#PIONEERNEWS
THE PIONEER Covering the East Bay community since 1961
California State University, East Bay
News, Art, & Culture for the East Bay
/thepioneernewspaper @thepioneeronline @newspioneer
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
www.thepioneeronline.com
Spring 2017 Issue 11
Monumental addition to Hayward campus SEE FROM THE WIRE PAGE 6
ARRESTS MADE IN LONDON BRIDGE ATTACKS
SEE FEATURES PAGE 11
OAKLAND KNOWN FOR ITS GRAFFITI ART
SEE SPORTS PAGE 12
BASEBALL SEASON NEARLY HALFWAY COMPLETE
PHOTO BY KEDAR DUTT/THE PIONEER
Students walk by the new Cal State East Bay monument on the Hayward campus as crews put the finishing touches on the letters that spell out "East Bay" in the Eastern-facing parking lots near the Student Services and Administration Building. According to CSUEB, the letters were a gift from the student body that was facilitated by the student government, Associated Students Inc. The unveiling of the new monument was yesterday at 2 p.m.
Warriors eager to avoid repeat of last year's Finals collapse Golden State two wins away from championship By Connor Letourneau SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE The Warriors' Kevin Durant was roughly four minutes into his news conference Tuesday afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena when, with a loud wheeze, the air-conditioning unit above him shook. "It's scaring me a little bit up here," Durant said, peering up at the cooling system attached to the ceiling. A Warrior's security staffer hurried Durant off stage as the dozens of reporters seated in front of them shared puzzled glances. In a postseason defined by Golden State's dominance, that early exit was one of the few surprises thus far. The question now is whether the Cavaliers, down 2-0 in the Finals to the Warriors for the second straight year, will ride a raucous home crowd to a Game 3 win Wednesday night. After it was blitzed in the first two games by a combined 41 points, Cleveland finds solace knowing that it was outscored by 48 in the first two games last year before it won four of the next five to capture the city's first major pro sports championship in 52 years. But anyone forecasting another Cavaliers championship run should consider all that went into that history-making comeback. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, slowed by left knee soreness, was a far cry from his unanimous-MVP self. Forward Draymond Green was suspended and missed Game 5 after hitting Cleveland's LeBron James in the groin. With center Andrew Bogut sidelined by a knee injury for the series' final two games, Golden State was more vulnerable around the rim. Unlike last year, when Cleveland slowed the pace to grind out victories, it has a roster these days better suited for playing at the Warriors' torrid tempo.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RAY SANCHEZ/BANG/TNS
Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) follows his shot as he collides against the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) in the second quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. After an uneven regular season, Curry is reminding his critics why he is a future Hall of Famer. Green, who has learned to rein in his bravado, is not at risk of piling up enough flagrant-foul points to get suspended. With a retooled frontcourt, Golden State has held the Cavaliers to their two worst offensive outings of the playoffs. The most striking difference from last year is that the Warriors start Kevin Durant, not Harrison Barnes, at small forward. Durant has scored more points through two games (71) than Barnes had in all seven Finals games last June (65). More important, Durant has disrupt-
ed James one-on-one in a way Barnes never could. Durant had more blocks in Game 2 (five) than Barnes (four) totaled in 24 playoff games last year. Of the 32 teams that have stared down a 2-0 hole in the Finals, the 2015-16 Cavaliers are one of only four that rallied to win the title. Again faced with grim odds, Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue is stressing improved defense. The problem is that, with Warriors guard Klay Thompson possibly coming out of his shooting slump and Durant playing at an all-world level, the Cavaliers' blueprint from a year ago -- to
pound Curry with pick-and-rolls and put hands on shooters -- may not be as fruitful this go-around. Cleveland's chances of a comeback could hinge on James' prodigious basketball intellect. Though Lue is the coach, James plays a vocal role in the team's planning. This is a man who needs only to see an opponent's personnel and positioning to determine what the Cavs can run. Last year, after the Cavaliers' 11077 loss in Game 2 of the Finals, James preached to his teammates about the merits of muddying up the pace. In Game 3 at Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland yanked its season from the brink of disas-
ter with a 30-point win. James had 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, the first of three times over those final five games that he topped the 30-point mark. "They just took it to us right from the beginning," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of that Game 3 demolition. "I remember our offense was pushed back to halfcourt the first few possessions. They set a great tone. ... We've got to be ready for that initial force." James' typically cerebral demeanor has given way to flashes of frustration
SEE FINALS PAGE 4
2 OPINION
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
THE PIONEER
Hollywood is running out of ideas
EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Louis LaVenture louis.laventure@csueastbay.edu
