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WEDNESDAY l 9.27.17 OUR 68TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

CALENDAR CONSTRICTED

By Michael Santone associate editor

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

The new compressed calendar for the 2018-19 year will keep spring break, while introducing a three-week winter intercession.

The 16-week compressed schedule’s final draft was released by the United Faculty Sept. 18 and will be implemented dis-

trictwide, beginning the fall 2018 semester, which will begin on Aug. 27 and end on Dec. 14.

A new winter intercession

ILLUSTRATION BY MAYRA GARCIA / THE ADVOCATE

will provide short-term intensive classes to prepare students for the spring semester.

Students enrolled in the winter intersession will have a week-long winter recess before classes commence on Jan. 2 and end Jan 22.

Then, within a week, the 2019 spring semester will begin on Jan. 28 and end May 24.

Discussions by UF over the summer brought alternatives to the table regarding the length of the 2019 spring semester.

The Aug. 31 faculty survey in the UF Table Talk weekly newsletter suggested the removal of spring break that would have allowed the semester to end on May 31, rather than June 7.

UF Vice President for Contra Costa College Jeffrey Michels said, “About 52 percent of the faculty members who responded to the UF calendar survey said they preferred the option of eliminating spring break to the option of ending the spring semester in June.”

“We did receive pretty overwhelming feedback indicating that faculty did not like either option.

“Our faculty wanted more time to understand and discuss both spring break and the general plans for intersessions,” Michels said.

“We wanted more time to get student input and review data of the best practices from other colleges.”

The final draft of the academic calendar was made in alignment with district colleges Diablo Valley, in Pleasant Hill, and Los Medanos, in Pittsburg, and in agreement with district officials.

Structured to match the 2017-18 schedule, the 2018-19 academic calendar includes a slightly longer winter break to create the three-week winter intersession.

Compressed calendar for the 2018-19 year: United Faculty decided in February to compress the 2018-19 academic calender from 18 weeks to 16 weeks. n The fall 2018 semester will begin Aug. 27 and end Dec. 14. n There will be a three-week winter intersession that begins on Jan. 2 and ends on Jan. 22. n The 2019 spring semester will begin Jan. 28 and end May 28 while keeping a one-week spring break. n

“I expect CCC to find boot camp classes and other short-term intensive classes designed to get students ready for their spring classes,” Michels said. “We may decide as a district to make more changes for 2019-20, but we have plenty of time to talk over the range of options to make informed choices.”

Biology professor Ellen Coatney said she was one of the faculty members who argued against the removal of spring break because it pushed the semester’s end back into June.

“I felt that ending in June was too late and that our students would find hardships as their children were out of school and they were still in school,” she said.

“Once it was decided to start (winter intersession) earlier in January, so that ending before Memorial Day was a possibility, spring break sounded like a good tradition to keep.”

Coatney said spring break can be beneficial because it gives students and instructors SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 4

STRATEGY HIGHLIGHTS EXIT PATHS, AWARENESS

By Efrain Valdez social media editor

evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com

SEE READINESS, PAGE 4

COLORISM IGNITES CAMPUS DEBATE FACEBOOK: /accentadvocate

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Police brutality elicits unified community response

By Ryan Geller Despite the nationwide protests over the deaths of Freddie Gray and Michael Brown no changes have been made to address racism in policing here in Contra Costa College’s administration of justice program.

The re-training of police departments and the transformation of racist police culture was the mantra of major media outlets, community groups and many law enforcement experts at the time of the protests.

The public outcry was so intense that it prompted President Obama to develop a guide to policing reform known as The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

Rick Ramos, administration of justice department chairperson, said that the ideas outlined in the President’s Task Force have been around for some time going back to the Clinton era.

“We are too small of a college (to address racism),” Ramos said.

Ramos’ vision of the administration of justice department is intellectual preparation for law enforce-

ment careers. He said that education around racism in policing should be dealt with at the academy level.

“My goal is a basic understanding of how to survive in the police academy. I teach essentials, good conflict resolution skills and how to critically analyze a situation,” Ramos said.

The administration of justice department does have a course called Community Relations and Cultural Issues that accounts for three credits out of the 18 needed for transfer and the 21 needed for the associate of science degree.

According to the syllabus the course contains eight sections entitled Recognizing Diversity, Prejudice and Discrimination, Management of Aggressive Behavior, Hate Crimes, Sexual Harassment, Conflict Resolution, Domestic Violence and Community Policing and Crime Reduction.

On the CCC campus there are many different visions of what community policing might look like.

Dr. Agustin Palacios, La Raza department chairperson, said “Anybody who becomes a police officer should be familiar with the his-

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advocate staff

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tories of the communities that they work with. It has been a challenge for police unions to admit that there is still racism. Especially during this time, we all need to have the in-depth analysis of race that ethnic studies can offer.”

Nzinga Dugas professor of African-American studies at CCC said, “African-American studies departments work for justice in many ways, but to take an active role in how justice is administered, that would be interesting. That would be historic.

“What if police lived in their communities? What if different things attracted people to careers in law enforcement? Many people have been calling for a way to revisit what it takes to be a police officer. What if we said we want police to have a healing role? What if we all became partners in addressing racism and inequality?”

Lavelle Lewis, an art major at CCC, said, “Safety, understanding and getting to know the communities they police is important because

ABOVE: Berkeley police officers form a line in front of a MineResistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle during a protest at Martin Luther King Civic Center Park in Berkeley on Aug. 27.

Police departments across the country have begun to militarize their tactical units.

SEE BRUTALITY, PAGE 4

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Contra Costa College administrators and first responders have a plan in place to keep people on campus safe in the case of a natural disaster.

Recent catastrophes, like the three major earthquakes that have hit different parts of Mexico, have raised concerns about the safety plans in place locally.

“Our district has a mutual understanding with the American Red Cross that our sites (Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg and CCC in San Pablo) can be used as shelter,” college President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said.

“The Red Cross ultimately decides if one of our sites will be used. If this campus is used as a shelter I, as college president, step back and let them (Red Cross) take control,” she said.

The Red Cross dictates and makes sure that everybody involved, such as city officials, first responders and college officials, are on the same page in the wake of a natural disaster.

“We have a plan so people know what parking lot they have to evacuate too,” Lt. Tom Holt said.

Holt said that Police Services conducts evacuation drills in a different building randomly every month. He said that there is at least one building monitor in each building on campus

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Quotable “The only real, valid censor for the internet is human nature.”

CHEMICAL OVERLOAD

Denis Perez editor-in-chief

Mayra Garcia art director Benjamin Bassham news editor Robert Clinton sports editor opinion editor Xavier Johnson scene editor Dylan Collier assistant scene editor Efrain Valdez social media editor Tashi Wangchuk multimedia editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Advocate Staff Leamsi Amaya Sean Austin Louis Cano Carina Castrillo Maxwell Craig Alondra Gallardo Ryan Geller Tony Gojilde Dan Hardin Julian Robinson Jessica Suico Desmond Sylva Drew Thomas Demond Washington Andrew Weedon Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015 CNPA Better Newspaper Contest 1st Place Award 1970, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2013 JACC Pacesetter Award 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 Member

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Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accentadvocate@ gmail.com Editorial policy Columns and editorial cartoons are the opinion of individual writers and artists and not that of The Advocate. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.

●

EDITORIAL

Benjamin Davis, president and chief executive officer, MediaFriendly 1997

Roxana Amparo Anthony Kinney Michael Santone associate editors

opinion

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 27, 2017 VOL. 105, NO. 5

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

Toxic capitalism seeks to destroy environmental norms

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itting tucked between towering refineries are multiple communities all waiting for the next shelter-in-place alarm to throw into question their health and general safety.

Despite the vast amounts of information regarding the dangers of pollution released by many of these refineries, people in our community have no option but to roll the dice and live where they can afford to.

Some call the industrial waste problem that plagues low income communities the biggest racial problem in our country.

Chevron in Richmond, Conocophillips in Rodeo, Shell and Tesoro in Martinez and Valero in Benicia are leading contributers to the pollution that infects the air we breathe with chemicals daily.

The vast majority of the people who live near these publicly corrosive industries are people of color who do not have the resources to move to another community, so they must suffer and wait.

Even as information becomes more accessible and the public becomes more aware of the dangers of rampant pollution, these local merchants of slow death are looking to expand their operations and bring some of the most harmful substances into our communities for refinement.

Canadian tar sands have been the cause of many of the most recent fossil fuel transportation disasters in recent memory. The substance was also at the center of the TransCanada pipeline that has already begun to ship tar sands from Canada to refineries and ports in the American South.

In the Bay Area, residents that call themselves progressives do little to support the efforts of the few who work to fight this industrial scourge.

Community activist meetings and shoreline clean-up efforts are typically underpopulated and lack real word-of-mouth support to make the effort actually meaningful.

As long as there is no public outcry against the pollution of our local waterways and tributaries, companies like those that run the big five refineries that surround East Bay communities will continue business as usual.

Despite the efforts of well-meaning, underfunded scientists who look to expose the corruption and negligence of some of the areas worst toxic contributors, the public rarely responds to anything that isn’t shrouded in a cloud of smoke or signaled by a siren.

Efforts by corporations, over the course of many years, to bribe those affected by the release of chemicals in the community with menial amounts of hush money has set some sort of a precedence. People in Richmond and surrounding cities flock to overpriced lawyers in hopes of a quick payday.

After each commercial disaster, residents who brave the long lines at area clinics rush to bring their doctor reports to law offices to cash in on a quick buck.

Even with the knowledge that those same lawyers can take upward of 70 percent of the money garnered from the offending company for filling the air with pollutants.

Why does it take a near disaster for people to become aware of the potential factories of death that surround their homes?

Until people stop searching for the fast money and begin to realize what health problems will come from repeated exposure to tar sands, oil and the products used to refine them both, health and safety conditions locally will continue to deteriorate.

MAYRA GARCIA / THE ADVOCATE

■ ASSIMILATION

I

Language deficiency triggers shame

f someone would have told me that losing my native tongue’s proficiency would mean bringing shame to my culture and would cause uncertainty with where I fit in, I wouldn’t have believed them.

But when you are living proof of the struggle that comes with adapting to an unfamiliar playground from a young age, there is only one way to travel — straight ahead.

The meaning of survival for someone who comes from another country is learned through seeing their parents work hard to put bread on the table.

I grew up in a Spanishspeaking household where both parents didn’t speak English, but knew they only wanted the best for their children — which at that point in time was learning English in school after coming to the United States with no plan for return.

Assimilation is ingrained in the process when trying to advance in America, yet necessary to “make it” here.

My understanding of Spanish is still here and my tongue still is able to roll its Rs, but my thoughts are in English and have been for a long time.

Maybe the shame that comes with acquiring knowledge is part of the process, just like learning that having an accent makes you stand out.

It makes you vulnerable and prone to judgment by those who don’t understand where you are coming from.

And even when you just want to keep looking forward, there are those situations that remind you exactly where you stand.

soy de alla,” which translates to “I am not from here neither from there.”

I am not enough Mexico to be Mexican nor am I enough America to be American.

I feel the pressure of the expectations to fit the stereotype of what a Mexican should be or look like, Memories rush to my according to those who hold head of the time in first the power. But at the same grade when not knowing time feel unwanted in the how to tell my teacher I needed to use the bathroom place I’ve lived the majority of my life. And this is all I’ve I cried instead. known.

I remember having to Thinking back to that think of What is left haunting moment in first a way to grade during silent reading explain the as I sobbed in my miniaembarrassing of my ture-size chair, while the incident to Spanish narrator fed me English my mom. through giant headphones, Now, hav- language is reminds me of how hard I ing to slow worked to train my English down when the closest speaking thing I have tongue.

But what once was my to my dad weakness has turned into reminds to the my greatest strength and has me of when I used to Mexico I left allowed me to bring a voice to those in my community translate who have lived in the shadpaperwork when ows. for my mom. coming to To have made strides in Having a the English language means conversation the U.S. as my parents’ efforts were not in Spanish in vain and in its own way is with some- a 3-yearan accomplishment. one means What is left of my concentrat- old.

Spanish language ability is ing on what the person is saying, and not the closest thing I have to just concentrating on how to the Mexico I left when coming to the United States as a respond.

I sometimes wonder how 3-year-old.

It is the piece that makes they will perceive me if I me who I am and proud of mix my words or pause in how far I’ve come and how between a sentence for too far I have left to go. long.

Often times it feels like I’m letting down my mom and dad, but other times Roxana Amparo is an I think this is the result of associate editor for The wanting to be a part of this Advocate. Contact her at nation so bad. ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.

I now understand the com. saying, “No soy de aquí, ni

roxanaamparo

CAMPUS COMMENT

Where would you want to be when an earthquake hits?

“I would hide underground or in an open space.”

“Brazil because there are no earthquakes in Brazil.”

David Lemon-Rodriguez

Mariah Marinho

business marketing

architecture

“I would hide in an airplane so I am not near buildings or on the ground.”

Christian Dejesus criminal justice

“I would hide under the table, but I wouldn’t want to be inside a building when it happened.”

Alandra Mejia business

JESSICA SUICO AND LOUIS CANO /THE ADVOCATE

“I would like to be home with family.”

Juan Soto astrophysics

“I would want to be with my family on an airplane.”

Alejandro Navarro psychology

forum

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.27.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

The Advocate staff works as hard as it can to serve as the voice of Contra Costa College students, but there are opinions and issues we miss. We need to hear from students and faculty to cover the campus fully. Send your opinions or comments to us as letters to the editor to accent.advocate@gmail.com or deliver them to our Newsroom in AA-215. Letters are subject to editing for libel, space constraints and clarity.

■ REFRESHMENTS

Human interest in taste includes drinks

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rom pumpkin spice lattes, Four Locos and craft beers to the nascent stages of Coca Cola over 100 years ago, a constant cultural fixture is trendy beverages.

There comes a point where simply drinking water every time someone is parched becomes boring.

That’s where trendy beverages come in. However, the growing popularity of carbonated mineral water such as Italy’s San Pellegrino and France’s Perrier is baffling.

In coffee shops and supermarkets around the country these distinctive beverages in green bottles stand out like a polished emerald.

Once the $2.50 16 oz. bottle of mildly carbonated water is purchased the disappointment strikes after one sip and hits in two stages.

The first stage begins when the drink hits the tongue.

Naturally, one would expect carbonated mineral water to have some bite.

There is no bite. Instead the taste holds the taste buds hostage with a bitter, under-carbonated taste and a flavor somewhere between watered down Kool-Aid and an open soda that spent the better part of its days sitting a hot car. The second stage is the aftertaste that lingers after it’s swallowed.

