Feature

New Sociology professor wants her students to make a difference

Page 8

News

Single Stop offers new student services

Vol. 11, I. 8

College of Marin

Mar. 15, 2013

Page 6

James Dunn crosses the Big River

Performing Arts center named after Drama Department founder
Page 4
Photo courtesy of Robin Jackson

Features
Echo Times
College of Marin Kentfield, California Phone: (415) 485-9690 Learning Resource Center Room LC 32

College of marin

Feb. 26 - Mar. 16, 2013

Reducing your carbon foot print

Environmental Action Club members journey to a greener life
By Paul Scott
ECHO TIMES

Editor-in-Chief Nash Kurilko Managing Editor Kyle Dang Copy Editor Chelsea Dederick Design Director Chelsea Dederick Photo Editor Austin Matthews Reporters Jasmin Demil Johnny Bransford Lisa Kelly Cecilia Jordan George Tapia Liam Werner Photographers Austin Matthews George Tapia Johnny Bransford Advertising Manager Kim Slater Office Manager Kim Slater Faculty Advisor Tom Graham

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Marin Sun Printing prints the Echo Times using 40 percent recycled paper and 100 percent soy ink

In This Issue
Feb. 26 - Mar. 16, 2013

News: 6, 8 Features: 7 Opinion: 3 A&E: 4-5 Sports: 7 Calendar: 8

s an older student here at COM, having gone through many changes over the last several years, Ive found that I need a new path in life. I stepped out of my old regime, said goodbye to a decent career, and took a dive off a cliff yelling, what have I done?! the whole way down. I still dont know the answer to that scream - maybe Im still falling. In pondering what I should do, I took a hike one day. This had become part of my daily routine. On this hike, I had an epiphany, one Commentary that was very simple and probably wouldnt warrant a wow from anyone else. Its simplicity was the reason I found it so weighty. I decided to see how far the trail would lead, and for starters it led me to COM. Ive been an outdoorsy type all my life, backpacking, camping, biking and hiking all over the place whenever possible. Although that has been the focal point of my life, the rest of life directed me elsewhere - career, wife, house, etc. Elsewhere also led me to the arts - music, specifically - still a major passion of mine, equal to my love for being out and about in what I consider the true world. Having no idea the can of worms I was about to open, I enrolled in the Environmental Course at COM and was immediately bombarded with so much information about how screwed up everything has become. Not just the environment, either. The tragedy was across the board - culture, economics, you name it. But as the course proceeded, and the details began to emerge, Im beginning to see the connection between all these seemingly unrelated issues. Joe Mueller is my esteemed professor. I have learned so much from this smartypants in the three months Ive been here, and hes just an all around great guy to boot. I have heard that some folks may not feel the same, that hes overboard when it comes to being green. Some may feel something like, Uh-oh, here comes Joe! Hes going to give me grief about not printing on both sides of the paper. Well, why arent you printing on both sides of the paper? Its easy - printer/ copiers are already set up to do so. And doing so can reduce the amount of paper being used by the campus by quite a bit. If you have 20 pages of text and print on one side, you use 20 pieces of paper. Print on both sides and how many sheets are used? Of course it doesnt always work out quite that well, but you get the idea. I think the world needs more people like Joe. Hes not trying to make anyone uncomfortable, hes trying to make the

point that we have seriously depleted most of our natural resources and that in continuing to do so we risk unalterable environmental damage. The facts and the science is there to back this idea up. If we continue on this path, we will irrevocably doom ourselves to a hellish existence. But its not all that gloomy. Theres hope out there, a lot of folks and organizations take the issues as seriously, if not more so, than Joe. The real hope, though, is us. By doing simple things to start, we can and will make a difference. You dont have to be a scientist to understand that keeping your house clean is good for you. You dont have to be liberal or conservative, rich or poor. What you should try and grasp is that cleanliness should extend outside. The planet is our house - and our only one. We mess it up, we clean it up, or everything gets very sick. So, in trying to take my first baby steps towards walking the walk and talking the talk, I decided to hook up with some

