Focal Point
Sports
Support for Athletes who suffer from depression pg. 12
The
Gung Hey Fat Choy! Happy Chinese Lunar New Year pg. 7
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Skyline View The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, California
Volume XXXX - Issue 2
February 18, 2016
www.theskylineview.com
Job openings for STEM majors declining across the nation
With the rise of technological and mathematics majors, there are too few positions for them
By Joshua Chan TSV staff writer
There is a shortage of jobs for the technological, and medical world as these majors begin to rise. In the United States, studies indicate there is a shortage of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors. With this, there is a concern that the world will not be able to fulfill the demands of an increasingly data-driven, medicine demanding, technology-saturated world that grows taxing every minute. However, this is not the case according to a May 2015 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which claims there is both a shortage and surplus of STEM majors at the same time. The issue lies within the job requirements. There are people who are running STEM jobs, but as time goes on the requirements change leaving only certain people qualified. STEM jobs usually have different requirements such as careers in psychology, accepting those with a doctorate. A job in computer science could require a bachelor’s degree. Skyline students, for example, may not be guaranteed a job since there are now a shortage of positions. “Half of the nitrogen humans take in comes from artificial fertilizer,” Skyline biology professor Nick Kapp said, on why he thinks STEM is vital. “We don’t train enough engineers.” There are different places STEM majors are likely to be hired, including academia, private sector, and government, based on the report. But many
reasons exist for students avoiding a STEM major, and those reasons tend to vary. “We’d rather be entertained than find entertainment in problem solving,” biochemistry major Daniel Messier said. According to a report from the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU), there are more than 9.6 million graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher in either a humanities (English language, English literature, philosophy, etc.) or liberal arts (political science, sociology, etc.) field. “They think math is too hard,” mathematics major, Elizabeth Pramhi said. “It looks like a big workload, but it actually goes quickly.” In the academia sector, for students in STEM majors looking to achieve tenure as a Ph.D., the report states that that there are more Ph.D.’s eligible for academic positions than there are openings. Studies noted in the beginning of this article, which academia is not the only option for many people in STEM majors, and that the lion’s share of graduates go into academia as either postdocs or adjunct faculty, hoping to chase a position in tenure-track faculty. “Support is really what matters,” said Stephen Fredericks, director of Skyline College’s branch of the MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) program. “Vets are outliers in my data.” In the government sector, the National Research Council Committee claims that, with a few exceptions, the Air Force has mostly met its recruiting goals for STEM majors.
Andrew Avilla/The Skyline View
Job applications scattered between math and psychology textbooks on a student’s desk at Skyline College on Feb. 17, 2016.
However, the Air Force Personnel Center, “found staffing gaps in electrical engineering, operations research, quantitative psychology…and systems engineering, specifically with regard to graduates with advanced degrees.” The private sector also tells a very different story. According to Wanted Analytics, an aggregate of internet job listings, 2013 web ads relating to software development grew 120 percent compared to 2012, probably due
to demand for mobile developers(smartphones, tablets) on apps such as Vine and Snapchat, which process large amounts of data. A UC Berkeley electrical engineering and computer science student Phyo Htut said, “There are a lot of engineering majors, and when they switch, they usually switch between different types of engineering.” Skilled trade workers (machinists, technicians, etc.) are also in demand, according to a survey
of manufacturers in 2011, which found they needed more than 600,000 workers. Biomedical fields in the private sector see a surplus, with a fairly high unemployment rate of 4.6 percent in 2013 compared to the 2.2 percent unemployment in computer science fields of the same year. The question of whether there is actually a STEM major surplus or deficit is quite a difficult question to answer still, and that the report was mostly correct. It depends on where you’re looking and what you’re looking for.
• Employed STEM - 3,816,000 mathematical occupation - 2,846,000 architectural and engineering - 1,316,000 life, physical, and social science occupations • Psychology and Social Work - Recent graduates: 7.3 % - Experienced college graduate: 5.9% - Graduate degree holder: 3.9% • Mathematics and Computers - Recent graduates: 8.2% - Experienced college graduate: 5.6% - College holders: 4.1% • Job Openings - 8.3 million STEMS job counted by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Source: “Not All College Degrees Are Created Equal,” STEM Workforce, an Occupational Overview
Illustrations Laurel B. Lujan, Will Nacouzi/ The Skyline View
Downside of STEM majors
Statistics of STEM majors graduation rates and employment rates for math and psychology majors
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The Staff
Interim Editor In Chief Will Nacouzi Interim News Editor Laurel B. Lujan Interim Focal Point Editor Sarah Marasigan
News
February 18, 2016
Interim Opinions Editor Michelle Brignoli Interim Sports Editor Jordan Sweidan Interim Multimedia Editor Katelyn Payne Interim Copy Editor(s) Haley Holmes Staff Writers Alexandria Kenyon Greg Ragaza Amber Wong Chrystina Chase Naoki O’Bryan Kevin Perez Abigayle Haguisan Brian Silverman Martin Lopez Marinelle Cabillo Madison J. Tidwell Gina Paratore Marie Hom Olivia Bowman Joshua chan Megan Brignoli Multimedia Reporters Blynn Beltran Miguel Garcia Joy Marcus Ad Manager Charles G. Newton Editor at Large Dave Newlands Staff Photographer(s) Christian Magallanes Andrew Avilla Staff Illustrator clayborne go Faculty Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel
Want more news? www.theskylineview.com Or maybe you have news for us? (650) 738-4377 Want to yell at us? theskylineview@gmail.com Or use snail mail: The Skyline View c/o Language Arts Room 8-8110 Skyline College 3300 College Drive
San Bruno CA 94066
The Skyline View
Parking tickets have a purpose By Marinelle Carillo TSV staff writer
Skyline students pay off their parking tickets and then forget them, never really knowing what their money is being used for. According to the Chief of Public Safety, Cherie Colin, the money from parking tickets at Skyline College definitely goes to good use. “The funds are directed toward ensuring our campus parking lots and roadways remain in safe and adequate condition,” said Colin. “There is no profit; the parking lot fund operates at a deficit in order to properly maintain parking lots.” Skyline College gives its students a two week grace period at the start of each semester, with a one week grace period during the summer. This gives students time to save up the money for a parking permit if they are going to be driving to school frequently. Once that grace period is over, students are expected to have a parking permit or pay per day. “I think that $40 is a bit excessive,” Jessica Galdo, biology major said. “There should be a smaller fee for a warning first. And then it can go up to $40 because the second time is not a mistake.” The parking permits cost $51 per semester and can be swapped between multiple cars. But it is cheaper to buy the fall and spring permit for $94 and $26 for the summer permit. Some prefer paying daily, which is $2, while others regularly test their luck with the tickets. “Last semester I didn’t buy a parking permit and parked there
every day and never got a ticket,” Skyline student Martin Lopez said. “But the last three weeks of school I got three parking tickets. It would have been cheaper to just buy the parking permit.” The parking tickets’ prices vary, depending on how serious the violation is. For instance, a student parking in a disabled parking spot with no disabled placard would pay more than a student who did not pay the daily cost for parking in a regular parking spot. “I don’t believe there have been increases in the tickets,” said Colin. “The minimum is $43 and the maximum is approximately $300 for a disabled person stall violation.” These parking tickets at Skyline are no different than a ticket a person would get from a police officer off campus. They need to be paid on time and consequences will follow if they are not. Parking lot D is the visitor parking lot, which is reserved for visitors and guests to Skyline College. Students and staff are not to park in visitors’ parking lots D and M. And even the visitor has to pay a parking fee of $0.25 for every 15 minutes. Skyline student Belinda Villahermosa parked in parking lot D and received a ticket. She didn’t think that she would get caught because it was late in the afternoon. She had a parking permit but had left it in her other car, so she decided to take a chance. “It was my first semester at Skyline and I was late to class,” said Villahermosa. “Lot D was the closest parking lot to my class in Building 2. So I parked in the
Illustrations by Brian Silverman/The Skyline View
visitor’s lot, and then I get out of class and find a ticket on my car. It was like $40.” “Often, citations are issued with an officer’s best judgment and discretion,” Colin said. “Spirit rather than letter of the law is the approach taken by public safety at Skyline College.” The cost for a parking permit can be on the pricey side, but the cost of two parking tickets is almost equivalent to buying a fall/spring permit. Regardless of what method students choose to do, whether it be paying for a permit, paying daily, or taking a risk, everyone can agree that they wish parking could just
be free. “I would fee l upset in my opinion,” Julie Longado, a bio technology said. “I don’t think they should charge just to park here at school but since they do and because of that I carpool with a friend so I don’t have to pay. “ Making parking free would actually make things more difficult for students. Unregulated parking would allow anyone to park in Skyline’s parking lot. This would result in overcrowding. More people would drive to school and it would be even harder to find parking in the morning.
