Delta pitcher overcomes obstacles on way to Pacific SPORTS, PAGE 4
Professor advocates for LGBTQ+ students
The Collegian Issue 12 • Friday, May 8, 2020 •
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Delta works to distribute emergency grants BY ELLIE ANDRADE Staff Writer
A NEW NORMAL
Radio and Television students are now working remotely to produce “Kinda Live,” which airs on 93.5 FM, the official campus radio station of Delta College. “Kinda Live” is the department’s first remote live show. Other shows airing on 93.5 FM include “Mystery Dispatch” and “Unknown Space,” which covers popular conspiracy theories. PHOTO COURTESY OF ADRIANA BROGGER
DELTA COLLEGE MOVES MOST FALL 2020 CLASSES ONLINE. READ MORE AT DELTACOLLEGIAN.NET
Delta College has been trying its best to help students coping with COVID-19. Not only with Success Coaches and counselors are working with students every day, but the department of Financial Aid, Scholarships & Veterans Services is busy responding to students online, as well as working on how to distribute the CARE Emergency Grant to students. CARE (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Emergency Grant is the Federal fund that goes to California public and private colleges to help students those struggling to afford food, broadband service, and other living expenses. “The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief FundIHE/Student Aid provides funding to institutions to provide emergency financial aid grants to students whose lives have been disrupted, many of whom are facing financial challenges and struggling
to make ends meet,” according to the U.S. Department of Education. Delta College is one of the nearly 5,000 colleges and universities across the country that are eligible to receive the money. Students can’t apply for assistance directly from the U.S. Department of Education. Colleges are required to apply for the money, which the institution receives directly. “Institutions have the responsibility of determining how grants will be distributed to students, how the amount of each student grant is calculated, and the development of any instructions or directions that are provided to students about the grant,” according to the U.S Department of Education. Delta College applied after California enacted stay-at-home orders in March. “We applied in midApril for the funds and just received the funds a couple of days ago. The portion of the funds that are to go directly to students is just
under $4 million,” said Tina Lent, Director of the Financial Aid, Scholarships & Veterans Services. The department is working on distributing the money to eligible students, following the Department of Education’s CARES Act Guidelines since there are limitations on who can receive the funds and who can’t. “In order to be eligible students must have a valid FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on file, some of the items need to be matched with the Department of Education such as valid social security number, citizenship requirements, selective service, etc. Students also need to be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress and if they were enrolled in ALL online courses pre-COVID19 they will not be eligible for these funds. These are the basics of the requirements,” said Lent. The department is also working on videos that will be available to students on financial literacy to hopefully help with how to handle the funds when received.
Virtual graduation ceremony to be held in early June BY TYRA GREEN
Social Media Editor
Delta College has moved the 85th annual commencement ceremony to a virtual ceremony online. The commencement ceremony was originally set to be held on May 21, but due to COVID-19 and California Department of Public Health guidelines, the ceremony will not take place in person. “I’m a first graduate in my family, many students try their best throughout the entire semester. I think they should do a graduation ceremony in the beginning of August at least,” said Delta College student Analilia Rodriguez. Delta sent out emails to students who are earning degrees this semester stating it would be printing out and mailing diplomas shortly. “It’s better than not having a ceremony although my dream was to walk the stage and see my parents proud that I achieved part of my dream,” said Delta College Student Ana Maria Pena. There was an application for students applying to be the student speakers for the virtual commencement ceremony. Delta has a page on its website dedicated to details about the virtual commencement, saying that this virtual experience offers unique and exciting new
features. “To take an event that typically includes 800-plus graduates (not to mention thousands of family members, friends and loved ones) and move it online in the span of less than three months is a major undertaking,” said Director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach Alex Breitler. This is the first time Delta has had to do a change for the commencement so quickly. Breitler said that Delta isn’t ruling out the possibility of an in-person ceremony for the class of 2020 at a later time. Delta also advises that students earning degrees participate in the virtual ceremony. “The program will consist of many of the same traditional features that make Commencement so special, including music, speeches, and important moments like the conferring of degrees and the turning of the tassels. Most importantly, perhaps, each graduate will have the opportunity to be personally recognized,” said Breitler. The virtual graduation will be live-streamed to the Delta College website on Saturday, June 6 at 10 a.m. “You should know that everyone at Delta College was pretty disappointed when we had to cancel our
in-person graduation ceremony this year. However, we are excited that we’re going to be proceeding with a virtual one,” said Assistant superintendent/vice President of Student Services Lisa Cooper Wilkins, in a YouTube video posted by Delta.