When you give your old clothes or other material goods to charity, shop for things you might want or need yourself at those same places. Not only do you help someone less fortunate than yourself, you also spend your money locally. -- Paul Scott

fellow classmates. The result is the rebirth of College of Marins Environmental Action Club. With the friendly push and guidance of Joe, and the infectious enthusiasm of President Susan Arati, the EAC is up and running. It was first formed in the early nineties and has gone through a handful of incarnations. Focusing initially on improving recycling efforts on the Kentfield campus, we hope to expand, recruit new members, and make everyone on and off campus to think a little greener in their daily lives. The EAC has approached the cafeteria about ways to improve their waste situation, like reusable utensils and plates. Theres discussion about introducing healthier,

organic food choices, possibly some from local vendors. We plan to team up with the Indian Valley campus to share ideas. They have a wonderful garden, and were thinking of combining forces and having a farmers market on the Kentfield campus as the IVC campus already has. Weve noticed planting of non-natives in the new landscaping. Many species of plants not native to an area will become invasive, meaning they can overtake or out-compete other species, altering or damaging a local environment. In promoting awareness, we want to offer tips from time to time; things you can do that will make an impact - without impacting you too much. For instance, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is not a cliche; you can make it an automatic way of life by simply buying less, reusing containers, and by making sure you can recycle or pass on what you dont need or want any longer. The more you do this, the more of a habit it becomes. There is a movement going around with the motto Zero Waste in Marin by 2025, and by taking the above actions, you will be doing more than your part. When you give your old clothes or other material goods to charity, shop for things you might want or need yourself at those same places. Not only do you help someone less fortunate than yourself, you also spend your money locally. Use public transportation or carpool with someone. Ride a bike, or walk. Were talking with a consultant from WeGoMarin. com about their real-time ride sharing app just getting underway and already being used by the Larkspur Ferry, the SF Ferry, and Autodesk. Some of you may already be participating, as they have had a table in the Cafe set up recently. There are now an estimated 6.6 billion cell phones in use. In the USA, the average time between upgrading phones is only 18 months, even though most phones will still be functional. Most old phones end up in landfills. Ask yourself if you really need a new phone, or are you just keeping up with a trend? I hope you take some of this into your heart. At least think about it. Read about related stuff in books, magazines and websites. Im still learning and so can you. In future columns, we hope to target more specific issues and try to keep it as local as possible, even as close as the campus itself. But remember that it really is all connected. What you do here can affect something further away than you might think.

Visit our blog: www.echotimes.wordpress.com

Feb. 26 - Mar. 16, 2013

ECHO TIMES

Opinion

Students talk about immigration

What is your opinion on amnesty given to illegal immigrants?
By George Tapia
ECHO TIMES

It makes me uneasy to see people wanting an opportunity but instead getting taken advantage of. Its good to know that the U.S. will not be a country that turns its back on other people. - Domonic, 42

We will be helping people who deserve amnesty, such as the people who are studying and working. Also we will rule out those who are taking advantage of the system. - Elson, 20

People are people no matter where they are from or what they do. - Jarid Kolando, 23, Biology major

As a Latino, it is very nice to have friends and family given the same opportunity to make better the community. - Enrique Hernandez, 22, Electrical Engineer

I feel like if someone has been here since they were very young and contributing to society then they should live here without having fear. - Cala Larioni, 38 Art major

Illegal immigrants who work or study are over here doing what they should do. Its not fair for them to be sent home because there are others who arent progressing in life. - Rubyne Burrows, 21

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College of marin

Feb. 26 - Mar. 16, 2013

Arts & Entertainment

Big River makes a splash

Production marks director James Dunns 80th birthday
By Jasmin Demil
ECHO TIMES

ts impossible not to get excited by anything that was written by Mark Twain, one of the most classic of all American voices. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was just one more example of how perceptive Mark Twain was. The James Dunn Theater production gave the local audiences a rare opportunity to see this musical brought to life on stage. Big River, which ran for the past three weeks, featured country and bluegrass songs that reflected the music of the era. The miracle of this production is how James Dunn, the producer of the show, and his associates Susan Tanner and Paul Smith, managed to convey the story of Twains outlook on social issues of the nineteenth century. Dunn tells the story of rambunctious young boys, con men,

