The Skyline View Spring 2017 issue 1

Focal Point

Sports

Skyline vs.

Fresno City College

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

Volume XLI - Issue 1

February 2, 2017

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DREAM Center to aid Skyline Community A Center opened on skyline to help undocumented students and surrounding community for a safe learning enviroment.

District’s Given List of Requests 1. Positive and immediate action to ensure the safety of our undocumented students who are currently protected under DACA and those who aren’t (make all three SMCCCD colleges sanctuary campuses).

2. Strive for complete transparency and equity across all three campuses.

3. Continue to promote open and safe campuses for all students, regardless of personal identity.

4. Expand workshops centered around cultural sensitivity and ally awareness for administration, faculty, staff, public safety, student senate, or people of any studentserving position.

5. Ensure the protection and expansion of Diversity Studies, including without limitation: LGBTQ+ Studies, Ethnic

CAPTION

Courtesy of Will Nacouzi

Chad Thompson, Interim Director of Sparkpoint and Career Services, talking about what the new DREAM Center offers the community as a whole.

By Laurel B. Lujan TSV Interim News Editor

A DREAM Center opened on Feb. 1, to engage students in the topic of immigration. With the numerous petitions coming from the students, faculty and community, the district is using references, professionals and meetings in the quest to be called either a Sanctuary or Safe Haven school.

A Sanctuary Campus would include keeping a safe environment for those who are protected under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and others who are not. For the district, the requests from a group of students during a Board of Trustees meeting. A Sanctuary Campus would be for protection against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and still be able to achieve their education without fear of interrogation, arrests and search based on their immigration status.

In order for the district to fully petition to become a Sanctuary District, research is being done based on articles from Inside Higher Education. In order for

colleges to successfully become Sanctuary campus, they would have to separate themselves from the federal government even though it may affect the federal funding.

President Regina Stanback Stroud of Skyline College emphasized that students are more affected when it comes to government financial aid aspect when making the choice of becoming a Sanctuary Campus.

“It can have an impact on what student’s ability to get federal funding,” Stroud said. “So every Pell Grant for example is federal funding.

If called Sanctuary Institution and then the administration says no, funding goes to a Sanctuary Institution then that means students will not be able to get the Pell Grant.”

There are over 111 colleges so far in the United States who have been petitioned by students and faculty to become Sanctuary schools. Skyline is in the process of possibly becoming one as well or a Safe Haven.

If Skyline were to be called a Safe Haven school, this would mean the school would still receive some funding and will follow certain Federal regulations.

Since the historic election of President Donald Trump, the district’s students and Board of Trustees have come together to establish a DREAM

Review on Steelhead Brewery Pg. 6

Center to support undocumented students. Based on the incident with Skyline Campus Safety back in November 2016, Skyline student Alfredo Olguin Jr., and other students from the District’s campuses presented a list of requests during the Dec. 10, 2016 Board of Trustees meeting to make the campus a safer place.

The district’s Board of Trustees and Skyline staff are working together with students and Dr. Angela Garcia, Vice President of Student Services, to enhance student’s experiences, offer free legal advice and safety based on the list.

Unfortunately, Garcia was not able to be contacted in time for an interview.

Stroud commented on who the DREAM Center may affect the most.

“We may end up seeing some changes from what we what we saw in the support for the students from the Obama Administration,” said Stroud.

“With students expressing

Continued on page 2

Studies, and Women and Gender Studies.

6. Engage in efforts for housing assistance programs and homeless resources on each campus, especially for highrisk students.

7. Extend and expand cultural community gatherings on our campuses for all races and ethnicities.

8. Strive for the expansion of psychological services, specifically pertaining to counseling, for hate crimes, LGBTQ+ issues, and other problems our most vulnerable students may encounter.

9. Have Public Safety facilitate themselves in a more community oriented manner than a police oriented one.

10. Comprise or revise a specific board that includes a student senate member, a minimum of one administrator, one diversity faculty member (race and ethnicity studies, gender studies, etc.) and grievance/disciplinary board to hear students who report hate crimes.

11. Commit to addressing ongoing issues regarding environmental sustainability.

List received from SMCCCD Board of Trustee Minutes Nov. 30, 2016

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News

The Staff Intirim Editor In Chief Gregory Ragaza Interim News Editor Laurel B. Lujan Interim Opinions Editor Gregory Ragaza Interim FocalPoint Editor Blynn Beltran Interim Sports Editor Kevin Perez Interim Copy Editor(s) Haley Holmes Shamal Prasad Editor at Large Josh Chan Staff Writers Carolina Arauz Christina Seruge Judah Darwin Abigail Avalos Katrina Benedicto Lauren Gozon Miguel Madrigal Adreana Estigoy Marie Hom Amanda Blanco Interim Photographer Editor Brian silverman Staff Photographer(s Mark Magat Staff Illustrator(s) Mint Tan Faculty Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel

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

(650) 738-4377 Want to yell at us? theskylineview@gmail.com Or use snail mail: The Skyline View c/o Language Arts Room 8-8110 Skyline College 3300 College Drive

San Mateo Community College Federation of Teachers call for awareness besides benefits

By Laurel B. Lujan TSV Interim News Editor

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, the San Mateo Community College Federation of Teachers, AFT 1493, negotiated with the district for pay raises and other benefits.

