Category Archives: News

Chabot Nutrition fest

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.

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.

A Celebration of Filipino-American Month

Members of Malaya Tri-City and Barangay Chabot pose in front of timeline of the Phillipines. 

Staff Photographer/Josefina de la Torre
Members of Malaya Tri-City and Barangay Chabot pose in front of timeline of the Phillipines. Staff Photographer/Josefina de la Torre

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.

Transfer Day Celebrates Student Success and Support at Chabot College

Students check out the Transfer Day to learn about potential Universities and programs.
Students line up near the building 700 at Chabot College for the Transfer Day. Staff Photographer/Diana Osaulenko

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.

Students had a great opportunity to connect with University representatives and ask any questions regarding the education.
More than 20 Universities and programs were presented for Chabot College students. Staff Photographer/Diana Osaulenko

“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.

Transfer Day is an excellent opportunity for students to gather information about campus life, financial aid, classes and much more.
Students explore their options for transfering to the Universities and finding the right fit for their academic goals. Staff Photographer/Diana Osaulenko

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. 

International Dress and Piraguas Day at Chabot College

Uniting Cultures: International Dress and Piraguas Day at Chabot College

On October 5, Cesar Chavez Courtyard hosted International Dress and Piraguas Day, organized by El Centro. The idea behind this event was to bring people of all Hispanic culture celebrating Hispanic heritage, uniting everybody together to be able to celebrate their legacy.

Moreover, to show a diversity of culture to people  that attend and work at Chabot College.

A lot of students do know about Centro, but I think not everybody’s aware of the work that we do, or they think we only support certain specific groups of students. And so I think it’s just also an opportunity for us for students to connect with us even more. ’’, explained Angela Munoz- specialist for El Centro. 

Networking among students  is one of the reasons for them to come on campus at this event. El Centro also encourages other staff and faculty to have an opportunity for them to socialize amongst themselves and with students. 

The President of Chabot College welcomed all the guests and higlighted the importance of celebrating this day: ‘’ Network with one another to make sure that you’re here to truly celebrate not only yourself, but also the heritage and culture of other folks as well. I think that that’s very, very important. And although this is only one hour today, we definitely encourage you to celebrate all the time all year around.’’

Event was not only rich for networking, but also for tasty traditional Puerto Rican food. ‘’ I really do love this. I feel like there’s a great way to represent our Hispanic heritage. Whenever you see these stands, you see chips, you see shaved ice cream, you always see the Hispanic behind it, said Kevin Madina, one of the Chabot students. 

Indeed, Hispanic heritage was represented by the great variety of traditions, for example, a competition for best dress. This idea made it even bigger than just Hispanic Latinx culture. 

‘’So this is just a way to not only celebrate Latinos, but to honor them. And Chabot College is a College where more than 25% of the students are Latino. So really having this type of representation and events really brings our people together so we can not only connect with our culture, but to connect with each other. We all, there’s so many Latinos from all these different countries, so really coming together is a really important thing. ‘’, Claudia Silva, a student assistant at Chabot. 

All the guests were involved in dancing, eating, and having fun. This could only be possible because of the Dj who was providing an electrifying atmosphere. 

We’re in California, especially here in the Bay Area, we don’t really have, from my knowledge, we don’t really have a large Puerto Rican population. And so trying to find someone that’s actually Puerto Rican that makes Piragua basically impossible. And so we have to kind of step away from that and just make it shaved ice, but call it Piragua’’,  highlited Angela Munoz.

This event truly expressed an appreciation for the representation of Hispanic culture by the food stands and other traditions. Many of the students found the support from El Centro and students had meaningful and engaging time. Attandents learned about the importance of celebrating heritage and school spirit from this event, something they say they had not experienced before..

Hispanic Heritage Month Movie Night : A Million Miles Away

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

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 12th 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.

The Extraordinary Journey of Titawny Cook

“I always wanted to come to Ukraine, it’s been a goal of mine to come to this country in this time of war,” — these heartbreaking words marked my first time I met Titawny Cook. He is a proud Chabot graduate who is in Ukraine now covering the latest news about the war for the Chabot Spectator.

