Spring 2012 - Issue 5

A N AT I O N A L PA C E M A K E R AWA R D N E W S PA P E R

Volume 55, Issue 5

www.theswcsun.com

January 9 - February 17, 2012

Success Center struggles with funding cuts Sweetwater Nearly $70,000 of budget lost under Alioto

By Joanna Wong Staff Writer

Raj Chopra has disappeared and Nicholas Alioto is under investigation, but the former Southwestern College administrators still cast a shadow over the Academic Success Center (ASC). Buffeted by state budget cuts and decisions by the

college’s former top administrators, ASC leaders turned to the Academic Senate to reinstate $69,232 cut from Learning Assistance Service (LAS) student funds.

Angelina Stuar t, president of the Academic Senate, supported the reinstatement, which has been passed by the Budget Committee.

“It’s time to advocate for our students,”

she said. “It’s time to advocate for the things that are going to help them, especially given the Student Success Task Force.”

In January, the Ad Hoc Learning Assistance Senate Committee brought forward a resolution to restore those funds, citing that the LAS lost 22 percent of its budget since 2008. Not all of that funding lost was due to the state, according to Andrew Rempt, coordinator of the LAS. Budget cuts were also political, he said.

“The person who had my job before me was outspoken about the behavior of people like Nicholas Alioto and Raj Chopra,” Rempt said. “And Alioto, being a particularly vengeful individual, used his power to take money away from the program, regardless of how it affected the students.”

Chopra, too, cut money from the LAS please see ASC pg. A3

CONSTRUCTION CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION

Christopher martinez

PHANTOM GROUNDBREAKING— Former SWC administrators, board members and contractors posed for a pre-election photo on the corner lot in 2010 for a project that had yet to be approved by the State Architect. Following sweeping charges of corruption and bribery by the San Diego County District Attorney, the current board terminated the architect and two construction firms. (l-r) Henry Amigable, Yolanda Salcido, Jorge Dominguez, Nicholas Alioto, three construction executives and Raj K. Chopra. Amigable has been indicted, Alioto had his home searched by the DA, Chopra has disappeared.

BUILDING CONTRACTS CANCELLED Board nixes agreements with BCA, Seville Inc.

By Nickolas Furr Senior Staff Writer

T

wo weeks after Southwestern College’s governing board suspended all contracts with Seville Construction Services and Bunton Clifford Associates (BCA), the board terminated its relationships with the two construction firms involved in a pay-for-play controversy that has so far led to 26 felony indictments of South Bay education officials. Following a closed-door session on January 25, Governing Board President Norma Hernandez made the announcement to the public.

“The board took action … to sever the contractual relationships with Seville Construction Services and BCA architects, reserving all rights of the college,” she said.

In response, Seville released a statement that read, “Seville Construction Services and Southwestern Community College District representatives are working toward a mutual solution to dissolve a contractual relationship. We believe SCS has operated and acted in good faith throughout our relationship with the district. The independent actions of individuals previously

involved with the program, including a former employee who was terminated a year ago for inappropriate actions that included violation of our corporate code of conduct, are negatively affecting both organizations and the community. It is important to note that the former employee is facing criminal charges for alleged actions while employed elsewhere, not SCS, on an unrelated project, not the college district.”

Hernandez said that the board would direct staff to begin seeking Request for Proposals (RFPs) to replace Seville and BCA. During open session, the board voted to approve and ratify contracts with several smaller contractors. Trustee Humberto Peraza said the board wanted to be able to continue working on current construction projects without Seville or BCA. “We brought in some people that are going to be acting as stopgaps to help things go a little faster,” he said. “We’ve brought in some of the people that were working for Seville and had been laid off to act as those stopgaps between now and when please see Contracts pg. A2

Police launch new emergency line to improve response time

By Samantha Mendoza Senior Staff Writer

Acting Police Chief Robert Sanchez said one of the worst things in a dangerous situation is for a citizen to call the police and not get through. It is happening with increased regularity at Southwestern College, but Sanchez insists things are about to change.

A new emergency line is up and designated for emergency calls only.

Sanchez said he wants students, faculty and staff to treat the (619) 216-6691 number as if they were dialing 911.

Sanchez spearheaded the idea that has been in the making since April. Bob Temple, former interim vice president of business and financial affairs, and Denise Whittaker, former acting superintendent supported the idea. Grace David, SWC Police clerical assistant, said the new line will improve campus safety.

“The emergency line will be beneficial

because when you take that time away, every second counts,” she said. “In terms of getting things stream lined faster to dispatch, it really helps.”

The existing SWCPD phone number will continue be used as a non-emergency informational line.Sanchez said the new line is in the best interest of the campus.

“We take safety very seriously,” said Sanchez. “If it’s not safe on campus our students won’t come, they’ll find somewhere else to go. My intent is to

try to make things more efficient for the police department and to make our response quicker to the college community when reporting emergencies.

The end result is safety on campus.”

Due to the high volume of incoming calls, SWCPD emergency calls are not able to get through to a dispatcher quickly. Of the 18,000 calls received each year, about 12,000 are emergencies, said Sanchez. please see Police pg. A3

trustees won’t get legal fees

Board abandons $1.2 million request under public pressure

By Mary York and Nicholas Furr News Editor, Senior Staff Writer

Sweetwater Union High School District trustees decided to take no action on a controversial agenda item that would have granted $1.3 million in legal fees to four trustees who have been under investigation by the San Diego County District Attorney in the South Bay pay-to-play scandal. Trustees let the agenda item die without motions at the end of a volatile sevenhour meeting.

Nearly 800 people packed the Hilltop High School gymnasium and sat on folding Ricasa chairs and wobbly bleachers shouting “Shame!

Shame!” and holding up signs with doctored photos of trustees behind prison bars. On the agenda were items to grant $400,000 each to indicated Sweetwater trustees Arlie Ricasa and Pearl Quiñones as well as former trustee Greg Sandoval. A fourth item sought $100,000 for trustee Bertha López whose home was searched by the district attorney but who has not been charged. Former Sweetwater superintendant Jesus Gandara was also indicted and has legal fees guaranteed in his severance package. Gandara was fired in June, 2011. DA investigators also searched the homes of former Southwestern College administrators Nicholas Alioto and John Wilson. They have not been indicted, though District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said more indictments were possible.

Ricasa and Quiñones took the brunt of the audience’s wrath, depicted as criminals behind bars labeled “Felon” on homemade signs held aloft by angry members of the crowd.

Ricasa said none of the board members had been convicted.

“We do have that presumption of innocence,” she said.

Derrick Roach, president of the San Diego County Republican Party, said that the board had been careless.

“What a mess you guys have created,” he said. “All of you need to start paying attention now.”

Sofia Reyes, Chula Vista Hills Elementar y School sixth grader, received the loudest ovation of the evening with her admonition of the board.

“My parents work hard and pay taxes so their kids can go to school,” said Reyes. “That money should not go to the board members’ attorneys, it should go to the kids in the school. Next year, please see Sweetwater pg. A4

INSIDE: Viewpoints, A5 Unsigned, A5 Thinking Out Loud, A6 Sex Column, A6 Campus, B1 Arts, B4 Sports, B6

A2

NEWS

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

The Southwestern College Sun

New superintendent predicts bright SWC future

By Mary York News Editor

Dr. Melinda Nish officially started work at Southwestern College on January 2, but she was swept into college affairs on Dec. 20 when the San Diego County District Attorney raided the homes of four current and former college employees related to a pay-for-play scandal that may be the largest corruption case in county history.

Nish was heavily involved in the crisis management through the holidays. SWC’s new superintendant also steps into a budget crisis hitting campuses across the state and a unique set of immigration challenges coming to a head at a national level. Upbeat and unfazed, Nish sat down with The Sun for a candid talk about her first few weeks at the helm.

A running start “As you know, the college has been in the news,” said Nish. “So I’ve been spending quite a bit of time with external relations with the press and the community. But I’ve also had a lot of opportunities to meet the folks who work here, which was great because we had opening day ceremonies the first day on Friday. That was amazing – just hundreds of people in the gymnasium. I have been able to go out to the Otay Mesa center, National City center, the Crown Cove Aquatic Center and I’ll be going to the San Ysidro center next week. So that’s also been great. I’ve been to the Academic Senate, which was wonderful. I’m so impressed with the faculty that you students have here.

“I got into one class, so I’m glad I got into a classroom before my first month was done. And I’m working with the ASO to set

open and that friendly that quickly, but I certainly was pleasantly surprised.”

Meeting the team “The board really is a good board. They’re fantastic. They have all their hearts and their minds in the right place. They’re here to make sure that SWC is well taken care of and they are very, very fine people to work with. So I’ve been impressed with the board.

“I just can’t say enough about the staff that worked directly with me, and with the administrators that I’ve been working with as well. Everyone knows that SWC has been in the news and that the district attorney has been conducting an investigation that does involve us, but there’s not a single person in dealing with these issues that hasn’t been right there, prepared, working overtime as needed. Everyone has pulled together because the college has turned a page. The mistakes of the past we have started cleaning up over a year ago. We’re still cleaning up and we will fix any of the issues in the past that need to be resolved.

“It’s been a difficult experience, obviously, to step into something that happened more than a year ago, but it’s been a good experience because it’s shown me how people work when they are really in a difficult situation and these people have pulled together, strongly pulled together. I’m impressed by people’s honesty, their integrity and their real love for what the college does.

“Perhaps it’s a little bit of baptism by fire.

But I can’t complain that I haven’t learned a lot and I also can’t complain that I haven’t liked the way the college has handled these issues. The college should be commended.”

Always a student “I had no idea what major to declare when

Pablo Gandara/Staff

READY FOR CHALLENGES — Dr. Melinda Nish has had a very busy first month as SWC’s new leader.

up listening forums for the students as well.

“So it’s been really active, not a dull moment at all. But I’m pretty happy. I think the college is living up to and beyond my expectations.”

Warm welcomes “The warmth of the people for someone they didn’t know at all surprised me. I mean, I did tell people in my opening address that I’m a very familiar person, I don’t insist on being called “Doctor.” I’m perfectly happy to be addressed as “Melinda.” And I did tell people I like to give hugs and I was pretty impressed that people literally took that as meaning they wanted to give me a hug, too.

And I was surprised that people were that

I was an undergraduate. I bet that sounds familiar. I ended up completing a bachelor’s in political science with an international relations certificate and what I really enjoyed about that course of study was economics.

So I began a masters program in economics.

And that led me, actually, to leave the United States because I decided that it would be really good if I could finish up that last year of my masters abroad. I loved being in France so much that I didn’t come back to the states for almost a decade.

“I went to Switzerland to continue my education in economics and that’s where I started teaching. My first full-time teaching was with the American College of Switzerland…And that’s what hooked me.

And so I’ve had a long time in education. I’ve been a student all my life, it seems.

“I just finished my Educational Doctorate this spring. So the doctorate that I started in Switzerland –- which I didn’t finish –- I finally finished this year. So I want to tell students, don’t worry if you don’t first succeed. You can be a student again and you can finish that degree, just don’t lose sight of your goal.”

Heart for community “I came back to the United States and I started teaching in a community college in Salt Lake City, Utah. And that’s where my love of community colleges began. I really was so impressed with what community colleges do for students. They have such a unique role in helping so many people. And I think what I love best about community colleges is that complete open access, no one is turned away. And hopefully we’ll be able to diversify our financial picture enough that we can offer as many

courses as students need so that no student is ever turned away because we don’t have a seat for them in the classroom.”

Listening forums “It’s not something I’ve done formally at other colleges…but it’s based, certainly, on what I’ve done in the past. You learn in California what shared governance is and what participatory decision-making is.

And I really believe in it. I think sometimes decisions take longer to formulate and actually come to a decision, but I think the decisions are generally better because people have had the opportunity to have their opinions considered, they’ve had time to think about it, there can be more buy-in in what you do and then implementation should be easier. So what you learn in that process is that you have to listen.

“In order to participate, it can’t be all about you and your opinion. You really need to be able to listen and hear other’s opinions so that decisions reflect as many people’s desires as possible. So when I was thinking about, what do I want to do when I come to Southwestern College, I thought, well, obviously I need to learn what the culture is and what people’s goals and aspirations are here within the college. So I decided I would go out and do that in these listening forums.

“So I developed six questions and the questions, basically asking people what they think is very effective, what works well at the college and it also asks them what they think the challenges are that the college faces.

What I want to do is take all the information I’ve gleaned from the listening forums and then use this to construct my goals and please see Nish pg. A4

Contracts: Board fires architects, troubled contractors

Border Patrol promises harsher punishment

Continued from Page A1

Jose Guzman Staff Writer

please see Contracts pg. A3

Ayded Reyes has become the face of the DREAM Act after she was dramatically rescued from imminent deportation by a congressman and even more dramatically won the conference cross country championship the day after she was freed.

Her story has been told by major national media in both the United States and Mexico. Southwestern College students who have not appeared on NBC and ESPN have not been as fortunate. They have been whisked off to a foreign country and barred re-entry.

U.S. Border Patrol officials call it deportation. Advocates for students who have lived in El Norte since childhood and grew up as Americans call it cruelty.

“It just makes me wonder,” said Reyes.

“How were those other people treated and how were they sent back?”

The U.S. Border Patrol is working diligently to eradicate illegal entry into the United States by increasing the border security and, according to Reyes, harshly punishing undocumented persons who are arrested.

The Consequence Delivery System imprisons undocumented immigrants before deporting them.

Under CDS, immigrants face jail time and criminal charges.

“This system is not a change in policy,”

said a Border Patrol spokesperson who declined to give his name. “It is an improvement in our enforcement efforts designed to impact an individual’s decision on whether to cross the border illegally.”

Border Patrol officials insist the system is a way of slowing illegal immigration.

Juan Pablo Santos (not his real name), a student from Southwestern College, said the policy is mean spirited and discriminatory.

“I think it’s not fair to be prosecuted because I have not committed felonies and they are going to make us felons just for being illegal,” he said. “They should take a look at the record and not just prosecute people for not having a paper.”

Santos said he wonders if he should risk his liberty to pursue a college education.

His answer is yes.

“It’s always worth it because if you don’t try then you are not going anywhere,” he said. “Everybody has to take a risk regardless of the consequences. I feel like education is a human right. If you want to achieve, do better for yourself and your family, you are going to do whatever it takes in a positive way.”

Santos said his main goal is to finish school. If he is deported he would be a stranger in a strange land, he said, since he came to the U.S. when he was five years old and knows little about Mexico. He said he knows that the U.S. government has the right to protect its borders, but that

it should be more sympathetic to students who where brought here as small children.

“When I first came into the United States, it wasn’t my choice so I couldn’t do much but just to follow my parents,” he said. “Day by day laws change, so there’s still hope out there and maybe they will consider students who are immigrants with a clean record and a chance to succeed (an asset). I’m sure that’s what everybody wants.”

Apprehensions on the Mexican border have dropped from 1.6 million in 2000 to less than 330,000 in 2011, according to Border Patrol statistics.

Immigration officials are also using the Alien Transfer Exit Program to repatriate immigrants to different regions of Mexico to disrupt the smuggling cycle.

Xochitl Contreras (not her real name), whose stepfather is living in the U.S. without papers, said the policies are inhumane.

“I think that’s a hard punishment due to the fact that immigrants come over here for work, and to send money back to their families,” she said. “Even though it’s illegal, they shouldn’t be punished so heavily as if they were like a criminal who committed murder. They are not equal in my eyes.”

