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THEBREEZEONLINE.COM ILLUSTRATION BY TRISTAN WALSH
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
DECEMBER 04, 2015
Calendar Friday, December 4, 11
Saturday, December 5, 6
Monday, December 7-11
Men of Color at Chaffey College Summit: “For Men Like Me...Driven to Achieve” series will have a discussion regarding the state of men of color at Chaffey College. The African American males event will be held on Dec. 4 and the Latino males event on Dec. 11. Both events will be held at Victoria Gardens from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Winter Concerts: The Music Department will host two concerts featuring student preformers. The Winter Choral Concert will be conducted by Professor David Rentz on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. with an encore performance on Dec. 6 at 2:30 p.m. The performances will be at the Theatre and admission is $12.
Fall Photo Show: A selection of photographs by fall semester students from introductory and advanced photography, fine arts, commercial, digital and film classes will be on display in the Theatre Lobby and the first floor of SSA. The winners from the different categories were selected by the faculty and staff.
Sunday, December 6
Tuesday, December 8
Dance Auditions: Auditions for the spring dance productions, Kaleidoscope, will be held at 2 p.m. in CAA-206. Previous dance training in jazz, modern, ballet, tap, ballroom or hip hop is recommended. Rehearsals begin Jan. 26, 2016. Contact Michele Jenkins at (909) 652- 6059 or michele.jenkins@ chaffey.edu for more information.
Pizza With The Presidents: ASCC’s final Pizza with the Presidents event will be held in Student Activities at 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Attending students will be able to discuss matters of concern with Dr. Shannon and ASCC President Caleb Beaver.
Friday, December 4 Winter Formal: The ReActive Club will hold a Winter Formal and Book Drive with live music, DJ, food and refreshments from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in AD-151 (Rancho Campus). Admission cost is one new or used children’s book for the Night with Santa program.
Editor-in-Chief Chris Salazar csalazar23@hotmail.com Managing Editor Sadie Gribbon Copy Editor Kristina Rocha Online Editor Erynn M. Affeldt Photo Editor Gina Duran Features Editor Jullian Aiden Bravo
News Editor Roberto Hernandez Sports Editor Cody Warner Reviews Editor Hanajun Chung Opinion Editor Erick Valenciano A & E Editor Kyle Smith
Baseline Editor Joshua Arnao Staff Writers and Photographers Students of Journalism 30 & 31 General Manager Roberto Hernandez Faculty Adviser Michelle Dowd Journalism Coordinator Neil Watkins
The Breeze is published up to eight times a semester by the journalism students at Chaffey Community College, 5885 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737. Telephone: 652-6934/6936. Opinions expressed in this publication are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff and should not be interpreted as the position of the Chaffey College District, the college or any officer or employee thereof. Letters and guest columns for or against any position are welcome. Letters should be kept as brief as possible (fewer than 300 words) and are subject to non-substantive editing according to guidelines established by the Associated Press. The Chaffey Breeze is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges and the California Newspaper Publishers Association.
DECEMBER 4, 2015
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
Letters From the Editor
Chris Salazar Editor-in-Chief As the year draws near an end, the frequency and intensity of violent
acts has increased. At the very least, the chronological proximity of the recent shootings, from Paris to San Bernardino, feels like an apocalyptic denoument . It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and to redact any hope for humanity as a whole. And while I can identify with that cynicism, which is, at least in part caused the 24-hour news cycle, my admonition is to temper that perspective, lest we fall prey to the lesser angels of our nature. We occupy a peculiar space in the human narrative. Modernity, for all its conveniences, beckons our attention: how will we navigate this bottleneck epoch in the coming decades? Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer. And I doubt seriously the ability of partisan
politics to provide one, because the ideologue vision is too narrow. As such, practical problem-solving suffers. Just as political polarization hinders progress, an inability to shed the antiquated differences of our shared past offers a similar message; they are simply clothed in different garments. Likewise, we are not so far removed from our similarities, save what we believe the color of our skin or our faith signifies. I think Marvin Gaye said it best: “We’re all sensitive people.” Though he has long since passed, his words echo a profound message. In a world of impermanence, we long for attachment.
