La Vol. 42, Issue 20 March 16, 2009
The week ahead This is the last issue of La Voz Weekly for the winter quarter. But don’t worry! La Voz Weekly will return April 20.
La Voz Weekly The Voice of De Anza College
Voz
To participate come to the Euphrat Museum March 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
FIND A COMPLETE LIST OF CAMPUS EVENTS ON PAGE 2
Soheil Rezaee and Kelly Truong
“Aren’t you cold?” Student Matt Bradley heard that question multiple times over the course of last week, when he and approximately 15 other students set up camp in the Main Quad in order to increase awareness of the California budget cuts. “I was smart,” he said. “I brought an air mattress and blankets.”
La Voz is a First Amendment newspaper, produced by students for the campus community of De Anza College
see page 4
Bradley and others organized the demonstration, dubbed Tent City, as a symbol of what education means to students – the significance of school as a student’s second home. “It shows that the school belongs to the students before it belongs to anyone else,” he said. Participants met at 8 p.m. on March 8 for the first of four nights. The tents housed between 12 to 20 people each night, with some students who were not initially involved joining in. According to Bradley, one young
men n i a t r e t n Arts & E
woman brought her own tent and joined them in the quad. “I wasn’t expecting the overwhelming positive reaction from students,” he said. “I think the only negative comment we got was ‘Those kids are crazy,’ because it was so cold.” The demonstration was inspired by a similar event in 2003, when Students for Justice organized a campout protesting the layoffs of 70 classified staff members. However, this time, students planned the event independently of any one
A San Jose film festival featured talent from across the globe and De Anza College
FLIP TO PAGE 3 FOR FULL STORY
SEE “STUDENTS CAMP OUT AGAINST BUDGET CUTS”
Journalism by the people for the people
Twitter allows citizen journalism to flourish see page 11
was no exception see page 7
Arts & Entertainment
Ribbon cutting ceremony Visual and Performing Arts Center officially opens to the community
News
Inter Club Council officials elected Meet three new officials
see page 6
ATTENTION DE ANZA STUDENTS!!
organization, bringing their own tents, food and supplies. “It gets (students) much more engaged,” said student trustee Patrick Ahrens, who wasn’t involved in the planning of the event. “When people see that it’s De Anza Associated Student Body or a club on campus, they already have a built up idea of what it is and they keep on walking.”
Opinion
t
THE REEL DEAL: CINEQUEST
INDEX Campus Events....................p2 What’s the Buzz? ...............p2 Campus Snapshot...............p3 Police Log.............................p3 Meeting Notes.....................p3 Economics for Everyone.....p5 Athlete of the Week............p9 Editorial...............................p11
Police report a rise of graffiti on campus
TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST BUDGET CUTS STUDENTS CAMPED OUT IN THE MAIN QUAD, RALLIED SUPPORT
ARTIST CONSUELO JIMENEZ TO SPEAK Participate in a conversation with Consuelo Jimenez Underwood, a professor of textile art at San Jose State University. She will discuss art, education, labor and community. Her work is included in the inaugural exhibition, ““Looking Back, Looking Ahead,” in the De Anza College Euphrat Museum of Art through April 16.
Graffiti on campus
STUDENTS SLEEP FOUR NIGHTS ON CAMPUS LA VOZ NEWS
Registering for classes by March 26 may save students from having a class cancelled. The administration is reviewing all spring quarter classes and may cancel courses with low enrollment (under 20 people).
News
see page 5
Open Editor Positions • • • • • • •
Editor in Chief - PRINT • EditoR IN CHIEF - MULTIMEDIA• Features Editor • Sports Editor • Web Editor • Graphics Editor • Assistant Editors
A & E Editor Managing Editor News Editor Op/Ed Editor Broadcast Editor Photo Editor
If interested in an editor position at La Voz for spring quarter, please email your 300 word (or less) letter of intent to Beth Grobman at grobman@fhda.edu. Deadline for submission is Friday, March 20 at noon. Interviews will be held finals week.
SIGN-UP FOR JOUR 61 NOW!!! (La Voz Newspaper Staff) • Reporters • Photographers • Columnists • Artists
PAGE 2
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
MARCH 16, 2009
PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED:
RED WHEELBARROW SEARCHING FOR STUDENTS:
SPEECH AND DEBATE GOING TO NATIONALS:
Red Wheelbarrow, a literary magazine, is searching for students to help produce the annual publication. Instructor Ken Weisner said students can focus their “energy on magazine, administration, soliciting, editing and/or production.” He said both specialists and generalists are welcome. If interested, students should register for EWRT 65 for one unit, EWRT 65X for two units or honors credit. In spring quarter, classes will meet 3:45 to 5:45 p.m. on Mondays.
The De Anza College Speech and Debate Team won eight awards over the course of three tournaments during winter quarter: Talk Hawk Invitational, Copeland Invitational and Northern California Championships. The team placed third in sweepstakes at the Copeland Invitational. At the Northern California Championships, Mark Rauschmayer and Anna Mattinger won second and third place individual speaker awards, respectively, in the Novice Parliamentary Debate. The team will be competing at the national level during spring break.
WRITTEN BY NITZAN BECK
The partnership between the NASA Research Park, UC Santa Cruz and the Foothill- De Anza College District was announced March 13. The partnership will “establish a sustainable community for education and research at the NASA Research Park at Moffett Field,” according to a press release. Among those attending were the NASA Ames Director S. Pete Worden, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Rep. of the 14 District Anna Eshoo, Rep. of the 15 District Mike Honda, District Chancellor Martha Kanter and President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Carl Guardino. Visit http://researchpark.arc.nasa.gov for more information about the NASA Research Park. WRITTEN BY NITZAN BECK
GREEN JOBS FAIR: A fair about the future of green jobs for minority students will take place March 18 from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the Hinson Campus Center. The event, which is presented by the Latino/a Empowerment at De Anza College, Wise 37 and Latina/o Heritage Events, teaches students how to be a part of the socially conscious green revolution. Industry representatives will discuss green job opportunities, and students will have the opportunity to learn what classes to take to prepare for green jobs. In addition, students can expect to meet representatives from socially responsible green industries as well as obtain information about potential internships, according to a flyer. For more information, contact Marc Coronado at coronado.marc@gmail.com or call at (408) 864-8409.
WRITTEN BY KELLY TRUONG
CAMPUS EVENTS Monday, March 16 film: ‘zanzibar soccer queens’ monday, MARCH 16, 10:25 - 11:20, G1
Filmmaker Florence Ayisi interviews women soccer players in Zanzibar, a Muslim country where soccer is considered a man’s game. The women talk about the difference that playing soccer has made to their daily lives, despite clerical disapproval resulting in a lack of women’s teams with which to compete. *
film: ‘mirrors of privilege: making whiteness visible’ monday, MARCH 16, 3:30 - 4:30, ADMIN 101 (part 1)
This film features the experience of white women and men who have worked to gain insight into what it means to challenge notions of racism and white supremacy in the United States, as they work to undo the all-pervasive and subtle teachings of racial supremacy. Part 2 will be shown on Wednesday.*
Tuesday, March 17 artist consuelo jimenez TO SPEAK tuesday, MARCH 17, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Euphrat museum
Participate in a conversation with Consuelo Jimenez Underwood, a professor of textile art at San Jose State University. She will discuss art, education, labor and community. Her work is included in the inaugural exhibition, ““Looking Back, Looking Ahead,” in the De Anza College Euphrat Museum of Art through April 16.
Wednesday, March 18 THE CLOTHESLINE PROJECT Wednesday, MARCH 18, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., campus ctr patio
“The Clothesline Project” is an outdoor exhibition and display conceived by artist Rachel Carey-Harper that provides visible witness to the casualties and wounded victims of violence against women. During the public display, a clothesline is hung with shirts. Each shirt is decorated to represent a particular woman’s experience, by the survivor herself or by someone who cares about her. The purpose of the Clothesline Project is to bear witness to the survivors as well as the victims of the war against women, to help with the healing process for people who have lost a loved one or are survivors of this violence, to educate about the extent of the problem of violence against women and to provide a wide network of support, encouragement and information for other communities starting their own Clothesline Projects. This is an effort of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. *
the future of green jobs for minority students Wednesday, MARCH 18, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., campus ctr.
Learn how you can be part of the socially conscious green revolution by hearing industry representatives talk about green job opportunities, learning what classes to take to prepare for these new jobs, meeting representatives from socially responsible green industries and getting information about potential internships. The event will feature speakers throughout the day and tables of information hosted by green job industries. Students can come and go as they please. For information contact Marc Coronado at coronado.marc@gmail.com. This event is sponsored by ¡LEAD! Latina/o Empowerment at De Anza, Wise 37 and Latina/o Heritage Events.
campus abroad: FALL in madrid Wednesday, MARCH 18, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., el clemente room
Study in Madrid, Spain this fall through De Anza’s first Campus Abroad Program in Madrid. Curious? Have questions? Attend an informational meeting in the El Clemente Room behind Conference Room A in the Campus Center. Meet the Madrid team instructors, pick up a brochure, ask questions and see a short slide presentation. Courses, taught in English, include writing, art, art history and literature offerings. Plenty of time for travel and fun! Apartment and homestay options are available. Instructors are Hilary Ciment, art and art history, Foothill College and Ken Weisner, English and creative writing, De Anza College. For information, call 408-864-5797,
or 831-252-3958 and ask for Ken.
film: ‘mirrors of privilege: making whiteness visible’ Wednesday, March 18, 3:30 - 4:30, admin 101 (part 2)
This film features the experience of white women and men who have worked to gain insight into what it means to challenge notions of racism and white supremacy in the United States, as they work to undo the all-pervasive and subtle teachings of racial supremacy. Part 1 was shown on Monday.*
Thursday, March 19 CSU EAST BAY REP VISIT THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 10 a.m. - 2 P.M., campus ctr lobby A representative from CSU East Bay will host an information table for prospective transfer students.
