The Advocate 10-11

WEDNESDAY l 10.11.17 OUR 68TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

LEFT: Sitting in his campus office, counselor Alfred Zuniga reads a book given to him by his mother while she was on her death bed.

Zuniga said his mother instilled in him the importance of keeping documents and creating records because his life is a symbol of what others with his Hispanic culture have gone through.

“ For it to have purpose for me, it has to involve helping other people.” ­—Alfred Zuniga, counselor

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Accomplished counselor, teacher holds history Cherished momentos gained through decades fuel career longevity

By Michael Santone associate editor

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

“I am often asked, ‘What do you tell students?’” Contra Costa College counselor Alfred Zuniga said as he eased back into his chair and began observing the assorted mementos that decorate his office.

“I always say, ‘They tell me.’ And I just sit and listen,” he said with a smile of pure elation.

Dedicating the last 49 years of his life to CCC, the 83-year-old Zuniga has transcended that of a beloved counselor tucked away in the back of the counseling department.

Over the decades he has been pivotal in the lives of students and in shaping the college curriculum.

He has also become a fixture, providing resources and campus history.

As the first proud Chicano hired by the Contra Costa Community College District in August 1969, Zuniga brought to CCC his first-hand experiences of growing up in the barrio.

Born on June 10, 1934 in San Diego, California, Zuniga who was raised in a Catholic household along with his older brother and two younger sisters, was studious from a very young age.

“We lived 17 miles away from the Mexican border,” he said. “I made my

first nickel when I was 5 years old — that’s what Mexican kids do.”

After graduating high school in 1952, he began his Jesuit formation, which spiritually and academically prepares candidates for the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus.

“I grew up in a Catholic home and from my mother learned life is about service,” he said. “How can I be of service?”

From 1952 to 1956 Zuniga spent time at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos, California, and later three years at Mt. St. Michael’s in Spokane, Washington from 1958 to 1961.

SEE ZUNIGA, PAGE 3

SEX ASSAULT AMENDMENT TO ALTER GUIDELINES SQUAD’S STRUGGLE RESULT IN 3-0 LOSS

PAGE 7

Education secretary reshapes Title IX’s enforcement edict

By Roxana Amparo associate editor

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Interfaith room locale offers silence, privacy Applied Arts Building

Fundraiser promotes scholars, teachers PAGE 8

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balcony set to be prayer room

By Alondra Gallardo advocate staff

agallardo.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Muslim Student Alliance (MSA) now has a location for its interfaith mediation room on the balcony of the second floor of the Applied Arts Building.

Open to any religious and spiritual belief, the converted space will provide chances throughout the day for students to practice their faith in peace and quiet.

Dean of Student Services Vicki Ferguson said MSA President Rayah Alammari told her that students from any faith or belief did not have a dedi-

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cated space to pray, meditate or reflect throughout the day and in between classes on campus.

“I put the proposal for an interfaith room on the Operations Council agenda last semester,” Ferguson said.

“I shared the proposal and the committee was open to the idea. The next steps were to find a location.”

Ferguson, along with Building and Grounds Manager Bruce King and Director of Business Services Mariles Magalong surveyed the campus for available space.

During the Operations SEE INTERFAITH, PAGE 3

ABOVE: On Monday biology majors Kulsoom Mohsin (left) and Dema Aldabbas (right) walk across the balcony set to be converted into an interfaith prayer room on the second floor of the Applied Arts Building.

ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

Zero tolerance for any type of harassment continues to be the standard throughout the Contra Costa College Community College District, despite Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ plans to amend Title IX to change the way colleges handle allegations of sexual assault.

The 1972 education amendment Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial aid.

“Everyone has a Ferguson right to an education to be free from any Contra type of assault that Costa may come,” Contra College Costa College Title dean of IX Coordinator Vicki student serFerguson said. vices and “She (DeVos) is Title IX proposing to make coordinator the evidence lie more on the victim, which looks like it supSEE TITLE IX, PAGE 3

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Quotable “For a journalist, freedom starts when he decided to tell the truth.”

Marcelo Zlotogwiazda, Argentine editor, 1998 Denis Perez editor-in-chief Roxana Amparo Anthony Kinney Michael Santone associate editors 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.

opinion

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11, 2017 VOL. 105, NO. 6

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

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EDITORIAL DISTRICT RESISTS FEDERAL ACTION

Contra Costa College upholds previous standards for Title IX

D

espite the efforts of the Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to restructure the way sexual harassment cases are adjudicated on college campuses, the Contra Costa Community College District continues to go above federal standards to protect sexual harassment victims.

Using existing programs like the 2013 SAVE Act and following the guidelines in the Contra Costa College Procedures Handbook for Administration Classified and Faculty employees, just four cases of sexual assault have been reported in the last five years at Contra Costa College, according to Dean of Student Services and Title IX Coordinator Vicki Ferguson.

Still, in the face of these seemingly low numbers, according the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, more than 90 percent of sexual misconduct that happens on any campus goes unreported.

Informational modules like the district’s online “Not Anymore” campaign, designed to meet federal education standards and curb interpersonal violence on campus, inform students about ways to recognize problematic situations.

The informational video does little to encourage increased reporting.

In 2011, then president Obama penned his now infamous “Dear Colleague” letter that unified the way colleges examine cases of sexual harassment and suggested they live up to the scrutiny of Title IX requirements.

It standardized a preponderance of the evidence approach, or a more likely than not scenario, as the determining factor for moving forward with a harassment case ruling.

Many, like DeVos, feel this puts too much of a burden on the accused and leaves little room to contest in the case of a disputed claim.

The 50 percent plus a feather doctrine, proposed by Obama, was meant to increase reporting by giving victims a lower burden of proof to meet and subsequently less of a chance for ridicule.

Provisions in the letter blocked the victim from having to sit in the same class as the accused among other restrictions.

With those protections eroding, to prove an assault, women will have to produce blood and bruises to get a conviction — meaning many more will refuse to report.

According to Ferguson, not many students come forward in these cases and decisions like this would prevent more students from speaking up.

Even as DeVos eases restrictions in favor of the accused, 63 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to police, according to Bureau of Justice statistics.

“We’re here today because the previous administration helped elevate this issue in American public life. But good intentions alone are not enough,” DeVos said at George Mason University on Sept. 7.

She said this system has generated hundreds of cases in the Department’s Office for Civil Rights. Most are filed by students who reported sexual misconduct and believe their schools let them down, however, dozens of lawsuits are filed in courts by students punished for sexual misconduct — also believing their schools let them down.

