The Advocate 3-8

WEDNESDAY l 3.8.17 OUR 67TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

DISTRICT TO QUELL ICE FEARS, PLAN AIMS TO INFORM Executive orders jumpstart talks to protect rights

By Roxana Amparo editor-in-chief

ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

an ad representing their college’s music department.

“It’s like winning a Grammy, but that’s not why we are in it,” she said. “For the students it’s twofold because they are a part of a program that means something to them and they get an educational and professional experience.”

Laura Karst, who has been singing alto for Jazz-ology for three years, said winning something like a DownBeat award is a huge honor.

“I’ve never worked so hard and had so much fun in my whole life,” Karst said. “Dr. Austin does a brilliant job at teaching us these musicianship skills. They are stellar and help guide us.”

Since the creation of Jazz-ology in 2011 the group has won three DownBeat awards, with a total of five for the whole music program.

Austin has created an amazing vocal department, Karst said. “It’s sort of a cliche

The sanctuary district resolution passed by the Contra Costa Community College District in January protects undocumented students and employees of Contra Costa, Los Medanos and Diablo Valley colleges, but fears for marginalized communities linger.

CCC’s Police Services Lt. Tom Holt said he and his team stand firm on following the resolution to protect undocumented students.

“We, as a police department, are not looking at (their status).

I hope this (the resolution) gives people some peace, so that they can understand that this is not our focus.

“This is not something we are focused on. It doesn’t seem like an issue to me. I am not trying to say that I don’t understand that people can be concerned with that, but to me, since I am in charge of Police Services, we are not looking.

I haven’t heard that any of the outside agencies are looking (either),” Holt said.

The resolution, which was passed at a special board meeting on Jan. 12 at DVC, states, “Be it further resolved, the Contra Costa Community College District will not cooperate with any effort, federal or otherwise, to create a registry of individuals based on any legally protected characteristic, such as religion, national origin, race,

SEE JAZZ-OLOGY, PAGE 3

SEE SANCTUARY, PAGE 3

CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

Jazz-ology members (from left to right) NinoAngelo Lastimosa, Laurena Alm, Joseph Saeteurn and Laura Karst sing during a rehearsal on Monday. Along with Jazz-ology member Jesse Chao, the five-person ensemble won the 2016 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award for outstanding performance and small vocal jazz group.

Jazz-ology sets national pace Music

By Michael Santone

n “I’ve never worked so hard

news editor

ensemble

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

continues

Jazz-ology, Contra Costa College’s vocal jazz ensemble, is on a whirlwind of spotlight performances and achievements, winning the 2016 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award for outstanding performance and small vocal jazz group.

The group was also in the national top six among community colleges and universities to compete at The Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival.

With a prestigious tone that exudes top notch vocals and stunning harmonies, Jazz-ology has become one of the most recognizable vocal jazz ensembles in the country.

Music professor Stephanie Austin said, “We never get tired of receiving the emails that notify us of our successes.”

“They are both prestigious. Whether it’s a DownBeat or being invited to the Monterey Jazz Festival, I am honored,”

legacy with another win

and had so much fun in my life.”

— Laura Karst, Jazz-ology alto singer

she said. “It’s a big deal and we are really excited.”

To be considered for the DownBeat awards, Dr. Austin sent in three recordings from Jazz-ology’s 2015 album “On a Clear Day,” including “He Was the Cat,” “Grain De Sons” and “How We See.” A panel of instructors and professionals, who are unaware of which group is which to avoid favoritism, then judged the selections.

They critique each recording on phrasing, emotion, feel and the swing.

“They really listen to the quality of the recording and compare it to the standards of top musical groups like Pentatonix and the New York Voices,” Austin said.

The winners are awarded a plaque, as well as a spot in DownBeat Magazine for

Program increases retention Peer-led tutoring boosts retention rates, gives help

By Reggie Santini spotlight editor

rsantini.theadvocate@gmail.com

More than a quarterback PAGE 8

Horror film shows liberal apathy, sheds perspective PAGE 6 FACEBOOK: /accentadvocate

Students can receive group tutoring from fellow classmates by attending the College Skills Center’s peer-led team learning program.

The PLTL program at Contra Costa College gives students the opportunity to learn from their peers by attending hour-long group study sessions.

Special tutors embedded within the classes lead these sessions.

Tutors in the program are student workers who are scheduled to teach one specific subject each day they work.

Tutoring Office assistant Jordan Miller said, “There has been a 30 percent increase in the retention and successes rates of those who have been receiving tutoring compared to those who do not.”

According to data provided by the Campuswide Summary Overview Report of students in English 142A who participated in the PLTL during the 2016 spring semester had a 96 percent retention rate and a 79 percent success rate.

However, students who did not receive tutoring had a 76 percent retention rate and a 41 percent success rate.

The same data also shows INSTAGRAM: @cccadvocate

ANTHONY KINNEY/ THE ADVOCATE

Sean Teal follows along as peer-tutor Brittany Turner helps him get a better understanding of his homework in the Library and Learning Resource Center on March 1.

that students who participated in tutoring for Basic Skills Math (Math 101 through Math 118) had a 95 percent retention rate and a 59 percent success rate, according to the report.

However, the success rate for students who did not access PLTL was 44 percent.

Students who took Math 120 PLTL tutoring had a 95 percent retention rate and an 80 percent success rate. Meanwhile students who took Math 125 PLTL tutoring had a 100 percent retention and success.

TWITTER: @accentadvocate

n “If it had not been

Campuswide Tutoring Coordinator Brandy Gibson said for this program, I would the program started nearly three have been struggling with years ago.

Gibson said it is modeled after my classes.”

San Jose City College’s program — Dorise Moore, that targets classes with high numretired social worker bers of struggling students.

Criminal justice major Ben The PLTL program offers stu- Hayunga said, “I would be miles dents help in a variety of classes. behind if I had not been coming to These classes range from math, tutoring. I feel like a kindergärtner science, Spanish, English and sev- learning Spanish and our tutor is eral others. Students can check in really good at explaining things with their professors to know if their class has a PLTL program.

SEE TUTORING, PAGE 3 YOUTUBE: /accentadvocate

SNAPCHAT: @cccadv0cate

2

Quotable “Violence of the tongue is very real — sharper than any knife.”

Mother Theresa, missionary, 1983 Roxana Amparo editor-in-chief Marci Suela art director Lorenzo Morotti Michael Santone associate editors Benjamin Bassham Anthony Kinney news editors Robert Clinton sports editor opinion editor Xavier Johnson scene editor Dylan Collier assistant scene editor Reggie Santini spotlight editor Denis Perez Cody Casares photo editors Efrain Valdez Yesenia Melara social media editors Tashi Wangchuck multimedia editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Advocate Staff Sean Austin Madison Burfield Jose Chavez Karla Juarez Jaleel Perry Julian Robinson Valeria Garcia Jshania Owens Kyle Pierce-Turley Gabriel Quiroz Isaac Resendiz Matthew Robinson Allison Sniath Jessica Suico Carlos Suarez Desmond Sylva 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 Member

Associated Collegiate Press

California Newspaper Publishers Association

Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accentadvocate@ gmail.com Editorial policy Columns and editorial cartoons are the opinion of individual writers and artists and not that of The Advocate. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.

opinion

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2017 VOL. 104, NO. 16

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

●

EDITORIAL SPOON-FED MANIPULATION

Election results breed contempt despite pleas for democracy

F

our months after President Donald Trump’s election the political war of ideologies still wages — but the war front transcends the bloody steps on the UC Berkeley campus.

We live in a society that fights hate with hate. If disagreements about race, religion, gender, jobs or immigration on social media could become violent physical encounters, they would. Political conflicts should not devolve into fisticuffs, but at an alarmingly increasing rate they do.

The most recent eruption of violence began when anti-Trump protesters and Black Bloc anarchists on the UC Berkeley campus confronted a small group of Trump supporters on Monday.

