerative medicine project that uses 3-D printing to make a living sculpture with human tissue.

“The art of sculpture has always had an element of shock value,” he said. “My original idea was to make a sculpture out of human meat. I realized I needed a much more hard science reason, and to not just make

“My original idea was to make a sculpture out of human meat.”

Robert Smith, artist

something for the shock value.”

Collaborating with Dr. Anthony Atala at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in North Carolina, Smith was put in charge of designing and developing the bio-sculpture concept, called “Biophormatalasmith.” This served as a first step for Smith’s aspiration to manufacture human simulators to test the viability of long-distance space travel, with the goal of landing a living sculpture on Mars one day.

Currently, 3-D printed structures comprised of living cells can live no longer than two to four weeks, he said, and ethics and policy boards strictly regulate what is allowed with living genetic material.

Kim Thoman, featured artist and guest curator of the gallery, said the piece she submitted is a 3-D rendering of a recurring shape she has painted many times before. In spite of making a flat surface appear 3-D by use of perspective, she decided to make the shape’s contours tangible.

“I thought, ‘Why not make it real?’” she said.

10 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

SPORTS

TEARING MUSCLE

Breath in, breath out— Psychology major Sean Harris does a rep at a bench press in the Fitness Center on Monday.

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Athletes disappointed with center Limited size forces students elsewhere

By Mike Thomas SPORTS EDITOR

mthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

While professors in the physical education department defend the equipment and recent upgrades and improvements in the college Fitness Center, student-athletes are nearly unanimous in their belief that it is too small, too crowded and some of its equipment is inaccessible.

“The Fitness Center is cool, but there are not enough machines (available) because the football team is always on them,” softball player Cierra Streater said. “I think the football team has high priority in the Fitness Center and it’s not fair for the other sports teams.”

But Comet running back Davonte SappLynch would rather work out at 24-Hour Fitness than CCC’s Fitness Center, which is housed in the 42-year-old Gym Annex Building.

“I prefer to go to 24-Hour Fitness because it’s bigger and has more space for me to work out in,” he said. “I get a better workout there

because there are more machines there.”

“In the five years I’ve been here, (the Fitness Center) has steadily improved,” center coordinator Nikki Ferguson, who doubles as the college’s women’s soccer coach, said.

“We’re just trying to move forward and find other ways to improve. We can constantly talk about what we don’t have and worry about what we do have.”

While students and faculty agree that the center is relatively small, CCC athletes are still making good use of the facility.

Ferguson said he is looking to improve the machines and weights, and has done so since he became the coordinator.

The physical education department seeks to improve the Fitness Center every semester, and has made progress and improved the center each year by bringing in new treadmills and elliptical machines with their department budget, and with the help of the Associated Student Union student activity fee. These latest machines cost approximately $4,000, Ferguson said.

The Fitness Center also has limited resources when it comes to individual weights, and some students said the football players monopolize the free weights in the center, limiting the ability of others to use them.

Other Bay Area community college cam-

“I prefer to go to 24-Hour Fitness because it’s bigger and has more space for me to work out in.”

Davonte Sapp-Lynch, Comet running back

puses, like City College of San Francisco and Chabot College, have two-leveled fitness centers full of workout equipment. And the buildings housing their workout centers have been recently renovated and stocked with the latest equipment.

Softball player Liliana Reyes said, “If (CCC) had the Chabot College fitness center, I would make time just to go to the gym to work out.”

Some students said even their high school weight rooms had more space and better equipment than the CCC Fitness Center.

Physical education department Chairperson Beth Goehring said, “If we could get bond money to remodel the (Gym Annex Building), we could probably get two levels for the Fitness Center — cardio upstairs and weights downstairs.”

However, currently there are no plans

to renovate the building other than adding an elevator to its exterior that would bring it into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Before GA-50 became the Fitness Center, it used to be a room that housed gymnastics equipment used in P.E. classes. Later it became the college weight room and then, in 2004, the college turned it into the Fitness Center.

“When we got rid of our gymnastics program, it turned into the weight room,” Goehring said about the evolution of the Fitness Center. “When we changed the focus of the room to fitness (in 2004), we brought in more equipment.”

The Fitness Center is accessible to any CCC student, but to use the center, a student has to be enrolled in the Personal Growth in Fitness (PE 98A-D) or Fitness Training (PE 102A-D) classes, or be in a P.E. class supervised by an instructor who is using the facility.

Students who have already completed all of these classes can still use the Fitness Center by paying a $15 fee per semester to use the center in a non-credit class, Goehring said.

“Students can sign up anytime during the semester or they can sign up for the weight training class,” Goehring said.

