Getting green for Earth Week and beyond
‘TEA parties’ have racist undertones
Pigs, money, fashion: online this Thursday
FEATURES | P 7
OPINION | P 11
VIDEO VOZ
LA VOZ WEEKLY The Voice of De Anza College | May 4, 2009 | Vol. 42, Issue 23
Gaza trip to aid crisis in Palestine Lucie Ashley and Ernest Chavez LA VOZ NEWS
Two San Jose Jewish women, along with activists from around the world, boarded boats in Cyprus to sail to the small port of Gaza last November. Their goal: to do what they could to bring an end to the crisis in Palestine, including documenting Palestinian fishermen and farmers’ lives. CONTINUED PAGE 6, GAZA
PHOTOS BY LUCIE ASHLEY (4) / LA VOZ
An automobile collision on Stevens Creek Boulevard caused a downed power line and delayed traffic to De Anza College last Wednesday morning. One person was injured.
Dealing with swine flu alert Soheil Rezaee LA VOZ NEWS
the power lines down. The Sheriff’s Department was called to the scene, along with an ambulance, fire truck and PG&E. All of Stevens Creek Boulevard between Stelling Road and Mary Avenue was closed for more than an hour, causing automobile traffic and backing up VTA buses. LV
De Anza College has taken precautions to advise students on the swine flu epidemic. The administration has advised faculty to encourage students to stay home if they show any flu-like symptoms. Students who are sick on campus should go directly to Health Services, located in the lower level of the Hinson Campus Center. The World Health Organization issued an alert on April 24 of a possible pandemic. Branham High School in San Jose closed on April 29 with a report that a student had been infected. It was the first case in Santa Clara County. As of Friday, county health officials have shut down four more schools. “It’s a shock to think that such a malevolent virus could hit here, so close to home,” said James McDonald, a De Anza student whose brother attends Branham High School. LV
Lucie Ashley is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact her at: lucieashley@ lavozdeanza.com.
Soheil Rezaee is the associate editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: associate@ lavozdeanza.com.
Accident on Stevens Creek Blvd delays traffic to De Anza Lucie Ashley LA VOZ NEWS
A two-car collision on Stevens Creek Boulevard in front of De Anza College left one person injured last Wednesday morning. The accident knocked over an electricity pole, causing a power outage in the surrounding neighborhood. According to police investigators, at 9:53 a.m., a blue Honda Civic CX hit a silver Nissan
Maxima at the intersection of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road. “The car rear-ended the Nissan Maxima, so it spun out to where it faced eastbound on Stevens Creek,” said Officer Jeffery Stefanini of the De Anza-Foothill Police. The Nissan lost control and spun out onto the median, where it damaged a street sign and much of the wooden fence before colliding with a cement electricity pole. The collision left the passenger of the Nissan injured and a section of
Transfer rate to UCs, CSUs 14 percent in 2008 Glendale Calmerin and Stephanie Shin LA VOZ NEWS
Source: FHDA Institutional Research & Planning Fact Book
Note: There may be overlap between transfers and degrees/certificates received. For example, a student who received an AA degree may have also transferred to a CSU.
Last year, De Anza College’s transfer rate for UCs and CSUs was 14 percent of students who planned to transfer, according to the Foothill-De Anza Distict Office of Institutional Research and Planning. It has remained less than 20 percent for the past five years. Approximately half of the 25,000 students currently enrolled at De Anza indicate a goal of transferring, according to De Anza College Researcher Andrew Lamanque. Lamanque said that roughly 2,500 students transfer to a UC, CSU or private school each year. “De Anza actually has a high percent of transfer rates out of all the California community colleges,” said De Anza counselor Veronica Avila. “However, there is always room for improvement.”
“My job as a counselor is to do the best I can to encourage students to transfer and helping them do that,” she said. Nearly 13,000 De Anza students planned to transfer in 2008, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Planning. About 14 percent (1,837 students out of 12,999) successfully transferred to a CSU or UC that year. Of those, 1,251 students transferred to a CSU and 586 transferred to a UC. Transfer Center coordinator Shirley Kawazoe said that it is difficult to calculate an exact transfer rate, because the definitions given for transfer rates are arbitrary and depend on what is taken into account. Kawazoe said that over the years, De Anza College has maintained a reputation for a high level of transfer students due to word of mouth. CONTINUED PAGE 3, TRANSFERS
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CAMPUS EVENTS Tuesday, May 5 FLORICANTO II: SPANISH POETRY READING tuesday, MAY 5, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., wrc, atc 309 Join LEAD! students and others for poetry, music, hot chocolate, YouTube spoken word clips and pan dulce. Read your own poetry or that of your favorite author. Poetry in all languages is welcome. For information contact Marc Coronado at 408-864-8409 or coronado.marc@ gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 6 CROSS CULTURAL PARTNERS/APPLICANTS Wednesday, MAY 6, 12:30 - 2:30, Campus Center Room B CCP Partners/Applicants, come and learn more about CCP at CCP’s FIRST GET TOGETHER. We would appreciate your letting us know you are coming by sending us an email to deanzaccp@yahoo.com with your name and instructor.
Thursday, May 7 SPRING CARNIVAL THURSDAY, MAY 7, 11 A.M. - 2 p.m., MAIN QUAD Check out the games and prizes at the Inter Club Council’s spring carnival. For information call 408-864-8693.
FACULTY & STAFF SPRING FLING 2009 THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2-3:30 p.m., campus center RMS a&B The annual faculty/staff Spring Fling event will acknowledge new hires and this year’s retirees. Attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items for the Second Harvest Food Bank.
Wednesday, May 13 THEATER OF THE OPPRESSED WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1:30 - 5:30 p.m., campus ctr, FIreside rm. All members of the De Anza community are invited to attend a performance of Hector Aristizabe and the Theater of the Oppressed, as part of Latina/o Heritage Events. For information contact Marc Coronado at 408-864-8409 or coronado.marc@gmail.com.
POETRY WRITING WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m., WRC ATC 309 The third annual Poetry Writing Week Workshop is open to all students and will include writing exercises, drinks, snacks, muses, rhyming dictionaries and perhaps prizes.
Thursday, May 14 SPRING JOB FAIR THURSDAY, MAY 14, 10 A.M. - 2 p.m., campus ctr. rms A&B Approximately 30 local employers will be available to meet with students. Students should bring several copies of their resumes to this event. For information call 408-864-5711.
THEATER OF THE OPPRESSED THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1:30 - 5:30 p.m., campus ctr, FIreside rm. All members of the De Anza community are invited to attend a performance of Hector Aristizabe and the Theater of the Oppressed, as part of Latina/o Heritage Events. For
information contact Marc Coronado at 408-864-8409 or coronado.marc@gmail.com.
POETRY WRITING WORKSHOP THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m., WRC ATC 309 The third annual Poetry Writing Week Workshop is open to all students and will include writing exercises, drinks, snacks, muses, rhyming dictionaries and perhaps prizes.
Friday, May 15 PATNOE JAZZ FESTIVAL CONCERT FRIDAY, MAY 15, 7:30 - 10 p.m., VPA THEATER 115 The Herb Patnoe Memorial Jazz Festival takes place each spring, featuring a nationally-known jazz artist performing with De Anza College instrumental and vocal jazz groups. Cost is $15 for general admission, $12 for students/seniors. For information go to http:// www.deanzadaddios.org or contact tylersteve@fhda. edu or hawkinsmichelle@fhda.edu.
CAMPUS CAMP WELLSTONE FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MAY 15-16 Campus Camp Wellstone is a new training program for students across the country interested in gaining skills in leadership, political action and civic engagement. Two units of college credit are offered. For information call the Institute of Community and Civic Engagement at 408-864-8349.
Saturday, May 16 NEW STUDENT, PARENT OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, MAY 16, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., SCSB and STAFF LOT A High school students and their parents are invited to an open house with music, refreshments and activities including on-site application, Counseling 100 registration, information table visits, program area tours and breakout sessions. For information contact Rob Mieso at 408-864-8835.
Sunday, May 17 duel at de anza autocross sunday, May 17, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., parking lots a & B Auto drivers compete for the best times around the track, navigating a race course with their own cars. Free for spectators, drivers pay to register. For information contact 408-864-8527 or brandtmichael@deanza.edu.
Monday, May 18 Free CHAIR MASSAGE MONDAY, May 18, 4 - 5:15 P.m., MAIN QUAD The spring chair massage class will be giving free 15-minute chair massages on a first-come, first served basis. For information contact tuckdeborah@fhda.edu.
