Chaot College’s Umoja learning community offers an opportunity for Black students to achieve academic success while exploring culturally relevant topics.

Umoja offers six to eight classes per semester including English, communication studies and general studies, like Student Leadership. Tommy Reed, the program’s coordinator and counselor, explained that they ensure the classes are transferable. He said, “Whatever is happening in the Black community currently, they can have conversations and debates about it while meeting the course content requirements for transferring or graduating.” 

One class that is offered is The African American Experience, which surveys the history of the U.S. through the eyes of African Americans. This is the only class of its kind in the entire state of California.

What’s unique about Umoja is how they encourage students to not take math in their first semester. “We want students to have a balance of academic and experimental classes, allowing them to take classes they’re interested in,” Tommy mentioned. The structure allows students to discover their interests, find a suited pathway, and not be overwhelmed by the “must-dos.”

Students are encouraged to build relationships with program faculty through counseling or even being in the Umoja space in Buildling 700. They can also build relationships with Umoja students outside of Chabot through statewide conferences, college fairs, and tours of HBCUs.

With a focus on relationship-building, Tommy noted that it’s to help students find a sense of belonging, preparing them for success at other campuses.

If you are interested in joining, you can fill out the online application on the Chabot College Umoja page or set up an appointment with Tommy. To learn more about the program, visit the Umoja page: https://www.chabotcollege.edu/specialprograms/umoja/.

Chabot College’s RISE (Restorative Integrated Self-Education) program gives formerly incarcerated students who may have lost hope a chance to dream again, helping them to rebuild their lives.

The RISE program exists to support formerly justice-impacted students who want to pursue higher education and successfully reenter society. “We focus on increasing full-time enrollment, promoting academic success, and creating transfer paths, while building a strong community,” Eric Gentry, the program’s coordinator explained. “[We aim to provide] support through mentorship, workshops, and cohort models that emphasize collective growth and empowerment.”

Students have many opportunities to build networking connections beyond Chabot College. RISE often collaborates with local organizations, educational institutions, and community groups focused on supporting justice-impacted individuals. This effort allows students to connect with both professionals and peers who share similar goals.

Additionally, RISE offers courses tailored towards incarcerated students. “RISE has classes such as Entrepreneurship, English 1, and Ethnic Studies and they are aimed at providing practical knowledge and personal empowerment,” Eric said. Workshops are also held, covering topics like financial literacy and preparation for college success to teach students important skills for success.

For students interested in joining RISE, they can go to the program office, fill out the interest form on the Chabot website, or receive a referral from Chabot College staff or community partners. The main requirement for students to join is that they were formerly incarcerated or involved in the legal system in some way.

To find more information, visit the RISE page on the Chabot website: https://www.chabotcollege.edu/academics/academic-pathways-student-success/rise/.

The iconic film “The Silence of the Lambs,” is worth the watch. Loosely based on serial murderers Ted Bundy, dubbed the “Lady Killer” and Gary Michael Heidnik also known as the “House of Horrors Killer,” whose crimes only affected women. We get to see how a woman in charge navigates in a male-dominated industry while also trying to catch a serial killer.

Jodie Foster starred as Clarice Starling, a student top of her class at the FBI’s training academy. Jack Crawford portrayed by Scott Glenn sent Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, portrayed by Anthony Hopkins, a cunning psychiatrist who is serving a life sentence behind bars for cannibalism and murders. They believed that Lecter could help them unravel a series of murders in the Buffalo Bill case and that Clarice may be the one to gain information from the former psychiatrist. Clarice, is a disadvantaged orphaned country girl who has worked hard to get where she is and has low self-confidence due to her upbringing.

Clarice tells Lecter about a traumatic childhood incident where she was unable to save lambs from being slaughtered in a barn on her uncle’s farm and how she can still hear the screams. One of the victims’ bodies was found to have a death head moth native to Asia lodged in her throat. The Death’s Head Moths in The Silence of the Lambs symbolize symbolic of death or change. Jame Gumb’s perverted desire to transform himself into a woman via a horrifically violent path. Jame Gumb—also known as Buffalo Bill—is a serial killer who murders women and makes a “woman suit” out of the victims’ skin.

