WEDNESDAY l 9.18.19 OUR 70TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.
Mourning caring educator community remembers generous, guiding soul
By Cindy Pantoja editor-in-chief
cpantoja.theadvocate@gmail.com
The East Bay community mourns the unexpected loss of one of its greatest mentors who dedicated many years of his life to helping others. Psychologist Stephen F. Greer passed away at age 74. He was born on July 12, 1944, in Berkeley, California and he died on June 17, 2019. Greer was a professor at Contra Costa College and the clinical supervisor at Healthy Partnership in Fairfield, California. At the age of 20, he began working with Contra Costa County Juvenile Hall as a deputy probation officer. He started working at Contra Costa College in September 1970 as a counselor and instructor. Years later, he became the coach for the CCC track team. For almost 50 years, Greer served CCC, breeding a whole community of successful athletes, professors, therapists and counselors. Health and human services department Chairperson Aminta Mickles is a former psychology student and she is now chairperson of the department. She is also a therapist who provides her services to a larger community. “I knew I could go to community college, but I did not know how I would make it at a four year (institution), I knew that with professor Greer’s guidance I could be successful,” Mickles said. Fred Jackson was recruited for the Comet track team by Greer after he graduated from
Greer’s Time at CCC 1999: FOUNDED THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 1964: GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR OF ARTS FROM SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
1970: STARTED AS A COUNSELOR AND INSTRUCTOR AT CONTRA COSTA 1979: BECAME A LICENSED FAMILY COLLEGE THERAPIST
2019: CELEBRATED THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE HHS DEPARTMENT. HE PASSED AWAY A MONTH LATER.
CINDY PANTOJA \THE ADVOCATE
Professor Stephen Greer’s legacy was honored with pictures of him at different stages of his life during his memorial service held June 12 in Vallejo.
n “Professor Greer
encouraged me to pursue my dreams to be the best at what I chose.” — Aminta Mickles, HHS department chairperson
Richmond High in 1976. “He was a great role model who cared about my future. After losing a father at 11 years old, this is the kind of individual you want in your life. I’m rich because of the impact professor Steve Greer had in my life,” Jackson said.
Adjunct health and human services professor Shondra West met Greer as an academic advisor in 1992 when she was a student at CCC. He created a successful educational plan that helped her earn an associate degree as a medical assistant. “I graduated from Cal StateEast Bay and Argosy University, earning a master’s degree and teaching at CCC alongside his (Greer’s) prodigy and my mentor professor Aminta Mickles.” Over the years, he transformed many lives at CCC by introducing hypnosis in his curriculum
and by founding the health and human services department. Mickles described him as a generator of life and someone who cared about other people’s needs. “Professor Greer encouraged me to pursue my dreams, to be the best at what I choose to do and to give back to the community,” she said. The HHS program celebrated 20 years of service during its yearly Spring Conference on May 17. At the celebration, the HHS recognized Greer for his time and dedication to the pro-
gram. HHS Club President Kristin Lobos said the members of the club wanted to recognize him in life after they found out how many years he had been teaching at CCC. “We wanted people to know how amazing he was because he was very humble and would never toot his own horn — it wasn’t his style,” Lobos said. A memorial service was held to honor Greer’s life at Union Baptist Church in Vallejo on July SEE TUITION, PAGE 3
ENROLLMENT REMAINS STAGNANT By Xavier Johnson web editor
xjohnson.theadvocate@gmail.com
Enrollment at Contra Costa College is experiencing a drop coming off a 2018-19 academic year that saw significant growth in Full-Time Equivalent Student (FTES) numbers according to the fall 2019 enrollment report. As of Sept. 3, the current enrollment figure is 2,322 FTES, which is only 0.2 percent off the start of the fall 2018 figure
of 2,326 FTES. In the spring, FTES experienced a 6.3 percent increase making this semester a noticeable stagnation after two semesters of growth. The FTES is based on the total number of units students enrolled in, divided by 15 units. One student enrolling in 15 units represents one FTES. Despite the growth and minimal drop off this fall, the college is still less than halfway to its academic year enrollment goals.
5,631 is the target for the academic year including fall, spring and summer semesters, according to Dean of Students Dennis Franco. “We haven’t met our goal in a while. We haven’t met our goal in the four years I’ve been here,” he said. “We’re not even at half our goal and this is the biggest semester. It’s always good when we’re at least maintaining or going up. When 5,631 is your goal, we’d have liked to be at least
at half of that,” Franco said. Franco cited a variety of factors providing a possible explanation for the college failing to meet enrollment goals. The economy is doing well, which leads to more adults focusing on the workforce, contributes to the drop in adults age 35 and over enrolling at Contra Costa College. That combined with historic lows for high school
Auditions for ‘Frida Kahlo The Artist’
SEE TUITION, PAGE 3
PAGE 5
Enrollment facts
Courses, degrees Students can graduate with a transferable associate degree in social justice: Latino + Chicano studies Introduction to LGBTQ studies has been added to the course list as part of La Raza major
The college is less than halfway to its 2019-20 enrollment goal with 2,322 enrolled students Taking 15 units or more is what the college considers a full-time equivalent student (FTES)
Brand new paramedic program takes 12-15 months to complete
Enrollment of students taking 15 units or more has increased 6 percent in the past semester
Classes offered reflect new times By Stacie Guevara staff writer
sguevara.theadvocate@gmail.com
In hopes of attracting students with a complexity of goals, CCC is offering a variety of exciting new courses and programs this semester, including classes in social justice, public safety, real estate and even a new guitar class. Students can now graduate with a transferable associate’s degree in Social Justice: Latino + Chicano Studies for the first time. FACEBOOK: /accentadvocate
Within the La Raza major is its newest class, La Raza 131 — Introduction to LGBTQ Studies, taught by professor Maya Chinchilla. “I saw that there was a need for it,” Chicano/La Raza studies department Chairperson Dr. Agustín Palacios said. “The La Raza program is interdisciplinary and I saw that there was not a class like that at CCC. I wanted to create it.” The Introduction to LGBTQ studies class will focus on the history of the LGBTQ social and INSTAGRAM: @cccadvocate
political movements in the U.S. It will also examine LGBTQ literature, film, theory and an LGBTQ look into biomedical and racial topics. The Introduction to LGBTQ studies course is still able to be added for students. It starts on Oct. 22 and takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:45-4:05 p.m. in GE-225. A brand-new paramedic program is also being offered, which started in June 2019. The entire program takes about 12-15 months to comTWITTER: @accentadvocate
plete and its current students are expected to graduate in summer 2020. “At the completion of the paramedic program, the students will receive a completion certification and be allowed to take the national registry exam — so they can get licensed,” public safety department chairperson Troy Hess said. Hess created the new paramedic program along with workforce and economic development SEE TUITION, PAGE 3
YOUTUBE: /accentadvocate
RICHMOND BANS VAPING AMID SCARE PAGE 8
Iron Chef excites campus palate PAGE 4 SNAPCHAT: @cccadv0cate
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Quotable “Writing is the pie crust; facts, the pie.”
