A Weekly First Amendment Student Newspaper October 19, 2012 (Vol. 24 No. 06) First copy FREE; additional copies 50 cents each

A 2011 General Excellence Newspaper — Journalism Association of Community Colleges

Dedication pays off for LPC star player

Angelica EstacioSTAFF WRITER

A decision that will help shape the future of Las Positas College and other California schools will be in the hands of voters this upcoming national election.

The decision to be voted upon, besides who will occupy the most powerful position in the country, is Governor Jerry Brown’s $50 bil-lion tax initiative, Proposition 30.

The governor’s proposi-

tion is one of two options that Californians are offered to help put an end to the decline of edu-cational funds in the state by increasing tax rates.

However, there are two com-peting tax measures on this year’s ballot. Proposition 30 and its rival Proposition 38.

The former will be the only one covering community colleges such as LPC.

If it passes, Proposition 30 may help LPC bounce back from

the effects of recent budget cuts. Proposition 38 would provide no additional funding to LPC.

“Proposition 30 is an opportu-nity for the people themselves to not only fix California, but to send a message to the rest of the coun-try that we as a people can invest together in our schools, our com-munity colleges,” the Los Angeles Times quoted Gov. Brown while campaigning at UCLA on Oct 16.

See Prop 30, page 3

It’s time for the rich to be patriotic, pay more taxes

Jason LeskiwSPORTS EDITOR

The five-foot-eleven top scorer of the Las Positas women’s bas-ketball team saunters down the hall.

Her hair flowing and eyes sparkling as she heads to her next class.

In class, she listens, but her focus is elsewhere.

The professor gives the dis-missal and the mindset of the Lady Hawks forward becomes clear as she struts toward “The Nest” and into the locker room.

The sparkle in Carlie Bonderer’s eyes has turned to a sort of malcontentment, a hunger.

Bonderer is hungry for a win after the 40 minutes of hard fought basketball she thought about all of the last class.

Bonderer, page 6

ALEX LOPEZ/EXPRESS

It’s telling of the Republican party’s mindset that they chose Mitt Romney as their candidate for president—

the man represents the living embodiment of the belief that the rich owe nothing to the rest of society.

Even though that belief is wrong. Fundamentally, morally and demonstrably wrong.

Romney summed up how the wealthiest segments of soci-ety view the rest of us trying to scrape together even the slightest chance of achieving the American dream.

“You know, I think it’s about envy,” Romney said in a Jan. 11 interview on the Today Show.

“It’s about class warfare.”

Class war-fare. Let’s define that term. At least what it’s meant to mean in modern politi-cal discourse.

If someone in the middle or lower income brackets of the country points out (rightly) that they’re getting screwed by the domi-nance of the wealthy over current economic policy, they’re a class warrior. It’s a common refrain used on conservative radio and television outlets.

One prop-osition on California’s bal-lot this Nov. 6 will pit the forces of the wealthiest one-percent of America against everyone else.

C a l i f o r n i a ’s Proposition 30, if passed, means to restore badly needed fund-ing to the state’s

K-12 and higher education sys-tems. It will do so by raising the state’s (admittedly very high already) sales tax rate and, more importantly, the income tax rate of those earning more than

$250,000 a year.The opposition to Proposition

30 is well funded and has a his-tory of defunding schools in the name of lowering taxes. The spe-cific group is the Howard Jarvis Foundation.

The namesake of Howard Jarvis Jr. who in 1978 sponsored Proposition 13 which severely impacted California’s educa-tion system by gutting its great-est source of revenue—property taxes.

As I enter adulthood and I start paying real taxes (my fiancé and I just received our first prop-erty tax bill) I realize more and more how frustrating they can be.

Rich people, page 8

ALEX LOPEZ/EXPRESS

During the Academic Senate meeting on Sep. 26 Cherry Bouge provides information on Measure I concerning the students of LPC to the room.

Bekka WiedenmeyerSTAFF WRITER

Election Day 2012 will not only decide who will occupy the Oval Office for the next four years. It will also determine the future financial state of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District.

On Nov. 6, voters will decide whether to pass a tax that will raise $5.6 million annually for both LPC and Chabot College. The tax, dubbed Measure I, is supported by school officials striving to find financial relief for the schools.

The funding from the tax is expected to expand enrollment opportunities for core classes.

