The Collegian - Published April 19, 2024

The Collegian is the student newspaper of San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif. The paper is published six times a semester.

As a First Amendment newspaper we pride ourselves 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.

The Collegian is a member of the California Newspaper Publisher’s Association and the Journalism Association of Community Colleges.

Campus dance club readies for festival

Top left: Stockton Delta Dance Company (SDDC) president Kayla Bornea. Top right: SDDC treasurer Aliza Paulino (left) and German Isaac Estrella. Bottom left: Paulino (left) and Isaac Estrella. Bottom middle: Paulino performs during a rehearsal in Budd. Bottom right: SDDC members Yareli Olivares, Paulino, Iris Castillo, and Borea run through choreography for the May 4 festival.

PHOTOS BY DYLAN JAEKEL

UNLOCKING CREATIVITY THROUGH MOVEMENT

BY DYLAN JAEKEL Editor-in-Chief

For Aliza Paulino, dance is an outlet not just for creativity but for stress relief.

“Dance is definitely a great outlet to with all like the stress or all the busyness of life. I feel like that’s one of the main reasons why I made sure dance was part of my schedule,” said Paulino.

For Kayla Bornea, it’s a place to engage her creativity.

“It has made me feel like there’s actual color, and being able to use my creative outlet, create things I’ve never [sic] created before and just being able to help people find the dancer in themselves is why dance has really been an important part of my life,” said Bornea.

Both Paulino and Bornea are members of the Stockton Delta Dance Company (SDDC). The Delta College-based dance club allows dance majors and non-dance majors alike to explore dance as an outlet for creative expression.

“Stockton Delta Dance Company’s primary aim is to celebrate the art of dance in its various forms.

SDDC explores this medium with attention to communicating, exposing and advancing the appreciation of dance within our campus and outside communities.

debuts. She aspires to become a dance teacher, and her time in Delta’s dance department and choreographing for SDDC moves her closer to that goal.

“I want to be a teacher, actually a dance teacher, so having all this experience is helping me find what people have in themselves; they’re all potential to grow as dancers,” said Bornea.

Some of SDDC’s members are nondance majors, many of them are studying psychology at Delta. While dance and the arts have always been a part of their lives, SDDC is their first introduction to a dance organization and performances.

“At parties and stuff, of course, I’ll dance, but this is the first time I’ve ever actually learned an actual choreography and danced with a group of people,” said SDDC member German Isaac Estrella.

EVENT DETAILS

The Stockton Delta Dance Company and the San Joaquin Delta College Dance Department will host a Dance Festival on Saturday, May 4 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Dolores Huerta Plaza. The event includes music pop ups and food.

SDDC also provides and artistic and creative outlet to develop and foster our dancer’s skills and talent in the arena of performing arts,” notes the club’s description on Delta’s website.

Kayla Bornea, who serves as SDDC club president, joined the club’s board almost by accident. She was attending an audition for Delta’s dance department when she was offered the position. A month earlier, she had switched her major from health sciences to dance and was happy for the opportunity to be more involved in dance on campus.

Bornea previously used her dance skills to choreograph for her high school dance club, her church, cotillions and

Other members had experience with dance clubs and extracurricular groups in middle school and high school and are continuing their dance experiences with SDDC.

“I took an interest in dance since middle school when I got first introduced to K-pop. So, since then, I’ve been in like extracurricular dance clubs after school. I’ve been taking dance classes here at Delta,” said member Shao-Long Louie. “It wasn’t until like last year when I had the choreography where I met Kayla, and she introduced herself as the president of the dance club. I’ve always wanted to see a dance club here, so I (took) the opportunity to join.”

Paulino, who serves as a club treasurer, said she used to perform at family gatherings with her cousins, singing and dancing. The experience with SDDC has formalized her practice.

“... It’s just something that I felt like was a natural part of my life,” said Paulino. But now I feel, like now it is defi-

nitely more working on technique now, especially with the production. Like this is my first dance production in my life.”

SDDC has also led to many of its members establishing lasting friendships and community support.

“I feel like making connections, not just in dance, but in whatever you get involved in is really important, and I really feel that community definitely makes the experience not easier, but a lot more fun, a little more looking forward to, because you have those friendships and those connections and bonds built,” said Paulino.

SDDC is preparing for a dance festival to be hosted at Delta on May 4. The festival will bring together dance clubs and organizations from the San Joaquin County region to celebrate the art of dance through styles such as hiphop, ballroom and jazz. Local vendors, small businesses and non-profit information booths will also be present, selling goods, food and drinks.

In preparation, the club has been busy using community connections to grow the event, and practicing every Tuesday and Thursday for their upcoming performance. The members also practice individually whenever possible.

“I’ve just been listening to the song over and over again, and thinking of what I need to do in my head, and then also, if I’m alone, then I’ll also actually practice,” said Isaac Estrella.

The students involved in SDDC hope the festival will inspire others to embrace their creativity through movement and dance.

“Dance is still alive in our community. I hope it just inspires others to learn to dance,” said Louie.

Though balancing academics and SDDC can be time-consuming, members said volunteering their time in SDDC is worth it.

“You definitely feel the pressure, but for me, it’s always been a challenge that I’ve always been willing to rise up to,” said Louie.

Members said they feel a sense of pride in the stories they are able to tell through dance and hope to convey that on May 4.

“I just genuinely hope that you all can make it to the festival, come out and support the dance department. This is going be our first dance festival ever, so it was a lot of pressure, but we’re putting in a lot [of] work behind the scenes to make sure that everyone’s going to have a blast,” said Bornea.

Members of SDDC (left to right) German Isaac Estrella, Yareli Olivares, Kayla Bornea, Aliza Paulino and Iris Castillo pose for a photo after dance practice on April9. PHOTO BY DYLAN JAEKEL

Delta considers OneDrive as Box contract expires

BY ANDREA RIVERA Sports Editor

Note: Tara Cuslidge-Staiano, who is quoted in this story, is the advisor to The Collegian. The Collegian also makes use of Box software in its production pipeline.

Box, a cloud storage system used by Delta College since the Covid-19 pandemic forced many classes and most students and employees off campus to remote work, could be replaced at the school this summer if a contract for the service is not extended.

