The Collegian - Published Sept. 15, 2023

By Nicholas Michelsen

By Vanessa Gomez

@MORE ONLINE DELTACOLLEGIAN.NET

Due to the size change of the paper and an increase of staff this semester, we will have more stories running online in the future. To read those stories, please visit our website.

You may have noticed our new look!

Welcome to the first Fall 2023 issues of The Collegian. It’s been a long summer (“Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” a notable submersible accident, UFOs, new tattoos, another mystery beverage from Starbucks and an updated cover of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Fall Out Boy) so you may not have recognized us at first glance, that’s understandable.

Change happens to all of us, but most notably to these pages.

We got some work done on our figure and swapped out our old newsie wardrobe for this tight and sleek, 12-page tabloid that you’re holding right now.

Unfortunately, our previous printer was forced to shut its doors before the start of this semester. Our adviser found out while in Yellowstone on vacation and we’re told she may have interrupted the tranquil peace of the Lamar Valley with some expletives.

So, instead of panicking (OK, we did a little of that) we embraced the madness and now we’re dressed to kill. We’ve spent the first four weeks of the semester developing new workflows to build the newspaper you see today.

If you have followed our staff box over the past several semesters, you know we’ve been working with a slim staff. It’s impressive, even to us, that we provided the quantity of quality work that we have. That being said, take a look at this Autumn’s staff box before you flip through our pages.

We’re back, fully staffed and better than ever, ready to deliver the stories that matter most to you. To campus, to the greater Stockton area and back again.

With integrity and love,

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.

ON THE FRONT: The DeRicco Student Services building is regularly surrounded by cars during the Fall 2023 semester, pointing to increased campus presence and enrollment. Numbers reported at a recent Board of Trustees meeting indicate a swing toward growth. DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW WILSON

DELTA RECOVERS PRE-PANDEMIC ENROLLMENT

BY NICHOLAS MICHELSEN Social Media Editor

Returning students or frequent visitors to Delta College may have noticed many new faces in the crowd as the Fall 2023 semester gets underway. The college’s enrollment is currently at 18,658 students. While that number is a 1 percent decrease from before the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a noticeable increase from the past few semesters.

In 2019, Delta had 18,871 enrolled students.

According to a graph showing enrollment provided by Delta’s Public Relations department, these numbers saw a sharp decline of nearly 1,800 students in 2021, leaving Delta with 16,532 enrollments. Virtually every class was ported into the online Canvas platform for remote learning, which continued the trend in declining numbers into 2022. Enrollment had bottomed-out at just 16,220 students.

“[…] we do have more students this fall, but we also are seeing students taking more

classes, which is good news. The bottom line is that we are not quite back to pre-COVID enrollment yet, but we are certainly making progress, and that’s great to see. The vibe on campus has been amazing this week, I think,” said Alex Breitler, Delta’s director of Marketing and Communications, via email.

Mustang Week, which started Aug. 21, saw students congregating throughout campus. The Office of Student Activities oversaw the week of events where activities, music and food were

available, according to the Delta College website.

Superintendent/President Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson made public statements about the current enrollment numbers in an Aug. 25 email to campus.

“[W]e are only -1 [percent] compared to pre-pandemic enrollment. This is a major accomplishment for the College. Additionally, students are taking more units than pre-pandemic, as we are up 4 [percent]

… We are seeing the impact of increased enrollment throughout campus. In the Delta Connect Center this week, a total of 3,188 students were served,” said Lawrenson in the email.

Administration works towards more efficient enrollment strategies

BY VANESSA GOMEZ News Editor

Delta College’s administration has begun drafting out a plan to enroll students into classes in a more efficient manner.

The Equity Infused Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan will utilize new technology to plan out class and student schedules.

“It doesn’t matter if a student is taking three units or twenty units, we want to make sure they are on the most efficient path to transfer or otherwise achieve their goals,” said Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction Dr. Charles “Kale” Braden.

Delta has used some smaller enrollment strategies in the past, according to Braden, but none will have a scope as large as this new plan, which includes clear enrollment targets and streamlining the paths needed to transfer to a fouryear institution.

“We will be taking a closer

look at the data to create more specific enrollment goals for Delta,” said Braden.

The biggest difference will be the introduction of new technology and software to better monitor the choices students make when selecting classes.

“Delta has been using PeopleSoft for several years, now we will be using FlexIt in conjunction, to make the data more accessible to deans. We are also using Ad Astra, which monitors data in real-time and can make suggestions based on what it has collected,”he said.

The software will be monitoring what classes students are enrolling in, what semester they are enrolling in those classes and whether those classes are being filled or not.

Braden stresses that though this data is useful, it will not be the technology that makes the final decision.

“What we are using is not A.I., it is an algorithm that

gives suggestions based on previous data,” said Braden. “All data has caveats. For example, some classes may fill up irregularly. The instructors will know that, but the software won’t. It’s important that the instructors have the final say in what the

schedule looks like.”

SEM plans have been used in other institutions, and they have had positive results.

