Interested in taking Photography 50 or 61 next semester? Take it with David Hertz. Hertz has been an instructor here at Chabot for 10 years, teaching students different techniques and the understanding of photography. Read the full story

International student from Cameroon on scholarship impresses all

Lyon College in Arkansas awarded a scholarship to Raoul Noumbissi, a second year forward/midfielder for the Gladiators soccer team.

The math major and former student tutor has been playing soccer since he was five years old. “My dream as a kid is to play professional, but if it doesn’t happen I want to get my masters and maybe teach,” Noumbissi said.

In two years, Noumbissi scored 16 goals for coach Tony Igwe’s soccer squad. His work was rewarded. All-Conference second team in 2009 and All-Conference first team in 2010.

His road to success, however, has not been easy.

A Cameroon native and a graduate from his home country’s high school, Lycee National Leon MBA, Noumbissi found his way to the U.S. as an international student.

Noumbissi lived with his sister, the only relative in this country, in Texas for his first three years. There, the soccer player attended a community college but eventually moved when he decided the south was not the place for him.

Noumbissi then found his way to the Bay Area, via a family friend. Here the soccer player wanted to continue playing and decided to look at local schools.

During his research on community college soccer teams, Noumbissi recognized coach Tony Igwe’s name from his native homeland. He knew about the coach’s soccer past with the national Nigerian team and decided to give Chabot a try.

But with a new experience and excitement at hand, moving twice in three years took a toll on the international student.

“When I met him the first time, it was hard to penetrate him” answered coach Igwe when asked about the first time he met his forward. “ He couldn’t open himself up. I had the same shock when I came to this country”, said Igwe.

Through time, Noumbissi opened up and started getting along with his teammates. He saw coach Igwe as a father figure and became close with teammate Jun Nishioka, an international student from Japan.

At first coach Igwe played Noumbissi at full back and mid field. He then realized the speed burst his future soccer player had and decided to put him at forward.

“I’m good at defending; I can play in the middle” Noumbissi answered proudly, sporting a Xavi F.C. Barcelona T-Shirt. “But forward is pretty much what I like to play,” said Noumbissi.

And at forward is where he has had his success. In a game last November, the number 9 Gladiator had a

similar touch to the ball as a professional player that also wears number 9, Samuel Eto’o, as he tourched Las Positas College with three goals in a 5-1 victory against their sister college.

In December, Noumbissi was invited to attend the 2010 Sophomore Showcase game in Santa Clarita CA. There, Noumbissi played with the North squad as they played versus the South, in a game meant for recruits and coaches to see the top talent.

After the game, recruits from Lyon College were amazed with Noumbissi’s soccer skills and contacted coach Igwe about his forward. Noumbissi traveled to Batesville, Arkansas to visit the campus and was pleased with their academic and sports program.“If I can play on a good team and go to a good school, that’s pretty much what I want to do,” said Noumbissi.

The Chabot College forensics team (not CSI) led by communications professor and forensics instructor Jason Ames has had a great run of success in debate competitions this year. This includes six individual top-ranked competitors and 10 team medals, with three first place finishes against a variety of two and four year colleges throughout the state of California and at a National level.

Competing in debate events about numerous topics from current events (such as the issues in the Middle East, the economy and other domestic policies and civil services), the forensics team has been successful against top local area colleges like UC Berkeley, San Francisco State, San Jose State, and UC Davis, as well as large number of universities from Southern California. “Its been fun being a part of the team, its really cool to see us doing so well,” said forensics team- member Clint Corvello.

Chabot is currently one of the highest ranked community college forensics teams in the state, winning the “Talk Hawk” invitational in the community college division.

Chabot also has several state and national award winner; among them are Eileen Vivian Zedd, who won: a gold medal in persuasive speech at both state and national events, a bronze medal in extemporaneous speaking at a national event, and a bronze medal in parliamentary debate alongside teammates Jessica Hollie, Jake Hewitt and Brad Bettridge. Toan Nguyen won a gold medal in programmed oral interpretation of literature; Fatima Ansary took silver in communication analysis.

Working as a team, Chabot has done well for being so low on the college totem pole, so to speak. “It’s hard for a Community College with just two coaches to compete against schools with larger teams, larger coaching staffs and multiple graduate assistants. We stress three things: education, fun, and then the competition. If you succeed with the first two, the last one seems to work out fine,” explained instructor Jason Ames.

Cooperation is a big part to the team’s success, as preparing for events is a group effort. Senior members of the staff help out the novice members in assisting in research and also giving feedback to help give a further understanding of what is being debated. Peer coaching is a big part of the development process, so everyone plays a valuable role in the team.

Jason Ames adds, “Often people join with little to no public speaking experience, people on the team have been in their position and have become successful,” and also according to Ames “forensics is the best way for a student to build critical thinking skills, persuasive skills, research skills, public speaking skills, and listening skills,” for those people who are worrisome of public speaking and presentations.