Anti-Trump protesters and Trump supporters clashed with sticks, kicks, fists and pepper spray as Berkeley Police officers in riot gear contained the violence.

As Americans watch their brothers and sisters tear into each other in major cities nationwide, we should ask ourselves a question: How did we get here?

To be fair, the catalysts of this disarray are not the “racist” conservatives who voted for Trump. Nor are they the liberal “snowflakes.”

The truth is mainstream media outlets like CNN, FOX News and MSNBC, who have traded traditional journalistic standards of accuracy, clarity and fairness for high ratings, are fueling this war.

People on both extremes of the political spectrum, liberal and conservative, have become so desensitized to lies that facts no longer hold any power.

Conservative and liberal media outlets spend millions creating innocuous agendas that spread half-truths, innuendo and factual errors to intensify conflict and gain viewers.

The advent of social media has amplified our echo chambers to new heights.

It is becoming a rarity where people are exposed to ideas that counter their own, not because they no longer exist, but because those ideas are not profitable to target-based corporate media.

Instead, news stories appear on social media timelines based on what that individual likes or can be sold — instead of what is important.

Being spoon-fed information through algorithm or catering to the avoidance of cognitive dissonance, can only lead to a generation of people who will be unable to find common ground on nuanced issues.

Media moguls and billionaires like Rupert Murdoch, George Soros and even our president are exploiting the weak state of American journalism. Profit-driven media organizations and the POTUS have abandoned reporting the why and how for accusations that aren’t backed by evidence or named sources. Instead, the marketplace of lies demands conflict.

This discord is followed by a bevy of commercials offering purchasable trinkets and shiny gadgets to make everything feel better again. Do not feed the fire of ignorance.

If you do not support Trump’s vision of America then express it with symbols that allow people to have a better understanding of a conflict and reach a solution — words.

We do not support any political ideology or group that encourages its supporters to resort to acts of violence against another person simply because they disagree.

We share this new reality. So let’s begin to act like we give a damn about one another.

LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

■ MORALITY

I

Thoughts on trading blood and money

t’s ruthlessly cold-blooded but there has to be an exchange rate between human lives and money.

When I was 12. I learned that a human life is worth about $5 million.

When a safety measure is being considered, the cost of implementing it is weighed against the value of the lives it will save. Safety regulators say it isn’t worth it if it costs more than $5 million for every life saved.

If we spend $5 million to save a life then that money has been exchanged for a life.

I learned this about 15 years ago from a TV program about some aviation disaster and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

The value of life is capped too. Fifty million dollars can’t be spent to just save one life if it could save 10.

I rather hate this logic because it makes humanity seem cheap and interchangeable, but I can’t find a fault in it. The best I can do is quibble about the price.

This exchange goes the other way too; it’s called gainful employment.

Someone trades irreplaceable hours, weeks and years of their life for cash, hoping that they can trade it back by making life longer or better. Consider what you’re spending next time you go shopping. Do you really need that? Is it worth that many hours of your life?

The fascinating part is the same logic in reverse; if you waste $5 million you are a murderer. That puts government spending and corruption in perspective.

Imagine a world where lives are literally curren-

Children’s Center.”

Perhaps politicians would be a little more hesitant about signing off on multi-billion dollar projects if they had to spend the day watching the firing squads at work. I’m certain people would crack down on pork barreling and embezzlement cy. We might read in the if the costs were laid so news, “Today, the governor announced that 50 innocent starkly before them.

For amounts less than people will be dragged out one life, people could be into the street and shot; strapped into that torture now we can build the new device from “The Princess interstate. It’s expensive, but Bride” that shortens your life the boost to the economy is a little at a time. expected to enrich the lives “Don’t mind the screamof millions.” ing coming from the other Really it’s the same sysroom, we’re financing tem we Women’s History Month. have now, If we spend Hold on, we need balloons. except Raise the voltage!” taxes $5 million to Today the national debt spread in the United States is about our cost save a life $19 trillion. That’s equal in lives to 3.8 million lives. That’s among then that about the population of Los the mulAngeles, or a third of the titudes. money has total people killed in the The same Holocaust. amount been A lot of that debt is from would bailing out bankers, who exchanged be paid needed help because of how in this much money they wasted, for a life.

“Whole and from funding the endLives less war in the Middle East.

System,” only most people We’re spending lives to fund would pay no taxes and a the taking of lives. few people would pay a sigAnd the deficit has been nificantly higher tax. There’d be some blood and bodies to increasing by about $1 trillion yearly for the last clean up afterward though.

Maybe that’s an improve- eight years, so that’s another 200,000 dead added annument, since there would ally. Imagine the constant be no way to hide the cost. stream of people, filing past Hearing that money has on their way to the death been spent doesn’t have the camps. That is one heck of a same impact as a rotting price tag. corpse on your doorstep.

“Today, activists celebratBenjamin Bassham is a ed as a screaming mother news editor of The Advocate. and her child were stuffed Contact him at bbassham. into a gas chamber, protheadvocate@gmail.com. viding funding for the new

benjaminbassham

CAMPUS COMMENT

Did you attend Club Rush and did it persuade you to join any clubs?

“I wanted to go but I had class so I couldn’t go.”

Abagail Campara

“It’s encouraged me to join the chess club.”

Richie George

“I actually started my own outdoor adventure club after attending the Club Rush event.”

liberal arts

undecided

Ricky Cusguen political science

JESSICA SUICO AND MADISON BURFIELD/THE ADVOCATE

“I didn’t go because I had class during the time they had it.”

“No, I couldn’t go because I had a test.”

“It encouraged me to join the dance club.”

Heriberto Barba undecided

Astrid Garcia

Tina Kelpsas undecided

English

campus beat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.8.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

3

NEWSLINE JAZZ-OLOGY | Music department produces quality

n PLAY

CUBAN SISTERS FIGHT POLITICAL REGIME The play “Two Sisters and a Piano,” directed by drama professor Tara Blau, will be shown at the Knox Center.

Showings will be held on March 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25. All show times will be at 7:30 p.m.

The play, created by CubanAmerican playwright Nilo Cruz, tells the story of two sisters who have been imprisoned in their own home as a result of speaking out against a repressive political regime.

General admission will cost $15. Students and seniors will be charged $10.

Tickets are available online at: http://www.brownpapertickets. com/profile/1574992 or at the box office one hour prior to the show.

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

n STEM

GENOMICS DIRECTOR SPEAKS ON DNA The Adelante STEM Academy will host guest speaker and the UC Berkeley Genomics Sequencing Laboratory Director Shana McDevitt for the STEM Café event on March 16 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Fireside Hall.

McDevitt will be sharing her experience working with DNA sequencing equipment and answering students’ questions.

Entry to the workshop is free.

For more information or to RSVP, contact HSI STEM Program Coordinator Kelly Ramos at kramos@contracosta.edu.

n GLOBAL ISSUE

WOMEN’S DAY SHEDS LIGHT ON INEQUALITIES The Library and Learning Resource Center will host an International Women’s Day celebration today to highlight unfair treatment women face through a spoken word event.

Students are encouraged to wear red in support of women’s rights.

Students can also choose to contribute to a short poetry reading session during the event.

For more information, contact Campuswide Tutoring Coordinator Brandy Gibson at bgibson@contracosta.edu.

n STEM

WORKSHOP PROVIDES STEM FIELD INSIGHT The Adelante STEM Academy will host Sara Gaucher during its next STEM Café on Friday from 12:40 to 2 p.m. in Fireside Hall.

Dr. Gaucher is the director of Screening and Analytic Sciences at the bio-based chemicals and fuel company Amyris.

Gaucher will share her professional and personal journey in graduating from the Masschusetts Institute of Technology in chemistry to learning biological mass spectrometry at UC Berkeley.

Light refreshments will be provided by the Associated Student Union.

Entry to the workshop is free.

For more information or to RSVP, contact HSI STEM Program Coordinator Kelly Ramos at kramos@contracosta.edu.

CRIMEWATCH Monday, Feb. 27: A student filed a report with officers claiming she was scammed.