Friday, March 20 VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLES CONCERT FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 7:30 - 10 P.M., A-11, Choral Hall This performance by De Anza Creative Arts students is $7 for general admission and $5 for students. For information contact Michelle Hawkins at hawkinsmichelle@fhda.edu.
WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? IMPROV THEATER FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 8 - 9:30 p.m., FLINT CENTER Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Chip Esten and Jeff Davis work off-the-cuff to create a night of hilarious improv comedy and song with some of your favorite “Whose Line is it Anyway?” games plus some new ones. Bring your suggestions for the show and you might be asked to join the cast on stage to perform. Tickets available from Ticketmaster for $30, $45 and $60.
SPIRIT HOUSE DANCES FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 8:15 - 11 P.M., VPAC 115 “Dark Matter,” “Unclose Your Eyes” and “God’s Away on Business” are three of the dance numbers which will be performed by De Anza dance students, the first group of students to perform in the Visual and Performing Arts Center. Dance style includes ballet, jazz, hip-hop and modern style dancing. The event costs $15 for general admission and $12 for student admission. For information contact Warren Lucas at 408-864-5416 or lucaswarren@deanza.edu.
Saturday, March 21 CLASSICAL GUITAR CONCERT Saturday, march 21, 7 p.m., a-11, choral hall De Anza Music 25 students will give a concert as part of their guitar performance workshop. This event is free. For information contact instructor Ron Dunn at dunnron@ deanza.edu.
PENINSULA SYMPHONY Saturday, march 21, 8 p.m., FLINT CENTER The Peninsula Symphony will present Vaughan Williams’s Tuba Concerto, Vivaldi’s Bassoon Concerto, Weber’s Andante and Hungarian Rondo, and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No 2. Performing are Zachariah Spellman on tuba, Rufus Olivier on bassoon and Heidi Hau on piano. The event costs $34 for general admission and $29 for students/seniors.
SPIRIT HOUSE DANCES Saturday, march 21, 8:15 - 11 P.M., VPAC 115 See Friday, March 20 for description.
Sunday, March 22 CHORAL CONCERT Sunday, march 22, 3 p.m., VPAC Theater The combined choruses of De Anza Chorale, De Anza Vintage Singers, De Anza Women’s Chorus and the Santa Clara men’s Chorus will sing Vivaldi’s famous Gloria, with the De Anza College Chamber Orchestra. The piece will be conducted by Dr Ilan Glasman. Each chorus will also perform separately, including pieces ranging from Baroque Era to the present. Cost is $10 for general admission and $5 for students, children, students and people with
WRITTEN BY NITZAN BECK
Happenings@LaVozDeAnza.com Send event notices to Happenings@LaVozDeAnza.com by noon Wednesday, preceding the publication week. Please type “Happenings” in the subject line. La Voz does not guarantee publication. All events take place on the De Anza College campus and are free, unless stated otherwise.
disabilities. For information contact Ilan Glasman at glasmanilan@deanza.edu.
DE ANZA STUDENT PIANO RECITAL Sunday, march 22, 4 - 7 p.m., A11, choral hall Anna Poklewski’s piano students will give a free recital. For information contact Anna Poklewski at poklewskianna@deanza.edu.
Wednesday, March 25 DE ANZA DADDIOS IN CONCERT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 7:30 P.M. VPAC theater This musical performance by De Anza students costs $10 for general admission and $7 for student/senior admission. For information contact Steve Tyler at tylersteve@fhda.edu
COMING UP SPRING QUARTER FLEA MARKET Saturday, april 4, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., parking lots A & B The monthly De Anza Flea market offers about 850 vendor stalls. Entry is free; parking is $5.
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY MUSIC FOR FAMILIES: ‘THE COMPOSER IS DEAD’ Saturday, april 4, 3 p.m., FLINT CENTER The composer Nathaniel Stookey wrote the music and the storyteller/narrator Lemony Snicket created a spooky, fun and a little bit sad story, recommended for audiences ages 7 and older. The program includes music from Wagner, Beethoven, Mahler, Schubert, Tchaikovskyh and Berlioz. Prices range from $10-$44. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.
WELCOME WEEK ENTERTAINMENT MONDAY, april 6 - THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., campus patio CAMPUS ABROAD IN CHINA APPS DUE Wednesday, april 15 Campus Abroad in China applications are due for the summer program from July 6 through Aug. 7. Students will travel to Beijing and Shanghai while earning units in English and Survival Mandarin. For information contact Campus Apbroad Coordinator Kathy Fransham at franshamkathy@fhda.edu or instructor Charles Lee at leecharles@fhda.edu.
CLUB KARAOKE thursday, april 16, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., campus patio stage AUTOCROSS DRIVING SCHOOL sunday, april 19, 8:30 - 3:30 , parking lot b Hosted by Auto Tech Club
CLUB DAY thursday, april 23, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., main quad INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL thursday, april 30, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., campus center rms a&B Hosted by Japanese Student Association.
CAMPUS CAMP WELLSTONE FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MAY 15-16 Campus Camp Wellstone is a new training program for students across the country interested in gaining skills in leadership, political action and civic engagement. Two units of college credit are offered. For information call the Institute of Community and Civic Engagement at 408-864-8349.
duel at de anza autocross sunday, May 17, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., parking lots a & B Auto drivers compete for the best times, navigating a course with their own cars. Free for spectators, drivers pay to register. For information contact 408-864-8527 or brandtmichael@deanza.edu.
EXHIBITS ‘Looking back, looking forward’ through THURSDAY, APRIL 16, vpac The Euphrat Museum of Art presents the exhibit “Looking Back, Looking Forward,” about Silicon Valley’s growth through visual media and shared narratives, honoring the past and looking to the future. Over 10 artists are
featured, including Paul Pei-Jen Hau, who has a museum named after him in eastern China. For information go to http://www.deanza.edu/euphrat/inthemuseum.html.
ONGOING EVENTS
PLANETARIUM SHOWS SATURDAYS through MARCH 21 Journey to the stars with the Planetarium’s Infinium S Star projector and laser light shows. Astronomy presentations include “Astronaut,” “Extreme Planets” and “Blackholes.” Light shows feature the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd. Costs is $7-$9. For information, show list and schedule, see http://www.deanza.edu/planetarium.
MASSAGE THERAPY CLINIC TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, through MARCH 19 PE 12L & PE 12U, SESSIONS AT 9:15, 10:15, 11:15 a.m. Enjoy a massage from a student in the massage therapy program. Cost is $15 for students, $20 for faculty/ staff, $25 for the community. Call 408-864-5645 to make an appointment. More information is at http:// www.deanza.edu/pe/massage/clinic.html.
FOOD COURT SPECIALS WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS, CAMPUS CENTER FOOD COURT In addition to the regular offerings on Wednesdays, the Food Court is featuring a comfort station with dishes such as meatloaf, beef ragout, winter vegetables, rice pilaf, garlic bread and roast chicken. Price range is $6.95-$7.50. On Thursdays the Food Court offers a special low carb, healthy dish featuring grilled fish and fresh vegetables for $7.50.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FREE COMPUTERS TO STUDENTS
De Anza provides refurbished computers to qualifying students throughout the year. To apply for a computer, contact the Financial Aid office.
* These events are part of the “Women & Revolution” series during Women’s History Month. For information, call 408-864-8433.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR Friday, March 27: Last day of winter quarter final exams. Also, last day to file for a winter degree or certificate. Monday, April 1: Students will be dropped for nonpayment on fee balances of more than $100. Monday, April 6: First day of spring quarter. Monday, May 6: Memorial Day Holiday Saturday, June 27: Graduation.
GET ON THE BUS to the Capitol
and protest the budget cuts Monday, March 16 @ 6 a.m. Our chance to put a stop on the budget cuts on our already burdened education system WHAT: Protest in Sacramento HOST: De Anza Students for Justice! LEAVE DE ANZA: 6 a.m. RETURN TO DE ANZA: 4 p.m. WHERE: De Anza College Parking Lot B MORE INFO: www.studentsforjustice.org
MARCH 16, 2009
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
District awaits May results for budget, education relief Daniel Gamberg LA VOZ NEWS
Foothill-De Anza College District administrators have their fingers crossed awaiting the results of two ballot propositions in this May’s special election designed to relieve some budget pressure. At the same time, administrators await the release of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s May revision, which may increase the district’s budget shortfall that was reduced from $11 million to $5.12 million in recent months. “We’re bare bones,” District Chancellor Martha Kanter said. “Everyone in the district is doing more than their part.” If passed, the Education Funding Payment Plan Proposition 1B will provide $250 million of immediate reinforcement by imposing a one percent increase in California’s sales and use tax – a tax imposed to recover sales tax on items purchased outside the state – for community colleges this fiscal year according to proposition documentation.