The title “The Silence of the Lambs” refers to the idea that the killer’s victims are silenced forever and that the only way to stop their suffering is to bring their killer to justice. The lambs represent innocent murder victims, and the silence refers to their lack of screams because they are dead or have yet to be saved. Lambs are often associated with religious connotations, particularly in Christianity, where they symbolize the embodiment of Christ’s innocence and the sacrificial lamb offering redemption and atonement for humanity’s sins. Lambs conventionally symbolize innocence and purity, and in the film, they represent the innocent victims of Buffalo Bill’s crimes. Their screams represent the extreme violence they are subjected to.

The film is filled with witty moments, one of the most notable quotes from the cannibal was “I’m having an old friend for dinner.” At the end after Lecter escapes prison, he makes a phone call to her and says, “Well, Clarice, have the lambs stopped screaming?” The Silence of the Lambs remains one of just six horror movies nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. In 1991 Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins won Oscars for Best Actress and Actor (the movie also won for Best Picture, Best /director, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Jonathan Demme’s direction and Ted Talley’s screenplay, it was also nominated for editing and sound.

The film was a critical and box office success, winning all five of the “Big Five” Academy Awards.

If you want to watch a film that is thrilling from beginning to end this is the movie to watch. The suspense and complex characters makes it a must-see for any thriller enthusiast.

Feeling out of place at Chabot because you need a note-taker or test accommodations? You are not alone – the Accessibility Center for Education (ACE) offers support and community.

ACE counselor, Linda Phan, explained that this community helps students to navigate the college setting while learning life skills and social interaction. “They have many groups from the adult schools or high schools,” she mentioned. “They’re in a cohort, taking learning skills, PE, and even psychology counseling classes together. And they hang out with each other in the cafeteria.”

She said that they push social interaction by hosting end-of-semester celebrations and the Able Disabled Club and encouraging the students to attend Chabot events. Linda says, “I feel like academics are really important, but I feel like students will do well academically if they’re happy and they have friends.” 

ACE also provides many resources that students can access. From one-on-one disability management counseling to providing specialized accommodations, like mobility tables. They aim to ensure that students have what they need to make attending school easier for them.

To get involved, students can complete an application online and then will be contacted to meet with an ACE counselor. If they qualify for the program, they can utilize its resources and find community. If you want to learn more about ACE, visit their page on the Chabot website: https://www.chabotcollege.edu/dsps/ace-learning.php.

Movement isn’t the only Chabot community that goes beyond classes and assignments. There’s also Puente, a learning community for Hispanic and other minority students alike.

The purpose of this learning community is to promote college transfers among minority groups, helping them to pursue higher education. They aim to support students in overcoming academic disadvantages.

Puente only offers English and Psychology Counseling (PSCN) classes, but Counselor Assistant Julie Sanchez said it’s like a family. “There are many benefits, community-wise,” she starts. “They’re taking the same classes with the same group of students, so they build familia within our community.” 

Students can build relationships through other opportunities like the Puente Club, field trips to universities, and even the Puente Motivation Conference. Last November, students even visited the Oakland Museum to explore exhibits that related to concepts in their English classes.

One thing that makes Puente unique is its mentorship program.

Students are paired with a professional in the field that they’re pursuing, allowing them to get first-hand insight. Adrian, a Puente student assistant, expressed that this has been most valuable for him. “The day I met my mentor was pretty cool. I now have someone to ask for help or advice whenever needed.”

Adrian also mentioned how the student assistants were a great help to him during his first year. He said they were helpful, and he was even able to build a relationship with them – it’s because of them that he decided to become a student assistant.

If you’re interested in joining, you must see if you’re eligible to enroll in the PSCN classes and ENGL 1, 4A, or 7A. Afterward, you can complete the online application and meet with a Puente counselor. However, if you don’t want to commit to the learning community, you can always join the Puente club, which will allow you to be involved.

For more information, visit the Puente page on the Chabot website: https://www.chabotcollege.edu/specialprograms/puente/.

Chabot College celebrated Building 600’s finished construction and opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony where many who were involved in the library’s making was in attendance.

On Oct. 15, people gathered on the north side of Building 600 where chairs were set up. The library’s entrance had a red ribbon tied across it that was cut in honor of the celebration. Before the cutting of the ribbon, there were a few key speakers including Chabot’s President Dr. Jamal Cooks.

