Matthew Perry, renowned for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing in the beloved sitcom “Friends,” was discovered unresponsive in his hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28 at 4:17 p.m. The actor, aged 54, is believed to have died suddenly in an apparent drowning.

Perry, recognized for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on the hit television series “Friends,” is captured in a moment of effortless cool. With a trademark wit and a charismatic smile, he projects an aura of both familiarity and star power.

Perry’s assistant, who had been sent on an errand just hours before, found him lifeless. Law enforcement sources reported the incident, emphasizing the apparent nature of the tragedy.

Born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Perry began his journey in acting at a young age. His breakthrough came in the ’90s with “Friends,” where his comedic brilliance earned him critical acclaim and a lasting place in the hearts of fans worldwide.

Beyond “Friends,” Perry’s career spanned television and film, showcasing his versatile acting skills in projects like “The West Wing” and “The Whole Nine Yards.”

Despite professional success, Perry faced personal challenges, battling addiction throughout his life. In a candid revelation prior to his death, he shared details of his struggles, disclosing a history of substance abuse that led to severe health issues.

Jennifer Aniston, Perry’s former co-star, honored his memory by encouraging fans to support the Matthew Perry Foundation. The foundation, shaped by Perry’s commitment to aiding those grappling with addiction, aims to make a difference guided by his experiences.

In an emotional tribute on her Instagram story, Aniston celebrated Perry’s ability to make people laugh and emphasized the foundation’s mission to help those facing addiction.

“He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard. In the last couple weeks, I’ve been poring over our texts to one another. Laughing and crying then laughing again. I’ll keep them forever and ever. I found one text that he sent me out of nowhere one day. It says it all,” – shared Jennifer Aniston.

The organization’s mission statement says: “It will honor his legacy and be guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible.”

The actor’s family released a statement expressing their heartbreak and appreciation for the outpouring of love from fans. Perry’s desire to be remembered for helping others is reflected in a quote featured on the foundation’s website: “When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned — I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned. Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down.”

On October 12, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Chabot’s Nutrition Fest was held in front of Building 700, sponsored by Wellness Ambassadors and Dr. Porta. The event aimed to raise awareness among staff and students about healthy and unhealthy eating habits, and how a good diet can benefit you both physically and mentally.

“We want to raise awareness on what foods are healthy and what foods are not. We want to help students make the best decisions for their own health. There’s a lot of sugar in the food that people are unaware of that we put in our bodies.” says Janine Grillo, Instructor of Health and Nutrition.

The event witnessed the participation of many organizations and clubs that demonstrated their support, including Revolutionaries Advocating for Greener Ecosystem (RAGE), CalFresh, and Counseling Advocacy Resources Emotional Support (CARES). These entities set up information tables that provided essential details on balanced meals, nutrition facts, and mental health. The entire event was aimed at encouraging the attendees to understand the significance of the aspects in their daily lives.

Students playing the Nutrition Trivia Game

Staff Photographer: Michael Sykes

At the recently held Nutrition Fest, the Wellness Ambassadors devised a game titled Nutrition Trivia to promote mental health for students. The game entails spinning a wheel that presents a true or false statement, which the player is required to answer correctly. The event was aimed at raising awareness about the significance of proper nutrition in maintaining good mental health and educating students on various aspects of nutrition.

“This event is centered around Chabot, CARES, RAGE, CalFresh basically Wellness Ambassadors and Mental Health Advocates. We’re promoting Nutrition, Informing the students about picking healthier choices to eat. I’m here also helping promote the food pantry.” Said Maddie Ramos from CalFresh. 

Some people are unaware of the unhealthy decisions that are put into their bodies whether it’s sodas, candy, chips or processed food. This event shed light on how eating unhealthy can lead to unhealthy lifestyles like obesity, and high blood pressure, and it can trigger mental health too.

“This is good for students like me who eat a lot of processed food, or we eat out a lot. I mean look at where this campus is surrounded by a lot of fast-food places. Being healthy leads us to make better choices.” Said student Judell Toles-Bey. 

A good diet is one of the essential keys to life along with exercise. Eating greener and drinking water can help fight diseases and dehydration. Just because drinking and eating junk feels good doesn’t mean it’s good for you.

“With This event and the Food Pantry we are here for those students that don’t even have access to food so at least now they have a way through Chabot to get food. We also know how food affects health as well as their mind,” says Pia Jade, one of the helpers and creators of the event.

Not only did the event help students with facts about nutrition, but there was also free food. The event was catered by Panera Bread.

October marks the celebration of Filipino American History Month. Barangay Chabot and Malaya Tri-City on Oct. 9 in room 554, celebrating Filipino American History Month.

With 4.4 million Filipino Americans in the United States, they are the second largest Asian American group. Congress recognized in 2009 that October would be celebrated as Filipino American History Month after many years of organization for recognition. 

“So as a Filipino, it means a lot to me because it represents who I am and also the people,” said Chabot College student Stephanie Corelo. “You know, who are my friends, my family, and it also gives me a chance to celebrate our heritage or culture.” 

Mayala Tri-City, a Filipino American social justice movement group in the East Bay, collaborated with Barangay Chabot, leading a lesson on the history of the Philippines and when Filipino Americans came to the United States. 

From learning the Spanish had colonized the Philippines for nearly four centuries to understanding the different waves of Filipinos immigrating for a better life. Students learned something new that connected them to their cultural history and heritage. 

