The Skyline View Fall 2012 Issue 8

Entertainment

Theater The Lion King page 6

Features

Artist Spotlight DeShawn Davis page 5

Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Sports

Profile Jimmy Parque page 8

The

Skyline View

@TheSkylineView

The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, California

Volume XXXI - Issue 8

www.theskylineview.com

December 6, 2012

Skyline College drug busts rise exponentially Annual crime report shows sharp increase in drug violations

by Daniel Chee TSV Photo Editor

Daniel Chee / The Skyline View

Math 112 instructor Eugene Garcia pauses to answer a question.

New alternate math class

Groundbreaking new class open for real-world application

by Nick Major TSV Guest Writer

A one semester, six-unit math course designed to immediately satisfy CSU transfer requirements will be offered at Skyline starting Spring 2013 semester.

This class, currently called “879 - Path To Statistics”, is much faster than the three courses a mathematically inexperienced student would have to take just to qualify for the transferable classes. Anyone who qualified for Math 811 can qualify, which means anyone who took the placement test.

The course is intended to help students who would normally need to take at least a full year to fulfill the same requirements; students who need to get in and out of prerequisite math courses as quickly and painlessly as possible.

“If I can just get two-in-one [classes] done in one semester, that’s

obviously cost-effective and it’s quicker,” said English major, Jasmine Healey who would have liked a class like this offered when she took her Math classes a year ago.

This accelerated math course is intended to reduce the number of “exit points” between semesters, as math instructor Soodi Zamani explains. Exits points are the places between connected math courses where students may or may not continue on to the next level of instruction after passing their class. The current system in place, if taken from lowest Math 811 to any minimum transfer course typically yields only a 5% student passing average.

“By making the class better, we’re improving your chances by maybe 5 percent,” said Mathematics professor, Jon Freedman who will be teaching one of these classes next semester. “By eliminating one step in that sequence, you’re improving [the chances] by maybe 15-20 percent.”

Student drug abuse violations at Skyline College have skyrocketed according to a recently released 2011 crime report.

Under the Federal Public Law 101-542, the Student Right-toKnow and Campus Security Act of 1990, Skyline College must release public reports regarding crime on campus. This information is compiled in the official website of the U.S. Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE).

According to crime statistics from the OPE site, Skyline College had no reported drug abuse violations in 2009 or 2010.

Don’t be fooled, however, as this isn’t just a fast-pass through college math. Miss Zamani explained that the six unit class is “still heavy, but has a tighter focus” on concepts that typically aren’t needed for a statistics class. For example, Math 110 and Math 120 must cover materials that potential Engineers or Chemists might encounter in calculus or trigonometry. This Pathway class doesn’t need to cover such topics; it only needs to cover the information that you’ll be seeing in statistics.

“It prepares you not only for statistics, but a little bit better prepares you to use mathematics in life” said math instructor, Rick Hough when asked about his perspective on this new course.

This is a similar sentiment shared by many math instructors towards this new course. This course isn’t meant to be just a math class, but Math Class continued on Page 2

The 2011 report showed a stark contrast with 19 drug abuse violations. One violation was for drug paraphernalia while the other 18 violations were for simple marijuana possession according to Skyline College Public Safety Chief Robert Dean.

“Campus security officers were patrolling through the parking lot and either saw smoke roll out of a window or smelled it,” Dean said.

The College of San Mateo reported 20 drug violations for 2011, compared to none for the previous two years. Cañada College was the only campus in the district to have Drug Bust continued on Page 2

Daniel Chee / The Skyline View

Drug busts have gone up since Chief Dean has taken over.

Snow day: Sleds and hot cocoa at Skyline College Twenty tons of snow will arrive on campus this Friday, Dec. 7

by Michelle Kelly TSV Guest Writer

It’s winter and snow is falling all over the country in places far away from the Skyline College Campus but that will change this Friday.

The student government has planned a snow day against the will of the weather and there will be 20 tons of snow blanketing the campus within the next 24 hours.

The event was planned for

Wednesday but rain delayed the snow, and it was pushed to this Friday, Dec. 7 from 10 am to 4 pm.

Student government got its inspiration from sister college Cañada, which had a snow day very similar last year that went well. According to Victoria Worch, the student activities coordinator with the student government of Cañada College, they brought five tons of snow and served over 200 people food last year.

They’re also celebrating a snow day this week on Thursday and they’re using five tons of snow again.

ASSC is working with the company Snow For Parties to transport and create the snow needed for a winter wonderland. “[It’s made using a] specialized piece of machinery,” said Mike, a vendor for the company who declined to give his full name; “You feed the ice and it sprays it out of a hose like a wood chipper.”

It’s estimated to create approximately 1,000 cubic feet of snow distributed onto the field behind building 4.

“We’re going to have two lanes

of snow for people to sled down,” Mischa Maggi, student activities assistant said.

The ASSC urges people to bring their own sleds as they only have a limited amount and also encourages students to bring tools to create their own snowmen.

“We’ve gotten a lot of hits on the website and then we’ve gotten a lot of calls from administrators who say they want to bring their kids,” Maggi said about the estimated outcome.

She expects the snow day to

generate crowds on par with past events, the Harvest Festival and Vampire Energy this year that brought on 300 to 400 people.

Student Nina Eaghdiyan said she plans on bringing her cousins to the snow day event like many other students who view the event as an opportunity to celebrate with their families.