Thank you very much, I love you all. College of Marin is a great school, dont you ever forget it.
-- James Dunn

and slave traders, all of which existed in Twains America. At the opening night gala performance on Friday night, March 1, Dunns vision managed to draw his audience into Huckleberry Finns world, and also managed to wow us with his cast. Zachary Isen as Huckleberry Finn and Phillip Percy Williams as Jim the slave were especially brilliant, sweeping the audience away. When Huck and Jim sang River in the Rain, while they were hugging each other during their rendition, the audience could feel the bond between them and that Huck preferred to follow his heart to free Jim, instead of following the law. The ultimate moment that took everyones breath away was when Phillip Percy sang Free At Last. He sang his heart out, and touched everyone with his outstanding performance. This was followed by a tremendous applause by the audience. It made the audience not only hear, but also feel Jims pain being a slave, and to understand the complicated racial issues of 1885 America to the 1985 political idiom. Songs like Muddy Water, or River in the Rain, depicted the relation to the river, the chance for a new beginning for Huck, and freedom for Jim. The atmosphere during and after the performance was filled with appreciation

for the cast as well as for Dunns lifetime achievements. Dunn was touched and said, Thank you very much, I love you all. College of Marin is a great school, dont you ever forget it. After the show, the audience remained in their seats and was asked by COM President David Wain Coon to sing Happy Birthday to Dunn, who turned 80 this month. Everyone was singing along, and one could not help but have a warm and happy feeling with the thought of belonging to the family of the drama department. The gala performance celebrated Dunns many artistic achievements, culminating with the dedication of the James Dunn Theatre. On the way out of the theater a power outage suddenly occured, but people continued to carry their enthusiasm outside into the corridors and helped themselves to cake and coffee. With the help of flashlights, the afterparty turned into a candle-lit dinner atmosphere. College of Marin went the extra mile by decorating the hallways with black and white balloons, and by decorating the walls with photos from the play. COM hired the Brass Quartet which played trumpets, French Horn, Quinee and Tuba, featuring classic, modern and traditional American music. All of these carefully arranged details helped to keep the audience in a great mood throughout the night. COM and the audience showed James Dunn that the love he felt was mutual.

Zachary Isen as Huckleberry Finn, cheerfully sings I, Huckleberry, Me.

The Duke (Charles Isen) and The King (Buzz Halsing) perform their number When the Sun Goes Down in the South.

Feb. 26 - Mar. 16, 2013

ECHO TIMES

Top: Huck Finn and Jim travel down the river towards adventure. Right: Phillip Percy Williams as Jim the escaped slave. Bottom: Huckleberry disguises himself as a girl in order to eavesdrop on the townsfolk. Photos provided by Robin Jackson

Above: Huckleberry bashfully meets Mary Jane Wilkes, played by Olivia Harrison. Left: Charles Isen as The Duke, a greedy con man, pictured here in a scene where he recites Shakespeare.

College of marin

Feb. 26 - Mar. 16, 2013

News

COM hosts Single Stop, a non-profit tax benefits program

By Lisa Kelly
ECHO TIMES

ingle Stop, a non-profit organization providing benefits for students, is now offering help with taxes. According to the College of Marin website, Single Stop is a one stop shop for students to get connected to benefits. The concept is to have a place where students can go to be screened for multiple government benefits, receive assistance in applying for those benefits, and have follow-ups to see if they have in fact received the benefits they are eligible for. The services Single Stop offers could cost up to 300 dollars per session outside of a bank, but COM is offering it for free. Some of the other services they offer are benefit screenings to see if you are eligible for up to 200 dollars a month for groceries, free or low cost health insurance, reduced utility bills, and referrals for affordable child care. As an incentive for students to take advantage of this service, any student who comes in to fill out an incentive form is eligible to win a free iPad. According to singlestopusa.org the impact this service has had on students

