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THE VOICE OF DE ANZA COLLEGE
Athletes suspended over rape allegations LA VOZ STAFF REPORT
De Anza College suspended eight players of the baseball team last Tuesday for code of conduct violations stemming from the alleged rape of a 17 year-old girl on March 3. Details of the incident are unclear and none of the players have been identified. According to reports the athletes were at a birthday party of one of the players in the Burbank neighborhood of San Jose.
It is not known exactly how many players were involved or witnessed the incident, but the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s department is continuing their investigation, according to Sgt. Ed Wise of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Media Relations Unit. “We have no plans on making arrests,” Wise said “ But that can change at any time.” Student reaction is mixed. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard what happened,” student Chris Sullivan said. “It’s a hor-
rible thing.” But some are unaffected. “I just go here for school,” Jennifer Nguyen said. “[The incident] won’t make me stop taking classes.” An e-mail sent to De Anza College faculty and staff last week, advised to refer all questions to Director of Marketing and Communications Marisa Spatafore. The administration is taking the incident very seriously. Spatafore said. “We are very concerned for
the alleged victim, and are deeply disturbed about these allegations.” De Anza College President Brian Murphy said in the e-mail. The college cancelled all three baseball games last week, but are expected to resume play Tuesday without the suspended players. Murphy is scheduling a meeting with all student athletes to discuss the incident and the code of conduct, Spartfore said. Keep updated on developments by visiting http://www.lavozdeanza.com
Activist club rallies in protest of war
March 12, 2007
Senate votes to fund tutors Tim Nguyen LA VOZ
After having their 2007-08 budget request denied by the De Anza Associated Student Body Senate on Feb. 21, the De Anza College’s Math Performance Success program is one step closer to hiring some help. The senate passed the first of two votes last Wednesday to allocate partial funding of $6,400 to the program. Herminio Herrando of MPS asked the senate to approve the urgent budget request. MPS has recently been forced to turn away students from their tutoring program due to the shortage of tutors and higher demand according to Herrando. Problems with the availability of tutors during finals and replacing veteran tutors were also cited as needs for the funding.
Speakers tell of activism Steven Cabana LA VOZ
Last Thursday, a roomful of De Anza College students became witnesses in the Filipino human rights battle, according to author and San Jose State University associate professor Peter Chua. Chua, the co-author of “Women, Culture, Development, Ethnic and Racial Studies,” spoke about the effect of involvement of the United States’ war on terror in the Philippines as part of the college’s observance of International Women’s Day. De Anza philosophy instructor Tram Nguyen started the lecture with stories of her involvement with Amnesty International. Nguyen was elected in 2005 to the organization’s board of directors. Robert Erdei/LA VOZ De Anza College student Roseryn Bhudsabourg sings to students as part of the “U.S. Out of Iraq Now” protest rally on Feb. 6. Activist club Students for Justice sponsored the event, hoping to encourage participation in a March 18 protest in San Francisco.
Tim Nguyen LA VOZ
Blood-splattered signs taped down to the pavement reading “Iraqi civilian count: 63,573” and “How many more will die for their selfish interests?” helped boost a Students for Justice rally at De Anza College last Tuesday. The event featured De Anza student hiphop, spoken word and poetry slam performances to raise awareness about the Iraqi conflict. Youth and Student Act Now to Stop War and End Racism San Francisco representative Lacei Amodei came to De Anza to help organize the event. “ANSWER wants the American people to be a force on the streets and bring home our troops,” Amodei said. “And it doesn’t stop with Iraq. We want to stop U.S. occupation
in Palestine, Afghanistan, Cuba and other na- Ayad al Qazzaz will both speak during “U.S. tions.” Out of Iraq Now” event this Thursday at the Rishvika Udaya Kumar, Administration building a first-year De Anza student, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. said Students for Justice is SFJ and other organizanot against the United States tions such as Haiti Action, government, they would like Veterans for Peace, and to see the military come back Free Palestine Alliance will safely. participate in a nationwide “We’re trying to bring march to bring American sensitivity to all aspects of soldiers back from Iraq. the war: innocent civilians, San Francisco, Los [and] our soldiers,” said the Angeles, and Washington current De Anza Associated D.C. are some of the major Student Body senate memcities where the demonstra- Rishvika Udaya ber. “We want to give them a tions will take place. Kumar voice and turn attention to the The San Francisco deminjustices happening over there.” onstration is organized by Youth and Student De Anza professor of Sociology Rich Wood ANSWER and the march is scheduled to go and Iraqi-American professor of Sociology at from Embarcadero Plaza to the Civic Center California State University Sacramento Dr. on Sunday, March 18 at noon.
“We want to give them a voice and turn attention to the injustices happening over here.”
see Global, page 2
your guide to la voz news 2 campus events 3 features 4-5 sports 6 opinions 7 a&e 8 This is Vol. 40, Issue 19. Call us at (408) 864-5626 or e-mail us at lavoz@fhda.edu. We’re hanging out in L-41.
