CURRENT The American River
ACTIVE SHOOTER:
LRPD TRAINS COLLEGE EMPLOYEES TO RUN, HIDE, FIGHT IN CASE OF GUNMAN ON CAMPUS PAGE 2
/ARCurrentcom
Vol. 67, Ed. 5
@ARCurrent
ARCURRENT.COM
SAC CITY REPORT:
INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF SCC SHOOTING SAID THAT ‘HUMAN ERROR’ CAUSED EMERGENCY TEXT DELAY PAGE 3
@ARCurrent
November 4, 2015
AN AMERICAN RIVER CURRENT SPECIAL REPORT
VETERANS RECOUNT THE TRANSITION FROM SOLDIER TO STUDENT, MADE EASIER THROUGH THE VRC AFGHAN IMMIGRANTS SPEAK OUT ABOUT LIVING IN FEAR OF TALIBAN VIOLENCE
W
ithin the next few years, those beginning in college or joining the military will have little to no memories of an America that wasn’t involved in conflict in Afghanistan—though for many Americans, the reality of war never hit home. Even though the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan officially ended last year, President Barack Obama announced last month that 9,800 U.S. troops will remain there until the end of 2016 at the earliest. Three members of American River College’s veteran community—one of the largest in the state—spoke about their time serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the transition to life back home, which presents unique challenges. For those born and raised in Afghanistan, the pressing choice to stay or flee is their reality. Two Afghans, Mahjabeen Zazai and Hamid Hafezy, made the decision to leave—both under threat of death from the Taliban. People from both walks of life can be found in America, and also at American River College.
Hamid Hafezy, left, meets thenAfghan President Hamid Karzai at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi in 2012. Hafezy, now an ARC student, said that he told Karzai about the conditions for Afghan scholars in India. Photo courtesy of Hamid Hafezy
FOR PROFILES OF ARC’S VETERANS AND AFGHAN IMMIGRANTS, TURN TO PAGES 4, 5 AND 6.
Student recounts strong-arm robbery VICTIM WAS ATTACKED AT THE BUS STOP ON COLLEGE OAK DRIVE By John Ferrannini jferr1995@gmail.com After her nighttime English class got out on Oct. 19, American River College student Monea Mitchell was waiting alone for the No. 1 bus on College Oak Drive. Within minutes, the first-semester, 18-year-old ARC student was the victim of a strong-arm robbery, just a few yards from the administration building. “I was just looking at my phone, and a man approached me and
said ‘My friend said you stole his phone, an iPhone,’ ” said Mitchell. The man, who crossed the street from the divide in the middle of College Oak, was quickly joined by another, who came at Mitchell from the staff parking lot. “I was backing away. He (the first man) took my longboard. He said ‘If you give me the phone, I’ll give you the longboard,’ ” said Mitchell. “I was fumbling through my phone, whether to call the police or call my mom. The recents
came up and I accidentally called my mom. “He (the second man) said ‘If she tries to call anyone, just shoot her ass, just cap her ass.’ ” Mitchell said that she initially thought of handing over her cellphone in exchange for her skateboard, but that after her life was threatened, she didn’t want to lose her only way of getting help. “That’s what made me feel so terrified. I wouldn’t feel safe without my phone,” said Mitchell.
ROBBERY | PAGE 2
John Ferrannini / jferr1995@gmail.com
Monea Mitchell’s replacement skateboard, given to her by her mother and stepmother, is inscribed “Never Let Anyone Steal Your Sunshine.”
Page 2
November 4, 2015
News
School prepares for shooter OFFICER PORTRAYS ACTIVE GUNMAN IN STUDENT CENTER AS EMPLOYEES RUN AND HIDE By John Ferrannini and Michael Pacheco jferr1995@gmail.com mfpach@gmail.com The Los Rios Police Department held an active shooter drill in the Student Center on Oct. 16 to better inform American River College students, faculty, administration and staff how to respond to those whose “overwhelming objective is to commit mass murder.” Officer Andrew Simon, wearing a red body suit and using a starter pistol, portrayed an active shooter as those participating decided whether to run, hide or fight. “I saw lots of running away from danger, which is good,” said Simon. “I’m very pleased.” Lt. Daniel Broussard of the Los Rios Police Department led the drill. Broussard said that different buildings can request a drill be done in their area, but that there have been more requests than usual since the Sept. 3 shooting at Sacramento City College that left one dead and two injured. “We don’t do this stuff to scare you; we do it to prepare you,” said Broussard before the drill. “It sounds like a real gun.” Faculty and staff who work in the Student Center joined Manuel
Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com
Officer Chuck Mabanag displays the non-lethal blank ammunition and starter pistol that was used during the Student Center training on Oct. 16.
Perez, the dean of student development, in participating. “This is our effort—as a college—for seeing that our campus community has the resources for health and wellness,” said Perez. Most of those participating managed to escape within a minute of the initial gunfire. Several hid and Simon was unable to find them. None actively engaged Simon. Before the drill, Perez advised participants to be careful if they chose to do so. The drill was preceded by two workshops led by Brous-
sard, who emphasized the three main options available to people caught in an active shooter situation: running, hiding or fighting. Broussard said that running is always the first option. “If you can get out, do,” said Broussard. “Always try to escape even when others insist on staying. Leave belongings behind.” Broussard said that once people escape, they should call the police. Although he encouraged calling 911, he said that it would be more efficient from the law enforcement angle to call the Los Rios police directly at 916-558-
2221. “That’s the fastest way to get help on campus,” said Broussard. “We have the opportunity to talk to the neighboring agencies.” Broussard said that if a safe escape is impossible, hiding is the next best option, preferably with some cover. “The thing you want to prioritize is to be out of the shooter’s view,” said Broussard. “They’re looking for objects of opportunity.” Broussard also encouraged people to turn their cell phones off if they’re in an active shooter situation. “The last thing you want is for the bad guy to be walking by and your cell phone goes off,” said Broussard. If the options of escaping and hiding are not available, Broussard said that the best option is a confrontation with the shooter. The best weapon is “anything you can get your hands on,” such as computers, pens, books and even fire extinguishers. “Wack them across the head (with a fire extinguisher) until they stop moving,” said Broussard. “You do whatever it takes and keep going until they stop being a threat. … Don’t huddle in a corner. You’re much more likely to survive if you engage him and stop the threat.”
Robbery: Suspects claimed to have gun CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “(One of the men) grabbed my wrist, and my screams started then.” Mitchell started running. The suspects, skateboard in hand, ran across College Oak. “I ran to Lot D,” said Mitchell. “They ran the same way, but on the other side (of the street). … I was afraid that they would shoot, so I was hiding in the trees and got behind one.” According to an email sent to ARC students on Oct. 20, the morning after the robbery, the two suspects kept running northbound toward Auburn Boulevard. Meanwhile, Mitchell’s mother was listening to her daughter’s screams on her
“
He said ‘If she tries to call anyone, just shoot her ass, just cap her ass.’ phone. She called 911, but was told that Monea had to so that the police could track her location. According to the email, the incident was reported at 9:35 p.m. Officers from the Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene and Mitchell gave a description of the suspects. Mitchell said she had just started using public transit regularly to get to and from her classes on the ARC main campus and at the McClellan Center.