This just in... By Gina Paratore TSV staff writer
•
Skyline Shines is promoting a spring 2016 internship job-shadow opportunity, the deadline to apply is March 1, 2016. Apply to receive real-world exposure and excellent hands-on training in a competitive business environment.
• The San Mateo Community College District is looking into possibly arming their public safety officers. • A new study from The Daily Orange shows new-found statistical evidence: 1 in 4 female undergraduate students will experience sexual assault according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. • Cases of bacterial meningitis have struck three U.S. college campuses, infecting students and causing the death of a University employee. Three students who felt ill were from Santa Clara University, as reported by PBS.org. * Please contact the Skyline View for any other information regarding news on campus the Bay Area. Follow us on Twitter and check out #skylinejour for more updates.
The Skyline View is a First Amendment Publication. The Skyline View is published bi-weekly during the spring and fall semesters by the journalism students at Skyline College. The Skyline View is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writers and should not be interpreted as the views of Skyline College, SMCCCD, the faculty, administrators or the newspaper adviser. Additionally, the paper does not endorse any of the products or services advertised. The Skyline View welcomes Letters to the Editors; letters must include full name, address, and phone number for verification. The Skyline View reserves the right to edit letters for length, libel, clarity, and taste.
Photo illustrattion by Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View
News
The Skyline View
Feb. 18, 2016
3
Amazon to offer potential online education by Abigayle Haguisan TSV Writer
Amazon advances to promote educational opportunities for its workers. Like many other major corporations such as McDonald’s with its Hamburger University and Apple with it’s Apple University, Amazon has potential to create its own educational program. These company education systems help inspire workers to continue their education through the big companies themselves. Although “Amazon University,” a predicted idea by policy analyst Alexander Holt, it is a theoretical approach of what will happen in the future, the company is already taking leaps toward this forecast. In 2012, Amazon established Career Choice, a program in which Amazon pre-pays for 95% of tuition for full-time hourly associates to take college courses. Whether the associates choose to stay with the company after they earn a degree or not, Amazon strives to inspire its employees to pursue work-related goals. Essentially, employees can dive into the workforce and put education on the back burner. “Amazon University” is comparable to a more advanced vocational school, with motives similar to community colleges. As vocational schools, such as DeVry and University of Phoenix, provide technical skills needed to advance in the work force, Amazon’s Career Choice offers associate degrees for high in-demand and high paying occupations. Explain more “I don’t think a degree from Amazon would get you anywhere because of that fact that it’s an Amazon degree,”Ana Mae Doria, a nursing major at Skyline said. “It’s sort of like getting a degree from McDonald’s and trying to get a job at Burger King.” However, whether or not these degrees are valid doesn’t matter to students in search of money. “Hell yeah, I would definitely drop out of college and work for
Illustrations by Brian Silverman/The Skyline View
Amazon if they’re going to pay me,” said Kiera Simmons, a student-athlete at City College of San Francisco. “Plus, I still get a degree. I’m all for the discounts, so sign me up for that.” At community colleges like Skyline, associate degrees are offered in many areas such as Nursing, Biotechnology and English regardless of demand. With Amazon’s program, students can earn degrees specifically for occupations where demand is high. For example, “aircraft mechanics, computer-aided design, machine tool technologies, medical lab technologies, nursing, and many other fields” as stated on Amazon’s Career Choice page are all high in demand. Some professors do not agree with this potential educational opportunity. “I personally don’t think it’s a good idea unless they work in conjunction with an accredited community
college,” said James I. Wong, a history professor at Skyline college. “I don’t know if it would help out those who aren’t ready for college. If you’re not ready for college, then you’re really not prepared for life. It does a disservice to the students.” Amazon did not get back for a personal quote. “There’s been so much interest that we are now building onsite classrooms so college and technical classes can be taught inside our fulfillment centers, making it even easier for associates to achieve these goals,” said CEO Jeff Bezos in his 2015 shareholder letter. “For others, Amazon might be a stepping stone on the way to a job somewhere else – a job that may require new skills.” With “Amazon University,”
there are consequences that colleges and universities must face. The creation of this system allots Amazon the power to knock down enrollment rates at accredited college institutions. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, enrollments at two-year and four-year institutions decreased by 2.3 percent in the fall of 2015. With Amazon offering employees degrees, the need to actually go to a junior college or a four-year reduces in importance. “I think enrollment at Skyline will be the same,” nursing major Deanna De La Cruz said when asked about whether or not “Amazon University” would effect Skyline. Another Skyline student saw the latter. “[enrollment rates] would
drop,” said Roann DeLa Vega, a psychology major at Skyline. “Because everyone already uses Amazon, they’d probably want to try it out. Then Skyline wouldn’t have as many people enrolling because they’d be working at Amazon.” So what does this mean for Skyline and other community colleges around the world? With a large company like Amazon offering jobs and educational opportunities to full time employees, it gives individuals a jump start on their career paths without having to go to college first. Granted, “Amazon University” is only a potential idea, but the company is heading in directions that may make this prediction a reality.