Contreras said she is dependent on her stepfather’s income since he provides for her overhead and school supplies. She said tougher laws will not keep immigrants

from coming to this country, especially in the South Bay where the proximity to the Mexican border encourages student migration.

“People will find a way, shape or form to get to this country whether it be crossing rivers, going through tunnels or being smuggled, there will always be a way,” she said. “They just give them a new challenge.”

Southwestern College professor Dr. Duro Agbede said such a change in policy will only increase federal spending. Law enforcement resources, he said, should be focused on other more serious cases.

“I don’t think it’s fair for the taxpayers and it is not fair for the legal system,” said the veteran cross country coach. “They have other criminals to deal with. Now the cost of detaining and the cost of everything like transporting them to court are supported by the taxpayers.”

Instead of criminalizing these individuals, Agbede said this country should give them the opportunity to succeed.

“There are millions of people in this country who are hardworking people,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with fishing out those elements who are bad, but please give those people who are here a chance to achieve, to make contributions to the development of this country. Pass the DREAM Act and give them the opportunity to succeed and be a productive citizen of the U.S.”

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we actually hire someone.”

Trustee Tim Nader agreed.

“My understanding is that the contracts we voted on in open session tonight are not backfilling for BCA or Seville,” he said.

The governing board has publicly declared its cooperation with the district attorney’s investigation and its commitment to remain as transparent as it can. Nader said part of that transparency was dealing with the delays brought about by the changes in program management and architectural design.

“As part of our action tonight we directed staff to begin preparing new RFPs precisely to minimize the delays,” he said. “With what we’ve learned internally and what the district attorney has learned we realize that some degree of delay is inevitable because of some of the things that have come to light.”

Last year San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis launched an investigation into corruption at bondfunded construction projects at SWC and Sweetwater Union High School District.

It became public on December 20 when officers raided the homes of former Seville employee Henry Amigable, former SWC Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs Nicholas Alioto, and former SWC Director of Facilities John Wilson as well as four other current and former officials from Sweetwater.

On January 4, the D.A.’s office announced indictments against Amigable and Sweetwater’s Pearl Quiñones, Greg Sandoval, Jesus Gandara and Arlie Ricasa. Ricasa, SWC’s director of student development and health services, was placed on paid administrative leave by the college.

One week later, on January 11, the SWC governing board voted to suspend contracts with both Seville and BCA. On January 13, Amigable and the other four were arraigned in San Diego Superior Court. Each pled not guilty.

Nader said after the board heard from college attorneys, it voted unanimously to end those relationships.

“I am comfortable with what the board has decided to do, after listening to legal counsel,” he said.

In November 2009, a previous SWC board approved a program management contract with Pasadena-based Seville.

Amigable was installed as the firm’s oncampus program manager. He held the position through December 2010 when, according to evidence provided by the District Attorney’s office, he was terminated for repeated inappropriate actions, including violations of Seville’s corporate code of conduct.

In January 2011, Amigable went to work for Escondido-based Echo Pacific Construction to provide construction management for Proposition AA work on the SWC campus. Chris Rowe, president of Echo Pacific, said Amigable was put on leave in December 2011.

Prison time, criminal records, deportation loom for undocumented SWC students

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NEWS

The Southwestern College Sun

ASC: Online Writing Center suffering from severe budget cuts

DECLINE IN ACCESS TO

ACADEMIC SUCCESS $69,232.00 BUDGET LOSS BETWEEN 2008-2011

HOURS

SERVED

300,00

250,00

200,00

150,00

25,601 STUDENTS SERVED

21,288 STUDENTS SERVED

100,00

STUDENTS SERVED IN 2012 TO BE DETERMINED

15,355 STUDENTS SERVED 7,889 STUDENTS SERVED

50,00 0

2008

2009

2010

ACADEMIC Senate statistics. LAS data shows that success and retention are consistently higher for students using LAS services, yet the cuts have shown that 9,000 less students have been served since 2008.

This is a concern for Rempt, who sees the benefit of these student services in regards to common problems with course repetition and with academic progress and financial aid. Tutoring, he said, is vital to identifying

courses that students historically struggle with, and to helping students bring up their grades in order to maintain financial aid.

Although the Online Writing Lab (OWL) was opened before the budget cuts, it is only one of the means through which the LAS and ASC have been trying to cope with limited resources. There are still challenges to the OWL, though, such as a longer turn-around time than in-person

2011

YEAR

sessions at the Writing Center.

Rempt said progress has been slow in developing the OWL to its full potential.

“There has been a decline in traffic at the OWL since we simply aren’t able to do the kind of public relations we used to do,” he said. “We haven’t really been able to develop it past its initial form either, since as technology moves forward, we haven’t been able to move forward with what we do.”

Listening forums generate exchange of ideas

By Thomas Baker Staff Writer

Dr. Melinda Nish came to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly at her listening forums. She got a little of each, but the new superintendent said she came away inspired.

Nish said she will present an agenda for the next 18 months based on the forums as well as create an opportunity for faculty and staff to submit feedback online.

“I wanted to hear what your goals are, what your opinions are, about what the college is good at doing, what the college needs to be better at, and I’m really impressed with what I’ve heard so far,” she

Police: Students must be vigilant about safety

Continued from Page A2

SWCPD has a list of safety tips, including using the buddy system when walking through parking lots at night.

SWCPD officers are on duty until 10:30 p.m. on weekdays and offer students escorts to their cars. Students, staff and faculty are also reminded never to walk in dark or isolated areas of the campus.

Officers encourage students to be aware

A3

Major cuts to LAS/ASC cost students access to vital academic aid and tutoring

Continued from Page A1

in 2008, denying all the while that he had any part in that, said Rempt. Recent investigations of Alioto and Chopra may coincide with the timing of the Academic Senate’s resolution, he added.

The LAS – and consequently, the ASC – reduced its of hourly proctors and facilitators by nearly two-thirds. Cuts have also resulted in a reduction in nearly half the amount of district student tutors and $22,000 in cuts to hourly peer tutoring. LAS cuts reduced hours of the ASC, which prior to 2008 was open until 9 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays. ASC now closes at 8 p.m. and the Writing Center closes at 5 p.m. Both are now closed on Saturdays.

Laura Brooks, a professional tutor at the Writing Center, said this is a disadvantage to students who take evening classes, working parents and other nontraditional students. Lack of access to services is apparent in the long wait times, especially during the peak hours of the morning and early afternoon sessions, and greatly impacted during the week of finals. Even when students walk in and register in the log, they sometimes wait up to two hours to see a tutor, she said. When there are not enough chairs for students, many are forced to sit on the ground.

“The tutoring job isn’t stressful, but that anxious vibe of the room can sometimes be,” said Cecelia Bousher, a Writing Center tutor.

Bousher and Brooks said they realize that the conflict between many students and limited time means that, on occasion, they have to rush through tutoring sessions in order to try to serve everyone who is waiting.

They are not always able to, Brooks said.

This dilemma is reflected in Academic

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

said. “It’s pretty awesome when you hear how people feel about this college.”

Nish said she was impressed by the commitment of faculty, the culture of the campus and the dynamism of the border culture.

“It sounds to me that there’s a lot of creativity here,” she said.

Speakers were encouraged to discuss the challenges facing the campus and she heard a few. Janet Mazzarella, professor of mathematics, said the tutoring budget was shot and more faculty should be hired.

Librarian Tony McGee said access to technology is overly complicated.

A larger theme from faculty is that many are still feeling wounded from

administrative predecessors.

“Previous administrations made us enemies,” said Andy Macneill, president of the faulty union. “There’s nothing to make me believe she won’t use this to formulate a plan. She’s doing a good job to heal the campus.”

Some of the faculty spoke of the lack of trust between the faculty and former Superintendent Raj K. Chopra. Counselor Corina Soto said it is an overriding issue.

“Trust is a huge issue,” she said.

Nish’s listening forums are a step in the right direction to re-establishing trust between faculty and administration, Soto said.

Mazzarella agreed. She said the forums

would help build trust between Nish and the faculty, and distance Nish from what Mazzarella called, “Chopra, the Decider.”

Trust, she added, is difficult to earn but easy to lose. Mazzarella said the effects of the rift between the administration and faculty are obvious to her.

Professor of English Philip Lopez said Nish is on the same positive track as former interim superintendent Denise Whittaker.

“If you’re going to lead you have to understand the culture,” he said. “I was impressed when Nish put out an e-mail on understanding, unlike Chopra. I’m positive Nish can help build ties with the faculty, but recognizing problems are one thing, fixing them is another.”

of their surroundings and to call the campus police when suspicious activity is seen.

When walking through the parking lot, have keys in hand and once inside the car lock the doors immediately, said Sanchez. Students who feel threatened are encouraged to run, scream or yell for help.

Campus police also take traffic safety seriously, said Public Safety Assistant Martin Nuñez.

“Running a stop sign on a city street, there’s not that much pedestrian traffic,” he said. “Here it is non-stop, so it’s more important here than anywhere else. It’s

posing a threat to a large amount of students and can lead to accidents.”

Sanchez said all California traffic laws apply just as they would on city streets.

Students pulled over should listen to the officer and not argue as it may only increase the tension in an already stressful situation and lead to other charges.

Sanchez said it is a bad idea that only the Chula Vista campus is patrolled by campus police. Higher Education Centers at Otay Mesa, National City and San Ysidro are patrolled periodically by city police and campus security. Sanchez said

this is not acceptable.

“It’s incredulous that the district would be willing to gamble like that and leave those sites unprotected and uncovered with no police presence,” he said. “Crime knows no boundaries. We get calls telling us there are problems at these HEC but we cannot take any proactive enforcement because I don’t have officers or enough funding.”

Sanchez said he hopes for help from the institutional advancement office and grant writers to purchase more patrol cars and equipment for the HECs.

2012 Diana Inocencio/Staff

Brooks said student surveys done at the end of each semester show students’ greatest complaints are not enough tutors and not enough hours to access services.

ASC is striving to do its best with limited resources, said Rempt, but the college is failing many of its most dedicated students. Now is the time to undo damage of a past administration, he said, and restore a vital service.

Contracts: Former SWC employees investigated by DA Continued from Page A2

For 13 months Seville contributed to re-election campaigns of governing board members Yolanda Salcido and Terri Valladolid, who awarded construction contracts to Seville and Echo Pacific. Seville also gave expensive gifts to Alioto and Wilson, SWC administrators with authority to select contractors. Wilson and Salcido were in a dating relationship at the time.

Seville also Nader agreed to pay $135,000 to Prop R campaign manager Dan Hom for public relations work in an arrangement designed and approved

by Alioto. Part of that contract was to “isolate and expose extremists” — those who expressed concerns or asked questions about Prop R construction and the SWC administration — and to “manage the media.” Hom has not been charged by the District Attorney.

Amigable was personally involved with funding a golf trip to Pebble Beach in November 2009 when he introduced Alioto to BCA President Paul Bunton.

In April 2010 BCA was awarded a $55 million contract to provide architectural design for the corner lot project. In June, Amigable, Bunton and Echo Pacific’s Rowe accompanied Alioto to Napa for a wine and golf weekend won during a silent auction at the “Havana Nights” gala hosted by the Southwestern College Education Foundation. The next month, Echo Pacific was awarded a $4 million construction management contract.

SWC’s Educational Foundation is the subject of an extensive internal investigation ordered by the governing board in April 2011. Trustees said they expect to release the report this month.

Following Amigable’s termination, Seville hired Bob DeLiso to oversee SWC’s Prop R construction. DeLiso had worked as a program manager for bond-funded construction on two of nine Los Angeles Community College campuses - - a boondoggle of overspending and construction mismanagement that was exposed in a six-part Los Angeles Times investigation in March 2011 titled “Billions to Spend.” DeLiso remained Seville’s SWC project manager until the suspension began last month.

Calls and e-mails to Seville’s San Diego office and corporate office were not returned. Calls and e-mails to BCA’s San Diego office and San Jose corporate office were not returned.

A4

Mary York, editor

NEWS

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

Tel: (619) 482-6368 E-mail: news@theswcsun.com

La Paz: Spiritual retreat of Cesar Chavez inspires Continued from back page

His mortal remains lie at rest in La Paz, but his cause lives on in the National Chavez Center. His son, Paul F. Chavez, president, opened its doors and homes to Marcha Migrante VII travelers.

This year, taking “A Walk with Cesar,” marchers celebrated the 50th year of service of the United Farm Workers following its footsteps into some of the pivotal and painful events and struggles of the past. Paul Chavez said after his father’s death that La Paz began to deteriorate with many projects started but unfinished. Promising his mother they would remain, he said they had to start thinking about the next 50 years. After several failed attempts, they found someone to work with to create a master plan with a vision of the future with his father’s cause at the forefront.

“The easy part was my father’s gravesite,” he said. “That is one thing that will never change. It is a two-person Catholic graveyard, consecrated by the church.”

Chavez said creating an atmosphere of remembrance of his father’s cause and educating people on the struggles of the migrant worker became the vision for the Chavez Center, targeting much of the education to children.

“Kids, they don’t know where the food comes from, they think it comes from the supermarket,” he said. “They don’t know that there are immigrants working hard every day under terrible conditions and being taken advantage of that labor to bring food to their tables. We use my father’s legacy to tell their stories.”

He said his father really believed migrant farmers could build their own union, be strong, independent and represent themselves fairly and peacefully.

“The poorest of the poor and the least educated of society could take on the biggest and most powerful industry and could beat them,” he said. “He really believed it. He saw migrant farm workers from San Ysidro to the Napa Valley coming here to be educated with the skills to negotiate as a collective bargaining unit and how to do arbitration.”

Set on a sprawling 187 acres, La Paz was a humble home for Cesar Chavez for more than 25 years, a respite from the battles in the fields and cities and a place to gather to unite for the cause. Paul Chavez took the group to the center’s newest facility, Villa La Paz. Once a sanitarium and tuberculosis facility, the children’s hospital is now home to a state-of-the-art conference and educational center. Paul Chavez said this is just the beginning of a vision to bring in housing, gardens and facilities to accommodate people that travel to La Paz, added to the National Register of Historic Places in September 2010. He said he waits for a call from Washington that declares the site as a national historical landmark and possibly an addition to the National Park System.

Paul Chavez said though the name has changed, he would always remember the place he grew up as “Nuestra Senora Reina de La Paz, Our Lady Queen of Peace Educational Center, that is the name my father gave this place,” he said.

The queen of peace smiles beatifically at the peaceful place of rest for a humble American giant. La Paz is more than the name of a retreat, it was the strategy and guide for a loud but peaceful human rights revolution.

Christopher Soto/Staff

Sweetwater: Angry parents call for two trustees to resign

‘DO THE RIGHT THING’ — (above) Sofia Reyes, a sixth grader from Chula Vista Hills, told Sweetwater Union High School District governing board members to be truthful and keep their focus on students. (l) Nearly 800 citizens crowded the Hilltop High School gym, most expressed unhappiness with the board and direction of the district.

Continued from Page A1

hidden from us. Write these words in your heads, board members: integrity, unselfishness, kindness and always be truthful because the truth will set you free. Do the right thing, board members.”

Juan Carlos Hernandez, a high school senior in the district, told the board he was ashamed of them.

“I don’t want to shake any of your hands at my senior graduation,” he said.

The board had some allies. A portion of the bleachers was filled with Ricasa and Quiñones supporters.

Nick Serrano, SWC ASO elections coordinator was one. Though he did not come forward to speak, several others did. One of them was Olympian High School senior Jacob Muennich.

“I completely support that you all should vote for the legal fees,” said Muennich. “All the teachers are here because of Pearl. Pearl is a great person.

