Volume 24. Issue 8
November 25, 2013
www.thebreezeonline.com
Collecting hope for the holidays
GLORY PIÑA
As the semester nears a close and students negotiate research papers, presentations and finals, they will soon face the holiday season — a traditional time where people begin to open their hearts and look to donate or volunteer to help those in need. One student on campus has a perfect solution to those looking to make a difference. From the young age of 9, Gina DuranSalazar has had a heart for helping others. She recalls being in the car with her father and crying as she saw a lady standing outside standing on a freeway off-ramp with only a cardboard box just before it was about to rain. Her dad brought her back to bring the homeless woman some blankets, and it created within her a spirit inspired by altruism. She used her empathy to create a legacy of humanitarianism by creating the IE Hope Collective. When the Gay-Straight Alliance started to want to be more involved in the community, with help from last year’s ASSC President Carlos Huizar, she worked to create a group of students dedicated to helping dislocated people and abused women and children in places like Skid Row and throughout the I.E. It started with the name IE Urban Collective but eventually changed to IE Hope Collective to place emphasis on the fact that poverty is everywhere. The main mis-
sion is to show people that there is someone out there who cares. “Most of us go through really bad times and have someone to depend on,” Duran-Salazar said, “but these people don’t.” Even though Skid Row is associated with Los Angeles and not the Inland Empire, she recalls meeting a boy from Chaffey High School there. He once was a star athlete. However, he grew up in the foster care system and with no support system, he started to lose his way. “It’s important to show that someone cares because it helps them look into their situation and start to help themselves,” Duran-Salazar said. She added that the most enriching part of her experience is all the people from different cultures, religions, and sexual orientations that she gets to associate with and learn from. Duran-Salazar is also teaching her own children to be active in humanitarian efforts. She raises them the same way her father raised her by taking them to do outreach activities and teaching them to have compassion. Her wife, Cynthia, also help motivates her and encourages her to keep on in her efforts. The IE Hope Collective is looking for volunteers for its next trip on Dec. 7, when it will visit a shelter for abused women and children.
The shelter houses displaced teenagers that need clothes and supplies. It has a surplus of clothing for women and children, but winter items and clothes for men are needed most. Donation boxes are available in Student Activities and the Wignall on the Rancho Cucamonga campus. There is also a box at the Fontana campus in the Student Lounge.
Some of the items needed: blankets, scarves, gloves, jackets, new socks, beanies, toiletries, ponchos/raincoats/ umbrellas, first aid kits, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, thermals/long sleeves, jeans.
MICHELLE MENES
Gina and Cynthia Duran-Salazar stand in front of the Student Activities building with a collection box on Nov. 21.
Frustration reigns over ongoing ASCC controversy
RYAN GELUZ
Amid controversies accompanying recent student government developments, students, faculty, administration, and council members share one quality: frustration. Newly elected ASCC President ProTempore Corey Stevens brought forth allegations against ASCC President Kevin
Coduto for breaching Article III of the ASCC bylaws, notifying him of an investigation, but later withdrawing them without discussion during an open session. Stevens denied that an investigation took place, opting to call his actions an “inquiry,” but a series of electronic communications appear to say otherwise. On Nov. 9, Stevens sent Coduto an
MICHELLE MENES
Rancho Cucamonga resident Mark Gibboney passes out copies of an email he sent to ASCC members after he spoke at the weekly meeting on Nov. 18.
Looking for something keep you occupied during winter break? See page 8 for The Breeze staffers’ favorite ideas.
email, notifying him of allegations made against him and an investigation which was to take place. “It is my duty to inform you that a complaint has been made against you, and your actions, that if found to have merit would violate ASCC By-Laws, Article III Official Decorum,” Stevens said. “Do not discuss details of any investigation or complaint, even among other members of the ASCC, until a completion of said complaint and investigation are reviewed and decided on to completion.” Official Decorum, according to the ASCC bylaws, requires that an individual act with integrity at all times, that one not allow that their personal views be confused with that of the ASCC, and that all students, staff, faculty, and administration be treated with respect. Coduto responded to Stevens in an email on Nov. 11. “All meetings to conduct any form of business need to be done in the open and with transparency,” Coduto said. “Absolutely no member of ASCC can require information to be undisclosed.” The legality of closed sessions has been a controversial topic over the past several weeks. A memorandum issued by Associate Superintendent Sherrie Guerrero on Oct. 25 ruled that all closed sessions held
by the ASCC were illegal because they violated California’s Brown Act. On Nov. 12, Stevens called for another closed session on Nov. 13 to discuss the allegations made against Coduto in an email that included all ASCC executive board members, Director of Student Activities Susan Stewart, and ASCC Adviser John Machado. He asked that all attendees bring evidence packets. Coduto said he was not given a copy of the evidence packet. Several ASCC senators later reported not knowing about the meeting. On Nov. 13, Stewart said that the meeting was cancelled while the ASCC council consulted with attorneys to discuss the legality of their meeting. Stevens said that no investigation or meetings would take place until they were able to consult with their legal advisers. On Nov. 18, the ASCC held an open session, listing a discussion of allegations to be made against President Coduto on the agenda. The meeting was attended by several community members, some of whom criticized the ASCC, Stevens, and Machado for their behavior.
see ASCC page 3
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2 | Interest
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013
MICHELLE MENES
The College Church at Campus Explosion 4 “Confident” in the sports center courtyard on Nov. 14. Other performers at the event included Ryan Ries of The Whosoevers, Jarrod Davidoff, DJ Drue, Hopp, Kevin Moore and Rock Boy Fresh.
Nov. 25 - Dec. 1 Monday, November 25 ASCC Meeting
December 2 - 9
Thursday, December 5 Governing Board Meeting
The weekly meeting of the Associated Students of Chaffey College is held each Monday. 12:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. in MACC-208
The Governing Board meeting is open to the public. 4 to 6 p.m. in the SSA-227 Boardroom
Wednesday, November 27 (un)Silenced Students for Justice at Chaffey College
Free coffee and discussion with ASCC members & clubs. 5 to 7 p.m. in the CAA Lobby
The Chaffey College Philosophy Club is hosting a discussion regarding recent events on campus. 5 to 7 p.m. in SS-102
Thursday, November 28 Thanksgiving
All college offices and campuses will be closed November 28 - December 1 in honor of Thanksgiving. The Rancho Cucamonga campus Library and Success Centers will be closed Sunday, December 1.
Saturday, November 30 CSU and UC Fall Transfer Application Deadline
Coffee Night
Other Events
Ongoing Christmas Trees and Wreaths Available
Panther Baseball is selling Christmas trees and wreaths to support the program and players. Holiday items can be purchased through: olympicchristmastrees.com/chaffey-baseball
Thursday, December 12 Final Exams
Friday, December 6 Holiday Celebration Instrumental Concert Celebrate the season with an evening of Christmas favorites and swinging big band jazz. Tickets may be purchased at the Bookstore for $12. 7:30 p.m. in the Theatre
Final Exams are from December 12 - 18.
Tuesday, December 24 Winter Recess Begins
The college will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1.
Friday, January 3 Grades Available Online
Saturday, December 7 Pilgrimage: Songs of Travel and Adoration Fall Choral Concert
Monday, January 13 Spring 2014 Semester Begins Welcome back, Panthers!
Featuring Concert Choir and Ensemble Singers. Tickets may be purchased at the Bookstore for $12. 7:30 p.m. in the Theatre
Applications for all prospective fall transfer students are due Nov. 30.
ASCC During November 1st-3rd, seven ASCC members attended the Student Senate for California Community Colleges Fall General Assembly in Monterey, California. This conference gave members of the ASCC the opportunity to represent Chaffey College at the state level and advocate for students’ rights. ASCC Senator Daisy Serrato is the voting delegate for Chaffey College. Pizza with the Presidents at the Chino and Fontana campuses were a success. ASCC members participated in the Founders Day Parade representing Chaffey along with the Chaffey Panther.