—Anthony Kinney and Reggie Santini

— 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.

Continued from Page 1 to say, but everything has been an honor and privilege.”

Laurena Alm, who has been part of Jazz-ology for two years and sings lead soprano, said it’s crazy to be up for, or even win, an award like the DownBeat.

“It nuts, someone, somewhere, listened to me on a recording and choose it over groups around the USA.” Before coming to CCC, Alm said she had no vocal training, but being in the vocal jazz program and Jazz-ology has helped her become more comfortable with herself.

“It’s that we hold each other responsible and take care of each other,” she said.

“It’s a weird feeling of trusting in someone else’s skills just as much as your own.”

The presentation of awards will culminate at the Jazz Gala concert at the end of the semester, which will feature performances from the whole music department in the Knox Center.

For the Monterey Next

Generation Jazz Festival, things are a little different, Austin said.

They were asking for a live recording of the group that will be performing at the festival, she said.

They reviewed the group and recording and sent invitations to the best in the country.

This year the six finalists are all from colleges and universities in California, including Cal State-Sacramento, American River College and College of the Canyons.

The festival will be judged in categories by people in the industry using a rubric to tally the score for the winner.

There is no way to really prepare for something like Next Generation, Austin said.

“The groups that do really well have their A-game going all the time. They practice at that level all the time,” she said.

“We won’t be changing anything we have been working on this semester,” Austin said.

“I’m hard on them. It’s like I’m the coach who is preparing them for a huge game.”

Joseph Saeteurn, who has been a part of Jazz-ology for two years

“It’s nuts, someone, somewhere, listened to me on a recording and choose it over groups around the USA.” Lauren Alm,

Jazz-ology lead soprano

and sings tenor, said it’s a fun group to be in but it’s a lot of work and commitment.

“It brings a sense of joy and comfort to be able to do what I love,” he said.

Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival is a big part of the jazz world, Saeteurn said. “It’s an honor to be invited.

“It’s different from other festivals we have performed at because those aren’t judged like Next Generation,” he said. “Festivals we perform at are normally relaxing and we are just there to show people what we’ve been doing and get feedback.”

But Next Generation is a competition, he said. “I’m excited to compete and see groups from all

over the United States perform.”

Austin is an amazing teacher and really helps their musicianship, Saeteurn said.

“She really tries to put our mind set in the frame of a performance when we are rehearsing.

“It means a lot to me to be a part of Jazz-ology. I am very grateful,” he said.

NinoAngelo Lastimosa, who has been apart of Jazz-ology for a year and sings baritone, alto and tenor, said it was a very humbling experience when he found out Jazz-ology was invited to compete at Next Generation.

Everyone in the group had to agree to compete before Austin accepted the invitation, Lastimosa said.

“A lot of polishing and a lot of musicianship has to go into preparation for the festival.”

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work but we get to walk the red carpet and live the experience,” he said.

“It’s with Austin’s coaching.

She’s there to keep us uniform and teach us how to be independent as a musicians.”

SANCTUARY | Community readies for pushback n “We as a police department,

Continued from Page 1 ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Holt said, “If somebody comes here and says they have a warrant for ‘John Doe,’ we don’t share information with them. If I can determine that person was not a student here, I can tell them, ‘They are not a student here,’ and that alleviates the problem.”

“You have to have a reason to stop somebody. You can’t just stop somebody because of the way they look, because of their race, nationality, the way they are dressed. They are not going to do a sweep here,” Holt said.

“I am not going to say, “Hey, they are over in the LA Building,’ or what their classes are. We aren’t going to give them any personal information. We don’t share that. That is backed up by the resolution.”

District Director of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ed Carney said, “I can’t imagine that it’s a possibility. I cannot imagine that there would be a purpose to come in and do a random search.”

Although there is no rule or law that says ICE has to contact Police Services to come on campus, Holt said it would not make sense for them to show up.

During a district meeting on March 2 at 12:30 p.m., Padilla said they talked about ways to ease communication throughout the three campuses if President Donald Trump were to pass any executive orders that would directly affect students in minority groups.

“When that news hits that campus, then what is going to be the process? Who do we send out the information to, who is going to evaluate it for legal interpretation, how it impacts our students?” Padilla asked. Then we need to send out a rapid communication about what we are going to do about that particular executive order, she said.

She said another way to support undocumented students is by helping them financially, with legal consults if necessary.

Padilla said, “LMC was asking if we could

are not looking at (their status).

I hope this (the resolution) gives people some peace so that they can understand that this is not our focus.”

— Lt. Tom Holt, Police Services

use funds to support students to meet with lawyers to talk about their immigration status.

It looked like, based on the state code, we were not allowed to use our funds that way.”

Padilla said they will continue to find ways to help fund these initiatives for students.

La Raza studies major Luis Ledesma said, “I personally think sanctuary campuses claim alliances with undocumented students. That is not enough. I want our campuses to be accomplices to bring justice to the broken system.”

He said students need “restorative” justice programs, mental health programs and financial aid counselors to be fully informed about the needs of AB 540 students and other minority groups on campus.

Assembly Bill 540 was signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis on Oct. 12, 2001.

AB 540 exempts students from paying nonresident tuition at CCC and other California community colleges and universities if the student attended high school for at least three years and graduated, or received a GED or certificate of equivalency.

Carney said the purpose of the meeting was to find ways to better communicate the purpose of the resolution, because it is more than just words written on paper.

“We need to find any means of communication,” he said.

The group that met on Thursday was made up of Chancellor Fred Wood, faculty and staff, CCC’s President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, DVC’s Interim President Ted Wieden, LMC President Bob Kratochvil, Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Huff, CCC HSI STEM Manager Mayra

Padilla and Carney.

Holt said if federal agents come to the campus with a warrant, his job is to make sure it is valid before any further steps are taken.

On Feb 15, there was a rumor circulation in the Holt Richmond-San Pablo community that ICE agents were on campus, bringing some hysteria to the campus and community members.

Also, that day, just before the Coffee with a Cop event, a CCC student was detained for possession of marijuana.

“We were doing Coffee with a Cop and it just so happened that we heard that this kid had a bunch of marijuana on him. And that somebody had actually seen him with a large bag,” Holt said.

“When they said that (ICE was on campus), it was cold out and I thought they were actually talking about ice on the pavement. Literally.

Within three to five seconds I found out what they were talking about,” Holt said.

But in order for agents to come to campus, there is a procedure to follow.

“If I am going to go somewhere, to another jurisdiction or if someone is going to go to our jurisdiction, it’s common practice that you call and say, ‘Hey, we are going to be there,’” he said.

But Holt said, “If they had been here and come in and didn’t tell the local police departments, I assume they are going to roll up in unmarked cars. Or at least in cars that were not clearly marked with (emergency vehicle) plates. (What would happen if ICE came to the college) is just as mysterious to me as it is to anyone else.”

Carney said it definitely will not happen on the district’s college campuses, and even if the agents have a subpoena there would not be permission granted to proceed.

Padilla said a College Council meeting will be held Thursday in GE-225 from 2-4 p.m. to approve a plan of action to communicate this information to CCC students.

TUTORING | Office eases struggles, builds networks Continued from Page 1 that get rushed over in class.”

PLTL tutors must attend a monthly meeting and also take the Academic Skills 200 or 201 classes to receive a certificate that allows them to tutor that specific subject.

Miller said tutors have two monthly meetings that serve as training sessions.

One session is smaller.

Students who want to apply to be a tutor must turn in an application with their unofficial transcript and references from their teachers.

PLTL tutors earn an average of $10.50 per hour and are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week.

Miller said, “Anyone can apply to be a tutor as long as they passed the class they wish tutor with an A or B. Depending on the references we receive we invite potential candidates in for an interview.”

Political science major Cinthya Zuniga said, “The current group I taught just received their first test back. The lowest score among them was 80 percent.”

Zuniga is one of the 96 tutors currently working at the College Skills Center.

