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WEDNESDAY l 2.4.15 OUR 65TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

(L to R) Nursing majors Morgan KnightOlmedo and Horacio Rosales practice IV therapy as Joan Batiste, RN and skills lab coordinator, looks on during their nursing skill lab in HS-107B Monday.

Select colleges to pilot career technical education degree

CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

Thirteen colleges offer students a four-year degree for half the price

BY Lorenzo Morotti EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office released a list of colleges that meet the criteria to start a pilot program that would offer baccalaureate degrees in career technical education (CTE) courses.

The Board of Governors made its selections on Jan. 20 in response

to Senate Bill 850, legislation sponsored by Sen. Marty Block (D-San Diego) and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last year.

Out of the 34 applications to be submitted for the CTE pilot program, only 13 were chosen according to a press release from the state Chancellor’s Office.

The selected colleges will under-

editorial Are we ready?

Senate Bill 850 requires extensive planning and research to launch a CTE pilot program.

PAGE 2

SEE SB850, PAGE 3

LGBTQ GROUP IN PLANNING STAGE, LACKS LEADERSHIP

DISTRICT APPROVES RAISING UNIT FEES

ASU and faculty are actively seeking students to launch a currently inactive club PAGE 5

Nonresident tuition scheduled for hikes starting in summer

BY Rodney Woodson ASSOCIATE EDITOR

rwoodson.theadvocate@gmail.com

Refreshed group talks social issues

in brief

SEE OUT OF STATE, PAGE 3

CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

Carpool program lacks participation Sustainable alternative offers free campus parking, gas cards for students

BY Marlene Rivas STAFF WRITER

mrivas.theadvocate@gmail.com

A new carpool parking program offered to students is already in danger of being shut down due to low participation from students one month into the spring semester.

Contra Costa College Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said if there is not sufficient participation from students, the first program of its kind on campus could be rapidly extinguished.

The carpool lot, which is currently in a trial run

phase, is located in Lot 4 and has a remaining 11 spots available. Parking on campus has already become a hunt for students, and it may only worsen, King said.

Over the next six months there will be a surplus of carpenters, electricians and plumbers coming to campus to work on the construction of the new campus center.

These workers will take up roughly 75 of the already scarce parking spots, he said.

SEE CARPOOLING, PAGE 3

Only four of the 15 designated carpool parking spots, located in Lot 4 adjacent to the Gymnasium, are currently claimed.

The Black Student Union adviser, officers will discuss when to hold next public meeting PAGE 5

BASKETBALL TEAMS PLAY CONFERENCE RIVALS PAGE 6

CMYK

Every year the district Governing Board is required to determine the nonresident tuition fee for the upcoming academic year before the deadline of Feb. 1.

This year the board decided to increase the fee by an overall amount of $15 per unit, which will bring the total nonresident fee to $269 per unit beginning summer session 2015.

Students not from California Nonresident must pay the norstudents do mal $46 per unit, in not receive addition to a nonstate funding. resident tuition fee The Board and a nonresident raised the fee capital outlay fee to $269 per per unit. unit.

Currently the nonresident fee is International $198 with the outlay students are fee standing at $10. also impacted.

In the summer California of 2015, the nonresidents pay resident cost will be less per unit raised to $205 and than students the outlay fee will in other states. jump to $18.

The capital outlay fee is a cost charged to nonresidents for using college facilities.

State community colleges do not receive state apportioned general funding for enrolled out of state students as they do for resident Full-Time Equivalent Students (FTES).

One FTES is equivalent to one student enrolled in at least 15 semester units.

The Governing Board approved the

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Quotable “Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent and debate.”

Hubert H. Humphrey politician, 1965 Lorenzo Morotti editor-in-chief George Morin art director Cody McFarland Rodney Woodson associate editors Roxana Amparo news editor Jared Amdahl opinion editor Robert Clinton sports editor Jason Sykes assistant sports editor Mike Thomas scene editor Qing Huang Christian Urrutia photo editors Janae Harris Cody Casares assistant photo editors Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Benjamin Bassham Nina Cestaro Rodney Dunlap Marlene Rivas Florinda Hershey Jose Jimenez Manning Peterson Evelyn Vazquez Mark Wassberg Kadijia West-Dickens Staff photographers Jordan Khoo Staff illustrators Marci Suela Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 CNPA Better Newspaper Contest 1st Place Award 1970, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2013 JACC Pacesetter Award 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Member Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: 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

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 Vol. 102, No. 12 L

Editorial WEIGHING THE UNKNOWNS

Chancellor’s Office selects first group for pilot program

C

ontra Costa Community College District made an excellent decision to allow other colleges in the state to test how to manage a career technical education baccalaureate program before making the attempt.

It can be uneasy being the first to do something, especially if that means having to run and fund a four-year college program at a two-year college.

Senate Bill 850, signed into law in September, created a pilot program authorizing 15 California community colleges to offer a bachelor’s degree, provided each college meets the following criteria: a demonstrated local workforce needs to exist, the local universities cannot meet the need, and local community colleges must have the capacity to meet the need.

