SJSU Speaks on Solidarity

SEE FULL STORY PAGE 3 SEE FULL STORY PAGE 6 SEE FULL STORY PAGE 2 ELECTRIC PIANO BASKETBALL VICTORY BAND DIRECTOR RETIRES FOLLOW US! /spartandaily @SpartanDaily @spartandaily /spartandailyYT Volume 148. Issue 10www.sjsunews.com/spartandaily Thursday, February 16, 2017 UNITY NOW SJSU speaks on solidarity BY ISABELLE THAM We hope others will do the STAFF WRITER same for us, just so no one is ever without a voice.” The Muslim Student Association Ahmad said that MSA reached (MSA) hosted a discussion in out to organizations that focus on response to recent political issues different issues so that the event with student and community covered a wide range of topics. organizers on Tuesday. Despite their distinct concerns, Their event, “Unity Now,” they were a united front. was sponsored by the Offi ce of MSA helped outfi t attendees Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in traditional scarves — hijabs and Student Affairs. It brought for women and keffi yehs for together the Student Advocates men. Literature on Islam and for Higher Education, the Council civil rights was also displayed to on American-Islamic Relations educate those who attended. and the Asian Law Alliance to In light of President Donald speak to students about solidarity Trump’s Muslim ban and the raids and community action. on undocumented immigrants, “When you unite, everyone Ahmad added that this was a speaks out for each other,” critical time to advocate for unity. said Moiz Ahmad, a software After SJSU student Esra Altun engineering junior and the MSA was attacked while wearing a vice president. “If we see some hijab last semester, Ahmad said group has been slighted, we will stand up with them and for them. See HIJABS page 2 Mai Nass, secretary and treasurer of the Muslim Student Association helps students put on hijabs in front of Clark Hall. ISABELLE THAM | SPARTAN DAILY NO BAN, NO WALL DELAY Protesters fi ght Northbound Highway 17 closure Israel’s human rights violations creates problems for commuters BY KELLY BURNS Kimberly Canseco said. “The Soquel San Jose route is closed BY TIANA WALKER STAFF WRITER Highway 17 was completely closed to traffi c because the road is sinking,” STAFF WRITER Friday morning due to the danger of the Canseco said. “So sometimes taking Northbound Highway 17, the main landslide. California Highway Patrol a back route to skip some traffi c is not Protesters gathered on the corner of First road that connects Santa Cruz County advised drivers to take alternate routes. even an option anymore.” and San Carlos streets in front of the Robert F. and San Jose, remains closed due to a According to Caltrans, Old San Jose Two-way traffi c is now going through Peckham Federal Building objecting to President landslide that occurred on Feb. 7. Road — the alternate route for Highway the southbound lanes as the debris from Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister “I have taken some back routes to skip 17 — was closed indefi nitely on Monday the landslide continues to block the two Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting on Wednesday. some traffi c which has saved me some for structural issues with no sign about northbound lanes. There is currently no The meeting at the White House was held to time, but those routes are pretty beat when work on it may start or when the indication as to when the two northbound discuss U.S.-Israel relations and an increase in up as well,” human resources junior road will reopen. lanes will reopen. the United States’ support. The closure of the northbound lanes The protest was organized by members of the before Vine Hill Road is causing a delay South Bay Jewish Voices for Peace, Santa Clara for those who commute from Santa Cruz Green Party, Push for Progress, San Jose Peace County and San Jose every day. and Justice Center and Women’s International “Before the slide it took about 45 League for Peace and Freedom. minutes,” child development senior These organizations believe that an increase in Sydney Ferris said. “[Now] it is taking policies will lead to the violation of rights towards people two to three hours and so that Palestinians, and that incidents occurring in Israel means leaving at seven when I’m used to strongly correlate to the treatment of indigenous sleeping in and getting up at nine.” and Muslim people in the U.S. The delays have resulted in Ferris and Political science sophomore and president others looking for alternative routes like of San Jose State’s Students for Justice in going through through Old San Jose Palestine, Jana Kadah, was out representing her Road or rerouting through Watsonville organization and what they stand for. to catch Highway 101 to San Jose. “We advocate for the human rights of Old San Jose Road was closed VICENTE SERNA-ESTRADA | SPARTAN DAILY See PEACE page 2 A landslide blocks