Wednesday 02.19.20
Will you survive? Tips on how to make it through the semester successfully
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C URRENT American River College Sacramento, Calif.
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Vol. 71 Ed. 5
STEM opening ARCs new STEM center set to open June 2020
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(Police photo courtesy of San Mateo Police Department)
Photo by Adnan Ramic | File Photo
Noah Winchester told the Current in 2014 that he served for the Sacramento Police Department for 10 years before joining the Los Rios Police Department, but other sources say he only served on the Sac PD for two years and left before his probationary period ended.
Former LRPD officer sentenced to 81 years in prison By Ariel Caspar arielcaspar@gmail.com “I will do whatever to keep my students safe,” Noah Winchester, former corporal with the Los Rios Police Department once said. That statement came during a November 2014 ride along with a former American River College Current reporter who observed Winchester conducting an offcampus drug bust. What seemed like a well-intentioned statement six years ago is
now proving to be ironic for students and staff who remember the former cop in light of recent events. On Oct. 9, 2019, Winchester, 35, was convicted in the San Mateo County Superior Court for sexually assaulting three women in San Mateo, after a 20-day trial that resulted in guilty verdicts on 14 charges. He was sentenced 81 years to life in state prison, according to San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, as reported by the Daily Journal. Winchester was arrested in July
2016 and had been in custody on a $3.1 million bail for six months prior to his sentencing. In an email interview with the Current, Gabe Ross, Los Rios Community College district associate vice chancellor, said that after Winchester’s 2019 conviction and sentencing, the LRPD issued a statement that read, in part, “We are extremely happy that justice has been served for Noah Winchester’s victims ... [We are] committed to keeping our college communities safe, and we will vigorously pursue severe con-
sequences for anyone whose actions belie that commitment.” Winchester was charged in 2016 with 22 felony counts of sexual assaults involving incidents as an officer on duty in San Mateo in 2015 and when he was an officer for the LRCCD police department in 2013, according to San Mateo County prosecutors, who also confirmed he had five victims between July 2, 2013 and Oct. 19, 2015. Wagstaffe said those charges included kidnapping with rape, intent to commit rape, sexual penetration and oral copulation
under color authority, battery, criminal threats and forceable sex offenses, as reported by Bay City News, who covered Winchester’s arrests in 2016. According to Winchester’s case file, The People of the State of California v. Noah White Winchester, many of these charges were also enhanced because he had a weapon in his possession during the acts. The case file also noted he was ordered to take an HIV test in November 2019, and those results will be reviewed at his next scheduled court appearance on March 2. WInchester and his attorney, Paul F. DeMeemster, recently put in their notice to file for an appeal regarding his recent prison sentence as of Feb. 4. According to Ross, Winchester served as a police officer for LRCCD, rotating through Los Rios campuses from January 2009 to July 2016, under the authority of former LRPD chief of police, Cheryl Sears, and was the subject of an investigation during his time of employment with the LRPD for unsubstantiated allegations of inappropriate behavior.
Winchester | Page 2
Primary candidates to review before you vote YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION CANDIDATES By Bram Martinez bramster1@gmail.com The California primary presidential election takes place March 3 in California to select the final candidates for the United States Presidential election, which takes place Nov. 3. The following is a guide to the top six Democratic candidates and the only viable option on the Republican side, as well as the policies that they have addressed regarding healthcare, college
tuition/student loan debt and climate reform. In order to vote, check the voter guides. One can either vote by going to a voting booth depending on one’s area, or one can mail by ballot. This guide does not have any candidates outside of the main two parties. This is up to date as of Feb. 18. The polls/projections are from USA Today’s Jan. 16 projected presidential matchups poll.
(File Photo)
As of Feb. 18, 2020, President Donald Trump is far in the lead for Republican candidacy, and currently Bernie Sanders leads the Democratic candidacy with Joe Biden at his heels.
Primary Guide | Page 3
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ARC Theatre opens first production of PAGE 4 semester
NORTH STAR
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Feb. 19, 2020
ASB NOTEBOOK
NEWS
For weekly coverage of ARC student government, go to ARCurrent.com
ASB WELCOMES SENATOR, APPROVES UP TO $13,300 IN BILLS By Brandon Zamora b14Zamora@gmail.com The American River College Associated Student Body Senate met on Feb. 7 to discuss multiple bills, including the ARC Promo Team Bill, which was approved. The senate also swore in its newest member. Before ASB discussed the bills, they swore in new senator, Ross Kolesnikov. Kolesnikov said he is hoping to make a difference not only for ASB, but for the students who attend ARC. “I want to be part of a bigger picture, and help make change,” Kolesnikov said. “As time goes on I’ll get a better understanding on what my role will be here, and I hope to help students and clubs at ARC.” The first bill that was voted on was the Society Club (SOC) Pacific Sociological Association (PSA) Conference Bill to allocate $3,000 to students and advisors from the SOC to go to the conference held in Eugene, OR on March 26 through 29. Out of 11 votes, ASB voted yes unanimously allowing the club the funds for their trip. ASB also voted on the ARC Promo Team Bill, which will grant the use of $6,000 for advertisement for clubs and events that will be going on throughout campus. Items such as posters, flyers and promotional items will be purchased to promote these events on campus. Other items that will be purchased
URRENT An American River College student-run publication. Editor-in-Chief Ariel Caspar Managing & Feature Editor Thomas Cathey
Photo by Brandon Zamora | Sports Editor
American River College Associated Student Body president Aesha Abduljabbar (left) swears in newest senate member, Ross Kolesnikov (right) at a Student Senate meeting on Feb. 7, 2020.
