San MateanTHE

College of San Mateo • www.sanmatean.comVolume 174, Number 2 Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Dumping for the big move

The CSM bookstore is rid-ding itself of textbooks before its big move, after a low book buy-back.

In the spring semester of 2010, the bookstore bought back $109,568.25 worth of books and transferred those bought into used books for future students to buy.

A year later, spring of 2011, the Bookstore received, in buybacks, $66,933.50 worth of books to use as used copies. This means that 39 percent less books were sold back than last year. A student, Kai Go-gan 18, said “Most students either sell back or borrow from other students.” An Internet service that students can use to rent textbooks is: www.chegg.com, she said. Go-gan admitted that only one book

was bought from the store the others rented from the Internet.

The Bookstore will move from its current location to Building 10 on March 18 and reopen on March 21.

The bookstore isn’t set to order any new books after the move, so only books that are planned to be available are Reading and Writ-ing books.

James Peacock, Bookstore manager and Textbook Buyer, plans to return roughly $350,000 worth of books. “I will keep many books for English and Read-ing classes that start using some books later in the semester, but I will return everything else that I can,” said Peacock.

This means any copies of sci-ence, math, or other textbooks won’t be available for much lon-ger.

Bulldogs look to polish their rough edges The CSM softball team grabbed

its third win of the season in a 9-2 routing of Napa Valley College on Thursday, Feb. 10. But it wasn’t that easy.

The Bulldogs (3-4 overall) struggled in the first after sopho-more pitcher Callie Pacheco start-ed the inning walking four consec-utive batters. “I don’t understand walking people,” said head coach Nicole Borg. “I tell my pitchers all the time: ‘You cannot walk people in this game and win, because you’re not giving your defense a chance to play behind you’.” CSM allowed the second run scored in a passed ball but was able to close the inning shortly afterward.

The offense didn’t get started until the third, where leadoff hit-ter Alyssa Jepsen hit a single down the middle, stole second, then scored off a Lindsay Handy triple. Handy scored after a Dani-elle Brennan sacrifice fly, knotting affairs at two.

Handy, a second baseman out of Hillsdale High; had an active day at the plate -- hitting a single, double and a triple in a 3-of-4, two-RBI performance. “I love watching her play,” said Borg. “She’s just so smooth, so fluid – I hope she’s enjoying her success regardless of the outcome of our games.”

First baseman Samantha Pa-checo laid down a textbook bunt on the fifth to drive Jepsen home from third base; reaching first in the effort.

“I’m a big fan of the bunt be-cause when we’re not hitting and we’re playing a team that I know can’t play defense, I’m gonna bunt all day,” said Borg. “At that point it’s my responsibility as a coach to manufacture runs and that is what I did.”

Pacheco has seen her batting average drop in these first seven games from a .362 average that made her a First Team All-Con-ference selection last season to .227. “This year I’ve been in a hitting funk, so I’m just trying to

get out of it,” said Pacheco. “To finally do something to help my team win felt really good.”

The inning was capped off with a two-RBI single off lefty Callie Pacheco, which scored Brennan and Samantha Pacheco to grab a

6-2 leadThe Bulldogs retained their hit-

ting consistency in the sixth, post-ing three runs on four hits high-lighted by a Jepsen blooper triple. CSM got plenty of help from a Napa Valley team that committed

Bruno ManriqueThe San Matean

five errors and allowed four stolen bases.

Callie Pacheco pitched a no-hitter, punching in eight strikeouts though walking five in the effort.

Despite the result, the coaching staff doesn’t seem satisfied with the result. This being only the third win of a seven-game home stretch to start the season. “We need to improve on everything,” said Borg. “Pitching, hitting, de-fense – we’ve given up over 40 walks in these last seven games and when the ball is put in play we’re making errors.”

“I just need to start pitching bet-ter,” said Pacheco. “I need to stop walking people and throw more strikes.”

Photo courtesy of Mario Mihelcic

Children and staff from the Mary Meta Lazarus Child Development Center make handmade Valentine’s day cards to be distributed to local Veterans’ Association hospitals. This tradition was

started by Ann Landers more than 20 years ago.

Khiry CrawfordThe San Matean

Valentine’s for vets

SAN FRANCISCO — After weeks of protesting the corrupt government the Egyptian people forced former president Mubarak to step down and resign from office.

The military is in charge of public policy for six months leading up to September elections, according to published news sources.

After Vice President Omer Suleman announced Mubarak’s departure from office the Egyptian populace rejoiced.

There was a large protest in San Francisco at the United Nations Plaza, which soon turned into a celebration the same day as the announced resignation.

