In a campus wide email acting president Dr. Kathy Hart stated that,  ”The advantage, then, of eliminating Summer Session, 2013, is that it gives students and staff time to plan for what is to come in 2013-14. Many other colleges throughout the state have already implemented this option.”

The issue will be brought to the attention of the Board of Trustees during the May 15 meeting and will be decided upon on June 19 with the tentative budget.

Anyone wanting to voice their opinion or ask questions on the “May revise” is welcomed to join the webinar at 10 a.m. or 3 p.m. on May 15 in the Tillie Lewis Theater.

Even if the tax initiative doesn’t effect the school, Delta still plans to remove summer session for the 2013 year.

According to the Aspen Institute’s website, www.aspentinsititute.org, the Aspen Prize recognizes a select few community colleges that have shown academic and workforce outcomes in both performance and improvements.

The Aspen Institute believes the success of community college students and the performance of colleges is fundamental in helping to determine whether the economy will stay afloat in the future.

“Some seven million students enroll in nearly 1,200 public and private community colleges each year,” said Josh Wyner, director of the Aspen Institute Community College Excellence Program in a press release.

Delta is one of only three California community colleges that are eligible to participate in the next round of competition.

“Our college out-performs others when factors like the poverty and low educational attainment rates of our region are taken into consideration,” wrote Dr. Matt Wetstein, Delta’s interim vice president of instruction in an email interview. “Moreover, the diversity of our student body helps the college score well on the number of degrees and certificates awarded to traditionally under-represented students and those who are the first generation to attend college.”

“This recognition is a strong endorsement of our outstanding faculty and staff,” Wetstein added. “We have a caring, committed staff who are concerned about the success of students.”

A prize jury will select the $1 million grand prizewinner and “four runners-up with distinction” in March 2013.

“I’m a transfer from Florida International in Miami, and I’ll say that the most important tip I can give you is stay on your academics because that’s how I ended up out here. Academics is first, that’s the most important thing to being a student athlete is your books, your credits. I don’t even wanna talk about football because academics is the most important thing,” said David Holley, football player.

There has been a stereotype thrown about that getting into college via the sports program is a free meal, an easy ticket.

That one is getting a paid for education not on academic merit but on how hard they can throw a ball, how quick they are or how strong they are.

It’s true that colleges look for those with exceptional athletic prowess, but it is a foolish misconception to think it makes college easy for them.

In fact, the average student might drop over dead if forced to follow the rigorous regiment that Delta’s athletic department utilizes.

Delta’s Assistant Football Coach Doug Murray said there’s much to the ins and outs of the getting into one of the athletics programs.

“The first thing that happens is kind of a dual outreach,” he said. The school will go looking for potential athletes.

“Come in knowing you need to get some work done because all the coaches here want to see you get better and want to see you move on to a four year college and see you succeed. It’s great that we have ‘The Zone’ in Budd 205 so we have a place to get our school work done and not have to do it at home.” said Stephen Patterson, baseball player.

At the same time, some potential student athletes hoping to become Mustangs will come in to them as well.
From there, a potential athlete has to follow the basic student guidelines everyone does.

These requirements include taking assessment tests, seeing a counselor and creating an academic plan. There are more requirements.

To be a part of a sports program one must be a full-time student, taking 12 units. Nine of those must be traditional academic units.

A student-athlete must maintain at least a 2.0 academic grade-point average or they risk being cut from the program.

Student-athletes must not only meet the college’s standards, but the athletic department’s

“Make sure you prioritize. Go to ‘The Zone’ and it’s really helpful. You can go in there and actually study away from practice time. Go to practice and go to class but spend your extra time at ‘The Zone,’ that will help you a lot and they also have tutors there that will help you a lot,” said Kelsey Agardi, swimming athlete.

personal standards as well as National Collegiate Athletic Association standards, said Murray.

If requirements aren’t fully met, a student-athlete risks being unable to transfer to a four-year university and continue playing.

The program has fail safes in place to ensure players stay on track and up to speed with their studies.
Student-athletes are required to spend three hours each week in study hall.

Recruiters can come in whenever they want.

Usually, these visits are unannounced, so neither the coaches nor the players know when they will occur.

“The main thing is motivation. Make sure you work hard and make sure you’re keeping up with everything and your grades are up at the same time,” said Breana Brockl, soccer player.

“And that’s why we make it so that our students are at their best at all times,” said Murray.

On May 5, the Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento was filled with the best of British and American rock.