include two tents, four half walls for the tents, three banner displays, and other items for the tents. According to Senator Nick Medvediev, not all of the $6,000 will be used for advertisements, and should be referred to as more of a “budget line” for ARC. “It’s for long term spending,” Medvediev said. “Initially we’re going to spend around $4,000 for these supplies.” Before the bill was voted on, however, Kolesnikov objected to allocate $6,000, and wanted to strike it down to $4,000. This motion did not
pass, and with a 10-to-one vote, the bill passed. ASB was scheduled to vote on the Printing Bill, but the vote was postponed for the next meeting due to lack of time. The Mobile Black History Museum Bill was the next topic of discussion. This bill would allow the spending of $3,000 for a museum to display artifacts from history relating to Black History Month to be on display in the Student Center on Thursday Feb. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ASB voted unanimously to pass it, granting funds for the displays.
The last bill voted on was the Your Voice Your Value Bill. This bill would allocate up to $1,300 for food and decorating supplies for the event on Thursday Feb. 13. This event would allow students to come by the Student Center and have a chance to talk to members of ASB and voice concerns they have on campus. The senate voted unanimously to pass it. There was no ASB meeting on Feb. 14 because of the President’s Day holiday. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 21 at 10:30 a.m.
Winchester charged with sexual assault Cont. from page 1 According to other news reports, Los Rios district spokesperson Mitchel Bensen said Winchester worked for LRPD up until January 2015, and began work as a police officer in San Mateo shortly after. At the time of his hire in San Mateo, he was already being investigated in Sacramento and had also been under investigation for six months in San Mateo prior to his resignation with their police force in February 2016, according to Bay City News. Winchester had also been briefly employed with the Sacramento Police Department from 2006 to 2007, but left before his probationary period was up, according to the Bay City News article. The Daily Journal recently reported Winchester’s confirmed sexual assault incidents involved multiple young women under the age of 25. One of the assaults Winchester was convicted of happened in Sacramento in July 2013, when he forced a 21-year-old woman who was sleeping in a building exterior elevator with her three children present, to have sex with him. According to Ross, Los Rios Police Department officers are hired by the department and then assigned to individual campuses. Ross said currently, ARC has four officers on campus and is in the process of hiring two additional officers. Since Winchester’s arrests and sentencing, LRPD has taken measures to improve their hiring processes, Ross said. Ross said that these hiring changes were not made entirely
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because of the Winchester incident, but that it was a strong contributing factor. Over the last several years, the LRPD has taken a different approach to hiring and is no longer hiring individuals who have had any past or present disciplinary issues with outside agencies. “LRPD is no longer a ‘second chance department,’ a term commonly used for agencies that recruit officers who have had minor struggles previously,” Ross wrote. Although the LRPD has changed its hiring approach, it doesn’t mean other police agencies are taking the same measures. The question still remains as to why Winchester was hired in San Mateo while the subject of an investigation with another police force. Ross clarified in an email with the Current that LRPD will always prioritize the safety of staff and students when swearing in new officers. “I cannot speak for San Mateo or any other agency regarding their hiring practices or procedures. In the Los Rios Police Department, we do not and would not hire an officer who has an active investigation pending against them,” Ross wrote. “The shift in focus from the quantity of officers we are hiring to the quality of officers we are hiring has helped us attract more qualified and experienced officers.”
For more news coverage go to ARCurrent.com
Photo Editor Emily Mello News Editor Oden Taylor Sports Editor Brandon Zamora Arts & Culture Editors Bram Mar tinez Josh Ghiorso Opinion Editor Colin Bar tley Social Media Editor Marquala Brown Staff Heather Amberson Haven Bishop Clif ton Bullock Dylan Lillie Alex Muegge Faculty Adviser Rachel Leibrock Photo Advisers Josh Clemens Jill Wagner Student Workers Ashley Hayes-Stone Jennah Booth
PROUD MEMBERS OF THE CNPA & JACC
PACESETTER AWARD WINNERS JACC STATE CONVENTION 2016
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:
Photo by Adnan Ramic | Former Staff Writer
Former Los Rios Police officer Noah Winchester uses his book to fill out paperwork for two arrests he made in November 2014, while writers for the Current shadowed him. Winchester served on the LRPD from 2009 to 2015.