northbound lanes on Highway 17, requiring construction to remove debris. See LANDSLIDE page 2 Thursday, February 16, 2017 Director of Band and Band Activities to retire aft er 37 years BY SATVIR SAINI Harris is Music Director of the Center for the California concert band directors in the received in his time of teaching STAFF WRITER San Jose Wind Symphony. All-State Music Education United States,” Dr. Fred Cohen, include two state awards: The Wind Ensemble and Conference (CASMEC). director of the School of Music California Music Educators After teaching for 37 years, Dr. Concert Choir collaborated a Harris was recently inducted and Dance said. Association Don Schmeer Edward Harris, Director of Bands showcase at the SJSU Concert by the California Music He was the Western Division Band Director of the Year in and Band Activities at San Jose Hall for the listening hour Education Association into the President of the College 2003 and the California Music State University, will be retiring series on Tuesday. These two State Hall of Fame, which is Band Directors National Educators Association John at the end of this semester. ensembles have not performed an honor bestowed on only one Association (CBDNA). Other Swain University Educator of Harris taught at Stanislaus together on the same stage in a music educator per year. Harris accomplishments for Harris are the Year in 2005. In 2003 he University before being while. This listening hour was has taught at other institutions the numerous awards received, also received the regional award appointed the position at one of the many send-offs that including Humboldt State including the California of CMEA Bay Section Gilbert SJSU in 2000. He received his is being planned for Harris. He University and University of Legislative Assembly Freitas Award for Outstanding Bachelor of Music in music conducts concerts and listening Wisconsin. He also served as Certificate of Recognition for Music Educator. education and Master of Arts hours at SJSU. director of instrumental music Contribution to the Arts. After serving SJSU for in clarinet performance from The listening hour started off at Sequoia High School in Not only has Harris taught, 17 years, Harris’ time here San Francisco State University. with Jeffrey Benson directing Redwood City. conducted and directed band, will end in a few short Harris also received his Doctor a mixed country piece called Harris is in constant demand but he has also published many months. “He had many great of Arts in conducting and “Frostiana” and then moved to to direct Honor Bands around articles in the California Music accomplishments and will be clarinet performance from “Old American Songs” directed the country and has been active Educators Association Journal missed,” Cohen said. the University of Northern by Harris. The showcase will with local and regional bands. as well as in Teaching Music Colorado. In addition to also be performed on Thursday “Dr. Harris is one of the Through Performance. Follow Satvir on Twitter directing the bands at SJSU, at the San Jose Convention most successful and esteemed Some other awards he has @satvirsaini_ HIJABS Christianity has done for her. Representing the Asian Law Alliance, Continued from page 1 the non-profit’s community organizer Michael Casas helped explain laws that people need to work harder now concerning undocumented immigrants. rather than later to avoid similar The organization offers legal services instances in the future. to people for free. “It’s really important for people in Casas himself has been active in the these times — whether you’ve been San Jose community for over 10 years affected by recent events or not — to by advocating for social justice. The have empathy and understand one worst feeling, he said, is when he sees another,” Ahmad said. parents and their children in fear of This message reached students on being separated. campus like biomedical engineering “I can’t just sit back and watch this freshman Daniel Alnasir, who said happen,” Casas said. “I have to get he attended the event because his dad involved, educate people and get people comes from a Muslim background and to come together for a common cause. he wanted to gain a better understanding What’s happening is not right.” Getting of the culture. involved locally, he added, is a big step The event reached students of in starting to fight for change. different faith as well. A group of Zahra Billoo is the the executive members from Cru, a Christian-based director of the San Francisco Chapter organization on campus, came to learn of the Council on American-Islamic PHOTO COURTESY OF MARJORIE MEYER more about the culture before they Relations. She also spoke about A Prius driven by San Jose State senior, Marjorie Meyer, hydroplaned on Highway 17 on Oct. 26, 2016.

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