From the Chief We are not here because it is mandatory, and it’s not easy to be a student. We are here to find ourselves, to invest in ourselves, and find opportunity. This semester every one of us either started or continued at Chaffey, which is no small task. Many of us balance work and family expectations. This semester has been challenging and rewarding for many of us. I applaud everyone who has persevered through the struggle to reach this point. This year ASCC has hosted a number of coffee nights and events, all geared to help you broaden your education. Furthermore, we have given thousands of dollars in grants to help all of you succeed in your classes. ASCC has held forums to expand the
consciousness of your education outside the classroom. We are so proud to offer services like the food pantry to those of you in need because each of you has the right to perform at your best, regardless of your situation. The week before finals, the ASCC scholarship list will be released and you will be able to choose from a hundred scholarships up to one thousand dollars. In ASCC, we do this for you. The dreaded finals week will soon be upon us, but let’s not forget that we have made it to this point, and our success is completely in our control. We know what you go through, because we go through the same experiences. We are students here for the students.
Caleb Beaver President of the ASCC
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DECEMBER 4, 2015
Contents News: 6. What You Need to Know Feature: 7. The Legacies We Leave Behind 8. Feminism With A Dash of Eastern Spice 10. Making Hope Happen 12. Letter to Legislator: Elderly Incarceration Campus News 13. International Students Week Feature: 14. The Man Behind the Beard Review: 14. ‘Creed’
On the Cover Biology major, Nesreen Alkam, assists Nursing major, Lunden Johnson, with her scarf.
DECEMBER 4, 2015
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DECEMBER 04, 2015
NEWS
What You Need to Know ROBERTO HERNANDEZ
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A holiday party in San Bernardino’s Inland Valley Regional Center was the scene of a violent massacre. At approximately 11 a.m. on Dec. 2, two shooters clad in black tactical gear and armed with AR-15 rifles opened fire, killing 14 and injuring 21 others, making it the deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary Massacre in 2012. Two Suspects have been identified, husband and wife Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 27. Both were killed in a gun battle with law enforcement after a high-speed pursuit. A third suspect was detained, but later shown to not have any connection to the shooting. In the wake of the tragedy, Democratic officials have called for common sense gun control laws. “Mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence in this country. This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop,” said presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders D-VT. Sources: Los Angeles Times, CNN
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The U.S. military announced it would open all combat roles to women. Secretary of defense Ash Carter announced the historic decision at a pentagon news conference on Dec. 3. “They’ll be allowed to drive tanks,
fire mortars, and lead infantry soldiers into combat,” he said. Carter acknowledged that there were “physical differences” and that not all women would be able to meet the demanding physical requirements, just as some men might not. He also acknowledged that the most elite infantry and special ops units would still likely be male-dominated. “It’s a thrilling day for women serving in the military — and for women across the country,” said Nancy Duff Campbell, co-president of the National Women’s Law Center. Senator John McCain and Representative Mac Thornberry said in a statement that the decision would have a “consequential” impact on the military’s warfighting capabilities. Sources: Reuters, New York Times
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The bloody civil war in Syria continues to bleed in to other nations as a Russian fighter jet was shot down in Turkey, near the Syrian border, Russian officials confirmed Nov. 24. Turkish officials say Russia Violated Turkish airspace, and that the pilot was given several warnings before being shot down. Putin claims the plane was in Syrian territory and that it was shot down to protect a secret oil
trade they had with ISIS. In response, Russia has placed restrictions on importing Turkish goods, as well as travel between the two countries. Turkish officials had previously warned Russia about violating Turkish airspace in Oct. 2015, and have shot down a Russian drone in response. Source: CNN
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DECEMBER 04, 2015
CHAFFEY BREEZE
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FEATURE
The Legacies We Leave Behind MADISEN MAJORS
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he small office, tucked away in the corner by the LA rooms is cozy, nearly cramped, yet peculiarly comfortable. The desk, fixed against the wall, consumes half the space of the office, yet still gives him enough room to move. The shelves lining the walls are filled with books from Stephen King to Shakespeare. His eyes are light brown and his smile inviting. He could almost blend in with students at Chaffey. “I always knew I wanted to teach. I knew I liked to read and write, so it made sense to teach English.” “When I was really young, I wanted to be a marine biologist because I liked the ocean and Shark Week,” he said. “I was always fascinated by sharks and I remember watching Jaws at a young age.” Now Keener says that he has the most rewarding job, feeling thankful to not have pursued his childhood career choice. Watching his students grow is what he likes most. “The most rewarding, and fun, thing about teaching is getting to know my students,” he said. “Watching them grow as writers and as thinkers, but also learning from them too.” When a professor enjoys his job and exhibits passion during lectures, students notice. When a professor is engaged and committed, students want to come to class and learn. The connection between a good professor and students, both learning from each