To join the Chabot forensics team, register for Communication Studies 48 and learn the tools to become a successful public speaker, debate over public issues and become an all around good student. Like forensics member Jessica Hollie said in a previous interview with The Spectator, “Don’t doubt yourself, your coaches, or your team and never ever give up. Forensics can be lovely and it can be brutal, but just like with everything else in life the hard work is so worth it in the end because the benefits are limitless.”

[media-credit name="Photo courtesy of forensics team" align="alignleft" width="590"][/media-credit]

Award winning forensic’s team, from left to right: Toan Nguyen, Jessica Hollie, Eileen Vivian Zedd, Jason Ames, Fatima Ansary, Jake Hewitt, Brad Bettridge and Katy DeNatale.

Dr. Howard J. Irvin Jr. is a man of many talents. He ran a recreation program for underprivileged children, was a police officer and sergeant, a counselor, a teacher, and in August 2010 became vice president of student services at Chabot College. It’s obvious that Irvin has made it his life’s work to help and influence others.

Irvin came from Virginia during a time when segregation was at its worst and the civil rights movement at its peak. He is truly a role model for diverse students currently dealing with a political environment that is detrimental to their education.

He attended Norfolk State University, a Historically Black University in Norfolk, Va., and then moved to California, receiving a master’s degree in counseling and a subsequent doctorate in human and organizational systems.

With an interest in psychology, Irvin joined the San Diego Police Department and then the Los Angeles Police Department where, in addition to working various assignments, he started a peer counseling group program to assist in improving community and police relations.

Irvin worked in Los Angeles during an unpredictable period which spanned Rodney King’s abuse trial and the subsequent riots and insurrection as well as O.J. Simpson’s murder trial.

As an educated man and patrol officer, Irvin was challenged once again and reminded of past memories when he lived through the civil rights movement in Virginia.

“The riots/insurrection in the 90s brought back memories of the civil rights movement. This time I was in a position of maintaining peace and calm, protecting life and property, and obviously ensuring that individuals’ civil rights were not violated during this era,” said Irvin.

After 20 years in the LAPD Irvin retired as a sergeant. Most people would have gladly enjoyed the freedoms of retirement, but Irvin chose to continue as a public servant and began counseling in the community college system. He later accepted a counseling position at De Anza College in Cupertino, Calif., eventually becoming dean of counseling.

When looking at the number of years of service, one gets the feeling that Irvin has a lot of fortitude and passion. Altogether he spent 24 years in police work, four years as an adjunct counselor and instructor at various community colleges, and nearly 10 years’ work at De Anza College before accepting the vice president position at Chabot College.

After the trials and tribulations he endured through the difficult periods in Virginia and Los Angeles, coupled with his varied experiences in the community college system, Irvin is well prepared for his new role at Chabot College.

Even though Irvin’s responsibility now encompasses student life, financial aid, counseling, admissions and all other student service areas, his background and experience go far enough to handle these areas with a masterful touch.

Looking back at his various careers, diversity and creativity are Irvin’s hallmark. As a result he recognizes that same ingenuity at Chabot College with its multicultural programs.

“I believe in walking around and getting to know the faculty and staff, the student population …. It’s important for me to know all of that before I can effect change,” said Irvin.

Astronomy and Physics Instructor Billy Smith is one of the few professors who are attempting to enlighten today’s Chabot students with what’s happening in the universe. Since the time of Carl Sagan (1934-96) discoveries in science have been plentiful.

Yet in spite of this the current United States ranking is 21st in science and 25th in math. This is even after President Barack Obama put forward his plan for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Nonetheless here at Chabot, with the help of two other professors, Billy Smith has made it his mission to bring the stars to us.

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David Hertz helps his students excell by allowing them to learn in their own ability and pace

Jack Barnwell / Staff Photo

Maggie Wilson / Opinion Editor

Photography instructor David Hertz stands next to a student explaining how to improve her photograph.
When asked why he chose photography, he answers, “There was something about it. It hooked me.”
“What really inspires me is just the magic that happens in the darkroom. You go from a blank paper and put it into the chemistry and you come out with a photograph.”
Hertz currently teaches Photo 62, a portfolio class that allows students to build new work.  The class’s work is currently on display in Chabot’s art gallery.
Starting out at Diablo Valley College in 1986,  he was hooked from his first encounter in the dark room. Not long after, he obtained his master’s degree at Academy of Arts University in San Francisco.
Richard Avedon, a pop-culture photographer, is one of Hertz’s heroes. Julian Harbison, a student of Hertz, agrees that Avedon is an inspirational photographer.
“They are almost like magic.” said Harbison.
“Cindy Sherman is another photographer I like  because of the way she puts herself in her photographs,” said Hertz.
Both Harbison and Hertz work in black and white photography.
Hertz said, “I do my work in black and white I started in color, but Chabot no longer offers color.”
Looking at his student, he smiles warmly. “ I have taught here since the summer of 2000, and before that I was a instruction, support technician for seven years at California State East Bay,” said Hertz.
“I’ve been doing this for about five months now,” said Harbison. “Hertz is awesome, He doesn’t bombard you. He is open to how you learn and lets you absorb the information in your own time.”
Hertz and Harbison continue to critique the photos lying on the counter. Hertz squints a little and smiles as Harbison takes on the infectious feeling of confidence.
The spacious room with a curtained room to the left leaves one excited to know what is truly being developed in the darkroom now.