Funding provided through Crab Feed Community, faculty help athletic program

By Sean Whatley STAFF WRITER

swhatley.theadvocate@gmail.com

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Serving the community — Comet defensive back Rilwan Adedeju walks crab to a table at the 13th Annual All You Can Eat Crab Feed in the Gymnasium on Saturday. All funds from the event will go toward the athletic department budget. For more photos, see page 12.

Contra Costa College’s 13th Annual All You Can Eat Crab Feed fundraiser for the athletic department took over the CCC Gymnasium on Saturday.

The fundraiser hosted a range of supporters. Local and non-local residents, families, friends, former students, members of the school board, coaches and athletic directors from other athletic programs were all in attendance.

Dining tables were set up in the middle of the Gym floor where the athlete-servers would check in on their guests.

The athletes’ assignments ranged from selling Comets’ apparel and raffle tickets to helping prepare and serve the food.

Mahoney Seafood, Acme and Semifreddi’s bakeries and CCC’s culinary arts department donated food, Women’s Locker Room attendant Vanessa Kersten said. She said putting the event together was time consuming and tedious but, “We wanted to make sure it was good.”

The event included a raffle for prizes such as gift cards, a silent auction for various gift baskets and a 50/50 raffle in which half of the proceeds went to the CCC athletic department and the other half to the raffle’s winner.

“The food is always good, the raffle is fun and it’s festive,” Roezell Carter, the wife of CCC’s football coach Alonzo Carter, said.

CCC women’s soccer player Lorena Rodriguez said, “ I think it’s good for athletes because it lets them know about members of the community.”

She said the event helps create a sense of family and unity among the athletes and the community. She compared the event to a family dinner she would have at home.

“It’s a good opportunity for the athletes to learn responsibility and discipline.”

Joe Williams,

Vacaville resident

“It’s something that most don’t incorporate into their daily lives,” she said.

The crab feed is a bonding event that athletes, coaches and staff work on together. The event attracts many members of the community, friends and family, CCC Athletic Director John Wade said.

“It’s fun,” CCC softball player Caitlin Bal said. “The purpose of the event is to promote the college by throwing a nice safe get-together.”

“It’s a big group effort,” administrative secretary for athletic department Shawna Belfield said. “There’s Vanessa (Kersten) in charge of the food. We have coach Carter coordinating the runners, and Ms. (Custodial Manager Darlene) Poe doing the tickets in the front.”

Sheletta Lawson-Petersen, an American Canyon resident, said she has been to the CCC crab feed every year. “It’s a good thing. It raises funds for the school,” she said. “It keeps these babies (athletes) off the street, and it keeps them occupied in a good way.”

Vacaville resident Joe Williams said, “The kids need money. The school isn’t going to give them money.” He said the fact that athletes served people at the event is beneficial to their development.

“It’s a good opportunity for the athletes to learn responsibility and discipline,” Williams said.

Wade was quoted in the Nov. 20, 2013 edition of The Advocate as saying, “In 2003 there was a significant California recession where college and university funding was cut across the board by 43 percent.”

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 l THE ADVOCATE

11

N Off the record

STRANDED

lorenzomorotti

MLS eclipsed

by European behemoths

M

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Going nowhere — Quick fielding by Storm first baseman Ignacio Diaz keeps Comet outfielder Brandon Brown languishing at first base during CCC’s game against Napa Valley College at the Baseball Field on March 27. The Storm won, 10-4.

Storm neuters Comet lead Baseball team remains in last place after loss

“We need to play better defense and execute better.”

Marvin Webb,

By Ryan Margason

Comet baseball coach

STAFF WRITER

rmargason.theadvocate@gmail.com

A two-run homer by Storm outfielder Randy Keen in the fourth inning lifted Napa Valley College (9-15 overall, 5-4 in the Bay Valley Conference) to a 10-4 win over Contra Costa College on the Baseball Field Thursday.

The Comets blew a two-run lead in the fourth to remain tied for last place in the BVC. ScoreBoard The Comets (6-17 overall, 3-6 BVC) had Storm 10 a rough day Thursday.

Comets 4 Sophomore starting pitcher Dominic Next game: Quilici went 6 2/3 Thursday vs. innings allowing nine Yuba College, hits, eight runs and five 2 p.m. earned runs.

The first two runs of the game came in the top of the first. NVC freshman Cameron Taylor hit a RBI double to drive in freshman outfielder Andrew Wheat.

Sophomore second baseman Rupert Watson also hit a single, then Taylor scored on a wild pitch.

Napa Valley starting pitcher Alex Fernandez went 7 2/3 innings allowing 10 hits, four runs, all earned, while striking out four.

“We had great starting pitching and good defense today,” Storm baseball coach Bob Freschi said. “We played a wiffle ball game to get ready for this game (because of the rain).”

The Comets first run was driven in by sophomore outfielder Tyrone Bowie. Bowie hit a double in the bottom of the first inning, bringing home sophomore designated hitter Lamar Smith. NVC led the Comets 2-1 at the start of the second.

