Viewpoint Summer 2017

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US:

movements that define the

GENERATIONS pg. 4

4 7 10 14 16 19 22 25

Editor’s Note

Viewpoint Staff Editor in Chief Gregory Ragaza Creative Director Mintzhet Tan Chief Copy Editor Shamal Prasad

The Skyline View is a First Amendment Publication. Viewpoint is published during the spring semester 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.

Contact: www.theskylineview.com theskylineview@gmail.com @theskylineview

Copy Editor Carol High

Our country has always been and will continue to be a melting pot of culture, ethnicity, traditions, values and opinions. In this time of turmoil and division, the best way to close the rift growing in our country is to learn about one another and the culture we are constantly submerged in.

Everything is part of a culture. Everyone has a story to tell.

That’s what “Viewpoint Vol. 3” aims to deliver. We want to give our readers an insight on some of the different cultures and people represented in the Bay Area and at Skyline College in San Bruno, Calif.

Skyline College is a diverse school that represents the melting pot that is the Bay Area. We, as a staff, wanted to capture some of the cultures and subcultures that the Bay Area has to offer in hope of broadening the minds of those who read the third volume of our magazine.

(650) 738-4377 The Skyline View c/o Language Arts Room 8-8110 Skyline College 3300 College Drive

San Bruno CA 94066

Gregory Ragaza Editor in Chief

Editors Adreana Estigoy Blynn Beltran Brian Silverman Chris Christenson Kevin Perez Laurel B. Lujan Marie Hom Will Nacouzi Writers Lauren Gozon Miguel Madrigal Olivia Bowman Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel

@higreggy SUMMER 2017

3

between the advocates of change and the more conservative individuals. As the boomer generation saw increasing social and economic equality, they also came of age at a time when the nation was frequently torn by conflicting views on social justice, war and politics. This generation witnessed and participated in some of the greatest social revolutions in the nation’s history.

Boomers also helped produce change with the civil rights movement and put an end to the Vietnam War. Many American boomers were fighting in the war or organizing against it. The start of anti-war protests broke out as the risk of the draft into the war increased.

In their early adulthood, boomers practiced nonviolent protests during the civil rights movement, which was a vital factor in the success of the movement itself.

Baby boomers during the civil rights movement were well into their teens and early adult lives. The early and mid-boomers were experiencing their coming of age at the same time across the whole

“Getting into good trouble is more complicated when you have children and grandchildren and financial responsibilities, but it’s necessary.” world. Overall, this generation amounted to a number of protesters that yearned for equality and peace.

However, when the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964 and the Vietnam War ended, boomers, as a whole, moved on with their personal lives. While there has been some support from the boomer generation on social issues today, they haven’t reciprocated the sort of activism of the 1960s.

P. Shawn McGraw, history teacher and political science major at Westmoor High School in Daly City, Calif., developed an interest in activism early on in life due to her upbringing as a Gen Xer in Massachusetts, along with her mother’s political stance.

She stated that her mother used to make her wear embroidered patches to school that were deemed “unpopular” at the time, such as an Equal Rights Amendment badge. McGraw’s first march was a prochoice march in Washington, D.C. in April 1989.

“Do I consider myself an activist?” McGraw asks. “Yes I do. I think by being a teacher, you’re helping to change their [students] minds

By Lauren Gozon The action of bringing about political or social change is not a new concept to this generation. Generation X, baby boomers and millennials have their own approaches and methods to activism. The way millennials advocate for change might be just as effective, maybe even more, than previous generations.

Baby boomers are the demographic group born post-World War II. Approximately 76 million American children were born during 1946 to 1964, according to population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Boomers grew up in a time of dramatic social transformation.

This change stamped the boomer generation with strong division 4 SUMMER 2017

Creative Commons

and inspire people to get ‘in good trouble,’” a reference taken from civil rights activist John Lewis.

Current political activism has strong roots in Generation X’s culture. Born between 1960 and 1980 in the United States, Gen Xers laid out the political, social, creative and intellectual foundation which the millennials follow today.

Mainstream hip-hop emerged in the 1980s and early 1990s by inner-city African Americans and it was characterized by its diversity and influence. Hip-hop was used as a form of social protest during this era, which is not all that different today. Lyrical content from this era drew awareness for social issues such as violence, crime, religion, culture and the American economy.

Many hip-hop tracks of that time were in

service and more. One of the most notable programs was the Free Breakfast for Children Program, which began in January 1969, that spread to major American cities with a Black Panther Party branch.

The Party recruited the largest number of members and made the greatest impacts in Oakland and San Francisco Bay Area. The Black Panther Party was dissolved in 1982, though they inspired and aided various groups and movements in the later generation.

Generation X is the “middle child” caught between the boomer and the millennial generation and is a relatively small demographic that tends to be forgotten.

However, they have played a huge part in creating the activism we now know today.

Gen Xers and boomers alike have criticized that the present millennial generation often lacks interest in social issues and are not active enough.

Millennials, born in the years 1981 to 1999, have their own unique kind of social activism.

Some may say they may even be redefining political movements. Millennials are the largest

response to former President Ronald Reagan’s political economy and American capitalism. Public Enemy’s most influential song, “Fight the Power,” speaks up to the government and asserted that people in the ghetto have rights and freedom of speech as much as any American.

In addition to hip-hop as a form of civil protest, the Black Panther Party was an African-American revolutionary party founded in 1966 in Oakland, Calif. They were active in the late boomer and well into Generation X. The original purpose of the party was to patrol African-American neighborhoods to protect residents from police brutality, an issue that is still a problem today.

Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the two leading revolutionaries, helped form the black liberation group in order to confront corrupt systems of power and help build community.

The Black Panther Party came into the national spotlight in May 1967 when a small group of members and Seale marched fully-equipped with guns into the California state legislature in Sacramento. With the constitutional right to bear arms, based on the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the Party marched as a protest against living generation in the United States, with an estimated 83.1 million, according to the United the awaiting Mulford Act, a bill that repealed States Census Bureau, compared to the 76 million baby boomers.

According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, millennials are more open to change than older generations. Millennials are the most likely of any generation to self-identify as liberal on the political spectrum and are more supportive of progressive social ideals than the prior generations.

“The millennials, I’m still trying to figure out,” McGraw says. “This generation could be more effective because of the internet and social media, which we [Generation X] did not have a law allowing the public carrying of loaded firearms. The bill was created in response to the open carrying of Black Panther Party members who conducted armed patrols in Oakland neighborhoods.

The Black Panther Party viewed the legislation as a political maneuver to obstruct the organization’s efforts to combat police brutality in their communities.

Moreover, the Black Panther Party, along with challenging police brutality, launched more than 35 programs and supplied community help, such as education, transportation assistance, ambulance

SUMMER 2017

5

until recently. They could do a lot with social media to be activists and take it to the streets.”

Activism doesn’t look like what it used to, but millennials are essentially shaping what our nations will look like in the future. While some argue that posting on Facebook and tweeting on Twitter are not as powerful as protesting on the streets, it is evident that millennials are more efficient with their energy and aren’t limited to traditional forms of civic participation.