Film industry relies too heavily on franchises
MANAGING EDITOR
Kali Persall
kali.persall@csueastbay.edu
ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Casey Peuser
By Stephen Freitas
casey.peuser@csueastbay.edu
CONTRIBUTOR Summer is practically here and with it will come three months of blockbuster movies. Unfortunately, most of these films will not be original ideas: they will be attached to a pre-existing franchise. Hollywood is taking it too far by pumping out films within established franchises. The franchise trend has got to go. Big Hollywood relies entirely on well-established franchises to bring crowds to the theaters. Whether it’s the recent fifth installment of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” or the upcoming fifth “Transformers” movie, my question is, when will it end? Sadly, no time soon. I have been a movie-lover for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching franchises like “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “The Mummy,” and have loved them all. But lately, I am no longer as excited to go to movie theaters to see the latest films in this series. It’s become the same old story year after year. It’s not just me though, franchise ratings have gone down with each new movie. Sequels to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” for example have seen a steady decline in ratings since its the first film was released in 2003. According to Rotten Tomatoes, “Dead Man’s Chest” received a 54 percent rating, “World’s End” 45 percent, “Stranger Tides” 32 percent, and the latest installment received a god-awful 29 percent. This isn’t the only franchise that has been continuously dismantled with each new addition. “Transformers” hasn’t had a good movie ever. The first film of that series was its highest-rated, at 54 percent. This franchise should have ended just as the villain Megatron did in the first film, at the bottom of the ocean. One of the biggest franchises getting a ginormous push is “Star Wars.” The long-celebrated galaxy far, far away has received a major revival since its mediocre prequels released in 1999 to 2005. Disney and Lucasfilm currently have plans for “Star Wars” films all the way until the year 2020. Within the next year we will see two “Star Wars” films released within five months of each other. “Episode 8: The Last Jedi” is scheduled for Dec. 15, 2017, followed by the Han Solo stand-alone film on May 25, 2018. As a die-hard “Star Wars” fan, this worries me. I’ve finally gotten what I want: the expansion of the film franchise I love, but at what cost? A film releasing each year may oversaturate its market and it’s community. Hollywood has fallen into a consistent repetition of releasing movies one right after another. In the film industry, this is called the “tentpole” theory. Big corporations put up big films with tons of promotions to make up for the minimal profits of their previous releases. Such films that have fallen into this theory are “Star Trek: Beyond,” “Jason Bourne,” and the female-led “Ghostbusters” film. Each one came out within a week of each other. This resulted in an astounding second-weekend drops for each film. “Star Trek” fell by 58 percent, “Jason Bourne” plummeted by 61 percent in attendance, and the atrocious “Ghostbusters” remake fell sharply by 54 percent. Not only is Hollywood massively oversaturating their franchise markets, but nothing could shine a spotlight on the fact that they are out of ideas more than remaking classic films. The famous Halloween series is seeing a comeback with yet another remake being released in October of this year. Hollywood is even going through television series by remaking the killer clown classic, “IT”. Big entertainment companies are rummaging through their archives and bringing back films that were big successes in their days. Disney is a big culprit of this by bringing audiences “live-action” remakes of their cartoon films and calling them brand new. This hole that Hollywood is digging itself in needs to stop and it needs to stop right now. They must learn from their mistakes, like the pitiful “Fantastic Four” remake which was set for a sequel but was scrapped after it’s horrible return on investment. As an audience, we must take a stand and say no. The most powerful and only way to make Hollywood care again is to simply stop going to the movies.
SPANISH EDITOR
Daisy Ortiz daisy.ortiz@csueastbay.edu
STAFF WRITERS
Marissa Marshall marissa.marshall@csueastbay.edu
Tishauna Carrell tishauna.carrell@csueastbay.edu
ILLUSTRATOR
Dina Arakcheyeva dina.arakcheyeva@csueastbay.edu
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Kedar Dutt kedar.dutt@csueastbay.edu
Evelyn Tijero evelyn.tijero@csueastbay.edu
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Marina Swanson marina.swanson@csueastbay.edu
FACULTY ADVISOR
Gary Moskowitz gary.moskowitz@csueastbay.edu
FACULTY COORDINATOR PHOTO COURTESY OF INSIDETHEMAGIC.COM
Dr. Katherine Bell kate.bell@csueastbay.edu
Questions? Comments? Contact us! t. 510.885.3175 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd. CSUEB - MI 1076 Hayward, CA 94542 pioneernewspaper@csueastbay.edu
PRODUCTION STAFF FACULTY PRODUCTION MANAGER
Eric Ronning LAYOUT DESIGNER
Veronica Hall
ADVERTISING STAFF SALES EXECUTIVES
Anthony Slewoo Daniel Aziz Jocelyn Manfut Grace Martinez GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Ridhisac Bartholomeo Ny ADVERTISING COORDINATOR
Itzamar Llamas Advertising Contact t. 510.885.3526 f. 510.885.2584 pioneer.advertising@csueastbay.edu Funding for The Pioneer comes, in part, from the Academic Access, Enhancement and Excellence (A2E2) Fee.