Nursing major Christine Empig said, “I think it is easier to learn from a tutor than a teacher. The

n “I think it’s easier to

learn from a tutor than a teacher. The teachers have to focus on a lot of students and the tutors are able to take more time since it is just a couple of us.”

— Christine Empig, nursing major

teachers have to focus on a lot of students and the tutors are able to take more time since it is just a couple of us.”

Zuniga said she makes lesson plans based on what students are currently learning in the book and tries to help them build confidence in their own work.

Retired social worker Doris Moore said this program is personal and less tense than learning from teachers. Unlike regular class sessions, she looks forward to coming here every time.

Applied mathematics major Aldo Hernandez said, “It is a lot more personal. We get to really sit down and get close to the students.

“By having us attend the classes, students see us as classmates instead of tutors.”

Zuniga said, “I have taught up to 12 students at once. I help them with everything from their presentations, study guides Gibson and homework.”

Miller said they try to leave the homework help for the drop-in tutors, but if a large number of students are stuck on the same things the PLTL tutors might take over.

Moore said, “This program is very advantageous to students. My grades and my understanding are better. If it had not been for this program, I would have been struggling with my classes.”

Hernandez said the program is definitely beneficial to those who participate.

He said drop-in tutoring is incredibly rushed but PLTL tutoring can go on for hours.

The PLTL program also offers students help by offering them a free book for their class.

Miller said in order to get a free book students must sign the Campus-Wide Tutoring Book Loan contract that says they will attend 10 PLTL classes.

“The free book program is an

incentive for people to show up to the PLTL program. We had pretty good numbers, but we wanted to create an incentive to increase them,” Miller said.

Hayunga said the free book program was originally what brought to him to the PLTL program, but because “the tutors are more giving with their time in the PLTL study sessions,” he stayed.

Hernandez said, “As a tutor I feel a lot more like their friend who has all the answers than just a regular tutor.”

Miller said they reach out to as many teachers as possible to try and get tutors embedded into their classes.

By doing this, PLTL tutors can focus their study sessions on what students learned that particular day in class and target any issues students may have.

Zuniga said she is sad to be graduating soon because she loves being part of the PLTL program.

She said she loves meeting new people and providing them with the help they need.

Hernandez said, “Every time a student comes in here it is like they are reaching their hand out for help, and I am happy to hold their hand and show them they are not alone.”

4

campusbeat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.8.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Group receives $500 in funding Associated Student Union votes to sponsor STEM Café food costs

By Gabriel Quiroz advocate staff

gquiroz.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Associated Student Union Board unanimously voted to sponsor the Hispanic Serving Institution/ Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) $500 to cover the cost of food and drinks for the remaining five STEM Café events at its meeting on Wednesday.

At Stem Café events, students can ask STEM professionals from across the Bay Area questions about their experiences moving through the community college system.

As of now, the HSI/STEM’s operating budget does not allow for the purchase of food or refreshments Refreshments for previous STEM Cafés were originally baked goods provided by Ramos and other members of the program.

Ramos said she would gladly make baked goods for the STEM Cafés if they did not receive the money, but as the momentum builds, there is an increasing number of

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Student Life Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks (center) speaks during an ASU meeting in the General Education Building on March 1.

students attending and the $500 would help in food costs.

HSI/ STEM Program Coordinator Kelly Ramos made a presentation to the ASU at its meeting on Feb.. 22.

Ramos said than 45 students attended the first STEM Café for the spring 2017 semester and nearly 60 are expected at the next session with Amyris Screening and Analytical Science Director Sara Gaucher on Friday in Fireside Hall.

At the following ASU meeting on March

1, ASU President Safi Ward-Davis discussed the details of the STEM Cafés.

She said because STEM Cafés bring in professionals of minority backgrounds, students can connect and learn from these professionals’ experiences entering the STEM fields.

The motion to sponsor HSI/STEM for $500 was moved by ASU Vice President of Club Affairs Jose Arebalo.

ASU Finance Committee Chairperson Aireus Robinson was particularly passionate

about the idea of sponsoring the STEM Café events.

When Ramos asked the ASU Board for feedback, Robinson said, “As someone who hopes to go into a STEM field these (events) are a big deal for me.

“Hopefully, I can learn more about my major and what programs or scholarships are available,” he said. “It is a learning experience. That’s the only thing I can describe it as, a learning experience.”

Faculty talk Alt-Right movement

By Benjamin Bassham news editor

bbassham.theadvocate@gmail.com

A faculty-led Flex workshop, intended to be an open forum to discuss the Alternative Right and its ideologies with students and faculty was held from 3-5 p.m. in the Fireside Hall on Feb. 27.

Philosophy professor Asad Kabir hosted the event and presented his interpretation of what the Alt-Right is, and questioned what roles students and faculty should have in the current political climate.

Kabir used a PowerPoint presentation to deliver his impression of the Alt-Right, their interests, and “examination of where they overlap with (Steve) Bannon and with (President) Trump.”

Kabir skipped most of his pre-

pared material from the Alt-Right and went through their detractors’ material about the repugnance of their white supremacy.

In particular, Kabir focused on Bannon, assistant to the president and former editor-in-chief of Breitbart News. Kabir said Bannon believes that America is due to go through a period of crisis but Bannon has a plan for the country.

Bannon is the brains of the current government preparing for a crisis. “This frame of mind makes them go out to create crisis,” Kabir said.

The other participants of the discussion, apart from sharing their dislike of Trump, focused almost exclusively on immigration, sanctuary and concerns over deportation.

English professor Elvia Ornelas-

“As educators we have to resist.”

Elvia Ornelas-Garcia English professor

Garcia said, “As educators we have to resist.”

Kabir bowed to the crowd’s choice of topic, contributing to “plans to resist ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement),” and plans for later community resistance against Trump’s immigration policies.

ESL professor Anoosheh Borhan said, “They can still come into our classrooms. What can we do? What legal aid can be given to students?”

ESL professor Susan Marvin said, “There have been reports in the news all weekend about people

who have been rounded up without proper authority.”

Ornelas-Garcia said, “ICE agents cannot enter if they do not have a subpoena.” A proposed solution, in the event of ICE arriving at a classroom to make an arrest, is to close the door in ICE’s face until the end of class and have students call every media outlet possible.

There was even discussion of the possibility of closing down campus to draw media attention.

Histor y department Chairperson Manu Ampim said, “This is a nation of laws when it is convenient, and that’s always been the case. Citizens need to go out and seize the rights. People have to be willing to put what they have on the line.”

Speakers expressed some dis-

quiet that the motion that was passed to make the Contra Costa Community College District never mentioned the word “sanctuary,” but Ornelas-Garcia said, “I believe they (the District Board) received legal advice — to stay away from the word ‘sanctuary.’”

Ornelas-Garcia had a single copy of a card with various advice and notes legal advice, tailored for undocumented immigrants. She suggested similar convenient note cards could be distributed at CCC. The discussion ran until nearly 5:30 p.m. Kabir tried to draw interest to Bannon’s racial motivations, but didn’t pull much interest. One late-coming guest, who missed the earlier section about the Alt-Right, ventured his opinion the Africans are the “dominant race.”

Grant awarded to develop counseling services State allocates $750,000 in College Promise funding to CCC

By Anthony Kinney news editor

akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com

A grant of $750,000 was awarded to Contra Costa College to fund the College Promise program, in partnership with the Richmond Promise scholarship, to propel Richmond High School graduates into college.

The Richmond Promise is offered to Richmond residents who graduate from any high school in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD).

The grant will allow the creation of a program to develop and implement counseling courses and an extensive support network designed to ensure the maximum success rate among Richmond Promise scholars.

College President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said, “Creating an environment that provides that support structure and helps our students maneuver through the educational system is paramount.”

Although 38 California community college districts applied, CCC was one of only eight California colleges awarded the grant, under the California College Promise Innovation Grant Program, regulated by the chancellor of California Community Colleges.

According to the California Community Colleges’ Chancellor’s office’s official website, “College Promise programs are partnerships which align local K-12 school districts, community colleges and public university segments to provide clear pathways for students to follow in order to achieve their educational goals.”

