thecollegian Issue 3 • Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 • deltacollegian.net
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Pope visits United States for first time BY BRANDON GARCIA deltacollegian@gmail.com
Breast cancer awareness month PAGE 4
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Pope Francis, the superior of the Catholic Church, wrapped up his very first visit to the United States and is still as popular now as he was when he was elected back in 2013. During his five-day stay, Francis visited Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia. This pope has appealed not only to older generations but to all generations. “I would say all ages find him more likable. Our school kids watched the parade in D.C. and cheered,” said Reverend Larry McGovern of Presentation Church in Stockton. Francis has reached a bigger audience due to his opinions and views on humility as well as his willingness to stay open minded.
Francis’ predecessor Pope Benedict XVI was noted for wearing flashier, more noticeable garments. Francis wears only a plain white cassock. He refuses to stay in the Apostolic Palace, choosing to stay in a Vatican guesthouse. He also doesn’t get shuttled around in a bulletproof Mercedes limousine, instead driving himself around in his Ford Focus or 1984 Renault. He’s been known to speak more freely as well. Regarding gays in the church, Pope Francis has said: “If someone is gay, who searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge? We shouldn't marginalize people for this. They must be integrated into society.” When speaking about how the pope is so admired, McGovern
See POPE, Page 8
DROUGHT CONSEQUENCES GROWING Global warming effects felt in new ways BY KRISTEN RIEDEL
Fantasy art at Horton gallery PAGE 6
kriedel670@students.deltacollege.edu
Women’s water polo brings home the win PAGE 7
#socialcollegian PHOTO BY KRISTEN RIEDEL
DELTA COLLEGE PLAZA: The brand new green space is showing brown results of reduced watering.
California concluded its fourth full year of drought on Sept. 30 and the effects of a long-term water deficit continue to increase. The recent Butte and Valley fires account for the loss of 3,000 structures and six human lives, bringing the costs of the drought to measurable and devastating light. “Our soil profiles have never been drier,” said David Dodson, environmental science professor at Delta College. “Plants continue sucking out of that already dry profile and dry them out so they have very low moisture content.” When the soil is dry, prolific native plants such as manzanita and coyote bush become dry and highly flammable, contributing to the heat and spread of forest fires. A study available on the USGS website reports that, “Pervasive warming can be expected to increase the incidence of high severi-
ty fire by creating conditions where lower fuel moisture results in fires of higher intensity.” The overuse of tap water and the massive demands of an agricultural economy are not the cause, nor is reduction the cure for damage to our natural resources. The rising temperatures and persistence of drought are part of the phenomenon of climate change caused by the build up of greenhouse gasses that are byproducts of human industry. According to the NOAA website, the average temperature in California over the last year was 4.2 degrees higher than the 20th century average. The low level of precipitation, combined with higher temperatures that cause more evaporation of standing water, has led to depletion of our underground water supplies. One of the greatest hopes for
See DROUGHT, Page 8
LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST TWO MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES BY MIKAEL HONZELL deltacollegian@gmail.com
Today is the final day of Club Rush. What clubs did you join this week? Tell us by tagging #socialcollegian on social media.
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On Aug. 23, the city of Stockton filed lawsuits against two of the remaining marijuana dispensaries – Elevate Wellness and Collective 1950. The lawsuit against Elevate Wellness, located at North Union Street in Stockton, accuses the shop of being a public disturbance and a danger to the area. Elevate Wellness is temporarily not in operation.
“Stockton is exercising its duty and interest in protecting the public health, safety, and welfare within the corporate limits of the city,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit states these dispensaries are causing public disturbance. “There haven’t been any disturbances in this area,” said a source connected to a local marijuana shop who didn’t want named in fear his location would be served next. “It’s always pretty relaxed here.” Most dispensaries don’t make it obvi-
ous the building is in fact a dispensary. There aren’t any huge signs saying “Buy pot here!” This way the only people who know about the dispensary and are on the premises are legitimate patients and not random “fiends” being disruptive to the area. According to weedmaps.com, Stockton has five medical marijuana dispensaries and three mobile services.
See POT, Page 8