The Skyline College Vol. XXX Issue 8

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Skyline View The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, California

www.theskylineview.com

May 17, 2012

Volume XXX - Issue 8

Skyline elects new student government Voters elect members to executive and senatorial positions

by Terence Chin TSV Social Media Editor

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View

Bruce Greenstein (right) gives a work tutorial to students in the newly built Solar and Building Science Learning Center.

Skyline looks toward green future

by Lauren Concon

TSV Features Editor

The growing popularity of a green economy has caused a rise in demands for trained energyefficiency experts and technicians.

Skyline College is taking a step forward with a new Environmental Science and Technology Program becoming more hands-on with the recently built Solar and Building Science Learning Center.

The center celebrated its grand opening last March and is one of just a few laboratories of its kind in the Bay Area. According to the program’s directors, Skyline worked for most of 2011 on developing the class with the County of San Mateo’s Workforce Solar continued on Page 2

Students gather in the Solar and Building Science Learning center.

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View

Dropouts have extensive impact on society

by Daniel Chee TSV photographer

Too lazy. Boring class. Sleepiness.

These are some of the reasons students avoid attending class; they are all excuses that just about everyone has used at one point or another. Class attendance in college is not as strictly enforced as it is in high school; college students may miss a class meeting for personal reasons here and there. There is usually no penalty if they provide their instructor with advance notice.

However, there are students that are repeatedly absent, to the point where it affects their grade and enrollment status in class.

How do such absences affect

school performance on the parts of teachers and students?

“Going to class regularly helps me focus,” said Leslie Chan, a freshman student at Skyline.

“There are a few classes that I’ve taken that probably would have gotten a good grade in without going regularly, but I still went.”

The question of whether there are certain classes students can pass or even ace without regular attendance is answered by Professor Luciana Castro, a Spanishlanguage instructor. She responded with a specific example of her Spanish 110 class.

“I cannot screen who comes in or out initially to enroll in SPAN 110 (Elementary Spanish),” Castro said. “Thus, I have many Teachers continued on Page 2

Photo Illustration by Joe Barrack/The Skyline View

Dropouts ruminate in the dustbins of society.

Skyline College has elected its new student government for the 2012-2013 academic school year after another low turnout rate of student voters.

The winners of the ASSC election were Jose Luis Sanchez (President), Katelyn Smathers (Vice President), Alex Shkurko (Commissioner of Finance), Kayla Louise (Commissioner of Activities), Jackeline Monrroy (Commissioner of Publicity), Ryan Sherlock (Commissioner Jose Luis Sanchez of Public was elected as the Records) new ASSC and Senators president.

Morgan Da-

vis, Patiane Gladstone, Cristina Hugo, Richard Lopez, J. Julian Rocha-Silva and Gabriela Solis.

Between April 30 and May 2, students were given the opportunity to vote online with a link sent to their student email addresses.

Despite the low turnout rate of student voters, current ASSC President Heidi Hansen felt the candidates engaged immensely during campaigning.

“All of the candidates worked really hard,” Hansen said, “and there’s a lot of passion. I think that’s a Katelin Smathers was elected as the great energy to move for- new ASSC vice president. ward with.”

With a Skyline student population of 10,032, only 392 students voted in this year’s election, which determined which candidates will represent the campus in the upcoming school year. This marks the second year in a row that the Government continued on Page 2

Skyline View

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The Staff Editor In Chief Blair Hardee News Editor Matt Pacelli Features Editor Lauren Concon Opinions Editor Riley Bright Entertainment Editors Diane Thao Sports Editors Megan Benveniste Kimberly Murti Chief Copy Editor Liz McMahon Online Editor Rich Estrada Multimedia Editor Will Nacouzi Photo Editor Renee Abu-Zaghibra Production Editor Joe Barrack Social Media Editor Terence Chin Editors at large marc arguello jay johnson stephen benoit jj valdez Staff Writers Sarawut Saechang Kent Foster Christopher Korp Photographers daniel Chee Jonathan Chan Cartoonist JJ Valdez Alyssa Koszis Faculty Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel

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

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May 17, 2012

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Solar learning center opens on campus continued from page 1

Investment Board as part of a $2.5 million Department of Labor grant program called Home Energy Retrofit Occupations.

“It’s almost impossible to learn these things in a classroom,” said Environmental Technology Program Coordinator Aaron Wilcher.

“A lot of employers want to hire people with field training and value hands on experience, and the new building will allow that.”

Looking into the center, it would seem that there is a just a partially built structure that could resemble a house. But do not be fooled. It has all the basic necessities to fulfill students’ needs, including classroom space, lab space for solar installation, and a model home for instructional classes. The lab itself includes all the basic elements of a home to teach retrofitting techniques for a more energy efficient house.

A few classes have been piloted and tested by local heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians; electricians; carpenters and a few union business development representatives, contractors and directors. The program and its facilities needed to be tested before making courses available to Skyline students.

“It will be used to teach Skyline College students about the importance of energy efficiency in an age when we are using more electricity than ever,” said Environmental Club Adviser Lindsey Virdeh. “The center really allows students to experience handson learning on campus, which I believe is highly valuable to their education experience.”

Located in the Pacific Heights building, the center will be the focus for the upcoming program that will be made available to students next year. The Solar and Building Science Learning Center will also be a resource for other academic programs, schools and the PG&E

Low voter turnout for student government

Four percent of students decide on representatives

continued from page 1

Bruce Greenstein lectures students.

Pacific Energy Center.

The center is set up for the program courses, specifically for energy testing and for conducting retrofits. It was designed mainly for two parts of the program, which are solar and energy efficiency.

Skyline’s Environmental and Technology Program will be offering a four-course solar technology program certificate.

“We offer unique programs.

Very few in the Bay Area are as strong as ours,” Wilcher said. “We also have energy connections, internship programs (and) new connections to utilities and regulators.”

Environmental and technology students will investigate the different facets of energy efficiency and the details of solar technology.

These include how to properly retrofit a residential house and

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View

install solar panels. The program can also help with job placement and internships for students. It is a member of the PG&E PowerPathway training network, which offers career pathways connected to the energy industry.

“I think that this is a good program to learn from,” said Skyline student Alan Liang. “It would really (be) cost efficient for anyone that would decide to make these changes to their house.”

The State of California has mandated that 33 percent of its energy come from renewable resources. Currently they are running on 15 percent from renewable resources, and although they have a long way to go, programs like Skyline’s as well as a community effort help make the goal attainable.

voter turnout rate was less than 5 percent. The positions filled from the ASSC election were the student government president and vice president; commissioners of finance, activities, publicity and public records; and eight senators. There are seven more senator positions that need to be filled, as the senators make up 15 representatives of the student government.

Katelyn Smathers, the incoming ASSC vice president, felt the campaigning went well, but she was disappointed by the low voter turnout rate.

“I think it went really well,” Smathers said. “Everyone was really creative, and it was awesome to see how people decided to campaign. The low turnout rate is always disappointing, but we can’t force people to be involved.”

Meanwhile, other Skyline students felt bothered as well by the low voter turnout rate during the three-day voting period.

Alexa Zermeno, a sophomore at Skyline, felt it was wrong that such a low percentage of students determined the makeup of the student government.

“It bothers me because kids should be more involved,” Zermeno said. “This is their school and they should want something better for themselves.”

The ASSC will also revise its constitution for the upcoming school year, based on 52-percent voter approval.

Teachers voice concerns over sporadic student attendance and dropouts continued from page 1

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.

News

speakers of Spanish who insist on taking this class. If they miss many classes, they still may get an ‘A’ because they know so much already that they do not even need the class to start with.”

While she legally cannot take those students out of the class, Castro encourages them to take higher level classes that would be more challenging for them.

She was quick to add that most students that don’t regularly attend end up doing major catch-up work or dropping the class.

“For most students who belong to the class, not coming creates a huge problem for them to catch up,” Castro said. “Most of the time they cannot do it and end up having to go to TLC (the Skyline College Learning Center) tutorials

for weeks to catch up, or they end up dropping the course.”

Castro’s beliefs about regular attendance are shared by Professor Kate Al-Shamma, who teaches oral communication. She agrees that students must be in class to learn skills, especially in a speech class.

“Students who miss several classes do poorly in this class,” Al-Shamma said.

Professor Christine Case of the biology department has a strong opinion on student absences, focusing on the merits of hard work and being responsible about going to class. Her attendance policy is firm in that students must attend both lecture and lab.

“My policy relates both to success in my class and to developing habits for the rest of your life,” Case said. “I know some students

miss class to work on an assignment for another class. Missing one class and doing an assignment at the last minute won’t help you in either class. You feel lost when you miss class because you don’t have the context, and this starts a cycle of poor performance and more missed classes.”

She believes that the real question is “Do students who miss a lot of classes perform poorly because they were not present, or are students with high levels of absenteeism less committed to academics in general?”

Case cited Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000-Hour Rule” from his book “Outliers” as a strong point in hard work; that is, the key to success in a specific discipline is practicing it for 10,000 hours.

In the end, Case boils it down

to how motivated a student is.

“You have to learn it,” Case said. “The professor can’t crawl inside you with the information.”

The argument for regular attendance is strong; excessive absences have a negative impact on students’ academic lives.

“No matter how bored or sleepy you are, if it’s something you signed up to do, you gotta do it,” Leslie Chan said.

Corrections box Chris Holmes’ name was misspelled on Page 2.

Jullia Thollaug was mislabled as Jamie Ball in a photograph on Page 6.

