Wouldn’t it be great to, at a glance, see all the upcoming deadlines for things like financial aid, dropping a class, withdrawing with only a ‘W’, final schedules, and visits from representatives from the various four-year schools? Doesn’t it also make sense to combine the Chabot sports calendar with the school activities which I’ve heard about, kind of?
As things are now, I don’t know anything about what’s coming up. I guess that’s my fault. Students are notorious for being lax about these kinds of things.
All those bright flyers around school are nice and all, even if they are just a waste of paper. I often find myself noticing those rectangles announcing some event that has already transpired. Aw well, so it goes right? It’s not like those school events are even that popular.
A nicely designed, easily accessible calendar that marks the days for when and where events will be held- I don’t think it’s an impossible task. It can be online, right there on the home page for Chabot- that way no paper is wasted and any necessary changes can be made.
What could be standing in the way of such a simple idea’s execution?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Justine Carreon - Don't screw up or you'll end up at Chabot
There is a looming social stigma that comes along with attending a community college. It is perpetrated to be a second-rate education, a last resort, or any other negative aspect. The formulaic teen comedy dealing with college will often times have a character telling another that if they don't clean up their act they'll end up at a junior college. What a positive image this sends to all future college students: Don't screw up or you'll end up at Chabot.
Every time a colleague asks where you go, a tingling feeling of resentment washes over you. You feel as though you need to validate your decision of community college with an answer better than "I go to Chabot College." No. Instead we choose to add to our answer with something more adequate. What we reply is more along the lines of "I go to Chabot College because I want to transfer to Berkeley," or "I'm at Chabot right now, but only so I can become a nurse." Once we do tell them our situation they give the empathetic head nod and say they completely understand. Then they insist on giving you reasons for going to a community college as if you hadn't gone over them before. Are we trying to convince them or ourselves of what we are doing in our life? Have we no pride in our school?
Walk onto any state or private college, and more than likely you will pass by numerous students wearing sweatshirts bearing their schools' names. Rarely do we see such an act on our campus. The Chabot blazoned attire in the bookstore goes untouched, despite their likeable appearance. People don't want to attach themselves to something degrading in the eyes of others. It is the opposite reason why people buy Coach bags. Forget the fact that it is simple in design and slapped with a hideous "C" print, it was expensive and heightens your social status.
But that is not the way it is. We aren't all slackers from high school, and even if we were it makes no difference. Our school is not a defunct decision, professors at Chabot aren't some hacks that somehow ended up where they are. Many hail from distinguished schools and have probably done many great things in their lives before settling here. Not to say that one "settles" at Chabot, but more or less find their way to this campus… and enjoy it. Opportunities are here if you aren't too lazy to look for it and teachers are not mindlessly nagging you to talk to them during their office hours, they encourage it. We all know of someone who started here then went to become something amazing. Tom Hanks attended Chabot! Think of community college as a stepping stone, not some easy way to a college degree. Some classes at Chabot are immensely difficult. This is proof enough that community college is not the decay of society. If we're getting this good of an education at a place that is supposedly full of idiots then we should be damn proud.
Every time a colleague asks where you go, a tingling feeling of resentment washes over you. You feel as though you need to validate your decision of community college with an answer better than "I go to Chabot College." No. Instead we choose to add to our answer with something more adequate. What we reply is more along the lines of "I go to Chabot College because I want to transfer to Berkeley," or "I'm at Chabot right now, but only so I can become a nurse." Once we do tell them our situation they give the empathetic head nod and say they completely understand. Then they insist on giving you reasons for going to a community college as if you hadn't gone over them before. Are we trying to convince them or ourselves of what we are doing in our life? Have we no pride in our school?
Walk onto any state or private college, and more than likely you will pass by numerous students wearing sweatshirts bearing their schools' names. Rarely do we see such an act on our campus. The Chabot blazoned attire in the bookstore goes untouched, despite their likeable appearance. People don't want to attach themselves to something degrading in the eyes of others. It is the opposite reason why people buy Coach bags. Forget the fact that it is simple in design and slapped with a hideous "C" print, it was expensive and heightens your social status.
But that is not the way it is. We aren't all slackers from high school, and even if we were it makes no difference. Our school is not a defunct decision, professors at Chabot aren't some hacks that somehow ended up where they are. Many hail from distinguished schools and have probably done many great things in their lives before settling here. Not to say that one "settles" at Chabot, but more or less find their way to this campus… and enjoy it. Opportunities are here if you aren't too lazy to look for it and teachers are not mindlessly nagging you to talk to them during their office hours, they encourage it. We all know of someone who started here then went to become something amazing. Tom Hanks attended Chabot! Think of community college as a stepping stone, not some easy way to a college degree. Some classes at Chabot are immensely difficult. This is proof enough that community college is not the decay of society. If we're getting this good of an education at a place that is supposedly full of idiots then we should be damn proud.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Alex Miranda - I-generation of consumers
America has become sofa units, string green stripe patterns on my bed sheets, hip shirts with smart witty quotes, and techni-colored techno-crap, complete with matching sets of Ikea odds and ends.
