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FOUR DEAD, 13 INJURED IN NORTH STOCKTON SHOOTING
Local, state officials denounce act of violence as investigation continues
BY ANDREA BALTODANO Editor-in-Chief
A mass shooting Saturday, Nov. 29 in north Stockton left four people dead — including three children — and injured at least 13 others, authorities said.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation and said early indications suggest the attack may have been “targeted.”
Deputies responded shortly before 6 p.m. to reports of gunfire near the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office.
Officers found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
ing agency of the investigation as the shooting occurred in a county pocket of the city where the agency has jurisdiction.
Authorities said they are reviewing tips, video and witness accounts as they work to develop suspect descriptions.
$80,000 BOUNTY FOR INFORMATION
Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Heather Brent said community cooperation has already helped move the investigation forward. As of press time on Thursday, no arrests have been made.
Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi announced Sunday that Stockton Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting. Fugazi said she is personally matching that amount with an additional $10,000, and District 2 Councilwoman Mariela Ponce has pledged another $5,000. The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation has also added $5,000. In addition, the FBI is offering a $50,000 reward, bringing the total available reward to $80,000.
Officials now say 17 people in total were shot; four died from their injuries.
The four who died are Susano Archuleta, 21, of Stockton, Amari Peterson, 14, of Modesto, Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, 8, of Stockton, and Maya Lupien, 8, of Stockton.
“This is a very active and ongoing investigation,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote in its initial statement. “Early indications suggest this may be a targeted incident, and investigators are exploring all possibilities.” Detectives continued processing the scene Sunday with assistance from the California Department of Justice. The sheriff’s office is the lead-
“We are urging anyone with information, video footage, or who may have witnessed any part of this incident to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office immediately,” Brent said. “Community assistance is vital in helping us identify those responsible and bring justice to the victims and their loved ones.”
The motive remains unclear.
Several law-enforcement agencies responded to the scene or are assisting with the investigation, including the Delta College Police Department, which provided support alongside Stockton Police, Manteca Police, Tracy Police, Lathrop Police, University of the Pacific Police, the California Highway Patrol, Stockton Unified School District Police, the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Department of Justice and
REMEMBERING CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY
The Nov. 30 tragedy is not the first time Stockton has endured a mass shooting that claimed the lives of children.
On Jan. 17, 1989, a gunman opened fire on the playground of Cleveland Elementary School in north Stockton, killing five students and injuring 32 others. The children who died were all between the ages of 6 and 9, many of them refugees whose families had es-
caped war before finding a home in Stockton.
The attack, one of the deadliest school shootings in California history, left a lasting mark on the community and helped ignite national conversations about assault weapons and school safety. A memorial now stands at the site, honoring the students whose lives were taken.
the FBI.
Delta College Police Acting Chief Tammie Murrell said the department works closely with local, county and state agencies during regional emergencies.
“In regional incidents like this, our role is to maintain campus security while supporting broader law enforcement efforts through coordination and communication,” Murrell said. “Your safety is always our top priority.”
In a message to students Sunday afternoon, Delta College administrators acknowledged the emotional impact the shooting has had on the campus community.
“Gun violence is tragic wherever it happens,” the message read, noting that the ages of the victims have shaken many personally.
The college encouraged students to seek support and listed counseling resources available on campus and through UWill.
RESIDENTS GATHERED TO MOURN
Top: A memorial table with candles is displayed at Sunday’s vigil honoring the shooting victims. Bottom: Community members gathered for a prayer vigil Sunday near the mass shooting site in North Stockton. Speakers led prayers as attendees held candles and flowers in memory of the victims.
PHOTOS BY ANDREA BALTODANO
On Sunday, about 100 people gathered beneath an overcast sky near the site of the shooting for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims and show solidarity with their families and the
community. Local religious leaders offered prayers and called for an end to the violence, as friends, neighbors and city officials came together in a moment of collective grief and resolve.
Attendees brought flowers and candles, placing them at a memorial table. Others stood quietly as speakers called for accountability, healing and support for the families affected.
Delta College police, administration respond to shooting
BY ZACKARY KIRK-NEWTON Editor-in-Chief
Members of the Delta College community are offering words of support and resources amidst mourning following a shooting that injured 10 and killed four, including three children.
President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson and the Delta College Board of Trustees released a statement Nov. 30 expressing sorrow at the Nov. 29 shooting.
“Gun violence is tragic wherever it happens, but when a mass shooting takes place close to home, it shakes us in a very personal way,” read the statement released on several of Delta Colleges’ social media accounts and sent directly to student emails.
The message shared the hope that the community would rally in support of those affected by the shooting.
“We have no doubt that this community will rally around affected families and provide the support and care that they need in the days, weeks, months, and years to come,” read the statement
Additionally, the email offered resources to students who may have been affected by the tragedy and encouraged them to share the resources with others.
“Drop-in personal counseling will be available at the Delta Connect Center and at the Counseling Office on the second floor of the DeRicco Building,” read the email, which included links to the campus Uwill page, an online mental health resource service provided for free to students.
Director of Marketing and Communications Alex Breitler noted the importance of offering resources in times like this.
“We wanted to make sure students had someone they could speak with if they need any additional support in the wake of what happened on Saturday,” said Breitler.. “I think the entire community is impacted by such an awful tragedy. Even if we don’t personally know someone who was involved, it’s devastating to
know that this happened in our city.”
Breitler also mentioned seeing students who spoke about being unable to focus following the shooting in the Delta College Facebook group.
“I noticed that students in the Delta College Facebook group [Sunday] were commenting about the situation and talking about how it was hard to focus on school with everything that’s going on, so clearly this is affecting many of us, and understandably so,” said Breitler.
The Delta Police Department was also involved in the response to the shooting, assisting in communication and coordination.
“The reason for this was that we only had one sworn officer on duty and there was a volleyball tournament,” said Tammie Murrell, acting district chief of police, in an email to the Delta Collegian. “We needed coverage on our campus.”
Delta Police became involved after the sheriff’s department sent out a request for mutual aid. After receiving the request, Murrell passed it on to Delta College and assisted as the department kept students informed and equipped with resources to handle the event.
“In regional incidents like this, our role is to maintain campus security while supporting broader law enforcement efforts through coordination and communication. Your safety is always our top priority.”
Murrell also acknowledged the students how students might feel in the wake of this incident, and affirmed that Delta Police was committed to keeping the community safe.
“We understand that events like this can cause concern and anxiety,” said Murrell. “Please know that Delta College Police is committed to transparency, preparedness, and collaboration with our law enforcement partners. Together, we strive to keep our campus and community safe.”
A $25,000 reward for any information regarding the shooting is currently being offered by Stockton Crime Stoppers, with Mayor Christina Fugazi and Councilwoman Mariela Ponce contributing $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 468-4400. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600.