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May 17, 2012

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Scholarship comittee honors Skyline students

Record number of students complete Honors Transfer Program

by Renee Abu Zaghibra TSV photos editor

Awards and scholarships were given to Skylinestudents by the Scholarship Committee on the evening of Wednesday, May 9 at the Skyline College Theater.

The event was hosted by Phyllis Taylor-Gulbransen, professorof speech communications at Skyline College. She started off the night bywelcoming everyone and introducing the president of Skyline College, Dr. ReginaStanback Stroud. Stroud spoke about how proud she was of the students and hopesthey all achieve their dreams.

“I’m grateful for the people who gave me the opportunity to receive the money,” said Jesus Julian Rocha-Silva, a student at Skyline College. “(The scholarships are) an incentive for people to keep doing well in school.”

Honors students walked across the stage as theirnames were called to receive their medal for recognition of academicachievement. 33 honors students completed the requirements thissemester, the largest number of students Skyline has ever had receive the distinction. Special recognitionwas given to Phi Theta Kappa students as well.

Honors Transfer Program coordinator Katharine Harer felt that the awards ceremony was particularly important for the students, who felt the ceremony provided vindication for all of the work the students had done during the year.

“This event was important to

Thirty-three students recieved recognition for completing the Honors Transfer Program.

the students,”Harer said. “All the invisible hoursthese students take to complete the requirements has been recognized.”

Stroud acknowledged the donors, saying each oftheir names and thanking them for their contributions. Scholarships wereawarded to the chosen recipients, and they were applauded as they walked across the stageto accept

their grants.

Student award recipient and ASSC Commissioner of Publicity elect Jackeline Monrroy felt particularly honored to receive the award.

“I definitely felt happy and felt that it would honor (my parents and Skyline College) to accept the award,” Jackeline Monrroy said.

One student, Christian Etienne,

was awarded the highest scholarshipof all. Etienne was awarded the Karl S.Pister Scholarship, worth $20,000. Stroud told of Etienne’s childhood inHaiti and how he fought to go to school even though his family asked him not to for his safety.

Etienne stood at the podium and humbly gave a speechaccepting his grant from Skyline. He

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline

talked about his plans for thefuture and how he appreciated all the help and support he received from thecollege.

At the end of the ceremony Heidi Hansen, President of theASSC, gave the closing remarks thanking everyone for attending the event andcongratulating the students on their success.

Dean of language arts department retiring

Connie Beringer to retire from Skyline after 26 years of service

by Blair Hardee TSV editor in Chief

Connie Beringer, distinguished Dean of the Language Arts Department, will be retiring this July after a 26-year career at Skyline.

Beginning as a part-time teacher here at Skyline, Beringer has worked hard for decades to leave her mark on the campus. She has been an integral part of the growth of not only the Language Arts department, but also other programs she helped create like the Puente Program (with partner Carla Campillo) and the Honors Program. She even held the position of Academic Senate president during her time at Skyline. Through all her efforts to better the school and the students, Beringer has left a lasting impression on the campus.

Beringer knew she wanted to be an English teacher from a very young age. At eight years old, she was helping her newly emigrated Italian relatives learn to speak English and fell in love with teaching.

Despite her early determination to pursue a teaching career, Beringer almost let it slip through her fingers due to a fear of public speaking.

“I would have panic attacks,” Beringer said. “I thought, ‘how am I going to teach?’”

During her time as a student teacher, Beringer’s supervising

professor helped her overcome her fear and continue to follow her dream of teaching English.

When Beringer moved to the Bay Area from Ohio in 1980, continuing the teaching career she started in Ohio wasn’t exactly on the radar. Beringer gave birth to son and spent the next six years raising him rather than pursuing teaching. When she moved to San Bruno in 1986, however, it wasn’t long before Beringer decided it was time to get back on the horse.

Beringer may have never discovered Skyline had it not been for a friend who told her about the college on the hill.

“I literally could not see the school,” Beringer said.

But sure enough, after driving up College Drive, Beringer discovered there was in fact a college and decided to take advantage of the learning opportunities. Originally starting as a student at Skyline to sharpen her computer skills, Beringer soon learned of a parttime position as an English teacher in the Learning Disability department. By 1990, she was employed full-time as an English teacher.

Beringer fell into the Dean position in 2006, when the previous Dean left abruptly for another job.

“I never sought out administration,” Beringer said. “I never got

into teaching thinking, ‘Oh, I want to be an administrator.’ It’s just something that happened.”

Beringer was hesitant to accept the interim position she was offered at first, but when the permanent position became available she decided she actually was cut out for the job and went for it.

Beringer admits that, compared to teaching, being in administration is “not as rewarding.”

“It is very challenging,” Beringer said. “But I’ve enjoyed the challenge of it because I’ve had great faculty to work with in this division, and a great senior administration.”

Before starting her career at Skyline, Beringer made sure to have a few adventures. After earning her Masters in English from Kent State in Ohio, she spent five years in Germany and England.

Although she’s Italian by blood, Beringer had the urge to go some- Connie Beringer is retiring.

Renee Abu-Zaghibra/The Skyline View where where she didn’t speak the language to have a truly unique “We know that she’ll move on to “Maybe I’ll have a career in Holexperience. She can still speak better things, she has more goals in lywood or something,” Beringer German conversationally today, in her life.” said, laughing. addition to Italian.

Beringer does not intend to let Wherever life takes her from this Connie’s presence will be her adventure end now that she’s point, Beringer can always rememmissed among those who worked retiring. She and her husband plan ber her time here fondly and know with her on a daily basis. on spending time down in Los that her legacy lives on through “She’s a great leader; she’s a great Angeles to help take care of her the programs she’s created and the boss,” said Kennya Ruiz, the grandchild, and she also plans to students she’s influenced.

Language Arts division assistant. continue traveling.

Opinions Skyline View

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May 17, 2012

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On Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage

President’s support of gay marriage a step in left direction

W

e live in a historic period of American history. The first African-American president is also the first president to openly support marriage equality for homosexual couples.

Surely this is indicative of our country’s moral progress, right? Well, maybe not.

The controversy over gay marriage has sparked a lot of debate recently in the media after the surprise endorsement by Vice President Joe Biden. The well meaning vice president is known for his political gaffs, and this time he may have let the cat out of the bag before Obama was ready to take a stand on the issue of gay marriage. Nonetheless, President Obama voiced his support of the gay community despite the risk of distancing his administration further from the Christian Right, which is perhaps greater than when he supported women’s contraceptives being provided by employers through healthcare.

It’s utterly shameful that the country is even debating the legitimacy of a union between two same-sex persons. In 2008 Californians took a step back in time when a majority vote passed Proposition 8, legislation that actually revoked the already enacted rights of homosexuals to marry. If a state as liberal as California can act against constitutional history and peel back the rights of others, then obviously the American voters are ill equipped to uphold the fundamental values this country was founded on in a general election.

Why are civil rights even being allowed to go up for popular vote?

The checks and balances in the federal government are intended to protect the interests of the minority in the face of the majority and prevent these exact instances of civil injustice.

There is no reason that Ameri-

cans should restrict the rights of citizens based on religion. The separation of church and state was intended to give freedom of and from religion, and when the “righteous” Christian Right attempt to force their moral proclivities on

“It’s utterly shameful that the country is even debating the legitimacy of a union between two same-sex persons.” the free citizens of the US through the creation of laws ripe with bigotry, they are undermining the very fabric of our nation.

The Republican primary elections became a race to the bottom when all the candidates tried to

prove that they were the most conservative. This had led the party to position itself in opposition of many of America’s citizens.

Mitt Romney’s choice to support the discriminating anti-immigration legislature in Arizona and condemn the reproductive rights of women as well as the rights of homosexuals to marry (three issues he’s previously supported) in order to be seen as a “conservative” candidate has perhaps done more harm than good. Now that he has won the Republican nomination, some of the positions he’s taken set him in stark juxtaposition to the president, who has a track record of supporting rights-increasing legislation.

A high-school classmate of Romney’s has recently come forward with a disturbing story of how the presidential candidate tormented a fellow student he believed to be gay. After continu-

ous threats to the student telling him to cut his hair, Romney and his friends attacked the boy, held him down and cut his hair. There is no place in the White House for a man who would haze another person to this extent over their per-

“As a civil rights issue, the right to marry the person you love, regardless of sex, should be . . . made the standard across the nation.” ceived sexual orientation. No one deserves to be subjected to that kind of Lord of the Flies-esque treatment; that is not what it means to live in “the land of the free.”

Obama came out in support of homosexual rights at a time when

homosexuals are one of the most persecuted minorities in America.

His endorsement will earn him a place in history, if not the election, and has secured him the respect and vote of all of us at The Skyline View.

The one complaint we have is that he believes that it should be the state’s choice whether to allow same-sex marriage. As a civil rights issue, the right to marry the person you love, regardless of sex, should be addressed federally and made the standard across the nation.

The fall presidential election is choice between two absolutely opposite men; Romney, the homophobic multimillionaire/plutocrat/ high-school bully or Obama, the equal-rights-advocating president with a track record of looking out for the disadvantaged. When the November election arrives, please take into account the character of each candidate and cast your vote accordingly.

The Skyline View would like to officially endorse the expansion of rights for American citizens of all sexual orientations and President Barrack Obama for reelection in the November elections.

Check out our podcast!

Rabelaisian Rhetoric with Riley Bright JPMorgan Chase and all that is wrong with the world economic system Do you remember that “financial crisis” a few years ago that crushed the housing market, forcing thousands of Americans to foreclosure, devoured their retirement funds, triggered massive layoffs, and ruined the country’s AAA credit rating leaving the world economy in shambles? Well, that was due to financial institutions engaging in high-risk investment deals that didn’t pay off. JPMorgan Chase, the largest financial firm in the country, just engaged in another high-risk deal, but this time they came out $2 billion poorer. But hold back your tears, it’s not such a big deal. $2 billion is only a measly one percent of the company’s total assets.