“I have worked at college’s previously who practiced Strategic Enrollment Management, and it seemed to work well for

both faculty and students,” said Academic Senate President Becky Plaza. “My hope at San Joaquin Delta College is that we can implement a data-driven SEM process and plan that have many more positives than negatives for both faculty and staff.”

Prospective students talk about Delta College services with counselors Rocio Ochoa, left, and Diane Feneck during the Sept. 6 College Night. PHOTO BY FRANK PERALTA

Student speaks with Jael Medina and Sufyaan Naushad of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at club rush on Sept. 7. PHOTO BY ANDREA RIVERA

Student Chef restaurant on hold for Fall semester

BY ANDREA RIVERA Sports Editor

Low enrollment means closed doors for Culinary Arts’ Student Chef this semester.

A class that supports the Danner Hall-based, on-campus training restaurant saw only five students registering.

CUL ART 19 Kitchen Management shows 25 seats open out of 30 in the Delta College class scheduler. CUL ART 9 Restaurant Operations was not offered this semester.

“The student chef [sic] restaurant will not be opening this semester since there are five students enrolled in the kitchen management course and the restaurant operations course is not offered this semester,” said Associate Professor Kevin Cabrera, a temporary full-time hire for this school year, in an email interview.

Instructional Support Assistant Britney Howard is hoping to improve those issues with marketing during this fall.

“We are working with marketing to do a commercial to help boost enrollment, especially the enrollment for culinary arts,” she said.

However, students who choose to enroll in the program are going to still get the work experience that is taught and offered in those courses even without the Student Chef.

The enrolled students this fall will focus on all culinary skills in a kitchen atmosphere.

“Each student will present four servings of each dish they are cooking and have a staggered presentation,” said

Cabrera on what is in place to showcase the dexterity of the five students.

In addition Professor Robert Halabicky is advising the students this semester to apply to an Italian scholarship where they can potentially go to Italy with all expenses paid if chosen and meet the requirements.

“The students volunteer to work with

either the culinary arts or baking pastries program and they earn hours. They also have to have a certain GPA and fill out a questionnaire. They actually go through a formal interview process with outside industry professionals and do a cook off as well,” said Halabicky about the scholarship.

The students will also focus more on

New equity task force in works

the baking part through the Artisan Cafe in the Goleman Library on the first floor to gain the work experience they would have received this semester from Student Chef.

The Artisan Cafe is expected to open in October and run Thursday’s from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

President Lawrenson will lead group looking to reduce equity gaps, meet basic needs

BY VANESSA GOMEZ News Editor

Delta will be creating a new faculty task force to reduce the equity gaps seen in vulnerable communities. The Equity Action Task Force is being spearheaded by President Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson to work with equity leaders on campus to better help students of minority communities.

The three main objectives of this task force, as laid out in the draft, are to significantly reduce equity gaps, meet student basic needs, and promote student health, wellness and safety.

“We will be working with

our Black, Latine/Chicanx and Asian task forces, our Pride coalition, as well as our academic senate, our classified senate and the ASDC,” said Lawrenson.

Using data collected from the 2022 Delta Strategic Plan, success, retention, and completion metrics have been created to determine the academic success of students.

“We have data from 2018 that shows that 108 African American students did not successfully make it from the first semester to the second semester,” said Lawrenson. “This is something that we need to

address.”

Delta will also use data from the 2022-2023 Campus Climate Survey to strategize their plans.

There have been concerns about this task force not addressing other marginalized communities. Disabled and Native American/Pacific Islanders students, for example, do not have a task force or coalition to represent them. Lawrenson stated that there will be consideration to include them soon.

“The interventions that we will be creating should have a positive effect on all students,”

said Lawrenson. “Including those not yet represented in the task force.”

Though this taskforce encompasses a large variety of plans and goals, it can only make recommendations to the administration.

This is not the first time Delta has had task forces to address equity issues. The first faculty task forces were created in 2020, after Black faculty members addressed the administration with a series of recommendations to better help Delta’s Black students. Asian and Latine task forces were founded shortly thereaf-

ter.

“We’ve had faculty task forces, but when the Memorandum of Understanding ended this July, we decided to form the task forces into one singular task force,” said Lawrenson. “That way, we can more effectively synergize and strategize better.”

Delta has also had previous equity plans, though on a smaller scale.

“Previous equity plans have focused on smaller groups of students,” said Dean on special assignment Tina Akers. “However, the data has remained pretty much the same.”

Student Chefs Gayla Wright Chandler, left, and Anthony Ortiz, right, preparing dishes to present.

PHOTO BY ANDREA RIVERA

Delta receives E-Bikes, program immediately suspended

BY NICHOLAS MICHELSEN Social Media Editor

On Aug. 31, five e-bikes were delivered to the Delta College campus as part of a collaboration between Bike Stockton, Shared Mobility, Inc. and the San Joaquin Council of Governments. This collaboration formed the Stockton Mobility Collective (SMC).

