WEDNESDAY l 9.19.18 OUR 69TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.
Transfer prompts search Former vice president reassigned to District Office
By Michael Santone editor-in-chief
n “College (administrators) came and talked
msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com
Following a semester mired in questions of transparency, the importance of shared governance and a flawed leadership model tasked with guiding an ailing campus into the future, Contra Costa College Vice President Ken Sherwood was re-assigned to a position in the Contra Costa Community College District Office in July. The district has already posted job announcements for the vacated VP position and college officials hope to fill it by the end of the fall semester. “We’re recruiting for vice president of student services and hope that person can start Dec. 1 or sooner,” CCC President Katrina Va n d e r Wo u d e said. “We’re just trying to bring back some stability to (campus leadership).” Sherwood, who is now serving as special assistant to district Chancellor Fred Wood, was transferred to the District Office in Martinez in July after a whirlwind semester disrupted the “shared governance” culture that governs the college community. When asked about his transfer to the District Office last week by The Advocate, S h e r w o o d declined comment. Dr. Wood said, as would be true in any case, the person, circumstances and performance of a district manager/administrator are all evaluated before a decision like the one to move Sherwood out of his position is made. “College (administrators) came and talked to me about the (situation) and I agreed that I thought it was in everyone’s best interest for Mr. Sherwood to not remain on campus and come work at the
to me about the (situation) and I agreed that I thought it was in everyone’s best interest for Mr. Sherwood to not remain on campus.” — Fred Wood, Contra Costa Community College District chancellor
district,” Wood said. “I think Mr. Sherwood has great skills, as we are seeing now at the district, but the fit just wasn’t happening as well at Contra Costa as everyone had hoped.” In January, under Sherwood’s leadership, the lateral move of former dean of enrollment services Dennis Franco to dean of student services set off a barrage of administrative transparency issues that called into question tactics used by Sherwood. After the process that facilitated the decision was completed, in the March 22 issue of The Advocate Sherwood said, “Because I’m new, I don’t know the internal culture (of the college) enough to know that it was going to be so important to folks. The conflict is cultural and not moral or legal. They had a set of expectations that I just didn’t know existed.” Sherwood, who arrived on campus in July 2017 from Oxnard College in the Ventura Community College District, continued his squabbles with college departments, students, Wood faculty and staff through the spring semester. Contra Complaints came out of a Jan. 30 AfricanAmerican Staff Association (AASA) preCosta Community sentation to top college officials including Sherwood and then college president Mojdeh College District Mehdizadeh, which outlined concerns of chancellor African-American staff, professors and students. And there were conflicts with veterans on campus when Sherwood offered no signs of a resolution during a May 3 meeting regarding problems in the campus Veterans’ Resource Center. Fast forward to July 30, when a campus email was sent to faculty and staff by former interim president Chui Tsang which read, “I would like to announce that Vice President Ken Sherwood is temporarily assigned to head up a special project at the District Office. I want to assure everyone at the college this change will not affect your ongoing work or the progress you are making at the college.” Executive Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology Mehdizadeh said in her long career at the district, including the nearly three and a half years she spent as president of Contra Costa College, she’s had the opportunity to work with hundreds of individuals. “Ken is someone who cares about student success and celebrates student achievement,” Mehdizadeh said. “He took the time to attend sporting events to cheer on our SEE SHERWOOD, PAGE 3
INFOGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
enrollment growth boosts morale State programs provide needed influx of students
By Gabriel Quiroz staff writer
gquiroz.theadvocate@gmail.com
Students traversing the Contra Costa College campus may not have noticed, between trying to rush to class through a fair amount of construction and scrambling to figure out class routines, that there is something different happening on campus this fall semester. However, when given the chance to stop and look around it is easy to notice that there are a lot more students on campus. According to the college enrollment report that came out on Sept. 4, there has been a 10.5 percent increase in FTES (full-time equivalent students) this fall when compared to fall 2017. One FTES equals one student taking 15 units. The 10.5 percent increase is equivalent to an increase of more than 200 new or returning full-time students this semester. Overall student enrollment is up 10.3 percent from a year ago. That is an increase of almost 700 students if measured by total
SOBRANTE STROLL AWES COMMUNITY, VISITORS FACEBOOK: /accentadvocate
PAGE 6
headcount. And there are still eightweek classes that haven’t begun yet, so numbers may increase a bit more in the next couple of weeks. There are various factors that could be contributing to the rise in enrollment at CCC and they may not all be quantifiable. However, whatever processes may have caused the uptick, the efforts seem to be working. Some of the factors include industry partnerships, outreach and the alluring new buildings and continued renovations on campus. Senior Dean of Instruction Tish Young said, “Enrollment is up across the district and it could be due to state programs Young such as First Time Full Time Free Tuition (FT3).” The FT3 program began this fall and covers the tuition of brand new students for their first two semesters at CCC who are taking a full-time
FOOTBALL TEAM LOSES DUE TO MANY PENALTIES
INSTAGRAM: @cccadvocate
schedule of classes totaling 12 units or more. “Contributors to growth could be the partnerships with industry that can help improve enrollment,” Young said. “A lot of focus on outreach and marketing could also have something to do with it.” The college has recently started a partnership with Toyota for its automotive department called the Technician Training and Education Network (T-TEN). T-TEN provides hands-on work for automotive repair education and training within the classroom on engines that have been given to the department by Toyota. Previously, the automotive department only had cars that were at least 10 years old and totaled cars that were donated to the department by the community. Outreach at local West County high schools and in the community is an important factor in landing students just out of high school and
Enrollment report fall 2018 State funded programs and marketing outreach contribute to overall growth in enrollment. Start of fall 2018 End of fall 2017
2,108
Start of fall 2017
2,104
FTES
TWITTER: @accentadvocate
2,330
2,000
Headcount End of fall 2017
Start of fall 2018
6,656
7,340
Active sections End of fall 2017
Start of fall 2018
708
649
INFORGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
SEE ENROLLMENT, PAGE 3
PAGE 7
2,326
RYSE CENTER CELEBRATES LATINX LIFE, HERITAGE YOUTUBE: /accentadvocate
PAGE 8 SNAPCHAT: @cccadv0cate
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Quotable “Yes, I am in favor of censorship, but it has to be conducted by people like me.” Roger Scruton British writer, philosopher 1998 Michael Santone editor-in-chief Xavier Johnson web editor Denis Perez creative director Robert Clinton associate editor Jessica Suico news editor Andrew Weedon scene editor Efrain Valdez sports editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Jose Arebalo Chris Alfred Issac Benavides Mariah Davis Kit Duckworth Kyle Grant Dan Hardin Alex Kwasniza Luis Lopez Cindy Pantoja Ixia Perez-Vallejo Joshua Poole Jackson Stephens Gabriel Quiroz Joel Umanzor Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015 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, 2015, 2017, 2018 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, SEPT. 19, 2018 VOL. 107, NO. 2
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM
●
EDITORIAL
CAMPUS SAFETY QUESTIONED