to lectures and reading from textbooks. Keener’s first day of teaching was terrifying: “I am not one to speak in front of a lot of people or like speaking in front of a lot of people. I had to take a lot of speech classes in college because I knew I wanted to be a teacher, so I had to overcome that anxiety.” Those speech classes went out the window. “Don’t give up,” he said. It is such a simple statement, yet powerful and true. “Because it’s easy to second guess yourself and let other people dictate whether or not you teach,” Keener said. “If that’s something you really want to do, then do it.” In college he had a professor who told him he should not teach at all. While that discouraged him, he did not let it deter him from his goal. “I think if people can say that Photo By: Gina Duran the world is a better place with me being in it, having lived in this world, other, is rare and gratifying. that would be the biggest thing,” he Keener was not always a good said. “Whether that is in a teaching student himself. “In high school I capacity or as a father, I just want to couldn’t care less about learning anyknow that I did something good and thing. I just wanted to hang out with that the world is better off with me my friends and do sports,” he said. having lived in it.” “But, once college hit, I really found Legacies are determined by how the value of learning.” lives are lived. He confessed it is a lot of fun to Shannon L. Alder said, “Carve learn just for learning’s sake. It is not your name on hearts, not tombstones. necessarily about getting to an end; A legacy is etched into the minds to learn about life and how the world of others and the stories they share works provides a better learning expeabout you.” rience than sitting in a class listening
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DECEMBER 4, 2015
FEAT
Feminism With a Da
T
o foster religious tolerance and understanding, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at Chaffey College conducted the Hijab Challenge from Nov. 23 through Nov. 25. The event included a panel seminar titled “Unveiling the Essence of Hijab” on the first day. Guest speakers included Religious Director at Middle Ground Muslim Center Marc Manley, Programming Director of Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative Margari Hill and Political Science Professor Manar Hijazi. On the second day, a hijab handout activity was held in the quad. Female students were invited to wear the hijab headscarf in and outside campus for one day to experience what Muslim women are often exposed to. A reflection and discussion on participating students’ experience took place on the third day of the challenge. Participants shared their thoughts about hijabs, and learned about society’s view on female Muslims in America that choose to appear in public with a headscarf. Hill spoke of the consequences of Islamophobia in the United States during the panel meeting, explaining as an African-American Muslim woman how the West perceives some Muslim women in hijabs, or hijabis as she calls them. “Muslim Women have been subject to violence on streets both verbally and physically,” Hill said. “It happened in San Diego after the Paris attacks and it’s a serious threat.” According to MSA Treasurer Suha Alkam, the Paris attacks did not stop MSA from sponsoring the Hijab Challenge event on its scheduled date. “We scheduled the event before
GEORGE the Paris attacks,” Alkam said. “Postponing it after the Paris attacks is like us saying we caused these attacks and take the blame for it. We just want to promote this peaceful image of Islam and eliminate the stigma attached to hijabis.” MSA secretary Nesreen Alkam assures that the stigma she experienced in high school as a hijabi, helped develop her confidence. Alkam’s experiences inculcated a strong sense of appreciation for diversity, making her the self-assured person she is today. “Sometimes I think if I didn’t wear a hijab, I wouldn’t be as outspoken as I am,” Nesreen Alkam said. “It forces me to distinguish myself from other people.” Nesreen Alkam says that participants will enjoy the experience of putting themselves in other women’s shoes that adopt different cultures and beliefs as long as they follow the guidelines in the challenge contract. Female participants were asked to sign a challenge contract. This contract demonstrated the importance of providing utter respect to the Islamic hijab participants were going to wear. According to the challenge guidelines, participants should ensure that their hair is covered at all times in public. Participants should refrain from participating in illicit activities while wearing the hijab, as well as engaging in physical contact with members of the opposite sex. International Chaffey student Jane-Francese Okere, 20, admits that avoiding physical contact with the other gender was the hardest regulation she had to abide by, considering most of her friends are men. “I looked at the hijabis sitting on the table in the quad,” Okere said.