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2 OPINION 050820
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States eye opening schools despite pandemic BY KIMBERLY BENAVIDES Staff Writer
The novel coronavirus COVID-19 is still spreading around the world. Despite the pandemic, Georgia, Oklahoma, Alaska, South Carolina and Florida have proceeded to reopen stores and beaches to the public. According to the KCRA news, Trump suggests that states should reopen their schools again despite the concerns for COVID-19. He wants to have the schools open before the end of the year. It has been previously said months ago that schools were unsafe for students to return until summer or fall. The state of Montana has said that they are allowing schools to have the option to return to a in classroom teaching. Districts could resume “classroom instructions on May 7.” “I think that it may be a good idea to reopen schools, but still have to follow guidelines. They would need to decide in the classes so only a few people go to the classroom at a time. Only classes that have labs and need to be hands on should reopen, classes that could remain online should stay online,” said Litzy Garcia, a student at Delta College. Shareena Mustain, a student at Humphrey’s Uni-
versity, doesn’t like the idea of schools reopening. “I don’t think it’s a good idea because there are classrooms that hold up to 100-plus students,” Mustain said. “The virus can spread fast because janitors do not clean the desks after and before each class session.” Teachers say they will take care to follow safety standards. “Once school reopens, I will follow the guidelines. I have always gone over with students on how to cough while not getting germs on others and remind them to always wash hands. However, now I will be more cautious and will probably have more strict ways so that they sanitize hands. But I will have to wait and follow the strict guidelines”, was what Monica Retamoza, a second-grade teacher in French Camp, said. According to the Health Agencies in California, Teachers and students will need to follow the 6 feet social distancing rule while in classrooms. As for colleges, the student population would be cut in half where only half of students will go on certain days and the other half will go on the other days of the week. Retamoza said that the Manteca Unified School District has closed schools until July 30.
Most colleges have moved their teachings online. It has been difficult for students to keep up with academic classes that some students have decided to drop their classes because they are not getting the help they were looking for. In the New York Times article Randi Weingarten,the former president of the United Federation of Teachers, talks about the safety of reopening school and what precautions we should take. She said in a New York Times article that the questions shouldn’t be if they will reopen school, “but how we do it safely.” Many stores that are opening are taking drastic measures in only letting a small amount of people into the building. With schools reopening they would need to have students’ desks 6 feet apart, serve meals in the classroom instead of their cafeteria and close the playgrounds or any other gathering areas. Some students believe returning to school is better because they get the in-person teaching they were looking for. “I don’t mind going to school until 2021 if it’s best for our health, but it would be better for our academics to have school in person,” said Kristina Ortiz, a Sacramento State student.
Poetry a powerful unifying force in difficult times BY MADELYNN THOMAS Staff Writer
In these hard times, people search for a distraction or a way to express their emotions. One way to do that is through poetry. Poetry is an extension of yourself through the story you want to tell, expressing a wide range of feelings such as happiness, sadness, etc. — at least, that’s how I see it. Gabrielle Myers, an English teacher at Delta College, has similar ideas. “Poetry is our way of singing about our existence. In many ways, poetry emerges from a ‘break’ or fracture with the everyday and that breakage gives us sudden insight and awareness into the ways that we process or view the world around us,” she said. Poetry is a stress reliever for me, as well as just a way to tell a story the way I want it to be told. With writing I have never felt more free. When you put words on paper your emotions just spill onto the p a per. ”Drafting helps get out
feelings and ideas that we may not even fully understand yet and polishing it can help us gain that understanding,” said Writer’s Guild adviser Cassandra Oplia. “And as readers poetry can calm us-make us feel less isolated. We often assume that no one knows how we feel, but poetry proves that wrong.” Free writing is my favorite form of writing because you can write whatever you want, the feeling of freedom is like water running down your back. When you write, you write because you have a story to tell in your own way
The Collegian 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.