Hot cocoa and coffee will be on sale to help raise money for the Latin American Student Organization, who remain the only group to take part in this fundraising prospect.

The Staff Editor In Chief Lauren Concon News Editor Renee Abu-Zaghibra Features Editor Justine Abellana Opinions Editor Reynaldo Garcia Entertainment Editor Aaron Washington Sports Editor Megan Benveniste Chief Copy Editor Vince Biancalana Online Editor Will Nacouzi Multimedia Editor Haider Mashal Photo Editor Daniel Chee Social Media Editor Diane Thao circulation manager Eric Wong graphic editor Sarah Yiu Editors at large Marc Arguello Jay Johnson Stephen Benoit JJ Valdez Staff Writers Christopher Korp Richard Estrada Anacani Serrato Patrick Esguerra Cartoonists JJ Valdez Alyssa Koszis Faculty Advisor Nancy Kaplan-Biegel

December 6, 2012

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

page 3

•Leigh Anne Shaw’s correct title is “President of the Academic Senate” from ‘Grades are now due within a fixed time’ on page 1.

•The correct, original date for Fall 2012 grade submissions was Dec. 22 but was extended to Dec. 28 from‘Grades are now due within a fixed time’ on page 1 .

• Steven Aurilio’s name misspelled in ‘AB 109 realignment law set to reduce prison sizes’ story on page 2.

Alternate math class for non-STEM majors continued from Page 1

a way to teach cultural literacy to students so that people can go out into the world and understand the math that’s relevant to being a human being in our society. Freedman went on to say, “statistics is the one part that’s ubiquitous” and can be applied to many different professions and interests.

This course wasn’t just designed for Skyline College either; it’s a national initiative to see whether these classes will be effective in getting students who don’t need algebra the math that they’ll still need in everyday life. However, this means that this class is not intended for science, technology, engineering or math majors, but more so for liberal arts majors trying to move on to a four year university.

One other stipulation of the class is that it currently does not fulfill community college requirements for an AA degree. This is important to realize for students who would like to get an Associates Degree while also fulfilling transfer requirements.

However, the class can also instantly prepare a student who tested into low math for the transferable Statistics

Daniel Chee / The Skyline View

The new Math 879 class covers core concepts from Math 112. class while skipping over the three classes normally required.

There will be two different courses offered for this class at Skyline

College in the Spring. One will be taught by Soodi Zamani every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:10-10:00am and Jon Freed-

man also every M/W/F from 10:1012:00pm.

Public safety cracks down on drugs zero drug violations for the past three years.

The Public Safety Department’s methodology is to obtain the student’s information and send it to the Student Services.

Dean went on to include that public safety will not report marijuana offenses to the San Bruno Police Department, unless there is a large quantity involved.

Instead, students are referred to the vice-president of Skyline student services for disciplinary action.

Dean, a former Millbrae police captain of 24 years started working as a part-time officer for the district

in early 2010. He cited an increase in training and personnel turnover at Skyline and its sister colleges to the increased busts.

More than half of the public safety officers in the district are former police officers.

As stated in the campus student policy handbook, Skyline College prohibits the use, possession, sale or distribution of alcohol, narcotics, dangerous or illegal drugs or other controlled substances in accordance with the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989.

The amendments require that any public school receiving government monetary aid to create and maintain

drug abuse prevention programs for students and faculty. A 2008 update to the original amendment requires all schools to include the number of drug and alcohol-related violations that happened on campus in an annual report.

“Enrolled students must be responsible citizens,” said Dean of Enrollment Services Dr. John Mosby.

Mosby went on to say the campus had a no tolerance policy for drugs, a policy enforced by Public Safety as well as Student Services.

He referred to the update student policy handbook which states that students found to be in violation of the drug-free campus policy will be subject to disciplinary actions

up to and including suspension and expulsion. The handbook also states the use of medical marijuana to be a drug violation.

“Personally I feel if you want to smoke it in your own space, keep it away from places the general public is at,” said Kayla Crittendon, an athletic trainer at Skyline.

Former Skyline student Lucas Okuma agreed with Crittendon’s opinion. He also raised the question of whether the increased usage was an act of defiance to how legalization was shot down in legislation.

“I don’t care if people do it, just do it at home and not in front of me because I can’t stand the smell,” Okuma said.

CSM’s newspaper is down, but not out

CSM’s journalism program has been through many trails, yet all hope is not lost

by Joshua Collier TSV Guest Writer

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.

Opinions

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Corecctions from Issue 7

continued from Page 1

Want more news? www.theskylineview.com Or maybe you have news for us?

(650) 738-4377

News

Supporters of CSM’s newspaper are still holding out hope that it will come back since the student-run newspaper has been cancelled Aug. 14 of this year.

As of the 2012-2013 academic year, the San Matean was a First Amendment student run-publication and had been running since 1928, has gone on hiatus for an undisclosed time.

The journalism program that was supporting the newspaper which had combined with the Digital Media in early 2009 has since Aug. 14, 2012 been canceled. Now the journalism program has been reduced from four journalism specific classes to one.

The reason the journalism classes were canceled was due to an ongoing low enrollment in the classes.

In an interview Beverly Madden, director of development and marketing at CSM said this about the journalism program.

“We are continuing to evaluate options to help support the students ,” said Madden.

