Monitor Newspaper Thursday, December 8, 2016

THURSDAY DECEMBER 8, 2016 Vol. LI No. 13

FREMONT, CA Robots take server jobs. OHLONEMONITOR.COM See story on Page 6 Midwinter celebration has deep roots MIRA CHANDRA NEWS EDITOR OPINION

Whether you’d like to believe about the tall green tree, and it or not, the roots of Christmas Santa Claus? Well, as earlier extend far back to pagan times, mentioned, in areas of Europe long before Christianity entered where winter brought dark into the mix. frigid days and sometimes There is an ancient history of even caused families to starve, celebrating midwinter holiday people were looking to celebrate rituals, but not necessarily for anything they could—which religious reasons. In the past, included decorating the house to especially in agriculture-based mark the mid winter season— societies experiencing the harsh making the evergreen fern tree winter, the winter solstice (Dec. a perfect holiday decoration, 21) is when the days start getting since it stays evergreen all year longer and signify that spring round-- A.K.A. that big tall is on its way. It’s the best time green tree in your living room for celebrating and naturally actually symbolized a shining feasting—there isn’t any more beacon of hope to a starving harvest work to be done, and 7-year-old pagan back in the frankly, people needed some day, go figure—right? That’s cheering up. Other than feasting, what Continued on Page 3 Holiday stoplights

RONNIE LOZANO/MONITOR Workmen get ready for next phase of Ohlone’s Academic Core building project. An end to the clanging RONNIE LOZANO were built in the 1970s. the project. STAFF WRITER Groundbreaking began in The complex which is April and since then con- set to open in the Spring of The drilling operations for struction workers have been 2019, is set where Buildings the Academic Core Project setting up the footprints for 1, 2, and 8 formerly stood. are completed and the next the Academic Core Buildings There will be three new step will consist of pouring at the heart of the campus. buildings to replace the ones concrete foundations and the The process included that were demolished last year. coordination of site utilities. workers drilling piers for Building 1 will be for Workers drilled deep holes, foundation 20 to 40 feet deep, science classes, and will then lowered “re-bar” into the followed by the placement of have a large lecture hall holes and filled them con- deep steel cages which are on the side of it. The large crete. This avoided the usual there to eventually be filled lecture hall is scheduled to loud pounding of the pile up with concrete, which is dif- open before the rest of the driver during construction, ferent from most procedures. complex due to the planned but students still noticed a lot “The loud banging noises tearing down of what is cur- of motor noise and clanging. that had continued for the rently Building 3. The process formed the past few months will no lon- Building 2 will be for art foundation of the Academic ger be heard,” said Robert classes and will have a small Core Project, classroom Dias, director of Measure G. lecture hall on the side of it. buildings that will replace Dias expects the campus to Finally, Building 3 will be IVAN VARGAS/MONITOR the former Buildings 1, 2 and be relatively quiet for finals as the learning commons and Brake lights and turn signals blended with Christmas decora- 8, which were demolished students focus on their classes. will include the library. tions on Mission Boulevard below Ohlone College as the fall during the summer of 2015. In the meantime, workers “It will essentially be a new semester approached its end and the frenzy of the shopping Voters passed the $349 will continue to make as campus,” said Dias, who ex- season kicked into high gear Wednesday evening. This is the million in 2010 and the proj- much progress as they can pects the buildings to be easy to final Monitor of the semester. Look for us in the New Year. ect began with demolition of until Winter Break, when navigate through for students And please drive with respect and be careful out there. Buildings 1, 2, and 8 which they’ll halt construction on once they are finished. MONITOR 2 DECEMBER 8, 2016 NEWS NEWS BITES Geography talk, and rap Applied Music ROELLE BALAN He covered geography topics STAFF WRITER like geomorphology, cartogra- The Ohlone College Music phy and gentrification. Department will present the The very first thing the “Gentrification is absolutely Applied Music Showcase, speaker played was a song. It and fundamentally a geographic conducted by Professor Janet wasn’t what one would expect process of uneven development Holmes and Professor Tim from a geography talk at Ohlone and, as a geographer, as a hu- Roberts in Campus Recital College. The song he played man, as a scholar, I’m extraor- Hall, Room 3101, Saturday, was Tupac’s “California Love.” dinarily interested in these very Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. It is open to The reason geography pro- immediate attempts to displace public with no admission fee. fessor Dr. Adam Levy said he people and thus to disrupt their Musicians will be covering played that song was to get his lives,” Levy said. 400 years of music, including audience to realize what Tupac The talk started right be- vocals, piano, strings, such raps about fore sun- as violin and guitar, brass, is geo- set with an woodwind, and percussion. graphic attendance “culture of about 60 Toy drive forms.” The reason students. The “ Stu- During the season of giv- lyrics geography professor dents who ing Ohlone has placed bins include Dr. Adam Levy said he were in around campus for students to common Professor donate toys. Cali- played that song was Narinder Students are encouraged fornia Bansal’s to donate brand new toys in themes to get his audience to class re- original packaging. Ohlone like the realize what Tupac raps ceived ex- has been holding the dona- “wild tra credit tion for seven years on cam- wild about is geographic for going pus. The process is sponsored west” or ‘culture forms’. to the lec- by the League of Volunteers “Cali- ” ture. with the toys being dispersed fornia -- Roelle Balan Levy throughout the tri-cities. dream- gave his There are two areas to doing.” Tu- students a ROELLE BALAN/MONITOR nate on the Newark campus, pac also mentions cities in his chance to make up an absence one in the Student Services rap like Compton and neighbor- if they attended the lecture. Professor Adam Levy lectures about geography. room and the other in the lob- hoods like Watts. The outcome was so big, by. It will be held until Dec. Levy then told his students Newark campus’ small class- 13 with four more bins on the when they think of people from “A Dutch cartographer and some faculty members that rooms, usually separated by a California looks like the hit misinterpreted the diary or a main campus. attended to think of a song they Shelby Foster, who is co- partition wall, had to be pushed show “The OC.” journal of a Spanish priest and liked about California. ordinating the drive said, away to make room for all the Levy showed a presentation when he misinterpreted Cali- “There are many children in He explained that geography students. of words, lists and photographs fornia as being surrounded by the tri-city community who is described in these songs. Levy’s slide show presenta- including one of Yosemite sea, it was rendered in the map benefit from this toy drive. Levy led a one-hour lecture on tion included engaging pictures in the year 1872. Levy also of the Dutchman as an island, When donating a toy, you are Tuesday “From Gentrification and graphs. Those pictures in- showed a map of California and that extended until 1747 helping a child who might not to Geomorphology:Geography cluded ones about “Surf City” as an island. when the new Spanish king otherwise have gifts this holi- in the Golden State” at the New- and “California Girls.” He said “The map is wrong, the map decreed in fact that California day season.” ark campus in Room NC2100. the stereotype others think about is a myth,” he said. was not an island.” Last year, the League of Volunteers (LOV) was able to distribute 3,824 toys to 18 local agencies. These agen- A day in the park cies included the Viola Blythe Center, the East Bay Agency for Children, Abode Services and Fremont Healthy Start. Speech and Debate