and when that story is read by others. To let people know they are not alone, that others like them that are going through, or have gone through the same or similar situation can really lift someone’s spirits, and even save a life. When you’re finally done writing and sit back and examine your work, like an artist stepping back to see what masterpiece they’ve created. In the end, to see your work of art
EDITORS VIVIENNE AGUILAR Editor in Chief/News
HANNAH WORKMAN News
MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO Feature
JUSTINE CHAHAL Entertainment
AMIRAH AMENHOTEP Opinion
PAUL MUYSKENS Sports
TYRA GREEN Social Media The Collegian is a member of the California Newspaper Publisher’s Association and the Journalism Association of Community Colleges.
CONTACT US:
SENIOR STAFF MAISY MACATO CHRISTOPHER ESCAMILLA
STAFF ELLIE ANDRADE LUPE ANDRADE KIMBERLY BENAVIDES ANGELICA FLORES SIDNEE GALLARDO ESPERANZA HERNANDEZ-MUNOZ ROBYN JONES C.J. LOVE SERENA MALDONADO JAELYN MORALES
MORE ONLINE For more information on the San Joaquin Delta College Writer’s Guild, visit bit.ly/writersguild
complete, is the greatest feeling in the world. The Writer’s Guild is holding a poetry reading on May 11 at 4 p.m. on the Zoom video conferencing platform. This event is an “open mike” event, which means that it’s open to all who wish to participate — anyone in the Delta community can share their work. The prompt for the event is to create a piece of poetry, flash fiction or a personal essay responding to any aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The call can be found at https://cccconfer.z oom. us/j/96581423961.
STAFF MADELYNN THOMAS JESSICA TORRES DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS BRANDON YI
ADVISER TARA CUSLIDGE-STAIANO
MULTIMEDIA TECH MATTHEW WILSON
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shima 203/204, (209) 954-5156 or deltacollegian@gmail.com For information about advertising, letters to the editor and editorial standards visit deltacollegian.net
3 FEATURE 050820
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/feature
Meal of the Apo-COVID-lypse
BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO
H
Feature Editor
ave you been craving an authentic Philly cheesesteak straight from Philadelphia, or some Lobster Grilled Cheeses from Maine? Well The Collegian was, and we found just the right place to order some goodies and have it shipped to Stockton: Goldbelly.com The company’s mission is to “bring you comfort through food. Whatever you dream of. Wherever you are,” said Joe Ariel, founder and CEO of Goldbelly, on the website. The website connects you to food from all over the country and world. The first time going on Goldbelly can be very overwhelming. Like myself, you might just want one of everything. You can order anything from bagels from New York to cannolis from Boston to BBQ meats from Texas. The options are nearly endless. While showcasing well-known food spots, Goldbelly also supports the growth of small businesses. Elle’s Belles Bakery in Bozeman, MT, and T-Rex Cookie Company in Minneapolis, MN, are some of the small businesses that have seen life get sweeter since being on Goldbelly. As an adventurous foodie, with the help from The Collegian, what better way to give Goldbelly a try then during a shelter-in-place order? Getting food from across the country, literally, delivered to my front door. ORDERING AND SHIPPING Ordering was fairly easy and simple and shipping was phenomenal. With two-day shipping, all three items were delivered on time and in perfect condition. Everything arrived in its proper state with easy reheating instructions. From the options, we narrowed it down to one main, one side and one dessert. (Top): Jim’s Philly cheesesteaks, cheese whiz wit onions for $99 (Left): Brownie Points Inc. variety of flavors included in the fifty gift box set for $79 (Right): Hancock’s lobster grilled cheese appetizers set of 18. $62. *Prices including shipping. PHOTOS BY MARIA ABUGARADE RAYO
MAIN COURSE
Jim’s Philly Cheesesteaks Philadelphia, Pa. If you’ve ever been or heard of Philly, you know they are well-known for their Philly cheesesteaks. When we came across the cheesesteaks, we knew instantly this was a must. First impression: When first opening the package, the cheesesteaks are wrapped in aluminum so you can’t really see the product until after heating.