The program was to provide safe, affordable and clean transit options for people throughout Stockton. Less than a week later, the program was discontinued throughout the city, with organizers noting “escalating vandalism and theft” as reason.

David Imeri, the Apprentice Technician with Shared Mobility, was on campus delivering the bikes, which are provided through Bike Stockton, a program contracted to provide the bikes along with a mobile based app and website which connects riders to bicycles.

“Bike Stockton is a nonprofit run e-bikeshare program being piloted in the City of Stockton,” said Tyler Maddell, the program manager with Shared Mobility Inc. “The program aims to provide affordable access to e-bikes for residents and visitors.”

The bike program is part of a larger vision, drafted by the SMC, which is overseen by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

The purpose of the mobility project is to “provide Stockton residents with affordable, clean, safe and reliable travel modes that bridge the gaps between existing transit service and personal vehicle ownership,” according to the CARB

website.

Part of the Stockton Mobility Collective is Christine Corrales, Manager of Planning with the San Joaquin Council Of Governments (SJCOG).

Corrales was available for an interview, via phone call.

“So currently we have several stations online throughout the city (of Stockton), you all at Delta College are our newest station.”

On Sept. 4, the program was suspended without notice.

Communications Journalist Keith Michaud issued a statement to the Collegian on behalf of SJCOG.

“The San Joaquin Council of Governments can confirm that Bike Stockton has removed the bikes as they work on solutions to serve its loyal members and the community,” the email read.

A public statement announcing the suspension was posted on the Bike Stockton website (bikestockton.org).

“Bike Stockton has decided to suspend until further notice all services as of Sept. 4 due to escalating vandalism and theft,” the top-of-site notice said in bold lettering.

“This difficult, but necessary decision came after much thought and consideration about what was best for everyone

Bus pass program for students in limbo

BY NICHOLAS MICHELSEN Social Media Editor

A program offering unlimited bus rides to Delta College students through a partnership with San Joaquin Regional Transit District did not continue into the Fall semester, but discussions are ongoing about whether it will come back.

“I can confirm that the agreement with RTD for free ridership with student ID cards was not continued into the new academic year, due to the cost. That said, we’re certainly concerned about making sure that students who need help with transportation are able to get to campus, so we’re looking for ways to provide bus passes to students in the future,” said Alex, Director of Marketing and Communications at Delta College.

“The details as to how that will work have not yet been determined, but we will be sharing more information once it’s available,” Breitler added.

Merab Talamantes, the Project Controls Manager with RTD, said the Delta-RTD contract is in discussion following further discussion.

“RTD and Delta College staff are meeting to discuss the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding on September 21,” Talamantes said.

Supervisor of Marketing and Customer Engagement with San Joaquin Regional Transit District, Maximilian Cao, responded to inquiry via email.

“At this moment, the contract is still up for discussion,” he said.

involved, especially loyal Bike Stockton members. This is a pilot project and we knew there would be discovery and learning along the way. Bike Stockton is determined to redesign the program so that Stockton residents can take advantage of e-bikes as a transportation option. We appreciate your patience while we work to redesign the e-bike program. Please return to bikestockton.org for updates,” reads the Bike Stockton PSA.

The program had been in the works for a while.

In 2020, the SMC submitted an application for a Mobility Project Voucher (MPV) to CARB, which was part of a state wide $20 million budget. In 2021 the SMC was approved for a grant exceeding $7 million dollars.

“We went and submitted a proposal to the California air resources board and ended up being awarded a $7.5 million dollar grant. This grant is for piloting, not just the electric bike share program that we’re talking about today, but we also haveunder the Stockton Mobility Collective, a new one-hundred percent electric vehicle car-sharing program that’s also operating in Stockton now,” said Corrales.

How much of the grant award that has been allocated is unknown. Currently, there is no announcement as to when Bike Stockton will be lifting the suspension of services.

Upon suspension of the bike program in Stockton, Shared Mobility inc, was unavailable for comment.

One of Bike Stockton’s e-bikes, located by the Delta Health Center.

PHOTO BY ANDREA RIVERA

A person waiting by a bus stop on Pacific Avenue. PHOTO BY MERCELI RIOS

‘HOPE FOR TOMORROW’ LOOKS TO FUTURE

Event focuses on importance of mental health, wellness in community

BY DYLAN JAEKEL Editor-in-Chief

On Sept. 9, Delta College hosted the Hope for Tomorrow event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Dolores Huerta Plaza.

Hope for Tomorrow was an event created to bring attention to the importance of mental health and provide resources to the community.

“We see mental health as a crisis across our community; we saw the cracks in our system exposed during COVID and we saw a huge rise in anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns. I can not talk to a student, a teacher, a parent anywhere in our community without mental health coming up, and we have a lot more work to do,” said California 9th District Rep. Josh Harder during a speech he addressed to event participants.

Delta College hosted the event and was organized by youth members of the California 4-H Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Advisory Committee.