Next semester you could consider joining Ohlone’s speech and debate team. Forensics is defined as speaking in the public forum. It is made up of two primary categories: speech and debate. Ohlone College offers a number of competitive speaking platforms to students as well as parliamentary debate. The team is looking to re- cruit new members eager to learn argumentative strate- gies and further develop their speech styles and speaking abilities. If you are interested in competing and are looking to receive speech and debate coaching by experts in the COURTESY OF PSYCHOLOGY CLUB field, join the Ohlone forensics team by registering for Last weekend, the Ohlone Psychology Club used some of the proceeds from the club’s speaker series to visit the California COMM 191- forensics com- Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park. Club members were impressed by all manner of scientific factoids, specimens, and petition spring semester. interactive displays, teaching everything from evolution, to astrophysics, to biology, to botany, to climate science. The club has more speakers planned for next semester. From left are: Tammy Sung, Aifaa Omar, Adviser Sheldon Helms, Qaasim – Compiled by Monitor staff Ansari (back) , Amelia Angdjaja, Achintya Thakur, Sharon Ng, Laura Jovel. MONITOR NEWS DECEMBER 8, 2016, 3 OHLONE COLLEGE MONITOR Happy Holidays from the Monitor staff STAFF: News editor: Mira R. Chandra Features editor: Ronnie Lozano Opinion editor: Tomi Boyd Sports editor: Julian Moncaleano Photo editor: Ivan Vargas Online editor: Gabe Gallo Designers: Marcella Casebolt Erik Hernandez Louis Shaw Reporters: Dina DeLeon Alexa Felix Roelle Balan IVAN VARGAS/MONITOR Henry Oches Yumyat Thwe (Standing from left) Louis Shaw, Adviser Bill Parks, Henry Oches, Marcella Casebolt, Yumyat Thwe, Erik Hernandez, Ivan Vargas. (Seated from left) Julian Moncaleano, Vicente Vera, Ronnie Adviser: Lozano, Dina DeLeon. (Not pictured) Roelle Balan, Mira Chandra, Tomi Boyd. Bill Parks

