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/.