The negotiations originally began seven months ago. While the salary is part of every negotiation, the difference now is that there are discussions of benefit costs as well. For example, health benefits for faculty, evaluation procedures, flex day requirements, workload language and expectations, and a number of other issues.

According to Katharine Harer, AFT Co-Vice President and a part-time professor of English and Literature classes, has been a major part of the cause.

There have been efforts to raise awareness of teachers’ rights through advertisements and meetings across all three campuses.

“Our initial goal was to

convince the district to return to the bargaining table after they called for impasse, which ended bargaining,” said Harer. “We have been successful in convincing the district to restart bargaining because of faculty activism.”

In a show of activism, the faculty wore red shirts in order to express support for the AFT bargaining team. It is encouraged for the faculty to wear the shirts every Tuesday in order to show unity.

“Over 500 faculty (members) signed a petition around workload equity,” Harer said. “The issue of fair workload matters deeply to all of us.”

Staff members who have also taken part in this are English Professor Rob Williams, and Health Science Professor Paul Rueckhaus, both AFT Chapter chair members.

Due to limited contact, it is unknown how the meeting went.

DREAM Center Continued from page 1 concerns [about] what might happen, not necessarily [to] students who are undocumented but students who have any type of implications or connections to the Dream Act, or AB540 or DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).”

With AB540, certain students who have attended a high school in California for three or more years and also earned a high school diploma or GED, would be “exempt from paying nonresident tuition at California public universities,” according to the Skyline College guidelines.

The reason for the DREAM Center being located in the Sparkpoint Center is to give easy access to the Skyline Community and public resources, such as the Legal Clinic open every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Legal Clinic has been at the college for about two years and is there to offer free legal advice from Maria Gaudio, Paralegal instructor at Skyline College, and to support the surrounding community. Along with Skyline,

Cañada College has a DREAM Center that opened earlier this year.

Chad Thompson, Interim Director of Sparkpoint and Career Services stated that San Mateo Community College does not have a DREAM Center yet, but will have one in the future.

At the moment, the DREAM Center is still in the process of hiring a permanent staff member, though it is currently being manned by Flor Lopez, the Sparkpoint Coordinator, and other staff members until the position is filled. The hours of the center are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to noon. However, the hours may be adjusted due to the correlation to the office hours of building 2.

If anyone has any suggestions for the use of the DREAM Center, share them through a suggestion box located in the center itself, email the DREAM Center or come in to make the suggestion in person.

Crime Report:

Feb. 2, 2017

•Date- January 31, 2017 Time- 4:27 p.m.

Location- San Bruno Incident- The authorities responded to an anonymous caller who said there was a bomb at Tanforan Mall Suspect’s Description- None •Date- January 31 Time- 7:50 a.m.

Location- South San Francisco Incident- “a South San Francisco resident was walking on the Centennial Trail near the 1100 block of Mission Road.

Three unknown male suspects approached him from behind and grabbed his cell phone. The suspects fled on foot towards Mission Road.”

Suspect’s Description- . Hispanic male adult, approximately 18-25 years of age, approximately 5’6” tall, 120130 lbs. with short brown hair. The suspect was wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt with a red design on the back.

African American male adult, approximately 18-25 years of age approximately 5’6” tall and 120-130 lbs. The suspect wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt.

Male adult (unknown race and age), approximately 5’6” tall and 120-130 lbs. The suspect was wearing a black hoodie.

•Date- January 23, 2017 Time -6:56 p.m.

Incident- Subway Sandwich Shop located on the 1300 block of El Camino Real in San Bruno regarding the report of a robbery.

“An initial investigation revealed that a male subject entered the stored with clothing covering a large portion of his face. He displayed a portion of firearm that was tucked into a piece of his clothing and instructed an employee to provide him with cash from the register. The suspect exited the store and drove away from the area in a dark colored minivan.”

Suspect’s Description-The suspect in this case is described as a Hispanic or Middle Eastern male, approximately 5’10” tall, with a thin build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black baseball cap, a dark piece of cloth covering the lower portion of his face, gray pants, and black shoes.

If you have any information, please callSan Bruno Police Department at (650) 616-7100 or by email at sbpdtipline@sanbruno.ca.gov.

OR South San Francisco Police Department at (650) 877-8900 or anonymous tip line (650) 952-2244.