If siding with the accuser is the path that this administration is taking, then depending on the moral standards of Ferguson and the district is all that stands between student rights on campus and abject lawlessness.

ALONDRA GALLARDO AND DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

■ FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Right-wing regime must be challenged physically

I

t’s not exactly happiness that I feel when I see violence breaking out at right-wing demonstrations between black clad “antifa” and right-wing extremists.

It’s gratitude.

I’m thankful for the “antifa” violence at rightwing demonstrations.

Not because I fear that right-wing hate speech is going to spread like wildfire in Berkeley or San Francisco, or that we are going to wake up tomorrow with uniformed Nazis marching down the streets (like in Charlottesville).

I long to see an appropriate response to the brutal regime that we already live under. I’m thankful in just the same way when I see bank windows being smashed or trash cans burning in the streets next to police cars damaged by angry mobs.

To me, it feels like people are waking up to incredible acts of violence, fueled by right-wing conservatism and finally coalescing into a defensive stance.

The violence in this country against black and brown people has gone on for too long.

From the murderous theft of this lands from Native Americans to Jim Crow and COINTELPRO, the FBI’s mission to destroy the political organizing of brown people have been relentless.

However, poverty and environmental pollution remain as some of the worst forms of violence.

Too big to fail banks and multinational corporations decide whether oil pipelines will ruin the water supply of indigenous people in this

ryangeller

tal destruction of a failed global economy, propped up by U.S. military might, is the only disaster that compares to this immense human suffering.

Rivers are polluted, choked with dams and toxic algae. Mountains become leveled and ocean floors get coated in oil while ancient and intricate forest ecosystems are burned up in smoke.

Our government’s only concern is the tick that signifies the price of rising stock on Wall Street.

Groups like “antifa” that are beginning to take on a physical component in the defense of our communities against violence from rightwing nut jobs, racist police or corporate profiteers are an important political development.

We do have to confront militarized right-wing power in this country, not only for the safety of our communities, but for a survivable planet.

Free speech is not a reality for anyone when it is drowned out by deafening violence.

The deep-rooted sentiments in this country that allow for the continuation of the most callous U.S. policies are symbolized in the rhetoric of the “alt-right.”

I dream of the day that peace loving people overcome ideologies of violent dominance.

When that happens, it will most surely involve physical defense.

nation.

Mortgage redlining and real estate speculation decide when it’s time for entire communities of African-American families to move along. Inequitable rules cement the message that the economic devel- We do opment that have to pours into their neigh- confront borhoods is not intended militarized for them. right-wing Somehow, power in it’s OK for toxic industries to exist this country right next to not only for the poorest the safety of communities.

Somehow, our own it’s OK for communities the children but for a of migrant workers to be taught in survivable schools that planet. are bombed with the same toxic pesticides that their parents work in.

In desperate conditions, when people turn to fundamentalist leaders for an answer to the bitter injustice of having their families murdered by U.S. backed miliRyan Geller is a staff writtary regimes they are labeled er for The Advocate. Contact terrorists. him at rgeller.theadvocate@ The ruthless environmen- gmail.com.

CAMPUS COMMENT

Do you think current gun laws are effective? Why or why not?

“No. They’re not effective because anyone can buy a gun in America. Something needs to change.”

“No, because people are running around shooting people for no apparent reason.”

Kimberly Wright

Precious Oguike

sociology

nursing

JESSICA SUICO AND LOUIS CANO /THE ADVOCATE

“No, because from what I’ve seen and from what just happened in Vegas, the current gun laws are not effective.”

Yakyra Daniels African-American studies

“Obviously no. There needs to be more knowledge on how many guns are too many.”

“In my opinion it should not be legal to own automatic weapons.”

Derek Casanera

Ira Goospy

business

business

“No because after what happened in Vegas. The shooter showed he was able to get weapons just because he had money.”

Luis Alvarado computer science

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NEWSLINE ZUNIGA | Educator accumulates memories, insight n LEADERSHIP

Continued from page 1

SAFE ZONE TRAINING PROMOTES SUPPORT

In between these years of study, Zuniga taught history at St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco where he also coached the basketball team and ran track.

He graduated in 1960 with a bachelor of arts degree in theology from Gonzaga University in Spokane.

Zuniga would later receive a master’s in philosophy in 1967 from the University of Santa Clara.

On June 7, 1967 Zuniga was ordained as a Jesuit priest at St. Ignatius Church after seven years of educational study.

“For it to have purpose for me, it has to involve helping other people,” he said.

His cultural background resonated with Mexican-American students who longed for a relatable teacher-counselor who could provide courses and advice during a time of warranted empowerment.

“They wanted someone who grew up in the barrio,” Zuniga said. “It was unusual at that time for someone from the Mexican barrio of San Diego to be educated.”

A full-time teaching position in the CCC counseling department came open and Zuniga applied for it in 1969.

In an Aug. 15, 1969 letter to then CCC President Robert L. Wynn, the Latin American Student Union, whose members were part of the interview committee for the position,

Faculty, staff and student leaders are invited to take part in safe zone training to create a support network for the LGBTQ community Friday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in SA-107.

For information contact Dean of Student Services Vicki Ferguson at vferguson@contracosta.edu.

n THEATER

‘ZOMBIE TOWN’ DEBUTS FRIDAY “Zombie Town” premieres Friday at 7:30 p.m. presented by the CCC drama department.

The play will be performed at the Knox Center on Friday, Saturday, Oct. 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday and Oct. 22 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students with an ID and senior citizens.

For more information contact drama department Chairperson Carlos Chavarria at 510-215-4136.

n TRANSFER

OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR UNIVERSITY Registration is open for a bus tour of San Jose State University on Oct. 27. The tour is that day from 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This tour and upcoming tours of four-year institutions will allow students to visit campuses they want to transfer. For more information contact ctianero@contracosta.edu.

n TRAINING

FILM SHEDS LIGHT INTO AUTISM IN U.S. The film “Autism in America” will be shown in LLRC-107 on Oct. 18 from 3-4:45 p.m. as part of Disability Awareness Month.

The 88-minute film looks into Autism Spectrum Disorder and follows families affected by autism.

For more information contact lray@contracosta.edu.

CRIMEWATCH Tuesday, Sept. 26: A student’s vehicle window was broken and trunk left open while parked on campus. No personal belongings were taken. No suspects or witnesses were located.

Wednesday, Sept. 27: A guest reported a broken window and property stolen from their vehicle while it was parked in Lot 6.

There are no suspects or witnesses at this time.

Thursday, Sept. 28: A fire alarm was pulled in the Automotive Technology Center.