The FBI is also offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of those responsible. Tips can be submitted to the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov/digitalmedia/651d7e15e5fc68f
Students note fear, resilience in days after weekend incident
BY LEVI GOERZEN Sports Editor
After the mass shooting on Nov. 29, Collegian went asked Delta College students what they thought in the aftermath.
Some students thought that this wasn’t an unusual thing for Stockton.
“There’s another one that’s kind of unfortunate but it happens,” said Delta student Wren Angel.
While students aren’t surprised their hearts still go out to the families of the victims.
“It was kids,” said POST Academy student Bill Williams. “That just saddens me man.”
Some students have even shown some fear due to the proximity of the event to campus.
“I live by there and I was in the middle of doing homework to. We heard the gun shots go off [hell of] times and seen the helicopters flying around,” said student Angel Lara on the
San Joaquin Delta Facebook group.
The Associated Students of Delta College (ASDC) highlighted mental health resources available for students to use, including Uwill.
“We already have the necessary resources,” said ASDC President Ema Fua, adding that like the Delta College Board of Trustees, she is confident the community will pull through.
“In moments of profound sorrow, Stockton shows extraordinary resilience,” said the Board of Trustees, “we have no doubt that this community will rally around affected families and provide the support and care that they need in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.”
BY BELINDA SEIBEL
The memorial for the victims of the Nov. 29 mass shooting outside The Outpost on Lucile Avenue in Stockton California.
PHOTO
FROM DELTA COLLEGE SOCIAL MEDIA
STOCKTON DESERVES MORE THAN GOOD INTENTIONS
Stockton is grieving. This past weekend, our community was shattered by a mass shooting in north Stockton that left four people dead — three of them children — and injured many more.
Fifteen people in total were shot. The numbers alone are devastating, but the reality behind them is worse: families broken, futures stolen, and a city forced once again to reckon with the violence that keeps cutting into the lives of its youngest residents.
EDITORIAL
The ages of the victims — 8, 8, 14 and 21 — are a reminder that this trauma will echo for years. Children shouldn’t be memorialized with candles on street corners. They should be at school, at home, at birthday parties, dreaming about the future. Instead, their families are planning funerals.
As a college newspaper, it might be easy to think this tragedy sits outside our responsibility. But Delta College is not isolated from Stockton.
Our students live in these neighborhoods. They walk these streets, ride these buses, and shop in these stores. Some may have known the victims. Many are afraid.
Violence in Stockton is never “somewhere else.”
It is ours to face, ours to mourn, and ours
The Collegian
VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
The four victims of the Nov. 29 mass shooting have been identified by family members on social and news media. Their names are:
• Susano Archuleta, 21, of Stockton
• Amari Peterson, 14, of Modesto
• Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, 8, of Stockton
• Maya Lupian, 8, of Stockton
to demand better from.
Stockton is a strong, resilient city, but resilience should not be something required of us this often.
We shouldn’t have to become experts at holding vigils. We shouldn’t have to gather in parking lots with candles and tears to insist that children deserve to grow up. Our community is tired of living in cycles where shock gives way to outrage, outrage fades into silence, and silence lasts until the next tragedy.
We also have to acknowledge that violence like this doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens in communities starved of resources, investment, opportunity and trust. It happens where families feel forgotten and where children grow up with more access to trauma than to stable support systems.
Law enforcement is a necessary part of the response, but it can’t be the only one. Stock-
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.
ton needs sustained investment in youth programs, mental-health resources, neighborhood infrastructure, and safe spaces for young people and families, not just in the aftermath of tragedies, but every single day.
City officials have called on the public to come forward with information, and a reward has been offered. That cooperation is essential. But accountability must also be broader.
Leaders at every level — local, state, and national — need to confront the reality that communities like Stockton carry the heaviest burden of America’s failure to address gun violence.
For Delta students processing this tragedy, know this: your grief is valid. Your fear is valid. And your hope, even if it feels complicated right now, is valid too. Stockton has always been a place defined not just by struggle but by heart, strength, and community. That is who we are. It is why people stand together at vigils. It is why neighbors show up for one another. It is why this city refuses to look away.
Stockton deserves more than thoughts and prayers. It deserves safety, investment, and a future where children are remembered for the lives they live, not the lives stolen from them.
And as a community, we must demand nothing less.
JASMIN AGUAYO
CANDELAS LAYLA CARRASCO JEWELS ESTRADA RYCKIE HEREDIA JOSELUIS HERRERA LUCIA NOEL
OLMSTEAD
TURNER
Elected officials, groups offer support
GOV. GAVIN
NEWSOM
DEC. 1, X
“As more details emerge about this horrific shooting, my heart is with the families of the victims and the entire Stockton community. No child should ever have their life taken from them.
I’ve ordered flags at the State Capitol to fly at half-staff to honor the children we mourn and stand with the community as it grieves.”
REP. JOSH HARDER (US, 9)
NOV. 30, FACEBOOK
“The past 24 hours have been incredibly difficult for our Stockton community. Pam and I are heartbroken. We lost four lives last night in a senseless shooting, including 3 children. Many more are injured and in the hospital.
We have multiple families living through the worst possible pain right now. No community deserves this. No child deserves this.
I’ve spoken with our local law enforcement who are working around the clock to hold the perpetrator accountable. Thank you to all the first responders for your dedication.
To everyone reading this — please hold these families in your prayers”
ASSEMBLYMEMBER RHODESIA RANSOM
NOV. 30, FACEBOOK
“I am feeling the weight of today. As a mom before I am a legislator, this tragedy sits heavy on my heart and in the pit of my stomach. No family should ever lose a child like this. What happened in Stockton is not who we are. It is something that happened to our community, and we will surround these families with love, prayer, and support. I have spoken with our local partners, and mutual aid is available if needed to help us care for those who are grieving and those who were injured.
This is the beginning of healing for some and the beginning of grief for others. Life is fragile, and moments like this remind us to love one another and to lift each other up. I am praying for peace, for comfort, and for the strength our community needs in the days ahead.”
CHRISTINA FUGAZI, STOCKTON MAYOR
DEC.
1, INSTAGRAM
“I could not sleep last night. I lay there in disbelief about what these families, these children, and our entire community went through. The trauma they are living with is unimaginable. Children who saw things no child should ever see. Loved ones standing there, watching someone they care about murdered in cold blood right in front of them. These are wounds that will likely never heal, let alone quickly. This is trauma that will follow these kids and these families for the rest of their lives.
And let us call this what it is. Gang violence exists in cities across the country, but this act was a pure act of terrorism. A complete, cowardly Terrorist Act!”
PAUL CANEPA, SJ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAIR
NOV. 30, FACEBOOK
“I am deeply shocked and saddened by the horrific tragedy that occurred in our community earlier this evening. On behalf of the entire Board of Supervisors, I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families. We stand united in our commitment to seek justice, and we have full confidence in our Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney as they work to identify and prosecute those responsible for this senseless act of violence.