CSM student Dina Elattar waved the Egyptian flag whilst singing their national anthem and participat-ing in Levantine dances.

She and her family attended all of the protests in San Francisco during the crisis holding handmade signs chanting for Mubarak and his cabinet to leave.

Regarding Mubarak’s resignation she stated that she had never felt

such pride for her country.While Mubarak has resigned, the

issues of corruption and reform are far from resolved.

Residual issues such as what will happen with the Israeli peace treaty are still blazing questions.

“I believe that there will be a lot of issues with Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria,” said Political Science professor Azatuallah Noori, regard-ing the states surrounding Israel.

“I support the peace treaty... [We] have learned from previous history that war is not going to help anyone,”said Noori.

Student protestors celebrate as Mubarak steps down

Yasmine MahmoudThe San Matean

For video of this story check with the San Matean

Online.

www.sanmatean.com

Photo by Bruno Manrique Sophomore catcher Morgan Elkins sprints to first base after a bunt in a 9-2 home win over Napa Valley College on Thursday, Feb. 10.

Photo by Varsha Ranjit

Students Kat Alvarado, 21, left and Emily Tu, 31, right hand out condom roses to encourage safe sex on Valentine’s Day.

Rubbers for lovers

News

University of California Berkeley Campus VisitTuesday, Feb 22, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Bldg. 2, Rm 115

Study Abroad London Fall 2011 Information MeetingsTuesday, Feb. 22, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.SMCCD District Office

University of California Davis Campus VisitWednesday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Bldg. 01, Rm 115

Welcome Home: Creating a Campus Community of Well-ness for Returning Veterans(For district-wide employees only)Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.Bldg. 03, Theatre

Free Income Tax PreparationSaturday, Feb. 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Bldg. 14, Rm 104

SPORTSCSM Softball vs. Fresno City CollegeSaturday, Feb. 26, noonFresno City College

CSM Softball vs. Consumes River CollegeSaturday, Feb. 26, 2 p.m.Fresno City College

CSM Softball vs. Reedley CollegeSunday, Feb. 27, noonReedley College

Campus BriefsIf there is an event that readers would like listed in Campus Briefs, please submit it to The San Matean at Bldg. 19, Room 123, or sanmatean@smccd.edu., or call 574-6330. Submissions should be typed neatly.

by Kyle Laplante

Page 2 • The SAN MATEAN February 22, 2011

Bruno ManriqueThe San Matean

Campus Blotter Monday, Feb. 7, 11:45 a.m. – A medically challenged student re-quired medical help in the Health Center. It became determined that an ambulance and fire department be called. The student was immedi-ately transported to a hospital.

Tuesday, Feb. 8, 9:55 a.m. – A strong wind blew off the metal shade of a lamp post in lot 6D where it hit a car, denting and scratching it. The lamp shade was fixed immediately.

This information was provided by Chief John Wells of CSM Public Safety.

— Kyle Laplante The San Matean

Poet says art should be heardA crowd of 153 students, teach-

ers, and poetry lovers of all kinds gathered in the CSM theatre on Tuesday, Feb. 15 to listen to U.S. Poet Laureate William Stanley Merwin’s lecture.

Merwin started with the reason why he was speaking to the audi-ence. “I don’t think my words are going to change anything, but not saying it when given the chance is absurd,” said Merwin, 83, who was named the 17th U.S. Poet Laureate by the Library of Congress in 2010.

In the hour-long lecture Merwin described that he felt poetry is becoming a lost art.

“Children love the arts. They love singing, dancing, and drawing little pictures, but it all gets pushed aside in most societies,” said Merwin.

“Imagination is the connection between us and the rest of life,” said Merwin, who believes that poetry is a sung language that needs to be heard instead of just read.

“Many people say ‘I don’t read poetry because I don’t understand

Kyle LaplanteThe San Matean

poetry,’ but I say you do not read poetry because you do not hear poetry,” said Merwin.

The Pulitzer Prize winning poet and essayist also went on to describe how he always uses a notebook for his writing instead of a computer. It is freer to write things down and be able to cross things off but still be able to see what was written before, said Merwin, whereas in a computer once something is deleted it is gone forever.

Merwin does not use punctuation in his writings. After about 15 years of writing he realized that punc-tuation is for pros, not for poetry. “Poetry is singing. Poetry is spoken. Poetry is part of a sung language. Punctuation just nails the poem down to the page,” says Merwin.