CUISINE CONUNDRUM
Cindy Pantoja editor-in-chief Robert Clinton associate editor
Lack of menu options define campus dining experience
Xavier Johnson web editor
Daniel Hernandez social media editor Luis Cortes sports editor Jose Arebalo news editor Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Fatima Carrasco Stacie Guevara Janet Lira Gonzalez Wanda Gonzalez Jojuan Johnson Luis Lopez Jose Rivera De’Jon Sylvain Staff photographers Mary Barnes Denis Perez Janice Spraggins 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 2019 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.
●
EDITORIAL
Michael G. Gartner. former editor and broadcast news executive 2001
Denis Perez creative director
opinion
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18, 2019 VOL. 109, NO. 2
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM
A
chieving educational success doesn’t begin with guided pathways, class size or retention specialists — it starts with proper nutrition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most students attend school for six hours per day and consume nearly half of their daily caloric intake on campus. Providing a diversity of nutritional options to mirror its multicultural campus community has been at the forefront of discussions at Contra Costa College since vendors began bidding on retail space prior to completion of the Campus Center Project three years ago. Brix won the initial bid to feature its cuisine on campus and realized changes needed to be made to accommodate the varying eating habits of CCC students. An expanded vegetarian menu was implemented, along with multiple halal options, and specialty days like “Meatless Mondays” were devised to expand choices and better ensure nutritional needs would be met. Following the expiration of Brix’s contract in June, a new vendor, Round 2, has replaced Brix as the go-to campus eatery. Like its predecessor Brix, Round 2’s initial menu options are less than imaginative and fail to build on the multiplicity of options that Brix eventually adopted to better serve student needs. Currently, other than salads, only two vegetarian sandwiches are available to students and Round 2 only offers a Mediterranean wrap to students who request halal dishes. Round 2 owner Nelson Ng said, “My goal is to maintain the price and be affordable to the students.” This is a noble sentiment, however, when serving a campus where so many students have distinct differences, variety becomes nearly as important as cost. CCC is far from the days where the only available food was served at a dingy Subway kiosk tucked away on the shady banks of Rheem Creek near the portables below the Applied Arts Building, however, current options feel just as limited. Even the touch screen ordering process, which brings the campus into the 21st century, has offered a host of unexpected problems to students looking to grab a quick bite in-between classes. Many students have complained about orders going unfilled because the system allows students to order menu items that are no longer available. This leaves students waiting for food that never arrives and who are only addressed when the lunch crowd dwindles because the skeleton staff is mostly dedicated toward food preparation. What’s worse, students attending evening classes who are looking to grab a quick snack before classes will be disappointed to find the security gate closes at 5 p.m. It is too soon to condemn Round 2 for its lack of options. However, it is time for the vendor to rethink its approach to serving students who attend CCC. This is the vendor’s opportunity to adapt — or show Round 2 has bitten off more than it can chew.
DE’JON SYLVAIN / THE ADVOCATE
■ RELIGION
Christianity erodes church, state division T he variety of experiences, attitudes and beliefs on any campus is an amazing blend of what the world has to offer. At any given moment we could be standing next to people from multiple religions in a courteous manner. However, they don’t necessarily share similar ideas or points of view. It is a common courtesy that people agree not to push their beliefs onto others without solicitation or proper context. So, it spurs a confusing feeling whenever I see pocket-sized Bibles strewn around the campus. I thought that there was always a strict separation of church and state, so seeing an abundance of singular religious text strikes me as some sort of flaw. The very fact that we see religious text distributed in public means sometimes we are forced to interact with strangers about religious ideology. That dialogue can range from a quick and polite refusal to harsher feelings, but will always be an interaction no one planned for in their day. Things would be different if we were presented with texts from multiple religions on a designated place on campus. However, these bibles are sporadically placed even right next to the ordering kiosk in the cafeteria. Whenever someone sees a small bible it is effectively an advertisement for
gion on campus could be a learning opportunity if texts from multiple religions were being welcomed and presented. Imagine seeing the teachings of the buddha in the Tipitaka, or the Quran which in Islam is said to be the word of god through Christianity, one that no Mohammed. There is also one signed up for, especial- the Guru Granth Sahib ly not at a state-sponsored from Sikhism and the place of learning. Worse Tanakh and the Talmud than that, presenters can from Judaism. There are become pestering when multiple religions whose they fail to accept a stuscriptures students are left dent’s refusal of interest. completely unexposed to. A stuWhen the only unwarOrganized dent told ranted exposure students someface comes from one relireligion one who gion it may leave them offered to to explore other is starting talk about sour options. Organized religion to face religion that they is starting to face new not challenges in the modnew did want to ern era as the number of challenges hear about Americans who identify it and with no religion has grown in the they were steadily. CNN conducted followed a general social survey in modern with repeat which 23.1 percent of parofferings. ticipants identified with era. Such no religion compared to interactions only 5 percent in 1972. are bother- Data also shows Protestant some at best or borderline denominations fell from harassment at worst. 28 to 11 percent, Catholics When arriving on cam- have gone from 27 to 23 pus, students expect to percent and Evangelicals have a multitude of perrose from 17 to 23 percent. spectives available to learn If there is going to be a from. religious presence on a colHowever, when there’s lege campus, people preonly one type of scripture senting need to respect the being passed around, it student body’s boundaries. invades everyone’s space with a certain pressure Jose Arebalo is news editor whether they want it to or of The Advocate. Contact not. him at jarebalo.theadvocate@gmail.com. The presence of reli-
josearebalo
CAMPUS COMMENT When did you register for the fall semester?
“Normally I register
over the summer so I can get it out of the way.” Imani Pruitt kinesiology
JOSE AREVALO/ THE ADVOCATE
“I enrolled pretty late
because I still don’t know what courses I’m trying to take.” Pedro Garcia
costruction management
“I enrolled at the end of last semester.” Mar Montes psychology
“I usually register for
the fall semester in August.” Karine Ortiz undecided
“I sign up as soon as I can.” Jose Zamora kinesiology
“I registered at least
three months in advance to avoid any mess.” Marco Fields engineering
campusbeat NEWSLINE CELEBRATION
GIVEAWAY TO HELP RICHMOND STUDENTS Change 4 FiveHundred’s third
Annual Backpack Giveaway will be happening Sunday at 1 p.m. at 1410 Kelsey St., North Richmond. The event will include the backpack giveaway along with drinks, food, face painting, sports and arts and crafts for kids. More information can be found on Change 4 FiveHundred’s Facebook page.