Mineral water contains a particu-

chilled that begs the taste buds for one more sip.

But San Pellegrino and Perrier? I just don’t get it.

Mineral water drinkers fall into a wide spectrum as to In coffee why they enjoy the drink. shops and Some genuinely like the taste, some want to supermar- be healthy, others don’t know better and lie to lar aftertaste that ends the experience kets around themselves. with a deflating feeling.

Many people use Once the initial realization that the counthe drink as a way to the drink isn’t good passes, the taste wean themselves off overstays its welcome as a constant try these drinking too much reminder of the disappointment. while not turning After the bad first sip, the human distinctive soda to coffee or sugary ego takes over and the internal voice said, “I paid $2.50 for this damn drink, beverages drinks.

There are many I’m gonna’ finish it.” non-soda alternatives This is a bad decision. in green for people to drink Now it becomes stubbornness takinstead of mineral ing over rational thought. bottles water that aren’t a tall While trying to think about why stand out glass of sugary apple people enjoy the beverage, it becomes juice or a coffee bevmore confusing, considering how easy like pol- erage. it is to find merits for why people like Take tea for examevery other trendy beverage. ished ple.

Pumpkin spice lattes are seasonal Tea can provide the and retain their novelty. emerald. same subtle taste the Four Locos could take a person mineral water drinkers from sober to black out faster than desire without the aftertaste issues and you can even say San Pellegrino.

Colas have a distinct biting taste when weak carbonation. Plus, tea is still pri-

xavierjohnson

marily water and not filled with sugar like sodas or juices.

The flavors of teas are more distinct and varied and it’s easy to control how subtle, strong or bitter the taste is depending on how long the tea is steeped.

There is also the ability to have it served hot or cold and caffeinated or non-caffeinated.

If the mineral content is important then take a multivitamin before drinking a tall glass of tap water.

In bottled water, or for the fancy — premium boxed water.

If the carbonation is important there are plenty of non-mineral water sparking beverages available with stronger taste and better carbonation.

Go to a local Safeway or other grocery store and there will be store-brand sparkling water in a variety of flavors.

There is a world of beverages out there that offers a better taste than carbonated mineral water like San Pellegrino; Italy’s worst export since fascism, and Perrier.

Next time the thought creeps into your mind to buy the green bottle or a friend offers you one, just say no.

Xavier Johnson is the scene editor for The Advocate. Contact him at xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com.

■ OUTLOOK

KNOCKING DOWN STIGMAS Re-defining ‘illegal alien’ label

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tudents that have migrated to the United States and have been granted temporary residency status feel victimized by the use of terms used to identify them, like the term “illegal alien.”

For many DACA(Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students the term is offensive enough to make them feel unwanted.

It hurts even more when hateful terms are used by political leaders.

However, the idea of a green, highly advanced, large-headed creature from out-of-this-world might not be as bad as you think, at least not the way I see it.

This certainly is not meant to dismiss the need to stop the term from being used. Instead, it should be used in a positive way.

Although the use of the term “illegal alien” damages the reputations of almost 800,000 rightfully documented students and their families, there is still light to be found in unclear areas surrounding this issue.

One example would be the idea of an extraterrestrial, considered to be a highly advanced creature capable of traveling from distant galaxies.

Without proper documentation, these beings journey across the vastness of space and are feared when they bring their way of life to the foreign lands of America.

With science continuing to seek beyond the reality we live in on earth, there is no wonder why alienated creatures are feared.

If the idea of an invasion by aliens that vessel through space in intricate spaceships isn’t enough to make aliens seem cool, then the possible removal of the word from our common vernacular is the only possible solution.

As absurd as the idea of green creatures taking over Earth, so is “Alien” not the best word to use when describing migrants from Mexico, Asia, and Central and South America because it refers to people, not imaginary beings. People, with real families, do not come from outer

mayragarcia space or the unknown, but from countries next door, in some cases, fleeing from violence or political distress.

Impactful political leaders, like President Trump has on multiple occasions, used terms akin to illegal aliens in his political speeches prior to and after becoming President.

In comparison to the common perception of an extraterrestrial alien, students of undocumented families have been slandered with an uncalled for alienating term used politically to describe a people of a certain nationality.

Generally, in American news coverage, it is the immigrant families from Mexico who get labeled with the title of illegal immigrant.

When families come from Africa or China, they are merely immigrants looking for a better life.

Voyaging into new spaces has been an instinctual human

desire, especially when families feel the need to find safety.

America has been called the land of the free and the home of the brave.

According to the AP style online which offers proper grammar and styling for writers, the America term illegal should be used when referring to has been an act not a person.

I’ve thought for some called the time that an ideal president would hold the land of interest of uniting people of all nations. the free I suspect likability is important and is a and the necessity for people with differences to home of come together in an inclusive, constructive the brave. society. Then we need more likability in the world.

America is not perfect, but unifying under one goal is necessary to become a nation for people of all ethnic-

ities.

However, we still have a long journey ahead of us, hopefully, paved with positive language rather than the negative words that people use to define each other.

Terms like illegal alien are only used to reinforce divisions between average citizens.

Without abolition or embracing these negative terms, words used to describe people we deem undesirable will always carry their sting.

If we are aliens, then we are intelligent, traveling beings here to make ordinary lives better.

However, when we arrive, we will not be asking for anyone to take us to your leader — he’s a bad Hombre.

Mayra Garcia is the art director for The Advocate. Contact her at mdgarcia.theadvocate@gmail.com.

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campusbeat

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.27.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

NEWSLINE CALENDAR | Three-week intersession implemented n FUNDRAISER

BEER, CHARITY ON TAP AT LOCAL EVENT “Cheers for the Promise” is an event put on through the partnership of Richmond Promise and East Brother Beer Company happening tonight from 4-8 p.m. at East Brother Beer Company on 1001 Canal Boulevard.

The night will celebrate teachers. CCC President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh will be a guest bartender alongside Richmond Mayor Tom Butt and several other members of the community.

Curbside Kitchen, a Richmondbased food truck, will provide food. East Brother Beer Co. and Curbside Kitchen will donate all tips toward the Richmond Promise Scholarship.

n POLICE SERVICES

NON-EMERGENCY LINE GETS UPDATE Police Services has a new department cell phone number, 925-3233726.

The cell phone may not be monitored at all times and is not intended for emergencies. Call dispatch at 510-215-4857 prior to calling the cell phone.

The old cell phone number will no longer be in use. Police Services Lt. Thomas Holt sent an email blast to the college Thursday outlining the change.

n STEM

SKILLS, BAD HABITS FOCUS OF WORKSHOP The STEM Center in PS-109 will sponsor two workshops during the first two weeks of October.

A study skills workshop is scheduled in the Transfer Center on Monday in SA-227.

The program will focus on teaching learning habits to help students pay attention during classes and effectively understand class material.

A workshop for overcoming procrastination is scheduled for Oct. 11 in the Career/Transfer Center in the SA-227.

The workshop will help students analyze their procrastination habits and form strategies to overcome those bad habits.

n DACA

RENEWAL FUND AIDS THREE STUDENTS An in-house anonymous donor will fund three $495 DACA renewal scholarships. Applicants can contact counselor Norma Valdez for a link to a short form application.

She can be contacted at nvaldez-jimenez@contracosta.edu.

n EL CERRITO

ANNUAL SHOW, SALE FEATURES LOCAL ART The El Cerrito Art Association is holding its annual art show and sale on Oct. 6 from 7-9 p.m., Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the El Cerrito Community Center.

Art entries include oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, drawings, photography, sculptures and more.

Over 300 works by a variety of local artists in the East Bay will be on sale during the three-day exhibit.

There will be special sale of unframed work on Saturday and Sunday. For more information go to elcerritoart.org.

— The Contra Costa Community College District is committed to equal opportunity in educational programs, employment, and campus life. The District does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, parental status, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in any access to and treatment in College programs, activities, and application for employment.

Continued from Page 1 a break to catch up. But the fact that some students never return is a reason to remove the break.

“Many of us argued that removing the break would help more students finish because they would just keep going,” Coatney said.

The other big change to the 2018-19 semester schedule is the format of Finals Week.

Instead of a full week off to prepare for finals, that week will now be used for teaching, with the final given on the last day of instruction.

With the semester compressed from 18 to 16 weeks, the biological sciences department is scrambling to arrange its course offerings.

“We (in the biological sciences department) have always used both days of Finals Week for

“It’s disappointing when you can’t get everything done. But when you are dealing with different groups of people, certain aspects of education need to be addressed.”

Rick Ramos,

vice president of Academic Senate

labs and lecture exams,” she said. “Instead of giving a single long test, we are likely to give two short tests to split the material.”

For science courses, which require a variety of labs, it is crucial to stay engaged.

“With going to the 16-week semester, we have to cut two labs and we aren’t sure which

ones to cut because they all seem so important,” Coatney said.

Academic Senate Vice President Rick Ramos said that the UF and its management groups ran out of time to really hammer out all the final kinks.

“It’s disappointing when you can’t get everything done,” he said. “But when you are dealing with different groups of people, certain aspects of education need to be addressed. If things are not planned out smoothly and CCC gets audited, the campus would lose money.”

Ramos said the academic calendar doesn’t look much different, aside from students not having Finals Week off.

“Seeing how these changes to the 2018-19 academic calendar work out is going to be key in the steps to take in the future,” he said.

READINESS | World disasters prompt preparation Continued from Page 1 who knows the evacuation plan and who has direct contact with Police Services radios. The purpose of having a building monitor in each building is to keep order in moments of panic, Lt. Holt said.

“The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is an outline that we (first responders) use to manage disasters in an organized way,” he said. CCC participates in the International Shakeout day annually, which is one way the school prepares for an earthquake.

“I don’t know if we’re always going to be 100 percent sure we are prepared for a disaster,” Mehdizadeh said. “We all (first responders and college officials) meet once a month to keep the plans that in place fresh in our minds.”

NIMS was created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) so that government, private-sector and non-governmental organizations can work together during domestic incidents.

“We work with the Red Cross so when something does happen we have a lot buildings with room for shelter and there are ways for us to get food, water here fast,” Holt said.

“All we can do is try to limit the damage here at the college. We keep trees away from buildings and make sure brush is cut low,” Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said. “Getting everything back to normal and get classes going again are priorities.”

“There are two trailers that are filled with emergency supplies like non-perishable foods,” King said. “We have 60 cabinets of food and those are replaced every once in a while.”

Per the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, the Hayward Fault, which bisects the CCC campus, is the most dangerous fault on the West Coast.

“We’re on the fault line (Hayward Fault), so it’s hard to see our campus as a shelter in the case of a major earthquake,” Mehdizadeh said.

King said that the Hayward Fault has an earthquake magnitude 7 every 200 years and we’re

overdue for one.”

Holt said that they try to do regular walk-throughs with the fire departments of Richmond and San Pablo so that those departments know the campus.

King said that the Mehdizadeh Applied Arts Building, Biology Building and Student Services Building have supporting beams that you can’t see behind the wall.

“All of the construction and new buildings on campus are meant to ensure safety,” Mehdizadeh said. King said that he “feels good” about what the district has done with the recent retrofitting of buildings.

Mehdizadeh said that Richmond’s fire chief came to campus about a month ago.

“We meet once a year and have a live tabletop exercise with first responders. These help us simulate a real disaster situation,” she said.

BRUTALITY | Substandard training mars integrity Continued from Page 1 people don’t really feel safe around cops.”

Markel Woods, a computer science major at CCC, said that officers need to get to know the community and what they have been through, if they are going to improve trust.

Lt. Thomas Holt of Police Services said community colleges are important places for conversations and feedback so officers can learn how the community wants to be policed.

Holt’s policing style is about being open with students and faculty on law enforcement issues.

Ramos, who investigated officer misconduct for nine years as a member the Richmond Police Commission, has marked concern for officer safety. He spoke of an incident in which his son won accommodation for taking a 9mm with a silencer from a man without killing him.

“It’s nice to be able to do that, but then you want to go home at the end of the night too.

“In some situations, there is just no de-escalating. The bottom line is that when people get violent the only way to control them is with violence. My students who come from the inner city often have better discretion. We have a lot of students of color in our program and the local police departments hire a lot of them because they are needed.”

Alonso Saravia, a CCC police aide, said,

n “Safety, understanding and getting to know the communities they police is important because people don’t really feel safe around cops.”

— Lavelle Lewis, art major

“I think you can get a better understanding of people by knowing their history and background. Cultural information can give us an understanding of why people think a certain way. Just working at CCC has changed my mindset. We are very diverse so it gives me a chance to open my eyes and be good to people.”

Among some communities in the Bay Area, there is a deep distrust of police. Many community groups are turning to alternatives to policing. The organization Stop Urban Shield recently held a resource fair in Oakland in which first responder skills like self-defense and fire safety were featured because many people are not comfortable calling the police.

Tash Nguyen, a community advocate with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, said, “Communities of color cannot depend on the state to protect them. In the era of Trump, we have attacks like the travel ban, immigration, and Betsey DeVos trying to derail our public education system.

“On top of this it’s very unpredictable when a community member calls the police. At the end of the day families and community members are first responders. Why not train ourselves with the full awareness that Goehring police violence is common in black and brown communities.”

Beth Goehring, president of the CCC Academic Senate, said the process for developing and modifying programs and curriculum is complicated and involves transfer standards for the UC and CSU systems.

The Academic Senate is responsible for curriculum, but that responsibility is delegated to the Curriculum Instruction Committee, which is made up of CCC faculty members.

“Funding is tight and with guided pathways I don’t think creating innovative courses that might not have transferability is a priority,” Goehring said. “CCC did recently develop a new public health program that has standardized curriculum attached to it.

“Community colleges are wonderful places to voice opinions. The best way to do that is through enlightened professors who empower students. We want students to open their minds and have something important to say.”

Survivor finds recovery, forgives Triumph over human trafficking inspires

By Ryan Geller advocate staff

rgeller.theadvocate@gmail.com

Trafficking survivor Jabali Smith told a triumphant story of recovery that resonated with many students and faculty at a talk held by the Health and Human Services Club Sept. 20.

Smith is releasing a book entitled “Slave: A Human Trafficking Survivor Finds Life.”

“When I was 6 years old I was abandoned by my mother to a messianic doomsday sex cult and I was forced to survive on the streets of a foreign country isolated by language and culture for over five years, enduring psychological, physical, emotional, ritualistic sexual abuse,” Smith said.

When Smith finally returned to his home in Berkeley he was unable to read or write and he Smith was carrying an intense emotional trauma.

“I was crippled by hurt, pain and shame, locked in a prison of sickness, deeply distraught, embarrassed about my illiteracy and the psychological torture that I had been through,” he said.