is incredible. In 2011, Single Stops community college sites drew down benefits and services worth over 1,945 dollars per student served. Preliminary data indicates that students who access Single Stop are more likely to stay in school. The help Single Stop is providing for taxes at College of Marin this year has been utilized by about one hundred students so far. This is the second semester that we have offered this service. Students can come in for a walk-in meeting or schedule an appointment, which is the best way to guarantee that you will be seen, said work study student Honour Knudsen. If students would like to learn how to file taxes on their own this is a great tool to have. Their best bet is to ask questions while they are here. Any student who has long-term plans at College of Marin is advised to look into the Single Stop program, as the benefits provided may provide invaluable to some. Single Stop is located in Student Services room 124. To find out if you qualify for tax assistance or any of the other benefits, students can call and ask what the requirements are at (415)391-7427.

Photo by Austin Matthews A Single Stop employee helps a student discover useful benefits.

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Feb. 26 - Mar. 16, 2013

ECHO TIMES

Features

Woodlands Market vs. Campus Cafe: the pros and cons

By Liam Werner
ECHO TIMES

ach day COM students have several choices on what delightful dish they plan on eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner while attending classes at the Kentfield campus, as well as where to go and how much theyll have to spend. Most students from College of Marin decide to dine at one of two locations: the cafeteria on campus, or Woodlands Market down the road. Both locations boast positive and negative attributes, from food selections to the average prices. Woodlands Market is a locally-owned family business. Their first and primary location sits five-hundred feet from our school. They have a great, healthy selection to choose from with a diverse deli full of fresh meats, vegetables, and hot food. They also have a pretty outdoor patio with a place to sit down and eat. Mona Ramirez, 17, is the stepdaughter of Woodlands Markets owners and also a waitress at the Caf. She estimated a number of 70 to 90 students visit the produce market and cafe per day. The Woodlands Company owns the whole strip of shops located down College Ave. This includes a grocery outlet, a quality herbal store, and a homey cafe. They have separate skilled staff at each location ready to act responsibly to your requests. The downside is that prices are a little higher at most of the Woodlands businesses. But the food quality is generally exquisite. A common favorite is the BLA, or bacon, lettuce and avocado.

Woodlands Market, a popular lunchtime hangout for COM students.

Photo by Austin Matthews

I prefer Woodlands. Their food is fresher, said Ben Vogelsberg, a Kentfield campus student. Fellow academicChris Restani said, I prefer Woodlands because they have a great selection of produce to choose from. But the downside is the prices. Another common place you can chose to eat at is the COM cafeteria. The cafe can also be a social outlet. It has taken on the

role of being the most simple and agreeable location to meet someone on campus. An estimated 90 to 100 students come in each day to eat or meet with friends. The upstairs section of the building holds the administration offices and comfortable study areas. The architectural design provides a pleasant indoor experience. The cafe has a decent yet ambitious selection of hot sandwiches, soups, sushi, salads,

fountain drinks, ice cream and candy, and offers these items at very reasonable prices. Woodlands appears to be the more desirable place to eat among students, if said students are looking for a quality meal, but if youre looking to socialize with your classmates or decide you need a comfy place to sit down and study over some chips the cafeteria is an exceptional, inexpensive option.

COM Mariners off to strong seasonal start

By Johnny Bransford
ECHO TIMES

ollege of Marin baseball has gotten off to a hot start this year. Led by local talent, the Mariners are looking to carry their winning streak throughout league play. Starting the season with a 6-0 record heading into league games, they knew what was potentially there. Led by a very talented pitching staff including Jake Barron, Ben Herrick, Tyler Ihrig and Will White, this Mariners team believes they have what it takes to win the Bay Valley Conference. The Mariners designated hitter and clean-up man Patrick Hodges has been a menace at the plate, knocking in several RBIs this year as well as one of the leagues best hitters, Casey Levy-Tulloch. Other everyday starters making an impact are freshman infielders Bryan Bostjancic and Ryan Burke, as well as sophomore leadoff batter Alex Boeri and center fielder Nate Gartrell. This team is built on solid pitching, timely hitting, and well executed defense. Starting pitcher Jake Barron said, Were a team that thrives on pitching, every day well run out a great starter and you can expect us to get just enough offense to win. We have great fielding behind us