We’re talking about a bank that received six times that much in government bailout money in 2008, what do they care if they lose free money on a bet?

Try and picture $2 billion. Can you? Not many people have ever interacted with a sum of money so large. Although the media throws around million, billion and trillion dollar sums as if our currency is only valuable at such concentrations, the truth is, for nearly half of all Americans it would take almost seventy thousand years to save up two billion dollars. And, if two billion dollars were bound and stacked in the fabled one thousand

dollar bills, it would stretch across 126 miles.

Think about all the hungry children 126 miles of thousand dollar bills could feed, or the schools that could be funded, or the medical breakthroughs just a couple billion dollars away.

I am disgusted that there are still banks betting big on risky deals with other people’s money.

Capitalism is completely broken.

When business is allowed to operate completely unobstructed by regulations this is what happens.

The world is still recovering from the last blow out, from the last time banks based their practices on risk.

Wall Street has abandoned good business etiquette and spat in the face of every American.

The current recession wasn’t created by the middle class making irresponsible decisions with their money. We trusted our money with the “experts” expecting a return on investment. What we got was the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, which was also caused by the big timers on Wall Street. And Republicans in Congress want to cut taxes for these people. If anything, there should be a special reimbursement tax levied on those responsible for the recession.

If somebody makes money off of a war, it’s called war profiteering. We have laws against that.

If somebody makes money off of a recession, it’s called smart business practices. Profits from investments are taxed at more than half the rate of income.

That means that the money you make from actual work, the money you put time and effort into making, is taxed twice as much as the money you make by simply

Opinions having money. Wealth makes wealth as they say. We live in a backwards society my friends.

Corporations are people, money is free speech, and banks can rob people of their money.

I am worried for the future of America. Lobbyists representing wealthy corporations have bought Congress. The aptly called Super PACs (Political Action Committee) now let companies and citizens donate unlimited funds to political candidates. Money is power and when one percent of Americans control thirty percent of the wealth we lowly students are powerless.

Students are also specifically targeted and punished by the Republicans in D.C. If interest rates on student loans are doubled like the GOP has advocated students will be screwed, if educations funding is cut and fees increased like the GOP advocates, students will be screwed. If Romney is elected president and elephants take over the White House, you can rest assured that students will be screwed.

Sadly this has become the norm in the United States. Legislators have been chipping away at our education for decades. The UC and CSU college systems were initially free institutions of higher learning where young people could expand their minds and learn skills to better society.

Now if you look at the UCs and CSUs students are graduating with decades of debt and degrees that can’t guarantee a job.

Ask yourself, is this the future the founding fathers intended for us, a society that celebrates greed and business over education and progress? I pray that it isn’t.

We live in the land of free trade and the home of morally decrepit bankers.

Nothing feels as fake as “Seventeen”’s photoshop

by Megan Benveniste TSV Sports Editor

Earlier in the week, 14-yearold Julia Bluhm made headlines when she started a petition against Seventeen Magazine for their use of Photoshop. She, and many others who have signed the petition, don’t think it gives women a clear picture of what those women actually look like and I agree.

I think this madness about women’s bodies being perfect needs to stop. I think it is great to be healthy and exercise, but we should be teaching women how to do it the right ways. I think we as Americans have become too obsessed with image. It is really getting out of hand.

Having your picture altered to make you look a certain way isn’t going to change how you or others perceive you, and it isn’t going to fix whatever “problem” on your body you think that you have. We all have insecurities about ourselves; no one is perfect.

I think rather than focusing on the imperfections and making those a negative we need to find ways to see them as positives.

I think it is good that we want to stop this unhealthy lifestyle that

is going through our country, but there is a right and a wrong way to do it. By putting up all these false pictures of people online and in magazines we are forcing an alternate reality that no one can achieve. We need to start teaching women that in order to be healthy you have to be comfortable in your own skin and be happy with who you are.

“By putting up all these false pictures of people online and in magazines we are forcing an alternate reality that no one can achieve.”

We need to promote exercise in a smarter way too. Instead of making it about being “skinny” it should be more about just exercising to feel great. When we put pressure to be “skinny” on women we are forcing insecurities.. Many women feel that if they don’t look the way that the media depicts, then they aren’t “pretty” or they

aren’t good enough.

Not every woman is going to be size 2. It just isn’t going to happen. Everybody has a different body type, different family history, different everything. This is why we all look different. Seriously though, what if we all looked the same? How boring would that be?

We need to stop using pictures that aren’t real. Magazines should start using pictures of “real” women. Women who have curves, who have just had kids, who are the way they are. There is nothing more beautiful than being yourself.

I agree with this 14-year-old that magazines should be held responsible for using the real pictures and putting real women in those magazines.

If you agree please sign the petition that she has started.

http://www.change.org/petitions/seventeenmagazine-give-girls-images-of-real-girls

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Hurt & Heal with Terence Chin

How do you feel about the cafeteria being remodeled?

HURT – What a waste “I think we’re wasting money remodeling this cafeteria ‘cause we should just be spending it on something more important.”

—Anthony Chin HEAL– Brings people together “This could help have students stay on campus and feel like there’s an actual community.”

—Roxane Parangan

HURT – Mixed feelings “I guess it’s a good thing in a way, but also the money could be going to education.”

—Nick Patane HURT – That money is needed elsewhere “They didn’t have to spend that money on new construction, but I wish they were able to spend that on other things.”

—Claudia Quintanilla

Heal – Students need to kick it “We need a place to hang out before or after class so I think it’s a good thing.”

—Jonathan Schoon

Elderly drivers a menace

by Matt Pacelli

TSV News Editor

Fact: No successful defense of one’s own character or point of view has ever begun with the phrase, “Some of my best friends are (insert minority).” It goes without saying that once you have uttered these words, you’ve gone too far. Whatever you say next is most likely to be either wrong or indefensible. Your pitiful attempt to show that you are on good terms with the aforementioned minority will only serve to mire you deeper and deeper into a bigoted quagmire, with little hope of emerging unscathed.

With this in mind, I begin down my doomed path: I like old people. Old people contribute much to society. Some of my best friends are old people. But this doesn’t change the fact that old people are absolutely, utterly terrifying to be around when driving.

Perhaps a little context will help my cause, as the definition of “old” is not as concrete as people may take it to be. Some aged people are young at heart, and some young people are curmudgeonly and dead inside. Oldness in this instance will be defined as a combination of the two: an old person is someone around or over 65 who refuses to acknowledge that with their age has come a decrease in

reaction time and vision. It’s OK for these things happen, but it is far from OK to pretend that they don’t, then plunge into society like a portly lad off a diving board.

Some old people drive too slowly, which isn’t much of a problem. Things become sticky in the details, however, when fine motor skills become involved.

Restaurants that are not drive thru are driven through. Parallel parking becomes an un-fun game of bumper cars. People standing on sidewalks, fancying themselves to be safe, get their feet run over by someone’s granny, wubbie, abulea, or whatever, who didn’t know where the street ends and the concrete begins.

On rare occasions, the elderly drive too fast, utilizing the oft-overlooked art of offensive driving. I’ve actually had old people shake their fists at me while driving and using an oxygen tank, honking and swearing, doing about seventy in a thirty-five-mile-perhour zone. The only thing that can be done is to take it in stride.

There’s no real point to any of this, other than for me to let the elderly know that they scare me when they are behind the wheel.

It’s not that I don’t respect or value your place in society; it’s just that when I see you drive, it fills me with a great fear.

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As UC and CSU prices continue to The View From Here rise, privates look more attractive

by Rich Estrada

TSV Online Editor

It’s shocking to see how the public school system has taken a dive over the last few years. What was once the hallmark of the state has now lost the trust of not only its students, but also the faculties that keep it in motion. The system is in dire need of restructuring if it intends to ever regain the distinction it once proudly enjoyed.

While interning at a sports news company, I asked other college students about their experiences at their respective public universities. Almost every response was packaged with shrugs and complaints. They expressed concerns about fee

“Is it still worth attending a public school if it takes an extra couple of years to complete a degree? My answer is no. Given the current landscape, now is the best time to begin considering a private education.”

increases and course availability, and in one case, having to transfer to another school in order to take the necessary classes. Is it still worth attending a public school if it takes an extra couple of years to complete a degree? My answer is no.

Given the current landscape, now is the best time to begin considering a private education.

Doors are being shut by both the UC and CSU systems as tuition fees continue to increase and more applicants are being denied admission. In addition to cuts that have already been made, Gov. Jerry Brown is still making proposals that would save the state money at the expense of state colleges.

Darker days are ahead for public education.

Fewer students are earning their degrees in four-year institutions, with some not finishing at all. Each additional year spent in school costs thousands, and given the interest rates of student loans, the urgency to finish in a timely manner has become a focus for many college students. Until the UC and CSU systems get their act together, let’s look at the alternative.

Funding a private education can seem financially out of reach, but the benefits of smaller class sizes and availability of courses may be worth the cost for many students not wanting to further delay graduation.

Almost all private universities in California offer need-based aid to their students (especially if the student is 24 or older and no longer needs to include their parents’ tax information on their FAFSA), easing the cost of attending.

Government grants are also available for those who opt for private schools, creating even more accessibility to lower-income students.

Courses at private schools are less likely to be discontinued because they do not rely on the state for money, allowing undergraduates to complete their degrees in a much timelier manner. This may still end in a pricier cost to attend, but quality and efficiency make up for the extra cash. U.S. News reports that private universities have higher graduation and retention rates, which are indicators of

student satisfaction.

