TalkCampus app tackles mental health
Danner Revitalization project underway
The Collegian Th NEWS, PAGE 8
FEATURES, PAGE 5
Issue 2 • Friday, Sept. 25, 2020 •
/deltacollegian
DELTA’S SHINING STAR
deltacollegian.net
Academic Advisor Brandon Leake crowned champion of NBC’s talent-show competition ‘America’s Got Talent,’ introducing millions to spoken-word poetry READ STORY ON PAGE 6
PHOTO BY CHRIS HASTON/NBC
POST Academy prepares recruits for a changing landscape of police, community relations BY HANNAH WORKMAN Editor in Chief
With policing in the national spotlight this past summer, many police academies are changing training strategies, including Delta College’s Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) Academy. “We have spent a lot of time reviewing, debriefing and discussing current events in policing,” POST Academy Director Tammie Murrell said. Current events include police-involved incidents relating to the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, which sparked nationwide conversations about police brutality, specifically against minorities. “We are being very intentional about talking about sensitive, often racerelated topics, which can be uncomfortable for some recruits,” Murrell said. However, Murrell believes it is necessary to have these discussions in order for recruits
to recognize that historic failures of the police have created “cultures of suspicion and distrust” amongst minorities. “Moving forward, we must take responsibility and ownership of the failures of the policing profession and work diligently and consistently to fix what is broken and repair relationships with our communities, especially communities of color,” Murrell said. One way the POST Academy is trying to accomplish this is by implementing the tenants of procedural justice into its program. According to Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, “procedural justice emphasizes the need for police to demonstrate their legitimacy to the public in four areas — voice, transparency, fairness, and impartiality.” The POST Academy has implemented the tenants of procedural justice into its program for the past five years,
Murrell said. Murrell said the POST Academy also stresses the importance of a “community bank account,” which serves as an analogy to a bank savings account. “The police have opened this community bank account by following the tenants of procedural justice,” she said. “Police officers work hard day in and day out to make small deposits of trust and legitimacy into this account.” Though when incidents like the killings of Taylor and Floyd occur, Murrell said there is a massive withdrawal of trust and the effect is the police have less of the community’s respect. “Honest, hard-working officers nationally must begin the difficult work of repairing relationships and make deposits into the account to replenish it,” she said. In addition to the implementation of procedural justice, POST is training recruits on the “duty to intervene.”
Recruits are hard at work on an assignment at the beginning of the Fall 2019 session. PHOTO COURTESY OF TAMMIE MURRELL
“This is the notion that if any officer witnesses any act of excessive force or criminal and unethical behavior by any officer, regardless of seniority or rank, it is the duty of the witnessing officer to not only
intervene, but to report the behavior,” Murrell said. The training to become a police officer is long and extensive.
See POLICING, page 8
NEXT ISSUE: Oct. 16 • CONTACT US: deltacollegian@gmail.com or (209) 954-5156 • ONE FREE COPY
2 OPINION 092520
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/opinion
TACO BELL TAKES AWAY FAN FAVORITES Long-time menu items, including the Mexican Pizza, being retired from offerings BY DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS
O
Photo Editor
n Aug. 13, Taco Bell 86’d a wide swath of menu items including fan favorites, the Spicy Potato Soft Taco and Triple Layer Nachos. In total, 11 dishes were axed that day. According to a press release on Taco Bell’s website, they’re “clearing space on [their] menu to create a more efficient Taco Bell experience.” As if they didn’t cause enough uproar in the first round of cuts, Taco Bell announced that on Nov. 5, it planned to say goodbye to even more menu items. “We want to reassure our fans that this is the final phase of our 2020 menu revamp,” wrote Taco Bell in a second news release regarding menu changes. The items going away next month include the Mexican Pizza, Pico de Gallo, and all Shredded Chicken items. But don’t worry, they’re adding a Dragonfruit Freeze to make up for the fact that they’re taking away what feels like half the menu. What’s better than blended ice and
artificial syrup flavored like a fruit that a good amount of people haven’t even heard of to remedy the disappointment of taking away some of our favorite food items? Ripon Taco Bell crew member Marina Lopez said that she’s received a lot of customer complaints about the menu change. “Some people will say, ‘It has been on the menu for so long, why are they taking it off now?’” said Lopez. There is a way to still order your favorites, however. Taco Bell’s menu is customizable, which means you can order a menu item they do still have and then subtract or add meats, beans, sauces and more until you create an item that resembles a discontinued one. If you don’t want to be “that” person holding up the drive-thru line trying to add a bunch of things to a bean burrito to turn it into the Seven Layer Burrito that got removed, you can download the Taco Bell app and customize until your fingers get sore. Taco Bell’s idea for an innovative menu may have taken away a lot of our go-to’s, but with some creativity we can keep our favorite menu items alive.