Millennials build movements online in order to take them to the streets with influence and purpose. Members of this generation sparked a series of movements centered on issues such as race, #BlackLivesMatter, feminism, #YesAllWomen, sexual orientation, #LoveWins, income equality, #FightFor15, and even opposition to the president of the U.S., #NotMyPresident.

Rihanna Martin, teen activist who is a part of various social movements and active in social issues, says the methods of the activism in this generation are different, especially with how pervasive technology has become.

“Social media definitely does play a significant role in activism,” Martin says. “Just look at the BLM [Black Lives Matter] movement.”

In 2013, social media also ignited the Black Lives Matter movement with the use of a mere hashtag. The BLM movement regularly holds protests against police brutality against black people and issues of racial profiling and racial inequality in the U.S. criminal justice system.

Martin says that the message within every generation is the same, however, fighting for equality among everyone as a whole.

“It has always been the same message for decades, through every generation,” Martin says. “But technology and social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook help get our voice across more effectively.

We’re still marching and protesting like Martin Luther King and preaching like Malcolm X, getting our voice across through poems like Maya Angelou and Sojourner Truth.”

Calling these mere hashtags are denying the effects that these have played in stimulating various protests and marches such as the Women’s March on Jan. 21, 2017, the largest single-day protest in United States history.

Millennials are the most diverse 6 SUMMER 2017

Photos by Kevin Perez/The Skyline View

generation in the U.S. to date in terms of race, ethnicity and class. The Cooperative Institutional Research Program at UCLA conducted a survey based on 141,189 full-time first-time students who entered 199 four-year U.S. institutions. The results of the survey confirmed that college students nowadays are much more politically engaged than ever before.

“The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2015” states that “the vast majority (96.9 percent) of first-time, full-time students who entered college in the fall of 2015 spent their senior year of high school witnessing (and perhaps even participating in) increased activism among high school and college students.”

The boomer generation, Generation X, and the millennial generation have all taken part in a form of activism that is unique and different throughout the years. Activism is prominent in bringing about change and throughout history, we see how strong, effective and influential it has become in bringing about revolution.

In the age of technology, millennials are able to use technology to create and support various movements, graduating from posting to getting more involved in politics. This generation’s form of activism has ignited several marches, protests, and demonstrations in a time where change is drastically needed.

Travelling to write: A chapter into teaching

By Laurel B. Lujan

The Sky Cafe was busy while Katharine Harer ordered her cup of coffee: a decaf mocha with light whipped cream. She offered to buy mine but I politely refused. Kind would be one word to describe her.

“I love rich and yummy food and drinks but I have the ability to compromise around my health and well-being, meaning that caffeine makes me crazy,” Harer says about her beverage choice.

After getting her drink, Harer went to the Fireside Dining Room to check out the Career Fair. She was on a mission to find a great pen, which makes her relatable.

Even if a college student may not be interested in school, a great, smooth writing pen makes a difference when needing the motivation to write down notes.

She finally found a couple that she preferred. She also offered me one.

No, she insisted that I take one.

Sweet.

I took the pen because, like her, I appreciate pens as well. Especially free ones. After all, she is a writer and a poet, who knew that I too loved pens.

We sat outside since it was a beautiful day. Birds were singing, the sun was oozing with warmth and the rain puddles from the day before were mostly dried up.

Courtesy of Will Nacouzi

Throughout the interview, Harer waved, smiled and talked to faculty, staff and students when they passed by. All the people she connected with had a smile on their faces as they continued to their destinations.

Lavinia Zanassi, faculty coordinator and counselor for Career Services at Skyline College has known Harer for many years from working with her.

“She’s one of those rare personalities who combines enthusiasm and experience,” Zanassi reflects. “She’s very committed to her profession, she loves teaching.”

Courtesy of Katharine Harer

The Start of the Journey

realized this was my level, these were my people.”

Harer emphasized that teaching at Skyline gave her a larger arer has made an impact in demographic of students to teach and people’s lives through her writings, connect with because of their ages, teachings and experiences. She’s backgrounds and their reasons for done this by telling a story so she getting an education at Skyline. can be of service to help others and “[I’ve] stayed here for 39 years connect with her community. because I love it,” Harer says. “I feel “I think the part of teaching that as if I can really be of service here at really is an indicator as a connection Skyline, teaching any kind of writing is that she’s so open minded and that and English skills. I feel like I can she teaches creative writing,” Zanassi help students [realize] that they enjoy says. “It’s kind of an interesting learning with me.” reflection of the actual discipline that As a retired professor, she still she teaches is a reflection on how she works part-time during the fall lives her life.” semester and teaches one class.

As a former full-time professor “It feels as if I’m not just getting at Skyline, Harer taught English people through a required class,” for over 39 years. She started her Harer says. “I feel like I’m really teaching career at the college in 1978. reaching my students by the kinds of However, it was not with college books that I choose we read together students at first. She was teaching and by how we work with them in the a high school reading class to high reading.” school students who came to Skyline College. Later in her teaching career, Programs in Harer started teaching creative Collaboration writing.

“Once I did it with the high school One of the programs Harer has kids, which was fun, they offered me another class with community college worked with is California Poets in students,” Harer says. “That’s when I the Schools, a state-wide program

H

8 SUMMER 2017

that encourages writers of all ages to express themselves creatively through writing.

Zanassi says Harer has been involved with students who want to be writers or have an interest in communication studies. She is able to inspire others by talking about her life and writing.

Being of Service to the Community Harer’s parents worked in San Francisco. Her father was a longshoreman, working on the docks while her mother was an office worker.

The philosophy of being in service comes from her parents being “working class people,” who were in unions themselves.

“I grew up in a union family and that’s why I do union work,” Harer says as she points out her red AFT 1493 T-shirt. The tee is meant to promote the San Mateo Community College Federation of Teachers and to show support for their contract campaign, since the union has been without a contract for eight years

now.

Within the first few years of being a professor, she volunteered for the union. She started off as an officer since the union does not have a board committee. Harer officially became an officer 20 years ago and now serves as the co-vice president of the AFT 1493’s executive committee.

Part of her job is to use money from the organization’s fund to welcome all the new full-time professors and give them special welcome bags.

The goal of doing this is to create a personal connection with teachers and be a support system for the members.

Other Works and Compilations Harer has been published numerous times in journals, six personal collections and newspapers. Her writing has been in the San Francisco Chronicle because the Poet Laureate of San Francisco chose a poem of hers to be included in the paper. This helped pave her way into a collection of poems called “The Other Side of the Postcard,” which was a creative collaboration between the San Francisco Public Library and the Poet

Laureate.

Harer enjoys being published in anthologies because she likes seeing her writing with other writers. Some of the topics of her published works range from music, baseball, San Francisco and travelling.

She’s currently trying to get into an anthology in response to the Trump Regime and the change in the political climate of the United States.

Harer recently published a compilation of poems last year based on her love of jazz. “Jazz and Other Hot Subjects” is her biggest collection of work to be released as of yet.

Words Travel Fast The union brought sabbaticals back because they kind of lost them. When she was a negotiator, she made it a priority to get them back.