Proposition funding would also provide long-term support through a supplemental one-cent per dollar increase in the state’s sales and use tax equaling in $561 million each year for community colleges. Proposition 1C – the Lottery Modernization Act – increases State General Fund payments to community colleges by borrowing $5 billion from the California Lottery. In doing so, the state would increase the annual funding for community colleges each year, accounting for more students and higher living costs. The district released their 18 month plan outlining how reductions will be carried out at each campus on Feb. 20. The projections are just the foundation for a fluctuating budget plan that has all departments evaluating expenses while preserving education and minimizing the impact on faculty and staff. As the district attempts to calculate the affects of a changing economy
and workforce, and an increasing student population, layoffs are the last resort when cutting costs. “We’re hoping that a lot of reduction can be done by attrition rather than layoffs,” District Board of Trustees President Betsy Betchel said. “We are evaluating our staff, looking at all possible ways to save money.” While administrators hope attrition – a voluntary process where employees retire or seek other employment – will account for some cutbacks, 76 positions will be eliminated by the end of June of next year. The Middlefield Campus Travel Careers Program is the first area to experience layoffs. Travel Careers Program Director and tenured faculty member Sharon Hack’s term will expire in July of 2010. Finding alternative district positions and other employment opportunities for displaced workers is a priority for college officials. “This is a very humane process
to try to find other solutions for individuals,” Kanter said. “Any decision is a big decision because it’s people’s lives and that’s the hardest part about this.” To prevent future layoffs the district is combining programs and transferring positions between campuses. Foothill geology faculty member Christopher Di Leonardo will relocate from Foothill College to De Anza College July 1, after the reduction of his department. The process of balancing the budget is expected to continue for nearly two years as the district receives and updates new information. The district will hold open forums and work with the community to resolve the upcoming budget shortage. “Hopefully the state will get its act together and give us the revenue we need to educate our students,” Kanter said. “It’s an investment in the future of California.” LV Daniel Gamberg is the web editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: web@lavozdeanza.com.
continued from page 1 | Students camp out against budget cuts Ahrens said he would have preferred that the Tent City organizers notify the administration and various college groups ahead of time. “We had already talked to Brian Murphy,” Bradley said. “Brian Murphy’s approval was the go-ahead.” Before setting up the demonstration, the organizers wrote an open letter addressed to “Supporters of Education,” in which they stated their goals to educate their peers about the state budget cuts. While student Brittany Sims was disappointed that the school did not officially organize such an event, she felt that the grassroots nature of Tent City helped build student interest. “We’re students as well,” she said. “We’re not some outside people coming in, we’re not some mass of great authority. I’m me, talking to me.” The four-day demonstration gave Sims the opportunity to speak to a variety of students. “We got to meet students that you would have never met before,” she said. “Something like that should be there continuously. Tea time – tea time at De Anza!” During school hours, the Tent City participants passed out flyers and spoke to students about the budget cuts, encouraging them to join the March in March in Sacramento. Sims remembers speaking to one particular young woman who stopped by to talk about the budget cuts. “She didn’t know there was going to be a march,” she said. “I pulled her in. She could have just passed by, but because of (the
PAGE 3
>>Meeting Notes<< DASB Senate The De Anza College Associated Student Body Senate is the governing body for De Anza College students. It meets every Wednesday afternoon.
MARCH 11 WHAT HAPPENED: DASB President Terell Sterling delivered the state of the senate address. He encouraged senators to speak to random students, while detailing the main plans and issues for the spring quarter: the upcoming DASB election and amending the DASB constitution. WHY THIS MATTERS: The DASB hopes that by interacting more with students, they will be able to represent all students. The DASB elections in spring will determine who will be on the DASB in the 2009-2010 school year. The DASB constitution has not been looked at since 1962. WRITTEN BY SOHEIL REZAEE
Inter Club Council The Inter Club Council is the governing body which allocates funds to De Anza College’s more than 50 clubs. The ICC meets Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. in the Student Council Chambers.
MARCH 11 WHAT HAPPENED: Former ICC Chairs Kobe Gong, Lina Wang and Bo Yin appreciated individuals who contributed to the Inter Club Council. Among those mentioned were the ICC adviser, secretary, DASB and club officers. The new ICC Chair Peter Lin, ICC Chair of Finance Denise Nguyen and ICC Chair of Program Michael A. Terrassa were sworn in. WHY THIS MATTERS: Peter Lin, Denise Nguyen and Michael A. Terrassa will offically be serving as the position of the ICC Chair from March 11 to March 10 of next year. WRITTEN BY ANSON LAI
PHOTO BY SOHEIL REZAEE/LA VOZ
Students Mo Shirazi and Jose Romero pass the time in Tent City. The demonstrators received several food donations from students.
tents), she stopped and she started to tell me about her specific situation.” Student participant Ernest Chavez said that several faculty members sent their students out to the tents to pick up flyers and sign up for the rally. “It created a buzz on campus,” he said. At night, the campers found several ways to occupy themselves, from reading political texts to playing Frisbee in the Main Quad at 2
a.m. The students camped out at De Anza from March 9 until March 12. “It was building a community at a commuter school,” Bradley said. “No matter what, it is the students’ school.” LV Soheil Rezaee is the news editor and Kelly Truong is the opinions editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact them at: news@lavozdeanza.com and opinions@lavozdeanza.com respectively.
Campus Snapshot
Police Log VANDALISM Location: Lot A Friday, March 6 at 1:13 p.m. MISSING PERSON Missing person report Location: Lot A Saturday, March 7 at 12:16 a.m. TRAFFIC HIT & RUN Hit and run property/damage only Location: Stelling Garage Saturday, March 7 at 1:06 p.m. BURGLARY Location: Softball Field Lot Sunday, March 8 at 2:29 p.m. TRAFFIC COLLISION Traffic accident - No Injuries Location: Stelling Garage Monday, March 9 at 10:46 a.m. THEFT Petty theft - under $400 Location: Library - 1st Level Tuesday, March 10 at 1:04 p.m. DISORDERLY CONDUCT Disturbing the peace Location: Student Body Office Tuesday, March 10 at 6:21 p.m. INVESTIGATION Pedestrian stop Location: Hinson Campus Center Tuesday, March 10 at 6:29 p.m.
Correction
PHOTO BY PATRICK GARTNER/LA VOZ
Students beware, Canadian geese may approach your food, indicating the recession affects all species.
The article “Extended Opportunity Programs Services forced to turn away students” in the Feb. 2 issue incorrectly stated that De Anza College Associated Student Body’s Finance Committee denied EOPS $39,000. The article should have stated this was a recommendation by the Finance Committee and will be voted on by the Senate.
PAGE 4
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
MARCH 16, 2009
Increase in graffiti, takes Journalist speaks about Jerusalem, Gaza conflict with journalism students money from students Soheil Rezaee
Patrick Gartner
LA VOZ NEWS
LA VOZ NEWS
A small tag on a blue recycle bin, the fresh bitter-sweet acetone smell lingering in bathrooms are just a few signs around campus that graffiti at De Anza College is a surfacing problem. “We have seen an increase in graffiti over the past few weeks,” said Ron Levine, chief of the Foothill-De Anza College District Police Department. “Due to the amount of graffiti we have been made aware of, I would say that it is a problem on campus at this moment in time.” While campus police continue to pour time, money and paint into clean up efforts, the issue of vandalism and how to prevent its spread on campus remains unresolved. “Graffiti appears to be cyclical,” Levine said. “Sometimes it’s politically motivated, other times it’s gang related (and) other times it’s tagging crews doing their thing.” “I can’t give you a valid reason for increases and decreases on the campus,” he said. According to a 2001 study by the Landscape and Human Health Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, “buildings with high levels of greenery had 48 percent fewer property crimes and 56 percent fewer violent crimes.” The study hints at what could be the reason for De Anza’s recent graffiti problem. “It’s only common sense to realize that our surrounding environment affects our attitude and behavior,” said Vu-Duc Vuong, De Anza sociology instructor. “This study only reinforces that
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NITZAN BECK/LA VOZ
De Anza College campus police have seen an increase of graffiti requiring the use of valuable resources the past few months. belief. I’d say that it’s reasonable to expect that if De Anza is greener, in several meanings of the word, graffiti may become less of a problem.” Almost a year has passed since the large L quad trees were removed and replaced with a few sapplings leaving the area stripped barren and concrete looking. “I think graffiti comes from people who are bored and want to express themselves artistically,” said Shimena Stokes, a De Anza nursing student. “I think that if you want to outlaw graffiti you should also provide an outlet for it.” “I see it all as a crime,” Levine said, “that takes good money away from the educational system spent on clean up efforts, instead of where it belongs, providing quality education and services to the students.” LV Patrick Gartner is a Staff Reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: patrickgartner@lavozdeanza.com
Students in journalism instructor Brad Kava’s Journalism 21 A and B classes along with guests, had the opportunity to learn about journalism in the Middle East from Etgar Lefkovits, correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, on March 9. The audience packed room L-42 just to hear about Lefkovits experience reporting in the Middle East and his perception of the ongoing Arab-Israeli Conflict. Lefkovits began his lecture by talking about his early life and his experience as a reporter in Jerusalem. “Covering Jerusalem is different from covering any other city in the world,” he said. He talked about the situation with the Arab-Israeli Conflict along with the current situation in the Palestinian Territory involving Hamas’ ongoing war with Fatah in the Gaza Strip. The biggest focus was on how Hamas had shattered any possibility of peace or any economic growth in the Gaza Strip. Lefkovits talked about what he described as the West’s misunderstanding of the Arab-Israeli Conflict by viewing it as a simple argument with a simple solution. He felt that peace could be accomplished, but it would require more then just the simple signing of treaties. It requires the development of an understanding on the ground while discrediting groups like Hamas. “Peace is not accomplished with cocktail parties at the Waldorf Astoria but on the ground,” said