The American River Current 4700 College Oak Drive Portable Village 613A Sacramento, CA 95841 Phone: 916-484-8304 Fax: 916-484-8668 E-mail: Current@arc.losrios.edu www.ARCurrent.com
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Feb. 19, 2020
NEWS
Photo (left) courtesy of common.wikimedia.org | Photo (right) file photo
Although the Republican candidate President Donald Trump (left) and Democratic candidate Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are currently leading in the polls.
Primary guide to the 2020 electoral competitors Cont. from page 1
President Donald Trump is running for another term. According to his campaign page, policies include zero tolerance on illegal immigration and finishing the wall. For healthcare he wants to undo Obamacare, cut drug prices, and reform Medicaid. Trump also plans on boosting fossil fuel development, expanding energy development, and rolling back many environmental policies made by former president Barack Obama. For education during his term, Trump implemented the Every Student Succeeds Act, increased ways to get money for college students, and raised $359 million in education aid. Former Governor of Massachusetts, William F. Weld is the other Republican candidate, but his polling numbers are dismal compared to Trump’s according to various polls, including USA Today’s. Trump, however, is projected to lose against Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg (tie), Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren according to USA Today’s projected matchups. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, is a leading Demo-
cratic candidate. According to Sanders’ campaign page, he has proposed a Medicare for All which is a single-payer, national health insurance program to provide all Americans with extensive health care coverage while fighting pharmaceutical price raises. Sanders is known for wanting tuition-free college, cancelling college debt, ending equity gaps in higher education, and investing $1.3 billion to minority-serving institutions. Sanders also wants to convert the U.S. into 100% renewable energy, creating 20 million jobs. He wants to hold the former fuel/energy empires accountable, invest in conservation, fund the “Green New Deal,” and save Americans money by investing in public infrastructure/services. Sanders is projected at 15.5% success against Trump according to USA Today’s poll. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is another candidate. According to Warren’s campaign page, the senator is calling for the Green New Deal, and a Blue New Deal, which is an oceanic environmental plan. She also wants to impose an “ultra-millionaire tax” to fund environmental policies.
Her policies for education include updating public school education for all students by using her “K12 education” plan. She wants to lower tuition and cancel student debt. She wants universal health care for everyone and lower the cost of healthcare by transitioning to Medicare. Warren is projected at 9.7% success against Trump via USA Today’s projection poll. Former vice president Joe Biden is also running. According to his campaign page, his goal is to expand/update the affordable care act, while protecting it from future presidents. Biden has plans to restructure rural America. Biden wants a clean energy revolution while furthering environmental justice while protecting coal jobs. Biden also wants universal healthcare. Biden wants aid for educators/students by supporting educators by, in addition to other proposals, giving them better pay. Biden is projected at 41.5% success against Trump, according to USA Today’s poll. Pete Buttigieg is the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. According to his campaign page, Buttigieg’s healthcare plan ‘Medicare for all who want it,’ is a
Illustration courtesy of Cheryl Sears
The above illustration is an original rendering from Flint Builders of the new Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) building and what it is expected to look like upon its completion in June 2020.
Diane Bryant STEM Innovation Center scheduled to open June 2020 By Oden Taylor odenshawntaylor@gmail.com The long-term construction of the Diane Bryant Science Technology Engineering and Mathemat-
ics (STEM) Innovation Center at American River College is scheduled to be completed by June, weather permitting. Classes are expected to begin the following fall semester, according to Scott Crow, ARC’s public information of-
ficer. The STEM Innovation Center will become home to classes directly relating to the STEM field. The building will also include advanced modern technologies such as a virtual reality classroom,
plan that serves as an affordable alternative to private healthcare. Buttigieg’s pre-K-12 education plan would raise teacher wages, address segregation at school and put a ban on for-profit charter schools. For higher education: affordable college, stronger development of workforce and encourages lifelong learning. Buttigieg’s climate policy is to build a clean economy and invest in resilience, community preparation for natural disasters and rebuilding. He is projected at a tie against Trump, according to the USA Today poll. Michael Bloomberg is the former mayor of New York City. According to his campaign page, Bloomberg wants to cut economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030. Steps for this include a reduction of pollution from buildings and transportation vehicles, and having the U.S. rejoin the Paris Agreement. For education, Bloomberg wants to increase the number of lowerincome students enrolled in top colleges. Bloomberg also wants to create a Medicare-like public insurance option, to improve and expand enrollment in Affordable Care Act plans, while allowing
people to keep their private insurance. Additionally, Bloomberg wants to lower drug costs by capping health care prices, and expanding access to dental, hearing and vision coverage. Though he wasn’t projected in the USA Today poll against Trump, he was the popular choice of 6.8% for Democratic voters. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar wants to expand medicare/medicaid to get universal healthcare, according to her campaign page. She cosponsored the Green New Deal, making incentives for greener infrastructure, jobs, energy etc. She also wants to get back to the International Climate Agreement and signed the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge. For education policies, she wants free tuition for the first two years of community college. She also seeks to reduce loans/college cost, invest in retraining with incentives and provide opportunities for success for students. Though she wasn’t projected in the USA Today poll against Trump, she was the popular choice for voters at 6.1%.