San Bruno CA 94066

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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.

Don Pico’s a San Bruno restuarant is closing after 42 years on February 26.

Science of Cocktails: This is a signiture fundraiser at the Exploratorium Lab on Friday 3, 2017 This is a fun time to explore the process of the distillation process of alcohol and blends of your favorite wine, beer & cocktails. website- transact.exploratorium.edu

Trump Must go---Now! Is a family friendly rally for all who would like to see Trump leave. Feb. 11, 2017 10:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.

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Opinions

Feb. 2, 2017

editorial

Sparse support for sports College sports have been a huge staple in the college experience for students for years. Unfortunately, you can’t have sports without fans, and the Skyline athletes are no exception to this rule.

During sports events at home, volleyball for instance, the stands are empty. A few parents and maybe a friend or two appear to support the players. These athletes may not care about the lack of support they are getting from fellow students but it really does make a difference, not just to the players, but to the school as well.

According to a research done

by Dr. Daniel Wann on sport psychology, team identification positively correlates with extroversion in U.S. college basketball fans. Being a fan of your college team can also affect communities by promoting integration between like-minded fans. For instance, if you and your neighbor found out that you like the same basketball team, it can positively influence your relationship and you may become friends.

Now lets talk about a strategy that the school can use to bring people into the games and maybe gain some profit. According to the same research by Dr. Wann, “team identification is related to both attendance and merchandise purchasing.” What this means is that if more people identify with the same team,it’s likely that more

Brian Silverman/The Skyline View

Skyline sports work hard durring practice but are lacking school support during games.

people will attend the events. For example, if a person happens to be a Golden State Warriors fan, he/ she will most likely bring a friend to the game. Based on the research

by Dr. Wann, students may even bring their parents to game events if given the opportunity to. This strategy can be a low-cost way to get more people involved in Skyline’s athletic program.

With that in mind, sports fans might feel inclined to purchase

food and perhaps some merchandise.

This can be profitable for the team, which ends up supporting them.

However, if Skyline decided to integrate mandatory attendance of sporting events into classes, it would not keep the students’ interest alone.

Student interaction is important to keep game attendance up. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the social-psychological benefits of being a sports fan include lower levels of loneliness and stress.

This can drastically change a student’s life in the long-term.

Currently, there are not enough people in the stands to justify selling food during every sport event. If Skyline starts to integrate their sports program with their physical education classes, it may be able to provoke an interest in the students that were required to attend the game. This is only one strategy but there are plenty more ways to get people involved in

Skyline’s athletic program.

For some students, this can be a way to make new friends on campus and help our student athletes at the same time. Student life may be busy but if you, your friends, and family members have time to spare, please support Skyline’s athletes as it can be just as beneficial for you as it is for them.

Rent books to not break the bank

Pro-balance

By Katrina Benedicto

By Judah N. Darwin

TSV Staff Writer

TSV Staff Writer

Students should always rent their assigned text when given the option. Tuition is expensive enough. In a survey of 2,000 students from 150 campuses, the Public Interest Research Group calculated that 65% of students opted not to purchase textbooks last year because they were so expensive, even if it means risking their grade.

A financially responsible, environmentally conscious, and practical college student never pays full price for a textbook. If their $300 calculus book costs $27 to rent on Amazon, then they’ll gladly wait for a delivery instead of line up in the bookstore.

Fortunately, the San Mateo Community College District’s award-winning rental program saved students $1.2 million since 2005, according to the National Association of College Stores. The district paved the way for colleges nationwide to adopt similar money saving rental programs.

Purchasing an academic year’s worth of textbooks costs around $1,000 for community colleges on average, based on College Board data. Depending on the edition and physical condition, most books rent out for half or less than half of the full price. Those who rent all their textbooks save around $2,000 in their college career, according to the Student Public Interest Research Group. That money can go to a student’s health care or transportation budget.

Renting benefits the individual, but it also helps the general

I am neither pro-life nor pro-choice. I simply believe that the government has no authority regulating individual lives or pushing their agenda into people’s personal life. I believe that abortion should be legal until the unborn child is considered a human being, and is then also granted rights by our constitution. But until then, whether an unborn child is considered a human being is still up for debate.

Should public funding be made available or used for abortions? President Donald Trump reinstated a law that prevents public funding to go towards organizations that perform abortions overseas. This has caused an uproar among the pro-choice community across the nation.

A group of men watched as another man signed a policy that seems to only affect women.

Then sets in the sharp blade of reality. There is this general belief among the pro-choice community, that the government has no authority dictating what women can or cannot do with their bodies, so how can we expect the government to have the authority to pay for it?

An authoritative government presides over individual rights and regulates them. The opposing system is a libertarian system in which the government plays no role in individual lives.