I want to thank our partner agencies across San Joaquin County who stepped in immediately to assist. I also want to recognize the doctors, nurses, and staff at San Joaquin General Hospital who are caring for victims in the aftermath. Your skill and dedication save lives every single day, and we are grateful for the work you are doing right now.”
MORE SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSES
STOCKTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
LAWRENSON TO INTERVIEW FOR LOS RIOS TOP SPOT
BY ZACKARY KIRK-NEWTON Editor-in-Chief
Following her announcement as a finalist in the search for a new Los Rios Chancellor, president Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson has reaffirmed her commitment to San Joaquin Delta College in an email to Collegian staff.
“I want the Delta community to know that I value this institution and the work we are doing together, and I remain committed to that work as this process moves forward,” wrote Lawrenson in an email.
This affirmation comes as a busy year looms for SJDC with both the planning for Measure K underway and the compre-
hensive report for accreditation set to begin in Fall 2026.
“I want students, faculty, and staff to know that I will continue to provide leadership and support during this period, and I remain focused on our accreditation work, Measure K planning, and the many initiatives underway to support student success.”
In the event that Lawrenson does move forward with the Los Rios Chancellorship, there are plans in place.
“If Dr. Lawrenson is selected as Chancellor at Los Rios, our Board will spring into action immediately. Board Policy 2431 specifically mandates the Board’s primary role in select-
ing a successor to the Superintendent/President,” said Area 2 Trustee Dan Wright.
Board Policy 2431 states that the board must establish a search process to fill the position of president in the event of a vacancy.
Her candidacy status was announced alongside two other finalists when the question submission form for the candidate town hall went live. That town hall will be held on Dec. 8 with only Los Rios community members allowed to be in attendance. The meeting will be streamed on Youtube, according to the district.
The Los Rios chancellor position is currently held by Bri-
an King, who is set to retire at the end of the academic year. Applications for the position opened on Aug. 18 and were closed on Oct. 15.
King also faced a vote of no confidence in Fall 2023 from the academic senates of Sacramento City College, Cosumnes River College and American River College.
Some board members were made aware of Lawrenson’s status as a finalist on the weekend of Nov. 15.
“President Lawrenson made me aware of her candidacy this past weekend,” said Trustee Wright. “She gave no earlier indication of pursuing the position.”
Armed robbery reported on Stockton campus
No injuries following Nov. 24 incident; suspect sought by Stockton Police
BY JOHN NGUYEN Feature Editor
On Nov. 24 around 9:05 p.m. at North Burke Bradley Drive, an armed robbery suspect left a vehicle, accompanied by a driver, before holding the female victim, 27, at gunpoint as she was walking on Pershing Avenue and forcing the victim to surrender her purse.
The suspect was described as a dark-skinned adult male around 25 to 30 years old, last seen wearing a light hooded sweatshirt with black/blue plaid sweatpants and carrying a handgun. The driver was described as female, but there are no other physical details confirmed about the driver.
After the robbery, the suspect fled in the driver’s vehicle onto campus. According to District Police Sgt. Mike Perea, the victim flagged down a patrolling police officer in the area and reported the incident. A campus search took place soon afterwards, but neither the suspect nor their vehicle had been found.
A Clery Timely Warning
announcement was issued to campus the next morning on Nov. 25 at 10:41 a.m., in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Act requiring colleges and universities to disclose information on crimes in the area of campus. The announcement contains details on the case, as well as a safety message with advice for how to avoid being victimized in a crime.
“As soon as the supervisors are known and we can identify that it might be a Clery Act; which at this point, we still don’t know yet — it’s still an ongoing investigation. As soon as that happens, then we notify and put it out,” Perea said. “Once the chief and myself were notified, we made the notification.”
When asked about the delay between the initial in -
cident and the Clery Timely Warning announcement, Perea replied with the following.
“The incident was reported to have occurred in Stockton’s territory — Stockton Police Department. It’s an ongoing investigation; so at this point, we are trying to identify where exactly it occurred. We don’t even know that at this point. We just made the
notification just to make sure everybody knows what’s going on,” Perea said.
According to Acting District Chief of Police Tammie Murrell, district police have placed an order for the crime report from Stockton Police but were told that it wasn’t finished yet.
“Officers are currently still patrolling the area and looking for any type of vehicle or suspicious activity on campus,” Perea said.
Stockton Police asks that members of the public who were witness to or have helpful information on the incident to contact them immediately at 209-937-8377. To report crimes to Delta police, the Nov. 25 Clery Timely Warning announcement advises using any of the emergency blue phones around campus, call 209-954-500 or open the Rave Mobile Guardian App and select “Call District Police.” To report to Delta police from a classroom or office, the announcement also advises to dial 5000 or select “911.”
President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson will appear at the town hall on Dec. 8 for the Los Rios Community College District Chancellor position. PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN JOAQUIN DELTA COLLEGE
Clubs mostly rely on posters to spread word, digital options exist
BY ZACKARY KIRK-NEWTON Editor-in-Chief
If you need to get the word out about an event what is the best way to do it?
For many on the Delta College campus the tried and true method is the poster, plastered on every pillar, window and bulletin board. Posters are seen as the only way to go for many students and campus clubs.
For the past few years the rules regarding what could be put up around campus have been pretty lenient and for the most part unenforced.
Board Policy 3760, which governs free expression on campus, stipulates that anything posted on campus must “indicate the author or agency responsible for its production, as well as an expiration date, which is the date thirty days after the material was first posted.”
“We do not have the capacity to enforce this,” said Alex Breitler, director of Marketing and Communication when asked about the enforcement of board policy in regards to materials posted on campus.
In the past the Department of Student Life was in charge of reviewing and approving the posters around campus. This was changed in a 2017 revision to Administrative Policy 3760. Part of the previous process was stamping posters with dates for easy removal.
The rationale behind the decision was included in the revision: “These proposed changes to AP 3760 are based on CCLC suggested language with the intention to improve campus conditions for free expression by the students of San Joaquin Delta College and the greater community.”
CCLC is the Community
College League of California which is a non-profit public benefit corporation that advocates for community colleges on the federal and state level.
Director of Student Life
Christopher Frymire said that while the office is no longer in charge of reviewing it they were still a resource for students looking to advertise.
“But we don’t police what clubs post or anything,” said Frymire. “We might offer some advice like ‘hey you need a date on here’ or ‘you should put your club name on this.’”
According to Frymire, the work of checking things posted around campus is left largely to the clubs and club advisors.
Though Student Life doesn’t have the same role it once did in terms of posters, the office does have another avenue for club advertising that it can help students with.
The Student Life section is added to every Delta College students’ Canvas page. Throughout the semester the section posts announcements about events on campus, typically those from ASDC and Food Pantry, which are both under the umbrella of Student Life.
This functionality is available to all student clubs.
“If a club comes to us and says ‘hey we wanna post something on Canvas.’ we can put that up through Canvas,” said Frymire.
Frymire noted that adoption was still low however with non-Student Life programs rarely using the platform.
