Monthly Archives: March 2018

The Next “BIG” One?

If you’re from the Bay Area and have not experienced an earthquake than its more than likely someone has at least told you about their experience. If not then it’s important to know that it’s not if, it’s when, the next earthquake is going to happen, which means earthquake preparedness is essential.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) California has more than a 99 percent chance of having a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake within the next 30 years, according to scientists using a new model to determine the probability of big quakes. According to EarthquakeSaftey.com For northern California, the most likely source of such earthquakes is the Hayward-Rodgers Creek Fault (31 percent in the next 30 years).

Such quakes can be deadly, as shown by the 1989 magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta and the 1994 magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquakes. The new study determined the probabilities that different parts of California will experience earthquake ruptures of various magnitudes.

The USGS went on to state the new statewide probabilities are the result of a model that comprehensively combines information from seismology, earthquake geology, and geodesy (measuring precise locations on the Earth’s surface). For the first time, probabilities for California having a large earthquake in the next 30 years can be forecast statewide.

I asked Suzanne Maher, a professor of Geography at Chabot College what makes an earthquake happen. “When two tectonic plates move in opposite directions rocks get stuck in between those plates stopping the movement of the plates and creating pressure. When that pressure is released the plates move in their respective directions releasing energy that creates the shaking you feel during the earthquake. If the ground is mostly loose gravel and sand, it will cause liquefaction which is the sinking of the ground. We can’t predict earthquakes, but we can prepare to minimize the damage and our response time for when the event takes place.”

After learning more about what makes an earthquake take place it made me want to know what students should do if they were on campus during a major earthquake, so I contacted Mike Woods, Sergeant of the Hayward Police Department and Director of Campus Security and Safety at Chabot College.

I asked him what his first responsibility in the case of a major earthquake?” Woods said, “to make sure structural integrity is intact in case we may need to evacuate a building. Secondly, assess what injuries that may have occurred and try to get them the correct medical attention. Now, while this is happening our EverBridge Emergency Notification System should alert everyone via text, email, and cell phone and in worst case scenario and all system are down we will go around with a bullhorn to alert everyone. We practice the great shakeout drill and we practice the fire drill simultaneously the evacuation map is located at the end of every hallway in all of the building so people can be aware of what to do in case of an emergency.”

For more information about what to do during an earthquake visit https://www.earthquakecountry.org/step5/ to learn more.

Chabot Forensics Goes to Nationals!

Chabot College Forensics team has been on a roll with a series of wins that will allow them to compete and work hard to prepare themselves for Regional state and the National State Championships.

It’s an exciting time for Chabot right now. Considering that most of the Forensics team is fairly new, half of whom just joined this spring, the team is experiencing early success in competitions. That’s a pretty big deal.

Chris Scott is one of the new competitors that had become the tournament champion in the novice Lincoln-Douglas debate division at Las Positas. Winning both his semifinal and final debate rounds. This is his first semester competing against individuals that have a year’s experience and winning, he shows a lot of promise. He’ll be a good addition to the team when they compete at the National Parliamentary Debate Association Championships that take place in Portland, Oregon.

At the end of February, the Forensics team competed at The Northern California Forensics Association Regional Championships. The team did not disappoint! First-year student Melaak Feleke took 4th in the varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate. In the Individual Speech Event, we have Katie Cree who took 4th in novice persuasive speaking. In Lincoln-Douglas, Chris Scott finished as a semifinalist and was awarded the 2nd place speaker award. In parliamentary debate, Scott also finished as a quarterfinalist with his partner Matthew Abrahamson and was then awarded 4th place speaker. Nicol Taylor and Vishal Nadal, with a very strong finish, ended up as quarterfinalists in the competition for top novice debaters. The biggest win of that weekend was due to the second-semester competitor, Matthew Abrahamson who finished the tournament as the top novice speaker in the parliamentary debate. Continue reading

What’s on Your Mind?

If you have been following mass shootings for the last few years, one narrative has been a constant call to action on mental health usually by a politician. This raises the question does this country have a mental health problem? The answer is rather complicated.
The answer may appear to be obvious with the recent string of mass shootings. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, only three to five percent of violent crime can be attributed to severe mental illness.
According to Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox, who has been tracking mass shootings since 1966, only 14.8 percent of mass shooters have a diagnosed mental illness.
“To Shoot up a school, you have to be crazy.” Said 2-year Psychology major Caroline Phan. The thought of shooting up a school was so anathema to her that she is certain that a sane person couldn’t do it.
Chabot Psychology Professor Felicia Perez said, “in a very rare set of circumstances (a mass shooter) could be sane if they had a traumatic past or were pushed.” She went on to contribute the previous statistics of only 14.8 percent.
One of the few issues that President Obama and President Trump are in agreement on is that this country’s mental health services are inadequate. Both Presidents would cite lack of availability of psychiatrists in this country as an issue.

This also raises the question do people who have mental health issues feel a stigmatism toward getting help. Professor Perez states that “masculinity” may be a factor in preventing people from seeking help. She went on to point out that most violent crime is committed by males. According to FBI crime statistics, 78.2 percent of violent crime is committed by males and 88.8 percent of murders.
If you or somebody you know is in need of mental health services Chabot Counselors can help or refer you to someone who can help, they are located in building 700 and can be called at 510-723-2642. If you don’t feel comfortable with school services, you can call Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1‑877‑726‑4727 for a referral.