ASBNOTEBOOK By Jordan Schauberger jschauberger94@gmail.com Both Associated Student Body Student Senate President David Hylton and Los Rios Student Trustee Cameron Weaver have survived efforts to recall them from their positions this month. It was announced, prior to the Senate meeting Thursday, that although 72 percent of the students who voted in a special election on eServices wanted to remove Hylton, the required amount of 75 percent was not met. Hylton became acting presi-
”
–MONEAMITCHELL
dent after Student Senate President Garrett Kegel and Vice President Sam Kinsey abruptly resigned at the end of September. The recall election was triggered by a petition of students requesting an election after Hylton’s comments questioning the conduct of Israel and supporting Weaver, who said he was “skeptical” about whether the Holocaust actually took place. The petition was started by Jorge Riley, who served as acting Student Senate president in the fall 2013 semester. Hylton declined to comment unless questions were emailed to him before hand.
While she still uses buses during the day, she gets rides to and from her night time English class. This year, Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) began the “See It, Hear It, Report It” campaign in an attempt to promote safety. The campaign urges passengers to report emergencies to 911 and to report non-emergency crimes to private security hired by RT or to RT police. Alane Masui, the director of communications for Regional
Transit, said that crime connected to RT buses, light rail trains and stops has decreased by 25 percent in the last year. “Oftentimes, RT bus stops are no more than a pole or bench on a street,” said Masui. “Customers waiting for a bus are no different than anyone else who may be walking or standing on the street and may be the victim of a crime.” Mitchell’s mother and stepmother put down the money for her to buy a new skateboard. “I was really upset about what had happened,” said Mitchell, noting that a skateboard with the same design as her old one was “hard to find.” “It’s (the new skateboard) engraved ‘Monea, never let anyone steal your sunshine,’ ” she said.
SENATE PRESIDENT AND STUDENT TRUSTEE SURVIVE RECALL EFFORTS
Of the 241 students who voted, 173 voted in favor of the recall and 68 voted against, according to the Center for Leadership and Development.
Trustee ‘skeptical’ of the Holocaust to remain in office Folsom Lake College joined American River College in voting against an effort to recall Weaver. Three of the four Los Rios student governments had to vote to recall for a special election to be held. The ARC Student Senate voted 8-2 against the proposal on Oct. 15. “I think they (the board mem-
bers who voted against recalling Weaver) voted from friendship,” said Sen. Tamara Dunning. “They didn’t vote from an ‘elected official’ mindset.” During public comment, Weaver said that he has been “misrepresented” by all of the media coverage of his comments. “Despite the fact that I’ve been completely misrepresented in ARC Current’s initial coverage as well as all the subsequent local news coverage, I recognize that this entire event has cast the district in a negative light,” said Weaver. “From the very bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry that I am the epicenter of this.”
american river
current Editor-in-Chief John Ferrannini Managing Editors Matthew Peirson Kevin Sheridan News Editor Lena DoBynes Sports Editors Nicholas Corey Matthew Nober t Arts and Culture Editor Joseph Daniels Scene Editors Emily Thompson Ashley Nanfria Opinion Editor Mychael Jones Multimedia Editor Kameron Schmid Copy Editor Jordan Schauberger Web Editor Barbara Har vey Staff Noor Abasi Jose Garcia Johnnie Heard Michael Pacheco Joe Padilla Karen Reay Adviser Walter Hammer wold Photo Adviser Jill Wagner
PROUD MEMBERS OF THE CNPA & JACC
POLICY The Current is produced by the students of College Media Production, J410-413. All opinions are signed and not necessarily endorsed by the Current staff. All letters and articles appearing in the Editorial, Opinion or Forum sections are not necessarily representative of the Current staff or American River College policy. All articles are the property of the Current. Letters must be typed and can be submitted by mail, e-mail or in person at the following addresses: The American River Current 4700 College Oak Drive Liberal Arts, Room 120 Sacramento, CA 95841 Phone: 916-484-8304 Fax: 916-484-8668 E-mail: Current@arc.losrios.edu www.ARCurrent.com
Page 3
November 4, 2015
News
Report: text alert ‘inexcusably delayed’ REVIEW OF THE SEPT. 3 SAC CITY SHOOTING RECOMMENDS PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM, MORE STAFF TRAINING By John Ferrannini jferr1995@gmail.com An external report released by the Los Rios Community College District on Oct. 22 said that although the overall response to the Sept. 3 shooting at Sacramento City College was “more than acceptable,” the ALERT text system was “inexcusably delayed.” The report on the shooting that left one man dead and two injured made recommendations on improving the district’s emergency response going forward. It took 45 minutes for students to be notified of the shooting through the Los Rios ALERT text message system. “The report noted with respect to the text notification that the response was unacceptable,” said Los Rios Chancellor Brian King. “Overall, the fortunate part of this instance is that it’s a great chance to learn how to improve the system because there was no active shooter.” Messages sent through the ALERT system, which students can sign up for at registration on eServices, have to go through W.A.R.N. Command, a Tennesseebased company. SCC Public Information Officer Rick Brewer told the Current on Sept. 17 that he had problems logging on to the system to send out the message.
“After five minutes of me trying to log on to the computer, I called. There’s an 800 number, actually there are two, and I called them and ended up dictating the message,” said Brewer. “I was having trouble accessing the system and I don’t know why.” The report clarified that Brewer was having problems with the access code, although King said that he didn’t know what that problem was specifically and Brewer said he was not cleared to release that information as of press time. More than 100 personnel didn’t receive the ALERT message. King said that steps have been taken to ensure that W.A.R.N. Command would be able to send messages to them in the event that the ALERT system needs to be used again. King said that the district is following up on some of the recommendations made in the report, which was prepared by former FBI agent Mike Rayfield. He said that Los Rios employees are being trained about how to use the ALERT system even with distractions, including “sounds and questions—what actually happens in emergency situations.” King also mentioned opportunities for a public announcement system. Page 15 of the report recommends that the district “consider
Ashlynn Johnson / ashlynn.johnson1295@gmail.com
A report released by the district said that while the response to the Sept. 3 SCC shooting was “more than acceptable,” the ALERT text message system was “inexcusably delayed” when it took 45 minutes for a message to be sent.
a system that would flash the alert on college electronic marquees” and find a way to flash an alert on school computers. King defended a portion of the report, on page 5, that said “In spite of the absence of a W.A.R.N. notification, the combination of email, text messages, phone calls and social networking allowed the staff of SCC to become aware of the situation and immediately
begin advising students and others.” Some SCC staff said that they were not aware of the school lock down until the ALERT message was sent at 4:41 p.m. “I don’t think there’s any one form of information that reaches out to everyone,” said King. “You’re always going to have word of mouth.” Los Rios Chief of Police Cheryl
Sears said that although district emergency procedures are effective, they need to be more understood. “For (emergency plans) to be effective, these plans and protocols must be widely shared and easily understood, practiced and revised on a regular basis and— when necessary—implemented with speed and purpose,” Sears said in an Oct. 22 press release.