“Almost nil,” said Frymire, when asked if student run clubs were utilizing the ability to have Student Life advertise for them on canvas
There is another issue with the Canvas announcements as well: engagement. Frymire cites the
messages and notifications received as a reason why students don’t engage with announcements made by Student Life.
“At what point does it just become white noise,” said Frymire. “I can tell you from running the ASDC elections, we get more response from direct emails to students than we do from announcements on Canvas.”
Frymire said he hopes that in the future that students will be able to find new ways to interact and advertise events, specifically ones that involve more face-to-face interaction.
“Now what I would love to see happen is, and this is something that I just need more officers with ASDC to do is to get out into the quad with, like, little quarter sized flyers or invitations and just try to get in front of people,” said Frymire.
Board approves funding for kiln-yard design
BY RYCKIE HEREDIA Staff Writer
On Nov. 18, the Board of Trustees approved a contract for architectural services with NJA Architecture to create a kiln yard adjacent to the ceramics lab in Shima 138/138A.
Student Trustee Dylan Myers proposed the Shima Ceramic Kiln Project motion, and area 2 trustee Dan Wright seconded it.
The recommended action that needed to take place at the time was that the administration recommended the Board of Trustees authorize the District to enter into contract with NJA Architecture, for the Shima Ceramic Kiln Project in the amount of $128,600. The budgeted source is Capital Project Funds.
Capital Project Funds is a category of funding that is often used for one-time large investments, usually for longterm assets like buildings or equipment.
The kiln yard is part of a project that started last year with the approval of money to purchase two new kilns for the ceramic program, which has seen both of its main gas kilns fail in the past two years.
“This is a vital upgrade to the safety and functionality of the kiln and ventilation systems. I look forward to again being able to offer more sections to ceramics to meet the demand of our student-artists,” said Shenny Cruces, Delta College’s ceramics professor.
Board documents confirmed that the project is also being done due to health and safety concerns.
“... This project will remove the existing kilns from the classroom to address the potential safety issues to any toxic fumes and heat,” the documentation notes.
The current kilns are locat-
ed in an outroom of the classroom space. The work looks to relocate the kilns outside of the classroom space, in an outdoor space that connects to the current sculpture yard.
NJA Architecture is a local Lodi firm established in 1979, and has focused its services almost exclusively on public school design and community projects.
The approval process for the plans started earlier in the semester.
On Sept. 22, 2025, the first Request for Task Order Proposal (RFTOP) was sent to pre-qualified firms to supply design services for Shima 138/138A instructional rooms.
The second proposal's solicitation includes a pre-proposal meeting and a question-and-answer period before the Oct. 20, 2025, submission date.
Board documents did not indicate a finish date for the project.
Delta shifts focus to equity under statewide initiative
BY JARRED WRIGHT Senior Staff Writer
Delta has drafted a 2025-28 Student Equity Plan (SEP) that centers student communities affected by inequity as it seeks to align itself with the equity goals of the California Community College’s (CCC) Vision 2030 roadmap.
Vision 2030, updated in July, outlines three broad goals of “Equity in Access, Equity in Success, and Equity in Support,” with the aim of “reintroducing the importance of access by proactively taking college to Californians wherever they are: we are not waiting for students to come to us.”
According to Delta’s Student Equity and Achievement data dashboard, which only includes data of Delta’s previous equity progress as recent as 20172018, many students have been disproportionately impacted in past years.
In 2017-2018, for example, of the total enrolled Black or African American students, only 3.6 percent met the “Vision Completion Goal” and hence were disproportionately impacted.
By the Vision 2030 standards used to interpret the data, completion of the goal was defined as “students who
earned one or more of the following: a Chancellor’s office approved certificate, associate degree, and/or a CCC baccalaureate degree.”
In contrast, 6.3 percent of white students met that goal in the same timeframe and were not disproportionately impacted.
In Delta’s proposed plan, submitted by the Dean of Student Services Dr. Ricardo Marmolejo on Oct. 7, a multifaceted plan is outlined with several avenues being pursued to improve equitable outcomes for impacted groups while acknowledging previous shortcomings.
“...Delta College has identified multiple root causes of equity gaps impacting disproportionately impacted student populations … structural barriers such as limited academic and financial support, underrepresentation in decision-making processes, and campus climate have significantly contributed to persistent gaps for Black African American, Latinx, foster youth, LGBTQ, and low income students. One key institutional realization is that systemic inequities, not student deficits, are at the core of these disparities,” the plan reads.
Among the solutions proposed, fostering an affirming campus climate to
impacted students through community groups like “the Dreamer Success Center, Puente, NASA, Umoja, A2MEND, EPIC, Pride Scholars, and others,”tracking progress through further data collection, and professional development for faculty.
Significant among these is the practice of “Leverag[ing] student voices to advance institutional equity goals,” according to the Oct. 7 minutes of the Student Success and Equity Committee, citing a presentation by Marmolejo.
“Student participation will be prioritized by expanding the Student Success and Equity Committee, and the Equity Action Task Force (EATF) by embedding equity questions in class discussions, and leveraging student clubs, identity-based affinity groups, and Student Government to provide feedback on proposed strategies. Students will also be invited co-present [sic] equity priorities at Academic Senate and Classified Senate meetings, ensuring their perspectives shape institutional decision-making,” the plan reads.
This is influenced by a CCC-recommended document for designing and implementing student equity plans, and recommends improving race-conscious
planning in part through making “symbolic commitments visible” and “amplify[ing] student voices as a symbolic commitment to involving racially minoritized students.”
According to a 2024 climate report that surveyed students, 83 percent of students said “Delta is welcoming and supportive of students from all backgrounds while only 62 percent said they felt a sense of belonging to the campus community.
“We know we have much more work to do as a College. This report is merely a snapshot in time of the progress made in recent years; the key is how to sustain and enhance these efforts. Creating a more equitable college experience is one of Delta College’s top strategic goals, as we are located in one of the most diverse regions in the country and we want to ensure that every student has a fair opportunity to thrive, complete their goals, and succeed,” says Director of Marketing and Communications Alex Breitler.
At the time of publication, no comment was given by the Associated Students of Delta College (ASDC), Marmolejo, or Assistant Superintendent Lonita Cordova on the plan.
One of the kilns used by the ceramics classes that is currently broken. PHOTO BY RYCKIE HEREDIA
One year after Measure K, Delta’s transformation in planning stages
BY ANDREA BALTODANO Editor-in-Chief
One year after voters approved Delta College’s $598 million Measure K facilities bond, the district’s most consequential campus overhaul in two decades remains in its preparatory phase.
The work so far has taken place largely out of public view: selecting priority projects, securing architectural firms, forming an oversight committee and coordinating internal management. No major construction has begun, but the district says the pace is consistent with the requirements and timelines of large-scale capital projects at California community colleges.
When trustees approved Measure K in November 2024 with nearly 60 percent support, Delta entered a phase that facilities officials describe as foundational: establishing the scope of Phase 1, hiring design teams and completing early compliance steps.