Thursday, May 28 author anthony bourdain to speak thursday, May 28, 7:30 p.m., flint center Anthony Bourdain is the veteran culinary and cultural adventurer who first exploded onto the scene with his internationally best-selling book, “Kitchen Confidential.” He is also the host of the Travel Channel’s hit show, “No Reservations.” Tickets available at Ticketmaster for $50 and $125.
MAY 4, 2009
Happenings@LaVozDeAnza.com Send event notices to Happenings@LaVozDeAnza.com by noon Wednesday, preceding the publication week. Please type “Happenings” in the subject line. La Voz does not guarantee publication. All events take place on the De Anza College campus and are free, unless stated otherwise.
ONGOING EVENTS PRESIDENT’S OPEN OFFICE HOUR
De Anza College President Brian Murphy will hold an open office hour form 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. in the Administration Building on May 19 and June 16.
CELL PHONE DRIVE
The student cell phone drive will be held through May 29. Look for donation baskets throughout the campus.
FOOD DONATION BARRELS
A De Anza College food drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank will be held through May 15. Look for donation barrels throughout the campus.
ANNOUNCEMENTS SWINE FLU INFORMATION
The De Anza College Web site links to reliable information about Swine Flu. For information go to http:// www.deanza.edu/emergency.
LITERARY MAG CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Student writers, poets, artists and comickers are invited to submit their best poems, stories and artwork for a chance to win over $300 in prizes and publication in Red Wheelbarrow, the De Anza College literary magazine. For guidelines, go to http://www.deanza. edu/redwheelbarrow/. Submissions should be sent to weisnerken@fhda.edu by May 22.
FREE COMPUTERS TO STUDENTS
De Anza provides refurbished computers to qualifying students throughout the year. To apply for a computer, contact the Financial Aid office.
OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
De Anza’s trip this year to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland will consist of six plays in five days, departing on Aug. 13. The $775 cost incudes all transportation from De Anza, a room at Southern Oregon University, breakfast and dinner each day, six theater tickets with premium seats, a backstage tour, an actor’s talk, pre-trip lectures, morning-after-play discussions and the cheerful company of 30 other theater lovers. For information go to http://faculty.deanza. fhda.edu/pesanojulie.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER OPENINGS
The Child Development Center is taking applications for the 2009-10 school year for children between the ages of 18 months to 5 years. Full-time, low-income students may be eligible for no-cost or low-cost child care. Interested students should contact Linda Koyama at 408-864-8891.
CAROLYN KEEN LITERATURE PRIZE
The Carolyn Keen Literature Prize grants awards to outstanding essays written on works of literature by De Anza College students. The prize is given every spring quarter to recognize Carolyn Keen, a founding member of the De Anza College English Department and Literature Studies. Students should submit two copies of their essay along with a one-page cover letter and contact information to Steve Howland’s mailbox
by Friday, May 22. Prizes range from $100 to $300 and the winning essay will be published in Red Wheelbarrow, the De Anza literary magazine.
DISCOUNT TICKETS FOR SHEN YUN
Discount tickets for De Anza students, faculty and staff are available for the May 15-17 shows of classical Chinese dance and orchestral music at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Go to http://www.sfshow.net/partner/ for information. Tickets must be ordered 12 days in advance of the performance you wish to attend. Use DeAnza20 when ordering for a 20 percent discount.
DISCOUNT TICKETS FOR SAN JOSE BALLET
De Anza students may purchase two tickets to any evening performance of the San Jose Ballet for $10 each. The balance of the up to $85 cost will be paid by an anonymous patron. To register for this program go to http:// www.studentsjballet.org.
TRANSFER CENTER EVENTS
Appointments to meet with university and college representatives can be scheduled in person at the Transfer Center on the 2nd floor of the Student and Community Services Bldg., or by calling 408-864-8841.
Upcoming college and university representative visits include: University of California, Berkeley Transfer Center drop-in advising Wednesday, May 13, 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. University of California, Davis Transfer Center by appointment Every Monday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. University of California, Irvine Transfer Center by appointment Wednesday, May 20, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday, June 1, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. University of California, Riverside Main Quad Information table Tuesday, May 5, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. University of California, Santa Cruz Transfer Center by appointment Tuesday, May 12, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. San Francisco State University Transfer Center, by appointment Thursday, May 21, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. San Jose State University Transfer Center, by appointment Wednesday, May 13, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. John F. Kennedy University Main Quad Information Table Wednesday, May 6, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 9, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. University of East-West Medicine Main Quad Information Table Thursday, May 7, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Mon. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sun. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Lunch & Dinner
408-873-1600 fax 408-873-1614
Ask for free student beverage
MAY 4, 2009
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NASA hires 83 De Anza interns Glendale Calmerin LA VOZ NEWS
Last month, 250 De Anza College students applied to intern at NASA. Eighty-three were accepted. NASA’s Foothill-De Anza Internship Program offers students paid internships, which last six or twelve months. It occasionally leads to professional careers after the program, such as fulltime jobs with contractors. Internships are available to more than science/ engineering majors — since the program’s inception, it has expanded to include positions such as Web editor, systems administrator, technical writer, junior accountant and chemistry lab assistant, just to name a few. “We are working on expanding the number of positions available,” said Vicky Criddle, internship program director. The program began in 1971, when Foothill
college instructor Sydney Davidson set up several sponsorships with prestigious companies, including NASA. His goal was to create a program that would assist students with early work experience and familiarize them with the fields they wished to pursue. The program expanded and eventually reached De Anza College, where it reached its 37th anniversary this year. Students work with professional supervisors, as well as coordinators who assist with resumes and job interview preparation. “All of us help and support the students by facilitating the internship between the student and the supervisor,” said Criddle. To qualify, students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Students’ school schedules must allow a 20-hour per week work schedule during the school year or a 40-hour per week work schedule during the summer. It is advised that the student maintain a mini-
mum of nine units during the school term. The nine units include four Experiential Internship units and at least five other units. Virginia Rangel, a De Anza student and a NASA intern for two quarters, highly recommends the program. She currently works as an administrative assistant for NASA’s human resources department. “NASA gives you the opportunity to learn and be mentored by some really great people,” Rangel said. LV Glendale Calmerin is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact her at: glendalecalmerin@lavozdeanza.com. APPLY AT: http://foothill.edu/internships Applicants must submit a resume, a personal statement, an unofficial transcript and two faculty references.
P1 | Increase in students planning to transfer to four-year colleges “I’m going to one of the UCs.” Bruno Kirschbaun
“I plan to apply to universities in the fall.” Mo Shirazi
Laura Wenus COMPILED BY SOHEIL REZAEE/LA VOZ
TRANSFERS | Kawazoe said that community college students tend to have many responsibilities, making transferring a longer process. In her history of working at De Anza, Kawazoe has known many students who take one class per quarter and end up transferring several years down the line. Approximately 10,000 De Anza students planned to transfer between 1996 and 2004, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Planning. That figure increased to more than 11,000 students in 2005 and has continued to rise every year. In the 2004-2005 school year, Lamanque sur-
veyed individuals who received at least one degree or certificate. Fifty-five percent of respondents indicated that they continued their education at a four-year university after attending De Anza. Fifteen percent said their goal in attending De Anza was to prepare for job change or advancement with current employer and another fifteen percent said their goal was to improve job skills for future long-term employment goals. Thirty-five percent of the 2004-2005 graduate respondents stated that they continued their education at a CSU. Thirteen percent continued their education at a UC, 10 percent at a private
Meeting Notes DASB Senate The De Anza College Associated Student Body Senate is the governing body for De Anza College students. It meets every Wednesday afternoon.
APRIL 22 MEETING RESIGNATION: DASB President Terell Sterling noted that Minseon Kim turned in her resignation and is no longer a member of the DASB Senate. VP OF DIVERSITY AND EVENTS: Mai Funaki is no longer eligible to be VP of Diversity and Events. A motion to approve Amie Ngan as the new VP was not passed, with 6 yes to 8 no votes. Terell Sterling nominated Livia Lee as VP. A motion to approve Lee was passed, with 17 yes to 0 no votes. NEW SENATORS: Motions to approve Jack Chuang and Melody Lin as DASB senators were passed unanimously. COMPILED BY DAKARAI MILLS
Inter Club Council
De Anza Voices: What are your transfer plans? “I’m a Middle College student. I’ll probably enroll in an out-of-state college.”
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school and 15 percent at De Anza or another community college. Just over a quarter of those surveyed did not continue their education immediately after receiving an associate’s degree. “About 70 percent of students who get a degree or plan to transfer do so within six years,” Lamanque said. LV Glendale Calmerin and Stephanie Shin are staff reporters for La Voz Weekly. Contact them at: glendalecalmerin@lavozdeanza.com and stephanieshin@lavozdeanza.com.