soundproof collapsible walls and outdoor concrete lab tables with built-in outlets. Crow said the college is eager for the completion of the project and is excited to see progress being made. “American River College is excited to see the progress being made on the Diane Bryant STEM Innovation Center. We are eagerly awaiting the completion of construction so we can move into this state-of-the-art facility,” Crow said. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of our entire campus community during the construction process.” The STEM Innovation Center is one of the only buildings on campus to be labeled with the first and last name of a donor. Kirsten Dubray, director of donor relations, said the reason for this is that women are under-represented in the STEM field and ARC wanted to ensure anyone entering that building would see a woman’s name. Bryant transferred to the University of California, Davis after completing courses at ARC in 1983. She then went on to become Intel’s Chief Information Officer and the Chief Operations Officer of Google Cloud and decided to give back to the school where her academic journey began. “ARC ‘s rigorous curriculum,
combined with its tuition-free education provided me the means to pursue a career in engineering,” Bryant said in an email to The Current, “I often wonder where I would be today without ARC. The STEM building was an opportunity for me to give back.” Bryant said she will potentially be making further contributions based on the causes that she sees fit, as well as donating commemorative plaques for ARC alumni to be included in the STEM Innovation Center. “I will certainly look for additional opportunities to contribute, particularly in the area of supporting women and underrepresented minorities through the educational system,” Bryant said. While arguably most students and faculty members will be relieved to know that the end is in sight for the completion of the STEM Innovation Center project, it seems ARC may never escape the construction. According to Crow, the college has planned the new Corporation Yard project to begin in fall 2020. In addition, the Technical Education department has just begun the planning phase of its remodel. Architects have been chosen and initial planning meetings have already started to take place.
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Feb. 19, 2020
FEATURE
Photo by Emily Mello | Photo Editor
Andrea Garvey, American River College psychology professor and department chair, came from Brazil 26 years ago. Pictured here on Feb. 11, 2020, she was able to overcome the language barriers and succeed in her professional career and personal life.
Professor overcomes challenges of teaching in second language
By Emily Mello emilycastellar97@gmail.com Brazil-born Andrea Garvey was just 22 when she moved to the United States to attend graduate school. Despite being an English as a Second Language student she
By Oden Taylor odenshawntaylor@gmail.com If you have no idea how you’re going to get through the next 15 weeks, don’t stress and instead try out this advice from our spring 2020 declassified school survival guide.
1. Get to School at Least 30 Minutes Early Everyday The parking lot fills up fast and there can be many distractions along the way when trying to get from car to class. Be sure to prepare for anything, even the worst, and arrive at school at least 30 minutes early every day. This also allows for time to grab coffee or food before class and can help you prepare for what your day has in store. Not only will this help you, but your professors will thank you as well.
2. Visit a Counselor ASAP You may have heard this before and are probably thinking, “I don’t want to wait in that line” or “I know what classes I need this semester.” However, regular visits to your counselor are a crucial part of being successful in school.
faced a lot of challenges throughout her journey as a student and as professor. She came to study and live in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1999, she began teaching psychology at the California University of Chico in Northern California. “I started teaching at Chico and
stayed there for three years,” Garvey said. After that, she moved to Sacramento in 2003, where she was hired to teach at American River College. Garvey faced a lot of language barriers in the beginning of her journey as both a student and a
professor. “My hardest challenge was to deal with the wounds left by my students for not seeing me as a qualified professor and a lot of them made fun of me because of my accent,” Garvey said. Her adaptation was a long term process, even now she is still adapting to the American culture. “I was expecting to have this ‘discrimination’ for being the only latina in my graduate school by some teachers and some students,” Garvey said. “It was (and still is) hard work to not internalize those negative experiences into your sense of self. But I keep on working on it, surrounding myself [with] people that I appreciate and who appreciate me for who I am.” After a tough beginning, Garvey has now taught at ARC for over 17 years and she is also a department chair for the psychology department. wIn addition to her career, Garvey is married and has a 10-yearold son named Aidan, who was born in Sacramento. Although her son does not speak Portuguese very well, she says she still tries to teach him a little. “When my son was 2 years old, his English and Portuguese still were at the same level but after he started attending kindergarten his English started to be the predominant language,” Garvey said. She keeps teaching him a little bit every day even though she says he doesn’t like it much. She also does volunteer work at her son’s school and is part of the Parent-Teacher Association. Garvey said because she and her husband, Brian, live so far away from their family, it’s important for her to find connections within her community. “Being engaged in the community is very important to me because it comes like another family,” Garvey said. “Especially for my
The Current’s
ED I F I S S A L DEC
L A V I V R U S L O O H SC
Guide
Choosing the correct classes for your major, can be a huge challenge if you try to do it yourself, and the counselors are there as a free service to students to help set us on the right path. The counselors can help set up personalized educational plans and inform you about programs and scholarships you might want to get involved in. For Disabled Student Program and Services (DSPS) students there is a separate counseling office located next to the library.