Crime Log Nov. 12 — Battery: Noncohabitant Spouse Nov. 14 — Hit and Run: Property Damage Nov. 19 — Obstruction/Resist: Assault Nov. 20 — Hit and Run: Property Damage Nov. 21 — Burglary Nov. 21 — Petty Theft: Bldg./Vehicle/etc.
Member: Journalism Association of Community Colleges Editor-In-Chief Valeen Gonzales (909) 652-6934 thebreeze@chaffey.edu Managing Editor
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Potential criminal actions and any emergency on campus, including medical emergencies, should be reported directly to the Campus Police by dialing campus extension 6911 or 911. Upon receipt of the call, a police officer is dispatched to the site of the complaint and will have the authority to make arrests if necessary.
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The Breeze is published up to eight times a semester by the journalism students and members of the Associated Press Club at Chaffey 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, the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Associated Press Club.
News | 3
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013
ASCC
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 During the meeting’s public comment portion, community member Mark Gibboney called Coduto’s previous removal retaliation for exercising his right to free speech when he endorsed governing board candidate Zafar Inam. “That’s something that your governing board members do all the time,” Gibboney said. “They did in this election also make their endorsement, but President Coduto did it and it seems like he’s being put through the ringer for it.” Chris Smith, an administration of justice major, said that were was a lack of accountability for the recent Brown Act violations. “The law was broken,” Smith said. “That’s the bottom line.” After public comment on Nov. 18, Stevens motioned to strike the discussion on Coduto’s alleged breach of decorum from the agenda. The motion passed. Though it appears for now that Coduto
will not be removed from office any time soon, the ASCC bylaws, as they are written, do allow for investigations on this matter to take place at any time in the future. The press has yet to receive a copy of the allegations made against Coduto despite multiple inquiries. Philosophy Club president Patrick Jimenez criticized Machado for avoiding answering questions directly. Education paraprofessional major Vanessa Alaine agreed. “I suppose it was an error on my part to be expecting so much,” Alaine said. “I felt that a lot of the questions I asked were either unanswered or had been answered with circular logic.” Multiple students continued to call for accountability regarding the recent Brown Act violations. Machado did not accept full responsibility for the violation. “That could be all of ASCC if you push it,” Machado said. “They’re going to be the ones getting misdemeanors – all members of the ASCC.” Alaine called Machado’s statements
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and behavior unprofessional. “I am not quite sure what to make of [the meeting],” Alaine said. “I suppose I was expecting a certain amount of professionalism and poise when dealing with this sort of thing.” ASCC Vice President Carlotta Bohon said it was most important that everyone put the situation behind them. “The ASCC is not about Kevin or Corey or John,” Bohon said, “It’s about the students. We need to get back to serving the students.” Coduto was reluctant to leave it at that. “I think the reason why we can’t simply just move on from this is because there are so many unanswered questions,” Coduto said. “Why was it that a month ago eight (council) members wanted to put me out of office, and why is it that everyone is trying to put it behind them now?” Stevens also expressed wanting to move on to different issues, saying that the proceedings were over and done with. “There are much more important things to focus on,” Stevens said. “The students have not been served in over a month, and that’s a tragedy.” Jimenez later called Machado’s behavior at Monday’s meeting disgraceful. “Though I am glad that, apparently in response to overwhelming popular pres-
sure, Corey Stevens withdrew his call for another reckless investigation, the ASCC is still stalled,” Jimenez said. “Its inability to genuinely move on, even when we already know that what happened was wrong and that Kevin Coduto deserves an apology is entirely due to Adviser John Machado.” Machado did not comment further. Guerrero admitted that she was stunned at the time, energy, and resources devoted to the recent happenings, but her focus was on moving forward. “These current efforts have given Chaffey a black eye that was unfair and undeserved,” Guerrero said. “I believe we need to stop the emotional attacks, have some critical dialogue in the spring, and move forward.” Meanwhile, some students were unaware that anything out of the ordinary had taken place. “To be honest, I don’t even know the details,” theatre major Christina Apreza said. “If Chaffey isn’t making this information known, what else can be going on that we don’t know about?” Coduto admitted being tired of the entire situation. “If I was to be selfish, I would resign,” Coduto said. “But there’s nothing that could happen which would make me do that.”
Islamic Week raises awareness CHRIS HAIDL
The Chaffey Review, Chaffey’s studentproduced literary magazine, was recently named California’s best literary magazine by the English Council of California TwYear Colleges.
Michael Dinielli, dean of Language Arts, was awarded the Nina Theiss Award, which recognizes those who have significantly contributed to community college English instruction.
Islamic Awareness Week Nov. 18-22 spread awareness about the misconceptions and negative stereotypes that are faced by Muslims. Islam is a religion that is practiced by 1.6 billion people in the world, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center in 2009. The week’s events featured the Hijab Challenge on Tuesday Nov. 19. Hosted by the Muslim Student Alliance, members gave out free head scarves to women who were willing to wear them all day. Annie Duke, ICC Commissioner and winner of the last Hijab Challenge essay contest in Sping semester 2012, believes she can now better serve her students. “I'm able to experience life from their perspective first hand,” Duke said. "Friends and family see you different, the public sees you differently, co-workers work with you differently. You get to see from the outside in." Marisa Dufour, secretary for Eco Pirates, took part in the contest and described the whole concept as "very intriguing." “It gives a new insight into a different culture,” Dufour said. She also was vocal about the problems she faced during the challenge. “Everywhere you go there are people staring, They ask questions (about the hi-
JANET TRENIER
Imran Ali speaks to students about Islam in the quad on Nov. 19.
jab) and you never know what exactly to reply with," she said. The Muslim Student Alliance also had a theology student, Imran Ali, who just finished his general education at Cal State San Bernardino and is waiting on his acceptance letter from the Islamic University of Medina, in Saudi Arabia. Ali was on hand to answer any and all questions students had about islam and islamic culture. “I'm just like you," Ali said. “I'm a normal person, just of a different faith. Born and raised in America.”
Ontario Improv offers $5 tickets to students GLORIA ARGUINZONI
The Ontario Improv is now offering students entertainment options on a budget. “We get a lot of students, and we want to work with the colleges,” marketing director Mike Cano said. When students show their Chaffey ID at the entrance, they will get in for only $5 and be subject to a two-item minimum. The discount is available for any show
except special features. “That’s a freaking good deal,” theatre major Irena Sanchez said. Chaffey clubs are also being offered an opportunity to partner with the Improv in order to raise funds for their clubs. Any of the officers from a Chaffey Club can contact Mike Cano and request tickets. The clubs will receive 100 percent profit of each ticket they sell.
Oxford Dictionaries announced “selfie” as their international Word of the Year for 2013 on Nov. 19. Selfie was added to OxfordDictionaries.com in August 2013. Chaffey students Jonathon Chuwang and Katrina Sandridge shared their selfies with The Breeze.