Printer: FP Press Midwinter celebration: deep roots Continued from Page 1 by celebrating his birth through consumerist holiday we know a grand celebration of his very today—Christmas is a time of something to celebrate. OPINION “real” and humble human birth. happiness and togetherness. As for Santa Claus, he has pa- Even though celebrations So the midwinter holiday gan origins as well. St. Nicholas during the midwinter were al- really is a time to celebrate. was known as the Greek bishop round white male Santa Claus, ready occurring to rejoice over It really is a time of renewal, of Myra, a Roman town, and but made him more personable the end of the winter solstice, the rebirth of spring, the ap- inspired the modern personal- and real looking—someone Christians didn’t want to align proaching end of the short, California Newspaper ity of Santa Claus. According consumers could relate to when themselves with pagan rituals dark cold days. If it’s Christ- Publishers Association to historians, St. Nicholas was buying their Coke. or holidays. Instead-- church mas, spring is just around the considered a kind and gentle So why is Christmas such leaders proclaimed Jesus was corner. Maybe we won’t starve spirit who roamed the night, a major Christian holiday? “born” the day the sun birthed this winter after all. That’s a caring for children and adults Around the fourth century, itself again. Talk about mar- real reason to celebrate, and alike. people began to believe Jesus keting. it doesn’t involve religion or The modern-day perception was never actually real but more Although the foundation of buying presents. So Merry of Santa Clause was actually of a spiritual entity, a belief the celebration remains the same, Christmas, or whatever you Journalism Association of brilliant advertising on behalf church found heretical. Given the concept of Christmas is ever want to call it. Community Colleges of the Coco Cola company. the Bible doesn’t directly state changing. From being pagan If interested in learning Around the 1930’s, a grand when Jesus was born, what in nature, to past priests and more about the origins of General Excellence marketing scheme was enacted, better way is there to convince pastors hijacking the celebra- Christmas, visit http:// and the company not only believers of the Christian faith tions as their own to human- www.humanreligions.info/ State NorCal created the image of the jolly that Jesus was very mortal than ize Jesus Christ, to the overly christmas.html. 1987 1984 1991 1988 1994 1994 1998 2000 2002 2003 2003 2004 2014 2005 2013 2014

Online: 2005, 2013 CONTACT US:

Offices: Room 5310 Call: 510.659.6075 E-mail: [email protected] Read: facebook.com/Ohlone. Monitor www.ohlonemonitor.com