Baccalaureate degrees would be made available at the eligible junior colleges for CTE programs such as automotive technology, culinary arts, early childhood development and nursing. A huge draw is that these B.A. degrees would be made available to students for only about $10,000.

The economic benefits for Contra Costa College students and the surrounding cities may make it seem like something worth pursuing.

But given the unknowns surrounding how to manage payroll, determining which professors have the upper-division coursework credentials, and the current lack of spacious facilities to educate in during construction of the new Campus Center, The Advocate believes that the college made a very wise and prudent choice.

Extensive research is still required to gauge if there is a local workforce need, and if it would be competing with nearby CSUs or UCs. Also, the state Chancellor’s Office must approve of the changes and see that the college is capable of funding such an endeavor on its own.

In actuality, the entire workload to initiate these CTE pilot programs is staggering.

Of the 13 colleges that are currently on the list of those approved by the state Chancellor’s Office for these programs, the majority are a part of affluent districts in Southern California.

Our smaller district made a calculated decision to allow these larger, well-funded districts to be the guinea pigs, to put it bluntly.

Under SB 850, the four-year degree programs must be up and running by at least the 2017-18 academic year, but some districts can start as soon as this year, if capable.

For these districts with larger Full-Time Equivalent Student counts, it may be a reality to implement B.A. programs right away.

But as for the smaller, developing community colleges, waiting until the 2022-23 school year is more rational. It is better to let other colleges meander through the tall grass and wait until they reach the other side safely before we follow suit.

For now the district’s focus should be on the Student Success Act and the changes that come with those mandates.

CODY MCFARLAND / THE ADVOCATE

N ACCOUNTABILITY

Too many car owners are negligent, unaware

W

orking as an automotive technician, inspecting cars has provided me with horrific insight into how people treat the vehicles they are so dependent on.

Why is it that people spend tens of thousands of dollars, if not more, on such an important item, yet do not take the time to learn how to properly take care of their car? Cars wear out, components fail and things just sometimes go wrong. It’s the car owner’s responsibility to recognize these issues and understand the possible dangers.

There are people who are confronted with significant safety issues, like bald tires with holes ripped in the side, and do nothing about it.

Whether the lack of care stems from ignorance or lack of money to fix these issues, there is no excuse.

People tend to forget that lives are constantly at stake on the road. People just get in their cars and go.

Midas, the automotive oil-change service I work for, requires the technicians to conduct a 17point courtesy inspection covering most, if not all, areas of the car that could potentially need service, including air filters, tire tread depth, serpentine belts, hoses, coolant level, oil level, checking for fluid leaks, torn boots and bro-

ing in front of you at 80 mph when suddenly its front tire explodes and rim digs into the asphalt and catches, pitching the car sideways in front of you.

But it’s cool, he knew about it. The knowledge of how many jalopies are out there just waiting to fall ken-suspension compoapart is horrifying, coupled nents are just some of the few things reviewed at my with accident statistics in the U.S., this makes me job. If it could be broken, want to walk everywhere. it gets written down and A women driving a shown physically to the $20,000 Chevrolet Equinox customer with his or her came in insisting that her car on the lift. temperature gauge must be About a month ago a broken, as it continuously couple in a 2013 Mazda 3 hatchback came in for their told her that the car was overheating. She drove the scheduled oil change sercar to the point where the vice. During the inspection I noticed a 6-inch long vehicle’s computer shut off gash along the inside edge the engine while she was driving on the freeway, tryof their front-right tire, exposing the nylon threads ing to save itself from its owner. She had not bothunderneath the rubber. ered checking her coolant I brought the couple level, which was empty. out and showed them the Cars are a luxury taken damage. As I was explainfor granted too often. ing the risk of a possible I am not saying everyblowout from something one should be a certified as simple as hitting a pot master mechanic or hold hole, I was interrupted by a mechanical engineering the man who said, “Oh yeah, we know.” They then degree. But people should have general knowledge to immediately drove off. properly care for and mainHe completely ignored tain the cars and trucks the fact that they were they drive everyday around endangering not only others like you and me. themselves but others on the road. The couple drove Cody Casares is an assisaway without inquiring tant photo editor of The on how much a new tire Advocate. Contact him at would cost. ccasares.theadvocate@gmail.

Without ever knowing it, this car could be travel- com.

codycasares

CampusComment What women’s sports would you like to see added at Contra Costa College?

“I would like to see cross country running because I use to run for my high school team.”

Mariana Sanchez undecided

“It would be nice to have a diving team. It would keep the pool up and would help people stay fit.”

Shelby Wichner

health and human services ROXANA AMPARO, NINA CESTARO AND JORDAN KHOO / THE ADVOCATE

“A women’s tennis team would be cool to see. They don’t even have a men’s team here (at Contra Costa College).”

“Lacrosse would be a good sport. I know people like to play lacrosse in high school, so why not have it here?”

Ramon Valencia

Ja’Mes Williams

civil engineering

political science

“I use to play badminton, so I wouldn’t mind seeing that.”

Santina Saechao nursing

“I would like to see track or cross country running because those are the sports I like.”