Lack of crime reporting blurs transparent environment
T
he quest for an improved sense of transparency at Contra Costa College has engulfed every corner of administrative activity on campus and no area is more important than those who are able to reveal the details of any crimes that are committed here. With students settling into the new semester, there was an assault on campus on Sept. 5. But the details in the crime report are so minimal there is no way to deem it useful. In the past 13 days, only five incidents have been added to the CCC daily Police Services log — and each lack specificity. Roughly one year ago, Contra Costa Community College District Police Services changed the way information about crimes on campuses throughout the district are relayed. The changes, first noticed last semester by freshman Advocate reporters tasked with doing the grunt work of transcribing crime reports, were reported to Police Services Lt. Tom Holt in an attempt to find some way to get the level of detail returned to the daily log. In previous years, inquiries into the crimes that occurred at the three colleges in the district were accessible — not easily — but accessible nonetheless on the Police Services daily log on the Contra Costa Community College District website. With minimal gumshoe detective skills, the district website offered manageable tabs to follow leading to a semi-detailed list of events by location, grade of infraction and time and date of the occurrence. According to the district Campus Crime Awareness Report, colleges and universities are required to disclose timely and annual information about campus crime and security policies through the Jean Clery Federal Disclosure Act. It’s important to spotlight any incident on campus that affects students, especially matters involving theft and assault. But today the daily log crime reports lack detail, substance and a way to use the information to take safety precautions. Users still navigate from the same website and follow similar tab pathways, however the information at the end of the trail contains far less detail than appeared in previous versions of the incident descriptions. This isn’t some nefarious act by Police Services to downplay campus crime statistics. To the contrary, CCC, by far, has the fewest incidents of reported crime when compared to other colleges in the district. Although both of CCC’s sister colleges are larger, Diablo Valley, in Pleasant Hill, had nearly five times the number of incidents reported to Police Services with 32 compared to only six at CCC. Los Medanos, in Pittsburg, posted double the incidents of crime as CCC with 13. There may be more shiny things to steal at DVC where, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average household income of someone from that area is roughly $40,000 dollars more than the West County household — but not five times more. Police Services seems to be on the right path, but expanding the daily log reports would help students and staff remain aware of crime on campus.
ISAAC BENIVADES / THE ADVOCATE
■ MUSIC
Musical appreciation grows through tragedy O ver the past two years there have been a significant number of musicians who have died, young and old alike. The deaths have ranged from people in their 20s, like Mac Miller and Avicii, to old legends like Chris Cornell and Aretha Franklin. Each death reverberated throughout the world and their fans mourned these musicians whose music was significant to them. Through this pain and mourning comes a bittersweet silver lining. When musical artists dies it becomes the best time to discover their music and what made it significant. When an artist dies the musical generation gap is temporarily crossed, as millions of fans mourn and others gain the opportunity to appreciate the impact of a previously unknown and unappreciated artist. Music is given life through the context of the time it was created and the experiences of those that enjoyed it. For all-time classic musicians and singers like Aretha Franklin it’s easy to appreciate their evident greatness. Franklin was an astounding vocalist, however, just being a great singer isn’t what made her death affect the world so deeply on Aug. 16. While the meaning her music brought to those who grew up listening to her is self-evident, her death delivers an invitation for younger generations
ciation of an artist’s music after their death isn’t just a one-way street. An influential younger musician’s death crosses the generation gap differently. The context that makes their music thrive is occuring at the same time it’s cut short. that missed the wave to When they die, older appreciate her art and generations get their first impact. exposure from the myriad For a lot of people of headlines and social Franklin was just “parmedia posts. Most people ents’ music” they grew up Through listen to music that’s either what they grew up listenlistening to this pain ing to or music of a similar in the house. sound. With the intrigue of Her mega-hit and mo- a musician’s death people “Respect” was might take a chance and a good, albeit urning listen to their music. overplayed, On June 18, rapper commercial comes a Xxxtentacion was killed. anthem that’s The 20-year-old Florida a standard at bitterrapper was a huge name in public functhe hip-hop scene blowing tions. sweet up with viral tracks online. In the wake silverHe amassed a rabid followof Franklin’s ing of loyal fans and at the death people time of his death they took got the chance lining. to the streets to mourn to tell others with large memorials and what she meant candlelight vigils. to them in Xxxtentacion’s death person or on social media. Dozens of in-depth articles gave people who had never heard his music a chance to were written about her impact on many aspects of witness the impact it had and learn about what made art, culture and society. his music and himself popUpon her death her ular as a figure intriguing music was contextualized to millions of people. Next and played all over mass media, trending at the top time a musician dies take the time to read the feature of social media sites. Her stories about their life and music grabbed the attenmusic. Check out a few of tion of a young audience for a brief moment. During their popular tracks and some deep cuts. that time music listeners got the chance to underXavier Johnson is the web stand why her music was appreciated on such a deep editor for The Advocate. Contact him at xjohnson. level. theadvocate@gmail.com. The contextual appre-
xavierjohnson
CAMPUS COMMENT
Does Police Services on campus do anything to change the general negative perception of police officers?
“I feel they do their job by putting attention where it’s needed. They don’t harass people like most cops do” Raekoon Bush biology
“I haven’t been here long enough to know about Police Services yet. Since I have been here I haven’t seen any on campus.” Joanna Rorzco undecided
GABRIEL QUIROZ AND JESSICA SUICO / THE ADVOCATE
“I don’t see Police Services with students. If they want a different perception, they should be more transparent.”
“It is my second week here. I see them doing their job around campus and keeping everyone safe.”
“I have never spoken to Police Services but I always see them standing around not really doing anything.”
Ferdinand Geraldo
Suu Sharma
Miguel Medina
biology
administration of justice
liberal arts
“No. I had a serious problem of being accused of stalking someone who was stalking me and they didn’t investigate.” Ockemia Bean psychology
3 campus beat NEWSLINE COMPRESSED CALENDAR BEGINS WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.19.18 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
WORKSHOP
EVENT FOCUSES ON RACIAL STRUGGLE A presentation and workshop focused on trends, challenges and opportunities faced by men of color will be held today from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in GE-225. The “Black Minds Matter” lecture is sponsored by Contra Costa College Student Equity, which will host keynote speaker J. Luke Wood, who a professor of education at San Diego State University and its associate vice president for faculty diversity and inclusion. The family-friendly event is open to the public.
SPORTS
VOLLEYBALL HOME OPENER THIS FRIDAY The Contra Costa College women’s volleyball team will play its first home game and third Bay Valley Conference game of the season against College of Marin on Friday at 6 p.m. The team won its first conference game against Napa Valley College, 3 sets to 2, on Sept. 12 in Napa. The Comets will also play an away BVC game at Mendocino College today at 6 p.m.