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.18.2019 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
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Cake galore Photos by: Jose Arebalo, Jose Rivera For
more photos, please visit our website: www.cccadvocate.com
EVENT
Guests were encouraged to participate in voting for the best entries in the cake competition.
LOCAL BUSINESSES PROMOTE FESTIVAL
BELOW: Yi Han from Yi Cakes in Los Angeles teaches a decorating class to event guests. The room was filled with attentive students.
Downtown Richmond’s premiere event will be hosted on Macdonald Avenue and Harbour Way on Saturday and will begin at 1 p.m. The celebration will bring residents and local businesses together to celebrate Downtown Richmond. Macdonald Avenue will be filled with vendors selling art and food. There will also be a youth zone, community stage and live musical performances. The event will be hosted by Richmond Main Street Initiative for the third year in a row. More information can be found on RichmondMainStreet.org
TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRIC CAR CLUB MEETUP THIS WEEK Prospective electric car owners can connect with local resources that will assist with purchasing vehicles and equipment, leasing, rebates and low cost programs. The meetup will take place on Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. at 325 Civic Center Plaza.
LOCAL EATS
MEXICAN EATERY CELEBRATES OPENING Celebrate the grand opening of Agave Azul, Richmond’s newest Mexican restaurant. The grand opening will take place on Saturday at 12955 San Pablo Ave., Richmond, California at 3 p.m. You can contact the restaurant at (510) 307-5749 or visit agaveazulca.com. The restaurant will have food and drink specials along with a DJ providing live
COMMUNITY
BACK TO SCHOOL GETS A CELEBRATION A back to school celebration and giveaway will be held in Nevin Park in Richmond today from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be a celebration of going back to school with a free carnival for children and it will also have a giveaway of school supplies. Hosted by The Bay Area Rescue Mission and sponsored by Chevron, the event is aimed at helping families of the community excel in school through the help of providing them with supplies for school. There will be carnival games and prizes from the Oakland A’s Fan Zone to provide fun activities for the whole family while helping out with the giveaway of school supplies. More information about the event can be found on Bay Area Rescue Mission’s Facebook page.
PRESENTATION
NETWORK EVENT WILL HOST SPEAKER A free networking and informational interviewing workshop will be held in SA-227 today at 2 p.m. The event will host guest speaker Chief Technology Officer for the Oakland Unified School District — 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.
The Contra Costa Cake Club hosted its 2019 cake show at Fireside Hall. The show was a competition for cake decorators of all ages. LEFT: Attendees gather to listen to culinary arts students fundraise. Families listened to raffle winners, while they were waiting patiently to listen to the winners of the cake show.
GREER | ‘A man who touched a lot of lives’ Continued from Page 1 6, where people shared stories of how Greer changed their lives in positive ways. “Our track team was like a family we were able to a professor, counselor and track coach who cared and gave us vision,” Jackson said. “He made sure I was on track to graduate in two years and then I could move forward to Cal State Hayward.” According to family, friends, students and colleagues, he was an avid
fisherman, he enjoyed reading, cooking for his family and friends and he was always willing to lend a helping hand. “He was on the hiring committee when I got my job as a tenure-track professor of sociology,” sociology professor Vern Cromartie said. “I will always be thankful to him that he was one of the faculty members on that hiring committee who saw that I was the right person for the position.” Greer’s education
included a bachelor of arts in sociology from San Francisco State University, a master’s degree in clinical psychology from John F. Kennedy University and a master of arts in education from SFSU. “He was a shining example of what it means to be a man who could merge theory with action,” Dr. Cromartie said. “He did not just talk the talk; professor Greer walked the walk.” Greer has left a permanent mark etched on the
hearts of the hundreds of people he helped throughout his life. “Professor Greer always had a grounded demeanor about him; you just trusted him. He loved to tell stories about his life and family.” Lobos said. West remembered Greer as a beacon of light that instilled hope in many people’s lives to generously provide his wisdom and support. “He saw people’s potential and was encouraging even when people doubted
themselves,” She said. “His words of inspiration were compassionate enough for people to explore opportunities of the unknown.” He was a loving husband and father of three children. He is missed by family, colleagues, students, friends, and the community he served. “I hope that Professor Greer will be remembered forever at Contra Costa College and elsewhere. He was a man who touched a lot of lives and dedicated his life to helping others.”
ENROLLMENT | College enrollment numbers drop Continued from Page 1 seniors enrolling are contributing to lower than desired enrollment numbers. The lack of growth also correlates to a spring semester with a significant amount of administrative turnover. Factors like this cause the college’s outreach and marketing programs, which were credited by Franco, as factors leading to 2018-19 growth to be
diminished. Dean of Enrollment Services Rodolfo Santos said, “We’ll look at annual FTES and ramp up summer just in case the fall or spring numbers go down. There are multiple variables.” The dean of enrollment services position was vacant for most of the spring semester last year and the college hired a new Outreach Program coordinator, former Student Life Coordinator Joel
Nickelson-Shanks. Onboarding the new hires halted momentum and outreach and marketing were noticeable factors in boosting enrollment. One program that suffered the most was the First-Year Experience program which provides students with counseling support when they enter Contra Costa College. Despite stagnation and the current numbers indicating the college is not on track to meet its enroll-
ment goals, Franco said he understands the factors. He also said coming off a boost in the previous academic year sometimes means it is natural to level out. “We’ve seen some uptick in enrollment. Our headcounts are going consistently up. We are slightly down, but given the jump last fall, partially due to the compressed calendar, It’s impressive, we’ve only down-ticked well less than a percent. We slight-
ly returned to the mean,” Franco said. Headcount saw a 1 percent increase from 7,340 in fall 2018 to 7,412 in fall 2019. The Contra Costa Community College District as a whole has a 3.8 percent drop in FTES from 14,185 in fall 2018 to 13,647 which is the current figure according to the fall 2019 enrollment report.