What makes private colleges even more intriguing, however, is timing. According to USA Today, many private universities are aware of the trouble high-school and community-college students are facing and see it as an opportunity to add diversity to their institutions and improve their

“Fewer students are earning their degree in four years with some not finishing at all.

Every additional year spent in school costs thousands and given the interest rates of student loans, the urgency to finish in a timely manner has become a focus for many community college students.” “demographic mix.” In short, they want you, so why not consider them as well.

Skyline College has Transfer Admission Agreements with many private universities, which helps facilitate the transfer process.

Sister school CSM even has an agreement with the prestigious University of Southern California, a school consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the nation.

I am in no way suggesting that UC Berkeley and UCLA have fallen off their pillars. However, I believe it’s important to look at every option available while preparing for that next step once the transfer process nears.

with Blair Hardee

With the end of spring semester comes a transitional period for all of us. Some of you will be taking summer classes (prepare yourself for accelerated courses!), some of you will be coming back in the fall (enjoy a fresh start and learn from any mistakes you made this semester), and some of you will be moving on to the next chapter of your lives.

Whatever your plan is, summer can be an important time for reflection. You get to wipe the slate clean, so to speak, and start over with new classes, new professors and new opportunities. While summer should certainly be spent enjoying the weather and having a good time, you can also prepare for your next step by thinking seriously about what you want and what changes you can make to get there.

Many of us have struggled with certain classes in the past, and the difficulty can usually be attributed to one or two specific factors. Spending a little time identifying your weaknesses in school can help you be more prepared when you start new classes, whether it’s this summer or in the fall.

The key to getting employed in any area is persistence; employers want to know you’re dedicated and serious about what you do. Make connections with people who may hire you, even if it’s just dropping your application off with the owner or manager of a business and introducing yourself. Putting a face with your name puts you at an advantage when they’re sifting through a stack of applications.

Some of you, including myself, are looking forward to transferring to a four-year university to finish your bachelor’s degree. For some of us this means relocating, and for most of us it means making new friendships and building a new sense of community. This can be daunting, but it helps to think about all the new opportunities and exciting experiences that await you.

Meeting people is easier than you probably think; there are literally thousands of community college students that are going through the same transition and want to create a new network. Joining clubs or getting involved in extracurriculars is a great way to meet people with common interests.

As for building your sense of community, that will come naturally with time. As someone who has moved back and forth across the country several times, I can definitely tell you that most places don’t feel like home right away. But, when you make a few friends and find some cool hang-out spots, you’ll be happy to be where you are.

Whatever your plan is, keeping your eye on the prize will ensure you success. Just use a fraction of your leisure time this summer figuring out what it is you want from your life and education and continue taking steps to get there.

I’ll be leaving Skyline after three years for UC Davis this fall, and I plan on using all of my experiences here to help me on the next leg of my journey. I’ll miss this place dearly (especially the newsroom, where I’ve spent countless hours during my time here), and I sincerely wish all of you the best in your future endeavors.

Nas is the true gangsta that Jay-Z wishes he could be

by Kimberly Murti

TSV Sports Editor

Jay-Z and Nas fans have been butting heads for decades. The battle for the title of illest emcee never seems to get stale. However successful Jay-Z has been, money and fame are no indicators of true talent. Nas delivers a rich tapestry of story telling that elevates the hip-hop experience to another level.

Our debate opens with Team Jay-Z. Millions of albums sold?

A given. Is he a great writer, musician, and overall pretty decent entertainer? Most definitely. I’m not saying Hov is terrible at what he does; he wouldn’t be here today if he didn’t possess some sort of musical talent. However, although the man balls hard these days, I feel as though he doesn’t rightfully deserve this much attention. Lyrically, I’d put him on the top 20, but even on that list,

he ranks at a mid position for me, maybe at 10.

He’s never released an album better than “Reasonable Doubt.”

He makes good music, and I’m sure he’ll continue to do so. His steady flow of releases is the result of a creative restlessness that wouldn’t allow him to repeat what worked for him the first time around. He constantly tries new avenues, and unfortunately, some avenues were bound to be dead ends. If he had to create an “I Know What Girls Like” to get a “Where I’m From,” then so be it.

His self-perpetuated thug image has never convinced me.

When Jay-Z was scary, it was never because he was tough. He was scary because he was smart.

He wasn’t going to beat you up or shoot you, he was going to outwit you—and that’s scarier.

“The Blueprint” was the beginning of the end. Although it was a great album, it marked the

start of certain trends within his work that have since become destructive to his artistry. For one, he simplified his rapping. He had a lot to say with that album and wanted to make sure his listeners understood him, but that meant that the more complex cadences and rhyme schemes he’d been rocking in the late 90’s were dispensed in the name of clarity.

Let’s get to the realness.

Nas, whose storytelling skills have yet to be topped by any other artist in the underground or mainstream hip-hop industry, is one of the most underrated rappers of our time.

First, he made the real blueprint for rap artists. In fact, he subverted the current hip-hop culture by claiming the art “dead” in 2006. Although Nas’ buzz has died in the limelight and radio plays, he is forever engraved in the history of hip-hop. His 1994 album, “Illmatic,” sheds light on the post-crack atmosphere

of New York City. Nas paints aural pictures of the inner-city struggles—“hittin’ L’s,” “pack a black .32” and “keep an eye out for Jake.”

In the background of the intro, you can vaguely make out Nas’ first recorded song “Live at the BBQ” with Main Source.

Nas’ infamous line can be found in this song: “When I was 12, I went to hell for snuffin’ Jesus.”

Taking jabs at Jesus? This shows that even at a young age, Nas grasped the rough nature of the streets. All of this came out in 1994; most artists will never achieve what Nas did with this album.

Nas captures the state of mind of the impoverished youth in New York during the nineties.

How do you solve an irremediable problem? Let the public hear about it or see it. Nas reports to us live using his own news broadcasting approach.

Nas is still a major influ-

ence in rap. He helped boost East Coast rap to its prominent position. With his rap feud with Jay-Z, he kept the art alive after Biggie and Tupac died. Jay-Z went from a fast, bar-spitting rapper to a more paced-flow rapper.

He created his style from Nas. Nas influenced Eminem with his detailed story-telling tactics and gave Lil Wayne a bit of fame with their rap beef. He even has a collection of verses that are straight-up diss lines to the late Biggie Smalls that could be deemed “dead wrong.”

The struggle is eternal. Nas tells the story of the everyman.

With such a great piece of work as “Illmatic,” Nas’ career has been humbled by the fact that none of his work, or any other rapper’s work, will ever come as close to perfection as “Illmatic” has come. That’s just one of his incredible albums that singlehandedly upstages Jay-Z’s entire career.

Don’t hate the media...

...Become the media If you don’t like the content you’ve seen in The Skyline View, then why don’t you join The Skyline View and effect change for the better?

Enroll in Journalism 110 or 120 to learn the basics, or join the newspaper staff (Journalism 300 or 690).

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Photos courtesy of Marvel

Joss Whedon and super cast saves “The Avengers” movie

by Jay Johnson

TSV Editor At Large

Since I was a child, I always loved the Avengers, a team of superheroes from around the Marvel universe who transcended their differences to fight off world-threatening evil. They were of many races, genders and creeds, but they always united and smashed down the villain. This past weekend, the long-awaited Avengers movie was released, and it was everything you hoped it would be.

The team consists of Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Bruce Banner/Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, played by Chris Evans; Chris Hemsworth; Robert Downey, Jr.; Mark Ruffalo; Scarlett Johanssen and Jeremy Renner respectively. Together they work to stop Loki, Thor’s half-brother, from bringing an intergalactic army to Earth to enslave the planet.

There are a lot of things I enjoyed about the movie. First off, the acting just felt right; everyone seemed natural for the role they were portraying, and it gave it a true-to-comic feeling. A good example was when Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, doubted the intentions of Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson) and mistrust-

ed him, but Captain America was willing to play the good soldier role and follow orders without question. These differences in their stances felt just like it did in the comics: Stark’s smartass banter, Cap’s poster-boy attitude and even Thor’s arrogant god persona were all done perfectly.

My favorite character though had to be Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston. Not only did he look like they took him straight from the comic, but the acting was magnificent. Acting like an unabashedly arrogant god with a small lack of conviction yet at the same time full of almost teenagelike angst wasn’t easy, but he did damn well. He played the cunning trickster so well that from now on, whenever I see Hiddleston in a movie, he will be Loki to me.

While lots of the greatness can be attributed to the actors and their seemingly dedication to the character’s personas the person who should get 85 percent of the credit is director/writer Joss Whedon. His knack for witty writing is very evident in The Avengers but it’s not so overdone that it seems pretentious. His flair for jokes and pop culture references is there but it won’t take away from the film.

What got me the most excited

Samuel L. Jackson portrays Nick Fury, who forms the Avengers team.

about seeing “The Avengers” is nothing tangible and something only sort of visible: It was my inner (and outer) geek having an almost nerd-gasm. Seeing Thor, Cap, Hulk or Iron Man do something amazing by themselves made me feel like an excited child in the best of ways. Then seeing them fight the enemy together to

take down enemies put me on a whole new level.

Whether it was Hulk and Thor smashing down a giant space monster or Captain America and Iron Man combining their abilities to shoot out an angled laser beam at a dozen enemies, the visual impact gave me an indescribable feeling. The closest that I could

get would be to say that I was filled with the rainbows and happiness of childhood coupled with the giddiness of a nerd seeing one of his dreams come to life.