4 | Features
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013
Advertising students creating a change on campus NANCY YEANG
“Figure out what challenge your client has and solve it,” Professor Thierry Brusselle said to his advertising class students. The challenge facing the class this fall was to raise awareness and improve visibility of the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services. There are three main groups that EOPS serves: foster youth; single-parent households, which is supported through the Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) program; and the newest group supporting AB 540 students, who do not have lawful immigration status. “What was most exciting was the connection with the student services,” coordinator of EOPS Diana Sanchez said. “It’s a great example of what education is. You can blend both the resources that you receive outside the classroom with the great knowledge you receive inside the class. It’s a great way to empower the students and that’s what we’re always looking to do.” Not only do Brusselle’s advertising students apply principles they learned in class to their proposals and projects, they were also highly involved with the EOPS staff, as well as community and campus members. They even held a video conference with Brian Sheehan, former regional CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, one of the top advertising firms in the world. The students applied advertising concepts from the book, Lovemarks, written by current CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, Kevin Roberts, to better connect with their audience. The book teaches how to use the heart
as well as the mind to create an intimate, emotional connection with the audience. Through this concept, students are better equipped to find better solutions to the challenges. “One of the obstacles was the battlefield of admissions,” sociology major Sarah McMillan said about outreach to foster youth. “The schools are being impacted and overcrowded.” McMillan mentions that foster youth involved in EOPS receive the needed support for them to stay motivated and often return to give back to the community and make a difference. Some of the services that EOPS provides are financial aid and grants, one-onone counseling, priority registration and child care services. “You know how people say, ‘I only have two arms and two legs?’ It’s those extra two arms and two legs that someone always needs,” business administration major Joseph Warren said. “We’re creating awareness. We’re not just doing it for [EOPS], we’re doing it for the benefit of the people.” The students didn’t treat the advertising class as a general education course. The more they become involved with the impacted individuals and the services EOPS provides, the more invested they become in the benefits they could provide to better serve their clients. Music major Josh Gill was involved with the project to improve awareness for the AB 540 students. “I learned how to portray another group you’re not familiar with, and understanding that it can be a really sensitive topic
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MICHELLE MENES
Professor Thierry Brusselle with his advertising class outside the Business Education building on Nov. 21.
and you have to treat it with respect,” Gill said. “Although you’re trying to put the message out, you have to keep it as simple and straightforward and clean as possible.” Brusselle’s advertising class gives an opportunity to empower the students to make a significant difference on their campus. “I’m really looking forward to seeing [the presentations],” Sanchez said. “I’m so
proud of the students and of our staff, too, and that we’ve been able to do what we can to contribute to this. Regardless of whatever the results are, it’s all built in to the learning process and I think that’s what’s so unique about this. Whatever they get from this experience will definitely be beneficial for them and for us.”
Features | 5
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013
Fashion show displays fashion from around the world CHRIS HAIDL
International Education Week brought with it a slew of musical and dance performances from cultures spanning all four corners from the end of the world to the quad on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Among the performances were booths being run by every club that participated in some form with the putting on of International Education Week.
“Many students do not know about cultures outside the U.S.,” Lee Tsao, vice president of the Multicultural Club, said. “This event is a great opportunity to spread information about different culture” Among other groups in attendance was Circle K International, whose members right off the bat wanted to make it known they have no association with the chain of gas stations by the same name. Circle K International, an international
club with chapters on nearly every college, used the event as a stage to present its district’s current cause, an anti-bullying initiative. “It is important to raise awareness about the problems facing each other and each other’s cultures,” Isaac Miller, president of Circle K International’s Chaffey Chapter, said. The International Fashion Show was presented the by International Student
Center with help from Extended Opportunities Programs and Services (EOPS). “We made a call for all EOPS students to participate in this event if they can,” Ruth Collins, EOPS program assistant, said. “It is interesting to see all the different cultures come together with all these different aspects,” Madiha Khan, frequent volunteer for ASCC who also participated in the fashion show, said.
MICHELLE MENES
International Festival Day featured Scottish Bagpipers and a flag parade that traveled from the Administration Building to the Quad on Nov. 20.
MICHELLE MENES
Loree Rapp of the Haseen Dance Company performs in the Quad for International Festival Day on Nov. 20.
MICHELLE MENES
Lazaro Galarraga of SitaraSon performs in the Quad for International Festival Day on Nov. 20.
MICHELLE MENES
Nutrition major Sandra Rubio and nursing major Fatima Mandene dance to music by SitaraSon in the Quad on Nov. 20.
MICHELLE MENES
Bollywood dancers Pragati Gupta, Heart Hayes, and Manasi Chavan perform in the Quad at International Festival Day on Nov. 20.
There are more than 200 international students enrolled at Chaffey, representing more than 40 countries around the world.
MICHELLE MENES
Loree Rapp of the Haseen Dance Company invites students to join her dancing in the Quad for International Festival Day on Nov. 20.
6 | Arts & Entertainment
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013
Atheist Christmas: oxymoron or good fun? KIMBERLY JOHNSON
MICHELLE MENES
An interactive display in the Wignall invites visitors to try on a backpack and experience the weight of what soldiers carry.
One Book, One College honors vets at Wignall Students, faculty, and community members honored U.S. war vets through the sharing of inspired and creative works, providing an environment of collaboration for all involved. One Book/One College occupied the Wignall Museum from Nov. 12 to Nov. 22. Kicking off with a Veterans Day Recognition, the first week of the movement honored U.S. war vets through keynote speeches, film screenings, and a games day. The second week brought students and community members together to share personal works inspired by “The Things They Carried,” as well as featuring discussions with filmmakers and studio artists. -Ryan Geluz
It is understood in American society that celebrations such as Christmas are largely embedded within the culture. The holiday calls for prominent acknowledgement by the majority of our nation’s citizens and continues to be anticipated by the millions, including Patrick Jimenez, president of the Philosophy Club and the Gay Straight Alliance. However, Jimenez is an atheist. Some would presume this would present itself as a dilemma given Christmas’ direct relation to Christian ideologies and its purpose as a celebration of the birth of Jesus. So, a question is posed. Can an atheist celebrate Christmas? The answer: Absolutely. I’m not sure if this is overtly informal. If so, please let me know. “Christmas still has a lot of cultural meaning that goes beyond religion,” Jimenez said. “In practice, it is quite a national holiday. I know that the holiday season can be very depressing for some, especially those who do not have family or feel like they belong. As I was thinking of a way to build community, it hit me that atheists probably feel very lonely during Christmas.” Jimenez thought of a plan to coordinate his own rendition of a traditional family Christmas celebration — except without the religious sentiments and with the inclusion of college students as a replacement for the usual assortment of in-laws and extended family. “I have always loved Christmas, especially as a child,” he said. “I loved the presents of course, but more than that, I loved the sense of family and community.” Jimenez explains his intentions are to host a gathering with a healthy balance of
ILLUSTRATION BY: JAKE BAYLOR
traditional Christmas flare with a few atheist touches. “This includes my desire to have a ‘pin the Jesus on the cross game,” he said. Religious practitioners of the holiday need not fear, Jimenez assures that he has nothing personal against any Christmas participant who may hold traditional Christian beliefs. “I do not want it to be an anti-Christian Christmas party,” he said. He does, however, want his affair to be one that examines the possibilities of alternative Christmas activities, down to the menu options. “I am not going to focus on making traditional Christmas food, though I will be buying eggnog,” Jimenez said. “My view is that Christmas is a time for good food, and that is the only criteria.” The food and fun will be topped off by an assortment of games and movie viewings as well as a secret Santa exchange. Let The Breeze know what types of alternative holiday celebrations you will be enjoying this season by going to www. facebook.com/chaffeybreeze.
