TSV Spring 2019 Issue #1

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

theskylineview.com

January 31, 2019

volume xliv-issue 1

Transfer center helps boost transfer rates transfer process to be complex and easy to get lost along the way.

“It’s almost like a scavenger hunt need to do,” Cowart said. “For the community colleges, at least in California, there’s Assist, but it feels like sometimes even with that you’re missing things and you have to go search on other resources.”

Cowart’s sentiments about the process of transferring are shared

by Kristiana Wolf-Blake, also in her third year in the San Mateo Community College District. She has applied to a variety of UCs and CSUs to obtain her bachelor’s degree.

“I think it’s really important to do a mix of your own research and talk to people that have been through it before,” Wolf-Blake said. “This is one of those things where truly no question is a bad question, the more information you have the better.”

A student stands in front of the Transfer Hall Of Fame on Jan. 30, 2019.

By Cameron Rebosio

TSV STAFF WRITER

More than half of Skyline students enter with the goal of transferring to a four-year college, but less than an eighth of students are doing so within three years.

A 2016 report from the Community College Research Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College indicates that 80 percent of students nationwide aim to transfer and obtain a bachelor’s degree, but within six years, only 14 percent have a bachelor’s

degree.

Bailee Cowart is in her third year in the San Mateo Community College District, and has applied to two UCs and one CSU in hopes of obtaining her bachelor’s degree. “(I’m motivated by) my want to succeed and my want to achieve my goals,” Cowart said. She added that she stays driven because she wants “to help others and to do degree.”

According to Skyline’s transfer center website, 58 percent of

Kylea Pearson/The Skyline View

Skyline students enter with similar aspirations, but as of August 31, 2017, only 11 percent of students transfer within three years and 25 percent graduate. Transfer Program Services Coordinator Ernesto Hernandez, however, believes that people need to think past the data.

“It’s always been a challenge to measure (transfer rates) across California,” Hernandez said.

“What’s important is who is the denominator? What students are measured in this analysis?”

Status of on-campus crime

Kendrick A. Rojas/The Skyline View

Public Safety car parked outside Skyline College on Jan. 30, 2019

By Kendrick A. Rojas

TSV Focal Point Ediotr

With the commencement of 2019, the crime rates in San Bruno have tics available to the general public.

Analysis of this data informs the campus of the effectiveness of safety precautions and also what improvements can be made.

Statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Education state

that the most prevalent crimes on college campus are burglary, motor vehicle theft, and drug abuse. Likewise, the most common crimes around the campus are larceny, theft, and assault as provided by the San Bruno Police Department. Despite the decrease in crime in comparison to previous years, rape has increased by two cases since 2018.

In reaction to on-campus crime, Public Safety and the local police

work in conjunction to ensure the safety of all students.

Cowart and Wolf-Blake feel that their time in community college provided them with many traits valuable.

“I think community college is a really good in-between step. A lot of the people that I’ve talked to that went straight to a four year after high school were really unprepared and kind of shocked by the amount of work that they had to do,” Wolf-Blake said. “I can manage a job, I can manage real degree-level coursework, and I get to do it in a transitional sense.

So it’s not jumping into the deep end fully, but it’s also not holding

workings of Public Safety. She explains that comfortability is the top priority so that students can focus on their studies and not worry about potential threats. She also goes on to say that “public safety Bruno Police Department and stay on top of what’s happening in the community.”

At Skyline, lighting is strategically placed around campus in areas of high risk. In addition, personal escorts are available on campus for students who do not feel safe when going to their cars. Public Safety has also worked in conjunction with Colin to compile suggestions to reduce the likelihood of crime. on campus and are aware of local crimes because they are in constant contact with the local authorities.

myself back.”

According to Hernandez, the relationship between California community colleges and CSUs has strengthened with the introduction of the associate’s degree for transfer. Similarly, colleges in the UC system have committed to admitting one transfer student for every two freshmen. California’s four-year public universities have been collaborating with California community colleges to help transfer students achieve admission.

“We have universities in our what’s called pre-admission advising,” Hernandez said. “They meet with students one-on-one … not only do they inform you of the transfer requirements, they inform you of what the next steps are and what the campus life is, the residential life, (and) housing.”

To help students, Skyline boasts a student teacher ratio of 43:1, under the national average for a community college, as well as a transfer center designed to assist students. The transfer center offers workshops where students can get one-on-one help on their applications, visits from representatives from several fourmile radius are toured.

“Transfer is happening almost every day,” Hernandez said. “Just seek the services early to help you plan and transfer from Skyline college with a great experience but also in a timely manner.”

by having less of a police-like presence.” Campus security is in contact with each other through means of radios and the three colleges also have a 911 dispatcher available for all students to contact in case of an emergency. Students can also sign up for AlertU through WebSMART to receive updates about on-campus activity.

It is evident that there are many resources for students to utilize for their safety.

Public safety and the college itself work to make the San Mateo County campuses as safe as possible. They encourage students to speak out and make their voice heard so that everyone can continue to educate themselves in a peaceful institution.

Bruno Police Department and stay on top of what’s happening in the community.”