3. Get Involved With a Club or Activity on Campus College is not like high school and some students struggle to make friends and feel comfortable at school. Joining a club, sport, or interactive class that provides field experience, such as the newspaper, can help you keep your motivation and have fun at school. Not only will you find like-minded individuals that could become friends, but you
will also have extracurricular activities to add to job and college applications. Get out there and find something to do.
4. Never Trust the Starbucks Line, You Will be Late for Class! The Starbucks in the Student Center is not a regular Starbucks. It is owned and operated by the same company that runs the school cafeteria, Aramark. Aramark’s policies are different than
son, since he is a single child, this contact with other children is very important.” Tori Bouvard, a psychology professor at ARC, has known Garvey since she was hired to work at the college. “She brought a huge amount of enthusiasm, knowledge and spunk to the department and to her students. I love the fact that she is a very good person to work with,” Bouverd said. Bouvard also emphasized that when online teaching was implemented over 15 years ago, Garvey
“My hardest challenge was to deal with the wounds left by my students for not seeing me as a qualified professor...” Andrea Garvey
Psychology Professor was a very diligent co-worker who inspired her. “She was very inspirational to me because she let me look at her classes and watch how she handles different things,” Bouvard said. “Her online presence is surprisingly the same as in real life, and I remember seeing her using emojis in her email. It was showing she was just being herself, she is amazing.” Despite the situation that Garvey went through in the past, she doesn’t want her students to have the same experience that she had. “All these little things matter! I hope it communicates to my students that I see them, that they do matter, that their success matters in whatever way they define success for them,” Garvey said.
Starbucks’ and because of that, this location is constantly out of popular items, which in itself can hold up the line. In addition to this, rewards points and gift cards may not be used. Keep in mind this Starbucks is not only visited by students, but also faculty and visitors to the campus as well. You will be better off getting coffee before school or driving out to a different coffee shop.
5. Take Your Time The biggest lie you will ever hear about community college is that you have to complete it within two years. For most students that try, this is a hefty goal that leads most to feel overwhelmed and some to drop out altogether. Your college experience is about you, and you should take the time you need to complete the classes you want to take and learn as much as possible. If you’re looking to obtain an associates degree, go at a pace that feels right for you. If you are transferring, know you do not have to transfer immediately and your credits are still transferable up to 10 years after taking classes at most schools. Be sure to visit a counselor to ensure you are on the right path to your desired university in a time frame that works for you.
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Feb. 19, 2020
ARTS & CULTURE
‘North Star’ offers an in-depth look at civil rights WILLIAMS FAMILY COLLABORATES ON HISTORICAL DRAMA By Colin Bartley colinbartley99@gmail.com “North Star” is the upcoming, full-length, production by American River College’s theater department, with the first showing starting on Feb. 28, 2020. Written by Gloria Bond Clunie, “North Star” follows the story of a young African-American girl, Relia, living in North Carolina during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. As tensions grow in the world around her, her parents are forced to decide whether or not Relia is ready to deal with the harsh realities of the protests and their fight for freedom. Showings for “North Star” will be held at ARC’s Main Theatre with tickets priced at $15 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors. The parking fee is $2 in parking lot D by the theatre. According to an email sent to the Current by Tracy Shearer, an ARC theater professor and the public relations contact for the college’s theater department, the play will be directed by the Williams family, which has directed shows at ARC in the past, including the fall semester production of “West Side Story”. “Sam [Williams] is the director
of ‘North Star’, with his daughter Sarah handling some of the choreography, and David serving as musical director for the show,” Shearer said. “As written, the show contains only a few songs, but Sam and David have added numerous solo and group numbers, including every style from gospel and tap to modern and hip hop.” Shearer says that “North Star” will feature a unique cast of talented newcomers and returning performers for this production. “It is truly a one-of-a-kind rendition of this show, and the extraordinary cast includes talented newcomers Audrey Booth and Anaundi Borun as Relia and her friend Willie Jay, as well as veteran performer Alexis B. Blaylock as Relia’s ‘granma’,” Shearer said. One of the veteran performers is theater arts major, Fetalaiga “Feta” Faga, who joined the cast as Relia’s father. “Her dad wants her to go to these demonstrations, and experience it firsthand, and see how hateful people can be but her mother wants to shield her from all that and keep her at home,” Faga said. Faga elaborated on what he felt the core meaning of the play was at what his character’s role in it is. “The message I got was you
Photo courtesy of Bruce Patt
ARC Theatre’s ‘North Star,’ directed by Sam Williams, focuses on the Civil Rights Movement in 1963 North Carolina.
have to see the ugly sometimes in order for things to get better because sweeping problems under the rug might seem good for a while but in the long run it will hurt more,” Faga said. Faga said he is optimistic about the production and is excited about the premiere on Feb. 28. “I love the show, I did ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ last year and that was my favorite show but this has already topped that,” Faga said.