She’s been a great mentor to me. I wouldn’t been in the school I am with a 4.0 GPA if it wasn’t for her.”

Community member Lorraine Ramirez also stood up to defend the Sweetwater board.

“The school board members are being

Ernesto Rivera/Staff

prosecuted by public opinion,” said Ramirez. “The public would like to tar and feather them and set them on fire.

But we all know as Americans that we have the right to be represented, in particular when individual freedoms are at task. And that is a big burden.

Not just on the people that are going to have to go through this, but as a public we have allow them to be represented because the cases are very strong and have a human impact.”

Ramirez said she also believed the

Nish: College needs revenue from grants, donations, Foundation Continued from Page A1

strategies for the next 15 months.

“As I stated on Opening Day, I have goals, and they’re very broad, overarching goals because for me to develop more specific goals without hearing from the college I think would be foolish. My goals would be meaningless unless they reflected the college’s goals. It’s not anything novel. Certainly new presidents are always told you need to learn the culture of the college you are now leading.

So this is one of the ways I am learning you, so I can be effective in leading you.”

A new approach to the budget crisis “Student services has been hit hard. A lot of categorical programs have been in the student services area and they’ve received severe cuts. So there have been cut backs and you students have probably observed that. With fewer hours it’s taking longer for turn around in certain services such as financial aid. What we are trying to do is preserve the most important services to as many students as possible, but we’re going to have to be creative. We’re going to have to look at different ways to serve students with the resources that we have.

“We have fabulous people in student services. If we’re smart and we consolidate the funding it will allow us to cross-train and back-fill in areas where we couldn’t before. I think we have some opportunities if we have consolidation if we are creative and keep our focus on what the students really need.

“In general, it’s not just student services.

Every aspect of what we do has been affected by the budget cuts. My long-term goal is to create more flexibility in our revenue streams.

prosecution was racially motivated.

“What concerns me also is that minorities are being targeted,” she said. “Hispanics and women have been pointed out. I also want to point out that your comments are politically motivated. The process is blemished.”

Some members of the audience were critical of McCann for sending a robocall message to all Sweetwater parents that was paid for by the San Diego County Republican Party.

Ricasa, Quiñones, Sandoval and López

We need to be more diversified because when we have a budget cut at the state level that means we have no flexibility, we have no other sources of revenue. So we have to be more proactive when it comes to the college foundation and obtaining donations.

Borders and lines “I think that we have a potential advantage being in a border town. What’s really nice about being here is people’s acceptance and forward thinking when they’re talking about border issues and immigration issues. I’m really pleased to be in this part of the country where we look at our neighbors to the south and we see them as good neighbors and we want to be good neighbors with them.

We need to have our arms open. We need to understand that the line that is drawn between us shouldn’t be something that separates and divides us. So I want to look at immigration issues in a positive way. How can we work together to ensure that our students have the best environment possible? And that includes students that don’t have documents or are AB540 students.

“I’ve lived in border towns before and there always these issue. But it’s not us versus them, it’s us and us together.”

Learning, healing and moving forward “I feel that, although this has taken a lot of time –- let’s be honest, I’d rather be on the campus speaking to students than speaking to attorneys –- we’re cleaning things up.

We want the community to know that we recognize what was done wrong in the past, that we’ve changed our processes, our protocols, the way we do business, so that we will not ever allow those kinds of mistakes to happen again. We want the community to be proud of everything we do and we want the corner lot to be stunning.

“I feel confident that there will be very minimal delays on the corner lot construction, that it will be all done legally, and I think at the end of the day we have to take the wrongs

are all Democrats.

McCann’s call urged parents to attend the meeting and oppose the granting of legal fees. Dumanis has denied that she is targeting Democrats or elected officials from South Bay. Earlier District Attorney prosecutions of Chula Vista City Councilman Steve Casteñeda and political operative Jason Moore were not successful and brought considerable criticism upon Dumanis and the District Attorney’s public corruption team.

of the past and turn them into the rights of today and tomorrow.

“You know that as a student, when you make a mistake, the best thing you can do is learn from that mistake. When mistakes are made, acknowledge the mistake as soon as possible, resolve it, learn from it and move forward.

What is important for the community to know is that that review has been very thorough and it is nearing completion and that we’ve made a promise that we will release all findings and recommendations to the recommendations as soon as that is complete.

And that will be complete within a few weeks.

And if we haven’t already put into place a process or protocol that assures that we won’t have these problems again that we will put in those protocols.”

Transparent times “The taxpayers have been very generous to Southwestern College. We have Proposition AA and Proposition R. This is millions of dollars that the taxpayers have agreed that we need to service our students and community and we owe it to them to show that we’ve used their money wisely and that we’ve done so in a very legal, ethical manner. I can’t say enough how important that is and the governing board is absolutely, 100 percent behind transparency in all that they do.”

The right decision “I expected that there would be challenges.

That does not bother me or scare me. I like to be able to resolve things and fix things and move forward. I’m excited to be here. I bought a home, I love where I live and I like the community. I’m exploring and finding more and more out about the community.

The centers are amazing the people are warm and friendly. I think I made a fantastic decision. I’ve had some long days and some short nights but I think I made the right decision and I certainly have not waivered from my commitment to this being a long term position, a long term part of my career.”

The Southwestern College Sun

VIEWPOINTS

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, Volume 55, Issue 5

A5

Editorials, Opinions and Letters to the Editor

The Spinning Wheel

Opinions expressed in the Viewpoints section are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent the views of The Sun Staff, the Editorial Board or Southwestern College.

ANGELA VAN OSTRAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Perseverance key to success in education

Amber Leigh Skyes MANAGING EDITOR

Angela Van Ostran PRODUCTION MANAGER

Diana Lyn Inocencio SENIOR STAFF

Serina Duarte Albert Fulcher Nickolas Furr Samantha Mendoza NEWS

Mary York, editor Lina Sandoval, assistant VIEWPOINTS

Ernesto Rivera, editor Ana Ochoa, assistant CAMPUS

Angelica Gonzales, editor Kyla Guerrero, assistant ARTS

Ana Bahena, editor Anna Ven Sobrevinas, assistant SPORTS

Daniel Guzman, editor Alexis Dominguez, assistant ONLINE

MULTIMEDIA

Christopher Soto, editor Walter Graham, staff PHOTOGRAPHY

Jiamay Austria, co-editor Pablo Gandara, co-editor COPY EDITOR

Margie Reese STAFF WRITERS

Thomas Baker Jessica Bedolla Lee Bosch Jacob Coogan Diego De Alzua Airha Dominguez Andy Garcia Valeria Genel Paola Gonzalez Jose Guzman Ernesto Leon Shawnie Lopez Enrique Raymundo Eileen Salmeron Marianna Saponara Angela Soberanes Joanna Wong Yvanna Yepiz CARTOONISTS

Rashid Hasirbaf Carlos Magaña PHOTOGRAPHERS

Demi Alvarado Hugo Cayeros Eter Dafne Estrada Amparo Mendoza Roosevelt Palafox Gabriel Omar Villalpando BUSINESS MANAGER

Amanda L. Abad DISTRIBUTION MANAGERS

Ana Bahena Daniel Sanchez ASSISTANT ADVISERS

Amanda L. Abad Shannon Pagano ADVISER

Max Branscomb

Honors

Student Press Law Center College Press Freedom Award, 2011 National Newspaper Association National College Newspaper of the Year, 2004-11 Associated Collegiate Press National College Newspaper of the Year National Newspaper Pacemaker Award, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 General Excellence Awards, 2001-11 Best of Show, 2003-11 Columbia University Scholastic Press Association Gold Medal for Journalism Excellence, 2001-11 California Newspaper Publishers Assoc.

California College Newspaper of the Year, 2011-2012 Student Newspaper General Excellence, 2002-11 Society of Professional Journalists National Mark of Excellence, 2001-11 First Amendment Award, 2002, 2005 San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards 1999-2011 California Chicano News Media Assoc.

La Pluma Awards Journalism Association of Community Colleges Pacesetter Award 2001-11 General Excellence Awards, 2000-11 San Diego County Fair Media Competition Best of Show 2001-03, 2005-2011 San Diego County Multicultural Heritage Award American Scholastic Press Association Community College Newspaper of the Year

Carlos Magana/Staff

editorial

Tom Lord, editor Nathan Hermanson, assistant

The Issue: Southwestern College board members have showed wisdom by behaving in a transparent, cooperative fashion.

Our Position: Our college must never go back to the old ways of secretiveness and duplicity that got it in trouble with WASC and the District Attorney.

College needs to remain transparent Southwestern College’s season in Hell is over, but the door of Hades has been left cracked open. Three new trustees are working feverishly to close it once and for all.

Norma Hernandez, Tim Nader and Humberto Peraza have the courage and vision to end SWC’s suffering and steer the college into an age of rebirth. Part of their wisdom is their understanding that the college has to come clean and put all of the misdeeds of the past out into the light before SWC can really be free.

Our college suffered on all levels – academically, administratively, publicly and politically – when SWC’s previous administration chose to erect walls of secrecy and chicanery. Backed by a dysfunctional 4-1 governing board majority, the prior administration’s lack of transparency and blatant secrecy from 2007 – 2010 disgusted the entire community, leading to a toxic atmosphere that has proved epically destructive.

Raj K. Chopra, Nicholas Alioto and the board led

by Yolanda Salcido brought the college to the brink of being shut down by its accreditation body. Little did we know they would also lead us into the biggest corruption scandal in San Diego County history.

Captured by Chopra, SWC’s annual golf tournament and Educational Foundation fundraisers became vehicles for money laundering and influence peddling. Instead of filling scholarship funds, these once-cherished events filled campaign warchests. With no regard for the Brown Act or the American value of open government, the board and administration hid documents and punished inquisitive faculty. “Transparency” and “openness” vanished from the college’s vocabulary.

This clampdown left people questioning the closeddoor actions of the administration and board, forcing the public and the media into antagonistic positions to uncover the truth. Increasingly desperate efforts to hide that truth led to the incumbents’ defeat at the ballot box and the resignation of more than a dozen administrators.

Hernandez, Nader and Peraza brought a passion for education that the former governing board sadly lacked. They have also been champions of transparency and openness. They meet often and keep the public, students and press informed.

This house-cleaning board majority will need to consistently remind nervous employees that the old way of doing business is over. There will be none of the reflexive administrative circling of the wagons or other defensive behavior. Record requests will be honored. Investigations will be made public. Questions will be answered forthrightly.

Administrators will treat faculty, students and media as allies and stakeholders, not enemies to deflect and deceive.

People who act guilty in this time of search warrants and indictments will be presumed guilty and part of the problem rather than part of the solution. It is important for all college trustees and employees to remember that we are being closely watched, and that our behaviors and actions will have heightened meaning. Stay on the side of the angels.

Right now, the district attorney is in the middle of a huge investigation into past and present board members of the Sweetwater Union High School District and its former superintendent. Three are connected to our college.

Arlie Ricasa, SWC’s director of student development and health services, is currently on administrative leave. Greg Sandoval, the former acting superintendent/president, and Henry Amigable, who oversaw Proposition R construction in 2009 and 2010, have been charged with multiple felonies.

Questions abound. “Who’s next?” Former V.P. Alioto and former facilities director John Wilson are likely candidates. Other contenders for headlines are Salcido, former SWC superintendent Chopra, and Dan Hom, president of Focuscom, a PR firm in league with Alioto, Wilson and Amigable.

San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis released the dogs on Sweetwater and she has a few more in the pen, warming up for Southwestern College.

When it came to the D.A.’s 2011 investigation, the new governing board had three choices: work with the D.A.’s office, work against it, or to simply let the investigation happen by taking as little action as possible. Hernandez, Nader, Peraza and former trustee Nick Aguilar opted smartly to work with them, opening SWC’s doors and books, and promising them the first results of an internal review of the college’s finances that has been underway for most of a year. This is the high road, and it sends a powerful message to the community that this college will no longer hide misdeeds and unethical activities.

It is up to the courts to determine guilt or innocence, but the evidence collected so far is shocking.

Voters who tossed out two ineffective trustees at Southwestern in 2010 are getting out their brooms to sweep out Sweetwater corruption this November.

For our new leaders, this is the point of no return.

It falls upon them to make certain that the promises of truth and openness are actually reflected by the actions and deeds of the administration. It also falls upon them to not let the fear of bad press and shocking headlines overshadow the promise made to be fully transparent.

Nelson Mandela knew that South Africa had to come clean before it could heal. Southwestern College is in the same place. Hernandez, Nader and Peraza understand that. Here’s hoping our new administrators get it, too.

Online Comments Policy

Letters Policy

The Sun reserves the right to republish web comments in the newspaper and will not consider publishing anonymously posted web comments or comments that are inflammatory or libelous. Post web comments at theswcsun.com.

Send mailed letters to: Editor, Southwestern College Sun, 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Send e-mailed letters to southwestern_sun@yahoo.com. E-mailed letters must include a phone number. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for libel and length and will not consider publishing letters that arrive unsigned.

An education is no quick fix, which trade schools can imply, though it becomes a balance between highly expensive and quick, or the cheaper route taking a very long time to achieve. It’s easy to get lost in a field of frustration and to lose interest in goals if it seems like they’re taking forever to achieve. Work schedules, family needs, changes in schedules and frustration just makes it that much easier for a student to drop out of school.

Reaching the point where graduation is in sight can feel a lot like Frodo’s exhausting quest. Last semester felt a lot like I was dragging myself through the Dead Marshes, being led through bogs filled with eerie sparkles of light.

This semester I’ve started working in my professional feild, and the lights which have grown dim from years of sitting in classes, questioning if I’m even going in the right direction, finally turned on. All it took, for me at least, was a taste of where I want to work someday. Finally, the clouds lifted and I feel like I’m back on track.

Finding a way to spark that energy back into my education wasn’t easy. It took lot of exhausting nights, jam-packed to-do lists and chaotic scheduling before I really looked at what I was doing to myself. Last semester I made the mistake of picking my classes after a stressful, angry day – which inevitably led to a stressful, angry semester. As a result, I was disorganized and pushed myself harder than I should have, and it showed in my grades and the bags under my eyes.

Getting through school can be a long and arduous trek, and keeping that momentum going can sometimes be harder than any test. Too many things along our path, from friends, relationships, kids, employment and family responsibilities, can lead us astray from even a well-planned path.

Having friends with the same goals, with the same challenges, can often lighten the load. The goal to graduate and become a better person, to have a job and live a good life is a lifeline between friends that can easily make or break a college education. Friends who have unhealthy study habits and life choices make it easier to walk away from responsibilities and harder to focus on work and turn in assignments on time. Teachers have little tolerance for excuses, especially those who push to prepare their students for a fouryear university.

Once that momentum is found keeping it going is the hardest part. Keeping the end goal in mind can offer a realistic picture of where the path will lead. Those who volunteer or intern can literally get their foot in the door to their future profession. Students who put themselves out there and volunteer or intern have a better idea what to expect and what they’ll need to know once they get there.

As I step into my internship I feel like all this schooling has finally come together. Taking a test with the latest memorized terminologies is a far cry from sitting directly in front of someone and applying that hard-earned knowledge in person. Volunteering and interning has turned the question “Why do I need to know this stuff?” into “How will I use this someday?” … Which is a very different question than the one I asked myself before.

Getting that momentum going, finding it, keeping it, making it and breaking it all depends on the point of view of the student. Sometimes the strongest encouragement isn’t based on grades, but attitude and perspective. Keeping the goal in sight is what matters and only you can make sure you get there. Find something that draws you closer to graduation and keeps you going, whether it’s dollar bills, raising a child, having a nice house or just having a nice life. Your friends and family may encourage you, but that cap and gown only fits one, and this path is all your own. Make it count.

