thecollegian Issue 8 • Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 • deltacollegian.net
/deltacollegian
BROCKOVICH ADDRESSES WATER CRISIS BY ZACHARIAH MERCES-SPINDLER deltacollegian@gmail.com
DOWNTOWN STOCKTON “Huddle” workspace is bringing attention to Stockton’s downtown area.
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ART GALLERY Late professor’s art showcased at the L.H. Horton Art Gallery.
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PROF. PERFORMS Delta Professor performs in self-written play.
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IN THE KNOW
February is Black History Month.
FEB. 5
National Bubblegum Day
FEB. 8
Chinese New Year
FEB. 11
Last day to submit a Refund Request Form for Spring 2016 semester.
Stockton’s water controversy came to campus on Monday, Feb. 1. Once a widely unknown and common practice of cities municipalities’ water treatment has sparked a citywide debate of the decisions local government is making in regards to citizen health. The debate is centered around the addition of chloramines – chlorine and ammonia – as a secondary disinfectant to Stockton’s drinking water. More than 1,200 citizens attended the Town Hall held at Atherton Auditorium, featuring known activist Erin Brokovich and Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva. In recent months, residents have expressed concern about chloramine being more harmful than tests are showing. Included on the panel were Vice Mayor Christina Fugazi, water treatment expert Robert Bowcock, Executive Director to Restore the Delta Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla and Director of the California Sportsfishing Protection Alliance Bill Jennings. Water is a hot issue in the country right now, especially with the Flint, Michigan water crisis and a dozen other cities dealing with toxic lead pollution. “Stockton is not Flint,” said Fugazi, who had a slide that said the same. Fugazi explained the city’s position. “There are no lead pipes in Stockton,” she said, explaining why the Stockton City Council believes chloramines are harmless to the watertreatment process. Fugazi described the difference between chlorine treatment and chloramine treatment. “It’s stable and persistent. I liken it an Aleve or maybe an Ibuprofen,” she said. The Vice Mayor also said the City of Stockton will become transparent by weekly updting the water levels and chemicals and byproducts tested in the water. Brokovich’s leading water treatment expert Bob Bowcock said “we’ve
ATHERTON: Above, Erin Brockovich looking up at the screen during meeting. Left, crowd brings questions regarding Stockton water. PHOTOS BY RICHARD REYES
seen what’s coming … it’s a one-way collision course with disaster.” Bowcock described the process as “duct tape” that it will only be a temporary, cheap and quick fix.
See BROCKOVICH, Page 8
election update Delta enrollment plummets 2016 BY MEGAN MAXEY BY MIKEAL HONZELL deltacollegian@gmail.com
With the spring semester of 2016 underway, there is a considerably low number of students enrolled this semester, causing a number of classes to suffer the consequences. “We started declining in the last three years,” said Vice President for Instruction Matt Wetstein, “Not by huge numbers. It’s just been a gradual decline.” According to Wetstein, there were around 22,000 students enrolled at Delta College in
2013. Now in 2016, there are around 19,000 enrolled. The classes most affected by this decline are electives. Students in the Reading of Shakespeare class received an email on Jan. 25 stating the class was cancelled due to a low number of students enrolling. “The class only had seven students enrolled,” said Jon Christensen, who was enrolled in the course. “And we needed a minimum of fifteen students in order for the class to continue.
See ENROLLMENT, Page 8
mkmaxey96@gmail.com
In the 2016 election year, the race isn’t just starting to heat up – it’s been on fire for some time. The campaign for president is an unprecedented, entertaining rollercoaster. Donald Trump, Hilary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are voices you currently hear on television, online, on social media and every other outlet. But what are they really saying and how is it affecting voters? “[Donald Trump’s support] really shows a lot of people’s anger towards the republican establishment,” said Joel Blank, political science professor and advisor to the Politics and Law club. Blank said Republican voters have been unhappy with the mainstream Republicans currently in the senate and stand behind Trump because, “he has a lot of charisma, he’s angry, and he’s able to feel their pain … I think that’s why he’s been very
See ELECTION, Page 8
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