Read more arts and culture coverage at
ARCurrent.com
Photo courtesy of Bruce Patt
ARC Theatre’s production of ‘North Star,’ stars (from left to right), Anaundi Borum as Willie Jay, and Audrey Booth as Relia.
Lavender exhibit showcases
LGBTQ+ experiences By Oden Taylor odenshawntaylor@gmail.com
Photo by Oden Taylor | News Editor
Ryan Sunzeri’s artwork hangs in the Pride Center at American River College after winning last year’s Lavender Art Show in May 2019. The Lavender Art Show highlights art from ARC’s LGBTQ+ students and faculty.
CAMPUS PU
SE
“Climate change because it’s so far in distance for so many people but it could creep up on us .”
-YARA KAZEMI Biology Major
The Lavender Art Show, put on by the American River College Pride Center, will take place in the Student Center Feb. 24-26. A reception is scheduled for the last day from 12-2 p.m. to announce the winners as well as allow for students to come and speak with the artists about their pieces. The Lavender Art Show is centered around showcasing artwork from ARC’s LGBTQ+ community. Ryan Sunzewri, last year’s LAS winner and this year’s event organizer, says the goal of this show is to bring more visibility to LGBTQ+ experiences and perspectives. “Visibility is important for any minority community because by definition minority communities are small and this small size makes it difficult for their unique knowledge to be heard or well understood by society as a whole,” Sunzeri says. The show will feature the work of students with “varying iden-
tities and unique experiences,” which Sunzeri says he hopes will introduce the audience to a rainbow of new perspectives. The art submitted is mainly focused on the nuances of the LGBTQ+ community, however, it will also feature any art created by LGBTQ+ students that pass the submission process, according to Sunzeri. Many different forms of art can be submitted to the show including 3D art, photography paintings, drawings and jewelry. Work can be submitted to the James Kaneko Gallery and submission forms with dates (TK) and details about the show can be found there. For more information contact Sunzeri at lamarsunzeri@gmail. com and follow the pride center on social media (Instagram: arcpridecenter, Facebook: thearcpridecenter).
What political issue are you most passionate about? “Liberty, and I mean the true definition of what liberty means-more freedom and what America stands for.”
“Healthcare. I’m in a neighborhood where a lot of people feel like they can’t get it as easily as they should be able to.”
-RAMY SWEIDAN Sociology Major
-HENRY OILL Biology/Chemistry Major
“Getting a different president because he’s all over the place.”
-ANGELA GILBERT Human Services Major
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Feb. 19, 2020
SPORTS
Photo by Emily Mello | Photo Editor
Forward Chris Cagle looks for a teammate to pass the ball to help his team get more points onto the scoreboard. ARC lost the game 83-72 Feb. 13, 2020.
ARC men’s basketball falls short in home finale By Brandon Zamora b14Zamora@gmail.com In a tough match where both teams fought until the very end, the American River College men’s basketball team fell short in its game against Diablo Valley College on Feb. 13, losing via a final score of 83-72 in its home finale of the regular season. The team got off to a quick start by scoring the first few points in the first half, earning a 6-0 lead, but quickly allowed Diablo Valley to come back and found them-
“Like my idol, Kobe Bryant, I had to fight through that pain because I love this game and have a passion for it.” Jair Lang ARC Guard
Photo by Emily Mello | Photo Editor
Guard Jair Lang went down with a leg injury in the second half with 15:40 left to go, he was ok and did return to the game. ARC lost the game 83-72 on Feb. 13, 2020.
selves trailing quicker than when they got the lead. ARC needed to rely on one of its top scorers of score was 44-35 in Diablo Valley’s the night, guard Jair Lang, but the favor and all the momentum was team found itself in more trouble on the team’s side to this point of the game. after he went down with a ARC head coach leg injury. Mark Giorgi was By the ARC had a lot of not pleased with help from Lang, Numbers: his team’s perwho was able formance at to keep his this point of team in the the game. game, and During one of not fall too far ARC’s timeouts behind with in the second all the buckets half, Giorgi was he was scoring. yelling and even Even though he swearing at his playscored a lot of points, ers, loud enough for fans sitLang said he wasn’t too happy going home with the loss ting at the very back row on the other side of the court to hear. against Diablo Valley. Early in the second half, Lang “I felt my overall performance was really good, but it’s all about fell down during the game and winning for me,” Lang said. “As a stayed down holding his leg in guard I need to lead my team to pain. He was able to get up on wins and get to the playoffs— I’m his own power, but had to stay off not happy about the loss and I just the court for a while, although he eventually did come back to the want to get back to practice.” At the end of the first half, the game. The leg injury wasn’t seri-
71.9
Home Points Average
74.8
Away Points Average
Photo by Emily Mello | Photo Editor
Kinesiology major Haley Norlie, pictured here Feb. 13. 2020, plays center back for ARC’s soccer team while balancing her academic schedule.