NEW COURSES | Intro to LGBTQ added as new class Continued from Page 1 cate of achievement in real do offer the certificate, but classes approved for online tion for guitar and focus Dean Kelly Schelin. Next semester, students will be prepped to work in hospital environments and then will work in ambulances for several months. The real estate program at CCC is in high demand and though the department currently only offers two classes, there are plans to expand the program with more professors and more sections, including online sections. The program also supports business office technologies, accounting as well as real estate. Currently, students are able to get both an associate degree and a certifi-
estate. This semester is the first time there will be applicants for the associate degree in real estate, though the associate degree was offered for the first time in spring 2019. For a few years, the real estate program was actually dying out as demand for it was at its lowest, but recently, its enrollment numbers increased as more and more students wanted to take those classes. “We just reinstated the certificate of achievement and an associate degree in real estate,” business administration professor Robert Borgognoni said. “Most community colleges
not many have an associate degree.” The program is designed to provide varied opportunities for students to succeed. Business professor Dr. Joe DeTorres said, “If students participate in the real estate program, they can take the state exam which then authorizes them to buy and sell property. They can do a number of other things — become real estate agents, work as independent agents, as well as work in larger firms. They can even become the boss of their own programs or firms.” The real estate program recently received over 10
enrollment for the spring 2020 semester. It’s done so more students will be able to take those classes. The newest addition to CCC’s music department is the guitar class, a combination of Music 158 Beginning Guitar, Music 159 - Intermediate Guitar, Music 258 — Advanced Guitar, and Music 259 — Advanced Guitar Ensemble for Performance, taught by professor Zachary Mattocks. The class takes place on Wednesday nights from 5:50-10:05 p.m. and can be taken by guitar players of any skill level. In class, students learn how to read music nota-
on classical and jazz styles. Even folk songs and popular music entice new students and encourage them to learn more. “Because we have such a long class period, I am really able to dive in and tailor make the class to the set of students, so I may not necessarily do the exact same thing every semester. It will be based on the skill level of the students in class,” music professor Zachary Mattocks said. The course plans to grow in the coming years and just like CCC music majors can currently focus on voice or piano, students can also become guitar majors.
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campusbeat
WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.18.2019 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
ORIGINAL CUISINE REVEALS ABILITY Community commends effort, honors students By Stacie Guevara staff writer
squevara.theadvocate@gmail.com
The aroma of Mediterranean cuisine lured students and faculty alike through Campus Center Plaza to the Aqua Terra Grill for a buffet-styled event aimed at raising money for CCC’s culinary arts department. The “Next Iron Chef ” competition held on Thursday, Sept. 5 took place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and offered patrons a chance to come in and have all-you-can-eat for lunch for $7. Culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes said the culinary arts students took a trip to Italy over the summer on a scholarship opportunity and learned skills there. These skills were on full display during the competition. Upon entry, customers would pay the entrance fee and receive their voting tickets and plates before getting in line for the buffet-style lunch. Servers navigated the dining area with unexpected grace and constantly made sure diners’ glasses remained filled with water, iced tea or coffee. Despite the never-ending rush of people who populated the event until its end, the majority of the food options provided were available throughout. The Mediterranean-styled cuisine consisted of dishes ranging from beef gyros, a cheese plate, chicken/vegetable Marsala, beef
MARY BARNES / THE ADVOCATE
Rodolfo Santos enjoys a plate of the Mediterranean cuisine served during the Iron Chef event held Sept. 5 in Aqua Terra Grill.
“On a buffet day, we serve close to 100 people.” culinary arts laboratory assistant Angel Chau
kebab, pasta salad, arancini and gelato. The restaurant was busy, bustling and filled to the brim as this is a rather popular event annually. “On a buffet day, we serve close to 100 people, such as students, faculty and community members,” culinary arts laboratory assistant Angel Chau said. At the end of the meal, customers were urged to vote for their favorite team at their leisure. There was also the opportunity to go back for as much as they wanted. Team “Bellisimo” won first place while Team “Molto” won second and Team “Alimini Smile” came in third. Team “Bellisimo” prepared “Dirty Birdy
Chicken” along with a choice of either strawberry or green tea gelato for dessert. Team “Gyro Heros” made a valiant effort with their Greek beef gyro dish, but traditionally, gyros melt in the mouth and are not so breakable. The gyros of Team “Gyro Heros” were rather brittle and had a bit of a crumbly consistency to them, but their taste was superb. Their gyros were on a small pita bread and were served with tomatoes and cucumbers, with a choice of tzatziki sauce either dribbled on top or on the side — a traditional Greek meal. Team “Alimini Smile” prepared a chicken/veggie Marsala with fresh-made fusilli pasta with lemon. Team “Molto” made the Italian dish of arancini topped with sauce, however, some customers were not too fond of it because they did not exactly know what the dish consisted of or what it was supposed to taste like. Arancini are rice filled spheres with a
special ingredient in the middle, in this case, it was mozzarella cheese. The combination is then coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried. The dish is meant to be eaten drizzled with sauce and is not supposed to be too overpowering or tasteful. The sauce was there to provide a bit of a kick and that extra savory flavor. The cheese plate at the beginning of the buffet was a general cheese starter and it consisted of cheeses such as cheddar, mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Culinary arts professor Elisabeth Schwarz said this was opening day for Aqua Terra where the students work together in a team during the first semester of every academic year. While most events like this were previously held primarily to help fundraise for studying abroad or other culinary arts activities, this event was organized to support Aqua Terra and the CCC culinary department.
First Year Experience Program finds continued success Opening pathways for incoming college students to succeed.
By Janet Lira staff writer
jlira.theadvocate@gmail.com
The First Year Experience Program, formerly known as the Promise Program, is helping new college students navigate the campus easier for a successful college experience and future. The program concentrates on providing guidance to fresh out of high school students entering community college. Coaches and leaders assist new students as they register for classes, financial aid applications and give out information about the tools they can use around campus and in the Student Services Center. Educational workshops are set up by the coaches for additional aid and to have those in the program connect with
n “We strive to help new stu-
dents feel more comfortable navigating tools the school offers to have a smooth transition to community college. — Desirae McNeil, FYE program leader
each other. Students are also provided dedicated counselors to help them plan their career and answer any questions through counseling appointments. During their first year in the program, students will be enrolled in counseling classes during their first, second and summer semester.