#PIONEERNEWS /thepioneernewspaper @thepioneeronline @newspioneer
THEPIONEERONLINE.COM
NEWS 3
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
THE PIONEER
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLINTON & CHARLES ROBINSON
It’s snake season for the Bay Area Warmer weather means more active serpents By Daniel McGuire CONTRIBUTOR On May 1, an unnamed 47-yearold San Jose resident was bitten on the hand by a rattlesnake at the top of Fremont’s Mission Peak Regional Preserve. An antivenom was administered by paramedic Shaun Bouyea before a helicopter brought him to Washington Hospital, according to NBC Bay Area News. He arrived in critical condition, but is now recovering, according to news reports. The incident at Mission Peak is a rare one and mainly the result of a lack of caution, but also indicative of the oncoming snake season. Snakes are more active during this time of year.
The hot weather makes them move and hunt more easily while they search for water. Like humans, snakes love the warm weather and desire activity, according to Steve Bobzien, East Bay Regional Parks District Ecological Services Coordinator. California’s rattlesnake population reportedly varies depending on the size of rodent colonies, and the ample rains produced this winter have increased vegetation, which is likely to give rise to rats, which is food supply for rattlers, according to news reports. Now that Northern California is no longer suffering from a drought, less rattlesnakes are dying of starvation and dehydration. This steady food source benefits female snakes, giving them the ability to successfully birth multiple babies, according to SFGATE. Hiking locations like Mission Peak have become more popular is because of social media and the increasing popularity of taking a selfie at the peak,
“Now that Northern California is no longer suffering from a drought, less rattlesnakes are dying of starvation and dehydration” usually on the pole at the top, according to SFGate. In the week before the Mission Peak incident, the East Bay Regional Parks District received six reports of other Rattlesnake sightings. A pet dog was bit at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore during the weekend of April 29-30, and a park ranger helped the owner to his car so the dog could be taken to the vet, according to the EBRPD. Other recent rattlesnake sightings occurred in the picnic area at Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area in Livermore, the Delta DeAnza Regional Park in Pittsburg and the East Bay Regional Parks District Police Headquar-
Hayward already a nodiscrimination zone City revises antiprejudice plan By Kamille De Guzman CONTRIBUTOR About six years ago, Linda Moore, an African-American, was shopping near the fruit section of her local Safeway grocery market when a young Latina woman approached her and asked, “Can you get me some watermelons?” “I was first appalled at her audacity to even state such a discriminating and hurtful comment,” Moore said. “But I brushed off her comment and pointed her in the direction where the watermelons were but I was hurt the entire time.” Moore is now one of 20 community members of the Hayward Community Task Force, which the City of Hayward Human Services Commission formed on Nov. 10, 1992 to update its Anti-Discrimination Action Plan (ADAP), which aims to reduce discrimination in the community and support Hayward citizens who are victims of discriminatory acts.
Moore and the other task force members met on last Thursday to talk about updating the city’s anti-discrimination plan to move beyond race to include a broader spectrum of people, including those who identify as undocumented, the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with disabilities. In accordance with the Anti-Discrimination Action Plan of 1992, the plan is designed to help those who were victimized by discrimination. The plan emphasizes California law that any act of discrimination, include those based on race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability and sexual orientation, is forbidden. The whole purpose of the Anti-Discrimination Action Plan is to reduce the lack of insensitivity and increase the knowledge of individuals. The California plan identifies three general issue areas: illegal forms of discrimination, accessibility issues and discriminatory values and attitudes. “We started the idea to meet up with the task force after the inauguration of the President in January,” Maria Hurtado, Assistant City Manager in Hayward, said at the meeting. “In light of the President’s newly created immigration laws and policies, we, as a task force, knew we had to meet up
“In accordance with the Anti-Discrimination Action Plan of 1992, the plan is designed to help those who were victimized by discrimination.” and revise the current anti-discrimination policy of Hayward.” The Community Taskforce recommendations will be presented at a subsequent City Council work session, to be scheduled in June or July of 2017 (the date will be announced on this website when it is determined). According to the 2010 Census, parts of Hayward are the most diverse in the Bay Area. Hayward was the first city to implement its own No Room for Racism campaign in the entire region. The No Room for Racism campaign was initiated by the citizens of Hayward.