The Monitor is written, edited and produced by students enrolled in the Journalism Program at Ohlone College. Articles and opinions written in the Monitor reflect the thoughts of our students, and they are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content. Articles and opinions that appear in the Monitor do not reflect the views or opinions of Ohlone College. COUTESY OF OHLONE.EDU MONITOR 4 DECEMBER 8, 2016 FEATURES Students to show short films RONNIE LOZANO FEATURES EDITOR the class, was tasked with break- could perform multiple tasks. ing them into groups. Eggert has Whether it was writing, pro- Students in Ohlone’s BRDC- experience in the field and she ducing, or editing the class was 150 class will get an opportunity has casted for feature films and there to help one another. to display their talent next week. commercials in the past. All of the members had a Four films ranging from hor- Given her background, cast- hand in the creative process for ror/comedy to suspense will ing for the class was easier than their short films. Their work be shown at a premiere in the what she may have initially will be displayed on Dec. 15 in NUMMI Theater. All the short thought. The students took pres- the NUMMI Theatre starting at movies were written, produced, sure off Eggert because of their 7:30 pm. The films are three to and edited by Ohlone film stu- interest in the subject. six minutes long and viewers dents. “Everyone who comes will be provided with drinks and Members of the class were into the class has some sort of snacks. divided into groups and had the knowledge about film before,” The class that the films were semester to make their respec- she said. made in will be available again tive films. Eggert added that each group for the Spring semester and will Veronica Eggert, instructor of was balanced with students who meet from 11-3:15 on Fridays. Effective communication KIMBERLY QUINTO direct product of clear thinking.” cation, skill sets, and culture.” CONTRIBUTING WRITER According to Spratt, the hard- Spratt explains, “It all matters. PHOTO COURTESY ANDREW MOGG est but most important part of You do really want to know so There are people who are effective communication is you can pick the right language, The Sugar Plum Fairy and the Asian Tea Dancer equipped with an impressive wrestling; being able to pick out you can pick the right topic, and performing en pointe. skill set, yet lack the ability to necessary information in order to you can pick the right tone” communicate effectively. On relay the intended message. Through the presentation, the other hand, people who are In addition to knowing your Spratt explained the good news Tchaikovsky’s ‘Nutcracker’ equipped with both the skill set topic, Spratt emphasized the im- -- the nature of business commu- and communication are able to portance of his second hallmark, nication is that it is objective and to take stage at Ohlone utilize both in whatever they limiting your topic. Explanation contains factual topics. The bad DINA DELEON hope to pursue. is important, but when we in- news, however, is that it is easy STAFF WRITER According to Dana Spratt, a clude details that take away from to promote confusion with the certified public accountant and our main point, that’s where sloppy use of vocabulary. Little Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Mouse King will chief financial officer, effective things get cloudy. “Be precise”, Spratt explained take the Smith Center stage Dec. 17 for the Berkeley City communication is essential in “We all like to talk and show as the fifth hallmark. “Don’t as- Ballet’s 43rd annual production of The Nutcracker, every aspect of life, most critical how bright we are,” Spratt said. sume that those words are being Tchaikovsky’s celebrated holiday ballet will continue for those heading down the busi- “But you have to choose be- understood.” We as speakers, Dec. 18. Curtain times are 1 and 5 p.m; Admission is $25 for ness path. tween showing everyone how must speak to our audience with adults; $20 for seniors, staff and students; and $15 for youths Addressing 35 attendees at the much you know and getting your as much brevity and clarity as 12 and under. final Communication Colloqui- message across. The audience’s possible. We may be experts in The production features a cast of more than 40 dancers um Series event, Spratt present- attention span is limited.” what we may know, but at the with elegant costumes and sets. It combines Berkeley City ed “7 Practical Tips for Effective Next on Spratt’s list: pick no end of the day, we must remem- Ballet students with local professional dancers from compa- Communication.” more than three points to drive ber not everyone knows what we nies such as San Francisco Ballet and Diablo Ballet. The talk, which was spon- home. Three points to expand know. Constantly, we are learn- “Berkeley City Ballet is thrilled to bring the holiday tradi- sored by the ASOC, took place on is an ideal amount to keep our ing different information at dif- tion of the Nutcracker to the Ohlone College Community,” on Nov. 29 at 11 a.m. in Room audience engaged. Keep it sweet, ferent parts of our lives. said Elizabeth Godfrey, artistic director of Berkeley City Bal- 7101. short, and most importantly, re- At tip number six, Spratt ad- let. “Our production offers audiences the best of both worlds; Though various people have tainable. But are we as speakers vised the audience to “start at the the beautiful dancing of our students and professional danc- different perspectives on the limited to only three topics? end.” He then pulled up emails ers with the accessibility of a program that audience of all interpretation of effective com- “I don’t know,” Spratt said. that he sent to other companies, ages can enjoy.” munication, Spratt uses seven “But the audience’s likelihood making it clear how upfront he hallmarks: of remembering your message was in relaying information by • Know your topic is inversely proportional to the starting with a conclusion in or- • Limit your topic number of points you are trying der to reach his point quicker. • Pick three points to drive to make.” “I love when I can be blunt” home Moving on to the fourth hall- Spratt admitted. • Know your audience mark of Spratt’s presentation on Spratt’s final tip was to have • Be precise effective communication, know- fun. Public speaking, as scary as • Start at the end ing our audience is key in deliv- it may seem to some people, can • Have fun ering a message that matters. Ac- be a “hoot’! The chief financial On his first hallmark of know- cording to Spratt, we shouldn’t officer explained that speaking in ing your topic, Spratt explained, make our audience work too public and giving your career a “You need to know what you’re hard. If we are going to be effec- boost can be fun, but only if you really trying to say. You gotta tive, then we need to know the are prepared. figure out what the message is to people that we’re talking to. “How many times do we get the audience that you’re address- “Go to them, don’t make them the legitimate chance to domi- ing. Clear communication is the go to you. Factor in their edu- nate a conversation?” Spratt said. Jazz/Rock Ensemble to perform on Friday YUMYAT THWE Jackson Theater at the Gary divided into smaller groups STAFF WRITER Soren Smith Center on the according to their ability and For the first time in 15 Fremont campus. experience levels. years, the Classical Chamber Students from MUS-351 Including the Classi- Ensemble will join the Jazz/ and MUS-352 worked to- cal Chamber Ensembles is Rock Ensemble in “Friday gether on this high-energy an opportunity for students Before Finals,” tomorrow concert. They all have only from both classes to experi- night one goal throughout this se- ence what it is like to play For 15 years, the Ohlone mester that is to successfully “in a smaller and more eso- College Department of Mu- perform in this concert. teric group than their usual sic has been holding concerts Professor Tim Roberts said settings,” according to the presented by MUS 352-Jazz/ the concert will have a mix of program. Rock with the title “Friday all three genres, Jazz, Rock, The concert will be di- before Finals” every last and Classical Chambers. rected by Roberts, who has Friday of the semester. This Jazz/Rock Ensemble has a several guitar-based CDs out time, the Classical Chamber wide varieties of musicians: including, “Acoustic Prog,” Ensemble Jazz/Rock Ensem- vocals, guitars, keyboards, “Chinese Malibu,” and “The ble will join in the fun, start- horns, drums, and more. 12 Days of Christmas.” The PHOTO COURTESY ANDREW MOGG ing at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 in the Roberts said the players are CDs are available on iTunes. MONITOR FEATURES DECEMBER 8, 20165 2016 radio year in review It was a rather interesting the iHeart Radio app. More his first week at the helm, he BREAKING NEWS: year serving as the radio col- information about this show fired several staffers, includ- umnist for The Ohlone Moni- is available at their website ing KRBQ Program Direc- Entercom Classic Rocker tor. I saw the good, the bad at http://www.mostrequest- tor Trevor Simpson, KBLX KFOX has named Afternoon and the ugly side of the radio edlive.com Program Director Stacy Cun- Host Tim Jefferies as its new business this past year and ningham, and myself. Program Director. He had I enjoyed writing about it. I received some good I’m currently looking been the Assistant Program Let’s take a look at the 2016 news of my own as my Au- for my next radio job and Director at the station for the year in radio. tism Awareness PSA is being will never give up on my past several years. ready done so to check out nominated for best Public goals. this wonderful show. THE GOOD: Service Announcement by the Kansas Association of THE UGLY: HERE ARE THIS Of course, there is a wide The highly interactive ra- Broadcasters. I won’t know WEEK’S TOP FIVE variety of year-end music dio show, Most Requested if I actually win this award Cumulus Media decided HIT RECORDS: countdown shows, but the Live with Romeo, achieved a until August. not to exercise it’s option to one I would recommend the milestone by adding its 160th purchase country music sta- 1. “Closer” – The Chin- most is “The iHeart Radio affiliate and continued to do THE BAD: tion KSJO in March, thus re- smokers f/Halsey Year End Countdown with what they do best, letting its turning the San Jose station 2. “Side To Side” – Ariana Romeo.” This show is aired listeners interact with show The Bay Area radio in- to its previous owner, Uni- Grande f/Nicki Minaj several times over the holi- cast members, music artists dustry was affected by mass versal Media Access, which 3. “Let Me Love You” by day break. Please visit http:// and each other through their layoffs at several radio sta- then flipped the station’s for- DJ Snake f/Justin Bieber www.iheartradiocountdown. various social media web- tions this past year as KGO mat back to a time brokered 4. “Starboy” – The Week- com to find out more about sites such as Facebook, Twit- laid off most of its news South Asian format called nd f/Daft Punk this. ter, Snapchat, Skype and US- staff and rebranded itself “Bollywood.” 5. “24K Magic – Bruno TREAM. as “The Next Generation of Mars SIGNING OFF: KGO.” The layoffs didn’t The Golden State War- I give this show major just affect the once popu- riors changed flagship radio FOR YOUR HOLIDAY It’s been lots of fun serv- props by keeping its listeners lar talk station, however. stations this past summer as LISTENING PLEA- ing as your radio columnist entertained with great mu- Cumulus Adult Alternative ENTERCOM sports talker SURE: over the past year and I have sic and good conversations KFOG hired a new program KGMZ(95.7 The Game) be- decided to seriously resume every Saturday evening. If director and laid off most came the radio home of the Be sure to check out the my search for my next job in you haven’t already checked of its on-air staff, and has NBA’s Golden State War- Top 40 radio show, Most either radio or print media. I out this show, maybe you done some rebranding of riors under a new multi-year Requested Live every Satur- know it will be a tough jour- should! It’s aired every Sat- its own. deal that includes expanded day night during the Holiday ney and my buddies in the urday night from 4-9 p.m. pre and post-game shows season for great music, cool media business always tell on various Top 40 radio sta- Over at Entercom, they and also expanded content guests and interesting con- me to stay focused and never tions nationwide, including brought in Elroy Smith as all year long. versation. I’d recommend give up on my goals. WIOQ(Q102) in Philadel- their new operations manager They have been on KNBR that you download the iHeart Until then, peace in your phia, which is available on and program director. Within for the past 30 years! Radio app if you haven’t al- hood!

