THE BCC Voice
spring 2016, issue 1
The BCC VOICE is produced by English 14/15 students at Berkeley City College, with funding from the Associated Students. A special thank you to the ASBCC, the BCC English Department, administrators, faculty, and students who make this school so great!
Clean-shaven: high-ranking businessperson. Beard: living a little or living a lot. -Davi Muhlinghaus-Anderson
The Mighty Beard A Fading Fad or Forever Fashionable?
All Photos By: Zach Adams-Dominik
Advantage: sexy man look. Disadvantage: scratchy man feeling. -Patrick Kruger
By Zach Adams-Dominik The flavor-saver, the chin-bush, the mouth-sweater—hide your jawlines, guys, we’re talking beards. With the close of 2015, the era of hipsterism has finally fallen into decline, taking with it some staples of the millennial generation. Scarves are out, typewriters are gone, bikes are still in, albeit with a sensible number of gears, and flannel is questionable at best. But, what about that heroic hair piece? What about the beard? Once upon a time, in the golden age of thick frames and Polaroids, beards were a must-have accessory for men of all stripes. An instant declaration of cool, growing a beard meant never having to face the world alone; your chin would always have your back. Then times got strange, and facial hair outgrew its niche. According to a Euromonitor report, even personal hygiene giant Gillete began to focus more on beard-related products than razor blades in an effort to revive plummeting sales numbers. It seemed every male able to muster even a bit of fuzz was rocking mandible mange, for better or for worse. Picture Drake’s beard: classy, clean, well-formed. Now picture Brad Pitt’s: poorly-glued pieces of shag carpet attached to his jaw. For some, the style was a match made in heaven, their faces and hair defining all that was man; for others, it looked like anarchy had a new face, and that face was covered with hair. But now it’s 2016 and styles are changing. Curious to see how the student body and faculty feel about the question of whether or not to shave, BCC reporters conducted a survey on this hot-button issue. Out of the 128 people polled (60 males/68 females), more preferred the hairy-and-hunky look versus streamlined and shorn, but a surprising number, especially from the female contingent, cared more about the face. “Beards can be hot or horrifying, depending on the face they’re attached to,” wrote a survey participant who wished to remain anonymous. "It depends on the man's face and their commitment to hygiene." A common concern found among participants was cleanliness, with food and fecal bacteria giving those who might otherwise embrace the bristles a reason to prefer a close shave. Still others worried about the rough, scratchy feeling that kissing someone with a beard can impart. Potential pitfalls withstanding, the general consensus of the campus is pro-beard. Don’t be dismayed if you’re male and have remained follicly feeble well into adulthood. As Rosalyn Hanson put it, “It’s not about the style or beard, it’s about the person attached to it.” However, if your face can support the fluff, it might be in your best interest to raise the hirsute salute and sport the scruff; beards are here to stay.
On the cover: Tatiana Ray's most recent series of colorful marker portraits has been touring the Bay Area since May 2015, and can be seen at Studio Morey in Oakland and The Flying Goat in Healdsburg. Her work explores the emotional, surreal, and political. www.tatiray.com
Inside This Issue The Mighty Beard............................................1 The F Word........................................................2 Thank You BasedGod.....................................3 On the Owl Prowl..........................................4 Homesick...............................................................5 A Filmdog's Salon............................................6 Police Brutality in Our Backyard...........8 Stress Solutions...............................................8 Unconventional Workouts.........................9 Into the Closet................................................10 Going Goodwill Hunting............................10 Is There Life on Mars?................................11 Bringing the Business...................................12 Run for Your Life..........................................12 Climate Change and You..............................13 Chef Sweet P's Secret Reci-Ps................14
Thank You BasedGod First He Parked His Car
Lots of my students say "I believe in equality, I believe in rights for women and equal pay, but I am not a feminist." -Dr. Cora Leighton
By Marcus McAlpin Brandon Christopher McCarthy, aka The BasedGod, aka Lil B, is a Berkeley rapper with a cult following and deep local roots. The Bay Area is not only his home (he went to Albany High), but also his inspiration and launching point for an entirely new genre of hip hop. “The Bay Area is so special." Lil B told the BCC Voice, "You know, just being from the West Coast. It was a real advantage.” His early musical endeavors included the well known “Pack,” with their numerous hyphy and post-hyphy records giving new anthems to the youth of the Bay Area. Creativity has certain peaks and dips, as any musician knows, and Lil B has made it a habitual process to leave not even the slightest morsel of creativity untapped. When we asked about his initial inspirations for music, Lil B was quick to reply: “I just love music. Music is just so amazing to me. It’s a gateway to a better existence. I just know music, I just always loved music as long as I can remember.” In regard to his imagination, he comes full circle between bursts of perceived brilliance and perceived ignorance. It’s in this alleged ignorance that his wisdom seems to emerge, leaving Lil B with a cult following of positive-thinking young people. Taifa, a BCC student and local musician from Oakland, spoke up about how Lil B influenced him. “Throughout high school Lil B taught me that it was ok to be different. His music and words provided a subculture that included anyone. By the time I discovered him, he had 200+ free songs online.” Due to his methods of producing music, Lil B is able to record an enormous amount in a short period of time. This has led to a new type of hip hop, which led to a new subculture: the era of the "based" lifestyle. Being based has its own definition, depending on the individual. In the words of sophomore Owen, a rhetoric major at Cal, “Being based means keeping it real and never selling out, spreading knowledge, truth and blessings…basically just positive vibes in the presence of so much negativity. It also means repping your hometown heavy and performing two hour concerts for drunk college kids.” The BCC Voice, asked the BasedGod for his interpretation of being based: “Based always has a definition. It’s being yourself at what you do, and not caring what other people think of it.” It’s this truthful relationship with his own consciousness and creative flow that allows for such an overflow of artwork inspired by true originality. “You haters don’t got no felonies, Young BasedGod flex 10 armed robberies,” sings Lil B in