ters at Lake Chabot Regional Park, according to the EBRPD. “In all my years of hiking, I’ve seen less than 10 rattlesnakes,” said Bob Solitar, leader of the Sierra Club’s San Francisco Bay Area hiking chapter, who has been hiking for more than 40 years. “Snakes around here prefer not to encounter humans, and are probably more scared of us than we are of them.” There are some tips to aid a rattlesnake bite such as remain calm and have someone immediately call 9-1-1, the U.S. National Library of Medicine advises. If alone, find the nearest person that can provide help. Don’t waste time with tourniquets
because they cut off circulation and can result in loss of the affected limb. “Some of the best advice I can give when bit by a rattlesnake is to call 9-11, and do nothing,” said Justin Lewis, Toxicology Management Specialist for the California Poison Control System. A common misconception is that sucking the venom out of the wound will save someone’s life, however Bobzien cautioned against doing so because it could introduce new bacteria to the wound. “I’ve dealt with two rattlesnake bite victims,” he said. “[With one] We pretty much just cleaned the wound and kept him comfortable. We caused devastating tissue damage to his hand using the cut and suck method, but this was in 1971.” The state annually logs about 300 snake bites, according to the California Poison Control Center. But with incidents like the one at Mission Peak, snakes typically only bite after being stepped on or touched by hikers.
4 NEWS
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
THE PIONEER
Finals From Page 1 in recent days. He refused to address the media in the interview room after Game 2, doing so instead in the Cavaliers' locker room. Asked about his team's need to win at home, James shot back: "Well, are you a smart guy? ... Think so, right? So, if we don't defend homecourt, what happens?" During Tuesday's media availability, James showed more restraint fielding variations of a familiar question: How will you conjure the magic that fueled last year's stunning comeback? "We play our game," James said. "We got to this point playing our way. We have won a lot of games playing the way we play, so we're not going to change."
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/BANG/TNS
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gestures to his team while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.
OPINION
Letter to the Editor A reader wrote a letter to the editor in response to an advertisement this newspaper runs for a book about Scientology. Hello, I'm writing to you, the staff at the Pioneer, because of a troubling advertisement I saw recently in your paper. I
saw an advertisement from the Church of Scientology, it was a small advert, but the power of the CoS shouldn't be underestimated. I'm writing to you under a pseudonym because of the actions the church is know to take against people who speak out against them. The church of Scientology kills people, and I am begging you not to let them advertise in our paper. They ruin lives. I've attached sev-
eral articles about them, and I'd suggest you look into the documentary "Going Clear". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_ McPherson http://tonyortega.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_controversies https://wikileaks.org/wiki/Church_ of_Scientology_collected_Operating_ Thetan_documents
ht t p s://e n .w i k ip e d i a .or g /w i k i/ Church_of_Scientology_of_California_v._Armstrong ht t p s://e n .w i k ip e d i a .or g /w i k i/ Mark_Rathbun http://listverse.com/2015/11/03/10st ra nge - de at hs- c on nec ted-to -t he church-of-scientology/ ht t ps://t he y shou ld not have d ie d. wordpress.com/ ht t p://w w w.e x s c n .ne t/c onte nt/
view/173/99/index.html h t t p : // w w w . d a i l y m a i l . c o . u k / n e w s/a r t i c l e - 2 9 7 9 3 1 3/S c i e n t olo g y- k i l le d - Jo h n -Tr a v ol ta-s-nephew- details-life-r un- decision-leave- Church-Scientolog y-tr ying-life.html Please don't let them ruin another life. -E.S.
ADS 5
THURSDAY JUNE 8V, 2017
THE PIONEER
BEAUTIFUL 1- AND 2-BEDROOM APARTMENTS COMMUNITY AMENITIES
APARTMENT FEATURES
· Pool & spa · Fitness center · Pet-friendly · Dog park · Clubhouse · Sport court · Meditation garden · Laundry · Additional storage space
· Private patio or balcony · Wood-burning fireplace* · Large closets · Spacious floor plans *Available in select units
CALL NOW 855.582.9178 VISIT MyCityViewApts.com 25200 Carlos Bee Blvd, Hayward, CA 94542 EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
Safe driver? Save 45% or more 24277 Mission Blvd., Hayward CA (510)886-1330 Call me to see how much you can save. Safe drivers cost everybody less. That’s why they pay less. But at Allstate, they pay a whole lot less. In fact, safe drivers save 45% or more on car insurance. Why wait? Call me today.