Taco Bell is reducing menu offerings by killing fan favorites, including the Mexican Pizza (top). Also on the chopping block is the Shredded Chicken Quesadilla being enjoyed by Reagan Anaya (bottom left), and shredded chicken soft taco (bottom right). PHOTOS BY DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS
Entrepreneurs embrace new opportunities during pandemic BY YESENIA ORTEGA
S
Staff Writer
an Joaquin County has seen more than a few online businesses open up to survive during the pandemic. Since March, more people have decided to also become new entrepreneurs. Make-up, clothing boutiques, and “monster” upgraded comfort-food stands have taken over the internet by becoming the new normal on people’s feeds. “Because my job was shut[down] due to COVID-19 and unemployment wasn’t dependable, I had to think of another way I could support myself and my kids...I came up with the idea of a small business.” said Brittany Ortega, who uses the internet handles of Jandbrat_butique and Bodybybritannii. “Quarantine helped
with running my business because I was able to focus on growing...and [use] different ways of marketing and reaching new clients.” Ortega sells multiple-styled sunglasses, headwraps, and body jewelry. According to California’s updated COVID-19 website, local businesses can open with a certain amount of capacity per the six feet rule. The number is small in comparison to how many local businesses are shutting down. Loans and grants are used up. Savings are gone. Lives have been turned completely upside. The Employment’s Development Department (EDD) doled out an extra $600 a week for unemployment thanks to money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act That has since ended. Other aid is being given this
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.
The Collegian is a member of the California Newspaper Publisher’s Association and the Journalism Association of Community Colleges.
month for a total of $900 for certain unemployed people who are receiving over $100 in claims, according to EDD’s online news release. This news was seen as scrambled up and all-of-a-sudden. Hence, unemployment’s been unreliable. “Health regulations and safety guidelines actually helped with online shopping as well as pickup or drop-offs,” said Ortega. “I was able to use either PayPal or Zelle to invoice customers.” Opening up an online business has become versatile for a new entrepreneur. Though businesses have been online for years doing the same things, there is now a lot more variety of options and constant communication. One can still be able to work as an essential worker, and also open up his or her own business as a side hustle. Online has more to offer in terms
SENIOR STAFF
EDITORS
MADELYNN THOMAS DAVID VICTOR
HANNAH WORKMAN Editor in Chief/News
JAELYN MORALES
STAFF
Feature
DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS
Opinion/Entertainment/Photo
ROBYN JONES
Opinion/Entertainment
SENIOR STAFF KIMBERLY BENAVIDES ESPERANZA HERNANDEZ-MUNOZ
CONTACT US:
IYANAH CHARLES SERGIO CUBA ITZEL ESPINOZA CHRISTOPHER ESTRADA JESSICA GOMEZ JESUS HERNANDEZ YESENIA ORTEGA DIANE RIVERA JOY ROSS JASMIN SEKHON
of accessibility because people are already on the internet! Everything has become virtual! Even thrift stores have consistent updated internet profiles and money transferring applications to help attract customers. The virtual experiences that were made overnight has made interactions between owner and customer much more attractive. The shutdowns pushed the majority of local business online, which led to potential customers having more time to explore online local businesses. Online businesses have found a way to help businesses start-up and for some local owners- successfully stay open longer. The shutdowns have pushed entrepreneurs to make a decision to either go broke or put themself out there into the digital world.
PHOTOJOURNALISM DESIREEE MCKINNEY CHRISTOPHER MEIXNER JAGBIR SIDHU ANDREA TIPTON MICAHELA VINDIOLA
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 OPINION 092520
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/opinion
Atrocities in China should not be ignored Plight of Uyghur Muslims minimized in media as horrors continue BY HANNAH WORKMAN Editor in Chief
T
here is a genocide occurring in the Xinjiang region of China that is not receiving as much media attention as it should be. For years, evidence that shows China’s mistreatment of Uyghur Muslims has been compiled and made public online. According to a report by Reuters, an estimated 1.5 million Uyghur Muslims are being held in internment camps. The men are being forced to drink alcohol and eat pork, which goes against the teachings of Islam. The children of Uyghur Muslims are not exempt from cruelty. Many have been taken from their families and sent to boarding schools, which have been designed to instill loyalty to China and the Communist Party, according to a report by The New York Times in 2019. Even more disturbing is the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim women. In 2019, The Independent reported the women were being forced to share beds with male government officials, who were assigned to monitor their homes after their husbands were detained in the internment camps. This was part of China’s “Pair Up and Become Family” program, in which Han Chinese members of the Communist party were sent to live with Uyghur families in order to “promote ethnic unity,” according to an unnamed Chinese official. The goal was for the officials to push the ideologies of the Communist Party of China onto the Uyghur women. The horrors don’t end there. In September 2020, a gynecologist who worked for the Chinese government under the guise of population control appeared on ITV News to provide an account of her harrowing experience. The gynecologist, who wished to remain unnamed to protect her identity, stated she had performed at least “500 to 600” operations on Uyghur women, including forced contraception, forced abortion, forced sterilization and forced removal of wombs. The genocide and atrocities of this nature recall holocaust horrors. Several national and international newspapers have reported on the genocide, but there seems to be a lack of widespread media coverage. It has not received the same amount of coverage as other recent
social movements, such as Black Lives Matter. There are virtually no celebrities or public figures speaking out against the disturbing acts occurring in China. Perhaps the most attention the genocide has received came this month, when calls to boycott Disney’s live-action remake of “Mulan” began growing on social media. The controversy arose after it was revealed that some scenes from the film were shot in the Xiang region of China, where the Ugyhur Muslims are being held. Disney specifically thanked government entities in the Xinjiang region, turning a blind eye to the catastrophe. Past comments from the film’s lead actress, Liu Yifei, also resurfaced. Yifei had voiced her disapproval of the protests against China’s crackdown on dissent and support for the Hong Kong police in 2019. While it’s good the #BoycottMulan hashtag sparked conversation, it shouldn’t have taken a Disney film to get more people talking about a genocide that has been happening for years. Not enough people have raised their voices against China’s actions, nor are enough people even aware of the situation. Widespread action needs to be taken and more public figures should be using their platforms to bring awareness to this important issue. Silence will not bring change.