Lefkovits. Lefkovits also spoke about the positive activities going on in Israel, primarily the advancements in technology, booming tourist industry and rich history. “Its unfair to paint a picture of gloom and doom,” he said. After Lefkovits finished sharing his journalistic experiences with students, the audience asked about his experiences and opinions of the situation in the Middle East. When the event ended, several audience members remained to ask more questions or learn more about PHOTO BY AMY FRANKLIN/LA VOZ Lefkovits. Middle East journalist and Jerusalem Post’s “He was very detailed and correspondent Etgar Lefkovits spoke to news explained things and feature writing students about his expewell,” said Maya rience overseas in journalism instructor Brad K o s t y a n o v s k y, Kava’s classes Monday March 9. co-president of the Jews, Israeli literature. and Friends Club. “I really enjoyed He began his career with a Japanese hearing his talk and I thought he did newspaper before being hired at the a great job,” she said. Jerusalem Post. Lefkovits was born and raised in The event was hosted by the Jews, Chicago, Illinois, where he attended Israeli and Friends Club. LV the University of Chicago before Soheil Rezaee is the News Editor transferring to the University for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: of Jerusalem where he studied news@lavozdeanza.com
MARCH 16, 2009
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
A grim fable stephenZILL
Opinion: Economics for Everyone I was trying to decide what to write about considering the cornucopia of choices thanks to the recent global economic upheaval. So I figured a review of the tumultuous events of the recent past would be in order put into fable form instead of a mundane rehash of events. (Note: any similarity to real persons, living, dead or somewhere in between, is purely coincidental). Once upon a time in a land not so far away – let’s call that magical place, the United State of Amnesia – it was most everyone’s dream, who was fortunate enough to reside in such an enchanted land, to own their own cottage (we often refer to them as “home(s)”). For a time, due to a number of “magic potions” that were whipped-up by what appeared to be a community of “good” wizards - the Community Reinvestment Act which, lax regulation, low interest rates, an array of arrangements such as no-doc, adjustable rate mortgages and ninja loans, unscrupulous lenders, and a system generally awash with cash – made it appear as though that dream would come true for (almost) all the inhabitants of that village of 300 million. Happy Amnesians went into debt as home prices continued to pile up. Around the same time a couple of events were taking place that very few paid much attention to, but would later have catastrophic results. One involved a group of seemingly innocuous wizards of finance from afar who were cavorting about in their structured investment vehicles, potentially infecting society by spreading their sundry communicable devices, aka financial derivatives, such as mortgage backed securities and collateralized debt obligations. In addition, unbeknownst to most – except for example, Sir Robert of Shiller – storm clouds began to build up on the horizon, which out of would eventually pour a torrent, not of rain drops, but cottage prices. What follows is not for the faint of heart. When the storm clouds burst and cottage prices began to plummet toward earth, a chain reaction set in. The first to see their dream slip away were many of those benefiting from many of the magic elixirs listed above - subprime borrowers. Other homeowners would soon be affected as well. And as cottage prices continued to plummett, and the diseases from the derivatives began to spread, the land suddenly found itself invaded by terrifying giant zombie banks and one more-dead-than-alive insurance giant. Almost over night the magical landscape seemed far from enchanted and underwent events so cataclysmic, that a former chief “great” wizard, referred to by many as “The Maestro”, admitted to having an apparent philosophical flaw, and that the village’s goldsmiths (what we would consider banks) be taken over by their government. This would cause Atlas to not only shrug, but temporarily, bobble the earth. Yet, children, before thou’st fall into despair, all was not lost after all. The newly elected Prince of the land, O’Bama heard the clarion call and gathered about him the greatest of minds and bravest of souls, who swept aside the previous regime’s ineffectual attempts to save its denizens, and working swiftly and decisively, came thundering out of their fortresses, bringing the walking-dead banks back to life, and slaying the derivatives dragon and the evil it had wrought, and as a result, calming our “bad” animal spirits and reviving our “good.” And since I’m pretty much out of room ... they lived happily ever after. Granted the last part of the story is indeed a fairy tale. And first impressions don’t exactly cause me to be terribly optimistic. Be sure to check back spring quarter to see how our fable unfolds. LV Stephen Zill is a professor of economics at De Anza College.
Inter Club Council officials elected Amy Franklin LA VOZ NEWS
The Inter Club Council elected new chair members for the upcoming 2009-2010 academic year. ICC club representatives and members joined on its Feb. 18 and 25 meetings to hear the candidates give speeches and answer questions presented to them. Peter Lin was elected ICC chair on the Feb. 18 meeting. Incumbent chair members Shuo “Kobe” Gong, ICC chair, Lina Wang, ICC chair of finance and Bo Yin, chair of programs led the meetings. Gong said hopes to see Lin spend
more time with different clubs and develop relationships with their members. “The feedback would help my colleagues and I to do a better job on facilitating club events and getting more students involved on campus,” Gong said. He also hopes to see Lin add more events for students and clubs to participate in during his term. Elections continued Feb. 25 for chair of finance and programs positions. Three candidates running for each position gave a speech and answered questions from the council and club members. After two rounds of votes, Diep Nguyen was elected as chair of finance and Michael
Terrasas as chair of programs. As the ICC chair of programs, Bo said he would have liked to spend more time with club members in order to retrieve feedback in order to encourage more students to involve themselves in ICC. “The ICC is currently serving 60-plus clubs on campus. The promotion of the ICC should let more students know that college life is not only studying, but also getting involved and having fun, such as volunteering, playing sports or having dinner together,” Bo said.
Amy Franklin is associate editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact her at: associate@lavozdeanza.com
Meet your new ICC Chairs for 2009-10
Diep Nguyen A business major with a concentration in finance, 19-year-old Diep Nguyen appears to be an ideal candidate for the ICC’s head of finance. “I have experience in communication and a background in finance,” Nguyen said. Nguyen loves volunteering, working with others, and plans to put forth all effort and enthusiasm in her job as chair of finance. She is also part of De Anza’s International Student Volunteers organization. In her upcoming term as chair of finance, Nguyen would like to help increase student participation in the ICC and hopes to improve the ICC activities and maintain them properly. “I would like more and more creative activities created to serve and enrich for students’ campus life,” Nguyen said. Nguyen’s concern on the ICC’s current situation is the quality of clubs rather than quantity. She thinks many clubs are created too easily, and would prefer in the long run to increase quality of existing clubs to maintain student interest. Nguyen is eager to jump into her participation with club members and activities. “I’m looking for a better community with a strong union between ICC and clubs,” Nguyen said.
Peter Lin
Michael Terrasas
One thing Peter Lin knows is that being the new ICC chair will call for more sleep so that he is rested for his new job. Lin, 18, is majoring in business administration, which should be helpful while taking on this new task. He is also part of the Taiwanese Student Association and Honors Club. While ICC chair, Lin hopes to increase club participation as well as social activities for students at De Anza College. “I would like to make the ICC more student friendly as well as make clubs more accessible to De Anza students,” Lin said. Although Lin believes the current officers have been successful in making the ICC a friendlier atmosphere, he would like to make sure that the ICC becomes more aggressive in terms of spreading club awareness. “I want to replace past ICC events that have not been as successful and replace them with new ones that will be more effective,” Lin said. Lin says that he has a strong respect for diversity and feels he is a strong leader. “I won’t wait a second for people whose voices have been silenced,” he said. “I am looking forward to meeting the diverse groups that De Anza has to offer as well as learning their culture and ideas.”
Running a youth group and staying active in many student organizations, 22-year-old Michael Terrasas will be busy this upcoming quarter as chair of programs. He is actively involved in Christians on Campus, Saltworks Christian Fellowship, Fusu and the Japanese Student Association. As the ICC chair of programs, Terrasas expects to make the ICC’s presence known to De Anza College students. He would like to start an outreach program, targeting students who are not yet involved in the Council. Terrasas hopes to increase the ICC membership by 100 to 200 students during his term. “I look forward to bringing the clubs together for celebrations such as Club Day,” Terrasas said. Although Terrasas acknowledges the occasional conflicting opinions among ICC members and is aware that there will be times students do not mesh well, he believes all members need to work together and hopes to help in that process. “I am motivated to do this and I will put my heart and mind into it,” Terrasas said. “I look forward to seeing what works and going for it.”
African American students speak out Sandra Westdahl LA VOZ NEWS
In celebration of Black History Month, four African American students and an instructor praised the impact the faculty and programs at De Anza College have had on allowing minority groups to succeed. The event, “Black Students at De Anza Speak Out: A lesson for out teachers” took place on Feb. 24. But the panel also discussed race as a prevailing issue on campus. In room A in the Campus Center 20 people gathered to listen to Truly Hunter, assistant director of Extended Opportunities Programs and Services, and host of the event. Next to her sat student Cory Williams. “It’s tough being an African
American student at De Anza,” Williams said. He spoke of the importance for teachers to understand the history of African Americans. When lecturing about slavery for example, Williams noticed that some instructors exclude or avoid making eye contact with him. In situations, such as these, he wishes he could be treated as any other student. Shumeka Reid, another student on the panel said she felt exposed by her English instructor during a class discussion on African American hair types. When Reid, the only African American student, gave her opinion on the matter the instructor cut her off. It hurt her feelings, she said. EOPS and Student Success and
Retention Services are important because they motivate African American students to complete their educational goals. The programs understand the many issues African American students confront, said Williams, who is engaged in the SSRS program. The students in the panel also had positive experiences about being an African American student. Kenny Dorsey said ever since she started taking classes at De Anza she has received support from various faculty members, such as Tao Lan. Attending De Anza and being successful have been a great experience, she said smiling. LV Sandra Westdahl is a student at De Anza College.