The Inter Club Council is the governing body which allocates funds to De Anza College’s more than 50 clubs. The ICC meets Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. in the Student Council Chambers.
APRIL 22 MEETING SALTWORKS received $100 for club fliers and $78 for a Web domain. ART DECO received $60 for a Web domain. ICC SECRETARY will be given $1,434 budget to receive a Mac computer for the office’s duties. COMPILED BY JAMES CHEN
Police Log TRAFFIC COLLISION Traffic accident — no injuries Location: Lot B Thursday, April 23 at 4:03 p.m. INVESTIGATION Pedestrian stop Location: Stevens Creek Blvd/Mary Ave Monday, April 27 at 11:12 a.m.
Campus Snapshot
INVESTIGATION Suspicious person Location: Campus center Monday, April 27 at 3:48 p.m. VANDALISM No UCR Location: Lot D Monday, April 27 at 2:43 p.m. SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Location: Tennis courts Tuesday, April 28 at 10:22 a.m. GRAND THEFT Theft over $400 Location: Forum 4 Wednesday, April 29 at 9:55 a.m.
Corrections
JOYCE SIM / LA VOZ
Groups of schoolchildren regularly come to De Anza College to visit the planetarium and tour the campus.
ECONOMICS FOR EVERYONE, 4/27: Ronald Reagan presided over the four largest budget deficits, not, as published, the “fourth-largest budget deficit.”
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APRIL 27, 2009
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MAY 4, 2009
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Pink hearts stephenZILL
Economics for Everyone Unlike Paul Krugman, academicI In these pages and inanother the classroom, economist writestoatask column forin-a have takenwho the media for their publication slightly lessthat prestigious sistence ofonly focusing on all is negathan one,theI economy make a conscious efforttivethis about to the point of for various reasonsto keepI this column irresponsibility. Granted, understand asthat politics-free as job possible. Krugman, the part of the is to sell the publimost recent of theknows the Economics cation, andwinner everybody that bad Nobel, wearsI his politics on tohismy sleeve news sells. often suggest stuand if you would like an idea dents a quick experiment whenofI which touch way he issue. leans,As a you few approach years ago met on this theImaghim before talk he give at UC azine rack,a there arewas twotopublications. Berkeley andof discovered that simply The cover one reads “Happy Days mentioning the term “Republicans” can are Here Again,” while the other reads caused him to practically froth Which at the “The Impending Armageddon.” mouth in ayou paroxysm of anger one will purchase? ’Nufftoward said. the Grand Party. beingphenomthat the But Old a good dealLuckily, of economic top Professor Krugman’s head comes enaofare of a self-fulling prophecy nature just I wasthink able something to avoid the — to thatmyis,chin, if people is ensuing spittle shower. going to happen and act accordingly, given this topic, I’m afraid itBut happens: e.g.weeks recessions, currencies I’m going have to break my vow on to crises. Thetomedia, with its emphasis certain extent. we proceed, bad news, oftenAnd acts before as an adverse feedjust letloop me feeding make clear that I pledge no back the frenzy. allegiance to either of the major Nevertheless, it seems thattwo a strange (U.S.) parties. new political phenomenon has begun to take You probably couldn’t but isnotice, place. It appears that thehelp media actubut couple weeks backnews on “tax allya groping for good aboutday” the supposedly the spiritone of thecan’t 1773open Bostona economy! inIndeed, Tea Party-- awithout tax revolt by the Colonists newspaper seeing some referofence British America which“green featured the to Ben Bernanke’s shoots” dumping three of (English) commentofon 60 shiploads Minutes, or President tea into the“glimmers Boston Harbor (have Obama’s of hope” withyou reever why theThemajority of spectwondered to the economy. 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Heck, folks with honorable intentions evenattended economist Nouriel Roubini, a.k.a. and been consistently big Dr. have Doom, believes that the against plunge-rate spending/big no has slowed, government and that the throughout, Great Depresmatter in DC, but the first sion 2the willring be leader avoided. thing So that is itcame time totomy tossmind our was, “The“Where End is were allsigns thesein people when Let’s the GW Bush Near” the trash? examine Administration the tea leaves. was in the process of doubling thethose grossemerald-tinged national federalbuds debt?” Some of inAnd I am also of dubious the claimmarkets, that this clude signs easingofin-credit was a nonpartisan“grassroots” though they remain strained. movement As for the (astock spontaneous andDow, natural uprising), markets, the though still in particularly given the negative territory for organizations the year, has and remedia in support of up andside. at least centlyoutlets been closing on the The partially behindAmerican the organizing of these ever-resilient consumer has Camellia sinensis leaf-beverage shin bounced back strong after two straight digs-but of more of the in Astro Turf (fake quarters a decline spending. 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ButGDP do note, this the massive in the spending astronomical figure isn’t only the result component that encompasses businessofesspending by the current administration, and residential construction is unlikebut alsorepeat partially a productdecline of the (-52 last ly to its staggering President’s budget, and that keep in mind, percent!). And the fact some of the itdrag was on under Bush thereal Younger that due the the quarter’s GDP was bailout boondoggle got under And to businesses unloading a loadway. of unsold dostuff, youwhich reallysuggests believethat that McCain theyifmay soon would been elected President, ramp have up production of new stuff, given could the state of the economy, no quarter. additional improve things in the second stimulus (read: increases in spending) Also, government spending dropped would have proposed? slightly, but been will certainly take Itupmight some also be as noted, the hero$787 of many of slack the that president’s billion the party goers, Ronald Reagan, stimulus package begins to kickuntil in. this But most deficit, over the four don’trecent expect muchpresided help from exports, as largest deficits as a is proportion of much budget of the rest of world even worse GDP since shape thanthe weSecond are. World War. Again, participants In othermost words,ofit’s the a mixed bag, but and of than the with aproponents/defenders good deal more negatives demonstrations emphasizeI that of positives. Nevertheless, tend most to agree the protest has though to do with government with Roubini, I’m perhaps a bit spending, but there is an obvious more optimistic. But I’m keeping my connection taxes, for andnow. theAnd likely crystal ball to in storage bepossibility thattoo eventually we willhearsee fore you get giddy yourself, taxes rise tothecover such spending, but ing about “glimmers of hope” and presently, it might surprise, “green shoots,” justcome keep as in amind what relative totends mosttoother the latter thrivemajor in. LV countries and even our own past we are a low-tax country. like muchinstructor everyone StephenHey, Zill is an pretty economics else, I don’t paying but we all at De Anzalike College. Hetaxes, will shortly know the old with saw about them andmore death. be replaced someone much Right? To me the most unfortunate aspect depressing.
faces of De Anza College Club of the Week: Chess & Go
‘Atari!’ Students keep ancient game alive on campus Joyce Sim LA VOZ NEWS
Pass by S-11 on a Friday afternoon and you’ll hear a steady stream of laughter. At around 2:30 p.m., a group of students appear at physics instructor David Newton’s office, signaling the beginning of the weekly Chess & Go Club meeting. “[It’s] learning how to play strategic games that are old like me,” said Newton, club adviser. With a sandwich in hand and exchanging jokes with members, Newton makes his way from his office to S-11 just a few feet away, where some club members have already begun playing. The club’s main game is not chess, but Go. According to Newton, it is perhaps the oldest strategic board game in the world. With more than 2,500 years of history, it is older than the United States. “It is a fun, fascinating game,” said club member Logan Freesh, a computer science major. “The rules are simple, yet it is a complicated game,” Freesh said. Although Newton initiated the
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Ancient Chinese board game known for its simple rules and complex strategies
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Two-player game where players use black-and-white stones to surround territory or capture opponents’ stones
Soheil Rezaee is the associate editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: soheilrezaee@lavozdeanza.com.
Considered a martial art and was part of ancient training of warriors in Japan, China, and Korea.
