The Advocate 3-13 by The Advocate

WEDNESDAY l 3.13.19 OUR 69TH YEAR

CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

Clery Act establishes transparency By Michael Santone editor-in-chief

msantone.theadvocate@gmail.com

College campuses are supposed to be safe zones for obtaining knowledge, career building and blossoming friendships. However, college-age adults are at a higher risk for sexual assault. According to Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), among undergraduate students, 23 percent of women and 5 percent of men experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence or incapacitation. If a rape or sexual assault were to happen at Contra Costa College, what is the process and procedures in which Lt. Holt it would be handled? “According to policy, if a rape occurred on campus, the process would begin with a criminal investigation by Police Services,” Dean of Student Services Dennis Franco said. “Student Services would support Police Services in their investigation and if the victim allowed their identity to be shared with campus officials, we would help the victim obtain counseling.” Franco said Student Services would provide resources for the victim either on campus through the Student Wellness Program, Confidential Student Assistance Program or through the community. In 1990, the Clery Act was signed into federal law requiring all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their respective campuses. The law is named after Jeanne Clery, a 19-year-old Lehigh University student who was raped and murdered in her campus hall of residence by student Joseph Henry in 1986. Along with providing an annual

security report Oct. 1 of every year, the law requires the institution’s police to maintain a public log of all crimes reported to them. It also requires law enforcement officials to keep the most recent eight years of crime statistics either on campus, in institution residential facilities, in off-campus buildings or on public property. Crimes that must be reported include murder, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle thefts, arson and arrest. Aside from maintaining the crime log and reporting crime statistics, through the Clery Act, institutions are required to give timely warnings of crimes that represent a threat to the safety of students or employees. CCC Police Services Lt. Tom Holt said if a rape or sexual assault did happen on campus, procedures and policies would be implemented for the protection and safety of not only the victim, but the campus community as well. “We would most likely do a Regroup Broadcast, probably followed up by an email to inform the campus,” Lt. Holt said. “The report would also show up on the daily log and the public information officer would help with expanding the message if needed.” The Regroup Broadcast or campuswide alert system, which is used for emergencies like sexual assault, if verified as such, would immediately send a mass message via text or email to the campus community with the description of the suspect, time, date

ReGrouping The ReGroup Broadcast Alert System, which is used for emergencies like sexual assault, would immediately send a mass message via text or email to the campus community with the description of the suspect and time, date and location of the assault.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

SEE CLERY ACT, PAGE 3

‘FIGURE IT OUT, LEAD THE WAY’ Panel of judges share journey of gender equality By Fatima Carrasco advocate staff

fcarrasco.theadvocate@gmail.com

PLAY MIXES TECHNOLOGY, LOVE, TRUST WITH HUMOR Theater performance ties passion, cellphones PAGE 7 FACEBOOK: /accentadvocate

A panel of Superior Court judges and district attorneys from across California shared their experiences as women in law with an audience of women’s rights advocates in celebration of International Women’s Day in GE-225 on Friday. Superior Court Judge Tamila E. Ipema delivered a keynote speech about her experiences as an Iranian-born woman living in fear of affiliating with certain societal practices. “For the first 20 years of my life in Iran I lived in fear. I was afraid to speak my mind, afraid to associate with certain groups and afraid to read certain books banned by the (theocratic) government.” Ipema was chosen to speak because, like many women outside of this country, she has gone through life and death struggles that American women don’t experience. She said, “The price (of living) was too high — despair, torture and death. At a young age I promised myself that I would educate myself, be strong and have the courage to stand up for what’s right — for justice.” In her early 20s, a few months before the Iranian revolution of INSTAGRAM: @cccadvocate

Contra Costa College hosted one of the many events in celebration of International Women’s Day on Friday.

In Algeria, International Women’s Day was marked by an unprecedented number of women and men marching in cities.

In China, International Women’s Day is celebrated as Girls’ Day and is observed on March 7.

INFOGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ, FATIMA CARRASCO / THE ADVOCATE

1979 she came to America in pursuit of higher education on a student visa. She then began an intense study of immigration and international refugee laws, and with this knowledge she acquired refugee status for her brother who is now in Canada. As the 60 people in attendance sat riveted to Ipema’s story, they TWITTER: @accentadvocate

were also learning the steps to bring immediate family members to the United States. “It took 12 years of my life to work hard to accomplish the settlement and the permanent residency for my immediate family.” Like many women, family is parallel to pursuing a career and more often than not for women, YOUTUBE: /accentadvocate

these goals tend to conflict, especially for women in law enforcement. Contra Costa Superior Court Judge Anita Santos, who served as an officer in the Concord Police Department in 1996, described the challenges women face while SEE WOMEN, PAGE 3

SNAPCHAT: @cccadv0cate

Quotable “Writing is the pie crust; facts, the pie.” Michael G. Gartner. former editor and broadcast news executive 2001 Michael Santone editor-in-chief Robert Clinton associate editor

Cindy Pantoja opinion editor Jessica Suico Gabriel Quiroz news editors Jose Arebalo scene editor Efrain Valdez Joel Umanzor sports editors Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Issac Benavides Fatima Carrasco Luis Cortes Nijzel Dotson Kyle Grant Daniel Hernandez Janet Lira Gonzalez Luis Lopez De’Jon Sylvain Marshique West Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017 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, 2018 Member

Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accent.advocate@ 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.

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EDITORIAL

TOXIC RELATIONSHIP

Xavier Johnson web editor Denis Perez creative director

opinion

WEDNESDAY, MARCH. 13, 2019 VOL. 108, NO. 15

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Chevron Ref inery pollution f lames community doubts

n the predawn hours of March 6, the Chevron Refinery in Richmond issued a warning to local residents about potential flaring in a processing unit caused by a power outage. The alert and subsequent statement issued shortly after 6 a.m. on Chevron’s Facebook page explained the flaring to be Level 1 and of little to no risk outside of the refinery. They actually reported a gaseous emission did not travel beyond a cyclone fence. A Level 1 is one of the lowest on the Community Warning System scale and indicates that no offsite environmental or public health impacts are anticipated, according to a Community Warning System. Despite real-time emission information for Richmond being made publicly available on fenceline.org, area residents are seemingly more comfortable being spoon-fed public relations statements from the company’s social media sites. The real-time Richmond community air monitoring program lists individual chemicals like Benzene, Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfur Dioxide among others that are constantly seeping into our air and eventually — our bloodstream. Alarmingly, despite current measurements being reported, the most recent record for refinery incidents in Richmond is from January 2017. Lately, because of problems we face as individuals and the 24-hour cycle of negative news we face as a collective, many of lose sight of the most important resource that we all share, our air. Earlier this month, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a report highlighting the dangers of air pollution in the lives and lungs of black and Latino people. The report shows Latinos and AfricanAmericans breathe about 40 percent more pollution than white people do in California. On its face, this information may seem laughable as many mixed-race communities exist across the state with none requiring segregated breathing fountains for white and brown residents. Specifically, black and Latino Californians are exposed to about 40 percent finer particulate matter (PM2.5) from cars, trucks and buses. Among all air pollutants, PM2.5 has the biggest impact on human health. More importantly, the higher risk from vehicle pollution means the emissions from refinery flare-ups does more damage to people than official statistics actually address. Because some communities are at a higher risk of suffering complications from pollution, intermittent refinery seepage is just piling on. Something has to change. Historically, when monumental change is needed, students have the passion to jump start a movement. That time is nearing. But because of a lack of public resources to ensure public information is made available, would-be student activists would have insufficient facts. In short, densely populated areas, commonly populated by minorities, are being slowly strangled by auto pollution. As that happens Chevron assures Richmond residents that no breath of virgin air in the city is undeniably fresh. If demands for factual, up-to-date information aren’t levied by student activists, the future will be the same color as our lungs — black.

