The Collegian -- Published Sept. 8, 2017

thecollegian

Issue 1 • Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 • deltacollegian.net

‘Bueller? Bueller?’

Parking lots are brimming, wait lists are full, but Delta College is calling out for its nearly 2,000 lost students this Fall with enrollment numbers down

By Mikael Honzell Editor in Chief

With the fall semester underway, a number of classes at Delta College have been canceled due to low enrollment.

“Around 30 to 40 sections have been canceled,” said Dr. Matthew E. Wetstein, assistant superintendent/vice president of instruction and planning.

Classes in sections such as foreign language has had cancellations, as well as classes on high school sites that are part of Delta’s Dual Enrollment program in departments like political science and communication studies.

According to Wetstein, Delta College is funded for around 16,300 students.

However, there are currently about 14,500 enrolled at Delta, leaving the college down near 1,800 students.

There are a lot of factors that contributed to Delta’s low enrollment, the primary one being the economy.

“Right now the unemployment rate for this county is the lowest its been since I’ve been in Stockton,” said Wetstein. “And I’ve been here for 23 years.”

Since the economy has been improving, people Top, Marsha Fernando gets her caricature done during the are getting more part-time jobs, which results in Associated Students of Delta College Welcome Back event. them taking fewer units and working more hours. Above, Delta College students walk to class. There are visibly

See ENROLLMENT, page 8

fewer students on campus for the Fall 2017 semester.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL R.N. WEBER

TAKING STEPS TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT Students who registered but didn’t enroll were sent text messages.

Classes are now bring offered at local correctional facilities.

Advertising campaigns look to spread the word about Delta.

/deltacollegian

Support follows end of DACA announcement

By Francina Sanchez Feature Editor

On Sept. 5, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced his office is bringing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to an end, leaving 800,000 hopeless and fearful.

President Donald Trump announced a sixmonth phase out.

DACA allows undocumented young people to apply for work permits and defers deportation.

Delta College and California Community Colleges officials responded the plan to end DACA with support for undocumented students.

“While it is unclear what actions Congress will take in the next six months related to DACA, I want to reaffirm San Joaquin Delta College’s unwavering support of ALL of our students, especially those who are undocumented. Neither a students’ immigration status nor their religion should ever affect their ability to access and benefit from a Delta College education,” said President/Superintendent Dr. Kathy Hart in an email sent out Thursday by Dr. Lisa Cooper Wilkins, assistant superintendent vice president of student services.

Hart outlined campus procedures to follow, including encouraging undocumented students to sign up for the spring semester and not releasing immigration status to Federal agencies.

The Associated Students of Delta College will host a rally on campus to offer support and provide information at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 13.

The location of the event was unavailable as of press time.

Because of Delta College’s large population of immigrant students and DACA recipients, the Board of Trustees vowed in a resolution last December to protect all students.

Delta College is one of the 114 Community Colleges in California, educating more than two million students.

Community College Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley along with University of California President Janet Napolitano, California State University Chancellor Timothy White, President of Association of Independent California Colleges, Kristan Soares and Universities and California Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson have sent a letter to California’s Congressional Delegation urging them to take action protecting their students.

Ortiz Oakley specifically in an independent letter, called the Trump administration’s decision “heartless” and “senseless.” “... we remain committed to serving and supporting all students, regardless of immigration status, and seeing that they reach their full potential. We will stand with our students, and we will not give into fear,” he wrote.

The joint letter from California educational leaders made it clear, “communities are safer and our economy is stronger when all students have access to a world class education.”

DACA was put into action by the Obama Administration in 2012.

California has its own Dream Act, which allows undocumented students brought to the state under the age of 16 to apply for scholarships and aid, if specific requirements are met.

See DACA, page 8

NEXT ISSUE: Sept. 22 • CONTACT US: deltacollegian@gmail.com or (209) 954-5156 • ONE FREE COPY

2 opinion THE COLLEGIAN FALL 2017

thecollegian

Sept. 8, 2017

Punching Nazis not a solution

Approaching hate with logic better way to combat racism

By Killian Barnhart Managing Editor

EDITOR IN CHIEF Mikael Honzell MANAGING EDITOR Killian Barnhart NEWS EDITOR Emily Beaton FEATURE EDITOR Francina Sanchez OPINION EDITOR Victoria Franco SPORTS EDITOR Alex Coba ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Chanelle Muerong SENIOR STAFF WRITERS David Michael Austin Nordyke Emily Rico Raul Torres Jasmine Gonzalez Elany Orosco Ramon Zuniga STAFF WRITERS Amirah Amenhotep Douglas Francovich Debra Hyman Catherine Lightfoot Willy Mejia Catlan Nguyen Ayia Rashid Eladie Serna Allyssa Taylor Yesica Torres Zaragoza Michael Weber ADVISER Tara Cuslidge-Staiano ADVERTISING The Collegian offers display advertising.

Contact us at (209) 954-5156 or deltacollegian@gmail.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters raising issues and opinions are encouraged. Please limit letters to 300 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and grammar.

EDITORIAL Unsigned editorials reflect the position of the staff.

Comments, letters and editorials with a byline represent the opinion of the writer.

