Inside the Spectator

Football 10-10-09

2009-10-15T02:38:00.000-07:00

Photography by Sean Jones

Sean Jones - International Night

2009-04-01T03:02:00.000-07:00

Sean Jones - JACC 2009

2009-04-02T01:38:00.000-07:00

Sean Jones - Sports 2009

2009-03-12T04:47:00.000-07:00

(updated 3/12/09)

Sean Jones - Battle of the Bands 2009

2009-03-12T03:11:00.000-07:00

Vineshia Cedillo - Laurens Had Enough

2009-03-05T21:34:00.000-08:00

Yes the rumors are true! MTV’s hit show The Hills is coming to an end. Conrad tells Seventeen magazine “the upcoming season of "The Hills" will be her last.” She goes on to say "I gave MTV a deadline and said, this is as long as I can do it and stay sane, it's difficult for me to remember what I was like before I had a mic taped to me. But I think I've become a little bit more independent and not quite as ... I don't want to say it, but pathetic.”

Lauren isn’t thinking about her fans at all. The show is the only way her fans can see what’s going on in her life. I think she’s just ending the show because she’s embarrassed that her life isn’t really going anywhere. Whitney has moved to New York and is working for a famous designer; Audrina is living on her own and is pursuing her acting career. While Lauren is pretty much staying the same. Still the show is the only way we know Lauren, I wonder what she will be without it.

Is ending The Hills a good career move for Conrad? I definitely don’t think so. Lauren has always been famous for being a reality star and without a reality show she’ll slowly disappear from the spotlight. I think the fame has given Lauren a big head to think she’s big enough star to succeed without the show. I personally love The Hills and never want it to come to an end but sadly it has. It seems like it was just yesterday she had moved form Laguna to Los Angeles. Nothing will ever replace the drama on The Hills and it’s sad to see it go.

Ann Seitz - CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT TIME IT IS?

2009-03-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

Racing down the second floor hall of Building 300 to my Shakespeare Studies class I wondered, “Am I late?” Ha, a clock, I’m saved. My question could be answered, a student’s pot-o’-gold. No, wait. The time on one side is different than the other.

Stepping closer to the clock I must have entered a shortcut through space and time because facing west the time was 10:49 and 21 seconds and facing east it was 4:06 and 42 seconds thus keeping perfect time in reverse to reason. Does time really flow in only one direction anyway I wondered? I expected to hear a ‘Cuckoo—Cuckoo’, but all the chronometer could do was not tell time. Apparently, non-operational clocks have been a timeless problem at Chabot.

Almost two decades ago Instructor Barbara Pope mused it would be nice to get the clocks right at least once a year. Nick Pereira, then head of the college’s Maintenance and Operations division, explained our clocks are tied to a central clock, which automatically sets the time. He had replaced the ‘mother clock’ with a digital devise two years before former student Marc DeSaussure interviewed him in 1991. Pereira went on to say, “Obviously, this isn’t working…. ” and added, “Unfortunately the school’s clocks are already around 20 years old and probably don’t work properly…(they) have worn out signal wires.” Replacement would have cost the college between $150,000 and $250,000 then. Almost forty years of “whatever” ticking later, not much has changed.

But, one mustn’t complain without solutions.
1) Take the clocks out, they’re not clocks, clocks tell time, it’s better not to have clocks;
2) Mount a contest to see who could embellish “time” more than it already does on its own. Prizes could be awarded for the most inventive, colorful or thought-provoking clock and there are hundreds to choose from;
3) Make “Any Time Is The Right Time” the school’s official policy. If a student shows up late for an exam they must be given the full three hours to complete the test, after all they were on time according to some clock at Chabot;
4) In 2000 B.C. the sundial answered the need for marking time. Chabot has talented metal and stone artists. We have physicists. Start building.
5) Satellite clocks stay accurate. I just got one free for subscribing to a magazine. Start subscribing;
6) Go Japanese. Feng Shui informs us that clocks are powerful generators of energy and if you just sit near or under a clock that doesn’t work it creates stagnancy, nothing happens. If you sit near a clock or under a clock you are always under pressure, never seem to have enough time to complete projects;
7) Design and wear “Start Clocks, Not War” buttons.