You can reach Angela by e-mail at angela.vanostran@gmail.com

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Ernesto Rivera, editor

VIEWPOINTS

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

Tel: (619) 482-6368 E-mail: viewpoints@theswcsun.com

Over-reaching intellectual property bills could damage Internet

By Christopher Soto and Nathan Hermanson A Perspective

SHANNON PAGANO

Domestic violence takes many forms in stressed U.S. “The home is actually a more dangerous place for American woman than the city streets.”

– Dr. Antonia C. Novello, former U.S. Surgeon General.

Love often seems like a battlefield.

More than 3 million women are severely assaulted each year by their partners. While most cases are physical assaults by men towards women, domestic violence includes physical attacks to coercive behavior from one partner to the other. Domestic violence can be physical, psychological or emotional abuse to any member of the family, even the household pet.

Economic pressure makes DV more common. Spousal abuse is more likely in low-income families and unemployed men are twice as likely to batter wives as employed men. Other triggers are drug and alcohol abuse, having been a victim of DV as a child and low self-esteem.

Often women tolerate abuse because they believe it “normal” or that they do not deserve any better. These thoughts are perpetuated by the three-phase cyclical pattern of abuse.

First is the Tension Building Phase.

Where an argument or stressor has come up and tension builds. Second is the Explosion Phase, when the actual battering occurs. Finally comes the Honeymoon Phase, the manipulation used by the batterer to keep the victim around. Typically it involves gifts, apologies and promises that “it will never happen again.” This phase is used to reward the woman for being in the relationship and is often so pleasant the woman believes the promises and stays. This phase is temporary. When it is over, the violent cycle begins again.

Name-calling, threats, humiliation and coercion are all forms of abuse.

Women who have been psychologically or emotionally abused have an increased risk of serious or chronic illness, perceived lower levels of control and psychological distress.

Psychological distress includes fear, low self-esteem, depression, inability to trust, nightmares, guilt, feelings of inferiority, introversion and helplessness. Many abused women may develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Awareness of DV and its many faces can help prevent it. Partners need to maintain open communication.

Disagreements are a normal part of any relationship, but keep them respectful. Look out for intimidation, name calling and bullying because those tactics are not healthy and can easily lead to a physical attack. Tell your partner when something makes you uncomfortable and try to resolve it yourselves, but be open to help from a professional. Most importantly, if you ever feel unsafe or have been hurt, get out of the environment immediately and seek medical attention if necessary.

Love should not hurt.

Got a burning question? Sex and The Sun can be reached at sexandthesun@gmail.com.

The Internet is home to an endless amount of resources and brilliant ideas.

Some see it as a haven of intellectual property theft and have bills before Congress to stop these criminals. At the same time, these bills endanger this home of resources and brilliant ideas.

On January 18, many online giants such as Google, Wikipedia and Reddit started the Internet Blackout by becoming inactive or displaying a message of protest about two bills pending in Congress. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011, also referred to as the PROTECT Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) have been indefinitely shelved, but similar legislation is being piped through Congress today. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), a multi-national agreement which parallels SOPA/PIPA, has been signed by 31 countries (including the United States) and represents an even larger threat.

There are also the Protecting Children from Internet Pornographers Act of 2011 and the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2012. These loftysounding bills represent threats to free speech, innovation and the essence of the Internet global, a communication system that has defined the new century.

Representative Lamar S. Smith (RTX) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), are sponsoring the bills that primarily focus on preventing online piracy of music, movies, TV shows and other copy-righted content. These bills are too broad and lack clear definitions. They also demonstrate a lack of sophistication about the Internet. These flawed bills will not stop piracy. Instead, they create a system that allows the government to shut down any website it feels may be engaging or facilitating the infringement

of copyrighted content. Every website within the U.S. would be subject and responsible for the inevitable cost of policing its users.

The bills also attempt to define foreign and domestic sites. If a website has a “domestic domain name” registered within the United States, it is a domestic site. Websites ending in a top-level domain like .com or .org are “domestic.”

A foreign site is any website not defined as domestic.

It is a bad definition. It is common practice for American sites to use foreign domains like “.me” because of the appearance of looking like an English word. It is actually the domain intended to be for tiny Montenegro. On the flip side, the controversial website wikileaks. org, which uses a U.S. domain, is hosted in Sweden. Such a loose definition of a crucial aspect of the bills presents the possibility of abuse by courts and plaintiffs.

Another half-hearted provision of the bills is its attempt at stopping piracy by forcing Internet service providers to blacklist websites they feel are infringing on copyright through the Domain Name System (DNS). The DNS takes human readable names like www.google.com and converts them into an Internet Protocol address (IP) that a computer uses to connect to websites. This can simply be worked around by typing the website’s IP address (74.125.224.72 for Google) directly into the address bar.

This creates a problem since blocking the DNS will do nothing to stop anybody from pirating and creates the threat of Internet censorship.

The legislation also states that plaintiffs can petition the U.S. District Attorney to send a notice or court order to any “domestic” website that engages or “facilitates” copyright infringement.

This blanket statement could mean if sharing websites like Facebook, tumblr or Reddit were to have somebody post something the plaintiff feels infringes on their copyright, that website would be responsible for the user’s action. If

Carlos Magana/Staff

the cost of policing individual users on Facebook were a single dime, at 500 million users, the cost would be $50 million. Start-up companies with communities a fifth the size of Facebook would go bankrupt trying to cope with such legislation. It would stifle the growth of the Internet and innovation.

Clay Shirky, a consultant on the social and economic effects of Internet technologies, said the proposals are unwieldy.

“You can’t share until you show us you’re not sharing something we don’t like,” he said.

Websites are guilty until proven innocent. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), major supporters of both bills, want to take away the rights that have made this country what it is and helped to make the Internet what it is. All for a few extra bucks.

The Internet has long been a place of open discussion and sharing. With the emergence of social media into everyday life, the sharing aspect has come to the

forefront. Today more and more people are making their own content. Examples of this can be found on 9gag.com and memebase.com, two popular meme aggregator and sharing websites. A meme is an idea or concept that spreads from person to person through the Internet.

A lot of memes involve copyrighted film captures and celebrities. Many famous “Internet stars” make a living by adapting material from TV shows and films. This kind of user-created content is exactly the kind of material that can be targeted

by SOPA/PIPA. Some pirating is easily preventable.

A study done by the University of Minnesota examined illegal downloading and its effect on movie sales. It concluded that pirating affected movie sales only when studios delayed the foreign release of their films. Foreign markets opted to download it instead of playing the waiting game.

People that own copyrighted content are entitled to the revenue earned from that content. That is why we have copyrights and SOPA/PIPA is definitely not the way to accomplish this.

Some students are abusing precious financial aid, depriving others in need

By Daniel Guzman A Perspective

Mini-fridges, strobe lights, plasma televisions and oversized beanbag chairs are de rigueur in college dorms and apartments across the country.

Unfortunately, too many of these luxuries were purchased with financial aid money.

Information about student spending of financial aid is anecdotal and selfreported, but what some students fess up to is a little breathtaking.

Invariably students are left with healthy chunks of financial aid change after paying school expenses. Instead of saving extra money, many purchase luxuries they would never think of buying if the money was not “free.” Tax dollars are too often spent on partying, fast food restaurants and other transient pleasures.

A computer for schoolwork or a car for transportation are good purchases, but the ipods, smart phones and the new set of golf clubs are not. Money spent in such a manner borders on fraudulent.

FAFSA, EOPS and other government grants allow hundreds of thousands of students across the country to access higher education without towering debt from student loans.

A 2007-09 study done by the National Center for Education Statistics reported 66 percent of all undergraduates received some type of financial aid. About half was federal and usually ranged between $6,600 and $8,400 per student.

EOPS is a program that supports

Cafeteria needs to be open longer

By Daniel Sanchez A Perspective

Rashid Hasirbaf/Staff

students with language, social, economic and educational disadvantages. It provides book vouchers for required texts. Leftover funds are supposed to be returned to EOPS to benefit other students. Instead of leaving the funds in their account, some unscrupulous students purchase books for others and receive cash kickbacks.

Some “students” come to school for the sole purpose of receiving financial aid, which is a travesty in any era, but particularly in today’s economic crisis.

Too many legit students are being squeezed out of higher education to support freeloaders, some of whom drop out as soon as they get their checks.

It makes sense for our society to support higher education. Collegeeducated people pay more taxes, create more jobs and contribute more to society. Smart, ambitious young people are worth the investment. Let’s just hope that a few knuckleheads don’t mess up financial aid for the good students of America.

Southwestern College is a place that has opened its doors to learning.

It has many open facilities students can access, such as the Cesar Chavez One-Stop Center, the Student Center and the bookstore.

One building that is not open enough is the cafeteria.

Even when classes are not in session, such as the time period between semesters, facilities are open for students who need to sign up for a class, pay fees, meet with a counselor and to buy textbooks. These activities require energy, but forget refueling at the cafeteria, it is closed.

In December SWC expanded its food options with the grand opening of the Time Out Café. It is opened longer hours than the main cafeteria (probably to compete with Jason’s Coffee Cart) but not when students need a between-semesters meal.

SWC needs to expand the days and operations of their food services for off-days and Saturdays. Our library, the Academic Success Center and the cafeterias are important for college. So is the cafeteria.

When academic facilities are open, cafeterias should be open, too, so students and employees are not forced to leave campus for lunch. After all, it is hard to learn on an empty stomach.

Thinking Out Loud What does the A.S.O. do for you?

Johann Lalangi, 19, Kinesiology

Daniela Grijalva, 19, Nursing

Luz Martinez, 19, Nursing

Victoria Ortiz, 18, Undeclared

Camillia Summers, 20, Business

“I don’t think the A.S.O. sticker is necessary.

They should only charge people who use it. It’s not really fair.”

“It would be a good thing if the projects they have would do more for students.”

“I only know a little about them, but they should have a stronger presence on campus.”

“They’re not doing much from what I’ve seen or heard.”

“I don’t know what the A.S.O. sticker does for me. We shouldn’t have to pay for it honestly.”

4

VIEWPOINTS

The Southwestern College Sun

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

9 A7

Letters To The Editor

Time to bring back all laid off SWC employees

Rashid Hasirbaf/Staff

Graffiti can also be great art

Paola Gonzalez/Staff

By Angelica Gonzales A Perspective

Painting on the wall is considered a glorious form of art in Egypt, Italy and Mexico, but can get a street artist in big trouble in the U.S. One person’s mural is another person’s vandalism.

Leonardo DaVinci painted on walls with his brush. Artists today use spray paint and markers as they explore the urban landscape looking for their next concrete canvas. Brilliant artists like Banksy sometimes leave multi-million dollar gifts on the sides of dreary buildings.

Artists of New York made their mark on subway trains in the 1980s, but

Evening classes have advantages

they were hardly the first urban artists.

Romans, Athenians and Persians had them beat by centuries. Prehistoric man had them beat by millennia as they drew on walls to tell stories and to preserve their history. Art precedes written language.

Art is subjective and many curators and agents act as if they are the ones who determine what is of artist value and what is not. Artists channel creativity from deep inside and share a gift with the world. It does not have to be limited to a canvas. Ask Michelangelo, who made the roof of the Sistine chapel his “canvas.”

At an early age children are taught to color inside the lines, whereas urban

artists are thinking outside the lines and outside the box. Unfortunately, homeowners and business owners do not see it that way when they are recipients of an unsolicited commission on the sides of buildings, homes, fences and signposts.

Graffiti conjures images of flowing colors, block letters and images of gangsters “tagging” their turf to let other gangs know whose territory they are entering.

Graffiti artists are waiting for the day when society can separate their art from the vandalism of gang bangers.

Spray cans and markers are the only things they have in common.

Graffiti that has no creative merit or artistic expression is merely the defacement of public property and a fair target of law enforcement. Upand-coming urban artists who share this modern art with their community should not be treated like criminals.

Su b u r b a n a n d i n n e r c i t y l a w enforcements use taxpayer money to rid the streets of graffiti, but sometimes they also wipe out an urban Mona Lisa.

Encinitas city fathers were far too eager to destroy the magnificent “Surfing Madonna” mosaic exhibited under a bridge near the beach. Calmer heads prevailed and the stunning piece will have a new home nearby.

Ho t l i n e s a re a v a i l a b l e w h e re “concerned citizens” can report graffiti they see on public property. Other concerned citizens should take action to support urban art and preserve it. Public property, after all, belongs to the public.

New Years resolutions are doable when broken down into small bites

question the rationale for her having been laid of in the first place.

The last employee worked at SWC for 18 years before being laid off.

Excellent evaluations and the whole hired-last, fired-first concept did not protect him. He was the only Student Services employee laid off in the 2009 employee hacking. He is currently trying to exercise his rights to employment reinstatement under Education Code Section 88117, the 39-month reemployment measure.

The district is resisting his reemployment even though both the spirit and the letter of the law are in that employee’s favor.

I read in the press that members of the current SWC leadership are “committed to proactively addressing past practices.”

It is the perception of many that some of our past practices have included favoritism, nepotism, sexism and patronage in hiring and promotion. Some have been perceived as including forced resignations.

Some of our past practices have included inequitable responses when complaints or grievances have been filed. I am certainly nervous about putting these comments in print, but as Emiliano Zapata said, “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”

Our current governing board needs to do the right thing. Past leadership played God with the lives of five employees. They were singled out to bear the brunt of harassment, intimidation and retaliation. Bring the last of the “5” back into the SWC fold. SWC employees need to see you walk your talk. SWC employees need to see actions not just to read words.

Corina Soto Counselor

Leave college logo alone A recent article in the Sun purported that the Southwestern College logo is wrong. It is the article itself that is wrong. Apparently little or no research was done to understand even the basics of graphic design. For evidence of that, consider “VW” for the one word “Volkswagen” or “TV” for “television” and the notion of changing “SWC” to “SC” becomes just plain silly.

Logos seldom follow grammar or syntax rules because they are designs, not writing. Letters are often used simply as elements of design. In the SWC design, the “S” and the “W” connect in order to clearly show

they are one word, making the logo more identifiable. At the same time the connection gives a bit of graphic style to otherwise just three floating letters... or even worse, two... as the article suggests.

The success of any logo is best measured by how it transcends itself and becomes part of the vernacular.

Most say Scotch tape instead of cellophane tape, Coke instead of cola.

I say and even write SWC when I refer to the Southwestern College. I also say, “Leave the SWC logo alone!

It has done it’s job and done it well.”

Joe Schmidt

Disabled student tired of interrogations

By Enrique Raymudno A Perspective

Night time is the right time at Southwestern College. Too bad more students do not stick around to enjoy the night life.

Day classes can be crowded, tough to get and filled with immature students. They have students sitting on the floor and professors doing as much traffic control as teaching.

Teaching night classes often falls to younger part-time instructors.

They are the ones who travel between campuses, bounce between classrooms and teach at odd hours.

Adjuncts are often brilliant, usually dedicated and always glad to be there.

Andrew Rempt, English professor and Learning Assistance Services Coordinator, said students attending night classes tend to be older and b e t t e r b e h a ve d t h a n d a y t i m e students.

“Evening students generally seem more serious and involved,” he said.

Students attending for job training often have busy day schedules, so night classes make sense. These s tu de nt s h e lp crea te a better learning environment, because they contribute experience and wisdom.

While daytime classes might be packed with gossiping children just out of high school, evening classes are filled with learned and experienced people. And they only come out at night.