“I eventually taught myself to read and write. I learned to count by dealing drugs. I learned to navigate the streets from pimps,

hustlers, mothers and friends and I came to rely on something other than academic intelligence,” Smith said.

Recovery and celebration of life was the centerpiece of Smith’s talk, even though he begins his story from such a dark place. Smith tells of a spiritual experience that he had at the height of his abuse that guided his process of recovery.

“I came out of my body and floated above my abuser. I looked down from a painless peace and realized that I was a part of something powerful.”

Forgiveness for oneself and others is an essential key to recovery, Smith said.

“Self-love through the birth of my son was how I found forgiveness.”

Smith charted some of his successes that are part of his ongoing recovery process: he earned martial arts degrees, he realized financial goals and now he is working on setting up a non-profit that addresses child abuse and trafficking.

At the end of the talk Smith offered eight principals for “post-traumatic success: Take responsibility for where you are at it life, admit to yourself your own wrong doings, make amends to those you have hurt, forgive yourself and others, commit to self-mastery, set goals, take action, and be grateful. Gratitude is paramount,” Smith said.

“Hearing the story of his forgiveness for his mother was especially impactful for me,” said Regina Franklin, health and human services major. “My parents were on drugs and I had to take care of my siblings. I am going to forgive my mother. I know its not going to be easy, but after hearing his story I feel powerful. Carrying around resentment is truly a burden that I need to put down.”

n “I came out of my body and floated above my abuser. I looked down from a painless peace and realized that I was a part of something powerful”

— Jabali Smith, trafficking survivor

Smith will be holding a book release and dance party for “Slave: Human Trafficking Survivor Finds Life” on Oct. 14 at the Impact Hub in Oakland from 5 p.m. to midnight and he will have a book signing on Oct. 19 at the East Bay Media Center in Berkeley at 5 p.m.

Darlene Scruggs, a health and human services major who is secretary of the HHS Club, underscored the value of Smith’s keys to post-traumatic success.

“My mother was an addict,” she said. “My stepfather was an addict and my father just was not around. I was an addict for 15 years. I had to learn those eight principals that he talked about on my own. I have been clean now for 11 years.

Gratitude is so important. When I ask myself what I’m happy for its simply knowing that I can wake up and not worry about using.”

Cevonne James a radiology/HHS major, said “What stood out to me was when he said be the hero of your own experience. Often, we look for an outside source to give us that love or confidence or encouragement.

“But advocating for yourself and being your own supporter can be really important at times.

He exemplified the strength and the poise and the honesty that it takes to overcome traumatic life situations.”

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Club plans hiking trip, fun events Outdoor Adventure Club to hike Muir Woods on Saturday

By Drew Thomas

Ben Hayunga,

advocate staff

administration of justice major

dthomastheadvocate@gmail.com

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Criminal justice major Ben Hayunga reacts to the view one mile from Inspiration Point during a hike with the Outdoor Adventure Club in Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley on Sunday.

“The club is fun, full of a lot of people, gives an excuse to hang out with people and helps you take your mind off of things.”

The Outdoor Adventure Club will go on a hiking trip to Muir Woods National Monument in Marin County starting at 7:50 a.m. Saturday.

The club has been active for a year and is trying to recruit new members incorporating more outdoor activities besides hiking, like kayaking, bouldering (rock climbing) and exploring caves in the Bay Area.

Club member Christopher Miller said, “If you’re a person that loves the outdoors, this club is for you.”

The club meets the second Wednesday of the month, from 3-4 p.m. on the lawn by Lot 9.

At some meetings, in between discussing upcoming trips, members set up a slack line (like a tightrope, but wider and with less tension) between two trees as a way to bond with nature and each other.

Contra Costa College students Ricky Cusguen and Julissa Martin founded the club to get people outside and to share a love for the outdoors.

The students are club co-presidents and decide each outdoor activity for the month.

Planning is needed to find a time that all members can participate.

Cusguen said the club wants everyone involved, and they are willing to work around school schedules.

Last semester, members had the opportunity to participate in two hikes and connect with people. Martin said the club is a good way to make friends and establish “bonds.”

Last semester 15 members joined the club, and adjustments are being made to recruit more people this semester.

The Outdoor Adventure Club participated in Club Rush last year to sign

up new members and will again this year, with the same purpose — to show what their club is about.

Club member Ben Hayunga signed up for the Outdoor Adventure Club during the Club Rush event last semester because he was “curious” about nature and finds going on adventures “interesting.”

Hayunga said, “The club is fun, full of a lot of people, gives an excuse to hang out with people and helps you take your mind off of things.”

When Club Rush begins, the Outdoor Adventure Club’s table will be decorated with things relating to nature, and have some outdoor activities and games for students to enjoy.

Martin said she plans to use social media to inform people about the club by starting a Facebook account, while Cusguen asks for more professors to advertise the Outdoor Adventure Club in their classes.

The club does have professor Dajarah Houston, who calls himself their spiritual leader, and faculty advisers Nooshi Borhan and Michael Kilivris, who participate in club activities.

Cusguen said he wants students to understand his passion for the outdoors and said, “There’s a lot to see in the Bay Area.”

The club doesn’t just plan outdoor activities, but gets involved in other school activities as well.

Club members could, for example, work or scare people in CCC’s haunted house if it is brought back this year.

Martin said students who want to make friends should join the club because they can expect “to go on adventures,” together.

Renovations give facelift to aged building

By Anthony Kinney associate editor

akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com

Renovations on the Applied Arts Building are expected to begin this fall semester, leaving a large area of the building inaccessible until the renovation’s completion in fall 2018.

The AA Building renovation project is the first of four planned over the next five years, aimed to modernize the remaining buildings on campus after the completion of the Student and Administration Building and other inner campus buildings last year.

Contra Costa College’s Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said the biggest task of the AA Building’s revamping is the transformation of Aqua Terra Grill’s predecessor, the Three Seasons restaurant, into the new nursing department.

“It’s been a process giving the campus a new look, but we’re getting there,” King said. “We want to make the college King work more efficiently for all the departments.”

King said the long-awaited project, which also includes installing automatic sliding doors on the main entrance of the building,

will cost the district between $4.5 and $5.5 million, depending on the bidding deliberations with contractors.

Renovations will also include improvements to first and second floor offices and restrooms, as well as converting the speech department’s Conference Room into the campus’ archive room.

King said the more disruptive construction will be conducted in the earlier hours of the morning before classes start to help minimize classroom disturbances.

Middle College High School freshman Samantha Vazquez said she’s worried about the possible distraction the construction can be for students trying to focus in their classrooms, but feels the AA Building is in much need of an upgrade.

“It’s a really old looking building,” Vazquez said as she gazed around the interior of the first floor. “Getting a renovation might give students a better sense of pride in the campus and want to focus more in class.”

AA-117, the former KCCC television studio, is also expecting a remodel and new occupant, the custodial department. King said the move is a welcomed improvement and will greatly enhance the department’s daily operations.

According to King, two of the three entrances to the building will be restrict-

“It’s been a process giving the campus a new look, but we’re getting there.”

Bruce King,

buildings and grounds manager

ed from students during construction, so students will have to use the main double-door entrance as the only way into the AA Building.

The old culinary arts area of the building, which includes both a men’s and a women’s restroom, will be closed off to students until construction is over, leaving the men’s rest room downstairs the only one in the building. Women are left with two, one on each floor.

Once the construction is completed and the nursing department is fully moved into its new home, the demolishing of the Health Sciences Building and Liberal Arts Building will begin.

Nursing program student Amber S. said the move will hugely improve the nursing program in many ways, but the increase in space the relocation will provide for the department is the biggest factor. “(The department) has issues even trying to find classrooms to put us in,” she said.

“Having more space dedicated to us is a major advancement.”

However, not all the building’s occupants are thrilled about the vexation the renovation will cause.

Gateway to College Resource Specialist Anna Chuon said a move for Gateway classrooms and offices into the former President’s Office in AA-205, was included in the initial planning, but recent changes have left the Gateway program relocating to the Speech Tutoring Office and the old President’s Office will be the new Math Lab. Chuon said this move marks her fourth in the three years she’s been working in the AA Building and she feels the constant moving has become an inconvenience for the Gateway program and its students.

“It’s a nice improvement, but it’s also a lot of work packing up and shifting into a new area,” she said. “Along with it comes a long list of anomalies and factors that will affect our students.”

Bidding to find the most suitable construction company to accomplish the project will start Thursday.

The Governing Board is expected to approve the bid and officially sign off on the AA Building’s upgrade at its Oct. 11 meeting.

Construction is expected to commence Oct. 23.

ethnic cuisine caters to taco lovers

By Jessica Suico advocate staff

jsuico.theadvocate@gmail.com

The culinary arts department served chicken, steak and fish tacos during a Taco Tuesday event in the Aqua Terra Grill from 4-7 p.m. on Sept. 12.

Patrons enjoyed four tacos for $5 or $1.50 each, and a choice to have homemade horchata on the side.

“My friend Jasmine Vargas, who is a culinary arts/business major, and I planned this event for our department,” La Raza studies/culinary arts major Nelly Viaduri said. “The purpose of the event is to raise money for the scholarship that help takes culinary students to Italy.”

When the doors opened at 4 p.m. there were already a

family and faculty members waiting to eat. Most dishes were ordered to go, but a few people stayed and enjoyed the presentation in the dining room.

Undecided major Kenia Lacayo said, “These tacos are delicious, no doubt. This event is a great idea because it’s affordable, delicious and helps the culinary arts department.”

The first couple hours of the event were kind of slow, however everyone in the culinary arts program that was part of the event kept a happy, welcoming vibe.

“We want to periodically hold events like this, but I can’t commit to every Tuesday because I have classes to teach,” culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes said.

“The students go to Italy every summer in June. About 10 students go every year.”

“It costs about $10,000 for the students to go to Italy, but the experience is priceless,” he said.

The study abroad program sends a group of CCC culinary arts students go to Italy. The students visit culinary schools abroad and learn from instructors at those institutions.

All costs associated with the trip are covered by the culinary scholarship program.

“Absolutely we should have more events because they’re affordable. You can really see the amazing training and support our culinary department goes through.” Lacayo said.

Culinary arts major, and cook during the event, Melanie Ruben said, “The people are what make me happy about being a part of this event and department. We’re like a family here. I love the team we have here.”

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Volunteer Anne Van Blaricon throws a vase on a pottery wheel in the Art Building Monday for the Empty Bowls event, scheduled for Oct. 13 in the Aqua Terra Grill.

LEAMSI AMAYA / THE ADVOCATE

Bowl fundraiser supports mission

By Efrain Valdez social media editor

evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com

The culinary arts department and the fine and media arts department will host the annual Empty Bowls event at the Aqua Terra Grill from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 13.

Attendees will be able to pick one ceramic bowl, go inside of the restaurant and get their bowl filled with one of the four soups available.

“Students pay $5 and the public pays $10 per bowl of soup. All of the money goes to the Bay Area Rescue Mission in Richmond,” culinary department Chairperson Nader Sharkes said. “They can sample all of the soups we have that day. And before they leave we wash their bowls for them.”

Assistant ceramics professor Allen Perlof said this kind of event was created 30 years ago in the Midwest by a group of potters.

“This started because some people didn’t have food, so these potters would go out and get with an organization

“We started preparing for this six months prior to the event. We have a meeting with (people in) the art department. That’s when we decide on the date and the soups.”

Nader Sharkes,

culinary arts department chairperson

that has a food program for the hungry,” he said. “We have around 700 bowls. Some are left over from years past because we don’t sell out all the time.”

Chef Elisabeth Schwarz said first semester culinary arts students will have an opportunity to participate in their first fundraiser.

“They will get to produce a high volume of food for the first time,” she said.

Schwarz said the ingredients for the food was all donated

and that the most popular menu item is the clam chowder — the only confirmed soup so far.

“Having more experience after doing it for several years now really helps the planning,” she said. “We have been meeting with the art department for the last few months.”

Sharkes said, “We started preparing for this event six months prior to the event. We have a meeting with (people in) the art department. That’s when we decide on the date and the soups.”

“Back before we started this event, one of the projects for the Ceramics class was to make bowls,” Perlof said. “Then we thought of starting an Empty Bowls here so we asked the culinary department if they wanted to participate.”

“They usually bring the bowls to us two weeks prior to the event,” Sharkes said.

Perlof said that the art students who made bowls will be at the event.

“This way the people who buy the bowls get a chance to meet the students who made them,” he said.

Coffee, bagels brew dialogue Police host students, build relationships

By Andrew Weedon advocate staff

aweedon.theadvocate@gmail.com

Local and district police officers helped break the ice with community members and dispel negative feelings toward those in uniform on Sept. 20 in Fireside Hall.

Coffee with a Cop is an event organized by the Associated Student Union in partnership with Police Services.

A selection of hot coffee and bagels were laid out to draw students and community

members together with police officers.

A few fliers were also laid out on a table at the entrance. These included general safety tips, phone numbers to contact Police Services, and a short survey asking students how they feel about the available Police Services.

Police Services Lt. Tom Holt said the idea of the event is to create a friendly forum where people can talk face-to-face with police officers and allow them to ask any questions they may have. He said similar Coffee with a Cop style events have been happening all over the country with the same goal in mind.

Due to recent political division relating to police officers countrywide, Holt said it is important to build trust with the com-

munity.

If police officers are more approachable, students are more likely to feel comfortable contacting them with issues. “(Police officers) are humans, not uniforms. It is a job, not who they are,” police aide Safi Ward-Davis said.

This event is not the first time the ASU has organized such an event.

About a year ago the ASU was tasked with finding a way to start a friendly interaction between students and Police Services, Ward-Davis said.

The ASU wanted to bring awareness about Police Services to campus and build community at the same time.

Ward-Davis explained that an event involving food was an easy choice because food brings people in and is a great conver-

sation starter.

For younger students and community members, this outreach is important because it helps them learn that the police can be trusted, Ward-Davis said.

“The police are here to support students and provide a safe learning environment,” Contra Costa College Vice President Ken Sherwood said. If Holt the Police Services have greater visibility, students will feel more comfortable on campus and enjoy learning.

The ASU plans to have at least two more similar events this semester to further aid the conversation and help build community.

CULINARY EVENT HELPS FUND ITALIAN VOYAGE

By Dan Hardin advocate staff

dhardin.theadvocate@gmail.com

Sparkling wine, live music and delectable chocolates all at the same place and at the same time, sets the stage for the 7th annual Chocolate & Champagne event, set for Oct. 7.