At the Feb. 18 board meeting, trustees set the first round of Measure K priorities: a permanent academic center at the Mountain House campus; a modernization of the college’s aging technology cabling; major energy-efficiency and infrastructure upgrades, including parking lot replacements; and a new Public Safety Training Center in partnership with the City of Lodi.
Director of Marketing and Communications Alex Breitler confirmed that those four projects remain the district’s Phase 1 focus.
Three of them — Mountain House, energy efficiency and the technology cabling project — will use the design-build method. Under California’s Public Contract Code, design-build is a delivery method that combines design and construction into a single contract, allowing the district to hire one team responsible for both phases.
The criteria architect for the energy-efficiency project was approved Nov. 18, with architect selections for the remaining two slated for board consideration on Dec. 16. The Public Safety Training Center has moved into the schematic design phase, which outlines the project’s overall layout and concept before full construction plans are drafted.
“Although that work isn’t yet visible to students and the general public, we are getting closer every day, step by step,” Breitler said.
Faculty presentations this year highlighted the scale of need Measure K is intended to address.
Health Science instructor Amanda Lee urged the board to prioritize a modern facility for the nursing simulation lab, citing program growth and the need for realistic clinical training spaces. Other departments with aging facilities expressed similar concerns.
Trustees acknowledged the pressure to begin visible work sooner rather than later. Board Vice President Dr. Charles Jennings said some residents “felt burned last time,” referring to the pace of Measure L projects in the mid-2000s.
He also emphasized that constructing a new academic building could take “three to five years” from initial design to completion under state review requirements.
Measure K requires an independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. The committee has since been approved by the board, with its first public meeting scheduled for Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. in the Mustang Room.
“Their role provides critical oversight of how taxpayer dollars are being spent,” Breitler said.
The district has also begun issuing the first series of bonds to fund design and pre-construction work and has entered a project labor agreement intended to direct construction jobs to local workers once ground is broken.
Delta has opted not to hire external program managers at this stage. Oversight and coordination are instead being handled internally by Daniel Banowetz, who was appointed associate vice president of bond programs in June. Banowetz said the early stages of the bond do not require a large team, as most of the work involves planning, financial sequencing and preparing projects for design.
“Right now it’s just me, because in the first phase of any bond program there’s a lot of early groundwork but not a lot of simultaneous construction,” he said. “We’re doing all the buildup — the foundational work needed to get projects started.”
Banowetz expects to bring on one additional staff member once several projects are moving through design and construction at the same time. As of fall 2025, no Measure K construction has begun on the Stockton, Mountain House, Lodi or Manteca sites. The first visible construction — the large-scale replacement of sev-
eral Stockton campus parking lots — is scheduled to begin in summer 2026.
Banowetz said that while the absence of visible progress can cause concern, it reflects the reality of public-sector construction. “The beginning of a bond is always the hardest part because nobody sees any construction happening,” he said. “But there’s so much that has to be done before you break ground.”
That includes sequencing bond issuances. Delta issued its first $41 million earlier this year, and Banowetz noted that the district is required to spend each issuance within three years. “We have to be strategic about how we pull each issuance so we keep our promise to taxpayers and stay within the $16 per $100,000 tax rate,” he said.
Over the next 12 months, students can expect to see smaller changes: internal HVAC work, technology cabling inside older buildings and early preparatory activity in campus parking lots.
To reduce disruption, Banowetz said the college is working with college police to track parking usage and schedule lot closures accordingly. “For HVAC and cabling work, most of it will be done after hours or on weekends,” he said.
“We pay a premium for that, but minimizing impact on students and staff is important,” Banowetz explained, referring to the higher labor costs associated with evening and weekend work.
Measure K is Delta’s most ambitious facilities plan in two decades. Later
phases, which have not yet entered design, are expected to include major renovations to classroom buildings on the Stockton campus as well as new facilities and expansions at satellite centers.
Banowetz said economic conditions will be a key factor throughout the program.
“It’s a long program, so the biggest unknown is the economy,” he said. “Construction costs rarely go down. If I’m doing my job right, I have to get construction underway as soon as we can, because waiting usually makes it more expensive.”
Superintendent/President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson said when the bond passed that Measure K would “make a massive impact on the lives of thousands of families for decades into the future.” The district’s first year has been defined less by visible change than by the administrative, regulatory and design work required to prepare for it.
Banowetz said he hopes the community understands the importance of that early foundation.
“The start of a bond program may look like nothing is happening, but the beginning has to be done right so the rest of it goes well.”
The next turning point will come in 2026, when the first construction fences and equipment arrive on the Stockton campus. Until then, Measure K’s progress will unfold in board decisions, design reviews and planning documents, the quiet but necessary steps that precede a multiyear rebuild.
A class taking place in the Mountain House campus in September 2024. Permanent buildings in Mountain House are a Phase 1 priority of Measure K. COLLEGIAN ARCHIVE
37TH ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING
BY CAMRY TURNER Staff Writer
Hundreds of residents gathered at Delta College on Nov. 25 for the 37th annual Hospice of San Joaquin Tree Lighting, an event rooted in remembrance and community support.
The tradition began with a simple act of gratitude, said Sandy Stoddard, the hospice’s Director of Fund Development and Marketing.
“It started with a PG&E man’s wife who was sick and we helped take care of her,” she said. “He wanted to do something to help us raise money so that we could continue our mission helping people at the end of life.”
That gesture evolved into an annual event where families purchase symbolic lights in honor or memory of loved ones.
“You can purchase a light in memory or honor of someone and then
we add the name of your loved one to these boards, which we call the memory boards, and we add those lights to the tree,” Stoddard said.
Hospice of San Joaquin uses the event to support its program, such as the organization’s hospice house.
“We’re celebrating our 45th year, we’re the only hospice with a hospice house in Stockton, we’re the best, but we couldn’t do this without the help of Delta and our PG&E volunteers,” Stoddard said.
Stoddard said the nonprofit has received about 6,000 donations so far and hopes to reach 8,000 to 9,000 by the end of December. “We raise money throughout December so it’s not too late to donate.”
For many attendees, the event is now a yearly tradition.
Amanda Bacha, a second year attendee, said the tree lighting has
become a way to honor her late husband. “My husband passed away last year and we put his name on a donation, so we did it again this year. We’re going to build memories and make it a tradition, keep his name alive.”
The event is a reminder to value the time they still have with loved ones.
“We get to come together to celebrate our family who were once here, whether we’re busy or not,” said Brandy Gregory, a Stockton resident attending for her third year. “Cherish your family cause when you get older they start to disappear.”
Food drops throughout the holidays
BY ELENA CANDELAS Staff Writer
The holiday season is upon us but for many the most wonderful time of the year comes with a heavy financial burden.
ABC News reports that food pantries continue to see larger crowds than usual utilizing their programs even after the restoration of SNAP benefits. This trend is expected to remain throughout the Holiday season.