Kaelyn Williams liberal arts

campus beat Follow The Advocate

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SB 850 | Paving ground for a CTE workforce Continued from Page 1

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

Newsline Q red carpet

DRAMA DEPARTMENT TO HOLD AUDITIONS There will be auditions for the play “Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. by appointment in the Knox Center.

Students interested in being a part of the play must prepare a one to two minute monologue or poem and be prepared to read aloud in front of everyone if asked to.

For more information contact kground@contracostacollege.edu.

Q Workshop

STUDENT SUCCESS SCHOLARSHIP AIDE There will be a scholarship 101 Student Success workshop on Feb. 10 in the Library and Learning Resource Center from noon to 1 p.m.

Students can attend to receive tips on how to complete different scholarship forms. Students will also be helped with their personal statements.

For more information, contact the Skills Center in the Library and Learning Resource Center at 510215-4898.

Q Three Seasons

CULINARY TO HOST VALENTINE’S DINNER The culinary arts department is hosting a Valentine Dinner at the Three Seasons Restaurant in the Applied Arts Building on Feb. 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.

There is a $25 charge per person for a five course dinner.

For further information, call the culinary arts department at 510215-3838.

Q Sustainability

ECO-FRIENDLY GROUP RAISES AWARENESS The Sustainability Committee will be holding its monthly meeting in the R Building on Thursday at 7 a.m.

They will discuss the added carpool parking and other green ideas.

For more information about the meeting, contact Buildings and Grounds at 510-236-2735.

CrimeWatch Friday, Jan. 23: A non-student was taken into custody for being drunk in public.

The subject was also wanted by the San Pablo Police Department for violation of a restraining order. The subject was transported to SPPD and booked into jail by an SPPD officer.

Saturday, Jan. 24: An unknown suspect broke into a victim’s vehicle and stole his property.

A student vehicle was burglarized while parked off campus. No suspect information was provided.

— George Morin and Roxana Amparo

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go review from the Chancellor’s Office, as well as consulting with CSU and UC representatives, before the Board of Governors make a final approval at their March meeting.

Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor Helen Benjamin said the district opted to keep Contra Costa College off the first list of schools offering pilot programs.

“The district pulled (CCC’s) bid for a nursing pilot program from the first round applicants after recommendations from staff and faculty,” Dr. Benjamin said.

The three conditions imposed

by SB 850 are the college in review must demonstrate that a local workforce need exists, the local universities cannot meet the need and local community colleges have the capacity to supply that workforce need.

Interim President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said the recommendations against being in the first group of California community colleges to pursue implementing a CTE pilot program were former CCC president Denise Noldon and Academic Senate President Wayne Organ.

Mehdizadeh and Organ said a major proponent of bringing a CTE baccalaureate degree program was former Nursing Director Marshall Alemieda.

Proponents of SB 850 pushed implementing supervision and management, and nursing programs strongly due to widespread demand from community colleges in other states.

She said because Cal StateEast Bay offers a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and is relatively near CCC, competition would be created between the institutions.

But because discussions were so focused on nursing when the district decided to pull its application it did not have a back up CTE course to offer.

Benjamin said, “The district cannot simply decide to agree to offer a program without doing research to see if there is a demand in the community.”

She said CCC needs people interested in doing baccalaureate degree research in other CTE disciplines such as information technology, automotive, culinary, early childhood education, business administration and criminal justice, to gauge if there is a demand in the community.

Organ said, “Our district has

wisely decided not to be crash test dummies, and let others pave the way.”

Another issue, he said, would be determining who is qualified to teach upper-division courses and adjusting their payroll.

Organ said changing the Minimum Qualifications Handbook would be a challenge.

“Should the qualifications be the same for teaching upper division?

Perhaps something more rigorous?” he said. “No one knows right now, and we don’t have a process to decide what to do.”

Benjamin said, “All of the work and more needs to be done before applying.”

Automotive technology assistant Jim Gardner, however, said CCC’s automotive department already has the qualified staff, modern garage and student demand needed to take advantage of SB 850.

“It’s a no-brainer for us to get a four-year CTE program in place,” Gardner said. “The closest colleges that offer automotive are (Los Medanos College) and (College of Alameda). And their facilities are not as nice as the one we have (at CCC).”

The pilot program is patterned after community college systems

Baccalaureate CTE pilot program: The passing of SB 850 is a historical landmark for community colleges.

Contra Costa College will not be participating in initial round of campuses.

Program offers degrees not offered at UC, CSU.

in 22 other states with existing programs attempting to address a possible increase in the skill gaps in the workforce.

The new bill aims to help roughly 210,000 students attain a bachelor’s degree annually, 60,000 more than it currently does, with four-year degrees by 2025.

Nursing professor Angela KingJones said she is glad the college decided to let other community colleges be the test subjects in this CTE experiment.

Organ said, “There is much wisdom in not being the first to cross the river. If you can get someone else to find out where the sinkholes and rocks are, you will have a better chance to succeed when it is your turn to cross. It may even turn out that this particular river is un-crossable.”