IMAGE ADAPTED FROM FREEPIK.COM
Technology use raises concern for new consumers Finding the right balance of technology for the younger generation BY SERGIO CUBA
W
Staff Writer
hen it comes to social development, there needs to be full support for kids of this generation to reach its fullest potential in learning. Technology usage has raised concerns with the younger generation and its ability to socially develop. Technology is a major asset in the process of learning, but there needs to be a certain amount of hours of usage applied by the parents. Media is expanding day by day, and we need to adapt to how fast technology is moving with the proper hour usage for the kids. Smartphones, tablets and laptops have reached a new level of portability. These devices play a significant role in everyday life, leading to spending hours and hours of screen time on the daily basics. Nothing against technology, it’s about moderation, adapting and finding the right balance for these younger generations. The average American child spends more than seven hours in front of a screen, which is alarming, according to a press by the Child Mind Institute. More than one-third of parents with a child under 12 begin to interact with a smartphone device before the age of five, according to the Pew Research Center of Internet & Technology. This causes children to be less attentive to their surroundings and only focus on their smartphone device. It’s a concerning age to start using a smart-
phone device. It potentially causes lack of interactions and recreational activities that should be conducted by their own parents. The more time with technology, the less time with physical activities. Indoor and outdoor activities are now limited due the high usage of technology. It is important to choose the healthier lifestyle, limit technology time and focus on outdoor activities, according to the Blue Fire adventure therapy program. The impact of technology can have positive and negative outcomes after all. With education heavily involved in using technology to develop new skills sets for their students, there should be a new approach with the amount of screen time with this crazy era of technology.
IMAGE ADAPTED FROM FREEPIK.COM
4 FEATURE 092520
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/feature
PUBLIC LIBRARIES ADAPT TO COVID-19 BY JAELYN MORALES Feature Editor
Public libraries all across San Joaquin County have faced major changes due to COVID-19 guidelines. Suzy Daveluy, interim director of the Stockton-San Joaquin Public Library’s Community Services Department, said the library experience is finding its way through the screens to children and families all across Stockton. Though the shift in focus was large, especially for library staff that are used to years of in-person connections, they adjusted to the virtual approach. “Our staff have adopted an array of new skills so we can still present storytimes and other programs in a virtual set-
ting,” said Daveluy. The online library events are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and every other Friday at 10:30 a.m. These events include either live online storytimes, a DIY craft, and special features like a tour of the fire department or links to book clubs. Many library experiences — whether it is finding a quiet place to sit, browsing through countless books or using the many services public libraries have to offer — can not be mimicked
through a screen. But this has not stopped community access to their books and services. In addition to virtual offerings, the library system has also introduced some takehome options. “In an effort to still provide our community the books and resources they love, branches are offering ‘Curbside service at your library lobby’ service so customers may pick up the library materials they requested or ask reference questions,” said Daveluy. Community wellness is very important, and the Stockton-Public Library is ensuring its
community members are following COVID-19 safety regulations with not only their virtual and curbside experiences, but as well ensuring products that are checked out are being safely handled. “The library is following all recommended protocols such as physical distancing of 6 feet, requiring masks to utilize curbside service, and quarantining all returned materials for 96 hours,” said
Daveluy. Although it seems like recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic is taking some time, Daveluy is optimistic about the future of the traditional and priceless library experience. “The future of libraries is bright! We continue to meld the new with the traditional, and it makes for incredible results. Libraries continue to evolve and find relevant places in our community members’ lives,” said Daveluy. For more information and access to the virtual library events, visit the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library’s Facebook page.
ASDC looks for digital ways to serve students BY MADELYNN THOMAS Senior Staff Writer
The Associated Students of Delta College is the student governing body and serves as an advocate for the students on campus. ASDC, which has shifted its focus from live programming on campus to virtual events, has worked to change multiple aspects of how it deals with the pandemic conditions. Security is one of its top priorities since an August “Zoom bombing” at a Town Hall event held by the organization. A serious change had to be made regarding security. “ASDC is committed to ensuring student safety online and is finding new solutions to try and prevent any incidents like that again,” said ASDC President Colm Fitzgerald.
“We’ve already implemented some of the Zoom security features,” said Fitzgerald. “Waiting rooms, passwords, but we’ve also been working with IT for our big events in webinar mode. Which will be an extremely secure function of Zoom.” ASDC has had to change the way it would gather student opinion and participation. Zoom isn’t enough, which is why the ASDC is committed to expanding themselves to give students more access. “The ASDC has been exploring digital communication platforms, we even started a digital communications project called ‘Discord Project’... If not we have a lot of options, we are developing a “Canvas Shell” and that could go a long way to bridge the communication gap,” said Fitzgerald. “We are starting a YouTube channel.”