This paper doesn’t endorse or represent the opinions of the adviser, the Mass Communication department, the Arts & Communication Division, the printer or Delta College administration.

MISSION STATEMENT The Collegian is a student run First Amendment newspaper that prides itself on a commitment to the students of Delta College while maintaining independence.

We reinvigorate the credo that the newspaper speaks for the students, checks abuses of power and stands vigilant in the protection of democracy and free speech.

D

espite popular belief, it’s probably better for everyone if people don’t actually punch Nazis in America simply for being Nazis.

Let me step back: I don’t support, nor sympathize with Neo-Nazis.

They’ve managed to romanticize an ideology that’s revolting in its view of human rights and its view of human beings in general.

It brought upon the world the largest, bloodiest and most vicious war it will likely ever see again.

One that had to be ended with two nuclear blasts.

It crushed human beings under its boot systematically, killing off those it deemed “undesirable” based on religion, creed, status, race and political belief.

Nazism tramples on everything the Western Democracies stand for, such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, thought and just basic freedom.

However, I don’t believe violence is the key to dealing with these tiki-torch toting morons.

They are just as protected by that same, pesky First Amendment as everybody else.

The best way to go about dealing with Neo-Nazis, in today’s hyper-linked social media based world is to allow them to put their ideas out into the marketplace of ideas,

and allow them to make fools of themselves in public.

Had Anti-Fa not attacked the Neo-Nazis in Charlottesville the whole thing would’ve been a laughing stock.

Think about it, these backwards people walked up to a monument with tiki-torches yelling “Blood and Soil” as if this little merry troop were going to change anything that was going to happen to the monument of Robert E. Lee, or somehow reverse “white genocide,” in America, whatever the hell that means.

The Internet would’ve memed them back into their little stormfront.com hole where they belong.

The only headline that would’ve been produced by the event would’ve been from some obscure Charlottesville newspaper reading “White Nationalists go to Robert E. Lee. Monument, Change Nothing,” Debate them!

Eviscerate their ideology for the whole world to see, it’s not hard!

It relies entirely upon racial and religious collectivism.

Find one guy or gal who blows a giant hole into the various narratives they have for Jews, African Americans, Latin Americans, or whoever else and there you go.

Hint: That person is everywhere, all around you. It could be you.

Ethnicities and beliefs aren’t a template for every person of that ethnicity or belief and no two individuals are the same.

You might not have changed the

mind of the Nazi, but you sure convinced people watching who have at least two halves of a single brain cell that Nazism is trash.

Here’s the best part, perhaps a bit more difficult in both grasping and applying: You can deprogram a Neo-Nazi.

Holy crap, Killian, are you telling me that if I hold my own enough in an (let’s be honest incredibly easy) debate, I might actually change a mind or two?

Why yes, I did.

I won’t lie, it’ll be tough to get the older Neo-Nazis to let go. It’s much harder for someone older than 30 to let go of what they’ve believed and put time into for so long.

But the young? The kids, the teens? Hell even some of the young adults?

For the most part, they only know what their family has ingrained into them.

All they need is a different perspective given to them, and new ideas to chew on over time.

Whether they accept and actually wise up is up to them and they most likely won’t.

But if you managed to turn a 14-year old, or 21-year old away from hate or manage to destabilize any support they may garner just by winning debates, offering different ideas and viewpoints than you’ve done much more than you ever would have just by slugging someone.

Pancakes not proper Koi food

By Victoria Franco

With my own two eyes I watched as a girl sat near the fish and fed them pieces of her pancake.

I continued to take note of this for about five aily I ask myself the same concerning minutes and was in complete disbelief when I question of “what is wrong with people?” realized that no, the girl didn’t just give the fish Although I know I will never be pieces of her pancake. She went the full nine able to solve such a question I ask you to yards and gave them her entire panbear with me for a second while I try to cake. comprehend the basic thought process I simply find it hard to underof people today. stand how difficult it is to realLet me get this straight. Stuize that fish should not be fed dents at Delta College spend human food. approximately 175 days getI could blame the girl’s actions ting an education, correct? on the fact that maybe she fell As well as investing asleep in zoology and missed the $12,334 a year to obtain a lesson about not feeding pancakes “well rounded” education, to fish, but what about the sign right? that clearly reminds people not So how in the hell is to? it possible that students If we properly take care of the still can’t read a simple fish and do not feed them harmsign, process what was ful food, these fish can live 25-30 read and proceed to years. follow directions?

Also, let’s not let these expensive While on my way to fish be killed or harmed simply beclass this week I hapcause people refuse to follow rules pened to pass the Koi and comprehend that they can’t do with Victoria Franco Fish pond and as usual whatever they want. noted that there is a sign I would just like to put it out that reminds everyone to not there, that if you can’t find a way to feed the fish. sit by the pond and not harm the fish, sit someBut then again, there are always those handwhere else. ful of obtuse people who decide to do as they I don’t think I can take another pancake feedplease. ing incident on campus again.

Opinion Editor

D

SMH

Delta College changes standard grading policy

By David Michael Senior Staff Writer

A

s of Summer 2017, Delta College instructors have been allowed to issue +/- grading.

This lets teachers showcase if a student is on the higher end or the lower end of a letter grade spectrum.