And according the citizens of the United States, this stance is

Photo Illustration Brian Silverman/The Skyline View

It’s usually about half the price to rent a book instead of purchasing it.

population because it’s more environmentally friendly. Unless an e-book is available, opt for the rental. Renting textbooks is a way to reuse precious resources.

The transition for schools to fully adopt e-book use is slow, but if publishers receive high print demands for more textbooks, the ecological option takes a backseat.

Natural forests aren’t the only ones imperiled. Producing and shipping textbooks emits air pollutants. Rental companies are spread throughout the country so they don’t have to travel far to reach their destination. Even recycling requires a lot of energy because many must go through a laborious, lengthy process of debinding and grinding, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

After graduation, dozens books will be stashed into a dark corner of the house collecting dust. That’s why owning a textbook forever is impractical. Furthermore, students often complain that they rarely refer to them during the term. Why risk paying full price if you might not use it often?

Even those who purchase

frequently admit that they don’t touch it after their final. Having the option of dropping it off to the post office eliminates those problems. Someone will have better use for it.

Fans of purchasing argue that owning the text helps students retain more information because they can annotate and refer to it in future classes. Many believe owning copies is a crucial investment for their education.

However, renters with excellent study habits know that they don’t have to drop $200 on a single book to have the best learning experience.

They actively interact with the text by writing on a notebook.

A one dollar notebook filled with essential points, simple visuals, summaries, and useful quotes is a better investment. Slim notebooks are easier to refer to and organize than sifting through a mountain of 600 page monstrosities.

Until e-books become widely available for higher education, college students should sit down and fully engage with their textbook during its rental period. Investing time and effort, rather than thousands of dollars, is the smarter option.

favorable on this particular issue of abortion.

According to a CNN poll, 56 percent of the ones who voted believes that public funding should not be available for abortions; let alone international abortions.

These concerns are addressed by the Hyde Amendment which prevents federal funding to cover abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or threat of a mother’s life.

Furthermore, according to Pew Research Center, about half (44 percent) of Americans believe that abortion is morally wrong. How is it then justifiable to use their money for something that they view as morally wrong?

Again, no one is taking away rights. The right to get an abortion is 100 percent intact. But using public funds, tax payers money for abortions in the U.S. and outside the U.S. is unjustifiable.

Many would argue that public funding for abortions is justifiable because it provides a safety net for people living in poverty who cannot afford it. My rebuttal to this is that there are several community organizations and private charities for women’s health. Charities are an easy option for women who cannot afford abortions and a large variety of women’s health options.

President Donald Trump’s actions against public funding for abortions has stirred controversy.

But there are solid arguments on both sides of the order. This is simply the argument that it is the right move for America.

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Opinions Artistic License

Feb. 2, 2017

the view from here

With Interim Editor in Chief Gregory Ragaza

Let’s move towards unity

Skyline Speaks

Why should you support the athletic teams of Skyline College?

Kevin Corsiglia Head Women’s Soccer Coach

It has only been a month into the year, and yet it seems like our It feels like the nation is stuck in country has been bombarded with the idea of categorizing people in an entire years worth of scandals, polarizing bipartisan ideals. You’re issues and problems. Unfortuconservative, liberal, black, white, nately for us, everything seems Catholic, Muslim, straight, gay, and to be getting worse as our nation the list goes on. continues to divide.

At the end of the day, we’re all The U.S. is supposed to be a bea- Americans. con of hope and freedom to those Whatever side you’re on, just know in need. It’s even engraved on the that there aren’t any “alternative plaque at the base of the Statue of facts” to what’s morally right or Liberty: wrong. Yes, there are plenty of grey “Give me your tired, your poor, areas, but things like natural human your huddled masses, yearning to rights should not debatable. Everyone breathe free. The wretched refuse should have equal rights regardless of of your teeming shore. Send these, their gender, religion, color of skin, or the homeless, the tempest-tost sexual orientation. to me, I lift my lamp beside the Try to understand the opposite golden door!” side’s perspective. Start asking more The quote is from the poem, “The questions. Why are they protesting New Colossus,” written by Amer- the so-called “Muslim Ban” that ican poet, Emma Lazarus. It’s a President Trump has signed? Why are beautiful poem that portrays the people defending the ban? The more idea of what America is supposed questions you ask, the more answers to be: a melting pot, and the land you’ll get, and the closer you are to of opportunities. understanding one another.

Right now, it doesn’t feel like Don’t stop questioning issues that we’re a country with open arms. bother you. If it doesn’t seem right, Instead, our nation is seen as question it. If you know something is a wall building, Muslim banwrong, let your voice be heard. You ning, Harambe worshiping, and don’t have to be a journalist to have kitty-grabbing living meme. We a voice, or to ask the hard questions. mocked BREXIT. We mocked the Keep an open mind to the questions Philippines for electing President and answers you receive.