The event featured other speeches, a cooking demo, yoga, and more than 20 vendors, including the 30 by 30 Financial Literacy Campaign, Little Manilla Rising, Unbound Stockton, San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Center, Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) and the Animal Protection League.

Vendors from Delta College included Active Minds, the Society for Women Engineers (SWE), the Basic Needs Center, the Dreamers Success Center, the Pride Center, and Extended Opportunities Programs and Services (EOPS).

A few furry friends also attended the event. The Animal Protection League had animals available for free adoption.

GirlTREK, an organization that aims to promote the physical and mental health of Black women through the act of walking, also invited event goers to do a short walk with them.

The event brought much-needed attention to the importance of mental health of the Delta College community, Stockton community and San Joaquin County as a whole.

“What a beautiful attempt this is at promoting mental health and wellness, and the necessity of this service in particular coming out of a pandemic,” said Dean of Student Services Edward Aguilar during his speech.

A major goal of Hope for Tomorrow was to get closer to ending the stigma surrounding mental health, which often acts as a barrier for those who may have mental health concerns but may not feel comfortable enough to seek exterior help.

“For me, the more that we can normalize, the more that we can make these services easily accessible. I think the better chance we have of getting to the people who really need these resources that wouldn’t traditionally be comfortable with receiving them individually,” said Delta Vice President of Human Resources Bradley Salters.

Through gathering as a community, people had the opportunity to feel their individual mental health be more supported and celebrated.

“The more exposure there is, the more confidence people have to be able to share. You realize that other people may be going through the same things that one person’s going through,” said Cynthia Emerson Ramos, a medical assistant with Community Medical Centers.

Hope for Tomorrow was a step towards creating a Stockton community that looks past the stigmas of mental health and towards a community that looks to provide much-needed resources.

“As we gather here today, let us remember that mental health knows no boundaries and that it is through unity and understanding that we can break down the stigma surrounding it. Together we can foster a culture of compassion, empathy and support; and we thank you for coming together for this mental health awareness event. If we help one person today to overcome an obstacle or to have some better mental health support in their life, then this was worth it for every single one of us,” said Salters in his speech addressed to event participants.

Sienna Dhill painting Conchita’s face at the Hope for Tomorrow event. The 4-H program is striving to promote mental health awareness through a series of activities held on Sept. 9 at Delta College. PHOTOS BY ALEXANDER GASPAR

In the heart of the Hope for Tomorrow Event, Orlando “Zeps” Molina takes center stage, not with a mic, but with an unwavering spirit and a pocketful of verses as he sings across different booths on Sept. 9 at Delta College.

Club Rush starts year

BY DYLAN JAEKEL Editor-in-Chief

An exciting part of starting a new semester is not only the academics, but the new opportunity to broaden your horizons and social connections when joining a campus club. Club Rush ran from Sept. 5 to 8.

The event runs three to four days each semester, allowing for new and returning students to get involved with Delta’s clubs.

Club representatives have the opportunity to inform interested students about what their club is, upcoming events, meetings they are hosting, and gather sign-ups for new members.

Some clubs that were seen out in the quad recruiting new members included the Writer’s Guild, the Politics and Law Club, the Delta Pride Club, the American Chemical Society Club, and many more.

Delta boasts more than 20 clubs for students, allowing students to get more involved with the campus community.

“I think it’s really great to get involved, just to build a greater sense of community with ev-

eryone around you,” said Jenelle Rodriguez, co-president of the Society for Women Engineers (SWE).

Joining a Delta club allows students to expand opportunities beyond the classroom.

Clubs such as Politics and Law Club provide networking opportunities through the form of guest speakers informing members of possible job and internship opportunities.

Clubs like the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) provide members with hands-on learning that they might not receive in their classes.

“For stem majors specifically, classes are theoretical, a lot of them don’t get hands-on experience, or if they do, it’s very minimal. So, with clubs, you have a variety of projects you can work on,” said Jael Medina, president of SHPE, who also serves as treasurer of the Chess Club and the Computer Science Club.

Clubs also provide students with a space to create new connections and friendships.

“It allows you to make friends

with similar interests and definitely just be a lot more social, especially if you’re an introvert. It’s a safe place, there’s not tons of people and you all have something to talk about,” said Ajani Young, president of the Woodworking Wizards Club.

“Sometimes it’s hard when you’re in a class to make friends and start conversations about homework and stuff like that. When you’re part of a club that’s either adjacent to your major or even if it’s just something that you’re interested in, it helps to build bonds with people and your peers,” said Sufyaan Naushad, treasurer of SHPE.

With more people returning to the Delta campus compared

to previous semesters, club sign-ups are seeing an increase. More potential members may leave some clubs looking for new ways to meet the needs of members with resources, funding for field trips, and possibly space in their meeting places.

“More people to accommodate. We are going to have to look into more ways to gather funding,” said Medina.

More people on campus also means a broader range of inter-

ests and a want for more clubs.