“(It) will provide $5.6 million annually, which will enable us to use some Band-aids to get through this 2012-13 year, and start to fill the holes for the 2013-14 year,” Judy Walters, interim Chancellor of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, said in a promotional video for Proposition 30 and Measure I.

If Measure I passes, property owners within the district will be

required to pay an educational parcel tax of $28 per year over six years.

The district is in the midst of a financial crisis. Proposition 30 is designed to raise taxes on higher-income people within the district. Among other things, the additional income is intended to prevent further cuts to the state educational system.

The purpose of Measure I is to

provide financial relief for both LPC and Chabot College.

This will be especially impor-tant if Proposition 30 does not pass.

“I’ve yet to see (Proposition) 30 ads on TV,” Cherry Bogue, ASLPC president, said. “A lot of people feel like the state just wants our money, that they’re not really going to give it to the schools. There would not be

such a huge backing by commu-nity colleges if the schools weren’t going to get the money.”

Consequently, Measure I will be used to widen opportunities for students to enroll in core classes.

If both Measure I and Proposition 30 do not pass, the number of core classes will have to be reduced according to a rap-idly shrinking budget.

“Measure I will provide stu-dents access to affordable core courses, including math, science, and technology,” Walters said in the promotional video. “It will restore the number of classes and lab offerings, reducing the time it takes to obtain a career certificate or classes needed to transfer.”

Many measures have been taken to promote Measure I within LPC and the district itself, such as campaign meetings and phone banking. Last Saturday in Pleasanton, a precinct walk orga-nized by the campaign passed out flyers in support of Measure I.

“If both (Measure I and Proposition 30) pass that would be phenomenal, but they’re try-ing to do everything to make the best out of the worst,” Bogue said.

California voters face financial choice on Proposition 30

“Won’t Back Down” dissapoints, See A&E page 3

Students help the environment on coastal clean-up day, See News page 2

DAILYFORTNIGHT/FLICKR VIA CREATIVE COMMONS

2 Las Positas College Express NEWS October 19, 2012

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Coastal Cleanup Day makes a difference

AGS holds Fundraiser

The Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society has an interesting oppor-tunity for those who are looking ahead at the fast-approaching holidays.

AGS is holding a See’s Candies fundraising drive between Oct. 17 and Nov. 9.

Instead of buying from a store or ordering online, you can place an order through the AGS.

The cost is the same and See’s Candies will donate a portion of the money back to AGS for holding the drive.

See’s Candies is known for its truffles, peanut brittle, gourmet lolly-pops and assorted choco-lates. Orders placed are expected to arrive in early December.

LPC Children’s Theater goes ‘Through the

Looking Glass’

Entertainment for children and adults alike comes out of LPC’s Children’s Theater as they perform “Looking Glass Land” by James DeVita.

The play is 40 minutes of fun featuring sword-fighting, talking flowers, a baseball game and the Jabberwocky. The play is based on Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass.”

During most of October and part of November, the play will be touring various elementary schools.

There will be two show-ings on campus for family, friends and the commu-nity on Oct. 19 and 20.

LPC Viticulture program

spotlighted

On Oct. 13, a story about the LPC Viticulture program was featured on NBC Bay Area News.

The story showcased the growth of the course, a brief history of Livermore’s wine history, and how the students were a mix of newbies and veterans.

It also showed how inspiring and knowledge-able the instructor, David Everett, can be to his stu-dents.

Christine KellyGUEST CONTRIBUTOR

Last month, over one thou-sand pounds of trash and two hundred pounds of recyclables were removed from creeks in the local area. All in one day.

Coastal Cleanup Day, which was held on Sept. 15, is the larg-est volunteer run effort in the state. When combined with International Coastal Cleanup, it is part of the largest global day of volunteer work.

Although many students may not have been aware of the event, Las Positas did its part to help out, with four campus organiza-tions volunteering their time in various cleanup locations.

The Sustainability Club, Horticulture Club, Biology Club and the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), led by Professor Catherine Suarez, all participated in the event.

Volunteers at the sites where LPC groups participated helped to collect almost half of the total amount, making a considerable impact on the local effort as a whole.

That is exactly what CGI intends to do, they have adopt-ed a local waterway “hot spot,” where they will continue to visit and help to restore the area with students and members from the community.