Duterte. Now we’re the butt of a And whatever you learn, don’t forget joke that isn’t very funny. that our country needs unity to strive.

Well, this joke has to end.

We’re supposed to be living in the The only way the joke will stop United States of America, not the is if the country can come together. Divided States of America.

Cheesy, I know, but it’s the truth.

THE 2017-18 SKYLINE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP IS NOW OPEN!

Get a jump start!

The scholarship awards are based on academic achievement, financial need or specific interests such as clubs, athletics, and service.

“I think it’s great when athletes and students support each other as much as possible. We have student athletes that work really hard at both going to classes and preparing for games and I think that it would be nice to have the support from the general student body. When you’re playing in front of fans there’s always a special feeling. So for the athletes that put in a lot of time and effort it’s always nice to have the student body come out and support them.”

Maya Tanyao Business “Im a very supportive person so I think supporting people in what they love doing is the best thing you can do.

Also it makes the school fun.

I feel like it would be more fun going to the games and supporting people doing what they love.”

Chet Silveria Business Administration Baseball Player “It’s a lot more fun to play when you’re in front of a lot more people”

Samuel Morales Child Development “I think most of it should come from the college because a lot of these guys are giving their time, they’re giving their energy and full devotion to a team. I feel the support should come from all angles when it comes to that.”

Deadline

MARCH 2, 2017 11:59 P.M.

Application online at: skylinecollege.edu/financialaid/scholarships.php

Questions? Contact Financial Aid at: Jenny Yang yangj@smccd.edu (650) 738-4266

Feb. 2, 2017

Features

5

Focal Point

Beginner drinker friendly beer flight at Steelhead Brewery

By Kevin Perez TSV Interim Sports editor

Steelhead Brewery in Burlingame sits on California Drive and could easily be missed when driving by.

Its red brick walls don’t scream for attention, instead bring about a curiosity to the passerby.

Once inside, the high ceilings catch you by surprise. Skylights along with the big windows upfront allow for natural lighting to illuminate the open space of the dining room. Their dining room seems cramped by the number of tables they have laid out, but getting up from your table to break the seal is easily maneuverable.

Recently turning 21, acquiring the taste for beer is a challenge, and Steelhead offers a great range in their brew house sampler for $14. It was served quickly considering my table had ordered 4 samplers which all together made up 32 glasses.

The beer remained cold until about the last couple of glasses, which was great considering how slowly I have been drinking. The beer flight was presented on mats rather than blocks which was a disappointment, but the beer itself was full of color.

Their Sullivan Stout was dark and I found the hint of chocolate appealing from the usual bitter taste of dark beer.

The least appealing from the fleet was the Double Play IPA. The strong taste overwhelmed my palate, but could be found appealing to a more seasoned drinker.

Kevin Perez/The Skyline View

Steelhead’s beer flight serves eight beers including their seasonals, in 4 ounce glasses.

Their grilled portobello mushroom sandwich was a great experience to eat. Full of flavor, without overwhelming those who have never had one. The fries were your regular fries, not overly salty but a bit stale.

After dinner, those who wish to hang out can head to the back

room, where they have several pool tables open to play for an hourly fee of $10. The pool room has a small bar, but their whiskey selection is nothing over the top.

You can find your drink here as long as you’re not an average consumer of top shelf liquor.

Steelhead appease to their

customers by making sure that their customers are comfortable and get what they were expecting when they visited. The brewery is confident that it can bring you back for another dining experience but has a humble tone throughout the restaurant.

Steelhead Brewery is a good

place for those looking for their first brewery experience. While the aesthetic, home brew, and food were welcoming and would not be a bad choice to revisit, they do not offer much to draw you back.

Entertainment

Upcoming Video Games

“Day of Infamy”: A hidden gem on Steam An overlooked first-person shooter that deserves to be noticed

Nioh

By Blynn Beltran

(PS4)

TSV Interim Forcal Point

This particular game had been in early access for quite some time, having only recently gone into its beta phase. It is still rough around the edges, and balancing issues for multiplayer are still being worked on. For instance, a glitch where the player’s arm and gun would be invisible but the aiming animation would still work. However, given its current state, it is still definitely worth picking up if you want to deviate from the traditional firstperson shooter.

The user-interface isn’t very “user-friendly” as there are list upon list of various multiplayer lobbies that the player has to pick individually. This maybe fine for the more experienced gamer but for someone who hasn’t encountered this type of matchmaking, it can be very confusing.

The graphics aren’t mindblowing, but that is to be expected for the price it’s asking for ($20 on Steam). The terrain in each map is quite generic in-terms of a WW2 style shooter, which is completely fine for what it is trying to be, but it can definitely be improved upon. The designs of the maps are good, and the objective placements forces players to engage in tactical fashion.