- Cherie Colin, Director of Community Relations Director of Community Relations and Marketing Cherie Colin provided some insight into the

Colin explains that campus security has “changed their appearance to make students more comfortable

Scan this QR code For more on campus

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The Staff Co-Editors-In-Chief Mark David Magat Olivia Bowman News Editor Kylea Pearson

News

January 31, 2019

Enrollment shifts for community colleges

Opinions Editor Mark David Magat Focal Point Editor Kendrick A. rojas Sports Editor Daniel Archuleta Chief Copy Editor Olivia Bowman Photo editor Mark David Magat Staff writers Sean Kamuwela Sliger Dan Burke/Harris Cameron Rebosio Heather Wiley Patricia Laude I-Wei Chang Ry Bevington Larissa Barreto Cavalcante Staff Photographer Kathryn Trefz Staff Illustrator Xavier Alvarez Faculty Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel

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

(650)738-4302 Want to yell at us? theskylineview@gmail.com Or use snail mail: The Skyline View c/o Language Arts Room 8-8110 Skyline College 3300 College Drive

San Bruno CA 94066

Kylea Pearson/The Skyline View

A student scims through Skyline’s course catalog online on Jan. 30, 2019.

trends. Declines in enrollment, as mentioned before, have impacted Skyline as well as other community colleges in America.

In an infographic provided by U.S. News & World Reports, Skyline’s total enrollment for the fall semester of 2013 was 10,067 whereas currently, according to Community College Review, the enrollment has decreased to 9,393 students during fall 2018 and also states, “The student:teacher ratio of 43:1 has decreased from 45:1 over five years.”

This data illustrates the impact that the recession has taken upon student enrollment as the number of students has slowly decreased.

Yet Skyline still maintains a higher than average enrollment rate for community colleges in America.

Although Skyline is prospering and maintains a healthy campus life with enrollment, it too has experienced this divot with enrollment.

Dr. Masao Suzuki, an economics professor at Skyline, describes the impact that a recession takes on Skyline professors and how exactly the college deals with a lower budget. “Adjunct professors are most heavily affected. More

By Sean Kamuwela Sliger TSV STAFF WRITER

Low enrollment in community colleges is found to be caused by post-recession economic impacts as cited in an InsideHigherEd article. Skyline College is not exempt from this issue and it affects more than the school’s budget. Low enrollment can change the teachers’ curriculum and the classroom set-up which can alter a student’s experience in community college.

Ashley A. Smith, a writer for Inside InsideHigher Ed claims, “Two-year colleges have been coping with declining enrollments since around 2010 when the Great Recession ended and the national unemployment rate began falling from about 10 percent to around 5 percent today.”

Smith continues this point: “But when researchers project demographic information to 2025, the declines become sharper.”

Smith’s article “No Bottom Yet in 2-Year College Enrollments” speaks on not only what community colleges have faced in the past with low enrollment, but also states what can be expected for the future enrollment

tenured professors have ‘bumping rights’.” Adjunct professors are professors who are signed to a limited-term contract and are not able to have tenure. Dr. Suzuki shows this form of budget cutting that can put certain teachers at a greater risk of unemployment than others, “You can convert a class to another class and take over an adjunct’s class, can teach during summer, or a full-time professor can replace an adjunct.” Therefore with classes being canceled, it provides the district with money in order to fund programs that are deemed important based on the amount of enrollment of students or if it is required often times for a specific major.

Although there is an effect on teachers, Sam Sanchez, a Skyline professor for digital filmmaking, states that he had a different experience than what has been expressed through the data.

When asked about the impact low enrollment takes for his classes, Sanchez states, “There has been no effect. Although enrollment is lower, I still teach my classes as normal.” With the current status of enrollment for community colleges, it has impacted teachers with different amounts of severity.

Weekly Briefs Update on Faculty Housing Construction

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.

The construction that has taken over College Drive and causing in-coming traffic to Skyline College is said to be concluded and officially opened for faculty housing in spring 2020. The area will consist of two buildings that will have 30 total employee housing units (1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments).

Similar to those at the College of San Mateo and Cañada College.

The adjacent property will consist of 40 single family homes by Summerhill Homes which also had helped set the blueprints for the faculty housing and had been in charge of the already constructed housing within the nearby community. For now the roadblocks will remain in place and the fence that gates off the parallel street will continue standing.

No-Straw Policy Implemented in Campus Coffee Shop

America Faces Longest Government Shutdown

Though Starbucks shops will not be implementing the new “no straw unless asked” rule until 2020, the on-campus World Coffee & Tea shop has already begun this transition. Unless a customer requests a straw from the barista the customer will not receive one. This way, those with disabilities still have straws available to them, but students who don’t need a straw will help reduce 2,000 tons worth of waste by either bringing they’re own reusable straw, which you can purchase online or in-stores (such as Walgreens or CVS Pharmacy) in metal casing or platic casing, or they can choose to adhere to the new cold lid that is styled similarly to a hot lid but with decompostable materials, making it less harmful to the environment.

America has now been a part of the longest federal government shut down in our history. But on January 25th, President Trump signed a short-term spending bill to end the government shutdown. Trump came to an agreement with the Democratic party to support a measure to re-open the government and separately negotiate a plan for border security. After the fact, Trump tweets, “It was taking care of millions of people who were getting badly hurt by the Shutdown with the understanding that in 21 days, if no deal is done, it’s off to the races!” Now government workers are left wondering when they will be paid for the work they put in throughout the length of the shutdown, in which they did not recieve a pay check.

