President placed on administrative leave
By Cindy Pantoja, Editor-in-Chief
June 6, 2019
After less than one year serving as president of Contra Costa College, Dr. Katrina VanderWoude, along with two of her top officials, has been placed on administrative leave pending separate district investigations. In an email sent May 29, Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor Fred E....
State Chancellor visits
By Xavier Johnson, Web Editor
May 15, 2019
A full day of state Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley listening to student, faculty and administrative concerns culminated in a town hall meeting on Monday in GE-225 with an room full of people from throughout the Contra Costa Community College District. As a part of his “listening tour,” which began...
Editorial: Point-blank problems
May 15, 2019
Some 20 years after 13 students were murdered and 24 others suffered injuries in the massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, no concrete plan to ensure student safety has been implemented on any of the nation’s educational campuses. So far this year alone, 15 school shootings on...
Increased role allows Attles to lead squad
By Joel Umanzor, Sports Editor
May 15, 2019
In a national sports climate that emphasizes the flashy, players who are consistent, efficient and exhibit fundamental skills are often overlooked. Sometimes, for those more cerebral players, it takes reaching a level of growth to establish a mark of distinction. For The Advocate’s 2019 Male...
Two-sport athlete finds success
By Efrain Valdez, Sports Editor
May 15, 2019
Being a successful athlete includes doing things that are not comfortable. Teammates respect players who try a new sport or change an on-court or on-field position for the betterment of the team. For two-sport athlete and The Advocate’s 2019 Female Athlete of the Year Larissa Carvalho, stepping...
Leonard McNeil inspires through life work
By Joel Umanzor, Sports Editor
May 15, 2019
After a long battle with prostate cancer, former San Pablo mayor and Contra Costa College adjunct professor of political science Leonard McNeil passed away in his San Pablo home on April 14. A memorial service was held to honor the life of the activist, community leader and educator in the Knox Cente...
Drag culture gets watered down by mainstream TV
By Michael Santone, Editor-in-Chief
May 15, 2019
Centuries ago, dressing in drag was a way for males to satisfy female roles in theatrical plays. The common theater practice of men wearing women’s clothing, contouring their beards and portraying the mannerisms of some fair maiden, was the norm on stage. Although etymology is still disputed,...
Fasting unites in Fireside
By Xavier Johnson, Web Editor
May 1, 2019
In an effort to create a greater sense of community and share culture, the Muslim Student Association’s (MSA) third annual Fast-a-thon gave Muslims and non-Muslims the opportunity to reflect and learn about the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a yearly observed Muslim holy month of fasting,...
Satire depicts Hispanic stereotypes
By Xavier Johnson, Web Editor
May 1, 2019
The drama department has nailed it again for the second year in a row while continuing to bolster connections with the Latino community in the final production of the academic year “The Hispanick Zone.” Running the weekends of April 19 and 26, this hilariously irreverent play combines colorful...
Art professor inspires sentiments of creativity
By Luis Cortes, Advocate Staff
May 1, 2019
The definition of beauty changes from person to person. People interpret beauty differently and their personal experiences shape those interpretations. For fine and media arts department Chairperson Anthony Gordon, one possible definition of beauty is something that alleviates stress, as he grew...
Wine festival funds trip to Italy
By Jose Arebalo, Scene Editor
May 1, 2019
Delicious food and glasses filled to the brim were served in a campus courtyard as the community helped fund a learning experience abroad for a collection of lucky culinary arts students on Sunday. The Campus Center Plaza was filled with people from all walks of life as the culinary arts department...
District stands against racism
By Jose Arebalo, Scene Editor
May 1, 2019
Racism has become a landmine many are afraid to walk past, but it is time to race toward the issue because of the extremity of an emergency it has become at a district college. Recently, Contra Costa College’s sister college Diablo Valley, in Pleasant Hill, has experienced a string of three racist...