I say, never be complete.
We want to pay the $300 because we’re all trying to compensate for what we don’t have. That touch screen, Wi-Fi ready, iPod, I got, I want, generation we live in makes us believe we need thee iPods as a status symbol or maybe something to fill the void.
I look around everyday at the world around me and see the strongest and smartest people who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. An entire generation pumping gas at $5 a gallon, grinning, taking it, and asking for more.
“Thank you sir may I have another,” say modern day economical masochists.
Waiting tables, being slaves. Accepting what is given to us. Settling on taking second best. Settling on possessions over life.
Advertising media has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy the perfect body. The truth is we like pretending we’re superstars when in fact we’re not. I see people slowly realizing we’re being lied to, and we’re pissed.
We're the middle Brady Bunch girl; no purpose or place, just a nice little transition.
We pay. We fight wars. We run this country. We are the gears. We put money in banks so banks can lend it out and gain interests. We serve you food, we milk the cows, we build the white houses and monuments that people inhabit. We are apple pie.
If we stop, if we let go. The gears would stop working.
I bet I could turn one penny into the sum amount of $30. I can see how this turning water into a venti double decaf latte could sound like it’s a bit to good to be true, but hear me out.
Put 98 cents into your checking account. Make sure 98 cents is the only amount of money in your account. Then take a ride down to Target, or any other fine establishment, and buy a 99-cent coke. Ninety-eight minus 99 equals negative one, meaning you owe the bank a penny. If you don’t deposit a penny or a check for thee amount of one cent before midnight that day you will be charged the overdraft fee of $30.
A 3,000 percent interest rate of what you owe the bank for a penny. Washington Mutual, my bank, isn’t the only bank doing this. By far Washington Mutual is generous compared to other banks that charge you for everyday you’re overdrawn.
But If I refuse to pay I become an example that banks work for me. I put my money in them. If I had no money to put in there have no money to lend out. Meaning they don’t make a profit.
I’ve had to put ketchup on saltine crackers and use them as a major food source. I’ve ordered a soup at Denny’s with an order of extra crackers and collected condiment packets from major fast food chains.
I recently read Fight Club. In the book they blow up credit companies to reset them to zero. They take the establishment and flatten it out. Because it’s when you’ve lost your house and your living off ketchup and crackers that you can do anything you want.
I say, never be complete.
We want to pay the $300 because we’re all trying to compensate for what we don’t have. That touch screen, Wi-Fi ready, iPod, I got, I want, generation we live in makes us believe we need thee iPods as a status symbol or maybe something to fill the void.
I look around everyday at the world around me and see the strongest and smartest people who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. An entire generation pumping gas at $5 a gallon, grinning, taking it, and asking for more.
“Thank you sir may I have another,” say modern day economical masochists.
Waiting tables, being slaves. Accepting what is given to us. Settling on taking second best. Settling on possessions over life.
Advertising media has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy the perfect body. The truth is we like pretending we’re superstars when in fact we’re not. I see people slowly realizing we’re being lied to, and we’re pissed.
We're the middle Brady Bunch girl; no purpose or place, just a nice little transition.
We pay. We fight wars. We run this country. We are the gears. We put money in banks so banks can lend it out and gain interests. We serve you food, we milk the cows, we build the white houses and monuments that people inhabit. We are apple pie.
If we stop, if we let go. The gears would stop working.
I bet I could turn one penny into the sum amount of $30. I can see how this turning water into a venti double decaf latte could sound like it’s a bit to good to be true, but hear me out.
Put 98 cents into your checking account. Make sure 98 cents is the only amount of money in your account. Then take a ride down to Target, or any other fine establishment, and buy a 99-cent coke. Ninety-eight minus 99 equals negative one, meaning you owe the bank a penny. If you don’t deposit a penny or a check for thee amount of one cent before midnight that day you will be charged the overdraft fee of $30.
A 3,000 percent interest rate of what you owe the bank for a penny. Washington Mutual, my bank, isn’t the only bank doing this. By far Washington Mutual is generous compared to other banks that charge you for everyday you’re overdrawn.
But If I refuse to pay I become an example that banks work for me. I put my money in them. If I had no money to put in there have no money to lend out. Meaning they don’t make a profit.