The goal, overall, is to engage students through information. “It will be available in a lot of places it wasn’t before,” said Fitzgerald. However the ASDC has faced some “systemic problems” as well, which the ASDC president says that have been there before COVID-19 have now been amplified. One example of these systemic problems have to do with ASDC autonomy. “... So every single student that is a member of the ASDC gets to participate in the election gets to run if they want, and has a voice. The problem is how the advisor role and the student government interact and how the district government interacts...It creates an inherent conflict with administrative and student interest,” said Fitzgerald.
Laptop shortage impacting students across county, nation BY KIMBERLY BENAVIDES Senior Staff Writer
San Joaquin County has had strictly online classes since due to the pandemic since August. Thousands of families have been picking up district computers at the beginning of the school year to prepare for class. However, according to Manteca Unified School District, roughly a third of high school students will be without district-issued Chromebooks due to a laptop shortage. Laptops are in short supply, causing a headache for schools and parents as students begin another school year. With many schools and colleges across the country still engaged in distance learning due to the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for laptops has reached a historical level.
As school districts across the country placed bulk orders for new laptops to ensure that all students will have the tools needed to learn online, they were told the orders would be delayed. According to the Tracy Press, Tracy Unified School District is part of a nationwide rush in search for laptop computers in a short amount of time. Tracy Unified’s associate superintendent for business services said that everyone must have got their laptops all at once, which caused a shortage at this point. A survey by Tracy Unified showed about 70 percent of the district’s students lack the technology of taking online classes. On the CRN report, the top three computer manufacturers, Lenovo, HP, and Dell, said they are facing a shortage
of nearly five million laptops, leaving many districts trying to dig up and refurbish older machines. The shortage has driven up the prices, making it difficult for families struggling financially to purchase a new machine. Computers that were selling for $250-$300 are either out of stock or being sold for twice the amount, according to the iHeartRadio. Higher-end models are still available in some stores and online like amazon, best buy, and eBay and including overstock, but even those are starting to disappear. Manufacturers said they are doing their best to keep up with the demand, but the supply chain was not prepared to handle the massive influx of demand. “The lead times in our products service are getting
better by the day, but that’s the challenge in front of us,” said Dell COO Jeff Clarke on the Dell Technologies website. “It’s this unanticipated spike in demand in this particular sub-segment that has driven industry shortages, which I’m sure you heard from everybody, we’re responding to.” While classes on campus
are limited this semester, Chromebooks are available for check-out to students. Free wifi is available in Delta College parking lots from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. This includes the South Campus at Mountain House. No parking permit is required.
5 FEATURE 092520
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/feature
eReflections is a Delta College digital newsletter geared towards staff. IMAGE COURTESY DELTA COLLEGE
Newsletters keep Delta connected with students, staff BY JAELYN MORALES Feature Editor
Students have many sources for news and events happening across campus, between bulletin boards, online calendars and the Delta Digest. eReflections is an internal newsletter that is only sent to Delta’s staff, administrators, faculty and employees. Alex Breitler, Delta’s director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach, helps bring the newsletter together with many different events and updates currently happening across campus.
“We use it to highlight recent media coverage, promote upcoming events and periodically share important updates that we’re hoping employees will likewise share with students,” said Breitler Students have a similar email newsletter that is constantly being updated and sent to their student email called the Delta Digest. The Delta Digest is more student-oriented and focuses on topics like “MyDelta tips, important registration dates, health and wellness resources, COVID-related updates, etc,”
said Breitler. The Delta Digest is not the only form of communications Delta has with its students. You may have gotten a text of events on campus, or have found one of Delta’s many social media platforms. The content of the newsletter tends to be light-hearted, but Breitler is looking at ways to incorporate heavier content and discussions in eReflections and the Delta Digest. “I do think we need to find ways to incorporate larger discussions about these sorts of issues in both eReflections
and the Delta Digest,” said Breitler. eReflections is a simple, and easy way for faculty and staff to keep up with the campus. It contains information on new resources available to students and even the scoop on what projects and goals fellow faculty and staff have met. The content of the newsletter tends to be light-hearted, but Breitler is looking at ways to incorporate heavier content and discussions related to current events such as Delta’s new Transfer and Career Pathways (TrACs) in eReflections and
the Delta Digest. “I do think we need to find ways to incorporate larger discussions about these sorts of issues in both eReflections and the Delta Digest,” said Breitler. Breitler encourages any students with suggestions on how Delta can better communicate with students to reach out. “As always, we would love feedback from students on how we can better communicate — what topics they would like to see addressed, and what their preferred platforms are,” said Breitler.