PAGE 5
Front page a waste of precious time soheilREZAEE
Opinion: As the World Burns In a perfect world, if one were to turn on the news, they would be able to learn about all the issues affecting this small little world. The news would enlighten us and awake the public from their sleep of ignorance. Of course, that is only in a perfect world. But instead, the front page shows celebrities having meltdowns, someone’s personal life, a DUI, hilarious YouTube videos, the death of someone historically insignificant, missing white girls or cute animals that do the most adorable things. You might think now that Barack Obama is president, things might get a little better but the sad reality is nothing much has changed except for a few wars and the body count of the world. While on the topic of Obama, his amazing victory has been all over the news for its historical significance along with the symbolism that has been created around his image. What is not important is all the random trivial items that have made CNN such as the new dog or where Obama likes to eat. The people had elected Obama to help rebuild the economy, since at the moment families are struggling to survive in these troubled times. Correction, real families who live in real homes as opposed to some wealthy families who were struggling to save their cave house. While helpless families are getting evicted and tossed to the streets, there was a lot of attention given to only one family just because they had some cave house, compared to a simple home in a simple neighborhood. But what is amazing is that while the inauguration of Obama (a major historical event) was on Wikipedia’s home page for only a day, while the birth of quintuplets was on the home page for more than a week. What became even more annoying was the constant news reports of how the mother was doing and the struggle she was going through. It’s funny, one woman is able to squeeze eight out and it becomes national news, but when my buddy takes the longest dump nobody on MySpace is interested. Most people seem to have forgotten what giving birth to quintuplets really is: A burden you could have flushed months ago but decided to keep, so the weight won’t be lifted until they either go to college, Hollywood or prison. However this is nothing compared to the hype created by Stephen Fowler’s appearance on “Wife Swap.” The treatment of Gayla Long was cruel, but it was not something worth being on the news. It appears that most people forgot about the natural contract of reality television where the minute someone signs on to a show, they officially become a national clown for our entertainment. While ragging on reality television, one has to ask why does who got voted off American Idol always seem to make the news (especially Fox News)? How does some talent less nobody getting booted off a mediocre show is as worthy as the conflicts of the Middle East or the crumbling economy? I’m sure everyone has heard people nagging about media reform for a better democracy and it’s because what’s on the news is just a good enough reason for anyone to ask God to take away their sense of sight, sound and reason just to avoid the hot topic issues on Lucifer’s dream box. With the current trends of celebrities going insane or unnecessary news about quintuplets, one would just want to get excited about sitting back and watching as the world burns. LV Soheil Rezaee is the news and features editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: features@lavozdeanza.com.
PAGE 6
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
MARCH 16, 2009
entertainment
PHOTO BY AMY FRANKLIN/LA VOZ
Cloudy day brightened by short and sweet ribbon cutting ceremony
De Anza Student Body President Terell Sterling had the honor of cutting the ribbon among administration and other officials at the official ceremony. James Chen LA VOZ NEWS
Immediately after stepping off Bus 13 and onto the cold, dull gray De Anza College parking lot, you would have noticed something about the morning of March 6 was different. Though the mottled clouds still blocked out the sun light, and the campus itself was almost dead, ears heard of a different tale than the mundane atmosphere that otherwise permeated the campus. Jazz notes, as colorful as the building itself, trilled out from the
front of the Visual and Performing Arts Center. The music was bright, painting a vivid contrast to the muted colors around it, and as sharp as the cold air of the morning. A crowd slowly gathered around Steve Tyler and the De Anza Daddios Combo, lingering around the chairs and the ribboned entrance of the newly constructed building. The purpose of the jazz band’s presence was immediately obvious: at 10 in the morning, the newly built VPAC of De Anza, in all its bright orange glory, officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony. A few of the Bay Area’s political
Grand evening at the Euphrat
PHOTOS (7) COURTESY OF FRANCISCO GARCIA
The inaugural exhibition featured a 92-year-old artist Paul Pei-Jen Hau (left).
figures attended the ceremony. Orrin Mahoney, Cupertino’s mayor, the mayors of Mountain View and Sunnyvale, and representatives from San Jose and the state government were present. Sterlings’ height humor at the expense of chancellor Martha Kanter came off as intended, and the use of a stepstool managed to get a few chuckles from the audience and speakers, further lightening the mood. As noted by President Brian Murphy, and echoed by most of the speakers, the very outward orientation of the arts center and
Euphrat Museum was meant to symbolize its openness not only to the students and faculty of De Anza, but to the Bay Area community - at large. And perhaps the ceremony itself could be said to adhere to that principle. The levity of the ceremony and the shortness of it, the latter of which was perhaps partially driven by the increasing drizzle three-quarters of the way through, kept the ceremony from being bogged down by tedium. The most important part of the agenda, it would seem, was not the speeches, or even the perfunctory
ribbon cutting, but the tour of the VPAC. As for the building, though often mocked for the external color scheme, it is very noticeable, very vivid, even amongst the gloom, and cannot be derided for its internal design. Though outwardly awkward, there is no doubt that the VPAC and the Euphrat Museum will successfully serve De Anza — and the Bay Area — for years to come. LV James Chen is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: jameschen@lavozdeanza.com.
Inspiring evening in the VPAC theatre
Lina Kwon LA VOZ NEWS
A full house of 400 friends, families and dancers, an empty stage with a pre-lit spotlight and chattering voices awaited me in the Visual and Performing Arts Centers’ theatre Wednesday evening. As I scattered through people in the aisles to get to an open seat, I could not help myself but notice the liveliness surrounding me … the
what is known as floor barre; which is a moderation of classical ballet barre work and closely resembles Pilates with kicks and extensions. “Come on ballet people … now it’s your turn. Show them what you’ve got,” Lucas casually progressed the show. I expected ballet dancers in tutu’s but instead I got dancers in informal clothing of black and purple. I didn’t mind. It was relaxed and untailored, easy to watch. Ballet dancers did some floor com-
Ballet’s performance in my book: the love for the art form and the genuine happiness that comes with it. This is something amateur and professional dancers share and no level of technique or scale of performance could hinder or afford. For instance, the social dance students that came on stage repeat the same eight counts over and over again, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the stage. Not because every one of the dancers had the steps down
binations of pirouettes, tendus and port de bras. (In others words, turns, feet work and arm movements.) Then followed the “rebellion against classical ballet,” the contemporary pieces. First was Vernon Gallegos’ class with an organized choreography and matching costumes of black and white. Second was Maria Basile’s class with a more casual across the floors. Not to say that one was better than the other, but Basile’s contemporary dancers gave me butterflies as if I were on stage. Maybe it was because I really wanted to be on stage with them or perhaps their love of dance touched me. Who knows? But, this was a reoccurring theme of the evening, love of dance. The only reason why this performance could compete with San Francisco
nor because they were the best set of dancers I had ever seen, but because their love of dance shined through. An aspect no money or time could ever buy. The most notable performance of the evening was by the hip-hop dance crew of about 80 dancers. With Gallegos’ cue, dancers rushed on stage from all corners of the theatre and wowed the audience with a well choreographed, well rehearsed, synchronized piece. A clap at the beginning of the choreography nearly blew me away, literally. LV
A moment of congratulations to everyone...
Executive director of Euphrat museum Jan Rindfleisch (right) with a proclamation signed by Mayor Orrin Mahoney.
Students at the event were excited about the opening night.
genuine joy. You know, the kind where no obvious smiles are necessary? “Hey folks … this is the real deal!” Warren Lucas, dance instructor at De Anza College, exclaimed through the babbling voices in the audience. My heart thumped fast and hard in hopes of a great show. What followed the anticipation were no Broadway or America’s Best Dance Crew, but amateur student dancers showing off what they have been working on all quarter long. Grand opening of the evening, students from Janet Shaw’s Body Awareness for Dancers class took center stage. With a little narration by Professor Shaw off stage, dancers lie on stage showing the process of
Lina Kwon is the A&E editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact her at: arts@lavozdeanza.com.
MARCH 16, 2009
ENTERTAINMENT
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
PAGE 7
MOVIE EXPERIENCE:
CINEQUEST A tribute to De Anza College Flm/TV Department faculty & students who participated in this yearʼ s Cinequest Film Festival:
LA VOZ EXPLORES
Samuel Cheung’s humorous short film “Laundry” and Gustav Asplund’s self-discovery short film “In Searh for I” was shown at this year’s event. Screenwriting instructor Barak Goldman co-chaired this year’s screenplay competition Film/TV Department chair person Zaki Lisha and film history instructor Susan Tavernetti judged at this year’s event for the winning films.
Patrick Gartner LA VOZ NEWS
DAY 1: FEB. 28 pain of the original story. When “The Bet” was over, I walked out of the theatre and spotted Hussey. Hussey spoke with me about some of the questions I had left over form the forum. Although I had more questions to ask Hussey, he was busy and politely ended the interview. I continued my journey out of the theatre and back into the Paseo. Outside, I spotted a slightly unusual sight. A young man with a toy-microphone taped to his head was holding a sign that said “Free Couch Rides.” At the same time a young woman was taking pictures of two people who were ferrying patrons across the sidewalk on an old orange-wheeled coach. These strange young people turned out to be makers of the film, “Billy Was a Deaf Kid.” The woman taking pictures was named Candyce Foster. She sat with me and granted me an impromptu interview about her experience so far at Cinequest. After my interview with Foster, the group gave me free passes to see their Monday night screening of the film. By now it was time for grub. After dinner I made my way to the newly renovated California Theatre to see the last movie of the night, “How To Be.” This film is directed by British newcomer Oliver Irving and stars British heart-throb Rob Pattinson (star of the film, “Twilight”). The movie follows the nervous breakdown of a young man suffering a quarter-life crisis in London. Oliver Irving had made a high quality film. It was funny, smart and unique. Irving stuck around for a Q & A – which embarrassingly enough consisted of young girls gushing about Pattinson. Irving began to sign autographs, and thirty minutes later, granted me an interview, ending my first day at Cinequest 19.