Mosquitos in Bay Area found to have foreign pathogen
Type of mosquito known to carry Zika Virus found in San Mateo and Alameda Counties
by Madison Tidwell TSV Writer
The rapid spread of the Zika virus across the Americas has many concerned about the health of their unborn children, particularly residents of San Mateo and Alameda counties where the Aedes family of mosquito have previously been found. Though Skyline College in not located in either county, the geographic proximity is a consideration for the young student population, the majority of whom are considered prime childbearing age. The Zika virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1947, but was thought to only cause a mild illness. It wasn’t until September 2015 that an outbreak of the virus
in Brazil coincided with outbreaks of microcephaly, a debilitating birth defect which causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and incomplete brain development. An outbreak of a potentially crippling disease, Guillain-Barre Syndrome also appeared. Though experts are still working to determine whether the Zika virus is the cause, it is very likely that that the virus is linked to both microcephaly and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. This makes the virus much more dangerous given its ease of transmission. The first sexually transmitted case of the Zika virus has been confirmed in Texas, but Zika is still primarily spread by the Aedes mosquito, also known as
the yellow fever mosquito. This mosquito is found in 12 counties in California, though there have been no confirmed cases of these mosquitos carrying the virus yet. California health officials are preparing for the warmer months ahead when mosquito populations jump, and are currently evaluating the potential threat to California residents. In the Bay Area Peninsula, the mosquito control squad known as Vector has already begun spraying to ward against the influx of mosquitoes expected to follow the El Nino rainy season. [Insert quote from vector PR guy here]
removing standing water, turning over containers to avoid rainwater collection, avoid transporting plants from outside California into the state, and keep an eye out for mosquitos biting during the day. This is particularly important as only the Aedes mosquito bites during the day, unlike most native California species who prefer dusk. One surprising piece of information shared is that the Aedes mosquito only needs a standing amount of water the size of a soda bottle cap to breed. This information was rather unpleasant to Skyline student… [insert student quote here] For some the Zika virus is still Vector has also released infor- only a future problem [insert opmation on how the public can as- posing student quote here] sist with the mosquito elimination To date, the CDC has reported efforts. Key suggestions include 52 travel associated cases of the
Zika virus in the United States, with only two cases reported in California. Texas has already reported ten cases and Florida sixteen, showing perhaps what California can expect as the warmer months approach. However, the quick spread of the disease throughout South and Central America and its potentially devastating side effects have prompted the World Health Organization to label it a “public health emergency of international concern” and scientists are working diligently to establish information about the virus and to develop a cure. For the part of regular citizens, everyone can help avoid a Zika outbreak in the Bay Area by following the guidelines set down by Vector and the CDC.
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Opinions Feb. 18, 2016
The Skyline View
Ban the month, ban the Oscars by Katelyn Payne Interim TSV Multimedia Editor
Black History Month is a time to celebrate and give recognition to all the African- American leaders, creators, and public figures that have achieved greatness and worked hard for their rights. Recently, the topic of banning Black History Month came up in the midst of controversy surrounding the all-white nominations in most categories for the Oscars this year. Actress Stacy Dash from the 1995 comedy film “Clueless” stated that we shouldn’t celebrate it because we don’t have a month to celebrate white history. “We have to make up our minds,” she said, according to nbcchicago.com. “Either we want to have segregation or integration. And if we don’t want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET and the BET awards and the Image Awards where you’re only awarded if you’re black.” Now, I understand that segregation was a big problem in this country and it still is. However, we can’t force integration or stop black people from broadcasting BET and the award shows. As a person of multiple ethnicities, her statement aggravated me because of my perception of the fact that she wants to get rid of these award shows that only award black people, but it’s okay to keep the Academy Awards that have been dominated by all white people receiving nominations? It seems like she doesn’t care too much about black people. If Black History Month were to be banned, it would be disappointing and disrespectful. It’s good to show some recognition to the history of African- Americans because they deserve it; it’s important to understand the hardships and efforts they made to change the society we live in today. Although Black History Month pays respect to the leaders and activists of the black community, I will even say that if our society is going to keep Black History Month and continue celebrating in the future, we should be educated on the entire history of African American people. We only know about the successes of black people in America, but we should know about their successes from before they came here. Even some African-Americans have grown bored of how Black History Month is celebrated in the U.S. because King and Parks repeatedly receive the most exposure, according to ibtimes.com. We should not be limited to just learning about Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement, we should know about the history of other black people who made major contributions to society. For example, Gabby Douglas was the first African-American woman in Olympic history to become the individual all-around champion. She won gold medals in individual, all- around, and team competitions. Viola Davis was the first African-American woman to win an Emmy Award for “Best Ac-
editorial
TSV wants you... To understand why it’s important to cast a It’s almost time for the American public to take advantage of their most valuable right - their right to vote. With the presidential election becoming more of a circus with each debate, the reason why you should vote (choosing a new person to lead this country) seems to sadly be forgotten. There is potential to raise the falling voter numbers though, depending on how people view the elections right now. Of course, it will be of great help to have more voters participate in the polling process. It will especially help to have more young, reluctant millennials break out of the “why should I vote if it doesn’t make a difference?” mentality. According to a survey compiled by the Voter News Service, only 9 percent of voters in the 2000 presidential election were in the 18-24 age range, and only 8 percent were in the 24-29 age range. Of course none of these voters were millennials at the time, but it goes to show that the turnout for youth voters was quite disappointing at the turn of the century. These statistics remained the same after exit polls were counted for the 2004 presidential election, according to a survey conducted by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International. Hope was seen with the presidential elections of 2008 and 2012, though. In 2008 alone, 66 percent of voters were under 30, according to the Pew Research Center. In this year’s presidential primary, on the Democratic side, the millennial involvement seems to be even higher than in the 2008 and 2012 primaries. This year, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary, per the Gallup Poll, with a 73 percent backing of millennial voters, according to The Atlantic. On the republican side, none of the candidates so far have seemed to spark that same interest in millennials. Millennials need to take their decision and their vote very seriously. At this point, they cannot just be swept up by the excitement of a “political revolution,” or a “celebrity candidate,” but must ask hard questions about how exactly these candidates go about doing what they’ve promised. The most striking example is the promise of free college tuition tress in a TV Drama”. These people may not be leaders who fought for our rights but they are inspiring people who are important to black history in this day and age. They were the first of their kind to win the awards they received. Black History Month is an important time to celebrate black people in general. The thought of banning it because we don’t have a white history month is ridiculous, and I think Dash is just causing a stir of arguments among everyone. If we keep the Oscars, then we keep Black History Month.
YE NO
S
Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View
Source: Pew Research Center
and free health care for all. That sounds fabulous, but with both congressional houses being run by the opposing party, how exactly could this be accomplished? Voters need to understand that this vote is for the most important position in our country. It is imperative to look at all aspects of a presidency and what is involved
END BL HISTOR MONTH
with that position. By matching the perfect candidate to the position, they have a better chance of accomplishing the voters’ wishes than bringing in a wrong or weak candidate simply based on popularity. In short, the youth vote is gaining power in the country. With two thirds of the vote for Barack
NO MORE OSCARS
Obama in 2008, it is clear that the young voters have a voice, but in order to be heard by the people that vote every year (mainly 45-64 year old white people, according to a US Census Bureau report) it is vital that you start voting now. If you don’t vote, you’re making sure your voice doesn’t matter.