Reviews | 7
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013
‘Thor: The Dark World’ is an improvement, but still unspectacular
HANAJUN CHUNG
A good sequel is expected to improve what the original did best, while fixing the problems of the first film. “Thor: The Dark World” hits all the marks of a good sequel, but unfortunately leaves it at that. The sequel to “Thor” and “The Avengers” finds itself in an unfortunate position of being better than only one of the aforementioned films, ultimately lacking grandiose and feeling pedestrian for a film about gods. “Thor: The Dark World” finds the main cast from the original in continuing the story after “The Avengers.” Hopping between Earth and Asgard, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself reunited with his distant love, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), when she uncovers a mystical weapon called the Aether. When an evil force of Dark Elves, led by Malakith (Christopher Eccleston), awaken to capture Jane, Thor must call to the aid of Loki (Tom Hiddleston), his brother and foe, to stop them from destroying the universe. Initially, everything seemed liked an upgrade. The original “Thor” was directed by modern Shakespearean legend Kenneth Branagh, who was able to nail the grand, majestic voice required to set the tone, but seriously fumbled the big action moments. The villain this time was to be better — despite Loki’s ever-welcome presence — and played by an actor perfect for such malice, rather than a CGI lava-breathing robot. And like most sequels of this genre, it did away with the time-consuming origin story. Director Alan Taylor showed with his work on “Game of Thrones” that fantasy and mythic storytelling can be deep, compelling and have dramatic weight. Maybe it’s the script or the aim for a PG-13 rating that subdues the film in a great way. For younger audiences, it’s actually a really fun time in the movie, because it’s big
Chris Hemsworh as “Thor” in the sequel ‘Thor : The Dark World.’
and has some large-scale action reminiscent of the other sword-and-sandal films. It’s just that Taylor has done some really good work for adult audiences, and that’s missing here. The action is larger, better directed and has a scope that’s appropriate to the setting. And the finale for “Thor: The Dark World” is fun, inspired and quite energetic, despite it being written somewhat haphazard. Christopher Eccleston is a fantastic Scottish character actor that has an incredible range, but is at best in a genre role. As a leader of a group of all consuming Dark Elves, Eccleston seems perfect. However, he’s underutilized greatly, subdued in his performance that’s detrimental to the film’s enjoyment. He looks threatening, but then it becomes a wait to see when
Courtesy Walt Disney Studios. Copyright Marvel Studios.
our hero will eventually defeat the big bad. The story might make threats of epic proportions, but deep down, “Thor: The Dark World” is a love story, only by comparison. This, uses the love story between Thor and Jane as the crux to drive the narrative. Which is fine, but it didn’t succeed due to it feeling too forced and coincidental to be taken seriously. “Thor: The Dark World” actually nails the comedy moments when it tries to gain laughs. Chris Hemsworth again shows that he’s more than just a body (albeit it’s quite a body), and that he has what it takes to play the God of Thunder with decent range. The supporting performers have fun playing characters that are pure witnesses to the mayhem, and seeing their reaction is when the film genuinely enthralls. Stellan Skarsgård and Kat Dennings are really funny as the scientists working with Jane in trying to uncover the entire situation. They really elevate the scene they’re in. Special mention must go out to Tom Hiddleston, who single-handedly is keeping the character Loki alive after being de-
What better time to sit back and watch a movie with the ones you love than the holidays, especially since there’s many great picks? Copyright 2K Games
“Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 1” JAY ADAMSON
Avid gamers will find a lot to love in the downloadable content for the impressive game, “BioShock Infinite.” The first episode, “Burial at Sea,” was released on Nov. 12. The added content is short, which is disappointing. Despite its length, the episode didn’t feel short at all. The plot grips the player right away, and the amount of immersion is pretty high while playing. The story involves “BioShock Infinite’s” main protagonist, Booker Dewitt, in the setting of the previous two games, the underwater metropolis named Rapture, turned into a wretched hive of scum and villainy. This is the result of “plasmids,” a storebought gene-altering serum that lets one
gain superpowers. It has a great plot, but it’s not a stand-alone, because it needs to be played after the initial story in the game to understand some of the key plot points. “Burial at Sea” gives “BioShock Infinite” a better premise for the plasmids. The dangers of Rapture and its denizens are a much more logical excuse for these deadly abilities than the peaceful, albeit fanatical, world of Columbia. The plot is pretty straight forward, with the side-quests offering much the same qualities. Most of them involve a hunt for the recordings of someone. These will give players a bigger picture of what Rapture was all about and how people lived and coped there. The main plot, however, is gripping, detailed, and fun, but one is left wanting more when it’s over.
This list only contains feature-length, theatrical releases. So, no TV specials or even TV movies (sorry, “Hebrew Hammer” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas”). Grab the eggnog, maybe some pie, and have fun with any one of these picks! 1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) Frank Capra’s 1946 classic is one of the most recognized and beloved films in existence. This life-affirming masterpiece has been the inspiration for many, revealing all that’s sacred in life through its deep yet simple story of “what if I was never born?” 2. Love Actually (2003) “Love Actually” successfully blends the romantic comedy with the holiday genre in a way that’s sweet, heartfelt and incredibly emotional. By the time this film ends with The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows,” you’re compelled to put
feated film after film through pure charisma and talent. The man steals every scene he’s in and is actually the best part of this entire film. He and Hemsworth’s scenes alone make this film far superior to its predecessor. “Thor: The Dark World” is a better film than its original, but not by much, and at 112 minutes, it’s told in a reasonable time. While the film has its share of epic moments, it unfortunately doesn’t feel big and divine, reminding audiences of Hulk’s dismissal that even gods can feel puny. The Good: Improvement from the first. Asgard feels more realized. Supporting players. Whenever Thor and Loki are onscreen together. The Bad: Underutilized talent. Weak script. Feels like setup rather than a complete story. The Weird: There are two post-credit sequences. Both are quite weird for wildly different reasons. Overall: C everything aside and provide your loved ones with a warm embrace. 3. A Christmas Story (1983) Bob Clark’s film has also become one of those go-to films for the holidays, lasting and impacting pop culture through its quirks and charms. Whether it’s a scene involving a BB gun or a boy’s frozen tongue, “A Christmas Story” is always a reliable choice for the holiday. 4. Home Alone (1990) This inventive, playful and appropriate film is a no brainer. What makes “Home Alone” a great holiday film is that the protagonist — Macaulay Culkin’s iconic Kevin McCallister — and his journey eventually teaches him the true meaning of Christmas with an ending that’s quite perfect. 5. Die Hard (1988) When the title card fades in, audiences are serenaded with “Jingle Bell Rock,” a cool opening to an otherwise chaotic film. However, that coolness is John McClane, an ordinary man in over his head, with the one goal of meeting his wife for Christmas. He and the audience know what the holidays are all about — he just had to violently convince the terrorists.
8 | Breeze Faves
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013
Tips from The Breeze for finals and winter break Excuses, Excuses
TV rots our brains
Want to get out of going to another boring holiday party? Here are our best excuses:
After a semester spent doing homework, studying for exams and publishing a newspaper, we’re behind on our favorite shows. Here are our suggestions for shows to catch up on or revisit:
“Too far to drive.” - Janet “Shut up! I do what I want!” - Jake
“Newsroom” - Val
“I’m a rebel.” - CJ
“Arrested Development” - Kim G.
“I’m going to be miles away reporting on a rock star.” - Kim J.
“Futurama” - Jake
“I’m not coming. Have fun.” - Ryan “I have to take care of my dog.” - Nancy “Grandma got ran over by a reindeer.” - Mel “The cat’s on fire!” - Andrew “I don’t celebrate holidays.” - Toinyetta “I have prior obligations.” - Robert “Really?” - Hanajun “Aliens.” - Michelle “I’m leaving the state. You know, family on the East Coast.” - Micah “I have to wash my hair.” - Julie “Sorry, I have to work.” Kim G.
“Death Note” - CJ JULIE COSGROVE
Jatinder Pal Singh guides Jackie Bautista and Lama Layos into the dining room of Haandi Indian Restaurant to be seated for a weekday lunch.