NON-RESIDENT TUITION COSTS Academic year

Tuition per unit

Non-resident tuition fee per unit

Non-resident student capital outlay fee per unit

Total cost per unit

2015-16 2014-15 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06

$46 $46 $46 $46 $46 $36 $26 $20 $20 $20 $26

$205 $198 $198 $195 $190 $185 $184 $181 $170 $163 $151

$18 $10 $7 $6 $5 $5 $4 $7 $7 $14 $10

$269 $254 $251 $247 $241 $226 $214 $208 $197 $197 $187

Source: Per California Education Cod sections 76140-76143

OUT OF STATE | Non-Residents pay out of pocket Continued from Page 1 change at its meeting on Jan. 28.

Once in effect this coming summer, the nonresident fee will see its largest increase in year-to-year changes since between 2006-07 and 2007-08 when it increased $17.

“We always try to try to advocate for a reasonable rate for our students,” district Director of International Education Aleksandar Ilich said. “(In my experience), for international students, living expenses were more detrimental than tuition.”

A large part of Ilich’s job is traveling to different countries, talking to parents of perspective college students, trying to coerce them into attending a college in the district.

He said that compared to other avenues of higher education, study abroad programs to other countries or U.S. universities for example, the cost to study at the district is far less expensive.

The district configures the nonresident tuition fees based on the California Education Codes guidelines found in sections 7614076143.

Fee schedules are made based on criteria including: per-unit statewide average expense of education, the district average price per unit

expense for education and the average nonresident tuition cost of neighboring districts.

Fee amounts must fall between the permissible range of $180-$380. The amount set, however, cannot be greater than the average cost of neighboring districts.

Attending a California community college for residents is the least expensive in the country. In the district tuition is set at $46 per unit.

In comparison, community colleges in other states not only charge more in fees for resident scholars with some charging more than double the district’s upcoming fee increase.

At Cumberland County College in New Jersey the price for county residents is $110 per unit. If a student attends from outside of the county, the fee increases by $5. For out of state nonresident students, Cumberland College charges $440 per unit.

In Arizona, Coconino Community College’s tuition is $89 per unit for residents, charging $311 for out of state attendees. These fees can increase to up to $169 for residents and $369 for out of state students, depending on the chosen major.

At Alabama Southern Community College, its tuition is charged based on length of program. For example, a two-year degree costs around $10,000 while a one-year certificate costs students around $5,000. At $269 for 12

units, one student enrolled on a full-time status during a semester, a nonresident student would spend about $6,500 for one year. Over a two year span the number is about $13,000.

Although attending a two-year program at ASCC is about $3,000 less than nonresident tuition in the district, the nonresident cost is still appealing across the states, Executive Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services Eugene Huff said.

“We try to charge a fair rate so nonresident students are paying their fair share,” he said.

“Out of state students come to us, not necessarily because we’re the cheapest. In state, we are the lowest in the nation and still a great value for out of state students.”

Former football player for the Comets, Theodore Spann traveled to CCC to play football for coach Alonzo Carter, following in the footsteps of cousin, and fellow New Jersey native, Ronald Butler.

Spann attested to the high cost of community college tuition in his home state as well as the lack of opportunity.

“There aren’t a lot of (junior colleges) on the East Coast,” he said. “My cousin Ronald (Butler) told me about the football program.

(Initially) my time here was supposed to be a temporary visit — that’s basically how I got out here.”

CARPOOLING | Inaugural semester problematic Continued from Page 1 He said he wants students to take advantage of this specialized parking. Buying into the program ensures a parking spot but it is free for those who choose to participate in the brainchild of the Sustainability Committee, a subcommittee of the Operations Council.

As if that were not enough reason to try this new system out, carpool parking holders can also be given free gas to match their parking. Gas cards, provided by Contra Costa 511, a countywide transportation demand management program, will be given to the driver of each participating group.

The cards can be used at any Arco

gas station.

The card, which could be given each semester if the system proves efficient, carries an amount of $50.

“A little goes a long way”, interim ASU adviser Ericka Greene said.

“This is especially true considering the current low gas prices.”

Greene said that money being spent on gas and parking permits could fund other costs in students’ lives, such as books and tuition.

Considering that parking permit prices went up, it should really interest students.

Student Life has put another online notification out to students to inform them of the new carpool parking, and applications can still be submitted.

The only requirements are that each vehicle contain, and be enlisted with, a minimum of three passengers (driver included), and that all passengers be students.

Applications for the remaining 12 slots are available at the Welcome/ Transfer Center, Lt. Jose Oliviera said.

Once filled out completely, these applications can be submitted in AA-109. The best times for submission are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays.

Greene said, “Students give each other rides anyway, so why not receive benefits for riding together.”

King said this could be especially useful for students in the

“Students give each

other rides anyway, so why not receive benefits for riding together.”

— Ericka Greene, interim ASU adviser

same departments who may have similar schedules. This idea came forward with the idea to help the environment by lowering emissions from cars.

The system will be evaluated at the end of the semester by the Sustainability Committee, which King chairs, to gauge if the program is worth continuing in the fall, he said.