“What came to my head was ‘If they can do this, why can’t you?’” According to Okere, wearing a headscarf for as long as any of her Muslim friends requires commitment she has never experienced. She hopes to find that power in herself one day as a woman and use it in finding her own voice. For 41 year old participant, Nicole Lopez, wearing a headscarf was something she’s done before as recommended by her doctor for a skin rash she had. Lopez knew what it meant to be looked at differently for covering her hair. Taking part in the Hijab Challenge, according to Lopez, is a positive, self-empowering experience and a reminder of women values. Denise Wilson, correctional science major, did not participate in the challenge but believes that hijab empowers Muslim women in ways only they can feel. “It’s ignorant for anyone to belittle a woman for choosing to cover her hair,” Wilson said. “I’m not here to impose my beliefs and culture on others.” Wilson believes that a Muslim who deliberately chooses to wear a hijab is comfortable to expose herself to the world from her point of view. Hijab redefines feminism for Muslim women in ways that cope with their cultural and spiritual beliefs.
Nesree
DECEMBER 4, 2015
CHAFFEY BREEZE
9
TURE
ash of Eastern Spice
E LAMIE
Student Reflections
Last week I participated in the Hijab Challenge sponsored by the Muslim Student Association. On Tuesday morning Ruqaiyah (President of MSA) dressed me with a scarf, completely covering my head and hair. For the remainder of the day I would not be allowed to take it off for as long as I was in public. The guidelines included, but were not limited to: dressing modestly, wearing clothes that covered all parts of the body except the hands and face, and refraining from any illicit activities while wearing the Hijab. Plus, no physical contact with the members of the opposite sex. As soon as I put on the Hijab I felt different. I was not concerned about the looks I would get, because I knew it was expected. Throughout the day, mostly everyone avoided making eye contact with me. I noticed people looking, but when I would look back at them, they tended to avert their eyes. I also felt like I got more respect from people because I was covered. I was definitely treated differently and it was only for one day. Muslim women who wear a hijab deal with this and so much more. Overall, it was a positive experience and I think most people had good intentions, but because they did not know what the significance of a hijab is, they were unsure how to interact with me. By educating our communities about the diversity of cultures and rePhoto by: Bara’a Kahlil ligions, we can put to rest misconceptions people have towards the things en Alkam helps Maia Haywood wear the Hijab scarf to they do not know. People fear the unknown because it’s easy. If you are begin her one-day challenge. afraid of something, learn everything there is to know about it. That’s the hard part, challenging yourself and your misguided ideologies. - Karina Hernandez I participated in this challenge. I took it to Disneyland and took my son, who is only 6 years old. I am proud of who I am. I am strong and confident, a child of God and I believe in equality. I believe we’re all the same. I commend you guys for wearing your sacred covering and I respect you for respecting the laws of God and yes, you’re right we should respect our bodies and not show anybody what we have. That’s only for our husbands. Obviously some women feel the need to walk around half naked in order to attract attention, but it’s the wrong attention. I refuse to allow someone to make me feel a certain way because they’re so quick to be judgmental. I’ve never cared about what they had to say about me. The only thing that matters to me is that I am a child of God and I respect myself enough to protect myself and the temple of God. Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for Photo By: Bara’a Kahlil allowing me to share with you. God bless. Maia Haywood added a touch to fit her style. -Sugei Ortega
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FEATURE
Making Hope Happen JULLIAN AIDEN BRAVO
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hen licensed vocational nursing major Marjorie Saint-Louis decided to leave her home behind in Haiti and live in the U.S. in 2004, she did so with the hope of creating a better life for her family. The 43-year-old single mother of two maintained a job at a U.S. Postal Service in Ontario and lived comfortably in the suburban neighborhoods of Rancho Cucamonga, but in 2010 her employer began to cut back on employees. Everyone with 10 or more years of experience would be allowed to keep his or her position. Saint-Louis had only five. Soon after loosing her job in Ontario, Saint-Louis lost her home in Rancho and relocated to Fontana, where she currently resides with her two teenage children. With her confidence gone and her sense of direction obscured, Saint-Louis found herself alone and struggling to find a job to support her family. “It is not easy when you are from a different country,” Saint-Louis said. “When you loose your place you loose your confidence and as a single mother with two kids, you don’t know where to go or what to do. I don’t have anybody here besides me and my two kids”. Unable to find employment, Saint-Louis sought to find a new beginning and decided to receive a nursing education at Chaffey College. She immediately became eligible for financial aid upon enrollment. It might be easy to think a top ranking school like Chaffey, situated in a wealthy suburban neighborhood in Rancho Cucamonga, contains a financially stable student population. However, according to financial aid director Patricia Bopko, over 65 percent of Chaffey students receive some type of financial aid. Saint-Louis began attending Chaffey in 2012 to get her life back on track and has since then been living off the money she receives from financial aid, as she is now in her fifth year of unemployment.