his song, “Wonton Soup.” In another hit song, Walk the World,” he raps, “Since I’m from the Bay where the weather is magic, look at a few buildings, I inspected inside em, I touched the wall to feel they pasts a hundred years and destruction lasts, I wanna build my soul, I call love that resembles a home.” This barefaced diversity in language and content has an interesting effect. Lieyah, a sophomore at Cal has a very peculiar outlook on Lil B, “He has no rhythm but that makes him endearing and he also cries a lot and I love his lyrics. He also touched my friends butt.” Lil B creates a spectrum in which opposites and contradictions seem to sit on similar pedestals. Lil B is also known widely for a dance he created called "cooking." This dance has spread like a wild fire. Even NBA and NFL players have been caught cooking. When asked about this incredible popularity, Lil B replied, “It’s just having fun. Dancing and stuff is cool. Have fun, get money. It’s cool. It’s cool that the sports world has embraced it. The world and sports compile our culture. There’s numerous things in pop culture related to Lil B.” Xylia, a student from BCC, offered an in-depth analysis: “Lil B is a contemporary cultural prophet. He fosters positivity, fluidity, expression, and love to a faithless generation of ill-informed youth. His based Twitter scripture and prolific creative output gives me hope for a more compassionate future.” It’s this contemporary creativity that results in some type of new divine spirituality surrounding Lil B. Here’s a quote directly from Lil B’s Twitter: “Please don’t ever tell me you are ugly or are not beautiful, I won’t believe you." Optimistic is an understatement for how Lil B portrays himself. He has become more than just an influence, but some type of template for new rappers and elite celebrities. Lil B has given lectures at MIT, NYU, and UCLA, among other prestigious schools, simply because of how he holds himself and the messages he wishes to share. One might wonder how these universities got ahold of Lil B to come speak, and his answer to this question was quite simple. “Students reached out via email. I connected with those schools and made it happen. It was all the students’ emails demanding me. I do this 100% by myself. No agents, no managers, this is run a little bit differently. It’s a lot of trial and error.” Independence in an industry as cutthroat and conniving as the music business is impressive. For any young new musicians, Lil B advises: “Continue being in the studio. The studio is the place.” In regards to the musicians currently in the scene, “Music is in a good place right now. I’m really happy where it’s at. The times are sort of crazy. I'm seeing a lot of people are inspired by Lil B and by the whole situation in general. It’s a good situation for a lot of people to make music. Free Bands, Future wasn’t lying.”
Even women who believe in equality don’t want to be labelled as feminists. -Dr. Shawn Doubiago
The F Word Is Feminism Still a Bad Word? BCC Teachers Speak
Claudia Smith and Jasmine Johnson are the leaders of Women Involved in Student Empowerment.
Photo Credit: Lis Arévalo
By Lis Arévalo Feminism has allowed the development of a voice against oppression and sexism. It has been fundamental for achieving equality and freedom, but have we really achieved it? Is feminism still necessary for society? Feminism has been equated with "the F word" because it has a strong meaning, but also negative connotations. Feminists are perceived by many people as “man haters” or a group of ugly women who want to dominate men. It is difficult to avoid these misconceptions because, in general, adverse messages against feminism are frequently portrayed in the media. Unfortunately, the public has more contact with TV ads and web pages than with information in which all the advantages of feminism are discussed and explained. In the Women's Studies classes at BCC, there are many students interested in feminism, but in society in general, the subject is far from being considered “cool” or fun. The BCC Voice interviewed Dr. Shawn Doubiago and Dr. Cora Leighton, two professors among BCC faculty who teach subjects related to Feminism and Women's Studies, and asked them to share their recommendations for people who are interested in debunking the myth of feminism as "the F word." Doubiago, who is in charge of the Feminist Philosophy course, is convinced that feminism is a loaded term, and that perception will be difficult to change in the minds of this generation. “Even women who believe in equality don’t want to be labelled as feminists. They react to it emotionally, in a negative way. It is not a logical reaction. Equality and feminism should be at the same level. But many people react without even understanding it.” So says Leighton, who teaches Introduction to Women Studies: “Negative reactions are based on stereotypes, [such as] all feminists don’t care about the appearance, they never wear makeup, and they are all lesbians. Lots of my students say 'I believe in equality, I believe in rights for women and equal pay, but I am not a feminist.'” Some students in our institution have not even thought about an answer for their position about being a feminist or not. Is there a way to overcome stereotypes about feminism and people who support its ideals? As bell hooks writes in her book, "Feminism is for Everybody," many people may trust in prejudices because “Everything they know about feminism has come into their lives thirdhand.” So, the best way of inviting people to get closer to feminism and its ideas is to be informed. We asked our teachers what recommendations they would give to someone who is interested in knowing more about the subject, but doesn’t know where to start. Doubiago recommends to read some fundamental authors: Simone de Beauvoir, Helene Cixous, Audre Lorde, and Judith Butler. Furthermore, she says: “Start with what you are interested in: if you are studying Business, Science or International Relations, just start with feminist thinkers within those fields, so that you can engage more strongly with the ideas they are articulating. If you start from your own interests and you expand from there, it is a lot easier to grasp their theories and to think about them, be critical, and grow your vocabulary and academic understanding of feminism.” On the other hand, Leighton recommends a book, "Promiscuities," written by Naomi Wolf, in which her memoirs are mixed with some feminist theory. This could be very good for beginners. She also says Netflix is an excellent source of information because it offers good documentaries exploring women's issues from a feminist approach, such as "Killing Us Softly: Advertising’s Image of Women." For getting more accurate information and meeting more people with an interest in feminism, there are some student groups at BCC in which feminist and Gender Studies topics are discussed in an open and friendly way: Women Involved in Student Empowerment (WISE), Sociology Club, Global Studies Club, and Psychology Club. Any students interested in feminist topics are invited to attend club meetings and share new meanings for the F word in our community.