“There’s a lot of clubs that are probably adjacent to your major; you know, there’s engineering clubs, political science clubs, but when it comes to extracurriculars that are maybe hobbies, you know, like chess or other things, I feel like it’s lacking. I feel like there can be more and there should be more,” said Medina. The last day to register a club for the Fall 2023 semester is Oct. 2.

Delta College celebrates, embraces Latino/Hispanic heritage, culture year-round

BY GRACIELA GABRIEL Feature Editor

National Latino/Latine Heritage Month is a month recognizing the impact and contribution Latino/Hispanics have made for the country and community.

The celebration of diversity and culture runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

Delta College will host a series of events to celebrate the month. The first event, Pachanga Presente, included a parade of flags on the quad to promote awareness and appreciation of Latine culture, happened on Thursday, Sept. 14. The events are part of campus culture that regularly celebrates Latine people through events, education, and scholarship.

“I think Latino Heritage Month means how rich in diversity/cultures we are as

a campus and a community of the surrounding areas we serve. We want students to come together and feel free to engage in the events we hosted to not only share their culture and experiences but also learn and celebrate with others the contributions that our Latinx/ Hispanic/Chicanx/Afro-Latinx/Indigenous people bring to the table,” said Claudia Navarro, Administrative Assistant for Students Services Division and currently the chair for La Raza Employees Association.

Navarro said it is a privilege to be part of an institution that supports employees to be part of the committees that serve our students and the community. Delta College is considered a Hispanic Serving Institution, with a majority of students identifying as such.

“In my opinion Delta does a great job by supporting and acknowledging the Latino Community all year round. Every year for the past few years many faculty and staff have taken part in planning for the month of the year in particular and have had amazing feedback and turn it around for students and the campus community,” said Navarro.

The Delta College line up for events includes:

• Paletas con Profes at 12 p.m. (Noon) on Sept. 20 in Shima 133 where students are invited for free paletas (popsicles) and conversation with Delta College faculty.

• Loteria with the Pride Center at 1 p.m. in Danner 202B, which is an afternoon of Loteria and information about

the Pride Center.

• Campesino Forum Celebration at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 5 at the location, which was renamed to commemorate the work of area farmworkers and its impact on the county.

• Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration at 12 p.m. (Noon) on Oct. 5, with Native American dancers.

Delta will also host a Dia de Los Muertos on Nov 1-2.

“La Raza Employees Association has held other events over the year such as Dia de Los Muertos that has become an annual event in Delta. It has been a hit that many look forward to it for the food and to participate as we have included our students and staff to participate in the Alter to share

photos of a loved one that has passed, we have activities for this celebration as well. We invite artists, vendors who make donations for a silent auction, and raise funding for scholarships,” said Navarro.

Other events Delta has hosted are their sale of tacos in the Christmas Baile Folklorico event, Mother’s Day raffle, and all these events are engaged by the staff, students and community to raise funds for our scholarship account which helps students every year.

“The scholarship has funded over $90,000 since 1992 and we strive to continue this work. The scholarship account has been established with our payroll department as well to where many faculty, staff and managers have contributed monthly from their own paychecks over the years,” said Navarro.

Yuli Perez checked out the presentation, equipment and asked club member Valeria Estrada about the Beyond Limits Racing Club. PHOTO BY ANDREA RIVERA

DC Film debuts first Latinx protagonist

BY ZANIEL WALDO Staff Writer

This summer, the debut of DC Films' “Blue Beetle” premiere in theaters. The story centers on a Mexican-American protagonist as he and his family enter the cinematic universe of superheroes.

It is the first comic book movie to feature Mexican-Americans as its main characters and superheroes. Alberto Gutierrez, Associate Professor in Ethnic Studies, applauds its profound stance in depicting a Chicano family in such a positive light.

"It's the story of an immigrant family who went from living in the shadows to essentially becoming the heroes,” said Gutierrez. “That really caught me off guard. I was not expecting that. It was just great to see. It allows our imagination to expand in a way that we couldn't."

Indeed, the film does immerse itself into the culture it depicts. From popular Mexican music, food, tradition, a consistent dialogue in Spanish and even a Vicks VapoRub joke, all these elements make the film feel authentic.

For Isaias Mendez, a third-year Delta College student, it is refreshing to finally see a film that features the community in such a prominent role.

"I'm glad that Chicanos are finally getting recognized in the film industry,” said Mendez. We're finally able to see them get roles in superhero movies. It was rare, and now we're seeing them."

In our modern age of pop culture, the comic book superhero genre is most dominant among all others.

With a worldwide fan base, these blockbuster films have a strong influence among audience viewers.

For Nayely Franco-Aguayo, a graduate of Delta College, the film is the beginning of a positive influence.

"This projection will positively impact the young and older people in the sense that they will feel empowered by who they are and what they are capable of becoming,” said Franco-Aguayo.

“This could definitely serve to break barriers that the community faces in Hollywood.”

The release of “Blue Beetle” comes close to a year after the release of Marvel Studios' “Wakanda Forever,” which depicted a Mexican-Indigenous civilization in a significant role. Both projects made a point to highlight the vibrance of the ethnicities.