There are currently approximately 260 students enrolled in the program and administrators are still welcoming more. Students can sign up through the school website contracosta.edu in the Admissions + Aid tab. Application, eligibility and participation requires students to have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete an educational plan and submit a First Year Experience application through the website. The full list of requirements, eligibility and participation can be found on the website with links to submit applications. A new club, “Compass Segue” has also been created through the First Year program as another branch of aid for new students by offering peer-to-peer support. The club also creates events and opportunities for campus and
community engagement and will meet Thursday in SA-107. Desirae McNeil, a coach for the First Year program, can be contacted for more information. First Year Experience is a second-year program with plenty of support the campus community. “We strive to help new students feel more comfortable navigating tools the school offers to have a smooth transition from high school to community college,” McNeil said. For more information about the program, educational coaches McNeil, Tiana McKneely and Joel NickelsonShanks can be found in the First Year Offices located in the Career/Transfer Center in SA-227.
charging stations spark progress
n “Electric charging sta-
By Fatima Carrasco staff writer
tions should be ready by Sept. 21. In the meantime, anyone with a parking permit can still park anywhere in Lot 9.”
fcarrasco.theadvocate@gmail.com
In an effort toward lowering greenhouse emissions in California, state legislators set a goal to have one third of California’s vehicles be Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) by the year 2030. “The goal is to have five million Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) and achieving these goals will have a huge impact in reducing greenhouse gases,” acting liaison between contractors and the Contra Costa Community College District James Eyestone said. According to the California Resources Board, “Forty-one percent of emissions are due to transportation.” Since January 2018, grants have been made available to help former Governor Brown’s legislative agenda be met. In a push toward achievement of this goal, Tracy Marcial, district energy and sustainability manager worked with PG&E and Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) who provided grants to install electric charging stations for vehicles at the three district college campuses. “She is working a deal for Diablo Valley, Los Medanos and Contra Costa colleges, so we can
— Bruce King, buildings and grounds manager
MARY BARNES / THE ADVOCATE
Six electric car charging stations were installed during the summer in Lot 9. all have access to these,” Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said. At Contra Costa College, there does not seem to be high demand for the charging stations. A survey conducted among faculty and staff found that in Diablo Valley College there was a higher demand for charger installations. Automotive SVS Representative
Lucille Beatty said, “As far as automotive, that is where we are heading.” Librar y department Chairperson Andrew Kuo said, “I have counted at least six (charging stations) on campus, but more than that I do not think are necessary. I’ve only seen maybe four more staff members besides me who own an electric car.”
Kuo said, “I do not have such a long commute and my Nissan Leaf charges at a level 1, which is at 120 volts. That provides 5 miles per charging hour.” He also said PG&E has “Electric Vehicle rate plans” that help customers manage what effect charging a vehicle will ultimately have on billing. At CCC, six electric charging
stations were installed. Eyestone said, “This construction project is valued at roughly $203,000 and the college will be providing local funds to cover roughly $20,000.” The other $183,000 is covered by PG&E who paid the infrastructure cost and BAAQMD, which covered the installation. “Since PG&E follows a formula of dollar/plug that they are allowed to spend, a minimum of six electric charging stations had to be installed,” Marcial said. According to King, the electric charging stations should be ready by Saturday. In the meantime, anyone with a parking permit can still park anywhere in Lot 9 (including at the charging stations).
campus beat
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Femininity, strength unite By Jose Arebalo news editor
jarebalo.theadvocate@gmail.com
JOSE AREVALO / THE ADVOCATE
Director Carlos-Manuel Chavarria reviews the script of his upcoming bilingual production of “Frida Kahlo: The Artist; The Woman.”
“Frida Kahlo: The Artist; The Woman” is striving to be a thrilling production that pays homage to the Guatemalan roots of the iconic artist through a dramatic tale. Performances in both English and Spanish will take place beginning Oct. 18 and auditions are currently being conducted by the drama department. “We already announced that it is going to be in Spanish and English, but we do not even have a cast yet,” drama department Chairperson Carlos-Manuel Chavarria said. Chavarria wrote the production and decided to put on shows in both English and Spanish because he knew that the local community would appreciate the opportunity to see theater in a language other than English. Frida Kahlo is popular in a commercial setting, so he knew people would come out to watch the production. “I try to work with plays that speak about Mexican culture,” Chavarria said. “I wanted to do something that is Latino but at the same time something that will appeal to non-Spanish speaking audiences.” He knew that picking a play focused on Frida Kahlo would garner attention from the community. It was also a brilliant opportunity to offer a special kind of show by having a showing in Spanish. The show takes a more feminist approach to tell Frida’s story than
usual productions. Instead of focusing solely on the romantic narrative that drives many Hollywood adaptations, Chavarria chose to share the other aspects of her life on stage. “I am looking for actors who are good at English and good at Spanish,” he said. “At the end of the day we are an educational institution, so the idea is to teach the students how to be better actors. But I do want an actress who can be a really good Frida because she carries the show,” Chavarria said. “When we rehearse, we have to repeat the same scene twice,” Chavarria said. The production is quite demanding of its actors as they will be investing a lot more effort than usually afforded by their schedules. Not only will actors need to memorize two different scripts in separate languages, but they will need to practice spacing and scenes in both languages. “The traditional costumes are real costumes I went and bought at indigenous places,” Chavarria said. He has worked hard to ensure that the quality of the production is as authentic as possible. “We are doing a play about Frida Kahlo, and she represents very much the indigenous people of Oaxaca,” Chavarria said. “I wanted to give something back by going over there and buying costumes from them.” Being a community college production means more to Chavarria than simply taking place at a college.
“Contra Costa College is a community so therefore auditions should be open to the community,” Chavarria said. The outside community should be welcome to participate in these productions as well. Contra He is Costa working on making it College is a easier for c om mu n it y community members to so therefore participate in productions auditions by possibly should be creating a open to the c om mu n it y communitheater class. “We are ty.” doing com— Carlosmunity outManuel reach classes Chavarria, for theater playwright which should have been done before,” Chavarria said. A student interested in auditioning for the play, Gustavo Camargos, said he thought it was a fun opportunity to do something new. Stage manager Roxana Rosales was checking students into the auditions and said, “I am really excited for my first show stage managing, I think it is going to be really good.” A second show will be playing this semester in December titled “The Book of Liz.”