Delta student, John Loony, expressed dislike toward the +/- grading saying, “because none of my classes can give a A+ but you can still get an A- it just lowers my GPA. It just creates an imbalance because it lowers the GPA faster for me without anyway to increase it faster.”

Jesus Davila, another Delta student also pointed out problems in the system.

“It just makes it harder for the 4.0 students and easier for B students,” said Davila.

Loony and Davila both made great points about the 4.0 students as they will have to try harder to get their grade above an A- when in the past it didn’t matter what their grade score was as long as it was in the A range it would still be full credit.

However, B students now have an equal chance to get a better B or a lower B. Either way they have better odds than A students.

“I don’t mind the whole situation even if it effects grade point average. It’s what you earned and it will just help encourage students to work harder,” said Matthew Klee, offering a slightly different opinion.

A grading system that also changed is the addition of FW or “failed withdrawal.”

Receiving this grade means that someone was attending class until the end of the withdrawal date and then never attended the class afterwards.

Most people that leave class after the last withdrawal date usually do so because that’s around the time the last financial-aid check comes in and also the time a lot of students think they don’t need to attend class anymore.

To counteract this type of behavior FW was created to mark students that stop attending class after the withdrawal date and also to lower the financial aid of students responsible for this.

The implication of the +/- grading can help B and C students which are the majority of students at delta. Even if some students GPA lowers the majority of people have a chance to raise theirs even if only slightly.

The FW is a great system that can stop people from stealing financial aid money and prevent students from committing fraud. Even if students with FW’s don’t understand their situation someone has to pay for what they are taking and their debt is pilling up.

_A B+ CD NEW GRADING SYMBOLS AND POINTS

A Excellent, 4 points A- Exemplary Work, 3.7 B+ Very Good, 3.3 B Good, 3 B- Very Satisfactory, 2.7 C Satisfactory, 2 C+ Better than Satisfactory Work, 2.3

D Less Than Satisfactory, 1 F Failing, 0 FW Student ceases participating in class and failed to withdrawal in a timely manner P Passing NP No Passing

MUSTANG ‘Do you know about the F/W and +/- situation with VOICE Delta’s grading system, if so what is your opinion?’

“With the FW situation even some of the professors don’t fully understand it. The plus and minus is going to negatively affect a lot of students and it even started affecting me.”

“There should be a plus but no minus. The FW is good because if you don’t show up to class then it’s on you.”

“I think we should stick with the original grading system. Because now the plus and minus system will just be in the way.”

“I think it matters because it encourages people to get better grades. The old system you didn’t have to try as hard and now students will have to put in more effort for better grades.”

“I like the idea but it could not be very positive for people’s grades. I have mixed emotions about it.

Even some teachers say it’s a hassle.”

ALISSA MONTANEZ

ANDREW HOPSON

ANTHONY LARIK

JONATHAN PHAN

VIANEI RAMIREZ

Apple Pay option would benefit students on campus

By Alex Coba

T

Sports Editor

hink of this as a scenario, you wake up one day and realize you over slept and you’re going to be late for class.

The teacher will lock you out if you’re late.

You get dressed, rush out the door and drive as fast as you can to Delta, ignoring all the speed limit signs.

You find a parking space almost immediately and check your phone.

You have 10 minutes left and you think to yourself: “I’m good I got this.”

You get out of your car and you grab your backpack and everything else you need.

You check your pockets and you realize … you forgot your wallet.

You think to yourself “too late now” and it’s not like you can go back for it. This is what has happened to me and probably many others like me.

Now wouldn’t it be nice to have the option to use your phone to pay for food or drinks here on campus?

Since we live in the modern age, companies from Apple to Samsung have made it so you have the option to pay with your phone. Convenient right?

I thought so, only places like Danner Hall and the bookstore don’t offer such services. I had to resort to using the vending machines, which if you weren’t aware, do allow you to pay with your phone. Granted it doesn’t always work, but when it does it’s great.

Delta could utilize these services to at least give students and faculty the option to pay with our phones the same way we have the option to pay with a card.

“We are looking into it, however, we are unsure of a time frame at the moment,” said Delta College Auxiliary Services Manager Fidel Cabuena.

Several students have voiced opinions on the matter.

“I like using Apple Pay... very convenient and don’t have to have cash or credits on hand. Plus, my wallet is very light now!” said Silvia Crua .

J.R. Guillory gauged whether it would be beneficial to Delta.

“It would not. Using someone else’s platform will be beneficial to that owner. Delta needs to create their own like Pacific does,” he said.

Whether you believe it or not Delta should have pay by phone services, I believe in having options.

Sure it might be rocky to use the first couple of months, but at the end of the day, I think it would be worth it.

thecollegian

2 feature

Sept. 8, 2017

Student defies odds after near-death accident

Brandon Fisher was close to graduating from Chico State when his life was forever changed

By Killian Barnhart Managing Editor

Everything we work for can be gone in a matter of seconds.

Just ask Brandon Fisher.

Fisher was on the cusp of stepping into the life he had been building, studying Engineering and Construction Management at Chico State University with a career working for Howard S. Wright Construction squared away and waiting for him.

Until the early morning of Dec. 2012.