SPARKPOINT
CUTTING COSTS AND HAVING THRIFTY FUN Share ways to cut costs, avoid impulse buys and find free or low-cost fun at the Cut Costs, Save Money workshop hosted by SparkPoint Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon in SA-211. The workshop, like all SparkPoint events, is free and open to all Contra Costa College students. For more information call Bill Bankhead at 510-215-6873 or contact him via at email bbankhead@contracosta.edu.
RUN
ANNUAL MARATHON RETURNS TO CITY The 8th annual Fall Showdown race will take place at the San Pablo Reservoir in El Sobrante Saturday A half-marathon run begins at 7:30 and both a 5K/run/walk and a 5miler/run/walk will begin at 8 a.m. Hosted by Wolf Pack Events, the Fall Showdown trail features an out-and-back course that starts and finishes near the northwest corner of the reservoir. Custom-made finisher medals will be given to each participant and place medals will be given to the top three finishers in each division. For more information go to wolfpackevents.com where participants may register online.
Move to 16-week schedule provides shorter semesters, long winter intersession By Andrew Weedon scene editor
aweedon.theadvocate@gmail.com
The new 16-week compressed calendar semester is here as students and faculty have adjusted their internal clocks for a shorter semester and longer classes. The Contra Costa Community College District has been working on implementing this kind of block schedule for more than a decade, and in doing so now have a calendar that mimics most colleges and universities in the U.S. A proposal to compress the district calendar was almost put in place for the fall semester of 2016, but a decision was made to hold off until a greater consensus could be reached. Previously the schedule lasted 18 weeks, but starting this semester it will be reduced to 16. One of the benefits of implementing this new calendar is that CCC will now have more time to offer online classes during a winter intersession between the fall and spring semesters. Students participating in these classes will get one week of vacation, then be able to take online
“Students now have more time between the summer and fall semesters to register for courses and decide what they want to do” Dr. Tish Young,
senior dean of insstruction
classes from Jan. 2-22 with the spring semester beginning on Jan. 28. Fears that spring break would be eliminated were calmed with the assurance that it would remain on the schedule. “Research shows that the compressed calendar translates into an increase in student success,” Academic Senate President Beth Goehring said. Goehring is also on the United Faculty Executive Board, which played a lead role in creating and implementing the new 16-week semester. The UF is the negotiating body for all district faculty. As a result of this new calendar, a number of changes have had to be made.
OPENING WEEKEND OF INSPIRED MUSICAL “Allegiance,” a musical inspired by a true story, opens at Contra Costa Civic Theater in El Cerrito this Friday. The play follows the Kimura family after Pearl Harbor. With their lives in turmoil, the struggle between duty and defiance take center stage. The performance is 2 hours and 20 minutes in length, including one intermission. The play is running each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 21. No performance will be held this Saturday. — The Contra Costa Community College District is committed to equal opportunity in educational programs, employment, and campus life. The District does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, parental status, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in any access to and treatment in College programs, activities, and application for employment.
only at the start of the semester.” The only issue so far seems to be that sports such as football, volleyball and soccer may be nega- Goehring tively affected by having to United start practice Faculty prior to the Executive beginning of Board the semester, member Goehring said. Adjusting to the compressed calendar has already delivered unexpected problems to the football program and altered the way coaches prepare for the season. “I definitely prefer the accelerated courses. Even though the classes are a bit longer, I get to be in class fewer days, which is better for me,” undecided major Quentin Levin said. There are still some areas that will need some adjusting such as the nursing and science programs,
SHERWOOD | Discrepancies tarnish campus culture Continued from Page 1 athletes, attended culinary events to encourage our culinary students, and showed support for drama, art, speech, political science, AfricanAmerican male leaders and many other student groups.” Mehdizadeh said the decision being made over the summer had nothing to do with anything other than timing. “CCC is a wonderful college with its own culture. I believe it is often about a match between the college and an individual’s skills and strengths,” On Monday Dean of Students Dennis Franco recounted the transfer of Sherwood caught him by surprise when he found out a couple days before the email was sent. “I feel bad that there was tumult and angst and issues around my particular (job) move because I don’t want the college to be in turmoil Ampim over me. That made me feel super uncomfortable and it was a difficult time,” Franco said. “When that happened, it just made me feel bad, like, ‘Good lord, how am I in the middle of this?’” Franco said he shared with Sherwood during their initial conversations about the position change in January that he was hesitant about the abrupt administrative move. “I think (my move to dean of student services) was difficult for the counseling department — it was certainly difficult for me,” he said. “I want the college to be functioning well. I want students to have a good experience and I want our employees to have a good experience.” Wood said that in mid-July there was a sense of urgency coming from the leadership of the college, particularly through Dr. Tsang and Mehdizadeh, who asked to meet with the chan-
cellor to discuss Sherwood’s future at CCC. “One of my worries as the conversation occurred was I didn’t want the college to think that the chancellor is taking someone out, ‘What’s going on here?’ It was really the leadership of the college that was saying we have to make a change. This isn’t working as well as we would like. Can you help?” Wood said. “That was really the hope of the leadership on campus, that (Sherwood’s) transfer would result in an environment that would be better than if he remained in that position.” Dr. VanderWoude, whose first official day was Aug. 6, had no involvement in any meetings or conversations regarding the transfer of Sherwood. “I did make sure Dr. VanderWoude was aware of the conversations and what was being discussed. When I made that decision I did let her know,” Wood said. “We felt that all things considered, it was best for her (VanderWoude) to come into the circumstances as they were, rather than have (Sherwood) on campus. That was the sense of urgency behind making the decision when we did.” History, anthropology and geography department Chairperson Manu Ampim said it was clear to him that Sherwood was on his way out long before the reassignment and subsequent Tsang email was sent out. “There were concerns that we had about his decision-making, and for sure his decisionmaking is clearly a top down decision-making approach. We made it clear that it was not going to work that way,” Ampim, who attended the AASA Jan. 30 meeting, said. “The environment (at CCC) has been collaborative and it’s going to stay that way.” Ampim said Sherwood received negative reactions when he began making decisions without consultation with faculty and staff. “He clearly ran into a situation where his approach and style does not work in this kind of environment, so we knew it was going to be tough for him to continue in that manner,” Ampim said.
n “I feel bad that there was tumult and angst and issues around my particular (job) move because I don’t want the college to be in turmoil over me.”
— Dennis Franco, dean of students
“Anybody that wants to go back to the top down model is going to have problems. Either they conform to the (collaborative) environment or they’ll be out like the other ones — and that’s my prediction.” Since VanderWoude arrived on campus, Ampim said she’s visited his office and has made more of an effort to communicate with faculty than any “upper division administrator” has in years. “She already seems to be opening up genuine channels of communication to listen, observe and get input and feedback from those of us who have not only been here, but who have important things to say,” Ampim said. “We need leadership. We absolutely need leadership that will continue in the same direction and be firm.” With the position of vice president of student services posted Sept. 10, the search is still in its early confidential stages. The process, which is similar to that of choosing a college president, will involve a variety of hiring committees including a screening comittee and an interviewing committee. The college community, however, will not be introduced to any hopefuls until the interview committee invites them to CCC for the traditional forum of questions and answers sometime in November. This gives a chance for the campus community to become familiar with the possible VP hopefuls before one is chosen by President VanderWoude before Dec. 1.