“Day of Infamy” is definitely a multiplayer-focused game and this is where it shines. The most

Feb. 9 For Honor

(PS4,Xbox One, PC)

Feb. 14 Sniper Elite 4 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Feb. 14

Halo Wars 2 (Xbox One, PC)

Feb. 21

Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)

Day of Infamy’s barebones user-interface. Jan. 28, 2017

enjoyable game mode is the “Rush” type game modes. Team chat is very useful for this game, as it will improve your coordination to play the objectives. However, I find that playing without friends is never fun because most teammates just refuse to care about the winning conditions.

Weapon load-outs are

Screenshot by Blynn Beltran/ The Skyline View Screenshot by Blynn Beltran/The Skyline View

customizable through a 10-point pick system. There are plenty of WW2 guns here and are delegated to certain type of soldiers, so the game stays balanced and gives people a role to do.

New World Interactive, the creators of this game, continues to improve their work by putting up new maps and getting the

community to get involved in the development process. These developers actually use early access properly.

For now, the game will live in the dark dungeons of Steam as one of the hidden gems of 2016.

It is perhaps the most engaging, hardcore, and objective-oriented shooter out there.

Feb. 28

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

(Switch, Wii U) Mar. 3

6

Features

Focal Point

Feb. 2, 2017

Beginner’s guide on podcasting

Starting a podcast is easier than ever, once you know what you need

By Blynn Beltran TSV Interim Focal point Editor

Have you ever wanted to have your voice out there, but didn’t want to go all out with fancy cameras, soft lighting, and other high production junk? If so, podcasting may be right for you.

It is one of the easiest ways to talk to the rest of the world about any topic, whether it is politics, celebrities, or even video games.

Keep in mind that these tips are aimed at weekend podcast hosts and should not be taken as a professional “how-to.”

What do you want to talk about?

Before you buy your equipment, you must know what your podcast is going to be about. The topic can be about anything, as long as you are interested in it. It also wouldn’t hurt to narrow down your topic to a specific niche if possible.

Cornering a certain category can garner your podcast a loyal following since they have nowhere to go besides your podcast. It may be hard to find your niche but when you do, it can be very rewarding.

Equipment Buying equipment can be quite simple since you are a podcast starter. Audio quality is important but listeners care more about your content, so buying a modest microphone is totally an option.

One may use the microphone on their webcam, laptop, or even smartphone to get started. Gaming headphones can be used but the majority of them don’t have quality microphones. Condenser microphones have fantastic audio recording quality, however, you may have to buy separate headphones to monitor your recordings.

For a starter microphone, the Blue Snowball Condenser Microphones deliver good performance with ease of use for under $50. If you have a little more money to spend, Rode’s NT-USB Condenser Microphone is a great upgrade over the former.

It is crystal clear and easy to use for $170 on Amazon. It also comes with a desk stand and a pop filter to prevent sharp, popping noises from registering in the recording.

Headphones are also important when it comes to checking your sound quality during recording, as well as editing. However, if you do not have the cash to spend on a shiny, audiophile-grade headset, using any type of headset will do as long as you can clearly hear the sound bites when you are fixing them.

Another piece of equipment that you need to consider is the software on which you would edit your podcast on, assuming that you already have a computer.

Luckily, there is an abundance of audio editing software to choose from. Audacity is free and absolutely perfect for you to begin recording and editing. It has everything you need for basic audio tinkering and editing. The best part about Audacity is that it is relatively easy to use. Since Audacity is widely available, there are plenty of written and video tutorials available for people who

Mark Magat /The Skyline View

Samson C01U condenser microphone and Audio Technica ATH-M20 headphones. Feb. 1, 2017

could use some help. Another option for editing sound clips are video editing programs like Adobe Premiere or Sony VEGAS. These may not be as intensive as dedicated audio editing software but they are more than capable of deleting unwanted “dead air.”

Writing your script and recording Now that you have your equipment, it is time to start planning and writing your podcast’s format. The easiest way to come up with a format is to put your topics into categories

and place time stamps for each of them. For example, if you are doing a gaming podcast, you can put a certain amount of time on press releases from game publishers and the rest of your time can be spent on what games you played during the week.

After you determine your format

and topic, it is time to write a script. Writing a script is actually easier than you may think. In each of your categories, write down key points that you would like to discuss and try not to write your full thoughts. Writing your full thought can lead you to being tongue-tied and restricted while recording. After writing your script, write another one with the topics and share it with your partner if you have one.

After everything is set up, it is time to record your very first episode. There are only a few things that you need to remember while recording. First, you have to record in a place where no one can disturb you, or vice versa. Second, position yourself at least 10 inches away from the microphone to get the most optimal audio capture.