2 news La Voz
Vol. 40, Issue 19 The Voice of De Anza College Phone: 408-864-5626 Fax: 408-864-5533 lavoz@fhda.edu www.lavozdeanza.com Room L-41 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd. Cupertino, CA 95014 Dan Sealana - Editor in Chief editor@lavozdeanza.com Steven Cabana - Editor Emeritus lavoz@fhda.edu Robert Erdei - Managing Editor managing@lavozdeanza.com Asif Ahmed - Features Editor features@lavozdeanza.com Thomas Guffey - Arts & Entertainment Editor arts@lavozdeanza.com Loriza Sasur - Opinions Editor opinions@lavozdeanza.com Olga Ardulov - Sports Editor sports@lavozdeanza.com Svetlana Polyakova - Copy Editor Arlette Thibodeau - Copy Editor Joseph Chen - Web Editor web@lavozdeanza.com
MARCH 12, 2007 • LAVOZDEANZA.COM
New exhibit highlights layers of culture in society Babak Shahrivar LA VOZ
It’s time for De Anza College students to get in touch with their artistic side. A new art exhibit titled “Material Culture” debuted at the De Anza College Euphrat Museum of Art last Wednesday. Six artists from different cultural backgrounds are featured in the exhibit, which focuses on materialistic culture
in terms of tradition, association, history and how it affects who we are today. Executive director Janet Rindfleisch says that students will have much to look forward to. “It’s just spectacular art,” said Rindfleisch. “You’d want to see this for the same reason you’d see a movie that would touch you.” The exhibit, which remains open until April 20, will focus mainly on textiles
while exposing the many different layers of our multicultural society. The Euphrat museum is located east of the Flint Center in A-29. “Material Culture” is free, and will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but is closed during spring break. For more information visit Euphrat Museum’s Web site: http://www.deanza. edu/euphrat.
GLOBAL: Human and women’s rights the focus of session FROM PAGE ONE
Since the 2001 there have been over 850 killings and disappearances in the Philippines, but it’s not well known, Chua said. “This is something that people are slowly learning about,” Chua said. “In a sense you are now part of the growing number of witnesses.” The responsibility for witnesses of human rights violation is to talk about it, Chua said. The hardest hit are usually the women
and children of the community. “Often times women are the ones who face the burden to help rebuilt these families,” Chua said. To Nguyen, the first steps in solving the problem are knowledge getting involved with activism. “The idea that ordinary people could engage and make a difference really affected me,” said Nguyen. “It is a forum where people can come together and learn about injustices.”
With activism groups as Amnesty International, a power shift to the people is a recent development according to Nguyen. “For the first time there is recourse for the ordinary citizen outside the state and the corporation,” Nguyen said. “Unlike the state that rules by force, this kind of activism is a nonviolent source of power.” The first National Woman’s Day was observed on Feb. 28, 1909.
Assistant Editors:
Kate Alcid, Gabrielle Barnett, Jay Donde, David Flores, Maureen Gamarra, Christopher Ibanez, Sung Kim, Breanna Martinico, Takashi Maseba, Nicole Moreno, Tim Nguyen, Babak Shahrivar, Sean Sullivan, Bryan Thompson, and Helen Zou
Business Staff Beth Grobman Faculty Adviser grobman@fhda.edu Walter Alvarado Lab Tech alvaradowalter@fhda.edu Reza Kazempour Business Manager ads@lavozdeanza.com
About Us
La Voz is a First Amendment newspaper written and published by De Anza college students. 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. La Voz is partially funded by the De Anza Associated Student Body and is printed on recycled paper at Fricke-Parks Press. All rights reserved; no part of La Voz may be reproduced without permission.
Letters, Submissions and Press Releases
Letters to the editor, submissions and press releases are welcome and can be submitted to: http://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.
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Images published in La Voz or online at http://www.lavozdeanza.com are available for purchase. Ten limited use digital images can be obtained for $20 or 8x10 prints for $25. Contact Reza Kazempour at 408-864-5626 or by e-mail at ads@lavozdeanza.com to place an order.
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Advertisers reach 3,000 De Anza community members weekly by advertising in La Voz. Contact Business Manager Reza Kazempour by phone at 408-864-5626 or send an e-mail to ads@lavozdeanza.com for rates.
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Brought to you every week, censorship free, courtesy of the First Amendment.
Contributing Staff:
La Voz: The Voice of De Anza College - http://lavozdeanza.com
Faezan Hussain Christy Hoi Ying Ng
campus events 3
MARCH 12, 2007 • LAVOZDEANZA.COM
what’s happening on campus
This Week: Enjoy author reading, hip hop performance, concert All events are held at De Anza College and are free and open to all students, unless otherwise noted. Please e-mail submissions to: Happenings@LaVozDeAnza.com by Wednesday noon for the following week’s publication, and write “Happenings” in the subject line.
Spring Quarter Registration
De Anza’s spring quarter begins April 9. Registration for continuing students takes place through March 16; registration for new and former students takes place from March 19-April 8.
Exhibition: “Material Culture”
Euphrat Museum, A92 This exhibit is a focus on textile stories and our culture of materials and materialism. In anthropology and archaeology, material culture (physical objects as opposed to documents) enables researchers to better understand a culture. Artists are Reneé Billingslea, Hector Dio Mendoza, Corinne Okada, Nazanin Shenasa, Kerry Vander Meer; the artist collaborator is Chike Nwoffiah. For more information, contact Janet Rindfleisch at rindfleischjanet@fhda.edu. The exhibit runs through April 19; closed during Spring Break, April 2-6.
SFSU Transfer Information
Monday, March 12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Transfer Center, 2nd Floor, SCSB A representative from SFSU will be on campus to give students transfer information.
Visiting Author Reading: “My Half of the Sky”
Monday, March 12, 4:30 p.m. WRC, ATC 309 Jan McBurney-Lin, author of “My Half of the Sky” will read from her book and answer questions from the audience. Her narrative takes place in China and Singapore, about a young woman caught up in the myriad of changes affecting her village. The book has been described with the words, “If Jane Austen were to write about modern women in China.”