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COMPUTER COURSES EVADE CANCELLATION Last-minute instructor switch saves courses

BY Christian Urrutia PHOTO EDITOR

currutia.theadvocate@gmail.com

A transitional process took place within two computer science courses that almost left prospective students looking to enroll without an instructor.

Between fall 2014 and the current semester, an adjunct instructor was hired to teach COMP-252, Data Structures and Algorithms and COMP-257, JAVA with ObjectOriented Programming because of a contractual restriction with a full-time faculty member.

Due to the banked load he accrued, Thomas Murphy, high performance computing, computer information systems and computer science professor, was no longer allowed to teach courses related to the computers and related electronics department.

According to Dr. Donna Floyd, senior dean of instruction, who also oversees the Natural, Social and Applied Sciences Division, banking load occurs when a fulltime faculty member surpasses the amount of unit courses he or she is required to teach within their respective department.

For instance, a 3-unit lecture course is equal to 20 percent of an overall percentage total for the classes being taught.

If there are five classes being taught each at 20 percent, then an instructor would be at the 100 percent goal for the semester, Floyd said. “So say if an instructor goes above 100 percent, they can be paid extra for that or they can accrue the unit load and bank it for another time to use,� she said.

Courses vary in the amount of units they satisfy, so the amount of banked load can change from

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

n “Talking to the stu-

dents, I found he was well received and I knew he was going to work out well following a rocky transition.� — Tom Murphy, high performance computing, computer information systems and computer science professor

instructor to instructor. Full-time faculty can only accumulate a certain amount of banked load before they are required to use it, she said. “This semester Mr. Murphy is using 100 percent of banked load and therefore is not teaching classes,� Floyd said.

Computer information systems

department Chairperson Robert Chan said that since Contra Costa College’s contract with Murphy is still valid and he is still technically an employee, his full-time position cannot be replaced.

Because of Murphy’s departure, he, Chan and Floyd were able to conduct interviews prior to the start of spring semester, beginning in December.

Chan said the most promising candidate was an adjunct from Diablo Valley College during the quick scramble to find a replacement.

The computer science classes did not show up in the printed schedule for the spring 2015 semester, but were later displayed in a list of open sections for a brief period of time on the school website.

According to Floyd, the classes

were blocked from appearing in the schedule since there was no planned staff and the courses were placed on a holding status to initiate the process to find an instructor.

Three courses were planned for computer science but one was eventually cancelled due to low enrollment, allowing for a readjustment of the remaining class times and days to better suit the schedule of the newly hired adjunct professor, Faramarz Mortezaie.

Chan said all three courses would have been canceled because of low enrollment if not for the remaining student interest in the courses.

CCC alumni Gabe Tanenhaus, teacher’s assistant for the current computer science courses, said most of the students who enrolled

Faramarz Mortezaie, adjunct computer sciences professor, speaks to students during his COMP252, Data Structures and Algorithms course in CTC-127 on Monday.

had taken Murphy’s classes before. “I’m actually surprised how many people enrolled because there wasn’t much communication about it,� Tanenhaus said.

He also said that, despite not being listed in the schedule, students were able to register for the courses on InSite Portal in the search and register section of the website.

Murphy said computer science at CCC has continued to stay in motion. He said that a curriculum was in place for professor Mortezaie to take over and so far he has been a great asset for the students. “Talking to the students, I found he was well received and I knew he was going to work out well following a rocky transition,� Murphy said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Members of Contra Costa College’s international dance group put their finishing touch on their rendition of a waltz on Saturday in GA-10.

ROBERT CLINTON / THE ADVOCATE

Performers dominate international competition

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

The international ballroom dance troupe from Contra Costa College is arguably the best-kept secret on campus.

The dancers held their final dress rehearsal Saturday on campus and seamlessly flowed through both routines without missing a step.

They also held those concrete Miss America smiles that have become a tradition in classical dancing.

Led by ballroom dance instructor Natalia Clarke, the dancers completed another successful performance, dancing the waltz and the foxtrot, taking first place in the City Lights Ball International Dance Competition at City Lights Theater Company in San Jose this past Sunday.

The performers varied in age and body type and all agreed that dance was a viable outlet for anyone looking to step outside of his or her comfort zone.

The pairs range from classmates and married

n “Natalia is amazing — she takes raw material and makes it graceful.�

— Suzanne Smith, dancer

couples to father-daughter combinations.

Dancing for only 10 months the father-daughter team, the Smiths, is the newest pair to enter competition for the group. “I lost my wife a couple of years ago and Suzanne got tired of watching me sit around and do nothing so she told me to come to dance class with her,� dancer Jerry Smith said. “Neither of us have ever been dancers, I didn’t even go to the prom,� dancer Suzanne Smith said. “Natalia is amazing – she takes raw material and makes it graceful.�

Clarke’s students are no strangers to performing in front of large crowds.

She said over 300 people attended the international competition.

The troupe performed at the Mad Hatter festival in Vallejo on Dec. 6, 2014 placing first. They also per-

formed at the El Sobrante Stroll parade finishing first in the un-official best dance team competition.