CINDY PANTOJA / THE ADVOCATE

■ ENVIRONMENT

Hunting for sport blurs moral compass S ince the dawn of human evolution, sports and sporting events have contributed to human growth and development by incorporating skills used to survive with competitive activity. Oftentimes, a fun spirited game that includes the thrill and agony of a win, coupled with a golden trophy, seems to be an outlet of traditional entertainment shared by communities of all walks of life. But among the many recreational sports around the world, trophy hunting is by far the most grotesque and barbaric of them all. Sure, the act of hunting was born through necessity as the growth of the human brain demanded a more densely-packed source of transferable energy. However, some have perverted the notion of gathering fresh meat to killing simply to fulfill a blood-lust. This seemingly intrusive “hobby,” popular in Africa and in other loosely-regulated pockets of the planet, includes tracking down and killing rare and sometimes endangered animals or “game” for the reward of an ivory tusk or luscious mane. Even the playful name given to the prey, in essence, encapsulates the hypocritical nature of this sport. Trophy hunters claim that participating in the “hunt” is an act of conservation, because the

imported more than 1.2 million animals totaling more than 126,000 per year. Recently, the subject has garnered media attention after photos of Donald Trump Jr. on safari holding the severed tail of an elephant became public. funding from many safari Trump’s advocacy of outings circulate back into hunting has influenced his wildlife preserves. father’s administration as But for the defenseless well. animal, surviving the hunt In March 2018, the curis just as much of a rightrent administration eased of-passage for them as it restrictions on big-game was for the indigenous trophy hunting, including people who lions and elephants. Among developed Limits on trophy huntkilling for ing gained near-nationthe many food in wide approval following primitive the death of Cecil the sports times. lion at the hands of an Preserve American dentist, Walter around hunting Palmer, during an illegal absolutely hunt in an African wildlife the world, limits an preserve. Palmer, who was righttrophy animal’s chance for fully ostracized for the hunting survival. murder of Cecil, received It’s amaz- backlash that set off a baris by far ing that rage of social media reacthe pracand animal welfare the most tice is still tions activists. Using the head of grotesque. popular and, more defenseless animals as a important- wall ornament doesn’t ly, lucrative make you more of a man in 2019 when all of the any more than collecting mystical health properties ears or fingers of dead have been debunked. slaves following a public Consuming crushed lynching. rhinoceros horns will not Ultimately, murder cure erectile dysfunction in the name of sport is despite current popular deplorable. beliefs. However, according to Michael Santone is the Humane Society the the editor-in-chief of The Advocate. Contact her at practice still continues to thrive. In the last 10 years, msantone.theadvocate@ gmail.com. American hunters have

michaelsantone

CAMPUS COMMENT

What are some inequalities that women face that men do not?

“Women in school, I feel, aren’t taken seriously and are underestimated.”

“With the so-called “gender rules” and a lot of stereotypes where women are concerned.”

Saron Gebreslassie

Ignacio Mendoza

mechanical engineering

middle college

“Most jobs have male bosses and they hire women with an indication that men in the job have stronger power than women.”

Emiliano Ruiz JoJuan Johnson liberal arts

JESSICA SUICO / THE ADVOCATE

“Women struggle to get into higher positions in jobs and make the wage that they deserve.” biology

“Women have a lot to deal with and most women stay strong through all of this. I don’t think they get enough recognition.” Chime Ihamo nursing

“Women have to do deal with derogatory terms said to them all the time.” Minerva Arebalo sociology

campus beat NEWSLINE ANCESTRY

WORKSHOP HELPS BUILD FAMILY TREE A Genealogy for Beginners workshop will take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Library and Learning Resource Center’s teaching lab. Retired librarian Ellen Geringer will demonstrate how to use several popular online genealogy resources. Another workshop will be held March 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The workshop is free for current CCC students, $5 for FOL and $15 for the general public per sessions. However the price is reduced by $2 if attendees go to both workshops. For more information call the Library reference desk at 510-2154897.

EVENT

LOCAL AUTHOR LEADS CULTURAL BOOK TALK The La Raza department will host a book talk of “Girlhood in the Borderlands: Mexican Teens Caught in the Crossroads of Migration,” on Thursday from 2 to 3:15 p.m. in GE-225. Author Dr. Lilia Soto examines the lived experiences of Mexican teenage girls raised in transnational families. For the book, Dr. Soto interviewed more than 60 teenage girls in Napa, California and Zinapécuaro, Michoacán. The event is free for all students. For more information contact La Raza studies department Chairperson Augustin Palacios at apalacios@contracosta.edu..

GRADUATION

APPLICATION DUE DATE EXTENDED The deadline to apply for spring 2019 graduation and participate in the commencement ceremony has been extended to March 22. Students looking to graduate must review their academic record with a counselor, fill out all necessary documentation and be in good financial standing with the Contra Costa Community College District. An application and all documents must be submitted to Admissions and Records or through InsitePortal. For more information visit Admissions and Records located in the Student Services Center or contact Catherine Frost at 510-2153928 or by email at cfrost@contracosta.edu..

RESOURCES

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 3.13.2019 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

VanderWoude delivers keynote By Jose Arebalo scene editor

jarebalo.theadvocate@gmail.com

On Saturday morning about a hundred women from the community showed up in attendance to the 12th annual Sisters in Solidarity celebration. The event took place at the Richmond Memorial Convention Center with a focus on supporting the women in attendance through inspirational speakers and provide community resources. Many notable speakers were slated for the event. Most recognizably, the keynote was delivered by Contra Costa College President Katrina VanderWoude. “It’s an honor and a privilege just to be asked to speak,” Dr.

VanderWoude said. Her speech centered on how women, and particularly women of color, have been underrepresented in society. “With breakout movies this year, like ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ Hollywood is seemingly embracing more diversity,” VanderWoude said. “There are more women behind the cameras and in the writers’ room. It is about time that the woman’s perspective actually influences the stories that get told,” she said. The theme of this year’s celebration was visionary women, champions of peace and balance. VanderWoude spoke of her job at a community college as providing a “balance for the better.”

n “Our community does

have a level of respect for women, however, we want to teach our future generation that they can become future leaders as well.” — Katrina VanderWoude, president

“Part of the work that we do at a community college is ushering people into the theater who don’t have a movie ticket,” VanderWoude said. The event included organizations rooted within Richmond and the surrounding East Bay area. “Our community does have a level of respect for women,

Truths about sexual assault Around 321,500 people are victims of rape or sexual assault in the United States annually.