ST O AC P NO ISM W
Gregory Ragaza/The Skyline View
Opinions Artistic License
The Skyline View
Feb. 18, 2016
5
The View From Here With Will Nacouzi, interim editor in chief We are still alive, alive I tell you! With that done, it seems that this will be my last view from here, and that makes me absolutely ecstatic! And for two very good reasons. First off, we have finally picked our editors for the spring semesters. Honestly, I have very high hopes for them this time around and hopefully they will be able to build on what previous TSV staff has done in the past. I say this because at the end of the day, they couldn’t do any worse than we, or anyone else who came before us, have done. We all had our ups and downs semester to semester, even all the former TSV members who have moved on to a four year college, university, or the professional field of their choice. Moving on is something that I will be doing later this year, as this is my last semester on staff. Even then, it has been a fun ride through it all. It has been a ride that has allowed me to bond with dozens of classmates, a number whom I have come to call friends. And, as in life, we’ve had our fair share of ups and downs as we struggle as students to run a newspaper that can no longer be considered a bi-weekly paper. We’ve had to manage our website and social
media platforms that need to be updated weekly, as well. But the growth of our online readership, which we have been tracking via Google Analytics, certainly gives me hope for the future of the paper. I remember when I was the Multimedia Editor for my first semester of TSV back in the fall of 2011, when I was only a newbie. The times have certainly changed and I’ve learned a lot since then, from social media, managing the Wordpress website, editing videos, doing layout, and more! All of which was made possible by the single choice of taking Journalism 110 with Professor Nancy Kaplan-Biegel. That is what led me to joining the paper that year. Now my time is over. But endings aren’t everything right? I can firmly say that this has been an enlightening experience for me and during this time, I’ve made friends that make me proud and happy to know them. Maybe this is a case of friendships forged in fire. The fire of journalism. Or is it a wildfire? Is that just too much cheese? Cheese it is then. And next up is Michelle Brignoli, our opinions editor from last semester. She will be writing the next View from Here, as she will be taking the title of editor in chief for the semester.
Types of Birth Control
Many women are nervous about the idea of contraceptives. Luckily, health professionals have your best interest in mind. Too often I hear the woes of friends, “I don’t want to be on birth control because it causes weight gain,” or, “I heard birth control makes you crazy.” Pregnancy also makes you gain weight and go crazy, with the added stress of a baby. My responses to these woes often sound like “have you ever visited a reproductive health professional?” Please know that there’s no need to be frightened when it comes to your reproductive planning, health, and wellness. Based on research done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, family planning is one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century. Now is the time to be a part of this wonderful and progressive movement geared towards empowering young women. The debate over contraceptives seems perpetual, especially when clouded by the loud chatter of contrasting religious views, political agendas, experiences shared by others, and the loads of online misinformation. But what
is strikingly prevalent amidst this sea of controversy is the significant number of women frightened by the possible side effects of the medication they’re fighting to get. Thankfully, professionals exist to dismiss these worries. Colleen Krajewski, practicing physician and assistant professor at the
“You can even think of it as your body being your own temple.” University of Pittsburg, works diligently to inform her patients with factual information regarding the various types of contraceptives. As reported by the New York Times, studies also show more than just the snow has been dropping in Colorado recently. Apparently unplanned pregnancies are plummeting as well, even in the town of Walsenburg, where jobs are scarce and teen pregnancies are usual occurrences.
Greta Klingler, the family planning supervisor at the public health department in Walsenburg, Colorado was astounded to witness the demographics: as reported by the Colorado Department of Public Health, “the birthrate among teenagers across the state plunged by 40 percent from 2009 to 2013, while their rate of abortions fell by 42 percent.” So what are the benefits of contraceptives? A well-planned life, for one. With the rise of competition in the job market, unintended pregnancies can be burdens on the lives of women who wish to further their educational journey. Progestin-based hormonal implants and IUD methods are becoming more popular, and statistical evidence is proving them to be more effective than the pill or condoms alone. All of that in mind, remember that to a degree, your journey is something you can be in control of. You can even think of it as your body being your own temple. But remember, “do what you love and love what you do.” Get out there and plan your life because your journey is 110 percent worth it, and one mistake shouldn’t slow you down.
Method
Typical Use/ Perfect Use
Vasectomy
Over 99%
Female Sterilization
Over 99%
Implants
99%
IUC/IUD
Over 99%
Shot (Depo Provera)
94% / 99%
Patch
91% / 99%
Vaginal Ring
88% / 99%
Pills
91% / 99%
Diaphragm
81% / 94%
Sponge
88% / 94%
Cervical Cap
86% / 79%
Spermicides
71% / 85%
Male Condoms
82% / 98%
Female Condoms
79% / 95%
For more information about birth control, scan this QR code. Source: Planned Parenthood
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Opinions
Feb. 18, 2016
The Skyline View
Depression is not a cry for help by Amber Wong
TSV Staff Writer
Society has shaped itself in a way where individuals tend to blend into a lifestyle where it becomes normal to ask a person about their well-being without expecting a response back. It’s easy for someone to nod his or her head and claim to be fine, while shrouding their true emotions. There’s a fine line between being happy and wearing a smile each day, because no one would want to be judged for being sad all the time. When you interact with someone who appears happy, would you guess that person could be depressed? Many people wouldn’t give a second thought about the other person’s mindset, unless their behavior appeared to be strange, unusual, or obviously psychotic and mentally unstable. I’ve met a handful of individuals who knew they were depressed, and they tried to hide their feelings due to the stigma that’s associated with depression. In general, I believe that people are aware of mental illnesses. Take all of the websites, hotlines, and organizations dedicated to the cause, for example. From the outside, it appears that a great amount of resources exist. But how much help can one obtain from a faceless person on the other side of the screen? It’s not as simple as telling a person to snap out of it, or giving them the advice to try to do the things they used to enjoy, instead of moping around at home. The stigma may stem from
those individuals who don’t want to deal with the situation at hand. There are people who would love to listen and give advice, but let’s face the facts – many don’t have the time. From past experience, it seemed like my friends and family acted as if being depressed were some kind of cry for attention, even if you tried to seek out honest advice from them. That’s the job of the therapist, right? But that person has to accept that they need help
first, and it may be an extremely difficult step to take. Unfortunately, depression is more common than one might think. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 15.7 million adults suffered from depression in the United States in 2014 and 9.3 percent of those individuals were within the age group of 18-25. Depression seems to be more prevalent among college students; this is probably
due to the stress and financial hardships that many experience. Some cases of depression are less extreme than others, so they may go unnoticed. It isn’t necessary to have all the symptoms of depression to be labeled as clinically depressed. Some may be able to hide their emotions better than others. It’s important to take the time to look for the smaller signs of someone who may be going through
From the voice of Skyline College
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Andrew Avilla/The Skyline View
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something difficult. It isn’t hard for me to relate, because I know what it feels like to believe nothing in life will ever get better. For those who haven’t shared those feelings, though, know that even the smallest amount of people genuinely concerned for your well-being will make an impact. Even a short interaction with that person each day can make a big difference.
We are involved with the Journalism Association of Community Colleges, which is an organization dedicated to the education and support of journalism programs throughout California. Each semester, the JACC holds a conference where journalism students can attend workshops and meet other journalists. These workshops, which are led by professionals, act as additional training for staff members to improve their journalistic skills, and gives students the opportunity to generate new ideas for our own paper. Next month, the JACC conference is in Burbank, CA, and we need help raising funds for transportation and hotel rooms. Although we are trying to be as cost-efficient as possible, the expenses are still too steep for twenty students. This three-day conference will not only help us learn more, but it will give us skills to provide a better newspaper for Skyline, and any awards won will give Skyline College more exposure. The money donated will help us with costs to get to the JACC conference, stay in a hotel, and any funds we don’t use for our trip will be used towards costs for our paper. We appreciate any help, as the JACC conference will expose us to more training and help us network and create relationships with other journalists.