Chabot Rallies for Gun Control

Chabot college joined most of the country on March 14 in a nationwide walkout at Cesar Chavez square protesting gun violence. The protest was inspired by the recent Parkland High School shooting that left 17 dead in Florida.

A lone drum beat a steady tone while students marched out to the square with victims of gun violence pictures hanging from the trees. Most students were quiet. Over 150 students and staff participated in the walkout.

At well as over 3,000 schools across the nation, similar scenes unfolded. However at least one student there did not agree with his peers, Gavin a second-year mechanical student wore an NRA shirt. He said his choice of attire was unintentional but “I am glad I wore it.” He also said we should always blame the individual for the crime and not the object.

Almost everyone else at the rally was on the same page, that legislators had to act to prevent gun violence.  

“I am here for the injustice of gun violence,” said Gezzel Sanchez a first-year EMT major.

Christina, a staff member at Chabot college, summarized feelings of many people at the protest “young people taking action is the source of change.” and “with our leaders acting like children it’s time for our children to act as leaders.” She would also go on to call President Trump’s plan to arm teachers “stupid.”

After 20 minutes the rally moved inside where students and staff talked about how gun violence affected their lives. One man shared a story of how his cousin, a church deacon, was shot 13 times over a game of dominoes, a woman talked of how her husband and father of 3 kids was shot outside her home for no reason, and another woman described both of her brothers being murdered in a five-month period.

Although there was a healthy amount of optimism at the protest, many doubted the current administration would do anything. Emma, a fourth-year undeclared major, said: “I hope they take action, but this has to be the most unproductive congress in history.”

From the Jaws of Defeat

The stage was set Friday, 23, 2018, in Quincy, California, for round two of the CCCAA Playoffs as the number seven ranked Chabot Gladiators match up against the number ninth ranked Feather River Golden Eagles. The all-freshmen (18-5) Lady Gladiators arrived at Feather River (17-8) excited about their first postseason playoff game.

Before the start of the game, I was able to talk to Olivia Vezaldenos, one of the guards for the Gladiators and I asked her what has been the hardest part of the season? She replied, “Getting out of my head in key game situations, and I need to stay focus, remember to keep my composure and just try to lead by example.” You could feel the playoff energy in the gym as more and more Golden Eagle fans, hyped and ecstatic with school spirit filed into the gymnasium.

The game went scoreless the first two minutes as both teams, clearly nervous, tried to find their rhythm. Feather River took a twelve point lead that the Lady Gladiators were able to cut down to five by halftime. Right before the start of the second half, I asked center, Mia Finnie, what she could do to make her team better? She replied, “Talk, Talk more, communication is everything, I just have to make sure I keep talking to my team so we can stay on the same page.”

Feather River continued to pour on the pressure going up by as much as thirteen points in the fourth quarter with six minutes left in the game. Gladiators called a timeout to try and stop the bleeding. I asked head coach Mark Anger what he was most proud of this season? He said, “how we have come together as a group to get this far if we stick together hopefully we will get a little further.”

Stick together is exactly what the Lady Gladiators did going a 13-2 run to win the game by seven in amazing fashion. The final score was 85-78 Gladiators advance to round three where they will meet the number one ranked team Sierra College on March 3, 2018, at Sierra College. Lets Go Gladiators!

Her Story Is Our Story

Hello, sunshine. Hello, spring. Hello, Women’s History Month! With the welcoming of March comes the welcoming of Women’s History Month.

On March 8, 1857, a group of female garment workers, in New York City, organized together to form a rally outside of the factory they were employed in. The ladies held picket signs and posters that read phrases that demanded the need for better working conditions and better pay. The rally proved successful and from this came the creation of the first women’s labor union.

Over 50 years later in 1908, on the anniversary of the garment workers original strike, thousands of women banded together yet again but this time taking to the streets of New York. They marched from Manhattan to Union Square and not only chanted for more change of pay but also attacked the issue of extremely long hours, voting rights, and child labor laws. A few months later in May, the Socialist Party of America declared that the last day of February be dubbed National Women’s Day, which was first celebrated the following year in 1909. This soon gained international attention and other countries started to follow suit and acknowledged February 28 as well.

As the years went on activist, began to realize that not only was there an issue with woman’s pay and very poor working conditions, but there was also painfully obvious lack of women’s contributions to the United States of America in school history books. In 1970 a group of activist gathered together and revised the school curriculum in Sonoma County which eventually spread across the county and went on to earn so much attention that in 1980 president Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first national women’s history week for March 2 – 8. Making sure to plan it around the anniversary of the garment worker strike.

As the movement continued to gain traction some parts of the nation went on to celebrate the entire month of March in honor of women. Thus inspiring the Women’s National History Project to lobby for an official longer observation period, which was successful and in 1987 Congress passed a proclamation establishing March as the official Women’s History Month.

Now in 2018, women are still fighting the good fight for equal rights, pay, and standards as men. Much of women’s success story has begun in somewhat recent times and has expanded to include the rights of women who area part of the LGBTQ community. It is safe to assume the fight is far from over, but more so just the beginning.

Upcoming Women’s History Month Events