“It’s an important thing for people to have them at all levels but it’s a tradition for college,” Harer says.

Harer has traveled to Bali, Italy, Naples and Chile. She will be going back to Italy later this year for a month to focus on her writing.

During her time in Italy, Harer worked on two personal essays and one of them will be published in “The Best Women’s Travel Writing.”

She travels alone in order to write but she does travel with her husband as well. Eleven years ago, she went to Chile on a sabbatical for one month. These sabbaticals are like chapters of her own life where she hopes to publish her personal travel essays. Harer went on a personal tour to explore the native home of her favorite poet, Pablo Neruda.

When she got home from Chile, she was still on sabbatical and utilized the free time to continue writing. As a poet and a writer who has published her own work, visiting her idol’s home did help her find herself.

“I travel to find myself,” Harer says.

“I write during my travels to find myself in my work and have people learn about it.”

Her list of accomplishments are still growing and she makes it her business to write and share her work in order to inspire others.

Harer is a person that is influenced by all the culture that surrounds her.

We can learn a lesson or two from Harer when it comes to expanding your knowledge of cultures and using it to educate other people.

Why I Like Graffti

A personal manifesto - for Jack Hirschman

Because we're not supposed to do it because buildings are holy billboards precious, walls worth more than gold because we're not supposed to do it touch their buildings, climb their fences, hang like a bird from their roofs leave our mark Because it's there for everyone to see no museum guards to track you, no fish eyed lady collecting your entrance fee to another airless palace of "legitimate" art no cultural dues to pay to prove you can look and if you're young and the wrong color and lively you're asked to leave ushered into the street where you belong Because it's out there in the breathable air framed by the sky and the hustle curved Hebraic letters of tags peaceful bombings murals full scale pieces mesmerizing fences charm bracelets across eyesore alleys nonviolent violence without laying out a dime to the gods of advertising right under the noses of the civic censors late at night on a bicycle a backpack full of paint art where it belongs where we can see it Because when I look at graffiti I know what I would make with my spray can nozzle, my paintbrush, my broad tipped marker women's faces, all kinds in repose, hilarious, tragic, divine, girls and crones so we can see ourselves not on the oil slicks of billboards singing for whiskey or cigarettes or love But floating across a vacant lot on Harrison pressed into the abandoned walls of a brewery south of Market high styling an office building meditating on the financial district, its spilled curbs and unopened windows, on financiers, laborers and the dispossessed real women looking us straight in the eye And in spite of the aneurysms of culture the instinct to close the door turn up the heat and die peacefully with what I already know graffiti makes me love the streets again: wild horses, Malcolm X, whimsical dogs, urgent signs kids screaming their names because we're not supposed to do it make this cemented world ours

SUMMER 2017

9

Trending: Boba

Boba’s photographic appeal is just one of its many fascinating qualities like it. But Boba Guys founders Bin Chen and Andrew Chau were quoted

by Quartz Media as saying that the It’s been a long day. You order an experience of having boba is “like iced tea. At the bottom of your cup drinking with gummy bears.”. Coare a bunch of black, squishy, slimy balls. Mmm… While not aesthetically owner of Boba Dude in Half Moon Bay, Derek Chen (no relation to Bin pleasing, boba has exploded in Chen), describes boba as being like a popularity in the last few years and ”tea drink from Starbucks with jelly has allowed a part of Taiwanese on the bottom”. culture to grow here in the U.S.

By Olivia Bowman

History Boba is a drink of many names. It can be called bubble tea, pearl tea, boba nai cha, foam milk tea, momi milk tea and QQ. More commonly known as boba, bubble tea is a Taiwanese iced tea or juice-based drink that is sometimes made with milk or fruit syrup and gets its name from its key ingredient: tapioca pearls. Hong Kong residents popularized the drink’s nickname by calling it boba, which refers to the round shape of the tapioca.

While the tapioca pearl’s appearance looks strange and mysterious, their origins are pretty ordinary. Boba is a starch made from the cassava root. It can usually be found already formed into balls and dehydrated and must be boiled to achieve its ideal consistency: chewy on the outside and soft in the middle.

Created in the 1980s, the drink is thought to have been created when the Product Development Manager for the Chun Shui Tang Teahouse, Lin Hsiu Hui, added fen yuan, a Taiwanese tapioca pudding to her iced tea. While it’s not a new technique to create something great from two already good food items, Hui combined the element of chewing something with a beverage, which is unusual.

What’s boba like?

The look and texture of the tapioca pearls in a drink can be off-putting at first. It can be hard to make it seem like an appealing drink to someone who has never experienced anything 11 SUMMER 2017

What should I get?

For first timers, milk tea is a great option for your first boba.

Part of what makes milk tea a great choice is that every boba shop has one, but every milk tea is unique to that establishment. Think of it like ordering the house coffee at a cafe. For fruit teas, honeydew is the reigning favorite at boba places.

With numerous variations of the drink, it would be hard not to find something you’d like. Boba can be made with a fruit tea or milk tea. Fruit flavors offered at boba shops range from ordinary (strawberry, coconut, peach) to unique (kumquat, pomelo, taro). For the lactose intolerant, milk teas can usually be made with soy or almond milk upon request.

Counter-intuitively called toppings, but most often wind up on the bottom of one’s cup are boba (tapioca pearls), popping boba (balls of fruit-flavored syrup wrapped in a thin outer layer), and jellies (small, agar-like shapes with flavors ranging from grass to mango).

Many boba establishments offer customers the option of having their drink hot or iced, as well as giving customers control over the level of sweetness in their drink.

What makes good boba?

Elise Fretz, a San Francisco resident, thinks the best boba is “not too sweet, [has] good quality tea, and the perfect amount of chewy boba.”

Nagisa Yamaguchi, an employee at Eggettes in Millbrae, says good boba

comes from rich ingredients.

“Good tea and sugar,” Chen says. “Good tea is important.”

Popularity Outwardly, the tapioca pearls don’t make the drink pleasing to the eye. But as boba becomes more popular, the strange appearance and texture of the drink becomes more normalized.

As a testament to the power of social media, Sylas Dart, a College Park High School student, said he wanted to try boba after seeing it on YouTube and vlog channels. However, these Creators aren’t the only ones with influence. Abigail Brooks, also a College Park High School student, said she started drinking boba because her friend was into it and made her try it. A convert to the boba industry, Brooks describes boba as “better than sex.”

In Asian communities, boba is a very popular snack time drink. Dale Grande, a Baypoint High School senior says “it’s kind of like an Asian instinct to like boba.”

Yamaguchi attributes the drink’s popularity to “the uniqueness of chewing something while drinking.”

With so many boba places popping up, there is something for everyone.

Some boba places like i-Tea in San Francisco have a large menu where you can customize the flavors,

sweetness, amount of ice and other jelly toppings to your heart’s content. Others like Plentea have a set menu where they don’t allow substitutions, which is perfect if you’re a purist.

If you want to grab and go, Boba Guys may be for you.

Although, their popularity means you’ll have to wait in line. Their customer service is great, as evident from their Yelp reviews and they’ll have you in and out in no time.