The life of a student athlete
HOW ATHLETES BALANCE SPORTS AND STUDIES By Dylan Lillie jimmert4@gmail.com Attempting to earn a degree has never been easy, no matter what school you are attending. Trying to balance your classes and
retain a decent personal life can sometimes be challenging. That said, some students take it upon themselves to play collegiate sports on top of their schedules to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
The workload can be a challenge, though it is all about balancing your time according to Haley Norlie of the women’s soccer team. Norlie is the team’s center back and plans to major in Kinesiology. She says that you need
ous according to Lang. “I actually got a little charlie horse,” Lang said. “But like my idol, Kobe Bryant, I had to fight through that pain because I love this game and have a passion for it.” Throughout the game, fans yelled at the referees and even at players from the other team for fouls and calls that didn’t go in ARC’s favor. It was so bad, an announcement had to be made to let fans know to be respectful to the referees and players, otherwise they would be escorted out of the game. ARC fought hard to get back into the game, but its comeback fell short and they ended up losing their fourth game in a row with the final score of 83-72, dropping their overall record to 12-12 in the season so far. ARC’s next game will be on the road against Santa Rosa College on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. to sacrifice personal activities to make time for her schoolwork. “School and soccer are both demanding,” Norlie says. “You have to set your priorities and can’t be caught slacking in either.” Soccer isn’t the only sport where people feel like their time is extremely limited. Maiya Evans is majoring in communications and is on the American River College track and field team. “Balancing time and homework can be challenging,” Evans says. “It’s hard to balance time with friends and family as well due to my impacted schedule.” But according to Norlie it is all worth it despite the challenges. Playing with people who care as much about the success of the team as she does allows for her to feel part of something bigger than herself. “I love the challenge of playing hard teams and I love how everyone on the team wants what’s best for the team.” Norlie explains. “I love wearing my gear around campus and supporting ARC by playing for them.” Being on a collegiate team isn’t all about playing in the big games. Most days players are in practice, which can run two or three hours a day. This causes students like Norlie to have to adjust their schedules to fit around the long practices. “My classes are early because I needed to plan them around my
soccer schedule so I’m always at ARC,” Norlie says. When it comes to what is most important to stay on track, both Norlie and Evans said you must manage your time effectively and never let yourself get too overwhelmed. Some tips they gave were to prioritize your most important tasks and come to the realization that you can’t do everything in a day.
“It’s hard to balance time with friends and family as well due to my impacted schedule.” Maiya Evans Tack and Field Athlete
Being a student in the higher education system isn’t easy, so attempting to be a student athlete is one of the harder things someone can do. So when you’re at your next ARC sporting event, appreciate the effort that was put in to make that game possible.
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Feb. 19, 2020
OPINION
CURRENT EDITORIAL
The Current aims to promote ethical journalism By Current Editorial Board current@arc.losrios.edu We live in a world where it seems like everyone is afraid of fake news, bad publicity or “gotcha” journalism. This epidemic has been drastically aggravated in part by the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump. On a daily basis, Trump blasts out rapid-fire tweets making claims, among other accusations, that all journalists have lost their integrity and the fake news media is corrupt. Love him or hate him, he has infiltrated society’s thoughts on journalism in an incredibly harmful way. Even if you don’t pay attention to him directly, broadcast news still gives him air time daily, which has led to writers of all kinds, such as entertainment writers, novelists and even bloggers to write about their own opinions on Trump’s allegations against the media as a whole. This has made it increasingly difficult for real journalists to do their jobs, in the world and even here on campus. The Current’s writing staff has faced challenges of various levels throughout the time the paper has existed, many of them with members of the American River College faculty. These challenges with some ARC staff members have led us to believe that there may be a lack of understanding about what a journalist does and how the news works. To define the purpose of journalism we must first define what journalism is and explain that it is only one part of the media. True journalism should be seen as a system of checks and balances for society and especially authority figures of all kinds while maintaining an unbiased and
beautiful and none of the resources to finish it. Journalism students don’t need ingredients or art supplies to do our work, instead, we need words. We need the faculty of all departments to look at us and see us for who we are—students, learning and trying our best to get better so that one day we can become professional journalists. It is important to note that the students who write for the Current, cycle and change every semester, with only a few students staying on and becoming editors. In addition, when a member of the Current staff writes an opinion piece, it is the opinion of that writer alone and does not reflect the views of the entire staff or the Photo Illustration by Oden Taylor | News Editor Current as an establishment. Editorials, Following frustrating interactions with American River College faculty members and staff, joursuch as this one, however, do reflect the nalism students remind readers that journalism is an unbiased system of checks and balances. decided collective opinion of the Current. To ensure no one makes this mistake impacted the learning experiences of the the paper is divided into sections and objective perspective. clearly labeled with news, opinion and This means that there will be stories journalism students. When a faculty member at ARC refuses editorial. that people find upsetting and stories to answer our questions, doesn’t want that make someone look bad. The Current, like any other newspaper, The media encompasses all forms of to work with us because they have par- is protected by the First Amendment. It news and opinions, to things that are ticipated in a story before, speaks to us also exists and operates independently created purely for entertainment. This rudely or goes so as far as one ARC staff from ARC and while we focus our time on includes cable news, gossip magazines, member did, who screamed and cussed covering stories that directly relate to the TMZ, The New York Times and all other at two of our reporters, they deny us the ARC community, in no way are we here to opportunity to learn and become better information based platforms. advertise or tear down anything or anyMany people do not understand the journalists. Imagine the culinary students at ARC one at ARC. difference between what is an opinion, Instead, we are here to document the what is a fact, what is entertainment and trying to cook with no ingredients or myriad of wonderful things that happen art students finding themselves denied what is news. here on campus as well as the facts and This misunderstanding of media lit- paint. These students would have all the history of our school as it happens, even eracy has been seen by some of the Cur- tools, skills and knowledge the college rent staff members and it has negatively has provided them to create something if some find those facts controversial.