TalkCampus app encourages peer support among students BY DAVID VICTOR Senior Staff Writer
In an effort to help students connect with each other during times of crisis for emotional support, Delta College is encouraging them to download and use the TalkCampus app. Researched and tested at the University of London in the United Kingdom, the app was launched in 2019 so students around the world could chat with each other about issues in order to cope with mental health. “It’s a great opportunity to find support and connection when you can’t find it in-person,” said Katrina Springs, Delta’s campus wellness ambassador and vice president of the Active Minds club. “It’s an app that can cater to you, so if you want to see optimistic, happy thoughts or get in touch with people who are feeling down, you can do that. It’s social media with a purpose, it has so much support and unity in it.” The TalkCampus app has been distributed
across several colleges and universities in the United States, including Delta College which is one of the first schools in California to use the app. “We’re proud that our campus is one of the first community colleges in California to have the TalkCampus app,” said Heather Bradford, counselor and co-advisor for Active Minds at Delta College. The TalkCampus app is meant to assist students in coping with anxiety, whether it’s chatting with someone when they can’t find anyone to discuss their problems with or to avoid loneliness. “When you ask to identify what the purpose of it is, it’s to understand that students in college have struggles, such as relationships or anxiety about a midterm test,” said Bradford. “Someone could be in the middle of the night and not have a counselor to talk to and they could take out the app and chat with someone to help cope with stress.” What makes the app different from other social media is that it’s exclusively for students. “One of the things about the app is that it is only accessible to students. I haven’t been able to look at it,” said Bradford. “Faculty and staff do not have access to the TalkCampus app.” Even though the app is exclusive for students, users can still be directed to help by specialists monitoring the app 24 hours a day if a student is in need of immediate attention.
“Trained mental health specialists monitor the content on the app for conversations to not escalate to a crisis level,” said Bradford. “If someone in a conversation says they want to hurt themselves or are feeling suicidal, that will trigger an intervention by these specialists to ensure that the individual is OK and are referred to resources for help.” Delta College is currently on a free trial for three months, which was offered to the school because of the pandemic. While the trial does not limit students at Delta from communicating with students from other colleges, they can only do so with those from institutions which have a subscription with TalkCampus. Purchasing a subscription once the trial has expired is still under consideration. “I’m hoping that students will learn about it, download it and give us feedback on the app so that we’ll know if this is something we want to continue using,” said Bradford. “Depending on the feedback we receive, we’ll decide whether we want to purchase it or not. That’s why it’s really important that students give us feedback on how well they like it. We’re encouraging students to download and use it and we want to be able to continue offering this app.” To create an account, students must download the app and are required to use their student emails. “It’s important for students to re-
MASK FASHION
Staying stylish while being safe BY MICAHELA VINDIOLA Staff Photographer
Editor’s Note: “Mask Fashion” is part of a series done by students in the Photojournalism course. Students in the course are asked to take a socially-distanced photo of a person wearing a mask and ask the question: Why do you wear a mask? The images will be published in issues of The Collegian during the Fall 2020 semester during the run of the course. With the amount of COVID-19 cases on the rise, face masks have been a requirement at the state and local government levels. Masks are now an essential item to carry, but does one do it to protect their own health or only
because it is a requirement? Former San Joaquin Delta College art student Nichole De Los Angeles discusses why she chooses to wear a mask during the pandemic: “I wear a mask to not only protect myself, but others around me. I am an essential worker at a business who serves almost one thousand people on a busy day. “Although the mask can get annoying after a 10hour work day, I wear it to take precautions to eliminate potential exposure and transmission to those around me. I have different types of masks to match my outfits. “If it’s going to continue to be a requirement, I ought to make it stylish right?” said De Los Angeles.
alize they can’t use their personal emails,” said Bradford. “Students must use their student emails because that’s the way it identifies you as a Delta College student.” For more information, students can visit https://talklife.co/talkcampus and learn more about the app and its features. Once the free trial has expired, Delta College will determine whether or not to continue using the app.
6 ENTERTAINMENT 092520
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/entertainment
LEAKE FIRST SPOKEN-WORD AGT WINNER
Before Leake’s debut on the show, “America’s Got Talent” judge Howie Mandel didn’t have any exposure to spoDelta College Academic ken-word poetry. Advisor and Stockton-native Throughout the course of Brandon Leake was crowned the season, Mandel said he as the latest champion of was left “speechless” by Leake’s NBC’s talent show competi- performances and grew an aption “America’s Got Talent” on preciation for the art. Wednesday, Sept. 23. “Brandon is doing work that On Tuesday, Leake per- really needs to be done. People formed a moving spoken-word are listening to his words and poem about the love he has relating to it,” Mandel told for his infant daughter Aali- People magazine. “He’s given yah and his fears relating to us so many ah-ha moments fatherhood. that you don’t normally get This piece resonated with on a talent show. I think he’s viewers and their votes were more than just talent.” enough to give him the edge Leake has not only received over nine other finalists, in- praise for his poetry, but for cluding country duo Broken his humanitarian efforts. Roots and singer Cristina Rae, In 2012, Leake founded who placed second and third, Called to Move, an organizarespectively. tion promoting the developLeake was announced ment of young minds through champion during a live results art. show. The organization has hostHe won $1 million and is ed multiple open mic events set to headline his own show throughout California, in at the Luxor Hotel and Casi- cities such as Stockton and no in Las Vegas. Sacramento, and continues to Leake was the first spo- host events to this day. ken-word poet to appear on Leake is also a civil rights the show, introducing many activist, using his platform to viewers to an art form not yet speak about issues that affect mainstream. “America’s Got people of color. Talent” is now in season 15. In the fourth competition, “Spoken-word poetry has Leake performed a passionate already picked up a huge ‘W’ Black Lives Matter poem. in this,” Leake said in an Ins“There’s something so tagram post prior to the fina- different about Ahmad Arle. “The fact of the matter is, bery, George Floyd, Breonna poetry was never on the stage Taylor, Jacob Blake, and the like this before.” BY HANNAH WORKMAN Editor in Chief
Brandon Leake performs on the AGT Live Show on Sept. 1. Leake made history on Sept. 23 when he was named the first spoken word artist to win the popular television show. He won $1 million and a chance to headline his own show at Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. PHOTO BY TRAE PATTON /NBC
countless others,” Leake said in his poem, a reference to the victims of recent police-involved incidents. “As I stared at that screen, I couldn’t help but think I was looking at a mirror image of myself being choked out for merely existing.” The poem received positive reception, though some viewed his decision to perform it late in the competition as a
risky move. “I feel proud because it’s one of those things where you put in the practice, you put in the work for some time and you’re just anxiously waiting to go show it,” Leake told Talent Wrap after the performance. “With how timely the piece is and with the way the world is right now, I knew it was a statement that needed to be heard.”