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The internet allows players from around the world to practice and compete in online tournaments
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Top players compete in professional leagues and championship matches
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Some consider it to be the oldest board game in the world
Athlete of the Week: Natasha Sahu
Track swamps Sahu’s schedule, time with friends, family
STEPHANIE SHIN/ LA VOZ
As the World Burns
Stephanie Shin is a staff reporter for La Voz. Contact her at: stephanieshin@lavozdeanza.com
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SOURCE: http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/learning_go/learning_go_1.html
De Anza College student Natasha Sahu maintains a busy lifestyle juggling full-time school and being an active member of the track team. Sahu joined the De Anza track team during the fall quarter of 2007, aiming to keep in shape and participate in college level competition. “My favorite events are the 4x1 and the high jump. I love the relay races and high jumps always fascinated me,” Sahu said. “The meets are very intense. Everyone is cheering and supporting each other, encouraging the athletes to compete their best.” Sahu attended St. Lawrence Academy for high school and lives in Sunnyvale. She is a communications major, currently enrolled in 20 quarter units. Her future aspirations include
soheil REZAEE
transferring to UC San Diego and attending graduate school on the East Coast. After college, Sahu hopes to become a news anchor, and possibly a sportscaster. Her commitment to athletics occasionally makes it difficult to juggle other important areas of her life, such as her spiritual and social life. “I am a Christian and I pray and read the Bible … but haven’t gone to church in a long time,” she said. “Hopefully when track season ends, I will start going to church every Sunday again.” In her free time, she enjoys Italian food with friends and playing with her black Labrador puppy, Raja, but “having track meets every weekend makes it hard to see my friends,” Sahu said. LV
tration, builds mental discipline and teaches learning skills. “It is like pumping iron for the brains,” Newton said, while playing five games at once. “[It’s a] very exciting, intellectual sport not emphasized enough in the U.S.” “Atari!” one player exclaimed as Newton finished his comment — “atarai” being the equivalent of “checkmate” in chess. Go is highly popular in East Asian countries, particularly Korea, Japan, and China, where it originated. “Go won’t ever be as popular in USA,” said Newton, who has had tried and failed to encourage friends and family to play the game. He says the De Anza Chess & Go Club is a way of keeping the game alive in America. JOYCE SIM/ LA VOZ “It is never going to be like ‘Go’ in Japan or Newton encourages all students Chess in Russia,” said Newton. “Learning ‘Go’ is like learning in his classes to join. “I like all the personality in this violin. It takes time.” LV club and I also enjoy playing the game,” said member Grace Li, a Joyce Sim is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact her at: literature major. The game of Go helps concen- joycesim@lavozdeanza.com
LA VOZ NEWS
California’s embarrassing taint
In the struggle for equality, California has been embarrassed twice now when it comes to its contribution in supporting civil rights. First, 7,001,084 morons voted yes on Proposition 8. Next, Miss California Carrie Prejean regales us with her sadly ill-informed opinion on same-sex marriage, based entirely on what her mommy and daddy told her. Let’s put an end to the Miss California controversy. Yes, the remark was idiotic, but what do you expect? People seem to have forgotten that the Miss USA is just a family version of Playboy’s Playmate of the Year. Let’s talk about something that really matters. Despite the fact that 7,001,084 homophobes voted in its favor, Proposition 8 must be repealed. Sure, it passed with a majority support, but there is a reason why we have a system of checks and balances. When the California Supreme Court ruled that Proposition 22 (passed in 2000) was unconstitutional, it was because the judges understood that such a stance was illegal under not just the constitution of California but of the United States. Of course, the religious right could not tolerate equal rights for the LGBT community. So they rallied their followers to concoct Prop 8. What followed was total civil war that was felt even here at De Anza College, where an army of students fought against a few homophobes who tried to win support with their David Duke-like charm and 15 hired thugs. Even though Prop 8 passed, it’s the patriotic duty of every American who believes in the Constitution to continue the fight by whatever means necessary. Despite being argued by some, appeasement is not the solution. Let’s not forget that for 89 years, segregation was legal and supported by the public until the Warren Court ruled it to be unconstitutional. There was strong resistance against desegregation, so President Dwight Eisenhower deployed the 101st Airborne to put down the little uprising in Little Rock. There is hope that the California Supreme Court will take up a case that will challenge Prop 8 and rule it as unconstitutional. For now, we need to pass a proposition that will prevent fascists and outsiders from enacting another Prop 8-like law again. Yet despite suggestions of taking the battle to the Supreme Court, such action has to wait. Thanks to the appointment of several of George W. Bush’s neo-con buddies, there is reason to fear that they will not only support a ban on same-sex marriage, but reintroduce the idea of “separate but equal.” Finally, I have a personal question to ask of those who are strongly opposed to same-sex marriage and equal rights for the LGBT community. Can you come up with a better argument that doesn’t involve you saying, “The leader of my religion said being gay is wrong”? If that’s the best you have, then take a Sharpie and write “Sheep” on your forehead. There is great confidence that the current political mode is in favor of equality for all. After all, the Democrats control both the White House and Congress. If we chose not to take advantage of this opportunity and resort to appeasing the mob of homophobes, then one should not be surprised when the Fascist Party has taken power because the “people” voted them into the government. If appeasement and ignorance is the path our society wishes to take, then all we can do is just sit back and watch the world burn. LV
club when he first came to De Anza roughly 20 years ago, he credits student Edwina Harlim as the one who made the club possible.
Stephanie Shin
PAGE 5
PAGE 6
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
FEATURES
MAY 4, 2009
SPEAK OUT: Students clash over issues at May Day rally James Chen LA VOZ NEWS
In an early celebration of May Day, campus activist club Students for Justice held a rally on De Anza College’s main quad on April 29. The rally consisted of a number of speakers presenting their perspectives on issues ranging from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender discrimination to the Middle Eastern conflict. Toward the end of the rally, a debate developed over the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Student Jonathan Maas and activist Donna Wallach contested the respective rights of the Israeli and Palestinian states underneath a bright red Che Guevera flag held by a student protestor.
May Day is also known as International Workers’ Day in several countries. Many of the speeches reflected the themes of workers’ rights and exploitation. Several De Anza students gave personal testimonies about their experiences with abusive labor rights and immigration. Student Daniah Din gave a heated condemnation of US immigrant worker policy. “Today there are 12 million immigrants in the United States, making up 5 percent of the work force,” she said. “They make up the majority of the lowest paid and lowestquality jobs in this country.” Student Mark Raushmayer, 22, a political science major, felt that the rally was counterproductive. “I think they’re addressing pertinent is-
sues,” he said. “I admire their goals, but they should be putting energy toward solutions, not protest. Just protesting won’t solve major issues.” During the event, volunteers passed out flyers with summaries of May Day’s history. The flyer detailed the origins of the day, from the 1886 Chicago workers’ strike to the arrest and trial of strike organizers who received the death sentence. May Day is traditionally held on May 1. The rally was held early, as this year May 1 falls on a Friday, when many students are not on campus. LV James Chen is the technology editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: technology@lavozdeanza.com.
COURTESY OF STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE
A flag bearing the face of revolutionary figure Che Guevara waved in the main quad on April 29.
STAND UP: P1 | San Jose women aid Palestinians in Gaza GAZA | Donna and Darlene Wallach, who spoke in Brad Kava’s journalism class at De Anza on April 20, spent two years helping plan the trip. The idea: enter Gaza by sea, on retrofitted fishing boats, since the Israeli government blocked off ground and air access into Gaza. “It is important for internationals to come in and help spread the voice of the Palestinian people. Israeli soldiers are more concerned
about Palestinian people (dying) when internationals are with them,” said Donna. The Israeli government attempted to stop the activists from gaining entry, but relented because of media attention. Once in Gaza, the activists rebuilt their group within Palestine. In one action, they accompanied Palestinian fishermen to sea. Although regulations allowed fishermen to go up to six miles off shore, Israeli navy gunboats shot M-16s into the water and
sprayed boats with high-pressure water cannons at three miles. That’s when the activists stood up. “We knew they had binoculars and could see who was on the boat. They were less likely to harass the fishermen when internationals were on the boats, so we would stand up and make ourselves visible,” Darlene said. The Free Gaza movement was interrupted when three activists, including Darlene, were attacked by the Israeli navy. “When they brought me to the gunboat, I saw the 15 Palestinian fishermen I was with, and they were handcuffed and blindfolded on the deck of the boat. I told the soldiers I wanted to stay with my friends, but they took me down into the galley of the boat,” she said. Israeli soldiers stunned the third activist with a Taser when he refused to leave the boat. He collapsed into the ocean, where he was left for about 30 minutes. The three were imprisoned for 10 days before being deported. “For 10 days, the families and friends of those fishermen had to suffer, because they didn’t have the boats to bring in the fish,”
Darlene said. Darlene told the class of a time when one of the activists’ ships attempted to bring medical supplies to Gaza. “The Israeli army bombed a U.N. aide building in Gaza and all the supplies burned. We were trying to bring in three tons of supplies … I have no idea if the stuff ever got into Gaza,” she said. Palestinian farmers lives were also in danger, she said. Israeli soldiers would shoot at the farmers as they drove their tractors, so activists sat on the wheel hubs to protect the drivers. Although this would stop the soldiers from shooting at the drivers, the soldiers now shot at the tractors to immobilize them. During Ramadan, the activists were invited to dinner at a local Palestinian home. “They are filled with a wonderful warmth, kindness, and hospitality,” said Darlene. “Always generous and just so resilient.” LV Lucie Ashley and Ernest Chavez are staff reporters for La Voz Weekly. Contact them at: lucieashley@lavozdeanza.com and ernestchavez@lavozdeanza.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DONNA AND DARLENE WALLACH
LEFT: The Wallach sisters stayed with a Palestinian family with children Subhi and Yara. RIGHT: Donna Wallach (left), Darlene Wallach (right). !"