Every 98 seconds in the U.S. a person becomes the victim of sexual assault.

54 percent of victims are likely to be between the ages of 18-34.

90 percent of adult and 82 percent of juvenile rape victims are women.

however, we want to teach our future generations that they can become future leaders as well,” VanderWoude said. It’s important to prepare children from a young age to take on leadership roles, she said. Implementing programs like these, as early as middle school, is how communities should be supporting young female students, she said. The event was organized by Richmond City Council staff member Trina Jackson. “The purpose of the event is to provide information to the community,” Jackson said. Residents have a hard time navigating the bureaucracy and miss potential benefits, she said.

n Long-term effects Depression/ suicidal thoughts

94 percent of victims experience PTSD for two weeks

Hard drug dependency

Survivors are 10 times more likely to use

Trouble with personal relationships

Survivors are more likely to be victimized by family, co-workers

At risk of STIs

Forced sexual activity can lead to STIs

INFOGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE SOURCE: RAINN.ORG/STATISTICS/VICTIMS-SEXUAL-VIOLENCE

CLERY ACT | Programs developed for campus safety n “Sexual assaults have been

Continued from Page 1 and location of the assault. Holt said depending on the information obtained about the suspect at the time, the cancellation of classes for the remainder of the day would be a possibility. “Sexual assaults have been reported in the district in the past and we advised the public via regroup and email,” he said. “More people have been trained on how to use Regroup to assist with getting message out faster.” Holt said, “There isn’t necessarily a policy as much as Title IX compliance for the college — for Police Services this is more related to what information we are required to put out to comply with The Clery Act and what information we cannot put out to comply with California Penal Code Section 293 (victim confidentiality).” The annual Campus Crime Awareness Report for the Contra Costa Community College District, that was released in October, shows forcible sex offenses from 2015 to 2017 at CCC, Diablo Valley and Los Medanos colleges remained at zero. However, the report for Contra Costa College shows an uptick in domestic violence, dating violence, burglary and aggravated assault on campus. Currently, 59 percent of the student body is comprised of women, according to the 201718 Datamart statistics provided by the state Chancellor’s Office. “From a Student Services perspective,

reported in the district in the past and we advised the public via Regroup and email.” — Lt. Thomas Holt, Police Services

about a year and half ago we implemented Not Anymore, which is an online module embedded in the New Student Orientation,” Franco said. “Not Anymore is an interactive online program designed to prevent sexual assault, dating and domestic violence and stalking through awareness and education.” Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a comprehensive federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. Both sexual harassment and sexual violence are forms of sex discrimination covered under Title IX. Franco said while the initial investigation is going on and the campus community has been notified, a Title IX case would be opened. Like The Clery Act, Title IX covers all students and staff in any educational institution or program that receives federal funding. “Parallel to the police investigation, an administrative Title IX case would be opened by the campus Title IX coordinator forwarding the case to the district Title IX officer who would conduct said investigation,” Franco said. “During this period, we would also remove the accused assailant from the class and/or campus to ensure the safety of the victim.”

In December of 2018, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos proposed changes to how sexual crime is handled on college campuses. The proposed regulations would revamp the way college investigations would be handled and provide clear guidelines for how colleges should examine sexual harassment. In essence, the proposal would provide expanded fairness in investigations for victims and expanded consideration for the word of the accused. Franco said, “I think my biggest concern about the new policies that Secretary DeVos is trying to have implemented is that they may lead to victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault becoming less likely to report those incidents.” Student Yanet Suliman, who has yet to declare a major, said she takes night classes and often finds herself walking through the campus by herself. “I never felt like I was going to be attacked or raped, but more police presence during the evening hours would make me more comfortable,” Suliman said. “I only started going here (CCC) this semester and from what I have seen, there aren’t many advertisements or information for students about sexual assault or rape.” Suliman said when she was attending UC Berkeley, there were always flyers, advertisements and conversations around campus regarding sexual abuse. “It’s a topic that needs to be addressed more within the campus community because of how important it is,” Suliman said.

FRESH PRODUCE FOR DISCOUNTED PRICES

WOMEN | International celebration highlight efforts

The San Pablo’s Mobile Farmers Market will be on campus from 11 to noon Friday in the loading and drop off area across from the Student Services Building. Choose from a cargo of the freshest California fruits and vegetables including peaches, plums, cucumbers, tomatoes, and a varied of fresh cut flowers. Cash or credit is accepted and those who receive EBT, SNAP, WIC SSI or SSDI can get 50 percent off their purchase with a photo ID. For more information contact Mobile Farmers Market by phone at 925-771-2990 or by email at programs@freshapproach.org.

Continued from Page 1

CORRECTION In the March 6 issue of The Advocate on page 8 in the story titled “Oiler team delivers high quality soccer season,” Roberto Gonzalez is identified as a high school senior. Actually, Gonzalez is a junior. The Advocate regrets the 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.

simultaneously maintaining a family and career. “I had my first son while I was a police officer and I remember I was the first officer at the Concord Police Department to become pregnant and have a baby. They didn’t know what to do with me. So I literally wrote a maternity policy for police officers.” International Women’s Day is a worldwide celebration of the achievements women have accomplished in the face of discrimination. “You rise to the occasion as a professional woman. If it hasn’t been figured out, you figure it out, you lead the way,” Santos said. Women’s day was first sponsored by the United Nations in 1975. However, it originated out of an effort to promote women rights in the early 20th century when the Socialist Party of America created the first National Women’s Day. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, German activist Clara Zetkin, encouraged by the International Socialist Congress, agreed in 1910 to create an international version of the U.S. holiday. Since the 1900s women have gained the right to vote and have succeeded in higher education fields that were once considered exclusive to men, however there are still issues where women are

LEFT: Dr. Vanna Gonzales introduces the International Women’s Day Event during a panel forum in GE-225 on Friday.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

not being treated equally by male peers and are still being paid less due to their gender. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research in 2017, female full-time, year-round workers made only 80.5 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gender wage gap of 20 percent. The research stated women are almost half of the workforce and are the sole or co-breadwinner in half of American families with children. Overall, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the

n “You rise to the occa-

Action Club and the political science department. Department sion as a professional Chairperson Vanna Gonzales hosted the event. woman. If it hasn’t been Middle College High School figured out, you figure it senior Nikole Slaton said he has been thinking about going to law out.” school for a couple of months. — Tamila E. Ipema, Contra Costa “I had already wanted to go into County Superior Court judge law, but the biggest takeaway (of the event) for me was not to give struggles and achievements that up,” he said. encompass being a woman in the “Just keep going. There will be 21st century. times when you might want to The event was sponsored by the stop. But don’t.” Community Organizing Political

campusbeat Application process begins 4

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By Jessica Suico news editor

jsuico.theadvocate@gmail.com

Every year a student from one of the three district campuses gets an opportunity to be a part of the Contra Costa Community College District Governing Board by being elected as student trustee representing the district’s students. The next college in the district to choose a student trustee is Contra Costa College. Applications for the paid position are due March 27 to the Student Life Office and once received, the student body will decide who they want for the next student trustee. “This process is on a rotating basis and every year a new trustee

is chosen from one of the colleges in the district,” Governing Board President Vicki Gordon said. Cu r re nt ly, the student trustee is Jocelyn Vi l l a l ob o s , from Los Me d a n o s College in Villalobos Pittsburg. However, her term as trustee ends May 31. Gordon said, “Jocelyn has been an amazing student trustee and has persevered in getting involved with the students at colleges, as well as in the community. She has done a great job being transparent.”