The event, which is hosted by the culinary arts department, helps fund a trip for students to Italy as part of the department’s study abroad program, by raising monies for culinary arts scholarships.

“We plan to have many samplings of savory dishes that feature chocolate overtones, much like last year,” chef Nader Sharks said. “We haven’t completed our menu yet.”

Because the menu is subject to change he couldn’t say exactly what will be on it.

Sharkes did say the standards and quality of the cuisine for this year’s event would be unsurpassed by any previous Austin years.

The 7th annual Chocolate & Champagne event will be held at the Aqua Terra Grill in SA-130, from noon until 3 p.m. on Oct. 7.

Culinary student Yanelli Vidauri said, “This is a fundraising event that allows culinary students to travel to Italy and expe-

“We plan to have many samplings of savory dishes that feature chocolate overtones, much like last year” Nader Sharkes,

culinary arts department chairperson

rience fine dining at its best.”

Music department Chairperson Wayne Organ said that CCC’s own award-winning jazz ensemble, Jazz-ology, will perform at the event.

The six-member ensemble will take center stage and help to set the tone and mood for the charitable and festive occasion.

Performance Program Director Stephanie Austin said, “I love music because it brings people together.”

This is not Dr. Austin and Jazz-ology’s first time at the C & C event in the short amount of time that this event has existed.

Dr. Austin said, “We have performed two other times for this event at the old Three Seasons Restaurant. But this will be a first for the Aqua Terra Grill.”

She said that they had performed in the courtyard outside of the Three Seasons, near the Culinary Garden but she’s not sure where the group will set up in the Aqua Terra Grill.

The restaurant is located the college’s new amphitheater that is somewhat reminiscent of the old college amphitheater, which was

FILE PHOTO / THE ADVOCATE

Dance major Wendy Huang (left) grabs cheese during the Chocolate & Champagne event hosted by the culinary arts department in the Aqua Terra Grill last October.

much larger in size.

Dr. Austin said, “The Jazz-ology ensemble will perform for a total of two hours out of the three hours scheduled for the event.”

Attendees who plan to come late may want to reconsider, she said.

“The ensemble will perform from noon until 2 p.m.,” Austin said.

“Jazz-ology will perform songs from their latest CD, ‘Get Out of Town,’ and we will be accompanied by a professional rhythm section,” she said. The CDs can be purchased for $15 at the event.

Adrianne Sims, who works for the custodian department at Contra Costa College, said, “The Chocolate & Champagne event is very good for the college, and the com-

munity.”

She also complimented Sharks on his quest for culinary excellence.

Second-year culinary arts student David Vidrine said, “I am really looking forward to this year’s event and participating anywhere I am needed. In the past I have assisted vendors with parking and coordinating with set up.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance by accessing ccc_culinaryarts.eventbrite.com, by emailing wchau@contracosta.edu or by calling 510-215-3878. Advanced tickets can be purchased for $25 at the Aqua Terra Grill.

Tickets can also be purchased at the event for $30.

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LEFT: Gothic rock standout Chelsea Wolfe released her sixth studio album “Hiss Spun” on Friday, on the Sargent House label.

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

Folk, metal fusion express uniqueness

By Xavier Johnson scene editor

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

Chelsea Wolfe continues her descent into darkness with her newest record “Hiss Spun.”

On “Hiss Spun” Wolfe manages to strike a balance with the vulnerability of her folk roots with the unmitigated rage of metal music to craft a sound that is uniquely hers.

Wolfe’s music always had a strong sense of darkness interlaced in her lyrics and sound since she first burst onto the scene with 2011’s “Apocalypsis.”

The sounds of sludge and doom metal are heavily throughout the record with heavily distorted guitars and a tempo that slowly progresses emphasizing every grimy note played.

This sound perfectly meshes with Wolfe’s dark lyrical themes and vocal style.

There is a consistent unsettling force flowing throughout the entire album. The music creeps along quietly with a subdued rage emanating through Wolfe’s pained vocals and the guitar work.

These quiet rage crescendos into explo-

sions, where Wolfe opens up, put more force into her cries as if she is unleashing the muffled pain built up beforehand.

On “Twin Fawn” the tension and release is at its most satisfying.

Opening up with muted guitar and drums ALBUM acting as a background, REVIEW Wolfe gently whispers, “I “Hiss Spun” feel you, phantom touch, ★★★★★ although you’re far, I hear Artist: Chelsea you, I taste your blood, I Wolfe haven’t had enough.”

Genre: Gothic The song grows quiRock/Doom Metal Label: Sargent eter until the music is House almost inaudible.

Release Date: Suddenly there is a Sept. 22 jolt of energy as the song explodes as she screams, “You cut me open, you lived inside. You kill the wonder, nowhere to hide.”

After the explosion of aggression, the song returns to its quiet beginnings. Wolfe’s whisper takes on a different quality.

Her voice quivers as if she’s recovering and trying to hold herself from a repeated

outburst.

The song explodes again never returning to the quiet state of before, almost as if Wolfe was broken.

The lyrics throughout the record touch on the dark side of love with macabre depictions of passion, loss and pain.

There is a notable industrial rock influence, particularly in “Offering,” as she uses crunchy synthesized drums to back up her soft vocals and dreamy guitars to create a beautiful soundscape.

In the midst of the hellish sounds she crafts through the rest of the album Wolfe is able to bring forth moment of serenity.

“Hiss Spun” isn’t all Wolfe’s newfound metal aggression, however.

She brings her folk roots to the forefront in the penultimate track “Two Spirit.”

Wolfe’s voice becomes one with the acoustic guitar making for a calming moment.

In the face of this calm there is darkness in her words. Wolfe whispers, “I’ll be screaming through the afterlife. I’ll be hunting for you, buried under flowers” In the latter half of the track the distorted guitars return, signaling a noticeable

shift in the music.

Wolfe’s voice loses the gentle quality and she asserts, “Show me your insides. Show me what’s underneath. Show me your bruises. Be your own God.” The closing track “Scrape” is one of the more accessible songs on the record. There is a clear progression, powerful vocals and instrumentation.

“Scrape” feels as if it’s Wolfe’s final expression anger and grief. While other songs felt like cries of pain and longing, “Scrape” is the clear outright defiance found in metal.

On “Hiss Spun” Wolfe continues her artistic progression trending toward heaviness.

Each song, more than her other albums, contributes to a greater sonic and lyrical theme.

Now, Wolfe created an album in “His Spun” that captures the feeling of swelling rage.

Every song has moments of rage and restraint and it’s Wolfe’s struggle with these emotions that makes the album great throughout.

RESTAURANT OFFERS SAVORY PICKS

Local Mexican-inspired food delivers satisfaction

By Dylan Collier assistant scene editor

dcollier.theadvocate@gmail.com

Anyone who supports non-commercialized, family-run authentic Mexican restaurants needs to check out the menu at Los Moles Beer Garden located at 6120 Potrero Ave. in El Cerrito.

Owner Lito Saldana and his family offer authentic food at a reasonable price. Some dishes are a little pricey, but you are also paying for the experience of dining at a restaurant that offers much more than a location to pick up an order to go.

The restaurant is located inside the same building where the old Carrows spent many void months.

Now, the space has transcended expectations, offering a vibrant new spot for young professionals to socialize over a beer, or take the family out for a meal.

Between the three locations, San Rafael, Emeryville and El Cerrito — Potrero Avenue is the only location that offers an outdoor beer garden.

I dined in on a Sunday night when the crowd seemed to be a little more into the food than the beer, with the larger volume of people choosing to eat inside the restaurant.

My appetite led me to settle on the buffet-style spread of chicken moles and a Baluberry Ale. The smell of the eight different Chicken Moles softly simmering on the butane burners permeated the air.

At the main course buffet bar I sampled arroz poblano verde, the mole luisa, mole mango, mole verde, mole elena, with a side of pinto beans and two slices of pineapple for $17.

The mole mango and verde were on the milder side, but the mole elena and luisa had a more spicy zing for the palate.

All of the chicken used at Los Moles are organic.

The mouthwatering morsels of meat fall apart with each bite because the chefs keep their chicken in pots cooking on low heat. The mole mango chicken complemented and cooled down the mole luisa, making my meal pleasantly spicy and not too hot.

I was impressed with their dinner buffet offered over the weekend. If you want the option of either eating a buffet-style dinner or ordering a regular meal supplied by a waiter, go Saturday or Sunday between 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

All craft beers are reasonably FOOD priced at $6 for a regular 12-ounce REVIEW glass and all their wines range from $9 to $13 per glass. The “Los Moles” Baluberry Ale I ordered had a ★★★★★ Cuisine: Mexican slight taste of blueberry and was a Where: El Cerrito little darker in hue than the typical Price Range: $$ pale ale.

With brews from local California brewers such as Fieldwork, Drake’s and Carneros, the beer aficionado has a selection that ranges from the stronger Double IPA, to a milder Dry Hopped Pale Ale. Also on tap are an assortment of Mexican beers like Corona, Dos Equis and Modelo Especial.

I cannot speak for the efficiency of the waiters and waitresses because I ate from the buffet menu where customers help themselves to different types of chicken mole, beef cheeks, fried fish and veggies from the salad bar.

I wasn’t extremely impressed by their salad bar because they could add a few more salad dressings to the spread so customers could have more variety.

Outside, there is spacious seating with a fire pit, however there is no live music and you’re not allowed to bring your own food.

The restaurant’s name “Los Moles” is derived from the sauce that the chefs cook their chicken in and also happens to be their biggest seller.

If you have a big family go for Taco Tuesdays from 4 to 9 p.m. when the buffet is only $12 per person.

TASHI WANGCHUK / THE ADVOCATE

Cook Karina Rodriguez flips a tortilla for a meal during her shift at Los Moles restaurant in El Cerrito on Monday.

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spotlight

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n “Every day

I’m going to wake up black.

Every day I’m going to wake up with dark skin and I can’t really base my life on how other people feel I am as a person.”

— Joel NicklesonShanks, Student Life coordinator

n “Many times,

Latinos come to me struggling to speak English to me and when I speak back in Spanish they are surprised.”

n “Colorism is important because if you are darker, then you are labeled as less, automatically.”

— Daniella Matute, business administration major

— Elias Ledezma, biology major

n “In my country (Vietnam) there is discrimination based on skin color because of income. When we come here, because we are a community of Asians, I think we bond easier. It’s friendlier — less discrimination.”

— Phuong Mai, art major

n “Because I’m light n “We need to get

over the fact that we need to be segregated.

It still exists. It’s not explicit but it’s there — I see it. We need to come together as a country and embrace each other and just mix it. Just like Brazil.”— Mariah Marinho,

skinned people think I am sadiddy (stuck up).

When people meet me and get to know me they say, ‘Oh, I thought you were one of those’ — until they actually hear me speak.”

— Yakaira Daniels, African-American studies major

architecture major

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION ROXANA AMPARO, DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Snippets of shade Skin-based biases cross cultural divides, foster discrimination within ethnic communities

By Rob Clinton opinion editor

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

D

ark things can be mysterious, intriguing, stunning or sleek. But when it comes to skin tone, across gender or geographical borders the sentiment more often than not is darker is less desirable.

Colorism, a term coined by author and activist Alice Walker in 1982, is a type of discrimination that highlights the way people are treated according to skin tone.

Despite the stark contrast between white and African-American skin in the U.S., the condition far outreaches American shores and permeates the boundaries of nearly every country in the world.

“It’s not just America,” Student Life Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks said. “I travel a lot and in pretty much every country that I’ve been to people with darker skin get discriminated against. In America, I feel like it’s more of a way to pit black people against each other.

“People always go back to the slave example of light people being in the house and black people being in the field, I think it’s way bigger than that. We tie a lot of beauty to being light skinned — sometimes it’s seen as being closer to white.”

This sentiment is easiest explained through the paper bag test.

Throughout white and many AfricanAmerican organizations in the early 20th century, a brown paper bag was used to determine whether or not someone would receive privileges that only people with a skin tone lighter than a brown paper bag were afforded.

Since this country’s inception, whiteness has been a symbol of purity and beauty, but in countries that are devoid of Caucasians, what feeds the discriminatory beast that is colorism?

Computer science major Jagjot Saggar is from India and says the divisions there are mostly driven by geography and a lack of education and opportunity.

In India, lighter skinned people live in the northern part of the country, while darker people occupy the poorer south.

“Sometimes it can be dangerous for northerners to go to the south because of potential muggings,” he said. “But if the people are educated there is generally no problem. The areas are far apart. Here we don’t have the same divisions, mostly because of education. There are a lot of Indians in the medical field and the tech industry. Dark and light, the opportunity for advancement in the U.S. is the unifying bond.”

For some, the brown-bodied pursuit of a better life or higher education can be challenging to navigate, especially in a world of covert or passive discrimination.

“I take classes at Diablo Valley College (in Pleasant Hill) as well as here and I’m basically the only Latina in class,” business administration major Daniella Matute said.

“When I walk the halls I can feel people just staring. I don’t know if it’s because of my color or because I’m a girl or because I’m tall.

“I come from Nicaragua and there are a lot of dark people there. When I was a kid I didn’t know color. It wasn’t until I got here that it was an issue. Color is important here because if you are darker, then you are labeled as less than, automatically.”

With lighter Hispanics, acceptance can be fleeting because, in most cases, racial commonalities outweigh unification by pigmentation.

“It’s kind of a positive and a negative because with other people they see me as more trustworthy because I’m lighter and they talk to me more openly,” biology major Elias Ledezma said. “But when it comes to my fellow Latinos, they automatically assume that I can’t speak Spanish or that I know nothing about my culture.

“Many times, Latinos come to me struggling to speak English to me and when I speak back in Spanish they are surprised.”

Ledezma said his family comes from Jalisco, Mexico where people have lighter skin. “I’m still pretty distinguishable because my facial features are Latino.

“My dad told me that back home people

n “Being tall, dark and male I

find myself smiling a lot more to make other people feel comfortable. If I don’t, sometimes my regular resting face may make people feel uncomfortable. So I watch my mannerisms and my wording — a lot.

— Joel Nickleson-Shanks, Student Life coordinator

with lighter skin were a little more arrogant.

But here it doesn’t matter as much. It’s all about race. In Mexico, we are all Mexicans so it can’t be about race, only skin tone.”

For others, the path to acceptance can be tougher to navigate.

Sam Hernandez, who is studying to be an X-ray technician, said, “People see me and it’s like, oh no, because I’m brown.”

Hernandez said he gets mistaken for other races like Filipino or Indian, but when people learn that he is Mexican, because he’s brown, they assume that he only speaks Spanish and treat him differently.

In America, the lens in which people judge color can be the difference between opportunity and misfortune — even life and death.