Ray $40 a Day,’ and has many celebrity fans including Kobe Bryant, Jimmy Buffett, Kevin Hart, and Ice Cube.” Next time you’re craving a Philly cheesesteak, hit up Jim’s through Goldbelly and follow them on Instagram @jimssouthstreet.
SIDE DISH
Lobster Grilled Cheese Appetizers - Topsham, Maine When one thinks of lobster, Maine is typically the first thing that comes to mind, at least for me. When I found that Hancock was on Goldbelly, I knew I needed some East Coast lobster. I was a little skeptical at first, knowing the lobster had to be frozen to make it to California. After reading reviews, I decided to give it a shot. It was the best decision I made by far.
On the menu with Maria
Preparation: As the cheesesteaks arrived frozen, wrapped in aluminum, the instructions state to let the cheesesteaks defrost in the refrigerator. After they have defrosted, preheat the oven to 300 degrees and warm them up for 15-20 minutes in the packaging the cheesesteak comes in. Very simple! The smells will make your mouth water. Review: Having friends from the East Coast, you know the proper way to order a cheesesteak is: “Cheese Whiz wit onions.” The steak itself was EXQUISITE, nice and tender. The cheese whiz and grilled onions just added more flavor though I wish it did have more cheese whiz. The crunch on the bread was everything. Overall, very satisfying. While heating, the kitchen starts to smell as if you were in the Philly streets, waiting for your name to be called to pick up your cheesesteak at the window. I can say that it did bring back memories of the first time in Philly. According to Goldbelly, “Jim’s Steaks has been featured in Zagat, Philly Magazine, Huffington Post, Yahoo, on the Food Network’s ‘Rachel
First impression: So delectable. Preparation: The lobster grilled cheese appetizers come frozen and are to be kept that way until ready to enjoy. One cuts a slit in the plastic wrap and heats in the microwave for 30 seconds. One would then heat a saute pan and grill each side for 1-2 minutes or until the baguettes are golden brown while making sure the lobster has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. I turned the oven on to 350 degrees and let them heat up more to reach that temperature, to be safe. I think it’s kind of nice that one gets to grill them to their own preference, knowing that some people prefer a little more golden brown crust than others. That was nice! Review: After following the proper heating instructions, the lobster grilled cheeses looked so delicious and couldn’t wait to dig in. That first bite, let me tell you, I dream about it. The crunch from the baguette, the softness of the lobster and the creaminess, cheesiness from the Swiss cheese, oh my. Not to mention the smell of them
while toasting them on the pan. Hands down my favorite appetizer. If you like seafood and grilled cheeses, Hancock’s lobster grilled cheese is the appetizer for you. “Hancock’s Lobster Mac and Cheese beat Bobby Flay on Food Network’s “Throwdown”, and featured by Florence Fabricant in the New York Times. Hancock Gourmet Lobster has won multiple Gold awards at the NASFT Fancy Food Show,” according to Goldbelly. Check out Hancock Lobster on Goldbelly for other specialties and follow them on Instagram @hancocklobster.