Hair Cuts Beard Trims Kidz Cuts Highlighting Tints Touch-up Perms Spirals Up Do’s
Bill Stone Insurance Agency 510-487-2225 33436 Alvarado Niles Rd. billstone@allstate.com allstateagencies.com/61416 CA Insurance Agent #: 0649577
WEDNESDAY IS SENIOR’S DAY (55 & UP) Perms $ 45 & Up Tinting $ 35 & Up Touch-Up $ 35 & Up Hair Cuts $ 12 Shampoo-Set $ 15 &Up
Men | Women | Children
Monday -Friday 9-7 | Saturday 8-6 | Sunday 9-4 No appointments necessary We accept Visa & Mastercard
153154
Insurance subject to terms, qualifications and availability. Actual savings will vary. Allstate Insurance Co. Northbrook, IL. © 2010 Allstate Insurance Co.
$ 13 $6 $ 11 $ 55 & Up $ 45 & Up $ 40 & Up $ 50 & Up $ 70 & Up $ 40 & Up
GET A DISCOUNT WITH YOUR BAY CARD! Look for the discount program sticker or scan the QR code for participating locations.
1235 A Street Hayward, CA 94541
Dine In or Take Out
10% off with Bay Card Ask About Our Catering Ser vices! (510) 398-8940
HIGHLAND CLEANERS Excellent Dry-Cleaning + Alterations
LOOKING GOOD MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD
10% off
with Bay Card c Civi
Ave.
★
Billys onco Best
)
(BrChina
2 s. minay. aw
EB
510-886-4964 26775 Hayward Blvd Hayward Hills, CA 94542
Walking distance to CSUEB!
GET A DISCOUNT WITH YOUR BAY CARD!
6 FROM THE WIRE
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
THE PIONEER
London terror suspect was influenced by Dearborn cleric, says friend
PHOTO BY JAY SHAW BAKER/NURPHOTO/SIPA USA/TNS
People gather to lay flowers at the south side of London Bridge, close to Borough Market in London, on Monday, June 5, 2017 in tribute to the victims of the June 3 attacks. British police on Monday made several arrests in two dawn raids following the June 3 London attacks, claimed by the Islamic State group, which left seven people dead.
By Niraj Warikoo DETROIT FREE PRESS
A friend of one of the London Bridge terror suspects told a British media outlet that the suspect was influenced by Ahmad Musa Jebril, a Dearborn cleric popular with ISIS fighters. The friend told the BBC Asian Network that the terror suspect -- one of three accused of killing seven people Saturday night and injuring 48 others -often watched the videos of Jebril who has developed an international following in recent years. According to a report which appeared in the Telegraph, the friend said of the terror suspect: "He used to listen to a lot of (Ahmad) Musa Jibril. I have heard some of this stuff and it's very radical. I am surprised this stuff is still on YouTube and is easily accessible. I phoned the anti-terror hotline. I spoke to the gentleman. I told him about our conversation and why I think he was radicalised." The suspect, whose name wasn't mentioned in the BBC report, was killed by police after the terror attack. After the BBC report, British media outlets wrote about the link to Jebril. The headline on a report in the Sun on Monday read: "CHEERLEADER FOR EVIL -- YouTube hate preacher Ahmad Musa Jibril was idolised by London Bridge attack ringleader and spouts vile anti-Western propaganda." The Telegraph described Jebril as "the infamous
American hate preacher." Jebril did not return a call seeking comment Monday. 'Having a lasting impact' Jebril's social media accounts have not posted anything new since the summer of 2014, but experts say his influence is still strong since the material remains online. Supporters have taken Jebril's quotes from videos and remixed them into memes or shorter video clips with dramatic sound and visual effects. After the London terror attacks, British Prime Minister Theresa May addressed the issue of online radicalization. "Jebril lectures are widely shared by English-language ISIS supporters online," said Seamus Hughes, an expert on terrorism who is deputy director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. "The prominence is second only to (the late Yemeni-American cleric) Anwar Awlaki for that scene. He clearly is having a lasting impact as an influencer of ISIS sympathizers." A 2014 report said the Jebril, 45, was the most popular religious leader for ISIS fighters from the West. While the cleric has never been charged with a terrorism crime, he was charged and later convicted of 42 counts of fraud of almost $400,000, which included bank fraud, mail fraud, failure to pay income tax and money laundering. After serving a 6 1/2 year sentence, Jebril was released in 2012, He then started using the Internet to attract a huge audience online with fiery sermons, the Free Press reported in 2014. His probation, whose terms had included government monitoring of his computer use, ended in March 2015. At the time, he owed about $250,000 in restitution for his fraud charges. The FBI Detroit office and the U.S.