What made this possible was that the action was really well done. Some movies, like “The Hunger Games,” have a camera problem, in which any time action starts to happen, the camera starts taking on this frenetic shake. I guess this is done to make you feel like you’re in the action, but it just hurts everything. In “The Avengers,” the camera doesn’t do this. While the action is intense and exciting, it’s very easy to follow, and you shouldn’t get a headache.

The only sort of downside for me was, strangely enough, the fans. I understand being excited about the movie; it’s a monumental event. But both times I saw “The Avengers,” there were people yelling, cheering and clapping. It crossed a point from fan excitement over to “Shut up! I want to watch and hear the movie.”

For a film that goes on for two-and-a-half hours, you won’t even feel it. With the great banter between the actors and nearly constant action, you should be riveted to the screen. I suggest seeing it in theaters, where you’ll be in for an exciting experience.

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Out and About

Out and About: Learning to ride a motorcycle

Nothing compares with the thrill of gaining wings on two wheels

by Diane Thao

TSV Entertainment Editor

With the school semester winding down to an end and summer looming near, we begin to schedule our agendas, book fun events and even re-examine our resolutions.

Given the abundance of spare time during summer, consider learning a new skill that could be used efficiently.

With gas prices becoming parallel to our bipolar Bay Area weather, learning to ride a motorcycle would be quite a beneficial skill to pick up.

The best way is to take a training course. Not only do you need to take this course if you’re under 21, it also teaches you the proper way to ride in a non-threatening environment. For those over 21, this benefits you by waiving your riding test at the DMV (which consists of riding through a tiny, difficult circle and weaving through cones), a test which many fail due to the difficulty of driving within the lines of the circle.

Bay Area Motorcycle Training in San Francisco offers a basic three-day course. The first session consists of learning the guidelines from a booklet and video and is located in downtown San Francisco.

Parking isn’t too bad because it is toward the outskirts of the crowded city, but be sure to arrive 15 minutes early.

This lecture session may be a

Motorcyclist on the training range in a formation ready for pivot turns. long and dreary five hours of your life, but it is full of informative facts.

From proper leans in a curve to locating the fuel valve, you are gaining motorcycle vernacular, prepping you not only for the test but for the ride on the bikes. Afterward, you are required to take a comprehensive test on the material you learned, which will help you pass the written

Courtesy of Bay Area Motorcycle Training

exam at the DMV. All knowledge learned from the lecture class is helpful, but not until you actually ride a motorcycle will you learn anything. The next two sessions are hands-on training and are taken either in the morning or afternoon on the weekends, depending on your reservation. The riding range is located in the parking lot

of City College of San Francisco.

These two days do require you to be dressed appropriately and to ride to their expectation before they hand you a certificate of motorcycle course completion.

The proper dress code for the hands-on portion will be addressed in the lecture class. You will need: leather gloves, ankle-high shoes

with rubber soles, a long-sleeved shirt or jacket and a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet.

An instructor will inspect your attire to confirm that it meets the enforced dress code; the only piece that is not mandated is the helmet, which they have enough of, from sizes extra small to extra large.

Once the driving course begins and you sit on a motorcycle for the first time, a twist of excitement and anxiety overcomes your body.

Nerves are normal, especially after a comforting remark from the instructor that only one student has driven their bike into the thin handicap pole in the parking lot. Once the body memorizes the synchronized motion of holding the clutch and switching gears, it is smooth sailing from there.

Being able to rev the throttle and drive off correctly is an experience like no other. It really is as if you have gained your own set of wings.

Before you zoom off confidently, you should learn other maneuvers such as the motions of turns, breaking swiftly, swerving quickly to avoid a collision, head movements and maintaining proper speed.

The majority of motorcycles provided are 500cc cruisers; motor scooters are also available but are limited. I would recommend learning to ride on a motorcycle because the motor scooter is automatic and you are not getting the full experience you paid for.

Out and About: Off the Grid is a food truck lover’s paradise

by Stephen Benoit

TSV Editor At Large

Looking to enjoy a day out in the presence of good food and good music? You can’t go wrong with Off the Grid at Fort Mason every Friday. It’s truly off the hook!

Off the Grid is a gathering of food trucks that takes place all over the city every day, with Fort Mason being the biggest event by far, catering to a massive amount of food trucks, ensuring you get the most variety at competitive prices.

In the mood for some hot wings? Try Lower Haight’s Wing Wings. Want some potstickers?

Behold as they’re made right in front of you at Happy Dumplings.

Looking for something sweeter?

Cupkates has got you covered with some delicious cupcakes. All this and more await you at beautiful Fort Mason in San Francisco every Friday with its scenic views and wonderful ocean breezes.

Off the Grid is definitely not just a place to eat. It’s a place to mingle and socialize while local bands play their hearts out. The whole event has never disappointed me. Long gone are the days of “Roach Coach” food trucks; these trucks are classy, and their prices show their continuing effort to surpass the stereotype. You can get some amazing, quality food for cheap prices.

My favorite thing to do is go around from truck to truck trying

Stephen Benoit/The Skyline View

Food Trucks aligned for the Friday’s Off the Grid event.

cheap things on the menu, even if it’s food I’d never really try any other time. It’s a great time to be adventurous as there are amazing fusions of food most people would never imagine!

Asiatic tacos, Philippines-inspired burritos, burgers made with pork belly instead of beef . . . It’s truly hard to go wrong at Off the Grid, and honestly it becomes literally a challenge to find anything bad. Not once have I ordered something that I later regretted; every time I’ve been shocked and sometimes even blown completely away!

I thought to myself on one recent venture, Seven dollars for a

Fans wait for the freshly delcious baked cupcake at the Cupkates food truck

crepe? This better be one heck of a crepe. Well, Delicioso Creperie sure delivered! I was more than satisfied with my purchase as it

was not only very large, but had an absolutely heavenly flavor.

Another place there with a similar theme was Azalina’s. I tried their

chai banana fritters, and I was in heaven again.

There are plenty of routes to reach Fort Mason, but some are definitely better than others, and some are a lot more scenic.

Because Off the Grid opens at 5 p.m., there’s bound to be traffic in parts of the city, so plan accordingly.

No matter your tastes, you really can’t go wrong at a place like this with the insane variety of food and strange mixtures like macaroni-and-cheese spring rolls from 3-Sum Eats, which are amazing by the way. Definitely stop by Peter’s Kettle Corn to get a free sample when you’re there; you’ll thank me later.

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Retrospective

Star Wars Saga debate is heating up again

Courtesy of LucasFilm Ltd.

by Joe Barrack TSV Production Editor

The original Star Wars trilogy from 1977 and the prequel trilogy from around the turn of the millennium are collections of films that both have their places in cinematic history.

The only question is what position in history each trilogy has achieved.

Which collection of films is better? First it must be decided what makes a good film.

Some would have you believe that cutting edge technology makes a good film; that the latest and greatest in computergenerated robots, aliens and explosions are what create excitement and large-scale cinematic drama.

But drama simply does not exist in an on-screen explosion or in a CGI battle scene. Drama in real life exists between people. And in film, drama is derived from interaction between well-developed cinematic characters with whom the audience can identify.

Herein lies the largest among many dichotomies between Star Wars old and new.

Luke Skywalker is the protagonist of the original trilogy and an immediately relatable character. The audience can empathize with his desire to escape the monotonous toil of being a moisture farmer on Tatooine and delight in seeing Luke finally become the master of his own destiny.

Luke goes through seemingly endless internal conflict and adversity throughout the course of the original three Star Wars films, and while his destiny is uncertain until the end of the last film, it is clear that how it all ends will be a result of his own decisions and actions.

In stark contrast is the prequel trilogy. Anakin Skywalker is meant to be the protagonist of these movies, but he has no adversity to overcome really. He has

Courtesy of LucasFilm Ltd.

no hopes or dreams aside from his mindless infatuation with Princess Amidala, which wears thin pretty quickly as a plot device.

Anakin Skywalker is not a character so much as a tool to tell what should have been a very short story.

Anakin’s fate is a forgone conclusion. The audience knows what is going to happen to him, and can only watch as events that he has no control over unfold around him to his doom.

It should be tragic, but it isn’t because the audience never forms an emotional bond with Anakin. Which brings up the topic of character development.

All of the characters in the original trilogy follow carefully constructed archetypes that compliment each other and make for a well-rounded cinematic experience. Luke is the wide-eyed youth yearning for adventure, Princess Leia is an unwilling damsel in distress, Han Solo is the mercenary with a heart of gold, R2D2 and C3PO provide the comic relief, and Darth Vader is representative of all things evil.

In the new trilogy, it’s almost impossible to describe character types since they only exist as plot devices to advance the story through lengthy exposition. The best thing that can be said about Anakin Skywalker is that he is a lovesick teenager.

Furthermore, the story in the prequel trilogies is mostly political in nature— not to mention completely convoluted—involving a trade embargo on Naboo and a political power grab in the Galactic Senate.

The story of the original trilogy is mostly character driven, allowing for greater dramatic effect. The story essentially lives in the drama that results from the interaction between its characters, creating a couple of history’s greatest cinematic moments. Darth Vader’s revelation to Luke that he is Luke’s father comes to mind, as well as the moment when Han Solo

is about to be frozen in carbonite.

Also, the dialogue from the original trilogy is better written and better acted than in the prequel trilogy.

Lawrence Kasdan provides the witty banter in “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” that so perfectly encapsulates Han and Leia’s relationship right before their first kiss.

On the other hand, “I truly, deeply love you,” is the best that George Lucas’s screenwriting capabilities can produce between Anakin and Padmé.

Lastly we come to the special effects. The original Star Wars movies had special effects that were ground breaking at the time and were used when necessary.