Illustration Credit: Tatiana Ray
The BasedGod
Bori
Shinja Kim
Photo Credit: Diego Frank
Stuffed Owl
Photo Credit: Jinyu Park
Homesick International Students Speak Out
Photo Credit: Yekta Gougol
Photo Credit: Ahreum Kim
Photo Credit: Patrick Kruger
Diego Frank
By Regina Moreno Hernandez International students struggle to adapt to a new environment while also missing their countries. There is nothing like being home, especially if, for some of them, getting there involves talking a 12-hour flight. However, the diversity of the Bay Area can’t be questioned. It’s a place where people from all ethnicities come to live, travel, study, and work. Because of this, there are lots of places to eat food from different regions, special shops to buy clothes and products of other countries, and somewhere interesting to go for everybody. As an international student from Mexico, I know missing something or someone from your hometown is normal. On some occasions, we miss our family, friends, and even pets, so much, we wish we could bring them with us. Through interviews with several international students, the BCC Voice found out what or who students would bring with them, if they could. “I would love to bring the public transportation from Switzerland to the Bay Area,” said Diego Frank, who has lived in Berkeley for almost two years. “The current public transportation system is alright, but it could be extended. Trains in my country run every 5-10 minutes in all directions and are always on time. In my opinion, people in the Bay Area and in the rest of the U.S. rely too much on their cars, which is problematic because of the traffic and the environment.” Yearning for a family member is a feeling we can all connect to. Yekta Gougol, who is from Iran, misses her mother, talking to her, her company, and, of course, her cooking. We’ve all been in the situation where we are having a marvelous experience and one of the thoughts which crosses our minds is “this would be perfect if my best friend could be with me.” Miguel Juteau, whose origin is half French, half Filipino said he would bring his best friend from the Philippines if he could. “Just the fact that he knew me, my secrets, and everything, yet he didn't change. He was good company.” Jinyu Park, from Korea, wishes she could bring her adorable dog, Bori. What she misses most about her dog is sleeping with Bori in her bed. Jinyu is not the only one who would bring her pet. Ahreum Kim, whose hometown is Busan, South Korea, would also like to bring her dog, Shinja Kim. Kim longs for “walking on the beach with [her] dog at night.” BCC has an International Students office located on the fourth floor. They will probably not be able to bring international students' favorite person, object or pet here, but they can offer other services, such as workshops, and answer tuition questions, offer assistance with the DMV, and more. The BCC International Students office is located in Room 454, and they are open Monday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There is also an International Students Club! According to the BCC website, their meetings are on Wednesdays from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Room 322. I encourage everybody to make the experience lighter and more enjoyable for international students. Talk with them, help them engage in the community and get to know the area, ask them questions, if you’re curious about what it is like where they live. Take the opportunity to learn from other people, ideals, and cultures.
On the Owl Prowl Owl Hunting in the East Bay Hills
Photo Credit: Miguel Juteau
Great Horned Owl
Jomar Jolo (Miguel 's best friend), Arvin Higoy, and Miguel
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Western Screech Owl
It felt like a treasure hunt where the rules of the game change in the dark.
Yekta Gougol and her mother
By Sharon Gibbons Do you sometimes wish for adventure to break up your daily routine? After weeks of rain and cold weather, I was feeling hemmed-in and ready for a change. I found such an adventure one night recently as I drove up Redwood Rd., passing Merritt College and continuing on over the other side of the hill. If you continue up Redwood Rd, instead of heading to Merritt, it quickly reaches the ridge line as you cross Skyline Boulevard, and then drops down the other side towards Redwood Park. I had never gone over the hill until a recent evening when I joined my Audubon owl classmates who had special permission to be in Redwood Park after dark to go owl hunting. A group of us gathered outside the park entrance in a canyon bordered by redwoods and a rushing creek, clutching our flashlights and loaded up with warm layers. While owl hunting, our teacher, Dave Quady, cautioned us to be quiet, stay together, and take our cues from him. In class, we had studied three types of owls we were hoping to hear and see: the Great Horned Owl, the Western Screech Owl and the Northern Saw-whet Owl, who all share the canyon and the surrounding ridges. It felt like a treasure hunt where the rules of the game change in the dark. Dave Quady has studied owls for more than thirty years and has traveled as far as the Indonesian islands and the Northern Canadian Taiga to "hunt" owls. Dave teaches the owling class through Audubon and people repeat it to go owl hunting with him. We were fortunate that we heard all three types of owls that night although we never saw them. I was moved to hear so many owls calling in the dark, signaling their wild world so close to our more-urban one. Our adventure showed me a mysterious night-world, large and alive, right over the hill from my normal, daylight routine of work and school. For BCC students interested in getting away and into nature, both Tilden and Redwood Park have wonderful trails nearby. Local EBRP Naturalist Anthony Fisher says, "Redwood Park is a good place to hear owls. Arrive at dusk, or rise early and start before dawn. Check the park hours first. I was recently rewarded with the calls of four species in one outing: Great Horned, Saw-whet, Screech, and Northern Pygmy Owls." East Bay Regional Parks has free guided birding walks and hikes which are listed in their newsletter, "Regional in Nature." http://www.ebparks.org/features/rin Golden Gate Audubon also offers birding classes and free guided walks. http://goldengateaudubon.org.