The time list included in the most recent copy of the SWC Sun left out one important item, the 2009 decision by the “District” to lay off five employees due to a “lack of work or a lack of funds.”

Many of us believed then and still believe that these “layoffs” were made for political and personal reasons, NOT because of a “lack of work or funds.” Past administration and governing board leaders had to parse the language in our layoff policies and procedures until they found an interpretation to justify their actions.

Past leadership refused to listen and caused good employees to lose jobs, lose income, suffer ruined credit, to move and to hire lawyers.

The actions of past leadership resulted in lawsuits being filed against our district. Luckily, new governing b o a rd m e m b e r s a n d a n i n t e r i m president came into office. These leaders were also asked to “re-org the re-org” in more than one public venue.

Both the old and new leadership failed to reinstate some of these former employees in a timely fashion even when they were counseled to do so by our own attorneys and had to pay out hundreds of thousands in one settlement.

In terms of the other employees who were laid off, one employee had to take a voluntary demotion. She lost thousands of dollars in income. It took over 18 months for her to be restored to her former position.

Another employee was forced to take settlement money because she had already moved out of the area.

One employee came back after a significant time period also having lost thousands of dollars in income. This person has since been promoted to the position of dean, which calls into

By Ana Ochoa A Perspective

It feels great to make New Year resolutions – until we realize we have not kept them.

There is an art and science to making good resolutions. Here are a few tips: Weight-conscious students who want to leave Twinkies behind need to make healthy choices. Create a chart listing unhealthy snacks on the left side and healthy snacks on the right. Writing a list makes it harder to choose Doritos over carrots. Over time, making better eating choices will become a habit and there will be no more stomach cramps or sugar highs.

Keeping a calendar can be very helpful for students who want to stay on top of their game. Writing appointments and homework in a calendar is old-fashioned but it works. Children of the Steve Jobs Era may use smart phones or other electronic calendars. It is easier to remember when a small shiny screen alerts you to check Blackboard before class. Whatever method works, stick to it!

Determination is imperative for students who resolve to get good grades.

Reading the assignments is key. Reading ahead pays off. Knowing what a professor

Carlos Magana/Staff

is talking about when she refers to a specific page can be a relief. Thanks to new technology, students can rent books online.

There is also a link on the SWC website that allows students to read library books directly online. It allows students to stay on top of their studies while in the comfort of their own couch, rather than a cold desk.

One of the most popular resolutions these days is to quit smoking. Giving up cancer sticks is a hard one. One great way to knock out this destructive habit is by getting an electronic cigarette. They have less nicotine and are a good transitional tool. By the way, SWC is a soon-to-be smoke-free campus, so leave the ciggies at home.

Some students yearn to finish community college in less than three years. Students who hop on that bandwagon without a real plan are doomed to fail. Making an appointment with a counselor is the first step. Getting a Student Education Plan is second. Once students have their road laid out, the college journey is easier.

Beginning a new year with the right goals is a great step leading to a better life.

It takes time and true dedication to become a better student, but we can all do it, one step at a time.

I am handicapped and I have cerebral palsy. I have had this disability since birth, which has affected the whole left side of my body. It has limited my ability to coordinate, maneuver, grip, and clasp objects in my hand. It has also limited mobility in my leg and foot, forcing me to limp, which has affected my spine.

I have had my fair share of incidents with people who say I am not a disabled person. At Southwestern College I have experienced profiling and prejudice.

One day, as I was about to exit my car, I saw a police cruiser behind me. I already knew what to expect.

The policeman asked for my license and registration along with proof of my placard. His condescending tone made him feel as if he has caught me

in the act. Realizing that I am in my rights to park where I have, he tactfully justified his reason for investigating me was specifically due to complaints of impostors using handicap placards. He undoubtedly profiled me because of my age and appearance.

I refuse to embellish the limp I already have, put my headphones on half way to class, or wait until there is no one else around to get out of my car. My disability should not prevent me from going to the college. My disability should not be the concern of people who unfairly judge. I would gladly trade your functional body for my placard and disability so you can fight for the rights of the disabled and, of course, park closer.

Albert Sarinana

Praise for PLA article T h e So u t h we s t e r n Su n a r t i c l e “Unions seek corner lot PLA” (Winter Edition, 2011) was excellent in my view. Seldom with a complicated item such as Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) does a reporter understand, get the facts straight and report them in a fair and objective manner as your Nick Furr did with the very difficult controversy around the SWC Prop “R”

construction bond.

A s y o u k n o w, t h e r e h a s b e e n highlighted attention over the last few years about PLAs in general and Prop G in South Bay in particular. The residents, taxpayers and your readers are entitle to honest and competent reporting which the Sun delivered.

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Ken Seaton-Msemaji

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Jan. 18- Feb. 28, 2012 — Vol. 55, Iss. 5

Backpage

The Southwestern College Sun

La Paz

Marcha Migrante VII

“

They don’t know that there are immigrants working hard every day under terrible conditions and being taken advantage of that labor to bring food to their tables. We use my father’s legacy to tell their stories.

Story by Albert Fulcher Photos by Serina Duarte and Omar Villalpando Design by Pablo Gandara and Serina Duarte

” - Paul F. Chavez

N

estled in the Tehachapi Mountains, between San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert, rugged peaks and great oaks stand guard, protecting a sacred plot of land. In this safe haven stands a simple wooden cross with an iron crucifix behind a small granite headstone.

Saint Francis of Assisi and La Virgen de Guadalupe stand on each end of a consecrated rose garden in Nuestra Senora Reina de La Paz (Our Lady Queen of Peace), the home and burial site of Cesar Chavez one of America’s great humanitarian activists of the 20th century.

In the midst of a mountain chain that twice almost divided the state into Northern California and Southern California, Chavez started a revolution that united people to fight for the rights of migrant farm workers. His bold but nonviolent fight for social change was influenced by his deep faith in God and the examples of Mohandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. He fought with boycotts, fasts, marches and strikes—and thousands of people joined his crusade. Cries of ¡Si Se Puede! and ¡Huelga! echoed through nation all the way to Washington D.C. He became the first American to found a successful farm workers union, achieving bargaining power with growers in 1962, the National Farm Workers Association (now the United Farm Workers of America).

Please see La Paz pg. A4

Top: Paul Chavez and Border Angels founder Enrique Morones plan the next segments of Marcha Migrante VII. Middle: (l) Morones reading a scripture at the Cesar E. Chavez grave site, (r) fountain mural at Cesar E. Chavez memorial. Bottom: (far left) Cesar E. Chavez tombstone, (above) Chavez and Morones share stories of Cesar Chavez. (l) A memorial to three martyrs of the UFW -- one Jewish, one Christian, one Muslim.

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

The Human Chord ALBERT H. FULCHER

AIDS epidemic still ravages central Africa

O

ne-third of their babies will be born with HIV. As many as 15,000 people will die within the next three years, and more than 1 million of their people already infected. Conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo are dismal now taking death tolls and conditions back to the place it was before treatment became available, all because many the world countries of the Global Fund weaseled out of their promises to provide antiviral drugs. Out of more than a million HIV/AIDS patients, only 44,000 receive treatment today in the Congo.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also blames the Congolese for not making this pandemic a priority. Conditions are horrifying as people flood to clinics with advanced illnesses and MSF doctors are crying out for help before it gets worse. The government ignores this silent massacre. It spends an average of $2 a year for every infected person.

Most of the world—including the media—has turned away from the atrocities of the region. War plagues its history in the fight to be the superior ethnic group and allows moneygrubbing corporations to rape and pillage the land and wildlife as much as the government does its own people.

Though true figures are much higher, the United Nations recorded 11,000 rapes in 2010 with reports of mass rapes of women and children (both girls and boys) in the North Kivu province in July and August.

Rape is a horrific weapon of war and more than 200,000 innocents from all ethnic groups in the region endured or died because of rape and violent sexual assaults by rebel forces and the Congolese army. At war with seven neighboring nations since 1994, the people and armies have penetrated the Congo for its rich mineral resources resulting in an ongoing battle for political power. Logging, poaching and mining are destroying this vast resource at an alarming rate, with little very little reported by international media.

War Child, a United Kingdom relief organization, calls the conflict in the Congo “Africa’s First World War” and is the earth’s deadliest conflict since World War II. Statistics on the region are sobering.

With a population of more than 7.1 million, the Congo has lost more than 5.4 million people. One in five children will not live to see a fifth birthday. More than one million people have been forced to leave their homes torn by war and genocide, many fleeing into the depths of this tropical paradise and destroying the natural habitat that this planet depends on. With more than 20,000 peacekeepers, the U.N. reports 100,000 civilians have fled their homes because of raids on villages and clashes between rival militia groups since last November.

Conflict is rooted in gluttony. Gold is a large resource and responsible for the majority of the ongoing bloody wars and massacres. Government or rebel forces control mines and the conditions of the men and children miners are horrifying.

Western consumers unknowingly fuel oppression of the Congolese.

The Congo is the world’s supplier of minerals such as coltan, tin and tungsten, all minerals used for the fabrication of consumer electronics.

Manufacturers continue to make disposable electronics as violence escalates.

Things look bleak and hopeless for the people of the Congo and very few are listening to the screams of the innocents. Before you rush out to buy your next piece of technology, use your cell phone to your ear, fail to recycle electronics, remember that lives are being abandoned, forgotten and lost for that luxury. Post that to Facebook via your mobile device.

The Southwestern College Sun

CAMPUS Worldly Bakhiet helps others find greatness in their DNA

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omar villalpando /staff

GREATER THAN THE SUM OF HER PARTS — Dr. Nouna Bakhiet is a DNA scientist but no reductionist.

She encourages students to remake themselves into learned, potent beings who can advance human knowledge.

Bakhiet was honored by her peers as the recipent of the 2012 Faculty Leadership Award.

By Albert H. Fulcher Senior Staff Writer

I

n the California deserts, lizards with heavy scales bask at the top of ravines to warm in the sun.

Living in the dark, wet climate below are lizards smooth and sleek. Though different, they are the same species—a biological adaptation. Many spend their lives wandering up and down the ravines to mate, continuing the chain of life of a species not concerned with of the differences in their biological appearance.

Dr. Nouna Bakhiet loves metaphor. She also loves teaching science.

Beginning her journey in the hot desert sun of Sudan, Bakhiet, professor of biology, said her inner life is that of the wandering lizard. “ I t ’s a l l i n t h e D N A ,” s h e said. “There is an inherent nature for all populations that some of that population will venture away from that natural habitat. We are designed to do this so that we could populate the earth.”

Bakhiet wandered from the expected path. She was an accomplished research scientist in a modern day laboratory doing meaningful work. She came to Southwestern College in 1997 to work as an adjunct by night and lab rat by day. Her students won her heart and she left the lab for a professorship at a college that needed a new direction. Bakhiet was the first Ph.D. in the biology department when she was hired full-time in 1999. Her research colleagues did not understand her decision to walk away from a more lucrative career to teach.

“Really, my calling, my talent, my nature is embedded in what I do here at Southwestern College,” said Bakhiet. “This is who I am. This is what I was meant to do. I was able to bring all of my experience, inside or outside of the classroom or inside or outside of the lab and lay it at the student’s feet.”

Bakhiet is the recipient of the 2012 Faculty Leadership Award, chosen by her peers for her innovative teaching, grant writing and program creation. Nominated by Professor of Journalism Max Branscomb, he called Bakhiet a campus revolutionary who not only thinks outside the box, but destroys them.

“Dr. Bakhiet rocks her students’ world right down to the foundations and challenges them to throw off

their old selves and become something greater,” he wrote. “Many of SWC’s best and highest achieving students of the new millennium were her students or are alumni of the programs she has created, inspired and fed over the past decade.”

More than just a teacher, Bakhiet is faculty advisor for the Biology Club and active in SWC’s Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program, directed by her sister, Dr. Raga Bahkiet. She designed curriculum as academic director of the biotechnology program providing teaching and mentoring for students, whether seeking a technical certificate or a full college education in biotechnology. She led the Bridges to the Future program collaboration between SWC and SDSU for underrepresented minority students seeking a future in biomedical research.

As head of internships for BETSI (Biotechnology Education and Training Sequence Investment), she began with a grant from the National Science Foundation. BETSI is now a national model that produces a 100 percent hiring rate of SWC students completing internships within the industry.

“We are the DNA people,” she said. “We are the ones that change, modify, and turn off and on DNA. The next level up from DNA is cells, which is our tool. At the training level here, we work only with bacterial cells. Students get the opportunity to work with mammalian cells in internships and hires.”

Bakhiet said the community college is the most basic teaching system she ever experienced, unique to America with a financially logical path for students.

Community colleges have the same caliber of teachers as a four-year-universities, she said, but community college teachers that have more time to teach and spend considerably more time with their students.

“I have always known that I had the ability to teach and wanted to train myself to become a mentor,” she said. “I could be a holistic teacher, not just in the classroom but to anyone that walks in my office. I could leave them with something that would help them as well.”

Branscomb said her blend of Eastern and Western thinking embraces the communal learning system of Asian and African cultures with the individualistic and creative characteristics of the American system.

“Without trying to be noticed she is noticed,” he said. “Without putting herself in the limelight she is watched. Without striving to be out front, she leads. She is an indispensable part of the fabric of

our college.”

Born in Khartoum, Sudan, Bakhiet said her wandering nature makes her comfortable living just about anywhere. She always sought people that were different from her she said, and confirmed to nothing.

Her culture is a human culture, she said, not any restrictive labels or boxes.

One-half Saudi, a quarter Turkish and a quarter Sudanese, Bakhiet is part of the green people of the Sudan. Her features and color are common in the northern region. Sudanese language has no reference to black or white in regards to race. People of the nation are blue, yellow, green and red.

“I am green because I am a mix,” she said. “The blue people are the indigenous tribes of the Sudan. They are so dark they look purple in the sun.”

She said the yellow people carry the skin tones similar to Mexicans, Asians and Indians. Red is for Caucasians, the color they turn in the Sudanese sun.

Bakhiet spent her early years traveling and studying throughout the Middle East and Britain. Her native tongue is Arabic, but she was brought up to speak English and French. Her parents raised their children to be trilingual and able to live and thrive in an English-speaking country.

Sudan, a long time British colony, adopted the British educational system with a 10-year primary school and three-year universities. Her parent’s wandering culture took her education from the Sudan to England, where she earned her Certificate of Education (GCO) at the University of London. please see Bakhiet pg. B3

Scan this

for updates THURSDAY February 16

TUESDAY February 21

THURSDAY February 23

THURSDAY February 28

WEDNESDAY February 29

“Resurrection of Jim Crow and President Barack Obama”

African American Cuisine and Vendor Fair

“Reflections, 1863 -1963” 11a.m. - Noon Presenter: Stan James

“Honoring Martin Luther King and Unsung Community Heroes”

“Born from History: The Soul, the Food & the Blues” Guest Chef: Ursula Morris-Williams Student Union East Student Food served all day in SWC Cafeteria $8 Performance by: Earthmovers ft.

Lead Vocalist Classified Professional Janet Polite 11a.m. - Noon

11 a.m. - Noon Presenter: Stan James Room 705

11a.m. - 1p.m.

Presenter: Stan James Mayan Hall Experience soul food and visit vendor booths for African American Wares

Room 705 A brief historical reflection on the dramatic changes which have affected African Americans and the United States

5:30p.m. - 7:30p.m.