Community Collaborations Institutional Initiative Meetings
Tuesday, March 13, 9:30-11 a.m. ADM 109 Thursday, March 15, 9:30-11 a.m. SCSB Conference Room 202 The Community Collaborations Institutional Initiative Team invites faculty, staff and students to one or both meetings to discuss and provide input into the comprehensive plans currently being developed based on strategic planning commitments to action (CTAs). Team leaders are Mayra Cruz, Rowena Tomaneng, Carleen Bruins and Letha Jeanpierre.
World Peace Buddhists Club
Tuesday, March 13, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Library Is Peace a prerequisite for education? And what role does education play in whether or not a society finds itself at peace or war? Consider these questions and more as we continue discussing the essay “People’s Diplomacy: The Power to Resist the Currents of History” by Buddhist author Daisaku Ikeda. The group will meet in front of the library at 11:30, move inside to a group study room, and then post that room number outside in front of the building for late arrivals. For more infomation, contact either of the club’s co-presidents Scott McDonough at stonetigegroup@yahoo. com or Francisco Soberanis at cashews1945@yahoo.com.
Sports Reporter to Speak
Tuesday, March 13, 12:30-1:20 p.m. L41 (La Voz newsroom) Elliott Almond, investigative sports reporter at the San Jose Mercury News, will speak about covering the Olympics and sports doping.
Counseling & Matriculation Open House
Wednesday, March 14, noon–2 p.m. SCSB Room 143 Join the Counseling and Matriculation Open House and enjoy refreshments and raffle prizes. Programs and services hosting the event are Articulation, Assessment, Career Center, Counseling Center, Health Services, Campus Center, Math Performance Success, PUENTE, Student Success Retention Services and the Transfer Center.
Marketing Forum
Tuesday, March 13, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, 8:30-9:30 a.m. ADM 109 (3/13,14), ADM 106 (3/15) Join the staff of the Marketing and Communications to learn about the current staffing and work of the department, collaborations with Outreach and others, and more, at one of three identical meetings. Take this opportunity to ask questions and offer input into the marketing / communications plan under development, which will be part of unified Outreach and enrollment plans.
St. Patrick’s Day Event
Thursday, March 15, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Campus center Main Quad DASB Diversity and Events is presenting entertainment to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Dr. Ayad al-Qazzaz to Speak Thursday, March 15, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Administration Building
Free Legal Advice
Participate in an international forum about the war in Iraq, and hear Dr. Ayad al-Qazzar, an Iraqi-American professor of sociology from CSU Sacramento, speak as part of the Students for Justice U.S. Out of Iraq Now protest. Al-Qazzaz is the author of numerous books including “Transnational Links between the Arab Community in the U.S. and the Arab World.”
Students with a DASB Card may receive free legal advice on topics such as employment, landlord-tenant issues, auto accident and injury, insurance and other types of legal problems. Call 408-864-8756 to make an appointment. Services are provided by Ronald A. Goularte and are sponsored by the DASB.
SCU Articulation Deadline
Asian Heritage Day Proposal
Thursday, March 15 The last day to schedule appointments to complete their articulation agreements for Santa Clara University for fall 2007 is March 15. Students must bring completed Information handouts, available in the Counseling Center lobby, to the Transfer Center to make an appointment.
Hip Hop, Jazz, Salsa Dance Performance
Thursday, March 15, 8 p.m. Smithwick Theatre, Foothill College The De Anza Creative Arts Division and the DASB present “Unclassified,” a dance performance featuring hip hop, jazz, salsa and more, directed by Vernon Gallegos. Tickets are $12 for students and $15 for general admission and are available from Vernon Gallegos in PE 11U, 408-864-8506 or gallegosvernon@fhda.edu.
Part-time Faculty Workshop
Friday, March 16, 12:30-4:00 p.m. ADM 103 An interactive workshop for part-time faculty, Moving Toward Cross-Cultural Competencies, will help faculty understand the concept of cultural competency. Participants will assess their strengths and weaknesses in relationship to cultural competency, as well as share classroom strategies that to help move themselves and their students toward competence. Pre-register with Mary Kay Englen in Staff Development at 408-864-8322 or e-mail englenmarykay@fhda.edu.
Winter Concert
Sunday, March 18, 5 p.m. A11, Choral Hall The Winter Concert features the De Anza Wind Ensemble, with Director Robert Farrington and The Oxford Street Brass Quintet. Cost is $7 general admission, $5 for students and free for students with a DASB card. For more information, contact Robert Farrington at farringtonrobert@deanza. edu.
Art Exhibit Reception
Tuesday, March 20, 5-7 p.m. Euphrat Museum, A92 Join this reception and artist presentation for the current exhibition, “Material Culture,” at the Euphrat Museum.
The Vietnamese Student Association is working on an early evening event to take place in May that is similar to Club Day, with an emphasis on Asian culture. If your club is interested in participating or finding out more, email Stephane Le of the VSA at stephane_leminh@ yahoo.com.
Enjoy a Massage
De Anza students enrolled in massage therapy classes are holding a massage clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays through March 22. Appointments for 45 minute massages are available at 9:15, 10:15 and 11:15 in PE12u. Cost is $10 for students, $15 for faculty and $20 for community members. For more information, call 408-864-5645.
Upcoming ICC, Club Events
The Inter Club Council will feature Club Karaoke on Thursday, April 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Campus Center Patio. The Auto Tech Club will feature Auto Cross Driving School on Sunday, April 22 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in Parking Lot B.