If you’d prefer to sit down and hang out with friends while sipping your boba, T4 in Millbrae may be more your style. They have numerous tables and a bookshelf full of games, making it a perfect place to relax. If you’re a night owl and get late-night boba cravings, Onyx in Daly City is open until 11 p.m. on most nights.

Achieving Longevity An alternative to the behemoth coffee drinking culture that permeates daily American life, boba may just seem like the next stop in millennials’ dessert obsession. But that may be underestimating the drink’s versatility. The Tea Association of America reports that tea is “the only beverage commonly served hot or iced, anytime, anywhere, for any occasion.” The drink has the potential to outlast

its trendy status by utilizing social media, having a socially conscious mission, diversifying their menu and franchising.

It doesn’t hurt that millennials and Generation Z are increasingly tied into social media, which acts as a conduit through which much of popular culture is formed and spread.

Some boba places are taking advantage of this and are trying to appeal to these younger consumers by making their drinks as aesthetically pleasing as possible.

Carefully crafting their Instagram feeds, younger people may be attracted to Mini Monster in Anaheim, which serves their boba in containers that look like giant light bulbs with cotton candy on top. Roasting Waters, a Southern California boba shop, serves their drinks in tall cylindrical jars with

beautiful illustrations and cork tops.

Meanwhile, Boba Dude in Half Moon Bay has straws that change colors with the temperature.

Adolescents, which are the target demographic for boba, are also increasingly socially conscious.

Boba Dude offers a book club to get young kids to read. They have a small bookcase in the store and if a student reads a book and writes a report on it for school, they offer a $10 gift card as a reward. Plentea appeals to the ecological concerns of the younger generations and have created a business opportunity out of it. They offer their drinks in jars which if brought back, can be used for a 10 percent discount off of any of their drinks.

Boba places are also diversifying their menu in order to outlast a boba trend. They are beginning to sell snack foods like popcorn chicken, in addition to their many tea drinks. Some boba places like Boba 7 in downtown Los Angeles are experimenting with boba cocktails. And others are hoping to attract customers by combining cultures. Many boba places are serving flavors like horchata, which originated in Spain, taro which hails from Southeast Asia and India, ube from the Philippines and Thai tea from Thailand.

Large companies like Coldstone Creamery are hopping on the fad by offering franchises the option of selling boba in their stores. The Turlock and Modesto stores have done extremely well, averaging about 1,200 to 1,500 bobas per week.

Stores like Cha Time, Quickly, and Tpumps are spreading boba culture throughout the U.S. by setting up in mall food courts and popular shopping areas where they get the most exposure. Smaller boba shops get repeat customers by utilizing a punch card where after the 10th drink, the customer gets one free. And other stores like T4 get customers by offering a 15 percent discount if a student I.D. is shown and have a week day happy hour discount.

Chen says in order for boba to achieve longevity, shops need to “constantly release new items to attract attention.” Erwin Agnes, a cashier from Tea World, believes that boba won’t ever disappear because “it’s too popular for its sugar content.”

Boba will undoubtedly evolve with the market to satisfy a progressive palate.

Photos courtesy of Will Nacouzi

12 SUMMER 2017

super student by day, ... mild mannered reporter by night?

the Journalism Department wants you!

------cS=----=-----

Talented tweeters, phenomenal photographers, notorious newsies, and anyone who spends statistics class doodling in the margins of the textbook ... the Skyline Journalism Department and the Skyline View campus newspaper have a spot for you! This fall, sign up for journalism courses, spill some ink with the Skyline View staff, :.----. and even have your work published in the paper. ..-���11111

Fall courses are listed below. Sign up faster than a speeding bullet, and leap into your future journalism career in a single bound!

JOUR 1 10- Mass Media & Society JOUR 120-Writing & Reporting for Media JOUR 121 -Advanced Writing & Reporting for Media 94150 JOUR 320-Beginning Newspaper Staff JOUR 330- Intermediate Newspaper Staff JOUR 340- Intermediate Advanced Newspaper Staff 94614 JOUR 350-Advanced Newspaper Staff JOUR 695-Independent Study in Journalism

By Chris Christenson

Who said you had to have a boring palate to eat decently?

If millennials want to exercise their taste and have a better sense of good food, they must discover the food culture of San Francisco and pay less attention to what is advertised.

San Francisco’s food culture is quite unique from every other part of the country. Not only does the culture have restaurants that serve cheap and delicious meals, it also has the most aesthetically pleasing restaurants. With that being said, I don’t understand why I see millennials in fast food joints more often than I do in restaurants.

Of course, I don’t think the reason I don’t see them as much is because I go to certain restaurants for food or a drink during times when other millennials are nowhere to be found. It’s probably because it’s not in their interest to be adventurous. But they need to exercise their palate to discover better food so that they don’t become the type of person who doesn’t know about the lesserknown gems that San Francisco has to offer. That’s embarrassing.

Can it be the price that distracts these consumers from these food hubs?

Maybe that’s not the case.

A Business Insider article states that 53 percent of millennials go out to eat once a week compared to 43 percent of the general population. Forbes says 14 SUMMER 2017

that millennials will make up 75 percent of the workforce by 2025.

The millennials who are going out to eat are actually the quickest growing generation that is going to work.

As a college student, it is difficult to go out and find these places, let alone afford a decent meal. So even though students are working more, they’re also paying for other things that distract them from being adventurous. It does take some time to find a new place to eat at and how do they know where to start looking?

If spending money on nice meals and trying something new is a concern of millennials, then they may be heading in the direction of the adventurous food culture that San Francisco has to offer.

Millennials have been on a health trend for quite a while now.

But to be honest,they haven’t really been realistic about what it truly means to be healthy. This generation is not trying to eat healthy food just to be fit, because if they were, they’d try harder. I think what they’re mainly looking for in a meal is the nutritional value followed by good service.

You don’t have to try hard to find something you haven’t eaten in the city, but it does take some time to find those establishments.

If you want to change your palate around and try something different, Lee’s Sandwiches and Brenda’s French Soul Food may be a good place to start.

If you want to exchange that $5 footlong for a better sandwich that’s more tasty and filling, consider checking out Lee’s Sandwiches. Although it doesn’t have Subway’s commercial feel, this local spot is well-known for baking their own baguettes and croissants.

Lee’s Sandwiches is a food chain that serves over 25 different sandwiches with a decent amount of them of them being under $6. Of course, some people may say you might “catch an L” for coming here because you could possibly get a cheap quality or poorly made sandwich. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t ask them to remake the sandwich.

But let me tell you, when you sink your teeth into one of their sandwiches, you’ll notice the flavors and they won’t be as bland like the other sandwiches

you’ve had at those other sandwich spots. Subway may be extremely convenient, but not knowing if any part of that sandwich is actually fresh doesn’t make it as appealing.

But I beg to differ because their sandwiches are crap. You walk into Subway expecting to get a cheap sandwich that won’t leave a strain on your pocket.

If sandwiches aren’t your thing and healthy meals aren’t a concern, but you want to pay for a meal that packs a lot of flavor that nearly costs as much as Denny’s, I would recommend trying out Brenda’s French Soul Food on Polk Street.