Even though the impact of low enrollment may vary depending on if a professor is adjunct or not, students are affected by classes that may be canceled in the process which are required for their major. Hailey Center, a Skyline student, has been directly affected by these changes in enrollment. One of her classes that was required in order for her to transfer was canceled due to low enrollment.

“I really needed that Chem 112 class for my major and since there weren’t enough students and now I don’t know when it’s going to be offered again,” said Center. With this uncertainty created, students not only have to take in consideration their own schedule, but they have to think about how they can achieve their academic goals if a class is canceled.

Community college enrollment within America differs depending on the economic impacts such as the recession. The economy shows to be a large part in the decision that students take to enroll and it is the enrollment of students which ultimately decides the preservation of certain classes.

Former BuzzFeed Employees Hope To Receive Severance Buzzfeed laid off over 200 staff members across the country on Jan. 29 from their national news desk and almost the entire national security team. Chief Executive, Jonah Peretti is facing consequences for the decision not to pay the workers who were laid off (besides the workers from California). However, Peretti defends his decision as he claimed he is not required by law to compensate his former employees. The company planned a meeting for the next day to discuss their reasoning and answer employee questions.

Notes and information from this meeting has yet to be released.

Head of HR, Lenke Taylor ensures that laid off employees will receive a severance package of a minimum of 10-weeks pay.

Buzzfeed is also extending their company benefits until April.

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Opinions

January 31, 2019

LOSE CHANGE WITH MARK DAVID MAGAT

Superhero’s ultimate villain Mental illness being represented in media is on the rise, and comic books aren’t falling behind in that realm. But with our heroes showing serious issues, such as mental illness, a lot of fans aren’t on board with these “weaknesses” being shown within their favorite heroes. But this shouldn’t be seen as weakness in heroes, it should be seen as a piece of the struggle that our heroes have to fight against.

Heroes like Batman and Spiderman are now showing issues with mental illness and for very good reason, being a hero is not the easiest job in the world. Putting your life on the line everyday for no pay and no guarantee for the safety of you or your loved ones is stressful, and that doesn’t even take into account the tragic backstory most, if not all heroes suffer from.

To narrow our discussion, we’ll be focusing on Tom King’s run on DC Rebirth’s Batman. In King’s rendition, Bruce Wayne shows his struggle with depression and trauma. His parent’s death didn’t just lead him to be a crime fighter, but to be a suicide survivor and an addict to his work, being Batman.

When discussing his life, Bruce told Gotham Girl that he’s not Batman because he likes it, he’s Batman because that’s who he is.

He knows no other alternative to his struggle with his childhood trauma other fighting and giving.

His only coping skill is Batman.

And slowly over that conversa-

tion with Gotham Girl, Bruce says he’s afraid to be happy, that he’s afraid of failing to be happy, and in the long run, if his own happiness will get in the way of his mission.

The discussion of Batman’s mentality of putting himself last and his city and the people he loves first has always been there, but with King’s story telling, we see it not from a heroic stand point, but as a self destructive defense system.

A lot of people who suffer from depression have the same mindset and seeing it in a hero, not even mentioning it’s the Batman, is quite amazing. For most people, someone who gets their own mindset and issues is enough comfort, but here it being shown taken to an extreme is self destructive and that you need to be a priority, or you’ll be as miserable as Bruce Wayne.

Hearing people say comics isn’t the place for these issues just doesn’t make sense. Mental illness is rising every year. According to Mental Health America, more youth are experiencing mental health problems. The rise of depressive episodes among youth increased by a 11-12% in recent years.

A lot of comic book readers are teens and children, and if we show them that these issues aren’t necessarily life ending or self defining, maybe the stigma of mental illness and other issues can be avoided more easily. A product that goes into millions of developing minds should carry strong messages on

real issues.

There is a fear that children can’t handle bigger issues, but it’s not the issue that is too much for them, it’s the delivery of these issues. In the movie the Lion King, children have faced one of the most heart wrenching death scenes with Mufasa, and children were affected but rather than not handle the death in less than savory ways, children are the ones opening up the conversations about death in a civil and conscious way.

Bring mental health issues to comics isn’t really a question of our young kids not being ready to handle that issue, it’s a question of do we even want them to have to deal with these issues. Our kids will have to face issues, such as mental health eventually, and the sooner they’re exposed to it the better they’ll be prepared.

And some would say hero’s are suppose to be who we want to be and should be an example of who we should be. But saying our heroes don’t deal with these issues doesn’t just alienate a demographic, but also villianizes mental illness.

A lot of villains such as Joker, Two Face and Riddler suffer from mental illness and that doesn’t seem to be an issue. And with this, we show that this is the only route for the people who suffer from mental health issues, and this is just wrong.

Showing a hero, a hero as famous as Batman, having mental health issues isn’t a sign of weakness nor

does it make our heroes any less of a goal for children to become one, it actually makes them more relatable and accessible to more people.

When people saw Miguel O’Hara or Miles Morales as Spiderman, people of minorities raved because they can finally see themselves in their favorite heroes. Take the same thing for a child dealing with depression, anxiety, or any mental issue, they can have a hero that they can look up to.