Woman, Native, Other Women’s History Month Film Festival
Woman, Native, Other gathers narrative, documentary and experimental films by or about women who have confronted different forms of colonialism in order to enact social change. For more information, contact a 2007 Women’s History Month Co-Chair: Elizabeth Mjelde at 408-864-8433, Purba Fernandez at 408-864-8845, or Patricia Guitron at 408-864-8731. Monday, March 12 9 a.m. – “Chiapas: Prayer for the Weavers,” 34 min., ATC 120 Family members of an indigenous women’s weaving collective are engaged in a struggle against injustice, poverty and marginalization in the face of the privatization of Maya famrland. 7:30 p.m. – “Iron Jawed Angels,” 120 min., California History Center Hilary Swank and FrancesO’Connor star as suffragettes Alice Paul and Lucy Burns leading the final struggle for the 19th Ammendment. Tuesday, March 13 9 a.m. – “Chiapas: Prayer for the Weavers,” 34 min., ATC 120 See description under Monday’s listing. 12:30 p.m. – “Senegal: The Power to Change,” 29 min., L73 This film follows the women who confronted male village elders in order to enact social change leading to current legislation that forbids female genital mutilation in Senegal. 1:30 p.m. – “Rabbit-Proof Fence” 93 min., L64 Three young indigenous girls escape from a government-run settlement, walking hundreds of miles in search of their homes and families.This film recalls actual events in Australia during 1931. 1:30 p.m. – “DAM/AGE: A Film with Arundhati Roy,” 50 min., L25 Writer and activist Roy’s involvement in the campaign against India’s controversial Narmanda dam project and the subsequent displacement of thouseands of Indian villagers. 2:30 p.m. – “When the Store Came,” 24 min., L25 An examination of rape as a frequently-used weapon of war, exploring a village in Kashmire, the site of a mass rape of women in 1991 by members of Indian security forces. This documentary won a Best Short Filmmaking award at the Sundance Film Festival. Wednesday, March 14 10:30 a.m. - “Discovering Dominga,” 57 min., L73A An Iowa housewife learns that she is a survivor of a 1982 massacre of Maya villagers in Guatamala. This is a documentary of self-discovery that leads to participation in a grassroots struggle for human rights. Thursday, March 15 4 p.m. – “Daughters of the Dust,” 113 min., A11 In 1902, a Gullah family makes the decision to move to the U.S. mainland. This is the first general release film made by an African Amerian woman.
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features
MARCH 12, 2007 • LAVOZDEANZA.COM
Licia’s Health Corner
No turning Bach
Licia Johnson SPECIAL TO LA VOZ
DE ANZA STUDENT ENTERS THE 2007 INTERNATIONAL SINGING CUP
What is alternative medicine?
Robert Erdei/LA VOZ Nathan Mertz balances extracurricular activities, classes and Singing Cup 2007 preparations.
Christy Hoi Ying Ng LA VOZ
Nathan Mertz is competing in the International Singing Cup 2007 for the third time, in the group and individual sections. He started singing at age six and began competing at eight. “Singing is a way of comfort, releasing stress and escaping from reality. I believe that music and language go hand-in-hand,” he said. He learned singing techniques from Hando Nakamura, his coach for 13 years. “He is my second father. He has been through everything with me and encouraged me to try hard and go beyond my limits,” Mertz said.
Mertz listens to various styles of music, from rap to classical music. “I won’t limit myself to only one type of music because people are reluctant to change their preferences,” he said. “You will miss so many good singers in other fields. I want to make my own choice and what music I listen to.” Mertz believes that his life is not just about singing, but a balance between academic performance and participation in extra-curricular activities. He is the president of the Speech and Debate Club, the ICC representative of the Cheer and Dance Club, an agent of the DASB Senate, the treasurer of the Table Tennis Club
and a speech tutor. Being actively involved in school affairs, Mertz has learned to multitask and manage his time efficiently. “Not only did I learn to sing, but also dedication to strive for something that I am really interested in,” he said. “It takes time for me to create my own songs and learn other people’s great work.” “I enjoy helping people and contributing to the society. I don’t sing because of fame, money or power. I sing because this is what I enjoy doing,” he said. He has decided not to pursuit a career in the music field; instead, he would like to be a counselor or a speech and communication professor.
Alternative medicine is often used by the general public and some healthcare practitioners to refer to medical techniques which are not known or accepted by the majority of conventional or allopathic medical practitioners, usually M.D.s. Such techniques could include non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical techniques such as medical herbalism, acupuncture, homeopathy and reiki. However, the term can also refer to any experimental drug or non-drug technique. As non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical techniques become popular and accepted, these techniques will no longer be considered alternative medicine. Complementary medicine is often used by conventional medical practitioners to refer to non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical techniques used as a complement to conventional medical treatments such as drugs and surgery. The term implies that conventional medicine is used as a primary tool and the techniques are used as a supplement when needed. Natural healing usually refers to the use of non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical techniques. Natural healing usually refers to physical healing techniques only. In many cases, properly chosen non-invasive and nonpharmaceutical healing techniques plus properly chosen lifestyle changes can completely and safely heal both acute and chronic illnesses. Conventional medicine is only needed in emergencies or when the safer non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical methods fail. In some cases conventional medicine will be a major part of a holistic healing plan, but in some cases it is not needed at all. Do sanitizers prevent colds? Many sanitizers, whether brand names or generic versions, work well and are increasingly found in hallway dispensers in hospitals, schools, day care centers and even atop the gangways of cruise ships as a safeguard against the hand-to-mouth spread of disease. Several studies from such settings have shown that use of the alcohol-based rubs on hands that aren’t visibly soiled seems particularly helpful in curbing the spread of bad stomach and intestinal bugs, but in all instances they do not prevent colds. The patch didn’t work for me. What could I do to quit smoking? There are numerous techniques that can be put into place. Counseling, acupuncture and hypnotherapy are a few, but a person first and foremost has to want to quit. There is no magic wand that is the cure-all. Licia Johnson is a health educator at De Anza. If you would like your health question answered in Licia’s Health Corner, e-mail features@lavozdeanza.com. La Voz cannot guarantee that every question will be answered or printed. Licia can be reached confidentially at 408-864-8732.