Even local food banks noted the larger communities they’ve been providing aid, when reached out.
Sheila Kozina is a representative for a local church’s food assistance program here in Stockton she noted that her program unfortunately couldn’t take many more members as they’ve already seen a large surge of need gradually over the year.
“We used to serve about 60 families a week, now we serve 105 to 150,” said Kozina.
Though she noted some of these families that join their program aren’t consistent, the organization was still “scram-
bling to get bags together” during the previous week of Thanksgiving.
Food insecurity is a growing issue and no one should ever spend the Holiday season without food. Below are a few places who will be serving the community this season.
When contacted, Second Harvest food Bank in Manteca stated they would be partaking in Mobile Fresh. The program provides 25-pound bags of food to patrons at various sites, including Delta College, during the year. This service is on a first come first serve basis and doesn’t require any form of reservation. Organizers advise getting to giveaway sites a
bit early, but no more than two hours before the start time.
Along with its Mobile Fresh event, Calvary Church will be hosting a coat drive on Dec. 7 from 9 to 10:45 a.m.
Greater Faith Missionary, located at 345 W. Worth St. in Stockton, 95206, will host an event on Dec. 20 where it will distribute meals, as well as toiletries and toys to the community. Though the event begins at 2 p.m., it is advised to arrive earlier as previous years have yielded people lining up at 10 a.m.
The Stockton segment of Catholic Charities has a small scale food bank that takes on site appointment-based food
distributions the last Wednesday of every month. The organization does not check income, but does require appointments for onsite pickups as it collects data in order to continue programs. Catholic Charities often have off site distributions that are first come, first serve. For more information about these distributions, contact (209) 444-5900. Catholic Charities will offer a two-day event closer to holidays to distribute holiday groceries, though those days are not yet set.
Anna Guzman, a representative for Catholic Charities, wanted to ensure that the public was aware of the Advocacy programs the organization offers.
“And something that I also wanted to add was that anyone that’s not receiving Calfresh benefits or have any questions regarding Calfresh benefits because… they are already receiving benefits. You can call us and we can support them and advocate for them. If they have any questions or they need additional help with reporting requirements,” Guzman said.
This holiday season, you are not alone. These are just some of the many programs available to help you or your loved ones this holiday season. If you wish to seek further information, visit Food Pantry Referrals & Food Programs.
A police car in front of the Tree of Lights during the Hospice of San Joaquin Tree Lighting at San Joaquin Delta College on Nov. 25. PHOTO BY RIN LIAKINA SOK
Soroptimist members Tedra and Sophia Torrice prep boxes of pumpkin pie to be distributed to the community at Golden West Elementary on Nov. 27. PHOTO BY ELENA CANDELAS
DELTA CELEBRATES HMONG NEW YEAR
BY LAYLA CARRASCO Staff Writer
Delta College students gathered in the Quad on Nov. 21 for the campus’s first Hmong New Year celebration, organized by the EPIC learning community, which supports Asian American and Pacific Islander students and is open to all students interested in AAPI topics.
Students checked in at a welcome table, picked up stamp cards and visited booths that highlighted Hmong history, clan systems and cultural traditions.
Music also played across the Quad as lines formed for traditional food and afternoon performances.
Hmong New Year, known as Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab, marks the end of the harvest season and is celebrated with dance, poetry and family gatherings.
The timing held special meaning. The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Hmong resettlement in the United States, making Delta’s first Hmong New Year celebration a milestone within a milestone.
“Hmong New Year is a significant cultural and spiritual event for honoring ancestors and spirits,” said Brian Thao,
a second-year biology major who served as MC for the event. “The festival continues, honoring the traditions through feasting, dancing, singing and games, providing a vital way for Hmong communities, especially those in the diaspora, to maintain cultural identity and pass down traditions.”
EPIC member Roan Wang said the celebration was especially meaningful for students reconnecting with their heritage.
“After our ancestors came to the United States, they kind of assimilated, so we lost a little bit of our language and culture,” Wang said. “I don’t really know much about my heritage unless parents decide you should learn about it.”
One of the key demonstrations was Pov Pob, the traditional Hmong ball-tossing game used for courtship.
Four students stood in pairs, wearing colorful outfits decorated with silver coins that jingled as they moved.
Each pair tossed a cloth ball back and forth while asking one another questions, reflecting a courtship ritual practiced between young people from different clans.
“Traditionally, ball tossing is a game for young individ-
uals to find their first love,” Thao said. “This game is typically played between people from two different clans because there’s no dating within the same clan.”
Throughout the event, students performed traditional spoken poetry and Hmong dances, with performances concluding in a fashion show that displayed the elaborate textiles and craftsmanship of traditional Hmong clothing.
In addition, participants from the Little Hmong Sunshine pageant, a non-competitive pageant for young girls ages four through 10, were introduced onstage.
After the final performance around 1 p.m., students returned to information booths to finish collecting stamps before lining up for lunch.
First-year student Aleynah Raquepo said the celebration helped her learn about a culture she had never experienced before.
“I didn’t even know Hmong New Year was a thing,” Raquepo shared. “It’s always good to learn about other people’s cultures.”
The event drew students from across campus throughout the two-hour celebration, marking what organizers hope will become an annual tradition at Delta College.
A crowd gathered for Hmong New Year in the San Joaquin Delta College Quad;
PHOTOS BY LAYLA CARRASCO
Clockwise, from top:
Melody Vang, left, Katreana Vang, center, and Avah Lo performing traditional Hmong dances at the Jose Serna Jr. Ampitheater; Tritian Vo and Brian Yang speaking into microphones at the Jose Serna Jr. Ampitheater;
Jolie Lo, top left and Violet Her, top right, playing Pov Pob with Brandon Yang, bottom left, and Ahn Nguyen.
Delta FDR sculpture not gone but forgotten
BY JOHN NGUYEN Feature Editor
As 2025 concludes, it wraps up the 80th anniversary of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s passing. In recent memory, Roosevelt was the subject of mutual interest for President Donald J. Trump and New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani during their Nov. 21 Oval Office meeting, who took a picture together in front of Frank O. Salisbury’s oil painting of the country’s 32nd — and longest-serving — president.
Trump claimed to have found the portrait “in the vaults” and that it had been “missing for years.” However, the portrait was seemingly moved from its original location over the Oval Office’s fireplace, from when the painting had been installed during the redecoration for Oval Office after President Joe Biden had been sworn in. A convenient lapse in memory.
At Delta, it seems history repeats itself — for there is a granite bust sculpted after Roosevelt on Delta’s campus that the collective news staff of the Collegian had forgotten about while pursuing the story at a source’s request.