ARC launches students into NASA’s orbit
ON-SITE TRAINING ‘TOO GOOD TO PASS UP’ AND INCLUDED DESIGNING A ROVER FOR EXPLORATION OF MARS By Lena DoBynes lena.dobynes@gmail.com Three American River College students had the opportunity to participate in a three-day on-site experience at NASA facilities in October. Biomedical engineering major Ralph Salazar, computer science major Anita Souv, and computer and electrical engineering major Cecilie Thompson applied to take part in NASA’s Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) online learning course in the summer of 2014. Souv heard about the program through the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program on campus, a learning community that seeks to help students in the fields of math and science perform well academically and grow professionally. “I have followed the activities of NASA over the years and to have an opportunity to be involved was just too good to pass up,” said Souv. In order to apply, each applicant is required to provide personal information, such as his or her name and address as well as educational information, a 300word essay on the reason the applicant was interested in the NASA experience and a letter of recommendation. If NASA selects a candidate’s application, he or she moves on to the next phase of the program, a web-based learning course. During the five-week online course, applicants are required to listen to webinars from NASA engineers and scientists, read materials provided by NASA and take tests on them as well as design a 3-D model of a rover and plan a mission to Mars. Thompson’s mission focused mostly on
Lena DoBynes / lena.dobynes@gmail.com
American River College student Cecile Thompson, left, was chosen to participate in the NASA on-site experience in Edwards, California. She will create a rover that might be able to function properly if placed on the surface of Mars.
obtaining water from the rocks on Mars with the goal of creating a Mars atmosphere that could one day be “Earth independent.” “According to the material I read on the online portion, the closer that you got to the core the higher chance of finding water and in the Martian rocks there was some degree of water within them that could be obtained by compressing the rocks. “So my mission was pretty much taking these habitats that they created with enough water supply to last for a little bit, and while using that water supply, drilling on Mars and compressing all these rocks to obtain more water so that we can keep
these ecosystems going,” said Thompson about her mission. Thompson believes that she was picked to participate in the program because of the rebellious path she chose. “That was kind of drilled into us: ‘There is no water on Mars, we are still trying to look for it but right now there is no water, there is no water.’ And so I kind of thought, ‘OK, you keep telling me there is no water so I’m just going to make my mission completely around going to Mars and getting water—and then I did that and all of sudden it’s like ‘Oh, we found water’ and I was like ‘Oh, OK, you found water now, did you? Who called that?’ ”
Salazar believes the program is a way for NASA to find fresh ways of thinking. “NASA is trying to get new ideas, because there is only so much that maybe 100 people can think of, but if you got the masses to put in their information, too, even if it is anonymous you could find something that’s worthwhile,” said Salazar. Once the online portion of the application is completed, NASA selects a particular group of students who stood out during the web-based portion and offers them a chance to stay on-site at one of the 10 field centers spread across the United States. Activities while on-site include working on an investigative team project headed by NASA engineers, attending briefings by engineers and scientists and touring the NASA facilities. While Souv and Thompson were surprised and excited when they heard about their acceptance to participate in the onsite experience, Salazar, who was working 16-hour shifts on top of going to school at the time, had mixed feelings. “Honestly, inside I was really excited, but physically I showed nothing because I was constantly thinking, ‘That’s great, but what’s next?’ It just kind of became old news in five minutes.” Salazar and Thompson attended the field center at the Armstrong Flight Research Center at the Edwards Air Force Base in southern California to perform research-based projects and create rovers that could land on Mars and collect data. Souv traveled to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California to learn about project management for large projects and create a fictional, model company that can compete against other companies.
November 4, 2015
Page 4
Faces of War
‘EVERYTHING YOU USED
Left and center photos courtesy of Colin Lewis, right by Barbara Harvey
ARC student Colin Lewis was deployed to both Bagram and an area near Kabul in Afghanistan. Lewis credits the Veterans Resource Center with helping veterans succeed as students.
By Barbara Harvey
MICHAEL MONK: ‘Some people want to be
barbaraapharvey@gmail.com
doctors, firemen. ... I wanted to be a soldier.’
DAN AVEGALIO: ‘It was a rough time being
Unlike some of his peers at the VRC, retired Army Sgt. Michael Monk, 27, never wanted to leave the service. Monk had wanted to be a soldier for as long as he can remember. “Some people want to become doctors, firemen. … I wanted to be a soldier,” Monk said. Monk describes his former role in the military with a large dose of humor. “Ever watch the movies and see that a------ with the radio on his back calling a lot, and he tends to get shot? (I was) that guy.” Monk was deployed three times during his seven years of service—twice to Iraq, and once to Afghanistan. While deployed, Monk was seriously harmed by an explosion. Monk recounts the incident with a deadpan delivery. “Afghans and Iraqis don’t like you very much. I thought we were going to play freeze tag, they said, ‘We’re going to hit you with a bomb,’ bit of miscommunication there. Did not get the memo.” Monk was left critically injured after the attack. The Army later deemed him too injured to serve and retired him. Monk disagreed with their assessment, saying he was only “moderately hurt—some burns, some nerve damage, minor details.” After being discharged, Monk didn’t know where to go or what to do. His grandmother stepped in. “She said, ‘You’re going to go to AR, go to Sac State, go to McGeorge and become an attorney.’ ” he said. “That’s what she did.” Monk’s transition was made more difficult by the loss of the rigid Army structure. “I didn’t talk to anyone. The culture of values were so off. ... It’s very confusing. You lose your position, all sense of self,” Monk said. “When I first came out, I found the VRC. If it wasn’t for the VRC I’d have been turned away.” Furthermore, Monk explains, other students often made the adjustment process more difficult by showing a lack of tact when asking questions and making assumptions. “The questions you always hear from civilians: ‘Ever kill anyone? Have PTSD?’ F---ing consistently.” Monk’s breaking point was averted when he found the VRC. “Roger (a VRC employee) listened to me, said ‘Alright, you’re stressed out, but we’re going to help you. Done ranting? OK, now fill this out.’ It wasn’t a judgement
deployed all the time.’
Just one month after his discharge from the Marine Corps, 30-year-old Dan Avegalio began his college career by enrolling at American River College in the fall of 2009. Avegalio, who was deployed three times to Iraq, found himself in a situation similar to many recentlydischarged servicemembers who come to college: the long, hard, adjustment back to civilian life, compounded by the lack of cohesive veteran’s services on campus, frustrated him. “It was a rough time being deployed all the time, and transitioning to life back home was really difficult for me,” Avegalio said. When Avegalio came to ARC for the first time, the award-winning Veterans Resource Center that ARC boasts today was just an idea. Services for student veterans were scattered across the campus and the various offices were understaffed. “We didn’t have the Veterans Resource Center when I was here. I wish they did. … There was a frustration, not having anyone to relate to, and not getting clear answers anywhere on campus.” After graduating from ARC and transferring to Sacramento State, where he got his bachelor’s degree in psychology, Avegalio returned to ARC to work at the new Veterans Resource Center on campus. “We felt unsupported when I was going here, and a lot of us wanted to quit,” Avegalio said. “That’s why I got into this job. I was looking for ways to give back and help out other veterans.” At a recent ARC-hosted event, many of the largest community colleges in California came to learn the best practices of the VRC from Avegalio, who coworker Amanda Carroll told attendees has been transformational to the program. Perhaps because of the wealth of services and support, ARC is home to one of the largest veteran student communities in California, with 1,500 enrolled students in 2015. Avegalio’s coworkers, as well as students at the VRC, said that as a veteran himself, Avegalio brings an understanding and relatability to the program that is a relief for veterans during the difficult transition back to civilian life.
thing. People weren’t turned off by the swearing, the frustration, because they understood it. You’ve lost everything. Your job, your sense of self, everything you used to be is gone.” Monk now works with Avegalio at the VRC as a workstudy while majoring in English at Sacramento State. He cares deeply about helping out other vets. “I like to find other vets with the same issues and take care of them. Dan (Avegalio) is good at teaching ‘how to people’ again. We call it ‘peopling.’ ”
COLIN LEWIS: ‘I hate the medical field. ... You see everyone at their worst all the time.’
