False privilege pins Latino vs. Latino
By Janet Lira, Advocate Staff
November 13, 2019
In Latino culture, superiority is taught at a very young age and, in many cases, it causes Latinos to discriminate against their own race. In Latino communities across the country, immigrants who find just a bit of stability immediately think of themselves as better than those who may not enjoy the...
Editorial: Cycle of abandonment
By Editorial Board
October 23, 2019
In 2016, Michelle Obama said the measure of any society is how it treats its women and using that metric of success, it stands to reason that a college can use that same standard to measure how well it functions in a community. Using the treatment of women on campus as a yardstick, Contra Costa College...
Profit margins spell doom for holiday cheer
By Cindy Pantoja, Editor-in-Chief
October 23, 2019
There was a time when the holiday season meant something. Leaves changed from green to brown, a crisp chill filled the air and there was a palpable anticipation held by children who knew Christmas was just around the corner. Now, time feels compressed, seasons transition from scorching to rain and...
Boxing’s dangerous norms raise questions
By Xavier Johnson, Web Editor
October 23, 2019
Boxer Patrick Day died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Oct. 16 after suffering a traumatic brain injury during his knockout loss to Charles Conwell in Chicago on Oct. 12. He was 27. After two knockdowns earlier in the fight, Day was knocked out in the 10th and final round. He never regained co...
Editorial: Undervalued assets
By Editorial Board
October 9, 2019
As the renovations to the Gym Annex Building, Men’s and Women’s locker rooms and Gymnasium push forward at full speed, the disruption they are causing student-athletes has been immeasurable. Sure, questions have been raised in the past about the level of administrators’ support and, more importantly,...
Harsh realities of gentrification affect local communities
By Luis Lopez, Advocate Staff
October 9, 2019
The recent tech industry boom has brought an influx of new money into the Bay Area and gentrification seems to be a word associated with this recent influx, usually with negative connotations. However, gentrification is not a bad thing, it is a part of a civilization’s evolution. Locals complain...
Editorial: We’re not worthy
By Editorial Board
October 2, 2019
With all the administrative upheaval surrounding Contra Costa College, it’s remarkable that students have continued to thrive academically and in extra-curricular activities. As usual, the fall semester ushered in a crop of fresh-faced students, eager to embrace the college experience and, most...
Migrating to the U.S. legally offers more
By Fatima Carrasco, Advocate Staff
October 2, 2019
There are laws in this country meant to protect us, defend us and, at times, accuse us. Most laws apply to people differently depending on the circumstances at hand, which makes it difficult for me to say I don’t support the majority of illegal immigration. Even though borders are man-made and...
Shootings highlight national epidemic
By Wanda Gonzalez, Advocate Staff
September 25, 2019
White supremacy is a huge problem not only in the United States, but all over the world. When taking a look at many of the recent terrorist attacks in the U.S., an alarming trend shows many of them were executed by white supremacists. — Charleston, North Carolina, nine killed and one injured...
Editorial: Measured response
By Editorial Board
September 25, 2019
The first day of fall not only ushered in a change of season at Contra Costa College, it also brought with it an attempt to challenge the boundaries of free speech in public spaces. Shortly before noon in Campus Center Plaza, a religious fundamentalist equipped with an offensive sign and portable...
Christianity erodes church, state division
By Jose Arebalo, Advocate Staff
September 18, 2019
The variety of experiences, attitudes and beliefs on any campus is an amazing blend of what the world has to offer. At any given moment we could be standing next to people from multiple religions in a courteous manner. However, they don’t necessarily share similar ideas or points of view. It...
Editorial: Cuisine Conundrum
By Editorial Board
September 18, 2019
Achieving educational success doesn’t begin with guided pathways, class size or retention specialists — it starts with proper nutrition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most students attend school for six hours per day and consume nearly half of their daily caloric...