features 5 Former women’s basketball player turned professor MARCH 12, 2007 • LAVOZDEANZA.COM
Christy Hoi Ying Ng LA VOZ
Laura Raffaelli is a part-time English instructor here at De Anza College. She has been teaching at De Anza College and San Jose State University for three years. “My favorite experience is seeing students connect personally with what they read.” Raffaelli said. “It’s amazing when we feel like a character relates to us or part of our lives. Literature is ultimately about our humanity.” Raffaelli is a former De Anza College student. She played in the basketball team that went to state finals during her sophomore year. “I remember the days that my teammates and I had to get up at 6
a.m. during weekdays to do timed running when it was freezing cold and dark in the track,” she said. Raffaelli spoke at her experiences with Mike Gervasoni, her basketball coach who was killed a few years ago in a traffic accident. “Apart from teaching me how to play basketball, Mr. Gervasoni asked me questions and encouraged me to do well when I was confused and lost. Also, he helped me in life.” Raffaelli enjoys exercising during her leisure: practicing yoga, hiking and walking. She enjoys making crafts for family and friends, reading, traveling abroad every few years and watching movies. She has had to adjust her mentality from
a student to an instructor, learning about personal boundaries and limitations. “It takes time to grow into the role of working after being a student for most of one’s life, but it is very rewarding when I know that my skills are improving and my work is benefiting others,” she said. Raffaelli likes to socialize with her students and offer advice and assistance to help them succeed in her English classes. “It’s so delightful to see students progress successfully in their studies. I like hearing how they are doing after the quarter is over.” She suggested that students take advantage of the services and events offered by the campus to enrich their experience. “If you can, get involved in clubs, campus jobs or whatever interests you.”
Robert Erdei/LA VOZ Former De Anza women’s basketball player Laura Raffaelli now concentrates on teaching.
Science fiction professor who mingled with the stars Sung Kim LA VOZ
It’s not every day students are immersed into a universe where they are running away from body-snatching aliens, defeating monsters from Mars, experimenting with chemicals on animals and taking trips to the moon in a space capsule. Instructor Glenn Lovell takes students beyond the confines of earth into a world limited only by imagination. Lovell teaches F/TV-41, Film Genres, in room ATC 120 and said that sci-fi is one of his favorite
genres. “Psycho,” by Alfred Hitchcock, is his favorite. He grew up during the “sci-fi generation” when “critics fell in love with sci-fi and horror.” Lovell, while a movie critic for the San Jose Mercury News, interviewed great Hollywood directors and producers including Howard Hawks, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and Ray Bradbury. Lovell remembers a colorful Tarantino during his early days of filmmaking. In an article Lovell wrote for the Mercury News in 1992, he quoted Tarantino: “I write like an actor acts. What I do is just get the
characters talking to each other and jot down what they say. It’s like I’m playing the parts. I’m good at dialogue. I like word plays. I just have a good memory. It’s not so much jotting down the exact things I overhear at Denny’s, but the rhythm in which things are said.” Lovell likes to teach at De Anza College because he is allowed to teach what he feels is important, which he is not able to do at other colleges. “I like the fact that it’s an intimate campus,” Lovell said. Lovell will teach film a class on film artists in the spring quarter, F/TV-43. The class will probe deeply into the
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works of two Hollywood directors, David “Sam” Peckinpah and Tarantino, whose controversial films use blood, gore and violence. The course will not focus on memorizing dates and terms but, instead, will focus on the personalities of the filmmakers. “I like to put a filmmaker in context and take a close look at the filmmakers that influenced him or her,” he said. Lovell is completing a book about John Sturges that he has worked for roughly 10 years. “If you teach something you’re passionate about, it’s not work. It’s a good time,” he said.
6 sports
MARCH 12, 2007 • LAVOZDEANZA.COM
Player of the Week
De Anza Dons defeat Foothill Owls despite slight setbacks We cover the Sharks...
Yasaman Shakeri Hometown: Saratoga, Calif. Birthday: February 6, 1987 High School: Prospect High Year: Sophomore Position: Swimmer
...yes, those Sharks
Dream School: University of California Davis Favorite Pro-Franchise: USA Swimming - Natalie Cohen
Maureen Gamarra/LA VOZ De Anza sophomore tennis player Thang Nguyen lost last Tuesday in a singles match to Foothill’s top-ranking player. Despite Nguyen’s best efforts to keep up with his opponent he couldn’t stop committing unforced errors and the efficiency of his opponent was overwhelming even for him. Nguyen’s opponent broke all of his serves in the first set and four in the second set, winning (6 – 10) (6 – 12) respectively. Despite Nguyen’s loss De Anza’s tennis team won four of six games. The men were up against the Ohlone Renegades last Friday and will be facing off against the Cabrillo Hawks this Friday at 2 p.m.
Major: Wildlife Biology
w w w. l a v o z d e a n z a . c o m / sharks
Proudest Swimming Moment: Coming in third for the Coast Conference mile long swim.