In the new Star Wars movies, the special effects are the main attraction. George Lucas seems to have used CGI to disguise how weak the narrative actually is.

The irony of it all is that in an old interview with Lucas during the creation of “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi,” he himself gives a warning of one of the dangers of special effects in film: “Special effects are just a tool; a means of telling a story.

People have a tendency to confuse them as an end in themselves. A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing.”

Sure, the new Star Wars trilogy might have made for good box office fodder, but in fifty years nobody is going to look back on it favorably. And that is because they were made in a computer and shot in front of a blue screen, created in a sterile environment devoid of inspiration or perspiration.

That’s right. Perspiration.

The original Star Wars trilogy was born into the most humble of circumstances, and it was George Lucas’ sweat and toil in creating those original three titles through all the adversity he faced that makes them great.

by Diane Thao TSV Entertainment Ediitor

A decade after the release of “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” Lucasfilm has set to release the Star Wars saga in 3D every year beginning with the prequel trilogies.

“Episode I” was released in theaters this February; the following “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” is set for the beginning of next year.

It is said that believing the prequels of the “Star Wars” saga to be superior to the originals is to commit cinematic treason. If so, then it is treason that I will abruptly come in defense of, for I believe they are.

First and foremost, I will admit that “Episode II” is perhaps the worst of the collection. Regardless, the prequels are written on a deeper level and are politically relative. The original movies’ storyline was simple: Luke is the new hope, and his becoming a Jedi creates an A-team and brings Darth Vader back to sanity to destroy the Sith Lord.

The prequels center on the rise of Darth Vader, and the fall of the Jedi Council and the Republic. You watch from the first episode the young slave boy Anakin grows into a relentless Jedi, who falls in love and encounters turmoil when plagued with prophetic nightmares of Padmé dying.

It focuses on how “the chosen one,” who was to bring balance to the force, falls into the dark side.

Alongside the tragedy of the hero storyline is the political similarities between the Republic and the “Bush Era.” Perhaps so many fans disliked this storyline because of the original movies good triumphs, whereas in the prequels you watch the dysfunctional government that claims to fight for peace collapse and show their true colors. We see the same democratic process in

the films as we did in our own country: manipulation through lies and deception.

Those who complain about the characteristics of Anakin Skywalker and how he could easily fall into darkness and hurt the one he loved are obtuse.

Every day you see and meet people who are desperate for security and eagerly give up hard work for that illusion, even hurt the ones they love.

The “Star Wars” prequel trilogy not only has a more complex script compared to the original episodes IV– VI, but they triumph even more with the graphics.

Given a nearly two-decade gap between the originals and the prequels, its advantage is advanced cinematic technology. Although Lucas claims he started with “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” because it’s more action packed, I beg to differ. With the advancements, the prequels were able to capture the real action.

The improvement on the choreography of the Jedi/Sith lightsaber battles overpowers the original episodes. By adding intense lightsaber fighting, jumps and twists, there is no comparison between the lightsaber duels in the prequels and in the originals. Even with the famous duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in “Star Wars Episode VI: The Empire Strikes Back,” the light sabers are just simple strikes, basically two sticks waving in the air.

The final battle between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi in “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” is by far the most kick-ass battle throughout the whole saga. This is the fight everyone anticipated, and it did not fail. With the intense background music and lava eruption, you are left paralyzed in amazement by just how magnificent the eight-minute scene is.

Besides the actions being much more engaging than

in the originals, I personally thought the script was fine.

It may not have been appropriate for the time it was released, but Lucas did say he had the basic plot in his mind since 1973—he just didn’t have a script for it.

Also, if you really compare the script from the prequel to the original it is almost the same: cheesy!

Even Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, who are all decent if not fine actors, couldn’t pull off those cheesy lines.

This is because we live in a time different from the late ‘70s. I don’t understand why it is okay for Han Solo to say something completely cheesy and odd, yet no one questions it. For instance, when Princess Leia tells him she loves him, Han Solo infamously says, “I know.”

As for the storyline, I would recommend that firsttimers watch the originals first just for the sake of the twist of not knowing Darth Vader’s true identity until “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.”

I admit, the first two episodes aren’t written in the way most hardcore fans would have wanted, but Lucas had set the story of Anakin’s slow shift to the dark side as a priority. I mean this is who the saga is essentially about, the chosen one, the one who is meant to bring balance to the force, and Anakin did succeed by the end of the saga.

All in all, I’ve concluded that those who love the originals subconsciously never gave the prequels a chance. To think something as sacred as the original episodes can be replaced is impractical. If you think I am incorrect, I dare you to test this with someone who has never seen the saga. Have them watch the prequels first and then the originals and let them speak, and you must not brainwash them with your input.

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Music

2012 Summer Hit Songs

by Diane Thao

TSV Entertainment Editor

Katy Perry “Wide Awake” The new single from “The Complete Confection” tells the emotional aftermath of her divorce from husband Russell Brand.

“I always love her singles because its an open diary.

This song is so heart-breaking and catchy at the same time.”

–Jasmine Diaz.

Jennifer Lopez “Dance Again” J.Lo is proving that she still has it with this new song, in which the video features her passionate chemistry with her new and young boyfriend.

“It makes me want to dance around. I can’t wait for late summer nights to go dance to this.”

–Elle March

Wiz Khalifa “Work Hard, Play Hard” The highly loved rapper for the “Black and Yellow” superbowl song comeback with another catchy phrase “work hard, play hard.”

“This song goes hard, I’m definitely going to roll down my window and blast this song.”

–Paul Luang

Outasight “Now or Never” Outasight returns with another motivatational, upbeat club song this summer. It’s not just a club song but a great work-out song.

“This is a killer song, I can’t stop listening to it.”

–Odet Guzman

Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” The third finalist of Canadian Idol has finally broken into the U.S charts and has even celebrities singing this contagious song.

“Its just a fun and flirty song that me and my girlfriends would be signing.”

- Denna Marquez

Nicki Minaj “Starships” Drifting away from the hard-censored rap and hopping over to the pop side after the success of “Super Bass” comes another top 40 song“Starships.”

“This is a good pop song for hitting the beach.”

-Judy Kelley

Norah Jones gets her little heart broken

The break-up album from the Grammy Award Winner

by Kimberly Murti TSV Sports Co-Editor

Norah Jones’ new album, “Little Broken Hearts,” is an incredibly gorgeous sonic and lyrical exploration of a crumbling relationship that takes Jones’ already impressive talents to a new high, creating a sensational array of music.

It is beautifully dark, covering themes such as betrayal, debilitating hurt, shame, the desire for revenge and ultimately the ability to walk away, bowed but not broken. The album opens with the romantic, string-laden “Good Morning,” in which she, over a sleepy, lullabylike melody, gently sings that she’s “folding her hand” as she realizes she’s holding the losing cards. From the opening notes, even though only Jones’ name is on the album, it is clear that her collaboration with coproducer and co-writer Brian Burton is a complete partnership.

Similar to how Burton, a.k.a.

“Danger Mouse,” and The Shins’ James Mercer came together to create “Broken Bells,” Danger Mouse and Jones have forged a new sound here that captures the most alluring parts of Jones’ musical gifts and pushes them into something new.

The listener gets the best of Jones’ often low-key but never sloppy vocals in a totally new context: Gone, for the most part, are the jazzy, folk-like tunes from her past album. They’ve been replaced by hypnotic, atmospheric swashes of sound that have the mind drifting into a softer, less tense state.

Kimberly Murti/The Skyline View

The album cover is inspired by the famous poster of the band Mudhoney in 1965.

The two met when they collaborated on “Rome,” Danger Mouse’s album with Italian film composer Daniele Luppi. Jones, along with Jack White, provided vocals for the album, and remnants of that project lovingly and sharply creep into this one: Every now and then a deliciously razor-edged guitar line straight out of a Sergio Leone western cuts through everything else going on in the melody, such as with the opening of the swaggering “4 Broken Hearts.”

“Little Broken Hearts” is never

rigid. This is an album that moves forward with the furtive deliberation of a shark. Songs amplify and build, sonic templates shift into something new. Nothing ever feels hurried or rushed.

This album never screams. It’s way too good for that. Instead, each hurt is delivered to inflict maximum damage, but with a sly, subtle needle prick rather than a jagged dagger or an obvious gun.

Though Jones plays piano, the instrument she’s best known for, it’s often in a muted, tenuous way.

The focus is solely on the wreckage left over in the wake of where there once was love.

With admirable ability to not edit, on “She’s 22,” Jones, who is only in her early 30s, has to confront her lover about the adoring fan who makes her man feel special, just like the coed who captures her professor’s wandering eye. There’s always someone younger and prettier, even when you’re a multiple Grammy winner. It’s unclear if the same 22-year old is the woman in “Miriam,” an absolute stunner of a

song addressed to a female who has cheated with her boyfriend in Jones’ own house. It’s chilling when Jones sings, in a sweet voice dripping with quiet menace, “Miriam, that’s such a pretty name. I’m going to say it when I make you cry.” It goes downhill for Miriam from there.

I feel as though many can relate to this album and the majority of the songs on it simply because we’ve all lost something we’ve once had or suffered from a broken heart. Don’t find it relatable? Well, the music itself pleases the soul.

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page 12 Skyline View May 17, 2012

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Art gallery ends semester with Student Art Exhibition The annual Student Exhibition showcased a wide variety of different art forms

by Lauren Concon

TSV Features Editor

Many of you may have passed Parking Lot E on the south side of campus and noticed the brightly colored murals on Building 1, one of which is an abstract dragon whose vivid patters represent the school’s cultural diversity.

Following the dragon will lead you to Skyline College’s very own art gallery.