Were a team that thrives on pitching, every day well run out a great starter and you can expect us to get just enough offense to win.
-- Jake Barron, starting pitcher

and that keeps our pitchers comfortable on the mound. Led by a pitching staff with several years of experience at the collegiate level, the Mariners believe they have a great shot to win the league title this year. Barron continued to say, With our work ethic and team chemistry we believe its only ourselves stopping us this year. We feel like there is nothing we cant accomplish when we all play for each other. With Herrick and White pitching on an entirely different level this year, and Ihrig coming to close our games out, we are nothing less than extremely confident with our squad. With a 13-5 record, its apparent the Mariners are off to the start they were looking for. If they continue working with the recipe in hand, it looks like the club can capture the Bay Valley Conference.

Photo by Austin Matthews A COM Mariner batter prepares to swing.

Calendar
Resources and Events
BASIC @ COM: Basics mission is to foster community among students of the Christian faith and students interested in exploring Christian Spirituality Every Tuesday at 12 noon Every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Renaissance Marin Open House Take charge of your career life Are you tired of working for the Man? Control your career plan and take charge of your destiny This event will feature successful entrepreneurs, live music, refreshments, guest speakers and activities for children. Learn about Renaissance Marin lowcost training programs & small business services. Music, Food, Sweets & more! March 30th, 2013 1:00-4:00 p.m. 1115 Third Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 To RSVP or learn more visit RenCenterMarin.org/ 415 755 1115

Womens/ Mens Swimming & Diving

March 30: Solano Invitational - All day @ Fairfield April 6: Chabot Invitational - All day @ Hayward April 13: Nor Cal Diving Championships - All day @ Modesto

Softball
March 19: COM v.s. Solano - 1 & 3 p.m. @ Fairfield March 21: COM v.s. Yuba - 1 & 3 p.m. @ Kentfield March 26: COM v.s. Mendocino - 1 & 3 p.m. @ Kentfield March 28: COM v.s. Contra Costa - 1 & 3 p.m. @ Richmond April 2: COM v.s. Napa - 1 & 3 p.m. @ Kentfield April 9: COM v.s. Los Medanos - 1 & 3 p.m. @ Pittsburg April 11: COM v.s. Solano - 1 & 3 p.m. @ Kentfield April 16: COM v.s. Yuba - 1 & 3 p.m. @ Yuba

There will be open discussions of the Christian faith with scripture and spiritual living. De Young Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis - A collection of paintings from the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis at The Hague, will be on display through June (SF) For more information please call 415 750 3600 or check out: deyoung.famst.org The Walt Disney Family Museum Snow White and Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of the Classic. Featuring more than 200 works of conceptual art, model sheets, layouts and animations, will be on display through April 14 (SF) 415 345 6800 Or for more information visit: waltdisney. org

Baseball
March 19 :COM v.s. Yuba - 2:00 p.m. @ Marysville March 21: COM v.s. Mendocino - 2:00 p.m. @ Mendocino March 23: COM v.s. Laney - 1:00 p.m. @ College of Marin March 26: COM v.s. Laney - 2:00 p.m. @ Oakland March 28: COM v.s. Napa - 2:00 p.m. @Napa April 2: COM v.s. Napa - 2:00 p.m. @ College of Marin April 4: COM v.s. Contra Costa - 2:00 p.m. @ College of Marin April 6: COM v.s. Contra Costa - 1:00 p.m. @ San Pablo April 9: COM v.s. Solano - 2:00 p.m. @Suisun April 11: Solano, College of Marin 2:00 April 13: Los Medanos, Pittsburg 1:00

Important Dates to Remember

Mar 22: Midterm grades available; mycom. marin.edu Apr 8-13: Spring Break: Last day to drop full-term class with a W symbol Apr 15: Date equivalent to 75 percent of term for short term classes