Before enlisting, Colin Lewis had desperately wanted to get out of Mississippi. “There’s not really much to do there,” Lewis said of his home state. Lewis needed a job to do that, and the men in his family had a tradition of service. He enlisted and was deployed to Afghanistan as a combat medic. Now an electrical engineering and computer science major, Lewis served as both an Air Force firefighter and an Army combat medic. “I was in two places, Bagram, in the north, and the Kabul airport—just south of that. When I first started, we were doing ambulance missions and evacuations for the critically wounded. Every 10 minutes or 30 minutes, we we had critically wounded getting shuffled. And we responded to any emergencies,” Lewis said of his day-to-day duties. Despite his background, Lewis chose a major far from the medical field. “I hate the medical field. Everything about it. You see everybody at their worst, all the time. It was just depressing,” Lewis said. “I saved up two or three years of leave, and came back to school while I was still active duty for a whole semester.” At first, Lewis felt isolated and struggled to transition. “It was a big transition. It was tough. … I couldn’t make friends—I was full Army. … I’m just now building friends outside of the veteran community,” Lewis said. Lewis found support in the community of vets at ARC through both the VRC and the on-campus Veteran’s Club. “It’s always easier when you have somebody who has been through some of the same things as you,” Lewis said. “I think it’s important for veterans who have no other place to turn to come (to the VRC) and find a place that’s here for nothing but to benefit them.”
‘THEY’RE ... LEAVING
Faces of War
November 4, 2015
Page 5
TO BE IS GONE.’ By Cheyenne Drury and Matthew Peirson cheyennemdrury@gmail.com matthewpeirson@gmail.com
MAHJABEEN ZAZAI: “I do not
just pray for (the) Muslim community. I pray for all people. ... send angels and collect the guns.”
Six years after she was shot in a random attack by an unidentified gunman, American River College student Mahjabeen Zazai and her mother were moved in 2011 from Pakistan to the United States through the International Rescue Committee (IRC). South Asia has been the site of armed conflicts for decades, leading many to flee to other parts of the world. Zazai is just one of the thousands who have been relocated to the U.S. through a resettlement agency. “The reason I came is definitely safety, and I wanted to continue my education,” said Zazai. Born in India to Afghan parents, she lived in Pakistan in the years preceding her relocation to the U.S. in 2011. Zazai and her father were attacked and Zazai was shot in the leg in 2005 by an unidentified gunman as they walked up to a store where she frequently shopped while living in Pakistan. “I was shot once. … my leg was all wet and I went inside the store and I remember it being very hot and I remember I started feeling pain,” said Zazai. “The doctors told me I was lucky they were not going to cut off my leg.” Zazai said the social stigma attached to disabled women in her country is drastic. “Back home a lady without parts of the body … who will take care of that lady? No one will have her or let her work,” Zazai said. Zazai graduated from high school when she was 15 years old and shortly afterward started teaching at a college through the IRC. By the time she was 18 years old, she was the school’s director from 2005 to 2007. In 2006, Zazai and her immediate family were planning to move to the U.S., but it was Zazai’s idea to return to Afghanistan briefly to say goodbye to other family. One night during that visit, Zazai’s father and his driver were in a car that was suddenly stopped by several men. The men ordered the driver to leave on foot, leaving Zazai’s father alone. “(The) Taliban killed my dad because he was a businessman,” said Zazai. “He was well-educated; he was helping people.” Zazai’s father was then shot several times in both of his legs, severely beaten and hanged. “Still I blame myself for why we go visit family in Afghanistan,” Zazai said. A group of his friends and Zazai’s family brought her father’s body to the house at 11 p.m. that night. Zazai said she sat with the body until 6 a.m. Zazai said that she could see seven or eight bullet wounds in total on both of
John Ferrannini / jferr1995@gmail.com
ARC student Mahjabeen Zazai sits with the lesson plans she used when she taught English in her native country of Afghanistan. Zazai’s father was murdered by the Taliban, and Zazai was shot by an unidentified gunman while living in Pakistan.
her father’s legs. After taking the body to the hospital, Zazai said doctors gave the body an injection. When it had no effect, her father was officially pronounced dead in the early hours of the morning. “The person who all the time encourages me was gone,” said Zazai. Shortly after her father’s death, Zazai’s sister was attacked by three armed men as she was walking to her job at the airport. “I think maybe because she (was going to) work … that’s why they hit her (with) their car,” said Zazai. “Three gunmen came out of the car to attack, but airport security interfered.” The attack left her sister wheelchairbound for 12 days. Zazai said that when these types of incidents occur, if the pursued person (in this instance, her father) is dead, they will attack the person’s children. As a result, Zazai was targeted for her education and ability to teach others, which led her to fear for her safety. From 2007 to 2011, Zazai was practically isolated inside her own home. “My sister told me ‘You’re going to stay in the house,’ ” said Zazai. After spending nearly half a decade inside of her family’s home, Zazai and her mother were relocated to Sacramento. Zazai said that when she came to the United States, she chose Sacramento because she doesn’t like the snow. She didn’t know at the time that she had chosen one of the most racially diverse cities in California. Zazai described her first years in the
U.S. as “uncomfortable” and “alien.” “At the beginning when I came … I didn’t feel comfortable,” said Zazai. “I didn’t have any support from my brothers or anyone. … they wanted me to experience things on my own. They said ‘She can do it. ... but she’s afraid.’ ” Zazai decided to go to community college to catch up on credits she earned in Pakistan that do not transfer to American colleges. Her official transcripts were lost in a fire. Zazai has struggled with more than just feeling uncomfortable being placed next to men in her classes at ARC, having encountered prejudice at local stores. “When I see my head dresses in my closet, I look away. I don’t want to wear them,” Zazai said. “Still, I keep it there because I don’t want to forget that part of my life.” Zazai said she has dealt with feelings of guilt and helplessness for not being able to assist her sister and nieces back home. “Sometimes I feel like I am not a good aunt. … I tried two times to get them over here,” said Zazai. “My sister’s husband is a famous politician of Afghanistan. … he’s been attacked three times and I fear for them all. “(My sister) doesn’t want money for eating; she doesn’t want money for clothes; she doesn’t want money for buying a house. She justs wants safety.” Zazai said that her sister has been unable to obtain a visa to get her into the U.S., though Zazai doesn’t blame the U.S. for not issuing one. An Arabic church in Sacramento is-
sued an invitation to Zazai’s sister, saying that she would receive a visa after being a part of the church for three months. The U.S. embassy denied the request, however, as it assumed Zazai’s sister had no intention of returning to Pakistan. Regarding the Afghan community in Sacramento, Zazai explained that a lot of them do not want to talk because they fear for their families back home. “A lot of refugees from Afghanistan don’t want to talk. … They say we have family back home, something will happen to them,” said Zazai. “As an educated woman I should speak up and obviously (the) U.S. can’t bring all Afghans to U.S. and not all Afghans want to come but people who want to visit or want education … should at least (be issued) a visa.” In light of all of the difficulty and pain that Zazai has touched on, she also talked about her religion and the questions she would like answered. “(People) ignore me because of my scarf, but I’m not a terrorist,” said Zazai. “I love all people.” Zazai said that she only hopes for the continued improvement of people’s lives. “I am Muslim and I pray five times a day and I go to (the) mosque and I take my mom also,” said Zazai. “They are happy there. … no discrimination. Why are they not happy outside of mosque? “I do not just pray for (the) Muslim community. I pray for all people,” said Zazai. “I ask … send angels and collect the guns.”