“I think this is one of those cases where we walk by things every single day and we don’t realize that they’re there … I remember there was a head somewhere on campus … I remember the head specifically from an old Delta College video that the library posted … but I didn’t remember the fact that I walk by that statue quite a bit during my regular workday,” said Tara
Cuslidge-Staiano, advisor of the Collegian that things like that should fade into the background as easily, but I think that in the collec tive history of the 16 years I’ve been here … Maybe that’s why it fades into the background, ‘cause there’s so much stuff that I see and do everyday that I’m just kind of like ‘oh, that was here at one point.’”
Located in the Go leman East lawn across from the Holt Center, the Roo sevelt sculpture, titled “We Have Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself, Franklin Dela no Roosevelt,” might be easy to miss by the wayside during the commute in, across and out of campus. Measuring 48 inches high by 30 inches wide and 22 inches deep, and sitting on a 40 inch diameter base, it is not the most physically imposing statue Delta has to offer.
“I’ve ac- tually never
The costs for acquiring and transporting the Roosevelt sculpture to campus amounted to $10,000, with the sculpture costing $5,000 worth of District funds and the base costing $3859.80 in funds sourced from a special services contract between the District and Jesse Grijalva of Stockton. The late Dr. L.H. Bernie Horton, who served as president of Delta from 1987 to 1999, approved of the funding for both the sculpture and the base.
digitized and uploaded to YouTube at SJDC Library Videos.
The video is one in a series of videos titled “Delta College Presents: IMPACT.” Lena Zaghmouri, a Delta librarian who archived the videos, suspects that Collegian had been involved in their production. The Collegian was renamed Impact for a period of time from the 1980s until Fall 2007.
“To me, it seemed like it would be hand in hand with the newspaper. There wasn’t much information on that but I assumed, because they had the same name that they were connected – the TV show and the school newspaper,” Zaghmouri said.
Phoebe Mendiola, a firstyear music major at Delta, frequently walks past the Goleman lawn, yet did not know of the sculpture’s existence until Collegian inquiry. Pricila Miranda, a Student Service Officer at Delta, passes by the Roosevelt sculpture daily without ever realizing it’s there.
Horton Gallery, the Roosevelt sculpture was originally produced in 1957 by the late Switzerland-born artist, Edgar Paul Surdez, who later passed away the same year of the sculpture’s creation at age 55. Edgar was survived by his wife, the late Ruth Surdez, who sold the sculpture to Delta in 1999 after a failed effort to raise $15,000. Previously, Ruth had previously produced the sculpture “Blithe Spirit,” which was acquired by Delta in 1990 and is located on campus near the Atherton Theater.
After the sculpture’s acquisition, it appeared to have been a point of attraction in the early 2000s. The sculpture featured prominently in a promotional video produced around the time by Delta’s Marketing and Communications department, then Public Information, which was later
The sculpture “We Have Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself, Franklin Delano Roosevelt” at the Goleman East lawn on Nov. 25 PHOTOS
BY JOHN NGUYEN
Forensic Science classes in proposal
BY JOHN NGUYEN Feature Editor
Two forensics science courses are being proposed at Delta: Introduction to Forensics and Forensic Anthropology. Both courses are expected to be added to the course catalog next year or in 2027.
Both courses are awaiting approval from Vice President of Instruction & Planning Dr. Charles “Kale” Braden before they can receive final approval at a board meeting.
During a section of the video titled “A Tribute to Delta College’s Employees,” people can be seen gathered around the Roosevelt head and waving. The video also shows the Roosevelt head edited with text bubbles and a smile to chant “Hello Delta” to a parody of Alabama’s “40 Hour Week (For A Livin’),” which the video credits to “Part Time.”
Dr. Monique Fortunato standing next to a set of skeleton casts at the planned lab for Biological Anthropology on Nov. 25. PHOTO BY JOHN NGUYEN
DELTA DECKS THE HALLS
BY JEWELS ESTRADA Staff Writer
With the Holidays fast approaching, many students and faculty have traditions and decorations they incorporate in order to celebrate. While we all come from different backgrounds and celebrating may look different there are some classic traditions that stay.
Janet Cuevas, an intern for Career Technical Education (CTE) and Workforce Development, noted her family traditions during this time of year.
“We just have an advent calendar, it starts today [Dec. 1]. I spend time with my family and as far as traditions go, we do 12 grapes and 12 wishes for the 12 months coming into the new year,” said Cuevas. “We also do colored underwear for what you want to bring into the new year. Red for love and yellow for wealth.”
Lex Estrada, a CTE and Directing Adults on the Right TrAC for Employment ambassador shares her holiday traditions she partakes in with her family.
“I usually set up the Christmas tree myself because I enjoy doing that with some music I put on. We usually do the ornaments part all together. We host Christmas breakfast and my grandparents hold Christmas dinner. On Christmas Eve everyone does their own thing, they come after dinner to open presents,” said Estrada.
When asked about any special holiday traditions that Estrada does with her family, she mentions something she enjoys every year for the season.
“We have an ongoing joke with the nativity set and my brother hides the baby Jesus every year and we have to find it. It’s really small so it’s hard to find,” said Estrada. “Or sometimes he will replace it with something different. He just
did it one year and since then it’s been a tradition.”
Jerry Sam, an Instructional Support Assistant III who has worked at Delta College for 20 years, noted his family traditions after coming to the United States from Cambodia.
“I’m from Asia, I have lived in the United States for 40 years and we adapt to a new culture. We are happy to celebrate western culture. When I was a little boy I always heard about Christmas. Now I understand Christmas Celebration. Now we always celebrate. Now after having children, my son always asks for a Christmas tree during the holiday season,” said Sam. “ We do good during this Christmas because that is our tradition. We also do Cambodian food and mixed American food so our children don’t forget our food. We usually make Cambodian noodles during the holiday.”
Nayeli Soto, a student at Delta, shared her typical holiday activities, meals and traditions.
“Around this time of year I do a lot of baking and spend most of my time watching movies by the fireplace with my parents. My favorite holiday decor has to be setting a new Christmas tree theme every year. This year’s theme is gingerbreads, cream, brown, and dark green,” said Soto. “During the holidays it’s most important to me that I spend the majority of my time with family and getting them gifts that really say ‘I pay attention to you and see you.’ What can I say? I love giving gifts.”
Soto also shares her Hispanic culture’s traditional and classic foods.
“Traditionally for Christmas we make pozole and tamales and that lasts us up to three to four days to eat because we make a lot and anything I bake of course,” said Soto.
The holidays are about doing festive things you enjoy and
spending time with those you love. Whether that’s creating new traditions or continuing past ones.
Top: Holiday decorations at Goleman Tutoring center. Left: DARTE Center in Shima 217 decorations. Above: Decorations in the Puente Center in Shima 133.
PHOTOS BY JEWELS ESTRADA
Delta jazz bands play in holidays at Atherton
BY JOSELUIS HERRERA Staff Writer
On Monday, Dec. 1, the Delta College jazz bands showcased talent and pieces studied throughout the semester to an audience in the Warren Atherton Auditorium.
Two separate jazz ensembles performed, led by band directors Mike Rocha and Brian Kendrick, with Rocha’s jazz ensemble initiating the concert.