The caucus system fails to deliver By Oden Taylor odenshawntaylor@gmail.com It’s that time again where the entire country scrambles to decide who will be our next president. There are currently five viable Democratic candidates, as well as the former mayor of New York, Micheal Bloomberg who is only viable because the Democratic National Committee changed its donor policy for him, allowing him to participate in the debates with virtually no support but his own. The Republicans only have one viable candidate, President Donald Trump. Democracy in America has never been a simple system of one person, one vote. Instead, we have a system that includes delegate pledges and eventually the electoral college, which is what gave us Trump as president. It seems we live in a system where the popular vote means less than the votes of elected officials and delegates. This can be seen again in the events that have taken place during the Democratic primary elections, specifically in regards to the Iowa Caucus, and it’s time for a change. All states still adhering to the caucus system need to switch to a primary voting system that allows for the most accurate representation of each state’s voter base. Anyone following politics knows that this year’s Iowa Cau-
cus, held on Feb. 3, was more than just a little messy, it was a complete disaster that left voters and even the candidates confused about who won. Part of this was because of a new app that was introduced with the hopes of making the complicated caucus system easier. Instead, thousands of votes went uncounted for days following the Iowa Caucus making it unclear whether Senator Bernie Sanders or former Mayor of Southbend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg had won the state.
It seems we live in a system where the popular vote means less than the votes of elected officials and delegates.
After many days of confusion the results were announced declaring Buttigieg the winner with the most delegates, and Sanders the winner of the popular vote. Iowa went to Buttigieg. While the app caused major problems, it is clear that the problems with the caucus system extend beyond this year’s app crisis and the caucus system needs to be replaced with primary election
Photo illustration by Ashley Hayes-Stone | Student Worker
The Iowa Caucuses, held on Feb. 3, 2020 didn’t go as planned due to a new caucus app created by the company Shadow.
voting. To start, the caucuses are held, during election years, in gyms and banquet halls across the state at 7 p.m. sharp and can last hours. Having a rigid day and time to vote excludes many people from being able to participate and having their voices heard, including parents of young children, people who work night shifts, and physically or mentally disabled people. Undertrained volunteers also facilitate the Iowa Caucus process, which has led to chaos and confusion in the past as well as during this year’s caucus. However, the problems with the caucus system are much more fundamental than anything the volunteers could
have control over. People pile into rooms and depending on what candidate they are rooting for they go to different areas within the room and then try hard to convince others to join them and support their chosen candidate. If a candidate has less than 15% support in a precinct, that candidate is considered “not viable”. The voters then have a choice to either go home and accept defeat or join a different candidate’s supporters, giving that candidate more delegates. This, too, makes it so that many people’s voices across the state go unheard and their votes do not count. Instead of going along with tra-
ditions for the sake of tradition, it is time for Americans to speak up and demand a system that gives each person their vote and also a system in which the popular vote wins. The caucus system is not only deeply flawed but also primitive and a poor example of true American democracy. To fix the issue, the smaller states such as Iowa must let go of the caucuses and use a system that allows everyone in their states to be heard.
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BACKPAGE
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Noemi Cortes Bernal, culinary arts major, measures a teaspoon of chocolate syrup to begin the process of baking a two-tone chocolate buttercream cake in the Culinary Arts Department’s Candy Lab on Feb. 11, 2020.
Sweet expectations ARC baking students rise to success
By Emily Mello emilycastellar97@gmail.com The Advanced Baking Pastry 330 class at American River College is focused on the commercial production of baked products such as pastries, candies and also wedding cakes. It also emphasizes the baking of breads, frozen desserts,and chocolate work. The class is part of the Culinary Arts Department and takes place in the Candy Lab room, 583. A majority of the treats made by the class can be purchased at the Oak Cafe Bakery.
Christian Garcia, a culinary arts major, uses the tempering chocolate technique, a process involving melting chocolate to create beta crystals for a shiny look while making truffles on Feb. 11, 2020.
The finished two-tone chocolate buttercream cake, which feature a dark chocolate shaped heart with an edible gold leaf, awaits to be put on display at the Oak Cafe Bakery on Feb.12, 2020.