That’s when he was struck by a driver going 48 miles per hour under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

A taxi driver behind the offending Chevy Avalanche corralled the driver into a parking lot and pinned the driver, Matthew Lambert, there while emergency services were called.

Paramedics rushed Fisher to Enloe Medical Center.

He had broken his back and neck in multiple places, fractured his hip, broke his left knee, was punctured on the side by a headlight and was identified as being at level three on the Glasgow Coma Scale.

For a moment, Fisher died.

The Glasgow Coma Scale measures the level of consciousness in victims of traumatic brain injuries.

“The truck hitting me was one death, when the paramedics came they gave me CPR and I aspirated three times.

Those aren’t technically deaths, but they’re not ‘staying alive’ either,” said Fisher.

The medical personnel responsible

for overseeing him had doubts as to whether Fisher would live.

On top of the damage already sustained, Fisher’s lungs were collapsing.

The medical team worried doing more than intubating him would kill him, Hobbs said.

“When he was hit, they brought him in and they had to intubate him ... They had the tube down his throat for a week or so before they decided that he might actually live and that he’s stable enough to take into surgery where they gave him a tracheotomy and fixed his pelvis,” said Fisher’s mother, Juline Hobbs.

Fisher survived the encounter, but his life changed forever. He required therapy in order to learn how to use his motor skills, how to eat, read, walk and drive.

His memory of everything before Dec. 8 is gone and what he knows of that time he’s either been told by family and friends, or was shown through home videos and photos.

“There’s a lot of struggles with traumatic brain injury that people don’t want to talk about,” said Hobbs.

Lambert, the man who hit Fisher, was convicted in 2014 and sentenced to serve 45 days in jail and do 500 hours of community service, according to the Chico Enterprise Record.

In spite of everything, from cheating death to having to build himself back up to where he is now, Fisher still has ways to go to rebuild all he lost that night.

“I was offered the job four days before my accident, and it was close to $70,000 a year at 21 years old,” said Fisher.

Brandon Fisher stands outside of Goleman Library during his interview with The Collegian Managing Editor Killian Barnhart. PHOTO BY KILLIAN BARNHART

His path brings him to San Joaquin Delta College, where he’s hoping to further develop.

“He’s taking guidance classes right now, and the purpose of that is to help him with career exploration, just trying to match up the skills he has with a job that can keep his attention and that he would be happy doing for the rest of his life,” said Hobbs.

The classes have offered Fisher an insight into what he might be able to do outside of construction.

While he has desires to go back into construction, he has become divided, noting that he is not the same person he was and wonders what else he could do.

“I do want to get back into construction, but my memory of what I’ve learned and my maturity is not close to where I was and if I go back into construction I would have to redo all those years of education because I don’t remember anything, that’s why I’m kind of tempted with ‘what else do I do?’” said Fisher.

Delta 101: A primer on campus services

By Elany Orozco Senior Staff Writer

Delta College offers a number of services for students including the tutoring, counseling, child development, career transfer, disability support, extended opportunity, financial aid, scholarships and veteran services.

Here's an overview of programs and services.

Counseling Center/SSSP: The Counseling Center provides students with career planning, academic probation, financial aid appeal, personal counseling, transcript evaluation, transfer services and veteran services.

Students are able to schedule an appointment with the counselor that fits their needs, feel more comfortable with or is lead counselor of the special program the student is in or is interested in.

"Students should take advantage of the counseling center because it is going to help them become successful in their educational goals, career and overall in their personal life as well," said Danica Bravo, Student Program Assistant Counseling and Special Services.

To make an appointment you can visit the counseling

center located at DeRicco 234 or visit the Online Counseling Appointment System at counseling.deltacollege.edu.

Disability Support Program and Services (DSPS): DSPS provides access and support to students with disabilities in academic programs.

The program and services offers academic accommodations and services approved by DSPS counselors.

“The program is offer to students with a verifiable disability meaning they would have to provide documentation that they have a disability and how it affects their studying or mobility around campus,” said EOPS Administrative Assistant Barbara Barroga.

Services include specialized counseling, mobility, interpreting/captioning, adaptive computer technology, campus liaison, note taking services, alternate media, accommodated testing, learning disabilities program, community liaison, equipment loan, the Workability III Program and DSPS courses.

For more information about DSPS visit the office open Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in DeRicco 234 or visit deltacollege.edu/dept/dsps.

Extended Opportunity

Program & Services (EOPS): EOPS provides students with individualized counseling services, priority registration, tutoring, grants, assistance purchasing textbooks, college and university tours, transfer fee waiver and transportation assistances.

Delta student and EOPS Student Office Aid Cecilia Gradilla who is also part of the program believes it’s beneficial as it helps students stay on track.

“One of the requirements is to meet with your counselor three times a semester, do your progress report, it really helps you keep on track of your classes and how you're doing,” said Gradilla.

To qualify for EOPS students need to be eligible for the Board of Governors Grant Fee Waiver (BOGW), be enrolled in 12 units and completed no more than 40 degree applicable units.

Students must also meet one of the following educational criteria which includes assessment into basic skills English, ESL, or Math, not a high school graduate, GED, graduated high school with less than a 2.5 grade-point average, previously enrolled in remedial education or special

admission.

If students have previously attended other colleges or universities the student has to submit unofficial transcripts of schools attended by the application deadline or submit transcripts within 30 days of acceptance.

