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The SKYLINE View The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, Calif.

theskylineview.com

December 6, 2018

Volume XLIII-Issue 7

On campus construction to cause delays through 2019

A “ROAD WORK AHEAD” sign warns drivers of the construction occurring at the College Drive entrance of Skyline College on Dec. 5, 2018.

By Gem Vem Pilon

TSV STAFF WRITER

San Mateo County Community College District and SummerHill Homes have started the construction for residential development along College Drive at the east entrance of the campus, which has altered the lanes at the College Drive campus entrance. A 70-unit residential project and 40 single family detached homes on a 6-acre land, which will be called the Skyline Ridge, and a two-building 30 apartment units on a 2-acre site for college faculty and staff, which will be called the College Ridge, was approved by the City Council on February 27, 2018. “That’s (construction) for the faculty and staff and there will also be single family homes as well,” said Director of Community Relations and Marketing Cherie Colin. “So, we (SMCCCD) sold the portion of the land to a developer, the SummerHill Homes.” The project is expected to cause disruption from time to time and

is anticipated to open in late 2020. Anyone coming onto campus should make adjustments to be on time for their classes and work. “It’s just gonna take some time and I think people may have to add some time into their commute,” Colin said. “There might be times during the construction where a lane is completely blocked off.”

a heads up so we’ve been sending communication just to warn people,” Colin added. To avoid the construction along College Drive, the Skyline College Express shuttle has changed its route to and from the campus. “They have already changed the route of the shuttle,” Colin said. “Instead of entering campus

construction may cause a slight inconvenience, it has not affected some Skyline professors and employees. “I drive down College Drive and pass the construction site everyday,” said counselor Carlos Romero of Skyline’s International Student Program. “I haven’t been impacted by it so far. It doesn’t

“It’s just gonna take some time and I think people may have to add some time into their commute.” - Cherie Colin

The Department of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations of Skyline College has notified the Skyline employees and students through an email about the ongoing construction to warn them of the possible disruption that the construction will cause. “It’s important for people to have

through the College Drive entrance, the shuttle is being rerouted to enter through Sharp Park [Road].” However, as of publication, the SamTrans buses that stop at Skyline remain entering from College Drive. Despite the notice that the

cause me to get to campus late at all either’.” Having knowledge about the possible traffic due to the construction, some professors take a different route to the campus. Meanwhile, some students have adjusted their schedule to be on time especially for their morning

Mark David Magat/The Skyline View

classes. “The construction has not affected my commute,” said Nandar Paing, a Skyline business administration major. “I don’t get late in class because I adjust my time, like, leaving earlier than usual.” Even though the SMCCCD continuously develops the community with the concurrent construction projects, the Skyline College administration never fails to notify both the Skyline employees and students of the inconvenience that these projects may cause.

Scan for more information about the residential construction

2 December 6, 2018

The Staff

Editor-In-Chief Simone Ledbetter Digital Editor Lauren Gozon News Editor Raymond Rapada

News

The Skyline View

Class cancellations send students into rush to finish the semester

Opinions Editor Mark David Magat Focal Point Editor Maria Isabel Del Castillo Schmidhuber Sports Editor Diego Emilio Perez Editor-at-Large Laurel B. Lujan Chief Copy Editor Olivia Bowman Photo editor Mark David Magat Staff writers Kylea Pearson Gem Vem Pilon Faculty Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel Mark David Magat/The Skyline View

Students study in Skyline College library on Dec. 5, 2018.

By Gem Vem Pilon

TSV STAFF WRITER

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

The classes at Skyline College resumed last Monday, Nov. 26, after an almost two-week cancellation due to unhealthy air quality. Smoke from the fires in Butte County has affected the Bay Area, which led to the cancellation of classes at San Mateo community colleges: Skyline College, Cañada College and College of San Mateo, as announced by Skyline College administration through an email sent to the students and faculty members during the night of Nov. 14. On the morning of Nov. 19, the Skyline College administration continuously monitored the air quality in the Bay Area and decided to resume classes after a threeday cancellation with the hope of better air quality. Classes were once again canceled at the three San Mateo Community Colleges on the afternoon of

San Bruno CA 94066

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.

Nov. 19 until Wednesday, Nov. 21, due to the worsening air quality throughout the Bay area, along with the pre-scheduled holiday break on Nov. 22 and 23. “This decision was made by the three college presidents in consultation with Chancellor Galatolo. The health and safety of students, faculty, and staff are our first priority,” the Skyline College administration said in an email. The cancellation of classes, which totaled four days in two weeks, has affected the professors and students in coping with the class schedule as the end of fall semester approaches. The professors needed to make adjustments to the curriculum and have taken advantage of Canvas in posting announcements, lectures and other resources for the students. “[I had] more conversations via Canvas and emails [to the students], [I have] uploaded additional reading and study materials on Canvas and reloaded assignments on course websites so that the students are able to study at home,” Hellen Zhang, an accounting

professor at Skyline said. Students are overwhelmed trying to catch up with the schedule and workload from the lessons which should have been covered and discussed during the days when classes were canceled. “My professor continued with class as normal and we missed out on two weeks of lecture,” said Gina Balke, a Skyline marketing major. “I feel like it’s not fair to have to learn the information on our own and in a condensed time. With finals around the corner, we are already stressed. So having to make up two weeks of work is hard.” For some students, they have considered the consecutive cancellation of classes as unfortunate and said that it is not anyone’s fault. “I feel indifferent about it because I know it’s not anyone’s fault for the cancellation of classes, but the end of [the] semester is always a stressful time,” said Lynn Falesoga, a Skyline business administration major. “It is just unfortunate we had to add more pressure to an already stressful situation.”

Some have speculated that classes may be extended a few days to compensate for the days of instruction canceled due to the poor air quality. When asked if she would like another week of instruction, Balke thought it was a good idea. “I would love an extra week, but at this time, they need to announce it soon because many teachers are making plans for finals already. An extra week would be appreciated enough,” Balke said. However, professor Zhang heard no such thing regarding the confirmation or denial of the claim. Nevertheless, some students are looking forward to the upcoming winter break and would rather do what they have to do to get to winter break sooner than to extend classes. “It’s worth it to go through all the madness right now to get to winter break faster,” Falesoga said. While classes have been disturbed by the recent cancellations, students and professors are progressing to finish the semester in a timely manner.

Weekly Briefs George H. W. Bush has died

Forbes announced the top 10 highest-paid YouTube stars of 2018

Kevin Hart to host the 2019 Oscars

Kanye West called out for using his phone during Broadway show

George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st of the United States has died at 94. On Friday, Nov. 30, Bush’s death at his Houston home was announced by his son, former President George W. Bush, remembering his father as “a man of the highest character.” Since the death of his wife, Barbara Bush, in April of this year, he had been in and out of hospitals, suffering from numerous health issues. On Wednesday, Dec. 5, Bush was given a state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.; his body was then taken to his presidential library in Texas for burial. Wednesday was declared a federal holiday, which closed the United States Postal Service, New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ as well as other federal offices.

On Dec. 3, Forbes released the list of the highest-paid YouTube stars of 2018. YouTube channel “Ryan ToysReview” claimed the first place spot, earning $22 million in 2018. As the channel suggests, 7-yearold Ryan, reviews kids’ toys to an audience of more than 7 million subscribers. Last year, Forbes ranked him as the eighth highest-paid, having earned $11 million. At the end of the top 10 was Logan Paul who, in a 12-month period, earned $14.5 million; his younger brother Jake Paul claimed the second place. Forbes’ method of ranking the YouTube content creators was taking pretax earnings estimates from June 1, 2017 through June 1, 2018, based on information from Captiv8, SocialBlade and Pollstar, as well as industry insiders.

Actor and comedian Kevin Hart will host the 91st Academy Awards on Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood; it will be his first time hosting the Oscars. In an Instagram post, Hart wrote, “I will be sure to make this year[‘]s Oscars a special one [...] now it’s time to rise to the occasion.” Hart will take the microphone from Jimmy Kimmel who hosted the last to award shows. The Academy announced a change they plan to implement in the February broadcast: they won’t air all 24 Oscar categories live. Rather, six to eight categories will be announced during commercial breaks; edited acceptance speech snippets will be aired later in the broadcast.

On Monday, Dec. 3, The Cher Show, the jukebox musical of Cher’s life and career opened on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre to a star-studded audience, including Cher herself, as well as Kanye West and Kim Kardashian amongst others. In the middle of the performance, Jarrod Spector, who plays Sonny Bono, called out West on Twitter, saying “Hey @kanyewest [...] If you look up from your cell phone you’ll see we’re doing a show up here. It’s opening night. Kind of a big deal for us. Thanks so much.” West later apologized for his poor etiquette in a response to Spector’s tweet: “[...] please pardon my lack of etiquette. We have so much appreciation for the energy you guys put into making this master piece.”

Opinions

December 6, 2018

BART and Sam are not students’ homies By Shamal Prasad TSV Staff Writer

In order to minimize the number of cars that are driven on a daily basis, public transportation companies like BART and SamTrans should implement a discount system for students who rely solely on their services for their daily commutes. A survey was conducted by the San Mateo Community College District during the Spring 2018 semester where approximately 22,000 students addressed their concerns and reasons as to why they did or didn’t utilize public transportation for their commutes to any of the three colleges. It wasn’t much of a surprise to learn that nearly 90 percent of students within the district drive to school. However, I never would’ve thought that 29 percent of students use Lyft and Uber to get to school considering the drastic difference between rideshare options and public transportation. It is understandable that rideshare options seem more appealing to students so that they don’t have to plan out a significant amount of time around their commute. It’s easier to call a ride with a press of a button and get to class than to worry about catching that one bus that’ll get you to campus an hour before the class starts because the next bus would make you late. Depending on the type of service you use through Lyft or Uber, the

price still doesn’t come close to a one-way trip on a bus. Sure, time efficiency is a huge factor that plays into one’s decision to not take public transportation and that’s why a student discount could potentially increase the number of students who use a bus or BART and the free shuttle to get to Skyline specifically.