Our adventure showed me a mysterious night-world, large and alive, right over the hill from my normal, daylight routine of work and school.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime
Photo Credit: Deviant Art
Photo Credit: Kameron Perensovich
By Nesdon Booth Deadpool Breaking not only box office records, "Deadpool" also breaks new ground in the Marvel universe. Carrying on the comedic spin of "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Antman," "Deadpool" goes all-in with raunch and profanity. Less the scatologically puerile humor suggested by the trailers, and more a sex-positive, snarky irreverence befitting the digital age, characters spit bad words and commit bad behavior with a nearly amoral aplomb. But there is an ethical center, however tinged with righteous vengeance, in which love, oh love, oh careless love, gets a solid nod. Most notable are two features almost unheard of in the genre, a wild, non-linear narrative structure, that we succeed in following easily via a shattered fourth wall, and a touching and naturalistic love-story subplot, buoyed by a surprisingly powerful on-screen chemistry between Reynolds as Deadpool, and the always-wonderful Baccarin as his paramour, Vanessa. I suspect the love story (which is expressly called out through that porous fourth wall) gets a lot of its juice from the decision to morph the semi-obligatory-lyrical interlude into a bit of porn, a refreshingly realistic take on the falling-in-love montage, most clichéd as the playful game of tag in field of flowers or, when done more carnally: chiaroscuro bodies as abstract landscapes. The other delight, and one whose ground was so well-plowed by "Antman," is the self-referential teasing of the Marvel Universe genre itself. We are clued into this orientation in the first moments of the film, (not to mention the phallic placement of the pistol in the poster) with a hilariously satirical opening credit roll, which credits “Asshats” as the producers, and an “Overpaid Tool” as director. Only the writers get a pass as “The Real Heroes.” They follow this thread throughout, even giving Stan Lee his de riguer cameo as a less-than-noble strip-club DJ. Filled out with big-action violence, (mostly harm-free against indestructible characters) and rife with big laughs and inside jokes, "Deadpool" is a delightful left turn for the genre, a detour that, given its wild financial success, is sure to lead to being badly overdone somewhere down its undoubtedly long and winding road. Scores: Nez-82, IMDB-85, Metacritic-62 HOW TO BE SINGLE Star vehicles for some subset of who’s hot, thrown together in some derivative of what’s hot, are typical of Hollywood trash. "How To Be Single" is just such an exercise. Like "Sex in the City," from which it was sloppily cloned, the production values are nearly worth the ride, with delicious cinematography and gorgeous production design with the Big Apple playing the faithful sidekick. Also cloned is the gaggle of over-dressed, over-sexed, under-ethical women surrounded and obsessed by a swarm of mostly cardboard males. Rebel Wilson reliably delivers her typical schtick, and while she can be some fun, she’s playing in a whole different movie than Dakota Johnson, whose supposedly wise epiphany in the end feels hollow for the raunchy path the film took to get her there. Leslie Mann (Mrs. Apatow) has some juice and some chops, but here she chews up the scenery in a subplot that belies the chaotic focus of the film, tending to be wasted as detour even though hers is one of the better-developed storylines. Worse for Alison Brie, cashing in on "Madmen" and "Community," chews up her own distraction of a subplot, whose only purpose seems to be to allow the film to qualify as an ensemble rom com. Solid journeyman film making, with mostly strong, if over-the-top performances, backed up by an A-Team crew: the typical curse of the Hollywood pot boiler. It may aspire to rise to the level of great ensemble rom coms like "Love Actually," or "Crazy, Stupid Love," but can't even manage the orbit of "He’s Just Not That Into You" with which it shares its author. Scores: Nez-61, IMDB-63, Metacritic-51
A Filmdog's Salon Notes From Behind the Tinsel Curtain
WHERE TO INVADE NEXT Michael Moore is a glorious gadfly. He has managed to make amazingly successful documentaries by featuring his sarcastic but playful sense of humor, and letting himself and his schlubbier-than-thou persona stand-in for blue-collar anger. In this, by far his broadest critique of American values yet, he creates a cute conceit in an opening montage wherein the joint chiefs ask him to find a country to invade where they can come away with something other than defeat and humiliation. He proceeds to "invade" country after country, where he examines one of their institutions he believes to be superior to ours. It's a meet cute, but it quickly becomes trite and finally annoying when he has to march it back out to wrap up each sequence by actually planting a flag. Overall, he wastes a lot more in the film by only getting reactions to canned talking points rather than staking out some neutral or provocative ground, and letting his subjects make the point rather than just having them nod at his condemnations of his homeland. Certainly he raises some important issues, but he wraps them so neatly in his own polemic ideology that they end up feeling bleached of any nuance, and play mostly as bumper stickers underlined with looks of incredulity at how foolish we Americans are. It becomes a bit tiresome. He does manage to redeem himself in the last act (doesn’t he always) by allowing the final sequence in Iceland grow into more than pleas to "just jail the mofo’s," and instead successfully concatenates the impact of the feminine voice in politics with an idea's potential to transform public sentiment in unexpectedly rapid and profound ways. The high point is when he steps back, and in a series of long, slow takes, allows the solemn faces of several silent Icelandic women to plead for justice with nothing but their eyes. This manages some grace that succeeds in chasing away a bit of the snarky cleverness he has force fed us for the previous 70 minutes. Scores: Nez-73, IMDB-72, Metacritic-88 ANOMALISA Charlie Kaufman is a genius. His scripts for "Adaptation" and "Being John Malkovich" are astonishingly original, even psychedelic puzzles. Following the self-indulgent mess of "Synecdoche, New York," as is typical of a first time director with too much budget and clout, in this, his second effort helming a film, (interestingly calling cinema "film" is a synecdoche itself) he completely, save for one delightful dream sequence, abandons his typically fantastic deconstructions, and opts instead for a detailed examination of naturalistic minutia. Kaufman began this project as a staged reading, in which, for largely financial and logistical reasons, he chose to have all of the minor characters voiced by a single male actor-whether by singing a contralto aria or as both sides of a lovers’ spat. When this technique is applied to a film, it can be disorienting, but what at first seems annoying and pretentious, quickly becomes, in many ways, the heart of the structure, and central to the theme of the film. When animator Duke Johnson suggested Kaufman make the play into an animated feature, the two serendipitously hit upon a beautiful and profound technique. By rendering a long, close observation of mundane behavior (which would have been tedious in a live action film) with meticulously crafted and tortuously detailed stop-motion animation, the film ascends into its own psychedelia in the way the technique forces us to observe so closely, in the minutest detail, these banal moments that are strung together to make our lives. The rustling fabric of the puppets' clothes and hair, the quivering boundaries of the seams on the face applique's reveals the tedious creative process, and we are drawn to see these mundane moments with the same precious detail as the animators. Scores: Nez-94, IMDB: 75, Metacritic: 88
Film Reviews by Nesdon Booth
After you are at your destination floor, feel free to do lunges all the way to your classroom.