Box scores Baseball (March 27) Napa Valley College AB R H RBI Moreno ss 5 3 2 0 Wheat lf 5 1 1 0 Taylor dh 5 1 2 3 Diaz 1b 5 1 1 1 Watson 2b 4 1 3 1 Chait 3b 3 1 1 1 Nunn 3b 1 0 0 0 Keen cf 5 1 1 2 Fernandez rf 5 0 1 0 Rudstorm c 4 1 1 0 Totals

Contra Costa College AB R H 4 1 1 4 1 2 4 1 1 4 1 2 4 0 1 4 0 1 4 0 2 3 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 Totals

Napa Valley College Contra Costa College Napa Valley College A Ferandez (W, 0-0) Rodocker Wright

Contra Costa College Quilici (L, 0-0) Donaldson Suarez

Smith dh Buckley 1b Davis 2b Bowie cf Hughes 3b Ray rf Brown lf Padilla c Rudolph c Cowart ss Jones ss

42 10 13 8

H

R

7.2 10 4 0.1 0 0 1.0 0 0

RBI 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

36 4 11 4

200 400 220— 10 103 000 000 — 4 IP

“I came prepared for the game mentally and physically,” Smith said.

In the bottom of the third inning, Bowie hit a single to drive in sophomore first baseman Byron Buckley to start off the Comet three-run inning.

CCC freshman outfielder Timmion Hughes hit a deep double to bring in Bowie and sophomore second baseman JR Davis, giving the Comets a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third.

This was the last time CCC scored a run during the game.

“I’m getting a lot of batting practices in and I’m reading the ball at the plate,” Hughes said.

In the fourth inning NVC made the score 4-3 when freshman third baseman Cole Chait hit a RBI double to bring in Watson.

Then, with a runner on base and no outs, Keen hit his two-run homer into right center field to reclaim the lead for NVC. An error by CCC shortstop Larry Cowart allowed NVC sophomore shortstop Jerod Moreno to make it home, bringing the score to 6-4, with Napa ahead.

“We need to play better defense and execute better,” Comets’ baseball coach Marvin Webb said.

In the top of the seventh inning Moreno hit a single. He then stole second and third base.

Wheat then hit a sacrifice bunt to drive Moreno in.

NVC freshman infielder Ignacio Diaz scored when Comets’ freshman relief pitcher Drew Donaldson balked, bringing the score to 8-4, Napa Valley College.

“We are getting more batting practice and also hitting the ball up the middle of the infield,” Webb said.

Softball (March 27) Contra Costa College AB R H RBI Reyes cf 4 1 1 0 Duncan ss 4 2 2 3 Brice 1b 4 1 1 0 Oshiro c 3 1 0 0 Bal p 3 0 0 1 Iosua 2b 3 0 2 0 Figueroa rf 3 0 1 0 Streeter lf 3 0 0 0 Ryan dh 3 1 1 0 Williams 3b 0 0 0 0 Totals

30 6 8 4

0 0 0

4 0 0

Contra Costa College Bal

8 2 0

5 2 0

Yuba College AB Gillmore cf 2 Jacky 2b 2 Thome ss 3 Crabb p 2 Prosser c 3 Accola 1b 3 Patterson 3b 2 Ulman rf 3 Alvarez lf 3 Cox dh 1 Totals

Contra Costa College Yuba College

ER BB SO 4 0 0

6.2 9 1.1 3 1.0 1

2 0 0

6.0 8 1.0 0

Softball (March 27) R 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

H 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0

24 3 5

000 330 0 — 6 001 002 0 — 3 IP

Yuba College Crabb Ulman

1 1 2

H

R

ER BB SO

7.0 5

3

2

0

4

RBI 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3

Contra Costa College AB R H RBI Reyes ss 4 0 1 0 Duncan 3b 2 0 0 0 Brice dh 3 0 1 0 Oshiro c 4 0 0 0 Figueroa cf 2 0 0 0 Streeter lf 3 1 1 0 Iosua 2b 3 1 0 0 Fowler p 1 0 0 0 Bal p 2 0 2 1 Williams 1b 3 0 0 0 Newton rf 0 0 0 0 Totals

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In the top of the eighth, with two runners on the bags and two outs, Taylor hit a two RBI double to bring in Moreno and sophomore catcher Ryan Rudstrom. This play brought the final score to 10-4.

“I am getting ready mentally for the next game and also getting a good night rest,” Smith said.