Out of the three colleges, 38 percent of Skyline students stated that they didn’t take public transportation because the trip takes too long, meanwhile 49 percent of students within the district reported that convenience was a secondary factor as to why they don’t utilize SamTrans. Although students would like to see more of a direct service to campus, it’s understandable that there’s not much that can be done about that. The routes created have certain stops that they need to make and the only way that a commute could be quicker is if there wasn’t anybody waiting at a scheduled stop. Although it may not be feasible to do this, it could be useful for the district to partner up with SamTrans to offer a direct line to the three campuses with minimal stops similar to the shuttle service Skyline provides for students from Daly City BART. Similarly, Skyline could create new shuttle lines for students that live in South San Francisco and San Bruno. Considering the Daly City BART shuttle is free for stu-

Mark David Magat/The Skyline View

Studnets walks off bus to go to class on Dec. 5, 2018

dents, I believe that students who live closer to campus would be more likely to use a shuttle if there was a line offered at other BART stations. It was reported that students were evenly divided in their support for a student fee assessment to fund discounted transit passes. Meanwhile a mere 27 percent of students stated that a discount would encourage their use of public transportation.

It is useful to note that Skyline offers a Carpool program where if three students commit to commuting to campus together, they’ll be able to park in a specific carpool parking spot that is available only to them. While there are counter arguments for a plethora of the reasons why students don’t take public transportation, I do believe that offering a discounted price will encourage a number of students to get to school

instead of driving their car. There are a number of solutions that could be implemented to encourage students to use public transportation to get to school. A student-based discount isn’t the only solution that should be considered. The shuttle service from Daly City BART is a great start and I think that Skyline should look into offering a shuttle service at other BART stations within San Mateo County for students who don’t have access to a car.

Tech Talk with mark david magat

The ultimate Smash experience Inmates come to fight the flames Nintendo has built a gaming empire with their franchises such as Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and others. As of Dec. 7, we get a new taste of a classic game of all those Nintendo characters beating each other into the mud. The game I’m talking about, is of course, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. But you need the ultimate setup for the ultimate experience for Smash Ultimate. Before you start beating up your friends, you need 13.6 GB of storage in your Switch to play the new Smash Bros. game. But, as it will be the first Super Smash Bros. game available on the Nintendo Switch, it will have more flexibility in terms of when and where to play. We’ll cover both at home and on the go Smash playing. On the go: When on the go, a must is buying another set of Joy-Cons. You can play with two players with the two Joy-Cons that come with your Switch, but if you wanted to play with more than one friend, which is highly recommended, you’ll need another set. Another must grab is the officially licensed Nintendo Switch power bank by Anker because Smash is going to be power draining. Of course you can go for other models with lower-or-higher capacities and voltages, but the Switch only accepts a specific type of charge and it helps get that charge if you go with the official power bank and not want to brick the thing. At home: At home, you have more room to play with what accessories and peripherals you’d like to use. What we’ll be talking about here is better controllers, and the controller we recommend is some variant of the GameCube controller. The GameCube controller has many iterations with PowerA having a wired and wireless version, and the official Nintendo GameCube controller with a modern connector, but they have the same button layout all around. If you see yourself, or your friends, moving

By Mark David Magat TSV Photo/Opinions editor

Mark David Magat/The Skyline View

around or get really energetic while playing, which for Smash is more than understandable, we recommend you go with the Bluetooth controller by PowerA for around $30 to $40. If you want something that can do the job without breaking the bank, PowerA also does a $25 wired controller. The PowerA controllers are a tad looser and have different button names and have additional buttons because they are built for the Switch, unlike the one Nintendo sells, which is just a carbon copy of the old design. Speaking of which, Nintendo sells their own rendition of a modern day GameCube controller. It’s $50 and it’s basically the same as the original, expect it now connects to the Switch. But for most people, that’s a great thing. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Other than controllers, we assume you have a 1080p TV, a dock of some kind and a couple of friends to beat into the dirt. Other than going all out and buying custom seats with a mega projector and super surround sound, that’s all you really need. Smash is a simple game to play and you don’t really need much to enjoy it.

Some of the biggest fires in California history have just passed and there is no doubt the firefighters have played a massive part in fighting these fires. But not all of these firefighters are firefighters by profession; a lot of them are inmates being paid a dollar an hour to help stop the flames. Of course, this is a brilliant idea, but some would say this is dangerous. Of course there are risks to this method, but when willing and able hands are volunteering to help fight a state-wide problem, the ends do justify the means. Here’s a little background on this type of inmate program: the Mendocino Complex fires burned over 459,000 acres of Northern California and destroyed 157 homes in August of 2018. About 14,000 firefighters fought to keep the fire at bay and of those numbers, 2,000 were inmates. These inmates who volunteered to help with the fires are a part of a volunteer fighter program run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. It has been shown that prison is an option for help in these dire situations. As of Dec. 2, the Camp Fire had burned 153,336 acres, or roughly 239 miles. Of course this looked bleak and there were calls for desperate measures to be taken, yet not everyone is OK with inmates volunteering their lives to help save homes and possibly lives. And once you really look at why people go

to prison, a lot of them aren’t being sent for murders or assault or any other major life threatening crime. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, people go to prison mostly due to drug offenses, and far behind that is weapons possession. Homicide, assault and other forms of physical harm are low on that chart. So if people are scared of “killers” and “murderers” being set loose, that’s not really the case and they are safe to be put to work. Of course all these events have passed but this method of fighting the fires worked, and yet there are people who still disagree. This situation is about inmates voluntarily putting themselves on the line to save others from an inferno. This isn’t a bad thing, maybe all the inmates aren’t doing this to necessarily save lives, but they’re still putting in hard work to fight a massive problem. For those who don’t know how large and dangerous these fires were, and why we needed more hands in fighting these fires, 48 people were reported dead as of November 15 and more than 100 were missing a week later. As of Dec. 1, the death toll was at 88 and almost 14,000 single residences were destroyed. We needed all hands on deck to fight what is now California’s most destructive fire in history. The take away from all this, other than taking precautions for disasters and checking for fire hazards, is that help can come from the strangest place. Of course, prison is not the go-to place for the safest helping hands. But when quite literally a state is on fire, prisons are a good place for volunteers to fight the flames. Everyone may not agree, but this method works.

Opinions

December 6, 2018

Editorial

FINANCE FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT Millennials need to save more money for their futures even if they are still living at home with their parents because life will catch up and everyone needs to be ready. It is understandable to see many college students living with their parents after or during college because of the high loans that the school system gives out but money is always in our lives. Many people work even when living with their parents, and if they don’t work, they may get an allowance. At the end of the day, everyone gets money somehow. It’s just a matter of spending that money in a smart way to benefit you in the long run.

“The average bachelor’s degree holder takes up to 21 years to pay off his or her loans.” -U.S. News & World

According to a U.S. News & World Report article, “the average bachelor’s degree holder takes up to 21 years to pay off his or her loans.” This is a long time which is why millennials should know how to invest their money better in things that matter, like education for a fair price, while also being

able to save money for the future. Living with your parents gives one the liberty to save on things like rent, utilities, and food. Now, if one were to resist the temptations that come your way right after your paycheck and save 25 percent or even 50 percent of your paycheck each time, the money would pile up and could be used as a cushion for emergencies. A Science Daily article that was published in August 2018 called, “Many young adults lack financial literacy, economic stability, study finds” stated that “nearly one third of young adults in a recent study were found ‘financially precarious’ because they had poor financial literacy and lacked money management skills and income stability.” Trying to be financially stable at a young age in the Bay Area can seem impossible because of the high living cost. But if you inform yourself on how to finance and invest while living with your parents and going to school, then by the time you move out, you have money and the knowledge to live on your own. Not being financially informed can lead to health problems. According to Pacific Business News‘ article “How financial stress affects your health”, “It’s well documented that chronic, untreated stress can lead to anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system.” Financing has health benefits that will not only help you economically, but it can help you live a healthier life and it should be a personal mission for you. No one else is responsible for your money other than you. You work for it, spend it, and should know what is best for you.