Feb. 18, 2016
features
Focal Point
Skyline View
The
7
GUNG HEY FAT CHOY!
By Blynn Beltran TSV multimedia reporter
Skyline College recently celebrated its 15th annual Chinese New Year with a cheerful and festive event. The event had plenty of things to see. There was a traditional Chinese lion dance, food, as well as performances that students watched and enjoyed. Master Chung was invited to perform great feats at the event, like bending metal with his throat and using chopsticks as a weapon. He said that he had been “performing for over thirty years.” There was also a martial arts performance by Master Chung’s students. “We celebrate the Chinese New Year to bring in Chinese culture to the Skyline Community,” said Hui Pate, the Asian Studies Center Coordinator. “Students and Faculty can learn about other cultures. We want to make Skyline College a window to the world, so everyone can experience it even though we are here in the United States.” “The Chinese new year is a whole week process,” said Pate, describing the holiday. “It starts with New Year’s Eve like here in the States, and then we have New Year’s Day. We have family members from all around the world to have a banquet. The whole family will also cook and eat together. We also have fire firecrackers and lion dances to drive off evil spirits and to celebrate prosperity. Little kids
Grand Master Yung Chu Chung from Shaolin Culture Center showcases his Bowstaff skills at Skyline College’s Chinese New Year Celebration on Feb. 10, 2016
also get to eat lucky candy and a little red envelope with money inside. That’s part of the tradition.” Celebrating these types of ethnic events is an important aspect in advocating diversity and understanding of different cultures on campus, especially the Chinese culture. Right here in the Bay Area exists a large base of the Chinese-American population. According to the Chinese-American population data of Asia Matters for America, during the 2010 Census, the Chinese population in the United States was over 3.7 million and California had 35.5 percent of it. “I just felt that it provided a great atmosphere today,” said Skyline student Rico Pepin. “It’s a wonderful sunny day and hearing those fresh sounds: cymbals,
drums, excitement. It was nice. I liked it.” California is known for its diversity and with the increasing population of different cultures, it is imperative that we learn about them. With the importance of culture diversity, these types of events help us become more informed and aware of others. It helps students learn about the Chinese culture and helps them experience traditions the Chinese population enjoys. These events also help welcome immigrants, making them feel “at home,” therefore, and further embracing them into our own culture. This shows that we truly embrace diversity, and shows our appreciation to other cultures. We hope that this tradition at Skyline College continues for generations to come.
Students from the Shaolin Culture Center showcase the Lion Dance in celebration of Chinese New Year at Skyline College on Feb. 10, 2016
Photos by Kevin Perez
Lion Dancer interacts with children in the audience at Chinese New Year celebration at Skyline College on Feb. 10, 2016
By Sarah Marasigan TSV interim focal point editor
The current Skyline College Art Gallery exhibit, “The Scream,” features an array of contemporary art pieces crafted by different students from our local Jefferson High School Union District schools. These pieces consist of several ceramic objects, paintings, photographs, mixed media installations, sculptures, etc. This exhibit showcase is up until March 11 and is the perfect opportunity to display the art of these talented teenagers. Director of the gallery, Paul Bridenbaugh, stated that he put this project together with the Art Coordinator of the JUHSD last spring- to display a showcase of art from high school students. Many JUHSD high school teachers took the lead in their art classes and brought the work of their students into the gallery. Bridenbaugh states that most of the art displayed does not relate back to the title “The Scream,” the students were mainly given the opportunity to create whatever kind of art they chose. The show was not intended to relate to the title but rather to expose the local high school art community and to put the work of these students out there. The entire exhibit really demonstrates the power within contemporary practices. The pieces are very modern and contemporary, leaving “traditional” showcases to be an unusual thing now.
Display of self-drawn portraits done by students from Westmoor High School
It is especially important in this new era of art that you try to find your language through whatever art mediums you decide to use. “The Scream” exhibit is extremely inspiring to any of the JUHSD participants and students. I’m sure all students were very impressed by the work of their classmates, and definitely appreciated all the art that was displayed in the gallery. This is encouraging for not only all high school students, but other art students on the Skyline College campus who may want to showcase their work. All showings at the Skyline College art gallery are very important and appreciated; they are a great learning tool for all artists at Skyline, and an opportunity for them as well.
Mixed media piece done by Deja Hermosillo from Jefferson High School
Paper media piece done by Kristen Reyes from middle school Fernando Rivera
Degenerate art inspired piece entitled “Music: Lyrics,” done by Joy Charbonneau from Oceana High School
Features
Focal Point
Skyline View
The
Feb. 18, 2016
8
Skyline Speaks
Who do you think is the best candidate for the 2016 presidential election and why? Trevor Lash pre- med
Dave Gammad undecided
“Bernie Sanders because he truly cares about the well-being of the American people. As a developed nation, we lack many of the support systems for those who need it most.”
“Bernie is a candidate for the people by the people. He is a long time activist, his are strong and cares for minorities of the lower and middle class.”
Patricia Manubay pyschology
Jillian Reyes natural science
“Bernie Sanders. Stands for better and affordable education for all.”
“I believe Bernie Sanders is genuinely working towards the needs of younger generations and beyond.”
Vanessa Fitzpatrick undecided “Bernie Sanders relates to younger audiences. He has optimistic viewpoints and wants to push America in a progressive direction.”
music
Love the sound, ignore the lyrics
By Haley Holmes TSV interim chief copy editor
Newcomers out of Wisconsin, the groove metal group Product of Hate released their first full-length album on February 5, through Napalm Records. Entitled "Buried in Violence," the album is a clear winner for any fans of the ever popular Lamb of God and Pantera (with many vocalizations sounding shockingly similar to Lamb of God front man Randy Blythe), with it's guttural screams and growls and impressive guitar riffs. The only downside may be that the lyricism certainly doesn't match Lamb of God, but for a budding new act, having masterful sound and shoddy lyrics is still better than having no sound at all. Straight out of the gate, "Buried in Violence" shows no
mercy with "Kill. You. Now." and a scream that sounds just like Randy Blythe himself. With riffs a little faster than their well-established competition, Product of Hate impresses with excellent mastering on top of their already impressive sound. Not only are both guitars easily discernible among the screaming and drums, but they even get their own time to shine in the forms of short solos reminiscent of Meshuggah and Lamb of God's song "Pathetic." That aforementioned mastering may have something to do with why this debut album sounds so good. After signing with Napalm Records in 2015, "Buried in Violence" got to be mixed and mastered by famed producer, musician, and DFA Records co-founder James Murphy. Murphy is also famous in the metal world for his work with
bands like Testament, Obituary, and Death. What may be more impressive than the endless onslaught of brutal groove is the fact that the band is more than proficient with their instruments. In the middle of the album is the track "Vindicare," a soft instrumental piece. This type of song is certainly not uncommon nowadays (even Cattle Decapitation had one on their last album) but it does nicely break up the monotony of the other 10 chugging tracks. Especially since it doesn't subject the audience to any lyrics. Truly, it is sad that many new bands fill their music with angst and drivel that could easily come from an angry teen writing slam poetry for the first time. This album did not come out unscathed, as songs like "Blood Coated Concrete" and "Unholy Manipulator" seem to be ambiguous anthems of
The debut album cover for up-and-coming groove metal ensemble Product of Hate, released on Feb. 5, 2016 anger and hate directed at no one but the world. While this does dampen the quality of "Buried in Violence," it makes sense that the lyrics aren't the best. For a debut, and with everything else on the album coming out so well, sub par lyrics can easily be forgiven. Vocalist Adam Gilley is not easily understood anyway, though it works for this music. Taken as a whole, "Buried in Violence" seems to be the perfect gift for the Lamb of God fan that's heard everything. Time will tell if Product of Hate can truly differentiate themselves from the bands they've obviously modeled themselves after, but right now they're doing everything right. The sound alone should be enough for any groove or thrash fan to love and enjoy.