“The whole light skin, dark skin thing offends me and it divides us as black people,” African-American studies major Yakaira Daniels said. “We are already separated from the world, so why separate us from ourselves. Why not stick together because everyone else is against us. Because I’m light skinned people think I’m sadiddy (stuck up).

When people meet me and they get to know me they say, ‘Oh, I thought you were one of those’ — until they actually hear me speak.”

Nickelson-Shanks said colorism within racial groups is akin to being ashamed of who you are and a product of not knowing about your culture and history.

“I can’t be mad at people for being igno-

rant,” he said.

Brown Americans, black people in particular, shoulder the unfair burden of acquiescing to the insecurities of others to avoid unnecessary confrontations.

“Being tall, dark and male I find myself smiling a lot more to make other people feel comfortable. If I don’t, sometimes my regular resting face may make people feel uncomfortable. So I watch my mannerisms and my wording — a lot. You get used to it just like anything in life. It’s sad that it’s something that has to be accepted. But there are bigger issues that I want to address first.

“Every day I’m going to wake up black.

Every day I’m going to wake up with dark skin and I can’t really base my life on how other people feel I am as a person,” Nickelson-Shanks said.

Wealth and education inequities drive these divisions. However, some immigrant communities leave those divisions behind upon reaching the shores of the U.S. “I don’t pay much attention to skin color.

I don’t think there are any real differences,” art major Phuong Mai said.

“In my country (Vietnam) there is discrimination based on skin color because people are darker, or because of income.

When we come here, because we are a community of Asians, I think we bond easier. It’s friendlier —less discrimination.”

For some, like architecture major Mariah Marinho, the widespread self-segregation that happens in America is at the root of colorism and racial discrimination.

“People either say I’m white or Hispanic, but I’m not. I’m Brazilian,” she said.

“Over there we’re mixed. We don’t have whites from Portugal or blacks from Africa.

We’re all mixed, so we don’t see it the same there.

“We need to get over the fact that we need to be segregated. It still exists. It’s not explicit but it’s there — I see it. We need to come together as a country and embrace each other and just mix it —just like Brazil.”

B SECTION

Spotlight

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

Celebrating Hispanic culture n “More than four million peo-

Remembering vital Hispanic contributions

ple came to the U.S. to work in agriculture and on railroads.

Mexicans fed not just the country, but also Europe in WWII.”

By Roxana Amparo associate editor

ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

In celebration of the contributions and culture of Latinos in the United States, Congress deemed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month in 1988.

Celebrated throughout the nation with festivals, gatherings and even by wearing colorful cultural clothing, the month allows for the remembrance of escaping violence, poverty and coming to another country to start over.

The month coincides with the anniversary of the independence of five Central American nations from Spain 193 years ago on Sept.

15, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

“Latinos have contributed to the economic, political, social and cultural makeup of this country, since before it was this country. We had the first Spanish settlements in the 1500s,” Contra Costa College La Raza studies professor Agustin Palacios said.

Palacios said it is often forgotten that while the U.S. was at war defending the country during WWII, Mexicans worked as part of Bracero Program.

Bracero means manual laborer or one who uses his arms. The program was created through an Executive Order on Aug. 4, 1942,

— Augustin Palacios, La Raza studies professor

ILLUSTRATION BY MAYRA GARCIA / THE ADVOCATE

when the U.S. signed the Mexican Farm Labor Agreement with Mexico.

Braceros worked on railroads, farms and sustained the U.S. economy during WWII, with minimal paying wages and long hours.

“More than four million people came to the U.S. to work in agriculture and on railroads. Mexicans fed not just the country, but also Europe in WWII,”

Palacios said.

Latinos make up the second largest group in the U.S. and reached 58.6 million population in 2017 and continue to expand throughout the U.S., according to the Census Bureau. Between 2016 and 2017, the U.S. population increased by 2.2 million Latinos.

Undecided major Rosangelica Lopez

said it’s important for today’s youth to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month within the Latino community for the sake of keeping historical and cultural roots alive.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is part of this country’s identity. It spreads awareness of our indigenous peoples in an informative way to peacefully empower the community,” Lopez said.

“Personally, my family doesn’t celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, like we celebrate typical American events like Halloween and Thanksgiving.

However, we do celebrate September by heart and remain mindful of our motherland.

For some, the month inspires dressing for the occasion by wearing colorful attire to celebrate the culture.

Psychology major Angie Zambrano said, “I celebrate by wearing my authentic Mexican shirt (huanengo, a cultural blouse with embroidery) along with huaraches (sandals) and braids. I think it’s very important to show how proud we are of our culture.”

OVERVIEW, PAGE 5-4

Fervent efforts preserve dream Will-power drives accomplishments, motivates community

By Anthony Kinney associate editor

akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com

In this thing called life, people are all dealt their own hands to play in hopes that their cards will lead them to finding personal prosperity and happiness.

Some were born dealt winning hands, while others spend their entire lives trying to figure out the best strategy to use playing their cards in this game of life.

Against all odds, Marlene Echeveste Torres is committed to winning in everything she does.

Born into impoverished conditions in Leon Guanajuato, Mexico, Torres said her family worked strenuously to stay afloat. When the news came that she was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome type II at the age of 5, her family was left devastated and in desperate need of options.

A genetic disorder, Usher Syndrome affects the hearing and sight senses of an individual from birth. Besides causing mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss, Usher Syndrome leaves its victims with retinitis pigmentosa, a retinal degeneration that causes night blindness and constricted fields of vision.

As a last resort to finding help for their ailing child, her parents decided to come to the United States.

Sadly, they found out even with the advances in Western medicine, there is still no cure for this shattering syndrome.

Torres said all doctors could do is

suggest she learn sign language and how to read braille.

She said she has adapted to her constricted tunnel vision and impaired hearing but still struggles with bumping into obstacles and with seeing at night.

She said her parents strive to be supportive and helpful through her process of adapting with Usher Syndrome, though they spend most of their time at work.

Growing up in Berkeley with no siblings and overworked parents, Torres felt alone and in need of help with her condition. She left for Mexico to live with her grandparents, aunt and uncle at age 14.

Back in Leon Guanajuato, Torres graduated from the local high school in 2007. She attended the University of Leon until her deteriorating vision drove her to drop out after her first semester.

“I thought I was going to go completely blind,” she said. “I wanted to go be with my parents again before I wasn’t able to see them anymore.”

Her vision stayed but became more constricted. However she decided stay in America and help her parents out in any way she could.

Once settled in, Torres decided to attend Contra Costa College with aspirations of joining the nursing assistant program. But those dreams grew dim when she realized she would have to register a Social Security number at a local hospital for certification.

She doesn’t have one.

Forced to pick another route, Torres decided to join the CCC’s culinary arts program last year.

Torres said since she graduated from a Mexican high school she’s not eligible for the California Dream Act, therefore she is working two jobs to help her parents out, as well as to pay her nonresi-

Volleyball losing streak continues PAGE B7

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Culinary arts major Marlene Echeveste Torres overcomes daily health disabilities and is an undocumented student who works toward exceling in the culinary field.

n “Whenever need be, Torres

petition, said she’s a hard worker who dedicates herself to accomplishing is always willing to put the extra whatever task she’s faced with. time and effort in.”

“Whenever need be, Torres is always — Enrique Espinoza, culinary arts major willing to put the extra time and effort in,” Espinoza said.

He said Torres creates a welcoming dent tuition of $280 per unit. environment where everyone’s opinBut she’s not letting her “undocuion matters, which generates a more mented” status or her disability hold relaxed and friendlier atmosphere in her back from excelling in the program. the kitchen.

Her resiliency helped her lead the team “She’s not afraid to voice her opinion “Fanglish” to victory during this semesand allow for the voices of others to be ter’s Iron Chef competition hosted by heard too,” he said. “She has the qualithe culinary arts department. ties needed to be a good leader.”

Fellow classmate and culinary arts She aspires to earn an associate major Melanie Rubin said she recalls degree from the culinary program and Torres’ introduction on their first day to one day open a bakery. of instruction where she admitted to Torres said she vows on making her the class that she didn’t have much parents proud by becoming the first in experience in the kitchen. her family to graduate from college.

Rubin said she accounts Torres’ “Just like I believe in God, I believe growth to her propensity to ask quesin miracles, ” she said. “When you set tions about things she doesn’t know. your mind on a goal and devote yourCulinary arts major Enrique self to really going after it, then anyEspinoza, who worked alongside Torres thing is possible. ” during this semester’s Iron Chef com-

BAY REFINERIES CONTAMINATE ATMOSPHERE PAGE B3

Month celebrates heritage PAGE B4, B4

B2

spotlight

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“

LEFT: Chef Russell Lozano places a Curb Banhmi burger on a serving tray in Curbside Kitchen while working an event at Four Fools Winery in Rodeo.

We take traditional Filipino flavors and blend them with Southeast Asian and Mexican food.”

Raynard Lozano, Curbside Kitchen manager

XAVIER JOHNSON / THE ADVOCATE

richmond food truck integrates cuisines

Local brothers fuse American, Filipino food for unique flavors

By Xavier Johnson scene editor

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

With a year and a half of running a food truck under their belts, brothers Russell and Raynard Lozano try to bring a community focused approach and family atmosphere to every curbside they serve.

Curbside Kitchen is a Richmond-based food truck fusing American cuisine, like burgers, with traditional Filipino ingredients and flavors.

Raynard Lozano said Curbside Kitchen is a way to express their family’s cultural cuisine in a readily appetizing way.

“Trying new cuisine can be intimidating.

We hope our dishes can break down some barriers that prevent people from trying great food,” he said.

The brothers were born in San Pablo and grew up in West Contra Costa County.

“We take traditional Filipino flavors that our parents taught us and blend them with Southeast Asian and Mexican food influences from growing up in the Bay Area — and serve it up ‘American style’,” Lozano said.

After studying culinary arts at Contra Costa College, brother Russell Lozano spent eight years working in the restaurant industry. He said he wanted to start a food truck several years before establishing the business in November 2015.

“I didn’t like working for others and playing by their rules,” he said. “I wanted my creativity in the kitchen to thrive.”

Raynard, a graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in urban development and city planning, said he wanted to open up a food truck too, even though he had limited culinary experience.

Russell said, “I said, ‘Why not make this a family business?’ I can’t run the business without his skills and for a food truck he can’t run one without the culinary side.”

The food truck operates in locations and at events around the Bay Area with roots in the Richmond and San Pablo area.

“I want Richmond to be a cool place to hang out. I want future generations to have cool things to do instead of going everywhere else but Richmond to hang out,” Russell said.

Raynard said as the business grows he wants to keep it in Richmond.

Russell said studying at CCC helped strengthen the fundamental cooking techniques that helps someone thrive in the culinary industry.

“Before going to CCC I never worked with professionals, just home cooking. The

experience to work with pros was valuable.”

Curbside Kitchen is a small business with a few on-call employees for larger events.

One employee is CCC culinary arts major Sergio Gutierrez.

Gutierrez said Russell became his mentor shortly after starting at Curbside Kitchen. ”I want to open a food truck in the next few years. Working at Curbside and being able to talk to Russell is helping me learn what I need to do.”

Russell said culinary students don’t really start to grow until they venture out.

Gutierrez said the formal training and learning standard practices helped him survive working in a fast-paced food truck.

Working at Curbside Kitchen also helped him at CCC. “Working at Curbside I learned how to make efficient use of my space no matter how small,” Gutierrez said .

Raynard said when starting the business, a focus on working with the community wasn’t necessarily the goal.

“The business trended locally because it’s where our interests and approach to running the business took us.”

He said working with the city of Richmond and surrounding areas was helped by the connections he made by working with nonprofit groups.

“Now we are getting to the point where cities will contact us first to work their

events,” Raynard said.

Curbside Kitchen’s nine-month-old partnership with East Brothers Beer Co. furthers the goal to grow a presence in Richmond.

Taproom Manager Steven Phillips said Raynard contacted East Brothers before they officially opened.

Curbside Kitchen is working with Richmond Promise and East Brothers Beer Co. for “Cheers for the Promise” on Sept. 27.

All tips will go toward the Richmond Promise Scholarship Fund.

“They are the only food truck we’ve worked with since the beginning. They are a partner we can work together with to grow the community,” Phillips said.

Gutierrez said he didn’t realize how many hours it takes to run a food truck until he started to work at Curbside Kitchen.

During the busy summer months the two brothers can end up working 80-hour weeks.

“Working isn’t just time in the truck. It’s making contacts, permitting, searching for events and maintenance on the truck.”

Despite working long hours, Raynard Lozano said the time he puts in is gratifying.

“We get as much as we put into it. It’s easy to get carried away. We know if we put in as much effort as we can on the front end, in theory, it would reward us on the back end.”

“Richmond has embraced us. We’ve been getting good feedback from our partners and customers,” Russell Lozano said.

CENTENNIAL PARADE INCLUDES COLLEGE

By Alondra Gallardo advocate staff

agallardo.theadvocate@gmail.com

The city of El Cerrito celebrated its 100th year of being a city by hosting a centennial parade on Sept. 16 that meandered through the city’s streets.

“What’s happening today is El Cerrito is a hundred years old,” El Cerrito Mayor Janet Abelson said. “We had a parade and included was a large unit from Contra Costa College,” she said. “I am particularly excited about it because I am on the Foundation Board at Contra Costa College and I’ve seen just how much growth there is and how much community activism there is at Contra Costa College,” she said.

CCC President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said, “We are proud to represent Contra Costa College here in the city of El Cerrito that we serve as really their choice college.”

Mehdizadeh said, “The mayor actually notified

El Cerrito city fun facts: El Cerrito translates to “Little Hill” in Spanish. n Prior to the city’s incorporation in 1917 the town was known as “Rust.”

The name Rust comes from Wilhelm F. Rust, the town’s blacksmith and first postmaster. n El Cerrito’s population was 7,000 in 1940. During the World War II years the population jumped to a peak of 16,624. n John Cameron Fogerty, guitarist and singer for Credence Clearwater Revival, attended El Cerrito High School in the 1960s. n

Source: El-Cerrito.org

us about four months ago. She serves on our college Foundation Board and she asked if we would be willing to be part of this incredible event. Of course we jumped on it. Who wouldn’t?”

“I mean it comes around every, well, one hundred years,” she said.

Past mayor from 1992-1997, Norma Jellison, said, “(It is) really exciting and really fun. It is an honor to be here.”

Michelle Fadelli, a volunteer with the city’s Centennial Committee said she helped organize the volunteers in order to prepare and organize for the day.