The San Francisco food culture provides you with a homey feel and Brenda’s truly encapsulates that.

While occupying a narrow building, the restaurant has a simple and clean design inside. You’ll notice mirrors hanging all over, which makes this concrete-walled establishment look

Photos by Chris Christenson

hip while remaining simple and elegant.

As for someone who has never tried French or soul food before, it was an outstanding experience to try their pork belly grits. I would tell you more but hopefully you’re more interested in actually going to the restaurant and experiencing their menu for yourself.

You might be thinking, where in this San Francisco food culture is the health trend? And to be honest, it’s not that far. There are plenty of places that brag about how the food they make is organic and veganfriendly. Instead of eating something that is processed, you become mindful of the quality of your meal.

Remember, it’s not that your taste in restaurants suck, but they’re too commercial. I have been to Chipotle, the Cheesecake Factory, In-N-Out and other restaurants that you can name in a single breath.

However, they do get boring after a while because there is no real variety in their offerings.

Think about it. If you’re just paying attention to where you’ve been told to go, or you’re only paying attention to advertisements, you’re just following the crowd. Even though there is no problem being this way, wouldn’t you want to be different? There are so many amazing restaurants out there waiting to be discovered, but not many of them advertise on platforms that attract this generation of people.

Health trend or not, you would appreciate your dining experiences a lot more when you accidentally find good restaurants.

And restaurants aside, being able to explore doesn’t just open the door to new places to eat. You end up finding a restaurant that you can bring other

people to. Not only that, exploring the San Francisco food culture allows you to visit unexplored areas of the city that you haven’t been to before.

Of course, food is why we’re reading this in the first place, but you should really be looking for that different experience to train your palate.

SUMMER 2017 15

Searching for Meaning Through Education By Shamal Prasad

Photos by Kevin Perez/The Skyline View

Naledi Mthembu is a 19-year-old international student who traveled all the way to the United States on a spiritual journey to find out who she is as a person, as well as pursue a college education.

Mthembu was born in the small town of Standerton in South Africa.

She described her hometown as “very secluded and very segregated.” After spending the first 12 years of her life there, she attended a private boarding school in the much larger and developed town of Durban.

“My parents were very serious about education and they wanted the best for me so they sent me to boarding school at a private school in Durban,” Mthembu says. “My dad doesn’t have a degree but he wants more for me than what he’s had in his life.”

While she felt like she didn’t have the room to grow as an individual, her parents sent her to Durban so she could be presented with opportunities that she wouldn’t

have in Standerton. in high school. Over the course “Race is still a thing,” of two weeks, she spent time in Mthembu says about her San Francisco, Los Angeles, New hometown. “There’s a lot of York, Las Vegas and even visited hate and [you don’t see] a lot of the Grand Canyon in Flagstaff, mingling between social classes.”

Arizona.

She’s had During the two different few days she types of in San Working with other spent experiences Francisco, she international students is immediately growing up in South in love my favorite part of the job fell Africa. In with the Durban, she because I genuinely like atmosphere could be knew that to help people, that’s just and herself and she wanted to not what go to school who I am. her parents in Northern wanted her to California. be. Whereas The stars in Standerton, she felt as if she became aligned when she couldn’t be productive and make met Wissem Bennani, the the most out of her life.

International Student Program However, she would experience (ISP) manager of Skyline College another huge shift in her life at an education summit in South when she came to the United Africa. It was in that moment that States for the first time in 2014 she knew she wanted to attend on a school tour when she was Skyline because of how close it is

“

”

to San Francisco.

“When I heard about [Skyline, it sounded like a good school,” Mthembu recalled. “There was also a scholarship opportunity, so why not take it?”

Upon arriving in California last fall, the ISP was able to set her up with a homestay program where she lived with an elderly Filipino couple before moving out on her own.

“I wanted to move out within the first two months of being here but finding a place was really difficult,” Mthembu says.

Although she stayed with her homestay family for longer than she had expected, she didn’t mind it. She was able to experience a different lifestyle by eating Filipino food for the first time and enjoyed listening to stories of the immigrant couple.

Despite not knowing anyone or having friends in a foreign country, Mthembu was able

SUMMER 2017 17

to create friendships with other international students. Although one of her best friends transferred to a university in Miami, she was presented with the opportunity to travel to Miami over spring break.

“The ISP helped a lot as well because they held parties where I was able to mingle with other international students,” Mthembu says. “I made a lot of friends within the first month because of all the different opportunities [the program allows for students to be social].”

Unlike other international students who experience a language barrier in a new country, that wasn’t the case for Mthembu because she has been speaking in English all her life. But she was surprised when people older than her would talk to her as a friend rather than someone who was inferior to them.

She currently works as a student assistant with the ISP and works closely with other international students to assist them with whatever they need.

“Working with other international students is my favorite part of the job because I genuinely like to help people, that’s just who I am,” Mthembu says with a smile. “It makes me feel good to help people figure out what they want, especially students with a language barrier who aren’t able to speak English very well.”

Mthembu originally chose to be a business major but then changed it to journalism instead. She mentioned that her ability to change majors was a major difference in education between the United States and South Africa.

“If I did that back at home, I would have to start all over,” Mthembu says.

“The major difference here is that there’s a lot more freedom to choose and change [majors]… I like being able to put my hand in different pots to test [things] out.”

Mthembu believes that her purpose

in life is to tell other people’s stories and be the voice of people who aren’t able to share their stories. She’s currently writing articles for Skyline Speaks whenever the ISP hosts an event.

She has a penchant for traveling and wants to do a lot more of it in her life and mentioned that she sees herself as a nomad in the next ten years.

“I want to continue exploring,” Mthembu says. “I want to live a life where I’m constantly being challenged to grow… I can’t see myself living in one place [for the rest of my life].”

Her desire for travelling the world stems from her grandfather working on ships in South Africa, allowing him to travel the world. The love of moving from place to place was passed down to her, it’s in her blood.

When asked where she wants to go after Skyline, Mthembu was unable to give a concrete answer. She’s given it some thought but isn’t pressuring herself to pick a school because she wants to explore America and learn about the world.

“I’m an explorer at heart and I love learning new things and meeting new people,” Mthembu says. “I think the best way to do that is to immerse yourself in their culture.”

Mthembu seems to be a free spirit and goes with the flow of each day that passes her by. She isn’t focused so much on what tomorrow will bring, as opposed to what the current moment has in store for her.

“I am a searcher,” Mthembu says. “My life is a long search for something and although I’m not sure what I’m looking for, I like it.”

She’s extremely grateful for the doors that have opened for her since she’s come to the United States and there’s no doubt that other doors will continue to open for her.

“I hope I can be an inspiration for other people,” Mthembu says. “If you want to do something, you can do it.”

“I am a searcher. My life is a long search for something and although I’m not sure what I’m looking for, I like it.”

18 SUMMER 2017

Photo Illustration by Mintzhet Tan/The Skyline View

The long road to game journalism

By Blynn Beltran

Courtesy of Alessandro Fillari

Alessandro Fillari in “The Skyline View” newsroom.