Are you free June 2-5? Funny, JavaOne is too. The 2009 JavaOne Conference is free for students and educators. Register now. (SM)
Ready to give your career a java jolt? Students get a free full conference pass to the 2009 JavaOne Conference, and educators who bring 10 students get one too. (That’s an $895 value.) Get the lowdown on the latest Java™technology. Choose from 200+ technical sessions, keynotes and the Pavilion. Learn from the gurus of rich media applications and interactive content, mobility, services, core technology and more. Your free pass also gets you admission to the first day of CommunityOne (our open source conference) and CommunityOne Deep Dives (half- and full-day technology tutorials). Grab your student ID and register today at sun.com/DeAnzaStudentsgofree.
June 2-5, 2009 | Moscone Center | San Francisco © 2009 Sun Microsystems,Inc. All rights reserved.
MAY 4, 2009
FEATURES
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
Congress reps talk green
for them to get involved. The following two days, the main quad was full of Earth Week activites. Earth Week kicked off with a bang Members of W.I.S.E. 37., along with at the Kirsch Center, where California other clubs, set up tables to spread enCongress representatives stopped by vironmental awareness. to talk about environmental sustainMany came to help assemble the ability. Their visit marked the begin“garden” made out of fully recycled ning of a week-long green festival. materials. On one side, students made On recess from Washington, D.C., flowers out of plastic bags. On the California representatives Mike Honother side, artists from W.I.S.E. 37 da and Zoe Lofgren spoke and anassembled a tree trunk out of plastic swered questions from the audience. bottles and strips of rubber tires. Environmental club W.I.S.E. 37 was Environmental studies and environthe primary organizer of the event, mental science classes were released aiming to create a dialogue between early or cancelled to allow students to politicians and students regarding enparticipate in making the garden. vironmental issues. The garden was completed on April “The Earth is not something to be 22. It is currently on display in the used but administration something building. to be proAn Eco-Contected,” said cert was held Shane MaThursday eveson, W.I.S.E. ning, welcom37 co-chair. ing singer, poet Earth Day and writer Ishan was founded Muhhamed, who by Senator advocates for enGaylord Nelvironmental susson in 1970. tainability. What began “Students SHANE MASON as a general should start CO-CHAIR educational by encouragforum creW.I.S.E. 37 ing changes at ated to raise home,” said awareness Muhhamed. and appreMuhhamed deciation for Earth has spread across livered an intimate performance, with nations, sparking the growth of ecopoetry reading, raps and songs from activism. her artistic repetoire. The audience At De Anza College, Focus the Nawas engaged in her songs, particulartion is celebrated to foster the idea ly “House on Fire,” which involved of clean sustainable energy for the audience participation. future. District administrators were De Anza student activists met Muhpresent and delivered speeches, inhamed in February at PowerShift, an cluding college president Brian environmental conference in WashMurphy, Board of Trustees Member ington, D.C. There she performed in Pearl Cheng, and Chancellor Martha front of the Capitol building, to an Kanter. audience of approximately 12,000 “Educating the public about the enstudents gathered to demand clean vironment is more personal while big energy. LV policies can make a really big difference,” said Devin Cormia, co-chair Joyce Sim is a staff reporter for of W.I.S.E. 37. Cormina hopes to emLa Voz Weekly. Contact her at: joycesim@lavozdeanza.com power students by providing an outlet Joyce Sim
LA VOZ NEWS
“ The Earth is not
something to be used, but something to be protected. ”
PHOTOS BY JOYCE SIM (5)/ LA VOZ
ABOVE: San Jose Representative Zoe Lofgren emphasizes the importance of environmental sustainability. BELOW: Under Secretary of Education nominee Martha Kanter (left) and Representative Mike Honda (right).
New sustainability plan unveiled, modeled by Cupertino Joyce Sim LA VOZ NEWS
De Anza College formally introduced its new Sustainability Management Plan on April 21. The implementation of the plan initiates a formal green process for De Anza. The plan is currently being examined as a sample model for the city of Cupertino. “This is a fundamental commitment to the environment on the part of faculty, students, administrators, the whole community,” said De Anza president Brian Murphy. “It is the tireless work of the environmental students and the department which will go beyond our own generation.” Students, faculty, administrators and volunteers gathered in conference room A for a formal introduction of the plan binding the college to make sound environmental, societal and financial decisions for the well-being of the community. Environmental studies instructor Kristin Sullivan began the event by asking the audience to define sustainability. “Living within the means” and “meeting the needs of the present” were two of the answers offered. The event revealed a new logo for the plan, which indicated a new beginning for the college in terms of sustainability. “ [This is] exactly what Cupertino is trying to develop,” said Erin Cooke, a representative of the City of Cupertino. “It holds people accountable to the standards set in this documents.” Formulated by members of the College Environmental Advisory Group, the plan gives goals and objectives for the initial six areas of focus: hazardous and solid waste reduction and control, energy conservation, efficiency and
CO2 reduction, water use reduction, control and reuse, green purchasing and procurement controls in the college supply chain, ecologically responsible landscaping, installation and maintenance and green building construction and renovation. Within each area, the plan outlines actions that can be taken by students, faculty and administrators in a concise manner. Later, the audience was separated into small groups for intimate interactions during a breakout session. The main subject topics were cashier receipts, purchasing, energy, landscaping and energy/climate. “We need to educate people visually,” said Arsapree Jiwajinda, a UCLA graduate studying energy at De Anza. “Motivate students to carpool and those living closer to bike.” After some time, each group delivered a brief presentation on the top concerns and solutions debated. “It is really hard to realize what is being done in the area of landscaping,” said Ralph Riddle, a CEAG volunteer. “[We need to provide] better information and education and take credit for what has been done.” The original sustainability policy was institutionalized in 2006 and spurred the creation of the new plan. CEAG was established in 1990 and was adopted by the district board in 1994. De Anza’s Kirsch Center has been recognized for energy innovation, sustainability, and leadership in energy and environmental design. It opened in September 2005. LV Joyce Sim is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact her at: joycesim@lavozdeanza.com
PAGE 7
TIPS TO SAVE THE PLANET CHECK THE LABEL Avoid clothing that requires dry cleaning. Choose cotton and wool. Natural fibers are easier to care for at home. Often they can be washed in cool water and hung out to dry, reducing chemical use and energy, too.
PLANT A TREE Protecting and planting trees will help create natural air filters in our cities and neighborhoods. HOLD A YARD SALE You’ll find plenty of relics that need a good home (yours not being one of them). Invite neighbors to bring along their vintage items, make it a community event and get ready to barter the day away! Give proceeds to your favorite charity or buy tree saplings to plant in your yard. DONATE YOUR OLD CAR Your charitable contribution of a used vehicle could make a big difference to EarthShare and its member organizations. DON’T SPEED Don’t speed. Being a good driver can save you some dollars at the pump. Speeding uses extra gas. Rapid acceleration and hard braking are also inefficient and lower your gas mileage.
TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION In 2005, public transportation (like buses and metro) saved the U.S. 6.9 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Next week, leave the car in the garage and give public transport a whirl—it can save you time, money and 20 pounds of CO2 emissions per day. Haven’t used public transportation before? Start out slow; take it once or twice a week and before you know it, you’ll be confident enough to take it every day. TURN THE POWER OFF Flick off lights and turn off computers and other equipment when you leave your office for long periods of time. REDUCE, REUSE AND ... Recycle? You guessed it. Buying food and other products in reusable or recyclable packaging can reduce CO2 emissions by 230 pounds a year, while recycling all of your home’s waste newsprint, cardboard, glass and metal can reduce emissions an additional 850 pounds a year.
Participants broke up into small groups to discuss environmental concerns and possible solutions.
MAKE A SALAD Take advantage of the summer’s gardenfresh produce to whip up salads and other side dishes that require little or no cooking energy. CIRCULATE THE AIR Wherever possible, select offices whose windows open _ and crack them open every now and then. If you install new carpeting or cabinets at home or in the office, open windows and turn on fans until the new smells dissipate.