Photo illustration by Clayborne Go

If there are no courses that will teach you the how to take care of your finances, do your own research. Everyone has to start somewhere and know that you will make mistakes but those mistakes will help teach you important lessons for the future.

the view from here

Expanding your view with editor in chief

Simone Ledbetter

Our community college district needs to encourage students to explore interests outside of their major. With the way things are currently, students are encouraged to only take classes in the field they’ve chosen and some find general education to be a burden and hindrance to their goal. But students need to explore their interests to become innovative and well-rounded individuals. I’m not saying we need more general education per say, but it would be extremely beneficial if students could pursue other interests through classes without the worry of it affecting their GPA. Knowledge of a variety of topics is crucial to have a greater understanding of the world and the people in it. Oftentimes people are think a certain way based on the field they’re in. They’re unable to see things from a different perspective. But how is this beneficial? In order to create the best of ideas, different perspectives and knowledge needs to be combined. Take for example Steve Jobs, who took a calligraphy course in college which he then implemented into the Mac computer. “It was the first computer with beautiful typography,” he told Forbes in a 2012 article. “If I had never dropped in on that single

course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it’s likely that no personal computer would have them.” Looking at how majors connect in a broader sense and connecting concepts among various topics is what can propel us into new and better ideas. Currently, it feels as if students are supposed to decide which category to be in, and we become experts in that category. Some may argue it would be better to be experts in one topic than mediocre in many. But this is not what I’m saying. Be an expert in your field. But also, take time to expand your knowledge in other topics as well of your own choosing. Our school district is focused on increasing graduation rates and getting students out quickly, which is not a bad thing. However, their methods seem to benefit them more than the students. There is a program called Guided Pathways, which does have many great qualities and is meant to achieve the aforementioned goals of the district. But it encourages students to decide on a major and stick to the straightforward plan set for them by the counselor regarding what classes to take. Describing the benefits of the program, Skyline’s website boasts, “fewer excess units taken”. I have to admit, I do have excess units. But you know what it was for, exploring my interests and the

Artistic License

various career paths by actually trying them rather than just hearing about them. I’d take even more if I could if I could take them solely to gain knowledge without fear for my GPA. But even with the extra units I have, I’ve obtained a greater understanding of the world and how people in other majors think. Why limit myself from greater empathy and knowledge? Yes, it’s true students may be here longer and I’ve definitely fallen victim to the idea of having to be successful by 25. But I’ll have a degree with knowledge of multiple topics, and know I’ve invested time to enhance my skills and chance for success. But in order to make this common, the district would have to make some changes, and encourage students to explore rather take a straightforward path. Students may take more time to graduate, but they’ll be better human beings. They’d also need to make it so that students know they can learn topics they are not looking to have a degree in without the fear of it affecting their GPA. I have seen no advertisement of such and doubt that many know they can do such a thing or how to do it. SMCCCD should encourage a more holistic rather than myopic approach about taking classes because it creates more innovative and well-rounded individuals.

The SKYLINE View The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, Calif.

theskylineview.com

December 6, 2018

Volume XLIII-Issue 8

Going to school while coping with mental illness

Mark David Magat/The Skyline View

By Alejandro Gomez Novice Staff Writer

Death, stress, heartbreak, and major life changes can causes mental illnesses that affect people who are living their lives, but most of the time these people just go to school and deal with regular tasks. Depression affects thousands of people proving that people are not alone with how they are feeling. Anxiety is an affliction that causes many people to seem paranoid and antsy, but in reality they are just worried about something. It is normal to feel worried about something, however, when it begins to affect one’s lifestyle, that is when something needs to be done. Julie Saegonda, Skyline student, is all too familiar with feeling manic and anxious. As a single mother who also works and attends classes at Skyline, she is an expert with what it is like to have a lot on her plate. Saegonda explains that besides the mania of her normal life, it is the daily tasks that she doesn’t have time to do that makes her feel anxious and overworked.

“Those days that I feel the weight on my shoulders it feels as if I am surrounded by four walls, with no hope or light in sight,” Saegonda said. She says that her anxiety began affecting her schoolwork when obstacles stopped her from progressing in classes which also caused her motivation to drop. She began to doubt herself even though she wanted to keep going. Saegonda also

Her attendance at school and her grades began to have a negative affect. Navarro said that she could not have seen a better way to blind herself then to do what she did. As she bottled up her emotions, she began to feel alone in this world. “Why is this place just so screwed up,” Navarro would ask herself. Navarro would have have turned to self-harm if her new kittens

student at the school’s Disability Resource Center (DRC) on the ground floor in Building 5 is a counselor and a coordinator. As a faculty member, her and her team have the compassion to work with students who need aid with school and that need to talk with someone. She also recommends that students who need further psychological help should seek out the campus’s Psychological Services in Building 2.

“Those days that I feel the weight on my shoulders it feels as if I am surrounded by four walls, with no hope or light in sight.” - Julie Saegonda

says that people need to use the resources that are available on campus, go online, or even just talk to a fellow peer or friend. Cindy Navarro, another Skyline student, has her own way of coping with depression. After losing her mother and both of her siblings in the same year she felt as if she could no longer go on with her life. She turned to alcohol and sex as distractions from the events that had occurred in the very same year.

Paul and Boots had never came into her life. These kittens who she had found as strays had lifted her spirits and began to change her outlook on life. She said that her grades at school improved when she had them because they would sit her as she did her homework. Navarro describes how she would laugh when they would do what cats typically do to laptops and lay down on the keyboard. Melissa Matthews, Skyline

Matthews explains how anxiety is obviously a well known illness that affects students everywhere, but she encourages them to seek support services. She explains how the DRC works with the school and the students to find ways to accommodate for their needs. The staff at the Center have all gone through psychological training to assist students which helps ensure that no students leave without assuring the faculty that they are in

a better mood after receiving help. Matthews explains that the Center has so many positive notes by students who have had a positive experience there, which is evident by the 550 students who returned to the DRC for the help it provides. Students who need someone to talk to are highly encouraged to seek help around campus, especially if they are suffering from mental illness regardless of its severity. You are not alone, people around you will have experience with what you are feeling and may be able to help.

Scan for more information about Skyline College’s Psychological Services

6 December 6, 2018

The Staff

Editor-In-Chief Kylea Pearson News Editor Larissa Barreto Cavalcante

News

The Skyline View

Studying abroad and its possibilities

Opinions Editor Dante Jacinto Focal Point Editor Akmal Gadang Creati

mmon

ve Co

Chief Copy Editor Spencer Ceollo Photo editor Darlene Ollada Staff writers Sam Esser Ava harris Social media Editor Alejando Gomez Faculty Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel

By Larissa Barreto Cavalcante Novice News Editor

San Bruno CA 94066

A new language. A new country. A new experience. People get all of those things, and more, when they study abroad. Some people do not like the idea of going abroad and studying general courses. For those students, there is the Global Internship Program, an unpaid internship that is two months long and happens over the summer. A short-term program is happening in Brazil in JulyAugust 2019. Students will be able to spend two weeks there, studying Anthropology 110 – Cultural Anthropology. Out of 48 hours in total, 16 hours are spent here, in the United States, in a pre-departure class. Professor John Ulloa, the program leader of the Brazilian short-term program, explained that this class has a goal of familiarizing the students with the culture they will get to know, so the students can have informed conversations with Brazilians and not feel lost about what is happening there. Ulloa talked about how it can change how the students will see the world and how they will be exposed to different things.

“Studying abroad really opens different doors for students that previously were never accessible to them, especially community college students.” - Zaid Ghori

abroad when she was 20 years old. She went to Guatemala and stayed there for a full summer. “It put me on the path that I am today,” Wells said. “It helped determine my career interests, my life interests. It helped me develop a skill that I still use today.” A different country means a different culture and being respectful of that is an important point.

for scholarships. Zaid Ghori, director of special international programs, said that there are government scholarships for Americans to study abroad. “Studying abroad really opens different doors for students that previously were never accessible to them,” Ghori said. “Especially community college students.” Ghori talked about the program and how he and his office are

The return of the college student By Ava Harris

Novice Staff Writer

“They end up learning a lot about themselves as much as they do about the country and the people they are visiting,” Ulloa said about the students who experience the opportunity of studying abroad. Stephanie Wells, a program services coordinator in the Global Learning Programs office, explained how they have been trying to come up with different types of programs in order to meet the different needs that students may have. She studied

Charissa Kelly, who studies sociology and psychology at Skyline, went to Costa Rica and loved the experience. “I believe culture plays a part in shaping who we are,” Kelly said. “Getting to really know someone includes getting to know more about their culture as well.” The study abroad office also helps students apply

trying to create something that is grounded in equity, so every student can have access to these programs. Wells talked about how she likes to tell the story of the student who saw the poster of a program, doubted if they could do it, and then went to the office to find out if they are eligible for the scholarship. Ultimately, the student got the scholarship and got to study abroad. There are people who want to help the students find opportunities to study abroad. The programs are made for the students. For instance, Ghori and Ulloa went on a familiarization trip to Brazil early this year to make sure it was appropriate to take a group of students there. They visited São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to get a sense of how things are going to happen next August. Ulloa explained that he wants to know the place when he is there with students. He does not want to feel lost. It will be the first time going to Brazil as a class, but he has been there before. “I want my students to be informed and observant about their surroundings,” Ulloa said. The students who are going to travel to Brazil will be able to share experiences with Brazilian students. Ghori said they are working with the University of Rio de Janeiro. Some of the activities in this short-term program can be with the students of this university, so they can get a more immersive experience.

Life can get in the way of our goals, especially in terms of college. Many people face difficulties in their return, while others share nothing but positive experiences. Nearly 44 percent of students enrolled at Skyline are over the age of 23, and are considered, “returning college students;” those that have taken at least three consecutive semesters off in-between enrollment. Skyline alumna Linda Fried encountered her fair share of difficulties in her return after a near 10-year hiatus. The mom of two struggled to find a balance between her personal life and schoolwork, yet returned in the hopes

it would yield a greater reward. “It’s not easy, especially when you see students who are younger than you, experiencing different things, who you feel you can’t identify with; however once you get over that, it’s only good

anti and increase their chances for a greater financial reward. Skyline student Olga Novak took a break in her coursework prior to her return. Getting back into the routine of school work is not without its difficulties.

“You have to put the past behind you, and focus on the positive, which is creating a new future for yourself.” - Scott Keating things from there,” Fried said. There has been an increase of students over the age of 23, who have re-enrolled over the past five years. With the market of people competing for jobs getting larger, most find ways to up the

“The two hardest aspects of returning to college after taking a break, are integrating back into the community, and maintaining the patience of schoolwork,” Novak said. Many students who have

faced re-entry describe their struggle in coping with the lost time, and the challenges that go along with their return. Skyline student Scott Keating recalled the break he took in between his return. Keating had to leave initially due to his financial and family problems. “You have to put the past behind you, and focus on the positive, which is creating a new future for yourself,” Keating said. While the return may seem to be a daunting task, there are many positive experiences to be had, exciting coursework to be learned, and fond memories to be made at Skyline. When asked what advice should be given to those who plan to return Olga Novak had this to say. “Make time for yourself to just be, make time to get everything done, and you’ll be glad in the end that you did it, “said Novak.