For a lot of people, pursuing a career in video game journalism can be very challenging. Over the past few years, a large fluctuation of people who want a career in video game journalism created competitiveness in the industry.

On top of that, streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch made the scene more bloated with content than ever. Former Skyline View and Destructoid staff writer Alessandro Fillari learned how to thrive in this environment.

Fillari was born in the Bay Area and his interest in video games first sprouted at a very young age. “[My parents] have sort of a ritual of watching “The Godfather” and play Super Nintendo. It was my mom, my dad and my uncle. Me, my brother and my sister would stay up and watch,” Fillari says. “I guess I just got bit by the bug then, so I was 20 SUMMER 2017

stuck with [video games] ever since.”

Fillari didn’t see a career in the video game industry initially and only saw it as a hobby at first.

“I was an introverted kid and thought of video games as a fun thing to do, reading about it online or in magazines. My mom tried to getting me into programming but I end up finding more interest in writing and seeing the story telling potential of video games and I just sort of fell into it. It wasn’t a long journey, really. I guess the stars aligned were I manage to find a spot,” he says.

During college, Fillari began to write for Skyline College’s very own newspaper, The Skyline View.

“How I really started was with Skyline College’s journalism program with Nancy. I guess I just had a knack for talking about video games,” he says. “Writing for the newspaper gave me the opportunity to basically see if I

could do this elsewhere and thankfully an outlet dug what I wrote and sent me out to an event.”

Steve Perotti, a former editor for The Skyline View, spoke about how Fillari was like in the newsroom.

“I don’t recall working with him myself on the paper, but I’ve heard he was always very driven and had a solid work ethic,” Perotti says.

During Fillari’s tenure, he was able to build a portfolio of articles that range from school events to video games. Most of them can still be found in The Skyline View’s website.

His work is composed of articles about video games and some Skyline College events. One particular event made Fillari feel legitimate with the work he has done and it put him on a track towards a position in the industry.

“When I was writing for The Skyline View, I was sent to an

advanced preview event for the video game “Uncharted 2.” That was almost 10 years ago now,” Fillari says. “During the event, I met a bunch of gaming journalist that [were] attending. At that point, I felt like I got something or maybe I could turn it into something. Luckily enough, I was sent an advanced copy of “Uncharted 2” and I was able to crank out a review for the paper. I left like I was on top of things at that point.”

Armed with his previous work with The Skyline View, he was able to acquire an editorial position at the award-winning website called Destructoid or DTOID for short.

Video game media giants like IGN Entertainment (formerly Imagine Games Network) and GameSpot tower the San Francisco Bay Area scene. Destructoid is far from a giant but they are quite popular

in the gaming community with personalities like Max Scoville, who is now a host on IGN. During IGN’s “20 Years of Gaming” fan event, Scoville talked about how Fillari was in the Destructoid office when Scoville was working there.

“I remember Alessandro when I was at DTOID. He was kind of shy,” Scoville says.

According to Fillari, Scoville posted the article on DTOID that caused his hiring. Fillari also shared his experience with Scoville.

“I didn’t really do too much work with him. I just mostly hung out and chip in with whatever during the shooting of their Friday livestreams. He is [a] very talented guy, very animated, a lot of great ideas and one of the coolest dudes you’ll ever meet. He went to community college, too, actually. I can’t remember where exactly but he also did the writing thing just like you and me. Now he is where he is,” Fillari says.

While working in the gaming industry, Fillari was able to meet influential people in the process.

According to Fillari, he was able to interview two wellknown developers in the gaming: Brian Fargo and Tim Schafer.

Fargo is the founder of Interplay Entertainment Corporation, who created the original “Fallout” series and “Planescape: Torment.” Fargo

Courtesy of DTOID Twitter “Mr. Destructoid:” the mascot of DTOID

is also the current CEO of InXile Entertainment, who is responsible for several role-playing video game titles like “Torment: Tides of Numenera” and “Wasteland 2.” Schafer was a famous game designer for Lucas Arts and now designs games for the company he founded, Double Fine Productions.

“I’ve interviewed Brian Fargo for his Kickstarter campaigns of “Wasteland 2” and “Torment: Tides of Numenera,” which is the spiritual successor for “Planescape:

Alessandro Fillari was flown to London to cover an event for Destructoid.

Torment.” That guy is like an industry legend. Just interviewing him and sort of him treating me as an equal was really cool. I’d say he’s one of the top,” Fillari says. “I also interviewed Tim Schafer a few years ago when they were ramping down their Kickstarter for their video game, “Broken Age.” That was a lot of fun.”

For the newer people that work in the video game journalism field, it is not rare to “fan out” when they meet high-profile individuals within the industry.

“I thought I would [geek out] but when you start working in the field, they’re just another person. I’m not trying to say I’m tough. There [were] moments where I was [like] ‘I can’t believe I’m meeting this guy,’” Fillari says.

Fillari’s career wasn’t always smooth sailing. He still faced difficulties along the way. He mentioned a time where he had to get on camera for a last minute video feature.

“Unfortunately, I’m still trying to work on my on-camera presence.

I always think of myself as a behind-the-scenes guy and during that interview, I was sweating and stumbling with my words. I looked over and the cameraman turned off the camera while they were interviewing me. It didn’t go

through obviously because I totally bombed the video but the content of the interview made it to the article that I was writing. It wasn’t all a loss because the article turned out great but that was probably the worst interview I’ve ever had,” Fillari says.

Fillari also talked about what it’s like being a freelance writer financially.

“As a freelance writer, you have to really hustle to figure out how you are going to make money. I mean, I still have a day job and I want writing to be my full-time career. Finding a stable income as a freelance writer is rare, especially when you are in San Francisco. A lot of freelancers are supplementing their income by doing additional work on the side. You really [have] to work hard just to stand out and for your content to flourish,” Fillari says. “The one struggle is just finding financial stability. Sometimes I would have a great month and I would clear maybe $900 but I still need to supplement it with my day job.”

As for any budding game journalists out there, Fillari gave some advice that can help your career.

“You have to be mindful that being a freelance game journalist is not lucrative. There are a lot of game journalists who are struggling because it doesn’t pay that well but they really love the work that they are doing and they are writing about really cool

Courtesy of Alessandro Fillari

stuff,” Fillari says. “It is not every day that you get to talk about video games. There is a lot of hard work.

Maybe you are asked to turn out a 2,000-word article in a span of four hours or you have to go fly out to Southern California to play a video game and write a feature article that is going to be published in the morning.”

Fillari’s biggest tip is having the right attitude and knowing how to talk to people.

“Be as social as you can because networking is 90 percent of the work. Attending fan events and talking to people is a good start.

There is a saying, ‘it’s who you know,’ but at the end of the day it’s who knows you,” Fillari says.

“That’s the key for wherever you want to go. If you do great work but you are not engaging with people, you are not going to go far unfortunately.”

For the full audio interview, please scan the QR code or go to https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4rkbh1hUcig&t=25s

SUMMER 2017 21

More female superheroes, more POC superheroes I’m totally down with that.

It’s a really great place if you want to see a bunch of stuff in one area. It’s also a great way to find rare number ones, variant issues and really old stuff from vendors who have been around for awhile.