The journalism classes could not keep up with that requirement; low enrollment is nothing new to the journalism program at CSM as the program merged with the Digital Media program in 2009 for that exact reason.

Before the paper was put on hiatus, the current students and alumni who had been on the San

Matean staff were fighting to keep it alive. The former alumni wrote a letter to the editor in The Daily Journal showing their grief over the cancellation of the classes that were supporting the San Matean.

Another former member of the staff had started a petition; with the purpose of showing officials that people actually cared about the San Matean and wanted to see it live on.

The petition had gained upwards of 200 signatures The most recent staff however was busy finding ways to bring money in for the journalism program. The staff did find ways to circumvent some of the journalism programs cost through a program called Adcamp. According to the

Adcamp website, it is “a service focused on generating revenue for college campuses by placing elegant kiosks and digital signage displays in highly populated areas at no cost.”

Even though this program would generate some revenue for the school, it seems the staff’s proposal was ignored as the journalism program was later cut. Ed Remitz who was had been an adviser to the paper since 1989, and an instructor at CSM for the same time; has since the cut to the classes departed from CSM. Even though Skyline’s journalism program is in good shape, CSM’s journalism program being closed down should still serve as a cautionary tale to all Skyline staff and students

editorial

On declining yield rates

Admissons up, enrollment down

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Dec. 6, 2012

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Editorial Cartoon

The end of the semester marks the beginning of

a new frontier for students—college applications.

While the deadline for California State Universities has passed, there is still time to apply to other colleges across the nation.

After your applications are done and sent, the waiting game begins. The frenzy of applying to colleges is finally over. The wait is possibly the most stressful aspect of the process. But if you apply to multiple colleges, a definitive decision must be made. Recently, colleges are noticing that these decisions are being made.

A study by The National Admission for College Admission Counseling shows that while applications are going up, yield rates have declined considerably. “Yield” rates are the percentage of admitted applicants who actually enroll. Both public and private colleges have reported significant declines since 2002.

Public school yield rates have dropped from 51.4 percent in 2002 to 42.6 percent in 2011.

Private school yield rates have dropped from 47.8 percent in 2002 to 36.4 percent in 2011.

These numbers may scare some students, but think the contrary. If yield rates grow among colleges, then colleges become even more selective when it comes to admitting students. Colleges must realize that students are applying to a variety of schools. This leads

to the decline in yield rates. Students must keep applying to a variety of schools and keep these yield rates declining.

According to David Hawkins, director of public policy and research at the National Admission for College Admission Counseling, “Yield declines have prompted colleges to re-evaluate their strategies and ways to keep the rates steady.”

This is what the focus needs to be on, making colleges re-evaluate themselves. But what makes colleges so selective to begin with?

According to the study, different aspects of applications factor differently into a colleges’ decision. For example, some colleges may take your class rank into more consideration than your candidate interview, and vice versa.

Is this fair in some cases? No, it’s absolutely not fair. But unfortunately, it is the sign of the times. A students’ admission to a four year university should not depend on one certain aspect of an application. The selectivity of colleges has been an ongoing problem for some time now. If the decline in yield rates is forcing colleges to look at their admission practices, then change will hopefully come soon.

Cartoon

Weird future: Downloading a pistol Second Amendment is tested to extremes

by Vince Biancalana TSV Chief Copy Editor

The introduction of 3-D technology into any conversation usually evokes memories of movie theaters with goofy multicolor glasses, but a company named Defense Distributed is trying to change that. They are taking Second Amendment rights to a new extreme by using 3-D printing to make guns available to all Americans. Defense Distributed hopes to make a “wikiweapon,” a blueprint for a 3-D printed gun, to be released as free, open-source software.

This technology has been around for decades now and works by adding layers of plastic polymer, millimeters thick, on top of each other. Plastic might not sound durable at first, and you would be right, a gun manufactured this way poses many serious risks. Guns made this way need not be made entirely of plastic and could make use of scrap parts to avoid serial numbers, making the guns difficult to trace. Guns made of plastic would also be extremely easy to obtain as DIY 3-D printers can be bought for as cheap as $1000. Most frightening is

the concept of uncontrolled manufacturing of guns made entirely of plastic which are not detectable by civilian technology such as metal detectors. This could potentially spell disaster for public safety at events and for gang activity. While violent crime groups already have no problem working around America’s gun-regulation laws, this new technology will now allow the opportunity for more exploitable avenues for profit.

An undetectable gun made from plastic made for less than $1000 sounds frightening until you consider the current availability of guns. Many guns for sale can be bought for a much smaller price and are much more reliable. Would you rather use a gun manufactured by Beretta or your techie cousin Barry? Plastic polymers in use by many commercial printers are not able to withstand the high temperatures that are a consequence of firing a gun. A gun is a tool that uses precise parts to make a controlled explosion which could be deadly to the user if not properly manufactured and machined. Methods of printing that create more sturdy products are too expensive for non-industrial use.

The View from Here Before coming to Skyline, I actually went to a CSU. My decision to attend Skyline was mostly because of family-related issues.

I still wanted to continue working toward my degree (although at the time I had no idea what degree I was working toward). Looking back there were a lot of things I miss about it.

One of the things I miss would be living in the overly crowded dorms. My first year, I was placed with a random roommate who I had nothing in

In addition to these obstacles, 3-D printers are extremely slow. Something as complex as manufacturing a handgun might take a few days to finish printing. Printers could feasibly be used to make casting molds, but fabricators would still need access to a furnace and someone to machine the parts. This is where the actual danger stands when considering the consequences of digitally homemade guns, but manufacturing would still be more of a hassle then obtaining a gun legally or illegally.