Opinions

December 6, 2018

We don’t need ar tists anymore Creating work that matters

By Mark David Magat

Creative Commons

TSV OPINIONS/Photo Editor

We don’t need any more artists. We need art that matters. We have an abundance of people working in fields that could be classified as art, but to be honest, we don’t need this many. The underlying issue with modern art isn’t with our number of people, but our

number of important work. When perusing Instagram or Twitter or Facebook, we see many many artists and their products. It seems like everyone and their mothers is an artist nowadays. But when people are talking about art, a lot of people are saying, there will never be another Shakespeare or another da Vinci. And with how artists are treating their work

today, there won’t be. When thinking back to the stories of ancient Greece or the Renaissance, we don’t remember all the works of art produced, but we remember “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Odyssey”. Why? Because they were products that reflected the time. A lot of the work produced by today’s artist are nice and eye catching, but real

work that will stand the test of time is work that reflects the today and today’s issues and culture. Take “Hamilton”, a musical by Lin Manuel Miranda, yes it’s a story about events many years ago, but it has themes and stories that still are reflected today. Immigration and race is a massive theme in both the show and it’s production; it celebrates racial

Within the realm of journalism, we can be the change and show that we are here to help inform and support the people, and not become their enemy. “The news is delivered to enlighten us, and to shape the world, as we know it, without it would we know anything,” Stephanie Pavlich said, a journalism student at Centennial College. “Without

the news, I would find life a little meaningless, and quite frankly dull. I wanted to be a reporter to ignite fire into the stagnate minds of tomorrow.” Not only would we be uninformed if we didn’t have journalists, but we would lose our voice. Even if you’re not a writer, you can still support the cause be being a reader.

diversity in a time where that is being frowned upon by our own government. Disney is doing a great job of this with their kids movies. “Toy Story” has invaded the hearts of 20-year-olds because it reflects a time that mattered to them. And even though “Wreck-It Ralph” isn’t as critically acclaimed as “Toy Story”, “Wreck-it Ralph” is speaking to kids who grew up with video games because it speaks to a time in their life that matters to them. Other than stage and screen plays, the picture of a navy man kissing his girlfriend after the second World War is still remembered today because it captured the moment of not just the couple, but the whole country: war is over, we won. And all that can be seen on a print from a 35mm camera. Today is a great day to start working towards work that matters. We can celebrate the glory of the recent elections or the unity against natural disasters, or capture the horrors of the California fires or write about the brouhaha that is the current state of our government. No, we don’t need anymore artists. We have way more than we need. But what we do need is work that reflects our victories and defeats that are happening today. Work that matters is work that reflects the human condition, which has its ups and downs, and when we capture those moments where humanity is being shown, that’s when we know we made work that will matter.

The View from here

Journalism’s impact With Novice editor-in-chief

Kylea Pearson

Journalism is a privilege that not every American citizen can understand. Journalists get to use their platform for what they believe is important, such as news pieces, opinion pieces, sports coverage, feature articles, and more topics that involve giving information to the public in a specific format. With journalism, we have the freedom to question or write about what we want and put it out for the world to either agree or argue with, and it’s your job to be a part of it in some way. American Society of News Editors is an organization that provides a census on the number of American citizens that are employed in a Journalistic field year by year. They state, “overall, [we] found, there are about 32,900 full-time journalists at nearly 1,400 daily newspapers in the United States. That’s a 3,800-person decrease from 36,700 in 2013.” With this data, we see that journalism is losing its writers and fewer students are looking into journalism as a career. This is surprising because I would expect people of this generation want to get their views and voices out there as much as possible, considering we are the “social media” generation. People might be afraid to speak their mind, but you don’t have to speak it because you can write it. If we don’t participate in journalism and writing, I feel that we will lose a very important outlet. Journalism

is another way of exercising our right to freedom of speech and the press.

“The press is the enemy of the people.” -President Trump President Trump has used the phrase: “the press is the enemy of the people.” The biggest contradiction that I see with this statement is that, as journalists, we are the people and the press is our voice. But he also introduced the term “fake news,” which has created fear in newsrooms everywhere. Margaret Simons, a reporter for The Guardian, stated in the article “Journalism faces a crisis worldwide- we might be entering a new dark age” that “there is a new concern for the virtues of the traditional newsroom, and what good journalists do. That is, find things out, verify the facts and publish them in outlets which, despite famous stuff-ups, can generally be relied upon to provide the best available version of the truth.” With fake news becoming an everyday concern for American citizens, journalists have had to step up their game and be as reliable as they can be. But this isn’t a downfall, it’s a challenge to be better and to be more reliable. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing you’re responsible for giving someone solid information on a topic that you’re just as passionate about as they are.

Journalism is here to help our community, not hurt it. Help yourself by staying updated on current events and you will also be helping by giving a journalist a sense of purpose. As for those who enjoy writing, you can make a difference with your words, just don’t forget to cite your sources.

Opinions

December 6, 2018

Artistic License

Editorial

Video Games Are Art We are always told to go outside, put our controllers down, pay more attention to the things around us instead of what’s on our screens. Video games have held this stigma that playing them will just “burn our brain cells” and have no benefit toward our growth or mindset. However, this is not true. Video games are an art form and much like the art that you find in museums, it takes time, precision, and passion to be a creator and a player. What separates video games apart from other forms of art is the participation of the audience. Viewers are no longer just viewing it; they are a part of it, which then draws a strong connection to the game and its platform. In the CNN article “Why gaming is now for adults and art lovers”, Chris Melissinos said, “from games that recreate the childlike wonder in discovering magic and delight in the world -- like ‘Super Mario Brothers’ -- to those that explore the hopelessness of losing a child -- as in ‘That Dragon, Cancer’ -- video games are capable of expressing the full breadth of human experience.” With video games, we have storytelling, color theory, digital animation, and so much more. With all these factors, we come to an emotional and wondrous experience, much like the feeling one experiences from art

Photo illustration by Kylea Pearson

on a wall... But even deeper because of our active role in the video game’s process. Jonathon Jones, The Guardian’s art critic and reporter, said in an article titled “Sorry MOMA, video games are not art”that video games are not art because “no one ‘owns’ the game,” he suggested. “So there is no artist, and therefore no work of art.” Some may argue that with video games, there’s no real ‘owner’ but what you can’t always see is that the artistic owner of the game is the audience. Yes, the people behind the scenes physically creating the games are the technical ‘owners’ but the people who play the games are the artists. With video games, you create your own world using the layout given to you, thus creating your own version of this art, and there are infinite opportunities. It’s

the art that continues to grow. Kyle Chayka, a journalist for The Atlantic claimed in his article “Why Video Games Are Works of Art” that “video games are nothing if not experiential. They are visuals and music and poetry all wrapped up into a single package. A video game isn’t just a game—it is a controlled passage through an overwhelming aesthetic experience.” Art is always experimental, and video games are experimental as well, in their own way. There is always a new wave of graphics yet to be tried out, just as there’s always a new technique for using acrylic paint to learn. In 2017, we were given the Nintendo Switch. This is a next-generation console made by the same company that gave us Super Mario Brothers. With this console, “Zelda: Breath of The Wild” was released.

As an example, the aesthetics of this game are uncanny. Each strand of hair on the main character’s head, the mountains in the distance, the sky’s ever-changing shades, the interactions between characters... It all has to do with the art form that you can’t help but notice. Video games should no longer be looked at as useless or be used as a “time killer,” but instead be seen as a new way of seeing the artistic potential of the future. In video games, you can experience all kinds of emotions and experiment with different outcomes, finding new ways around obstacles. These screens and controllers aren’t always holding us back. In fact, it could be helping us progress.

Teachers are not appreciated By Sean Sliger Novice Guest Writer

Although we may have an international holiday celebrating their contributions to education and community teachers are systematically not appreciated enough. People that teach the youth of this nation should be more recognized as they are essential in broadening the minds of future generations on the world around them. Teachers directly affect the lives that we live and the choices that we make, choosing to disregard the information that is provided to us ultimately deprives us of various opportunities, doing a project just to pass only hurts us in the end. Receiving an education allows us to understand the profession and career we want to achieve. According to a 2018 study by the National Center for Education Statistics shows that employment rates for students who are 25 to 34 year old have a higher education than high school are 29 percent more likely to be employed than those without an education higher than high school. In the same article, a graph from 2000 to 2017 the possibility for someone with a lower education than high school has decreased from 64 percent dramatically to 57 percent. It is safe to say that with a society that requires you to have a higher education in order to succeed, teachers are the, so to say, “guardian angels” of our society. However, if they are so crucial to our society, why are they paid less and in often cases have to work another job in order to either pay for rent or other supplies. According to Education Week, one out of five teachers within America work a second job during the school year. Also in the same article, it stated that teachers spend on average, $479 out of their own salary on supplies for the classroom. If teachers are so vital to our society, why don’t we provide them with the ability to teach the way they want with materials that they need?