Student trustees are required to attend every monthly Governing Board meeting and must have reliable car transportation. The person also has to check in with the Associated Students Unions at all three district colleges (Diablo Valley in Pleasant Hill is the third campus), to take concerns at each campus to the board. Student Life Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks said, “If no one runs for the student trustee position it will be our responsibility as faculty to encourage students to step up and run for the it.” Students can view and vote for prospective representatives online through InSite Portal, Shanks said. There are certain qualifications students must meet to be eligible to

become a student trustee. “The candidate must be enrolled in a certain number of units, be in good standing with their college, have the availability and get a nomination letter from a peer,” Gordon said. Villalobos has received an insider’s perspective on how community colleges are operated. “I’ve had a great experience being the student trustee and learned the steps to becoming a better leader. This has been a great opportunity,” Villalobos said. Villalobos said, “I am a sociology major and want to become a mentor as my career goal.” Governing Board Secretary John Marquez said, “There has been a student trustee on the board

for many years and the policies haven’t changed. It’s important to have student perspective. “Jocelyn has been a great student trustee. She has traveled to state and national conferences — she has gotten really involved,” Marquez said. There have been complications Villalobos has faced during her time as student trustee. “It can be difficult for one student to represent all students. I try my hardest to be as transparent and involved as I can, but it can be hard sometimes with my schedule,” Villalobos said. The position hasn’t just helped her better visualize her career goals, but also helped her grow as a person, Villalobos said.

WORKSHOP HELPS RESEARCH FAMILY HISTORY, GENEALOGY

By Luis Lopez advocate staff

llopez.theadvocate@gmail.com

For those interested in uncovering the lineage of their family roots, Contra Costa College will be providing hands on help and guidance with genealogy research Saturday and March 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Library and Learning Resource Center. The Genealogy for Beginner’s workshop will be hosted by retired CCC librarian Ellen Geringer and is free for students, $15 for the general public and $5 for current Friends of the Library. “I found genealogy both appealed to me and made use of my reference librarian experience in how to locate additional sources of information online, how to structure a search and the need to document what is found,” she said. Geringer has more than 25

years of experience with genealogy research and is an avid hobbyist. She will provide tips, demonstrate how to use genealogy websites and also show how to document and keep track of what guests find. Many people have the desire to know where their ancestors come from, however, a project of that magnitude can seem like a difficult thing to get started on. The workshop is aimed at making genealogy research simple and more accessible to the general public and the only necessary information to get started are details about immediate family. Geringer said attendees of the event can expect to start their genealogy research at the workshop. During the event, attendees will be able to learn how to start their own family trees while also receiv-

n “I found genealogy

both appealed to me and made use of my reference librarian experience in how to locate additional sources of information online, how to structure a search and the need to document what is found. — Ellen Geringer, retired librarian

ing advice on pitfalls to avoid. Fourth semester accounting major Leslie Ventura said genealogy research could be an interesting thing to do. “I think this is something that is nice for the college to do. I could see myself beginning geneal-

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ogy research on (my family) in my spare time,” she said. Ventura especially thinks the service can be helpful for older people. “(It could help) older people who might not know how to use the computer to begin a search. I feel that would be helpful for them.” However, the event is significant for anyone that wants to know about their roots. Student Abigail Plascencia, who has yet to decide a major, said the workshop is helpful for many first-generation Americans. “I think this is really helpful. Because I know some of us are the first generation of our families in America. So, it’s hard to know where you came from sometimes because all your family is in another country,” she said. She also believes the college

could do a better job of promoting the event. “This is the first time I’m hearing about this and I think they should make this more known. This is something that I’d definitely like to come to. I have friends who would like to as well,” Plascencia said. Over time, Geringer has helped more than 10 friends discover their roots since she was introduced to genealogy research by a sister-inlaw a few years before she retired in 2014. After finding information about her dad’s family, she was hooked and disappeared into genealogy research for long research sessions. She said the workshop is a good way to help others get their searches started and raise funds for the Friends of the Library program, which provides funds to the college Library.

Places to start your genealogy research Family: Talk to older relatives and gather as much information as possible.

3 Google: Go online and search for genealogy sites related to your ancestral origins. Google also allows you to search their database of old books that may contain information about relatives.

2 Archives: Historical and state archive give access to military records, wills, deeds and more.

4 Online searches: Platforms like Familysearch.org, Findagrave.com and Ancestry.com are free research sites.

SOURCE: GOTGENEALOGY.COM INFOGRAPHIC BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

campus beat

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Lack of food variety strains vegetarians

By Luis Cortes advocate staff

lcortes.theadvocate@gmail.com

Students who partake in a plantbased diet on the Contra Costa College campus may not know they have vegetarian and vegan options to choose from, however, those options seem rather limited at times. Even now, some students may be discouraged about eating on campus because of the unknown, but mainly they choose to seek outside eateries because of the many available options. Brix PM supervisor Rheanna Carpenter said students were asking for a strictly meatless day and former Beatles member Paul McCartney partially started the Meatless Monday movement. The singer has a short film and a website dedicated to the meatless Monday movement. Over the years, this campus adopted the idea of eating green with promotions like meatless Mondays which offers strictly vegetarian dishes on Mondays in the Brix café. Along with meatless Mondays, Brix offers vegetarian options daily, Carpenter said. On any of the four counters in Brix, vegetarian-friendly products like Block & Barrel, Brix Grill, Casa Solana and Arrizzio can be ordered. Brix offers 13 vegetarian menu options (excluding sides) and two vegan options (excluding side), with fruit also as an option. For students with an expanded palate, the culinary arts department’s Aqua Terra Grill serves vegetarian appetizers, entrees and desserts. To accommodate vegetarian diners, the restaurant offers a

leaf-lettuce salad with Parmesan crisps, marinated roasted beets with orange-balsamic vinaigrette, fried brussels sprouts with yogurt and paprika, cashew nut hummus with roasted vegetables and light curry dressing and Strozzapreti pasta with garlic leaf pesto and mushroom as their options. The third option providing food on campus is Pronto, which focuses on quick takeaway lunch and breakfast orders. The eatery offers soups and french fries as mid-day vegetarian options. The Aqua Terra Grill and Pronto are both student-run restaurants and are part of the culinary arts department. Culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes said the campus offers salads and sugar-free items in Aqua Terra and Pronto. The lack of variety on the Brix, Aqua Terra Grill and Pronto menus show vegetarians do have options, but not many of them on campus and the ratio between vegetarian and vegan option is far lower than options available for those students who eat meat. Vegans have even fewer options available because most dishes that are available contain dairy products. Carpenter said there are occasions where some people complain on meatless Monday about the lack of meat dishes. The vegetarian lifestyle offers many health benefits, kinesiology professor Nikki Ferguson said. “Due to the lifestyle being plant-based, high in vegetables and fruits, one can lower their risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and other chronic illness and ailments.” Ferguson, who is also the men’s