“As president, I am overwhelmed with excitement about the wonderful new library.” Dr. Cook said during his speech.

Dr. Cooks took a moment to introduce Gloria E. Arellano-Gomez and her daughter, members of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, to read Chabot’s land acknowledgment. They spoke about the collaboration the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe had with Chabot during the project’s process.

“The land in which Chabot and Hayward is established was and continues to be a great spiritual significance and historical importance for our Muwekma Ohlone people.” Gloria stated.

Architects that were responsible for the planning, designing, and overseeing of the building’s construction were also acknowledged throughout the event by the speakers.

The ceremony was from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., ended with tours of the building for those who were interested. Some of the first in line for these tours were members of Chabot-Las Positas Community College District’s Board of Trustees.

“Please take a tour of the facility if you haven’t seen it. I’m planning to do that. I’ll be first in line,” Board President Dr. Hal G. Gin said while giving a speech before the ribbon cutting.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked a significant milestone for the community, celebrating not only the new building but the people who made it possible. With it already being heavily used, the students of Chabot couldn’t be more appreciative.

Starting college can be difficult – figuring out where to go, who to ask for help, or how to shape your college experience. At Chabot College, the First Year Experience (FYE) program makes everything easier.

FYE was created to help students transition to college, whether from high school or for first-time college attendees.

The program’s coordinator, Patrick Mwamba, said that “our main mission is to provide support holistically for students in their first year, in terms of like their transferring goals.” He added that they aim to remove structural barriers so that students can focus on their vision for life and future career.

Although students will have the core classes they need for their major, FYE also provides classes. Specifically PSCN, English, Math, and Ethnic Studies, allowing students to learn alongside peers in the same position as them.

What makes FYE unique is that students are split up into cohorts. The cohorts are divided by majors, allowing students to connect with like-minded people.

Even with the cohort structure, FYE emphasizes community building. “We have peer guides who are students that were apart of the program and will provide workshops [for all cohorts],” Patrick started. They also have events that students from the different cohorts can attend, such as movie nights or weekly hikes.

Patrick emphasized that this learning community offers a chance to help others navigate their college journey. Even if you aren’t a first year student, they encourage anyone who wants to provide support and be of guidance to join. To find out more information, visit the FYE page on the Chabot website: https://www.chabotcollege.edu/academics/fye/.

Are you interested in fighting for justice as a college student but aren’t sure of where to start? Chabot College has the perfect place-Change It Now (CIN), a social justice learning community.

What makes CIN stand out is that it’s multicultural, allowing students to learn from different perspectives while building community. The program coordinator, Carmen Johnston, said that because of the diversity “it’s important to us that students see themselves part of a community, but are also connected to their own and wanting to make a change in it.”

Carmen also stated how leadership is student-driven in its own way. If someone needs a ride to an event, needs somewhere to stay temporarily or even needs help with an assignment, someone is always ready to help.

CIN offers classes, such as English and Psychology that are taught from a social justice perspective. This is the way into the CIN as students begin getting exposure to to the topics and can connect with students already in the community.

Joymara Coleman, CIN’s part-time counselor, mentioned how alumni have expressed that it was nice finding people with common interest or having the same class as others.

She went on to say “they’ve [alumni] told me that they had a chance to flesh out what they were already interested in in a more dedicated space. They were able to further deepen what they were already called towards.”

If you’re interested in social justice or are looking for a community that shares your values, CIN is the space for you. With a community of like-minded individuals, you can learn to make a difference now and in your career. To learn more, visit the CIN page on the Chabot website: https://www.chabotcollege.edu/academics/cin/index.php.

Gladiators enjoyed an exciting night of painting, music, and fun! In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, the annual paint night was held on Oct. 10, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the event center building 700.

Every year El Centro a bilingual resource center is dedicated to Chicanx/Latinx and low-income student success holds this annual paint night event where students paint a picture of an influential Latinx person to honor Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month. This year people painted The Queen of Salsa music Celia Cruz, a Latinx singer from Havana, Cuba who is one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during the 1950s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname “La Guarachera de Cuba”.