Monday, Oct. 2: A vehicle was broken into and property were stolen from it while parked on campus Thursday, Oct. 5: A fire alarm was pulled in the Student and Administration Building.

A fire alarm was pulled in the Music Building.

— Anthony Kinney

CORRECTION In the Sept. 27 issue of The Advocate on page B7 in the photo cutline to the story titled “Squad searches for third win,” volleyball Comet outsider Joshleen Ayson was identified as Justine Ayson.

The Advocate regrets this error.

— 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.

“Al has a tremendous heart and he loves and is energized by helping others.”

Norma Valdez-Jimenez, counselor

recommended Zuniga for the position. He was hired for the job.

Once employed, Zuniga became instrumental in providing courses pertaining to the study of Chicano history.

He implemented the first ever MexicanAmerican courses, which began in the spring of 1970 and included Politics of the MexicanAmerican Community and the Psychology of the Mexican-American.

“I’ve known Al (Zuniga) since I was 18,” CCC counselor Norman Valdez-Jimenez said.

“As my counselor he helped me apply for scholarships and wrote letters of recommendation.

He encouraged me to apply for the KennedyKing Scholarship and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which I (won).”

Valdez-Jimenez said for those who took La Raza 141 or 142, they would remember how Zuniga always brought food to class.

“You’d also remember how many friendships and connections were created in those classes,” she said. “Al has a tremendous heart and he loves and is energized by helping others.

His life’s passion is being in service to others.”

After a solid academic year, the Latin American Student Union felt the administration was dismantling the courses Zuniga built.

In September 1970, the La Raza studies program was incorporated into the course catalog after a misunderstanding among Zuniga, the district and the CCC administration. An agreement included discussions involving points that created the foundation of the La Raza program as it is known today.

“Everything I have done is for the department and the impact on the lives of those who it serves,” Zuniga said. “I’ve made an impact in the lives of students, but they don’t know the impact they have made on me.”

Zuniga continued his studies in 1972 receiving a master’s degree in Mexican-American studies from San Jose State University, and later a master’s from Stanford University in 1981.

On and off from 1981 to 1989 he attended San Francisco State University in the Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) Program.

CCC Dean of Equity and Institutional Effectiveness Mayra Padilla said, “When I first met Al (Zuniga) I was 14. He came into Richmond High to talk about the METAS program.

“He has the ability to really touch students and guide them to resources. That’s something that can draw people in,” she said. “The CCC campus would not be what it is today without Al and his dedication to student success.”

INTERFAITH | Space to enable mindfulness, prayer Continued from Page 1 Council’s first meeting of this semester they were shown two possible locations and at the following meeting the committee voted for the balcony on the second floor of the AA Building.

Alammari said, “I know they had a struggle finding a room because of all of the construction going on, but Dean Ferguson contacted me this semester and said she wanted to show me a room and it is beautiful. It’s great.”

The balcony is currently an open space with large glass windows and a pebbled floor.

“We’ve never had a specified prayer room in the past,” King said.

There are ideas of putting in artificial turf or outdoor carpeting in order to cover up the rocks as well as adding curtains or blinds for privacy.

“We are discussing some kind of tarp for the weather during the winter,” he said. “We can get 10 people in there with no problem, but if we get 50 people up there then there is a problem.”

The interfaith meditation room was proposed by Alammari to Ferguson in March as a sanctuary not only for Muslim students but

TITLE IX | Update Continued from Page 1 ports the perpetrator to where it will be more difficult to charge, or even discipline, someone who has been accused of any type of harassment that falls under Title IX.” In the last five years at CCC, four cases of sexual misconduct have been reported to her and have been followed through, Ferguson said.

Already, victims on college campuses throughout the nation hold back from reporting, Ferguson said.

“I think it would prevent some victims from reporting if it becomes official that more evidence needs to be provided before any type of action has to be taken.”

CCC student Victoria Zaragoza said with DeVos’ move ready to be implemented, it will be more difficult (to come forward) and victims will be pushed further into the shadows.

“I’ve known people who have had it (sexual assault) happen to them and it takes them so long to come out and say something until it’s too late because they feel the person isn’t going to be prosecuted,” Zaragoza said.

“You know when you do something wrong to somebody. You don’t deserve a voice after you do something to somebody. You are not a person after that, you are a monster.”

The 2011 Obama administration memo known as the “Dear Colleague” letter outlines guidelines on how colleges handle sexual assault allegations.

Any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, according to the “Dear Colleague” letter, is sexual harassment.

The harassing conduct creates a hostile environment for the students and can interfere with their ability to participate in, or benefit from, the college’s programs.

Ferguson said CCC uses the “Dear Colleague” letter and will continue to do so despite the federal changes DeVos has discussed. “We have our own policy around low tolerance for any type of harassment of sexual violence.”

Ferguson said her role as Title IX coordinator is being committed to making sure that policies are followed, especially around the student code of conduct that can be found in the college catalog.

While changes start at the Trump administration with Title IX, Ferguson said they have not received direction from the district, but will continue with trainings educating students, faculty and staff.

At fellow district college Los Medanos, Senior Dean of Students Services Gail Newman said he is not aware of conversations regarding the latest Title IX changes at LMC. “Until there are broader discussions within our district and guidance on a change in direction, we will continue to maintain our current practices and procedures,” Newman said.

“We’ve never had a specified prayer room in the past.”

Bruce King,

Buildings and Grounds manager

for students of all faiths and beliefs.

Alammari said she has been at Contra Costa College for two years so her time for prayer falls multiple times throughout the day.

“I would go to the Library behind the bookshelves to pray and see that I was not the only one in need for prayer,” she said.

“Multiple students were in need of ADVERTISEMENT

a place to pray.”

However, the only place quiet and devoid of crowds was behind the stacks of books in the Library.

Seeing that she was not the only one in need of a quiet place for prayer, Alammari brought it to the attention of Ferguson.

“I thought my request was something not out of the ordinary because CCC is so diverse,” Alammari said. “I put together a presentation with all of the MSA’s support and showed examples of other places that have an interfaith rooms, such as hospitals, and showed it to Ferguson, who was very supportive.”

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Negotiations yield salary increases, medical benefits United Faculty, district agree on pact

By Anthony Kinney associate editor

akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com

LEAMSI AMAYA / THE ADVOCATE

Business major Naoki Kakehashi looks at a pamphlet as he checks out different university booths during Transfer Day in the Campus Center Plaza on Oct. 3.

Transfer Day shows university options

By Alondra Gallardo advocate staff

agallardo.theadvocate@gmail.com

The annual Transfer Day gives students an opportunity to ask questions and collect informed on different four-year colleges and universities from around the country.