ILLUSTRATION BY JANET LIRA GONZALEZ / THE ADVOCATE

soccer coach, warns there is risk involved when choosing the vegetarian diet, “Not all vegetarian lifestyles are healthy due to the potential lack of protein, calcium and iron that comes from meats and dairy prod-

ucts,” he said Ferguson recommends that anyone considering the vegetarian lifestyle should consult a physician to make sure it is applicable based on a person’s current health status. Nursing major Caroline Galvez

said she is open to the idea of having more vegetarian options on food menus on campus. “In general, I like to have more choices because it’s good to try something new,” Galvez said.

NSAS DIVISION FINISHES SEMESTER WITHOUT DEAN By Xavier Johnson web editor

xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com

With half of the semester having come and gone, and many vacancies being filled, there remains a vacant position in the Natural, Social and Applied Sciences (NSAS) Division. From the beginning of this academic year, the division has been without a dean since the departure of Dr. Ghada Young Al-Masri, who took a job at Ohlone College as dean of social sciences weeks before the fall 2018 semester began. Surprisingly, the job has yet to be posted on the employment opportunities section of the district website 4cd.edu. Senior Dean of Enrollment Tish Young said by the end of the week the job should be posted and the hiring process should be completed by the first week of May. Following Al-Masri’s departure, division duties were dispersed among the deans remaining on campus. Liberal Arts Division Dean Jason Berner has taken on the duties of managing social sciences and mathematics. Young is

overseeing the biology, astronomy and chemistry departments. Workforce and Development Dean Kelly Schelin is overseeing the business information and computer technology department. The decision was made with the plan to fill the position within a year. Prior to the start of the spring semester there were hopes to have the position filled by the middle of the term, however, the delay in hiring vice presidents halted the process. “(Katrina) VanderWoude decided instead of bringing in somebody who needed a lot of training, we could spread out the workload and keep things running as usual,” Young said, “Even if you bring in a faculty member from the inside (as an interim), it’s a totally different role with lots of training.” Young said the timeline is set with the expectation to have a new dean by the start of the next academic year on July 1. She also said the goal is to have all three dean positions filled by July 1. The position of senior dean of enrollment was left vacant after Andre Singleton resigned on Feb. 12. The Library, Allied Health, Vocational Education and Athletics (LAVA) Division position was filled by interim dean

Child development major Carmen Dorton works on homework for Math 120 as math professor Clifford Stewart tutors her in the Math Lab in the Applied Arts Building on Monday.

DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Lucile Beatty after Dr. Susan Lee retired in 2017. Math department Chairperson Terrill Mead said the adjustment wasn’t easy and the lack of a dedicated dean caused some fractures in communication — specifically during the early stages of the hiring process for new math department faculty. “We’re going to be a little late in our hiring process. Not because anyone did anything wrong, but because we aren’t organized

because we don’t have a dean,” Mead said. Mead said he doesn’t try to contact Berner with a lot of issues because he understands the dean is tasked with managing a department he is not familiar with. Math professor Sherry Sharufa said the lack of communication in division meetings is frustrating, but more so affects department chairpersons. While filling in, Berner is acting as an administrative contact working with department chairs to

develop schedules and resolve conflicts. With the added workload of managing another division, Berner said it’s not unmanageable. “The work isn’t any different from what I’ve been doing. It’s just more of it. It’s more, but it’s not any more complicated than my job was before,” Berner said. Administrative assistant Maritza Guerrero is also assisting with managing the division by spending more time in the office and being available to students and faculty.

ADA violation shuts down Bio Garden By Nijzel Dotson advocate staff

ndotson.theadvocate@gmail.com

Middle College High School was forced to say goodbye to its Bio Garden of over 10 years last August right before the fall 2018 semester began. According to Middle College High School Principal Finny Prak, the students were informed that the location of the garden was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Although no students who helped take care of the garden has a disability, legal action could’ve been taken because access to the garden is limited to walking through a grassy patch of landscaping. The Bio Garden was a MCHS

tradition, located behind the Biological Sciences Building. It was maintained by students on at least one day of each week in a semester. Maintenance took place most Tuesdays during the spring 2018 semester and Saturdays for many semesters prior. This included planting seeds, removing weeds, turning over soil, watering plants and fertilizing soil. Students who tended the garden were members of MCHS’s Bio Club. The Bio Garden chairperson Dan Hernandez said at the beginning of the fall semester the Bio Club was planning how they would prepare the garden for the upcoming week when they were told that they wouldn’t be able to use the space anymore.

n “More could have been done. There could have been compromise.”

— Kelsey Hetherington, Bio Club president

Danilo Baoas, the MCHS teacher who oversaw the Bio Garden said, “The loss of the garden has affected the actual learning of the students. Doing activities in the Bio Garden helped with the application of processes, such as photosynthesis and the cellular respiration of plants.” Baoas said he used the Bio Garden as a means of educating his biology students on concepts he teaches in class. He allowed his students to use

the garden as a space to work on plant-based projects that he assigns each year. Baos acknowledges the importance of plants for the environment and believes that they should be respected. He said he is very disappointed that they had to shut down the garden. Bio Club President Kelsey Hetherington is also unhappy with having to give up a Bio Garden they’ve worked so hard to maintain. “More could have been done. There could have been compromise,” she said. Hetherington believes maintaining the garden had a significant impact on MCHS students. She said it “taught responsibility” and

“brought people together.” She also said having a healthy garden cared for by students was a beneficial addition to the campus as a whole. Since the announcement of the garden’s cancellation, the Bio Club has lost many of its members. A club that once was over 30 students strong has been diminished to about 11 in just a few months. The Bio Club has considered relocating the garden but has not been able to find a new spot as of yet. “It’s one of the few things MCHS students have here to show how much we care about the environment and the campus. It also lets us work as a community,” Hetherington said.

scene

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RIGHT: Gordon, played by Gregory Lee, recounts the events leading up to his death in “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” on Thursday in the Knox Center.