“The money I get from financial aid is what keeps us going,” Saint-Louis said. “I started from zero and to this day I don’t pay for classes. Financial aid has helped me”. Aside from the resources financial aid has to offer, Saint-Louis receives assistance from Chaffey’s Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS). EOPS is a program for community colleges that offers academic, personal and financial assistance to students who meet eligibility requirements. This program specifically aims to help under-resourced students achieve academic success. To be eligible for the EOPS program, students must qualify for the Board of Governors Fee (BOG Waiver), be enrolled full-time and have not completed more than 48 degree applicable units. Eligible students must either have had a high school GPA under 2.5 or not have earned a high school diploma. Like a majority of students who are new to Chaffey, Saint-Louis had no idea an EOPS program exists, let alone the services it has to offer. She was referred to the program by a friend. However, Saint-Louis was unable to meet the application deadline as she had a conflicting schedule. She sought help from EOPS in regard to her application and it was there when she met M.S. Counseling and Guidance Coordinator Diana Sanchez, who ensured Saint-Louis’s application would meet the deadline on time. Since then, Saint-Louis says the EOPS program has been helping her with books, parking permits, school supplies and even replacement eyeglasses. She was given the option of choosing between a food card or a gas card; she chose the gas card and in the middle of her 2015 spring semester, when her laptop unexpectedly and inconveniently broke-down, Sanchez offered her to be one of the first to begin an EOPS service in which eligible EOPS students are lent a laptop to use for an entire semester.
DECEMBER 04, 2015
“Success is not in winning the race, but rather in the journey that carries you through to the finish line.”
REACTIVE Vice President Kayla Johnson Kinesiology Major Age: 22
Club REACTIVE Mission Statement: To have a positive impact on our community. “Assist in identifying and maximizing one’s unrealized capabilities in a dynamic environment that strengthens them physically, mentally, and spiritually.”
DECEMBER 04, 2015
EOPS is located in the Michael Alexander Campus Center building (MACC) and primary services include foster youth specialized counseling services, academic and personal counseling, priority registration, orientation to college classes, cultural awareness activities, book rentals and textbook purchasing and transportation assistance. “It was really hard for me,” Saint-Louis said. “They [EOPS] got to know me and helped me and my family get back on track. I like the way they treat people. If it was not for EOPS I would have not made it”. As an unemployed single mother of two, Saint-Louis has just enough resources from EOPS and Financial Aid to get by, but whenever she can, she receives assistance from Student Activities and the Associated Students of Chaffey College (ASCC). According to Student Activities/ASCC Manager Charles Williams, ASCC is a lounge for students and a resource center where students can learn about club, cultural and social events as well as find information on academic opportunities. Williams says ASCC goes by the philosophy that connectivity leads to students success. “Students who are disconnected don’t succeed as well,” Williams said. “ASCC is where they come to connect.” Aside from Student Activities and ASCC providing a social and informational center, they both sponsor charitable events like the food pantry. According to the mission statement, the food pantry is to provide enrolled students with non-perishable foods. Last month Student Activities and ASCC sponsored three food pantry events, each one held at a different chaffey campus. Saint-Louis attended the food pantry held at the Chino campus on Nov. 18. The provisions she received were cereal, beans, tuna, pasta sauce, spaghetti, crackers, granola bars, toilet paper, a tooth brush, tooth paste, soap, razors and shampoo. “This is all geared toward success,” Williams said. “If you’re a student and you have a difficulty feeding your family, then you’re often faced with the decision of school or feeding your family. We want to help ease that and promote student success.” The food pantry is available to all Chaffey students as it is supported with the stu-
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dent fees that every enrolling student pays for upon registration. Student Activities and ASSC accepts outside donations of non-perishable food items as well, but prefers that students donate reusable bags and gift cards. Student Activities and ASCC also offer free counter food to any enrolled student everyday at all three campuses and sponsors other charitable causes like the Night with Santa event in which gifts and books are donated to families in need. The Night with Santa event will be held on Dec. 11 in the Rancho quad. The cause is an application only event. However, Student Activities and ASCC will still provide gifts to non-applicant students. A Chaffey ID is required. Aside from Financial Aid, EOPS, Student Activities and ASCC, Chaffey offers other beneficial services such as providing scholarship opportunities, book grants, health service, dental service and the Disability Programs and Services (DPS). Services aimed to promote student achievement, like many of the services at Chaffey, are what keep students like Saint-Louis from failure. Saint-Louis believes she can rebuild her life through Chaffey. Once she completes her studies, she plans to work as a nurse at the San Antonio Hospital in Upland or the Kaiser Permanente hospital in Fontana. When needed, she takes advantage of Chaffey’s free student transportation system with the public transit agency Omnitrans. Saint-Louis is one of many Chaffey students who benefit from the services Chaffey has to offer. The resources available to her have given her an optimistic outlook on her future as well the future of her two children. With all the services available to Chaffey students, optimism toward the future comes easy. Chaffey strives to create optimism and academic success, or as Williams puts it: “We make hope happen.”