During his time on “America’s Got Talent,” Leake became a symbol of hope for the youth in Stockton. “What I hope is, my former students from Edison and Able Charter will see, ‘If he chased after his dream, I can do the same thing. And that Stockton isn’t a place you have to run away from,” he told The Record in a Sept. 9, 2020 article.
2D Design, printmaking classes modify curriculum for online BY JOY ROSS Staff Writer
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed many daily activities into something difficult to recognize. It has forced Delta College to modify the majority of its classes to be online-only, which has presented interesting challenges to programs such as 2D Design and Printmaking. Ruth Santee is the instructor for Delta’s 2D Design and Printmaking classes. “The 2D Design class was easier to move to online than the Printmaking class,” said Santee. The 2D design class is an introduction to the concepts, applications, and historical references related to theory and two-dimensional design. The four levels of printmaking courses utilize the basic materials, equipment, and processes of printmaking, including
monotype, relief (linocut and woodcut), intaglio (dryout, etching, and collagraph). The 2D Design course is mostly theory, while the four printmaking courses are hands-on. “The transition between in person and online art classes was not easy,” said Santee. “In person-classes make the active learning of art possible. Teaching printmaking without a printing press was particularly challenging.” Instead of using the printing press, Santee had to come up with ways to adjust the curriculum. Something that is not normally in the budget are gel plates. This is a soft plate that looks and feels like gelatin, but isare durable, reusable, can be stored at room temperature, and is easy to clean. Gel plates can be used to make a variety of different prints using techniques such as rubbings or hand pressure instead of
using a printing press. The brand of gel plates used in the kits are Gelli Plates. “The Gelli plate allows artists to make monotype prints using hand pressure. This eliminates the need for a printing press,” said Santee. “Gelli plates are a relatively new technology. I had not introduced students to them until Covid19. They were not cost effective for in- class, but became essential for online printmaking.” In making the kits, Santee said she “included the Gelli Plate, a piece of linoleum, a lineoleum cutting tool, a brayer for spreading ink, and paper.” She also included a starter kit of water-based block ink that they could use to develop their own colors. Starter kits include the primary colors of red, yellow and blue, as well as black, white, and gold inks. From these six basic colors, a great variety of colors can be made.
Take-home kits were supplied to printmaking students in lieu of what they’d be using in an on-site environment. PHOTO COURTESY RUTH SANTEE
Fair Food Frenzy replaces Lodi Grape Festival serving treats BY JESSICA GOMEZ Staff Writer
The Lodi Fairgrounds was a scene of excitement and curiosity for the community the past two weekends as once fairgoers lined up for their favorite foods minus the midway. Mark Armstrong, this year’s head of Fair Food Frenzy, gave a deeper look of how the event replaced the Lodi Grape
Festival. “We’ve decided to tweak it out in their own way this year,” said Armstrong. The Lodi Grape Festival was canceled earlier in the year due to COVID-19. Armstrong said that this is the biggest event of the year. Festival organizers decided to make it work this year by allowing people to drive to the fairgrounds and meet with a cashier and order from a curbside
menu. All of this while never having to leave the car. The process can take anywhere from 10 minutes on a slower day to 40 minutes on a Saturday evening. Armstrong noted this is a great way to have an event while still social distancing. Last weekend, the Fair Food Frenzy saw around 1,800 or more cars drive through the event.
The offerings included seven stands from a total of three different vendors. Private owners from Stockton, Brentwood and Butler Amusements supplied the event. Some of the goodies available included corn dogs, hot dogs, tacos and of course the festival favorite, funnel cakes. Armstrong said that it’s food at a fast pace.