XAVIER JOHNSON / THE ADVOCATE

Humanity, love in a digital age Technology, bonds tested in story of humor, intimacy

By De’jon Sylvain advocate staff

dsylvain.theadvocate@gmail.com

s much as technology has been a way to bring people together, Sarah Ruhl warns us that our very humanity is being misrepresented. Ryan Weible’s production of “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” by Sarah Ruhl, is a play that will leave viewers questioning their own level of trust in technology. Ruhl’s play, produced by the Contra Costa College drama department, touches on how modern technology has the ability to render people vulnerable and stranded. The acting by cast members on the exposed thrust stage displays a warm and welcoming environment. It also allows the audience to look past the screen and to read between the lines. “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” which continues at the Knox Center Friday, Saturday and Sunday, examines the maintenance of human relationships through the use of technological devices. The play highlights the notion that rather than seeing what’s directly before us, we’re continuously pulled into our devices, regularly to the inconvenience of others. The play opens in a cafe, where the audience meets the heroine, Jean. Jean, played by Miranda Lenore, is a mid-

dle-aged woman annoyed by the PLAY REVIEW constant ringing of her fellow “Dead Man’s Cell cafe patron’s cell phone. Phone” When Jean finally steps in to ★★★★★ quiet the annoying ring, she disWhere: Knox covers he has passed away. Center The phone acts as a blind When: March 15-16 7:30 p.m., spot leading Jean to the middle of two worlds — life and death. March 17 3:30 p.m. Gregory Lee, who plays Gordon — the dead man — is given the opportunity to explain himself from beyond the grave with a striking monologue about his life prior to his death. Gordon’s impression of the world is that society has become dependent on technology and has disregarded social interaction. The meaning and purpose of his walking out naked (one of the most shocking scenes) was not discovered until later in the play. An afterlife exists in a huge laundromat and the inhabitants only have one set of clothes — meaning that you have to wash and dry your clothes while naked. Nudity can be interpreted as expressions of vulnerability, exposure, rejection, humiliation and innocence, or simply freedom. Human beings are at the height of vulnerability when they are naked, thus nudity may represent feelings of helplessness in Gordon’s waking life.

Jean proclaims, “I never had a cellphone — I didn’t want to be there you know. Like, if your phone is on, you’re supposed to be there. Sometimes I like to disappear. When everyone has their cellphones on, no one is there. It’s like we’re all disappearing the more we’re there.” On its face, technology appears to create a global network bringing people together. But in fact, this replaces real-life communication and ends in social isolation. As the story advances, Jean must figure out how to put the telephone down and begin carrying on with her own life as opposed to the one that exists on Gordon’s phone. Jean has no idea how confusing Gordon’s life is or how disconnected his relationships are with his mother Mrs. Gottlieb (Nicole Matthews), brother Dwight (Sagar Gautam), wife Hermia (Miranda Tilley) and mistress (Melissa Velasquez). “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” is informative and tells a story at the triangulated point between here, there and technology. The performances are solid and the set (designed by Courtney Johnson), which consists of an open loft styled room and cool toned lighting, exudes a delicate liveliness. Both suit the tone of the play in its mounting eccentricity.

WOMEN AND HERITAGE INSPIRES NEW ART SHOW Exhibit features pieces filled with reverence By Daniel Hernandez advocate staff

dhernandez.theadvocate@gmail.com

tyle, power and uniqueness of tribal African women being captured with acrylic paint on canvas is the latest exhibit showcasing the work of art major Elishes Cavness at the Eddie Rhodes Gallery in A-5. Just ahead of International Women’s Day in the Art Building on Thursday, an art reception was held for the launch of the new display titled “Adornment,” which will be on display until March 31. “‘Adornment’ is about the idea of culture and the thing that sometimes we think have a unique look or something that we do that makes us stand out — when, in actuality, it’s sometimes (our) cultural heritage,” Cavness said. Working within a short period of time, he started setting up the exhibit on Monday to reach the deadline on Thursday afternoon. Cavness said, “I’ve been in here every day after class until whenever they kick me out of the building, trying to get things done.” Gallery curator Dana Davis is usually the person in charge, piecing together the art by hanging frames and working with the hardware. However, Cavness

took charge this time around. “Elishes (Cavness) has taken care of so much. He’s so capable and so energetic. I really enjoyed the time off,” Davis said. He said he admires the message and concept that Cavness is expressing with his art and believes the diversity and creativity of artists here (at Contra Costa College) brings together everybody from the campus. “I feel like women are awesome, so let’s just do a show because they’re the keepers of our culture,” Cavness said. “So, I wanted to express that. And that I appreciate my mom, my sister, my cousins, all of them who do a lot for me and have done a lot in general. “I felt like I just need to do this because I’ve been going through this thing where I was questioning my own religious viewpoints,” Cavness said. One piece that he highlighted is “Savior,” a Jesus figure depicted as a black woman. “In my culture when reading the history (of black women) and everything that they went through — what they had to do to protect black men, I just wanted to depict them as bearing the cross.” A featured piece that the artist has a close connection with is “Fervent Gaze.” It takes inspiration from the Tuareg people where the figure’s face is masked, but her eyes are the astounding feature. Cavness purposefully gave this painting its own wall because it highlights itself and there is “no pairing with it,”

MARSHIQUE WEST, JOSE AREBALO/ THE ADVOCATE

Here are some of the pieces on display at “Adornment,” the art exhibit currently playing at the Eddie Rhodes Gallery in A-5. The collection opened Thursday and will remain on display until March 31.

Cavness said. “When I’m painting, it has a way of taking over me and I’m just kind of a vessel,” Cavness said. The art reception on Thursday was filled with all kinds of people who mingled and discussed different perspectives of his artwork. People had an interesting discourses about what certain paintings meant to them while eating some of the food that was offered. Psychology major Xian Jabarrow said, “The colors are so vibrant and his use of texture is so phenomenal. I also liked his textile piece in the middle with the canvas, burlap and the skirt. It is beautiful. I think that might be my favorite.”

She said the textile piece gives the feeling of controlled chaos where the fabrics are tight-fitting on the bodice but at the same time containing the design when it is going everywhere. “I think that his work is exceptional and his energy and his camaraderie is infectious,” Davis said. For him, he feels art shows much like “Adornment” mean a lot to the student body and offer a platform where students and faculty can show their art professionally in an open environment on campus. The reception was a resounding success providing inspired conversations. The gallery will be on display throughout the rest of the month.

sports

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Comets beat LMC in dramatic fashion n “We fought back and made

By Joel Umanzor sports editor

jumanzor.theadvocate@gmail.com

PHOTOS BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Comet shortstop Lucas Abbas throws a fielded ball as infielder Andruw Shaw runs behind him during Contra Costa College’s 6-3 win over Los Medanos College on Friday at the Baseball Field.

RIGHT: CCC First Baseman Ike Brown slugs a ball during Contra Costa College’s 6-3 win over Los Medanos College on Friday at the Baseball Field.