The main problem with putting major issues in media, such as mental illness, isn’t that people aren’t ready to see those stories, it’s an issue on who’s brave enough to put it out there and how those people execute it. With Tom King’s Batman, children suffering

from depression and trauma have someone to look up to and a message that you can be heroic as long as you fight back.

Mental illness isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s simply the cards dealt to someone that they have to deal with such as having diabetes or HIV. If we push these issues to the dark, not only are we not acknowledging millions, if not billions of people, but we aren’t even putting these issues on the table to be discussed or even be helped.

The sooner we talk about these issues the better and King isn’t holding back with his work and starting the conversation within comic book fans.

DACA: pawn or opportunity?

What is the current state of DACA and what does that mean for students?

By Kendrick A. Rojas TSV Focal Point Editor

In today’s modern society it is vital for individuals to receive a tangible education to obtain a good paying job. In regards to those who live in countries which do not have the same opportunities, many look towards the United States to progress their educational and economic prospects. Many of these individuals were brought over by their parents as children in a new country which did not value them as equals to citizens, despite their relocation being out of their control.

Luckily the U.S. Congress, under the Obama administration, enacted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals in order to help undocumented individuals become integrated into the educational system, allowing for them to also gain protection against deportation. This administrative action has become the lighthouse for many undocumented students. However, it is being treated as more of a trading pawn in the current political climate.

CNN has informed people that Trump has terminated the program as of September 2017, leaving 800,000 undocumented residents in a state of uncertainty. Luckily, Congress has decided to take no action on the issue, leaving DACA in effect for those who are already registered. The darkest aspect of this situation are the hidden motives which have driven these

decisions.

The Trump administration is not concerned with the lives of these undocumented students but rather, they are using DACA as leverage for the border wall’s funding. The government has come to a standoff because Democrats say that they will withhold votes on a funding bill if Republicans won’t agree to a solution for DACA, which threatens the legal status of thousands.

On the other end, Republicans say that they will not pass a concise DACA bill without proper funding for border security, more specifically the wall. It is evident that the Trump administration is less concerned with acknowledging the undocumented demographic as an equal part and is looking to use them as a way to carry out their own agendas.

Obama shed some light on the issue in a rare statement where he says “Let’s be clear: The action taken today isn’t required legally, … It’s a political decision, and a moral question. Whatever concerns or complaints Americans may have about immigration in general, we shouldn’t threaten the future of this group of young people who are here through no fault of their own, who pose no threat, who are not taking away anything from the rest of us.”

It is clear that these decisions derive from a darker source which reflects the negative attitudes towards undocumented individuals in this country’s current state. It is no secret that anti-immigrant

sentiments have been on the rise and these preconceived notions have directly affected a community which had no choice in relocation.

Despite the clear issue at hand, this interaction between the government and its citizens is indicative of a less clear narrative which has become commonplace due to misconceptions which are being broadcast in the media, specifically

by Trump. This calls for students, teachers, and all individuals in our community to vote and use their voice in order to promote a more inclusive America.

What is DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)?

Courtesy of uscis.gov DACA was enacted on June 15, 2012, announced by the Secretary of Homeland Security. DACA gives the opportunity for individuals who came as children to the U.S. and meet multiple guidelines to request consideration of deferred action and work authorization for a length of two years.

This means that individuals who qualify will be protected by deferred action which is used as a “prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period of time.”

It is important to note that DACA does not “provide lawful status” and will not be granted to those who have never before been granted deferred action under DACA. What are the guidelines of qualification for DACA?

A banner from the League of Filipino Students at San Francisco State University

Kendrick A. Rojas/The Skyline View

You may request DACA if you: -Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012; -Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday; -Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time; -Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS; -Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;

-Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honourably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States.

-Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

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Opinions

Editorial

Government shutdown puts the pressure on food stamp recipients Food stamp recipients will have to ration their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits until March after most received their February benefits around Jan. 20.

It is expected that the majority of families will have to make their SNAP benefits last 40 days while some families will have to stretch their benefits for 50 days according to a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. For those families, it can be difficult to make the food benefits last a month, let alone almost two months. And with a president that is so out of touch with today’s world, there is a lack of understanding and empathy from the presidential administration. What these millions of Americans really need is more governmental assistance in the form of larger benefits when the country is going into a shutdown and proactivity in answering questions and concerns of citizens in helping them make their benefits last.

The president’s comments in response to his Commerce Secretary’s statements show a disconnect between him and the public he serves.

“Local people know who

they are when they go for groceries and everything else,” Trump said. “They know the people. They’ve been dealing with them for years, and they work along.”

While not the most cohesive thought, Trump is imagining a world in which the public can buy groceries on credit.

This shows a president that is wildly out of touch with the reality and what it is like to struggle to make ends meet.

The world is not nearly as accommodating as Trump believes. These families don’t have rich parents to rely on for a “small” loan of $1 million.

Millions of Americans rely on the SNAP benefits to feed their families and face an apathetic government when benefits go out early but leave them struggling to make their food last. It is an apathetic administration that has caused the longest government shutdown in history and ignored the costs to families all over America. Food is a basic need that every human needs to survive and by allowing the shutdown to continue out of stubbornness, the administration put millions of Americans into peril.