I’ve had to put ketchup on saltine crackers and use them as a major food source. I’ve ordered a soup at Denny’s with an order of extra crackers and collected condiment packets from major fast food chains.
I recently read Fight Club. In the book they blow up credit companies to reset them to zero. They take the establishment and flatten it out. Because it’s when you’ve lost your house and your living off ketchup and crackers that you can do anything you want.
Ricky Clark - Volleyball player returns from major injury
After dealing with pain from a torn ACL and waiting on the sidelines, Christa Hicks is back in action
For the entire story visit the Chabot Spectator website.
For the entire story visit the Chabot Spectator website.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Jennifer Falcon - Welcome to the Spectators Blog
I am the head news/ managing editor here at the Chabot College paper. While this is my first year at Chabot, I have written for the Tracy Press and the Tri City Voice. Actually I still currently moonlight as a local politics writer for the Voice.
I am an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Indian Tribe. A first-born suburban Indian, my mother grew up on the reservation in Poplar, Mont.
When my mother was a teenager they picked up and moved to Denver, Colo. where I would later be born in the middle of one of Denver’s worse snowstorms. My dad would point out right now that it was then he knew I would be stubborn.
I tackled the job of news editor because I am addicted to news, watching the Daily Show and the Colbert Report are the highlights of my day. I can’t get enough of news, be it PBS or CNN, The Huffington Post or just Yahoo!’s top headlines.
Some crave coffee, I crave my campaign trails.
And with the elections coming just around the corner I simply cannot get enough. This is THE most exciting presidential race we have yet to encounter. History, and no matter who wins, the White House will be changed forever.
I think my love for all things political was passed down from my grandmother and mother who have fought to ensure equality on the Indian reservations and in America.
In 1974 my grandmother and her friend traveled to the Washington and stormed the capital building fighting for Indian hiring preference when its came to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA.) They believed that since reservations were sovereign nations the BIA should be ran by Indians to aid their self-government.
It was there that she met Ted Kennedy, in the midst of eating lunch, they told him what was going on. Kennedy stopped eating his lunch and walked them across the Capital Rotunda, through the tourists that were there that day, many screaming out at the senator as they made their way behind the velvet rope.
Ted walked her and her friend into a room where they met Ethel Kennedy, Roberts Kennedy’s wife and founder of the Robert Kennedy foundation.
Because she made this trip to fight for the rights of Indians to be involved in their own governments the Kennedys took them under their wing and provided everything they needed through the Robert Kennedy Foundation.
Because of she took the time to stand up for something she believes in she was able to enrich many Indian peoples’ lives.
Resulting in Freeman v. Morton, a law that enabled the reservations, which are a sovereign country, to run the BIA and give Indians a preferred part in their own self-governing. Today the BIA is 95% Indian ran and self-governed.
That is what is so inspiring to me; we can be that change. It’s really not that far of a reach to impact the world if you feel your beliefs are really that important. You may seem like just one person but if you try you can make a huge splash!
So make it your business to know what is going on with your government, be a part of history yourself and go out there and vote. Be active in shaping your country, the country you are going to pass on to your children. Research your candidates and make your vote wisely. After all you can’t complain if you didn’t speak up when you had the chance!
So welcome to my blog, and expect many other juicy family stories and updates on what’s going on in the news.
I am an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Indian Tribe. A first-born suburban Indian, my mother grew up on the reservation in Poplar, Mont.
When my mother was a teenager they picked up and moved to Denver, Colo. where I would later be born in the middle of one of Denver’s worse snowstorms. My dad would point out right now that it was then he knew I would be stubborn.
I tackled the job of news editor because I am addicted to news, watching the Daily Show and the Colbert Report are the highlights of my day. I can’t get enough of news, be it PBS or CNN, The Huffington Post or just Yahoo!’s top headlines.
Some crave coffee, I crave my campaign trails.
And with the elections coming just around the corner I simply cannot get enough. This is THE most exciting presidential race we have yet to encounter. History, and no matter who wins, the White House will be changed forever.
I think my love for all things political was passed down from my grandmother and mother who have fought to ensure equality on the Indian reservations and in America.
In 1974 my grandmother and her friend traveled to the Washington and stormed the capital building fighting for Indian hiring preference when its came to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA.) They believed that since reservations were sovereign nations the BIA should be ran by Indians to aid their self-government.
It was there that she met Ted Kennedy, in the midst of eating lunch, they told him what was going on. Kennedy stopped eating his lunch and walked them across the Capital Rotunda, through the tourists that were there that day, many screaming out at the senator as they made their way behind the velvet rope.
Ted walked her and her friend into a room where they met Ethel Kennedy, Roberts Kennedy’s wife and founder of the Robert Kennedy foundation.