All ideas of consequence aside, this effort by Defense Distributed seems to be a proof of concept that challenges the way we view firearm regulation as well as the ramifications of exponential technology growth. 3-D printing is still in its infancy and this project could skyrocket the hobbyist market enough to make 3-D printers as available as laser printers.

These 3-D printers can be bought cheaply, but mass production will stay in the non-digital realm. It might look like the world wide west is coming, but guns have always been in our backyards, whether or not they come out of a PDF file.

common. Luckily, we got along great and we never had any problems.

My only real problem with the dorms was the long walk to the outdated bathrooms, which did not help out my germophobia. Despite that, living in the dorms was more fun than it was a hassle. Living within walking distance from my friends was just another upside besides living on my own, away from the pressure of my parents.

Like many other college students, money was always tight. Therefore, everyone was always looking for things to do on a budget, especially during the three-day weekends. I say three-day weekend because most students had Fridays off. Even though everyone was broke, we always found something to do to enjoy our days off.

Of all the things I miss, the CSU library is at the top of the list. Never would I have thought I would miss

a building that much. I spent just about every night there as if it was my second home. Fueled by caffeine and the drive to get my work done before the weekend, I sat for hours in the quiet sanctuary that is the library and just wrote paper after paper until security kicked me out. I’ve missed the atmosphere and the student it brought out in me.

Leaving a CSU, I had no idea how difficult it would be to transfer back. If I had known the struggle transfer students and undergraduates would be facing now, I never would have left. Here at Skyline I have made many friends, learned many new things and discovered a major I love. But next semester, I will be getting my associate degree and transferring back to a University, remembering not to take the opportunity for granted and taking advantage of everything college has to offer me.

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Workshop series wraps up with“Credit Do’s and Dont’s”

Features

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5

Watch Irwin Gonzales on Youtube Chief Robert Dean

His return to public safety

Financial education vital to students looking to obtain credit

by Aaron Washington

TSV Entertainment Editor

College students face a constant concern in their growing finances.

Whether it is in cash or credit form, students are constantly keeping an eye on their money. On Dec. 4, the Sparkpoint Center held a financial education workshop to give students information concerning the advantages and disadvantages of credit.

The workshop, titled “Credit Do’s and Don’ts”, was the last of a series of financial education workshops this semester. Each workshop focused on giving students information about different aspects of handling their finances. The first three workshops gave tips on banking, building your savings, and creating and sticking to a budget. This is the second year these workshops have been held, and have been open to both Skyline College students as well as the community.

The objective of “Credit Do’s and Don’ts” was to give students a better understanding of what credit is, the importance of keeping a good credit history, and certain myths concerning credit. Melanie Espinueva, a counselor at the Sparkpoint Center , was the main speaker at the workshop and covered a variety of topics as well.

One of the main points of the workshops was discussing the importance of education of credit. Espinueva sees tmyhe annual amount that is borrowed in credit as a main

reason for education.

“On average, there is about $2.2 trillion exchanged in credit or borrowed in credit just in the United States,” said Espinueva. “That is why credit education is so important because we need to make sure people manage their credit.”

Another topic that was discussed during the workshop was certain myths that come along with credit.

For example, one myth that was discussed was the concept of “using credit cards during emergencies only.” According to Espinueva, this is an easy way to build credit card debt.’

“Credit cards are rarely used in emergencies,” said Espinueva. “Due to its ease of use, it is easy to run up a credit card debt. Unless you have good self discipline, emergency use is very rare.”

The advantages and disadvantages of owning a credit card were also discussed. The ease of purchasing items is one of the main advantages.

Establishing a good credit history is another advantage because it plays a significant role in all major purchases in the future.

“It will allow you to get a better loan for your house later on,” said Espinueva. “More so, it applies to students because it you are applying for a job, your employer might check your credit history. If you are trying to get your own place, your potential landlord might check your credit history.”

Espinueva went on to explain that credit history showcases your responsibility and ability to pay

on time to those who ask for your credit history. Since this was the last workshop of the semester, Espinueva feels the workshops this semester have gone well, just as with previous semesters. She also wants to the message of this workshop is to give students the knowledge they need concerning credit.

“My main goal with these workshops is just to increase knowledge of credit,” said Espinueva. “I want this to be a safe place for students that can get basic information concerning credit. How to establish credit, how to manage credit, and what are the myths about credit out there.”

Skyline student David Cohn says the workshop went well and gave him a great amount of knowledge that he will use going forward.

“It was filled with information,” said Cohn. “Some I knew and some I didn’t so it was definitely worth attending.”

For those who missed the work-

few sentences or two to understand their intentions. Being a stuck up... well...jerk, won’t give good vibes to anyone. I know a few girls that think it’s okay to call guys indecent names right off the bat. If you’re going to do that, you might as well walk away without saying anything, it’s a turn off and it makes you look like a prude. If you’re used to accusing a guy of being rude, you’re actually just doing the same in assuming that of him.

Also, to add to my thought on eyes playing a big role in showing interest, don’t give dirty looks because dirty looks can equate to dirty feelings. (Take that however you want to.)