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Round 2 eatery
opens in cafeteria By Daniel Hernandez social media editor
dhernandez.theadvocate@gmail.com
Round 2 Café is the latest addition to the campus’ diversified dining options. Located in the Dining Hall of the Student Administration Building, it replaces the Brix Café that completed its three yearlong contract with Contra Costa College in the spring semester. The eatery now serves as the main go-to option that serves students’ appetites for burgers and fries at a slightly lower price than Brix. The vendor is contracted to be on campus until 2022. Previously, Round 2 operated at Solano Community College for two years before trading places with Brix. They were officially open for business Aug. 26. “Usually, you have to bid to get in,” Round 2 assistant manager Jhoanna Madriz said. Round 2’s parent company, Fresh & Natural food services, is the company that sent their bid to CCC. “The only other bid that was put in during the proposal process was Subway,” Business Services Supervisor Nick Dimitri said. Before opening for the semester, minor customizations were made
to the facility such as detaching glass panels for to-go menu items and removing the large refrigerator for drinks to create a welcoming aesthetic. A new feature that students will encounter are touchscreen tablets that will take food orders. “For the pads, we installed them especially for this campus. We had paper orders at Solano,” Round 2 Grill Manager Patrick Catapusan said. The tablets are a distinguishable and effective tool for business. “We anticipated there would be a lot of people and didn’t want them to wait too long,” he said. The first two weeks of the semester have been busy, he said. “Some people give feedback that the food is cheaper and it may affect the traffic that goes through here,” Catapusan said. With selling food at cheap prices comes uncertainty. “Our profit margin is very low. Just so everyone can afford it, we are trying to maintain our prices as low as we can,” Madriz said. To avoid breaking even and having to face inflating the prices, Round 2 is reducing their expenditures such as using traditional plates and plastic utensils and straws instead of the costly com-
postable ones that were used at Solano. Round 2 owner Nelson Ng said, “My goal is to maintain the price and be affordable to students.” No single food item is above $6 and all their prices must remain set. Food costs account for 30 percent of their budget, but numbers could not be disclosed. High labor costs reflect the amount of people on staff with only four employees in the kitchen and one cashier to handle business. Esau Reyes, a first-year student and frequent customer says the service is decent. He bought a beef sandwich but found the food too expensive. To appeal to the college’s student demographic, Round 2 produces certain dishes like the Mediterranean chicken wrap with halal prepared chicken. But not too many dishes can be found on the menu that are vegan friendly and halal. The tight resources they have at hand is one reason to blame for the limited food options. Ng has ambitious plans to expand restaurant’s abilities, but for now, “I have one stove, one grill, one oven and one fryer. That’s it. Typically, we should more than that,” Ng said. Their menu consists of break-
DANIEL HERNANDEZ / THE ADVOCATE
New touchscreen tablets are installed at the counter to make ordering food faster and more efficient. A bacon cheeseburger and classic fries are shown above.
fast items, food hot off the grill, hot sandwiches, pastries, chips and to-go food. “As time goes on we would like have daily specials to cater to other customers that want a different taste,” Catapusan said. “Brix had more food choices. The price is better (at Round 2),” nursing major Livingson Azode said. He ordered a chipotle chicken
wrap and found it to be a decently priced healthy option but found the service to be “too techy.” Choices for payment include Apple Pay, cash and card. Round 2 is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays until 1 p.m. in SAB-159. Breakfast is served until 10 a.m. and the grill menu is available at 11 a.m.
STUDENTS WELCOMED WITH INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE By De’Jon Sylvain staff writer
dsylvain.theadvocate@gmail.com
For students in the midst of transitioning from high school to college life or enrollees looking to familiarize themselves with the available services on campus, a multi-day event was organized to fulfill these needs. The ASU and Student Life hosted the third annual Welcome Week event, ingratiating students to the Contra Costa College campus. “Welcome Week brings an inviting feel for new and continuing students for the new semester,” Student Life Coordinator Charles Ramirez MARY BARNES / THE ADVOCATE said, “It offers an opportunity for students to find out about other Welcome Week provided students an opportunity to meet face-toresources and events on campus face for financial aid or academic assistance with advisors. coming up during the semester.” “I think students feel welcomed as well as insightful information were present throughout the event. because of the events and a sense to help gear students toward sucSparkPoint Coordinator Bill of excitement for the upcoming cessfully navigating through the Bankhead said Welcome Week semester,” He said. academic year. “re-establishes a sense of commuWelcome Week was divided Representatives from the nity on campus.” over the course of four days, from Student Success and Retention “Welcome Week is a reminder Aug. 26-29. Center, Financial Aid Office, that there are resources and supThe event provided workshops, Veteran Services and SparkPoint port offered here for students,”
Bankhead said. SparkPoint is a non-profit partnership designed to help people achieve financial stability. “SparkPoint provides free workshops and one-on-one coaching for students who are unable to financially support themselves,” Bankhead said. Tabled in Campus Center Plaza, Financial Aid Specialist Patty Herrera hoped to provide aid to those in need of a helping hand financially. “Welcome Week sets the tone for our students,” Herrera said. “It’s a thank you for choosing us as their school.” The Financial Aid Office holds workshops throughout the semester to ensure students receive the materials needed to have a steady academic year. Program Coordinator Carla Matute of Student Success and Resources said her fundamental focus was to grant first-year and returning students information regarding the importance of academic standing at CCC. “We are here to ensure that
students are well-informed and understand the policies and procedures regarding academic standing,” Matute said. CCC’s bylaws state students enrolled in at least 12 units must maintain a “C” average or above. Students who do not meet these expectations will have a hold on their record and could reach the point of dismissal. According to Matute, the student success and retention programs will be providing workshops for students struggling to maintain academic standing. “New students do not know the resources available to them,” Veteran Coordinator Tejae Dunnivant said. Veteran Services provide campus veterans with resources to help guide them during their transition back into civilian life. “Many students are unaware of what each department can provide, so the event really provides visibility to every department,” Ramirez said.
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WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.18.2019 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
Chickens burn, die after I-80 accident Photos by: Denis Perez
For
more photos, please visit our website: www.cccadvocate.com
ABOVE: A Caltrans worker sweeps a material poured over oil as a pile of dead chickens sits to his right after a big rig transporting about 1,000 live chickens swerved on Interstate 80 hit the center divide and crashed in San Pablo early Sept. 5. The vehicle burst into flames and killed about 800 of the birds on board. The clean up took 8 hours to complete.
LEFT: The chickens owners will decide the future of the chickens after they have been taken to a shelter after the accident on Sept. 5. The chickens were originally en route to be processed for food, being transported by Pitman Farms.
RIGHT: A local resident grabbed a chicken that climbed up the hill and got close to the San Pablo Dam Road overpass bridge. The woman later left with the chicken in hopes of taking it to a shelter.
The California Highway Patrol had to close down part of westbound I-80 impacting traffic from 3:35 a.m. to noon on Sept. 5. Traffic on eastbound lanes was also affected by onlookers.
sports
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LEFT: Contra Costa College coach Pat Henderson walks down the Comet sideline after a dispute with an official after a call against the Comets during the football team’s 48-10 home opening defeat at the hands of Monterey Peninsula College on Saturday.