It can be hard to fill an international dance class in an area where classical dancing would not be considered the norm.

Clarke takes creative measures to garner enough interest to fill her classes.

The instructor hands the guys on campus flyers for dance class complaining of the disproportionate number of women enrolled. She then does the opposite to all of the women, resulting in a variety of new dancers every semester. “I do this for my team,�

Clarke said. “It gets very difficult sometimes. There are a lot of outfit changes involved in some of the performances.

We make our own wardrobe, do our own repairs and all we want is appreciation. We do a good job representing our school.�

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campus beat

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5

CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

Black Student Union officers (L to R) DeAndre Russell, Shani Miranda, Bridgette Lott and Nakari Syon conduct a meeting in the Library and Learning Resource

Center on Jan. 28. The Black Student Union was brought back to life during the 2014 fall semester by kinesology major Russell.

Active plans in motion for revitalized club Club looks to get word out in lieu of upcoming events

BY Jason Sykes ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

jsykes.theadvocate@gmail.com

Last semester the Black Student Union returned to campus under new leadership and with a new vision.

The BSU has many upcoming events planned this month.

February is important for the club because it is Black History Month. It plans to stay active around campus and host a multitude of events. The BSU council plans for this to be a very busy and exciting month for the club.

“February is the beginning of what can be a promising future for the campus club,” BSU President DeAndre Russell said. “Our main focus is on Black History Month.”

The BSU plans on having an informative meeting for officers today from 2:30-3:30 p.m. to determine when the actual club meeting will be. The room has yet to be determined. The council has been meeting frequently trying to

come up with events that would draw the interest of students around campus.

One of the major events the BSU is going to be a part of is the African heritage event that is going to be held Feb 12. Vice President Bridgette Lott said that the BSU would be they’re representing and helping the AfricanAmerican studies department.

The month of February is booked with different events. Another major event the BSU will be a part of is the black conference. The conference will include different African themed presentations spanning multiple generations. The BSU plans to market their events better from here on out.

“The most important thing for us is to get flyers,” said Vice President and Inter-Club Council Representative Dakari Syon.

They plan to market these events and spread the word across the campus so other students around the college are informed about upcoming events.

The council discussed having movie nights that show the history and heritage of African-American culture. They are still figuring out which movies would be the most beneficial to show.

The movies would highlight the different aspects of African-American cul-

“February is the

beginning of what can be a promising future for the campus club. Our main focus is on Black History Month.”

— DeAndre Russell, Black Student Union president

ture. The council has been trying to narrow down the movies from the nearly 100 different choices they were given.

Aside from holding the screenings on a weekly basis, the council will discuss the details surrounding movie night and other events in the upcoming meeting on Wednesday.

The BSU is going to begin having member meetings once a week and council meetings tentatively once a month. Communication is an early goal for the club and they want to keep all members and students around campus informed about upcoming events as much as possible.

The BSU plans to remain active as long as it can and its leaders want to continue to grow as a club on campus throughout the years.

Safer bike locking alternatives give viable options to students Campus

BY Nina Cestaro

expands

ncestaro.theadvocate@gmail.com

efforts to reduce carbon footprint

STAFF WRITER

“To reduce our carbon footprint, everyone needs to get off their lazy bums and not drive every day to school. It’s just the right thing to do, it’s setting a good example for the community, for the campus,” Bruce King, Buildings and Grounds manager and chairperson of the Sustainability Committee said.

There are about 12 bike racks on the Contra Costa College campus. These are largely due to the efforts of King.

He applied for and received a series of grants upward of $15,000 from Contra Costa County 511, a countywide transportation Demand Management program, in 2014.

Management program officials designated the money to reduce pollution and helped research which racks were best for the college. CCC Buildings and Grounds then installed them.

The Sustainability Committee sponsors a bike to school day in May and gives out free bags and energy bars.

“I would certainly use the

racks if I rode a bike here because where else would you park. You’re supposed to use the racks, right?” administration of justice major Leticia Jones said.

Currently the bike racks are located in front of the Library and Learning Resource Center, Physical Sciences Building, Automotive Technology Center, Music Building, Gym Annex Building and the back of the Liberal Arts Building.

Police Services Lt. José Oliveira said he has only known of one bike theft at the college this academic year.

Oliveira said the bike lockers located in front of police headquarters are rarely used and are the only fully secure bike-locking stations. This may be because students are dissuaded by the $20 per semester refundable fee, a mandatory fee due before receiving access to a key to the bike lockers.

Tommy Strauss, computer science major, said, “If I did ride a bike here I would use the newer bike racks because if you can get both wheels in there, then it’s more secure than the old style racks. I just don’t have time in the

Bike rack locations: There are 12 bike racks on campus due to a series of grants totaling $15,000 from Contra Costa County 511.

Bike racks are located in front of the Library and Learning Resource Center, the Physical Sciences Building, Automotive Technology Center, Music Building, Gym Annex Building and the back of the Liberal Arts Building.

mornings to ride my bike here because I take care of my grandpa who has Parkinson’s.”