The gallery’s last show of the school year began mid-April and ended just last week on May 10. Art lovers strolled through the Juried Student Art Exhibit, enjoying music from the Skyline Jazz Quintet. Although the gallery is small, there was more than enough to see and enjoy.

“This year’s (Student Art Exhibition) was well attended, and I was very impressed by the work this year,” said Gallery Assistant Caleb Cosgrove. “The art was really extraordinary and very professional. We even added a new category of art, print.”

The artists ranged from beginning to intermediate and advanced art students. Out of 170

The gallery showcased over 110 student artworks.

Courtesy of Teena Makapugay

student entries, 113 pieces were exhibited. The artwork covered a number of different categories, including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, ceramics, mixed media and sculpture.

The show was judged by Professor Robert Poplack of Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, who is an artist himself.

There were a total of seven merit Courtesy of Teena Makapugay awards given by Poplack in all media categories. The works This fish is one of the many artworks at the Student Art Exhibition.

selected for merit awards were those that represent students in beginning, intermediate and advanced levels of classes from each of the media categories.

“There was a lot of amazing artwork on display this year,” student Crystal Lam said. “A lot of the work was definitely one of a kind.”

Those who attended the reception enjoyed the smooth sounds from the band and some refreshments. Friends and family came to celebrate the artists and their work.

The gallery will be closed over the summer break and will reopen this coming fall semester with the Skyline Faculty Art Exhibit, followed by the annual Juried Student Art Exhibit again in the Spring. The success of this year’s exhibit has certainly raised the bar for next year’s show.

“The exhibition featured a number of new and upcoming artists,” said Yvonne Newhouse, who received a merit for her watercolor painting. “The art at the exhibition was of high quality and one of the best showcases we’ve had yet.”

Profile

Professor Saenz: Skyline’s Dark Knight ASSC welcomes new president

by Terence Chin

by Riley Bright

TSV Social Meidia Editor

TSV Opinions Editor

Since the fall semester of 2009, the Skyline College Learning Center has been host to the devoted educationist John Saenz, recognizable by his infectious smile, rugged facial hair, iconic hipster fedora and aura of goodwill.

As an English professor and coordinator of the Writing & Reading Lab, Saenz works tirelessly to improve students’ writing skills. When not in the classroom, he can be found sitting in his office at the rear of the learning center, likely reassessing the way students are taught at Skyline.

Originally Saenz had plans to be an investigative journalist, but CSU Fullerton only offered a degree in broadcast journalism.

Instead of settling for a major he didn’t respect, Saenz chose to switch to creative writing, preserving his artistic integrity.

It wasn’t until two of his friends asked him to teach at a new charter school they had started that Saenz started to think about becoming an educator.

At the school, Saenz found his passion, teaching everything from U.S. government to high-school English.

Currently, Saenz has found a home here among the dedicated Skyline staff that shares his love for teaching.

“I really like the environment

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View

You can find Mr. Saenz in the Career Center.

here at Skyline,” says Saenz.

“Students come first. There is a constant reassessment of what we’re doing for the students to find things that are missing so we can address those needs.”

Recent funding cuts, however, have made it difficult for the learning center to provide students with the services they require to succeed. But these complications haven’t slowed Saenz down in his mission to provide an exceptional learning environment. He has increased the amount of volunteer tutors and attributes the Writing & Reading Lab’s continued success to synergy within the department.

“We work as a team in the learning center,” says Saenz.

“The people here are highly collaborative. Because of the

budget cuts, we are trying to involve as many people as we can. That’s one of the reasons we reached out to students to become peer tutors.”

Saenz also volunteers in the newly created Skyline College Leadership Academy, which works to develop leadership skills and promote excellence through student empowerment by providing direction for the program and facilitating workshops.

If current trends continue, the funding for community colleges will disappear and higher education will be marginalized. As this happens, do not fear: Look to the learning center and you will find the hero we need, our silent protector, Skyline’s Dark Knight.

A new leader has risen to the challenge of leading Skyline’s ASSC student government for the upcoming 2012-2013 academic school year.

Jose Luis Sanchez, a third year student and the winner of the ASSC Presidential campaign, will take office beginning this summer.

He hopes to make immediate changes on campus, one of which is working on transportation to Skyline and other San Mateo Community College District campuses.

“I will do the best job that I can to get campus shuttles,” Sanchez said. “I already started talking to the student body Vice President at CSM and he thought that idea was great.”

Prior to attending Skyline, Sanchez served nine years in the military as one of the ways to support his educational funds.

He did three tours in Iraq before deciding to come back to school.

“I started at classes where I have forgotten many things, so I had to start at basic level,” Sanchez said. “But I’m glad to hear that I’m coming back to par.”

Current ASSC Vice President Edwina Yuan has worked with Sanchez this year as a senator on the ASSC, and believes Sanchez would make a great president to represent the Skyline student community.

“He’s willing to work with people…he’s collaborative and always appreciative,” Yuan said.

Renee Abu-Zaghibra/The Skyline View

Jose Luis Sanchez is the new ASSC president.

“He’s firm about what he says and believes.”

Sanchez’s Vice President Katelyn Smathers will also look forward to working with Sanchez in the upcoming school year, in her new role on the ASSC. “He has a lot of leadership experience so I’m really excited to work with him and see the direction he takes the ASSC next year,” Smathers said.

On top of being involved in student government, Sanchez plans to major in biological business, and is the current president of the AMSA (American Medical Student Association) club at Skyline. He addressed what he expects of himself as the next student body President.

“I will do the best job that I can…I want (students) to expect nothing less of what I emphasized when running for President during elections.”

Features

Skyline View

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May 17, 2012

13

A night of classical music comes to Skyline

Skyline’s concert choir and band collaborate in harmony

by Will Nacouzi

TSV Multimedia Editor

The night opened with nothing but an empty campus, but it didn’t matter as students, families and members of the community begin filing into the theater at 7 p.m. By 7:30 p.m., the theater was ready for a night of classical music and surprises.

The night’s events opened with the Skyline College Concert Choir, performing “Sumer Is Icumen In” (“Summer Is Coming In”). This was followed by many more pieces, such as “My Heart Longs For Springtime” by Michael Praetorius, “Springtime Mantleth Every Bough” by Thomas Morley, and “ ’S Wonderful” by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin.

The Skyline Concert Choir was led by Professor Jude Navari, who has a Ph.D in composition from U.C. Berkeley. Navari currently teaches music theory, musicianship, music appreciation and voice here at Skyline College.

As the night continued, music filled the air. The choir performances were followed by a ten-minute intermission before the Skyline Concert Band took the stage to perform three pieces, “The Thunderer” by John Philip

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View

The students present Zachary Bruno with a misuc stand as a gift of their appreciation.

Sousa, “A Song of the Sea” by Rex Mitchell and “Carnival of Venice”

by Giulio Briccialdi.

The Skyline College Concert Band was lead by Zachary Bruno, who is also director of the band and assistant professor of music.

He is the newest member of the music faculty at Skyline, and the night marked his first full year here.

Special guest of the night Sami Alsalloom lead the concert band on flute as they played “Carnival

of Venice.” Alsalloom is an16year-old high-school student at Jefferson High School in Daly City and has performed with numerous ensembles throughout the Bay Area.

The band’s performances were followed by a joint performance by the choir and band of acts two and three of the “The Tender Land Suite” by Aaron Copland. These performances marked the end of the night’s musical events, but it seemed that the band and choir, as

well as the crowd, were all eager to not let the night come to an end.

But before the final piece of the night was performed, Bruno took the time to thank the audience for coming to see them choir and band perform. It was then that Bruno was surprised by members of the band with a symphony music stand in celebration of his first year here at Skyline.

“It was so heart warming,” Bruno said of receiving the band’s gift. “I can’t even begin to describe

how kind and thoughtful that was to me. And we’ve developed a great relationship over the past year.”

The final piece of the night was “America the Beautiful.”

The concert was followed by a reception, where band, choir and community members were able to mix and greet one another.

“It’s great, getting to be here for a year,” Bruno said during the after-show reception. “It feels like it’s gone by so quickly. It’s a great place to work, to meet new friends and to participate in all things musical.”

The night proved to be popular.

The audience clapped with approval and both the choir and band enjoyed the show. Everyone congratulated one another and celebrated at the reception.

“It was awesome,” said incoming ASSC President Jose Luis Sanchez. “I’ve never been to something like this before, and I truly enjoyed myself.”

Kababayan celebrates 7th Annual Philipino Cultural Night

by Daniel Chee

Special to the TSV

A chain-smoking, alcoholic, gambler of a tree demon called Kapre was the titular character of the 7th Annual Pilipino Cultural Night (PCN) play “Kapre & Me” on May 5, presented by the Kababayan Program and the English 104 class.

The Kababayan Program is a transfer and support program for students at Skyline College for the purpose of increasing English skills, culture, and understanding to succeed in their studies. While the program aims to assist Filipino students, it is open to everyone.

Professor Liza Erpelo’s English 104 class is a production class, in which students collaborate to write and produce a PCN that celebrates Filipino culture.

“This production is entirely student run, written, and directed,” said Erpelo.

Following last year’s lack of PCN due to budget cuts, this semester’s show proved to have quite the turnout.

Written by English student Danica Gutierrez and her writing team, “Kapre & Me” is a two act play that focused on squabbling siblings Jamie and her older brother, or kuya, Alex. Once their grandmother, Lola Reyna, gives them a magical doll called Kapre, they are thrust into a mythical world of adventure.

Led by the tree demon, Jamie and Alex must befriend fairies, battle begrudged demons, and during the process, find out what siblinghood really means.