Anything closer would cause overexaggerated popping noises unless you have a pop filter. Lastly, talk naturally while discussing your topics. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes as you can get rid of them in post production Editing

Max Lankau/ Wikimedia Commons

Rode NT-USB Conderser Microphones. Feb. 1, 2017

Once you are done recording your episode, it needs to be edited. Long pauses, “umms,” and profanity are common things to edit out. On long pauses, make sure not to cut them too much to ensure natural-sounding conversations. Removing profanity isn’t really required either, it just depends on your show format. If you want to remain professional, cut them out or mute them.

“Umms” are probably the trickiest to get rid of since they are close to sound signatures you want to keep. Most of the time you will not be able to get rid of “umms” so only take them out when you can. Otherwise, your recording will sound choppy. Finally, you can upload your podcasts to SoundCloud, YouTube, or your blog.

Sports Feature

Women’s basketball winter break wrap up

Courtesy of Skyline Athletics

By Shamal Prasad

TSV interim Copy Editor

While students were recovering from the fall semester, the women’s basketball team were hard at work.

Skyline Women’s basketball are holding onto a 12-9 record as they get ready for their last six games of the 2016-2017 season.

Despite throwing away both games in mid-December against Sierra (75-47) and Laney Colleges (72-45) during the Golden Gate

7

Sports

Feb. 2, 2017

Classic tournament, the Trojans were able to obtain a win against Mission College (66-54).

In the days leading up to the beginning of the new year, the team hit the road and participated in the Colleen Riley Holiday Invitational tournament where they played teams from Southern California.

They played a close first game of the tournament against Long Beach Community College, where they lost by four points but were able to snag wins against LA Pierce and Cerritos College

respectively.

In game five of the tournament, Skyline defeated LA Pierce (68-37) by 31 points. Veronica Akolo was the highest scorer of the game and put a total of 14 points on the board.

Arianna Sheehy’s three steals during the game certainly helped the team gain a win.

After playing L.A. Pierce, the Trojans advanced to the Consolation Championship game where they faced Cerritos College and won the championship against the Falcons (55-38).

Skyline had an impressive 64 percent field goals made average compared to Cerrito’s 28 percent average. Alexis Clark helped the team with nine exciting rebounds during the game.

The first two games of January were a little rocky, suffering two losses against City College of San Francisco ((68-56) and Chabot Colleges (70-61). But they were able to bounce back from the games where they won their next four games.

In a close, yet victorious game against San Jose City College (75-62); Victoria Langi scored an outstanding 30 points, practically doubling her average of 15 points a game. Charme Noordzee trailed not too far behind Langi with 18 points.

The Trojans are averaging 61 points a game as Langi is the team’s leading scorer who currently averages almost 16 points a game with a free-throw percentage of 59 percent.

Skyline’s next game will be against Chabot College at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3.

The 4th Quarter

Sports opinion

All-Star flaws for voting system

Creative Commons

By Kevin Perez

TSV Interim sports editor

The National Basketball Association’s all-star voting system still has major flaws despite revisions implemented this year.

This year’s voting system was changed to accurately select the association’s all-stars, showcasing the best players in the league rather than the mockery of a popularity contest it has become. The new voting system now comprises of three votes; the fans who make up 50 percent of the vote, selected media reporters, and the players themselves.

Reducing the fan vote ensured that the popularity contest, that was the all-star game, kept out players like Golden State Warrior Zaza Pachulia, who finished second in the fan vote, but does not play on an all-star level.

Giving selected media votes helps reduce the skewed fan votes, but the addition of player votes proved to be a waste.

Rather than giving players insight on where they rank their peers, players took it upon themselves to vote for themselves and friends.

A player like Mo Williams, who has not played a single minute of the 2016-2017 season received a player vote which could have gone to a more deserving Boston Celtic Isiah Thomas, who has been playing on a MVP like level.

What the association should have taken into consideration is that players will always think highly of themselves and their peers. Natural human intuition will always place oneself over their competitors.

The biggest all-star snub was Oklahoma City Thunder Russel Westbrook, who was ranked number one in both the media and player voting but finished third in the fan vote. The selected starter over him was Stephen Curry who finished first in the fan vote, but third in both the media and player voting. Curry winning the fan votes pushed him past Westbrook for the starting spot.

The voting system is flawed, and could still be revised to avoid snubs like Westbrook. While the event itself is for the fans, the event has lost its competitiveness because of the popularity contest it has become.

Kevin Perez

Threading the line between politics and sports It’s Super Bowl week and instead of focusing on the players competing this weekend, we’re asking athletes about politics.

Why are we asking New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady about his relationship with President Trump?

Professional athletes are granted a platform as public figures, but it is their choice whether to use it or not. Athletes are in no obligation to share their views on political issues just because they are a public figure. And you cannot use their views to tarnish their image.

The beauty in sports is that it is free of politics. The game is not about foreign affairs, and national law so stop making it about it.