As soon as entering the building there were several tables prepared with paints and reference photos of Celia Cruz while people who rsvp’d checked in. The social event provided pizza, chips, and sodas. People ate while everyone mingled waiting for others to arrive.

Once the event began people were able to customize their color palette to their preference. Some chose bright and bold colors while others chose muted soft tones to paint Celia. Nonetheless, everyone was excited to allow their creativity to flourish.

Event coordinator and guest artist Angie Munoz gave a step by step tutorial on how to paint Celia on screen while salsa music from Celia played.

Periodically throughout the night, facts about Celia’s life were presented as people painted on. Some facts mentioned were the most popular phase coined by Celia herself “Azucar” translating to sugar! This trademark cry is one of the most recognizable symbols of salsa music. Celia used it in every recording and performance until her death. Celia used this word to express joy and honor her African ancestors and affirm her Afro-Cuban background. According to Celia, the phrase originated when a waiter asked her if she wanted sugar in her coffee at a restaurant in Miami, Florida. She responded “Azucar!” Because she obviously could not drink Cuban coffee without it. The trademark developed a deeper meaning in remembrance of those who were enslaved on Cuban sugar plantations.

Student Kelly H. said,” I came here to relax and paint, it sounded fun so I decided to come here with my friend after class.”

Some learned facts were that Celia was also a symbolic political figure who was exiled from her home country Cuba in 1961 for publicly scrutinizing Fidel Castro’s communist regime forcing her to move to New York. In 1962 Celia requested permission to return to Cuba but she was denied entry and famously said,” If I cannot return to bury my mother I will never return.” In 1990 30 years after her exiled Celia returned to Cuba to perform Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and took a handful of soil from the island that is buried with her.

At the end of the event,a celebratory group photo was taken that showed everyone’s unique artwork. Each attendee painted their own souvenir, reminding them of Celia Cruz’s life and their creative experience.

While sound-absorbing panels installed in Chabot’s batting cage have lowered average noise levels, instantaneous readings still surpass city code.

The Chabot College Baseball Stadium’s recent noise mitigation efforts have yielded mixed results, according to a presentation given to the Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 10. Vice Chancellor Owen Letcher and consultant David Brinkerhoff from Forensic Analytic Consultants shared noise study findings from before and after installing sound-absorbing panels on the stadium’s batting cages.

The study, prompted by concerns of residents residents, evaluated noise levels at the fence line between the batting cages and nearby homes.s. Brinkerhoff explained that Hayward’s municipal code limits noise to 70 decibels during the day and 60 at night for commercial and industrial properties.

The initial assessment recorded an average of 60.1 decibels over a 24-hour period at the fence line before the sound-deadening materials were installed. A follow-up study after the installation showed a reduction to 53.4 decibels.

Brinkerhoff emphasized the complexity of noise measurement, noting that the decibel scale is logarithmic rather than linear. “If I have an increase of three decibels, that converts to a sound pressure increase of twice as much sound pressure,” he explained.

The study used different measurement methods, including the community noise equivalent level (CNEL), which puts more emphasis on nighttime noise more. Using this metric, the pre-mitigation level was 61.2 decibels, dropping to 56.7 decibels after the sound-absorbing panels were installed.

“When we look at sort of our instantaneous readings, they exceed the code, the 60 or 70, all the time,” Brinkerhoff said. “During the daytime, during the nighttime, whether they’re in the batting cage or whether they’re not.”

The consultant argued that some form of averaging is necessary to interpret the data meaningfully, as common environmental noises often exceed the city’s limits. For example, Brinkerhoff noted that the board chair’s gavel measured 77 decibels during the meeting.

When averaged over 30-minute periods, the noise levels consistently fell below the city’s thresholds, both before and after the sound mitigation efforts. “The code doesn’t tell us how to do that averaging,” Brinkerhoff acknolwedged. “We need to use a little bit of common sense.”

Vice Chancellor Letcher explained that most of the baseball field components remained in their original locations after a 2020 construction project. The primary change was the installation of sound-absorbing panels on the batting cages, extending from ground level to 16 feet high.

As the college continues to balance its athletic program needs with community concerns, the noise study results present a nuanced picture. Although average noise levels have decreased, persistent high readings suggest that further discussion and more mitigation efforts may be needed to address neighborhood concerns.