Running under the wall clock to my Shakespeare class again I recalled Hamlet’s proclamation, “The time is out of joint. Oh, cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right.”

Thu Saminathen - Relationships

2009-02-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

“Are you single?” is a common opening line to hear in your late-teens to early-twenties stage. Relationships are a big factor in everyone’s life. You're either in a solid rock relationship and are fully in love, or despise every aspect of what a relationship holds. As for me, I can go both ways. I’m not really looking to settle down, but if Mr. Right came along, I wouldn’t mind.

My theory on relationships, coming from experience, is this: At our age, no one should be ready to settle down. We are way too young to devote all our time and energy to one person that’s not you.

A relationship takes two people to be completely committed. Both must be ready to do what it takes to make the other person happy. I believe that during the duration of college, no girl or guy is ready to be, or should be, put in a position to be “wifed” up. This our time of trial and error and having a relationship would only make life harder because you have someone else to answer to.

On the other hand, if you’re in love and are willing to do what it takes to make it work, than kudos to you. You have another person right next to you through your college experience.

From my experience, I learned the hard way, but I’m glad I did, because it would have only gotten harder. I was in a fun, committed relationship for two years. We parted ways about six months ago. The hardest thing I ever did was to break out of my daily routine and realize that all I have is myself at the end of the day.

As time goes on I realize that I am happier making my own decisions instead of always putting someone else first. If I make mistakes, I only have myself to blame. It works, and there is a lot less fighting!

Dating is also something everyone should take part of. Dating allows you to create new relationships, good or bad, and allows you to learn from new people.

I also realize I am turning 21 years old, which entitles me to a whole other world, a world that doesn’t include relationships.

Women and men come and go. It’s hard to realize that when you're in a relationship or want a relationship from a specific person. But at the end of the day you have just got to say, “There’s plenty of fish in the sea.”

Chloe Waldrep - All for a bathroom break

2009-02-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

If you've ever been to a basketball game, you might have caught a glimpse of a halftime show as you were getting up to get food. If you've ever even seen one on television, you may have seen the show behind the announcers who were summing up the first half of the game. For most basketball fans, the show is simply a bathroom break.

For the dancers who rehearse for it for half a year, it's a pretty big deal.

All of our 72 competition dancers were completely excited for a full three months before the performance: rehearsing our own bits over and over every waking moment of the day.

When the actual game day began, it was very hard to believe it was here.

It felt like a normal day until 5 p.m., when I transformed from average me into...sequin-clad, clown-makeup me. Although we all look like little blobs from the audience, us dancers spend hours finding the brightest red lipstick, applying false eyelashes, putting mascara on the false eyelashes, and applying enough eyeshadow to completely cover our faces if we wanted.

We'd had at least an hour a week to work on this dance, but nothing prepared us for the experience leading up to halftime.

The dancers, teachers, and parents had all been sectioned off into a certain area of the arena, where each individual group of dancers formed their own rows. All the dancers got there well over an hour before the game and we chatted together and tried to figure out which way we were supposed to face when we dance, a process that was not helped by one of our teachers, Rob Perry ("Well, if upstage is behind the W, when the W is upside down, which way are you facing?").

As soon as the first half is finished, we all run as fast as we can down at least three thousand flights of stairs, and in what seems like several circles, until we are in a cement, warehouse-like backstage. Several tour groups pass us with funny stares and lame jokes. We all line up in a very thin line right behind the North Tunnel curtain while security guards and CIA-like men talk into walkie-talkies and freak us out.

Checking the clock every five seconds, we all feel the excitement building, and as soon as that buzzer rings, we all run onto the very slippery court and make our carefully rehearsed formations, not unlike secret agents.

Our hearts are pounding, we all try not to fidget, and we have never felt more excited and nervous in our lives.

As the music starts, I am reminded of this blog I have to write and all of my happiness is replaced with one thought:

"All of this for a bathroom break?"