Suarez has officially adopted the site and shares it with LPC.

“The water is riddled with cans, bottles, very green algae and old blankets,” Suarez said. The debris is problematic as the creek flows into the ocean.

Suarez explained that their “site is a bit unique because it is used by several homeless people as their home, including a least one child.”

CGI has organized another cleanup event on Oct. 27 for National Make a Difference Day and welcomes volunteers to join them in their continued restora-tion efforts.

The event will meet at In-N-Out in Livermore at 9 a.m. and will run for three hours. Students will be split into teams of three and contribute to the cleanup effort.

Interested students and staff can contact Suarez, adviser to CGI for further details.

A lot of work is still needed to restore the creek system but the good news is that the law of cause and effect is on people’s side, even as busy students.

Less trash means less need for cleanup. So, even if one can’t make it to the cleanup events, they can still make a difference.

Choosing not to litter, using products with less packaging, tak-ing advantage of the new water refilling stations on campus and choosing reusable products over disposable whenever possible.

Little things can make a large difference.

And LPC students can do their part one water bottle at a time — or should we say one less bottle.

RAMONA PETERSON/EXPRESS

LPC student participates in “Coastal Cleanup Day” in Livermore on Sept. 15 under the overpass behind In-N-Out.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY

Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.Volunteers should meet at the In-N-Out parking lot in Livermore and come dressed in long pants and closed-toe shoes.

October 19, 2012 NEWS Las Positas College Express 3

Pundits say voting yes on Prop 30 could save our schools

Proposition 30 is the combina-tion of two different tax increase initiatives proposed early this year.

Taking from the governor’s previous Brown Tax Hike initia-tive, Proposition 30 will increase sales tax by a quarter percent.

And from the Millionaire’s Tax initiative, Proposition 30 will raise personal income tax on annual individual earnings over $250,000.

The revenue for these tax hikes, which are estimated to be between $6 billion to $9 billion a year, will be divided mainly for educational purposes.

In California’s official vot-er’s guide for this year’s elec-tion, Proposition 30s summary declares that 89 percent of such projected revenue will be given to K-12 schools while the remaining 11 percent will go to community colleges.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a $5.5 billion set of predetermined cuts is foreseen if Proposition 30 does not pass.

These cuts are expected to be mostly affecting the state’s already declining budget for education.

If this happens, schools of all levels might start seeing further program eliminations and faculty personnel layoffs.

“After all you’ve been through in California, that’s why you ought to vote for Proposition 30,” former President Bill Clinton said during a Democratic rally in UC Davis early this month.

Many political spectators, however, are not convinced.

“Proposition 30 will tax every Californian. It’s a double wham-my—a sales tax and an income tax,” Lawrence Samuels of The Salinas Californian wrote in his Oct. 16. opinion piece.

“Many Californians will see their income taxes could rise by 32 percent, including many of California’s 3.8 million small businesses which file taxes as individuals, not corporations.”

But endorsements for the proposition remain strong from various other news organizations, academic administrations, and public service associations.

“We are reluctant to recom-mend raising any taxes during this plodding economic recovery. But the state of our schools, now near the bottom nationally in per-pupil funding, places California at

risk,” the San Jose Mercury News published last month.

“Proposition 30 is no substi-tute for long-term reforms in education funding, pensions and

other areas, but it is a measured and sensible response to this cri-sis.”

If Proposition 30 passes, it will be retroactive to income from the

beginning of the year. This means that the new tax

rate will be applied to all income received starting Jan. 1 and will be effective for seven years.

No on 30 would mean: Yes on 30 would mean:

MARY SLOSSON/FLICKR VIA CREATIVECOMMONS

No on I would mean: Yes on I would mean:

State Level — Proposition 30

Local Level — Measure I

340 additional enrollments

More classes and no more layoffs

The school will gain addition funding for classes

LPC will lose 2,440 students

The LPC/Chabot would not get $5,270,000

The LPC will lose courses and staff

No additional funding to the LPC/Chabot

No additional course offerings

No updates to classroom technology

$5.6 million annually to LPC/Chabot

Additional GE classes; specifically: Math, Science and English

Additional funds to be able to update classroom technology

California governor Jerry Brown at a Barack Obama rally at USC on Oct. 22, 2010.