Berkeley City Ballet Presents its 43rd Annual

OhlOne COllege Smith Center December 17 & 18 1pm & 5pm

Adults $25 Seniors, Staff, Students $20 12 & Under $15 10% Discount for Groups of 10 or More Year: 2016 Publication: The Monitor BOX OFFiCe Ad Size: 1/2 page: 10” x 8” inches 510-659-6031 Color: 4-Color Price: $400 SmithCenter.COm Insertion: Dec 1 and Dec 8 Total: $800 Contact Person: Bill Parks/Ryan 510-659-6075 (call T, Th 10-12) Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Design Firm: Amy Neiman Design Amy Neiman (510) 649-7787 [email protected] Client: Berkeley City Ballet Elizabeth Godfrey (510) 841-8913 MONITOR 6 DECEMBER 8, 2016 OPINIONS

Robots take your job, bring your dinner

ERIK HERNANDEZ/GRAPHICS

VICENTE VERA A restaurant in the Chinese The difference between humans in Shanghai Tower, it might If robots take over basic CONTRIBUTING WRITER city of Guangzhou has dis- and robots is personality. lead to even more robots service jobs, such as waitress continued its robot hostess Would you rather have a replacing human workers. and waiter, it may encourage Robots are showing up due to the robot’s clumsiness. waiter you can talk to, or a Many McDonalds restau- some people to pursue better everywhere. In hospitals, in Another thing to put into waiter that is programed to rants are introducing kisoks options. factories and now -- in pizza consideration are the mixed just take your order and bring where you can place your In a Pew Research Cen- shops? feelings order ter study, 47 percent of the A 2016 article in Advertis- people manu- people working for minimum ing Age details Pizza Hut’s have about ally in- wage work in food-prepa- new concept restaurant called robots. stead of ration and related jobs. If ph+ at the Shanghai Tower A study telling robots take those jobs, some that has a robot programmed conduct- 47 percent of the people it to a people may feel motivated to seat customers, much like ed by the “ cashier. to learn new skills, reach for a hostess. Auto Alli- Accord- higher opportunities. Others The robot looks like a mo- ance found working for minimum wage ing to a may just drop out of the job bile trash can with a mouth 42 percent Novem- market. and facial expressions. The of people ber ar- Whether you are for or article claims that the robot think self- work in food-preparation ticle in against robots taking over was introduced to ph+ in driving Fortune, jobs, at this point it seems order to attract tourists and cars are a McDon- inevitable. young customers. It sounds bad idea. If and related jobs.” alds is These robots soon may be as though the aim of the robot this many plan- serving your food and taking is to arouse curiosity and act don’t want -- Pew Research Center study ning your order. as a novelty for the Pizza Hut robots on digital Though we know about spinoff. the road, kiosks robots, the restaurant ph+ is But what happens when how many and ta- smart for taking advantage the novelty wears off? don’t want ble ser- of this novelty. Seeing a robot in a restau- them in their restaurants? your food? vice in their restaurants. It definitely captured our rant might be cute the first It can be assumed that Walking into a restaurant Robots might be a cool interest. It may be one of few times, but after a while it customers would rather have with robots replacing every novelty, but they take jobs the smartest moves to attract might get a little distracting, human-to-human interaction human employee may incite from people. young people since fast food especially if the robot is not with their waiters instead of anxiety in some people. With a On the other hand, there establishments began posting functioning properly. facing artificial intelligence. robot hostess at the Pizza Hut may be an up-side to all this. memes on social media. MONITOR OPINIONS DECEMBER 8, 2016 7 The suburban drug abuse crisis VICENTE VERA CONTRIBUTING WRITER Regulating Pharmaceuticals safe for consumption. addiction to peddle heroin. only being prescribed to cancer by Peter Katel, opioids sold The Prescription Drug User The Sackler family, which patients and end-of-life care, to What is the difference be- $294 billion worth of medicine Fee Act may have contributed owns Purdue Pharma, is the being prescribed to patients with tween a street drug dealer and worldwide, $177 billion of to the massive prescribing of 16th richest family in the coun- chronic pain. But this “chronic a pharmaceutical company? which was in United States, and OxyContin, a synthetic opioid try, with a massive $14 billion pain” category was so vague and There are many differences, but that should concern us. derived from Oxycodone. fortune. A fortune that was open ended, that many patients there may be more similarities. The Prescription Drug User OxyContin was introduced largely built by pushing masses were prescribed opioids when Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Co- Fee Act was passed by Congress by Purdue Pharma, a privately- of OxyContin into doctors’ they may have been better off deine, these are all variation in 1992 to speed up the approval held pharmaceutical company offices and hospitals around using a safer alternative. of opioids. These drugs are process of much needed drugs. based in Stamford, CT. It was the country. Pharmaceutical According to the Center marketed as medicine by drug This act also made it possible introduced