BEHIND EVERYTHING.’
November 4, 2015
Page 6
Faces of War
‘IF I GO BACK, By John Ferrannini jferr1995@gmail.com
HAMID HAFEZY: ‘One of my
friends called me and said “They put money on your head.” ’ When he first set foot in the United States, Hamid Hafezy thought he had a full ride scholarship at Kent State University in Ohio and could put years of struggle in Afghanistan behind him. Death threats to his family back in Afghanistan and a clerical error, however, tested his new found hope. “They threw a grenade in my home,” said Hafezy. “One of my friends called me and said ‘they put money on your head.’ ” Around that time Hafezy, now an American River College student, was told that he had to leave Kent State because the full ride scholarship he thought he had received was for transfer students. “They told me that ‘This is a misunderstanding from one of the admissions counselors,’ ” said Hafezy. “They told me ‘No, there is no other choice for you. Either pay $40,000 or, if not, you have to go back to your country.’ … I said (that) if I go back, they’ll kill me.” Hafezy, who was born and raised in the Herat Province in western Afghanistan, was already teaching at the age of 16. He said it was his dream was to be educated in the United States. “I went through school and became one of the top students in the class,” said Hafezy. “They said that if I don’t stop teaching girls, I’ll be stopped by the Taliban, by the insurgents.” Hafezy said he was sent to be a scholar at the Afghan Embassy in India, where he met Hamid Karzai, the then-president of Afghanistan, in 2012. “I was supposed to talk to him about problems we were facing,” said Hafezy. “I
was pretty rude to him. He asked ‘what kinds of problems do you have’ and they were all like ‘no, we don’t have any problems.’ “I was like ‘No, excuse me sir, you’re the president. This is what we have, this is our problem, this is what your minister of education promised to us and he didn’t do that.’ … And he said ‘Wow.’ He said ‘You know what, I’ve never heard such a thing.’ ” Hafezy was on the cover of Doorbin magazine in Afghanistan after the meeting and was selected for a scholarship at the University of Mumbai in India. Hafezy wanted to study in the United States, but had to return to Afghanistan to get a U.S. visa. This was dangerous considering that his family was a target. “(The United States embassy in Afghanistan) said ‘Hey, your visa came. You have a couple of days to get your visa.’ ” said Hafezy. “I sold what I had, took the plane and went back to Afghanistan. I took the risk. I didn’t have one dollar.” ARC student Saleem Obeidat, an American who lived in Jordan for several years, met Hafezy in his English class this semester. “I feel like we’re too used to living in the United States to understand what the idea of America really is, especially to someone that lives in Middle Eastern or western Asian countries,” said Obeidat. “It’s a place that’s beyond paradise.” Hafezy flew from Afghanistan to the United States and started at Kent State in August 2013. Hafezy said his roommates were curious about him. “(Hafezy’s roommate) told me ‘Do you smoke weed?’ I said ‘No.’ He said ‘(Why) the hell did you come to the United States?’ I said for studying and he called everyone in the dorm and everybody was laughing at me. Everyone was looking at me differently and I had broken English.” Hafezy asked for help from profes-
Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com
American River College student Hamid Hafezy came to the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2013.
sors and his roommate when he discovered that he really didn’t have a full ride scholarship to Kent State, but to no avail. Hafezy decided to come to Sacramento. “I looked up on (the) Internet where I could find the most Afghans and the most diverse community and I found California,” said Hafezy. “Then I looked and ARC popped up.” Hafezy got to and from ARC by bus from the apartment where he lived. Hafezy has been paying the interna-
tional rate for ARC students, which is $264 per unit in addition to fees according to public information officer Scott Crow. Now, with almost enough units to transfer, he is running out of the money his family gave him. “I cannot pay. This semester is five to seven thousand dollars on the international visa,” said Hafezy. “I cannot give up my goal. … I love trying to be educated, trying to be open minded.”
THEY’LL KILL ME.’
War refugees flee to Sacramento By Matthew Peirson matthewpeirson@gmail.com Sacramento has become home to a large population of people fleeing from war in the last 20 years. Nearly 30,000 refugees have resettled in Sacramento County from 1995 through 2014, according to the California Department of Social Services. Karen Ferguson, the executive director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Northern California, pinpointed this rise to two factors: lower cost of housing and good employment. “Sacramento is very fortunate to have both,” Ferguson said. Sacramento in particular has developed a large population from war-torn countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. Between 1995 to 2014, 310 Afghan refugees have relocated to Sacramento. Over 1,401 hail from Iraq. While there isn’t any singular answer as to why Sacramento became a prime location for refugees initially, the growth comes from the now-established community in the city. “Sometimes we forget about the clustering in America,” Ferguson said. “It makes sense to be with people that are of the same culture. “One of the questions we always ask is ‘Do you have a relative in the U.S.?’ And if they say yes, we always try to help settle them with a relative. So that’s
how that number ballooned.” Paul Bracco, an English as a Second Language (ESL) professor at American River College, explained that educators must work with several challenges faced by people who have fled a war zone. Bracco said that professors need to be aware of more than just the language barrier. “Making sure we’re aware of cultural things,” he said. “What school was like, how they were taught. ... We do have to be sensitive of cultural traditions, holidays and such.” Ferguson spoke to some of the struggles that relocated people face when they come to the U.S. “This was not what their future plan was,” Ferguson said. “They’ve made a choice to try and seek a new opportunity. They no longer could exist in the place they call home.” Ferguson said many refugees face a conflict when they arrive in the U.S., and a range of emotions cluster together. “There’s a lot of appreciation and a sense of being grateful about going to a different country,” Ferguson said. “At the same time, they’re forcibly leaving behind everything.” Anupe Sandhu, a policy analyst for the Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organization, agreed. “(Sacramento is) an affordable city with an established Afghan community,” Sandhu said.
Paid Advertisement
November 4, 2015
CAE B
Page 7
S E N A T E
The Clubs & Events Board and Student Senate
Meets:
Meets: Tuesdays from 10:30-12:00, In the Boardroom
Thursdays from 10:30-12:00, In the Boardroom
IT’S YOUR CHOICE. USE YOUR VOICE!