Chula Vista Golf Course 4475 Bonita Rd. Bonita, CA 91902

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Angelica Gonzales, editor

CAMPUS

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

Tel: (619) 482-6368 E-mail: campus@theswcsun.com

Financial aid cuts may end college dreams

Construction controversy stalls culinary program New corner lot facility on hold, so chefs serve up classes in the cafeteria on the main campus

By Eileen Salmeron Staff Writer

Plans for a new culinary arts program on the corner lot have been left simmering, collateral damage of the construction corruption case that has rocked the South Bay. Southwestern College has offered cooking and baking courses in the cafeteria kitchen since 2008 in response to research that showed a greater need for culinary professionals in the region. Curriculum has been upgraded from ROP classes to regular college-credit courses that one day could lead to certificates or degrees.

Professor of Paralegal Studies Victoria Lopez has been an advocate for a modern culinary arts facility on the corner lot. She and instructor Ellen Baum have visited successful facilities looking for a model SWC could employ.

Plans changed on Jan. 25 when the corner lot contractor and architect were fired following indictments by the San Diego County District Attorney of two former Southwestern College administrators and a construction executive.

“It doesn’t look like we will be having a new culinary arts building for a couple

of years,” said Lopez. “We’re looking for options, but for now it’s just limping along.”

Culinary arts currently offers five courses taught by three instructors with experience as chefs at Sea World, Kaiser Permanente, the Art Institute and resort hotels. Chef Mark Atkins said he is willing to teach anywhere and the cafeteria has its advantages.

“It is a better layout in the cafeteria kitchen,” he said. “The students get a better idea of the real workforce.”

His students agree.

“I love it in the kitchen,” said Maria Peralta. “It’s not that busy and it’s more professional. A new building would be better, but the kitchen still allows us room to learn knife skills, practice our own recipes and learn new cooking techniques.”

Plans for a self-contained bistro on the corner lot have been stalled, said Lopez. So too, it seems, are plans to hire faculty.

“The department needs full-time faculty members,” said Lopez. “There is no coordination. We have a good program and we want the program to grow, but it’s not going to be possible until we get our own facility. Unfortunately, I don’t know now when that is going to happen.”

By Shawnie Lopez Staff Writer

Walking around campus early each semester, the longest lines are in the Cesar Chavez building at the financial aid line.

California’s economic woes and rising education costs have more students than ever turning to financial aid to help make college affordable.

For Christiana Eseller, 19, nutrition major, financial stability has been a complicated goal to achieve after she was declared ineligible for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Board of Governors (BOG).

“It is really stressful,” she said.

“Trying to keep up grades and almost working full-time at minimum wage.”

Eseller said she pays for schooling on her own.

“If I was able to receive financial aid I would be more motivated because of the lessened stress on me from having to find money for raising tuition and overpriced textbooks,” she said.

Many students insist financial aid is the only way they can continue in school. That is the case for Julian Rivera, 23, who has been attending SWC since fall of 2010 and has received the BOG waiver since his first semester. Rivera said he is unemployed and was denied FAFSA this semester. Without the BOG waiver, he said, “school would be much more expensive and possibly out of reach.”

“I do not think it is fair because apparently my parents make too much money,” he said. “But I don’t receive help from them.”

Because FAFSA is based on the parent’s income, many students are denied but others benefit. Stephanie Guerrero, 20, nursing, said FAFSA was her lifeline.

“School would be out of my reach without FAFSA,” she said. “I wouldn’t know how to pay for school with out it. I would have to get a full time job to pay for school and have more stress with a full school load and a full time job.”

Guerrero said FAFSA provided incentive to keep her GPA up.

“The requirements are not hard to follow,” she said. “I respect the requirements that FAFSA asks for because I feel they’re reasonable. I keep 12 units every semester to get through my prerequisites and I keep my G.P.A above a 2.0.”

FAFSA and BOG waivers are two types of the financial aid available at SWC. FAFSA is a form the Department of Education (DOE) uses to determine a student’s Expected Family Contribution. Based on parent’s income, students will be granted a certain amount of aid to apply towards college expenses. The BOG waiver subsidizes enrollment fees and is based on financial need.

amparo mendoza /staff

A FRESH BATCH — Culinary arts students get their aprons dirty in the Southwestern College Main Campus cafeteria kitchen, practicing baking skills and mise en place of their ingrediants.

Great word of mouth for popular dental program

omar villalpando /staff

LAB HOURS — Brenda Morales, 31, (above) exams dental x-rays looking for cavities. Morales is studying for an A.S. degree in dental hygiene.

By Airha Dominguez Staff Writer

National City is home of a dental hygiene program that has put smiles on thousands of faces – students as well as patients.

The Southwestern College Dental Hygiene Clinic at the National City Higher Education Center is a teaching clinic that serves the community.

Students interested in the program may apply once they have finished core science classes. Classes are divided into two groups, a senior group and a junior group with 36 students per class.

“I personally had to wait about a year and a half,” said Candace McKee, a dental hygiene major. “Some people waited longer, two to three years.”

Patients can go there to learn about good dental health and nutritional counseling. Services include X-rays, blood pressure, oral cancer screenings and cleanings. McKee said the clinic is one of the nest deals in town.

“An exam, a cleaning, the X-rays, all of that is free which is good because if you don’t have dental insurance it’s a lot of money,” she said. “ It could cost $200 for cleaning, deep cleaning it could cost $1,000 or more.”

McKee said almost ever yone is eligible.

New patients require an assessment appointment to determine eligibility.

Prospective patients must call the clinic, leave a message and wait for a return call to make an appointment.

A goal of the program is to create empathy with patients and develop communications skills. Practical experience recreates a professional environment, said McKee. “This program has helped me a lot to deal with stressful situations,” she said. “You always have to be at the top of the game because it is intense and it is demanding.”

Program director Vickie KimbroughWalls said she wants SWC’s students to take advantage of this program.

D e n t a l h y g i e n e m a j o r Bre n d a Morales, 31, said classes require a lot of time. Students work at the clinic practicing approximately four hours at a time, three days a week. This two-year program earns students an associate degree in dental hygiene.

Professionals supervise students all the time.

Located on the second floor of the National City campus, the clinic is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. For questions and appointments call (619) 216-6663.

omar villalpando /staff

OPEN WIDE— Dental hygiene student Amy Monaghan practices a routine cleaning on Caleb Zamora free of charge during her lab hours at the clinic in National City.

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The Southwestern College Sun

Bakhiet: Professor challenges her students to achieve excellence Continued from Page 5

Her father’s work in irrigation engineering took the family to Libya where Bakhiet earned her first bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Tripoli.

While in Libya, her mother, only 51, died of breast cancer. Bakhiet said this is why she eventually moved into breast cancer research.

“On her deathbed, I sat next to her and said, ‘Mom, I’m going to do something about this someday’,” she said.

A short time after, her father died suddenly from a heart attack. Her family had already decided that she would take her younger sister to America. In 1980, with a sponsorship from American teachers who taught in Libya, they moved to Iowa.

At the University of Iowa Bakhiet earned a second bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a dual Ph.D. in micro and molecular biology. Though she was academically accomplished at a young age, she said she did not believe she had the life experience to become a teacher, her ultimate goal.

Bakhiet chose to do three post-doctorate tours. At UC Davis, University of Loma Linda and San Diego’s Sanford Burnham Institute she moved from microbiology to breast cancer research. She studied breast cancer for four and a half years and contributed to the creation of mixed drug cocktails used to treat breast cancer today.

Her gift for science blends seamlessly with her gift for teaching. Once she offered sage advice to Har Gobind Khorana of India, Nobel Prize recipient in 1968 for his “interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis.”

He received a quick tutorial in teaching from Bakhiet one day at a conference she attended with students at Point Loma Nazarene University.

Before the conference she saw Khorana sitting alone looking over the ocean. To her surprise, he motioned her over and confessed he was concerned about having community college and high school students in his audience. He had only ever spoken to post-graduates and professors.

“So how do I talk to them?” he wondered.

“I told him to tell them a story,” Bakhiet said. “There has to be a beginning, a middle and an end.”

Bakhiet said out of a folder of 300 slides of very high complex biochemistry work, Khorana picked 33 and gave his lecture.

“I then knew why he was a Nobel Prize winner,” she said. “Because it was a story, everyone understood it. Students asked questions and relayed it after we came back. It was a work of art.”

“Insights from a Wandering Lizard,” Bakhiet’s philosophical book of whimsical colloquialisms, evokes Mark Twain and Ramakrishna. East and West blend like Turkish curry.

“We, the wandering lizards, are the heroes of new memes,” Bakhiet wrote.

“We strike out and away from tradition.

We create what is different; we dare to live beyond what is known. We are human revolutions.”

“Woman without traditions,” she asserts, can create a brighter way of life.

She wrote the words, and then created the art from a Buddha board her sister gave her. Drawing on water, the picture disappears as the water evaporates.

“This is supposed to teach you impermanence,” she said. “However, being Western influenced, I took a picture of it. All of the drawings in the book were done in five minutes or less.”

She dedicated her book to President Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, because she is from Kansas, married a man from Kenya and then a man from Indonesia.

“She is definitely a wandering lizard,” she said. “Socially, she wasn’t looking around her to fulfill her social life. She was looking way beyond that.”

Embargos and sanctions against the government of Sudan left Bakhiet’s American citizenship application languishing for years. Finally, in November 2010, Bakhiet became an American lizard.

Returning to Sudan was never an option, she said. Despite some progress and many highly educated-women, the culture remains male-dominated.

“It doesn’t work for me,” she said. “I may be different from most Americans because I don’t have its culture, but I am an alien from outer space in Sudan. I would be very different in the Middle East, being a woman that has her own mind.”

Bakhiet said she studied her choices carefully in life, but with no “baggage” to bring with her, she feels free and accepted.

Her inner freedom fuels innovation.

Research is her passion, but teaching is her talent and she had to answer the call.

“Talent will not let you rest.”

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

9 11 B3

Border Angels march recalls Chavez

By Albert H. Fulcher Senior Staff Writer

Exhausted after fasting and traveling for 10 days, Mark Valdez took the last weary steps towards the beach at Border Field State Park. He was met there by Father Dermot Rodgers, who blessed him for his prayers and dedication. Rodgers broke bread with Valdez, an historic echo of 1968 when presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy met Cesar Chavez to break bread with him after a 25-day fast in protest of the poor treatment of migrant workers.

“My fast is two-fold,” said Valdez, a member of the Border Angels’ board of directors. “First, in memory of Cesar’s cause and sacrifices that brings me closer to God. Secondly, to experience what migrants experience every day trying to get across the border, many of them losing their lives.”

Marcha Migrante VII celebrated the 50th anniversary of the United Farmers Workers, founded by Cesar Chavez in 1962. Each day of travel was a tribute to his 10 core principles reflected in its theme, “Walk with Cesar.” Chavez’s principles were determination, acceptance of people, celebrating community, respect for live and environment, non-violence, helping the most needy, knowledge, sacrifice, service to others and innovation.

“This park is a sacred park,” said Border Angels founder Enrique Morones.

“This is home to Friendship Park where we normally end our journey. The idea was to have a friendship between both countries.”

Beginning Feb. 2, at Cesar Chavez Park, marchers enjoyed a sendoff by the Hummingbird Aztec Dancers. Next was the drive to Holtville Cemetery, a somber graveyard of more than 700 unidentified

migrants.

“The names on some of the crosses you carry are some of the names of some of the 10,000 people that have died crossing the border since October 1994,” said Morones.

In Yuma they saw where Cesar Chavez

facility. That evening they rallied in Plaza Mexico, where El Pueblo Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula was founded. Morones said they spent a wonderful evening in Boyle Heights at the theater of iconic Latina playwright Josephina Lopez. After watching her

albert h. fulcher /staff

A BLESSING — Mark Valdez receives a blessing from Father Dermot Rodgers after his 10-day fast that ended at the beach of Borderfield State Park.

was born and the remains of the small adobe home where he grew up. They rumbled to Coachella to hear California Assembly man Manual Perez announce a three-bill package to assist communities that rely on the migrant work force.

On the way to Los Angeles, marchers protested in front of an INS detention

production of “King of the Desert,” Lopez put the group up for the night at Casa 0101 Theatre.

During a day of fasting the group journeyed to the Cesar Chavez Center in La Paz, high in the Tehachapi Mountains (see Back Page.)

“This is a magical place, an historic

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place and also a sad place,” said Morones.

“Sad only because Cesar is buried here.

But Cesar is not gone, he’s with us and he will always be with us.”

Warm rooms and beds awaited 25 marchers, but several stayed up late painting crosses for their next day’s journey to 40 Acres, the place Chavez planned his most momentous initiatives, of including the 1970 signing of the historic UFW labor contract. His son, Paul Chavez, president of the Cesar Chavez Center, said the center exists to fight for humane treatment of immigrants. “(Latinos) have always answered the call to duty,” he said. “We’ve done the (worst) jobs, worked the hardest and we are not recognized for it. So let’s do it.

Not so much on behalf of my dad, but we are going to do it on behalf of the larger Latino community.”

Moving on to Modesto, Morones said friends from El Concilio help the needy every day and do amazing work.

“We saw the work firsthand, from educating youth to visiting farm workers,” he said. “The work is exemplary and you can see the joy and the pride of the Concilio workers in the love they demonstrate.”

Many marchers headed to Sacramento and did interviews with local and international media. Morones visited offices of state legislators to seek humane immigration reform.

Marchers met in Escondido to support day laborers mistreated by the city’s law enforcement. Escondido has been dubbed “Little Arizona” by human rights groups.

Back home on the beach in the corner of the U.S., Morones gave thanks for everybody that participated in the march.

“There is so much work to do,” said Morones. “Chavez lessons continue.

B4

The Southwestern College Sun

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

ARTS

Lone St a r Lus t e r Airha Dominguez • Staff Writer | Serina Duarte and Demi Alvarado • Photographers

S

outhwestern College has messed with Texas. It was a good move.

Artists Vincent Falsetta and Matthew Bourbon’s exhibition, “Big and Bright: New Work from Texas” was a Lonestar revelation.

A Texas-sized showcase of 35 artists had visitors forgetting the Alamo and remembering the creativity and flavor of one of America’s most diverse states.

First to present was Falsetta. He studied fine arts at Temple University in Philadelphia and earned his Master’s in Fine Arts at the Tyler School of Art in Rome.

Falsetta, a studio art professor at the University of North Texas, showed the audience pictures of his studio and explained his painting process.

“I experiment with colors and textures,” he said. “I mix the base color and then I go to the brush.”

Falsetta said he works with a “monochromatic palette,” different tones of the same color.

Since 1997 he has been sketching potential paintings on index cards to document and record his work. They contain the title of the painting, possible ideas and the painting on scale. They also contain sequences of colors he will use.

“Everything for me is about process,” he said.

Bourbon studied art studio and art history at UC Davis and earned a Master’s in Fine Arts. He has written for several publications, including Art News and New York arts magazines.

His paintings are illustrative but have some abstract aspects.

“I don’t feel comfortable making only

abstract work,” he said. “I take any kind of sources such as newspaper clippings, old films, advertisements and magazines. I’m actually combining two sources.”

Most of Bourbon paintings use a touch of cubism, a geometric style of painting created

by Picasso. All his paintings are fictional, he said, and he likes a sense of animation.

Bourbon said his paintings did not have a specific meaning. He wants people to make their own interpretation of his work.

“Also, the title is very important,” he said.

“It gives people something extra, like an introduction to the painting.”

Artists often have to look for a “day job” and be persistent if they have a passion to create.

“Art is a learning experience that if you can enjoy the process, and believe in yourself, you should show it in the art work,” he said.

“You will be happier if people know what you really are as an artist.”