During the lecture Merwin also read many of his own poems that he has written over the years includ-ing, “The Drunk in the Furnace,” “The Cold before the Moonrise,” “The Dream Again,” “How We Are Spared,” “Provision,” “For the Anniversary of My Death,” “The Black Jewel,” “Blueberries After Dark,” “Good Night,” “To Paula

in Late Spring,” “Rain Light,” and “The Chain to Her Leg”.

Following the lecture Merwin welcomed questions from the audi-ence. “When I get an idea, phrase or subject I want to write about but cannot determine the way I want to write it, the idea does not go anywhere, but it does not go away either. I will maybe hold on to it for months or even years until one day I realize ‘Oh, that is the way it goes’, and I can write it,” said Merwin, when asked about writer’s block.

After the lecture Merwin held a book signing in the lobby of the theatre. Many of the people who enjoyed the lecture stayed to get their books signed, ask questions and discuss what they have just heard.

“It was absolutely wonderful. It is much easier to return to my day after listening to a great poet like him,” said English Professor Merle Cutler.

“It was more than I expected. I like how he talked about nature and how we shared the same views about people and what we are be-coming,” said student Tony Molina.

Through The power of movemenT in dance, Khali K Keyi helped sTudenTs find physical and spiriTual healing.

find ouT more abouT The blacK hisTory monTh fesTiviTies aT The san

maTean online.

www.sanmatean.com

The CSM women’s basketball team recently clinched third place in the Coast-North Conference, securing a spot in the playoffs after a 68-57 road victory against Skyline

College on Friday, Feb. 11, taking the season series 2-0.

The Bulldogs (11-13, 5-4 Coast-North) will not need to work the wire this time after being denied from playoff contention falling to Chabot College in the last game of the 2010 season.

Sophomore Trish Malaspina posted 13 points and 17 rebounds, followed by Jackie Orje’s 11 points, hitting 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.

CSM holds a one and a half-game lead over Skyline (11-12, 3-5) and a two-game lead against Chabot (13-12, 3-6), trailing conference lead-

ers City College of San Francisco and Foothill College, which the Bulldogs visit on Friday, Feb. 18.

“We need to work on getting out on their shooters, they had 10 three-pointers on us last time.”

“We have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” said CSM coach Michelle Warner. “If we beat (Foot-hill), they will drop from first to second place and it would improve our seeding in the playoffs.”

The seedings which will deter-mine CSM’s first round opponent were scheduled for release on Monday, Feb. 21.

Bulldogs clinch playoff spot with win Seedings expected this week

AdvertismeNtFebruary 22, 2011 The SAN MATEAN • Page 3

OpiNiON & public FOrum February 22, 2011Page 4 • The SAN MATEAN

editorial

Enrollment bluesTuition fees rise constantly, particularly in the age of the Great Reces-

sion. The school has methods of cutting back on spending: raising the cost per unit, the cost of parking, cutting classes altogether. The school manages to keep its prerequisite courses well staffed and funded.

What about the courses that are specialized for the department? Po-litical Science courses are not all offered in the evening this semester. The film department has undergone extensive critique. The evaluations led to the converging of some courses and eliminating of others.

The correlations of enrollment numbers and the removal of courses are not far off-base. It seems reasonable; if a program doesn’t overflow with students, why should the college continue to pay for it? Most stu-dents are at a community college to transfer, anyway.

The point of a community college isn’t just to transfer. Careers are not generally d ecided overnight, and the beauty of community college is to dabble and figure out what one is passionate about. If a variety of courses are offered, it would help students make important decisions about their careers.

Unfortunately with this year’s budget and next year’s cuts right around the corner, it is difficult to provide a variety of courses.

However, there are other ways a student can make these important decisions. The counceling department offers a variety of workshops to help students decide on a majors and careers.

Though we are in an economic crisis and less classes are offered, take advantage of the services that the college does offer and get help mak-ing important life decisions.

The San MaTean is a First Amendment newspaper published bi-weekly during the academic year by the Journalism 120, 300, 690 and 850 students at College of San Mateo as a medium for campus communication and laboratory for classes. Opinions, letters and commentary reflect only the opinion of the writer, and not necessarily the opinion of The San MaTean. Letters to the Editor and opinion articles are welcome, although they may be edited for style, space, content and libel. Mail or deliver letters to Building 19, Room 123, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94402.