“Tips to Save the Planet” was provided by EarthShare.org
ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 8
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
Hollywood producer shares tips with students
NITZAN BECK/ LA VOZ
Film and Television instructors Zaki Lisha (left) and Barak Goldman (middle) interview UCLA instructor Tim Albaugh (right) during Hollywood North, a podcast on April 24. Nitzan Beck LA VOZ NEWS
Hollywood writer/producer Tim Albaugh ew straight from Laguna Beach to De Anza College to explain the qualities of a good script to 80 ďŹ lm students. Albaugh wrote the 1988 hit “Trading Favors,â€? and now teaches screenwriting at UCLA. He also is the co-owner of the ďŹ lm
production company Popular Films. His presentation focused on writing scripts that would translate into good movies. “My experience in teaching at UCLA is that I encounter a lot of students who are good writers but their writing isn’t where it should be to actually get a script made,â€? said Albaugh. “So I thought it would be interesting to talk about the difference between good student scripts and professional scripts.â€? Film and television instructor Barak Goldman said that Albaugh was especially qualiďŹ ed to discuss what accounts for a good script due to the variety of his experience: both on the creative side as a writer, and on the business side as a producer. Goldman also credited Albaugh with a considerable amount of success in the professional world as well as in the realm of academia.
“I found it really useful because he had a lot of interesting applicable things,â€? said Neta Assaf, 17, a marketing major. “He made it clear our characters will make our own story.â€? During the presentation, Albaugh discussed the importance of the four pillars of a character in ďŹ lmmaking. “Character creates story,â€? said Albaugh. He expanded on how the audience wants to see a character “becoming somethingâ€? instead of “be something.â€? Albaugh taught Goldman in 2004 while he attended UCLA’s graduate school. “Tim takes credit for teaching me everything that I know,â€? said Goldman. While in school, Goldman said he always found guest speakers to be useful. “Having these people is something that you went out of your way to listen to,â€? he said. As a result, Goldman makes a point of bringing guest speakers to De Anza as often as possible to beneďŹ t the screenwriting program. When writing scripts, Albaugh said, the most important advice for students is “obviously writing something that they are passionate [about] but also realizing that they have to make the story universal.â€? “Something everybody can relate to,â€? he said.â€? Albaugh said he was impressed by the ďŹ lm programs that De Anza had to offer. “A lot of your facilities for writers are nicer than what UCLA has,â€? he said. “The writing lab is a fabulous tool. UCLA has nothing like that. I would say for a community college that your production facilities are top notch.â€? LV
MAY 4, 2009
REVIEW: ‘Fighting’ for a refund Daniel WakeďŹ eld LA VOZ NEWS
When a movie is released with an established movie star (Terrence Howard) and a rising actor (Channing Tatum), moviegoers like to believe that the experience is worth their time and money. But for this ďŹ lm, the only real â€œďŹ ghtingâ€? will be for a refund. In the action-drama “Fighting,â€? Tatum plays Shawn MacArthur, a young, small-town hustler new to the streets of New York City. He is spotted in a street ďŹ ght by Harvey Boarden (Howard), who suggests that he lend his skills to the underground world of street ďŹ ghting. In an obvious subplot, he also ďŹ nds a love interest in Zulay Valez, played by newcomer Zulay Henao. With her by his side, he strives to be New York’s best underground ďŹ ghter. The most obvious comparison is “Fight Club,â€? whose plot was exceptionally superior. “Fightingâ€? bores you with predictability and bad camera work. The ďŹ lm seemed as though the two stars were given the burden of carrying the entire ďŹ lm on their backs, lugging the audience through an hour and forty-ďŹ ve minutes of cinematic displeasure. To no fault of their own, Tatum and Howard’s dialogue was poorly written. Director Dito Montiel did an exemplary job of making good actors look subpar and shooting ďŹ ght scenes that were dazed and confused. It felt as though the cameraman was actually in a ďŹ ght himself. Though mangled, the intentions of this movie are understood. It won’t be up for an Academy award or any other accolades. It was simply meant to show off the star power of both Tatum and Howard. The movie does have some redeeming factors. Men can sit through it for the ďŹ ght scenes and women will enjoy the male actors. Somewhere in the scenario, however, the movie fell short and you will be wishing you skipped this one completely. LV
Nitzan Beck is editor emeritus of La Voz Daniel WakeďŹ eld is a staff reporter for La Voz. Contact Weekly. 7586 BAD CAM MONITOR:Layout 1 3/11/09 11:13 AM Page 1 him at: danielwakefield@lavozdeanza.com
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MAY 4, 2009
TECHNOLOGY
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
PAGE 9
Copyright claims clamp down on creativity
Comiket, quite possibly the world’s largest comics convention, has hit Japan again. Describing it as “crowded” doesn’t begin to cover it – tacking on adjectives like “stifling hot,” “overwhelming” and so on merely scratches at the surface. It is often considered the Geek’s Mecca, and not just half-seriously at that. The most important thing, however, is that the dealers hawking comics, books and games at the convention are technically amateurs. No corporate contracts, no authorship deals, and for the gross majority of them, no copyright ownership either. The gigantic monetary maelstrom of Comiket is, for all intents and purposes, a legal impossibility. At least, it’s an impossibility from our perspective. Copyright ownership and management’s something of a big deal here in America: the RIAA, MPAA and even the various writer’s guilds have been stirring up some
serious muck about who can use what intel- sale of Beatles rights has proven. lectual property when and how. But contrast this against the Japanese “DouThe measures they’ve taken have been both jinshi,” or self-published culture, where the silly and deadly serious – it wasn’t all that long idea of “owning” a concept is far more nebuOften successful authors and ago that the RIAA was successfully james CHEN lous. artists were once doujinshi artists suing for millions for the use of peer-to-peer programs, and just themselves. recently Amazon came under legal There is an unusual flourishing, unprecedented by any othfire for the Kindle 2’s ability to, er culture, of artistic talent in horror of horrors, read books to its vision-impaired users. otaku culture and in massively talented bands and DJ’s, exemThe very concept of “underground” musician plays to this plified by “CROW’SCLAW” war between the owners and uti“REDALiCE.” Technophilia andCopyright adherents argue that lizers of intellectual property: the suing of disc jockeys for the unauthorized use copyright enforcement encourages originality of music clips, tracks and sequences has cast a over derivations made solely for profit, at the criminal, or underground, light upon an entire expense of the innovator and without any argenre of art. The cost for legitimate DJ’s are, tistic merit. But the harms they claim are by at times, prohibitive, as the multimillion dollar far in the minority in countries where enforce-
DE ANZA BLOGS:
21st century communication Isis Copeland LA VOZ NEWS
De Anza College is full of the tech-savvy. Individuals on campus keep up with the latest and greatest means of communication — namely, blogging. Lately everyone’s been talking about Twitter, blogging in micro form. Before that, however, there was Livejournal, Blogger and Wordpress, amongst a vast amount of other sites designed to allow users to post their daily rantings and ravings. But for some, the blog is more of a tool. Here at De Anza, that tool is used to inform and assist. Campus activist club Students for Justice maintains a blog that annouances their mission statement to the world: building “a student movement which organizes toward social justice and a different society.”
“A blog is a good way to keep upto-date with the news,” said Students for Justice president Matt Bradley. Faculty members also use blogs to complement their courses. Instructor Dan Mitchell teaches Intro to Music and Electronica at De Anza. His blog contains course calendars, syllabus, discussion topics, class assignments and events. Mitchell’s blog is easy to navigate, and updates regularly. Its accessibility is an invaluable tool to a successbound students, and a helping hand for those who want it. Though there are some great and effective blogs available to the De Anza community, there are also many ineffective sites that simply don’t last very long. There are so many cases of blogs just not being kept. There seems to be an overlooked component to creating a fantastic
blog that is perhaps not anticipated by inexperienced bloggers: it is a lot of work. Many sites have to be nurtured and developed constantly, with hours of updating not only information, but also its design. Blogging is time consuming on a daily basis. Even a blog like the one used by the Students for Justice club have been lacking in recent updates. Bradley has said that there are plans to redesign the site, but that Facebook is simply better for posting events. Truth is, blogging is a full-time job, and the blogs that are great are that way for a reason. It takes somebody that cares enough to make them great. LV Isis Copeland is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact her at: isiscopeland@lavozdeanza.com
ment is more lenient. As long as there is some baseline on the difference between homage and rip-off, what happens is not a death of originality, but an outburst of art – and with it, a boon to not just the amateur artists, but to the originator. The best and fastest way to gain a loyal and, importantly, paying fan base is not to copyright your newest idea, but rather to “copyleft.” To make public domain a part of your perceived “rights” to a fresh concept – to almost literally demand that you are not alone in its care. The fastest way to get audience loyalty is, indeed, to get them to feel that they, too, are committed to a concept’s success. LV James Chen is the technology editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: technology@ lavozdeanza.com
LIVE FROM THE LA VOZ BLOG “It takes a certain kind of mind to accept Late Of The Pier and their music, because if you accept their sounds-like-a-joke album and even love it, it means you have to admit that you love one of the most apparently ludicrous albums of the 21st century ...” - Mayumi Kurotsu “To live with a family abroad and take care of their kids might not sound appealing. However, it is actually a great deal...” - Sandra Westdahl TO READ MORE, VISIT: http://deanzacollege.wordpress.com
CLASSIFIEDS
Ballet San Jose Thanks to a generous patron, Ballet San Jose can offer you, as a De Anza College undergraduate student, 2 tickets to any evening performance of our amazing ballets for only $10 each. The balance of the up to $85 costs of these seats will be paid by this anonymous patron. To register for this program go to www.studentsjballet.org Exciting Opportunity Part-Time Personal Assistant to Silicon Valley entrepreneur, South Fremont, private residence. Must have positive attitude, strive for excellence, be detail oriented, and open to learning. Approximately 15-25 hours a week to start, flexible times. Attractive compensation, $15-$20/ hour based on experience. Send resume to ksenff4@hotmail.com.