“After careful evaluation, the District will be transitioning from Box to OneDrive, Microsoft’s powerful cloud storage and collaboration platform. This move is part of our ongoing commitment to providing users with the best tools to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, facilitate seamless collaboration across teams, and keep costs of redundant software products to a minimum,” read an email sent on Feb. 7 by Alex Breitler, Delta’s director of Marketing and Communications.

The program Box was created “in 2005 to make it easy to access information from anywhere and collaborate with anyone. Collaboration on Box gives (sic) teams one place to securely collaborate on content, no matter what software or device they’re using… Box

The

The

Drive Works (sic) with all the files you have stored in Box, right from your desktop,” according to Box.com.

Delta began using Box during the pandemic as a replacement for a previous service, DocuShare.

“The agreement that we entered into with Box is going to expire, which is why we’re at the point which we are sort of reevaluating the whole situation,” said Breitler in a phone interview.

Faculty immediately raised questions and concerns about such an immense transition following the Feb. 7 email.

Since the meeting, the District has pumped the brakes on any action concerning the two programs even though the contract with Box ends this summer. Regarding the colleges’ tight timeline, a plan has been put into place if a solution can not be reached to keep the

contract with Box.

“Depending on how complex each case is, the plan includes providing individual assistance moving content from Box to OneDrive, providing training, providing a migration tool for users to move content, and lending assistance with updating any external links that might appear on the Delta College website or elsewhere. All of this information will be communicated out to these users,” said Breitler in a phone interview.

Specifically, Mass Communication Professor Tara Cuslidge-Staiano voiced her discomfort with moving an extreme amount of content from one program to another.

“I am in a department that strongly leans on Box, literally to the point of building our post-pandemic infra -

structure on it because it allowed our students access to virtual drives easily within faculty’s unlimited space,” read Cuslidge Staiano’s email, “Until this notice we received zero notification that this was happening…No dates are/were attached to this outside of mid-May…No true plan as to what/ how this transition takes place outside of encouraging us to begin ‘clean up”’ of files…No indication is given for how to proceed forward outside of ‘no action is required at this time,’ where are the timelines?”

By the Feb. 15 President’s Council meeting, Superintendent and President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson confronted the issue discussing any further movement to make such a tremendous transition must be heavily researched and discussed.

“There was discussion on the lack of communication regarding the transition and the governance process not being utilized… Dr. Aguilera Lawrenson clarified that there will be no decisions regarding the transition without going through the proper shared governance channels… ensured the council that any changes in technology should be brought forward to the technology subcommittee who reports to the Facilities committee,” read the meeting notes for the president’s council.

Equity action task force teams set goals, projects for implementation on campus

BY VANESSA GOMEZ News Editor

Advancements have been made in the organization of Delta’s Equity Action Task Force (EATF). Initially created in Summer 2023, EATF intends to continue the push to improve student and faculty equity on campus.

The EATF is divided into four different teams; Wellness and Campus Climate, Access and Connectedness, Policies and Procedures, and Curriculum and Instruction.

The EATF has three main objectives, according to its charter: to significantly reduce equity gaps, meeting students’ basic needs, and to promote students’ health, wellness and safety.

The Wellness and Campus Climate plans to focus on several different topics, according to the group’s prioritization project list: mental health and physical wellness services, assessing and enhancement of campus safety, spaces and compliance and resources, evaluating campus naming and cultural representation, and assessing data collected.

The Access and Connectedness team is working on a project titled “First Year Experience.” The purpose, according to the project charter, is to “develop a culturally infused First-Year Experience program,” and “systematize the onboarding process and remove unnecessary barriers to students across all demographics.”

The project also plans to create videos and handouts for first year students.

“(The videos) can be shown to student groups assuring them that they belong at Delta College and making them aware of all of the resources that are available to them here,” said Director of Marketing and Communications Alex Breitler in an email interview.

The Policies and Procedures team will work on a project titled “Policies and Procedures Data Collection.” The project’s purpose is to create a standardized policy on collecting data to better inform school policy on equity. The three areas that the Policies and Procedures plan on improving equity on are faculty and staff hiring, employment results and employee re-

cruitment practices.

The Curriculum and Instruction team project is focused on what training faculty can go through in order to create a more accepting atmosphere on campus. Several of the training courses mentioned were FLEX. There was also a focus on how faculty curriculums can be translated for Non-English instruction.

The first task forces on Delta were the Black Faculty Task Force (BFTF), Chicanx/Latine Faculty Task Force (CLTF) and the Faculty Caucus for Asian Pacific Equity (FCAPE). The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the three task forces ended on June. 30, 2023. These task forces discussed with Delta’s administration over issues of equity on campus, and recommended actions to improve student equity. The name change of the forums was one of the accomplishments of the three original task forces.

Delta administration will have a retreat on May 21 and 22 to go over the implementation of the EATF in the 2023-2024 year, and review any changes to be made going into the next year.

OneDrive logo, left. IMAGE FROM MICROSOFT

Box logo, right. IMAGE FROM BOX

Open-mic event with Straight Out Scribes

BY JELISSA KING Opinion Editor

On April 11, Delta College hosted Straight Out Scribes, a mother-daughter poetry duo, at the Tony Fitch forum. The event offered students an open mic for poetry reading and performance.

Based in Sacramento, Straight Out Scribes travels around Northern California to perform at colleges, art centers and poetry events. Mama Staajabu and her daughter, Dr. V.S. Chochezi, have performed for more than 30 years. The award-winning duo has published seven books of poetry and short stories.

Delta’s Ethnic Studies department chair and associate professor, Dr. Malika Hollinside, organized the event for students to express themselves through poetry. While being a professor on campus for three years, Dr. Hollinside was allowed to bring something special to campus.

Delta’s Cultural Awareness Program (CAP) is a committee that supports programs or campus events that promote community healing with unity, equity and social justice. Faculty, staff and student groups can apply for the CAP funding application. However, rules and regulations may apply, according to Delta’s website.

“I’m very grateful for Dr. Seekatz and the CAP program for allowing us to make this happen,” said Dr. Hollinside. “The event was very, very moving. It was an amazing opportunity for students to emote and vent.”

The Straight Out Scribes not only recite poetry to the students, but their performance also asks for audience participation. Students had to do 10 minutes of a writing exercise. Once they were done, the floor was offered to students to recite their poetry.