The Comets next game will be on Thursday at the Baseball Field against Yuba College (8-16 overall, 3-6 BVC). The 49ers are tied with the Comets for last place in the conference,

6 0

4 0

Yuba College AB Gillmore cf 4 Jacky ss 4 thome c 3 Prosser p 3 Cox dh 2 Accola 1b 3 Ulman rf 3 Alverez lf 2 Patterson 3b 0

27 2 5 2

Totals

Contra Costa College Yuba College Contra Costa College Fowler Bal

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Handing it over — Comet baseball coach Marvin Webb hands the ball over to Comet pitcher William Donaldson during CCC’s game against Napa Valley College on the Baseball Field on March 27.

0 0

3 0

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H 2 1 0 0 2 2 1 0 0

28 7 8

000 000 2 — 2 160 000 0 — 7 IP

H

R

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1.0 6 6.0 5

7 0

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0 1

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Yuba College Prosser

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2

7.0 5

2

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4

4

Schedule Baseball vs.Yuba College, April 3, 2 p.m. vs. Yuba College, April 5, 2 p.m. at College of Marin, April 8, 2 p.m. vs. College of Marin, April 10, 2 p.m. at College of Marin, April 12, 1 p.m. vs. Los Medanos College, April 15, 2 p.m. at. Los Medanos College, April 17, 2 p.m. vs. Los Medanos College, April 18, 2 p.m. at Mendocino College, April 22, 2 p.m. vs. Mendocino College, April 24, 2 p.m. at Mendocino College, April 25, 2 p.m.

Softball at Napa Valley College, April 3, 1 p.m/ 3 p.m. vs. Los Medanos College, April 10, 1 p.m/ 3 p.m. at College of Marin , April 15, 1 p.m/ 3 p.m. vs. Solano Community College, April 17 1 p.m. at Yuba College, April 22 1 p.m/ 3 p.m.

ajor League Soccer has been growing rapidly ever since its first season in 1996.

However, many soccer fans in the United States focus more on European leagues instead. The MLS is exciting because teams are more evenly matched and the outcome of a season cannot be predicted easily.

Real Madrid lost to Barcelona over the weekend 4-3 in the Classico. Was it exciting to watch Leo Messi creep in another hat trick off two penalty kicks and a close range goal? I suppose. Should we care? No. Why does the result of this game matter to you unless you live in Spain?

Chances are you live in the Bay Area if you’re reading this.

The weekend prior, the San Jose Earthquakes played at Toluca, a team from La Liga MX, in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions leagues. The CCL tournament is comprised of the top 24 teams in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean leagues.

The score was 1-1 at the 90-minute mark to send both teams into overtime.

When they could not score, the game was determined by a penalty shootout. The Earthquakes scored each penalty except their last one.

Toluca scored each one to send the visiting team back to the Bay Area with a 1(5)1(4) loss fresh in the players’ minds as the MLS season starts up.

The perception of soccer for many is not based on the unpredictability of games but the amount of money a team can pour into purchasing the overpaid superstars. How balanced is a league that has the same two teams take first and second for more than 50 seasons combined?

Money is the driving force behind these teams. I would not be surprised if FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have more money than the entire bankrupt country of Spain.

The MLS is still an infant in comparison to La Liga (Spanish), Serie A (Italian) or any other league that is about 100 years old. These leagues don’t deserve our attention as much as ours does. In order for the MLS to evolve into a league that has the respect of people across the world, those living in the cities that are host to MLS teams have to show support first.

More ticket sales mean more money to spend on purchasing players.

The rise in popularity of soccer in the U.S does not rest on the players, but on the fans. If we are too preoccupied following teams that have no relevance to your everyday life, then progress within the MLS will slow.

Why watch two teams halfway across the world play each other when you could instead watch a derby between the San Jose Earthquakes and the L.A. Galaxy? The Cali-Classico is just as, if not more, exciting as watching two overrated teams play for a bigger spending cap.

If you are a soccer fan and you’re not paying attention to the MLS, you should.

We live in the Bay Area, not Barcelona. Act like it.

Lorenzo Morotti is an associate editor of The Advocate. Contact him at lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail. com.

12 THE ADVOCATE

l WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

FOCUS

Grubbin’ — Richmond residents Charles Jefferson (right), Jayvyn Cash (center) Crab Feed in the Gymnasium on Saturday. All funds collected from the event go and Leeazia Hamilton (left) grab some crab at the 13th Annual All You Can Eat toward funding the athletic department.

Grabbing SOME

CRAB Photos by Qing Huang

Seconds please — A participant waves to a server for more crab at the 13th Annual All You Can Eat Crab Feed in the Gymnasium on Saturday.

Funding the future — Nikki Ferguson, Contra Costa College women’s soccer coach, fills a tin with crab as softball players Madisen William and Liliana Reyes (right) prepare to serve them to the participants at the 13th Annual All You Can Eat Crab Feed in the Gymnasium on Saturday.

Full court crab — Community members, faculty and staff fill the Gymnasium at the 13th Annual All You Can Eat Crab Feed.