The main goal of Nesians Unite is to help Pacific Islander students achieve their educat

is a growing learning community to provide support for Pacific Islander students at Chabot College.is a growing learning community to provide support for Pacific Islander students at Chabot College.is a growing learning community to provide support for Pacific Islander students at Chabot College.is a growing learning community to provide support for Pacific Islander students at Chabot College.is a growing learning community to provide support for Pacific Islander students at Chabot College.

At its regular board meeting on Oct. 15, 2024, the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Board of Trustees approved a $5 million donation from Edward E. Martins, one of the board’s longest serving members.

To acknowledge the district’s largest donation, the board also approved to name Chabot College’s Building 600 The Donna and Edward Martins Library and Learning Center.

In the official press release, there was a quote from Martins, in which he expressed that “education is where dreams take root. I’m thrilled to support Chabot College because I believe it can really change lives for people in Hayward and the surrounding areas.”

With being one of the original board members back when it was called South County Community College District, he and his late wife, Donna, have been steady supporters. From regularly providing funding towards scholarships, various programs and more, they have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to supporting educational opportunities for students in the community.

In an interview, Yvonne Craig, Chabot College’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, mentioned that the $5 million is an endowment, meaning, that they’ll always have that money to tap into. She explained that “the whole $5 million is invested. It’ll always be there as an investment for the college, and no one can touch the principal.”

Over the next five years, Chabot will receive the donation in $1 million chunks. Although the funds aren’t for anything specific, how it’s utilized needs to align with the foundation’s goal of supporting Chabot College programs and students. This could mean more scholarships, program support, or even new staff.

Yvonne added, echoing Martins’ intentions, “We’re trusted to use it where students need it most.”

Edward Martins’ generous donation ensures that in the years to come, students will be provided with opportunities and resources to pursue their goals.

College dining often feels routine, but San Francisco State University (SFSU) takes it to another level with The Vista Room. Located in Rm. 401, The Vista Room stands out with a restaurant-like setting that combines variety, quality, and professionalism.

Their polished three-course menu changes three times a semester, offering a selection of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. A standout aspect of their menu is their soup and pasta of the day, along with weekly specials, providing various options. Those options include Provencal Lamb Stew, Eggplant Parmigiana, Vista Room House Salad, Mocha Panna Cotta, and Seasonal Fruit. 

Although the food quality is high with responsibly sourced ingredients, the seasoning was an issue. Some dishes, like the stew and eggplant parmigiana, were bland, so they could have delivered a more flavorful experience. Despite being well-cooked, they lacked bold flavors.  Or how the salad had too much lemon vinaigrette and salt. 

However, the desserts were a highlight. The Mocha Panna Cotta was light with a smooth texture that melted in the mouth. It had a balanced blend of sweetness and bitterness, creating a subtle complexity.

The Seasonal Fruit was a small bowl containing pineapples, raspberries, and blueberries. They were fresh and vibrant, offering a nice end to the meal.

Unlike Chabot College, where the food options are the same daily, The Vista Room at SFSU emphasizes having a wider variety and focuses on creating a dining experience. With student servers, making a reservation, and a rotating curated menu, a sophisticated and professional dining environment is created. This approach elevates the meal and makes the dining experience enjoyable.

Plans for a compressed calendar for Chabot-Las Positas Community College District leaves mixed opinions around campus.

During the district’s monthly Board of Trustees meeting the topic of the new calendar was brought up by many in attendance. The district’s plan is to shorten the academic calendar from the usual 17 to 18 weeks to 16 weeks. The goal being to increase student success and funding. Additionally, this would align with transfer institutions’ calendars. 

In an interview with the Spectator Chabot College’s President, Dr. Jamal Cooks, advocated for the change, “It would allow students flexibility in terms of more access to classes. It would allow shorter terms, from 17 and a half to 16 weeks. That would allow some of our students to be able to transfer earlier, if they needed a particular class.”

“But at the end of the day what ends up happening is that as we increase our student population, award more financial aid, and increase the number of certificates and awards, that helps us create more funding.” Dr. Cooks added.

The new calendar plans have left some feeling unheard. Chabot’s Classified Senate President, Virginia Coswell, addressed the Board during her report

“We face pressure to commit to the compressed calendar with the threat of layoffs. This decision disproportionally favors faculty without considering the well-being of other vital campus community members.” Virginia expressed her disappointment with the fact that students and the Classified Senate were excluded from the decision-making process as she said the new calendar would have the most effect on them. 

Both students and faculty have expressed concerns about the possibility of Chabot students experiencing burnout due to the change.

Dr. Jamal Cooks, addressed these concerns stating that other schools that utilize the compressed calendar would argue that having a longer schedule would cause students more burnout. He pointed out that students having classes for a more stretched out period of time can leave them feeling drained.

Additionally, classes at Chabot under the new calendar have the possibility of being longer. Student Senate President, Theresa Pedroza, expressed her concern for students with disabilities pointing out they could have a harder time adjusting to the calendar. Theresa also feels the longer classes could impact students who have multiple responsibilities outside of Chabot, such as work and or family matters.