Attorney's Office in Detroit declined comment on Monday. More: U.S.: Who's funding Dearborn cleric popular with ISIS? More: Dearborn cleric said to be popular with ISIS fighters from the West More: Dearborn cleric Jebril answers federal questions A message of violence Born in metro Detroit to Palestinian immigrants, Jebril grew up in Michigan. He studied in Saudi Arabia, but has spent most of his life in metro Detroit. His father, charged along with his son in the fraud cases, is also a cleric. Court records unsealed in Maryland this year in a separate terrorism case said that Jebril is a Salafi , which describes followers of a school of thought in Islam popular in Saudi Arabia. "Ahmad Musa Jibril is an ISIL supporter and Salafi Shaykh from Michigan," wrote an FBI Special Agent in a case involving a Maryland man accused of ISIS links. In the Detroit fraud case, prosecutors wrote in a memo: "Ahmad Jebril encouraged his students to spread Islam by the sword, to wage a holy war, to hate and kill non-Muslims." Prosecutors also have linked Jebril to terrorism in two more recent local cases. One of them involves the case of Khalil Abu-Rayyan, a Dearborn Heights man who was sentenced in April, accused of supporting ISIS and talking about attacking a Detroit church. In a court filing, prosecutors showed a text message where Abu-Rayyan said he listens to Jebril. In another case, prosecutors have said that Sebastian Gregerson of Detroit, accused of ISIS ties, also listened to Jebril. Gregerson pleaded guilty in March to explosives charges and is to be sentenced later this month.
2 miles
North Sea
2 km
U.K.
7 killed in terrorist attack, 48 injured
London
A503 A10
A501
A11
London Bridge A100
ha m es
Seven killed, 48 injured in bridge attack
River T
A3
LONDON INFOGRAPHIC Peckham Rd.BY TNS/SOURCE: AP
ADS 7
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
THE PIONEER
FIND THE LOWER-DIVISION COURSES YOU NEED SUMMER SESSIONS START JUNE 5, 12, AND 19 FALL SEMESTER STARTS AUGUST 28
$46
Find out more at
westvalley.edu/csueb
R MESTE PER SE IT UN
West Valley College is part of the California Community College System and fully accredited by the WASC.
THE PIONEER NEWSPAPER
Bringing you what matters most. Become a contributor for The Pioneer newspaper today. Contact Editor-in-chief Louis LaVenture at louis.laventure@csueastbay.edu or Faculty Coordinator Dr. Katherine Bell at kate.bell@csueastbay.edu
WRITING
REPORTING
DESIGN
PHOTOGRAPHY
ILLUSTRATION
8 FEATURES
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
THE PIONEER
Tattoo culture never fades away Photo Essay by Allison Weseman, Contributor
“I run a $33 million stockroom and having tattoos never affected the skills I have." —Tomas Ledesma
Tattoos have become more commonplace in America and all over the world, shedding some of their old negative connotations. Some locals talked about their experience with the artform. Above: “The stereotype that having tattoos makes you a criminal or delinquent needs to go as tattoos show the beauty of one’s life,” said tattoo artist Nate Burrow. Left: “At first, I always got small tattoos in covert places with the intentions of being able to cover them up for any jobs I would apply for. I’ve always wanted tattoos because my older sister had tattoos. It wasn’t until my first one when I realized how these tattoos should really be [about] myself,” said Danielle Ranoa. Above left: “My shoulder tattoo is an ode to my twin brother who passed away and also my culture. The Filipino sun is placed with the Portuguese phrase ‘vem para fi car’ which means ‘here to stay,’” said Romar Lamano.
FROM THE WIRE 9
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
THE PIONEER
Ghost Ship's 'Warlord' goes from survivor to defendant in fatal fireout
PHOTO BY LOUIS LAVENTURE/THE PIONEER
Mourners gather at East 12th Street and 31st Avenue in Oakland just a few blocks from the former site of the Ghost Ship warehouse last year on Dec. 3, the day after the fire. Two people were charged with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter on Tuesday.