Heaven Usery was invited by her friend, Delta ethnic studies student Latoya Mitchell, to attend the poetic event. During the writing activity, Usery wanted to read her poem out loud. For all her passion for writing, this was the first poem she had ever written.

“It was very enlightening,” said Usery. “I got a chance to share some of my poetry and it was my first poem… And with this experience, I learned to be a little more courageous. I’m happy I got to attend this event.”

With the knowledge and experience of event support from the CAP program, Dr. Hollinside is excited about future events.

“Now that I have one event under my belt, I’m certainly going to continue to bring more events. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the goals of the ethnic studies department to continue providing motivational speakers, programs, and engaging activities on campus. It’s important to involve all ethnic backgrounds and to celebrate each other’s cultures,” said Dr. Hollinside.

Delta approves purchase of new backhoe for Manteca farm campus

BY JELISSA KING Opinion Editor

Delta’s Manteca farm campus was financially approved for a backhoe for the agricultural department. But what is a backhoe?

A backhoe is an attachment for a tractor. It’s attached to the back of the tractor, the component that’s equipped with a digging bucket, also known as a dipper stick. The component helps with collecting heavy loads like compost, manure, dirt, etc. It can also be used for trenching and backfilling. For example: it can

dig out a huge and heavy tree and move it elsewhere. Not only are they used on farms but also on construction sites.

The Manteca farm has been part of Delta since the 1960’s. Drake explains that the backhoe they have was donated in the early ’70s by the grounds department.

“We need a new backhoe,” said Drake. “Getting parts or doing repairs for backhoes, especially outdated ones, are hard to maintain. The repairs at this point are costing how much a new backhoe would be. Also, there is a state cap on old equipment.”

Manteca’s farm lab manager, Donald Drake, sub-

mitted a Strong Workforce Program (SWP) purchase requisition on Feb. 14. However, on March 11, Drake received a price quote but the offer expired at the end of March.

At the Zoom board meeting on March 5, the dean of applied science, business and technology, presented a PowerPoint for the Horticulture/Viticulture Agriculture Update. The presentation displays the plans and goals at the campuses for the agriculture program. Poised for growth into 2025-2026, the future for technology and facilities will continue to update lab facilities and equipment, according to the PowerPoint.

Top: Straight Out Scribes, Mama Staajabu, left, and her daughter, Dr. V.S. Chochezi, right, performed their poetry style called weaving, inside the Tony Fitch forum at Delta College on April 11. Above: A participant reads out a poem during the Straight Out Scribes event in the Tony Fitch forum. PHOTOS BY JELISSA KING

ACTIVE MINDS HOSTS WELLNESS BRUNCH

BY LA RIE’ RICHARDSON Staff Writer

Active Minds, in conjunction with other Delta College learning communities, hosted its “Active Minds Brunch Bonanza” on April 11 in Danner Hall to celebrate wellness with a goal to serve up to 200 students.

Students lined up while faculty who participated in the event served them a various selection of breakfast burritos, pastries, fruit and other refreshments.

“240 burritos were packaged up and they are all gone,” said Adriana Brogger, Digital Media professor and Active Minds co-advisor. “We took 170 tickets, but there were other folks who came in and they got fed.”

Although the purpose of this event was to give students the chance to relax and enjoy a meal, it also gave participants an opportunity to enjoy their peers, meet new people and have meaningful conversations.

“Active Minds is very important to have on campus just for a resource for the students like it gives you a good outlet to be with community of like-mind-

ed individuals,” said Lishe’a Wilkerson, Digital Media major and a member of Active Minds who attended the brunch.

Active Minds is a non-profit organization that focuses on action and student advocacy in mental health, and is powered by more than 600 chapters located at high schools and colleges nationwide, according to the organization’s website.

“Here at San Joaquin Delta College, we have had an active Active Minds chapter since 2018 and I’ve been a co-advisor since that time,” said Brogger.

The mission of the club is destigmatizing conversations about and actions toward better mental health.

“The whole point with normalizing these conversations is that we want students to not feel like they’re going through it alone because once we feel like we’re the only ones going through a certain situation, we put ourselves at risk for isolation and some serious depressive episodes that can have an impact on not just our academic areas, but everything else that we have going on,” said Brogger.

Delta College provides Student Health and Wellness Resources such as non-emergency medical and behavioral healthcare at the Delta Health Center, counseling services, and virtual mental health support.

This includes Tbh, a free online mental health service that provides therapy, coaching and support to students through the MyDelta Dashboard.

“With Tbh, with Active Minds, with our counseling department, with

Basic Needs, with our laundry service, through our partnerships with community based organizations–we want students to feel supported and that they’re not alone,” said Brogger.

For more information about resources available to students on campus and online, visit deltacollege.edu, click on Student Life, then Health & Wellness then Student Health and Wellness Resources.

Break before you break by recognizing signs of burnout

BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN Photo Editor

When you’re at a breaking point, do you take a break? Do you have to step out to gather yourself? Do you take a few deep

Some students might feel as if it’s a lot going on with class, homework, work and everyday activities. Stress creeps up, particularly at the end of the semester. What are the signs that you need to take a mental break? What’s your go-to?

People have their own ways for gathering themselves for example taking a walk, sitting by the water or just being by themselves to name a few ideas.

Veronica Argumedo is a student at Delta said that “things I do when I need to take a mental break is read honestly. Or watch a comfort show. I do that and then I usually make a cup of tea and relax.”

Delta student Judy Sosa also finds ways to take mental breaks. “I either watch my shows on Netflix or listen to music,” said Sosa.

, a website that focuses on mental health, notes the different signs when you should take a break, why it’s important and how it can make you have a burnout just to name a few.

Here are signs that your body may need a timeout:

1. Mental fog: Struggling with basic tasks that used to feel easy

2. Constant tiredness: Fatigue that won’t quit even with adequate sleep

3. Restless nights: Tossing, turning, and waking up frequently

4. Lack of focus: An inability to concentrate or recall information

5. Apathy: A loss of interest in and/or motivation for normal activities

6. Unhealthy eating: Skipping meals, emotional eating, or binging

7. Frequent illness: Headaches, upset stomach, and feeling run down

8. Irritability: Short fuses and strained personal relationships

Delta also have a wellness center that provides help with Behavioral Health services such as:

• Individual counseling: Visit the Counseling Center in the DeRicco Building from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Call (209) 6365000 for an appointment. The counselor will also be available at the Health Center from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

• Solution-focused interventions and support

• Case management and coordination to link community resources and support

• Psychiatric treatment and care

• Virtual appointments: This includes a warm handoff for live behavioral health specialist to meet with students. This option is available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Counseling Center in DeRicco 636-5000.