in 1996, four years companies think about making for Disease Control and Pre- companies and doctors all for drug companies to pay “user after the Prescription Drug User money before they think about vention, opioid prescriptions across America. But what they fees” to the Food and Drug Ad- Fee Act was passed. OxyContin the health of their consumers. increased 7 percent from 2007 don’t want you to realize is that ministration, also known as the was a huge commercial success Which is pretty ironic, con- to 2012. This may seem like a despite the fact that opioids can FDA, in order to fund this new for Purdue Pharma. sidering the fact that they sell small increase, but considering act as medicine, they can also drug approval process. Unfortunately, this drug was medicinal products. the equally small time gap, this destroy your body, destroy your The more money drug com- extremely addictive. OxyCon- Fortunately, Purdue Pharma can grow into a big problem. life and the drug companies panies pay, the faster the FDA tin was marketed as being less did not get away with this mis- Which is a good thing for drug could care less. will review the drugs and the addictive than Oxycodone, even leading form of advertisement. companies, but it also means Opioids are substances that faster the drugs can reach the though there was no evidence as In a 2007 lawsuit, Purdue there is more risk for addiction. act on the opioid receptors in market. the time to support this claim. Pharma pled guilty to misleading It is clear at this point that your brain to produce morphine- The result of the shorter re- Surprisingly, this claim turned consumers about the real risk of drug companies don’t care if like effects. Opioids are most view time led to more harmful or out to be false. growing dependent on OxyCon- you get addicted to opioids, often used medically to relieve under-reviewed drugs reaching In 2012, the New England tin. They paid a $600 million it just means more money for pain and cough, but they are on the market for anyone with a Journal of Medicine conducted settlement, one of the biggest in them. So it is up to the FDA, also used as extremely power- prescription to obtain. Now that a study that found 76 percent pharmaceutical history. physicians and journalists to ful recreational drugs. Statistics most of the FDA’s budget for of heroin addicts seeking help Not only is Purdue Pharma at help expose the ongoing greed have shown that drug companies regulating drugs is funded from used drugs like OxyContin as fault for creating so many new of drug companies. have taken advantage of addicts. user fees, this can mean that the a gateway. This is the reason cases of opioid addiction, but Hopefully when people This should not continue. FDA might feel obligated to why drug cartels target areas so are the guidelines laid out become more aware, they will According to the article, approve drugs that may not be with statistics of high opioid by doctors. Opioids went from help end this opioid abuse crisis. Where’s our water? VICENTE VERA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Earth is the only planet we know, and it is the place we call home. Just like the houses we live in, we must take care of Earth and make sure it is habit- able for everyone on it. With the recent controversy surrounding the North Dakota pipeline, it seems a new conversation has been sparked about harboring our planet’s resources. Fossil fuels, however, are not the only non-renewable resource on the planet. Believe it or not, water is also starting to run out, yet no one seems to be worried about it. One issue with the pipeline has to do with protecting the Missouri River. The pipeline is to run under a reservoir con- nected to the river, and any oil leaked would be carried down- stream, destroying a source of drinking water. IVAN VARGAS/PHOTO EDITOR When it rains, what happens sources, groundwater is being to protect its groundwater. to all the water that doesn’t go overdrawn by two feet a year Thankfully, Gov. Jerry Brown down the storm drain? It gets in their area. Risks associated imposed cutbacks on the draw- soaked up by the soil, becoming with overdrawing water include ing of groundwater by farmers groundwater, which makes up salt water contamination and in the state. virtually all of our accessible the disappearance of lakes and “People should realize we drinking water. Unfortunately, streams. Lakes and streams also are in a new era,” Brown said. groundwater is being pumped get most of their water supply “As Californians, we must pull out of the ground faster than it from the ground -- this is called together and save water in any can be refiled. a gaining stream. way that we can.” For example, this problem A 2015 New York Times This should be a wake-up call would be equivalent to with- article suggests that excessive to all of us that drinking water drawing $100 from your savings irrigation of crops may have led is not going to as accessible in every week, even though you are to California’s major drought. the future as it might be today. only depositing $50 every week. Considering California is the Maybe the water shortage won’t Groundwater is where most of agricultural powerhouse of the affect us greatly right now, but us get our drinking water, so if United States and 80 percent we must think about our future it disappears, we will be backed of the water used in