It’s sad when the biggest

Artistic License

January 31, 2019

Photo Illustraion by Mark David Magat

empathetic acts for Americans hurt by the shutdown have been by other private citizens and not their own government. People have come together to help when possible. Chef José Andrés, who provided meals to Puerto Ricans hit by Hurricane Maria also took his talents to help feed federal employees. But although this was a

supremely kind gesture, it is the exception, not the norm, unfortunately.

And our government should have adequate infrastructure to handle these types of problems, especially since government shutdowns have become commonplace over the past several years. What we’re saying is that in this day and age, there’s no reason

that such a powerful country as ours shuts down and causes chaos for all American residents. There’s no excuse for it. Emergency policies should be put in place ahead of time but honestly, a shutdown should never happen in the first place.

The unfortunate truth of college graduates

By Kendrick A. Rojas

TSV focal Point Editor

It is true that college has opened up many opportunities for those seeking to further develop their educational prospects. The value that education holds for not only the individual, but also the community, is worth its weight in gold.

That being said, it is important to address the issues that many college attendees experience during and after college. This entails a sense of disorientation in reaction to the pressure of choosing a major and the continually rising cost of education. This should prompt employers to consider these facts and make it so that college graduates get paid the amount they deserve.

However, this is not the case.

The National Center for Education Statistics states that “…the employment rate was highest for young adults with a bachelor’s or higher degree (86 percent)”.

These kinds of statistics prompt us to strive for a higher degree and gain it at any cost; however, many issues arise with these aspirations because as college becomes increasingly expensive, so does the difficulty for low-income individuals.

Many college attendees struggle to find jobs which are both fitting for their careers and also have a respective income. Money magazine took the findings of labor economist Stephen Rose, who uncovered discoveries in his new analysis regarding the overqualification that has burdened college graduates

entering the workforce. Money writer Kaitlin Mulhere deduced from Rose’s findings that “…no matter how the economy is faring, the overqualification rate is disproportionately high for workers who are just out of college and in their early 20s”.

“…no matter how the economy is faring, the overqualification rate is disproportionately high for workers who are just out of college and in their early 20s”.

-Stephen Rose

This means that many employers have handed down less-than-exemplary jobs, making it so that college graduates must crawl their way to the top regardless of their degree. Is this the kind of treatment that is deserved by hardworking students, spending countless hours educating themselves through the means of their own will?

It should also be noted that the percentage of overqualification rates for Hispanics and African Americans increased by “…7 and 10 percentage points, respectively, than the rate for white college-educated workers”. This not only highlights the inconsideration of the educated workforce but also reveals the effects of racism that still segregate several demographics from gaining equal pay. Not only are college graduates being shortcut of their pay, but if you are part of a non-white racial group, then the likelihood that your efforts will

Kendrick A. Rojas/The Skyline View

be overlooked increase.

If a student is working to both pay for school and attend it, there should be jobs where they are paid more for their effort and time. It is unfair for college students to increasingly spend more money as the years continue, only for employers to short-pay their employees. If there is no guarantee for employment through the college educational system, why should any of us waste our time and money on what is close to being a scam.

This reality is not only reflected in Rose’s research but also in the evidence that the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides. Looking at April of 2018 the percentage of unemployed college graduates stood at 2.1 percent, while highschool

graduates experienced unemployment at a rate of 4.3 percent. This shows that the unemployment gap between college graduates and high school graduates is a mere 2.2 percent. If thousands of dollars are being shoveled into our education, the unemployment gap between high school and college graduates should be more than 2 percent.

Now the question left is what this means for us as college students.

The unemployment gap is small amongst educated individuals, which is good, but that is not the point. What should be looked at is whether college has become unuseful.

If the average student is spending thousands of dollars on their future and educational pursuits; should this not ensure that those who are

educated receive adequate pay?

The education of our communities is vital for the survival, progression, and sustainability of our world. With so many dire issues arising in this day in age, it is going to take the efforts of all our educational skills to develop new ways in which we can solve problems. This kind of collaboration is not given enough credit and hopefully this can also be seen by employers.

January 31, 2019

Focal point

Skyline’s unsung technological hero: the library

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By Mark David Magat

TSV Co-Editor in Chief

It’s that time of year again: We have to put away our Christmas sweaters and prep for some caffeine filled all-nighters. With the world going towards a more digital route, school is no different. But technology is hard to get mostly due to money and other issues such as specifications for high-end hardware. Director of the Learning Commons, Gabriela Nocito, wants students to know about the multitude of resources available at the library.

“The library is all about equity,” Nocito said. “It’s all about equitable access. So we don’t want you to think, ‘I can’t afford it so I won’t go to school’ or ‘I can’t take that class because it’s requiring of this particular material’. We want the students to rely on us to provide those materials whether it’s textbooks or technology.”

The Skyline College library is more than just a resource for just books or a space to study; they provide a lot of electronics and technological resources as well.

One of the biggest and more well-known resources are the 48 readily available computers. These computers are nonrestrictive, so you can do any type of research for any paper, or just watch YouTube to your heart’s content. Of course, if what you’re doing on these computers is making another student uncomfortable, the library staff will ask you to stop.