Fun fact, take on e. Cinequest is a n onprofit instituti on that offers programs for in dependent film artists and students. The m entoring and pr og rams assist filmmakers with scholarships. FACTS COM
PILED BY RY
AN STRADE
R/LA VOZ
DAY 2: MARCH 2 My girlfriend and I used the free passes to see the final screening of “Billy Was a Deaf Kid”. This film follows a relationship between a very bizarre young couple stuck in the middle of nowhere. The movie played like Napoleon Dynamite and would be enjoyed by the same fans.
I found it funny that there is a new film genre emerging from Utah and Idaho that I can only describe as an Indy-MormonComedy. As per usual, the filmmakers were there to answer questions from the audience.
DAY 3: MARCH 8 This was the last day of Cinequest 19. I started my day by heading over to the Camera 12 theatres to screen “The Last Lullaby.” This movie stars Tom Sizemore and is the feature length debut of Director Jeffry Goodman. Before the movie began, Goodman came out and introduced his film. He spoke briefly about where the original story came from and how much this project meant to him personally. The movie follows the last “job” of a retired hit man, who ends up falling in love with his target. Although the story isn’t very original, the actors gave the best performances out of all the films I saw. “The Last Lullaby” was the best movie I had seen so far. However, this was only my first film of the day. After the Q & A session I met with Goodman to get his perspective on the festival and his experience as a director making his Cinequest debut. With a couple hours to go until the finale of the festival I decided to pass the time by sneaking into the theatre next door which was screening the Mexican film “Euphoria.” Even though it is a cliché to use the term “unique brand of humor”, I honestly do not know of another way to describe “Euphoria.” The over arching sympathy for an over the hill rock star as he comes face to face with his past demons is delivered in a way that makes anyone watching the film burst out laughing. This was a unique and funny film. Sadly, “Euphoria” was the only film where the filmmakers were not present to go through a Q & A with the audience. Before the final film began, Haldfan Hussey made his way onto the stage to kick off the closing ceremony. All the filmmakers who were still in town were allowed on stage to
PHOTO BY RYAN STRADER/LA VOZ
My journey at Cinequest began Saturday, February 28. Armed with nothing but a press pass I made way to the San Jose Repertory Theatre. Overwhelmed with choices I decided to stay at the Rep and attend the “Marriage of Television and Internet Forum,” moderated by Kathleen J. Powell. Before the forum began, Cinequest’s Executive Director Haldfan Hussey walked on stage to introduce the forum panel. The panel discussed and displayed the new and emerging technologies that filmmakers are going to be using in the future to market and distribute their films. I began to wonder how festivals such as Cinequest are going to stay relevant if the internet technology is advancing at such a fast rate. The forum ended and I decided it was time to check out my first film. A Russian film, “The Bet” was about to begin at Camera 12. “The Bet” is a movie based on the short story by Anton Chekhov, in which an employee tries to prove to his boss that he would rather live a life behind bars than face a death sentence. This hypothetical conversation leads to a bet between the two. The young man agrees to become the boss’ prisoner for 15 years at the price of $15 million. However, if the employee cannot finish his time, he must work for free for the rest of his life. The bet becomes an obsession between the two men that imprisons them both. Although the end of the film was on the ambiguous side, it did a good job of portraying the
receive an uproarious standing ovation for their films. After, Director Roger Nygard and producers Paul Tarantino and Billy Sullivan took the stage to introduce their labor of love, “The Nature of Existence.” Roger Nygard has worked in entertainment for years and is most famous for writing on the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” “The Nature of Existence” is a documentary following Roger Nygard as he asks the most important questions about the nature of existence and the universe. In the film he speaks with leaders in religion and science around the world. This documentary is a great film to watch if you’ve ever asked yourself: “Why do I exist?” The filmmakers stuck around for another Q & A session. What made this Q & A session special is that two of the people interviewed in the film (an evangelical street preacher and an atheistic Los Angeles comedian) stuck around for a live sequel to the debate they had within the film. As the debate ended, we were told to make our way over to the E & O Trading Co. for the Cinequest 19 Closing Night Gala. There, press members and film fans were able to rub shoulders and dance with producers, actors and filmmakers. During the drive home I reflected on my experience at Cinequest 19. Anyone who has not attended a film festival like this has truly missed out on a wonderful opportunity. It is rare that audience members have the opportunity to speak with the artists and visionaries so directly. The environment that a film festival provides is one that unites filmmakers and film lovers. I cannot wait until Cinequest 20.
Fun fact, take tw o. Over five million __ people have wat ched Cinequest distri bution films onlin e or on DVD since its format ion in 2006. ILLUSTRATI
ONS BY LIN
A KWON/L
A VOZ
PAGE 8
MARCH 16, 2009
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
la voz wants you! We need: •
reporters
•
photographers
•
graphic artists
•
columnists
•
cartoonists
•
sales people
•
videographers
•
editors
How do I join? Option 1: sign up for jour 61 which meets at l 42 Tuesdays and thursdays from 4 - 5:15 p.m. Option 2: sign up for (1 unit) jour 62 which does not require a regular class meeting Option 3: if you are interested in an editor position or have questions e-mail us at lavoz@fhda.edu or stop by room l 41.
thursday’s grilled fish @ De Anza’s cafeteria
broiled salmon, grilled zucchini, sweet pepper, yellow squash, portabella mushroom and pesto sauce (Wholewheat Roll Optional) RECIPE - 2 oz. Squash, crookneck & straightneck, broiled, drained, w/ salt - 2 oz Squash, zucchini, baby, raw - 2 oz. Peppers, sweet, red, raw - 2 oz. Mushroom, oyster, raw - 1 tbs Pesto with salt - 1 tbs Cooking Oil - 6 oz Finfish, salmon, Atlantic, farmed, raw
$7.50 Every Thursday we will be hosting a new grill special designed for those who enjoy the simplicity of grilled fish. The emphasis is on a low carb, fresh vegetable and healthy diet. Pending on the sauces we aim to keep the calories under 500. All of the menu items that change can be seen at: www.deanza.edu/diningservices/February2009.htm
The Cafeteria is located on the second level of the Hinson Campus Center.
MARCH 16, 2009
SPORTS
Athlete of the Week: Kim Kilgroe
Record breaking Steeplechaser Amy Franklin
her event. She paints her nails black to make her feel tough, an idea she LA VOZ NEWS got after reading about another runner Blended beets and carrots don’t mix in Runner’s World magazine. You well. can often find her in the bleachers But for student-athlete Kim Kilgroe, listening to techno music prior to her 19, it ignited her passion for health and events, while chewing Jelly-Belly nutrition in middle school. Currently, Sports Beans. she is on the De Anza College Track “They are mostly just an excuse to & Field team and in her final quarter. eat candy before a meet,” Kilgroe Her parents told her to blend the said. mixed vegetables into her Jack Healthy eating habits are something LaLanne Power Juice to improve her she picked up from her parents. health. Majoring in nutrition, her family’s “Health is an acquired taste,” active lifestyle was a huge motivation for her physical fitness. Kilgroe wants to be a nutritionist, specializing in childhood obesity and educating children of their eating habits. Her own eating habits are transparent in her frequent visits to Whole Foods. She didn’t like other sports growing up, except swimming. She PHOTO BY AMY FRANKLIN/LA VOZ finds the individuality aspect of running, while also being part of Kilgroe said. “I’ve learned to like a lot a team, her favorite thing about the of things that I didn’t like before.” sport. When running gets hard, the It appears the blended drinks thought of victory is an extra push she worked. Kilgroe recently broke the often needs to finish. school record in the 3000-meter After leaving De Anza track, Kilgroe Steeplechase. She also qualified said she would like to be remembered for the Northern California Track for the record she broke at San Championships in six different Francisco State on Saturday, March events – more than anyone else on 7 in the 3000-meter Steeplechase the current squad. and hopes to compete in every event Kilgroe’s habits make her stand which not many athletes do. out among the rest. She can be seen “Kim has really worked hard to warming up in bright red or purple develop into the athlete she is right leggings before a meet. now. Her hard work is really starting “It makes me feel bold,” Kilgroe to pay off for her,” said head coach said. “And it brings out my bright Nick Mattis. LV yellow and green spikes.” Amy Franklin is the associate editor Kilgroe has a set of rituals prior to for La Voz Weekly. Contact her at: associate@lavozdeanza.com.