A confrontation cleared both benches following the game-winning bunt that gave the Comets a 6-5 walk-off victory in the 10th inning against the Los Medanos College (7-11 overall and 0-2 in the BVC) Friday afternoon at the Baseball Field. The post-game scuffle around the mound quickly turned a celebratory mood sour for the Comets (2-13 overall and 2-0 in the Bay Valley Conference), who won their second straight game as players from both teams needed to be restrained. Left fielder Mychael Jamison said, “We had a bit of a confrontation with them as they left the field. (First baseman Ike Brown) saw LMC players push Lucas (Abbas) and we did nothing but defend our team and field.” Emotions ran high as the Comets scored six unanswered runs and took their second straight game against the Mustangs. The win ensured a series win against the Comets’ intradistrict rivals from Pittsburg. Coach Brian Guinn said, “I didn’t see exactly what happened, but it’s baseball.” Guinn said, after a hard-fought game that ends in extra innings there is usually some feistiness between the teams. “We fought back and made an effort to stretch at bats, which helped us as the game wore on,” he said. CCC returns to action Thursday at 1 p.m. to play Solano Community College at the Baseball Field. The Comets found themselves in a familiar situation after starting pitcher Fred Sito gave up three runs early on and eventually found himself facing a 5-0 deficit at the end of the fifth inning. Comet bats were silent against LMC pitching as they only had one hit over the first four innings. However, with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the home team was able to find an offensive spark. Right fielder Kalen Morris, who went 1-for-4 at the plate, worked up a high pitch count and singled to get on base. Two long at-bats drawing walks followed as Darius Foster and Andruw Shaw loaded the bases for the Comets. It was the first offensive threat of the game, putting pressure on Mustang starting pitcher Scott Meylan. Two more walks pushed in a pair of runs in for the Comets and kept the inning going. The walks started a five-run rally for the squad highlighted by Lucas Abbas’ (1-for-3) two-run double. “I was looking for something down in the zone, something I could drive, and luckily I was able to put contact on it and get a few more runs on the board,” Abbas said. “We wanted to run the (pitcher’s) count up and tire him out — and we did just that.”

an effort to stretch at bats, which helped us as the game wore on. — Brian Guinn, Comet baseball coach

Using that approach, the Comets were able to knock Meylan out of the game after the inning. Guinn said, “We try to teach patience at the plate to all of our guys in practice. I was pleased to see it out there.” The Comets failed to take the lead in the inning, but by evening the score, they hit the reset button on the game allowing a clean slate for Sito (8.77 ERA) to go to work on the mound. “It’s a completely different game when you are down by five than when you’re tied,” Sito said. He also said his coaches asked if he was still feeling good in the seventh inning and if he wanted to go the distance and pitch all nine innings. He responded that he was ready. “He had some quick innings there and it made a difference for him to get into rhythm,” Guinn said. “We also had a few chances there where we didn’t score and his effort kept us in it.” Facing new LMC pitcher Mitch Hoffer (0-1) forced the Comets to be even more patient at the plate. Jamison said, “It took us a few innings to get used to his style, but we were able to pick up on it and get that winning run home.” The Comets were knocking at the door in the later innings but left runners in scoring position, which frustrated the team. However, according to closing pitcher Mark Jones (1-0) it showed the offense was locked in and focused. This fired up Jones for his performance in the top of the 10th inning. “It’s my job as the closer to provide a different energy,” Jones said. “To be intimidating while on the mound.” Jones bounced back after hitting his first batter by recording a fielder’s choice and a double play to get out of the top half of the inning and notch his first win of the season. This gave the Comets energy to try and finish off the Mustangs as second baseman Bryan Perez, the Comet leader in slugging percentage at .514, started off with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. The Mustangs then intentionally walked the next two batters loading the bases and after recording their first out on a fielder’s choice, Comet designated hitter Casey Edmunds came up. Edmunds laid a perfectly executed bunt down the first base line which drove Abbas in to score giving the Comets their first walk-off win of the season.

Squad falls short of state playoff berth By Efrain Valdez sports editor

evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com

The men’s basketball team, for the first time since the 2015-16 season, finished with a record over .500 in the Bay Valley Conference, which was the last time they made the state playoffs. For a team (13-15 overall and 9-7 in the BVC) that only featured three sophomores (Isiah Attles, Eric Jones and Evan Thompson), Contra Costa College was on the cusp of a playoff berth, but fell short to Yuba College in a must-win game on Sophomore Night. “We’re the same team whether we win or lose. It’s just if we come with a focus to get the job done,” Comet coach Miguel Johnson said. “As a young team that only has three sophomores, it’s tough when we go to the bench and try to get something from the reserves.” As the season progressed, consistency Johnson was something that the Comets struggled to find. They first saw a five-game losing streak, then a five-game winning streak, which was followed by yet another five losses in a row. “It’s tough in conference play. It can be hard for these guys to understand how hard it is to stay focused and how much it takes to execute,” Johnson said. Despite some disappointments this season, the Comets still provided some of the most lethal offense and exciting games in the conference. Late in the season, CCC was involved in two double-overtime games. One resulted in a loss to Merritt College and the other resulted in a thrilling win against Mendocino College. Attles said, “Toward the end of the season, we learned that we were playing for more than just individual success. Our team ended up missing the playoffs by one game. For us to win four of our last five

LEFT: Sophomore guard Victoria Lopez dribbles through two Yuba College guards, LaiLani Hanks and Taeyla Washington, during a game at the Gymnasium on Feb. 20.

n “When everyone contributed in

the ways that we knew they could, that’s when everything was good, — Evan Thompson, Comet guard

showed how resilient we were.” In any game, CCC was a team that could light up the scoreboard from beyond the 3-point line, however when the shots did not fall, the Comets struggled. “When everyone contributed in the ways that we knew they could, that’s when everything was good,” sophomore guard Evan Thompson said. “It kind of got to a point where individuals were feeling like they had to do more, which got them out of their roles.” One of the Comets’ weak spots throughout the season was their lack of ability to compete against teams with more size. Also, CCC struggled to maintain halftime leads against conference rivals Solano Community College and the Yuba 49ers, which were pivotal games in the playoff hunt. However, Thompson said that the challenges faced when it came to size were not something that hurt the team in games. “It definitely had its challenges, but I don’t think it really did too much against us. If we showed the effort, we felt like we could play with anyone,” he said. Attles said playing against bigger guys was difficult, but the team never believed height would be the defining reason a game was won or lost. “We never went into those games thinking that we were going to lose just because we were smaller. We knew that we would be faster than those guys,” Attles said. Even though the team had high hopes of making a run for the state championship, they are happy with the performances of the three sophomores and the young core of freshman. “At the end of the day I’m proud of my guys,” Johnson said.