With two major studio films released within a year of each other, the community has a newfound pride and optimism for its future of film and TV.

One desire from community members is the hope that the younger generation is inspired to take pride in their culture, knowing there are existing heroes of the same background.

However, there are concerns about Hollywood's direction in depicting various cultures.

Gutierrez describes how, despite the progress made, there is still a long journey ahead of the community.

"The problem with Hollywood is that it's not balanced. The antagonists and protagonists are never balanced; it's always the antagonists tend to be people of color. As optimistic as I am, I'm also equally as frustrated that it's not moving fast enough."

Nayely Franco-Aguayo is also critical of the narratives that may impose the progressional growth in the community's storytelling.

"In films then and now, Chicanos have been depicted in a stereotypical manner. When representing another culture, I say it is important to place themselves in the shoes of the audience and ask themselves how it would make the audience feel. In almost every movie us Mexicans are portrayed in a negative aspect,” said Franco-Aguayo.

Concern for any adverse effects mainly revolves around misunderstanding the culture and the people that make it up.

A consensus among the community is that moving forward, the Chicano/Latino/Hispanic community should focus on other areas to progress, as no one person or project is the sole bearer of this responsibility.

Actor Xolo Maridueña holds scarab in DC Films’ “Blue Beetle.” PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

Stockton Symphony presents Ukrainian pianist

BY DOMINICK DELISE Staff Writer

The Stockton Symphony returns to Delta College’s Atherton Auditorium for its 2023-24 season on Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 with “Engage!” featuring piano composer Stanislav Khristenko of Ukraine.

“Besides the acoustics, Atherton is a very fine facility ... very little of what I like to call a cave ... Whereas if you go to San Francisco and sit in Davies Hall; it feels like everything is far off in the distance. At Atherton there is a great sight line from every seat in the hall to the stage, so it gives off a feeling of immediacy and connection to what’s happening on stage,” said Stockton Symphony Music Director and Conductor, Peter Jaffe.

“Engage!” will be the symphony’s 97th performance, making it the third oldest performing professional symphony in California.

“It’s an all professional orchestra, the Stockton Symphony, and we’re the third oldest continuously operating orchestra in California,” said Jaffe.

The program will be kicking off with a party an hour before each show. On the patio there will be refreshments, and a performance from the students of the Cesar Chavez High School Jazz Band.

Following the party, the symphony will be performing the National Anthem.

From there, the orchestra will be playing “Brazil” by Ari Barros.

The second part in the second performance, “Secret

of Wind and Birds” by the Chinese American composer, Tan Dun. During this piece, ancient Chinese instruments will be used to emulate the sound of birds. The symphony will ask the audience to record for a minute or more.

“It will be trail blazing,” said Jaffe. “For the first and last time ever, we will be insisting that the audience have their phones on! That’s kind of the whole idea behind what engage means, it’s an event for the audience to gather, socialize and have a great time.”

Khristenko, an internationally acclaimed piano soloist will be performing “Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major.” Amidst the show, Khristenko also handles an emotional battle over the Ukrainian war that is keeping him from seeing his family. He is at the age where if he were to visit his country, they may draft him into the war.

“Music is his therapy,” Jaffe added.

Given Khristenko’s talents it is expected that he will give an encore after the finale,

“Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture.”

Tickets for the “Engage!” are available online at stocktonsymphony.com.

Prices are $49 for adults and only $10 for children 13 and under.

“Ticket sales have been good! We’re at 700 subscriptions, which is the same as last year, or even better,” said Dan McCabe, Stockton Symphony Box Office Manager, who said that trends show people often purchase tickets at the last minute.

Downtown Stockton’s Huddle showcases ‘Redefining Beauty Project’

Ukrainian pianist, Stanislav Khristenko. PHOTO COURTSEY OF KHRISTENKO PRESS KIT

Left photo: Stockton local, admiring Shannon Lea Rock’s project. Top right photo: Steven Herder, a Stockton local, viewing the “Redefining Beauty Project” by the photographer Shannon Lea Rock. Bottom right photo: Annie Mack, a Stockton native for thirty years, viewng the “Redefining Beauty Project.”

PHOTOS BY SAMIRAH GABER

Are politicians getting too old to represent?

BY ZACKARY KIRK-NEWTON Staff Writer

For that reason it’s becoming increasingly disheartening to find that some of our highest levels of public office are dominated by people who are in their 70s, 80s or even their 90s, which Sen. Diane Feinstein has recently reached. How can we expect people who are 40-50 years separated from us to accurately represent us?

This slowly rising issue has not gone unnoticed.

“The new Senate’s median age, on the other hand, is 65.3 years, up from 64.8 in the 117th Congress,” noted the Pew Research Center, a non-partisan organization that is dedicated to keeping the public informed, in January.

To put into perspective just how long ago 65 years was, that was the year that the Little Rock Nine were enrolled into Little Rock Central High School.