Even though it is sometimes hard to find a job as an artist, it is a satisfying career, Falsetta said. If you feel proud of your work you will succeed.

Angelica Corona, 21, graphic design major, said she enjoyed the exhibit.

“It was interesting to see a large diversity of pieces from the different Texas artists,” she said.

“I like the fact that you couldn’t tell the artist was from Texas, meaning that, you expected to see drawings of a desert or cactus and it was something complete different. Both artists love what they do. Their passion can be reflected in their pieces. I like that they shared their experience and what are their work’s process.”

TEXAS TALENT — (clockwise from top l) “Teeth Balls” by Margaret Meehan, “Attempt” by Matt Clark, “Tetrahedron Cluster” by Garland Fielder, “Pulp Rocks” by Dameon Lester, “Tetrahedron Cluster”

by Fielder, “Never Too Far Apart” by David Willburn, (center) “Special Wishes” by Matthew Bourbon.

People who attended opening day of the gallery had a chance to look around the exhibit and gaze at the Texas-inspired pieces.

Former SWC child prodigy shines at album release show

Pablo Gandara/staff

GATEWAY TO AZTLAN — Historic Chicano Park is getting a makeover. Two Aztec entities, one male and one female, guard its mystical entrance. Chicano Park is considered one of the world’s greatest outdoor galleries of murals and Chicano art. One of the best-known murals was painted by SWC art professor Michael Schnorr.

Power of la raza returns to Chicano Park $1.6 million federal grant awarded for mural restoration project

By Paola Gonzalez

Staff Writer

Heading Southbound on the I-5 in San Diego, painted pillars peek out from underneath the Coronado Bridge. Upon closer inspection, bright, contrasting colors and mysterious make up a collection of murals forming a massive open-air gallery also known as Chicano Park.

Time has taken a toll on the murals.

Their colors have faded but after jumping through bureaucratic hoops and hurdles, a renovation project was approved in 2008. With the support of Caltrans and other federal grants, the brush meets once again with concrete in the most ambitious restoration project in Chicano Park history. The Chicano Park mural restoration project was awarded a $1.6 million federal grant, which is being administered by Caltrans. Though the grant was approved in 2002, the formidable task of reconditioning the

park’s murals was not initiated until June of 2011.

One of the original painters of the Chicano Park murals, Guillermo Rosette has returned to the barrio from Taos, New Mexico. He came to restore the murals he created with one of the founding groups, Toltecas En Aztlán. With each stroke of paint he has injected a vibrant Tolteca energy back into the park.

“Someone who embodies the Tolteca spirit is an artist that likes to help his or her community in doing social artwork,” said Rosette. “Volunteering in the community is a good way to give, it’s a way to be thankful for all that we receive.”

In the heart of the park stands a mysterious building shrouded in opaque plastic sheeting. Former Chicano Studies professor at San Diego State University, Felipe Adame sits in a wheelchair on top of the scaffolding, overseeing his team restore the ceiling of the kiosko, a gazebo-like structure designed like a Mayan temple.

“Look at all the materials that we have now,” said Adame. “When we first painted the murals we used to borrow house paints, borrow scaffolds and ladders. When we first did this mural here, we were on a rinky dink little ladder.”

Ana Brown, member of the art collective The Roots Factory based in Barrio Logan, said she understands the value of the underlying dynamics the restoration project has ignited. Volunteering to be a team member for Adame is a way for her to give back and honor those who created a beautiful neighborhood gathering place.

“With love, kindness and understanding, we enhance these pillars. We have one chance, one chance only to do it right,” Adame said. “We’ve been granted the money to do this, so we do the best we can.”

The work, overseen by the Chicano Park Steering Committee, is expected to be completed in July of 2012. Residents and visitors of Barrio Logan will have freshly coated murals to enjoy for at least another forty years.

Amparo Mendoza/staff

STAR POWER — Recording artist Jessica Lerner won over the crowded Fashion Valley mall at a performance celebrating the release of her first full-length CD.

By Ernesto Leon Staff Writer

Jessica Lerner’s crystalline voice rang through the tiny hallways of Fashion Valley mall, a musical harbinger of the dawn of a most promising career. Rich ladies trying on diamond tennis bracelets, teenage boys with their skateboards under their arms and thirty-somethings gripping their young children’s hands were all muttering the same message—“she’s really good!”

South Bay’s one-time child prodigy is a child no more. Lerner, 22, was the star of Valentine’s Day weekend and the slender

brunette with the powerful voice was telling the world a formidable musical talent had arrived. Her new album, “Jessica Lerner,” debuted with 13 tracks of original music written and performed on the piano and her favorite red guitar.

Lerner was an eight-year-old Southwestern College piano student who started performing in musicals at nine.

At the ripe age of 10 she was touring as a singer. As a student at the Coronado School of the Arts she blossomed as a singer/song writer and guitarist. She has performed the national anthem at Petco Park and has headlined benefit concerts before she was old enough to vote. Lerner has been the featured singer in “La Pastorela” at the Old Globe Theater and the San Diego Repertory Theater.

A crowd of about 200 ringed the stage where Lerner performed with a small band. After she finished one of her songs, 17-year-old Ken Luu walked up to the stage and handed her a rose. Lerner received it with a huge smile on her face.

Luu said Lerner has a lovely voice and that she reminds him of Taylor Swift. A prominent music industry pro took the comparison a step further.

“Jessica is Taylor Swift on steroids,” he said.

Anthony Dean accompanied Lerner on saxophone as she sang “Hey Mason,” a moving tribute to a young friend diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis. Dean said it was a personal experience for him.

“It was the one that touched my heart the most,” said Dean. “When we rehearsed it, it brought me to tears.”

Brian Disney, 21, said it was his first time coming to see Lerner and that she “was really good.” One fan, 13-year-old Ivette Duenas, began to cry as she hugged Lerner after the show.

“I’ve known Jessica for a couple of years,” she said. “I follow her on Twitter and Facebook. My favorite songs are ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Miracle.’ This was really fun. I won a bead necklace, poster, CD, and one of Jessica’s handmade bracelets.”

Lerner’s mother and manager, Pamela Lerner, said this is a big accomplishment for her daughter.

“Jessica feels like she has reached a please see Lerner pg. B5

Ana Bahena, editor

ARTS

Tel: (619) 482-6368 E-mail: arts@theswcsun.com

Sounddrug storms the scene like a large musical Godzilla

Christopher Soto/staff

MONSTER MANIA — Members of Sounddrug record an installment of the SWC Sun music series The Racket Room. Pictured are (l-r) Aki Takamoto, Henry Vasquez, Chase Lansdale and Ryota Machida.

By Anna Ven Sobreviñas Assistant Arts Editor

Ryota Machida had a monster idea for a song. J Henry liked it. It is good to have a three-time Grammy nominee in your corner.

Henry invited Machida and his musical partner Aki Takamoto into the Southwestern College studio to record.

Now the 24 year olds are hoping for a monster hit.

Machida played his song “MONSTER” to classmate Jesus Aaron Rodriquez, 23, a recording arts major in an SWC music business class. Rodriguez said it was the best rock song he had heard that year and had Professor of Commercial Music Henry listen to it.

“J. Henry was just blown away with it,” said Rodriguez. “He wanted them right away.”

Henr y has worked with major recording labels for more than 35 years and is notoriously hard to impress. He said Sounddrug has a unique approach to music.

“They are an original band,” said Henry.

“That’s all that’s necessary.”

“MONSTER” starts with the beat of the drums and a ringing strum of an electric guitar. Machida sings “I’m running I’m running, running from the Monster/ Reflection of her eyes/ I thought I was more than who I am, but nevermind.”

It tells of running from a Godzilla-like creature, a bit of analogy for the JapaneseAmerican. His monster may be a woman, or the narrator, whose own symbolic hideousness he sees through the reflection of her eyes.

Takamoto said he has been to other recording studios but nothing like the $6 million SWC facility.

“The studio in SWC is incomparable in terms of what they can do with sounds,” said Takamoto. “The SWC studio definitely has top-class equipment and engineers for making great productions.”

Machida agreed.

“They are very supportive and will treat you like a rock star,” he said. “It was really relaxing working with them since I’ve taken music classes with most of them.”

For their first recording at the SWC studio and live performances, Machida and Takamoto enlisted the help of friends Henry Vasquez, 23, to play rhythm guitar and Chase Lansdale, 24, as the bassist.

Sounddrug has recorded three songs so far and Rodriguez said the band will be back for more.

In the meantime, Sounddrug has played at Club Nokia in Los Angeles and San Diego’s 4th & B. Machida and Takamoto were named 2011 Musicians of the Year by the indie arts organization RAW. “Music from Apartment,” the band’s first EP, is eponymous. After enduring complaints by neighbors and a visit from the police, Sounddrug decided to start recording in the studio.

Singer/guitarist Machida is influenced

by Afro-Cuban, jazz and bossa nova music while Takamoto lists Eurobeat and techno as his inspirations.

Machida said music composition classes give them an edge.

“We actually study music so we know how to write music,” he said. “We actually know how music works.”

Former migrant worker now harvests talent

Espinoza

By Paola Gonzalez Staff Writer

Raul Espinoza grew up dreaming of flying. Now he gives wings to others with his soaring art.

Born in Texas to migrant parents, Espinoza grew up traveling up and down the Lone Star State and California. His father worked the fields and the crop seasons determined where his family moved. Fate brought them to a migrant camp California’s Central Valley where Espinoza’s artistic journey was to unfold.

Picking crops and doing manual labor proved to be great preparation for a

college instructor.

“My dad, my mom and us just went to destination who-knows-where and my sister tells me that dad asked mom how much money we have and she said none,” Espinoza said. “So with the little bit of gas money we had left dad kept driving around. We wound up in Bakersfield.”

Espinoza, his four brothers and four sisters grew up in California migrant camps.

“My dad and my mom were too poor to afford toys for me,” he recalled. “(But) I remember seeing model airplanes.”

Window shopping sparked a passion for the flying machines, Espinoza said. He drew them constantly and fully developed his artistic talents.

“The love, the interest to want to have my own airplane led me to want to do well in school,” said Espinoza. “Knowing how to put an airplane together you have to know how to read directions and you have to know how to measure things, so it began to instill in me desire to know knowledge.”

Espinoza moved on to draw other subjects and soon realized he was an artist.

“For many, many years I drew airplanes,” he said. “I drew them and what was happening was that I wasn’t necessarily getting closer to flying an airplane or owning one, but I was getting closer to being a better artist.”

From Chaffey College to SDSU, Espinoza studied art with the airplane as his muse. He began teaching while working on his MFA at UCSD. In pursuing his graduate degree, he looked to his own life for inspiration. He teaches budding artists

to spread their wings and fly even if at first they fall. He now teaches Airbrush and Art History at Southwestern College.

“Raul doesn’t fake the funk,” said art student Kalin McGinty. “If your work is not good he’s going tell you how to make it better. He had a lot of patience with me.

Try and try again.”

Espinoza’s mastery of the airbrush qualifies him as an art instructor, but his patience and ability to encourage students makes him a teacher. The atmosphere in his classroom is relaxed but focused. There are several returning students in the class that lends a friendly vibe to the air. Martin Peña has taken the class four times and is now auditing. He said he is an Espinoza fan.

“He’s a good teacher,” Peña said. “He teaches you a lot of techniques and helps you out a lot with what you want to base your artwork on. He helps you out with making your own effects, step by step.

I’ve seen a lot of people come back and that made me want to continue taking the class.”

Espinoza glides from easel to easel coaching each student. He reviews works in progress and demonstrates techniques needed to create a particular effect. He makes time for each painter, urging them to look within to find that which is worthy of becoming art.

“Find out where the passions are and pursue anything and everything to make it happen. Persevere,” said Espinoza. “The years have a way of teaching us things.

Situations are difficult. It’s how you work your way around it that matters.”

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

Lerner: Singersongwriter releases her debut recording

9 11 B5

ARTS online

Continued from Page B4

milestone in her career,” she said.

“Like when you have a dream and it lands in your hand.”

Pamela Lerner said the family has a motivational quote that helps them through the hard times.

“If you are not living on the edge, then you’re taking up too much space,” she said.

Mrs. Lerner, the “mom-ager” as Jessica calls her, said she was very happy with the turnout.

“Everything went together exactly how we wanted it to be,” she said. “It was more than we wanted.”

Lerner said she wanted the album to be perfect so her fans could really enjoy it.

“I want them to listen to it knowing that I did it with love and care,” she said. “This is absolutely the highlight of my life.”

Her fans respectfully disagreed, predicting more and bigger highlights to come.

Catch Jessica Lerner’s performance in The Racket Room, an acoustic performance series recorded at Southwestern College.

Tiny artists Go online to read about the Child Development Center’s art exhibit “The Natural World Through Child’s Eyes.”

Free Speech Advocated Read about “The Lemon Grove Incident” film screening at the Centro Cultural de la Raza.

Teaching and turntables Visit The Sun online to read about how SWC instructor Zachary Cuddy teaches history on weekdays and mixes turntables as a DJ on Friday nights.

Preview: Italian Film Festival Get a glimpse of what to expect at this years’ Italian Film Festival.

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

The Southwestern College Sun

SPORTS

B6

Softball coach plays hardball

Coach Yasmin Mossadeghi looks for perfect blend

By Lee Bosch Staff Writer

Slugging

Softball coach Yasmin Mossadeghi is playing hardball this season, at least in the locker room. She has declared war on mediocrity —“Jagwar.”

“It’s about bringing a war-like attitude, not only to the games and practice, but with everything you do in your life,” she said. “It’s your academics, your hobbies, everything. It’s taking charge and doing whatever it takes to succeed.”

With a revamped roster that blends experience and young talent, Mossadeghi boldly predicts the Lady Jags will be serious contenders this season. General Mossadeghi’s troops seem inspired by the message and reeled off four straight wins to open the season, the softball team’s best start in many years.

“So far we’re doing pretty good,” said center fielder Michelle Centrullo. “We have a lot of talent out there. We have a shot to win the league this year. The coaches are really positive about everything. Even when we mess up they just say do another one. They never bring us down. They do everything to keep us confident so that we stay confident during the games.”

Assistant coach Dani Bishop said new players have brought a new culture and a positive new energy.

“I feel like we’re in a good place right now,” she said. “I feel like we brought in a lot of recruits to help on the team and I think we’re gonna have a great year this year.”

Mossadeghi is in her third year as head coach. After two last place seasons she said this is finally the year the team can contend.

“I’m really looking to make a drastic change in the conference this year,” said Mossadeghi. “I think this year with me and coach Bishop really heavily going out and recruiting, we really were able to

Start S

By Mary York and Lee Bosch a News Editor, Staff Writer

outhwestern College Jaguars may be playing their hearts out, but it is the arms that need to come around. Hitting thrills fans, pitching wins championships.

Left to a solid 6-3-1 start, the Gentlemen Jags say they are feeling confidant. Coach Jerry Bartow said he has a strong squad, but would like to see more consistency on the mound.

Freshman pitcher Brandon Lozier said the team plays very cohesively.

“We’re not a bunch of individuals,” he said. “We’re just straight-up like a team.”

Lozier said he believes if the team can play together in conference games they have a really good chance of winning. In order to prove they are Kings of the Jungle, the Jags have to beat out pretty tough competition.

Orange Coast College and Cypress College are top on the hit list.

“Orange Coast is one of the tougher teams we’ll play all year,” said outfielder Andy Swan, a transfer student from South Mountain Community College.