By Rose Hanson Cases of physical police brutality have swept the nation with occurrences in Chicago, New York, and now San Francisco. In early January, Donovan Reid, a student at BCC, was the victim of police abuse. While delivering food via bicycle in San Francisco, for his employer, Postmates, Reid was cut off by an SFPD cruiser pulling him over for allegedly texting. When confronted, Reid informed the officer he was using his cellphone for navigation. Throughout the incident, Reid continued to comply with the officers' requests, and he filmed the encounter on his cellphone. It wasn’t until the officer told him to drop his phone that things turned violent. Reid states that after he was asked to put down his phone, the officer grabbed his shirt. “The officer continued to punch me in my stomach. He reached for his mace and impaired my vision and then began grabbing me by my neck and slamming me to the ground, placing his knee on my back. Later, more officers came and began holding my legs in the air and beating my legs,” states Reid on his webpage, created to raise money in order to cover his medical expenses. When the BCC Voice contacted the SFPD for comment, we were informed that no other information is available, even though the case happened almost two months ago, and there is an ongoing investigation by the Internal Affairs Unit. During BCC Voice inquiries, many of the SFPD staff didn't seem to know who Donovan Reid was. The officers involved have not been terminated. "Excessive force" is, by definition, unnecessary. “[There was] no need for that to happen," states Reid. "Not to me. Not to anybody.” With the help of teachers and BCC students spreading the word about this incident, Reid has been able to cover some medical expenses as well as a few counseling sessions. In addition, many supporters of Reid spread kind words and prayers, hoping for justice and his well being online. If students want to learn more about the story, donate to the cause, or watch the video Reid filmed during the incident go to: rally.org/sfpedal.
By Alan Do Staying healthy can be a struggle for community college students. "I just don't have any time between my midterms and part-time job," complained BCC student Joy Oh. "It doesn't help that the stress of being busy makes me crave desserts!" she added. This is an experience that many students share, as a recent poll conducted by Columbia University found that "69 percent of community college students work while in college, with 33 percent working 35 or more hours per week." Some people don't have the time to make it to the gym everyday. Nevertheless, there are several unconventional opportunities to engage in fitness here at BCC. For instance, opt for using the stairs on the way to class whenever possible. Not only is it a brief cardiovascular exercise, but it is faster at times than waiting for the elevator. This holds especially true during peak hours, when waiting for the lift can take an excessive amount of time. This is a flexible exercise; you can even increase the intensity by changing your pace. In fact, take advantage of BCC's multiple flights of stairs and use them during the gaps between your classes. After you are at your destination floor, feel free to do lunges all the way to your classroom. One characteristic of BCC that lends itself to these types of activities is long, wide hallways. Hence, you can perform these movements without being a distraction to other students. To increase the intensity of this movement, place weight in your backpack in the form of textbooks and journals to further engage your legs and core. The lunge and weighted- lunge are very efficient leg exercises you can do, and they will likely make you break a sweat. Once in the classroom, if your professor allows it, try standing for the entirety of the lecture. The standing desk method has taken many offices by storm, as modern professionals continue to seek ways to improve quality of life in the workplace. Former Berkeley student Elise Luc commented on this trend. "Many people in my office started using the standing desk, mainly because they got tired of sitting all day. It looks weird, but it is refreshing in a way." It only makes sense to attempt applying this mindset to the classroom. Merely by standing and taking notes through lecture, you are engaging your health and expending energy. An underrated aspect of staying healthy is laughter. According to research conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, laughing for 10 to 15 minutes burns between 10 and 40 calories. You can potentially exercise by enjoying yourself. Try to surround yourself with people who make you laugh, rather than those who do not. Also, if you tend to watch YouTube videos during your breaks, opt for funnier videos instead of sad ones. Besides activating your facial muscles, it is generally pleasant to laugh, so why not do that more throughout the day? These are just a few different tips that may lead you in a healthier direction. As a busy student, do not be afraid to think out of the box, even in regards to fitness. "You don't necessarily need a gym to exercise and stay healthy," commented East Bay fitness instructor Will Lee. When asked if unconventional exercises like these could work he replied, "It's all about being proactive and doing the little things. If you are constantly thinking of ways to improve yourself and stay healthy, then you will see results. Keep your diet in check and stay active. That's the key."
Unconventional Workouts A Student's Guide to Fitness
Police Brutality in Our Own Backyard How a Traffic Stop Turned Into a Bloody Attack
By Mia Dirito No qualms about it: being a student can be stressful. For many students, not only accessing, but affording mental health care, is a challenge. Help is available at the new Berkeley City College Wellness Center, located in room 203 in BCC’s South Campus at 2070 Allston Way. Upon entry, you will find a table filled with informational pamphlets covering a variety of topics—from addiction to sexually transmitted disease prevention, to coping with grief and loss. Just beyond the table is a closet-turned-sanctuary, available for prayer and meditation. The diverse approaches to treating mental health include 6 sessions of talk therapy and 3 sessions of either acupuncture or massage therapy per semester, all for free. “Community college is like a bridge, with people coming from all different backgrounds, and goals of going to all different places. I am glad we are here to help students cross this bridge," said BCC Therapist Janine Greer, when asked what she loves about the Wellness Center. Greer is available for drop-in sessions Wednesday and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Beyond mental health, the BCC Wellness Center is a valuable source for physical exams and reproductive health services. Contraception, STD testing, pap smears, and pregnancy tests are all accessible for free to students. For more information or to make an appointment, call (510) 981-2919 or drop by room 203 at 2070 Allston Way.