“I would park my bike in front of the Library because of foot traffic, there’s more light and if someone’s going to take it, people will see it,” student Scott Womack said.

Sergio Corona, psychology major said, “I wouldn’t necessarily use the bike racks unless they were close to where I was going.”

LGBTQ GROUP STILL LACKING CAMPUS VOICE Absence of interest silences campus minority community

BY Jared Amdahl OPINION EDITOR

jamdahl.theadvocate@gmail.com

Despite the absence of an LGBTQ representative club on campus, there are a few members of the college community who would like to see representation for the currently voiceless group.

Ericka Greene, interim Associated Students Union adviser, had not only noticed the lack of such a club at Contra Costa College, but the problem that such a vacancy creates for LGBTQ students who may be experiencing difficulties.

“A club like this can do a lot of things in terms of personal safety,” Greene said. “Crimes against the LGBTQ community are horrendous.”

Business major Mark David agrees.

“I think it would be beneficial (for CCC to have an LGBTQ club) because identity is such a huge issue.

You have kids struggling with identity problems and a lot of the time they have no one to turn to,” David said.

“It would provide that aspect of people to confide in, connections to resources such as health services and access to counseling.”

Greene said that while there are places for LGBTQ students at CCC to receive help with problems, not all of them are readily available.

“We have our counseling department and of course people like Mary Johnson over at Mental Health Services, but other than that there isn’t too much,” she said. “We need to have a group for those students; we need to have those conversations; we need that space; we need those voices. It will give students a safe place.”

She said that at the moment the only thing keeping the club from becoming active is strong student support.

“I’m literally waiting in here for a student to come ask for the necessary paperwork, fill it out and turn it in,” she said.

Vice President of Club Affairs Safi Ward-Davis finds herself in the same position.

Ward-Davis said, “Students have come in and picked up the necessary forms and had expressed interest, but nothing has come of it yet. My hands are tied until that paperwork is turned in.”

David said, “One thing that has to be understood is that there needs to be a number of students who have to want to run the club. What it comes down to is whether there is the student interest or not.”

Being the only campus in the district without an LGBTQ club of any sort, LGBTQ students are at a disadvantage when seeking help, Dillon McCormic, president of the Queer Straight Alliance at sister school Diablo Valley College, said.

“We provide a safe area for our LBGTQ community. It’s the sort of place that lets students know that they’re not alone, and it gives the chance for any of these students to get help with any difficulties they may be having,” McCormic said.

“And as for a college without one, I would have to say it would add less diversity to the student body, and less feeling of the student body being able to connect as a whole.”

David offered one explanation for why CCC does not have such a club: “Maybe there just is no interest here. I think a part of it, having grown up in Richmond, is that everyone is ‘harder’ out here toward the LGBTQ community and their views.”

Greene said that if any student or faculty member had interest in helping the club become established, she could provide them with ample opportunity to do so.

“Myself, (dean of student services) Vicki Ferguson or (mathematics professor) Sue Van Hattum would be more than accommodating,” she said.

6

sports

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 2.4.2015 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Solid defensive effort protects playoff chance Free throws hold “We felt like we had everything on the line and off late Falcon they had nothing to lose. rally to win game Once we had them down,

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

FAIRFIELD — The men’s basketball team established its lead early and never looked back in its 68-54 win at Solano Community College to keep its playoff push going strong on Friday.

Contra Costa College’s (1011 overall, 7-4 in the Bay Valley Conference) sophomore playCOMETS ers vowed to make a concerted effort not to let this season slip away.

With parFALCONS tial control of its post-season in hand it will take defensive communication and a collective offensive output to keep things moving toward its collective playoff goal by winning its five remaining games, starting tonight at the College of Alameda at 5 p.m.

“We felt like we had everything on the line and they had nothing to lose,” Comet forward Trenton Smith said. “Once we had them down, we couldn’t take our boot off of their necks.”

Midway through the second half Comet point guard Dawson Johnson found himself in the paint on a stalled fast break. But because he gave up on his dribble, his only option was to pass the ball off of the backboard to himself to complete the lay up over the much taller Falcon defender.

The Falcons (6-13 overall, 4-6 in the BVC) guard-driven team struck quickly taking the lead at 5-4 and again at 10-8.

Neither team was able to make its mark and exchanged baskets through the opening minutes of the first half.

With 11 minutes remaining in the first half, Comet coach Miguel Johnson substituted in his usual performer when they were trailing by two points.

Comet sophomore guard Tajai Johnson got the action started first and finished with two strong driv-

68 54

we couldn’t take our boot off of their necks.”

— Trenton Smith, Comet forward

ing back-to-back layups, which swung the momentum in the Comets’ direction.

“We want to use this win as a stepping stone toward getting into the postseason,” Tajai Johnson said.

“I watched a lot of film before this game. I wanted to see what we could do to get better as a team.”

Two more conversions extended CCC’s lead to six. With about four minutes left the first half the Comets were nursing an eightpoint lead and a heads-up steal by forward Phillip Seacrease led to another hustle score by forward De Andre Russell.