When the new compressed calendar is implemented in the 2025-2026 school year, we will see the impact it has on students and faculty.

Former spectator Titawny Cook died under mysterious circumstances overseas while working on spreading awareness about what was going on in Ukraine.

Titawny Cook, served a tour of duty in Iraq as a U.S. Marine, doing combat logistics and security forces operating as a Cpl of the Guard and fire team leader . He later studied journalism at Chabot College and is remembered fondly by everyone who knew him.

In Titawny’s own words, “I always wanted to come to Ukraine, it’s been a goal of mine to come to this country in this time of war.” Ukraine is a war-torn country bombarded by bombings and power outages since the invasion of Russia in February 2022, where Titawny was covering the impact of Russia’s invasion and crime. Cook moved to Kyiv, Ukraine over a year ago, to start his career as a freelance journalist and was not working for any news agencies.

“Titawny believed that the story of suffering, devastation, and broken families should be reported and recognized. “I was shocked he went to a country where he didn’t know anybody, nobody, not a soul, and he was able to make friends quickly,” said Christine Cook, Titawny’s mother. As his mother, I was happy that he had decided to follow his dream, even though I was fearful, said, Christine in an interview with NBC Bay Area.

Although he was warned to not move to Ukraine nothing could waver his passion and dedication to uncovering the truth. Cook had dreamed of becoming a war correspondent and documenting the suffering in Ukraine. In a quote to KTVU Fox former Classmate and friend Diana Osaulenko said,” He was fearless. He had a brave spirit. He had a profound dedication to his work.”After serving in Iraq, Cook wanted to use his experience and expertise to document the conflict in Ukraine despite knowing it would be dangerous.

Once he’d settled in Kyiv, Cook found an apartment, made friends and began filing stories. He started learning to speak Ukrainian, fully immersing himself in a city where people adjusted to nightly curfews, sirens constantly wailed and outages frequently left the landscape pitch black. Titawny Cook had to convince faculty and administrators at Chabot, the community college he attended in Hayward, to sponsor the trip so that he could secure a press pass.

It was not long before trouble rose in the weeks prior to the passing of Cook, Christine said, her son somehow roused the suspicions of people in his circle. She didn’t know how the tension flared up, but she said Titawny was unable to navigate it due to the language barrier.

Christine said leading up to Titawny’s death she was receiving troubling calls and messages from him where he said people questioned if he was a journalist.

When she last spoke with him on July 25, he said he believed someone was inside his fifth-floor apartment with a gun. He gave her the name and phone number of another friend to call for help. Cook’s mother told the San Francisco Chronicle, “I called, told (the friend) my son was in danger and to check on him.” She called Titawny back, but he didn’t answer.

Later, she received a call from a woman who had found her son’s phone on the street. Then, on the morning of July 26, an official at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv called, saying that police had found her son lying unconscious. They transported him to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The location and circumstances of his death were not clear.

Titawny’s death is considered suspicious. Many of his personal belongings are missing and unaccounted for such as his dog tags, laptop and cellphone.

Cook did not stray from delving into the dangerous street life in Ukraine.

Osaulenko told KTVU Fox, ”The last stories he was working on involved prostitution and drugs in Ukraine,” and she believes Cook got caught up with the wrong people. Around the time of Cook’s death he was afraid to stay home.”He was afraid to stay at home the last night,” said Osaulenko to KTVU Fox. Cook’s mother, Christine says her son’s death is considered suspicious.

A U.S. Travel Advisory is in effect for Ukraine, warning Americans not to go there, due to the active conflict.

Rest In Peace Titawny Branden Lee Cook.

Nesians Unite is a growing learning community to provide support for Pacific Islander students at Chabot College.

The main goal of Nesians Unite is to help Pacific Islander students achieve their educational goals, whether that’s transferring or completing a certificate. 

Although Nesians Unite is still in the process of becoming a learning community, students have access to a large network. “They have direct access to mentorship from Nesians faculty as well as those in Movement,” Andrew Lai, a Nesians Unite instructor said. “We also have a sister program at San Francisco State, which they have access to, and we’re trying to build one at Cal State East Bay.”

Additionally, students have a community within Nesians Unite at Chabot. Although they have their own student organization, students have also started clubs, like the first ever Japanese club. Andrew mentioned that “outside of getting good grades and a degree, you have a community that’s going to be here to support you when you come to school.”

Already, Nesians Unite is a place for Pacific Islander students to feel seen, valued, and connected. Andrew also added that with Nesians Unite being under Movement, everyone can connect. If Nesians Unite or Movement is having an event, students in either program are invited, fostering more support and community.

Only one class is offered, which is Ethnic Studies 6: Introduction to Pacific Islanders and Oceania Studies. However, in Spring 2025, Ethnic Studies 13: Pacific Islander Expressive Cultures, a class that focuses on cultural arts from the Pacific, will be added.

For those interested in joining the program, you can enroll in one of the offered classes to automatically be added. Additionally, you can go to office 767 E and/or F in Building 700 to speak with one of the Nesians Unite faculty.

To find more information, you can visit the Nesians Unite page on the Chabot website: https://www.chabotcollege.edu/aapi/nesians-unite/index.php. 

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.