The Innovation Grant program was constructed after Assembly Bill 1741 passed last September, appropriating a one-time fund of $15 million to be dis-

n “Creating an environment that provides that support structure and helps our students maneuver through the educational system is paramount.”

— Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, president

tributed to selected community college districts to construct their own Promise programs.

The newly-awarded $750,000 will come to CCC as a 26-month grant for planning and implementing the college’s “Promise Program,” to help Richmond Promise scholars.

District Director of Communications and Community Relations Tim Leong said the grant will look to provide substantial support and services, so that when these students come to CCC, all can be ensured that scholars are going to meet their education goals.

Mehdizadeh said she believes what made CCC’s application stand out, compared to the other colleges that also applied for the grant, was the ongoing work the college and the Richmond Promise have already conducted together.

In 2016 the city of Richmond and the energy corporation, Chevron, formed the community-wide scholarship fund and college success program, the Richmond Promise.

The program provides scholarships up to $1,500 a year, for up to four years, to Richmond residents that graduated from a high school in the West Contra Costa Unified School District.

Scholarship amounts are based on the applicant’s length of time as a Richmond resident and what grades they achieved

at WCCUSD schools.

CCC is currently home to 55 Richmond Promise scholars.

“It’s wonderful to provide a monetary incentive and assist students to come to college and overcome some of their financial barriers,” Mehdizadeh said. “But when they get to our college what we find is that often many of our students are first generation college students and they need more in terms of guidance and support, so that’s what our college promise program and the $750,000 grant will help us do.”

Mehdizadeh said CCC’s Promise Program’s focus will be to provide Richmond Promise scholars with a college graduating culture and an extensive system of support services, two components that are crucial for education success.

The grant will implement near-peer mentoring through “completion coaches,” a strategy Mehdizadeh said college Promise programs across the country have already tested and proved successful.

Mentors will be recent college graduates from the community, young people who CCC students can easily relate to, that will essentially keep in direct contact with scholars as they go through the Promise program to ensure they’re staying on track and that all their questions are promptly answered.

Mehdizadeh said that scholars usually come to CCC undecided on their major and take general education classes until they eventually find in what field their passion lies.

The program will develop counseling courses and “wrap-around” support services to help students identify early what their desired field of study will be reduce students taking unnecessary classes.

“In the scholars’ first semester, we work with them to develop expansive ‘ed plans’ and really help them complete assessments to identify who they Mehdizadeh really want to be,” Mehdizadeh said.

In scholars’ second semesters, the program shift gear and will help them decide if they want to transfer to a fouryear university, and if so, which one.

Along with the more frequent college fairs on campus, Richmond Promise scholars will also get opportunities to go on college campus tours to the various CSU and UC campuses, as well as HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) around the country.

The second semester’s focus is to help connect the scholars with the potential schools they want to transfer to so they take courses at CCC they are perfectly in line to transfer to the institution of their choice.

“We want to make it easy for them to get in, get through and move on,” Mehdizadeh said.

Economics major Ivan Herrera recently applied for this year’s Richmond Promise program and is eager to hear if he was one of those selected.

Herrera said he heard about the Richmond Promise program while campaigning for former Richmond City Council candidate Uche Uwahemu last year.

“A lot of candidates running for City Council would talk about (Richmond Promise) during debates,” he said.

“It’s great to see them allocating our public dollars to something good, like helping empower our youth to be successful and go to college.”

campus beat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.8.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

5

Continuous struggle

WOMEN’S OBSERVANCE SUPPORTS COMMUNITY

By Robert Clinton sports editor

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

Following the massive turnouts at women’s marches around the world on Jan. 21, eight feminist activists have organized an “international women’s strike” for today with the purpose of forging a better working and more gender-inclusive world.

In observance of International Women’s Day, campuswide Tutoring Coordinator Brandy Gibson has organized a Contra Costa College Women’s Day of Action today in the Campus Center Plaza from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will allow students and faculty to gain the knowledge the day aims to provide without deviating from life’s daily course.

“I wanted to observe the national strike but wanted to be here because I’m committed to my students and their commitment to success,” Gibson said. “Some of my colleagues felt the same way. They wanted to support the action but didn’t want to take the day off.”

The event will feature tables where students can get information about the issues that are faced by women and people of LGBTQ+ backgrounds.

Information about access to health care, jobs and education will be available.

The overall theme of the event is access to information while offering pathways to enact change.

“We will also have the ability for students to contact their members of Congress, where to send postcards and how to email public officials,” Gibson said.

Bringing the event to campus was impromptu and was organized in just six days by Gibson after gaining approval from CCC President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh. Since observance varies so much from region to region, many have not heard of the 2017 event deemed a “Day Without Women.”

Medical assistant instructor Susan Reno said, “I need to educate myself on their movement, their stand and how that affects the school.”

The nationwide agenda is to mobilize women, including transgender women and all who support them, for a day of striking, marching, blocking roads and bridges.

They hope allies abstain from domestic care and sex while calling out misogynistic politicians and companies, and also striking in educational institutions.

The first Women’s Day observance was held on Feb. 28, 1909, in New York in remembrance of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union strike of 1908. That strike saw as many as 20,000 women commit a mass 14-day walkout that eventually gained them improved wages, working conditions and hours.

Although actions are planned locally and across the country, at CCC educators want to make sure students who want to take an active role in the future of their community have a clear path.

“Not only do women gain knowledge from events like this, it plants a seed of interest in them that develops into speaking out and addressing issues,” business administration major Angelica Espinal said.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

A protester holds up a sign during the Women’s March on Washington D.C. sister march in Oakland, Calif. on Jan. 21. The Women’s March brought together over 200,000 people to stand for women’s rights. Inspired by the Women’s March and in recognition of International Women’s Day, activists plan a “Day Without A Woman” strike nationally.

Locally, activists plan a rally on the steps of San Francisco City Hall today.

Law requires shower access for homeless

By Denis Perez photo editor

dperez.theadvocate@gmail.com

A recent California state law ordering that a two-hour block of access to locker room showers on campuses be designated to homeless students makes official a familiar policy for Contra Costa College.

Athletic Director John Wade said it is a good law but it is not a game changer.

Students were already able to use the showers if they had physical education classes and if any student needed to take a shower they were able to.

“The golden rule has always been if they want to use it, they must be respectful,” Wade said.

Dean of Student Services Vicki Ferguson said now that it is law they are able to market and network the program.

She said, “Our goal is to be open beginning mid-March. The minimum requirement to use the shower is to be enrolled in one class. Whether you’re taking one class or six classes, if you need access to showers you should be able to get access to one.”

Necessity Building and Ground Manager Bruce King said, “There is a homeless student population. I know a student who sleeps at the bus stop. I say hi to him and ask

him how he is doing. There are also homeless people who are just sleeping here.

“There was an instance where a homeless woman was giving herself a shower in the men’s restroom in the Knox Center and a faculty member walked in and they both got scared.”

Library Assistant Lucy Brown said homelessness is more apparent in the cities than in the suburban areas, but homelessness is a serious issue in the academic community.

It is hard to keep track of the homeless population because it’s hard for them to self-identify.

She said, “It is the humane thing to do to open up the showers to homeless students.”

Library Coordinator Megan Kinney said, “Working in libraries you get to interact with the homeless population.

There has been a time when a homeless person’s odor has filled the Library and it is apparent they need access to a shower.”

Security Police Services Lt. Tom Holt said, “Whenever we talk about student security in a building, whether it be the Gymnasium or the General Education Building, it means a faculty or staff member has to be with them to oversee

what is happening.”

Ferguson said the bill provides instructions to work the two-hour block into time frames that don’t conflict with collegiate athletic programs or classes.

The bill also states staff members must be present at those times.

“We picked the time frame of 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. because both staff members are present in the Women’s and Men’s Locker Room showers and they are able to supervise and alert the right people in case of any emergencies,” Ferguson said.