Men & Womens Track and Field

March 23: Johnny Mathis Invite - All day @ San Francisco March 30: Chabot Invite - All day @ Hayward April 6: American River College Invite - All day @ Sacramento April 13: Maurice Compton Invite - All day @

San Mateo

Sociology professor wants her students to make a difference

By Cecilia Jordan
ECHO TIMES

here are a multitude of teachers at the College of Marin, and they all know the value of a good education, and are passionate and want to inject that passion for learning. In this respect, Susan Rahman of the Sociology Department is no different. Even though she is a relatively new teacher, she has already made quit an impact at College of Marin. Rahman wants all of her students to change the world. She knows the power of a few like-minded individuals getting together to make a difference, and she has made it her career to push students to do things outside their comfort zone to benefit the world around them. Rahmans passion began with her undergraduate degree from Humboldt State. She first went to college with the intention of being a biology major, but took a sociology class and loved it. In 1995, she graduated with a Bachelors in Sociology and four years later she also received a Masters from Cal State. She began teaching at the City College of San Francisco in 2003, but left in 2012. Since 2007 she has also taught at Santa Rosa Junior College, and since 2010 at College of Marin. On top of all this, Susan is in her first year of a PhD program at Saybrook University. She believes going back to school is making her a stronger teacher because she is being reminded of the students perspective, which is helping her communicate her ideas and lessons to students. All of her classes are geared

toward students learning about the behavior of people around them. She wants her students to be compassionate, empowered members of society. Part of Rahmans message to all of her students is to be conscientious, informed citizens and to utilize different media outlets in order to receive their news from sources other than CNN, FOX or their favorite local news station. She does this by having her students be contributing student reporters for the news media website, Media Freedom International. They are required to search non-corporate news media and find news reports that are interesting to them, write a short formal report and submit it online. Students can have the opportunity to be published online and be recognized for their work. Rahman sees this as a way to get her students more actively involved in the world. According to her, in todays world people have to really search for news that is not fueled by corporate money, and Rahman wants her students to be aware of this. Another class project has Rahman and her students really fired up. Rahman had her students research how popular clothing companies produce their products. She feels it has opened up many eyes to the harsh conditions woman and children around the world are subjected to when making the clothing we wear on our backs every day. She taught her students about a sweatshop factory that caught fire, and 112 employees were killed due to insufficient safety measure not seen in America since the March 25, 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist

Photo by Austin Matthews New sociology professor Susan Rahman pictured on campus.

factory fire in New York. Rahmans students were upset and wondered if they could do anything to make sure this never happens again. This group of students formed the student organization Students 4 Social Justice, and Rahman was asked to be the faculty advisor. Students 4 Social Justice meets every Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. upstairs in Fusselman Hall, and discusses topics of social injustice all around the world. As of Spring 2013, Students 4 Social Justice is not recognized as an organization on campus. However, they are in the process of writing a proposal to present to the Academic Senate so they can be considered an official student organization. They are all

optimistic that the faculty will see their passion and believe in them enough to accept them. Even though there is no official recognition on campus yet, the students wasted no time in starting their first project. Students 4 Social Justice are trying to make sure College of Marin knows where and whom they are buying products from. If the Association of Students at College of Marin, ASCOM, approved this measure, an organization called Workers Rights Consortium would go over what the college buys and if any factories were flagged as substandard for any reason. WRC would suggest an alternative company that produces the same product, but whose factories are considered safe by todays standards. By doing this, COM would be saying we will not support unfair treatment of workers, no matter where in the world they are. Students would not be affected in price difference and without even trying, the student body would be supporting fair treatment of workers. This has become Rahmans newest passion. She and her students are trying to improve the world we live in. They are always open to suggestions of the public, and invite anyone to join them in Fusselman Hall. Susan Rahman definitely isnt your average teacher. Her classes are filled with passionate talks of sociological topics, and she welcomes different opinions, which is what keeps her classes interesting. Rahman wants her students to be inspired and go out and change the world. With her hiring, College of Marin has gained a valuable asset to the educational curriculum.