Olga Ardulov LA VOZ
Sophomore swimmer Yasaman Shakeri started swimming seven years ago when she joined a club team as an eighth grader. “I took swimming classes before that, but it was just little kid classes.” Shakeri said. She spent five years swimming for club teams until she joined the De Anza Cupertino Aquatics team two years ago At the first out of the two meets so far this quarter against West Valley and Foothill, Shakeri placed first in the 50 – back race. She didnʼt compete in the second meet due to a shoulder injury from a morning practice. Shakeri is a Saratoga native from Prospect High School. Sheʼs studying Wildlife Biology, taking 14 units and wants to get into University of California Davis. All her activities are balanced with a healthy range of practices in the morning before class and throughout the day. “I was in cross country, and kept meaning to quit swimming to do cross country. I guess I ended up doing swimming instead of track,” Shakeri said. Still, she doesnʼt plan to pursue swimming as a career, “just competitive swimming in college.” Shakeriʼs proudest moment is when she placed third in last yearʼs Coast Conference in the mile-long race. “It was the most painful thing, but it was worth it,” she said. Hopefully, Shakeri will be restarting her morning practices once her shoulder heals and competing once more for the De Anza Dons and DACA.
opinions 7
MARCH 12, 2007 • LAVOZDEANZA.COM
editorial
DE ANZA VOICES: “Whatʼs your proudest moment as a student?”
Left to right: Olga Ardulov, Loriza Sasur, Asif Ahmed, Thomas Guffey, Dan Sealana and Robert Erdei
“When I went to class on time.” - Cyrus Sarrafpour
“When I got a 107 out of 100 on my math test.” - Erica Franco
“When my teacher said I nailed the presentation for my Women’s Studies class.” - Lateef Duncan
Despite scandal, De Anza still has its pride An unnamed 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped on the evening of March 3, while attending a party near west San Jose. Students of De Anza College, including members of the baseball team, attended that party and are being investigated by the sheriff’s department. Eight members of the baseball team have been suspended. None of them have even been accused of a crime. Only the individual(s) proven to be directly involved in the incident should be fired or expelled. We must withhold our judgment until all the facts are in, or else risk creating pariahs out of innocent people. Rather than waiting for all the facts to come in, the De Anza athletic department has defensively suspended students who may have done nothing wrong. The Sheriff’s Department has said that they have not as of press
time determined who is responsible. But school administrators have chosen to act without conclusive information. Suspensions need more justification than guilt by association. Rape is a serious matter, and allegations of rape should be taken seriously. Statistics indicate that as many as one in four to one in six women of college age experience either full or attempted rape. We need to create a culture that stops this kind of abuse. For that matter, minors shouldn’t be welcome at parties with drinking. Students should have been aware and known better than to allow a young girl into such a situation. However, the court of public opinion usually condemns people before they’ve even been given a trial, like with the Duke lacrosse incident. In that case prosecutors blew rape allegations out of
proportion. Eventually, it became clear that the accused players were innocent, but by that time the media snowball effect had already done irreparable damage to the reputation of those lacrosse players and their university. De Anza College students should take pride in their school. We have a great school and it shouldn’t have its name mired by this incident. As of press time, no De Anza student has been formally accused of anything related to this incident. The only thing those eight suspended students are guilty of is being at a bad party. It’s important to not become overrun with hysteria and blame students that may be innocent. This issue is serious; that’s why it’s so vital for us as a community to wait for all the information to come in before passing judgment.
Aching for more La Voz opinions? To read all the student responses to this week’s De Anza Voices and “No way for the Mineta highway,” visit:
www.lavozdeanza.com and click on “Opinions”
letters and comments La Voz right on with article on rude classroom behavior
“When I got the second highest grade on the final for my microbiology class.” - Helen Gao
“When I passed my sign language class because [it] was really hard.” - Wendy Terry
I want to thank La Voz from the bottom of my heart for the article “Students: Stop Ruining It For The Rest Of The Class” from the February 26 issue of La Voz. Iʼve been praying that students themselves would see the deterioration in student decorum in the classroom and I finally got my wish. As a member of the full-time De Anza Faculty for 18 years, I have witnessed decay in both behavior and performance, which has grown precipitously in the last five years. Sometimes the infantilism is astonishing. Students going in and out of class. Students with iPod earplugs in their ears during lecture. Sleeping students. Students who address the instructor as “dude” or “bro.” Students who repeat a question that has been asked and answered twice already. Half of the attendees arriving at some time between five minutes late and halfway through the class. It is simply remarkable that so many college students have less self-control than was expected of fifth graders in bygone decades. Note to immature, entitled students: When you enter the job world, infancy will end abruptly and you will be expected to: 1) pay attention when people talk to you, 2) do jobs on time, 3) not eat Cheez Doodles from a noisy wrapper in important meetings, 4) Not listen to your iPod when your colleagues or bosses talk to you, and 5) have some pride in your work. America was the envy of the world through the 1970s and, since then, we have lost global competitiveness.