The parade extended 1.7-miles and began at the Safeway in El Cerrito on San Pablo Avenue where all of those participating gathered in order to walk their way down Hill Street, Elm Street, Richmond Street, Moeser Lane and finish at Cerrito Vista Park.

Many residents of El Cerrito stood outside their houses in order to watch the parade.

Some residents even got comfortable enough to set up their own entertainment, like neighborhood member Vincent Olivero who set up his own corn hole game.

Neighborhood member Pamela Yachdv took advantage of the parade in order to advertise her own organic soap business.

At Cerrito Vista Park there was music and entertainment for everyone. There were also booths set up for all of those who walked and participated in the parade in order for the public to receive information on them, such as the college and the youth sports leagues.

The event offered everyone free sandwiches with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options along with free water and protein bars.

The event went on until 3 p.m.

Founded by refugees of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, El Cerrito was incorporated in 1917 as MAYRA GARCIA / THE ADVOCATE a village with 1,500 residents.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, El Cerrito is A Contra Costa College student chants while marching during the El Cerrito Centennial parade in El Cerrito on Sept. 16. home to 23,549 citizens.

spotlight

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.27.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

BREATH OF DEATH

Local refineries pollute minority communities

By Michael Santone

“I’ve experienced my share of family loss and sickness at the hands of Chevron.”

associate editor

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

At the edge of neighborhoods scattered around the San Francisco East Bay Area sit five refineries cradled against the shore of the San Pablo Bay and Carquinez Straits.

Over decades, the assault on air quality and pollution into the bay estuary have oozed toxic emissions from these refineries that have gradually poisoned the environment and its residents.

This fallout, which incessantly coats the air with a veil of pollution, is made up of an assortment of chemical compounds that silently invade and consume the body.

The latest attack in the fight for clean air in the Bay Area is a project proposed by San Francisco-based Conocophillips (Phillips 66) in July of this year.

The projected expansion to its wharf would include a major refinery overhaul to handle increased water traffic as well as continued pipeline distribution to the landlocked Santa Maria refinery in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

“It’s a proposal that would increase delivery and the production volume of crude and gas

by Phillips 66 from 140,000 to 170,000 barrels a day,” he said. “This is a 14 to 21 percent increase in crude and gas oils refined in Rodeo.”

As of now, Phillips 66, which sits on the San Pablo Bay between the Chevron refinery in Richmond and the Shell Oil refinery in Martinez, has the lowest operating capacity and thus contributes the least to the deterioration of air quality among the three refineries.

According to a 2016 research study by Western Program Coordinator Kyle Ferrar of Fractracker Alliance, with the new proposal Phillips 66 would surpass the operating capacity of Shell Oil, which presently produces 150,000 barrels a day.

The expansion would place the company in the production arena with the largest refinery among the five, Richmond’s Chevron, which is at 250,000 barrels a day.

It also means a higher chance of chemical accidents.

With only an occasional odor to warn of its presence, escaping this invisible enemy is almost impossible for Richmond residents as they reach to shut windows and doors at the sound of every siren.

These consequences, felt mainly by minority communities living within breathing room of its towering smokestacks have lasting effects to the overall health of local residents.

Chevron, Conocophillips, Shell Oil, Tesoro Golden Eagle (Martinez) and Benicia’s Valero make up the East Bay oil refinery corridor. The companies line their pockets with cash as they upgrade their infrastructures to increase production of a dirtier grade of oil.

Senior scientist Greg Karras said the fight for clean air has centered around the Bay Area and the petrochemical industry’s expansion with disregard to public health and safety.

There is also an expectation of more oil spills like that of the September 2016 Phillips 66 marine terminal leak that discharged pollutants into the San Pablo Bay, sickening residents of Vallejo.

“They (Conocophillips) are looking to refine tar sands oil in greater volumes. This dirtier grade of oil would only increase oil spills and pollution,” Karras said.

Canadian tar sands is a naturally occurring sediment mixture of sand, clay and water before being saturated in a thick adhesive petroleum known as bitumen.

This alternative to coal, standard petroleum and other natural gas has become readily processed from crude at the Chevron refinery and received by the Shell and Phillip 66 refineries through rail and ship imports.

“Because refining the bitumen in tar sand oil increases overall air pollution, the possibility of explosions and flares are more likely to occur,” Karass said.

“Refine more oil, pollute more often. Those days were yesterday. If we expect to have any

Andres Soto,

Richmond organizer for Communities for a Better Environment

chance at survival we need to stop building oil complexes.”

Emissions inventory from the 2016 California Air Resources Board shows that Bay Area refineries emit seven times more hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and three times more criteria air pollution (CAPs) than Southern California refineries.

Within this pollution resides a variety of clean air enemies including benzene, butadiene and naphthalene (HAPs) and CAPs such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and particulate matter .

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Act (CAA), HAPs include some 594 known or suspected pollutants to cause serious health problems.

CAPs collide with sunlight to create ozone which not only causes health problems but wreaks havoc on the environment by creating volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change.

Acute symptoms of exposure to both HAPs and CAPs range from irritation to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract to reduced lung function, coughing and fainting — while those subjected to longer periods of exposure include cancer, blood disorders, skin disorders and asthma.

A breakdown of the total HAPs emissions from East Bay refineries in 2014, provided by Ferrar’s research study, cite Chevron releasing 600,000 pounds, Shell Oil 400,000 pounds and Phillip 66 releasing 100,000 pounds of pollution.

Retired chemistry professor and environmental activist Dr. Raymond Tompkins said the cumulative effects from the constant barrage of pollution due to refinery emissions has saturated communities.

“It’s what you don’t smell that can take you out,” Tompkins said. “But the real question is what will be the impact on your communities when these toxic chemicals are released. We are not rats, we’re human beings.”

The current state of both the bay estuary and air quality is hindered by the decades of failed equipment leaks, flares and combustion.

But even the day-to-day bustle of the East Bay refinery corridor has a tight hold on the possibility of clean air.

“They don’t look at human life and the long term effects of exposure to pollution,” Tompkins said. “When they have been blasting communities with toxic fallout for over a century and then conduct studies, they don’t take into account all the emissions already present.”

Over time, this particle pollution settles into soil and water causing harm to the environment through changes to nutrients and chemical balance, he said.

The San Pablo Bay has been the biggest victim of this cumulative effect as toxic fallout creeps into the waters from storm runoff.

Tompkins said the bay has become so dilut-

ed with these chemical mixtures that it’s not even recognized as a saltwater estuary anymore.

“Men can only eat 4 ounces of fish per day (coming from the bay) and women and children are advised not to eat any,” he said.

“I call them glow fish because of the contaminates that have seeped into this food chain, making it unhealthy.”

The spike in health-related illnesses such as asthma and cancer has plagued communities living beyond the periphery of these five refineries.

Entrenched into the daily lives of residents, the struggle for fresh breathable air has become more than just a fight against poverty and low income housing, but a war against big oil racism.

Tompkins, who has dedicated his life to fighting environmental abuse in the BayviewHunters Point area of San Francisco, has compiled research connecting pollution and its concentration to minority communities.

“If I’m fighting pollution, I’m fighting racism,” Tompkins said.

“You begin to wonder why the Bay Area is 60 percent above the national average when it comes to asthma. Pollution doesn’t discriminate, people do.”

According to 2010 Census data, African-American, Hispanic and Asian people account for 97 percent of the 103,000 Richmond resTompkins idents.

In San Pablo, 98 percent of the 29,139 residents are listed as one of those three minority groups.

Richmond organizer at Communities for a Better Environment, Andres Soto, said the work that is being done to stop environmental pollution is not professional, it’s community service.

“This is something that is apart of my family,” he said.

“I’ve experienced my share of family loss and sickness at the hands of Chevron.”

Having grown up in the East Bay, Soto is all too familiar with the siren (signaling the release of unhealthy air) and his gut reaction to sheltering in place.

As a kid he would explore the sights of the pipelines and smokestacks of the Richmond Chevron refinery as they hurled black smoke into the air, emitting pollution that at the time, was uncharted.

Soto said the possibility of proving Chevron responsible for the health problems that have damaged communities and families throughout the East Bay Area is slim to none.

“I’m mad as hell and yes, I am from Richmond, so I’m going to fight to put an end to environmental pollution.”

But the continued fight against the pollution of East Bay refinery corridor has made only minor steps of progress.

As oil refineries look to the future of expansion and increasing their assault on air quality, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District seeks to loosen regulations.

And according to experts like Tompkins, this loosening of restrictions will aid in the overall production and pollutants refineries are allowed to emit.

Vallejo

Benicia

San Pablo Bay

Richmond Rodeo

Martinez Components of East Bay refinery pollution:

Production increase

30,000

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are 594 known chemicals in Hazardous Air Pollutants that can cause serious health problems. n

The Phillips 66 Refinery in Rodeo, Calif. is proposing to expand its operation to include an increase in water traffic and oil productions from 140,000 barrels a day to 170,000 a day.

Chevron (Richmond), Phillips 66 (Rodeo) and Shell (Martinez) released a combined 1.1 million pounds of HAPs in the year 2014. n

The San Francisco Bay Area is 60 percent above the national average when it comes to cases of asthma. n

SOURCES FROM COMMUNITY FOR BETTER ENVIRONMENTS, FRACTRACK ALLIANCE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

INFORMATIONAL GRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ, BENJAMIN BASSHAM / THE ADVOCATE

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Struggles produce success, inspiration n “I always had this fear that I’m not going to be able to

By Roxana Amparo associate editor

ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Psychology major Lizbeth Gonzalez (front middle) calls Contra Costa College a “safe place” where she can enjoy the company of her friends La Raza studies major Luis Ledesma (left), political science major Michelle Armienta (middle back) and psychology major Alejandra Navarro (right).

OVERVIEW | Examining the effects of Latinos in U.S. Continued from B1 “Especially now with the political climate that degrades our people over and over again. We must stand up and represent.”

It is important for Latinos to show they have pride for their culture for National Hispanic Heritage Month, Zambrano said.

While some use the Census Bureau 1970s issued term “Hispanic” to refer to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American or Spanish culture, others embrace the term “Latino.”

From Mexican-American artist Selena Quintanilla, who even after death remains a role model to many people, to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo who was admired as a feminist icon, and even Nicaraguan-American Republican strategist Ana Navarro, there are many Latin idols.

“She’s (Navarro) so educated and she is not afraid to speak her mind and she does it in such an articulate way and she is so freaking passionate,” business administration major Natalie Reyes said.

“I feel like for the most part I do things that make me feel like I’m celebrating, in a way, every day because my culture is a part of my every day.”

Palacio said, “We don’t really need a month. We

don’t need a designation. It’s nice, and it creates awareness in places where they wouldn’t do anything if there wasn’t a month.

“Part of the issue with having a one-month thing is that the government comes up with it. But I am sure Latinos wanted a month. There is a Black Heritage Month and everyone wants a month, it seems.”

Counselor Liliana Moncada said National Hispanic Heritage Month “affirms” the Latino culture and celebrating the month is important.

“I think a lot of moms, especially, are consumed with activities and social activities, so it’s hard to carve out that time to celebrate in unity.”

Military school on watch after connection to violence Assassinations linked to school

By Ryan Geller advocate staff

rgeller.theadvocate@gmail.com

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Communications major Andrew Magnoli listens to a seminar on American militarism in Latin America delivered by Mexican journalist Eduardo Garcia in the Fireside Hall on Sept. 18.

Mexican journalist Eduardo Garcia connected U.S. militarism in Latin America with racism and injustice experienced by people of color inside U.S. borders in a talk presented

by La Raza studies department at Contra Costa College Sept. 18.

Garcia is an organizer with the School of Americas Watch, which is dedicated to closing the school and ending the violent interventions that support U.S. business interests throughout Latin American countries.

“The School of Americas was closed in 2000 and reopened with a different name in the same location with the same mission,” Garcia said.

The school is run by the U.S. Department of Defense and it is now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation or WHIN SEC located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Garcia said, the School of Americas is also known as the School of Assassins because paramilitary groups that trained at the school have been involved in numerous assassinations of Latin American leaders.

The most famous Archbishop of El Salvador Oscar Romero who was murdered while delivering mass to his congregation in 1980. Garcia outlined the painful history of violence perpetrated by the school’s trainees up to the 2016 murder of Indigenous leader and environmental activist Berta Caceres.

U.S. trained paramilitaries have been foundational mercenary forces for violent drug cartels like Sinola and Los Zetos and they often operate in revolving door cycles with government special forces, said Garcia.

When working for governments these military groups enforce economic policies that impoverish local communities and pave the way for outside business interests. The cartels basically operate in a similar fash-

ion, violently extracting profits at the expense of Latin American people.

Dr. Agustin Palacios, La Raza studies department chairperson and La Raza professor said, “It’s good that he (Garcia) is trying to make connections about the lack of accountability that exists on the part of our own government so we don’t think it’s only developing countries that deal with abuse by authority.”

Lucile Beatty, dean of Library, Automotive and Vocational Education and Athletics, who coordinated with the La Raza department to bring the talk to CCC, brought up parallels to the Dakota Access Pipe Line (DAPL) protests in North Dakota.

“We often talk of Latin American paramilitary groups that have no direct relation to the government,” she said. “In the case of the Water Protectors private security forces were responsible for much of the violence. We are moving more in that same direction with private security forces that have no congressional oversight.”

Garcia said, “Mexico has become one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. Seven of my friends have been killed all of whom were journalists.”

After much of the news about the violence is shut down through intimidation tactics, U.S. Border Patrol then funnels refugees of this violence to the most dangerous parts of the border.

“People are forced to cross deserts or areas that are under control by cartels. The intention is to make migration so dangerous that people will be too afraid to do it but they’re still coming,” Garcia said.

Garcia is touring colleges in the U.S. to raise awareness about the School of Americas (WHIN SEC) and to build solidarity with local minority communities.

“The talk opened my eyes about the U.S. government and now I want to learn more about it,” said La Raza studies student Elizibeth Guiterrez. “I didn’t know that being a journalist in Mexico was so dangerous.

“My family is from Mexico, so I am not surprised, but it is still hurtful to hear about the violence.”

She remembers the metal-like carvings scratched across the top of her table, the walk of shame to the office and the trauma of being accused of something that wasn’t her fault.

“I knew why I was being sent to the office, but I didn’t know how to say ‘I didn’t do it’,” Contra Costa College psychology major Lizbeth Gonzalez said.

“I told her one of the few sentences I knew how to say, ‘I don’t speak English,’ and I remember her telling me, ‘You are in the United States. You need to learn how to speak English’.”

“I didn’t even try to communicate that it wasn’t me who (carved on the desk) — I took the blame and was suspended.”