Scan the QR Code down below to watch the new released video to “Monster,” by Project of Hate!
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movies
Feb. 18, 2016
Focal Point
The Skyline View
“Deadpool” earns the name, so what now? By Will Nacouzi TSV interim editor-in-chief
"Deadpool" is the type of film that, within moments of starting, anyone watching can easily determine whether the movie is for them or not. Making good use of an R rating is difficult for many films, but "Deadpool" pulls it off without a hitch. The debut film for director Tim Miller, "Deadpool" is a mostly R-rated comedy with heads kicked, cut off, clashed, and any combination of the three happening at the same time. Naturally, violence isn't the only R-rated material in the movie but a single aspect of dozens of moments, that all combine to make "Deadpool" what it is: A successful anti-hero movie as of the writing of this story has made $132 million, while they worked with a budget of $50 million. So what makes "Deadpool" so fun despite being R-rated? The simple reason that it makes great use of its rating, it isn't relying on the R to carry it to the finish line, but rather it uses it to enhance the humor of the movie. This aspect can be seen in the first half of "Deadpool" that takes place on a highway, mixed with flashbacks that serve to further drive the main plot of the movie. The example I have in mind is no secret as anyone who has seen the test footage from a few years ago. Only this time around, it has been further enhanced with slow
motion and gore. One moment in this that really made everyone in the movie theater laugh, was the fate of one of the enemies: he was throw out of the car and reduced to paste when he slammed into a highway sign at high speed. Humor and R aside, "Deadpool" has a solid core story, with the relationship between him and his girlfriend, Vanessa Carlysle, played by Morena Baccarin. This core part of the movie is what drives the plot and leads to the final show down between our villain and Deadpool, along with Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Colossus. Another plus for the movie, is the fact that both characters and everyone's favorite school for mutants doesn't feel out of place when they show up. In fact, it feels very natural, and both characters are used very well as counters to the Deadpool character played by Ryan Reynolds. This is because they service a purpose within the movie, when Deadpool is making jokes left and right they provide the serious punch and the balance between the two that is needed. Even during the serious moments with Deadpool, the jokes are simply tone down and act to further reinforce the Deadpool character. In short, "Deadpool" is a fun ride and certainly earns the name.
Deadpool himself on standby awaiting his nemesis- in new released movie “Deadpool.”
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Poster image of actor Ryan Reynolds starring as Deadpool
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movies
Tarintino has talent, not tact By Haley Holmes TSV interiim chief copy editor
The eighth film by famed director Quentin Tarantino, “The Hateful Eight” is a tension filled romp through a blizzard, rife with strong characterization and beautiful cinematography, in spite of Tarantino’s potentially questionable choice of imagery and dialogue. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, the entire films takes place almost exclusively inside a haberdashery on a mountain during a blizzard, with five other people (Walton Goggins and Tim Roth among them). The unlikely trio of bounty hunters (Jackson and Russell) and bounty (Leigh) are met with some adversity when someone in the haberdashery aims to cheat the hangman out of his bounty. From the get go, it is obvious that this film is quintessential Tarantino: the sweeping landscape shots are beautiful in 70 mm, accompanied by an incredible score by Ennio Morricone (his first Western score since 1981), and the character banter is quick and witty. For a film dependent on no scenery changes, dialogue is vital, and as always Tarantino can pack an hour of characterization into one quick conversation. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to reduce the run time of this 180 minute behemoth, but for Tarantino, the art comes first. But it’s not just
the run time that may suffer from his art. As with most Tarantino films, the imagery is graphic and fairly violent. This fact alone is enough to make a large number of viewers shy away, and “The Hateful Eight” certainly pulls no punches. From the frequent battery of Leigh, to forced fellatio and vomiting gallons of blood, “The Hateful Eight” is not for the sensitive. Any fan of Tarantino is no stranger to such scenes, but some people may still be surprised. The palpable discomfort of some scenes in particular really force the audience to feel as trapped and pained as the cast, resulting in a film akin to John Carpenter’s “The Thing,” and with equal tension. Overall the extreme nature of violence serves to emphasize the extreme nature of the situation, and though it is all done in Tarantino’s classic over the top style, some may still find it discomforting to view, let alone hear. As was the case with his last film, “Django Unchained,” this film takes place only a few years after the civil war, and some of the primary conflict is between veterans. Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, and Bruce Dern all played a part in the war, and only Jackson was on the Northern side. As would be expected, several racist remarks are made (on both sides) and they certainly don’t lighten up. While this is understandable from a character point of view, it could obviously be misconstrued by potentially
sensitive audiences, and is certainly debatable for its necessity. The flawless direction of the cast and their complete melding into their characters make the dialogue all the more real, which may only serve to make it all the all the more offensive. In the end though, the art comes first, and the cast in this case were flawless in all respects, with Leigh even taking a well deserved spot at center stage in the film’s final chapter. In the end, “The Hateful Eight” is a beautiful film with a foundation of tension that doesn’t give, a score crafted by a veritable maestro, and actors that have all but literally become their characters. Though Tarantino’s chosen style may reflect a lack of tact and decency, the art he has created can speak for itself. And while it’s not for the average viewer, “The Hateful Eight” truly is remarkable.
Scan the QR code below to watch the official trailer to The Hateful Eight!
Special effects save the magic By Gregory Ragaza TSV Staff writer
The Syfy channel’s new series, “The Magicians,” based on Lev Grossman’s novel of the same name, is a show that has it all: sex, drugs, magic, and moody college students. It’s as if the author and director combined the fantasy aspect of “Harry Potter” and “Narnia”, and the grittiness of “American Horror Story” with this show being the outcome. With clear influences from several other works, the plot of “The Magicians” isn’t unique by any means. But the show has impressive special effects, beautiful scenery, and unique concepts that give it the potential to become a great show. However it is somewhat hindered by the acting of the main cast. “The Magicians,” which premiered on Monday, Jan. 25, is a fantasy show set in modern day New York, where magic is only known to those who believe and can dabble in its mysticism. The main setting of the show is in a magical school similar to Hogwarts, from well-known book series “Harry Potter.” The fictional school of Brakebills College chooses people they consider to have potential, and test them to see if their assumptions are right. If the person passes the test, they are then invited to gain the knowledge and skills to be a magician. Now what they do with the knowledge and skill they gain will be entirely up to the individual. And of course, this show wouldn’t be complete without an evil force threatening the world. The show is centered around Quentin Coldwater, played by
Jason Ralph, a clinically depressed graduate student who can’t seem to find his place in the world. However, this is where the main problem of the show lies. Ralph’s acting is more in line with that of a sporadic, paranoid drug addict rather than someone who is clinically depressed. He is constantly twitching and stuttering, which can be distracting during scenes where other characters are conversing with him. But when he isn’t acting like the world is out to get him, the magic of the show starts to shine. The special effects in the show are impressive and help immerse the audience in the world of magic it is building. From the spells people cast to the background scenery, the amount of detail the show puts into its special effects is apparent. Like making a magical glass horse’s movement fluid and realistic, or adding a shimmer to the glass that made the magic more imaginable. “The Magicians” is a beautiful show. Even the way people cast their spells is stylish. The way spells are conjured up in “The Magicians” is quite distinct. It’s not as straightforward as flicking a wand. It is actually quite similar to the hip-hop dance style of “Tutting,” which uses mainly the arms and hands of the dancer. It’s a unique and intricate way of casting magic, and it flows beautifully with the special effects. The visuals of the show is dazzling and is the grabbing point of the it. So if “Harry Potter,” “Narnia,” or “American Horror Story” appeal to you, then give this show a shot. Just ignore the main character’s awkward acting, and you can fully immerse yourself in the magic.