ROCKIN’ SACRAMENTO: Lead singer of Arctic Monkeys, Alex Turner. PHOTO BY EVELYN PALACIO

With a mixture of young and old music lovers, the night began at 8 p.m. with the opening band, Arctic Monkeys, revving up the audience for the main act.

The Arctic Monkeys played a selection of the band’s more rocking songs from a diverse catalog of music, which include four  albums and countless b-sides.

Beginning with “Brianstrorm” to current crowd favorite “R U Mine?” Arctic Monkeys managed to hold their own in a crowd filled with people who don’t  really know who they are, yet.

While still relatively unknown in the United States, Arctic Monkeys is one of the most popular bands in Europe at the moment and probably one of the best bands to come out of England since the Beatles.

By the time the Arctic Monkeys had left the stage however, the crowd was more than ready for the main act.

The Black Keys came onstage to roaring applause, and quickly tore into a set list filled with songs from all seven of the band’s albums.

ROCKIN’ SACRAMENTO: Lead singer of the Black Keys, Dan Auerbach. PHOTO BY EVELYN PALACIO

The crowd went crazy and sang and stamped along to hits such as “Howlin’ for You” “Tighten Up” and “Lonely Boy.”

Seventeen songs later the crowd chanted for more.

The encore included three more songs, including a beautiful performance of “Everlasting Light” with dazzling light effects and a disco ball.

When the concert was over, the audience was left with feeling that they had just witnessed what was probably one of the best concerts of their lives, with two of the best bands in music today.

Both the Arctic Monkeys and The Black Keys more than prove that rock and roll is alive and well, you just have to take the time to find it, or let it find you.

This is especially true of The Avengers, which hit theaters a week ago.

The movie is the Marvel Studio’s fulfillment of a promise made to viewers four years ago when 2008’s “Iron Man” hinted at a Marvel Cinematic Universe, where all these heroes existed in the same world with the prospect of them crossing paths.

That world promised delivered one of the purest, most enjoyable blockbusters in a long time.

This is no Michael Bay film, like the bombastic “Transformer” movies.

The action is competent and readable. The writing is spot on and witty.

The females aren’t sexbots. And it delivers on its premise ten fold.

The film has had five whole movies to lay down the ground work and it’s paid off.

Instead of wasting valuable time explaining who each hero is and how they came to be, we now know these characters pretty well and only need a reintroduction to get the film to the action.

All the actors are comfortable with their roles so now here we see them with great command and understanding of the roles.

The standouts is once again Tom Hiddleston as Loki, the villain with serious little brother syndrome.

Hiddleston, like in “Thor,” acts as if he doesn’t realize he’s in a movie where he’s got a pair of golden horns on his head. He’s that good.

Without a doubt, the one who steals the show was the one many were worried about.

That’s Mark Ruffalo’s turn as Dr. Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk.

Writer-Director Joss Whedon plays it very smart by not having the Hulk show up for quite some time.
Instead we get to know and like Ruffalo’s Banner even more so when the Hulk finally emerges in all his glory, the audience is in a full blown tizzy.

This will movie will leave you on a high. You’ll want to see it again later.

But now another question looms out in the near future.

Where is the justice league movie?

No that’s not it, it’s that this is just the beginning of the summer?

This years slate of films are like a film nerds wild jolt cola-infused dream.

There’s a prequel to the “Alien” series with “Prometheus.”

The closer to the Christopher Nolan “Batman” trilogy, and Spiderman hopes to get a new lease on life with “The Amazing Spider-Man.”

Those are just the three of the big ones.

In the end, all these films mean a hell of a time at the movies this summer.

One of the last College Hours of the semester brought many students together to release their stress for finals by dancing and playing to the beat of the drums.

The Associated Student Body Government (ASBG) brought Jeni Swerdlow, the owner of DRUMMM Rhythmic Events in Oakland, to unite the students on campus by conducting a drum circle.

Many students participated in the drum circle while those who didn’t stayed and watched as Swerdlow encouraged the students to continue beating their drums.

Knowing how to play the drums wasn’t necessary to join.

“The thing we liked about Jeni is that she brought in that anybody can drum,” said Bronche Taylor, vice president of student affairs. “We can all drum together and release stress from doing it.”

Two-hundred thirty students in total voted in the election. Write-in results from the election are to be released next week.

Lorena Campos is the new ASBG president going into the 2012-13 school year, having received 82 votes.

Campos is currently the senator of legislative affairs.