On top of those 48 computers, there are also 36 additional computers in the workshop classroom if there are no more in the main

Mark David Magat/The Skyline View

room to use. Additionally, a lot of students don’t know this, but you can rent out a laptop to take home.

You’ll have to fill out a form and you have to return the laptop. If you don’t you can risk payment for the computer, restrictions with registration for classes and other punishments.

Alongside laptops, iPads are also available to be rented under the same circumstances. They aren’t the latest model and won’t run intense apps such as video games or photo or video editing apps, so don’t rent one out if you’re planning to edit a video project or something intensive. However, they will do the trick with reading online content for classes since a

majority of classes are transferring to digital.

You can also borrow chargers and adapters at the library for your phone or laptop. Everyone has a phone and there will be a day you’ll forget your charger and you’re going to be desperate for that charge and the library has your back on that.

And for adaptors, Skyline might be moving to digital, but a lot of their in-classroom tech is a bit out of date with only VGA connectors for their projectors. So an HDMI or USB-C to VGA adapter comes in handy for your presentations.

Alongside that, it’s still a library, so scanners, printers and other library tech are there ready to be

used. Even though the library has a ton of books, if you have a library card, you can access an bigger collection of books on their website.

With that said, you don’t need a dedicated Skyline library card, you can use any library card under the Peninsula Library System.

If you’re an online student who doesn’t have a library card or doesn’t go on campus but still needs access to all the library resources, the school library can send you a card or barcode to access the online library.

Overall, the library isn’t an old-fashioned thing that is left in the past, and the Skyline library is a proud example of that. They do provide the classic books and

computers, but it’s quite shocking what else they have to offer such as rentable laptops and tablets.

“Just ask us, you’ll never know, we might have it ... we can be reached by phone, chat, email, you don’t even need to come in here to ask,” Nocito said.

If you need anything, looking for resources at school will help you and may help the school attain any resources they don’t already provide. All you need to do is ask.

The beat

By Kylea Pearson TSV NEWS EDITOR

2019 is rumored to be expecting new albums from every crevice of genre and every fan has a reason to be excited about new material.

FIDLAR, a skate punk band, released a new album titled “Almost Free” on January 25th, carrying 13 songs produced and co-written with Grammy-nominated producer Ricky Reed. The band claims in an interview with SPIN Magazine that this is they’re most “rule breaking” album yet. When it comes to the albums sound and style, it does not compare to its predecessors. Their earlier albums and singles, such as TOO and Cheap Beer, have a similar style but with Almost Free, FIDLAR is trying on something completely different and considering this new release has sold more copies than any of their other works, it’s proven to be a positive influx for the punk band and their fans.

This year we also have the return of the SK8R GRL, Avril Lavigne.

She is currently in the process of making her comeback pop album “Head Above Water.” This album is said to come to streaming sites everywhere on February 15 and Lavigne has already released the leading song “Head Above Water” for those who want a taste of what’s to come. The artist has not released music since 2013, leaving listeners curious as to what lead to her disappearance. Many fans fed into a conspiracy theory that spread throughout several social media platforms about her being replaced with a clone. Some fans claimed she was going to stop making music altogether due to

Kylea Pearson/ The Skyline View

suspicion of racist connections that fans made in her song Hello Kitty released in 2013. The artist did not address any rumors made and remained silent. Her single, teasing her new album, shares metaphors of sinking and drowning translating into her struggle with “keeping her head above water.” Though the artist has let down fans in the past not just with her disappearing act, but with her choice in musical style, the singer and her record label both seem to believe this new

album will be a milestone for her career.

Another well-anticipated album filled with angst and lyricism is awaiting its due date in February from The 1975 titled “Notes On A Conditional Form.” The 1975 is a well-known indie pop band from Manchester who started their endeavors in 2013 and their second album went to number 1 in the US Top Charts on the first day of release. Since this record, they have been traveling the world on

tours through their homeland and through America. They’re the last album, being their most popular, was notorious for it’s emotionally driven lyrics and romanticization of pain in love. It sounds tragic, but truly the lyrics never fail to pull on a heart string in some shape or form. Fans can only hope that this next album will hit the ground running just as well as their second album did. Although the group has been tagged with the stereotype of angst and cigarettes,

anyone could find something to connect to throughout they’re modern-day ballads.

According to the Official American Music Charts, we are to expect 64 albums within this year from several different genres and there are more to be announced. New artists are still sprouting and older artists are ready to rev up their career once more. Needless to say, This year is to be expecting a large melting pot of artists and new musical material.

6

Focal Point

January 31, 2019

The totally accurate battleground game

By Mark David Magat

TSV Co-Editor in Chief

2018 was the year of battle royale games with “Fortnite” and “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds”, also known as PUB-G, scorching the gaming landscape with their popularity and genuine fun they provide to gamers. Of course there are many other battle royale games that never entirely hit the mark of fame or even quality PUB-G and “Fortnite” has. But with “Totally Accurate Battle Grounds”, it doesn’t try to be, actually, it does the opposite.

“Totally Accurate Battlegrounds” is developed by a team named Landfall and was developed in June of 2018. The general agreement of this game is it’s basically PUB-G’s weirder little cousin. The game is weird, quirky, stupid and at times very glitchy, but it’s a ton of fun.