Photo Credit: Mia Dirito
Stress Solutions BCC Wellness Center: From Acupuncture to STD Testing
Laughing for 10 to 15 minutes burns between 10 and 40 calories. Try to surround yourself with people that make you laugh, rather than those who do not.
Photo Credit: Alan Do
Angeline Kim is ecstatic over her front-row seats to the Arthur Hwang gun show.
Photo Credit: Zach Adams-Dominik
Into the Closet Fashion for a Cause
By Taima Dugan Keeping up with appearances is hard in a world of fashionistas, especially when you’re a broke college student. However, here in Berkeley, we're lucky enough to be surrounded by an abundance of thrift stores, where you can get an entire outfit for $20 or less—cashmere sweaters are $7 and boots are $5. Out of the Closet is located on the corner of California street and University Ave. An international chain of thrift stores, Out of the Closet donates its profits to the AIDs Healthcare Foundation (AHF). Housed in their bright, pink and blue buildings is a multitude of new and used clothes, shoes, kitchenware, electronics, books, and furniture, as well as free HIV testing and condoms—all of which are taken care of by a pleasant workforce. As an experiment, the BCC Voice visited this thrift store with a $20 budget and attempted to buy an outfit. With only $11.50, I was able to buy a soft, grey tank-top, a beautiful, blue, flowery skirt made of silk, and a pair of short, black, 90s boots. Shopping at this thrift store is far from the cold, corporate experience of shopping at a mall. It’s a much calmer experience, with uplifting music ranging from country to hip hop, and people of all kinds sifting through clothing racks or browsing through records. Nearly everything is in a neat and colorful mess, with a softly colored carpeted floor, and a couch for people to sit or try on shoes, all coming together to make a cozy environment. On top of that, everyone is pleasant and happy to help. The best thing about this thrift store, though, is the jaw-dropping prices, and the fact these funds go to the AHF . So, if you ever feel like you need to update your wardrobe and support a good cause, but don’t want to spend your food money, take a trip to Out of the Closet: 1600 University Ave, Berkeley
A little bit of Soundgarden, a little bit of Left Eye from TLC in the early 90s.
Photo Credit: Alexander Rabinovici
By Zach Adams-Dominik Do you have a date night coming up and want to look like Don Draper, but your wallet is thinking Jeffrey Lebowski? Do you habitually wear the same pair of jeans so often they’re starting to fall apart? Do you aggressively avoid the mall? Updating a wardrobe on a college budget can be frustrating. Often, the items you want are too expensive, and the ones you can afford don’t look as good or fit as well. And, because no one wants to Netflix and chill with a guy who isn’t the Dude, but who looks like him, you’ve got to do something to keep your style game going strong. Consider the thrift store. No, you probably won’t be rubbing elbows with the Bay Area’s elite while shopping, but you will be able to pick up their gently-used goods for a fraction of what they paid. In the spirit of friendly competition, and an effort to promote the surrounding area, BCC reporters were tasked with finding the best outfit possible for $20 or less at a local thrift store. Armed with a crisp Andrew Jackson, I set my sights on the Goodwill on University. A veteran thrifter, I deftly maneuvered around the multitude of books and kitchen utensils. Not today, giant blender and Wodehouse anthology; I’ve got clothing to attend to. I quickly found myself rifling through the impressive selection of donated goods and managed to pick up a polka-dotted shirt and some chinos, while remaining under budget. Pressing my luck, I then ventured over to the jackets. My long, apish arms make it difficult for me to find a decent-fitting coat, so I didn’t have high hopes. But the planets aligned just right; after trying on two, I discovered a wool sports coat that fit like it had been tailored for me. After seeing that it was on sale, I hurriedly threw it into my basket and moved on. The books were calling me back over to them, so in an attempt to remain under the limit, I made a beeline for the registers. I left the store feeling like a million bucks, even though I had only spent $19.50.
Smells like the 90s Photo Credit: Angel Sunlight
Is There Life on Mars? Searching for Soulmate Jeans
One of the coolest parts of going to Mars: It has a spiral staircase.
By Angel Sunlight I was looking for jeans, but not just any pair of jeans, soulmate jeans. The jeans I will wear throughout my 20s to every party, concert and class. The jeans that will become my second skin. So, one Wednesday before class at BCC, I walked over to Mars, the vintage thrift shop on the corner of Telegraph, across from Rasputin Records and the ice cream cookie sandwich shop named after the Wu Tang Clan song. Mars is in good company. When I walked into Mars, I only had two things on my mind: my pair of soulmate jeans and our $20 limit. To a soundtrack of the Tom Tom Club and the Talking Heads, I hit the racks searching for the perfect pair of denim to fit my curvy hips and thighs. I noticed that the price tags on the jeans had little names on them, like "All Day, Everyday," "Wrangler Baby," and "5-ohhhh-1s," a play on Levi's most popular cut, the classic 501s worn by Kurt Cobain and Steve Jobs alike. I grabbed "Wrangler Baby" and the "5-ohhhhh-1s," and ventured over to Hell (aka The Fitting Rooms). Well, the "Wrangler Babys” didn't go past my thighs. I guess I grabbed the wrong size? I tried the "5-ohhhhh-1s" and these fuckers didn't even button, let alone cross my stomach. In and out of the dressing room is how I spent the next half hour. I surrounded myself in a sea of denim. These jeans all gave me major camel toe, and considering none of them hit me above the waist, and since I was out of sizes, unless I wanted to purchase a ginormous pair of black Dickies, I kept it moving and went upstairs. One of the coolest parts of going to Mars: It has a spiral staircase. But, I walked up the black-carpeted ones, to avoid a dizzy spell of claustrophobia. Upstairs I spotted a baby-blue miniskirt, high-waisted and made of quilted satin like those fancy bed spreads from the 1950s. I checked the little white price tag: size 28. It wouldn't slide past these Anna Nicole Smith thighs of mine! But a girl can dream, right? Discouraged, I browsed the vintage nightgowns and slips, a la Courtney Love circa 1995. But, they were all past the $20 limit, so I went back down the black carpeted stairs. Mars has an extensive rack or two of flannels. I love flannels. Always have. And anyone that loves flannels as much as I do knows that finding a good flannel shirt comes few and far between. It's rare to find a flannel in unusual colors, as they mostly come in red, green or blue, unless you want to pay an arm and a leg for a faux-vintage one at a trendy urban store. I kept looking through the flannel shirts and then I found it: a black flannel, with multi-colored stripes. A little bit of Soundgarden, a little bit of Left Eye from TLC in the early 90s. I walked over to the mirror and held it up to my body. I actually liked it. I thought I could wear it. No, rock it. And for only $14, it's like buying a flannel in the early 90s! I headed over to the counter with my special flannel and the blue- haired cashier named Ashley and I talked about how nice of a shirt it really was. Then I brought up the soulmate jeans situation to Ashley, who looked at me with all-knowing eyes and said, "It takes years." So, maybe I didn't find my pair of soulmate jeans yet, but I may have just found my soulmate flannel shirt.