Transfer Coordinator Andrea Phillips said Transfer Day is scheduled on the first or second Tuesday of October each year. It gives students who are interested in transferring face time with a representative from a variety of colleges.

“Transfer Day is something that comes from the state Chancellor’s Office,” Phillips said.

“They coordinate with all of the high schools and community colleges in California. They happen all over the state from as early as August to as late as November.”

Career Services Coordinator

Natasha DeAlmeida said, “It gives students the chance to talk to college representatives, even if it is just for a bit while they are on their way to class, and hopefully that gets them thinking about college and motivates them to transfer on.”

Outreach Coordinator for the Study Abroad Program at San Francisco State University, Shura Taylor, said it gives students a really good idea of what they offer and hopefully gets them thinking about college early.

“We get the majority of students applying three days before the deadline, so really we try to encourage them that the earlier they apply, the better,” she said.

Northern Arizona University Admissions Officer McKenzie McLoughlin said it is a great opportunity because students do not really have the time to do research on colleges and this is a

great and easy way for them to get informed because it is literally put right in front of them.

The busiest hours on campus are between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., so many students were able to spend time at some of the tables.

La Raza studies major Luis Ledesma said, “Not only do we get to ask questions, but we get to build one-on-one connections with the outreach counselors.

They are really the ones who are going to help us through the application process, so getting that business card and contact information is going to really help us stay informed with that college in the long run.”

Nursing major Brenda Madrid said she knows that Contra Costa College has this event each year but she never attended it or took advantage of it until now since she is applying and ready to transfer.

A tentative agreement addressing faculty grievances was reached between the Contra Costa Community College District and the United Faculty union during negotiations held on Sept. 8 and 15.

Salary increases, Medicare coordinated medical plans for retirees, family and parental leave options and a one-year extension of the districtwide “Equity Hour Program” were some of the details agreed upon during the two full days of negotiations.

The tentative agreement will be embraced for all contracts during the 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic semesters.

United Faculty Vice President Jeffrey Michels participated in the negotiations on behalf of the faculty’s union. He said the salary for full-time faculty will increase by 2 percent retroactive to the start of the 2017 fall semester, while parttime faculty salaries will increase based on their teaching assignments and the workload value carried by it.

Workloads also increased with the agreement.

According to the agreement, Part-time Load Adjustment Factors have increased as follows: lab assignments: from 2 to 3 percent; lecture assignments: from 14.8 to 19.1 percent; and English Composition assignments: from 14.8 to 20 percent.

Contra Costa College English professor Brooke Eubanks said the salary increase will help boost the morale of staff members. It will also help them maintain a decent lifestyle in the Bay Area where the price on the basic essentials is on a steady rise.

“The cost of living is increasing and professors aren’t immune to it,” Eubanks said. “In this climate, any increase helps.”

The agreement will provide part-time coaches with a 25 percent salary increase, in addition to increasing the load for coaching assignments from 44 to 55 percent beginning spring 2018.

“Our coaches were ridiculously underpaid compared to the schools we compete against in the area,” Michels said. “We finally fixed that.”

United Faculty Vice President Jason Mayfield said that although the constant process of negotiating between the two parties will con-

tinue, he feels this tentative agreement had a positive outcome for both sides.

Michels, who’s also an English professor at Contra Costa College, said the district has a long history of not paying teachers the “top salary” compared to other districts in the Bay Area and competition is a major issue for them.

He believes this agreement will help the district become more appealing for teachers looking for employment.

M a y f i e l d , Michels who also played a role on the union’s negotiating team, said his side worked with the district to get resources and compensation for faculty members who’s been without them until now.

The parties also agreed to extend the previously piloted Catastrophic Family Leave program which acts as an emergency fund for staff members in need of extra leave days who have already exhausted their paid family leave and personal necessity leave options.

Michels said in its two years of being active, the program has helped relieve the anxiety of faculty members who needed to stay out longer than what their typical leave allows due to personal reasons.

The fund is also used as to reimburse faculty members who spend more than $5,000 in a year on medical co-payments, Michels said.

Also detailed in the agreement was the baby bonding leave program mandated by Assembly Bill 2393 that allows employees to use up to 12 weeks of sick leave to bond with their newborn child.

Eubanks said coming from Arizona, a “red state” where professors carrying a workload of 7 or 8 classes isn’t uncommon and unions aren’t supported, being in a teacher’s union that works so efficiently with its district is astonishing.

Mayfield said the outcome of the tentative agreement will likely gain the approval of the district’s faculty.

The UF is currently holding a ratification vote on the agreement.

If ratified by district faculty, the tentative agreement will go before the district Governing Board for final approval at its November meeting.

Team exhibits dominance at speech tournament Seven competitors finish in top four in Santa Rosa

By Andrew Weedon advocate staff

aweedon.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Contra Costa College speech team was awarded with multiple finalist finishes Saturday after weeks of hard work and preparation.

Seven students from CCC attended their second speech and debate tournament this semester, held at Santa Rosa Junior College.

A sense of pride for CCC helped motivate the students and was a strong factor in earning first, second, third and two fourth place finishes with the remaining two students giving strong performances in their categories.

Carver Two of the top six students competing at the tournament were from CCC as were three of the top six students in the persuasive category.

The team was just shy of being awarded the sweepstakes certificate

“I would say my speech to myself many times in one day and speak it while facing a wall to help get rid of distractions.”

Raquel Navas,

speech team vice president

for superior team performance.

Public speaking is a very daunting task, which is made no easier, when it is part of a competition.

Between memorizing speech and making the content coherent, the speaker has a lot of pressure put on them.

With a strong focus on memorization, content and body language going into this speech tournament, the students have been working very hard since the last tournament two weeks ago.

Raquel Navas, vice president of the speech team, competed in the open persuasive category and had a few techniques to help memorize and perfect her speech on environmental racism.

“I would say my speech to myself many times in one day and speak it while facing a wall to help get rid of distractions,” she said about a few methods Randy Carver, speech team

coach and professor, recommends.

Repetition was important to Navas in memorizing her speech and to help with this she would record herself and listen to the recording multiple times.

Biology major Kulsoom Mohsin earned consecutive first place finishes in the informative category with her speech on genetically engineered pathogens.

With this being her first semester on the speech team, she was really anxious about competing, but after doing so well she said it was a huge confidence boost.

Mohsin said that even if you feel nervous about competing, it is important to show up and put in the effort because you never know how it could turn out.

“They did all the preparation they could do to make it into finals,” Carver said.