Photo illustration by Kylea Pearson

Had it not been for the classes and teachers that I have taken I would not have been able to know the career future that I want to achieve in broadcasting and film. With this knowledge that I have found I also know where to find jobs in these professions. I have noticed how even in my two years of being a college student the knowledge I have learned has completely changed how I approach certain situations in my life. From knowing about current world issues to learning about past cultures, I now view the world in a different light now. It is not only the monetary impact that education takes on students, but it is also

as previously mentioned, the need for an understanding of the world around us. Although teachers deserve more in every sense of the word, there is still the argument that teachers themselves are causing students to not have a strong enough connection to the subject itself, therefore causing less of a connection between the student and teacher. On Education Post, Pernille Ripp, an English teacher in Oregon, lists the reasons why her own students feel disconnected from her class. In the article, she states that one of the eight reasons her students did not feel engaged was that they felt as though they did not

have any power in class or any choice. Which is understandable, yet the fact that teachers are unable to accommodate multiple students and their preferences is mainly blamed by the disregard of pay and resources provided to teachers. Regardless, teachers still have to accommodate large quantities of students with minimal resources and funding provided to them. All in all, remember to thank your teacher at the end of the semester and take the time to reflect on what you learned.

Focal Point

December 06, 2018

Bones! Bones! Bones!

photo essay

Photos by Raymond Rapada

Adjunct Professor Chuck Cecil gesticulates about the skeleton on Nov. 26, 2018.

By Raymond Rapada TSV NEWS EDITOR

Bones! Bones! Bones! — the anthropology department here at Skyline displayed new bones and artifacts donated by the California Academy of Sciences in an open house on Wednesday, Nov. 28. The donation was comprised of several skulls, post-cranial bones, pelvises and a nearly-complete skeleton. Before, the department’s collection of artifacts used to teach several anthropology classes with a set of incomplete remains and several skeletal casts. Adjunct anthropology professor Chuck Cecil played an integral role in landing the donation as he connected the California Academy of Sciences, where he previously worked, with the anthropology department. He was asked to take a look at the bones and if he knew any schools that would be interested in having them in their collection. “We were able to get all of this for free; something which would take years for us to try and collect,” Cecil said. “That’s what’s exciting about it, besides a variety, it’s also giving us the data that students could look at more than one skeleton.” The artifacts are on display in Rm. 7-110 ranged from two skulls of extremely young individuals to the nearly complete skeleton of a [male] individual, which is on display in the classroom daily. Another notable artifact is that of a partial hip implant which the bone grew around. Rounding out the display included several skulls of geriatric individuals as well as leg bones and pelvises.

A real geriatric skull presents supraorbital and dental wear and tear on Nov. 26, 2018.

Maria Isabel Del Castillo Schmidhuber/The Skyline View

A nearly-complete male skeleton hangs on a stand for display on Nov. 26, 2018.

Two juvenile skulls show no sign of ossification or bone formation of the skeletal bones on Nov. 26, 2018.

A real hip replacement exhibits bone formation around the replacement on Nov. 26, 2018.

December 6, 2018

Features

Focal Point

Friends with benefits By Darlene Ollada

Novice Multimedia Editor

Cold, unsatisfying experiences. Catching an STI. One-sided feelings. “Catching feelings.” Emotional drama. Gaining a bad reputation. Moments of intense loneliness. Misconceptions These are only some of the negative associations of a friends with benefits, AKA “FWB,” relationship. Having a noncommittal, sexual relationship sounds exhausting, emotionallydraining, and nearly impossible for some. But with the rise of dating apps, exerting all energy towards school and careers, or simply not being ready for a serious relationship are all valid reasons to wonder what the FWB parameters are. With guidance from both professors and students, we will explore ways to have fulfilling, positive FWB relationships, how to maintain them, and if they’re right for you. A Professional’s Perspective “I would say being open with your communication is key. Also going over what the rules for the relationship will be: are they allowed to sleep with other people? Are they keeping it a secret?” said Lindsey Ayotte, Skyline’s interpersonal communications professor. “If someone’s feelings

change i.e. they want to commit and make the relationship a closed one they should communicate with the other person even if there is fear of the friends-with-benefits relationship coming to an end.” When asking students whether or not they would engage (or have had) a FWB, there were a range of answers. Sophia Trigonis, a Skyline student in a committed closed relationship said, “Probably not, because I feel like I expect a certain level of commitment that would be more easy to discuss in a [closed] relationship. Friends with benefits can lead to blurred lines on commitment, jealousy and possessiveness. It wouldn’t work for me personally but I can see how it could for others.” Sometimes, the lines do get blurred and emotional involvement comes into play. “I never got closure ... because I never quite knew if that person shared the same feelings as me. I found out later on that he liked me more...and we never announced how much we liked each other and I don’t know how it would have turned out if we were more serious than friends with benefits,” Christina Green, a Skyline student who is now happily married, said. “I would say go for it because why not? You never know where things could lead with somebody. Some

Darlene Ollado/The Skyline View

relationships start slower while others move faster.” An Alternative Perspective The male perspective was a direct and open one. “Having a connection with someone without the pressure and attachment issues of a real relationship. Often, we assume that we need to be in a relationship to be whole but this isn’t necessarily true,” Allen Enriquez, a Skyline student who

has had multiple FWBs and has a FWB currently said. “[FWBs] can give you the sexual desire you think you need and at the same time can remind you what you really want in a relationship. It can help you find out who you really are showing how relationships don’t have to revolve around sex. That’s why most of these relationships with benefits don’t usually last long. The con? The possibility of someone getting attached.”

Keeping an open mind Mature relationships. Friendly, freeing experiences. Open communication. Easily satisfied sexual needs. Low pressure. Straight-forward. These are only some positive associations to take into account when figuring out if a friends-with-benefits relationship is right for you.

Nintendo “Smashes” record for most pre-orders with “Super Smash Brothers Ultimate”

Screenshot by Sean Sliger/The Skyline View

A screenshot from the Nintendo Direct showing of 2018

By Sean Sliger Novice Staff Writer

Nintendo’s “Super Smash Bros.” series is the most action-packed family-friendly fighting game that is perfect at parties, and “Super Smash Brothers Ultimate” is no exception. Within the latest installment, Nintendo has combined the casualness from “Super Smash Brothers Brawl” for newcomers along with polished competitive elements for die-hard competitive fans. The fighting game comes soon on

December 7th as an exclusive for the Nintendo Switch and has just recently become out of stock in the United States on Amazon, and is estimated to surpass “Brawl’s” sales of 13.3 million copies. With the game not even delivered yet, Nintendo has released a lot of information already in terms of gameplay. This is the fifth game in the franchise paying homage to past games with its tagline “Everyone is here” in the debut trailer for the game as characters such as Metal Gear Solid’s Snake are playable characters once again. It is not only older characters that can be seen in the game, but there are also eleven new characters. That

is not including the extra five DLC (Downloadable Content) characters that are expected to be released sometime in 2019, along with an extra character, Piranha Plant, for those who pre-order the game. Overall there are seventy-five playable characters for players to choose from, offering an immense variety of playing styles. From Simon Belmont’s lacerating whip to Ridley’s punishing grab attack which pummels characters onto the ground. Whichever character is chosen, chaos and fast-paced action are sure to insue with the new ability for eight players to play against one another all at the same time on

the same console. It is not only characters that are seeing a dramatic increase in selection, but it is also the stages in which characters can play on as there are now one hundred and three stages along with five more to come with the addition of DLC characters. The gameplay stays true while also being a more polished version of each game in the series, with special move sets and the new “smash meter” and “stage morphing” options completely changing the way of casual play. Now the gameplay can range drastically making some fights last within two minutes or even longer with

all the options of gameplay given to players. Within Nintendo’s recent announcement earlier during November, they revealed the new and exciting single player mode which seems to pay tribute to “Super Smash Bros. Brawl’s” story “Subspace Emissary”. The name of this game mode is called “World of Light”. In this story, there is a new villain, Galeem, that has completely annihilated every character in a very Thanos-esque way capturing every character except for the soft marshmallowlike character that is Kirby. It is then up to our little lovable character to save and unlock all these characters, which in turn is how players unlock the seventyfive playable characters. Within this single-player mode, gamers find themselves on a game board of sorts as they navigate the terrain fighting characters in order to unlock them from the clutches of Galeem. Along the way, players come across what is called “spirits” which once defeated will then join the players’ arsenal as each one has a special buff effect to the player such as making them fire resistant or heal during battle. The game looks extraordinarily promising as the ability to play with eight characters all on the same screen makes this game the “ultimate” party experience. With the Nintendo Switches ability to become portable, this means the fight can be taken anywhere!

Features

Focal Point

December 6 , 2018

Music and mood

Mark David Magat/The Skyline View

Positivity in the face of political trauma

How to stay optimistic amongst all of the political turmoil By Kylea Pearson TSV Staff Writer/Novice Editor In Chief

The first step is acceptance. The world we live in is going to change and evolve whether we have control over it or not. There is only so much we can do for our society, and at some point, you need to do something for your own mental health. We get heated in discussions regarding today’s politics and what the people in our government are doing “wrong.” In doing so, we can damage our own mentality and often find ourselves depressed, frustrated and in many cases, scared. We need to find ways to avoid getting lost in the frustration. Mindful Life Project is an organization dedicated to finding healthy outlets for people in all kinds of situations. When it comes to focus, stress can often fog up critical thinking. Mindful Life Project states, “Chronic exposure to things that stress us out makes it hard for us to pay attention, make decisions and engage effectively with the people around us. As I’ve mentioned before, this type of chronic stress can have serious effects on the brain, leaving us feeling anxious, depressed and depleted.” If people continue to stress over political situations and obsess over what’s going wrong in them, then it will wear them down over time and continue to allow that to grow over time, thus making people more fatigued and feeling “worn down.” Jimmy LaSalvia, a writer for The Daily Beast, said in his article “Striking a Positive Balance: Political Self-Help in the Age of Trump, “What is all of this fighting and negativity doing to our country? What’s it doing to each of us individually? Whether you call it karma, The Law of Attraction, ‘what goes around, comes around,’ however you label it, there are real, detrimental effects that being consumed with the negativity of the political fight have on us all.”