Titawny’s background is solid: he served in the United States Marines doing combat logistics and security forces operating as a Cpl of the Guard and fireteam leader in Iraq. We met on Chabot College campus when Titawny was looking for any Ukrainians out there. It was a nice meeting if not considering the context of war in my native country Ukraine. 

At college Titawny had leadership positions starting with Speech and Debate, which laid the groundwork for pretty much everything. Public speaking, confidence, political analysis, and competitive debate over domestic and international policies made Titawny a great journalist. ‘’I had a radio show that I hosted with other students for a good number of years, and this gave me good training for public interviews’’, said Titawny Cook.

This experience made a strong foundation for Titawny to decide to relocate to Ukraine to help Ukrainian Armed Forces. He also wrote for the college newspaper at this time, and he enjoyed this educational training. So much so that he eventually came around full circle to do this again.

Being a journalist and adventure seeker he embarked on a great volunteering mission: to find military work or news agency work in Ukraine, starting in Kyiv. Titawny says, there are many options to accomplish this goal, but there is an express need for fighters and infantry positions. 

Being actively involved in life in Ukraine, Titawny continues sharing his firsthand experience from the heart of Ukraine — its capital Kyiv — with all the Chabot Spectator readers. 

“It took time to get acquainted with the idea of leaving home for a long duration where I would have no friends and no support, or so I believed. Riding an overnight train with two very large suitcases, one of them carrying body armor. It was Ukraine that I was worried about because traveling with body armor could be perceived as a threat by military security forces. It was indeed, and I was questioned about why I had such a heavy suitcase.”

Titawny Cook shared with The Spectator his feelings about living in Ukraine. He said he actually loves Ukraine and especially Kyiv, and he is very proud to be there and so far has made very solid connections, including very strong friendships, in a very short time period. 

‘’I have done very well here, and I plan to stay for a good period of time and contribute to the fabric and rebuilding of this country. I have experienced nothing but real and very courteous people since I have been in the country, and any rumors or fears of people back home that I heard about before arriving here were actually untrue, and like they say, “You don’t know until you try it for yourself.’’ Titawny’s goal is to eventually find military work or news agency work here in Ukraine, starting in Kyiv.

“I hope to land with UAF (Ukrainian Armed Forces) public affairs or a journalist position with a local news agency covering the war, but overall I hope to build lasting relationships here because the strength in people is unbelievable and outstanding in terms of character and strength! ‘’

I know how different and difficult life can be in a foreign country, but I can confidently say that staying in Ukraine for just three months Titawny is doing a great job! And by the way, he is even learning the Ukrainian language to settle down there and start life in the new country from scratch. ‘’Ukraine is beautiful and strong, and regardless of war, this spirit will never be extinguished! ‘’ Titawny said. 

Titawny Cook is one of those multitalented and aspiring students of Chabot College who’s proved his desire to be a real journalist. He’s never given up on his big dream. As one of the proud graduates of Chabot College, Titawny inspires hundreds of students by his dedication to journalism and bravery in the profession. 

Despite being dangerous during the war, Titawny faced the challenge to go abroad and serve as a journalist in Ukraine. 

The Chabot Spectator wishes Titawny Cook good luck and success. Chabot College is proud of your fearlessness and eagerness for new life experiences!

Chop it Up Tuesdays

Chop it Up Tuesdays is where African American students and staff meet to discuss the culture and community. The meeting starts at noon in the Black Cultural Resource Center (BCRC) in bldg. 100 room 136. Although the topics discussed are primarily about African American culture, all are welcome to attend and participate.

LaKesha Stewart hosted the meeting. She is the program coordinator for the BCRC. “This is an open space where students can freely select a topic to discuss every Tuesday. This is a part of the Umoja program’s active Live Learning initiative. Our aim is for Chop it Up to serve as a useful tool for fostering a sense of community among students while promoting awareness of current events in the Black community,” said Stewart.