ENROLLMENT | Partnerships, curb appeal lure students Continued from Page 1
MUSICAL
One is that physical education courses for Middle College High School students have been negatively affected and cannot be offered on a MWF basis due to release time issues, Goehring said. A positive side effect of the new calendar the college couldn’t anticipate was an increase in enrollment, Senior Dean of Instruction Tish Young said. “Students now have more time between the summer and fall semesters to register for courses and decide what they want to do,” she said. The increase in student registration has also come with an increase in foot traffic on campus, Young said. Bringing a compressed calendar to CCC was a lengthy process that was the topic at many committee meetings over more than 10 years. When the UF was working on creating the new calendar, it sent out literature to all district faculty and allowed them to vote for, against or for modification, Goehring said. Young said, “There haven’t been any complaints yet, but we are
also returning and first-time students who have never been to college. “Reaching out (to the community) and our high school partnerships are just stellar. We’re working with our high schools and capturing those students so that Contra Costa College becomes their first choice as early as we can (get them),” CCC President Katrina VanderWoude said. “When our economy is better, more people are working and aren’t coming to college as much,” Dr. VanderWoude said. “What that means is being aware that, even if someone is working, community college is an attractive place.” The college renovations are also a contributing factor in attracting students. The modern Fireside Hall and the General Education and Student and Administration buildings have significantly changed the look of the campus since 2016. There are still changes coming, including the newly renovated Applied Arts Building that was just renovated this past year and science building that is due to be completed by 2020 or 2021. The new buildings give a more appealing and inviting look to the campus and offers a feeling that students are in the in the right place to succeed. This semester, many classes filled up quicker than in semesters past and waitlists were filled weeks before classes started — some even
“What that means is being aware that, even if someone is working, community college is an attractive place.” Katrina VanderWoude, Contra Costa College president
months before. Academic Senate President Beth Goehring, who doubles as a kinesiology professor, said, “All of my courses were waitlisted, even Public Health, which is a new course I’m teaching this semester.” Goehring said, “The increase in student enrollment is great. The increase allows for adding new courses because courses are aligned with enrollment.” The more students who are enrolled at the college the more classes that are available to fill the needs of those students. This increase benefits new, current and returning students, she said. Increased enrollment is excellent for students who may have been waiting for certain classes to be available that weren’t before because of a lack of overall college enrollment. Goehring said she is hopeful the FT3 program will be extended to the second year as well for those students who are participating this year.
College Profile: Age 20 and younger: 32.3 percent 20-24 years old: 28 percent 25-39 years old: 25 percent 40 or more: 14.7 percent
Gender Female: 58.6 percent Male: 40.1 percent Other: 1.3 percent
Race/Ethnicity Hispanic: 42.2 percent African-American: 18.6 percent Asian: 14.3 percent White: 11.2 percent Filipino: 5.7 percent Mixed: 5.7 percent Unknown: 1.6 percent Native American: .7 percent INFORGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE SOURCE: STUDENT SUCCESS SCORECARD
4
campusbeat
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.19.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
DAY CELEBRATES CONSTITUTION By Xavier Johnson web editor
xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com
Mobilizing students to get excited to learn about the political process and vote in the upcoming November elections is the primary fall semester goal for the Community Organizing and Political Action (COPA) club. With the Nov. 6 Election Day fast approaching, COPA is looking for methods to get students a grasp of the issues registered to vote so they are armed with knowledge when they hit the polls. COPA President Rebecca Hernandez said in previous semesters community nonprofits would come onto campus and man informative tables. However, club leaders felt that the efforts didn’t resonate with students. Instead, this time they wanted to use a more student-focused approach to get out the vote. “When students talk to their peers, it sounds better than when it comes from an older person who isn’t a student,” Hernandez said. On Monday, during the Constitution Day event on campus, the club hosted a screening of “Street Fight” and a discussion with Richmond City Council candidate Demnlus Johnson in GE-225 from 2-4 p.m. In the Campus Center Plaza, tables were set up for students to get voting information and also to register to vote. And there were banners posted around campus for each amendment in the Bill of Rights. “Street Fight,” directed by Marshall Curry, is a documentary that chronicles the 2002 mayoral race in Newark, New Jersey between incumbent Sharpe James and his challenger Cory Booker, who is now a United States senator from New Jersey. The documentary follows the Booker mayoral campaign as it tries to unseat the 16-year mayoral run of James. Political science major Ana Delgado said it was shocking to see how campaigns and elections are conducted. “You know all that goes on, but seeing it is way different,” she said. During the campaign, Booker deals with several instances of unethical behavior from James and his supporters, including intim-
idating Booker supporters and using city inspectors to intimidate businesses that back Booker. Associated Students Union Vice President Chris Miller said he hopes the film shows students that their voice carry weight. He said students should take the opportunity to talk to Johnson, who potentially will represent their interests in the near future if they live in Richmond. After the screening, Johnson answered questions from students. Many of the questions students asked were about different ways to get involved or about the political system in general. One student asked how people get involved on local commissions and another inquired about what politicians mean when they talk about working with small businesses. Johnson said when he gets questions from politically uninformed voters, a lot of those questions have to do with the process of how to vote. “They don’t know where or how to vote and a lot of politicians will exploit that,” he said. During the film Hernandez passed out two sheets. One sheet detailed California voter registration information, like where to register, important deadlines and a summary of information about the November elections. The second sheet provided information on East Bay organizations and events to give students an opportunity to learn about local issues and get involved in as an activist in local politics. Delgado said she is inspired to get politically active and is even considering an eventual run for (Richmond) city council. “We’ve been put down for so long and have seen no progress,” Delgado said. “There is so much unfairness and a lot of people just don’t care.” Hernandez said a lot of voters are disenfranchised with the political system and that is a significant barrier preventing them from energizing voters. COPA will be holding its next meeting is on Sept. 26 from 1-2 p.m. in GE-305.
DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
Undecided major David Saravia (middle) registers to vote as kinesiology major Alex Alvarado (right) accompanies him during the Constitution Day event in Campus Center Plaza Monday.
FORUMS RAISE AWARENESS ON CRIME PREVENTION
A student
looks at the menu before ordering at Brix cafe on Wednesday.