He said all of the team members worked hard to refine their body language and hand movements for their particular event. Carver plans on having each team member compete in at least two events for the next tournament to encourage even more growth in his students and help them face new challenges with more confidence.

The team will be working diligently over the next three weeks to prepare for the upcoming San Joaquin Delta College and University of the Pacific tournament, he said.

ANDREW WEEDON / THE ADVOCATE

Speech major Jamie Barnhart performs a dramatic interpretation during the speech and debate team’s practice on Tuesday.

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DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Lack of coverage inspires charity Students in Action support temblor relief effort

By Anthony Kinney associate editor

akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com

To aid in the relief of those impacted by the devastating earthquakes that destroyed parts of Mexico last month, the Students in Action Club is asking for donations of clothing, blankets and other essentials through the month of October.

Donations toward the earthquake relief can be dropped off at the Gateway to College classroom in AA-219 until Oct. 20.

Students in Action President Diana Alvarez said the club is looking to reach a goal of $5,000 worth of blankets, clothing, toiletries and personal hygiene products to send to survivors of the earthquakes.

Alvarez said the lack of coverage by American media outlets on the ravaging earthquakes inspired her club to help those whose lives were affected by the catastrophic events.

“They weren’t getting any attention from the media, even though

the country was hit with (one of) its biggest earthquake in centuries,” she said. “It took a second earthquake to hit for us to even hear about it in the states.”

SIA faculty adviser Anna Chuon said many of her colleagues and students are worried about their families in Mexico and with the current scarce reporting on the region, it’s hard for them to stay informed about family members’ living conditions.

Chuon, who’s also a Gateway to College resource specialist, said the country of Mexico is dear to many students in the club and that she didn’t hesitate to support her students when they brought forth the idea.

Gateway to College student and SIA Treasurer Liz Luna and Alvarez both have family impacted by the Mexico City earthquake.

Luna said with the recent natural disasters that have occurred in North America, SIA members have been debating on where and how to help since the catastrophic

impact of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. The Mexico City earthquake occurred one day after Hurricane Irma subsided in Florida.

“We knew the victims of Hurricane Harvey and Irma were getting support because of all the media coverage,” she said. “There’s not a lot of attention from our media about the earthquake. But we want the Mexican people affected by the earthquakes to know they’re not forgotten by those here in America.”

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 7.1-magnitude earthquake, whose epicenter was 75 miles south of the country’s capital, Mexico City, took a total of 369 lives.

Only 12 days before the disastrous Mexico City earthquake, an earlier temblor struck Chiapas, Mexico that claimed at least 98 lives and damaged 41,000 homes.

The Sept. 19 Mexico City earthquake occurred on the 32nd anniversary of the violent 1985 earthquake that killed 10,000 people

and injured 30,000 others in and around the same area.

That earthquake was the country’s deadliest thus far.

Luna said she’s seen an overwhelming number of people on social media who lost their homes and now have to sleep in shelters or outside.

It’s scenes like these which urged her to help the relief effort in any way she can.

“That’s where my family is and where my culture came from,” Luna said. “We can’t leave them stranded like that.”

Gateway to College student and SIA Club member David Hernandez said although he doesn’t have family in Mexico, he also donated clothes toward the cause.

“Helping people is what I joined this club to do,” Hernandez said.

Alvarez said the cub is a great opportunity for students with a passion to help others meet like-minded peers and work on projects aimed at assisting others.

ABOVE: Nursing major Donavon Gonzalez folds clothes in AA-217 for victims recovering from the Mexico City earthquake, which killed 369 people on Sept. 19.

ESL population at disadvantage Flaws predicted with state guided pathway initiative

By Roxana Amparo associate editor

ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

LUIS CANO / THE ADVOCATE

English as second language professor Shelly Ruby writes on the white board during a lecture in Essay Writing in AA-133 on Thursday.

The decision to implement guided pathways districtwide may be leaving English as a second language (ESL) students at a disadvantage when it comes to increasing their success rates.

Contra Costa College’s English as a second language department holds a headcount of nearly 300 students enrolled in one of five levels of ESL courses, ESL professor Shelley Ruby said.

Guided pathways pushes for a more direct and speedy way for students to complete a certificate of achievement or degree at a community college.

Ruby said, “It (guided pathways) is a good goal, but for ESL, it’s a different population that may be the administration doesn’t always understand. There is no shortcut to learning a language — you have to really take time. We want them to visit our classes and visit our department meetings to understand how we are different.”

Ruby said ESL students who come to college at the beginning levels of learning a second language need more than two years to get through the program.

Some ESL students come to college to learn a second language and not necessarily to transfer or earn the certificate of achievement that the ESL department offers once the student completes all their ESL requirements, Ruby said.

“I hear students say, ‘I just want to help my kids with their homework.’ It’s not a one size fits all thing.

Not everyone is looking for a certificate of achievement.”

The ESL department serves a diverse population of ages and backgrounds, like public speech major Xiuli Meng, who came from China.

“I don’t think that there can be a specific path to get through ESL classes quicker,” Meng said.

“Learning a second language is a long process that

“It (guided pathways) is a good goal, but for ESL, it’s a different population that maybe the administration doesn’t always understand.”

Shelley Ruby

English as a second language professor

takes time to absorb. It doesn’t have a shortcut and everyone has their own way of learning.”

Meng said as an older student in the ESL department he “appreciates” the opportunity to learn while taking ESL 172, Writing IV, and ESL 152, Academic and Professional ESL IV. With the help received from ESL instructors in class and through the ESL program in the Library and Learning Resource Center, Meng said he has been able to start tutoring this semester.

At the beginning of each semester, the ESL department offers orientation classes that students can attend to ensure they follow steps for student success, Ruby said. They take their assessment test and meet with student assistant Arlette Ordaz, who speaks Spanish and can work with the students to help them register for ESL classes.

“I think it is very important to work with students because some don’t have any idea how to register for classes or how to use the CCC website,” Ordaz said.

She maintains a relationship with the students throughout the semester to help them check their grades online or to help them answer questions they may have about ESL classes.

Ruby said they have found, over time, that students have limited English and limited academic backgrounds. “Some of them may have had little education in their country and coming into a new setting can be difficult to navigate.”

“I can see (guided pathways) happening with our program, but I feel like it would look different.”

Ruby said creating different guided pathways for different groups would be better, like students who want a better job but not a degree, or for students who want to transfer.

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scene

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Unleashed

MOVIES Young Michael Burnham (left) is rescued by Sarek (right) during a scene from the new television series “Star Trek: Discovery.”