For more information about EOPS visit the office open Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in DeRicco 234 go visit deltacollege.edu/dept/eops.

Academic Assessment Center: The assessment center “assess incoming students for proper placement for their course work, we want to make sure they are placed properly, we don't want to put them in classes that are too difficult for them or to easy, we want them to be successful,” said Jeffrey Castanon, student programs specialist at the center.

This year the assessment center implemented the Accuplacer to replace of the COMPASS Exam which benefits students more as students have more opportunities to retake the exam to improve.

Students can retake the exam twice a year without having to wait a 30 day period in between but are encouraged to review and prepare using the Accuplacer “Learn

as You Go” or take the sample test online at accuplacerpractice.collegeboard.org.

Retakes work on a first come, first serve bases, appointments aren't required simply visit the Assessment Center located in the DeRicco 110 take a look at the center’s calendar and check the retake dates and hours or visit assessmentcenter@deltacollege.edu.

Child Development Center (CDC): The Hazel Hill Child Development Center offers early education and child care programs.

According to Nancy Cook, Director of Child Development Center the facility serves children 18 months to five years of old, anybody can apply to the program but priority is given to Delta students.

“In order to be a part of the program (funded by the state) they have to be income eligible and demonstrate the need for full day services so either being a full time student which is 12 units or more a part time student and working part time or someone that is working full time,” said Cook.

For more information about CDC call (209) 954-7500.

Fair connects students with colleges

By Jasmine Gonzalez Senior Staff Writer

Are you thinking about transferring?

Possibly UC or CSU? Perhaps you're even thinking about out of state?

Well then, a College fair is your solution. Delta College held its annual college fair on Tuesday, Aug. 29, a week into the new school year, surprising incoming freshman into Delta.

“I feel like it’s really cool because I don’t know much about four-year Universities,” said Kira Gifford.

Booths are set up starting from the end of the Koi pond through the Shima entrance.

Schools like Sacramento State, Notre Dame de Namur and many other colleges had a table with two or more representatives to answer questions for students.

“I think it’s very educating and motivating...makes me want to go to every college. They help you with the pre-counselors and then advised you to apply in the fall,” said Yaneli Perez.

Even with the constant heat students seemed eager to get informed going from one booth to another. It was a bit crowded because of that fact and probably caused trouble to those students heading to class but most didn’t seem to mind getting bumped into every few seconds.

To say some were impressed with the variety of schools was an understatement but there were some school students would have hoped to see here on campus.

“I was wish CSU Fullerton had showed up but other than that it was cool,’ said Loren Flores.

Flores had pointed out the only draw back seemed to be the time.

“I think the hours are a disadvantage because some people have back to back classes and can’t make it,” said Flores.

To some it was easy going to the college fair if they had a break in between classes or came to campus early but others struggled getting to talk to one college with only a 10minute window.

Regardless if students had an hour or 10 minutes to talk to representatives the college fair allowed them to revisit the idea of furthering their education at a four-year institution after their time here a Delta.

Delta’s students get ahead in their futures by attending the College Fair and getting information on different colleges and universities.

PHOTOS BY ALEX COBA

Transitioning into Mustang life

By Chanelle Muerong Entertainment Editor

Graduating high school is a big stepping stone in one's life. It’s the time when you decide what you want to be.

Some students go straight to the workforce, some join the Army and some don't do anything at all.

There’s a percentage that go back to school – college to be precise.

The atmospheres of a high school campus and a college campus are different.

“The classes are a bit harder than high school but I feel like I have more free time than high school due to having classes every other day,” said Lyndsey Kell.

Every fall semester, Delta's campus is bustling with students, most of them fresh out of high school.

The first week at a new school can be terrifying but exciting.

While a community college doesn’t offer the entire college experience, Delta offers the experience you can only get a college.

The college experience can be a lot of take in at first, so for the first week of classes, we went around and asked some first time college students how they were taking in this new experience.

Jazmin Villa of Tracy explained her experience.

“I am really liking the transition from high school. I have more time for what I

like on my own time, yet I am learning more than I ever did in high school,” she said.

She said classes so far have been easier than her classes in high school.

The time that she spends in class is a lot shorter and even though she has more homework, it's easier to manage because she's not in class for as long as she was in high school.

Classes are more versatile in college, since there are more choices and the students can pick the time they want.

“The classes are easy on my opinion.

There's less stress because I'm in charge of me and not the system. I have more free time, and I want to fill that with work but I don't know if that's a good idea since I'm a full-time student,” said Vivienne Aguilar.

Aguilar said she was having some anxiety from her old life since coming to Delta.

“I usually have friends all around to talk to and help me through,” she said. another student, gave us a bit of her experience as well.

“I'm taking the transition very well, just getting used to the fast-paced tempo,” said Kell. “The classes are a bit harder than high school but I feel like I have more free time than high school due to having classes every other day.”

Although the experiences vary for many students, you can expect to have meaningful learning experiences on campus.

Scholarships awarded to Delta students

By Victoria Franco Opinion Editor

In early August, Delta College awarded a total of $206,800 in scholarships to in 350 scholarships to help students achieve college education goals.