4 Las Positas College Express ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT October 19, 2012

‘Won’t Back Down’ backs down from expectations

Joshua BasraiA&E EDITOR

When I decided to watch “Won’t Back Down,” I was expecting a movie that punched me in the face with the linger-ing issue of public education. What I got was two hours taken from my life that can never be returned.

“Won’t Back Down” was so terrible that, according to Box Office Mojo, it set the record for the worst opening of any film opening in 2,500 theatres or more, previ-ously held by “The Rocker” (2008). That pretty much sums up the only first place this movie will ever get. The movie insis-tently presents a black and white solution to a more gray issue, and leaves viewers feeling more lectured rather than uplifted. The movie has a few things go right, but it

is filled with a plethora of wrongs. I’ll be fair. It’s difficult to produce

social issue movies that actually work. The line between lecturing and uplifting the audience is very thin. Some movies and television shows can do it (see “Freedom Writers,” and Season 5 of “The Wire”), but “Won’t Back Down” struggles at presenting the issue without lecturing the audience.

Usually when a movie is inspired by a true story, the true story saves the day. Not for “Won’t Back Down”. Despite being inspired by a true story, the movie becomes is overbearing with Hollywood clichés.

One positive thing about “Won’t Back Down” is the acting. Oscar-nominated actress Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal develop a wonderful chemistry. Gyllenhaal plays Jamie, a single mother with a dyslexic daughter who struggles with bullying and

her learning disability. Davis plays Nona, the typical inner-city teacher trying to make classroom innovations only to be shut down by the bureaucratic process and apathetic children.

Nona (Davis) struggles to keep her eight-year-old son motivated for school in addition to her husband walking out on her. The issue starts when Jamie (Gyllenhaal) fails to get her daughter, Malia, transferred to another class.

To her surprise, Jamie finds out that she can petition the school board with enough signatures and essentially take over the school. This is when the movie becomes way too predictable and way too Hollywood.

The movie doesn’t explain any logistics of a plan or a solution to education reform, but manages to pack in a cheesy love story

in typical Hollywood-esque fashion. Rather than presenting the real prob-

lem behind public education, the movie scapegoats teacher unions for being the problem. There is no conflict or tension in particular and screenwriters failed to bring up the real issue.

These are questions I had that never got answered.

Should parents be held accountable for bad performance? Should teachers? How can a high-school educated bartender help reform education?

Social issue movies should answer ques-tions in addition to presenting them.

I don’t exactly know why this movie made the theatre. Even Lifetime movies have been more grandiose. The whole thing seems faked and rushed, and even the acting couldn’t save this movie.

PHOTO COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOXActresses Viola Davis (Nona), left, and Maggie Gyllenhaal (Jamie) embrace each other in the closing moments of “Won’t Back Down.”

October 19, 2012 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Las Positas College Express 5

Travis DannerOPINIONS/MANAGING EDITOR

My purpose for this series of articles is to highlight restaurants that are local, good and cheap for those on the typical college stu-dent’s budget.

Last time, I profiled Sauced BBQ and Spirits—a great but not exactly affordable BBQ res-taurant. As I was remiss in the cheap aspect of my piece last week, I chose to focus on a much more affordable option this time around. “Me and Cha’s Flavor of Vietnam” in Livermore is one of the best places in the Tri-Valley to keep your stomach and wallet full.

Located in a non-conspicuous strip mall so far down the end of Vasco road you’re almost in Tracy, “Cha’s” is easy to miss. With a little effort though, a plethora of delicious options awaits all who venture to the out-skirts of L-Town.

Meat-eaters and vegetarians alike will find plenty to love. From the juicy, flavorful beef short ribs to the lemongrass chicken sand-wiches to their takes on tofu, everything I try here hits the spot.

If you order a combo plate, request a fried egg on your rice and add sriracha hot chili sauce. It’s money.

At “Cha’s,” though, it’s all about the soup.

Pho (pronounced “fa”), for my money, is the ultimate college student meal. It’s like top ramen

on steroids. A huge bowl of broth, meat, noodles and veggies. In one bowl, there is enough nutrition and deliciousness to last you all day.

My ritual right before a big test is usually to get the biggest bowl of pho possible. Each bowl raises my grade one full letter, or so I’d like to think. It’s a PEF, performance-enhancing food.