Feeling torn about the political environment is normal in today’s society. First, we have to address this fact and accept that the frustration has taken over us. LaSalvia also spoke on his experience with trying to “disconnect” from the toxicity of the political climate. “I had to dramatically reduce my time on social media and limit my consumption of news-talk programming on television and radio,” said LaSalvia. “A lot of people are doing this these days because the atmosphere has become so toxic.” One good way to relieve your mind is to disconnect. News fasting is one way to battle your stress of society. By only listening to local news, avoiding those ads on Facebook, and steering clear of the excessive Twitter updates, people get to refresh their minds after bombarding themselves with all the politics and drama. Another good way to ease your mind and muscles is by breathing, as stated by Careers In Psychology, an organization made up of a team of psychologists who write articles to help give information to those in need. “Deep breathing is a simple and efficient way to reduce your stress levels and regain control in your mind. When you start feeling overwhelmed at work or in any other environment, sit down and take a few deep and conscious breaths.” By actively stepping away from our phones for a few minutes and controlling our breath, we can ease our mindset and focus on ourselves instead of all the frustrations in the world around us. Because it has a lot to do with us and the world around us, politics has its grip on our minds and has a lot of power over how we feel. Some days are worse than others and we find that we don’t feel like ourselves. To bring everything back to the ground, step away from your surroundings for a minute, and breathe. It won’t change pol-

itics, but it will help change your world.

Quick tips to ease political stress • Meditation; Find a quiet place and focus on breathing • Disconnection; Go on a news fast and limit time on your phone • Going for a walk; It has been known to relieve anxiety and you can walk anywhere • Practicing selfcare; Avoid negativity, take time for yourself, and surround yourself with positive people

Mark David Magat/The Skyline View

By Sam Esser Novice Sports Editor

With music being so easily accessible now, we, as the consumer, can listen to whatever music we want in an instant. Kiana Wong, a Skyline student, has multiple Spotify playlists, titled “Sad Songs,” “Happy Tunes,” “Vibes,” and many more, in order to make her feel a certain way throughout her day. Music is a form of expression and each song may touch someone differently. In each playlist, Wong uses her music to shape how the day may play out, or to use as an outlet for her emotions. Accessibility and Ability Music can be accessed through Spotify, Apple Music, or even YouTube, so we, the common listener, have music around us on almost every medium. By listening to a song, hearing the score in a movie or television show, or simply whistling a tune, we are being affected by the power of music. “I use music as an escape,” Wong says. “When I’m having a hard time, I can turn on some oldies and feel transported to a better time.” Spirit of Music Music has such a strong effect on the listener that it can, essentially, change one’s mood completely. Mjaye Lozano, a Skyline student, and frequent basketball player mentioned how he used music to pump him up before playing in games. “My high school team would blast music in the locker rooms before every game to get us hyped,” Lozano said. “Songs like ‘It G Ma’ and ‘The Spiteful Chant’ really got us ready to play.” The Language of Expression Coming from the side of writing and music production, local rapper Derek “Delro” Del Rosario described how he uses music as an expression of his emotions, and how he uses his pen and his words to paint a picture for the listener to experience.

“When I write music, it’s a way to express emotions when you can’t express it in any other way,” Del Rosario said. “Music can be so familiar to us that we connect with a lot of songs and it can bring out emotions through the familiarity of our lives.” In Remembrance On another note, in a lot of the music we listen to today, we hear themes of sadness and depression: something that many students our age may be dealing with. The passing of Mac Miller took a great toll on many, and according to Billboard, his music streams skyrocketed 970% after his death. Music is very influential and there are some things that can only be expressed, and understood, through song. Some of Mac Miller’s songs, including “Self Care,” “2009,” and “Wings,” each talk about better times and dealing with depression. His last album “Swimming” will stick with many people for a long time. And, with the power of Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, music will never die and one’s message will always be

Apps For Music Lovers:

• Spotify & Apple Music;

Student discount and access to a full library of music

• Soundcloud;

Great for students who love to make music of their own

• Pandora;

Choose your own stations and get a variety of choices

THE SKYLINE VIEW A Special Section

U.N Report states that deadliest place for women is their home The U.N. report also disclosed that women are extremely more likely to die from domestic violence than men are, citing that 82 percent of intimate relationship homicide victims are women and 18 percent are men. “In the past year we have seen growing attention to one manifestation of this violence,” Guterres wrote. “Sexual harassment is experienced by most women at some point in their lives. Increasing public disclosure by women from all regions and all walks of life is bringing the magnitude of the problem to light...” The study suggested that violence against women has increased in the last five years. The study draws on data from 2012 in which 48,000, or 47 percent, of female homicides were perpetrated by intimate partners or family members. So what do we do about this? By Lauren Gozon TSV Digital Editor

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), released the “Global Study on Homicide: Gender-related Killing of Women and Girls.” The report revealed that 87,000 women were murdered by someone in their home in 2017 and analyzed the violence perpetrated against women, particularly intimate-partner violence and family-related killings. Over a third of those intentionally killed in 2017 were slain by a former or current intimate partner.

To put it into perspective, this means that, on a global scale, six women are killed every hour by someone familiar. In a statement from António Guterres, the U.N. secretary general, the violence against women and girls is described as a “global pandemic.” “At its core, violence against women and girls is the manifestation of a profound lack of respect — a failure by men to recognize the inherent equality and dignity of women. It is an issue of fundamental human rights,” Guterres said.

“The incredible double standard that we [women] face on a daily basis, in the industry and just in the world, it’s shocking. I would be so amused, and pardon me if this comes across as sexist, but I don’t think a male artist would be in this position right now. Sorry. If I’m speaking about something that I’m passionate about, I’m willing to take the brunt for fighting in what I believe in and my fellow women are definitely something that I will always be one of the first to speak up about.” - Ariana Grande, Billboard’s Women of the Year 2018

The study is a call for governments to help us shed further light on violence against women by collecting necessary data and reporting on it. Many of these homicides could have been prevented. Jean-Luc Lemahieu, director of policy analysis and public information at the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, told The Washington Post that more than 30,000 of those homicides were the direct result of domestic abuse and violence. “When a female loses her life, it is not without

predictions,” Lemahieu said. “You see incidences of verbal and other forms of violence. The pattern is established long before the homicide.” Steven “Steve” Aurilio, retired police sergeant for the Daly City Police Department and coordinator of the Administration of Justice Program at Skyline College, stated that during his 33-year career in law enforcement, violence perpetrated against women was common. “Domestic violence, violence perpetrated against women in general, and sexual assaults, has increasingly been at the forefront of headlines in recent years,” Aurilio said. “What used to be on the ‘back burner’ of attention, these and similar offenses are now gaining national attention. Because of this I believe that we are now on a pathway that will go beyond simply becoming more aware and sensitive to these troubling issues.” Leslie Herrera, who has an AA degree in criminal justice, said that, “A lot of people don’t acknowledge that it’s (abuse) is not only physical, it can be verbal and mental abuse” as well. Universally, violence against women is underreported to authorities, according to the U.N. study. Is there a solution to stopping the violence? Some may say, “well, just don’t be violent.” However, the problem is too complex to just have one solid solution. Violence against

“When I’m sometimes asked when will there be enough [women on the Supreme Court] and I say, ‘When there are nine,’ people are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.”

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

women is rooted in several cultures around the world and the point in time to start unlearning all of the oppressive and backward values and qualities are long overdue. “So, how do we fix this?” Aurilio asked. “Well, educating the public is a good start. It should begin early. Perhaps teaching children in the grade schools that harming women, or anyone, is not right.” This is a huge call for law enforcement to protect its victims and empower them while holding their abusers accountable for their actions. Ariana Hernandez, a business marketing major and blog writer, said that our community needs to, “respond differently to abusers and voice this issue as much as we enforce voting.” Hernandez also believes that therapy should be more easily accessible to those who have suffered from abuse. “Not all of us have the will and strength to overcome such on our own,” Hernandez said. “Men need to be involved in efforts to combat intimate partner violence/family-related homicide and in changing cultural norms that move away from violent masculinity and gender stereotypes,” the U.N report stated. The report was released to coincide with its International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which was prompted to raise awareness of gender-based violence around the world.

“We teach girls shame. Close your legs; cover yourself. We make them feel as though being born female, they’re already guilty of something. And so, girls grow up to be women who silence themselves. They grow up to be women who cannot say what they truly think. And they grow up--and this is the worst thing we do to girls--they grow up to be women who have turned pretense into an art form.” - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian Novelist

Special Section

December 6, 2018

Lovey’s serves up authentici-tea

Martha Gellhorn is considered one of the greatest war correspondents and journalists of the 20th century?

Lovey’s Tea Shoppe is located at the intersection of Highway 1 and Rockaway Beach Plaza in Pacifica, CA on Dec. 3, 2018.