Those looking to use the showers will not be asked for their campus ID or proof of units.

“We are not going to know who is homeless or not, or even if they are students. They are given that right to prevent students that have to come out as homeless from feeling harassed when they are just trying to shower,” Ferguson said.

There is an existing partnership with Spark Point to give out “Comet Care Packages” to students and the Associated Student Union’s food pantry is open to students in need.

Ferguson said student leadership voices through social media and other outlets will be used to spread the word about the newly designated availability of showers.

NURSING SERIES REVEALS HARDSHIPS, PROVIDES GUIDANCE Four-year college students answer local concerns

“My two biggest concerns, transferring into a new school and getting into their nursing programs were addressed today.”

By Efrain Valdez social media editor

Raymond Sadsad,

evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com

Nursing students from the Contra Costa Community College District congregated in Fireside Hall for the Nursing Network Series on Friday.

Transfer Services Director Andrea Phillips said, “It all started last year when we brainstormed for ideas on how to help our pre-nursing students and we came up with the nursing series. We ended up having one event like this last year.”

The networking series was put together by the nursing department with the intent of informing students about the professions they are pursuing and the process of transferring to a four-year school that comes with it.

“We got in contact with students from Cal State-East Bay and Samuel Merritt University to start the conversation about having a three-part program,” she said.

“I’m actually a part of the work study program. I am a teacher’s assistant and I tutor at schools so this event was an opportunity for me,” Cal State-East Bay student Krystle Mendoza said.

The panel of seven nursing stu-

nursing major

ANTHONY KINNEY / THE ADVOCATE

Cal State-East Bay nursing student Krystle Mendoza (center) emphasizes the need of internships in order to build up a resumé to Contra Costa Community College District students at Fireside Hall on Friday.

dents gave advice on how to balance the load of work, school and hospital internships.

Contra Costa College nursing student Raymond Sadsad said, “This was actually very helpful.

My two biggest concerns, transferring into a new school and getting into their nursing program, were addressed today.”

Many of the nursing students had questions about how to

improve their resumés before they transfer to a four-year university.

The panel also warned students to expect a lack of sleep and no time for friends and family when they transfer.

“We (the panel) told them to not fear the whole process of going through nursing school because we know it’s very stressful,” Mendoza said. “I can relate to the students at CCC because I know what it is

to be in their shoes. The advice that I could give them is to be patient and to find the motivation or inspiration that will help them get through nursing school.”

Sadsad said, “Our teacher did offer us extra credit to come, but to be honest I don’t care about that. I saw this as an opportunity to talk to the people on the panel.”

“I was once a pre-nursing student like them so I know all

the questions and concerns they might have and now that I know those answers I can share them,” Mendoza said.

She said students shouldn’t get discouraged if they don’t get into a four-year nursing program right away. The process is going to be hard. If a pre-nursing student doesn’t make it into a program for a semester they should go out and get a job at a hospital to work for experience.

“The message of this event is for pre-nursing students to understand the path they are going to take and what kind of prerequisites are required to transfer,” Phillips said.

She said organizers sent out emails to students at CCC’s sister colleges Los Medanos and Diablo Valley, which helped the turnout at the event. About 100 people, including students, panel members and professors, showed up.

The next nursing series event is March 24 hosting nursing students from all around the Bay Area and the final one is on April 28, featuring working nurses.

6

scene

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.8.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

‘Get Out’ brings black experience to cinema finds himself lost in the kind of neighborhood where just existing while black can be a foreboding experience.

The film repeatedly taps into the all-too-genuine feelings many minorities navigate when

By Robert Clinton opinion editor determining if a race-based rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com emotional response is warranted or is an overreaction. ust living while black in With serenity as his pallet, America can be a horPeele spoon feeds the audience rifying experience and an opening image of just how “Get Out,” directed by menacing the quiet suburbs of Jordan Peele, exaggerates the Anytown, USA can be. motives behind uncomfort“Get Out” is centered on the able, everyday encounters with life of black photographer Chris post-racial liberals by weaving Washington, played by Daniel together a web of murder and Kaluuya. He has agreed to meet mind manipulation. the parents of his white girlThe movie is groundfriend Rose Armitage (Allison breaking in the horror genre Williams) for the first time at and is the first film, created the family’s and directed by an Africansecluded counMOVIE American, to ever be backed by try home.

REVIEW a major Hollywood studio.

In the most “Get Out” “Get Out” premiered Jan. 24 horrifying ★★★★★ at the Sundance Film Festival Starring: Daniel “Look Who’s Kaluuya and instantly received critical Coming to Directed by: acclaim for creating a social Dinner” synJordan Peele critique of American racism Genre: Horror/ opsis ever, the while using common micro-ag- movie uses Thriller gressions to guide the film to its interracial eventual plot-twisting end. relationships, The film departs from the police brutality, safe ways Hollywood usually race and sexuality to give movdeals with race. It strips away iegoers an authentic view of the protection of historical con- inherent racial stereotypes from text and places the responsibil- the black perspective. ity squarely at the feet of those Washington, like many men, who scoff at how awful racism is skeptical about meeting his used to be. girlfriend’s parents. But his In his directorial debut, skepticism turns to trepidation Peele pays homage to classic when he learns that his girlHollywood films like the iconic friend has yet to tell her parents tale of interracial love “Look that he is black.

Who’s Coming to Dinner” and Armitage assures her boythe “Stepford Wives,” a 1975 friend that her family is prosci-fi thriller about mind-congressive and completely cool trolled housewives. with the idea of interracial Since its Feb. 24 release, the dating. film has grossed $76 million She even goes so far as to worldwide, despite only havsay “if he could have, my father ing a $4.5 million production would have voted for Obama budget. for a third term.”

The movie provides Part of the uneasiness of worst-case-scenario optics to the film stems from the innate common occurrences.

American belief that racism is From the opening scene, confined to southerners and is Andrew (LaKeith Stanfield)

Film offers bloody critique of politics, racial stereotypes

J

beneath the sensibilities of the liberal elite.

Washington finds the Armitage family to be as post-racial as the current American political system — whether they realize they are or not.

The Armitage father, Dean, (Bradley Whitford) mother, Missy (Catherine Keener) and son Jeremy (Caleb Landry-Jones) all take shots lobbing micro-aggressions at Washington during a family dinner aimed at getting to know him.

Initially, Washington believes the Armitage’s over-accommodating actions are an expression of nervousness about their daughter’s interracial relationship. But soon he senses a more ominous intent.

A recurring tool that Peele uses to perfection is his ability to give substance to the feeling of being in a room where everyone is too eager to show that they relate to you — or more importantly — to your blackness.

The director uses these micro-aggressions as breadcrumbs, helping viewers recognize the stereotypical objectification cues that thread each incident together, yet, without giving too many clues to where the plot is headed.

For Washington, more disturbing than the Armitage family, are the black groundskeeper Walter (Marcus Henderson) and black housekeeper Georgina (Betty Gabriel).

(Dean) Armitage tells Washington that the pair were hired to take care of his aging parents, and when they died he couldn’t bear to let them go.

Although the two behave increasingly oddly as the film progresses, the prospect of being the only blacks living in the middle of nowhere makes their behavior, to Washington, somewhat understandable.

Adding fuel to Washington’s

uncomfortable distrust of the Armitage family and hired help is his friend, TSA agent Rod Williams (Lil Rell Howery).

Williams serves as Washington’s only reliable lifeline to the outside world and as comic relief in some of the most uncomfortably tense situations in the movie.

Williams character serves as the conscience of the viewer and when audience members scream “don’t go in that room,” Williams is on screen screaming right along with them.

Washington does his best to suss out the Armitage intent, despite the arrival of many family guests for an annual party.

As party goers become increasingly obsessed with Washington, the photographer finds peace behind the lens.

While burying his attention in his camera, Washington spots another black face across the yard. After speaking to his fellow foreigner, Washington’s excitement becomes still.