ILLUSTRATION BY MARCI SUELA / THE ADVOCATE
comets gashed in loss
By Luis Cortes sports editor
lcortes.theadvocate@gmail.com
A season that began with optimism because of a young coaching staff and a new group of players is beginning to lose its luster afforded by a fresh start. The Comets (0-2) first game of the season ended with a 31-7 loss to Cabrillo College (1-0) Sept. 7 in Aptos. CCC’s running game struggled mightily versus the Seahawks defense and failed to compile any
positive yards rushing and ended the game with -33 yards on the ground. Through most of the game, Cabrillo showed its dominance scoring two touchdowns in the first two quarters and owning a 28-0 halftime lead. Cabrillo’s defense held CCC to only nine first downs and an 18 percent (2-11) third-down conversion rate in the season opener. CCC played its home opener Saturday at Comet Stadium against Monterey Peninsula College (2-0). The team’s hard work toward
RENOVATIONS START AT GYM
Athletic upgrade underway, expectations heightened
By Luis Lopez staff writer
llopez.theadvocate@gmail.com
After years of watching the north side of the campus rise from the dust of construction, the $29.5 million athletic facility renovation project has finally entered its restoration phase. The project is expected to be completed by fall 2021 and will include a renovation of the four buildings that house the athletic department. These include the Gymnasium, Men’s Locker Room, Women’s Locker Room and the Gym Annex Building. The prospect of renovated facilities has students and faculty excited for the future of Contra Costa College athletics. Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King mentioned some new things being added during the renovation and said the building was long overdue for a remodeling. “The renovation project will include adding a concession stand and ticket booth along with a lobby to both the Women and Men’s locker rooms. The Gymnasium is one of the oldest buildings on campus and will receive a much-needed structural renovation that will include state-of-the-art equipment and facilities,” he said. The renovation, handled by Bay Area General Contractor Thompson Builders, was voted for and approved in August 2016 and began with the resurfacing King of the Tennis Courts. It will conclude with the renovation of the Fitness Center. King said, “The Fitness Center will be the final area touched by the work. Because it is a Fitness Center where everyone comes to work out, we want to allow it to be there as long as possible before having to touch it”. Due to the renovation, teams will be forced to play their home games off campus. The men’s basketball team will play its home games at Diablo Valley College with the possibility of some being played at the Richmond Auditorium. The women’s volleyball team will play at Pinole Middle School and the women’s basketball team will play their home games at DVC as well. Athletic Director John Wade is excited to have a renovated facility for the athletic department and welcomes the idea of playing home games off campus. “It would be exciting to have games played in the Richmond Auditorium. It’s rarely been used for basketball since the 60s. The relocation of home games shouldn’t affect the men’s basketball team,” he said. “The game is the same no matter where it’s played so now we don’t expect the location of our home games to affect how the teams play,” Wade said. Comet athletes say the current Gym is “old school” and could definitely benefit from an upgrade. Industrial design major and member of the men’s basketball team Saud Nasye said, “I like the current Gym. It’s old school, but it would be great to have an up-to-date gym.” The amount of money being put into the project provides students with optimism about the results. Nasye said, “Man, with $30 million being put into it I think it makes everyone excited to have access to something like that.”
improvement throughout the week did not carry into the game, and the Comets fell in a 48-10 shellacking. Monterey began with a long drive that ended with a touchdown on a 42-yard play-action pass play. The Comets answered with a long drive of their own only to get stopped and forced to settle for an early field goal. The Comets allowed three goal-line touchdowns in the game. One of the three touchdowns was a quarterback sneak.
CCC’s woes were not only in defending the rushing attack. Late in the third quarter, the Monterey Lobos scored on a 70-yard touchdown pass aided by a missed tackled by CCC. The Comets answered with a late third-quarter touchdown pass. CCC will travel to Reedley College on Saturday, and the team’s next home game will be against College of the Redwoods on Sept. 28.
Mustangs stampede over Comets in home opener
By Luis Cortes sports editor
lcortes.theadvocate@gmail.com
A new chapter in the Contra Costa College men’s soccer team’s (0-4 in the Bay Valley Conference) story did not forge the result anyone wanted as the team lost 6-0 against San Joaquin Delta College Aug. 27 at the Soccer Field. CCC was thoroughly outplayed its opening game of the season which saw the reigning Big 8 Conference champion Mustangs pressing the Comets on every touch. Delta (2-1 in the Big 8 Conference) made a concerted effort to pester CCC causing steals and effectively tiring out the home team. Mustang coach Josh Bradley said the high pressing helped his team tire out the Comets. “It’s easier to come out with a high press, especially since we knew they had fewer players on their team. It was part of the game plan,” Bradley said. Bradley said his squad was well ahead of the Comets at the time, referencing the difference in number of available players. “We knew they were a building program at the moment and have number problems. We currently have 23 players to their 14,” Bradley said. CCC returns to action Friday against Butte College at 4 p.m. in Oroville. The first half of the game was an indication of how the entire game was going to unfold as the Mustangs saw many chances to go ahead, beginning in the first five minutes of the game. A good through ball pass shot through the Comet defensive backline forcing a good save from freshman goalkeeper Orlando Perez. The Mustangs dominated possession throughout the first half and looked dangerously close to netting balls on every possession. The team attacked CCC on both sides of the field and missed two clear chances to score early on. 30 minutes into the game, the deadlock was broken. The first goal came directly from a Comet error, which allowed the Mustangs to have a clear opening at goal. Perez came out of his line to attempt a save, but was unable to handle the ball, His position allowed a clear shot at an empty goal for Mustang midfielder Jesus Hurtado. CCC trailed 1-0 to the Mustangs with 32:00 to play in the first peri-
LUIS CORTES/ THE ADVOCATE
Comet player Nick Silva (right) fights for the ball duringa 6-0 blow out home loss to San Joaquin Delta College, the first of a five-game losing streak to start the 2019 season.