Students attend Active Minds Brunch Bonanza on April 11 in Danner Hall. PHOTO BY LA RIE’ RICHARDSON

Job fair provides employment opportunities

Workforce

Development

BY ZACKARY KIRK-NEWTON Staff Writer

On April 11, the annual job and internship fair was held at the Marcopulos Gym.

The event represents an opportunity for students and community members alike to come and find employment opportunities.

The Marcopulos gym buzzed with activity and brimmed with noise as pleasantries were exchanged alongside resumes.

In a world dominated by job listing websites, the environment was one tinged with a great deal more optimism.

sponsors event that welcomes more than 50 employers to campus

“I was applying for some behavior technician positions so that definitely piqued my interest,“ said Dereck Hanan, a student at Delta College. Hanan was eager to utilize the services provided at the event “I got a few resumes out there and I turned in a few applications so I’m looking forward to hearing from some people soon.”

“We’re looking at potential jobs in the future,” said Ashlee Gifford, a psychology student. Gifford had tak -

en particular interest in the probation officer booths that were there. “I did a lot of work at the homeless shelters, so probation seems like a good fit.”

Presenters were happy to be able to introduce students to new career and internship opportunities.

“We’re recruiting for game warden cadets,” said Megan Cisneros, who was at the event on behalf of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “This is my first time being here but we just established our recruitment program with CDFW’s law enforcement division, so I hope to be coming more often.”

Even Delta College had presenters on its behalf at the event.

“This is our second time here,” said Reina Pascua, a human resource specialist at Delta College. “We find a lot of enthusiastic people and we also kind of help candidates, kind of like navigate through the different websites.”

“Last year we were going through a new system, so it was a bit of a trial to guide candidates,” she said.

Horticulture Club plant sales create green thumbs

BY RYLIE ASUNCION Staff Writer

Delta’s Horticulture club hosts plant sales in Delta’s nursery in the spring months. These sales occur the second Saturday of March, April and May from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each sale has a theme. On April 13, the sale was based on this month’s theme of kitchen gardening.

Upon entry, guests are welcomed in and assisted in their plant needs. Instructional support assistant Kim Hazel provided guests with a lesson on propagating plants that can be used in one's kitchen. This supplied hands-on experience, in addition to the plants available for sale.

Hazel gave insight to the preparation required to put on this plant sale.

“We make sure our plants are in the best

condition and they look good,” said Hazel. “We combined kitchen gardening by propagating.”

The Horticulture Club’s goal is to raise awareness of their club and horticulture. Hazel and volunteering students shared helpful information and words of encouragement for anyone interested in expanding their plant family.

Lauren Allala, a Delta student volunteering at the plant sale, recommends doing your research before impulsively purchasing a plant.

“Research the environment the plant needs before leaving the store,” said Allala.

Jocelyn Florence, Delta student and member of the Horticulture Club, recommends plants that are native and drought-resistant, such as lavender.

“I think people should not be scared to get out

of their comfort zone, California has great soil” said Florence.

A variety of different plants were recommended for beginners due to personal experiences. Hazel recommends succulents, contrary to mixed beliefs on the skill necessary to care for them. She finds them to be good for neglectful plant parents as they don’t require much attention. She also finds them to be good plants as all you need is one leaf to bring this plant back to life.

“You have to kill a few to grow good plants,” said Hazel as words of advice to those who fear they lack a green thumb.

Plant parents and aspiring plant parents are invited to join the Horticulture Club at their next plant sale on May 11. That sale will be themed around spring succulents.

Megan Cisneros of the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife speaks with job and internship attendees. PHOTO BY ZACKARY KIRK-NEWTON

‘Monkey Man’ bloody good start to filmography

BY ZACKARY KIRK-NEWTON Entertainment Editor

Monkey Man,” the directorial debut of Dev Patel, is a sharply dressed and fairly well-spoken film. It doesn’t pull punches when showing action, often reveling in the blood and viscera that lie in the wake of its protagonist.

Even with a somewhat paint-by-numbers plot, it is clear that Patel has a directorial voice, and he uses that voice to speak sincerely, the best you can ask for from a first-time director.

The film follows Kid, a young boy who harbors anger at the world and the people at the top of it. After being robbed of his ancestral land and watching his mother killed in front of him, he is forced to make ends meet in an underground fighting club. Soon he finds a way to strike those who have wronged him, and he wastes no time beginning his path of carnage.

What really steals the show is the visceral action and cam-

era work on display. Fights in the film often feel like real knock-down, drag-out brawls, which illustrates the ferocity of Patel’s character well.

Even where words are absent, the action is always there to pick up the slack, giving insight to the character and spectacle to the setpieces.

Adding further depth to the action are the allusions to Hindu mythology. Many times

throughout the film comparisons are made between Kid and Hanuman. Hanuman is a deity who — thinking it was a piece of delicious fruit — tried to reach for the sun and eat it, and was promptly punished by the gods. These allusions come in many forms, including when Kid’s mother directly calls him Hanuman, but they are most well utilized in the first major action set piece Åof the film.

In the film, Kid is consumed by a need for revenge and when he’s given the chance to get it he jumps for it.

He ascends to the VIP Lounge — Heaven/sun —finds his mother’s killer and tries to kill him but is promptly beaten bloody and nearly killed.

There is little room for complexity in the writing of the villains, they are, for all

intents and purposes, monsters who care little for human life. They gleefully step on the weak under the guise of religious piety and social betterment.

This can leave the villains feeling like easily the weakest piece of the film, they truly do feel like they exist solely to be brutalized in a satisfying fashion. However, even if they lack depth they do have a tangible effect on the narrative and we get to see the extent of how they affect society.

They routinely afflict mockery and often worse onto the LGBTQ+ community, the disabled, and people who happen to live on land that they want. This makes it all the more satisfying when those groups ultimately play a role in their undoing.