Most of that fun comes from how weird the environment, the weapons and the situations get.

One moment you could be flying a hard-to-control helicopter into a building, the next you can have a first fight with a French dude while you’re dressed like a pickle. In most battle royale games, things go from zero to 100 fast but this goes to those absurd moments much much faster.

And even though the game is

glitchy, it feeds into the absurd fun that this game is.

Sometimes it goes too far with character spawns and people falling off the map, but these

is-

sues can be fixed in patches. But the developers should not change all of the glitches due to a lot them adding a lot of fun banter to throw around with friends. Only

game-breaking glitches should be fixed.

And with how absurd the game is, they can get away with some stuff in the gameplay. Some of the more well-known things are pressing G for no reason to hold your weapon sideways to look intimidating, or wear armor to protect you or make you look cool, or in terms of the pickle armor, do both.

But the most tense and fun part of the game is how they handle enclosing the map. In most battle royale games, you have the opportunity to get into the fighting area, yet you have to suffer with a poison or electrical wall slowly killing your character. Here it’s different, the map spawns pillars that fall from the sky and start to connect to each other that end up making a wall. Running through a five-foot hole that is closing quiet fast is some of the most tense feelings people felt playing this game.

Overall the game is dumb, glitchy and absurd, but has so much charm and character that it’s hard to not have fun if you have a couple of friends to play it with. It’s not the best battle royale game, let alone best game ever, but it’s definitely worth a play through.

Teachers’ study tips

By Ry Bevington

TSV Staff Writer

The transition from high school to college is not an easy process.

The professors can seem intimidating and the independent work is much different from the way most students learned in high school.

Skyline’s professors discussed the kinds of struggles they see among their students, and the strategies they suggest for succeeding academically.

“I think the best tip and advice that I could give, is to get to know your professors as soon as possible,” said English 100 Professor Jorey Cantu. “Once you establish a relationship, coming to class makes it a lot less stressful.” Cantu emphasized that feeling comfortable and connected with your other classmates and your professor is important in order to feel comfortable in the classroom and able to learn.

On the topic of what a student should do if they are failing or doing poorly in class, Cantu reiterates that a student should communicate why with their teacher.

“If both parties involved know exactly what’s going on, we can take action in order to kind of rectify any missing assignments, not understanding a specific topic, ideas,” said Cantu.

Christopher Gibson, the interim dean of language arts, claims that late work is a large issue in English classes. “When someone falls behind on an essay, it’s not like the rest of the course pauses until they get caught up... so it’s really important for students who fall behind to find a way to get

Christoper Gibson, Interim Dean of Language Arts explains his tips for the umcoming semester on Jan. 24, 2019 caught up.”

Gibson describes three main steps which he believes will almost always lead a student to be successful: Be physically and mentally present every day, do all the homework, and get help when you need it. He also believes that going to office hours is important, but that sometimes students are afraid of attending.

Like Professor Cantu, Gibson believes that communication is important to success in any college class. “There’s another major component to student success, and that is a relationship between the professor and the student.”

Professor Elizabeth Ingber teaches violin and piano classes, and has been a professor at Skyline College for 12 years. Ingber states that one of the major issues she has throughout her classes is absence from class, and that many of the students who chronically miss class do not attempt to connect with her and explain why they’re struggling or unable to make class.

Ingber states that one of the major bad habits students get into in her classes is a lack of consistent practice. While consistent practice is primarily important to music, the principle is still the same in other disciplines: if you don’t

Kendrick A. Rojas/The Skyline View

practice what you have learned on your own time, you likely won’t progress very far.

For those who are failing, Ingber believes that the most important things you can do are to study in a group, communicate your difficulties with your professor, use additional resources, and of course attend office hours.

First-year student Angelica Marcelo talked about her experience so far, and what her experience in college is like compared to high school.

Marcelo states that while the workload is similar to that of high school, the level of time manage-

ment that is required is higher.

She suggests that new students improve their time management skills, as well as making sure to submit work on time.

Skyline College has great additional resources outside of class to help students. For those who struggle academically, Skyline offers tutoring at the Learning Center, and some classes may have an SI leader who hosts study sessions to help students.

The SparkPoint center can help for those who struggle financially outside of class. Finally, you always have your professors.

January 31, 2019

7

Sports

Young meets old in super bowl Goff and McVay face Brady and Belichick

Creative Commons

by Daniel Archuleta

TSV SPORTS EDITOR

It truly will be new school facing old Suh alongside Aaron Donald has made school in Super Bowl 53 as the Los Ange- Los Angeles a litigable defensive team. les Rams face the New England Patriots Holding Drew Brees and the Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. to only 23 points in the NFC ChamIt won’t be anything new for the Patriots pionship was needed for their as they make their ninth Super Bowl ap- best showing of the season. pearance in the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick Both teams featured players that have era. As for the Rams franchise, it will Bay Area ties, most notably the starting be their first time playing for the Vince quarterbacks. Brady attended Junipero Lombardi Trophy since 2002 when they Serra High School in his hometown of lost to New England in Super Bowl XXX- San Mateo before heading to Michigan.