Jenny Montes - A Bloody Success!

2009-02-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

A blood drive for the American Red Cross was held at Chabot College on Thursday, Jan. 29. According to Ed Faso, account manager for Donor Recruitment in the American Red Cross, 47 units of blood were collected. Each unit of blood donated has the potential to save three lives. Because of the generosity of the people of Chabot College, 141 lives have been potentially saved. The biggest turnout was from the E.M.T. classes and the Associated Students, who were also actively involved in signing-up donors.

According to the Web site for the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, but only five percent of the population of eligible donors actually donates blood. This makes donating blood crucial.

Many people may be put off by the fear of donating, but it is simple, quick and nearly painless (many donors agree: if you don't look at the needle when they insert it into the vein, it barley hurts at all). Before donating, the donor is given information to read regarding the process as well as reasons for possible deferment. To be eligible to donate, one must be at least 17-years-old (or 16 with a guardian present) and weigh at least 110 lbs. A confidential health history is then taken to be sure that the donor is healthy. Once the donor is deemed eligible, their arm is swabbed with iodine and the needle is inserted. It usually takes 10 minutes or less for the blood to be removed. Afterward, the donors are treated to beverages and cookies to replenish themselves.

The blood drive was considered a success by Faso, especially based on previous blood drives in May 2007 and January 2008. During those drives only 29 and 42 units were collected, respectively.
The next blood drive will be held at Chabot on Thursday, April 16. Hopefully, even more units can be collected this time.

For more information about the donation process, contact Ed Faso at 510-773-1868.

If you missed the donation on Thursday, or were deferred, go to www.BeADonor.com and enter your ZIP code for a donation center near you.

Jesse Prado - Ethics: an abstract ideal

2009-02-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

The report card came back with disappointing results for the high school students of 2008. The survey on the Ethics of American Youth was given to 30,000 high school students by the Josephson Institute, and they say, “There is a hole in our moral ozone that is getting bigger.” Students are lying, cheating, and stealing, but this doesn’t surprise me much.

After corporal punishment as discipline was replaced with positive reinforcement, they lost control of these kids to the inflation of their own egos.

Kids started keeping it real, started acting on how they feel. Do what is right in your heart was the best advice they could give them because they couldn’t turn to the birch or cane when their kid was being a jerk. The laws changed and wouldn’t allow it. Kids lost that fear of their parents and with that left the respect. These days kids raise themselves, and according to this survey, most of them say they would rather do what’s right to them than do the right thing in general.

An alarming number of students who took the survey said that their parents would rather have them cheat than get bad grades in school. Whatever it takes to succeed, as sick and sad as that sounds. The kids are all on their own after high school. Sounds like a crowd of parents who want to get those kids out of their house.

Nobody taught them how to be.

How good of a role model are you? That’s the latest question on the Josephson Institutes new survey at their website www.josephsoninstitute.org. I tried it myself but it’s mainly for parents and teachers. Maybe they should check it out.

The founder of the Josephson Institute Michael Josephson said “what we need to learn from these survey results is that our moral infrastructure is unsound and in serious need of repair. This is not a time to lament or whine but to take thoughtful positive action.”

You can’t teach ethics to high school students.

Truth is, a person that can maintain a consistent code of ethics is rare. People will lie, cheat and steal depending on the circumstance; that’s human nature. Looking out for number one is all they’ve ever been told to do. It’s all they’ve ever seen. I know it’s all I’ve ever seen. That’s survival of the fittest. Ethics are an abstract ideal to the modern American.

According to this survey, it’s the last thing on anyone’s mind.

Vineshia Cedillo - The Media Targets Miley

2009-02-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Once again Miley Cyrus has become the target of media scrutiny, this time for something entirely insignificant. The uproar over a harmless photo of her and her friends making innocent funny faces has spiraled out of control. The Organization of Chinese Americans found the photo deeply offensive and is asking Cyrus to issue an apology to the Asian American community.

Cyrus has honored their request for an apology and has issued one on her mileysworld.com blog.