My latest visit, I brought along a friend and (much to my cha-grin) I was buying.

For a bowl of soup, a sandwich and two cokes plus a tip, it all totaled out to about $20. Not bad at all.

Forget the modest appearance of “Cha’s,” sometimes the best meals are to be had in the most ordinary looking places.

If the Food Network were to visit Livermore I’d bet that “Cha’s” would be a shoe-in for a spot on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

Local Vietnamese restaurant deemed quick, affordable and ‘pho-nominal’

LPC Jiu Jitsu club teaches self-defense and discipline

Mon-Fri: 11 a.m - 9 p.mSat-Sun: 12-9 p.m

Tri-Valley Eats

Bekka Widenmeyer STAFF WRITER

Jiu Jitsu isn’t just for the stu-dent who has a love for martial arts it also aids in the develop-ment of discipline.

Las Positas College is home to 36 student clubs, from Business and Math to Ultimate Frisbee and Horticulture.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was creat-ed by third year student Daniel

Tribble for the purposes of self-defense, training and competing.

“There’s a sport aspect to it,” Tribble said.

“There are a lot of tourna-ments in this area, so you could just do it for exercise. It’s a great workout. There’s lots of applica-tions of it, but self-defense is the main purpose.”

Now into the fourth week of training, the members are learn-ing basic yet effective moves to

defend themselves. The club gathers in groups

of two or three, practicing grap-pling methods that are observed by Tribble for both safety and instruction.

“This is a safe environment to learn the most ideal ways to pro-tect yourself, in an environment where the people do care about you so that if you need to tap out or you need to say that hurts, it’s fine,” first-year student Kimberly

Mathews said. “Everyone’s very respectful of

each other.” The students involved in the

club have different reasons for joining, yet at the end of the day, it all comes down to self-defense.

“I always wanted to learn how to fight,” first-year student Zeidan Azraei said.

“Something could happen to a woman who is being hurt. This club could teach that person

in that situation how to defend themselves in a way to where they can actually make sure that per-son won’t bother them anymore.”

The club meets every Monday and Wednesday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in P.E. 213.

If a student is looking for self-defense, training or simply fulfill-ing the love of martial arts, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club at LPC would be one of the first places to go.

ALEX LOPEZ/EXPRESSZeidan Azraei attempts to pin Cayden Carlucci in the LPC’s mat room on Oct. 17 during a session of the jujitsu club.

Points: Cody Hoster Gerado Garcia Jesus Carriedo

Goals: Cody Hoster Gerardo Garcia Juan Meza

Assists: Gerardo Garcia Cody Hoster Three players tied

Points: Melissa Aboud Sarah Felicitas Gleiziani Fonsesca

Goals: Melissa Aboud Sarah Felicitas Gleiziani Fonsesca

Assists: Michelle Moncada Rachel Sampson Melissa Aboud

Conference Standings

Conference Standings

6 Las Positas College Express SPORTS October 19, 2012

Lady Hawks basketball star setting state records

Bonderer is a small town girl, with big city ambitions and as the top scorer of the Lady Hawks, she is leading by example. Leadership was the subject of pre-practice conversation on Monday, with her new coach Clarence Morgan. He explained that half comes vocally while the other half is from action.

Bonderer has a record of action on the court finishing last season as the conference leader in scoring and rebounds.

She cemented herself in the record books with the third high-est single game point total in California and she says she is not finished yet.

Bonderer credits her ability to lead to her family, both from what she has learned from her father and from being the oldest of three children.

“Being so much older than my three siblings really made me mature faster, it made me realize that my actions can affect a lot of different people,” Bonderer said. “It made me realize the bigger picture in life.”

Her father, who moved the family from Topeka, Kansas to San Francisco when she was only nine, has been a driving force in her day-to-day life.

“He worked for a really small company and worked his way up. Seeing him being able to pull himself up by his own boot straps was a really good example.”

At five-foot-eleven, she played the post during her freshman season, but is making a position switch to forward. A plus in bas-ketball however, is not always a plus for a young woman growing up in a strange, big city.

“I was always taller than every-one, the guys and the girls,” she

said. “It was really kind of awk-ward, I didn’t like it.”

Playing for San Ramon High School, she excelled and was the all-time leader for points scored. The accolades of high school basketball were not enough for Bonderer to stay on the basket-ball track after high school. She decided to work and hang out with friends for two years follow-ing her high school graduation, a decision she stands behind.