Lauren Flores, Jacob Tolentino, and Augie Martinez act in “Karpre & Me.” The challenge for this year’s PCN lay in the fact that what would normally be an year long production was crammed into the space of one semester.

“We doubled up on everything, the dancing, the prop-making, and set design,” said Jacob Tolentino, who played the role of Alex.

Despite the time crunch, everyone involved with the production worked hard to put together a stand out show.

“This is a big accomplishment for us, a big milestone,” said Augie Martinez, who played Kapre.

Originally, I was just supposed to be stage managing the show, then they asked me to audition for Kapre,” said Martinez. “After that, I took the role of two jobs both acting and stage managing.”

The night concluded with an honors ceremony for Kababayan program graduates with a special shout out to departing Fulbright

Daniel Chee/Special to The Skyline View

scholar Basil Sali.

Sali has studied for the past year at Skyline through the Fulbright teaching program as a cultural exchange scholar from the Philippines. He will be returning in June.

“I feel so blessed I had an opportunity to study at Skyline; the Filipino community is so well-established here,” said Sali.

PCN will be back in full force during the Fall of 2013.

Journalism needs you!

The time to register for fall classes is here JOURNALISM 300: Join The Skyline View as an Editor JOURNALISM 690: Join The Skyline View as a freelance writer or photographer.

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May 17, 2012

15

Community College Baseball

CSM falls to Cosumnes at Super Regionals

Bulldogs lose to the Hawks in final game on final day Megan Benveniste

TSV Sports Editor

CSM’s baseball team lost 13-3 in the final game of the Super Regionals on May 13 against Cosumnes River College.

The CSM Bulldogs won Sunday’s first game by a score of 7-6.

Behind the efforts of sophomore Clay Bauer, the Bulldogs downed the Cosumnes River Hawks in 11 innings.

Game two in the series saw CSM getting out to an early lead by scoring three runs in the top of the first, which would ultimately be the only runs they would score for game two. Cody Zimmerman scored two runs with a double to right center, Zimmerman then advanced to third on a single from Jarrett Costa, and Brandon Defazio then flied out to score Zimmerman.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Hawks came up strong and scored five runs in the to take the lead 6-3. In the bottom of the fifth, the Hawks scored one more run, and then scored six more in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Starting pitcher for the Hawks, Nick Smart, went six innings giving up three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out four.

The Bulldogs went through six different pitchers in that second game of the series.

In Sunday’s first game, the Bulldogs got out to an early lead, scoring a run in the first inning.

In the top of the third, the Hawks got on the board with an unearned run. With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs scored an unearned run to lead 2-1.

Then in the top of the fifth, outfielder Wil Gilliland of the Hawks stole home, which gave them a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth, when the Bulldogs would score two to take the lead 4-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs scored twice, once from a single to left field that scored Logan Trowbridge and then when Paul Hernandez stole home.

The lead for the Bulldogs was 6-3 until the eighth inning when Colby Brenner scored on a wild pitch. The Hawks then tied the game up in the top of the ninth with two runs to force the game to go into extras. Clay Bauer went 8.2 innings giving up six runs on five hits, walking five and striking out six.

In the bottom of the eleventh inning, Cameron Gniadek of the Bulldogs singled to left, Nick Davenport reached first on an error then advanced to second because of a balk, and Gniadek stole third base. Paul Hernandez then bunted a single that scored Gniadek, which won the game.

In the first game of the Super Regionals on Friday, CSM’s Daniel Chavez had another strong postseason outing going 8.1 innings pitched, eight hits, one earned run and struck out three.

“It felt good,” Chavez said. “I just went out there and threw strikes, and they pretty much got themselves out. (I) didn’t have too

Pitcher Dylan Nelson pitched a gem of a game to keep CSM in Super Regionals.

Renee Abu-Zaghibra/The Skyline

“We’ve played every game of the year on the road,” Consumnes River Head Coach Tony Bloomfield said. “We don’t have a practice facility . . . so our kids are used to just showing up and playing.”

CSM then faced Cosumnes River while Ohlone and Diablo Valley played against each other.

With Ohlone and Diablo Valley in the losers’ bracket of the Super Regionals, whoever won the game would still have a chance to stay in the running.

On May 12, Diablo Valley beat Ohlone 5-0 at Cañada College.

Diablo Valley’s pitcher, Alex Palsha, had a complete game shutout.

He gave up two hits, struck out nine and walked two. With this win, they would either have to face CSM or Cosumnes River.

CSM and Cosumnes River were in the winners’ bracket and were ready to face off. CSM lost Renee Abu-Zaghibra/The Skyline Mark Hurley swings and misses on a curve-ball in the dirt. that game to Cosmunes River 8-1.

Clint Terry (7-2) was on the many strikeouts, so I just let my mound through five innings, giving defense work for me.”

The up six runs (four earned), walkBulldogs got out to an early lead in ing two and striking out seven. the bottom of the second, scoring With both CSM and Diablo Valley two runs, one due to an error in having one loss on their record for centerfield, to give the Bulldogs a the weekend, they were set to play 2-0 lead that would last until the each other on May 12. bottom of the fourth when Bo WalCSM won against Diablo Valter, who singled in the inning and ley 5-2 in part to strong pitchthen advanced to third on a single ing from Dylan Nelson. Nelson from Logan Trowbridge, ended up pitched a two-hit shutout leading stealing home. into the bottom of the ninth, when “I thought it was a really good he gave up the two runs. He would win,” CSM shortstop Brandon Dego nine innings giving up six hits fazio said. “We came out ready to and two runs, walking one and go, ready to play. Chavez pitched striking out six. a hell of a game, we had timely “It was nice,” Nelson said.

Renee Abu-Zaghibra/The Skyline hitting, guys came in in the clutch, “(The) team played well today: Mark Hurley sprints his way home to extend the Bulldog’s lead. and (it was) just a good overall We played good defense, getting a win.” second game of a double header.

Donald had two RBIs each and five-run lead really helped, and our Cosumnes River and Ohlone Cosumnes River’s Josh Silver, Phillip Roa had one RBI to help catcher just did our job of trying to played against each other in the Garrett Heisinger and Luke Mcwith the win. give up as little hits as possible.”

Skyline

Sports

Baseball Championship

Summer Beginning Sports FITN 112: Cross Training

Sierra v Orange Coast 12 p.m.

Rio Hondo v Cosumnes River 6 p.m.

Located at Bakersfield Saturday, May 19

FITN 304: Walking Fitness INDV 101: Beginning Archery INDV 165: Golf: Short Game INDV 251: Beginning Tennis TEAM 111: Beginning Basketball

Dan Molieri leads Trojans by example Skyline baseball captain takes inspiration from his baseball upbringing, his godfather Barry Bonds Megan Benveniste

TSV Sports Editor

Dan Molieri, a pitcher for the Skyline Trojans, grew up in a baseball family, close to many people who have had successful careers in baseball.

“Barry Bonds is my godfather,” Molieri said. “I know a lot of people who have been successful in the game.”

Having the all-time homerun leader as his godfather has been a big inspiration for Molieri in the pursuit of his baseball career. “(Bonds) has inspired me to be the best I possibly can be,” Molieri said. “The bar is set pretty high when you have someone to look up to as great as he was.”

Molieri, who has been pitching since he was a sophomore in high school, decided to come to Skyline away from his hometown of Sonora.

“I knew people that had spoken very highly of Skyline (College),” Molieri said, “not just of the program itself but the coaching staff, how successful they had been in the past as well as the track record that Coach Dino Nomicos had in sending players to four-year schools.” Nomicos has sent over 100 baseball players to four-year schools in his 10 years coaching at Skyline.

Molieri has applied to several four-year colleges and is waiting to hear back. Spring 2012 is Molieri’s last semester at Skyline playing for Nomicos.

“My experience playing for Nomicos and the rest of the Skyline staff was unreal,” Molieri said. “My intelligence of the game of baseball and life has expanded

Kara Ketchum /Special to The Skyline View

Dan Molieri gets ready to deliver his pitch to home plate against an opposing batter.

so much playing under the wing of Dino. Between the work of Coach Dino and Coach Quintell, the two of them opened up my career and talent to new levels from what they had taught me.”

This year Molieri was able to set the Skyline baseball record for entering into the most game appearances at 26. He also led all California community college pitchers in appearances with 26,

and led the team with a 3.21 ERA. “He was able to both improve his velocity and his ‘stuff’ (the quality of his pitches),” Assistant Baseball Coach Lucas Borgo said.

“He came in this year in the best

shape of his life and worked hard to maintain his fitness level so he could compete every day. Really, over the course of the off-season, he was able to improve on every facet of his game to become a better player.”

For freshman teammate Cory Fauble, Molieri was a strong captain. He was vocal and willing to help others who were struggling and do anything for any of his teammates.

“Without Dan, we will lack having a pitcher who can just come in the game at any time and have a real good chance of shutting the other team out,” Fauble said. “I'm pretty sure he led the state in appearances, so we went to him a lot and he was that one consistent pitcher who you knew what you were going to get from him.”

Molieri’s short-term goals are to receive a scholarship, prepare himself to play baseball for two more years and then receive his Master’s degree in kinesiology and special education.

“What motivates me is that I am never satisfied with average and always want to play at the best ability I can,” Molieri said.

When he finishes playing baseball, Molieri wants to become a graduate assistant and eventually come back to coach with Nomicos at Skyline.

“His strengths as a leader were also his strengths as a playe,” Borgo said. “He is a workhorse, the hardest worker on the team both mentally and physically. He dedicated himself to learning pitching and poured himself wholeheartedly into Skyline baseball.”

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