Katherine “Kay” Peek, the director of Chaffey College’s Health services department said, “ If you stay well you’ll probably do better in school.”
3,400:
The number of patient contacts the health services office has had this semester.
$17:
Health services fee included in each students cost of tuition per semester.
$250:
The amount of money that could potentially be saved by using the health services office as a resource. #202:
The room at MACC for more information.
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DECEMBER 04, 2015
FEATURE
Letter to Legislator: Elderly Incarceration GUEST WRITER JANE DOROTIK W-90870, CIW
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he 2.3 million that we, as a nation, incarcerate has become a defining quality of this nation. The U.S. prison system costs taxpayers more than 80 billion dollars a year, a sum that eclipses the gross domestic product of more than 125 countries. Here in California the CDCR budget is ever-increasing, now over 12 billion dollars a year, despite a recent reduction in the prison population by 30,000 prisoners. Aging prisoners face some of the worst conditions and treatment behind bars and they are the most expensive to continue to incarcerate ($150,000 per elderly female prisoner, per year in California). By 2030 the aging prison population is predicted to be 4,400 percent more than it was in 1981, yet this population ’re-offends at the lowest rate of any prisoner group. Why do we keep so many elderly behind bars? Examples of elderly women — here at CIW — suffering behind bars include the following: ++ 71 year old Doris, spent 61 days in Ad-Seg (primitive form of solitary confinement) after a C.O. found extra rolls of toilet paper in her cell. ++Helen, 86, died alone and unnoticed last year. When Helen had served her term, she went before the Parole Board hoping to be found suitable for release, but the Board found her to be “a risk to public safety” because she “didn’t have firm employment plans.”
These are true, factual stories. There are so many individual stories of strife. Elderly women suffer greatly in this prison’s oppressive and domineering environment — from bullying, extortion and outright robbery at the hands of younger, more aggressive inmates; from ridicule, disrespect and callousness by guards; from medical care that is so inadequate it was deemed cruel and unusual punishment by the US Supreme Court. There is so much financial waste in keeping these elderly behind bars. I recently did a review of 18 elderly women (who should have been granted parole based on their profiles) yet all were denied parole. Collectively these women have all served their terms, and are now 235 years past their original parole dates, costing taxpayers an additional $32.4 million dollars. Multiple organizations and agencies have studied the problem of an aging prison population: The Human Rights Watch Report Old Behind Bars, Jan. 2012, recommends that states “review sentencing and release policies ... to determine what modifications could reduce the population of elderly prisoners without appreciable risk to public safety.” The Justice Policy Institute in a June 2010 report, “How to Safely Reduce Prison Populations and Support Returning People to their Communities,” invites states to consider parole for aging people in prison: “As the prison population ages, government agencies should consider releasing more older people on
parole because as people age, they are less likely to engage in illegal behavior. Decision-makers and legislators should use this statistical risk information to reduce the number of older people behind bars.”The prestigious Vera Institute has published an April 2010 report entitled “It’s About Time, Aging Prisoners, Increasing Costs, and Geriatric Release,” also recommending that “States that want to reduce corrections spending by releasing elderly inmates should generate comprehensive estimates of the overall cost savings to taxpayers.” In 2009 the Federal Bureau of Prisons initiated an elderly offender Horne Detention Pilot Program.” We have to ask ourselves: are we willing to bear the costs of keeping old frail offenders behind razor wire or is elderly parole or alternative custody a cost effective, no-risk solution? Just do the math! There are 200 women here at CIW over the age of 55. If just 85% of these were found suitable for parole or eligible for alternative custody (ankle-bracelet in the community) the state would save over $25 million in one year, at one prison. Knowing that more than half of high school drop outs end up in the penal system, choosing to fund corrections at the expense of education perpetuates a failed system and condemns future generations.