“Monkey Man,” much like the kid in your third grade class who was raised by his grandparents, speaks with a level of understanding beyond its years. which makes the veers into more simplistic writing choices a tad jarring, but otherwise excusable.

DELTA SYMPHONIC WINDS PLAYS AT CARNEGIE HALL

BY DOMINICK DELISE Entertainment Editor

The Delta College Symphonic Winds performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall on April 16, commemorating Band Director Arthur J. Holton Junior’s 50 years as a music director and educator.

“The theme is a celebration of my 50th year,” said Holton.

Holton was a band director at Lincoln High School for 21 years, and retired after 41 years of teaching full time. Still, Holton was around to direct Delta Symphonic Winds and remain as an adjunct professor at Delta.

As the 90-person ensemble approached

the concert date in New York, Delta Symphonic Winds performed at Delta’s Atherton Auditorium April 9 for friends and family who couldn’t travel.

“We wanted to perform as if we were in New York,” said Holton.

The symphony features a mix of students and musicians from all over San Joaquin County, Stockton, Tracy and Brentwood.

The opening piece “Transcendent Journey” was a powerful and heroic piece Holton said he chose specifically in order to engage the audience.

From there the symphony flowed right into

“Symphonic Variants for Euphonium and Band” written by James Curnow in 1998.

This section features a euphonium solo performed by Amanda Cardwell, who has known Holton for many years.

The program described the third track, “One Beautiful Life,” as being inspired by loss, the sacred and tragic reality that there is only one life for each of us.

Following that is “Golden Vistas,” a song that made a world premier during the sendoff concert at Atherton Auditorium and was commissioned by French Horn musician Ruth Brittin, who is a part

of Delta Symphonic Winds.

“Golden Vistas” is a piece inspired by Holton and written in his honor.

“I was tickled when Bob and Bitty Stover asked if I’d be interested in writing the piece for Art’s fifty years of teaching. I immediately said yes because I’ve enjoyed working with so much over the years,” said Brittin.

Sounds were developed by Brittin to reflect Holton’s passions and his experiences as musician and educator.

“There were things I wanted to weave in …he really loves the mountains, I wanted to have a little bit of grandeur for

the open spaces. There’s clicks like rocks falling … he really loves trains … I tried to capture those sounds,” said Brittin.

Randy Watson from Tracy Community Band also made an appearance as a guest conductor in “From Glen to Glen.”

The New York trip was self funded. Band members paid roughly $2,000 for hotel rooms, food and travel.

“It’s very nice and cost efficient … to do something like this especially in a place like Carnegie Hall it’s really worth it for a musician,” said Sean Sandoval, Delta student and tuba player for Delta Symphonic

Winds.

Students find themselves excited for the trip and said the performance at the sendoff concert was a reflection of how well the concert would go at Carnegie.

“I’m pretty excited … you know it’s pretty great being his (Holton) last time at Carnegie Hall. It’s pretty cool to get that piece commissioned for him and be able to play it,” said Marcus Rowe, a student and Tuba player for Delta Symphonic Winds. Delta Symphonic Wi-nds hasn’t performed at Carnegie Hall since 2010, and this will be Holton’s third and final Carngie Hall concert.

Kid, the protagonist of the film, standing in front of a mural of the mythological Hero Hanuman. screencap from the Jan. 6 trailer for the film. IMAGE COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES

High art: Bob Hopes to introduce you to the classics

BY CHRISTOPHER SMITH Staff Writer

After you take your seat, a few minutes later the lights go down and the projector light flickers on a silver screen and now you’re ready to be transported back in time. Nothing compares to watching movies in a theater. You can not get the same effect watching at home. Going out and getting to watch classic films is a fantastic experience. The bigger cities in California — San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento — all have classic movie screenings on a regular basis.

Stockton, however, has few options for classic movie screenings. The Bob Hope Theater and the Regal City Center are the only two main theaters in Stockton that have classic movie screening in Stockton. Regal Cinemas, a corporate movie theater,

screens classic movies through Fathom Events, or Regal will get the distribution themselves to screen films Fathom does not present. Some of the most popular screenings are anniversary screenings like Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind and The Matrix.

This year Fathom Events will screen the Studio Ghibli Festival at Regal showing some of the most popular films by Hayao Miyazaki.

Some notable Miyazaki films include Spirited Away, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky and My Neighbor Totoro.

Stefanie Poteet is a Director with Friends of the Fox at the Bob Hope Theater.

“September of 2004 was the first Classic Movie Series we did,” said Poteet. “What the Friends of the Fox does is show a classic film here once a month,”

The Bob Hope Theater presents a different experience

from a more modern theater like Regal, with its main lobby, concession stand and multiple auditoriums.

“With your ticket you get our complimentary snack bar with free wine. We have entertainment in our lobby from 1 to 1:30,” said Poteet.

The Bob Hope Theater is home to a renovated 1930s pipe organ. It’s great because it creates a beautiful atmosphere. “At 1:30, Dave takes the stage and plays the organ. So when we show a film like Rear Window was released in 1954 Dave won’t play anything newer than 1954 when he takes the stage. It’s truly exquisite what he does. Then we announce the film at two o’clock and show the movie.” said Poteet

The Bob Hope Theater has been showing classic films for awhile. Just like other theaters it was affected by COVID. “When the theater was closed for COVID we have shown a clas-

sic film once a month since September of 2004. This September is our twentieth anniversary. We’re making a big deal about it. We love to see a lot of people out and enjoy this very beautiful classic theater.” said Poteet.

Poteet also spoke a little about the process behind what movies are picked to play at the theater.

“So we have a movie selection committee. They try to meet one every six months to provide us with suggestions. We have recently shifted to newer classics. If you weren’t around in 1954 you haven’t seen these films before they might not necessarily draw you to the theater. So we’ve bounced back and forth, so today it’s ‘Rear Window’ from 1954 and next month we have ‘Mary Poppins’ which is 1964. June we flash all the way forward to 1997 with Robin Williams in ‘Flubber’ and then July we’re taking it back with Dr. No for the orig-

inal James Bond film. So it’s trying to provide a mix of films over a fifty year period to draw various audiences and different people from Stockton and the surrounding communities and it’s tough there’s a lot of good films.” said Poteet.