Today, the rates of tuition, book costs, and attending college in general seem to be adding up rapidly.

Many students don’t lack the ambition or determination to attend college. Instead, they are deprived financial support to further their education.

Nursing major, Karissa Amkhamavong, was the recipient winner of the Dr. Henry and Sylvia Wong Rn Scholarship.

“For the past few semesters my parents have been paying for my books.

With the money I got from my scholarship, I can now pay for my own books,” said Amkhamavong.

Scholarship money given to these students not only helps students who are continuing studies at Delta College, it also helps those who are

transferring to four-year universities.

When transferring to a four-year not only are tuition rates higher, but many students no longer have the privilege to live at home. There are more financial factors that come into play once students transfer.

Health Science major Miriam Bautista shared how after leaving Delta to attend Sacramento State money became tight for her.

“I was grateful for receiving the scholarship because I moved to Sacramento. I had to find a new job and pay more bills. As well as budget my money more. So money was tight,” said Bautista.

With the help of the ASDC Community Leaders scholarship Bautista was able to fund her own school supplies as well as pay for book fees.

Scholarship programs and generous donors are the reason more students are able to attend college and progress in their studies.

For more information on scholarship opportunities visit the Financial Aid Office located in the DeRicco building.

6 entertainment

thecollegian

Sept. 8, 2017

Molding the future for ceramic artists

John Toki gives an explanation behind his reasoning for selecting the art pieces on Aug. 31 at the L.H. Horton Gallery in the Shima Center. PHOTO BY ALEX COBA

By Alex Coba Sports Editor

On Aug. 31, the L.H. Horton Jr. Gallery held its annual Visions in Clay exhibition. Ceramic artist and former faculty member from California College of the Arts John Toki was this year’s juror.

Toki selected all 58 works showcased in the exhibit.

He also awarded the Visions in Clay awards which gave cash prizes to the top four winners.

This exhibition featured ceramic pieces by artists from across the nation.

Among the artists was Delta College alumnus Daniel Alejandro Trejo who expressed joy in being one of the artist show in the exhibition with his piece I’ll Make You So Proud Of Me. “It’s really great being back here and figuring out how to give back to the community in a way that like, I’m a person of color and ceramics is pretty much dominated by white men so I’m making a political

GALLERY HOURS Tuesday: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday-Thursday: 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturdays: August 26, Oct. 7, Nov. 18, Jan. 27, Feb. 26, April 21 Closed: Nov. 10-11, 23-24 standpoint by being brown and also like queer too so I’m here and I’m contributing to this canon contemporary ceramics.”

Toki explained what his thought process was when choosing which pieces would win the Visions in Clay Awards.

“If there was one piece here, which one would I grab and run out the door right? And or look at every day and believe me it’s not that easy there are some, which

pieces would that be?” he asked.

Artist Mari Emori shared what went into making her piece Homage to the Pima ll.“Sgraffito is an Italian word which means ‘scratching the surface’ so after I make the shape, I applied angel which is color. Then I scratch so it reveals the clay color underneath, that’s how I create the pattern,” she said.

Second place winner Hadi Aghaee elaborated on his piece Unguarded and Fractured, which highlights the human trafficking issue we face today.

“It happened that I read a story on the Internet about human trafficking and the statistics were so bad that it just stayed with me and when I took a class I didn’t have a choice on how the model posed and it turned out to be the perfect pose. I took the pose and the story together and said ‘wow this is perfect.”

This was Aghaee’s first ceramic piece.

Visions in Clay runs through Sept. 15 in the gallery here at the Delta College campus, where the art shown in the exhibition can be seen as well as the winners.

September brings many things to do 9-10

11 13

Greek festival at St. Basil Church Stockton Noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Noon to 8 p.m. Sunday $2 general admission Flea Market at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds Stockton 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Paddle Social at Lodi Lake Free if you bring your own equipment $25 to rent equipment

Grape Festival 14-17 Lodi Under 16 free Thursday, Free admission from 12 p.m. to

21

5 p.m. for all ages Friday, Bring two cans of food between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. get free admission Saturday and Sunday Metro Station performs at Hutchins Street Square Lodi Free admission

22

27 28 29 30

Cruise night from Bagel Express Stockton 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Magic Men Live! at the Bob Hope Theater Stockton 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets are $25-$100 Live music at the Garlic Brothers Stockton 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Jazz Jam at Whirlow’s On Miracle Mile Stockton Free admission Opening day of the Pumpkin Patch Dell’Osso farms Lathrop – Emily Beaton, News Editor

thecollegian

7 sports

Sept. 8, 2017

Mustangs fall against Sac City in home opener

Wayne Brooks Jr., Jason Nelson Jr. and Darrin Gentry Jr. charge down field for a touchdown. PHOTO BY DAVID MICHAEL

By David Michael Senior Staff Writer

On Sept. 2 Delta’s Mustangs played against the Sacramento City College Panthers but lost 38-55.

Delta’s team held the lead score for the first half but started feeling the heat later in the game. The temperature was no joke that day as it reached a high of 103 degrees and every-

one had to stay hydrated.

“We got a lot of young guys these year and a lot of new freshmen,” said head coach Gary Barlow.