VI, back when they were the St. Louis Goff grew up in Novato and played Rams. That same game serves as the football at Marin Catholic and UC breakthrough of the Patriots dynasty that Berkeley. But Goff is more of a Bay has been leading up to this very season. Area guy than Brady; he is still an avid The Los Angeles Rams, led by 33-year- fan of his boyhood sports teams inold head coach Sean McVay has been cluding the Giants and Warriors, even the most polarizing figure in the NFL to the dismay from the fans who root thanks to his number two scoring offor him down in Southern California. fense. Many teams are now looking to Additionally, C.J. Anderson and Marcus copy what the Rams have been able to Peters of the Rams are from Vallejo and accomplish by hiring a younger offenOakland, respectfully. Julian Edelman sive-minded head coach. On the field, of the Patriots was born in Redwood third-year quarterback Jared Goff and City and attended College of San Mathe running back duo of Todd Gurley and teo before transferring to Kent State.

C.J. Anderson have not slowed down And whether you claim it apart of the even with Gurley nursing a knee injury. Bay Area or not, Rams’ wide receivAs for New England, it’s the same story; er Brandin Cooks is from Stockton.

41-year-old Tom Brady continues to This game will be looked at as young dominate with perhaps the least talentvs. old but if the Rams come out viced group he’s ever played with. Brady torious, we can say that they are now will be playing for his sixth Super Bowl the upper echelon of football thanks title, which would make him the most to their new take on offensive footdecorated NFL player ever, breaking his ball. For the Patriots, their dynasty run tie with Hall of Famer Charles Haley. has already surpassed what the 49ers For New England, wide receiver Julian accomplished back in the 1980s.

Edelman and rookie running back Sony Can they make six Super Bowl Michel have been the stars this January. titles in seventeen years?

New England also boasts the sevMcVay and Goff against Belichick and enth-ranked defense even after their Brady, perhaps a passing of the torch defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, left or the league’s best making yet anothto become the head coach in Detroit. er claim at being the greatest ever.

Led by Trey Flowers and Kyle Van Noy, they limited Kansas City and MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes II to only 31 points in the AFC Championship, yet all 31 points came in the second half.

As for the Rams’ defense, their spending in the offseason has paid off. Adding Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib to their secondary as well as pairing veteran Ndamukong

Super Bowl 53 Players from the Bay Area

Rams QB Jared Goff (Novato)

Rams RB C.J. Anderson (Vallejo)

Rams WR Brandin Cooks (Stockton)

Rams CB Marcus Peters (Oakland)

Patriots QB Tom Brady (San Mateo)

Patriots WR Julian Edelman (Redwood City)

8

The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, Calif.

The Skyline View

January 31, 2019

TROJAN ATHLETICS

The 2-Minute read With Daniel Archuleta

#BoogieSZN is here It’s finally here.

The moment all of Dub Nation has been waiting for since we got the notification on our phones back on July 2.

DeMarcus Cousins is in uniform. And he’s starting for the Golden State Warriors.

After taking almost a full calendar year away from the court recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon, Cousins has now made Golden State the most dangerous team the NBA has seen in decades.

Just how crazy is this? They’ve become the first team since the 1975-1976 Boston Celtics to start five All Stars from the previous season. It’s frankly a Team USA collection of talent.

“All hell is about to break loose,” said Warriors forward Draymond Green in the buildup towards Cousins’ return. Nobody can argue that the remaining part of the season is going to be fun to watch. Unless you are a fan of the remaining 29 teams as NBA Twitter is constantly in an uproar after every Golden State win.

It’s frankly a Team USA collection of talent.

Warrior fans shouldn’t expect Cousins to be as dominant as he can be because that would be too much to ask for coming off his injury. Yet he is by far the best front court player the Warriors have had during the Steve Kerr era. Coming off of their most recent road trip, Cousins showed his entire arsenal that has made him four-time All Star. In just five games, he averaged 15 points, seven rebounds, while shooting 54 percent from beyond the arc. That alone has been what the Warriors have been searching for, that bigman presence in the paint, who can even stretch the floor.

Adding Cousins to the team helps with the loss of Damian Jones to a torn left pectoral muscle. Jones’s injury made Kevon Looney the center for the team, starting 22 games at the position, now he switches back to the second rotation where he can add to the depth that the Warriors are really lacking this season. The most offensive production they have been getting has come from Quinn Cook who is only averaging 7.6 points per game.

How the team responded since Cousins’ return can’t go unnoticed. On an East Coast trip, in the middle of an eight game winning streak, Golden State showed up prepared and shot well in their games against Washington, Boston, and Indiana. Most notably, their game against the Celtics, stood out because Kevin Durant had 33 points along with Stephen Curry dropping 24.

How the Warriors finish the season will be what to watch for.

Does Kerr mix the rotations around? Will Cousins be modeled to play a certain role within the team’s offensive scheme?

Will Curry improve on his 29.3 point average? How many games will they lose? Altogether, the remaining part of the 2018-2019 Warriors season will be can’t-miss basketball.

Upcoming Games Men’s Basketball Feb. 8 at Ohlone College Feb. 13 vs Chabot College Feb. 15 vs Canada College Women’s Basketball Feb. 6 at College of San Mateo Feb. 8 at Ohlone College Feb. 13 vs Chabot College Men’s Baseball Feb. 5 vs Solano College Feb. 7-9 vs Shasta College Feb. 12 at Solano College