The topic for this week was splitting the bill, whether it’s on a date or just hanging out with friends and family at a restaurant. The attendees were very engaged once the subject was introduced. Though the conversation got loud, it never turned confrontational.

“If I’m out with friends and they order Steak and Lobster, and I ordered chicken strips, you better believe I’m only paying for what I ordered,” said Chabot College student Chris Hardict.

At every meeting, attendees are offered complimentary food and beverages. First-time attendees are expected to introduce themselves to the regular members. Following introductions, the group collectively selects a topic and votes on it. The winning topic is then written on the board by Ms. Stewart.

“I enjoy spending time at the BCRC. It’s great to see so many people come together and discuss a wide range of topics. It’s also wonderful to be a part of a community where we share our thoughts and ideas. Best of all, this space is open to everyone.” said Chabot College student Anita Daniels, who enjoys spending time at the BCRC.

Some students have been attending Chop it Up Tuesdays since 2022. “When I first came here, I didn’t expect it to be anything. I just wanted to meet new people, but I love the conversations here,” said Chabot College student Tsega Yizengaw.

Chop it Up Tuesdays began in the Fall of 2021 to warmly greet students returning to the BCRC Space.

Gladiator’s devastating defeat to Contra Costa

Staff Writer: Michael Sykes

The Chabot Gladiators football team suffered another devastating defeat, this time against Contra Costa Community College. The game took place on September 30th at 1:00 p.m. at Chabot, where they have struggled to secure a victory all season. The final score was 7-23, bringing their overall record to 0-5. The team must regroup and focus on improving their performance in the upcoming games to turn their season around.

Eric Fanene, the coach of Chabot, had this to say about their defeat.“To be honest, we had four starting alignment out today, so that was tough. We are going to have to watch the films. This is a great time for us to have a bye week happen right now. The defense did a great job today with sacks and tackles. We are going to have to revisit the depth chart kind of deal and see if we have the right guts here.”

The Gladiators will not be playing any games this upcoming week, as they are scheduled for a bye week. This means that they will have a much-needed break from gameplay and can focus on rest and recovery in preparation for their next match-up.

In the first quarter, Contra Costa took control of the game with two touchdowns and a field goal, leaving a score of 13-0. Although Chabot’s #43 Marlin Brown had another crucial sack, it wasn’t enough to stop Contra Costa’s.

During the second quarter, Contra Costa managed to score a touchdown. Unfortunately, many of the fans believe the officials failed to call a penalty. However, Contra Costa bounced back and scored a rough touchdown, raising the score to 0-20. Marlin Brown displayed his prowess by successfully sacking the opposing quarterback again, while #4 Douglas Turner Jr (Defensive Back) executed an incredible Tackle.  Moreover, #31 Christian Gonzalez (LineBacker) prevented Contra Costa  from scoring again. By halftime, Contra Costa was still ahead with a score of 0-20.

In the 3rd quarter, Chabot’s offense faced a few setbacks, including an incomplete pass and a holding penalty. However, (#90) Chabot’s Jourdyn Graham, a defensive line player, made an exceptional play, preventing the opposing quarterback from scoring a touchdown. Shortly after, Ian Hocheder (#11), a wide receiver, scored a touchdown – Chabot’s first in two weeks, bringing the field goal score to 7-20. On the defensive end, Eric Johnson (#3), a defensive back, intercepted the ball, securing possession for the Gladiators.

Chabot fought hard until the very end, but unfortunately, they fell short with a final score of 7-23. Even though they didn’t come out on top, they showed great effort and determination. It’s never easy to lose, but they can take pride in the fact that they gave it their all. 

The upcoming game for Chabot is scheduled on Oct. 13 at 7:00 PM in Pleasant Hill, where they will be facing off against Diablo Valley College. This Saturday, they have a bye.

Harry Potter’s Beloved Dumbledore,Michael Gambon, Dead at 82

Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, with long grey hair, seated on a chair.
Still photo of Michael Gambon in character as Dumbledore from Harry Potter by photographer Jaap Buitendijk

Sir Michael Gambon, a highly respected and awarded actor, passed away on Sept. 27, 2023, in Witham, UK. He suffered from pneumonia and ultimately passed at the age of 82. 