When approaching someone you have to find a happy medium within yourself; you can’t seem bored and you can’t seem overly interested.

If you act overly interested you are going to come off as eager and desperate, two very unattractive characteristics. In some cases, your overreaction may come off as creepy and you will officially be dubbed a “creeper” or “stalker.” And being a “stage five clinger” is a title you’ll never be able to live down.

The easiest way to seem available and interested is to act normal, have a conversation with the person and just talk. Ask questions, be a bit flirtatious, and add a splash of wit

for a perfect recipe to make yourself available.

Don’t assume every guy or girl is the same. Just because some drunken frat boy tried talking to you and grabbed your butt as he walked away doesn’t mean the next guy will do the same. And guys, just because

shop, Cohn also explained the importance of students obtaining knowledge about credit.

“I would say attend the next set of workshops and go to the Sparkpoint Center. It is a free resource that will teach you about credit, which is something that you will need in the world.”

Daniel Chee/TSV Photo Editor

Chief Dean Roberts has accumulated a vast collection of memorabilia.

Screenshot by Anacani Serrato

TSV Features Editor

With this being the last print edition of the semester, I thought I’d leave you with something you could take with you during our winter break. I know and have seen a lot of friends with potential, potential to find the Mr. /Mrs. Right, even if it is just for one night. The down fall of a lot of people is not knowing how to make yourself available or even on how to approach another person, and it’s a lot easier than people think.

There are obviously tons of approaches to making yourself available. Ladies and gentlemen, the best way to know if the person you’re looking at is looking at you is eye contact. There are exceptions. For instance, if you make eye contact once, it can be a fluke, so don’t jump on the first glance you get.

Eyes sometimes are the key to a conversation, so use them to your advantage. If you catch your eye candy looking your way a few times, more than likely they are interested so get ready to get your “Crazy, sexy, cool” demeanor on and smile.

If you are approached by an interested individual, there are a few things you should not do. One thing is to not reject them right away.

Give someone a chance, at least a

TSV Photo Editor

Skyline Student Irwin Gonzales serenades his Youtube viewers with song.

by Anacani Serrato TSV Staff Writer

Sarah Yiu/TSV Graphics Editor

The J-SpHoowt to approach and be approached!

by Justine Abellana

by Daniel Chee

a girl slept with your best friend doesn’t mean the one in the tight red dress that’s giving you the look is going to do the same either. By thinking that way, you are already setting yourself up for failure. Mind you, it’s a thought that subconsciously builds a wall before your interest can even

think about talking to you.

Making yourself available can be easy, but it obviously mainly depends on your demeanor and willingness to let something new come your way. Don’t be a prude and don’t be overly eager, and things will begin to flow for you.

Daniel Chee/TSV Photo Editor

Artist Irwin Gonzales is an upcoming YouTube sensation. From singing covers like Death Cab for Cutie and writing his own song Bestfriend, Skyline’s Student Irwin Gonzales, sings beautifully and has his own channel on YouTube.

He has been playing the guitar for some years now but only writing his own songs for one year, although it is hard to notice from the wide variety of videos and views he has on his YouTube channel.

Although most of the musicians in his family only did it as a hobby, he has them to be thankful for. “My friends & family...A few still attend Skyline and a few who have moved on to other schools.

These guys will always be known as “The Music Group” a few of these names included Roosevelt Head, Chris Calara, John Cruz, Jeremy

Landicho, Brian Dublin. They are also independent artists making a name for themselves on YouTube too!” said Irwin about his inspirations. Thanks to his family and friends Irwin was able to overcome his struggles as an artist.

Writers block and progression block have been his main struggles.

When he has a particular idea for a song, he will write and write, but then get stuck, making it harder to go back and finish. He learned that with patience these problems diminish on their own and he would soon go back to what finish the songs he had started.

Irwin pays homage to his artistic inspirations which include Jeremy Passion, Gabe Bondoc, Ne-yo and Jimmy Needham, just to name a few. These artists were carefully selected because each one of them inspired something different. His goal is to write like Ne-yo,

Gabe Bondoc inspired him to pick up a guitar, and Jimmy Needham’s song to his fiancé struck a nerve of inspiration.

His original song Re-Iterated with over 1,000 hits on YouTube was inspired by his girlfriend. “It told a story about us. It was definitely inspired by our relationship.” said Irwin.

Irwin’s writing technique also helped get his song Re-Iterated to capture his audience on YouTube.

He states, “Well, I try to put my listeners into my shoes, my goal is to make my listeners feel what I felt, or see what I saw.” This promotes heavy imagery in his songs and helped his video be a success.

Irwin continues to strive to be a better artist and with the help and inspiration that is all around him, success should be right around the corner. Take a look for yourself.

2011.

“So when I started I was 15, and the YMCA had a studio, and I just started making beats,” said DeShawn. “Before I knew it I was addicted, and the power of it, that you could create whatever you want, make it sound however you want; it’s the power of creation.”

DeShawn makes a wide variety of music, loving every moment of it.

“Rock, pop, jazz, hip-hop, hiphop fusion, alternative, movie scores, symphonies, house, dubstep and things that I don’t even have names for,” said DeShawn when asking just what kind of music he makes.

Making music is no simple task; it takes a lot of hard work and a passion for music.

“First you have to get your studio set up and understand your software programs,” said DeShawn when asking him how he makes his music.

“Before you know it you’re making beats.”