"I've also been told there are some people upset about some pictures taken of me with friends making goofy faces! Well, I'm sorry if those people looked at those pics and took them wrong and out of context!" Cyrus added, "In NO way was I making fun of any ethnicity!"

The OCA was unimpressed with the apology and doesn’t feel the 16-year-old is being sincere. They responded to Cyrus' blog by saying, "We do not feel this is an adequate response or apology to our statement, and we are disappointed that she does not understand that what she perceived as a 'goofy face' has never been used as a term of endearment for Asian Pacific Americans. It is not a gesture someone who is looked up to as a role model should use."

I have to say I completely disagree with the OCA, and I think they need to give Cyrus a break. The photo is harmless, and they are making something out of nothing. I really don’t think Cyrus would be making fun of the Asian community with an Asian friend right next to her!

I feel the media loves to over-analyze every move a celebrity makes. Now, I know that once you become a celebrity you have to get used to the media attacking you, but this is a bit much. I think the media is looking for a new girl to wear the “Bad Girl” title and Cyrus just happens be to the most vulnerable female celebrity out there right now. I believe they are taking advantage of her age and innocence by trying to make her feel guilty for something that isn’t that big of a deal. The media is just looking for someone to bully and target. It’s not fair that they chose a 16-year-old girl.

If we can be forgiving and understanding to Britney Spears with every crazy and erratic thing she has done then we can give Cyrus the benefit of the doubt and just move on!

Joey Brownlee - Still a damn Yankee?

2009-02-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

So Jason Giambi is back to where it all began. Whoop-Dee-F* %&#^}’-Do.

Yeah, he makes Oakland a better team. Getting away from Yankee Stadium’s cavernous dimensions will improve his stats and he’ll go back to using left field. Most importantly, however: NO MORE JACK CUST HITTING THIRD OR CLEAN-UP.

Giambi, along with Matt Holliday’s addition, brings instant credibility to the 2009 Athletics. Pitchers had no trouble zipping through Oakland lack-luster offense over the past two years, but it’ll be different in 09. Assuming Eric Chavez is healthy [all signs indicate yes, but I’ll believe when I see it], the Athletics will be respectable again.

It’s anomalous to have a potential 30+ homer bat slugging sixth considering that 50 percent of ML teams didn’t register one player with 30 bombs. Oakland is fortunate to boast four potential home run hitters adding merit to their high expectations in 2009.

Cust moving lower in the order makes his high strikeout rate palatable. He doesn’t make enough contact in RBI situations, therefore his value wasn’t maximized.

Back to Benedict Giambi; how can any TRUE A’s fan cheer for this guy? Have you already forgotten the lie?

After clinching the AL West in 2000, Giambi bellowed to a raucous coliseum crowed, “I want to stay here (with the A’s) forever!”

A year later he bolted to New York for Steinbrenner’s money. And it’s not like he wasn’t offered a lucrative contract to stay here either.

He was guaranteed 91 million over six years. Instead he took 120 million over seven [a difference of 1.97 million annually].

To top it all off, he went on Letterman and slapped our city in the face. “Have you ever been to Oakland?” Think about that for a moment.

That’s what our leader, my idol, said. I was fine with his leaving to fulfill his desideratum for being a Yankee. Fine and dandy; but to disrespect the fans and organization that help facilitate that aspiration, I cannot ignore.

Moreover, in his press conference upon his return, he issued no apology. He basically used it as another platform to accentuate his time with New York.

"When you're with the Yankees, you're like a traveling rock band,” Giambi, 38, said. “I played with basically 25 superstars in New York every day. They're incredible guys and we had the time of our life."

Sounds like a guy who still wants to be a damn Yankee. So, Giambi, I ask you: Are you still in New York?

Chris Stott - Battle of the Bands recap

2009-02-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

Local music was alive and well when earlier this month when the Hayward Battle of the Bands once again took over the Chabot Theater. The battle, sponsored by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D.), is the longest continuously running battle of the bands in the country, at 46 years. Bands ranged in style from the pop-punk that you’d expect from bands whose members are in high school, to the reggae-rock stylings of Braata, to an odd combination of metal, funk-rock, and blues courtesy of Solcraft.