Not only does he display the same lifeless smile of the Armitage caretakers, he is conspicuously devoid of all the common traits of American blackness.

From that moment, Washington realizes the incidents are part of a larger plot and rather than be a hero, his only motivation is to get away.

Peele began writing the film in 2012, shortly after the death of Trayvon Martin. He changed the ending following the 2016 election season to adjust it to the new climate of race in America.

In an interview on the Combat Jack Show podcast Peele said, “This movie is for groups that deal with real life horrors and oppression. We need to go to the theater and scream to get out this frustration.

“I wanted to represent not only our skin, but also our perspective,” he said.

ILLUSTRATION AND PAGE DESIGN BY MARCI SUELA/ THE ADVOCATE

sports

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.8.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

7

■ OFF THE RECORD

efrainvaldez

FANS HOPEFUL THAT OWNERSHIP SHIFT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS

F

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

All-conference teams defined

by Comet athletic excellence

By Efrain Valdez social media editor

evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com

All-Bay Valley Conference athletes at Contra Costa College for 2016 continue the sports tradition that is ingrained into East Bay community college sports.

The list of athletes that made either first or second team all-conference is stacked with CCC players from the baseball, football, men’s soccer and women’s basketball.

Men’s soccer and football were tied for the most all-league athletes with seven players that earned recognition.

Football’s all-league honor list was headlined by quarterback Cameron Burston and running back Harris Ross.

The backfield duo led the Comets to a fourth place finish in its 2016-17 Bay 6 Conference debut.

Burston threw for 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also ran the ball for over 75 yards in four games this past season.

Ross, on the other hand, led the Comets with 682 rushing yards and averaged 68.2 yards per game, which was third highest in the Bay 6.

Two of the standout all-league offensive linemen on CCC that protected the backfield were Bosah Osakwe and Sio Anitoni.

On the defensive side of the ball, the all-league selections were defensive lineman Richie George, linebacker Rodney Washington and defensive back Arthur Hayes.

For soccer, the first team all-league selections were goalkeeper Eduardo Escamilla, defender Eduardo Torres, midfielder Juvenal Pena and forward Jordan Flechero.

Flechero led the team with seven goals on the year and Pena was right behind him with six goals of his own.

Torres switched from center back and wing back often throughout the season, but he and Escamilla held down the defensive third at a high level.

Second team all-league selections were midfielder George Burrows, midfielder Eduardo Martinez and forward Anthony Maytum.

Maytum had some funny bloopers on the field at times but he always came through when it mattered most, like when he scored the first-place clinching goal in stoppage time in the final game of the season against Napa Valley College.

Women’s basketball and baseball had one all-league selection each.

Freshman guard Dierra Mize was the only Comet player selected to an all-league team.

She averaged 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Her aggressiveness and hard work helped the Comets end with an 8-6 conference record.

The only Comet baseball player that received all-league honors last season was infielder John Velasco.

His batting average was .311, with three home runs, 23 runs batted in and a .500 slugging percentage.

With his second team all-league selection Velasco led the team with his dedication and was the leader of the team.

The standout athletes that had the biggest impacts on their teams were Burston for football, Flechero for men’s soccer and Mize for women’s basketball.

Burston is now going to transfer to the University of New Mexico this fall after two outstanding seasons with the Comets.

Flechero said he will be back next season for CCC hoping to outdo himself in the goal category and lead the team to a state playoff win this coming fall.

Mize said she will also be returning to the Comets next season and is currently playing on the softball team.

The men’s basketball all-league selections have not been released yet.

ABOVE: (Left) Soccer defender Eduardo Torres (middle) baseball infielder Johnny Velasco and soccer midfielder Juvenal Pena were each selected to the AllBay Valley Conference teams for their sports in 2016.

ASU may delay mascot reveal Cometinfluenced designs subpar, committee searches for vendor again

By Lorenzo Morotti associate editor

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

Two designs for Contra Costa College’s first official mascot, sent to the Associated Student Union on Monday morning, spurred its members to begin the search for another vendor only weeks until the original unveiling date.

ASU Inter-Club Council Representative Jose Arebalo said if he does not find another vendor by next week, the original release date, March 26, will have to be pushed back.

He said the mascot was planned to be unveiled during Spirit Week, a series of on-campus events that celebrate the CCC community with games, food and prizes.

But the plan changed inside Instructional Support Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks’ office when he opened the email from Carol Flemming Design on Monday morning.

“Oh. These are bad,” NickelsonShanks said.

“It looks like someone used (the Microsoft Paint program) to cut out the reference images we sent and filled it in with blue.”

The design company, based out of Valley Springs, Calif., did not attach an invoice to give the ASU Board a better idea of the actual cost either.

Arebalo said the $4,500 budget allocated to hire a vendor to make the costume for the mascot happened earlier this semester, but the mascot project was created last year during the ASU’s internal event planning workshop.

“Well when you think about it, it is long overdue,” Arebalo said. “The school has never had a mascot so we want to make this happen.”

While a mascot would be a historic endeavor, recent setbacks have added to

n “It looks like someone

used (the Microsoft Paint program) to cut out the reference images we sent and filled it in with blue.”

— Joel Nickelson-Shanks, instructional support coordinator

the work that needs to be done.

“We don’t know the price yet.”

Nickelson-Shanks said, while looking over the email, “That has become its own monster. But the $4,500 allocation was a shot in the dark.”

Arebalo and Nickelson-Shanks said because the college has never had an official mascot, this is a learning experience for all involved, but especially for ASU Board members in charge of completing this project.

At the ASU Board meeting on March 1, Nickelson-Shanks reminded the board that projects with bigger budgets, like this one, make following through more important.

“I want you all to know how important this is,” he said during the adviser report. “You have the responsibility of picking a mascot that will probably be here for 10 years or even longer.”

Arebalo is now leading the internal committee tasked with bringing a mascot to CCC. That committee is comprised of ASU Director of Marketing Francis Sanson, Vice President Alex Walker-Griffin and Senator Michael Murray.

While the terms of how to become a mascot or a stipend for the person who dons the mascot suit have not been decided, Arebalo said the final designs will have to be approved by the

ASU and then a vote will go out to the students to decide which reflects the campus better.

So far the only designs they have are of an actual comet suit or an astronaut Nickelsonsuit.

Shanks NickelsonShanks said the mascot would be brought out for club events, rallies, graduation, orientation and on-campus sporting events.

Arebalo said he plans to meet with Athletic Director John Wade to discuss how the ASU will select who wears the costume and terms of payment.

As of press time Tuesday, Wade said he has not heard of the ASU’s project to create an official Comet mascot.

He said designing a mascot costume for the Comets is challenging because of limitations based on the college’s identity.

“I think it would be fabulous to have a mascot at games,” Wade said. “But a college needs to have a mascot that represents the area.

“Denver has the Broncos. San Francisco has the 49ers, but a Comet requires more thought — I just didn’t think that a physical comet is something that could happen.”

He said he welcomes any collaboration with the ASU as it will boost audience turnouts to home games.

Arebalo said it is better to postpone the unveiling of the mascot to ensure that the product meets the expectations of the ASU Board, athletic department, Director of Marketing and Media Design Brandy Howard and the students.

or baseball fans in the East Bay, Lew Wolff stepping down as owner of the Oakland A’s warms the hearts of long-suffering fans in the community.

Wolff bought the team alongside John Fisher in 2005, in what was supposed to be a positive move for the organization. However, since the acquisition the A’s are devoid of success on or off of the field.

Fisher now has majority ownership and recently has made a few executive changes like hiring San Jose Earthquakes President Dave Kaval as Oakland’s team president.

Kaval, a Stanford graduate, was a key player in getting the Earthquakes’ new stadium built without public funding.

Ever since the announcement of Kaval as A’s president, he has been committed to Oakland and getting a stadium built in the city.

The new president has implemented an outreach program to connect with the local community. He holds open door conferences every Tuesday with fans where they can give suggestions on what can be improved.