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GAME ON!
Black History Month Cross-
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Complete the crossword below 1
Feb. 18, 2016 10
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1. the first African -American female astronaut 4. first African-American woman to win four gold medals in Olympics 6. person who delivered the famous “I Have a Dream� speech 8. was assassinated in the middle of giving a speech 9. woman that refused to give her bus seat up for a white man 10. issued by Abraham Lincoln to free all slaves 11. the first biracial president 12. amendment that abolished slavery 13. shortest month of the year 14. one of the founders of the Black Panther Party 15. amendment that gave African-American males the right to vote
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2. 1960s movement that pushed for equal rights of Black Americans 3. activist group preventing police brutality on AfricanAmericans 5. amendment that gave African-Americans citizenship 7. the first Black woman to win an Emmy
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Sports
Feb. 18, 2016
Skyline View
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11
An all-star game worth missing Valentine’s Day for by Miguel Garcia The NBA All-Star Weekend was a rather interesting one this year, especially with it being held outside of the U.S.A., in the hometown of the Raptors: Toronto, Ontario. There is just so much to talk about from the weekend, from the near-200-point All-Star game, to one of the best dunk contests I have ever watched, to Kobe Bryant’s last All-Star game of his career. On Friday (Feb. 12), the Rising Stars Challenge went down and team USA beat team World by 3 points(157-154). Zach LaVine also takes the MVP award for the game as well, at this year’s Slam Dunk competition. The NBA All-Star Celebrity game took place right after the Rising Stars challenge, but really, it was no contest. Of course, Kevin Hart gets MVP again. Saturday was probably the most exciting All-Star day. With the Skills Challenge, Three-Point Shootout, and the most exciting Slam Dunk Contest in a while, Saturday really gave the fans something to watch. Even though the Bay Area’s Draymond Green competed in the Skills Challenge, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns went to town and took the crown. It’s also a big surprise that a big man took the win, up against the Boston Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas
in the final round. The Three-Point Shootout was probably the event all of the Bay Area sports fans were looking forward to watching, though. As the "Splash Brothers" went at it again but this year, Klay Thompson took the win beating Stephen Curry by 4 points in the championship round. Either way, it’s a win for any Warriors fan. The biggest show of the weekend though, the Slam Dunk contest, was really just a battle between the Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon, and the Rising Stars MVP, Zach LeVine. Almost all their dunks were something new, and very explosive. Gordon was the one to bring a little more fun to the game, but LeVine proved to be the more athletic one, jumping from the free throw line almost every time. To be fair, Gordon had the most impressive dunk of the competition, basically taking a seat in the air as he was dunking. But Levine still had the most consistent dunks to win the contest. This year’s All-Star game itself was a little boring, as always. It was just a showcase of offensive skills. I was kind of expecting a three-point shootout the whole game, but it was really a minidunk contest. Even Curry was showing off dunks, including a few two-handed dunks. It was really fun to watch old teammates and current teammates show off with alley-oops and plays they used to do when they were teammates. Like Dwyane Wade and LeBron
NBA All-Star MVP Russell Westbrook throws in a slam dunk against the East Coast team on Feb. 14, 2016.
James showing off a two-pass alley-oop. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant showcased a few good alley-oops too. It’s weird because most of the three-point plays of the first half weren’t coming from any of the Splash Brothers. They probably had enough “splashes” from the three-point shootout, and pretty much the rest of the season. It was a close game for the first half, really. It didn’t become a three-point shootout until the
Results from across the Board Men’s Basketball Skyline vs.
Location
Date
Results
De Anza College
Home
Dec. 18
L, 74-72
Columbia College
Sonora
Dec. 30
L, 74-58
Cabrillo College
Aptos
Jan. 2
City College of San Francisco
Home
Jan. 5
L, 82-67 L, 64-56
Cañada College
Home
Jan. 8
W, 76-65
Ohlone College
Fremont
Jan. 15
L, 66-57
Foothill College
Home
Jan. 20
W, 64-49
Chabot College
Hayward
Jan. 22
L, 74-67
Las Positas College
Livermore
Jan. 27
L, 94-85
City College of San Francisco
San Francisco
Jan. 29
L, 83-57
second half of the game. It was also at this point that the East All-Stars started to trail behind the West. Three-pointers coming from all the players, James Harden, Paul George, Chris Paul, Pau Gasol, all of them were making threes. To be honest, I felt pretty bored watching the game because as I said, it was either dunks, or three-pointers. That is the spirit of the All-Star game, but there weren’t really any crazy plays whatsoever. It was a fun game to
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watch, though, just uninteresting. This is one of the few years that the skills contests were more fun to watch than the All-Star game itself. But even then, the entire weekend, I would say, was a success. It was ultimately one of the more fun to watch All-Star weekends to experience, and it definitely was worth missing Valentine’s Day for.
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Women’s Basketball Skyline vs.
Location
Date
CCSF Tournament
San Francisco
Dec. 18-20
vs. LA Valley College
Dec. 18
L, 75-55
vs. San Diego City College
Dec. 19
W, 76-54
vs. East LA College
Dec. 20
L, 84-60
Fullerton
Dec. 27-29
Fullerton College Tournament
Results
vs. Long Beach City College
L, 69-41
vs. San Diego Mesa
W, 78-52
Santa Monica College
W, 77-52
City College of San Francisco
Home
Jan. 6
L, 84-54
College of San Mateo
Home
Jan. 8
W, 72-47
Ohlone College
Fremont
Jan. 15
W, 66-46
San Jose City College
Home
Jan. 20
W, 64-51
Chabot College
Hayward
Jan. 22
L, 63-52
Las Positas College
Livermore
Jan. 27
W, 87-51
City College of San Francisco
San Francisco
Jan. 29
L, 73-43
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Skyline
Sports
Upcoming Games: Badminton
Baseball
March 12, @ Fresno City College, 12 p.m.
Feb. 18, @ San Diego Mesa College, 2 p.m.
March 17, @ De Anza College, 3 p.m.
Feb. 19, @ San Diego Mesa College, 2 p.m.
March 22, vs. CCSF, 3 p.m.