By Olivia Bowman TSV Copy Editor

Lace curtains fill the windows. A row of gently-used mismatched seating rests outside of the 1950s diner-style business. Holiday lights glow from within and through the glass doors making it easy to see the many trinkets that line the walls. An eccentric business, Lovey’s Tea Shoppe in Pacifica has been serving customers high tea for the last six years. Lovey’s Tea Shoppe sits at an intersection of Highway 1 at the Rockaway Beach Plaza, but its unique decor and location make it a coveted destination for locals and out-of-towners. Part of Lovey’s Tea Shoppe’s charm comes from the mismatched tea sets and warm atmosphere of the establishment. Co-owners of Lovey’s Gillian Briley and Muna Nashashibi were intentional in creating a more comfortable ambience for Lovey’s as a way to differentiate it from their first business, Lovejoy’s Tea Room in San Francisco, which has a more formal feel. “I love the fact that everything is mismatched, kind of like going to Grandma’s house for tea,” said Rebecca Creighton, the kitchen manager at Lovey’s. Catering to a wide demographic, Creighton detailed Lovey’s customers: “kids having tea parties, people celebrating their

90th birthday, men and women, and people from across the country and as well as other countries.” Chantal Jones, a customer of Lovey’s, touted the “lovely, eclectic shop” for its “victorian inspiration, good food and nice tea.” Briley and Nashashibi are a best-friend-and-business-owner duo. Their friendship started in 1981 when they attended San Diego State University together. They kept in touch after Nashashibi moved to Ireland and started providing tea services out of a bed-and-breakfast. “She fell in love with the tradition,” Briley said. After returning to the U.S. to care for her father, Nashashibi found herself living in San Francisco, the same city as her college friend Briley. They decided to start a business there called Lovejoy’s Tea Room with the unique selling point of offering a high tea service. “In the beginning, we didn’t know what we were doing,” Briley said. “We were scared, but we developed communication skills.” Nashashibi put her marketing skills to use when trying to get Lovejoy’s up and running. As for Briley, before she was a co-owner of Lovejoy’s she was working as a stage manager for theater productions. “Stage managing helped prepare me,” said Briley

Photos by Olivia Bowman

about running the business. Briley and Nashashibi grew their business over the course of about 10 years. They sold Lovejoy’s Tea Room, but it is still running today and is womenowned as Briley proudly noted. This business venture that was only supposed to last a year, became a passion project for the women when they found they loved it. Situated in a location that was once thought to be “the death of all businesses” by locals, Lovey’s is not only surviving, but thriving. Briley and Nashashibi helped a former employee open up a Lovejoy’s in Redwood City, and on this particular day, the face of a future Lovejoy’s is in the shop. Brendon Constans, who was once a regular customer at Lovey’s, is moving to Portland, Ore. and wanted to start a Lovejoy’s Tea Room there. “We want to help others realize their goal of starting a tea room,” Briley said. What seems evident from spending any amount of time with them is the amount of support they offer each other and others. “[Opening a business] takes it to the next level in friendship and now our friendship is stronger,” Briley said. “There’s a level of trust when you start a business with your best friend.”

Mismatched china like above are a hallmark at Lovey’s Tea Shoppe on Dec. 3, 2018.

Gillian Briley (left), Brendon Constans (middle), and Muna Nashashibi (right) pose for a photo on Dec. 3, 2018. Briley and Nashashibi are co-owners of Lovey’s Tea Shoppe and Constans is a future tea shop owner.

You can visit Lovey’s Tea Shoppe at 4430 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacifica, CA 94044

By Lauren Gozon TSV Digital Editor

Martha Ellis Gellhorn was an American writer, travel writer, and journalist who was considered one of the great war correspondents during the 20th century. During the span of her 60-year-long career, Gellhorn reported on virtually every major world conflict that took place. Ernest Hemingway, an American author was Gellhorn’s husband from 1940 to 1945. Gellhorn met Hemingway during a Christmas family trip to Key West, Florida in 1936. The pair agreed to travel to Madrid, Spain together in order to cover the Spanish Civil War of 1936, in which Gellhorn had been hired to report for Collier’s Weekly. Just two years later, Gellhorn, while in Germany, reported on the rise of Adolf Hitler. Dedicated to her life as a reporter, Gellhorn often took long absences which caused a strain on her relationship with Hemingway. Gellhorn traveled over Western Europe to cover World War II, first starting in Britain. Gellhorn was firm on her stance to be there when the Allied powers prepared to invade Nazi-occupied France in 1944. Regardless of the lack of U.S. support for female correspondents reporting on the front lines, Gellhorn stowed away on a medical ship to report on the D-Day landings. She later recalled in her book titled “The Face of War,” “From November 1943, with one unavoidable break in the spring of 1944, I followed the war wherever I could reach it.” She was the first woman to land in Normandy on D-Day. In the same autobiography, she wrote, “The U.S. Army public relations officers, the bosses of the American press, were a doctrinaire bunch who objected to a woman being a correspondent with combat troops.” On April 29, 1945, during the liberation period, she was one of the first journalists that entered Dachau with American troops and reported on the infamous concentration camp. Her coverage of major world events, including the rise of Adolf Hitler and the liberation of the concentration camp in Dachau is precisely why she holds the prestige of being one of the greatest war correspondent and journalists in our nation. Her accounts of the major world events and her ambition to report on them was a landmark piece of journalism and redefined what it meant to be a journalist. Gellhorn wrote in her novel “The View from the Ground,” “Journalism is education for me. The readers, if any, may get some education too but the big profit is mine. Writing is payment for the chance to look and learn.” In her final years of life, Gellhorn fell ill, and had ovarian cancer that had spread to her liver and she also suffered from blindness. On February 15, 1998, she took her own life in London by taking a cyanide capsule. The Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism was established in 1999 by the Martha Gellhorn Trust to honor her. Gellhorn had documented many of the most influential events of the 20th century and had she not done this, we would not have eyewitness accounts of the events that took place. She continues to be an inspiration and model to many female journalists and war reporters today.

14 December 06, 2018

Focal Point

feature

CIPHER brings community together CIPHER program brings together local vendors, talent and entrepreneurs during Holiday bling event.

From left to right: Lucian Valadez and Ernesto Hernandez selling their items and talking with Skyline student during the 4th annual CIPHER Holiday Bling event on Dec. 4 , 2018. Photo by Maria Isabel Del Castillo Schmidhuber / The Skyline View

By Maria Isabel Del Castillo Schmidhuber TSV FOCAL POINT EDITOR

The CIPHER (Center for Innovative Practices through Hip Hop Education & Research) had their fourth annual Holiday Bling Vendor’s Fair and Open Mic which promoted local businesses and provided the community with some early holiday shopping, as well as a space to use their voice at an open mic. The CIPHER program at Skyline College is a “hip-hop and social justice community that seeks to foster leadership development

and creativity both in and out of the classroom”. The program reaches out to students and the youth through hip-hop music and ties their education with relevant topics that are interesting to the students. “Holiday Bling is important because we really want to honor and acknowledge just some local talent, local vendors and people out there being entrepreneurs,” Nate Nevado, the creator of the program and event, said in an Instagram story interview. The event was a place for the

community to come and share their work and creativity, whether it was through words or handmade items. For some vendors, like Ernesto Hernandez, who makes shirt designs, Skyline has a different vibe with the youth. Hernandez also said that he “feel[s] very happy when someone buys [his] things and are satisfied.” Hernandez was invited by Rocio Aguilar-Pedroza, a counselor from the Puente program, which aims to increase the number of educationally under-served students who enroll in four-year

colleges and universities from Skyline. Prior to the Holiday Bling, Hernandez had sold his items at Stanford University but felt like the youth and music he experienced at Skyline was a different vibe than at Stanford. Jennifer Bates, another vendor who has participated in this event before, said that more people were buying items this time around and seeing people leave with her items gave her a warm feeling since she puts a lot of effort into what she creates. Bates has a Facebook page where she lists her items for people

to buy, which allows her to reach a bigger audience. “Its nice to feel like it’s Christmas at the beginning of December, that is why I bought stuff,” Skyline student Teresa Gutierrez said, who didn’t know about the event but took advantage and bought some Christmas gifts while she was on her way to the Public Safety office. Selling products wasn’t the only part of this event. The open mic was a designated open space for anyone to perform. Skyline student James Gilson, who was also featured in The Skyline View Instagram story, performed a poem of his own. “The inspiration for my piece is from this book called The BreakBeat Poets and it was a poem by Tara Betts called “Hip-hop Analogy,”” Gilson said about where the motivation for his poem came from. CIPHER provided students with an opportunity to express their voices in a way they may not have before. Students read their poetry on stage in front of an audience for the first time, as opposed to being in a classroom setting. Local vendors, including Skyline employees, were able to share their art with the world as CIPHER intended with the Holiday Bling.

How to Holiday Spirit this season By Maria Isabel Del Castillo Schmidhuber TSV FOCAL POINT EDITOR

With December comes Christmas and the wonderful holiday season and spirit that many cherish and await the entire year. But have you ever felt like you missed out? This is all about not missing out on the holiday spirit and feeling. The holiday spirit isn’t just a spell that one can perform and have in an instant. First of all, most us are probably muggles preventing us to do any magic but also the holiday spirit is something that needs to be worked for in order to achieve it. That is why it is cherished when it is present. One can get excited when going out to pick out the perfect tree, and setting up all the fun and bright decorations in your home but how does one keep that feeling going all the way until Christmas? Many websites like HelloGiggles suggests a few things like changing up tunes to more Christmas-y vibes, and you are very much encouraged to sing along at the top of your lungs if you wish, because why not. Decorating your home with Christmas scents can also help you get into that joyful spirit. The smells can be up to you. Cover your house with the smells that remind you of Christmas, you could even try for some pine and peppermint smells, to make your

lovely house feel more cozy and get you closer to that Christmas mood, if you aren’t there yet. There is always the good old suggestion of watching Christmas movies but one can do more for that holiday spirit by dressing up with Christmas colors attire, with a cozy blanket, and some with hot chocolate. This was a similar suggestion that HelloGiggles also had in their article. Now these are only a few of the many suggestions that websites have for anyone who doesn’t want the jolly season taken for granted or overlooked. But they aren’t the only ones who have a couple of suggestions for this season. Skyline student Christin Saw stated that in order to get into the holiday spirit she “makes personalized gifts and toys.” This season is about the people who surround you and DIY gifts are a great way to show how much they mean to you. These types of gifts take longer but are worth giving out and receiving due to the fact that the creator of these pieces made sure that the item was a pure representation of a part of you. Skyline student Melissa Macalisang said, “ I do Secret Santa with my family.” The famous gift exchange happens between families, friends, co-workers and others during the holidays. This consists of randomly picking a name from slips of papers and getting that

person a gift. The point is to keep it a secret. No one is to know who got who but the secrets can be shared in the process at times. “I just spend time with my family,” said Skyline student Liza Hui when asked about the things she does to get ready and in the mood for Christmas. Families must cherish every moment possible. To have a family is a luxury that not many get to have and Christmas is a reminder of the joy and loving moments a family can bring into someone’s own life.