Maggie Wilson / Opinion Editor

Jack Barnwell / Staff Photo

Across from the Chabot Gallery is a hallway lined with blueprints. In Room 905 architecture instructor Adrian Huang stands in front of his class gesturing to the diagram on his white board.
Huang teaches architecture via AutoCAD. AutoCAD is an architectural design software program.
“AutoCAD is more efficient than when we used to use blue prints,” said Huang.
He walks to his office and points to a model. The models fill his office and books are stacked up like the towers that his students create in AutoCAD. “We use AutoCAD to create models to avoid mistakes in the field.”
Vincent Giovannoni is a landscape designer in his second quarter in the architecture program. “People referenced AutoCAD, so I came back just to take the AutoCAD course.
Adrian’s teaching was so great I came kept coming back,” Giovannoni said.
“His style makes it [learning AutoCAD] fun. He has a great understanding of how people learn.”
“I try to integrate architecture and interior design into one program as well as to use more green materials,” he said.
His students are both professionals and beginning students.
Giovannoni said doing all this computer work can be dry. “AutoCAD is a tool, but once you learn it, AutoCAD becomes fun,” he said.
Eva Sarracco, a landscape architect, concurs that the program is very good here.
“My learning experience has been good. Adrian is fun and very encouraging with students,” Sarracco  said. “I started in architecture 68 two years ago. I find that AutoCAD is helpful in many facets: landscape architecture, architecture and even construction.”
“You have to work with it, [AutoCAD]” said Giovannoni. “It’s like learning a new language.”
Eva agreed. “My advice would be don’t be discouraged. It’s rewarding. Do what you love, and if this is what you love to do, then do it.” Giovannoni sits down at this paper filled desk.
“When your design comes true. It grows into reality that is what makes it fun,” he said with a grin.
Huang majored in architecture and graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and the University of California, Berkeley.
Recently he has proposed to Chabot’s curriculum board that an internship program be created as well as a certification program for architectural technology.
Huang is planning to develop the computer labs into Building Information Modeling, (BIM) which gathers data from the interior flow and usage of the home for impact analysis.
BIM is popular at four-year universities. Five of his students applied to UC Berkeley and four were accepted. One student went to Cal Poly Pomona.
“My next goal is to get some students into Ivy League colleges like Yale, Duke and Stanford,” he said.
The success of his program is due to the detail he encourages.

Abraham Rodriguez/ Staff Photo

Sitting in his office in the back of the Chabot maintenance building, East Oakland native Gregory Correa recalls the 1960s and 1970s when he saw the Black Panthers rise, the hippie movement and the summer of love. If you ask Correa today what he considers himself, he’ll tell you.

“I’m a man for all seasons, a universal person who believes that all people have a certain right, a right to pursue happiness and respect each other,” he says. “I’m a rebel.”

Correa was recently elected as one of three union representatives in Alameda County representing SEIU 1021’s employees. SEIU 1021 has around 55,000 union employees in Northern California.

During the protests in March, Correa spoke to students in San Francisco advocating against budget cuts to public education. In the March 22 protest in Sacramento, Correa helped provide transportation to those wanting to attend from Chabot. He’s a very vocal activist.

“I’ve seen a lot of things go on. I don’t always agree with what’s going on,” said Correa. “ I think the district office  should be a little more involved in the everyday process. I don’t mean dictating by email. I mean by coming here and seeing what this school is all about. If you have your leaders come and intermingle with students its gives a person a sense of drive.”

When not being politically active, Correa runs a show on KCTH called “Harmonics” where he interviews musicians and artists from a broad range of genres. The show broadcasts all over California and people often come up to him and ask for autographs.

“When somebody asks you for an autograph, it’s really humbling,” said Correa. “Just recently I walked into a place of business and the lady sitting behind the counter threw up her arms in the air and said, ‘I can’t believe you’re in my store!’ It really makes you humble.”

Correa also has a number of side projects focusing on music. His new band, Incognito, is set to start playing at a number of venues within a couple of months. It plays homage to old blues musicians.

Correa’s faceted adventure started in East Oakland, off  High Street. He attended Fremont High and played for the school’s basketball team. After high school, he attended Chabot and graduated with a degree. During the early ‘70s, he toured with a rock band called Peak with his brother and members  like Vincent Black, a musician that came to California with Alice Cooper.

Correa recalls a time when he sneaked a camera into a Queen concert and took some photos of Freddie Mercury, weeks before Mercury’s death. Correa was being chased by security guards and managed to get some photos before having to leave the area. Years later, he says, after reviewing them with a friend, he discovered they could be worth thousands but he still has not sold them.

After his marriage to his wife Victoria, Correa would then go on to on a number of roles. He taught basketball, middle school classrooms and would eventually stay on board in Chabot as a maintenance tech.

Correa is also wrapping up a novel he’s been writing for a while now, about a Major League Baseball umpire going back to the Little League and working with kids. He’s hoping it gets the proper movie script treatment.