This week: “Project Almanac” (PG-13) “The Loft” (R) “Black or White” (PG-13) “Timbuktu” (NR) “Alien Outpost” (NR)

BLU-RAYS

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

New releases: “The Judge” (R) “Fury” (R) “The Book of Life” (PG) “Before I Go to Sleep” (R) “Art and Craft” (NR)

MUSIC

Sci-Fi revival suffers from inconsistent storytelling Series

By Xavier Johnson

makes

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

television return after 12 years

New releases: Doomtree: “All Hands” Funeral For A Friend: “Chapter and Verse” Charlie Wilson: “Forever Charlie” Bettye LaVette: “Worthy” Gov’t Mule: “Sco-Mule”

GAMES

scene editor

The “Star Trek” series for a new generation successfully crafts an interesting world full of potential but leaves doubts with inconsistent storytelling.

“Star Trek: Discovery” is the first Star Trek television series in 12 years. The weekly series is four episodes into its 15-episode first season.

Set 10 years before the start of the original “Star Trek,” the story explores the start of the Klingon-Federation War. The show seems to take a different approach to typical “Star Trek” stoTV rytelling in several aspects REVIEW while remaining familiar to “Star Trek what the series historically Discovery” has been. ★★★★★ Michael Burnham Starring: (Sonequa Martin-Green) Sonequa Martinis the protagonist of the Green, Doug show. Martin-Green, the Jones, Javid Iqbal former first officer of the Network: CBS USS Shenzhou, turned disTime slot: graced convict and memSunday Genre: Sci-Fi ber of the USS Discovery, is the focus of the show.

She is the first protagonist in any of the series to be a lower rank than captain. It creates a different dynamic with how she interacts with those around her.

Burnham is a human raised by Vulcans and follows their culture and traditions. She has a unique character arc that hasn’t been explored

advocate staff

lcano.theadvocate@gmail.com

“Borderlands: The PreSequel” (M) “Blek” (E) “Grim Fandango Remastered” (NR) Editor’s note: This column lists popular new (and upcoming) releases for the week.

— Xavier Johnson

episodes the clear motivations give way to snap decisions without much, or sometimes poorly explained, rationale.

The bellicose Klingon race serve as a quality “big bad” and their story arc serves as an allegory for the modern day rise of fringe nationalist parties in the United States and Europe.

Behind the battle cry of “Remain Klingon!” the Klingon Empire’s 24 houses unite against the United Federation of Planets.

The focus on the Klingons opens opportunities to explore the most fascinating race in the “Star Trek” universe with modern effects and sets. The Klingons are highly ritualistic, culturally rich people.

Early in the series several rituals are depicted with the gravitas the Klingon deserve.

The Klingon scenes suffer from the same issues in episodes three and four as the rest of the show. There isn’t much progression. Every Klingon scene is done in their native tongue (with subtitles) which is an interesting decision. It makes sense. It’s a smart, lore consistent decision but takes away some of the interesting qualities of the Klingon.

The Klingon lose some of the classic Shakespearean delivery in English in favor of a more natural delivery in their native language.

“Star Trek Discovery” is simply a good show. “Good” is all “Star Trek” fans can ask for after 12 years of having to sit through terrible movies without a true television series to enjoy.

The first two episodes are an example of how great the show can be. Unfortunately, the third and fourth episodes show how average the show can be.

DEBUTANTE MUSICIAN SETS HIGH STANDARD

By Louis Cano

New releases: “Dying Light” (M)

in the “Star Trek” universe.

The first several episodes deal partly with Burnham’s internal struggle balancing her cold, logic-based Vulcan training and her strong human emotions.

Unlike other iterations of “Star Trek,” the central focus of the series is Burnham rather than extending to the crew. There most likely won’t be a single episode that doesn’t feature Burnham, while there were episodes in previous seasons that wouldn’t feature the captains.

There is a definite “Star Trek” feeling to the show that gives an optimistic outlook. The key themes in “Star Trek” have been hope and exploration, present in “Star Trek Discovery.”

The USS Discovery is a science vessel with all of its resources being shifted toward the war effort. There are many crew members that are focused on scientific explorations and are each grappling with being rapidly thrust into a unified battlefront.

Dialogue, another “Star Trek” staple, shares in the forefront. The rapid ping pong dialogue on the bridge is quintessential “Star Trek.”

The dialogue rarely ventures into cheesy territory, which can become an issue on shows produced for network television.

The optimism gained from watching episodes one and two is dampened by lackluster storytelling in episodes three and four. Many of the characters’ motivations for certain actions become unclear. The storytelling isn’t unclear for the sake of foreshadowing.

During the first two episodes there is a clear progression as to why characters act the way they do. However, during the next two

T

he wait for Sabrina Claudio’s full-length project is finally over with the release of her new mixtape “About Time,” and according to her fans it’s a masterpiece.

Music aficionados may remember her early work, mostly on YouTube, when she would upload covers of her favorite songs.

One of her most popular covers is “Halo” by Beyoncé. It blew ALBUM up, earning the REVIEW singer nationwide “About Time” popularity. ★★★★★ After earning Artist: Sabrina Claudios the respect of Genre: R&B music critics, she Release Date: released her first Oct. 5 EP “Confidently Lost” earlier this year.

When listening to it, it’s clear, Claudio has definitely grown musically since its release.

Her latest project opens with an enchanting intro, “About Time

(Intro),” where she talks about starting all over again, measuring time and reflecting on aspects of change. Sabrina mentioned in an interview with Beats 1, that she “wrote every song about time in some way, shape or form.”

Claudio had an inner-vision for the mixtape — and she delivers it beautifully.

Before releasing “About Time” she put out two singles, “Unravel Me” and “Belong To You.” The songs earned Claudio more attention, especially with the visuals she put out for them.

Her videos are simple, minimalist, beautiful and creative. Her music has gotten attention from Snoh Aalergra, Kali Uchis, Daniel Caesar and 6LACK. Listeners should experience the mixtape from start to finish to understand her full artistic vision.

Each song connects with the one that follows.

In “Natural,” she talks about falling for someone but not wanting to be with them because she can’t predict what the future will look like as a couple. However, in

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

Independent musician and visual artist Sabrina Claudio released her first full-length mixtape “About Time” on Thursday.

“Everlasting Love” she is willing to do everything to make sure they have a long-lasting relationship.

Listening to nothing but this album for the past week has helped me understand her as a

person.