Poteet encourages Delta students to visit the Bob Hope Theater and soak in the experience.

“So I know that most of the things we show on our big screen you can stream at home with various streaming services. Maybe you can rent them, but the experience is completely different; it’s not even remotely close to the same thing. What we’re really selling is the experience not so much the film, again we try to pick good films but it’s the experience. It’s the neon lights outside, you’re in a building that’s more than 90 years old, freshly renovated and even the carpet’s fantastic,” said Poteet.

‘High’ art: a hash course in stoner cinema

BY MERCELI RIOS Staff Writer

Lost or dying forms of art is a heartbreaking concept that we, as humans (assuming if you’re reading this), either watch slowly fizzle out or become a shell of what they used to be.

Even if the media isn’t necessarily “lost” or “dead”, seeing it lose its most lovable characteristics and turn into a gross caricature of what it was in its prime or golden age (see: “Spongebob Squarepants”), could that truly still be considered alive, much less thriving?

Or is it more of a zombie of a form that you once wished would never end, that just makes you sad to watch now, wishing it would end instead of heading in the direction it’s heading in?

Plenty forms of art and media have fallen victim to time, whether it be by being on the verge of completely dying or turning into that zombie. Stoner movies being one of them.

You know, the movies you watch with a bud.

Stoner movies were definitely at an all-time high in the 90’s and early 2000’s, giving us icons such as “Dazed and Confused,” “Dude, Where’s My Car?,” and “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle,” all still holding relevance and rewatchability to this day.

And while some of these movies are remembered fondly (like Dazed and Confused having a 93 percent Rotten Tomatoes score), and some of these not so much (like Dude, Where’s My Car having a 16 percent Rotten Tomatoes score), there’s no doubt

about the impact they made in their respective scene.

As time went on and we entered the mid-to-late 2000’s there was definitely a decline, but still some very underappreciated and solid movies to add to the collection, such as Smiley Face and Pineapple Express. But, there hasn’t really been much to rave about since then.

To be blunt, the little action that there has been hasn’t been very good. Isn’t it a little ironic that the fall came when recreational marijuana was just starting to become legalized? Could it be that it having been illegal was part of its charm? Possibly, actually.

Our main protagonist(s) getting caught or nearly caught green-handed with the substance made for a pretty good arc or subtle plotline that kind of loomed over the whole movie, and in a way added to the comedy. Seeing law enforcement freak over something that we saw just made our protagonist(s) laid back, hungry, and at its worst, a little stupid.

Very little comes to mind when thinking of post late 2000s stoner movies. And while yes, some were being made, adjectives like funny or even watchable aren’t necessarily what come to mind when talking about them.

This could just be, though, to the concept of stoner movies blending more and more with a generic comedy movie. Stoner movies have always been comedic, but distinguishable from just a plain old comedy, up until the 2010s it seems.

And of course, there are comedy movies that aren’t technically stoner movies but stoners have collectively adopted and agreed can count as such. In this

category lands Empire Records, Wayne’s World, and the list goes on, but again: it varies from person to person.

What makes a movie a stoner movie, and what makes for a good stoner movie, really? Is it the soundtrack, the amount of stoner jargon that can get a good chuckle out of those who understand, the amount of hot chicks taking their tops off, their social commentary on the way marijuana and smokers alike are stigmatized unfairly?... The amount of cars lost?

On top of that, who’s to say? A New York Times movie critic? A snobby cinephile who pays for the title of Letterboxd patron? A high schooler behind the bleachers at a football game? A twenty-something year old who likes to unwind after a long day at work? An ex-hippie from the ’70s? Snoop Dogg? Harold? Kumar? Cheech? Chong?

So, does the genre need saving, or a BIC lighter to watch it go up in smoke? Or, is it just evolving with the time?

These are a lot of questions with no definitive answers. Only one thing is for sure, it’s not what it used to be. The genre has gone a long way since Reefer Madness.

During this festive month of April, it’s the prime time for these pieces of cinema and works of the time to be appreciated. Get your best buds, decide for yourselves which are your personal favorites, and your honorary movies to add to the genre.

After all, it’s really a joint decision.

Perks of therapy; self aware is self care

BY DOMINICK DELISE Entertainment Editor

Anxiety

can be like an ulcer, moving us backwards instead of forwards.

Navigating through life is never devoid of anxiety, but we are seldom offered the tools to handle these feelings.

Up until recently, society has regarded speaking about mental health issues as a sign of weakness.

In my experience, therapy has been the most powerful tool to help with anxious feelings and depression.

At 14 years old, I experienced panic attacks almost daily. When I told my dad, his first solution was a rum and coke, then later he would have me take medication. My mom protested medication and offered therapy instead.

Then as I approached adulthood, I spent a decent chunk of time being depressed and bedridden, only to seek out therapy once again.

Sacramento State grad student, Isabella Brown-Quigley, talked to me about her own experience with anxiety and how therapy has helped remedy the intensity.

"For me, therapy has always provided tools to handle things while I am anxious. Also made me

more self-aware and taught me that I can't control everything," said Quigely.

The most staggering realization I came to was that my anxiety comes from a place of feeling unsafe. An inner voice would tell me to be afraid, I wasn't good enough and to never try because eventually I would fail.

In order to counteract these feelings I'd have to essentially speak to my subconscious as if it were a 6-year-old. I won't lie, it felt silly at the moment and it was hard to take seriously, but after I closed my eyes it was like I opened new ones.

Former Delta student and current UC Davis grad student Jagger Brooks spoke to me about his experience after 10 months in therapy.

"I focused a lot on confronting and changing the very self critical inner voice. I've learned to recognize that harsh inner voice that was often telling me things like I wasn't good enough…I've managed to befriend this inner voice and be more kind to myself," said Brooks.

Therapy taught me the importance of journaling without constrictions. Writing without concern for grammar or punctuation, just letting your emotions guide your hands to paper, has helped me immensely.

"Journaling has also been a big part of this, it's helped me process daily thoughts and maintain emo-

tional clarity," said Brooks.

On the latter side, Delta Student Tyler Mickschl talks about therapy being fickle.

"...an individual is an individual whether they have studied psychology or not. That is the reasoning for people jumping around from therapist to therapist for so long…I think that introspection with a general understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy is more beneficial," said Mickschl.

