Author Archives: Lorenzo Caballero

Controversial Board of Trustees Meeting

The board of trustees meeting on October 24, originally scheduled to be at Chabot, was relocated to the District office in Dublin at 6:30 p.m. The announcement of the relocation by Chancellor Jackson citing “safety concerns” was considered by students, faculty, and staff at Chabot to be a blatant act of oppression in an attempt to silence the campus’ demands to become a sanctuary and need for additional instructional faculty.

Making the democratic process difficult is the question as to whether or not Chancellor Jackson can do her duties effectively. “Perceptions matter, as the board of trustees… I just want to remind you of what everybody is thinking, because of the perception and the effect it has on people, currently the perception… is that we don’t matter to you,” says Patrick Mwamba, a Chabot student, addressing the board during the meeting.

Laura Alarcon, counselor and instructor at Chabot said, “5 months … after the May 16 meeting, the discussion of Chabot college as a sanctuary campus has been absent… from the board of trustees meeting agendas.”

Alarcon goes on to say, “Tonight’s agenda item titled, legislative update, California Values Act, should not be a surrogate for the long overdue discussion of the recommendations outlined in the Chabot sanctuary resolution.” Board President Dr. Gin did refer to the California Values Act relating it to DACA and sanctuary, confusing many, which discouraged others to come up and speak during the designated public comments section.

“To dream is not a crime… I feel like we are being policed, we are being treated like criminals by having the presence of the police… If anything, the undocumented students are the ones that need protection,” said Joan Cortez, a Chabot College student.

Jaquelyn Matta another Chabot student says, “as a part of Chabot College and the undocumented community, I believe becoming a sanctuary district is very important. It will provide a safer environment to undocumented students, and a sense of support for their families… Getting an education is something we should all be able to do without fear… Respecting basic human rights is what we want, being able to receive an education without fear. We are students, parents, brothers, and sister, and want to pursue a brighter future surrounded by support, trust and without fear when we go out to our colleges to get an education.

Katie Messina Silva, a counselor at Chabot says, “we have worked to provide… resources and information to students, faculty and staff allies. We have been working hard over the last 3 years to improve our support services at Chabot and make our campus a safe place for undocumented students. I am proud of the work we have done so far, but there is much work yet to be done. We all came here today asking for your support. Students feel nervous, worried, hopeless and extremely uncertain about what the future holds for them. Students are reluctant to come forward and seek out help and take advantage of the resources that do still exist.”

Inviting the entire board to follow the leadership of city and state officials, Alarcon also states, “on June 6, the Hayward city council declared Hayward a sanctuary City.

Gun Regulations

Several things happen following tragedies like the October 1 Las Vegas shooting. People mourn and grieve. Some express their pain, others their frustration. Politicians show their compassion for the victims, flags are lowered, moments of silence are taken, and discussions of gun control begin.

“There are a myriad of reasons why, as a society, we now regularly suffer from the malady of mass shootings. Much of it has to do with the degradation of moral values in our society,” says Yih Chau Chang, the Press Secretary for The Responsible Citizens of California.

A surge of gun control and gun ban discussions flood the news after tragic moments in our country like this. The reasoning makes sense. Guns were used to kill and injure many people. Roughly 33,000 gun deaths occur every year in America, according to the CDC. Two-thirds are due to suicide. The second largest bracket is young men from ages 15 to 34, killed in homicides. They are often gang members, or victims of other street violence. The next striking number is the 1,700 women murdered per year, usually resulting from domestic violence. A small number of all deaths by guns come from mass shootings like that in Las Vegas.

“The more guns we have floating on the market, the greater the danger becomes and the greater the perception that we need more guns. It is a negative feedback loop of fear increasing fear. This also provides justification for the militarization of our police force which in turn disconnects them from the communities they aim to serve,” says counselor and instructor, Juztino Panella.

Large, sweeping gun regulation and bans do not address the expanded issue of gun-related deaths. It inhibits our ability to protect ourselves from threats, any and all, foreign and domestic. “The 2nd Amendment is the one basic, fundamental, and enumerated civil right that guarantees all of the others listed in the Bill of Rights, without it, the government would have a monopoly on violence and tyranny would become the eventual and ultimate result,” says Chang.

