NEWS
MONITOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
3
MONITOR Major construction scheduled OHLONE COLLEGE
Continued from Page 1.
STAFF: Editor-in-Chief: Louis LaVenture News editor: Marissa Martin Features editor: Magdalena Jurys Sports editor: Louis LaVenture Opinions editor: Amelia Neary Photo editor: Tam Duong Jr. Online editor: Shannon Sorge Monitor Staff: Yahya Burhani Erika Heredia Sruthie Kondamoori Alizaib Lodhi Luis Morales-Medrano Hung Ngyuen Santiago Perea Mary Joy Tantingco Majtabah Walai Mitchell Walther Adviser: Rob Dennis Printer: FP Press
California Newspaper Publishers Association
Journalism Association of Community Colleges
JACC AWARDS Online general excellence Enterprise news writing News writing
CONTACT US: Offices: Room 5310 Call: 510.659.6075 E-mail: monitor@ohlone. edu Read: facebook.com/ Ohlone.Monitor www.ohlonemonitor.com
Opinions expressed in the Monitor are those of the respective authors and are not necessarily those of the staff, the college or the Associated Students of Ohlone College.
the fifth level of the parking garage (on the north side), along with a socialization area in the space between the structure and the “drop off” area. There also will be two sets of staircases, along with two sets of elevators to maneuver through the levels within the parking garage. Ohlone President Gari Browning said there will be a study to calculate how many parking spaces will be available while this new formation is under way, and depending on the number of existing spots, will determine the amount of classes that are to be held at the main Fremont campus. The remaining classes will be directed to the Newark campus until the garage is completed in the summer of 2015. In Spring 2015, construction crews will begin tearing down buildings 1, 2 and 8 to make way for a new core of academic buildings. Once demolition begins, classes, offices and other facilities
COURTESY OF THE CITIZENS’ BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
This artist’s rendering shows the planned new parking structure, which is scheduled to be built on the south side of campus beginning in the spring. The structure, which is expected to cost about $19.5 million, will provide 905 spaces.
that were located in those buildings will be dispersed among portable buildings, temporary facilities and the Newark campus. “I was unaware of Ohlone’s new construction project due to the fact that this is my first semester here, but I’m sure that the building of the
new parking structure will slow up traffic and ease the movement around campus as construction seems to always do,” student Riley Walter said. “I would be completely fine with attending the Newark campus for the majority of my classes, con-
sidering that it is actually closer to my house. The campus is much more modern and recently renovated as well, so it’s not too much of an issue for me.” For more information about Measure G construction, go to www.ohlonebond.com.
Student flees Syria amid protests Continued from Page 1. on its own people, killing as many as 1,400. Atassi said he supports the missile strikes. “I surely don’t want any foreign country to get into my country, any military into my country,” he said. “If your skin is itchy you have to scrub it with your nail, but your nail (is taken) over under torture, so you have someone (else) to scratch it.” Atassi, 20, who now lives in Fremont, grew up in the city of Homs in western Syria as part of a prominent family, he said. His father’s uncle, Hashim al-Atassi, served as the country’s first president. “He was like a grandfather to me,” he said. His cousin, Nureddin alAtassi, also later became president. He was overthrown and imprisoned by his defense minister, Hafez al-Assad, the father of current President Bashar al-Assad. “My family opposes the regime for the last 40 years,” Atassi said. “My father had to go to the secret intelligence for questioning every six months. The regime hates us so much because they know what we do.” Atassi majored in mechanical engineering at university, but school “became like a prison,” he said, and he decided to go to Lebanon. He was arrested at the border. “I stayed arrested for three days, it was a terrible three days – you can’t even imag-
ine,” he said. “My father had to pay $40,000 to get me out of prison. They told me that I had 72 hours to get out of the country or we’re going to arrest you.” He again went to Lebanon, where he tried to supply medical aid to Syria. “But it’s also dangerous in Lebanon because of Hezbollah and other parties in
Lebanon that support the Syrian regime, so I move to Egypt and try to start my life there,” he said. “But it’s also difficult, they have their own problems, their own revolutions and they’re fighting each other every day.” He decided to come to America, first settling in Illinois. Then he visited an uncle in Fremont and de-
cided to stay. Now, he works the night shift as a shuttle driver to Oakland International Airport, and takes classes at Ohlone during the day. He hopes to transfer to the University of California, Berkeley, in two years. “Actually, I missed Syria before this killing,” he said. “I miss my friends, my family, my sisters, everyone.”
Campus smoking ban takes effect Continued from Page 1. of students and faculty at Ohlone smoke, Bratton said. She added that those who want to smoke near campus should not do so across the street toward the hills. The area, covered in dry grass, is susceptible to fires and she advises students to go to the bottom of the hill to smoke. Students on campus praised the new policy. “I’m glad there are no more designated smoking areas because the second hand smoke triggers my asthma,” Danny Nguyen said. When asked about campus awareness of the new policy, former student government senator Rowan Sandhu said, “The school has given students and faculty enough time to learn about the new policy, where they can smoke, and where they cannot smoke.”
Chief of Police Steven Osawa said campus police is “in concurrence” with the new smoking policy, and that it should have been implemented a while ago. When the Newark campus opened in January 2008, it was a smoke-free campus, so it did not make sense that one campus was smoke-free and the other was not, he said. When asked if the new rule has been problematic for people to follow so far, Osawa said the only problem has been awareness of the new smoking rule. No new “No Smoking” signs have been posted around the campus, so police have only issued warnings so far to those who have been caught smoking. To help get the word out, the Health Center has launched the 30 people 30 days campaign. During the campaign, a team of volunteers will
be handing out “smokefree” buttons and other information about the new policy through Sept. 25. Ciggy Buttz, the smoke-free mascot, also is doing the rounds. Campus police will begin to issue fines next semester, once the no-smoking signs have been posted around campus. Officials still are debating how much violators will be charged. In a message to the campus, Ohlone President Gari Browning encouraged faculty, staff and students to help get the word out about the new policy. “Eliminating exposure to second-hand smoke improves the learning and working environment for everyone,” she said. For more information, call the Student Health Center at 510-659-6258 or Campus Police Services at 510-6596111.