This bump in average is even more striking when taking into account that the average age of new additions to the Senate were all well below the median age of the Senate, at 49.4 vs. 65.3, as per Pew’s data.

And it’s not merely a matter of cultural and political divide at the end of the day. The fact of the matter is that getting old isn’t always graceful. We’ve seen multiple instances over the past two months alone of two high profile politicians having their ability to lead being impeded by things that are simply outside of their control.

On Aug. 31, Sen. Mitch McConnell froze while addressing the press for the second time in many months while discussing whether he plans to run again in 2026.

“There, he paused mid-sentence for

approximately 20 seconds, before being ushered away by his fellow Republican senators,” according to a BBC report from the same day.

While he has since been cleared to continue his duties at the capital it feels almost wrong to simply let this fall to the wayside.

For some balance let’s turn back to Feinstein, who on July 27, instead of voting on a proposed bill launched into prepared statements, which led to confusion for several minutes before Sen. Patty Murray, a fellow Democrat, told her simply to “just vote aye.”

Later in the same hearing Feinstein voted “nay” on a bill before quickly correcting it to “aye”.

A Feinstein spokesperson said the markup “was a little chaotic” according to an NBC report.

At some point you gotta just wonder: Why?

We’re watching people literally work themselves into the grave and the American public is putting them there. People have said that as long as they choose to run, it’s on them but surely someone has to step in eventually.

Neither party is fostering new talent to replace these literal elder statesmen so there isn’t really ever a question of if they’ll run for re-election.

What’s the average voter to do? Vote for the guy who’s diametrically opposed to you politically simply because he was born after the end of segregation?

Whatever this current system is, it’s not sustainable. We need to let people retire instead of existing in the senate as seat filler to keep the party lines where they most benefit their party.

People like to view politics as this complex game, and to some extent it is, but the pawns are people and to treat

them as anything less is down right cruel. Let these people go home and ask their grandchildren how to get to Yahoo on the computer for three hours. It’s what every 80-year-old dreams of.

Technology in schools: What’s your preference?

BY JADA PORTILLO Opinion Editor

Imagine this scenario, which I’m pretty sure you all can relate to.

You’re walking into class and the first thing you notice is how everyone has either a tablet, laptop or they have both, while you just have a pencil and paper.

Even in high schools, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, handwritten notes were widely used.

Now, everyone is using a laptop, even elementary school kids with their district laptops.

Technology has become the norm. Everyone’s preferences are different, some take notes on Word docs while others take notes on a tablet but you

can’t help but feel like you’re going to somehow fail because you don’t have what other students have.

Personally, I relate but then again, everyone’s preferences are different when it comes to college.

“I always wanted to try writing on a tablet,” said Delta College student Alissa Nicole. “But I prefer handwritten notes, sometimes laptops depending on my mood.”

While it seems like handwritten notes are being phased out of Delta, handwritten notes are great since they won’t get lost if I drop water on them compared to technology.

“I prefer a laptop but also handwritten notes on the side,” Delta College student Monica Candelas said.

Personally, I use a notebook and colorful pens when taking my notes since I retain more information that way, especially when color-coding my work leaving me three slides behind on a lecture.

At home though, I use a laptop just to do homework since I’m not the best typer in the world to take notes on a laptop.

My only problem is I don’t remember what I write when my writing is sloppy.

“Some students would use Cornell notes on their iPad and it looked really organized, especially in math,” Delta College student Elizabeth Brooke said. “There was a student that did such good notes in Geology 5A and she sent me

her notes from her iPad.”

I have the urge to buy a tablet since it’s all I see and it seems portable compared to carrying my heavy laptop around, plus maybe I’d actually study for the aesthetic of it.

It’s been a hot ‘KIA Boyz’ summer

BY JELISSA KING Entertainment Editor

Imagine waking up to your parents panicking and screaming: “Where’s your car?!” I wasn’t fully awake to process what was happening. I thought to myself, my Kia Optima was finally stolen, this is a blessing in disguise.

My car had fallen to a social media craze that promotes theft of specific models of cars while leaving victims without their transportation.

Since the pandemic, TikTok has become the most popular and used social media platform. It’s where young users consume video content of influencers singing, dancing, acting out skits and video tutorials. Watching video tutorials can teach viewers a wide range of DIY content - including some illegal activity.

One of the most popular DIY videos exhibits how to steal a Kia or Hyundai, also known as the “Kia Boyz” trend. The video went viral from TikTok to Instagram and even showcased on YouTube. Other TikTok users were also reposting and demon strating, “How to steal a Kia and Hyundai.”

Car thefts in Stockton increased eight percent this summer between June and July. So far 1,335 car thefts have been reported, according to the Stockton Police Department. Omer Edhah, the spokesperson for the Stockton Police Department, didn’t have much to say about the TikTok trend.

“We investigate all auto thefts in our juris diction. We always look for trends and similarities to determine whether or not they are related,” said Edhah.

I wasn’t the only victim.