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
PAGE 9
Sports, academics two of a kind Quan Luong LA VOZ NEWS
Foothill and De Anza College researchers found that De Anza athletes have a higher grade point average than other full-time students. According to the Institutional Research, De Anza athletes have an average GPA of 3.22 over the past three years. They have even broken down the GPA of the different ethnicities. Compared to full-time AfricanAmerican students, an AfricanAmerican athlete’s GPA is over half a point higher, the largest difference. Hispanic student-athletes have a 3.11 cumulative GPA, whereas full-time Hispanic students have a 2.64 GPA. “I’m glad to see that the studentathletes are doing extremely well with their education and keeping their grades up,” said Athletic Director Kulwant Singh. “I’m not surprised to hear that the athletes are doing better than the fulltime students, Academic Advisor Matt Trosper said. “It’s not only a trend here at De Anza, but a nationwide trend. The lessons learned as a student-athlete
carries over to how they perform in the classrooms and ultimately to be successful in life. These lessons are hard-work, time management, working under pressure, teamwork, leadership, accepting and working with many types of people from all kinds of backgrounds.” According to Singh, all the De Anza coaches, staff and the administration are eager to assist the student-athletes in academics and sports. The De Anza student athletes have received exposure to university coaches and opportunities to acquire athletic scholarships. “The student-athletes are among the hardest working students on campus,” Trosper said. “Roughly 87 percent transfer to four-year universities after De Anza. Some of those go on to compete as student-athletes at the university they transfer to and others continue on as students getting their bachelor’s degree.” The athletes have been successful in transferring to a four-year university to pursue their goals. Some were awarded with both athletic and academic scholarships. “If the student-athletes want to
succeed, they need to push themselves harder if they’re going to be successful in life,” said Trosper. “Matt and the coaches have been a good influence on the student-athletes, encouraging them to work harder so they could be more successful in life,” Singh said. “But it doesn’t mean the athletes would spend all on their time doing homework or practice. They give themselves some time to hang out with their friends and relax.” “Our coaches here at De Anza must take the credit of our studentathletes’ success,” Trosper said. “They mostly care about how their studentathletes succeed. I provide academic advisement to student-athletes and monitor their progress. I’d be available to make sure they would receive the assistance they might need such as tutoring, financial aid and counseling services. But if it weren’t for our coaches and their dedication to see the student-athletes succeed, we wouldn’t see this kind of GPA that our studentathletes have.”
Quan Luong is the assistant sports editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: assistantsports@lavozdeanza.com.
Winter Sports Review: Basketball Quan Luong LA VOZ NEWS
The men and women’s basketball teams this season had their share of ups and downs. The men endured a long losing streak, while the women fell just short of making the playoffs. The men’s team finished 2-27 overall and 1-11 in Coast Conference South and last place. The women finished in third place in conference play with a record of 8-4 and 15-15 overall. To qualify for the Nor-Cal Regional playoffs, a team must rank in the top 18 in the regional standings to be eligible. The women’s team was just one spot shy ending the season in 19
place in the region. The men’s team was led by forwards Kris Gingrich and Adam Close and guards Melvin Sneed and Jeremy Rios they shined through on what was a dismal 2-27 season. Gingrich finished the season with 319 points, 140 rebounds, 17 assists and three double-doubles. Close had 269 points, 184 rebounds, 29 assists and six double-doubles. Sneed finished with 373 points, 161 rebounds, 30 assists and six doubledoubles. Rios had 193 points, 52 rebounds and 79 assists. The Lady Dons’ Sherina Summers, Desiree Collins, Lisa Rhett and Kathleen De La Cruz were a huge impact for their team, which finished
15-15 overall. Summers had 366 points, 218 rebounds, 54 assists and seven double-doubles, and Collins had 278 points, 249 rebounds, 64 assists and seven double-doubles. Rhett finished the regular season with 264 points, 129 rebounds and 39 assists, and De La Cruz had 235 points, 69 rebounds and 40 assists. As of the end of the 2008-09 season, Jason Damjanovic’s overall coaching record now stands at 51-69, while women’s head coach Arden Kragalott moves her record to 78-62. LV Quan Luong is the assistant sports editor for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: assistantsports@lavozdeanza.com.
CLASSIFIEDS
SPORTS WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS NEEDED FOR ONLINE SPORTS MAGAZINE (www.sjsportsreport.com) San Jose Sports Report covers all SJ sports including the Sharks, Stealth, Sabercats, Giants, and many more. We are looking for writers/photographers to freelance for our staff. This is an unpaid position but will look great for your portfolio. We currently need beat reporters for SJSU Athletics throughout the year. Press passes are provided. If interested please e-mail us your clips and tell us why you want to write for our magazine. All inquiries should be sent to reza@ sjsportsreport.com
FENDER STRAT GUITAR / SMALL CRATE AMP / SOLID GUITAR CASE / CABLES FOR SALE I bought this package for nearly $750 nearly two years ago. I’m willing to sell it for $500 or O.B.O. Used it only in the house and never took it on the road. Email me at rkazempour@hotmail.com to setup a time to check out the equipment.
VISIT WWW.LAVOZDEANZA.COM AND CLICK ON CLASSIFIEDS TO SUBMIT YOUR CLASSIFIED POSTING
PAGE 10
ENTERTAINMENT
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
IT’S NEW TO ME
MARCH 16, 2009
Review: Demoscene is poetry in binary James Chen LA VOZ NEWS
It’s a mesmerizing blend of graphical mastery and electronica – a post-apocalyptic hiss of static reverberating down snaking, rusted pipes, twisting through a derelict urban environment. Alien, non-euclidian structures flow in tandem with a lo-fi bass line, others twisting and disturbingly organic. The industrial rhythm crescendos, the world flakes apart like polluted
snow, leaving blinding white space behind, sinking into itself, until all that’s left is space. What is it? Demoscene. What is that? A non interactive visual display on the computer which incorporates audio, visual and artistic skills. Wikipedia says it is a computer art subculture. I like to describe it as a computer graphics version of DJ remixes. One combines music, programming and art to create a new work, or a demoscene.
The history stems from the days when the Commodore C64 and Amiga PCs were state-ofthe-art technology, and when teenagers skirted the law with copy parties to mass-distribute the latest floppy-disk softwares. It was art for art’s sake, a matter of pushing primitive computing software to its very limits. It was competitive – a matter of bragging rights, and a means of settling disputes over which system was arguably the superior plat-
De Anza Voices: What does De Anza lack? “I think they need to make sure they’re compensating teachers enough to keep enough of them for the influx of students we’re having.” J.P. Schaaphok Marine biology 28
“I think we need more chem and psych activities, like field trips.” Chun Fai Mak Business 20
“I want more hangout places, and more variety of food in the cafeteria.”
“We need more programs for business majors, like internships.”
Weiting Xu Undecided 17
Kartika Sanjaya Business 19
COMPILED BY ANDREA NOTT/LA VOZ
form. It was perhaps the first true new form of art in the budding era of digital technology, combining a paradoxical mix of minimalistic resource usage with maximal output complexity. It set the standards for computer graphics as art, and many of the lessons learned in its formulating years are still applied, sometimes relearned, by both the game and movie industries as digital graphic mastery becomes not only more important to their works, but outright vital. Though Moore’s Law’s effect on computer hardware has removed much of the physical barriers on digital arts, the industries’ drive towards greater detail, greater realism and more sheer computational power means that the lessons of minimalism will never go out of vogue. It would be a mistake to talk of demoscene in past tense – for it is still thriving, even after its original practitioners have grown older and gone elsewhere. Demoscene enthusiasts are still congregating by the hundreds, even thousands, at conventions throughout Europe and even the United States, schlepping tables and chairs and hulking, LED-lighted computers – or hulking beigeyellow antiques, as old-school demoscenes are still popular competition formats. It’s dim, it’s loud and industrial electronica booms from every corner. The sharp tang of spilled beer and meaty scent of roasting hot dogs drift in from the outside tailgate party – demoscene conventions are as much major social gatherings as they are competitions. And above the crowds and old CRT monitors are giant projectors, streaming the latest digital dreams, whether directly from the convention itself, or – as a sign of the swiftly changing times – piped in from Demoscene.tv. Max Payne, Spore and many others: though the scene is still esoteric, and may very well stay esoteric, even now you can trace the roots of popular media back to the eldritch, droning beats of a dusty old computer, jury-rigged by arcane symbols and dark rituals to serve as a gateway to a world of jagged shadows and twisted beauty. LV James Chen is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: jameschen@ lavozdeanza.com.
one’s help. I won’t need aonnym y own. I can do it e gonna give me mor
With that degree, iIt’csan make more money.
opportunity so g with human resourcesI’m already workin how to deal with people, codes of conduct, loyalty, ethics, ork.... the hiring process, paperw A career . b o j A job is just a is something that you worked for . I feel better as a person now. I feel more
accomplished.
Mon. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sun. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Lunch & Dinner
408-873-1600 fax 408-873-1614 Michelle Oquendo ’08 Technical Management
Since 1975, DeVry has graduated more than 230,000 students at the undergraduate level. Of graduates in the active job market, 90 percent were employed in career-related positions within six months of graduation. If you have some college, you can complete your bachelor’s degree in DeVry University’s accelerated courses. Classes start soon, so discover the education that is helping Michelle build a future she can be proud of.
Log on to DeVryCompletion.com/DeAnza or call 866.610.8868
Four convenient locations in the :Yq 9j]Y2 San Jose Fremont Daly City San Francisco
Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA), www.ncahlc.org. Programs vary by location. ©2008 DeVry University. All rights reserved.