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Couple Looking To Adopt View our website or contact our Adoption Agency at 800 877-OPEN or visit www.debbieandchrisjuco.com Complete Meal $6.50: Togo’s For DeAnza students, Staff Members. Complete Meal = Regular 6” Sandwich + Bag of Chips + 20 oz. Fountain Drink. Show your ID at Togo’s. 21267 Stevens Creek. Valid until June/30/09 (408) 517-0475 Sports writers/photographers needed for online sports magazine (www.sjsportsreport.com) San Jose Sports Report covers all SJ sports including the Sharks, Stealth, Sabercats, Giants, and many more. We are looking for writers/photographers to freelance for our staff. This is an unpaid position but will look great for your portfolio. We currently need beat reporters for SJSU Athletics throughout the year. Press passes are provided. If interested please e-mail us your clips and tell us why you want to write for our magazine. All inquiries should be sent to reza@sjsportsreport.com
VISIT WWW.LAVOZDEANZA.COM AND CLICK ON CLASSIFIEDS TO SUBMIT YOUR CLASSIFIED POSTING
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LAVOZDEANZA.COM
OPINION & Editorial
La Voz Weekly
Editorial Board Kelly Truong Editor in Chief lavoz@fhda.edu
Joe Chunnic Managing Editor managing@lavozdeanza.com
Dae Kim Multimedia Manager Amy Franklin A&E/Features Editor
Bella Yashayev Opinions Editor James Chen Technology Editor Lina Kwon Broadcast Editor Daniel Gamberg Web Editor Soheil Rezaee Associate Editor
Contributing Staff Lucie Ashley, Glendale Calmerin, Ernest Chavez, Isis Copeland, Adam Hanes, Mayumi Kurotsu, Joy Mann, Alex Mendiola, Dakarai Mills, Takahiro Nei, Ed Pereira, Joel Seibert, Stephanie Shin, Joyce Sim, Daniel Wakefield, Shoko Yamagami
Business Staff Beth Grobman Faculty Adviser grobman@fhda.edu Walter Alvarado Lab Technician alvaradowalter@fhda.edu Reza Kazempour Business Manager
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About Us
La Voz Weekly is a First Amendment newspaper written and published by De Anza College students. La Voz Weekly is partially funded by the De Anza Associated Student Body and is printed with soy-based inks at Fricke-Parks Press. All rights reserved; no part of La Voz Weekly may be reproduced without permission. Phone: 408-864-5626 Fax: 408-864-5533 lavoz@fhda.edu www.lavozdeanza.com Room L-41 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd. Cupertino, CA 95014 Come to Room L-42 Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. to attend the newspaper staff class.
Contact Us
Letters to the editor, submissions and press releases are welcome and can be submitted to: www.lavozdeanza.com/letters Letters should be 300 words or less; letters more than 300 words may be edited for length. Letter content must not be libelous or intended to air personal grievances. La Voz does not guarantee that submissions and letters to the editor will be printed, nor does it guarantee coverage of events for which it receives press releases. La Voz reserves the right to edit letters and submissions for clarity in accordance with Associated Press writing style.
Advertising
Advertisers reach 3,500 De Anza community members weekly by advertising in La Voz Weekly. Contact Business Manager Reza Kazempour by phone at 408-864-5626 or send an e-mail to ads@lavozdeanza. com for rates.
Photo Reprints
Images published in La Voz Weekly or online at http://www.lavozdeanza.com are available for purchase. Ten limited use digital images can be obtained for $20 or ten 8x10 prints for $25. Contact Business Manager Reza Kazempour to place an order.
Additional Copies
The first copy of each issue of La Voz Weekly is free to everyone. Additional copies can be purchased through Business Manager Reza Kazempour.
MAY 4, 2009
INFO
Staff editorials reflect the opinions of the majority of the editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author or the opinions of the La Voz staff. Opinions expressed by staff and contributors are the opinions of the individuals and not necessarily the opinion of La Voz Weekly.
Students, senators: make yourselves heard
The De Anza College Student Body Senate holds elections every spring quarter. Positions are open to all students who submit an application by April 24. After a week of campaigning, the students of De Anza cast their votes to elect the next DASB president, vicepresident and officers. But year after year, few vote. Last spring, fewer than 1,000 students voted, out of the nearly 22,000 who are registered at De Anza. And this is typical. This year, many are still not aware of the upcoming elections. The DASB Senate is supposed to represents us, students, as a whole. But as of now, it represents only the 4.5 percent of students who bother to get up and vote. The Senate has the responsibility of providing students with better opportunities and improving
aN OPINION by ThE LA VOz Weekly EDitorial Board life on campus. It is capable of making a big impact with its decisions. Every student has the right to influence those decisions by speaking up, and every student who cares has the duty of doing it by voting. Granted, it is equally important for those running for student government to make themselves a forceful presence on campus. It is crucial that the Senate advertise upcoming elections. While the Senate Web site is filled with information about open positions and instructions for applying, it lacks any information or encouragement for voters. Not to say that preparation for future student officers is not necessary or important — but without the student body itself, the Senate’s responsibilities become meaningless.
The campaign week also seems to go unnoticed by many students. Candidates should reach out to the students, and promote their agenda in a way that will be more accessible and visible than the standard paper size posters from last year. Making speeches, distributing flyers and even making announcements in class (with the instructor’s permission) would not only be in the candidates’ best interests, but it would publicize the elections as a whole and bring in more voters. With more students voting, we can ensure a stronger and more diverse Senate that better represents the myriad student community of our college Students, we encourage you all to become more involved in the Senate election process. Listen to what candidates may have to offer, take interest in how they can influence life on campus and in turn make an influence yourself by casting a vote. LV
Sex sells, but what’s the price? media is changing the standards and norms of men and women and what is perceived as appropriate in As time goes by, our society is becoming more interaction. sexually explicit. Shows like Sex and the City and Sexually explicit content has shock value that dating reality shows reflect our society’s growing drives various forms of media like music, magacomfort level with sharing sexuality in public. Our zines and television to fulfill its audience through sexual material. Sexual elements are inexpensive, simple, and proved to be an effective way of generating attention. “Sex sells” — you’ve probably heard this before. The sexual content that we are exposed to becomes so common over time that we become entirely desensitized. In order to garner our attention, the media has to veer to the extreme. There are alternatives to using sex: humor and subliminal messages can be utilized to garner attention. Even simple marketing like the five-dollar foot long from Subway has proven to be very effective. However, we are sexual beings by our nature and sexually explicit content will continue to attract us. We would probably see very ILLUSTRATION BY GALEN OBACK /LA VOZ little sexual content in the media if there were
miguelCASTANEDA
no demand for it. With the easy and fast dissemination of information on the Internet and networking forums, sexually explicit material can become damaging. Sharing such material over the Web can affect relationships with family and friends, as well as damage employment opportunities. Also, keep in mind that any information, pictures or videos that are uploaded onto a Web site will permanently remain online, and your future children will have easy access to it. Since people generally care about the way others perceive them and would like to maintain a positive image of themselves, a more conservative behavior should be adapted. The standards for what is appropriated have already been tested, and the Federal Communication Commission created some regulations to limit the broadcast media. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for some people), the media will continue to utilize sexually explicit content continue to see the envelope pushed in what is appropriate sexual content. LV Miguel Castaneda is a freelancer for La Voz Weekly.