Because she made this trip to fight for the rights of Indians to be involved in their own governments the Kennedys took them under their wing and provided everything they needed through the Robert Kennedy Foundation.
Because of she took the time to stand up for something she believes in she was able to enrich many Indian peoples’ lives.
Resulting in Freeman v. Morton, a law that enabled the reservations, which are a sovereign country, to run the BIA and give Indians a preferred part in their own self-governing. Today the BIA is 95% Indian ran and self-governed.
That is what is so inspiring to me; we can be that change. It’s really not that far of a reach to impact the world if you feel your beliefs are really that important. You may seem like just one person but if you try you can make a huge splash!
So make it your business to know what is going on with your government, be a part of history yourself and go out there and vote. Be active in shaping your country, the country you are going to pass on to your children. Research your candidates and make your vote wisely. After all you can’t complain if you didn’t speak up when you had the chance!
So welcome to my blog, and expect many other juicy family stories and updates on what’s going on in the news.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Ricky Clark - Volleyball Recap
(Media Credit: Sean Jones)
The Lady Gladiators demonstrated the efficiency on offense, and team quickness Last Wednesday after sweeping the Ohlone Renegades 3-0. This season the volleyball team has new uniforms.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Joey Brownlee - Al Davis is ruining the Raiders
I never fathomed a person, anything for that matter, arriving late to their own funeral; yet every day Al Davis, walker and all, paces the earth I’m proven wrong.
Al, haven’t you put us through enough? Joe Bugel, Norv Turner, Bill Callahan? The guy, who coached in 06, was so awful he doesn’t merit reference.
He is the immovable force that prevents the Raiders from ascending to the plateau Lane Kiffin had his sight set for. Hopefully Coach Kiffin can continue to set sail on the heading he’s set.
Mike Shanahan fired after 20 games, captained the hated Broncos to victories in ’98 and ’99. The best coach to last more than two seasons under the master of disaster –Jon Gruden- beat his former employer, 48-21, in SB XXXVII, beginning this catastrophe that has been a five-year reality.
Kiffin brings a hope, vision and enthusiasm that a return to glory is probable again. But he can’t unleash this plan with Davis’ interference in football related decisions. No plan interrupted has a chance for success.
C’mon, Al, if Steinbrenner can relinquishe his supremacy in New York, you can too. You were the man in your hay day, now you’re the man running this team into the gutter.
You can’t win football games like you did in the 70s anymore. The times of workout warriors and track stars ended the instant disco died.
I’m tired of your antics that always comeback to afflict us (fans, team) in a negative fashion. You think you know what you’re doing, but you have no idea. A first-round pick on a kicker?
The Raiders, under Big Al’s jurisdiction, will never, ever be what they were –the best there is, was and ever will be.
You’ve tickled my last nerve. If Kiffin is gone, so am I and my wallet. Just die (or kick rocks), baby!
Al, haven’t you put us through enough? Joe Bugel, Norv Turner, Bill Callahan? The guy, who coached in 06, was so awful he doesn’t merit reference.
He is the immovable force that prevents the Raiders from ascending to the plateau Lane Kiffin had his sight set for. Hopefully Coach Kiffin can continue to set sail on the heading he’s set.
Mike Shanahan fired after 20 games, captained the hated Broncos to victories in ’98 and ’99. The best coach to last more than two seasons under the master of disaster –Jon Gruden- beat his former employer, 48-21, in SB XXXVII, beginning this catastrophe that has been a five-year reality.
Kiffin brings a hope, vision and enthusiasm that a return to glory is probable again. But he can’t unleash this plan with Davis’ interference in football related decisions. No plan interrupted has a chance for success.
C’mon, Al, if Steinbrenner can relinquishe his supremacy in New York, you can too. You were the man in your hay day, now you’re the man running this team into the gutter.
You can’t win football games like you did in the 70s anymore. The times of workout warriors and track stars ended the instant disco died.
I’m tired of your antics that always comeback to afflict us (fans, team) in a negative fashion. You think you know what you’re doing, but you have no idea. A first-round pick on a kicker?
The Raiders, under Big Al’s jurisdiction, will never, ever be what they were –the best there is, was and ever will be.
You’ve tickled my last nerve. If Kiffin is gone, so am I and my wallet. Just die (or kick rocks), baby!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Ricky Clark - Saturday Night (lack of) Lights
(Media Credit: Sean Jones)A power outage occurred in Chabot football's first home game of the season (Sept. 6) for over 30 minutes in the fourth quarter, the atmosphere of the fans attending the game was energetic while having a sense of curiosity. Fans were waving their cell phones in hopes of having some light during the darkness. The opponent (West Valley) received a much needed break after a 60-26 beating.
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