I understand where he's coming from here, and I speak from a place of being lucky enough to have a great therapist from day one. It's tough to find a good therapist, and it can be frustrating to search for a connection.

Still, I think having a therapist guide you to be self aware of your own emotions is beneficial. In regular everyday life how often do people point out something about yourself that maybe you've never noticed?

It happens but we shrug it off, a therapist is a professional whose understanding comes from years of school and hours of experience with clients before operating on their own. Not every therapist is great but there is one out there for everyone.

It just takes time and patience.

Today, I'm approaching 10 years in therapy and looking back I'm not sure who I'd be without it.

Digital vs. physical: Are we looking at death of media materials?

Will streaming services cause CDs, vinyls and Blu-rays to become obsolete?

BY JOSHUA SIMAS Staff Writer

Astime has passed, physical media has become less desired by consumers, but I can’t help but feel like we’re missing out on something by allowing it to die.

Whether it’s Netflix, Spotify or Max, everyone is connected to streaming services in some way rendering physical media obsolete.

“I would rather pay $10 a month on Spotify for them to share it with me than $10 for 10 songs on a physical CD,” said Stockton resident Kristina Aquino.

Aquino has a point: with the abundance of popular music out today, it could be difficult for a person to acquire everything they want.

But what about actually holding something in your hands? Knowing that it is yours, learning its intricacies. That feeling of popping in a CD, hearing it load up in the player with anticipation before the music finally starts.

There’s a certain magic to that, nowadays you can get to everything

you want in an instant, there’s nothing special about it.

“There’s a certain vibe to it when you have a vinyl and you hear the crackle of the needle on the track,” said Stockton resident Ezekiel Holman. “There’s certain sounds that add a bit of nostalgia to it.”

Holman has an extensive record collection that he said was started by his dad, but recently he has been adding to it.

“I feel like there’s more you can do with it, my little sister’s best friend got her a custom vinyl with songs on it that were significant to their friendship,” Holman said.

It isn’t that you can’t do something like give a friend a digital album, but how significant can that really feel amongst the plethora of music they already have access to via streaming services?

One of the uglier truths of these streaming services is that we as consumers don’t own any of the movies or music that we are enjoying — instead we are granted access to the content. Everyone knows what Netflix is, so

most people are aware of the rotation of movies and shows going on the app and going off. What happens when your favorite movie or show goes off of the app? Do you have to go pay for another subscription just to get access to it again?

On top of that, without access to wifi or a phone data plan you can’t even enjoy most of these things.

“Our power just went out recently today and the internet went out, and me and my boyfriend were wondering what we were going to do,” said Stockton resident Kayla Simpao.

Simpao said that luckily they had some old Blu-rays that they could watch on their laptop while they waited for their power to return.

it’s bulky and a lot more work to enjoy than just hitting play on Spotify.

I still think that despite that, it can be practical and remind us of a time when things weren’t so stark.

“With the generation that we’re a part of, we’re kind of appreciating how things were in the past, things had character, everything now is like it’s made to not make you feel anything,” Holman said.

EMBRACING BENEFITS OF NATURAL HAIR

BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN

Editor

Whenit comes to your hair, you can decide on how exactly you want to wear it. Perm, braids, weave or going natural — all are valid options.

From years of wear and tear, your hair can get damaged resulting in hair breaking off, going bald or chemical burns.

I actually decided in 2012 that I wanted to go natural after I had a boil in my head due to perming my hair. I had three boils in my hair within six years and each time I had a bald patch due to it.

And it took me a minute to think about going natural. I was 27 and getting perms was something I was used to.

Growing up spending hours in the salon to get my hair fried, dyed and laid to the side is something my culture is used to doing.

To be honest I feel that it’s stages to this from thinking about it and just going natural with your hair.

But I wanted to be able to embrace this rather than worry about what others are going to say when they see me.

It’s also wondering am I going to like wearing my hair natural? It wasn’t something that I wasn’t used to seeing on myself.

After the big chop I stood in the mirror and thought “this is the new me, I’m accepting it and I don’t care how others feel about it.”

Sitting in the chair while the lady cut my hair I felt so good because so much was taken from it. I felt free, liberated and so much weight was lifted.

Seeing myself with just my normal and shorter hair was so different than how I was wearing my hair.

I also felt free from being in the norm that others think that I’m supposed to have my hair look like.

There are also so many benefits that I got from going natural. For example: my hair was healthier from not getting perms anymore. Also with natural hair you can pick from a selection of ways that you can get your hair done from wash and go to braids to locs to haircuts (fades) to afros and even wearing wave/extensions.

Wearing weave/extensions and braids — also known as protective hairstyles — can also help your hair to grow.

Shoplifting: Never-ending tragedy of retailers

BY GURMAN SINGH Staff Writer

Asa retail employee I have noticed crimes in Stockton have gone up increasingly over the years I have been working, especially when it comes to shoplifting and theft.

Cases for shoplifting/theft have gone up by nearly 25 percent in just a span of two years. The number of recorded cases was 1,250 in 2021, then shot up to 1,600 in 2023 according to Stockton Police Department.

Officer David Scott, one of the Public Information Officers with the Stockton Police provided information about these ongoing incidents.

“Stockton Police has continued to build relationships with businesses to support and address their needs,” said Scott.

Scott noted examples of how the department has built relationships with businesses around the city to help prevent owners from being targeted.

“Some examples are organized retail theft missions, special checks that are set up to provide extra patrols, or area checks to provide high visibility. This task is usually headed by our Strategic Community Officers in the Strategic Operations Section. They also participate in the Business Watch program along with members of our Crime Prevention Team who lead the Business Watch Program,” said Scott.

Scott also recommends business owners to learn more about Stockton PD’s business watch program.

“A Business Watch establishes communication links among various businesses within a specific geographic area such as a plaza, mall, complex, or city block. Each business works with the others to keep the Police Department informed of any activity that could be considered criminal in nature,” said Scott.

Isaac Zarate who is one of my co-workers and also a second-year Delta student said that shoplifters have affected his shopping experience negatively.

“Yes shoplifters have, because shoppers like me and others work for things we need and some people come in and steal it from us and others who need a certain item,” said Zarate. “There should also be more laws created or rules to either scare or eliminate the amount of theft that happens, especially in Stockton,” said Zarate.