7 SPORTS & PHOTO 092520
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/sports
IN-SHAPE PAIRS WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS
and probably thought we wanted to host one session, but we took part every Friday in August,” said Gardette. This partnership was specifically deOn Sept. 2, California In-Shape Health Clubs announced on its website a partnership with the Special signed for the Special Olympic athletes, Gardette said. Olympics Northern California and Nevada. “I am not sure our members even knew This announcement came just days after Netflix released its film documentary “Rising Phoenix,” which we were doing this, they hosted and infollows the stories of Paralympic athletes and a histo- vited the athletes,” she said. “They hosted the events and our ry of the games. The documentary puts the idea that a person’s dis- coaches planned our routines and ability is a strength at the forefront. “Rising Phoenix” themes,” Gardette said of the collaborahighlights the importance that sports play in a dis- tive work they were able to do. In-Shape was interested in the themes abled athlete’s everyday life. In-Shape Health Clubs wanted their new part- the Special Olympics would include in nership to “keep athletes engaged and healthy both their activities and in order to make the physically and mentally,” according to Rachelle Gar- virtual sessions more entertaining and dette, senior director of group fitness. “We were able interactive for the athletes they followed suit. They even went on to host their own, “Star Warsto bring encouragement to a group that can feel disthemed Zoom call where there were close to 100 athconnected at times.” Although the two sport organizations, the Spe- letes on the call,” said Gardette. Apart from offering free virtual workouts for Special Olympics and the Paralympics are different they both encourage people with a disability to take part cial Olympic athletes In-Shape has also been encourin sports to reach different goals. Both, though, have aging athletes to take part in their summer virtual built a stage on which people with a disability can stay races. Athletes participating in the races can be sponactive and shine. The partnership between In-Shape and the Special sored by those who want to support the event without Olympics first came about when, “They reached out necessarily taking part in the race. BY ESPERANZA HERNANDEZ-MUNOZ Senior Staff Writer
“We opened up donations to sponsor special athletes in the triathlon,” said Gardette. “In-Shape is committed to keeping California healthy despite the toll this shutdown has taken on our business,” said In-Shape CEO Francesca Schuler in a statement. Although the club’s laid-off staff did not take part in the partnership Gardette did say they were missed. “We are not whole without our team, we are looking forward to having them back as soon as possible,” she said.
DIRECTED SELFIE Students in Delta College’s photojournalism course were given the assignment to take “Directed Selfies,” where they practiced social distancing while giving directions to a Delta student. These images are meant to capture student life during the pandemic.
it’s your
Student Antonio Thompson said he had “no idea what to expect” when starting school at Delta, which made it “nerve racking.” PHOTO BY DESIREE MCKINNEY
RIGHT to know. Protect freedom of the press. freespeech.center
TUNE IN AND LISTEN TO
Specialist Vanessa Silveire, 21 of Manteca currently serves as an Army Reservist while attending Delta College. PHOTO BY ANDREA TIPTON
8 NEWS 092520
The Collegian • deltacollegian.net/news
Major upgrades coming to common spaces Students to see revitalized Danner, bookstore spaces after in-progress upgrades BY HANNAH WORKMAN Editor in Chief
Delta College is aiming to enhance the student experience by refreshing and revitalizing student spaces on campus. At the Sept. 1 Board of Trustees meeting, an update on the Danner Revitalization project was provided by Michael Williams, Auxiliary Services Operations Supervisor, Chelsy Pham, Director of Information Technology and Data Center Services, and Stacy Pinola, Acting Director of Facilities, Planning, and Management. The Revitalization Committee, which includes Williams, Pham, and Pinola, is spearheading the effort to provide enhancements to Danner Hall, Locke Lounge, the Goleman Café, and the bookstore. “The idea to revitalize student spaces started with Professor Kathleen Bruce working with a couple of students in the Associated Students of Delta College (ASDC), one of which was Colm Fitzgerald,” Williams said. “The conversation was initially focused on the food insecurities of our students.” After this conversation, Williams said, the ASDC conducted a campuswide student survey and followed up by holding a forum for students to discuss issues pertaining to food insecurity and the lack of student spaces in October 2019. In the student survey, it was found that students wanted affordable food options, brighter lighting, electric charging outlets, painted walls with art such as murals or photography, new flooring, and lounge furnishing in
student spaces. The results were shared with Superintendent/President Dr. Omid Pourzanjani. When it became clear that students weren’t happy with what was being provided, Pourzanjani asked which faculty would be interested in joining a committee to revitalize student spaces and work directly with students to accommodate needs. Williams said it was important for him to become involved with the project because he is aware of how beneficial it is for students to have spaces on campus where they could feel safe and spend time with friends. “Campus life creates a sense of belonging, ownership, pride, and translates to greater success,” he said. “Every student has their own story, but if students can meet people that share the same goal, they are more likely to challenge each other to reach them.” Pham added that it could help improve students’ mental health. “People are social by nature,” she said. “Having a space to come together, hang out, or study can support mental wellness, and as a result, help students do better in school, which translates to broader career opportunities.” One of the spaces the committee is planning to add on campus is a gaming lounge. Members of the ASDC, Middle College, and IT department came together to conceptualize a design for the gaming lounge, which would include a secure online gaming station, gaming consoles area, and multifunctional tables for group study and board games.