Murder is tragic, and gun deaths naturally strike fear in everyone. If we as a society, as a nation are intent on dramatically reducing the number of gun-related deaths, we need to target the larger issue. The Boston Gun Project and Operation Ceasefire of the early 90s targeted high-risk youth with chronic criminal offense. They targeted and prioritized a specific group with high-risk numbers. Police teamed with “youth workers, probation and parole officers, and clergy offered gang members services and other kinds of help.” Mentoring and guidance were offered, a moral value which our society doesn’t seem to prioritize.

Speaking on potential long-term solutions, Panella says there must be, “people working in communities to build networks of solidarity. The culture of fear comes whether we have weapons, or don’t have weapons. We need to change the culture of fear. That’s what needs to happen.”

SSCC DACA Town Hall

During the Sept. 18 Student Senate meeting, representative council members affirmed their dedication to the student body, and solidarity with all students as updated research information on DACA was described in preparation for their panel discussion at the following afternoon’s town hall.

Puente Project Counselor, Sandra Genera, said, “ Wow! Thank you very much, representatives. It’s been very nice to see your leadership grow here at Chabot, and to know how prepared you are by coming and presenting during the Chabot Town Hall.”

Sept. 19 was this school year’s first Student Senate sponsored Town Hall. In a notice to the entire campus via email, SSCC President Zaheer Ebtikar emphasized that the focus for this town hall would be Chabot’s response to the DACA program announcement, updates on SSCC projects, resources and information available on campus, and getting input from the students on current issues.

President Ebtikar kicked it off by updating all in the room on DACA related information at the state level. Ebtikar referenced Governor Brown’s $30 million earmarked for financial aid and legal services, “to help young people brought into this country illegally as children,” in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement regarding the DACA program.

Ebtikar also compared the DREAM Act to the American HOPE act of 2017, emphasizing the benefits of the Hope act. The American HOPE was introduced by Luis Gutierrez, a Democrat from Illinois, with 116 sponsors. “The DREAM Act requires that Dreamers graduate from or complete two years of a higher education program, complete at least two years of military service, or be employed for at least three years to become lawful permanent residents. The American Hope Act has no such requirement,” says Christian Penichet-Paul, Policy and Advocacy Associate for the National Immigration Forum.

The SSCC with President Ebtikar, followed by members of the representative council including Valeria Diaz, Jeremy Yu, Lesly Avendano, Tatiana Howard, and Kirsten Fraser all showed their commitment, dedication and solidarity with the student body of Chabot College and those affected by immigration reform directly or indirectly. According to the SSCC during their Sept. 18 meeting, there will be a follow up to this in the form of a drafted resolution for Chabot College in response to DACA and the tragedy in Charlottesville. The resolution is said to cover free speech and expression over hate speech and violence, and to declare solidarity with all Chabot students.

Chabot Pop-up Pantry

Every Month, right here on campus, food is provided for free to anyone passing by and willing to sign in. The Food Pantry supplies fresh groceries, fruits, veggies, loaves of bread, canned and packaged goods all lined up with volunteers loading up tote bags provided by the Student Senate for all to take home and enjoy.

“Food insecurity” is the occasional or constant lack of access to the food one needs for a healthy, active life. According to the California Association of Food Banks, the state of “California produces nearly half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, yet 1 in 8 Californian’s struggle with food insecurity.”

Chabot’s Food Pantry is an initiative started, and primarily managed by the RAGE club. Revolutionaries Advocating for a Greener Ecosystem is one of the most active clubs on campus with their communities health at the forefront of their intent. Vice President of RAGE, Enya Daang says, “our mission is to address food insecurity at Chabot and within the larger community to reduce hunger as a roadblock to educational achievement.”