As DeShawn’s passion and understand for music grew, he began to expand into becoming a producer, starting Dream Ear Productions, a music recording studio located in San Francisco he founded in 2004.

“What we do at Dream Ear is, if a rapper needs anything, or a singer needs anything, you need a place

to write, you need a beat, mixing, mastering, or any other help, we got you,” said DeShawn. “It’s kind of a one-stop-shop, if an artist needs anything, we got them covered.”

DeShawn is constantly producing new things, never feeling fulfilled.

“I actually have something, it’s called the Dream Ear project right

“When we caught that faculty burglar, that really brought back the investigative juices from my previous career,” said Skyline’s Chief of Public Safety Robert Dean.

And what a career it has been.

Dean served 24 years in the Millbrae Police Department from 1976 to 2000, eventually retiring from the force as a captain.

He taught as an adjunct professor at Notre Dame de Namur University, CSM, and Skyline College in various psychology and criminal justice courses.

The San Francisco Giants organization hired Dean as an assistant clubhouse manager for eight seasons.

Dean recalled several memorable moments during his stay with the Giants.

One such moment was during a road trip during Barry Bonds home run record chase. While the Giants along with Dean were in Arizona, Bonds hit homers 733 and 734.

According to Dean, the slug-

ger kept each homer hitting bat as personal trophies; until one went missing.

“At the time we were flying with Delta. They had privatized a company to unload luggage from the plane. Some of the ramp workers had taken out and secreted the bats in the belly of the plane. About an hour an half after landing, Delta reps came with bats.

Chief Dean had praise for the bearded Giants closer Brian Wilson as well.

“He is a very smart guy with a wonderful sense of humor and a dry wit about him,” he said.

“Wilson’s the guy you want to live next to; you never know what he’s going to do and he is the guy I saw the players gravitate towards, even for a quick laugh.”

Dean worked for the Giants until 2011. More recently, he has served as a public safety officer for CSM and promoted in July of this year to Skyline’s Chief of Public Safety.

“It’s a very diverse community here, and there’s a lot of interaction in different ways. I enjoy being part of that,” Dean said

Skyline’s own DeShawn Davis is a musical entrepreneur

by Haider Mashal

TSV Multimedia Editor

Skyline College is home to a lot of talent, whether it be sports, academics, art, or music. DeShawn Davis is no exception. DeShawn is a 24-year-old aspiring music producer, entrepreneur and founder of Dream Ear Productions.

DeShawn came to Skyline about a year and a half ago, majoring in business and multimedia and plans to get his Associates Degree before moving on to bigger and better things. He takes part in many schoolwide activities at Skyline College.

DeShawn Participates with the Black Student Union and the Expressions, which tries to break the stereotypes imposed on it by teaching the origins and explains what black music really is.

DeShawn is someone who is nothing shorter than charismatic and friendly.

“DeShawn will make you laugh, always,” said Skyline College student Jeremy Rigling.

The young entrepreneur started making music at a young age, and built the foundation of his musical talent from that point onward. DeShawn has one awards for his work, one of which being the Global Young Entrepreneurs of the Year award in

now, I haven’t given it an official title yet,” said Deshawn when asking him whether or not he was working on anything right now. “I have about 10 artists, two directors, photoshoppers and special effect artists to make this big hip-hop musical type project.”

Even during the current pieces he is currently doing, he is always

DeShawn Davis plays a wide variety of instruments, including the piano.

looking into the future.

“I’ll never be satisfied; I’ll be satisfied once I get my $500 million.”

DeShawn is striving to be the next big thing, and with his intense passion and talent for music, he soon may well be.

photo courtesy of DeShawn Davis

page 6

The

Entertainment Skyline View

December 6, 2012

entertainment.tsv@gmail.com

Music

Alicia Keys back with a vengeance with “Girl On Fire”

by Justine Abellana

TSV Features Editor

Alicia Keys defines comeback with her latest album “Girl on Fire”.

The album was released on Nov. 27 and it was as big of a deal as lighting up The Empire State Building, just as Keys did.

Keys has serenaded us with her beautiful vocals for years, and although her 2009 album “The Element of Freedom” wasn’t one for the books, “Girl on Fire” makes up for it. “Girl on Fire” is Alicia Keys on top of her game. I was asked by many people what my favorite song on the album is and I couldn’t choose just one, honestly. I can barely choose four because the album in its entirety is perfect. So perfect, that not even Nikki Minaj being featured in her single “Girl on Fire” can ruin the song, let alone the album.

I’ve been a fan of Alicia Keys since her debut album “Songs In A Minor” just like most people, but “Girl on Fire” is her best yet. Who’d have thought 12 years of being an amazing musician in the industry

would lead to perfection. Practice sure does make perfect.

Fire is metaphorically symbolic for Keys, for not only love, but passion. Two songs with a prime example are “Girl on Fire” and “Fire We Make”. The term fire throughout it all is a term of endearment, or a term for passion.

Every song on the album flows and can strike a nerve on any given day. If you’re in love, if you’re dealing with heartbreak, or even just living this album can be everything and more to you. So much of Alicia Keys’ emotions are discussed in it that you can’t help but feel strongly for the album.

“Brand New Me” is the first actual song to kick off this fiery, hot album. The title alone can be provided as a reflection of Keys from her previous few albums until now.

Although the songs are about rising above and becoming a better person after hard times I think as listeners we can create different meanings for the lyrics.