Swan’s pre-game prediction came true as the SWC men battled for 14 innings. As the

please see Jagwar pg. B8

Trainer is in players’ corner

please see Sluggers pg. B8

By Jacob Coogan Staff Writer

JAGUAR POUNCES — Infielder Robert Archer smokes a single to left.

Serina Duarte/Staff

Worldy soccer coach keeps healthy perspective Tont loves soccer, relishes role as mentor

By Andy Garcia Staff Writer

Soccer is “the beautiful game” to the globe-trotting former international star Cem Tont, but college is even more so.

Southwestern’s cheerful coach speaks from experience. He was captain of Turkey’s national youth team in 1978 and played for the professional club Galatasary. An injury ended his professional career, but opened the door to a brilliant coaching career in the United States.

“I ended up in the United States because of an injury,” he said. “I came here to learn English and I got a scholarship to play.”

Tont earned a degree in exercise science

and coached club soccer for 20 years, he said, before heading to high school programs at Ramona and San Pasqual high schools. He won two CIF championships coaching La Jolla High School.

Tont coached at Palomar College prior to moving to Southwestern College in 2005 to coach the women’s team. He took over the men’s team last year following the retirement of Bob Flores.

Tont said this campus is sometimes taken for granted. “We have great programs here that allow students to get involved in things and the students should take advantage of that,” he said.

Tont said he is a player’s coach and

wants his athletes to be both physically and mentally fit.

“We train and have fun at the same time,” said Viviana Martinez, sophomore forward.

“Most of the drills he ran were to prepare us for the next game and if we were down 1-0 or 2-0 he would encourage us to keep trying because he had faith in the team.”

Tont said he has the utmost confidence please see Tont pg. B8

TURKISH DELIGHT — Men’s soccer coach Cem Tont was an international standout before becoming a stellar coach in the United States.

His players appreciate his work ethic, coaching skills and his emphasis on people over winning.

Hudson Hyatt/staff

Head Athletic Trainer Dennis Petrucci has some awfully big shoes to fill replacing Hall of Famer Jim “Bones” Hammond, but he seems to be lacing them up just fine. It helps that Hammond helped to show him the ropes. He also seems to be guided by the hand of providence.

“I played football in high school and pulled a hamstring, so I had to go see a physical therapist,” said Petrucci. “That was when the light bulb went off and I thought ‘Wow this would be a neat career to get into, helping athletes’.”

Petrucci was a football player at San Diego State University, but an ACL injury forced him into rehabilitation. He took an interest in the healing nature of the training room and its staff.

“I spent so much time in the athletic training room over at SDSU that I just fell into it that way,” he said.

After graduating from SDSU with a bachelor’s in exercise and nutritional sciences, Petrucci earned a master’s in physical activity and exercise sciences at Ohio State. Since then he has worked with professional teams such as the San Diego Sockers, San Diego Stingrays and the San Diego Gulls hockey team. He was also an athletic trainer at Pepperdine University, SDSU and Ohio State.

Petrucci is well respected by SWC athletes because he provides a lot of attention to them. please see Petrucci pg. B7

Daniel Guzman, editor

SPORTS

Tel: (619) 482-6368 E-mail: sports@theswcsun.com

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

9 B7 11

Jiamay Austria/staff

HANDLE WITH CARE — Dennis Petrucci tests the ankle of cross country runner Jazmin Romo, 19. She sprained it during practice and Petrucci prohibited her from running for three weeks.

Petrucci: Former pro trainer prefers pace of collegiate athletics Continued from Page B6

Serina Duarte/staff

JUMPING FOR JOY— Akayaa Atule, SWC’s acclaimed African dance instructor, said she has as much fun as her Zumba students.

Zumba peps up mornings

By Ana Bahena Arts Editor

Enthusiastic smiles, sweaty faces and upbeat music filled the Southwestern College dance room as students engaged in African Zumba, a class recently added to the college’s class catalog.

Akayaa Atule said the idea for this class came from Donna Arnold, dean of the School of Arts and Communication.

“It is a great opportunity to diversify course offerings and to respond to the community and student’s needs,” said Arnold Atule said they took the idea to Terry Davis, dean of Exercise Science and Athletics.

“He liked the idea and said it was a good thing to have here at Southwestern College,” Atule said.

With 18 students enrolled the African Zumba class is offered at 7 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Atule said the class provides an opportunity for non-dancers to participate in a group aerobic class. Its overall purpose is to help students follow a regular physical exercise routine that improves their health.

Culinary Arts major Jeanette Guzman said she enjoys the class and recommends it to women and men alike.

“You get to shake your butt while losing some weight,” said the 20-yearold. “It’s really fun and seriously, you do sweat a lot.”

Students stretch at the beginning of class to slow, relaxing music in order to increase their heart rate before starting a more intense workout. Fitness training within the class involves rapid fullbody movements followed by easier, basic movements so that students can receive a more effective session.

Ghanaian and other African music

guides the dances of West Africa that are incorporated into the class. Atule said she also wants to introduce and teach her students about Africa and the meaning of the music and movements involved. One of the many songs they exercise with is called “Don’t Wait Too Long,” and the instructor tells her students that they need to “shake it” because it reflects the song.

One of the movements included in the course begins by moving both arms to the right and reaching down as if picking a plant out of the ground

then quickly moving both arms to the left side and dropping the plant as if planting it back into the earth once again.

Atule said being asked to teach the class was a wonderful blessing. She said one of her goals is to hopefully add more sections of the class in the future.

“I want more students to come, more students to get involved,” she said.

“They will have fun, exercise and learn about Africa. It is something different and something they should try.”

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“I think Dennis is very knowledgeable and very helpful,” said Juan Denny, a football and baseball player. “He’s played sports so it’s easy for him to relate to the athletes here. When you’re trying to rehab and get back healthy, he knows what it takes and he’s truthful.”

Petrucci said he makes sure the athletes fully understand their injuries and how to rehab.

“He makes everything easy to understand,” said football player Oscar Gomez. “When my ankle got hurt, he told me what was wrong with it right away. He helped me throughout the season and told me what I needed to do to make it better.”

Petrucci said he prefers community college sports to high-pressure Division I athletics.

“I’m really happy where I am at right now,” he said. “I have done a lot of things in my career like working at the Division I level and the professional level, but Southwestern is a different kind of atmosphere. It’s not high-profile like Division I, so there are no reporters or press coming around here and putting constant pressure on us to get the athletes back on the field. It may not be as great for the coaches, but from our standpoint we always want to get kids back in as soon

as we can and when it is safely possible.”

Athletes have said Petrucci is very accurate at diagnoses.

“He’s looked at my injuries and evaluated them,” said Gabby Robledo, a women’s basketball player. “I’ve had a hip flexor injury, I tweaked my ankle a couple of times and I’ve hurt my elbow.

Dennis tells me what to do to get back on the court and get the injuries better. He’s really helpful.”

Petrucci said he feels great responsibility and sometimes stress, but he finds his job fulfilling. He said he likes the fact that SWC sports, other than football, do not require traveling to away games.

“I have two daughters at home so it is nice to not have to stay the night in a hotel somewhere across the country,” he said.

“When I was with the Gulls, we’d do a two-week East Coast trip and be gone the whole time. So having not only a wife, but also two kids who you want to be around with, they don’t always understand the traveling and why you have to be gone. It’s nice that we get to play host at this level and don’t have much traveling to do. For where I’m at in my life it’s actually a huge benefit to my job in this profession.”

Petrucci is very family oriented and sees them as his first priority.

“I love to be involved with my kid’s lives,” he said. “They’re only three and 10 months, so they’re young and there’s a lot of development going on in this stage. I’m very happy that I can be around them, help teach them and be there for them. I really like where I am right now in my life.”

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B8

SPORTS

Jan. 9 - Feb. 17, 2012—Vol. 55, Iss. 5

Tont: Coach brings international soccer experience to SWC

The Southwestern College Sun

LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT SEASON

HELMET OVER

HEELS

Continued from Page B6

in his players and wants to see his players succeed as athletes and students. He also demands that they respect their opponents and officials.

“Playing at a higher level and lowering your level of citizenship is unacceptable to me,” said Tont. “ You’ve got to work harder and not have any let downs. I try to instill in them that on the field I want to see the confidence so I tell the players if you have the ball at your feet you’re the best player. It’s not Messi, it’s not Pele, it’s not Maradona — it’s you.”

Players say Tont’s upbeat personality and love for soccer are infectious.

“He wants us to feel like we can go out there and play to our highest ability and make our hard work pay off,” said Alan Baca, sophomore defensive fullback.

“He helps us improve and gives us that confidence we need to keep giving it our all.”

A methodical approach allows Tont to define his goal each year.

Winning is nice, Tont said, but it is not the most important part of collegiate soccer. Doing well in class and reaching academic goals, he said, is more important than putting the ball into the back of the net.

“We work to put the best possible soccer team out there,” he said. “ We try to get the max out of players yet take the pressure off them related to winning and losing.”

SWC has built a great soccer program, Tont said, and he is looking forward to the new season.

“It’s a war, but there’s all the battles that you have to fight and that’s my job to guide them and take it to them.”

AMANDA L. ABAD

Violent fans ruin the spirit of competition

I

Sluggers: Coach Jerry Bartow has his team swinging, winning Continued from Page B6

last of the sunlight faded from the field, the coaches called a draw and ended the game at 3-3.

With the non-league season games coming to a close, the Jags are gearing up for what is chalking up to be a competitive conference.

“We’ve beat some of the best teams here in California,” said Bartow. “We beat the number one team the other day in 10 innings, that was Cypress College. We’ve always been in the playoffs. Every last few years we’re somewhere in those playoffs.”

Bartow said he thinks the team has playoff ambitions, but needs more pitching.

“That’s 85 percent of the game, the pitching,” said Bartow. “If you don’t have it, you can’t win. That’s been our trouble the last few games, we haven’t had all our pitching together.”

Bartow said pre-season games are a good chance to see what plays are prepared and motivated.

“It takes a while in these games to find out who wants to play and who’s going to put the time in to do it,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to find out. I’m hoping I can do that before the league opens next Tuesday.”

Bartow said he has most of the pieces of a promising team.

“Our defense is pretty good, we’ve got a nice infield,” said Bartow. “I think this club here could do it if we could find a couple more pitchers. I just got to find that guy on the mound. I’ve got to find him.”

Jagwar: Mossadeghi declares war on softball mediocrity Continued from Page B6

bring in some major talent. Some girls who have played ball since they were little have continued to play through high school and even play through travel ball so, those are the elements I didn’t have last year and the year before.”

Mossadeghi has a history of winning.

She played for professional championship teams in Germany and in Russia. She was also part of the coaching staff that saw Mount San Antonio College win two state championships.

“I’m really honestly looking to win the conference this year but we’ll see how it goes,” said Mossadeghi. “Are the girls going to be injured? Are they gonna mesh well?

Are they going to produce when it calls for it? All these things can define a season.”

Jiamay Austria/staff

NOTHING BUT NET — Southwestern College guard Carla Flores nails a jumper over Mesa’s Katie Ratfield. The Lady Jags reversed a 3-8 start with a 9-3 finish and narrowly missed the playoffs. Coach Darnell Cherry predicts a great 2012-13 season as 12 freshmen will return.

Lady cagers start slow, finish strong Andy Garcia Staff Writer

They stumbled out of the gate, but the Lady Jaguars furious finish almost pulled them into a second straight playoff appearance.

Almost.

A dreary 3-8 start was followed by a scorching 9-3 finish. Not bad for a squad of 12 freshmen, said coach Darnell Cherry, who has made no secret of the fact that he cannot wait until next year.

“We had high expectations for us this year because last year Southwestern tied for conference and we wanted to keep that and win conference this year,” said freshman point guard Gabby Robledo. “We just came up short.”

SWC missed the playoffs despite an 8-2 conference record.

“We did start slow, and we didn’t have team chemistry and weren’t quite there yet,” said Robledo.

“After our last tournament we came together and started to pick it up. Practice got harder, we worked on the things we needed to work on, and we executed what coach put us into practice and we

did it.”

“Even though Freshman point guard we were Chloe Cook freshman said she felt C h e r r y ’s we came trust in his out there players. with fire and “He was the greatest dominated coach that the league.

I ’v e h a d throughout I really think m y next year is b as ke tb al l gonna be a career and definitely great year.” pushed us like never Danielle Wilson b e f o re ,” freshman said Cook.

“He kne w forward what to say at the right time and brought our team together as a family.”

Cherry said the bonding was critical.

“We played with chemistry and it’s growing stronger,” he said. “We

began to trust each other more and played as a team and came together.”

Robles agreed. “ We’re gonna come out stronger and we ended the season good,” she said. “We played together and if we keep that were gonna come back ready to play and get more players to help us out which gives us a good chance to win conference.”

Forward Danielle Wilson said the early season was bewildering.

“In the beginning of the year I didn’t know anyone’s name,” she said. “By the last practice we were so close we would hang out almost every weekend and we were a family rather than a basketball team.”

Watch out, Wilson warned.

“Even though we fell short I think the positive was we really connected as a whole team,” she said. “Even though we were freshman we came out there with fire and dominated the league. I really think next year is gonna be a great year.”

t is no secret that fans get upset when an athlete on their team does something wrong.

It is also no secret that angry fans are able to use Twitter and Facebook to get their opinions out. Sadly, Kyle Williams, the 49ers receiver, who fumbled in overtime allowing the New York Giants to win the NFC championship, is getting death threats. People are even going as far as threatening his wife and children, “I hope you, youre wife, kids and family die, you deserve it.” Williams doesn’t have a wife or kids.

Williams is not the first athlete to get death threats, and he will definitely not be the last. Sterling Marlin and the defective seat belt maker Bill Simpson have gotten death threats because of Dale Earnhardt’s death.

No longer are these people just haters, they are potential felons.

Technology and social networking sites make it easier for fans to show their approval and disapproval of an athlete’s performance. College athletes seem to get it worse from fans of opposing teams. People are able to access to a college athlete’s email address and post it on their team’s forum so people can send anonymous hate mail. Fans can also physically be on campus to harass the athlete.

Louisiana State University fans were able to get the cell phone number of Tim Tebow, quarterback for the Florida Gators at the time.

According to ESPN, Tebow said, “Many of the messages contained physical threats.”

LSU fans have done worse.

Female reporters from LSU’s campus newspaper wore Alabama gear and went to where LSU fans were tailgating. According to ESPN, the reporters said, “We were groped and squeezed by just about every guy we interviewed,” they reported.

“The women called us ‘bitches’ and the men called us ‘cunts.’ The amount of times we were spit on also struck a nerve.”

The University of Oregon’s fans are known to be ruthless. In 2008, Kevin Love returned to Oregon on UCLA’s basketball roster. Ducks fans found Love’s cell phone number and distributed it amongst the students. According to Sports Illustrated, one voicemail said, “If you guys win, we’ll come to your house and kill your family.” Another said, “We’ll find your hotel room and blow your fucking head off with a shot gun.” Ducks fans went on to throw food at Love’s friends and family and call his grandmother a whore until she cried. It was so bad that Stan Love, a former Duck, said he would never return to his alma mater.

College officials need to step in when incidents like the ones mentioned above happen.

College officials need to enforce rules and punishment for this kind of behavior. This is not an infringement of a fans first amendment right. It is morally unacceptable for “adults” to be doing this.

Abuse and taunting from fans are nothing new in collegiate sports, but are violence and death threats becoming part of the collegiate sports culture?

Sure seems like it.

We expect our players to lose with grace and so should we as fans.

Violence has no place in spectatorship. Calm down, be adults and show some class.

Helmet Over Heels can be reached at helmetoverheels@gmail.com.