After being recruited by for-mer coach Lindsay Wisely to come to Las Positas, Bonderer returned to the court, and the classroom.

Currently maintaining aca-demic eligibility, she has not only maintained positive standing for collegiate athletics, but also set the standard for others to follow.

A slimmer, more fit player than the previous season, she can be found doing ladder drills and cone drills during practices under new head coach Clarence Morgan.

“She’s been coming along,” said Morgan. “She looks one-hundred percent better than last year con-ditioning wise; she’s been pretty receptive to what we’re doing.”

New changes have been taking place with the new coaching staff, from conditioning, to game plans and personnel usage. It’s some-thing that Morgan doesn’t expect the team to grasp right away, but something that he sees improving the team over time.

A friend of Bonderer’s, Kat Nieto, thinks highly of Bonderer’s abilities and ambitions.

“I’ve seen her play and she’s

great on the court and I can see her becoming a big star,” Nieto said. “But I see her real dedica-tion off the court, she is always training or studying or working.”

Bonderer’s dedication and hard work will get a chance to show beginning Nov. 15, at the Lady Hawk classic women’s bas-ketball tournament, as “The Nest” hosts an eight team, three day long tournament.

During the dawn of anoth-er big battle for seeding within the Coast Conference-North Division, that sparkle in her eyes and smile will turn to a glare full of hard breaths and gritty move-ment.

Sweat will run down her fur-rowed brow and that will signal that it is not just another day at LPC for Bonderer, it’s game time.

New women’s basketball coach puts emphasis on fundamental basketballJason LeskiwSPORTS EDITOR

With a tumultuous coaching predicament during the offsea-son, Las Positas College Athletics Director Dyan Miller had a lot to think over. After several inter-views and an hour long business lunch, she made her decision. The decision in which Miller made seems to have steered the Lady Hawks basketball program in the right direction.

After a 0-10 conference record last season, the Lady Hawks bas-ketball team was looking for a change, presumably any change. In new head coach Clarence Morgan, they may have found the best kind possible. Morgan has spent a 30 year career around basketball from building youth basketball camps and clinics, to helping send a multitude of young athletes to division-I schools.

“I nitpick,” Morgan said. “I’m picky, but just to make them bet-ter. You can score 25 points in a game and if a coach is scouting you and your fundamentals are off, they’ll walk on out. But if you’re fundamentally sound, you can miss every shot and they’ll walk out thinking it was just an off night.”

Fundamentals seem to be a cornerstone of Morgan’s teach-

ings, with an emphasis on foot-work and basic ball handling skills.

“At the next level, they don’t have time to teach fundamentals,” he said.

Morgan’s demeanor while speaking of the game screams

experience and knowledge, and with former Oregon State University center Tiffany Ducker rendering a helping hand as his assistant, the pair look forward to the possibility of multiple win-ning seasons.

The team is heavy with fresh-man guards, something that Morgan sees as a potential chal-lenge during the early parts of the season, but one that can be overcome with experience. A big part of the game-plan for the Lady Hawks this season will be controlling the clock and making sure the ball gets to the right play-ers at the right times.

“Are we playing to our strengths or to our weaknesses,” he said referring to his style of play. “You can get a real athletic player that looks really good on highlight reels, but makes tons of mistakes or you can get a player that never makes a highlight film but doesn’t make a mistake, that doesn’t turn the ball over.”

In practice, the teachings of the new coach shine through in com-parison to last season and players seem to feed off of his resume and knowledge, especially with assistant coach Ducker. While playing for Oregon State, Ducker was fifth in conference during her junior season for shooting percentage and ended her career

there in the school’s top 10 all time for rebounds.

What Morgan brings to Las Positas beyond the court is that he has aided several athletes to move onto bigger four year schools to continue their education.

“I want to make sure we can get them in here, and move them out so they can be self-sufficient, continue their education and not have to depend on anybody,” he said. “That’s the goal. Where they go, it doesn’t matter, the same books are everywhere. Just as long as they can further their education and go on and get a decent job. That’s my goal with the program.”