Comic creator Brian Wood, he does “DMZ”, “Northlandlers”, and “Black Road” at Image.”

“He vandalized up my bathroom and that was hilarious but the lid was awesome. As a joke and as appreciator of fine original art. I hung the lid up on the wall.

By: Gregory Ragaza and Brian Silverman Photos by Brian Silverman/The Skyline View 22 SUMMER 2017

Within the past decade, comic book culture has greatly expanded due to the surge of superhero movies.

The rise in popularity of superhero movies has piqued the interest of many people who are usually not into comic books to start reading them. But with the deep history of comic books, where does one start?

It can be quite daunting to jump into the vast world of comic books, especially with its extensive and complicated history. In actuality, it’s much easier to get into comic books than it looks. The culture of comics has grown to a great degree of inclusion where everyone has a story or character that they can relate to. Simply put, there is a comic book for you and the best way to get into them is to just start reading.

Jumping into a comic book also means submerging into the culture that comes with it.

Where and what exactly do you start reading? Major publishers like DC

Comics and Marvel Comics have multi-universes and crazy events that have made it somewhat difficult for newcomers to pick a place to start. However, to their credit, they have been slowly fixing this issue by rebooting series to give readers an ease of access to popular characters.

On the other hand, independent publishers have always had singular storylines that readers don’t have to do substantial research to get into the series. Then there is manga, Japanesestyle comic books that have longrunning singular narratives, similar to many independent publishers which usually get adapted into an anime.

The best way to figure out what you should start reading is by visiting your local comic book store. Julie Fiveash, a manager at Comix Experience Outpost in San Francisco will tell you that most, if not all, comic book stores will be eager to help you feel welcome and get you to find the right book to read.

“We are into forming relationships with our customers and we want to get to know everybody,” Fiveash says. “We’re just like that friendly neighborhood comic book store [and] we want

everyone to feel welcome and not feel judged for coming in here.”

Fiveash’s tactics to figuring out the perfect book for beginner readers is by getting to know them. She will ask questions to get a feel of what book or publisher will best entertain the reader.

“I’ll usually ask them ‘Hey, what are you watching? What are you reading right now?’

It usually goes from a Marvel or DC [comic book], something you’re familiar with, to me suggesting maybe something from

writers and artists that come from major publishers that got tired of telling the story of characters they did not create and wanted to tell their own stories. You won’t need to delve into a character’s or universe’s deep history like you usually would with DC or Marvel.

However, DC and Marvel have not only been rebooting series and

characters to make it easier for readers to have a Image,” starting point, Fiveash but they have says. diversified their “It’s comics to be a lot more inclusive. of leading Independent questions where publishers have I try to get a feel always been good at of what people having diverse characters of like before I all race, color, gender and sexuality give them a and it’s good to see major publishers suggestion.” doing the same thing. It gives people For the most characters they can closely relate to part, it seems and care about. The inclusivity of the like most stores will suggest comics comic book culture has been highly that are from independent publishers. accepted in its community.

One comic book that continued being “More female superheroes, more suggested for first-time readers was POC (people of color) superheroes,” “Saga” by Image Comics.

Fiveash says. “I’m totally down with Not only did Fiveash recommend that.”

“Saga,” so did several other people The all-encompassing comic book who work in comic book stores culture and cinematic universe has like Aaron Weaver, a key master at enticed more people to start picking Two Cats Comic Book Store in San up comics again. Stores are starting Francisco. to see an increase in success in their “I always recommend Saga, it’s pull list, a subscription program that one of the best books to come out stores implement to make sure valued in the last ten years,” Weaver says. customers are getting what they want.

“Critically acclaimed huge seller in Anthony, who didn’t want his last the store, always recommend it.” name to be mentioned, is a manager It seems like independent publishers at Black Cat Comics in Milpitas. He like Image Comics, Vertigo Comics says that the pull list is one of the and Dark Horse Comics tend to most important aspects of comic book get high remarks within the comic stores and best ways for people to get book community. For the most part, the comic books they want. independent publishers have single “All of the business aspects of the storylines that a beginner only needs comic book shop kind of revolves to pick up the first issue or trade around the subscription service,” paperback to get started.

Anthony says. “It’s pretty important Independent publishers usually have and we look at our numbers each SUMMER 2017 23

Emmanuel Silvera browsing through new issues at Comix Experience Outpost’s. week.”

With the rise of online services that provide digital comic books like Marvel Unlimited and ComiXology, you would think that it would affect comic book stores’ sales the same way iTunes affected music stores.

However, Anthony reassures that it hasn’t.

“We have over 200 subscribers,” Anthony says. “Most of them tried [digital services] and it doesn’t beat paper.”

While it seems like digital services have had some success, most comic book fans still want physical copies for the collection aspect. Comic books on a computer screen or tablet does not beat being able to flip through pages of beautifully and colorfully printed art.

“The thing about comics is that they are very much a collectible,” Fiveash says. “There are still a lot of people who like going and buying them and having them in their hand.

Yeah, the digital audience is there, but people inherently gravitate

24 SUMMER 2017

towards the physical stuff.”

Not only is it better to have physical copies of comic books, comic book stores are there to lend you a hand that no online service can imitate. The physical interaction with people who love comic books in the stores add to the culture. You won’t feel the passion of someone recommending their favorite book through a screen.

Having someone walk you through their store and show their vast inventory is part of the experience that makes going to a comic book store so unique. Not a single shop is the same from the way they arrange their comic books to the art they put up on their walls.

Nowadays, most shops have to diversify what they sell besides comics, like collectibles, board games or trading cards. They will even host game nights or get artists to come to their shops for fan meets. It’s a bonding experience that bring people together, which is what comic books are about. James Sime, owner of Isotope Comics in San Francisco, is

known for having artists come to his shop for signings and draw on toilet seats to hang around his shop.

“Comic creator Brian Wood, he does “DMZ,” “Northlandlers” and “Black Road” at Image,” Sime says.

“He vandalized my bathroom and that was hilarious but the lid was awesome [so] as a joke and [an] appreciator of fine original art, I hung the lid up on the wall.”

Now when artists come to his shop, they all want to give him artwork on a toilet seat. But that is not the only way to get original artwork from an artist. You can also go to comic conventions like WonderCon, Comic-Con or Fanime Con, which are great ways to meet artists, writers and the creators of comics. It is also a great way to find rare or exclusive collectibles that are hard to find.

Chris McNally, owner of Chris’ Comics in Fremont, goes to conventions to be more involved with the comic book culture.

“It’s a really great place if you

want to see a bunch of stuff in one area,” McNally says. “It’s also a great way to find rare number ones, variant issues and really old stuff from vendors who have been around for a while.”

Pick up anything and everything that interests you. Comic books and its culture have so much to offer.

There is no doubt that you’ll find a story or character you’ll enjoy. The best advice any comic book store employee will tell you if you’re interested getting into comics is to be open-minded.

“Just pick up a comic book and start reading,” Weaver says.

Getting into the stories of comic books is just half the fun of what has kept comic books thriving. There is a community and culture that comes with it. With all this in mind, if you truly want to get into comic books, the best place to start is by walking into your local comic book store.