The meeting ended with an activity of Chabot College students of Filipino descent writing down the date and reason why their family immigrated to the United States on a timeline. It is to show that many Filipino American students are similar with their families’ immigration story for a better life or job opportunities. 

“For me, Filipino American History Month means getting everyone’s kind of look back at their family history. Getting to know and understand why we all came here and seeing just how similar or maybe even how different you are,” said Janice Martir, president of Barangay Chabot. 

“For me, I think a lot of people when they talk about Filipino American History Month. The context is usually in the past. To me, what it means is being part of history and continuing the history of resistance of our people,” said Kristal Orasio, a member of Malaya Tri-City.

On October 12 the recent Transfer Day event at Chabot College, located outside of the building 700, drew attention to the crucial role of programs like CalWORKs and Fresh Success guiding students through their academic journeys. 

The Transfer Day event at Chabot College featured representatives from a variety of universities, including over 10 CSUs, several UCs, and approximately 20 nonprofit private colleges throughout California. 

The second Thursday of October representatives from various Universities come and are happy to work with students answering the questions about the transfer process.

The diverse variety of institutions showed students a big range of options and information to explore to make informed decisions about their transfer paths. Students need to know they must meet certain requirements according to official representatives from CalState University.

“You must have 60 semester transferable units. You must have the, what we call the golden four; speech, English writing, critical thinking, and college level math. Plus a minimum of a 2.0 GPA. And you’re in!” – explained Carmen, the admission representative  from Cal State University East Bay.

The Transfer Center staff encouraged people to stay on that right path and were willing to do anything that would help students. They fully explained from the beginning to the end the whole process of transfer. 

‘’I would say probably the staff was very helpful. They were showing me on the computer as well, how to manage the website and how to get more information, but they were really kind as well, wishing me luck ‘’, shared a Chabot College student  Esperanza Govea.

Derrica Williams, a Chabot College student, commended the invaluable support she received from these programs. Through the guidance of her counselor Elsa and the resources provided by CalWORKs, she successfully navigated the difficult process of transferring to Cal State East Bay.

“Chabot has helped me in so many ways. I’m in the CalWorks program. If any students want to come to Chabot, I’ll recommend them to go to the 700 building upstairs to CalWORKs and Fresh Success Program. They have great counselors. They’re going to put you in the right classes that you need to get your degree to transfer so you can be able to go to a university,” – emphasized Derrica Williams, a Chabot College student.

The CalWORKs and Fresh Success programs, located in the 700 building, are here to provide assistance in choosing appropriate courses for students’ chosen fields. Furthermore, they supported a seamless transfer process for students who seek the transition from community college to universities.

‘’Part of my job is to work with the universities in bringing programming or maybe advocating for them to modify some of their policies to make transfers smoother and easier for our students. Another part of my role is working with my team, our team of a few counselors, a few counseling assistants, student employees, to put on events like today’s event, the transfer day fair, and just to be present when students need to talk to somebody from the Transfer Center or maybe make connections with the universities. ‘’ explained the lead counselor of the Transfer Center Frances Fon.

The event plays a significant role in supporting students at every stage of their transfer journey, from exploration to application, decision-making, and successful transition.The Transfer Day event at Chabot College, held annually, provides a platform for students. It serves as a hub, offering guidance on various aspects such as understanding different schools and programs, housing options, and financial aid. 

Million Miles Away was the film of choice for Chabot’s movie night, organized by El Centro as part of the celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month. The event was held on September 28, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the campus event center. The screening was one of many events scheduled for the month-long celebration of Latino Heritage at Chabot. 

EL Centro providing the snacks for the attendees

Staff Photographer: Michael Sykes

The Million Miles Away movie is a motivational film that depicts the true story of José Fernández, played by (Michael Peña) tracing his journey from childhood to adulthood. As a child migrant worker from Stockton, California, Fernández pursued his dreams with unyielding determination, eventually becoming the first Latin NASA astronaut. Directed by Alejandra Marquez, the film is a poignant reminder of the transformative power of perseverance in the face of daunting challenges.

With free admission and complimentary snacks, the event was a perfect opportunity for first-time moviegoers to enjoy the experience with ease.

“I was fascinated that he was a migrant farm worker and got through the requirements because I looked on NASA’s website, you need to go through all the STEM classes. I saw the trailer and it looked good. This was my first time seeing it and I liked it.” says student Kiami Lee.

The event was attended by a significant number of individuals representing a lot of organizations and clubs on campus, including El Centro, CalWorks, and Puente Club. Their presence was a demonstration of their support for the event.

“I’m in the Puente Club they are one of the sponsors with El Centro for this event. So, I’m here to show my support. This is my second time seeing this movie. I enjoyed it both times.” says student Rosalie Cordova.

A considerable number of attendees expressed satisfaction at the positive portrayal of Latin history depicted in the film.

“We have an outreach specialist that has come abroad at El Centro (Elisa Saenz). I believe she took her time and picked a great movie. This movie shows that perseverance is key, no matter the struggles or background. I think that’s the reason why she chose this movie.” Says Damaris Carrillo, Administrative Assistant of HSI-EL Centro. 

The next event for Hispanic Heritage Month is going to be October 12^th where they are holding arts night Noche de Arte. The event brought together students, faculty, and staff to celebrate and learn about Latino culture. The screening of Million Miles Away was a fitting tribute to the rich and diverse heritage of the Latino community, and a testament to Chabot’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity. To watch the movie, it’s now streaming on Amazon Prime.