DESSERT
Baby Brownies Fifty Gift Box from Brownie Points Columbus, Ohio Choosing just one dessert was probably the hardest thing I had to do. I narrowed it down to a dessert that I have yet to try and a state I have not yet visited. I figured why not indulge in some of the fudgiest brownies from Ohio. First impression: Very cute packaging, so tiny, cute and delicious. Preparation: Depending on the season, the brownies can arrive frozen. If so, you just let them defrost and enjoy. In this case, the brownies arrived ready to be devoured. Review: After laying all the flavors out, narrowed it down to the 16 main flavors included and tasted every single one. Hands down some of the most fudgy, rich and smooth brownies I’ve ever had. The top three were red velvet, OG kitchen sink and caramel macchiato. I loved the idea of having small brownies in a gift box because you can send a variety to loved ones. According to Goldbelly, “Brownie Points has been featured on Good Morning America, The Food Network, Rachael Ray, The Today Show, Entrepreneur Magazine, CNN, The Daily Candy and most recently in all dressing rooms at The Billboard Music Awards at the request of Justin Bieber.” I would reorder from Brownie Points when craving some fudgy brownies. If you’d like to give them a shot make sure to check them out on Goldbelly and follow their Instagram @browniepointsinc. Overall, Goldbelly will be my go-to site if I’m craving goodies from anywhere around the country. It might seem a little pricey, but I believe it to be worth it.
4 SPORTS 050820
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/sports
DELTA PITCHER’S WILD RIDE TO SUCCESS From overcoming stage 4 liver cancer at a young age and spending 36 minutes without a heartbeat to being on the verge of a Division I debut, Jackson Vaughan’s success story is far from ordinary BY PAUL MUYSKENS Sports Editor
For many, the current pandemic might be the most monumental part of their life’s story, but for Delta College pitcher Jackson Vaughan, it’s just another chapter in a life filled with determination and — for 36 minutes — a life without a beating heart. Diagnosed with a rare form of stage 4 liver cancer when he was 3, his first and biggest battle was one he doesn’t remember much of, aside from the orange and purple popsicles and chocolate milk. Undergoing chemotherapy and a first, unsuccessful liver transplant, his life could have been over very easily at an early age. Put on a machine to replicate the liver’s functions, he would end up going into cardiac arrest. For 36 minutes, he was without a heartbeat until the doctors, with the help of epinephrine, were able to get his heart going. Miraculously, with no signs of brain damage, he was then able to get a successful second transplant. “I was 7 or 8 when I first started (playing baseball) and I went straight into pitching machine,” said Vaughan, who got a bit of a later start playing the sport compared to some of his friends. “To be honest I was pretty bad. I always was picked last at everything, but I always had a good time.” Listed generously this past season at 5’8” on the roster, his size doesn’t immediately make you think he is an intimidating presence on the mound. That frame doesn’t show a heart and determination much bigger than his body — on and off the field. “My sister is the smart one in the family and she was valedictorian,” said Vaughn about his older sister, Ali Vaughan. “I knew I wasn’t as smart as her, but I knew that I could work harder than anyone in my class. Freshman year I got a B but it didn’t count towards being valedictorian so I was like ‘all right, I am never going to get a B in high school again.’ I worked really hard, did all the extra credit I could, I showed up every day, and made sure I was the first one there and the last one to leave and it ended up working out for me.”
Jackson Vaughan throws a pitch during the season opener against Monterey Peninsula. PHOTO BY PAUL MUSYKENS.
Vaughan was successful in following in his sister’s footsteps and became the valedictorian at Bakersfield High School for the Class of 2018. His hard work on the diamond also paid off, turning him from someone that was always picked last to one of the top players in the league, with a pitching style similar to former San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum, who he became a big fan of. “I like to say that I am fake athletic,” said Vaughan. “Pitching, I have gotten pretty good at and it is not from anything but pure hard work. If you look at me I’m 5’6 whatever, and at the end of the day, no one really wants a 5’6 baseball player. But if I apply myself, I can make myself really good and change people’s minds.” At the same time he was having great success while in high school, his size played a factor in many doubting he would be able to play at the Division I level in college.