By Luis Lopez
staff writer
llopez.theadvocate@gmail.com
DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
Competitive food prices leave students feeling after-effects Brix raises its prices by 10 percent
By Cindy Pantoja staff writer
cpanto.theadvocate@gmail.com
Brix cafe raised its prices for a second consecutive year, putting students in a strain to find an affordable meal on campus. Last year, the only vendor-based eatery on campus, had a significant increase in its prices and this fall students were hit with another 10 percent fee hike. In comparison, the cost for a Margherita pizza was $5.94 in 2017 and this term students have to pay $6.59 for the same product. Director of Business Services Mariles Magalong said she was not aware of the new prices. Brix managers are not compelled to announce their price changes, but there are price guidelines they shouldn’t exceed, she said. “They are on a three-year contract,” she said, “After this fall, they will decide if they want to renew the contract with us, (and we will decide) if we want to renew the contract with them.” Simultaneously, Pacific Dining, the parent company of Brix, expressed its concern for the low margin of profits they are getting from the establishment at Contra Costa College. Richard McMahon, a representative of Pacific Dining Food
Service Management, said, “We have found our prices to be extremely competitive. Dramatic increases in labor costs as well as a steady increase in food prices are what determine our pricing. These same pressures have squeezed our vendors and produced a business climate that is daunting, to say the least.” If Pacific Dining doesn’t renew its contract with CCC, the district will request proposals from other food companies that will adhere to the college’s guidelines. The process usually takes a couple of months to complete. “It will be hard to find new vendors because they have to compete with Pronto, Aqua Terra Grill, and the McDonalds just across the street from campus. There, you can get a hamburger for less money, but at Brix you are getting a better quality, such Angus Beef,” Magalong said. Pronto, run by the culinary arts department, has better prices but choices are limited. For example, currently American Grill Cheese sandwich at Brix costs $3.99, while at Pronto the closest equivalent is a ham and cheese/ egg croissant which costs $2. English professor Brandon Marshall said, “Food is terrible at Brix. The only decent place to
in brief nBrix, located in the Student Dining Hall, raised its prices by 10 percent for the second year in a row. nBrix is on a three-year contract that expires this fall. nBrix has the option to renew the contract, but profits for the company are low.
eat on campus is (culinary arts department’s) Aqua Terra Grill, but they don’t take (credit) cards and I don’t carry cash with me. They also take checks but who carries checks with them?” Students are starting to feel the burden of the high cost of a meal on campus and are employing new ways to stretch their budgets. “I used to eat often at Brix. The service is great, and (employees) are cheerful, but it’s getting too expensive. Now I eat there sporadically. I have to alternate between eating at Pronto and bringing food from home,” La Raza studies major Cinthya Zuñiga said. In an effort to help those students who struggle to find the means for their next meal, the Student Life Office is offering free breakfasts every MondayThursday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Pronto.
On the heels of a disturbing study which claims more shooting deaths have occurred at U.S. schools in the last 18 years than were recorded in the entire 20th century, Police Services decided to take a proactive approach toward the prevention of criminal acts on campus. Contra Costa College Police Services officers held two campus safety forums aimed at educating students about personal protection and crime prevention. During the two-day seminar, held Sept. 11 and 12 in Fireside Hall, Lt. Tom Holt spoke to students and staff about various issues surrounding campus safety. The forums covered theft prevention, evacuation plans and what to do in case an active shooter is loose on campus. CCC has not hosted an active shooter preparedness event since the Student Together Awareness Response Safe (STARS) seminar in October 2015. That seminar, led by Officer Charles Hankins, relayed statistics gathered by law enforcement about the severity and frequency of school shootings. According to the Journal of Child and Family Studies, since Jan. 1, 2001, there have been 13 incidents Holt involving school shooters resulting in 66 deaths and 81 injuries, with no Contra immediate signs of a trend reversal. Costa Attendees were urged to recog- College nize escape routes and be prepared Police to leave belongings behind in order Services to make a swift escape. Lieutenant Keeping hands visible and obeying orders from police is also high priority as the intensity in critical moments is a fertile ground for misunderstandings. Also mentioned at this past week’s forum was the CampusShield app that helps students reach Police Services officers in case of an emergency. According to Holt, the biggest problem concerning campus security here at CCC is theft. “Theft from vehicles is the biggest problem on campus by far,” Holt said. “This is because people leave things in their car in plain sight.” At the beginning of the fall 2017 semester, one year ago, six cars were broken into during the first 60 days of classes, he said. However, over the past 30 days only two incidents have been reported by CCC Police Services to the Contra Costa Community College District daily crime log. “Before this, I would have not known what to do in case of a school shooting,” Raquel Antolin, a member of the Students for Education Reform program said. “I feel they did a good job of informing us about that.”
campus beat VETERANS STRUGGLE TO INSTALL GARDEN
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By Dan Hardin staff writer
dhardin.theadvocate@gmail.com
Men and women who served and are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces choose to fight for the freedom, democracy and way of life for all Americans. These are people who would sacrifice everything (including their lives) to preserve what Americans hold dear. Similarly, Contra Costa College administrators should consider it an honor and a privilege to give back to our veterans and their families in any way possible. But for over a year now, a push by the Veterans’ Club on campus to establish a Victory Garden through the normal administrative process has yet to yield any measurable results. The purpose of the garden is to offer veterans a secluded area to help ease the transition back into civilian life or just a silent space for reflection. Former veterans outreach coordinator Dedan Kimathi Ji Jaga said the location of the garden is the latest obstacle that needs a solution. The two locations being discussed are near the General Education Building or the Computer Technology Center. An important criterion in the choosing of a location is that it has to be ADA accessible and because the campus is built into a hillside, choosing a location becomes that much more difficult. Ji Jaga said the lack of regular meetings to discuss finding a suitable space contributes to the mounting causes for delays in establishing a garden. He also said the Veterans’ Club established a partnership with Home Depot, which has an outreach program to assist veterans with some of their causes. Under that agreement, Home Depot has offered financial and construction assistance to help with the development of the garden. Veterans’ Club President Derek Casanares said because of the length of time it has already taken to find a location, he is afraid funding and other assistance from Home Depot may not come to fruition. Casanares said campus veterans need a place that would allow them to escape the hustle and bustle of campus life and some space to pause or meditate. He said initially the veterans on campus thought about trying to partner with the culinary department. However, due to the culinary garden’s failure to meet ADA requirements and the lackluster desire by the culinary program to work with them, they decided to go it alone. “We only hope that the process will move along a little faster now that the progression has been narrowed to just a couple of locations,” Casanares said. We understand that change in most cases takes time, but the urgency here is that there is low hanging fruit that needs to be picked from the tree.” Second-year communications student and military veteran Leon Watkins said he would love to see the garden in place before he leaves CCC. “Not only would such a garden be beneficial to veterans, but also to the general population at the college,” Watkins said. “I admire the work Casanares and Ji Jaga are doing for veterans.”
LUIS LOPEZ / THE ADVOCATE
An excavator operator halls debris from one area to another during the demolition of the Health Services Building on Sept. 12.