Page 8
Sports
November 4, 2015
Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com
American River College football running back Austin Hines is tackled by Sierra College linebacker Hank Humphers during ARC’s 47-22 win over league rival Sierra College on Saturday.
ARC scores big, beats Sierra FOUR TOUCHDOWN PASSES FROM VERCHER AND THREE INTERCEPTIONS BY THE DEFENSE LED TO BLOWOUT By Kameron Schmid kameronschmid@gmail. com Quarterback Jihad Vercher threw four touchdowns and American River College’s defense intercepted three passes as ARC beat visiting Sierra College 47-22 on Saturday. It was the third straight week that ARC (6-2) scored over 40 points in a game for its third straight win. ARC has outscored opponents by 73 total points in the three games. ARC and Sierra are just under 14 miles away from each other, and recruit from many of the same areas. They face each other each year in a NorCal League matchup, setting up a faceoff between familiar foes. “They know a lot about us, and we know a lot about them,” said ARC head coach Jon Osterhout. Vercher, who spent last year as a backup at Sacramento State, benefited all game from having time in the pocket, setting up long throws downfield to an array of receivers. “We wanted to show them what we’re all about,” said offensive lineman Austin Carlson. Vercher was pulled with the game out of reach in the fourth quarter and finished 14 of 26 with 257 yards and the four touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns, the first and third, went to the team’s leading receiver Marc Ellis, who finished with 85 yards on four catches. Sierra showed some offensive momentum in the first half, but ARC went into halftime lead-
ON THE WEB For additional coverage of football and other ARC fall sports go to arcurrent.com/sports ing by 11 due to an interception thrown by Sierra quarterback Cole Brownholtz, who finished with one touchdown and three picks. Brownholtz was temporarily replaced by Kyle Cota, who led Sierra on two touchdown drives, but suffered an apparent leg injury on a successful two-point conversion run. Brownholtz came back in for Cota on the following drive. When Brownholtz appeared to have hurt his throwing arm on a scramble later in the game, Cota came in for three plays, noticeably limping and unable to run. Brownholtz came back in to finish the game. Each of Brownholtz’s interceptions were caught by a different ARC defensive back: in order, Robert Sanders, Chris Williams, and Josh Huston. Williams said a point of emphasis for the defense was stopping Sierra’s passing attack, a strength of the team. “We were dropping into coverages that (Brownholtz) didn’t know,” said Williams. “We disguised them really well.”
Great Art Starts with Great Artists.... With over 35 years of experience, let us help design your next tattoo.
• Gift Certificates Available
• Male & Female Artists • Relaxing Artistic Vibe
• Sac. County Health Dept. Approved
WWW.LEONARDITATTOO.COM 4544 AUBURN BLVD. SACRAMENTO, CA 95841
(916) 973-1016
November 4, 2015
Sports
Page 9
Volleyball player comes from Alaska FRESHMAN FROM FAIRBANKS BRINGS ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM AND SKILL TO TEAM AS OUTSIDE HITTER By Matthew Peirson matthewpeirson@gmail.com Riding snow machines, smoking salmon and hiking the wilderness of America’s most naturally preserved state were just some of the activities that Fairbanks, Alaska native and American River College volleyball player Nora Troppmann enjoyed through her early childhood and high school years. Troppmann was born in 1996 and was raised in Fairbanks most of her life before moving to Sacramento in July to attend ARC because she has family members who live here and the area provides more opportunities to play volleyball. “(We would ride) snow machines,” said Troppmann. “My dad would fix them and we’d ride them on the frozen river and you could drive cars on it sometimes.” Troppmann said that the unique extreme weather can make the routine take much longer than normal. “I have to start my car for half an hour,” Troppmann said. “It can get 50 below, and it can get to 90 in the summer.” Her family had lived in Sacramento previously from 2006
to 2010. Her father is originally from Sacramento. After moving back to Alaska during her 8th grade year, Troppmann started playing for a competitive team in Anchorage and would make the hour-long flight from Fairbanks every few weeks. During her senior year of high school, Troppmann made the state all-tournament team and was MVP in one of the team’s matches. Troppmann’s parents both attended a few classes at ARC during the family’s brief move to Sacramento in the late 2000s. “I wanted to have as much playing time as possible,” she said. “I chose ARC after I spoke with (former head coach Ashlie Hain) and sent her video.” Hain left ARC in the summer of 2015 to return to her alma mater UC Irvine. “It was really confusing (because) I found out like a week after I moved here,” Troppmann said. Hain was replaced by Gabe Gardner, an Olympic gold medalist. “It was definitely scary, but when I found out it was Gabe I was really excited to play un-
der such a respected player,” Troppmann said. In the few months she has been in Sacramento, Troppmann has quickly bonded with her new teammates and coach. “She’s loud, she’s hilarious,” said Kaitlin Meyer, a teammate of Troppmann’s. “Definitely quirky, but she’s serious when she needs to be.” Meyer said Troppmann is one of her closest friends. “Off the court, she’s the same as on the court,” Meyer said. “She’s always talking, keeping everyone up.” Gardner said that he appreciates Troppmann’s willingness to be a leader. “I’ve never met a young player with as much accountability for how she plays as I have Nora,” Gardner said. True to the quirky form, Gardner said that he enjoys that she helps keep the atmosphere light while also making sure the team’s on the right track. “She quotes to me what I say back to her,” Gardner said. Troppmann’s ultimate goal with volleyball is to play Div. I or Div. II and then try to play professional beach volleyball around the world.
Nicholas Corey / nicholas.c.losrios@gmail.com
American River College’s outside hitter Nora Troppmann is playing in her first season at ARC after moving to Sacramento from Fairbanks, Alaska.
SPORTSUPDATES
VOLLEYBALL
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Despite a team-high 11 points from outside hitter Kaitlin Meyer, American River College’s volleyball team lost on the road against Sacramento City College 25-23, 25-22, 25-18 on Oct. 30. Now 16-7 overall on the season, ARC hosts Diablo Valley College tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Four second half goals from Modesto Junior College took away ARC’s one-goal lead in the first half as ARC lost 4-1, dropping its record to 6-9, and 2-7 in conference. The team played undefeated Santa Rosa Junior College on Tuesday, and the results were not available as of press time.
MEN’S SOCCER
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
WATER POLO
American River College’s 3-2 win over Cosumnes River College on Oct. 30 extended ARC’s winning streak to four games and brought its record to 6-10-3. ARC played at Santa Rosa Junior College Tuesday, and the results of that game were not available as of press time.
Galen Fitz was ARC’s top finisher in the Big 8 Conference Championship with a time of 20 minutes and 58 seconds. ARC won the event for the tenth year in a row. ARC will travel to Hartnell College to take part in the Northern California Cross-Country Championship on Friday.
Team captain Jenica Dodge beat the field and led ARC women’s cross country to win the Big 8 Conference Championship Saturday. Five runners placed in the top 14. ARC will travel to Hartnell College to take part in the Northern California CrossCountry Championship on Friday.