PHOTOS BY DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE

Team begins slow, ends season much improved By Efrain Valdez sports editor

evaldez.theadvocate@gmail.com

The women’s basketball team started the 2018-19 season with a disappointing 12-game losing streak after facing tough opposition in non-conference play. Although CCC finished the season 1-9 in the Bay Valley Conference and 4-23 overall, the team was able to turn that negative record around in conference play, despite having limited bench depth. In the two games against Merritt College and single match-ups against Yuba and Los Medanos College — CCC only lost each of those games by single digits. In a season that saw the team gel into a roster that could do a little bit of everything, the Comets struggled to stay in games late due to fatigue from playing many minutes. “Not having a bench did hurt us at times, especially when we were in foul trouble,” sophomore guard Victoria Lopez said. “In my opinion, I didn’t reflect much on that too much because we already knew that we didn’t have (a lot of players), so we learned how to play (longer minutes).” The team, which had seven players at the end of the season, managed to improve on its defensive discipline and stay out of foul trouble. “I think it’s a poor excuse to say that we didn’t come out with a victory because we didn’t have one more player or another person there to help,” freshman guard Dzeneta Husic said. “It’s a team effort. Collectively, I

believe we played more than enough games to be conditioned.” Throughout the season, growth was a constant factor that kept the team together through those tough times. During the first half of the season, CCC would consistently average 20 or more turnovers per game, but in the second half of the season, the Comets were able to limit the number of turnovers committed. “Knowing that we were not having the best season got to us, but we continued to fight with what we had left,” Lopez said. “We didn’t just give up because our record wasn’t what we wanted it to be. When we played for each other, our team vibe was much better.” For a team that had five sophomores, maintaining a positive attitude was key for the squad toward finishing the season strong. “I’m happy that we were able to finish the season and stick together with all the ups and downs we faced as a team,” Lopez said. For the team, it was not always about the opposition before them or if they were a better team. It was more about who was smarter with the ball at the end of games. “The hardest part was bringing a bunch of pieces together,” Husic said. “It was all about putting the puzzle together and that takes time. Toward the end of the season, we started to get things together, but it was too late and left me with a bittersweet feeling.”

spotlight

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New in town? Three must-go spots TEA 4 U IS FOR EVERYONE Local hangout offers refreshing boba By Jenna Husic advocate staff

jhusic.theadvocate@gmail.com

For people looking to socialize in a place that offers great drinks and a welcoming atmosphere, Tea For U provides the perfect setting to enjoy a refreshing smoothie or boba tea. The warm welcoming environment that Tea for U brings begins with the first step drink aficionados take to enter the door. The layout of each shop is filled with bright and soothing color schemes that include white and teal. However, the true beauty behind Tea For U is a vast boba selection which starts with a small, sweet

tapioca ball. It is located at 13350 San Pablo Ave. in San Pablo and luckily, Contra Costa College is nestled just 1.7 miles from the boba shop. Most of the menu consists of boba teas and smoothies and it caters to a wide range of taste preferences. The most popular flavors include Mango Passion Fruit boba tea and Taro Milk Tea or, of course, Thai Tea. Prices vary based on size — either medium, costing between $3 to $5 depending on the drink — or large for a $.50 upgrade. Most of the drinks are either a cold fruit iced tea, or a coconut milk tea. Boba shops have been sprout-

ing up throughout the East Bay and none have been as delightful as Tea 4 Us. The experience is enjoyable and the customer service is excellent as its employees are friendly and helpful. With high school students populating its locations, Tea For U is consistently busy throughout weekdays and evenings with the best time to drop in being noon through 3 p.m. The shop was founded in Taiwan in 2004 according to its website, www.thet4.com. Since then, the company has expanded and there are several other locations around the Bay Area. The nearest location to CCC besides the San Pablo location is in Fairfield.

NOODLE 21 NAILS THE DETAILS Diverse Asian cuisine leaves good impression By Fatima Carrasco advocate staff

fcarrasco.theadvocate@gmail.com

For local diners in search of quality Asian cuisine, Noodle 21 offers a wide variety of food with ample parking just a short walk from the front door. Located at 501 San Pablo Towne Center Suite B, Noodle 21 offers a unique menu, which resembles sections of a newspaper. The main focus of the restaurant, noodles, is descriptively explained in the menu’s noodle selection where diners can

choose either thick or thin noodles made with rice or egg noodle selections. It also explains their greener options with their local garden bites. To escape from the normal noodle experience, Noodle 21 offers specialty noodle soups to customers as well. For those looking to avoid wet noodles altogether, the menu offers Favorite Fragrant Wok Stir Fry in House Sauce as well as a Fragrant Wok Toss (dry stir fry) section. Most importantly, the quality of food is amazing. Initially, I really wanted to try the pork and

veggies. However, I was so amazed by the broth that all I could do for a couple minutes was take in spoonfuls of its steamy goodness. After sampling healthy servings of soup and veggies, I was finally prepared to go after the meat. The meat was remarkably tender and cooked to the point that it was so soft that it could be bitten through without struggling. Noodle 21 has these qualities: delicious quality food, a clean looking dining area and reasonable prices.

TAQUERIA LA ESTRELLA SHINES Mexican street food offers quality to community By Jessica Suico news editor

jsuico.theadvocate@gmail.com

For a tasteful explosion of Mexican street food, Taqueria La Estrella taco truck, on San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito, is the place to visit. Besides a mouth-watering super burrito, it has a variety of plates and reasonable prices. The carne asada super burritos are satisfying and larger than the normal super burrito from a restaurant. Whether choosing a plate of

tacos or a torta, patrons who eat there leave full and happy. They have a nice sitting area with umbrellas to accommodate 16 people if needed. The way they pack and roll the burritos and softly fry the tortilla makes it not so messy to eat, unlike other burritos that come apart halfway through eating them. The super burritos consist of guacamole, Mexican rice, red and yellow onions, sour cream, cotija cheese and any of the multiple meat options. The beans are fresh and sea-

soned very well — not too much, not too little. They are tender when you eat them and do not turn into mush, which gives them a great flavor and texture. Because of their choice cuts of meat and knowledge of serving size to seasoning ratio, each meal has a unique, but great, flavor. Each piece of meat is seared to perfection, which shows the expertise of the cooks. There is never gristle or fat in the food they serve. However, one notable omission is salsa verde.

Taqueria La Estrella’s red salsa is fresh, tastes good and is not too salty. They make fresh chips and patrons can taste the quality — the chips and salsa could be a meal by themselves. The cool and convenient thing about this taco truck is it is located right next to McBears Social Club and the truck stays open until midnight.

It also has vegetarian options for people who do not eat meat. It accommodates anyone, which is what is great about this truck.

What is a local restaurant you would recommend to someone who is from out of town?

“Angeline’s Louisiana Kitchen in Berkeley. Its mac and cheese is really good.”

“The Cheeseboard Pizza in Berkeley. It has a great vibe and really good food.”

Antion Rojas Cortez

Gabriel Scharborough

mechanical engineering

nursing

JESSICA SUICO, JANET LIRA GONZALEZ / THE ADVOCATE

“Cafe Soleil in El Sobrante has really good customer service and a good variety of options to choose from.” Jasmine Marglin health and human services

“The In-n-Out in Pinole because that is the closest one to San Pablo and they are always pretty quick with their service.” Javonne Johnson kinesiology

“La Cascadita is a Salvadoran restaurant here in San Pablo. It has really good food and the prices are reasonable.”

“Fah Foh noodle place in Berkeley is really good. It has different types of soup and good prices.”

Luis Argueta

Matthew Blizard

sociology

engineering