Some of the freshmen players Barlow mention include quarterback Wayne Brooks, outside linebacker Jacob Tatupu, defensive backer Darryl Kapule and linebacker Andrew Farley.

These are just some of the

people mentioned as the team as a whole started the game beating off the sun’s heat and doing well only to fall short at the end.

“This game will have no effect in the future,” said Barlow, indicating his team will continue to improve.

“Sometimes you win and sometime you lose and as cliché as that sounds that’s just the way it works,” said Barlow,

after the game.

Delta’s fans agreed that the talent is new, and that winning and losing can never be fully decided until after a game.

“The team is doing well. The coach is doing a good job as it takes a while to help new players,” said Willie Smith, grandfather to Andrew Farler.

He wasn’t the only one thinking these as Luis Maciel, the uncle to outside linebacker

Gerardo Maciel, agreed.

“They are running a great program compared to high school football as they let the players get the proper rest they need,” said Maciel. The Mustangs will play next at De Anza College in Cupertino on Sept 14 at 1 p.m.

The Mustangs next home game will be against Santa Rosa Jr. College Saturday, Sept.

16 at 1 p.m.

Is Kaepernick’s pre-game kneeling still a thing?

Quarterback’s career might have been ended by his activism

By Ramon Zuniga Senior Staff Writer

T

he Oakland Raiders’ Marshawn Lynch now joins the ranks of non-standing athletes in the NFL as a sign of protest.

When an athlete in the NFL sits or gets down to one knee during the National Anthem it’s usually to protest police brutality and racism.

Lynch isn’t the first to stay down in protest. San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick started this during the 2016 season.

Ever since Kaepernick started this trend, many have questioned his stance and even if he is right to take a stand against police brutality and racism.

Many events in the last 4 years have made people reopen the topic of present day racism like several instances of police brutality and blatant racial profiling.

Some like Lynch are receiving unqualified support.

In an interview with Conan O’Brien before he came out of

retirement Lynch said: “I’d rather see him (Kaepernick) take a knee than stand up, put his hands up and get murdered.”

The interview happened in September 2016 and remained away from major spotlight events until Lynch’s return.

Lynch wasn’t an active NFL athlete at the time of Kaepernick’s protests.

“My take on it is, [stuff ], it gotta start somewhere and if that was the starting point, I just hope people open up their eyes and see that it’s really a problem going on and something needs to be done for it to stop. If you really not racist, then you won’t see what [Kaepernick is] doing as a threat to America, but just addressing a problem that we have,” Lynch added to further his support to this cause.” s aid Lynch according to the Washington Post in early August Even former President Barack Obama agreed with Kaepernick’s right to protest.

“I don’t doubt his sincerity, I think he cares about some real, legitimate

issues that have to be talked about.

If nothing else, he’s generated more conversation about issues that have to be talked about,” said Obama in his second term in office.

Although Kaepernick received criticism from all sides for his decisions on protesting, Lynch has not received any repercussions and even had his coach agree with his decision.

“I talked to Marshawn to make sure we’re on the same page,” said Raiders’ head coach Jack Del Rio. “ I very strongly believe in standing for the national anthem.”

Keapernick’s protest displays were not the only things he has done to help his cause.

The Colin Keapernick Foundation is a non-profit organization to go against racism and other forms of oppression.

Various methods are used to achieve this goal like education of all races and social activism.

ART BY ALEX COBA

thecollegian

8 news

Sept. 8, 2017

Electric buses come to Stockton

By Austin Nordyke Senior Staff Writer

Stockton is the home, of the first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route in the nation to be completely powered by electricity as of Aug 23.

San Joaquin Regional Transit District’s Route 44 (RTD) is a BRT Express Route traveling from the Downtown Transit Center to Arch-Airport Road.

A second electric route will be added in January along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bringing the total count of electric buses to 12. Stockton RTD has a fleet of 120

buses with six retiring this year.

Electric buses are quieter and have zero emissions. Each bus takes ten to fifteen minutes to charge and can travel up to 40 miles per charge.

An Electric Bus has a fuel efficiency equivalent to 18.22 miles per gallon.

A new electric bus costs $850,000 compared to $600,000 for an electric-diesel hybrid, but will have cheaper and simpler maintenance.

Transit Ambassador Lead Nelson Nieves feels confident this will set a precedent for environmentally conscious practices.

“We’re going to set the exam-

ple and other cities are [going to] follow through,” said Nieves. This sentiment was shared by Public Information Officer and Marketing Manager Terry Williams. “There are several cities adopting electric buses,” said Williams. Plans to reduce Stockton’s carbon footprint don’t end with these two routes.

“RTD’s Board of Directors will be asked to pass an official resolution to declare its intent to convert to 100[percent] electric, zero emission buses for all routes serving the city of Stockton by 2025,” according to a news release from RTD.

FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE Contact the Office of Student Equity and Diversity to make an appointment at (209) 954-5377.

Appointments with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation available on a first come, first serve on these dates: • Monday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Monday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Monday, Oct. 2, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Other resources are available for Delta College students at https:// www.deltacollege.edu/dept/undocumented/index.html

DACA: Resources available on campus for students continued from PAGE 1 It was enacted in 2011 and is not impacted by the DACA decision.

The news was immediately met with millions coming out to support all DACA and immigrant students.