Staff writer and Focal point editors Maria Isabel Del Castillo Schmidhuber’s fully decorated Christmas tree on Dec. 24, 2017. Photo by Maria Isabel Del Castillo Schmidhuber / The Skyline View

The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, Calif.

The Skyline View

TROJAN ATHLETICS

Second year player Moises Sandoval pulls up from three during Tuesday afternoon’s practice Dec. 4, 2018.

By Diego Emilio Perez TSV Sports Editor

Skyline men’s basketball is optimistic about the rest of their 2018-2019 season despite losing their last three games, the Trojans have enough talent and leadership on their roster to get them back on track before the midseason mark. The Trojans’ home record currently stands at 2-2 and the Skyline College Classic basketball tournament starts this Friday, Dec. 7. This is a perfect opportunity for the team to defend their home court and set a tone of winning at home for the rest of the season. Skyline has six sophomores and five freshmen on the roster this season, providing a solid foundation to make a playoff run. “We want to get this group to play to the top of their potential,” Head Coach Justin Piergrossi said about his team. “Really looking for more and counting on our sophomores that have a little game experience to become more of leaders and lead us to where we want to go.” Skyline’s second year players need to keep the locker room unified throughout the whole season if they want to see noticeable improvements. They are still in the early stages of the season, but the chemistry is the locker room is very good. “We’re more passive this year, there’s a lot of ball movement, and a lot more guys can knock down shots,” sophomore player Moises Sandoval said. “We are as one and we never fall apart.” When speaking about the strengths of Skyline’s offense, Sandoval said, “it involves everybody and everybody plays as one.”

The Trojans play a home game on Wednesday, Dec. 5 against Gavilan College, who are currently on four game win streak. If Skyline can get a win, it would provide much needed momentum going into this weekend’s tournament. “I think the main thing for me and what I also try to get out of my teammates is confidence,” first year player Masie Mohammadi said. “When you have confidence you can play really well and when you have confidence you do the stuff that coach tells you to do like jump stop or make the extra pass.” Mohammadi is currently the Trojans’ leading scorer, but he is not motivated by individual statistics. “Yeah, being a freshman, it’s kind of cool being the leading scorer. But at the same time, we need to win games and that’s the most important part right now,” Mohammadi said. If the team can keep their goals in common and consistently put the team’s success above their own, they should have no problem getting better. Hard work and diligence are key aspects of every successful team and Skyline’s coaching staff does an effective job exemplifying that to their players. “For us, it’s really a daily thing trying to get a little better each and every single day,” Assistant Coach Eddy Harris said. When discussing how the Trojans can get out their current losing streak, Harris said, “it starts in practice, if we can get a little better in practice, be a little more focused, we should be a little more engaged [for] a little longer, [then] that will take care of itself in game.”

Upcoming Games Men’s Basketball Skyline College Classic Tournament Dec. 7 vs. College of the Redwoods

Diego Emilio Perez/The Skyline View

SKYLINE COLLEGE achieve. Spring 2019 Classes begin JANUARY 14

TAKE CLASSES IN: EDUCATION/ CHILD DEVELOPMENT skylinecollege.edu/epicenter/index.php

MUSIC skylinecollege.edu/music/index.php

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Dec. 8 vs. College of the Siskiyous

Women’s Basketball City College of San Francisco Tournament Dec. 14-16 @ CCSF vs. TBA

skylinecollege.edu/kinesiologyphysed

webschedule.smccd.edu

Sports

December 6, 2018

Skyline Falls to Sierra @ CCSF Tournament

Skyline freshman Jeremy Tang, attempts a free throw agaisnt Sierra College on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 at City College of San Francisco.

By Sam Esser

Novice Staff Writer

The Skyline Trojans lost to Sierra College, Saturday, in an eight-point, 72-64 defeat at the City College of San Francisco Tournament. Skyline came into Saturday’s game with a 3-3 record, looking to make improvements to their win column. However, Sierra College did not make it easy for them. Early in the game, the Trojans ran much of their offense through their big man, sophomore Daniel Zorb, number 40, who had a strong presence in the post all game. Sierra continued to make threes throughout the game, stopping any momentum built up by the Trojans with a bucket. During one of those runs, sophomore Noah Haynesworth threw down a vicious dunk from, number 24, to cut the deficit to four points. In the last five minutes of the first half, Skyline was never down more than seven points, and they found themselves in the bonus. The Trojans went three for eight from the charity stripe in the last minutes of the half, not capitalizing on the free points potentially handed to them. The end of the first half saw the Trojans only down five points, with a score of 34-39. Coming out of halftime, Sierra

College went on a nine to zero run, making two threes and an and-one, to put them up 14 over the Trojans. Skyline responded with a pair of threes of their own from freshman guard Jerry Tang, number 11, and sophomore wing Moises Sandoval, number 23. The Trojans were within striking distance all game, but Sierra College’s full court press stifled the back court. Some costly turnovers and ill advised shots kept them just out of reach. A few late baskets came from number 35 sophomore wing Isaac Loera that cut the deficit to six with a few minutes left in the game. A couple more buckets from Sierra College and the final horn would sound with Skyline headed to the loser’s bracket. The Trojans, led by Coach Justin Piergrossi, are outright in their efforts to recruit local players each year, with 190 out of 214 players, that played under Coach Piergrossi, coming from the Bay Area. The sense of community that Coach Piergrossi brings in by recruiting local players helps the fans to feel like more of a unit since they have seen the same kids playing for years. “We have six sophomores this year and a lot of freshmen who are hungry and excited to be playing here,” Coach Piergrossi said. “That passion usually carries over to a substantial

With Diego Emilio Perez

Support the Trojans

Sam Esser/The Skyline View

improvement over their career.” After this game, the Trojans were sitting on a 3-4 record, though there is still a full regular season to be played. Antonio Hughes, a former Skyline player, currently playing in his senior season at St. Francis University on a full scholarship, talks about his time at Skyline. “Coach P really pushed us to be our best,” Hughes said. “We may not have had the most talented team, but we learned, throughout the season, how to play as a unit. Team basketball is a staple of the Skyline program.” The Trojans have been getting a great turnout at their games, nearly filling up the stands. Skyline students and faculty, alike, can be seen rooting for their school each game. “I love watching Skyline games,” Riley Dador said, a Skyline student. “It helps to feel a little more connected to the school.” Whether it be at home or away, you will see Skyline fans rooting on their team until the final buzzer sounds. The Trojans finished the weekend 0-2 in the tournament, losing to Diablo Valley College, by two points, in a nail biter; Skyline now has a 3-5 record. But, don’t fret, there’s still a lot of Skyline basketball left to be played.

“I love watching Skyline games ... It helps to feel a little more connected to the school.” - Riley Dador, Skyline student

In the Post

Community college sports are harshly underappreciated, many students complete their two years at a community college without ever attending a sports event. Skyline students need to show more support for the sports programs by attending more games. Sports are not for everybody, meaning there is a percentage of students who would never contemplate sitting through a professional sporting event - let alone a community college sports game. That leaves a bigger responsibility for sports fans to be an active supporter and participant in their college’s sports. No matter what the sport is, there is always a crowd aspect that plays into the atmosphere of an event. Home court/field advantage is alive and well in college sports because students are the best fans. Skyline has talented rosters across the six sports teams, most of which have garnered a considerable amount of team successes. In the fall 2018 semester, the Skyline men’s soccer team earned 12 wins and made it to the playoffs for the second season in a row. They boasted a tremendous 6-3-1 record at home with little help from students in the crowd. If the bleachers were filled up at every home game next season, an undefeated home record may be an attainable goal for the Trojans’ soccer team. Contrarily, Skyline wrestling struggled this season. Having lost both their home meets and finishing with a 0-4 conference record, students in the crowd could provide a morale boost at home meets for the Trojan wrestlers. Rooting for your college sports team and attending games can bring the community that every student is a part of closer together. Community college is commonly seen in a different light than four-year institutions, both academically and athletically. Community college students can change their negative perceptions about being at a community college by succeeding in their classes and supporting their college’s sports programs. College sports has a special place in the hearts of many. People that never attended a higher education institute still often have a favorite college team that they root for. Attending a hard fought win or loss for your team is an incomparable experience that will forever leave a mark on your educational experience. College is a stressful time for almost everybody, and just being on campus can often surface flashbacks of cramming for a final or staying up to finish a paper. Creating fun memories with friends at games can bring a newfound appreciation for your time spent at a community college. The time spent in community college, whether it be brief or lengthy, will always allow you an opportunity to attend a sports event. My goal for In the Post was to write an informative sports column that could be enjoyed by sports fans and casual readers alike. This is the final edition of my column and I want to thank everyone that read my section throughout this semester, as well as my fellow staff at The Skyline View for their amazing support.