od. Comet coach Rudy Zeller said that the lack of options he had available didn’t help his team’s performance. “We only had 12 guys, and one of them was hurt. We ran out of energy in the second half,” Zeller said. The coach said he was proud of his team’s performance in the first half, but also realized the disappointment in the second half of the game. “We received a shellacking in the second half and allowed soft goals,” he said. “The only place to go is up.” The team returns to action Friday Sept. 13 against College of the Redwoods at 4 p.m. in Eureka. CCC didn’t go down without answering and manufactured a scoring chance minutes before halftime. The Comets pressed the Mustangs with a beautiful give and go pass, but a great shot from sophomore Elizier Musah just missed over the crossbar. CCC ended the first half down 1-0, however, beginning the second half, the team quickly yielded a second goal. Delta attacked from the rightwing and crossed the ball into the box which forced the CCC goalkeeper to take a misguided path to the ball to attempt the save. This allowed Mustang midfielder Toby Penawebb to head the con-
tested ball in for a goal. Throughout the game, CCC struggled with the Mustang’s high press but did create a chance with nothing to show for it. The mustang’s third goal came off another loose ball allowed by Comet goalkeeper off a free kick. COMETS At 66:00 in the second period, the Mustangs led 3-0 Late in the game, the comets fatigue showed when they allowed a brilliant solo run from Mustang forward Miguel Armas. Armas’ MUSTANGS shot hit both posts and deflected straight to oncoming teammate Matthew Salas to give his team a 4-0 advantage. The Mustang’s final two goals came in the last five minutes of the contest. The fifth goal came from a misjudged ball by Comet defender Angel Ron while the sixth and final goal from a cross into the box. Delta finished the game with 18 shot on goal doubling the Comet’s nine. Comet forward Elizier Musah said the team’s fitness level is not where they want it to be. “Our second half fitness level was not there,” Musah said. “We left a couple of goals out there, but we don’t have enough players to show that we have a good team.” Freshman defender a Brandon Barajas said his team played wounded because of the low number of players. The defender also said scoreboard didn’t tell the whole story.
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WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 9.18.2019 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE
VAPING DANGERS UNDER SCRUTINY
National concern spurs local action banning vaping By Luis Lopez advocate staff
llopez.theadvocate@gmail.com
In an effort to address a growing health epidemic for America’s youth, the Richmond City Council has voted to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes and vape products like the popular Juul e-cigarette. The ban will begin in 2020 and is aimed at all electronic cigarette products that have not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The number of underage people who smoke tobacco has skyrocketed due to vaping products marketing ads aimed at younger people. City officials hope the ban will deter younger people from vaping and e-cigarette products that can potentially lead to death. Contra Costa County Health Officer Chris Farnitano advocates for the ban of e-cigarettes in Richmond and provides data on the matter. “For every adult who quits smoking, there are 80 youth who become addicted to tobacco because of products like Juul and e-cigarettes. The tobacco industry has done a good job of not only appealing to the youth but making people believe that they are safer than traditional cigarettes.” Using vaping as a form to stop smoking completely is a common trend and are common themes in vaping advertisements. Gateway to College student Juan Jimenez has been vaping for the past six months and said he is doing it in an effort to quit smoking completely. “I am eventually going to quit and this is my way of not smoking anymore and still getting the feeling of it,” he said. There are other ways to quit that are safer than vaping. Farnitano said other methods are recommended for people that want to quit smoking. “There are nicotine gum and patches. I would recommend that over vaping if someone plans on quitting.” According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, vaping has killed six people in the past year and left some 360 hospitalized for lung disease and respiratory failure. No specific brand or product is being named as the sole reason for these vaping related health concerns. The problem seems to be the lack of research into the vaping products. Until the tobacco industry invests enough money into the research of their products to get them approved by the FDA, they will not be sold in Richmond. When spoken to about the chemicals found in vape products Jimenez believes he gets his product from a reliable source even though it is an unofficial source “I’ve known the guy for a long time, so I trust what he sells me is something that won’t be bad for me.” Vaping and smoking are something everyone seems to be doing now that can be difficult to avoid. Second semester nursing major Abigail Plascencia is a non-smoker and said she has tried vaping but did not like it. “I knew a few people who did it in high school, so I tried it but didn’t like it. It seemed just like smoking if not worse.” She also said it’s evident smoking companies are targeting younger people with vapes and e-cigarettes. “The flavors are like hookah flavors, fruity flavors and I think that makes it seem like something you would want to try because they sound like candy flavors,“ Plascencia said. Jimenez said he does not believe the ban will deter many young people from using e-cigarettes or vapes. “Young people who want to smoke will find a way. Whether it’s sold here or not, if people want to find vape products, they will find a way to get them,” he said. Vaping has become a national crisis catching the attention of President Donald Trump who recently made some remarks about banning vaping nationally in a meeting about vaping in the Oval Office. Trump said, “We’re going to have some very strong rules, regulations and more importantly, I think we’re going to have some very important information come out very shortly.”
TIMELINE
1963-1979 In 1963 Herbert A. Gilbert patents a non-tobacco cigarette that heated a nicotine solution producing steam. Sixteen years later in 1979 Dr. Norman Jacobson developed the Favor cigarette, another way to inhale nicotine without smoking.
Sept. 11, 2019 the Trump Administration calls for the banning of most flavored electronic cigarettes amid a spike in teenage use and a string of lung diseases tied to the use of popular e-cigarettes. The regulations would ban all e-cigarette products that aren’t tobacco flavored
2003
2007 2019
Chinese pharmacist Hon lik develops an electric alternative to cigarettes that involved a heating element aerosolizing a liquid nicotine solution.
In 2007 electronic cigarettes enter the U.S. market.
INFOGRAPHIC BY XAVIER JOHNSON, DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
Anatomy of an e-cigarette Vapor
Mouthpiece
According to the Center for Disease Control e-cigarette aerosol contains fewer chemicals than regular cigarettes, but still contains Nicotine, Formaldehyde, lead and other harmful agents. According to the CDC vaping has killed six people in the past year and left over 300 hospitalized.
A wide variety of e-cigarette mouthpieces are available ranging from ceramic to childproof and everything in between. Veteran smokers believe since the mouthpiece is the final component to contact the actual vapor then it is one of the most important pieces.
Common “vape juice” ingredients are nicotine, vegetable glycerin, Propylene Glycol and any associated flavorings. Vegetable glycerin is an odorless, water soluble, plant-based fluid used to help with vapor production. Propylene Glycol is a food additive commonly used as a carrier to help dissolve ingredients or an antioxidant.
Liquid
Battery According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2018, 3.6 million high school and middle school students in the United States used e-cigarettes. The figures mean 4.9% of middle school students and 20.8% of high school students used e-cigs in 2018.
INFOGRAPHIC BY XAVIER JOHNSON, DENIS PEREZ / THE ADVOCATE
Types of Vapes 1. Rechargable Frequently sold with pre-filled pods
2. Disposable Similar in size and shape to cigarettes
4. Vape Pens 3. Tank Systems Large customizable devices
Medium vape devices
5. Ultra portable Pocket sized discrete vape devices