A student who only just recently joined ASBG in the spring semester, Campos currently has a few goals with a heavy focus on improving the communication of ASBG and the students.

When asked about her plans to reach out to students, Campos emphasized College Hour as well as increasing announcements and fliers.

Campos said she doesn’t believe ASBG’s loss of the flea market and the subsequent challenges in finding funding will hinder the governing body in upcoming semesters.

“I don’t believe the board solely relies on the resources it has,” Campos said. “I don’t believe it relies on finances.”

With proper planning, Campos believes ASBG will be able to continue its operation on campus.

She said this semester ASBG spending was under the budget limitations instated by outgoing President Nicholas Aguirre.

“(We) worked hard not to exceed our limits to keep everything in budget,” Campos said.

Campos wants to inform students of their rights and allow them to understand how they can impact the campus environment.

Campos also wishes to improve the students and the members of ASBG by seeing the “strengths and weaknesses and plan our goals.”

2012-13 ASBG ELECTION RESULTS

President
Lorena Campos 82
Otta Kafka 43
Write-in candidate 7

Treasurer
Razleen Sandhu 120
Write-in Candidate 15

Senator of Activities
Razleen Sandhu 126
Write-in Candidate 11

Senator of Student ID Cards
Teresa Narez-Villa 124
Write-in Candidate 8

Senator of College and Community Relations
Elizabeth Landa 94
Teresa Narez-Villa 29
Write in Candidate 14

This organization is one step above community college student governments.

At a recent statewide general assembly, Region V, the region Delta belongs to, voted to support Assembly bills 1500 and 1501, which establish funding for the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) by closing a tax loophole. The MCS is intended to reduce college costs for middle class families.

“What makes the MCS unique is that it accomplishes its goal without having to raise taxes on Californians or divert money from the general fund. It’s funded by closing a tax loophole that only benefits out of state corporations. The MCS thus also benefits California businesses by making out of state interests compete fairly,” said James Varble, SSCCC senator and sophomore at Modesto Junior College.

If this bill passes students could expect tuition cut by two-thirds.

Approximately 150,000 students will receive the MCS and save over $4,000 per year within the California State University system, while about 42,000 University of California students will receive the MCS, saving up to $8,169 per year.

Delta College police remain on guard following two recent sexual battery incidents, responding earlier this week to calls from women who felt they were being harassed by men who resembled the physical description of the previous suspect.

While no arrests were made and no link to previous incidents were found, campus police were glad the incidents were called in.

“We want our campus community to be proactive, call things in, and be aware of their surroundings,” said Sgt. Mario Vasquez.

Vasquez further advised that students pay attention to their surroundings, make eye contact with people and walk proudly to better protect themselves.

Delta to hold 77th annual commencement ceremony May 24

The Stockton Arena will welcome up to 675 graduating Delta College students and their families on May 24 as part of the 77th annual commencement ceremony.

“Commencement, in my opinion, is one of the most important things we do here,” said Michael Kerns, Vice President of Student Services.

The program begins at 6 p.m.

A rehearsal will be at the same location at 4 p.m. May 23.

The event includes a speech from student speaker Arianna Perez, whose speech was chosen by a committee that includes speech instructors.

The National Anthem will be performed by the San Joaquin Delta College Vocal Quartet.

“We’re following pretty much the same floor plans (from previous years),” said David Bane, Lead Records Evaluator and co-coordinator of this event.

According to Bane, only about 40 percent of eligible students walk for graduation every year.

“For some reason that’s a constant,” said Bane.

Students planning to walk are asked to remember to wear their caps level and their tassel to the right and to report fully dressed in cap and gown at 5 p.m.

All students planning to walk should pick up a “walking card” which allows them to avoid the check-in process during the beginning to commencement.

Cards can be picked up with picture identification at the information desk in the DeRicco Student Services Building from May 16-24.

Diplomas will be mailed to eligible recipients in July.

Bane says the best thing a graduating student can do is continuously check Delta’s website at www.deltacollege.edu/dept/ar/admissions/commence.html for updates on current news.

“I’m excited to be here as vice president of student service,” said Kerns. “It’s a team of outstanding individuals who are putting this together.”

COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULE

WHERE: Stockton Arena,  248 W. Fremont Street
WHEN:  Rehearsal is May 23 at 4 p.m. Commencement is May 24 at 6 p.m.
FOR MORE INFO:  Email ar-evaluations@deltacollege.edu