March 5 issue corrections Quotes compiled by Helen Zou
• Page 5: In the article “African Ancestry Conference motivates potential students,” the event was actually hosted by Extended Outreach
Undoubtedly, part of the reason for this is the development of a workforce with less self-discipline, a poorer work ethic and a narcissistic sense of entitlement that is not matched by a corresponding sense of responsibility. So, if you are planning to live in the United States, be aware that your jobs are already being lost to foreigners. Partially, thatʼs because America has accepted substandard behavior and performance from its citizens for quite some time but now it is finally showing up in the form of outsourced jobs and disrespect for the craftsmanship of American work. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Be an excellent person in your behavior and your performance in the classroom. Treat your instructors and your fellow classmates with respect befitting a college student. The students who wrote that Feb. 26 article did the entire Campus and the surrounding community a great service and, to those who hear and heed the warning siren, rewards will naturally accrue. These rewards will include advancement in the job world, the emotional and intellectual resources to recover when life deals harsh blows, and the character to form relationships with depth and substance. To those who do not heed the warning siren, there will be one life mishap after another. If so, you cannot claim to be mystified by the reasons for these mishaps. La Voz told you ... excellently. John Perry De Anza Computer Science instructor and other college student services. • Page 12: In the article “Top 10 NHL Trades,” a writer’s name is misspelled. The correct spelling is Babak Shahrivar.
8 arts & entertainment Two student filmmakers at Cinequest
MARCH 12, 2007 • LAVOZDEANZA.COM
WonderCon 2007 EARLY BUZZ AND INTERVIEWS FROM THE 21ST ANNUAL COMIC BOOK FANBOY CONVENTION Tim Nguyen LA VOZ More and more often, Hollywood looks to comic books for new material. This is why the 21st annual Wondercon comic book convention, held in San Francisco from March 2 to 4, was the place to find updates and previews. The panel for “300” began with a video message from the man himself, Frank Miller. “Every nation has had its own Thermopylae: the 47 ronin of Japan, the Alamo for America, and the brave 300 of Sparta,” said Miller, who is recovering from a broken hip. Director Zach Snyder, actor Gerald Butler and actress Lena Headey answered several questions from the audience such as “how faithful were you to Frank’s material in the comics” to awkward comments like “I think you’re so hot in a cod piece.” When asked about being around so much testosterone on set, Headey played it smooth. “I was a little overwhelmed in the beginning,” said Headey. “But it got boring after a while.” Lena Headey will play the lead in the “Terminator” spinoff “The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” You can now dine in hell with the Spartans everywhere.
De Anza artists compete with world schools Gabrielle Barnett LA VOZ De Anza College students Car Nazzal and Michael Chance competed in Cinequest’s seventh Student Shorts Films Competition March 4 and 5 at downtown San Jose’s Camera 12 Cinema. The competition consisted of 15 shorts directed by students from around the world. Schools represented in the program were New York University, Florida State, Columbia College, San Jose State, UC Berkeley, Munich Film School and the Academy of Art University. Car Nazzal’s “Truth of the Matter” and Michael Chance’s “The Reason” were the only two shorts representing a community college. They proved to be up to par. “I’m going to dream myself out of the country … What are you going to pack?” are the only captions in Nazzal’s surrealist short “Truth of the Matter.” In these three minutes and 26 seconds, two women, Christine Tupou and
Nazzal are sitting in the rain drinking tea. They are holding frames around themselves as they are drinking; there is water raining on them and the table. The framed pictures on the walls behind are called “known images” like a honeycomb and pictures of people, said Nazzal. “The frames represent the frame of mind they currently have.” “In order for the characters to understand each other’s perspective, they must first emerge from their respective worlds and relate to one another. In doing so, they are able to better understand their own frame of mind.” The film’s inspiration mainly came from surrealist Italian and French films like Jean Cocteau’s French film “The Blood of a Poet” and Italian filmmaker Frederico Fellini’s “Eight and a Half,” Nazzal said. “Well, I was watching ‘Cops’ one night,” said director of “The Reason” Michael Chance, “and I was interested in their personal life and their stories.” His short focused on a rookie cop questioning his veteran partner about
(Left to right) Michael Chance, Jacob Rangel, and Car Nazzal attend the screening of Cinequest’s short film competition.
Hillary in the house? page 6
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Irvin walks out on Senate
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THE VOICE OF DE ANZA COLLEGE
Planetarium prepares for launch THE NEWLY REMODELED FACILITY SET TO OPEN SPRING QUARTER
COUNSELING DEAN WITHDRAWS FUNDS REQUEST AFTER DEBATE WITH SENATOR Tim Nguyen LA VOZ
- Howard Irvin, Dean of counseling The leading voice in the opposition to the counseling center funding was Senator Sam Karimzadeh. “When I was just a regular college student, I had a bad experience with the student assistants,” said Karimzadeh. “If we give you money, there is no system of accountability.” Karimzadeh suggested the counseling center be completely automated and proposed two signs to be put up at the counseling center: one to let students know about the DASB card and the other directing them to the deanʼs office. Though terminals have already been set up in the counseling center, Zahra Noor said the automation system would not work be because some information cannot be processed through a machine. “There are a lot of students asking ʻWhereʼs thisʼ and ʻWhereʼs thatʼ and the lines are always packed on Mondays,” said Zahra Noor, one of the two student assistants. “Because itʼs only the two of us, people come in and tell us ʻYou donʼt know anythingʼ
see FUNDING, page 2
District chancellor campaigns to assist immigrants, fight poverty Helen Zou
Confusion during Wednesdayʼs De Anza Associated Student Body Senate meeting may have extinguished any hope for two student assistants in the counseling center. “I hire students to help students,” said Howard Irvin, Dean of the Counseling and Matriculation division. “If there is no funding for the counseling center, weʼll be down to zero student assistants.”
“The stipulations are ridiculous. The kinds of questions they were asking didn’t come up the first or other times we’ve asked for funding.”
FEBRUARY 5, 2007
LA VOZ
Maureen Gamarra/LA VOZ (2) Construction continues inside De Anza’s planetarium, which has been closed since spring 2006. Astronomy classes, which took place in the planetarium, relocated during construction. The remodeled facility is scheduled to reopen in April 2007.