Dine on delicious food at Haandi Indian For an easy, exotic and welcome break from holiday madness, try the lunch buffet at Haandi Indian Cuisine, where for $9.99, a sumptuous and even healthy meal can be had. The buffet is stocked with Indian favorites, cooked lovingly and well, and is accompanied by a basket of light crispy garlic nan (bread) brought to the table. For vegetarians, there is aloo gobi, lentil stew, and spinach. For carnivores, chicken tandoori, chicken karahi, and for the brave, goat curry (delicious) — and much, much more. Instead of coffee, there is Chai tea, served steaming in an elegant goblet to go with desert: Gulab Jamun, a confection
made of grated carrots cooked with milk and nuts and Gulab Jamun (go find out for yourself what this treat is!). Haandi does get busy but if you choose to order from the menu, crowd favorites are chicken tikka, pappadums, lassi. So, when turkey leftovers get stale, you’re too frazzled to cook or fast food weighs you down, check out Haandi for a little bit of heaven… er, nirvana. The buffet is served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the restaurant near the intersection of Haven Avenue and Foothill Boulevard. -Julie Cosgrove www.haandi.net
Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony - Jake Disturbed - Michelle BBNG - Micah Sigur Ros - Val Bon Iver - Kim J. Thievery Corporation, Ali Farka Toure, Bon Iver - Danna Late Night Alumni - Ryan Kid Koala, Nujabes, M.I.A., Mike Snow, Alabama Shakes - Nancy
“Orange is the New Black” - Andrew “Sons of Anarchy,” “Drugs Inc.” - Danna “House of Cards,” “Homeland,” “Sherlock (UK)” - Hanajun
“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens - Jake
One Direction - Genesis
Film Scores - Hanajun
“Top Gear (UK)” - Robert
“The Return of Simple” by Langston Hughes - Janet
Ed Sheeran - Kim G.
Nujabes - CJ
“Doctor Who” - Michelle
Looking for a little light reading? Maybe something to keep your brain cells in shape? Breeze staffers offer suggestions for books to read over the break.
Beethoven - Janet
Zero 7 - Andrew
“Strangers with Candy,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Daria” - Jad
Breeze bookworms
We just have to make it through finals and we will be free to sleep all day and party all night, or work extra hours and catch up on laundry. The newsroom is starting to smell lived-in. What do Breeze staffers listen to as they prepare for finals?
Folk - Robert
“Little House on the Prarie” - Janet
“The Wire” - Micah
Music for studying
Incubus - Mel
“Ren & Stimpy,” “Rugrats,” “Rocko’s Modern Life” - Nancy
“Scandal” - Kim
“I have to publish a newspaper!” - Val
Bow Wow - Toinyetta
“Law & Order: SVU” - Genesis
JULIE COSGROVE
Owner Jared Filippi in the Tasting Room and Store of the Filippi Winery, where their award winning bottles of wine, gift items and stemware are offered.
Filippi Winery + Chaffey grapes = wine Ever wonder what happens to the grapes in the vineyard at the northwest corner of the Rancho Cucamonga campus? With holiday celebrations in mind, we wondered what wine had been produced from those grapes, which we learned had been picked during the summer by a crew from the Filippi Winery on Baseline Road and Day Creek Boulevard. We caught owner Jared Filippi, who is understandably proud of his winery, and he willingly took a few minutes to talk about his operation, his wines and to answer a few questions about the alicante bouchet grapes grown on the hillside campus. Since 2008, the winery has been producing and selling a holiday wine, Alicante Rosato, made with the deep red, warmthloving grapes. “It is the only grape I know that when you squeeze it, the color is red,” Filippi said. “With other grapes, the color is so much lighter, not really dark.” This fall, the grapes were used to create
a port wine, Alicante Bouchet, which the winery produces perhaps every three years. Filippi and his wife and winemaker, Kristina, have even tested the grapes in anticipation of an alicante red wine. Both the Rosato ($9.95) and Port ($18.95) are in stock at the Wine Store. The Cucamonga valley is the oldest wine producing area in the country with a history that goes back to the Spanish land grants. The Filippi family has been growing grapes and making wine since 1922 and in the past 30 years, has garnered more than 300 awards for their wines. In their Tasting Room and Store, bottles are lovingly displayed. Each wine has its own story and bears a distinct label, some designed by Filippi himself. The working winery conducts tours Wednesdays through Sundays at 1 p.m. -Julie Cosgrove josephfilippiwinery.com
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy” by Douglas Adams - Michelle “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hess - Hanajun “Curious George” by Margaret and H.A. Rey - CJ “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho - Nancy “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway - Nick Anything by Edgar Allan Poe - Mel “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas - Andrew “Farenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury - Micah “The Perks of Being Wallflower” by Stephen Chobsky - Kim “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy - Jake “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White - Robert The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins- Kim G.
Opinion | 9
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013
Breeze staffers share their concerns about Chaffey governance An appeal to logic and truthfulness
VALEEN GONZALES
It’s been a long semester. I, like many other students, am feeling worn out and willingly admit that I would love for the whole ASCC story to just go away. However, recent ASCC meetings, and even the November Governing Board meeting, fail to address the questions and concerns that we and other students have. As the editor, I could choose not to approve any more stories about the ASCC, but I know it would be a disservice to current and future students if their newspaper didn’t report on the actions of those who govern their school. It’s not easy to be the messengers, but we have a responsibility to shine a light on the things that others would like to keep hidden. For our work as the messengers, we have received some backlash — from a faculty member sending an email to administrators and then speaking at a Faculty Senate meeting to discredit us with claims that we are not objective or accurate, to a President/Superintendent saying that we have a responsibility to be accurate. I am just as interested in accuracy as our critics. I urge those who take issue with our
coverage to carefully read the stories that were published and contact me about any factual errors so that we can print a correction. As I have learned from a logic class, arguments without grounds are assumptions. Assumptions don’t make our critics credible. I want to give an understanding of The Breeze to our critics, our supporters and those on the fence about us. We are students. We take other classes, have jobs and have families outside of the newspaper. On top of all the other responsibilities and obligations we have, we spend a lot of time working on the newspaper. Since the ASCC story broke, we have spent even more time working on the newspaper. We have given up time with our loved ones, time for our work in other classes and countless hours of sleep just to make sure that we got the story right. There are a lot of rumors going around, but we don’t deal in rumors. We have been extra careful with the ASCC stories, reading and re-reading them to make sure they are accurate. We have exercised a lot of restraint in our commitment to objectivity. I applaud Ryan Geluz for his coverage
ILLUSTRATION BY: KIRK MCCONNELL
this semester. He had to put himself out there and ask the tough questions, which wasn’t easy. Though this may not be certain individuals’ shining moment, I still love Chaffey. It is because I love my school that I care so much about reporting the truth and advocating transparency. Though it may be a rough ride for us now, I hope future students will enjoy a college that listens to their concerns, an-
swers their questions truthfully and governs with transparency. Perhaps Dr. Sherrie Guerrero said it best in best in an email with the words, “This is not who you are as Chaffey faculty.” I honestly hope that the secrecy and lack of accountability demonstrated this semester is not who we are as a Chaffey College community, because I expect better of those governing my school.