Loud studier? Take it elsewhere shokoYAMAGAMI Ring, ring, ring. “Hey, I’m sorry, I’m in the library. I’ll call you back later.” These kinds of conversations are commonplace in the De Anza College library. I don’t know how you feel about it, but I prefer to study quietly — that is why I go to the library. But does it really fit everyone’s studying habits? While some people prefer to study alone in a quite atmosphere, others might prefer to study in groups and talk. These two types of people obviously can’t be studying in the same place, as one will keep disturbing the other. Music sounds leaking from headphones, group discussions, greeting friends and ringing phones are all disturbing noises. People who like to study with music and some background noise should go to the cafeteria, and not bother other people. Another alternative to the library is coffee shops; they can be found anywhere and almost at anytime. It’s true that some people prefer the library because some cafés have a bad Internet connection or no connections at all. Or, perhaps they don’t want to pay even one dollar for cheap coffee in order to stay
ILLUSTRATION BY BRANDON SELPH /LA VOZ
there and study. Some prefer the library, because there they have access to books. That’s understandable, but why don’t they borrow those books and take them to the café? Think about it: is the library for people who want to study in quiet or for those who want to study with background noise? Which group is the café for? The library was meant for all students to use it. There are silent areas, and an area for group study in the library, so everyone can feel comfortable. But if
those who like to talk, listen to music and don’t turn off their cell phones continue to disturb the rest of the students, the library might finally be quiet. These people need to be more considerate if they want to stay in the library. Otherwise, they will end up with no place to study. LV Shoko Yamagami is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact her at: shokoyamakami@ lavozdeanza.com.
MAY 4, 2009
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
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OPINION & Letters to the Editor
ILLUSTRATIONS (2) BY BRANDON SELPH /LA VOZ
‘TEA’ rallies deceive ernestCHAVEZ On the surface, the April 15 “TEA Party” rallies appeared to be spontaneous, grassrootsorganized events protesting the taxes placed on working people all across the United States. In reality, these rallies were a series of wellorchestrated and well-funded spectacles that took advantage of Americans who are suffering from the economic situation. The TEA parties were arranged by the FreedomWorks organization, which is directed and funded by Dick Armey and Steve Forbes — two powerful, wealthy individuals, neither of whom have ever known the plights of being “broke” thanks to taxes. Armey, a former U.S. House Majority Leader, received a lot of media publicity after referring to the first openly gay congressman, Barney Frank, as “Barney F*g.” Forbes, the president and editor-in-chief of Forbes business magazine, appears on FOX News’ TV Show Forbes on Fox, and ran twice in the Republican primaries as a presidential candidate, opposing pollution control, gun control, and supporting death penalties and anti-UN foreign policy. The amount of money the FreedomWorks organization spent on the “TEA parties,” exposes this event for what it really is, a day of manufactured protesting. The conservative politics of Forbes and Armey also seem to create a hidden racist undertone in all of these rallies that took place. The San Jose TEA party rally was full of anti-immigration supporters: specifically, supporters of the Minutemen, a group of American citizens who carry out violence and murder on the border of Mexico under non-government issued positions, separate from any law en-
forcement or government agency, in the name of defending homeland security. The Anti-Defamation League has pointed out the Minutemen’s affiliation with neo-Nazi groups in America, such as the National Alliance. It seemed rational for the protesters to hold signs that read, “Taxed Enough Already.” But as soon as anti-Minutemen groups showed up to counter-demonstrate, including several students from De Anza College and San Jose State University, all hell broke loose. The TEA party protestors began to shout clearly racist words, such as, “Go back to Mexico!” They held signs that read “Send Obama and the Pirates Back to Kenya.” One individual was yelling, “Obama bowed down to an Iranian!” When the racist outcries escalated to pushing, shoving, throwing and spitting, the San Jose riot police came to intervene — and, ironically, squared off against the small, anti-Minutemen contingent. And so what appeared from the outside as an all-inclusive rally protesting the bailouts and government spending was really a combination of concerned people and of people who seemed more upset about having a black president. All of this comes as no surprise if you examine the politics of FreedomWorks. This organization is at the forefront of advocating the victims of the current economic situation, but it really promotes the racist-sexist-homophobic politics of its founders, Armey and Forbes. The saddest thing about this is that people who are losing their jobs and homes are manipulated into channeling their anger at immigrants and the fact that our President is black. It hurts to see strong racist sentiment in Cesar Chavez Plaza, the heart of San Jose. The people attending these TEA party rallies need to realize that it’s the bankers and politicians who let this entire financial mess unfold; it’s they who need to be held accountable — not the people who were already poor to begin with. LV Ernest Chavez is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: ernestchavez@ lavozdeanza.com.
Living in a TMZ world edPEREIRA It’s been several times that I’ve turned on the television, or opened a newspaper, but was so appalled by the headlines I would turn off the TV or drop the newspaper. No, it wasn’t a major disaster or an impending worldwide crisis, it was the low quality of the news I faced. I find the ongoing coverage of Bo, the new First Dog, quite strange. Since President Barack Obama was elected in November, we have been blasted by every media source with speculation about the Obamas’ new puppy. After the Obama family chose a Portuguese water dog, the media began to discuss the ethics of buying a dog from a breeder, and then several American Kennel Clubs stated that Portuguese Water Dogs are unsuitable for first-time dog owners. The media has covered all of those discussions in detail, giving Bo the dog more publicity than many of Obama’s political activities. Disturbed celebrities have also blanketed headlines. It’s usually Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton with their car accidents and party habits. Britney Spears was prime media fodder during her custody battle, when she decided to shave her head, but now, that she got her act together
and is on tour, she isn’t interesting anymore. The more celebrities’ mental health state declines, the more interesting they become to the media. Some news seem to be serious, but with a closer examination it turns out to be just another frivolous story. An Air Force One that flew low over New York City’s downtown, for a photo-op, escorted by F-16’s, brought flashbacks from 9/11 and led some New Yorkers to flee from their buildings. This story dominated the headlines for several days, from Michael Bloomberg’s reaction to Obama’s reaction to everything in between. I can’t help but think that the public would be better served and educated if the stories on the news were less artificial. This can be clearly seen especially on TV, where entire networks, such as Fox News, sensationalize the news. Shows such as the “O’Reilly Factor” and “Hannity,” merely take bits of the news and attack them from an ideological standpoint, serving only to polarize the audience and never to introduce them to a wider range of issues. The duty of the media should be to inform its audience on events they normally would not have heard of, not to gossip or cover stories that capture attention. Doing so does not cause anyone to learn about anything outside of what they already know, we might as well all watch TMZ for the rest of our lives. LV Ed Pereira is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: edpereira@lavozdeanza.com.
Mail Bag Rethink your words I just returned from a De Anza College film club event featuring Emmy Award winning director/producer Marc Buckland. After his wonderful presentation, I was dismayed that the club had invited a representative of Psycho Donuts to speak. He got the students’ attention by encouraging them to submit short films with donuts in them to be run as loops on monitors in the shop. He also said that the shop could help with fundraising by providing the club with donuts at wholesale prices that they could then sell. He’d even send some “crazy nurses and doctors” over to help. I said it isn’t funny to name donuts after psychiatric diagnosis, and asked if they knew anyone with a mental illness or had ever been locked up in a psych
ward. The officer said she’d been in a mental hospital three times and that I was taking this too seriously. When I repeated that it isn’t funny, I was told to “take it outside.” Words are powerful. Will it also be funny to name a donut covered with black licorice “nigger”? In the past, college students have been on the forefront of campaigning against injustice. I am disappointed that the members of the De Anza College AIF club in their eagerness to have their films publicly shown and to make money would do so at the expense of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. That they lack the sensitivity to see how this shop maligns the mentally ill is disturbing. Kim Hing, film
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C A F E T E R I A
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
MAY 4, 2009
WHAT’S COOKING?
monday
tuesday
wednesday
Minestrone
thursday Tortellini Vegetable
Asian Chicken w/ Scallions & Sesame Dressing
Broccoli & Cheddar
Beef Vegetable
Chinese Chicken
Hamburger Cheddar
Margarita
World Risotto Tour - India
Spring Greens Salad
Szechwan Beef Salad
Brocolli Bow Tie Pasta
Southwestern Fusili
California Fettucine
Grilled Salmon, Roasted Vegetables, Brown Rice and Chipotle
Chicken Tikka Masala Risotto, Marinated in Yogurt and Cooked in a Spicy Sweet Tomato and Smoked Paprika
friday
Sun-dried Tomato, Caramelized Onion & Feta Southwestern Chicken
New England Clam Chowder Chef’s Choice
Every Thursday, we will be hosting a new grill special design for those who enjoy the simplicity of grilled fish. The emphasis is on a creation out of the norm.