Two bands were particularly memorable, and are still worth mentioning now, two weeks after the battle took place. One was The Dialed, four teenage boys from San Lorenzo, who play pop-punk in the vein of Blink 182. Showing off both their musical and performance skills, they had plenty of fun without overdoing their onstage antics, a problem which set back many other bands’ performances. This earned them the loud cheers of the audience, as well as the attention of the judges, who awarded The Dialed with the first place prize.

The other noteworthy band was Prove It, who were undoubtedly audience favorites before the curtain even rose and they began to play. The cheering began when master of ceremonies Mick Flaire announced that all three members of the band were 10 years old, and became loud “aww”s when the curtain rose on the boys whose instruments were almost as big as they were. The band, which received 13th place in the preliminary round, wasn’t even going to play until one of the other bands dropped out due to illness. Even though this meant they wouldn’t be able to compete for a place, brothers Ian and Graham, and drummer Jack did their very best, playing two original songs and a Beatles cover, and earned themselves an Honorable Mention “Flairey” Award.

Jenny Montes - Don't hate on V-Day

2009-02-18T12:39:00.000-08:00

It's a holiday invented by candy companies. It's a holiday invented by greeting card companies. I don't need a holiday to tell my significant other that I love him. It just punishes single people. These are the excuses that we all hear every year in February to avoid Valentine's Day. Some of them may be true, but so what?

Today the U.S. Is involved in two wars and a financial crisis of the likes which few of us have seen. Every time one turns on the news there are reports of abuse, homicide and impending economic disaster. Perhaps an official day dedicated to love is exactly what we need right now.

With all the negativity that seems to surround us each moment, it can be easy to forget or take for granted those that we love or that love us. Looking at the calendar and seeing Feb. 14 marked as Valentine's Day is a simple reminder to let our affections be known, be them romantic, platonic, or familial.

Some may argue that we should be expressing our love for the people in our lives regularly and not just on a specific day. While this is absolutely true, the staggering statistics on the divorce rate and teen suicide in this country reflect that this is not being done.

Our country has many holidays that we have decided are worth celebrating, even though they are based on principles we claim to be important and should be celebrating year-round. For example, Christians have set aside Dec. 25 as a day to celebrate Jesus' birth. But how many of them have nativity scenes around in June? The U.S. was founded on the ideas of freedom and liberty, ideas that are so innately important to our country that July 4 was set aside to commemorate them. But how many Americans are wearing red, white and blue and listening to a John Philip Sousa march on July 6? Few people complain about there being a day set aside to honor mothers and fathers.

If we can have specific days of the year set aside to celebrate things that are important, why can love not be one of them?

So next year go out, get some chocolate and a card for your loved one - boyfriend, girlfriend, mother, grandfather, best friend - and let them know that you care. You will be glad you did.

Ricky Clark - Volleyball player returns from major injury

2008-09-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Ricky Clark - Basketball v. Cabrillo

2008-12-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

The men's basketball team defeated Cabrillo 73-68 last night to boost the team's record to 9-5. This weekend the Gladiators will have a tournament Dec. 19-21.

Spectator - Triumph!! Over KCRH

2008-11-20T16:55:00.000-08:00

Photography by Sean Jones

In the most epic of battles the Spectator prevailed gloriously over Chabot radio station KCRH 30-28. To get the game rolling, the Spectator ran through a sign to get pumped up. Despite the intense action, both sides were able to unite at the end in celebration for the Mass Çommunications field.

Ricky Clark - Laney v. CH football

2008-11-20T14:35:00.000-08:00

Photography by Sean Jones

In Chabot football's rivalry game and season finale vs the Laney Eagles, the team was brutalized 32-0.The defense was outgunned and the offense never got going for Chabot. Brandon Williams was a lone bright spot for the team with 102 yards on 17 carries. Chabot finishes the season 5-5, 2-2 without a bowl birth.