“I have a Hyundai Sonata and my car was broken into twice this summer. I caught the boys the first time and chased them down the street. Two days later, my car was broken into and stolen from my spot in the parking lot. I know it was the same stupid … boys from before. They took it on a joyride, stole all my belongings, and dumped it somewhere off Hammer.

I work in the Bay, so I was struggling to get to work. My car insurance wasn’t helpful, I paid most of the damages out of pocket,” said Breanna Murphy, a Delta college student.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, gave a press release in March 2023 about the rising issues of the social media trend, specifically citing how a rise in these thefts has resulted in car insurance companies declining certain models..

“... owners are now facing the threat of being unable to insure their vehicles. Major insurance companies are now refusing to insure the Hyundai and Kia models most susceptible to theft,” the news release from Bonta’s office said.

consumers beginning in early 2023.

“We are reaching out to let you know we have now developed a software upgrade that can be installed on your vehicle to restrict operation of the vehicle’s ignition system should your locked vehicle be the subject of a break-in and theft attempt without the key,” Kia’s recall letter said.

My Kia Optima was found less than two hours after reporting it missing. The “Kia Boyz” broke my ignition, the steering wheel and stole some of my personal belongings. Luckily, I have AAA insurance, they were extremely helpful and understanding of my situation. They covered my car rental for three weeks. However, the damages to was less than my deductI had to pay out

Book.

If consumers have these vehicles, State Farm requires an immobilizer inspection. America’s Hyundai and Kia manufacturers did not install immobilizers, was it laziness on their part? Twenty-three state attorney generals wrote to the car manufacturers to fix the problem by demanding recalls.

Hyundai and Kia sent out recall notices to their

pocket which was $550. My household is currently installing outside cameras, especially by the driveway. This blessing was inconvenient for someone who commutes to the bay.

My advice to anyone who has a Hyundai or Kia is to please contact your dealership and get your software updated.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JADA PORTILLO

VOLLEYBALL DIGS DEEP TO WIN DELTA CLASSIC

BY ANDREA RIVERA Sports Editor BY DAVID CASTANON Staff Writer

Delta College volleyball made a statement to the league teams during this year’s Delta Classic tournament held on Sept. 7 and Sept. 9

Mustangs played with such composure it seemed like the team had been there before.

With back-to-back wins bringing the Mustangs to an undefeated 8-0, Associate Professor and Head Coach Molly Hummel said she is excited for the Mustangs new beginnings as the team’s chemistry builds.

This was the team’s first tournament together as 11 of the 13 players are first-year players. “When you have 11 new freshmen and two returners it can be a difficult road, but I think a lot of it has to do with our team chemistry and how well they get along with each other,” said Hummel.

The Mustangs started the tournament against Shasta College, moved on to Cabrillo College and played a semifinal game against Lassen Community College. The team showcased defense and offense skills with a complete sweep of 3-0 each game.

Delta College advanced to the finals against the

Feather River College (FRC) Golden Eagles, a top team in the Big 8 Conference. The Eagles’ brought intense energy and performance, leading the Mustangs to falter in the first set 25-21.

This gave Delta its first opportunity of the season to respond to being down 0-1.

By the second set both teams were back to back until errors made by FRC pushed the Mustangs forward resulting in 25-22 and tied the game 1-1.

“The atmosphere and the team we played is one of the top teams in California, so it just came like playing them,” said Freshman outside hitter Emily Vickers, who scored 7.5 points and 14 digs in the championship game about what was keeping the Mustangs’ energy up when the score was tied.

During the final set, nerves everywhere and time outs called after multiple mistakes made by both teams, Hummel made it her plan to get the team refocused and strategize where it was needed.

“We take that time to gather and refocus. Sometimes when it starts swinging the other team’s way we just kind of want to bring it back in and focus on us as a team. And I thought they did a good job coming out of those time outs with an urgency. They were able to change the flow in those moments,” said

Hummel.

The Mustangs pushed on through the last set, remembering the tough lessons from previous games during the tournament, winning the last set 25-15 and ending the game 3-1.

“Lassen really prepared us for this game. I think they’re the first team to really push us and show us what we’re really capable of and just got us to where we needed to be,” said sophomore outside hitter Kiyah Irby, who earned a game-high of 27 points, after the victory for their game against FRC.

Mens, womens soccer teams hit the goal with two wins

Sophomore Bella Cormack jumping to spike on Shasta college in Delta Classic tournament.

PHOTO BY LAYLA CARRASCO

From left: Naila Ia, Emily Vickers and Bella Cormack waiting for the serve. PHOTO BY ANDREA RIVERA

From left, women’s soccer freshman Alexus Rossi and sophomore Evelyn Gomez running to get possession of the ball during a Sept. 8 against Taft. The team won 11-0. Men’s soccer sophomore Omar Silva pushed out of the way by Siskiyous for the ball during the Sept. 8 game. Freshman Juan Lara looking to find and open teammate to pass to. The team won the match against College of the Siskiyous 7-0.

PHOTOS BY DYLAN JAEKEL