From the books to the court, the one word that remains in the rhetoric with Morgan is ‘smart.’ He wants smart players, he wants to play smart and he doesn’t care if there is no LeBron James-type finesse to his team as long as they can do that. The only other thing he requires of his players is that they want to work hard in order to play the game better.

“You gotta want to be here to make it work for you,” said Morgan. “As a player you never have to tell me to come to prac-tice, I want to be there. Being on a good basketball team really makes your college experience that much better.”

17 pts.11 pts. 7 pts.

7 goals3 goals3 goals

5 assists3 assists3 assists

19 pts.11 pts. 7 pts.

8 goals5 goals3 goals

4 assists3 assists3 assists

ALEX LOPEZ/EXPRESS

ALEX LOPEZ/EXPRESS

Bonderer and her teammate listening to instructions during a practice on Monday, Oct. 15.

October 19, 2012 FEATURES Las Positas College Express 7

ALEX LOPEZ/EXPRESS

What’s the most embarrassing song on your playlist?“A Whole New World”How long would you survive in a zombie apocalypse?24 minutes. I get scared really easily.If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?Power Ranger fruit snacks!Who’s your same sex celebrity crush?Kim Kardashian, can’t get over that booty.

Who’s the one famous person you would want to punch in the face? Dead or Alive.Christina Aguilera. She’s a stupid b----.Would you burn the American Flag for $100,000?No, I wouldn’t want to be known as a bad American.If you could have a superpower, what would it be?Fly. No, that’s lame. I would want to morph. So if I wanted to fly, I could turn into a plane.

If you could play one offbeat sport profes-sionally, what would it be?Power WalkingIf we wrote a front-page story about you, what would the headline say?Carlie Bonderer saving community colleges, one punch at a time.If you could do one thing, anything you wanted, with no repercussions, what would it be?Break into the White House, go into the presi-dent’s bedroom and jump on his bed. And punch Christina Aguilera.

Lady Hawks forward Carlie Bonderer shares with The Express

Unaware of the photographer, a loving couple travels across campus sharing a moment of affection.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ARETHA WELCH

MANAGING EDITOR/ OPINION EDITOR

Travis Danner

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Joshua Basrai

SPORTS EDITOR

Jason Leskiw

PHOTO EDITOR

Alex Lopez

COPY EDITOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Ben Castro

WEB EDITOR

Ramona Peterson

EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION STAFF

Andrew Barber

Travis Burnett

Diana Calva

William Charuhas

Justin Edrington

Angelica Estacio

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3000 Campus Hill DriveLivermore, CA 94551-9797tel.: 925.424.1240 fax: 925.606.5317 e-mail: LPCExpress@laspositascollege.eduweb: www.expressnewspaper.orgnewsroom: Room 2409

8 Las Positas College Express OPINION October 19, 2012

Wealthy Americans engaged in class warfareBut, I also realize that the

world is much bigger than my tax bill.

The passage of Proposition 13 in the seventies led to the slow drip death of California’s education system as it existed at the time. Particularly community colleges, which have been taken from a system that educated the state for free to one that now costs $46 a unit and could be even more expensive if Proposition 30 fails.

Less people will have a chance to make something of themselves through education.

The official “No on 30” web site contains a two-page article titled “Myths and Facts About Prop 30.” In it, the opposition claims that “the politicians behind Prop 30 can’t keep track of the money they have,” and I found this to be quite funny. People tend to be what they accuse their worst enemies of being.

The article further states “the

politicians and special interests behind Proposition 30 threaten voters by saying ‘vote for our massive tax increase or we’ll take it out on schools.’” Again, this is pretty hilarious as their position seems to be if “you threaten to raise our taxes, we’ll take it out on schools.”

If there is a class war going on, it is only being waged on one side of the argument.

The wealthy, corporations, right-wing politicians and various religious organizations have at one time or another all declared their intent to bleed the middle class dry through what they refer to as “trickle down economics.”

“Trickle down” meaning that if enough money is funneled upward to the richest Americans, then that money will “trickle down” to the rest of us. The key term is “trickle” not “rain” or “flood.”

“Trickle.” As in tiny sprinkles of money

may some day reach the rest of the country.

These policies are continuous-ly pursued by the conservative movement, especially the current Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

This despite the fact that they’ve been tried several times on a large-scale and never amounted to anything more than short-term gains in the economy followed by crippling recessions.