Demolition, modernization on track to hit 2023 target By Kit Duckworth
The Science Complex, which is to replace the under demolition Health Science and Liberal Arts buildings, will cost $68.86 million.
staff writer
kduckworth.theadvocate@gmail.com
Students who have ventured into the Applied Arts Building lately may have noticed the construction site next to it — it’s hard to miss. Prior to students arriving for the fall semester, demolition of the former Health Science and Liberal Arts buildings has been well under way. The tear down should be finished by November, but the grading process could take until April, pending weather conditions. The HS Building is already a thing of the past as it’s been torn down and its pieces hauled away. As the rainy season approaches, the completion date of the project isn’t a sure thing. However, the official date for substantial completion of the demolition project is Jan. 15. This will be the first phase of constructing the Science Complex that is due to be completed by 2023. Central Valley Environmental is the company tasked with tearing down the building. Jeff Wilson, the CVE project manager of the company, said, “Everything’s on track right now and we’re working with the (Contra Costa Community College) district to get it out of the way.” The foundation of the HS Building was built so well that three hammers have broken during the process. Wilson said these equipment malfunctions are typical in a project like this. The cost for the entire project, from demolition of the Health Science and Liberal Arts buildings to the construction of the Science Complex, is $68.86
LUIS LOPEZ / THE ADVOCATE
“Everything’s on track and we’re working with the (Contra Costa Community College) district to get it out of the way.” Jeff Wilson,
CVE project manager
million. Building and Grounds Manager Bruce King says that the college is still waiting for the Department of State Architects (DSA) to give them the approval for their Science Complex construction plans. Once the district gets the approval, it will put the project out for bid. And once a general contractor is approved, construction will begin on the Science Complex. “The DSA is the process all public schools in California have to go through.
It’s like getting blessed by the pope,” King said. Currently, the demolition is proving to be a nuisance to students in the Applied Arts Building, which is a neighbor to all the commotion. When asked the effect the CVE of the LA and HS buildings have had on her, Gateway to College student Sierra Schmidt said, “I have a class in the AA Building every morning and it’s very distracting. Today (Monday) was so bad because they were using a jackhammer and it shook the entire building. Another reason is it takes longer to get around campus with the pathways (around the LA Building) cut off.” Administrators are sure the disturbance will be worth it once the Science Complex is completed in 2023. Replacing the rubble will be a 50,000 square foot cutting-edge center for CCC science students and staff.
Suicide awareness showcases stories of perseverance Students unite to discuss mental health illnesses By Kyle Grant staff writer
kgrant.theadvocate@gmail.com
The stigma surrounding mental health can lead many individuals who suffer from suicidal thoughts and tendencies to remain in the shadows and not reach out for help. Last week was Suicide Prevention Week, and Wednesday the Associated Students Union hosted an event in the Campus Center Plaza to discuss depression, mental illness and also reach out to anyone seeking help. Contra Costa College student Minerva Arebalo, fellow students and college staff held a round-table discussion that highlighted the growing number of people who deal with various psychological conditions, and ways to identify signs that someone may be suffer-
ing from a mental disorder. Participants shared their unique experiences with mental health and how it has affected their lives. Middle College High School senior Noemi shared her battle with an eating disorder, which led her to develop a fear of choking on the food she ate. She detailed a week she spent in the hospital, during which time she lost 10 pounds and remained bedridden so long it affected her mental state. “I just wanted to be me again,” she said. Noemi ended up entering an Eating Disorders Intensive Outpatient program (EDIOP) for her eating disorder. She spent most of her summer cooped up inside her house, but found solace in the help she received from a therapist and her friends. She made it clear that they were a large part of her recovery. Attendees were also drawn to the story of DaLonnie Crater, another CCC student who was brave enough to openly discuss his own troubles.
Middle College High School senior Noemi Gomez puts candles in the shape of a heart during Suicide Prevention Week at Contra Costa College.
MICHAEL SANTONE / THE ADVOCATE
Crater told the story of how he played football, had plenty of friends and to those who knew him, he seemed like a happy and popular high school teenager. To the audience’s surprise, he spoke about being bullied and growing up not liking the color of his own skin. Crater bravely described a time in his youth when he would go to extremes and pour bleach into his bath water, hoping it would lighten the color of his skin. Fortunately, members of his family and closest friends reached out to him and acted as his support group by helping him face and accept his circumstances. They also helped him override the stigma that accompanies coping with a mental illness.
Administrative secretary Elizabeth Bremmer spoke at the event and noted that many students are unaware of the resources available to them. The Student Wellness Program, which is a partnership between the Contra Costa Community College District and John F. Kennedy University community counseling centers, is a free service that pairs students with intern psychologists from JFK University for up to three sessions a week. Students can receive free individual counseling or take part in group therapy sessions on campus. All sessions are completely confidential. As the event drew to a close, attendees were asked to stand and come to the front. Each audience
member was given a small candle to place in front of a collage of names and faces. The candles were then arranged in the form of a heart. All the images in the collage were of people who succumbed to suicide at a young age. Event coordinators and some participants noted that while attendance at this year’s event was lower than last year’s, the message is no less important. “We just want people to know that no one’s alone. There’s always help available,” Arebalo. Anyone seeking help, referrals or any information on the Student Wellness Program can email wellness@contracosta.edu, or call 510215-3960 for more information.
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scene
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.19.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
Unleashed
RIGHT: An Air Time Action Sport cyclist jumps over two boys as part of a performance during El Sobrante Stroll on Sunday.