Gambon had a very successful acting career in both the theater and on the big screen. After the passing of actor Richard Harris, Gambon would take over the notorious role of Albus Dumbledore in the movie “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” After landing the role in the third installment of the movie series, he would continue until the eighth and final movie of the series. 

Growing up, Gambon had humble beginnings with his seamstress mother, Mary Hoare, and engineer operative father, Edward Gambon. By the time Gambon was 21 years old, he followed his father’s footsteps with a career in engineering. However, this career path would end up changing as he made his theater debut in the 1962 production of Othello at Gate Theatre. 

Although his role as Dumbledore may have been one of his most well-known, Gambon was an amazing actor whose work has inspired and touched the hearts of many over the course of six decades. He is survived by his wife Anne and his son Fergus, who were at his side when he passed. His legacy will live on through his wife, son, and his expansive body of work.

From Physical Shelves to Virtual Carts:  Students Weigh In On the Bookstore’s Closure

Now that Chabot College’s bookstore has transitioned to a new virtual platform, students share their mixed reactions and concerns ranging from accessibility and convenience to nostalgia about all the great things the in-person store used to offer.

Our bookstore was part of one of the many Barnes & Noble Education bookstores. Barnes & Noble Education, or BNED, is a spinoff corporation of the Barnes & Noble Retail bookstores. The company has operated over 700 college-campus bookstores. However, many of these stores are closing and turning virtual due to financial stress, Chabot’s being one of them. 

Now, books are available for purchase online in the new virtual bookstore. An email was sent out in late August to all students with instructions on how to get to the online bookstore, set up an account, and highlights some new features.

I asked students for their initial reaction to hearing about the bookstore closure and got a range of emotions. “I’m sad the bookstore is closing. The staff was always super friendly,” stated Amirah. 

Another student, Saroyah, was not concerned about its closing, “It’s not a huge deal to me, but I hope they turn the space into something productive.”

A concern was raised for our students who don’t have an address. How will they get these books shipped? Since the online bookstore offers no in-store pickup options, a shipping-only model could present a challenge for many. Fortunately, you can have your books delivered to the campus library, which is still open. The address for the library is Chabot College, Attn: Library, 25555 Hesperian Blvd Hayward, CA 94545.

One student made a point about potential issues with certain majors. “[The virtual bookstore] is more convenient for hybrid and online students, but it makes it harder for art students to buy their supplies now,” stated Giselle, an art student at Chabot.

Another concern for others is navigating the new website. For many who loved the bookstore’s welcoming environment and friendly staff, losing that to a website can be disheartening. Not to mention, in-person options are great for those who don’t have easy access to technology or may not be as comfortable using it without help. 

When you first go to the new site, knowing where to start can be a bit overwhelming and difficult. If you are already familiar with the school website chabotcollege.edu, you can search “Bookstore FAQ” and the first link will take you to a page showing you how to set up your account with screenshots as an aid to get you started. The campus library also offers support with the bookstore website if needed.

Navigating a new virtual platform has been a concern for many. A Chabot student agreed with this sentiment saying, “The virtual bookstore is a bit confusing, and I miss the snacks. The search engine isn’t very effective.” 

The online platform also comes with a few logistical hiccups and concerns. Logan, another Chabot student, shared his concerns, “I think it’s inconvenient. I like a place to go to purchase my books [in person], and the online site has a lot of shipping issues. I liked having the option to buy scantrons in person.”

The financial implications of the bookstore’s closure also raise eyebrows. Tyler, another student, pointed out the potential contradiction, “It’s contradictory to use the money from closing the bookstore to use on the library. It’s pretty inconvenient for me, but hopefully, it’s convenient for others.”

While there are still many logistical and technical concerns to be addressed, one thing is clear; the online bookstore will be Chabot’s new normal in an increasingly virtual world. Students will continue to voice their opinions but it remains to be seen how Chabot will address the concerns of their diverse student body.