By Evan Sernoffsky SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE In the hours after a fire raged through the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland during an underground music show, Max Harris was cast as one of the lucky survivors. The artist and musician described in interviews how, as the event's doorman, he had tried in vain to save some of the 36 people who died, attacking the flames with a fire extinguisher before being quickly driven back. Later, Harris went online to say he was struggling emotionally, and asked friends to donate money to his "personal rebuilding." But now the irreverent 27-year-old is facing criminal charges -- along with his demons -- after authorities accused him of luring guests into an unsanctioned party in a dangerous building that was licensed neither as a home nor business. Its power flowed through a maze of electrical cords snaking through wood furniture and makeshift enclosures. On Tuesday, Harris was in a Los Angeles jail awaiting his return to Alameda County, where he is charged with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the Dec. 2 inferno. While the role of the Ghost Ship's master tenant, Derick Almena -- who faces the same charges -- has been heavily scrutinized since the fire, little attention has been paid to his right-
“He was not asked about whether he shared culpability in the blaze- the deadliest fire in California since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. But investigators later focused on his alleged central role in bringing in guests." -Evan Sernoffsky, San Francisco Chronicle hand man, Harris, also known as Max Ohr and the Warlord of the Satya Yuga, the artist collective that occupied the warehouse. But a more complete picture of the former art student from the East Coast has begun to emerge since his arrest. The vagabond artist's brash photography, sculpture and jewelry, and his stick-and-poke tattoo business, made Harris comfortably at home in the anything-goes art space, and he promoted his work online as vigorously as the many events he organized on the warehouse's second floor. On his website, he posted flyers for earlier events at the Ghost Ship, including one that advertised "Real-live barely-legal internet music" and charged $5 at the door. The night of the fire, Harris was collecting money from the nearly 100 people attending an upstairs electronic music show that he allegedly put together without proper permits. From his downstairs vantage point, he
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTING FEDERAL CRIMES (for 29 years)?/COMPLETE ISBN: 978-1-945563-86-7 by Leland Yoshitsu available on iTunes • Kindle • nook • ($2.99) lelandyoshitsu.com • @lelandyoshitsu
HATE CRIMES
Against Asian-Americans Today, it is important for the Public to know that our US Federal Government has secretly STOLEN, DESTROYED, AND ENSLAVED our FREEDOM, LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY by secretly NOT ENFORCING AND NOT DEFENDING our 14th Amendment (to provide all its citizens “equal protection of the laws” against Crime and Racism) as NBC continues to secretly maintain and enjoy Their UNCIVILIZED ‘RACIST GRIP OF CRIME AND TERROR AGAINST THEIR KIDNAPPED AND TORTURED’ Asian-American Hostages who still seek TRUTH AND JUSTICE after being severely punished and confined by the US Federal Government (for 29 years) for being the ‘INNOCENT VICTIMS’ of Federal Crimes by NBC.
President Trump should STOP these FEDERAL CRIMES
was one of the first to spot the flames growing on the first floor. "I saw an orange glow coming from the back of the warehouse," Harris told NBC's "Today" shortly after the fire. "I immediately grabbed a fire extinguisher and I ran back. I got one squirt out of it, and I realized it wasn't going to do anything. The roof had already caught and the flames were coming toward the door at an alarming rate." He was not asked about whether he shared culpability in the blaze -- the deadliest fire in California since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. But investigators later focused on his alleged central role in bringing in guests. "Harris prepared the warehouse for the event that day," Christina Harbison, an inspector with the Alameda County district attorney's office, wrote in court papers. "In the course of his preparation, Harris blocked off an area of the second floor that included a second stairwell, which effectively reduced the upstairs guests to a single point of escape." Harris moved into the space at 1305 31st Ave. in the city's Fruitvale neighborhood in 2014 and grew into one of the visionaries behind the collective. Before tragedy struck, he operated a
tattoo parlor in the warehouse, where he manually poked his subjects with colorful designs like lotus blossoms. Harris' own skin, including his face, became a favorite canvas. His ever-growing personal ink work is documented on his website, which he uses to promote his craft alongside his photography, videos, music, sculptures and jewelry. Harris grew up on the East Coast and studied at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston. Reached by phone Tuesday, Harris' mother said she would not comment. While living at the Ghost Ship, Harris came under the tutelage of the artist Almena, 47, and his responsibilities grew. He was eventually tasked with collecting rent from the roughly 20 people living in the warehouse, and acted as the go-between for the tenants and Almena. Almena, who was arrested Monday in Lake County, was accused with Harris of deceiving police and the Oakland Fire Department about the warehouse, where they "conducted unpermitted and uninspected construction, including electrical work," Harbison wrote. In interviews with reporters after the fire, Harris admitted there were no sprinklers in the building, and said the electrical system was an ongoing
struggle between the residents and the building's owner, Chor Ng, who was not charged criminally. "Max was always saying I was making a big deal about making the place safe," former Ghost Ship resident Shelley Mack said Tuesday. "If you are continually working against improving a place and setting up a place for calamity and you are kicking people out, how can you not expect something like this?" Mack said voicing her frustrations about the building's conditions prompted her ouster in February 2015. The district attorney's office said investigators may never know the cause of the fire, though the electrical system has been described as an area of focus. Electricity was piped into the building from a neighboring auto shop and then shared through a network of extension cords that weaved among the building's makeshift living quarters. "Everyone in there knew the problem with fire was because we had an illegal hookup to PG&E," Mack said. "They all know the system was overloaded." Families of the 36 victims have filed lawsuits against a slew of defendants, including Harris, Almena and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Before his arrest, Harris had been couch-surfing with friends and updating his website and social media pages. On Dec. 28, nearly a month after the fire, he reached out to friends on Facebook, asking for donations for "personal rebuilding." "As much as I desire stability and the comforting environment of a workbench," he said. "I am also still deeply at a loss emotionally and suffering mentally and feel as though my soul needs a continued searching and the wind to my back and dust on my feet."