Sean Sullivan LA VOZ
When De Anza Collegeʼs planetarium opened in 1970, it was state of the art. Since then advances in technology and astronomy have taken a lot of shine off the big-domed building. In March 2006, the planetarium closed for renovations, temporarily dimming the lights, lasers and stars that taught students about the skyʼs constellations. This spring quarter, students will again be able to learn about the stars in De Anzaʼs technologically advanced planetarium. “Iʼm really excited to imagine what itʼs going to be like. Itʼs a really exciting time for us at the planetarium,” said Karl von Ahnen, who works at the planetarium and has been overseeing the renovations. The lobby is rearranged, the gift shop and restrooms have been updated and the theater is revamped. The chairs are reupholstered and now face one direction, which improves the experience for teachers, students and audience members. The screen in the planetarium has seamless lining, like a mov-
De Anza College’s Planetarium, located near the S-Quad, will reopen this spring.
ie screen. The electronics have been updated: air conditioning, heating and lighting have been renewed, including new LED lights, and a new surround sound
“I’m really excited to imagine what it’s going to be like.”
system has been installed in the theater. The maximum capacity of the planetarium was 170 before the renovations, but was reduced to 145. Planetarium fans can, for a $400 donation, have short personal messages engraved on one of the seats inside the theater. The name of the planetarium is also on sale, but the cost has not been set yet. More information and updates are at the De Anza Planetarium Web site: http://www. planetarium.deanza.edu/karls corner/infinium_s.html.
De Anza and Foothill Colleges are joining in a national campaign to fight poverty. In the Santa Clara County, roughly 120,000 families are living below the poverty line. Dr. Martha Kanter, De Anza and Foothill Community Collegsʼ District Chancellor, is one of the leaders of the discussion on poverty relief in support of education for this region. This national campaign is being facilitated by Catholic Charities. The goal is to reduce poverty by half by 2020. To accomplish this, Catholic Charities has asked communities to come together and work as a unit in combating poverty. “We all look on this problem from our individual perspectives,” said Kanter. “And what theyʼre trying to do is bring us together so we can plan and put our resources together.” An economic impact study done in 2005 showed that $1 in each credit earned at De Anza or Foothill generates a $1.88 in the local economy. The average expected lifetime earnings for a graduate with an associateʼs degree is $1.6 million, which is about $400,000 more than what a high school graduate earns. “Families should know that financial aid and scholarships are
see CAMPAIGN, page 2
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Gabrielle Barnett/LA VOZ (2) Michael Chance and Car Nazzal congratulate each other on representing De Anza College in the short film competition (top). Nazzal attends the screening with her friend Christine Tupou, who starred in Tupou’s short film (above).
why he is still in the service. Chance chose the title “The Reason” because the short was about that cop’s reason, he said. The film illustrates that we are all driven by the support of our families. During the question and answer segment of the Cinequest program, Chance was praised for the shot that he filmed in the reflection of broken glass. “That shot was beautifully done,” said an audience member. “Woo! De Anza! Yeah!” shouts Chance, when asked what school he’s from. Both films showed off the talent in De Anza’s film program. “I’ve never felt so comfortable working in a program,” Nazzal said. “It’s the only reason why I’m in film; they gave me a lot of support. I wouldn’t have entered my film, but they persuaded me and helped me out a lot.”
Director Stephen Hopkins, producer Joel Silver, actor Idris Elba and Academy award-winning actress Hilary Swank were all on hand to answer questions about the new disaster movie, “The Reaping.” The film is about a small Louisiana town that is suddenly overwhelmed by the ten biblical plagues. Production for “The Reaping” came to a halt after Hurricane Katrina stormed into the shooting locations last year. “People lost their friends, pets, and hope,” said Hopkins. “People began questioning their faith after the hurricane hit, and that’s one of the big questions in the picture.” When asked how she prepared for the role after acting in movies such as “Million Dollar Baby” and “Freedom Writers,” Swank said she had to find the truth and honesty within the characters. “This is a genre I haven’t really stepped into,” said Swank. “I read the script on a plane ride back home and I decided that I wanted to take the challenge.” “The Reaping” will claim your first-born on April 6 of this year. John Dolmayan took a break from drumming for “System of a Down,” to talk about his new project, Torpedo Comics, a comic book retail Web site that is set to come out in November. Q: What got you into comics? A: “I love Silver and Bronze Age comics because that was the stuff I grew up on. One of my childhood friends took me to a comic book store when I was 12 years old and I’ve been in love with it ever since.” Q: Tell me more about your Web site. A: “The Web site is called Torpedo Comics. We have over 10 million comics in a warehouse that will be available for purchase online. We’ll start out with just comic books and then expand to other stuff like toys, statues, indie press and manga. “We want to make it an interactive site. It will be very fan-oriented. The launch date is Nov. 1, 2007, and at this point we’re open to any suggestions.” Q: You’re a freakin’ rock star, so why comics? A: “Well, when I’m not on tour, I’m always going to conventions. I’ve been going to cons for over 10 years and over time I’ve collected enough to fill a warehouse.”
La Voz is looking for editors! We are accepting applicants for the spring quarter for the following positions: - Editor-in-Chief - Managing Editor - Section Editors - Assistant Editors - Copy Editors - Graphics/Photo Editor - Broadcast Editor - Web Editor For more information and to apply, visit: http://lavozdeanza.com/apply Deadline to apply is Tuesday, March 20 at noon.
W W Photo courtesy of movies.yahoo.com Gerard Butler plays the very loud King Leonidas in “300,” in theaters now.