Gonzalez, was born in Michoacan, Mexico and migrated to the U.S. in 2009 when she was 12 years old, with her mom and two siblings after her parents’ divorce.

In search of a supportive environment, they moved in with her family already living in America.

When faced with the unfamiliar territory of learning a second language while at Richmond’s Lavonya Dejean Middle School in seventh grade, Gonzalez was bullied by students that came from similar backgrounds.

“I had classmates and even their parents wouldn’t speak the language (English) and it really hurts to see that people in my own culture wouldn’t support me. They would bully me instead.

“I remember getting bottles of water thrown at my head. I remember one time a girl came up from behind me and pulled my hair and dropped me from my chair.”

Gonzalez said the bullying caused by the language barrier and her own insecurities led her to stop participating in sports and clubs like she had while living in Mexico.

“I was afraid to go to school. My whole life in Mexico I had been an A student. I loved going to school. I loved learning and being part of clubs and sports. When I came here I didn’t find that same sense of belonging.”

La Raza studies major Luis Ledesma said he remembers when Gonzalez began to share her story about being undocumented and about the bullying

In 2015, Gonzalez started at CCC paying the international student fee of $254 per unit. go to college because I’m undocumented.”

In order to pay her first two years of community college tuition, she — Lizbeth Gonzalez, psychology major worked at a restaurant.

“It wasn’t a good job in the sense that I was being oppressed for being she experienced in middle school. undocumented. They would say to me, ‘You’re undocumented. You don’t “It wasn’t until junior year when we brought back the AB 540 Club — that have a Social Security number. You can’t get another job’.” was when she started telling her story to her friends,” Ledesma said.

Gonzalez sought resources through her friends at CCC who were part of Ledesma met Gonzalez while they were taking an additional English class Students for Education Reform (SFER) and found out she qualified for AB to catch up with reading while attending high school at Leadership Public 540.

Schools (LPS) in Richmond.

Students who qualify for the program can pay the resident fee of $46 per “I remember reading, but I wouldn’t understand anything, so I would unit instead of the out-of-state tuition. highlight each word I didn’t know. Then I looked them up in a dictionary.”

Through SFER, Gonzalez has been able to connect with teachers and When Gonzalez started ninth grade in 2011, English was still foreign to her attend school board meetings to figure out how schools are impacted by but she found support from teachers who wanted to see her advance in her boardroom decisions. education. Even if the teachers were not Spanish speakers, Gonzalez said they “As a potential future teacher, it is very important to understand the polititried their best to understand her and accommodate her needs. cal system and you want to know how policies work,” Ledesma said.

“That really started to push me because there was somebody who cared Spanish professor Irena Stefanova said, “Her life is here and she has a bright about me and went out of the way to teach.” future ahead of her.”

By the end of ninth grade, Gonzalez had read over 50 books with the help Stefanova said she is honored to know Gonzalez considers CCC one of her from her English teacher Tyler Hester, who helped purchase the books. “safe places.”

“I could understand people now. I could do my homework and write “If students feel secure and don’t fear repercussions (for being who they essays,” Gonzalez said. are) — that is important. It’s important to share those stories rather than lie in “It was really hard and I feel like people don’t realize that we go through so isolation. A lot of (other) students are also going through it.” many struggles and that (learning English) was one of them. If you don’t know Gonzalez said she has overcome various obstacles and through them grew the language you feel like an outsider.” as a person and found her passion in life — education.

Ledesma said both he and Gonzalez started to see improvements in their When Gonzalez took La Raza 125 (Latin American History) and La Raza English as the year went on.

130 (Contemporary Chicano/Latino Literature) classes at CCC, she began to Gonzalez said she wants to go into education and be there for students like learn about the many people who have been through similar situations to hers. her teachers from high school were for her.

“That was when I realized that my accent was part of who I was — it was When Gonzalez was a senior in high school and it was time to apply for part of my story. college, she did not qualify for any financial assistance because of her status.

“By having those connections I felt like I belonged here,” Gonzalez said.

“I always had this fear that I’m not going to be able to go to college because “There were people who understood me and weren’t going to make fun of me I’m undocumented,” Gonzalez said, “But being undocumented doesn’t mean having an accent because they understood why I had an accent. I think I am you aren’t able to go to college.” starting to stand up for myself. I am doing this for my education.”

57 MILLION HISPANICS, LATINOS LIVE IN THE U.S.

50.8 mil

THEY MAKE UP 17% OF THE U.S. POPULATION

9.6 mil

1990

63% According to the United States Census Bureau, the 36.3 million MexicanAmericans are 11.2 percent of the U.S. population.

As Mexico itself has a population of 127.5 million, this makes the U.S. the home of over 24 percent of the world’s Mexican population.

2000

2010

2015

2017

LARGEST HISPANIC POPULATION BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Mexican

Salvadorian

3.5% Puerto Rican

9.5%

AB 540 TRAINING AIMED TO HELP DACA STUDENTS

35.7 mil

22.6 mil

1970

57.5 mil

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are at least 1.64 million Salvadorian-Americans.

The largest single wave of immigration resulted from the Salvadorian Civil War in the 1980s. Between 20 and 30 percent of El Salvador’s people fled, and half of them, up to 500,000 people, came to the U.S.

As Puerto Rico is an American territory, all the 3.4 million people living in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens.

The U.S. Census Bureau says at least 4.6 million Puerto Ricans live on the U.S. mainland.

Cuban

3.4%

The U.S. Census Bureau says there are about 2 million Cuban Americans, making up 0.58 percent of the U.S. population.

Almost 70 percent of Cuban-Americans (1.4 million) live in Florida.

INFORMATIONAL GRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE SOURCES: PEW RESEARCH CENTER TABULATIONS OF 2015 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Counselor Alfred Zuniga (left) explains how to use Insite Portal to create an educational plan during a counseling session in the Student Service Center on Sept. 19.

By Michael Santone associate editor

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

As the Trump administration continues to besiege on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, life for Contra Costa College’s undocumented student community is in disarray.

In hopes of alleviating concerns, the counseling department is preparing further training for its staff that is aimed at educating to better support the affected student body.

“We want to make sure we have the most current understanding of the policies so our students have access and help with navigating the system,” counseling department Chairperson Sarah Boland said.

“This has always been the culture of the campus.

We want all the info we can get to create a climate of trust and inclusion.”

The workshop, to be held in mid-October, will center on DACA, which was rescinded on Sept. 5 by Attorney General Jeff Sessions leaving 800,000 undocumented students in the U.S. fearful and vulnerable.

The training will focus on alternative resources such as the California Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (Dream Act) and Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540).

“Although Both the Dream Act, which our campus allows eligible undocumented stuto apply for state financial is a sanctu- dents aid, and AB 540 which allows stuary campus dents to pay the in-state tuition fee of $46 per semester unit, are manand safe dated by the state of California. zone, we The out-of-state tuition for is $269 per unit. are looking non-qualifiers Much like the training given to build on back in the fall of 2016, CCC counto that with selor Norma Valdez-Jimenez will be leading the two-hour workshop outside and discussion.

“Counseling as a department resources.” cares about what’s going on and — Sarah Boland, counsel- the complexity of what surrounds ing department our students,” Valdez-Jimenez said. chairperson Although the prior training did not branch out to other departments, the idea for this workshop is

n

to bring faculty leaders together on campus.

“All student services’ staff need to be informed and trained to filter what students need and how faculty can form a direct connection to help,” Valdez-Jimenez said. “It’s more than how it affects students, but how we can protect students.”

Boland said the workshop that Valdez-Jimenez did last fall was in depth and covered almost everything about AB 540, but with the addition of new faculty and staff, there is a need for a refreshment Boland training so everyone is on the same page.

“There are other options out there that DACA students can benefit from,” Boland said. “We (faculty) want to be aware and informed so we can help students access and complete forms they would need for the Dream Act and AB 540.”

Sometimes students suppress the fact that they are undocumented out of fear, she said.

“By students identifying themselves as undocumented, insecurities are brought out and it is scary for them. A lot of trust must be established,” Boland said.

“Although our campus is a sanctuary campus and safe zone, we are looking to build on to that with outside resources.”

Richard Sanchez is one of the 800,000 students whose life hangs in the balance after the recent push to cancel DACA. As a mechanical engineering major, Sanchez said the counseling department has been great, but sometimes it feels like a “wild goose chase” when looking for information.

“It would be better if they can give students that are arriving into the college experience a guide to opportunities as an undocumented student,” he said. “There were times that I reached for help about what financial aid I qualified for and I got directed somewhere else.

Most of the things I know about my status and education I researched myself.”

Sanchez said there are a lot of uncertainties with what Trump is planning to do with the undocumented community and that it’s frightening to be used as a political token to promote an agenda.

“There’s comfort in knowing we are not alone in this fight and there are people still fighting for our dreams and goals.”

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Defender Andrea Velasquez clears the ball unto the field during Conta Costa Colleg’s 4-1 loss against Mendocino College on the Soccer Field on Friday.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Uneventful return

Comets drop opening match to scrappy Eagle team n “In order to dominate we need

By Mayra Garcia art director

mdgarcia.theadvocate@gmail.com

The woman’s soccer team (0-1-0) played its first game of the season Friday against Mendocino College (2-4-2), losing 4-1 on the Soccer Field.

Within the first four minutes of the game a direct shot tested the waters for Comet goalie Yajaira Celso, as she saved the first of many Mendocino shots.

CCC forward Maxene Alvarado helped defend by kicking the ball into the air and away from the penalty arc, all while Mendocino held possession.

However, with 16 minutes remaining in the first half time, Mendocino midfielder Emmylee Holt struck the first goal by kicking the ball over goalie Celso.

The Comets were down 1-0 and with minimal reaction two minutes after the first goal, another fast and almost unforeseen counter attack by Mendocino’s striker Katalina Magdaleno increased the Eagle lead to 2-0.

Comet player Stephanie Alva said a lack of communication between the Comet players contributed to the success of the fast coming COMETS Mendocino attacks.

Magdaleno took a corner kick with six minutes remaining in the half but missed when goalie Celso EAGLES trapped the direct shot, after kicking the ball out into the field. But with four minutes remaining of the first half, Hannah Norwood’s shot found its way into the net making it a 3-0 Mendocino lead.

At halftime, Comet coach Manish Doshi advised his team to double team Mendocino players.

1 4

to communicate. It only happens when you communicate well even if there is a variation of different skill levels.”

— Mary Helberg, Comet midfielder

“When you have a teammate dribbling the ball you need to follow her for the pass.

Some of you are working for that pass and some are not,” he said.

He encouraged the team and told them not worry about the goals and advised the team not to dive for the ball but instead “stand tall.”

During the second half the Comets absorbed the Eagle pressure and started off with possession of the ball.

The Comets were seen battling to keep possession and gained enough energy to pressure Mendocino, breaking through the centerline to take the play into Mendocino’s side of the field.

Mary Helberg gained possession of the ball after Mendocino kicked the ball out of the endline.

The clock marked 28 minutes into the game and Helberg’s corner shot was found

by Alvarado after a high ball in between the centerline and 18-yard box and scored a hopped pass giving the Comets their first goal of the season and making the score 3-1.

The Comets felt relieved with a wellplayed shot in net, but at nine minutes a brace from Holt with a low kick in through the bottom right side of the crossbar into the net made the score 4-1.

“The team is still young and the coach is encouraging. They all showed motivation,” spectator Rafa Torres, a CCC liberal arts major, said.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Mendocino College midfielder Emmylee Holt fights a Comet defender for possession of the ball in CCC’s season opener at the Soccer Field on Friday.

Helberg said, “In order to dominate we need to communicate. It only happens when you communicate well even if there is a variation of different skill levels.”

Comet Leslie Medrano said communication is necessary.

“It was a tough game. We need to connect more and that means communicate and have faith of each other and not be shy to talk and yell across the field to one another.”

The Comets will visit Yuba College in Marysville at 2 p.m. on Friday.

LOCAL ATHLETES RESPOND IN PROTEST TO TRUMP I

n the wake of the President Donald Trump’s attack on the peaceful protest of NFL players by kneeling during the national anthem, the Bay Area seems to be in the middle of it all.

It all started over a year ago when then-49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat during the national anthem, protesting against police brutality and institutional racism.

The most polarizing event over the last week were Trump’s tweets uninviting the Golden State Warriors, who won the NBA Championship earlier this year, to the White House.

Statements from both sides made headlines nationwide, reverberating in the Bay Area as well.

Oakland Raider running back Marshawn Lynch has been sitting during the national anthem. And this past weekend, Oakland A’s rookie Bruce Maxwell was the first player in Major League Baseball (MLB) to kneel for the anthem.

The significance of Maxwell’s

efrainvaldez protest is that he is doing it in a sport that is predominately white.

Baseball is often called “America’s pastime.”

Maxwell is more likely to receive criticism from his peers than an athlete from the NBA or the NFL. Sports fans and just average people should be proud of how the local professional athletes and sports franchises have handled this situation.

Front offices have allowed athletes to express their freedom of speech — despite Trump’s attacks

on their First Amendment rights.

The Bay Area has been the epicenter for anti-police brutality and anti-Trump protests focusing on institutional racism in this country.

Having the President of the United States call the most popular group of athletes in the U.S. “a son of a bitch” is totally uncalled for and disrespectful.

Trump’s actions have caused a stir in the sports world and will cause more protests by athletes across the country.

The Bay Area is one of the homes of the free speech movement, the Black Panthers, Occupy Wall Street and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Area residents expect the peaceful protests to continue locally and across the country.

Athletes like Stephen Curry, Bruce Maxwell and Colin Kaepernick will continue to lead the way in the fight for free speech.

These athletes will continue

to inspire millions of people using their platforms as a way of denouncing the hate of the President and his rhetoric.

If Trump continues The signifi- his assault on the First cance of Amendment, more powerful Maxwell’s voices in the sports world protest is will speak out against him. that he is Once billionaire owners doing it begin to speak against Trump’s attacks, his in a sport supporters may that is pre- stop defending his hateful rhetdominately oric.

Trump’s biggest mistake in white. this whole situation is offending America’s most beloved athletes, like Curry.

The President has seemingly declared war on the entirety of the American sporting world.

And this is a war he won’t win because of his attack on the wallets of team ownership, which has turned some in the business community against him.

Athletes may speak out more against injustice because they now have the shallow support of their billionaire bosses..

If the sports world can at least get this President to shut up and apologize for his hurtful words it would be a major victory for everyone who stands for decency.

The Bay Area will continue to lead the way in innovative and progressive thought. Our athletes, who speak out in protest, should continue to use their platform for the greater good of the underrepresented among us.

Efrain Valdez is the social media editor for The Advocate.