“When people started telling me I couldn’t,” said Vaughan about when he started to believe he would be able to play Division I baseball. “I have always been doubted. When someone says ‘you can’t go D1,’ it is like ‘well, I beat cancer and I kind of beat death, so I can definitely go D1.’” Making the most of one of his last chances to impress college coaches he made a good impression on the coaching staff at the University of California, Santa Barbara and committed to the Gauchos. There, he would seemingly be set to make NCAA history by reportedly becoming the first liver transplant recipient to play Division I baseball. That history is still waiting to be made and will take place next season at a different school. “I played in two preseason games and then two days before the start of the season I was cut,” said Vaughan about his time at UCSB. “They had
brought in 60 guys for a roster size of 35 and I was the last to leave. It was an interesting situation that I was not fond of.” Moving on from a bad situation, he would transfer and play this past season at Delta. “It felt like a family atmosphere,” he said. “At Delta, I had an immediate connection with everyone. It was just such a really cool experience to go from something where I was in a pretty depressed state of mind to have a bunch of great dudes that had my back and were ready to go to war with me.” Before the season ended abruptly, he appeared in a total of nine games for the Mustangs and had a 1.50 ERA as he allowed just two runs and four walks while striking out 24 batters in 12 innings. “He has such a bulldog mentality and such a competitor out on the mound,” said head coach Reed Peters about Vaughan’s season with Delta. “He just gets such an excep-
tional spin rate on his fastball and he gets a lot of swings and misses.” One of Vaughn’s old hobbies included making baseball bats, but with his fastball leading the way, he has now been focusing on making his opponents bats swing and miss. “It has the perception that it is going faster than it is,” said Vaughan who has been working on his fastball and has seen it climb into the low 90s. “My fastball spins very efficiently and it’s not something that you see often. It has a lot of life to it, spins well, and really is my go-to pitch.” As much as he has been known for his ability to fight and work hard, he considers himself a different person on the field compared to when he is off the field. “A lot of times when I first meet people I’m not very eccentric or outgoing,” he said. “I’m honestly more shy and a little bit awkward but when I go out on the mound it’s almost like I can let go of everything that is giving me trouble and kind of let all my emotions out. It’s a place where I can be whoever I want. I’m not the 5’6” person that people can pick on out there. I’m the very, very aggressive pitcher that is trying to kill everyone that is at-bat. I’m not really an angry person, but out on the mound I can seem that way.” While many are having a tough time adjusting to not being able to go about their previously normal everyday activities it is a time that is set for someone like Vaughan to thrive. “It’s another bump in the road,” said Vaughan. “You grow from adversity. You learn new things about yourself. It’s honestly kind of fun to figure out what I can do with limited resources and I am making the most of it. Made my own little mound, got a net, and started chucking.” Back in December, he committed to the University of the Pacific so he will be staying in Stockton and heading down the street to continue his baseball journey next season while studying biology. While he is set to make history next season when he pitches in a game for the Tigers, he dreams of playing professionally someday. “I’m going to keep playing as long as I can,” said Vaughan.
More Mustangs commit to four-year universities BY PAUL MUYSKENS Sports Editor
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Ranked as the top team in the state they had their pursuit of a first-ever state championship come to an end with the state championships canceled to end their season with a 29-1 record. Setting a program record for made three-pointers in a season with 109 Vanessa Cochrane will be headed to Fresno Pacific University.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND WATER POLO
Hunter Luna will be headed to swim at Cal Baptist University while Jordan Alford will next be looking to score goals for Cal Lutheran University.
BASEBALL After back-to-back state championship appearances, their 2020 season was cut short as they finished 16-5 this
season. Jaylund Johnson — LSU Shreveport; Bill Ralston — Metro State University of Denver; Kevin Fitzgerald — Louisiana University; Jackson Forbes — San Jose State; Dillon Tatum — UC Irvine; Dario Gomez — Nevada; Tyler Condie — Oklahoma Baptist University; Jackson Vaughan — University of the Pacific.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL While they had their beach sea-
son cut short, they had another outstanding indoor season as they won 21 games and made the second round of the NorCal Regionals. Moving on to play indoor next season is Angelique Stepanoff at Fresno Pacific, Angel Lambert at Stanislaus State, and Lauren Hicks at Cal State East Bay. Stephanie Fopiano will be staying in Stockton to play beach volleyball at the University of the Pacific.