Thieves around the city impact me and many employees at retail stores like Estefany Corrales who works at the Stockton Target near campus.

“Shoplifters have affected me because it shows that people do not care and it also throws off the count at work which leads to other customers complaining to us and making our jobs more stressful,” said Corrales.

Many cases of shoplifting occur everyday.

“Thieves come in and steal probably about 3+ times per day from what I know of but there could be a bit more,” said Corrales.

Not only does it affect employees of retail stores, it also affects the everyday lives of customers, thieves can make shopping feel less safe and more difficult to find the goods that they may need.

Even though I won’t be working at a retail store for much longer since I’m going to school for a better career, it does concern me about the safety of other customers and employees around Stockton quite often.

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Beach volleyball picks up three wins

BY DYLAN JAEKEL Editor-in-Chief

Delta’s beach volleyball team went head to head against Cosumnes River College and Folsom Lake College on April 12. They won 3 games to 2 against Cosumnes and 4 to 1 against Folsom.

Many of the team’s athletes play on both the beach volleyball team during the Spring season and the indoor volleyball team during the Fall season, but the two sports are surprisingly different.

“One is that you play with two players on the team. And to determine how a team wins, you have to win three out of the five. So you have five teams of two. Some of the rules, the court is smaller. Doubles, so you can’t contact the ball certain ways that you can in indoor.

You can’t open-hand tip. So, it is a big difference between indoor and beach,” said beach volleyball head coach Molly Hummel, who is also head coach of the indoor volleyball team.

All but two of the 11 players on the roster are freshmen, so for many this season was their first introduction to beach volleyball after coming from an indoor-only background.

“I feel like the first week of practice is really, really hard. Like it was hard to get the hang of the new environment, I guess and like it’s way harder to run in sand than versus a court,” said freshman Annyssa Arroyo.

Adaptability was a key skill in learning the new rules, technique and pressures of an entirely new sport, this was especially true for Arroyo who plays as

a defensive specialist during the indoor volleyball season.

“I’m a D.S. (defensive specialist) indoor, so I don’t see front row at all, so I had to learn how to make the ball in the court or like just learn how to get it over the net,” said Arroyo.

A major difference between the sports is that beach volleyball is played in pairs, so these women need to rely on each other more than they have before.

“It’s important that the pairs are connected and that they’re able to communicate effectively and efficiently together,” said Hummel.

Freshman Soleil Sands and Arroyo feel that beach volleyball relies more heavily on trust and communication, especially due to the greater amount of movement needed for beach volleyball.

“Where you have five other girls on the court leading on and cheering for you, and beach volleyball is just, you know, you have one other person helping you out, so it’s a lot harder, and you have to cover more court,” said Sands.

Hummel views beach volleyball as having a more individual aspect compared to indoor volleyball, leading to the athletes focusing on improving their individual skills more. “Having six players on is, you [sic] hide some of your [sic] flaws or different things. When you’re playing doubles, if you’re down [sic], the focus is on you,” said Hummel.

Because many of the athletes playing for the beach volleyball team also play for the indoor team in the fall, they’re time playing beach allows for them to improve

their indoor game. Playing two seasons rather than one season with off-season training is seen as more beneficial by some of the athletes.

“Beach makes us more crafty, so when indoor comes around, we’ll know so many more tricks, and I feel like we’ll have a stronger bond with all of our teammates because we know what it’s like having one other person, so I think hearing everyone out will be better,” said Sands.

Sands hopes to use the beach volleyball season to improve her serve, something that she is not used to doing during the indoor season. Her biggest goal is to become a good all around beach volleyball player, so that she can continue playing at a fouryear university.

new favorite sport,” said Sands.

“My individual goal is I want to be so good at beach. Like I want to be able to transfer out and play beach at a fouryear because it’s so fun. I think it’s my

Arroyo’s goals for the season include growing even closer as a team and making it to the playoffs in May.

Beach volleyball next plays Sierra College and Sacramento City College on April 19 at home.

LA TIMES WRITER PUBLISHES RACIST ARTICLE AGAINST LSU

BY JOE DEMASI Staff Writer

During the basketball March Madness tournament a journalist targeted the LSU Women’s Basketball team. Players, coaches, and fans considered this article racist and sexist.

The article was written by Los Angeles Times columnist Ben Bolch. He wrote a story on predicting the NCAA Women’s Basketball matchup between LSU and UCLA.

Bolch, an UCLA beat writer, has been with the L.A. Times since 1999 and wrote a book in 2018 titled “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.”

He referred to UCLA as “America’s sweetheart” and compared them to “milk and cookies.” In contrast, Bolch described LSU as “dirty debutantes” — a

derogatory southern term — and compared them to “basketball villains.”

“I had to look up what that term meant and what I found was disturbing,” said second-year Delta student Teaghan Gallego, who is majoring in business management, “I feel the writer should be punished, that language doesn’t belong in our country, especially women’s basketball which is gaining popularity.”

Gallego refers to the rise of female basketball players like LSU player Angel Reese and Iowa superstar Catelin Clark.

Bolch received criticism from coaches, players, and readers for using racist language to talk about the game.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey, who used to play herself, defended her athletes and ripped Bolch on how he depicted her players.

Even controversial sports journalist Skip Bayless who used to be an employee for the L.A. Times, “was

ashamed” of the Times for publishing that article.

“How can that get through in today’s L. A. Times, this wasn’t a columnist writing this; this was a beat writer,” Bayless said on his show “FS1 Undisputed.”

Former Delta student James Luino agrees with Bayless’s analysis

“He shouldn’t have been allowed to even write that article because of his obvious bias,” Luino said “I heard even the UCLA coach has denounced the article and I feel instead of editing it they should’ve just pulled it off the L.A. Times in general.”

The Los Angeles Times removed the offensive language and when you open the article now it says “The original version of this commentary did not meet our editorial standards.”

Bolch apologized on X, saying “Words matter, as a journalist no one should know more than me. Yet I failed miserably in my choice of words. I’m sorry.”

Freshman Emily Vickers hits ball over net as Folsom Lake College Freshman Mackenzie Natusch defends. PHOTO BY DYLAN JAEKEL