MOVIES
This week: “The Nun” (R) “The Predator” (R) “Fahrenheit 11/9” (R) “A Simple Favor” (R)
DIGITAL DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
City stroll energizes community Annual event brings together local businesses for day of fun
By Joel Umanzor staff writer
jumanzor.theadvocate@gmail.com
E
L SOBRANTE— The early weeks of September bring about a familiar sight of local families and inquisitive visitors sampling local wares and happily walking the streets of the sleepy East Bay town of El Sobrante. The El Sobrante Stroll is an annual event held every second Sunday of September. The stroll brings together a diverse group of vendors and spectators along a half mile section of San Pablo Dam Road from the El Portal intersection stretching to the Appian Way intersection. Volunteers from various local clubs and business began setting up tents, inflatable jumpers and directing traffic early on Sunday morning in preparation for the foot traffic. Food trucks were strategically positioned throughout the road and were serving a variety of barbecue, fried foods and shaved ice for adults and children. As the day progressed, classic cars and their
owners parked alongside San Pablo Dam Road to display the craftsmanship of vehicles of a variety of different makes and models. One of the businesses that is instrumental in the success of the event is the El Sobrante Town Garage. The garage, which is located at the very center of the stroll’s half-mile section of the Dam Road, has been open for decades and has won the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. “The owner, Mark Coroda, is a local figure here in El Sobrante and has owned this body shop for decades,” Jose Velarde, who manages the auto repair side of the garage, said. “Some of these cars are part of his own collection and some of these belong to locals who use the stroll as a way of displaying their work. “Not only does the shop help organize this (the stroll’s car show) as a way of displaying our own craftsmanship and skill,” Velarde said, “it’s also to give our local automotive community a car show they can take part in.” The event is a way for businesses along the Dam Road to give back to the local community in El Sobrante and bring a day of fun to those
who visit or live locally. A few motorcycle clubs, like the Hell’s Angels and Sons of Satan, set up tents to sell merchandise right alongside church groups such as the Bay Hills Church and the United Methodist Church, which sang spiritual songs to spectators. Many live performances were held throughout the event while the viewers danced and ate. Lidia Valdez, who resides on San Pablo Dam Road, enjoyed the music and festivities. “I come here every year and it’s good to see our small town being enjoyed by many people who don’t know anything about it. Local pride is good for everyone,” she said. The afternoon also featured a bicycle show, displaying the skills of a few local BMX talents. The crew performed stunts on a ramp set up just before the intersection of San Pablo Dam Road and Hillcrest Drive. The performers’ ages ranged from grade school to late teens, but all of them showed the onlookers their skills by spinning their bikes in mid-air before re-seating themselves with just enough time to stick the landing. LEFT: Richard Wershe Sr., played by Matthew McConaughey, talks to his son White Boy Rick, played by Richie Merritt after finding out he’s an FBI informant. SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE
Motion picture introduces Detroit street legend’s life to Hollywood By Efrain Valdez sports editor
evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com
F
ilms are supposed to either put audiences in fictional worlds that expand imaginations or offer viewers a better understanding of real life situations. The film “White Boy Rick,” which is based on a true story, takes the audience to 1984 Detroit, Michigan in the midst of a crack cocaine epidemic. This motion picture introduces the audience to Richard Wershe Jr., aka White Boy Rick played by Richie Merritt, and his white lower middle-class family shortly before he became the youngest FBI street informant ever at age 15. Director Yann Demange gives us a grim look into Detroit’s postwhite flight era neighborhoods and manages to offer up a glimpse of how the Reagan Administration’s War on Drugs further crippled those communities. Rick, is pressed by FBI agents
Alex (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Roach (Frank Byrd) to become an informant, while threatening him to bring charges against his father Richard Wershe Sr. (Matthew McConaughey) for illegal gun sales to gangs. As a crime comedy-drama, this film manages to force the crack-riddled violence down the throat of the audience with riveting scenes like when Rick nearly dies after being shot or seeing his daughter Dawn Wershe (Bel MOVIE Powley) battle her REVIEW addiction to crack. “White Boy Rick” Demange man★★★★★ ages to include Director: Yann some much-needDemange ed scenes of comic Opens: Sept. 14 Starring: Richie relief to ease the Merritt tension in the theater. In one scene, Rick’s daughter’s uncle knocks on the Wershes’ door to tell Rick to “man up because he has a son to take care of.” The director also is able to make Detroit look like the run-down city
it was back in 1980s. During that time, industrial companies moved their facilities out of the inner city and into rural areas. That resulted in a lack of opportunities for workers and resulted in a mass exodus that left many uninhabited homes to serve as makeshift crack houses. Between the crack houses, drive-in movie theaters and the club scenes, it feels like they represent that era perfectly. Both McConaughey and Powley did terrific jobs embodying their roles. McConaughey always thrives in roles when serving as the Midwestern everyman as in the films “Interstellar” and “We Are Marshall.” However Merritt, who is from Baltimore, had me convinced he was a British actor with a bad American accent — especially during the car crash scene and in other emotional moments. Merritt had the look of a white boy who is from the hood, but it
had a feel that another actor could have pulled it off better. Demange also missed an opportunity to include the history of the African-American gangs in Detroit and the War on Drugs that targeted those communities. Even though we get glimpses of it during the sting operation scene, when most of Rick’s old friends are arrested, the French film director seems too unconcerned with America’s history of oppression of this minority group. It is understandable that the film director only wants to represent the life of Rick and not step into something that could take the audience away from that. But to not include more of the African-American struggles in a film that takes place in an AfricanAmerican setting is odd. This movie is enjoyable to watch, but it had the potential for much more. Instead of being a movie I will remember for the rest of my life, it will be one that I will forget after five years.
New releases: “Bojack Horseman” Season 5 (TV-MA) “American Vandal” Season 2 (TV-MA) “Forever” Season 1 (TV-PG)
MUSIC
New releases: Noname: “Room 25” David Guetta: “7” Carrie Underwood: “Cry Pretty” 6lack: “East Atlanta Love Letter” Low: “Double Negative” Active Bird Community: “Amends”
GAMES
New releases: “Shadow of the Tomb Raider” (M) “NHL 19” (E) “Fishing Sim World” (E) “DAKAR 18” (E) Editor’s note: This column lists popular new (and upcoming) releases for the week. — Xavier Johnson
sports
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.19.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
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Reedley College Tiger cornerback James C. Day (right) intercepts Comet quarterback Jalen Tregle as wide receiver Kyree Jackson (left) looks on during Contra Costa College’s 50-20 loss on Saturday.
DENIS PEREZ/ THE ADVOCATE
Excessive penalties blight WOMEN’S season high performances SOCCER By Efrain Valdez sports editor
evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com
Despite improvements on special teams and offense, the football team’s inability to cut down on the number of penalties it committed hindered its chances for victory Saturday at Comet Stadium. In the 50-20 loss to Reedley College (3-0) Contra Costa College allowed the Tigers to jump out to an early 21-0 lead after an interception, turnover on downs and a punt. “The reason we lost this game is because we didn’t play our game,” Comet quarterback Jalen Tregle said. “We shouldn’t be looking at the scoreboard. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot and end up playing catch-up ball.” Tregle’s 14 completions on 32 passes generated three touchdowns and 300 passing yards and led the Comets (0-3) to a season high in total offensive yards with 377. CCC also totaled a season high in points, but it wasn’t enough for the team to come out victorious. Tregle said that he felt fine and calm during the game. “We weren’t getting it today and we need to score (earlier),” he said. “We came out in the second half and got the ball rolling, but it was just too late. You have to strike when the iron is hot.”
CCC’s biggest play of the game was also a play that showed the way they played against Reedley when Tregle connected with receiver Trevante Daniels for a 68-yard touchdown. Reedley College coach Eric Marty said, “They (CCC) have some really talented athletes. The quarterback (Tregle) was able to put the ball into open space and that allowed them to make some big plays.” He said his team tackled well, however, they did have breakdowns when facing the athletic Comet skill position players — like on the 68-yard touchdown pass. After the big play, there was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called on the Comets, which the Tigers took full advantage of. On the ensuing kickoff, Reedley’s Jamon Chambers returned the ball 39 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 28-7 with 6:35 remaining in the second quarter. Comet coach Pat Henderson said, “I think we had an opportunity to see some guys step up, which was good. We’d get some good plays and then there are the self-inflicted wounds.” He said there were too many unnecessary penalties throughout the game and he understands that mistakes happen, but in order to realize their potential, all of the emotional stuff that goes on with his young players has to get cleaned up.