“It took a long, long time to get here. It took a brave, brave girl to try.

It took one too many excuses, one too many lies. “Don’t be surprised,” words Alicia Keys utters from a place of hurt, but maybe it can also be interpreted as “Girl on Fire” being the brand new her.

There was not one track on “Girl on Fire” that I thought she should have done differently. Vocals, perfect. Melody, perfect. Emotion, perfect. Everything was so perfect I needed to find something wrong with it, but I couldn’t. I mean, can’t you tell when Ms. Minaj can’t even ruin it? I have no idea what Keys was thinking when she decided to put her on the track, but well, it worked.

Pay close attention to the second half of the albums because tracks 9-12 are what get me the most.

“Not Even the King”, “That’s when I knew”, “Limitedless”, and “One Thing” are just four reasons to buy the album.

Love in every sense is depicted and everyone can relate in some way or another. Simplicity in songs and meaning has never been so brilliant, but with the talent of Alicia Keys, anything is possible.

Food

Editor’s Eats: Valencia Pizza & Pasta

by Reynaldo Garcia TSV Opinions Editor

Valencia Pizza & Pasta 801 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 I’ve been coming to this place ever since I was little. It helps that it’s close to my house. But I’m not speaking highly of this place simply because I’ve been going there for a long time. There’s a reason why me and my family keep coming back.

The quaint, little restaurant is hidden away, more or less, in the bustle of the recently gentrified Valencia Street, where droves of hipsters take over the street on the weekends. It definitely doesn’t stand out, compared to the Burger Joint right next to it, with its bright red neon sign, or the open pub, located two businesses away. However, the place has its loyal following, which will form a line waiting to be served on weekends.

Once you walk in, you feel like you’re walking into a house, not necessarily a restaurant. Despite the cramped quarters, the whiteboard and the many colorful signs paper signs listing specials on meals the atmosphere is almost as if it’s like mom’s kitchen. And the food itself tastes like it could be mom’s too.

Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner, you always receive a really good basket of freshly made garlic bread. On the particular day that I went for breakfast, I ordered my favorite French toast,. The French toast slices are huge, it’s three big slices of Texas toast, and they’re flaky and tasty. I can never finish it, and I take the leftovers home. What’s the price for this filling breakfast?

It’s only $3.95. There’s so many thing for breakfast to eat, from fluffy pancakes to even a salmon dish for

breakfast. All these entrees are huge servings for very cheap prices.

There are even more dishes to choose from during dinnertime.

There are several pizza choices, from Pesto pizza to a Valencia Special, which has pepperoni, sausage, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and cheese, of course. I’ve had the Grilled Chicken pizza before, and it’s really good. Hearty toppings of yummy chicken, caramelized onions and rosemary make this pizza a winner. A small, 12” pizza costs $8.95 and the extra-large pizza costs $18.95. The other sizes are within this price range. These prices are for all their pizza choices or you can make your own with up to 3 toppings.

Their pasta is just as good as well; The mushroom ravioli is a kicker. It’s really good. The mustard chicken ($9.95) is a large piece of

succulent chicken and comes with steamed veggies and creamy mashed ‘taters and gravy. Continuing with the theme of hearty portions with low prices, their Valencia steak tastes more than $14.95, it tastes like fancy steakhouse quality. It’s a huge piece of steak, grilled with mushrooms and onions. Oh, and did I mention that the wines are really cheap too? $2.95 a pop.

This place is a hidden gem inside the Mission District. It’s an extremely good place to get a filling meal for cheap prices. They also have sandwich specials for lunch, plastered all over their windows and counter, again affordable and tasty.

The waitresses are courteous, the owner is really nice, and the quaint atmosphere is welcoming. Valencia Pizza and Pasta holds a special place to me, and hopefully you’ll be just as satisfied as I am.

Reynaldo Garcia/ The Skyline View

Valencia Pizza & Pasta located in the Mission District.

Photo Courtesy of hypebeast.com

The Girl on Fire album cover is simple yet powerful.

Theater

The Lion King returns to San Francisco

The Lion King premiered on Nov. 1 at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco.

by Daniel Chee TSV Photo Editor

Simba and the rest of Pride Rock returned to San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre with full force.

Featuring a great combination of Broadway cast members and touring cast members, “The Lion King” was an excellent performance overall.

Most people know the story.

There is the great lion king Mufasa (Dionne Randolph), doomed to die at the paws of his own brother, the jealous Scar (the talented Derek Smith). His young son Simba (Adante Power) is banished from Pride Rock by hyenas, believed to be dead. Simba eventually meets friends and allies in Timon the meerkat (Nick Cordileone) and Pumba the flatulent warthog (Ben Lipitz) and roars back to claim his throne.

The mandrill character Rafiki (Buyi Zama) was played by a female lead for the musical, which was an interesting twist. The talented Zama pulled off her character quite well, from kicking things off with a wonderful rendition of “The Circle

Daniel Chee/ The Skyline View

of Life” and inspiring young Simba to return to Pride Rock.

The standout character, however, was the man behind Scar. Derek Smith was the funniest, snarkiest, most villainous stage character out of the entire cast. He was able to portray Scar as a sarcastic and manipulative genius.

In addition to the all-star cast, great use of creative lighting, puppetry, and African music helped the musical soar.