Serious charges demand serious leadership; we should demand better
ANDREW COONS
I am extremely disappointed and disheartened by the lack of professionalism and diligence exhibited by the Chaffey College Governing Board, specifically regarding the handling of the ASCC President’s removal from office and the continuing struggle focused on ensuring that the rights of students are maintained. I had hoped I wouldn’t feel the need to continue addressing this issue, but comments made by board members at the Nov. 19 meeting have made it impossible for me to stay quiet. It has been made painfully clear to me that this group of people have not taken portions of their responsibilities seriously. During public comment, community member Mark Gibboney outlined his concerns in a clear, calm, and collected fashion. He included specific events that had occurred, and gave his opinions on those events. Throughout the rest of the meeting, board members addressed the comments put forth by Gibboney in a progressively
flippant, sarcastic, and aggressive fashion. Governing Board Vice President Lee McDougal was the first to respond. “One thing’s for certain,” Lee said. “Our process allows anyone to stand up at the podium and say anything they like. It doesn’t necessarily have to be true or accurate. But they get their three minutes.” This evoked laughter from at least one person in the room. To Lee’s credit, he did later express concerns about how these events would be recorded, and expressed a desire for investigation. However, while addressing this, Lee felt the need to attack Gibboney’s character. “There are wing nuts in every corner, and wing nuts just go away,” Lee said. Is it really such an extreme desire to want transparency and accountability? Throughout most of the meeting, board member Katie Roberts maintained an informal approach, preferring to make jokes and garner laughs in lieu of addressing the concerns of a representative of the community who had admitted to voting for her in past elections. I found this attitude sordid. In my opinion, Superintendent/Presi-
dent Dr. Henry Shannon really stole the show. While discussing another matter, he made an ironic comment. “Sometimes, it’s kind of hard getting the truth out of some people,” he said. Indeed. Things really got interesting when Shannon discussed his childhood in Mississippi. In a manner that made him sound more like a prison warden than a superintendent, Shannon remembered the words of his elders. “You were told to listen and shut your doggone mouth, and try to learn something,” he said. I think Shannon has failed to learn something in his years of gathering wisdom and experience: respect is better earned than demanded. He did admit that even he learned something through this experience, and that he should “do a little more teaching.” The problem, however, lies within the content of the course. Additional comments Shannon made shadowed slanderous remarks previously made by ASCC Adviser John Machado. “All of us in this room have an obliga-
tion to get the facts, whatever those facts are, and write and even with our student journalists, they have a responsibility to be accurate in their reporting,” he said. “I’ve seen so much said and done that disturbs me as an educator. It’s important we teach our students to be reflective of all points of view and not have a slant to anybody because they have an agenda.” My conclusion after hearing this is simple: Shannon simply hasn’t read the student newspaper. If he had, he would see that the sole student reporter for the violations of the Brown Act and the ensuing aftermath, Ryan Geluz, has been extremely professional and as neutral as possible given the situation, which is not always an easy thing to do when one party is breaking the law. These sorts of comments made by Shannon and Machado are an insult to all Breeze staff members. To make such claims without a shred of substantiating evidence is shameful and alarming, especially when considering the expected stature of the people speaking them. Both the students and the community deserve better.
Those involved in ASCC debacle should think critically about their legacy KIMBERLY JOHNSON
During a Nov. 19 Governing Board meeting, Superintendent/President Dr. Henry Shannon had this to say about “student journalists:” “They have a responsibility to be accurate in their reporting. I’ve seen so much that has been said and done that disturbs me as an educator. It’s important that we teach our students to be reflective of all points of view and not have a slant because they have an agenda.” Ryan Geluz, a writer of who has practiced nothing but integrity while reporting on the “Coduto Ordeal,” has carried the task with grace and an objective nature that I imagine must have been hard, given the consistent display of rigid and unwarranted behavior by Shannon, Associate Superintendent Dr. Sherrie Guerrero and ASCC Adviser John Machado.
“I hope folks have learned a lesson,” Shannon said at the meeting. I find this comment eerily perverse. Dr. Shannon, quick question — and it would be quite an event if you answered a question posed by a member of the student population with willingness and with useful content — I’d like to know if you have learned a lesson on hypocrisy? Do you understand that you have reprimanded someone for doing something within their legal rights — something you have done yourself? Have you analyzed the circular reasoning it would take to suggest “student journalists” have not taken an objective stance in their reporting when these “student journalists” have continued to email, call, and approach you for clarity on this situation, yet you have turned them away? And even in dealing with this, even when denied a response and criticized pub-
licly, I believe these “student journalists” have done a commendable job supplying informative and objective content. Dr. Guerrero, I hear Dr. Shannon doesn’t like stories that don’t encompass all viewpoints — and with good reason, of course. However, I unfortunately fear you may have found yourself exposed to merely one end of this dilemma. Remember that one time I emailed you after not receiving responses to my initial emails for weeks, and you accused me of sending threats? If you’ve forgotten since then, it read: “When I received your earlier email, I refused to be drawn into the contrived and false divide between ‘administration’ and faculty or ‘administration’ and students. Additionally, I was not going to get involved in any pre-election propaganda and hyperbole. I also do not respond to threats.” Well, that was unimaginably awkward
to read and caught me by surprise. I say this since my emails consisted of lines such as, “Can you please give some input from your end to bridge the gap that has been created?” and “I believe you and your position could help remedy this problem.” I repeatedly checked for threats. I couldn’t find any. And to the ASCC, I still stand by the belief that you all were pooled into an unfortunate position with this situation, and truthfully, I empathize with you. However, I would ask all of you, have you thought of the legacy that will be left behind by your actions and inactions? Have you brought about empowerment to the student government as leaders on this campus? If you even considered “no” as the answer to any of these questions, I would encourage you to begin to think — just think. Think critically. Think for yourself.
10 | Letters to the Editor Painfully clear Dear Campus Council member, I understand that a complaint has been filed against President Kevin Coduto for violating ASCC By-Laws, Article III (Official Decorum), and that an “investigation” is to be conducted and reviewed by the ASCC. If this complaint is the same as has been covered in recent news stories, I would like to volunteer how this appears to a community member. I am not a student. This appears to be retaliation by the Chaffey College Governing Board and Administration for Coduto exercising his right of free speech by making an endorsement for a challenger in the recent election. I say that from the perspective of a voter who has repeatedly voted for all of the current board members. An elected official making an endorsement for a candidate and using his/her title for identification is nothing unusual. I have heard and read hundreds, maybe even thousands of them over the years. No reasonable person thinks the many elected officials who endorsed incumbent Katie Roberts were speaking for their entire California Assembly district or the entire California Assembly, all San Bernardino County residents or the entire county board of supervisors, all residents of several cities, or even the entire city council of those cites. I heard and read endorsements by Coduto before this past election in which he identified himself as the Chaffey College student body President. No reasonable person would think that he was speaking for the entire student body or even the ASCC. It does appear though, that the Chaffey College Governing Board took exception to this endorsement, tried to stop it from happening and when it did happen, decided to punish Coduto for making the endorsement. I say this because President Shannon himself came to your meeting and shared with you that he was getting calls from his governing board members about Kevin Coduto’s campaigning for the non-incumbent candidate and that it was making things awkward for him. If there was any law, rule, regulation, or by-law that prevented Coduto from endorsing the candidate, President Shannon would have had no reason to feel awkward. And if there was not any law, rule, regulation, or by-law preventing Coduto from endorsing the candidate, I don’t know why he should have been punished. But he was punished, long before the ASCC supposedly decided without Administration or staff influences to punish him. Assertions that punishment of Coduto began with the ASCC are unbelievable. President Shannon came to your meeting and led you into removing Coduto from office, with the assistance of his staff taking you into two closed session secret meetings, rather than the ASCC going to Shannon or staff. Coduto’s punishment did not begin with your first vote to remove him from office. It started in August when President Shannon reprimanded Coduto, as if he were an employee, for being seen with the non-incumbent candidate and tried to prevent Coduto from making an endorsement. The punishment continued from President Shannon, after Coduto made his endorsement, when he had Coduto banished, ostracized, and embarrassed by removing his seat from the governing board’s table at a community meeting October 8, 2013. President Shannon reprimanded Coduto again, in front of the ASCC when he attended your meeting. It is painfully clear that the punishment of Coduto did not begin with the ASCC.