Going Goodwill Hunting Thrift Shop Til You Drop
Climate Change and You The Impact on Local Economies
Illustration Credit: Ravean
Photo Credit: Darla Hitchcock
By Max Rohr When was the last time you thought about your New Year’s resolutions? If getting in shape was one, then running has likely crossed your mind. However, the long- standing irony about New Year’s resolutions is that they rarely come to fruition. If you are looking for those resolutions to come true, setting a goal can help you get there. This spring, in Berkeley, many will take out their calendars and do just that by signing up for a running event. Carl, a BCC student, admitted that the thought of entering a running race had crossed his mind. However, when pressed for details, many BCC students confessed that they felt they didn’t have enough information to pursue entering a running event. Luckily, finding a running event is not difficult in the Bay Area. However, how to prepare for one is the bigger question that looms in many interested runners' minds. Sites such as Letsrun.org are great resources for questions directed at like-minded runners on anything from training schedules to preventing knee injuries. If scheduling when to go for a run doesn’t sound like enough to keep you on track, the many parks in the Bay Area provide a sanctuary for runners, that continues to draw them back to the parks' many trails. Matt, an assistant at Berkeley running store, Transport, said of trail running, “It’s a different experience; it’s like trying to do yoga in a quiet studio versus on a busy street.” He noted that it’s important to look out for ruts in the trail and check the map at the trailhead. Need a quick suggestion? Matt recommends the panoramic views of Tilden Park just off of Grizzly Peak Blvd. If you’re interested in signing up for an event, check out Transport’s website and click the "Events" tab for a comprehensive list of upcoming local runs. And if you're just interested in taking some time outside, stop by Suzettes’ Cafe (1226 Solano Ave in Albany), any Sunday, where group runs of varying abilities head out at 8:00 a.m. sharp.
We have less snow and a shorter winter which, in the Tahoe economy, means less time to make a living.
By Darla R. Hitchcock The next time you and your friends want to load up the car with your snowboards and head up to Tahoe to take advantage of those student deals ($15 Fridays at Boreal, for instance), there’s something you might want to bear in mind: There may not be enough snow to ride down the mountain. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, 2015 went down as the warmest year on record. Throughout the debate on global climate change, the question comes up again and again: “What’s the big deal about one or two degrees?” One or two degrees is a big deal when seen from the viewpoint of its effect on weather-based, local economies, such as those in the Lake Tahoe Region. The economy of the Tahoe area is based on tourism, with between 61 percent and 66.4 percent of the total employment related to out-of-town visitors. To say that Tahoe is also dependent on weather would be an understatement. The winter economy revolves around snow and snow sports, with the area home to no fewer than 12 ski resorts. According to the Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), a one to two degree difference might affect things in major ways: the average daily temperature for January for the period between 1971 and 2000 was 30.3 degrees. Two degrees of warming would mean that it would be too warm for snow. In fact, the air temperature has increased in the Tahoe area by 4 degrees since 1910, the number of days that the air has dropped below freezing has decreased by 25, and the percentage of snow in the precipitation has declined from 51 percent to 36 percent. Additionally, snowmelt now occurs an average of 16.3 days earlier than it did in 1961. We have less snow and a shorter winter, which, in the Tahoe economy, means less time to make a living. The economy in ski country is based predominantly on the winter, with snow sports accounting for 88 percent of visits, according to the Lake Tahoe Visitors Association. Climate modeling by TERC shows that winters are due to get shorter still: if trends continue, snowfall as a percentage of precipitation could decrease to 10 percent by the end of this century. The area that hosted the Winter Olympics in 1962 will cease to be a winter sports haven. What will the region do? How will it retain a thriving, vital economy? There’s always the summer, right? Camping, hiking, biking, and hanging out on the lake will become the thrust of the tourist economy, right? Yes and no. The region can put more emphasis on summer sports and visitors, with the forest and the lake. However, global warming will affect that as well: as temperatures warm, trees such as the Jeffrey pine, which are more adapted to warmer, dryer weather, will take over forests that used to be comprised of more arboreal conifers, such as cedar and spruce. Unfortunately, these pines are susceptible to the bark beetle, so whole swaths of the forest will die off. Continued periods of drought will increase the prevalence of other dry, dead vegetation, which means that fires, already an issue in the area, will increase as well. With fires comes bare land, and lessening of Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity, as the runoff from rain transports dirt and soot into the lake. Fewer trees and a less-sparkling lake means fewer reasons to make Tahoe the destination for that summer trip. Not to mention that you may want to avoid breathing the smoke of all those fires. How can we lessen these threats to the Tahoe Basin? We can do what everyone is already supposed to be doing: drive hybrid cars, use renewable resources, and put solar on our roofs. But, some scientists think that we have already reached the tipping-point as far as climate change goes, that anything we do going forward may just be a Band-Aid. As far as the economy goes? Humans are an inventive and resourceful species, so we’ll either move to more northern latitudes, where the Boreal forests are intact and the skiing—for now—is still good. Or, we’ll figure out how to stay in Tahoe and make it work. After all, the place will still be beautiful. Even without the trees, and the snow, and the lack of lake clarity, there will always be the rocks, those great, grand, granite escarpments, calling to us with their beauty. As a resourceful species, we’ll figure out how to make the economy rebound, how to thrive. We’ll figure out how to stay. Unless, of course we end up going the way of the dinosaurs!