The Comets committed 16 of the 31 penalties in the game, but those 16 flags resulted in 238 penalty yards against the team. “Obviously we have a lot of discipline issues that we have to clean up with this young group. We’re working on it. It’s a work in progress — we just need guys to mature,” Henderson said. He said he was happy to see better performances from the offense and special teams since both of those units had been struggling in previous games. CCC will have to find a way to clean up those careless mistakes if it wants to return to the days of Comet football dominance. “The biggest thing is to get the film up because that’s a great resource. We struggle not being able to have the access to the resources that we would like,” Henderson said. Tregle said that improving on these mistakes comes first with players having “a commitment to the program” and that because of everybody “not buying in” is hurting the team the most. This team manages to show burst of greatness but it is almost always diminished by the penalties. The Comets next opportunity to fix these mistakes and to record their first win of the season will come on Saturday against the College of the Redwoods at 1 p.m. in Eureka.
Executives forsake loyal fan base By Joel Umanzor staff writer
jumanzor.theadvocate@gmail.com
T
he Oakland Raiders dealt All-Pro Khalil Mack before the season started Sept. 6 in one of the most criticized trades in recent history and the current outlook for all those who claim the Silver and Black is nothing short of despair. The Raiders received first and sixth round picks in the 2019 draft, and first and third round picks in 2020. The Chicago Bears, the team on the receiving end of the deal, got more out of the deal than many people realize. Chicago not only acquired arguably the best NFL defensive player under 27 years old, a player who has yet to enter the prime years of his career, but in an astonishing turn of events received a second round pick from Oakland while not having to trade any active players. With a much improved Raider secondary and a linebacking group that actually
has some depth, not having Mack or someone else who can help Bruce Irvin put pressure on opposing quarterbacks is truly troublesome. Fans can only scratch their heads and wonder what Raider coach Jon Gruden and the front office were thinking inking the deal. Making a move like this makes Gruden seem like he thinks he can win without superstars. This trade was so slanted toward the Bears in compensation that not even EA Sports Madden 19 would approve the trade. The Raiders profess to embody the phrases “Commitment to Excellence,” “Pride and Poise” and “Just Win, Baby” while claiming loyalty to fans and former players with “Once a Raider, Always a Raider,” but the sad truth is that this franchise is an outdated antique that relies on nostalgia. The much maligned Gruden watched along with the rest of America as Mack wreaked havoc on the Green
JoelUmanzor Bay Packers offensive line on Sunday Night Football in Week 1. Through the first two weeks of the NFL season, Mack has as many sacks as the entire Raider defensive unit. He also has one more forced fumble, one more defensive touchdown, one more fumble recovery and as many interceptions. Pass rush, where Mack was most dominant, has been the main Raider weakness on an already depleted defensive unit through the first two weeks of the season. “No, it doesn’t make me regret the trade,” Gruden said in his weekly media conference. “We made the trade.” It’s not only that the
Raiders who, already lacked a pass rush with Mack, traded their only defensive star, but that the front office has essentially given up on winning for the rest of their Oakland tenure. Raider players now know that no player is safe from being shipped for draft picks. Now, the $100 million man, Gruden, is calling the shots. The message has also been received loud and clear by fans of the franchise. It is either get on board with the Vegas move and trust that Gruden has the answers to almost 40 years of questions (the last Super Bowl won by the Raider franchise was 1984) or get off the train because the show will go on. It’s the same excrement eclair the East Bay fan base has held its nose to and swallowed since the team moved back to Oakland in 1995. A few winning seasons in 28 years of being back in the Bay Area is not a “Commitment to Excellence” but rather a “Commitment to Insanity.”
REBUILD STUNTED By Alex Kwasniza staff writer
akwasniza.theadvocate@gmail.com
Fielding and keeping a full women’s soccer team has been a problem since Nikki Ferguson transitioned from coaching the women’s team to the men’s soccer team for Contra Costa College in 2014. And once again Comet athletics may be without a women’s soccer team for the 2018 season. “I’m disappointed,” Ferguson said. “I’m very disappointed because I think it’s important to have female representation within our athletic department.” The women’s soccer team has experienced a number of coaching changes since Ferguson’s rebuilding of the team six years ago and his subsequent departure from the women’s program to coach the men. Initially, his assistant Amanda Beckenhauer took the helm but was soon allowed to walk away after not maintaining the standard set in previous years by Ferguson. Only one win was garnered under the leadership of the overwhelmed former assistant coach in 2014 and in 2015 the women’s team forfeited its entire season. Beckenhauer was followed by Brittany Castillo, who also endured a rough and short-lived tenure before leaving without even nudging the program in the direction of prominence. Last year Manish Doshi was hired to lead the fledgling wom- Ferguson en’s program and after guiding the team through its first complete season in years, his final post-game speech last November left many of his players filled with optimism. After the game Doshi assured the team that he was here to stay, not going anywhere and that he was “dedicated to helping build the women’s soccer team back to a competitive program.” However, before the 2018 fall semester began, Doshi was gone and the burden to rebuild the women’s program was, once again, place firmly on Ferguson’s shoulders. And Ferguson already has his hands full coaching the men’s soccer team at CCC. Ferguson was chosen as the women’s soccer coach in May. “As much as I hate to say this, I don’t really see it happening this year,” he said. As of press time on Tuesday, the team had only six enthusiastic and participating players. This number obviously needs to grow, but time is running out as the season is slated to start on Friday when the Comets are scheduled to host College of Marin at 2 p.m. A full soccer team consists of 11 players, however, ideally, Ferguson said he would like to have at least 16 players on the squad before he could feel comfortable with CCC matching up against other teams this year. Athletic Director John Wade said he had a list of 16 players signed up for the women’s soccer team, but over half of them dropped off for various reasons. “It got to the point that I notified our (Bay Valley Conference) commissioner that it didn’t look good,” Wade said. At this juncture, anyone who is interested and capable of playing for the team should contact coach Ferguson immediately at nferguson@contracosta.edu.
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WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.19.2018 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
Youth center celebrates Latinx Photos by: Denis Perez For
more photos, please visit our website: www.cccadvocate.com
focus The Ryse Center, which serves Richmond youth, celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month on Saturday during its La Feria De Septiembre event. The “feria” was hosted in the center’s backyard and featured art and crafts stations, dancing and poetry.
A girl dances with the Two Stones indigenous group during the Ryse Center’s Feria De Septiembre event in Richmond, California on Saturday. The purpose of the dance is for the dancers to pray with their feet to God. Therefore the dances consist of prayer-based choreography.
Contra Costa College STEM major Valentino Cooper (left) and Ryse Center intern Lorraine Mangari spray paint a poster during La Feria de Septiembre event honoring the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month on Saturday. The “feria” featured vase painting, paper painting and other arts and crafts.
A dancer from the Two Stones indigenous dance group looks up to the sky as she rises from a squat during the Ryse’s Center’s Feria De Septiembre event in Richmond.