Rallies have already happened across the United States.

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs reaffirmed the city’s support of DACA. “History will not judge kindly, not only the actions taken by this president, but the lack of actions taken by those of us who remain silent. We who believe in the promise of America; that believe a great nation treats ‘the foreigner among you like a native born,’ that our country is at its best when everyone is given

an opportunity to contribute, must continue to speak out and urge for comprehensive immigration reform and for the rights of Dreamers,” he posted to Facebook as part of a larger statement.

Hart’s statement also encouraged DACA recipients and others impacted to take advantage of student services, including the counseling center in the DeRicco Building or the office of Student Equality and Diversity located in the Science and Math Building in rooms 341 and 342.

An attorney from the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF) will be offering free legal assistance by appointment on the Delta campus in September and October.

An all-electric bus route is now running in south Stockton. PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN JOAQUIN RTD

Trump proposes policy to exclude transgender people from military

By Raul Torres Senior Staff Writer

President Donald Trump in late August said he would exclude transgender people from enlisting in the military.

Obama’s administration reversed the policy before he left office as one of his last acts in office allowing transgender individuals to serve in U.S. military.

Trump also banned the Department of Defense from allowing medical treatment for transgender individuals currently serving.

“It is disgusting that you can be banned from serving your country as an American, because you are trans person. I believe serving in the military is a brave thing to do and nobody should be excluded,” said Stockton native Anthony Herrera.

Trump announced this plan in a series of Tweets through his personal Twitter account.

“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail,” he wrote.

According to the 2016 Rand report, the U.S. military has about 6,600 trans-people serving, with a total of $8 million in total health care from hormone treatments and gender transitions.

By comparison, military spending on erectile dysfunction is $84 million annually according to analysis done by the

Military Times. The military spending up to $46 million on Viagra alone.

“We waste money on unnecessary projects for the government every year, why not use that money for our transgender military service members,” said Stockton native Max Garcia, when asked about Trump’s reason for the ban.

As for the trans-people serving in the military currently, it is uncertain if they will be able to continue to serve when the ban comes into effect.

During the White House briefing, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee said “The President is the President for all Americans, and during last year’s campaign he was the first GOP nominee to talk about LBGTQ issues at the GOP convention, but he also was critical of the Obama administration’s change in that long standing DOD policy.”

Trump has received a ton of backlash from this policy change.

The media, various organizations and companies are outspoken against the ban.

A lawsuit was filed on behalf of ACLU which stands for The American Civil Liberties Union.

It was filed on behalf of six active military service members against the President, according to the ACLU. “In the lawsuit, the ACLU argues the ban violates the constitutional guarantees of equal protection and substantive due process by singling out transgender individuals for unequal and discriminatory treatment,” according to ACLU.org.

ENROLLMENT: Delta working to increase student population continued from PAGE 1 According to a Fall Enrollment/Comparison chart from this semester, Delta College has more students enrolled this fall compared to Fall 2016. However, there are fewer units being taken this semester compared the Fall 2016, which leads to the cancellation of classes.

Delta College isn’t the only community college experiencing low enrollment; it has become a national issue.

“If you look at data on national community college enrollment, you’ll see a downward trend over the last three or four years,” said Wetstein. “The general pattern across the country is that there is this low enrollment because of the improved economy.”

Another reason for low enrollment is the California State University and University of California systems Students that have the opportunity to go to a fouryear university out of high school will likely choose to attend a four-year rather than a community college.

“When the economy is good and the state revenue is good, those colleges and universities are actually growing their freshman class,” Wetstein said. “So if you think of it as a competitive market place, like us

versus them, a lot of students make the choice to go to a four year, so we end up being the second or third choice, which means we get fewer students.”

In an attempt to reach out to adults in the county and improve the enrollment and taking of units at Delta College, an emphasis on social media marketing has been put in place through a process called geofencing.

Geofencing allows ads to be pushed on to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, as well as Pandora.

Through a purchased list of households occupied by people around the ages of 18-25, Delta can push ads for the school on to people’s social media when they log on.

“We also target places that we know people of that age group congregate,” said Wetstein. “So we also geofence around high schools, we geofence around malls, shopping areas, and for adults not working or that are on unemployment, we push ads around WorkNet offices and EDD (Employment Development Department) buildings in Downtown.”

Other targets for geofencing are students that have applied to enroll in the college but never officially registered.

These students are sent a text message from the

school reminding them that they haven’t registered, with a link to the website to do so.

According to Wetstein, this method has proved to be effective.

“We did that last year for around a thousand students. About 990 of them read the text within 48 hours and 700 of those students ended up registering within a week,” he said.

The next plan for improving enrollment is having professors teach incarcerated students in locations such as Deuel Vocational Institute south of Tracy and the Department of Juvenile Justice Center in Stockton.

There is a business associate’s degree two classes being offered in the fall; a psychology class and a computer science class, scheduled to start on the first week of September.

“One of the ways to think about it is if they (incarcerated students) are going to get their life turned around, education may be one of those avenues and so they’re going to end up at Delta college anyway,” said Wetstein.

“The ability to serve them as kind of an on ramp while they’re incarcerated and establishing that relationship with them as a college that’s helped them out is positive for those students.”