As soon as Rocha’s ensemble settled on stage, the group started playing the first of four songs, “The Chicken.”
The ensemble then followed with “Memories of You,” “Autumn in Ganymade” and “Count Bubba.”
For “Autumn in Ganymede,” Rocha made sure to give Olivia Nickols special props since she made an arrangement for this piece.
“To kind of paint a better picture of what that means, one it’s a lot of work, and two it’s not simple work,” said Rocha. “Dealing with organized sounds, being able to spell chords and write orchestrations for different instruments, so we like to feature those students who take on such tasks.”
After Rocha’s jazz ensembles finished, Kendrick’s jazz ensemble began with “500 Miles High.”
The group performed a total of five songs, with the rest of them being “Evil Ways,” “In Walked Bud,” “I Remember Clifford” and “Bodysnatchers.”
Kendrick and his ensemble dedicated the performance of “I Remember Clifford” to the victims of the Nov. 29 shooting that happened in North Stockton.
“I feel like we need to take a moment to remember the folks who were killed in this shooting over the weekend. I know when it happens we were horrified, and continue to be, and we just want to lift up their families, so we’re going to play this tune in remembrance of them,” said Kendrick.
Angel Gomez, a trombone player in Kendrick’s jazz ensemble, shared his experiences preparing for the concert with other band members.
“As far as the ensemble goes we
worked a lot on staying together in time, keeping together, blending our sound, have a nice balance between everyone,” said Gomez. “I really loved learning how much we can accomplish as a group, you know we only meet twice a week and we managed to put this show together.”
The concert ended with Kendrick thanking the audience for attending and providing some last words for members of both ensembles.
“This represents a lot of work by the students throughout the semester, a lot of growth and I’m super proud of them,” said Kendrick.”Everyday they show up to work hard and it always feels so good to see them grow.”
The Winter Jazz concert in Atherton Auditorium on Dec. 1. PHOTOS BY ANGEL MIRANDA
Delta jazz band performs on Dec. 1. PHOTOS BY ETHAN SERRATOS
Study: AI cheats everyone, even cheaters
BY MAX OLMSTEAD Staff Writer
Beforethe era of generative artificial intelligence (AI), students went to extreme lengths to cheat on assignments, often learning parts of the subject matter in the process.
People found ways to roll cheat sheets into their pens, write answers in microscopic font on their fingernails or even create elaborate communication systems between each other to share answers during a test.
Now with access to a surplus of information, students gain no knowledge from the slew of word vomit given to them by AI chatbots. Times when students would have learned valuable skills from strategically planning their plagiarism, are now replaced with a lower reward for the same risk.
While there isn’t definitive evidence that students learned ‘more’ from past methods of cheating, there is proof of AI weakening our critical thinking, and leading to the overall decline in quality of assignments submitted.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) conducted a study in the first half of 2025 where
they observed the electroencephalography (EEG) of participants while using varying levels of assistance in writing essays.
MIT’s study found that participants who used only their own thinking had the strongest connections seen in the scans.
“Brain-only participants exhibited the strongest, most distributed networks; Search Engine users showed moderate engagement; and LLM [Large Language Model] users displayed the weakest connectivity,” MIT reports.
This lack of cognitive activity is taking a toll on students’ performance.
Some could argue that previous methods of cheating required more creativity and problem-solving skills, often requiring multiple steps and preparation. MIT’s study highlights this topic in their comparison between groups in EEG analysis. “The richer connectivity of Brain-only group may reflect a cognitive state akin to that of high performers in creative or memory tasks.”
With students relying on AI to think for them, they lose their creativity and ability to memorize. Personally, I’ve noticed the spike in AI use in
HOLIDAY CHEERS, JEERS
Cheers
• End of the semester
• Spending the holiday with family
• Proposition 50 passing in California
• No Kings Protests
• Sabrina Carpenter clapping back at the White House
• Bad Bunny
many of my classes. It becomes increasingly obvious who stays up finishing their mediocre essay they wrote while half asleep, and who took the easy way out. Some students don’t even attempt to do their own work before opening a generative AI platform, which is a big change from the days of having to physically copy information.
“We demonstrate the pressing matter of a likely decrease in learning skills based on the results of our study,” MIT states. “The use of LLM had a measurable impact on participants, and while the benefits were initially apparent … The LLM group’s participants performed worse than their counterparts in the Brain-only group at all levels: neural, linguistic, scoring.”
With the accessibility of AI, it’s important we remember the toll it takes not only on the environment or the job market, but on our brains as well. Academic dishonesty is always frowned upon, but it is even worse when none of your own thoughts are involved in the process.
So the next time you think of resorting to ChatGPT, consider that extended use of it may hinder your ability to do your own work in the future.
Jeers
• Financial aid delays
• Delta College Shima parking lot potholes
• ICE coming to Stockton
• Resurgence of COVID
• Cost of living rising to unsustainable heights
• Rise of fascism in America
DELTA BEATS YUBA 88-73 Fall playoff roundup
Top left: Guard Adam Perez passing the ball during the game against Yuba on Nov. 25. Top right: Forward Cameron Lowe jumping to score during the game against Yuba on Nov. 25. Left: Guard Isaiah Baptista and forward Devon bell blocking a shot as Forward Alex Perasso and Guard Nathan Morse scramble for the rebound during the game against Yuba on Nov. 25. Bottom: Guard Adam Perez making a free throw as Forward Alex Perasso plays defense during the game against Yuba on Nov. 25.
BY LEVI GOERZEN Sports Editor
As we move into the Spring semester the sports season is wrapping up, and the Mustangs are deep in playoffs, with some even going all the way to states. Here is a wrap up of fall sports playoffs and a look ahead at some that haven’t happened yet.
As we look forward to the spring sports season, basketball is in full swing, with the mens team currently 5-3 with their next game on Dec. 9 against Los Medanos, and the womans team being 5-0 as of press time. Their next game is on Dec. 13 against Hartnell.
WATERPOLO
Women’s
Won 3rd place in 3C2A NorCal over Diablo Valley 16-11
SOCCER
Women’s
Lost in 2nd round of 3C2A NorCal to Sierra 0-4
FOOTBALL
Lost in NorCal Bowl to Siskyous 7-42
VOLLEYBALL
Won 3C2A NorCal regional finals 3-0 over Cabrillo College
Has state quarterfinals game against Long Beach Dec. 5 at 7 pm
CROSS COUNTRY
Women’s
Finished 3rd in 5,000 meter open with 83 points
Men’s
Finished 3rd in 4-mile open with 76 points including two runners in the Top 5
WRESTLING
Both Mens and Womens teams have NorCal regional finals Saturday Dec. 6 starting at 10 a.m.
PHOTO BY MOISES GLORIA
PHOTO BY JASMIN AGUAYO
PHOTO BY JASMIN AGUAYO
PHOTO BY JASMIN AGUAYO