When searching for a favorite song from the playlist, listeners wouldn’t be able to pick just one song because the entire thing is a work of art.

sports

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Comet middle hitter Makaya Thomas (middle) reacts with Comet outside hitter Victoria Matue (left) and defensive specialist Jacqueline Tianero (right) after hitting a ball into the net during Contra Costa College’s 3-0 loss to Solano Community College on Friday.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Team falls in rout

By Drew Thomas advocate staff

dthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

Contra Costa College’s women’s volleyball team proved to be no match against Solano Community College’s (9-1 overall and 7-0 in the Bay Valley Conference) fastpaced style of play, which resulted in the Comets losing in three straight sets Friday night in the Gymnasium.

“We needed to stop overthinking and play our game,” Comet coach Christy Tianero said.

CCC (2-8 overall, 1-5 in the BVC) struggled early on to get its offense going because they let a strong Solano team affect them mentally, which resulted in a slow start.

The Comets get another shot at victory when they face Los Medanos College tonight in Pittsburg.

“It looked like they (Solano) were in their (the Comets) heads,” Tianero said.

In the first set, Solano went on a commanding 16-8 run against the Comets who had no answer to slowing down the Falcon offense.

“We knew they were good. We need to work on moving faster when they hit and where they hit the ball,” Comet outside hitter Victoria Matue said.

In terms of scoring, the first set was the closest that CCC came to matching up against Solano’s offensive onslaught out of all three sets.

Comet assistant coach Todd Sootharak told the team to “be open, be adaptable, keep an open mindset and adapt well to how your opponents play.”

Solano ended the first set with an 8-7 point scoring run leading to a 25-14 first set victory.

“Volleyball is a mental thing and we wanted to keep our energy no matter what the score was,” Comet sophomore outside

hitter Jacqueline Tianero said.

In the second set Solano displayed its dominance against CCC by establishing a commanding 15-1 lead that left CCC scrambling for answers.

In the second set the team lost its will to fight and each player’s body language made it seem like they weren’t having fun playing the game.

“We snatched balls, practiced, ran a fast pace offense and played our style of volleyball,” Falcon outside hitter Makayla Johnson said.

Even after the game, some of the Comets could not get the sour taste of the second set out of their mouths.

“The second set was our worst set against Solano. The team needed to stop looking at the score and play the game,” Tianero said.

Solano kept attacking the Comets, after every pass, their kills were hit with such precision and power that the Comets couldn’t

respond.

Falcon setter Mia Pimentel set up their middle hitter Alana Sibblies who capitalized and scored the kill to give Solano a 9-4 advantage..

“In the third set, we wanted to remind the girls why they play volleyball — to figure it out as a team and to learn how to communicate among themselves,” Sootharack said.

Comet players Makaya Thomas and Justine Ayson showed some of their fire by blocking and stopping Solano player Destiny Greenwood’s kill attempts.

The Comets’ took advantage of Solano’s turnovers and showed some competitiveness by fighting to try to get back into the game.

However, the Falcons overwhelmed CCC in the third set and ended with a 25-4 victory.

“Even though we are a small team, the fight in us is going to make us better,” Comet middle blocker Justine Ayson said.

Gritty comeback leads to draw

Despite a sloppy first half performance, Comets manage to salvage a 3-3 home tie

By Drew Thomas advocate staff

dthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

In yet another high scoring game, the Contra Costa College men’s soccer team tied at home against Merritt College (3-7-2 overall, 0-0-2 in the Bay Valley Conference) at three goals-a-piece on Friday.

After letting the Thunderbirds take a 2-0 lead early in the game, Comet forward Eduardo De Loa Jr. scored to help the team regain some confidence before the halftime break.

Shortly after that, Thunderbird forward Mohammad Haseen scored a header to extend their lead to 3-1, which was a momentum killer for the Comets (1-5-5 overall and 1-0-1 in the BVC).

During that play, CCC’s starting goalkeeper Ronaldo Hernandez and defender David Padilla collided, resulting in both players exiting the game. Padilla returned later in the contest.

Comet forward James Sibrian said that the team came in with too much confidence and that led the Comets into chasing after Merritt’s players.

“The T-Birds kept the score up (by two in their favor), but by the end of the first half we didn’t have the fire and (positive) attitude.

Our intensity didn’t match theirs (Merritt),” he said.

“Sometimes passes don’t go where you want to put them,” De Loa Jr. said. “We noticed that they had a lot of their players in the middle of the field, so we began to play the ball wide and that’s how we came back,” he said.

CCC coach Nikki Ferguson said that his team didn’t play with spirit in the first half and when a team doesn’t play with spirit it begins to make mistakes and turn the ball over.

In the 55th minute of the second half, De

“The intensity picked up in the last few minutes of the game.

The team got organized, played smarter and didn’t force the ball.”

Mohammadhassein Jumshidian, Comet goalkeeper

Loa Jr. scored his second goal of the game off of a header from a free kick-set play, which brought the team within one goal of Merritt at 3-2.

Ferguson said that the team showed its competitiveness by its second half performance and by not letting its first half get to them.

“When we were losing, we kept fighting, and stayed composed,” De Loa Jr. said.

For the last 15 minutes of the game, both teams began to push the ball forward, creating multiple opportunities to score.

The Comets capitalized in the 75th minute of the game when Padilla put forward Anthony Maytum through Merritt’s backline then put the ball into the back of the net to tie the game at three.

“The intensity picked up in the last few minutes of the game. The team got organized, played smarter and didn’t force the ball,” Comet goalkeeper Mohammedhessein Jumshidian said.

This was the Comets second game of BVC play. The draw puts CCC in a tie for second place with Yuba College with identical (1-0-1) records.

“Overall, this game was a battle. We’re just going to move on to the next game,” Sibrian said.

The Comets will play last year’s BVC runner-up Napa Valley College at home on the Soccer field Friday at 4 p.m.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Comet forward Eduardo De Loa Jr. (middle) heads the ball between Thunderbird forward Ernesto Garcia (left) and defender Jimmy Wilson (right) for goal off a set play during the team’s tie against Merritt College on the Soccer Field Friday.

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spotlight

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.11.2017 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

“

What we are hearing from students, time and time again, is that they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to go to college were it not for the Richmond Promise.” — Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, CCC president Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay (left) and Contra Costa College President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh (right) bartend during the Cheers for the Promise fundraising event at East Brother’s Brewery in Point Richmond on Sept. 27.

Cheers, beers garner funds DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Richmond

Promise, Contra Costa College fundraise for scholars

By Anthony Kinney

n “We wanted to kick off the next

associate editor

akinney.theadvocate@gmail.com

RICHMOND — As a way to celebrate the work of many in this city, school administrators, city officials and community leaders joined the Richmond Promise and East Brother Beer Company to honor West Contra Costa County teachers during the Cheers for the Promise fundraising event at the East Brother Brewery taproom.