Feb. 20, @ San Diego Mesa College, 11 a.m.
April 5, vs. Fresno City College, 3 p.m.
Feb. 25, @ Los Medanos College, 2 p.m.
April 12, vs. De Anza College, 3 p.m.
Feb. 26, @ CCSF, 1 p.m.
Sports News
Skyline supports student athletes at risk of depression
by Madison J. Tidwell
TSV Staff Writer
Nearly one quarter of student athletes suffer from depression, according to an article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. These findings, based on a study by Drexel and Kean Universities, highlight the importance of mental health support in athletics and also bring up the question of why student athletes are so at risk. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) posits that the increase of depression and other mental health disorders in student athletes is an indication of the link between physical and mental health, and suggests treating student athletes’ depression as one would an injury. Here at Skyline, the athletics department takes this recommendation seriously and pays close attention to students’ dispositions on and off the playing field. Coaches and the Skyline athletic trainers are available to talk with student athletes and can refer students who may need help to the Health Center on Campus, where trained counselors are available to provide psychological and health services. The Health Center is one of the best resources available for student athletes who may be affected by depression. There, counselors Beverly Muse, MFT and Liz Llama, MFT are available both by appointment and during drop in hours, which are Monday through Thursday 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The health center also boasts a wall of informational pamphlets for those who aren’t ready to speak with a counselor, or who would just like more information. Some of the pamphlets available include topics such as men and depression, information about depression and anxiety, suicidal thoughts, helping a friend, and combating anger and stress. Researchers at Drexel University and Kean University surveyed 465 athletes at an anonymous Division I institution over three years and assessed the data using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Nearly
Illustration by Andrew Avilla and Gregory Ragaza/The Skyline View
30 percent of female athletes showed symptoms of depression, compared to 18 percent of male athletes. Female track and field athletes had the highest prevalence of symptoms. Athletes today such as Holly Holm, professional UFC fighter made sure to take precautions against depression. In an article on sherdog.com, responding to Ronda Rousey’s comments about suicide, Holm admitted that she too has had those thoughts before. Holm emphasized that there is pressure to win, and that she needed to have a support system to not be in a bad place mentally. The question remains then, if all of these resources are available for student athletes, why are the rates of depression so staggering? One factor that may affect student athlete rates of depression is the unique stressors and performance pressures that come with juggling academics and athletics. For many, keeping on top of homework and grades can be difficult enough. Add to that athletics practice, traveling for games, keeping fit, and dealing with competition and it’s easy to see why student athletes may be suffering from stress and depression. “I had school, after school I had practice for three hours, and then from there, I had to go to work,” said second year student Cindy Barrios, who played soccer last year at Skyline. “It was difficult.” Along with performance pressure, this highlights another issue facing student athletes: time. Many student athletes juggle not only academics and athletics, but employment as well, leaving them rushed and often bereft of a good night’s sleep. This can be dangerous, as it’s more difficult to rebound from setbacks or feelings of depression without the rejuvenating qualities of sleep. Yet none of these are new problems facing student athletes. According to Joe Morello Jr., the Dean of Athletics, Dance, and Kinesiology at Skyline College, depression in student athletes might not be so new either. “In my mind, it’s not something
that has really changed over the last 30 some odd years that I’ve been in college athletics,” he says. “There are different levels of connections now than what it was 30 years ago. There’s more openness in our society. People feel a little bit freer to express that, ‘yeah I have been depressed’.” He recognizes that social media has been an important catalyst for conversation around mental health issues and thinks that increased connection online has allowed more students to open up and start the conversation. “More people choose to talk on social media than in person,” said Sam M. Kalani, a Skyline basketball team manager. “Because they’re afraid of the reactions they’ll get from other people.” “It definitely empowers people sometimes,” Raymart Aquino, another Skyline basketball team manager said. “It’s easy access, anyone can sign up.” This is a key element of social media’s appeal for students to start the conversation; it’s much easier to send a private message to a friend right after a significant let down, and to receive immediate relief, than to wait to see someone in person. Waiting can sometimes lead to second guessing the veracity of feelings, or questioning what someone’s response might be. It seems that in our modern age of interconnected technology, it may be that an old problem is finally coming to light. Whatever the case may be, it is clear that depression in student athletes is an important issue, and one that can be helped with more communication and access to resources such as the Health Center. Keeping in mind the added pressures of being an athlete as well as a student, it’s imperative that Skyline continue to provide mental health support to its student athletes. If you or a loved one have been feeling down for longer than two weeks, it may be time to reach out to someone, start the conversation, or talk to a trained counselor at the campus health center.
Sports Opinion
Steel your mind, not just your muscles by Haley Holmes
On Tuesday this week (Feb. 17), popular MMA fighter Ronda Rousey made an appearance on "The Ellen Degeneres Show." To the shock of many, Rousey admitted on the show that, after her impressive loss to Holly Holm in November 2015, she contemplated suicide. The real question is, why is this a surprise to anybody? Facing an immense defeat after a long trail of victories, as Rousey had (her loss to Holm was her first career defeat), would send anybody crashing back down. Her sentiments should not be met with shock and awe, but with empathy and understanding. With the dialogue surrounding mental health opening wider every day, our figureheads of strength and inspiration (sports heroes, political figures, etc.) should be allowed the ability to succumb to weakness and build themselves back up from it. Rousey isn't the only athlete to ever feel this way. In response to Rousey's comments, Holm herself told sherdog.com that, when she experienced a loss, she "needed the help, the support around me" to pull herself back up. "I hurt for her, that she feels that way," Holm told sherdog. com. "When you put your heart and soul into something and it gets shut down devastatingly, it’s terrible. It’s a horrible feeling.” So why then, is Rousey's comment so shocking to the rest of us? Athletes are still people, people that force their bodies to go through tremendous physical exertions for the pleasure of an audience. Adding on to the physical pain is the torment of fans when you lose, the pressure of the team/coach/fans to win at all costs, and the constant
training and traveling, and it suddenly makes sense why up to 25 percent of professional athletes suffer from depression, as reported by Alfie Harmer for thesportster.com. The toll can be even harder on collegiate athletes, who have to tack on the stress of school and maintaining grades to the already long list of issues. A survey preformed in 2013 by the American College Health Association concluded that 31.3 percent of those surveyed felt "so depressed that it was difficult to function." Beyond that, 51 percent reported overwhelming anxiety, 37 percent felt overwhelming anger, and little over 7 percent contemplated suicide. Unfortunately, the placing of many sports stars on a pedestal may be their ultimate downfall. The pressure of a professional sports lifestyle is greater than many assume, and even help is hard to come by due to the abundant masculinity in the field. Stereotypes like men not asking for help, not crying, and the like seriously reduce the odds of someone suffering seeking help. They may feel ashamed of themselves for the perceived "weakness" of depression. This is what needs to change. Athletes in high school, college, and beyond feel the pressure to constantly be their best, and the crushing defeat that comes with a loss can very much be overwhelming. Sometimes an athletic defeat can evolve into a loss of self-worth, an immeasurable blow to pride, and a potentially career-altering spiral into depression and reckless behavior. It only makes sense that an athlete should have a trainer not only for their body, but for their mind as well. The strength it takes to rise again after an awful defeat may be too much for one person to handle. Even Atlas gave up the heavens once.
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