Telephone: 650-574-6330. E-mail: sanmatean@smccd.edu. All letters must be signed and accompanied by phone numbers or addresses to verify authorship. Names may be withheld upon request. Advertising that conforms to San Mateo County Community College District regulations is welcome. The San MaTean reserves the right to refuse advertising. Single copies are free —additional copies 25 cents each.

the sAN mAteAN is printed thanks to a generous donation of printing services by the San Francisco Newspaper Company

and John P. Wilcox, President and Publisher.

adviSer: Ed Remitz

adverTiSing: Melissa Berger(415) 359-2721

mberger@sfexaminer.com CollegeMember ofCalifornia

NewspaperPublishers

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Member ofJournalism

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Colleges

In the end, it’s the thought that counts

Back Talkby Matt Furtado

STaff:Amy Black, Estrella Benavides, Khiry Crawford,

Jeremy De La Rosa, Donovan Gomez, Kyle Laplante, Alexandra Lujan, Yasmin Mahmoud,

Andrew O’Melveny, Manuel Orbegozo, Marcy Palacios, Chris Palomarez, Petero Qauqau, Varsha Ranjit,

rachel nielSen

visuAls editOr

Bruno Manrique

spOrts editOrPaTrick carharT

ONliNe editOr

kayla figard

editOr

MaTT furTado

mANAgiNg editOr

Will henneSSey

cOpy editOr

Founded in 1924

San MateanTHE

Here it is, Valentine’s Day - the time a year in which many enjoy and thrive in and others just consider “single’s awareness day”.

What many don’t know is that this holiday’s meaning has changed over time as well as varied significance in different parts of the world.

In European countries like France, Denmark, Norway and Spain; the meaning is much similar to the American concept – a day for one to express love for friends, family, and/or a significant other.

Portugal’s version of Valentine’s Day: “Dia dos namorados” is a holi-day exclusive to lovers and things like heart shaped boxes, roses and greeting cards carry the same significance as they do here.

While in other European regions like Finland or Estonia, the holiday translates into “friend’s day” and is meant to be purely a commemora-tion of one’s friendships.

Regardless of what the holiday means to each individual, this holi-day serves as a chance for those that have valentines to let that special person know how much she/he means. For those that are single, this holiday presents the opportunity to let friends know the importance of that friendship.

Gifts, cards, flowers, they all mean little compared to an honest “I love you” or “I’m glad you’re a part of my life”. Because, over time – gifts lose significance, cards pile up and roses wilt; but words, words are engraved in people’s memories.

An honest word means more than a thousand presents, an honest word can change someone’s day from being just a normal day, to being special one. And that is universal.

spin CyCle

R u 4 real?2 busy 2 think

Should government control media?

Nick Singh, 25Business, South San Francisco

“No, it’s a form of expression. It’s freedom of speech.”

Sarah Funes, 19Undeclared, San Francisco

“If it’s like Nazi regime, no – if it’s like BBC, then yes.”

Ryan Tom, 19Biology, Foster City

“No, government may not want to show something that portrays government in the wrong way.”

Amir Traboly, 19Engineering, Egypt

“No, if government controlled media it would become less free. That’s what happened in Egypt.”

Demet Atay, 27Economics, Turkey

“No, media has to be independent.”

Sumit Kataruka, 19Software Eng., Half Moon Bay

“No, media is supposed to report whats going on ... if they control it then we won’t know what’s really going on.”

erin BroWner

seNiOr stAFF writer

The first cell phone was in-vented in 1973. Weighing over two pounds, it was obviously not as convenient and popular as it is today.

Today, it is more uncommon to see someone who doesn’t have a cell phone than to see someone who does. Millions of adults, teens, and now even children car-ry around these machines every-where they go.

New technology has provided mobile phones with more than just the ability of communication, it has granted today’s society with texting, apps, and the Internet- all on its little screen.

But looking at the number of ac-cidents caused by distracted driv-ers, one has to wonder if all this technology is a good thing. With the invention of the smart phone, this obsession with people and their cell phones has gotten even worse.

Walking to class, one can see the campus filled with students walking while texting, emailing, tweeting, or whatever they might be doing. It doesn’t end there. During class, it is not uncommon to see a student continuing this behavior right in the middle of a teacher’s lecture.

Go out to dinner and one will see a number of diners with their cell phones out- while sitting across from their date.

Yes, new technology allows us

to do multiple things at once. But that doesn’t mean it is appropriate or necessary while hanging out with friends or in class. Where is the limit?

The problem is that there doesn’t seem to be a limit. People are becoming completely depen-dent on their phones. Students walk around with their phones glued to them, constantly social networking or text messaging-which isn’t healthy. Where does one draw the line between com-munication and expanding your mind?

So find the limit- draw that line and put down the phone! Instead of socializing on the phone, so-cialize with actual people. While in class, actually be in class. And when driving, please- for the sake of the rest of us, put down that phone.

— Kayla Figard The San Matean

JeSSica riTTer

executive editOr