The fundraiser, held Sept. 27, was about bringing positive community awareness to the promise and celebrating those who make it a reality in Richmond, Richmond Promise Executive Director Jessie Stewart said.

Stewart said the goal of the fundraiser was to raise $1,500 — the amount of a Richmond Promise yearly college scholarship presented to high school graduates living in the city of Richmond.

“Our community and education partners inspired this event,” she said. “We wanted to kick off the next school year by celebrating the partners that are behind the promise.”

Stewart said West Contra Costa County Unified School District teachers and administrators deserve praise because the promise is much more than just a scholarship.

The promise is a partnership and community effort to create change in young people’s lives through higher education.

Decked in a Navy blue baseball cap that read, “Da Mayor,” Richmond Mayor Tom Butt attended the event as a guest bartender beside several other

school year by celebrating the partners that are behind the promise.”

— Jessie Stewart, Richmond Promise executive director

Richmond officials tasked with filling attendees’ mugs with East Brother Company beer.

Mayor Butt said the Richmond Promise is one of the city’s most important programs. It’s also one of his personal favorites.

“It’s a popular program and it gets a ton of support from City Hall,” Mayor Butt said. “It’s wonderful helping those students fulfill their dreams and bring change to our community.”

Among the local officials bartending was Contra Costa College President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh.

“Fifteen hundred dollars a year is a life-changer for so many students in our community and we’re so thrilled to provide that kind of opportunity for them,” Mehdizadeh said.

She said she was honored to work behind the bar in support of the Richmond Promise and enjoyed her time bartending for her fellow teachers and administrators for such a good cause.

“What we’re hearing from students, time and time again, is that they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to go to college were it not for the Richmond Promise,” Mehdizadeh said. “It’s really about the bright future of our young people. What can be better than that?”

As the sun began to set over the brewery’s neighboring hillside and more people started to show up,

conversations poured outside over more beer, live music and games of bocce ball.

CCC alumni Russell and Raynard Lozano offered their trademark Filipino inspired American dishes parked outside the taproom in their Curbside Kitchen food truck. All tips earned by the food truck went toward the promise program.

Over raised beer glasses Stewart performed a toast to honor the program’s partners, West County’s teachers and administrators who have supported the promise since its founding in 2014.

Stewart said with over 100 students currently starting their college careers at Contra Costa College, she knows those students are on a pathway to success having CCC as a home base of support.

Mehdizadeh, who also serves on the Governing Board of the Richmond Promise, said keeping the partnership strong between CCC and the program is of utmost importance for both parties.

She said, with CCC being the first major partner of the promise, she works with the program on the policy level to ensure students are receiving the tools necessary for a successful future.

“What we do at CCC is take those incredible young minds in and provide them the opportunity to really find themselves and find their passion,” Mehdizadeh said.

After the toast, raffles were held and five lucky educators won gift bags. All tips collected at the bar went toward the Richmond Promise program.

Stewart said the program is part of a larger movement that is happening to build a college-going and graduating culture throughout the city.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS WRAPAROUND PROGRAM n “The extra funding can mean Insurance agency difference between a stuhosts scholarship event the dent staying or dropping out

By Xavier Johnson scene editor

of school.” —

Alex Walker-Griffin,

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

Associated Student Union president

POINT RICHMOND — The Contra Costa College Foundation raised $129,000 toward its initiatives with a fundraiser at Zell and Associates offices on Sept. 28.

The money raised supports the college Foundation which relies on donations that fund their student scholarships like the Sy and Beverly Zell Scholarship and the recently established wraparound fund.

CCC students who find themselves in financial distress can apply for up to $500 in additional financial assistance through the wraparound fund. After receiving funding, part of the process requires recipients to write a thank you note.

At the fundraiser, funds were raised through sponsorships and entrance fees.

The fee to attend was $100.

College Foundation President Eric Zell said sponsorships were the primary source of funding. The sponsorships were separated into three levels, each necessitating a different level of donation.

The lowest tier was silver with a $2,500 contribution. The second tier was gold at $5,000 and platinum the highest at $10,000.

“This amount of money could help about 240 students through scholarships,” Zell said.

The event was attended by community members like Richmond Mayor Tom Butt, CCC staff and those connected with Zell.

“You hear, it’s not what you know it’s who you know. This is a good example of who you know,” Zell said.

At 6 p.m., the room quieted for speakers as several speeches were given by those in attendance.

Eric Zell spoke alongside CCC Associated Student Union President Alex WalkerGriffin, President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh and district Chancellor Fred Wood.

Mehdizadeh said she was at the event to tell the community about CCC and how it serves the Richmond area.

She said the most important aspect of the Foundation is its fundraising to support students.

College Foundation Coordinator Sara Marcellino said a typical scholarship may have restrictions on what the money can be used for. However, the wraparound fund is unrestricted.

Mehdizadeh said the thank you note is a way to put a personal aspect to the funding and show what the money is being used for in order to help students. She said the funding can go to helping pay for anything, from expensive books to transportation.

“When students are about to drop (out of school) we say ‘no’ and offer support,”

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Barbara Johnson, an employee of Zell and Associates, writes a check made out to the Contra Costa College Foundation during a fundraising event held at Eric Zell’s office in Point Richmond on Sept. 28.

Marcellino said.

CCC is the first college in the district to have a wraparound fund.

College Vice President Ken Sherwood said, “We lose many students because of life challenges. With some scholarships, students need to pay it back. But for the wraparound they don’t need to.”

Sherwood said in his experiences with other college foundation programs, the wraparound fund and helping (college) departments are important. “The Foundation doesn’t just provide academic scholarships.

They get involved with the students and departments,” he said.

Walker-Griffin said he was at the fundraiser to offer a student perspective and speak on how the scholarships can directly address students’ needs.

“The extra funding can mean the differ-

ence between a student staying or dropping out of school,” Walker-Griffin said.

The annual fundraiser used to be a golf tournament called “Swinging for Scholarships.”

Zell said attendance at the tournament dropped as the years progressed, so he felt revamping the fundraiser would deliver a better turnout with a lower expense.

Zell said his family has been involved with CCC since the 1940s.

Zell’s father, Sy, was president of the college Foundation and Eric has 15 years of experience on the Foundation board.

Eric’s sister Bonnie Zell said her father never graduated from college and she thinks that is part of the reason he was so committed to helping the community.

“Eric is continuing our father’s legacy with his work with the Foundation,” she said.