DECEMBER 04, 2015
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CAMPUS NEWS
International Students Week DECHANNE LANE
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ovember 16 – 19, the International Student Center held International Education Week. There was a flag parade led by a Dohl drummer, along with tables set up to educate students on the different cultures on campus including a Saudi Arabia table providing free henna tattoos and a Nigerian one, educating students on different ways to wear head wraps. The festival also hosted live entertainment and free food. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. The United States is currently the most popular country for International Students. The ISC currently hosts 170 students from 40 different countries. Sonia Torres, a staff member at the ISC, stated that “International students apply to the college and must go through an immigration process in which they are given an F-1 student visa. Upon completion they can either transfer to a university or return home.” Daniel Ani-offiong, a current international student in his first semester, describes experiencing a culture shock here despite visiting the U.S. for more than 10 years from Nigeria. One thing he struggled with was open book tests. He came to Torres one day and asked for help utilizing his book on tests. It was then that he was introduced to Post-It notes. Torres instructed him on using the color coded notes to highlight important areas of his books. He returned to her with a book
Photo by Roberto Hernandez bombarded with color on every page. The GPS center and educational plans, along with other key factors, were easily accessible aides that helped him. “I don’t see anyone taking advantage of that and it’s provided to you,” Daniel said. He compares the educational system here to the one back home noting that, “The educational system in Nigeria is extremely hard and there is no diversity. Whatever you major in is what you do until the end, you can’t really explore and know who you are as a person.” The ISC has greatly helped Daniel especially during his first few weeks where the staff took initiative to learn more about his background and constantly asked if he needed any assistance. Fortunately for Daniel, he can speak English, whereas there are students that sit in History classes right after leaving an ESL class. The
language barrier is a difficult hurdle to overcome and students do not have anyone to sit in class with them and help translate the lessons. “I definitely feel like most Americans don’t put in enough time and commitment into school work,” Daniel said of what he has witnessed from students. “It’s been made very easy and at the same time I don’t see anyone making any effort, maybe because education is free or you’re just paying $45 for a unit.” Daniel is not eligible for pell grants and must pay $257 per unit, along with maintaining full time status while here in the U.S. During the 2013-14 academic year, NAFSA: Association of International Education estimates that international students and their dependents contributed $27 billion to the U.S. economy. Daniel is currently majoring in Film and Television, with aspirations of becoming an actor here in the U.S.
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
DECEMBER 04, 2015
FEATURE
The Man Behind the Beard DISHANI LEULA
I
typed “Caleb Beaver” into my Facebook search bar, stalking his page for a contact number. He didn’t seem to mind the random text and agreed to meet me at Wargin Hall on campus. Even though I had met him plenty before, I was nervous about our dinner plans. As our student-elected President of the Associated Students of Chaffey College (ASCC) he had to be somewhat knowledgeable and wise. His attentive green eyes always seemed so problem solving and supportive. “Come on Dishi let’s do this!” Beaver’s familiar energetic voice interrupting my Facebook creeping. Considering the usual relaxed brown leather moccasins and cleanly pressed button-up shirt, almost met at the collar by the chocolate-caramel bottom fuzz of his well-groomed youngman-beard, I could see why people questioned the perfection. He was the textbook definition of student government president. We made it to Victoria Gardens in his white Toyota Prius and made our way to California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) on foot. I sat across from Beaver who coolly examined his menu and quickly suggested that the spinach and artichoke looked appetizing. I agreed without thinking twice or about his vegetarian diet, because I wouldn’t have said no even if I hated it. I was curious as to how someone so young had found his place and figured out how to inject compassion into our
aggressive society. I wondered if he thought it was possible for humans to stop fighting wars. “No. I think violence will always be present among humans. I think what war looks like will change, if we aren’t using guns and drones, we’ll use information and hackers.” “If you could stop war once and for all, how would you do it?” “If I could stop it. I really have no idea. Maybe consider the human cost.” As President of ASCC Beaver could compare himself to the President of the United States of America in that they have a responsibility to keep the peace and make decisions for a group of people. Beaver believed that small but regular compromises reduced long term conflict. I wasn’t going to be satisfied until he revealed something unusual about himself that people would never expect. “What do you wish was different about the 21st century?” “I wish people took more pleasure from just existing. Forget social media and technology because organic connections are truly human.” The place was completely empty, the chairs had been put up and Beaver sat across from me, cool as ever for someone who had so much responsibility. Walking back to the car I asked him what his dream job was. And that’s when I found the unusual answer I was looking for. “I love rap music. It’s both aggres-
sive and rebellious yet trendy. I love the lyricism and how open it is to outside influence. I love Kendrick Lamar. I love that he’s an actual rapper, not something constructed. I also love the intelligence and cleverness that can be found in his lyrics.” This was different from what I had been hearing that evening as I bored him with the same political BS he was used to. Beaver, our half Russian half Moroccan student body President, would be a ‘rap-star’ if he could. It was almost as if he wanted to be like Kendrick Lamar and find peace in himself, in his intelligence, and just sing. And he was, in his own way as President of ASCC Trustees, making decisions for 20,000 students as our student body president. I want to believe that someday humans will escape from the constant need to be better than each other and somehow find peace. I guess that’s when I can now look to people like Beaver who do their part in keeping the peace. I found an odd liberation in this understanding that someone so involved in the betterment of 20,000 college students found an escape in rap music-- I’m sure there is a lot more to Beaver’s connection to Kendrick Lamar but I’ll let his secrets keep us curious enough to find our own understanding of the world through new outlets and maybe eventually make it a mission just like Beaver and Lamar did, to spread our own special message of peace.