ARC will once again host the Big 8 Conference Championships for men’s and women’s water polo this weekend, from Thursday to Saturday. ARC’s women’s team is the No. 3 seed with a 4-2 conference record, and the men’s team is the No. 4 seed with a 2-3 conference record.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES Nov. 10 Women’s Soccer vs. Sierra at 3 p.m. Nov. 13 Volleyball vs. Sierra at 3 p.m. Nov. 14 Football vs. Sacramento at 6 p.m.
Earn your Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in just 31 months from Azusa Pacific University, and gain a solid, generalist perspective of patient care in a supportive Christian environment.
Program Benefits Prepares you for entry-level positions in orthopedics, cardiopulmonology, clinical electrophysiology, pediatrics, geriatrics, neurology, and sports medicine. Qualifies you for leadership positions in hospitals, private clinics, sports clinics, rehabilitation centers, pain clinics, government agencies, home and community health care programs, and research projects. Enables you to join one of the fastest-growing sectors in health care.
Doctor of
Physical Therapy
Apply today! Visit apu.edu/dpt/, email gpc@apu.edu, or call (626) 815-4570. 701 E. Foothill Blvd., Azusa, CA 91702 18286
18286_10x4.indd 1
10/15/15 10:42 AM
November 4, 2015
Page 10
Scene
ARC cuts ribbon on Student Services NEWEST WING OF BUILDING GIVES NEW OFFICES TO ASSESMENT CENTER, CALWORKS, DSPS AND EOP&S, WITH MORE TO COME By Jordan Schauberger jschauberger94@gmail.com American River College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly expanded Student Services building with a ceremony Thursday. The west side of the building underwent a 14-month, 5,500-square-feet remodeling that started in April 2014. The Assessment Center, CalWORKs, Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS), Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOP&S) and Financial Aid are now all a part of the building, with the Veterans Resource Center and the Career Center set to move in next semester. Los Rios Community College Trustee Deborah Ortiz said she “marvels” at the “growth” ARC has seen in recent years.
“It reflects where the community has come from and how it’s growing,” said Ortiz. “(It will) reduce student stress and increase the time they can spend on the studies.” Ortiz went on to highlight the support the project received from taxpayers in the community. “This building wouldn’t have been possible without the tax payers and everyone who supported (county) Measure A,” she said. The expansion was funded in part by a series of bonds authorized under Measure A that have totaled $237.5 million as of the most recent series released in 2013. ARC President Thomas Greene also sent out his thanks to those involved and spoke on the ideas and that went into the expansion. “Thanks to everyone for all their work and effort,” said
English professor talks about her young adult novel
Greene. “(This project was) based on a one-stop-shop system that serves a variety of students in one place.” On behalf of the administration, Public Information Officer Scott Crow said that the expanded building will allow for a variety of resources to be available for students under one roof. “We are very pleased that the expanded facility now offers more, upgraded space for vital student services,” said Crow. “One major plus has been locating the Financial Aid lab right next to the main office, when in the past the lab was located out in the portables.” Brian King, the chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District, made a point to turn his attention to the ARC students. “I want to thank all of the men and women we do this for—the student,” said King.
Ashley Nanfria / ashleynanfria@gmail.com
From left, ARC President Thomas Greene, Los Rios trustee Deborah Ortiz, district Chancellor Brian King and trustee Pamela Haynes officially open the new Student Services building. The new wing adds 5,500-square feet to the building after a 14-month remodel.
‘HAUNTED: THE ARNAUD LEGACY’ IS THE FIRST BOOK OF A TRILOGY BY ADJUNCT By Emily Thompson emilyt296@gmail.com American River College adjunct English professor Erika Mailman talked about the writing process for her book “Haunted: The Arnaud Legacy” and read some scenes from her story at Thursday’s college hour. Mailman wrote the book under her pen name Lynn Carthage. She is taking this semester off from teaching to focus on writing. This is the first book in the trilogy. The second one comes out in February. “I came because I saw the flyer and I thought the book looked really interesting and there is a raffle to win the book, so I’m hoping to get that,” American River College student Kate Clark said. The book is about a teenage girl named Phoebe who moves
from San Francisco to her stepfather’s manor in England. She soon discovers that something is not right with the manor. Later, Phoebe meets a boy named Miles and he tells her the history of the manor and how it is haunted by Madame Arnaud who used to live there and would drink children’s blood so she could gain everlasting life. “I got this idea from being arose from a nightmare and days after I kept jotting down what I would remember from the nightmare and the more I would remember the more I thought it would be a good book,” Mailman said. Each of the books of the trilogy have their own plot and a bigger plot is in all three of the books. Mailman also wrote historical fiction books under her real name, and talked about how dif-
L
CAMPUS PU SE “A lady was breastfeeding. I was cool with it, but it was kind of weird.”
-JOHNCRYSTALNIAS Paramedic
Ashley Nanfria / ashleynanfria@gmail.com
Professor Erika Mailman based ‘Haunted: The Aranaud Legacy’ on a dream she had about a haunted mansion in England. Mailman wrote the novel under the pen name Lynn Carthage, and spoke about it at a college hour.
ferent it was changing to young adult fiction. “I had to get in a teen mindset again,” Mailman said. “Having to think about back when I lived with my parents and when I had my first kiss and all the stress of teenager things, that was hard. “Being a writer is almost like a sport, you have to practice. Sit down every day and write for
at least an hour. Having an idea of what to write about is not enough.” Mailman got started writing when she was in fourth grade when she got picked for an additional creative writing class at her elementary school. She originally thought she would be a poet but then slowly transitioned into writing novels.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen on campus?
“I like that I can write what I like to read,” said Mailman. ARC student Summer Morris recently discovered her own flair for writing. “I’m a nursing major and I started taking English classes and I found that I really like writing,” said Morris. “It’s cool to hear what her writing process is to add in my life.”
“This girl with one sock on. No shoes, just one sock on.”
“Christian preachers with their enormous signs … There was one guy with a really, really, really huge sign and he was all decked out with his hat and everything.”
“I saw a dude crap himself over by the arts building. I guess the bathrooms were locked. Just some random dude. I felt bad for him.”
-DARRINLUCCETT Business
-ALEXANDERWRINKLE History
-BENCEDERLIND Computer Science
November 4, 2015
Opinion
CURRENTEDITORIAL
Page 11
SALUTING THE VETERANS CENTER
ARC’S VRC DOES A GREAT JOB SUPPORTING THE TROOPS ON THE HOME FRONT, BUT EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY current@arc.losrios.edu With Veterans Day approaching, it’s time for students, staff and faculty to be reminded that American River College’s large veteran community exists, and has made a home at our college due to the many services that the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) provides to them. As recently as the spring of 2014, ARC had more than 1,300 students who are veterans. While not all of them are actively using the VRC for help, Daniel Avegalio, who works at the VRC, estimated that over 800 actively do. The VRC, which was recognized in 2014 at a statewide community college event for the role it plays in student veterans lives
on campus, is modeled to be a one-stop-shop for veterans who are readjusting to civilian life. Applying for financial aid, seeing counselors and all of the other typical worries of students are added upon for veterans, who have to deal with the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs, a program that does not have a reputation for concise and prompt service to veterans. Instead of dealing with all of these hurdles, veterans can go to the VRC and take care of everything they need done in one place. This encourages success as students, and keeps veterans who are having a tough time transitioning from their military lives from dropping out because of the many frustrations that can arise.