Construction is underway in the Delta College bookstore. The bookstore will be renovated, complete with new carpet, counters, and paint. PHOTO BY HANNAH WORKMAN
In addition to the gaming lounge, new video equipment will be installed in Danner Hall and Locke Lounge for students, staff, and faculty to hold large meetings, Pham said. New paint and new furniture will be aded to Danner Hall and Locke Lounge in order to create a welcoming atmosphere. The bookstore will also be seeing changes to better accommodate the needs of students. According to Pinola, construction in the bookstore has already begun. “Our bookstore hasn’t been modernized in 30 years,” Williams said. “The flow of traffic and our ability to
POLICING: Recruits training on campus pursue passion amidst anti-police climate
continued from PAGE 1 “New recruits must spend hundreds of hours learning law and its application, policing theory and philosophy, new skills such as shooting and arrest and control tactics, and they must demonstrate they can take all the training and apply it to complex societal problems in the form of handling calls for service,” Murrell said. Kerri Bruno, a recruit, began POST in May 2020. Bruno said she’s wanted to work in law enforcement since an early age. Both of her parents had worked for the California Department of Corrections, which influenced her career path. “As I got older, I had a lot of respect for what they did,” Bruno said. “I decided I wanted to follow in their footsteps, but I didn’t want to be stuck in a prison.” She said she thought becoming a police officer would be ideal for her so she could work in law enforcement and be on the outside. Bruno earned her associate degree in criminal justice administration and then served in the United States Navy as a military police officer for four years. Having been raised in a small town in Amador
County, Bruno said she wasn’t exposed to much during her adolescence. “Joining the Navy gave me a lot of experience dealing with people from different walks of life,” she said. “It allowed me to see how most people come from different backgrounds and hear different opinions, and learn how to work around that.” After returning from Japan, where she was stationed for most of her time in the Navy, she became sponsored by the Amador County Police Department and started attending POST. This was around the time of Taylor and Floyd’s killings, and when the Black Lives Matter movement picked up momentum. Though protests against police brutality soon descended into looting and violence, with a rise in crimes against police officers. Earlier this month, a St. Louis police officer was shot in the shoulder while attempting to make a traffic stop. He was the ninth St. Louis police officer to be shot in the line of duty since June, according to KMOV News. Due to the rise in crimes against police officers across the country, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis introduced the Protect and Serve Act on Sept. 17. If passed, the bill would
create federal penalties for people who intentionally target police officers with violence. While some view policing as an increasingly dangerous profession, Bruno disagrees. “It’s always been a dangerous profession,” she said. “There’s always been that risk of something happening that you weren’t planning on. Things could go sideways really quickly, but I don’t necessarily think it’s something that’s new.” In order for the anti-police climate to change, Bruno believes there needs to be more education on both sides: the officers and the communities they serve. “Certain things are skewed and it’s hard for people on the outside to see things in the way the officer sees them at that moment,” she said. “Officers are judged by people that see a little snippet of the incident and they get to watch it over and over again, and say they would have done it differently, but they don’t know everything that happened.” Bruno said for this reason, police agencies should be open with their communities and release information pertaining to the incident so nothing is skewed. “That’ll allow both sides to be shown before the judgment happens,” she said.
serve students has been limited. We are hoping to create a more open flow and a more inviting store, where students feel like we are here for them.” Crews are also preparing the bookstore for new electrical and computer technology. The project is expected to be complete by January 2021. With these changes, the Revitalization Committee is expecting to ensure students will have additional internet access, study areas, and areas to decompress when they return to campus. “Students will have a place they can call their own,” Pinola said.
Air quality, pandemic make outreach challenging BY DAVID VICTOR Senior Staff Writer
During the COVID-19 pandemic Delta College has been forced to move classes, services and college business online. Delta had a drive-thru planned to welcome new and returning students, but poor air quality and the pandemic have forced the college to cancel the event three times. The drive-thru intended to introduce students to Delta’s Transfer and Career Pathways, or TrACs, in order to let them know more about the career path options they have available. Staff at the event were going to pass out items such as TrAC T-shirts and more information about the pathways, but now Delta has opted to send them to students. “We plan to send promo items to students in the mail,” said Tina Akers, associate dean of Institutional Effectiveness. Director of Marketing and Communications Outreach Alex Breitler highlighted the importance of the drive-thru stating it would have introduced students to how Delta is making career pathways easier for them. The college rescheduled the event multiple times. “The college has been working for several years on major changes that will help students find the direction they would like to take and finish their educational journey here at Delta as quickly as possible,” said Breitler. “The idea behind the Drive-Thru Welcome Day was to introduce students to this ‘new’ Delta College. That’s why we were really hoping to offer some kind of in-person welcome day event.” With campus still closed due, Delta College has much of its staff working remotely through email and phone calls to communicate with anyone needing services. Delta is also discussing how events like the drive-thru might still be held. After switching its services to online, Delta College has received more messages than usual. Breitler said it is hard for staff to answer everyone trying to get in contact. “It’s challenging,” said Breitler. “We’ve received more than 51,000 inquiries through live chat since the start of the pandemic, and that’s a lot of people we need to answer questions to. We’ve also seen dramatic increases in social media interaction, and try to proactively answer questions and make sure students are aware of the resources that are available to them.” READ FULL STORY AT DELTACOLLEGIAN.NET