(,*-/) <]Njq :Yq 9j]Y <]9frY % Ea[`]dd] I 9\ .&(.*-½o p /½` :O N) _]o )('+)'(0
Ask for free student beverage
MARCH 16,2009
LAVOZDEANZA.COM
OPINION & Editorial Editorial Board Nitzan Beck Editor in Chief lavoz@fhda.edu
Joe Chunnic Managing Editor managing@lavozdeanza.com
Soheil Rezaee News Editor Kelly Truong Opinions Editor Lina Kwon A&E Editor Dae Kim Broadcast Editor Alena Starostina Graphics Editor Daniel Gamberg Web Editor Amy Franklin Associate Editor Quan Luong Assistant Sports Editor
Contributing Staff Ernest Chavez, James Chen, Patrick Gartner, Andrea Michelle Nott, Maryann Sparelic, Ryan Strader, Vinh Vu
De Anza College’s transfer rate is one of the highest among California community colleges. The college is geared to assist students on their paths to UCs and CSUs, and we have always appreciated faculty members’ eagerness to help in that regard. But why not broaden the scope and make sure students are aware of every opportunity? While De Anza has no end of resources dedicated to UC and CSU transfer admissions, there is little promotion of other four-year schools, and little assistance available to those interested in them. Community colleges should do all they can to help students figure out and attain their future goals. De Anza’s campus is very specifically centered on UC and CSUs, with very little acknowledgement of academia outside of those two systems. By advertising and offering assistance with four-year schools other
About Us
Come to Room L-42 Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. to attend the newspaper staff class.
Contact Us
Letters to the editor, submissions and press releases are welcome and can be submitted to: www.lavozdeanza.com/letters Letters should be 300 words or less; letters more than 300 words may be edited for length. Letter content must not be libelous or intended to air personal grievances. La Voz does not guarantee that submissions and letters to the editor will be printed, nor does it guarantee coverage of events for which it receives press releases. La Voz reserves the right to edit letters and submissions for clarity in accordance with Associated Press writing style.
Advertising
Advertisers reach 3,500 De Anza community members weekly by advertising in La Voz Weekly. Contact Business Manager Reza Kazempour by phone at 408-864-5626 or send an e-mail to ads@lavozdeanza. com for rates.
Photo Reprints
Images published in La Voz Weekly or online at http://www.lavozdeanza.com are available for purchase. Ten limited use digital images can be obtained for $20 or ten 8x10 prints for $25. Contact Business Manager Reza Kazempour to place an order.
Additional Copies
The first copy of each issue of La Voz Weekly is free to everyone. Additional copies can be purchased through Business Manager Reza Kazempour.
THE OPINION OF ThE LA VOz Weekly EDitorial Board than UCs and CSUs, De Anza would be helping students to the fullest extent. Students deserve to know about every possibility available to them. In order to carry this out, De Anza could hold a wellpublicized college fair every quarter, featuring information
tables from schools around the country. The transfer center, which already hosts representatives from CSUs and UCs on a regular basis, could invite other college representatives to visit and promote their institutions at De Anza. While our counselors are well-versed in UC and CSU admissions, able to advise students easily about IGETC and http://assist.org, they are less knowledgeable when it comes to other schools.
In an unfortunate twist of irony, it is those schools that typically require the most counselor assistance – unlike the straightforward UC/CSU application, they require several elements, including SAT scores, college and high school transcripts, college official reports, high school official reports, instructor evaluations, alumni interviews, midterm reports and course catalogs. With all of these different application components to juggle, students could use more support from De Anza. The transfer center could hold workshops dedicated to helping students make sense of the process and stay organized throughout it. De Anza is already stellar in aiding students along the path to UCs and CSUs. By showing students other options, the school would be fulfilling its mission of helping students find success. LV
Mounting microblogging mania
Beth Grobman Faculty Adviser grobman@fhda.edu Walter Alvarado Lab Technician alvaradowalter@fhda.edu Reza Kazempour Business Manager ads@lavozdeanza.com
Phone: 408-864-5626 Fax: 408-864-5533 lavoz@fhda.edu www.lavozdeanza.com Room L-41 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd. Cupertino, CA 95014
Staff editorials reflect the opinions of the majority of the editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author or the opinions of the La Voz staff. Opinions expressed by staff and contributors are the opinions of the individuals and not necessarily the opinion of La Voz Weekly.
More things in heaven and earth than UCs
Business Staff
La Voz Weekly is a First Amendment newspaper written and published by De Anza College students. La Voz Weekly is partially funded by the De Anza Associated Student Body and is printed with soy-based inks at Fricke-Parks Press. All rights reserved; no part of La Voz Weekly may be reproduced without permission.
INFO
jamesCHEN The idea of Twitter isn’t new, of course. Its origins, if such a short history merits the word, trace all the way back to the early days of AIM, when everybody started to realize that away messages could, in fact, give more information than “I’m not here right now.” You could coordinate events with it, make it easier for families and friends to find you, or simply let people know that you were too busy to warrant even a phone call, saving everybody a little hassle. It spread to Facebook statuses and profile updates for the same reason: social networking convenience, pure and simple. Really, Twitter was pretty much inevitable. Of course, that doesn’t really answer whether Twitter’s a good thing.
The Mail Bag Recurring recycling theft De Anza College is being victimized by thefts from our recycling bins. As a result, we are losing money. Even though these are petty crimes, they add up to significant losses that are draining part of the school budget. Joe, a truck driver for PepsiCo, says that PepsiCo delivers about 80 cases of bottled sodas and cans a day to De Anza’s campus. This averages out to approximately 9,600 bottles and cans each week. Patrick Gannon, De Anza’s Dining Director, states that the recorded capture rate, received money from returned bottles and cans, is 35 percent. The remaining 65 percent is either thrown away or taken by bottle collectors. Every bottle and can
Or if social networking, and microblogging in particular, is a good thing. Its critics have pointed out, quite accurately, that the very concept is distilled narcissism, suggesting that the daily events of your everyday life are fascinating enough to merit streaming updates. Sure, in the case of celebrity twitters – with author Neil Gaiman, actor Wil Wheaton and musician Amanda Palmer – there’s justification. It’s an easy way to maintain a high level of public interest in whatever they’re up to. But what about everybody else? The narcissism critique holds true without even monetary interests to excuse it. Of course, the same can be said for any form of blogging, but it is exacerbated here by Twitter limiting people to transient bursts of information. It’s arguable, after all, that 140 characters simply isn’t enough for any serious dialogue, or any real context. With only the shallow depth that Twitter provides, then perhaps Jon Stewart is right, and this really is nothing more than a gimmicky fad, soon to dissipate as a mere footnote
is worth five cents each. This means that De Anza is losing a potential school revenue of more than $312 a week, $3,744 a quarter or $14, 976 for the school year! It is understandable that the economy is going through hard times, but theft is not the answer. A couple things we can do is have recycle bins that are built into the walls or add locks to the current recycle bins and only allow janitors to have the key. Another good option would be to provide those in charge of emptying the bins with a badge that says they have the proper authority to claim the recycles. We could also start thinking about rewarding students who volunteer to sort out the recycling from the garbage cans. It is time we take back what rightfully belongs to us! Jessica Marie Flemate Dental hygiene, 19
in cultural history. Well, while I’m a great fan of Stewart’s work, I’m afraid he needs more up-to-date writers. Twitter looks to have staying power – built on its quirky potential as a bastion of citizen journalism. A student unlawfully arrested in Egypt. The Virginia Tech shooting, and an entire campus’s worth of students, faculty and parents, trying to make sure their loved ones were all right. On both a dark and positive note, the coordination of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, and the coordination of the relief efforts and victim identification in the aftermath. Be it tragedy, be it politics, be it any kind of breaking news, the last few years have seen Twitter prove its worth. Any journalist worth a damn has an account now, plugging into the rapidfire, staccato burst of Twitter’s metacortex. Individually, the hundreds of links, thousands of updates, and
Inflated cafeteria prices The $2.95 hot dog at the cafeteria has me wondering whether I am out of touch with how much things cost today. Looking in a Safeway ad, you can get a 10-pack of hot dogs for $2.50 and an eight-pack of buns for about $1. If my math is right, it costs about 38 cents for a hot dog and bun, exactly what you get at the cafeteria. If we add 57 cents for expenses, that leaves $2 profit. Should the cafeteria be making that type of profit off of students? I may need to sign up for an economics course to figure this out, because I see these reasons for a price like that: • There is no other place to get inexpensive food close to or around campus. • The college needs to bring in funds any way possible • The cafeteria is too busy, and it’s an effort to limit the
countless watching eyes amount to no more than a hatchling’s tweet – but accumulated and eyed for the rippling patterns of informational exchange, they illustrate the entirety of the jungles of civilization. Not bad for a mere 140 characters per post. LV James Chen is a staff reporter for La Voz Weekly. Contact him at: jameschen@lavozdeanza.com.
IllustrationS (2) by GALEN OBACK/La voz
La Voz Weekly
PAGE 11
number of students using the cafeteria by charging exorbitant amounts for food. • No one is buying hot dogs, so they need to raise the price just to keep them available. • In order to have a wider variety of foods available, some foods are used to offset the cost of others. I’m not sure what the reason is for our cafeteria prices, but I’m sure it’s a bad sign that you need a credit card nowadays to buy lunch. Last quarter, I purchased a burrito several times a week for $3. It’s now $5. I thought $3 was a little high then, but it was the best value for me at the time. I must just be out of touch with the true costs of food today. By the way, Wienerschnitzel has that hot dog with chili and cheese for 99 cents. Mathew Labinsky History, 42
Cal Grant Deadline March 2
IT’S NOT TOO LATE!
Second Cal Grant Deadline is September 2 Fill out the 2009-10 FAFSA now. Go to http://www.deanza.edu/financialaid for more information. The Financial Aid Office is located in the Campus Center and the Baldwin Winery Building.