It is sad that when the Governing Board and Administration became aware of Coduto “being seen with” a non-incumbent candidate and the possibility of an endorsement, that they did not take a leadership position and assert that Chaffey College is all about the free exchange of ideas and that nothing is more antithetical to that value than preventing someone speaking and other members of the community from hearing that speech. What they could have said was that yes, the content of speech is sometimes something we may not agree with or may even be offended by, yet we respond to it by making our position and views known to others through the vigorous expression of values and ideas. Challenging views, arguments, and speech with which we disagree is expected in our community, doing so with intellectual rigor, careful analysis, and a commitment to respectful dialogue and discussion is also an expectation of our community. This is the position and words of President Paxson of Brown University. I don’t know how the ASCC could pretend to be able to make a fair investigation or review of the investigation, into Coduto’s actions, when they have already voted on the issue without even the benefit of an investigation. The bias of the ASCC has already been revealed. If you still believe an investigation is appropriate, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s office should be asked to conduct a fair and unbiased investigation into the actions of all parties involved. Mark Gibboney, Community Member
Chaffey College is Not Perfect I love Chaffey College. It’s an amazing institution filled with inspiring professors, celebrated administrators, and ambitious students. I don’t live in the Chaffey district, yet I was welcomed with open arms. In addition to many of its great attributes, the Hope-Engage-Succeed campaign is one feature of Chaffey that I am most impressed by. This campaign focuses solely on student success and its originators deserve much praise. Chaffey College is truly in a better place because of its board members and high level administrators, all of which I have tremendous respect for. But Chaffey College is not perfect, and it’s certainly not in my job description to hide its imperfections. The infraction I am addressing today is Chaffey’s repeated failure to acknowledge students’ given rights. Anything and everything I’ve said during my time as student body president and student trustee have been clearly within my Freedom of Speech rights given to me in the First Amendment of the US Constitution and more specifically in the California Education Code 66301. November’s governing board meeting is the third time the superintendent has retaliated against me for exercising my free speech and also claiming “freedom of speech is not free.” I do not regret, even for a second, endorsing Zafar Inam. What possible self-interests could I have in endorsing a candidate for a governing board? Everything I have done is in what I feel are the best interests of the students; I was given that authority, by the students. If I were acting on my own self-interests, I would resign. I will be fighting for Chaffey students
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013 as president/trustee until the 59th second of my final day in office. Kevin Coduto
Unprofessional and bullying Dear Editor, Why do certain officials seem unwilling to put the illegal removal of our ASCC President, Kevin Coduto behind them? Concerned students at Chaffey College want nothing more than a quick and equitable solution to the crisis which has continued even after Kevin Coduto was reinstated. This crisis has dragged on, because many officials have continued to refuse to answer our legitimate questions, or call for accountability. I became optimistic that a resolution was in sight when I had a very cordial meeting with Dr. Sherrie Guerrero last week. Dr. Guerrero seemed to want a solution just as badly as I do. I was troubled that I had earlier read an e-mail she sent to faculty which referred to a vocal minority of students who are spreading false information. I do not know of a single group of students at Chaffey College who has done so. I and my fellow students have sought nothing but the truth and have been very pleased by the hard work of the Breeze students who have made sure that this story is covered completely and with integrity. That being said, I hoped that Dr. Guerrero’s view that some students were spreading false information would be changed after our discussion. My interest in this has never been about demonization or a witch hunt. I simply want to see an ASCC which reflects the will of all students and a transparent and open decision making process among the ASCC and Administration. When Senator Corey Stevens sent an email to Kevin Coduto informing him that he was again being investigated and that Kevin Coduto should tell no one about this, including other members of the ASCC, I felt that others would surely be as outraged as I was. Many concerned students and members of the community went to the ASCC meeting this Monday to voice their concern over Mr. Stevens’ apparent desire to keep this controversy going even longer. Thankfully, Stevens withdrew his request for an investigation. This made me even more optimistic. What do the students want? We want to make sure that Kevin Coduto is explicitly exonerated. He never did anything which justified his removal from office. If ASCC insists that we are wrong about this, then we want to see a fair and open investigation, in which students are able to have a say. If the evidence is there that he actually did do something to be removed, then he should be. I have not seen that information, and I doubt it exists. We want to see pressure put on Advisor John Machado to step down. This is not a call for him to be fired from his position as professor. We are simply asking that a new Advisor be able to take the reigns who has not been tainted by this whole controversy. The members of the ASCC should have an Advisor who they know will insist on taking accountability for her or his actions, who will interpret the Brown Act correctly and who does not hold any vendetta against any of the students he or she is advising. This is where my optimism began to suffer. Though the public comments and with-
drawal of yet another proposed investigation lifted my spirits, the unprofessional and bullying behavior of John Machado during the rest of the meeting made me much more pessimistic. Machado had a mocking and sarcastic tone. He answered Kevin Coduto’s honest and serious questions with sarcasm. When Machado implied that one of Kevin’s new proposals may have violated the Brown Act, Kevin asked why. Machado’s sarcastic response was that Kevin Coduto was the expert on the Brown Act. After the meeting I and several students stayed to speak with Advisor Machado. When I brought up this sarcastic tone, Machado simply tried shifting the blame to Kevin. The implication being that Kevin’s actions have provoked such behavior. I do not believe that his personal animosity towards Kevin should spill into his ability to be civil and represent Chaffey College with distinction. Yesterday I heard that our school’s President, Dr. Shannon had again publicly berated Kevin Coduto at the Board of Governor’s meeting. At this point, all of my optimism was gone. Why cannot Advisor Machado and President Shannon allow the school to move forward? Dr. Guerrero told me she would not put any pressure on John Machado. Yet, Dr. Shannon and Dr. Guerrero seem to have no problem putting pressure on Kevin Coduto or criticizing students and the Breeze. I asked Dr. Guerrero if my impression that it is actually harder to remove the ASCC Advisor than the elected ASCC President. Dr. Guerrero paused and admitted this was a good question. She said she would look into it and get back to me. As of this point, she has not. It is sad to me that Kevin Coduto and other students are enduring more pressure from those who should be encouraging us to be engaged members of the community than John Machado who conducts himself in what I consider to be an incompetent and reckless manner. I hope that Dr. Guerrero will take to heart a portion of her e-mail to the faculty which I wholly agree with. She spoke of the need for professors to be role models for all students and share their compassion and wisdom with them. I hope that Dr. Shannon and Advisor Machado will also take those words to heart. Kevin Coduto, members of the Breeze are students, just as myself are. We are legitimately concerned and do not deserve this pettiness. We want to move forward. Patrick Jimenez President of the Philosophy Club and GSA
Letters to the Editor for or against any position are always welcome. Letters should be kept as brief as possible (fewer than 300 words) and are subject to nonsubstantive editing according to guidelines established by the Associated Press.