DECEMBER 04, 2015
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
REVIEWS
‘Creed’ HANAJUN CHUNG
A
s far as boxing films go, John G. Avildsen’s 1976 “Rocky” sets the bar on how to marry boxing and storytelling — or at least it does well enough to inspire many imitators. However, the franchise’s greatest strength is not necessarily boxing itself, but rather the characters that inhabit the universe created over six films. “Creed” follows a troubled, but gifted young boxer Adonis “Donny” Johnson (Michael B. Jordan). Despite being the son of legendary boxer Apollo Creed, Donny finds trouble in training full time. He moves to Philadelphia and seeks out his late-father’s best friend, a now elderly Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), hoping to train with the former champ. Through fresh eyes, “Creed” does a handsome job telling what feels to be the next logical step in the Rocky story. Coogler and Stallone use Rocky’s old age in an endearing way that fans of the series will find both beautiful and devastating. Rocky Balboa is quite possibly Stallone’s best role and his performance in “Creed” is his best in years, but by focusing the film around Johnson, director Ryan Coogler provides a completely different perspective in terms of age, race and community. Michael B. Jordan finds a star-making role in Adonis “Donny” Johnson. He takes the character and makes it his own, rather than doing some sort of impression. Jordan’s
Donny channels what made Carl Weather’s Apollo Creed so likable — he’s both charming and engaging on screen. If “Creed” decides to follow the footsteps of the franchise it’s honoring, future films don’t seem to phase Jordan. The Adrian to his Rocky is played by Tessa Thompson, his next-door neighbor Bianca. Thompson gives Bianca agency and personality which treat the character like more than a plot point, a welcomed presence in this film’s universe. “Creed” honors the “Rocky” films in that way. Familiar people, places or old tales of Philadelphia are modernized to recognize a predominately black presence in culture, especially in the boxing gyms. Structurally it stays faithful to the act breaks that “Rocky” started decades ago and doesn’t deviate too heavily. Coogler’s directorial flourishes comes through in the camera, especially in the boxing scenes. By utilizing longer takes, he’s able to draw even more tension in the boxing sequences. As far as boxing scenes go, these moments do something quite new and innovative. Yet, his loose, floating hand-held shooting of the more dramatic moments feel raw and grounded that’s tonally appropriate, a technique that worked successfully in his previous film “Fruitvale Station” (also starring Jordan). Ludwig Göransson’s score for “Creed” channels Bill Conti’s iconic piece for “Rocky” throughout the film,
but Göransson creates something new. Even though the score ultimately serves a similar purpose here as in the other films, Göransson’s music hits for maximum emotional impact and it’s impressively effective. Working within the universe of one of the most recognizable franchises is both a solace and challenge, especially when the sequels have gotten bigger and wackier (read: dumber) by “Rocky IV,” but “Creed” and the “Rocky” films greatest strengths lie in character. “Creed” has every bit of heart that “Rocky” does, going the distance in delivering a magnificent new character and story into this beloved universe. The Good: Great performances and creative direction. Powerful score. Fine continuation of story. The Bad: In essence, “Creed” is pretty much another “Rocky” film The Weird: Incredibly sentimental. Expect tears. Grade: A-
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DECEMBER 04, 2015
CHAFFEY BREEZE
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