Another Johnson jump shot gave the Comets another opportunity to challenge the Falcon ball handlers with a full-court press and make SC work to maintain possession. The Solano guards dominated the ball for most of the game and never sought to establish a low post presence.

The strategy left the fledgling Falcons to live, or in this case die, by the jump shot.

With 1:50 remaining in the half and a 25-11 Comet lead, Solano continued to settle for long 3pointers and dribble drive and kick outs. Both were ineffective as the Comets held onto their lead by closing out on shooters, which was paramount in their game plan.

Coach Johnson said that he has seen this crop of Falcon guards shoot themselves out of big deficits at home earlier this season.

In the closing seconds of the half, Dawson Johnson anticipated a Falcon pass and intercepted and layup to put the squad up 16 points just before the break.

At halftime CCC led 38-13.

The Comets maintained high defensive efforts after intermission and rarely let the lead dip below double digits.

With a firm 15-point lead 10 minutes into the second half, coach Johnson rotated the entire team in a mass substitution pattern. The squad held onto its lead but after two unforced errors it dropped to

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Comet guard Tajai Johnson (right) jumps up for a shot against Falcon guard Andre Usher (left) during CCC’s 68-54 win over Solano Community College in Fairfield on Friday.

five.

The Comet lead was cut to 12 as the Solano shooters finally began to find their mark.

The Falcons started to run a zone defense to keep Comet players out of the paint and to settle for outside shots.

With spot-up shooter Byron Buckley having a lukewarm January, and other Comet guards

more comfortable driving into the lane, the responsibility of keeping a defense honest by respecting the outside shot usually falls on the shoulders of sophomore floor general Dawson Johnson.

The Falcon guards have a history of wiggling their way back into games at home, but any scoring runs made by the home team were quickly squashed by a big shot or

timely pass by Johnson.

With 4:44 remaining in the game, the Falcons found their touch and cut the lead to 12. They could never get consistent stops on defense.

In the end they fouled on every possession to stop the clock. The Comets made their free throws and left with a much-needed 68-54 road win.

TEAM REBOUNDS TO MAKE LOPSIDED GAME RESPECTABLE

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

Comet forward Christiana Onwuasoeze (right) jumps for a rebound against Falcon forward Laura Lawson (left) during CCC’s 70-56 loss to Solano Community College in Fairfield on Friday.

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

FAIRFIELD — After a strong conference start, the women’s basketball team has lost its last three games in a row, dropping another road contest 7056 against Solano Community College (16-7 overall, 9-2 in the Bay Valley Conference) Friday in Fairfield.

Contra Costa College (9-12 overall 6-5 in the BVC) set the tone early in the game by scoring its first four points in the paint and altering shots on the defensive end of the floor.

The squad then began to feel the wrath of the officials. They allowed the Falcons to push and grab under the rim eliminating Comet forward Jacqie Moody’s quickness advantage.

“When a team really wants to establish themselves inside its tough for us,” Comet coach Paul DeBolt said.

With a bad Comet shot attempt and another Solano score, the home team took an 11-6 lead seven minutes into the game.

A steal and lay up by Comet guard Lenzie Chao cut the Falcon lead to three points.

“We used the second half as practice,” Chao said. “We went through a bunch of new plays and it opened up some shots that weren’t there in the first half.”

DeBolt chastised the officials within earshot as they ran past

“We used the sec-

ond half as practice.

We went through a bunch of new plays and it opened up some shots that weren’t there in the first half.”

— Lenzie Chao, Comets guard

his coaching box and beyond.

The coach was warned about his lack of civility regarding the manor in which he challenged the calls.

Shortly after the “discussion” between the official and DeBolt, a play indicative of the complaints occurred that took the life from the Comets legs.

On a missed shot with 9:50 minutes remaining in the half, three Falcons crashed the offensive glass following a missed shot.

The Solano post players pushed and shoved their way to four offensive rebounds. Finally converting on a short baseline jumper.

As CCC players were driven forward by hands pressed against their lower backs, no whistle was blown, nor was there any effort to look for a three second call for camping in the paint.

“At this point in the season teams are adjusting to us,” DeBolt said. “Teams are packed in zone defenses and we have had bad shooting nights.”

“I had to FALCONS attack and try to find gaps to get inside for high percentage shots,” COMETS Comet forward Daziah Pounds said.

The Falcons packed in the defense, cutting down on Comet guard Ahjahna Coleman’s dribble penetration and Moody’s inside efforts. CCC finished 3-22 from behind the 3-point line, and did not hit its first until Coleman’s long effort with three minutes remaining in the first half. Entering the second the Falcons led 36-17.

In contrast, Solano outrebounded the Comets 65-28.

Falcon forward Laura Lawson led the team with 26 points and 20 rebounds and zero personal fouls.

On a night where rebounding was at a premium, with both teams missing 48 combined 3pointers, it was not clear how neither of the Falcons’ leading rebounders were charged with a foul.

They combined to end the game with 30 rebounds.

Coleman finished with 14 points and two assists in the game. The guard finished with five free throw attempts, making three.

The Comets face conference rival Laney College on tonight at 6 p.m. in Oakland.

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