Letters to the Editor | 11
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013 It offends me This is an open letter to Dr. Shannon, the Governing Board, ASCC and John Machado. I am not representing the organizations I belong to. These are my opinions and I will be held responsible for them. I am the senior editor for The Chaffey Review, which is a literary journal that is coming up on it’s 11th volume. We publish artwork, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction submitted internationally, nationally, and locally. I am a staff writer for The Breeze. I wrote two articles about the Arturo Sandoval concert in support of the music department, an article for the Veterans Center in honor of Veterans Day and to give veterans a voice on campus, and in this issue, Thierry Bruselle’s advertising class and their work with the EOPS program on campus. I want to be a writer, which means I will make a career from my words and voice. I want to be a journalist, which means I have to know the right questions to ask, and how to objectively present a topic, no matter how controversial. So it offends me that you are concerned about the campus newspaper because we have “an agenda”. The only agenda we have is to clarify and digest information on issues and to present that information to the public. I am a staff writer, but I am also a mediator of the voice of the students, instructors, and anyone concerning our campus. It offends me that you made a point to say public voices are limited to three minutes, but voices heard aren’t necessarily true or accurate, and that comment is met with a chuckle from someone on the board. Are our voices a joke to you? Shouldn’t it concern you that the voices speaking out against you are not only students from the campus you’re supposed to be supporting and representing, but from members of the community who vote for you? It offends me that even though an issue is directly shown to you, the board continues to converse and joke amongst themselves instead of having an open public discussion and finding solutions for the campus you’re supposed to represent. Instead of clarifying the issue, we are all blind touching an elephant in the room, and you continue to keep us blind. It also offends me that Volume 9 of The Chaffey Review was censored because of “offensive content,” yet if I am offended by you, does that allow me to censor your words and voice? The answer to that is no. It’s not an issue of respecting the elderly, but respecting the voice. You have a voice, and you still have a right to be heard. After repeated requests to have your voice accurately portrayed, I continually hear declines, yet you continually voice on our work. I have not sat down to have a conversation with you, but I will leave that seat open. My question for you right now is this: What are you afraid of by letting your voice be directly heard to your community and from the campus you represent? Nancy Yeang
Should know better I am a student attending the Rancho main campus, and I saw a photograph on your October 28th issue which was taken during the Chino campus Pizza with the Presidents event on October 23rd of Superintendent/President Dr. Henry Shannon holding a toy elephant while he told the parable of the elephant and the blind men. I understand this was done regarding the lack of public information of the attempted removal of our elected ASCC President,
Kevin Coduto as punishment for exercising his right to free speech. It is wonderful to see that Dr. Shannon understands and sympathizes with all the students who have been left in the dark about the event. I wanted to thank Dr. Shannon for so eloquently arguing the students’ position. Indeed, we have been forced into a position analogous to that of the blind men’s, and we should thank Dr. Shannon for illustrating our concern. Dr. Shannon, thank you for arguing what we students have all been arguing all along: We do not appreciate being told only a small part of the story, we do not like to or want to jump to conclusions, we would much rather know what occurred and especially who and what were the motives behind it. But with all the secrecy, we have been given no choice other than to make some assumptions. While we do not appreciate being turned into the blind men in the parable, it is very encouraging to see that Dr. Shannon gets it, and can explain our side, and make our point. Thank you Dr. Shannon for making our point. I know this was Dr. Shannon’s intention, because anything else would mean he was merely mocking those who did not have access to all of the information; and of course this would not only be insulting, it would simply not help the situation one bit. Students continue to be shoved into a position of acquiescence, and we do not appreciate it. This should not be happening in our free and open society, in an institution of higher learning where those put in charge should know better. Nevertheless, as concerned voters and dedicated students, we will not remain silenced and pushed into a docile position; we continue to demand to learn the whole story and eventually see the elephant, as the brilliant Dr. Shannon is so dedicated to making sure we do. In regards to student senator Stevens telling our President Coduto to keep his mouth shut about what is going on, I believe we can all agree that it is cowardly, immature and callous to intimidate someone over who they talk to and what they talk about, and I encourage fellow students to pay attention to what is truly happening. Federico Guevara
Ask tough questions To the Editor: I immigrated to the United States with my family thirty-three years ago, but I finally became a U.S. citizen this October. During the application process, I studied facts about U.S. history and the Constitution and felt more patriotic with each reading of the red booklet. At the oath ceremony in Los Angeles, 3500 new citizens stood there waving their flags, and I felt proud to be an American. Sadly, my vision of the American dream has been tainted by the events of the last few weeks at Chaffey. Due process, the First Amendment, and civil discourse seem like empty words on a page, replaced by secrecy, condescension, and antagonism. The campus climate has become increasingly combative because of the mistreatment of ASCC President Kevin Coduto. He was illegally removed from office then reinstated after the college’s lawyers acknowledged violations of the Brown Act. Kevin was also reprimanded by Dr. Shannon in two public meetings. No explanations or apologies have been offered for these actions. The credibility of the independent stu-
dent newspaper has been questioned but without any supporting evidence to contradict the reporting. The Breeze staffers work incredibly hard, and I know that they will become the professional writers, journalists, bloggers, and lawyers who will continue to protect our public interest in the future. Faculty have been accused of causing a ruckus yet most have remained silent. Because shared governance is a guiding principle at Chaffey, I am especially disappointed that the faculty have not been more vocal during this turmoil. I have loved Chaffey since starting here in 2003. Although I am disheartened and shocked by recent events, I still love Chaffey. The students are dedicated, hardworking, creative, and inspirational people who deserve our respect. I urge students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the governing board to ask tough questions and to take concrete steps toward righting the wrongs of the last few weeks. Neil Watkins, Ph.D. English & Journalism Coordinator
Listen and consider Dear Editor: I am writing regarding the recent actions taken against Student Body President Kevin Coduto, as well as related events that followed. I respect the hard and important work in which the Governing Board, administrators, faculty, staff, and students engage. However, I am extremely dismayed and concerned with the actions of the Chaffey College administration in the past year, actions which appear to be influenced by our Governing Board. I have worked at Chaffey for 9 years, and I care deeply about the work I do and the students we serve. One of the most important purposes of education, as stated in the Core Competencies developed through the shared governance process, is to teach and encourage our students to think critically and engage with the world around them meaningfully, even when, maybe especially when, their ideas push against or question the status quo. In January, the administration directly and blatantly violated the students’ constitutional rights when it temporarily removed The Chaffey Review from the book store and library because some members of
the Board found the content objectionable. No apology was made at that time. Though it is my opinion that Dr. Shannon’s decision to chastise Mr. Coduto in front of his peers likely influenced the vote to remove Kevin from office, there is no question that at the very least, the college erroneously and publicly defended the violation of Mr. Coduto and the student journalists’ rights under the Brown Act. Once again, no apology was made, by any involved parties. Mr. Coduto was a student in my English class a couple of semesters ago. He was an active, engaged student who worked hard and was intellectually curious. Occasionally, he would respectfully disagree with or question presented ideas. Rather than react defensively, I welcomed his ideas and encouraged him, even when I didn’t agree with him. After all, we are not here to indoctrinate; we are here to encourage students to think critically, and to think for themselves. The students writing and editing the Breeze, many of whom I have come to know as students in my English class this semester, are capable, intelligent, respectful, hardworking adults who have also been unfairly maligned. One administrator even criticized the objectivity of the articles written by these students, despite admitting that she hadn’t yet read any of them. I am not in the business of telling students what to think, say, or do, even when I disagree with them. I’m not so sure that is true of others on this campus. It disappoints me endlessly that at an institution of higher education, our leaders have spoken so negatively about some of the most dedicated, thoughtful, and engaged students with whom I have ever worked. I listened to the most recent meeting of the Board of Governors, during which a community member raised serious concerns about these issues. The Board chose to dismiss and even mock the speaker and congratulate themselves repeatedly for their recent election “victory.” I believe the more responsible and productive approach would be to actually listen to and consider all perspectives and information on this issue and to apologize for and work to correct past wrongs. Angela Bartlett Associate Professor of English
JOUR-30
Student Media Practicum I
Experience in planning, editing, and producing a bi-weekly student newspaper. Students write stories, editorials, reviews, and headlines; design the layout; edit copy; take, print, and edit photos; design/layout pages; and distribute the finished paper.
Spring 2014 Section 78870
Tuesday and Thirsday 8:30-11:50
Section 78871
Tuesday and Thirsday 2:00 - 4:20 Wargin Hall WH71
12 | Sports
thebreezeonline.com | November 25, 2013
Chaffey athletes advance to post season
MICHELLE MENES
Quarterback Dimitri Morales is on the move against San Bernardino Valley College on Oct. 19. The Panthers advanced to the playoffs after beating Southwestern 39-20 to complete their conference season undefeated at 9-0.
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MICHELLE MENES
Sarah Jimenez dribbles the ball toward another goal during the 8-0 win against Imperial Valley on Nov. 14. The women’s soccer team advanced to the CCCAA Regional Playoffs with a 9-1 conference record. Overall, the women finished the regular season 19-1-1.