The complex relationship between sports and politics have often found the attention of the mass media. For example, Muhammad Ali refusing to serve in the United States military, Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos holding their fist up

for black power in the 1968 Olympics, and in more recent history, Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the Star Spangled Banner throughout the 2016-2017 season have all been seen as national heroes.

But if Muhammad Ali was not considered the greatest boxer to ever live, would he not be another person refusing the ethics of the draft? If Smith and Carlos did not medal in the Olympics, they would not have that stage.

And if Kaepernick had not been considered the leader of the new era quarterback at one point in time, kneeling would not have raised any debate.

The media has been grilling Brady for not sharing his views, and declining to further comment on his relationship with President Trump. It is the media’s job to find these stories, but they cannot force athletes to answer questions and cannot condemn them for choosing not to.

This week does not come every year, although it may seem like it for Brady. Super Bowl week for most football players comprise the highlights of their careers, and need to focus on the game more than anything else in the world. They should not waste any thoughts about expressing their views on politics to the media.

Their actions were made by their own instinct. Brady is under no obligation to share his political views, no matter how far off he may be.

What the media cannot do is tie in his political beliefs and use it to tarnish his career. In the public view, the media is now painting Brady as a Trump supporter above everything else he has ever done in sports.

Brady is arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, regardless of his political views. And in this moment, Tom Brady the football player should be the focus.

Photojournalists tell stories with photos, instead of words Skyline College Journalism Department Email: kaplann@smccd.edu Phone: (650) 738-4297 Twitter: @skylinejour Instagram: @skylinejour

Skyline

Sports

Upcoming Games: Baseball

Men’s Basketball

Feb. 3, Cosumnes River, 2 p.m.

Feb. 3, @Chabot , 7 p.m.

Feb. 4, Consumnes River, 1 p.m.

Feb. 10, Foothill, 5 p.m.

Feb. 7, Solano, 2 p.m.

Feb. 15, @ Canada, 7 p.m.

Feb. 9, @Shasta, 2 p.m.

Feb. 17, Las Positas, 5 p.m.

Baseball

Skyline stuns third ranked team in the state

Photos by Kevin Perez/ The Skyline VIew

Harley Torres slides to steal third base against Fresno City College on Jan. 28, 2017.

By Kevin Perez

TSV Interim Sports editor

Photo illustration by Kevin Perez

Starting pitcher Ray Falk pitches in the third inning against Fresno City College on Jan. 28, 2017.

Center fielder Ryan McSwain lays out to catch the ball against Fresno City College on Jan. 28, 2017

Skyline’s baseball team stuns Fresno City College after exploding for three runs in the late innings on Jan. 28.

The Trojans beat the Fresno City Rams 3-1, upsetting the third ranked team in the state. In the bottom of the eighth inning, a big decision to bring in pinch runner Harley Torres proved to be the difference in the game.

“It’s a decision we would make about 99 percent of the time,” head coach Dino Nomicos said.

“We wanted to get him on to steal second or get him in scoring position.”

With one out in the eighth inning, Torres’ base running sparked the offense, giving the energy the team had lacked throughout the early part of the game. Torres stole second and third before eventually scoring off of Brennan Carey’s single.

“They count on me to run,” Torres said. “I guess I’m a little fire starter. After my stolen base, I saw my whole dugout explode in cheers. Then that at bat that Cole March had and that sparked even more wildfire in the dugout.”

March was able to find home after Fresno’s catcher Kyle Adkins could not control a pitch. Carey also advanced to third where he was able to score the last run of the game after Aaron Alaum’s pop fly.

Starting pitcher Ray Falk gave up a run in the first, but worked himself into the game. Despite giving up the run, Falk pitched his

way out of some scoring threats.

With bases loaded in the top of the fifth, Falk forced Fresno’s Sal Esparza to fly out to first base.

Cole Watts was credited with the win, and entered the game in the top of the eighth. Watts finished the game giving up zero hits while striking out two batters.

“They came ready to play today,” coach Nomicos said. “And we got a strong pitching performance from Falk and Watts.”

With the win, Skyline upsets the number three team in the state, and avenges their loss against Fresno from the first game of the season.

“I think yesterday we had some jitters,” coach Nomicos said. “First game, playing the third ranked team in the state. Basically we squared it away after the game in the locker room.”

In what was an impressive win, Skyline showed that they had a pulse for the season after a discouraging loss the game before.

The team remained poised the entire game and were not overcome by the moment as they had been the previous game.

“Yesterday was definitely a tough loss,” Carey said. “I’m really happy with the way we bounced back. Our next game is Tuesday, and I think we’ll be ready going into that one.”

Since the game against Fresno, Skyline closed out close games. On Tuesday, Jan. 31, Skyline held on to win (5-4) against Cosumnes River College.