Stockton Con marvels fans
Delta Drama’s ‘Love/Sick’ kicks off this weekend
Thee Collegiann Th ENTERTAINMENT, PAGE 6
FEATURE, PAGE 4
Issue 8 • Friday Friday,, March 3, 2023 •
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DRE EAMS TAKE FLIGHT
Conference welcomed Dreamers, families for information BY ZANIEL WALDO Staff Writer
The Dreamers Success Center hosted its Dream Conference on Saturday, Feb. 25. The overall purpose is to reach out to the community, help residents realize they’re not alone in their educational prowess, and have many people ready to support and guide them through their goals. Tina Leal, Dreamers Success Center Resource Specialist, said her satisfaction with the event’s success comes from seeing student engagement and learning. “Information is key. There was a young lady who didn’t know Delta College had so many resources for the students. That’s why we do conferences like this. So we can show not only what the Dreamers Success has but what the campus Delta College has not only for the students but the community,” Leal said. The Dream Conference is an annual event where students, families, and community members are invited to learn about the resources available to them at Delta. The objective was to educate attendees by hosting workshops and speakers on various programs as well as a resource fair.
The in-person event was held on campus, in Danner Hall and the West Forum. In total, 155 students attended the event. The Danner Hall fair hosted 40 resource organizations and departments. Trinidad Araya, a Delta College Chemistry Lab Technician, also noted the positive impact the conference would have on students. “The other thing is support. That you find a group that is going to support you to go to these because sometimes they feel like nobody is having this issue nobody on this campus and that you’re alone but you’re not alone. You’re not,” Araya said. Six workshops and presentations were hosted in the West Forum. Ana Navarette, Program Director for the UndocuSpartan Student Resource Center at San Jose State University, presented the first workshop by expressing how individuals should never feel marginalized for their racial/ethnic identity. She also said her opinions on DACA as we should think beyond it for an improved program. The second workshop was presented by Samantha Powell, Heather Maloy, and Laura Magallanes. Powell gave an overview of the AB540/SB68 and how students can qualify with the steps they must perform to be eligible and submit the application. Maloy and Magallanes gave an overview of DARTE/SB544 with information regarding Delta Si-
A resource fair was held in Danner Hall as part of the annual Dream Conference. PHOTO BY MEGAN SILVA
erra Adult Education Alliance, Adult School Programs & Services, Transition Services, and undocumented services. Maloy and Magallanes gave information regarding the DARTE program with the learning community services and course offerings. Alejandro Gomez and Leslie Sanchez Valenzuela presented the following workshop as they relayed information regarding Financial Aid and the California Dream Act. Delta College Business Adjunct Associate Professor Gene Acevedo
also gave a presentation on entrepreneurship. Other workshops included one about self-identity and the challenging times of Latino/Chicano people and another on legal rights, specifically for the undocumented and temporary residents. Second-year student Xavier Saldivar Lopez,
See DREAM, page 8
Students in the ART 9 Chicanx/Latinx Art: Resistance and Affirmation Through Painting course created butterflies in the quad in preperation for the Dream Conference. PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN AND ARIANNA JUAREZ
Muslim students seek campus prayer space BY CHRISTINA GOODMAN Photo Editor
Delta College has spaces for many affinity groups on campus — including Pride, EPIC, and the Latinx Center — but it lacks spaces for religious-based groups. This is an area of concern, particularly for students who practice their religion while on campus. Delta College currently doesn’t have a designated prayer space for Muslim students, or a Muslim Student Association. One student is trying to change that. Deshawn Johnson is trying to start a Muslim Student Association. “The first step I’ve took about the MSA was just inquiring which lead me to have the people which ultimately lead me to trying to get the advisor and the member together,” said Johnson. Currently there is a need for a club advisor. “So far I have people to be a part of the sturdiest
association. I think now it’s just getting the advisor and then establishing the space to meet and start the events surrounding the club,” he said. The students are also currently seeking a place to pray while on campus, which could be up to five times a day. “I just want to be able to have a space for Muslims on campus to have to pray and congregate for the sake of Allah (God) and I know how important it is to know that there is support for the community on and off campus,” Johnson said is what he hopes to accomplish with MSA. Johnson has also worked to reach out to other Muslim students. “I have been reaching out. When I visit the Masjid asking about what MSA look like? Were there any at Delta College in the past? Just asking people of knowledge about how that would look once it is in place to preserve the Iman (faith) and Ibadah (worship) of myself and people who will be involved with
the club/student association,” he said. An MSA is important to the diverse offerings at Delta College. “There is no doubt that there is an importance in having a MSA at Delta College. But also making sure that once people do move forward and have their degrees/achievements that the freshmen/new students will be able to sustain and keep the MSA intact so there will no longer be a question about when do Muslims congregate on campus,” he said. Waleed Abdullahrauf is another student hoping to an MSA will be started at Delta. “My hope for MSA is to have a designated area for Muslims where there can be a safe quiet space for us to be able to perform our prayers,” he said. “Therefore I do wish Delta would be able to provide such a space/ area so that Muslim students can feel more included and a feeling of ease when they’re on campus to carry on with their scheduled course work making it an overall better experience for our Delta attendees.”
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