Safari animals depicted by puppets danced around the stage as lights flashed and smoke curled out. The accompaniment of an Afro-Caribbean orchestra perfectly accentuated the performance with chants, drumbeats, and a wave of sound.

The only hiccup was during the Scar and Simba’s climatic battle.

Scar’s tail ended up getting stuck on a prop and there was a brief, awkward moment as he paused to yank it out.

Overall, “The Lion King” is a must-see, well-produced musical, one of many to grace San Francisco.

Skyline

Sports

Upcoming Games Women’s Basketball

Men’s Basketball

Dec. 6-8 @ Fresno State Tournament TBA Dec. 14-16 @ CCSF Tournament TBA Dec. 19 v Hartnell 5 p.m.

Dec. 28-30 @ De Anza Tournament TBA Jan. 4 v Butte College 5 p.m.

Jan. 9 @ Gavilan College (DH) 7 p.m.

Dec. 7-9 Skyline College Classic TBA Dec. 14 v Solano College 6 p.m.

Dec. 21 v College of the Redwoods 5 p.m.

Dec. 28 Diablo Valley College Classic 5 p.m.

Dec. 29 v Diablo Valley College 4 p.m.

Jan. 5 @ West Valley College 3 p.m.

Former Skyline baseball player in majors

Outfielder Jimmy Parque will be in Spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals

by Megan Benveniste

TSV Sports Editor

What began as a fun time in his living room playing whiffle ball with his father has turned into being his career path for former Skyline baseball player Jimmy Parque.

Parque, who at age five signed on with his first competitive baseball team, the Pacifica Little League has just signed a major league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Parque attended Serra High School in San Mateo. There he earned the following awards; junior and senior year he was first team allleague, MVP senior year, first team all-metro and second team all-state.

After graduating Serra in 2006, Parque decided to come and play baseball at Skyline because of his relationship with head coach Dino Nomicos.

“I loved playing for Dino,” said Parque. “He was like a second father to me and we created a very strong bond in life and (to have been given the opportunity to play) the game of baseball.”

He continued, “…I would have to the say the best part of playing Skyline baseball was just being treated like we were playing at a Division 1 college level at a junior college…

Also, the best moment was being able to attend the playoffs both years I attended Skyline College.”

While playing for Skyline, he met his best friend and eventual roommate Adrian Mull. “Parque and I became best friends within the first 2 weeks of school and he was like a brother to me,” said Mull.

He continued, “Playing on the same team with Jimmy was a blast and made me a better player. Parque was always fired up and ready to go, seeing the way he competed and went about his business made you want to get on his level.”

Mull and Parque not only connected on a baseball level but also a personal and friend level. “Parque is not only an outstanding baseball player, he and his family are some of the greatest people on this earth,” said Mull. “The Parque’s had opened their home to me for the duration of my 2 years at Skyline.”

He continued, “I lived in San Jose and would have to commute every day to San Bruno for school and baseball and these kind people allowed me to stay with them and took me in as if I was one of their own family members, which I am still very thankful for today.”

In Parque’s freshman year with Skyline he batted .374 with 40 RBIs, 9 HRs and a slugging percentage of .710. Sophomore year Parque batted .384 with 34 RBIs, 8 HRs and a slugging percentage of .622.(Statistics

provided from Coach Borga.)

“Parque's strengths as a baseball player are well rounded,” said Mull.

“I've played baseball for years and across the nation and still till this very day, I still believe that Parque is the best all-around baseball player I have ever seen or played with.” He continued, “to be honest, his only weakness as a baseball player is his height, but do not let that fool you, because this guy is a gamer!”

Skyline assistant coach Lucas Borgo said that in Parque’s sophomore year with Skyline he was the talk on both coasts about the annual all-star game. “The whole country was talking about him,” said Borgo.

They were curious to who that guy (Parque) was and showed interest.

“Baseball-wise, his resume is very good.”

After his two-year stint at Skyline he was drafted in round 40 of the 2008 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, which he declined and took a scholarship to St. John’s University. “…My senior year when we won the Big East championship and earned a berth to the NCAA regionals at the University of Virginia, who was ranked number one in the nation at that time,” said Parque. “We made it all the way to the championship game of the regional having to beat number 1 Virginia twice.”

He continued, “(we) beat them the first night but lost 3-1 the second night. We came one game away from earning a spot in the NCAA superregionals. It was an awesome end to a great career at St. John’s.”

After finishing and graduating from St. John’s, he played this summer in Las Cruces, New Mexico for the Las Cruces Vaqueros. After the season finished, he got called up to play in the Frontier League for the Rockford Riverhawks in Rockford, Illinois. After playing until the end of the season with Rockford, he got a call from the Cardinals.

In March, Parque will head to Jupiter, Florida, where he will be in Spring training with the Cardinals.

“I am extremely excited to get an opportunity with the Cardinals,” said Parque. “They are a great organization from top to bottom with a great history and always have winning ball clubs. It's an honor to be playing for such an historic organization like the St. Louis Cardinals.”

He continued, “I am looking forward to getting out to Spring training and seeing how I match up with the Cardinals top draft picks, and I am definitely the underdog and always get overlooked because of my size but I have a lot to prove when I get to Florida. I want them to realize that there is a place in this game for little guys.”

NOTE: NFL Fantasy will be online for Week 13.

Jimmy Parque played for the Rockford Riverhawks until recently.

Photo provided by Jimmy Parque

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