Dr. Julie Schwartzbard, MD, says, “hunger is a distraction we’ve all had. Many studies show the negative effects that hunger has on school-aged children and young adults. Hunger is tied directly to low blood sugar which quickly leads to fatigue and low energy levels, and all wreak havoc on your ability to focus.” We’ve all experienced being hungry. Many experience hunger beyond anything which could be considered safe. Regardless of which degree you have experienced, we can all recall this state, and inability to focus.

Enya Daang of RAGE says, “it’s really difficult to focus on your classes and other responsibilities if you’re hungry. There are some people who have to choose between getting a ride home or a meal to eat. When there is such an abundance of excess food, no one should face this problem. The Food Pantry is not only a place to get free, fresh food, it’s also a place to get resources to help people in tough situations.”

Jorge Duarte, a Chabot student, when asked about The Food Pantry said he was not aware of this initiative. As a Chabot student, “I feel proud. It brings me joy inside knowing if I were struggling, I would have help. If I were stuck in a hole I would have somewhere to turn.”

The Food Pantry has its food donated and delivered by the Alameda County Food Bank. This giveaway takes place once a month on different days. So, keep your eye open for signs around campus for the next Food Pantry where volunteer opportunities are also available.

Student Senate’s Powerful Resolution?

The Student Senate has proposed the writing of a new resolution for our campus in response to the tragic loss of life in Charlottesville, the death of Heather Heyer, and the largest white-supremacist rally in decades. While welcoming, and honoring free speech and expression, the SSCC is challenged to simultaneously condemn anything which entices the hate and violence displayed in Charlottesville, and following related demonstrations here at home in the Bay Area on Aug. 26 in San Francisco and Berkeley. In no way may the proposed resolution impede on free speech as a constitutional right, and expression of the essence of life’s boundless perspectives.

The air of our society is stale with hate and intolerance by way of ignorance. Can the leaders of today guide us to a more tolerable atmosphere of sustenance? Should they, or should ‘We the People’ be the pressuring catalyst by which our representatives seek ultimate direction?

This is a democracy. In an interview with the student body president, Zaheer Ebtikar, we spoke of the tragedy in Charlottesville, the SSCC’s proposed response, about leadership, power, and his thoughts on how students can exercise their power. “They can use it in any way they want,” president Ebtikar says, going on to describe the influence that hundreds of students had on the SSCC and the board of directors while deciding on sanctuary status.

The collected effort and energy behind whole intentions and like-minds is the most precious resource in existence making it truly unlimited. One which can alleviate the pains of our society and bring the change ‘We the People’ wish to see, the particular pains of hate, injustice, and poverty. Mal intended leaders and misguided power is the most lethal weapon fighting for the systems and cycles of poverty, injustice, and hate. The Unite the Right rally of Aug. 11th and 12th was a gruesome example of mal-intention and misguided power. Their expressed goal was to protest the removal of a statue portraying Robert E. Lee from a park formerly recognized as Lee park, now formally renamed Emancipation park as of June 5th.

Lee was a distinguished confederate general who himself took a two-year leave from military service to personally run a plantation. In an 1866 interview published in The National Anti-Slavery Standard, Wesley Norris, formerly under Lee’s servitude, describes Lee’s prescribed punishment for escape or rebellion of his authority. The hate, injustice, and slavery upheld by a confederate general who died in 1870, over 100 years ago, is reverberating today through the removal of a Confederate monument. The direction of power is often put, and left in the hands of men with bad intentions and perverted ideas of power, and their lasting influence.

Behind the collective is where leaders belong, guiding and moving the power through the minds and bodies of the people. Leaders are thought of as in front, or on the top, often controlling, not understanding that the essence of power is to empower.

To empower yourself, to be your own leader, to empower others through the light of their own power bestowed upon them at birth is the essence of power and the catalyst to have a collective which will organize and sustain long-lasting change in the fight against hate, violence and the cycles of oppression through poverty. The Student Senate of Chabot College is utilizing power to combat hate and violence. Every SSCC meeting is open to the public, by law. Senate meetings held in building 200, inside the Boardroom are every first, third and fifth Monday of every month. Students are urged to join. Without us students voicing our concerns, our wants, and our needs, the SSCC has little to represent.