Contact him at evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com.

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DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Comet outside hitter Justine Ayson slides in for a point-saving dig during CCC’s 3-0 loss to the College of Marin Wednesday in the Gymnasium.

SQUAD SEARCHES FOR THIRD WIN

By Drew Thomas

“We talked it up, we hustled, we’re scaping and we fought.”

advocate staff

dthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

Serving problems doomed the Comets (0-2 Bay Valley Conference, 2-5 overall) against College of Marin (2-1 BVC, 6-6 overall) leading to a loss in three sets on Sept. 20 in the Gymnasium.

Comet libero Delanie Baca (7 digs) said the team was “a little anxious.”

As a result, Marin took advantage of Contra Costa College’s mistakes throughout the game.

“Our serves were easy points. They saw their opportunity, and took it,” Baca said.

During the first set, the Comets showed signs of life after a block when setter Joshleen Ayson (5 assists, 4 digs) COMETS set up middle hitter Makaya Thomas (3 kills, 2 blocks) for a kill giving the Comets their second point.

However, Marin still MARIN had the lead with five points.

Thomas said her mindset during the game was to get blocks and try to score as often as possible to keep the team’s energy up.

Thomas had 17 total attacks.

On another first set play, Baca anticipated the ball for a successful dig that gave outside hitter Victoria Matue (4 digs, 1 kill) the opportunity to score.

Ayson passed to Baca but the scoring attempt failed, as the ball did not clear the

o 3

Angel Munar

Comet right setter

net. Coach Christy Tianero said, “The serves were OK, but need to work a side out to get the ball over the net.”

The Comet effort wasn’t enough, only scoring 10 points in the first set losing it 25-10.

“The first set was dead energy and Marin aimed for mistakes,” Thomas said.

In the set two, Justine Ayson (3 kills, 2 digs) and Joshleen Ayson led a rally ending in a score from right setter Rosa Olivar (1 dig).

Justine Ayson also made a save leading to outside hitter Jacqueline Tianero (5 digs, 1 kill) setting up an opportunity for Thomas to score.

“We talked it up, we hustled, were scrapping, and we fought,” right setter Angel Munar said.

Marin made adjustments and countered the Comets, who weren’t able to defend against their adjustment.

“We need to anticipate the ball and work a little on defense,” Tianero said.

The Comets dropped set two 25-15, falling two sets.

Marin came out attacking in set three, focusing on closing out the game.

“We focus on our side of the net,” Marin coach Lisa Gera said. “It doesn’t matter where the ball is.”

Marin middle blocker Elisa Steele (2

Victory remains elusive for team Defensive, offensive lapses continue to define results

BOX SCORES Football (Sept. 23) Modesto vs. Contra Costa Modesto 14 21 6 0 — 41 CCC 0 0 0 6 — 6 First Quarter Modesto — Velasquez pass complete to Tonga for a 60 yard touchdown, 8:07 PAT good.

Pass intercepted by Nichols, returned for a 23 yard TD, 7:59 PAT good.

CCC — 0 Second Quarter Modesto — Bass rush for 1 yard. for touchdown, 7:41, PAT good. Velasquez rush for 1 yard. for touchdown with 2:13, PAT good. Velasquez pass complete to Bass for 4 yards for touchdown, 0:14. PAT good.

CCC — 0 Third Quarter Modesto — Beamon rush for 1 yard. for touch-

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Comet freshman middle blocker Makaya Thomas spikes a shot for a score in the teams Wednesday scrimmage against the Mendocino Eagels in the Gymnasium.

kills, 2 digs) spiked the ball toward Joshleen Ayson.

She failed to save the ball, giving Marin 18 points, doubling the scoring output of the Comets’ nine points.

“CCC battled and kept ball center distributing,” Gera said. On the final play of the game, Joshleen Ayson returned Marin’s shot to set up Thomas for the kill. But the ball failed to get over the net.

By Robert Cinton advocate staff

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

The football team (0-4) continued its offensive woes and defensive struggles, this time on the road, losing a one-sided shootout 41-6 to Modesto Junior College (1-3) Saturday in Modesto.

With just one game to play before the National Bay 6 Conference portion of its season begins, the Comets have yet to find its team identity, or a recipe for victory.

“We’re getting on track, but just like anything new it’s going to take some struggles, some lessons learned and that’s just part of the process,” coach Pat Henderson said. “It’s tough to look at it that way because of the recent success of the program. The result doesn’t always show in the end product the way we would like it to — we have to bring it all together and make it one complete game.”

Showing no signs of continuity, the Comet offense, which netted just 90 yards in total, continued to strain its defense by not sustaining drives.

CCC’s offense earned just 12 first downs compared to 27 gathered by the

down, 11:38 (Trapp, Lane kick failed).

CCC — 0 Fourth Quarter Modesto — 0 CCC — Courtney 14 yard. touchdown pass from Norwood; 2:05 (A Galvin kick failed).

Individual statistics Rushing — Modesto — Bass 18-128, Preuss 10-39, Velasquez 9-41 — CCC — Norwood 10-45, Lillard 8-29, Cato 7-25, Burden 2-2, Allen 6-24, Anderson 4- (-7).

Passing — Modesto— Velasquez 11-30195,60 — CCC — Norwood 10-30-72 22.

Receiving — Modesto — Tonga 4-97, Bass 3-21, Hickman 1-29, Hines 1-23 — CCC — 4-42,Banks 2-27, Thomas 2-1, Cato 1-7 Missed field goals — Modesto — Trapp, Lane (FG Wide; 3rd Quarter) — CCC — Galvan, Alexandre (FG Wide; 4th Quarter)

n “We’re getting on track, but

just like anything new it’s going to take some struggles, some lessons learned and that’s just part of the process.”

— Pat Henderson, Comet coach

Pirates.

A collection of short drives usually means a longer time of possession for the opposing team. However, Modesto had four-play, three-play and two-play scoring drives that ate only 90 seconds off the clock in the first half.

Even with the Comet defense’s propensity for yielding quick scoring drives, CCC’s lack of offensive production gave MJC a 30-27 minute time of possession advantage over CCC at game’s end.

Those 21 first half points, coupled with a 4-yard Modesto touchdown pass and interception returned 60 yards for another score, gave the Pirates a 35-0 lead at halftime.

“We need to play together as a team

Records — Modesto — 1-3 overall. — CCC — 0-4 overall.

Men’s soccer (Sept. 19) San Francisco Contra Costa CCSF 2 - 1— 3 CCC

0 - 0— 0 First Half 1, SF, Jaurguel 12th minute.

1, SF, Lacayo 35th minute.

Second Half 1, SF,Gurung 72nd minute.

Yellow Cards CCC, 0 SF,0.

Munar said the team would learn from the loss and come out of the gate stronger in their next game. CCC was scheduled to play against Mendocino College last Friday, but the game was rescheduled.

The Comets continue their search for a conference win during a two straight road games this week.

Comets face Yuba College tonight. Friday the Comets take on Laney College.

and work out the details — little things,” CCC defensive lineman Wyvonne Birden said. “I feel like if we can do that we will be better.”

Sophomore receiver Courtney Beane was the lone bright spot for CCC in the contest with 108 yards of total offense.

Beane earned 66 yards returning kicks and 42 yards receiving, which eclipsed his team’s total offensive output from scrimmage (90 yards).

In the second half, both teams played to a 6-6 stalemate, but the damage was already done.

“We haven’t figured it out yet,” CCC defensive back Marcus Pippen said. “We still have some things to fix. We need to work hard as players and as a team.”

The Comets only touchdown came by way of a 14-yard Rudy Norwood (1030 for 72 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions) to Beane touchdown reception with just 6 minutes to play in the game.

The Comets return to action Friday, in their last non-conference game, against Laney College (3-1) at 7 p.m. in Oakland.

Individual statistics Goals —SF — Jaurgel, Lacayo,Gurung. — CCC — none Assists — SF — Martinez., Gomex, Estevez, Perez — CCC —none.

Shots on goal — SF— 5. — CCC — 3.

Saves —SF —Bailey 4. — CCC —Henley 4.

Record — SF— 3-0-1 overall — CCC — 0-5-4 overall

Volleyball (Sept. 20)

Record — CCC — 2-5 overall, 0-2 in BVC. — Marin — 5-5 overall, 2-1 in the BVC

SCHEDULE Football

at Laney College, Friday, 7 p.m.

Marin def. Contra Costa 25-10, 25-15, 25-12

Men’s soccer

vs. Marin, Tuesday, 4 p.m.

Individual statistics

Women’s soccer

at Yuba College, Friday 2 p.m.

Aces — CCC — Ayson 5, Matue 1. — Marin— Harris 17, De Souza 1, Spikes — CCC — Ayson 3, Olivar 3, Thomas 3 — Marin— Chanthongtip 3, Harris 3, Steele 3, Blocks — CCC — Thomas 2, — Marin — Harris , Leon 1.

Women’s volleyball

at Yuba College, today, 6 p.m.

B8

spotlight

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.27.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

LEFT: Computer science major Zehenghui Guo attended the annual MathFest in Chicago to present his research on the efficiency of an independent shipping company.

Clash of tech, spirit

By Roxana Amparo associate editor

ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

Computer science major Zehenghui Guo single-handedly represented Contra Costa College students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields as he traveled to Chicago over the summer for the national MathFest conference.

Each year the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) hosts the MathFest conference for students in all areas of mathematics to present their own work in person.

This year’s event was held from July 26-29 at the Hilton in Chicago, Illinois.

Guo created a poster presentation based on work he did in his Independent Study class, Math 298, about how to use math to analyze real world data.

Through a poster presentation, based on information given to him and his independent study classmates by a midsized shipping company, they showed the efficiency of the company’s shipping methods when transferring information to other companies.

“It was nerve-wracking and I was a bit nervous about my project,” Guo said.

“For Independent Study, you don’t have a set structure so there is freedom on how we can attack a problem,” Guo’s Math 298 classmate Israel Condori said. “I think that was really good for him,” .

Condori said there wasn’t a lot of contact with the shipping company and most of the communication was done through email.

Through the data analysis, Guo and his classmates looked at any problems that may arise for the company, Condori said.

“But if you go to a party and talk to people about math, you’d probably never be invited to a party again.”

Zehenghui Guo,

computer science major

“Kevin (Guo) really did a good job in bringing in resources and saying, ‘Hey this is what we can do.’”

Guo said it was through a book about artificial intelligence he found at a local library while living in China that he discovered he wanted to pursue computer science as a major.

“I barely understood the book. I understood the beginning and it seemed so cool to me. I thought — maybe I want to do this.”

He describes his ideal version of artificial intelligence as making a robot that has human-like characteristics.

“It is like making a machine-like human by using calculations,” he said.

Before deciding on which community college to attend, while still living in China, Guo said he heard positive things about CCC through friends who studied at the college.

When coming to CCC at age 17 as an international student in 2016, he said he already knew he wanted to be a computer science major.

“It (science) is astonishing,” he said.

As a computer science major, technology is prime in Guo’s life and part of his daily conversation.

“But if you go to a party and talk to people about math, you’d probably never be invited to a party again,” Guo said as he laughed in his chair.

MathFest allowed undergraduate students like Guo to attend workshops, keynote speeches, poster sessions and

other mathematical topics.

Guo was accompanied by his Independent Study math professor Kristin Lassonde on the two-day trip. Lassonde said community college students are underrepresented during these types of events.

Guo said, “Some people asked me if Contra Costa College is a private school. I said no.”

The trip was open to any student in STEM fields in the class who wanted to present their work.

Lassonde said the estimated cost of the trip was $1000 per person, not including food or transportation.

“That is one of the reasons why it is so hard to get students to go to one of these events, because it is so expensive,” she said.

Lassonde said she was excited when Guo told her he wanted to go on the trip to present the work he compiled during her class.

“It was G’s (Guo) first time experiencing Chicago,” she said. “I am tremendously proud and very excited for him to have this experience as a community college student. He was representing not just our college, but community colleges nationwide.”

The conference aims to raise the understanding of mathematics and how it impacts the world through different aspects.

Guo said while at MathFest, surrounded by other like-minded individuals, he felt like there was a mutual connection with other university students who also invest hours of their life learning about math.

“Everyone likes math and it doesn’t feel too weird because sometimes when talking to friends, it feels like they think you are the weird one of the group.

“I think computer science can help you solve problems and to get a better understanding of math,” he said.

Sanders, CCSF honor ‘Free City’

By Xavier Johnson scene editor

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

XAVIER JOHNSON / THE ADVOCATE

Senator Bernie Sanders speaks to a full crowd at the “Free City” celebration at City College of San Francisco on Friday.

SAN FRANCISCO — Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) spoke at City College of San Francisco in celebration of the college’s first semester being tuition free for San Francisco residents on Friday in the Diego Rivera Theater on the CCSF campus.

The “Free City” celebration featured the Vermont senator and several members of the community and the college who were key in the process of making CCSF tuition free.

In front of a capacity crowd, the speakers had a message of optimism for the future of the college San Francisco Board of Supervisor for the 6th District, Jane Kim, authored Proposition W, the legislation that funded the $5.4 million program.

The proposition introduced a higher luxury property tax that would go to paying for units allowing San Francisco residents to attend CCSF on free tuition.

CCSF Dean of Counseling and Matriculation Lidia Jenkins said

the increase in student enrollment has increased the workload of the counseling department, but there is a renewed energy on campus.

Sanders, a proponent of tuition free classes for city and state public colleges, said CCSF will become a model for other college districts to follow.

“You think that young people and working class people all over this country are not asking their local leaders, ‘How come in San Francisco they are making college tuition free? Why don’t you it in our community?’”

Kim said Proposition W raised $27 million for San Francisco in the first six months of its passing.

Kim said for counties to make colleges like Contra Costa College and Diablo Valley College tuitionfree, a different approach may be needed.

“This measure may not raise as much money in other counties, so each jurisdiction would need to examine its own budget and potential revenue sources,” Kim said.

Jenkins said the most important factor in passing any measure to fund free tuition is getting voters

on board because any tax increase will be a volatile issue for the community.

Jenkins also said for areas like the Contra Costa Community College District, all cities involved should be on board. “I don’t think it could work if one college in the district was tuition-free and the others were not.”

Kim said growing industries are requiring more advanced and technical skill sets and that community colleges are the safety net for workers in those fields.

Sanders didn’t just speak about tuition-free education but also at length about his opposition to the policies of “Trump and his friends.”

The senator also spoke about topics like his “Medicare for All” proposal which he spoke about earlier in the day at the California Nurses Association Convention in San Francisco.

Sanders spoke about fighting climate change, ending Citizens United, reforming the prison system and comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.