the state generations, we must save our into a corner, with nothing to goes to crops, this theory seems groundwater. If not, then in keep us hydrated. plausible. California farmers due time, water may turn into According to the Maryland have more of an obligation to a disappearing non renewable Department of Natural Re- feed the rest of the nation, than resource, just like fossil fuels. MONITOR 8 DECEMBER 8, 2016 SPORTS Will they stay? Rivalry renewed LOUIS SHAW him, if he can deliver the land that poise into the playoffs, but first GRAPHICS he could work with that. things first, win the Division. Davis, who has cut off The Kansas City Chiefs The city of Oakland has now negotiations with the City of have been underrated for the come up with a plan to save their Oakland, has already pledged majority of the season and it’s beloved team from leaving. $500 million to the stadium due mainly to the quiet leader- Early estimates for a sta- project in Las Vegas, which ship of Alex Smith. Smith is a dium renovation project in was signed into Nevada state former first overall pick back Oakland have emerged, as law in October. The rest of the in 2005 and still has much to the city attempts to keep the funding would come from a prove around the league since NFL’s Raiders from leaving hotel-tax hike ($750 million) his fellow draft mate, Aaron for Las Vegas. and casino magnate Sheldon Rodgers has already won a Su- According to the San Fran- Adelson ($650 million, plus per Bowl. The Chiefs defense, cisco Chronicle, the project would overrun costs). on paper, is not ranked so well, cost an estimated $1.3 billion. There have been reports of but being led by cornerback That is $600 million cheaper than some conflicts between Davis Marcus Peters has really helped COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES the stadium deal already in place and Adelson when it comes to the rest of the team force big in Las Vegas. This plan sets aside ownership of a potential Las QBs Alex Smith and Derek Carr shake hands postgame turnovers when needed. They 90 acres for the stadium and about Vegas Raiders franchise. This have an NFL-leading 25 take- 8,500 parking spaces. 35 acres for factor, along with several oth- JULIAN MONCALEANO the overall record 59-51-2, as aways and there are still four commercial development. The ers, could have the NFL leaning SPORTS EDITOR of 2013 the Chiefs have been games remaining on the season. A’s would be expected to build heavily toward doing business an outstanding 6-1. It will be up to Alex Smith their own stadium at Howard with Lott’s group and keeping This Thursday night’s But this year’s Raiders team who has made the playoffs Terminal. the team in Oakland, where football matchup will deter- is much different, with the four times since 2011 and has Here is the reported break- it has played its home games mine first place for the AFC emergence of MVP candidate, an impressive 11 touchdowns down for the city of Oakland’s since 1995 (and before that from West. The Oakland Raiders Derek Carr, and the stellar play to one interception in his five stadium renovation program: 1960-1981). will visit the Kansas City of All-Pro Defensive Player, playoff games. $600 million would come from Although Davis has said he Chiefs for the second, and Khalil Mack. The Raiders Andy Reid and Jack Del Rio Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott’s is committed to moving his final, face-off of the season have been tested multiple are two proven coaches in this private investment group (For- team to Las Vegas, the NFL will between these two rivals. times this year in the fourth league, who are yet to win a tress Investment Group), $200 ultimately decide the fate of the Earlier this year the Chiefs quarter and Carr has yet to Super Bowl. Reid brought the million from public funding, Raiders. All relocations must came out on top in a classic fail and show everyone why winning culture that he exem- $200 million from the NFL, be approved by a three-fourths mud bowl at the Oakland he’s arguably become the best plified in Philadelphia and Del and $300 million from Raiders vote by the league’s owners. If Alameda Coliseum and both closing quarterback in foot- Rio has brought passion back owner Mark Davis. If this deal Oakland is able to put forth even teams have continued to turn ball. Carr has never played in to his favorite childhood team. goes through, Davis could be a remotely competitive offer for heads around the league. a playoff game, while Kansas It may not come down to the asked to sell some stake in his a new/renovated stadium, the This remains one of the best City Quarterback, Alex Smith, quarterback play, perhaps it will team to Lott’s investment group. league will likely vote for the and oldest rivalries in all of has played in five. Raider fans come down to which coach can Lott has stated Mark Davis told Raiders to stay put. sports. With the Chiefs leading hope to see Carr continue his outsmart the other.

YOU’RE INVITED Discover the inclusive and welcoming community that is Pacific Oaks College. Explore our campus while learning about our degree programs, student resources, and an education that builds on your own life experience.

For additional RSVP TODAY at Dec. 17, 2016 10-11:30 a.m. information, please pacificoaks.edu/date Information session at call the Pacific Oaks campus at the San Jose Campus 669.444.1357