Recessions which affect the poor and middle classes only while the wealthy come away largely unscathed.

How anyone middle class or lower can vote for this type of thinking is at first mind-boggling but makes sense once you under-stand the most effective tool in the true class warrior arsenal.

Framing and messaging.First, you frame the debate as

something that appeals to the dreams of the poor and middle class by exploiting their honest belief that they too someday will be wealthy. So you say that the issue is one of “economic free-dom.”

Instead of calling corporate and Wall Street people “nihilistic, inhuman, money-grubbing vam-pires,” they become “job creators.”

Secondly, you repeat these phrases over and over in print, television, radio and on the inter-net.

Next thing you know, you have an army of lemmings, willing to walk off the financial cliff to the benefit of people other than themselves. It’s been said many times that America has a long history of voting against its own interests.

Raising taxes on the wealthy is in your best interest. It is in the best interests of the country.

Ask anyone, liberal or con-servative, about the years of Bill Clinton’s presidency, when taxes on the wealthy were higher, and they all become wistful.

They should be. Those were great years. For everyone

Responses and comments can be sent to TravisDannerExpress@gmail.com.

President controversey could have been avoided Las Positas College will soon

have its third president in as many years.

This fact, coupled with the controversy surrounding the administration of current presi-dent Kevin Walthers, signals that something is wrong with the LPC-Chabot College district’s hiring process for this position.

The process begins with a nationwide search, with position openings posted in educational trade publications. The school utilizes a consultant firm to nar-row the search once applications are received. The district sets cri-teria for the candidate.

The best candidates are then interviewed for two days by rep-resentatives from administration, faculty, classified staff, students, the surrounding community and Chabot College. The three or four best candidates are then chosen

and take part in a public forum.After this forum, the district

chancellor then makes their rec-ommendation which becomes the eventual president.

Somewhere between the ini-tial phases of the search and the conclusion of it, two things hap-pened.

First, a candidate was selected that was not the best fit for the school. The school was also not a good fit for the candidate them-selves. It is important to note that we here at the Express har-bor no ill will towards president Walthers.

California Community colleg-es have a culture of their own. The culture is particularly distinct at LPC with its strong emphasis on shared governance. Any culture shock experienced by an outside candidate is fully understandable.

The second thing that hap-

pened was that the perfect can-didate for president of the school slipped through the fingers of the district.

Longtime administrator and one-time interim president Bob Kratochvil would have been an ideal choice to run the school. Having spent more than 10 years at LPC and being steeped in both how the school functions and its culture more than qualified Kratochvil for the position.

Kratochvil was also well-liked and respected by administration, faculty, staff and students during his time here.

Yet he was not hired, as the district’s Board of Trustees required that any candidate for school president must have com-pleted their PhD. Kratochvil was in the process of doing so, but as he had not completed his doctor-ate he was not allowed to apply

for the job.This fact did not prevent him

from becoming the president of a school, as he now serves in that capacity at Los Medanos College (LMC) in Pittsburg, Calif. By all accounts from the student press of LMC and articles published by other community colleges, Kratochvil has hit the ground running.

Soon, the district will have to begin the process of hiring yet another president.

The district should take a long look at the process they have used to select candidates and ask themselves if it is the best way forward towards guiding their decision.

They must also take care in asking themselves whether or not our next president will fit into the culture of our school, Las Positas College.

EXPRESS YOURSELF

“You can look at it from two different perspectives obviously. Raising taxes obviously no one likes, but in my case and for the younger generation coming up, it would actually be really good. And in the long run you’d be sav-ing money ‘cause it would help out for schooling.”

-Gianni Pagliuca, 1st year stu-dent, Criminal Justice

“I think it’s a great idea because our education is suffering a lot in the United States. I think it’d be great if we could raise it to improve everybody’s education level because we are the future of the United States, and with-out education we don’t have any-thing.”

-Jaime Alcantar, 3rd year stu-dent, Fire Science Technology:

“I’m okay with paying taxes for education as long as it’s for me. I’m kind of selfish in that region. I don’t want to pay taxes for you to take a class just to take a class. You’re in college, take a class that you need to take, that you want to take. If you just want to take it just to take it, go take it some-where else or use someone else’s money.”

-Alberto Rynda, 1st year stu-dent, Graphic Design:

How do you feel about raising taxes to fund education?