Ricky Clark - Men's soccer a nail in the coffin

2008-11-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

Not quite the ending the men’s soccer team would have wanted, with a season finale loss to Foothill College 2-1. The Gladiators went down the stretch without winning a single
match since Oct. 21 against Mission College (five losses, two ties). Coach Markus Bathelt explains the string of bad luck has been due to inconsistencies.

“We do good against good teams, but we lose focus in games we should have won,” said Bathelt. Against Foothill the Gladiators were outplayed and mounted little offensive pressure. The lone goal came from forward Pablo Moreno in the first half to tie the game 1-1. Moreno booted the ball approximately 20 yards for a score that sailed past the Foothill goalkeeper’s head.

Moreno was often in the mix throughout the game, in the second half he leaped in the air to head-butt the ball, but clashed heads with a Foothill player. Moreno later re-entered the game, and over kicked the ball past the net after getting a break away.

The Gladiators finish their disappointing season at 7-9-3 and out of playoff contention.

Sean Jones - Emerging Work

2008-11-19T16:22:00.000-08:00

Ricky Clark - Volleyball defeats De Anza

2008-11-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

The volleyball team finished of De Anza 3-1 in a teeter-totter match tonight. Sammy Capurro simply summed this win saying, "It felt good." Sets one, three, and four belonged to the Lady Glads. The first set went 25-20, third set went 25-22, and fourth set went 25-21 with the team losing in the second 25-20. For those who have not seen a volleyball game this season, Christa Hicks is a very talented player. Hicks plays outside hitter and in this latest game she constantly delivered scores on spikes, towers, and serves. Without Hicks this team probably would have a terrible season. Another player who's coming along for the Lady Glads is Amanda Meyer. She was a force in the middle, blocking shots and finishing spikes. Next week (Wednesday) will be the team's last home game at 6:30.

Ricky Clark - Wrestling quick notes

2008-11-05T21:02:00.000-08:00

The wrestling team was at Cuesta College for a tournament. Out of 16 teams the Glads placed 10th. Stephan De La Cruz earned 3rd place at 141-pounds after defeating Sacramento City College's Blake Nichols by a 10-4 decision. Carlos Martinez (157-pounds) beat Palomar College's Aaron Eberhart by injury forfeit, earning 5th place.

Ricky Clark - Football vs. Cabrillo preview

2008-11-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

Last home game of the season, it seems like it's going bye too fast. The Gladiators are coming off a win against Los Medanos 38-14, but this team has not won two games in a row. It's been a season in between average and above average for coach Calcagno's Gladiators with a win loss record of 4-4, 2-1. On Saturday, Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m. the Gladiators will host Cabrillo Seahawks (0-3, 2-6). The Seahawks are on a four game losing streak and were shutout by Modesto. Perhaps the Seahawks are just a victim against top teams. Their first game was with last year's state winners City College of SF, an undefeated Monterey Peninsula, and the two top Golden Gate Conferece teams Laney and Modesto. Chabot has a slim shot of winning the conference. In order for the team to accomplish this, they must beat Cabrillo and Laney (Nov. 4), and have other conference teams do some things for the Glads.

Here is the synopsis: If Modesto beats Laney this weekend, they will have to lose to Merced. If Laney beats Modesto, the Glads will still need Merced defeat Modesto and ultimately beat Laney for the season finale.

Ricky Clark - Volleyball's Sophomore night a hit

2008-11-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

It was just another moment for a Chabot sports program to play their last home game of the season, this however was nice for the volleyball team.

Chabot volleyball swept Skyline College in three sets (25-22,25-21, 25-22). After the game the volleyball players embraced one another and many players said their goodbye's from playing at Chabot, winning in a sweep was ever the perfect ending. "It's really exciting, we pulled through [winning efficiently]. It's sad [to finish at Chabot], I don't was to miss the team," said Irene Takahashi-Coker.

The last game for the Lady Gladiators will be away at Foothill College (Nov. 19). Earlier this season Foothill got the best out of Chabot, the team will definetly want to make the most of this game by ending the season with a "W".