One of the first suggestions he received was to have the annual A’s Fanfest at Jack London Square in downtown Oakland. Kaval has proved himself to be a man of his word by holding the fan friendly event at Jack London Square — with free admission to A’s supporters.

Improving amenities at the Coliseum has also been on Kaval’s to-do list. He plans to add menu items inside the stadium and bring gourmet food trucks to the stadium for games. Although most of the outreach has been in Oakland, cities like Dublin and Walnut Creek have received attention from the organization.

Although the community outreach is done in good faith, it cannot end there.

The communities visited are mostly white and are economically privileged. The A’s can’t forget about communities like Richmond.

They should include all lower income neighborhoods because it would show that the organization is trying to be an agent of change in the East Bay. Including the K-12 schools is vital in building a loyal fan base if the organization can leave a good impression on the younger generation.

Also, having more promotions for local college students will increase the turnouts at games. College students have enough funds to attend games at the Coliseum because the tickets are inexpensive.

All Kaval has to do is promote his team correctly by including everyone in the East Bay and that will bring out the best of the fan base he desires. The A’s used to have a great fan base, but that has been depleted by the lack of on field production.

That was only made worse by the rise of the San Francisco Giants dynasty.

With Kaval’s leadership the A’s are back on track but need to continue making strides toward community inclusion to take the team far again.

Efrain Valdez is the social media editor of The Advocate.

Contact him at evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com.

8

sports

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.8.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

LEFT: Quarterback Cameron Burston is ranked one of the top 3-star quarterbacks in Northern California by www.ESPN. com. Burston committed to the University of New Mexico on National Signing Day on Feb. 1.

Elevated possibilities CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

Burston excels on the field, expects the same in Division I

By Robert Clinton Sports Editor

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

Some athletes can pinpoint the moment they fell in love with athletics. For others, sports are a part of their soul — something that has naturally been a part of who they are.

For Contra Costa College sophomore quarterback Cameron Burston, the love of playing sports is something that has been with him since he was old enough to hold a ball.

Born Sept. 18, 1997 in Montgomery Alabama, Burston moved to Vallejo with his mother and older sister when he was 2 years old.

Raised in Solano County, he got his first taste of organized sports at age 6.

“They made me play tight end but we were too small to run pass plays so all they had me do was block,” Burston said. “Even then, I knew I wanted to make plays, catch the ball, do something.”

By eighth grade Burston was recognized as one of the more talented Pop Warner players in the Bay Area, however, instead of attending one of the area public high schools, the Burston family opted “I wasn’t to send their son to Stellar paying attenPreparatory School in tion to the numbers. In Oakland.

“I played high school against my high school we didn’t have c o a c h ’ s people cover(Desmond G u m b s ) ing us or monisons in Pop toring our stats W a r n e r ,” B u r s t o n ­— we were said. “He just balling.” had the — Cameron d r e a m Burston, quarterback to start a school to help inner city kids that didn’t have very many opportunities.”

Gumbs gathered kids from across Solano County and the East Bay and brought them all together for the first year of Stellar Prep in 2011.

It was a rough start, but the kids made it work at Stellar despite the school not having a permanent campus in the first year.

Located in Hayward, before moving to Oakland Burston’s soph-

n

n “He’s a great teammate on and off of

the field and a good role model to younger players. He set the bar high for everyone else in the program to follow his lead.”

— Ramtin Ababaf, CCC offensive lineman

omore year, students carpooled, rode BART to bus or did anything that they could to make it to school on time.

Although varsity wins were hard to come by for Burston in his sophomore and junior years of high school, the quarterback blossomed in his senior year.

Burston made All-League as a senior in high school after leading Stellar Prep to an 8-4 record.

Following the season, the senior made a verbal commitment to San Jose State University to play football.

“I earned the opportunity to play Division I football right out of high school, but the accreditation process for the school was not complete,” Burston said. “I couldn’t accept any DI offers and my coach had a relationship with coach (Alonzo) Carter so I came to CCC.” In his first year with the Comets, Burston was a man among boys.

He was named to the All Pacific 7 First Team for 2015 and owned first place in five statistical categories for quarterbacks in Northern California.

He was first in completions (158), completion percentage (63.5), yards (2,151), yards per game (215.1) and touchdowns (28).

“Cam (Burston) is physically gifted. When you get a kid like that you just give him little things to help him get better,” CCC offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Jeff Anderson said. “He makes all of the right throws.”

Burston made his impact immediately for the Comets. In his first game against Cabrillo College, the freshman threw for 230 yards and four touchdowns.

“In the first game I ran a wheel route past everyone. I just knew that I wasn’t going to get the ball,” CCC sophomore receiver Tyrone Morgan said. “Then I looked up and the ball dropped into my hands for a 30-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone.”

Even as the team won seven games in a row, Burston never let the pressure of living up to statis-

CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

Defensive back Joe Odom chases Comet quarterback Cameron Burston during CCC’s game vs. Sierra College on Sept. 17, 2016.

tics get to him.

“I wasn’t paying attention to the numbers. In high school we didn’t have people covering us or monitoring our stats — we were just balling,” Burston said. “We also had a strong sophomore foundation that kept me focused. It made it easier to just go out and perform.”

After finishing the 2015 season 8-2, CCC lost a Living Breath Heritage Foundation Bowl game against Hartnell College 41-28.

The success solidified Burston as one of the state’s top prospects at quarterback.

“He’s a great teammate on and off of the field and a good role model to younger players,” Comet offensive lineman Ramtin Ababaf said. “He’s a good person to look up to. He set the bar high for everyone else in this program to follow his lead.”

Following the season, Burston signed a letter of intent to attend Cal State-Fresno on Aug. 1.

The 2016 season was billed to be the breakout year for the now rising star. The Comets moved to a tougher conference, the National Bay 6. The move would mean stiffer competition for CCC, but also, the eyes of more scouts.

The Comets lost their first three games and finished the 2016 season 3-7, with four of those losses coming by a touchdown or less.

“It was a reality check,” Burston said. “When everything didn’t go the way that we wanted it to go, some people got down instead of finding a way to work around it.”

In the sophomore’s mind, all he had to do was finish school at CCC and he was as good as gone.

Just as CCC had under-performed in its 2016 campaign, so had the Fresno State football team.

On Oct. 23 Fresno State fired coach Tim Ruyter, the coach who recruited Burston. Three weeks later, the quarterback was called by newly hired Fresno coach Jeff Tedford to tell him that the offer had been rescinded.

Burston said he told me that he wanted to go in a different direction but that he had been watching my progression and he knew I would be able to play on the DI level.

“I would ask myself what I did wrong, even though I know that it wasn’t my fault,” Burston said.

ABOVE: Comet quarterback Cameron Burston hurdles over Corsair defensive back Jacob Pluta and into the end zone during CCC’s home game vs. College of the Redwoods on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015.

PHOTOS BY CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

“There were countless long conversations with my parents and I’m not really the expressive type. But talks like that mean something — that’s what got me through it.”

For Burston, losing his athletic scholarship to Fresno meant the recruiting process was reopened, with no apparent front-runners.

Burston chose the University of New Mexico because of the stable foundation that the school provides.

“It is a better fit,” Burston said.

“I want to work with a staff that will be there for the long run. A coach that can help me grow like Carter did to get better on and off of the field.”

Burston perfectly fits the mold of what coaches envision when they look for a quarterback. His 6 feet 4 inch, 210 pound frame allows the 20-year-old to see over massive lineman while still remaining elusive enough to escape the pocket and scramble for a first down if a play breaks down.

“I see myself as a pocket passer with the ability to run,” Burston said. “I’m versatile. I can do more than one thing, not just run.”

He said, “If my team needs to pass, I have already proven that I can get the ball down the field.

Despite not putting up the same astonishing statistics in his sophomore year he did in his freshman season, the incoming receivers understood the level of commitment Burston brought to the field.

“Playing with Cam (Burston) was amazing,” freshman receiver Samaj Mitchell said. “I wish he could come back here for one more season. Hopefully we will meet up on the next level.”