Run for Your Life Get Out There and Get Healthy
Photo Credit: Rose Hanson
What will the region do? How will it retain a thriving, vital economy?
By Louis Do For young people who want to start a business, taking the first step can be the hardest part. “I just don’t know what my plan should be, or where to begin," said Brooke Cannons, a BCC student working on launching her own clothing delivery business and accompanying app. "It just seems so daunting,” The BCC Voice reached out to Jonathan Bybee, chief of product design and development for Ravean, a startup specializing in heated jackets. Bybee’s college path began as a graphics design major, which lead him to the field of product development, and finally to starting his own company. The first step towards developing a business is to identify the needs of the market. Ravean's brainchild began with the idea for a jacket with a heating element. Heated jackets have been on the market before, but they were purpose-built for tasks such as work in extreme conditions or back-country skiing. There was not a jacket that had a heating element created for everyday use. "We boiled down what we thought the selling points were for the jacket, even outside of the heat," said Bybee. "How would you like to have a jacket that you wouldn't have to switch off during the seasons? If you could have a jacket that could work throughout the seasons when you need to have a jacket, wouldn't you want it?" Bybee suggests to always start by asking questions because it stimulates the thinking process, and helps people envision the role your product can play in their lives. The next steps are to determine whether your product will sell and to further refine the concept. This is as simple as creating a mock-up image of the product with PhotoShop, writing in a description, and publishing it on a Wordpress site. After that, you can buy keywords representative of your product, which will bring in Google search traffic. Based on this data, you will be able to determine if your product can survive. This involves fundraising for capital by using websites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo, and attracting attention through a social media campaign. Don’t be afraid to start small. The startup movement is fertile ground for young college students to launch a vision beyond their wildest expectations. To check out Ravean’s line of jackets for all seasons and climates, or to get information about an in-depth entrepreneurial course they offer, visit: www.ravean.com
Bringing the Business Making a Splash in Uncertain Waters
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Chef Sweet P's Secret Reci-Ps Join BCC's Celebrity Chef on a Journey Through Culinary Classics
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By Patrick Kruger *Visit bccvoice.net to watch video highlights from this episode.* Greetings, and welcome to the inaugural edition of Chef Sweet P’s Secret Reci-Ps. I’m your host, the venerable—nay, inimitable—celebrity with integrity, the culinary MVP of BCC who makes you say “OMG,” Chef Sweet P. So glad you could join us for the start of what is sure to become as indispensable to your cooking as salt. If, somehow, you disagree, simply toss it over your left shoulder (or is it right?) and move on. On today’s episode, we’ll be whipping up one of Sweet P’s oldest, and most closely guarded, Secret Reci-Ps®. As with so many of Sweet P’s best, this recipe for a classic New York-style cheesecake comes to us from Smitten Kitchen®. Get ready for a magic-carpet ride around the mixing bowl; after tasting this comely confection, you’ll be telling that fabled genie-in-a-bottle that you only need two wishes. Baking Sweet P's (Smitten Kitchen's) classic NY Cheesecake is easy as 1, 2, 3: Dream, Believe, Achieve! Dream... of Graham Cracker Crust ■ 8 oz. (15 full sheets) graham crackers ■ 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter ■ ½ cup sugar ■ ¼ tsp salt The first step in preparing our graham cracker crust is grinding the crackers into a fine powder. This is, perhaps, the second most fun thing you can do in a kitchen. Seal the crackers inside a Ziplock bag, grab your rolling pin, and get grinding! Oh yeah! Haven't had this much fun grinding since Nelly dropped "Hot in Herre"! Sweet P likes to think of this process as breaking all those negative thoughts down into unrecognizable pieces. Rough day at work? Smash it! Got fired for shoving your face under the soft serve machine? Pulverize it! Once the graham crackers have been reduced to graham-cracker sawdust, pour them into a medium mixing bowl and stir in the sugar, salt, and melted butter. Then press this synergistic surprise into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan (note: do not use fall or winterform), in a layer approximately ¼ inch thick. Place in the freezer to set while you prepare the cheesecake filling. A solid crust is as important to your cheesecake as the Earth's crust is to all of the stuff on Earth. When you're finished, the crust should look something like THIS. Believe... in fluffy Cheesecake Filling ■ 5 (8-oz.) packages of cream cheese ■ 1¾ cup sugar ■ 3 tbsp all-purpose flour ■ 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest ■ 1 tsp finely grated orange zest ■ 5 large eggs ■ 2 large egg yolks ■ ½ tsp vanilla extract This step is about as simple as they come: toss all ingredients in the largest bowl you own, find an electric mixer and your inner-DJ, and MIX. IT. UP. Remove the graham cracker crust, which should now be set, from the freezer. Pour the filling into the crust, preheat oven to 550⁰ F (seriously), and bake for 12 minutes. Then reduce temperature to 200⁰ and continue baking for one hour. Allow cake to cool and set in refrigerator for six hours. Achieve... tantalizing Cherry Topping ■ 10 oz. sweet cherries, pitted ■ 2 tbsp lemon juice ■ ¼ cup sugar ■ 1 tbsp corn starch ■ ½ cup water Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pan (like this: ). Boil two minutes. Cool. Spread. Done!
Stuff I found at Whole Foods for $50. More like Whole Paycheck; am I right?
I actually made this.
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