CAL Self Storage 50% Off Your First 3 Months Rental • individual alarms • resident manager on site
• month to month • 7 days/wk
phone: (510) 538 -1536 fax: (510) 538 - 6312 www.calselfstorage.com 26869 Mission Blvd (Behind Food Source) Hayward, CA 94544
10 FEATURES
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
THE PIONEER
Anthropology students dig deep for projects Class helps participants understand the depths of archaeology Photos by Paz Sandoval, Contributor
Students in Anthropology class, a field course in archaeology taught by Albert Gonzalez at Cal State East Bay, brought their projects to an open house on May 20 at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park in Oakland. The class met on Saturdays to dig and look for artifacts at the park and also put together projects based on research they did throughout the quarter. Left: Gary Joseph Brown Jr. opens the cover on the adobe oven he built with his team at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park in Oakland. Above: Christine DeNicola, a graduate student, gently brushes a piece of bone found in her pit. The bone was predicted on site to be most likely from a mammal smaller then a medium-sized dog but larger than a cat. Bottom right: Gary Joseph Brown Jr. attempts to bake cupcakes for his group’s project, which is an adobe brick oven during the Archeological Open House on May 20. Bottom left: Student Robyn Perry shovels materials during the adobe brick-making project.
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
THE PIONEER
FEATURES 11
Oakland and graffiti art go hand in hand
Photos by Danny Hanson-Hackett Contributor Graffiti has been considered a problem in many urban inner cities, especially Oakland. For years the pieces were viewed as eyesores, but in more recent years, they have been considered art. Murals have even been commissioned to be created throughout the city. Here are some examples of these graffiti art pieces throughout the city, affectionately referred to as “The Town.” Top: A collaborative effort of multiple artists with multiple signatures next to each piece that is located at 2976 Market Street in Oakland. Above: The layers of paint behind this piece is evidence of attempts to cover up previous artists’ work at 2570 San Pablo Avenue in Oakland. Right: “Kiss My Black Arts” is written on the far left side of this piece. This graffiti art piece conveys a particular attitude and zeal in West Oakland at 2976 Market Street.
12 SPORTS
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 2017
THE PIONEER
Bay Area professional baseball in full swing
PHOTO BY DANIEL LARIOS/CONTRIBUTOR
The San Francisco Giants batting helmets are set up just before the first pitch against the Cincinatti Reds on May 14 at AT&T Park. The Giants won three of the four games in the series.
Oakland Athletics in last place in American League West Division after terrible start on the road
PHOTOS BY ALEX GARCIA CHACALA/CONTRIBUTOR
The Oakland Athletics greet each other following a 4-1 win over the Miami Marlins at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics are 26-32 overall this year, which has them in last place in their division. The A’s are off to a great start at home, 18-12, but have dropped the ball on the road going 8-20.
San Francisco Giants 24-36 record unfamiliar ground for 2014 champs
Above: A San Francisco Giants assistant equipment manager breaks in a new catchers mitt before their home game against the Cincinatti Reds on May 14 at AT&T Park. The Giants won the game 8-3 and the series three games to one. Left: San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija, right, jokes with a teammate following some warm-up throws in the outfield before the game. Samardzija started the game and got his first victory of the 2017 season.
PHOTOS BY DANIEL LARIOS