Veterans who come out of active duty often go to college as a way to support themselves and their families by means of the GI Bill, but have not attended classes since high school or any college before they enlisted. In most cases, they treat college like they treated their military careers: seriously, and devotedly. That is something a lot of other students could learn from. While “support our troops” is a popular notion, there is an avenue that non-veterans at ARC can take to go the extra mile, by joining ARC’s veterans club as a way to pitch in. The club brings veterans on campus together, and also finds resources for them in the area, both of which could be helped by volunteers. The ARC Association of Student
Veterans offers a community to veterans who may not be comfortable talking and befriending just anyone by having events to bring the community together. Non-veterans can also support veterans by being more courteous. Veterans deserve our respect, and also deserve to be treated like regular people, which they are. It is important for us to understand what veterans feel and what they have been through. This understanding comes through asking questions, which is fine and should be encouraged. But questions should be asked sensitively and appropriately, with an eye toward the fact that veterans are human beings too. Think about your worst memory. Imagine that memory be-
ing a defining moment of an entire period of your life. And imagine being asked about that memory every single time you tell someone about that period of your life. This is the world that veterans live in, and non-veterans at ARC would be wise to remember that. Recognize that these men and women are coming from a world of rigidity, formality and respect for authority, and entering a college environment that offers very little of what they’ve grown accustomed to. And don’t blame all of their behavior on PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. College is a frustrating time, and we’re all prone to anger, confusion and stress.
Students should disconnect from their phones MOBILE DEVICES, FACEBOOK TAKE AWAY FROM VALUABLE SOCIAL INTERACTION, ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNG By Lena DoBynes lena.dobynes@gmail.com With the rise of the cellphone, any activity that takes time away from the small, tantalizing device of endless knowledge is gradually becoming of less importance to the masses. According to an article written by market consultant Lenna Garibian, 79 percent of smartphone owners from ages 18 to 44 have their phones on them or near them almost 22 hours a day. People should spend less time on their phones and more time on activities that have no connection to their cellular devices. Invite friends out for a game of volleyball at the park, pick up an instrument and start learning how to play, sit down and have a quality conversation with your grandma or just sit and watch the clouds roll by—just leave the phone at home. There is no denying that owning a smartphone has made the average person’s life easier. Most
phones have the ability to access internet and download a variety of applications that allow a person to access information ranging from health to banking. However, the more time cellphone users spend on their phones watching the latest YouTube video or updating the world on their latest breakfast, the less time is spent on other activities that benefit to the overall emotional, psychological, intellectual and physical health of a person. From the start of the day, 62 percent of people grab for the phone that is more than likely tucked beside their pillow. Whether it is to check Facebook, send a text or even play a game, many people’s first thought at the start of the morning is to “check-in.” It has been suggested that heavy involvement with cellphones can lead to social awkwardness when older and even cause students to develop bad grammar and spelling skills. Being glued to one’s phone can lead to a disconnect within per-
sonal relationships as well—30 percent of cellphone users ages 18 to 29 admit that having a cell phone makes it harder to give others undivided attention. The productivity of the average person has also been affected since the rise of and upgrades to the various cellphones, with 33 percent of smartphone users saying it is difficult to focus on a task when one has a smartphone. Families are more tuned into the screen on their phone than into each other’s lives and many students would rather scroll down their newsfeeds than flip through the pages of their textbooks. Cellphones open up a whole world that many would not be able to access without them, but users are more disconnected than ever to the outside world. Although it can be hard to resist checking one’s phone when it dings loudly or when boredom strikes, it is time to put down the cellphones and reconnect with one another.
Photo illustration by Lena DoBynes / lena.dobynes@gmail.com
Studies show that at the beginning of each morning, 62 percent of people grab for the phone that is more than likely tucked beside their pillow.
LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR Electronic cigarettes risky To the Editor: A recent opinion article in the Current contained misleading claims about e-cigarettes. It offered a flawed argument for not including them in the new tobacco-free campus policy that protects all students and staff starting in January. A growing number of studies raise concern about the health risks of using battery-operated devices that heat flavorings and turn them into aerosol that is then inhaled into the lungs. The aerosol contains heavy metals, volatile compounds and tobaccospecific nitrosamines along with a whole host of chemicals—many known to cause cancer. Second-
hand exposure occurs when the user exhales the aerosol and a nonuser breathes it in. The vast majority of these products contain nicotine. Nicotine is derived from tobacco. Therefore, these products are tobacco products and should be regulated as such, including prohibiting their use in all public places where tobacco use is prohibited. That’s why the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) applauds American River College for joining hundreds of colleges nationwide in adopting a comprehensive tobacco-free campus policy. Unregulated use of e-cigarettes also has the potential to result in smoking becoming socially acceptable again, undoing decades of work that has drastically reduced smoking rates and corresponding deaths from tobacco-
related diseases. Don’t listen to industry hype. Check out the state’s health advisory at www.cdph.ca.gov.
Jim Knox, Vice President, Government Relations California, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.
Convicted by press To the Editor: I think it might be nice if Kristofer Clark’s personal life and how its been turned upside down should be thought about also. He’s been accused very publicly and convicted by the tone that the press – especially The Current and statements made by the college. The entire incident could have been handled
with a lot more thought. He has been released. Charges were not brought. What about the after effects on him and his family? I am alumni of ARC. This just makes me sad and confused. Nancy Dougles, ARC alumna
Recall coverage vague To the Editor: No where can I fan the exact reason/charges for this election. What EXACTLY was said or done. I was not present at the time and place of the event and can not vote for any recall with out this information. One of the MAJOR functions of the press is to make this information available. An informed elec-
Letters to the editor Letters must be typed. Mail or deliver letters to 4700 College Oak Dr., Liberal Arts Room 120, Sacramento, California 95841 or email to current@arc.losrios.edu torate needs to get it’s information from some trustable source, when that information is unavailable, even from the press, there is no informed electorate making the election subject solely to uninformed opinion and gossip. Like the majority of the mainstream press the CURRENT is failing miserably in this area. Richard Otten, ARC student
And all that JAZZ Photo essay by Joseph Daniels and Karen Reay
At both the acoustic cafe and jazz clinic events in October, American River College student musicians had the opportunity to play for live audiences. The Jazz Clinic on Oct. 22 featured UC Davis professor Jacam Manricks, who presented his experiences as a musician and his tips and tricks on the music industry. The Acoustic Cafe featured songs by ARC students which were very personal, including a song about a man’s failed attempt to be with a woman in Texas and one dedicated to a man who died from a drug overdose. For the full stories, go to ARCurrent.com
Clockwise: The sights of the Jazz Clinic on Oct. 22 are brought together in a photo collage, Morgan Wright performs on the guitar at the Acoustic Cafe on Oct. 23, James ‘Jimbo’ Estrella plays guitar with Katya Novskaya at the Acoustic Cafe, and UC Davis professor and saxophonist Jacam Manricks, writes musical notes for the students who attended the hands-on Jazz Clinic.