Photos by Kevin Perez/The Skyline View

Inside the Dugout

along, then the chances of winning are slim to none. This year, the team showed that if you play for one Baseball season is long and tough another and block out the outside and requires a high level of mental noise, then success is inevitable. focus and consistency.

The Trojans have a lucky charm, The Trojans showed everyone a statue of a dog, which shows how that they are not a team to be taken superstitious they can be. Having a lightly. The team concluded its season, including the playoffs, with an lucky charm in the locker room brings impressive overall record of 28-13 and hope and positivity to the team. It acts as a portable mascot that the team can a conference record of 12-5. bring wherever they play.

This team has turned heads this Early into the season, the Trojans season and their outstanding play has showed that they are capable of not gone unseen. They may not be being a top team in their division. In the most talented team in the state, late January and early February, the however, they might have the most Trojans showcased the first of many heart. winning streaks. The team’s threeWhile following this year’s team, you notice how every player buys into game winning streak was sparked after a victory against one of the highest the coach’s system. They do not play for individual stats, nor play to make a ranked teams in the state.

Going back to Jan. 28, the Trojans top highlight. The 2016-2017 baseball team genuinely plays the sport for one made an early season statement after beating Fresno City College 3-1. At another. that time, Fresno City College was When asking Dino Nomicos, head coach for the Trojans, on the positive the third-ranked team in the state of California. effect of his team bonding off the Early into the season, Cole Watts, field, Nomicos says: Skyline’s closing pitcher, was given “You can have the best players and the assignment to seal the deal for the if they are not bonding in that locker Trojans. Watts came through, pitching room and if they are not together four innings and only allowing one hit as one heartbeat, they are not going while striking out four players. Watts to win. We don’t have the greatest players. We have a lot of good players was awarded the win.

When asked how Watts approaches and a lot of alright players, but they all have a great work ethic and I think pressure situation and if he feeds off his teammates’ energy, Watts says: that translated to a 28-11 record.”

“I’m there to get three outs and I just Chemistry is required in every go as hard as I can. I love to do it for winning team. The sport does not matter. If teammates are unable to get my team, so I use the pressure to give

By Miguel Madrigal

myself adrenaline to fuel off.”

As the non-conference games continued, the Trojans were able to top their three-game winning streak with an impressive seven-game streak. In those seven games, the team showed its dominance and ability to stay consistent.

The seven-game winning stretch unveiled two positive characteristics which are found in many great baseball teams.

The first characteristic the Trojans showed was their ability to win with humility. This team has not let their success get to their heads. They stay hungry and are always ready for their next challenge, rather than settle for what they have already accomplished.

The second characteristic was being able to remain composed in close game situations. Examples of when the Trojans were able to keep cool include when they beat West Valley College in the 10th inning and when they clinched a win against De Anza College by one run.

The battle between West Valley was a high-scoring game. Skyline showed that they can drive in runs when it matters most. The game was tied 7-7 heading into the ninth inning. Both teams were unable to score in the ninth, which caused the game to go into an extra inning. And in the 10th inning, the Trojans were able to score three runs, winning the game 10-9.

In the battle against De Anza, the

SUMMER 2017 25

Trojans demonstrated their ability to play defense. Ray Falk pitched a seven-inning shutout. Not only was Falk’s pitching on point but so was the team’s overall infield defense. The victory was a defensive team effort.

When asked Falk if he feeds off the incredible plays produced by the infield and outfield, Falk says: “Absolutely. You are always pulling for your teammate, especially when the go the extra mile to make something spectacular happened. You are always going to be fired up for it.”

Inside the locker room, the Trojans have a laid back culture on and off the field.

The unity of the team is

“Early on, we struggled offensively, [specifically] laying off the off-speed pitches and just having quality at bats.”

The Trojans have done a great job at improving weaknesses this season.

Every team that aspires to be great must be open to self-evaluation. Both the pitching staff and field players have been open to adjusting in efforts to improve any weaknesses.

A characteristic of this team that isn’t always acknowledged is their fight: their fight in practice to get better and their fight in games. Sports require strong mental focus, especially baseball. In baseball, losing is certain but the way you handle losing dictates your winning patterns.

Aaron Albaum, second baseman for the Trojans, spoke about how losing does not drag the team down mentally.

“You shown through their have to off-field team bonding. On multiple know that occasions, the the team have thrown coming post-practice lunches, team parties and into the season you beach days to grow closer together. are going to have you ups and Skyline entered conference play downs. You are going to have your with an overall record of 16-5. Every high times when you win a bunch team experiences growing pains and of games and rally them off and you adversity is inevitable. However, the are going to lose a couple of games,” way a team handles the adversity Albaum says. “That’s just baseball. dictates whether they are a good, bad, You just have to prepare mentally average, or great team. Especially in before the season.” baseball, you will lose games and you The Trojans have all of the good will face obstacles. qualities that you see in every The Trojans’ ability to handle championship baseball team. Nomicos obstacles and adversity is a tribute compared them to the 2010 San to their great coaching staff and each Francisco Giants in the sense that they player’s work ethic. fight as a collective group and they When asking Joe Galea on how the all buy into the system they’ve come coaching staff helps prepare the team, accustomed to follow.

Galea says: Although the Trojans lost their two “They definitely teach you a lot playoff games against Delta College, on how to prepare for a game and their season has still been a success. mentality. It makes us much As student athletes, these young smarter than the teams we play men look not only to fight for a and we are ahead of everyone potential scholarship, but to excel else.” in the classroom as well. According When asking Kyle to Nomicos, all of his players will Barret, shortstop for the earn an A.A. degree. Baseball is just Trojans, how the team a game at the end of the day. For has improved over these players, win or lose, they will the course of the use the experience they’ve learned season, Barret and implement them wherever they says: end up in the future. The Skyline baseball program has a rich tradition of producing fine young men and has been running strong for 16 years.

26 SUMMER 2017

Earn a professional tutor certification.

Help people learn.

ENROLL in

summer

TUTOR TRAINING I N T E N S I V E

LSKL 680 | CRN 55486 | Mondays 2-4 p.m. | June 12 - July 3 | Online: June 12 - July 8

Questions? Contact The Learning Center (650) 738-2144

REGISTER for FREE

h t a m

m ja

a

n

tio a r a

E

rep p th

a

m e v i ns

RE F a

s? tion g s e Qu Wan a 9 and 8-418 r i M 3 u t tac (650) 7 ccd.ed n o C m c@s g n wa m

gr o r p

ime

t first

se or the r u f h co t Test t a te g M emen t Test n n i i 69) n 4 m c e 5 k a o l 5 ) ee EPARE ur upc ath P Placem CRN 95205 w ( M o 8 PR for y the e Math ne 0 (CRN two u e J k h a • m 0 - ug 1 to t take t 3 30p r y : A e 2 a r • 1 te to : M ly 31 m - g Cen 0 a m 0 • 0 a 0 J Ju 9: nin 5-1

r me Jam: m Su Fall

| r HU he Lea Room T N , T g5 MO Bld